November 14, 2023 by

EDF.org Merch Roundup

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I’ve been browsing the Dope merch store, so it’s time for another Merch Roundup! If this is your first Roundup, these are features where I highlight items from Dope’s store that have caught my eye. I do them approximately whenever I feel like it, which generally amounts to once or twice a month.

As always with any Roundup, it comes with a big fat DISCLAIMER: I am not receiving commissions if you buy anything through these links! No one is paying me for my opinions. These are simply items in the Dope merch store that I like and decided to share with you. With that out of the way, let’s jump right in!

DOPE LOGO MUG

It wouldn’t be a Merch Roundup without a mug, would it? Pretty sure I’ve featured at least one mug in every Roundup. I’m not sure if this was in the shop when I did the last one, but I think we can all agree that drinking your coffee out of a mug that says Dope on it is rad on many levels.

Dope Zer0 Embroidered Hat

I’ve said before on the Roundup that I’m not a hat person. But Dope and Static-X’s merch shops keep proving me a liar. I LOVE this hat. Plus, look at Edsel on the underbill! I actually really want this, I’m probably buying it to be honest.

CROSS SHIRT

I genuinely love this cross logo. Simple, cool, this is just a great looking shirt all around. You’ll always be representing the best in this shirt, and it’s so versatile I can see it being in heavy rotation in your wardrobe.

Blood Money Part Zer0 Record and Hoodie Bundle

Okay… this is pricey, and I totally get that. But I wouldn’t recommend this bundle to you if I didn’t truly think it was worth the money. Look at all the goodies you get with it! I’m super jealous of the bag and the poster in particular. Plus, there are three different versions of this package: Shirt, Hoodie (the one I’m featuring), and Shirt and Hoodie. So you can choose what best suits your taste and price point.

That’s about it for this Roundup – Merch Roundups are one of my favourite features on EDF.org, and I hope you like them as well!

November 12, 2023 by

New Layout!

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edseldopefan.org has a new layout! I’m actually super happy with this, I think it turned out absolutely gorgeous. I know it’s not exactly the aesthetic you’re used to when it comes to Edsel, but there’s room for all sorts of styles out there! To paraphrase Edsel himself: “It’s art! It either speaks to you, or it doesn’t. Either way, it’s all good.”

I’ve been giving the site an overhaul bit by bit so be sure to browse around! Flashback Sunday will be back next week, as I wanted to give EDF.org’s new look a chance to shine. A couple of things caught my eye recently in the world of Dope merch, so there may be a new Merch Roundup soon as well.

November 9, 2023 by

EDF Photo Updated

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DEBONAIRE SCREENCAPS // SICK SCREENCAPS // WATCH DEBONAIRE AND SICK ON YOUTUBE

Apologies for the delay in updates. I’ve been working on a new layout for EDF.org, so that’s taken a bit of my time. I don’t have an exact date it will be debuted other than SOON[tm], but it’s shaping up to be gorgeous. I can’t wait for you to see it.

EDF Photo has been updated, with the following galleries added:

  • Debonaire
  • Sick

With these additions, EDF Photo has an incredible 1,090 photos in 22 albums! What’s wild is, we’ve only just begun. I started EDF.org to give back to a man who truly inspires me, and it’s my sincere hope you enjoy this site as much as I love working on it for you. edseldopefan.org is the largest and most continuously updated resource for Edsel Dope, and it’s certainly my pleasure to bring only the best to you – his devoted fans! Thank you so much for your visits and kind words, it really means the world.

Sorry for that detour, but it does come from the heart. Thank you.

If you have not already seen the videos for Debonaire and Sick, I think you know what you must do. Click the links above to watch them right on Dope’s official channel. If you aren’t already subbed, why not hit subscribe? It really does help a lot to subscribe and show your support for Edsel and his music! Not only can you watch these and a ton of other Dope videos on their channel, you can check out all their releases as well. Right now, Dope’s sitting at about 121K subscribers, and while that does make them eligible for a Silver creator award… we can do better than that, right? Right. When you sub, be sure to hit the notification bell so you never miss an upload, as seen below:

November 1, 2023 by

Wayne Static: A Fond Memorial

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wayne static

On November 1st, 2014, the music world lost a legend. Or at least, that’s what I would be saying if we were talking about anyone else but the incomparable Wayne Static. Though Wayne may be physically gone from this world, his legacy and influence have far outlived him.

A Passion for Music

Wayne Richard Wells was born on November 4th, 1965 in Muskegon, MI to Richard and Darlene Wells. His love of music started early: as a youngster, he was enthralled by the larger than life personas of the band KISS. By the age of twelve, he had started his first band with a group of neighbourhood friends. It was these first exposures to music that shaped young Wayne and cemented his determination to make music his career. He would burst onto the world stage with Static-X in 1999 with the band’s debut album Wisconsin Death Trip, leaving a lasting impression on the music scene.

Wayne Static was never one to go with the crowd. His genre defining style set trends but never followed them. Wayne’s work with Static-X spanned six studio albums, producing hits like “Cold”, “I’m With Stupid” and “Push It”. His solo outing Pighammer further solidified Wayne’s reputation as the King of Evil Disco.

A Lasting Legacy

Wayne left this world far too soon aged 48. His impact on the music industry was immense, and his legacy continues to this day. Part of his last recordings with Static-X were released with the band’s Project Regeneration Vol I in 2020, with one reviewer writing: “Static-X were ahead of their time and perhaps a little underrated. Through this cathartic process, the album serves as a love letter to Static and their loyal fan base, a respectful tribute that both honors his legacy and adds an unexpected new chapter to their discography.”

Did Wayne have any idea he would one day become such an icon? It likely never crossed his mind. Wayne did everything he did for the pure love of his craft, and the deep love he possessed for his fans.

We loved you too, Wayne. We still do. You gave us everything you had.

Thank you. For all of it.

October 29, 2023 by

Flashback Sunday: Misery, baby…

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SOURCE: @dopetheband // VIEW SCREENCAPS (EDF PHOTO)

For your Flashback Sunday this week, we’ve gone against the grain a bit. We usually point you to an interview but today, we’re taking a look at the video for Misery off Dope’s latest release Blood Money Part Zer0.

Misery was directed by Edsel Dope and longtime collaborator Matt Zane. Like Lovesong, Misery also showcases the talents of Drama Club, which always add an innovative twist to any track. As with any production between the powerhouse duo of Edsel and Matt Zane, this video is nothing but quality from start to finish. The artistry still brings the boys to the yard, or in this case… would it be the sideshow to the circus? Which leads us to the next question: who are the mysterious circus performers featured in the video?

Hellzapoppin Circus Sideshow are an entertainment troupe based out of Dallas, Texas. Led by creator and mastermind Bryce “The Govna” Graves, Hellzapoppin takes the traditional idea of the circus sideshow and turns it on its head. Described as a rock n roll circus sideshow, Hellzapoppin features incredible stunt performers like the fiery Willow Lauren, illusionist Dan Sperry, and the thrilling Andrew S. You can check out Hellzapoppin’s fantastic performance right here in the Misery video – and if you like what you see, why not catch them on tour? They have dates all throughout the rest of 2023, and from what I’ve checked out it’s a hell of a show.

Once you’re done watching the video for Misery, be sure to give it a thumbs up on Youtube and if you haven’t already, subscribe to @dopetheband. You can also check out EDF Photo’s 71 screencaps of the Misery video!

October 24, 2023 by

The Essentials: Dope

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This article from 2017 where Edsel names the 10 best Dope songs got us thinking here at EDF.org.

A common question we get from new and even long time Dope fans is: what Dope tracks do we consider essential listening? A tough question indeed: Dope’s catalogue of work is huge, has a massive range, and its quality is consistently excellent.

After giving it a lot of thought (this article took a long time to write), I think we’ve finally come up with our selections. EDF.org’s picks are a bit unorthodox, but we think our choices display the very essence of what made us so devoted to Dope in the first place. Obviously we will not be counting cover songs (as they are not original Dope compositions), but there’s enough of them that we’ll definitely do a separate Essentials just for Dope’s covers.

Today, edseldopefan.org brings you The Essentials: Dope. Let’s get right into it.

  • I Am (Album: Group Therapy)
Listen on Youtube (@dopetheband)

I’ve said before that I Am is the fuck you anthem you didn’t know you needed. Where Die MF Die is venomous middle finger to the world, I Am is an ode to staying true to yourself regardless of what people think. It’s a song that’s often slept on, but we believe it personifies Dope’s zero fucks given attitude quite nicely.

A lot of people don’t realize how much range Dope as a band actually has. Darkness yet acceptance, fear yet resolve, My Funeral is a raging tumult. A showcase of both depth of emotion and depth of talent, Dope prove they are far from one note on this track.

  • Blood Money (Album: Blood Money Part 1)
Listen on Youtube (@dopetheband)

When asked to name the song that best exemplifies Dope’s vibe, many point to Die MF Die. We respectfully disagree. Blood Money IS Dope’s vibe, both musically and aesthetically. Not everyone’s going to align with this raw energy, and that’s kind of the point. But for those who “get it”, this song resonates deeply.

  • No Respect (Album: Blood Money Part Zer0)
Listen on Youtube (@dopetheband)

No Respect is one of those songs that grabs you by the neck and shakes you in the best possible way. The track is relentless from start to finish, holding you in its grip and refusing to let go. Unabashed, brutal, and uncompromising, this is essential listening for any Dope fan.

Another song that shows the range Dope possesses as a band. It was hard to choose between this and Easier, but we feel that Sing slightly edges out Easier in showing what Dope is capable of as a band and what Edsel is capable of as a vocalist. In many ways, it seems like Sing walked so that Believe could run years later, as both songs are seen as such stark departures from Dope’s baseline. Real ones know better, though.

And there you have it! We’ve limited our picks to five, but we feel these essentials are the perfect curated list for what we personally love about Dope: the fury, the introspection, the middle finger to the world, the vulnerability, the passion and pain. Personally, I hope Edsel does another one of these lists – with the release of Blood Money Part Zer0, I’d love to hear if any of his picks have changed!

For new fans, we hope our Essentials list gives you a window into the world of Dope. To long term devotees, do our picks align with yours? You’re always welcome to reach out and chat with me using the means here. Until next time!

October 18, 2023 by

HUGE Gallery Update!

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EDF Photo has been updated in a big way – we’re now over 1000 photos strong and are proud to be your largest resource for media relating to Edsel Dope!

Let’s look at the galleries that were part of this massive update:

Music Video Screencaps

Interviews (All video sources are linked in the individual album’s description!)

Other Media Appearances

Band and Solo Gallery

Here at edseldopefan.org, we are committed to bringing you the very best. As such, we only use our platform to publicize media and news that comes from official or first hand sources (either Dope’s official website and social media or interviews conducted with Edsel himself). That’s my promise to you: I will only ever bring you the highest quality and most accurate media I can.

There’s more updates to come – even with this mega update, there’s still more in the pipeline!

October 14, 2023 by

LoveSong – Video Out Now (And gifts for you!)

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WATCH “LOVESONG” ON DOPE’S OFFICIAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL

We’re still celebrating the hell out of “LoveSong” here on EDF.org, and what better way to do that than new Edsel graphics? I did have a notion for this to be part of the new site layout, but the design went in a different direction than I expected. My loss is your gain in this instance, because now it’s available for your use! If you’re using it as a wallpaper, it looks best if you center it due to it being on the smaller side. (It wasn’t meant to be a wallpaper after all, but looks great in that capacity!) Click the image to view it full size.

I’ve also created two gifs from the video. As always with my work – credit is appreciated, but not necessary. Just do not repost claiming that you made them.

If you haven’t seen the LoveSong video yet, why not check it out now? Directed by Edsel and longtime collaborator Matt Zane, LoveSong breathes new life into the classic song by The Cure. It is an aesthetic delight, pulling you into a story that is deep and evocative.

LoveSong features the talents of Drama Club, Edsel’s other musical project. It’s a bit hard to describe Drama Club to those that have never heard them, other than issuing a warning that you won’t be able to sit still with all that energy coming your way. (I’m listening to them right now actually, and have to stop typing every so often to headbang.) Curious? Allow EDF to recommend a few selections for your listening pleasure: My Life, Halloween 365 (Never Coming Down), and Maniac. You can also like and sub to Drama Club’s YT if you fancy: @dramaclubtv1 .

October 13, 2023 by

Machine Killer Tour: Tabernacle, ATL

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On the 10th of October, I was in attendance at the Machine Killer Tour’s stop in Atlanta. My advice? If you have a chance to see this show when it comes to a town near you, *do it.* It was absolutely incredible. I’ll try to give you a bit of a rundown of what went on as best I can.

While I was mostly in attendance to cover Dope, I have to say the entire show has a level of production value and polish that makes every moment a visual and auditory feast. Dope took the stage after Lines of Loyalty (keep reading for my opinions on them). Edsel’s voice sounded fantastic during this set, as though he had barely aged a day since Dope first exploded onto the music scene. I’d go as far to say that his voice sounds basically identical to how it does on Dope records, which is a feat not a lot of vocalists can claim. My only gripe is not even a gripe, really: I just wish the set had been longer! I could have gone for an hour of listening to them. As they were an opening act, their set was short but damn did it kick ass.

I’ve added several videos from the performance to EDF.org’s Youtube page. Though you might find the opinion of the webmaster of an Edsel Dope fansite a bit biased (Which… fair, enough, I guess?), I think the videos prove that Dope’s still got it. Click here if you’d like to see them! I’ve still got more to upload, so keep checking back! (And while you’re at it, please also sub to Dope’s official YT – you can do so at @dopetheband)

Additionally, I had the absolute honour and pleasure of meeting Edsel as part of the VIP Bus Hang add on. To say this was a dream realized is a massive understatement. He was very sweet and very kind. Just a really genuine and authentic person. I actually walked away from that meeting even more of a fan of his, which I didn’t think was possible! I also got to meet Daniel Fox, who is adorable. He gave each member of the VIP group one of his picks, a bonus I will certainly treasure.

If you can swing it, I recommend taking part in this VIP package if there are any left at the show you’re attending. I don’t use the phrase “best day ever” lightly, but this was probably my best day ever. Compared to a lot of artist meet and greets, this gives you a lot of value for what you spend and the memories are absolutely priceless.

My thoughts on the other acts on the bill:

  • Lines of Loyalty: I had actually never heard of this band before, and only managed to catch the tail end of their set. So my opinion is informed only by the little I saw. From what I was able to check out, they rocked *hard*. Give them a listen on their official YT page @LINESOFLOYALTY.
  • Sevendust: You might think it’s heresy that I was not too familiar with Sevendust in the ATL (that’s Sevendust country!), but their set gained them a new fan: me! Hearing Lajon speak about his deep roots and emotional connection to Atlanta was a powerful moment. The band brought the house down with their slick production values and not a single person was seated or still during the entire set. Mad respect to these guys.
  • Static-X: Though I was indeed there to cover Dope, I have to say I was equally excited to see Static-X. I didn’t indulge in the spoilers or fan vids I knew were floating around about their show, and this was a sound decision in my opinion. Seeing it with fresh eyes without knowing what was going to happen next was thrilling. The tribute to Wayne Static (“Cold”) was made even sweeter by the revelation that Wayne’s mother and sister were in the house that night.

It might seem like this post is just a gushing mountain of praise, and you’d be correct to think that. Because… it is! But it’s well deserved. I’m not the type to blow smoke up someone’s ass and tell them something’s worth it when it isn’t. And this whole experience was 100% worth every bit I spent on it (And I’m talking airfare, hotels and Ubers as well, since I travelled to be there!) In all honesty, if I had the money and resources I would see this lineup twenty more times. If the tour is rolling through or near your town: go. You’ll have a fucking blast.

October 12, 2023 by

Sending love to Andre “Virus” Karkos: Get well soon!

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edseldopefan.org sends the utmost love and support to Dope guitarist Andre “Virus” Karkos. Virus was taken ill while on the Machine Killer tour, leaving to receive medical treatment. Virus, we love you and are hoping you make a speedy recovery!