Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Today's Day In Rock!




Taking Back Sunday Singer's Leg Crushed By Falling Tree
(TMZ) Taking Back Sunday singer Adam Lazzara is lucky to be alive -- after a tree literally FELL on top of him this weekend ... shattering his leg.
A rep for the band tells TMZ, Adam was at a recording studio in rural Michigan Saturday ... and he decided to step outside for a cigarette. It was real windy, and we're told a tree collapsed on the singer out of nowhere, trapping him underneath.

The rest of the band ran outside when they heard his calls for help -- but couldn't lift the tree off him ... so they called 911, and the local fire department came and sawed the tree to pieces.

Once freed, we're told Adam was rushed to the hospital -- where doctors put a cast on his broken leg. According to the rep, Adam's expected to be in the cast for the next 4-6 weeks. more on this story


The Osbournes Making New TV Show
(hennemusic) Ozzy Osbourne and family may be returning to television. Ozzy and his family star in a new stop-motion animation sitcom called "The F'n Osbournes," according to C21 Media.

Canada's Cuppa Coffee Studios is producing the series, which is currently seeking financing.

Jack Osbourne is executive producing the show with his mother Sharon and says the show will be "a radical and humorous new spin on our family". more on this story


Motley Crue's Vince Neil Opening Girls, Girls, Girls Strip Club
(hennemusic) It was only a matter of time... Motley Crue singer Vince Neil is getting into the strip club business – this time, as an owner.

The Las Vegas Sun reports Vince Neil's Girls, Girls, Girls will open in Sin City in about two weeks.

"It's something I always wanted to do," said Vince. "So it's like a dream come true. But this will be different and unique. It will be the first rock and roll strip joint. It was a business opportunity to become a partner that was too good to pass up." more on this story


Sammy Hagar Tributes Ronnie Montrose
(hennemusic) Sammy Hagar has offered his thoughts on the passing of former bandmate Ronnie Montrose, who died Saturday after a long battle with prostrate cancer.

Sammy posted the following message: "Ronnie Montrose gave me my first break as a songwriter, as a frontman, as a recording artist, as a touring artist, and for that I will always be grateful.

"I was looking forward to a reunion for my birthday bash in Cabo with Denny [Carnassi, drums], Bill [Church, bass] and Ronnie — one of the few bands from that era where all four original members were still able to do it. more on this story


The Cult Lineup Tour Dates With Ozzy, Guns N' Roses and Garbage
The Cult will be heading to Europe this summer for an extensive run of tour dates in support of their new album.

The tour plans include headline shows, festivals, special dates with Guns N' Roses, and main support on an Ozzy & Friends show.

The 14-date trek kicks off June 28 in Belgrade with The Cult as main support for Ozzy & Friends, then to Austria and Romania with Guns N' Roses, followed by a slew of headline club shows, and then wrapping up on July 19 in Portugal, sharing the stage with Garbage. more on this story


Motorhead Set For North American Mayhem With Slipknot and Slayer
As expected, Motorhead has been named as the mystery main stage act on the upcoming Mayhem tour.

Motorhead join the main stage lineup headed by Slipknot and Slayer. The second stage will be headlined by Anthrax supported by a rotation of The Devil Wears Prada, As I Lay Dying and Asking Alexandria, along with Whitechapel, High On Fire.

A third stage will feature Upon A Burning Body, I The Breather and one more act (to be announced). The tour kicks off on June 30th in California. more on this story


Nirvana's Teen Spirit Vocal Track An Online Hit
(Banana 101.5) A YouTube clip featuring late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain's isolated vocal track on 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' has become an Internet sensation over the past week, two years after it was posted on the popular video-sharing website.

The 1991 release of Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' was a watershed moment in the history of rock music. The meteoric rise of that one song ushered in an entire new wave of bands that saved the then flat-lining genre.

The massive single has been played millions of times and is still a staple at rock radio stations today, but fans are hearing the song in an entirely different way after an old YouTube clip got noticed by the interwebs last week. Read more and take a listen here.


Flogging Molly Spring Tour and Drunken Lullabies 10th Anniversary
Flogging Molly have extended their 2012 tour plans with the recent addition of a spring tour dates and they have announced a special 10th anniversary edition of Drunken Lullabies.

The trek includes their first-ever appearances at the Hangout Festival in Gulf Shores, AL and the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, TN.

2012 marks the 10th Anniversary of the release of Flogging Molly's celebrated sophomore album Drunken Lullabies. To commemorate the anniversary of the band's first Gold album, Flogging Molly will release a limited edition red vinyl 7-inch single for Record Store Day on April 21st more on this story


Deep Purple and Whitesnake Stars To Help Fans Learn To Play
We received some interesting news for fans of Deep Purple and Whitesnake in the UK. Here you go: Music for All is proud to announce their National Learn to Play Day, which offers free musical instrument lessons to the public on March 31st, 2012, will be supported by some of the UK's top rock stars.

With over 60 music shops participating nationwide, Music for All can confirm that drumming legend Ian Paice of Deep Purple will be calling into Drumwright in Reading to lend a hand. Elsewhere, Whitesnake's guitarist Doug Aldrich, Drummer Brian Tichy and bassist Michael Devin will be helping out at Sheehan's in Leicester.

Commenting on the day, Ian Paice said 'Being given the gift of being able to create music is an incredible thing and most people don't allow themselves this pleasure. That's a shame. Try it, you could just make your life a whole lot more fun'. There are lots of other events all over the country including a special piano extravaganza by Markson Piano's at Foyle's Book, Charing Cross Road, London. more on this story


Slash Band Lineup Change
(Gibson) Slash's solo band bassist Todd Kerns had some big news on his blog about a lineup change for the group:

"In the Conspirators, we have a new face in the fold. Our brother in arms of the past couple of years, Bobby Schneck [guitar], has moved on and I wish him all the best in the world. Bobby is an amazing guy, a great talent and a great friend.

"The newest Conspirator is none other than Frankie Sidoris. Look out! We got some young blood in the band. Gonna have to step up my game now! Frankie comes from Las Vegas' own THE CAB. Fitz and I jammed with a lot of people to find this kid and he's gonna be a monster. In the future when you're all clamouring about how wonderful Frankie is, remember it was us who found him!" more on this story




Godsmack, Five Finger Death Punch, P.O.D., Sevendust To Be ShipRocked
(AMM) Godsmack, Five Finger Death Punch, P.O.D., Sevendust, Filter, Fuel, Black Stone Cherry, Lit, Queensryche frontman Geoff Tate, Gilby Clarke (ex-Guns N' Roses) and In This Moment will all take part in the fourth annual ShipRocked music cruise.

ShipRocked 2012 embarks from Fort Lauderdale, FL November 27 and provides guests with four days and nights onboard the MSC Poesia while sailing the Caribbean. Ports of call include Key West, FL and Nassau, Bahamas (subject to change), with the cruise returning to Fort Lauderdale December 1. Additional bands will be announced in the coming weeks.

Godsmack's Shannon Larkin performed on ShipRocked 2011 with his band Another Animal and says, "The whole experience was very unique and very kick ass! I would recommend this highly to bands and fans alike. I made a ton of fond memories and hope to do it again!" more on this story


Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros Set New Album Release
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros have set a May 29th release date for their sophomore album which will be called "Here," and they have mapped out some tour plans as well. We were sent these details:

After an early session in Bogalusa, LA, the band has been putting the finishing touches on the album in Ojai, CA.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros will make an appearance with members of Mumford & Sons and Old Crow Medicine Show at the 2012 South By Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival on Saturday, March 17th for the world premiere of Big Easy Express, the Emmett Malloy directed film that covered the bands' journey as they traveled in vintage railcars across the American Southwest over the course of a week, playing concerts at six unique outdoor locations along the route. The bands will join Big Easy Express director Emmett Malloy and film producers in a Q&A subsequently perform an exclusive live acoustic set. more on this story


Brain Jonestown Massacre Streaming New Song
Brian Jonestown Massacre have announced new North American tour dates and are giving fans a taste of their new album, Aufheben.

The new album is set to be released on May 1, 2012 but the band is currently streaming the new track "I Want to Hold Your Other Hand" here.

The band have announced the West Coast leg of their upcoming North American tour which will kick off on April 27th in Dallas. more on this story


The Polyphonic Spree Add New Tour Leg
The Polyphonic Spree have just added a third leg to their "You + Me" tour, including dates in the Midwest and East Coast in May.

This follows previously announced dates in late March and April on the West Coast for the 21-member Dallas band, which is touring for the first time in more than four years.

Two other Good Records Recordings artists will support the upcoming tour dates. New Fumes, the project of former Spree member and Flaming Lips collaborator Daniel Huffman, will support the March and April dates; and singer/songwriter Sweet Lee Morrow (a.k.a. Jesse Hester, another former member of the Spree) will support the May dates. more on this story


Lamb Of God Cancel Shows Due To Family Emergency
Bad news from the Lamb Of God camp as the band has been forced to cancel two shows this week.

The concerts were scheduled for March 7th in Auckland, New Zealand and March 9th in Anchorage, Alaska.

The band were forced to pull the plug due to a medical emergency regarding a family member, according a statement. The band intends to make up both shows during the Resolution tour cycle.


Revocation, Cannabis Corpse and Ramming Speed Tour
(CPR) Cannabis Corpse and Ramming Speed will be hitting the road with Revocation for a string of North American dates next month.

The tour kicks off in Allston, MA on April 19th, bounces up to Montreal, then rolls over and down through the Midwest and East Coast before ending up in Trenton, NJ on April 29th.

Cannabis Corpse will be touring in support of their 2011 album, Beneath Grow Lights Thou Shalt Rise. more on this story


Eric Johnson Crossing The Pond For Summer Tour
(Noble) Eric Johnson will launch his first ever UK tour at the Holmfirth Picturedrome on Friday 5th July.

The 5-date tour will showcase material from his current album "Up Close", and from his back catalogue.

Johnson has been hailed by Joe Bonamassa as "one of the greatest guitar players of all time" and now UK fans can see why in person. more on this story


Neuronspoiler Lineup Change
(Sub) Neuronspoiler have tapped Dave Shirman (Moana Sleazer, ex-Serpent Sins) to replace guitarist Stanley Long who left the group last month.

The group is currently writing new material and will be going into the studio in the summer to start recording the eagerly awaited full-length follow up to their 2010 E.P., "No One's Safe".

Neuronspoiler drummer Tim Barclay commented: "We're really excited that Dave has joined the band. He's a great fit, in personality and ethos as well as musically. We needed someone who really loved metal and who was going to be committed to trying to do something great on the stage and in the studio. When Dave first started playing our songs it was like he'd been playing them with us forever and it felt good. We're really looking forward to hearing what he brings to the sound when we head into the studio this year." more on this story


Matt Toka Maps Out Tour Plans
Matt Toka is hitting the road ahead of his forthcoming album with not one, but two North American tours.

The first is with Breathe Carolina and The Ready Set and will kick off in Columbia, MO on Mar 21st and end in Bloomington, IL on April 27th.

Then starting on June 16th in Salt Lake City, UT, Toka will join the entire Warped Tour, which will snake its way across the country and close in Portland, OR on Aug 5th. more on this story


Devin Townsend To Begin Recording New Album This Week
(Gibson) Devin Townsend will begin recording his new album Epicloud this week in Perth, Australia following the last date of the Soundwave festival.

In an interview with this writer for Beat magazine last month, Townsend elaborated that the album would in some ways be a reaction to the complexity of his previous effort, Deconstruction. "What it is a very awesome, epic hard rock record without that depth of metaphor, that overt complexity for complexity's sake," Townsend said. "It's a bunch of really cool songs that I really like listening to that go well with summer."

Formerly with extreme metal act Strapping Young Lad, Townsend's post SYL output has been much more optimistic in tone, even when retaining the heavy elements that made his previous band popular. "With Epicloud what I'm trying to achieve is that sort of beautiful glorious sense that certain elements of Infinity and Addicted! had, but mixed with some minor chords," Townsend said. "Because when those minor chords come in they don't affect me the way I thought they would. It used to be that if I chucked a minor chord in I thought it was going to have this gothic, black metal vibe to it, right? But really what it does is it just provides a release from relentless major chords!" more on this story




Remembering George Formby
(Gibson) On this day in 1961, George Harrison's favorite ukulele player, George Formby died. Gibson takes a look back: On this day in 1961, Britain lost a hero. Singer, comedian and ukulele player George Formby passed away. He was a national treasure with 150,000 attending his funeral.

The comedian from the north of England was Britain's top box office star in the '30s and '40s, making 19 movies. When he signed a contact with Columbia in 1941 he became the fifth highest-paid movie actor in the world ahead of superstars like Errol Flynn and Bing Crosby.

While Britain was at war, Formby kept spirits up and did his duty entertaining the troops. He flew to Africa to visit Field Marshal Montgomery and entertain the Eighth Army where he played to more than 10,000 British soldiers.

His wife Beryl worked in his variety act before becoming his manager, taking him around the world. In 1942, she arranged for George to play shows in South Africa. When he embraced a black girl who presented him and Beryl with chocolates, he was roundly cheered by the black audience, a move that brought an irate phone call form the National Party Leader, Daniel Francois Malan, who had the Formbys unceremoniously deported for disobeying the pre-apartheid color code. Beryl gave as good as she got, however, telling Malan, "Why don't you piss off you horrible little man?" more on this story




Singled Out: Mychildren Mybride's Dreamcatchers
Yesterday we told you about Mychildren Mybride's new "choose your own nightmare" interactive video for their song "Dreamcatchers," from their forthcoming self-titled album (Out Mar 13th). Today guitarist Robert Bloomfield tells us about the song! Here is the story:

"Dreamcatchers" was definitely one of the more promising sounding songs, especially when we demoed it. You have this intro that just pumps up and that builds into a super hooky breakdown, followed by one of the catchiest riffs on the record. Mathis, our drummer, brought a bunch of ideas to the table, the verse riff being one of them. I remember just sitting in the live room at the studio kind of just rotating a couple riffs in and out of the song and only settling on what we thought had the most energy. We were thinking of it from a potential fan's point of view. Basically, if it's not catchy enough the first time you hear it, then it wasn't good enough.

I personally love the flow of the song from start to finish. I feel like it has everything you need from a structural point of view as well as a listening point of view. The first verse just has this trifecta - catchy guitars, catchy lyrics and driving kick. After that first verse the pre chorus hits, with Matthew's new spin on vocals, and that's where we were like "Ok, well, this is going to be a single". It just built perfectly into this epic sounding chorus that has all these layered guitars. I actually remember as we found the chorus I had this sound in my head that eventually became the lead over it. I'm the type of musician that as soon as I hear a great rhythm I need to find the perfect lead for it right away or it'll bug me for hours. And for this lead I found this great EH pedal and it recreates the sound perfectly live.

Then we have the bridge that flashes back to the intro pump up. It set us up for this huge melodic ending. The rhythm has these chords that Hunter had been messing around with that give it descending notes within the chord. Again I had this sound in my head that translated to this really emotional sounding lead and it just ended up working out great. It was actually the very first lead that came to my mind when we demoed it. Funny that it actually made the record cause it's very rare that your very first riff to come out makes the cut! I feel like all the leads complement the ending so well. It truly feels like an ending to something, in this case a song. And when I can create a riff that translates emotionally, then I've done my ultimate goal.

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