Source: Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation press release Official Site: anime-expo.org Special Thanks to Jim Yeager and Roberta Silverman Anime Expo (AX), North America’s largest anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture celebration, will present the U.S. concert debut of the anime-inspired heavy metal band, ANIMETAL USA, when it returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center from June 29 – July 2, 2012. ANIMETAL USA promises to take AX by storm with its furious combination of classic and original anime music, metallic riffs, solos, powerful vocals and futuristic make-up and costumes. As Official Guests of Honor, the band will also participate in a meet-and-greet, autograph signing and a focus panel. The phrase "metal super group" was custom-made for ANIMETAL USA whose members include singer Mike Vescera (Obsession/ex-Loudness), bassist Rudy Sarzo (Blue Öyster Cult, ex-Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot, Whitesnake, Dio), guitarist Chris Impellitteri (Impellitteri), and drummer Scott Travis (Judas Priest). Adding to the group’s stellar rock pedigree, former Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman has joined Impellitteri in arranging its tunes. ANIMETAL USA’s self-titled, October 12, 2011 debut album has been gold-certified in Japan and has hit the #1 spot on Amazon`s Hard Rock Heavy Metal chart and #2 on Amazon`s Anime chart in Japan. The band’s sophomore album entitled “W,” set to release in the U.S. in June 2012, includes “Give Lee Give Lee Rock Lee,” the opening theme song of the global anime marvel NARUTO spin-off series, NARUTO-SD-ROCK LEE & HIS NINJA PALS. For more info visit animetalusa.com. The date and time of the ANIMETAL USA concert will be announced shortly. For more information, visit anime-expo.org. ANIMETAL USA join the previously announced AX 2012 line-up that includes Culture Japan’s Danny Choo, popular voice actors Jamie Marchi and Steve Blum, and Japanese pop star LiSA.

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About Anime Expo

Now in its 21st year, Anime Expo is North America’s larges celebration of anime, manga and Japanese pop culture. Anime Expo gives fans the rare opportunity to meet and hear from some of the most famous anime, manga, musical, game, and fashion artitsts from Japan. AX 2012 will feature an exciting schedule of exclusive screenings; artists’ panels; live concerts; cosplay; dance parties, karaoke, and video competitions; non-stop video gaming and unsurpassed shopping from more than 3,000 vendors. AX 2012 takes place June 29-July 2, 2012 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

About the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation

The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to popularize and educate the America public about anime and manga, as well as provide a forum to facilitate communication between professionals and fans. This organization is more popularly known by its entertainment property, Anime Expo®. For more information, please visit spja.org.