Tag Archives: jared leto

May11

A Night to Forget or Remember?

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A Night to Forget or Remember?

Originally I was going to write this long, detailed blog about how  bad my night sucked… Then I thought, “Why waste my energy?”  At this point–sitting at home finally–feeling relaxed…Why rehash the day’s unfortunate events?

Yes, I spent almost 4 hours traveling just to stand outside the Museum of Sex only to be allowed inside the overcrowded place and not get any real interview, photo or even a “hi” out of my favorite band…  That’s the way it goes in this industry.  Promises made and broken…and then you’re lied to on top of it.  At least  I let the publicist know I was onto his lies unlike all of the other press members who just complained and did nothing about it.

Anyway, to sum it all up: I felt robbed of an opportunity, robbed of transportation money I need to be saving for my move, and robbed of time I could have spent writing or promoting or interviewing someone else!

Then on the $20 cab ride home, I felt frustrated tears come to my eyes.  That’s how I release–I don’t really get too angry, I just need a good cry.  The cab driver, seeing I’m upset, tells me how he was homeless four years ago.  He lost everything, and now, he’s building himself back up.

All I could think was how insignificant my one wasted  disappointment of a night really would be by tomorrow.  How I could let an event that I was fortunate enough just to attend get me so down… And then I thought about my move and how it will be amazing because I need this time away from New York and all its forms of claustrophobia… It made me smile.

Oddly enough, the song on the radio at the time in the cab was “In The Air Tonight” by Phil Collins.  It seemed so fitting — well, just these two lines:

I can feel it comin’ in the air tonight, oh Lord
I’ve been waitin’ for this moment for all my life, oh Lord

I believe in messages and things happening for a reason.  I learned a lot tonight that I had forgotten.  I needed to be reminded.  I think my mother was trying to send me a message earlier…I couldn’t find my tape recorder before I left the house today, though I know exactly where I left it last.  Thanks Mom, I got the message–I expect to see my tape recorder in the morning.

I no longer feel angry or disappointed.  I feel grateful and humbled by the experience.  There are far worse things in life and I’ve been very fortunate.  And I’m also optimistic that one day I will meet Jared Leto, haha.

Today was just not meant to be.

May10

Jared Leto at the "Hurricane" Screening

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Jared Leto at the "Hurricane" Screening

Jared Leto answers Q&A with fans at 30 Seconds to Mars’ NYC screening of “Hurricane” at the Museum of Sex.  Fans crowded the venue inside and outside as well, lining up as early as the day before!

Apr6

30 Seconds To Mars Venture Into New Territory with Video for "This Is War"

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30 Seconds To Mars Venture Into New Territory with Video for "This Is War"

THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS VENTURE INTO NEW TERRITORY WITH THE POLITICALLY CHARGED NEW VIDEO FOR “THIS IS WAR” DEBUTING TODAY ON VEVO

MARS THEME NIGHTS ADDED TO “CLOSER TO THE EDGE” TOUR STARTING APRIL 8TH IN SAN JOSE, CA

“Closer To The Edge” Reaches #34 At Top 40 And #23 Hot AC Radio This Week And Climbing

WATCH THE VIDEO RIGHT NOW…

 

(New York, NY – April 6th, 2011) – Thirty Seconds To Mars will premiere their latest highly anticipated video for their single “This Is War” today on Vevo. In the clip, band members Jared Leto, Shannon Leto and Tomo Milicevic portray soldiers at battle.

“This Is War” became the band’s third career #1 alternative radio single and second consecutive #1 from their platinum-selling album This Is War when it reached the top of the chart last July.

The album’s current single “Closer to the Edge” reached the top 10 at alternative radio and has since crossed to Top 40 where it is at #34 and to Hot AC where it is at #24 this week and climbing on both charts. It follows “This Is War” and the album’s lead single “Kings & Queens” which spent 3 weeks at the top of the alternative radio chart and has sold over 650,000 digital downloads. The “Closer To The Edge” video has been added to MTV, MTV2, MTVU, MTV Hits, MTV Tr3s, Fuse, Music Choice and VH1 where it placed #13 on the this week’s Top 20 Countdown show.

Thirty Seconds To Mars recently announced that they’re adding theme/party nights at shows during their North American “Closer To The Edge” tour which kicks off Friday night in San Jose, CA. The band will dress up and is encouraging their fans to do so as well. The themes will vary from market to market and includes such nights at the classic White Night, Hurricane Night, This Is War/Military Night, Yuppie/Preppie Night, Doctor/Patient/Medical Night, Sport Night, 80’s Night, Zombie Night, Prom Night, Bloodball Night, Goth/Punk Night, Field & Stream Night, Superhero/Comic Night and Warpaint/Color/Neon Night. The band will play a very special sold-out hometown show at the Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles on April 9th and will tour the country as well as Canada through May before the European summer festival season begins. The band also has plans to visit Russia, the Middle East and Southeast Asia before returning to Europe to play the Reading and Leeds Festivals in August. Since the Dec, 2009 release of This Is War, Thirty Seconds To Mars have played to over 2 million people in 100 cities in 30 different countries, selling out arenas around the world.

Thirty Seconds To Mars have continued to reach new heights since releasing This Is War. The band won their second MTV VMA award in November when they picked up the 2010 VMA for Best Rock Video for “Kings & Queens.” They also won their fourth MTV EMA award in 2010 for Best Rock Band and their fourth Kerrang! award as winner of the 2010 Best International Band. This Is War has sold over 1 million albums worldwide and has been certified gold in six different countries.

To get involved in the Thirty Seconds To Mars community dialogue, check out the band’s social media sites:

Facebook –http://www.facebook.com/thirtysecondstomars

MySpace –http://www.myspace.com/thirtysecondstomars

Twitter — http://twitter.com/30Secondstomars

YouTube –http://www.youtube.com/30secondstomars

Thirty Seconds To Mars website: www.thirtysecondstomars.com

Thirty Seconds To Mars tickets and merchandise can be purchased at: http://30secondstomars.shop.musictoday.com

Thirty Seconds To Mars Spring Dates:

April 8             San Jose, CA                       Event Center at San Jose

April 9             Los Angeles, CA                  Gibson Amphitheatre

April 12          Colorado Springs, CO         Colorado Springs City Auditorium

April 14          Chicago, IL                            Aragon Ballroom

April 15          Kenosha, WI                         Carthage College

April 16          Detroit, MI                              The Fillmore

April 17          Champaign, IL                     University of Illinois

April 18          St. Louis, MO                        The Pageant

April 19          Grand Rapids, MI                 The Orbit Room

April 20          Indiana, PA                           Indiana University of Pennsylvania

April 22          Raleigh, NC                          Raleigh Amphitheater

April 23          Orlando, FL                           Universal Studios Florida

April 24          Boca Raton, FL                    Sunset Cove Amphitheater

April 26          Morgantown, WV                 WVU Coliseum

April 27          Washington DC                   Patriot Center

April 29          E. Rutherford, NJ                 Bamboozle – New Meadowlands Stadium

April 30          Camden, NJ                         Susquehanna Bank Center

May 1             Boston, MA                           Agganis

May 3             Montreal, QC                        Metropolis

May 5             Toronto, ON                          Kool Haus

May 6             Montreal, QC                        Metropolis

May 7           Quebec City, QC        Pavilion de la Jeunesse

May 8             Portland, ME                         State Theater

Nov18

GET THIS: THIS IS WAR Deluxe Edition – 30 Seconds To Mars

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GET THIS: THIS IS WAR Deluxe Edition – 30 Seconds To Mars

More and more people around the world have been hearing about 30 Seconds To Mars.  FINALLY!  With the attention from MTV and VH1, it’s only a matter of time before the Echelon (3oSTM’s devout fans) will expand even more.  Beware new 30STM fans: As the “Closer To The Edge” video states, “Yes, this is a cult.”  In no way is that a bad thing, either.  I had followed the band’s career here and there over the past 12 years.  “The Kill” and “A Beautiful Lie” had been in my iTunes library for a long time, but it wasn’t until 2009 when I was looking for more rock music to inspire me while writing my novel “Dream Catchers” that I decided to give some of the band’s other songs a listen.  Once I started downloading (legally, of course!), I couldn’t stop!  I bought the first two albums by the band and had to know when the next one would be released!  Their music is insanely infectious and intricately done.  I’ve never seen any artist put so much into everything like these guys do.

Needless to say when their latest album THIS IS WAR was released – I was excited to not only get to review the album, but interview the band’s drummer, Shannon Leto and review 2 of their shows.  If you ever get the chance to see 30 Seconds To Mars live, take it!  You will never be disappointed.

With all of that said, I want to make clear that this post is NOT for the Echelon.  You all know how wonderful this band is already.  I’m not writing this because 30STM’s label, Virgin wants me to – even though I am grateful for them hooking me up time and again!  And I’m not writing this because Jared Leto has incredible blue eyes.  (Even though he really does!)

The reason I am writing this is to tell anyone who’s a fan of music and art to buy the deluxe edition of THIS IS WAR.  With 3 bonus tracks and a DVD, this is the ultimate starter kit to introduce you to this epic band!  The band’s upcoming single “Hurricane”, which is one of my favorite tracks on the album is now included on the album featuring Kanye West.  The video is in post-production now and from the teaser the band sent out, it looks like it’s going to attract a lot of attention!  The DVD included with the deluxe album features music videos for “Closer To The Edge” and “Kings and Queens”, along with insightful footage of the band making the video.

No matter what your musical tastes are–be it rock, pop, R&B, contemporary, classical–there is something remarkable about 30 Seconds To Mars’ sound that crosses boundaries.  If you don’t want to commit to an entire album, try some tracks out on iTunes.  My recommendation is: “Alibi”, “Hurricane”, “Closer To The Edge” and “Night Of The Hunter”.  However, I don’t have a doubt in my mind that once you download one song, you’ll be able to stop there.  You can pick up THIS IS WAR Deluxe Edition at any music retailer!  Just get it and thank me later ;-)

Follow 30 Seconds To Mars on Twitter: www.twitter.com/30secondstomars

Visit their website: www.thirtysecondstomars.com

Sep29

30 Seconds To Mars: "Into The Wild" Tour Photos!

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30 Seconds To Mars: "Into The Wild" Tour Photos!

Photo Courtesy of EMI.

Back in April, StarShine brought you a bunch of 30 Seconds To Mars tour coverage including a review of their Philly show with photos and an interview with Shannon Leto.  We know you love this band, so we decided to throw in some new photos from their Atlantic City House of Blues show on September 4, 2010.

With their tour still trucking on, an MTV VMA win for “Best Rock Video” and a bunch of MTV Europe Music Award nominations, 30 Seconds To Mars is at the top of their game.  Their third studio album This Is War has released 3 hit singles and the band will release a deluxe version of the album on November 9th.

Front man Jared Leto performing "Night Of A Hunter".

Shannon Leto performs his composition "L490".

Jared pulls fans on stage to help him perform "Kings and Queens" at the end of the show.

Sep29

Australian Rockers Violent Soho Talk America, Jared Leto's Health & "Muscle Junkie"

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Australian Rockers Violent Soho Talk America, Jared Leto's Health & "Muscle Junkie"

L-R: Michael Richards, Luke Boerdem, James Tidswell, Luke Henery.

Violent Soho is a rock band not from New York or London, but Brisbane, Australia. The band name has nothing to do with their location, but rather a Rancid song called “Ruby Soho”. Though America is just now getting to know the band via various rock shows along with their recent run on 30 Seconds To Mars’ “Into The Wild” tour, Violent Soho have been playing together since 2004.  When StarShine sat down with the band backstage at Atlantic City’s House of Blues, we were able to get an inside glimpse at the struggles of making it as a band from another country.

“It’s near impossible for most bands from Australia to come over to the U.S.,” drummer Michael Richards told us, stating that’s mostly due to Visa complications. “That’s something we always wanted to be able to do. We were lucky enough to get picked up by a label and booking agent over [in America].”  The band’s debut album made their dreams come true by being released worldwide in March 2010. Not only did they get to tour the U.S., but famed producer Gil Norton made the record with them.

Lead singer Luke Boerdem tells us the themes of their self-titled debut album are their shared frustrations about religion and growing up in their town, and their love for the same music.  Violent Soho’s first single, “Jesus Stole My Girlfriend” reached #21 on the U.S. Alternative charts. With their second single “Muscle Junkie”, the band is hoping the video will take off. “We wanted to give the opportunity to put people in a video who normally don’t get asked to be in videos,” explains guitarist James Tidswell. “Instead of Britney look-a-likes having no clothes on, we wanted to have normal people and celebrate being normal and hating on people who strive for perfection in the looks department just to be in some sh*tty music video.”

The band feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to tour with 30 Seconds To Mars, who is one of the big names in rock music right now. StarShine wondered if Violent

Violent Soho performing live at the House of Blues in Atlantic City on September 4, 2010.

Soho received any good advice from Jared and the boys. “To preserve your looks,” James began. “Eat really good food and ride your bicycle after a show,” he laughed as the band discussed how Jared Leto stays in such great shape. “And don’t drink,” Boerdem added.

“Jared does an hour and a half show every night and then rides his bike an hour a day,” Michael says. “We do a half hour show and then we’re f*cked,” James then laughed.

Aside from Jared Leto’s healthy lifestyle, Violent Soho explained how it was just inspiring to see how far 30 Seconds To Mars has come. “They explained to us how they’ve been together since 1997. It’s good for us to see how long it takes to get where they are. In Australia, it happens a lot quicker or it’s not going to happen. It just goes to show you that you can do it,” James said positively.

In the future, Violent Soho would love to tour with some of their favorite bands like Against Me!, Blink-182, Paramore and The Melvins—who the quiet drummer Luke Henery added to the mix. “He’s the punk one,” James teased before he joked that they’d like to tour with Justin Bieber.

We ended our interview with the band by asking our signature question: what song would they dedicate to their fans? Their answer: “Rise Above” by Black Flag. “It’s what we want to inspire in people. Taking what’s given to you and rising above,” explains James.

StarShine was with the band up until they hit the House of Blues stage to a sold-out crowd. Our impression: Violent Soho knows how to mix professionalism, art and a whole lot of fun. They’re fairly mellow before the show and then hit the stage like a thrashing hurricane that’s reminiscent of the ‘90s grunge era. If you like true rock-alternative music without all of the fluff that’s being produced nowadays, go to iTunes and download this Aussie import!

Connect with Violent Soho
Website: www.violentsoho.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/violentsoho
Facebook: www.facebook.com/violentsoho
Twitter: www.twitter.com/violentsoho
YouTube: www.youtube.com/violentsoho

Apr27

Author Sandy Lo Interviews 30 Seconds To Mars, Her Inspiration Behind Latest Book Dream Catchers!

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Author Sandy Lo Interviews 30 Seconds To Mars, Her Inspiration Behind Latest Book Dream Catchers!

April 27, 2010—New York, NY—Author and journalist SANDY LO had the opportunity to speak with the musical inspiration behind her latest novel, DREAM CATCHERS earlier this month. In an interview for StarShine Magazine, Lo spoke with Shannon Leto, founding member of the popular rock band, 30 SECONDS TO MARS. Upon discussing his latest tour, she was able to inform Leto of the impact his music has had on inspiring TORTURED, Lo’s band in the novel. Leto was grateful and thought it was “very cool”.

“I am so fortunate to be in the position I am in to speak with my musical muse for Dream Catchers”, explains Lo. “30 Seconds to Mars are really amazing.” Mars’ front man and actor, Jared Leto even inspired the main character, Jordan Walsh, a bit. “As a teenager, I was a fan of ‘My So-Called Life’ and fell in love with Jared’s character, Jordan Catalano, which is why I named my main character Jordan,” Lo shares.

Following her interview with Shannon Leto, Lo saw the band live for the first time on their “Into The Wild” tour to support their latest album This Is War. “I felt like my character, Haley, seeing Tortured perform for the first time,” she says with a smile. “30 Seconds to Mars really know how to put on a show.”

To read Sandy Lo’s interview with Shannon Leto and to see her review of the 30 Seconds to Mars show, go to: www.StarShineMag.com.

DREAM CATCHERS is available now through LuLu Press and is coming soon to other online retailers. Lo’s coming of age story of sheltered college student, Haley Foster, running off to New York City with the carefree musician, Jordan Walsh, has been receiving rave reviews from Amazon readers.

“I truly appreciate this realistic work of fiction that tells a personal story in an engaging way. Dream Catchers leaves you wanting more, well after you’ve read the last page!” gushes one reviewer.

Another reader commends SANDY LO on her characters: “Dream Catchers is told from the main character’s perspective, therefore allowing you to truly understand what she, Haley Foster, is thinking and feeling throughout the varied situations she is faced with. Many of the other characters are also fleshed out rather well, including Jordan Walsh, paragon of bad boy good looks and lead singer of the band Tortured. It appears that the author, Sandy Lo, wanted to tell a love story which was able to indulge the reader, while not coming across as overly predictable.”

To read an excerpt from DREAM CATCHERS and to order a copy, go to: www.sandy-lo.com or http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/dream-catchers/6137629.

Also, “Haley’s Letter”, the song written by SANDY LO for DREAM CATCHERS is now available on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/haleys-letter/id356084511! The song was also written, produced and performed by JAMES MANZELLO and co-produced by FRANS MERNICK.

For more on Sandy Lo: www.sandy-lo.com
Follow Sandy on Twitter: www.twitter.com/authorsandylo
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorsandylo

Apr25

30 Seconds to Mars Takes Philly Into the Wild!

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30 Seconds to Mars Takes Philly Into the Wild!

Philly’s Electric Factory was packed, but that was before 30 Seconds To Mars came on stage. This was only the beginning; the calm before the incredible thrashing storm of the Into The Wild tour.

Ticketbuyers sat through 3 opening acts that each played several songs. Let’s face it; most people aren’t excited for anyone but the headliner. However, the whole show was solid from the first act to the last.

Street Drum Corps was up first with their amazing, you guessed it, drumming abilities and catchy songs like their newly released single “Knock Me Out”. Next was Neon Trees, who are already a StarShine favorite, performing their hit single “Animal” as well as “1983″ and the title track off their album, Habits. This band is bound to blow up big soon.

MUTEMATH was the last of the openers. The band performed several songs off their album, Armstice, including “Chaos”, “Typical” and Twilight famed “Spotlight”, which got the crowd–well, the girls anyhow–singing along. Front man Paul Meany is fun to watch as he spazzes out on stage and jumps on top of his keyboard rambunctiously.

After MUTEMATH left the stage, a tarp was thrown up in order for 30 Seconds To Mars to make a big entrance. Minutes passed and the anticipation built. It was eleven now, and several hours earlier, it was announced on Twitter that the show the next night in Charlotte would be postponed due to Jared Leto’s illness. Slight worry filled the crowd wondering if the band would have to cancel that night at the last minute as well.

Then the lights dimmed and a shadow of a mohawk appeared behind the tarp. Worry vanished and the packed crowd compressed closer to the stage. Shannon Leto took to his drumset and lead guitarist Tomo Miličević took his post.

“Night of the Hunter” was a perfect opening song for the band. Although, Jared’s scratchy vocals were obvious at times, the pink-hawked, blue-eyed frontman still amazed the crowd with his insanely phoneomenal vocals.

Leto was lucky enough to have such a devout cult following who picked up where he left off on vocals when he couldn’t

Jared Leto / Photo by: Sandy Lo

carry out a scream–though he still managed to carry out most of them!

30 Seconds to Mars performed for almost two hours and managed to pack as much fan-interaction as possible. Leto appeared in the crowd at one point, where he accoustically sang a rendition of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” and 30STM’s biggest hit “The Kill”. He then began to take requests from the audience as he bantered with them.

Leto was backed again by the band to perform the full version of “The Kill” while he crowd surfed his way back to the stage. 30 Seconds to Mars is all about fan participation and interaction. For the recording of their latest album, This Is War, the band had fans chanting, singing, stomping and clapping throughout the album. They also released the album featuring over 2, 000 different covers with fans’ faces on them, which they call the “Faces of Mars”.

Jared organizes the crowd on stage.

During the band’s latest hit, “Kings and Queens”, Jared handpicked people out of the crowd to come onstage, and not just two or three or ten people–there had to be at least twenty! Now, that experience is worth every dollar.

That is what’s so amazing about this band. It’s not just the music, full of depth and true artistry, but it’s about how the band chooses to share that music–so openly and generously.

Jared, Shannon and Tomo aren’t rock star snobs with “leave me the f*ck alone” attitudes, but a great band with a big heart, who really care about the art of it all. Now, that’s something you don’t see out there anymore.

Back to the setlist…every song pulled the audience member in, whether they were familar with it or not. “A Beautiful Lie”, “From Yesterday”, and “This Is War” had everyone singing along. There was such harmony in the diversely-aged audience–from twelve-year-olds to fifty-somethings. Just about everyone knew every note to be sang–which, as mentioned before, came in handy for the, as he put it, “sick as a dog” Jared Leto.

Photo by: Sandy Lo

He was full of complements and gratitude for the Philly crowd who did everything he asked them to from dancing spastically to forming a mosh pit and screaming loud enough so everyone had a sore throat just as bad as his.

Even though the concert didn’t end until almost 1am, there was not a dull moment. The Into The Wild tour had about four hours of great music, and afterward, 30 Seconds to Mars hung around to sign autographs. With a sick frontman and five straight shows in a row, that’s devotion.

After seeing 30 Seconds to Mars live, other bands should feel ashamed; this is how all bands should treat their audience. Major kudos to Jared and the boys for pulling off that show sickness and all!

For more on 30 Seconds to Mars: www.thirtysecondstomars.com
Follow 30 Seconds to Mars on Twitter: www.30secondstomars.com