Def Leppard's Phil Collen Approves Of Tom Cruise In Rock Of Ages

8/13/2011 5:49 PM ET

(RTTNews) - Phil Collen has voiced his resounding approval of Tom Cruise's performance in Rock of Ages.

The Def Leppard guitarist opened up about his opinion of Cruise's performance in the 1980s rock film—which features the music of Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Styx, Scorpions and Pat Benatar—and told VH1 Classic Rock Nights:
"I was so impressed because he hadn't sung before and he had vocal lessons. He was literally doing five hours a day, five days a week, like truly real, getting in there and doing it."
He added: "And we saw him and he was amazing; it was like Iggy Pop meets someone else and he's in great shape and it was like, 'What!?' It was surreal, but he really pulls it off and it was like he's a total rock star."
Cruise stars alongside Alec Baldwin, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Paul Giamatti and Russell Brand in the adaptation of the Broadway hit show, which is slated for theatrical release in June 2012.

3 Doors Down Top Billboard's Rock And Alternative Charts

(RTTNews) - 3 Doors Down have topped the Billboard Hard Rock Albums chart this week with their latest LP, Time of My Life.

The album held down the top spot for the third consecutive week, beating out stiff competition from Theory of a Deadman, whose album The Truth Is . . . came in second. Incubus and Foo Fighters filled out the top four with If Not Now When and Wasting Light, respectively.
3 Doors Down's fifth studio album also made the Billboard 200 at number 27, the Rock albums chart at number 5 and the Alternative albums chart at number 3.
The record hit stores on July 18 after several delays, which the band's guitarist Chris Henderson chalked up to the competition of fellow rockers, Foo Fighters.

Four Dead in Stage Collapse at Sugarland State Fair Concert

Sugarland

Four people were killed and at least 40 were injured as an outdoor stage collapsed at the Indiana State Fair minutes before Sugarland was to perform, Reuters reports.
A YouTube video of the incident showed that the stage rigging was blown down by a heavy gust of wind Saturday. Witnesses said the weather was windy and that it had started to rain, according to the news agency.
Catch up on today's latest news
Spectators tried to hold up parts of the collapsed stage to help anyone who might be trapped, according to eyewitnesses.
"We are all right. We are praying for our fans, and the people of Indianapolis," Sugarland tweeted late Saturday night. "We hope you'll join us. They need your strength."
Underneath the main stage were dressing rooms and other facilities. The venue seats more than 15,000 people.

Jani Lane Banned from L.A. Hotel Weeks Before Death

Jani Lane had been frequenting L.A. area hotels in the weeks before he died -- and trashed one of his rooms so badly, that he was BANNED from the hotel ... TMZ has learned.

Sources tell us Lane had been kicked out of the Hilton Woodland Hills sometime in the last month -- after hotel employees noticed that he had torn his room apart.

We're told Jani was "not rude" about the situation -- and understood why he had to leave.

Lane, we're told, had recently earned a reputation in the area for trashing his hotel rooms -- one source tells us he had been kicked out of multiple places within the last few weeks of his life.

As TMZ first reported, Lane died at a Comfort Inn hotel in L.A. on Thursday evening. Investigators have not released an official cause of death ... but report that a half-bottle of vodka and prescription drugs were found in the room.

Jani Lane Vodka, Pills at Death Scene

Investigators found a half-empty bottle of vodka and prescription medication in the hotel room where Jani Lane died yesterday ... TMZ has learned.

Sources tell us paramedics were called to the Comfort Inn in Woodland Hills, CA yesterday around 5:15 PM. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

An autopsy is scheduled for later today.

We're told Lane's death is being treated as an accidental overdose or a possible death from natural causes.

Style Icon: David Lee Roth

Friday, 12 August 2011

Here’s something different–a Van Halen article written by a female. Liz Barker says, “‘Van Halen with David’ is the most magical and powerful and soul-changing sour-heart antidote I’ve ever known in all my awesome life.”
From NoGoodForMe.com:

(L: David Lee Roth, the year I was born. R: The David Lee Roth photo I identify with most.)
Do you want to know why I’m writing this? Why I started posting photos of David Lee Roth every Wednesday on nogoodforme.com, why I bought five Van Halen albums in one Saturday sometime last month, why I’m wearing a Van Halen shirt right now and why I was wearing another Van Halen shirt yesterday? Why I own two Van Halen shirts and listen to Van Halen, like, all the goddamn time nowadays? Do you wanna know?
It’s because of a dude, this dude I dated. He loved Van Halen. “Van Halen with David,” he qualified, on our second date. Who the hell calls David Lee Roth “David”? You call him “Dave,” or “Diamond Dave,” or you call him by his full name. But not this dude, apparently. I thought he was a good dude but turns out he’s kind of a sleazebag, with a real sour heart. I felt so duped! So I moped for five days, or maybe just five hours. “Motherfucker, you will not take ‘Jump’ away from me” is something I wrote in my notebook, cuz I’m so stupid-dramatical sometimes. And also because I mean it: I’ve loved “Jump” since I was six-years-old, and I’ll be a monkey’s uncle if I’m gonna let some sourhearted sleazebag ruin it for me.
So with no real recourse for revenge, I decided all there was to do was steal the dude’s favorite band, love them harder and hotter than he ever could. Evil, right? Almost as rotten as blowing up his hot car, but without the mess and the threat of jail time. I bought all the records, excepting the one I already owned, told myself I’d listen till I loved them all to death.
And then I loved them right away. Which not only cured me of sourhearted-sleazebag disease but also made me better at life than ever before – God, I’m so good at therapy! I should totally think about a career in positive psychology. Or maybe game-show hosting?

LIZ’S ALL-TIME TOP 10 VAN HALEN SONGS (AS PER REQUEST OF OUR FRIEND ROB)
10. “And The Cradle Will Rock…”
9. “Secrets”
8. “Hot For Teacher”
7. “Everybody Wants Some!!”
6. “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love”
5. “Little Guitars”
4. “Unchained”
3. “I’m the One”
2. “Panama”
1. “Jump”
And the kiss noise at the end of “Beautiful Girls.” I’m into hits.
Sometimes in bars I like to ask boys, “Hey, do you like Van Halen? Do you love Van Halen? What’s your favorite Van Halen song?” Last month I asked my friend Ian that, and he told me: “I always loved ‘Jump,’ mostly because of the jumping in the video.”
I like the jumping in the video too. But what I love most about “Jump” is when Dave sings “Can’t you see me standing here, I got my back against the record machine…” That’s the most I ever relate to David Lee Roth, apart from that photo of him up there, the one where he’s hiding behind his big ol’ mess of fake-blonde hair.
CHEESEBURGERS AND TEA
I wanted to write this entry while eating a cheeseburger. There’s this story in Crazy from the Heat about how when Dave was recording the vocals for “Jamie’s Cryin’” he made sure not to smoke any cigarettes and to eat a good breakfast the morning before. But when he sang it sounded all wrong, so the producer told Dave to go smoke a joint and eat a cheeseburger – which he did! And then he “knocked out ‘Jamie’s Cryin” in forty minutes.” And now “Jamie’s Cryin’” is my 14th or 15th favorite Van Halen song.
But: I’m not eating a cheeseburger. I’m drinking tea, Zhena’s Gypsy Tea Gypsy Rose, with soymilk and raw honey. I’m drinking rose petal tea and listening to “I’m the One” by Van Halen, and maybe that’s all you ever need to know about me.
My rose petal tea smells so good; it smells like rose petals and tea. Van Halen doesn’t smell anything like that; they smell like cheap cologne and spilled gasoline and skunked beer and cheeseburger grease. But they’re a prettier color than my tea; they’re hot-pink fireworks or the color my bathroom sink’s stained right now cuz I’m using Lush’s It’s a Date bubble bar for hand soap.
VAN HALEN IS GIRL-COLORED AND DON’T YOU EVER FORGET.
I WISH THEY ALL COULD BE CALIFORNIA BOYS

I wish I had David Lee Roth’s metabolism. I’d be so be eating that cheeseburger right now, if I had David Lee Roth’s metabolism.
Other Diamond Dave properties I deeply covet:
He’s got joie de vivre. “Razzle dazzle.” He loves hot babes, hot cars, hot guitars; he’s hot hot hot! Dave loves ice cream, and ice cream cones. Dave drinks Jack right from the bottle, then goes rollerskating down the Venice Beach Boardwalk. Dave tested all Van Halen’s songs for danceability, by dancing to them. He’s wild, man, but he’s not outta control; he’s a got a real good brain – you know the truth about the brown M&Ms, right? It’s not because Dave’s crazy!
(Actually, we’ve got a lot in common, Dave and I, now that I’ve reviewed that paragraph. I also suspect we have a very similar hair texture.)
Nowadays I get my kicks seeking out boys with a little Diamond Dave in them, like this weirdo mohawked man I met at the milk-and-sugar embankment of the laundromat Starbucks a few weeks back. “What is it about humans that we just love being AWAKE?????!!!!!!!” he asked, wide-eyed, totally serious, craziest smile. “I don’t know, man!!!!!!!!!!” I said, trying to match his exuberance. He was wearing sweatpants and a sleeveless vest. Maybe it was this vest. There was a little boy with him; he must have been about five. “Do you eat FIVE CUPS OF COFFEE A DAY??????!!!!!!!!” the little boy asked my Dave Surrogate. The boy was a big weirdo too. The two of them, bonkers! I loved them so much.
In general I’m really into people who make me want to match their exuberance. The thing about me is I’m so exuberant in my own mind, but I dampen it down for most of the planet, with the exception of:
-all my buddies under the age of eight
-dudes I’m in love with and that’s just ’cause I can’t help myself
-some of my friends, some of the time
-Dave Surrogates!
I wish that last category were a more populous group. I wish Los Angeles/the Earth were just crawling with dudes who make me want to speak every sentence with ten thousand exclamation points, dance all the damn time, see everything like there’s pink fireworks going off in my eyes.
I mean, it would probably ruin the world if every dude were just like David Lee Roth. But in the funnest way possible.
CONTINUE READING at NoGoodForMe.com.

Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Proud Of Upcoming Album TH1RT3EN

8/11/2011 3:19 PM ET

(RTTNews) - Dave Mustaine has revealed that he is more proud of Megadeth's upcoming album, TH1RT3EN, than of any other Megadeth release.

The Megadeth frontman said of the album, which is the band's thirteenth studio release: "This record is the culmination of my work over the 13 records I recorded. There are moments on TH1RT3EN that capture my every emotion, and other moments where I am releasing feelings I never knew existed! My proudest moments of my musical career are captured on TH1RT3EN."
He added that the title had personal significance for him, explaining: "I was born on September 13th; this is my 13th record. It just seemed like it was the right thing to do to call it TH1RT3EN."
The album—which will be released on November 1-features the return of bassist and founding band member Dave Ellefson and was produced at Mustaine's Vic's Garage studio in San Marcos, California with producer Johnny K.

Ex-Foreigner Frontman Says Band's Shows Are 'Misleading'

8/11/2011 12:39 PM ET

(RTTNews) - Former Foreigner frontman Lou Gramm has taken aim at his ex-band mates. Gramm split off from Foreigner nearly a decade ago but says that the band is misleading fans by carrying on without him under the original band name.

"What's stranger to me is that, as I've learned talking to people who see those shows, is that in many cases the audience, especially if they're younger, don't even know it's not the original lead singer," Gramm told spinner.com. "In Foreigner's case, as I understand it, the singer was actually trained to deliver pretty much exactly everything as I did it, note for note."
"If I were in the audience and learned that while I was there, I'd get up and leave," he said. "I think when the band name remains the exact same, but something as important as the lead vocal is different, it's misleading. It's like false advertising."
Gramm provided the original vocals in hits including "Cold As Ice" and "Hot Blooded."

'Bridget Jones 3' Gets The Go-Ahead

8/12/2011 12:19 PM ET

(RTTNews) - "Bridget Jones 3" has been given the green light.

The follow-up to the original 2001 film and its 2004 sequel ("The Edge of Reason")—which starred Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, and Hugh Grant--has been in planning since 2009, and EW has confirmed that Working Title Films have agreed to produce the third film in the franchise. The film has not yet been titled and will be based on the corresponding installment of the Helen Fielding novels on which the first two are based.
Firth recently hinted about the possible plot of the film in an interview with EW: "I can tell you that Bridget and Mark can't have children, I think that's the way it goes on. So then she makes the huge mistake of going back to Daniel Cleaver [Hugh Grant's character] for long enough to get pregnant. And I think he dumps her, and she's left stranded, and guess who comes back to rescue her?"
The first two films in the franchise earned $281.9 million and $262.5 million, respectively.

R.I.P. JANI LANE - DEAD AT 47:

Jani Lane -- former lead singer of the rock band Warrant has died. The popular singer's body was discovered at the Comfort Inn hotel in Woodland Hills, CA. So far, no official cause of death has been released.

Jani had a long history of addiction, but was always revered for his songwriting talent and his death is yet another body blow to the rock community. He is gone way to early and his fans will long morn his passing. R.I.P Jani.

A number of people have already expressed their disbelief and sadness at Jani's passing. Some are listed here:

Michael Sweet: "My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Jani Lane. Had the pleasure of meeting him on TMS and he was a great guy."

Glenn Hughes: "RIP Janie Lane...another one lost ...GH" and "We must remember that the unlucky ones who lose their life to Alcohol and drugs, are those that could not completely surrender~sad day, GH."

Michael Eden & Eden's Curse: "This is another sad day for our community that continues to lose rock warriors one by one. On behalf of Eden's Curse and myself we express our sincere and deepest sympathy to the entire Oswald family as well as Jani's band members past and present. Jani left his mark on an ever changing business and his family can be proud of knowing he wrote some of the biggest songs in Hard Rock and heavy metal history. These songs speak to us and will never leave us. Jani was a gifted song writer/ performer that had a special talent not often found in today's artists. Tonight as I write this I blast Mr. Rainmaker in hopes that Jani knows we will never forget him or the great songs he leaves behind. RIP!!!"

Dave Reynolds: "I am truly stunned and very, very saddened at this news. I only spoke to Jani a couple of weeks ago after he graciously agreed to be interviewed for a historical piece on Warrant I was writing. He was in a good mood, very candid and we had an excellent hour long conversation about his career that he later e-mailed me to say that he had thoroughly enjoyed. The guy has battled various demons for a long time, but I always found him to be great company in my dealings with him over the last twenty years and feel that he was always extremely underrated as a song writer. I really am truly shocked by this news. Rest In Peace Jani, my friend."

Vic Rivera: "He'll ultimately be remembered as one of the great writers of his genre. R.I.P., man."

Tony Mills: "Great writer, singer and performer, will be sadly missed."

Stephen Pearcy: "Sad to hear today. R.I.P. Jani Lane."

Paul Laine: "RIP Jani Lane of Warrant."

Billboarddotcom: Sad news to report. Jani Lane, ex-Warrant singer, found dead at 47. t.co/5Xj26QW.

Kevin Shirley: "R.I.P. Jani Lane."

The Hollywood Reporter: "Jani Lane's Death: Hollywood, Fellow Musicians React: t.co/qJDg61h.

Kelly Hansen: "So very sad about the passing of Janie Lane. We came up at the same time. I'll remember his voice. My heart goes out to his family & fans."

Trixter: "R. I. P. Jani Lane..."

Bret Michaels: "We'd like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of Jani Lane regarding their loss. Respectfully, Bret and all at MEGI."

BRET MICHAELS Sues Shoreline Tours For Failed Cruise

Rock Hard

Posted on Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 18:53:21 EST

According to Thewrap.com, POISON frontman Bret Michaels filed suit against Shoreline Tours on Monday, alleging that the cruise-ship company participated in "a fraudulent scheme" intended to get Michaels to drastically drop his agreed-upon fee for two performances on one of its cruises.

According to the suit, Michaels' was approached by promoter Willie Donwell to perform a two concerts on a "Super Cruise" this fall, with Donwell handling the promotion, as well as the collection of Michaels' fee.

Read the full lawsuit here.

Check out the entire report here.

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Johnny Van Zant Hospitalized; Shows Cancelled or Postponed

Russell Hall

|

08.11.2011

Health issues involving Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Johnny Van Zant have forced the band to postpone or cancel a number of shows. According to the group’s website, the 51-year-old singer was hospitalized over the weekend due to complications from a previous surgery. Specifically, the site reports that “Johnny Van Zant was admitted to the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN on August 6, with a surgical site infected cellulitis which required hospitalization with IV antibiotic treatment. Van Zant has a severe Staph infection and multiple symptoms related to infection. Johnny Van Zant is to remain out of work and recover until cleared by his primary physician.”
The remaining affected shows are listed below. Lynyrd Skynyrd plans to resume their regular tour schedule with the Doobie Brothers on Friday, August 19, in Bethel, New York, at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.
- Sedalia, MO at Missouri State Fair on August 12, Skynyrd performance has been cancelled; Doobie Brothers still scheduled to perform with Kansas.
- Fort Knox, KY at Godman Army Airfield on August 13, Skynyrd performance has been cancelled; Doobie Brothers still scheduled to perform with Kansas.
- Des Moines, IA at Iowa State Fair on August 16, Skynyrd performance has been cancelled; Doobie Brothers still scheduled to perform with Kansas.
Ticket holders should go back to point of purchase for refunds. Rescheduled shows will honor previously printed tickets.
Lynyrd Skynyrd plan to resume their regular tour schedule with the Doobie Brothers on Friday, August 19, in Bethel, New York at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

Ex-Warrant Singer Jani Lane DEAD AT 47

Jani Lane -- former lead singer of the rock band Warrant -- was found dead at a hotel in L.A. Thursday evening ... TMZ has learned.

Lane's body was discovered at the Comfort Inn hotel in Woodland Hills, CA. So far, no official cause of death has been released.

Lane famously penned the band's biggest hit "Cherry Pie" back in 1989 ... before eventually leaving the band to pursue a solo career.

Lane had a history of alcohol-related issues -- he was ordered to serve 120 days in jail after he was arrested for DUI in 2010 ... his second DUI in two years.

Lane was 47.

Van Halen Update 8/10/11

Wednesday, 10 August 2011

Here’s a quick update on the latest news  about the upcoming Van Halen album and tour.
1) AUSTRALIAN SHOWS, ALBUM, TOUR: MelodicRock has this update today:
A Van Halen and Soundwave Revolution Festival update for you. I’m hearing from one of my sources connected to the band that Van Halen did NOT pull out of the Soundwave Festival and had things gone ahead as planned, the band was 100% ready to appear as publicised. I have no reason to doubt this info, but I will state that I find it puzzling and somewhat disappointing there is no “official” word or statement from the band.

I am also told that there are now no plans for Van Halen to tour Australia. That’s 2011/2012 folks….no plans at all. 13 years since their first tour and now nothing. I’m hearing that the US tour remains in planning to commence in November and the studio album is due by that time.

I also hear that the band are looking for European Festival appearances for summer 2012, not necessarily any standalone dates for that region.
2) ALL IS GOOD: We hear that all is good and that everyone in the band is doing great and that they are still working on mixing the album and planning the tour.
3) ROTH: The “Get Ready” message is back on DavidLeeRoth.com.
4) MORE from Tremonti: By now, everyone’s heard Mark Tremonti claim that new music sounds like “old school Van Halen.” This week, GuitarInternational asked him about hearing it:

Rob: Wow. From what I read it sounds like old school Van Halen.
Mark Tremonti: Yeah, it does. I haven’t heard a single vocal on it yet,
but it definitely had the juice, it was great.
Rob: Was it like Van Halen 1, Van Halen 2, Fair Warning era?
Mark Tremonti: I think it was a mixture of it all. It wasn’t all edgy and
dark like Fair Warning; it was a mixture, somewhere in the middle.

(VHND notes: Tremonti heard the band playing live in the studio. Roth’s vocals HAVE been recorded.)
5) VALERIE’S COMMENT: Just to show how little info is getting leaked out of the Van Halen camp these days, the following little request came from none other than Eddie Van Halen ‘s ex and Wolfgang’s mom, Valerie Bertinelli. Last week Valerie tweeted, “Who do I have to give birth to to get a copy of the new Van Halen record!?”

Poison/Motley Crue Review Moline IL - August 6th

Tuesday, 09 August 2011

Poison/Motley Crue review Moline IL - August 6th It's 2011 & Bret has more bimbos on his bus then in 1987   Check out a fan's review from Moline IL on August 6th MOTLEY CRUE - POISON - NEW YORK DOLLS Ya, it's late.. Work's been hell this week. I've given enough shit to Nikki over the last month (although well deserved) I figured I'd type something positive (WWND?)... Spread the love and sandwiches.. August 6th. Moline Il... Here's my rundown. NYD were ok at best.. they give Nikki his 'Street Cred' BS but I thought they sucked. There, I said it. Their music wasn't my thing, their show was boring, their singer looked liked he was stoned out of his mind.. The drummer was ok. The guitar players were alright I guess. The singer was a poor man's Jagger and the rest of the band looked like a Stray Cats cover band. The crowd didn't pay much attention, didn't know who they were and really didn't care... Next... Poison. I've seen these guys 10 trillion times on every tour since 1986. I still love their first 3 albums. I still think everything after 1992 sucks... Their show and stage banter is as predictable as 24 hours in the daily cycle. That said, Motherfucker did they bring it. Say what you want about cheese Nikki, They had the audience in the palm of their hand and it was a packed house. Fists in the air like it was 1987 all over again... Goddamn was it cool to look at that many people at a hard rock show again. The set was the same. The stage was decent.. Bret however sounded damn good. No strained vocals.. CC was just fucking awesome.. Looked vintage as hell and actually played most of the solos as are on album. Rikki has lost weight and when he spray painted his drum kit and took off his mask, the crowd went insane. And Bobbby, Fuck was that guy Full of energy.. I'm being honest here, this was hands down the best Poison show/performance I've ever been to period. They flat out kicked fucking ass. love em or hate em, they brought the house down. Ok, The surprise of the night. Once again, I've seen Motley Crue a trillion times as well since their 80's heyday. My favorite tour always being TOP followed by Dr. Feelgood... They shook the place out of nowhere with Wildside and the crowd just went absolutely insane. SOLD OUT show... As God as my witness, Nikki was not going through the motions that night. That guy was killing it like it was 1984 all over. Mick was Mick, dark, evil and just awesome... Never missing a beat. Devil horns in the air full time when Mars took center stage. Now Tommy, Nice job dude.. Entertaining and professional as hell. I never thought I'd see it but this guy actually looked like he wanted to be there and he cared. I'm saving the best for last here. Vince fucking Neil.. Did someone feed this guy a line of coke before the show? Son of a bitch did Vince kick ass. Predictable word skipping on certain songs but the guy actually Tried! I was in shock... Vince was fantastic... Entertaining, energetic and drinking bottled water by the drumset the entire time. I've said before after youtube clips that the stage and show looked lackluster at best. I was dead wrong. I can honestly say without a shadow of doubt, this was the best I've seen Motley Crue since 1985. Better show than Carnival of Sins, better show than Feelgood... I don't think I've ever been entertained by Motley like I was that night.. How they could Ever top that performance, I don't know... I suppose you may chalk it up to each band trying their best to out do the other.. I couldn't care less... All I know is we spent about 2 grand as a group on this show and we were all blown away, old fans and new.... I thank Both bands for one of the best nights of my life... It reminded me why I loved the music again.... Review By: enslavedone

Top 10 "Rock n' Roll" spots to visit when in Hollywood!

Sunday, 07 August 2011

Top 10 "Rock n' Roll" spots to visit when in Hollywood! That world famous sign & palm tree lined streets in Hollywood We have been getting tons of emails for years that ask Metal Sludge, where are the coolest places to go visit when I vacation in Los Angeles. Or, more directly Hollywood. We have come up with a Top 10 "Rock n' Roll" spots to visit list when in Hollywood! If you are coming to LA these should be on your list. 10. Venice Beach How rock n' roll is the beach? Well, if any beach is close to rockin' - it's definitely Venice. There is mass tourist action here, endless cafe's, street performers (some very good), a skatepark, sidewalk comedians and of course sand leading right into the Pacific Ocean. This is a good weekend morning to mid afternoon stop. Grab yourself some cheap swag, sun glasses and back to your Motel for the nightlife back in Hollywood. Downfall, seeing more homeless people in a 2 hour period than you have in the last 2 years. This cat 'Harry Perry' has been on Venice for almost 40 years. 9. Melrose Blvd. It's just a street, but on the weekends, it's pretty rock n' roll mid day. Even though not as famous as some of the other Los Angeles Boulevards, Melrose on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon for shopping, is definitely a must. Foot traffic between 12 noon and 5:pm is almost like an outdoor club. There is about a 5-6 block stretch that is all shops, cafe's, boutiques and more. Johnny Rockets usually has no less than 8-10 Harley's parked out front, and probably just as many pit bulls tied up to the patrons tables. The shops are everything from trendy, to punk, rock n' roll to designer. The Bad: Parking sucks. The Good: Lot's of young, attractive people, good food & killer stores. 8. NoHo District This is short for the North Hollywood Arts District. NoHo doesn't have a super popular rock club, or a ton of killer botiques like Melrose - but  there are a lot of related companies in the immediate area. Lankershim & Magnolia is a bustling corner with Amp Rehearsal Studios, a Starbucks and the HaHa Comedy Cafe. The area has a lot of new apartment and studio style lofts that house a young and energetic crowd. Also, a lot of music industry calls the neigborhood home, including Coffin Case, A&S Case, NRG Studios, Nitengale Studios, Steak House Studios, Track Record & One on One (where Metallica recorded the Black album. They also filmed much of the "Nothing Else Matters" VIDEO here as well). There are several cafe's, resturants to go with a few dance studios, and several theatre style venue's that host plays and musicals. The Metro Rail dumps you off right in the heart of NoHo & for a buck and some change you can go back to Hollywood or downtown on LA's only underground subway in minutes. You are literally walking distance to Universal Studios City Walk. Suggested: Tokyo Delve's Sushi. It can get pretty crazy with a line outside & people standing on tables. Gn'R rock a booth at Canter's back in the day 7. Canters Deli - Jerry's Famous Deli These 2 Deli's are both worth a stop. Canter's on Fairfax just south of Melrose has Guns N' Roses roots. The son (Marc) recently released a book "Reckless Road". Aside from rock bands, this place has been a eatery and hang out for celebrities going back for decades. The original Jerry's Famous Deli is actually based in Studio City on Ventura Blvd and opened in 1978. This place has definitely seen some rock n' roll over the years and celebrity clientel in general. Rockers Eddie Van Halen, Gilby Clarke & Stephen Pearcy all live up the street. Jerry's also was home to several of the "Rock n' Jock" bowling events with it's attached PINZ bowling alley. Canter's is way more authentic. Jerry's is more modern since it half burned down in 2002. Whisky-A-Go-Go 1972 - Note the Alice Cooper billboard for new single "School's Out" 6. The Whisky A Go Go  1966 - 1971 - 1980 It's a club, but not just any club. The Whisky-A-Go-Go is without a doubt, one of the most famous club names on the planet. CBGB's is now gone and Studio 54 has been history for decades - but the Whisky is still standing. This club is worth the price of admission on any night just to step in and imagine right before your eyes - in concert, The Doors, Motley Crue, The Go-Go's, Iggy & The Stooges, J. Geils Band, Ratt, Nancy Sinatra and the list is endless. Not much else to say, but this place is legendary. Only 1 short block down is the Viper Room formerly The Central & Filthy McNastys. 5. Hollywood Forever Cemetary & The Hollywood sign Yes folks, a cemetary makes the list. And there is a list of who's who buried HERE. Legendary rockers, actors, and some of Hollywood's most elite are piled in the ground at this location. The Hollywood sign is just that, a sign. But it's got history, you can see it from countless streets, and even some PEOPLE have hung themselves on it. 4. Guitar Center It's basically the K-Mart of music equipment located right on the Sunset Strip in the heart of Hollywood. But for a K-Mart, it has quite an atmosphere. The RockWalk of fame is worth a look alone. Across the street are select smaller music related stores (Carvin, Mesa Boogie & Sam Ash). These stores are always full of newbies, wannabes and usually some name guys too. Directly across the street is El Compadre Mexican resturant. Standing to the right as you exit Guitar Center is the World Famous Sunset Grill. Yes, the song Don Henley wrote is all about this location. Sadly, the original "shack" was torn down, and what a shame that was. Axl Rose once did a photo shoot outside this place. Draw back, dealing with jackass employees (musicians) who act like total DICKS Steven, Duff, Axl & Izzy dinner at El Compadre (1986) 3. Steel Panther Where EVER they are. You need to go. The band has been playing Monday nights on the Sunset Strip for more than 10 years. From the Viper Room, to the Roxy, to the Key Club and now at the House of Blues. Every Monday without fail, you will be rocked like FUCK. Seriously, if they play a gutter or a garage, the show will be a madhouse. Imagine Bon Jovi & Poison in concert, 1988, tits everywhere, leppard spandex, lazer lights and oh yeah, did we mention tits everywhere? The band has jammed with every star imaginable. Paul Stanley, Steven Tyler, Phil Anselmo, Tommy Lee & even Meatloaf. Chances of meeting someone famous. About as sure as Vince Neil drinks alcohol. Bring a camera. 2. Amoeba Music Yes, a music store. But not just any music store. Amoeba Music is the Worlds Largest independent record store. It also has some great history related to where the building stands. Even though the building is fairly new, this same address once was home to William Hames Photography studio. Dozens of rock album covers, band shoots and more were filmed right at this location. It's also about 200 feet from the iconic Cinerama Dome Theatre which opened in 1963. The premiere of "Decline of Western Civilazation Part 2 - The Metal Years" was also HERE. Amoeba has every style of music, on every format. Including LPs, EPs, Cassettes & CDs in the long box. Add in rare posters, concert flyers and they even have the occasional in-store performace, or meet n' greet. Rainbow Bar & Grill, the #1 Rock n' Roll hot spot in Hollywood California 1. Rainbow Bar & Grill This has to be #1 for your rock n' roll stop. The place has been legendary for decades and don't be shocked if you run into Lemmy sitting at the bar. Or one of the biggest dicks in the Porn world either - HE is always there. The walls are full of history, polaroids, framed photos, signed 8x10s, and platinum records from Ratt & Van Halen. There are 3 different bars, a great Italian style menu, a patio so you can smoke and a fireplace. Oh and Christmas lights strung from the ceiling. A few notes, the Rainbow does NOT have live music. At least not regularly. A lot of people don't realize this. They occasionally have some acoustic style shows in the up stairs bar, but if you want a full blown club style concert - you'll have to go to the Whisky 2 blocks down, or the Roxy Theatre right next door. The CD player must be jammed, because they're still playing the same songs as they did in 1989. Be ready for some "Girls, Girls, Girls", "Nothin' But A Goodtime" and "Welcome to the Jungle".

Paul Stanley Of KISS Welcomes New Daughter Into Family

August 10, 2011

The KISS Army continues to grow.

The band's lead singer/guitarist Paul Stanley and his wife Erin, an attorney, welcomed daughter Emily Grace Stanley on Tuesday in Los Angeles, he tells People.com.

Emily, who weighed in at 7 lbs., 10 oz., joins elder siblings Sarah Brianna, 2, Colin Michael, 4, and Evan Shane, 17, Stanley's son from a previous relationship.

"Erin and I are once again blessed with the addition of Emily Grace to our family," the rocker, 59, says. "I'm not sure she can sing but her first screams let me know she's definitely Daddy's girl."

Stanley - who's also a successful painter - just completed a series of sold-out KISS dates and is currently producing the band's next album.

As for having kids later in life, Stanley says his age doesn't slow him down.

"I may be 59," he told PEOPLE in February, "but the only rocking chair this rocker is getting ready for is the one for my new baby."

Courtesy of www.sleazeroxx.com and www.people.com

Jack Russell Is Working Very Hard To Get Back To Great White

August 9, 2011

Nearly a year ago, Great White vocalist Russell underwent emergency surgery for a perforated bowel. It was so serious that he nearly died and remained in the hospital for more than eight weeks. Doctors instructed Russell to take a year off from touring, and ex-Warrant frontman Jani Lane stepped in to help Great White finish their 2010 tour while Terry Ilous, former lead singer of XYZ, is now fronting the band until Russell feels he is capable of returning.

Asked how Jack Russell is doing and when the band expects him to return, Great White guitarist/keyboardist Michael Lardie told the Belgrade News' Dan Chesnet, "He is recovering. Any time you have your midsection cut into - they had to reach a section of his large intestine - any time you open up your body that far, it takes quite a while to rehab the body to reanimate the nerves and all the muscles and stuff. As far as a projected date, it's really more often than not up to Jack. I hear, and I've talked to him a couple or three times a week, he's working, very, very hard to get back. He misses it terribly. He misses all of us. And we'd like him to come back when he's 150 percent ready if you follow my line of thinking. Because I'd hate for him to come back too soon and realize, 'Oh wow I really should have done rehab for another month before I tried to come back. Now I gotta take more time off.' I want him to be just so ready to go that he just blows people's minds. So we're all being very supportive of him. And the great thing is he's being very supportive of our scenario by endorsing us to go out and do what we're doing. And giving Terry Ilous, who's filling in for Jack, encouragement. He calls him a couple a times a month, and says 'I'm hearing great things about you, thanks for singing my songs so well.' We're having a great time with Terry, so it's a win-win situation. By like I said, I will reiterate, I don't want him coming back to soon. I want it to be right, so when he's back he's back all the way."

"We always write songs because that's what we do", said Lardie about working on a new album. "And we always think in terms of how it would sound with Jack singing them. Mark and I have created music and melody for these songs over the years. Kind of like in your mind when you're at home working on a song going 'where would Jack go with this. How would he approach this.' We keep doing it no matter if we have a project specifically in mind or not. So when we do get to that point where we're doing another record we have a wealth of catalog to be able to draw from. And hopefully have 10 or 11 really good songs on it out of 100 ideas."

To read the entire Michael Lardie interview visit http://www.belgrade-news.com/features/article_75ddb72c-c2ce-11e0-8d5f-001cc4c002e0.html.