Today's Day in Rock
Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson Treated For Cancer
Heavy metal legends Iron Maiden announced that lead singer Bruce Dickinson has just undergone treatment for a small cancerous tumor on his tongue.
The band reports that the cancer was found early and Dickinson is expected to make a full recover. Here is the statement from the band, "Just before Christmas, Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson visited his doctor for a routine check-up. This led to tests and biopsies which revealed a small cancerous tumour at the back of his tongue.
"A seven-week course of chemotherapy and radiology treatment was completed yesterday. As the tumour was caught in the early stages, the prognosis thankfully is extremely good. Bruce's medical team fully expect him to make a complete recovery with the all clear envisaged by late May. It will then take a further few months for Bruce to get back to full fitness.
"In the meantime, we would ask for your patience, understanding and respect for Bruce and his family's privacy until we update everyone by the end of May. Bruce is doing very well considering the circumstances and the whole team are very positive."
Linkin Park Thank Fans With Free Acoustic Song Download
Linkin Park are giving away a free download of an acoustic version of the song "Final Masquerade" as a thank you to fans for their support. The original version of the track appeared on their latest album "The Hunting Party" and the band were recently forced to cancel their tour in support of the album due to a leg injury suffered by frontman Chester Bennington.
Mike Shinoda had this to say about the track, "We made something cool the other day, and we wanted you to have it. Here's a special unreleased acoustic version of Final Masquerade.
"Stripping it down to bare bones brought the sentiment of the song right to the surface. Thanks for all your support over the past couple months - we hope you enjoy the song."
Guitarist Brad Deslon adds, "In this stripped-down intimate version, the words and storytelling lead the way. I loved working on this special recording of "Final Masquerade", and we're excited to share it with our fans."
AC/DC Concert Tickets In High Demand
(Classic Rock) Tickets for AC/DC's upcoming Rock Or Bust tour across North America are selling on the secondary market for more than $250. They're lined up to play a run of shows across the Pond starting in April at the Coachella festival and then a further 10 dates kicking off at the Gillette Stadium, Massachusetts in August - and prices are climbing steadily as fans rush to see the band's first live shows since 2010's Black Ice tour.
According to Forbes, the average cost of securing a ticket has now reached $255.82 which rivals that of other big-name artists including The Who and Fleetwood Mac.
The most expensive ticket on the market is the Aussie giants' gig at the Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton. The average price currently stands at $573.37 - 124.1% more expensive than the tour average. Read more here.
Man 'Enduring' Week Of Nickelback For A Cause
(Classic Rock) A man from the US is listening to Nickelback constantly for a week to raise cash for charity. Jesse Carey started the marathon session on Monday and will stop this coming Sunday - and he says he's received messages of support from across the world for his "ultimate test of human endurance."
He tells the Relevant podcast: "I want to lift the confidence of what a human being is capable of. It's the feeling I get after I watch a David Blaine special, and he's been locked in a block of ice upside down for reasons that were never made clear. All you need to know is that he did it.
"People have been kind enough to leave messages of encouragement. Somebody even said there's a darkness to the music and I'll have to do some sort of hot yoga cleanse after this - people are concerned for me spiritually, emotionally and even physically.
"No one knows what the brain will do when subjected to this type of Nickelback." The serious side to Nickelbackathon is Carey's drive to generate funds for the charity Water, which aims to build wells and give people across the world access to safe, clean water. Read more here.
Foo Fighters Sonic Highways Headed To Blu-Ray and DVD
(hennemusic) Foo Fighters will release their HBO series, Sonic Highways, on DVD/Blu-ray and digital on April 7. The series was a companion project to the band's 8th album of the same name, recorded in 8 different cities - Chicago, Washington DC, Nashville, Austin, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Seattle and New York - and documented for broadcast on HBO last fall.
The "Sonic Highways" DVD/Blu-ray package features bonus footage filmed during each of the eight episodes - plus extended interviews with President Barack Obama, Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, Chuck D of Public Enemy, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Gibby Haynes of the Butthole Surfers, Joan Jett, Ian Mackaye of Fugazi and Minor Threat, Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood and Joe Walsh.
Originally premiering on HBO October 17, 2014, "Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways" has gone on to win this year's Cinema Audio Society Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Non-Fiction, Variety or Music - Series or Specials (for the Los Angeles episode), as well as the Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Award for Best Sound and Music Editing: Television Documentary, Long Form (for the Seattle episode). Watch the trailer here.
Dave Lombardo Talks Possible Fantomas Activity
(Classic Rock) Former Slayer sticksman Dave Lombardo says a reunion with Mike Patton on the first Fantomas material since 2005's Suspended Animation could be in the pipeline.
He continues: "Let's just say that Mike and I have been in communication, we've been texting each other, like we always have. We always keep tabs on each other, which is great. I love our friendship and I hope that we do get together, that'd be awesome."
The Philm mainman has written and recorded music with his groove metal band Grip Inc, worked with Faith No More frontman Mike Patton in experimental outfit Fantomas and collaborated with Italian classical musician Lorenzo Arruga to record Vivaldi: The Meeting.
And he says he's always finding new music to inspire him. Read more here.
Chester Bennington Recovering From Serious Injury
(TeamRock Radio) Stone Temple Pilots guitarist Dean DeLeo says Chester Bennington is recovering quickly from the horrific leg injury that forced him to cancel a run of Linkin Park shows last month.
The vocalist is currently recording material with STP after taking over from Scott Weiland, who was dismissed in 2013. Bennington required surgery on his ankle after first trying to stay on the road with the injury.
Now DeLeo tells WAAF: "He's healing pretty quickly. He's just of that mindset and physicality where he wills his body to do that. He hurt himself badly. It was not only a break - the guy tore darn near every ligament in the ankle.
"They had to go in on each side. He has about a five-inch incision on each side. They had to go in and assemble a big bowl of spaghetti." Read more here.
Vinnie Paul Plans To Release A Cookbook
Vinnie Paul Abbott made a name for himself as the drummer of metal legends Pantera and continues with his current band Hellyeah. Now he is preparing to enter a different arena: drumming up fans appetites with his own cookbook.
He revealed his plans to release his long planned cookbook by Christmas during an interview with Vault With Shanda Golden. He said, "I'm going to get it out, I promise, by Christmas this year.
"About two Christmases in a row have kind of gone by. But we have a big tour coming up in Europe right after this [tour], so that way, I'll have a lot of time to myself to finish it up."
He elaborated, "I've already got about 125 recipes in it. It's called 'Drumming Up an Appetite With Vinnie Paul'. How clever is that? It's got a picture of me sitting behind a drum set. I'm holding two turkey legs, which are otherwise known as drum sticks.
"And it's all about cooking and having fun with it. I don't get too specific about it. But I do think a lot of people think cooking is throwing something in the microwave. And it's something that you've really got to be passionate about, just like playing an instrument.
"And if you put your heart and soul into it, and then you feed it to people, and you're [like], 'Oh, man! This is so good.' It makes you feel good. It's just like playing music; [people say] 'G-damn, I love this s-t!'"
Y&T Delay New Album Plans
(Classic Rock) Y&T frontman Dave Meniketti says the band's hectic schedule will push their plans for a new album back to 2016. He said last year that the follow-up to 2010's Facemelter would likely surface in 2015, but that will now not happen.
He tells Iron City Rocks: "We're playing 70 to 80 shows every year, and that gives us a limited amount of time to really sit down and focus on writing and everything.
"But this year we've been talking about making a real effort to just get in the studio and start writing and put songs together. And when we get the time to finalise all this stuff, we're hopeful that we'll have new product out next year." Read more here.
ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons Changing Things Up For Solo Album
(Classic Rock) ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons is working on a solo album inspired by Cuban music and he took advice from Foo Fighters mainman Dave Grohl before deciding to take the project seriously.
And despite his blues background, he describes the side-project as something of a return to his roots. Gibbons tells Rolling Stone: "When I was 13 I got a guitar and my dad, being the consummate entertainer, sent me to New York to study Latin percussion.
"I learned maracas, timbales, clavas, bongos - you name it. And having lived in Mexico a couple of years, I know just enough Spanish to get me in trouble."
He adds: "It's turning out to be such an obtuse, oddball, unexpected left-turn from ZZ Top. But there is something to it." Read more here.
Me Vs Hero Breaking Up But Will Play Farewell Shows
(TeamRock Radio) Me Vs Hero have announced they're to split after playing two farewell shows. The appearances, at London's Barfly on April 23 and Manchester's Sound Control on April 26, bring the band's seven-year career to a close.
The Blackpool outfit say they "just don't have the time or the drive to put enough in." But they add: "Don't be disappointed, angry or upset with the news - we're not!
"We played some amazing shows, travelled to some amazing places, met some amazing people. And now it's just our time. We thank every individual who supported us." Read more here.
Marky Ramone Offers Solution To Battle Smartphones At Concerts
(Classic Rock) Marky Ramone has offered his own solution to the controversial issue of phones being used at concerts. The drummer says his Smartphone Swatter deals with the "a**holes" who ruin the show for others in a spoof public service video.
Ramone explains: "I'm sick and tired of people holding up their smartphones at concerts. I make a swatter by gluing a punk rock seven-inch to a drumstick. Want to smash a smartphone? Use a Ramones record on a stick."
He also suggested buying a copy of his autobiography to use as a weapon. Artists from across the rock and metal world have weighed in on the question of using phones at concerts. Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson called one fan a "wanker" in 2012 after he was seen "texting for the last three songs." Read more and watch the video here.
Jimi Hendrix's Early Recordings Remastered For Reissue
(Classic Rock) Jimi Hendrix's early recordings with Curtis Knight & The Squires is the subject of a remaster release next month. You Can't Use My Name: The RSVO/PPX Sessions is the first in a series to focus on the work Hendrix did before The Animals' Chas Chandler took him to London in 1966 and set him on the road to icon status.
The recordings were the subject of near-constant legal battles during Hendrix's life, after he'd been signed up for $1 and a 1% royalty by PPX boss Ed Chalpin in 1965.
But his estate secured ownership in 2003. As a result, the 14-track compilation is the first fully-official edition of his work with the Squires, featuring recordings made between 1965 and 1967. It includes How Would You Feel and Welcome Home, which gave Hendrix his first recording credits, plus his early compositions Hornet's Nest and Knock Yourself Out [Flying On Instruments].
The title You Can't Use My Name comes from a studio conversation, included on the album ahead of the track. Hendrix, who's already involved in litigation against Chalpin, tells the businessman to keep his name out of marketing material related to the release. Read more here.
Aerosmith Compared Famed Music Festival Smell To A Farm
(Classic Rock) Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton says the unique smell of the Download audience at is one of the most unforgettable things about playing the festival at Donington in the UK.
Steven Tyler and co are poised to launch live movie Aerosmith Rocks Donington 2014 in US cinemas. Shot during their 19-song headline set last year, it features tracks from across the veteran outfit's career. It arrives in the UK in May.
Hamilton says: "Every time we've been there it's been the funkiest, most earthy audience on the tour. Usually the crowd's been there are few days and it's been raining a few days.
"The audience gets a distinct aroma, between the mud and the folks who thought it was too far to the porta-cans. It's great - it smells like being on a farm." Read more here.
Voivod Not Rushing With Next Album
(Prog) Voivod are planning to release their 14th album next year, says drummer Michel 'Away' Langevin. The follow-up to 2013's Target Earth is to appear after the band have completed a series of seven-inch singles.
And the material is likely to follow the form of recent track "We Are Connected". Away tells That Drummer Guy: "Right now we're sort of touring the single.
"We have many split seven-inches coming up this year. One with At The Gates in April, another one with Napalm Death and another one with Corrections House, and so on.
"But eventually we'll write a whole bunch of songs and compile everything into an album. I would say early next year." Read more here.
Periphery Learned the Ropes From Dream Theater
(Prog) Periphery credit their 2012 support tour with Dream Theater as the "single biggest learning experience" they've ever had. The band halted work on their Periphery II album to hook up with John Petrucci and co across Europe in 2012. And guitarist Mark Holcomb reveals without that experience, they wouldn't be the band they are now.
He tells Rolling Stone: "We told ourselves in the process of recording that there would be no booking tours. We only accepted because it was Dream Theater. We have a list of bands, 10 or 15 names long, that no matter what, we will say yes. It was the single biggest learning experience we've ever had as a touring professional act.
"They never sat us down and told us anything. It was just observing - how they conduct themselves with fans, how they conduct themselves with other bands, with crew, with local crew, how they practice every night, how seriously they take their craft, how tough on themselves and their performance every night they are."
And Holcomb says seeing this effort on a daily basis had a profound impact on him and the rest of his bandmates. Read more here.
Mahalia Barnes Streaming New Album With Joe Bonamassa
(The Blues Mahalia Barnes has streamed her album Ooh Yea: The Betty Davis Songbook (featuring Joe Bonamassa) exclusively with The Blues Magazine ahead of its official release.
The daughter of iconic singer Jimmy Barnes teamed up with Joe Bonamassa and producer Kevin Shirley for the 12-track title, which is launched via Mascot Label Group on February 23.
Mahalia says: "I've been a fan of Betty for years - she's wild, free, nasty, raw, funky, intense, powerful and sexy. I love the instrumentation, I love the backing vocals. I've always wanted to make a record that sounds like what she was doing. Making this album was a real joy."
Ooh Yea features Mahalia's band the Soul Mates working through tracks from Davis' self-titled 1973 album, 1974's They Say I'm Different and 1975's Nasty Gal. Check out the stream here.
Nightwish's Nevalainen Is Doing 'Much Better' But Not Ready To Return
(Prog) Nightwish drummer Jukka Nevalainen is doing "much better" but his return to full-time work with the band could still be years off. A battle with chronic insomnia led him to pull out of recording sessions for Nightwish's upcoming new album Endless Forms Most Beautiful last year, with his place taken by Wintersun's Kai Hahto.
According to mainman Tuomas Holopainen, Nevalainen's health is improving, but there is still no definite timescale for his return, nor is there a guarantee he will come back at all.
Holopainen tells Faceculture: "He's doing much better. We are in contact all the time, because he still takes care of the band's business - merchandise, all that. And he's actually still a member of the band. That's what it says in the album booklet: 'Drums by Jukka Nevalainen. Drums on this album performed by Kai Hahto.'
"But he just needs a long breather now. So in two, three years, we'll know about the future." Read more here.
Leprous Announce New Album 'The Congregation'
(Prog) Leprous have confirmed the release of fifth album "The Congregation" on May 25 via InsideOut. The follow-up to 2013's "Coal" will be followed by a European tour in October, featuring three UK dates.
Vocalist Einar Solberg says: "This has without doubt been the most challenging album to write so far, if you count the amount of hours, blood, sweat and tears behind it. It makes me extra-proud to have delivered the master of what I consider the most daring, technical, fresh and mature album we've done.
"The music was mostly written on my computer, so I could use my ears instead of my knowledge as the main writing tool. If you use your usual methods to write every album you'll find yourself stuck in a quagmire of old habits." Read more and see the tour dates here.
CeDell Davis Streaming New Album Online
(The Blues CeDell Davis has streamed upcoming album "Last Man Standing" exclusively with The Blues Magazine. The 88-year-old Mississippi Delta bluesman's fifth title is launched on Monday via Sunyata Records - and it was made despite a stroke rendered him unable to play guitar in 2005.
Davis says in the current edition of The Blues Magazine, on sale now: "We just got in the room and started playing. We worked the songs out right there on the spot. I think it's the best record I ever recorded. It's the record of a lifetime."
The childhood polio victim reflects: "I did have an awful time growing up. But I'm the type of person who's not going to give up. I always tell people, 'I don't plan on dying - I plan on living. Dying will take care of itself.'"
Check out the album stream here.
Black Sabbath's Iommi Animated For History of Metal Series
(hennemusic) Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi is featured in the debut edition of the VH1 animated series, "The Complete History Of Heavy Metal." The series debut has been released in sync with Iommi's 67th birthday on Thursday.
Entitled "Fingers Bloody Fingers", the episode tells the story of how a tragic accident caused Iommi to lose the tops of two of his fingers on his last day of work before becoming a full-time musician - as told by the rocker himself.
The injury forced Iommi to re-evaluate his approach to guitar and led to the invention of the very first series of light gauge guitar strings. The feature was illustrated by noted U.K. artist Paul Blow and animated by VH1 senior designer Kee Koo.
Metallica Release Live Sanitarium Video
(hennemusic) Metallica have released footage of them performing a classic song from "Masters of Puppets" from a corporate gig they played February 9 at Pier 48 in San Francisco for cloud computing company Salesforce.com.
"10 days ago, we played at a surprise party thrown by our friend Marc Benioff for the employees of his little up-and-coming company called Salesforce," says the band. "Check out the #MetOnTour video from the gig featuring footage from the Tuning Room and "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" from the show."
The group played the same event in 2011 when the company's chief executive officer, Marc Benioff, asked his neighbor - Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett - if they would perform.
Metallica are currently in studio working on the follow-up to 2008's "Death Magnetic." The band return to live action May 9 when they headline the inaugural Rock In Rio USA festival in Las Vegas. Watch the video here.
AC/DC Go Behind The Scenes Of Rock Or Bust Photo Shoot
(hennemusic) AC/DC have released behind the scenes video footage from a band photo shoot from last fall. The session produced the first photo of their new lineup without founding member Malcolm Young, who retired last year due to health issues.
The image (above) features singer Brian Johnson, guitarists Angus and Stevie Young, and bassist Cliff Williams…noticeably absent is drummer Phil Rudd.
Rudd missed the photo session and a video shoot just weeks before his November 6 arrest on multiple charges by New Zealand police - including possession of methamphetamine, possession of cannabis and threatening to kill. Watch the video here.
Slipknot's Chris Fehn Says Fans Can't Be Pinned Down
(TeamRock Radio) Slipknot's Chris Fehn says he's loved watching the 'maggots' grow up and that the range of ages at their gigs proves heavy metal is thriving. The percussionist says that since the band broke big around 15 years ago, the maggots - Slipknot's affectionate name for their fans - have kept coming back, and brought new ones with them.
Asked by Roadrunner Records to describe the average maggot, Fehn says: "It's tough these days to pin it down because there's everybody, such a huge variety. It's been 15 years now so kids that were 15 are now 30. Guys that were 30 are 45-years-old now. It's such a huge range and that's really awesome for heavy metal.
"Not everybody that listens to heavy metal is crazy or out of touch, it's actually quite the opposite. These people are gonna run the world one day and it's a whole new world out there." Read more here.
Lacuna Coil's Cristina Scabbia Says Band Covers All Sides Of Life
(TeamRock Radio) Lacuna Coil's Cristina Scabbia says the band will never shy away from exploring the dark side of life in their music. Scabbia backs fellow singer Andrea Ferro's belief that their next album will be heavier thanks to the addition of new drummer Ryan Blake Folden. And she insists their lyrics will reflect whatever is going on in their lives at the time - whether joyous or desperate.
The band's last album, 2014's Broken Crown Halo, is noted for its dark themes, but Scabbia says that doesn't make it a negative album. She tells MetalPR: "Music for us is sort of self-therapy. We push all out feelings, positive and negative in our music. When we wrote the lyrics we were going through illnesses in the family, deaths of loved ones, break ups.
"Although with Broken Crown Hero we went through bad moments, it doesn't mean that it's a negative album. It's more of a way for us to say that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
"Whenever you're experiencing something bad, when there's bullsh*t in your life, whenever you're sad, there's always time to touch the bottom and rise again." Read more here.
The Darkness Preview Next Single 'Barbarian'
(hennemusic) UK rockers The Darkness have issued a short audio preview of their new single, "Barbarian", from their forthcoming album, "Cliffhanger." The follow-up to 2012's "Hot Cakes" is expected in March; the project will feature the debut of drummer Emily Dolan Davies following the band's split with Ed Graham.
"She's a hard hitter," frontman Justin Hawkins tells Classic Rock magazine about Dolan, who has previously played with Bryan Ferry and Tricky. "She's got the chops and the attitude that you need to be The Darkness' drummer. She also makes us feel like dirty old men."
"Ed has had some well-publicized health problems in the past. And for one reason or another, he wasn't capable of doing his job anymore," explains Hawkins. "We're still friends with Ed. But now that we have Emily in the band, the worry is gone."
Davies will make her debut with The Darkness at an intimate secret show March 4 on Ireland's Valentia Island as part of a 10-show run across the country to road test their new material.
Amorphis On The Latest Episode Of Ghosts On The Road Video Series
(Prog) Finnish metal outfit Amorphis are the latest band to feature on FreqsTV's Ghosts On The Road mini-series. In the short film, guitarist Esa Holopainen talks about issues affecting the band on tour including battling insomnia, giving each other space and the importance of keeping the same crew together.
Holopainen says: "Travelling is a necessary evil. If you could one day teleport yourself from one place to another, it would be a dream tour. It's easier these days.
"I remember in the 90s, especially in America, you didn't have any phones - you always called home from telephone boxes. Now we have Skype and you can phone home from wherever you want so it's easier to be in contact with your family." Read more and watch the episode here.
John Mitchell Praises Touchstone Singer's Work On New Album
(Prog) John Mitchell praises Touchstone singer Kim Seviour's work on Please Come Home, the debut release by his solo project Lonely Robot, in a new video blog about the project.
Seviour is one of a number of collaborators on the title, set for launch on February 23 via InsideOut. Steve Hogarth, Jem Godfrey, Nik Kershaw, Heather Findlay and others feature alongside Lonely Robot band members Nick Beggs and Craig Blundell.
Mitchell says in his latest video update: "I've known Kim for about 12 years now. I played at her 18th birthday and we became friends after that.
"We've always discussed working on something together. I thought it would be great to get her on the album. In Touchstone she has a more operatic approach to her singing.
"I think sometimes she has to sing men's vocal lines an octave up, because the guys write for their vocal ranges. So the nice thing about this album is it was more in her range.
"I made sure it was more comfortable for her to sing. It's more of a delicate performance and she does it brilliantly. it's absolutely fantastic."
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