How JOURNEY's DEEN CASTRONOVO Ended Up Playing On New FEAR F

[tater1977]

How JOURNEY's DEEN CASTRONOVO Ended Up Playing On New FEAR FACTORY Album 'Genexus'

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/how-jo ... m-genexus/

July 20, 2015


In a brand new interview with RockSverige, FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares was asked how JOURNEY drummer Deen Castronovo (pictured above) ended up playing on FEAR FACTORY's new album "Genexus". He responded: "Obviously, people know that [Deen is] the drummer in JOURNEY and he's a great vocalist as well. [The connection between Deen and FEAR FACTORY] started back in 1995 when [FEAR FACTORY singer] Burton C. Bell did a project with Geezer Butler [BLACK SABBATH] called GZR and Deen was the drummer in that band. We've been friends of his and he would come out to FEAR FACTORY shows and come watch us play and he's been a fan ever since. We were thinking of people to play on our album on one song and he said, 'Hell yeah, I'll do it!' and that's how it happened. He's playing on the song 'Soul Hacker'."

He continued: "[The stuff he does with JOURNEY is] a lot softer [than FEAR FACTORY's music], but he's a longtime friend and it was so cool to have him on there and it worked really well. He's a great drummer and he's done a lot of other stuff, but it's nowhere near as popular as JOURNEY."

Castronovo was arrested last month on charges that he assaulted a woman in Salem, Oregon.

According to the Statesman Journal, the 50-year-old drummer will appear before Marion County Circuit Judge Thomas Hart on October 22 at at 9 a.m. for a two-day trial.

Castronovo was initially arrested on June 14 and charged with fourth-degree assault, coercion and menacing.

After being released on $20,000 bail on June 15, Castronovo called the victim 35 times and sent her 122 text messages, despite being under a court order to have no contact with her. He was arrested again on June 29 on a grand jury indictment which charged him with five counts of fourth-degree assault, one count of first-degree rape, two counts of menacing, one count of unlawful use of a weapon, one count of second-degree assault, one count of second-degree sex abuse, one count of coercion, one count of second-degree criminal mischief, and three counts of contempt of court.

At a July 1 bail hearing, Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Gardiner said that Castronovo threw the woman into a wall 14 times, pulled her hair and forced her to have sex with him.

It was also revealed that, upon Castronovo's arrest on June 14, he was first taken to Salem Hospital because he had overdosed on methamphetamine.

JOURNEY has hired drummer Omar Hakim to sit behind the kit for the band's summer tour of North America. He made his live debut with the group at their June 20 concert at the Hollywood Bowl.

"Genexus" will be released on August 7 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. The follow-up to 2012's "The Industrialist" was co-produced by longtime collaborator Rhys Fulber, along with guitarist Dino Cazares and vocalist Burton C. Bell and mixed by Andy Sneap (ARCH ENEMY, TESTAMENT, EXODUS, MACHINE HEAD). Artwork was once again handled by Anthony Clarkson. most of the drums on "Genexus" were performed by Mike Heller (MALIGNANCY).

[Archetype]

His drumming capabilities were seriously underutilized in Journey. His stuff from the 80s is insane.

[Journey/Survivor]

His drumming capabilities were seriously underutilized in Journey. His stuff from the 80s is insane.

I have one of the "Wild Dogs" albums that he was on, as well as one of the Tony MacAlpine albums that he was on. Great Metal drumming on those albums. At times Journey, Bad English, Hardline and Soul Sirkus have allowed him to get somewhat aggressive with his drumming, but I agree that they should have let him go ape-shit on drums a little more.

[FamilyMan]

Dean was never better than on La Raza Del Sol from the Vegas DVD. What a performance that was - for the whole band actually. Generally though, I think Deen preferred not to stray too far from the bedrock Smitty laid down, out of reverence and respect.

Anyone hearing how he's doing?

[Archetype]

No news about him that I've been able to find. If Journey has moved on from him, Megadeth needs a full-time drummer. He'd be a good fit and could return to his roots. Since Dave Mustaine has been a serious addict (heroin, etc.) and has managed to stay clean for a very long time, he'd be a good co-worker for Deen.