Today's Day in Rock
Def Leppard's Vivian Campbell Fighting Cancer
(Classic Rock) Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell has revealed he's fighting cancer but says he's feeling "rather spiffy." He's two months into a six-month term of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a form of the disease which has a high clean-up rate.
And he says he wants fans to know in advance of Def Lep's upcoming tour dates so that they're ready for his lack of hair. Campbell reports: "I feel fortunate that my cancer sent me an alarm call in the form of 'the cough that wouldn't quit'. Otherwise, how would I have known?
"After several months of trying every inhaler known to man, my doctor finally had me X-rayed. A CAT scan revealed that enlarged lymph nodes were doing wrestling manoeuvres on my windpipe – hence the cough.
"What was causing the enlarged lymph nodes, however, was yet to be determined, so I underwent a surgical biopsy on March 11, the first day of Leppard rehearsals for our Viva Las Vegas shows. Obviously, I didn't make it to rehearsal that day, but it's okay; I know the songs by now!"
After Hodgkin's Lymphoma was diagnosed, Campbell was lined up for half a year's worth of chemo, which began in April. He says: "I'm feeling rather spiffy, all things considered. Hodgkin's has an over 80% cure rate – so by my reckoning, if you're going to have a cancer, Hodgie's is the one to have!" more on this story
KK Downing May Join Geoff Tate's Queensryche Tour
(Classic Rock) Queensryche singer Geoff Tate has suggested retired Judas Priest guitarist KK Downing, who guested on recent album Frequency Unknown, could be joining his band for a brief stint later this year.
Tate says: "I like working with different people, and I don't ever want to be in a band again – a band that sticks together through thick and thin and all that. I want to constantly be changing it up to make it interesting and different.
"I want to play with as many great players as I possibly can – because I can. I can call up KK Downing and say, 'Ken, you've got time, two weeks in November, to play a short tour?' I can do that; and why not?" More rock news.
Black Sabbath Release 'God Is Dead?' Video Early
(hennemusic) Black Sabbath have released the video premiere of "God Is Dead?", the first track issued from their brand new studio album, "13," a week ahead of schedule.
The band originally announced that the clip would debut on Monday, June 17. Recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Rick Rubin, "13" is the group's first full studio record with Ozzy Osbourne since 1978's "Never Say Die."
Black Sabbath will launch "13" with a special live Town Hall event on the day of the album's release, Tuesday, June 11. Ozzy, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler will participate in the Black Sabbath Town Hall via Google+ Hangout streamed live on YouTube and Google+ and broadcast Live on Ozzy's Boneyard On SiriusXM at 7:00 PM (ET). Watch the video here.
Kings of Leon Announce New Album Release
(Radio.com) While the band's headlining set at this year's Governors Ball festival was nearly rained out, Kings of Leon have announced a September 24 release date for their sixth studio album, Mechanical Bull.
According to a press release, the first single from the album is called "Super Soaker," and should hit radio airwaves by mid-July. By the looks of it how it all played out, the band had planned to announce the album at Governors Ball, but instead it happened on Friday's episode of Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.
Kings of Leon were able to reiterate the album announcement (as well as debut "Super Soaker") to fans during a rescheduled set on the second day of Governor's Ball, after their headlining show on the first night was washed out by the tail end of Tropical Storm Andrea, which pounded the festival mercilessly throughout that opening day.
"We're going to play a song we never played before," lead singer Caleb Followill told the festival crowd before performing "Super Soaker." "So if we mess it up, it's your fault."
"I thought we were going to make a really mature album but I'm amazed how youthful it sounds," bassist Jared Followill told NME earlier this year about the new album. "It's like a mix of Youth & Young Manhood and Because Of The Times." Check out the album announcement video.
Adrenaline Mob Singer Discusses Mike Portnoy's Departure
Adrenaline Mob frontman Russell Allen is the featured guest on the latest episode of the Wikimetal podcast and he discusses the surprise announcement from Mike Portnoy that he is leaving the group and the band's future plans.
Allen said the following about Portnoy's departure, "We knew about it before he made it public. We want to keep working and we don't want to wait around for Mike to have the time, and he doesn't know when he will have the time again.
"He was asked to be in the band by myself, me and Mike Orlando had already written all the material and it was completely finished before Mike got in the band. It's a bummer, but he's got his side projects and the Mob's got to go on"
As for a replacement for Portnoy, he had the following to say, "We don't have a new drummer in mind, but we are writing new material right now and we're looking to record later this year. Mike was really cool and suggested some people to replace him and we're looking at all the options."
You can check out the full episode here or skip directly to the interview here.
Ramones Collaborator Arturo Vega Dead At 65
(Classic Rock) Ramones collaborator Arturo Vega has died at the age of 65. The Mexican artist created the band's iconic "Hey Ho Let's Go" eagle/baseball bat/band member's name logo.
Vega continued to work with them for 22 years, firstly as their lighting tech and later as their archivist. He also provided a home in his New York loft for Joey and Dee Dee during the band's early days.
The San Francisco Bay Guardian says: "He was a gentleman and a warm-hearted, soft-spoken genial man with a dry wit. It was always a joy to hear from him. Like it was 1979 for ever. We'll miss you, Artie." More rock news.
Richie Furay Doubts Buffalo Springfield Reunion Promise Will Be Kept
(Classic Rock) Richie Furay thinks there's no chance of Buffalo Springfield keeping their reunion promises – and he rues the way he was "stuck out there" as spokesman for a tour that never happened.
Surviving members Neil Young, Steven Stills and Furay got together for a charity show in 2010, leading to six more appearances the following year, including a memorable set at the Bonnaroo festival.
Soon afterwards they announced plans for a 30-date trek across the US during 2012 – but Young changed his mind, saying: "I'd be on a tour of my past for the rest of f**king time, which I can't do."
Two years on, Furay tells SoundPress.net: "It's just typical of the way things unfolded with the Springfields way back in the 60s. Not much has changed.
"We were all looking forward to doing it, and it didn't happen. I was kind of stuck out there as the spokesman – if anything happened again I would take a look at how far out there I'm going to go as a spokesman. I don't think it ever will again now; but I'll never say never." He does have a silver lining.
Limited Edition Dio Holy Diver 30th Anniversary Guitars Coming
(hennemusic) The 30th anniversary of Dio's debut, "Holy Diver," is being celebrated with a limited-edition guitar made by Artist Series Guitar with only 30 of the guitars set to be made.
Finished with Dio's exclusive artwork and built with solid mahogany, the Dio ASG is set with artwork from the "Holy Diver" album release. Once the graphic has undergone the ASG-designed, chemical bonding process, the guitar is then clear-coated, wet-sanded and buffed. This process forever seals the custom graphic to the guitar.
Pre-sale will begin on July 10, to mark what would have been Ronnie James Dio's 70th birthday. Released on May 25, 1983, "Holy Diver" has been hailed by critics as Dio's best work and a classic staple in the heavy metal genre. The album was certified Platinum for sales of 1 million copies in the US in March of 1989. Check out the promo video here.
Jon Anderson Invites Fans To Film Upcoming Concert
(Classic Rock) Former Yes frontman Jon Anderson is bucking the recent trend of musicians trying to persuade their fans not to film concerts performances on their phones.
Anderson wants everyone to record his concert in Manchester on August 4, and he will then use the best submitted clips to construct a memento of the evening.
He says: "The show is unique – it's in the round, so please feel free to film parts or all of the songs. The peeps whose videos we choose will receive their own copy and a painting from me to commemorate the event." Find out how to submit them here.
Paul McCartney Continues To Bring Out Beatles Classics On Tour
(Radio.com) "I've got a feeling you want to keep rockin'! So be it — let us rock!" This was 70-something Paul McCartney addressing his audience at Brookyn's Barclays Center two hours into a concert that saw him singing his sweetest ballads and his most face-melting rockers, while jumping between electric and acoustic guitar, piano and his iconic Hofner bass.
Saturday night's (June 8) stop on his Out There Tour took him to Barclays for the first time, and was the first show of a two-night stand that concluded on Monday (June 10).
This time around, he isn't promoting a new album, but rather, sort of plugging the recent reissue of Wings' 1976 live album Wings Over America. But, in a way, Sir Paul does have "new" material: He's playing a number of Beatles songs that had never been performed live, either by the Fab Four or by any of the members on their solo tours.
Unbelievably, that group of songs includes the show opener, "Eight Days A Week." McCartney has toured frequently since returning to the road in 1989, but has somehow never gotten around the playing that classic, which is kind of mind-blowing. But then again, this is a man whose two former bands dominated music and the radio dial in the '60s and '70s; there are simply too many songs to choose from in his catalog. But it was those eras — the '60s and '70s — that he concentrated on Saturday night: despite his impressive string of '80s singles, and a good amount of somewhat under-appreciated work since then, he played just two post-'70s songs: "My Valentine," from last year's standards album, Kisses On The Bottom (probably with his wife, Nancy Shevell in mind; so many of the songs he performed were written about his late wife, Linda) and "Here Today," which he wrote in tribute to his late friend John Lennon.
Also getting debut performances on this tour are some of the Beatles' more eccentric songs: "All Together Now" (which McCartney joked, "Is one of my more intellectual songs," referencing the child-like lyrics "One two three four/Can I have a little more?/five six seven eight nine ten/I love you!"), "Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite," "Your Mother Should Know" and "Lovely Rita." And what that means is, Paul McCartney fans who have come to see him in concert over and over heard songs that they've never heard the man sing in concert before. Find out what happened next!
Robert Randolph Streaming New Song and Sets Album Release
Robert Randolph is giving fans an early taste of his forthcoming album, "Lickety Split," with the release of the first single from the effort, "Born Again."
The new album is set to be released on July 16th by Blue Note Records and is the first new album release from Randolph & The Family Band in three years.
Randolph had this to say about the new single, "We started writing Born Again as a love song. It was about that feeling you get when you meet a great woman and you just feel born again.
"My buddy had just gotten out of a relationship and he was talking about how he was going to find a new woman and have that feeling again. So that was the idea but even though it started out that way, once we were writing and jamming the result turned out to be something much more uplifting…almost spiritual." You can stream the new song here.
Bill Wyman Says Rolling Stones Used To Fake Each Other's Autographs
(Classic Rock) Former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman says that most of the band used to fake each others' autographs when they were signing stacks of memorabilia.
His suggestion means that thousands of items of highly-prized personalised items could be regarded as technically forged – and the only name fans can be certain over is that of drummer Charlie Watts.
Wyman, who left the band in 1993, tells Rolling Stone: "There's footage of us signing things in dressing rooms. There were stacks and stacks of books, programmes to be signed, and we just used to grab a bunch each and sign everybody's name.
"We all learned to sign each others' signatures – except for Charlie. He wouldn't sign anything. But me, Keith, Mick and Brian could all sign each others' autographs.
"When I see them for sale, I know two of them are not originals. But it was the only way to do it, because you couldn't pass this stuff around. You didn't have time; you were on stage in ten minutes." more on this story
Portugal. The Man Announce Fall Tour Leg
Portugal. The Man will be on tour all summer long and have announced that they will continue on the road this fall with a new North American tour leg.
The new tour leg is set to kick off on September 26th at the Corona Theatre in Montreal and will conclude on October 26th in Las Vegas at the Life Is Beautiful Festival.
That isn't the only music festival that the band plans to hit on the trek. The tour will also include appearances at Austin's ACL Music Festival (October 5th and 12th), Mexico City's Corona Capital 2013 (October 13th), Kansas City, Missouri's 96.5 The Buzz Halloweenie Roast 2013 (October 17th).
The band's current North American headline tour is set to conclude with a July 18th homecoming concert at Portland, Oregon's Crystal Ballroom and will include a performance at this year's Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival this Saturday, June 15th. more on this story
ZZ Top Celebrate Box Set Release In The Studio
(hennemusic) The new box set, "ZZ Top: The Complete Studio Albums (1970-1990)," is featured on this week's edition of the syndicated radio program In The Studio.
Released today, the set includes the original mixes for the group's first ten albums, spanning over 100 tracks that follow ZZ Top's journey from the honky tonks of Texas to the stages of the world, starting with the earthy blues and electrifying boogie that defined their '70s sound — "Just Got Paid," "La Grange," "Tush" and "Cheap Sunglasses."
"There's a lot of luck, to start with," guitarist Billy Gibbons tells program host Redbeard. "Some of these things you would like to prophesy, to plan this going a certain way.
"And yet it it's always unpredictable, always probably exactly opposite what you think you're going to do. But the first few notes that you're rippin', the first few chops that you're stabbin' at, you just don't really know where you're going." more on this story
Status Quo Celebrate Release of 100th Single
(Classic Rock) Status Quo are celebrating the milestone of their 100th single release as their new LP Bula Quo! has been named album of the week by BBC Radio 2.
It's 45 years since Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt released their first single, Pictures Of Matchstick Men. The launch of their latest track, Bula Bula Quo, puts them into three figures – and Rossi can't believe it.
He says: "One hundred singles seems incredible even to me – and I recorded them all. When we started out we would have been happy to survive a couple of years in this business. To reach this milestone is unbelievable."
Parfitt adds: "We always joke that you'd get less time for a murder. But in all honesty we'd like to thank all the Quo fans all over the world who have sustained us on an amazing ride." More including the song's video.
Black Star Riders' Ricky Warwick Recalls Terrifying Studio Experience
(Classic Rock) Black Star Riders frontman Ricky Warwick admits recording their debut album started as a "terrifying" experience. The Thin Lizzy offshoot outfit have received general acclaim for All Hell Breaks Loose, released last month and produced by Kevin Shirley.
Guitarist Scott Gorham recently admitted the tracking of 12 songs in 12 days was something was a "pressurised situation" that he wasn't sure he'd like to repeat – although he enjoyed it.
Now Warwick has shared similar sentiments. He tells Jam: "We recorded the album in 12 days and mixed it in five. Kevin said, 'You guys really have it; there's nothing I really want to change. It's all there.If you want to make an old-school, raw, big-sounding record, we're going to have to do it old-school. That means you guys have to stand in a room, set up and look at each other. You just play and I'll hit record.'"
As a result, the singer found himself without the use of a vocal booth. "At first it was terrifying," he recalls. "All the singing you hear on the record is me belting it out while I played with the band. I've never recorded an album that quickly." He continues here.
KISS Announce Japanese Tour Plans
(hennemusic) KISS have announced the first two dates of a fall tour of Japan. In support of their latest album, "Monster," the band will play Tokyo on October 19 and Osaka on October 21.
KISS are currently playing a mixture of headline shows and festival dates across Europe this month before launching an extensive Canadian tour in early July.
The New York rockers are marking their 40th anniversary this year; frontmman Paul Stanley explained the band's longevity in a recent interview with Sweden TV4's "Nyhetsmorgon."
"What we do is timeless," Stanley explained. "Many bands come out and they tell you about how bad the world is and what you can do to help the world. You can do that tomorrow; when you come to see KISS, you get to celebrate…you have a great time. We're very simple but it's also something that's timeless." more on this story
Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx Mourning The Death of His Mother
(hennemusic) Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx is mourning the death of his mother, Deana Richards, who passed away on Saturday, June 8th at the age of 74 according to his online postings.
Sixx revealed the news in a tweet that read, "RIP Mom 5-5 1939 to 6-8 2013." The tweet followed a note Sixx had posted on his Facebook page. "Writing a beautiful song about regret.....Pain always serves up the most brutal truth," wrote the bassist.
"I cannot see a ray of sunshine and not find the beauty in the inevitable rain cloud coming in behind it...I have made mistakes....Do lyrics and melody really make up for lost time? THE SAYING "THIS TOO SHALL PASS" WORKS BOTH WAYS..."
Sixx was born Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna, Jr. in 1958 in San Jose, California. He was partially raised by his single mother and by his grandparents after his father left the family. Nikki later moved in with his grandparents after his mother abandoned him; he would later reconnect with her in Seattle, where he first learned to play bass. more on this story
Video of Van Halen's Full Sydney Concert Posted Online
(hennemusic) Van Halen were one of the featured headliners at the inaugural Stone Music Festival in Sydney, Australia in April, and video of the band's full set has surfaced.
The weekend event - inspired by the '70s cult biker film Stone – saw co-headliners Billy Joel, Van Halen and Aerosmith joined by Kings Of Chaos, Richie Ramone, Buckcherry, Lifehouse and Illumination Road, among others.
Van Halen's 20-song, 90-minute setlist was identical to the template of their 2012 shows, opening with "Unchained" and closing with their only #1 single, "Jump."
In what is possibly a career first, the band wore matching outfits: white shirts with black pants and black vests. "What an amazing gig, Sydney!!" tweeted bassist Wolfgang Van Halen after the show. "Thank you so much for fighting through the rain to see us. Can't wait till next time!" Watch the video here.
Goo Goo Dolls Unplugged
(Classic Rock) Goo Goo Dolls frontman John Rzeznik performs three songs exclusively for Classic Rock who have posted video of the performance online and the band have announced a October UK tour.
Rzeznik recently visited the Classic Rock office with his trusty acoustic guitar to play three songs for us: Rebel Beat, Iris (the band's colossal hit single) and Come To Me. The first and third songs come from brand new album Magnetic.
The Dolls will be making a return to the UK in October. In their first visit since 2010, they've announced a string of dates kicking off in Nottingham on October 15. Watch the unplugged performances here.
Chthonic Release 'Supreme Pain For The Tyrant' Video
Chthonic have released a new music video and a behind the scenes making of video for their song 'Supreme Pain For The Tyrant,' which is the third and latest single from seventh studio album, 'Bú-Tik'.
Film director Cheng Wen-tang and short film director Chang Yih-feng collaborated on the video with the help of choreographer, Bulareyaung Pagarlava.
"This is a rare experience that gives me a chance to work with a different genre of music," said Bulareyaung, who marks this project as his first time working with heavy metal music. "I was determined to take part in creating the music video when I heard the phrase 'let me stand up like a Taiwanese' in the song."
Director Cheng adds, "It's such a dream to work with Bulareyaung; the dream scene in my mind was realised when the dancing part was finished." Check out the video
Sites & Sounds: June Music Festivals Guide Pt II
June kicks off the summer music festival season and last week antiMusic's Kevin Wierzbicki gave us the lowdown on some of this month's festivals. He returns today with another installment covering the 2nd half of June.
Sled Island Music & Arts Festival
June 19-22, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
More than 250 independent bands will play at 30-or-so venues in the heart of Calgary during Sled Island, including the Jesus and Mary Chain, Explosions in the Sky, the Besnard Lakes, Iceage, Superchunk, Swans, Divine Fits, Thee Oh Sees, Javelin, White Lung, Akron/Family, the Dodos, Viet Cong, Ghostkeeper, Torche, UMO and at least 75 acts representing Calgary. www.sledisland.com www.travelalberta.us
Electric Forest
June 27-30, Rothbury, Michigan
Three performances by the String Cheese Incident highlight this four-day festival but there are dozens of other acts scheduled to play, including Pretty Lights, Lotus, Yeasayer, Femi Kuti, Railroad Earth, Benny Benassi, Empire of the Sun, Tommy Trash, Passion Pit, Trombone Shorty, Baauer, Kill the Noise, Grimes and Knife Party. A portion of ticket sales proceeds will be donated to Conscious Alliance and other charities. The event takes place at the Double JJ Ranch where they have an indoor water park; Rothbury is about 20-miles outside of Muskegon. www.electricforestfestival.com
Mystic Blues Festival
June 28-30, Mystic, Connecticut
This is a brand new event for Mystic and surrounding area and it should be a good one. Scheduled to appear are Roomful of Blues, James Cotton, Jim Weider, the James Montgomery Band, Jaimoe's Jassz Band, Al Kooper and Johnny Nicholas and Hell Bent featuring Cindy Cashdollar. There'll also be a blues brunch on Sunday June 30. www.mysticbluesfestival.com
Kanrocksas
June 28 and 29, Kansas City, Kansas
The heartland will be rockin' when Kanrocksas shifts into gear at the Kansas Speedway with shows by the Dropkick Murphys, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Son Volt, Mord Fustang, MGMT, ZZ Ward, Pretty Lights, Imagine Dragons, Passion Pit, Yeasayer, She & Him, Empire of the Sun, the Avett Brothers, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Flosstradamus, Machine Gun Kelly and many others. There will also be hot air balloon rides, food trucks, fire tossers, art installations and lot of other diversions. www.kanrocksas.com
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