Today's Rock News!

Ozzy Osbourne Recruits Slash For Halloween Supergroup Performance

Ozzy Osbourne has recruited former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash and his Black Sabbath bandmate Geezer Butler to perform with him when he headlines the second night of the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience on Halloween.
Billed as Ozzy + Friends, the band will also feature former Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and there is no word yet which drummer will be performing with the band.

This year's Voodoo Music + Arts Experience takes place on October 30th, 31st and November 1st in New Orleans with Florence + the Machine headlining the first night and Zac Brown Band taking the headline slot on the closing night. Find more information and the full lineup here.




Van Halen Trying To Stop Sammy Hagar From Performing Songs?(hennemusic)

Sammy Hagar is claiming that the Alex and Eddie Van Halen are trying to prevent him from performing songs from the band's Van Hagar-era. Hagar continues to play material from his time in the group when he performs solo and with any of the supergroups he's a part of - the latest being The Circle, with bassist Michael Anthony, drummer Jason Bonham and guitarist Vic Johnson.
"I feel obligated, because listen - we sold 40 million, 47 million records, whatever it was together," Hagar tells Eddie Trunk. "We had all those Number Ones. Those are great songs: 'Right Now.' 'When It's Love.' 'Finish What Ya Started.' … These are great songs that need to be played for the people that supported it during the era, and it actually irritates me when those guys try to act like it never happened."

Hagar then goes on to speculate about the band's motives while attempting to take a shot at the ability of original Van Halen vocalist David Lee Roth. "I'm going, 'Why would you shoot yourself in the foot like that just because you can't do them anymore?'," says Hagar. "But don't act like they're not good songs and you can't play them and that they're not worth being played."

The Red Rocker tells Trunk the Van Halen brothers are out to shut his efforts down. "If you wanna know the truth, I'm gonna tell you something that's gonna stir everything and everybody up so bad, you're not going to believe it," Hagar continues. "Eddie and Alex Van Halen are trying to stop me from even being able to play those songs. They have had attorneys and people say 'No, he can't play them.' Sometimes you need permission to play something, like on TV and stuff, and they say no. They will actually fight legally to try and stop me, and I'm going crazy."

"I'm going, 'I'm gonna break these guys' neck'", threatens Hagar. "It's like they're so jealous they can't do them and they don't want them to be heard because they want to pretend like it never happened because of what they're doing now.

"When I got wind of this. I was going nuts. I've hired an attorney and I'm gonna fight these guys to the end. Those are my songs! I wrote every lyric and every frickin' melody on every one of those songs, and for those guys to say I can't sing my own songs … oh my God, I'm going crazy." Read more and listen to the full interview here.



Journey Hire New Drummer In Wake Of Deen's Arrest(hennemusic)

Journey have hired drummer Omar Hakim for their summer tour following the arrest of longtime member Deen Castronovo on domestic violence charges in Oregon on June 14.
The band issued the following statement: "We Journey have made the decision to have Omar Hakim play drums for the band's upcoming U.S. concerts (Hollywood Bowl on Saturday, June 20 and the Stadium of Fire in Provo, Utah on Saturday, July 4), as well as the band's Canadian tour (July 6 - August 3), due to Deen Castronovo's pending issues. We are very grateful to Omar filling in with his musical excellence."

Castronovo was arrested in Salem, Oregon after an early morning domestic dispute that saw the drummer charged with assault, coercion, and menacing; he was released on bail and a plea hearing has been scheduled for June 30. Read more here.



Iron Maiden Announce New Double Album

Now that Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson is tumor free, the band are moving forward with the release of their new studio album "The Book Of Souls", which is set to be released on September 4th.
No strangers to epic songs, the legendary British heavy metal band have recorded a new truly epic album with so much music that it will be released in double CD and triple heavyweight vinyl formats.

In addition to the standard digital, 2CD, 3Record vinyl versions, the band will also be releasing a limited edition 2CD deluxe edition that will feature a hardbound book and two 24-bit high res audio versions including a mastered for iTunes version and a non-mastered for iTunes.

The band recorded the album at the Guillame Tell Studios in Paris with longtime producer Kevin 'Caveman' Shirley album last year. Dickinson had this to say, "We're really excited about The Book Of Souls and had a fantastic time creating it. We started working on the album in late summer 2014 and recorded it at Guillame Tell Studios in Paris, where we'd done the Brave New World album back in 2000 so the studio holds special memories for all of us.

"We were delighted to discover the same magical vibe is still alive and very much kicking there! So we immediately felt at home and the ideas just started flowing. By the time we'd finished we all agreed that each track was such an integral part of the whole body of work that if it needed to be a double album, then double its going to be!"

Band founder Steve Harris explains why this is a different album for the band, "We approached this album in a different way to how we've recorded previously. A lot of the songs were actually written while we were there in the studio and we rehearsed and recorded them straight away while they were still fresh, and I think that immediacy really shows in the songs, they have almost a live feel to them, I think. I'm very proud of The Book Of Souls, we all are, and we can't wait for our fans to hear it, and especially to take it out on the road next year!" See the tracklisting and format details here.




Bumblefoot Address Scott Weiland Art Of Anarchy Controversy(Classic Rock)


Guitarist Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal wishes Scott Weiland had called him to discuss supergroup Art Of Anarchy before labeling the project a "scam from the beginning."
The ex-Stone Temple Pilots frontman spoke out after the band was announced in January, also featuring Disturbed bassist John Moyer. And despite appearing in a video alongside the rest of the lineup, he insisted he "didn't even know what their names were" and that "it was something I did when I wasn't doing anything."

Asked if Weiland was aware that Art Of Anarchy was aiming to be a fully-fledged band project, Bumblefoot tells Rock.About.com's Bob Schallau,, "Well, we thought it was. It's complicated (laughs). And also it has to do with legal stuff. It would have to do with contracts and all that. So I probably shouldn't talk too much about it. That could get in the way of whatever.

"But it was... I mean I don't want to throw anybody under the bus or anything, but contracts were worded clearly. We all knew what we were getting into and thought each other knew what we were getting into. So anything else came as a shock.

"And even when we announced the existence of the band in January, the night before camps were in touch with each other approving the bio and all those things so that nothing was a surprise. Even things that we didn't need to be in touch about like, 'Here's what I'm gonna say on Twitter, just so you know,' out of courtesy so that nothing for any reason rubs anyone the wrong way.

"And we made the announcement and then (laughs) we saw in the middle of... (pauses). Yeah. So it was disappointing. I would have much preferred if Scott had called me and said, 'Can we find a different way of doing this or wording this', or something that would be less damaging." Read more here.




The Rolling Stones Jam Classic Song With Brad Paisley(hennemusic)


The Rolling Stones were joined by Brad Paisley for a performance of their 1971 classic, "Dead Flowers", in Nashville on Wednesday and video of the jam has been posted online.
Paisley did double-duty on the evening, opening the Stones' show at the city's LP Field, where he brought on special guests Carrie Underwood and Joe Walsh.

"We've got so many country artists here tonight," joked Mick Jagger, "When I went to the VIP room back stage, wow, I've never seen so much heartbreak!" Keith Richards added "We should come here more often. It's a great town."

The Rolling Stones are currently playing concerts on their Zip Code tour of North America to promote the expanded reissue of "Sticky Fingers", which is rounded out with alternate and unreleased tracks from the sessions. Watch video of the jam here.




New Beatles Musical Coming Next Year(Classic Rock)


A musical based on the Beatles' sessions in Abbey Road Studios will be staged at London's Royal Albert Hall next year. A replica of the iconic premises' Studio Two will be built for the production, set to open in April.
Producer Stig Edgren tells The Times: "It will be a musical documentary giving audiences an honest, respectful and accurate recreation of how history was made."

And he's insisted the cast won't be made up of Fab Four lookalikes. "We're not trying to look like the Beatles - we're trying to sound like them," he says. "The idea is you're watching them in recording mode." Read more here.




Emmure Pull Out Of Festival Due To Frankie Palmeri's Health(TeamRock Radio)


Emmure have cancelled another gig as frontman Frankie Palmeri has still not fully recovered from a torn vocal cord. He suffered the injury on the road in February and the band later cancelled a European tour with Caliban, Thy Art Is Murder and Sworn.
They were due to perform at Insane Clown Posse's Gathering Of The Juggalos - but with Palmeri still under doctor's orders to rest, they've dropped the date.

Emmure say: "We regret to inform everyone, but we have decided to pull out due to Frankie's recovery progress. We'd like everyone to know that Frankie is doing much better since this incident started in February, and we appreciate all the well wishes.

"We want to thank ICP and the organisers for asking us to be part of the festival this year. Thank you all for the continued support." Read more and see the band's post



Fear Factory Streaming New Song 'Soul Hacker'(TeamRock Radio)


Fear Factory have launched a lyric video for their track Soul Hacker, taken from ninth album Genexus. The follow-up to 2012's The Industrialist will be released on August 7 via Nuclear Blast, with a guest appearance from Journey drummer Deen Castronovo.
Guitarist Dino Cazares says: "We chose Soul Hacker for the first single because it's heavy, catchy and has a lot of groove. You can really hear the aggression in Burton C Bell's vocals on this one - not to mention on the entire album. We think people are really going to love this song and record. It's varied, melodic, aggressive and heavy."

He adds: "We wanted to make it a little more interesting than your typical lyric video, so we included some live footage of the band from our last few tours and images of ourselves performing the song on TV screens." Stream the song here.




The Supersuckers Launch Eddie Spaghetti Cancer Fund(Classic Rock)


The Supersuckers have launched a fundraising campaign to assist frontman Eddie Spaghetti's cancer fight. They revealed earlier this week that he'd been diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer, forcing the cancellation of a European tour.
Last night's concert in Seattle was their last before he undergoes surgery on June 29, to be followed by radiation treatment and possibly chemotherapy. Spaghetti's wife Jessika Daly has told how the diagnosis was confirmed during a family road trip. She says on the band website: "On the afternoon of Monday, June 15, after five long days of holding our breath, the phone finally rang.

"'Eddie, you have stage three oropharynx cancer and you should come in for surgery as soon as possible. I was driving the car, and even though we knew the call was coming, I had to pull over. I couldn't breathe. He was scrambling for paper and a pen and I just felt my arms get weak. I saw his face become tense and scared. This was the news we'd waited impatiently for - it was the call that would change everything." Read more here.




3 Doors Down Guitarist Reveals New Album Details(TeamRock Radio)



3 Doors Down have revealed the title of their upcoming sixth album. The Mississippi rockers will release Us And The Night later this year, guitarist Chris Henderson says.
He tells KFMX: "I'm actually on my way to the studio right now to finish guitars for a new record. The music's almost done. Probably in the next five days the record will be finished 100 percent and sent off to mix.

"It's going to be called Us And The Night, so there is an album title. I think the tentative release date will be September, October, November - somewhere in that area. We want to



Refused Release 'Dawkins Christ' Music Video(TeamRock Radio)



Refused have released a video for their track Dawkins Christ. It's taken from the Swedish hardcore outfit's album Freedom, which will be issued on June 30 via Epitaph. They previously issued opening track Elektra.
The band say of Dawkins Christ: "The title refers to the famous biologist whose atheist theology has inspired a semi-cult who see him as a messianic figure -an irony that partly inspired the lyrics.

"The music draws from the film scores of Hans Zimmer and Ennio Morricone as well as pre-Reign In Blood Slayer." Refused reunited in 2012 after originally splitting in 1998. They have a number of tour dates running through to October, including slots at Reading and Leeds festivals. Watch the video here.





Rammstein's Lindemann Feels Newcomers Don't Have A Chance In Music (Classic Rock)



Till Lindemann believes up-and-coming rock bands face an impossible task to make a living from their music. And the Rammstein vocalist insists there will be no future acts to take the place of the current global giants.
Lindemann tells Rock Sverige: "The only thing I can say is that I don't want to start a band these days. It's quite impossible to live off of it. The record companies don't give you a chance, like in the old days when they went, 'Here's a pile of money - go make a good record.'"

He describes modern music as "fast produced, home made, all digital and low-budget," and adds: "As a newcomer you have no chance. Everything is cheap and low budget, in my opinion." Read more here.





While She Sleeps Release Plea For Temp Singer For Warped Dates(TeamRock Radio)



While She Sleeps have issued an SOS for a stand-in singer who can cover for Loz Taylor on the first dates of the Vans Warped Tour in the US which kicks off today (June 19).
Taylor encountered visa problems and can't leave the UK until they're resolved, meaning the band must find a replacement. They say: "Are you a vocalist? Can you scream? Do you want to sing with us?

"The US visa system is broken and Loz is stuck in the UK until it's fixed. We need someone to do his job until then." Read more including the contact information if you are interested here.





Black Veil Brides Fans Step Up For Late Roadie's Family(TeamRock Radio)


Fans of Black Veil Brides, Asking Alexandria, Motionless In White, Falling In Reverse and others have helped smash the funding target set to help bring a late roadie's body home.
Chris Holley died in his sleep in Los Angeles at the weekend, leading to tributes from members of many of the bands he'd worked with. His family asked for $10,500 via GoFundMe, explaining that he hadn't been insured and it would take an "extremely large amount" to cover the transit costs to Florida.

But less than 24 hours after the campaign was launched, it all-but crossed the $20,000 mark, meaning Holley will be laid to rest near his loved ones. Read more here.





Radiohead Track Lift May Finally Be Released(Prog)


Radiohead's ninth album is set to feature old track Lift after the band finally came up with an arrangement they liked. Guitarist Jonny Greenwood describes the song as a "management favorite".
Greenwood also compares the track's development to that of Nude, which was written in the 1990s but wasn't recorded until the In Rainbows sessions of 2007.

In a Dutch interview, just translated, Greenwood says: "What people don't know is that there's a very old song on each album, like Nude. We never found the right arrangement for that, until then.

"Lift is just like that. When the idea is right, it stays right. It doesn't really matter in which form." Read more here.




Rolling Stones Score Top 5 Chart Debut With Sticky Fingers Reissue(hennemusic)


The newly-released reissue of the Rolling Stones 1971 album classic, "Sticky Fingers", has landed a US Top 5 debut. Billboard reports the reissue enters the Billboard 200 at No. 5 with opening week sales of 36,000 copies.
The Super Deluxe version - which tracks separately due to its additional extra content - debuts at No. 65 with 9,000 copies. The Rolling Stones are currently playing concerts on their Zip Code tour of North America to promote the expanded reissue, which is rounded out with alternate and unreleased tracks from the sessions.

The band warmed up for the tour with a May 20 club show at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, which was filmed for a possible future release. Read more here.




Tim Bowness Releases 'Press Reset' Video(Prog)


Tim Bowness has released a video for his track Press Reset. It's taken from upcoming solo album Stupid Things That Mean The World, set for launch via InsideOut on July 17.
Bowness says: "Press Reset was one of the first songs I wrote for the album. The band fleshed out my demo and produced some really interesting and powerful performances - from Colin Edwin's atmospheric ebow bass and Andrew Booker's inventive drum patterns to the very direct guitar contributions from Bruce Soord.

"Lyrically, the song deals with a person on the verge of escaping from the pressures of their life. The almost ambient lyric video by We Do Band Stuff is all the better for its stylish simplicity." Watch the video here.




Miss May I Streaming New Song 'I.H.E'(TeamRock Radio)



Miss May I have made their track I.H.E available to stream. It's taken from the Ohio metal outfit's fifth album Deathless, released on August 7 via Rise Records. Pre-orders include an instant download of I.H.E.
Frontman Levi Benton says: "Not only have we been working on this record for almost a year, but we recorded it with our old friend Joey Sturgis who did our first two records and really brought out the best in us.

"It's about how the last two years have tested us on many levels, and how we've come through it all stronger and better. That's where the title comes from - we are deathless." Read more and stream the song here.





Swallow The Sun Ink Deal For New Album Release(Prog)


Swallow The Sun have signed to Century Media Records for an album they hope will "bring the heart back." The Finnish outfit are currently working on the follow-up to 2012's Emerald Forest And The Blackbird, and aim to release further titles through their new deal.
Guitarist Juha Raivio says of their sixth record: "This is something that has not been done many times before - and maybe for a good reason. But we could not care less about that.

"We want to take a stand, to bring the worth and heart back to the music in these shallow times. More news about this huge opus coming soon." Read more here.





Perfect Beings Crowdfunding New Album(TeamRock Radio)


Perfect Beings have launched a crowdfunding campaign to help with the release of their second album. The Californian outfit issued their self-titled debut last year and they're ready to put out the follow-up.
Fans are being asked to pledge $26 (£16) for a CD copy, which comes with a free digital download. A range of other packages are also available via the Pledgemusic page.

Perfect Beings say: "We've finished recording our second album and now we'd like you to join us so we can get it manufactured, promoted, and distributed. We're essentially operating our own record label, and with your pre-order we can make it happen." Read more here.




Skindred Announce New Album 'Volume'(TeamRock Radio)



Skindred will launch sixth album Volume on October 30 via Napalm Records and Benji Webbe and co have released a short teaser featuring music from the follow-up to last year's Kill The Power.
They also announced that they will back it with a UK tour also featuring Crossfaith, (hed) p.e. and Yashin. Frontman Webbe recently told Primal Magazine: "Life is an influence. Going to the pub and having a pint, there's just so many lyrics there. Everything I've ever known, been taught or seen has gone into my songs.

"I want to be that guy who encourages somebody -all my favourite records have said something to me personally, and that's what I want to portray in Skindred." Watch the teaser and see the tour dates here.




Former Judas Priest Frontman Tim 'Ripper' Owens Announces Tour(Classic Rock)



Former Judas Priest frontman Tim 'Ripper' Owens has confirmed a 10-date UK tour next month. The solo shows feature support acts Past The Fall and Memories In Torment.
He recently recalled how he was given Rob Halford's job in Priest in 1996 after singing just one line, and that no other singer auditioned for the role that lasted until the original frontman's return in 2003.

Asked if he'd record with the metal icons again, Owens tells Rock Overdose: "I would, for sure. Not for the money, because I do better now, and I work a lot more.

"But for the good times. While I was in Priest it was like a family. We did everything together - and the hotels and bus was nicer. I miss my times with them, the stories, the beers and dinner. I miss just hanging with them." See the dates here.





Dragonforce To Play Club Where They Started Ahead Of Its Closing(TeamRock Radio)



Dragonforce are to play at a doomed Essex club to highlight the plight of closure-threatened music venues in the UK. They'll perform at The Square in Harlow on August 22, which is set to shut down after a series of concerts entitled Back To Square One, featuring successful acts who played there before they made the big time.
Guitarist Herman Li says: "DragonForce cut its teeth by playing an array of pubs and small clubs up and down the country, which are vital for bands to gain live experience.

"We're seeing venues disappear and it's becoming quite alarming. The Peel in Kingston, The Empress in Bradford, The Mean Fiddler in London – we played all of these in the distant past but they've all gone."

The band first played The Square 14 years ago. Li continues: "It's really very sad. But more to the point, it will affect the development of new talent in the UK." Read more here.



Thirty Seconds To Mars Announce Rescheduled Dubai Show(Gibson)


Earlier this year, the Jared Leto-fronted rock trio Thirty Seconds To Mars announced that they would play Dubai on April 10, 2015. However, less than a fortnight before the gig's scheduled date, organizers Live Nation announced that the show would have to be postponed owing to an "unforeseen scheduling conflict".
The new date for Thirty Seconds To Mars Dubai performance is 25 September 2015. The band, who wrapped up the Europe leg of their Love, Lust, Faith And Dreams Tour at the beginning of May, will play the one-off show at Dubai's World Trade Centre Arena before heading to two final gigs in Spain and Greece.

Local Dubai bands who entered the #MARSBattleOfTheBands contests will still be able to participate in the contest to choose a support act for the gig. Read more here.






The Amity Affliction Reveal UK Tour Details(TeamRock Radio)


The Amity Affliction have revealed more details of their November UK tour. The four previously-announced shows form part of the Impericon Never Say Die! 2015 European run and feature Defeater, Being As An Ocean, Cruel Hand, Fit For A King and Burning Down Alaska.
The Amity Affliction frontman Joel Birch says: "We're really excited to get back to Europe and the UK on the Impericon Never Say Die Tour – not only because we always feel so welcome there, but also because the lineup we have is killer.

"It's not often you want to watch every band on the bill. It's going to be fucking wild." The Australian headliners will relaunch last year's album Let The Ocean Take Me in a special edition including documentary movie Seems Like Forever plus two previously unreleased tracks, Skeletons and Forever. It arrives on July 10 via RoadRunner.