Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


Megadeth Frontman's Missing Mother-In-Law Found Dead
(hennemusic) Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine has confirmed that his missing mother-in-law, Sally Estabrook, has been found dead. The 75-year-old with Alzheimer's disease was last seen around 4 p.m. on October 4 at the Pinezanita RV Park and Campgrounds on Highway 79 in Julian, California - about 60 miles east of downtown San Diego.

"We would like to thank everyone for your support and help in finding our Mom," posted Mustaine. "It has been confirmed that she has been found deceased a short distance from the Campground and we know she is with the Lord. It doesn't appear there was any foul play, and she had walked from the campground to an area that wasn't easy to find, and a rough walk uphill to get too but appears to have gone home to be with the Lord shortly after her disappearance."

"Thanks again to all the volunteers who searched tirelessly in hopes of us finding her earlier, and alive," he added. "Somehow we missed her in the time we needed to find her, but we are so thankful for everyone who helped, and believed with us, and never gave up hope and looking." Read more here.




Kid Rock Mixing Aerosmith With Country On New Album
(Radio.com) Kid Rock will release his tenth studio album First Kiss on Feb. 24. Not much has been known about the release-that is, until now. In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Kid Rock opened up about the album, which will blend "Aerosmith-style rockers" with his country influences.

Rolling Stone reports that the album will highlight his country side with a pedal steel track called "Drinking Beer with Dad," which Rock says is "one of the best songs I've ever written."

Meanwhile, two other songs featured on First Kiss, "Jesus and Bocephus" and "Johnny Cash" pays tribute to country greats Hank Williams Jr. and Johnny Cash. The latter, fittingly titled "Johnny Cash," is a love song that is dedicated to the love between Cash and June Carter Cash.

"Their whole relationship, it's pretty f-ing sweet," he told Rolling Stone. "[It's] coming to a wedding near you!" Read more here.




AC/DC's Phil Rudd Plays Air-Drums While In Court
(Radio.com) AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd briefly appeared in a New Zealand court on Wednesday (November 26) to face charges of threatening to kill and possession of drugs. His court appearance had a bit of drama to it: according to the BBC, he showed up late for the hearing, resulting in the court briefly issuing an arrest warrant for the drummer.

The warrant was withdrawn when Rudd, 60, appeared minutes later. He entered no plea, and was remanded on bail until December 2. His charge of attempting to procure a murder (hiring a hit man) was dropped earlier this month.

The BBC also reported that Rudd put on a bit of a show for the courtroom, winking at the media and tapping out rhythms during the session. As he left, he jumped on his security guard's back and was carried to his sports car.

In a recent interview with Howard Stern, the radio host asked guitarist AC/DC Angus Young if Rudd is still in the band. "We've got to resolve that," he said, noting that it was difficult to get Rudd into the studio to work on the band's upcoming album, Rock or Bust, which is due out December 2. "He was shaky."

Read what frontman Brian Johnson had to say about Rudd's future with the band here.




Scott Stapp's Wife Cited Drugs And Suicide Attempt In Divorce
(Classic Rock) Creed singer Scott Stapp's wife has cited his heavy drugs use and attempted suicide in her divorce papers. Jaclyn Stapp wants to end their eight-year marriage after saying he'd become a "paranoid shell" by taking crystal meth, amphetamines and steroids.

She says he was held in a psychiatric ward after after trying to take his own life earlier this year. She alleges his latest drugs lapse is his seventh since their wedding, and included an episode in a hotel room where he "became hostile and physical and proceeded to demolish the room" in the presence of her and their teenage son.

Her paperwork includes a series of threatening text messages he's said to have sent after disappearing from their Florida home in October. She recently applied to have him forced into rehab - subject to a court hearing, he could be ordered to undergo treatment for up to five months.

Stapp earlier this week posted a self-shot video on Creed's Facebook page, claiming he'd been living in his truck, had his bank accounts frozen and needed a lawyer to help him fight "slanderous, libelous accusations."






David Bowie Previews Nothing Has Changed
(hennemusic) David Bowie has issued the first two episodes of a series of trailers for his newly-released collection, "Nothing Has Changed." The compilation presents material from the singer's 50-year career and includes new songs alongside unreleased tracks and greatest hits.

"Nothing Has Changed" was introduced by the lead single, "Sue (or In A Season Of Crime)", which will be released as a Record Store Day exclusive 10" single on November 28.

The set also features the previously unreleased track, "Let Me Sleep Beside You", from the "Toy" sessions; the download-only "Your Turn To Drive" makes its debut on CD alongside the 2001 re-recording of the 1971 outtake, "Shadow Man."

"Nothing Has Changed" is available as 2- and 3-disc packages, a 2-LP set, and as corresponding digital releases. Watch the videos here.




Ginger Wildheart Releases Duet With Courtney Love
(Classic Rock) Ginger Wildheart has released a video for Honour, a duet with Courtney Love. The single was first released through Ginger's membership scheme GASS in August, and was A-listed by TeamRock Radio earlier this week. Ginger has spent much of 2014 as a touring member of Love's band.

"She's great to work with, very funny, generous and spontaneous," Ginger told Last Year's Girl last month. "She was also kind enough to let me film the video at her recent sold out Sydney show. Wait until you hear it, she sounds like Celebrity Skin era Courtney. She nails it so good. As a fan you're going to love it."

GASS (Ginger Associated Secret Society) was launched earlier in the year, while GASS Lite, a free version of the service - offering unique tracks, videos, diary entries and other content - was announced yesterday. Watch the video here.




Pink Floyd Help Resurrect Vinyl
(Classic Rock) Pink Floyd have helped push vinyl sales through the million mark for 2014 - their highest level since 1996. Floyd's new album The Endless River became the fastest-selling vinyl release since 1997 earlier this month.

With overall sales of LPs hitting the million milestone in the UK for this year, the prog heroes are at the centre of a resurgence in the format that will see The Official Chart Company launch a new vinyl chart in the coming weeks.

Although The Endless River has sold a relatively small number of vinyl copies so far - around 6000 - the music industry is seeing the format as a real money maker again.

Martin Talbot, managing director of the Official Charts Company, tells the BBC: "In an era when we're all talking about digital music, the fact that these beautiful physical artefacts are still as popular as they are is fantastic." Read more here.




Tom Petty Looks Back At The Traveling Wilburys
(Classic Rock) Tom Petty recalls short-lived supergroup The Traveling Wilburys as "a wonderful time" in his life. The band - which featured Petty, George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne and Bob Dylan - recorded their debut album over two weeks in 1988.

It came about during a recording session for a B-side for Harrison's single This Is Love, on which the Beatle roped in his friends. Petty only became involved when Harrison turned up at his house to pick up a guitar.

Petty decided to tag along to the studio, and ended up taking part in the session and joining the group. But the song Handle With Care was deemed too good for a B-side and it later appeared on the Wilburys' debut album Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1.

Petty tells HazyRock: "That extra track turned into the Traveling Wilburys. It was a wonderful time. I think the one thing I remember is, there was never a negative moment doing that. We really enjoyed that. I think we made that record for us, really. We just enjoyed it.

"Those 10 tracks were all we did. There's not anything left over. And we did it pretty fast. We'd all sit on the floor in a circle, and write the songs. Then we'd go and cut the track. We'd have dinner, and work on the lyrics over dinner, and then go do the vocals - bang. I love all of those guys." More including a stream of the full feature here.





Jimmy Page Proud of Performing Led Zeppelin Classic At Olympics
(Classic Rock) Jimmy Page says his greatest moment outside of Led Zeppelin was performing Whole Lotta Love with pop star Leona Lewis at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

He admits his choice will "surprise everyone" but insists the moment, part of the event's closing ceremony, was important and made him proud. Page tells Uncut: "I'd be very sincere if I said doing the Olympics with Leona was phenomenal. She's really plucky - she's superb, and she sang Whole Lotta Love brilliantly.

"We managed to do the full length. It wasn't edited. It was so cool the way she approached it. For that audience, and the fact we didn't f*** it up, that was important. It was a Led Zeppelin number, but it took on another persona." Read more here.




KISS Appear At Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
(hennemusic) KISS were on hand to lip sync a performance of "Rock And Roll All Night" as part of the 88th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

The band recently released an expanded, deluxe edition of their 1977 album, "Love Gun." The 2CD / digital edition includes the complete original album re-mastered on the first disc, while the second features previously unreleased demos of "Plaster Caster", "Then She Kissed Me", "Tomorrow And Tonight" and "Much Too Soon".

The group also just wrapped up their first Las Vegas residency, "KISS Rocks Vegas", at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. KISS performed 9 shows at The Joint between November 5 and 23.

Watch the parade appearance here.




Intervals and Singer Mike Semesky Part Ways
(Prog) Canadian prog-metal outfit Intervals have parted ways with frontman Mike Semesky, they've announced. He initially joined in 2013 as the band's bassist when the group were a purely instrumental touring outfit.

He took over vocal duties for their debut album A Voice Within which launched earlier this year. But the band say they've now reached a "fork in the road" and they've parted ways with the singer amicably.

The group's guitarist Aaron Marshall says: "It's with a heavy heart that we announce that we have decided to part ways with Mike Semesky. Writing and recording A Voice Within was a gratifying and enlightening experience and touring in support of that record with Mike has been nothing short of spectacular.

"That said, we have reached a fork in the road and have come to an amicable parting of ways. We wish Mike the best in future endeavours and beyond." Read more here.




Adrian Belew Releases 36-Years-In-The-Making Flux Project
(Prog) Adrian Belew has launched his Flux music creation environment after 36 years of planning and development. It's now available as an iOS mobile device app, and promises "a new and exciting way to experience music."

The former King Crimson and Frank Zappa collaborator explained via the project's Kickstarter page: "Technology has changed our lives so dramatically. Our ability to multitask is greater, but our attention spans are shorter.

"Modern music does not reflect these changes - most music has remained unaltered, still made in the same format used for over 60 years: the three to five minute song. Nothing wrong with that, but how about an alternative?

"Flux is an ever-changing variety of songs, downs and visual art that comes at you in quick, exciting pieces. You get exposed to a lot of content quickly and every listen is new. It will never happen the same way for you or anyone else." Read more here.




Thunder Reveal New Album Details
(Classic Rock) Thunder have released details of their upcoming new album Wonder Days. The band's 10th album - and first since 2008's Bang! - is released on February 16 via earMUSIC and follows this week's unveiling of the video for the record's title track.

Wonder Days was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, with guitarist Luke Morley doubling as producer. The record label describe the album as "a potent mix of blues, soul and rock 'n' roll that is as contemporary as it is steeped in the finest music of the last few decades."

Wonder Days was recorded without Thunder's rhythm guitarist Ben Matthews, who was receiving treatment for throat cancer. He has since been given the all-clear. Read more here.




Entombed Reveal Reissue Plans
(TeamRock Radio) Three of Entombed's albums from their back catalogue are to be remastered and reissued. 1997's DCLXVI - To Ride, Shoot Straight And Speak The Truth, 1998's Same Difference and 2000's Uprising will launch in early 2015.

The special editions were made possible thanks to a PledgeMusic campaign started by Threeman Recordings which raised 152% of its target. They've now struck a deal with SPV to distribute the albums across the US and Europe.

Each recording will be fully remastered and feature bonus material including previously unreleased tracks. All three will be released on heavyweight 180g double vinyl and double CD. Each will come with a 24-page booklet containing fresh liner notes and rare photographs.

Dave Thorne of Threeman Recordings says: "It's great to finally find a home for the Entombed back catalogue, and I know that with their many years of experience, SPV is the perfect partner to handle these historic albums and really do them justice." Read more here.




Crisis Fueled Lacuna Coil's Nothing Stands In Our Way
(TeamRock Radio) Lacuna Coil frontman Andrea Ferro says they were inspired to pen the track Nothing Stands In Our Way by the global financial crisis. It appears on their latest album Broken Crown Halo which launched earlier this year - and Ferro says although it was written during a negative time, they gave the song a positive spin as they wanted to give people hope.

He tells Capital Chaos TV: "The inspiration for the song came from the negative situation that surrounded us while we were writing the album - news that the economy was collapsing, and people were losing their jobs and committing suicide because of that.
"All the negativity pushed us to focus on our dreams. Even if your dreams seem very far away, you need to be focused on them even in very negative times. Even if you have the worst thing happen to you, you still need to find that special energy to go on. That's the message of that song."

He also says people have to strike a better balance between their daily lives and using social media - a theme that runs throughout their seventh album. He continues: "We feel there must be a better balance between how much we are slaves to these things and how much we could live our real lives.





Rob Reed Releases Willow's Song Video
(Prog) Rob Reed has released a video for his version of Willow's Song from the soundtrack of cult horror movie The Wicker Man. It's taken from the Magenta mastermind's solo EP, also called Willow's Song, which is launched on December 1. It features vocals by Angharad Brinn, who also appeared on Reed's Kompendium album Beneath The Waves.

The piece was originally to be part of Reed's Tubular Bells tribute Sanctuary. Reed tells Prog: "The plan was to have two long tracks and a short song at the end. But when I finished the album the short song just didn't fit. I was worried that the album would be a little short without it, but I confided in producer Tom Newman and he told me not to worry - to think of it musically and in no other way."

He says of the video: "We rented a haunted house in Wales and dressed up my children in pagan masks. It really was a disturbing experience. But it looked amazing."






Ian Anderson, Pineapple Thief and Messenger Added To Ramblin' Man
(Prog) Ian Anderson, Pendragon, Riverside, The Pineapple Thief and Messenger have been added to the bill for the first Ramblin' Man Fair. They'll join Prog Stage headline acts Camel and Marillion at Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent on the weekend of July 25-26 next year.

Anderson has confirmed he'll deliver a set of Jethro Tull classics at the two-day event, created in association with Prog and TeamRock. He says: "Oh what fun it is to ride like a Ramblin' Man to the far corners of Darkest Kent, to play once again with the support and organisation of TeamRock, Prog and those other fine publications to delight the discerning music fan. See you there - don't forget to pack the brolly and the gum boots."

TPT mainman Bruce Soord adds: "The band can't wait to get on stage for this wonderful festival and join such a fantastic lineup. Sharing the same stage as Camel is something particularly special. Live music - rock and progressive - is very much alive and well thanks to Ramblin' Man! Looking forward to rocking our brand new set for you all."





The Pop Group Release First New Song in 35 Years
(TeamRock Radio) The Pop Group have revealed details of their comeback album - to be issued 35 years after their last record. The English post-punk outfit will release Citizen Zombie on February 25 via Freaks R Us. They've made the title track available to stream.

Singer Mark Stewart, bass player Dan Catsis, drummer Bruce Smith and guitarist Gareth Sagar reunited in 2010 after their 1981 split, but until now haven't recorded any new music since 1980's For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder?

They have recruited producer Paul Epworth to work on the record, which is the subject of a Pledgemusic crowdfunding campaign. Epworth, who's worked with Adele, Coldplay and Florence And The Machine, says: "The energy is still there, the ideas are still there, it still fizzes with a life that most young bands just don't have."






A Day To Remember's McKinnon Producing Neck Deep Album
(TeamRock Radio) A Day To Remember frontman Jeremy McKinnon has been confirmed as the producer of Neck Deep's upcoming second album. The British pop punk outfit will start work on the follow-up to this year's debut Wishful Thinking at the weekend, where McKinnon will be joined by former ADTR guitarist Tom Denney behind the desk.

Neck Deep singer Ben Barlow says: "When we started looking into recording album two, we knew we wanted it to be bigger and better than Wishful Thinking.

"We wanted to step things up in a big way. We'll be working with someone we've always looked up to. When we initially spoke to Jeremy about producing the album his enthusiasm was what caught us.

"Not only is he someone who knows what they're doing, and has achieved everything we could hope for, but he's just as stoked on the album as we are, and that's a huge thing."