Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


Hinder Singer Leaves Band
Hinder announced yesterday that frontman Austin Winkler has officially left the band following the singer sitting out of touring with the group earlier this year for "personal reasons."
The band has not yet announced a permanent replacement for Winkler but did recruit Saving Abel frontman Jared Weeks to take over vocal duties on the road earlier this year.

"I'm really proud of what we accomplished over the years," says Hinder drummer Cody Hanson. "We hold no animosity towards Austin, and wish him the best. Although it was a difficult decision, it was the best thing for everyone involved and time for us to move on.

"This summer/fall tour was a tough one. We want to thank the fans for all their overwhelming support. We couldn't have made it through everything without you. We are very excited about the future of Hinder and can't wait to share the next chapter with all of you!" Band's website.



Bon Jovi Named Highest-Paid Rock Musicians of 2013
(Classic Rock) Bon Jovi are back at the top of one chart: Forbes Magazine's highest earners chart for the year June 2012 to June 2013. Jon Bon Jovi and co may be going through the wars with an unresolved feud sending guitarist Richie Sambora home from their Because We Can world tour, and drummer Tico Torres enduring two hospital dashes over the summer.

But that didn't stop them bringing in $79m in the twelve-month period – less only than pop stars Madonna and Lady Gaga, who made $125m and $80m respectively. It's a significant increase from last year's figure, when Bon Jovi made $60m, putting them in overall sixth position. In 2011 they were second only to U2, bringing in $125m.

Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, last year's top earner Roger Waters, Muse and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were all paid more than $40m, says the respected magazine. And although the Rolling Stones generated "just" $39m, they did it over just 19 shows. more on this story





Rush Concert Film Coming To TV
(hennemusic) Rush's newly-released concert film, "Clockwork Angels Tour", is coming to television, it will premiere on VH1 Classic on Sunday, December 1 from 9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Available on DVD/Blu-ray and CD, "Clockwork Angels Tour" features Rush filmed and recorded in concert last November at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas.

The 11-month marathon world tour crossed North America twice and ventured overseas to Europe in support of the band's acclaimed 2012 studio release "Clockwork Angels."

This week, guitarist Alex Lifeson revealed the Canadian band's plans for 2014. "We've committed to taking about a year off," says Lifeson. "We all agreed when we finished this tour (in early August) we were going to take this time off and we weren't going to talk about band stuff or make any plans. We committed to a year, so that's going to take us through to the end of next summer, for sure. That's the minimum. We haven't stopped or quit. Right now we're just relaxing. We're taking it easy and just enjoying our current employment." more on this story





Metallica Plan Special Black Friday Release
(Gibson) Metallica have announced that they will be releasing a special, vinyl edition of their Through the Never Soundtrack on November 29th, limited to just 4,000 copies.

The release is in conjunction with Record Store Day's "Back to Black Friday" releases, which arrive on Black Friday exclusively at local record shops.

"Since its inception we have always been very proud to be a regular part of Record Store Day, including kicking off the very first one with an autograph signing at the Bay Area's own Rasputin Music in April of 2008," the band said in a statement.

"So we're psyched to confirm that on Nov. 29 (yes, that's Black Friday!) your favorite North American independent music retailer and the Metallica.com Store will have the Through The Never soundtrack available in all its vinyl glory as a limited edition deluxe four LP set, 45 RPM on 180 gram vinyl. Only 4,000 of the special box sets will be made and they will all be numbered." more on this story






Jake E. Lee Returns and Previews New Song Feature Cheap Trick Singer
(Classic Rock) Jake E Lee is back with his new band Red Dragon Cartel and has released a lyric video for debut track Feeder, featuring Cheap Trick's Robin Zander on vocals.

The new song is taken from the band's self-titled album – which is Lee's first in two decades, due for release on January 27th in the UK, 28th in North America via Frontiers Records.

The former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist, who went on to form Badlands, gathered a stack of big names for his recording sessions: Paul Di'Anno (ex Iron Maiden), Rex Brown (Kill Devil Hill, ex Pantera), Todd Kearns and Brent Fitz (Slash), Scott Reeder (ex Kyuss), Maria Brink (In This Moment), Jeremy Spencer (Five Finger Death Punch), Tom Petersson (Cheap Trick) and Sass Jordan (SUN).

The core band consists of vocalist DJ Smith, bassist Ronnie Mancuso and drummer Jonas Fairley. They got together after Mancuso asked Lee to appear in a video for his band Beggars And Thieves.

"I was shocked he agreed," Mancuso admits. "When it premiered there was this kind of outpouring of love for him. Everybody wanted new music – that's when the idea was born."

Check out the new song and read more details here.




Rolling Stones' Hyde Park Tops the DVD Chart
(Kayos) The Rolling Stones new home video release "Sweet Summer Sun – Hyde Park Live" has reached No. 1 on the Soundscan Music DVD chart in the US and Canada.

Eagle Rock Entertainment President of Operations North America Mike Carden states, "All of us at Eagle Rock North America are extremely proud to release Sweet Summer Sun in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

"We feel that with the several configurations including the deluxe book set that contains the iconic 1969 Hyde Park show, exclusive to this deluxe set, as well as the 2013 show on DVD, Blu-Ray and CD/digital audio, there is a configuration for every fan"

Released on November 11, Sweet Summer Sun chronicles The Rolling Stones' historic return to London's Hyde Park this past summer. Filmed over two spectacular outdoor concerts before 100,000 fans, this two-hour, packed with hits DVD includes not only the live performances, but also new and unseen backstage footage. "Start Me Up," "Sympathy For The Devil," "It's Only Rock 'N' Roll," "Miss You," "Jumpin' Jack Flash," "Gimme Shelter," and many more are brilliantly brought to life via DTS Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1, and Dolby Digital Stereo.





New Animated Video Shows When Ozzy Met Trujillo
(TeamRock Radio) Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo has recalled his first meetings with Ozzy Osbourne – and how one incident looked as if their friendship was at an end before it had truly started.

In a Classic Tales animated video, Trujillo recalls how he was working in a studio with Mike Muir on their first Infectious Grooves album while the Prince of Darkness was in the room next door.

"One night we heard this loud, English growl," he explains. "All I see is Ozzy's cowboy boots dangling in the hallway. He'd tackled the bass player's girlfriend and he'd bit into her cowboy boot, and she was pissed.

"I thought, 'This is my hero, tackling woman, biting through their boot... how rock'n'roll is that?'" Trujillo asked Osbourne to record guest vocals on Infectious Grooves track Therapy. He eventually agreed, and even created his own dance routine for the song. Then he invited the Grooves on tour with him.

After they'd played their support slot, the bassist remembers, "We were creeping around backstage in the dark. I wound up tripping over a mound of cable and I knocked out the power. We get up and ran to catering.

"The tour manager pulls me aside and said, 'Did you do that?' I said, 'Yes, sir – and I understand I might be going home.' He was like, 'Don't worry about this… Ozzy thinks there was a power outage in the state of Texas.'" Watch the video here.




Testament Member Drops Off Tour
(TeamRock Radio) Testament bassist Greg Christian is the latest musician to drop off a US tour also featuring Lamb Of God and Killswitch Engage. Christian reports he's had to bow out for "personal reasons."

He's been replaced by Exodus man Jack Gibson – whose bandmate Gary Holt remains the stand-in for late Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman. Gibson tells Blabbermouth:

"It's an honor to be filling in for Greg. I've always thought he was one of the best metal bass players alive. Testament is already family: Gene Hoglan is a god. This should be a lot of fun." more on this story




Scott Stapp Announce North American Tour Dates
Creed frontman Scott Stapp has announced that he will be hitting the road early next year for the first leg of his North American tour of intimate venues.

Stapp revealed the dates this week for the tour leg that is scheduled to kick off on March 19th in Dallas at the House of Blues and wrap up on April 9th in 09 Atlanta, GA at Center Stage.

He will be launching the tour in support of his new solo album, "Proof of Life" which was released last week and debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard Rock Chart. more on this story




The String Cheese Incident Announce Initial 20th Anniversary Shows
The String Cheese Incident have announced that they will play a string of New Year's shows that will also be the launch of the band's 20th anniversary celebration.

The band will be playing at the 1STBANK Center in Broomfield, CO. for three-nights on December 28, 29 and the New Year's Eve show on December 31st.

Boosty Collins will be joining the band for the December 28th show and The Flaming Lips will be on hand the next night. Karl Denson & Chris Littlefield (Tiny Universe Horns) will be joining the group for both nights.

The band has yet to announce their special guests for the New Year's Eve show but promising "more surprise guests from the band's past" will be announced.




Blink-182's Tom DeLonge Releasing Children's Book
Blink-182 and Angels & Airwaves frontman Tom DeLonge has announced the release of his first children's book 'The Lonely Astronaut On Christmas Eve' as well as some children's charity auctions to tie in with the book release.

Scoop Marketing sent over these details: This book, written by DeLonge, is a wistful story for the young and the young-at-heart alike. Wonderfully illustrated by Mike Henry, The Lonely Astronaut On Christmas Eve, is a tale of a rocketeer alone on the moon on a cold Christmas night, and the gift he receives from a few unexpected (and extraterrestrial) friends. To celebrate the spirit of the holiday season, DeLonge and Henry are proud to announce a charity auction to benefit San Diego's Rady Children's Hospital at CharityBuzz.com.

With a pre-sale set for Mon., Nov. 25, The Lonely Astronaut On Christmas Eve, will be available exclusively as a special, limited-edition "Lonely Astronaut Christmas Package" at AngelsAndAirwaves.com. Available for $50 to the first 1000 customers, the package contains: a hardcover, first edition of the book, including a certificate of authenticity signed by DeLonge; one digital version of the book for iPad, Nook or Kindle (delivered on release date); one "Lonely Astronaut" clear acrylic etched ornament; and a limited-edition t-shirt. Premium shipping available to guarantee delivery by Dec. 25.

Additionally, DeLonge and Henry are proud to announce a charity auction to benefit San Diego's Rady Children's Hospital Foundation. Beginning Mon., Nov. 25, fans can visit www.CharityBuzz.com to bid on a package containing: The complete 22 pages of signed original art from the book, a DeLonge signed guitar, and a meet and greet with DeLonge in his San Diego studio (travel/hotel not included, alternate plans can be arranged for those unable to travel to San Diego). The auction will close on Fri., Dec. 13.




Of Mice & Men Announce Tour With Bring Me The Horizon
Of Mice & Men have announced that they will be hitting the road early next year with Bring Me The Horizon for 'The American Dream Tour of North America.

The tour is set to kick off on February 3rd in Orlando, FL with a show at The Plaza 'Live' Theater and will conclude on March 28th in San Diego, CA at Soma.

Of Mice & Men will be launching the tour in support of their forthcoming studio album. The band recently completed the recording of mixing of the new album and will be releasing the effort, their third studio album, early next year. more on this story




John Mellencamp Celebrates Uh-Huh's 30th Anniversary In The Studio
Syndicated Rock radio show InTheStudio: The Stories Behind History's Greatest Rock Bands this week celebrates the 30th anniversary of John Mellencamp's hit album "Uh-Huh".

The show sent over these details: "Johnny Cougar", as he was originally promoted, had started his career with a minor hit "I Need A Lover" off his second album only to find himself struggling commercially. It wasn't until 1982's American Fool album that John would see his first real success with the ditties "Jack And Diane" and "Hurt So Good". Armed with a # 1 single under his belt, John incorporated his real name Mellencamp into his professional identity and launched himself into Rock superstardom with Uh-Huh and the Top 10 hits "Pink Houses", "Crumblin' Down" and "The Authority Song".

John tells InTheStudio host Redbeard that the album was an important turning point for him creatively. "I think Uh-Huh was a lot better record than American Fool, simply because it was the beginning of me becoming focused on what I think I now do. That was really the beginning of me as a songwriter. All the rest of the records were me trying to figure out what the hell was going on. It took me a long time didn't it? (chuckles). Took like five albums." Stream the episode here.



ELP's Brain Salad Surgery Gets Ultimate Expansion
(Prog) Emerson, Lake & Palmer classic album Brain Salad Surgery will be re-released as an extended Super Deluxe edition on April 7 next year, it's been confirmed.

The "ultimate expansion" treatment has been announced on the 40th anniversary of its original appearance in November 1973. Packaged in the famous artwork by HR Giger, the new edition will include 5.1 mixes, previously unreleased material and more.

ELP say: "We are amazed that after 40 years, so much of the original recordings, photos and artwork are still usable. Some of it has never been released before, but it's fascinating to hear how the recordings progressed. We are delighted that this new version will reveal some of these transitions." more on this story





Video From Black Sabbath European Tour Kick Goes Online
(hennemusic) Black Sabbath launched their fall European tour at the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki on Wednesday, and video from the event is available to view online.

Opening with the 1970 track, "War Pigs", Sabbath ran through a set of classics and material from their current album, "13". Sabbath play Stockholm, Sweden on Friday and Oslo, Norway on Sunday; the fall swing wraps up in the band's hometown of Birmingham, England on December 22.

On November 26, the band will release a live DVD entitled "Black Sabbath - Gathered In Their Masses." The group was recorded over two shows – April 29 and May 1 – in Melbourne, Australia during the early stages of the group's current world tour. Check out the video here.




Sammy Hagar Appears On Rachael Ray Show
(hennemusic) Sammy Hagar was among the guests on The Rachael Ray Show on Wednesday, and video of his appearance is available online. On hand to promote his Beach Bar Rum brand, Hagar made a PMS cocktail.

Ray also quizzed Sammy for stories behind a selection of songs from his career, including solo tracks and Van Halen's "Right Now." Stream video here.

Hagar recently released a new album, "Sammy Hagar & Friends." The project 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




Black Crowes' Rich Robinson Releasing New Solo Album
(hennemusic) Black Crowes guitarist Rich Robinson has signed a new record deal and he plans to release his third solo album, entitled "The Ceaseless Light", next spring.

Robinson has signed with Brooklyn indie label The End Records for the project, and plans to tour in support of it in 2014, reports Billboard. "(The End founder) Andreas Katsambas is a long time music fan and has some very forward ideas on how to get music out there," says Robinson, "but more importantly for me, how to allow the artist to create pure music without the inevitable commercial vs art clash that comes from a more traditional approach. All of Andreas' team shares these qualities. It's going to be great."

Other artists on The End Records roster include Anvil, Badly Drawn Boy, Fatboy Slim and Juliette Lewis. Robinson has two solo studio albums to his credit to date, including 2004's "Paper" and 2011's "Through A Crooked Sun." more on this story




Distorted Harmony Call On Fans To Help Fund New Album
(Prog) Distorted Harmony has launched a crowdfunding campaign to assist with the release of their second album. The Israeli outfit were nominated for a Prog Award this year in the Limelight category following the launch of debut record Utopia in 2012.

And with all tracks written for the follow-up, they're hoping to secure funds via Indiegogo. They say in a statement: "This album is going to be heavier, with songwriting that is a lot more focused, mature and coherent. The band as a whole has gotten tighter and the variant music influences of each member have been carefully balanced and woven into the compositions.

"Making an album costs money. We are taking every gig we can and working long hours to make sure it will all happen. We don't want to compromise on the quality, or on what we have decided is the best way to create and present our music." More including video




Bullet For My Valentine Stream New Song 'Raising Hell'
(TeamRock Radio) Bullet For My Valentine have released an official stream of new single Raising Hell. And the band believe it's a step up from fourth album Temper Temper, which received mixed reviews when it dropped last year.

Frontman Matt Tuck recently said of the new track: "Words cannot express how excited I am – we haven't just raised the bar. We've sent it into f**king orbit."

See BFMV on tour across the UK next month with Asking Alexandria and Young Guns. The Welsh outfit have promised: "it's going to be louder and crazier, and we'll be bringing more pyro than ever." Check out the song here.





Gibson Celebrates Duane Allman's Birthday
(Gibson) Gibson SG and Les Paul legend Duane Allman is among the more mysterious of the profoundly influential six-stringers from the electric guitar's most sonically formative decade.

Allman died young and until this year his recorded legacy had remained scattered; not repacked, unearthed and repeatedly rediscovered via reissues and compilations of nuggets panned from record label, studio and live recording vaults, like the still growing Jimi Hendrix catalog.

If not for his accidental death, Allman would have turned 67 on Wednesday, November 20. This year a superb memorial to Duane surfaced: a treasure trove of his studio recordings as well as very good examples of his playing with the Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton and others, packaged as the 129-track box Skydog: The Duane Allman Retrospective.

Combing through this definitive sonic study reveals much about his growth and development as a player as it lets listeners hear Allman's evolution from derivative teenage picker to capable sideman to musical visionary. It's remarkable how quickly he progressed. In 1965 Duane's initial recordings with the Escorts, the earliest band he shared with his brother Gregg, creak with rote R&B and surf licks. Two years later in their successive group the Hour Glass, he traces the same sonic terrain as fellow fuzztoned fretmen in era-bridled outfits like the Seeds and the Electric Prunes. But in mid-1968's Clarence Carter hit "The Road of Love" Duane's slide guitar debuts like a muscular thoroughbred in its first race, rippling with the same hyper-amplified grace as this set's performances of "One Way Out" and "You Don't Love Me" by the Allman Brothers at Fillmore East.

Let's take a look at tracks that most fans of Allman don't associate with his legendary canon: • "Twice A Man," Barry Goldberg Blues Band: This 1968 recording, cut mostly in Los Angles with Allman overdubbing his guitar in Muscle Shoals, didn't propel the Bay Area bluesman with a penchant for the genre's hard-core Chicago style into the same rarified air as Big Brother & the Holding Company, but it did give Allman a change to practice his slide chops. What's surprising is how thin and weak his tone was at this point, given the boldness of his soon-to-emerge signature voice on slide.

• "Hey Jude," Wilson Pickett: At a late 1968 session with "Wicked" Pickett, Allman proved his mettle as an apt foil for one of the most powerful vocalists of the day. Performing with the famed Muscle Shoals rhythm section, Allman played call and response with the singer, creating a frenetic, vibrant solo to match the intensity of Pickett's howl. Check out 8 more tracks.






Love/Hate Streaming New Song 'Hanging You Out To Dry'
(Classic Rock) Love/Hate have released a stream of brand-new track Hanging You Out To Dry. The band will also tour the UK in March, including an appearance at Hard Rock Hell in Pwllheli, North Wales.

Frontman Jizzy Pearl is the only remaining member of the band who enjoyed a stack of hits at the beginning of the 1990s. He's back with new album Crucified on January 13, of which he says: "I got to stretch out a bit and do some cool things musically.

"The vibe is simple. I tried to get back to the start – a bunch of young kids banging out loud musical joy in a little room, and the singer in the middle with one microphone, testifying to the world." Listen to the new song here.




Queen's Roger Taylor Releases Sunny Day Video
(hennemusic) Queen drummer Roger Taylor has released the new music video for the song "Sunny Day", the lead single from his newly-released solo album, "Fun On Earth."

Recorded at Priory Studios in Surrey, the project marks Taylor's first new solo album in 15 years. In addition to the solo album, Roger has also released "The Lot" - the complete collection of his back catalog of solo work and material from The Cross.

The material is available in limited collector's editions and digital formats. "The Lot" comprises Roger's solo albums "Fun In Space" (1981), "Strange Frontier" (1984), "Happiness?" (1994), "Electric Fire" (1998) and "Fun On Earth", as well as the three albums by his band The Cross – "Shove It" (1988), "Mad, Bad And Dangerous To Know" (1990) and "Blue Rock" (1991). Watch the new video here.




The Virginmarys Release 'Portrait Of Red' Live Video
(Classic Rock) Classic Rock has premiered the new live video from The Virginmarys. The clip is for the song "Portrait Of Red" which was filmed at the Snowgoose Live, Macclesfield, in June, months before the three-piece won the Breakthrough Award at this year's Classic Rock Roll of Honour, held in London last week.

Ally Dickaty, Danny Dolan and Matt Rose were in attendance to be handed their gongs by Ginger Wildheart, who described them as a prime example of musicians staying true to their art in the face of industry pressure. Bassist Rose said afterwards: "Ginger said some amazing sh*t that absolutely epitomised what we're about, you know."

Guitarist Dickaty agreed, adding: "People need to play stuff that comes from the heart rather than putting out stuff they think will be popular. When music comes from the heart it gets your attention straight away and you think, 'What's that?' I think more bands need to be doing that." Watch the video here.




Living Sacrifice Singled Out Week: Ghost Thief
Living Sacrifice have released their new album "Ghost Thief" and to celebrate we asked Bruce Fitzhugh and Rocky Grayto to tell us about some of the new songs. Today they tell us about the title track. Here is the story:

Bruce: This is one of the last songs that we wrote for the record and it came out of a group writing session. Lance pulled the riffs from 2 different ideas and we started jamming them together. After a few hours, it came together.

Lyrically it became one of the main themes of the record and so we picked Ghost Thief for the title. It speaks of the quickness of this life and how death is inevitable reality. And then it speaks of the hope we have in God and an afterlife in heaven.
Rocky: I really like the 4 on the floor drums on the verses. This is a monster mash of riffs but it works.

Bruce: one thing I can add on this is the fade in drum/guitar intro. That was Jeremiah's idea and I freakin love how it came out. when everything comes in on that it is great, then we break into that trash intro riff. I agree with Rock, when Lance locks into that 4/4 beat on the verse, I cannot help myself but head bang. So fun to play.