Bomb Scare For Pink Floyd's David Gilmour
(Classic Rock) Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour and his wife were forced to flee their home after an unexploded World War II incendiary device was unearthed nearby.
Their six-storey mansion in East Sussex is midway through extensive renovations, during which builders discovered a 150cm pipe-shaped device which caused alarm.
The area was evacuated and a Navy bomb disposal team were called in. They identified the German weapon and removed it safely. No one was injured. more on this story
Black Sabbath Reunion Show Video Streaming Online
(hennemusic) On May 19, a mostly-reunited Black Sabbath rocked their hometown of Birmingham. Multi-cam video of the complete Birmingham concert has surfaced.
The event marked the first time the band had played the city in more than a dozen years, and acted as a warm up show to the group's upcoming headline appearance at Download next month.
Original Sabbath members Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler were joined by Ozzy's drummer Tommy Clufetos for the show as Bill Ward released a statement declining to participate in the reunion based on a current contract offer. Watch the show here.
Iron Maiden's Beast Tops the Beatles, Queen and Floyd
(Classic Rock) Bruce Dickinson has hailed fan power after Iron Maiden's 1983 album The Number of the Beast came top in a vote over the best British records of the past 60 years. The classic metal record scored higher than the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Beatles and Queen.
Music retailer HMV ran the poll to mark the Queen's diamond jubilee and Maiden's loyal followers came out in droves, securing more than nine percent of the entire vote. Around 55,000 people made their choice from 60 albums online.
Frontman Dickinson describes the result as "very special." He says: "We're astonished and delighted. Some of the most influential and classic albums from the last 60 years were in the running, so it's a testament to our incredibly loyal and ever-supportive fans." See how the Top 10 came out.
Deep Purple's Jon Lord To Play First Show Since Cancer Announcement
(hennemusic) Last summer, former Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord announced that he was fighting cancer and would be taking a break from performing while getting treatment. Now, Lord has scheduled his first concert appearance since revealing his health news.
A special performance of his 2008 release, "Durham Concerto," is set for July 6 in Hagen, Germany.
The concert is rounding off Jon's stretch as this year's 'composer in residence' with the Hagen Philharmonic Orchestra near Dortmund. To this end, the orchestra has been performing several of his pieces over the past few months, most recently a breath taking performance of "From Darkness To Light," which was broadcast by German radio WDR3 on May 15. more on this story
Astbury Waited 13 Years For The Doors Gig
(Classic Rock) The Cult singer Ian Astbury says it was worth the thirteen-year wait to cover Jim Morrison's position in the Doors. He thinks if he'd been much younger he wouldn't have been able to do the job well – and he's grateful for the musical education he received from the band.
Astbury first appeared with original members Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger in 2002 and performed over 150 shows with them. For legal reasons the outfit has been variously known as The Doors of the 21st Century, D21C and Manzarek-Krieger.
"They waited thirty years and the courtship was quite a long while. I was introduced to Ray, Robby and John Densmore when the Doors movie was being made in 1990," The Cult frontman tells U-T San Diego. "I was invited to a party in the Hollywood Hills. Michael Talbot, this famous metaphysical writer, was there. Timothy Leary and his partner was there. This Russian woman who was supposed to be a spiritualist was there. They were the only other people there – it was like I was being vetted in some way." more on this story
Slash Sees Myles Kennedy As Musical Partner Not Hired Gun
(Gibson) Slash has spoken many times about his past relationship with Axl Rose. He's also spoken about how he's made his previous solo records. Now, he seems happier working with singer Myles Kennedy.
In a forthcoming Guitar World interview Slash admits that he enjoys "just putting together guitar ideas on my own." He also says, "I try not to overwork it. I'll come up with two or three parts, and that's it. Then I like to bounce things off other guys and see what they can come up with."
Of the just-released Apocalyptic Love album, Slash adds. "Myles could do whatever he wanted when he was writing his parts. And sometimes that even changed my parts. For instance, there's a song on the new album called 'No More Heroes' that is a classic example of a 50/50 kind of collaboration between us, where I had a riff and a whole arrangement that I put together, but it was all still open to interpretation.
"So Myles took the chorus idea that I had and just completely raped it, and came up with a new, insanely great chorus. And that was a moment where it was like, 'Okay, we have a good thing going… it makes for better music overall.'" more on this story
New Freddie Mercury Biography Coming in July
Touchstone books have set a July 3rd release date for Mercury: An Intimate Biography of Freddie Mercury by rock journalist Lesley-Ann Jones. We were sent over this background info:
In Mercury Lesley-Ann Jones presents the full portrait of both the complex man and the myth. Jones toured widely with Queen and has unrivalled access to the band. She has secured more than 100 interviews with those closest to Mercury, many of who are only opening up now, twenty years after his tragic death. He was the first major rock star to die from AIDS.
Meticulously researched, sympathetic yet not sensational, Mercury offers an unvarnished, revealing look at the extreme highs and lows of life in the fast lane. Jones details it all from Queen's slow but steady rise to fame, to the creation of ground breaking songs like 'Bohemian Rhapsody', to the decadent, raucous after parties Queen became infamous for, to the band's creative process and their perpetual quest to challenge themselves musically.
To gain a better understanding of Mercury's early life and his somewhat fraught relationship with his traditional, conservative past Jones traveled to Zanzibar, his birthplace, and India, where he attended boarding school. Jones also provides new insights into the great loves of Mercury's life—long-time girlfriend Mary Austin, chef Joe Fanelli, German soft-porn star Barbara Valentin, live-in-lover Jim Hutton—and what those relationships meant to him. In MERCURY a compelling, definitive portrait emerges of this enigmatic entertainer who thrilled audiences around the world with a magnetism matched by few performers. Amazon link
Why Yes Is Saying No To Reunion Idea
(Classic Rock) Yes bassist Chris Squire admits one of the reasons they haven't invited original singer Jon Anderson back into the band is that his health issues could limit their ability to make money.
The prog giants hired Benoit David in 2008 after Anderson suffered a near-fatal respiratory condition. The frontman insists they didn't tell him he'd been dismissed.
Earlier this year David experienced his own health problems. He says he discovered Jon Davidson had been given his job when he read it in a magazine. But Squire suggests there was more to the lineup change than just health matters. He tells Rolling Stone: "He started to get a little wobbly onstage. I thought he was having a cold or had gotten sick on the road – that happens all the time. But in Benoit's case it seemed to not be getting better. We toured Europe after that and once again he started to go a little soft." But...
Full Van Halen Concert Video Posted Online
(hennemusic) Van Halen made major headlines recently when the band abruptly postponed a full series of summer US dates of its "A Different Kind Of Truth" tour without explanation.
A few days after the announcement, singer David Lee Roth explained the situation, saying "As usual, we bit off way more than we can chew when it came to scheduling. The band is winning, but our schedule has been sidelined for unnecessary roughness. If we continue past July 4th and all the way into Australia and Japan, then we're asking for the robot zombie tour."
"We're gonna take a break because this tour is gonna take us about two years," added Roth.
"The band is getting along famously, better than we have in quite some time, and I think the shows reveal that through the miracle of YouTube," Roth said. "I think we're one of the few bands who relishes you bringing whatever camera — if you can carry it in and pull the trigger on it yourself, then please do. And through the eye of YouTube, you can see that we're having ourselves a hell of a time, and I think that translates into the music."
Plenty of fans are taking the band up on the chance to film the 2012 shows, including the group's late March stop in Pittsburgh at the Consol Energy Center. Watch it here.
Bun E's Status In Cheap Trick
(Classic Rock) Cheap Trick drummer Bun E Carlos confirms he's still a member of the band but adds he hasn't spoken to them for some time.
The pop-rock giants announced in 2010 that Carlos would no longer be their touring drummer, and replaced him with guitarist Rick Nielsen's son Daxx.But the sticksman hopes they can rebuild their relationship at some point in the future – despite believing they'll never make an album to follow 2009 release The Latest.
"I don't see a next Cheap Trick record, really. I haven't heard any new songs from the songwriters in ten years," Carlos tells PunkGlobe. "Every album we do, we get the tapes out and find out if we have enough for a record. We made The Latest the same way we make every record – but there weren't very many brand-new songs laid out."
"I'm still in the band, but I don't tour. I don't hear from them. I prefer to be out on the road performing with them. Maybe we'll kiss and make up. more on this story
Rush Took Different Approach To New Album
(hennemusic) June 12th can't come fast enough for Rush fans as they anxiously await the release of the band's new album, "Clockwork Angels." The album is a mix of past, present, and maybe future, for Rush, displaying elements of the band's complex arrangements and mood changes while keeping the contemporary feel of the group's more recent work.
Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson was asked by Metal Express Radio if this was the plan when he first started discussing musical ideas with bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee. "I don't know, really. I'm never sure what the plan is," said Alex. "We sort of start on the day and it takes its shape and we kind of go with it. I think probably with this record, we really wanted to play and wanted to stretch out a little bit. We wanted to have fun playing and also to strip things down a little. I think 'Snakes & Arrows', in retrospect, was a little bit dense, because it was written on acoustic guitar, which played a major role in the production. We layered a lot of acoustics and electrics and I think we got just a little cloudy at times. I really like the record, but with hindsight of living with it for a while, we realized that we kind of overcooked it a bit."
"We really wanted to strip it down and have more of a three-piece feel to it," Lifeson continued. "There`s no rhythm guitar during the guitar solos and such, which are things you end up doing as you like the sound of it because you like all the colour, but it`s not always necessary and I think the album comes across as a lot more powerful as a result." more on this story
Neil Young Covers God Save The Queen On New Album
(Gibson) On his forthcoming Americana album, primarily a collection of classic American folk songs, Neil Young also covers the U.K. national anthem, "God Save the Queen."
The British national anthem was also a "de facto" anthem for the United States before the adoption of "The Star Spangled Banner." But as a Canadian, Young is still a member of the British Commonwealth.
"Written in the 18th century with possible melodic roots in the 17th century, this anthem has been sung throughout the British Commonwealth and may have been sung in North America before the American Revolution and Declaration of Independence in 1776, which rejected British sovereignty," Young notes of the song's pedigree.
"The Americana arrangement draws from the original melody and changes some melody and lyrics in the folk process." more on this story
Motley Crue's Mick Mars Goes Pop Evil
(hennemusic) Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars continues to share his songwriting skills outside of the band.
Mars co-wrote "Boss's Daughter," the new single from Michigan hard rockers Pop Evil; the track appears on the group's 2011 release, "War Of Angels."
Now, Mars is a part of the song's new video, directed by Nathan "Karma" Cox. Pop Evil frontman Leigh Kakaty says "This video is the best depiction of the energy we bring during our live performance. Mick and [Playboy Playmate] Jessa [Hinton] were terrific to work with! Nathan and his crew made a killer all-American rock and roll video." Watch it here.
B Sides
Watch Metallica Rock in Rio
(hennemusic) Metallica continued their European Summer Vacation tour Friday night with a stop at Rock In Rio in Lisbon, Portugal.
The metal icons headlined the opening night of this year's festival, with 250,000 people expected during the five-day event.
Other headliners include Smashing Pumpkins (May 26), Lenny Kravitz (Jun 1), Stevie Wonder (Jun 2) and Bruce Springsteen (Jun 3).
Video of much of Metallica's set has surfaced for fans to check it out.
Evanescence's Full Rock In Rio Performance Streaming Online
(hennemusic) Evanescence continue their extensive world tour in support of the band's 2011 self-titled release. Broadcast video of the group's full Rock In Rio set has surfaced online.
The group's first album in five years, it debuted at #1 back in October, after selling 127,000 copies in its first week.
On Friday, Evanescence played the Rock In Rio Lisbon festival, second on the opening night bill headlined by Metallica. Watch it here.
Linkin Park's Full Rock in Rio Set Streaming Online
(hennemusic) Linkin Park are gearing up for the June 26 release of their new album, "Living Things." The band debuted the video for its new single, "Burn It Down," last week.
LP kick off a North American tour on August 11 in Bristow, VA; in the meantime, they are out playing the European festival circuit, and fired things up with an appearance at Rock In Rio in Lisbon on Saturday.
LP were on a bill headlined by the Smashing Pumpkins that also featured the Offspring and Limp Bizkit. Broadcast video of LP's full set has surfaced. Watch it here.
Slash Unplugs
(hennemusic) Slash can be seen and/or heard everywhere these days as he promotes his newly-released sophomore album, "Apocalyptic Love."
Along with singer Myles Kennedy, Slash took part in an acoustic performance in the studios of SiriusXM satellite radio last week in front of 20 lucky listeners.
Video footage of their appearance can be seen online and the full interview and performance can be heard on SiriusXM Octane today, May 28 at 9 p.m. ET. Watch the video here.
Watch Mastodon Rock in Rio
(hennemusic) Mastodon are on the road touring behind their latest effort, "The Hunter."
On Friday, the Atlanta band played the opening night of the Rock In Rio festival in Lisbon, Portugal on a bill headlined by Metallica.
Broadcast video of Mastodon's full set has surfaced online. You can watch it right here.
Extreme Stars Rock National Anthem at Red Sox Game
(hennemusic) Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt of Boston rockers Extreme performed the national anthem on Saturday at Fenway Park prior to the Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays game.
Footage of the performance was filmed by Darren Parker, who has proclaimed himself one of Nuno's biggest fans. The band and fans know him as NunoFreak.
Darren has an inoperable brain tumor, rendering him unable to work as his medical bills are mounting.
A fundraiser is being held on June 23 at Sleep's Bar & Grill in Bluffs, Illinois which will include an auction, donations and freewill. Darren's dream was to have Nuno show up, but, unfortunately, Nuno will be in London on tour with Rihanna. Bettencourt came up with a solution to help.
Anniversary of the US Festival
(Gibson) On this day in 1983, The four-day US Festival '83 took place in California, featuring The Clash, U2, David Bowie, The Pretenders, Van Halen, Stray Cats, Men at Work, Judas Priest, Stevie Nicks, Willie Nelson, INXS, Joe Walsh, Motley Crue and Ozzy Osbourne. Gibson looks back:
Giant music festivals have a way of being remembered for a lot of things besides music. Woodstock was about the hippies, Altamont was about the Hell's Angels and the US Festival became known for losing a ton of money for Apple Computer founder Steve Wozniak.
In 1982, Wozniak had paid to bulldoze a site and then construct an open-air music venue near Devore in southern California. His idea was to hold a three-day festival that would feature top music acts on the big stage, but also the latest in computers and technology in an air-conditioned tent. The first US Festival took place on Labor Day weekend of 1982, but it wasn't a big success. Despite landing top acts like Fleetwood Mac, The Police and Tom Petty, 110-degree heat and other factors kept many people away and the enterprise lost Wozniak an estimated $12 million.
Undeterred, Wozniak planned to have a second US Festival the following Memorial Day, which began on this day in 1983. This time, it was a four-day fest (with the last day taking place the following Saturday) and each day revolved around a loose theme. So, Saturday was "New Wave Day" with The Clash, Men at Work and the Stray Cats; Sunday was "Heavy Metal Day" with Van Halen, Quiet Riot and Ozzy Osbourne; Monday was "Rock Day" with David Bowie, The Pretenders and U2 and the following Saturday was "Country Day" with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr.
Unfortunately, for Wozniak, the second installment didn't improve much on the first. For one thing, the weather was even hotter (115-degree highs) and the bands demanded more money up front. Van Halen agreed to play the festival for $1 million… until they found out David Bowie was getting the same amount. Because there was a clause in their contract that specified they were to be paid more than any act at any festival they played, Van Halen earned $1.5 million for their US Festival appearance.
On the other hand, the members of The Clash were upset by what their perceived as the crass commerciality of the event. They demanded that Wozniak and some of the other big-ticket bands donate a portion of fees to charity groups.
It's not clear if this position or something else caused a backstage argument between The Clash's and Van Halen's respective frontmen, Joe Strummer and David Lee Roth. Some have said the altercation arose from a quote Eddie Van Halen had given to Rolling Stone magazine about The Clash's music ("that's like what I played in my garage when I was a kid, man"). Regardless, the next day, Roth went on to insult the band's drinking habits during Van Halen's performance.
In contrast to perceptions, the Van Halen-headlining day (or "Heavy Metal Day") was a pretty big success, if taken on its own merits. The day, which also featured Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot, Mötley Crüe and more, set the record for single-day concert attendance (375,000). Crüe singer Vince Neil would later claim, "It was the day new wave died and rock 'n' roll took over."
But Wozniak probably wouldn't share Neil's happy assessment of the event. Reportedly, it lost him another $12 million and put an end to any future US Festivals – although the site is now home to San Manuel Amphitheater. Many Clash fans will recall the event as featuring the last-ever appearance of guitarist Mick Jones as a member of the band.
Of course, Wozniak can take solace in this Homer Simpson quote (said while scoffing at the prospect of Springfield's Hullabalooza): "There can only be one truly great festival of a lifetime, and it's the US Festival!"
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