Today's Day In Rock!

Black Sabbath Playing US Festival
If you know the history of why Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne began Ozzfest you will find this news ironic. Black Sabbath are set to headline the Lollapalooza festival this year.
The former touring festival is once again happening over one weekend at Chicago's Grant Park. This year it will take place on August 3, 4 and 5th. The Sabbath set is being billed as their only North American appearance this year.

This year's festival will also feature the reunion of At The Drive-In, Red Hot Chili Peppers, he Black Keys, Jack White and more making up the 130 act roster. You can check out the lineup here.



Ronnie Montrose Death Ruled Suicide
(Gibson) New information has surfaced on the passing of guitar great Ronnie Montrose, who died earlier this year. The coroners report states that the rock legend died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His family have posted the following message on his website.

"By now, the devastating truth of Ronnie's death is public knowledge. We hope you can understand why we wanted to keep this news a private family matter for as long as possible. We can only hope that you will choose to celebrate Ronnie's life, and what his music meant to you, rather than mourn his passing. Ronnie would have wanted it that way. He loved being a guitarist, a composer, a producer, and a creator of magic. He fully understood his gifts, and yet he constantly pushed himself to evolve, improve, and make better music. He did this for himself, and he did this for you, because he adored and appreciated his fans. Please keep his energy, his joy, and his love in your hearts.

"Please note that there will be no more statements from the Montrose family at this time. We ask that you respect the family's privacy." more on this story





Rolling Stones Entering Recording Studio Next Month
(Gibson) Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood has told the Daily Mirror that the veteran British rock and roll band will be entering a recording studio next month to "throw some ideas around."

Wood explained that the band needs to get back into the groove. "It's like working out for the Olympics or something," Wood said. "You've got to go into training. So we're going to go into training."

This week Wood will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the Faces. While he's in the U.S., he will play a solo gig in Atlantic City. He also told the Mirror he might record another solo album. "Lots of people don't know I've made seven, 'cause most of my albums escape; they're not released. Keith [Richards] says they all skyrocket to oblivion." more on this story





New White Stripes DVD Coming
(Gibson) Jack White is putting out a new White Stripes live DVD via Third Man Records' Vault series. Under New Zealand Lights will be the 12th release in the series, and include performances from 2000 and 2003, according to NME.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, White lamented the end of the White Stripes. "I'd make a White Stripes record right now," he said. "I'd be in the White Stripes for the rest of my life. That band is the most challenging, important, fulfilling thing ever to happen to me. I wish it was still here. It's something I really, really miss."

The singer-guitarist said that drummer Meg White was the one who didn't want to continue in the duo anymore. "Some people can live their whole lives in limbo, I'd rather cut the lifeline so we can move on with our lives," Jack said. "There came a point where I said, 'If we're not doing this, we need to put an end to it right now.' And that's what she wanted to do." more on this story





The Darkness for Lady Gaga
(hennemusic) UK rockers The Darkness have announced their addition to the bill as main support for Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way Ball' tour.

The band will appear on Gaga's European dates, starting August 14 in Bulgaria, with shows currently scheduled into October.

Gaga is a big fan of hard rock and heavy metal; she's already spoken publicly about her love of Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, KISS, and others in the genre. It remains to be seen how the pop superstar's fans will react to a heavy rock act hitting the stage before their idol, but Gaga's support could sway her impressionable young followers in the right direction. more on this story



Clutch and Hellyeah Hit The Road
Clutch kicked off their co-headlining North American tour with Hellyeah last night in Norfolk, VA.

Clutch are on the road in support of their double vinyl edition of Blast Tyrant which is available via Weathermaker Music. 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.

Clutch will also be releasing a picture disc single of the new track "Pigtown Blues" on June 19th. This is the first new studio material from Clutch since 2009's Strange Cousins From the West. more on this story



Vampires Everywhere! Set New Album Release
Hollywood Waste Records have set a June 19th release date for Vampires Everywhere!'s sophomore album, Hellbound and Heartless.

Hellbound and Heartless was co-produced by the band and Mike Sarkisyan and Tommy Decker, both members of Spineshank.

In support of the release, Vampires Everywhere! will be on the full Warped Tour this summer. more on this story



Ryan Roxie Reunites With Alice Cooper
Ryan Roxie has reunited with Alice Cooper, joining his band line-up for the 2012 "No More Mr Nice Guy" tour.

The band lineup also feature bassist Chuck Garric, drummer Glen Sobel and guitarists Tommy Henriksen and Orianthi.

"It's great to bring Ryan back into the fold," says Alice, "This band just destroys on stage, and with Ryan back on board, he will only kick things into a higher gear. Ryan Roxie is a fan favorite. He plays like a tornado, and we can't wait to turn him loose and let him tear into this tour." more on this story



JuiceheaD and Osaka Popstar Take On Fugazi Classic
(GA) JuiceheaD and Osaka Popstar have teamed up to take on the challenge of covering the Fugazi classic, "Waiting Room."

A limited copy of the cover's 7" will be released on Record Store Day (April 21st) with exclusive artwork by world-renowned Shepard Fairey (Obey Giant Art/Studio Number One).

Long-time Misfits and Ramones collaborator, John Cafiero (Osaka Popstar), who just edited and contributed an afterword to the recently released Johnny Ramone autobiography ("Commando"), and Misfits Records artist JuiceheaD took the classic track and pumped up the volume with heavy guitar riffs and the call and response chants by the two vocalists trading off. more on this story


Moonsorrow Ink New Deal
Century Media Records have signed a world wide record deal with Moonsorrow and the label sent over these comments:

"Moonsorrow are thrilled to start working with Century Media, a label that is home to many fellow artists already! We never make our music half way or with compromises and we know our art is in good hands with people who have the same mentality in running a record label. Now, after a year since the release of our last album we are ready to begin creating something new. The new chapter in this epic journey of Moonsorrow!"

Jens Prueter, Head Of A&R at Century Media Europe: "I followed Moonsorrow since their early days and I'm very proud to welcome them now to Century Media Records. They'll be in good family along with their countrymen Finntroll, Turisas and Insomnium. Two of the band members already have some history with us: Henri Sorvali is also part of Finntroll (even if he rarely plays live with any band) and Marko Tarvonen once moved from drums to guitar in the overlooked Death Metal allstar band Chaosbreed, who released an album that is as 'brutal' as its title." more on this story



Hypocrisy Working On New Album
Hypocrisy are working on new material for their 13th studio album, which they plan to release next year but they wanted to update fans on the progress and posted the following update on their Facebook page:

"We're now focusing on writing new songs for the next album. We've already some new material and it sounds killer! The plan is to record the new album in the autumn this year and release it in the first half of 2013. So far everything is working out as planned and we're really excited to bring out the new release.

"Between the writing process we're also doing some festival shows and we hope to see you all there! We'll keep you updated what's going on with the band!"



Brian Jonestown Massacre Hitting The Road
Brian Jonestown Massacre will embark on a Midwest and East coast tour supporting their new album, Aufheben, which will be released on May 1, 2012.

Opening for Brian Jonestown Massacre on the east coast dates only is the Minneapolis band, Magic Castles who released their eponymous double album on March 20th, 2012 through Anton Newcombe's own 'a' Records.

Anton Newcombe remembers, "The song that introduced me to Magic Castles was 'Ballad of the Golden Bird.' I really think it is special, so much so, I decided to ask the group if I could release this record through my label, 'a' Records. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do..." more on this story



Pink Floyd TV Retrospective
Music Choice is presenting the US TV debut of a retrospective of the band entitled: A Pink Floyd Miscellany: 1967-2005.

The special program, featuring a selection of digitally remastered promotional videos and rare performance footage, will air nationally on MC On Demand April 2-29, 2012.

The show will appear in a special Pink Floyd category On Demand under Featured Artists. It will be housed in two (2) thirty minute segments along with additional features in the category, including a rare short film on the band and a special interview with drummer Nick Mason.



Red Jacket Mine Set New 7 Inch Release
Red Jacket Mine will release their second 7" of the year on May 29th when they deliver "Bellar & Bawl" b/w "Grow Your Own".

They'll celebrate with a hometown show in Seattle at Darrell's Tavern with the Tripwires on Friday, June 8th. Each record is collectible limited edition colored vinyl (the first "Listen Up" was chocolate; the new one will resemble a refreshing glass of pilsner).

These A-sides and another coming later this year will be included on an upcoming full length, due out in early 2013. more on this story



Demon Hunter Singled Out Week: My Destiny
Demon Hunter released their new album, True Defiance, this week. To celebrate we asked frontman Ryan Clark to tells us about some of his favorite tracks from the album. Today he tells us about "My Destiny."

This song went through a few titles before I settled on "My Destiny." Some working titles were "Stab," "Blinded," and "They Carried Us Away." In the end, "My Destiny" just made the most sense.

Sometimes I'll toil away, trying to find the perfect word for a particular line. This was very true in regard to the first line of this chorus. For some reason I was having the hardest time filling in "We were blinded by the ______ light." When I finally stumbled upon "sacred," it was perfect. It's essentially the word I was looking for the whole time and I feel like it really brings life to that section.

I'm especially proud of the guitar melodies in the chorus. I really like the way that part moves- the way the lead repeats while the rhythm changes. It's little details like this that I get really stoked on.

The raspier, higher-pitched screaming vocals that you hear in the verses are something that I started playing with on "This Is The Line" from The World Is A Thorn. There are certain parts (usually to do with time signature, tempo and guitar melody) that to me, just beg for a more villainous sounding vocal. You'll notice the second half of the verses on "This Is The Line" have a similar feel to these verses. I don't think this vocal style is necessarily pre-determined, but it just feels right for certain parts.

This song wasn't an immediate choice for the first single/video from this record... but the more we discussed it, the more we were all really drawn to it. I think it's a unanimous favorite among the guys in the band- or at least in everyone's top three.

This is one of the only Demon Hunter songs that is heavy and aggressive pretty much all the way through, but tells a really uplifting story. I call it a "heritage" piece, because it's about growing up in the suburbs, spending most of my time skateboarding with friends, getting into trouble, not knowing what I wanted to do with my life... and the moment that I found music, and everything changed. I remember going to my first live show and just being enthralled by it all. That's what the song refers to when it says "but the fear, the blood, the sweat and sound." It was the passion and the honesty of it that drew me in. Ever since I was 15, I knew that I'd be doing music for the rest of my life. This is kind of a common thread between the guys in the band, though it happened long before we knew each other. It's awesome to see it bonding us so many years later.

I wanted the music video to tell this story. The idea of kids in the 'burbs... just skating and hanging out... getting psyched on killer music. There are five kids- which is supposed to give the vague idea that it might be the teenage versions of us. For the performance footage I wanted us to be playing in a small, junky old rehearsal space, to really convey that old punk work ethic that guys our age grew up with. There are a few inspirational posters on the wall, dirty carpets, bad fluorescent lighting, and a lot of sweat. I think the video really speaks to the concept of the song.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and learn more about the album right here!



B Sides


KISS Lick it Up on DWTS
(hennemusic) KISS rocked their second night on ABC's Dancing With the Stars Tuesday evening.

On Monday, the band opened the show's "Rock Week" theme with a bang, delivering their classic, "Rock And Roll All Nite".

Tuesday was the weekly results show, as contestants found out who viewers voted to keep in the competition. For their performance of "Lick It Up" – from the band's non-makeup era – the group (in full costume) was surrounded by dancers…and plenty of pyro. Watch it here.



Q&A With Meat Loaf
MSO have published a new Q&A with Meat Loaf on their raisethequestion.com website. They caught up with him to discuss his new album Hell In A Handbasket and his upcoming tour, which starts June 22 in Austin, TX.

Q: What separates the "Mad Mad World Tour" from other tours you've done? - Meat Loaf: We've got a new album, Hell In A Handbasket, and we're playing songs from that. We're doing a couple songs from other albums that we've never done live before. It's a Meat Loaf show. Meat Loaf shows are dramatic and funny. People who come to Meat Loaf shows know what to expect. They know they're going to get full-on energy with the best rock 'n' roll band in the world. That's not an opinion. That's the truth.

Q: How would you describe a Meat Loaf show to the uninitiated? Meat Loaf: It's high energy. We sing and play live. It's not on tape. I do my own choreography [laughs]. It's a rock 'n' roll show. If you've never been to a Meat Loaf concert, you should go because you've never seen anything like it.

Q: In your opinion, what makes a great show? Meat Loaf: Well, a great play can be done with a table, a light, and four chairs. Great shows are about people. You don't want to put up a wall with laser lights, production, and dancers. It's really about going out there and putting on the show of these people's lives without all of the bells and whistles. That's why I don't carry much production. I've never had more than five trucks. Some artists go out in 28 trucks. We don't camouflage anything. It's a show about the truth. The object of a show is not to high-five the guy in the front row, blow a kiss to the girl in side stand, or wave to the people in the back. The object is to give the crowd the true meaning and feeling of the songs you're singing or playing. It's about energy and tension. After my show, you're going to leave saying, "How the hell does he do that?" and "I'm tired." Anyone who attends will leave excited and worn out because of the amount of energy coming off that stage. It's not just from me either.

Q: Who else is on that stage? Meat Loaf: Oh, there's the best drummer in the world, John Miceli. On bass, I've got Danny Miranda who I stole from Queen. Brian May's pissed [laughs]. Dave Luther is on saxophone and keyboards, but he also plays guitar and sings. Then, I've got Justin Avery on piano. When we give him the chance to open up and do things, people's mouths hang open. I'm not kidding you. Flies would fly in their mouths. They sit there saying, "Oh my God, I've never heard anything like it." I've never heard a piano player like him either. As for guitarists, Paul Crook comes from the metal school, and Randy Flowers comes from the country school. Put them together, and you get amazing guitar. We've got [singer] Patti Russo who's like a whirling dervish. I'm up there, and I fight for every moment of passion and truth you can get out of those songs. I only know two speeds: "Don't go" or "Go." Either I rehearse at the same speed I play a show or I don't rehearse. Read the rest here.



Steel Panther Appear on Dancing With The Stars
(hennemusic) It was a double-shot of rock on Dancing With The Stars Monday night. The "Rock Week"-themed episode opened with a KISS performance, which rated 11's across the board by the judges in true Spinal Tap fashion.

Later in the show, Satchel and Michael Starr of Steel Panther offered to help teach Cuban-born actor William Levy some style essentials to get him in the spirit of the night.

The guys offered William and partner Cheryl Burke some advice on everything from fashion tips to rock moves. Check it out here.



Anniversary of Guns N' Roses' Sweet Child Video
(Gibson) On this day in 1988, Guns N' Roses shot the video for "Sweet Child o' Mine." Gibson takes a look back: Released in the U.S. on August 18, 1988, "Sweet Child o' Mine" was Guns N' Roses' third single from their blockbuster debut album, Appetite for Destruction. It would go on to become Guns' first and only #1 single in the U.S., as well as rack up countless high rankings on a plethora of "all-time best" lists, including #1 on Kerrang's list of "100 Greatest Riffs," #1 on Total Guitar's "Greatest Riffs of All Time," #37 on Guitar World's "100 Greatest Guitar Solos," and so on. The list is long.

By most accounts, "Sweet Child o' Mine" was little more than a song born out of chance, boredom and no small amount of sheer luck. Slash, the creator of the song's signature riff, has even been quoted as having a smidge of loving disdain for the song, relegating that classic riff into little more than a "string skipping" exercise. During a VH-1 special, the Chapeaued Shredder admitted that the riff was joke, a "circus" melody he came up with while warming up with former GN'R drummer, Steven Adler. Co-guitarist Izzy Stradlin soon joined the jam with bassist Duff McKagan, while upstairs Axl Rose heard the boys and started writing lyrics, which he based on his girlfriend at the time, former Whilhelmina model (and daughter of Don Everly of the Everly Brothers) Erin Everly. The song originally had three verses, but producer Mike Clink convinced the band to use only two, while also including Axl's "Where do we go? Where do we go now?" mid-song breakdown.

McKagan told Hit Parader, "It was written in five minutes. It was one of those songs, only three chords. You know that guitar lick Slash does at the beginning? It was kinda like a joke because we thought, 'What is this song? It's gonna be nothing. It'll be filler on the record.' Slash was just messing around when he first wrote that lick."

On this day in 1988, Guns N' Roses and their girlfriends at the time (and Izzy's dog) went into a Huntington Beach, CA ballroom and shot the video for "Sweet Child o' Mine." Axl later told radio show host Eddie Trunk that his original vision for the video was one revolving around drug trafficking, where, at some point, a dead baby is involved. Good times! Geffen Records nixed that idea in a hurry

Today's Day In Rock!

Queen To Play Four Concerts With Adam Lambert
(hennemusic) Queen have confirmed that they'll be playing four shows this summer with Adam Lambert fronting the legendary group.
Billboard reports that, despite the recent cancellation of the combo's appearance at Sonisphere UK, an event that was shut down, the Queen + Lambert lineup will play a June 30 show in Moscow, and also play on a bill with Elton John in Kiev as well as do two early July shows at the Hammersmith Apollo to provide "some alternative... for some of the people who had bought tickets" to Sonisphere.

Details for the other three dates will be announced soon. "We're really excited about it," Queen's Roger Taylor says. "Adam... of course he has this unbelievable range, like Freddie (Mercury) had range. Adam can really cover it. He's an extraordinary singer and a real talent. I feel he fits into our sort of theatricality." more on this story


Zakk Wylde, Corey Taylor, Yngwie, Satriani, Paul Gilbert For Marshall Concert
(Gibson) A star-studded show celebrating the 50th anniversary of the advent of the Marshall amplifier takes on greater resonance in the wake of Jim Marshall's passing on Thursday (April 5). Titled "50 Years of Loud … Live," the event is set to take place September 22 at London's Wembley Arena.

Appearing will be a who's who of guitar greats, including Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert, Zakk Wylde, Yngwie Malmsteen and Corey Taylor, among others.

Paul Marshall, the firm's Head of Artist Liaison, spoke with Total Guitar about the event when it was announced in March. "Artists play a massive role in the company, and are very much part of the Marshall family," he said. "Over the five decades of Marshall's history, practically every guitar hero has used Marshall: Richie Blackmore, Jeff Beck, Gary Moore, Slash, the list goes on…. This event is a celebration of the Marshall family and we are honored so many artists want to get involved." more on this story




Chris Daughtry Vs Former Band
Chris Daughtry is being sued by his pre-American Idol bandmates that claim they are owed royalties for four hit Daughtry songs including the hit song "Home".

Prior to becoming a finalist on American Idol and launching his multi-platinum band Daughtry, Chris Daughtry was in a band called Absent Element with bass player Ryan Andrews, drummer Scott Crawford, and guitarist Mark Perry. The three have now filed suit in North Carolina seeking royalties for songs they say they had a hand in writing with Chris Daughtry.

Apart from "Home," Daughtry's formerband mates are seeking royalties for the songs "Breakdown," "Conviction," and "Sinking." The Charlotte Observer reports that the lawsuit states "All four members wrote music and lyrics for Absent Element's songs, collaborated on the arrangement and recording of those songs, regularly consulted with each other on matters relating to the business of the band, and made partnership decisions based on majority votes." more on this story


Mastodon Team Up With Feist For Special Release
(Gibson) In perhaps the most unlikely musical pairing since …well, ever, Mastodon and Canadian singer-songwriter Feist have partnered up to offer an exclusive split seven-inch single to celebrate Record Store Day on April 21.

This is no mere "slap a Feist song on one side and a Mastodon tune on the other" offering though: the disc features Feist covering Mastodon's "Black Tongue" while the Atlanta progressive-metallers perform Feist's "A Commotion."

The collaboration came about after the two acts performed on the same episode of the BBC television program Later… With Jools Holland. Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor recently told Sweden's Metalshrine,"It's fun for us. I mean, most times we end up doing covers of bands that are already sort of heavy or that is already in that vein, like the Melvins, Thin Lizzy, Metallica, you know what I mean? What are you gonna do to those songs to make them your own? …You don't really wanna mess with it. With Feist, it's something that we could really play with and do something different with." more on this story




Singled Out: Adler's The One That You Hate
Original Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler is back with a new band called Adler and today they are releasing their first single, "The One That You Hated." To celebrate we asked frontman Jacob Bunton to tell us about it:

This was actually one of the first songs that Lonny and I co-wrote together. I had the music and verses laying around for a while, but couldn't quite nail the chorus. One day we were sitting in Lonny's office and I played him the song in it's original form. When I got to the chorus, Lonny started singing "I'm the one that you hated / the one you didn't want to believe. I thought it was great! We immediately finished the song, recorded a demo, and took it to Steven. Lonny and I have a great chemistry together, so it just flowed naturally.

The lyrics are about two people that are no good for each other, but for whatever reason won't break up. I've seen it a million times over the years. Maybe it's the sex, maybe it's the convenience, maybe they're just scared to move on and start over, but a lot of people seem to be attracted to the people that they hate. Love and hate are intimately linked within the human brain.

This was one of the last songs that we recorded for the album even though we wrote it early on. One night Slash was at the studio and we played him a couple of the songs. When this song started playing, he was grinning ear to ear, so we knew either it's a kick ass song or it's so bad we're making him laugh. A few days later John 5 from Rob Zombie's band came to the studio and listened to some songs. He had the same reaction and stopped us after the first chorus and said "That's It! That's your first single!"

The single hits iTunes today. You can grab it here. Revolver Mag has a stream here and you can learn more about the group right here!


Guns N' Roses and Marilyn Manson Headlining New Festival
Guns N' Roses and Marilyn Manson have been tapped to headline a new music festival in Spain which will feature 3 stages and 50 artists.

Costa de Fuego in Benicassim is set to take place on July 20 and 21st and will feature international as well as national acts.

Organizers have announced that the lineup will include: Nightwish, In Flames, Opeth, Paradise Lost, Warcry, Lacuna Coil, Katanoia, Amorphis, We Are The Ocean, Baron Rojo, Obus, Hamlet, Berri Txarrak, Cancer Bats, Steel Horse and Noctem. Learn more about the event here.


Queen Have The Top Selling Album of All Time In The UK
(hennemusic) Queen are the kings of the best-selling albums of all time in the UK. The BBC reports Queen's "Greatest Hits" tops a new list of the country's biggest-selling albums, with lifetime sales of 5.8 million copies.

Its nearest rival is The Beatles' "Sgt Pepper" album, with sales of 5 million, followed by Abba's "Gold" with 4.9 million.

The top 40 chart has been compiled for the BBC by the Official Charts Company, and will be revealed in full on BBC Radio 2 by DJ Tony Blackburn on Monday. more on this story


Train To Be Rachael Ray's House Band
Train are set to become the house band on daytime talk show "Rachael Ray," for next week (Monday, April 16, through Friday, April 20.)

The band is appearing to celebrate the release of their new album, California 37, which will be available in stores and online Tuesday, April 17.

The band's "Rachael Ray" performances will include "Hey Soul Sister"/"Bruises" (Monday), "Drive By"/"Feels Good At First" (Tuesday), "Marry Me"/"This'll Be My Year" (Wednesday), "50 Ways To Say Goodbye"/"Meet Virginia" (Thursday) and "Drops of Jupiter"/"Mermaid" (Friday).


Shai Hulud Working With Chad Gilbert On New Album
Shai Hulud are reteaming with Chad Gilbert on their forth album which they are getting ready to record. Their camp set out these details:

Matt Fox, Matt Fletcher and company have completed writing the new album, and have confirmed that they've enlisted the production talents of original Hulud vocalist and current New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert, the vocalist on Shai Hulud's debut full length album "Hearts Once Nourished With Hope And Compassion"! Gilbert's production resume includes work with H20, A Day To Remember, Terror, Trapped Under Ice, Set Your Goals, and more.

Chad Gilbert elaborates: "Matt Fox from Shai Hulud hit me up while on tour about potentially producing their new album. I immediately thought it could be an interesting and fun team up but I really wanted to hear new demos before agreeing. He sent me a few new songs and I was pleasantly surprised! The songs were awesome and felt very classic; the melodic hardcore metal they are already admired for but taken to another level. I think with us teamed up we can make the best Shai Hulud record yet!" more on this story


Tom Waits To Rock Letterman and Fallon
(hennemusic) Tom Waits will be making not one, but two, rare tv appearances later this month.

Waits is set to appear on The Late Show with David Letterman on April 24, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on April 25.

Tom will sit down to chat with the hosts and, for the very first time, perform songs from his 2011 release, "Bad As Me." more on this story


Phil Collins Double DVD Coming Next Month
Eagle Rock Entertainment will follow up the recently released Blu-Ray of Phil Collins Live At Montreux 2004 with a 2-DVD set on May 1st.

Filmed in high definition, recorded in Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby 5.1 Surround and DTS, with a running time of approximately three and a half hours spread over the two discs, Live At Montreux 2004 includes all the greatest hits of his legendary career. The 25-song 2004 concert encapsulates the essence of this great artist, who has performed on the Montreux stage numerous times. One such time, in 1996, was with a Jazz Big-Band. Thirteen songs from that '96 performance—including one with Tony Bennett ("There'll Be Some Changes Made")—serve as a bonus feature (in standard definition).

The Main Program is a stunning reminder of a storied career: From "In The Air Tonight" "You Can't Hurry Love" and "Easy Lover" to "A Groovy Kind Of Love" "Another Day In Paradise" "One More Night" and "Against All Odds" the set-list accentuates the wildly fluctuating amount of genres and styles that Collins has smoothly assimilated within his own personal flair. more on this story


Loverboy Reunite With Bob Rock
Loverboy recently reunited with Bob Rock, who engineered their very first album back in 1980 which was produced by Bruce Fairbairn, for a new song, "Heartbreaker."

Loverboy will also hit the road with Journey and Pat Benatar featuring Neil Giraldo for an arena tour that gets underway July 21 at the San Manuel Amphitheatre in San Bernardino, CA, running all the way through December. Scheduled 2012 tour information is listed below.

Founding Loverboy member Paul Dean commented: "It's great coming full circle 30 years later. We first toured with Journey in 1982 on the success of our Get Lucky album. It was an amazing package then and it's an amazing package today." more on this story



Your Chance To Win A Vegas Trip To Play Blackjack with Nickelback
(SM) Nickelback fans are begin offered the chance to win a trip for six to board a private jet to Las Vegas where they will get VIP tickets to see Nickelback perform on tour June 16, 2012 at the MGM Garden Arena.

The lucky winner and guests will have after party access and accommodations - the winner will enjoy a suite and each of the five guests will receive a king room at the MGM Grand. Additionally, the winner will receive $5,000 cash to play "Blackjack With Nickelback."

"We can't wait to have one of our amazing fans plus five lucky friends win the opportunity to join us in one of the wildest cities in the world," said Nickelback front man Chad Kroeger. "Every show is a party with our fans but the Las Vegas shows are always some of the most memorable (at least for that night). So get your game face on 'cause we're going to play blackjack in Sin City." more on this story



This Providence Set New EP release
This Providence will release a brand new EP, called Brier, on May 1st following up this week's release of a new single entitled "Trouble".

The EP was produced by Matt Grabe (The Maine, A Rocket To The Moon, The Summer Set) and will be released via the band's new imprint Magic Mike Records.

With the self-release of the Brier EP next month, and while in the midst of a cross country tour with Go Radio, This Providence is looking ahead at a new chapter for the band, and they invite their fans to join them. As Young explained in a statement to www.Altpress.com last month, "I can not wait to release these gems. If you live in the States, chances are we'll be playing somewhere close to you. If not, change your definition of close. I'll be spending the next two months with four other overly sensitive musicians, in an unpretentious, American-made, 15-passenger van, driving thousands of miles all over this liberated piece of dirt! Why don't you come out and return the favor? Show us a little enthusiasm! We're looking to make our mark in music, things feel different. It's exciting. Don't wish us luck, be a part of this."



McCartney and Ringo Reunion At Change Begins Within To Be Televised
Former Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr reunited on an American stage for the first time in 17 years during a historic April 2009 Radio City Music Hall benefit concert.

The concert is set to be broadcast on New York PBS station Thirteen on Sunday, April 29, at 10:30 pm (check local listings for broadcast dates and times in your area).

McCartney performs a set of Beatles, Wings and solo classics; Starr sings his own set of Beatle and solo hits. McCartney and Starr join together on stage for "With A Little Help from My Friends," Paul's rarely performed "Cosmically Conscious," and Beatle fan favorite "I Saw Her Standing There." more on this story


Jimmy Dillon and Lorin Rowan Launch San Francisco Music Club
Veteran rockers Jimmy Dillon and Lorin Rowan have rejoined forces to form San Francisco Music Club and will release their new album, "Love and Freedom", in May.

The group's official CD release party will be held at the legendary Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, California on May 5th, 2012, and will feature a myriad of guest performances by some very talented musicians.

"Love and Freedom" will be available physically on May 5th, 2012 in retail stores and online retailers everywhere. The digital version of the album will be available on iTunes and other digital retailers on May 22nd, 2012. more on this story

More on San Francisco Music Club - San Francisco Music Club Music - San Francisco Music Club Tour Dates/Tickets - San Francisco Music Club CDs, vinyl and rarities
Crossfade Summer Tour
Crossfade will be hitting the road this summer for a North American headlining tour.

The tour is set to kick off on June 1st in Knoxville, TN and run through July 1st in Charlotte, NC.

Crossfade will be joined on the trek by Weaving the Fate, as well as Candlelight Red. more on this story



Create Avoid Releasing New Music Next Month
(ESM) Pure Noise Records have set a May 22nd release date for Create Avoid's "Pastime" 7"/EP.

The record is made up of four new songs that were engineered and produced by Sam Pura at The Panda Studios.

The Riverside, CA hardcore/metal 5-piece will play a hometown record release show on May 25 at Riverside's The Vibe. more on this story


B Sides


Watch Foo Fighters Rock Lollapalooza Brazil
(hennemusic) The Foo Fighters rocked Lollapalooza Brazil on the weekend, and video of the band's full set has surfaced.

The event, at the Jockey Club is Sao Paulo, was headlined by the Foos on Saturday and Arctic Monkeys on Sunday; other acts on the weekend bill included Jane's Addiction, Staind, Band Of Horses and Cage The Elephant.

The Foos rocked a 2.5 hour, 26-song set full of material from the band's entire career. During the encores, Dave Grohl & Co. were joined by Joan Jett for two songs, "Bad Reputation" and "I Love Rock 'N' Roll." Watch it here.


KISS' Dancing With The Stars Performance Now Online
(hennemusic) KISS performed on ABC's Dancing With the Stars Monday night. If you missed it you can watch the performance online.

It was "rock week" on the show, and KISS were on hand to open the proceedings with their classic, "Rock And Roll All Nite."

Throughout the episode, the contestants danced to tracks by artists like The Rolling Stones, Twisted Sister, Queen and The White Stripes, among others.

KISS will do it all over again on Tuesday, when they'll be on the show to play "Lick It Up." Watch Monday's performance here.


Video of Jane's Addition Lollapalooza Brazil Set Online
(hennemusic) Jane's Addiction must have felt right at home in Sao Paulo on the weekend as the band performed at Lollapalooza Brazil. Now, video of the band's full set has surfaced.

In 1991, Jane's singer Perry Farrell conceived and created the Lollapalooza brand, with the intent of using the vehicle as a farewell tour for the band. The event has since expanded internationally in recent years, beyond its North American roots, to stages in South America.

Jane's played the early evening slot on Sunday, before headliners Arctic Monkeys closed out the festival. Watch it here.


The Death of the Fifth Beatle
(Gibson) On this day in 1962, The Beatles' original bass player Stuart Sutcliffe died of a brain hemorrhage in an ambulance on the way to hospital. Sutcliffe had left the group to stay in Hamburg, Germany with his girlfriend photographer Astrid Kirchherr and to pursue his art studies. Gibson takes a look back: Stuart Sutcliffe, the so-called "Fifth Beatle" – or perhaps the "First Beetle," since it was he who named them The Beetles – died at just 21 years of age, on this very day, in 1962.

The early Beatles' unofficial style guru, Sutcliffe was revered by John Lennon from the day they met in art school in 1958. Lennon wanted Sutcliffe in The Quarrymen and when Stu encouraged him to change the band's name, he did so without hesitation. Founding editor of the seminal Merseybeat paper Bill Harry remembers this momentous moment at beatlesagain.com

"I sat 'round with Stu and John while they were trying to come up with a name for John's group, which Stu had now joined," Harry said. "Stu suggested that they coin a name similar to that of Buddy Holly's backing group the Crickets. So, insects it was. They came up with Beetles, although it wasn't until August of that year that the name finally evolved as the Beatles.

"I must admit I was surprised when, decades later, people seemed to think that the name came from the film The Wild One, which was actually banned in Britain for 14 years and the group had never even seen the film!"

In Germany with the band, it was the artistic Sutcliffe who gravitated towards the Hamburg art scene and thanks to new love, former fashion student Astrid Kirchherr, was the first Beatle to wear a collarless jacket and to comb his hair forward in the style that would take hold all over the world, the mop-top.

In July 1961, Sutcliffe, the Beatles' original bass player left the band, choosing to devote his energy to his painting, and enrolled in the Hamburg College of Art. Still close with The Beatles, he went back to Liverpool for a visit but, according to Bill Harry, didn't look well.

"Stuart looked absolutely god-awful," Harry recalled in Merseybeat. "It was almost scary seeing what had become of him. He was pale and withered and complained about headaches, severe headaches that would almost cripple him."

Back again in Germany, Sutcliffe continued to suffer from blinding and debilitating headaches, which he described in several letters home to Lennon. But neither he nor Astrid took them seriously enough to think they could prove fatal.

Today's Day In Rock!

Axl's Take On Possibility of Guns N' Roses Reunion Tour
(hennemusic) Guns N' Roses fans continue to wait on official word of the band's status at next week's Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony.
By all appearances, the reunion of the original GNR lineup hinges on Axl Rose, as all other band members – except Izzy Stradlin – are expected on hand in Cleveland for the event.

While Axl continues to be a self-created mystery, he was caught on video Friday night leaving the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood with (Axl obsessed) singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey and asked by the paparazzi at TMZ if there is any chance of GNR doing a reunion tour with the original lineup.

He responded, "Not in this lifetime."


KISS To Play Dancing With The Stars This Week
(hennemusic) KISS continue work on promoting their upcoming summer tour with Motley Crue.

The band will perform on the April 9 and April 10 episodes of of ABC-TV's "Dancing With The Stars" - episodes air tonight (Monday) at 8 p.m. EST and Tuesday at 9 p.m. EST.

Billed as "The Tour," the KISS/Motley shows mark the first time the two bands have shared a stage since 1982. more on this story


Sebastian Bach Pulls Skid Row Reunion Prank
(hennemusic) Sebastian Bach had some fun recently when he posted an April Fools' gag suggesting that he was reuniting with his old band.

Here's the post: "Wow, i have been waiting a long time to make this announcement. It looks like the stars have finally aligned! It is amazing to me to say that ... Yes... Talks are underway for the reunion tour of all reunion tours!! I am happy to announce I am negotiating details with my old band & we are gonna get the band back together for an epic tour of sheds, arenas, casinos & marinas that will span the globe! We are going to start immediately on our new CD "Rock Sucker" that is guaranteed to be Eddie Trunks wet dream come true & we are all getting along famously! Or infamously, as the (hard) case may be! More details to come, watch this space!!"

Bach later confessed to the prank - which was picked up as a real item by FOX News – and added, "where there is smoke, there is fire. Kinda sorta." more on this story



Hear Steven Adler's New Song
(hennemusic) Original Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler been working in the studio on his debut album with his current band, now known as "Adler." The group features frontman Jacob Bunton (Lynam, Mars Electric), and Lonny Paul (Adler's Appetite).

"I love the music that we're creating!" states Adler. "I haven't been this excited about my band since the GN'R days. Jacob is exactly the singer I have been searching for. He has an amazing range and is a great writer and frontman. Lonny is an amazing guitarist and songwriter and the vibe is amazing!"

Adler will issue their debut single, "The One That You Hated," on iTunes on April 10th. Have a listen here. Have a listen here.



Bob Dylan Classic To Be Made Into A Movie
(Gibson) A film treatment is planned for one of Bob Dylan's most acclaimed albums, Entertainment Weekly has reported. The movie rights for Blood on the Tracks, the 1975 album Dylan made as his marriage to Sara Lownds was crumbling, has been purchased by Brazil-based production company RT Features. Company executives Rodrigo Teixeira and Fernando Loureiro said they will produce an English-language feature film based on the emotionally charged album, which includes such classic Dylan songs as "Tangled Up in Blue" and "Simple Twist of Fate."

"As long time admirers of one of the greatest albums in the history of music, we feel privileged to be making this film," said Teixeira, in a prepared statement. "Our goal is to work with a filmmaker who can create a classic drama with characters and an environment that capture the feelings that the album inspires in all fans."

No timetable has been set for the film's production. Teixera and Loureiro added that they hope to find a director "with the unique vision to fulfill on screen what Dylan accomplished in the studio." more on this story





Demon Hunter Singled Out Week: Someone To Hate
Demon Hunter release their new album, True Defiance, this week. To celebrate we asked frontman Ryan Clark to tells us about some of his favorite tracks from the album. Today he tells us about "Someone To Hate."

Interestingly enough, "Someone To Hate" was actually the original title for "Collapsing," the lead single from our previous album, The World Is A Thorn. As a matter of fact, there is an original version of "Collapsing" with some of these lyrics on it, and at that time, the verses were all screaming vocals. We went back into the studio after we'd finished the whole record (which is the only time we've done that) to revise the song. I completely rewrote the verses and pre-chorus, and we decided to do melodic singing vocals throughout the entire song.

When writing songs for True Defiance, I came back to the lyrics and title for "Someone To Hate" because I still liked them and I didn't want them to go to waste. I did end up rewriting the bulk of them, but the general idea is still there.

The working title for the demo of this song was shamelessly titled "Slay" for fairly obvious reasons. I first wrote the opening guitar lead and it was just begging for a rhythmic gallop over the top. I think it sounds insanely hard. The picking for that lead was actually 1/4 the speed on the original demo and Patrick suggested we speed it up like a black metal lead, which was a great idea. The same is true for the bending note in the pre-chorus. It was originally one strum, bent in time. Aside from the amazing solos, this is where Patrick really shines- he takes my basic ideas and makes them much cooler. Every occurrence of a pinch harmonic (which you can hear in this song) is also his personal input. I leave most of these details to him as he's 10 times the guitar player I am. I love pinch harmonics, especially when used tastefully. They immediately remind me of the mighty Tommy Victor, which is a very good thing.

This song features one of my favorite guitar solos on the new record as well. When we were getting ready to record, I showed Patrick an At The Gates solo and said, "Hear that? That little stutter effect? I want that in a solo!" I assumed it was a pedal effect, and Patrick said, "No, that's him tapping the whammy bar really fast." I was like, "Seriously?" And he was right. You can hear what I'm referring to right in the middle of this solo. It's an awesome little detail.

The keyboards in the bridge section are all Aaron Sprinkle's handy work. This kind of thing is definitely one of Aaron's strong suits- the little details that add so much to the song. One of my favorite Sprinkle additions also appears in this song- at the beginning of the very last chorus. He created this really cool electronic part that adds a great dynamic to the section. It reminds me a little of Nine Inch Nails, a little of Soilwork. Either one being awesome.

One last minute addition was the line "Heart is cold" at the top of the chorus. I felt that the vocals came in too late in the chorus, so a short line tagged onto the beginning was the perfect remedy.

The lyrics to the song speak about the idea of being hated by those that oppose my world view, and how being someone to hate isn't something I'll necessarily shy away from, if it's for the things I believe in whole-heartedly. In this scene, if you aren't making someone upset, you're not saying much of anything.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and learn more about the album right here!



As Bret Michaels Sees It
(hennemusic) Bret Michaels has announced the upcoming launch of a new column on his website.

Michaels is a rockstar, philanthropist, entrepreneur and TV star - for every one of those sides of Bret there is a story as to how he got there and where he is going: how the singer has pushed the boundaries, fought his diabetes and succeeded in so many different arenas of life.

Bret will now detail his thoughts on health, wealth, love and the pursuit of happiness (among other things), with the launch of his new column, "Music For Your Soul." more on this story


Slayer Now Reign in Wine
(Gibson) Thrash metal heroes Slayer have launched their own brand of wine. The red wine, Reign in Blood, is a Cabernet Sauvignon from California.

According to the wine's website, Reign in Blood is "as uncompromising and tough as the band. After a couple of Seasons in the Abyss, the wine has an undisputed attitude and a soft nose of dark berry fruits with oak and spicy nuances. Good mouth feel with hints of fresh fruit and juicy, smooth tannins. Well structured and rounded with subtle notes of oak, showing true Divine Intervention. Best company for the wine comes as no surprise, enjoy it while headbanging, riffing or with food, friends and great music. Reign in Wine!"

Right now the wine is only available in Sweden, but worldwide sales are in the pipeline. more on this story




Rolling Stones' 1975 LA Friday Gig Released
(Gibson) A 1975 Rolling Stones concert has been made available to the public. The Sunday, July 13 gig was wrongly labeled as "LA Friday."

It was the band's last show of a five-night run at the Los Angeles Forum.

According to the Rolling Stones Archive website, the concert "was part of the Rolling Stones Tour of the Americas, which started with a bang, the band playing on a flatbed truck driving down 5th Avenue in New York City, showcasing their new guitarist, Ronnie Wood." more on this story




Crazy Town Singer Going From Coma To Rehab?
(TMZ) Former Crazy Town singer and Celebrity Rehab star Shifty Shellshock is expected to be released from the hospital sometime this month and his family wants him to go straight from there to rehab, TMZ has learned.

As TMZ first reported, Shifty has been hospitalized since March 29 and was in a coma up until April 3.

According to our sources, doctors expect the Crazy Town singer to make a full recovery and be discharged from the hospital in the next few weeks. Our sources say there is no permanent damage and that physically he is fine ... but that Shifty is unable to still fully comprehend what is going on, have coherent conversations or really communicate.

We're told Shifty's family hopes to get him into rehab straight from the hospital. Shifty has an upcoming court hearing on his drug arrest for cocaine possession and the family hopes the judge will allow him to stay in rehab rather than throw him in jail. more on this story


Arsis Make Priest Official Member
(Fresno) Arsis have tapped Shawn Priest to replace their recently departed drummer, Mike Van Dyne.

Priest, who has toured with Arsis in the past, will be behind the kit for the band's upcoming fifth studio album.

Commented Priest: "After several major tours with Arsis since 2008, I am more than happy to take the position of full-time drummer. These guys have become some of my best friends and based on the new material we've been putting together, I think the new record will be one of the best and most extreme Arsis releases to date. Get stoked people." more on this story


Slash Tributes Jim Marshall
Last week we told you that the world lost the inventor of one of the keystones to rock and roll, Jim Marshall, the man behind Marshall amplifiers. Slash has released the following tribute to Marshall:

"I consider myself very fortunate to have known the late Jim Marshall. He was such a fantastic individual.

"Not only did he create the loudest, most effective, brilliant-sounding Rock & Roll amplifier ever designed, but he was a caring, hardworking family man who remained true to his integrity to the very end. His work ethic was unequaled and his passion unrivaled. more on this story


Gary Clark Jr. Teams With Nas for NFL Draft
(Gibson) Epiphone Casino-wielding guitar hero Gary Clark Jr. is collaborating with rapper Nas on music for ESPN's coverage of the 2012 NFL Draft.

Rolling Stone reports that the two artists will be tweaking some of their existing material (including Clark's "Bright Lights") to suit the occasion.

The reworked versions will be used as the broadcast goes in and out of commercials and will find parallels between the music and the drafts – i.e. Clark's lyric "you gonna know my name by the end of the night." The draft coverage begins at 8 p.m. on April 26. more on this story




Sin City Sinners Recruit Hollywood Star To Their Lineup
Sin City Sinners sent over word that they have added actor/musician Zach Throne to their lineup: Zach joins original Sinners Todd Kerns (Slash) Brent Muscat (Faster Pussycat) & Rob Cournoyer (Raging Slab)

As a musician, Zach has recorded, performed and/or toured with Susanna Hoffs of "The Bangles", Jerry Cantrell of "Alice In Chains", Anthrax, Barenaked Ladies, Lemmy from Motorhead, Cheap Trick, Meatloaf and Jamie Walters.

As a session vocalist for television and film, Zach has performed on many commercial jingles as well as sung the Greg Brady vocals for the films The Brady Bunch Movie and A Very Brady Sequel. He also sang the theme song for the ABC television series Grace Under Fire. more on this story


Belphegor Working On New Album
(NB) Belphegor plan to enter the Mana Recordings Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida on May 29th to begin recording their next album.

The band has tapped Erik Rutan to produce their new, as of yet untitled album, which will be released in the end of the year via Nuclear Blast Records.

Helmuth comments: "Around 2006 I have contact Erik the first time, I guess. We talked about the producing of the 'Bondage Goat Zombie' album, but he wasn't available. This time, we have to do it!! Our sound, attitude… or lets say trademark, is a symbiosis of all extremities that came out of this glorious genre,...Diabolical Blackl Death Metal. Since February 2012 we rehearse and write hard on nine shredding sound collages. To record chapter X with Erik is perfect, since he exactly know what we need and how we get this shit done. The thing is, the new compositions are full of intensity and pure aggression. The combination of European Metal coldness, atmosphere and sickest elements - crossed with an American brutal sound, is the master plan. This experiment is going to be ultra-sick! I dig to work with motivated, possessed and enthusiastic artists, to keep the fire burning, in all related things (producers, musicians, etc.) No rules, all is permitted. This is the main reason why Belphegor survived almost 20 years." more on this story





Job For A Cowboy Streaming New Album Online
Job For A Cowboy fans can hear the band's new album, Demonocracy, streaming online in its entirety.

Produced by Jason Suecof (Black Dahlia Murder, Whitechapel, Trivium) at Audiohammer Studios, the album will see its North American release tomorrow, April 10, 2012. Listen to the stream here.

Job For A Cowboy are currently on the road in North America on the Metal Alliance Tour. Joined by The Faceless, Dying Fetus, 3 Inches Of Blood, Impending Doom, Wretched, and headliners, Devildriver. more on this story


Mars Attacks Rex Brown
The latest episode of the Mars Attacks podcast features interviews with Rex Brown of Kill Devil Hill (formerly of Pantera and Down) and Peter Ellis of Monument (formerly of White Wizzard and The More I See).

Rex Brown discusses the self-titled debut album by Kill Devil Hill, how he ended up joining the band, how this is the type of band he's wanted to be in for years, and what it's like to play with the legendary Vinny Appice.

Peter Ellis picks up where we left things off with our previous interview. At this point in time he fills us in on Monument's soon to be released EP, the members of the band, the artwork for their first single, and a slew of other things.

During the episode you'll hear snippets of songs by Kill Devil Hill, Monument, Pharaoh, Dark Day Sunday, The Cult and Overkill. Listen here.


Jeff Loomis Premieres New Song Online
(CM) Jeff Loomis has premiered a brand new track, "Chosen Time," via Guitar World's website.

This song can be found on the Loomis' new album, Plains of Oblivion, which will be out tomorrow, April 10. Fans can listen to the new song "Chosen Time" here.

In support of the release, Jeff Loomis is on the road with Protest The Hero, Periphery and The Safety Fire. more on this story



mewithoutYou Streaming New Song
mewithoutYou are streaming their new song "February, 1878" online at PasteMagazine.com.

The song is the first single from their 5th album, Ten Stories, which is set for release May 15th.

mewithoutYou kicks off their North American headlining tour on May 17th in Washington, DC, with Buried Beds and Imaginary Cities opening on all dates. Listen to the new song here



Charm City Devils Deliver Man Of Constant Sorrow Video
Charm City Devils have released a new music video for their new single, "Man Of Constant Sorrow."

"Man Of Constant Sorrow" is the first singled from their forthcoming album, Sins, which will be released on iTunes and CD Baby April 10 via Fat Lady Music.

The clip was shot in Baltimore and directed by Charm City Devils bassist Anthony Arambula. Check it out here.



Remembering Carl Perkins
(Gibson) Recognized universally as The King of Rockabilly, Carl Perkins was born on this day in 1932 in Tiptonville, Tennessee. Born to poor sharecroppers, Perkins didn't have much growing up and often turned to music as a source of joy and excitement.

Like many rock and roll pioneers, Carl was inspired by a variety of music at a young age. He heard gospel music in church on Sundays, and black spirituals while working in the cotton fields every other day (he picked cotton from the age of six, and worked 12-14 hours each day in the summer months). On Saturday nights, he and his dad would tune into the Grand Ole Opry to hear the best country tunes of the day. And soon, Perkins would learn about the blues.

But first, Carl needed a guitar. Because he couldn't afford to buy him one, Carl's father, Buck, made one out of a cigar box and a broomstick. When Carl's musical interests outgrew the ramshackle contraption, Buck paid a couple of dollars for a beat-up Gene Autry model. Soon, the enterprising guitarist was trying to learn to play Roy Acuff and Bill Monroe tunes.

But young Carl didn't just learn from the radio. He befriended a mentor in a fellow field worker named John Westbrook – an African-American man in his 60s. "Uncle John," as Carl began to call him, taught his student how to play blues and gospel music on the guitar. Perkins later recalled John's advice: "Get down close to it. You can feel it travel down the strangs, come through your head and down to your soul where you live. You can feel it. Let it vib-a-rate."

As a young player, Carl showed the beginnings of developing his own style. He took to bending the strings – for no reason other than to avoid injury. Because Carl didn't have money for new guitar strings, when they broke, he would simply re-tie them. The knots would rip up his fingers when he slid them up and down, so bending became a better option

Today's Day In Rock!

Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder Suffers Nerve Damage, Postpones Tour
(hennemusic) Eddie Vedder has announced the postponement of his 15-city U.S. solo tour due to temporary nerve damage in his right arm, the result of a back injury sustained earlier this year.
Shows were originally set to start next Tuesday, April 10 in Las Vegas. Pearl Jam manager Kelly Curtis explains:

"After having worked aggressively with doctors and physical therapists for the last eight weeks to repair the damage, the intensity of the injury and time needed to heal has made it impossible to play the shows as scheduled. There was hope up until the last minute that the treatments would be successful. Sincerest apologies go out to those who have made plans and bought tickets. Eddie is frustrated beyond measure, but remains positive that come this summer all will be back in good form." more on this story


Steven Adler Insults Guns N' Roses Members Again
(hennemusic) Former Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler is making all kinds of headlines leading up to the band's induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame next week.

Desperate to perform with a reunited GNR at the event, Alder went off last week during an interview with Loudwire about his frustration over the upcoming event, including a hefty slam against the band's current lineup referring to them as 'Axl and His Hacks'.

He quickly apologized and now, in another interview about the Rock Hall, Adler has decided to rephrase his choice of insults about the current GNR band members. "I apologized to them," Adler told Artisan News (See video below). "I said the wrong word. I meant to say 'scabs.' But, you see, 'scabs' are something that… Big factories, when the main workers would go on strike, the factory would get people off the street and they would call them scabs. I wouldn't say they can't play. I would just say more the main people are on strike, [and] this is what Axl's got going. Of course they're great players, or they wouldn't be playing with Axl." more on this story


Vince Neil Explains Vegas Incident Which Led To Ban
(hennemusic) Motley Crue singer Vince Neil tells Robin Leach his side of the story of the circumstance which led to a twitter war and his being banned from The Palms in Las Vegas.

Leach reports that Neil claims he was told that booths at Little Buddha were for parties of four - and he was only three. "They were empty anyway," said Vince. "I offered to buy a magnum of champagne, which cost more than what a fourth guest would eat, but the manager refused."

"We ate at the bar, paid the bill and then while playing at the Mint Lounge were told by security to leave," he added. "None of it made sense. Thus, my tweets and then all the other tweets from former Palms employees and customers in support of me." more on this story


Marshall Amps Founder Jim Marshall Dead at 88
Nothing says rock and roll like a wall of Marshall Amps, so are said to report that the famed amplifiers namesake Jim Marshall has died.

Marshall Amplification had this tribute: It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved founder and leader for the past 50 years, Jim Marshall. While mourning the Guv'nor though, we also salute a legendary man who led a full and truly remarkable life.

Jim's ascent into the history books as 'the Father of Loud' and the man responsible for 'the Sound of Rock' is a true rags-to-riches tale. Cruelly robbed of his youth by tubercular bones, Jim rose to become one of the four forefathers responsible for creating the tools that allowed rock guitar as we know and love it today to be born. The ground breaking quartet also includes the late, great trio of Leo Fender, Les Paul and Seth Lover – together with Jim, they truly are the cornerstones of all things rock. more on this story



Kill Devil Hill and Adrenaline Mob Tour
Kill Devil Hill and Adrenaline Mob are teaming up to hit the road for a North American tour next month.

The run, which will be comprised of current and former members of Black Sabbath, Pantera, Dream Theater, Symphony X and Disturbed, kicks off on May 10th in Cleveland.

The tour will make stops in Dallas, Chicago and Orlando before wrapping up in Charlotte, NC on May 22. The shows will feature Kill Devil Hill followed by Adrenaline Mob and then end in all out jam between the two groups. more on this story


Jack White Releases New Music Video
(hennemusic) Jack White has released a new video from his forthcoming debut solo effort, "Blunderbuss."

Directed by AG Rojas, the video for "Sixteen Saltines" is a 180 degree turn from the previous "Love Interruption" video, eschewing that clip's seductive palette for a magnification of the last frontier of urban wasteland and its dispossessed youth left to indulge any impulse.

"Sixteen Saltines" seems to take place in a waking nightmare world outside of time or any kind of rule, a place you'd never want to live - but one you can't stop visiting. Watch it here.


The Faces Announce Book Launch Event
(SR) On the eve of their induction into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 14th, one of the finest rock groups to emerge from Britain, the Faces and fine book publishers Genesis Publications are proud to announce Ronnie Wood, Ian McLagan and Kenney Jones US retail release of the story about the band in their first ever book.

As part of the US retail debut, internationally renowned Designer John Varvatos is hosting the Faces' Ronnie Wood and Kenney Jones in-person as part of the launch of the limited edition book along with Publisher Nick Roylance of Genesis Publications on Wednesday, April 11th, 2012, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at John Varvatos 315 Bowery Boutique, 315 Bowery in New York City.

And, on the afternoon the day before their Rock Hall induction on Friday, April 13th in Cleveland, Nick Roylance, publisher, Genesis Publications and Faces will present the book to Jann Wenner, publisher of Rolling Stone Magazine as well as the owner of Men's Journal and Us Weekly magazine and co-Founder of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; and, Terry Stewart, President and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, to the Rock Hall Library & Archives continuing the collection as the only museum in the United States to have the entire Genesis catalog. more on this story


River City Extension and The Drowning Men Tour
River City Extension are teaming up with The Drowning Men for a co-headlining tour of North America.

The five-week, 28-date tour hits most major U.S. markets, including Washington DC, Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Chicago and more.

River City Extension will be touring in support of its second album, "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Your Anger," which comes out June 5th. more on this story


Children Of Bodom Holiday at Lake Bodom Details
Children Of Bodom have released details about their upcoming, Holiday at Lake Bodom (15 Years of Wasted Youth), a special CD+DVD career retrospective in celebration of the band's 15th Anniversary, which will hit stores on May 22nd. Their camp sent over these details:

The release will spotlight specially selected songs from every one of the band's critically acclaimed albums (1997's Something Wild, 1999's Hatebreeder, 2000's Follow the Reaper, 2003's Hate Crew Deathroll, 2005's Are You Dead Yet?, 2008's Blooddrunk and 2011's Relentless Reckless Forever) plus newly recorded (and undeniably fun) cover songs and detailed liner notes penned by the members of COB themselves. The DVD portion of the package will include "candid touring and backstage footage from around the world" plus the never before seen music video for Relentless Reckless Forever's "Shovel Knockout".

"15 Years of Wasted Youth is the sound of Children Of Bodom working hard, partying hard, being relentless and stubborn," says the band's superstar guitarist / vocalist Alexi Laiho. "We went through many brick walls to get forward and after seven studio albums, two live albums, non stop touring, bleeding and breaking a lot of bones, I thought we were justified to put out this album. Let the music speak for itself. You have been warned." The final, handpicked tracklisting is here.


Peelander-Z North American Tour Stars Next Week
(FP) Peelander-Z will be kicking off their month-long North American tour next week in Cambridge, Ma

The tour in support of its upcoming new album Space Vacation, set for release April 10th.

Comprised of color–coded band members Peelander–Yellow, Peelander–Red, Peelander–Green (and at various times Peelander–Pink and Peelander–Black), Peelander–Z made its greatest impact to date in 2011 with the greatest hits album Super DX Hitz, sell–out shows around the US and Canada, and a stint as the band all of the other bands had to see on last Summer's Vans Warped Tour. more on this story


Prong Kick Off Tour With Crowbar and Witchburn
Prong kicked off their North American tour with Crowbar and Witchburn in Dallas, TX last night.

The tour is in support of their forthcoming release Carved Into Stone which is set for an April 24th release date on Long Branch Records. The tour will run through April 24th in Shreveport, LA.

Prong (whose lineup includes bassist Tony Campos and drummer Alexei Rodriguez) recording the new album with producer Steve Evetts. more on this story


Nachtmystium Limited Edition Coming Next Month
Nachtmystium have announced a May 15th release for a special limited edition single and 7". Century Media sent over these details:

Nachtmystium has just finished mixing their third Century Media release, Silencing Machine , at Engine Studios with Sanford Parker [Yob, Pelican].

Prior to this recording session, the band and Sanford worked on a few other tracks, two of which will be released as a limited edition single and 7" on May 15. The single will contain the new track, "As Made", and a unique cover version of Joy Division's "The Eternal", which features vocals by Chris Connelly (Revolting Cocks, Ministry). more on this story


Video of Randy Rhoads 30th Anniversary Memorial Now Online
(hennemusic) Fans, friends, fellow musicians and family gathered recently for the 30th annual Randy Rhoads memorial event. Rhoads was killed on March 19, 1982 en route from an Ozzy show in Louisville to one in Orlando. That fateful day, the tour bus rolled into Leesburg, Florida for some repairs; driver Andrew Aycock took a small plane up and around the extensive private property, offering rides to members of Ozzy's entourage.

On March 19, 2012 at Mountain View Cemetery in San Bernardino, California, a 30th annual event was held to remember Randy, his life, his work and his legacy.

Leja Siv Harju of Rock N Roll Industries magazine put together a video report featuring interviews with original Quiet Riot bassist Kelly Garni and current QR and former W.A.S.P. drummer Frankie Banali. more on this story


Lone Justice's Marvin Etzioni Releasing New Solo Album
(MSO) Lone Justice's Marvin Etzioni has set an April 17th release date for his fourth solo studio album Marvin Country!

The new album will be issued as a two-CD set, a double album (Audiophile 180-Gram Vinyl) and digitally.

After a successful showcase at SXSW last month, MARVIN has announced two special Los Angeles shows set for Saturday, April 14 at The Talking Stick in Venice and Sunday, April 29 at The Echo in Silverlake. The Marvin Country String Quartet will accompany MARVIN at The Echo show. MARVIN will bring the string quartet to the east coast this summer for a one-night-only show Sunday, June 24 in New York City at City Winery opening for Martha Wainwright. more on this story


Ignite Releasing Their First Live DVD
Ignite will release their first ever live DVD, Our Darkest Days Live, in June according to Century Media.

The DVD will be released in North America on June 19 (Europe June 18) and features 21 Ignite classics, a behind the scenes documentary of the band recording Our Darkest Days, as well as several music videos. T

he live performance was shot in Leipzig, Germany in 2008 when Ignite was on tour with Terror, Strung Out, Death Before Dishonor and BurnThe8Track.


As If These Trees Could Talk Tour and Vinyl Repressing
As If These Trees Could Talk get ready to kick off their European tour this week, there is news of a special limited edition vinyl repressing:

The demand for If These Trees Could Talk's Red Forest vinyl was so high, when the first pressing was up for pre-order in early February it sold out within three days of being on sale.

A repress pre-order in now being announced which will go up for sale of the Science of Silence webstore on April 19th. All orders of the first pressing will be sent out week-ending 4/15. more on this story


Church Of Misery Plot North American Tour
Japanese doom metalers Church Of Misery will kick off their North American headlining tour on May 24 in Providence, RI.

The tour will include special Church Of Misery appearances in Austin (as part of the 2012 Chaos in Tejas Fest) and Baltimore (as part of the 2012 Maryland Deathfest).

Support on the tour will come from a rotating lineup including Rwake, Hail! Hornet and The Gates of Slumber more on this story


Otherwise Delivering Debut Album Next Month
(Century Media) Otherwise have set a May 8th North American release date for their debut album, True Love Never Dies.

The album was produced by the legendary Jay Baumgardener [Bush, Linkin Park, Papa Roach, Incubus] and mastered by Howie Weinberg [Soundgarden, Pantera, U2, Aerosmith].

"We don't really have the words to convey what the release of this album means to us..." say brothers Adrian and Ryan Patrick, "so much hard work, so much sacrifice, so much heartache has gone into our music; 'True Love Never Dies' is a testament to those who have gone before us, we are deeply humbled to honor them in such a way." more on this story


Sepultura, Death Angel, Krisiun and Havok Tour
Krisiun will be hitting the road in North America next week for a tour with Sepultura, Death Angel, and Havok!

Krisiun will be touring in support of their recently released, 8th studio album, The Great Execution.

In regards to this upcoming trek, Krisiun vocalist/bassist Alex Camargo comments: "Hey everyone!!! We in Krisiun would like to invite all you diehard metal brothers to come on out and support our upcoming shows around the USA and Canada. more on this story


Albert King Remaster Coming Next Month
(conqueroo) Concord Music Group will release Albert King's I'll Play the Blues for You as part of its Stax Remasters series on May 22, 2012.

Enhanced by 24-bit remastering by Joe Tarantino, four previously unreleased bonus tracks, and newly written liner notes by music journalist and roots music historian Bill Dahl, the reissue not only spotlights one of the most entertaining and influential blues recordings of the 1970s, but also underscores the album's enduring nature four decades after its original release.

In addition to King's brilliant guitar and vocal work, the album also features a rhythm section made up of members of the Bar-Kays and the Movement — the former a new lineup following the tragic Otis Redding plane crash that wiped out most of the original band, and the latter group Isaac Hayes's funk-driven outfit, with guitarist Michael Toles, bassist and Bar-Kays co-founder James Alexander, and drummer Willie Hall members of both bands. Rounding out the backup unit is the Memphis Horns, featuring longtime Stax mainstays Wayne Jackson on trumpet and Andrew Love on tenor saxophone. more on this story


Totimoshi Hitting The Road Next Week
(SR) Totimoshi plan to hit the road again later this month for a short run of West Coast dates.

The tour will commence on April 12 in Bellingham, Washington, then hit Centralia, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Long Beach, and San Diego. Totimoshi will be joined by Black Elk on select dates.

The band will be touring in support of their Avenger full-length, release last year via At A Loss Recordings. more on this story


It Boys! Introduction Coming in June
Hollywood Waste Records have set a June 5th release date for It Boys! debut album, Introduction.

The band will spend most of 2012 on the road; they've already confirmed dates with Breathe Caroline and The Ready Set, a slot on this year's Warped Tour.

They will also under take an upcoming UK run featuring dates with Forever The Sickest Kids and performances at both of this year's Slam Dunk Festivals.

Today's Day In Rock!

Crazy Town Singer Comes Out of Coma
(TMZ) Former Crazy Town singer and "Celebrity Rehab" star Shifty Shellshock is now conscious again -- after falling into a coma last week, TMZ has learned.
Sources tell TMZ, Shifty had been on breathing tubes since Thursday -- when he originally fell into a coma -- but was successfully taken off them Wedneday night.

We're told Shifty is now responsive -- even speaking sporadically -- but he's still not fully aware of his surroundings. He is still in the ICU.

As we previously reported, it's unclear what put the singer into a coma -- but several people close to him are convinced drugs were to blame.

We're told doctors believe he will make a full recovery. more on this story


Hear Soundgarden's First New Song In 16 Years
(Banana 101.5) Soundgarden's first brand new song in nearly 16 years has arrived! Check out 'Live to Rise' from 'Avengers Assemble' — the soundtrack to the upcoming Marvel mega-blockbuster — online right now.

'The Avengers' is expected to be one of the biggest films of the year…possibly the decade. Marvel began setting the stage for this massive project years ago with Avenger-related sub-plots running in previous films like 'Iron Man,' 'The Incredible Hulk,' and 'Thor.' The movie, due in theaters May 4th, has a star-studded cast — it only makes sense that they would draft an impressive list of artists for the soundtrack.

The 'Avengers Assemble' album will feature music from some of rock's biggest names including Five Finger Death Punch, Evanescence, Shinedown and Bush, but the true headliner is Soundgarden. Hear the new song here.


New Randy Rhoads Release Coming From Ozzy
(Gibson) If you missed the news earlier this week, Gibson has the details for you today: Ozzy Osbourne is paying tribute to the late Randy Rhoads with a newly available live recording album, only on vinyl. Ozzy plans to release Live – a 180-gram audiophile vinyl two-LP set – which is a limited, numbered collector's edition recorded live on the 1981 Blizzard of Ozz tour.

"Believer," a live seven-inch single, also will be issued. It is a limited and numbered collector's edition on polka-dot vinyl featuring "Believer" (live) and "Goodbye to Romance."

For Record Store Day, Iggy and the Stooges' album Raw Power will again be available on 12-inch vinyl – as will Paul Simon's Graceland, Lou Reed's Rock N Roll Animal and Transformer and Janis Joplin's Pearl.

Record Store Day takes place on April 21 in independent record stores around the world. more on this story




Marilyn Manson Delivers No Reflection Video
(hennemusic) Marilyn Manson has set an April 30th release date for his new album, "Born Villian."

Marilyn has just released the first music video from the set, for the track "No Reflection."

The clip was directed by Lukas Ettlin, who previously worked with Manson on the award-winning "Personal Jesus" video. Watch it here.


The Cult, Against Me! and The Icarus Line Tour
The Cult have mapped out the first leg of their 2012 North American tour in support of Choice of Weapon, the band's first new studio album in five years, due out May 22nd.

The 20-date trek is set to kick off on Friday, May 25 in San Diego and will feature support from Against Me! and The Icarus Line on most of the dates.

"This is going to be a very intense, high-energy tour," said The Cult's vocalist, Ian Astbury. "We are really looking forward to the time we spend on stage connected to our music and our audience. That's our purpose." more on this story


Slash Band Audition Video Goes Online
(hennemusic) Slash's sophomore solo set, "Apocalyptic Love," isn't out until May 22, but the guitarist has been working hard to get the word out about his upcoming release.

Slash recently performed in Toronto, has been doing tons of press interviews for the project, audio samples of the disc are online, and the guitarist's team has been documenting the album's progress on video.

Two new webisodes have been posted online, each showing parts of the audition process surrounding Slash's need to add a touring rhythm guitarist to his lineup. "To put together this next record, I never planned on using a second guitar player, but as far as going out and doing the tour was concerned, I needed to find somebody local," explains Slash. "We had a whole auditioning process where I think 20 people showed up, and [drummer] Brent [Fitz] and [bassist] Todd [Kerns] picked out who, more or less, was going to be a call-back, and then I went in the next day and played with those 5 guitar players." Check out the videos


Neil Young Plans MP3 Replacement?
(Gibson) Neil Young appears to working on new audio formats. Young is a vocal critic of MP3 quality – he doesn't even like CD audio, particularly – and has designs on something better.

Rolling Stone reports that Young applied for six trademarks in June 2011: "Ivanhoe," "21st Century Record Player," "Earth Storage," "Storage Shed," "Thanks for Listening" and "SQS (Studio Quality Sound)." Included in the filing is a description of the trademarks: "Online and retail store services featuring music and artistic performances; high resolution music downloadable from the Internet; high resolutions discs featuring music and video; audio and video recording storage and playback."

The trademark process could take a year, providing that there are no challenges to Young's application. more on this story




P.O.D. Complete New Album and Streaming New Song
P.O.D. have finished their first new studio album in four years, Murdered Love, which is set for release this summer. Razor and Tie had these details:

Fans can now listen to "Eyez," the first preview track from the new album. The track features special guest vocals from Jamey Jasta here.

"'Eyez' is the first "look" from our new album coming out this Summer. We wanted to come out hard for all our die-hard warriors," adds lead vocalist Sonny Sandoval. more on this story


Escape The Fate and Attack Attack! Kick Off Tour
Escape The Fate and Attack Attack! kick off their This World Is Ours Tour tonight (April 5th) in Buffalo, NY.

The 33-city North American tour will go coast to coast and joining the two headliners on the road will be The Word Alive, Secrets and Mest.

"We have had a rough few years, and this year was probably the toughest," commented Escape The Fate lead singer Craig Mabbitt. "I don't think I personally have been more excited to step foot on a stage and play a show for our fans. We also have so many good friends and family that are sharing the road with us on this tour, so I really hope you're as excited as I am for the 'This World Is Ours Tour'." more on this story


Municipal Waste Blue Limited Edition Release
Nuclear Blast are offering Municipal Waste fans a limited edition 7" blue vinyl as part of their super limited edition pre-order bundle for the band's forthcoming release, The Fatal Feast LP, which features a pop-up gatefold. Only 500 copies are available worldwide.

The 7" will include the "non radio-friendly" version of the song "Repossession" from the band's new album The Fatal Feast plus two re-recorded tracks from deep in the band's discography.

Guitarist Ryan Waste provides details: "The tracks 'Garbage Stomp' and 'Poser Disposer' are from 2002 and were previously recorded for our 2nd release ever: a split 12" with Crucial Unit which is now out of print. We finally re-recorded them with the band. 'Garbage Stomp' is the intro – which we're bringing back on [our upcoming] tour." Order it here.


Guns N' Roses Rock Hall Plague Unveiled
(hennemusic) It's just over a week away until the annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductions happen, and the Cleveland institution continues to chip away at its to-do list to ensure everything is ready to go.

On Wednesday, bronze plaques honoring the newest class of Hall of Fame inductees were unveiled in front of Public Hall.

Each of the 17 plaques reportedly cost around $5,000 to make; featured is the one for Guns N' Roses here.


Taproot Deliver No Surrender Video
(Victory) Taproot have released a new music video for their new single, "No Surrender," which comes from their forthcoming album, The Episodes (4/10).

Using Chicago as the backdrop, "No Surrender", was filmed by Eric Richter and crew at Victory Records. "The video follows the story of the song [No Surrender], in which our main character is in dire need of escaping his dark and mysterious hotel room (not knowing what'd happened there, but feels something bad). He is running away, unsure towards what, but longing for a sense of security and safety…Do or die, No Surrender!" Vocalist, Stephen Richards said.

Taproot will also be playing a series of shows in support of the new album beginning April 10th. Check out the video here.


Shinedown Top The Rock Chart
Shinedown's new album, "Amaryllis," has debuted on top of Billboard's "Rock Albums" chart.

The album simultaneously entering at #4 on the overall Billboard 200 with over 105,000 units sold.

This marks the group's highest ever chart debut which also sees "Amaryllis" debut at #1 on the "Hard Rock Albums" chart as well as #3 on the "Digital Albums" chart. more on this story


Eric Johnson and Joe Satriani Guest on Sonny Landreth Album
Eric Johnson and Joe Satriani are special guests on Sonny Landreth's forthcoming album, Elemental Journey, which will be released on May 22nd.

Conqueroo sent over these details: The new CD is Landreth's first all-instrumental effort and his most adventurous work to date.

"From day one on the guitar, many genres of music have had an impact on me" says Landreth. "For these recordings, I drew from some of those influences that I hadn't gone to on previous albums with my vocals. Trading off the lyrics this time, I focused solely on the instrumental side and all this music poured out. Then I asked some extraordinary musicians to help me layer the tracks in hopes of inspiring a lot of imagery for the listeners." more on this story


Helloween, Gamma Ray, Gotthard Supergroup Unisonic Set Debut
Unisonic, the supergroup featuring former Helloween vocalist Michael Kiske and guitarist Kai Hansen (Gamma Ray, ex-Helloween) alongside guitarist Mandy Meyer (Asia, Gotthard and Krokus), bassist Dennis Ward and drummer Kosta Zafiriou (both of Germany's Pink Cream 69), have set a release date for their debut album.

The self-titled will be released in North America on May 22, 2012 via Eagle Rock imprint Armoury Records.

Unisonic was recorded at ICP Studios in Brussels, Belgium. The offering features 11 tracks, plus a bonus live version of Helloween classic "I Want Out" only available on the domestic edition, cover art by Martin Häusler (Meat Loaf, Gotthard, Helloween, Motörhead) viewable HERE, and marks the first musical union between Kiske and Hansen in 23 years! more on this story


Chance Encounter Landed Shanks Van Halen Producing Gig
(hennemusic) The task of producing "A Different Kind Of Truth" - Van Halen's first album with David Lee Roth in almost three decades - fell into John Shanks' hands.

In a new interview with Guitar World, Shanks explained how he landed the gig with Van Halen. "I was working in my room, Studio C, and David Lee Roth was across the hall working on solo stuff," says John. "He stays in the studio. He's always in there doing something. It's like a boxer — he's always training. He's always writing and trying stuff and experimenting. He's always creating. It's just staying ready. So he comes in the studio and he's working on a project. I don't know what it was specifically. I introduced myself one day and we chatted a bit and became social. He's very bright and communicative, and we would talk about his dogs, photography, songs, and the current state of pop music."

"I'd met Eddie a couple of times [through a mutual colleague]," continued Shanks. "I got a call, I'm sure through Dave talking to Eddie, because I think collectively they come up with, 'Let's try this guy,' or 'Let's have a conversation with John.' I know they talked to a couple of other people too. Anyway, Eddie called. I went up to the house and met with Alex, Dave, Eddie and Wolf, and they talked about scheduling and what they wanted to do. Somehow we worked it out so we recorded at Henson." more on this story


Gary Moore Exhibition Opens in Belfast For His 60th Birthday
(hennemusic) An exhibition celebrating the life and music of Gary Moore is opening in Belfast this week.

The Oh Yeah Music Centre is hosting the event to mark the work of the exceptional guitarist, songwriter and performer; Moore's solo records are internationally admired, as well as his work with the likes of Thin Lizzy, Skid Row, The Traveling Wilburys, BB King and George Harrison.

Gary was born in Belfast on April 4, 1952; sadly, he passed away on February 6, 2011. To mark what would have been his 60th birthday, the family of Gary Moore is helping with a unique exhibition of his personal effects. more on this story


Ihsahn Sets New Album Release
Candlelight Records has set a June 19th North American release date for Ihsahn's fourth album, Eremita. The sent out these details:

Recorded and produced at Telemark's Ivory Shoulder Studios, with additional tracking completed at Notodden's Juke Joint Studio and Seattle's Envisage Audio, Eremita was mixed by Jens Bogren (Opeth) at Fascination Street Studios in Orebo, Sweden. Alongside Ihsahn, the album features performances from drummer Tobias Ornes Andersen (Leprous), saxophonist Jorgen Munkeby (Shining - Norway), guitarist Jeff Loomis (ex-Nevermore), and vocalists Devin Townsend, Einar Solberg (Leprous), and Heidi S. Tveitan (Star of Ash).

Eremita begins a new musical chapter for the highly regarded musician; his previous album, Norwegian Grammy Award Nominated After, forming the final part of a planned trilogy on its release in early 2010. Offering nine new songs to his growing worldwide audience, Eremita is the longest and most spirited of Ihsahn's solo recordings. Reflecting on the recording process Ihsahn notes, "this is right where I want to be musically, with lots of room for dynamics and expressive variety. Tobias and Jorgen have really added to the organic vibe I was going for and have contributed to the overall feel with their fantastic musicianship. And to have Devin, Jeff, Einar and Heidi adding their special moments, I am very privileged to be able to work with such a talented group of people. I really feel this is some of my most inspired work yet." more on this story


Anniversary of R.E.M.'s First Gig
(Gibson) On this day in 1980, R.E.M. played their first ever gig when they appeared at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Athens, Georgia. Gibson takes a look back: Rock and roll bands that changed the course of popular music history always have a story to tell. Over the years, R.E.M. would tell plenty of tales and create a few of their own, but their early days in Athens, Georgia, remain the stuff of the American rock and roll dream.

On this very day in 1980, R.E.M. played their first-ever concert at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Athens. That night they were still called Twisted Kites, the wonderfully incisive moniker R.E.M had not popped into their collective consciousness just yet.
Michael Stipe (vocals), Peter Buck (guitar), Mike Mills (bass) and Bill Berry (drums) lined up on stage to play music for the birthday party of Kathleen O'Brien, who at the time was the drummer's girlfriend. They gave the assembled students and partygoers over two hours of post-punk, cutting edge rock and roll.

Buck and Stipe had met through a mutual interest in music. Peter worked in a record store, Wuxtry, in Athens and the already colorful Stipe like to hang out there and discuss music. They had much in common, musically at least. When they hooked up with fellow University of Georgia students Mike Mills and Bill Berry, the band that would help rescue rock and roll from the synth invasion of the early '80s were ready to go. They rehearsed around town, wrote songs and finally, feeling ready to debut their music to a couple of hundred revelers, made their public debut

"It was really fun," Stipe told author Marcus Gray. "I don't remember the last half of it." Twisted Kite played for over two hours with a mix of original material and covers like the Sex Pistols' "God Save the Queen" and Jonathan Richman's "Roadrunner." more on this story




Singled Out: Merrell Fankhauser's Calling From A Star
Today surf guitar and psychedelic folk rock legend Merrell Fankhauser tells us about the song "Calling From A Star" from his new Best Of DBL CD on Gonzo MultiMedia, UK. Here is the story:

In 1974 I went with my group to the top of Haleakala crater on the island of Maui to watch the sunset. After the sun went down we stayed with several other onlookers to gaze at the magnificent array of stars in the clear night sky. Just as we were about to leave a glowing blue green light zoomed into the middle of the crater! We were all trying to figure out what it was as there was absolutely no sound. Then two more glowing orbs came out of it and formed an inverted pyramid! We watched this scene for about four minutes and then they all merged back together as one and went straight up and disappeared in an instant. I went back down to my house on the edge of the rainforest and wrote "Calling From A Star", I recorded two versions of the song, a slow version with my group MU and later a faster solo version. I later went back to Haleakala crater with a film crew and made a video of the song that can be seen on youtube.