Thursday, May 28, 2015

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day in Rock News!

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day in Rock News!: Today's Day in Rock U2 Tour Manager Dennis Sheehan Found Dead (Radio.com) Dennis Sheehan, the longtime tour manager of U2, ha...

Today's Day in Rock News!




Today's Day in Rock


U2 Tour Manager Dennis Sheehan Found Dead
(Radio.com) Dennis Sheehan, the longtime tour manager of U2, has died. Sheehan was found unconscious in his room at the Sunset Marquis Hotel in Los Angeles on Wednesday morning, just as his band had begun to kick off multiple shows in the area--including one at the Roxy in Los Angeles tonight, May 28.

The band was coming off the first of five shows at the Forum last night, May 26. According to paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene after being called there for reported cardiac arrest around 5:30 a.m. PT.

Sheehan had been the band's manager for over 30 years, his first tour with the band coming in 1982. He had also worked with Led Zeppelin. He grew up in Ireland and took his first such job at just 19 years old.

U2 confirmed the news with a statement on their website. Read it here.




Sammy Hagar Fires Back At Van Halen's David Lee Roth
(hennemusic) Sammy Hagar has responded to recent comments by David Lee Roth over credibility issues regarding material from the Van Hagar years as Van Halen prepare for their summer tour of North America.

"The boys are out on tour - happily doing well, I hope," Hagar said during his new weekly radio countdown show, "but they're not playing any Van Hagar songs. My buddy Diamond said it was something about a quality issue.

"I laughed. I'm cracking up. You know, sometimes the guy says the wackiest things. But there's a lot of truth in that. A quality issue - you think about that. Think about them with Diamond, singing this next song, it would definitely be a quality issue, OK? [Chuckles.] It would definitely be a quality issue."

Hagar then played a live version of Van Halen's 1992 hit, "Right Now", as performed by his latest supergroup The Circle. Following Van Halen's appearance at the recent 2015 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, Roth was asked if the group would be performing any Hagar-era material, to which he replied, "Well, there's a credibility issue there. Good, bad or in the middle, you know Roth means it; the other guy doesn't. And that's why it sold half as well. Literally, Midas Bible half. Never did better than half.

"And why would you bring that into the proceedings? This hamburger don't need no helper. Ain't no rehearsing pants in my closet." Read more here.




B.B. King Estate Lawyer Calls Poisoning Allegations 'Baseless'
(Radio.com) Death is never easy to rationalize, but that's been even more so the case than usual for B.B. King's daughters Karen Williams and Patty King. Earlier this week, the sisters alleged that their father had been poisoned by two of his close confidants, his former business manager LaVerne Toney and assistant Myron Johnson. Their beliefs, however, aren't shared by King's estate lawyer Brent Bryson.

According to Bryson, those claims are "baseless and unfounded and are unsupported in reality." The attorney defended Toney in a press statement: "Unfortunately even musical icons die. Ms. Toney did everything she could to carry out the wishes of Mr. King while he was alive, and continues to carry out Mr. King's wishes after his death. I hope over these next few days we can focus on Mr. King's musical gifts to the world and not fictional statements made by those seeking attention at the expense of Mr. King."

That doesn't change the fact though that Nevada homicide detectives are looking into the case and have conducted an autopsy. Still, Toney, who's serving as the appointed executor of King's estate, has provided three doctors' statements stating that King "was monitored on a 24-hour basis by Certified Nursing Assistants" and that "no action [was] taken to hasten the demise of Mr. King," who died "peacefully in his sleep."

Bryson's statement in full here.




Jack White Camp Slam Retiring From Music Reports
(Radio.com) Jack White has once again taken the internet by storm with something that isn't exactly true. Now his label, Third Man Records is trying to put a stop to it with a lengthy Facebook post titled "JACK WHITE CLICK BAIT BINGO EXHAUSTION," which proves the internet doesn't know Jack about Jack.

After White did a Q&A on the label's fan forum that covered topics ranging from touring to his relationship with Meg White, some things got lost in translation. Now, Third Man is setting all the "friends, family, journalists, naysayers, believers, tweeter & 'grammers" straight. And they're certainly not happy about it: "fear not because you are in the age of instantaneous negative internet gratification."

In the post, Third Man shoots off a list of headlines that hit websites after his Q&A including that he is retiring, will never play festivals again and that Meg White isn't taking his calls.

So, no, White is not retiring and that comment he made about 'I don't belong here" wasn't about earth, he just meant the fan forum. He is taking a break from touring, but not forever. He is not quitting music, but is getting ready to head into the studio with Dead Weather and is "involved in several projects we're not even gonna tell you about right now cause we don't want to ruin the surprise."

As for Meg, Third Man says, she doesn't have to answer her phone and Jack isn't complaining about it "nor is it depressing" him in anyway. "The White Stripes is over and it's been said a hundred times, and maybe that's just the quickest way for him to answer that question he gets asked a dozen times a day. Jack loves Meg, and she's an incredible drummer - nobody can do what she does and did with the White Stripes- but those days are unfortunately gone. Let's move on, Jack and Meg have. And in the meantime we're still selling their records (WINK!)"

Third Man also has a little advice for all the bloggers out there: "No offense to any journalists that are 'just doing their job' in this current 1 hour news cycle environment, pull quote, tabloid atmosphere but this is what happens when you isolate aspects of a conversation between a musician and his fans in a private forum and put it out into the blogosphere in a sensational way. It completely changes the context and intent of those statements, and the conversation."

Adding, "Anyway, let's move on. We need to get back to inventing a turntable that runs purely on tweet retractions and apologies."

Read the full Facebook post from White's label here.




Asking Alexandria Cancel First Shows With New Singer
(TeamRock Radio) Asking Alexandria have cancelled their first shows with new frontman Denis Shaforostov - just hours after naming him as Danny Worsnop's replacement.

The metal outfit announced Wednesday morning that the former Make Me Famous singer was their new vocalist, replacing Worsnop who quit in January to focus on We Are Harlot.

But they've since revealed Shaforostov has been unable to secure a visa in time for the gigs at Manchester Academy on May 31 (Sunday) and London Underworld on June 1 (Monday).

Guitarist Ben Bruce says: "It is with a heavy heart and a great deal of frustration that I must regrettably inform you that our two UK shows have been cancelled due to visa problems.

"We have spent the last few days doing everything we possibly can to make sure that these shows wouldn't be cancelled but at the end of the day the US government took far longer than anyone could have predicted giving Denis his visa which has left us no time to finish his visa process to enter the UK." Read more here.




Slayer's Kerry King Explains Split With Rick Rubin
(Classic Rock) Slayer's split with producer Rick Rubin came after his label offered an "insulting" deal for their 11th album, says Kerry King. Repentless, due via Nuclear Blast on September 11, is their first without Rubin since 1985's Hell Awaits.

And Tom Araya says that, despite the perception that the band made the split, it was the producer who cut the connection with his label American Records.

Slayer previously said the switch took place because the band wanted to foster a more direct connection with fans. But King tells The Metal Hammer Magazine Show's Alexander Milas: "Solidarity is far stronger than jumping ship and going somewhere else. I thought we'd still be on American - but when we got the offer from American, I was insulted.

"That to me just said, 'Good luck, you're not gonna have good luck here anymore.' So we found our new friends at Nuclear Blast." Repentless was helmed by Terry Date, who's previously worked with Slipknot, Pantera and Deftones, among others. King says: "I think this is gonna be a nice little progression going forward. However many records we do in the future, I hope Terry's free." Read more here.




Thom Yorke Composes Soundtrack That Runs For 432 Hours
(Prog) Radiohead mainman Thom Yorke has composed a soundtrack that runs for 18 days - without repeating. He's written Subterranea for artist Stanley Donwood to accompany his exhibition titled The Panic Office which runs until June 6 in Sydney, Australia.

The pair have been friends since their university days, and Donwood has designed all Radiohead's album covers and posters since their full-length debut The Bends in 1994.

Radio station Triple J describe the music as "an eerie mix of ambient textures, experimental sounds, and field recordings," adding: "Subterranea is closest in tone and style to the more ambient moments of Tomorrow's Modern Boxes or the music for Radiohead's Polyfauna app than anything else in the band's catalogue." Read more here.




Metallica's Master Of Puppets Gets St. Anger Makeover
(TeamRock Radio) Metallica's "St Anger" featured one of the most talked about and understandably disliked snare sounds of all time, so how would it sound slotted into one of heavy metal's greatest songs?

You don't have to guess as YouTuber data_dreams 2000 (we're guessing the 2000th member of the data_dreams family) has replaced every snare hit on Metallica's Master Of Puppets with the snare sound on St Anger.

The results are interesting to say the least, but we'll let you decide on whether or not it's an improvement... Check out the stream of "Master of Puppets" (St. Anger version) here.




Twenty One Pilots Score No. 1 Hit With New Album Blurryface
(TeamRock Radio) Twenty One Pilots have scored their first-ever number 1 hit in the US. Their fourth album Blurryface topped the Billboard 200 chart this week, selling a total of 146,000 during its first seven days on sale.

The group's previous outing Vessel reached number 58 on the chart, although the chart firm says its sales have remained consistent since its 2013 launch.

Ohio duo Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun say: "We created Blurryface for you - 14 songs that you accepted and embraced. This is your album. Thank you for putting it on top. Stay strong. Live on. Pass on these songs." Read more here.





Paul McCartney Turned Down Role On 'Friends'
(Radio.com) Paul McCartney was almost there for you. Unfortunately, he did not get by with a little help from his Friends. In a new interview with the Huffington Post, Leslie Litt, the casting director for the sitcom Friends, admitted that they tried to get McCartney to appear on the show during the season 4 two-part finale in 1998.

If you recall, that was the finale where Ross marries Brit Emily Waltham. The show wanted McCartney to play Ross' father-in-law who spends his time threatening the groom with lines like "You want a piece of me, sir?" and "I could kill you with my thumb, you know." But, could you blame him really? Ross does go on to say the wrong name at the altar.

Litt explained that she tried to convince McCartney to play the role by giving the details to his manager. "One day, someone in the office brought me a faxed letter written to me by Paul himself!" Litt said, but unfortunately it was a letter to politely decline. Read more here.




Motley Crue Ask Fans To Vote For Cities On Farewell Tour Leg
(hennemusic) Motley Crue have launched a fan vote to decide which cities they will play on their upcoming farewell European tour. While no official announcement has been made about the timing of a European leg, the band are offering fans the opportunity to have their say as the group winds down its 34-year career this year.

Votes can be cast daily at demand.motley.com and by using the hashtag #demandthecrue across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and fans can track the progress through an interactive heatmap on the website.

Motley Crue have just completed a tour of Australia and New Zealand and will perform at three European festivals in June: the Sweden Rock Festival, Austria's Nova Rock and UK's Download.

A North American summer run starts July 22 in Eugene, OR, and a recently-announced final leg kicks off October 5 in Hidalgo, TX. Read more here.





Blink-182 Talk Friendly Divorce From Tom Delonge
(Radio.com) The drama surrounding Blink-182 and their replacement of Tom DeLonge with Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba for a few live appearances quieted down once those shows concluded, as the band had no immediate necessity to continue on with or without DeLonge.

But, the next chapter in Blink-182 seems to be beginning, with a new Rolling Stone story highlighting a recent NME interview with Blink leader Mark Hoppus, in which he revealed that "we are right now going through what so far has been a friendly divorce with our former guitarist. Hopefully things clear up and it doesn't get all manager-y and lawyer-y and all that and we can move forward."

As for what "moving forward" means, replacement guitarist Skiba has been quoted to saying that the possibility of him recording an album with Blink remains open. Read more here.




Slipknot Lead Aftershock Festival Lineup
(Classic Rock) The Aftershock Festival is returning for its fourth year this October and it's packing one helluva line-up! Taking place over two days at Gibson Ranch near Sacramento, California, the weekend extravaganza is topped by Slipknot, Faith No More, Deftones, Shinedown, Marilyn Manson and Jane's Addiction!

Speaking about the headline opportunity, Corey Taylor says "We are really looking forward to playing Aftershock in Sacramento! Can't wait to see everyone, from Manson to Clutch. Sacramento won't know what hit it when me and my friends are through."

Elsewhere on the bill you've got the likes of Bring Me The Horizon, Eagles Of Death Metal, Beartooth, Helmet, Glassjaw and more. You can see the full line-up here.




Vinnie Paul Reveals Hellyeah's New Album Plans
(Classic Rock) Hellyeah will enter the studio to begin work on the follow-up to last year's Blood For Blood early next year, according to drummer Vinnie Paul. The band, who parted ways with Bob 'Zilla' Kakaha and Greg Tribbett last year, are currently on tour across Europe which includes an appearance at next month's Download.

They'll then embark on a run of shows across the world which will take them into 2016. And once they come off the road, they'll sit down and plan their fifth album, according to Paul.

He tells NECR: "As soon as we get back we do Mayhem all summer with Slayer and the mighty King Diamond, which is going to be an absolutely amazing tour.

"We go to Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Indonesia, and then we come back and do another run here early next year. Then we start working on a new record."

Despite their punishing schedule, Paul says they have no plans to stop. "We've worked very hard from day one," he says. "We haven't slowed down, we haven't stopped, and we don't intend on it.

"We're not 25 years old any more so we don't have any time to waste. We really enjoy what we're doing, and luckily, all of us are in great health right now, happy and loving what we're doing. And the stage is what we live for." Check out the full interview here.




Beatles Considered Recording At Stax Studios
(Classic Rock) A previously unseen letter handwritten by Beatle George Harrison in 1966 has sold for $20,000. The note, posted on May 7 to DJ Paul Drew, reveals that the band had considered recording at Stax Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, with producer Jim Stewart. It would have been the only time they'd have recorded without George Martin.

Harrison wrote in the letter: "We would all like it a lot, but too many people get insane with money ideas at the mention of the word 'Beatles' and so it fell through."

He said of Revolver: "The album we are making now should be out around October. But I hear Capitol will make an intermediate album with unused tracks from Rubber Soul, a few old singles and about two or three of the new tracks we have just cut." Read more here.




Backyard Babies Announce Long Awaited New Album
(Classic Rock) Swedish icons Backyard Babies have confirmed their long-awaited seventh album, Four By Four, will be released on August 28. They've launched a stream of lead track Th1rt3en Or Nothing.

Nicke Borg, Dregen, Johan Blomqvist and Peder Carlsson are back after what was expected to be a brief hiatus began in 2009 and only recently finished. Their last studio album was 2008's self-titled work, followed in 2009 with 20th anniversary compilation Them XX.

Frontman Borg says: "The break has developed us individually as songwriters and musicians, and we've come up with what we feel is our strongest material to date.

"For the first time we've had the chance to look back on our catalogue, and get a firm grip on why our audience - and ourselves, for that matter - loves Backyard Babies so f***ing much.

"It's been a mixture of personal development and finding our way back to the band's essence." Read more here.




Whitesnake Hit The Charts With Deep Purple Tribute Album
(hennemusic) Whitesnake's tribute to frontman David Coverdale's time in Deep Purple has debuted on the US charts. "The Purple Album" opens at No. 6 on the Top Current Hard Music Albums, No. 15 on Top Current Rock Albums, No. 43 on Top Current Albums and No. 84 on the Billboard Top 200 Charts.

The project has charted in several other countries, including No. 18 in the United Kingdom, No. 9 in Finland, No. 17 in the Czech Republic, No. 11 in Switzerland, No. 34 in Norway, No. 18 in Sweden (including No. 1 on the Hard Rock Charts in Sweden), No. 13 in Germany, No. 24 in the Netherlands and No. 8 in Japan.

"The Snakes & I are thrilled with the incredibly positive response to The Purple Album," says Coverdale. "Our sincere thanks to ALL for the amazing support we're receiving for the album & The Purple Tour!!"

The group's 12th album sees Coverdale re-recording classic songs from the Deep Purple Mark 3 and Mark 4 records he appeared on: "Burn" (1974), "Stormbringer" (1974) and "Come Taste The Band" (1975). Read more here.




Pop Evil Reveal New Album Release Plans
(TeamRock Radio) Pop Evil will release their fourth album titled Up on August 21, they've announced. The record will be issued via eOne Music and was recorded with producer Adam Kasper who's previously worked with Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters and Soundgarden.

The Michigan-based band have also announced they'll release the track Footsteps on June 1 In the latest behind-the-scenes clip from the making of the album, guitarist Dave Grahs reports how satisfying it is when he hears how their music affects people.

He says: "We do hear some of the most moving things about how the music has moved and touched certain people in their lives. I hear stories from people like we've saved their lives.

"They've contemplated suicide and say, 'Hey man, you talked me out of that.' To be part of that is huge." Read more and check out a series of making of videos here.




We Came As Romans Set Release Of New Album
(TeamRock Radio) We Came As Romans have confirmed their fourth album is to be self-titled, and it's released on July 24 via Spinefarm Records. The 10-track follow-up to 2013's Tracing Back Roots is headed up with the launch of a single entitled The World I Used To Know.

Frontman Dave Stevens describes writing sessions with producer David Bendeth as "very intense," adding: "If a song wasn't great, it was rewritten until it was - and if it still wasn't great, it was cut.

"We wrote close to 40 songs for this record and only 10 made the album. Beyond becoming better writers and musicians, it made us stronger as a band and as a team." Read more including the tracklisting here.





AC/DC Brian Johnson To Appear On Jim Breuer's New Album
(hennemusic) AC/DC singer Brian Johnson will guest on comedian Jim Breuer's upcoming rock album. The SiriusXM host and diehard metal fan revealed the news during an interview on the Opie Radio show, where he raved about Johnson's performance.

"He comes in the studio," begins Breuer, "Dude, let me tell you something. Why this guy is a real…probably the only rock star that does this. He comes in there and goes, 'Ah, I'm ready to go.' And we go, 'Well, we're ready for you whenever you're ready. We've got this studio.' So he goes, 'F***! I ain't going in there. I wanna do it right here in the f***ing board room. That's where I record. And I don't want no headphones; that's f***ing cheatin'. I wanna stand here with a mic like I'm on stage.'

"And he recorded in the board room with no headphones - just standing there. I mean, he was sweatin', he was so into it." Known for his bang-on imitations of metal legends, Breuer described his efforts to work with producer and current Volbeat guitarist Rob Caggiano to set the song up for his AC/DC hero.

"Before he came in, I laid the vocals down to kind of give him an idea to sing along to it," explains the comedian. "That's what the producer does for me. I don't know my voice. I can imitate people. I can do Ozzy or I can do James Hetfield, or whoever, but I don't know what my real voice sounds like. So I didn't know what I was gonna sound like.

"So what the producer would do is, like, 'Breuer, you need to hit this note…' So he would go in and go, 'Sing it it the way…' and then I'd listen and copy. So that's what we did for Brian.

"And he comes in, and he's listening, and at one point it was me, him, the producer and one other guy, and we're listening, and none of us knew who was doing the lead vocal. I went, 'No, that's… Wait. That's Brian.' And Brian's, like, 'No, that's not me. That's Jimmy.' And I'm, like, 'No, Brian. That's definitely you.' And he was, like, 'F*** no. I know my f***ing voice. That's f***ing you, Jim.' And then the producer's, like, 'I think it's… no, it's you, Brian… No. F***! Maybe it is Jim.' We had no clue who it was. We had no clue." Stream the interview here.



Steven Tyler Explains Musical Direction Of Solo Album
(Radio.com) Steven Tyler's forthcoming country album is already one of the most talked-about country music releases of 2015, and now, two weeks after he released his debut country single "Love Is Your Name," the Aerosmith frontman spoke with Minneapolis' Buz'n 102.9 (a CBS Radio station) about what to expect from his upcoming country release.

"I can't hide my voice, everybody knows that," he told the station. "…I want my harmonies to be heard good and loud and vocal to be out a couple DB more.

"I've certainly got a dark side like Johnny Cash's last album, Mumford & Sons where it sounds like love and fun. I've got a band here with Marti Fredriksen called Loving Mary and three girls in the band, background harmonies loud." Read more here.




Paul Stanley Of KISS Launching Royals & Rebels
(Classic Rock) Kiss frontman Paul Stanley is to launch a 'lifestyle brand' which will sell clothing, booze, cookware and home decor. Paul Stanley: Royals & Rebels will be officially unveiled at the Licensing Expo in Las Vegas next month, with the items expected to be available for sale in the autumn of 2016. Stanley has teamed up with marketing company Epic Rights for the venture.

Stanley says: "I am excited to watch Epic Rights' great team of branding professionals seek out and find opportunities and outlets that will reflect a lifestyle and point of view that I am passionate about and do it imaginatively and creatively in the years to come."

He adds that the items won't be aimed exclusively at Kiss fans, telling WWD: "If that were the point, I wouldn't even bother doing it. What am I going to do? Make jackets with bat wings? Am I going to include a make-up kit? Kiss is a fragment of who I am and what I chose to create." Read more here.




Halestorm To Play The Wild Life Album In Full At Upcoming Shows
(Classic Rock) Halestorm will play their latest album Into The Wild Life in full at two UK gigs later this year, the band have announced. The US rockers will play Liverpool's O2 Academy on August 17 and London's Koko on August 18 - and they're planning on having a wild time over the two nights.

Frontwoman Lzzy Hale says: "We've decided to embark on something we've never done before. We are doing A Wild Evening With Halestorm - that means no openers, just us all night long.

"For two nights we will be performing our new album Into The Wild Life, live, in order and in its entirety for your viewing and listening pleasure. Then we will do yet another set with all your favorite Halestorm songs, and we've even decided to throw in some surprise 'deep tracks'" Read more here.




Robert Plant Reveals Little Feat Singer's Influence
(Classic Rock) Robert Plant has revealed listening to American songwriter and Little Feat singer Lowell George in the 60s helped develop his solo sound. Speaking with Bob Harris on the radio icon's upcoming series of previously unheard interviews titled Legends Vault, the former Led Zep man says seeing George on the BBC's Old Grey Whistle Test had a lasting impression.

Plant says: "I was really moved by Lowell George's approach, his vocal performances and stuff which was great. I was such a fan of American music - I'm still searching.

"Although I wouldn't have gone into that zone myself as a singer - I'm not a blue-eyed soul singer, I was just a kind of blues singer of the late 60s, I've been able to develop my style from then on. But I think Lowell George's vocal work was tremendous." Read more here.




Knifeworld Changing Things Up With Third Album
(Prog) Kavus Torabi says Knifeworld's third album will move on from the dark theme of last year's The Unravelling - and concentrate more on the characters within the eight-piece band.

Debut release Buried Alone: Tales Of Crushing Defeat was almost entirely a solo project, while the follow-up was based on the frontman's relationship with Tim Smith of Cardiacs, who suffered a heart attack and series of strokes in 2008.

Torabi tells Echoes And Dust: "I don't want to go through that again. The second album was trying, but we got it out there. This one's going to be about us."

He adds: "I write to the strength of the characters and everyone is moving in the same direction. The first album was done on my own, by and large - now, everybody gets it."

That includes dedication to the cause despite the challenges of balancing the books with such a large lineup. "We're a balanced eight-piece. Any band bigger than five is not economical," he accepts. Read more here.




Mike Portnoy's Son Explains Father's Influence On Next To None
(Prog) Next To None drummer Max Portnoy says recording the band's debut album came naturally to him, thanks to the influence of his father Mike. The teenage prog outfit issue A Light In The Dark via InsideOut on June 29. It's produced by former Dream Theater sticksman Mike Portnoy, who previously said he was "blown away" by the musicianship on display.

Now his 15-year-old son Max tells Metaholic Magazine: "It all kind of just came naturally for me. Growing up with dad, and always being with him when he was recording with his bands and listening to the demos, it showed me what to do in those sorts of scenarios."

Max is joined by frontman Thomas Cuce, 16, guitarist Ryland Holland, 16, and bassist Kris Rank, 15. On the album's concept and influences, Max says: "It's mix between prog and metal, and basically any genre that interests us. We've changed a lot.

"Thomas mostly came up with the concept while he was writing the lyrics. Most of the lyrics go together for those songs, but we also have some hints musically in each song that put them together." Read more and watch the full interview clip here.




Sabaton Star Reveals New Album Plans
(TeamRock Radio) Sabaton expect their next album to be released in the summer of 2016, according to bassist Par Sundstrom. The band are still touring in support of 2014's Heroes, but already have a number of ideas jotted down for the follow-up.

Sundstrom tells FeMetal TV: "The next album's gonna come out at the end of next summer, if everything goes well. We have topics for it, we have plans for it, but we can't tell yet, because it's still a secret. And also, we don't wanna tell things which might change. Because until it's recorded, you never know if it's gonna change.

"We have some good topics. We haven't really written any songs yet. We've got ideas for some songs, some good ideas. Because we are touring so much, and it's really complicated to write music on tour. And so, we're gonna start in the autumn writing songs." Read more and watch the interview here.




Inside Track: Faith No More's Sol Invictus and Superhero
Faith No More have made an epic return with their new album "Sol Invictus" which just debut at no. 1 Billboard's Hard Music and no. 6 on Billboard Top Albums charts. Matt Wallace, who worked on the album, gives us the inside track for the single "Superhero". Here is Matt:

Hey. Matt Wallace here giving you the inside scoop about Faith No More's song "Superhero" which is the second single from their brand spanking new album Sol Invictus.

I'd been in contact with Bill Gould for the better part of last year in hopes that I'd be able to participate in their new album in some way. I'd offered (about a thousand times) to head on up to San Francisco and help them with the recording process, be a cheerleader, assistant… anything. However, he insisted that they were doing it on their own. So, about six months ago Bill came to me with the recordings in progress as he wanted to make sure that the sonic quality was of good quality. He copied the entire album over to my computer and we spent the better part of a day listening to all of the tracks (without vocals, as they weren't completed yet) and I was beyond thrilled to hear the band sounding confident and at the top of their game. They sounded confident, relaxed, focused and, as always, ready to go in any musical direction that their guts told them to go. After Bill left I was looking forward to pulling up the tracks and enjoying making my own mixes of their unfinished music so that I could listen to it. But, as fate would have it, Bill called me 30 minutes later and asked me to erase all of the new FNM music off my computer's hard drive. Let me tell you, nothing was more difficult to do than to erase music that I'd waited a long, long time to listen to. I was seriously looking forward to getting into every nook and cranny of what they'd created but I had to, reluctantly, erase it all from my computer. It was difficult to do but it was the right thing to do.

Fast forward six months and Bill is in my studio with me and we're mixing "Superhero". He'd sent it to me a few days prior and I'd spent the better part of two days mixing it and was very excited to see what he had to say about my mix. Well, Bill didn't like my mix. I'd gone in a different direction than what he wanted and, at that moment, I thought that I'd lost the job. So, I asked him to give me a few hours and I undid my mix and started from scratch and quickly (and somewhat stressfully) pulled together a mix that was more in keeping with what Bill wanted. Thankfully, it was much closer to what he'd intended and, together, we finished the first mix. After getting many positive comments from the rest of FNM we made the changes to the mix, it was approved, and we completed our first mix together!

Fortunately for me, Bill and FNM then hired me to do a second song and, after that went well, they invited me to do a third song and so on and so on until, voila!, I ended up co-mixing the entire album with Bill. It was an amazing experience to be allowed to participate in working together on their first album in about 18 years and, it was really lovely being reunited with the band as I'd been their friend, engineer, producer and mixer over the course of their early demos up through the album entitled "Angel Dust". I'm honored and thrilled to have been able to contribute to mixing "Superhero" and, then, co-mixing the entire "Sol Invictus" album with Bill Gould, Mike Patton, Mike Bordin, Roddy Bottum and Jon Hudson.

p.s. Some cool technical info: We used an amazing plugin from Sonarworks that flattens out the frequency response of your monitors (any make and model) which helped Bill and I better capture the essence of their music. We mastered it with Maor Appelbaum who was very dedicated and patient with

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day in Rock News!

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day in Rock News!: Today's Day in Rock Police Investigating B.B. King Murder Claims (Classic Rock) Two of B.B. King's daughters have claime...

Today's Day in Rock News!





Today's Day in Rock


Police Investigating B.B. King Murder Claims
(Classic Rock) Two of B.B. King's daughters have claimed he was poisoned to death by members of his management team, according to court papers. Las Vegas police confirmed that homicide detectives were investigating the claims.

Patty King and Karen Williams made legal documents available to the Associated Press in which they allege executive LaVerne Toney and personal assistant Myron Johnson killed their father.

King died on May 14, aged 89. Plans for his burial have been put on hold as his body has been returned to a mortuary pending the results of an autopsy, which may take up to eight weeks. Read more here.



Duff McKagan On Guns N' Roses Break Up and Possible Reunion
Duff McKagan spoke with WIND-FM's Hunter and Michaels morning show about the break up of the original lineup of Guns N' Roses and also his views on the possibility of a reunion.

McKagan had this to say about the break up, "I think every band is different, for sure. With our band, it was a lot of things. We just got really big. Once we started getting big, we got really big really fast. And there's no 'how-to' instructional manual for that thing, what happens to your life. We just fall into every kind of stupid typical thing that we thought we'd never fall into."

He also had this to say about the possibility of a reunion, "It could happen, and it could not. And I think it would be wonderful, one day, if we reconciled, first and foremost. That alone would be cool." Stream the full interview at Loudwire here.




Fear Factory Set Release Of 'Very Special' New Album
Fear Factory has announced that Nuclear Blast will be releasing their new album, entitled "Genexus," across the globe on August 7th. Dino Cazares provided some more details:

"The sensation of finalizing our newest album is one of relief and joy, wrapped within a massive whirlwind of excitement," says Cazares. "We really feel this is a very special Fear Factory album.

"While being careful not to replicate ourselves, this album still has a very classic Fear Factory vibe that we feel will appease both old and new fans. The aggressive, melodic and industrial elements are all intact and shine more than ever.'

"Burt and I produced the album with Rhys Fulber co-producing. Damien Rainuad and Giuseppe Bassi handled most of the keys and pre-production. We also enlisted the masterful metallic skills of Andy Sneap for an amazing mixing job!"

"We would like to thank everyone who has been a big part in the making of this record. We can't wait for everybody to hear it."



Corey Taylor Calls Out 'Popular' Artist That Are 'Hailed As Geniuses'
Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor is making the rounds promoting his new book "You're Making Me Hate You: A Cantankerous Look At the Common Misconception That Humans Have Any Common Sense Left" and during an interview he discussed his view of the current music scene.

Taylor tells Kerrang (via Blabbermouth), "I take a lot of 'popular music' to task and people who are hailed as geniuses but didn't really earn it. Some of the things that come out of these people's mouths are just f-ing unbelievable."

He also took exception to Fall Out Boy's recent album title. "I've got a couple of friends who are in this band, but Fall Out Boy saying they're going to 'save rock 'n' roll' … Are you f-ing kidding me? You? With the s-t that I've heard for the last two albums, that's you saving f-ing rock and roll? No, I don't think so."

He then ties that album title in with recent claims by Gene Simmons of KISS about the state of the rock music scene by saying and how he doesn't see things the same way, "But whether it's Fall Out Boy saying they're saving rock 'n' roll or Gene Simmons saying rock is already dead, I'm standing here with sold out shows, a No. 1 album around the world and I'm going, 'Really? When did this happen?'"

Taylor adds, "Rock ebbs and flows. It always has. As shiny and new as these people like to think pop music is, it's the same six people who write every f-ing song for some of these talentless f-holes and I'm not worried about anything. These people have been trying to kill us for 30 years and it keeps not happening."




Arch Enemy Lead Summer Slaughter Tour Lineup
Arch Enemy have announced that that they will be headlining this year's edition of the Summer Slaughter Tour that will be hitting North America this July and August.

The tour will also feature sets from Born Of Osiris, Veil Of Maya, The Acacia Strain, Obscura, After The Burial, Cattle Decapitation, and Beyond Creation.

The tour will be kicking off in Denver, Co. On July 28th at The Summit Music Hall and the announced dates will be wrapping up on August 23rd in San Francisco, CA at The Regency Ballroom, with more dates still to be announced.

Arch Enemy's Michael Amott had this to say: "Very pleased to be returning to North America on our current 'War Eternal' campaign...It's an absolute honor to headline the 2015 edition of the legendary Summer Slaughter tour! See you all very soon!" See the tour dates here.




Slipknot's Clown Explains Timetable For Next Album
(TeamRock Radio) Slipknot percussionist Clown thinks the band's sixth album could appear in early 2017 - and he says passion for the project is already there. They're on the road for the rest of this year with some shows already booked for next, meaning they won't find time to concentrate on the follow-up to .5: The Gray Chapter until mid-2016.

Clown tells Loudwire: "It takes six months to make a record, so it could be as early as the first quarter of 2017. We're in the rhythm of writing all the time, which is a very helpful tool. It's not anything that won't get used. Usually if we're writing, it's passion."

Guitarist Jim Root told Metal Hammer earlier this month that it was difficult to say what direction the material would take. He said: "There's a couple of different ways to approach it - we could approach it like we did Iowa compared to the first release, or we could approach it like picking up where The Subliminal Verses or The Gray Chapter left off." Read more here.




Soilwork Expand Tour Plans Until Late December
Soilwork have revealed that they will be following their North American tour and European summer festival appearances with a full European tour this fall.

The fall trek will be dubbed The Tour Majestic and will feature support from Hatesphere. The tour will be kicking off on November 27th in Malmö, Sweden and concluding on December 19th in Lyon, France.

Soilwork Dirk Verbeuren had this to say about the tour, "It's been ten years since an unforgettably epic European tour with our brothers in Hatesphere. Now that our tenth album is almost ready to be unleashed, we can't wait to once again share the stage with Hatesphere and bring you another monumental dose of top class melodic death metal!"

Prior to that outing, Soilwork will be hitting the road across North American with Soulfly, Decapitated and Shattered Sun on the "We Sold Our Souls to Metal Tour" which will launch on September 30th in Los Angeles and wrap on October 30th in Albuquerque, NM. See all of the tour dates here.




DragonForce Announce 'In The Line of Fire' Details
DragonForce have set a July 10th release date for their very first home video release "In The Line of Fire". The band has revealed the tracklisting and a trailer for the new DVD.

"In The Line of Fire" was captured during the band's Ultimate Stage headline set at the Loud Park Festival in the Saitama Super Arena, Japan back in 2014.

The DVD was mixed and mastered by Damien Rainaud in Los Angeles, CA., produced and edited by Herman Li and will include the following songs: "Fury of the Storm," "Three Hammers," "Black Winter Night", "Tomorrow's Kings," "Seasons,"" Symphony of the Night," "Cry Thunder," "Ring of Fire," "Through the Fire and the Flames" and "Valley of the Damned."

It appears that there will also be a two-disc DVD/CD version that will include the CD bonus track "Defenders". The DVD will also include bonus behind the scenes footage. See more details and the trailer here.




Home Of Late Singer Ian Curtis To Become Joy Division Museum
(Gibson) The former home of late Joy Division singer Ian Curtis will converted into a museum honoring the classic band, reports London's The Guardian. Joy Division fan and entrepreneur Hadar Goldman purchased the house after fans failed in an attempt to buy the property in order to prevent developers from taking it.

"Although I paid nearly double the asking price, I felt as if I had to get involved, especially after hearing the plight of fans who had failed to raise the necessary funds to buy the house owned and lived in by one of the musical heroes of my youth," Goldman said.

"Joy Division left a musical legacy which has influenced many of today's bands. The Joy Division legacy deserves to be taken into the 21st century, to raise awareness into one of the most seminal bands in the history of contemporary music."

Curtis's bandmate Peter Hook praised the movement to convert the house into a museum. "I think it's a great compliment if someone wants to make it into a museum for a group that culturally changed music, not once but twice," he said. "Ian has such a fantastic legacy and the fact people are inspired by it all around the world can only be a good thing." Gibson report here.






Cavalera Says Sepultura Deteriorating The Brand With Current Lineup
(Classic Rock) Founding Sepultura drummer Igor Cavalera says that the current lineup of the group is "deteriorating the brand" by continuing without him and his brother Max.

While proud of everything he and Max achieved with the band before Max left in 1996 and he walked away 10 years later, Igor says it's tough to see the band continue with vocalist Derrick Green and drummer Eloy Casagrande in their places.

Cavalera - who now plays with Max in Cavalera Conspiracy - tells AntiHero: "It's tough, because, of course, we're super proud of everything we've done with Sepultura. The little thing that bugs me is that I think they're deteriorating the brand itself of Sepultura with fans by doing the tours and continuing without me and Max being there. So it's tough. But at the same time, there's nothing that we can do about it. We've gotta do what we do and keep playing."

On the chances of a reunion of Sepultura's classic lineup, Igor adds: "I don't know if, in the future, we're eventually gonna do the reunion. Right now, what I can say is me and Max are having a blast doing what we do with Cavalera Conspiracy and also playing songs that we wrote when we were kids, like Troops Of Doom and stuff like that, so I don't really see that we really need the reunion thing." Read more and watch the full interview here.




Sebastian Bach Says Bolan Is Skid Row's Bill Ward
(Classic Rock) Former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach has described bass player Rachel Bolan as 'the band's Bill Ward.' Bach - who was sacked by Skid Row in 1996 - says Bolan is the only member of the band who has a problem with him. Comparing the situation to that which exists between Black Sabbath's estranged drummer Ward and frontman Ozzy Osbourne, Bach hints that jealousy could be at the heart of Bolan's dislike of him.

He tells Metal Injection: "I've talked to all of those guys except the bass player, and he is the one that has it in for me. Some of these musicians like to use this term 'lead singer's disease,' and I think that's a way of dealing with the extra attention that the frontman gets.

"And it's not just Skid Row - it's Aerosmith, Van Halen, Kiss and Black Sabbath. I guess Rachel is, like, the Bill Ward of Skid Row. I think that's really what it is. Because I haven't given that guy any reason to dislike me in 19 years." Read more here.





Trent Reznor Part Of Batman: Arkham Knight Game
(TeamRock Radio) Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor is behind the music for upcoming video game Batman: Arkham Knight. He's listed as music consultant on the title, set to be launched on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on June 23.

Producers have released a trailer for the game last week featuring NIN track The Wretched, and tweeted: "Please join us in thanking Trent Reznor for his vision."

It's been suggested by fans that he was instrumental in getting directors Tim and Jeff Cronenweth to work on the project, after collaborating with them on Gone Girl and Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - the latter winning Reznor a Grammy. Check out the trailer here.




Clutch's Tim Sult Reveals The Changing Roles Of Neil Fallon
(Classic Rock) Things could have been so different for Clutch, had frontman Neil Fallon continued in his early role as the band's DJ. The singer started out as the group's guitarist before a stint handling samples and spinning discs. Guitarist Tim Sult recalls the origins of the band and how a change in musical direction led to Fallon switching roles.

Originally called Moral Minority, the band featured a singer called Brian who left before a name change to Glut Trip and the addition of a new singer, Roger Smalls.

Sult tells My Global Mind: "Neil sang on the second Moral Minority demo if I remember correctly. Then Brian decided he wanted to be the singer and wanted Neil to do samples. Brian got really into Ministry and he wanted to do a Ministry type thing.

"We were only teenagers and went through phases really quick. So in 1989 he brought me into the band to play guitar and Neil was doing the samples. This guy Brian sang, so that was really the original first line up of Clutch. Neil was the DJ, literally." Read more here.





Bullet For My Valentine's Tuck Hopes For 'Biggest Metal Record' Of 2015
(TeamRock Radio) Bullet For My Valentine frontman Matthew Tuck believes upcoming album Venom will be the "biggest metal record of the year." The follow-up to 2013's Temper Temper will be released on August 14 and the band have lined-up a 19-date UK and Ireland tour to support their fifth studio outing.

Tuck tells Kerrang (via Blabbermouth): "We've got massive hopes for this album. We truly believe it's going to be the biggest metal record of the year. We've had these feelings in the past and we've always been spot on, but this one feels way more special than anything else we've ever done. So fingers crossed, it's going to do what we want it to do."

Tuck also praises bassist Jamie Mathias who was brought into the fold earlier this month to replace Jay James who departed in February. He adds: "We held auditions for a few guys, and when he came, he just smashed it. He fitted in instantly, especially with the Welsh connection. He plays like a beast and he sings like an angel." Read more here.




Steven Wilson Says Concept Dictated New Album's Different Sound
(Prog) Steven Wilson says the more electronic feel of latest solo album Hand. Cannot. Erase. came purely from the storyline - and that's why it's so different to previous record The Raven That Refused To Sing.

While his second outing was inspired by 19th-century material, its follow-up is based in current times, which suggested a different direction to him. Wilson tells the Boston Globe: "For me, the concept is always responsible for the musical palette.

"The Raven was an album where the underlying concept was the classical ghost story, with an emphasis on so-called 'Gothic' fiction. That suggested to me a more vintage musical palette.

"Now, here's a concept that's set in the heart of the city in the 21st century. To me that says, 'Okay, you're going to need more electronic sounds, almost semi-industrial sound design, if you want to reflect life in the heart of a metropolis.

"That stylistic range, and the fact that it's distinctly different from the previous record, ultimately grew out of the story." Read more here.



Bong Streaming Epic New Song 'Time Regained'
(TeamRock Radio) Bong have released a stream of the 17-minute song "Time Regained" which is from their brand new studio album "We Are, We Were And We Will Have Been".

"This is a song about living...," says frontman Dave Terry, "weathering the storm, standing unyielding against the forces that assail us on all sides, revelling in the short time we have to live, knowing that whatever may befall us, this time will never be undone; we will always exist, in the past, from today to the most distant of futures."

The three-piece have made their vision of the boundless nature of time, and our place within it more explicit than ever. TeamRock offer an exclusive glimpse through the aether and into the undulating realms beyond in the elongated form of the first track of two here.





Exmortus Begin Recording New Album This Week
Exmortus have announced that they have returned to Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, Ca with producer Zack Ohren (Suffocation, Immolation) this week to begin recording their new album.

The band expect to release the new album this fall via Prosthetic Records and the effort will be feature their new bass player Michael Cosio (ex-Abysmal Dawn).

Drummer Mario Moreno had this to say, "2014 was a great year for Exmortus and the campaign for 'Slave to the Sword' has been relentless since its release. This year has been a little quiet for us but with good reason.

"We're excited to announce that we'll be entering the studio at the end of this month to once again record with the mighty Zack Ohren. Zack did a phenomenal job on 'Slave to the Sword' and we're ready to record some more bone-crushing, face-melting shred for you all!"

The band has also lineup some live performances in July. See the tour date here.




Lower Than Atlantis Announce Their Biggest UK Tour Yet
(TeamRock Radio) Lower Than Atlantis will tour the UK again in December, they've confirmed - and it sees them headlining at their biggest venues to date. The run of seven gigs follows a journey around the country in April, and appearances at the Slam Dunk festivals last weekend.

The band launched their self-titled fourth album in October. Last month frontman Mike Duce said their belief in music had been rekindled after a period in which they "lost their way."

He added: "We just care about music again. If we cared about money we'd be f***ing investment bankers or something." Check out the upcoming UK tour dates here.





Spiders & Snakes Recording Live Album For 25th Anniversary
(Glass Onyon) Spiders & Snakes have announced that they will be recording their first-ever live album in honor of their 25th Anniversary at the Whisky a Go Go on the Sunset Strip in W. Hollywood, CA this Thursday, May 28th 2015 at 10pm.

The all ages show is in honor of the 20th Anniversary of the "Glitter n Glam Rockfest" shows that once ruled the Hollywood underground glam rock/shock rock scene of the mid-late 90s and includes sets by Rebel Rebel, Willow Wisp and Molly Vamp. Doors open 8pm.

The 2015 Spiders & Snakes lineup is comprised of band co-founders Lizzie Grey (London, Ultra Pop), on Lead vocals and Tim Yasui (London, Ultra Pop) on drums/Lead/backing vocals and long-time band members Phil St. Vincent on Bass/Lead/backing Vocals and Chris Sheridan (Sweet Savage/James Kottak) on Lead Guitars/Lead/backing Vocals - the very same lineup who recorded the band's ninth studio album "Year Of The Snake" and that is currently on tour this summer in support of this new album.

Year of the Snake features appearances by Billy Sherwood (Yes, Circa), Angelo Moore (Fishbone), Ryo Okumoto (Asia feat Jon Payne/Spock's Beard/Aretha Franklin), Betsy Bitch (Bitch) and Rik Fox (Steeler, Wasp) and was produced by Gavin Ross in Burbank, California, mixed by Anthony Focx (Steven Tyler, Vince Neil, Nightranger, Ted Nugent) in Nashville, Tennessee and mastered by Maor Appelbaum (Yngwie Malmsteen, Rob Halford, Sepultura, Yes) in Los Angeles, California during the Chinese calendar Year Of The Snake.







While She Sleeps Lead Additions To Camden Rocks Festival
(TeamRock Radio) Yorkshire metallers While She Sleeps lead the additions to this year's Camden Rocks festival on May 30. Also joining the bill are: Red House Glory, Flies + Flies, No Sugar, The Touch, Fake The Attack and B Movie Thieves.

The festival - which is in its fourth year - will take place in most of Camden's venues, pubs and bars, including Electric Ballroom, Underworld, Proud Camden, Barfly, Jazz Cafe and Dingwalls.

While She Sleeps frontman Loz Taylor says: "We're stoked to be a part of this year's Camden Rocks Festival! It's already shaping up to be a killer day. We can't wait to tear Camden up!" Read more here.





Slash Interview About Performing With Michael Jackson Animated
(Radio.com) The latest Minimation, where Radio.com animate interviews with legendary artists goes back to last year when Slash spoke to them about going on tour with Michael Jackson. He clashed with MJ's guitarist over one issue, and it wasn't about who gets to solo first.

In last week's Radio.com Minimation, Slash told us the story of how he ended up playing guitar on Michael Jackson's 1991 album, Dangerous. The two artists hit it off pretty well. MJ was used to playing with great six-stringers (he'd worked with Eddie Van Halen and Steve Stevens on previous albums). And Slash was used to working with eccentric singers (perhaps you've heard of one W. Axl Rose?).

And so, Slash did a few shows with the King of Pop as his special guest. Of course, MJ already had a guitar player - namely Jennifer Batten, a face-melting soloist in her own right. But no matter how good you are at your instrument, when you're in Michael Jackson's band, there are rules you must follow. Such as, taking part in on-stage choreography. So, it's understandable that she figured, he she had to learn to dance, Slash would as well.

Slash, who at the time was a member of Guns N Roses, the baddest band in the land, was pretty firm on his stance: He was not going to dance. As he told Radio.com, Batten was "losing her mind about it."

At that point, Michael got involved, taking her down to "the sports bathrooms" (i.e. the locker rooms) and moderated. Spoiler: Slash didn't learn choreography.

But Batten wasn't the only person annoyed by Slash performing with Jackson; if a recent interview by Guns' former manager is accurate, the Jackson/Slash shows led to Slash exiting GNR. Watch the video here.




Singled Out: Anti-Flag's Brandenburg Gate
Today Chris #2 from Anti-Flag tells us about the song "Brandenburg Gate" (featuring Tim Armstrong) from their brand new album "American Spring". Here is the story:

I wanted to write about a track from our new record American Spring. I think out of all of the songs in our bands history "Brandenburg Gate" is maybe the greatest example of how up for interpretation music can be.

For me it started in a real personal place. Before writing this record I had what I believed to be the most important relationship in my life end. I was searching for self worth and identity. Forced to face and work on things that ultimately could have been the same reasons for my relationships end. In my mind, the lyrics were not metaphorical. I had particularly difficult moments in Berlin, I was referencing those in the song. Knowing that Anti-Flag is not the type of band to put ourselves first I was worried at how my band mates would react to the song. I was worried they would have no personal attachment to it, and it's our experience as a band that those are the songs that die. The ones where all 4 of us are not whole heartedly behind either never see the light of day or are recorded and never played live. So hesitantly I brought it to the others.

Pat (the drummer in Anti-Flag) had a completely different view of Brandenburg then anything I could have seen. I was too close to it. His zoomed out perspective on the lyrics created this backstory about a love song for socialism. My imagery of Berlin and the Brandenburg Gate became a metaphor to Pat for socialism being seen as untouchable in America. How vastly far away universal health care and education seem to be to us in the states. He had parallels for each line. Ones that I would never had seen. We then shaped the remainder of the lyrics to both mirror and reference my emotions but our collective understanding of how no matter how far away the things you want or believe to be important or things you know to be just, they are attainable. The Brandenburg Gate was locked away during the era of the Berlin Wall. Closed form society. It now stands alive, tourists flock to it, it's a meeting point, a protest square. It was once also untouchable, these "socialist" ideas of treating humanity with the respect it deserves will not be untouchable for much longer.

(Side note. Having Tim Armstrong sing on the track was unbelievable to us. Having him sing the word "salvation" made my inner punk rock kid believe that anything is possible.)

Friday, May 22, 2015

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day in Rock News!

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day in Rock News!: Today's Day in Rock Nickelback Wanted By Police For 'Crimes Against Music' (Radio.com) Nickelback has just rubbed on...

Today's Day in Rock News!





Today's Day in Rock


Nickelback Wanted By Police For 'Crimes Against Music'
(Radio.com) Nickelback has just rubbed one more group of people the wrong way: the Australian police. The Queensland, Australia, police have charged the rockers with "crimes against music."

Ahead of the band's show at he Brisbane Entertainment Center in Boondall, local police posted a wanted poster for the band to Facebook, writing, "BOLO. Be on the Lookout. Wanted. For Crimes Against Music.

Police are on the lookout for these men who are believed to be impersonating musicians around Boondall this evening. Avoid the area. It may be hazardous to your hearing and street cred."

Just in case that wasn't enough of a warning, the police also took to Twitter to issue an "urgent police warning": "Men matching this description expected to be committing musical crimes in Boondall tonight." Read more here.



Bill Ward Makes Surprise Appearance With Black Sabbath Bandmates
(hennemusic) Black Sabbath were honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2015 Ivor Novello Awards in London on Thursday. Ozzy Osbourne missed the event while drummer Bill Ward reunited with guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler to accept the prize, according to The Birmingham Mail.

Now in its 60th year, the annual UK music industry event organized by the British Academy Of Songwriters And Authors honors the work of songwriters and composers.

Backstage, Iommi confirmed Black Sabbath would launch their farewell world tour in 2016, something Osbourne recently revealed. Ward said it was great to see Iommi and Butler again and admitted he felt "very uncomfortable" knowing they had been on tour without him. I hope that can change," he added.

Ward's appearance was a surprise given the recent exchange of lengthy public notes with Osbourne over a disagreement about the drummer's fitness level for Black Sabbath's world tour in support of their last album, "13." Read more here.




Scott Weiland Addresses Member Exit Rumor
Scott Weiland took to his Facebook account this week to clear up speculation that drummer Joey Castillo has quit the former Stone Temple Pilots new solo band Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts.

The online rumors started after fans noticed that the former Queens of the Stone Age drummer did not perform with the band at a show in Lawrence, Kansas on Tuesday night.

Weiland posted a message to fans to explain that Castillo has only stepped away from the band temporarily and Mike Avenaim, who played on several tracks and co-wrote one song on the band's debut "Blaster", would be filling in.

Weiland wrote, "Just to clear up the confusion - Joey has NOT left the band. He is recording for a week with BL'AST and will meet back up with us on the 27th. I've known about this for months, hence lining up our friend Mike Avaneim [sic] to fill in."





Alex Lifeson's Arthritis One Reason For Rush's Final Tour
(Classic Rock) Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson has opened up about the severity of his arthritis - and bandmate Geddy Lee fears it's the single biggest factor that'll end their touring career.

The Canadian giants are on the road in the US just now, on a trip they've stopped short of calling their farewell. It's been thought that drummer Neil Peart's desire to be with his family could be the deciding issue - although he's also suffering from tendonitis.

But Lee tells Classic Rock's Paul Elliott: "For Alex the arthritis is not a small thing. If anything is going to mean we can't tour any more like we used to, it's more than likely going to be the arthritis - because that's something that will directly affect his ability to play.

"If I was going out on stage and I couldn't play the way I want to, or the way I've played in the past, there's no way I'd want to do it. I wouldn't want to go out there and be a shadow of my former self."

He adds: "it kind of hurts me to see him when he's having a bad day, physically. He's one of my oldest and dearest friends. And when he's been at rehearsal and he's not playing his best, it's not nice to see your friend suffer like that. This thing is in the back of his mind, and he's afraid of it."

Lifeson reveals: "I've had it for ten years - and this is the first time I'm really feeling it in my hands and my feet. That's the way it goes." Read more here.




Rare Grateful Dead Memorabilia Stolen From Auction House
(Classic Rock) Grateful Dead memorabilia worth $75,000 (£48,000) has been stolen from an auction house. The items were sold as part of April's Grateful Dead Family Jubilee Auction, but were stolen before they could be delivered to the winning bidders.

The theft took place on the weekend of April 25 to 26 at Donley's Auction Services in Union, USA.Auction bosses now fear the goods will be destroyed by the thieves to avoid getting caught.

Randy Donley tells My Suburban Life: "Please help us solve this crime. I am offering a reward for its safe return. Please do not destroy it for fear of getting caught. We just want it returned."

Police say the items were being processed for shipping, with some awaiting collection by armored car. Read more here.





Attomica Singer Alex Rangel Killed In Motorcycle Accident
Our friends at Wikimetal sent over this sad news: The singer of the Brazilian band Attomica from Sao Jose dos Campos, Alex Rangel, passed away on Thursday at 35 years old, in a motorcycle accident at 6 am.

Alex was on his way home when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed. Alex began his musical career when he was still a teenager, and has always impressed people with his technique and amazing high pitched screams.

Currently in Attomica, Rangel was also the lead singer in the bands Hocus Pocus (tribute to Aerosmith), Immigrants (to Led Zeppelin) and Jailbreak (AC/DC). We from Wikimetal are deeply sadened by his passing and send our thoughts and prayers to Alex's family and friends. The world has lost another great talent. Read the Wikimetal Report here.





Roger Daltrey Threatens To End The Who Show Due To Pot Smoke
(hennemusic) Roger Daltrey threatened to end The Who's concert at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island on Wednesday due to fans smoking marijuana near the stage, which Daltrey is reportedly allergic to.

According to Newsday, "the smoke's impact was almost immediate on his voice, which went from crystal clear and potent for the opening 'I Can't Explain' to something rougher and more limited during 'I Can See for Miles.'"

After the show's fourth song, "The Kids Are Alright", Daltrey repeated the urgency of the issue, saying "Either stop it or the show will be over. So, it's your choice. I can't do anything about it, I'm doing my best."

Townshend then joined in the crowd's chant of "Eat it!" before adding, "Shove it up your f***ing ass. It's the quickest way. I think it's quicker than eating it."

"..and by far the most pleasurable," joked Daltrey in an attempt to lighten the moment.

Two songs later and the singer had had enough. "My voice is shutting down," said Daltrey. "I can do nothing about this. I'm close to walking because whoever is doing it…it's coming my way.

"F*** OFF!," demanded the singer.

"It's medicinal," joked Townshend as the band launched into "My Generation."

A few songs later, though, Daltrey had seemingly recovered. He hit the towering notes of "Love Reign O'er Me" with no problem and his voice got stronger from there. Check out video here.





KISS Can Move Forward Without New Music Says Stanley
(Classic Rock) KISS frontman Paul Stanley says it's not necessary for the band to record another album. He believes they had good reasons to make 2009's Sonic Boom and 2012's Monster - but that their tally of studio outings might stop at 20.

Stanley tells Classic Rock's Paul Brannigan: "There has to be a purpose to us doing an album. There was a time when we did albums because the contracts said so. But I only want to work now when it's justified. Sonic Boom was an album that very much needed to be done, and Monster just felt like, 'Well, we did Sonic Boom - let's see where we go from here.'"

He adds: "Having accomplished that, I feel we can move forward without new music. There are enough things going on in Kiss that right now it doesn't feel utterly necessary to make a new album." Read more here.





Rolling Stones Release Video Footage From Rare Club Show
(hennemusic) The Rolling Stones are sharing video and photos from their Los Angeles club show on Wednesday. The Rolling Stones used the Fonda Thatre event as a warm-up to their upcoming Zip Code Tour of North America, which opens in San Diego on May 24.

Footage from the last-minute concert at the city's Fonda Theatre includes snippets of "Brown Sugar" and "Moonlight Mile", a track from the band's 1971 album classic, "Sticky Fingers", which was performed in its entirety ahead of its reissue on June 8 (June 9 in North America).

The remastered project will be available on CD, 2CD, LP, 2LP, a Deluxe Edition Boxet, Super Deluxe Edition Boxset and via digital download. The Deluxe and Super Deluxe Editions feature previously unreleased material and alternative takes of a selection of album tracks, including an alternative version of "Brown Sugar" featuring Eric Clapton; unreleased versions of "Bitch", "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" and "Dead Flowers"; an acoustic take on "Wild Horses", and five tracks recorded live at The Roundhouse in 1971 including "Honky Tonk Women" and "Midnight Rambler."

The Super Deluxe edition will also present "Get Yer Leeds Lungs Out!", a 13-track audio recording of the Stones March 1971 show in Leeds, shortly before they began their self-imposed UK 'exile' period in France over tax issues. A DVD includes two tracks from the band's Marquee Club show in London on March 26, 1971.






Zakk Wylde's BLS Go From Animal House On Steroids To Yoga
(Classic Rock) Zakk Wylde says Black Label Society would would be boring subjects for a tour documentary. Things have quieted down backstage since the Black Label Society mainman quit drinking after a health scare in 2009.

Wylde tells Guitar Interactive: "If we were doing 'Life On The Road With Black Label Society', we'd have to script in all the stories - because there's really not much going on. I hang out with my yoga instructor a lot. Back in the old days it was Animal House on steroids."

He jokes: "We always have a blast. Back in the old days there was a lot of boozing going on. Now it's sniffing a lot of glue and we get the same results. I wake up with my pants around my ankles and the fellas tell me I had a great time, and I don't remember much of anything."

BLS are touring in support of their latest album Catacombs Of The Black Vatican, but Wylde says he's always working on fresh material. Read more here.




Kentucky Headhunters 2003 Album To Finally Be Released
(The Blues Southern blues-rockers the Kentucky Headhunters next month will finally release Meet Me In Bluesland, the album they recorded with late piano legend Johnnie Johnson in 2003.

Johnson, sideman with Chuck Berry and many others, joined founding brothers Fred and Richard Young plus Greg Martin, Anthony Kenney and Doug Phelps to race through the writing and recording of 11 tracks in just three days.

Richard Young says of the sessions: "The minute Johnnie sat down with us, the music was a kind of ecstasy." Martin recalls: "He made us play like real men. The groove got bigger and much more grown up." Read more here.





Rush Book Crowdfunding Deadline This Weekend
(Classic Rock) A Rush fan book's crowdfunding deadline will be reached in this week - although the campaign has already secured nearly seven times its original target.

Fantoon creator David Calcano has put together a 150-page collection of fan cartoons, including comic strips, parodies, art and illustrations. He originally aimed to raise $3000, but the current figure is just short of $20,000.

Calcano explains: "Many of the jokes just are for Rush fans, so if you don't know about the band you won't get many of them. However, if you like art, comic strips, and appreciate illustration, you'll love this book, because the artistry is unbelievable!" Read more here.





Gene Simmons Insists KISS Will Make New Album
(Classic Rock) KISS will record their 21st album next year, says Gene Simmons - despite Paul Stanley's suggestion that it might not happen. Stanley recently told Classic Rock that he wasn't certain a follow-up to 2012's Monster would be made, and insisting: "We can move forward without new music. There are enough things going on in Kiss that right now it doesn't feel utterly necessary to make a new album."

But Simmons tells NU.nl: "It will happen when we have time. I have music in me that needs to come out. I recently wrote a song called Your Wish Is My Command. It feels like a Kiss song and it just needs to be released on a Kiss album."

He states that all four band members are behind the plan, and adds that Stanley will once again play the role of producer. "I'm glad about that - I no longer have the energy to come to the studio every day," says the bassist. "Paul doesn't have so many other things in his life that demand attention, so he can concentrate fully on the project." Read more here.





Roger Waters To Headline Newport Folk Festival
(hennemusic) Roger Waters will headline the opening night of the 2015 Newport Folk Festival on Friday, July 24. Waters says he plans to deliver "an intimate appearance specifically crafted" for the event, set for July 24-26 at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, RI.

The former Pink Floyd bassist will top a bill that includes Tallest Man On Earth, Iron & Wine and Ben Bridwell, the Watkins Family Hour and others, while The Decemberists will perform on Saturday and First Aid Kit will play on Sunday.

Founded in 1959, the festival features a variety of musical genres each year, and has notably introduced Joan Baez and Bob Dylan to a wider audience. Dylan's famous July 25, 1965 appearance caused an uproar when fans booed as the acoustic folk singer went electric with Mike Bloomfield on guitar alongside players from the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Read more here.






Wilko Johnson Has Mixed Feelings After Escaping Death
(Classic Rock) Wilko Johnson has revealed he knew he was on the road to full recovery when he suffered a bout of depression. He's battled the illness all his life - but it was absent during his struggle with cancer, which had been expected to kill him until he underwent pioneering surgery in 2014.

Johnson, who returned to action earlier this year, tells the Irish Examiner: "It's funny. Last night I started to think about my wife, who passed away 10 years ago. I said to myself, 'What's the matter with you? You ought to be happy you're still here.' But it doesn't work like that, does it?"

Even though he's on his Still Kickin' tour of the UK, he hasn't yet fully got over the 3kg tumor that was removed in an 11-hour operation. He says: "With the first comeback show, I distinctly remember thinking, 'Blimey, this is bloody tiring.' I was still recovering. Actually, I am still recovering." Read more here.




Sanguine Hum Release 'Settle Down' Video
(Prog) Sanguine Hum have released a new music video for their track "Settle Down," which is taken from their recently released third album 'Now We Have Light.'

The follow-up to 2013's The Weight Of The World was launched in February and described as "a future parable," and "a twisted mix of Hitch-Hikers Guide To The Galaxy, Frank Zappa's Joe's Garage and The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway."

The band's Matt Baber tells Prog: "We're currently working on the first-ever CD issue of the music that we recorded as Joff Winks Band - which we've always considered as being Sanguine Hum in all but name.

"Plus, we're already deep into preparations for the official follow up to Now We Have Light." Watch the video here.




Gandalf's Fist Unplugging For 10th Anniversary Release
(Prog) Gandalf's Fist have confirmed the release of an acoustic EP to mark their 10th anniversary. Live From A Post-Apocalyptic Power Cut will feature folk-inspired versions of tracks from their back catalogue.

They say: "Recorded amidst the fallout of the next global zombie apocalypse, the EP serves as a soothing soundtrack to the end of civilisation and is sure to help lift the spirit amidst the oncoming tides of the undead."

Tracks so far named for the EP include The Snows They Melt The Soonest, Emerald Eyes, The Circus In The Clearing, North Of The Wall, Orphans Of The Sky and Upon The Paths To Nowhere. Read more here.





Papa Roach Singer Shares Secret To The Band's Longevity
(TeamRock Radio) Papa Roach singer Jacoby Shaddix says a healthy mix of love and brotherly battles is the secret to the band's longevity. Since replacing drummer Dave Buckner with Tony Palermo in 2007, the band's lineup has remained solid - and the frontman says they still inspire each other to this day.

But that doesn't prevent him from occasionally wanting to punch them in the mouth. Shaddix tells The Blitz: "As much as sometimes I wanna punch them in the face and put them in a headlock - it's like brothers. Brothers fight, brothers battle, but at the end of the day, we're brothers.

"It's a family. It's a brotherhood. It's four dudes from a small town. We have a different drummer. It's the one member change we had, and that was very tough on the band, but I think it was necessary. But the core of us, the songwriting crew, it's just been the same dudes, and we love each other." Read more and watch the full interview here.




Five Finger Death Punch Speed Things Up On New Album
(TeamRock Radio) Five Finger Death Punch's next album Got Your Six is a more uptempo work in response to fan reactions to their live sets, says guitarist Zoltan Bathory.

And the aim is for the record to make their gigs even more energetic than they already are. Bathory tells Billboard: "It's a little bit more uptempo. There was a conscious effort that we don't want to have too many slow songs. It has more faster and midtempo songs.

"I think it's coming from the live shows. When you're playing live shows you feel the energy of the crowd. It's the high-energy and midtempo songs that make the audience move and connect. You can drop your little ballads here and there, but we know what people like." Read more here.





Dez Explains Nadja's Critical Role In Coal Chamber
(TeamRock Radio) Dez Fafara has hailed bassist Nadja Peulen as Coal Chamber's "mediator" - and says her return to the band was "critical" in making their reunion a success.

The band started touring in 2011 following an eight-year break, with Chela Rhea Harper on bass duties after Peulen originally refused to come back. Once they decided to record latest album Rivals - their first in 13 years - Peulen agreed to take part.

Fafara tells Joel Gausten: "When we talked about making a record, it was very much on the top of our heads. She was in a really great place personally and with us. She's a monster on stage, and she's an absolute monster in the studio. I don't know a lot of bass players on a record that's going to be of this calibre who can just go in and wail on it like that.

"She brings her own style to things, and she's a bit of a mediator between us as well. Not so much now, because there's never any conflict.

"But when she hears us say something that makes us laugh, she brings another perspective - like, 'Oh God, I remember.' Then we all start laughing at her view of what she was seeing before the split. So it's critical." Read more here.




Deep Purple Recruit Rival Sons For Fall Tour
(Classic Rock) Rival Sons have been confirmed as support act on Deep Purple's upcoming European tour. It kicks off in Poland on October 25 and ends at London's O2 Arena on December 3.

Rival Sons, currently on the road in the US, are continuing to support the launch of fifth album Great Western Valkyrie in 2014 - named one of the best of the year by Classic Rock.

Guitarist Scott Holiday says: "There's only so many bands that can actually occupy the space reserved for what we call legends.). A band we can say without a doubt occupy this space comfortably is Deep Purple.

"I cut my teeth on those early records - Machine Head, In Rock, Made In Japan. The musicianship, performances and sheer bravado is nothing short of leveling." Read more here.





Babymetal Have 'Learned A Lot From Metallica'
(TeamRock Radio) Babymetal singer Su-Metal says the band have "learned a lot from Metallica." The Japanese trio admit they knew little about the genre before they were brought together to front the J-pop sensations. But they learned from the biggest metal band of all as they honed their act. And they even play Metallica songs before they take to the stage at their gigs.

Su-metal tells Rolling Stone: "It's not only something for us, but the fans get excited when they listen to Metallica and, with Babymetal, it keeps with the rhythm.

"Before we joined Babymetal, we weren't that familiar with metal, but we learned a lot from Metallica. Watching their shows and even meeting them, they were really nice to us."

Her bandmate Meometal says she hopes Babymetal can reach the same level of performance that James Hetfield and co produce regularly. Read more here.





Voyager Premiere 'Seasons Of Age' Video
(Prog) Voyager have released a video for their track Seasons Of Age. It's taken from the Australian outfit's latest album V, launched last year, which Prog described as "sure to grow in stature with the passage of time."

Frontman Daniel Estrin recently reported they'd begun work on a follow-up, telling 100percentrock.com: "The creative juices are definitely flowing. There are ideas floating around. It's just about fleshing out those ideas and finding the time to smash out some music. By the end of 2016, there's a good chance we'll have a new album out."

Voyager are currently touring Australia and they'll move on the US in August, before appearing at ProgPower USA 2015 in September. Watch the new video here.




The Vintage Caravan Reflect On Stefansson Joining The Band
(Classic Rock) The Vintage Caravan's vocalist and guitarist Oskar Logi has recalled the moment drummer Stefan Ari Stefansson auditioned for the band. Ari Stefansson replaced Gudjon Reynisson earlier this year for their third album Arrival which was released this week in Europe via Nuclear Blast. But Logi says the recruitment process wasn't straightforward - as they had another sticksman behind the kit when he turned up for his tryout.

Logi says: "We met in 2011 and it's a small scene in Iceland so we were more or less bumping into each other. Then one day when we were pretty drunk we decided we should form a jam group.

"When Gudjon left, the first think I thought of was, 'Call Stefan - he knows his sh*t.' When he came to practice, we were trying out another drummer. He said, 'This is like going on a date and the date just kissed a guy goodbye.'" Read more and watch the interview here.

More on The Vintage Caravan - The Vintage Caravan Music, DVDs, Books and more - The Vintage Caravan T-shirts and Posters
Nightwish Vocalist Needs Nerves To Nail Live Performance
(Prog) Nightwish vocalist Floor Jansen says she needs her pre-tour nerves to make sure she performs at her best. The band have released another episode in their documentary about the development of latest album Endless Forms Most Beautiful.

The latest clip was shot in the days running up to their first tour date in New York in April. Jansen says: "I'm nervous - I don't want to be, but it's a good one because it puts you on top of your game. I think you need that to nail it."

The follow-up to 2012's Imaginaerum was released in March. Mainman Tuomas Holopainen recently told how he'd made a point of not using Jansen's vocal ability to "show off" the band's talents. Watch the video here.




Singled Out: Panic Island's We Start Fires
Today North London rockers Panic Island tell us about their new anthem "We Start Fires" from their debut EP "Cabin Fever" which was released this week. Here is the story:

We Start Fires is a call to arms to inspire a boost of confidence within people. The only way anyone reaches their potential is to look within and find their own power. Hard work and ability goes without saying but the passion is the catalyst. Vinnie and I are all about empowerment of passion, not just for ourselves but our fans and potential fans. We want to inspire but we also want to be inspired so we are full of enthusiasm and encouragement for people to be who they want to be.

This track is about finding that within yourself and then releasing it, making it bigger and not shying away from who you are! Hence the lyrics, "strike the match, feed the flame, live to burn, I don't fade away!"

The anarchy element is a reflection of the frustrations we have faced and do face doing what we do, the empowerment for us comes from telling everyone, you can be great!

We hope it gets blasted loud from everyone's radios, but we also hope it inspires people to trust who they are and what they want to achieve in life!

Monday, May 11, 2015

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day in Rock News!

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day in Rock News!: Today's Day in Rock Machine Head's Robb Flynn Having Surgery This Week (TeamRock Radio) Machine Head frontman Robb Flynn...

Today's Day in Rock News!





Today's Day in Rock


Machine Head's Robb Flynn Having Surgery This Week
(TeamRock Radio) Machine Head frontman Robb Flynn is to have a gallstone in his gallbladder removed - just weeks before the band head out on tour. He expects to go under the knife tomorrow (Tuesday) after doctors advised him the pain caused by a gallstone they'd found would make life on the road unbearable.

He says in a video: "I had food poisoning about a week ago and I've had this pretty severe pain under my right rib since then. I've been to the doctor a few times but they don't know what it is, so the only way I could get in was to go to emergency. I have a gallstone in my gallbladder and I need surgery to remove it. And I'm getting ready to go on tour in two f***ing weeks, for seven weeks."

But he believes he has no option. "In 2012 I had hernia for a year and a half, and I put it off because I discovered it at the beginning of a tour cycle," he recalls. "It just got too painful on the road. I can't really take the pain and we need to do the tour." Read more here.




Official Jimi Hendrix Movie Coming
(Classic Rock) Legendary Pictures have reached an agreement with Jimi Hendrix's estate to make an official movie about his life. The project follows last year's unauthorized biopic Jimi: All Is By My Side. John Ridley's work was released without any Hendrix music after permission to use it was refused - while the icon's former girlfriend Kathy Etchingham repeatedly slammed violent scenes that she insists never took place.

Now Deadline reports that a currently untitled film will be written by 8 Mile author Scott Silver. It follows an original approach to Experience Hendrix LLC four years ago, while director Paul Greengrass and producer Thomas Tull were pushing a script by Max Borenstein.

The deal was never made after the estate firm, run by Jimi's sister Janie Hendrix, expressed concern that a film would hurt sales of his back catalogue. It's been confirmed that the work will include some of that material on its soundtrack. Read more here.




Former Havok Guitarist Shawn Chavez Dead At 30
Former Havok guitarist Shawn Chavez died late last month at the age of 30, according the band's frontman David Sanchez. Chavez was a member of the group 2004 until 2010. A cause of death was not disclosed.

Here is David's posting, "It is with deep regret that I must inform fans, friends, and family of Havok that Shawn Tyler Chavez, the former lead guitarist of Havok, passed away on April 30, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was 30 years old.

"Shawn was the very first lead guitarist of Havok and helped forge the band's sound in the early years. Without Shawn's dedication during the first 6 years of the band, Havok would not be where it is today.

"Shawn entered Havok just in time for the band's first scheduled performance, a high school talent show. He was a founding member and gave the band its very first guitar solos and harmonies. He also contributed to many of the lyrics on the 'Burn' album. At one of the first meetings I had with him, I remember Shawn bringing a red Strat-style guitar into the rehearsal room with the word 'Shawnacaster' tagged onto the headstock in his swirly, graffiti-esque handwriting. Shawn used to wear a tie-dye shirt at least once a week and I will never forget the times we made tie-dye Havok shirts to fit his style.

"When he was being himself, Shawn was a riot. The guy was super funny and entertaining… He made me laugh a lot with his jokes, slang, witty comebacks, rhymes, and hilarious physical comedy accompanied by beatboxing. I met Shawn when he was a 17 year old Jimmy Page lookalike, so it was quite interesting to see him grow from a shy young man into a flying V-weilding lead guitar player for a heavy metal band. He loved Led Zeppelin and could play just about any Page solo better than Page does on the records! He was an extremely talented blues player and it's obvious on songs like 'Path To Nowhere', 'Identity Theft', and "'To Hell'. Shawn was VERY smart and I learned a lot from him through our discussions about history, religion, politics, and music. Though we would argue at times, he was quick to let things go and move on with life. This is a quality I admired in him and I wish more people in the world possessed this quality. The usual icebreaker after an argument was a stupid joke that would make me laugh and ease any tension. People that knew him can remember his passion for meaningful debate and a desire to see ideas evolve to their best conclusions. The world would benefit from having more intelligent, funny, charming, kind, thought-provoking individuals like 'Shawnathan'.

"I would like to wish condolences to his family and those close to him. Shawn was a gentle, likable, sensitive, and well-spoken individual. He was one of my best friends during adolescence and he taught me a lot about an array of topics. It is sad to see him pass at such a young age. Shawn's contributions can be heard throughout the first Havok full-length album, "Burn" and various other early recordings.

"May he rock in peace."


Video From Metallica's Rock in Rio USA Set Goes Online
(hennemusic) Metallica headlined opening weekend of the inaugural Rock In Rio USA festival in Las Vegas on Saturday and several broadcast quality videos from the live stream has been posted online.

The band topped a bill that included Linkin Park, Deftones, Rise Against and others, the day after No Doubt delivered the event's first headlining set. The appearance marks Metallica's return to the Rock in Rio festival following performances at Rock in Rio Lisboa in 2004, 2008 and 2012, Rock in Rio Madrid in 2010, as well as in the fest's home city of Rio in 2011 and 2013.

Part of Rock in Rio's 30th anniversary, the opening weekend of Rock in Rio USA focused on rock while the May 15-16 event will feature pop acts like Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran.

Up next, Metallica will begin a European tour in Germany on May 29. Watch the videos here.




Faith No More Streaming Comeback Album 'Sol Invictus' Online
(Classic Rock) Faith No More have streamed their comeback album Sol Invictus ahead of its release next week. Hear all 10 tracks, totaling just under 40 minutes of music, via NPR here.

The band's comeback title is launched 18 years after previous outing Album Of the Year and follows the band's live reunion in 2009. Keyboardist Roddy Bottum admitted in February that they'd been bored into a studio return, saying: "We felt like there are a whole lot of people out there who look to us to be inspired by what we do artistically. To be doing old songs over and over felt kind of cheap and easy - and a little too safe a place to be. That's not who we are."

Meanwhile, ex-frontman Chuck Mosley made a guest appearance at the band's show in Detroit over the weekend. Mosley - who was fired in 1988, making way for Mike Patton's arrival - fronted his former colleagues for a rendition of their track Mark Bowen, from 1985 debut We Care A Lot. You can see video from the jam here.




Alice In Chains' Jerry Cantrell Guest On New Deftones Album
(Classic Rock) Deftones' eighth album will feature a guest appearance by Alice In Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell, frontman Chino Moreno has revealed. The band decided to extend the invitation after deciding one of the tracks on the follow-up to 2012's Koi No Yokan needed something extra.

Moreno tells 92.3KOMP: "Jerry is on the album. I don't know if he wanted anybody to know or not, but I guess I've spilled the beans. There's one track, in the demo stages, I was like, 'There's this hole in there.' In Deftones songs there's not really any guitar solos, but there was a section where it could use something like what he does."

Cantrell sent back a demo two days after the band made contact, then recorded the final version in their studio. "It's like you're hearing a Deftones song - but all of a sudden a bit of Alice In Chains seeps in," says Moreno. "As a fan, I was just sitting back and a little tear came out of my eye." Read more and watch video of the interview here.





Ozzy Donates To Kids' Group After Seeing Their 'Crazy Train' Cover
(Classic Rock) Ozzy Osbourne has given Louisville Leopard Percussionists, a kids' community group, a donation of $10,000 after seeing their cover of his classic track "Crazy Train" online.

The Louisville Leopard Percussionists are an after-school group comprising more than 60 children aged 7-14 and they previously recorded a Led Zeppelin medley featuring Kashmir, The Ocean and Immigrant Song.

But the Courier-Journal reports it was their cover of his 1980 track Crazy Train from his Blizzard Of Ozz album that caught Osbourne's attention, and he sent them the donation with a note.

It read: "Myself, my whole family and my fans all loved your rendition of Crazy Train. Keep up the good work." Read more and watch their performance of "Crazy Train" here.




The Who's Pete Townshend Working On 'Big Project'
(Classic Rock) The Who's Pete Townshend says he's currently working on a "big" project as the band continue their 50th anniversary celebrations. They'll headline the final night at this year's Glastonbury and play the British Summer Time festival on June 26. But outside of his commitments with The Who, the guitarist says he also has other projects in the pipeline.

He tells Rolling Stone: "I'm working on a big project at the moment which might be half rock opera, half art installation - I don't know where it's going to go. I'm going to start with a book. I don't want to talk too much about that now."

And while he says he's currently enjoying going over old tracks from the band's past, Townshend reports he's also working on fresh material which could appear on a solo album - although he's not sure he wants to release anything at the moment. Read more here.




Asia Announce Live Release Featuring Steve Howe
(Classic Rock) Asia have confirmed the launch of a live set recorded in the US in 2012, before Steve Howe bowed out of the band. And they've released a clip in which they perform their track Face On The Bridge.

Axis XXX Live In San Francisco MMXII will be available in DVD/2CD and Blu-ray editions on July 3, after its original broadcast by AXS TV in the States.

Frontman John Wetton says: "It's a journey through Asia's history, from Alpha to Omega and more, in the beautiful setting of the Regency Ballroom, San Francisco, California.

"Much newer material is aired, plus the band's vintage hit songs, performed by all four original members of Asia. It's an unmissable treat for any fan, new or old."






Gwar Singer Found Out She Was Fired In Online Announcement?
(TeamRock Radio) Gwar have split with vocalist Kim Dylla, the band have confirmed. But despite the group stating there was "no ill will, no acrimony, and no drama" to her departure, the singer, aka Vulvatron, is furious, claiming she found out about the announcement online.

Gwar guitarist Brent Purgason, aka Pustulus Maximus, initially broke the news on their Facebook page. He explains: "Kim did a great job but we wanted to go a different direction with the Vulvatron character. You will absolutely see more of Vulvatron in the future, just not portrayed by Kim.

"There is no ill will, no acrimony, and no drama. We respect Kim's talent without question - it just isn't what we needed in the character." But in an angry response, Dylla posted her own message, saying: "It's really nice when you find out important things from people you consider to be your friends from posts on the internet and messages from strangers." Read more here.




B.B. King's family Lose Legal Bid For Control
(Classic Rock) B.B. King's family have lost a legal bid to wrestle control of his finances from manager Laverne Toney. The 89-year-old blues icon's business manager will retain power of attorney over his affairs after a Las Vegas judge ruled against the family's request to revoke Toney's guardianship.

The Associated Press reports that police and social services found no evidence of elder abuse and the judge said he couldn't appoint King's daughter Karen Williams as his guardian.

Williams claimed that more than $5 million in assets was at stake and that more than $1m had gone missing. She also claimed Toney would not allow visits from King's friends - including Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy. Read more here.




Video From Rush Tour Kick Off Goes Online
(hennemusic) Rush launched their 40th anniversary R40 Live tour at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma on May 8th and several fan-filmed videos from the show have been posted online.

The 26-song evening saw the band deliver two sets of material from their extensive catalogue, with many tracks performed for the first time in many years.

Rush dug back to their self-titled 1974 debut for "What You're Doing" for the first time in concert since 1977; other rarely-played tracks included "Lakeside Park" (first since 1978), "Jacob's Ladder" (first since 1980), "Anthem" (first since 1992) and "Animate" (first since 2004), among others.

Named after Rush's 40th anniversary box set, "R40", the tour may the last one of its size for Rush. Rush manager Ray Danniels and bassist Geddy Lee have both discussed the group's plans to scale back the length of touring as band members approach their mid-60s in the next few years, with drummer Neil Peart wishing to spend more time at home with his family in California.






New Found Glory's Chad Gilbert Releasing Solo Project Album
(TeamRock Radio) New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert has confirmed details of his solo project's debut album. What's Eating Gilbert will issue That New Sound You're Looking For on July 10 via Hopeless Sounds.

He says: "I'm excited to announce that it is finally time for me to release the first full-length What's Eating Gilbert album. I say 'finally' because I actually recorded these 12 songs in January of 2014.

"Why have I waited so long to release it? Well, New Found Glory have had an action-packed last year-and-a-half. Once Hopeless Records told me they wanted to release this album we decided it was best to release it at a time when I could actually go out and play it for you." Read more and see Chad's posting here.




Muse Frontman Has Reservations About Working With Mutt Lange
(Classic Rock) Muse frontman Matt Bellamy has called producer Robert John 'Mutt' Lange a "guru" - but admits he had reservations about working together on the band's seventh album Drones.

Lange - known for his collaborations with Def Leppard, Nickelback and many others - was behind the desk for the follow-up to 2012's _The 2nd Law, _due on June 8.

Bellamy tells Rolling Stone: "Before I met him I wasn't sure. I didn't want us to be turned into a kind of top 40 act. I figured Mutt would be more focused on, 'What's the single? What's going to be the big hit?'"

But he continues: "He wasn't like that at all - he was totally into the concept. He's the kind of person to get into the mind of the artist and whatever the artist wants." Read more here.





Graham Bonnet And Michael Schenker To Reunite On Stage
(Classic Rock) Graham Bonnet and Michael Schenker will reunite on stage during their joint tour of Japan next month. The pair worked together on the Michael Schenker Group's 1982 album Assault Attack. But Bonnet left after the recording sessions, having played just one gig with MSG.

Last year, Schenker said he was open to working with the singer again. And with the Graham Bonnet Band and MSG touring Japan together in June, Bonnet - who has completed his band's lineup - will perform some of the tracks from Assault Attack with Schenker's band.

Bonnet says: "We know that this record holds a very special place for many fans, especially in Japan, so this will make the debut shows of the new band even more special." Read more here.





The Darkness Recruit Queen Legend's Son As New Drummer
(hennemusic) Rufus Taylor, the son of Queen's Roger Taylor, has been named the new drummer for UK rockers The Darkness. Guitarist Dan Hawkins revealed the news during an April 25 interview with Real Radio XS.

"We already have someone, and we actually played our first show with him last night," said Hawkins. "The 'drummist' will be known as Rufus Taylor, son of Roger Taylor."

Taylor made his debut with The Darkness at a Gibson release party in London for their upcoming album, "Last of Our Kind", after a friend recommended him to the group.

"Rufus just happened to be in Australia at the time when we needed to get someone in," explained Hawkins. "So he stepped off a plane at 6AM yesterday, went straight to a rehearsal with us, where we ran through things a couple of times - the set we were playing that night - and then we went straight to the place and did a gig. Talk about seat of the pants!"

Taylor arrived days after the group announced the departure of drummer Emily Dolan Davies just a month after she made her live debut with the band. Listen to the interview here.





Sammy Hagar Looks Back At Final Conversation With Ronnie Montrose
(hennemusic) Sammy Hagar recalls his final conversation with Ronnie Montrose, three years after the guitarist took his own life. The guitarist formed his namesake outfit, Montrose, in early 1973 with Hagar, bassist Bill Church and drummer Denny Carmassi after he left the Edgar Winter Group. The band broke out with their self-titled debut, a record that featured classics like "Bad Motor Scooter," "Rock The Nation" and "Rock Candy."

Montrose died on March 3, 2012 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a five year battle with prostrate cancer. At the Carolina Rebellion on May 2 to play with his latest supergroup The Circle, Hagar spoke about his attempts to regroup with his former bandmate, and receiving the news of his death.

"It was tough, man," says Hagar. "When I got that call, it was devastating, because I just started talking to him. Me and him started talking again recently, and he was gonna come to Cabo for my birthday that year and play with the original Montrose.

"I said to him, quote-unquote, on the phone, 'Ronnie…' He was saying, 'I don't know, Hagar…' He was always accusing me of trying to do stuff for my own good. Like, 'What do you want from me?' I'm, like, 'I don't need anything from you, Ronnie. Trust me. I wanna thank you. I wanna do something for you.'"

"And he was a hard guy to get along with," Hagar continued. "So he told me, 'Okay, I'll do it.' 'Cause he said, 'Yeah, while we're all still alive' - Bill Church, Denny Carmassi, Sammy and Ronnie. Look, I've got goosebumps. 'While we're all still alive.' And I said, 'Great!' And a month later, I get the phone call: 'My God, Ronnie just shot himself in the head.' Unbelievable!"

While he initiated efforts to partner with Montrose as a friend, Hagar remains puzzled at the concept of suicide. "I don't regret anything," he explains, "'cause I tried and I tried and I tried to be friends with him - not to put Montrose back together, but to be friends and to hang out and to have him come to my birthday bash, and have him come out on the road with me, which we did many times.

"Ronnie came out and played with us for the encore and I'd do four Montrose tunes. I'd pay him more money than he'd normally get. I loved the guy, but he was hard to get along with.

"He obviously couldn't get along with himself. I mean, you don't do that. How can a guy do that? I don't even know how someone could do that." Watch the interview video here.




Enuff Z'Nuff Launching UK Tour This Week
(Classic Rock) Enuff Z'Nuff will play eight dates in the UK starting this week, it's been announced. They split with drummer Randi Scott and guitarist Tory Stoffregan last year, but mainman Chip Z'Nuff decided the group would continue as a trio, reuniting with longtime guitarist Johnny Monaco reprising his role as frontman and recruiting former drummer Erik Donner.

Donner won't be with the group for the dates, which also includes three nights in Spain later in the month. No reason has been given but English drummer Michael Richards will be behind the kit for all shows.

The band say in a statement: "The Good Times Are Hard To Find tour is coming up quick. Opening act Estrella will also be touring with us so get there early to see them." They have also lined up dates in Spain. Read more including the dates here.





Vince Neil Looks Back At Motley Crue's Legacy
(Classic Rock) Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil says he's proud of the band's legacy. They're currently in New Zealand on the latest leg of their farewell tour, and the singer says he's happy they achieved success on their own terms.

He tells the New Zealand Herald: "There were a lot of firsts with us. We defined a generation in the 80s. We defined MTV culture. We made a type of music that everyone followed. There are a lot of things to be proud of with our band. We went out our way. We did it our way."

He previously reported that both he and drummer Tommy Lee get emotional when playing classic track Home Sweet Home from 1985's Theatre Of Pain. And he says calling time on their live career at the Staples Center in LA on December 31 will be hard to accept. Read more here.




Faulkner Views Judas Priest As A Band Of Brothers
(Classic Rock) Guitarist Richie Faulkner says his Judas Priest bandmates are like brothers to him. He joined the group in 2011 after KK Downing bowed out and played on last year's Redeemer Of Souls. And after spending four years with Rob Halford and co, he says there's a definite family vibe within the band.

He tells the Rockpit: "We're like brothers - they're all like my older brothers. They let you get into trouble sometimes. They teach you a little here and there but then they get into trouble as well.

"They are authority figures but at the same time they're out getting into the same scrapes as you are. We have some great times because of it. We see some great things so it's just a pleasure. I'd definitely say brothers." Read more here.




Tom Waits To Make His Final Letterman Appearance This Week
(hennemusic) Tom Waits has revealed that he will be making his final appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman on Thursday, May 14th as the late night talk show host comes closer to his retirement.

The singer/songwriter has performed on the CBS late night program several times over the years - most recently in 2012 - and remains one of the host's favorite interview guests.

Waits' appearance comes in the final week of broadcasts by Letterman, who will deliver his farewell program on Wednesday, May 20 after more than three decades in late night.

Waits' latest release was 2011's "Bad As Me", which was nominated for a 2013 Grammy Award in the Best Alternative Music Album category. Read more here.




Leonard Cohen Reveals Live Album Details
(Classic Rock) Leonard Cohen is to release a live album recorded during his Old Ideas world tour later this month, it's been confirmed. Can't Forget: A Souvenir Of The Grand Tour will launch on May 15 via Sony Music Entertainment.

The 10-track album contains a selection of rare songs recorded during his 470 shows between 2008-2013 and is his first release since last year's Popular Problems.

The live set is described as having "the immediacy, spontaneity, and thrilling intimacy of the best studio recordings made in the white heat of live performance and Cohen's legendary sound checks." Read more including the track details and see the cover art here.





HBO Tease Rock Hall Special With Preview Clip
(Classic Rock) HBO have issued a teaser for their upcoming special covering this year's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony, which is due to be broadcast on May 30.

Last month's event in Cleveland saw Green Day, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Ringo Starr, Lou Reed, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Bill Withers inducted.

The 30th annual gala was opened by Jett, who was joined on stage by Foo Fighters mainman Dave Grohl and ex Blackhearts bassist Gary Ryan. Starr was welcomed into the Hall by his old colleague Paul McCartney while John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono described the drummer as "the most influential Beatle." Read more and watch the trailer here.





Nightwish Reveal New Song 'Endless Forms Most Beautiful'
(Prog) Nightwish have released the title track from their album "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" as a single and group as streaming the new track online via a lyric video.

It's available as a limited-edition CD, a 10" vinyl and in digital formats via Nuclear Blast. A lyric video for the track has also been made available. It is the second track lifted from the album, following Elan.

The record was released on March 30. Endless Forms Most Beautiful features a guest appearance from Professor Richard Dawkins who was a major inspiration on the album. Watch the lyric video here.




Magenta Added To Touchstone's Farewell Show
(Prog) Touchstone have announced that Magenta will join them for their farewell show that will be taking place at Leamington Spa's Assembly on November 21.

Touchstone are planning on going on hiatus after the gig due to the departure of vocalist Kim Seviour. She's bowing out as a result of a debilitating medical condition.

And it's been announced that both bands will perform full sets on the night and both will be filmed for a future DVD release. Touchstone guitarist Adam Hodgson says: "It's really special to be doing this concert with Magenta, as some of our best early shows were with them at The Point in Cardiff and we have such a long history together.

"We're looking forward to a special all-band jam at the end. I have a feeling there might also be some other party crashers." Read more here.





Powerwolf Streaming New Song 'Army Of The Night'
(TeamRock Radio) German power metallers Powerwolf have unveiled new track Army Of The Night". The song comes from their upcoming album Blessed & Possessed, to be released on Napalm Records.

The band tells Metal Hammer that Army Of The Night "is one of the many songs of Blessed & Possessed we can't wait to perform live." Talking about the first time Powerwolf played the song during songwriting, they say the energy and dynamics "literally blew us away and we felt like this is going to be a must-play.

"While many of the songs on Blessed & Possessed are very detailed and elaborated, this one is probably one of straightest and most compact Powerwolf songs to date." Stream the song here.





White Hills Release 'Wanderlust' Video
(Prog) White Hills have issued a music video for their track Wanderlust. It's taken from the New York duo's latest record Walks For Motorists which was released last month via Thrill Jockey.

Speaking about the album, the band's Dave W told Prog: "My mantra for the record was 'less is more.' It was about deconstructing more than it was about constructing.

"We really focused on what the appropriate length of the tracks should be. This record is definitely our most cared about - in every respect." Dave W and Ego Sensation previously released a video for the track No Will with TeamRock. Watch the new video here.




Singled Out: 4th 'N Goal's Out Of Tortillas
Today Tommaso Grecu from 4th 'N Goal tells us about the song "Out Of Tortillas" which comes from their brand new "Turn on the light" EP. Here is the story:

We wrote this song to thank everyone who voted us and made us win last year's Ernie Ball Battle Of The Bands. We flew from Italy to California just to play a show at Warped Tour. The lyrics are full of references of our 3 day adventure in Los Angeles and Ventura. The song title comes from the misadventure we had at Taco Bell, after the show. It was 10p.m, we asked for burritos and the guy said "no burritos, we're out of tortillas"

That's why we ended up with uncountable quantities of tacos, exhausted in the parking lot with "cheese from tacos in my socks". There was really a lot of it in our shoes.

That morning we woke up with breakfast at Randy's Donuts, with the big 'ole box of sugary goodness. We flew a 10000 miles and back just to see our name on "The Wall", and it was worth it. "Good things happen when you trust the right people" right?

Bonus: Turn on the light, EP title, also comes from that night after Warped Tour. After stopping somewhere on the road we forgot to turn on the headlights. As we approached a crossroad, this guy in a truck with the loudest voice ever pulls his head off the window and shouts "Turn on the lights, dude!"

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