X's Billy Zoom Fighting Cancer Again(Classic Rock)
Billy Zoom of US punk veterans X is fighting bladder cancer and has been forced to step back from the band. The 67-year-old will begin chemotherapy treatment in the coming week, after having being treated for prostate cancer five years ago.
The band have launched a GoFundMe page so that fans can help with Zoom's medical fees - and it's already raised $67,000 from a planned target of $50,000.
They say: "In the music community, we all take turns helping each other - we have since the beginning. Punk rock and benefits always went hand in hand: you name the cause, and the bands and fans will be there.
"Now it's our turn to help Billy Zoom, the wittiest, smartest, nicest, best guitar player and friend we know. He has a long road ahead of him - but we're confident. He's beat cancer once and he'll do it again!" Read more here.
AC/DC's Phil Rudd Appealing Threatening To Kill Sentence(hennemusic)
AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has filed an appeal following his July 9 sentencing to 8 months of home detention by a New Zealand court after admitting threatening to kill and drugs charges stemming from a series of incidents in 2014.
In April, the drummer entered a guilty plea to one count of threatening to kill, possession of methamphetamine and possession of cannabis. Last week, the Judge banned Rudd from taking any drugs not prescribed to him and he will be monitored 24 hours a day during his home detention, which he'll serve at his waterfront Tauranga mansion.
Now, the New Zealand Herald reports Rudd's lawyer has lodged an appeal to the July 9 sentencing. A series of significant new insights around the case emerged from the sentencing hearing, including:
• Rudd has been meeting one-on-one with a specialist psychiatrist but authorities have remained concerned about his behaviour. It emerged ESR results showed Rudd had tested positive for cannabis in a test in December.
• Rudd has reconciled with his would-be victim and agreed to pay him a substantial sum of money in reparation - the Herald can not reveal the amount for legal reasons. Mr Tuck told the court a process that had "started badly" had "ended beautifully".
• Rudd's lawyer claimed that a conviction would result in losses in the tens of millions of dollars that would have came from being able to tour with AC/DC. The Crown cast doubt on this assertion, pointing out there was no direct evidence that Rudd was still a member of the band.
• The rocker put the threats he made to his former employee down to "methamphetamine-induced psychosis". Read more here.
John Fogerty Vs Former Creedence Clearwater Revival Bandmates(hennemusic)
John Fogerty has filed a civil suit against his former Creedence Clearwater Revival bandmates for breach of contract regarding their use of the name Creedence Clearwater Revisited.
Rolling Stone reports the claim, which was filed Friday in California, states that former CCR bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug Clifford haven't paid Fogerty for the use of his songs as well as his share of their "touring and merchandise" since December 2011, despite a 2001 agreement to do so.
Cook, Clifford and the widow of rhythm guitarist Tom Fogerty, John's brother, preemptively sued Fogerty last December over what they feared was "pending litigation."
For his part, Fogerty reissued the same statement he made in December. "No lawyers, lawsuits, or angry ex-band members will stop me ever again from singing my songs," said the singer. "These frivolous lawsuits in the past took me away from the music I loved. I am going to continue to tour and play all my songs every single night I am out on the road. No matter how anyone else sees it, they are my songs." Read more here.
Def Leppard Releasing New Album In October(Classic Rock)
Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen has revealed the band's 11th album will be launched in October. And he says the follow-up to 2008's Songs From The Sparkle Lounge is "probably the most diverse thing we've done."
Collen tells WAAF: "I think it's the best thing we've done since Hysteria - I really do. It's the loudest rock guitars we've ever had." And he believes the project is all the stronger for having developed organically. "We thought we were going to do an EP or a single, and we came out with 12 songs, and now we've got 14," he says.
"There wasn't any industry - no record company executive or anyone saying, 'You've got to do an album.' It was purely because we wanted to write songs, and we felt the need to do that.
"In the old days the Stones, Zeppelin, James Brown, the Beatles, they'd go into the studio when they had an idea and they'd record it. We've done it like that, and it has a fresher kind of sound for it. The integrity is just amazing - you can hear that in the grooves." Read more here.
Ritchie Blackmore Sues Over Deep Purple Royalties(hennemusic)
Former Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore is suing two management companies over claims that he is owed over a million dollars in unpaid publishing royalties and legal costs.
The Daily Mail reports Blackmore is claiming that a 2003 lawsuit brought by the lineup of Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord and Ian Paice against two management companies - HEC Enterprises and Deep Purple (Overseas) - should have included him and that he should be compensated as part of the settlement reached between the parties.
Blackmore claims he is entitled to receive one fifth of up to 85 per cent of the income from 14 of the band's classic albums after he hired an audit by a specialist accountant covering the years between 2007 and 2013, which showed 'very substantial' under-accounting by both management companies.
According to the documents, a former director of both management companies admitted last November that £370,561 was due to Blackmore, and later revised this upwards to £480,638. Read more here.
Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page Live Streaming Rare Interview(hennemusic)
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page will take part in a rare live streaming interview with fans today, July 13. The live stream interview will begin at 7:30pm CET.
The guitarist is promoting the group's year-long reissues campaign, which will wrap up on July 31 with the release of 1976's "Presence", 1979's "In Through The Out Door" and 1982's "Coda."
To participate in the Page session, fans will need to download the Periscope app from the app store (Android/iOS). Partricpants should then follow the user name Warner Music Germany directly at Periscope in order to attend the video live chat via Twitter.com/WarnerMusicde and Periscope. Read more here.
The Who Sabotaged At Music Festival?(Classic Rock)
The Who were victims of backstage sabotage ahead of their Glastonbury festival appearance, a senior roadie has claimed. And despite guitarist Pete Townshend describing it as one of the worst shows they've ever played, the tech insists they scored a definite victory.
He reveals that The Who were added to the Pyramid Stage bill at the last moment, "replacing Prince who decided not to come this year." Townshend told the 100,000-strong crowd on June 28: "This could have been better, but it's as good as it can be. It would have been great to have had a sound check and sorted ourselves out before we came out and hit you with all this sh*t."
The roadie says in a blog on the band website: "As we began to prepare, we found someone had sabotaged the carefully-tested audio connections for much of our gear. We've never seen that before - but we're good at plugging things in, so all damage was repaired in time."
He continues: "Within a few songs, we knew something was wrong. The band were playing more than a little loose, rather sloppy in fact. Pete was growing angry right away, yelling at one point that the band ought to play 'like we're in the same f***ing band' and telling brother Simon to pay close attention to their sync together.
"Soon after, Pete decided the sound screens in front of Zak's drums were in the way, and violently pulled them over. It helped, though, and he was more happy for a bit. The audience loved the raw violence of it, a rare display of anger you'd not see at others' shows. One more reason to see The Who.
"Late in the show, Roger decided he wanted all the screens off the drums, which is generally his own worst nightmare. He likes a controlled sound in his middle zone. The screens are up there directly at his own request.
"After deliberation on whether to follow his orders, we waited till the end of the Tommy set and came out en masse to remove the screens - then Rog decided he didn't want them taken down! And within a song, he walked right over and then pulled them off himself. Go figure!" He had more to say, read it here.
Van Halen Classic Featured In New Minions Movie(hennemusic)
Eddie Van Halen's classic solo, "Eruption" from the band's self-titled debut album, is featured in the new animated film, "Minions," which opened in theaters this past weekend.
At one point in the story, one of the characters - Stuart - is handed a guitar and told it is a "super mega ukulele." He plays a few notes before launching into Van Halen's groundbreaking solo and driving the crowd wild.
"Eruption" is one of several classic rock tracks featured in the film, alongside tunes by The Beatles, The Who, The Kinks and Donovan, among others.
"Eruption" introduced Van Halen - the guitarist and the band - to the world in 1978 as the lead-in to the first single from their self-titled debut: a cover of The Kinks' "You Really Got Me."
Eddie's tone, speed and use of two-handed tapping techniques on the track were game-changers, influencing guitarists from the day it was released. Read more and see both the footage from the movie and stream the original track here.
Randy Blythe and Gary Holt Featured In Metal Allegiance Video(TeamRock Radio)
Supergroup Metal Allegiance have released a video teaser for their debut album. The clip features the self-titled album's opening track Gift Of Pain being recorded, with snippets of Lamb Of God frontman Randy Blythe tracking his guest vocal part for the song. Exodus and Slayer axeman Gary Holt is also seen.
The project is led by Megadeth bassist David Ellefson, Testament guitarist Alex Skolnick and Winery Dogs drummer Mike Portnoy. Nuclear Blast will launch the title on September 18.
Skolnik said last month that he was loving the freedom afforded to him in the group, adding: "I enjoy being part of a guitar team in Testament - but I'm also somebody who you can give the whole track to and I'll make it happen." Watch the video here.
Corey Taylor Shocked His Kanye West Video Went Viral(TeamRock Radio)
Corey Taylor says he can't believe the response to his video message to rapper Kanye West. He last week shot a video, addressing West's claim during his Glastonbury performance that he was the "greatest living rock star of all time."
Since then the video has gone viral, notching up over 3,000,000 views in just four days. Taylor tells Opie Radio: "I woke up and the academics are in on it. There's all these blogs on it. Like, 'Well, Corey actually kind of is the greatest living rock star, and this is why,' blah-blah-blah."
Asked if he's enjoying the experience, he replies: "God, no - because it's so ridiculous. I've written three books, I've sold millions of albums, I'm in two different bands, I'm in movies and sh*t. And this is what it took! Me talking about some hard-on? I'm like, 'You've got to be kidding me, man.'"
The sudden attention only proves what he's saying in his recent book You're Making Me Hate You. "Everything has flipped on itself," Taylor says. "It doesn't take anything to be famous any more. It used to be, you had to have talent, a work ethic, something special. I was born in the wrong f***ing decade." Read more and watch the video here.
Lamb Of God Streaming New Song 'Erase This'(TeamRock Radio)
Lamb Of God have launched a stream of their track Erase This, from upcoming album VII: Storum Und Drang. It's released on July 24 - and those who preorder via the band's website, iTunes or Amazon will receive the track as an instant download.
Much of the lyrics deal with frontman Randy Blythe's Czech prison ordeal before he was acquitted of manslaughter, following the death of fan Daniel Nosek after a concert in 2010.
Blythe this week released a excerpt from his book Dark Days in which he says: "It was a bad day, but I wish I could remember more of it. I wish I could remember every second. Then maybe I would have had some real answers to all the impossible questions that were about to be asked of me." Stream the new song here.
Gene Simmons Explains Why KISS Did Scooby-Doo Movie(Classic Rock)
KISS star Gene Simmons has explained the band's decision to appear alongside Scooby-Doo in the feature Rock And Roll Mystery. The band revealed in April that they voice themselves in the movie, which marks the second time they've guested with the cartoon dog and his friends. The soundtrack also features a brand-new KISS song.
Simmons tells IGN: "We do very very few cross-branding things. We're very careful about who we associate with. Scooby-Doo is iconic so for us it was a no-brainer. When Warner Brothers came to us and said, 'How would you like to do a crazy-wacky thing?' It was like, 'Crazy-wacky is our middle name. What it is?'"
He adds that the movie pays homage to graphic novel culture and says of the plot: "It's a story that meanders left and right. When you think you've got it figured out, the portals of space and time open up and you're off into the deep wonderland of it all."
It starts off with a trademark Scooby-Doo scene: "There's a theme park, and we're invited to okay the Kiss World. It's haunted, there's a witch and spells," says Simmons.
"You find out that she's fake but there's a mystery behind the mystery, and we're off into deep space with superpowers and planetary-sized dangers. Just like in the Fantastic Four there was Ego, the living planet - and shame on you if you don't know what I'm talking about." Read more and stream the full interview here.
Soilwork Stream Title Track To New Album The Ride Majestic(TeamRock Radio)
Soilwork have released a lyric video for their track The Ride Majestic. It is the title track from the Swedish metal outfit's 10th album, due out on August 28 via Nuclear Blast.
Frontman Bjorn Strid says: "The Ride Majestic was one of the first songs we wrote for this album. The intro sets a certain melancholic mood and after that it's all pure melodic mayhem. There's a very epic and anthemic feel to it, which suits the album title perfectly.
"The lyrics deal with the fear of dying and the art of remaining sane while you're still alive. Not wanting to miss a thing, wanting to embrace every moment, and being able to bring it all back on your dying day, with a snap of your fingers.
"It's also a tribute to the ones we've lost and the comfort of hoping that they will catch us when we fall, on the other side. We believe that, if there is an afterlife, this song would be the soundtrack to that journey. It deals with the acceptance of life and death and possibly everything between and beyond." Watch the video here.
Warped Tour and Mayhem Festival Boss Sorry For Insulting Metal Bands(TeamRock Radio)
Mayhem Festival boss Kevin Lyman has apologized for saying "grey, bald and fat" metal bands are turning fans away from live music. The co-founder of the metal event, as well as the Warped Tour, said in an interview published last week that ageing metal bands demanded big fees to be on bills and that there was no community spirit, like that which exists in the punk scene.
He has since issued a statement via Blabbermouth, apologizing for speaking his mind and insisting that the challenges associated with booking bigger acts won't put him off.
Lyman says: "There has been a lot of talk on the internet about an interview that was done by me a few weeks ago - and I said some things to a reporter that I now regret. In a nutshell, the problem is I was never talking about Mayhem - I was talking about metal scene as a whole.
"Let me go on record saying that I support heavy metal and producing music events has been my whole career. We do strive to work our hardest to keep this Mayhem train rolling and it only works with the support of all of us and I'm apologizing for conveying my deepest concerns on the record." here.
Neal Morse Announces Epic Live Release(Prog)
Neal Morse has announced that he will be releasing a five-hour live package entitled MorseFest 2014: Testimony And One Live. It was recorded in November last year and mixed on the scene by Rich Mouser, who worked on the original studio albums.
It features full performances of both classic albums with a band featuring Mike Portnoy, Randy George, Bill Hubauer and Eric Gillette, plus a four-piece horn section, six-member backing vocal section, strings and orchestra percussion.
Morse says: "We really went all-out this time. I wanted it to be the quintessential presentation and performance of this music. And so it was - and is!" Read more and check out a preview video here.
TesseracT Announce New Album 'Polaris'(Prog)
TesseracT have confirmed their fourth album, Polaris, will be launched on September 18 via Kscope. The follow-up to 2013's Altered State sees the studio return of vocalist Dan Tompkins, who'd been replaced by Ashe O'Hara for the previous release.
TesseracT say the work represents another revolution, promising "more experimentation with sounds and tones and deeper exploration into the core attributes of our trademark sound."
The band add: "Polaris is a different scenario - the first chance for us as a group to stop and take stock of what we are right now, to explore a TesseracT of melody, dynamics, and singular focus. For the first time, too, we feel free from the bounds of genre-specific expectations." Read more and watch the teaser video here.
Anthrax Announce Final Metal Show At Sunset Strip HOB(hennemusic)
Anthrax will perform the final metal show at the Sunset Strip's House Of Blues on July 29. The venue will officially close on August 7 to make way for a new hotel/housing/retail complex.
"Every show we've done at the Sunset House of Blues has been a party," says bassist Frank Bello. "Everyone who we're friends with who's not on tour shows up, either to jam or drink or just hang out. And I'll really miss that. Sunset Boulevard has lost its last great place to play."
"The memories that have been created will always live on for anyone who went to the HOB," adds drummer Charlie Benante. "I feel honored and privileged to have this last chance to blow the roof off of the HOB. The Strip will soon end up looking like a corporate strip mall, no memories there." Read more here.
Ghost Streaming New Song 'From The Pinnacle To The Pit'(hennemusic)
Swedish occult rockers Ghost are premiering "From The Pinnacle To The Pit", a track from their forthcoming third album, "Meliora," which is set to be released on August 21st.
The project sees the debut of new vocalist Papa Emeritus III alongside the Nameless Ghouls following the resignation of his three-month older brother Papa Emeritus II, who himself took over from original singer Papa Emeritus.
"Meliora" - latin for "better" - is the follow-up to the band's second album and major label debut, 2013's "Infestissumam" (latin for "hostile"), which debuted at number one in Sweden and won the Swedish Grammis Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Album.
"From The Pinnacle To The Pit" follows the lead single, "Cirice." Ghost debuted Papa Emeritus III and four songs from "Meliora" at Doom in Linköping, Sweden on June 3.
The band will launch the Black To The Future North American tour at The Fillmore in Washington, DC on September 22. Stream the song here.
Warren Haynes Streaming New Song 'Is It Me Or You'(Classic Rock)
Warren Haynes has premiered his track Is It Me Or You via TeamRock. It's the opening song on upcoming solo album Ashes & Dust, created in collaboration with the band Railroad Earth after the Gov't Mule leader jammed with them live.
Haynes recently said: "I've been compiling songs that didn't necessarily fit in with Gov't Mule or the Allman Brothers, or even my last solo album. This record was really a chance to bring a lot of that music to fruition. It's given me the opportunity to take a lot of songs I love, that didn't have a home, and build a home for them."
Additional guests include Grace Potter, Shawn Colvin and Mickey Rephael, plus Allmans bassist Oteil Burbridge and percussionist Marc Quinones. Stream the new song here.
U2 Recruit Woody Harrelson For 'Song For Someone' Video(hennemusic)
U2 are premiering the video of "Song For Someone", the latest track from 2014's "Songs Of Innocence." Directed by Vincent Haycock, the clip features Woody Harrelson as a man being released from prison after years of incarceration and features his daughter Zoe.
The video thematically links to SundanceTV's Peabody award-winning series Rectify, which follows the story of Daniel Holden and his family as they struggle to move forward after Daniel's release from 19 years on death row.
U2 are currently in the middle of four-night residency at TD Garden in Boston as part of the group's "Innocence + Experience" tour. The group will wrap up the North America leg with an 8-show run at New York's Madison Square Garden before taking a five-week break; they'll return to open a European tour in Turin, Italy on September 4. Watch the video here.
Mike Dupke Announces Departure From W.A.S.P.
Mike Dupke announced late last week that he is no longer a member of W.A.S.P., after spending almost a decade as the drummer of the theatrical metal group.
He released the following message to fans via his Facebook page, "Ladies and Gentlemen: I am no longer with WASP. I would like to wish the guys in the band all the best in the future. I must also send thanks out to all the WASP fans who welcomed me with open arms. You all rock!
"I would also like to add that I am now available to join, work, and tour with any new prospective artists or bands. Feel free to contact me here on Facebook or through my website: www.mikedupke.com." Visit his Facebook page here.
Korn Give Rihanna's 'Better Have My Money' A Metal Makeover(Radio.com)
Rihanna's "B-- Better Have My Money" has received the remix from Korn. The rockers have uploaded their version of the radio hit to their YouTube channel.
Sadly, it's not a cover--which is to say, no Jonathan Davis vocals for you today. Instead, Rihanna's original vocals get the crunching Korn guitar treatment, along with cymbals-laden percussion and riffs plucked out of 1999 for your listening pleasure.
Next up, we hope: Rihanna cover of "Did My Time." Or "Y'all Want a Single." Or the entire Korn discography. Stream the unlikely remix from Korn here.
Pentagram Streaming New Song 'Misunderstood'(TeamRock Radio)
Pentagram are streaming a track from their upcoming album Curious Volume. Misunderstood is one of 11 new songs on the band's eighth record, due out on August 28 via Peaceville Records.
The band the following to say: "This old, firey, punky street rock song has only previously been heard during the CBGBs gig seen on the DVD All Your Sins.
"Although this song sounds nothing like the rest of the album, it does fit right in, especially when you consider the lyrics. It reflects Bobby's life-long love of The Dead Boys and other street rock bands."
Pentagram play a number of tour dates in August, starting at Heavy Montreal in Canada on August 7. See the dates and check out the song here.
The Strawbs Postpone Tour After Frontman Has Surgery(Prog)
The Strawbs have postponed the UK tour that was set to start later this month after frontman Dave Cousins underwent surgery for injuries sustained in a fall.
Their Plugged Unplugged electric shows are to be rescheduled for next year while the 70-year-old recovers. A statement reports: "Dave was taken to hospital in Margate on June 16 after choking on a cup of tea outside his house. This caused him to lose consciousness and smash his head on the pavement. He was discharged after this on June 19.
"Unfortunately this accident dislodged a kidney stone. On June 23 he was admitted to K&CH Hospital. He was operated on under general anaesthetic and discharged on June 26.
"He is recovering well, but is not yet fit enough to take the stresses and strains of a band tour. We are all disappointed - however, all Strawbs fans will understand that this decision is the right one, to make sure that Dave is able to recuperate fully." Read more here.
The Doors, Journey Taken Off Radio In The UK(Classic Rock)
Neil Young, the Doors, Journey and Bonnie Raitt are among a number of classic rock acts whose music can no longer be played by the BBC. The corporation has been forced to ban their work after the artists removed themselves from the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society group licensing deal.
It means there is no agreement in place to play their recordings, and therefore they must remain off-air. The ban extends to cover versions and works including samples of their original material.
The situation is unlikely to be resolved quickly. Wixen Music, who represents the artists, say: "The BBC can use Neil Young and the Doors any time they negotiate a license with us to do so in any given programme." Read more here.
Exxasens Announce Album and Release New Video(Prog)
Exxasens have confirmed details of their upcoming fifth album and issued a video for one of its tracks. They will release Back To Earth on September 7 via Aloud Music Ltd, with the clip for My Hands Are Planets available to view now.
Led by guitarist and programmer Jordi Ruiz, the follow-up to 2013's Satellites was recorded at Siete Barbas Studios in Barcelona. Said to be heavily influenced by the work of Steven Wilson and the progressive dynamics of Mogwai and 65daysofdstatic, the project mixes instrumental post-rock with choirs, stratospheric guitar solos and electronic grooves.
Inspired by the study of space, Ruiz originally built Essaxens as a solo project in 2007. Working in his home studio, the guitarist would upload one song a month online, eventually attracting a significant following and compiling the material with keyboardist Sergio Ledesma, bassist Cesc Cespedes and drummer Oriol Planells into the band's 2008 debut Polaris. Watch the new video here.
Riverside Reveal New Song 'Discard Your Fear' From Forthcoming Album(Prog)
Riverside have released a lyric video for their track Discard Your Fear, the first to appear from 6th album Love, Fear And The Time Machine. The follow-up to 2013's Shrine Of New Generation Slaves is set for launch on September 4 via InsideOut.
Frontman Mariusz Duda says: "I wanted to combine the 70s and the 80s. The 80s was a decade of musical growth for me - I remember being enchanted by music deep with bass, chorus and all kinds of reverb. Discard Your Fear is a good example of this flow."
Love, Fear And The Time Machine will be available with a bonus musical package entitled Day Session, described as the "brighter companion of the Night Session" that accompanied Shrine.
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