Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day In Rock News!

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day In Rock News!: Today's Top Stories Motley Crue Ended On Bad Terms?(Classic Rock) Former Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee says ex-colleagues Ni...

Today's Day In Rock News!

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.

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day In Rock News!

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day In Rock News!: Today's Top Stories Paul Stanley Vs. Nikki Sixx War Of Words Continues Paul Stanley once again called out Nikki Sixx, with t...

Today's Day In Rock News!

Today's Top Stories

Paul Stanley Vs. Nikki Sixx War Of Words Continues

Paul Stanley once again called out Nikki Sixx, with the KISS frontman accusing the former Motley Crue bass player of 'harping" on comments made by Gene Simmons and calling Sixx's public statements 'ludicrous' and 'silly'.
Stanley had previously told Sixx to "shut up" in a social media post after the Motley star insulted Simmons over controversial comments that Gene made about the death of Prince. Simmons quickly apologized after Stanley himself chastised him for the remarks.

Following Stanley's post, Sixx posted and then deleted a response on Facebook and Paul was asked about the war of words by Billboard.

Stanley tells the publication, "It's just silly stuff, honestly. It's one thing to call somebody out and to have a point of view on somebody's quotes, but then to just harp on it...You have to be suspect of the motives. Whatever questions I have about things that Gene has said is one thing, but to beat him into the ground becomes self-serving. It just gets annoying.

"For other people to harp on it and beat it into the ground is not something I want to sit by and listen to. When somebody starts to denigrate or take potshots at your contributions or your band or anything else, when you consider the source it gets to be ludicrous."



Axl Rose Back On His Feet At AC/DC Concert(hennemusic)


Axl Rose was back on his feet for part of his fifth concert with AC/DC on the Rock Or Bust tour in Vienna, Austria on May 19 and video from the event has been posted online.
Fans at Ernst-Happel-Stadion rocked through a now standard 23-song setlist with Rose mobile enough to spend some of the show on his feet with the help of a walking boot as he continues to recover from a broken foot suffered during Guns N' Roses' April 1 club gig at The Troubadour in Los Angeles.

The singer also continues to use a scaled-down version of a throne on loan from Dave Grohl, who had the customized setup made after breaking his leg during a June 12, 2015 show in Gothenburg, Sweden; the inury resulted in surgery and led to the cancellation of the Foo Fighters' European tour last summer.

"We all look forward to Axl not requiring the chair anymore," drummer Chris Slade wrote in a recent exchange with fans. "Shouldn't be too long now."

AC/DC's spring European trek runs 12 dates with shows wrapping up in Aarhus, Denmark on June 12. Check out the videos here.




Blink-182 Giving Away New Song(TeamRock Radio)


Blink-182 have made their track Built This Pool available as a free download. The 15-second song appears on upcoming album California, due for release on July 1.
The 'California' record is California band's first studio album to feature Alkaline Trio frontman Matt Skiba, who was brought in to replace Tom DeLonge.

Blink-182 have also released a 10-hour loop of Built This Pool via YouTube. Hear the short track and the alternative extended version of the song here.



Latest News

Red Hot Chili Peppers Scared With Anthony Kiedis Hospitalization(Classic Rock)

Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith admits the band got a scare when Anthony Kiedis was rushed to hospital just before a show last week.
And Smith knows the recent spate of rock musicians' deaths fuelled the concerns of colleagues, family and fans while the singer received attention for intestinal flu.

Two concerts were called off as a result of Kiedis' health problems - but the band are set to return to action in Ohio this weekend. Smith tells Radio X: "His stomach was killing him - it was really scary. We went directly to the hospital. We were really upset we couldn't play for the fans, but also more worried about him."

He adds: "I know everyone's freaked out when they hear about another musician going into the hospital. It's been such a rough year." Read more here.




Eagles Of Death Metal Roadie's Ex Recalls Terrorist Attack(TeamRock Radio)


The ex-girlfriend of Eagles Of Death Metal roadie Nick Alexander has described the moment he died in her arms. Helen Wilson was at the Bataclan in Paris with Alexander when three extremists burst in and killed the band's 35-year-old merchandise manager along with 88 other people attending the gig on November 13 last year.
Essex coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded a verdict of unlawful killing at the inquest, the Guardian reports. Wilson, who remained close friends with Alexander after the end of their two-year relationship, provided a written statement to the inquest.

She says: "Nick and I were still talking, I told him not to move and keep his eyes closed. We were playing at being dead." The shooters approached Alexander and Wilson and she says she tried to protect him by wrapping her legs around him.

She adds: "The man was tall and had dark hair, he came in our direction and started shooting. I tried to protect Nick by covering his body with my legs and wrapping my arms.

"We were holding hands the whole time. He told me that it was hard to breathe so I told him to squeeze my hand and was telling him to stay with me."

Wilson tried to give Alexander mouth-to-mouth, when she heard a bomb detonate. She adds: "I protected myself and asked Nick if he was OK, he said, 'I'm going to die.' I told him that he wasn't, he said he couldn't breathe." Read more here.




Jeff Beck Announces New Album 'Loud Hailer'(hennemusic)


Jeff Beck has unveiled the tracklisting and cover art for his forthcoming album, "Loud Hailer." Due July 15 on CD, digital and vinyl, the guitarist produced his first record in six years with Filippo Cimatti.
Beck says Loud Hailer - another name for a megaphone - is the right title for his latest studio recording. "I really wanted to make a statement about some of the nasty things I see going on in the world today," he explains, "and I loved the idea of being at a rally and using this loud device to shout my point of view."

The set sees Beck teamed with singer Rosie Bones, guitarist Carmen Vandenberg, bassist Giovanni Pallotti and drummer Davide Sollazzi. Bones handles vocals on nine of the 11 songs on "Loud Hailer", which is rounded out by a pair of signature Beck instrumentals: "Pull It" and "Edna." Read more here.




Thrice Release 'Black Honey' Video(TeamRock Radio)


Thrice have released a video for their track Black Honey. The song is from the band's comeback album To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere, which is out on May 27 via Vagrant.
It's the California outfit's first material since 2011's Major/Minor. Frontman Dustin Kensrue previously said: "Lyrically, the song spawned from an image that popped into my head - someone continually swatting at a swarm of bees to get their honey, but somehow not understanding why they would sting back in return."

Thrice will hit the road in June for a run of North American dates. They'll then head to Europe in August for shows, including sets at the Reading and Leeds festivals. Watch the video here.




Godsmack Offshoot Apocalypse Blues Revue Ink Album Deal(The Blues)


Godsmack members Shannon Larkin and Tony Rombola's side project Apocalypse Blues Revue have announced that they have signed a deal for their debut album.
Drummer Larkin and guitarist Rombola formed their blues band in 2014, under the name the Blue Cross Band. But they've since had a change of name and will release their debut album later this year via Provogue/Mascot Label Group.

They're joined on the group by vocalist Ray 'Rafer John' Cerbone and bass player Brian Carpenter. Larkin says: "As far as blues goes, Apocalypse Blues Revue is a little heavier, a little darker, and has some punk rock attitude in the lyrics.

"We wanted to make something deep that will provoke thought. It had to be evil though. We're not trying to make it happy. It's called blues for a reason. It was also an opportunity to show the world what a phenomenal guitar player Tony is." Read more here.




Suicidal Tendencies Recording With Dave Lombardo(Classic Rock)

Suicidal Tendencies have indicated that Dave Lombardo will feature on their next album. The band shared a clip of the former Slayer sticksman tracking drums in the studio
The photo included the caption: "Beating out today's sermon in the Church of Suicidal, the Godfather of double-kick, Dave Lombardo! September 2016. You've been warned. #suicidaltendencies #suicidal #cyco #newrecord #september2016 #straightoutofvenice."

In February it was announced that Lombardo would be touring with Suicidal Tendencies in place of their regular drummer Eric Moore. There's been no official word on Moore's status within the band. Read more here.




A Day To Remember Go Behind The Scenes Of 'Paranoia' Video(TeamRock Radio)


A Day To Remember have offered fans a glimpse into the making of their latest music video, Paranoia. The behind-the-scenes clip shows the pop-punk outfit filming under a bridge in downtown Los Angeles.
Frontman Jeremy McKinnon says of the track: "To me, Paranoia kind of reminded me of The Ace Of Spades. So we kept it kind of punk in the verses, then hit them with the pop-punk chorus and the beatdown bridge in true A Day To Remember fashion."

The band's last full-length release was Common Courtesy in 2013. A Day To Remember have a series of tour dates planned throughout the summer, including their trek with Blink-182. See the dates and watch the video clip here.




Issues Streaming New Album 'Headspace' In Full Online(TeamRock Radio)


Issues have made their new studio album Headspace available to stream in its entirety online. The follow-up to 2014's Diamond Dreams was released today (May 20).
Earlier this month the band released tracks Slow Me Down and Blue Wall. Frontman Tyler Carter recently said of track Slow Me Down: "I think that every family has that one person who's always looking out for the others - their purpose in life is to provide and always be the rock for their family.

"The song was written musically as a piece for my guitar player AJ's aunt who passed away. She was his best friend." Check out the full album stream and their upcoming tour dates here.



D.R.I. Announce New 'But Wait There's More' EP (TeamRock Radio)


Dirty Rotten Imbeciles have announced they'll release their EP But Wait There's More on June 10. The record will be the punk rock band's first release in more than 20 years, and it has been in the works since 2014.
Vocalist Kurt Brecht tells the Phoenix New Times: "It's just a handful of songs to test the waters. We haven't put out anything new in so long, so we wanted to see how much interest there really is in it."

Regarding the musical direction of the new D.R.I. release, Brecht says: "It's more old-school hardcore. It's straightforward, without the metal guitar sound." Read more here.




Von Hertzen Brothers Working On New Album(Prog)

Von Hertzen Brothers have said their next album is in the works. The band have signed to 7pm Management - who have Skindred and The Qemists on their roster - to raise their international profile following the success of their last album New Day Rising.
Singer and guitarist Mikko von Hertzen says: "Both myself and my brothers Kie and Jonne are really pleased to be joining forces with 7pm Management for the next chapter in what seems like a natural progression for us. We are already drawing up plans while writing material for our next album which we are all extremely excited about.

"Hopefully we can now together start to replicate our domestic success in other markets and continue to build the band into what we know it has the potential to be." Read more here.




Rolling Stones Surprise Fan At Exhibitionism(Gibson)

One Rolling Stones fan recently got an awesome surprise while checking out the band's career-spanning exhibit, Exhibitionism, in London. Alex Emmanuel was shocked, in a good way, when the members of the Stones -- Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood -- walked into the exhibit space to greet him.
"I suppose I can die now," Emmanuel said in a video of the moment posted on YouTube. "For a moment I felt like I was a member of The Rolling Stones."

Emmanuel had no idea the meet-up was going to happen, but he was flown from New York to London as part of London's tourism promotion campaign. Read more here.






Johnny And Donnie Van Zant Announce Live Album(Classic Rock)

A concert recording from the only tour featuring Johnny and Donnie Van Zant is set to be released on July 1. The live album will be entitled "Red White and Blue: Live".
features the current Lynyrd Skynyrd frontman and former .38 Special guitarist performing hits from their respective bands and their collaborative project Van Zant at their show in Valdosta, Georgia, in 2006. It was recorded by Donnie's longtime bandmate Larry Junstrom.

Donnie Van Zant says: "The plan was always to enjoy ourselves and have fun and this recording captures a moment when we had a great night." Read more here.




Ray Wilson Releases 'Song For A Friend' Video(Prog)

Former Genesis frontman Ray Wilson has premiered the video of the title track of his latest album with Prog. He'll release Song For A Friend on June 3 via Jaggy Polski
Song For A Friend is Wilson's first studio album since 2013's Chasing Rainbows. He tells Prog: "We filmed this in Poland - Steve Wilson, Mario Kossel, Kool Lycek, Uwe Metzler and myself sit down and enjoy the music.

"The song celebrates the life of a dear friend who is now at peace." Wilson has a number of live dates planned throughout the rest of 2016 in support of Song For A Friend. See the dates and watch the video here.




Whitechapel Streaming New Song 'The Void'(TeamRock Radio)


Whitechapel have released a stream of their track The Void. It's the opening song on the band's upcoming sixth album Mark Of The Blade, which launches on June 24 via Metal Blade Records.
Guitarist Alex Wade tells Loudwire: "It sets the pace nicely for the rest of the CD. It's a different sound for us but still heavy and aggressive. As you can see from the title track to this, the dynamic between songs on the album is quite different so we hope the fans enjoy all the new sounds we brought to the table on this record."

The band, who are currently on the road across the US, previously released the title track from the follow-up to 2014's Our Endless War. They were recently confirmed for the Ozzfest Meets Knotfest in September. See the tour dates and stream the new song here.



Singled Out: Joe Lynn Turner On Sunstorm's Edge Of Tomorrow


Former Rainbow and Deep Purple vocalist Joe Lynn Turner today tells us about the song "Edge of Tomorrow" which is the title track from the new Sunstorm album. Here is the story:
After the release of the Rated X album, I wanted to go back to the more melodic sound of Sunstorm, but also wanted to retain some of the harder edge of the Rated X sound. I asked producer and songwriter Alessandro Del Vecchio to come up with some new songs in that vein. Del Vecchio hooked up with guitarist Simone Mularoni. Together they developed songs which were exactly what I wanted and this track is one of the highlights as well as the title track

We went harder... stronger... and heavier than ever before without losing the integrity of what the project is about... I call it melodic metal! The song is very well crafted, the message is profound, the performances amazing and the sound is incredible! "'Edge Of Tomorrow' is basically a lyric about the apocalypse that's happening right now and the geopolitical situation in our world.

We also made a video to go with the single and there is a great story tied into that. I chose Vikos Gorge as the location. It is the deepest and longest canyon in the world, the canyon of the Gods. This is where all of civilization started. The producer and director, Menelaos is a visionary and an incredible artist, and he knew that this particular location was where we should do this, where we should show the world what is happening in symbology, in symbolic form. Menelaos name comes from the king of Sparta and he really made a spectacular video.

All of the scenes you see in the video are real, except the eagle, which is CG. I was really walking along the ledge with this huge drop off below my feet. When I was standing on some of those mountainous peaks, I did get a little vertigo but got used to it after awhile.

As for the eagle, he represents the freedom that people should have instead of the enslavement which the world has become from the geopolitical powers. That is part of the essence of what the song is about.

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day In Rock News!

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day In Rock News!: Today's Top Stories AC/DC's Brian Johnson Meeting With Hearing Inventor(hennemusic) The inventor of in-ear monitors, Asi...

Today's Day In Rock News!

Today's Top Stories

AC/DC's Brian Johnson Meeting With Hearing Inventor(hennemusic)


The inventor of in-ear monitors, Asius Technologies founder Stephen Ambrose, says he will meet with AC/DC singer Brian Johnson next week to review his latest upgrade to the technology that may help the rocker return to the live stage one day.
Ambrose recently posted a video message with an offer to assist Johnson over the hearing issues that sidelined him from the band's 2016 tour lineup in March, when AC/DC postponed the remaining 10 shows on their spring US tour after the singer was advised by doctors to stop touring immediately or risk total hearing loss.

Now, Ambrose says the pair have spoken and plan to connect in person. "Happily, due to everyone's tremendous support, Brian and I spoke yesterday!," posted Ambrose. "What a gracious man; He and his wife Brenda invited me to visit them next week. If anyone deserves to benefit from my research - it's Brian - who has been giving incomparable performances for years despite increasing hearing loss.

"I'm going to do my utmost to see if our new hearing breakthroughs can help him, and if I am at all successful, I'm sure Brian will let everyone know; he really cares about people and would like to help. I am truly humbled and honored to meet this man, and I wish to sincerely thank everyone who helped. Fingers crossed; please pray for our success next week." Read more here.



Original Alice Cooper Band Reuniting For New Album (hennemusic)

Alice Cooper has revealed plans to reunite with his original band for his next studio album. Formed in 1968 with members of the Phoenix, AZ group The Spiders, the Alice Cooper Band featured Cooper, guitarists Glen Buxton and Michael Bruce, bassist Dennis Dunaway and drummer Neal Smith.
The lineup went on to record 7 albums of classic material - including 4 platinum records - before splitting in 1975, following which Cooper launched a solo career with "Welcome To My Nightmare."

Now Cooper says he's been working with the surviving members (Buxton died in 1997 of complications from pneumonia at the age of 49) on new material that seems to have recaptured some of their old sonic magic.

"I've always liked the idea that Alice Cooper has always been a Detroit rock band," Alice tells The Weekender. "We've always been a hard rock band, guitar rock, and I'll never give that up. But every once in awhile, though, there's just a flavor of what album do we want to go to here to give it that flavor. And it seems to be going toward the 'Killer' album.

"And I kind of go, that album, let's revisit the sound of that album and what we were kind of thinking. You can never go back and totally recapture it, but you can certainly look at the elements that made that album work the way it did."

"I wrote three or four songs with Neil Smith and Mike Bruce," Cooper continues. "And so we worked together in Phoenix for about two weeks just writing songs and demoing songs. And you never know which ones are going to make the album, but I said let's do that.

"Dennis Dunaway wrote two or three things. We haven't seen those yet, but I know Dennis has always written great stuff. It's fun to go back and work with guys you haven't worked with in awhile. It's not trying to recapture your youth. It's trying to recapture a sound. And it's a very elusive sound." Read more here.



Guns N' Roses Release Reunion Show Video(Classic Rock)

Guns N' Roses have released video footage from their first reunion show in Las Vegas which took place last month. Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan performed sold out gigs at Sin City's T-Mobile Arena on April 8 and 9 after confirming they'd reunited earlier this year.
The 30-second clip - which can be viewed below - shows the band onstage, soundtracked by their hit Welcome To The Jungle. Vocalist Rose performed the shows from Dave Grohl's 'throne' after breaking his foot at an earlier warm-up show in LA.

They followed up the Vegas shows with gigs in Mexico City and at Coachella. Next month, they return to the road after Axl Rose returns from his stint fronting AC/DC as a guest singer. Watch the video here.



Police Question Prince's Doctor(Radio.com)

Police investigating the death of Prince have questioned the doctor that prescribed the legendary music star medicine the day before he died. Dr. Michael Todd Schulenberg, who saw Prince twice in the weeks before his death is under investigation, according to a search warrant.
The warrant, which was filed on May 5 and made public this week, states that Schulenberg treated Prince on April 7 and April 20 and prescribed him medication, reported KSTP-TV and the Los Angeles Times. However, the warrant does not identify what medications were prescribed or whether Prince actually consumed them.

Investigators interviewed Schulenberg and searched Minneapolis' North Memorial Medical Center, where he worked as a primary care physician. A spokesperson for the hospital said Schulenberg has since left the clinic.

Although the actual cause of Prince's death has not been revealed, police have confirmed that they are investigating the possibility that the music legend died from an overdose of prescription medication. Allegedly, the painkiller Percocet was found in his body during an autopsy. Read more here.



Latest News

Vinnie Paul Ready To Return To City Where Dimebag Was Murdered(TeamRock Radio)

Former Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul says the time is right to return to the city where brother and bandmate Dimebag was shot dead on stage. Paul's band Hellyeah will appear at Rock On The Range in Columbus, Ohio, on the weekend of May 20-22.
It takes place close to the location of the 2004 Damageplan show that ended with the murder of Dime and three others, while the gunman was also killed and seven were wounded.

Paul tells Big Smash Radio: "It's taken me a long time to get into the right headspace where I feel like it was time to do it. It wasn't anything specific. We've been offered it just about every year Hellyeah's been together.

"This year it just kind of hit me. I said, 'You know what? I think it's time for the people there to hear what we do - to go back and do my thing, and show a little love to my brother."

Paul reveals festival organizers had always been sympathetic to his feelings. He says: "Every year they were like, 'Just let him know the offer's there, that we'd love to have him come play.'" Read more here.



Gene Simmons' Wife Vs Paul Stanley Over Prince Apology(Classic Rock)

KISS star Gene Simmons' wife has attacked Paul Stanley after he apologized for the bassist's comments about Prince. Simmons this week stated that Prince's death last month was self-inflicted and "pathetic" - although the details surrounding his passing have not been confirmed.
That led Stanley to criticize his bandmate's "cold, clueless" quotes, hours before Simmons himself issued an explanation, admitting: "I got such sh*t from my family for my big mouth again."

But his wife Shannon Tweed last night told Stanley via Twitter: "You can't apologise for someone else. It's not up to you. He feels the way he feels. He would never do that to you - never."

She added: "We all have our failings but true friends don't point at them and through you under the bus. Especially partners of 40 years!" Stanley replied: "'Partners of 40 years' says it all. Don't confuse walking under the bus with being thrown under. My apology was right." Read more here.




Leaves' Eyes Release First Video Featuring New Singer(TeamRock Radio)

Leaves' Eyes have released a video for their track Edge Of Steel - featuring new singer Elina Siirala. The song originally appeared on last year's album King Of Kings and was sung by former singer Liv Kristine, who left the band this year.
The new version of Edge Of Steel will appear on a tour edition of King Of Kings, due for release on June 3 via AFM. Leaves' Eyes had to say the following about the new promo:

"Enjoy the new video clip and concept which is connected to Viking games and the Uefa Euro 2016 football championship. Thanks to director Rainer Zipp Franzen, the fantastic film crew and actors - you rule." Watch the video here.



Eric Clapton Premieres New Song 'Can't Let You Do It'(The Blues)

Eric Clapton has released a lyric video for his track Can't Let You Do It. The new song comes from his album I Still Do, which will be launched on May 20th.
The album came together after he reconnected with producer Glyn Johns, who helmed groundbreaking 1977 title Slowhand. Clapton recently said: "This was a long and overdue opportunity to work with Glyn again."

The mix of covers and originals features guitarist Andy Fairweather Low, keyboardist and vocalist Paul Carrack, bassist Dave Bronze, drummer Henry Spinetti and others. Check out the new song here.




Video of Pearl Jam's Full 'Binaural' Album Performance Goes Online(hennemusic)

Pearl Jam performed their 2000 album, "Binaural", in its entirety at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on May 10th and video of the concert has been posted online
The first of two-night stand in the city marked the Seattle band's third full-album set on their current North American tour following an April 16 run through of 1993's "Vs." in Greenville, SC and their 1991 debut, "Ten", in Philadelphia, PA on April 29.

The group's sixth release, "Binaural" peaked at No. 2 on the US Billboard 200 and the Canadian album charts and featured the singles "Nothing As It Seems" and "Light Years."

In addition to "Binaural", the 33-song show presented a wide range of material from the group's catalogue as well as four covers including John Lennon's "Imagine", Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb", "The Real Me" by The Who and a finale of Neil Young's "Rockin' In The Free World" - which saw former Prince guitarist Donna Grantis join in.

Pearl Jam wraps up their spring dates with a second Toronto show on May 12 - bumped from its original May 11 schedule by an NBA playoff game by the Toronto Raptors at the venue. Watch the video here.



Devil You Know Recruit Former Trivium Drummer Nick Augusto(TeamRock Radio)

Devil You Know have recruited former Trivium drummer Nick Augusto for their upcoming tour with Hatebreed and Devildriver. Augusto - who was sacked by Trivium in 2014 - will be behind the kit from the first date of the North American trek on May 13 (Friday).
Devil You Know's regular drummer John Sankey had to pull out of the band's recent US headline tour and the upcoming shows with Hatebreed and Devildriver as he had to return to Australia to help with the planning of next year's inaugural Legion Music Fest, of which he is co-founder and ambassador.

Former Devildriver man John Boecklin filled in on the headlining dates. Devil You Know guitarist Francesco Artusato says: "We are very excited to start this next tour with Nick. I toured with him in the past and I'm really looking forward to play some great shows with him." Read more here.



Letlive Streaming New Song 'Reluctantly Dead'(TeamRock Radio)

Letlive have released an online stream of their track new "Reluctantly Dead". The song comes from the band's forthcoming album If I'm The Devil, which is due out on June 10.
Frontman Jason Aalon Butler tells the Independent that he felt duty bound to write the album's politically-motivated lyrical content. He says: "People are being subjugated, people are being marginalised, they're being disenfranchised and they're being under-represented.

"People are dead, people are no longer breathing and six feet under because of the issues that I'm talking about, so I feel duty-bound to discuss them." Stream the new song here.



Toto Announce Summer Tour(Prog)

Toto have announced a 21-date US summer tour. As with their recent European and Japanese dates, the trek is billed as An Evening With Toto and is in support of current album XIV.
Core Toto members Steve Lukather, David Paich, Steve Porcaro and Joseph Williams will be joined by percussionist Lenny Castro, drummer Shannon Forest, bassist Leland Sklar and back-up vocalists Mabvuto and Jenny Douglas.

Guitarist Lukather says: "We look forward to bringing a longer show to our fans across the US. It has been an interest for David, Steve, Joseph and I over the past couple of years and we can't wait to get out there this summer." See the tour dates here.




Jon Anderson And Flower Kings' Roine Stolt Preview New Album(Prog)

Former Yes frontman Jon Anderson and Flower Kings leader Roine Stolt have released a 30-second teaser from their collaborative album Invention Of Knowledge.
The title is to be launched under the banner Anderson / Stolt on June 24 via InsideOut. Label boss Thomas Waber inspired the project after Anderson and the Flower Kings met during the Progressive Nation At Sea cruising festival in 2014.

Waber recently said: "I've been talking for ages about making an album of 'Yes music,' as Jon calls it. Roine seemed like the perfect guy to work with. I'm thrilled with the material they've come up with."

Anderson explained: "Music is always the driving force in my life - working with such a wonderful musician as Roine made the creation of this album very unique."

Stolt commented: "We've been inventing as we go along. Jon is an endless source of new ideas. It's been a very interesting and rewarding time and the result is just insanely detailed." Check out the preview here.




Black Country Communion's Reunion Driven By Bonamassa(Classic Rock)

Drummer Jason Bonham says singer and guitarist Joe Bonamassa was the driving force behind Black Country Communion's reunion. BCC confirmed earlier last month that they would return after their acrimonious split in 2012. The band's bassist and vocalist Glenn Hughes, formerly of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, clashed with singer Joe Bonamassa over his busy touring schedule.
But drummer Jason Bonham says Bonamassa reached out to his former bandmates and asked if they wanted to get together to write the follow-up to 2012's Afterglow.

He tells Sirius XM (via Blabbermouth): "Joe sent out a message. He just said, 'You know what? I can't believe it's been six years since we did the first album. I feel that we could really give it all and make another amazing album. Anybody interested?' And that was literally it.

"At the moment, there's no plans of anything other than, 'Would you be interested in doing it?' We all went, 'Yeah.' And, 'How is your schedule for January?'" Read more here.



Panic! At The Disco's Don't Threaten Me With A Good Time Video(TeamRock Radio)

Panic! At The Disco have released a video for their track Don't Threaten Me With A Good Time. It's taken from the group's latest album Death Of A Bachelor, released early this year via Fueled By Ramen.
The promo sees frontman Brendan Urie dealing with the advances of an alien masquerading as a woman. Panic! At The Disco say: "You are about to enter another dimension, filled with some pretty sick dance moves, and tentacles."

The band will head to the UK later this month and will return to the states in June for a North American summer tour. Check out the dates and watch the new video here.




The Pineapple Thief Announce New Album 'Your Wilderness'(Prog)

The Pineapple Thief have announced they'll release their next album titled Your Wilderness on August 12 via KScope. It'll be the band's follow-up to 2014's Magnolia - and they've issued a short teaser clip of the eight-track record.
Mainman Bruce Soord has also revealed it'll feature a range of guest musicians - including King Crimson drummer Gavin Harrison. He says: "Since Magnolia, the most eye-catching change is obviously having Gavin Harrison contribute drums throughout the album. This has not only redefined our sound but also redefined how we approached the songs as a band. Gavin's drumming is technically brilliant but also incredibly musical, and it inspired all of us to raise our game."

Soord reports he's rediscovered his "progressive roots in terms of song-writing and arrangement" and adds: "We were lucky enough to have John Helliwell from Supertramp contribute some beautiful clarinet parts and Caravan's Geoffrey Richardson provided a string quartet.

"We were also joined by a lovely four-piece choir and to cap it all off, my friend Darran Charles from Godsticks added some jaw-dropping guitar playing."

He continues: "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." Check out the preview and read more here.



Hesitation Wounds Stream New Song 'Operatic'(TeamRock Radio)

Hesitation Wounds have made released an online stream of their track Operatic. The song comes from the supergroup's debut album "Awake For Everything".
Consisting of Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg, Touche Amore frontman Jeremy Bolm, the Hope Conspiracy guitarist Neeraj Kane and former Trap Them bassist Stephen "Scuba" LaCour, the hardcore outfit will issue their album on May 27.
Operatic is described as an "enormous song with a brooding riff that's as memorable as it is heavy. Blasts of distortion weave in and out of Weinberg's mind-boggling drum performance and provide the perfect soundtrack to Bolm's vitriolic lyrics." Stream the song here.



Gov't Mule Open Their Archives For New Album Release(The Blues)

Gov't Mule will release an album of archive material in August. The Tel-Star Sessions features the band's first, and never-before-released, demos recorded in June 1994 at Tel-Star Studios in Bradenton, Florida.
The songs have been newly mixed and mastered and the resulting record will be issued on August 5 via Provogue/Mascot Label Group. The songs were originally planned to form Gov't Mule's debut album but were shelved until now.

The band - Warren Haynes, Allen Woody and Matt Abts - will issue the album digitally, on CD and on double vinyl, with a limited edition vinyl package also available. One of the tracks, Blind Man In The Dark, can be streamed here.



Yes, Kansas, Steve Hackett Lead Cruise To The Edge Lineup(Prog)

Yes have confirmed the full lineup for their next Cruise To The Edge festival, which sets sail from Tampa, Florida, to the Caribbean island of Cozumel in February.
Headline acts Kansas, Steve Hackett and John Wetton join Yes and previously-announced acts Patrick Moraz, Bad Dreams and the Neal Morse Band aboard the Brilliance Of The Seas.

Mike Portnoy will celebrate his 50th birthday with an all-star career retrospective concert. Also confirmed are IO Earth, Spock's Beard, Anglagard, Haken, Curved Air, District 97, Focus, Dave Kerzner and others.

For the first time, guests will have the chance to jam with their heroes and have big-name artists perform their songs.

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day In Rock News!

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day In Rock News!: Today's Top Stories Axl Rose Plays First Show With AC/DC, Pro-Shot Video Goes Online(hennemusic) Axl Rose performed his very...

Today's Day In Rock News!

Today's Top Stories

Axl Rose Plays First Show With AC/DC, Pro-Shot Video Goes Online(hennemusic)


Axl Rose performed his very first show as the frontman of AC/DC in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday (May 7th), and videos, including pro-shot footage, from his debut have been posted online.
Rose fronted the Australian rockers on the opening night of the European leg of the 2016 Rock Or Bust tour in place of Brian Johnson, who stepped aside in March on the advice of doctors in order to prevent further damage to his hearing, which guitarist Angus Young revealed had been an issue from the start of the world tour last year.

AC/DC and Rose pounded through a 22-song show at Passeio Maritimo de Algés that featured most of the tour's standard setlist, with two new adds from 1978's "Powerage", including "Rock 'n' Roll Damnation" (first time since 2003) and "Riff Raff" (last performed in 1996).

As Rose continues to heal a broken left foot injured during Guns N' Roses' April 1 club gig at The Troubadour in Los Angeles, the singer was once again confined to chair at center stage after using a throne on loan from Foo Fighter Dave Grohl for his band's first series of reunion dates last month.

Axl's AC/DC rig is much smaller that the throne setup while still providing a place to rest his injured foot in its protective brace. Rose is on board for AC/DC's 12-date European spring tour and will rejoin the band sometime later this year for the to-be-rescheduled US Rock Or Bust dates. Check out the videos here.



Ozzy And Sharon Osbourne Reportedly Split Up(hennemusic)


Various media outlets are reporting that Ozzy Osbourne and wife/manager Sharon have split after 33 years of marriage following accusations that the Black Sabbath singer has allegedly become involved in an affair with a Hollywood hairstylist.
Following a 2013 break-up and reconciliation, UK tabloid The Sun reports Ozzy is staying at the Beverly Hills Hotel after Sharon kicked the rocker out of their Los Angeles mansion last week over accusations that he's been having an affair with 45-year-old celebrity hairstylist Michelle Pugh.

A source tells E! Online that the couple mutually agreed last week that Ozzy would move out of the house temporarily, while a family spokesperson confirms the news to Rolling Stone, saying, "At this time, Ozzy is not in the marital home." Read more here.



Unreleased Songs From Late Alice In Chains Singer Layne Staley(Classic Rock)

A batch of eight unfinished songs featuring vocals by late Alice In Chains frontman Layne Staley could see the light of day. Seattle musician and audio engineer Jesse Holt has asked Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready to help him put the finishing touches to the tracks.
Via Twitter, Holt says: "Hey Mike McCready, help me produce eight unreleased tracks with Layne Staley singing on them. You'd love several of them."

Holt - who mostly works in the games industry - later tweeted an audio clip of a song he worked on with Staley called Daily Bread, but the vocalist never got round to recording vocals for it before he died. Check out the tweets and the song here.



AC/DC Didn't Fire Brian Johnson Says Angus(Classic Rock)


AC/DC guitarist Angus Young says the band did not fire frontman Brian Johnson after his hearing issue hit the crisis point in March, despite rumors to the contrary.
Last month, the group announced Axl Rose would step in to replace the singer on the Rock Or Bust tour, while Johnson issued his own statement confirming the severity of his health issue.

Young and bassist Cliff Williams clarify what went down with Johnson's departure in a newly-released video. Young explains: "You get a lot of rumors out there; a lot of people think Brian was fired. That's not the case. It was mainly his hearing. He already had a very bad ear, and the good ear that he had left was dropping rapidly. I mean, it was an ongoing issue all the way pretty much through the tour from the beginning."

Williams continues: "He had an instance where there was a marked drop in that one good ear and it came back, but not completely. The doc told him this can happen again and it may not come back. So, you know, you kind of go 'What do you do with that?'" Read more and watch the video here.




Latest News

Radiohead Release New Album 'A Moon Shaped Pool'(Prog)


Radiohead have launched their ninth album A Moon Shaped Pool in digital formats. The follow-up to 2010's King Of Limbs will be available on vinyl and CD on June 17, while a special edition will ship in September.
Last week, Radiohead began to systematically erase their entire online presence, before launching a video for new track Burn The Witch. Then on Friday, a promo for the track Daydreaming, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, was unveiled before the band revealed the album would be on sale from 7pm on May 8 (Sunday).

A Moon Shaped Pool is available now on iTunes, Amazon and via the band's website, and it can be streamed on Apple Music and Tidal. The special edition comes with two heavyweight 12inch vinyl records, two CDs and 32 pages of artwork in "a case bound album, inspired by the albums for 78rpm shellac records in the library of La Fabrique, France." It also includes a piece of the master tape from an actual recording session. Read more here.




Paul Gray's Daughter Can Sue Over Slipknot Star's Death(TeamRock Radio)

Slipknot bassist Paul Gray's daughter October can proceed with a lawsuit against a Des Moines doctor over her father's overdose death, the Iowa Supreme Court has ruled.
According to the Des Moines Register, the first-of-its kind case will see October head to court against Dr Daniel Baldi for the loss of her father's love and emotional support - known as loss of consortium - even though she was still in her mother's womb when Gray died of a drug overdose in May 2010.

Justice Daryl Hecht noted in his ruling that Gray's daughter could still suffer the emotional effects of her father's death after her birth, making her claim eligible to be decided by a jury.

Hecht wrote: "Whatever deprivation of consortium she is currently experiencing is no less real just because she did not experience it while in utero." Read more here.



Five Finger Death Punch Making New Album Plans(TeamRock Radio)

Five Finger Death Punch's Jeremy Spencer says that the band will enter the studio this summer. The drummer says they'll juggle touring with recording sessions for the follow-up to 2015's Got Your Six.
Spencer tells 14 News: "Well, we're gonna do some festival touring as well as some of these arena shows this summer, and I think we're gonna hit the studio sometime this summer; we'll begin that process. I'm not sure when it will come, but definitely we'll start recording something this summer."

5FDP are embroiled in a legal battle with their record label after the company sued them over plans for a compilation record and their next original release. The band responded by saying: "Desperate people do desperate things." Read more here.



Pink Floyd Vinyl Reissue Campaign Announced(Prog)

Pink Floyd's back catalogue is to be made available on vinyl for the first time in more than 20 years. The reissue series will begin with four releases - 1967's The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn, 1968's A Saucerful Of Secrets, the soundtrack for 1969 film More and the 2LP set from the same year, Ummagumma.
All reissues will be remastered and pressed on heavyweight 180 gram vinyl, with release dates and further information to follow in due course. Special care will be taken to replicate the original packaging.

They'll be issued on Pink Floyd Records under the distribution of Warner Music for the UK and Europe and by Sony Music for North America and the rest of the world. Read more here.




Motorhead Release 'When The Sky Comes Looking For You' Live Clip(hennemusic)


Motorhead have released a performance video of their 2015 track, "When The Sky Comes Looking For You", as a preview to the forthcoming live package "Clean Your Clock."
The tune originally appeared on the veteran UK metal outfit's 22nd album, "Bad Magic." Produced by Cameron Webb, the record landed Motorhead the highest US chart position in their career, debuting at No. 22 on the Billboard 200 with opening week sales of 11,000 copies upon its release last August.

Due June 10, "Clean Your Clock" captures the band over two shows at the Zenith in Munich, Germany last November on what turned out to be their final tour as founder Lemmy Kilmister passed away at his Los Angeles home on December 28.

The live package will be available in multiple formats, including Blu-ray/CD and DVD/CD combos, CD, colored vinyl, digital download and two box set options: one with the DVD/CD and colored vinyl which includes a Motorhead Metal Medal, and a limited-edition package offering the Motorhead Medal in Silver or Gold.

Family, friends and fellow rockers paid tribute to Kilmister at a January 9 memorial service in Hollywood that was streamed live to more than 250,000 viewers worldwide via the band's YouTube channel. Watch the video here.




Dream Theater Release 'Our New World' Video(Classic Rock)


Dream Theater have released a video for their track "Our New World." The song comes from their concept record The Astonishing, an expansive double-album, two-act tale that outlines a dystopian futuristic society where music is no longer created by people and is, instead, made by machines.
The set was conceived by guitarist and producer John Petrucci, who reveals the video for Our New World - filmed in Milan, Italy during the band's three-night stand in March - captures how audiences have responded to the project in concert.

Petrucci tells The Wall Street Journal: "They're watching two acts of brand-new music, and when we start that song, everybody rises out of their seat. There's this incredible energy as if they're feeling whatever happened in the story is really happening in real life. They're feeling that elation. We wanted to illustrate that." Read more and watch the video here.



Lacuna Coil Streaming New Song 'Ghost In The Mist'(TeamRock Radio)

Lacuna Coil are streaming the track "Ghost In The Mist" as the latest preview to their forthcoming album 'Delirium.' Due for release on May 27 via Century Media Records, it's the third tease to the Italian outfit's 8th studio effort following "The House Of Shame" and the title cut.
Vocalist Cristina Scabbia previously said: "It's heavier than the previous albums we did, which is kind of surprising, because a lot of bands are going the other way around and getting softer and more accessible."

The band are playing dates on a newly-launched month-long tour of North American with rotating guests Butcher Babies, 9Electric, Painted Wives and Stitched Up Heart. See the dates and stream the new song here.



Tesseract Expanding 'Polaris' For Special Edition(Prog)

Tesseract will release a double-disc tour edition of third album Polaris in September. The launch ties in with their North American tour alongside Gojira, and features reworked versions of album tracks Survival, Cages, Tourniquet and Seven Names on the second disc, which is entitled Errai.
Frontman Dan Tompkins - who returned to Tesseract ahead of Polaris recording sessions - says: "It's been fantastic to revisit some of the tracks from a different angle, and with the benefit of time and space."

Live producer and sound engineer Aidan O'Brien adds: "It was a thrill and an honor to have a much more involved role. I'm extremely proud of the result. It's still unmistakably Tesseract - but from an angle I think a lot of people won't have heard before." Read more here.




Metallica Stars Help Clean Up A Beach(Classic Rock)

Metallica's Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo helped clean up a San Francisco beach as part of the band's partnership with the Surfrider Foundation.
The guitarist and bass player joined volunteers and San Francisco Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija on San Francisco's Ocean Beach to collect litter and improve conditions for visitors.

Metallica have supported the Surfrider Foundation for some time, along with the city's MLB baseball team the San Francisco Giants. Proceeds from the band's most recent 'Metallica Day' at the Giants' AT&T Arena went to the Surfrider Foundation and Amnesty International. Read more here.




Big Big Train Release 'Folklore' Video(Prog)

Big Big Train are premiering the video for their track Folklore with Prog. It's the title track from the band's upcoming ninth album, released on May 27 on CD, 2LP and digital formats. They previously issued a teaser video for the Folklore album.
BBT say they ignored the famous advice of never working with children or animals in the promo video. Vocalist David Longdon says: "When we set out to make a video to illustrate the title track of our new album, Folklore, we decided to try to capture an impression of what it was like to be the listener to the ancient folklore stories which have come down to us through the ages.

"Folklore tales are an integral part of who we are and who we think we are and help to form the bedrock of our cultures. These tales were told to fan the flames of our imaginations. They were stories of love and words of wisdom." Read more and watch the video here.



Hellyeah Release 'Human' Music Video(TeamRock Radio)

Hellyeah have released a video for their track "Human". The song from the band's upcoming fifth album "Unden!able," due for release on June 3 via Eleven Seven Music.
Guitarist Tom Maxwell previously said: "We are moving forward with the path that we've taken with Blood For Blood. It's a really, really savage album, and we're really excited for fans to hear it."

Hellyeah are currently on tour in North America and last week released a 360 degree video for their track X. See the tour dates and watch the new music video here.



The Alchemy Streaming Full 'Modern Age' EP Online(TeamRock Radio)


The Alchemy are streaming their debut EP 'Modern Age' in its entirety with TeamRock. The up-and-coming British rock outfit, from Canterbury, release Modern Age on May 9 and launch it with a gig in their hometown on May 13, followed by a short tour.
The Alchemy tell TeamRock: "Modern Age - an EP inspired by observations of our current generation which appears to be on a path of self destruction and segregation whether it be through global issues, racial divides or sexual discrimination.

"The artwork for the EP depicts a character who craves perfection of self in a narcissistic way and yet appears miserable and almost worthless, represented by the mannequin - a fake, plastic portrayal of him or herself - emphasizing the unobtainable goals of perfection that our generation are obsessed with." Stream the EP here.



Be Bop Deluxe's Bill Nelson Reunited With 'Axe Victim' Guitar(Classic Rock)

Former Be Bop Deluxe frontman Bill Nelson has been reunited with a guitar that featured on the sleeve of their album 'Axe Victim' and which he hadn't seen since the 1970s.
Nelson was pictured with the white Hoyer Les Paul lookalike on the rear cover of the band's 1974 debut album, but he sold it soon after to a local musician in his hometown of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, in the UK.

Now a group of fans have tracked the guitar down and, after paying what modest Nelson considers an inflated price, have returned it to him. Nelson tells TeamRock:

"The guitar originally went from me to Ada Wilson of the band Strangeways who then sold it to Stuart Adamson of The Skids. When I first worked with The Skids, Stuart wanted to give it back to me as he thought it had become iconic and that it should remain with me, but I told him he should keep it and look after it." Read more here.



Akercocke Stream New Song Inner Sanctum, Announce Tour(TeamRock Radio)

Akercocke have announced a UK and Ireland tour for later this year. The band also recently released the track "Inner Sanctum" from their upcoming album Renaissance In Extremis.
Jason Mendonca, David Gray, Paul Scanlan and Nathaniel Underwood reunited last month after being inactive since 2011. Shortly after the announcement, the band confirmed they'd play a set at this year's Bloodstock at Catton Park, Derbyshire on August 11-14.

Now they'll embark on a run of shows in the UK, Ireland and Jersey, in September and October. Mendonca says: Circus Akercocke returns to the road at last. After our five year break from the live circuit, the band is charged, primed and ready to unleash our signature metal assault.

"Expect a barrage of rampant beats, face-melting guitar work, fan favourites from the past and killer new tunes from the present. See you down the front." Stream the new song and see the tour dates here.




Modern Baseball Release 'Wedding Singer' Video(TeamRock Radio)

Modern Baseball have released a video for their track Wedding Singer. The song comes from the band's forthcoming album, Holy Ghost, due out on May 13.
Three tracks from the release, Apple Cider, I Don't Mind and Everyday, were made available to stream earlier this year. Last month the band released Tripping In The Dark, a mini-documentary which shed light on frontman Brendan Lukens' struggle with bipolar disorder and substance abuse issues.

He said: "The last few months have meant a lot and it's changed the way I look after myself and write. We feel now with Holy Ghost that we've written the most open and honest songs to date. We're hoping that with opening our personal lives up to so many people, that our fans can open up to everyone in their lives." Check out the new video here.



Singled Out: The Only's 'Bad Clark'

Today The Only's mastermind Mark Poseler tells us about the new single "Bad Clark" from his eponymous debut album, which will be released on July 5, 2016. Here is the story:
It was an experiment I wanted to try that involved recording in complete isolation from the outside world. I'm sure it's not the first time it's been done, but the idea was new to me none the less. No producers, engineers or record guys, no friends or family, no band mates, no one. I wasn't sure what I was going to record, but I knew I only had 2 days to get this song done. I was hoping that having the mental freedom of being completely uninhibited by any fear of judgment from the outside world, would unleash a monstrous ball of creative energy that I could roll onto my first solo record. I spent the two days creating and recording a song called Bad Clark, which personally I really enjoy. However, the time has come to open the gates to the harsh elements of the outside world, and let the people decide for themselves.

The structure of Bad Clark is a gradual build from beginning to end. Every instrument I played on the track had a repetitious part that gradually builds in intensity. Everything from the egg shaker and tambourine, to the drums and guitar hooks, repeats over and over as it builds towards the end. Lyrically, I went with a good vs. evil theme and the internal struggle that people sometimes face.

When I was a kid I loved Superman, seems fitting that the Man of Steel is the main character in this song. As the story unfolds you realize he's tired of always being the hero, and wants to live for himself and be "Bad Clark". There is also an element of feeling unstoppable and taking over the world that underlies the entire song.

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day In Rock News!

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day In Rock News!: Today's Top Stories Metallica Considered Making Lars Lead Singer Metallica at one point in their early career briefly conside...

Today's Day In Rock News!

Today's Top Stories

Metallica Considered Making Lars Lead Singer

Metallica at one point in their early career briefly considered making drummer Lars Ulrich their lead singer. This is according to the band's former manager Jon 'Jonny Z' Zazula.
It's been well documented that frontman James Hetfield was nervous about his singing abilities in the early days of the band and the group considered brining in another singer, including Armored Saint and former Anthrax vocalist John Bush.

But one surprising person that the band considered was band cofounder Lars Ulrich. Zazula, who managed the band in 1982, tells Metal Hammer, "Lars and I planned a lot of stuff. But James wasn't the most confident of singers. I don't think he felt comfortable.

"At one point there was even talk of Lars becoming the frontman." But Zazula quickly added, "For about five seconds." As history records, Hetfield got over his nerves and the band went on to recording their debut album "Kill 'Em All."




Ritchie Blackmore Addresses Rainbow Album And Tour Speculation(Classic Rock)


Former Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has bad news for fans hoping that his new version of Rainbow will record an album and launch a tour following their previously announced special live appearances.
Blackmore says in a new interview that he has no plans to continue the project beyond their three special concerts in June and he remains committed to his Renaissance-themed band Blackmore's Night.

His comments come after Rainbow bassist Bob Curiano said the band were ready to record any time they were asked, and former singer Joe Lynn Turner said the band's legacy would be tarnished if no studio work was undertaken.

Asked if there's any chance of a world tour, Blackmore tells SpazioRock: "No. Also, there will not be any new studio album. I thought I'd just get back to playing the old songs one more time. My commitment lies with Blackmore's Night - this is just a few dates for fun." Read more here.




AC/DC Were Not Required To Offer Refunds For Axl Rose Shows(Classic Rock)


An spokesperson says AC/DC made the decision to offer refunds on their shows with Axl Rose because they wanted "to do right by their fans," even though they were not legally required to do so.
The band hired Guns N' Roses frontman Rose as their guest vocalist after Brian Johnson was ordered to stop touring or risk going deaf. Rose will sing with Angus Young and co on the remainder of their Rock Or Bust tour dates.

Last week, ticket retailers contacted fans saying they could request a refund on those dates if they wish - a move the band say was their call. A spokesman for AC/DC tells TeamRock: "The band made a decision to offer this. As they care about their fans and wanted to do right by them, they instructed local promoters to offer refunds."

A spokeswoman for the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) confirmed the band were under no legal obligation to offer refunds. The spokeswoman says: "Our CTSI lead officer for fair trading can confirm that there is no legal obligation for the ticket sellers to refund in this case. It is a goodwill gesture." Read more here.




Slipknot's Corey Taylor Appears In Sharknado 4(TeamRock Radio)


Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor has revealed that he has a "weird cameo" in Sharknado 4, which is set to premiere on the Syfy Network on July 31st.
The latest installment of the surprise hit series, "Sharknado: The 4th Awakens." will include returning stars Ian Ziering, Tara Reid and David Hasselhoff and Taylor reportedly plays a Shark World hotel security guard in the film, which is set five years after the previous film in the series.

Taylor confirmed his involvement in an interview with Loudwire but refused to share many details. He said, "I shot a weird cameo for Sharknado 4 which is awesome. The thing is, I don't get eaten by a shark. That's all I can tell you about it."

He also talks about a possible future in acting: "I would love to do more acting. In fact, if anyone's listening, I would love to audition for your weird indie horror movie. I'll be zombie number six - and I'll bring my own lunch." Watch the interview here.



Latest News

Blink-182's Hoppus Denies Tom DeLonge Claims(TeamRock Radio)


Blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus has denied claims made by the band's estranged frontman Tom DeLonge in a Facebook post that the pair recently met, with Hoppus saying they haven't spoken for over a year.
In a Facebook post earlier this week, DeLonge, who split with the band last year, insisted he still had a future with Blink and claimed he had spoken with Hoppus over the last few days.

But Hoppus says he actually hasn't had contact with DeLonge in 18 months. The bassist tells Kevin Kline Live (via Rolling Stone): "I haven't even spoken to Tom in a year and a half."

And when asked if working with DeLonge at some point in the future was on the cards, Hoppus responds: "That is something so far down the road to even be a possibility. Read more here.




Led Zeppelin Stairway To Heaven Trial Delayed(hennemusic)

The trial for the copyright infringement lawsuit over Led Zeppelin's signature song, "Stairway To Heaven", has been delayed from a May 10 start to June 14.
Los Angeles federal judge Gary Klausner ruled on the date change on Tuesday, according to MyNewsLA.com. The suit - brought by Randy California's estate and members of Spirit by trustee Michael Skidmore - claims the acoustic introduction to 1971's "Stairway" was lifted from their 1968 instrumental "Taurus."

Klausner previously ruled that the jury trial would last less than a week and attorneys would have no more than 10 hours per side to present evidence. Led Zeppelin's lawyers said in court papers that defendants Jimmy Page and Robert Plant would probably not attend the trial, with video depositions filmed in the United Kingdom to be shown to the jury instead.

The plaintiff's attorneys have suggested that they would settle if the band pays Skidmore $1 - and gives Randy California a songwriting credit on the iconic tune. Read more and listen to both tracks here.



Aerosmith's Steven Tyler Rocks Janis Joplin Classic


Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has been exploring country music with his new solo music, but that hasn't stopped him from returning to his classic rock roots when performing live.
Tyler rocked a version of the Janis Joplin classic "Piece of My Heart" during his show at the David Geffen Hall at New York City's Lincoln Center for Performing arts on Monday night (May 2nd).

The rocker turned country songster performed some of his new solo songs during the set, as well as a number of classic Aerosmith tracks and EW.com reports that he told the NYC crowd, "Don't forget I'm from f-ing New York City. I was born four blocks from here". Check out fan filmed footage of him performing the Joplin cover here.




Megadeth Frontman Says Online Trolls Need Love Too(Classic Rock)


Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine shared his feelings about social media in a recent interview, attacking the dishonest statements made by anonymous people via the medium, but also saying that internet "trolls need love too."
Mustaine is no stranger to online trolls or negative attacks and false claims online. He spoke about the subject with Fox Action News: "The thing with social media is there's so much dishonesty and anonymity. People will say they've met us, they know us.

"There's something going round that the singer from Paramore is my niece or something. When they said her name I was like, 'I don't know who that is.' Then I looked it up and I went, 'Come on!' Real bright comparison there."

He continues: "You have to have a thick skin. You have to not worry about trolls - because, as funny as this sounds, trolls need love too. You either ignore them or you just kind of love them until they wake up or go away." Read more here.




Ian Anderson In The Studio For Jethro Tull's 'Aqualung' 45th Anniversary(ITS)


Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson is featured in the latest episode of syndicated radio show In The Studio with Redbeard: The Stories Behind History's Greatest Rock Bands which celebrates the 45th anniversary of the landmark album "Aqualung." The show sent over the following details:
Definitely not your typical rock star, wild-eyed Englishman, Ian Anderson literally leaped onto the London music scene in 1968 at the front of Jethro Tull. His Elizabethan madman look, standing on one leg complete with striped tights and sashes, made him a standout, not to mention his musical weapon of choice being a flute instead of a guitar.

After three critically and moderately successful Jethro Tull albums, in 1971 Ian wrote the songs for Aqualung which include timeless fan favorites "Cross-Eyed Mary", "Locomotive Breath", "Mother Goose", "Hymn #43", the title song "Aqualung" and "My God". Pitting the familiar struggle of spiritual faith with sometimes hypocritical worldly religion (a topic popularized then in other mediums like the musicals Jesus Christ Superstar & Godspell), Aqualung may very well have been the headiest record of its day. Ian Anderson elaborates to InTheStudio host Redbeard.

Anderson says, "The crazy thing about writing an album like Aqualung is that a lot of these things I wrote about were actually what I felt about when I was fifteen or sixteen. I don't feel that different now. Not a lot has changed... It's an important piece of music to me and once in a while there's a kid in the audience, seventeen years old or whatever, for whom it becomes important." Stream the episode here.




3 Doors Down Announce European Tour

3 Doors Down will be heading across the pond this fall. The band announced that they will be following their current North American tour with a European trek in October.
The Euro tour is set to kick off on October 19th in Berlin at Columbiahalle and will conclude on November 6th at the famed Hammersmith Apollo in London.

Frontman Brad Arnold had the following to say about the new dates in support of their latest album 'Us and The Night', "Chris and I had a great time setting up the record in the UK, Paris and Germany this past March and have been looking forward to getting back to Europe for some time now.

"Our European fans have always welcomed us with open arms and been big supporters of our music. We can't wait to be back rocking and playing songs from our newest album 'Us And The Night' for them!"

The band will be on the road across the US and Canada until mid summer, wrapping up their current North American tour in Sioux Falls, SD at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds on August 9th. See all of their upcoming dates here.




Steve Hackett To Appear At Keith Emerson Tribute Show(Prog)

Steve Hackett has announced that he will perform at Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy show in remembrance of late keyboard icon Keith Emerson. The former Genesis guitarist and Vanilla Fudge keyboardist and vocalist Mark Stein will perform at Pictures At An Exhibition - A Tribute To Keith Emerson at Miami's Olympia Theater on June 24.
The show will feature interpretative dance performances by The Center For Contemporary Dance, cinematic imagery and photo collections. The event is planned as part of ELP drummer Palmer's Remembering Keith - The Music Of Emerson Lake & Palmer Tour.

Palmer says: "I am honoured and grateful that these two iconic musicians have agreed to appear at this special tribute to Keith. I have been working as an instrumental act since 2001, so this will be different and exciting to have Mark Stein on keyboards and vocals and Steve Hackett on guitar for some songs." Read more here.




Danny Worsnop Releases 'Out Without You' Video(TeamRock Radio)

Former Asking Alexandria frontman and current We Are Harlot frontman Danny Worsnop has released a video for his solo track "Out Without You," which comes from his forthcoming debut album "The Prozac Sessions."
The singer previously said that the album was inspired by a series of tragedies that led him into a cycle of substance abuse. He added: "Writing this album has helped me face and overcome so many wounds I had inside me that I was always too scared to even acknowledge.

"This creative process was the best therapy I could have hoped for and I can't wait to share the end product with the world. See you on the other side."

Worsnop exited Asking Alexandria early last year to concentrate on his work with We Are Harlot and was replaced by vocalist Denis Stoff. Watch the video here.




Paul Rodgers Open To Idea Of New Bad Company Music(Classic Rock)

Bad Company's Paul Rodgers is open to the idea of releasing new music with the band. They released their live album Bad Company Live In Concert 1977 & 1979 last month - the only official live release to feature the original lineup of Rodgers, Simon Kirke, Mick Ralphs and Boz Burrell.
And frontman Rodgers says the release - along with last year's reissues of the first two Bad Company albums - have got him thinking about recording new music with the band.

He adds that he and guitarist Mick Ralphs have been writing songs. Rodgers tells UCR: "I didn't have any plans for recording with Bad Company, but the re-releases have made me think again a little bit because it is such a creative outfit.

"I'm writing songs, and I'm sure Mick has some songs, when he decides to come and play with us. 'Who knows,' I think would be the answer to that. And, 'Maybe.'"

While waiting for the possible new album, fans across North America can see them perform live on their current trek with Joe Walsh. Check out the dates here.




Sabaton Reveal Details For New Album 'The Last Stand'(TeamRock Radio)

Sabaton have announced release details of their eighth album entitled The Last Stand. It'll launch on August 19 via Nuclear Blast, and follows 2014's Heroes and recent live package Heroes On Tour.
A final tracklist will be made available in due course - but the band have issued the cover art, which was created by the Swedish outfit's long-term collaborator Peter Sallai.

Bassist Par Sundstrom says: "We had the idea to make an image reflecting soldiers of different times representing the different historical battles we sing about on the new album. This only reveals a small part of the album topics though.

"We always have several ideas for albums to work with. Since there are countless different views and angles of war, we will unfortunately never run out of ideas.

"We felt that the last stand was something perfect for Sabaton. Heroes was a perfect theme and The Last Stand is right down our alley too. It was exciting to do the research." Read more here.




Destruction Release 'Under Attack' Video(TeamRock Radio)

Destruction have released the video for their track "Under Attack," the title song of their forthcoming album, which is due out on May 13 via Nuclear Blast.
Destruction bassist Marcel Schmier says: "We really took our time for this album. After the summer festivals, we went into the studio every couple of weeks to record brand new songs and ideas in between all the touring activities.

"We took several studio sessions instead of one long one, to keep the ideas fresh and have time later before the mix to change bits and pieces that we did not like. Maybe this was the most effective writing we did in the last years.

"Due to the fact we had more time in between the albums, there was a lot of musical output and creativity, but also less pressure. From my point of view, you can definitely hear the crispiness in the songwriting and the kick-ass attitude we brought from the shows into the studio." here.




Singled Out: Save The World's Circus Maximus

Dan Tracey (Alan Parsons Live Project) tells us about the new single "Circus Maximus" from the supergroup power trio Save The World which also features Jon Wysocki (Staind) and award winning producer Robert Wright. Here is the story:
"Circus Maximus" is about how the 24/7 media plays us against each other and poisons us by feeding us the very worst things in society on a daily basis. We wanted the song to be angry and reflect the frustration that many people are feeling today.

The song itself actually came to me as music first. I had the opening guitar riff and I thought it was powerful, so I jumped into my home studio and got all the parts down before I forgot the idea. It all came to me pretty quickly. I went right to the chords for the chorus and shouted out the first few lines, "We lit the fire. Calling the masses, for the world to see." I worked up a quick demo that night and sent it over to Robert Wright our bass player/producer. He responded with "Well, hell yeah!"

After that, the song just kind of sat there for a few months in my archives of other unfinished tunes.

When it came time to pick out songs for the STW album, I am immediately wanted to put this on the record. I thought it was strong, so I started working on refining the lyrics. Nothing was coming at first, and I'm not one to just force things. It's always better for me personally when it just comes out. When it's real, when it's right, you know it. So with that said, my wife of 26 years leaned on me pretty hard one day and said, "Aren't you done with that song yet? I love that tune. Get to work!" Then she took me for a ride way out into the country. Just us two. No radio on. Cruising through the tobacco fields of Tennessee, and boom! It all came rushing out. After that, we headed in to record it. Jon gave it some balls, Robert did his production magic, and it was sent off to the amazing Billy Decker for mixing.

It's worth noting that Robert is an award winning producer and gifted multi-musician. His hands are all over this record. I feel blessed to have someone I can co-create with in a totally egoless situation. It's about the material. The song.

Next up were the visuals to help sell it. Filming the video for this tune was a blast. We had just finished shooting a big budget video (with a jaw dropper ending) for our song "Bleed" a few months earlier. It was long hot days in multiple locations for 14 hrs a day. Conversely, the approach for "Circus Maximus" was to make something great for only a few hundred bucks, and we purposely forced ourselves to shoot it in under 6 hours. The result is a hilarious parody of the media, ala Dumb & Dumber. Our director John Campolo did an amazing job editing. Although it's an amusing observation into today's media, in the end, I think it delivers a powerful message.