Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


Foo Fighters Announce Surprise Show
(Radio.com) For the Foo Fighters' first show of the year, they're taking it back to Los Angeles, just before they kick off their worldwide Sonic Highways tour. The band announced Wednesday (Jan. 7) that they'll play a special set at the Forum in L.A. this weekend, Jan. 10.

The show will benefit multiple charities, including MusiCares, Rock School Scholarship Fund and Sweet Relief. Tickets are going for $50, with $10 going to the charities.

Following the show, the band will take to South America for the first dates of the tour behind Sonic Highways, kicking off Jan. 15 in Chile. However, the Foos will be back in the U.S. for the North American leg starting July 4. Read more here.




Tony Iommi's Cancer Likely To Comeback
(hennemusic) Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi is sharing an update on his ongoing cancer battle. The guitarist recorded Black Sabbath's 2013 album, "13", and completed a world tour with the band while undergoing medical treatment since being diagnosed with blood cancer lymphoma in January of 2012.

"When the doctors told me I had cancer I thought, 'That's it then'," Iommi tells The Mirror. "Cancer was death as far as I was concerned. I found a painful lump in my groin while I was in New York promoting my book. I thought it was my prostate acting up again, but Ozzy told me I should get it checked out. I came back to England and had an operation to reduce my prostate. It was painless but afterwards I needed a catheter."

"When that came out I went to see the surgeon. He said: 'Good news on the prostate. It's been cut down to a sensible size and everything is good there. But on the lump we took out, we found follicular lymphoma.' It's a type of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma."

Iommi was given an update from doctors, saying "The surgeon told me he doesn't expect the cancer to go away. There's a 30 per cent chance that it could, but more than likely it will come back and it could be any time."

"I look at life differently now. I could be here another ten years or just one year - I don't know." Read more here.




Led Zeppelin Expand Physical Graffiti For Deluxe Reissue
(hennemusic) Led Zeppelin will release an expanded reissue of their 1975 double-album, "Physical Graffiti", on February 24 in North America (Feb. 23rd in other territories). Led Zeppelin launched their reissue series last year with the group's first five albums re-released as expanded editions with bonus material.

The new "Physical Graffiti" 3-CD set will include a disc of material featuring alternate mixes of songs on the group's sixth studio album. "Physical Graffiti" features Led Zeppelin standards "Kashmir", "Trampled Under Foot", "The Rover" and "Houses Of The Holy."

The project hit No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 on its way to selling more than 8 million copies in the States alone, while topping their native UK album charts and achieving double platinum for sales of 600,00. Check out the track details here.




Megadeth Reunion Predicted By Former Member
(Classic Rock) Former Megadeth guitarist Glen Drover says he would bet money on Nick Menza rejoining the band. Drover - who played with Dave Mustaine's group from 2004 to 2007 - reckons Menza will return for a third spell to replace drummer Shawn Drover, who quit last year along with guitarist Chris Broderick.

Mustaine and bassist Dave Ellefson are the only two remaining members of Megadeth as it stands and they're in the process of recruiting new members. They released a video of them rehearsing with an unidentified drummer in December. Glen Drover tells Metal Wani: "I would bet money I don't have it's Nick Menza on drums. And whoever the guitar player is, we'll find out."

Drover ruled himself out of a return to the band in the wake of his brother Shawn and Broderick's departures, but he says he did enjoy his time with Megadeth for the most part. Read more here.



Rise To Remain Have Broken Up
(TeamRock Radio) London metal outfit Rise To Remain have announced they've split. Frontman Austin Dickinson says they made the decision following the departures of drummer Adam Lewin and guitarist Ben Tovey. But he, guitarist Will Homer and bassist Conor O'Keefe will continue under the name As Lions.

He says on Facebook: "It's with a mixture of sadness and excitement that we reveal to everybody that Rise To Remain is no more. We travelled the world with this band, and, because of the people who supported us, managed to achieve so many things we never thought possible.

"Living the dream, in many cases, is not enough to hold it all together when the band is not stable, and after putting together the second record, Adam told us he was in a place where he felt the pressure of the album and the upcoming cycle and couldn't continue, leading Ben to quit music altogether.

"To continue the band at this point, with as many lineup changes as it's had, with the two original members being Will and myself, seems pointless." Read more of his comments here.





Killer Be Killed Super Group Star To Miss Festival
(TeamRock Radio) Killer Be Killed drummer Dave Elitch won't play with the band at next month's Soundwave festival due to a scheduling conflict. The supergroup featuring former Sepultura man Max Cavalera, Mastodon's Troy Sanders, The Dillinger Escape Plan's Greg Puciato and Elitch, announced they'd make their live debut at the Australian event in February.

But with Elitch's band Antemasque also playing the festival, he says it's impossible for him to play with both bands. He said on Twitter: "I've been getting a tonne of questions regarding Soundwave, so lemme set the record straight:

"I will be playing with Antemasque but I unfortunately will not be able to play with Killer Be Killed as it's logistically impossible as they're on different days."





Rolling Stones Announce Very Limited Release
(hennemusic) The Rolling Stones will issue their classic 1971 track, "Dead Flowers", as a single for the first time as part of 2015 edition of the Secret 7" program. The annual UK charity event sees 100 copies of 7 songs from 7 high-profile artists pressed onto 7" vinyl, each with unique cover art provided by fans.

Joining the Stones in this year's Secret 7" program are Peter Gabriel, St. Vincent, The Chemical Brothers, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Maccabees and Underworld.

The artwork for the singles will be exhibited at London's Somerset House between April 10 and May 4, before going on sale on May 4 at a price of £50 each.

The cover art hides the music within, so the "secret" is discovering which song you've purchased when you open the package. Read more here.





Adrenaline Mob Reveal New Album Details
(Classic Rock) Adrenaline Mob will release their third full-length release next month, they've announced. Titled Dearly Departed, the album will launch on February 9 via Century Media.

It will feature a previously unreleased track recorded during their Men Of Honor sessions last year, along with three acoustic versions of material from their 2012 debut Omerta. The disc will also include an edited take of the title track which originally appeared on their second record.

The band released eight-track covers EP Coverta in 2013 and the new disc also features more songs which influenced them in the past, including Queen's Tie Your Mother Down. Read more here.




Slipknot Won't Leave Fans Hanging
(TeamRock Radio) Slipknot guitarist Mick Thomson says fans won't have to wait as long for their next album as they did for .5: The Gray Chapter. The group's latest album - released last October - came six years after 2008's All Hope Is Gone and followed the death of bassist Paul Gray and the sacking of drummer Joey Jordison.

But Thomson says Slipknot have taken to writing and recording snippets of new ideas on laptops while touring. That, he says, should prevent the kid of wait fans endured for .5: The Gray Chapter. And the could even start recording the follow-up this year, once their touring commitments come to an end.

Thomson tells MusicRadar: "It enables us to have songs in the can already before we go in a studio to work on a new album. We hope to do our next record sooner after touring.

"We don't want to spend the same amount of time between albums as we've done with the last two." Read more here.




Butch Walker Pays Tribute With New Song Father's Day
Butch Walker has released the track "Father's Day" which comes from his forthcoming album "Afraid of Ghosts" and also features a guest appearance from Bob Mould.

As the name implies, "Father's Day" and most of Walker's seventh full-length album was written in tribute to his father, who passed away in 2013. The album, produced by Ryan Adams, is set for release on February 3rd.

Walker explained how Bob Mould came to work on the new song, "He walked in the studio when we were tracking it and heard the lyrics and immediately wanted to sing and play on it.

"Turns out his dad had died two years to the week we recorded it. I guess it struck him the same way it would me. He was very close with his old man. We had a moment after recording it."

Walker goes on to explain how the song was developed, "I played it for Ryan in my hotel room when we were talking about doing my record. Immediately he started picking it apart and writing alternate verse lyrics here and there. I ended up combining our words to make the final verses and it just felt right. It's one of my proudest moments and I know my Pop would've loved it."

Listen to the track here.



Korn Star Explains How Fans Can Really Show Their Support
(TeamRock Radio) Korn's Ray Luzier says something has to be done to prevent illegal downloading of music. He says the technology must exist to prevent CDs from being ripped to computers in the first place.

Luzier tells Q103: "Someone's gotta do something - put a chip in there where you can't duplicate it. The thing is, with the newer generation, the kids don't really understand that it's taking or stealing.

"They're, like, 'What? I'm at your freakin' show.' And I'm, like, 'Yeah. But our record's 10 bucks.' I'm one of those old dudes that still does that. I go out and come home from Best Buy with, like, four CDs. It's all about supporting the artist."

He adds, "We're not gonna stop it. It's technology. I get it. I'm just saying, to the fans out there, if you really love your art and people you support, go buy the freaking record. How hard is it?" Read more here.




Book About Walter Trout Benefit Show Released
(Classic Rock) A book which gives a pictorial and written account of last year's star-studded Walter Trout benefit gig has been released. An Evening For Walter Trout features more than 40 exclusive photographs as well as interviews and a review of the event of the same name, which was held at London's O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire on May 4, 2014.

Stars including Otis Grand, Bernie Marsden, Ian Parker, Mitch Laddie and others appeared at the show, which was set up to raise funds for Trout's liver transplant. All profits from the book will be donated to the Walter Trout Fund as he continues his recovery from the surgery, which he underwent just weeks after the gig.

He was back in hospital last October, but spent the holiday season with friends and family and even managed to play a small show for his neighbors at New Year. Read more here.




Anthrax Reveal Album Progress In New Video
(Classic Rock) Recording of the upcoming new Anthrax album is gathering pace, with the band releasing a video of drummer Charlie Benante in the studio. The clip shows Benante recording one of the tracks on what will be the band's 11th album and follow-up to 2011's Worship Music.

The thrash icons are working with producer Jay Ruston on the unnamed project, set for launch via Megaforce Records this year. Benante, bassist Frank Bello, singer Joey Belladonna guitarist Scott Ian and latest recruit, guitarist Jon Donais plan to complete work by the end of this month.

Meanwhile, Scott Ian says in a light-hearted rapid fire interview that he would abolish all politics if he were king for a day. He tells Loveline High Five: "What would be my first decree? I would abolish all political parties. Because I'd be king and I'd be able to do that."




The Neal Morse Band Release The Grand Experiment Video
(Classic Rock) The Neal Morse Band have released a music video for The Grand Experiment - the title track from their upcoming album. The five-track record launches on February 16 via InsideOut and Morse reveals the lead song came to life thanks to the creative input of drummer Mike Portnoy.

He says: "I am thrilled with how this song came out. During the recording sessions for the album, I remember waking up one morning wondering what was going to happen that day and not having a clue what direction the album would take.

"I was thinking, 'Man, this is a grand experiment!' And as I was lying there I thought of the chorus, but my original version was slower and more of a keyboard thing. Then the band got to it and Mike had the rockin' verse idea and it developed from there. The video was shot and edited by my son Chad. Hope you all like it."




Ian Siegal Announce Full Band Live Album Release
(The Blues Ian Siegal is to release a new live album in the same month that he launches a UK tour. One Night In Amsterdam is Siegal's first full band live record and will be issued on CD and limited edition vinyl on March 9 via Nugene Records.

The album was recorded at the North Sea Jazz Club in Amsterdam in April 2014. His UK tour starts in Chester on March 17. A press release announcing the album reads:

"While Siegal's 2014 album Man & Guitar showcased the award-winning British songwriter as a solo acoustic troubadour, One Night In Amsterdam flicks the power switch, marking Siegal's first live album with a full-throttle electric band."

His UK tour starts in Chester on March 17.



66 Year-Old Woman Takes Over Vocals For Grindcore Band
(TeamRock Radio) Corrupt Leaders frontman Rayny Forster has enlisted his 66 year-old mother to provide vocals for their next record and the band has released a video of her singing.

The guest vocal appearance took place on New Year's Eve, while the Canadian grindcore quintet were in an Ontario studio recording new material.

It's not known at this stage whether Forster's mother will join the band on a permanent basis. In the meantime, fans can check out her brutal vocals in the clip here.



Heathen Recruit Forbidden Member For Upcoming Appearance
(TeamRock Radio) US thrash veterans Heathen have recruited Forbidden drummer Sasha Horn to perform with them for their upcoming 70,000 Tons Of Metal cruise appearance.

The cruise will travel between Florida and Jamaica between January 22-26 and features other artists including Arch Enemy, Canibal Corpse, Amorphis, Venom, Napalm Death and Michael Schenker's Temple Of Rock.

Sasha Horn will be taking over duties behind the drum kit from Jon Dette who had previously played with the band on their 2013 European tour. Read more here.




Trinity II Charity Event Postponed
(Prog) The Trinity II charity event which was due to take place at the Leamington Assembly in May has been postponed. Organisers say they've been forced to the plug due to a scheduling issue but insist the gig will take place at a later date.

They say in a statement: "There is no easy way to say this but due to an unforeseen scheduling issue, Trinity II will longer be happening on May 9. We have done everything within our powers to try and make sure it didn't come to this but sometimes whatever path one takes, the resulting journey leads to only one conclusion.

"We had an incredible lineup, amazing sponsors and some fantastic surprises waiting for you but worry not, we are only postponing. We have no definite date for the rescheduled show but as soon as we do, you will be the first to know."





Ethereal Announce New Album and Release First Video
(TeamRock Radio) Clearly not a band to rush into releasing half-baked albums, Liverpool's Ethereal have finally deemed the hour is upon them to release their debut album, Opus Aethererum, nigh on 13 years since the band first formed.

Due to storm across the extreme metal landscape on January 26 when it's released via Candlelight Records, Opus Aethereum is - as you might expect from a band who've been biding their time by honing their craft on the extreme metal gig circuit - a carefully wrought and fully-fledged sonic beast. Featuring eight blasts of vaulting, supremely confident and symphonically astute black metal, its furious, soul-ruffling currents have picked up a few traces of death metal in its slipstream, assuring that Ethereal's capacity for pomp never loses its visceral edge.

TeamRock have premiered the first video from the album, in the sepia-saturated form of Unholy Ungodly. A performance-based video, it shows off the Liverpudlians' archaic yet immediate aesthetic to superlative effect. Prepare to raise your upturned claws and tune into Unholy Ungodly here.




17-Year-Old Guitar Prodigy Aaron Keylock Announces Headline Show
(Classic Rock) Following support slots with Blackberry Smoke, Cadillac 3 and The Graveltones, Aaron Keylock has announced his first headline London show. The 17-year-old guitar prodigy will play the Black Heart in Camden on February 10 - and it comes ahead of his appearance at this year's TeamRock-sponsored Ramblin' Man Fair. He'll take to the Blues Stage at the two-day event in Kent on the weekend of July 25 & 26.

Keylock released the track Medicine Man in November and hopes to launch his debut album later this year - although in an interview in this month's Blues Magazine, he says he won't be rushed into releasing fresh material.

He says: "I want to keep the sound as close as possible to how we sound live, so we need the same players. We've been doing some demos and we're still writing. I have an album's worth of material, we've got a long live set, but it's about picking songs that fit. Read more here.



Obsessive Bob Dylan Fan The Subject Of New Documentary
(Radio.com) There are few sources as rich as obsessive fandom, whether it is in the form of Star Trek "Trekkies" or the book/movie Misery, and a documentary recently made available for online viewing finds another well to draw upon: Bob Dylan fans.

Tangled Up in Dylan focuses on AJ Weberman (which is emphasized with the subtitle, The Ballad of AJ Weberman), and finds directors James Bluemel and Oliver Ralfe focusing on a man that "is infamous, if he is known at all, among Dylan aficionados for being the obsessed stalker who Bob Dylan physically assaulted in 1971 because he had been harassing his family.

"Weberman picked through their trash (he calls his stinky style of sleuthing the science of 'Garbology") and staged demonstrations (with the 'Dylan Liberation Front," the students of his 'Dylanology" classes) outside of Dylan's MacDougal Street brownstone in New York, apparently with the aim of convincing Dylan to, uh, join the revolution, man' but having the result of really pissing him off," according to Dangerous Minds.





Blueneck Approached Latest Album As If It Was Their Last
(TeamRock Radio) Blueneck have revealed they recorded latest album King Nine thinking it could be their last. It launched in November via Denovali Records and singer Duncan Attwood says as they feared it might flop, they decided to go into the recording process thinking it would be their final release.

He tells this month's Prog magazine: "I did go in with the attitude that this could be our last album. It's taken nearly four years to get this one down. I wanted to make sure the end product was something I was completely pleased with.

"I'm very aware that because it's quite different from the post-rock sound we've done before, it could completely flop. But it's important that if it does, I'd still be happy with it."

The band say due to the complex nature of King Nine, taking the album on the road is not something they're currently considering. Attwood continues: "We've agreed we'll only take this live if we can do it justice."