Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


Jimmy Page Preparing For New Music and Live Return
(Gibson) Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page says he's gearing up to release new music and play live. In my dreams it would be with Led Zeppelin, but he's talking about his upcoming solo album.

Talking to the press at the West London launch of the 40th anniversary deluxe reissue for "Physical Graffiti," Page said he was getting ready to hit the stage again.

"How it starts off is, you have to play guitar and get match-fit first," Page told Rolling Stone. "So currently I'm in the process of doing that - but I'm also in the process of doing this (Zeppelin reissue series), too. It'll be closer to the end of the year rather than next month. I'm definitely warming up on the touchlines!

"What I'm doing is something that's going to be quite different," he added. "It wouldn't be anything that hopefully you'd imagine I would do." On the subject of the Zeppelin reissues, Page said "the response has been phenomenal."

"I knew all of the material was really great, but it was really important to set the scene right from the beginning and explain the fact that they were companion discs," he said. "It's been a real fun project to do because I know what's coming - and there's some great surprises."





Paul McCartney, Mike McCready and Lady Gaga 'Secret Project'
(Classic Rock) Paul McCartney is working with Lady Gaga and Pearl Jam's Mike McCready on a "secret project," according to the pop queen. Beatle McCartney teamed up with Rihanna and Kanye West on Rihanna's new single FourFiveSeconds and according to Gaga, he's hard at work on another collaboration.

She posted an image of herself, McCartney and Pearl Jam guitarist McCready along with other musicians in a studio on her Instagram page, along with the caption: "Had a beautiful session with Sir Paul McCartney and friends. Working on one of his many secret projects. Killer musicians, vibe, and lots of laughs."

Gaga also posted a separate image of just herself and Sir Paul, with the caption: "Always a good time with my buddy. I'll never forget when he called me last year to work and I hung up the phone because I thought it was a prank." Read more and see the photos here.




AC/DC Star Phil Rudd's Court Case Delayed
(hennemusic) AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd's next court appearance on multiple charges has been adjourned because of a change in lawyers. Stuff.co.nz reports Paul Mabey has withdrawn as Rudd's counsel and will be replaced by Craig Tuck. Rudd will return to court in April.

The drummer was due to appear in the Tauranga District Court on February 10 after pleading not guilty to charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of cannabis and threatening to kill.

The drummer appeared on AC/DC latest album, "Rock Or Bust", but missed an October video shoot in London in advance of his November 6 arrest by New Zealand police. Read more here.



Rush's Geddy Lee Set For That Metal Show Season Premiere
Rush frontman Geddy Lee will be the featured guest on That Metal Show when the VH1 Classic series kicks off its 14th season on Saturday, February 21st.

The shows cohost Eddie Trunk had this to say, "Back when 'TMS' was first born Geddy & Alex were nice enough to fly to New York and be a guest in our very first season. I've always had a great relationship with the Rush guys and it meant so much to me they were willing to support something I was doing that at that point hardly anyone had seen or heard of.

"Amazingly almost seven years have passed and we're now about to debut our 14th season of 'That Metal Show' and I couldn't be more honored to welcome back Geddy to the set to celebrate 40 plus years of Rush and the return of TMS!"

Geddy will be appearing on the show to promote the upcoming Rush R40 Live 40th Anniversary Tour that will kick off this summer with a run of North American dates.

The season premiere will also feature Dream Theater's John Petrucci debut appearance on the show. The new season will feature 12 episodes and fans can grab tickets for the tapings at the Metropolis Studios in New York City here.




In Flames Add New Leg to North American Tour
In Flames have expanded their North American tour plans. As the band is gearing up to launch a winter leg of the tour later this month, they have just announced a spring leg.

The new leg is scheduled to kick off on April 27th in Ft. Lauderdale, FL at the Culture Room and the leg will feature support from All That Remains and Periphery on a majority of the dates.

But first up, In Flames will be launching the first leg on February 20th at The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, CA and this leg will feature support from All That Remains and Wovenwar.

In Flames Anders Friden had this to say about the trek, "It feels absolutely fantastic to be going back on the road, and to the U.S. We've been working on radio with our new single 'Paralyzed' and it's going to be great to perform that song, along with the rest of our set." See the tour dates here.




Richard Patrick Plans New Filter Album And Memoir
Richard Patrick has announced that Filter will soon be entering the recording studio to begin tracking the band's 7th studio album and he also revealed that he is working on a memoir.

Patrick will once again work with producer/mixer Ben Gross (Short Bus, Title of Record, The Amalgamut) and he revealed that he is also collaborating on the new music with former Filter co-writer Brian Leisgang, and also with guitarist Oumi Kapilia.

The Filter frontman explains the approach to the new music, "I'm headed in a new direction. More stripped down industrial sound. Keeping things moving but a way more 'f*** it' approach. Just like short bus although it won't sound like short bus but it will sound like filter."

Patrick had the following to say about his plans for a memoir, "If people had any idea of what happened to me from my NIN days to now, they'd be shocked. Drugs, betrayal, war, death, crime, music, pain, and drugs."

Fans can also catch the band on the road with the recently reunited Coal Chamber beginning next month for a tour that will be kicking off on March 6th in Tempe, AZ and concluding on April 12th in Dallas, TX. See the tour dates here.



Mastodon Reissuing Albums On Colored Vinyl
(Prog) Mastodon have announced a string of vinyl reissues from their time with Reprise Records. All four albums released by the band since they signed with Reprise in 2006 will be re-released on coloured vinyl, and a limited edition box set and a 12-inch picture disc will also be available.

The first reissue will be 2006′s Blood Mountain, which will be available on a mix of solid yellow and transparent green vinyl on March 3rd. That will be followed on June 2nd with, 2009′s Crack The Skye on baby blue vinyl.

On August 4, 2011's The Hunter will be issued on a mix of solid white and solid red vinyl. Mastodon's current album Once More 'Round the Sun will be reissued on October 5 on a mix of transparent green and solid white vinyl. Read more including the box set info here.




Marillion Set Target For New Album Release
(Classic Rock) Marillion aim to release their 18th album in early 2016, they've announced. The band have lined up a handful of live dates this year including three Marillion Weekends in the Netherlands, UK and Canada in and a headlining slot at the inaugural TeamRock-sponsored Ramblin' Man Fair in Kent in July.

Steve Hogarth and co are currently in rehearsals - but they report the rest of the year will be spent writing and recording material for the follow-up to 2012's Sounds That Can't Be Made.

They say: "In the mornings we come into the studio and jam, then proceed to try and remember songs we might not have played for years - or ever! It's a slow process but it's going well.

"After the conventions we will spend the rest of the year writing and recording the new album which is due for release in early 2016. We are only escaping the studio for the Ramblin' Man Fair in July and Cruise To The Edge in November." Read more here.




Historic Led Zeppelin Shows The Focus Of New Book
(Classic Rock) Led Zeppelin's run of shows at London's Earls Court in 1975 is to be celebrated in an upcoming book. Led Zeppelin - Five Glorious Nights launches in May via Rufus Stone and will chronicle the performances through mono and colour images taken over the course of the May 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25 concerts.

The limited-edition book was complied by Dave Lewis, author of the Led Zep Tight But Loose website and magazine. It will feature images taken by photographers including Barry Plummer, Dick Barnatt, Ian Dickson, Michael Putland, Mick Gold and Gus Stewart and each copy will be individually numbered.

Rufus Stone say about the volume: "Published on the 40th anniversary of the event and as sadly, the bulldozers move in to demolish the Earls Court Exhibition Centre itself". Read more here.




Artists Make Very Little From Streaming Services
(Classic Rock) New figures from Europe show that for every 9.99 euro monthly subscription to streaming services such as Spotify and Deezer, only 68 cents go directly to the artist.

French industry trade body SNEP, whose members include labels Sony Music, Universal Music and Warner Music, conducted a survey with business firm Ernst & Young to determine how cash is distributed from payments to subscription streaming services.

And, according to the figures highlighted by Music Business Worldwide, major labels take €4.56 of payments, with €2.08 going to the digital platform holders, €1 to publishers and songwriters, and 68 cents direct to the artists. The remaining cash goes to the government in the form of tax. Read more here.




Richards/Crane Release New Song With Myles Kennedy
(Classic Rock) Ugly Kid Joe singer Whitfield Crane has reunited with ex-Dropbox guitarist Lee Ricahards for a new project under the name Richards/Crane. The first release from the pair, who previously worked together in Another Animal, is Black & White, a duet with Alter Bridge/Slash singer Myles Kennedy.

The video for Black & White was filmed on the streets of London and backstage at the last year's Download Festival, and features cameos from the likes of Steel Panther, Skindred's Benji Webbe, Phil Anselmo, Dee Snider and Chris Jericho, as well as Kennedy.

The track is taken from the duo's as-yet untitled debut album, which can be pre-ordered now from Pledgemusic. The album also features a collaboration with Indian musician Vishal Vaid, who's previously worked with the likes of Anoushka Shankar, Bill Laswell, Michael Franti and Karsh Kale.




Anthrax's Scott Ian On How Tech Has Changed Music
(Classic Rock) Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian saves all the emails he gets from his heroes - but he'd still prefer the internet had never existed. He's currently at work on the band's next album, which they've been teasing via their social media channels.

Ian tells RocksVerige: "Like everything there's good and bad to it. I think about when I was a kid - if I could have sent a message to Steve Harris, and he'd written me back, even just to say, 'Cheers, thank you!' that would have been the coolest thing in the world.

"I'm still like that when I get an email from Gene Simmons or somebody. I save all those because I think it's cool that I have an email from Gene Simmons."

But he adds: "Kiss could never have done what they did in the 70s and kept their identities hidden now. Look at Ghost - how long did it take before there were pictures of those guys all over the internet? There just isn't that mystique thing about bands any more." Read more here.




Producer Praises Faith No More's Creative New Music
(Classic Rock) Producer Matt Wallace is working with Faith No More for the first time since their 1992 classic Angel Dust - and he says the band's upcoming album features the most creative music they've ever made.

He'd previously manned the desk for all the band's previous output, and he's also worked with Deftones, Bowling For Soup, REM, The Replacements, Mushroomhead and many others.

Wallace says: "FNM are making the most creative music of their career and it's a thrill to be part of the team again. Buy their record and tickets to their show because - well, hell, they're the mighty Faith No More!" Read more here.




Jimi Hendrix Girlfriend Shocked At Biopic Inaccuracies
(Classic Rock) Jimi Hendrix's former girlfriend Kathy Etchingham has offered to produce her medical records and prove the "shocking" inaccuracies in biopic Jimi: All Is By My Side.

She spoke up before the 2014 movie was released, saying that writer and director John Ridley hadn't consulted her, and that scenes that showed Hendrix being violent to her were works of fantasy.

Hendrix biographer Charles R Cross last year condemned the production, saying: "I interviewed 325 people, from family members to friends. I never heard a story that's even close to that."

Now Etchingham tells Rich Davenport: "The whole story is a fabrication. Even the things that did happen have not been produced accurately. John Ridley didn't consult me, so I don't know where he got it from. Apparently Jimi beat my head in with a telephone receiver and then beat me up in the street. They've got me taking an overdose of tablets and being in hospital. None of these things happened.

"I was completely shocked. If somebody beat you up like that, the police would be involved. If you took an overdose a psychiatrist would be involved. With the National Health Service your medical records stay with you for life. I'd be quite happy to produce them - there'd be nothing in there." Read more here.




Horror Classic Halloween Prepared Corey Taylor For Slipknot
(TeamRock Radio) Corey Taylor has recalled how the trailer for horror film Halloween "psychologically prepared" him for being in Slipknot. The frontman saw the trailer for the movie when he was about five-years-old and says the imagery has stayed with him ever since.

Taylor tells Life And Times: "The thing I loved about it was that it didn't need a lot. There was a natural tension there that kind of lent itself to this creepiness because it was a different type of movie.

"At that age I hadn't really been exposed to anything like that. So I remember just being like, 'Who is that dude in the white mask?' I think maybe psychologically, that prepared me for being in Slipknot.

"You can have the craziest monster on the planet with all kinds of gore and fluids flying out of its face, and it's not merely as striking or as frightening as Michael Myers just standing there quietly staring at you. I have just goose bumps thinking about it. It's such a powerful evocative vibe that I think people have been chasing that tail ever since." Read more here.




Testament Making Progress On New Album
(TeamRock Radio) Testament's Alex Skolnick says the band's upcoming 11th album is "more than 50% written." The group's most recent album was 2012's Dark Roots Of Earth and the follow-up will feature bassist Steve DiGiorgio, who returned for a second spell after the band's bitter split with Greg Christian last year.

Guitarist Skolnick tells Metal Sanaz: "Testament takes our time writing music. We can't crank out a record every year. But we're also not going to do a substandard record.

"I think it's going to be good. And honestly, it's more than 50% written. And usually once we get to that next phase, it starts happening faster." Read more and stream the interview here.




Can's Irmin Schmidt To Be Knighted
(Prog) Can founding member Irmin Schmidt is to be given a knighthood by the French Ministry Of Culture. The honour is linked with the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, which recognises significant contributions in arts and literature. The German musician, who lives in France, will receive the prestigious accolade in Berlin on February 10.

According to the Germany embassy, the French government singled out Schmidt for "his entire work and his great connection and effort between the two countries."

He formed the experimental band with Michael Karoli, Holger Czukay and Jaki Liebezeit in 1968 following a trip to New York where he was introduced to the work of underground musicians including Steve Reich, Terry Riley and the Velvet Underground. Read more here.




Download 21st Century Blues Documentary For Free
(The Blues Big Boy Bloater, presenter of The Blues Magazine Show, hosts a documentary entitled 21st Century Blues and it is now being offered as a free download.

In the 50-minute show, Bloater explores the blues scene as it is today through interviews with Joe Bonamassa, Marcus Bonfanti, Joanne Shaw Taylor and others.

Their comments are put in context with thoughts from John Mayall, Jimmy Thomas, Mud Morganfield and more. 21st Century Blues is a reflection of where the genre is, its future potential - and why people keep coming back after more than a century of music.

Download or stream it here.






All That Remains Frontman Slams Jenny McCarthy Over Vaccinations
(Radio.com) Philip Labonte of metal band All That Remains spoke with Radio.com about a variety of topics including the Super Bowl and he also shared his perspective on the current vaccinations debate.

Like many other advocates of vaccination he blames the anti-vaccination movement, at least in part, on celebrity Jenny McCarthy. "It's her fault! She's the one who started the whole 'You're gonna get autism' thing. So, nice f***in' job, Jenny! But, you know, it's science. It's a real thing. It's like this: polio isn't a problem anymore. You know why? Because of the polio vaccine!"

He continues, "It seems to me that Rand Paul is saying that vaccinations are good things, generally, people should get vaccinated, but it shouldn't be mandatory. As much as I don't think that the government should be in the business of saying 'You have to do this,' when I have kids, I'm gonna vaccinate them.

"I heard someone on the news this morning suggest a fairly realistic solution: if you don't want to vaccinate your kids, they can't go to public school. I would take that a step further, and say if your kids aren't going to public school, that should be reflected in your taxes. I like the idea that if you want your kids to go to public school, you have to vaccinate them. That, to me, seems fair." Read more here.




Motley Crue Jeopardy Clue Clip Goes Viral
(Radio.com) You've heard certainly heard Motley Crue sing "Girls Girls Girls." But have you heard the Alex Trebek version? During a Feb. 2 episode of Jeopardy!, one of the contestants (Colin) chose a high-value question in the "Hard Rockers" category, which led Trebek (who hosts the show) to give an impromptu dramatic reading of the song's saucy lyrics, to see if Colin could identify them.

"Girls, girls, girls, long legs and burgundy lips," the normally reserved Trebek read out loud. "Girls, girls, girls, dancin' down on the Sunset Strip. Girls, girls, girls."

The slight inflections and dramatic emphasis he gave to the words gave him away--Trebek was having fun with this. And the internet is reacting. A video clip of the reading is making the rounds, and it's even earned the attention of Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx, who called it "amazing." Watch the clip






Led Zeppelin Release Video For Physical Graffiti Reissue
(hennemusic) Led Zeppelin have released a new online video preview of the Super Deluxe Edition of the upcoming expanded reissue of their 1975 release, "Physical Graffiti."

Due February 23 (Feb. 24 in North America), the 3-cd set will include a bonus disc of material featuring alternate mixes of songs featured on the group's sixth studio album.

The band recently premiered an unreleased version of the track, "Houses Of The Holy",from the project, which features Led Zeppelin standards "Kashmir", "Trampled Under Foot" and "The Rover."

The original release hit No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 on its way to selling more than 8 million copies in the States alone, while topping the band's native UK album charts and reaching double platinum for sales of 600,00.





Anthrax Update Fans On New Album Progress
(hennemusic) Anthrax have issued a video update from the studio as they work on their 11th album. The band are sharing footage of sessions recording rhythm tracks; it's the latest clip following video released in December at the start of the project.

Anthrax have once again teamed with producer Jay Ruston for the follow-up to 2011's "Worship Music", which is expected to be released this year. Anthrax are up for a Grammy Award this Sunday in the Best Metal Performance category.

The group's version of Black Sabbath's "Neon Knights" and Tenacious D's remake of Dio's "The Last In Line" - both from the 2014 Ronnie James Dio tribute album "This Is Your Life" - go head-to-head alongside tracks by Motorhead ("Heartbeaker" from "Aftershock"), Slipknot ("The Negative One" from ".5: The Gray Chapter") and Mastodon ("High Road" from "Once More 'Round the Sun").




Purple Release DMT Video
(Classic Rock) Fiery Texan trio Purple, whose debut album 409 was described in Classic Rock as a "Riotous, gleeful punk rock noise", have released a video for DMT. It's the second video the band have shot for the song.

"I held so much anger in me for so many years until I finally graduated from high school, started partying a lot more and raging on the music," says Hanna. "And that is what Purple is all about. You don't know how many times I've heard 'Hey, you drum pretty good…for a girl'.

"It's that phrase: 'for a girl'. It doesn't make me mad though; it's funny. It just makes me want to be more bad-ass than the boys. Anger can be extremely inspiring that way."




Moon Duo Streaming New Song 'Slow Down Low'
(Prog) Moon Duo have released a stream of their track Slow Down Low from upcoming third album Shadow Of The Sun. The follow-up to 2012's Circles will be released on March 2 via Sacred Bones.

Founders Ripley Johnson and Sanae Yamada are joined by drummer John Jeffrey, who first appeared on last year's live album. They say Shadow Of The Sun was written during "a rare and uneasy rest period, devoid of the constant adrenaline of performing live and the stimulation of traveling through endless moving landscapes."

But the situation offered them an opportunity for reflection, which served them well when they decided to record in "a dark Portland basement." Check out the song here.



Marilyn Manson Made Borland Miss Limp Bizkit
(TeamRock Radio) Wes Borland realized he missed being in Limp Bizkit when he realised his dream of working with Marilyn Manson. And even though he doesn't listen to any other act in the nu metal genre, he's proud of what his own band have achieved.

The guitarist has left the band twice - first in 2001 then again in 2006 - but returned in 2009 after spending eight months in Manson's band. Borland tells Metal Insider: "When I was in high school I was a big Marilyn Manson fan. And when I was out of Bizkit I got to be the guitar player in Marilyn Manson. That was the last thing I did before I went back to Limp Bizkit.

"I went, 'Oh - I'm standing in a yard where I thought the grass was greener, a place I thought I'd like more, and I don't.' That was a big realisation, to go, 'This is what I've wanted to do since a handful of years after I started playing. This is the band I wanted to be like or be in.' And it wasn't what I thought it was, working with Manson." Read more here.



Neil Young Duets Classic Song With Jimmy Fallon
(hennemusic) Neil Young joined host Jimmy Fallon for a duet of his 1972 classic, "Old Man", on NBC-TV's The Tonight Show on Tuesday where he also performed another song.

Dressed in vintage Young attire, Fallon began the tune in a lone spotlight before the real Neil jumped in to exchange verses and looks during the performance.

Young reappeared later in the episode for an interview to promote his new high quality audio music player, PONO. The guitarist closed the show playing "Who's Gonna Stand Up?" - from his latest album, "Storytone" - with The Roots and an expanded band that included a horn section and backup singers.





Singled Out: Seek Irony's Devil In Me
Today Kfir Gov from the electro-modern rock band Seek Irony tells us about the song "Devil In Me" which is their first single from their debut album "Tech N' Roll". Here is the story:

"Devil in Me" is a song about addictions - whether it is drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex or a love infatuation - you name it. Every person and what the "Devil in Me" symbolizes for him/her. I decided to write it up kinda like a relationship between a man and a woman to give the addiction a life of its own in the song.

I felt it had a cooler storyline by turning the addiction into a living personality describing the addiction almost like a person with schizophrenic behaviour that has to go through a daily struggle of arguments and battles with that "Devil" inside, in order not to fall back into the addiction again and again.

I remember "Devil in Me" coming together very naturally, almost "too" naturally because usually what happens when I write songs is I come with a general idea for a melody and only then dive into writing the actual lyrics for it thus giving the song its soul. In Devil in Me's case, I remember us in the studio, writing the Electronica Drum beat plus the main guitar riff for the verse and chorus and after listening to it a few times, as we are recording it, that chorus melody just popped up in my head WITH the words "you are, you are, you are the devil in me, taking over" and right at the moment, that pretty much defined what the song was about for me. So in this Devil in Me's case, I guess it already had a soul of its own.