Killswitch Engage Part Ways With Howard Jones
(Banana 101.5) Killswitch Engage issued a statement via their official website announcing their plans to move forward without singer Howard Jones.
"To our family, friends and fans: We have decided to continue on without Howard Jones as the singer of Killswitch Engage. We love Howard and are thankful for the nine years that we've had him in the band.
"Out of respect for everyone involved we will not be discussing the specific reasons behind this decision. Howard is a part of our family and always will be, and we wish him well. He has left big shoes to fill, so we certainly have our work cut out for us to find the next singer of Killswitch, something we plan on making priority #1 going forward." more on this story
Nearly 700 Unreleased Thin Lizzy Tracks To Be Released
(Gibson) Spinner reports that before his death in 1986, Thin Lizzy bassist/frontman and main writer Phil Lynott gave an unidentified caretaker 150 tapes of unreleased music. In 2012, some of the nearly 700 tracks included in the archive will see the light of day – Universal Music has acquired the tapes and the company is prepping a new Thin Lizzy box set which is due out later in 2012.
"This is an absolutely stunning find," project manager Steve Hammonds told the Irish Independent. The collection will feature outtakes and alternate versions of Lizzy hits, as well as "material which was recorded but never released at the time," Hammonds added. The recordings span from 1971 to 1981 and total approximately 150 hours.
The group's surviving members – Scott Gorham, Brian Robertson, Brian Downey, Eric Bell and others – are reportedly helping with the mammoth project. 2012 marks the 26th anniversary of Lynott's passing, but Hammonds insists this box set is no vulgar cash-in. more on this story
David Gilmour Shoots Down Pink Floyd Reunion Rumor
The UK press has been having a field day sparking rumors of rock legends reuniting to play the 2012 Olympics in London.
All of these rumors have quickly been shot down and the latest legendary group to dismiss such reports is Pink Floyd.
A representative for David Gilmour had this to say to NME, "There is no truth in recent media speculation about Pink Floyd reuniting to perform for the 2012 London Olympics." Read the NME report
No Revival Of Creedence Clearwater Revival
(Gibson) Two former members of Creedence Clearwater Revival say fans shouldn't get too excited about John Fogerty's recent claim that he would consider an offer to get back with the band if one was put to him.
In July 2011 Fogerty told the Calgary Herald, "Realizing that it doesn't really kick up a big firestorm of emotion, it kind of suggests that at least if someone started talking I'd sit still long enough to listen." But bass player Stu Cook tells Uncut Magazine in the February issue that there will be no such reunion. "Leopards don't change their spots," Cook said. "This is just an image-polishing exercise by John. My phone certainly hasn't rung." Drummer Doug Clifford added, "It might have been a nice idea 20 years ago, but it's too late."
In the '90s Fogerty sued Cook and Clifford to stop them touring under the name Creedence Clearwater Revisited (the courts ruled in Cook and Clifford's favor), and he refused to appear with them at their induction at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. more on this story
Zakk Wylde To Release The Bible of Stupidity
(Banana 101.5) Zakk Wylde is known for many things, most of them relating to music or being an all-around badass.
His latest endeavor has the Black Label Society frontman storming the literary world with what he calls the 'Bible of Stupidity.'
"A new literary masterpiece up there with Gone with the Wind. It's basically a literary bible of stupidity. (laughs) Me and (co-author) Eric (Hendrikx) were writing the thing, we were just laughing our balls off when we were writing some of this stuff. A lot of the situations are really real. It's me talking about a lot of real situations that have actually happened and talking about how ridiculous the music business is. The whole thing is, you've got your posters of Jimmy Page up on the wall and Randy Rhoads and Eddie Van Halen and Jimi Hendrix, Frank Marino, Robin Trower—all my favorite guys—and you practice your balls off 'til your fingers and your hands are bleeding to hone your craft, and anything after that just basically goes down the s—ter. It's one rude wakeup call after another." more on this story
Metallica Set New Release
(Gibson) Metallica will release their four-track Beyond Magnetic EP as a physical edition at the end of January, after the album was made available via digital retailers last month.
The four songs are rough mixes of leftover songs from the Death Magnetic recording sessions of 2007 and 2008. Each of the songs was performed live during Metallica's four-night 30th anniversary stint in San Francisco in December, then released to the band's fan club members that evening.
The four songs are "Hate Train," "Just a Bullet Away," "Hell and Back" and "Rebel of Babylon." They were the only four leftover songs from the sessions. "We kept them in the vault and decided to pull them just for this special celebration, so here are the four leftover tracks from the Death Magnetic sessions," the band said. "They are ROUGH mixes, unfinished to their original degree of mixing from March '08."
The digital release of Beyond Magnetic sold around 36,000 copies in its first week, reaching #32 on the Billboard charts. Beyond Magnetic will be released on CD on January 31 in North America and January 30 in the rest of the world. more on this story
Steve Perry Plotting His Return
(hennemusic) Former Journey singer Steve Perry is planning to get to work recording in a studio that's nearing completion in his southern California home.
"I'm finishing that room up and I've written a whole bunch of ideas and directions, all over the map, in the last two, three years," Perry tellsBillboard. "So I plan on getting in the studio at some point and start trying to track these things and see where they go."
There's no formal timetable, however. "I don't want it to have pressure," explains Steve, "because I'll worry about it sucking, and then what am I gonna do? I've got all this pressure... that I just don't want on me, so I've allowed myself the ability to sketch and write as I go, and I'll do it at my own pace." more on this story
Stone Sour's Next Album Pink Floyd Meets Alice in Chains?
(Banana 101.5) Stone Sour have been at work on what frontman Corey Taylor has said may become a double-disc concept album. Taylor recently gave a progress report on the project describing it as "Pink Floyd's 'The Wall' meets Alice in Chains' 'Dirt' on steroids."
Taylor recently sat down with Artisan News to speak about Stone Sour's upcoming third (and technically fourth) album:
"We're still writing and recording stuff. Right now alone, we have 13 completed songs, with six more that I can demo, probably two or three that Josh [Rand, guitar] still has that we're tweaking, and then a bunch that Jim's [Root, guitar] gonna bring in. Our ultimate goal is a double concept album, which the only way I can describe it is [Pink Floyd's] 'The Wall' meets [Alice in Chains'] 'Dirt' on steroids. And I think it's gonna be fantastic. And if I can pull it off, it's gonna be the biggest thing we've ever done in our career." more on this story
Creed Expand North American Tour Plans
Creed have added additional dates for their upcoming intimate North American Spring tour.
The group announced that they have added added more dates in Connecticut, D.C., Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Kansas City to the tour.
The band will be performing their blockbuster albums My Own Prison and Human Clay in their entirety along with hits from their albums Weathered and Full Circle. more on this story
Red Hot Chili Blur Supergroup Gearing Up For Shows and Album Release
(Gibson) It may be an unlikely liaison, but Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and Blur frontman Damon Albarn have recorded an album and are rehearsing for live shows. The third key member of Rocketjuice and the Moon is Fela Kuti drummer Tony Allen. There are also guest appearances from Erykah Badu, the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and many others.
"We met on a plane in 2008," bassist/trumpeter Flea told Mojo magazine. "The three of us were going to Lagos as part of Damon's Africa Express Collective. I'm a huge Fela Kuti fan and Tony [Allen] is one of my favourite drummers, so to get to talk and play with him was phenomenal. The way I approach rhythm and groove is very similar to the way he does, and I feel with him a special something that is hard to put into words… but it's a beautiful thing."
"We were going to meet someday," added Allen. "It feels like I've been playing with Flea for many years."
Albarn agreed that, "Everything just fell into place. It felt special being in a room together."
Rocketjuice and the Moon's self-titled debut album is due for release in March and has been recorded in London with overdubs in Paris, Berlin and Chicago. What on earth will it sound like? "It is all funk," Allen told Mojo. more on this story
KISS Finishing New Album This Week
KISS are almost done with their "Monster" new studio album, Monster is the planned title for the effort.
Ultimate Classic Rock reports that frontman Paul Stanley said yesterday that KISS are "two days from finished with this album."
So what does the Starchild himself have to say about the band's 20th platter? "It's awesome… by far the best thing we've done in I don't know how long. Have I said that before? Yeah. Was I right? Yeah! I'm right this time again!" more on this story
Anthrax and Testament Tour
Anthrax will return to the road on January 22 with a second leg of their North American co-headline tour with Testament.
The trek will feature support from Death Angel and kicks off in Las Vegas and will wrap up in NYC on February 8th.
Anthrax have also released "I'm Alive," the second single from their latest album Worship Music, to radio. more on this story
Jack White To Appear In American Pickers
(Banana 101.5) Jack White's musical interests aren't his only eclectic tastes, as we will learn from his appearance in Monday's new episode of The History Channel's 'American Pickers.'
The former White Stripes frontman may have shifted his focus from performing with a band to running his label (Third Man Records), producing, and collaborating with artists, but that doesn't mean that he's gotten any less interesting.
Fans will be treated to a look inside the world of Jack White and his collection of "crazy stuff" — as it's described in the preview — on next week's episode of 'American Pickers.' For those who are unfamiliar with the show it features two collectors/sellers of rare antiques who drive across America looking for people who will let them search through their old barns and cellars for treasure — think 'Antiques Roadshow' meets 'Hoarders' and you're pretty close. Read more and check out a preview here.
New All-American Rejects Song Coming This Month
DGC/Interscope have set a January 24th release date for The All-American Rejects new digital single "Beekeeper's Daughter".
The track was written by Rejects' lead singer, lyricist, and bassist Tyson Ritter and guitarist Nick Wheeler and reportedly captures a tumultuous time while Ritter was living in Los Angeles after wrapping two years of touring behind the band's 2008 album When The World Comes Down.
"'Beekeeper's Daughter' is a story about a guy who thinks he can get away with anything and always have a girl there waiting for him," Ritter says. "He never backs down from that opinion. At the end of it, he's even stronger and more snide and thinks he's invincible no matter what. He's an asshole, but at that point in my life, I was kind of an asshole. As we were making Kids In The Street, I went from that to being a completely humbled guy who's looking at his reflection saying, 'Wow, what have I done?' It may make me not seem very likeable, but it was important that I be truthful and really open up on this album about what I've been through."
"Beekeeper's Daughter," along with the rest of the tracks on Kids In The Street, was produced by Grammy-nominated producer Greg Wells, who is known for his work with Adele, Katy Perry, and OneRepublic, among many others. "Greg was the first producer we've worked with who really spoke my language, which translated into the sound of the album," Ritter says. "If you really want to know what Kids In The Street sounds like, it sounds like The All-American Rejects finally got their shit together and wrote a record that was going to keep them around." more on this story
Iron Butterfly Guitarist Larry 'Rhino' Reinhardt Dead at 63
Ultimate Classic Rock had this sad news: Larry 'Rhino' Reinhardt died on Monday. He was 63-years-old.
The one-time Iron Butterfly guitarist and co-founder of '70s rock group Captain Beyond died of sclerosis of the liver, his longtime significant other Tracey Hooper told the Bradenton Herald.
The guitarist had been battling health problems in recent years. In January 2010 he wrote on his Facebook page that his time could be short. more on this story
Transfer Announce Tour Dates With Kaiser Chiefs
Skh sent over word that Transfer will return to North America in March for a national tour as support to Kaiser Chiefs.
The short trek will kick off on March 6th in Boston, MA at the House Of Blues and will wrap up on March 24th in Vancouver, BC.
Transfer will also be quite visible at this year's SXSW conference with several performances in the works. more on this story
Ginger Wildheart Almost Gave Up Music
(Rock News Desk) Ginger Wildheart admits he started looking for a "proper job" after deciding his music career had failed in July last year.
The move came after he left Michael Monroe's band in the aftermath of a fallout with manager Virpi Immonen, also manager of the Wildhearts, who were forced onto hiatus in 2010 with the departure of bassist Scott Sorry.
And when he faced a "budgetary disaster" in attempts to record a new album, he planned to walk away from music. Ginger says: "I hit a wall sometime in July when I seriously considered giving up the idea of making a living from music. It appeared time in my life to get a proper job. more on this story
Black Pyramid Releasing New Album This Month
MeteorCity Records have set a January 31, 2012 release date for Black Pyramid's aptly titled sophomore album Black Pyramid II.
Recorded "in the foothills of the Berkshires" at Black Coffee Sound (Elks, Elder) and mixed by Justin Pizzoferrato (Sonic Youth / Witch / Dinosaur Jr.), the record features nine tracks of the band's self-titled "galloping war metal". Black Pyramid II was mastered by Matt Washburn (Mastodon) and is "at times a bit more death metal and black metal influenced" than the band's previous material.
"We're incredibly proud of the sonic landscapes we were able to achieve with the new album," said Black Pyramid drummer Clay Neely. "It's a clear successor to the debut album and we allowed ourselves to further expand into some uncharted territories. The recording of the record was an incredibly rewarding experience and we can't wait to bring the show back on the road." more on this story
Bad Seeds' Barry Adamson Solo Album and Intimate Show Announced
The Bad Seeds and Magazine's Barry Adamson has set a release date for his 10th solo studio album.
The new album, I Will Set You Free, is set to arrive in stores on February 14th.
But ahead of the release Adamson is will perform a intimate solo show at Hotel Café in Los Angeles on January 18th. Details and tix are here.
Big Shoes: Walking and Talking the Blues Album and Film Coming
(MPM) Big Shoes: Walking and Talking the Blues, the new 90-minute documentary by famed music filmmaker Robert Mugge, and an accompanying live CD produced by slide guitar master Ted Drozdowski, will be released as a special 2-disc CD/DVD set March 20 on VizzTone Records.
The film and the CD both spotlight Drozdowski's Nashville-based band Scissormen, and as a prelude to this joint release, the band will perform a special showcase on February 2 at B.B. King's in Memphis during the International Blues Challenge competition.
Big Shoes was produced during Scissormen's tour of the Midwest in February 2010 and is part road movie, part concert film, part history lesson, and part state-of-the-genre report. The film's central performance was shot and recorded at the Key Palace Theater in Redkey, Indiana. Additional live music and interviews were captured at the Slippery Noodle Inn in Indianapolis, Indiana; the Starr-Gennett Foundation in Richmond, Indiana; Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana (where filmmaker Mugge serves as an Endowed Chair Professor); and the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland Ohio. Still more interviews were shot at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum in Cleveland. For an 18 1/2-minute preview of the movie and a look at the CD/DVD liner notes
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