Today's Top Stories
Motley Crue Ended On Bad Terms?(Classic Rock)
Former Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee says ex-colleagues Nikki Sixx and Vince Neil haven't made contact with him since their final show five months ago. And he reports that bassist Sixx unfollowed him on Twitter the next day.
Motley Crue completed their last tour on New Year's Eve after signing a legal document making it nearly impossible for them to ever stage a reunion.Lee tells Rolling Stone: "After the final night we had a big party backstage, and I never saw the other guys. We never even said goodbye. F***ing strange as hell.
"If you're getting divorced you still give your ex a hug, or flip her off or something. Give me a sign - let me know you're alive! I think f***ing Nikki unfollowed me on Twitter the next day. I was like, 'Wow, okay, dude.'"
The drummer believes his band ended their creative period during the making of 2008 album Saints Of Los Angeles. "Everybody did their part separately," he says.
"It was a really strange process and I was like, 'This is not really how it works.' The record came out okay, but that's when I started realizing we'd kind of hit the wall." Read more here.
Rock Is Dead Says Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea (New Rock Times)
Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea believes that rock music is dead and band's now are viewed as a money making venture. Flea was chatting to Pearl Jam's Mike McCready on the latter's radio show on SiriusXM's Pearl Jam Radio when he took aim at the current state of rock music which says 'is a dead form.'
Flea revealed that he pursued a career in a rock band because he was 'a f***ing lunatic.' He explains: "I was like 'f*** it, I don't care, this is what I want to do, this means everything to me, I found a home.' I've been a weird, neurotic, loner kid all my life, I was always the kid you called fag in high school, punk rock gave me a home."
He adds: "Nowadays, you decide you want to be in a rock band [and] it's like, 'Oh great, let's get you an image consultant, and a lawyer, and a manager, and let's see what we can do here. It's a great money-making opportunity for you, junior.'" Read more here.
Crazy Train: Ozzy Osbourne To Get Tram Named In His Honor(Classic Rock)
A tram in Birmingham, UK, is to be named after Ozzy Osbourne. Transport body Centro announced that one of their Midland Metro trams will pay tribute to the rock icon, who was born in Aston.
Osbourne says: "It's an honor to have a tram named after me, I'm proud to be a Brummie and this means so much." The Black Sabbath frontman will meet the train at the new Corporation Street stop on Thursday morning (May 26).
Trams returned to the streets of Birmingham for the first time in more than 60 years in December, with the Metro running to the new stop in Bull Street in the city centre. Read more here.
Latest News
Paul McCartney Launches Virtual Reality Series(Radio.com)
Sir Paul McCartney is launching a six-episode documentary series shot in VR (Virtual Reality) as part of his promotion of PURE McCartney, a career-spanning compilation album due June 10.
The Beatle is teaming up with Jaunt, the industry's leading producer of VR content. According to a release, each of the shorts will dive into the stories behind some of Paul's most iconic songs.
Filmed in his private home studio, the PURE McCartney VR episodes, will start with 'Dance Tonight" and "Coming Up," to be followed by 'My Valentine" , 'Mull of Kintyre" and 'Early Days."
In "Dance Tonight," McCaartney reveals how he got the cast, including Natalie Portman to play roles in the 2009 music video. Watch "Dance Tonight" here.
Pantera Classic Given Reggae Makeover(TeamRock Radio)
A reggae cover of Pantera's Walk has been shared online. It was produced by Andy Rehfeldt, who released a ska version of Ozzy Osbourne's song Over The Mountain earlier this year.
Rehfelt says: "If Dimebag Darrell can see this from the other side, I hope he get's a good laugh from it. When I found the vocal track, reggae was the first thing I thought of, so I did it. A loungey swing version would also be great."
Scour, the supergroup project of former Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo, recently launched a stream of Dispatched from their upcoming self-titled EP, due out next month. It was recently revealed that late Pantera guitarist Dimebag will feature on Hellyeah's upcoming album Undeniable. Check out the reworking here.
Guns N' Roses' Duff McKagan Documentary Hitting Theaters(hennemusic)
Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan will screen his documentary, "It's So Easy And Other Lies: Live At The Moore", in US theaters starting May 26, according to Deadline.
They report that XLrator Media will present the film in 50 US cities ahead of the its theatrical release in Los Angeles on June 3. Directed by Christopher Duddy, the project sees McKagan telling his life story in a live performance setting at the famed Seattle venue in 2013.
The Seattle appearance was part of a promotional tour by McKagan in support of his 2012 memoir, "It's So Easy (And Other Lies)", which debuted on the New York Times' Hardcover Nonfiction Best Sellers list at No. 17.
The documentary's release comes three weeks before the partially-reunited Guns N' Roses will begin a summer stadium tour of North America at Ford Field in Detroit, MI on June 23. Read more and watch the trailer here.
Hacktivist Go Low Budget For 'Hate' Video(TeamRock Radio)
Hacktivist have released a video for their track Hate. The song is taken from the Milton Keynes band's debut album Outside The Box, which was released earlier this year.
The video was filmed by bassist Josh Gurner on a budget "of almost £10." It features the band members on their lunch breaks from their day jobs, giving a glimpse into their everyday lives.
Gurner says: "Lyrically, Hate deals with the phenomenon of the simmering jealousy that manifests itself as online bile when people see what they perceive as a glimpse of 'success.'
"I wanted to address that in the video, and also add a twist on the idea that we're living in an age where people seem to get the majority of their entertainment from a stylised version of 'reality', and even the most low-level 'famous' person exists publicly as a idealised version of themselves."
He adds: "The video shows a day-in-the-life of the members of Hacktivist, and highlights the duality of our lives as the touring musicians that people see on a stage, in a video or on an album cover, and the more mundane 'real' lives that make up the majority of most band members' time." Read more and watch the video here.
Sex Pistols Guitarist Steve Jones Announces Autobiography(hennemusic)
Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones has announced that he will publish his autobiography, "Lonely Boy", on November 17th in the UK and January 10th in North America,
The project sees Jones collaborate with journalist Ben Thompson to share his story of growing up in the streets of Hammersmith and Shepherd's Bush, West London, before forming Strand in 1972 and, eventually, the Sex Pistols in 1975 with vocalist Johnny Rotten, bassist Glen Matlock and drummer Paul Cook.
Inspired by New York bands the Ramones and the New York Dolls, among others, the Sex Pistols helped to propel the UK punk scene through a series of four singles and one studio album, 1977's "Never Mind The Bollocks…Here's The Sex Pistols", before disbanding just three months after its release.
Jones spent years after the Pistols in a self-imposed exile in New York and Los Angeles where he battled with alcohol, heroin and sex addiction - caught in a cycle of rehab and relapse.
Alongside producing and playing on records by other artists, the guitarist was a member of several post-Pistols groups including The Professionals, Chequered Past and Neurotic Outsiders, as well as building a solo career.
He hosted the popular daily radio program "Jonesy's Jukebox" on Indie 103.1 FM Los Angeles from 2004 to the station's sign-off in 2009, welcoming special guests and spinning whatever tunes he wanted to play for listeners. Read more here.
Bun E. Carlos Streams Solo Song Featuring Robert Pollard(hennemusic)
Original Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos is previewing his upcoming solo album debut "Greetings From Bunezuela!" with the release of the lead single, "Do Something Real."
The track features Guided By Voices singer Robert Pollard on vocals on a tune he originally issued in 1999. Due June 24, "Greetings From Bunezuela!" presents 13 rockers - including 11 covers of songs originally done by The Rolling Stones, The Who, Bob Dylan, Them, the Bee Gees and more.
The project features a range of guest vocalists including Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum, original Cheap Trick singer Xeno, Hanson, Alejandro Escovedo and Wilco's John Stirratt, among others. Stream the song here.
AC/DC Classic Fuels New Applebee's Commercials(hennemusic)
AC/DC's 1980 classic, "Rock 'n' Roll Ain't Noise Pollution", provides the soundtrack to a new ad campaign for restaurant chain Applebee's. The commercials tell Applebee's "Hand-Cut, Wood-Fired" story with shots of hand-cut steaks being "seared to smoky-oak perfection" on the company's "fire-breathing workhorse" grill.
The rebranding campaign emphasizes the new American-made, wood-fired grills as the centerpiece of nearly 2,000 of its U.S. restaurants and introducing certified USDA Choice steaks hand-cut in-house as the signature item of a revamped and streamlined menu that elevates quality, flavor and freshness.
"We're in the midst of a transformation at Applebee's, and we are recommitting ourselves to every aspect of the guest experience," said Julia Stewart, Chairman and CEO of Applebee's parent company DineEquity, Inc. and President of Applebee's. "Food is, of course, central to that, and in talking to guests, we discovered that a platform built on 'USDA Choice,' 'hand-cut in-house' and 'wood-fired' was not only powerful but had the potential to differentiate us in a noisy and crowded market." Watch the three official ads here.
Garbage's Manson Misses 'Hearing From The Weirdos'(Classic Rock)
Shirley Manson says the most powerful entertainers in the world are female. The Garbage vocalist says that female pop stars hold more sway now than ever, but admits she misses hearing from "the weirdos."
Manson tells Classic Rock: "The most powerful entertainers in the world are female. But what I notice about them is all of these women are spectacular looking and they all make really accessible pop music.
"I'm not knocking that, but I miss hearing from the weirdos. I miss hearing from the girls that speak quietly and you have to lean in to hear what they say, because I've found the ones who require some coaxing often have the most vital perspective because they're voyeurs, not entertainers." Read more here.
Blood Youth Release 'Mood Swing' Video(TeamRock Radio)
Blood Youth have released a video for their track Mood Swing. The song comes from their Closure EP, which was released in March via Rude Records.
Speaking of their 2015 debut album Inside My Head, guitarist Chris Pritchard said: "It expressed the issues our vocalist Kaya Tarsus has had for the past six years in a way he hadn't been able to show until the band started.
"With this EP Closure, it's about what he once felt coming to an end. And for all of us, this EP is literally closure for the personal anxiety we all felt while writing our debut. The whole thing was a recovery process. Full circle.
"You can tell we're pissed off, hungry and have something to say. We came out swinging, and we plan to continue to do so." Watch the video here.
Anima Mundi Forced To Cancel UK Tour(Prog)
Anima Mundi have been forced to cancel their upcoming UK tour. The run of five dates was due to kick off ronight (May 25) in Edinburgh. But the Cuban prog outfit have had to pull the plug due to visa problems.
The band had the following to say in a statement about the cancelation: "Sadly, due to their visas not arriving in time, Anima Mundi are cancelling the whole UK tour.
"We're sorry for the inconvenience this will have caused to those who have booked tickets and helped with promotion." Ticket refunds will be available from the point of purchase. Read more here.
Jared James Nichols Tributes Biker Films In 'Don't You Try' Video(TeamRock Radio)
Jared James Nichols has premiered the video for his track Don't You Try with TeamRock. The US guitarist has issued the new track to coincide with the start of his European tour supporting Zakk Wylde, which gets underway on May 25.
Nichols tells TeamRock: "Basically, the song is about belief - in all aspects of life. About what you're told when you're young and how it has an impression on you. How strong other people's words can be. How there is always something in the back of your mind kind of chasing you. At the end of the day, you have to believe in what you want."
The video pays homage to bikers of the 60s and 70s, and Nichols says the idea came to him while he was drifting off to sleep. He adds: "I remember the dream so vividly. I was cruising in my old Ford when all of the sudden I was taken over by a biker gang. We worked with director Ben Strang and decided to make it a homage or parody if you will.
"It turned out funny as hell and undoubtedly a throwback to the classic exploitation biker films of the late 60s early 70s. We plan on opening our European shows with the song." Read more and watch the video here.
Radiohead's First Live Performance Of 'Creep' in Seven Years Goes Online(Radio.com)
It had been seven years since Radiohead performed one of their most famous and popular songs "Creep," off their 1993 album Pablo Honey. But that changed at the kick off their tour on Monday night (May 23) in Paris, when they decided to give fans a treat.
Yorke told the crowd, "This is for the funny guy shouting for 'Creep' at the back, if only to shock you." He then laughed in a staccato-like way that perfectly lead into the song. The audience went absolutely wild and sang along with the band.
Radiohead hasn't played "Creep" live since their August 2009 performance at the Reading Festival (via Billboard). With A Moon Shaped Pool, the band released a handful of songs they have been playing live for years so it makes sense that they would turn the tables and revisit some of the songs they haven't performed in years.
A fan in the audience captured video. Watch it here.
The Pineapple Thief Stream New Song 'No Man's Land'(Prog)
The Pineapple Thief have released a lyric video for their track "No Man's Land" which is the first song to appear from their upcoming album 'Your Wilderness.'
The follow-up to 2014's 'Magnolia' will be released on August 12 via Kscope, featuring King Crimson and ex Porcupine Tree drummer Gavin Harrison plus guest appearances by Supertramp's John Helliwell, Geoffrey Richardson of Caravan and Darran Charles from Godsticks.
Mainman Bruce Soord recently said: "Gavin's drumming is technically brilliant but also incredibly musical, and it inspired all of us to raise our game. You've never heard a The Pineapple Thief album like this one. I am convinced people will love this record as much as we do." Stream the song here.
Linkin Park Dealing With 'Too Many Sounds' On New Album(TeamRock Radio)
Linkin Park have released a video clip shot during studio sessions for their seventh album, in which Mike Shinoda discusses the challenge of dealing with "too many sounds."
The band started work on the follow-up to 2014's The Hunting Party in December, and Shinoda said last month that the material was "personal and revealing."
In the video he tells his workmates: "As we go you're going to hear a lot of layers, maybe too many. There's going to be way too many sounds, but we're going to sort through our favourite combinations."
But he adds: "It's a good problem to have." Read more here.
Neal Morse Band's New Album Is Tommy Meets The Wall Says Portnoy(Classic Rock)
Mike Portnoy took to Facebook on Monday and has described the upcoming Neal Morse Band record as "the greatest album of my career...our Tommy meets The Wall."
The as-yet-untitled, double concept album is due for release later this year and drummer Portnoy says is stands up against some of the best concept records ever released.
He says: "Listened to the latest tracking ruff on the upcoming Neal Morse Band album yesterday. I have to say it again - this is the greatest album of my career.
"It is my/our Tommy meets The Wall. Absolutely mammoth and my greatest recorded work, my Desert Island Disc. Can't wait for you all to hear it." Read more here.
Kelly Osbourne Tweets Insult Towards Ozzy's Alleged Mistress?(Radio.com)
Kelly Osbourne posted a harsh tweet that is believed to be directed towards her father Ozzy Osbourne's alleged mistress. Osbourne tweeted a derogatory comment which references a specific sexual act and also includes the woman's phone number.
"He's given me an unbelievable life and he's given me three gorgeous children and I love him," Sharon said of their current separation. "I'm just trying to take it all in, take it all in and process it… I've been avoiding looking at any pictures or reading anything. I know what's gone on, and I don't need to read about it, it's like putting salt in a wound and I don't need to."
Regarding whether the split is permanent, Sharon said, "I honestly don't know. At this point I cannot answer that, because I don't know what I want." Read more here.
Tragically Hip's Gord Downie Diagnosed With Terminal Cancer(hennemusic)
Canadian rockers The Tragically Hip announced Tuesday that frontman Gord Downie has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and that they'll hit the road for a farewell summer tour this summer.
The Kingston, Ontario band issued a statement revealing the 52-year-old Downie received news of the illness in December of 2015. The group says, "Hello friends. We have some very tough news to share with you today, and we wish it wasn't so. A few months ago, in December, Gord Downie was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.
"Since then, obviously, he's endured a lot of difficult times, and he has been fighting hard. In privacy along with his family, and through all of this, we've been standing by him.
"So after 30-some years together as The Tragically Hip, thousands of shows, and hundreds of tours…We've decided to do another one. This feels like the right thing to do now, for Gord, and for all of us.
"What we in The Hip receive, each time we play together, is a connection; with each other; with music and it's magic; and during the shows, a special connection with all of you, our incredible fans.
"So, we're going to dig deep, and try to make this our best tour yet. We hope you can come out and join us this summer - details and dates will be coming this week." Read more here.
Paul McCartney Says Kanye West Is A Monster(Radio.com) Beatles legend Paul McCartney seemed like a strange collaborator for Kanye West on "FourFiveSeconds," their single with Rihanna. So what does the Beatle really think of the controversial rapper? In an interview with the BBC, McCartney described West as a "monster" and "a crazy guy who comes up with great stuff so he inspires me."
Those 2014 recording sessions bore other fruit, including "All Day," a song whose lyrics shocked McCartney on first glance. "I get this track back, a thing called 'All Day' [and] he's taken my melody and he's made it seriously urban, which is funny because the lyrics use the N-word-a lot!" McCartney said. "'How long have you been at the mall? All day, n-word.'"
Sir Paul says famous friends like Oprah Winfrey warned him against making the song, fearing that he would wade into controversy. "It's a great record, sonically it's brilliant, but quite a few people said, 'You can't be connected with this, there's, like, 40 N-words!'" he said. "People like Oprah, who are a little conservative about that stuff, she says, 'You shouldn't do it, even black people shouldn't use that word.' I said, 'Yeah, but it's Kanye! And he's talking about an urban generation that uses that word in a completely different way. It's the context. So I was actually pleased with it."
Listen to McCartney's full BBC interview here.
Singled Out: Dash Ten's The Scene
Louisville rockers Dash | Ten just released their self-titled debut and to celebrate we asked Corrin Campbell (bass player and vocalist) to tell us about the song "The Scene". Here is the story:
Our most tongue-in-cheek songs on the album is "The Scene". I often joke that I was listening to a little too much Kesha at the moment I started writing this song, and I say that because I loved all of her talky-verses. It wasn't rap, it was just the lyrics without a melody, and I really liked that approach.
Our band is based out of Louisville, KY, but I spend a lot of time in Nashville, and there were a couple nights in a row where I had gone to some showcases of new artists vying for label attention. It felt like such a jaded process, and I really just tried to wrap my head around it. There were so many artists trying to be what they thought the industry wanted to see, and it was a really alien concept for me to grasp. Don't get me wrong; anybody needs to make money to survive, but at what point are we trying too hard, buying in a little too much and losing ourselves in it?
The title and context of "The Scene" were really about this jaded process of the music scene. Verse lyrics like "pulling out your PRS, pretty like a party dress. It has the name on it, shine to it, flair to it. Keeping up appearances, makes you cooler when you play it," was really a comment about how some artists were making that effort to be what they thought people wanted.
However, more of the lyrics were more about the people who take advantage of those with big dreams. My true black list. It sucks how hard people work to make their music and try to shop it around… for a "fee". There are sharks in the music scene who make a lot of promises to get musicians' hard-earned investment, and (in my mind) that was the real problem when I wrote, "Here comes the suit with all the answers, all your treasures. Hand over all your money, he'll answer all your prayers. He'll shake your hand with the right, don't watch the left! Fingers crossed behind, it's junk, lies, theft."
The song is sure to piss some people off, but I'm proud of it because it shows a little of our punk edge - that loyalty to the music, the fans, the band's identity - over the promises of success and fame.
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