Today's Day in Rock
Bret Michaels Undergoes Kidney Surgery
(hennemusic) Bret Michaels underwent kidney surgery this past week, reports his guitarist Pete Evick. The guitarist shared the story with fans via Michaels' social media sites on Monday, revealing that the Poison rocker has been in pain for a few weeks but pressed on, determine not to miss any shows if possible.
Micheals had two stents put in his body in an attempt to relieve the pain, but things came to a head in Knoxville, Tennessee. "This time it went real bad," writes Evick. "During the show he gave 100 percent, but he hurt himself.
"Jumping around with two stents was a bad idea. I can't explain the amount of blood or where it came from, but it was horrifying on his bus after the show. Bret looked at me and said, 'Just head to Champaign, we have to make Thursday's show up.'"
"Over the last two weeks, Bret was in and out of 6 hospitals throughout the Midwest," Evick continued. "Including the incredible Mercy Hospital of Northwest Arkansas. The staff and doctors were unbelievable and took incredible care of Bret.
"The fans and venues have been amazing and their support unprecedented. Bret continues to be steadfast in his dedication to bring the music to the people. He truly has to be held down to not perform."
Read more here.
Pink Floyd Celebrate Album Release With New Video
(Radio.com) The Endless River, purportedly Pink Floyd's final album, was released yesterday (Nov. 10), and to commemorate its release, the band shared a music video for the album's final track, "Louder Than Words," which was debuted earlier this year.
It's a tribute to Richard Wright, founding Pink Floyd member whose wheelhouse was mostly the keyboards - though he sang lead from time to time. The elegy was penned by David Gilmour's wife Polly Sampson.
The video, shot by Po Powell, is a surreal look the world below from a higher plane, possibly heaven. In it, an otherworldly shot of a man canoeing across the clouds (taken directly from the album's cover artwork) is juxtaposed with footage from the band in the studio and sweeping views of the remains of the Aral Sea, on the border between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
"A surreal image if ever I saw one," Powell told Rolling Stone, "and a shocking example of human mismanagement and one of the planet's worst environmental disasters… The river has shrunk to 10 percent of its original size, destroying the fishing industry and whole townships."
Check out the video and grab a listen to a full album stream here.
New Bat Frog Species Named After Ozzy Osbourne
(Classic Rock) A new species of frog that sounds like a bat has been named after Ozzy Osbourne. Scientists discovered the tiny creature in the Brazilian Amazon and noticed its unusual, bat-like call - which led them to name it after the Black Sabbath frontman who famously bit the head off a bat in 1982.
The frog was named Dendropsophus ozzyi by the scientists who discovered it. One of them, Pedro Peloso, tells National Geographic: "As soon as I heard its call, I knew it was a new species. I had never heard anything like it.
"We kept talking about the 'bat frog,' which led to us talking about being fans of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath." Peloso and colleagues found the 0.75-inch amphibian in 2009 as part of a survey of Floresta Nacional de Pau-Rosa.
Read more here.
Robert Plant Says Led Zeppelin Reunion Offer Story Is Rubbish
(Classic Rock) Robert Plant's spokesman has slammed a newspaper claim that the singer tore up a $800 million Led Zeppelin reunion tour contract, calling the story "rubbish".
The Mirror reported that he'd asked for 48 hours to consider an offer from Virgin billionaire Richard Branson after Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham had all signed up.
The deal was said to include 35 concerts with an option on more, a Virgin plane renamed The Starship in memory of Led Zep's 1970s aircraft, plus £190m payouts to each of the three original members and £70m of merch income. It would have been their first shows since 2007's one-off London concert. Read more here.
Marilyn Manson Sets Release Of New Album 'The Pale Emperor'
(Radio.com) You're going to be seeing a lot more of Marilyn Manson soon. Just after making a cameo in Die Antwoord's surreal star-studded video for "Ugly Boy," the artist has announced a new album to promote, The Pale Emperor.
Manson's upcoming full-length, which marks his tenth studio album, will be out on Jan. 20. Fittingly, it features ten songs, including the post-punk doomed-love track "Third Day of a Seven Day Binge," which he released back at the end of October.
The album will also include two other songs from the album that Manson has already debuted live: "Cupid Carries a Gun" and "Deep Six," which he played in a handful of Southern California shows over the past month or so. If you weren't there, you might have heard "Cupid Carries a Gun" on the TV show "Salem."
You can listen to those songs and check out the track list here.
David Bowie Premieres New Song
(Radio.com) Following the release of his 10-inch A-side "Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime)," David Bowie has premiered the single's B-side with BBC 6 Music. The track, "Tis a Pity She Was a Whore," got its own confusing introduction from the UK radio station.
As noted on Bowie's Facebook page, one of the show's presenters, Matt Everitt, misquoted Bowie on the song: "If Vorticists wrote Roxy Music it might have sounded like this" - except Bowie actually said "rock music" instead of "Roxy." Bowie's team, seemingly amused, referred to to gaffe as "creating a new possibility."
Vorticism, for those not brushed up on their 20th century art terms, was a movement in British art and literature that ran briefly, from 1912-15. It turned away from emotion in favor of extolling machines and machine-made products. The art was abstract, influenced by Cubism and Futurism.
Read more and check out the song here.
Slipknot's Corey Taylor Eyes Silver Screen Future
(TeamRock Radio) Corey Taylor makes his acting debut in Fear Clinic and has already turned his attention to scriptwriting, producing and directing. The Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman plays the role of a troubled employee in Fear Clinic, which premiered at the Screamfest Horror Film Festival in Hollywood last month and stars Robert 'Freddy Krueger' Englund.
And he reveals he is almost finished writing his own comedy-horror script and is set to produce a separate upcoming feature. Taylor tells Dread Central: "I'm working with a really great dude over at Scout Productions named Rob Eric, and he's a got a great mind for it, and we're both excited about it.
"I was actually working on this before I did Fear Clinic - just in a production capacity right now. I'm trying to sneak myself a role in it - just a little one, which I'll probably do a little more of. But it's exciting. It doesn't have a title yet. The script is done. And we're gonna try to break ground on it next year."
On his script, Taylor adds: "I came up with an idea for a script that I actually am almost done with. I've got about 80 pages done, which is, basically, a good start. And it's like a horror-comedy, to be honest. It's almost like Halloween meets the movie Clue." More about that and a video stream of the full interview here.
Jack Bruce - Rockpalast: The 50th Birthday Concerts DVD Box Coming
(hennemusic) German music television series Rockpalast will release "Jack Bruce - Rockpalast: The 50th Birthday Concerts" on December 2. The 4-disc box set features performances from Bruce's belated 50th birthday celebration with friends on stage on November 2nd and 3rd, 1993 at the E-Werk in Cologne.
The Cream bassist - who died October 25 from liver disease at the age of 71 - was joined by Ginger Baker and Simon Phillips on drums, Clem Clempson and Gary Moore on guitar, Dick Hecksatll-Smith and Art Themen on saxophone, Bernie Worrell and Gary Husband on keyboards, Maggie Reilly and Gary Cooper on vocals, and more.
The package will be available on special edition DVD/CD, CD/DVD digipack, DVD, and digital formats. The "Special Edition" comes with 2 concert DVDs, plus 1 bonus DVD containing additional footage and interviews, the bonus CD "The Lost Tracks", two 12-page booklets with new liner notes and previously unreleased photos in 2 DVD digipacks, coated with a slipcase.
Read more and check out a performance clip of "Sunshine Of Your Love" here.
AC/DC Go Behind The Scenes Of Play Ball Video
(hennemusic) AC/DC are sharing behind the scenes footage from the video shoot for their new single, "Play Ball", ahead of its release this week. Directed by David Mallett, the clip for the lead single from the band's forthcoming album, "Rock Or Bust", was shot in London in early October, along with the album's title track.
"The spirit of 'Play Ball' is sort of a mélange, ie mess up, of all sorts of outrageous videos of people playing ball," says Mallett, "plus a relative performance from the band."
Due December 2, "Rock Or Bust" is the first AC/DC album in 6 years and first without founding member Malcolm Young, who retired from the group to deal with ongoing health issues related to dementia.
Watch the behind the scenes clip here.
Blind Guardian Reveal New Album Details
(TeamRock Radio) Blind Guardian will release their 10th studio album early next year, they've announced. Titled Beyond The Red Mirror, it's due to launch on January 30 via Nuclear Blast and is the follow-up to 2010's At The Edge Of Time. And the German power metal outfit say the album continues a story they first started almost 20 years ago.
Frontman Hansi Kursch says: "The story begins with our 1995 album Imaginations From The Other Side. The two worlds described have changed dramatically for the worse since then. While there used to be several passages between the worlds, there is only one gate left now: The Red Mirror."
Choirs from Prague, Budapest and Boston feature on the album, along with two orchestras - and guitarist Andre Olbrich says they decided to work with so many musicians as they wanted to keep moving their sound forward.
Read more details here.
Geddy Lee Didn't Remember Unearthed Early Rush Song
(Classic Rock) Rush have released a video of the original lineup performing The Loser - a track Geddy Lee had forgotten about. It was filmed at a high school in 1974 before they'd replaced drummer John Rutsey with Neil Peart.
The show, which also includes a track called I've Been Running, takes pride of place on the bonus disc in the band's upcoming R40 box set. Lee tells Radio.com:
"I honestly don't remember that song. I didn't remember it until I actually saw the footage of us playing it. And I didn't remember it was called The Loser. So much for my memory!"
Read more here.
Gus G Releases Video Featuring Eyes Set To Kill Frontwoman
(Classic Rock) Ozzy Osbourne and Firewind guitarist Gus G has released a new video and announced that he will be playing in London next month, followed by four UK dates in February next year.
The gigs have been lined up to promote the launch of a new version of his solo album I Am The Fire. The original recording featuring guest appearances from artists including Mats Leven, Jeff Scott Soto, David Ellefson and Billy Sheehan launched in March.
To mark the announcement, he's released a promo for the track Long Way Down, which features Eyes Set To Kill frontwoman Alexia Rodriguez. Gus G says: "I worked on this track with producer Kevin Churko, his son Kane and Alexia Rodriguez.
"Once we finished it, we knew we had a special song in our hands. The Long Way Down's lyrics were inspired by a scene I witnessed many years ago when I briefly lived in Sweden. What I saw is the exact storyline with the girl in this video." Read more and watch the video and grab the tour dates here.
Dweezil Zappa Working On First New Album In A Decade
(Gibson) It's been a long time between albums for Dweezil Zappa - ten years, in fact - but he's hitting the studio with engineer and co-producer Joe Baressi (Queens of the Stone Age, Tool) to begin work on a new album.
The album will also feature his Zappa Plays Zappa band members Scheila Gonzales, Kurt Morgan, Ryan Brown, Ben Thomas and Chris Norton. And Dweezil has launched a Pledge Music campaign to help fund the record and let backers be a fly on the wall of the recording process, with an unprecedented look inside the creative process, what instruments are being used and many other studio details of note.
"For the last decade I have been working on developing new guitar skills and blazing a new trail for myself," Dweezil says. "Along the way I have worked hard to fuse unusual musical influences within my playing. I've always been fascinated by the sound of Arabic and Indian music as well as Balkan rhythms and melodies."
Read more here.
Slash Says Rock Scene Needs Someone To Shake Things Up
(TeamRock Radio) Slash reckons some rock bands are playing it too safe as they don't want to anger their record companies. He previously countered Gene Simmons' "rock is dead" comments, saying the genre is producing great music. But he now thinks it's time someone who's not after commercial success came along to shake things up.
He tells the Manchester Evening News: "I do think rock and roll bands have become really conformist and they are worried about pissing off their record companies and being played on the radio.
"Rock and roll definitely needs a movement. It's become the music industry's bothersome stepchild and what it needs is someone really committed to come and shake things up who doesn't give a sh*t if they make it."
He continues: "I never got into music for all of this. I just learned guitar and started a band. I think if you're planning for the fame and fortune, if it's pre-meditated, you lose your musical integrity." Read more here.
Fleetwood Mac Reveal European Spring Tour Plans
(hennemusic) Fleetwood Mac have announced dates for a spring European tour. The 10-date run will open with two shows in London starting May 27 and include 7 UK concerts, as well as performances in Amsterdam, Cologne and Antwerp.
During Fleetwood Mac's 2013 tour, the four members welcomed keyboardist Christine McVie back on the stage during their show at London's O2 Arena, where she performed their classic "Don't Stop" and received a wild ovation from the crowd.
"It was so comfortable being back onstage with them as if no time had passed, and then we all started talking and it feels like the time is right. I'm really happy," said McVie, who has returned to the lineup full-time.
"As far as we're concerned, she's never really left," said the band in a joint statement. "We are overjoyed to have Christine back on stage with us." Check out the dates here.
Judas Priest Tap Five Finger Death Punch To Support Tour
(TeamRock Radio) Judas Priest have confirmed Five Finger Death Punch as their support for next year's European tour. Priest kick off the jaunt in Helsinki on June 4, with tickets on sale now. 5FDP toured Europe themselves this year and return for the nine shows in support of Priest's latest album Redeemer Of Souls.
Priest frontman Rob Halford made a guest appearance on 5FDP's track Lift Me Up - a hit from their current double album The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell.
5FDP guitarist Zoltan Bathory says: "All of us grew up big Judas Priest fans so it was amazing to work with Rob on Lift Me Up. Not only is he a true rock icon but one of the greatest guys you'll ever meet.
"To come back to Europe with Priest next year is taking it over the top and a dream come true. We've had a fantastic year in Europe and can't wait to get back again next summer." Check out the dates here.
Sammy Hagar To Appear On New TV Series On The Menu
(hennemusic) Sammy Hagar will guest on the new TNT series, On The Menu, this Friday, November 14. Hagar will join his friend, legendary Chef Emeril Lagasse, and host Ty Pennington for the program during the first season of their new show.
In the episode, the competitors - four everyday cooks - must impress Hagar and create a new Mexican dish for both of his restaurants, the Cabo Wabo Cantina and Sammy's Beach Bar & Grill.
On the Menu airs on TNT Friday, November 14th at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). Hagar recently released his first acoustic album, "Lite Roast." Check out the video trailer for the TV series here.
Paradise Lost Recording New Album
(TeamRock Radio) Paradise Lost are in the studio recording their 14th album. In September, keyboardist Adrian Erlansson hinted Nick Holmes could return to the growling delivery heard in the band's early years.
Now the frontman says the new material will embrace that period of their career. He says: "We wanted to approach the new album differently this time by embracing the band's very early days.
"We have written a very dark yet melodic album. But this time, many songs definitely have a death metal edge which is something we haven't done for a long, long time." Read more here.
Kataklysm Reveal New Album Plans
(TeamRock Radio) Canadian death metal outfit Kataklysm will return to the studio early next year to continue work on their 12th album, they've confirmed. The band have been writing the follow-up to 2013's Waiting For The End To Come and will hit the studio in January to lay down tracks for an album they describe as "monstrous."
They say in a statement: "Kataklysm has been full of inspiration and are in full determination mode lately - a rejuvenated band that is out to conquer the world with no sign of stopping. We've been secretly working hard on a monstrous new album and will enter the studio next January to start tracking. The process will take three months to complete."
And the band: vocalist Maurizio Iacono, guitarist Jean-Francois Dagenais, bassist Stephane Barbe, along with new drummer Oli Beaudoin, reveal the new material will have an "aggressive edge" but will also explore new ground. Read more here.
Airbourne Planning New Album
(TeamRock Radio) Airbourne are looking at the second half of next year to launch their next album. It will be the follow-up to Black Dog Barking, which launched via Roadrunner in 2013. And drummer Ryan O'Keeffe reveals they've been working on fresh material on their recent jaunt around the UK - from the back of their tour bus.
He tells Airbourne's official UK fan site: "We've got a studio set up in the back of the tour bus and we're working on stuff for the next one. We throw little ideas down - it will start coming together once we get home. You just collect material and then when you get back home, you tip it out on the ground and put it together.
"We want to have it out in the second half of next year, but we've still got to get it all together and be confident about it. If we're not happy we're not going to release it - but that's our goal."
Read more and stream the full video interview here.
Pain Of Salvation Reveal Cover Of Dio's Holy Diver
(TeamRock Radio) Pain Of Salvation have premiered their lounged-up cover of Dio's Holy Diver, which is taken from their Falling Home release. TeamRock is streaming their version right now.
Mainman Daniel Gildenlöw says of the cover: "A few years back we were asked to play in a local metal event where every band got three songs from a particular artist. We got Dio on our plate, and decided to make a very special rendition of Holy Diver.
"It stayed with us over the years, and we are thrilled finally to be able to present it on recording. We just wish Ronnie could still be around to hear it." Listen to it here.
Singled Out: Atkins May Project's Midas Touch
Today guitarist Paul May from the Atkins May Project, his group with original Judas Priest vocalist Al Atkins, tells us about "Midas Touch" from their brand new album "Empire Of Destruction". Here is the story:
The "Midas Touch" is the second track of the "Empire Of Destruction" album and its more than a head down, hard and fast metal track! Al sounds like he's been gargling with razor blades for a month and there's some fast and furious guitar riffs assaulting the senses! Exactly how I wanted it to be, powerful sounding, to match the subject matter it was handling.
It was written as a depiction of the 'love of money' and the hold it can have upon on the human nature. To 'coin it', its basically about idolatry and lust in its modern state. Hey, we all need money, and I'm certainly not knocking wealth, in fact I'm willing to give it a go! As I'm sure we all are.
However, the power of money is used so often for manipulating society that it's almost become a competition of influence. The song lyrics are about the driven addiction it can create for some, much like the misuse of a drug. It asks the question " who is the slave and the master?" .... The Midas Touch a touch too much?
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