Category Archives: edsel dope

Dope VIP Video

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.)

dope vip img

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.

Flashback Sunday: Sounds like Drama (Club)

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

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!

Machine Killer Tour THIRD leg announced!

machine killer tour

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.

Dope VIP packages still available!

Dope VIP

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!

EDF.org Merch Roundup: January 2024

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.

dope shirt

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!

Mixed Update: Whole Lotta Edsel

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.
edsel wall
  • 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.

Edsel Interview Directory Launches!

edsel interview directory

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.

Machine Killer Tour 2nd Leg Starts Feb. 1st!

Machine Killer Tour

The second leg of the highly successful Machine Killer North American Tour starts February 1st in Myrtle Beach, SC! Dope joins Static-X and Sevendust on this explosive jaunt across the United States! This is a second shot to see certified rock and metal legends if you’ve not already. Guys, I was at the Atlanta stop and I can attest: this show is WELL worth your time! I had an absolute blast!

VIP packages are still available! I also took part in the VIP Bus Hang add on – if you can swing it, this is an incredible experience. I had the honour and pleasure of meeting Edsel during, and found him to be very sweet and gracious. If you’d like to read my thoughts about the Machine Killer Tour stop in Atlanta, I wrote it up awhile back here on EDF.org.

I could make a slick video or write any number of flowery words to try to convince you to get tix to this show, but talent always speaks for itself. Check out this video I took in Atlanta! Yes, it’s off our Tiktok… don’t you dare judge me.

@heytocristina

I dont need a fancy ass video to convince you to go see the Machine Killer Tour when it rolls into your town. I COULD make one, but why?? This electrifying performance speaks for itself. I was at the Atlanta stop and it was incredible! Interested? Check dopetheband.com for info and how to purchase! #dope #dopetheband #edseldope #dopearmy #dopeband #music #bloodmoneypartzero #metal #machinekillertour #thetabernacle

♬ original sound – heytocristina

Looking for tickets? Check out Dope’s official site right here, and for VIP packages, click here.

Flashback Sunday: Dope – Bus Invaders

For your Flashback Sunday today, I’ve got a fun one for you. Ever wondered what the inside of a tour bus is like? Of course you have. Did you know there’s a Youtube channel where you can have a peek inside of one?

Digital Tour Bus takes you inside the roving residences of your favourite musicians, and Dope was featured on their platform in 2017! Dope – Bus Invaders takes you inside Dope’s tour bus to see what life on the road is like for the legendary rockers. If you’re not familiar with Digital Tour Bus, it’s a bit like what MTV Cribs was, but for tour buses. Same basic concept – famous person shows you around and you ooh and ahh. So if you liked MTV Cribs, you’ll probably like Digital Tour Bus.

This video has a few notable things about it, for one… our guy himself is giving the tour! He’s very engaging and funny, as always. Additionally, Acey Slade also makes an appearance in the video! I won’t give away too much, but it’s an entertaining watch for sure. Dope also did these videos on the channel: Dope – Tour Tips and Dope – Tour Pranks.

If these videos interested you, why not check out the rest of Digital Tour Bus’s offerings on their Youtube channel? I admit, I’ve watched quite a lot of their stuff! It’s actually really interesting to see what essentials people bring with them as they crisscross the country.

Looking for more Flashback Sunday articles? Click here!

Dope Shop Holiday 2023

I happened to be poking around the Dope website when I noticed a section called Holiday 2023. Of note: you can buy gift cards for the picky people on your list that would rather do their own shopping in Dope’s merch store. They come in denominations up to 200 USD, and honestly guys? I’d look into this if you’re buying for a Dope fan in your life and don’t quite know what to get them. Maybe they can look through my past Merch Roundups and get some ideas while they browse!

Also within the Holiday 2023 section are the various bundles Dope Shop offers. With price points from 99 USD to 124.99 USD, I really think this is an awesome deal for what you get with it. And you get a lot with it! This might actually be a metric fuck-ton of merch. The bundle could also easily be split into multiple gifts, if you wanted. Plus uh… you’ve been good this year, right? Even if you haven’t, keep some of the merch for yourself! Tis the season, after all.

I’ll be keeping my eye on the merch store, I’ve got a feeling we might see some new drops on the horizon. There’s also quite a few things in the Sale section that may or may not be going in my cart. (This one in particular – that shirt is rad.)