Angus Young on Eddie Van Halen

Wednesday, 31 August 2011

AC/DC’s Angus Young contributed to  the upcoming hardcover photo book, Eddie Van Halen, by Neil Zlozower.

The Van Halen News Desk has the exclusive on Angus Young’s quote in the book, below.
AC/DC played on a bill with Van Halen back in 1978 or 1979 for a Bill Graham Day on the Green show. I didn’t know much about Van Halen then except that I remember seeing film clips of them, especially the one of Eddie playing the solo piece, “Eruption,” and I was very impressed. I didn’t meet Eddie until years later when there was a Monsters of Rock open-air festival in England. I was shocked to hear he liked my playing, because I’ve never rated myself as a guitarist.
Eddie is an innovator. When I grew up we had a lot of guys from England who were great players, like Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Beck. And then, of course, when Jimi Hendrix came along, he changed the game. I’d put Eddie in that category of being an innovator like Hendrix. He changed the game for his style of playing. When Eddie came along he spawned so many imitators. Like Hendrix, suddenly you started to see people wanting to buy the same guitars he played and also play his licks. He turned the rule book upside down in terms of his approach. There was a lot of experimentation to his playing. Eddie also crosses into that avant-garde thing, which puts him in the same category as Hendrix.
“Eruption” is a favorite track. He’s got everything characteristic of his playing in that song–there’s a bit of everything.
When Jimi Hendrix came along it was like, “Where did this guy come from?” and I think that was the same feeling with Eddie. When Eddie appeared on the scene, every guitarist I ran into said, “You’ve gotta hear this guy!”
—Angus Young
From the upcoming hardcover photo book, Eddie Van Halen, by Neil Zlozower. For more info or to pre-order your Autographed copy, visit Van Halen Store.

 

DEF LEPPARD UK TOUR WITH MOTLEY CRUE - DECEMBER 2011 GUESTS STEEL PANTHER:

British Rock legends Def Leppard are set to embark on a UK tour with Motley Crue this December. The tour will see them play 6 UK dates with Steel Panther as special guest support. Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott says, “I can't tell you enough how thrilled I am to announce this tour! ... we always strive to make our shows an event & to have Motley Crue & Steel Panther along for the ride makes this an event that just can't be missed for rock fans across the UK !! ... come join us on what will be the event of the year!"
2011 has also seen the release of the band first ever live album, Mirrorball featuring classic tracks, three band new recordings and a bonus DVD and Leppard's first coffee table book, titled "Def Leppard – The Definitive Visual History”. The album was also released on 3Lp gatefold sleeve.
Def Leppard remain one of the world's biggest and most successful live acts. Before this year, the band last played the UK and Eire in 2009 – headlining Download festival that year after a hugely successful sold out UK Arena tour in 2008. June 2011 saw Def Leppard headline Download Festival for the second time in three years. The full UK December 2011 dates are as follows:
Tues 6th December 2011 Birmingham LG Arena
Thu 8th December 2011 Nottingham Arena
Fri 9th December 2011 Glasgow SECC
Sun 11th December 2011 Manchester MEN
Tue 13th December 2011 Sheffield Arena
Wed 14th December 2011 Wembley Arena
Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 2nd September priced at £47.50 London / £45.00 regionally (subject to booking fee) and will be available from www.livenation.co.uk.

With more than 65 million albums sold worldwide and two prestigious Diamond Awards (Def Leppard are one of only five rock bands to have two consecutive 10 million plus selling albums in the U.S. The others are The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Van Halen) to their credit, Def Leppard - Joe Elliott (vocals), Phil Collen (guitar), Rick "Sav" Savage (bass), Vivian Campbell (guitar) and Rick Allen (drums)— continue to be one of the most important forces in rock music. Over the course of their career, the band has produced a series of classic ground breaking albums that set the bar for generations of music fans and artists alike. The group's spectacular live shows, filled with powerful melodic rock anthems, continue to sell out venues worldwide. Their epic live show and arsenal of hits have become synonymous with their name, leading Def Leppard to be heralded as an institution in both the music and touring industry. “Mirror Ball” is out now on Frontiers Records.
WebLinks: www.defleppard.com / www.myspace.com/defleppard.

Jane's Addiction Pulls Out Of Leeds And Reading Festivals

8/30/2011 7:17 PM ET

(RTTNews) - Jane's Addiction was forced to pull out of scheduled performances at last weekend's Leeds and Reading Festivals due to frontman Perry Farrell's loss of voice.

"We got on site, and we were in there, all set to play," guitarist Dave Navarro told NME. "Perry was dressed and had his inner ear monitors in and we go to start and literally nothing came out of his voice. So we called a festival doctor, who came straight away and diagnosed Perry with an upper respiratory infection and told him that speaking, let alone singing, was out of the question."
Navarro apologized to fans and said that everything is "touch and go" when it comes to their upcoming gig at Koko in London.
"We're more than sincerely apologetic to all our fans who came to see us," he said. "We were all gutted, so gutted. We love playing here. But we've got to take care of him. If he'd pushed it and played then he could have really injured himself. Perry saw another doctor today and everything is touch and go at the moment, he's in bed, but we're taking everything day by day. He's being a real champ about trying to recover as quickly as possible."

Quick Hits!!

August 30, 2011 Coldplay will perform as part of CBS' Live On Letterman series on Tuesday, September 20. The band will perform on the Late Show with David Letterman that night, with the Live On Letterman webcast airing at 8:00 p.m. ET. The webcast will stream via CBS' website, as well as various CBS properties, VEVO, selected CBS Radio stations, Radio.com and on the JumboTron in Times Square. Sunday night's MTV Video Music Awards drew the largest audience in the network's history, with 12.4 million viewers. The previous VMA record was 11.95 million for the 2002 broadcast. According to a release from MTV, the 2011 VMAs brought in a 10.8 rating and 8.5 million among viewers aged 12-34, making it MTV’s most-watched telecast of all time in the demo. Compared to the 2010 VMAS, the award show was up eight percent with 12-34 year-olds and nine percent with total viewers. The VMAs were also the #1 cable telecast of 2011 with viewers aged 12-34 and the #1 non-sports cable telecast of 2011 with total viewers. Rock supergroup Chickenfoot have released the video for their new single, "Big Foot," which can be seen below. Chickenfoot III, the band's second album, will be in stores on September 27 in the U.S. Chickenfoot III will initially be released in the U.K. that week as a Limited Ediiton Fan Pack only, with its regular CD release set for October 24. Rick Ross faces another trademark infringement lawsuit with the release of his most recent album, Teflon Don. Rapper Teflon Don has filed a lawsuit against Ross, DJ Khaled, Def Jam Recordings, Universal Music Group, Slip-N-Slide Records and Maybach Music Group for "trademark infringement, common-law trademark rights, trademark delusion, unfair competition, tortious interference and fraud and identity theft," according to MemphisRap.com. Don claims that Ross' album is hindering his success. He states, "I'm building a name, I'm building a brand and for someone to come with an album and an alias the name 'Teflon Don' and they have big budgets to put behind it, it blocks me from progressing. I was climbing the ladder and it feels like I went straight downhill and I don't feel like that's fair." He continues, "It is almost belittling to me because the music he [Rick Ross] puts out is almost demeaning and the music that I put out is more positive. We have two different crowds and it is making me lose clientele based on the fact that they think that I am a negative rapper. So when they hear that Teflon Don wants to perform at a certain place sometimes they think negative and that was not the brand that I was building all these years." Rapper T.I. will be released from Forrest City Correctional Facility in Georgia after serving an 11-month sentence for a parole violation after an L.A. drug arrest. T.I. will enter a halfway house tomorrow (Aug 31) a month early from his original release date. The King has been updating fans through his TrapMuzik.com website, stating in his final message that he expected to be released in September and that he plans to have his new music draw influence from the material of his earlier days. "Next time you hear from me, I'll be back out there with you," he wrote. "Doing for those who can't do for themselves and speaking for those whose voices are never heard. When I touch down, I'm going all the way back to square one, like I'm fresh in the game and never sold a record. Back on some I'M SERIOUS, TRAP MUZIK sh--. ... But until then RESPECT to all who deserve it." The drama continues around the Michael Jackson tribute concert slated for Wales on October 8. Janet Jackson announced in a statement that she will not be attending the event, which is backed by Jackson matriarch Katherine and LaToya Jackson. "Because of the trial [of MJ's doctor], the timing of this tribute to our brother would be too difficult for me," Janet said in a statement, according to Reuters. Chris Cornell has released a new solo song "The Keeper," as the lead track on the original motion picture soundtrack to the forthcoming movie Machine Gun Preacher. The film is directed by Marc Forster (Finding Neverland, Monster’s Ball) and stars Gerard Butler (300, The Phantom of the Opera). The song was released Monday on ChrisCornell.com, as a pay-what-you-want download, with all proceeds from the donations going directly to Sam Childer’s Angels of East Africa charity. The track is now available on iTunes, with the soundtrack to be released September 20. Machine Gun Preacher hits select U.S. theatres on September 23. Rapper Game has authored his first book, The Making Of Game's The R.E.D. Album, which chronicles the making of his fourth major label CD. The book takes readers inside Game's songwriting and provides revelations about working with Dr. Dre, Rick Ross and Pharrell. "With my book The Making Of Game's The R.E.D. Album, I wanted to give my fans a behind-the-scenes look of how my new album came to be," Game says. "These are my stories in my own words. This book is the only place where you'll learn all the stories behind the music -- how I got the beats, what inspired my lyrics and how the album was put together." The book is available digitally on Amazon.com and Lulu.com, and it will be available soon on iTunes and in paperback through Amazon.com. Ex-Oasis co-founder Noel Gallagher has set a North American tour in support of his new solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. Gallagher will play Toronto on November 7 and 8, then Philadelphia, Boston, New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The self-titled High Flying Birds album will be out November 8, with a performance on the Late Show with David Letterman on November 10. As Puddle Of Mudd’s new album, re:(disc)overed, lands in stores today, the band has announced that they will perform the first single, "Gimme Shelter," on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on October 7. Puddle of Mudd is currently taking part in the Rock Allegiance Tour with Buckcherry, Papa Roach, P.O.D., Red, Crossfade and Drive A. Poison frontman Bret Michaels is currently working on an all-star roster to accompany him on his newest solo album Get Your Rock On. Potential guests include Def Leppard's Joe Elliott and Phil Collen, Stevie Nicks, possibly members of Lynyrd Skynyrd and younger groups such as Pop Evil and My Darkest Days. "I'm in the process of doing it as we speak," Michaels tells Billboard.com. "When you're having other artists perform with you, it's about working with their time schedule and a lot of taking care of some of the business before you can enjoy the pleasure of just jamming together. I try to keep it pretty organic. We have to make sure everyone's good with the timing and can get into the studio to sing. But I think we're going to have a blast making this record." The record may also include a live version of "Margaritaville" with Jimmy Buffet, recorded in 2010 in suburban Detroit. Still, Michaels plans on collaborating with other artist to produce original content. The first single, likely the title track, is set to release before the end of the year. Former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach was struck with tragedy this weekend as his New Jersey home was destroyed by Hurricane Irene. "I am numb, in shock, & devastated to report that my home of 21 years … has been destroyed, condemned, & deemed uninhabitable," the rocker posted on Facebook Sunday along with a picture of the damage. "What makes me happy is that my children & ex wife are safe…No one got hurt," he added. Lost in the flooded basement were irreplaceable items such as Skid Row master tapes, a KISS pinball machine and other band memorabilia. Possessions from the higher floors of the house are salvageable. L.A. trio Eastern Conference Champions have released a new video for their song "Bull In The Wild," which can be seen here, from their album Speak-Ahh. The band will play three shows in California in mid-September, before heading overseas for a European tour with ECC primarily opening for The Get Up Kids. Blues musician David “Honeyboy” Edwards passed away in his Chicago home at the age of 96 early Monday morning. He was believed to be the oldest surviving Delta bluesman whose roots stretched back to Robert Johnson. His manager, Michael Frank of Earwig Music Company, stated that Edwards had a weak heart and that he was forced to cancel dates in November due to his declining health, which started back in May. Edwards played his last shows in April at the Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, Miss. Edwards won a 2008 Grammy for traditional blues album and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement award in 2010. His death represents the loss of the last direct link to the first generation of Mississippi blues musicians, Frank said.

Puddle Of Mudd News!

As Puddle Of Mudd’s new album, re:(disc)overed, lands in stores today, the band has announced that they will perform the first single, "Gimme Shelter," on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on October 7. Puddle of Mudd is currently taking part in the Rock Allegiance Tour with Buckcherry, Papa Roach, P.O.D., Red, Crossfade and Drive A.

Lindsay Buckingham: Fleetwood Mac to Reunite?

08.30.2011

Guitarist Lindsay Buckingham is optimistic when it comes to a Fleetwood Mac reunion. In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Buckingham said the legendary band could be back on the road in 2012 – and might even work on a new album.
“I wouldn’t be shocked if it was a tour and possibly an album. We’ll have to wait and see. Nothing is on the books right now,” he said. “With Fleetwood Mac, there’s a lot of landmines out there politically and it’s hard to get everybody on the same page at the same time – but I think this might be one of those years where everyone will want to do the same thing. Whatever that is.”
It’s assumed that the reunited lineup would consist of John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks and himself – Christine McVie left the group and retired from touring more than a decade ago.
In the meantime, Buckingham is releasing a solo album, Seeds We Sow (out Septmber 6) and playing a 50-date tour this fall.

Jerry Cantrell Appears On New Richie Kotzen Album

08/31/2011
. Richie Kotzen has set a November 11th release date for his new album 24 Hours which features a guest appearance from Alice in Chains' Jerry Cantrell. Here is the background info his camp sent over: 24 Hours reflects the guitar style's that has defined his career as a virtuoso, while taking it to another level of playing. "I feel like I have reached a new level of soloing on the opening track 24 Hours," explains Kotzen. "I stopped using a guitar pick on electric a few years ago and my playing has evolved in a different way. Some of the solo lines I play on the song 24 Hours, and others as well, are lines I would have never been able to play with a guitar pick. So I would say the solo's on this CD are at a different level than previous recordings."

24 Hours is an absorbing collective blend of Kotzen's musical influences and diversity. 24 hours takes you on an inspired, musical journey as the opening track sets the tone that falls stylistically somewhere between early Van Halen and Sly and the Family Stone. Kotzen also brought in his talented daughter, August Kotzen and friend Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains, to complete the album. "My daughter, August is singing with me on a few songs and is playing electric piano on the song Stop Me," states Kotzen. "My friend Jerry Cantrell is singing backgrounds on Love Is Blind and does a very cool lead vocal ad-lib in the final chorus of the tune."24 Hours is an album that has been in the works since Kotzen started playing guitar. The guitar virtuoso burst onto the heavy metal scene as a teenager with a lightning-fast guitar techniques. With his talents Kotzen has played with some of the best musicians; securing such major collaboration with the band Mr. Big and renowned jazz great Stanley Clarke as well as his own solo projects. "I have been lucky in the sense that I have been able to play with guys who I could learn from," explains Kotzen. "The biggest musical lesson for me was playing in a band with Stanley Clarke and Lenny White. Obviously these guys are jazz musicians and I am not, but I learned so much from the time we recorded and toured together. My favorite rock bassist is Billy Sheehan and we were in Mr. Big together for 3 years which was awesome."

Aerosmith: New album expected in May 2012

An interesting update on the progress of the new Aerosmith album has surfaced courtesy of producer Jack Douglas.

The rock legends entered guitarist Joe Perry's The Boneyard studio in suburban Boston and their main studio, Pandora's Box, early this summer with long-time producer Douglas to begin recording their 14th studio album and first set of original material since 2001's “Just Push Play” and first studio album since 2004's blues covers CD, “Honkin' On Bobo.”

Douglas has shared an update on the new project.

"The new album should be out around May 2012,” reports Jack. “I know that's a long wait, but after the South American tour and Japan in October, November and December, we will just get back to work on it in mid-January. For those who are asking, this album will be raw, nasty, tough rock with a good deal of the old Aerosmith 'tongue in cheek.'"

The May 2012 date is interesting because, if the stars align, the new Aerosmith record should be released right around the time that Season 11 of American Idol is wrapping up….which could mean the Aerosmith appearance on Idol that fans have been waiting for since Steven Tyler landed his gig on the show….and one that Perry himself referenced earlier this year.

Perry wrote that Aerosmith is "looking forward to playing 'American Idol' next season when our new CD is out and we can prepare [for] a kick-ass show, if they ask us."

Hmmm…the stars could align pretty easily with just a little advance planning, so keep your eyes open for that to happen.

In other Aerosmith news, the band’s classic Columbia Records catalog recordings (1973-1987) will be available for the first time digitally on the iTunes Store beginning Tuesday, September 6th.

Aerosmith

Bret Michael's talks about book & touring w/ Def Leppard in 2012.

Bret Michaels back in the day but still rocking into 2012 If Poison frontman Bret Michaels has his way, his next solo album, "Get Your Rock On," will be a guest-studded affair that will feature Def Leppard's Joe Elliott and Phil Collen, Stevie Nicks, possibly members of Lynyrd Skynyrd and younger groups such as Pop Evil and My Darkest Days. "I'm in the process of doing it as we speak," Michaels tells Billboard.com. "When you're having other artists perform with you, it's about working with their time schedule and a lot of taking care of some of the business before you can enjoy the pleasure of just jamming together. I try to keep it pretty organic. We have to make sure everyone's good with the timing and can get into the studio to sing. But I think we're going to have a blast making this record." Michaels already has Elliott and Collen targeted for "Get Your Rock On's" title track, while other collaborations will be determined in the near future. He says the album may also include a live version of "Margaritaville" he performed with Jimmy Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band during 2010 at the DTE Energy Music Theatre in suburban Detroit. Mostly, however, Michaels plans "to draw on original stuff -- not that there's anything wrong with covering things. But I'd rather write some original stuff and have a really great song and then have someone else perform it with me. So that's what we're shooting for." As for a timetable, Michaels is hoping to have a first single -- likely the title track -- out by the end of the year, digitally if not on CD. But Michaels, characteristically, has a number of other projects he's juggling in addition to "Get Your Rock On." The singer, who starred in VH1's "Rock of Love" and won NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice 3" in 2010, is working on a pair of new reality TV shows. "Something to Believe In" is a network-targeted, philanthropic feel-good program that involves Donald Trump and will feature Michaels helping out families and businesses in need. "A Star is Reborn," meanwhile, is a competition show for cable that will involve "people who were big stars, who are creative and want to make a big comeback," with the winner getting another label deal. Michaels hopes to put both shows on the air in 2012. Meanwhile, Poison, which celebrated its 25th anniversary on the road this summer with Motley Crue and the New York Dolls, plans to tour again in the summer of 2012, and Michaels is hoping it will be with Def Leppard, who his band toured with in 2009. And he promises that 2012 will finally bring the publication of his long-promised autobiography "Roses and Thorns: The Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy to My Reality," which has says has been retooled to meet his latest deadline. "It's going to be about the roses and thorns of situations in my life -- what was happening, the good, the bad, the ugly and the solution," Michaels explains. "It won't be one of those books that, 'I was born here, I moved here, this happened here, me and CeCe (DeVille) got in a fight...' I wanted to give the book more of an identity. And it's been tough, because every time I think I'm finished, something new happens. But now it's closer to how I always wanted it to be, so it's going to get out there, in the summer." Bret article from BILLBOARD

One-Liners: ‘It does stink that KK’s not there’

Ripper on Priest, Slipknot future plus Beatles, Korn, Maiden, Tull, Moody Blues,Thin Lizzy, Alice Cooper, Fleetwood Mac and the Chillis

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Replacement: Ripper Owens with Judas Priest in 1996

Former Judas Priest singer Tim Ripper Owens hates the idea of the band touring without founding guitarist KK Downing – but admits it’s not his place to say.
Owens, who fronted Priest during Rob Halford’s absence between 1996 and 2003, says: “I can’t be the one to say, ‘It’s not the same without somebody.’ But it does stink that Ken’s not there.
“We did everything together – we and Glenn Tipton, Ian Hill and Scott Travis, we always did stuff together.
“I saw Ken recently. He’s excited and he’s enjoying his time off. I hope he’ll be back and he’ll get back at it. But the band are out there doing it and all the metal fans should go and support them.”
* * * * *
Slipknot percussionist Clown Crahan has confirmed the band will tour the US next year – and believes they’ll make an album eventually.
They’re still reeling from the death of bassist Paul Gray in May last year, forcing them onto a year-long hiatus before they played a series of festival shows in Europe over the summer.
Crahan says: “Slipknot will be touring by next June. That does not mean things will not change. No album yet because it’s too soon, and there are no songs yet because the band needs to come together to write this next one. I cannot wait to feel the ideas – like choking on colour. Everything happens for a reason.”
* * * * *
An Aston Martin DB5 once owned by Paul McCartney is expected to make £400,000 at auction in September. He bought the car in 1964 and had it customised with items including a record player.
Meanwhile, a signed copy of the Beatles’ single Please Please Me went for £9000 at a Liverpool auction, while a cap once owned by John Lennon made £3200.
* * * * *
Korn’s experimental dubsteb album is to be called The Path to Totality and will be released on November 15, according to fan site Kornspace.com. Song titles include Burn the Obedient, Illuminati, Kill Mercy Within and Chaos Lives in Everything.
* * * * *
Bruce Dickinson, Ian Anderson and Justin Hayward will perform a concert in Canterbuty Cathedral on December 10 to raise funds for upkeep of the building.
Canterbury Rocks at Christmas will feature the Iron Maiden, Jethro Tull and Moody Blues frontmen after Anderson put on a successful show last year.
They’re aiming to help the cathedral reach its target of £3m per year.
* * * * *
Alice Cooper guitarist Damon Johnson will replace Richard Fortus on Thin Lizzy’s upcoming US tour, as Fortus returns to Guns n’Roses for their next trek.
Johnson says: “The music of Lizzy is the biggest influence on my entire career. To be even a small footnote in the list of great guitarists who have been in the band is one of the highest accolades of my life.”
Orianthi Panagarism who previously played with Michael Jackson, will replace him in Cooper’s band.
* * * * *
Fleetwood Mac aren’t currently working on a new album, but guitarist Lindsey Buckingham expects they’ll get to it soon.
He says: “We’ve nothing going on at all. Steve Nicks has been busy touring and I’m just about to release my new solo album and I have plans to tour on the back of that.
“I’d be surprised if we don’t make a new album at some point. I heave eight or nine song ideas, some of which might fit in with Fleetwood Mac.”
* * * * *
The Red Hot Chilli Peppers’ new album I’m With You is the first rock release designed to deliver optimised quality via iTunes, says producer Rick Rubin. “We’re excited to work with iTunes to make an even better listening experience for fans,” he comments. “We can’t wait for everyone to hear it.” I’m With You is on release now.

Warrant ‘not shocked’ over Lane’s death

Guitarist says band stuck by singer as best they could – but real tragedy is he’s left two daughters behind

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Reunited: Lane with Warrant in 2008

Warrant guitarist Joey Allen says the band aren’t shocked by the death of former singer Jani Lane, who was found in a hotel room earlier this month alone with a bottle of vodka and prescription pills.
Lane left and rejoined the band a number of times as he struggled with his demons over the years, and Allen says his bandmates tried to offer the support.
He tells Sirius XM’s Eddie Trunk: “It’s no secret we did have our ups and downs with the guy, and it’s no secret in some circles we did what we could for him in our own way.
“We stuck through a few rehab stints with him during the reunion tour. There’s so much stuff people don’t know, that’s not necessarily for them to know. But it wasn’t us not wanting him to be well. A few months ago I said, ‘We’re rooting for the guy – let him get out there. People want to hear the music; people want to hear him sing. Go for it, do it well. And do it like you used to. It just wasn’t meant to be.”
Allen says he first became aware Lane was fighting against addiction issues at the beginning of the 1990s. “When the Seattle thing came on and took the win out of the late-80s hard rock scene, I think it was hard for him to deal with that.
“At the same time I think he was going through personal issues, which was hard. We were all there and supportive – we took time off when he needed time off. It just got a little dark.”
Lane remained with Warrant for just six months during their attempted reunion in 2008. Allen recalls: “When we got back together and I went and met him for the first time to bury the hatchet, he looked great and he sounded great. And he was good – it just didn’t last.
“With talented people like that, I think there’s peaks and valleys. The highest of highs and the lowest of lows. That’s what makes for some great music, unfortunately.
“The main tragedy is the guy is survived by two young daughters. I know one of them and she’s a really great kid. You’ve really just got to wish them the best – that’s where it stings the most.”

Rage aren’t ready to record

Busy Morello reveals band aren’t working on album to avoid industry trap that made them fall out in the 90s

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Time machine: Morello

Tom Morello has revealed Rage Against the Machine are not currently working on a new record because they don’t want to fall out again over pressure applied by the music industry.
But the guitarist says they haven’t ruled out working on new material in the future; although they don’t know when it might take place.
Morello tells Banana 101.5 Rocks: “I completely understand people want to hear we’re in the studio making a record. We are not – I’m sorry.
“Everybody in the band gets along great. We just played a festival that was super-fun and a great way to celebrate the first time we were in a room.
“It’s not a band that operated according to album cycles or anything like that. We did that back in the 1990s and it made everybody crazy – we didn’t get along because of it.
“Now when we want to do something, we do it. When we want to do a tour or play a show or write a song, we’ll do it – and we’ll let you know. It’s not going to be kept a secret.”
Morello has worked with iconic vocalists including Chris Cornell, Layne Staley and Serj Tankian – but he still reserves a great deal of praise for Rage frontman Zack de la Rocha.
The guitarist says: “I just think Zack is a tremendous passionate voice for the causes we believe in. If I had to pick one song it’s hard to argue with Killing in the Name.
“That profanity-laced refrain at the end is one that’s become a battlecry around the globe.”
But currently he’s focusing on his new Nightwatchman album, Worldwide Rebel Songs, which is released today. He says: “Now I’ve made as many Nightwatchman records as Rage Against the Machine Records. This is not some vanity project or side project – it’s something I’ve put my heart into.”
The latest release is his first solo title with a full band. Morello explains: “A couple of years ago I played an electric version of The Ghost of Tom Joad with Bruce Springsteen. It was the first time I sang while holding an electric guitar and I realised I could do it.
“I could bridge what I do in Rage without losing the integrity of the folk music stuff. So it’s this kind of punk-folk now, with Morellian shredding on top.”

JUST WHERE IS VAN HALEN'S NEW ALBUM AND WHEN WILL ANY PRESS COMMENCE?:

Just where is the Van Halen album at and when might fans get any indication that the new record is finally coming? That's the question constantly being asked by the band's frustrated fanbase. Time is running out for a 2011 release announcement, given that I personally am already working on November releases with some labels, with most locking in their plans for the last quarter already.
When one looks at the efforts underway in the Chickenfoot camp, it's easy to see who has the better grasp of media in the 21st century. Sammy Hagar and co are already all over Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and their own websites with video teasers, personal appearances and interviews. But still nothing from Van Halen, who commenced recording of the album back in 2010 with producer Ross Hogarth, apart from David Lee Roth telling us to coming to "Get Ready" (hopefully not to get ready for more disappearing tour dates, as happened in Australia).

I don't have much news today, but the latest from one of my sources suggests the continued "mixing" process, which is reported to have been going on for some time now, could involve additional vocals being recorded by David Lee Roth for inclusion on the album. The mixing process often includes the addition of extra parts and replacement of others. My source stated: "As for the album being shelved goes, it's not true. However, I will say that the delay lies within the vocals. That seems to be the main roadblock. Eddie is just not satisfied with the vocals that have been recorded and re-recorded which has caused a lot of frustration with both the Van Halen and Roth Camps alike. It's also my understanding that Shanks involvement ended up being very minimal compared to what the press made it out to be."
While this is just one source and won't ever be commented on by anyone officially...it does make sense, in explaining why at the start of September 2011 we still haven't heard one note of the new music.

I've heard further comments about US tour dates for the first 3 months of 2012, so it seems planning for the tour remains on track. There is a rumored January date for Van Halen in Indonesia, but that is anything but confirmed at this stage. Stay tuned as always...

Breckin Meyer Comedy Pilot Gets Green Light From TBS

8/29/2011 4:22 PM ET

(RTTNews) - Breckin Meyer's new comedy pilot has been ordered by TBS.

The ensemble comedy, called "Men At Work," has been described as a multi-camera comedy which features "bromance, sexcapades and the office adventures of four buddies who work at a magazine," according to TBS. The series will be executive-produced by "Hawthorne's" Jamie Tarses, as well as by Meyer himself.
The already-busy Meyer can currently be seen starring in "Franklin and Bash" on TNT. He also writes and appears as a voice actor on Cartoon Network's "Robot Chicken." He has previously appeared in the films "Clueless," "Rat Race" and "Garfield," among others.
"Men At Work" is being produced by Sony Pictures TV and Fanfare, Tarses' production company.

Theory of a Deadman Singled Out Week: Bad Girlfriend

08/30/2011
. Theory of a Deadman recently released their brand new album, "The Truth Is…" and to celebrate we asked Tyler to tell us a little bit about some of the songs on the album. Today we learn about "Bad Girlfriend". Here is today's story: I remember recording the riff and music at my home in Los Angeles way back in 2007. I sent it to Dave (guitar player) and he was really into it. We wrote the rest of the record (Scars and Souvenirs) and went into preproduction with Howard Benson. All the other songs were complete but for Bad Girlfriend, all we had was the music jammed out and the line "my girlfriends a dick magnet" hehe.
Bad Girlfriend was the very last song to sing vocals on and my ex wife and I quickly came up with the story about how we met in a popular bar in Vancouver called the ROXY. A place me and my friends would frequent after late nights in the studio and how I saw her pouring drinks in people's mouths from behind the bar and dancing on tables. She was the bad bad girlfriend. It was originally called "My Girlfriend" and stayed that way for awhile.
The song really rings true because well....IT IS.

Bret Michaels: New solo album to feature Def Leppard members

Bret Michaels has been busy touring this summer with Poison for their 25th Anniversary, as well as working in his solo shows to the schedule.

Now that the US tour with Motley Crue has wrapped up, Michaels is off next to Australia next month to open shows for the Crue on his own.

While all this is going on, Bret’s continues to work on his autobiography – set for release next year – and, he’s also been spending some time working on his next solo album, “Get Your Rock On,” and he’s been lining up some special guests to lend a hand to the proceedings.

The project will feature Def Leppard's Joe Elliott and Phil Collen, Stevie Nicks, possibly members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and younger groups such as Pop Evil and My Darkest Days.

"I'm in the process of doing it as we speak," Michaels tells Billboard. "When you're having other artists perform with you, it's about working with their time schedule and a lot of taking care of some of the business before you can enjoy the pleasure of just jamming together. I try to keep it pretty organic. We have to make sure everyone's good with the timing and can get into the studio to sing. But I think we're going to have a blast making this record."

Michaels already has Elliott and Collen targeted for "Get Your Rock On's" title track, while other collaborations will be determined in the near future. He says the album may also include a live version of "Margaritaville" he performed with Jimmy Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band during 2010 at the DTE Energy Music Theatre in suburban Detroit.

As for a timetable, Michaels is hoping to have a first single -- likely the title track -- out by the end of the year, digitally if not on CD.

Check out more of Bret’s plans from his session with Billboard here.

Leppard, Crue, Panther Tour Together

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Def Leppard, Motley Crue and Steel Panther are combining for six shows at the end of the year.
You can see the three bands playing in December at:
Tue. 6: Birmingham LG Arena
Thu. 8: Nottingham FM Arena
Fri. 9: Glasgow SECC Hall 4
Sun. 11: Manchester MEN Arena
Tue. 13: Sheffield Arena
Wed. 14: London Wembley Arena
Tickets go on sale from 9am on Friday, September 2. They cost £47.50 in London and £45 regionally. Buy them from www.livenation.co.uk

Matthew Fox Accuser "I'm Pressing CHARGES!"

The Cleveland party bus driver who claims Matthew Fox started a fist fight with her ... says the "Lost" star smelled "like a bar" -- and she's definitely pressing charges.

Heather Bormann says she thinks Matthew was drunk when she warned him several times to stop trying to get on the private bus Saturday night -- but she claims "he just stepped in for a right hook to my pelvis area and started wailing on me like I was a man."

Heather says she fought back in self-defense -- landing a left to Matt's jaw -- and today, in downtown Cleveland, she showed off her battle scars ... nasty bruises and an ace bandaged hand. She says she plans to meet with prosecutors tomorrow to press charges.

Heather also explains where she picked up the badass moves she busted out on Fox.

'Austin Powers' Villain Convicted of Torture In Rape Case

The guy who played "Random Task" in "Austin Powers" -- the guy who throws a shoe -- has been convicted of torturing a 20-year-old woman back in 1990.

Joseph Hyungmin Son was arrested in 2008 on suspicion of participating in a gang rape of a woman on Christmas Eve ... when DNA linked him to the crime.

According to prosecutors, Son and another man abducted the woman, dragged her into the back of a car, pistol whipped her and threatened to shoot her.

The victim claimed Son and the other man repeatedly raped her, and sexually penetrated her with a gun before releasing her in Compton naked.

Son is due back in court on September 19 for sentencing -- and faces a maximum of 15 years to life in prison.

X-Gn'R bassist Duff McKagan book tour in October!

X-Gn'R bassist Duff McKagan book tour in October! Axl will be elated to read this we're sure. Bassist Duff McKagan's (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES, DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED) upcoming autobiography, It's So Easy (And Other Lies), will be released on October 4th via Touchstone Books/Simon & Schuster. McKagan has scheduled the following book-signing events: Tuesday, October 4th Strand Book Store Event at 7 p.m. 828 Broadway New York City, 10003 Wednesday, October 5th Bookends Event at 7 p.m. 211 E. Ridgewood Ave. Ridgewood, NJ 07450 Thursday, October 6th Book Revue Event at 7 p.m. 313 New York Avenue Huntington, NY 11743 Saturday, October 8th Barnes & Noble Costa Mesa Event at 2 p.m. 901 B South Coast Drive Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Sunday, October 9th Barnes & Noble Santa Monica Event at 2 p.m. 3rd St. Promenade, 1201 3rd St. Santa Monica, CA 90401 Tuesday, October 11th Book Soup Event at 7 p.m. 8818 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90069 Sunday, October 16th Mall of America Event at 2 p.m. 60 E. Broadway Bloomington, MN 55425 Tuesday, October 18th Powell's Books Event at 7:30 p.m. 1005 W. Burnside Portland, OR 97209 Wednesday, October 19th University Book Store Event at 7 p.m. 4326 University Way NE Seattle, WA 98105 Thursday, October 20th Third Place Books Event at 7 p.m. 17171 Bothell Way NE Lake Forest Park, WA 98155 Friday, October 21st Elliott Bay Book Company Event at 7 p.m. Saturday, October 22nd Warwicks Event at 6:30 p.m. 7812 Girard Avenue La Jolla, CA 92037 According to Gary Graff from Billboard.com, Duff McKagan promises that It's So Easy (And Other Lies) is "not the same story" as former Guns N' Roses bandmates Slash and Steven Adler told in their memoirs. "Mine's not really a Guns N' Roses book, where I think Slash's ('Slash') really was...and I haven't read (Adler's 'My Appetite For Destruction')," McKagan, who plans to publish the book in October, tells Billboard.com. "I'm not saying one's better than the other. This is just my story. It's really my demise into addiction and stuff, and then my way out and my journey into things. My Guns N' Roses story is my Guns N' Roses story. My Velvet Revolver story is my Velvet Revolver story. It's my rock story, from my distinct viewpoint." McKagan acknowledges that "it was pretty gut-wrenching to write some of this stuff, just because I hadn't faced any of it until I had to write" the book. But while it's frank, he says the book is not a kiss-and-tell, either. "I didn't f*** around, but I didn't throw anybody under the bus, either," he notes. "There's some things you just don't break confidences on, even if you're warring with someone." Read more at this location. We lifted this from our friends at KNAC

Concert Review: Cinderella, John Corabi & Mass at Club Casino in Hampton Beach, NH

August 18, 2011 by Roger Scales  
Filed under 80s Guy For The Modern Eye, Daily Music News, Reviews

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Cinderella, John Corabi & MASS
Club Casino Ballroom
Hampton Beach, NH
August 10, 2011

Rating:  
Reviewed by:  Roger Scales

Triple Bill..very old school.   I like local music just as much as the next guy but there is a big difference between being curious and checking out a local opener and actually looking forward to seeing the support acts as much as or even more so than the headliner.  I have been a John Corabi fan since hearing the first release with The Scream in 1991.  I have always liked his vocal style and enjoyed his work with Motley Crue, the Union records, and also seeing him perform with RATT.  MASS has been a New England staple for as long as I have been able to walk into a nightclub  and 2011 has seen them supporting some of the best rock shows of the summer.  Cinderella, on their 25^th anniversary tour, had the most to prove on this nig, at least to me.  No new record since 1994, Tom Keifer has had throat issues over the past few years and could he still sing and what about the general attitudes and state of mind of the other three members? Is there still a fire in the belly or would they just go through the motions and mail in a lame set of hits with no regard to audience interaction, some hope for some new music or possibly throw in a rare song or two.  Well from my perspective Corabi delivered a terrific set, MASS was on fire and Cinderella, for the most part, was listless, predictable and underachieved on a night where they needed to show me something..and they didn’t.
John Corabi has to be the most unlucky yet talented musician I’ve ver seen WHO STILL GETS IT and JUST PLAYS BECAUSE HE LOVES IT .  The Scream should have been bigger but he bolted for the Motley Crue gig, and who could blame him. The Motley album he recorded (as good as it was) should have been called something else other than Motley Crue because the fans didn’t fully accept it and only waited for the return of Vince Neil.  The Union records also came out at a time when the music scene was shifting again and didn’t do as well as they should have.   He then tours with RATT but they never hit the studio and we will never know what he could have added in terms of song writing or vocals with that line up.  But forgetting all that, tonight John gave us a little bit of everything from his past in a 30 minute set that included a Union song, two songs from The Scream, a few Motley staples a Beatles cover along with a brands new song “If I Ever Said Goodbye” which will be appearing on an acoustic record John plans to release sometime soon.  His set was moving, heartfelt and very uplifting.  I would love to see John in another band setting, with Union or just playing unplugged like he did tonight.  Just play John..just play!  (Thanks for signing my Angora record by the way!)
Having the middle slot, MASS did benefit from going on a little later in the night then they have in prior shows and they took advantage of it giving the late arriving crowd a reason to raise their fists and rock as they ripped through a roughly 45 minute set of older hits plus a few newer songs from 2010’s Sea of Black.  I could tell right from the opening number ‘Falling from Grace” that the guys wanted to leave their mark on this Club Casino crowd and that’s exactly what they did.  The great thing about being a New England band is that even though you’re playing to a hometown New England crowd you have to earn their respect each and every night.  No matter how many times I have seen MASS they always play like they have something to prove.  Call it getting “no respect” or being “the underdog” call it whatever.. I always call it a quality gig. They just keep getting better and this night truly belonged to MASS.  I had people around me watching Louis belt out and hold notes with disbelief wondering how is he doing that?  One guy actually asked me if they were a “new band” and I pointed them right to the direction of the merch table and gave him a quick history lesson.  They played harder and louder tonight than they have all summer long.  It’s tough to nail down a set list (especially when you have twice as much original material as the headliner and play half the set time) but they did a good job of covering all the bases.  The future is “Lookin Good” for MASS not only in 2011 but into 2012 and beyond.
I just want to say right up front without hesitation that I love Cinderella.  No one was a bigger fan and saw them as often as I did in the late 80’s and early 90’s.  Arenas, theaters, club dates I saw it all.  I always thought they put on a quality show.  I recall a concert at Great Woods with Tangier and White Lion when it snowed onstage during “Long Cold Winter” and then all the bands came on the stage at the end of the night and jammed to “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Jumping Jack Flash”.  Fun, different and they seemed to try to keep things fresh.  Even tours in 2000 and 2002 they seemed to rock out and you figured at some point there would be some new music.  Where is it?  It’s  now 10 years later and still nothing.  You have to go back to 1994 and Still Climbing (drummer Fred Coury not even on that one having left to join Stephen Pearcy in Arcade) to find any new material.  After the effort I witnessed last night I’d have to call Cinderella “Barely Crawling,” the set left me bored, frustrated and curious as to the bands next move.
Right from the opening riffs of ‘”Once Around The Ride” it looked as if vocalist Tom Keifer was straining to reach even a mid level range.  Never what I would call a “gifted vocalist” I did enjoy that raspy “Steven Tyler meets Mick Jagger meets Brian Johnson” sort of feel I always got from him.  The guy is talented.  Songwriting, piano, guitar and even played a little sax on “Shelter Me” towards the end of the night.  What Keifer has lost, in my eyes, is the ability to connect with his audience and create a set list that flows and to be a showman.  One could argue that he was never a “showman” and maybe that’s true.  He is not nor was he ever in the David Lee Roth school of frontmen BUT when your touring for your 1^st and 2^nd albums and trying to prove yourself you don’t have to be.  However when you’re still playing that same set list and seem sedated and grumpy on stage try something different to make your audience smile and be appreciative.  I mean why would you play “Heartbreak Station” 3 songs into the set and lose whatever momentum you may have gained right after playing your first hit “Shake Me “ so early in the set?  That’s what I mean about no flow.  Let’s just play all the hits and get the hell out of Dodge.  I saw the audience DIE and head for the bars and restrooms as soon as that song started.
It was not all subpar for the entire show.  Drummer Fred Coury and bass player Eric Brittingham at least played as if they wanted to be there by providing a solid rhythm section and harmonies when needed.  “The More Things Change” and ‘Somebody Save Me” were probably the best two songs of the night.  Keifer’s vocals did get slightly better as the night wore on but it was such a sort set list (70 minutes) that he didn’t have time to gain much in terms of momentum.  Guitarist Jeff Labar played all of the songs ok but has lost the flair that I used to enjoy about seeing the band live; Keifer did the lion’s share of the tough guitar parts anyway.  After ‘Shelter Me” closed the set Keifer and Labar looked as if they just played a 3 hour set and played like 20 gigs in a row without a day off.
Maybe I’m being overly harsh but I’m often accused of sugar coating the bands I like and no matter what they did, are doing or might do in the future I’m always in their corner.  This is a very true statement, but I’m also fair and to the point.   This was a boring headlining gig played by a tired band resting on their laurels and not looking ahead but instead stuck in the past and having no clue how to satisfy their audience 25 years after originally kicking my ass, making me laugh (cue the Shelter Me video “We are going to the Cinderella concert and you’re not”) and giving me a show worth paying for.  Hey there is nothing wrong about going back to the past for a short visit..after all I am the “80’s Guy For The Modern Eye” but Cinderella took the Way Back Machine to 1987 and left it there.
##
Set Lists:
John Corabi Set List:
Love (I Don’t Need You Anymore)
If I Ever Said Goodbye
Father, Mother, Son
Holligan’s Holiday
Driftaway/Home Sweet Home
Man In the Moon
Oh! Darling
MASS Set List:
Falling from Grace
Pedal to the Metal
Turn it all around (Into) Reach for the Sky
Empty Soul (Into) Kashmir
Seven Days
Do you Love me
Over you
Sea of Black
Cinderella Set List:
Once Around the Ride
Shake Me
Heartbreak Station
Somebody Save Me
Night Songs
The More Things Change
Coming Home
Second Wind
Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)
Nobody’s Fool
Gypsy Road
Encore:
Long Cold Winter
Shelter Me

Avenged Sevenfold plan a break

M Shadows says that new drummer Arin Ilejay is ‘their guy’ but time out in the recording and touring cycle is essential to avoid burn out

Reported by Eric MacKinnon

Published: August 27, 2011. © Rock AAA.

A7X: Time out essential

Avenged Sevenfold singer M Shadows has revealed the band are plotting a well-earned breather after their wrap up their touring cycle for current album ‘Nightmare’ and he says the length of break and whether they will do any writing in that time is up in the air.
In a chat with Billboard.com the frontman also praised the impact of recent recruit Arin Ilejay on drums and insisted the 23-year-old, who follows on from Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy who took over after the tragic passing of original drummer Jimmy ‘The Rev’ Sullivan, is ‘their guy.’ Shadows said:
“Ilejay is great. He’s 23 now, and the first show he played was in front of 16,000 people, and from there we went to Rock Am Ring, 80 or 90,000 people in Germany. As far as personality and his playing, he’s our guy, but we haven’t been able to write a record with him yet.
“So we want to make sure for his good and for our good that he can write with us and bring something to the creative and be comfortable in the situation. We’re just trying to work towards that, and hopefully everything works out ’cause we love the guy.”
Speaking on the band’s tradition of taking time out between record’s Shadows points to the recent rumours of a split with metal heavyweights Disturbed as evidence their method works.
He added: “We’ve always taken a long time (between albums), and everyone’s told us we’re stupid for doing that.
“But I think bands burn themselves out. Look what happened to Disturbed; those are good friends of ours, and you just get caught up in the do a record, tour for two years, do a record, tour for two years…We’re very cautious of making sure that everybody has their time. We need to go home…and make sure everybody’s mentally in the right spot to do a new record.
“We all hang out with each other. Me and (guitarist Synyster) Gates are married to twin sisters and they’re best friends, so it’s a total family thing we have going on. And I have a studio in my house.
“So does (Gates). So we’ll hang out and lay some stuff down and joke around with it, and eventually it turns into something for the band — which is a much healthier way to do it instead of putting a lot of stress on ourselves to meet a deadline or something.”