Category Archives: edsel dope

February 11, 2024 by Cristina

Drama Club – Halloween 365 (Flashback Sunday)

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Welcome to another Flashback Sunday! Let’s take a look at one of Edsel’s projects outside of Dope: Drama Club – Halloween 365 (Never Coming Down). But first, I’d like to apologise for the lack of updates this week. I’ve been a bit busy/sidetracked, but I’ve been working on the site in the background nearly every day! I’ve also been working on posting more regularly on EDF’s Tiktok, as I know you guys like those posts.

One of the genuine pleasures of running a fansite dedicated to Edsel is that I get to cover all aspects of his career. While we will continue the excitement and hype about Dope on the Machine Killer tour, I also want to celebrate his work and accomplishments in other mediums!

Anyway, let’s jump right into it. It’s Drama Club – Halloween 365 (Never Coming Down).

VIEW VIDEO @DRAMACLUBTV1 | VIEW SCREENCAPS (EDF PHOTO)

Fair warning – arachnophobes, look away in the first few moments of this video! You aren’t gonna like the massive issue in the beginning. Hehe. All jokes aside, the video for Halloween 365 was released in 2014. Nine years have passed, and it still remains the most popular video in Drama Club’s catalogue. This is for good reason: not only is the song a straight up jam, its video is tons of fun too!

As I’ve mentioned before, the song Believe off Dope’s latest release Blood Money Part Zer0 was originally meant to be a track for Drama Club. Looking at the Halloween 365 video now, you might get a sense of deja vu. There’s a reason for that – there are several callbacks to the Halloween 365 video in the Believe video. I’ve featured two below. Personally, I love this! I found these callbacks a cool way to represent both bands and how they can not only co-exist, but mesh beautifully!

Featured on 2015’s Neon Apocalypse, Halloween 365 closes out an album that shows another side of an enigmatic artist. A fun romp that is not only danceable, but danceable on repeat! If you’ve heard Dope’s Blood Money Part Zer0, you’ve heard Drama Club. But I also urge you to check out their music outside of their collaborations with Dope! Listen to Drama Club on Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube Music.

You know it’s coming. I’ve got to. I’m gonna nag you about following Drama Club on their socials. It’s just what I do, after all. Sub to their Youtube, follow them on Facebook, X, and on Instagram.

Looking for more Flashback Sunday articles? Click here.

February 5, 2024 by Cristina

Group Therapy by Dope (Flashback Sunday)

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Group Therapy by Dope was released on October 21st, 2003. For this week’s Flashback Sunday, I’ll be speaking a bit about this awesome album. And I’ve come with presents. Don’t I always? It’s a gallery update, and this one’s very on theme. It’s screencaps from “Bring it On”, one of the many videos that was released with the enhanced version of the record. But more on that in a bit.

Now let’s Bring it On… It’s Group Therapy by Dope!

VIEW VIDEO / VIEW SCREENCAPS (EDF PHOTO)

Group Therapy was a bit ahead of its time in many respects. One of those ways is something you might not have expected! We hear about artists releasing visual albums from time to time, but did you know Dope was doing this before it was popular?

With the release of Group Therapy, there was a music video that accompanied every song in the enhanced version of the album. I genuinely can’t think of many (if any!) artists that were doing this so early in the industry. Keep in mind, this was 2003. There’s wasn’t much available to promote visual albums back then. There wasn’t any such thing as Youtube or other streaming services – Youtube wasn’t founded until 2005! (By the way, you’ve subbed to Dope’s Youtube channel, right? I hope so…) Netflix didn’t start video on demand till 2007. Trying something new relied largely on word of mouth or hopefully, promotion from your label.

Not Afraid To Be Different

Compared to 2001’s Life, which had a more straight up rock vibe, Group Therapy took things in a new direction. The album has been called a stark departure from Dope’s general tonal aggression, with songs such as “Easier”, “Sing” and “Another Day Goes By” punctuating a more alternative sound. Some say it’s an exception to the rule. I tend to disagree. I always thought the point of Dope is that there’s no hard and fast rules about what a Dope song is. Truth is, Edsel has never been afraid to experiment with his sound! In a landscape where artists have been hesitant about changing their sound too much, he’s always looking to push the envelope and shake things up. Group Therapy is just one such outing. I love when Edsel tries new things, as do so many of his fans!

I hope that this look back at Group Therapy inspires you to give this album another listen! It’s one of my favourite albums, and I hope it’s one of yours as well!

Looking for more Flashback Sunday articles? Click here!

January 31, 2024 by Cristina

Dope Music Video Galleries Update!

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Dope music video galleries have been updated on EDF Photo! As excitement mounts for the second leg of the Machine Killer Tour, I’ve got a whole lot of Edsel to tide you over until the big day. (It resumes tomorrow! Have you got your tickets yet?) Let’s get right into it.

VIEW GALLERY / WATCH VIDEO

27 screencaps from the “Addiction” video have been added to EDF Photo. Released with the album No Regrets, Addiction features Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society/Ozzy Osbourne fame. It also features the famous Serenity prayer! You know, the one people in recovery recite as a grounding exercise? That being said, if being addicted to Edsel is wrong, I don’t really want to know what right is. (We’re edseldopefan.org, of course we enable our Edsel addiction! And yours too.)

VIEW GALLERY / WATCH VIDEO

37 screencaps from the “Burn” video have also been added! Featured on the album Group Therapy, there was actually a video for every song on the enhanced portion of this record. That’s pretty impressive in my opinion, particularly for back then. We see visual albums pop up from time to time in recent years, but Dope was doing this way back in 2003. I see Burn as an intensely cathartic song, and it will always occupy real estate in my heart for that. I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way, either.

I’ve been doing a bit of re-arranging in EDF Photo, so please excuse our mess! I hope to get caps of every Dope music video that’s been released in due time. EDF Photo is already the largest Edsel Dope photo gallery on the net – and we’re just getting started.

January 23, 2024 by Cristina

Dope VIP Video

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Dope VIP experience packages are still available for the upcoming second leg of the Machine Killer Tour! Dope’s official Facebook page has posted a cool little thirty second video telling you all about what happens during the bus meet and greet. (Though I do have to put a teeny disclaimer here: you get the microphone they mention with a separate meet and greet package. That does not come with the bus meet and greet.)

VIEW VIDEO ON DOPE’S OFFICIAL FACEBOOK

Long term visitors of the site know I’ve hyped this up ever I was at the meet and greet in Atlanta. However, it occurred to me I’ve not really opened up about my experience. Not just my experience, but what it meant to me. I’ve shared a periphery view, yes. Though… as the admin of an Edsel Dope fansite, you’d think I’d talk more about my own personal experience in depth. I’ve had folks on social media ask for more on that front. Alright. Today I’ll share a bit about what meeting Edsel in particular meant to me.

My Dope VIP Experience

There’s an old saying: never meet your idols. They can never live up to what you make them out to be. Often, that’s true. We tend to forget the people we idolize are just that: people. They do extraordinary things and live lives so different from ours, yes. But at the end of the day… they’re just a person.

In my case, I actually met my idol. And … I walked away from that meeting an even bigger fan of his. Edsel is very warm and generous, he’s very kind and willing to answer questions. I was really nervous upon meeting him (I actually screamed!), but he took the time to make sure I was alright. (I was, once I got over my shock) Very sweet, very humble dude. In my opinion, he was pretty much the person he is in interviews. No nonsense, no front. He’s the real deal.

I mean, realistically, I met a rock icon. How wild is that? And the fact that he IS normal, and he IS real and authentic? That was the best part of all. It meant the world to me to meet him and tell him how much he’s inspired me. How often do you get to tell your idol such a thing?

The Bottom Line

You might think my point of view is biased. And fair enough – I run a fansite on this guy. I’m predisposed to liking him. But I’ve also told you all I would never lie to you. I wouldn’t stand by an opinion I don’t really believe. And for me, the VIP experience was well worth it. Bucket list worthy for sure! Truthfully, I could write a novel on reasons why you should go and it wouldn’t really matter. In the end, it’s up to you. It’s your money and you have a right to think it over to decide if this is really worth it. And if hearing about how awesome I thought this all was helps you make a decision, I’m glad! If you have any other questions, you’re always welcome to contact me.

January 14, 2024 by Cristina

Flashback Sunday: Sounds like Drama (Club)

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For your Flashback Sunday today, I’m going to switch gears a tiny bit if you don’t mind. It feels like I talk a lot about Dope and Static-X in terms of Edsel or Edsel-adjacent projects. I love those subjects, but the man does A LOT of things I want to highlight. Today, we’re going to talk about one of those projects that isn’t talked about nearly enough. Today’s topic is… Drama Club!

To that end, we’re gonna feature this 2015 interview with Andy Biersack while I talk a bit about Drama Club. (It’s queued to start when they show up. Or rather… jump in, in a quite literal sense!) It’s a really fun interview, I think you’ll enjoy this one. Something about the energy makes me smile. Now, let’s talk about the band!

So, what IS Drama Club?

Drama Club is another musical project of Edsel Dope. If you’ve listened to Dope’s latest release Blood Money Part Zer0, you’ve heard Drama Club. The band features most notably on Lovesong and Misery, and the track Believe was initially meant to be for Drama Club, not Dope. Edsel Dope is of course in Drama Club, having revealed himself to be behind the persona of “Zer0”. The band was born of Edsel’s desire to do something different and put out another kind energy into the music industry. While Dope is very aggressive and in your face, Drama Club is a complete 180. Drama Club’s music tends to focus on themes of feeling free and being accepted, when there is a theme at all. (Sometimes dance music has no theme but “let’s party!”, and that’s great too!)

I’ve seen some reviewers get pedantic about Drama Club featuring on Blood Money Part Zer0, with the complaint that Edsel is guesting on his own work. I tend to think this is coming from people who don’t know anything about Drama Club or the kind of music they create. “Oh Edsel is part of the project, it must be exactly the same type of music!” I hate to dust off an old chestnut in response, but “one of these things is not like the other”.

The two projects are an apples and oranges comparison: Drama Club is a completely different band that produces completely different music. Drama Club is EDM/electronic, while Dope is of course metal/hard rock. If you’re looking for some of their music to check out, I have a few song recommendations for you! Try Rockit, Maniac and in keeping with the Flashback, They Don’t Need to Understand. That song was originally done by Andy Biersack (as Andy Black), and he’s also in today’s interview feature.

Looking for more of Drama Club? Of course you are. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram. And of course – sub to them on Youtube with notifications turned on.

Want to read more Flashback Sunday posts? Click here!

January 10, 2024 by Cristina

Machine Killer Tour THIRD leg announced!

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Just when you think things couldn’t possibly get any better today, Dope’s official Facebook page has announced a THIRD leg of the Machine Killer Tour! You heard right – even more chances to see Dope opening for Sevendust and Static-X! It looks like this leg will take them through Canada, the Midwest and the PNW. This will no doubt make all the fans up there super happy.

This has been quite a day for Edsel news! Along with the debut of Static-X’s Otsego Placebo video that Edsel directed, plus the looming release of Project Regeneration Vol 2, we also get new tour dates? Don’t forget, we still have the 2nd leg of the Machine Killer tour to look forward to! This is shaping up to be a killer year for Edsel. (Excuse the pun)

You can find info on how to purchase tickets for the new dates right here on Dope’s official site. Are you going to any of the shows? If they are playing close to where you live, go! I cannot recommend this tour enough. I had such a good time at the Atlanta stop. Don’t even think about it, your kids and your pets will be fine for a few hours with a babysitter! You deserve to treat yourself.

January 9, 2024 by Cristina

Dope VIP packages still available!

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Dope VIP packages are still available, per a post on Dope’s official Facebook page! Guys, I know I’ve harped about this a lot, but if you can swing it I really recommend taking this opportunity! As you know, I did in fact participate in the VIP bus hang in Atlanta and it was amazing! The entire meet and greet was for sure a bucket list experience for me. Best. Day. EVER.

Making the Most of your Experience!

If you’re going, here are some of my tips to ensure it’s a smooth experience:

Make sure you get to the venue a bit early. While the notice does say 17:45, we all know things can happen and it’s better to be early than too late.
Ask event staff to make sure you’re where you’re supposed to be if you’re not sure. Don’t be shy!
If it’s getting close to the meeting time and you haven’t heard anything, it’s okay to ask event staff if you’re where you need to be. Event staff can get side tracked just like anyone else.
If the line to get your free merch is too long, remember you can always get it after the show.
I actually went by myself because I had no one that wanted to come to Atlanta with me. So … my last tip is definitely bring a friend! I would have loved to share this experience with someone. (That sounds really sad, but I promise I was fine! I just wish I could have found a friend to go with me.) If you ARE going solo, that is completely okay. They won’t turn you away or anything.

I got to meet Edsel and Dan during the meet and greet. They were both very kind and gracious. As I mentioned in my post about the experience, I came away from this an even bigger fan of Edsel.

How to Purchase

Are you interested in purchasing a Dope VIP package for the 2nd leg of the Machine Killer Tour? Click here for info and how to purchase on Dope’s official website! The Machine Killer Tour 2nd leg kicks off on Feb 1st: have you got your tickets?? Click here to purchase!

January 7, 2024 by Cristina

EDF.org Merch Roundup: January 2024

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I’ve got that shopper’s eye again, so it’s time for another EDF.org Merch Roundup! If you’re unfamiliar with the Merch Roundup, it’s quite simple: I choose my picks for the best of Dope’s merch store. We’re looking at the Machine Killer Tour’s 2nd leg on the horizon, so now’s a great time to get merch to prepare!

As always, a disclaimer: no one is paying me for my opinions! I don’t get a commission if you buy any of this. These are just items I like and want to highlight on EDF.org.

2022 Logo Shirt

You know, there’s something to be said about the classics. You’ve got that iconic Dope logo… what else do you really need? And as someone who has a few shirts from this merch store, I gotta say… they’re some of the most comfy shirts I own. So you’ll be classic AND comfortable.

Flag Shirt

Another iconic Dope logo: the flag logo. I’d really be hard pressed to name something more quintessentially Dope than this.

Believe Mug

One of these days, I’ll do a Merch Roundup that doesn’t have a mug. Today’s not that day. You can always use another mug in your collection. I picked this one because I’ve always found that fiery zero logo quite cool. Plus you’ll be repping quite an awesome song.

Dope Null Shirt

Yes indeed there is a shirt with only the Dope Null logo. However, this is merch from the Rise of the Machine tour AND it’s on sale as of this writing. The addition of the text logo is a nice touch.

And that wraps up the January Merch Roundup! Hopefully my picks inspired you to grab something interesting from the merch store. Click here for past Merch Roundups!

December 29, 2023 by Cristina

Mixed Update: Whole Lotta Edsel

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Hope the holidays were good for everyone. I’m back with another Edsel filled mixed update. Let’s get right into it!

Gallery Update: Dope – “Dead World”

EDF Photo has been updated with screen captures from Dope’s video “Dead World“. Since this IS just a teaser, sadly I don’t have too much to tell you about this video. I have my own theories about what this video is calling back to, but since those are just theories I will keep them to myself. Who knows, maybe we’ll be treated to the full video sometime soon!
If you’ve not seen this video, click here to watch it on Dope’s official Youtube channel.

Gallery Update: Dope – “Best of Me”

We’ve also updated our gallery to include caps from “Best of Me“. This video features MMA fighter Juliana “Killer” Miller. She was also on a show called “The Ultimate Fighter 30“, which she won! That win netted her a UFC contract, so hey! Good on her. We love to see it. It’s also worth mentioning this is the second of the videos in this update where we see Acey Slade, since he also appears in Dead World.
If you’d like to watch the video, click here and watch it right on Dope’s official Youtube channel. And yes, I know I keep harping on this, but sub if you aren’t already. You’re there anyway, might as well. I know some of you out there are watching and not subbing – it really does help when you subscribe!
Plus, you don’t wanna miss out when Dope uploads a video, right? Yes, I’ll be here yapping about everything Edsel does and you can find it out from me, but I need to sleep sometimes too. Sub and hit the notification bell so you never miss an upload.

Graphics: Wallpaper and GIFs added

One new wallpaper has been added to the Wallpaper section. It’s quite simple, but Edsel doesn’t need fancy ornaments. He shines on his own. Click the image for the full size, or to see this and more of my work, click here.

Four gifs from the Dead World video have been added.

That’s it for this mixed bag of updates! We’re coming into the new year soon, and I’m looking forward to being here to bring Edsel’s fans nothing but the very best. I hope to see you right here with me.

December 18, 2023 by Cristina

Edsel Interview Directory Launches!

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I’ve done a revamp of the Edsel interview section on EDF Photo: it is now the Interview Directory! The Directory is simply a curated collection of Edsel Dope interviews all in one place. In the Directory, not only can you browse our screencap collection, you can go right to each interview by following the link in each album. It will take you right to the original source! As I’ve said before, I want EDF.org to be your ultimate resource for the support and appreciation of Edsel Dope. Now, it’s never been easier to get your Edsel fix!

Curious about the update? Here’s the complete list of what’s been added to EDF Photo.

Gallery Additions:

Please support the content creators in the Directory by watching their videos with the links to the interview provided in each album! All credit is to them, I simply screencapped the interviews and gathered them in one place. Looking at the screencaps isn’t a substitute for seeing the real deal, so please do check out the interviews when you can. Edsel is always an engaging and entertaining person, and these interviews show that and then some!

You will also be able to access the Interview Directory via Edsel’s biography page. I’m in the process of overhauling a lot of pages on the site and that one’s on my list.

It’s always my hope that you enjoy this site as much as I enjoy running it for you. If you ever want to reach out, please feel free to do so here. While I do have social media accounts for EDF.org, I prefer people follow Edsel on socials and not me. So I don’t really publicize EDF’s socials a lot. But you’re always free to contact me there too: I’m edseldopefanorg on Tiktok and Instagram.

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