Original Guns N' Roses Reunion Rumored For Music Festival
The inevitable first rumor of a reunion of the original lineup of Guns N' Roses has surfaced, following confirmation from Slash that he and frontman Axl Rose have reconciled.
The rumor came from the owner of the Cherry Bar in Melbourne, Australia, James Young, who said during an interview with Triple M Radio that he heard from a "heavy hitter" in the Australian music business that the original lineup of Guns N' Roses would be headlining the Soundwave Festival next year.
Metal site BraveWords reports that Young revealed the rumor before Slash confirmed in an interview with Aftonbladet TV that he and Axl are friends again.
Young told the Australian radio station, "I heard the most amazing rumor this week, from a very well informed heavy hitter in the Australian music industry, giving me the name of the headline act for Soundwave next year.
"Now we know that a mystery band has come in and saved the festival, and now owns it, so they are going to have a big say. So what mega band could it be? Well I have heard 'fantasized' on Wednesday night that it will be: Steven Adler, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagen, Slash and Axl Rose, the reformation of the original 1987 Appetite for Destruction Guns N' Roses lineup, can you believe it? It's incredible; I've had sleepless nights fantasizing about it."
However, this rumor would run counter to Slash's reaction in the same interview when asked about a possible reunion now that he and Axl are talking again. He said, "Oh, I couldn't answer that one, though. All right, let's get off the subject, 'cause, you know, that's an old one."
Black Sabbath Making Final Album Plans Says Gus G(Classic Rock)
Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist Gus G believes Black Sabbath are close to starting work on their final album. The metal icons last year revealed plans to make one more record before retiring.
But the details have remained unclear, with doubt over an accompanying tour, and even more doubt over whether original drummer Bill Ward will rejoin Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler for their swan-song.
But G thinks Sabbath will roll into action in the coming months - he tells My Global Mind: "We're doing Japan in November. However, I don't think there's going to be a lot coming out of Ozzy because he's going back to Sabbath to make another one.
"That's what they've been talking about. You never really know with them, so I don't make those kinds of plans with Ozzy." Read more here.
Paul McCartney Announces North American Tour Dates
Paul McCartney has expanded his Out There World Tour yet again, announcing a new string of North American dates that will be taking place this fall.
The new set of dates will kick off on October 13th in Columbus, OH at the Nationwide Arena and will conclude on October 22nd in Buffalo, NY at the First Niagara Center.
The tour also includes stops in State College, Pennsylvania at the Bryce Jordan Center on October 15th, Toronto, Canada at the Air Canada Centre on October 17th and Detroit, Michigan at the Joe Louis Arena on October 21st.
The Out There tour has so far visited 22 cities across the world this year and features material from McCartney's entire career; from his days in the Beatles, to his first solo band Wings and up to his latest studio album "New", which was released in 2013. See the dates here.
Queen's Freddie Mercury Featured In Brand-New Charity Single(Classic Rock)
Queen icon Freddie Mercury's voice is featured in a brand-new single to be released next month in aid of his charity foundation. Little Freddie Goes To School will be premiered at the Official Freddie Mercury Birthday Party in Montreux, Switzerland on September 5, before going on general release on September 7.
It includes two recordings made during the frontman's Barcelona sessions - his late-night jam of When This Old Tired Body Wants To Sing and his a capella version of The Golden Boy.
The track was created after composer Stuart Leathem collaborated with Queen producer Dave Richards. Leatham says: "I don't write many songs - usually big modern-classical Mike Oldfield type works. I am, however, a big admirer of Freddie, and I was very lucky to call Dave my friend." Read more here.
Iron Maiden Reveal New Jumbo Jet Ed Force One For World Tour(Classic Rock)
Iron Maiden have revealed that they will tour the world next year in the biggest-ever Ed Force One, piloted by frontman Bruce Dickinson. The band's Book Of Souls world tour will see them play in 35 countries in 2016, aboard a Boeing 747-400.
Dickinson is currently in training for his license to fly the four-engine jet, which is much bigger and more powerful than previous versions of customized Maiden aircraft.
It'll take the band, crew and over 12 tons of equipment more than 55,000 miles around the planet to concerts in Australasia, Asia, North and South America, Africa and Europe.
Dickinson says: "When the opportunity arose from my friends at Air Atlanta Icelandic to lease a 747 for The Book of Souls World Tour, of course we jumped at the chance, who wouldn't? The greatest benefit of travelling in a 747 is that because of its colossal size and freight capacity we can carry our stage production and all our stage equipment and desks in the cargo hold without having to make any of the immense structural modifications needed to do this on the previous 757, the extent of which fans will have noted on the Flight 666 DVD.
"Although in reality we cannot carry much more gear the savings in complexity, time and cost make using the 747 even more practical. All we will need to do is "paint" it and move a few seats around, with the added advantage that there is much more room for band and crew - our Krew can almost get a row of seats each to catch up on sleep on the flights! Furthermore, it is marginally faster 0.85 MACH and the range of around 7000NM (13,000 km) is much greater which means we will not have to make the refuelling stops we needed to with the 757. Read more and see a photo and promo graphic for the new Ed Force One here.
Ozzy Osbourne Guests On Billy Morrison's New Album
Billy Idol guitarist Billy Morrison has announced the release of his new solo album, God Shaped Hole, which will feature guest appearances from Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Navarro and his Billy Idol bandmates Steve Stevens and Erik Eldenius.
Morrison has set an October 23rd release date for the new album, which will be entitled "God Shaped Hole", and is set to be released via his King Mob Music record label.
The album will feature five original songs and five cover tunes and was coproduced by Morrison and Eldenius and mixed by Mike Clink (Guns N' Roses' Appetite for Destruction) and John Spiker.
Ozzy sings lead vocals on the song "Gods" which he co-wrote with Morrison. Billy offered this explanation on the evolution of the album and how Ozzy became involved, "Initially the plan was simply to record an EP of covers, but as with everything, the plan grew. I had a song I had written with Steve Stevens that I wanted to sing on, so that got thrown into the pot. Erik (Eldenius) threw some ideas at me, and we started to record originals as well.
"My two best guitar mates from the two bands I'm in, Dave Navarro (Royal Machines and previously with Camp Freddy) and Steve Stevens, also both appear on the record, quite simply because they are awesome friends and did it without question, they showed up, did their thing, and supported me.
"And then I got a text from Ozzy, wondering where I had disappeared to...I told him I had decided to record a solo album, and the next text back from him was 'Well I wanna sing a song on your record!'"
Morrison adds, "The five original songs were written with the spirit of independence that was so important at one time in music, and the complete autonomy and freedom that comes with a project like this. The covers are not huge hits, and most are by bands that never received the recognition they deserved.
"This record comes from a place inside me--thanking and paying respect to bands and songs that truly made me want to play, to perform and to do it my way." See the tracklisting here.
Glenn Danzig To Guest Star On Portlandia(Radio.com)
Among the things that the television series Portlandia is known for are the guest appearances (along with the timely, nerdy humor and sendups on hipster culture, of course).
A list of the previous musicians to appear on show is as star-studded as a typical Coachella lineup: Eddie Vedder, J Mascis, St. Vincent, Joanna Newsom, Jack White, Josh Homme, Isaac Brock, James Mercer, Corin Tucker and Colin Meloy.
And for the sixth season of the popular show, a new guest is coming to the Pacific Northwest: Glenn Danzig. The beloved Misfits and now Danzig leader will be playing a role of some sort, though the specifics are not yet released.
All we know is from an Instagram from one of the series' stars, Sleater-Kinney's Carrie Brownstein, who said "Summer Goths. With Danzig. Dreams (nightmares?) do come true." Check out the image here.
Ritchie Blackmore Should Focus On Deep Purple Reunion Says Bonnet(Classic Rock)
Graham Bonnet believes Ritchie Blackmore shouldn't waste time on trying to stage a Rainbow reunion - and he should instead try to settle his differences with Deep Purple.
Bonnet, who sang on Rainbow's Down To Earth album in 1979, said last week that "practical joker" Blackmore's proposed return might not happen - but he'd do "a show or two" with him if asked.
But the vocalist believes there's an even better option available. He tells Classic Rock "If he's really intent on rocking out again, then Ritchie should contact Purple, bury the hatchet with Ian Gillan and get back with them.
"Ask yourself, what would be bigger? A Rainbow reunion with me or Joe, or Purple with Ian and Ritchie?" Read more here.
Asia Frontman John Wetton Issues Cancer Warning(Classic Rock)
Asia frontman John Wetton has posted a message online urging everyone to take preventative action against cancer as he gears up to begin chemotherapy treatment.
He will undergo his first session today (August 26th), after he confirmed in May that he'd been diagnosed with cancer and had surgery to remove a tumor.
Wetton, 66, says in a tweet: "I start chemo tomorrow. I urge everyone to be checked for cancer regularly, because cancer growth is rapid - and before you know it, agonizing." Read more here.
Soundgarden Working On Material For Next Album(Classic Rock)
Chris Cornell has confirmed that Soundgarden have begun work on their seventh studio album. It will follow 2012 comeback title King Animal, which was recorded after the band got back together two years previously.
Cornell tells Rolling Stone: "We're already working on new material for an album. I've got several other irons in the fire and things going on that I won't mention now.
"There's a lot of things coming in a addition to Higher Truth, as well as a new Soundgarden album." Cornell's new solo record Higher Truth will be released next month. Read more here.
The Faces Celebrated In The Studio
The latest episode of the syndicated radio show In The Studio: The Stories Behind History's Greatest Rock Bands takes a look back at The Faces. The show sent over the following details:
When Small Faces soulful dynamo frontman the late Steve Marriott left to form Humble Pie , drummer Kenney Jones, bassist Ronnie Lane, and pianist Ian McLagan picked up relative unknowns, singer Rod Stewart and bass player-turned-guitarist Ron Wood, both from the Jeff Beck Group.
The Faces, as they were now called, were known as much for their happy go lucky attitudes and a playful swagger to their music as for their endless trips to the pub. Rod Stewart explains:
"God, we used to drink...and that only came about because we didn't think we were very good! Look at it: you had two guys out of the Jeff Beck Group that had been fired, and you had the leftovers from the Small Faces, five losers if ever there were five losers, all thrown together! So we used to get really drunk and do the best we could, and it worked. That looseness and jangliness of all the music. It really worked!"
The Faces would eventually hit paid dirt with "Stay with Me", the worldwide hit from their 1971 album A Nod is as Good as a Wink.... It would catapult the quintet from abject poverty to Top of the Pops seemingly overnight. But according to Stewart, Woody, and Jones In the Studio, the parallel success of Rod Stewart's solo career would be too hard to stomach for some of the band. By the end of 1975 it would be over.
Stream the episode here.
Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi Taking Part In Home Town Cancer Event(Classic Rock)
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi will highlight the loneliness of cancer victims at a public event that is taking place in his home city of Birmingham today (August 26).
He's taking part in Macmillan Cancer Support's Not Alone campaign, which aims to offer people an idea of how isolated it can feel after diagnosis. Iommi announced he had the disease in 2012 and later admitted he'll never live another day without feeling under threat.
He said in January: "Every day I feel around for lumps and bumps. Every time I get a pain in my stomach I think, 'Oh God, it's cancer.' It's horrible. I even dream about it. But that's my life now."
He'll invite passers-by in the Bullring shopping centre to step into an isolation box, which allows those outside to see in, while there's no connection with the world from inside. Read more here.
Suicide Silence Says Music Business Is Failing Due To Greed(TeamRock Radio)
Suicide Silence have slammed the 'greed' in the music industry and say they've no problem with people listening to their material for free. The band made their 2014 album You Can't Stop Me available to stream via YouTube - and insist making money isn't what drives them.
Frontman Herman 'Eddie' Hermida tells Ramzine: "If people want to listen to the stuff you put out, YouTube does a really good job of keeping counts. And if you get enough people to watch your stuff, YouTube might want to give you some cash, but that's not why you make it to begin with. And if you are making music for that reason, then you're a f***ing idiot. Making an industry out of it is the most ass backwards thing that could ever happen to humanity."
And guitarist Mark Heylmun takes aim at musicians complaining about the lack of money through streams. He says: "What are you so mad about? Write a better record and maybe people will buy it. Listen to it on YouTube if you can't afford it and if you can afford it, go support it."
Hermida adds: "Let those idiots who are trying to f***ing squeeze every penny out of an art die. There are people who are willing to give their money to an artist who is kicking his own ass out there. The fact is there's too many people out there trying to stick their hands in our pockets, and that's where the industry is failing. And it's going to fail, because greed is never going to win." Stream the full interview here.
Parkway Drive Release 'Crushed' Video(TeamRock Radio)
Parkway Drive have released a video for their track Crushed. It's taken from the Australian metal outfit's upcoming fifth album Ire, to be released on September 25 via Epitaph.
Vocalist Winston McCall says: "This is the album for us. Every single step of the way, whenever there was gamble to take, we took the biggest one we could. If this isn't the album that can go further than anything we thought was possible with this band and this type of music, that's fine, but we can't go back from this as far as we're concerned."
Pre-orders for Ire are being taken at the band's website. Parkway Drive have a run of worldwide tour dates lined up in support of the album, including four UK show in February 2016. Watch the new video here.
Deafheaven Streaming New Song 'Brought To The Water'(TeamRock Radio)
Deafheaven have issued a stream of their track Brought To The Water. It's the first song they've revealed from third album New Bermuda, which will be released on October 2 via Anti- Records.
Singer George Clarke says: "We wanted to share Brought To The Water first because it gives a good idea of the overall sonic tone of the record. It really evokes feelings that come with uprooting and throwing oneself into the complacent, monotonous routine of adulthood."
Clarke's joined on the follow-up to 2013's Sunbather by drummer Daniel Tracy, bassist Stephen Lee Clarke and guitarists Kerry McCoy and Shiv Mehra. Stream the song here.
In This Moment Songs Get Lullaby Makeover(TeamRock Radio)
In This Moment are the latest band to have their work transformed into music for babies. Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star has released Lullaby Versions Of In This Moment, featuring eight of the band's sings including Sick Like Me, Sex Metal Barbie and Whore.
The company says is creates "beautiful lullaby versions of your favorite artists." Faith No More and Soundgarden are among the other acts to get the lullaby treatment from Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star.
Rival firm Rockabye Baby have created lullaby versions of Bruce Springsteen and Blink-182 hits. Check out the lullaby version of "Beautiful Tragedy" and see the tracklisting here.
Five Finger Death Punch's Jason Hook Humbled By Rob Halford's Praise(TeamRock Radio)
Five Finger Death Punch guitarist Jason Hook says he was humbled to see Judas Priest's Rob Halford watching his band from the side of the stage on their recent tour.
He loved the experience of travelling around Europe with the British icons - and he has one memory in particular that he'll keep for ever.
Hook tells Amnplify: "They're so nice and they're so cool - it really made it pleasant. We had dinner with them one night, we closed this restaurant in Italy. I could just imagine if someone who had walked in and seen it. If you were a music fan it would have looked like the last supper of heavy metal."
The guitarist describes Halford as a "great friend of the band" and explains: "I was walking off from our set one night and I caught up with him, and I asked him, 'Rob, what's the deal with wanting to watching this loud, obnoxious noisy show every night?' He just looks at me and goes, 'I love the band'." Read more here.
New Years Day Streaming New Song 'Relentless'(TeamRock Radio)
New Years Day have released a lyric video for their track Relentless. It's taken from their third album Malevolence, out on October 2 via Another Century Records.
They'll tour North America in October to support the release and return to the UK in November with Motionless In White. Vocalist Ashley Costello said earlier this year that the band felt it was important to add a touch of theatrical drama to their live shows.
She told Metal Hammer: "Money isn't that easy to come by these days, so if you are spending it to go see a show, then you really want to see a show. I look back to Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson and Iron Maiden and I love that they always try to give that to people.
"Obviously, we aren't in the same league as those bands but, if you are creative enough with your thinking you can give people a show. We want to give people a Broadway show in a tiny rock club." Stream the new song here.
Century Media Reportedly Sold To Sony(Classic Rock)
Sony Music has reportedly bought German hard rock and heavy metal label Century Media, it's been reported. The label is home to artists including Paradise Lost, Periphery, Queensryche, At The Gates, Fozzy, EyeHateGod and Lacuna Coil.
Full terms of the deal have still to be made public, but Billboard reports that the industry giant paid in the region of $20million for the firm. Century Media owner Robert Kampf will become CEO of the Century group and their output will continue to be distributed by RED in the US.
Sony will handle international distribution while the German firm will now become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment. Read more here.
The Sword's JD Cronise Talks High Country Cover Art(Classic Rock)
The Sword's JD Cronise says when he first saw artist Jetter Green's work, he knew instantly that he had to commission him to design the cover for their latest album High Country.
Their fifth album and follow-up to 2012's Apocryphon was released last week via Razor & Tie. The singer and guitarist tells Rabid Noise: "The cover is always really important. I always try and find an artist whose work I really admire to do it. I just happened across Green's artwork in a store and immediately I thought, "Wow, that would look great on an album cover.'"
Cronise says even in the days when digital music dominates, he thinks it's still important to make the cover artwork as striking as possible. He adds: "The idea of there being this piece of artwork associated with a piece of music - it's something that resonates with me and I really like to have that. A good album cover always compliments a good record." Read more, see the artwork and stream the interview here.
Motorhead Streaming Their Cover Of Rolling Stones Classic(hennemusic)
Motorhead have released an online stream of their cover of the Rolling Stones classic, "Sympathy For The Devil", as featured on the band's upcoming album, "Bad Magic."
Due this Friday, August 28, the band's 22nd album was recorded at NRG Studios in Los Angeles with long-time producer Cameron Webb. The set includes a guest appearance by Queen guitarist Brian May on "The Devil."
The group's Stones cover follows the lead single, "Thunder & Lightning", and "Electricity" as the third track issued in advance of the album's release. Last week, Motorhead launched a late summer/early fall tour of North America with guests Saxon and Anthrax in Riverside, CA. Stream the Stones cover here.
Third Eye Blind Go Rocky Horry For 'Get Me Out Of Here' Video
Third Eye Blind have released a NSFW video for their song "Get Me Out Of Here" which was directed by frontman Stephan Jenkins and was inspired by The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
The video stars Tara Perry and features a cameo appearance by Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional. Jenkins had this to say about the video's concept, "I think the idea behind my character being haunted by flashbacks and demonized by the ghost of a girlfriend past is that relationships are kind of a nightmare".
He adds this about the Rocky Horror inspiration, "That this coincides with the 40th anniversary of The Rocky Horror Picture Show just feels so lucky as well. 'I'm Going Home' has been our walk-out music every night for years and Tim Curry is a huge influence on me as a performer."
The song comes from the band's first studio album in six years, Dopamine, which was released earlier this summer. Watch the new NSFW "Get Me Out Of Here" video here.
Metallica Release Live 'The Day That Never Comes' Video(hennemusic)
Metallica have released live video footage of a performance of their 2008 "Death Magnetic" track, "The Day That Never Comes", from Bergen, Norway on August 20.
The band's video highlight package also includes soundcheck, guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo in the meet and greet, and the group warming up in the Tuning Room before the show.
The group are also sharing audio of their 1988 cover of "Whiskey In The Jar" from the concert. The Bergen stop was the first date on a short run across Europe that sees the band playing a mix of headline and festival shows.
Next month, Metallica will perform two special concerts in Quebec City before playing a headline set at the 30th anniversary of Rock In Rio on September 19. Watch the video here.
Singled Out: The Falling Birds' Sweet Things That Kill
Today Stephen Artemis (Guitar, Vocals, Harmonia) form the eclectic rock group The Falling Birds tells us the story behind their new single "Sweet Things That Kill" from their forthcoming EP "Till We All Fall Down". Here is the story:
We had a bit of a vagrant problem at the place where we recorded Sweet Things That Kill. All names have been changed to protect the innocent. We've got this little rehearsal studio that we share with four other bands in Brooklyn. We call it "The Nest." The Nest is in the basement of a building that is right along the elevated train South Williamsburg. It's a perfect location because the train is loud as all hell so it hides the racket that we make in there until all hours of the night. The Nest is our little home away from home and we love it; but by normal people standards, it would probably be considered very creepy. Bands have been rehearsing there since Williamsburg first started to become an artist destination 20 years ago and I don't think it has been cleaned since, there are no windows, its dark... you get the picture.
Anyway so we recorded our entire album DIY at The Nest. There are always people from all the bands in and out, coming and going, grabbing stuff for gigs and whatnot so its normal to have people you don't know around. But we noticed this one person (lets call him Moses) who seemed to be hanging around more than usual and showing up at strange times. Moses was always nice, almost too nice, which is what aroused suspicion in the first place. Nobody is that nice in New York. Anyway, Moses shows up one night around 1:00 AM with a friend and asks when he can use the space. Somebody was finally like "hey Moses, by the way, who are you? Which band are you in?" Moses sort of fumbled for an answer and told us that he was "Jon's Friend." Jon is in one of the bands that shares the space. Still, his answer didn't address the question. Apparently Moses had not prepared a backstory for this situation. It got really awkward for a moment and eventually Moses and his buddy ventured off into the night.
All the bands started asking each other who this Moses guy was. As it turns out, Moses had been found sleeping there a few times. I think somebody once interrupted him in the space enjoying a sandwich. For some reason nobody ever brought this information to light. When we asked Jon about why he's letting people sleep in our shared studio (mind you, Moses is a stranger who was then living among our life savings worth of musical equipment), Jon told us that Moses is his band manager and that he needed a place to stay. I thought that was a pretty funny explanation, "Moses the vagrant band manager." Call me traditional, but it seems like a good band manager should probably be able to manage himself an apartment at the very least. No disrespect to the homeless of course. I'm just saying, if someone's going to provide your band with sound business advice, maybe that person should have things like a home (for starters).
So we told Jon that his management was no longer allowed to stay there, Moses didn't steal anything, and we recorded Sweet Things That Kill.
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