Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


Scott Weiland Challenges Audience Member To Fight
(hennemusic) Scott Weiland challenged an audience member to fight him during his solo concert at Irving Plaza in New York City on Saturday.
On tour with his band, The Wildabouts, the singer confronted a heckling fan, telling the man in the crowd: "So you're f**king pulling that f**king, like, gun sh*t off on me? Then come up and meet me one on one, man.

"You play a tough guy from an audience behind a barricade. I'd love to. Yeah, that guy, trust me."

He continued: "I just don't get it. Guys like you f**king waste your money." Then he added to the security staff: "Actually, let him stay here and just get all f**king riled up. He won't be able to sleep tonight." Check out the video



Van Halen Planning To Tour This Year
(hennemusic) Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth says the band will play between 50-60 shows outside of the U.S. starting later this year.

Roth revealed the news Monday morning while sitting in on the Opie & Anthony Show on SiriusXM.

"We're going to be playing Europe, probably 50-60 shows outside of the United States starting at the end of this year and then come back around the US," says Roth. "Van Halen is kind of pure and uncut kind of music; it's leads, bass, drums and howling at the moon. It's a little bit like getting drunk on shots of really good Kentucky bourbon. You'll have a great night but you won't want to see us again in three years." Check out an excerpt from the interview.



Jake E. Lee Returns With New Album
(Gibson) Former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee is preparing to make his big comeback, with a new album being recorded at producer Kevin Churko's The Hideout Studios in Las Vegas.

Churko, of course, is the producer responsible for Ozzy's last two albums, Scream and Black Rain. Lee's new band, Jake E. Lee's Red Dragon Cartel, includes Ronnie Mancuso of Beggars & Thieves on bass and Black Betty's Jonas Fairley on drums. A lead vocalist has been chosen and a formal announcement is expected shortly.

Lee has already recorded a few guest appearances for the forthcoming album: Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, Paul Di'Anno of Iron Maiden and Maria Brink of In This Moment.

Tales From The Stage Volume 1 author Michael Toney has heard a few songs and he's pretty upbeat on the direction the music is taking.

"The two new tracks that I have heard are very impressive, and are incredibly fresh sounding — but not really in the same family as his work with Badlands or Ozzy," Toney says. "It's still hard rock, but perhaps a bit more melodic." more on this story






Former Killswitch Engage Singer Howard Jones Fronts New Supergroup
Former Killswitch Engage frontman Howard Jones has formed a new band with Francesco Artusato (Shall Perish) and John Sankey (Devolved/ Fear Factory and Divine Heresy.)

The group was originally formed by Artusato and Sankey and their desire to create music outside of their extreme metal backgrounds and the two wrote over a dozen songs before recruiting Jones. "We were unsure if Howard would be interested," says Sankey."

Jones was interested and joined late last year. "It turned from bare-bones musical ideas into something that surpassed any of our expectations" says Jones. "It went from something we thought was going to be a fun, heavy project into something very real."

"It became a departure from what I'm known for," says Artusato. "I wasn't focusing on technical guitar parts (even though I still love that aspect of writing) but simply on writing what felt best for each individual song."

"It's a different style of music for me," says Jones. "It's heavy as anything any of us are known for but I get to do some different things people won't expect. I've been singing almost all my life. Being around good songwriters and musicians in my former bands really helped mold me into who I am now."

The band began the year recording with producer and former Machine Head guitarist Logan Mader. The band plan to solidify their lineup for future touring and plan to record a full album with Madar with an eye towards release before the year is out.




Bad Company Plan North American Summer Tour
Bad Company will be hitting the road for a North American summer tour that will include a coheadlining dates with Lynyrd Skynyrd.

The tour is set to kick off on June 15 in Rancho Mirage, CA and will including 22 dates, concluding on August 3 in Orilla, Ontario. The band is launching the tour to celebrate their 40th anniversary.

"When Mick and I formed the band we were amazed at the instant success. It didn't hurt to have Led Zeppelin behind us, and we wrote some decent songs that still resonate. This one is for the fans."

13 of the 22 dates will be the coheadlining tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd. Paul Rodgers had this to say, "The Skynyrds and I go back to the 70's and the days and nights at the Hyatt House on Sunset in LA aka the Riot House. In the 90's the band introduced me to my wife Cynthia, and that's why I am so damned happy and healthy these years." more on this story




Jimi Hendrix Poised For Highest-Charting Album In 44 Years
(hennemusic) Jimi Hendrix may be set for his highest-charting album in 44 years, according to Billboard.

The guitar legend's new archival album, "People, Hell and Angels," is set to debut at No. 2 on this week's Billboard 200 chart, according to industry sources. The album might sell around 70,000 copies by the end of the tracking week on March 10.

The new Billboard 200 chart's top 10 will be revealed on the morning of March 13. If the title opens at No. 2, it will mark Hendrix' highest-charting album since 1968, when "Electric Ladyland" spent two weeks at No. 1. more on this story




Doug Aldrich's Original Band Burning Rain Releasing New Album
(Classic Rock) Whitesnake guitarist Doug Aldrich's original band Burning Rain will release their first album in 13 years in May.

Epic Obsession, their third work, features former Montrose singer Keith St John, bassist Sean McNabb and drummer Matt Starr.

Aldrich says of the 14-track album: "I think we have a good batch of songs that will stand up. It's a melodic blues rock approach to the sound." more on this story




Former Anthrax Singer John Bush No Longer Wants To Tour
(Classic Rock) Former Anthrax singer John Bush says his voice is better than it's ever been but fans aren't likely to hear it on the road.

He explains: "I totally know my voice and know what I can and can't do. It's still super-strong, but I'm more in touch with the dynamics and soulfulness of it.

"I just don't really have a desire to be a touring guy anymore. Leaving my kid and my business for a month at a time is something I don't want to do. I do love making music and playing live shows still – I just want to do it on my terms." more on this story




Alvin Lee Helped Black Sabbath In The Early Days
(Classic Rock) Tony Iommi has paid tribute to the late Alvin Lee, saying Black Sabbath might never have made it without him – and remembering his horror when he heard the band's name for the first time.

The former Ten Years After frontman died as a result of complications from a routine medical procedure at the age of 68.

While Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler and former drummer Bill Ward paid their own tributes last week, Iommi has discussed his memories of Lee in more detail.

"I was extremely saddened to hear of Alvin's death," Iommi told the Birmingham Mail. "It was a great shock. I had not known that he was ill. Alvin was a really great guitar player but, more importantly, has been a good friend of Black Sabbath over the years."

"In the early days, when we were still going by the name of Earth, it was Alvin who helped us get some gigs. He'd been out there a bit before us, and knew the ropes," Iommi said.

"We'd sit and talk the night away at a flat in London. I remember telling him that we were thinking of changing our name to Black Sabbath. He was horrified! He told me we'd never do any good with a name like that." more on this story




Jon Dette Not Sure If He Will Permanently Replace Lombardo in Slayer
(Classic Rock) Jon Dette won't comment on the possibility that he could rejoin Slayer full time after the band dropped drummer Dave Lombardo for their Australian tour.

But the stand-in sticksman admits he's enjoyed his stint with his former colleagues – and they appear to have enjoyed it too.

Founding member Lombardo was replaced at short notice by guitarist Kerry King after raising concerns over the thrash giants' business model. No word has been given on the chances of him getting back behind the kit – although King has said frontman Tom Araya has had doubts for some time.

Dette – who played drums in the mid-90s between Paul Bostaph's two stints before Lombardo's return – tells HeavyMag: "It's baby steps right now.

"I think it would be too early for me to make a comment like that at this time. But all I can tell you is that we're having a great time. It feels great on stage and everybody that's actually at the shows and seen the shows – not just the fans, but even the crew on the side of the stage – all have smiles on their faces. I must be doing something right; and I guess we'll see what the future brings." more on this story




Mike Tramp Releasing New Solo Album
(Classic Rock) Former White Lion singer Mike Tramp launches new solo album Cobblestone Street on April 8, followed by a European tour.

Describing it as a departure from his previous outings, Tramp says: "I am not lost, I am not confused, I am not taking a break.

"This is the album I have waited a long time to record – because I didn't have the guts to do it earlier. Some of the songs I wrote 20 years ago and some just the week before I recorded them." More rock news.




Def Leppard Singer Predicts Vegas Will Be The New Norm For Bands
(Classic Rock) Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott believes Las Vegas residencies, like the one his band is currently engaged upon, will become the norm for rock acts, despite the city's reputation.

He says: "It was just a matter of time before people who grew up listening to Kiss became rich enough and wanted to see a rock concert – not just some old guy with a big blue tie.

"Sooner or later Vegas was going to catch up with itself and become cool, which it did. I think we're just riding our first wave. In five to ten years we might see Slipknot and the Foo Fighters doing one of these." More rock news.




Former Yes Frontman Jon Anderson Heading Down Under
Former Yes frontman Jon Anderson will be launching his very first solo tour of Australia and New Zealand later this month.

The tour will kick off on March 28th in Brisbane and will include eight concerts in Australia before heading to New Zealand for two dates in mid-April.

Anderson had this to say, "I'm very excited to bring my show to Australia and New Zealand. I enjoy the show that I do, and people really seem to have a great time."

Anderson is touring in support of his latest studio album, 'Survival & Other Stories,' and the tour will feature material from that album, his other solo work, as well as Yes classics and his collaborations with Vangelis. more on this story




Motorhead Lead Golden Gods Awards Lineup
(Classic Rock) Motorhead are set to top the bill at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards 2013. They will be part of a multi-band line-up with other acts to be named imminently.

Now in their 11th year, the Golden Gods will take place at London's IndigO2 on Monday June 17.

Motörhead state: "It's awesome to be headlining our first ever awards show. It's an honour to play some kick-ass rock'n'roll at the Golden Gods Awards." See the short lists




Metallica Building Their Own Wall With 3D Film?
(hennemusic) The forthcoming 3D film, "Metallica Through The Never," is being described by one of its actors as "a concert movie meets 'The Wall' meets Metallica."

"It's in a way like a 3D concert movie but there's also this narrative that ties together all the footage," actor Dane DeHaan ("Chronicle", "The Amazing Spider-Man 2") tells Collider.com. "It's gonna be, first of all, really rock and roll and really 'Metallica' for lack of a better word; they don't hold back at all.

"But during the concert, I basically go on this trip as a roadie for the band and I pretty much literally have to go through hell and back to take it back to them, and all of this is going on during the concert so it all ties together really kind of beautifully and uniquely. It's unlike anything that I've ever seen before; it's almost like a concert movie meets [Pink Floyd's] The Wall meets Metallica… We filmed it last August."

DeHaan plays a young band crew member who is sent out on an urgent mission while the band is playing a rousing live set in front of a sold-out crowd and unexpectedly finds his world turned completely upside down. more on this story




Journey Did Not Pay For Their New Documentary
(Classic Rock) The filmmaker behind Journey's documentary movie says that when she started work she was hoping the band would offer to pay for production.

When they didn't, she found other ways to fund the work – and by the time they did want to contribute cash, she didn't want to take it.

Keep On Believin': Everyman's Journey follows the rise of previously-unknown vocalist Arnel Pineda from his hiring in 2008 to the 2010 Eclipse album recording sessions, and his return home to the poverty-stricken Filipino city of Manila.

Director Ramona Diaz tells Ultimate Classic Rock that the financial aspect "never came together" during production. She explains: "It would have been different if the band came to us and said, 'Hey, make this film.' We were sort of going after that; when they finally said yes we couldn't say, 'Oh, yeah, can you pay for it?'

"My producer put it on her credit cards, and when she ran out of that I borrowed money from my family. Then we got some investors from friends and family – small, small amounts of money." more on this story




Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi Has Treasure Trove Of Unreleased Songs
(hennemusic) Last week, Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi revealed that he is the man behind Armenia's song entry into the Eurovision song contest.

Dorians frontman Gor Sujyan's "Lonely Planet" was selected at a Saturday, March 2 national vote to be performed at Eurovision in Malmö, Sweden. The identity of the song's composers — Iommi (music) and Vardan Zadoyan (lyrics) — had been kept secret for a while. Now, Iommi tells the Birmingham Mail, "I've plenty more where that one came from."

The guitarist has a treasure trove of tracks he has written over the years, but which he has no intention of recording himself, either with Sabbath or on a solo album.

"I write loads of songs and they just get put away. They lie on a shelf because either they're not suitable for Sabbath or for another project, and never see the light of day. I searched out 'Lonely Planet' – it's a bit of a power ballad – and sent it off." more on this story




The Darkness Plan North American Tour Dates This Spring
(hennemusic) UK rockers The Darkness have announced a series of North American dates for this spring.

The spring dates are part 2 of the band's 2013 Let Them Eat Cakes World Tour, in support of the reunited group's third studio album, "Hot Cakes."

The week-long trek kicks off May 10 in Raleigh, NC and wrap May 19 in Montreal. more on this story




Pete Townshend Surprised The Who Didn't Break Up
(Classic Rock) The Who guitarist Pete Townshend says he's still surprised the band didn't split up and he credits late drummer Keith Moon with keeping them together.

Townshend and Daltrey have continued working despite the deaths of Moon in 1978 and bassist John Entwistle in 2002. But the iconic axeman – who last week apologised for swearing at a young girl – says things could have been so different.

He tells Spinner: "Bands are peculiar things. It could be magic, in a way, two musicians performing together. it doesn't necessarily mean they will be friendly.

"There have been exceptions – I've got a friend Eric Mingus, who's the son of Charlie Mingus. He tells stories about Thelonius Monk coming around and sitting him on his knee and playing the piano. I find those stories intoxicating and I want to know more: the idea that Thelonius Monk and Charlie Mingus would actually hang out in his house and bounce their respective children on their respective knees is kind of delightful.

"But it's not something that is necessary between musicians. You can walk onstage with a bunch of people that you hate and produce fantastic music." more on this story




Megadeth Recruit Bob Findley As Guest On New Album
(hennemusic) Megadeth have revealed that horn player Bob Findley will guest on the band's forthcoming album, "Super Collider."

Findley will be featured on the track "A House Divided" on the new project. Bob previously appeared on Megadeth's 2001 album, "The World Needs A Hero," playing on the instrumental tune, "Silent Scorn."

"Super Collider" will be released in June via guitarist Dave Mustaine's new label, Tradecraft, which is distributed by Universal. more on this story





Deep Purple Release New Lyric Video
(Classic Rock) Deep Purple have released a lyric video for their new song entitled, All The Time In The World. It's the first full track to appear from their upcoming 19th studio album, Now What?! – their first since 2005's Rapture Of The Deep.

Speculation has been rife that the album will prove to be a milestone in the band's career, with record label earMUSIC saying it's "the perfect match with the original spirit of 70s Purple, and a fresh and modern production."

All The Time In The World will be released as a double-A single with Hell To Pay on March 29, including a limited edition of 1000 vinyl copies. Now What?! follows on April 29 in the UK with other dates in other locations during the same week. more on this story




Rival Sons Rock New Song on Jimmy Kimmel
(Classic Rock) Rival Sons appeared on Jimmy Kimmel's US TV show last week to play their track Keep On Swinging.

It's taken from their third album Head Down, released in the UK last year. Classic Rock named it the second-best album of 2012, calling it "unreconstructed rock'n'roll in the raw, borne aloft by euphoric Motown grooves and the kind of timeless riffs patented by John Fogerty circa Green River." The band also won Breakthrough Act Of The Year at the Classic Rock Roll of Honour award ceremony in November.

Guitarist Scott Holiday recently explained Rival Sons were hoping to avoid being branded a retro act. He said: "We're not trying to make an old-sounding record or a retro record. We're just trying to make a record that sounds good. We're using plenty of new things and tons of really old stuff, too. Not to be cool, but just to make the best sounding record. I'm touchy because we get the 'retro' tag a lot." Check out video of the performance here.




Adrenaline Mob Cover Van Halen Classic
(hennemusic) Adrenaline Mob have covered a Van Halen classic on their new EP, "Coverta." Due March 12, "Coverta" also features versions of songs by Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Heart, Rainbow, Dio, The Doors and Badlands.

The band – which features drummer Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, Avenged Sevenfold), Symphony X frontman Russell Allen, guitar virtuoso Mike Orlando (Sonic Stomp) and Disturbed bassist John Moyer – recorded Van Halen's 1980 classic "Romeo Delight" for the project.

"Hugely influenced by Eddie Van Halen," explains Orlando. "Every rock guitar player, I'm sure, will say the same thing. I got such a thrill doing guitar for this song: plugging in the Charvel and the cool Phase 90 into the Marshall, cranking it up and pretending you're Eddie Van Halen, as I've done since I was a kid."