Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


Incubus Guitarist Recording With Pearl Jam
(Radio.com) Pearl Jam has been in the studio recording its first album of new material since 2009, and the band may have an intriguing collaboration stemming from the sessions to show for it.
Tuesday night (March 19), Mike Einziger, lead guitarist of alt-rockers Incubus, tweeted to his followers a picture of him accompanying Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder in a recording studio. According to the tweet, Einziger and Vedder were recording strings for the new Pearl Jam record.

This wouldn't be the first Einziger's traded his six-string for the string section. In 2009, he released End.>vacuum, a full orchestral composition, following surgery for Carpal Tunnel syndrome that left him unable to play his guitar during recovery. He also recorded and orchestrated strings for 30 Seconds to Mars' This is War. More including the photo.



Paul McCartney Announces Initial World Tour Dates
Paul McCartney has announced the initial dates for his "Out There!" world tour which will bring the former Beatle to places that he had never played before.

The initial dates are scheduled for June. McCartney will first visit National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland on the 22nd, his very first concert in the country.

McCartney will then play Happel Stadium in Vienna, Austria on the 27th, which will be his first concert in that city since 2003.

McCartney plans to perform songs from his entire career, including his solo music, the music of Wings and from the Beatles.




Slash Working On Music For Next Album
(hennemusic) Slash has begun working on his third solo album which is the follow up studio album to his 2012 release "Apocalyptic Love."

"Started the demo process for the next S/M & the Conspirators record last night," tweeted the guitarist on Wednesday. "Lots of material to work up. It's going 2 be good."

Like the last effort, Slash's third solo album will feature his touring band, Myles Kenndy & the Conspirators, featuring Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge), bassist Todd Kerns and drummer Brent Fitz. more on this story




Scott Weiland Hasn't Closed The Door on Stone Temple Pilots
(hennemusic) As Scott Weiland continues his solo tour, the former Stone Temple Pilots singer says he remains open to working with the band despite recently being fired from the group.

"They've done it before, and they can do it again," Weiland tells Vindy.com. "They're good players. I respect them. Every band has issues. I just think sometimes people say things before they really think about it.

"I know that I've done that in the past. I was guilty of it with Velvet Revolver after myself and [drummer] Matt [Sorum] got into an argument backstage before an encore. That led me to say that I wasn't going to play any more shows with those guys.

"So I think that the fact this tour was doing so well was a reactionary thing on their part. But it actually isn't quite so simple."

Asked if has closed the door to ever working with STP again, the singer replies "definitely not." more on this story




Anthrax Guitarist Calls Rock Hall Lame For KISS and Deep Purple Snubs
(Radio.com) As Anthrax pay homage to some of their favorite artists with their new covers album, Anthems, guitarist Scott Ian reflects on some of the influential artists that have been snubbed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Radio.com caught up with Ian to discuss one of the bands on the new album and others snubbed by the hall: Ian says that his bandmates are Rush fanatics and wanted to go for a deep cut: "I'm certainly a Rush fan but [Drummer] Charlie [Benante] and [bassist] Frankie [Bello] and Joey are like, Rush nerds. They know every single thing about Rush."

Anthems' release is timely, as Rush will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next month. They've been eligible for well over a decade, and Ian says he's not surprised that they are finally getting their due. "People take Rush seriously, they're not everyone's cup of tea, but everyone has a respect for that band whether you like them or not."

Although he's quick to note that he doesn't pay too much attention to the Rock Hall, he gets a bit more passionate when talking about another band that has been ignored by the voters: "A lot people have a problem with KISS. KISS is just as important as Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin. The people who vote on these kinds of things – I don't know who these people are – I think they're the kind of people who never, ever liked KISS. If you like Alice Cooper, you should like KISS. But a lot of people didn't take them seriously as a songwriting entity. I feel like they're never gonna let KISS in, which is pretty f****** lame when you consider what they've accomplished."

He continues, "I was reading an interview with someone from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and he said that one of the main criteria to be considered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is, what influence have they had on music? KISS has influenced bands that are already in the Hall of Fame! They're one of the most influential bands of the last forty years!"

This year marked the first time that Deep Purple made the ballot, however they didn't get the votes needed to be inducted: "How many people started playing guitar because of the riff to 'Smoke On The Water?' You can pinpoint that riff as the starting point to more guitar players than any other song in the history of rock. So it's just amazing to me that a band like Deep Purple isn't in."

Ian adds, "Nothing against my friends in Metallica, but even if you asked them… When Metallica were inducted [into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2009], James [Hetfield] name checked a bunch of bands from the stage, saying maybe you should put these bands in as well." Read more.




Black Star Riders' Debut Single Premieres Today
(Classic Rock) Classic Rock will deliver the online premiere of Black Star Riders' debut single Bound For Glory this afternoon.

Soon after it receives its first airplay on Ken Bruce's BBC Radio 2 show today Thursday, March 21, we'll be offering a streaming version of the track.

It's the first time you'll hear a full song by the band hat grew out of the recent Thin Lizzy lineup. After originally planning to record an album under Phil Lynott's name they chose Black Star Riders as their new title and laid down the record with producer Kevin Shirley earlier this year.

Frontman Ricky Warwick says of Bound For Glory: "It's a song for the lost but never lonely, walking tall in the face of everyday adversary – everyone has a story to tell, revolution begins in the mirror!" more on this story




Lamb of God Announce Spring Tour and Metal Retreat
Lamb of God will be returning to the road now that frontman Randy Blythe has been acquitted of manslaughter charges in the Czech Republic and have announced a special musical retreat as well.

The band will be launching a tour where they will visit cities they missed during the earlier touring for their latest album, Resolution.

The tour is set to kick off on May 16th Asheville, NC and the first half of the trek will feature support from Terror. The second half will feature support from The Acacia Strain. Decapitated will be supporting the entire tour.

The band will also be launching their Metal on the Mountain retreat July 15th through 19th which will take place at the Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, New York.

The retreat will be open to only 170 fans and will include a curriculum created by the band that will feature guitar and drum clinics with Mark Morton, Willie Adler, and Chris Adler.

They will also have group instruction, songwriting sessions and competitions, nightly jam sessions with the band and fans, and a Q & A.

Lamb of God will also treat fans to the premiere of their feature film ahead of the fall theatrical release and they will cap off the event with a full band concert. more on this story




Deep Purple Not Bothered By Rock Hall Snub
(hennemusic) Deep Purple were denied entry to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame this year, losing out to such artists as American pop singer-songwriter Randy Newman and R&B singer Donna Summer.

The members of Purple, who will release a new album titled "Now What?!" on April 30 in North America, say it is no big loss.

"I don't think the band really care, actually," keyboardist Don Airey tells The Straits Times. "It'd be nice but there's been no 'awwwww', no disappointment."

"The gig's the thing with this band, the next concert," he adds. "That's what it's all about and we're looking forward to Singapore."

The keyboardist would like to see the Rock Hall stay true to its brand name by placing more emphasis on rockers. more on this story




Ozzy Osbourne Loses Money On Mansion Sale
(hennemusic) Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne sold their California home for $11.5 million and managed to lose money in the process.

The Los Angeles Times reports the Osbournes initially purchased their Hidden Hills estate in 2007 for $12,388,500 according to public records.

The property was put on the market in 2011 at $12.999 million and was also listed for lease at $50,000 a month. more on this story




Tool Plan Willy Wonka Like Surprise For Five Lucky Fans
Tool will be pulling a Willy Wonka move with their upcoming special limited edition anniversary reissue of the "Opiate EP."

The band announced that they will be including five "Seal of Xatanitos" certificates in random copies of the EP and they will only disclose the prize to the lucky fans that find the "golden tickets."

The EP will be released in a various limited run of 5,000 copies total with 5 different 1,000 piece runs featuring different graphics and bonus material. They will only be sold via the band's website on March 26th.

The reissues will feature art direction by Adam Jones, illustrations by legendary artist Adi Granov and design packaging by Mackie Osborne.

The bonus material will include a new stereoscopic image from the 10,000 Days packaging for fans to use with their glasses.

The special reissue campaign marks the 21st anniversary of the release of "Opiate," which was their debut EP. more on this story




Chris Cornell Plan Pink Record Store Day Release
Chris Cornell announced that Soundgarden will have a special limited edition release for fans on Record Store Day, April 20th.

The release will feature demos from their new album, King Animal, and will be pressed on a six-track pink 10" vinyl record (they include a digital download card as well).

The band is gearing up to launch the second leg of their tour in support King Animal. The trek will kick off on May 3rd in Atlantic City, NJ and will conclude on May 28th in Broomfield, CO.

Cornell released these track details for the Record Store Day release: 1) Worse Dreams - Recorded by Chris Cornell at TNC Studios in Los Angeles, CA

2) Black Saturday - Recorded by Chris Cornell at TNC Studios in Los Angeles, CA

3) By Crooked Steps - Recorded at Deke River Studio in Seattle, WA by Josh Evans and at TNC Studios in Los Angeles, CA by Chris Cornell

4) Halfway There - Recorded by Chris Cornell at TNC Studios in Los Angeles, CA

5) Bones Of Birds - Recorded by Chris Cornell at TNC Studios in Los Angeles, CA

6) A Thousand Days Before - Recorded by Soundgarden at Deek River Studio and Chris Cornell at TNC Studios in Los Angeles, CA more on this story





Beatles' John Lennon and George Harrison Honored In London
(Gibson) The Beatles' John Lennon and George Harrison have received a Blue Plaque in London. The commemoration was at 94 Baker Street, the site of the Apple Boutique clothing shop, which was owned in the 1960s by the band's company Apple Corps Ltd.

A plaque to Lennon was already on the site, but has now been replaced with one that also remembers Harrison, who died in 2001.

The plaque was unveiled by Rod Davis, the banjo player in Lennon's first band, The Quarrymen, who formed in 1956 and would later become The Silver Beatles, then The Beatles.

Blue Plaques on historically-significant buildings are awarded by the cultural organization English Heritage. But English Heritage only honor people who have died, which is why Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr do not feature. more on this story







Don Was Discusses Love For Levon
(Radio.com) Back in October, a unprecedented group of artists came together to pay tribute to the late Levon Helm for one night only at New Jersey's Izod Center. Gregg Allman and Warren Haynes from The Allman Brothers Band, Joe Walsh from The Eagles, country stars Dierks Bentley and Eric Church, John Mayer, and Pink Floyd mastermind Roger Waters all played songs that Helm performed, both as a member of The Band and and on his final solo albums, 2007′s Dirt Farmer and 2009′s Electric Dirt.

Radio.com spoke to the event's co-musical director, Don Was, about Love For Levon, which was later released on CD, DVD and BluRay. Was has produced all of the Rolling Stones' albums for two decades, and has helmed sessions for Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Elton John and Ringo Starr, just to name a few. But he said that the Love For Levon show was one of the highlights of his career.

"The whole experience of being involved in the organization of, and the rehearsals, and the show, was a beautiful experience," Was said. "It's something – if you get four or five of those in the course of a lifetime, you're doing well. That was definitely one of those nights: it was a life-altering and life-affirming thing. It sounds like bull**** but it's really true. The whole was greater than the sum of the parts, and the sum of the parts was pretty spectacular."

The show (and the live releases) raised funds for Helm's family, to help them to maintain the Levon Helm Studio in Woodstock, N.Y., and continue the series of Midnight Ramble Sessions concerts there. That iconic spot was where Was and musical co-director Larry Campbell, a long-time member of Helm's band, held rehearsals. more on this story






Eddie Kramer Discusses Jimi Hendrix's Legacy in TV Interview
(hennemusic) Legendary producer Eddie Kramer talks about the musical legacy of Jimi Hendrix in a new interview with NBC Nightly News.

Kramer co-produced the new release, "People, Hell & Angels," along with Experience Hendrix CEO Janie Hendrix and John McDermott. Kramer first met Hendrix at Olympic Studios in London in January 1967.

"From middle 1968 to the end of '69, Jimi's in the studio experimenting, rehearsing," says Kramer. "By the way, Jimi used the studio as his rehearsal space; very expensive, but thank goodness the tape was running all the time because we captured all these performances."

"He was developing a certain sound which is one of the reasons why we put this record together. It showed this transition from the Jimi Hendrix Experience into another realm," Kramer continued. "He was so adept at taking contemporary music, whether it was jazz, or rock or pop or RnB, and combining it into his own style." Watch the interview here.




Singled Out: Empty Pools
Today Leah Pritchard from Empty Pools tells us about their brand new single "Small Talk". Here is the story:

The lyrics for about half of the songs we've made so far were written while I was living on a mattress on the living room floor some friends kindly let me crash on for a while. The place was being bought and refurbished last year so the landlord was loading the entire contents of the house into a van to go the dump as we left - it's sad to think future generations of 20-somethings won't get to see the stacks of weird 70s porn that were hidden in the cupboards. And that children might be raised in that house. I'm so grateful to those friends but it's not the easiest position to be in, not having somewhere you can comfortably call home. Your bed is your desk is your dining table, you live out of your suitcase, there's always noise so you don't really read and people are constantly coming and going so it's difficult to have any semblance of routine.

At the same time, I'd had a lot of different jobs and I'd spent some time at university so I'd met a lot of people who had become anything from best friends to strangers. It just felt like so many things were so temporary or useless and there was this bit in 'Anagrams' by Lorrie Moore - "I could not be enough of the world for him. A woman could never be enough of the world, I thought, though that was what a man desired of her, though she flap her arms frantically trying." - that I kept going back to. I thought it was a perfect way to explain why some things stick and some don't, that people and jobs and hobbies don't have to be the whole world to you, but they have to be enough.

It formed the first line of what became 'Small Talk', which is about all of the above. It's about living on the surface and committing to nothing, where everything feels like small talk and there's no conversation. It's an easy way to live in a sense because you're not responsible for anything, but at the same time I think you can only sustain that for a little while.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and learn more about the group right here!



Tony Iommi Lonely Planet Video Released
(hennemusic) The video for "Lonely Planet," the Armenian Eurovision song entry written by Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, has been released.

Iommi wrote the music and Vardan Zadoyan penned the lyrics for the track, which will be performed by the band Dorians at the Eurovision final on May 16 in Malmö, Sweden.

Each year, member countries submit songs to be performed live on television and radio and then votes are cast to determine the most popular track in the competition.

"I was surprised when it made the shortlist and gobsmacked when the people of Armenia voted for it," said the guitarist. "With a little luck, who knows, it might win." more on this story




Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson Delivers Keynote Address
(hennemusic) Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson delivered the keynote address at the Connect2Business 2013 conference in Stockholm, Sweden on Tuesday. Video of some of Dickinson's speech has surfaced.

Last year, the singer announced the launch of Cardiff Aviation, his major commercial airline maintenance repair and overhaul operation in South Wales.

The business is based at the Twin Peaks hangar at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan.

A licensed pilot, Dickinson has flown for commercial airlines in addition to flying Maiden around the world in the band's customized Boeing 757 called Ed Force One. Watch video from speech here.




Alex Lifeson Reflects On Darker Times for Rush
(Gibson) With their successful Clockwork Angels tour well underway, Alex Lifeson of Rush recently told Guitar World magazine that things were not always so upbeat.

When recalling the band's Caress of Steel tour he said, "We were already extremely in debt, and it was just getting worse and worse. The crowds were getting smaller and there didn't seem to be much interest in the album at the time. Everybody around was concerned about what the future was going to be. So there was a lot of reflection. I thought, Well, you know, I guess I could be a plumber again if I had to…"

The band persevered despite the dwindling support. Eventually, they struck a production deal with Mercury label and the band itself became "responsible for delivering the record, the artwork — everything — in its completed form. It was really up to us. But they [Mercury] did lament the fact that we seemed to no longer have the same interests as we had initially. And they were concerned about that. Of course they were concerned about that—they had invested a lot of money and time and effort in us. And they wanted only what was best for the band, which was for us to make them a lot of money! And that's fine. They're a business and that's what they do. I get it. That's okay. Truthfully, I think it lit a fire under us."

The album delivered, of course, was the groundbreaking conceptual epic, 2112. Fans responded positively to the music and lyrics, garnering the band larger and larger audiences at time when the fate of the band was at stake. The rest is history. more on this story






Richie Sambora Challenges Fans To Cover His Song
Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora has issued a challenge to fans to cover a track from his latest solo album and post the video online for a chance to win a signature guitar.

Sambora is inviting fans to submit videos of their cover of the song "Every Road Leads Home To You" from his solo album "Aftermath of the Lowdown."

His camp says it doesn't have to be a rock version either, fans can a'cappella, beatbox to it, or whatever they choose. Sambora has released a video explaining the contest here.

Sambora will select his favorite cover version and giving the fan an ESP LTD SA-2 Richie Sambora Signature Electric Guitar, personally autographed to them.

To submit a cover video, fans should post it as a video response to the contest announcement video by Friday, April 19th. Winner will be announced that Monday, April 22nd.




Wolf People Release All Return Video
(Classic Rock) Wolf People, who were among the Best New Band nominees in the 2011 Classic Rock Roll Of Honour, have released a video for their current single All Returns.

Shot in their rehearsal space in Caledonian Road, London, the video features Wolf People in performance mode. Says director Phil Poole: "Our main objective for the video was to display the band in its purest form, capturing abstract pieces of performance played out in their stark rehearsal space. Seeing the music played out in this bare, natural state allowed the song to dominate and remain the focus throughout."

All Returns comes from Wolf People's upcoming album Fain, due on sale April 29. The lupine psych rockers have just announced an extensive UK/European tour.