DIO DISCIPLES - US Tour Dates Announced

Hot Flashes

Posted on Wednesday, August 03, 2011 at 22:48:05 EST

DIO DISCIPLES - featuring RONNIE JAMES DIO alumni Simon Wright (drums), Craig Goldy (guitar), Scott Warren (keyboards) and Rudy Sarzo (bass) along with vocalists Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) and Toby Jepson (LITTLE ANGELS, GUN) - have announced dates for their American tour. Confirmed shows are listed below:



September
22 - Poughkeepsie, NY - The Chance
23 - Asbury Park, NJ - Stone Pony
26 - Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom
27 - Pittsburgh, PA - Altar Bar
28 - Cleveland, OH - House Of Blues
29 - Chicago, IL - House Of Blues
30 - Medina, MN - Medina Entertainment Center

October
6 - Baton Rouge, LA - Varsity Theatre
7 - Houston, TX - Scout Bar
8 - San Antonio, TX - Sunken Gardens
9 - Dallas, TX - Trees

Dio Disciples states: "We could NEVER replace Ronnie and that is NOT our intention! There will ever only be ONE RJD!!! Dio Disciples is a celebration of the music and legacy of the greatest singer in the world, Ronnie James Dio! The band just finished a European tour that was very well received! At times, there were tears, the crowd sang along and it was a GREAT celebration of the incredible music of Ronnie James Dio!!"

Buy Your Metal Here

Nikki Sixx tweets Tommy Lee's cell phone & hotel room #s.

Tuesday, 02 August 2011

Nikki Sixx tweets Tommy Lee's cell phone & hotel room #s. Nikki & Tommy in the middle, best BFF's since they use to be in a glam band. It seems like Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx isn't such a big bad guy afterall. He's decided to share one of his friends with the fans. That friend is Tommy Lee, and Nikki wants you to call him. See Nikki TWEET from last nite. Nikki Sixx Being a sharing person i thought i would share my drummer....if you wanna hang out tonight with @ mr tommyland ,his room is at the Hilton under the name Bue Balls..his cell is 310 564-9762..have fun...good night..

ROCK-HORROR ICON ALICE COOPER TEAMS WITH UNIVERSAL STUDIOS:

Universal City, CA -- The legendary Alice Cooper, who single-handedly masterminded the rock-horror genre, will spin a new collection of disturbing horror imagery in “Alice Cooper: Welcome To My Nightmare,” an outrageous new “Halloween Horror Nights®” maze at Universal Studios Hollywood. The event begins on September 23 and continues on select nights through October 31.
Inspired by the rock icon's landmark concept album and its long-awaited sequel Welcome 2 My Nightmare, to be released on September 13 through Universal Music Enterprises, the new attraction will take guests on a terrifying trip through Alice Cooper's twisted mind, where his most famous songs, bizarre themes and demented characters collide inside a living horror movie.
This original, one-of-a-kind walk through experience will feature trademark elements from Alice Cooper's celebrated shows, including guillotine decapitations, electric chairs, a sadistic insane asylum, predatory snake and giant Black Widow spiders that have helped make his imagery timeless and indelible. Music will be a powerful element within the maze and will include both new and classic Alice Cooper material.
Recently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Alice Cooper created the concept of the theatrical rock concert and has thrilled generations of fans with spectacular stagecraft and darkly flamboyant showmanship. His recording career spans six decades, includes over two dozen albums, many millions of record sales, countless world tours and appearances in scores of movies and videos, including a brief but memorable appearance in both “Nightmare on Elm Street: Freddy's Dead” and Universal Pictures' “Prince of Darkness.”
Sharing his enthusiasm, Alice Cooper said: “We'll be creating this living horror movie within screaming distance of the sound stages where horror movies first began, so there's no place more appropriate to offer a preview of the new `Welcome 2 My Nightmare.' This will be a nightmare that will haunt visitors' dreams for a long time to come.”
John Murdy, Creative Director, “Halloween Horror Nights,” added: “There are few people in the entertainment business who can be called a true original. Alice Cooper is in that rare pantheon. As a life-long Alice Cooper fan who's been motivated and inspired by his craft, I am absolutely thrilled by this incredible opportunity to collaborate with him on this new haunted attraction. It's a nightmare come true.”
Alice Cooper will be a key member of a Hollywood horror “dream team” assembled by Universal Studios Hollywood to create the ultimate “live” Halloween nightmare. The team also includes director, writer, producer and actor Eli Roth, who will present the new maze, “Eli Roth's Hostel: Hunting Season.” “The Thing: Assimilation,” inspired by Universal Pictures' upcoming thriller, will add to the Hollywood horror clout.
“Halloween Horror Nights” 2011 will bring unprecedented star power to an array of unrivaled, film production quality mazes uniquely themed to today's most definitive horror properties and deliver the most compelling, spine-chilling, haunted attractions. All-new terror filled “scare zones,” original shows and the popular “Terror Tram” will be among the ““Halloween Horror Nights” offerings. Additional new content for the 2011 “Halloween Horror Nights” mazes and attractions will be announced shortly.
The theme park's favorite thrill-ride attractions will also remain open for “Halloween Horror Nights” as well, many with menacing twists. Favorites include “The Simpsons Ride®,” “Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride” and “Jurassic Park® In the Dark.”
Updates on “Halloween Horror Nights” are available at Halloween Horror Nights.com and also on Twitter and Facebook, as Creative Director John Murdy reveals a running chronicle of exclusive information. Fans are invited to follow John Murdy on Twitter at: Twitter.com/HorrorNights or via Facebook at: “Halloween Horror Nights - Hollywood (Official).”

Three Different KISS Memoirs Coming Soon

Bryan Wawzenek

|

08.03.2011

KISS fans will soon have their pick of memoirs from the band’s original members. Guitarist Ace Frehley’s No Regrets will hit stores on November 1, drummer Peter Criss has a book planned for 2012 and bassist-singer Gene Simmons and singer-guitarist Paul Stanley are working on a chronicle of the band’s early years, according to BraveWords.com.
Simmons and Stanley are collaborating with journalist Ken Sharp on Nothin’ to Lose, a book that tracks KISS’s early history from its start in 1973 through to 1975’s live album, Alive! The book also will include interviews with Criss and Frehley, as well as other rock stars from the era. Nothin’ to Lose is set to come out via IT Books next summer.
IT Books Editor Denise Oswald spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about the book: “It’s also an amazing depiction of New York in the early ’70s – it’s Manhattan, it’s Queens, you have members of The Ramones , members of Blue Öyster Cult, touring with and playing with KISS. You really get this incredible portrait of a time.”

Motley Crue: Tommy Lee turns down Dancing With The Stars

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

“I’ve never hit the PASS button so quick.”

That was Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee’s reaction Tuesday to receiving an offer to appear on the next season of “Dancing With The Stars,” the tv dance contest show.

“Ok! Ready for the funniest sh*t ever!!!,” tweeted Lee. “Dancing With The Stars just offered me a spot on the show!! I’ve never hit the PASS button so quick.”


So, no high-stepping for Tommy, who will be back on TV soon enough: Lee is developing "Culture Shock with Tommy Lee," an investigative travel show for the SyFy network.

The unscripted series stars Lee as he attempts to uncover various rituals, symbols, and other mysteries of secret societies. Tommy will immerse himself in the history of each society, meet with former members and participate in their ceremonies.

“This is the first show that I’ve been a part of that will blow our minds and reveal things that will explain almost all our questions,” Lee says. “I’m very excited to be partnering with Syfy on this show. It’s going to be an amazing experience for all involved.”

Lee previously starred in various reality series, including Tommy Lee Goes To College (2005) and Rock Star Supernova (2006).

Mötley Crüe

Breaking Benjamin Singer Fires Bandmates Over Song Dispute:

Florian Schneider

Artists in this Article

Breaking Benjamin

Post-grunge group Breaking Benjamin's longtime lineup is breaking apart after lead singer Benjamin Burnley reportedly fired guitarist Aaron Fincke and bassist Mark Klepaski over an unauthorized remix of the band's song "Blow Me Away."

According to The Citizens' Voice of the band's hometown of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Burnley fired Fincke and Klepaski over e-mail last May after the pair allegedly gave permission for a remixed version of "Blow Me Away" to appear on the group's upcoming greatest hits album, "Shallow Bay: The Best of Breaking Benjamin." Burnley claims that Fincke and Klepaski were offered $100,000 by the band's label to approve the revised version of the song, and that the pair did not inform him or the band's management of the remix.

Breaking Benjamin Takes 'Agony' To Top Ten

Attorneys for Fincke and Klepaski reportedly "dispute and strictly deny" Burnley's claims in a court filing last month. According to the Associated Press, Burnley's attorney, Brian Caplan, says that the singer is seeking $250,000 and exclusive hold of the Breaking Benjamin moniker.

"The relationship between Mr. Burnley and the two other members of the band has ended," Caplan says. "Mr. Burnley intends on moving forward using the name Breaking Benjamin and the band will continue. It just won't continue in its prior configuration. He's not retiring."

The band's management has declined to comment to Billboard.com.

Since forming in 1998, Breaking Benjamin has scored hits like "So Cold," "Sooner or Later" and "I Will Not Bow," while their fourth album, "Dear Agony," peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 in 2009. "Shallow Bay: The Best of Breaking Benjamin" is currently slated for an Aug. 16 release on Hollywood Records.

Studio Encounter with Eddie Van Halen

Thursday, 28 July 2011

Guitar legend Nuno Bettencourt was recently at Henson Studios to do some writing and mixing. Unbeknownst to him, his favorite rock band from his youth were secretly using the very same studios to record their upcoming album. Inspired by his chance encounter with Eddie Van Halen that day, Nuno wrote a story about it, which he contributed to  the upcoming hardcover photo book, Eddie Van Halen, by Neil Zlozower.

The Van Halen News Desk has the exclusive on Nuno Bettencourt’s contribution in the book, below:
I’m writing this on January 19, 2011, some thirty-three years after the Shock Heard Around the World. I’m referring of course to Van Halen.
Earlier today I was at Henson Studios—the old Charlie Chaplin movie lot—to do a writing session in the mixing room. As I was about to enter the room, my ears demanded that my feet stop in their tracks. What caused me to stop was a familiar sound from the room across the hall. This sound was desperately trying to break through the double-thick walls of the studio.
It was faint, but even so, there was no mistaking the power of the sound that was seeping through those walls, because there can only be one Edward.
I looked around to make sure no one was around, and then walked over and put my ear to the wall. I closed my eyes and listened intensely, and between the vibration and what I actually heard—poof!—I was transformed from forty-four to fourteen years old. Then, for the next three minutes, like a burst of electricity running through me, I saw and heard the soundtrack of my life flash before me. Back to the minute I walked into my brother’s room and heard “Running with the Devil” for the first time and I froze, staring at the record player with my mouth open like I was seeing porn for the first time, trying to comprehend what I was hearing. If that wasn’t scary enough, my brother then played another track, which opened with the thunder of the greatest, most individual and under-celebrated drummer in the world, King Alex Van Halen: PaDaLaBum PaDaLaBum . . . “Eruption!” At that point I looked at my brother and asked if we were being invaded by aliens, and what planet Edward Van Halen was from.
We’ve only had a handful of legendary guitarists whose styles were influential from the moment they hit the scene. Eddie not only had a groundbreaking style and sound, but as Van Halen’s discography shows, he and the band went on to make great and important music throughout their career.
Edward is a not only a great guitarist, he is a true genius and innovator. Like the legendary guitarists before him, he brought guitar to a new level, but unlike them, he reinvented the guitar one album after the other. It was fucking mind-boggling to listen to each new record. How could this be? We figured, Okay, Ed, you did it! “Atomic Punk,” “I’m the One,” et cetera, on Van Halen were improbable enough. Then what? He fucking did it again with Van Halen II! “Spanish Fly,” “Somebody Get Me a Doctor,” and “Outta Love Again.” Then on Women and Children First there’s “Everybody Wants Some,” “Take Your Whiskey Home,” “Loss of Control,” . . . and then came my favorite VH album, Fair Warning! I thought, It’s four albums in, he’s definitely gonna start repeating himself. Drop the needle . . . and . . . wait for it . . . it’s fading in . . . no fucking way . . . “Mean Streets”! This guy is not human. Then “Unchained”?! I was convinced now that he really was an alien from another planet. And the list goes on: “Cathedral,” “Little Guitars,” “Hot for Teacher,” “Top Jimmy.” The reinvention and innovation was relentless, and goes on till today.
What’s even more incredible is that he did this without ever doing a long-winded, “look at me” instrumental solo record; he did it while being one of the tastiest rhythm players around, and while still serving the most important part, the Song.
I ran into Edward an hour later in the hallway, and after receiving a hello and a warm hug from the man who changed the world, I asked, “How’s it coming along in there?” And Ed said, “It’s cool. . . . I’m a little nervous, though.” I said, “Nervous? You!? Eddie Van? The Master? Do you have any idea what you have done? The gifts you have given us for over thirty years? You single-handedly changed the history of how we play guitar!” And with that grin that we have been seeing on Eddie’s face for as long as we can remember, he looked me in the eye and said, “I know . . . why do you think I’m nervous?” Then he walked off like John Wayne, straight back into the studio.
—Nuno Bettencourt
From the upcoming hardcover photo book, Eddie Van Halen, by Neil Zlozower. For more info or to pre-order your Autographed copy, visit Van Halen Store.

JOURNEY CONTINUE BELIEVIN' ON USA 'TODAY SHOW':

Journey flew into New York City early Friday morning, directly after their concert Thursday night in St. Paul, Minnesota, taking a 24-hour break from their current Eclipse Tour, to perform on NBC's Today as part of the top-rated morning show's 2011 Friday Toyota Concert Series. The band opened their set with Don't Stop Believin' and then performed City of Hope from their latest album, Eclipse, released in May at Wal-Mart and all the usual digital retailers. Next up was Faithfully, which won the online “Viewer's Choice” song contest, and wrapped up with Any Way You Want It.
Today Senior Producer, Melissa Lonner, surprised the band by having host Matt Lauer presenting the band with a very special award. “Well there is a momentous occasion about to take place because the Nielsen Company's SoundScan Division has just certified that 'Don't Stop Believin' is the number one single from the 20th century,” said Matt Lauer. “We have plaque here that actually commemorates that.”
Although originally released in 1981, Don't Stop Believin' has had resurgence that began when it turned up in final episode of The Sopranos in 2007, boosting digital sales of the download to become the best-selling catalog song at the time. But it was Glee's version that propelled both it AND the original version into the top 10 in the UK early this year. In the U.S., sales of Don't Stop Believin' once again boosted while the 'Glee' version is the hit series' best-selling track, with sales of nearly 1.1 million.
30 years later, more than 4.6 million downloads of the original song have been sold making Don't Stop Believin' the most downloaded song from the 20th Century.
Video of the entire concert performance – and the special Nielsen SoundScan award presentation – can be seen at: today.msnbc.msn.com/id/3041478/.
The “Eclipse Tour” - with special guests Foreigner and Night Ranger – resumed on Saturday night in Tinley Park, Illinois at the Midwest Bank Amphitheatre. For more information, visit www.Journeymusic.com.
Photo credits: Kevin Mazur, Wireimage.

xxxx

In related news, this just in: "Rewind 94.9 Cincinnati will be doing a live simulcast of the Foreigner / Journey show in Cincinnati, OH this Wednesday August 3. I'm told this is a last minute deal as they only secured rights to do just those 2 bands - it does NOT include Night Ranger.
Link: www.rewind949.com/blog/story/20110727/rewind-94.9-is-broadcasting-the-journey-concert-live.

Cheap Trick Demand Answers For Ottawa Stage Collapse

8/1/2011 2:17 PM ET

(RTTNews) - Cheap Trick is demanding answers as to why a stage collapsed following strong winds during the band's July 17 performance at the Ottawa Bluesfest.

The band wants answers, not for themselves, though they claim to have 'narrowly averted death,' but answers to make sure this doesn't happen again.
"We simply want to know: what are the companies and organizers doing to protect the next act and the next audience?" said Cheap Trick manager Dave Frey. "Every act and every fan ought to be asking the same question when attending an outside musical event."
The band also wants to know why their stage collapsed, but others remained intact.
"Was it a design flaw?" Frey asked. "Was it an implementation mistake? These are important questions that must be answered."
The Ontario Ministry of Labour has launched an investigation into the incident and Cheap Trick is actively involved, though it could be months before any answers become available, according to event promoter Mark Monahan.

Sting Box Set To Be Released In September

8/1/2011 12:17 PM ET

(RTTNews) - Sting will be releasing a solo career spanning box set on September 27.

The Sting 25 Years box set will feature three CDs of remastered tracks selected and curated by Sting, with tracks including the Grammy-winning "Brand New Day," "The Soul Cages," "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You," and "Whenever I Say Your Name" (featuring Mary J. Blige), as well as "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free," "Fields of Gold," "Desert Rose" and "Send Your Love."
The set also includes a hardcover book covering Sting's career—with accompanying photos and lyrics-and a previously unreleased live concert DVD featuring 10 tracks recorded live in New York City in 2005 (prior to the Police reunion tour) during the Broken Music tour of smaller venues.

Scott Weiland Hints At Velvet Revolver Reunion

7/29/2011 8:02 PM ET

(RTTNews) - After a long search for a new frontman, Velvet Revolver may be tapping their original singer, Scott Weiland, for the role.

The former frontman spoke with Classic Rock magazine about the possibility:
"We patched things up and we get along. I see them every now and again, we text each other. And you know, we can never say never. Who knows, maybe we'll do some shows some time."
Weiland added that he regards his previous tenure with Velvet Revolver warmly:
"That was a magical thing, too. That was right when I was getting off dope and those guys were all sober and clean, and I had a very special kind of kinship because we'd all experienced the same things . . . It was a great band to see live, and I think we made two exciting albums."
Weiland is currently on the road with his other group, grunge greats Stone Temple Pilots.

TRAVOLTA AND NORRIS IN EXPENDABLES 2

(RTTNews) - John Travolta and Chuck Norris have both reportedly signed on to appear in the upcoming sequel to Sylvester Stallone's action film "The Expendables." The news comes from producer David Varod, who rattled off the film's jammed packed cast of action heroes while speaking with novinite.com.

"Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, John Travolta, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke . . . who else? Of course, Bruce Willis," Varod said of the cast.
According to a report from nme.com, Travolta is likely to star in a villainous role, akin to those he has played in "Face/Off" and "Broken Arrow." "The Expendables 2" will be directed by Simon West, who is best known for his action classic "Con Air."
"The Expendables 2" is expected in theaters next summer.

American Idol judge Steven Tyler teams with Red Sox slugger David Ortiz to support Veterans

Updated: Monday, 01 Aug 2011, 7:26 PM EDT
Published : Monday, 01 Aug 2011, 7:26 PM EDT

BOSTON (FOX25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - What could unite American Idol Judge and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler with Red Sox slugger David Ortiz? Motorcycles and community service. The unlikely pair has teamed up to honor our nation's service members, veterans and their families while raising needed funds for the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program.
Tyler and Ortiz are supporting the “Ride for Our Heroes” on September 24. Funds raised through the motorcycle ride will provide clinical care and other services to the many veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan affected by combat stress and/or traumatic brain injuries and counseling support for their families. The Home Base Program is raffling off a custom-built Dirico motorcycle with a baseball paint job, signed by Steven Tyler. The Ride for our Heroes kicks off from starting points throughout New England, and concludes with a Rider Appreciation Party at Manchester Harley-Davidson in Manchester, New Hampshire.
The Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program provides clinical care and support services to service members and veterans of the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, throughout New England, who are affected by combat stress and traumatic brain injury (TBI) – the “invisible wounds of war.” Home Base also provides counseling for families; education for clinicians and community members; and research in the understanding and treatment of PTSD and TBI.
To purchase raffle tickets and register for the Ride: www.homebaseprogram.org/rideforourheroes.
For more information about the Red Sox Foundation and Mass General Hospital Home Base Program visit www.homebaseprogram.org.

Puddle Of Mudd Release Rolling Stones Cover

08/02/2011
. Puddle Of Mudd released their version of The Rolling Stones classic "Gimme Shelter" on iTunes today. The track is the first single from their forthcoming album re:(disc)overed, which is set for release on August 30th. For this release, Puddle Of Mudd dig back into their own past for the songs that turned them on to becoming musicians in the first place.

re:(disc)overed includes such classics as AC/DC's "TNT," Steve Miller's "The Joker," Elton John's "Rocket Man," the Stevie Nicks/Tom Petty duet "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" (which Puddle Of Mudd recorded with BC Jean), Neil Young's "Old Man," and of course the first single, "Gimmie Shelter." "Our goal in interpreting these songs was to pay more tribute rather than reinvent," Phillips added. "These are all classics that are perfect in every sense, so who are we to mess with that? We just wanted to represent them in their true form and add a little of our sound to them. We cut everything with very few takes and tried to keep it very live like those old seventies records. We didn't want to Pro Tool the hell out of it."

Puddle Of Mudd will take part in the Rock Allegiance Tour which begins on August 24th in Dallas. The tour also features P.O.D., Red, Crossfade and Drive A.

Track Listing For re:(disc)overed
1. Gimme Shelter
2. Old Man
3. T.N.T.
4. Stop Draggin' My Heart Around
5. The Joker
6. Everybody Wants You
7. Rocket Man
8. All Right Now
9. Shooting Star
10. D'yer Maker
11. Funk #49

Cheap Trick cancels Vancouver show over safety concerns

There’s still some residual fallout from the recent Cheap Trick stage collapse at Ottawa’s Bluesfest, as the band has canceled a Vancouver date over safety concerns.

During the July 17 gig in Ottawa, a sudden storm blew the stage down during Trick’s set and the band narrowly escaped the stage as it crumbled around them on their dash to safety.

Last week, CT issued a statement saying they were “interested in ensuring that no other band or crew experience the same potentially lethal hazard.”

“We simply want to know: what are the companies and organizers doing to protect the next act and the next audience?” says band manager Dave Frey. “Every act and every fan ought to be asking the same question when attending an outside musical event.”

While weather likely contributed to the incident, Cheap Trick notes that the multi-ton stage roof that fell on everyone on the stage must be properly explained, especially when nearby tents and other temporary structures stood untouched. “Was it a design flaw? Was it an implementation mistake? These are important questions that must be answered,” Frey added.

The incident is now under independent and Ontario government investigation. Cheap Trick is actively participating in those efforts and urges all parties involved to do the same.

Cheap Trick plans to continue pressing for a full accounting of what happened and is dedicated to ensuring that proper safety measures are taken at future concerts.

Now, the fallout…

Trick has announced that staging for PNE (Pacific National Exhibition) in Vancouver, BC is provided by Mega-Stage (Berger), who also provided the MBNA Stage that fell on Cheap Trick in Ottawa.

All potential alternatives have been explored by the band and promoter and were exhausted, leaving Cheap Trick with no other option than to cancel their September 1st engagement at the PNE.

Unless current investigation(s) prove otherwise, the band will not, as a matter of principle, but more importantly, as a matter of safety, appear on a Berger stage in the future.

Vancouver tickets are refundable at point of purchase.

Cheap Trick

Sixx in crowd attack

August 2, 2011

Crue bassist jumps into audience to grab camera from audience member at US festival as he continues feud with Godsmack

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Camera junkie: Nikki Sixx

Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx jumped into a festival crowd and wrestled a camera from a member of the audience at the weekend.
Video clips show Sixx stopping the band’s performance and going to the edge of the Outlaw Jam stage in Frederick, Maryland, where he holds his hand open, demanding the camera is handed over.
When the fan refuses Sixx leaps over the security barrier and starts wrestling over the device. The rest of Motley Crue look on as security guards try to split up the fight.
Eventually Sixx is helped back onto the stage while the fan and camera are rushed away.
The bassist hasn’t commented on the event but recently updated his Tumblr account profile to read: “I’m a recovering addict. Cameras are my new drug.” He said on Facebook: “Major geekdom plans going down for me and Stevie from Buckcherry to each get an old-school black n white camera tattooed on us.”
Meanwhile Sixx has commented once again on the Godsmack track Cryin’ Like a Bitch, which is believed to be based on frontman Sully Erna’s experiences of touring as a support act for Motley Crue.
Asked by a fan “What is Godsmack’s problem with the Crue?” Sixx replies: “The singer is upset they’re headlining letter openings. I got no problem with that…”

Cowboys & Aliens,' 'Smurfs' Top Box Office In Big Overall Weekend

8/1/2011 11:32 AM ET

(RTTNews) - Though none of the new releases put up an enormous opening total, the box office as a whole did very well, as five movies earned at least $19 million or more this weekend. "Cowboys & Aliens" and "The Smurfs" both pulled in $36.20 million according to early studio estimates, though "Smurfs" finished with a weekend-high of $10,663 per venue and looks to be in better shape than "Cowboys." PG-13 comedy "Crazy, Stupid, Love" also landed in the top five with a decent $19.30 million. Meanwhile, "Captain America: The First Avenger" saw a big slip from its chart-topping opening and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" soared past $300 million domestically and became the first "Potter" release to cross $1 billion worldwide.

With a bevy of PG-13 action releases, "Cowboys & Aliens" struggled to get off the ground and ended up with one of the least impressive opening totals for a big-budget action release this summer. "Cowboys & Aliens" cost $163 million to produce yet made less than $10,000 per site, which is not a good sign moving forward for the Universal distribution.
As we move into August, the box office also tends to slow down and "Cowboys & Aliens" will have fresh competition next weekend from "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." All things considered, it looks like "Cowboys" will end up one of the bigger commercial disappointments this year and might finish with numbers similar to "Green Lantern."
But things look a little better for "The Smurfs," which has no family competition on the horizon and put up a solid $36.20 million at 3,395 venues - 355 less than "Cowboys & Aliens." It's unlikely that "The Smurfs" will really take off in the next couple of weeks, but it should still post solid numbers all the way up until kids head back to school in late August/early September. Though "Smurfs" won't put up a huge overall total, it might finish as one of the more commercially successful animated releases of the summer.
Also hitting theaters this weekend was Steve Carell's "Crazy, Stupid, Love," which grossed a solid $19.30 million according to early studio estimates. "Crazy, Stupid, Love" should continue to play well with date audiences for a few weekends and will likely land in the $70 to $80 million domestic range, which will be a nice total for a PG-13 comedy released at 3,020 total venues.
As the top new releases got off to mild starts, "Harry Potter" continued to rack up big numbers across the globe. With $1.01 billion in worldwide receipts now, the final "Potter" is the only one in the series to cross the $1 billion mark and it should easily surpass the $1.03 billion worldwide that "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" made, which will make it the top grossing movie of 2011 so far.
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FOREIGNER OFFER ANOTHER NEW PACKAGE THROUGH WAL-MART:

From Billboard.com: "Foreigner is celebrating the 35th anniversary of the band's formation by going acoustic, electric and live -- all on the same package.
"Feels Like the First Time" is a CD/DVD package that will be released by Razor & Tie exclusively via Wal-Mart on Sept. 13, while the audio components will also be available on iTunes. The set comprises a pair of CDs -- "Acoustique: The Classics Unplugged" and "Juke Box Heroes: Brand New Digital Recordings of Foreigner's Greatest Hits," along with the DVD "Live in Chicago," which was filmed in March during two shows at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Ill., and will also be shown during PBS' pledge drive this fall.
"This is an extra rubber stamp on our claim to this (catalog)," Kelly Hansen, who's been Foreigner's frontman since 2005, tells Billboard.com. "You are constantly having to re-establish yourself. There was a time in the late 90s when the band suffered in reputation, and I think we've spent a good part of the last six years going all over the world to re-establish that this band is very strong and relevant and full of great songs."
Hansen says he and the rest of Foreigner are particularly excited about the "Acoustique" disc, which features unplugged renditions of "Feels Like the First Time," "Waiting For a Girl Like You," "Cold as Ice" and other Foreigner favorites, plus a cover of the Arthur Crudup/Elvis Presley classic "That's All Right" and the first-ever Foreigner recording of "The Flame Still Burns," a song guitarist and founder Mick Jones wrote for the fictional band Strange Fruit to perform in the 1998 film "Still Crazy". [note - Classic Movie!]
Hansen says the acoustic sessions, which were recorded at the Hit Factory in New York, grew from a German radio tour the band did during 2010. "We were doing these live acoustic shows that were being broadcast," he recalls, "and we got a huge response. It was kind of shocking and surprising, and also something that was really new for us. We've never really done that, kind of laying yourself out naked, without lights and amps or anything. It was a real different feeling and a challenge, so we came back and decided to experiment."
The group played some additional acoustic shows in the U.S. and Canada, and Hansen says is considering more of those to help promote "Feels LIke the First Time." "We're still working out the details for that, but it should be interesting," he notes.
The 12-song "Juke Box Heroes" disc, meanwhile, features a new song called "Save Me" as well as the re-recorded hits. "We started doing that quite awhile ago with the intention of using those tracks for licensing," Hansen says. "When fans caught wind that those things were in progress, they let us know they wanted a piece of it, so we decided to put them out."
Foreigner is currently on the road with Journey and Night Ranger, a package that wraps up on Oct. 21 in Seattle. Hansen says the group also hopes to record a follow-up to 2009's "Can't Slow Down," the first original album by this incarnation of Foreigner, but so far "we haven't started talking about that yet. We just got done with ('Feels Like the First Time') and we're on this tour, but we'll get there."
The track listings for the component parts of Foreigner's "Feels Like the First Time" package include:
"Acoustique: The Classics Unplugged": Long, Long Way From Home; Cold As Ice; The Flame Still Burns; Double Vision; Fool For You Anyway; Say You Will; Starrider; Waiting For A Girl Like You; Feels Like The First Time; Juke Box Hero; That's All Right.
"Juke Box Heroes": Brand New Digital Recordings of Foreigner's Greatest Hits: Save Me; Feels Like The First Time; Cold As Ice; Long, Long Way From Home; Hot Blooded; Double Vision; Head Games; Dirty White Boy; Urgent; Waiting For A Girl Like You; I Want To Know What Love Is; Juke Box Hero.
"Live in Chicago (DVD)": Double Vision; Head Games; Cold As Ice; Waiting For A Girl Like You; When It Comes To Love; Blue Morning, Blue Day; Dirty White Boy; Starrider; Feels Like The First Time; Urgent; I Want To Know What Love Is; Hot Blooded; Juke Box Hero.
WebLink: www.billboard.com/#/news/foreigner-turns-35-for-the-first-time-with-1005297872.story.

Ozzy Osbourne film coming to US theatres for 2 nights in August

Ozzy on the big screen…nice.

The Ozzy Osbourne documentary, "God Bless Ozzy Osbourne,"is coming to US theatres nationwide on Wednesday, August 24 and Monday, August 29 at 7:30 p.m. (local time).

Directed by Ozzy’s son Jack Osbourne, the film – which debuted earlier this year at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival - is packed with never-before-seen Black Sabbath footage and recent solo tour clips.

Fellow musicians such as Paul McCartney, Tommy Lee and others will also share stories, while an exclusive interview with the Osbourne family explains why bringing Ozzy's storied history to life — through the eyes of his son Jack — was the perfect motivation to capture one of music’s greatest icons in candid splendor.

Tickets go on sale to the general public Monday, August 1.

For details on early access to the film, click here.

For a list of all participating theaters, click here.

Ozzy Osbourne

Rock denies changing Metallica on Black Album

August 1, 2011

Producer rejects blame for loss of classic sound – and says he just told band to listen more to Ulrich

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Changes: Black Album era Metallica

Producer Bob Rock knows many Metallica fans blame him for moving them away from their classic sound by producing 1991′s Black Album – but he says it was nothing to do with him.
Instead he insists the band had already made a decision to abandon the thrash musical ethic, and he just helped them go where they wanted to go by persuading them to follow drummer Lars Ulrich more than they’d done in the past.
And he admits the experience was so fraught he told the band he’d never work with them again – and he believed the feeling was mutual.
Marking the twentieth anniversary of Metallica’s self-titled release, known as the Black Album by most fans, Rock tells MusicRadar: “They had broken through to one level but they still weren’t on mainstream radio. When they came to me they were ready to make that leap to the big, big leagues.
“A lot of people think I changed the band. I didn’t: in their heads they were already changed when I met them.”
Rock says he band wanted to “groove more” and were using AC/DC’s Back in Black album as a yardstick. The producer thought he could assist.
“I noticed Lars played to James Hetfield’s guitar, much the way that Keith Moon played to Pete Townshend. That’s fine for some bands, but no every one.
“I told Lars that in order to get that Back in Black feel, he had to be the focal point musically. So on certain songs the band played to Lars – they followed him. It made a real difference.”
Rock says Hetfield experience a challenging time as he struggled to make his lyrics more realistic compared to previous outings. “James wanted to go deeper,” the producer explains. “He wanted his songs to really matter.
“We talked about the great songwriters, like Dylan and Lennon and Marley, and I think he saw he could write for himself – but still touch other people. He had a tremendous breakthrough as a writer.”
Rock refused to let Metallica record in sections, and instead made them play live, telling them: “You’re a great live band and that vibe is crucial to this album.” He asked Jason Newsted to “play more like a bass player and less like a guitarist” and the result, he says, gave classic track Enter Sandman a “killer groove.”
But the label didn’t want to release it as a single: “At first they thought it could be the first single, then they realised the song was about crib death. That didn’t go over too well.
“I told James: ‘What you have is great but it can be better. Does it have to be so literal?’ Not that I was thinking about the single – I just wanted the song to be better.
“He rewrote some lyrics and it was all there: the first single.”
During recording sessions Rock taught Metallica about the drop-D tuning, which allows guitars to play a full tone lower than their standard setting, offering deeper and darker tonality. The producer says: “I realised every song was in the key of E. They said, ‘Well, isn’t that the lowest key?’
“So I told them that on Motley Crue’s Dr Feelgood, which I’d produced and Metallica loved, the band had tuned down to D. Metallica then tunes down to D, and that’s when the riff on Sad But True became huge.”
Rock wound up working with Metallica on five more albums.

ONE KILLED, THREE OTHERS SHOT AFTER GEORGE CLINTON CONCERT

One person was killed and three others were shot after a fight broke out following a George Clinton concert in Cleveland last night, police tell TMZ.

Clinton performed at something called the eighth annual "Unity in the Park" festival, a free, day-long music event, which featured George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic as the headlining act.

According to police, four people suffered bullet wounds after someone opened fire in the crowd. A 16-year-old was shot in the head, a 20-year-old was shot in the neck, and a 14 and 23-year-old were shot in the leg. They were all transported to a local hospital for injuries.

Police would not say which of the four shooting victims died.

No arrests have been made.

Joe Pesci " I GOT FAT AND SCREWED BY "GOTTI" EXECS " Sues Producers!

Joe Pesci is suing the producers of  "Gotti: In the Shadow of My Father," claiming his deal was so iron-clad, he gained 30 pounds for his role, only to be told he wasn't wanted anymore.

In the lawsuit, Pesci claims reps from Fiore Films offered him the critical role of Angelo Ruggiero, Gotti's close friend and enforcer. Pesci says he made a deal for $3 million.

But Pesci says after he was lured into making public statements about how happy he was to appear in the movie -- which stars John Travolta as John Gotti, Jr. -- the producers pulled the deal, claiming Pesci breached the deal by trying to back out.

Pesci claims he was offered a lesser role -- playing Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso -- for the lesser fee of $1 mil.

But this is the best part. Pesci's lawyer claims his client relied on the contract by assuming the character of Ruggiero in every respect: "[Pesci] has since ended his very strict and healthy diet, and has so far gained approximately 30 pounds in anticipation of playing Ruggiero, who was well known for his heavy and stocky build."

Pesci is suing for $3 million minimum, as well as punitive damages.

Producers tell us they are unaware of the lawsuit.