Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Today's Day in Rock






Queen and Paul Rodgers To Reunite?
(Gibson) For five years, Queen and Free singer Paul Rodgers teamed up to tour the world and even recorded an album together. The two camps went their separate ways in 2009, but it appears they might reunite next year.

Queen drummer Roger Taylor told Rolling Stone (via NME) that he and guitarist Brian May might work with Rodgers again: "I wouldn't rule it out. In fact I read the other day Paul said he wouldn't mind doing something. If something came up as special, we could maybe do that, maybe the Olympics or something. But I certainly wouldn't rule it out and he is a wonderful singer, there's no doubt about that."

In the meantime, Taylor also is working on his own Queen tribute band, called The Queen Extravaganza. "Essentially we're producing our own show using our own footage and production values to make a show because, let's face it, we're getting a little long in the tooth, but there are an awful lot of tribute bands, some of them good, some of them not good," he said. "And we put together something that we felt was purely extraordinary." more on this story

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Four More Guns N' Roses Tour Dates
(hennemusic) Four more US dates for Guns N' Roses this fall have surfaced. Here Today…Gone To Hell! reports tickets go on sale later this week for GNR dates in Greenville, Atlanta, Dallas and Hartford.

The new dates now mean the GNR US tour is up to 9 shows so far, and you can bet more are expected to be added.

So far an official announcement has yet to come from the Guns N' Roses camp but a tour is definitely shaping up. Grab all of the leaked dates here.

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Rob Zombie Shot Down Avenged Sevenfold
(Banana 101.5) Rob Zombie recently shot down Avenged Sevenfold's hopes of landing him as the director for their new video 'Buried Alive'. Zombie was too busy with pre-production on his new witchcraft film, 'Lords of Salem', which just announced some of the cast.

When it came time to shoot the video for Avenged Sevenfold's next single, 'Buried Alive', they tried to score a director who was more than just a a music video guy. Singer M. Shadows recently told Pulse of Radio:

"We do want to do something super-special with 'Buried Alive'. We're looking for a good, like, video director — not necessarily a video guy but more of a movie guy. We talked to Rob Zombie, unfortunately he's doing his new movie right now or he'd want to do it. But we want to do something cool with it, something underground, exciting and kind of crazy … We feel it's probably the strongest track on the record." more on this story

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Mike Portnoy Vs Dream Theater
(hennemusic) Here's some not-so-groovy news: drummer Mike Portnoy sued Dream Theater after he left the group last fall.

Courthouse News Service reports Portnoy, who left the band on his own after failing to convince fellow band members to take a break from the write/record/tour cycle, filed a lawsuit against his former bandmates in April claiming that they "wrongfully excluded" him from the group and continue to "wrongfully using the name of the band in connection with [their] recording of an album without the participation or consent of [Portnoy]."

The suit further alleges that Dream Theater "are wrongfully using the name of the band in connection with the promotion of live performances by the individual defendants, without the participation or consent of [Portnoy]." more on this story

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Metallica Release Big Four Show Documentary
(Gibson) Metallica have released a 28-minute documentary on the Big Four show at Yankee Stadium in New York on September 14.

The film includes footage from soundcheck, backstage rehearsals and meet and greets, bass player Rob Trujillo expounding the aesthetics of 13-grain bread, and the epic jam on Motorhead's "Overkill" – featuring members of Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax and Exodus.

The documentary may be viewed for free but it can also be purchased as a high-quality download from LiveMetallica.com for completists. more on this story

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J.D. Fortune Exits INXS Again
(hennemusic) INXS are without a lead singer, once again. J.D. Fortune has reportedly ended his term as frontman for the Australian band on amicable terms.

"Just wanted to let you all know personally that, despite media reports to the contrary – I did not leave INXS and I was not fired," the Canadian rocker explained to fans on his website Tuesday.

"Prior to this summer's amazing tour, INXS and I mutually agreed that my contracted services as their lead singer for the 'Original Sin' tour would end in Atlanta, GA on August 14." continued Fortune. "We had a great time and a great tour and are all very proud of those shows. Now, as planned, we are all moving on to different artistic projects. We do retain a deep friendship and respect for each other that was built over the past 6 years of working together." more on this story

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At Least One More From Disturbed
(Banana 101.5) While the future of Disturbed is shaky at best, fans have at least one more release to look forward to.

Singer David Draiman says their new B-sides compilation, 'The Lost Children', will be out this year.

Disturbed have officially started what has previously been referred to as a "long hiatus". After the initial reports came out that the band would be taking a break after their tour, a series of interviews uncovered that there were real problems within the band. While nothing is written in stone, Disturbed are at least going to be off the radar for a while. more on this story

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Radiohead to Rock The Colbert Report
Radiohead have been tapped for a special episode of The Colbert Report next week. Comedy Central sent out the following details:

Stephen Colbert rocks out with a special one-hour episode of "The Colbert Report" for the first time ever! The super-sized show will feature interviews and performances by Radiohead intertwined with regular series segments.

The band is set to perform songs from their recent release "King of Limbs" including the new and previously unreleased track "The Daily Mail." One song will be exclusively available at www.ColbertNation.com. Tune in to "The Colbert Report" on Monday, September 26 from 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET/PT to watch this epic episode. more on this story

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Fans Pushing For Big Four of 90s Punk Tour
(RockAAA) Move over Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax as there will be a brand new Big Four hitting the road IF a Facebook group get their way.

On the back of the phenomenal success of thrash metal's Big Four, a group are using the social networking site to generate support for a similar collaboration tour for what they reckon is punk rock's own Big Four.

The group is petitioning for Bad Religion, The Offspring, Green Day and Rancid to join forces for what they have titled 'The Big Four of '90s Punk Rock' tour. more on this story

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Insane Clown Jack White Country Posse
(Banana 101.5) A while back we reported the collaboration between Detroit recording artists Jack White and Insane Clown Posse on the track 'Lick Me in the Arse'. It appears the trio didn't stop there, as yet another track titled 'Mountain Song' has hit the web.

Jack White recently disbanded the White Stripes and has been quoted as saying that he's done working with bands, as far as joining or forming them goes that is. He is however continuing to work with artists as a studio musician / producer, the latest act he is involved with is the Detroit based rap duo — Insane Clown Posse.

Their first Mozart-tinged song 'Lick Me in the Arse' hit a few weeks ago, now White's Third Man Records has released the B-Side to that track — 'Mountain Song'. More including a stream of the song

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Limp Bizkit's Silly Cover Explained
(Banana 101.5) Limp Bizkit set a new creative low when choosing the artwork that would eventually become the cover of 'Gold Cobra'.

Guitarist Wes Borland recently explained that the eyesore of an album cover was completely intentional.

In a recent interview, Wes Borland told Artist Direct that the ridiculousness of the album's cover was a conscious decision: "We were thinking of Gold Cobra as a horror movie. That's where the album cover came from. As far as the art goes, I was thinking of Frank Frazetta-type of images with the giant snakes and monsters with scantily clad really sexy girls under a guy with a sword. It's that Conan-looking Frazetta art." more on this story

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Tony Iommi To Visit Birthplace of Black Sabbath for Book Tour
(hennemusic) Another date has been added to Tony Iommi's book tour as a new date has been confirmed for Iommi's hometown of Birmingham, the birthplace of Sabbath.

The Black Sabbath guitarist is hitting the road to promo the October 13 release of his autobiography, "Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven And Hell With Black Sabbath."

The book will be released in Europe on October 13 through Simon & Schuster, and in the United States on November 1 in hardback by Perseus Books/DeCapo Press. more on this story

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Simple Plan Fall Tour
Simple Plan have announced plans for a fall tour of North American that will feature special guests, including Forever The Sickest Kids, The Cab, and Marianas Trench.

The "Get Your Heart On! Tour" will kick off on October 28th at Los Angeles' The Music Box and continue through late November.

Simple Plan will be touring in support of their first new release in over two years, "Get Your Heart On!" more on this story

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Lamb of God Frontman Says Metal Subgenre Labels Are Stupid As F...
(Rock News Desk) Lamb of God frontman Randy Blythe is furious over the naming of sub-genres of metal, saying they're all attempts to disguise lack of creativity.

Asked what he thinks of the djent movement he says: "The stupidest name yet for another genre. If you call yourself 'djent' cap yourself now. There is no such f**king thing as djent. It's not a genre. I'm sorry, it's stupid as f**k.

"All this bullsh*t – deathcore, djentcore and f**king can't-play-in-real-life-but-can-on-a-computer-core. It's just a name. People can call themselves whatever they want. It's f**king heavy metal. more on this story

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Dr Ozzy Going On Tour
(hennemusic) Black Sabbath is touring this fall…well, half of the band is. Guitarist Tony Iommi and singer Ozzy Osbourne are both doing book tours, each plugging the launch of new reading material for fans.

Ozzy has already done the bio thing, but he's pushing his new book, "Trust Me, I'm Dr. Ozzy," a health advice collection of the best of his columns from Rolling Stone (U.S.) and the Sunday Times (U.K.), with some additional material thrown in.

Ozzy has just announced two additions to his book-signing event schedule: one in Texas and the other in San Francisco. more on this story

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Jazz Fusion Inspires New Opeth
(Gibson) Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt says the band's new album, Heritage, takes inspiration from an unlikely place for a band primarily known for progressive death metal band: 1970s-style jazz fusion.

Åkerfeldt told I Heart Guitar the album was influenced by John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra, Billy Cobham, drummer Alphonse Mouzon, Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters – although those influences mingle with Ronnie James Dio, too. The track "Slither" is a blatant tribute to Dio and his former band Rainbow.

"We're all massive fans of Rainbow and massive fans of Ronnie," Åkerfeldt said. "When he passed away it was like a member of my family. He'd always been there. And I was insanely affected by his passing. I was really down and he really meant something to me. So I wrote this song as a tribute to him." more on this story

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Megadeth Tease New Video
(RockAAA) After rocking New York's Yankee Stadium as part of the Big 4 on Wednesday, Megadeth continued their rock n' roll adventures in the California desert on the weekend.

The band were on location shooting a video for "Public Enemy No. #," the first track released from Megadeth's forthcoming album, "Th1rt3en," due November 1.

Dave Ellefson and Shawn Drover checked in with a video message for fans. "We have never shot a video like this before," says Ellefson. "There's actually animals in the movie – that's all we can say. The animals are probably better behaved than we are." more on this story

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Pink Floyd Eyesore
(Rock News Desk) Pink Floyd mainman David Gilmour has been ordered to demolish a bike shed on his land because neighbours think it's an eyesore.

The yellow beach hut sits at the seafront near Hove on the south coast of England, but it's inside a conservation area, meaning he should have applied for permission to build it.

Brighton and Hove Council have told Gilmour to pull the construction down by October 1, saying: "Failure to comply with that means either prosecution, or the council may remove the hut and charge the householder." more on this story

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New Journey Collection On The Way
Legacy have set a November 1, 2011 release date for Journey's Greatest Hits Vol. 2, a brand-new collection that spans singles and album tracks recorded between 1978 and 1996. They sent out the following details:

The collection will be available as a single CD, digital download, and special gatefold double-vinyl edition (which includes a code for a free digital download of the vinyl remastered album).

When asked about his experience in the remastering back to vinyl of the original recordings of the Journey Greatest Hits and the new Greatest HITS Vol. 2, Steve Perry replied, "I truly forgot how sonically exciting and just plain better these Journey tracks sound back where they originally lived...on Vinyl. The stereo separation, the center imaging and the sonic depth of the tracks themselves is more true to what we all loved about these original final mixes. All the instruments and voices, to me personally, sound so damn good that all I want to do is reach for the volume and turn it up!" more on this story

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Mastodon Release Party Details
Mastodon will release their new album, 'The Hunter', on September 27th in North America.

One day earlier, the official Mastodon record release party will take place at The Roxy in West Hollywood, CA. The event is free to attend and kicks off at 8PM, upstairs at On The Rox.

There will be special guests and other events taking place throughout the night, including a free show downstairs at The Roxy featuring several Los Angeles based bands such as Stitched Up Heart, Evolove, 8MM, Chamber of Echoes and Sima. more on this story

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Foo Fighters Fight Back With Humor
(Rock News Desk) The Foo Fighters dealt with a hatemonger protest at the weekend by staging their own counter-protest outside a venue they were about to play.

Dave Grohl and co were targeted by [publicity seeking "church'] after releasing a spoof homo-erotic video called Hot Buns to promote their current tour. The church, well known for its "God Hates Fags" posters, were out in force in Kansas City on Friday, with placards including the phrases "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "You're going to Hell."

But the Foos pulled up on a flat-back truck, dressed in their Hot Buns costumes, and performed a specially-written song called Keep It Clean for the picketers. Read more and watch video here

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Bret Michaels TV Special To Air in Roctober
HSN sent out this special programming note: Poison frontman Bret Michaels will launch his "Signature Acoustic Guitar Collection" and the exclusive HSN guitar bundle on the network on October 2nd at 8 p.m. EDT

"I'm thrilled to bring my Signature line of Guitars, my vocal warm-up CD and my solo album, 'Custom Built' to HSN," said Bret Michaels. "HSN has a track-record of bringing innovative, high-quality products to their customers, so this is a natural partnership for me."

During the primetime special event on October 2 at 8 p.m. EDT, Michaels will also play a six-song set in front of a live studio audience at HSN headquarters in St. Petersburg, FL. The set list will feature some of Bret's greatest hits as the front man for Poison and his solo career, including "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," "Something To Believe In" and "All I Ever Needed." more on this story

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Real Gone Music To Debut With Grateful Dead Release
(conqueroo) The newly formed Real Gone Music reissue label will debut in November with 12 titles headlined by the Grateful Dead's Dick's Picks, Vols. 34, 35 & 36.

"Dick" was Dick Latvala, the official tape archivist for the Dead until 1999, whose inspiration and encyclopedic knowledge of the band's vaults spawned the fabled Dick's Picks series of Dead concert volumes.

Comprising 36 volumes, Dick's Picks follows the band on its long, strange trip through a multitude of eras, tours and venues, featuring handpicked shows that display the band at its most visionary, improvisational height. Real Gone Music will bring this cache of Dead concert brilliance to record stores. Many have never been previously available at retail. more on this story

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Rush Raise 50K For Charity
(hennemusic) Rush and their fans have raised more than $50,000 for Grapes for Humanity, an organization that helps to raise funds to benefit humanitarian causes around the world with the assistance of the international wine community.

Geddy Lee is a member of the board of directors for the organization and Rush has sponsored past eBay auctions to benefit the charity.

Geddy, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart mined their personal stash to select some very special items to put up on this year's Rush Ebay auction, including signed and one-of-a-kind items like Neil's cymbals, a guitar and a bass used on the Time Machine tour, as well as nostalgic Rush items used on the Snakes and Arrows tour. more on this story

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Weird Al Yankovic DVD and Polka Face Premiere Details
(TS) "Weird Al" Yankovic Live! The Alpocalypse Tour will be released October 4th in North America on DVD, Blu-ray and digital download via Comedy Central Home Entertainment.

The extended DVD and Blu-ray include nearly an hour's worth of concert footage not seen on the upcoming Comedy Central special (see below for details about that), plus over 30 minutes of bonus features that include: music videos for "Perform This Way" and "Polka Face," three extra live concert performances, a bunch of Al's personal YouTube videos and more.

In another element of the multi-platform deal, www.comedycentral.com will be premiering "Polka Face," Yankovic's next video from Alpocalypse, on September 25th and will be its exclusive home for two days. more on this story

Monday, September 19, 2011

Today's Day in Pop






Sinead O'Connor Tweets For Suicide Advice
(rock nyc) Sinead O'Connor has been tweeting about her wish to commit suicide. "Psychiatrist says I'm a bad mum and mental for talking so openly about sex in public.

"I wish suicide wud ( kill me. I want to go to heaven so bad. Have for yrs ( But I don't wanna abandon my kids. If I cud (sic) die without them knowing I did it myself I wud.

"I'm so tired. 24 yrs of being treated like a crazy person. Can't manage any more. If any1 knows how I can kill myself without my kids finding out I did it deliberately pls tell me." more on this story

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Stolen Photo Not Justin Timberlake's Private Parts
(TMZ) Justin Timberlake wants to make it clear -- the explicit picture on Mila Kunis' cell phone -- showing a [male private part] -- is NOT J.T. -- this according to a source close to Justin.

TMZ broke the story ... Mila's cell phone was hacked, and two of the pics the hackers seized showed Justin -- one laying in bed, the other showing Justin with a pair of pink panties over his head.

There is another pic of a [male sex part] but that's it -- there's no torso, no face ... and Justin has made it clear to people close to him -- he NEVER sent such a pic to Mila or to anyone for that matter. more on this story

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Snoop Dogg To Star in New Movie
(Gibson) It has been announced that rapper Snoop Dogg will star in a new biopic movie, The Legend of Fillmore Slim.

NME.com says that that movie will follow Fillmore Slim's (real name: Clarence) life in San Francisco in the '60s and '70s, when he worked as both a blues guitarist and a pimp.

Co-producer Alan Ames told Deadline that the movie will draw on, "Slim's emergence as a musician, to his fascination with the fast life, through his years of incarceration and his redemption." more on this story

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Paul Simon Collection Set For Release
Paul Simon will release Songwriter, a new comprehensive 2 disc collection, on October 24th in markets world wide. Legacy released the following details:

Songwriter is a selection of songs, chosen by the composer, as the best of his decades-long creative output. Some of these are well-known hits and others more obscure works, but all bear the distinct lyrical, melodic and rhythmic signature of Paul Simon, one of the great composers of popular song in the last 50 years. As Simon has said, "I think of myself as a songwriter first, the recording artist and performer in me follow in the writer's footsteps."

Simon brought his own unique perspective on the nuances of his catalog in the assemblage of Songwriter. The album includes an emotionally resonant rendition of "The Sound of Silence," from Simon's 2011 concert at New York's Webster Hall, Aretha Franklin's transcendent studio take on "Bridge Over Trouble Water" and other selections from the artist's critically-acclaimed catalog of songs. more on this story

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Lost Star Sued For Alleged Assault
(TMZ) The party bus driver who claims "Lost" star Matthew Fox punched her in the vagina during a stand-off last month has filed a lawsuit against the actor ... demanding more than $25k ... TMZ has learned.

In documents filed in Ohio, Heather Bormann claims a drunk Fox tried to board her party bus outside of a Cleveland bar on August 28 and demanded she drive him to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

Bormann claims she refused to let him board because he was not part of the private party that had rented the bus for the evening.

According to the docs, Bormann claims Fox then attacked her "with his fists, delivering sudden and severe blows to her right breast, groin, arm and legs, inflicting severe, disabling injury."

Bormann explains that she "instinctively defended herself" -- and punched him in the face and head ... but she claims she injured her hand and fingers in the process.

Now, she wants more than $25k in damages for assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. more on this story

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Ol' Dirty Bastard Box Set Coming
(Audible Treats) Ol' Dirty Bastard's iconic solo debut, Return To The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version, is being re-released as a one-of-a-kind deluxe box set.

The re-issue will be accompanied by a number of rare, limited edition, and value-added goodies, and will be available for purchase on November 22 via burgeoning imprint Get On Down.

The Return To The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version Wallet Box includes a re-mastered double CD that includes original album as well as remixes, a capellas, instrumentals, and other rarities. In addition, there's a vintage "On Tour" poster, extended artwork, promotional sticker, detailed liner notes, and an exclusive billfold wallet, where you will be able to put your complimentary laminated Ol' Dirty Bastard food stamp card. "We all knew that if we were going to do this, we had to include a physical version of that card, there was no other way to do it," explains Get On Down General Manager, Rob Reilly. "We really wanted the packaging to compliment the creative genius that is Ol' Dirty Bastard." more on this story

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New Reality Show for Big Brother's Brachel?
(TMZ) "Big Brother" winner Rachel Reilly and her fiance Brendon Villegas are going Hollywood, literally -- we're told Rachel plans on moving to Los Angeles and pitching her upcoming nuptials as a possible reality show.

Turns out ... when Rachel told our photog on Thursday night that she was getting married THIS weekend, well ... that was just the alcohol talking. Sources close to Rachel tell TMZ they have no plans on a quickie wedding, but they do want to settle down in Los Angeles (Brendon is currently enrolled in grad school at UCLA).

We're told Rachel is planning to use her "BB" winnings to buy a condo in town, look for opportunities in the entertainment biz, and plan her wedding.

And according to our sources, "planning her wedding" entails pitching it as a reality show to various production companies and networks in hopes of having it all paid for.

She's a shrewd player, all right. more on this story

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Massive Ray Charles Collection Coming This Fall
(conqueroo) With the release of Ray Charles' Singular Genius: The Complete ABC Singles, on November 15, 2011, Concord Records will make available for the first time the artist's collection of ABC-Paramount singles during this prolific period (1960-1972).

The digitally remastered deluxe 106-song collection presents the A and B sides of 53 singles, including 11 #1 hits, such Grammy Award winners "Hit the Road Jack," "Busted," "Georgia on My Mind," "I Can't Stop Loving You," "Crying Time," "America the Beautiful," and many more.

Twenty-one of the songs are making their digital debut, and 30 have never previously been available on CD. Liner notes were written by R&B recording artist and music historian Billy Vera and rare photographs are included. more on this story

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The Oak Ridge Boys Twitter Chat Today
(Webster) The Oak Ridge Boys will be celebrating the release of their new CD, It's Only Natural and the 30th anniversary of "Elvira" during a live online chat with Twitter sensation Jessica Northey of Country Music Chat today, Monday, September 19, 2011 from 8:00-9:00 p.m. (CT) / 6:00-7:00 p.m. (PT).

Hosted weekly by Northey, Finger Candy Media founder and All Access contributor, #CMchat ("Where Country Music Meets You") has generated over 300 million impressions and reached an audience of more than 20 million people through the popular forum which is the first and only registered live "Country Music Chat" on Twitter.

Northey, named as one of the most powerful women on Twitter is honored to be teaming with the legendary act. "I have been an Oaks fan since I could remember. Getting to know them through Twitter is one of the greatest things about Twitter. The platform allows stars to engage with their fans unlike any other medium. I am looking forward to celebrating their big day with them," she says. more on this story

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Jason 'Gummi Bear' Davis Dodges Felony Heroin Charge
(TMZ) Jason "Gummi Bear" Davis just dodged a three-year jail stint -- because TMZ has learned, his laundry list of drug charges were dismissed this week ... including felony heroin possession.

Jason -- grandson of oil mogul Marvin Davis -- struck a sweet deal with prosecutors to get off the hook ... agreeing to complete a drug diversion program if they dropped the charges. He completed the program this week, so prosecutors held up their end of the bargain.

As we previously reported, Jason was arrested back in January for possession of a controlled substance ... and was subsequently charged with heroin possession, being under the influence of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jason pled "not guilty" to the charges in April -- but lucky for him, none of that matters now.
more on this story

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Terrell Owens Carpool Bust
(TMZ) NFL star Terrell Owens was pulled over and cited in L.A. last week -- for allegedly driving SOLO in the carpool lane -- but in the process ... the unemployed wide receiver also scored an additional two tickets.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, T.O. was pulled over last Monday -- driving a 2003 VW Beetle -- after police observed him violating the two-or-more-passengers rule in the carpool lane.

But according to law enforcement, once Owens was pulled over ... cops also cited him for an expired registration ... and having overly-tinted windows.

The carpool violation runs AT LEAST $381 -- but thankfully, the other two citations can be written off ... provided T.O. updates his registration and brings his windows up to code.
more on this story

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Fat Boys' Prince Markie Dee Plans Not So Fat Comeback
(TMZ) Fat Boys rapper Prince Markie Dee ain't so fat anymore -- because TMZ has learned, he actually dropped SERIOUS weight ... all thanks to his kids.

43-year-old Prince says he's lost 175 pounds in the last six years ... down from 450 -- telling us, "I am not young anymore. I cant go eat a couple of Big Macs a day and not worry about it. I have to watch what I eat and care about my diet. I have kids to live for."

Prince -- real name Mark Morales -- says he's also planning a huge comeback after a 12-year hiatus ... and has even signed with a label called Uncle Louie Music Group to put out an album.

Prince says his former Fat Boys pal Kool Rock-Ski will make a cameo on the record -- and he even plans to throw in some beatbox samples from the late Darren "Buff Love" Robinson ... who died in 1995 due to a complication from his weight. more on this story

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Lindsay Lohan Recovers Phone Avoiding Possible Embarrassment
(TMZ) Lindsay Lohan almost made a hacker's dream too easy when she lost her cell phone last week ... but luckily for her the person who found it couldn't care less about her personal stuff ... some of which was pretty incriminating.

Lindsay lost the phone in New York City, as she left the V magazine party at the Boom Boom Room. We're told our Good Samaritan, who worked next door to the venue, spotted the lost phone and took it home.

According to our sources, the screen read "LINDSAY LOHAN'S PHONE" when he plugged it into his computer. He somehow figured out how to contact Lindsay's people and then returned it ... without even asking for a reward. And you guessed it ... she didn't give him one.

We're told Lindsay was ecstatic ... the phone contained lots of important phone numbers numbers and emails, as well as personal photos and "a lot of stuff" that she wouldn't want published.

Bullet dodged. more on this story

Today's Day in Rock




Metallica and Lou Reed Preview
(hennemusic) The Lou Reed and Metallica project, "Lulu," is just over month away from its release but you can get a taste today..

The guys have offered up the first preview of a track from the album, a 30-second snippet of the disc's second track, "The View."

To help launch the release, "Loutallica" are scheduled to appear on the BBC's Later With Jools Holland on November 8 and 11. Check out the preview clip here

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New Van Halen in 2012 On New Label
(SuperLOUD) Hits Daily Double is reporting that the Van Halen's new album will be released early 2012 on Columbia Records, ending their long career with Warner Bros.

Regarding the 2011 tour that's meant to accompany the album, that seems to be delayed too, as there has been no rumors about that lately (other than the recent Soundwave Festival cancellation, that is).

The still untitled record, the band's first full studio album with David Lee Roth since 1984 27-years ago, is said to sound like old-school Van Halen. more on this story

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Judas Priest Frontman Falls Off His Motorcycle
(hennemusic) Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford fell off the motorcycle he rides onto the stage at the end of each show during Thursday night's concert at Ginásio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, Brazil.

It looks like nothing major, as Halford had planted the bike and it was standing still at the time; Rob appears to simply fall over to the left with the bike as it goes down.

The singer quickly rights the bike and the band launch into "Hell Bent For Leather" during their encores. more on this story

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Mick Jagger Denies Rolling Stones Rumors
(Gibson) Mick Jagger has been promoting his new "supergroup" SuperHeavy, and seems reticent about a Rolling Stones reunion.

The Stones, formed in 1962, could celebrate 50 years together in 2012. A tour has been rumored, and Jagger was seen leaving a London meeting last week with bandmates Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood.

But Jagger now tells The Sun of about any anniversary tour: "Don't hold your breath." Jagger also denied rumors the Stones would perform at the London 2012 Olympics.

"When a band starts as a blues band, it always remains sort of true to that." more on this story

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Zakk Wylde 'Terrified' Of Stalker
(Rock News Desk) Black Label Society mainman Zakk Wylde is reported to be living in fear of a 20-year-old neighbour who's been stalking him.

Wylde applied for a restraining order after becoming "terrified" when the man left a sacrifice at his door consisting of one of his retail signature guitars and a lumberjack shirt.

TMZ reports that a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge approved a temporary order, requiring the fan to stay 100 yards away from the musician and his family.

Wylde called police after the "sacrifice" incident, after which the fan was arrested and placed under mental evaluation for a 72-hour period. more on this story

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Lennon to Lemmy Inspire New Arctic Monkeys Video
Arctic Monkeys have released a new music video for the title track to their forthcoming album "Suck it and See."

The Focus Creeps' directed video for 'Suck It And See', starring Monkeys' drummer Matt Helders, who last appeared in a cameo role in the 'Scummy Man' video. You can watch the video here

Here are some words from the directors themselves: 'Inspired by past "lost weekends" in LA, from Lennon to Lemmy, the music video for the "Suck It And See" imagines: what if a rock and roller were lost altogether and never came back? The video is a behind the scenes fragments of Matt Helders' outlaw "lost weekend" out in the Wild West.' more on this story

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Slash Making Progress On New Album
(hennemusic) Slash launched his new wah-wah pedal with an in-store appearance at the new GuitarGuitar store in Epsom, U.K. While chatting with Music Radar about the new gear, Slash was also asked about his plans for his next solo album.

"We actually haven't started recording, but we've been in pre-production," said Slash. "We're about nine songs in, as far as that goes. And when I get back from England tomorrow, we'll go in and do another 12 songs. And we start actually recording late October. This is a record with Myles [Kennedy of Alter Bridge] singing in the entire thing. And also Brent Fitz's playing drums and Todd Kerns is playing bass."

Basically, the next album will be done from the ground up with Slash's touring lineup of the past year and a half. more on this story

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Seether Let Go With New Album
(Banana 101.5) In a new interview, Seether says their latest album 'Holding on to Strings Better Left to Fray' is all about knowing (or not knowing) when it's best to say goodbye.

Seether's new album has already spawned the massive singles 'Country Song' and 'Tonight' — but what the hell does it all mean? Shaun and the rest of the guys sat down with Artist Direct recently to talk about the central theme behind 'Holding on to Strings Better Left To Fray'. Shaun Morgan explained:

"I think the whole concept of just letting things go. Letting relationships that are effecting your life negatively — just saying 'you know what? This is not working out.' Friends, girlfriends, family members, whatever it is." Read the rest of his thoughts here

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New Blood From Peter Gabriel Next Month
Peter Gabriel has set an October 11, 2011 release date for his new full-length CD, New Blood. The release will be both familiar and new, read on to find out how.

A continuum to his recent Scratch My Back release, the New Blood album will feature some of Gabriel's biggest hits from his prodigious career, reconstructed and re-imagined with orchestral arrangements and recorded live with the New Blood Orchestra. Gabriel hand-selected the songs and enlisted the help of longtime collaborator John Metcalfe for the arrangements and Ben Foster as conductor of the 46-piece New Blood Orchestra.

This treatment is applied with painstaking attention to detail and stunning effect to songs including "Mercy Street", "Don't Give Up", "Digging In The Dirt", "San Jacinto", and the all-time classic "Solsbury Hill". The intention was not to simply rework Gabriel's biggest songs, but rather, find songs that were enhanced by the massed strings, brass, woodwind and percussion. "Don't Give Up" - now with Norwegian singer Ane Brun's vulnerable, cracking vocals replacing those of Kate Bush - rides a stirring, uplifting coda. Where the twinkle of "San Jacinto" was originally supplied by loops from a Fairlight sampler, piano and bows now provide the otherworldly magic. But probably the most extraordinary reinterpretation is that of "Rhythm Of The Heat" where Metcalf has recast the original's extended African drum jam into a dizzying, swirling orchestral maelstrom. more on this story

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The Show Must Go On Freddie Mercury Benefit Concert Announced
(CMP) A unique group of musicians -- and Queen fans -- will come together to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of Freddie Mercury's passing with The Show Must Go On -- a live performance of the music of Queen -- on November 9th at The Roxy Theatre.

All proceeds from the concert and memorabilia auction will be donated to AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), to help combat the disease that took Freddie from this world.

In November 1991, the world mourned music legend Freddie Mercury, who died of complications resulting from AIDS. As lead singer, songwriter and the heart of Queen, Freddie's legacy continues to inspire generations of fans. more on this story

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Jeff Beck Declared A Living Legend
(Gibson) Between decades of guitar greatness and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, it's pretty safe to say that Jeff Beck has reached legendary status. But Classic Rock magazine has decided to make it official by bestowing Beck with a Living Legend Award, according to Ultimate Classic Rock.

"I'm really a backroom boy, not a mainstream rock act," he told BBC News. "It means someone is out there looking at what I'm doing, which is really nice."

Beck will pick up his trophy at The Classic Rock Roll of Honour ceremony on November 9, hosted by KISS's Gene Simmons. more on this story

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Todd Rundgren Takes On Meat Loaf, Cheap Trick and More With A Twist
(Gibson) It's one of the more interesting approaches to a covers record. Todd Rundgren has put together an album of his versions of songs that he's produced for other artists during the past few decades. According to an interview he did with PopMatters, Rundgren covers Meat Loaf, Cheap Trick, XTC, The Psychedelic Furs, Patti Smith and others on the new album.

"[The album] essentially is new versions of songs that I produced for other people, and they're mostly all dance versions," he said. "So I had to do arrangements that were completely unlike the originals; there was simply no point in me aping what I had done already. So all of the songs have some twist, or unique approach to them that makes them not necessarily recognizable at first."

The album, called (Re)Production, includes XTC's "Dear God," Cheap Trick's "I Can't Take It," Meat Loaf's "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad," Patti Smith's "Dancing Barefoot" and The Psychedelic Furs' "Love My Way." more on this story

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AC/DC Exhibit Opens in Young Brothers Home Town
(RockAAA) A new AC/DC exhibit has opened in Glasgow. The BBC reports "AC/DC Scotland's Family Jewels" opened this past weekend at Kelvingrove Museum. It's the first time this band-approved exhibition has left Australia and Scotland seemed like the obvious place to bring it.

"There's so many connections with Glasgow and Scotland, and when I was putting the exhibition together in Australia, I kept finding material about it, " says curator Tim Fisher. "One of my bits of research was to go see AC/DC at Hampden Park a couple of years ago, and when I was here, I came to see the people at Kelvingrove and that's how it all came about."

Founding band members Angus and Malcolm Young were born in Glasgow before the family moved to Australia in 1963; their immigration papers feature in the first section of the exhibition which charts their childhood and life before AC/DC. An early photograph shows the brothers posing at the Christmas display at a department store in Glasgow. more on this story

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Good Old War Announce Fall Tour
Good Old War will launch their first headlining dates in over a year this Fall when they hit the road in November.

The group spent the past twelve months building an eclectic and passionate following by opening for artists like Alison Krauss, Guster, Joshua Radin, Brandi Carlile, Xavier Rudd and Dr. Dog, and now it's time for them to step into the main spotlight.

The tour kicks off on November 16th in San Diego. Good Old War has finished recording their third album, which is currently scheduled for a February 2012 release via Sargent House. It was recorded in Omaha with producer Jason Cupp and the trio will embark on a full tour of the USA this winter. more on this story

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Peter Murphy Delivers Seesaw Sway Video
Peter Murphy has released a new music video for his song "Seesaw Sway" which comes from his ninth solo album, Ninth.

Directed by Justin Coloma and shot at the famed Paramour Mansion in Silverlake, CA, the video highlights what the Former Bauhaus frontman does best. Watch it here.

Murphy recently announced a 30-city co-headline tour across North America with She Wants Revenge, which launches Thursday, November 3 in Phoenix, AZ and wraps Friday, December 9 in Pomona, CA (Hussle Club to open all dates). more on this story

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Sigur Ros Offering Free Song Download From Forthcoming Release
Sigur Ros have released some details and a preview of their first-ever live film and double live album.

The film and album, entitled Inni, is set for North American release on November 15th on XL Recordings. The first preview from the release is the free download of the song "Festival" which you can grab here.

Upon release on November 15th, Inni will be available in a plethora of formats: *Double CD + DVD (includes 4 extra songs not featured on the live album) *Double CD + Blu Ray (includes 4 extra songs not featured on the live album) *Clear 150 gram vinyl (3 LPs) *Digital edition *Deluxe edition. more on this story

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Patrick Stump Soul Punk Details
Fall Out Boy frontman Patrick Stump has released the track details to his upcoming solo debut.

The album, Soul Punk, is set to be released on October 18th and will contain the following tracks:

1) Explode 2) This City 3) Dance Miserable 4) Spotlight (New Regrets) 5) The "I" in Lie 6) Run Dry (X Heart X Fingers) 7) Greed 8) Everybody Wants Somebody 9) Allie 10) Coast (It's Gonna Get Better) Bonus Track: This City (Feat. Lupe Fiasco)

more on this story

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Carson Daly Going Greek With The Decemberists, Death Cab for Cutie, Atmosphere and Thievery Corporation
Carson Daly will be going Greek this week with The Decemberists, Death Cab for Cutie, Atmosphere and Thievery Corporation as "Last Call with Carson Daly" launches its 11th season on Tuesday, September 20 (1:35-2:05 a.m. ET).

This week's programs will feature performances from Los Angeles' legendary Greek Theatre as the world-famous venue celebrates its 80th anniversary.

"Greek Week" on "Last Call" will air from Tuesday, September 20 through Friday, September 23, marks the first multi-night music celebration from the Greek Theatre. Each show also will be re-broadcast the following day on Fuse. " more on this story

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Outasight Giving Away New Song
(WBR) Outasight is giving fans another free new track called "Loosen Up" to tide them over until the release of his debut full-length.

Outasight fans can download the track here and he also released the Figure 8 EP this summer, and the new video for the title track "Figure 8" can be seen here.

Outasight will head out on tour with Gym Class Heroes and The Dirty Heads in October. dates here

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The Monkees In A Box... Set
(Kayos) Next Tuesday, September 27, Eagle Rock will release both television seasons of The Monkees in two separate boxed sets.

This is the first time in over 10 years that both seasons have become available on DVD, since their original Rhino Records release.

The 32 half-hour episodes of Season #1, contained on six discs, originally aired in 1966. It was the first time on American television that a situation comedy keyed in on the zany escapades of a Beatles-styled rock band. The type of stylized new-age cinematic techniques (ala A Hard Day's Night) were coupled with music from some of finest songwriters in America (Gerry Goffin/Carole King, David Gates, Neil Diamond, Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil). The terminally cute vocalist Davy Jones, guitarist Mike Nesmith, bassist Peter Tork and drummer Micky Dolenz catapulted songs such as "I'm A Believer," "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone," "Daydream Believer," "Last Train To Clarksville" and "Pleasant Valley Sunday" into huge hits. Bonus features for the first season include commentary from the band and the show's directors, trivia for each episode, a 16mm version of the original pilot, discography and vintage Monkees Kelloggs commercials. more on this story

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The Atlas Moth New Album Hits Tomorrow
The Atlas Moth's new album, 'An Ache For The Distance,' will be released tomorrow, September 20th via Profound Lore Records.

The Atlas Moth are also set to hit the road in support of 'An Ache For The Distance'.

The Atlas Moth will team up with label mates and hardcore prodigies Ken Mode, for the fall tour which kicks off this coming Saturday. more on this story

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Broadway Calls Going Toxic
(ESM) All For Hope Records (US) and Banquet Records (UK) have announced the release of the new Broadway Calls 12", "Toxic Kids".

The 6 song 12" was recorded by Jack Shirley (Comadre) at his Atomic Garden Studio in the Bay Area, and fully captures the angst and energy of a perfect Broadway Calls house show. (No release date provided in the announcement).

While still riding high on their newest full length for Side One Dummy Records, "Good Views, Bad News", this blast of energy is exactly what the fans need to get them through to the next full-length. more on this story

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Mars Attacks Carmine Appice
Hard rock legend Carmine Appice is the featured guest on the latest episode of the Mars Attacks Podcast with Victor M. Ruiz.

Carmine discusses the latest King Kobra album, how Paul Shortino became the singer of the band, how he started doing clinics, his upcoming autobiography, and what he's read in others that he finds boring or just over the top sensationalism.

Case in point, there is a specific story about Ozzy Osbourne that he believes never happened. He also bounces around and discusses a bunch of the bands he's played with.

The podcast can be downloaded or streamed here

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Phish Raise Over A Million Dollars For Flood Recovery
(Sub) Phish played a special concert at Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction, VT last Wednesday night.

The show raised in excess of $1.2 million dollars for Vermont flood recovery efforts. Major donors generously underwrote all the production expenses for the evening, contributing greatly to the concert's success. All proceeds - including ticket revenues, merchandise, download and webcast sales and concessions - will be directed to The WaterWheel Foundation and the Vermont Community Foundation to aid in the recovery of the Green Mountain State. The event broke attendance records at the venue, which is the largest facility in Northern Vermont. Governor Peter Shumlin introduced the band, which got its start at the University of Vermont in 1983.

"It was amazing and inspiring to see so many people come together through music to aid the great state of Vermont," said Phish guitarist/vocalist Trey Anastasio. "We're so grateful to the businesses and individuals that helped us raise as much money as possible for the recovery process." more on this story

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Anberlin Singled Out Week: Take Me As You Found Me
Anberlin kick off a coheadlining tour with Switchfoot this week and to celebrate we asked frontman Stephen Christian to tell us about some of the songs from their latest album "Dark Is A Way Light Is A Place". Today he tells us about "Take Me As You Found Me":

My mother called me and asked me if I was into vampires. It kind of caught me off guard because this isn't one of those normal questions you would expect to be asked by your mom. I told her if she was referring to the Twilight craze then no, but thanks for asking. She thought 'whose going to drain your blood' was some type of vampire ritual, which I thought rather hysterical. Yes mom, I am into vampires and ended up writing a song for Edward... c'mon!

The line actually comes from a neighbor friend of my named Tim who lives down the street from me in east Nashville. Tim is an older guy; some years from age but mostly from the abuse his body took from the drug years being a Harley biker guy in California in the 70's. He was absolutely friendly and even loaned me his truck to dump some stuff when I first moved in. We talked the entire day where he gladly laid out his life story including the fact that he had to go to dialysis every other day and felt bad because his wife had to take off work and drive him back and forth and then wait there with him for hours.

The older we will get in life the more dependent we will become on those we love. The line 'whose gonna drain my blood, now that your gone' is about Tim's dialysis and how I put myself in his shoes... If his wife left him what would he do? He would be almost incapable of living without her literally. That is how love feels sometimes, we slowly grow into one being to the point that eventually we would to be literally unable to live without them.

Mick Jagger on Rolling Stones Reunion: ‘Don’t Hold Your Breath’




Mick Jagger has been promoting his new “supergroup” SuperHeavy, and seems reticent about a Rolling Stones reunion. The Stones, formed in 1962, could celebrate 50 years together in 2012. A tour has been rumored, and Jagger was seen leaving a London meeting last week with bandmates Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood.

But Jagger now tells The Sun of about any anniversary tour: “Don’t hold your breath.” Jagger also denied rumors the Stones would perform at the London 2012 Olympics.

“When a band starts as a blues band, it always remains sort of true to that.”

Jagger is currently working with all-star group SuperHeavy – featuring Dave Stewart, Joss Stone, Damian Marley and film composer A.R. Rahman.

SuperHeavy’s album is out now. Jagger said: “If people like it, we could do a few other things.”

Van Halen/Columbia Records Rumor




Sunday, 18 September 2011

Industry insiders at Hits Daily Double are reporting that the band has split with Warner after three decades and has partnered with Sony by signing a brand new deal with Columbia Records. “After spending its entire 35-year career at WB, Van Halen, with David Lee Roth back in the fold, recently completed work on its first album for new label Columbia, coming early next year…”

This marks the first rumor of Van Halen signing a new record deal. Hits Daily Double is known for being a reliable source for record industry news, but there has been no confirmation on this rumor yet from Van Halen or Columbia.

An inside source tells VHND.com that there have indeed been serious talks between the parties, but that, as of today, there is no signed deal.

If this deal goes through, this would be a great match. Columbia has a good reputation for promoting “legacy” artists, such as AC/DC, whose last album was released to Walmart through Columbia (for those who don’t know, Columbia is a subsidiary of Sony).

A new Van Halen studio album with David Lee Roth will be a HUGE deal, as it would be one of the most anticipated rock albums in many years. (It will be the band’s first full album since Van Halen 3 in 1998, and their first with Roth since 1984). If Hits Daily Double is correct about the album coming out in early 2012, that would make sense, as they’ve got to have enough lead in time to get all their ducks in a row (ie: promotions, lead single, interviews, tour planning). The importance of doing this right is paramount.

Mastering should be completed very soon, and then it’s only a matter of time before we get a new, full album and tour!

Saturday, September 17, 2011

NTSB on scene of Nevada air crash that killed 3




By SCOTT SONNER and MARTIN GRIFFITH
Associated Press

RENO, Nev. (AP) -- Federal investigators on Saturday began looking into what caused a 74-year-old pilot to lose control of his World War II-era plane and crash next to a VIP section at a Reno air race in an accident that killed at least three people and sent dozens to the hospital.

National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Terry Williams told The Associated Press Saturday that a team has arrived from Washington to join regional officials. He said it's too early to say what caused the crash.

As thousands watched in horror, the plane competing in a Nevada event described as a car race in the sky suddenly pitched upward, rolled and did a nose-dive toward the crowded grandstand.

The P-51 Mustang, flown by a veteran Hollywood stunt pilot, then slammed into the tarmac in front of VIP box seats and blew to pieces in front the pilot's family and a tight-knit group of friends who attend the annual event in Reno.

"It came down directly at us. As I looked down, I saw the spinner, the wings, the canopy just coming right at us. It hit directly in front of us, probably 50 to 75 feet," Ryan Harris, of Round Mountain, Nev., told the AP.

"The next thing I saw was a wall of debris going up in the air. That's what I got splashed with. In the wall of debris noticed there were pieces of flesh."

The pilot and two spectators were killed and more than 50 were injured amid a horrific scene strewn with smoking debris.

Authorities said it appears a mechanical failure with the P-51 Mustang - a class of fighter plane that can fly in excess of 500 mph - was to blame. Some credit the pilot, Jimmy Leeward, with preventing the crash from being far more deadly.

"If he wouldn't have pulled up, he would have taken out the entire bleacher section," said Tim Linville, 48, of Reno, who watched the race with his two daughters.

Left in its wake were bloodied bodies spread across the area as people tended to the victims and ambulances rushed to the scene. Video of the aftermath shows a man with his leg severed at the knee.

Video and photos of the crash were captured by several people in the stands, and the horrific images of the wreckage were transmitted around the world within minutes.

John Townes, a Reno pilot, said the plane didn't sound right.

"It wasn't quite vertical. It was at a very slight angle and because of that I think it probably saved a lot of people," he said.

"Normally when you see an air crash, you see recognizable wreckage. There was nothing, just little bits of metal."

Prior to Friday, 17 people had been killed at the National Championship Air Races since their start 1964, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported.

Two involved P-51s, the newspaper reported. In 1999, a P-51 disintegrated during a race, scattering debris and damaging a house. In 1994, one of the vintage craft crashed next to the east-west runway after engine failure sprayed the windshield with oil.

Organizers softened two of the curves pilots negotiate after crashes into nearby neighborhoods in 1998 and 1999. In 2007 and 2008, four pilots were killed at the races, prompting local school officials to consider barring student field trips to the event.

Friday's crash was the first time spectators were killed or seriously injured, the Gazette-Journal reported.

Planes at the yearly event fly wingtip-to-wingtip as low as 50 feet off the sagebrush at speeds sometimes surpassing 500 mph. Pilots follow an oval path around pylons, with distances and speeds depending on the class of aircraft.

Mike Houghton, president and CEO of Reno Air Races, said at a news conference hours after the crash that there appeared to be a "problem with the aircraft that caused it to go out of control." He did not elaborate.

He said the rest of the races, which bring in tens of millions of dollars for the local economy, have been canceled as the National Transportation Safety Board investigates.

"The way I see it, if he did do something about this, he saved hundreds if not thousands of lives because he was able to veer that plane back toward the tarmac," said Johnny Norman, who was at the show.

Tim O'Brien of Grass Valley, Calif., who is chairman of an air show in his hometown in California, was photographing Friday's races when the crash occurred.

He said the P-51 Mustang was racing six other planes, and was in the process of moving from third place into second when it pitched violently upward, rolled and then headed straight down.

From the photos he took, O'Brien said it looked like a piece of the plane's tail called a "trim tab" had fallen off. He believes that's what caused the plane's sudden climb.

When the aircraft hit the ground, there was a "big explosion but no fire," O'Brien said.

"The propeller (was) spinning very fast, and there was a lot of mass coming down all at once," he said. It was a "very violent impact."

Afterward, a number of people were standing around, and "all we could do was hug each other," he said.

Maureen Higgins, of Alabama, who has been coming to the air races for 16 years, said the pilot was on his third lap when he lost control.

"Obviously he had no control. He was wobbling. He went upside down and then he headed straight for us, straight at the grandstand."

She was sitting about 30 yards away from the crash and watched in horror as the man in front of her started bleeding after debris hit him in the head.

"I saw body parts and gore like you wouldn't believe it. I'm talking an arm, a leg," Higgins said "The alive people were missing body parts. I am not kidding you. It was gore. Unbelievable gore."

Renown Regional Medical Center spokeswoman Kathy Carter confirmed that two others besides the pilot died, but did not provide their identities.

Stephanie Kruse, a spokeswoman for the Regional Emergency Medical Service Authority, told The Associated Press that emergency crews took a total of 56 injury victims to three hospitals. She said they also observed a number of people being transported by private vehicle, and those people were not included in the count.

Kruse said of the total 56, at the time of transport, 15 were considered in critical condition, 13 were serious condition with potentially life-threatening injuries and 28 were non-serious or non-life threatening.

"This is a very large incident, probably one of the largest this community has seen in decades," Kruse told The Associated Press. "The community is pulling together to try to deal with the scope of it. The hospitals have certainly geared up and staffed up to deal with it."

Gov. Brian Sandoval noted at a news conference that area hospitals were in need of blood in the wake of the crash, and he encouraged people to donate.

Among the dead was Leeward, of Ocala, Fla., a veteran airman and movie stunt pilot who named his P-51 Mustang fighter plane the "Galloping Ghost," according to Houghton said.

Leeward, the owner of the Leeward Air Ranch Racing Team, was a well-known racing pilot. His website says he has flown more than 120 races and served as a stunt pilot for numerous movies, including "Amelia" and "Cloud Dancer."

In an interview with the Ocala (Fla.) Star-Banner last year, he described how he has flown 250 types of planes and has a particular fondness for the P-51, which came into the war relatively late and was used as a long-range bomber escort over Europe. Among the famous pilots of the hot new fighter was WWII double ace Chuck Yeager.

"They're more fun. More speed, more challenge. Speed, speed and more speed," Leeward said.

Leeward talked about racing strategy in an interview Thursday with LiveAirShow TV while standing in front of his plane.

"Right now I think we've calculated out, we're as fast as anybody in the field, or maybe even a little faster," he said. "But uh, to start with, we didn't really want to show our hand until about Saturday or Sunday. We've been playing poker since last Monday. And uh so, it's ready, we're ready to show a couple more cards, so we'll see on Friday what happens, and on Saturday we'll probably go ahead and play our third ace, and on Sunday we'll do our fourth ace."

Houghton described Leeward as a good friend.

"Everybody knows him. It's a tight-knit family. He's been here for a long, long time," Houghton said.

He also said Leeward was a "very qualified, very experienced pilot" who was in good medical condition. He suggested Leeward would have made every effort to avoid casualties on the ground if he knew he was going to crash.

"If it was in Jimmy's power, he would have done everything he possibly could," Houghton said.

The National Championship Air Races draws thousands of people to Reno every September to watch various military and civilian planes race.

The FAA and air race organizers spend months preparing for air races as they develop a plan involving pilot qualification, training and testing along with a layout for the course. The FAA inspects pilots' practice runs and briefs pilots on the route maneuvers and emergency procedures.

Mike French, a private pilot, was his way to the races late Friday when he learned they were canceled after the crash.

"It's unfortunate, tragic in so many ways," said French, 41, of Wellington, Colo.

It would have been his fifth trip and the first for his 8-year-old son, Myles. "He really wanted to go," the dad said.

French said he had the "Galloping Ghost" P-51 image as his computer screensaver.

"It's the weirdest thing," he said. "I just liked the looks of the aircraft."

---

Associated Press writers Ken Ritter in Reno and Cristina Silva and Oskar Garcia in Las Vegas contributed to this report.

John Mayer Throat Condition Derails Album, Concerts





John Mayer is canceling two concerts and postponing his album until next year because he's having problems with his vocal cords.

Mayer revealed the problem on his blog, saying he had developed a granuloma in his throat. Granulomas are nodules, and they vary from harmless to very serious. John didn't elaborate.

He was scheduled to perform at the iheartradio Music Festival in Las Vegas next week and a show with Tony Bennett in Los Angeles.

Mayer also said his next album, which was due later this year, will now be pushed back to 2012.

He says he'll devote his time to "writing and composing more music and kicking an empty soup can around the West Village."

3 Doors Down Announce U.K. Tour With Seether



9/15/2011 4:18 PM ET

(RTTNews) - 3 Doors Down have announced a string of U.K. tour dates in support of their new release Time of My Life. The "Kryptonite" rockers will be joined by Seether on the tour, which kicks off on March 9 at the HMV Picture House in Edinburgh, Scotland.

During a recent interview with espyrock.com, the band's guitarist Chris Henderson explained that touring is vital to the band's livelihood in the era of downloading:

"It's the only way, the only f*****g way; downloading has killed it. We make a little money on publishing and like sponsorships and merchandise if people buy our t-shirts but touring, on the f*****g road, playing shows, that's how you f*****g do it like it or not. We love touring and we do a lot of f*****g shows . . ."

Time of My Life hit stores on July 18.

The tour dates are as follows:

Mar 9th - Edinburgh HMV Picture House

Mar 11th - Manchester Academy

Mar 12th - Birmingham O2 Academy

Mar 14th - Bristol O2 Academy

Mar 15th - London HMV Hammersmith Apollo

Stone Temple Pilots' Tour Hits Speedbump As Scott Weiland Needs Vocal Rest




9/16/2011 3:18 PM ET


(RTTNews) - The Stone Temple Pilots have put their current tour on hold because singer Scott Weiland is in need of "immediate vocal rest".

On the band's Facebook site, the group posted the diagnosing doctor's advice to Weiland:

"With such a heavy concert schedule and vocal activity we determined that Mr. Weiland could potentially run the risk of a vocal hemorrhage or suffer permanent damage hence putting him on complete vocal rest."

The group added: "STP apologizes to their fans . . . and of course, refunds are available at the point of purchase."

Shows in Cincinnati, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky and Council Bluffs, Iowa have been canceled. Four additional dates have been postponed. One date (Concho, Oklahoma) has been rescheduled for November 5; the status of the other three dates is pending an announcement from STP.

Red Hot Chili Peppers Top Multiple Billboard Charts



9/16/2011 2:03 PM ET


(RTTNews) - The Red Hot Chili Peppers owned the Billboard charts this week, claiming the number one spot on the Alternative Album, Rock Album and Rock Songs charts. Their new release I'm With You hit stores on August 26, the first single from which is "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie."

It's the second week at number one on the Alternative Albums chart for I'm With You. This week it edged out Foster The People's "Torches." Mumford and Sons remained in the number three spot with Sigh No More, the Muppet's: Green Album rose one spot to number four and Bon Iver took the fifth spot with his self-titled release.

"The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" edged the Foo Fighter's "Walk" for the top spot on the Rock Songs chart this week. Foster The People took the number three spot on this chart with "Pumped Up Kicks."

Friday, September 16, 2011

ROCK NEWS AND MORE!



New Rihanna This Fall- Interscope Offices Used For Drug Trafficking?- Big Week for Lady Antebellum- Katy Perry's Sixth Coming- Boyz II Justin Bieber- more

09/16/2011
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(Billboard) When Rihanna tweets, people listen. On Sept. 15, the diva tweeted a response to one of her followers asking "When's the next album due?" with "THIS FALL!!!!!" which must have been music to the ears of her fans. more

Lady Gaga released the second fashion video for her single "Yoü and I" yesterday. The clip, directed by Inez+Vinoodh and entitled "Haus of Ü ft. Bride" can be seen on YouTube here

(Billboard) Federal prosecutors say that the offices of Interscope Records were used by a drug-trafficking ring as a transit point for cases filled with cocaine and cash, according to a report in the Smoking Gun published Thursday. more

(BBC) Film director Roman Polanski is to collect a lifetime achievement award at the Zurich Film Festival, two years after his arrest in the city on child sex charges more

(Billboard) After two full days on sale, Lady Antebellum's third album, "Own the Night," is shaping up to have a bigger debut than expected. more

(FMQB) Justin Bieber has revealed he has been recording with Boyz II Men for the Pop star's upcoming Christmas record. MTV News has posted a photo of Bieber and Boyz II Men's Shawn Stockton in the studio together. more

(BBC) Coldplay is voted the best headline of any festival of 2011, according to a poll conducted by BBC Radio 6 Music. more

(FMQB) More details have been announced for Kelly Clarkson's upcoming album Stronger, due out October 24. The album contains 13 songs, and will also be released in a deluxe edition, as well as a bonus EP. more

(Billboard) Add the winner of NBC's "The Voice" to the list of contemporary musical acts portraying stars of the late 1950s and early '60s on NBC's "The Playboy Club." more

(Jam!) Ashlee Simpson and actor Vincent Piazza have gone public with their romance after attending a Boardwalk Empire season premiere together on Wednesday. more

(BBC) Veteran US actor Mickey Rooney sues his step-son, Christopher Aber, claiming he tricked him out of millions of dollars and bullied him into working. more

(FMQB) Katy Perry will offer a sixth single from Teenage Dream when "The One That Got Away" goes to radio next month. more

(NME) No Doubt delay new album release until 2012 Band push back first LP in over 10 years to 'make the best record we can possibly make' more

TODAY'S ROCK NEWS!



Blink-182's New Album Leaks- Joe Perry for Hurricane Irene Benefit Event- The Doors Legend Jams With Alice Cooper- Paul McCartney- The Dead Leaves Mars Volta'd- more

09/16/2011
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(KROQ) The internet was hit with a leaked copy of Blink-182's new forthcoming album, Neighborhoods, which is due out September 27th. As we all know, when something big like this gets leaked, it spreads like wildfire – and that wildfire happened to spread all the way to our desks here at KROQ.com more

(UCR) Vermont was ravaged by Hurricane Irene last month, and Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, who still resides in the Boston area and once attended school in Vermont, has joined the Irene Good Bye cabaret benefit to pitch in with his support. more

(BMN) In the midst of the "No More Mr. Nice Guy" world tour, Alice Cooper treated fans to a special performance last night (Thursday, September 15) at the legendary Whisky a Go-Go. Special guest appearances during the set featured former The Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger and pop singer Ke$ha. more

Lars Stalfors of Mars Volta recently remixed "If The Shoe Fits", the first single from The Dead Leaves upcoming album Cities On The Sea (Liberation Music). You can download the track for free here

You can grab a sneak peek of Paul McCartney's upcoming recorded release, Ocean's Kingdom, here ahead of the October 4th release date.

(BW&BK) Dream Theater have moved their Seattle show scheduled for Tuesday, September 27th at Showbox SODO to the Moore Theatre. more

(The 1st Five) According to the band's facebook page, Cartel will be releasing their In Stereo EP digitally on October 4th. more

(FMQB) Friday, September 23 marks Bruce Springsteen's 62nd birthday, and Envision Radio Networks and Boss Time Radio are offering a free, two-hour special broadcast celebrating the day. more

(Lambgoat) Dance Gavin Dance will headline a November/December tour of the U.S. with support from Isetmyfriendsonfire, A Loss For Words, and The Bunny The Bear. more

(BMN) soulfly has tapped Chris "Zeuss" Harris (chimaira, hatebreed, all that remains, the acacia strain, born of osiris, shadows fall) to produce the band's new album for an early 2012 release via Roadrunner Records. more

(Lambgoat) Dark Funeral has revealed that they've parted ways with Regain Records. more

(PNO) Coalesce will be reissuing 1996's Give Them Rope on vinyl. The double LP features a remastered version of Give Them Rope as well as a second disc of 2010's Give Them Rope She Said v2.0; a remixed version of the album more

Twenty years ago tomorrow Guns N' Roses unleashed the Use Your Illusion albums. Tony K takes a look back here

Thursday, September 15, 2011

The voice of RATT Stephen Pearcy hits the road!




Thursday, 15 September 2011

The voice of RATT Stephen Pearcy hits the road!
1304687687-stephenpic.jpg
Stephen Pearcy plays Hollywood Sept 23rd @ Key Club



The voice of RATT and main rodent hits the road this fall from LA to NY!

Pearcy just tweeted the following in the last 24 hours!

"Filming Video's today for "Sucker Punch". "Don't Want To Talk About" and "Too Much Is Never Enough" @ EarDish Multi Media Complex. Gonna kick some ass! Back at ya later kidz, cya!" Stephen Pearcy - Twitter Sept 14th 2011

Tour Dates for the Fall.

· 09/23/11 Stephen Pearcy in West Hollywood, CA at Key Club

· 10/07/11 Stephen Pearcy in Fort Worth, TX at The Aardvark

· 10/08/11 Stephen Pearcy in San Antonio, TX at Back Stage Live / Sunken Gardens

· 10/20/11 Stephen Pearcy in Chicago, IL at TBD

· 10/21/11 Stephen Pearcy in Warren, MI at The Ritz

· 10/22/11 Stephen Pearcy in Fostoria, OH at The New Nest

· 10/23/11 Stephen Pearcy in Akron, OH at Ripper Owen’s Tap house

· 10/26/11 Stephen Pearcy in Irwin, PA at Pluma’s

· 10/27/11 Stephen Pearcy in Reading, PA at Reverb

· 10/28/11 Stephen Pearcy in Watertown, NY at The Exhibition Hall

Check out Pearcy on his TWITTER - FACEBOOK - WEBSITE - YOUTUBE

November 21 Releases



November 21 is shaping up to be a good day for modern rock fans with new studio albums due from Nickelback (Here And Now) and American Idol finalist Daughtry.

WHITESNAKE TO RELEASE MAJOR BOX SET & EXPANDED VERSION OF GOOD TO BE BAD:





Whitesnake are to have a box set released on November 7. Titled Box O'Snakes: The Sunburst Years 1978-1982, the box has every studio and live album from the period, two previously unreleased BBC concerts, a limited edition seven inch, a DVD and a 90-page book with new interview and unseen photos.
Here's the full track listing:
CD One: Trouble (1978) 1. Take Me With You 2. Love To Keep You Warm 3. Lie Down (A Modern Love Song) 4. Day Tripper 5. Nighthawk (Vampire Blues) 6. The Time Is Right For Love 7. Trouble 8. Belgian Tom's Hat Trick 9. Free Flight 10. Don't Mess With Me.
CD Two: Live At Hammersmith (1978) 1. Come On 2. Might Just Take Your Life 3. Lie Down 4. Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City 5. Trouble 6. Mistreated
CD Three: Lovehunter (1979) 1. Long Way From Home 2. Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues 3. Help Me Thro' The Day 4. Medicine Man 5. You 'N' Me 6. Mean Business 7. Love Hunter 8. Outlaw 9. Rock 'N' Roll Women 10. We Wish You Well
CD Four: Ready An' Willing (1980) 1. Fool For Your Loving 2. Sweet Talker 3. Ready An'Willing 4. Carry Your Load 5. Blindman 6. Ain't Gonna Cry No More 7. Love Man 8. Black and Blue 9. She's A Woman
CD Five: Live�In The Heart Of The City (1980) 1. Come On 2. Sweet Talker 3. Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues 4. Love Hunter 5. Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City 6. Fool For Your Loving 7. Ain't Gonna Cry No More 8. Ready An' Willing 9. Take Me With You
CD Six: Come An' Get It (1981) 1. Come An' Get It 2. Hot Stuff 3. Don't Break My Heart Again 4. Lonely Days, Lonely Nights 5. Wine, Women An' Song 6. Child of Babylon 7. Would I Lie To You 8. Girl 9. Hit An' Run 10. Till The Day I Die
CD Seven: Saints & Sinners (1982) 1. Young Blood 2. Rough An' Ready 3. Bloody Luxury 4. Victim Of Love 5. Crying In The Rain 6. Here I Go Again 7. Love An' Affection 8. Rock An' Roll Angels 9. Dancing Girls 10. Saints An' Sinners
CD Eight: Live At Reading Rock '79 (1979) 1. Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues 2. Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City 3. Steal Away 4. Belgian Tom's Hat Trick 5. Mistreated/Soldier Of Fortune 6. Love Hunter 7. Breakdown
CD Nine: Live At Reading Rock '80 (1980) 1. Sweet Talker 2. Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues 3. Ain't Gonna Cry No More 4. Love Hunter 5. Mistreated/Soldier Of Fortune 6. Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City 7. Fool For Your Loving
DVD Promo Videos 1978-1982 TV Performances Extra Feature: Official Bootleg Live at the Capital Centre, Washington, USA 1980
Snakebite EP (1978) 33rpm seven inch white vinyl - Side One 1. Bloody Mary 2. Steal Away Side Two 1. Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City 2. Come On.
Find out more at www.whitesnake.com.

An expanded updated version of Whitesnake's Still Good To Be Bad, is out this week as a Japanese import, featuring:
The CD+DVD Digipak Special Edition contains a 15 Track audio CD featuring newly recorded, remixed & remastered versions of Ready To Rock, If You Want Me, All I Want Is You and Dog, originally featured as bonus tracks from the Live In The Shadow Of The Blues double live album Plus a Bonus DVD that includes the music videos 'Ready To Rock' and 'Lay Down Your Love', a rare and unseen 8 song Live Acoustic Performance with David Coverdale and Doug Aldrich at the Cutting Room In NY in 2008, the 'Good To Be Bad' Interview by Eddie Trunk and the 'Live In The Shadow Of The Blues' EPK. The DVD also includes a slideshow of live photographs from 2008-2009 Good To Be Bad World Tour featuring the Summer Rain Acoustic Version. Click on album cover to order from CD Japan.

Today's Quick Hits!





Spinal Tap Officially Rules
(Rock News Desk) This is Spinal Tap has been voted the best comedy movie of all time by a panel of over 200 experts.

The spoof rockumentary that goes up to eleven came home ahead of Airplane!, Monty Python's Life of Brian and Annie Hall. Big names including actor Dan Ackroyd and writer Richard Curtis contributed to the poll.

The iconic film stars writers Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer as guitarist Nigel Tufnel, singer David St Hubbins and bassist Derek Smalls as they attempt to salvage their career with their new album Smell The Glove. more on this story

More on Spinal Tap - Spinal Tap CDs, vinyl and rarities - Spinal Tap Tour Dates/Tickets

Stevie Nicks Turned Down Prince's Purple Rain
(Gibson) Stevie Nicks has revealed that almost 30 years ago, Prince asked the Fleetwood Mac singer to collaborate on a new song. The Purple One sent Nicks a 10-minute instrumental and asked for lyrical assistance. The song eventually became "Purple Rain."

Nicks talked about the situation in an interview with the Minneapolis Star Tribune. She said it came about after the two teamed up on her 1983 hit "Stand Back," and Nicks asked Prince if he thought they'd ever write together. He sent her the unfinished track in response. But it was too much for Nicks to take in.

"It was so overwhelming, that 10-minute track, that I listened to it and I just got scared," Nicks said. "I called him back and said, 'I can't do it. I wish I could. It's too much for me.' I'm so glad that I didn't, because he wrote it, and it became 'Purple Rain.'" more on this story

More on Stevie Nicks - Stevie Nicks CDs, vinyl and rarities - Stevie Nicks Tour Dates/Tickets

Coheed and Cambria Moving Forward: Now Hear Their New Song
(Banana 101.5) Coheed and Cambria have gotten a lot of attention this year, unfortunately all for the wrong reasons. Perhaps the most press the band has ever received came when bassist Michael Todd was arrested for armed robbery prior to their opening gig for Soundgarden in Boston. The band swiftly replaced Todd, and while remaining sympathetic of his plight, have wasted no time in moving forward as a band.

It has recently been reported that Coheed and Cambria have already begun writing and recording the follow-up to 2010′s 'Year of the Black Rainbow'. In addition to the album, the band has contributed their cover of 'Beer Drinkers and Hellraisers' to the upcoming ZZ Top cover album — 'A Tribute From Friends' (due Oct. 11th).

Their new song 'Deranged' will be featured on the soundtrack to the upcoming video game 'Batman: Arkham City', which is set for release October 4th. Check it out here

More on Coheed and Cambria - Coheed and Cambria CDs, vinyl and rarities - Coheed and Cambria Tour Dates/Tickets

Chickenfoot Up Next With Deeply Personal Song
(hennemusic) Chickenfoot have issued the fourth episode in a new video podcast series to introduce their forthcoming album, "Chickenfoot III," due September 27.

The every-other-day video podcast series is designed to take fans behind the scenes and hear the members of Chickenfoot give background behind each song on the new project while sharing a preview clip of the track. Episode #4 features the guys talking about the album's fourth track, "Up Next." The song has special meaning to the band. "Up Next" is written for our manager, [John] Carter, who died in the middle of making this record," says Sammy Hagar. "Carter was the guy who signed me to my first record contract when I was throw out of Montrose, and produced my first four albums. Carter, dear friend, became our co-manager, and he got cancer: last minute, got it diagnosed, got operated on immediately and died. It was horrible."

"No one knew Carter was sick," continued Sammy. "No one knew he was gonna die that year, no one knew he was gonna die that month. It was so crazy that it inspired this whole song." Check it out here

More on Chickenfoot - Chickenfoot CDs, vinyl and rarities - Chickenfoot Tour Dates/Tickets

Michaele Salahi Not Kidnapped, She Ran Off With Journey Star
(TMZ) TMZ has learned ... far from being kidnapped ... Michaele Salahi has run off with Neal Schon, the lead guitarist for the band Journey.

TMZ broke the story ... Tareq called authorities several times last night and today, claiming his wife has been abducted, because she left without taking her belongings.

But now we've learned ... Michaele has been dating the rock icon, went to his show in Nashville last night and is currently with Schon in Memphis, where Journey is set to perform with Foreigner.

Scoop Marketing, the rep for Journey, confirmed with TMZ that "Nobody kidnapped her and they are in Memphis together."

We've also confirmed Michaele has dated Schon in the past, and she's called it an "intimate and passionate relationship." more on this story

More on Journey - Journey CDs, vinyl and rarities - Journey Tour Dates/Tickets

Def Leppard Show They Got Talent
(hennemusic) Def Leppard put some rock into this season's America's Got Talent finale Wednesday night.

Originally scheduled to appear a week earlier, a last-minute scheduling change moved the British rockers to this week's season-ending show, as producers had 2 hours of programming to fill (to meet advertising commitments) for about 10 legitimate minutes of content.

Leppard performed a mix/medley featuring "Rock Of Ages" and "Pour Some Sugar On Me." more on this story

More on Def Leppard - Def Leppard CDs, vinyl and rarities - Def Leppard Tour Dates/Tickets

Music Leads To Better Hearing
(Rock News Desk) A scientific study suggests people who play musical instruments throughout their lives are likely to have better hearing in their later years.

Researchers say a 70-year-old musician will have ears are strong as those of a 50-year-old non player – meaning a life in music could keep hearing 30% better than it otherwise would be.

Hearing ability is known to decline naturally with age, with as many as one in three experiencing moderate loss by their 60s, and two in three by their 80s. more on this story

More on Hearing

Jeremy Piven Honors Slash With Stones at Benefit
(TMZ) Jeremy Piven returned to the stage Tuesday night ... WITH A VENGEANCE.

Piven was tearing it up behind the drum set for a Rolling Stones tribute band in NYC ... and it was all to benefit young, recovering addicts.

The event was hosted by an organization called Road to Recovery -- and even though Piven dominated ... the entire thing was put together to honor Slash from Guns 'N Roses. more on this story

More on Slash - Slash CDs, vinyl and rarities - Slash Tour Dates/Tickets

Limo Driver Doesn't Remember Giving Reality Show Permission
(TMZ) The limo driver who sued the people behind the TV Guide reality show "Nail Files" for violating his privacy has a big problem ... in the form of a signed release form obtained by TMZ.

Fred Busby -- a limo driver -- claims he was taking the star of the show and her cameraman to LAX, when he went into a diabetic coma. Busby says the show aired the footage and portrayed him as drunk ... even though he insists he never signed a release form.

But we now have a release form that appears to show Fred's signature not once, not twice but three times.

The form states, among other things, "I recognize that my signature on this release is a condition of Company permitting me to be a guest/participant in the Programming or both"

We spoke to Fred's lawyer who tells TMZ, "My client does not recall signing any such documents"

The lawyer went on to imply that Fred may have been "incapacitated" when he was asked to sign the release, and therefore even if he did sign " it would not be enforceable" more on this story

More on Reality

Chaka Khan Wins Grandchild
(TMZ) Chaka Khan just won temporary custody of her 10-year-old granddaughter because the child's parents are drug addicts -- this according to legal docs obtained by TMZ.

Chaka filed a petition for appointment of guardianship last week -- claiming she has already "assumed on a day-to-day basis the role of the child's parent fulfilling both the child's physical and psychological needs for care and affection."

Chaka claims the child's mother -- who lives in the same house -- is incapable of caring for the girl because of a "heavy involvement in drugs."

Chaka's sister Tammy McCrary -- who was also awarded custody -- filed an additional statement in the petition, claiming Chaka's son "also uses and abuses drugs and other illegal substances."

The judge temporarily granted the petition for custody on September 6th ... and extended it today. A hearing is set for October to make it permanent. more on this story

More on Chaka Khan - Chaka Khan CDs, vinyl and rarities - Chaka Khan Tour Dates/Tickets

Snooki Swaers She's Not Obscene
(TMZ) Snooki swears she's NOT an Obscene person ... but she claims the Obscene Jeans company used her name to promote the brand anyway ... and now the MTV star is calling them out.

It's all over a press release Obscene sent out Monday -- announcing a new product placement deal with Celeb Branding, LLC to "outfit the female cast members of 'Jersey Shore' in its hottest new fashions." The statement mentions Snooki, Jwoww, Deena and Sammi by name.

But Snooki's rep claims Snooki has NOTHING to do with the company and it had no right to use her name.

The rep tells us, "The inclusion of Ms. Polizzi's name in the announcement was unauthorized. Ms. Polizzi has never been approached by the company."

It's unclear if Snooki will be pursuing legal action against the company. more on this story

Today's One Liners



One-liners: ‘Having one leg changes everything’
West on life after amputation plus Mike Portnoy and Stone Sour, BLS, Aerosmith, STP, Fleetwood Mac, Seb Bach and Kiss
Leslie West

Learning again: Leslie West

Mountain man Leslie West says he’s learning to live with one leg after he lost his lower right limb in emergency surgery to deal with an infection.

The guitarist explains: “It changes everything. I can’t just jump out of bed and go outside. It’s been different, trying to remember you have one leg. You still feel it because the nerve endings are in there. It’s called ‘phantom pain’ – you think it’s there but it’s not. I’ve had to learn how to use crutches and be in a wheelchair. But it was either my leg or my life.”

West’s new solo album Unusual Suspects is released next week, featuring appearances by Slash, Joe Bonamassa, Zakk Wylde, Billy Gibbons and Steve Lukather.

* * * * *

Former Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy will gist with another band when he covers for Stone Sour drummer Ray Mayorga at Rock in Rio on September 24.

The sticksman quit his prog-metal outfit while touring with Avenged Sevenfold last year, and recently said he loved the experience of being able to play drums without having to be involved in a band’s decision-making process.

Now he’ll repeat the feat while Mayorga attends the birth of his first daughter, due on the day of the show.

Stone Sour’s Corey Taylor says: “Having Mike fill in for one show will be great. We can’t wait ti take the stage and lay it down.”

Portnoy adds: “It’s an unexpected treat for me to get another visit with some of the greatest fans in the world down in Brazil.”

* * * * *

Chad Szeliga, formerly of Breaking Benjamin, will become Black Label Society’s fourth drummer in less than a year.

He replaces Mike Froedge, who says: “It’s not every day one gets to tour the world with a living guitar legend and his amazing band. I will never forget it.”

Szeliga comments: “Being a hired gun can be hard. If you don’t do your job you’ll be replaced instantly. You have to be hungry. You have to practice and show that you’re dedicated.”

* * * * *

Aerosmith have laid down 13 basic tracks for their strife-torn follow-up album to 2004′s Honkin’ on Bobo.

Bassist Tom Hamilton says: “The bass parts are done, subject to some adjustment in the future. The drum tracks are all done and we’re starting to do guitar overdubs. It’s fun.

“We can see and hear the album in our minds – we can kind of tell what’s going on. I like to describe it as being crunchy on the outside with a creamy centre.”

* * * * *

Stone Temple Pilots have cancelled the remaining shows of their US tour after frontman Scott Weiland was ordered to rest his vocal cords.

Dr Sid Khosla, who treated Weiland at the UC Health Voice Center in Cincinnati on Tuesday, reports: “We determined his left cord has likely scarring and his right cord is tremendously inflamed. With such a heavy concert schedule we determined Mr Weiland could potentially run the risk of a vocal haemorrhage or suffer permanent damage, hence putting him on complete vocal rest.”

* * * * *

Meanwhile, Sebastian Bach has suggested Velvet Revolver made a mistake in hiring Weiland to front the band rather than himself, after he spent a month working with them during their formation.

The ex-Skid Row man says: “They put their faith in a heroin addict. How did that work out for them? If they had picked me we’d probably still be together right now. I’m a musician like them; I’m not a junkie and not into that kind of thing.

“So they don’t have a singer – and I have a new album.”

* * * * *

Fleetwood Mac are laying plans to tour next year, although Mick Fleetwood admits the plans aren’t very sturdy.

He says: “We’re so disorganised as a band. All we know is we’re working next year. We’re all up for touring in the early summer of next year, I think, and once we start we’re much like U2 and the Stones in terms of workload – we basically play until no one wants to book us any more.”

Meanwhile, his bandmate Stevie Nicks has revealed Prince invited her to co-write the song which became Purple Rain; but the concept scared her too much.

She explains he sent her a ten-minute instrumental version of the track after the pair had discussed working together. “It was so overwhelming. I called him back and said, ‘I can’t do it. I wish I could. It’s too much for me.’

“I’m so glad that I didn’t, because he wrote it and it became Purple Rain.”

* * * * *

Kiss mainman Gene Simmons doesn’t want talk of an original lineup reunion to circulate after he met up with former bandmate Ace Frehley recently.

Simmons says: “Ace and I had a nice, friendly lunch together. It was wonderful to see him. He looked healthy and happy. Nothing else was talked about. Ace and I are both happy with our lives and are not changing anything.”

Original KISS Not Reuniting




09/15/2011
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(Rock News Desk) Kiss mainman Gene Simmons doesn't want talk of an original lineup reunion to circulate after he met up with former bandmate Ace Frehley recently.

Simmons says: "Ace and I had a nice, friendly lunch together. It was wonderful to see him. He looked healthy and happy.

"Nothing else was talked about. Ace and I are both happy with our lives and are not changing anything."

Fleetwood Mac Summer 2012 Tour Confirmed






Just about two weeks ago, Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham told fans he “wouldn’t be shocked” if there was a “tour and possibly an album” to come in 2012 from the ’70s pop/rock giants.

Following on from that conversation, band founder Mick Fleetwood has confirmed that Fleetwood Mac will play again next year.

He told Billboard.com: “We’re so disorganized as a band... All we know is we’re working next year. I’ll get a phone call that we’re going to start rehearsing – usually in a blind panic because we leave everything way too late. But we’re all up for touring in the early summer of next year, I think, and once we start we’re much like U2 and the Stones in terms of workload. We basically play until no one wants to book us anymore.”

Aerosmith Making Progress





09/15/2011
.
(hennemusic) Aerosmith continues to work on their 14th studio album with producer Jack Douglas, their first since 2004.

Bassist Tom Hamilton checks in with an update on the project in a new video message for fans. "We're finished with the basic tracks" says Tom. "We've cut 13 basics and we're gonna sit with that for the moment. The bass parts are done, subject to some adjustments in the future. The drum tracks are all done, and we're starting to do guitar overdubs. It's fun. I enjoy going down to the studio and hanging out with the other guys while Joe [Perry] and Brad [Whitford] do their work. So that's probably what we're gonna be doing for the rest of September. And then we're gonna start rehearsing and getting ready for the tour in South America and Japan, which will take us to the end of December."

"And then," continues Hamilton, "sometime between now and then, Steven's [Tyler] probably gonna start singing some vocals and then get really intense about it when we get back from Japan. We can see and hear the album in our minds; we can kind of tell what's going on. And I like to describe it as being crunchy on the outside with a creamy center."

Stone Temple Pilots Cancel Remainder Of 2011 Tour







Yet again Stone Temple Pilots have canceled the remainder of a tour because of Scott Weiland, at least this time it appears to be for legitimate reasons.

Last year STP dropped the off of their tour early after singer Scott Weiland had an exciting multiple-night run of falling off of stages and announcing to the crowd he had also fallen off the wagon. This year the band took another run at it and was receiving mostly positive reviews — all was going well…until last night.

Scott Weiland consulted with Doctor at the UC Voice Health Center prior to their show last night (Sept 13th) in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Doctors informed Weiland that he had scarring on his left vocal chord and a “tremendously inflamed” right vocal chord. The director of the UC Voice Health Center gave the following statement in regards to their orders to put Weiland on vocal rest:

“With such a heavy concert schedule and vocal activity, we determined that Mr. Weiland could potentially run the risk of a vocal hemorrhage or suffer permanent damage, hence putting him on complete vocal rest.”

The band themselves issued a statement about the final 3 shows that are effected by the doctors orders:

“STP regrettably postpones last 4 shows of the summer 2011 tour. Concho, Oklahoma already rescheduled for November 5th. STP apologizes to their fans and should have their remaining three shows rescheduled soon. And of course, refunds are available at the point of purchase.”

Dave plays through Mustaine barrier for NY show




Megadeth mainman scheduled for neck surgery after recent injury – but fronts his band for Big 4 show as planned
Dave Mustaine


Dave Mustaine fronted Megadeth for the Big 4 concert in New York last night – but admitted he was facing surgery on his neck after sustaining an injury during a recent tour.

Rumours had been rife that Megadeth might miss the last scheduled appearance of the touring event which has seen them sharing a stage with genre mates Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax since last year.

It had been said the guitarist and singer spent the last few days in hospital, suffering from pain in his shoulder following an incident on the recent Mayhem Festival US tour.

TV presenter and insider Eddie Trunk had tweeted: “Big news circulating about Big 4 Wed. Stand by for an official announcement.” He later added: “Megadeth IS scheduled to play tomorrow at Big 4. Apparently there was some concern over a back issue with Mustaine but they are on as of now.”

But Mustaine appeared as planned at the Yankee Stadium last night – then told fans he’d be going under the knife in the near future.

The Big 4 ended their show last night with a group performance of Motorhead track Overkill. Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich says there are plans for more US dates to be announced, but a full tour is unlikely.

Joe Francis Charges DROPPED in $2.5 Mil Gambling Fight





Chalk up another legal victory for Joe Francis -- a Nevada court has ruled the "Girls Gone Wild" honcho WILL NOT be prosecuted for allegedly plotting to screw Steve Wynn out of a $2.5 million gambling marker.

It all dates back to an incident in 2007 -- when Francis took out the marker at the Wynn Las Vegas ... and failed to pay it back. Wynn reported the incident to officials ... and the State of Nevada later charged Francis with theft and drawing and passing a check without sufficient funds.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, prosecutors admitted Francis HAD enough cash to cover the marker at the time -- but before Wynn tried to collect, Joe's accounts "may have been frozen by the government in connection with a federal tax prosecution."

Therefore, the court ruled prosecutors could no longer move forward with the case because they couldn't prove Joe "intended to default on the marker" ... a required element of the charged offenses.

In fact, the evidence shows Joe PROBABLY would have paid the money back ... if he could've.

TMZ spoke with Joe ... who tells us, "I think it is absolutely disgusting what Steve Wynn and his cohorts tried to do to me."

He adds, "I have now been found innocent by a Las Vegas judge and a court of law, and I am so happy to put this behind me ... but you better believe I will go after Steve Wynn personally and the Wynn casino for every dime this has cost me."

Former NFL Pro Bowler I'M DEAD BROKE ... and Living with My Parents



Former NFL Pro Bowler
I'M DEAD BROKE
... and Living with My Parents



Former NFL bad ass Chris McAlister -- who signed a $55 MILLION contract in 2004 -- claims he's BROKE AS A JOKE and living with his parents ... this according to court docs obtained by TMZ.

The ex-Baltimore Ravens defensive superstar has just filed new documents in his child support war with his ex-wife Marlene in the hopes of lowering his $11,000 per month obligation.

In the docs, Chris -- a 1st round NFL draft pick in 1999 who played in the league for 10 years -- states, "I have been unemployed since 2009. I have no income."

He adds, "I live in my parent's home. My parents provide me with my basic living expenses as I do not have the funds to do so."

McAlister was a KEY member of the Ravens when they won the Super Bowl in 2000 ... and even got himself an interception during the big game.

McAlister was only married to Marlene for 13 months -- but she claims Chris ended the relationship in 2009 when she got pregnant and refused to get an abortion.

Tareq Salahi "Devastated" by Wife's Liaison With Journey Guitarist





Tareq Salahi is telling friends, he feels "betrayed" by Journey guitarist Neal Schon, a trusted friend who has hooked up -- again -- with his wife, Michaele.

Tareq is saying he considered Neal and his band members "best friends." The band recently came to his winery in Virginia and played for free and even stayed with Tareq and Michaele.

And there's more. Two weeks ago, Tareq and Michaele went to a Journey concert in Virginia and hung backstage with Neal and a woman named Ava, whom Tareq believes is Neal's wife.

Tareq has been crying hysterically, saying he feels as if his life is over because Michaele is all he lived for.

TMZ broke the story ... contrary to Tareq's belief that his wife had been kidnapped, Michaele was hooking up with Neal in Tennessee, bouncing from Journey concert to Journey concert.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Lita Ford: “Eddie Van Halen is The Les Paul of Today’s World”




Tuesday, 13 September 2011

Lita Ford from The Runaways contributed to the upcoming hardcover photo book, Eddie Van Halen, by Neil Zlozower.

The Van Halen News Desk has the exclusive on Lita’s quote in the book, below.

In the very early days, the Runaways and Van Halen musically grew up together on the Sunset Strip. Edward was my friend. I’d go to his house after a night of partying, and we would say “Hi” to his mom, and he’d make me breakfast by opening a packet of Carnation Instant Breakfast (mix with milk and drink your breakfast, chocolate or vanilla).

Edward had no time in his life for anything unless it was for sex or rock ’n’ roll. He didn’t even have an ignition switch in his car. He just said, “Fuck, I don’t need a key,” and he would put these wires together, and off we went in his piece of trash vehicle with an AMAZING stereo system, on which he played me “Running with the Devil.” I was blown away by how awesome and rockin’ it sounded! Good ol’ straight-in-your-face rock ’n’ roll, no bells and whistles. Not watered down with tons of guitar overdubs and tons of keyboards, as we just came out of the Boston era. Boston was cool, but extremely produced. back-to-basics three-piece rock ’n’ roll. Everyone was too busy trying to figure out how to outdo each other, while Edward would just DO IT! No questions asked!!! Just fuckin’ DO IT!

He was a great inspiration to me. You know how sometimes people say things to you that you carry with you for years, and that change your life forever? I was stuck in a world where not too many people listened to girls playing guitar. I didn’t know what I was capable of doing, especially having been fresh from the Runaways, which was an uphill battle. One day Edward said to me, “Lita, you can play guitar, what’s your fuckin’ problem, just DO IT!!!” Something so simple coming out of the mouth of Edward Van Halen was like an electric charge of energy going through my brain. Suddenly, my life became so clear and simple. Hey, it’s not an issue that you’re a chick. So what? Just fuckin’ DO IT! What are you waiting for? Approval? Fuck them!!! Just be yourself!!!

We all know EVH is the Les Paul of today’s world. We all know Edward changed the face of rock ’n’ roll. But it’s the person that he truly is that makes him so unique. He is an inspiration to every musician, because we all wanna be him, and some of us try real hard, but the reality of it is that there is only ONE Edward Van Halen!!! PERIOD! What makes him tick? Good question! But whatever it is, they honestly did break the mold after they made Edward!!! I love you, buddy friend! God bless you and your family! Thanks for rockin’ my world!!!

—Lita Ford

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.

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