Crave Online has premiered Duff McKagan’s Loaded’s new video, “Dead Skin,” and in this case, “dead skin” seems to be a clever metaphor for “clothing.” Because the best parts of this video have Mrs. Duff, the almost unfairly beautiful former model/current designer Susan Holmes, stripping away various articles of clothing. Not that I’m complaining  – the rest of the video is pretty boring.

On a less lecherous note, it’s nice to see drummer Isaac Carpenter (formerly of Loudermilk) getting so many close-ups. Humorously enough, Loudermilk started out as a Guns N’ Roses cover band, .22s N’ Tulips, and now Carpenter actually plays in McKagan’s band. Guy’s an awesome drummer, so he deserves any success that comes his way.

-AR

Vince really likes Buckcherry, but I’ve never gotten into any of their songs that aren’t the big hits – namely, “Lit Up” (a.k.a. “the one about cocaine”) and “Crazy Bitch” (a.k.a. “the one about fucking”). Like so many bands that hoped to be the Appetite-era Guns N’ Roses of the late 20th/early 21st century, Buckcherry always just felt like they were trying way too hard to prove what a bunch of bad-asses they are. GN’R never actually used the words “cocaine” or “heroin” in a song – Buckcherry’s biggest hit finds them shouting “I LOVE THE COCAINE! I LOVE THE COCAINE!” In case anyone doubted that they were the real deal. Puh-lease.

So. Former Buckcherry bassist JB Brightman has a new band, Black Robot, and – no shock here – it’s readily apparent that they want to be AC/DC. If you’re one of those people who unironically loves retro-hard rawk that has no sense of originality whatsoever, then you will probably dig this band. And whatever you do, stay away from Loudermilk and Manmade God – bands that actually make excellent, original hard rock.

And, hey, guess what? Black Robot covered Clapton’s “Cocaine!” How original! How shocking! What a bunch of bad-asses! Now I can finally burn my copy of Appetite for Destruction!

Barf.

-AR