Randy Blythe Talks To RVA News about Photography, Social Media And Sobriety
Online news site RVA News, based in Lamb Of God’s home town Richmond, Virginia, recently sat down with frontman Randy Blythe to discuss his photography and more.
Randy discussed how he decided to ‘unplug’ from social media after what he describes as a ‘rough’ Twitter bender ;
“This Twitter thing, I started interacting with people, and I had 40-50,000 people following me. When you have that much humanity directed at one person–the hive mind–people become upset when you don’t talk to them or, if they say rude things to you, because I’m a public person, people seem to think that through the anonymity of the Internet they can say whatever they want.”
Randy’s original intention was to disconnect from the internet entirely, and write about his experiences, but after speaking to Hatebreed vocalist Jamey Jasta, he decided to make a film instead. To that end he purchased a Canon EOS 60D and set about learning how to use it.
Unforeseen to Randy, but the situation in Czech Republic affected his plans- suddenly he needed the internet to communicate with lawyers back in the US. Despite the postponement of his film, Randy’s new found passion for photography remained.
“When I returned to the Czech Republic earlier this year to stand trial, I made it a point to photograph as much of Prague as possible, for it’s a beautiful city. Towards the end of my trial, I returned to walk the surrounding grounds of Pankrác Remand Prison, the 123 year old crumbling prison where I was held for 34 of my 37 days of incarceration. It was quite strange being there, looking at it from the outside, wondering if I would return to its confines at the end of my trial.”
Randy left Twitter, but shortly after replaced it with Instagram, which he prefers as it allows him to express the thought process behind an image in a way that a 140 character tweet couldn’t;
“I’ve gotten some really nice constructive criticism and some valuable information from Instagram, from followers who happen to be professional photographers.”
Randy’s heavy drinking came about when Lamb Of God began to find success. No longer needing a straight and steady job, and having a reasonable income he “just went crazy, drinking”. His touring cycles meant he was drinking heavily while working overseas, and then sobering up on his return home. Around 2010, Randy confided in friends while on tour and decided to stop drinking.
“When I sobered up, photography became great. Right now I’m writing a memoir of my last year. That never would have happened had I been drunk. I never would have made it through my trial in one piece had I been drunk. Sobriety enabled me to do things”
You can read the full article over at RVA News.
-LambOfGodNews
Randy Blythe Releases Short Film Shot While He Was On Trial In Prague.
Randy Blythe has released a short film that he shot in Prague, Czech Republic, through his Tumblr page. The video is entitled ‘PRAGUE: The Devil Is In The Details’, and features various clips of buildings and monuments in the Czech capital, along with local folk culture marionettes. Randy had originally wanted to release it before his final trial hearing, but was advised against it by his legal team, as his artistic intentions could have been misconstrued.
Of the video, he states:
“This is a movie I made in Prague during my trial. …… My idea was to show my mind set through film and music during the process of my trial …… Working in a creative capacity during the trial helped me to remain calm”
The video is embedded below for convenience, but head on over to Randy’s Tumblr page for the full story to go with it.
-LambOfGodNews
Who Is Roger Brilliant?
Every Lamb Of God tour seems to have some sort of running joke, and this time around is no exception!
Frontman Randy Blythe has recently taken to his Instagram page to post several videos concerning his British alter ego, ‘Roger Brilliant’. Several of Lamb Of God’s crew, bandmates and fellow artists can also be seen in the videos.
Posted below are all the videos so far, and we’ll be sure to update as more are added!
“WHO IS ROGER BRILLIANT?!?!?!?!?!?”
“WHEN WILL ROGER BRILLIANT HIT THE STAGE?!?!?!?!?!?”
“While Roger Brilliant is completely satisfied after another day of basking in his own brilliance, Roger Brilliant’s manager is trying to relax after a long day of managing Roger Brilliant’s brilliance.”
“When ROGER BRILLIANT visits Ampsterdam, the prostitutes pay HIM to walk through the Redlight District.”
“Roger Brilliant’s booking agent, Nobby, is NOT satisfied with today’s festival promoter’s rider arrangements.”
“The French HATE Roger Brilliant.”
“@wakaflockabsm & @BrickBronson are out for Roger Brilliant too- DAMN! Waka Flocka Flame is gangsta as fuck- Roger can’t catch a break at PukklePop- motherfuckers are obviously jealous of his BRILLIANCE.”
“Roger Brilliant’s Aussie road manager, Phillip Appleton the 3rd, is not happy with Roger wanting to tag Charles DeGaul airport before he flies over for his American vacation.”
“Roger Brilliant gets stuck at the airport hotel upon arriving in the USA & is exposed to American football for the first time.”
-LambOfGodNews
Lamb Of God Vocalist Randy Blythe Pens Memoir, Signs North American Book Deal With Da Capo Press
During the next few weeks while Lamb of God is gearing up for several dates overseas in August, vocalist Randy Blythe is busy gearing up for the release of his upcoming memoir. The memoir, which puts emphasis on the past year of his life, is an incredible, harrowing, heartbreaking, and redemptive story told in Blythe’s already well-recognized writing style. It seems that almost every major media outlet has attempted to righteously cover the story of Blythe’s arrest, incarceration, trial, and acquittal for manslaughter in the Czech Republic last year, but now, the man at the center of it all unveils the truths of the ordeal, personally detailing every aspect in his own words. No ghost-writers, no co-authors, justRandy Blythe, himself.
Randy Blythe is pleased to announce that the rights to this currently untitled memoir, currently slated to hit stores in the spring of 2014, have been sold to Executive Editor Ben Schafer at Da Capo Press by Marc Gerald at The Agency Group. Da Capo Press is a member of American publishing company the Perseus Books Group. Da Capo Press is an excellent home for Blythe’s memoir, as they are already recognized internationally as the publishers of several other memoirs by heavy metal greats like Tony Iommi, Corey Taylor, Rex Brown, and Al Jourgensen.
“While I’ve dreamed of being a published author almost since I began to read, I never imagined my first book would center around such a sad topic. Sometimes though, life unexpectedly provides you a story that needs to be told,” statesBlythe. “I believe this one does (for several different reasons, not just for the benefit of myself), so I will tell it with the respect and dignity all involved deserve. This will be a good read, I promise you, and I hope some good comes of it.”
“I knew that Randy was a master vocalist and lyricist but it turns out he is a vivid and visceral prose writer as well,” adds Da Capo Press Executive Editor Ben Schafer. “Regarding his arrest and trial in the Czech Republic, Randy handled a frightening and heartbreaking situation with courage, grace, and humility, and we at Da Capo Press are honored to have the opportunity to have a part in telling his story.”
More details are set to be announced soon in regards to Randy Blythe’s memoir. For more information on Da Capo Press, please visit www.dacapopress.com.
International press should note that Random House has purchased the foreign rights to the memoir and will act as publisher in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
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