Loudwire Music Awards Winners and More |

When you give rock and roll a place to live, the bands that make the music grab it and embrace their home. This year, Loudwire gave bands who are normally pushed aside by the mainstream a place to celebrate the music they create, to acknowledge their hard work whether is out on the road or in the studio and honored all genres of metal. The sound of gory vocals, heavy distorted guitars and war like cannon blasts by drums were engraved in history. The black carpet was shining with metal stars, from bands like Nothing More, the seductiveness of Butcher Babies and the oddities of Avatar; all congregating for a night filled with metal. On the AXS tent you would see bands like Megadeth, Tony Iommi and Sammy Hagar being interviewed by Jose Mangin of Sirius XM and Jamie Jasta of Hatebreed. But the long path to it felt like hell, it is no secret Los Angeles is scorching hot in mid October, and a tip of the hat goes to bands like Butcher Babies who were all dolled up, wearing sexy gallant outfits to these awards. Also along the black carpet you could see Joey Jordison, drummer of Vimic walking freely and posing for all the cameras, a sight to remember. Once the stars walked the long hot road into hell, the show commenced.

The awards celebrated by lovers of metal, by real musicians who can pick up an instrument and play in mesmerizing ways commenced with a killer performance. The opening act for the joyful night was In This Moment, with a breathless performance by metal god Rob Halford to Billy Idol’s “Black Wedding”. Together on stage the band welcomed fans, and metal stars to a show this community needed. The award was a mold of Tony Iommi’s hand raising the horns, a process which took more than one hour to complete and numerous times to achieve. However, those awarded can now say they have Tony’s hand at home, a mold at least. The first award to be announced was for best guitarist of 2017 and was awarded to none other than the well deserving Zakk Wylde, and to present this award it took four guitar gods, John Five, Steve Vai, Gary Holt and Alex Skolnic. Zack Wylde is known for his riveting guitar solos, string licking and walking down by the fans to shred away during his performance. On stage, soon after this award was given, Body Count performed their critically acclaimed song, “No Lives Matter” and for their second track Dave Mustaine shredded along with them, a magnificent solo was played and he seemed full of energy. The guitar legend, Zakk Wylde presented Toni Iommi with the “Courage Award”, Tony accepted graciously, what is now to be his third hand. Wendi Dio and Rita Haney addressed the ongoing struggle the metal community is suffering, mental illness, “you are not alone, there is always someone there to talk to.” with those words the crowd silenced and remembered those we have lost in the recent year to suicide and other diseases.

Photo By:Matt Stasi, 2017 Loudwire Music Awards

Metal is the sound of gods, and one legendary man was awarded the Lemmy Award for achieving what no other lead singer can, longevity. Rob Halford, lead singer for Judas Priest has vocals that are undeniably the best in the world, and he was presented the Lemmy Award. Categories were plenty and the night was filled with jokes by Fonzy (Chris Jericho), where he mocked potus by throwing paper towels to the fans, and made remarks to almost anything you can imagine. Definitely a host to bring back next year. Performances by Nothing More and Aaron Pauley of Of Mice and Men were a tear jerker, as they played a tribute to Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington by covering “Show Me How to Live”, a devastating song, with amazing vocals and phenomenal execution by all members of the band. The night ended with a killer performance by Avenge Sevenfold, who were also awarded Metal Album of The Year. These awards are the marking moment that will allow metal to embrace all it’s might, to stop segregation between genres and teach acceptance of genres like hard rock, death metal and more. The subcategorization of metal is there to label bands styles, but that should not divide this community, we are all we have and a need of acceptance is crucial, as only we understand the vices, demons and issues we deal with. It is metal, rock n roll all a blanket that covered us during hard times, and sheltered us from the outsiders, embrace metal for what it is and let these awards live on, bringing honor to bands who work their asses off on the road, in the studio and do it for the love of music not popularity. The Loudwire Music Awards are here to include everyone, and their first Annual Music Awards was inviting.

Reported by: Hostile Jo

Photos By: Jose Barrientos

See all of the winners and presenters for the 2017 LOUDWIRE MUSIC AWARDS below:

THE COURAGE AWARD (Ultimate Classic Rock):- *TONY IOMMIof BLACK SABBATH (presented by ZAKK WYLDE)

THE LEMMY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (Eagle Rock):- *ROB HALFORD of JUDAS PRIEST (presented by ANTHRAX)

THE HUMANITARIAN AWARD (AXS TV):- *SAMMY HAGAR of VAN HALEN (presented by CHAD SMITH of RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS)

HARD ROCK ARTIST OF THE YEAR (Frontiers Records): * STONE SOUR (presented by LEAFAR SEYER and DAVE PARLEY of PRAYERS)

METAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR-(BlackCraft): * AVENGED SEVENFOLD (presented by BEARTOOTH)

HARD ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR (The Music Experience):-* STONE SOUR, Hydrograd (presented by FRANKIE BANALI of QUIET RIOT and TRACII GUNS of LA GUNS)

METAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR (Razor & Tie): – * AVENGED SEVENFOLD, The Stage (presented by HOWARD JONES of LIGHT THE TORCH, JILL JANUS of HUNTRESS and CHUCK BILLY of TESTAMENT)

BEST GUITARIST (PRS Guitars):- * ZAKK WYLDE, OZZY OSBOURNE/ZAKK SABBATH/BLACK LABEL SOCIETY(presented bySTEVE VAI, JOHN5, GARY HOLT of Exodus/Slayer and ALEX SKOLNICK of TESTAMENT)

BREAKTHROUGH BAND (Apple Music):- * BEARTOOTH (presented by DAVID ELLEFSON of MEGADETH and REX BROWN of PANTERA)

BEST BASSIST (Indigo Hotels):- * STEVE HARRIS, IRON MAIDEN (presented by ANDY LEO, HAYDEN TREE, BRANDON HOOVER of CROWN THE EMPIRE and JAKE LUHRS and MATT GREINER of AUGUST BURNS RED)

METAL SONG OF THE YEAR (Apple Music):- * POWER TRIP “Executioner’s Tax (Swing of the Axe)” (presented by DEMON HUNTER)

HARD ROCK SONG OF THE YEAR (Apple Music):- * I PREVAIL “Alone” (presented by HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD)

BEST LIVE BAND (eONE):- * IRON MAIDEN (presented by LEIGH KAKATY of POP EVIL and MLNY PARSONS of ROYAL THUNDER)

BEST VOCALIST (Fearless Records):- * CHESTER BENNINGTON, LINKIN PARK (presented by VINNIE PAUL of HELLYEAH/PANTERA and JOEYJORDISON of VIMIC/SLIPKNOT)

BEST DRUMMER (Rockin’ Roastin’Coffee):- * MARIO DUPLANTIER, GOJIRA (presented by JOEY KRAMER of AEROSMITH)

BEST NEW ARTIST (Century Media):- * GRETA VAN FLEET (presented by DERYCK WHIBLEY & FRANK ZUMMO of SUM 41)

MOST DEDICATED FANS(BMG/RISE): – * BABYMETAL (presented by ASH COSTELLO of NEW YEARS DAY, BRITON BOND of WAGE WAR and JAYDEN PANESSO of SYLAR)