America's only hard-rock and heavy-metal award show is back for 2012! The fourth annual Revolver Golden Gods award show presented by Epiphone will take place Wednesday, April 11 at Club Nokia in Downtown Los Angeles. For the first time ever, the event will be broadcast live in its entirety on Xbox LIVE, as well as on the Xbox and Revolver Facebook pages. Tickets go on sale today (Wednesday, February 15) via Ticketmaster.
"Our exclusive collaboration with Revolver magazine on the Golden Gods event shows just how far Xbox LIVE has come as an entertainment destination," said Ross Honey, GM of Xbox LIVE Entertainment & Advertising. "We're excited to deliver this live original content to all Xbox LIVE members globally."
Also on April 11, The Grammy Museum, next door to Club Nokia, will open its new exhibit "Golden Gods: The History Of Heavy Metal". Mounted in coordination with Revolver, the exhibit will feature never-before-displayed artifacts including instruments, stage props, handwritten lyrics, clothing and costumes, alongside original album artwork, posters and live-performance and interview footage. The exhibit will also feature a variety of interactive displays. "We are thrilled to be partnering with Revolver to tell the story of metal," states Grammy Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli, "and offer fans the opportunity to engage with their favorite artists in such a personal way."
Hosting duties for the Golden Gods awards show will be handled by FOZZY frontman and WWE pro-wrestling legend Chris Jericho, who returns for the third consecutive year. The nominees in 11 different categories, plus the recipient of this year's prestigious "Golden God Award," were revealed today at a press conference held at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. Host Chris Jericho was on hand, along with Alice Cooper, Munky (KORN), Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY), Vinnie Paul Abbott (PANTERA, HELLYEAH), James Michael (SIXX: A.M.), Vinny Appice (HEAVEN & HELL, KILL DEVIL HILL), BLACK VEIL BRIDES, Mike Portnoy (ADRENALINE MOB), John Moyer (DISTURBED, ADRENALINE MOB), Michael Starr (STEEL PANTHER), Wendy Dio (wife of Ronnie James Dio) and pro motocross rider Brian Deegan to announce the nominees.
Beginning today, fans everywhere can cast their vote to decide who will take home the awards for "Best Guitarist", "Best Drummer", "Best Vocalist", "Album of the Year", "Best Live Band", "Most Metal Athlete", "Comeback of the Year", "Riff Lord", "Paul Gray Best Bassist", "Best International Band" and "Most Dedicated Fans". Voting starts today at GoldenGodsAwards.com and ends on April 1. The complete list of nominees in each category is listed below.
The Golden God Award, given to one special honoree a year who embodies the spirit of hard rock and metal, will go to KISS demon Gene Simmons, whose band will release their highly anticipated 20th studio album, "Monster", this year. (Previous honorees include hard-rock and metal legends Alice Cooper, Rob Halford of JUDAS PRIEST and Dave Mustaine of MEGADETH.) Simmons commented, "It's an honor and privilege to accept the Golden God Award. A God is only as powerful as the faithful who worship him. Signed GOD OF THUNDER."
Adding to the celebration, The 2012 Revolver Golden Gods awards show will feature one-of-a-kind special performances and collaborations that honor both the past, present and future of heavy music. The night's hard-rocking musical performances will include sets by MARILYN MANSON (in his first U.S. performance in nearly three years); iconic Grammy-winning guitarist Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and THE CONSPIRATORS; EVANESCENCE; SIXX: A.M. featuring Nikki Sixx of MÖTLEY CRÜE, James Michael, acclaimed rock producer and songwriter, and DJ Ashba of GUNS N' ROSES (in their first performance in almost four years); and 2011 "Best New Band" Golden Gods Award winner BLACK VEIL BRIDES, who will perform their only U.S. show of 2012 so far. More performers will be announced in the coming weeks.
"Every year, the Revolver Golden Gods grows bigger and more badass. The 2012 edition is without question the most epic one yet, from the performers and presenters to the nominees and honorees," states Revolver Editor in Chief Brandon Geist. "And this year, with the Grammy Museum launching its tie-in 'Golden Gods: The History Of Heavy Metal' exhibit, and Xbox LIVE broadcasting the show around the world as it goes down in its entirety, the event will truly encompass the full timeline of heavy music and span the globe. Epic, indeed."
"Epiphone and I are thrilled to participate in the Golden Gods awards show and celebrate some of music's best talents — including this year's performers from our Epiphone/Gibson family Nikki Sixx and Slash," said Jim Rosenberg, President of Epiphone. "We are excited to share this year's event with Epiphone players and metal fans across the globe with the show's inaugural live broadcast. Every year, the show gets better and better!"
The nominees for the 2012 Revolver Golden Gods awards are:
Best Guitarist
* Jinxx and Jake Pitts (BLACK VEIL BRIDES)
* Zoltan Bathory and Jason Hook (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH)
* Willie Adler and Mark Morton (LAMB OF GOD)
* Robb Flynn and Phil Demmel (MACHINE HEAD)
* Dave Mustaine and Chris Broderick (MEGADETH)
* Matt Heafy and Corey Beaulieu (TRIVIUM)
Best Drummer
* Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX)
* Jeremy Spencer (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH)
* Taylor Hawkins (FOO FIGHTERS)
* Chris Adler (LAMB OF GOD)
* Brann Dailor (MASTODON)
* Tomas Haake (MESHUGGAH)
Best Vocalist
* Sebastian Bach
* Andy Biersack (BLACK VEIL BRIDES)
* James Durbin
* Amy Lee (EVANESCENCE)
* Ivan Moody (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH)
* Jonathan Davis (KORN)
Album Of The Year
* ANTHRAX - "Worship Music"
* EVANESCENCE - "Evanescence"
* FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH - "American Capitalist"
* FOO FIGHTERS - "Wasting Light"
* KORN - "The Path Of Totality"
* LAMB OF GOD - "Resolution"
Best Live Band
* AVENGED SEVENFOLD
* FOO FIGHTERS
* GUNS N' ROSES
* JUDAS PRIEST
* SEETHER
* TOOL
Most Metal Athlete
* Gina Carano (MMA fighting)
* Brian Deegan (pro motocross)
* Evan Longoria (MLB baseball)
* Dirk Nowitzki (NBA basketball)
* Mitch Petrus (NFL football)
* CM Punk (WWE wrestling)
Comeback Of The Year
* ANTHRAX
* DREAM THEATER
* EVANESCENCE
* MINISTRY
* SLIPKNOT
* VAN HALEN
Riff Lord
* Scott Ian (ANTHRAX)
* Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY)
* Dave Grohl (FOO FIGHTERS)
* Munky (KORN)
* Slash
* Eddie Van Halen (VAN HALEN)
Paul Gray Best Bassist
* Frank Bello (ANTHRAX)
* Michael Anthony (CHICKENFOOT)
* Fieldy (KORN)
* David Ellefson (MEGADETH)
* Nikki Sixx (SIXX: A.M.)
* Wolfgang Van Halen (VAN HALEN)
Best International Band
* BEHEMOTH
* LACUNA COIL
* RAMMSTEIN
* SEPULTURA
* MESHUGGAH
* X JAPAN
Most Dedicated Fans
* ASKING ALEXANDRIA
* AVENGED SEVENFOLD
* BLACK VEIL BRIDES
* EVANESCENCE
* FALLING IN REVERSE
* HIM