Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


Motley Crue Recording Their 'Final Song'
(hennemusic) Motley Crue are in the middle of recording the final song of their career, according to producer James Michael, who broke the news at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

"As we know, the Crue is getting ready to hang it up. And we discussed for a while doing a final song," Michael said. "And that's a tall order. There was a lot of pressure on us to make sure that we did it right and that we celebrated everything that they were known for.

"So I think we've done it. I'm actually tracking drums with Tommy [Lee] tomorrow. And it's an outstanding song. I think it's gonna be an absolutely amazing way to go out swinging."

Last month, guitarist Mick Mars confirmed the band will release a new single for the launch of their farewell tour. "I just wrote a new song with Nikki [Sixx], and we're gonna be finishing it up, like, within the next couple of months," Mars told Eddie Trunk during the March 3 edition of "Trunk Nation" on SiriusXM's Hair Nation. "There'll be a new single [released in time for the upcoming tour]." more on this story





Slipknot Wouldn't Help Paul Gray According To His Widow
(Classic Rock) The widow of late Slipknot bassist Paul Gray has claimed his bandmates refused her pleas to help him just days before he died. Gray's body was found in a hotel room in 2010 after he lost his battle against drug addiction.

The band have still not fully recovered from the derailment, and only recently started work on their first album since the co-founder's death. Brenna Gray, testifying at the trial of her late husband's doctor, recounted her memories of the days leading up to the tragedy.

Brenna said that she staged an intervention that involved her family but no members of Slipknot, although she'd advised the band's manager of Gray's situation. She later asked the musicians directly for help.

She said: "One was playing golf two minutes away from our house but couldn't come. Nobody else cared, nobody was involved. They told me it was my problem." more on this story




Slayer Giving Away New Song, Part Ways With Rick Rubin After 28 Years
Slayer are offering fans a free download of "Implode," their first new studio recording in five years as they also reveal that they have ended their relationship with Rick Rubin and his American Recordings after 28 years.

The band premiered the new song during a surprise performance at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles during the Golden Gods Awards on Wednesday.

Slayer recorded the new song earlier this month with producers Terry Date and Greg Fidelman at the Henson Studios in Los Angeles and on Thursday they posted a free download of the track at www.slayer.net. Kerry King had this to say about the free track "you have been waiting for us, now we are delivering for you."

The legendary thrash group also announced that they have signed a deal with Nuclear Blast Records to launch their own imprint label. The move ends the band's 28 year relationship with Rick Rubin's American Recordings.

"Rick has played a huge role in our career, we've made some great albums with him," said Tom Araya. "But today is a new day, record companies don't play the kind of role they once did, and we really like the idea of going out on our own, connecting directly with our fans, and Nuclear Blast is fired up about taking on that challenge with us."

The band plans to begin recording their new album later this year and they are expecting that it will be released early in 2015 under their new worldwide deal with Nuclear Blast.

Nuclear Blast label manager Gerardo Martinez had this to say, "The prospect of helping Slayer take a leading role in the creative process surrounding their releases, projects and other cross-promotional opportunities is the ultimate honor for me, a metalhead who grew up in Los Angeles listening to Slayer. Nowhere in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that Nuclear Blast."




Stephen Pearcy Quits Ratt
(Classic Rock) Stephen Pearcy has quit Ratt, confirming he's walking away from three decades of legacy. And he's suggested part of the reason is that he'll never get over the loss of guitarist Robbin Crosby, who died of a heroin overdose in 2002.

His decision follows the sudden death of his sister last month, which led to the band cancelling an appearance on the Monsters Of Rock touring festival. Pearcy says in a statement: "After 30 years creating Ratt and losing a real brother, Robbin, it's time that I personally part ways with the band.

"I am officially done with having anything to do with them, due to the constant turmoil, unresolved business, personal attacks and threats in the public forum - and most of all, disrespect to the fans." more on this story





Metallica Making Progress On New Album
(hennemusic) Metallica have been talking about getting to work on a new album for the past few years, and now drummer Lars Ulrich is sharing an update on the band's plans for the project.

"We're going through the grind," Ulrich tells Rolling Stone. "We're in there doing riffs and putting them into songs. We don't really write one song and then show up the next day and do another one. We just work on riffs and sections, connecting riffs and tempos and moods."

There's no timeline for the release of the album, but Ulrich says they've made much progress. "We've been doing this, off and on, for the better part of a year," he says. "We're going to do these dates this summer and then really hone down. I'd say that right now, we're in the fourth inning." more on this story





Ozzy Osbourne The Most Misunderstood
(Classic Rock) Ozzy Osbourne has topped a list of the world's most misheard singers - ahead of pop star Lady Gaga. The Black Sabbath frontman's Birmingham accent might be responsible for some of the confusion. He famously had trouble with a car's voice recognition system on an episode of reality TV show the Osbournes in 2003.

A survey by UK video-on-demand service Blinkbox has revealed that Ozzy's lyric from the song Crazy Train - 'going off the rails on a crazy train' - was often misheard as 'going off the rails on a gravy train'.

Audiences struggled to understand the singer on MTV show The Osbournes, although he says he was heavily medicated during much of the filming. The survey also highlighted Queen's We Will Rock You as one of the most misheard, with 'kicking your can all over the place' often being mistaken for 'kicking your cat all over the place'. more on this story





Duran Duran Confirm Frusciante Collaboration
(Classic Rock) Former Red Hot Chilli Peppers guitarist John Frusciante is working with Duran Duran on their new album, the 80s pop icons confirmed. The well-travelled axeman - who has also been a member of The Mars Volta and this year formed supergroup Kimono Kult with Omar Rodriguez Lopez - is adding guitar to tracks on the upcoming Duran Duran record from his home in California.

Simon Le Bon and co released a statement confirming Frusciante's involvement after rumours began circulating that he was on board, although it seems he won't be a part of the touring line-up.

The statement, attributed to "Simon, John, Nick and Roger," reads: "We were holding this exciting news because we were hoping to give you full details when we announced, but as word has leaked out, catching us rather off guard, we wanted to confirm… yes it's true, the extraordinarily talented John Frusciante has indeed been doing some work from his home base in California on our new album."

They had more to say including how far his involvement with the group goes here.





Guns N' Roses Full Golden Gods Performance Streaming Online
(hennemusic) Guns N' Roses headlined The Revolver Golden Gods Awards Show at Club Nokia in Los Angeles on Wednesday, and video of the band's full set is available online.

GNR founding bassist Duff McKagan joined the band for the show, marking his first time sharing the stage with the group in the US after joining them for several South American dates earlier this month; those shows were Duff's first full concerts with the group in 17 years.

Axl Rose took home this year's Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award at the event. The 2014 Revolver Golden Gods Awards Show will air on VH1 Classic on Saturday, May 24th.

Watch GNR's performance here.




AC/DC's Brian Johnson Previews New TV Series
(hennemusic) AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson is previewing "Cars That Rock", a new television series he is hosting that is set to begin airing in the UK next month.

Available on Quest, Freeview Channel 38 starting May 8, "Cars That Rock" follows Johnson as he pursues his passion of cars, looking into the history, meeting the fanatics and of racing in general.

Over six 60-minute episodes, Johnson looks at six of his favorite makes of car - three from the U.K. and three from other parts of Europe. In 2009, Johnson released his autobiography, "Rockers And Rollers: A Full Throttle Memoir."

Watch the preview here.





Led Zeppelin Preview Unreleased Version of 'Whole Lotta Love'
(hennemusic) Led Zeppelin are sharing a preview of an unreleased version of "Whole Lotta Love" from the forthcoming reissue of their 1969 sophomore album, "Led Zeppelin II."

The BBC reports there are significant differences between the unreleased version and the final one that appeared on the band's second album: the original is missing the first chorus and middle section, while new vocals appear on the finished version, as well as a slide guitar.

"You realize just how important all of those additional layers and the filigree work is," says Jimmy Page. "There's all manner of bells and whistles to make it the song Whole Lotta Love as we all know it." more on this story





Paul Weller Blasts Record Store Day
(Classic Rock) Bosses behind the annual Record Store Day event have accepted criticisms levelled at them by former Jam frontman Paul Weller. He reacted with fury after hearing how the limited-edition release of his vinyl single _Brand New Toy _had been snapped up by prospectors instead of real fans, and many of the 500 copies were being sold on eBay at inflated prices.

Weller said: "I agree with all of you who have sent messages expressing your anger and disappointment at the exploitation of these 'limited editions' by touts.

"Apart from making the record, the rest has very little to do with me - but I am disheartened by the whole thing and unfortunately I won't be taking part in Record Store Day again," he said. "It's such a shame. I am a big supporter of independent stores, but the greedy touts making a fast buck off genuine fans is disgusting."

He was furious to discover copies of his single on sale even before this year's Record Store Day, which took place on Saturday - and added that some fans had been told it was sold out as soon as stores opened. Weller said: "it only takes a few to spoil a wonderful concept for everyone else. Shame on those touts."

Now RSD bosses have replied, saying they take his points on board. Read what they had to say here.




Metallica's Hetfield Helped Keep Peace With Big 4
(Classic Rock) Former Anthrax guitarist Rob Caggiano says Metallica frontman James Hetfield kept the lid on the potential for mass fallouts during the legendary Big 4 of Thrash tour.

Caggiano, who currently plays guitar with Volbeat, describes the Metallica frontman holding court during a dinner with members of his own band, Anthrax, Megadeth and Slayer on the opening night of the Big 4 tour in Warsaw, Poland, in 2010.

Speaking to HardDrive, Caggiano says: "There was one really cool thing that happened at the start of the Big 4 tour and I've got to give it up to James Hetfield and those guys because I think it was a brilliant idea. The first show we did was in Poland and he had the idea of getting everyone together to have dinner.

"It was this really private, little Italian restaurant. I guess over the years there has been tension between the Big 4 bands, but that just cleared the air and really set the tone for the whole tour. I think it was absolutely brilliant. We all walked out of that restaurant just totally excited about everything."

Taking the world's four biggest metal bands on a joint tour proved a massive hit with fans, but Caggiano says he got as big a thrill out of it as anyone in the audience.

Read a lot more and stream the video here.





Jake E Lee Wrote Favorite Red Dragon Cartel Song When He Was 13
(Classic Rock) Jake E Lee has revealed his favourite song on the debut Red Dragon Cartel album was written when he was just 13 years old. He believed piano-led piece Exquisite Tenderness had no place in his previous projects - and he feared it would never see the light of day.

Lee said in the fan Q&A video below: "It's my favourite. I wrote it when I was, I think, 13 or 14 and never knew what to do with it. It wasn't an Ozzy song, wasn't a Badlands song. It's not a rock song. I always had and I never knew what to do with it, and I thought it would die with me.

"So being able to put it on this record, at the end of it, is a great closure and means a lot to me."

The former member of Ratt and Rough Cutt was asked whether those bands would have been more successful if he had stuck around. He was also asked if he would liked to have worked with his his eventual Ratt replacement Warren DeMartini. more on this story





Neil Young Releasing 'A Letter Home' Box Set
(hennemusic) Neil Young has expanded his just-released new album, "A Letter Home", into a full box set. "A Letter Home" features covers of songs by Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot and more.

While the original vinyl release was made available as part of Record Store Day last weekend, Young has announced a May 27th release of a full limited-edition box set.

The package will include a standard 12" vinyl LP, an audiophile vinyl version, seven 6" clear vinyl discs, a standard CD, a standard DVD, a digital download and a 32-page, 12" x 12" book. more on this story






Football Team Denies Vince Neil Relocation and Ownership Report
(hennemusic) The Jacksonville Sharks of the American Football League have issued a statement denying claims made by Motley Crue singer Vince Neil that he is currently a part owner of the team and, that if he becomes one, he will move the franchise to Las Vegas.

Sharks Managing Partner Jeff Bouchy issued a statement Wednesday in response to comments made by Neil to gossip columnist and pal Robin Leach of the Las Vegas Sun, who reported Monday that Neil confirmed that he's become part owner of the team and that he will bring an AFL team to Sin City in the next two years.

Boxscorenews.com published a statement by Bouchy, as follows: "There have been several reports in different media outlets over the past several days regarding Vince Neil of Motley Crue becoming an owner of the Jacksonville Sharks and possibly relocating the team to the Las Vegas market.

"Simply stated, the Jacksonville Sharks are neither relocating to the Las Vegas market nor planning to ever leave our great city of Jacksonville. We are currently in talks with Vince Neil about becoming a minority owner of the Jacksonville team, but those discussions do not include moving the team to another market, and as of now, neither Vince Neil nor Rockstar Investment Group, Inc. own any part of the Jacksonville Sharks." more on this story





David Bowie Releasing Limited Edition Diamond Dogs Picture Disc
(Radio.com) Yesterday marked the 40th anniversary of Diamond Dogs, the 1974 concept album from David Bowie. To commemorate the occasion, the singer has announced a limited edition of the album's eponymous single as a picture disc.

The 7-inch picture disc comes June 17 and features the six-minute "Diamond Dogs" on its A-side. On the flip side, it'll feature a 2005 mix of the tune, referred to as the David Live mix, originally recorded live at Philadelphia's Tower Theater in '74 by Tony Visconti. The latter is making its vinyl debut with the release.

The disc's side-A image is an outtake that has its origin in a session with Terry O'Neill for the album, while the second side is a previously unreleased photo from Bowie's 1974 U.S. tour.

The single of "Diamond Dogs," released to radio in June 1974, followed "Rebel Rebel" as a single from the album. It hit No. 21 on the U.K. Singles Chart but did not impact in the U.S. Its second side during its original release was "Holy Holy," which was originally released as its own single three years earlier.

See an image of the picture disc here.

More on David Bowie - David Bowie Music - David Bowie Tour Dates/Tickets - David Bowie CDs, vinyl and rarities
Peter Frampton Pushed The Envelope On New Album
(Classic Rock) Peter Frampton's upcoming album Hummingbirds In A Box contains material written for a ballet company, he's confirmed. The seven-track record, due for release on June 23, is based on live pieces he performed with the Cincinnati Ballet in April 2013.

Frampton says of the release: "Writing for dance was a wonderfully freeing experience. There were no boundaries - we were able to push the composing envelope."

The album launch is preceded with a live performance in New York, where the ballet company will dance to the new studio versions of the compositions.

It's his second collaboration with Gordon Kennedy, after the pair worked together on Frampton's Grammy-winning 2006 release Fingerprints. more on this story

More on Peter Frampton - Peter Frampton Music - Peter Frampton Tour Dates/Tickets - Peter Frampton CDs, vinyl and rarities
Deep Purple's Ian Paice Says Today's Generation Lacks Expertise
(Classic Rock) Deep Purple's Ian Paice says today's rock musicians would struggle to recreate the "edginess" of the band's celebrated 1972 live album, Made In Japan.

"I don't believe the expertise is there," the drummer claims. "When I look at the people I grew up playing alongside, the next generation of musicians just didn't have the same schooling or the broad picture of music that allowed them to let their ideas roam free.

"That's not a criticism, it's just the way music changed. When we recorded Made In Japan, everything was being formed. Nobody knew how to do it when we were starting out, nothing was actually written. Now it's all like a book." more on this story




Lillian Axe Releasing Unplugged Album and DVD
Lillian Axe have announced that they will be releasing a new live acoustic album and home video, One Night in the Temple, on May 27th in North America and on May 19th in other markets across the globe. Chipster sent over these details:

Performed acoustically in an intimate setting housed in a Masonic Temple in the Bayou, with their most die-hard fans, One Night in the Temple, features all their hits including, True Believer, Show A Little Love, Crucified, Misery Loves Company, Ghost of Winter, The Great Divide, Bow Your Head, Waters Rising and the crowd favorite Nobody Knows.

Lillian Axe founder Steve Blaze reflects; " when I first had the idea of putting this show together, it was originally going to be a private 20 person show with acoustic guitars, vocals and no production, however, it took on a life of its own."

One Night in the Temple; will be released as 3 disc set (2CDs/1DVD and 2CDs/1Blu-Ray), housed in an elaborate digipack. Filmed in high definition, the Blu-Ray will contain the acoustic performance, fan question and answer session, videos for the songs Caged In and Death Comes Tomorrow, featuring 3 songs live in concert from their July 4, 2013 performance at the Paragon Casino and behind the scenes footage while the DVD will contain 1 song from the Paragon Casino and the video for Death Comes Tomorrow. more on this story





Winger Singled Out Week: Storm In Me
Winger released their brand new album, Better Days Comin', this week and to celebrate we asked Kip to tell us about some of his favorite tracks on the album. Today he tells us about the song "Storm In Me". Here is the story:

This was a song the John Roth and I finished from a riff Reb wrote in the early sessions. John came up to help write on 3 songs. This song is on of my favorites on the record.

I didn't know what to expect with John because we haven't written much, but it turned out very easy and we wrote 3 great tunes. So Long China, Be Who You Are, Now. And Storm In Me.

The lyrics and somewhat auto- biographical but portrayed to the extreme. Many times we lash out at the very people we care about the most. This song depicts that person who can't help being the good and evil. I explained it musically by making opposing sections of the music very light and others very dark.