This Week's Top Rock News Stories!

This Week's Top Stories



Led Zeppelin Mystery Explored In New Film
(Classic Rock) Two filmmakers are seeking funding to complete work on a short film titled Fleecing Led Zeppelin, exploring the aftermath of the theft of $200,000 from the band in 1973.

The cash disappeared from a hotel bank vault while Robert Plant and co. were playing at Madison Square Garden. No trace of the swag – worth $1.1m today – has ever been found.

"The Drake Hotel is long gone," say screenwriter Jackie May Tolliver and director Gabe Tolliver. "There's no sign of the money. But somebody took it. Was it manager Peter Grant? Road manager Richard Cole? Housekeeping?

"It's a fan movie, for lovers of history, or for folks who just want to know what happened to that money. We need your help to finish the film – we need $35,000 for editing, sound design, music rights, DVD, advertising and film festivals, which ain't cheap."

View the trailer and learn more - here.



Stone Temple Pilots With Chester Feels Right To Linkin Park Bandmate
(TeamRock Radio) Chester Bennington's Linkin Park bandmates have no problem with his new role fronting Stone Temple Pilots, says LP DJ Joe Hahn. Bennington was unveiled after STP fired Scott Weiland earlier this year. The new lineup have completed an EP called High Rise, due on October 7, and are planning more work together.

That's not stopping Linkin Park, who, along with Bennington, are at work on their own next album and recently launched a video game entitled LP Recharge.

Hahn tells Rolling Stone: "In high school we grew up listening to Stone Temple Pilots. For us these are the deities of rock. They're up there, so if someone asks you to do that, you just do it.

"Chester is such a great singer and for him to have the opportunity to go and sing with other people, we're appreciative of them for asking Chester to do it. I think on a spiritual level it works in so many ways, where it's not even about there being a benefit, it's just something that feels right, especially for Chester." - He had more to say about its impact on Linkin Park.




Black Sabbath Preview New Live DVD and Reveal Track Details
(Classic Rock) Black Sabbath have released a three-minute clip from upcoming DVD and Blu-Ray "Live… Gathered In Their Masses" and have revealed the 15-song tracklisting.

It was recorded at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia, on April 29 and May 1 this year as the band toured to promote 13, their first album with Ozzy Osbourne since 1978′s Never Say Die.

The 15-track package will be released on November 26 in standard, Blu-ray, Blu-ray/CD and DVD/CD formats. In addition, a two-DVD/one-CD deluxe box will contain bonus live material, a poster, signed set list, photo booklet, guitar picks and a replica show ticket.

Check out the preview and tracklisting - here.



Pearl Jam Plan Lightning Bolt Pop-Up Store
(hennemusic) Pearl Jam will launch their new album, "Lightning Bolt", with a pop-up store in New York City on October 15 plus "Lightning Bolt" artist Don Pendleton will be painting live in store

The Seattle band has teamed up with Volcom for the 1-night pop-up store event, which will see a variety of items available in addition to the album itself.

Merchandise that will be offered at the Pop-Up shop includes limited-edition Pearl Jam X Volcom X Don Pendleton Collab T-Shirts and all merchandise that will be offered at the band's October 18 & 19 Barclay Center shows in Brooklyn, NY. - more on this story




Eric Clapton Release Preview Clip of Unplugged Reissue
(hennemusic) Eric Clapton is previewing the expanded and remastered version his 1992 smash, "Unplugged", in advance of its release later this month. The guitarist has posted rehearsal footage of "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" from the package.

According to the official announcement, the new 2-CD/DVD collection includes a remastered version of the original album as well as six unreleased outtakes. The DVD will feature a restored version of the concert, and over an hour of previously unreleased bonus footage from the rehearsal.

The second disc of the set includes several songs not on the original album, including a cover of Big Maceo Merriweather's "Worried Life Blues", an alternate version of "Walkin' Blues", plus early versions of "Circus" and "My Father's Eyes" — songs that would appear six years later on Clapton's album "Pilgrim." - more on this story




Living With Def Leppard Documentary Preview Launched
(hennemusic) Def Leppard have teamed up with Rolling Stone to share a preview of the forthcoming documentary series, "Living With Def Leppard." The project does not have an official release date as of yet.

The multi-episode series offers an intimate view of the band's stay in Las Vegas this past spring during their "VIVA! Hysteria" residency at The Joint inside The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Throughout the series, the band members discuss their early days, their high-profile struggles (drummer Rick Allen losing an arm, for example) and their endless camaraderie. - Watch the preview here.





Machine Head Going Nuclear For Next Album
(TeamRock Radio) Machine Head have confirmed their next album will be released via Nuclear Blast Entertainment, after they signed a deal with the label. And mainman Robb Flynn had no qualms about following former Roadrunner A&R man Monte Conner to his new home.

"Monte has believed in Machine Head for 20 years — his belief has never wavered," Flynn states. "We are extremely proud to work alongside him once again."

The band will start recording work later this month, with their eighth album slated for release early next year. Demo track titles include Killers And Kings, Beneath The Silt, Sail Into The Black and Night Of The Long Knives.

Machine Head hired new bassist Jared MacEachern earlier this year after dismissing Adam Duce. Flynn admitted he'd been reduced to tears after deciding Duce had to go after 21 years. - more on this story




Sammy Hagar Scores A Hit With New Album
(hennemusic) "Sammy Hagar & Friends", the new album from the Red Rocker joined by an all-star guest list, has debuted in the Top 25 of the Billboard 200 album chart.

The project opens at No. 23 on the Billboard 200 to score Sammy the 11th Billboard Top 25 album of his career, as well as his highest-charting solo album in 17 years – since 1997's "Marching To Mars."

"Sammy Hagar & Friends" marks the Red Rocker's first solo release in five years and sees him team up with a variety of artists, including Kid Rock, Nancy Wilson (Heart), Ronnie Dunn (Brooks & Dunn), Neal Schon (Journey, HSAS), Chickenfoot pals Chad Smith, Michael Anthony and Joe Satriani; Montrose bandmates Bill Church and Denny Carmassi, his solo band The Wabos and more. - more on this story




Soundgarden Interested In Making New Album
(Classic Rock) Soundgarden haven't made any plans for another album, but they're pretty sure it's going to happen. The band received acclaim for 2012 comeback record King Animal, and enjoyed the experience of touring with their first new release since 1996′s Down On The Upside.

They're currently taking a break, with frontman Chris Cornell about to embark on a solo tour, bassist Ben Shepherd promoting a solo album and drummer Matt Cameron busy with Pearl Jam's upcoming Lightning Bolt.

But their thoughts are directed towards what might happen when they regroup for their seventh full-length release. Asked how their next set of songs might evolve, Cameron tells O2 Academy: "We have a way of writing and playing together – the evolution might have already happened. I think we'd like to make a record that's more rock, that has more bite and more guitars."

Guitarist Kim Thayill confirms: "We don't have a plan, but we have a desire and interest in a new album." - More from the band.




Warren Haynes Discusses Gov't Mule's New Album
(Gibson) It's tough summing up a recording with as wide a creative grasp as Gov't Mule's new two-disc set Shout!, but leading the band for 19 years does give Gibson legend Warren Haynes the definitive inside line.

"This album puts a spotlight on the songs and the way that we interpret them, which hinges on the unique chemistry we've developed as a band," Haynes explains.

Shout! also put the spotlight on a variety of A-list singers besides Haynes that includes Dave Matthews, Steve Winwood, Dr. John, Toots Hibbert, Elvis Costello and Glenn Hughes, who've each recorded an alternate vocal performance of one of the first disc's 11 new compositions. So fans who purchase Shout! hear both Haynes' vocal performances with his bandmates Matt Abts, Danny Louis and Jorgen Carlsson, plus Haynes and crew instrumentally backing one guest vocalist on each of the tunes.

Dr. John, for example, growls on the alternate version of the funky "How Can You Stoop So Low" and Costello snarls out the lyrics of the post-new-waver "Funny Little Tragedy."

The notion of having guest singers was inspired by a conversation Haynes had with his friend Costello. "I called to ask him what type of vocal microphone he'd used on one of his classic albums with the Attractions," Haynes says. "Then, after writing and recording 'Funny Little Tragedy' I couldn't get his voice out of his head and began thinking about pairing other vocalists with the set's other songs."

So Haynes made of list of Shout!'s titles and his top choices for singers, and his first-draft picks agreed — a tribute to Haynes' and Gov't Mule's standing among their peers.

"No one's done this before, which is exciting," the Signature Model Les Paul Standard playing guitarist notes, "but it's even more exciting actually listening to these artists sing our songs. Their performances bring new ideas, energy and sometimes even different meanings to every number."

But guitarists are likely to be more excited by the fact that Shout! offers some of the most extraordinary playing in Gov't Mule's sonically colorful history. The set also boasts an impressive scope, ranging from the suite-like epic "Bring On The Music" — a soaring tribute to the affirming power of rock 'n' roll — to the snarling punk rocker "Funny Little Tragedy" to the soul-reggae testifier "Scared To Live." - A lot more.




Joan Jett Had Fun Writing With Dave Grohl
(Gibson) "Any Weather," the opening track from Joan Jett's new album, Unvarnished, came from an invitation she got from Dave Grohl to visit his studio. Jett says working with the Foo Fighters frontman was a lot of fun.

"I wanted to write with Dave for a while," she told Rolling Stone. "I think he's a great songwriter, but I don't think he does a lot of writing with people outside of the Foos. [It was] just the two of us … in the studio.

"He played the drums. I played the rhythm guitar, and I just kind of hummed the melody and sang the chorus. Then he went and put on some bass and lead guitar and rhythm guitar. It was a really fun thing."

Asked if she feels young women in rock and pop are in a better position today than they were in the mid '70s, when she first entered the business, Jett replied that nothing "has changed much at all." "I can't speak to the pop thing," she said, "[but] it seems to me it's pretty focused on the sexuality and making sure that's a big part of the presentation." - more on this story





Velvet Underground's White Light/White Heat Box Set Coming
(Gibson) To mark its 45th anniversary, the Velvet Underground's White Light/White Heat album is getting a massive box set treatment. Originally released in 1968, the album is regarded as seminal for is sonic explosiveness, and was a key inspiration for such bands as Sonic Youth and Television.

The three-disc set, scheduled for release December 3, will feature remastered versions of both the original stereo and mono mixes, plus unreleased outtakes and alternative versions of several songs.

Among the bonus tracks are five previously unreleased tracks from John Cale's personal copy of the album. An unearthed live show, recorded April 30, 1967 at the Gymnasium in New York City, will comprise the Disc Three.

Original Velvet Underground members Lou Reed and John Cale helped select the material. "No one listened to it," Reed told Rolling Stone. "But there it is forever—the quintessence of articulate punk. And no one goes near it." - more on this story




Backyard Babies' Dregen Announces Solo Shows
(Classic Rock) Backyard Babies and Michael Monroe guitarist Dregen has confirmed a handful of solo shows in the UK in December. They will be double-headers with Imperial State Electric, Dregen's former Hellacopters bandmate Nicke Andersson's current outfit.

Dregen is touring in support of his self-titled debut solo album, due out on Monday via Spinefarm. View his video for lead track Just Like That – which Classic Rock premiered last month – below.

The December shows will be the first time the pair have been on the road together since 1998. Andersson says: "We're playing in two different bands – but who knows what'll happen at the end of the night. I wouldn't miss it for the world. You shouldn't either."

Dregen adds: "Hopefully we can twang a few dusty but golden rock-rings together on stage." Read more, check out his latest solo video and grab the live dates - here.




Megadeth's New Live Set Debuts On Billboard 200
(hennemusic) Megadeth's new set, "Countdown To Extinction: Live", has debuted at No. 119 on the US Billboard 200 album charts with opening week sales of around 3,600 copies.

The release captures Megadeth in concert on the 20th anniversary tour of the double-platinum 1992 album. The band were recorded and filmed at Los Angeles' Fox Theatre last December.

The 2012 show sees Megadeth performing the entire "Countdown To Extinction" album as well as playing other classics from their recorded catalog. - more on this story




Gordon Giltrap and Oliver Wakeman Kick Off Tour
(Prog) Gordon Giltrap and Oliver Wakeman have just kicked off a UK tour in support of acclaimed album Ravens & Lullabies. They're performing as a headline act for the rest of this month before appearing as guests of John Lees' Barclay James Harvest for a series of shows in November.

Giltrap and Wakeman – whose track Moneyfacturing was nominated in the Anthem category at this year's Progressive Music Awards – will also headline the Summers End festival with a full-band show on October 5.

Ravens & Lullabies, released in March, marks Giltrap's return to his rock roots after three decades away. He initially asked Wakeman to provide keyboard tracks as a session musician, but their creative partnership blossomed into something more involved.

Giltrap said: "The album deserves major success. When I listen to it I get a little tingle of excitement, and I hope maybe this will be the one that moves the old career forward. Not only that: I hope it gives Oliver the break he so richly deserves."

More including the extensive list of upcoming tour dates - here.




Rare Blues Record Fetches Record Price
(The Blues) A ultra rare 1930 record by delta blues icon Tommy Johnson, believed to be one of only two in existence, has sold on eBay to the owner of the other copy.

The 78RPM disc contains the tracks Alcohol And Jake Blues and Ridin' Horse. Its selling price makes it the most expensive blues record ever to have changed hands.

It was bought by collector John Tefteller for £22,942, who already owns the other copy, but insisted: "I had to have it." Bidding had reached £9500 before more than doubling in the final seconds of the auction.

He plans to remaster the Johnson record – one of five he laid down with Paramount – and make it available next year. Read what he had to say - here.




Nirvana Return To The Album Charts
(hennemusic) Nirvana's 20th anniversary reissue of their 1993 album, "In Utero", has debuted at No. 112 on the US Billboard 200 album chart following its release last week.

The multi-format release of the Seattle band's final album spreads more than 70 remastered, remixed, rare, unreleased and live recordings over configurations ranging from a 3-CD/1-DVD Super Deluxe Edition to a standard digital/CD remaster of the original album.

Material exclusive to the various versions of the "In Utero" 20th-anniversary reissue will include a veritable treasure trove of never-before-heard demos, B-sides and compilation tracks. - more on this story




The Devil Wears Prada Release 'First Sight' Video
(TeamRock Radio) The Devil Wears Prada have released a music video for new track First Sight. It's taken from latest album 8:18, which is on sale now via Roadrunner Records.

Vocalist Mike Hranica says of the promo: "I think our hazy vision was able to come to life with a collective idea as to what inspires us in other music videos and film.

"It's probable that most fans and listeners wouldn't expect something like this from us – which is all the more exciting." The band are currently touring the UK ahead of an extensive trek across North America. - Check out the video here.




Periphery Deliver Live 'Ragnarock' Video
(Prog) Periphery have released a new live music video for their track Ragnarock. The song is taken from their second album, "Periphery II," which came out in July.

But the US prog metal band aren't resting on their laurels. Guitarist Mark Holcombe tells Loudwire: "We're constantly writing – every single one of us writes. The biggest challenge is not to write."

Periphery have released the new live video as they gear up to launch their new US tour, which kicks off next week. Until then you can watch the new video - here.




Buffalo Summer Release 'Down To The River' Video
(Classic Rock) Rising stars Buffalo Summer have released their first ever video. The new music clip is for their track "Down To The River". The shameless blues rock proponents caught Classic Rock's eye last year when the Welsh band visited the office to play an exclusive live session.

Frontman Andrew Hunt said: "People like Free, the Coverdale/Hughes era of Deep Purple – we love all that. In the summer time we'd sit outside with guitars, just writing and playing songs. We'd be there up on the mountainside; it wasn't exactly Laurel Canyon but…"

Buffalo Summer's self-titled debut album is on sale now, and you can catch them on tour in the UK with Kadaver, after which they'll hit Germany in support of the Quireboys. - Check out the video here.




Goldray Premiere 'Outloud' Video
(Prog) Prog magazine has premiered the new music video from Goldray, the psychedelic rock band formed by Reef guitarist Kenwyn House. The clip is for the track "Outloud".

The single Outloud, out on November 4, is from the band's self-titled mini-LP, due for release on November 25 at the end of their Pledge Music campaign.

Goldray got together in 2010 when House and Leah Rasmussen of Renaissance, Hydrogen and Bedrock discovered a shared vision of blending psych and prog sensibilities. They're joined by bassist Geoff Laurens of the Resistors plus drummers Andy Treacey of Faithless and Paul Winter-Hart of Kula Shaker.

House says: "That era is avoided by most of the media and the musical orthodoxy, which is strange considering how powerful that time was for music and culture. Much of what was being said then – freedom, war, environment – is just as relevant, if not more relevant, today. It's such a rich area to draw on."

Check out the video and the campaign details - here.




Turisas Release 'Piece By Piece' Lyric Video
(TeamRock Radio) Battle metal outfit Turisas have released their official lyric video for their new track Piece By Piece, which is taken from their most recent album Turisas2013.

The Finnish band's frontman Mathias Nygard says of the work: "'It's a very diverse album – it has some of the heaviest and fastest tracks that we've ever done.

"We hope you'll enjoy the track we picked to give you a taste of the many flavours to come." Apart from the new lyric video, you can grab their up coming tour dates - here.

More on Turisas - Turisas Music - Turisas Tour Dates/Tickets - Turisas CDs, vinyl and rarities
Butcher Babies Bring Diversity To Metal
(Radio.com) Heidi Shepherd, one of the two frontwomen for the Butcher Babies, is emphatic in her opinion that heavy metal should be a little bit more open minded and accepting.

"We're trying to start a movement where it's back to where it used to be," Shepherd told Radio.com. "It didn't matter what you looked like, what your gender is, where you're from, what you do for a living. It's an emotion. It's about rocking the f*** out!"

Rocking out is something that both Shepherd and fellow Butcher Baby Carla Harvey know a lot about. They also know a little something about having to explain their love for the overtly masculine genre.

Harvey said she was teased, threatened, chased home from school, and had her hair pulled for loving metal music. "I'm half black, I grew up in a black neighborhood, I wasn't supposed to like heavy metal," Harvey explained. "At all!"

"And to make matters worse, of course, I was a girl," she said. "Everything about it was wrong. I had to fight for the right to love my metal."

Because of that, whenever someone makes comments about her and Shepherd being women in metal, she just turns the other cheek. "You have no idea what I went through," Harvey said. "I'm from Detroit. I got beat up for this. Your words can't hurt me."

Similarly, Shepherd grew up in an environment that was not quite metal friendly."I grew up in a very large Mormon family, in Provo, Utah, where this music is not accepted," she said. "And I wasn't accepted either because I wasn't like the Mormon kids who went to church. I wasn't like that at all."

Shepherd used to hide in her closet and listen to metal. Though she would be in there listening by herself, the music made her feel less alone. "Carla has said this many times, and I feel the same way, we felt almost like the musicians were speaking to us," Shepherd said. "Like, 'It's okay! You're not the only one! There's more of you out there!' And I really think that that saved both of our lives." - more on this story

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The Fierce And The Dead Release 'Ark' Video
(Prog) The Fierce And The Dead are aiming to capture a vibe stretching from King Crimson to Sonic Youth on their forthcoming second studio album Spooky Action.

Fans can judge whether they've achieved that by viewing the music video for new track "Ark" online. The group will release their 11-piece record on November 4 via Bad Elephant Music.

The instrumental outfit, who were nominated in this year's Progressive Music Awards, have also announced three upcoming UK live appearances this fall. Grab the dates and watch the video - here.

More on Fierce And The Dead - Fierce And The Dead Music - Fierce And The Dead Tour Dates/Tickets - Fierce And The Dead CDs, vinyl and rarities
Pearl Jam Preview Another New Song
(Gibson) Are you ready for new Pearl Jam? The legendary grunge band's upcoming album, Lightning Bolt, will arrive in just a few weeks, and now, the guys have released a teaser of another song off the set.

Following the music videos for "Mind Your Manners" and " Sirens," the guys have posted a clip, called "Hatchet," from a new song, "Let the Records Play."

The clip, which runs about one minute, features the song playing with footage of singer Eddie Vedder tossing an axe at a target with a big bulls-eye. Watch the video on the band's official YouTube page here.

Lightning Bolt will reach store shelves and online outlets on Oct. 15. In other news, Pearl Jam are set to kick off a North American tour Oct. 11 at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pa. - more on this story





Kings of Leon, Dream Theater and Metallica Debut in Top 10
While Drake scored the top album of the week on the Billboard 200, three rock acts made Top 10 debuts including Kings of Leon, Dream Theater and Metallica.

Kings of Leon enjoyed the highest rock chart debut, coming in at No. 2 with 110,000 copies of their new album, "Mechanical Bull," sold during its first week of release.

Dream Theater's new self-titled album gave the band their third consecutive top 10 album after it sold 34,000 copies last week to land at No. 7, according Nielsen SoundScan numbers.

Metallica's soundtrack to their new 3D film "Metallica: Through The Never" landed at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 with first week sales of 26,000 copies. You can see what other albums made the top 10 - here.




Best Voice of Stone Temple Pilots: Chester Bennington or Scott Weiland?
(Gibson) One of the biggest surprises of the year so far was the announcement of Scott Weiland leaving Stone Temple Pilots, after being their front man since 1986 apart from their hiatus between 2003 and 2008. But even more surprising was the announcement of Weiland's replacement - Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington. Reactions from fans have been both positive and negative. So let's take a look at what Bennington is able to bring to the table versus what was lost when Weiland was let go.

One thing that can be said for Chester Bennington is the fact that he is still enjoying a successful career with Linkin Park, with sold out tours and chart-topping hits with each of the band's releases. Stone Temple Pilots on the other hand, while having released new music and toured on and off for the last decade, have been left in a downwards spiral in terms of album sales, so the fresh start that guitarist Dean DeLeo (who is often seen playing a Gibson Les Paul), bassist Robert DeLeo, and drummer Eric Kretz get with the addition of Bennington might just be what the doctor ordered for the band.

Scott Weiland on the other hand has one very important thing going for him: One could easily argue that he is Stone Temple Pilots' sound, at least as far as most casual fans of the band are concerned. Throughout the band's career, Weiland has been the face of the band. He's the guy who's constantly been seen in pictures and interviews in magazines, and television.

While Weiland is the original singer of Stone Temple Pilots, it still doesn't mean that he is the only musical force in the band - far from it. The fact is that both Robert and Dean DeLeo have written the music to many of the band's songs. This becomes evident with the first release from Stone Temple Pilots with Chester Bennington, as they are forced to call themselves due to various legal issues. The song "Out of Time" which the band released in May sounds like STP. The music and the riffs are all there. What's even more interesting is the fact that Chester even sounds a lot like Weiland in the song. He has all but ventured away from the high-pitched wails and screams that has been his trademark sound with Linkin Park. With "Out of Time" you know that it's a Stone Temple Pilots song. It's basically like a car that's gotten new wheels and a tune up.

But one important thing that the band lost when firing Weiland, is the singer's charisma. Scott Weiland is a lead singer. He has that uncanny ability to capture and spellbind an audience that few possess. It's fair to compare his stage command to that of Mick Jagger, or a young Steven Tyler. Stage presence is something that has become increasingly important in later years, when a band's major income is from touring rather than album sales. But if the audience is going to spend their hard earned money to see the band, they demand a show that is something special. A band that simply stands still and rattles off their greatest hits aren't going to sell many tickets the second time they come around as opposed to a band where the singer in particular devotes all his time on stage to entertain and captivate the audience.

Chester Bennington certainly has charisma and a natural ability to lead an audience, but maybe not quite on the same level as Weiland. However, what he does bring to the table is an influx of new fans. I recently went to a Soundgarden concert, and realized that not a single person in the audience was under thirty. It basically consisted of people who had been fans of the band during the height of their popularity who came back to relive old memories. But Linkin Park is still very much a current band with young fans that still like to experience new music. So this new STP lineup will certainly gain a bunch of new fans who are experiencing the band and its catalogue for the first time - certainly not a bad thing, and in extension it works to Scott Weiland's advantage as well, since he no doubt will see an increase in royalty payments as the band's previous albums get picked up by new fans.

Let the battle of the fans begin! Please leave your comments on whether STP should have stayed with Weiland, or if you think it's good that they're going in a new direction - here.



Gene Simmons Says At Least Hendrix's Death Was Original
(TeamRock Radio) Kiss mainman Gene Simmons has suggested that the reason drug addiction isn't cool is because it's been done – adding that the only good thing about Jimi Hendrix's death is that it was original. His own band has suffered its share of substance abuse issues, and he admits their ten-lineup history has been "very crazy with the cliches of rock'n'roll."

But he tells TeamRock Radio's Classic Rock Show in an interview "At least the guys who killed themselves, like Hendrix and all the rest of them – in those days not many people did that. You're a drug addict? That's so yesterday."

Simmons maintains rock'n'roll isn't about excess, or at least not in terms of drink and drugs. "Rock'n'roll is about the freedom to be whatever the eff you want to be," he states. "And if that's a big corporate capitalist pig, proudly so, unapologetic, then so be it."

He says he's enjoying the Kiss' current incarnation more than any other, but he's aware it's not going to go on for ever, reflecting: "You want to finish on a blaze of glory, not a pathetic shadow of what you were. I hope we don't stay on stage one day longer than we deserve. We introduce ourselves with 'You wanted the best,' not 'You wanted the second best.'"

Read more and stream the full interview - here.




Rush's Neil Peart Plays on New Vertical Horizon Album
(hennemusic) Rush drummer Neil Peart will be making a guest appearance on two tracks on the "Echoes From The Underground", the forthcoming album by Vertical Horizon.

"It was an absolute blast to record. Neil's drum performance is simply stellar," explains Vertical Horizon frontman and guitarist Matt Scannell. "Lyrically, it's just your average spy thriller/espionage/blackmail/love song."

"Echoes From The Underground" will be released this coming Tuesday, October 8th. Billboard is sharing video of Peart's recording session on the tune "Instamatic" and the band is offering a free download of another album track. Grab the links to both - here.

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Dead Weather Releasing New Music and Album Coming Next Year
(Radio.com) Last month, The Dead Weather teased that they were in the studio, and now fans finally know the reason why. Third Man Records announced on Wednesday (October 2) that the band–comprised of label founder Jack White, The Kills' Alison Mosshart, Queens of the Stone Age's Dean Fertita and Raconteurs bassist bassist Jack Lawrence–recorded two new songs for Third Man's final Vault package of 2013.

The two songs–"Open Up (That's Enough)" and "Rough Detective"–will be available as a 7-inch double A-side single pressed on "yellow jacket" colored vinyl as part of the monthly subscription service, which offers Third Man exclusives to anyone who signs up.

The Dead Weather plan to record and release two-song sets until 2015, at which point they'll then release a full album that contains the previously released singles, along with other album-only tracks. And don't worry if you haven't subscribed to the Vault, all of the songs will be released digitally, but not until Vault packages have been dispatched to subscribers.

Until then, fans can check out a 30-second snippet of the band's new song "Open Up (That's Enough)." In the very short listen, Mosshart and White trade shouts of "Open up/ That's enough." - Listen here.




Def Leppard and Sex Pistols Supergroup Manraze Announce New EP
Manraze, the Def Leppard, Sex Pistols and Girl supergroup, have announced that they will be releasing a new EP, entitled "I Surrender," on November 12th.

The group, which features Def Leppard's Phil Collen, The Sex Pistols' Paul Cook, and Girl's Simon Laffy, are giving fans an advanced listen to the three-song EP's title track here.

Collen offered this background information about the track, "The song is eight years old. It practically never got finished. I was on tour last year and started singing the chorus.

"Early this year, I re-did the guitars to Paul's original demo drums. I did a vocal and Simon played new bass-lines. Ger McDonnell then did a brilliant edit and mix on what we gave him. Debbi Blackwell-Cook supplied the wailing outro-vocals that you hear at the end of the song. We feel this is our best song yet."

The other two tracks on the EP include a live studio recording of a song called "Connected - Live from Shepherd's Bush", and a new version of the song "All I Wanna Do." -




The Kinks' Dave Davies Announces Solo Tour
(Gibson) So, the Kinks have put to rest any rumors that the band will embark on a 50th anniversary tour next year, but that doesn't mean fans won't have the chance to catch any Kinks action in the coming months. Kinks guitarist Dave Davies has announced that he'll hit the road for a short run of solo North American shows this November.

Davies' tour will kick off Nov. 12 at the City Winery in New York City and travel through six cities before wrapping up Nov. 19 at Space in Evanston, Ill.

The guitarist recently released a new solo album, I Will Be Me, so plan to hear tunes off that release on the trek. Davies' solo shows also feature the Kinks member performing Kinks tunes and other songs from his solo collection. - more on this story



Joey Jordison of Slipknot and Scar the Martyr's Amazing Guitar Deal
(Gibson) Sure, Joey Jordison plays drums in Slipknot, but he also has a new band called Scar the Martyr that's keeping him occupied in more ways than one. Jordison plays drums, bass and guitar on various tracks on Scar the Martyr's self-titled debut, so the new venue is helping him stretch his musicality.

When it comes to guitars, Jordison told the I Heart Guitar Blog that he used his Gibson Black Beauty '79 Les Paul Custom and '82 Silverburst Custom on Scar the Martyr's new album. He says the Silverburst Custom is "almost my most treasured possession."

As for how he got the guitar, "I was working at my old gas station – and I've never said this in an interview – I was working at a gas station and I'd always check the classified ads looking for musical instruments," he said. "I saw one and it said 'Gibson guitar. $300 or offer.'"

For that price, he thought it wouldn't be much of a guitar, but he still had to check it out. "So I went over to this lady's house, and she's an older lady, and she went down into the musty basement… pulled this guitar out… Opened it up, and it was a 1982 Les Paul Custom Silverburst," he said. "She was asking three hundred dollars for it, so I gave her $250, because she didn't know what she had." - more on this story




Hugh Laurie Releasing Live on the Queen Mary DVD and Blu-Ray
Eagle Rock has announced an October 22nd release date for Hugh Laurie Live On The Queen Mary. The DVD, Blu-ray and digital video release marks the very first full-length music home video release for the former title star of the hit TV show House.

The video captures a live performance from Laurie and The Copper Bottom Band that took place earlier this year on the RMS Queen Mary, which is docked in Long Beach Ca.

The performance included material from Laurie's 2011 album "Let Them Talk" and his new album "Didn't It Rain" and the show fulfilled his longtime desire to perform on the ship and follow in the footsteps of a New Orleans blues artist that greatly inspired him.

Laurie had this to say his dream of performing on the ship, "The Queen Mary has been moored at Long Beach since 1967. She crossed the Atlantic a thousand or so times before retiring to serve out her days as a hotel. But there is a bigger reason for its holiness.

"It was on the Queen Mary, at a party hosted by Sir Paul McCartney (then a humble mister), that the great Professor Longhair recorded the album that changed my life. Professor Longhair Live on the Queen Mary didn't need no fancy title. It is what it is, and changes who it changes." - more on this story




Soundgarden's Screaming Life Remastered and Being Reissued
Sub Pop Records have announced that they will be releasing a remastered version of Soundgarden's debut EP "Screaming Life" along with material from their "Fopp" EP and the "Sub Pop 200" collection.

"Screaming Life / Fopp EP " reissue will be released digitally, on CD format, as well as a double vinyl LP on November 26th. Sub Pop are also giving fans a little taste of what they can expect with a stream of the song "Nothing To Say", here.

The label called on Screaming Life producer Jack Endino to remaster the tracks for the new release, which will be the very first time the songs will be available to fans digitally and will once again be available on vinyl after long being out of print.

We were sent the following comments from Endino about the reissue, "Ah, Screaming Life, Soundgarden's debut, and one of the first real records I made for anyone outside my own band. I already knew Soundgarden pretty well, since they and Skin Yard had shared the stage many times in Seattle's tiny club scene circa 1985-1986.

"Soon after opening Reciprocal Recording in July 1986, there I was with Soundgarden, trying to make the most of our eight tracks. Somehow, we found room for all of Matt Cameron's 'bonus tubs,' Hiro's primordial Fender bass, and a whopping four tracks to share between Kim Thayil's mad guitar psychedelia and Chris Cornell's still-expanding voice. 'Nothing To Say' was the song that made us all look at each other and go, 'uh, holy crap, how did we do this?' - more on this story




Y&T Releasing 4-Disc Set With Rarities and B-Sides
(Classic Rock) Y&T have confirmed the October 14th release of a four-disc set entitled Earthquake: The A&M Years 1981-85, which will include six studio albums, B-sides and a rare set of live recordings.

Dave Meniketti's veteran outfit joined A&M soon after changing their name from the longer title Yesterday And Today. Their releases via the label included 1981 defining moment Earthshaker along with Black Tiger and Out For The Count, neither of which have been legally available in Europe for some time.

Live tracks from the Reading Festival and Monsters Of Rock in 1984 are also included, in a collection which the label describes as "definitive." They add: "If you want to hear Y&T in their prime, if you want to get a taste of why they were regarded as one of the world's greatest hard rock bands, the music on these four CDs is all you need. It represents the glory age of a glorious band." - Check out the track details here.




Clive Burr Charity Concert Planned By Former Iron Maiden Guitarist
(Classic Rock) Friends of the late Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr will stage a charity fundraising event at this year's Metalwave UK festival at the Circus Tavern, Purfleet, Essex, on Saturday.

The drummer, who played on Iron Maiden's first three albums, passed away earlier this year after a long battle against multiple sclerosis. The event is headlined by former Maiden guitarist Dennis Stratton's band.

Raffle prizes include a Maiden picture disc collection (1980-88) donated by the band; Sampson memorabilia donated by the Paul Sampson Archive; drawings and other items from Maiden roadie Dave Lights and items from Burr's own collection. - more on this story




Filter Kicking Off Their Self Inflicted Tour Tonight
Filter are kicking off their fall "Self Inflicted" North American headline tour tonight. The trek will feature support from Red, Otherwise and We As Human.

The trek follows the band's North American tour with Stone Temple Pilots with Chester Bennington and will be launching tonight (October 3rd) at the House of Blues in Los Angeles.

The tour, in support of Filter's latest album "The Sun Comes Out Tonight," will visit several cities across the U.S. before concluding on October 30th with a show at Expo Five in Louisville, KY. - more on this story




Jason Newsted Never Planned On Being A Frontman
(Radio.com) After decades playing bass in for Flotsam & Jetsam, Voivod, Ozzy Osbourne and, of course, Metallica, Jason Newsted is now leading his own balls-to-the-wall metal band as a bassist/frontman, Lemmy style.

The group, dubbed Newsted, released their debut EP Metal in January of this year as a power trio with drummer Jesus Mendez Jr. and guitarist Jessie Farnsworth. A few months later, they added Staind guitarist Mike Mushok, and released their full length, Heavy Metal Music.

Although Newsted has gotten on the mic before, notably in his short-lived band Papa Wheelie, most fans have never seen him as a frontman. He tells Radio.com that he didn't put too much thought into getting on the mic.

"It was not a grand plan, or anything that was over-thought," says Newsted. "It's something that just transpired. In August of 2012 I started making some demos. And we recorded six songs in October of last year [for the Metal EP] and 'Soldierhead' got played on the radio, and next thing you know, it got a lot of attention. The word was out that I was gonna try something again — and I hadn't planned on doing anything else again. It got attention. I got Mikey [Mushok] in the band. And the reason that I decided to go for the vocal thing myself: [It was] my own lyrics, for the first time, my voice fronting the band, it felt appropriate to put my name on it."

"The singing thing has been coming for a long time," he continues. "Echobrain [his first post-Metallica band], I started trying to sing a bit instead of just growl. Once Voivod happened, I started taking lessons from Snake [frontman Denis Bélanger], learned how to sing a little bit better and weave words and everything. And then Papa Wheelie, I started playing guitar and singing, and actually starting to sing in a singing voice. For ten or twelve years, I've been working on my singing voice. And I think it was probably ready for these songs now. It's appropriate that I write the lyrics and sing to this stuff because of the way the songs are built, it's pretty much a call and response kind of trip. 'Cause I can't really play busy bass parts while I'm trying to sing. So it's riff, sing, riff, sing. Like Motörhead!"

He had a similar approach to the entire Newsted project: "It was a really organic thing, there was no grand plan. We were just gonna put it on iTunes and see if anybody gave a s***. And then a bunch of people cared."

When Newsted enlisted Mushok, the band filled out. One guitar became two, and their sound grew from power trio to a full on metal band. It But before Mushock joined, he — and many other fans — heard the song "Soldierhead," a lean and powerful, song both musically and lyrically.

"'Soilderhead' was initially inspired by the Pat Tillman story," says Newsted, whose story was written into a best-selling novel, Where Men Win Glory by John Krakauer. Tillman left a career in professional football to join the Army in 2002. "He was an NFL player making their minimum wage is $965,000, then he got a $2 million contract. He was one of these cats that was built stronger, and could jump higher and run faster and climb higher than other people. He was different, and he knew it and he reached for it constantly. He lived to be a hero, no matter what he was doing. He was killed by friendly fire. He was standing up for what he believed in, and not afraid to give everything he had. So: Standing up for what you believe in. Willing to fight for it until the end. And knowing what your purpose is, knowing your strengths, using them to the best of your ability. That's where 'Soldierhead' initially came from. And the power of the song backs up those lyrics." - Read the rest of the interview here.




Paul McCartney Joke Taken Too Seriously?
(Classic Rock) Paul McCartney made a joke about banning people from using Facebook while they worked on his new video but producers took it seriously even though they knew it was light-hearted.

The Sun reports that staff working on the promo at Abbey Road Studios were told they'd be fired if they used social networks, ate meat or took drugs – even though Macca's original instructions were nothing more than a bit of fun.

"It was meant as a joke – but still, you'd be out on your war if you ignored the memo," The paper quotes an insider as saying. "Anyone found on Twitter or Facebook, or nibbling a ham sandwich would be ejected immediately." - more on this story




Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx Sets Wedding Date
(hennemusic) Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx's finacee, model Courtney Bingham, has revealed the couple's wedding date. Bingham tells PopStopTV the pair will wed March 15, 2014.

"We're really just starting to plan everything. I'm working on the dress," said Bingham. "Anyone that's planned a wedding knows that you need about a year to really do it, and we're at seven months now. So I'm, like, 'OK, the clock's ticking. It's time to get serious."

"It's gonna be traditional," she continued. "It's gonna be in town. But I'm very inspired by everything Parisian. So that's kind of not super theme-y. But that's the idea." - more on this story




Devil Sold His Soul Giving Away First Song With New Singer
(TeamRock Radio) Devil Sold His Soul have revealed their first track with new singer Paul Green, who replaced Ed Gibbs earlier this year. You can view their lyric video for Time and download the track for free.

Gibbs announced his departure in April, saying: "This has nothing to do with any lack of love for the music or my brothers in the band. But I just don't feel that I can commit 100% any more. I need to start looking to the future. It really does hurt to know that I won't be playing shows with them again, but I know we will always be close."

DSHS admitted the parting was shocking, but said former The Arusha Accord frontman Green was the best man for the job, adding: "we feel very lucky to have found someone who we deem to have an amazing voice and energy that will add a new dimension to the band."

Check out the video and grab the download link - here.



Red Fang Announce Fall Tour
(TeamRock Radio) Red Fang have announced a UK tour that will launch in March of next year in support of upcoming album Whales And Leeches, due out on October 14th.

Frontman Aaron Beam recently told MetalPaths.com: "You can expect some surprises – we did a couple things that none of us have ever done before, but I have no idea how that is going to be translated.

"It's quite possible that everyone will hate the record. The only thing I can be sure of is that we like the record and we're proud of it – and that's the main thing."

Grab the dates and check out the album trailer - here.




The Flower Kings' Froberg Had Doubts About New Album
(Prog) The Flower Kings guitarist Hesse Froberg reveals in a new studio diary video that he had doubts over mainman Roine Stolt's approach to upcoming album Desolation Rose.

In the new diary video, Froberg discusses his concerns after Stolt suggested a new approach ahead of recording sessions for the record, due on October 28 via InsideOut.

"It was Roine's idea to bring a couple of ideas, themes, riffs or whatever and start from almost nothing," the guitarist says. I was the one who was sceptical about it. 'What if it won't take off?'

"I got very enthusiastic after a couple of days. In my opinion it really took off." Check out the video diary and read more - here.





Five Finger Death Punch Release 'Battleborn' Video
(TeamRock Radio) Five Finger Death Punch have released a video for their track Battleborn. It's taken from The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 2, due on November 18 via Eleven Seven, which follows Volume 1's launch earlier this year.

Frontman Ivan Moody recently explained how the track had been inspired by the ups and down of touring: "It felt like I'd seen almost every inch of the globe and shook every hand there was to shake. I completely lost track of time, the flights, the travel, the shows all seemed to blur together. My family and friends became a distant memory.

"Even though I was doing what I'd dreamed of doing, it took all the energy that I had. That made me realise: everything worth fighting for you will actually have to fight for. We are all battle born." - Watch the video here.





Flying Colors Premiere 'Odyssey' Video
(Prog) Prog Magazine have premiered a new video clip for the song "Odyssey" from Flying Colors DVD Live In Europe. The supergroup consists of Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse and Casey McPherson alongside Dixie Dregs members Steve Morse and Dave LaRue, who originally recorded Odyssey on their 1978 debut album What If.

Portnoy tells Prog: "I've been a Dregs fan since the mid-80s, and Odyssey was always one of my favorites. I even chose it for Dream Theater to cover on the Black Clouds & Silver Linings bonus disc in 2009. Playing this incredible instrumental each night with Steve and Dave was an honour – I hope I did it justice!"

Live In Europe was shot during the final show of Flying Colors' 2012 European tour at the 013, Tillburg, Netherlands, where they played their entire self-titled album plus a selection of tracks from the members' current and previous bands, including Dream Theater and Spock's Beard. - Check out the video here.




Winds Of Plague Open The Gates of Hell With New Video
Winds Of Plague are giving fans a small taste of what they can expect from the band's forthcoming album with the release of a new music video for the track "Open The Gates of Hell".

The song comes from the band's new studio album, "Resistance" which was produced by Will Putney (Asking Alexandria, Chiodos) and will be released on October 29th.

You can watch the "Open the Gates of Hell" video here and catch the band live beginning next month when they hit the road as part of Bleeding Through's farewell tour. - more on this story




Hawthorne Heights Release 'Golden Parachutes' Video
Hawthorne Heights have released their new music video for the song "Golden Parachutes" on YouTube. The track comes from their latest release "Zero."

The video clip originally premiered across MTV's media properties and was described as "Post-apocolyptic" by MTV Buzzworthy. You can watch it for yourself here.

Fans will be able to watch Hawthorne Heights live this fall as they will be part of the Scream It Like You Mean It Tour with Story Of the Year, Like Moths to Flames, and more. The trek kicks off on October 8th in Cincinnati, OH. - more on this story




Paradise Lost Go Gothic Again
(TeamRock Radio) Paradise Lost have released a new recording of the song Gothic, the title track from their second album, which was first released in 1991 and the new version is part of a new release.

It's one of two re-recorded songs on upcoming compilation album Tragic Illusion 25 (The Rarities) – a new version of Our Saviour appears alongside one brand-new number called Loneliness Remains.

The band continue their quarter-century celebrations on the road at the end of the month, with support from Lacuna Coil and Katatonia, who'll be playing their album Viva Emptiness in full. Grab the tour dates and listen to the new song - here.




Lostprophets Break Up As Singer Faces Trial
Lostprophets announced that they are breaking up. Their frontman Ian Watkins was arrested last year and charged for allegedly conspiring with a woman to rape a one-year-old child and other crimes and will be going to trial in November.

This week the other members of the band posted on Facebook that they are breaking up Lostprophets, but their statement leaves the door open to them working together under a different name.

They tell fans, "After nearly a year of coming to terms with our heartache, we finally feel ready to announce publicly what we have thought privately for some time. We can no longer continue making or performing music as Lostprophets.

"Your love and support over the past 15 years has been tremendous, and we'll be forever grateful for all you've given us. As we look forward to the next phase of our lives, we can only hope to be surrounded by people as devoted and inspiring as you guys have been. Jamie, Lee, Luke, Mike, and Stu."

Read the original report about Watkins arrest - here.




Megadeth Add Tour Dates and Ellefson Announces Book Signings
Megadeth have announced the addition of two additional dates to their upcoming "Super Collider U.S. Tour" and the band's co-founder David Ellefson has also announced some book signing events.

The band announced on Tuesday that they have added shows on December 18th at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, CA and on December 19th at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, NV.

The tour will feature support from Fear Factory and Nonpoint and is scheduled to kick off on November 23rd in St. Paul, Minn. at Myth Live and the last announced date is the stop in Reno.

In other news, David Ellefson has announced a series of book signing events in support of his forthcoming autobiography, "My Life With Deth", which is being released on October 29th.

The Ellefson signings will be taking place on October 29th at Book Soup in West Hollywood, Ca, November 1st at Changing Hands in Tempe, Az, November 9th at Bass Player Live in Los Angeles and November 19th at the National Press Club 36th Annual Book Fair in Washington D.C. - more on this story





Kirk Windstein Quits Down
Kirk Windstein has left the metal supergroup Down so that he can focus his attention on Crowbar. He will be replaced by longtime Down stage manager Bobby Landgraf.

Windstein broke the news to fans via a couple of postings on Crowbar's Facebook page on Tuesday. He first wrote, "For months now I have been posting that I am concentrating on Crowbar 100% FULL TIME… 2014 marks the 25th anniversary of Crowbar and its a great feeling to put my heart and soul into something that I created so long ago. We are entering the studio 12/16 to record our 10th full length record, look for a late Spring release on E1..See y'all on the road with Crowbar!!! Thanks Kirk"

Four hours later he posted this additional message, "I will say it again… With my decision months ago to focus 100% on Crowbar, Pat resigned as our bassist, and I respect his decision because it's impossible to give 100% to two bands.

"I am giving my ALL to Crowbar as he is giving his ALL to Down There is no animosity.. ..no drama… Just great music being written by all, and that sounds pretty awesome to me !!!"

His replacement, Landgraf (Honky, Butthole Surfers) confirmed in his own Facebook posting that he has taken the guitarist job in Down. He wrote, "Feeling very lucky to have this gig w Down…. It wouldn't be the same without Kirk Windsteins blessing. He is Riff Lord and the new Crowbar will be amazing……" -






Paul McCartney Doing Online Q&A With Fans This Week
Paul McCartney announced that he will be holding his very first live Twitter Q&A this Thursday, October 3rd at 2:40pm GMT to discuss his forthcoming studio album.

McCartney will be releasing his new album, entitled "New", on October 15th in North America and October 14th in his native UK. He worked with various producers on the project including Mark Ronson, Paul Epworth, Ethan Johns and Giles Martin.

The Beatles legend will be holding the Twitter question and answer session to answer fans questions about the album and its recording. You can submit questions now on Twitter by using the hashtag #AskMacca.

The Twitter Q&A will be taking place - here.




Reunited Ra Releasing New Album
The original lineup of Ra have reunited and announced that they will be releasing their new fan-funded studio album, "Critical Mass", on October 15th and the band have released a stream of the first single.

The band launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the album following the reunion of their original lineup, guitarist/vocalist Sahaj Ticotin, bassist P.J. Farley, guitarist Ben Carrol and drummer Skoota Warner.

Ticotin had the following to say about the album and the results of the Kickstarter campaign, "I believe this record to be the most complete album we've ever made, but also the heaviest," he said.

"There is a conscious effort here to be more respectful of hard rock/metal roots and less on being too touchy feely. I really wanted this record to feel intense, even on the more light hearted songs. For once I don't feel as if I compromised on any aspect of the writing for this record."

"The Kickstarter was a surprise on many levels. Not only in the amount of money we raised, but mainly in the intensity of the demand. People were genuinely aggressive about making sure we made another record.

"As cliché as it sounds, without that level of energy, I don't know how well this record would have come out. Their passion directly inspired the songs on this record from beginning to end. It is truly amazing."

Fans can get a taste of what's to come with the stream of the first single "Supermegadubstep" here and the band is taking pre-orders for the album online here.

The acclaimed band's 2002 major label debut, "From One," was the antiMusic editor's pick for the best album of the decade in a special that ran in December of 2009. - more on this story




Star Wars For Josh Homme?
(Radio.com) Earlier this year, Disney purchased the Star Wars franchise, leaving the casting for the upcoming episodes up in the air. What does this have to do with Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme? Read on:

Stinky Mike, the British sketch comedy duo made up of Jamie Stangroom and Scott Denyer, suggest One Direction's Harry Styles might make a compelling Han Solo, or Myley Cyrus may win over hearts as Princess Leah. What about talk show host Graham Norton as C-3PO?

When the duo finds out Queens of the Stone Age "ginger-brown" frontman Josh Homme is a huge Star Wars fan, they decide to help out by putting him through a rigorous casting process only to end up arguing that he can't play R2-D2; after all, he's 6'4″.

"I'm like an articulate, multilingual doer," states Homme as the attempts to convince the "casting director." Watch the video - here.




Pink Floyd Star Addresses Challenges Facing Music Business
(Classic Rock) Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason says record labels have more work to do if they want to remain relevant in the modern world. The drummer – who's co-chair of the Featured Artists Coalition – accepts Floyd found it difficult to adjust to the 21st-century environment. But he insists labels have their own soul-searching to do, particularly in the area of discovering new talent.

Admitting he has "absolutely no idea" how Floyd might have made it if they were starting out today, he tells the Wall Street Journey, "Record companies can no longer afford to do the sort of development for new artists that they used to do. Launching new artists or bands has simply become too expensive for them now that their business model and their revenues are under pressure.

"We're going to have to find other ways of identifying the grassroot talent out there. As artists we used to have a ladder that we needed to climb – but now it feels like the first four rungs are missing." - more on this story




Leslie West Says New Album Is One Of His Heaviest Records
(Classic Rock) Leslie West's follow up to his all-star cast Unusual Suspects, which featured guitarists Slash, Billy Gibbons, Zakk Wylde, Joe Bonamassa and Steve Lukather, sounds even better than that illustrious disc.

"It's probably about the heaviest record I've made in a while," admits West. "Some of it is autobiographical. The title Still Climbing [which references Mountain's debut Climbing!] shows where I'm at. And there's a song called Tales Of Woe which is an acoustic ballad that isn't a pity party on my behalf, it's just the truth about where I'm at."

Having survived bladder cancer five years ago and then had his lower right leg amputated when problems with chronic diabetes led towards gangrene, West could have been forgiven for throwing in his lot but he didn't. Forty five years may have passed since Mountain played at Woodstock and West made his debut album but he remains chipper. "Some people start at the top of their game and after twenty years you wonder what happened to them. I like to joke that the older I get the better I used to be, but after giving up drugs and smoking, my voice can hit notes that I never could reach before. I'm thankful for that." - more on this story




Nirvana's Krist Novoselic Guests On New Modest Mouse Album
(Gibson) Former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic has been enjoying resurgence in his musical career as of late, having recorded with and appeared on stage together with Dave Grohl and Paul McCartney. Now Novoselic has revealed that he will be appearing on the upcoming new album by indie rockers Modest Mouse.

In an interview with Spotify, Novoselic explained that he used his Gibson bass for the recording session: "I did a song with Modest Mouse earlier this year for their new record. It's pretty edgy. I've got my big Gibson bass and a Rat distortion pedal busting out a... this bass riff."

The bass that Novoselic is referring to is most likely his Krist Novoselic Signature RD Bass , which was released by Gibson to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Nirvana's Nevermind album. The instrument has a maple neck and body, with an Ebony finish. - more on this story




Rob Zombie Talks Halloween, Metal Culture & His New Sports Movie
(Radio.com) Google "Rob Zombie" and you'll notice that the word "Halloween" is not far from the top of suggested search terms. It could be because of his amazing 1998 compilation Halloween Hootenanny, but more likely, it's because he directed the reboot of the Halloween film franchise (both the 2007 film and 2009′s Halloween II).

These days, it's also because of his Great American Nightmare Festival, taking place from October 10 through November 2 in Los Angeles. While Halloween isn't in the event name, what other festival features three different haunted houses? There are, of course, nightly live bands, including 3OH!3, Blood On The Dance Floor, Andrew W.K., Powerman 5000, the Butcher Babies and Rob himself. Zombie has made it his job to celebrate Halloween, professionally speaking.

"I've wanted to do this for a long time," Zombie tells Radio.com. "It's really a two-week-long Halloween extravaganza. There's haunted mazes, but every night there's bands playing metal, punk, alternative, dance–every night's different. Then, there's car shows and wrestling. You can go to everything or to one thing, but I wanted to do one sort of all-encompassing Halloween carnival craziness."

Of course, for Rob Zombie, nearly every day is Halloween. Whenever he takes the stage–including in blazing temperatures on this summer's Mayhem festival–he's wearing full-on monster gear. From his stage get-ups to album art to music videos, Rob's music (both as a member of White Zombie and in his subsequent solo career) has always had a huge visual element.

"I never had a moment where I thought the visuals are important–it never even crossed my mind that they weren't important," he said. "I was more shocked when people would act like they weren't. Visuals have always been incredibly important to rock music. Would anyone have cared if Jimi Hendrix was fat and bald, or if Jim Morrison was ugly? Rock has always had a lot of style."

White Zombie came out of a scene that didn't pack a huge visual punch: the New York art scene of the mid-'80s that also included Sonic Youth and Live Skull. But at some point, they were accepted in the heavy metal community, where Rob now enjoys near-icon status. His metal fanbase has supported him for over two decades now.

"The biggest thing about metal audiences that other forms of music don't have–some of them do, I'm sure–the longevity and the loyalty," he said. "You'll see people, they love it forever. They'll say, 'It's my 50th time seeing Iron Maiden!' That's whats great about it. It's that frozen in time loyalty to the bands that they love."

A lot of those fans showed up to see Rob headline Mayhem this summer, alongside Mastodon, Five Finger Death Punch and more. Mayhem is notable not as America's big touring metal fest these days, but also for advocating various veteran's charities. The charity that Rob worked with was the Puppy Rescue Mission, and while the idea of the demonic rocker loving puppies sounds funny at first, it's quickly clear that this is a cause that is near to his heart.

"The puppy rescue: it's a funny name," he admits. "What it is, is a lot of soldiers in Afghanistan would find these dogs and bond with them and sneak them on the bases, even though they weren't supposed to have them. It was probably the only moment of sanity for these guys, when they spent time with them. Some of the stories I've heard are horrible: people would torture these dogs, and kill them for fun. These guys saved these dogs, and really bonded with them. But they weren't allowed to take them home, and if they could, it was so expensive. That was a cause I could really understand and get behind. Imagine being that far from home and bonding with a dog and then being told to just leave him there and then get on a plane to go home. No way!"

When he's not rocking out, designing haunted houses and saving puppies, Rob has his career as a film director, which is still very much on his mind and energies. However, he's expanding beyond horror; his next film, Broad Street Bullies, is about the Stanley Cup winning Philadelphia Flyers in the mid-'70s. - Details about that and more here.




Great White Pay Tribute To Lorne Black
Great White has posted an online tribute to their founding member Lorne Black who died this past week and details about his funeral service have been announced.

The band had this to say about Black, "Lorne was a big part of Great White in our early years. He had a wonderful sense of humor. He was a true bass player to the core!! He was a fan of great bass players and acted as a student of bass, always paying close attention to the best in the business. He had a Paul McCartney sensibility in that, instead of just following a guitar line, he played a song within the song.

"Listen to the bass in 'Rock Me', that is a great example of Lorne's God given talent, and contribution to a song. He was always fun to be around and we are really going to miss him:. He had many fans around the world, that will also miss him!! Lorne is gone, but his memory will live on!! Rest in peace brother... Great White."

Black's funeral is scheduled to take place this Friday, October 4th, at Murietta Valley Funeral Home from 9 - 10:30 AM. The facility is located at 24651 Washington Ave. in Murietta, CA.

- Watch the Rock Me video here.




Deep Purple's Roger Glover Tributes Jon Lord Ahead of Song Release
(hennemusic) Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover is reflecting on the legacy of band founder and keyboardist Jon Lord as the group prepares to release "Above And Beyond", a new single dedicated to their late bandmate.

Lord passed away on July 16, 2012 at the age of 71 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. "It's fifteen months since that day in the studio when we heard the bad news about Jon," posted Glover.

"Strangely enough, although he left the band eleven years ago, his presence in the band has deepened since last year. Apart from the fact that his spirit seemed to pervade the recording sessions and that Now What?! is dedicated to him, these days an interview never goes by without one or all of us talking about him. Above And Beyond, a paean to Jon, is being released as a single and every time I hear it or play it, my mind is full of great memories."

"From an inspired idea by [guitarist] Steve [Morse], it grew into a most unusual song, unlike anything we've done before," he continued. "Writing about the death of a friend can be a minefield of cliché or maudlin sentiment, but I'm proud of what we accomplished with the song. Now looking forward to the British dates and the rest of the tour around Europe and on." - more on this story




Rush's Alex Lifeson Featured In New Ad
(hennemusic) The Kidney Foundation of Canada's Atlantic Branch is launching a new awareness campaign this week featuring Canadian rock band Rush's Alex Lifeson.

The guitarist is featured in a new commercial for the Foundation, of which Lifeson has been a longtime supporter…and for him, it's personal. "A little over [ten] years ago, my father passed away after two very difficult years of failing health," Alex explains.

"Both his kidneys ceased to operate and he was on dialysis for over two years. Many times, he was nearly lost during his dialysis and it was heartbreaking to watch his demise, and that's why this is especially important to me."

Last month, Lifeson teamed up with the Foundation to sell a limited-edition series of art prints entitled "Sunflowers." Check out the commercial - here.




Heretic Release New Box Set
Metal Blade Records have just released a new box set from veteran thrash band Heretic entitled, 'From the Vault…Tortured and Broken." Chipster sent over these official details:

Think "first wave of thrash metal," and what has been come to be known as "the Big 4" immediately come to mind - Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, and Megadeth. But that's not to say that there weren't other bands from the era that lent a hand in the trailblazing of the genre - especially, Heretic. And now, fans can hear what the band was all about on a recently-released box set.

Collecting a pair of classic early releases from the band and expanding them with extra tracks (the 1986 EP 'Torture Knows No Boundary' and the 1988 full-length 'Breaking Point'), 'From the Vault' also includes a DVD comprised of two vintage live performances (the Country Club from 1985 and Jezebels in 1986 - the latter recorded while supporting Megadeth) and a bonus video clip (for the track "Let Em Bleed").

Hailing from Los Angeles, the band was founded by guitarist Brian Korban in 1985. Including singer Mike Howe in their ranks from 1986-1988 (before he would go on to join Metal Church for a trio of releases), Heretic quickly found themselves in the midst of a musical movement that would take the world by storm.

"Heretic opened for so many great bands back in the 80's," recalls Korban. "Metallica, Saxon, Motörhead, The Plasmatics, Megadeth, Armored Saint, Riot, Lizzy Borden to name a few. I think opening for Metallica, and winning their crowd over was one of my fondest memories. During our first song, the crowd was chanting 'Metallica!' louder than we we're playing live. But by the third song, we had their full attention."

It wasn't long before Heretic was penning hard-hitting thrash tunes, including a pair that sticks out as favorites for the guitarist. "My personal favorites are 'Betrayed' and 'The Search.' 'Betrayed' because it really spotlights every member of the new line-up, and it's fun to play live. 'The Search' is a song I'm proud of for its lyrics. Pretty heavy thought for a young songwriter. They still ring true with all the crazy things going on in the world today."

As Korban stated, there is a new Heretic line-up, which is comprised of himself, as well as singer Julian Mendez (who sang with the band in 1986), second guitarist Glenn Rogers, bassist Angelo Espino, and drummer Ignazio Coppola. "We plan to keep recording new music, and play as much as we can," says Rogers. "We want to grow the band and bring it to its rightful place in the world of heavy metal."

Looking back, Mendez explains why he feels Heretic was overlooked by many the first time around. "I think because there were too many line-up changes, and by the time Heretic was recognized as a national act, the line-up changed again and the grunge scene came into play. Literally killing the scene." But with the band resuscitated in 2011 (after going their separate ways in 1988) and issuing a strong comeback album ('A Time of Crisis') and video ("Blood Will Tell," which can be viewed here), Heretic has big time goals set for the future, according to Espino - "New record, bigger and better shows, world domination!" -




Anniversary of Jimi Hendrix's Electric Ladyland Celebrated In The Studio
The latest episode of In The Studio celebrates the 45th anniversary of "Electric Ladyland," the acclaimed final studio album from the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

The landmark album was so significant that the syndicated radio show has broken up the celebration into a two part special with part one streaming right now.

The show sent over this quote from the special, which comes from Hendrix biographer John McDermott, "By the time you get to Electric Ladyland, the third album, it's really Jimi having graduated from that education Chas (Chandler) provided him.

"I think Hendrix saw that he had made two very successful albums based on short compact songs, kind of in that Chandler mindset...The technology change in America with the Record Plant being a 12 track studio fascinated him, and I think Chas was a little too inflexible early on and didn't give Hendrix the time to experiment." - Stream the episode here.




Watermelon Slim Dreams Of Working With Ry Cooder
(The Blues) Watermelon Slim says he's not going to stretch out his career any further than his talent and health allow. The 63-year-old turned to the blues full-time nine years ago after a lifetime as a soldier and truck driver.

By 2008 he'd notched up 34 award nominations and several wins. But he's not expecting to climb much higher in terms of popularity. Slim – real name Bill Homans, whose most recent album is this year's Bull Goose Rooster – tells the Montgomery Advertiser:

"About the only thing I could see that might do it is if Ry Cooder would collaborate on one of my albums. If I could work with Ry Cooder I would be a freaking made man. He's my dream producer."

In the meantime he's happy enough being "maybe minor league, but still a pro" – and he doesn't feel any regret that success came late to him. "I wasn't talented enough to do it sooner," he states. - And what he had to say about when he will stop.




Metallica Have Positive View Lulu
(Classic Rock) Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammet insists that the Lulu album, the band's notorious 2011 collaboration with Lou Reed, is one of the band's best-ever pieces of work.

The record was snubbed by all but 3% of Metallica's fanbase, selling 15,000 copies during its first week of release compared to 490,000 for 2008′s Death Magnetic. Even their much-maligned 2003 album St Anger sold 418,000 in its first week. Reed admitted he'd had death threats following the launch.

But Hammet tells The Verge: "I think Lulu is some of the best stuff we've ever done. The song Junior Dad moves me to tears. And working with Lou was such a cool, unique and special thing for us.

"Maybe it's not for everyone. Maybe it's a challenge for our fans. But for us – Lars, James, Rob and myself – we loved doing it and it was such a great experience. We look back at it very positively." - more on this story




TesseracT Release 'Nocturne' Video
(Prog) TesseracT have released a video for their track Nocturne. It's taken from acclaimed second album Altered State, their first with vocalist Ashe O'Hara, which was launched earlier this year.

As we haven't taken part in our promo videos for a while, we felt now was the time to make an appearance," The band says. "But we also wanted to create a journey with the video that was similar to the journey portrayed by the music: a pretty straightforward step from the night, what it hides and the fear it generates, into the reassurance and safety of the dawn."

TesseracT – who were nominated in the categories of Band of the Year and Album of the Year at the 2013 Progressive Music Awards – are currently touring the US. They return to the UK for a string of shows next year in support of Protest The Hero, alongside The Safety Fire and Intervals - Watch the video here.




Slash Jams Guns N' Roses Hit With Kids
(hennemusic) Slash jammed with the students at the Brennan Rock & Roll Academy in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on September 28, and video from the event is available.

The Velvet Revolver and former Guns N' Roses guitarist joined students for a performance of the GNR version of the Bob Dylan classic, "Knocking On Heaven's Door."

After the performance Slash had this to say, "Had a killer time jamming w/some young musicians at Chuck Brennan's Rock n Roll Academy," posted Slash. "Great institution for a great cause." - Watch the video here.




Metallica Release MOP Performance Video From Apollo Theater Show
(hennemusic) Metallica played an intimate show at New York's legendary Apollo Theater on September 21st as the band celebrated the relaunch of the Mandatory Metallica channel on SiriusXM, and now the band is sharing video from the event.

The video footage features "Broken, Beat & Scarred" at soundcheck, the band in the tuning room and a performance of "Master Of Puppets" from the concert.

Mandatory Metallica will continue to be available online through the Summer of 2014. You can check out the newly released video footage from the event - here.




Gerry Jablonski and the Electric Band Premiere New Song
(The Blues) The Blues Magazine has premiered a new track from Gerry Jablonski and the Electric Band. The song "Slave To The Rhythm" is the opening track on the Aberdeen outfit's third album, Twist Of Fate.

The record was made while drummer Dave Innes fought a battle against stomach cancer, which threatened to end the band's career. The result, says guitarist Jablonski, is "an album of real passion and pain that takes us to a whole new level."

Gerry Jablonski and the Electric Band tour Poland in November and Germany in April 2014. Until then you can listen to the stream of the new song - here.




Spiritual Beggars Release 'Turn The Tide' Video
(Classic Rock) Spiritual Beggars have released a new music video for their track "Turn The Tide." It's taken from the Swedish outfit's eighth album, Earth Blues, released in April via InsideOut.

Spiritual Beggars Guitarist Michael Amott recently offered these details about the new the record: "We started the recording process with an eight-day-long session.

"We continued with some overdubs at various studios in Sweden, and it's all come together super easy this time. Sonically, I think this might be our finest hour yet. It's a raw, heavy and honest record." - Watch the new video here.




Def Leppard's Rockline Appearance Goes Online
(hennemusic) Def Leppard members Phil Collen, Vivian Campbell and Rick Allen were guests on North American radio series Rockline last week and an online replay of the program is available.

The band joined host Bob Coburn to take calls from fans as they make the rounds to promote the forthcoming live DVD, "VIVA! Hysteria", which captures the band during their 2013 spring residency in Las Vegas. Listen to the replay here.








Pearl Jam Featured in IFC Interview
(hennemusic) Pearl Jam are featured in a new IFC interview by actress/musician Carrie Brownstein, as the band promotes the October 15th release of their new album, "Lightning Bolt."

Brownstein stars in the IFC series Portlandia; she was also a guitarist in Washington band Sleater-Kinney and is now a member of Wild Flag.

"Lightning Bolt" was produced by Brendan O'Brien; the project marks the Seattle band's first studio album since 2009's "Backspacer." Stream the interview - here.



Aerosmith Release Video From Radio Interview In Costa Rica
(hennemusic) Currently on a South American tour, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry were interviewed on the 97.9 FM radio station in San José, Costa Rica, and the band is sharing video of the session.

The interview was to promote the band's concert at Estadio Nacional (National Stadium) that took place yesterday (Oct. 1). The 11-date, 4-week South American tour began in Caracas, Venezuela last Saturday.

Tyler posted his love of the country prior to the band's arrival, writing "Costa Rica is my second favourite place in the world after Maui (Hawaii). I love to go and hear the howler monkeys, I love the canopy, volcanoes and of course, the fans …"