Tupac Shakur's Murder: Will Confession Bring Closure?

'It's verification for what 'Pac said,' E.D.I. Mean tells MTV News of Shakur's lyrics about Jimmy 'Henchman' Rosemond.

By Rob Markman

On the eve of what would have been Tupac Shakur's 40th birthday, an imprisoned man has admitted to shooting the late rapper/actor during a robbery at Manhattan's Quad Studios in November 1994. What's even more startling is that the alleged triggerman, Dexter Isaac, is claiming in a letter that was obtained by AllHipHop.com that 'Pac's former associate, Jimmy "Henchman" Rosemond, paid him $2,500 to do the deed.
While this may be a revelation to some, 'Pac's former protégé and Outlawz member E.D.I. Mean told MTV News that he was well aware.

"It's not news for us, because this is information that we been had and that been knew about. And we always knew that it'll come out one day, because what's done in the dark always comes to light," he said before pointing to Shakur's music as proof. "I just feel like it's verification for what 'Pac said, because a lot of people felt when 'Pac was saying what he was saying on Makaveli that he was out of line for saying that."
The specific lyric E.D. is referencing is from "Against All Odds," a fiery track that appeared on Tupac's The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory album (commonly referred to as the Makaveli album). On the song, the now-deceased MC implies that Henchman set him up in 1994 as he raps: "And did I mention promise to pay back Jimmy Henchman in due time/ I know you bitch n---as is listenin', the world is mine/ Set me up, wet me up, n---as stuck me up/ Heard the guns bust, but you tricks never shut me up."
Ultimately, E.D.I. Mean believes that Isaac's confession will eventually help the authorities solve the 1996 murder of Shakur as well as the 1997 shooting death of the Notorious B.I.G. — two crimes that many feel are related. "This will go on for a little bit longer, and I really feel like it's a domino effect," he said. "This will really lead up to their actual murderers. Both Big and 'Pac and everybody can move on, and this will be like some closure for not only the families, but the whole hip-hop community, because it's been an open wound since 1996 and 1997."
In a 2008 interview with MTV News, Rosemond denied any involvement in the 1994 shooting and dismissed the song as a shock tactic that rappers often use. "Absolutely never [had I] even know about it, never heard about it — before, afterward — had nothing to do with it," Rosemond added about the ambush. "Nobody that I know [was] associated with [the attack], and this is why I have confidently, in the last 14 years, told people that they can dig up whatever they want to dig up. And I've been very firm in what I've said to people: that I've had nothing to do with it."
Isaac, who is currently serving life in prison for murder, robbery, fraud and witness-intimidation charges, tells a different story. "I want to apologize to his family [Tupac Shakur] and for the mistake I did for that sucker [Jimmy Henchman]," Isaac told AllHipHop.com from prison. "I am trying to clean it up to give [Tupac's and Biggie's] mothers some closure."
Rosemond himself is facing legal trouble. On May 17, news broke that federal authorities issued an arrest warrant for Henchman in connection with a drug case. Henchman, who runs Czar Entertainment, a company that manages the career of the Game and other rap artists, fired back in a letter, lashing out at the "slanderous media" coverage he has received about the case. He also went on to call out Isaac's credibility. "If the government is relying on informants like Winston 'Winnie' Harris, a convicted drug dealer and Jamaican deportee, who came to me and motioned via hand signal that he was forced to wear a wire and begged me to skip town, or Dexter Isaac, who is serving life in prison plus 30 years, then I'm sure I will not be offered a fair trial."
Check back with MTV News for updates as this story develops.

KISS: Gene Simmons unloads about family issues on Twitter

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Wow. Gene’s on a tear.

Following a few days of unbelievable public ball-busting by partner Shannon Tweed during TV interviews to promote the new season of his alleged reality series, KISS bassist Gene Simmons has unloaded about his family issues on Twitter.

Tuesday night’s premiere of the first episode of the new season was an ugly affair (pardon the expression), as cameras caught Shannon calling Gene out for his lifestyle after 28 years together.

Although Tweed said she’s been crying for the past three years, the catalyst was the couple becoming empty nest parents, as daughter Sophie moved out to go to college. It was truly heartbreaking to watch as Gene continued his insane pursuit of making money over being with, and caring for, his family.

With every response, Simmons essentially admits he cares more about himself and money than his family. By all appearances, at least, it appears he’s finally telling the truth, revealing what he’s been telling the world through years of selfish behavior.

That part isn’t a surprise.

Shannon crying during the long ride back from taking Sophie to college. The kids coming back a month later to have dinner. The empty place setting at the table.

No Gene in sight.

Simmons is seen at business dinners using women to distract potential business partners. Shannon calls him on it. Gene believes he must distract business people with women, even 'turning them over' to his potential partner at the end of a dinner meeting as, what – trophies? prizes? gifts?

It’s ugly to watch. Too ugly at times. Gene steadfastly refuses to change, causing pain throughout the family. Not the first time. Sophie says she’ll leave with Shannon if Gene lets things fall apart.

As the first episode went to air Tuesday, Simmons took to Twitter live to share his thoughts and commentary; here’s a sampling of the almost 100 tweets that Gene has posted since things went very, very public Monday morning on NBC’s Today show.

“A publicity stunt? Wish I thought of it. VERY REAL on our end.”

“Anyone who says they didn't get into rock n' roll for chicks is trying to sell you something.”

“I hate missing family events. But sometimes you have to what you have to do. The world doesn't always stop for you.”

“It is good to distract someone during a business deal. Gives you the upper hand. But sometimes, admittedly, I don't see the whole picture.”

“Powerful men like to feel powerful. Attractive women make them feel powerful and disarm them.”

“It was all a photo op. Made him feel important. Deal closed.”

“I hate the idea of therapists. Silly.”

“I am opposed to the idea of therapy. My mother's generation didn't have therapists. They dealt with their problems and moved on.”

“My mother's generation was not given the option of therapy. They had to get up each day and live. No whining. No "what does this all mean?"

“As much as I hated to admit it at the time, therapy actually made me ask myself some important questions. Maybe that is why I avoided going.”

“My philosophies might not make sense to others, but it makes perfect sense to me. And, for the most part, has served me well.”

“I don't like being questioned. I don't like the idea of answering to anyone except the woman that gave me life.”

“There is no family without Shannon. Living without her is not an option.”

“If you never get married you can never get divorced.”

“Tell me one person that had too much money.”

Van Halen transforms rock; unwittingly spawns Hair Metal

Tuesday, 14 June 2011

From Guardian.co.uk:
Van Halen invent hair metal

May 1976: Number 32 in our series of the 50 key events in the history of rock music

David Lee Roth, of Van Halen, performing live onstage. Photograph: Rob Verhorst/Redferns

Thirty-five years ago, a four-piece American guitar band set about changing rock music for ever. They took their name from a brotherly relationship; they had a goofy, Jewish singer with family connections to New York bohemia; they added pop hooks and smarts to fast, aggressive guitar music; their debut album included a song with the word “punk” in its title; and they weren’t the Ramones.
Of course, you wouldn’t believe Van Halen were the most important American band of the late 70s if you only read rock critics. They were too popular, too vulgar, too much, too soon. They celebrated idiocy. So did the Ramones, of course, but Van Halen’s idiocy was of a different order to punk’s: it wasn’t built around comic-book humour, but on David Lee Roth’s apparent range of interests, which ran the gamut of pursuits from casual sex to casual intoxication, with nothing in between. The tension between Roth’s goofiness and stellar guitarist Eddie van Halen’s desire to be taken seriously was at the heart of their music, and eventually tore the pair apart.
Van Halen, legend holds, were spotted by Gene Simmons of Kiss, playing at the Starwood club in Los Angeles in 1976. Simmons was so impressed he flew the band to New York to produce a session for them at his own expense. All the elements that instantly identify Van Halen were present on the Simmons demos: it’s no wonder that when they came to record their official debut, it took just days, with minimal overdubbing. Roth was already a blowhard, Eddie’s guitar technique was clearly light years ahead of the competition, Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony were a thunderous rhythm section.
Their signature sound was clean, precise and full of attack: there’s absolutely no fat on the songs that made their name. Where heavy rock’s use of the blues had previously been trudging and unwieldy, Van Halen added a sense of flight, taking away the swing, speeding even a simple 12-bar into something entirely unrelated to its source. They closed their debut album with a version of John Brim’s old blues Ice Cream Man, and even then you can’t imagine, say, Humble Pie coming up with such a confection.
That debut was nothing short of a paradigm shift in the sound of heavy music, as important as Jimi Hendrix’s first record had been a decade before, and Nirvana’s second would be in closing the era Van Halen began. It sounded like nothing before it, yet also like it could have been made at any time until Nevermind was released 13 years later: that’s an awfully long time to sound undated. But the bands Van Halen spawned, sadly, were pallid imitators without Van Halen’s invention and skill. Van Halen had transformed rock by unwittingly creating music’s most profitable rubbish dump.
The difference between Van Halen and the hair metallers who followed was what always separates game-changers from imitators: their wide listening habits. In his first big interview, Eddie Van Halen explained: “Dave our singer doesn’t even own a stereo. He listens to the radio, which is a good variety … Most of our songs you can sing along with, even though it does have the peculiar guitar and end-of-the-world drums.”
Not that Roth cared about being refracted through hair metal. In fact, he boasted, that wasn’t the real extent of Van Halen’s influence. As he told the writer Lisa Robinson in 1984, at the peak of the band’s powers: “I know for a fact that to a small degree, we’ve bred a small legion of imitators, copycats, mimics, people who are using Van Halen for their sole inspiration. But even more important than that are all the people who are just disgusted and revolted by our music and our presence and our appearance and the way I do interviews, and they’ve been forced to come up with some very substantial musical alternatives to Van Halen-type rock, and that’s why we have new wave.”
That interview shows a fascinating man toying with his interrogator. Roth references John Cassavetes and George Bernard Shaw, but still pins down what Van Halen really meant: “I would still prefer to think of us as witless and tasteless. Arch enemy of the common public. That’s all I wanted to be in life, really. I always wanted to be an outrage to public decency and a threat to women. And this is one of the few occupations where you’re not only allowed that, but you’re encouraged.”

Faulkner’s on a Judas Priest mission

New guitarist vows to keep band together and on the road as bassist Hill reveals someone else was offered job

---

Keep going: Richie Faulkner

New Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner says his mission in the band is to make sure they never play a final gig.
Faulkner, formerly a member of Lauren Harris’ band, was revealed as KK Downing’s replacement after the veteran axeman shocked fans by announcing his retirement.
But the 31-year-old wasn’t Priest’s first choice, says last remaining founding member Ian Hill.
The bassist tells KaaosTV: “We found Richie through a mutual friend. We’d asked him if they’d like to join, but his schedule wouldn’t allow it. He suggested Richie; and when we heard him play we knew we had our man.”
As a Priest fan himself Faulkner admits he felt an amount of emotional pressure – once he realised he’d been offered the job.
He says: “You get a call like that and you think someone’s playing a joke on you. But it wasn’t. It’s a big part: everyone in the band are legends, and I understood what a big deal it was.
“I wasn’t nervous; you can’t go nuts about it. You’ve got to do the best you can. Opportunities like this don’t come along every day.”
Priest are now on the road with their Epitaph world tour, which they say will be their last full-scale global trek. Hill observes: “It takes a couple of years out of your live and you start wondering how many years you have left.”
And although Faulkner isn’t expecting too much negativity from the band’s fans, he suggests a reason to support the new lineup.
“There’s going to be people who are unsure about how it’s going to be, but I think people have faith in the band to pick the right guy.
“My mission is to keep them going and make sure there’s never a last show.”
Priest are working on an album with their new axeman, due out next year, although they may release a three-track EP ahead of the full-length record. The band are also making plans to record a live show and make it part of a documentary movie.

Jani Lane speaks out on Summer plans!

Jani Lane - writing, recording, relaxing.

Posted on Jun 13 2011

“Hi y’all, I am currently planning to spend summer with family and continue writing and recording with Keri Kelli (Alice Cooper) and Dito Godwin (producer: No Doubt..etc) for myself and other artists. I’m excited and feeling very creative! I hope to have something out by fall and hit the road with a new lineup this winter. Thanks to all the friends/ fans for being patient and supportive. I will be putting up some of the best “Jabberwocky” recordings I have on this site. I even am considering rerecording a few for the new project. I really can’t wait for everyone to hear what I’ve been up to…see you all soon!!!”

- JL

PS…”possible record deal in the works and writers deal… more info to come!”

More info can be found on Jani Lane's official website HERE

McCartney Says He And Lennon Almost Played Saturday Night Live

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

McCartney Says He And Lennon Almost Played Saturday Night Live

6/14/2011 7:17 PM ET

During the 1970s, John Lennon and Paul McCartney were offered the opportunity to appear on Saturday Night Live by producer Lorne Michaels. Sir Paul now says that John suggested at the time that they should take the offer. "He [Lennon] said, 'We should go down, just you and me . . . We'll say, 'There's only two of us, we'll make half the money . . .' And for a second . . .," McCartney told Access Hollywood.

Guns N’ Roses: Axl Rose settles lawsuit against former manager

The case of Axl Rose v. Irving Azoff has been settled.

So has the case of Irving Azoff v. Axl Rose.

The Beverly Hills Courier reports lawsuits between the Guns N' Roses frontman and his former manager concerning commissions and concert touring have been resolved, attorneys for both sides told a judge today.

"They were settled to the mutual satisfaction of the parties," said attorney Howard King on behalf of Azoff.

The resolutions were announced on the day Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Rita Miller had scheduled trial of the two cases between the rocker and Azoff.

No terms were divulged. But after a preliminary accord was reached, lawyers for Rose filed papers stating that the final accord would involve "a comprehensive touring agreement in which Guns 'N Roses would perform at various...venues."

Azoff sued the 49-year-old singer in March 2010, claiming Rose owed his ex-manager's company, Front Line Management, more than $1.8 million and broke a verbal agreement to pay the firm a 15 percent commission for performances by the band in Taipei, Seoul, Japan, Canada and South America.

Rose countersued two months later, claiming the manager tried to force him to reunite with his original Guns N' Roses bandmates and failed to properly promote the band's "Chinese Democracy" CD. The suit also alleged Azoff lied about a prospective Van Halen "super tour" and mishandled the band's tour dates.

Guns N' Roses

VIDEO: Shannon Tweed walks out on Gene Simmons on live TV

The Shannon Tweed/Gene Simmons battle is escalating.

Following a Monday morning appearance on The Today Show, where Tweed admitted the couple’s relationship “has pretty much unraveled,” things got even nastier during an interview on The Joy Behar Show.

Tweed told Gene to “f**k off” and walked off the set during the live broadcast.

The couple are making the rounds to promote their alleged reality series, but it’s Gene’s family jewels that are taking a very public beating.

Following a clip from the upcoming new season, Shannon was pretty blunt about how she feels.

“He’s a pig and I don’t like it,” said Tweed. “And I’m done. I’m f**king…” as her voice trailed off. Later, she continued, “I’m tired. I’m tired of his life,” referring to Gene’s regular business meetings that often involve female companionship, which the KISS bassist shrugs off as somehow being necessary to his success.

“It sounds like you have been together a long time,” said Behar, “and you [Gene] have your philandering ways, is that what I’m hearing?”

Shannon: “I like that word.”

Behar: “Is it true, Gene?”

Simmons: “There have been,” he admitted.

Bahr: “Are there any now?”

Simmons: “Not right now.”

Behar: “Not right this minute because you’re here.”

Tweed: “In what, the last month, would you say”

Behar: “In the last month?

Simmons: “No."

Tweed: “Congratulations.”

As talk returned to the status of the TV series, things escalated even further: Simmons said “I think she [Tweed] just flipped me the bird…I’m not sure.”

Behar played a clip from one of her previous interviews with Alice Cooper, as the two discussed Gene’s never-ending boasting and claims about how many women he’s ‘slept with’ over the years.

After the clip, Behar asked Simmons how his back was.

“My back is good,” replied Gene. “My schmekel…not so much.” [schmekel is Yiddish for penis]

Tweed had heard enough.

“That’s very nice of you to make a joke about it,” said Shannon, slapping Simmons on the shoulder and telling him to “f**k off.”

“It’s so rude of you to joke about it,” added Tweed, as she removed her microphone and walked off the set.

Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed – interview
The Joy Behar Show – June 13, 2011

Tommy Lee: Recording albums is a waste of time

Motley Crue stick flinger claims that in today’s music business, albums are a waste of time and money and that he won’t record another full record.

Reported by Bruce Henne

Published: June 14, 2011. © Rock AAA.

Tommy Lee raises a glass to single releases

It’s a sign of the times.
Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee has accepted the concept that singles are outselling albums, and has lost his interest in the art of making an album.
“As far as new music goes, and people say it all the time, ‘When are you guys gonna make a new record, dude?’ It’s like, ‘Really, why?’ No one buys them anyway anymore. And I’m not sure what the reason is,” Lee tells Noisecreep.
“To tell you the truth, I think the days of making a record, for me personally, are over. After this last Methods [Of Mayhem] record I did, I’ll never make another full record, I think. It’s a waste of time, ’cause people can only ingest a song at a time, so why not make bitching songs at a time and release them? If you want to call them singles, great, whatever; or at its maximum, an EP, four songs, done, boom. I just really feel like the days of the entire record are long gone.”
And what about the long-standing practice of creating albums as a means of touring?
“That’s kind of a group decision, but I just know me, personally I think it’s just a waste of time, it really is,” he says. “I don’t listen to anybody’s full record anymore and when I did, I don’t think I listened to the whole record. I’m sorry, and I don’t care who it is, if it’s The Beatles, I can’t listen to an hour and a half of anybody straight, so I guess that’s just my personal preference.”
“And I guess I’m just a fan of switching it up,” continues Tommy. “I want to hear some of this, some of that. I don’t really do that anymore. Maybe it’s my child-like short attention span, but I’m not a fan of that long, drawn-out fucking album anymore. I don’t think most people are; if you look at sales, most people are buying songs at a time and they’re just not really buying records. That’s just a sign of the times. There’s so much more out there to play with that grabbing anybody’s attention and keeping it there for an hour and a half, good luck.”
There was some talk last year of the Crue working on some new material; what’s the latest on that?
“We haven’t really started,” the drummer explains. “Our plan was to have some music for 2011 and between Methods Of Mayhem and SIXX: A.M., Nikki [Sixx, bass] and I have been busy. Nikki and I and Mick [Mars, guitar] are the primary songwriters, so if the two of us have been busy the chances of that happening have been not so good because we’ve been doing some other things. But our plan was to get some new music together for 2011. It’s early in the year. We’re going on tour this summer, [so] maybe we’ll write some stuff. We’ve been known to write several things during soundchecks. I always have a studio on my bus. Who knows, maybe we’ll get some new stuff going or I don’t really know. Maybe our plan now is to hold off on new music until “The Dirt,” for the movie, which I think would be really a cool place to rip out some new music too.”
The Mötley Crüe /Poison/New York Dolls tour opened last week in Dallas and will play more than 40 shows throughout the summer; things wrap up August 17 in Chula Vista, California.

Foo Fighters 2011 Tour Rider A Smash Hit

Backstage needs detailed in brilliant absurdist word

View Document

Foo Fighters 2011

• 
  Foo Fighters 2011

FOO, PART ll: More highlights from the band's 2011 tour rider
JUNE 13--Is this the greatest concert rider ever?
Already known for producing the most entertaining assemblage of tour requirements in rock, Foo Fighters returned to the road this year after a two-and-a-half-year absence. Touring in support of their new album “Wasting Light,” the group is carrying a 52-page “Tour 2011” production rider that reaches new heights of absurdist brilliance.
In fact, the document is so brimming with jokes, insults, useless facts, self-deprecation, and pop culture references that TSG will devote a second story to those highlights. This dispatch will focus on Part Seven of the rider, which was put together by Gus Brandt, the band’s veteran tour manager.
[At this point we should note that the band anticipated that a .pdf of the rider would end up being forwarded to TSG.]
Described as the group’s “Field Guide To Food Coloring Book And Activity Pages,” the section opens with a drawing of front man Dave Grohl shredding with a fork and knife in his hand. Bassist Nate Mendel opines on what constitutes a delicious breakfast. Drummer Tyler Hawkins explains the difference between a good and bad salad. A maze leads guitarist Chris Shiflett to a bountiful catering table. And guitarist Pat Smear is shown giving the thumbs down to sweaty meats.
Promotion employees also are presented with a word hunt that, if successfully completed, will result in “leftover letters will spell out a hidden message from the Foos and crew!” Hint: Bacon is involved. Another page presents drawings of 22 items and asks catering personnel to circle ones that belong in a salad. Hint: Richard Pryor is not edible.
The activity pages close with a disquisition on ice cubes, from “total s*** to complete ecstasy.” Perfection, it turns out, emerges from the products of Hoshizaki America, which is lovingly described as the “ice-pimps of the world.” (10 pages)

Hollywood Producer Laura Ziskin Dies At 61

6/13/2011 3:29 PM ET

(RTTNews) - Celebrated Hollywood producer Laura Ziskin died of cancer at the age of 61 on Sunday, June 12. Ziskin was best known as the producer behind such hit films as "Pretty Woman" and the "Spider-Man" franchise. In recent years she was also the face of the Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C) fundraising campaign.

"Laura was one of the most courageous people I've ever known. Her fearlessness in the face of this relentless killer inspires everyone on the SU2C team to redouble our efforts to make cancer history," said Stand Up to Cancer co-founder Katie Couric.
In her work with Stand Up to Cancer, Ziskin enlisted the help of celebrity friends including Denzel Washington, Gwyneth Paltrow, Michael Douglas, Sally Field, Renee Zellweger, Kathy Bates, Stevie Wonder and Lady Antebellum.
In 2010 she told the Los Angeles Times that the effort must continue until all cancer patients become cancer survivors.
"We need to make cancer the manageable chronic disease it can be. There are 12 million cancer survivors in this country. Stand Up to Cancer's goal is to make everyone who is diagnosed a survivor," she said.

MÖTLEY CRÜE RETURN TO AUSTRALIA IN SEPTEMBER:

McManus Entertainment is excited to announce the return of hard rockers Mötley Crüe to Australia in September. Just when you thought it was safe to come out of the house, the world's most notorious hard rock band is back! Featuring the original line-up of Vince Neil on vocals, Mick Mars on guitar, Nikki Sixx on bass and Tommy Lee on drums, Mötley Crüe are thrilled to be coming back to Australia in September. Joining Mötley Crüe on their Australian tour is Poison frontman and star of the 'Rock of Love' TV series and recent 'Celebrity Apprentice' winner, Bret Michaels. Australian rock legend Doc Neeson, voice of The Angels, will also join this stellar rock and roll line up.
"This is going to be a rockin' gig! The amount of e-mails I have received from fans begging to put on a show like this has been overwhelming. The fans spoke, we listened and it's going to rock! To have all these guys on the one bill is huge! Australia, get ready to rock,” said promoter Andrew McManus.
Mötley Crüe have sold more than 80 million records worldwide and are most famous for their hits Kickstart My Heart, Smokin' In The Boys Room, Shout At The Devil, Dr Feelgood, and Girls, Girls, Girls. They last toured Australia in 2005 and can't wait to thrill their Aussie fans again.
These superstars of the Sunset Strip - and one of pop-glam-metal's most successful acts of the '80s - launched a specific brand of rock that would grow to rule the decade and make rock and roll what it is today. There were many popular hard rock bands from Los Angeles but none that had the theatricality, sleaze and swagger of Mötley Crüe. No band has consumed as many drugs and downed as much booze without dying as Mötley Crüe all of which was documented in 2001's New York Times best-seller, The Dirt (written by Neil Strauss) and Nikki Sixx's critically acclaimed The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star.
You've been warned Australia …
Mötley Crüe are back! And this time they're bringing Bret Michaels with them! Bret Michaels first rose to fame as lead singer of glam-metal band Poison, one of rock's most iconic and enduring bands. Poison, along with Mötley Crüe, defined the fast, gritty and glamorous rock scene of the '80s. But add reality star, spokesperson, businessman and philanthropist to the list – Bret does more jobs in a single day than most people do in a lifetime! As a lifelong diabetic, he is the face of the American Diabetes Association donating $250,000 to the cause when he won Donald Trump's 'Celebrity Apprentice' in 2010. His reality show 'Rock of Love' is one of the most successful in VH1 history. Poison have sold more than 30 million records worldwide. Two of Poison's biggest hits, Nothin' But a Good Time and the anthemic, Every Rose Has Its Thorn feature on their highest selling album from 1988, Open Up and Say… Ahh!

Proudly presented by MAX, Triple M and Australian Guitar Magazine. Tickets go on sale from 9am on Tuesday 21 June via the below outlets:
Wednesday 21 September Brisbane, Riverstage (18+) www.ticketmaster.com.au 136 100
Friday 23 September Sydney, Sydney Entertainment Centre www.ticketmaster.com.au 136 100
Saturday 24 September Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena www.ticketek.com.au 132 849

Red Hot Chili Peppers New Album Details

06/14/2011
. Red Hot Chili Peppers have released more details about their upcoming tenth studio album, I'm With You, which will be released by Warner Bros. Records on August 30th, 2011. In addition to the tracklisting, WBR sent over this background info: Recorded at East West In Los Angeles and Shangri-la in Malibu, CA, I'm With You was produced by Rick Rubin, who has produced the band's previous five albums, 2006's Stadium Arcadium, 2002's By The Way, 1999's Californication, 1995's One Hot Minute, and 1991's Blood Sugar Sex Magik. The album was mixed by Andrew Scheps and Greg Fidelman. Red Hot Chili Peppers will perform for the first time in Hong Kong on August 9th at the AsiaWorld Arena as well as headline Japan's Summer Sonic Festival in Osaka on August 13th and in Tokyo on August 14th. They will also headline at the Rock in Rio Festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on September 24th.

"Monarchy of Roses"
"Factory of Faith"
"Brendan's Death Song"
"Ethiopia"
"Annie Wants a Baby"
"Look Around"
"The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie"
"Did I Let You Know"
"Goodbye Hooray"
"Happiness Loves Company"
"Police Station"
"Even You Brutus?"
"Meet Me at the Corner"
"Dance, Dance, Dance"

VAN HALEN – Rare Live ’75 “I Live With Fools” Audio!

June 13, 2011

TMD has obtained extremely rare concert audio of VAN HALEN performing “I Live With Fools” in Pasadena, California during April, 1975. The cut comes off the legendary rock act’s 1980 Women and Children First album (where its title was shortened to “Fools”. This VH recording is making its debut on YouTube.

The listener will be treated to one of the earliest live assaults by the band that truly flipped the Rock n Roll world upside down and helped drive metal music into the minds and hearts of millions. You can hear a young, brash David Lee Roth explaining the tune’s origin to the crowd: “This is a song about living with your parents!”

Listen to the historic audio HERE. http://www.van-halen.com/

Lindsey Buckingham Announces New Album and Tour

06/14/2011
. Some big Lindsey Buckingham news for you, not only can you catch him live in tour this fall but he'll also be releasing a brand new solo album.Buckingham will release his sixth solo album, Seeds We Sow, on September 6, 2011. This album is Buckingham's first self-release, in which he took a true DIY approach, not only writing and performing every song on the record but producing and mixing them as well.
Buckingham also announced a 31-city North American tour in support of the album which kicks off on September 9 in Nevada and continues through October 25 in Napa, CA.

Speaking on Seeds We Sow, Buckingham says, "This might be the best work I've ever done. I think it's an excellent representation of what I do. It shows a certain maturity and musicianship and I just feel like I have a lot of tools in my musical vocabulary from which to draw that are again the product of the choices I've made. It's on my own terms. This is very much from the inside out and I hope I never stop doing that."

From the album's first single "In Our Own Time," to the soft melodic pop/rock tinge of "End of Time" and the album's most rocking track, "One Take," to the touching "When She Comes Down" and the almost lullaby-esque hushed tones of the gorgeous closing number, "She Smiles Sweetly," the album showcases Buckingham's full arsenal of skills. Just as his guitar style on Seeds We Sow is more mature and refined, so too are his lyrics, with one of the standout tracks being the hook-laden "Illumination." "I think the lyrics over the years have actually gotten better because they've gotten a little, I don't want to say obscure, but more poetic in the way they're created," he says, adding, "It's a mysterious process even to me." Fri.-Sat., Sept. 9-10 RENO, NV Nugget Casino
Mon., Sept. 12 BOISE, ID Egyptian Theatre
Tues., Sept. 13 SALT LAKE CITY, UT The Depot
Wed., Sept. 14 DENVER, CO University of Denver Gates Hall
Fri., Sept. 16 MINNEAPOLIS, MN Pantages Theatre
Sat., Sept. 17 MILWAUKEE, WI The Pabst Theater
Sun., Sept. 18 CHICAGO, IL Vic Theater
Tues., Sept. 20 PITTSBURGH, PA Carnegie Music Hall
Thurs., Sept. 22 PHILADELPHIA, PA Keswick Theatre
Fri., Sept. 23 WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Ctr.
Sat., Sept. 24 RIDGEFIELD, CT Ridgefield Playhouse
Sun., Sept. 25 BOSTON, MA Wilbur Theatre
Tues., Sept. 27 NEW YORK, NYThe Town Hall
Thurs., Sept. 29 MORRISTOWN, NJ Mayo Performing Arts Center
Fri., Sept. 30 BALTIMORE, MD Goucher College
Sat., Oct. 1 DURHAM, NC Carolina Theatre of Durham
Mpn., Oct. 3 JACKSONVILLE, FL Florida Theatre
Tues., Oct. 4 FORT PIERCE, FL Sunrise Theatre
Wed., Oct. 5 CLEARWATER, FL Capitol Theatre
Fri., Oct. 7 ATLANTA, GA Symphony Hall
Sun., Oct. 9 HOUSTON, TX Verizon Wireless Theatre
Wed., Oct. 12 PHOENIX, AZ Celebrity Theatre
Thurs., Oct. 13 LOS ANGELES, CA Royce Hall
Fri., Oct. 14 LAS VEGAS, NV Aliente Resort
Sat., Oct. 15 PALM DESERT (PALM SPRINGS), CA McCallum Theater
Mon., Oct. 17 ANAHEIM, CA Grove of Anaheim
Tues., Oct. 18 TURLOCK, CA Turlock Community Theatre
Wed., Oct. 19 SAN FRANCISCO, CA The Regency Center
Sat., Oct. 22 VANCOUVER, BC The Ctr. in Vancouver for Performing Arts
Sun., Oct. 23 SEATTLE, WA Little Creek Casino Resort
Tues., Oct. 25 NAPA, CA Uptown Theater

VIDEO: Shannon Tweed busts Gene Simmons’ family jewels on the Today Show

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

VIDEO: Shannon Tweed busts Gene Simmons’ family jewels on the Today Show

Wow, you could cut the tension with a knife.

Shannon Tweed completely busted Gene Simmons’ family jewels on US national TV Monday morning.

The pair’s visit to the NBC Today Show was scheduled to promote the upcoming new season of the KISS bassist’s alleged reality series. In a teaser clip from the show, Tweed confronts Simmons about a photo of the rocker posing outside a Hollywood restaurant with two young blondes on his arm. Simmons tries to explain that he had no idea who the women were, prompting Tweed to snap, "I'm sick of hearing it, I'm sick of seeing it, and I'm sick of looking at it... Gene, please don't play me for a fool."

Tweed looks visibly upset throughout the NBC interview while Gene is clearly uncomfortable, even to the point of being speechless, and how many times has anyone seen the fast talker in that shape?

When asked about their 28-year relationship, Tweed responded “the last two were a bitch,” adding the relationship “has pretty much unraveled.”

“I’m done. We held it together until [the kids] got to college,” Shannon said.

Knowing Gene’s constant need to promote and market himself, I’d like to suggest that it’s hard to tell if this ‘friction’ is a publicity stunt or not – but this does look like the real thing. If you’ve ever seen any of Shannon’s movies, you’d be hard pressed to suggest her acting skills have improved to the point where she could pull this one off.

It will be interesting to see the fallout from the NBC session in the coming days; could it lead to a change in upcoming interviews (ie. Gene only) or an outright cancellation of some, or all, if this is a real as it looks.

Stay tuned.

Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed – interview
NBC – The Today Show – June 13, 2011

MONSTERS OF ROCK CRUISE 2012:

Y&T ROCK THE HIGH SEAS -- MONSTERS OF ROCK CRUISE 2012:
Join Y&T on the Monsters of Rock Cruise, February 25-28, 2012 to the Bahamas...Line-up includes: Tesla, Cinderella, Stryper, Y&T, Kix, Lynch Mob, Firehouse, Keel, Black 'N Blue, Faster Pussycat, Bang Tango, Eric Martin, John Corabi...Eddie Trunk & Big John Murray.
Fort Lauderdale - Bahamas - Key West. Tickets on sale June 13, 2011 @ noon Pacific time. Please check back on the Y&T web site for your Y&T promo code, which will get you special discounts & deals!

Whitesnake

Whitesnake Play With Marsden And Vandenberg

Whitesnake were joined onstage by two former members when they headlined at Sweden Rock on Friday, June 10.
Guitarists Bernie Marsden got onstage for Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City and Fool For Your Loving, with Adrian Vandenberg joining in for Here I Go Again. Both then did the encore, which was Still Of The Night. And you can click here to see the footage.

Cavs owner: No shortcuts

By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer 

Gilbert

CLEVELAND (AP)—Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert got in one final shot after LeBron James(notes) fell short of an NBA title.
About 15 minutes after the Dallas Mavericks defeated James and the Miami Heat in Game 6 on Sunday night, Gilbert sent a message on his Twitter page to Mavericks owner Mark Cuban—a statement that included a jab at James.

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“Congrats to Mark C.& entire Mavs org.,” Gilbert wrote. “Mavs NEVER stopped & now entire franchise gets rings. Old Lesson for all: There are NO SHORTCUTS. NONE.”
Last summer, after James announced he was leaving the Cavs as a free agent after seven years to join Dwyane Wade(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes) in Miami, the superstar was lambasted by Gilbert, who accused him of quitting in the playoffs the past two seasons. Gilbert also promised that karma would prevent James from winning a championship and predicted his Cavaliers would win their first title before “the self-proclaimed King” won one.
So far, Gilbert’s pledge is holding up.
Gilbert wasn’t the only one stung by James’ decision. Cleveland fans, who haven’t celebrated a major professional sports championship since the Browns won an NFL title in 1964, spent the past year coping with James’ departure, which the Akron native announced in a one-hour long TV special.
Some of James’ former teammates were also hurt by him leaving.
Guard Mo Williams(notes), who was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in February, said the Mavericks’ victory has helped ease some of his pain.
On his Twitter page, Williams wrote, “Dallas just healed my HEART.”

Eat at Lynyrd Skynyrd's

Posted on Jun 09, 2011

Lynyrd Skynyrd will serve as the theme of a new restaurant set to open in Las Vegas, the band has announced. Ready for business this fall will be Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer, located at the Excaliber Hotel & Casino. In addition to featuring reams of memorabilia on display, the restaurant will showcase cover bands playing all the Skynyrd hits, plus (it’s hinted) perhaps the occasional appearance from Skynyrd themselves.
In a prepared statement, the restaurant’s proprietors said their philosophy "will quite simply be to rock the house. As guests walk in they will immediately be transported to a setting reminiscent of Hell House, the ram-shackled structure in the backwoods of Jacksonville where the Skynyrd sound originated."
Craig Gilbert, a partner in the corporate entity that came up with the concept, added that “Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer will embrace the band's unique spirit and the lifestyle it so proudly defined.”

Motley Crue debut Tommy Lee roller coaster drums!

 
Vince Neil & Tommy Lee - Motley Crue stage with Roller Coaster drum kit

If there was ever the perfect way to kick off the summer concert series last night’s MÖTLEY CRÜE and POISON concert was certainly it. Kicking off their summer tour honoring thirty years of rock greatness, CRÜE and company set up a truly unique show.

Calling on fans to help them chose not only the supporting acts – POISON and NEW YORK DOLLS – but also the set list the band have ended up with a set list that certainly pleased the packed audience last night at Gexa Energy Pavilion in Dallas, Tx. By the time POISON hit the stage the place was packed. With a set list that covered their top hits through the years such as “Something To Believe In”, “Fallen Angel”, “Unskinny Bop”, and “Talk Dirty To Me”, POISON got the night off to a fantastic start with plenty of crowd interaction and pyrotechnics.

But little could really compare to the spectacle that MÖTLEY CRÜE brought to the stage. With no dimming of the house music to signal the start of the show there was instead the blast of pyro and the dropping of the curtain and the guy jumped right into “Wild Side”. With the stage set up like a rock n’ roll burlesque theatre, complete with dancing girls, and quite a lot of fire and fireworks it was certainly an impressive sight. The guys changed out fits a few times during the show, including VINCE NEIL coming out in a Dallas Mavericks jersey to the delight of the fans.

And while the set list was a CRÜE fan’s wet dream – “Live Wire”, “Shout at the Devil”, “Dr Feelgood”, “Looks That Kill”, “Girls, Girls, Girls” – without a doubt one of the highlights was drummer TOMMY LEE’s 360 degree drum rollercoaster. Strapped to his seat TOMMY LEE did multiple vertical loops while performing his drum solo and then paused to snag one lucky fan from the crowd to join him for a few loops. Those of you in front for the rest of the tour keep your fingers crossed. TOMMY LEE will be taking someone out of each show for a ride. The show finished up with “Kickstart My Heart” and mass amounts of fire, fireworks, smoke, and water guns.

The tour runs through August and you can find dates at MÖTLEY CRÜE’s official website. If you only hit one show this summer make this it!
Check out a live clip of Tommy Lee drum solo, roller coaster drum loop HERE
Review by Kelly Crawford taken from EXAMINER

'Super 8' Takes Aim At Top Of Box Office Charts

6/9/2011 3:07 PM ET

(RTTNews) - With a 3,200-theater launch, a relatively small total for a big-budget release, "Super 8" looks to be the top box office draw this weekend but will have to compete for audiences with "X-Men: First Class." Also hitting theaters for the first time is family film "Judy Moody and the Not So Bummer Summer," though a big opening isn't anticipated for the Relativity release. Woody Allen's critically lauded romantic comedy "Midnight in Paris" is also getting a much wider release this weekend and should continue to do well with its niche adult audience.

From director J.J. Abrams, who last brought us the "Star Trek" reboot, "Super 8" is a mysterious new release that has been getting a significant marketing push from Paramount since the Super Bowl. With a substantial amount of critical support, "Super 8" looks to be set up for a very strong overall box office run, though that won't necessarily mean a gigantic opening total due to a little known cast, strong competition and an unfamiliar concept.
But Abrams is still a popular name in terms of bringing fresh action concepts to the big screen, which should give "Super 8" a sizeable audience willing to check it out. Having Steven Spielberg as the main producer also doesn't hurt and the movie itself even looks and feels like a Spielberg directorial effort. The biggest problem for "Super 8" is that it will have to compete with the very well accepted "X-Men: First Class," which will limit its overall appeal for its first weekend. Look for "Super 8" to haul in somewhere in the $35 to $40 million range this weekend and continue to post strong numbers in the following weeks.
Not having nearly the same level of commercial appeal is "Judy Moody," a 2,000-theater release from distributor Relativity. With a mainly unknown cast, a small release and almost no internet buzz, "Judy Moody" is going to have a difficult time competing for family audiences with "Kung Fu Panda 2," which continues to post fairly strong overall totals heading into its third weekend in theaters. Look for "Judy Moody" to finish with less than $10 million for the weekend and finish outside of the top five.
Getting expanded to 944 theaters in total and looking to appeal to adult audiences is "Midnight in Paris," the latest comedy from Woody Allen that stars Rachel McAdams and Owen Wilson. Though many of Allen's recent films have been ripped by critics, "Midnight in Paris" has been almost universally acclaimed and the limited release numbers have been fairly good so far. "Midnight in Paris" isn't likely to cross over to become a blockbuster, but a solid weekend in the $5 to $7 million range is likely, which could set it up for a decent limited release box office run over the next few weeks.
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U2 Album Delayed Until Next Year

6/12/2011 5:11 PM ET

U2's new album has been delayed and will now be released next year, according to reports. The popular Irish rock band said it will not have the time to finish the studio album, which is now expected in the second half of 2012. "We had to have a meeting and look at the schedule to see if we could pick up any extra time to work on it," bassist Adam Clayton told Rolling Stone. "We just realized that we couldn't."

Home video: Van Halen visiting child in hospital

 

 

Home video: Van Halen visiting child in hospital

Friday, 10 June 2011

This special home video from 1986 was filmed and uploaded by Dayna Steele. Here’s what she says about the video:
“I often speak about the day Van Halen went to Texas Children’s Hospital to see my friend Kevin Hendon. The biggest band in the world at the time took the time to make this young man’s eyes sparkle. We lost Kevin to Cystic Fibrosis not long after this day but the impact it had on me and the lessons I learned have continued. At a recent lunch with his Dad, Jerry Hendon, I discovered there was actually video of that day. I can’t thank Jerry and Kevin’s Mom, Ann, enough for letting me post this. The video also includes Ed Leffler, the band’s manager. Ed was my ‘godfather’ and I lost him as well several years later, this one to cancer. It took my breath away to see him smile in this video.”

Steven Adler, Amy Fisher, and Michael Lohan Going To Celebrity Rehab

06/08/2011
. Former Guns N' Roses drummer will return for the next season of "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew." Vh1 sent over these details about the upcoming fifth season: Similar to the first four cycles, the fifth season will follow the real-life experiences of celebrity patients undergoing detoxification and treatment at The Pasadena Recovery Center.
This season will follow Michael Lohan (Celebrity Dad), Sean Young ("Blade Runner"), Dwight 'Doc' Gooden (baseball star), Amy Fisher ("Long Island Lolita"), Steven Adler (Guns 'n Roses), Bai Ling ("The Crow"), Jessica 'Sugar' Kiper (Survivor), and Jeremy Jackson ("Baywatch") on their quest for sobriety. "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew" is set to premiere Sunday, June 26th at 9PM on VH1.
In the 5th installment of the Celebrity Rehab franchise, Dr. Drew takes viewers behind the closed doors of rehab and inside the often misunderstood treatment process. From heartbreak to hope we follow Dr. Drew and his patients on their difficult and deeply emotional journey to sobriety. An often raw and unflinching look at the many faces of addiction, Dr. Drew shows us that rehab is not a glamorous spa vacation for celebrities as portrayed in the media but a profound life changing process that offers hope for a better life.
Also returning for their fifth seasons to assist Dr. Drew are Counselor Bob Forrest and resident technician Shelly Sprague. Joining the cast this season is Dr. John R. Sharp, M.D. Dr. Sharp is a member of the faculty at Harvard Medical School, and the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles. His expertise is in the integrated treatment of depression and bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, attention deficit disorder, and addiction. Dr. Sharp has been recognized as Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and of The Academy of Psychosomatic. He maintains an active private practice in Boston and Los Angeles. Also joining the cast this season is Jennifer Gimenez as a resident technician. Jennifer was previously seen on "Sober House" as the house manager.Full episodes and extra scenes from "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew" will be available at CelebRehab.VH1.com and on VH1 Mobile each week following the show's on-air premiere.

Alice: Elvis told me to shoot him

Cooper reveals moment of near-history and tells how he used to hide from Keith Moon for fear of drinking sessions

---

Kill the King: Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper once found himself in a hotel penthouse holding a gun to Elvis Presley’s head – with the King ordering him to pull the trigger.
The shock-rocker took a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet one of his all-time heroes in 1971, but could never have imagined how it would pan out.
Cooper tells the Mirror: “This was when he was at the top of his game. I’d always been a fan as a kid so I jumped at the chance to go upstairs and meet him.
“They frisked me for guns at the door. I don’t know why they bothered – when I got inside the place was full of guns.
“Elvis took took me into the kitchen, opened a drawer, pulled out a loaded pistol and told me to put it to his head. I didn’t know what to do. I was expecting one of his security men to come in any second, see me holding a gun and shoot me dead.
“But a little voice in my ear was telling me, ‘Go on – this is history. You’ll always be the guy who killed Elvis.’ In my other ear was a voice saying, ‘You can’t kill Elvis. Wound him and you’ll only get a few years.’
“A fraction of a second later Elvis did a flying kick on the gun, tripped me and pinned me by my neck, announcing: ‘That’s how you stop a man with a gun’.”
Cooper also recalls heavy drinking sessions with his club known as the Hollywood Vampires, including ex-Beatles John Lennon and Ringo Star alongside Who drummer Keith Moon, in the legendary Rainbow Bar and Grill in LA.
He says: “Those guys could drink. When you party with Keith Moon your body really knows about it. One time he stayed with me for a week and I literally wasn’t allowed to sleep for seven days.
“It got to the stage where I’d hear he was in town and I’d hide somewhere because I couldn’t face another bender.”
Moon died in 1978 as he was trying to fight off his alcoholism, at which time Cooper was locked in a sanitarium as he attempted to deal with his own demons.
“I watched as my friends, one at a time, died as a result of the rock’n'roll situation,” says Cooper. “I realised I had to stop or I’d die. People like me are still working now because we stopped just in time.”
He took his last drink in 1979.

VIDEO: Judas Priest launch Epitaph tour

The wait for Judas Priest fans is over.

Following months of talk about the band’s farewell world tour, the surprise retirement of guitarist K.K. Downing just six weeks before its launch, and the addition of Richie Faulkner, the talk is over – the metal has begun.

Priest kicked off the Epitaph tour Tuesday in Tilburg, Holland, with a setlist heavy on hits and classics.

"It's not exactly the end of the band, it's just the fact that we won't really be doing any more world tours," guitarist Glenn Tipton told Rolling Stone recently. "It takes a big chunk out of your life. We've been doing it for 40 years now or close to it, and we all love that moment on stage, but it's difficult to be away from home and all the traveling involved. Now, if somebody came along and said, 'Would you do a small string of dates,' we wouldn’t automatically say no to that. But in general, this is probably the last chance you'll get to see Priest live."

Judas Priest
013 - Tilburg, Holland - June 7, 2011

01 - Rapid Fire
02 - Metal Gods
03 - Heading Out To The Highway
04 - Judas Rising
05 - Starbreaker
06 - Victim of Changes
07 - Never Satisfied
08 - Diamonds And Rust (Joan Baez cover)
09 - Prophecy
10 - Night Crawler
11 - Turbo Lover
12 - Beyond the Realms of Death
13 - The Sentinel
14 - Blood Red Skies
15 - The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown)
(Fleetwood Mac cover)
16 - Breaking the Law
17 - Painkiller

Encore:

18 - The Hellion
19 - Electric Eye
20 - Hell Bent for Leather
21 - You've Got Another Thing Comin'

Judas Priest

Judas Priest – Rapid Fire
013 - Tilburg, Holland - June 7, 2011


Judas Priest – Victim Of Changes
013 - Tilburg, Holland - June 7, 2011


Judas Priest – The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown)
013 - Tilburg, Holland - June 7, 2011


Judas Priest – Breaking The Law
013 - Tilburg, Holland - June 7, 2011


Judas Priest – Hell Bent For Leather
013 - Tilburg, Holland - June 7, 2011

Limp Bizkit Set June 28 Release, Tracklist for 'Gold Cobra'

Now I know ya'll be loving this, right here: Nu-metal rockers Limp Bizkit are back with a new record, "Gold Cobra," that will be released on June 28. The band will be in full force as the album features the band's original line-up of Fred Durst, Wes Borland, Sam Rivers, John Otto, and DJ Lethal, while Durst produced the record. "We've come full circle to absolutely own who we are as a band, an undisputed five piece rap rock powerhouse who crushes every stage we play," Durst said in a release.

Back in the Saddle

Aerosmith to hit the studio next month to record first new material in 10 years

Reported by Bruce Henne

Published: June 8, 2011. © Rock AAA.

Work starts July

Aerosmith are getting back in the saddle again.
“Whole band has plans to go into the studio with Jack Douglas second week of July to work on new Aero CD,” guitarist Joe Perry said Tuesday on Twitter.
Interestingly, Perry added, “Laying down some new tracks this week. Been listening to fans comments over last couple of yrs putting that in creative blender.”
Reutersreports the album will be recorded in the Massachusetts studio the group built six years ago expressly to work with Douglas. The band held an eight-day writing session earlier this year in Los Angeles with producer/songwriting partner Marti Fredericksen; Perry was unavailable to join them at the time due to a “prior commitment.”
Aerosmith has not released an album of new material since 2001′s “Just Push Play.” Attempts to record a follow-up have been interrupted by internal issues and a litany of health problems affecting most of its members.
The band will take a break from recording to kick off a South American tour in Peru on October 22 and a U.S. trek is planned once the new album is done, Perry has said.
Douglas worked on such classic Aerosmith albums as 1974′s “Get Your Wings,” 1975′s “Toys in the Attic,” and 1976′s “Rocks”; the veteran producer reunited with the band on its 2004 collection of blues standards, “Honkin’ on Bobo.”
Fans will have a chance to get more information on the new album and other plans as bassist Tom Hamilton participates in a live Twitter session Wednesday, June 8 at 7 p.m. ET. Fans will be able to submit questions LIVE to Tom by using the Twitter hashtag #AskTomHamilton.

DEF LEPPARD REVEAL LATEST SET LIST WITH MIRRORBALL TOUR DEBUT:

Def Leppard kicked off their Mirrorball World Tour last night, 7 June, in Belfast North Ireland at the Odyssey Arena in front of 14,000 people. Thin Lizzy and Alice Cooper were in support. Tonite, 8 June, same bill at the wonderful O2 Arena in Dublin.
Def Leppard setlist: 1. Undefeated 2. Action 3. Let's Get Rocked 4. Let it Go 5. Foolin 6. Make Love Like A Man 7. Love Bites 8. Sav's Bass Solo into Rock On 9. Two Steps behind 10. Bringing on The Heatrbreak 11. Switch 625 12. Rocket (Extended) 13. Hysteria 14. Armageddon It 15. Animal 16. Photograph 17. Pour Some Sugar On Me 18. Rock of Ages, Encore: 19. When Love And Hate Collide 20. Wasted.

In related news, a new re-vamped re-packaged 21 track Def Leppard tribute album can be purchased via Big Eye Music at: www.amazon.com/Tribute-Def-Leppard-Greatest-Hits/dp/B004U0IKZ8.

LOVERBOY HEARTBREAKERS ONCE MORE:

Loverboy recently returned to the studio with producer Bob Rock to record two brand new tunes, which hopefully will be the first of several more to complete an album for 2012 release. But for now, you can at least hear and purchase one of the two new tracks. Check out the killer AOR anthem Heartbreaker at: www.loverboyband.com/listen.html.

Prince Is 53 Today!

Prince (53)

"X-Men" Posts Strong $56 Million Opening, Tops Box Office Charts

6/6/2011 12:17 PM ET

(RTTNews) - With a per theater average of more than $15,000, "X-Men: First Class" is off to a good start for distributor Fox and looks to be set up for a solid box office run over the next couple of weeks. While action audiences poured into see "X-Men," plenty of adults were left for "The Hangover Part II," which continued its unprecedented box office run by hauling in $32 million in its second weekend. "Kung Fu Panda 2" also posted a decent weekend to push its domestic total to $100 million in its first 11 days and "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" continued its dominance with foreign audiences.

Backed by mostly gushing critical reviews and strong user responses, "X-Men: First Class" swept into theaters and earned a studio estimated $56 million over the weekend. After the last couple of "X-Men" releases saw a significant decline in popularity, Fox rebooted the franchise and released "First Class" at 458 less theaters than "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." Even if $56 million isn't a tremendous total for a $160 million production, it's still a decent start for a reboot using an entirely new cast and story angle.
With the fairly successful weekend, it looks like "First Class" should continue to pull in action audiences over the next few weeks, even with some significant competition from "Super 8" and "The Green Lantern." "First Class" is already off to a decent start overseas as well, pushing its worldwide total to $120 million in its first weekend. Though "First Class" won't likely touch the gaudy numbers that some of the earlier "X-Men" releases posted, it still looks to be a successful reboot that will likely warrant future installments in the new series.
A movie that is also encouraging future installments is "The Hangover Part II," the R-rated comedy that continues to draw in enormous crowds and post tremendous early box office totals. With a $32 million second weekend, "Part II" is already up to $186 million in domestic receipts and appears to be the most lucrative release of 2011 so far. Considering that it has a production budget roughly one-third the cost of "Pirates of the Caribbean," the box office totals of "The Hangover Part II" are fairly incredible.
Most comedies also struggle to appeal to audiences outside of the U.S., though that's clearly not the case with "The Hangover Part II." "Part II" is already up to $338 million worldwide and should cruise past $500 million sometime in the next couple of weeks, making it one of the most successful comedies of all-time. The $527 million of "The Simpsons Movie" is the all-time top worldwide total for a comedy, a mark that "The Hangover Part II" has a very good chance to surpass.
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