Today's Top Stories
Axl Rose And AC/DC Spotted Leaving Same Rehearsal Studio(TeamRock Radio)
The wild rumor of Axl Rose singing in AC/DC might actually be true. Rose has reportedly been spotted leaving a rehearsal studio in Atlanta apparently on the same day as members of AC/DC - adding fuel to rumors that he is being lined up as a possible replacement for Brian Johnson.
The rumors of Rose taking on the guest vocal role with the group began last week that the Guns N' Roses frontman was in Atlanta, Georgia, to meet with members of AC/DC, who recently had to reschedule a number of shows after their singer Johnson was ordered to stop touring or risk going deaf. AC/DC indicated their intention to play the shows with a guest vocalist.
A local DJ in Georgia said he had it on good authority that Rose was set to guest with AC/DC, and Malcolm Young's son Ross reportedly said on Facebook: "It's true." Ross Young had posted a link to a story about Rose working with AC/DC, but his link was later deleted.
AC/DC then responded to questions about the rumours by saying: "Nothing official to announce. Will update you if that changes." Neither AC/DC or GNR's management have moved to confirm or deny the rumours.
Now TMZ have published an image showing Rose leaving an Atlanta studio, as well as an image showing Angus Young and other members of AC/DC leaving the same venue. TMZ report that both images were taken on Good Friday. Read more here.
Cheap Trick To Reunite With Bun E. Carlos At Rock Hall Induction(hennemusic)
Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen confirms the band will reunite with estranged drummer Bun E. Carlos to perform at their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in New York next month.
Carlos left the touring lineup in 2010, was replaced by Nielsen's son Daxx, and then found himself suing his own group for monies owed before reaching a settlement last year.
The Rockford, IL band will enter the Hall during an April 8 ceremony at New York's Barclays Center alongside Deep Purple, Steve Miller, Chicago and N.W.A.
"He's going to play the inductions because they're inducting the people who made the records way back when, and that's good,'' Nielsen tells the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "He deserves it.''
At the same time, the guitarist notes that Carlos "has been gone almost six years, and Daxx has been playing the whole time. He revitalized the band totally.'' Read more here.
Smashing Pumpkins Do Reunion Jam With James Iha(Gibson)
It's been a long time coming: three fourths of the original Smashing Pumpkins line-up reunited in a performance at a concert in Los Angeles this past weekend.
Guitarist James Iha joined former bandmates Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlain for a performance of a few classic songs at the band's show at The Ace Hotel.
They performed a suite of Siamese Dream songs including "Mayonaise," "Soma," "Rocket," "Today," "Disarm," "Spaceboy" and well as "Whir" from Pisces Iscariot. Read more here.
Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Calls Out Ignorant Critics(TeamRock Radio)
Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine has called out the meanest critics saying they lack understanding of music and branding them "bitter". He and bassist David Ellefson, guitarist Kiko Loureiro, along with Lamb Of God drummer Chris Adler, released the group's 15th studio album, Dystopia, in January.
And when asked if he thinks the music industry is now too tame, Mustaine tells Fox News Magazine: "Probably yes and no. I think that there's a lot of people out there that are probably overtly harsh in their criticism and it's because they don't want people to know that they don't really know what they're talking about.
"It's like the old saying - dogs with no teeth bark the loudest. You find that the meanest critics are people with no real musical education and they're just bitter." Watch the full interview segment here.
Latest News
The Posies and Sunny Day Real Estate's Joe Skyward Dead At 57
The Posies revealed that bass player Joe Skyward, aka Joe Bass, died on Saturday night (March 26th) after a two year battle with cancer. He was 57-years-old. Skyward was also known for his time playing with Sunny Day Real Estate.
"Joe Skyward, aka Joe Bass, left us last night. He had been fighting cancer for the last 2 years. Positive to the end, he went surrounded by friends and family," The Posies wrote on their Facebook page on Sunday.
"We had many great years with Joe and loved him very much. We still do. Rest in peace, rest in space, rest in bass... We will miss you Joe." See their post along with a photo here.
Stone Sour Are Back In The Studio(TeamRock Radio)
Stone Sour have confirmed they're back in the studio. Frontman Corey Taylor posted a single image along with two video clips on his Twitter account showing the band rehearsing.
It's thought that they're recording the follow-up to 2013 House Of Gold & Bones - Part 2 after plans to release a third cover EP were shelved. They previously issued Meanwhile In Burbank… and Straight Outta Burbank.
Taylor told the Someone Who Isn't Me podcast: "Originally we were going to do three and now it sounds like we're just going to do the two and then just keep the other stuff we recorded as extra content for when we make the next album." Read more and see Corey's posts here.
More Stone Sour News - Stone Sour Music, DVDs, Books and more - Stone Sour T-shirts and Posters
Deftones Announce U.S. Summer Tour(TeamRock Radio) Deftones have announced a US summer tour with Refused as main support. Chino Moreno and co will hit the road in August in support of upcoming album Gore, which is due for release on April 8 via Warner Bros Records.
The shows are in addition to the band's previously announced tour dates and anyone who buys a ticket for the summer tour will receive a free copy of the forthcoming album Gore.
They say: "Deftones are excited to announce a summer tour with Refused joining on select dates. With every ticket purchased online, you'll also receive a standard or digital copy of the new album, Gore." See the dates here.
Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy Remembering Keith Emerson Tour(TeamRock Radio)
Carl Palmer has announced a run of North American tour dates in memory of late bandmate Keith Emerson. Keyboard maestro Emerson died earlier this month at the age of 71 and now the Emerson, Lake & Palmer drummer says he will perform instrumental versions of ELP classics on the US and Canada dates, branded Remembering Keith - The Music Of Emerson Lake & Palmer Tour.
Palmer says: "I will deeply miss Keith and I want you all to know I will carry on flying the ELP banner and playing the great music with my band for many years to come. We have lost a very talented and gifted musician but this great music will continue for a long, long time."
The shows will be performed under the banner of Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy, which includes guitarist Paul Bielatowicz and bassist Simon Fitzpatrick. Read more including the dates here.
Metallica Stream Remastered 'Creeping Death'(hennemusic)
Metallica have released an online stream of remastered audio of "Creeping Death" from the forthcoming expanded reissue of 1984's "Ride The Lightning."
Due April 15, multiple remastered versions of the group's second album and 1983's "Kill 'Em All" will launch a massive catalog reissue campaign by the band.
Both projects will be available in three formats - CD, vinyl and as a limited edition deluxe box set that includes original source material from the band's personal collection with many never before heard or seen recordings along with books including rare photos and essays from those who were there. Check out the stream here.
Anthrax Star Believes Texting Is A 'Humanity Problem'(Classic Rock)
Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian says the world's obsession with texting is a problem for all humanity and not just the music business. Currently on the road with Iron Maiden in South America in support of the recently released 11th album For All Kings, the guitarist discussed his issues with technology in an interview with Argentina radio station Vorterix.
Ian says: "If you go to any public place anywhere on the planet now, all you do is see hundreds of people staring at their phones. So it's not a music-business problem; this is a humanity problem. I think the internet and technology is just turning us into a very antisocial species where human connection is being lost.
"People don't talk to each other any more - they f***ing text. That's what our world has become. And what's next? What comes next after texting? Because I'm sure technology will advance in the next hundred years and there'll be even less interaction between human beings."
He adds: "I just find it to be a very scary thing. As a reader of a lot of science-fiction, the planet is a much different place than it was before the internet. And it's just the way I choose to live my life. I know other people have the way they choose to live their lives, and I'm not gonna tell anybody else how to live their lives." Read more here.
AWOLNATION Announce Summer Tour
AWOLNATION apparently didn't get enough of the road this spring with Fall Out Boy, as the group has announced that they will be launching their very own North American summer tour.
The tour will feature support from Death From Above and Irontom for most of the dates. The trek will be kicking off on June 17th in Louisville, KY at Mercury Ballroom and wrapping up on July 21st at The Woods at Fontanel in Whites Creek, TN.
Death From Above will not be performing at two shows on the tour: the kick off show in Lousiville, or the June 19th stop in Toronto, ON at the Sound Academy. Tickets will be going on sale this Friday, April 1st. See the tour dates here.
Video Of Tony Iommi Rock N Roll Fantasy Camp Jam Goes Online(hennemusic)
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi jammed with aspiring rockers last month at the Rock N Roll Fantasy Camp in Los Angeles, and video from the weekend event has surfaced.
Iommi performed his band's 1971 classic, "Into The Void", with Canadian singer Lauraleigh Cairns and other players on the tune from Sabbath's third album, "Master Of Reality."
"Rock' n Roll Fantasy Camp really does make your dreams come true!," says Cairns as she posted the footage online. Video of Iommi and a different group running through Sabbath's 1980 track "Neon Nights" has also been featured online by event organizers.
The Los Angeles edition of the camp also featured guitarists Steve Vai, Warren Haynes, Zakk Wylde and drummer Carl Palmer, with players performing at the Whisky A Go Go on the Sunset Strip. Read more and watch the video here.
Jeff Lynne's ELO To Rock Radio City Music Hall(hennemusic)
Jeff Lynne's ELO have announced a September 16 show at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Lynne and company are touring in support of 2015's "Alone In The Universe", the first album of all-new music released by the band in over a decade.
Fan club and VIP package pre-sales for the Radio City date starts March 29 at Noon EDT; an American Express pre-sale begins March 30 at 10 AM EDT, and a Live Nation mobile app pre-sale gets underway March 31 at 10 AM EDT.
The New York appearance lands on the heels of a sold-out UK and European tour, and three September concerts at the Hollywood Bowl. ELO will be joined by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra Strings conducted by Thomas Wilkins, for the Fireworks Finale shows on September 9, 10 and 11. Read more here.
Pvris Announce North American Tour
Pvris have announced that they will be following their recent U.S. arena tour with Fall Out Boy with their very own North American headlining tour this spring.
The headline tour is scheduled to kick off on May 11th in Nashville at the Cannery Ballroom and the tour will be concluding on June 10th in Boston at the Royale.
According to BWR, in June they'll join Florence & The Machine, Ellie Goulding and Disclosure on the Firefly Music Festival, then head to Chicago in July for Lollapalooza alongside Radiohead, Lana Del Rey and The 1975. See the tour dates here.
New Keepers Of The Water Towers Stream New Album 'Infernal Machine'(Prog)
New Keepers Of The Water Towers have released a stream of their upcoming album Infernal Machine. The Swedish outfit will launch their fourth album on April 1 via Listenable Records.
The band previously released a promo for their track War, with the group saying it was a sad song about "leaving everyone you know and love behind to face something new."
Rasmus Booberg, Tor Sjoden, Victor Berg, Bjorn Andersson and Adam Forsgren are currently on the road across Europe with Hexvessel. Check out the album stream here.
John Bassett Previews New EP 'Aperture'(Prog)
John Bassett has revealed that he'll release an EP entitled Aperture next month. Aperture will be available via Bassett's Bandcamp page - and he's also issued a teaser of the album.
The Arcade Messiah and KingBathmat man's four-track recording is out on April 3 - and he says he wanted to release something different from his other material.
Bassett says: "I took a small break from recording the latest Arcade Messiah project to put together something completely different - a mellow, small collection of post rock, ambient style songs.
"The whole process was completed in spontaneous manner over 12 days." Check out the teaser video, the artwork and the tracklisting here.
Against The Current Stream New Song 'Wasteland'(TeamRock Radio)
Against The Current have issued a lyric video for their track Wasteland. The song features on the New York-based band's upcoming album In Our Bones, which is set for release on May 20 via Fueled By Ramen.
The group said: "This album is as much yours as it is ours. We wouldn't be here doing what we love right now if it weren't for the endless support we've received from our friends and fans across the world over the last two years. We hope you love this record as much we do, and can't wait to play these songs for you the next time we make it to your city."
Against The Current recently wrapped up a European run of shows and will head to Japan next month before dates across the US on the Vans Warped Tour. See the dates and stream the song here.
Pendragon Expand 2016 Tour Plans(Prog)
Pendragon have extended the scope of their 2016 tour schedule as they gear up for their first appearance of the year. The band have announced new festival dates alongside their previous commitments, and add that there are more to come in the near future.
They'll perform 1996 album The Masquerade Overture in full at headline shows, but not at festivals. Pendragon say: "We have much more limited time at the festivals. Don't miss out - London and Zoetermeer are both looking to be sold out in advance. Verona, Katowice and Wath are now sold out, so if you're hoping to come to one of these shows get your tickets early."
Support comes from Lifesigns' John Young at some shows, and Magenta's Christina Booth at others. Pendragon plan to film their show in Katowice, Poland, for a later DVD release. See the dates here.
Riverside Thank Fans For Support Following Piotr's Death(Prog)
Riverside have praised their fans for supporting them following the death of guitarist Piotr Grudzinski last month. He passed away after suffering a heart attack in February aged 40.
As a result, the band cancelled all live shows this year and recently revealed they'd release a collection of ambient and instrumental music in honor of Grudzinski. And while the group are on hiatus for the remainder of 2016, they'll say they have "individual plans" and will release their long-planned biography later this year.
They say in a statement: "Our biography has been in the making for over two years and it will be published towards the end of this year - we just didn't expect that it would contain an additional chapter and that its character would change.
"We've always been like a family, we have stuck together and always taken care of that bond both on and off the stage. We have also said many times that we have the best fans in the whole world.
"Our band wouldn't exist without you, without your commitment and all the emotional links that have been created between us over the years. Your reactions and support we have received from you have surpassed our most daring expectations. We'd like to thank you for that from the bottom of our hearts." Read more here.
The Arcs Release Live 'Chains Of Love' Video(Classic Rock)
The Arcs have released a live video of their track Chains Of Love. It was filmed at New York's Bowery Ballroom and shows Black Keys mainman Dan Auerbach's side-project playing the song which features on Yours, Dreamily - their debut album which was released in 2015.
Auerbach said of the record: "I just wanted to do my thing and get extra weird. I wanted everything to flow and be cohesive. A lot of the songs bleed one into the other, a lot like the Grateful Dead - my favorite records that they did.
"So I've got a lot of connected songs. It's basically everything I love about music all wrapped up into one record - that's all. It was cut really quick in a week and a half, two weeks of recording with a whole bunch of different people - my favorites." Watch the video here.
Griever Release 'A Pure Heart' Video(TeamRock Radio)
Bournemouth metalcore bruisers Griever are debuting their new video for A Pure Heart exclusively with Metal Hammer. Taken from the band's upcoming EP Soul Searcher, Griever deliver a solid slab of seaside savagery in A Pure Heart.
"We're so excited to finally unveil Soul Searcher, the product of over a year's work," the band tell Hammer. "This EP is by far the most honed material Griever have ever released.
"And we really hope fans old and new connect with it as much as we do. Whether you love the heavier side of metal or the more melodic side, Soul Searcher has it all." Watch the video here.
Singled Out: Libel's Hats Off
Gavin Dunaway from Brooklyn 'protoglam' rockers Libel tells us the story behind the song "Hats Off" which comes from their forthcoming album 'Comfort in the Noise'. Here is the story:
One of my favorite scenes in the movie "Fight Club" is when narrator Jack "meets" Tyler Durden on an airplane. Jack explains his concept of the single-serving friend - that anonymous person you chat with while traveling that you know you'll never see ever person again - and Tyler responds, "That's clever. How's that working out for you?"
Jack is puzzled. "What?"
"Being clever."
"Hats Off" is an empty salute to all those dedicated to perpetually showing off how clever they are - including myself. And how easy the Internet has made this! The social mediascape has awakened our inner self-righteous trolls, and they have run rampant to little effect other than making us all look like a bunch of a**holes. The acrimony festering on the Internet is seeping into all parts of life, to all of our chagrin.
But rather than lecturing on the death of discourse, the chorus uses the most pithy of snark - "Hats off to you, mighty dragon slayer" - to admit that I'm part of the problem. This song is akin to me asking myself (pseudo-spoiler?), "How is being so clever working out for you?" Just like Jack, not so great.
As for the music, I have a tendency to dive into the deep end of prog, employing crazy complex riffs, weird time signatures, unsettling key changes, you name it. But occasionally I ask myself, "Can I actually write a straightforward song? You know, one that's interesting, one that's catchy? And most important - something that doesn't sound condescending, as if I'm slumming or trying to reach a broader audience?"
I heard in my head a simple bass line, something like a 50s pop song, but with a more propulsive beat. I shared it with bass player Julie, who Julie-fied the line (brilliantly, if I may say so) by making it more complicated rhythmically yet also groovier. Drummer Nick immediately laid into driving beat that's deceptively intricate. So I let the chorus chords flow right out of me, not giving much thought to whether they resembled some other song (I'm sure they do). "Hats off to you," came naturally to my lips.
Of course, we had to have a little bit of weirdness - it just wouldn't be us otherwise! We needed a transition from the second chorus to the guitar solo and nothing was landing. So randomly we thought, "What if we just do some noise over crazy drums?" Sigh, Justin and I are always up for making noise - it's a shared passion. And speaking of Justin, I quite enjoy trading guitar solos with him in the second half of the song, as self-indulgent as it may be. There's a lot of fun dueling guitars all over "Comfort in the Noise."
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