Today's Day In Rock!

Bayside Singer Hospitalized- More Pink Floyd Rarities Coming?- Mars Volta Preview- New Ratt This Summer- Dance Gavin Dance Guest Singers- Tommy Bolin and Friends

(The 1st Five) Bayside vocalist Anthony Raneri has had to drop off two of the final four dates of the ongoing Where's The Band tour. He does not know if he'll be able to play the final two dates yet. Here's his statement. "I've spent the last 24 hours in the hospital in Orange County. I had an infection in my finger that spread through my hand."more
(FMQB) EMI has been rolling out its massive Pink Floyd reissue campaign, under the banner Why Pink Floyd...?, since September. Now, February 28 marks the release of The Wall's expanded "Immersion" and "Experience" editions, which is the last scheduled title in the Why Pink Floyd? series. Hence, discussions are turning to what else can be culled from the band's archives. For instance, drummer Nick Mason says he'd like to see a package covering Pink Floyd's early years rather than expanding one particular album. And that's not all that is being discussed. More here

(Antiquiet) The Mars Volta are returning to our ears with Noctourniquet, their sixth album, on March 27. Listen to a preview of The Malkin Jewel, which will drop February 13th, here

(Bravewords) Dave Castagno from Radio Screamer spoke with RATT drummer Bobby Blotzer at the 2012 NAMM show which was held in Anaheim, California recently. About the band's upcoming studio album he said that "we started a few weeks ago. We're in pre-production and it will be out in August." more

(House of Rock) Classic Rock magazine is reporting that although the late guitar wizard Tommy Bolin passed away at the age of 25 in 1976, a new album is set for release out March 26. 'Great Gypsy Soul' features features outtakes and alternate versions of his solo material, with current musicians playing and singing along to Bolin's own guitar and vocal recordings. The high profile list includes contributions from Peter Frampton, Joe Bonamassa, Warren Haynes, Steve Lukather, Glenn Hughes, Brad Whitford, Derek Trucks and many others more

(The 1st Five) Dance Gavin Dance have released a statement regarding the ongoing and frankly depressing saga of vocalist Jonny Craig. " As some of you have heard today, Jonny Craig will not be doing the upcoming tour with Dance Gavin Dance. Jonny is very sick right now, and needs to do what he can to get better.... For this upcoming tour with A lot Like Birds, we will be joined by Kurt Travis and Matt Geise to fill in on vocals" They also have a special first time treat for fans on the tour. Details here.

(FMQB) Anthrax and In This Moment have been added to this year's Rock On The Range lineup more

(Lambgoat) Red Fang will headline a spring tour of Europe with support from Black Tusk. more

(SRX) Accept guitarist Herman Frank is almost finished his second solo album, the follow-up record to the debut from 2009, 'Loyal To None'. more

(Lambgoat) Ex Deo has dropped off the PaganFest: America Part III tour, which will kick off in late-March and is being headlined by Turisas. more


Lost Stone Temple Pilots Clip Now Online
(Banana 101.5) Stone Temple Pilots attempted to shoot two music videos for their 2010 single 'Cinnamon,' neither version was released but one of them recently surfaced online.

The third single from the album was the breezy summertime love song 'Cinnamon,' for which the band had planned to release a music video.

They were reportedly unhappy with the first attempt and went through with shooting a second video, which they also did not like. Both versions were shelved and the video was ultimately abandoned. Thanks to the wonderful interweb we can now see their second version of the video here.

Bret Michaels Solo CD Features Def Leppard, Loretta Lynn and Jimmy Buffet
Bret Michaels is filling his upcoming solo album 'Get Your Rock On' with special guests including Loretta Lynn, Jimmy Buffet, Def Leppard's Phil Collen and My Darkest Days' Sal Costa.

Bret turned heads when he did a duet of the Poison hit 'Every Rose Has It's Thorn,' with Miley Cyrus and he's going country with song again, this time teaming up with country legend Loretta Lynn.

Loudwire reports: 'Get Your Rock On' will feature several other guests appearances too including Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen lending his playing skills on the title track along with Sal Costa from My Darkest Days. The album also features a live version of 'Margaritaville,' performed with the margarita man himself, Jimmy Buffet. more on this story

E Street Band Recruit Clarence Clemons' Nephew
(Gibson) Jake Clemons, the nephew of late E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons, will be touring with Bruce Springsteen this year.

Jake will be handling sax duties as part of a five-piece horn section that is joining Bruce and the E Streeters during their Wrecking Ball tour, according to Rolling Stone. It's not yet clear if Jake and the other players will perform with The Boss during his Grammy Awards appearance on Sunday.

The news resolves the speculation over how (or if) the band would attempt to fill the shoes of the "Big Man," who died last year. The horn section will include Jake, Clark Gayton (trombone), Curt Ramm (trumpet), Barry Danielian (trumpet) and Eddie Manion (saxophone). more on this story



Ozzy Osbourne May Receive Hometown Honor
(hennemusic) Birmingham city councilors have been reviewing a report called Destination Birmingham, part of an effort to recognize the contributions and success of local musicians while boosting tourism in the region.

During discussions this week, the Birmingham Mail reports councilors have also suggested that Ozzy Osbourne be given the city's highest honor: Freedom of the City of Birmingham.

Council head of children's social services Matt Bennett made his call for the honor, saying, "I studied in Liverpool and they do know how to make the most of their music. Yes they have The Beatles but they do like to go on and on about it. So I say give Ozzy Osbourne the Freedom of the City. He is the most famous Brummie on the planet. A few years ago he played for the Queen, and if he is good enough for the Queen he is good enough for Birmingham." more on this story

Six Feet Under Lose Member
Six Feet Under have had yet another lineup change. Instead of announcing that they have recruited someone else from Chimaira, they tell fans they are losing someone they recruited from Chimaira.

Matt DeVries (ex- Chimaira), who replaced Terry Butler last year, has decided to depart the band to pursue other musical endeavors, the band said in a statement.

Details on who will be stepping in as the permanent bassist will be announced in the coming months, according to the band.

Bravewords.com have a statement from frontman Chris Barnes that you can read here.

Career Spanning Grateful Dead DVD Box Set Coming
Shout! Factory have set an April 17th release date for a new 14-DVD Grateful Dead box set called All The Years Combine: The DVD Collection.

The label sent over these details: Conceived as the ultimate tribute to the band's legendary on-stage prowess, the set includes 12 concert films; a 40-page booklet containing rare photos and new liner notes by Blair Jackson; and all bonus features from previous releases of the DVDs in the set.

As a special treat for fans, it also includes an exclusive bonus disc containing five previously unreleased live performances from the Grateful Dead archive, Backstage Pass, the 1992 documentary directed by Justin Kreutzmann, and a brand-new interview with Grateful Dead archivist David Lemieux. more on this story

Ringo Starr's 13th All Starr Band Tour Dates
Yesterday we told you the initial details about Ringo Starr's 13th All Starr Band tour and today we have more details and the dates.

The tour will launch June 14, 2012 from Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, Ontario and conclude July 21, 2012 at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, California. New to the All Starrs are Steve Lukather (Toto) and Gregg Rolie (Santana & Journey) who will join All Starr alumni Richard Page, Todd Rundgren, Mark Rivera, and Gregg Bissonette.

The tour is being produced by Dave Hart and as always fans can expect to hear a jukebox worth of hits. Ringo classic's such as "It Don't Come Easy", "Photograph", "Little Help >From My Friends", "Yellow Submarine" and "Wings," from Starr's just released 17th solo record, Ringo 2012 (Hip-O/Ume). All Starr's hits include "Rosanna," "Broken Wings," "Hello It's Me," "Black Magic Woman." more on this story

Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy To Tribute Hubert Sumlin
(Gibson) Keith Richards has never been shy about sharing his influences, and going back years, he's always tipped his hat to blues great Hubert Sumlin, the late guitarist who most famously played with Howlin' Wolf.

Now, Richards has joined the lineup at an all-star show to be held in Sumlin's honor, according to Ultimate Classic Rock.

In addition to the Rolling Stones legend, the concert will feature Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Dr. John and Susan Tedeschi. It's scheduled for February 24 at New York City's Apollo Theater. The show will benefit the Jazz Foundation of America. more on this story



Jack White and Tom Jones Tribute Howlin' Wolf
(hennemusic) Jack White has teamed up with Tom Jones for a cover of Howlin' Wolf's classic track, "Evil."

The song is part of White's Third Man Records label's 'Blue Series', and will be backed by a new version of Jones' 2002 Frankie Lane cover, "Jezebel."

100 limited edition Tri Color 7"s will be available at Spillers in Cardiff, Wales ("The Oldest Record Shop In The World") on the UK release date of Saturday, March 3rd. Listen to it here.

Black Sabbath Day Backed By Culture Chief
(hennemusic) A proposed Black Sabbath Day in the band's hometown of Birmingham is getting support from the city's Culture Chief.

The Birmingham Mail reports Council cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture Martin Mullaney has backed a series of recommendations in the Destination Birmingham report on the city's music industry and heritage published earlier this week.

The day would celebrate the rockers' reunion this summer, despite the withdrawal last week of original drummer Bill Ward. more on this story

Sammy Hagar To Rum America
(hennemusic) Sammy Hagar launched his Beach Bar Rum in Hawaii back in November, and now he says he'll be introducing it in the States this month.

"Redheads - I can't tell you how excited I am that my Beach Bar Rum is finally coming to the mainland starting in the middle of February!," writes Hagar on his blog.

"After that, it'll be picking up through March into other states and just keep your eye on sammysbeachbarrum.com for the latest news! And if you want to know when it'll be available where you are, just go to www.sammysbeachbarrum.com and fill out a postcard if you don't see your state yet." more on this story

Dave Grohl Sings Adele's Praises
(Gibson) Foo Fighters singer Dave Grohl is crushing on Adele. At least, it seems that way. The grunge vocalist, songwriter and drummer recently said that he feels "honored" to be competing with the 21 singer at the Grammy Awards this weekend. Its' a sign, he says, that the Foos are doing something right. As if he needed a sign!

"I'm glad that we're with Adele in the same category," Grohl told the AP. "It means we've done something right. I think she gives us all hope. She's made an incredible record, and she's an incredibly talented artist, so maybe it is true that the cream actually rises to the top… It's good. It's inspiring when something legitimate gets recognized for what it is. It's such a cliché, but it's a huge achievement to be nominated."

When Grohl hits the Staples Center in Los Angeles this Sunday, February 12, for the show, don't expect him to feel self-conscious that he's one of the more mature guys in the room. "It feels great to be the guy with gray hair in his beard who is still invited to these things," Grohl said. "Twenty years ago, I never thought I'd even have a career in music this long." more on this story



Miracles, Crickets and Other Famed Backing Bands To Rock The Hall
(Gibson) Behind many great rock groups is a backing group of talented players, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is making up for past omissions by inducting the backing groups of six first-generation rock stars at this year's ceremony.

The to-be-inducted groups include The Miracles (Smokey Robinson), The Blue Caps (Gene Vincent), The Comets (Bill Haley), The Crickets (Buddy Holly), The Famous Flames (James Brown) and The Midnighters (Hank Ballard).

Why did the Hall pinpoint these specific groups? Well, for each of the chosen inductees, the backing group didn't get into the Hall of Fame when their frontman did, which often caused a good amount of controversy and eyebrow raising. The Hall simply wants to set the record straight and honor the groups that have backed some of music's biggest legends.

The six groups will finally get their due April 14 at Cleveland's Public Hall at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's annual awards ceremony. "These Inductees are pioneers in the development of the music we call rock and roll," Rock and Roll Hall of Fame president and CEO Joel Peresman said in a release. "As part of our mission to recognize the most impactful, innovative and influential artists in rock, the committee brought forth these six groups that belong in the Hall of Fame." more on this story



Prong New Album Details
(Freeman) Prong will release their new album, Carved Into Stone, on April 24th in North America on Long Branch Records.

The band has also unveiled the album artwork and tracklisting for the album. The artwork was created by Vance Kelly (Down, The Sword)

Prong will be touring throughout 2012 supporting their forthcoming release Carved Into Stone. The initial dates have been confirmed, including two shows supporting Bay Area Thrashers Testament in February, followed by a string of headlining gigs in March. More dates will be announced shortly. more on this story

Evile To Tribute David Gold This Weekend
Evile will play their song, "In Memoriam", live for the first time ever this weekend in memory of Woods Of Ypres frontman David Gold, who tragically passed away on 22nd December.

Evile will be performing at the HMV Ritz in Manchester, UK this Saturday, 11th February with Cerebral Bore and Savage Messiah as part of HMV's Next Big Thing, where Woods Of Ypres were also originally scheduled to perform. Evile have revealed that they will be performing "In Memoriam" - which is taken from the band's new album, Five Serpent's Teeth - as a tribute to their fallen labelmate.

Evile lead guitarist Ol Drake has issued the following statement: "We were all deeply saddened to hear the news of Woods of Ypres' mastermind David Gold passing away. Their obvious cancellation of the Manchester show left a big hole in the lineup I was so looking forward to seeing and being a part of. We've been thinking of airing 'In Memoriam' live for a while, so we'd like to not only play the song for our own reasons, but to also play it at the upcoming Manchester show in memory of David."

Van Halen Release TV Commercial
(hennemusic) Van Halen released their new album, "A Different Kind Of Truth," on Tuesday.

Van Halen have released their TV commercial for the album, which also plugs the band's 2012 tour – that kicks off February 18 in Louisville, Kentucky.

The project has the weight and distinction of being the first new VH music in 8 years; the band's first new album in 14 years, the first new music with David Lee Roth in 16 years, first new album with Roth in 28 years, and the first recordings with bassist Wolfgang VH. Check out the ad here.

Clutch Releasing Double Vinyl Edition Of Blast Tyrant
Clutch have set a February 28th release date for the double vinyl edition of their Blast Tyrant album.

This 180+ gram expanded vinyl contains 16 songs and includes six mini-posters taken straight from Blast Tyrant's "Atlas of the Invisible World".

Each illustrated poster is sized (8.5" x 11") and depicts one of the various characters featured within the Blast Tyrant storyline. more on this story

Viral Hardcore Kids Video Battle
(hennemusic) Last month, an 8-year-old Australian girl named Juliet caused an online buzz when she posted "My First Hardcore Song."

The 1 minute clip was intense, with Juliet ranting and raving about her dog, Robert, and how her pet fish smell.

The clip has already racked up almost 2 million views in its first 24 hours online and is now close to 20 million views.

Now, a 6-year-old Florida kid named Jacob has issued a response video, also called "My First Hardcore Song." Watch both here.

Tombs Expand Tour Plans
Tombs will follow their current North American tour with a European headlining tour with Hierophant in support of their latest release Path of Totality, which was released in 2011 on Relapse Records.

Freeman Promotions sent over list of confirmed dates can be found below including recently announced North American shows, an appearance at the Relapse Records Scion Showcase and this year's Roadburn Festival in Tillburg, Holland.

Tombs frontman Mike Hill commented on the band's Roadburn Appearance and European tour: "We're honored to be part of Roadburn this year. Personally, I'm stoked to be going not only as a dude that plays in a band, but as a fan of extreme music. We're also looking forward to travelling with Hierophant, the shows are going to be a blast." more on this story

Dio Inspired American Idol's James Durbin
(hennemusic) James Durbin recently sat down with Revolver magazine to talk about his debut album, "Memories Of A Beautiful Disaster," and his original heavy metal inspiration.

"The first time I heard metal was driving in my mom's car, and I heard 'Holy Diver' by DIO," Durbin said. "My jaw basically hit the floor of the car. Wow!"

"Ronnie [James Dio] was such a force in metal, and it just really made me wanna push my limits," continued James. "He had such a beautifully operatic voice, but was able to transcend genres and transcend barriers and transcend age. There were the old, haggard dudes who hang out at the Rainbow [Bar & Grill in Hollywood], he affected those people and he affected young kids like me." Check out the video here

Maps & Atlases Set New Album Release
(BH) Barsuk Records have set an April 17th release date for Maps & Atlases' sophomore album Beware and Be Grateful.

The album - which follows the Chicago-based band's acclaimed 2010 debut, Perch Patchwork - was recorded last year in a series of week-long sessions at Omaha's ARC Studios with producer Jason Cupp (Nurses, Good Old War) once again behind the board.

The band released a teaser trailer for the album, featuring the track "Remote And Dark Years," available at www.mapsandatlases.org. The band is also heading to South By Southwest in Austin, TX, and have just announced a string of Midwest dates before and after the festival as well as dates in Europe and the UK in April. A full headlining US tour starting in May will be announced shortly. more on this story

Iwrestledabearonce Get Warped
Iwrestledabearonce have announced they will be taking part in this summer's Warped Tour where they will be along for the full ride.

"After how much fun we had in 2010, we're beyond stoked to head out on Warped again!" says guitarist Steven Bradley.

"Warped crowds are amazing and doing signings every day and meeting everybody rules. Cannot wait!" more on this story

We Are Augustines To Rock Letterman
We Are Augustines will make their network television debut on The Late Show With David Letterman on Friday, February 24.

The band will be performing "Chapel Song," the opener to their debut album, Rise Ye Sunken Ships.

We Are Augustines are also confirmed as support for Band of Skulls' upcoming North American headline tour. more on this story

More on We Are Augustines - We Are Augustines Music - We Are Augustines Tour Dates/Tickets - We Are Augustines CDs, vinyl and rarities
The Temper Trap Coming To America
The Temper Trap are returning to North America this March to play a handful of intimate club dates in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York.

The trip will also include a stop in Austin at SXSW where the band will debut new music from their upcoming sophomore release due this spring on Glassnote/Columbia Records in the U.S.

The Temper Trap garnered critical acclaim and commercial success with their 2009 debut 'Conditions,' which spawned the hit singles 'Sweet Disposition,' 'Love Lost,' 'Science of Fear' and 'Fader.' more on this story

Merrell Fankhauser Releases Best Of The Tiki Lounge DVDs
(Glass Onyon) The godfather of surf music, Merrell Fankhauser, has released 'Best Of The Tiki Lounge' volumes 1&2 DVDs, featuring performances from his famed TV show 'Tiki Lounge', on UK's Gonzo MultiMedia.

Merrell Fankhauser is considered one of the main innovators of surf music and psychedelic folk rock, and is widely known as the leader of the instrumental surf group The Impacts who had the international hit "Wipeout". His travels from Hollywood to his 15 year jungle experience on the island of Maui have been documented in numerous music books and magazines in the US and Europe. Merrell has gained legendary international status throughout the field of rock music; his credits include over 250 songs published and released.

Merrell Fankhauser has presented a number of television programs over the years including 'California Music', 'Route 66 TV Live', and in 2001 he began hosting a music show called 'Tiki Lounge' that airs on the California Central Coast, Southern California, Hawaii and parts of the East Coast. 'The Best Of The Tiki Lounge' volumes 1&2 feature highlights from Merrell's cable TV show. Volume One features Merrell performing alongside other music artists, such as Willie Nelson, Randy California, Dick Dale and Nicky Hopkins. The DVD also includes clips from Merrell's Birthday Boogie with Mary Ramsey of 10.000 Maniacs, Fito De La Parra of Canned Heat, Ed Cassidy of Spirit and many others! Joined once again by former Spirit drummer Ed Cassidy, along with John Cipollina, Mark Tullin and others, the 'Best Of The Tiki Lounge' Volume Two features new original songs by Fankhauser, including "The Whole Day Ahead of Us". Also in this volume, Merrell takes an expedition into the Nevada desert to the edge of the secret airbase Area 51 in search of UFOs.


Remembering Sweet's Brian Connolly
(Gibson) On this day in 1997, Brian Connolly, singer with the 1970s glam rock group Sweet, died of kidney and liver failure at age 47. Connolly replaced Ian Gillan (later of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath) in Wainwright's Gentlemen, who became Sweetshop and then shortened their name to Sweet. Gibson takes a look back:

Perhaps no band embodied glam rock, at least visually, more than Sweet (or The Sweet, depending on which circa 1971 teenybopper you're talking to). With tight jumpsuits, bright and heavy guitars and uncomfortably high harmonies, Sweet were a staple of early '70s music programs. And at the front of the stage was an impossibly blonde singer named Brian Connolly.

Connolly was born on October 5, 1945 under the humblest of circumstances in the Govanhill district of Glasgow, Scotland. His mother was a teenage waitress who was abandoned by Connolly's father. By the age of two, he was living in foster care and was raised under their family name of McManus. His new family gave him love and stability in his growing years — and fostered his love of music, as he often sang around the house in lieu of a television.

At the age of twelve, Brian's family moved to Harefield, Middlesex, England. It was here that he got his start as a musician, a path he pursued in earnest when he finished school. Having learned the identity of his mother around the age of 18, he took her family name of Connolly just as he was gaining a reputation for himself around town as a high-powered singer. After bumping around the North London scene for a bit, he finally found a home in an R&B-flavored band called Wainwright's Gentlemen, who were seeking a replacement for their departed singer, the future Deep Purple legend Ian Gillan.

In early 1968, Connolly and drummer Mick Tucker left Wainwright's Gentlemen for brighter pastures. They formed their own band, called The Sweetshop, bringing in Steve Priest from The Army to play bass and a friend of Tucker's, Frank Torpey, to play guitar. The group caught fire on the London club scene and quickly got a record deal with Fontana. On the eve of their first recording, they learned of another band recording under the name The Sweetshop, so they shortened their own moniker to The Sweet (or just, Sweet). more on this story



Singled Out: Lillian Axe's Caged In
Today Steve Blaze from Lillian Axe tells us about the new singled "Caged In" from their forthcoming new album "XI: The Days Before Tomorrow" (which comes out on Feb 14th). Here is the story:

Caged In is the single at radio now which is a bit ironic. Everyone is telling me how modern and hip this song is , yet it was written about 14 years ago. I have really bad road rage, the kind that makes me want to become a traffic officer and chase bad drivers down like a highway superhero. I also have a bad temper, but it only surfaces at the end of a very long fuse. I have great patience until that occurs.

"Caged In" was written about trying to curb that temper and the difficulties of ignoring stupidity. It addresses those moments in life that cause us to feel as though we are about to explode from frustration. I wanted to create the feel of a locomotive running nonstop from start to finish. The vocal harmonies are not your standard style which adds to the mood of confusion and mental instability. During the bridge sections there is a line that says" I'm in your mind and I like it there." That was a strange effect put there by Richard and Sylvia to give it that uncanny sound like a tine weird voice in the back of one's head. I used the word Manimal in the choruses to represent the human/animal essence of anger and rage. We did our best to put the guitars right in your face to make the listener need a breathe of air at the end of the song. It's a great song to play live as well. But fear not, I am a peaceful man, as long as you don't blow by me on the highway doing 120.

VAN HALEN LIGHT UP LA ONCE AGAIN:

Van Halen took to the LA Forum tonight to play out a full dress rehearsal of their 2012 show, to a crowd of invited friends, fans and industry folk. And of course I had a contact planted in the crowd. Photos of the event are below. The set list for the night was: You Really Got Me, Running With The Devil, She's The Woman, Somebody Get Me A Doctor, Tattoo, Everybody Wants Some, Beautiful Girls, Ice Cream Man, China Town, Dance The Night Away, Hot For Teacher, Blood And Fire, Guitar Solo, Panama, Jump.

I'm told that isn't the full setlist, this show going just 69 minutes. Among the special guests in attendance were long time friend Steve Lukather, who tweeted: "Van Halen KILLED IT! I had some tears.. Those that know, know we have some history. It was SO good. Ed'd back !! The whole band was awesome"; and Slash, who added: "Van Halen was killer tonight at the Forum. Eddie was brilliant. So amazing to hear/watch."

Here's a few thoughts from my guy at the show: "Background vocals are pretty stellar! Vocal intro (for Tattoo) piped in from board...DLR with a headset mic from the start of Ice Cream Man, but headset mic blows. Acapella break in middle of Dance The Night Away. UNREAL vocals from Wolfie and Eddie. EVH was incredible; vocals + guitar. Wolfie was strong on bass; very impressed with his vocals. I kept looking to see if he was activating vocals with a pedal and I can say he was NOT. And what can one say about Alex? Still unreal behind the kit."



And the latest words of wisdom from David Lee Roth appeared in Australian press today:

www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/inteview-with-van-halens-david-lee-roth.

This legendary rocker is back with Van Halen and barking mad about dogs, writes Cameron Adams.
Since we last saw you you've become a dog trainer.
Well on the insurance form they're called "canine athletes". We train dogs for cattle and sheep herding. They're very different. Sheep are a lot like supermodels - they bunch together, they rattle very easily. You want to keep the dog 10-15m out or they act like girls at a nightclub: "OMG, he's looking!" Cattle are like drunks at a hockey game - two will want to fight: "Who are you and what's with your badge?"
Two of them will be like: "Leave them alone, let's go see the game." Another one is lost: "Where'd you guys go?" The dog has to deal with all of that. You work them off a whistle. It's the original video game.

Do you get recognised by people in the dog world?
If you work with livestock, if you wear jeans to work, don't tell me you don't know Van Halen. That's an in for me. I'm wildly enthusiastic about dog handling, it gives me an entree to travel the world. My dog Mike will enable me to travel to the UK and Ireland. I'll come in dead last, make no mistake, but it's life outside of the showbiz circle. It's international and noisy and a little dirt under the fingernail adds a little to the sandwich.

You're back fronting Van Halen and have made A Different Kind of Truth, your first album with them since 1984. Was it important not to just tour and play old songs?
Nostalgia is a form of denial. I love denial. I like selective amnesia, too. Mix the two and you've got a hell of a weekend. However, in terms of aiming the starship there, nah, retromania is not a great destination.

Recording the album took so long your Australian tour last year was cancelled. What was it like in the studio? There's a history of tension between you and Eddie Van Halen.
It was like a stand off in a Chuck Norris movie. We each had the laser dot on everybody's forehead waiting for the other guy to blink. Except for Wolfie, he had a Super Soaker ...

Yes, Eddie Van Halen's son Wolfgang is on bass now. What's it like being in a band with a 20-year-old?
I'm starting to be impressed by the kid. I didn't want to be. He can play the s--- out of that thing. He's bringing it. We never changed. We're a '70s hard rock band. We enjoyed our fame in the '80s but all our roots are pre-'80s. That's Van Halen. Old plus new. It's like watching Dragnet on your iPad.

How are you and Eddie getting on?
If Ed and I can get along then world peace can have a chance. There's sparks, there's energy, there's a team enthusiasm closer to pirates than little league. There's still some pillaging going on there. You can hear it in the music. There's routinely conflict but there's a lot of laughter. A lot of appreciation for the privilege of the job; compared to some of the other jobs we've all held, this is better. In one of the songs I say, 'I've been rich and I've been poor, rich is better'. It's totally better.

How do you describe the chemistry between you and Eddie? It's led to you leaving the band a few times.
Our form of sparks will be in the first sentence of our mutual obituaries. These are the songs and messages that have brought a smile to a thousand hips. Maybe that's our only responsibility as artists. You must delight. I don't care if you're running with a football in a screaming stadium or playing a solo violin in a concert hall, you must delight. We treasure that responsibility more than ever. You see it in the handshakes. The smiles are genuine. We individually idle somewhere between pissed off and not too pissed off in terms of anger. When you get too happy that's a different band. That's a vacation.

What was it like seeing Van Halen when Sammy Hagar or Gary Cherone was frontman?
When you change the engine, you have a whole different form of transportation. Any similarity between the reality of some of the other vocalists and mine is purely coincidental.

In your most recent stint away from Van Halen you worked as an emergency medical technician in New York. Tell us about that.
I pushed an ambulance for three summers. That right there provides a whole new view of the world around me. It was crystallising. Galvanising. I was in and out of the projects. When you hear Jay-Z rap about Marcy Projects ... been there. Life loves those who love life. That's what I ran into in the blue uniform. When I pursued it even further into aviation and dog handling, I recognise the similarities more than the differences. But hey man, no metaphysics until happy hour!

OK, it's Van Halen's 40th anniversary this year.
That's some distance in a business where three-and-a-half summers is the requisite career. We're 40 summers at this camp. They made me a counsellor this time.
There's not much here I don't know how to do. I know how to make the pancakes, get the kayaks ready. I do the camp fires arguably the best.

Can you see yourself in Van Halen long-term this time around?
It's a revised spirit, it's a real band. However temporary it may be there's a real core of strength, an integrity to the band. An obsessiveness to it that will ring true at least for the rest of this tour. To promise anything beyond that, I don't know. That kind of friction and back and forth solicits the best. In the battle of the bands, we actually are a battle of the bands in one band.

Today's Day In Rock!

Van Halen Vs Adele
Van Halen return this week with 'A Different Kind of Truth,' their first studio album with David Lee Roth since '1984' (the year and the album) and the band have a chance to score their sixth No 1 album, but Adele stands in the way.
During a normal week the pace of the sales of Van Halen's new album, projected to be in the 180,000 to 200,000 range, would secure them the top spot, but Adele may put up a big fight with some major exposure this week from the Grammy Awards according to Billboard.biz.

However, that exposure comes late in the week when Adele performs at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, her first performance since vocal surgery, and the chart dominating singer is also up for six Grammys. She'll also get a boost with an interview on a high profile news magazine program. So despite the Grammy bump, Van Halen have a good shot at the top spot this week but read the Billboard report for more details here.


Sharon Osbourne Addresses Black Sabbath Controversy
(Rock News Desk) Sharon Osbourne insists she has nothing to do with the contact scuffles threatening to disrupt Black Sabbath's reunion album.

Drummer Bill Ward this week announced he was ready to pull out of the project, because after a year of negotiation he still hadn't been offered a contract he regarded as "signable". As rumors flew he'd be replaced with Ozzy Osbourne's sticksman Tommy Clufetos, Ward criticised Sabbath's management for failing to respect his contribution to the metal giants' legacy.

That's led many to the conclusion that Sharon Osbourne, daughter of infamous rock impresario Don Arden, is behind the disagreements. But last night she stated via Facebook: "I am not in any position to hire or fire anyone in Black Sabbath. I don't manage the band, I manage my husband." more on this story


New Slipknot Album Not Coming Soon
(Banana 101.5) Slipknot fans have been clamoring for a new album for a couple of years now but recent comments from drummer Shawn 'Clown' Crahan indicate that recording is not likely to begin before 2013.

Slipknot have been grieving the loss of bassist Paul Gray since his tragic passing 2010 and have been very vocal about the fact that they are not ready to record yet. It took the band a good amount of time to return to the stage after Gray's death — they eventually reunited for a few shows overseas last summer. Despite their plans to tour North America this year, drummer Clown told Kerrang that they are still working through the grief:

"After [the tour], we'll probably take some time off. It could be a month, it could be a couple of months, maybe even a year. After that time, I'll be over the immediate grieving process for Paul. I'll never be alright with it, but that's going to be enough time to get focused." more on this story


Beach Boys Reunion Kick Off at The Grammys
(Gibson) The Beach Boys will officially begin their 50th anniversary reunion celebration with a performance at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 12 in Los Angeles. The group has something special planned and will collaborate with younger rockers Maroon 5 and Foster the People, according to Rolling Stone.

Surviving Boys Mike Love, Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks will play together on stage for the first time in more than two decades. No word yet on what songs the band are set to perform, much less if they'll be mashing up Beach Boys classics with Maroon 5 and Foster the People hits.

The show, taking place at the Staples Center, will be broadcast 8 p.m. (ET) Sunday on CBS. Later this year, The Beach Boys have plans for an anniversary tour and album release. more on this story




Aerosmith and Stephen King Collaboration Suggested
(Gibson) The worlds of rock and roll and literary horror may be colliding on the new Aerosmith album. Jack Douglas, who's helming the classic rockers' upcoming record, told Classic Rock magazine that he suggested an unlikely collaborator for frontman Steven Tyler. Douglas told the label that legendary author Stephen King could help Tyler get his creative juices flowing.

"They looked at me like I was crazy. I said, 'No, I'm serious. If there's anyone who's going to inspire him, it'd be Stephen King,'" Douglas reported. "Steven doesn't need melody – he needs someone who's going to inspire him as a wordsmith. I don't want a guy who's just writing hits right now."

There's no word if the two Steves are indeed working together, although their shared Boston connection might break the ice. King is a massive Red Sox fan and Aerosmith got their start in the city.

Elsewhere in the interview, Douglas (who also produced Aerosmith's '70s classics Get Your Wings, Toys in the Attic and Rocks) said that Aerosmith have recorded 15 tracks for the new album, and have plans to lay down at least one more. more on this story




Killswitch Engage Made Jesse Leach Audition
Killswitch Engage didn't just ask their original frontman Jesse Leach to rejoin the band after the departure of Howard Jones, they made him audition.

The band posted a new group photo with Leach on their website earlier this week, alerting fans to the reunion and now they have sent out official word about Leach's return:

Leach sang on the band's first self-titled album, which came out in 2000, and on their landmark 2002 Roadrunner debut Alive or Just Breathing. Leach left the band in 2002 and was replaced by Howard Jones, but his work on Alive or Just Breathing has always been revered by diehard, longtime KsE fans. Things have come full circle a decade later, and Leach and the band couldn't be more pleased about this reunion.

The band revealed that Leach auditioned for the job he once held and pretty much blew everyone away and then some. The band stated, "After much deliberation and careful consideration, we are pleased to announce that Jesse Leach has rejoined Killswitch Engage. Our job was to find the best person to fill Howard's shoes: a decision based on talent and not familiarity." more on this story


Foo Fighters and Deadmau5 Team Up For Grammys
(Gibson) The Foo Fighters will be joined by dance titan Deadmau5 for a performance at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 12. The ceremony, set to take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, will pay tribute to electronic music.

The Foo Fighters and Deadmau5 will perform a remixed version of the Foos' single, "Rope," on an open-air stage outside the Staples Center facility. The Foo Fighters are nominated for Grammys in six categories this year, including Album of the Year for their acclaimed disc, Wasting Light. That number – six – equals the number of Grammy trophies the band have taken home thus far during their career.

"It feels great to be the guy with gray hair in his beard who is still invited to these things," Foos frontman Dave Grohl told the Associated Press, in a recent interview. "Twenty years ago, I never thought I'd even have a career in music this long." more on this story




Rundgren, Lukather, Rolie For Ringo's All Star Band
(Gibson) In support of his new album, Ringo 2012, Ringo Starr has put together a new incarnation of his All Starr Band for a summer tour. The former Beatle unveiled the group's lineup, along with June and July tour dates, according to Rolling Stone.

This version of the All Starr Band will include Todd Rundgren, Gregg Rolie (Santana), Steve Lukather (Toto), Richard Page (Mr. Mister), saxophonist Mark Rivera and drummer Gregg Bissonette, along with Ringo, of course. Can one band handle two guys who spell Gregg with two Gs? Only time will tell.

As with previous treks, the ensemble will play a number of Beatles and Ringo hits, along with a couple songs made famous by each All Starr member. So, Ringo fans, expect to hear "I Wanna Be Your Man" and "Photograph" alongside "Broken Wings," "Oye Como Va," "Bang on the Drum All Day" and "Rosanna." more on this story




Paul McCartney Streaming Live Tonight
Paul McCartney will celebrate the release of his new album, Kisses On The Bottom, with a free streaming performance taking place tonight.

The event will stream live at 7:00 p.m. PST Thursday, February 9, from the famed Capitol Studios where much of the new album was created. Fans can watch the intimate concert through iTunes on their Mac or PC.

Kisses On The Bottom is a collection of standards Paul grew up listening to, as well as two brand new McCartney compositions "My Valentine" and "Only Our Hearts" (which feature guest turns, respectively, from Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder). Recorded with the aid of Grammy-winning producer Tommy LiPuma and Diana Krall and her band—who will back Paul for the Capitol live stream event—Kisses On The Bottom is a deeply personal journey through songs that, in some cases, a young Paul first heard his father perform on the family piano.

The February 9 Capitol Studios streaming event will be the first time ever that the performances of Kisses On The Bottom will be brought to life in a live setting. Check it out here.


Disturbed Member Joins Mike Portnoy's Adrenaline Mob
Disturbed's John Moyer have joined Adrenaline Mob, the supergroup featuring ex-Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy, Symphony X's Russell Allen and Mike Orlando.

Adrenaline Mob confirmed last month the departure of Paul DiLeo (Fozzy), and Rich Ward (Stuck Mojo/Fozzy) and this week announced Moyer has joined the lineup.

The sent out these details: They all got together and after one jam session, the band knew they had found the newest member of the family. John will be making his on-stage debut with Adrenaline Mob on March 12th when they play their record release event at Hiro Ballroom in New York City. more on this story


Red Hot Chili Peppers To Headline Hangout Music Fest
Red Hot Chili Peppers have been added as the third headliner for the Hangout Music Fest.

Hangout Music Fest will be held May 18, 19 and 20 on the white sand beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama

The event will also feature main stage headliners Dave Matthews Band and Jack White, along with dance tent headliner Skrillex. more on this story



Jon Anderson Responds To Yes Reunion Rumor
Original Yes frontman Jon Anderson has issued a response to the rumors that he has been asked to reunite with Yes.

We were sent the following: these rumors are unfounded and false. Jon Anderson is busy with his solo career; he is currently on tour performing solo (tour dates and venues listed below), as well as recording new music.

Jon also had this response to recent quotes in the news by Chris Squire that he is in regular communication with Jon: "I haven't spoken with Chris in four years, and the only e-mail I have received from him in the last 3 years was him asking for free tickets to my show in Mesa, AZ last week - very sad, but true." more on this story


Van Halen Tour Invite Surprised Kool and the Gang
(hennemusic) On February 18, Kool & The Gang hit the road opening for Van Halen. The unlikely pairing was not only a surprise for fans, but for the RnB band themselves.

"I was kind of surprised," co-founder Robert "Kool" Bell tells Billboard.com, "because Van Halen is more on the rock side and we do what we do. I said, 'That's an interesting combination...' It really caught us by surprise. But the more people I mention it to, the more interesting they're saying it is."

Bell says having Kool & the Gang open for Van Halen's North American tour was frontman David Lee Roth's idea. Roth saw Kool and company perform at the 2011 Glastonbury festival and enjoyed it so much that he lobbied the band onto the bill. more on this story


Luis Alberto Spinetta RIP
(Gibson) Clarin newspaper has confirmed today the death of Argentinean rock legend Luis Alberto Spinetta, due to pulmonary cancer complications. He was 62.

Spinetta was born in Buenos Aires on January 23, 1950 and would be remembered as one of the icons and more influential singer-songwriters in Latin American music.

As a solo artist he released more than 20 albums, the latest one a live record named Spinetta y las Bandas Eternas (2010). He was part of important bands that inspired the Rock En Español movement in the early '70s, among them: Almendra, Invisible, Spinetta Jade and Pescado Rabioso. more on this story




Karma To Burn Going on Tour in March
Napalm Records sent over updated dates for Karma To Burn's up coming North American tour.

The stoner rockers are hitting the road on March 1st and will play in 14 cities until St. Patrick's Day.

Joining Karma To Burn on the tour will be Truckfighters. Napalm provided the latest dates and venues with an indication that more may be forthcoming. more on this story


Cauldron React To Juno Nomination
(EAR) Cauldron have reacted to their 2012 Juno Awards nomination (the Canadian equivalent of the Grammy Awards.)

Cauldron have been nominated for their latest album, Burning Fortune, in the "Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year" category, alongside fellow Canadian musicians Anvil, Devin Townsend Project, F*** The Facts and Ken Mode.

Cauldron guitarist Ian Chains comments: "Nice to see heavy metal getting some acknowledgement in Canada. It doesn't matter if it's not mainstream and not everyone gets it. There's still a great level of artistic value within and a lot of hard work that goes into every aspect of what these bands do. We're proud to know that our achievements, however small when compared to mainstream acts, are still getting some recognition. Lay down your soul to the god's rock 'n' roll!" more on this story


Exhumed Hitting The Road With Cannibal Corpse
Exhumed will be hitting the road in April for a North American tour with Cannibal Corpse, Abysmal Dawn and Arkaik.

The tour will kick off on April 5 in Jacksonville, Florida and include an appearance at the The Cincinnati Metal Fest on April 14 as well as a special show on April 28 where the trek will merge with the Decibel Magazine tour featuring Behemoth, Watain, The Devil's Blood and In Solitude.

Comments vocalist/guitarist Matt Harvey: "We are totally stoked about this tour and look forward to seeing some smiling, blood-streaked faces in the front row every night. It's a great tour package to be a part of, and anyone within barfing distance should cruise out and grab a beer with us! It's truly a pleasure to support a band that has as much longevity and integrity as the gentlemen in Cannibal Corpse, so we'll try extra hard not to go out there and stink it up every night. Our livers, brain cells and dignity are about to be sacrificed on the altar of death metal once again -- see you all out there!" more on this story


Strangler's Hugh Cornwell and Sex Pistol's Glen Matlock Tour
The Strangler's Hugh Cornwell is teaming up with The Sex Pistol's original bass player Glen Matlock for a North American Co-headlining tour.

The tour will kick off on February 24th in Tucson, AZ and will conclude on March 17th in Los Angeles, CA.

Both acts will feature Clem Burke and Steve Fishman, as well as James Stevenson (Glen Matlock only) more on this story


The Safety Fire Album Release Pushed Back
Inside Out Music have delayed the release of The Safety Fire's debut full-length, Grind The Ocean, which is now due out on April 9th in the UK and April 10th in North America.

In regards to this release date change, the band comments: "Unfortunately we are sad to announce that the official release of our album 'Grind the Ocean' has been delayed until April 2012 in the UK and US.

"Our team and label have been doing some amazing work over the past few months, and feel that delaying the official release, will give us some great opportunities- There will be new content released over the coming months, so keep your eyes open...Please note the release in other (territories) are unaffected and will be available online and in shops." more on this story


Singled Out: Fleming's Slip
Today Guillem Lomas from Fleming tells us about "Slip" from their debut EP "Play for Manuel," which comes out on Monday (Feb 13th). Here is the story:

"Slip into something more comfortable" is one of those cliched phrases that sounds familiar even though it's completely dated. I had just moved back to New York from LA, and although I had lived in the city for 9 years prior to my southern California jaunt, I felt out of place. Things I hadn't noticed before - the human-height garbage piles, the maniacal cabbies, the minuscule threshold for having the bird flipped at you, or rather, for flipping it, the living in shadows, literally, like embodying some sort of sick platonic reference - all resolved into a painful and uncomfortable focus. I had come up with the chords for a new song and I wanted it to be somewhat suggestive.

I was literally mouthing nonsense syllables over the music to figure out the melody. And then suddenly, I just uttered that line, that old femme fatale hook. Except that it resonated with me more broadly, in the sense of the relationship one has with a city or a group. How those first awkward few months can turn into titillating excitement when you figure out your place there and gain comfort in your own skin.

So the song became more about that natural longing and struggle to fit in and be happy in a place, a group, a subculture. And how that transition can be exciting even if your ultimate goal, to fit in, is as mundane and time-tested as your old, faded, favorite pair of jeans.

Today's Day In Rock!

Metallica Launching Music Festival
Late last week Metallica advised fans to mark their calendars and now we know why. The metal titans have announced their very own summer music festival dubbed Orion Music + More.
As a further treat to fans Metallica will perform their self-titled ("Black") album in full during one night of the event and their acclaimed sophomore album "Ride The Lightning" in its entirety the other. This will be the only time the band will perform these albums in North America in 2012.

But fans shouldn't expect Ozzfest as the diverse lineup features a hand selected eclectic group of performers including Avenged Sevenfold, Arctic Monkeys, Modest Mouse, The Gaslight Anthem, Cage The Elephant, F**ked Up, Best Coast, Hot Snakes, Titus Andronicus, Gary Clark Jr., Lucero, The Black Angels ,The Sword, A Place to Bury Strangers, Liturgy, and Roky Erickson. more on this story

Black Sabbath Replace Bill Ward Rumor Leads To Online Backlash
(Nightwatcher's House Of Rock) Rumors were swirling around the Internet yesterday suggesting that Black Sabbath have replaced original drummer Bill Ward with Tommy Clufetos from the Ozzy Osbourne band.

These rumors have not been confirmed by the band or management. However fans are rallying around Ward and have launched a new Facebook page dubbed 1,000,000 Black Sabbath Fans Say Yes To Bill Ward.

Drummer Bill Ward is currently in a public battle with his old mates "unless a "signable contract is drawn up" he stated recently and has refused to join the rest of the band. more on this story

Aerosmith Plan US Tour
(hennemusic) Aerosmith will kick off their US tour in June. Guitarist Joe Perry confirmed the news via Twitter, adding that tickets will go on sale in March.

The tour will be in support of Aerosmith's new album, which they've been working on with producer Jack Douglas.

"It definitely has a feel like some of the early stuff," Joe said recently. "We've tried to bring that back. People are always asking for something that sounds like the old stuff, but you can't rewrite 'Mama Kin' or 'Same Old Song and Dance.' All you can do is go in and start from the same place you started when you made those records. So we just went in with Jack Douglas and we all worked on the record. There's a song or two that the band helped write, and Tom (Hamilton) wrote and Brad (Whitford) has a track on there. So from that point of view, it's a lot more like an early Aerosmith record." more on this story

Deftones' Chi Coming Out of Coma
(Rock News Desk) Deftones' Chi Cheng has shown the first signs that he could be coming out of his three-year coma. The bassist, 41, was severely injured in a car accident in November 2008, and he's been in a coma ever since.

Doctors had to remove parts of his brain to keep him alive. After seven months he was taken off life support. In 2011 he was moved to an experimental research facility in New Jersey, where he's been receiving specialist care and daily treatment which have cost over $500,000 so far – and isn't covered by health insurance.

But earlier this week Cheng's family released a video clip proving the attention was worthwhile. Previously he'd only been able to make sounds from his throat as if he was talking. Now he can raise his legs from his bed when asked – a sign he's able to process the request and respond. more on this story

Dir En Grey Pull Out of Still Reckless Tour For Medical Reasons
Dir En Grey have been forced to cancel their upcoming 2012 U.S. tour dates on The Still Reckless Tour due to frontman Kyo's throat condition.

MSO sent over these details: Unfortunately under recommendation of frontman KYO's physician after extensive examination of his vocal chords, Dir En Grey has regretfully cancelled their participation in "The Still Reckless Tour" and solo shows scheduled between March and April 2012.

The band has released the following statement to their fans and those involved in the tour: "To our fans as well as the other bands and staff involved in the tour we extend our sincere apologies. We ask for your understanding that this was an extremely difficult decision to make. Thank you all for your continued support, which is deeply appreciated." more on this story

Flyleaf Recording New Album
(Banana 101.5) Flyleaf vocalist Lacey Sturm recently unveiled that the band is currently at work on a new album that will be out later this year.

In a new interview with Noisecreep, Flyleaf singer Lacey Sturm revealed that she is ready to get back to work after giving birth to her first child in April 2011:

"The rest of Flyleaf have been in Los Angeles working with Howard Benson, and I'm going to meet up with them in February to start my vocals. I'm actually bringing my son with me, so I'm really excited. But I'm not sure what the deadline is like in terms of the album release date and all that. All I know is that it will come out this year [laughs]." more on this story

Taproot Set New Album Release
(Banana 101.5) Taproot are back with their sixth full-length record, 'The Episodes', which they have just announced will hit stores this spring.

Taproot will follow-up their 2010 album 'Plead the Fifth' with 'The Episodes' on April 10th. Tim Palatan produced the album — as he did the former — that the band has been developing for nearly six years. Bassist Phil Lipscomb explained:

"I think our fans have come to expect the unexpected from us. Having written the story for this album before the music, this record sounds more like a soundtrack than a typical album, with the songs flowing together and taking you on a journey." Check out video and get a taste here.

Genesis Star Posed As A Roadie at Led Zeppelin Reunion Gig
(Rock News Desk) Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett has revealed how he ligged his way into the 2007 Led Zeppelin reunion show – by pretending to be Yes bassist Chris Squire's roadie. And he admits he feels the need to rehearse more often as he gets older.

"I was at the Led Zep reunion gig at the O2 and it was incredibly loud. Chris Squire was doing a thing with Keith Emerson there that night and I only got in by being Chris's roadie. I just picked up his bass and walked in with him. But that gig was so loud. I dare say on stage they were all wearing in-ear monotirs, but the guy mixing out front gave us an idea of what that band were all about. Instant thunder - the volume added to the mythology of the band."

Hackett is preparing to start work on a second Genesis Revisited album and his collaboration record with Squire will be released in May. Check out a great interview with Steve for all the details here.

Paul McCartney and Elton John To Rock The Queen
(Gibson) A host of pop superstars, including Paul McCartney, Elton John and Tom Jones, will play at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert.

The Daily Express reports that Sir Paul will headline the concert – celebrating 60 years of Queen Elizabeth II's reign, on Monday, June 4 in London.

The Queen, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Prince of Wales will be in attendance at the prestigious celebration event. more on this story



Soilwork and Arch Enemy Classic Rock Supergroup
Bjorn "Speed" Strid from Soilwork and Sharlee D'Angelo from Arch Enemy have formed a new classic rock group called The Night Flight Orchestra.

The band is currently recording the album which will be released in June 2012 by Coroner Records.

The label sent over this info: "The Night Flight Orchestra" started like so many others as an innocent yet serious drunken idea when Björn Strid (Soilwork) and David Andersson (Mean Streak, Soilwork session player) were on the road together somewhere in North America in 2007. more on this story

Johnny Cash Museum Planned
(Gibson) A museum dedicated to the life, legends and music of Johnny Cash is being planned in Nashville, Tennessee. The establishment is set to open later this year, according to the Associated Press.

The man behind the museum is Bill Miller, who collect's Cash memorabilia and operates a Cash website. The museum is planned to open in the Lower Broadway, tourist-friendly section of Nashville, "right in the middle of the hubbub," according to John Carter Cash, Johnny's son. The institution will feature a number of items from The House of Cash, a Johnny Cash museum that was located in nearby Henderson, Tennessee, until 1999.

"He's been an incredible supporter of my dad and one of the largest collectors of memorabilia," said Cash's daughter, Rosanne Cash, about Miller. "If anybody has the whole structure to put up a museum, he does. So I have a lot of trust in him and I think it's great at this point. I think he'll do something with dignity and class that's historically important, not some kitschy thing. I'm very interested in seeing what he does." more on this story



Gwar Plan More North American Destruction
Gwar have announced a second leg to their Spring "Return of the World Maggot Tour," which will also feature Kylesa, Ghoul and Legacy of Disorder.

This leg kicks off April 13th in San Antonio, Texas and wraps up April 28th in Allentown, PA.

"These press releases usually go something like this--", said bellicose front-thing Oderus Urungus. "There is a general statement about what Gwar is up to, then I say something stupid, then it goes to a list of the shows and a bunch of links. That's what's happening right now. We really have to work harder to make these things more interesting." more on this story

Demon Hunter Set True Defiance Release
Solid State Records have set an April 10th release date for Demon Hunter's sixth full-length album, True Defiance. We were sent these details:

True Defiance was produced by Aaron Sprinkle (Anberlin, Emery) and mixed by Jason Suecoff (All That Remains, Trivium).

"This record is without a doubt our most aggressive," says vocalist and band co-founder Ryan Clark. "Every Demon Hunter record must be a step up from the last. I know that's a goal for every band, but it seldom works that way - especially today, especially in metal. It seems like most bands' prime years are long behind them. I refuse to let that be the case for us." more on this story

Allman Brothers InTheStudio for Eat a Peach 40th Anniversary
This week the North American syndicated rock radio show InTheStudio The Stories Behind History's Greatest Rock Bands celebrates the 40th Anniversary of The Allman Brothers Band Eat a Peach.

InTheStudio is syndicated on over 50 radio stations throughout North America. The Allman Brothers Eat a Peach./ InTheStudio program will air the week of February 6th.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The Allman Brothers Band were one, if not the most influential American band in rock in 1971 & 72. Their success ushered in a generation of great southern rock music, but not without suffering a massive personal and professional loss during the recording of Eat a Peach. Show producer and host Redbeard asks Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts what impact Duane's untimely death had to Eat a Peach. Dickey Betts explains, "You know the Eat a Peach record was pretty strange to us 'cause, that's when Duane was killed, right in the middle of that recording. We kinda went through a whole lotta stuff."

Gregg Allman continues, "That (Duane's death) changed the arrangement of the songs. It was like two different projects. We used some of it on each one. It was a strange time back then." Check it out here.

Escape the Fate and Attack Attack! Tour
(ESM) Escape the Fate and Attack Attack! are teaming up to co-headline the This World Is Ours Tour.

The trek, which features support from The Word Alive, Secrets and Mest, will kick off April 5th in Buffalo, NY and wind down on May 16th in Vancouver, BC.

Attack Attack!'s recently released third album, This Means War, landed at #11 on Billboard's Top 200 Chart in its debut week while Escape The Fate are currently in the midst of recording a new album, their second with producer John Feldmann (The Used, D.R.U.G.S.). more on this story

Explosions In The Sky Set For North American Tour
Explosions In The Sky have announced North American headline tour dates this April.

This follows news of the band's appearances at the Coachella and Sasquatch festivals this year.

The new shows expand on an itinerary that has included Explosions In The Sky's biggest ever headline dates–from New York's Radio City Music Hall to last month's performance at London's Brixton Academy–and a debut performance on The Late Show With David Letterman. more on this story

Two Door Cinema Club Spring Tour Coming
Two Door Cinema Club will follow up their headlining slot on the NME Tour in the UK with a North American tour this spring.

Two Door Cinema Club will make their return to the North American stage on May 31st at the House of Blues in Dallas, Texas, wrapping up on June 12th in Baltimore, Maryland at Rams Head Live.

The Northern Ireland based trio have spent the past few weeks in Los Angeles, California writing and recording new songs for their sophomore album which is due for release later this year. more on this story

The Kills To Stream 10th Anniversary Show This Weekend
The Kills will celebrate their 10th anniversary as a band on Saturday, February 11th, with a very special performance at NYC's Terminal 5 which will be live streamed on MTV Hive, as part of its "Live in NYC" music series.

The Kills will also be performing "The Last Goodbye" off their most recent offering Blood Pressures (Domino) on Thursday, February 9th on Late Show with David Letterman.

The band recently released a video for "The Last Goodbye," directed by Oscar nominated actress Samantha Morton. Tune into the live stream here.

Otherwise Announce Pop Evil Tour Dates
Otherwise will be hitting the road with Pop Evil for a North American tour that kicks off next week in addition to various festival appearances.

The month-long run will kick off Feb 17th in Muncie, IN, taking the group throughout the Midwest and wrapping up in Hagerstown, MD, March 17th.

In addition to the Pop Evil dates, Otherwise has been added to the lineup at this year's Rock On The Range Festival.

Today's Day In Rock!

Jesse Leach Reunites With Killswitch Engage
(Rock News Desk) Killswitch Engage last night confirmed Jesse Leach had returned by filling the front page of their website with a photo of the singer surrounded by his bandmates.
The move confirmed what fans had suspected since Leach's replacement, Howard Jones, left the band in January, citing health issues and a lack of commitment.

No official comment has been made, but KSE have confirmed a reunion show on April 22 in Worcester, Massachusetts, followed by a European festival tour starting on June 6. more on this story

Wild Thing Singer Fighting Cancer and Retires Troggs
(Gibson) Troggs singer Reg Presley has retired from the band following his diagnosis with lung cancer.

The singer, who also suffered a stroke two years ago, released a statement to fans last week saying, "As you all know I was taken ill whilst doing a gig in Germany in December. During my stay in hospital tests showed that in fact I have lung cancer. I am receiving chemotherapy treatment and at the moment not feeling too bad. However I've had to call time on The Troggs and retire. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the cards and calls and for your love, loyalty and support over the years."

The Troggs rose to infamy with their cover of Chip Taylor's "Wild Thing." The band formed in 1964 as The Troglodytes. Presley wrote "Love is All Around," which was a hit for The Troggs in 1967 and again for Wet Wet Wet in 1994 when that band performed the song for the soundtrack of the film Four Weddings and a Funeral. Presley used some of the proceeds of the cover on crop circle research. more on this story



Slash Sets New Album Release
(Gibson) Slash has announced that his new studio album will be available on May 22. According to a press release, the second solo disc from the former Guns N' Roses member has yet to receive a title.

The disc follows on the heels of Slash's celebrated, self-titled 2010 debut, and features the members of his touring band – Myles Kennedy (vocals, guitar), Brent Fitz (drums) and Todd Kerns (bass). Eric Valentine, who produced Slash, is also helming this record. The boys are still hard at work on the new songs, which were co-written by Slash and Kennedy.

"Myles and I basically collaborated on the new material. The main thing is we wrote these songs together which is a big difference from the last album where I wrote each song with all of the different collaborators," Slash said. "The whole creative nucleus is between Myles and me. On top of this, the whole rhythm section of Brent and Todd brings something to the table and changes the dynamic completely from the last record – it's much more cohesive."




New Soundgarden Album Coming Later Than Expected
(Banana 101.5) Soundgarden fans have waited for a new album from the band for over 16 years and if what Chris Cornell said in a recent interview is accurate — they'll have to wait just a bit longer than planned.

Soundgarden have been working on their sixth studio album for almost a year now — initially with the intention of a 2011 release and then a tentative spring date had been assigned to the highly anticipated comeback record. Last time we heard from frontman Chris Cornell, he told Rolling Stone that the album was mostly finished and they were still on track for a spring release — his latest interview with Australian radio station Triple M told a different story.

When asked if the band had any plans return to Australia for a full scale — where they recently played a few dates — Cornell responded by saying "Well the album will be out in the fall, so sometime after that." more on this story

Guns N' Roses Add Date To Intimate Venue Tour
(Banana 101.5) Guns N' Roses will be embarking on a brief tour where they will play smaller venues — as oppose to the giant arenas they played on their recent North American tour — and have just added a Detroit date to the limited run.

It's been a long, long time since Guns N' Roses have played anything but gigantic arenas while touring but the band will scale things back considerably for an upcoming string of U.S. dates.

The "intimate venue" tour's six previously announced shows all sold out relatively quick, causing the band to add the latest date at The Fillmore in Detroit. more on this story


New Motley Crue Album and Movie Coming
(Rock News Desk) Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars has laughed off Vince Neil's claims that he's thinking of retiring from the band when their Las Vegas residency ends later this month. And the guitarist reveals his long-awaited solo album could feature elements of death metal.

Mars is currently appearing with the Crue in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, with two-hour shows scheduled to take place until February 19. But he's convinced Neil won't act on his recent comments about leaving the band to pursue other projects he might not otherwise find time for.

The guitarist tells Ultimate Classic Rock: "Okay, here's my answer: Fat chance. That's a good neutral answer, I think." On the contrary, Mars says fans can expect a new album within the next 18 months, along with the much-vaunted movie version of their book The Dirt. more on this story


Def Leppard and Poison Teaming Up For Tour
Def Leppard are once again teaming up with Poison for a summer tour. While there have been some hints at the trek, Poison drummer Rikki Rockett posted a message on his Facebook page, confirming the plans.

"It's Official!
 Def Leppard / Poison Tour 2012 Summer Tour!" Rockett wrote on his Facebook page. hennemusic reports: Rockett's info follows a recent interview Leppard guitarist Phil Collen did with AOL's Noisecreep, where he talked about the band's summer plans.

"We're actually going to be back on tour around when the [film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical 'Rock Of Ages'] is out, and it would be a lot of fun to get some of the other bands featured in 'Rock Of Ages' out with us," he said. "Nothing has been finalized yet, but apparently Poison will be joining us — at least according to Bret Michaels, who has been telling everyone that they'll be touring with us this year. [Laughs]"

"We went out with Poison in 2009, and we all had so much fun," continued Collen. "If it does end up happening like that, I would love for the third band to be someone like Twisted Sister, since they're also in the new movie. I think that would make for a great lineup." more on this story


Life After Headbanging For Slayer Frontman
(Rock News Desk) Tom Araya has got over the "bummer" of not being able to headbang any longer – and believes it's made him a better musician.

The Slayer frontman's onstage antics were brought to an end in 2010 after he was forced to undergo back surgery, which left a metal plate in his neck, leaving him unable to throw his head about in his trademark manner. But he insists he's put the experience behind him and he's looking forward to working on the band's twelfth album, along with guitarist Jeff Hannemann, who was sidelined a year ago after a spider bite resulted in him contracting necrotising fasciitis, which wasted the flesh in his arm.

Araya tells The Quietus: "I just can't headbang. I just can't do the things that I'd normally be doing on stage – going crazy, flipping my head. After the surgery it was a bummer, but I got over that. I like to think I've improved as a singer and as a player. I focus more on that, and making sure my performance is one hundred percent." more on this story


Oni Logan Reunites With Lynch Mob
(Gibson) Vocalist Oni Logan has returned to Lynch Mob, just weeks after band leader George Lynch announced that Jesse Forte, from expat Swedish hard rock act Vains of Jenna, had been hired to take the mic.

The news of Logan's return was confirmed via an update from Lynch's other band, Tooth and Nail, which features his former Dokken bandmates Jeff Pilson and Mick Brown as well as Brian Tichy. The update reads: "There will be lots of George Lynch music out this year. New Lynch Mob with Oni, and the long awaited reunion of Jeff Pilson, Mick Brown and El Lyncho! Throw in a multi-talented Brian Tichy and you have Tooth and Nail!"

Forte also confirmed that Lynch and Logan are collaborating again: "I actually won't be working with George on Lynch Mob," he said in a statement to fans. "He informed me over the phone that he and Oni have reconciled and have decided to continue on. I wish them the best. Stay tuned for my next project." more on this story




Surprise Billy Joel Jam
(Gibson) Motorcycle fan Billy Joel surprised the crowd at a Miami vintage bike fair by riding up on his motorcycle and jumping on stage with a local band, over the weekend.

The organizer of the Dania Beach Vintage Motorcycle Show, Clare Frost, told the Miami Herald, "He walked through the crowd without people really knowing who he was and looked at the over 230 vintage bikes on display and talked to a few of our vendors and out of the blue, he walks up on stage and stood there facing the lead singer, Bob.

"Bob did a double take, and Billy asked him if he could jam with them. Only about 25 were around them at first but I guess with Facebook, about 100 more showed up, and when he got off the stage after about three songs, he signed autographs and had pics taken. He then got about halfway across the field, got lost in the crowd, got on [his] bike and left." more on this story




Love & Death For Brian Head Welch
New Ocean Media sent over word that former Korn guitarist Brian Head Welch has announced that his band will now go by the name Love & Death.

"I put this band together in 2009" states Welch. "Since then, we've experienced some very intense highs and lows. Michael Valentine, Dan Johnson, J.R. Bareis and myself have toured around the world playing a lot of killer shows, but we've also had some heart shattering difficulties along the way as well. To us, the name Love and Death symbolizes everything we've been through as a band over the last few years. We love this band so much and we'll go through hell to connect with our fans. We've proven that to ourselves over and over again."

"Many people have confused my speaking dates and our band dates because they were both being booked as Brian Head Welch" says Welch. "I have wanted to use a band name for branding my music for a few years. It has been an ongoing discussion with my management, but we were just starting to tour and I was in the middle of supporting my third book and it seemed like a bad time to switch names. Now with the new music coming out, its time to really separate the things I do. I want the music to be about music. I will still be doing public speaking under Brian Head Welch. I am happy that all the confusion will be over." more on this story


David Lee Roth Interviews The Van Halen Brothers
(hennemusic) Van Halen has released a new clip of frontman David Lee Roth interviewing the Van Halen brothers Eddie and Alex in the studio.

The guys talk at length about their family roots, including how their father, Jan Van Halen, met their mother, Eugenia.

"Our pop went over to Indonesia on a 6-week radio contract," explains Alex, "which turned into 6 years. He loved the tropics, he couldn't get enough. They got married and then the government became destabilized and they threw all the colonialists out."

"Indonesia was a Dutch province at the time," adds Eddie.



Our Lady Peace New Album and Tour Coming
Our Lady Peace will release their eighth studio album, Curve, on April 3, 2012 and will be hitting the road in late March.

"This is the record we've been trying to make for the past 10 years. There's something to be said about being beaten up and being able to dust yourself off and get back in the ring," says vocalist/lyricist and founding member Raine Maida about the new album, which was recorded in Toronto and his own L.A. home recording studio with co-producer Jason Lader (Mars Volta, Julian Casablancas, Rilo Kiley, Elvis Costello and Noah & the Whale.).

"Jason and I had a very frank discussion about the early recordings for Curve before he came in," says Maida. "He asked why we weren't making a record that we'd like to listen to ourselves. That was our impetus for abandoning what we started, bringing in Jason and truly challenging ourselves to come up with something more authentic and inspired. He helped us operate without the filter predicated by walking the major label tightrope." more on this story


Night Ranger's Jack Blades Sets Solo Release
Night Ranger's Jack Blades will deliver his brand new solo album, Rock N' Roll Ride, on March 27th via Frontiers Records.

Of the new offering, Blades commented, "Rock N' Roll Ride is an extension of what my music has been for the last 30 years. It has been quite a rock n' roll ride and I decided to lay it all down on a record!"

Rock N' Roll Ride features contributions from Blades' Night Ranger bandmates Brad Gillis, Kelly Keagy, Joel Hoekstra and Eric Levy, as well as a special guest appearance by Cheap Trick's Robin Zander. more on this story


Camper Van Beethoven's Jonathan Segel Sets Solo Release
(PPR) Camper Van Beethoven's Jonathan Segel will be releasing his latest solo album, All Attractions, on March 6th in both Digital and CD formats.

Most of the songs were written in the Swedish countryside where he and his (Swedish) wife have been staying with her family every summer. Although one would expect a pastoral tone, the music ends up as some rocking electric guitar-based tunes, evoking the big '70s rock bands of the past, along with some more contemporary features thrown in.

The record was started by Jonathan working with fellow Camper Van Beethoven bandmate Victor Krummenacher on bass and guitar, and their SF Bay Area cohorts former King Missile/Moth Wranglers' Chris Xefos playing some bass and doing the recording and mixing, and John Hanes on drums. As the project progressed, he got some backing vocal help from the Counting Crows' David Immergluck, Baby Flamehead's Eden Daniels and Espers' Helena Espvall (who also contributed some cello). Built To Spill's Brett Netson also delivers a show-stealing guitar lead on the track "I Know You Know Me (Hey You)." more on this story


Adam Ant Rewind
(Noble) Adam Ant and The Good, The Mad & The Lovely Posse" has been announced as a special guest for this summer's Rewind Scotland (20-22nd July, Scone Palace, Perth) and Rewind Festival (17-19th August, Temple Island Meadows, Henley-on-Thames).

Adam Ant will perform at Rewind Scotland on Sunday 22nd July, and Henley-on-Thames on Sunday 19th August.

Rewind Scotland's line-up: Saturday 21st July features Ali Campbell's UB40, Average White Band, Jimmy Somerville, Midge Ure, Five Star, Go West, Sinitta, Chesney Hawkes, Katrina (ex-Katrina and the Waves), Limahl, Right Said Fred, and Les McKeown's Legendary Bay City Rollers. Sunday 22nd July features Holly Johnson, Village People, Adam Ant and The Good, The Mad & The Lovely Posse, Lightning Seeds, Marc Almond, ABC, Roland Gift, The Straits, Wang Chung, John Parr, Altered Images, and The Christians.
more on this story


Santana Live At Montreux 2011 Coming To DVD and Blu-Ray
(Kayos) Eagle Rock have set a February 21st release date for Santana Live At Montreux 2011 on a 2DVD set and Blu-ray.

The set was filmed in high-definition and recorded in DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital 5.1 and LPCM Stereo.

Live At Montreux 2011 is a career-spanning show that covers all the bases: from Tito Puente's "Oye Como Va," Fleetwood Mac's "Black Magic Woman," Babatunde Olatunji's "Jingo" and Willie Bobo's "Evil Ways" to John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme." more on this story


The Cult's Super Bowl Commercial Online
(hennemusic) Music from The Cult was featured in a Super Bowl commercial on Sunday. A new ad for Budweiser featured a mashup of The Cult's "She Sells Sanctuary" with rapper Flo Rida's Top 10 hit "Good Feelin'".

The one-minute spot is a celebratory romp through several decades of great times in America that begins with the end of Prohibition in 1933.

Written by The Cult's vocalist Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy, "She Sells Sanctuary" reached No. 15 on the U.K. chart and was a Top 40 dance hit in the U.S. Check out the commercial here.


Foxy Shazam Take Fans To The Church of Rock and Roll
(Banana 101.5) Foxy Shazam introduce us to 'The Church of Rock and Roll' in their new music video for the lead single from the album of the same name.

The band's much buzzed about single "I Like It' combines Foxy's operatic glam rock and love of posteriors to create an unusually potent concoction.

In the new music video we see vocalist Eric Nally firing a Glock from the back of a motorcycle that then drives into 'The Church of Rock and Roll,' where a booty shaking dance-off ensues. Check out the video here.


Green River Ordinance Return With New Album and Tour
Green River Ordinance will release their third studio album, 'Under Fire,' on February 28.

"Our primary purpose was just to make the most authentic and honest music possible," says Jamey Ice. "We also tried to push ourselves to think outside of our traditional instruments. We used all sorts of random percussive instruments and unique drums; we used banjos, mandolins, baritone guitars, 12 string guitars, upright bass, accordion, lap steel, old vintage amps and old vintage guitars. We tried to push ourselves to explore more, even if it meant forfeiting safe and traditional structure and instrumentation."

The band will kick off an extensive North American tour on March 29 in Houston, TX, crossing the country with special guest Graham Colton. more on this story


Motley Crue Kick Off Vegas Run
(Gibson) Motley Crue have kicked off their Las Vegas residency with two sold-out shows and a Super Bowl commercial appearance.

In a synergy of L.A. flash and Vegas glitz, the "Mötley Crüe in Sin City" residency includes showgirl dancers, female aerialists, little people, macabre clowns and stilt walkers while the Crüe play classics such as "Kickstart My Heart," "Shout at the Devil," "Saints of Los Angeles," "Same Old Situation" and "Girls Girls Girls."

The band also performs an acoustic segment on a floating circular platform, featuring "Without You," "On With the Show" and "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)." And Tommy Lee's roller coaster drum kit from the band's 2011 tour is back in action after a disassembled portion made a grand appearance at the 2012 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California in January. more on this story




Holy Grail Map Out North American Dates
Holy Grail are hitting the road for some North American tour dates in March surrounding the South By Southwest festival.

The dates will take the band to Austin for South By Southwest, and most of them will see them alongside old friends and tourmates, Saviours.

These dates are in addition to the previously announced Australian appearances at the Soundwave Festivals, and the "Sidewave" off dates. more on this story


Liam Misses Oasis
(Gibson) Liam Gallagher has said that, despite enjoying his Beady Eye success, he misses singing for Oasis.

According to NME.com, the former Oasis singer would prefer to still be in Oasis, telling Live magazine, "If people think I'm going to be happy about the Oasis split, then they're wrong. Even though I love Beady Eye, I'd prefer to still be in Oasis, because that was my thing. Oasis was my life."

Not that there aren't bonuses to performing with his new band. Gallagher especially likes playing smaller venues. He said: "It's been great doing all these little shows, going back to square one. It's good to see the crowd and hear them. Long may that continue. Big gigs are soulless masses of people – I'm glad I've done them, but I don't miss them. I've got nothing to prove anyway." more on this story




The Day Led Zeppelin Hit The Top At Home
(Gibson) On this day in 1970, Led Zeppelin scored their first U.K. no. 1 album with Led Zeppelin II. Featuring the U.S. hit single "Whole Lotta Love," it went on to stay on the chart for 138 weeks, selling over 6 million copies in the US. Gibson takes a look back:

Led Zeppelin were busy bees during the first part of 1969. Touring heavily in support of their debut album, Led Zeppelin, the band criss-crossed Europe four times and the United States three times during an eight month period between January and August. In between performing and partying and laying the foundation for becoming this biggest rock band on the planet, they also found time to conceive and record what would eventually become their critically-acclaimed and wildly successful sophomore effort, Led Zeppelin II.

Embolden by their debut recording and touring success, Led Zeppelin kept the ball rolling with Led Zeppelin II by not only furthering the lyrical themes introduced in its predecessor, but also by displaying a growing and evolving musical palette, replete with blues-based monster riffage coupled with a healthy dollop of ethereal folk. The bulk of the album's recording took place between concerts, with each song recorded, mixed and produced separately from the others, and in different studios in the U.S., U.K. and Canada.

According to bassist John Paul Jones, this creative spontaneity only added to the overall flavor, and eventual success, of the album. "We were touring a lot," Jones said. "Jimmy [Page's] riffs were coming fast and furious. A lot of them came from on-stage, especially during the long improvised section of 'Dazed and Confused.' We'd remember the good stuff and dart into a studio along the way."

Today's Day In Rock!

Puddle of Mudd Singer Arrested For Drugs
(Banana 101.5) Although he somehow kept it under wraps for nearly a month, it was discovered that Puddle of Mudd frontman Wes Scantlin was arrested after police discovered narcotics on him.
TMZ reports that 39-year old rocker was pulled over for a traffic violation in Culver City, California on January 12th. After police suspected that Scantlin was intoxicated, a search uncovered some sort of powdery substance and pills in his possession.

He was arrested at around 3:00a and booked under felony possession of a controlled substance and made bail to the tune of $10,000 hours later. more on this story

Adam Lambert Shoots Down Queen Tour Report
A UK publication started a frenzy on Friday when they reported that Queen have tapped American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert to front the band and they would be playing headlining the Sonisphere festival this summer.

The report carried various quotes from Lambert which do make it sound like he has joined the group, but after the news broke Lambert took to his Twitter account and claimed his quotes were taken out of context.

"Oooh them clever reporters takin my quotes outta context…. I haven't confirmed any guest appearances. I was talking about the Ema's," and followd up with "That being said, I'm truly flattered by your jump to such glorious conclusions mr journalist!!" He later asked for a definition of a word he was reported to have used in his conversation with the publication, "Anyone know what 'shirk' means?," Lambert joked. more on this story

Black Sabbath Reunion To Continue Without Ward
(hennemusic) Black Sabbath made headlines this week when drummer Bill Ward issued a public statement advising fans that he will not participate in the band's reunion unless he is presented with an agreement that reflects his contributions to the group's success and longevity.

Ward basically told fans that he's not getting what he feels is fair share of the Sabbath financial pie and that he deserves better than what band management have put on the table for him.

Now, the other three original Sabbath members – Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler – have responded to Ward's public news with a statement of their own. "We were saddened to hear yesterday via Facebook that Bill declined publicly to participate in our current Black Sabbath plans," said the trio. "We have no choice but to continue recording without him although our door is always open... We are still in the U.K. with Tony. Writing and recording the new album and on a roll... See you at Download!!!" more on this story

KISS Vs Angry Birds?
(Gibson) Gene Simmons has revealed that KISS is in negotiations with the team behind Angry Birds for a spin-off version of the popular computer game.

Speaking to Industry Gamers, Simmons said he's confident the talks "will become a deal." He also said KISS is talking with Sony Games about other video game projects. "We are really trying to take [video games] to areas that haven't been done before," said Simmons. "[Until now], we have stayed out of the marketplace because the ideas simply weren't exciting enough."

Simmons went on to say the gaming industry has impacted the music industry "in more ways than even it understands." "The more you control the music and the visuals, the more it becomes important," he said. "It becomes a part of you. Guitar Hero is pretty addictive. Once you play it, it's going to be tough not to want to get up in the middle of the night either alone when nobody is looking, or with your friends." more on this story



Howard Stern Plans Van Halen Special
(hennemusic) Van Halen release their new album, "A Different Kind Of Truth," in North America on Tuesday.

The Van Halen News Desk reports Howard Stern will be presenting an extended radio special about the band on the day of the record's release.

On Tuesday, Stern will run a special called "The Whole Truth: The Howard Stern/Van Halen Special" - which is essentially a 5-hour uncensored history of Van Halen on The Howard Stern Show…the good, the bad and the ugly. more on this story

Tenacious D Releasing First Album Since 2006
(Gibson) Comedy-metal titans Tenacious D are set to release their first album since 2006. Singer-guitarists Jack Black and Kyle Gass have announced that Rise of the Fenix is due to come out in May, according to NME.

The record will be the D's third album, following The Pick of Destiny in '06 and the group's self-titled debut in '01.

They'll follow up the album's release with a couple of planned festival appearances, including May's Sasquatch Festival in Washington and June's Download Festival in England. more on this story



Paul McCartney Streaming Live Performance This Week
(Gibson) Paul McCartney has a busy week ahead of him. In the midst of it, he'll perform a bunch of songs from his new album and stream the concert for all to hear via iTunes, according to NME.

On Thursday, the former Beatle will play songs from Kisses on the Bottom, his new album of (mostly) covers that is being released Tuesday (in the U.S.) and Monday in other parts of the world. The performance will take place at Capitol Records, where Kisses was recorded.

In addition, McCartney is getting his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday. Macca also will be honored at a Friday gala as the 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year and play on the 54th Annual Grammy Awards telecast on Sunday. more on this story



Jack White Set for Solo Tour Dates
(hennemusic) Jack White has confirmed the first two live dates in support of his upcoming solo debut album, "Blunderbuss," out April 24.

Jack will be headlining the Hangout Music Fest in Gulf Shores, AL on May 18th, followed by another headline slot a week later at Sasquatch! May 26th at The Gorge Amphitheater in Quincy, WA.

Jack will also be performing at Radio 1's Hackney Weekend 2012 on the weekend of June 23-24 in London. While all tickets will be free, quantities will be are limited. more on this story

Ian Anderson Releasing Sequel To the Jethro Tull's Thick As A Brick
Ian Anderson plans to release a sequel to the Jethro Tull classic 'Thick As A Brick' that coincides with the original album's 40th anniversary.

Anderson will also embark on a 19-date UK tour to commemorate the anniversary of 'Thick As A Brick,' with the new sequel album set for release on April 2nd in the UK and April 3rd in North America.

Noble sent over this information about the release: In 1972, Ian Anderson wrote and recorded the Jethro Tull Progressive Rock classic album 'Thick As A Brick.' The lyrics were credited at the time to the fictitious child character, Gerald Bostock, whose parents supposedly lied about his age. The record instantly became a number one Billboard Chart album and enjoyed considerable success in many countries of the world. more on this story

Def Leppard Hope To Release New Music This Year
(Gibson) Phil Collen says that during his three decades with Def Leppard, the band always has retained their team spirit. In a wide-ranging interview with Music Radar, the guitarist was asked what he learned in the wake of the car accident, 27 years ago, that robbed Leppard drummer Rick Allen of his arm.

"What I soon learned about the band was that it was always about the people in the band, not just about the business," Collen said. "When bands lose that personal element, when they stop looking out for one another, that's when they run into all kinds of problems. We were a team – still are. We don't have egos and any of that crap."

Collen was also asked if plans were in place for a new Def Leppard album. "Recording, yes, but it'll probably [just] be a Def Leppard song or two," Collen said. "We're going to go on tour this summer, so we're going to try to have a new song together. Coming up with material shouldn't be a problem – I wrote two new songs this week. A whole album won't happen this year. I can be pretty sure on that." Music Radar interview is here



Bryan Adams 20/20/20 Tour
Bryan Adams will hit the road in Canada in April for his first tour of his home county in over 20 years.

Adams hasn't turned his homeland with a major tour since the Straight from the Heart tour in 1992.

His first tour in Canada tour in 20 years will feature 20 concerts in 20 cities and kicks off on April 11th in St. John's, Newfoundland, before winding up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on June 22. more on this story

Steven Tyler Addresses National Anthem Controversy
(hennemusic) Aerosmith's Steven Tyler took some heat when he performed the national anthem at last month's AFC Championship game between the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens.

Online criticism was quick and harsh, but Tyler says he meant to sing the national anthem like that and doesn't know what all the fuss is about.

"I don't know. As I said before, I put emphasis on, 'In the land of the free' and I went up," Tyler tells the Associated Press. "Oddly enough I hit the note so I don't know what they are talking about. I emphasized 'free' which was for freedom. It was well thought out prior to. I wasn't messing with American tradition." more on this story

Lou Reed Set For From Vu To Lulu Tour
Lou Reed is hitting the road this summer for his "From Vu To Lulu" European tour.

The tour will start in Luxembourg on Wednesday 6th June and will take in several festivals, including Switzerland's Caribana Festival, France's Montereau Festival, Berlin's Citadel Music Festival and Slovakia's renowned Pohoda Festival. Lou will also perform several concerts in France, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, and Germany.

The tour will feature a 5-piece band, including Lou Reed, Tony 'Thunder' Smith (drums), Rob Wasserman (bass), Kevin Hearn (keyboards), and Aram Bajakian (guitar). Lou and band will perform material from Reed's entire cannon of songs ranging from the Velvet Underground to his recent Metallica collaborative album LULU. more on this story

Lacuna Coil Unplugged Show This Week
Lacuna Coil will perform an acoustic set and meet-and-greet with their fans at the Cobra Lounge in Chicago this Friday, February 10th.

They are appearing at the event to celebrate the recent release of their new album, Dark Adrenaline.

The special event will take place after their performance at Gigantour that night (tickets will be given on a first come, first serve basis; you must be 21+ to receive entry into the club). For more information, please visit the official event page on Facebook here.

Joe Bonamassa DVD and Blu-Ray Coming Next Month
Joe Bonamassa: Beacon Theatre Live From New York is set to be released on on DVD and Blu-ray on March 27, 2012.

The home video showcases the sold-out two-night performance at New York City's legendary Beacon Theatre.

Special guests include vocal powerhouse Beth Hart, legendary singer/songwriter John Hiatt and classic rock star Paul Rodgers. Produced and directed by Kevin "Cave Man" Shirley (Led Zeppelin, Black Crowes, Aerosmith, Black Country Communion). more on this story

Indie Rock and Music Festival For Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
(Gibson) This year, the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue will spotlight indie bands in addition to its swimwear models. As reported by Billboard.com, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2012 will spotlight 17 model videos at SI.com, backed by a corresponding number of up-and-coming independent artists.

In addition, they are planning a related two-day music festival in Las Vegas, titled Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Beauties & Beats. Ten of the 17 selected artists will participate in the Vegas festival, and all 17 will be paired with a different model in the online version of the magazine.

In addition to the print edition, the Swimsuit Issue is offered on several auxiliary platforms. "We've dabbled in music a bit in the past with previous issues," said MJ Day, senior editor of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. "But now, with four digital platforms, we thought it would be such a great way to integrate and basically enhance the Swimsuit experience." more on this story



Jeff Loomis To Tour With Protest The Hero and Periphery
Former Nevermore guitarist Jeff Loomis will hit the road this March for a North American tour with Protest The Hero, Periphery, The Safety Fire And Today I Caught The Plague.

Loomis reveals the players he's brought in to accompany him on the stage include Joe Nurre - guitar (Shaded Enmity), Gregory Macklin - bass (System Divide, Ordinance) and Anup Sastry - drums (Intervals, Skyharbor).

"My good friend, Joe Nurre from up here in Seattle, will be playing guitar with me out on this run with Protest the Hero and Periphery. Some of you might have seen him play with Nevermore on the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise last year. I was lucky enough to find this killer drummer online. His name is Anup Sastry, I've seen him do these perfect drum covers on his Youtube page. I reached out and learned he plays in a few great bands as well. You should check out all the stuff he's done. Anup is based out in the DC area and brought in a friend of his, Greg Macklin, to do bass. Those guys are going to be getting together out there to start practicing the set. Joe and I will do the same over here and then a couple weeks before the tour, Joe and I will fly over Maryland and we'll all rehearse until we get things perfect. I can't wait to get out there and start playing live again. See you soon." more on this story

Rocco DeLuca Touring With Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Rocco DeLuca has announced a special series of dates with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

429 Records will release DeLuca forthcoming project "Drugs 'N Hymns," next month.

The album was produced by DeLuca and features guests such as the Echo Park Jubilee Tambo Flower Unsung Heroes Choir. more on this story

Cannibal Corpse To Lead Summer Slaughter Tour
Cannibal Corpse are set to headline the upcoming Summer Slaughter Tour of North America.

While the festival's full schedule and routing are still to be announced, the band is honored to be confirmed for the main slot of the trek.

Stated bassist Alex Webster: "We are very proud to be a part of this year's Summer Slaughter, the biggest and best extreme metal festival tour in North America. All fans of the heaviest forms of metal will find something for them on the bill. It's going to be brutal... see you in the pit!"

Concert review: Van Halen can still 'Jump' with the best of them at private concert

By Gerry Gittelson, Special to the Daily News

LOS ANGELES -- Being a rock journalist is not as fun as it used to be -- what is, these days? -- but a special moment arrived Wednesday when Van Halen, arguably the greatest American rock band of all-time, played a private show for an intimate crowd of about 300 in a special promotional event at a Hollywood rehearsal studio -- with free gourmet food, an open bar and unlimited chocolate treats thrown in.

The legendary band featuring singer David Lee Roth and guitarist Eddie Van Halen has a new album entitled "A Different Kind of Truth" that drops Tuesday, plus an arena tour beginning Feb. 18, so this was a celebration -- and a final tune-up -- of good things to come, as the group has found new life since the utterly flamboyant Roth rejoined four years ago.

There the band was, close enough to touch. Roth was his rock-god self as if 20,000 spectators were in attendance, and Eddie, truly an amazing musician, entertained with pitch-perfect riffs and unforgettable solos.

Van Halen played an hour set featuring most of the biggest hits like "Ain't Talkin' Bout Love," "Runnin' With the Devil," "Everybody Wants Some," "Hot For Teacher" and of course "Jump," while also treating us to a few new songs including the snappy new single "Tattoo."

During "Ice Cream Man," Roth, 56, opened his heart and did some reminiscing, reminding everyone of the days Van Halen was first playing at Gazzarri's (now the Key Club) on the Sunset Strip and how he used to enjoy hot dogs at Pink's, located a few doors down the road on La Brea Avenue.

The group is just starting up again, but the foursome (rounded out by drummer Alex Van Halen and 20-year-old bassist Wolfgang Van Halen) was in top form. The tempos were perfect, the volume was on 10, and Roth, still sliced and wearing a fancy leather, studded outfit, was spot-on, doing a fine job staying in key and not missing a single word.

Oh, this one was fun. Another hour or so would have been truly perfect, but nevertheless, this was an evening to remember forever.

VAN HALEN - FIRST IMPRESSIONS REVIEW:

So it's been almost 24hrs with Van Halen's newie A Different Kind Of Truth. Initial fan feedback from those that received their copies seems to match the enthusiasm of those still expecting it. The band needed to deliver and they have done just that.
My first reactions were sent out via Twitter last night. here's a rounded out summary of those thoughts. A full feature review of the album will be posted next week - as soon as I get at least 30 spins of the album done.
The best thing about this new album - besides actually hearing new material at last - is the amazing energy on display. And this is vintage Van Halen as promised.



Track by Track:

Tattoo - Weakest track on the album. Still find it an odd kind of opening track (She's The Woman has a far more authoritive intro), but we're all familiar with it now. VH at their most commercial pop. An easy track to ease the public back into the band. I still see it as a better track 2 or 3.

She's The Woman - great presence and a dirty riff to kick off. Simple chorus. Heavy groove.

Sweet instrumental bridge into the solo and a pounding rhythm section. EVH absolutely on fire!

You And Your Blues - Love the intro and the move into a big sonic blast. Dave sounds amazing. Classic VH meets darker dirty style like Humans Being or From Afar even. Monster song and fast solo, some big harmonies and generally a cool anthemic blast.

China Town - WOW! Blazing solo to kick off then triple time slamming drums and bass. Fast fast FAST and furious. Short Dave style chorus (typical throughout the album). That guitar sound is like Balance to these ears. Furious solo and drum flurry. Back to a steady vocal, old school Dave.

Blood And Fire - More old school VH here. Uptempo again. Simple chorus once again, but some nice riffing around the song. Has a 1984 feel to it. Surprise melodic bridge intro some tasty picking and a blazing heavy solo! Feels like the tempo picks up even more.

Bullethead - Fast and furious again and WTF was that guitar intro??!!! Simple fast one word chorus - classic Dave. But heavy and fast! Song includes the album's title in the lyrics. Effects in play for short solo. Fast rocking fun.

As Is - Loving this tune especially. This is HEAVY!!! And fast again with a Hot For Teacher vibe. How old are these guys again??? Great little chorus. Big BIG sound. And the close out is amazing. Guitars everywhere and dark and heavy. And some harmony box from DLR - who continues to sound incredible. What a solo! Fast furious shredding. Then into a Metallica heavy vibe. Now some HFT style spoken bridge.

Honeybabycutiedoll - Maybe the most bizarre guitar sound I've ever heard from EVH. Another uptempo track, a real groover. Dave speaks the vocals, but it works. One of those classic quirky VH tracks that each album seems to have one of.

The Trouble With Never - Another spoken word mid-track breakdown. Dave is having a blast and the groove of this album is unreal. Big commercial rocker that follows the last track perfectly. Big harmonies back again.

Outta Space - Another fast rocking groover. Yep, this beast is heavy! Another slamming display of rhythm. Dave vox really strong here.

Stay Frosty - Acoustic intro...Dave quirky lyrics and vocals and more spoken word stuff. Interesting use of DLR on this album. Then....BAM!...the song turns ULTRA heavy and features a monster groove. Mammoth close out with Alex going nuts.

Big River - More groove and lots of riffing. Dave going for a big vocal again. Fast and in your face again. Simple chorus as is the norm. Classic VH here. God the guitar sound is just HUGE!!!! Another great solo. Bit longer this time. Mixing riffs and picking.
Beats Working - Hard edged riff and matching drum beat. Fun rocker with more reminders of 1984. Defies explaining!

To summarize. The band have come together however they made it possible, but it's done and it's actually worth the wait. Another 30 plays and some flaws are going to come to light - Michael Anthony's trademark vocals an obvious point - but those flaws aren't going to be anything detrimental to the enjoyment of this album.
Every track has it's place and there's not a dull moment to be had.
The album is surprisingly heavy, very upbeat and has energy beyond description. This is not a 'chorus' album. Sammy Hagar brought that to the band, so fans of that era might be a little left out at times here. This is more a reflection of the classic vibe the band had in their early days. And why not - 7 of the album's tracks were moulded from 70s demos. But today they sound as fresh as they possibly could be. David Lee Roth's vocals have been wisely moulded into the groove of the album - its the best I've heard him since Eat Em And Smile. And the Van Halen's are simply stunning.
And to top it all off - ADKOT features a monster production job and a crystal clear mix. The guitars have real and immediate impact and the music is a finely balanced mix of old old classic familiar Van Halen along with and some fresh and recent Van Halen too.
It is everything Dave Halen fans have been waiting since 1984 for and there's plenty there too for Van Hagar fans. Full feature review to follow next week.