Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


Stone Temple Pilots Fire Scott Weiland and The Singer Fires Back
After months of speculation, Stone Temple Pilots confirmed on Wednesday that they have fired frontman Scott Weiland, but the singer is not taking the firing sitting down and plans to take legal action.
The band did not provide any details about their decision; they simply issued the following statement: "Stone Temple Pilots have announced they have officially terminated Scott Weiland."

A short time later, Weiland issued this response: "I learned of my supposed 'termination' from Stone Temple Pilots this morning by reading about it in the press. Not sure how I can be 'terminated' from a band that I founded, fronted and co-wrote many of its biggest hits, but that's something for the lawyers to figure out.

"In the meantime, I'm looking forward to seeing all of my fans on my solo tour which starts this Friday."

It was Weiland's former Velvet Revolver bandmate Slash who said in December that the singer had been fired by STP. When he was asked about Weiland's comments about a Velvet Revolver reunion being discussed, Slash said "That's because he got fired from STP."

Slash told Classic Rockat the time, "I think he's trying to pull off that trick of trying to get something else going on, and we're not buying it. The door's shut on this side and it's probably shut on that side too, so he's on his own. And he deserves it too."

As Weiland mentioned in his statement and we previously reported he will be launching his "Purple at the Core" tour tomorrow. The title of the tour references the first two Stone Temple Pilots album's "Core" and "Purple" and Weiland plans to perform songs from both albums on the tour.

Weiland will also be performing his solo material as well as songs from his former band Velvet Revolver. more.



Symphony X's Jason Rullo Rushed To The Hospital
(Classic Rock) Symphony X drummer Jason Rullo is recovering after being rushed to hospital with an emergency heart condition.

He says: "We had a few scary days in there, but I made it through what was hopefully the worst of it.

"Doctors say I have a very good chance for a full recovery – I plan to be back at 100% even if it takes a while." more on this story




Aerosmith Classic May Become Official State Song
(Radio.com) One song is the most famous tune ever written by Boston's most revered band. Another is a classic in its own right and perfectly captures the setting and spirit of Massachusetts in its lyrics. So which one deserves to be the official state rock song?

Mass. officials are disagreeing over whether Aerosmith's legendary single "Dream On" or The Modern Lovers' classic Boston-based single "Roadrunner" should earn the coveted title. Not long after Rep. Marty Walsh proposed a bill to give the nod to "Roadrunner," reps Josh Cutler of Duxbury and Jim Cantwell of Marshfield have filed a proposal of their own that would award the title to "Dream On."

Cantwell joined Karlson & McKenzie live Tuesday morning to tell the guys about the legislation and why he chose Aerosmith. An avid ZLX listener, he said he came up with the idea for the new bill from a K&M listener who called him and made the suggestion.

He also said he would like K&M to come in and testify to the House on why they want "Dream On" as the state rock song, along with anyone else with strong-enough arguments.

"This would be a fun debate about music that you can have listeners weighing in on, what they think the best song should be," he said about the process. Read more and see the fan debate here.




AC/DC Release Their Own Brand of Beer
AC/DC are taking their classic song "Have A Drink On Me" to a literal level by adding a new official beer to the last year's official wine.

The legendary Australian hard rockers have released their very own "AC/DC Premium Lager Beer" which is billed as a premium German lager that contains 5.0% alcohol.

The beer's official website says that the beer is available at the German chain stores Wasgau, Tegut and Getränke Hoffmann. The site also says the beer will soon be available in Romania, Russia and Brazil. Check out the site to learn more.





Fall Out Boy To Visit 90210
(Radio.com) Recently reunited, Fall Out Boy is ready to visit TV's most famous ZIP code in an upcoming episode of 90210.

According to E! Online, the band is scheduled to appear on the April 29 episode of CW series 90210, the reboot of the famous Fox teen show Beverly Hills, 90210, that ruled the 1990s with tales of the original gang at West Beverly Hills High School.

Fall Out Boy will play "My Songs Know What You Did In the Dark (Light Em Up)," the first single from their upcoming sixth studio album, Save Rock and Roll, set for release on April 16. The band's performance on the show will be "as part of a big concert event."

This won't be their first TV appearance since the band's surprise 2013 reunion... more




David Lee Roth Discusses Van Halen's Live Plans
(hennemusic) Van Halen recently announced that they will co-headline the inaugural Stone Music Festival at Sydney's ANZ Stadium over the April 20 and 21 weekend.

Also on the bill are co-headliner Billy Joel, Kings Of Chaos, Richie Ramone, Lifehouse and Illumination Road, among others.

For Van Halen, it's their first Australian appearance in many years, after coming close a couple of times recently, including a canceled headlining slot at Soundwave 2011.

"You're going to have to ask the rhythm section about that one," singer David Lee Roth tells The Daily Telegraph, in regards to the band's lack of shows down under. "I myself am a traveller. And let me carry with that an explanation that all those who wander are not necessarily lost. I'm calling you from Tokyo, in fact."

Roth was asked if the Aussie concert is part of his quest to get Van Halen out of America and touring the world again.

"Clearly," agrees Roth. "The Van Halens, I think, are just now starting to value that which once was, which was the capacity to experience other worlds, other communities, particularly when you are a stranger in a stranger land. I find that so refreshing. And you gotta be prepared to be a beginner, you gotta be prepared to not have your cheesburger and fries, you gotta be prepared for a lot." more on this story




Robb Flynn Explains Firing of Machine Head Cofounder Adam Duce
Machine Head frontman Robb Flynn has explained why the band decided to part ways with cofounder Adam Duce.

Flynn addressed the news with the following online blog post this week: 2-11-13. That is the date we fired Adam Duce. That is the day that I had to tell Adam that after 21 years of being in a band together, I just couldn't take it anymore.

That is the day I said "My hope is that this can be amicable." The words sounded like someone else had spoken them. It was like being outside of my body watching someone else deliver these painful words. But, it was me saying it. And we all said it.

We had our say sitting in our jam room in Oakland. Dave said it. Joseph (our manager) said it. Phil said it. We all said that we couldn't take being in a band with him anymore. That if this didn't happen, we were going to break up the band.

It was hard. One of the hardest moments of my life. It was also a long time coming. We may have fired Adam on 2-11-13, but Adam quit Machine Head well over a decade ago. He just never bothered to tell anyone… but we all knew it.

Contrary to popular belief, being in a band is tough. Really f**king tough. It's the toughest sonofabitch you'll ever come across in your life and it will beat the living sh*t out of you 80% of the time. Many times it feels like one big rollercoaster, the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. There are wins and losses seemingly every single day. Being in a band is one of life's strangest gambles.

But when you do win, when you win that 20%, well… it truly is salvation. It's what makes eating the other 80% of that s—sandwich bearable. It's where "those" stories come from. It can be the best job you'll ever have and unquestionably one of the hardest you'll ever have. But until you've done it for 20+ years, you have no clue. Until you've held a band together for 20+ years, you really don't know jack sh*t about it. You think you do. You don't. more





Cradle Of Filth Frontman Angry About Tour Cancelation
Cradle Of Filth frontman Dani Filth is angry after the band was forced to cancel their upcoming U.S. tour due to visa issues.

Filth posted a message to fans explaining the cancelation. He wrote: The week we were due to receive our US performance visas truly was one of the worst weeks of my life, as it launched itself blazing into nightmare with the rotten news that the US tour was being cancelled. Believe you me, there is still no one more pissed off about this than me, over nothing more than a silly visa issue. Still, what can you do, the more you complain about the immigration laws, the less likely we are to get in next time we intend to tour?

Unfortunately there is no way of getting around this problem, whatever anybody says and believe you me we have tried vigorously through various official channels and at some expense, it is just a hard cold fact of entry into the US at the moment. So, better that we postpone/cancel than lead people on any further in the hope that Cradle will be making at least some of these current dates, including Canada, which comes cost-wise part and parcel of touring North America as a whole.

It truly is a royal nightmare, as the tour obviously took a lengthy time to route and organise, plus there are the other bands, booking agents, bus companies, local promoters, venues, venue staff and of course, our loyal fans in attendance to consider. Still, if it's any consolation at all, it does mean that there is a distinct possibility that when the visas are eventually processed, we will be able to come back to the States on a much longer tour, seeing as there was a huge amount of people on our Facebook page complaining about the band not playing anywhere near where they lived. Believe me when I say this, we hear you, and the next tour will take all these requests into ardent consideration. So, if you want Cradle to come to your country, town or city, make your sepulchral voice heard now… F**k it, speak to the local promoters if you have to!

And if this wasn't enough misery to unhappily digest, it was then followed by a horrid bout of flu. I had Pharyngitis, Toni had Laryngitis and the rest of the week was spent in the company of a high temperature, headache, earache, limb ache, all-else ache and a raging sore throat combination pack. On Valentine's Day, that most romantic evening of the year, having cancelled our posh dinner and movie date, we were both rolled in as many layers of clothing as was humanly possible to keep warm in bed. And we were still shivering through fever. Now, nigh on two weeks on and the final dregs of the chest infection that came with it are still airing themselves via a hacking great cough and a sinister, snivelling cold.

Anyway, I'd like to end this section of my blog by offering a massive apology to everybody that has been let down by this cancellation, especially the all-important Crewdle Of Filth, The Agonist, Decapitated and The Faceless. If there was any way we could change this, we indefatigably would. Without question. Our friends and fans are the most important thing to this band. Period. He had more to say on other topics.




Primus Expand 3D Tour
Primus has expanded their 3D tour plans and Les Claypool will also be hitting the road with his Duo De Twang this spring.

The Primus 3D tour will feature two sets per night and fans will given 3D glasses to fully enjoy the multimedia experience that will feature original 3D content from 3D Live.

The bulk of the Primus dates will take place in May and early June. Les Claypool's Duo De Twang will be hitting the road on March 20th in San Rafael, CA and concluding on April 28th in New York City.

Primus will be touring in support of their latest studio album, Green Naugahyde, which was was produced and engineered by Les Claypool in his personal studio, Rancho Relaxo, in Northern California. more on this story




Black Sabbath Add New Tour Date
Black Sabbath have added a new date to their reunion tour of Australia which will feature Shihad as special guests.

Tour promoter Live Nation announced that the band will now be making a stop in Adelaide on May 7th.

The tour now includes six dates and will be kicking off on April 25th in Brisbane and will conclude with the Adelaide date.

The band will be visiting nearby New Zealand prior to the Australian tour and will be playing concerts in Auckland on April 20th and 22nd.

Black Sabbath are launching the tour ahead of the June release of their semi-reunion album, "13," their first studio album with Ozzy Osbourne since 1978's "Never Say Die!" more on this story




Peter Frampton Teaming Up With Deep Purple For Tour
(hennemusic) Peter Frampton has announced that he will be playing a series of dates across Germany with Deep Purple this fall.

"Hello Germany!," posted Frampton. "As you can see... my band and I will be coming to play for you again later this year. Looking forward to playing with my good friends Deep Purple again. This will be our 2nd time touring together.

"Steve Morse is one of my all time favourite guitar players! Time for some more back stage riffing and stealing of his licks! Did I just say that out loud? LOL."

Deep Purple will be touring in support of their new album, "NOW What?!", which is due out in late April. more on this story





Green Day Add Club Shows To Upcoming Tour
Green Day will now be kicking off their upcoming North American tour with three dates performed at intimate venues.

The club dates will take place at The Fox Theater in Pomona, CA on March 10th, The Marquee in Tempe, AZ on March 11th and Tricky Falls in El Paso, TX on March 13th.

The band will then launching their regular North American tour on March 28th in Rosemont, IL and have announced dates through April 18th in Los Angeles, CA.

The North American tour will be followed by a European trek which starts on May 24th in Milan, Italy and will conclude on July 13th in Bilbao, Spain. more on this story




The Del-Lords Releasing First New Album Since 1990
The Del-Lords have set a May 14, 2013 release date for their new album, Elvis Club, their first new studio album since 1990.

The reunited band features founding members Scott Kempner, Eric Ambel and Frank Funaro and they are joined by new bassist Michael DuClos.

"Elvis Club confirms to me what I always felt the band could do," says Ambel. "To me, it's a different kind of record for us, in that there isn't so much of a theme to it as a feel, a real band feel. I didn't really think of it as unfinished business; it was more like 'Here's what we can do now."

With Ambel producing the band for the first time, and the sessions taking place at his Brooklyn studio Cowboy Technical Services, the band was able to record on its own terms and in its own time.

"That was a big departure from every record we've made in the past," Ambel observes. "Playing with the guys felt effortless and natural, and it was fantastic to build this thing ourselves, from the ground up. We made the record we wanted to make, based on our own enjoyment. That's as good as it gets for me." more on this story




REO Speedwagon's Live at Moondance Jam Coming To HD TV
Palladia will be premiering REO Speedwagon's "Live at Moondance Jam" on Saturday, March 2 at 6:00 pm PST/9:00 pm EST.

The MTV franchise's high definition channel will also air the concert six additional times, including March 2 at midnight, March 3 at 3:30 pm, March 5 at 10:30 pm, March 6 at 12:30 pm, March 10 at 4:30 am and March 13 at 1:30am (all times ET). Following the run on Palladia, VH1 Classic will premiere the concert on Friday, March 22 at 9 pm ET.

"Live at Moondance Jam," the first high-definition REO Speedwagon concert, is available on DVD and Blu-ray. The release features 13 songs plus an exclusive interview with Kevin Cronin.





Jimi Hendrix Featured On Official Record Store Day Poster
An iconic Jimi Hendrix photo is being used as the official poster for Record Store Day 2013 which will be taking place on April 20th at independent record stories across America.

The Hendrix estate's camp sent over these details: The poster was created from a photo of Jimi Hendrix that was taken in a small record store in New England by Ira Rosen just prior the release of the landmark album, Are You Experienced.

Jimi's sister, Janie Hendrix had this to say, "It's entirely appropriate that an image of Jimi Hendrix is on the official Record Store Day poster. He was an avid music fan and record collector himself and, of course, his recordings are among the most enduring and cherished of all time. Jimi's musical legacy and influence grow with every passing year so, in a sense, he makes Record Store Day last much, much longer than 24 hours."

Only 5,000 copies of the poster will be made and will be free to Hendrix fans at fully participating record stores in the United States.

Experience Hendrix will also be celebrating Record Store Day 2013 with the exclusive release of a limited edition individually numbered 7" vinyl single featuring the original mono mixes of "Hey Joe" b/w "Stone Free" which have been unavailable since their original 1966 release. See the poster photo here.




Orgy, Vampires Everywhere and Davey Suicide Tour Starts This Week
The recently relaunched band Orgy will be kicking off their North American headline tour this weekend in Phoenix.

The band's Wide Awake and Dead Tour starts this Saturday and will conclude with a finale at the Whisky a Go Go on April 15th.

Orgy will be joined on the tour by Vampires Everywhere and Davey Suicide as they hit cities across the U.S. more on this story





FM Releasing Indiscreet 25 Live DVD
(Classic Rock) FM will release a live DVD on April 1. Indiscreet 25 Live was shot last March during shows to celebrate the anniversary of their classic 1986 album, during which the band played it in full.

The package includes a behind-the-scenes documentary in which the band discuss the original record's legacy.

It will be on sale in shops and the band's merch stand during their upcoming tour, the last four shows of which feature It Bites as special guests. more on this story





New Spiritual Beggars Song Streaming Online
(Classic Rock) Classic Rock have premiered "Turn The Tide," the first track from Spiritual Beggars' upcoming eighth album, Earth Blues.

They'll release the follow-up to 2010′s acclaimed Return To Zero on April 15 (April 16 in North America) via InsideOut.

The Swedish outfit launch a European tour with special guests Zodiac on the day the record comes out, and will appear at a number of festivals throughout the summer. Listen to the song here.




Whitesnake TV Premieres 2nd Part of Keith Olsen Interview
(hennemusic) Whitesnake TV has rolled out part 2 of singer David Coverdale's extended conversation with music producer Keith Olsen.

Olsen worked with Coverdale on 1984's "Slide It In," the self-titled 1987 record, and 1989's "Slip Of The Tongue."

Whitesnake kick off the "Year Of The Snake" 2013 world tour in mid-May with a UK trek, before the group hits Europe in June.

The tour will feature the return of legendary drummer Tommy Aldridge to the Whitesnake camp, following the recent departure of Brian Tichy

Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


Uriah Heep Star Battling Cancer
(Classic Rock) Trevor Bolder has told Classic Rock that the reason for his recent surgery wasn't a heart attack, as online rumors suggested - it was cancer.
But the Uriah Heep bassist is looking forward to life without the killer disease, and he's revealed plans for a Spiders From Mars reunion later this year.

Heep last month announced that Bolder would be temporarily replaced by JJ Jowitt of IQ, Arena and Frost* fame, adding: "We all wish Trevor a speedy return to the fold."

That led to speculation he'd suffered a heart attack. But Bolder tells Classic Rock: "No. It wasn't – it was cancer. I had a big operation in early January that will take me months to get over. more on this story




Robert Plant Has New Album Almost Done
(Radio.com) 2012 saw lots of Led Zeppelin activity, including the band's inclusion in the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony in December. The night of that event, Robert Plant told Radio.com that in 2013 he might "just chill for a while."

But one of his many collaborators, guitarist Buddy Miller, recently told Radio.com that Plant has at least one new album almost ready to go. And after two consecutive releases of (mostly) covers (2007′s Raising Sand with Alison Krauss and 2010′s Band Of Joy), this one will feature brand new songs.

"We got together, we wrote a whole new batch of songs," Miller says. "He wanted to write together, so I said, 'Come over to the house, and let's have Marco [Giovino], our drummer — he's drumming with Jim [Lauderdale] and me — come over. So the three of us set up in my room, and I thought, 'Y'know, if we're gonna write, let me stick up some mics, and record it.' I'm glad I did: it actually sounded really good. It's exciting: I'd say it rocks harder than what we did before. We recorded most of it without a bass; I played baritone guitar, or six-string bass. It's stripped down and tribal and rocking."

So, just how close is it to being ready for release? That, of course, is up to Mr. Plant. "It's just about done," Miller says. "It's missing a few background vocals, and him re-doing a few things. I think he wants to finish it. He's real proud of the songs. But he's Robert Plant, man. He can do whatever he wants to do!" More including a video stream of the interview.




Axl Rose Turned Down Offer To Leave Guns N' Roses
Music industry legend Kim Fowley recently spoke with antiMusic's Morley Seaver and had numerous stories to share from his travels in the business and he shared the following story about how Axl Rose turned down a lucrative offer to leave Guns N' Roses and join another band.

Kim tells us: I was working for a rich manager of a difficult band who had drug issues and alcohol issues and they were friends of Axl. The guy who was putting up the money for this unknown band was dating the leader of the band's mother. So he said "I don't know about this band I'm investing in." he was paying me three grand a week to be their babysitter, producer, coach, shrink, songwriting teacher, publicist, etc. I was doing like 10 jobs. He said, 'Something tells me these guys may not make it. Do you know anyone else who's weird and strange and difficult but possibly platinum?" "Yeah, Guns N' Roses." "Good. Okay. Let's take a look. Oh my goodness. You're right. Okay. Have the singer come by the studio tomorrow."

So we're all in the studio with the unknown band and here comes Axl by himself. And the manager had a $2,000 suit on and he said, "Well, you guys are great. I want to be your manager, production company etc. And I want Kim Fowley to record and produce right here in this studio. And to show you how serious I am I'm going to open this suitcase and show you what's inside. And you can walk away with the suitcase. Or call the boys up and drive up and I'll pay for the cab if you don't have enough gas. Go ahead Axl, open the suitcase."

So Axl opens the suitcase and there's $50,000 in cash. And the manger says, "What do you think?" and Axl says, "With all due respect sir, whoever you are. That's not enough for Guns N' Roses. We're going to be bigger than that. It's just a matter of time. I'll say no politely and I'll go away and I'll make more money than this on our initial signing with my guys. What don't you help these guys out? They're deserving. They're probably not as great as we are but if you're going to piss it away, you might as well piss it away on them because you're already working with them. I gotta go rehearse. It was nice seeing all of you. Good bye." And we all applauded him. (laughs) What else do you do, you know?

So he called a cab. We had the money for the cab and he rode away. And I always thought of all the starving musicians I'd ever seen, even the ones who made it or didn't make it, he was the only one who knew exactly how valuable he was, and how not to panic. Because that's a lot of money for anyone. And he just wasn't interested. And of course they got 75 grand for signing with Geffen.

And the day they got the deal, they gave him the check. He came into Rainbow Bar & Grill, he saw me there and he remembered that I had recommended him. He said, "You'll appreciate this." And he opened his jacket and he had a check for $37, 500 which was half of $75,000 and then they would get the other half when they started the album. So he said, "See, I told you we'd get more." I said, "You did. When are you going to cash it?" He said, "Tomorrow, the banks are closed. So buy me dinner." "I said, okay." (laughs) So we did. And he sat there and he hustled this free dinner (laughing) and with his $37,500 he walked away. He had a steak dinner and we thought it was great. Good for him. And that's how I know Axl. I know THAT Axl. The kind of guy who kinda had it under control.

Check out the full interview to discover how Kim links Axl Rose to Jayne Mansfield here.




Tool Plan Limited Edition Anniversary Release
Tool will be celebrating the 21st anniversary of their debut EP, Opiate, by releasing a special limited edition reissue on March 26th.

The six-track EP will be reissued as limited edition anniversary packages and sold on the band's website.

They plan to only release a total of 5,000 copies with 5 different 1,000 piece runs featuring different graphics and bonus material.

The reissues will feature art direction by Adam Jones, illustrations by legendary artist Adi Granov and design packaging by Mackie Osborne.

The bonus material will include a new stereoscopic image from the 10,000 Days packaging for fans to use with their glasses. The band says that more details will be announced soon and they will not be taking pre-orders for the reissues. Band's website.




David Bowie Pokes Fun At Celebrity Culture in New Video
David Bowie takes aim at today's obsessive celebrity culture in the short film / music video for his new single "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)."

The song comes from his forthcoming album, The Next Day, and has been released at iTunes. The album will be released on March 12th in North America.

The video was directed by Floria Sigismondi and stars the Bowie and actress Tilda Swinton and includes an unprovoked attack with a Morphy Richards electric carving knife, according to Classic Rock. You can stream the new video here.




Iggy Pop and the Stooges Releasing New Album
(Gibson) Iggy Pop and the Stooges have set an April 30th release date for "Ready to Die," their first album since 2007.

"Ready to Die" will be the first album to feature guitarist James Williamson and drummer Scott Asheton since the band's classic Raw Power album from 1973.

The new album will feature bassist Mike Watt, who took over after original guitarist and later bassist Ron Asheton passed away in 2009.

Iggy and the Stooges are hitting the road on March 23 with an Australian tour. After a lone date in Long Beach, CA, the boys head over to Europe for a bunch of festival dates in June and July. more on this story







Metallica Not Planning Full Album Set At Orion Festival
(hennemusic) Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich shares some insight into this year's Orion Music + More Festival, including which acts he's looking forward to seeing and what fans won't be seeing from Metallica.

"I saw the Chili Peppers in San Francisco about six months ago," says Lars. "They're on a f**king roll at the moment. They're better than they've ever been. I was completely blown away for two hours. We did a run with the Deftones in 2003 on our Summer Sanitarium Tour, which was really cool. Those guys are always good. Dropkick Murphys, those guys are so much fun and have so much energy. [Laughs] There's such a positive vibe in what they do. Bringing in the 2013 incarnation of Black Flag, minus the "Black," is obviously going to be pretty fun.

"My 14-year-old has turned me on to Japandroids, and I've heard some of their stuff, which is pretty amazing. I've become kind of a late fan of Fu Manchu. My girl actually turned me on to them a little while ago, so I'm a brand new fan of theirs. I'm glad that they're with us. You know, [proto-punk band] Death. [Laughs] We'll have Death come out and do their thing in Detroit again! And the Dillinger Escape boys. Lots of different stuff."

Ulrich was asked if the band would be playing any of their classic albums at Orion 2013. "If I was a betting man, which I'm not, I would probably not put too much money on that," he said. "I think you've got to be careful that it doesn't become something that people expect from you every year, especially when you only put records out every five years like we do. We'll run out of records to play at some point pretty quick." He elaborates further.





Deep Purple Reveal New Album Title
(Classic Rock) Deep Purple have finally confirmed the title of their 19th studio album: it's called Now What?! and it's set for release in late April.

The band had spent recent weeks teasing fans over the title, referring to is simply as "?!" and refusing to reveal any further details.

The first single, a double-A release featuring tracks entitled Hell To Pay and All The Time In The World, will appear on March 29.

Meanwhile, former Purple member Glenn Hughes has recalled how the band kept watch on him for a year before inviting him to join. Read about that here.





Soundgarden Reveal Spring Tour Dates
Soundgarden have revealed the tour dates for the 2nd leg of their North American tour in support of their latest album.

The new tour leg will kick off on May 3rd in Atlantic City, NJ and will conclude on May 28th in Broomfield, CO

In addition to headlining dates, the tour will also include performances at music festivals including Carolina Rebellion, Rock on the Range and WRZX X103 Mayday Event.

The band is touring in support of their comeback album, King Animal. The band filmed the final show of the 1st leg of the tour at The Wiltern in Los Angeles for Live From The Artists Den.

The episode will be airing later this year on PBS and will feature interviews with the band in addition to the live footage. more on this story





Whitesnake Plan Second Live Release This Year
(hennemusic) Earlier this month, Whitesnake announced plans to release "Made In Japan," a Deluxe 2CD/DVD Edition, Blu-ray and DVD that captures the band in concert at the Loud Park festival on October 15th, 2011 at Saitama Super Arena in Japan during their Forevermore World Tour.

The project will be released in the UK on Monday April 22nd (North American release is Tuesday April 23rd).

Now, singer David Coverdale tells The Rockpit that the band will issue a second live project later this year.

"We'll also be releasing a double live CD called 'Made In Britain' in July," he says. "It was recorded on the 2011 UK tour and an extra CD tentatively called 'Whitesnake The World Record' recorded all over the f**king place. Very ambitious." more on this story




Jeff Lynne Rarities Include ELO Album With George Harrison and Ringo
(Gibson) A number of rare Electric Light Orchestra and Jeff Lynne recordings have found a new home on Frontiers Records, the label that recently released new albums by both Lynne and his most famous musical endeavor, ELO.

The releases are ELO's Zoom, a 2001 release which has been unavailable for over ten years and which features appearances by Beatles George Harrison and Ringo Starr; Lynne's 1990 solo debut Armchair Theatre (Harrison shows up there too); and Electric Live Orchestra Live, which chronicles the first date of the Zoom tour at Los Angeles' CBS Television City, originally released as a DVD.

Each release includes additional tracks, with Live really upping the ante with four tracks that weren't on the original DVD release as well as two new unreleased studio tracks, "Out of Luck" and "Cold Feet." more on this story






Bruce Springsteen's Born To Run Home For Sale
(Radio.com) A little more than a week has passed since Bruce Springsteen's former home located at 71/2 West End Court Long Branch, New Jersey was placed on the market for $349,900 by one of its three owners, and already real estate agent Susan McLaughlin of Keller Williams Realty has received a whopping 40 phone calls and another 40 emails regarding the estate.

The other two owners have agreed to partner with anyone willing to buy a third of the house.

Springsteen lived in the five-room, two-bedroom and one bath cottage in 1974 and '75 and while writing his most iconic album to date, 1975′s Born to Run. He was 25 and 26

According to the Asbury Park Press, rock legend Bob Dylan was looking for the landmark home after being detained by the Long Branch police in 2009. While visting the homes of rock stars like Jim Morrison to feel the musical vibes, Dylan mistakenly went to West End Avenue, not West End Court. more on this story




Great White Guitarist Explains Jack Russell Departure
Classic Rock Revisited recently spoke with Great White guitarist Mark Kendall for an in-depth interview about their new 30th anniversary release, their new frontman and other topics. Kendall also explained the band's parting with original singer Jack Russell. Here is that portion of the interview:

CRR: I don't want to slag Jack, because I love him in Great White. But we know what happened and all of the issues. Great White was not having fun at the end with Jack. Did you ever think it would be fun again?

Mark: Just to be brutally honest, it was not fun because there was so much drama attached to everything. I get it because I work with addicts every day. My sobriety has quality to it because I am giving back. I work with MusiCares and I help people who are struggling.

I get addiction. When you are watching someone self-destruct and you're trying to have fun at the same time, then the fun is really hard to get to. We were dealing with someone who was fighting demons. He was having a hard time getting it, if you will. It was hard on everyone. Even the fans were going, "What are you doing having this guy out here in this condition?" as if we were forcing him to come out. He was insisting on coming out. I remember playing a gig in Canada and he actually was falling asleep onstage. I went behind him where the crowd couldn't see me and literally slapped him on his back to wake him up. We were only five songs into the set and he was falling asleep. It was tough. You get so used to the drama that it is normal. When you start out you go to your hotel, you do interviews and you go play the show. When you have to insert urgent care and shots of Demerol and falling down and all of that, then it hinders everything. It makes it hard on everyone.

When that all went away and we got this healthy dude in Terry, who is into martial arts and doesn't smoke cigarettes and we are all sober as the day we are born, then we just started making music and enjoying our families, and our fans, and our gigs again. We don't leave anywhere that we play without having everything signed and all of the pictures are taken. We are having fun again and it is a blast. Everything is so easy; I had forgotten how easy it can be. It is really not so tough. When you have someone struggling then it really can make it tough.

It was not like Jack and I got into a drop down drag out fight and that we were done with each other. It was not like we could not take each other anymore. It was just the case of addiction winning. I work with addicts all the time and I try to help them. I tried to help Jack. I took him to my pastor and I had him baptized, but he was high at the time. It was a little bit of a dog and pony show, but I get it. If you're not ready to get sober then you're not going to do it. You can't get clean for other people; you have to quit for yourself. To have success in recovery then you need to do it for yourself. The problems will take care of itself in time. You can't do it because your kids want it, or to save your marriage. You give yourself the best chance to be successful if you do it for yourself. The interview with Mark covered a lot more topics, check it out here.




Member Leaves Saigon Kick As They Prepare For Reunion Tour
Saigon Kick are preparing to launch a five date reunion tour next month but have announced one member is already leaving the band.

The group had this to say, "After the official Saigon Kick reunion announcement and rehearsals, we regret to announce that Tom Defile (bass) will not be continuing with the band. Tom and Saigon Kick amicably decided this is best for both parties and we wish him nothing but success in his future endeavors."

Saigon Kick frontman Matt Kramer tells BW&BK that Chris McLernon, who replaced Defile on their Water album and joined the reunion as second guitarist, will now be back to playing bass. Read their report here.




Extended Interviews From Aerosmith's 60 Minutes Appearance Go Online
(hennemusic) 60 Minutes Australia caught up with Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry for an extensive chat about their legendary career and survival tactics for the future.

The appearance was tied to the news that Aerosmith will tour Australia this spring for the first time in 24 years. The group will play three shows in Oz and one in New Zealand.

Watch Tyler and Perry's extended individual interviews that were not part of the 60 Minutes broadcast here.




Anthrax Break Out AC/DC Cover Down Under
(hennemusic) Anthrax rocked an AC/DC classic during the first show of the Soundwave festival in Australia.

The group played AC/DC's "TNT" on Saturday at the Brisbane stop of this year's traveling festival.

Anthrax have recorded "TNT" for "Anthems," a forthcoming eight-track EP that pays tribute to the classic songs by some of the group's favorite bands from the 1970s. Check out video of the jam here.




American Hero Experience Makes Marine's Music Dream Comes True
(Gibson) The American Hero Experience TV show helped make the dreams of singer/songwriter and former active duty Marine, Markus Fox, come true earlier this month.

Fox, who served tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, had his father ship his guitar to a combat zone. His music not only became therapy, it also lifted the spirits of his fellow Marines.

The American Hero Experience sent Markus to Nashville, Tennessee to record his song, "Sacrifices," which will be used periodically on the new TV series.

Markus also performed on stage in Nashville with hit songwriters Wynn Varble, Don Poythress, Karen Staley and Brad Cotter. At the show, Gibson President & CEO Henry Juszkiewicz presented Fox with a guitar.

The episode will air on "American Hero Experience" at 1:00 pm EST on Thursday, February 28, 2013 on the NBC Sports Network. Check out video here.






Robin Zander's Sgt. Pepper Outfit Added To Rock Hall
(hennemusic) To kick off 2013, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio has unveiled dozens of new collection items – including handwritten lyrics, instruments, a tour van, clothing, stage props, and more – many on display to the public for the first time.

One of the highlights from the new collection is Cheap Trick vocalist and guitarist Robin Zander's Sgt. Pepper outfit, designed by Karen Dusenbery, and located in the Ahmet Ertegun Main Exhibit Hall, Lower Level

Cheap Trick released the album "Sgt. Pepper Live," recorded with a full orchestra on August 25, 2009, commemorating the 42nd anniversary of the release of the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." more on this story




Def Leppard's Rick Allen Plans Special Art Events In Vegas
(hennemusic) When Def Leppard take over the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas next month for their "VIVA Hysteria!" residency, fans will have more than just the live concerts to check out while in Sin City.

Leppard drummer Rick Allen will showcase his fine-art debut collection, "Electric Hand: Rhythm + Change", at the Martin Lawrence Galleries at the Forum Shops in Las Vegas.

From March 22 until April 10, Allen's entire collection of rhythm on canvas will be on display, and fans are encouraged to visit the gallery while they are there to see it and own the final pieces available in the world.

There will also be two live question-and-answer events with Rick at the gallery where he will discuss the collection and meeting the public. more on this story





Singled Out: The Trouble With Templeton
Today Hugh Middleton from up-and-coming Aussie band The Trouble With Templeton tells us about their song "Six Months in a Cast". Here is the story:

'Six Months in a Cast' was the first track that we decided to record with Matt Redlich at his incredible studio in Yeronga, Brisbane. The bass, drums and acoustic guitar bed of the track was recorded live. Initially it was quite a tricky one to capture on a recording because of how tight the bass and drums had to be to perfectly lock into the groove of the acoustic guitars' quite staccato sounding strums. While laying down the bed of the track we all slowly started to realize how much of a perfectionist Redlich is. And I mean that in the best way possible. At the time it was quite a shock to us that it was proving more difficult than recently anticipated to get a take down that reached Redlichs standards. But it is this very reason why all of us have chosen to work with him. He listens from a completely objective point of view, and delivers what he thinks in the same way. He pushes just enough for the best results whilst maintaining a friendly yet professional way about it.

Being the first recording experience together as a band, there was a fair amount of experimentation involved using a wide array of pedals, synths and sounds that we as a band had never previously been accustomed to playing. Our drummer Richie had also a fair amount of influence on the ambience of the track. Redlich secretly recorded Ritchie scuffling through one of his drum bags as he was searching for a shaker. The clanking of bells, sticks, shakers and other bits of percussion were used as a large part of the ambience particularly in the middle section. It was Redlichs idea to incorporate a Moog modulation pedal running through a live piano track. Betty's piano line during the chorus shifts up and down in octaves, and swells and retracts in fast sweeping delays that were controlled simultaneously by Tom in the control room. This method of one member playing the instrument and another controlling the plug ins or pedals is happening all over this album. It's a great way of breaking the predictability of a melody line with effects.

Because the bass, drums and rhythm guitar parts of the track were quite driving and staccato I felt it would compliment the progress of the song to include a more sustained, elongated feeling guitar line that enters after the first verse. I was hoping this would create some contrast against the dry acoustic tight grooves and balance it with some eeriness. The outro of the song was only actually written a few days before we started recording. Originally we were hoping to fill out the outro with a brass section. That idea didn't really make it since all the brass players we asked were busy and I think by the end we all started to lean towards the idea of it being more of a soaring, crowd sing along style section…

After the instruments were done, it was time for the main vocal. Tom being Tom pushed out one take and it was it. Absolutely incredible... By that stage I think Redlich really was impressed by the delivery of Toms' vocal, seeing that the recording of the bedding track seemed to take a bit longer than he would've liked. Oh before I forget, claps! Claps were a major part of this song. I remember Tom also had an exceptional clap sound, I don't think mine made the cut…

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself right here!




Saxon Release Sacrifice Video
(Classic Rock) Saxon have released the promo video for Sacrifice, the title track of their 20th album.

It follows the launch of an eight-minute making-of clip in which band discuss the inspiration for the song while the director and crew explain the process of putting the video together.

Sacrifice is released on March 4. Saxon tour the UK and Ireland in April. You can find the tour dates and watch the new video here.




Van Halen's David Lee Roth Explores Tattoo History
(hennemusic) Van Halen lead singer David Lee Roth explores the world of tattoos in the latest episode in his series, The Roth Show.

"Tattoos In Japan" see Roth talking about the history of tattoos worldwide, especially in Japan, where the singer is currently residing. Dave also shares his own Japanese tattoo experiences.

A year ago, "Tattoo" was the lead single from Van Halen's "A Different Kind Of Truth," the band's first album with Roth since 1984. Check out the episode here.




Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx On Creative High Heading Down Under
(hennemusic) Motley Crue kick off an Australian tour with KISS and Thin Lizzy on Thursday in Perth.

The bands will play 8 shows in the country between February 28 and March 16. Bassist Nikki Sixx checks in from down under as he prepares for opening night.

"Long day today ( yesterday ) getting last minute stuff together to catch the flight to Australia ( where i just landed in Sydney )," writes Nikki. "I haven't had a day off in over a month so I am a little bit crisp around the edges. The good news is I've been on a creative high and that always a good reason to be tired."

"Anyway, I regress, back to the tour," he continues. "Leaving on tour is always hard on me and always has been. Ive been pretty open about it in my books and posts over the years. I have a lot to wanna stay home for but i also love doing what i do ( playing ROCK N ROLL )..So here I sit in Sydney waiting for the connection flight to Perth where Kiss and Crue kick off the first show of the tour. The rest of the band left days ago but i wanted to milk the last few days to soak up the family."

Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


Foo Fighters Begin New Album
(Radio.com) Dave Grohl just can't stop rocking. After announcing last October that the Foo Fighters were set to "go away for a while," Grohl has revealed that the band is ready to reconvene and begin work on a new album.
Grohl made the revelation during a red carpet interview at this year's BRIT Awards in London on February 20.

"I return to Los Angeles tomorrow to start work on a Foo Fighters record," he said to the show's host, James Cordon (via Kerrang!), adding that the new material would be released "eventually."

It would be the Foo Fighters' eighth studio full-length, and the first since 2011 album Wasting Light, which included such singles as "Rope" and "These Days." more on this story




Trent Reznor Resurrects Nine Inch Nails
(Classic Rock) Trent Reznor has confirmed Nine Inch Nails will tour in 2013, four years after he brought the curtain down on the band's live career.

In 2009 he said "I've been thinking for some time now it's time to make NIN disappear for a while," and did just that after their Wave Goodbye tour.

Now he's decided the time is right to bring the industrial rock project back – and he's revealed the new lineup includes former Jane's Addiction bassist Eric Avery and King Crimson frontman Adrian Belew. more on this story




Metallica Announce Orion Festival Lineup
Metallica have revealed lineup and headliner details for their 2nd Orion Music + More Festival that will be taking place this spring.

Aside from Metallica, the festival will also feature headline performances from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rise Against, Deftones and Bassnectar.

The 2013 Orion Music + More Festival is set to take place on June 8th and 9th at Belle Isle in Detroit, MI.

The festival lineup will also feature over 30 bands performing on 5 stages including The Dillinger Escape Plan, All Shall Perish, The Bronx, Gogol Bordello, Dropkick Murphys, Tomahawk, The Joy Formidable and more.

"Last year's Orion Music + More Festival was hands down the highlight of the Metallica calendar. A great time was had by all, especially the band members," said Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich. "The fact that it also resonated with enough of our fans and friends that it warrants another go-around in '13 is beyond exciting. I can think of no better place than the Motor City, with its rich and diverse history of music, for the second ride on our Orion festival train. Bring it the f**k on!" See lineup here.




KISS Founder Ace Frehley Facing Home Foreclosure
A bank filed a foreclosure filing earlier this month against a home owned by original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley and he is also reportedly owes back property tax on the home.

U.S. Bank National Association alleges that Frehley stopped making mortgage payments on his Yorktown, New York home on March 1, 2011, according to lohud.com

The bank made a foreclosure filing on February 15th where they asked a court to order the sale of the property for the outstanding principal of $703,581.48 plus interest, late charges and other expenses, according to the report.

Frehley is also reportedly behind on his taxes. The report states that tax office shows that they havene't received a tax payment since December of 2011 and there is a tax lien for $5,131.61 for town and county taxes for 2011 and he owes $13,425.94 for unpaid 2012 county, school and town taxes. more on this story





The Dillinger Escape Plan Launching Spring Tour
The Dillinger Escape Plan have announced a Spring North American tour which will be part of their new World Tour plans.

The North American trek will also feature The Faceless and Royal Thunder and is set to kick off on April 22nd in Lancaster, PA.

Prior to the tour launch, Dillinger Escape Plan will be making an appearance at the New England Metal Fest on April 20th in Worcester, MA.

The band is hitting the road in support of their new studio album, One Of Us Is The Killer, which is set for release in North America on May 14th.

"It's been a while since we've been out doing what we do best," said guitarist Ben Weinman. "We're excited to present this album to the world." more on this story




Former Black Sabbath Member Puzzled By Bill Ward Situation
(Classic Rock) Former Black Sabbath singer Tony Martin believes Black Sabbath should have done everything in their power to bring Bill Ward back into the fold.

The drummer was left out of the band's reunion with original vocalist Ozzy Osbourne after saying he hadn't been offered a contract he regarded as "signable." His place on upcoming album 13 was taken by Rage Against The Machine sticksman Brad Wilk after producer Rick Rubin failed in an attempt to bring Ginger Baker into the studio.

Martin previously wondered if it was nothing more than a publicity stunt. But now he cites the example of Def Leppard to illustrate how far he thinks Sabbath should have gone to make Ward part of the reunion.

He tells Legendary Rock Interviews: "The thing is weird – because they always loved Bill. They never had a bad thing to say about him, so I don't quite get why they wouldn't take time out to nurture him back into the fold." more on this story





NWOBHM Bands Launching Music Festival
(Classic Rock) NWOBHM heroes including Holocaust, Avenger, Scarab and Spartan Warrior will gather at the first Brofest event at Northumbria University Students Union, Newcastle, on March 1 and 2. Organiser and former Tygers Of Pan Tang vocalist Jess Cox explains why the event is so important.

In 1980 a new musical phenomena burst into the world, called the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. It spawned Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Saxon – and the North East's very own Tygers Of Pan Tang.

The movement only lasted a few short years; but for a while it was the height of cool – and it influenced generations of major worldwide acts, including the biggest heavy metal band on the planet: Metallica.

Many of the movement's foot soldiers were from Newcastle and outlining towns. Most of them were signed by Neat Records from Wallsend, who released 200 singles and albums through the 1980s by Geordie metal acts Venom, Raven, the Tygers, Tysondog, Fist, Blitzkreig and White Spirit (featuring guitarist Janick Gers, who found fame later in Maiden). more on this story




3 Doors Down Plan Special Unplugged Concert
3 Doors Down will be unplugging for a special one-off acoustic concert in the band's adopted hometown of Nashville next month.

The event is set to take place at the War Memorial in Nashville on March 1st. Frontman Brad Arnold explains, "We all call Nashville home, and we cannot wait to perform for our fans in a more intimate setting at War Memorial.

"It will also be the first time we have performed a full set acoustically. It's going to be a great evening."

Guitarist Chris Henderson adds, "These songs translate so well from the electric versions. We go through and strip each one down to figure out what will work best for this type of show. It's a reimagining of the songs."




Fear Factory and Hate Eternal Announce American Tour Dates
Fear Factory and Hate Eternal have announced the initial dates for their upcoming North American tour.

The announced dates kick off on April 10th in Seattle, Wa and run until May 16th in Houston, with more dates expected to be announced soon.

Fear Factory will be hitting the road in support of their latest album, The Industrialist. more on this story

More on Fear Factory - Fear Factory Music - Fear Factory Tour Dates/Tickets - Fear Factory CDs, vinyl and rarities
Paramore's Hayley Williams Explains New Album Title
(Radio.com) During an exclusive interview with Radio.com, lead singer Hayley Williams discussed Paramore's fourth album, and why they chose it to name it after the band.

"The self-titled aspect of the whole thing is definitely a statement. I feel like it's not only reintroducing the band to the world, but even to ourselves," Williams explained alongside bandmates Taylor York and Jeremy Davis.

"We wrote this album kind of blindly, just letting it lead us wherever it was gonna take us. Each song felt very different and felt very new and exciting for us. By the end of it, it felt like we're a new band."

"I definitely think we're reintroducing ourselves to the world and to our fans," the singer continued about the band's first album without founding members Zac and Josh Farro. "At the same time, it's so definitely us, you know? It's so Paramore. I just don't think there would've been any other title that would've worked. Anything else would've felt like we were trying too hard." more on this story




Aerosmith and Foreigner Members Headed To Songwriter Hall of Fame
Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry and Foreigner's Mick Jones and Lou Gramm lead the 2013 class for the Songwriters Hall Of Fame.

The hard rock duos will be inducted along with Eagles songwriting collaborator JD Souther, 60s hit maker Tony Hatch, and multi-genre songwriter Holly Knight who's credits include Tina Turner and Aerosmith's "Ragdoll. "

The induction will take place at a gala on June 13th in New York City at the Marriott Marquis Hotel.

Organizers sent over details about each of this year's inductees that you can read here




Green Day Announce South By Southwest Plans
Green Day will be warming up for their upcoming world tour with their very first appearance at the South By Southwest music festival.

The band is set to appear at the festival on March 15th for a screening of their two films and a live performance.

The film screening will include the world premiere of Broadway Idiot and the Green Day documentary ¡Cuatro! at the Paramount Theatre.

The band will then perform ACL-Live at the Moody Theatre. Their camp sent over the admission information here.





Motley Crue Heading North This Spring
(hennemusic) Motley Crue have announced a 2013 Canadian tour, which marks the most expansive run of the country in the band's history.

The 18-show trek kicks off April 20 in Penticton, BC, and runs through to May 14 when the band completes the tour in the nation's capital, Ottawa, ON.

The Crue will be joined by special guests Big Wreck. Motley Crue kick off an Australian tour with KISS and Thin Lizzy on Thursday in Perth. more on this story





New Pearl Jam Album Out This Year?
There is some hope for Pearl Jam fans that the band will be releasing their new album this year according to comments from guitarist Mike McCready.

McCready was interviewed by Rolling Stone and while the publication did not include the full quote from the guitarist, they do quote him as saying the band hopes to have the album out "this year, for sure." Though his quote sounds far more definite than their "hope" qualification.

The article features several partial quotes from McCready. One states that the band is "working on demos right now and we're going to be recording soon."

"What everybody's been saying is halfway done," he says of the new album. "I think that's true – we have seven songs that are relatively completed. But then we have an additional 15 ready to go aside from any that Eddie brings in, so we'll weed through those."

He also discussed the musical direction of the album and his excitement to once again be working with Brendan O'Brien. Read the report here.




Former Allman Brothers Band Member Dan Toler Dies
Onetime Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dan Toler died at his home in Sarasota Florida on Monday morning, (February 25th), after fighting a long battle against (ALS) Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Toler was best known as a member of the Dickey Betts & Great Southern band and was featured on the two albums with Dickey Betts & Great Southern before becoming a member of The Allman Brothers Band from 1979 until 1982.

Toler was featured on the Allman's 1979 album, "Enlightened Rogues," 1980 album "Reach for the Sky" and "Brothers of the Road" in 1981.

Dan Toler and his late brother David (Frankie) Toler were members of the Gregg Allman Band in the 1980s, and were featured on his album, I'm No Angel, in 1987; and again on Just Before the Bullets Fly in 1988. more on this story





Trapped Under Ice Going on Lengthy Hiatus
Trapped Under Ice are planning the put the band on ice at the end of the summer, announcing plans for a "lengthy hiatus."

The band assure fans they are not breaking up and released a length explanation for the move as well as confirmation they will be honoring their live commitments which conclude with their appearance at the This Is Hardcore festival in August.

Here is what the band had to say: Hello World. TUI here. We're writing to give everyone an update on the future of the band. Let's get straight to the point: Beginning in August 2013, Trapped Under Ice is going on a pretty lengthy hiatus. We are NOT breaking up. This is by no means the end of TUI. We just decided that it was important to keep the band fresh and something the five of us enjoy. We don't wanna spin the wheels for nothing and just write music because we feel like we have to. We don't really feel right about just putting out another record for the sake of touring right now. So, while its still fun, we're gonna go on a little break, do all our own things, then take it from there.

At this time, we just want to emphasize that TUI, as a band, and as people, all still love hardcore and punk music. We all play in other bands and still tour. More importantly, we're five people who still love each other and love playing music together. None of that has changed. We've been around the world and back a couple times together and all grown a lot as individuals in this band. Made amazing friends and played with some of our favorite bands. We just wanted to keep it honest for people that have stuck with us through thick and thin over the years. There's no beef, no drama. So anything you hear or read thats not in these paragraphs is 100% NOT true. After a lot of deliberation, we just all felt it was a good time to step back, take a breather, and get a fresh perspective on things.

So, with that being said, we aren't going on hiatus just yet. We still have a bunch of shows in the next six months, including a California weekend, a show in Hawaii, United Blood (Richmond VA), New England Metal Fest (Mass), Groezrock in Belgium (our one and only mainland European show), a UK tour with our friends Backtrack, Canada, and shows in Baltimore and DC. Wrapping it up this summer at This Is Hardcore Fest in Philly, for what will be our last show for roughly a couple years (2015). We'd love for everyone to come out and have fun. more on this story




Suicidal Tendencies Tour To Feature D.R.I. and Sick Of It All
Suicidal Tendencies have announced the first leg of their Slam City tour of North America which will feature some big name support.

The band will kicking off the leg on April 11th in San Francisco. The entire tour will feature support from Wake the Dead and the tour will feature additional support from punk legends D.R.I. from April 16th until April 28th.

Sick Of It All will replace D.R.I. beginning on April 30th in St. Petersburg, FL and remain on the tour leg until it concludes on May 12th in San Diego.

Sick Of It All will also be appearing early in the tour at shows in New York, Philadelphia, Worchester and Baltimore. more on this story




Anthrax Streaming AC/DC Cover
Anthrax continues to preview their forthcoming covers EP with the latest song stream featuring their take on an AC/DC classic.

The Thrash Metal veterans will be releasing the new 8-track covers EP, "Anthems,' on March 19th in North America.

This past week Megaforce Records released a stream the band's cover of AC/DC classic "TNT" and Charlie Benante spoke with Music Radar about why they selected it.

"This was Joey's [Belladonna, vocals] track," Benante told the site. "We already had Whole Lotta Rosie recorded, but he wanted T.N.T. I can see why: his voice totally lends itself to this track.

"AC/DC is probably one of the greatest bands ever. The came in with a certain sound, and they'll end with that same exact sound. They never altered it; they just stayed true to what they were. To me, that's an honest-to-goodness rock 'n' roll band.

"It would have been obvious to pick something off of Highway To Hell or Back In Black, and so we didn't. [Laughs] I studied every Phil Rudd lick, and I did not go overboard with anything. I played exactly what he played on T.N.T. You can't do a fast drum fill on the song – it'll stand out as being out of place. I laid it down, pulled it back, and that was that." Check out the stream here.




Megadeth Excited To Release New Album With Universal
(hennemusic) Megadeth are sharing more footage of the band in the studio working on their forthcoming new album, "Super Collider."

The project will be released in June via guitarist Dave Mustaine's new label, Tradecraft, which is distributed by Universal.

"It was a real thrill for us to learn there was an opportunity to join Universal," said Mustaine. "It seems like every time you see a great band or music video, it comes from a Universal label. Being with Universal is by far the most exciting and prestigious home for Megadeth ever!

"We are electrified with what the future holds and the possibilities such a powerhouse like Universal will bring for us all. We have worked with some great people over the years, and it is amazing to see so many of them on the Universal team for our new record, 'Super Collider'. If Megadeth being here isn't satiating enough, having Tradecraft as my own label is going to be really amazing for metal bands around the world." Watch it here.




Saxon Document Sacrifice
(Classic Rock) Saxon have released a video documenting the making of the promo for upcoming single Sacrifice.

In the eight-minute clip the band discuss the inspiration for their 20th album's title track while the director and crew explain the process of putting the video together.

Frontman Biff Byford recently said of the album: "My brief to the band was to be raw, be real and not be afraid to look back at the old classic material for inspiration." Watch the video here.





KISS Coffeehouse Named Grand Strand Winner
(hennemusic) The KISS Coffeehouse in Myrtle Beach has been voted a winner in the "Best Of The Grand Strand" competition for the 4th consecutive year.

With more than 56,000+ total votes cast, by both locals and tourists alike, and over 1,000+ businesses competing for "Best Of" honors, in 68 unique, and special categories, The KISS Coffeehouse was 1 of just 68 overall winners, winning in the category of "Specialty Food & Drink - Best Coffee Shop."

The "Best Of The Grand Strand" competition is an annual competition, sponsored by Myrtle Beach's local NBC affiliate, WMBF News. more on this story





FM Release Tough Love Video
(Classic Rock) With their new album Rockville due out on March 11, UK melodic rock veterans FM have released a promo clip for their new song Tough Love.

FM are also pleased to announce that due to the amount of interest generated in Rockville II, this album will now get a standalone release via Riff City Records on March 25.

Originally only available as part of a two-CD Rockville package via the FM PledgeMusic campaign, Rockville II includes a new version of the song High which was originally recorded by Steve Overland and Pete Jupp for the So! album Brass Monkey.

"We love this song and we wanted to give it the FM treatment," says bassist Merv Goldsworthy. Check out the preview trailer here.





Singled Out: The Gallery
Today The Gallery frontman Brendan Cooney tells us about the song "Young & Restless" from their brand new album "Restless," which was released today. Here is the story:

The song is about humanity, and how everyone goes through hard times – whether it's loss of loved ones through war, or heartbreak in general… but it's the human spirit to keep on keepin' on. As for the chorus, it is about how we need to be there for each other – we are stronger together than we are individually.

We started this song over two years ago, so I honestly couldn't tell you when or where the original idea spawned from. The original title was 'The Thing About Love,' because the opening verse of the song was the only part we had finished ("The thing about love and the thing about peace; the thing about hope and the thing about me…"). It took me a long time to figure out what part of the song - pre-chorus, chorus, verse, etc. - that should be.

We wanted to finish the song for a long time – even for the 'Come Alive' EP – but we just couldn't get it done in time. Nothing we tried for the rest of the song felt as strong as that first verse. When it came time to write this record, we were just trying and trying to finish it, but it wasn't coming easily. Usually that's a sign not to force it.

We had the original 10 songs for the album, and thought the record was done. Our manager, Sara, however, loved the song and wanted us to give it one last try. We'd showed it to our producer, Warren, who loved it as well. We ended up going back into the studio to record it, almost as a bonus after the rest of the album was completed.


We didn't feel the original chorus melody we came up with was strong enough to be the chorus, but we still liked that melody and the idea behind the lyric ("It's been a long year for the broken hearted…"). We ended up writing a new chorus, and making the old chorus the bridge – we kept the lyrics but changed a few of the chords to make it feel more like a bridge.

Once the new melody was written for the chorus, it was up to us to sit there and play the chorus melody over and over, and sing over and over, to see what words sounded good and fit the meaning of the song. I finally came up with "We are the young and restless, together no one can stand against us, we are the young and restless, we are one" after trial and error, and just listening to it hundreds of times. We'd already had the idea to do gang vocals for the chorus, even before the lyrics were written, so that helped write the "we are" part of the lyric. We had also already decided to name the album Restless, so we thought that lyric would be a good fit.

We knew the song would be going in a poppy direction for us – even going into it – but we thought we would stretch ourselves a little, while staying true to the sound of the rest of the album. We wanted to keep a balance of that. Overall lyrically it's personally one of my favorites, and I like how it came out. I am glad we got the push to finish it, and I'm happy we waited this long and didn't force it.

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




When David Bowie Became Ziggy Stardust
(Classic Rock) Former Spider From Mars drummer Woody Woodmansey has reflected on the amount of pressure David Bowie was under during his Ziggy Stardust era and how the experience changed his ex-colleague.

"We went on holiday to Cyprus and the plane got hit by lightning," Woodmansey says. "He went white and fainted. He was so emaciated from the hard work, you could see the veins on his face. He didn't fly after that.

"In the early days, we'd have a laugh, go clubbing – but later on it became apparent that he'd gone into character. You'd come off stage and he'd do interviews as Ziggy; you'd be sat in a taxi with this alien. You'd ask a question and he'd look right through you. He had turned into Ziggy Stardust." more on this story




Heaven's Basement Go Behind The Scenes of I Am Electric
(Classic Rock) Heaven's Basement have released a video documenting the making of the promo for their single I Am Electric.

The rising-star outfit released debut album Filthy Empire earlier this month. Guitarist Sid Glover recently said of the record:

"I want people to say, 'F**k, I haven't heard an album that's made me feel this pumped up in ages. I haven't seen a band with this much energy and go-f**k-yourself attitude.'"

You can view both the making of and the final video

Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock

Today's report is being posted in two parts: an A.M. and a P.M. edition. Here are the stories for this morning and we will be back later today with more stories.


The Darkness Singer Falls Off Stage
(hennemusic) Justin Hawkins, lead singer of The Darkness, fell off the stage during the band's February 17 show in Stockholm, Sweden.

Video of the incident, which happened during the set's second song, "Black Shuck," has surfaced.

The Darkness are currently on the road for their 2013 Let Them Eat Cakes World Tour, in support of the reunited band's third studio album, "Hot Cakes." Check out video here.



Machine Head Lose Founding Member
Machine Head have begun work on their next album but they are short a member as they have announced cofounder Adam Duce has left the band.

The band didn't provide a reason for Duce's exit, but had this to say, "The split is amicable, and Machine Head would like to wish Adam the best with his current and future endeavors.

"The band will continue on for the time being as a three-piece and have begun the writing process for their follow-up to 2011's 'Unto The Locust'. A late 2013 release is projected."

Duce cofounded the band with Robb Flynn in 1991. Last year Duce gave an interview to the Dutch publication FaceCulture where he disclosed some dissatisfaction with the band and his level of involvement, according to this report.

"I had some issues with [the writing] process [for 'Unto The Locust']. I kind of took myself out of it until it was time to write my bass lines. I wrote a bunch of music, or riffs, that Robb [Flynn, guitar/vocals] didn't have any idea what to do with vocally, and so he didn't wanna use any of that. But more importantly, I wrote lyrics that meant a lot to me and I gave it to him. I've given him page after page after page of lyrics. And it usually comes back that way, [where] he'll use a verse or a part of it or whatever — 'I'm gonna take this part and put it down here.' . . . whatever works for the cadence. But I got kind of burned on putting my soul out on a piece of paper and giving it to him and when I see it next time, there's no remnants of what the original idea was. And I was just like, 'You know what, dude?! I'm not giving you any more f**king lyrics, because I'm f**king sick of looking at this, the way that it f**king turns out.' I said, 'I'll work on it with you at the same time, but I'm not giving you any more lyrics. I'm not giving you pages of lyrics.' He was f**king angry at me for a while, but you know… that's f**king what happens." more on this story




Led Zeppelin Top Queen and Black Sabbath As Most Influential
Led Zeppelin beat out Queen and Black Sabbath to be named the most influential rock band of all time by the listeners of Planet Rock.

The UK radio station polled fans for their picks during the first few weeks this month and Led Zeppelin reportedly received a fifth of all votes.

Queen came in second, followed the Godfathers of Heavy Metal Black Sabbath coming in third place.

Pink Floyd won a fourth place finish, while Deep Purple came in fifth. Jimi Hendrix landed in sixth followed by the Rolling Stones at 7th, The Who at 8th, AC/DC at 9th and David Bowie at 10th.

Surprisingly, the band considered by many to be the most influential of all time, The Beatles, didn't make the list.




Blink-182's Travis Barker Has Online Fight With Promoter
(Classic Rock) The promoter behind the Australian Soundwave touring festival blasted Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker at the weekend for taking a third of the band's appearance fee despite not taking part in the series of shows. But after Barker shouted him down on Twitter, he was forced to accept he'd got his facts wrong.

AJ Maddah was responding to a fan query on whether refunds would be available for fans who didn't want to see Blink playing with stand-in sticksman Brooks Wackerman, who was hired after Barker admitted he couldn't overcome his fear of flying in order to make the shows Down Under this week.

Mstarz reports that the promoter said: "I'm told we can't refund and there will be no discount on the $5m fee because Travis Barker insisted on being paid in full. What he has done is extortion – he thinks he's a f**king gangster."

The drummer, who has not boarded a plane since narrowly surviving a fatal crash in 2008, replied: "Where you getting your information from, man? None of this is true. This is all bullsh*t!" That was just the beginning.




Slayer's Kerry King Not Impressed With Today's Metal Bands
(Gibson) Thrash legends Slayer are still a big draw after 30 years, but in a new interview, Kerry King voiced his dissatisfaction with the current state of metal.

"It seems to me like it's just cruising along, status King says. "I'm yet to see anything new that's like a threat; not even a threat, like the next suitor to the throne.

"You've first got your Maiden, Sabbath and Priest and then you've got Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax, Testament and bands like that.

"After that, there's a lot of bands, but I don't think anybody's the chief, you know what I mean? People are making up good stuff; it's just nobody's… It's all kind of faceless. Nobody is saying, 'Notice me, this is where metal's gonna be'…" more on this story






Rob Zombie Reveals Album Details and Streams New Song
(hennemusic) Rob Zombie will release his new album, "Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor," on April 23 and the project's lead single, "Dead City Radio And The New Gods Of Super Town," is now available for fans to check out.

Zombie worked on the album with producer Bob Marlette; it's the first release on Rob's new label, Zodiac Swan, through T-Boy Records/UMe.

"I think for the first time this new album perfectly merges the old days of White Zombie with the future of what I am doing now," says Rob. "I think fans of both will agree that this is the perfect combo of both worlds." Stream the new song here.




Van Halen, Springsteen, Rush Among 2013 Top 40 Money Makers
(hennemusic) Van Halen and Rush have made Billboard magazine's "Music's Top 40 Money Makers 2013" list.

Bruce Springsteen landed in second spot with $33.4 million, followed by Roger Waters at $21.1 million. Van Halen came in at #4 at $20.1 million

Madonna topped the list with income of $34.5 million, thanks to her MDNA tour, the biggest of 2012. more on this story




Illness Sidelines Lynyrd Skynyrd Again
(hennemusic) Lynyrd Skynyrd postponed last Saturday's (February 23rd) show at Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, LA. as guitarist Gary Rossington continues to recover from an abdominal infection.

The band posted the news, writing, "Gary is doing well, but will be unable to perform this weekend while he recovers from his illness. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused the fans and promoters. Lynyrd Skynyrd looks forward to touring and performing in the near future."

Earlier this month, Rossington was hospitalized in Wyoming for the condition, which forced the band to cancel two live dates on their current tour in support of "Last Of A Dyin' Breed." more on this story




Metallica Play 18-Song Set At Soundwave Kick Off
(hennemusic) Metallica kicked off the opening night of Australia's Soundwave festival on Saturday in Brisbane and video from the set has gone online.

The band performed an 18-song set spanning their 30-year recording career, opening with 1983's "Hit The Lights."

The day-long event features 6 stages; among those joining Metallica on the main stage were Linkin Park, A Perfect Circle, Slayer, Stone Sour and Anthrax. Read more and check out video here.




Shadows Fall Cancel Testament and Ill Nino Tours
Shadows Fall have announced that they have pulled the plug on their upcoming coheadlining tour with Ill Nino in the UK as well as a European tour with Testament.

The band had this to say, "Due to a number of circumstances beyond our control, Shadows Fall has been forced to cancel our upcoming European tour with Testament and our co-headlining UK run with Ill Niño.

"We tried everything we could to make this tour happen and exhausted all options we could think of but unfortunately we were not able to work it out.

"We sincerely apologize to all the fans, promoters and bands involved. Everyone in Shadows Fall thank you for understanding and we plan on making it up to our European fans as soon as possible."





Aerosmith's Steven Tyler Admits He Spent Millions on Cocaine
(hennemusic) Aerosmith's Steven Tyler was a featured guest on Australia's 60 Minutes this past weekend where he estimated that he used over $5 million dollars of cocaine.

Tyler sat down with Liz Hayes to discuss a variety of topics, including his infamous drug habit back in the day, where rumors were he'd spent about $20 million on cocaine.

The singer was more frank about the real number. "Realistically, 5 or 6 (million), easy," said Tyler. "But it doesn't matter. You also could say I snorted half of Peru but, you know, it's what we did." more on this story




Steel Panther Recording New Album
(hennemusic) Steel Panther are currently in the studio working on a new album. Drummer Stix Zadinia has been keeping fans updated on the band's progress via Twitter.

"NEWSFLASH: Rhythm guitars are DONE for new record," he posted on Friday. "Bass begging tomorrow! This sh*t is gettin handled!!!!!"

"7 songs done on bass. Lexxi's Foxx is on fiyah!" was the news on Saturday. The new project is the follow-up to 2011's "Balls Out" release, which debuted at #40 on the Billboard 200 with opening week sales of 12,000 copies. more on this story





Singled Out: Esper Scout
Today Sarah Statham, frontwoman of up-and-coming UK rockers Esper Scout, tells us about their new single and video "Shed Some Light". They have been compared to a mix of Mars Volta, Oceansize and Warpaint. Here is the story:

So writing this at the point of releasing 'Shed Some Light' we've known each other for almost ten years, well three out of four of us. Meeting in Manchester, Rebecca, Kirsty and myself formed our first band in my parents' garage, beginning our musical lives slap-bang in the middle of a rock n' roll cliché, except ours had a drum riser fashioned from cunningly acquired builders materials. Lou found her way to our newly inhabited Leeds base (Hut 57) in 2010, reassuring us with cymbal, snare and kick hits that we chose wisely to move to the city.

Most of our songs have been brought to life in the Hut's basement and Shed Some Light was no exception. After noticing a move away from the catchier, more youthful sounding songs which we'd learnt our instruments playing, in a sense becoming more musically contemplative and progressive, there was a silent communication between us to again have something a bit more 'instant'. The 'uppers' in the live set, the dessert to the main course of what would become our 7 minute long 'Gaps in the Border Fence'. At practice one night I tuned my low 'E' string down to a 'C' and the song's main riff instantly found itself, followed by the chord progression and driving beat which we cultured together as a band. The two releases (Shed and Gaps) could be said to draw from alternate parts of our musical personality, both of which are equally important to us for different reasons. It's been part of our set for over a year and is the song which gets the loudest reaction live. Our decision to re-record and give the track a proper release owes a lot to requests from people at gigs.

Like many, for me lyric writing is compulsive and often lines bounce into my head as if I'd just walked into them (mostly when I least expect it). As such it's not something I try to give much scrupulous thought to beyond phrasing and the usual tidying-up of lines, through concern that it'll get shy and run off (which it bloomin' does!) When thinking about it 'Shed Some Light' deals with identity and perceptions; that old meta-narrative of 'is who you think you are the same as what is projected to other people and how far can you take it before you lose yourself entirely to the beast?' Putting it into context, the year prior to and months after writing the song were heavily consumed with this subject. Typically it was easier to identify in the people around me rather than myself, 'picture yourself the falsely accused' points fingers at the denial in people but inevitably the hand turns back on itself with 'I have got to try, to get out from the inside'.

The song is a highlight for us in the live set and a welcome reminder of the benefits of putting a mirror up to yourself every once in a while.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself with a free download and a stream of the video right here!




Whitesnake's David Coverdale Learned Old Snakes Can Learn New Tricks
(Classic Rock) David Coverdale has recalled how he embraced a more commercial form of rock music as he made Whitesnake's 1984 album Slide It In.

He experienced a eureka moment after A&R icon John Kalodner determined the order of tracks on the A side of the record.

And put together with advice gleaned from producers Keith Olsen and Mutt Lange, it charted a course for Coverdale's career over the decades to come.

The first time he heard the album played on radio, he was sharing a hire car with drummer Cozy Powell. "We were blown away," says the vocalist. "I said to Cozy, 'You can teach an old snake new tricks.' And that was the beginning of me embracing compression."

2013 TO BRING THREE MORE RELEASES FROM JEFF LYNNE AND ELO AS PART OF ELO'S 40th ANNIVERSARY:

Just as the third quarter of 2012 brought three exciting works from Jeff Lynne--his second solo album Long Wave, the freshly recorded Mr. Blue Sky–The Very Best Of Electric Light Orchestra and the illuminating documentary “Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne and ELO”--2013 will be marked by more treats from the creative force of ELO and one of rock's most iconic figures.
On April 19 in Europe (April 22 in the UK) and April 23 in North America, Frontiers Records will release three albums: Electric Light Orchestra Live and two reissues, ELO's Zoom (remastered and including a brand new track) and his debut solo album Armchair Theatre (also remastered, with two new brand new tracks). It's all part of the 40th Anniversary of ELO, who've sold 50 million-plus records worldwide. These releases will all feature new packaging and the LIVE CD will come in a special ecolbook edition.

Electric Light Orchestra Live hasn't been issued as an album until now. Taken from a 2001 performance for a PBS television special in Los Angeles at CBS Television City, the music was released as a DVD that year. The new hits-packed CD offers fans four tracks that weren't on the DVD ("Secret Messages,” “Sweet Talkin' Woman,” “Twilight,” and “Confusion”) as well as two new, unreleased studio tracks, “Out of Luck” (recorded in 2010) and “Cold Feet” (recorded in 1992). Although the singularly accomplished British singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer has always preferred the creative experience of the recording studio, he is a compelling performer who's always figured out ways to bring his distinctive widescreen musical universe to life onstage when he needed to.

ELO's Zoom--unavailable for over 10 years--has been remastered and features a brand new track, "One Day" (recorded in 2004) as an added bonus, along with a live version of “Turn To Stone” from 2001's Zoom special on PBS. At the time of its original release in 2001, Lynne hadn't issued an ELO album since 1986's Balance of Power. He called upon notable friends for a little help, enlisting contributions from longtime ELO member Richard Tandy as well as good friends George Harrison and Ringo Starr. The result is an album rich in that distinct ELO sound--classic Lynne melodies and songwriting, foot-stomping rock anthems and sweet, sexy strings.

Lynne's first solo album, 1990's Armchair Theatre, is a melting pot of different styles and influences featuring unexpected collaborations with Lynne's heroes and close friends, including Tom Petty, Richard Tandy and George Harrison. This reissue, unavailable for the last decade, includes two previously unreleased bonus tracks, “Borderline” and “Forecast” (both recorded in 1989). Interestingly, the album also features a few notable covers--“Don't Let Go,” “Stormy Weather” and “September Song”--that demonstrated Lynne's flair for covers two decades before the release of 2012's acclaimed Long Wave. Suitably, the core of the album is Lynne himself, though he also left room for the contributions of a few friends and fellow travelers. Harrison contributed guitars and vocals on a number of tracks. Petty co-wrote “Blown Away,” a gorgeously romantic ballad. Longtime ELO band member Richard Tandy also contributed on keyboards and other instruments. Armchair Theatre captures the musical genius of Jeff Lynne when--perhaps more than ever before--the world was his stage.

Outside of the success of ELO, Lynne has led a remarkable career producing and collaborating with many of the greatest musical artists of all time. They include a number of Lynne's all-time heroes like Roy Orbison, Del Shannon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and remarkably, even the Beatles themselves, as well as contemporaries like Tom Petty and Joe Walsh, whose new album Analog Man Lynne recently produced some tracks for. Together with Harrison, Orbison, Petty and Bob Dylan, Lynne was, of course, a member of the Grammy award-winning Traveling Wilburys--a super group like no other. “I've been in love with music since I was probably just five years old,” says LYNNE. "I was mad for music then--and I still am today."

Track listings:
Electric Light Orchestra Live: Evil Woman, Showdown, Secret Messages, Livin' Thing, Sweet Talkin' Woman, Mr. Blue Sky, Can't Get It Out Of My Head, Twilight, Confusion, Don't Bring Me Down, Roll Over Beethoven, Out of Luck (Bonus), Cold Feet (Bonus)
Zoom: Alright, Moment in Paradise, State of Mind, Just for Love, Stranger on a Quiet Street, In My Own Time, Easy Money, It Really Doesn't Matter, Ordinary Dream, A Long Time Gone, Melting in the Sun, All She Wanted, Lonesome Lullaby, One Day (Bonus), Turn to Stone (Live From CBS Television City) (Bonus)
Armchair Theatre: Every Little Thing, Don't Let Go, Lift Me Up, Nobody Home, September Song, Now You're Gone, Don't Say Goodbye, What Would It Take, Stormy Weather, Blown Away, Save Me Now, Borderline (Bonus), Forecast (Bonus)
WebLinks: www.elo.biz / www.frontiers.it.

Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


Metallica Never Asked Military Not To Use Their Music
Metallica have denied the claims of an anonymous Navy Seal that said the band asked the U.S. Navy to stop using their music in interrogations.
The band took to their website to "Clear the Air" about the claims and told fans the following: "There has been a lot of talk recently about us asking the military not to use our music to 'soften people up before interrogation.'

"We NEVER commented to the military either way on this matter. Any statements that have been made otherwise are not correct."

Frontman James Hetfield was asked by Germany-language TV network 3SAT in 2008 about the band's music being used at Guantanamo Bay and he said, "Part of me is proud because they chose Metallica."

"And then part of me is kind of bummed about it that people worry about us being attached to some political statement because of that.

"We've got nothing to do with this and we're trying to be as apolitical as possible, 'cause I think politics and music, at least for us, don't mix."



Def Leppard Guitarist Dabbling In Dubstep
Def Leppard are getting ready to launching their Viva Hysteria residency at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Las Vegas next month and antiMusic's Morley Seaver spoke with guitarist Phil Collen about it and other topics.

When asked if he had any plans following the residency, Phil said that he will be recording some new music with his other band Manraze and that the music will be very different from their previous work.

"Just recording really. I'm constantly writing and we have a Manraze thing on the go as well. Yeah, I'm really looking forward to that. It's just three or four songs but I can't wait," Phil said. "One of them is a very soulful version of an old song and it's a real vocal thing. It's very different to what we've done before. One's actually almost like dubstep and the other sounds like The Police meets Def Leppard. Again, I'm very excited about that.

"And as Def Leppard, we're going to be doing some writing when we're altogether at Vegas. I mean, it's probably going to be 2014 before anything comes out but the Manraze record should be out this year."

As for the upcoming residency, Phil told Morley, "it's going to be pretty unique. We've never done this before. You do all these tours and you become a road dog. You do all this stuff for years and years and years but we've never done a residency so we're really looking forward to doing this.

"It's very different from what we've done before. Again, we're up to the challenge. Actually though, I think it will be a lot easier than touring. So it will be an interesting thing to see how it works out. " Read the full interview here.



Jack Russell Still Struggles With Great White Club Fire
(Classic Rock) Former Great White singer Jack Russell says the Station nightclub fire, which took place 10 years ago today, left him shattered.

But despite pleas from victims of the 2003 disaster which killed 100 people including guitarist Ty Longley, Russell stops short of making a public apology or accepting any responsibility.

He played a controversial benefit show on February 7, which he admits was a disappointment after only 30 people attended, raising just $180 for a charity run by Longley's son.

"It's been almost 10 years and no matter what I say it's never going to make anybody feel any better about it, and sometimes it might make them feel worse, so I really would rather not say too much," Russell tells the Boston Globe.

"After the Station I was really down, was taking anything I could take," he told the paper. "I would just sit for hours and cry." A victim of the fire had some strong words in the article




Allman Brothers Band Reveal 2013 Peach Music Festival Details
The Allman Brothers Band had so much fun launching their Peach Music Festival that they decided to bring it back for another year.

This year the band will be holding the festival from August 15 to August 18 at the Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain and Sno Mountain Ski Area & Water Park in Scranton, PA.

The Allman Brothers Band will be performing during two nights of the festival and the lineup will also include sets from Bob Weir & RatDog (performing 2 nights), The Black Crowes, Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, Jaimoe's Jasssz Band with additional artists to be announced soon.

"The first Peach Festival was as great of a success as we could have asked for," said the band in a statement. "The overwhelming response from both the audience and artists to continue has exceeded our expectations.

"We are very excited that Bob Weir & RatDog have decided to join us this year in Scranton along with many other talented musicians. Year two will be even better than the inaugural Peach Music Festival, we cannot wait to play Scranton again."




Charlie Benante Will Miss Another Anthrax Tour
(Classic Rock) Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante has been forced to sit out the band's upcoming tour of Australia, with "personal issues" preventing him from leaving home.

He'll be replaced again by Jon Dette, ex of Testament and Slayer, currently with Animetal USA. He manned the drumkit for Anthrax's European tour with Motorhead last year after Benante bowed out for similar reasons.

Guitarist Scott Ian reports: "Charlie is dealing with personal issues right now and can't leave. He's really bummer about not being able to head down there." more on this story




Jack White Will Be 2013 Record Store Day Ambassador
Record Store Day organizers have selected musician and record company owner Jack White as their 2013 Ambassador.

This year's Record Store Day will be taking place on April 20th with independent record stories across America selling special edition releases for the event.

Organizers have released a quote and video from White. The quote begins, "Years ago someone told me that 1,200 high school kids were given a survey. A question was posed to them: Have you ever been to a stand-alone record shop? The number of kids that answered "yes" was... zero.

"Zero? How could that be possible? Then I got realistic and thought to myself, "Can you blame them?" How can record shops (or any shop for that matter) compete with Netflix, TiVo, video games that take months to complete, cable, texting, the Internet, etc. etc? Getting out of your chair at home to experience something in the real world has started to become a rare occurrence, and to a lot of people, an unnecessary one. Why go to a bookstore and get a real book? You can just download it. Why talk to other human beings, discuss different authors, writing styles and influences? Just click your mouse. Well here's what they'll someday learn if they have a soul; there's no romance in a mouse click. There's no beauty in sitting for hours playing video games (anyone proud of that stop reading now and post your opinion in the nearest forum). The screen of an iPhone is convenient, but it's no comparison to a 70mm showing of a film in a gorgeous theater. The Internet is two-dimensional…helpful and entertaining, but no replacement for face-to-face interaction with a human being. But we all know all of that, right? Well, do we? Maybe we know all that, but so what?" Let's wake each other up.




Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr Pay Tribute To Tony Sheridan
(Gibson) Both Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr have paid tribute to Tony Sheridan, with whom the Beatles worked in Hamburg in the early '60s.

Sheridan died on Saturday, aged 72. The group's first commercial recordings were as Tony Sheridan's backing band.

McCartney posted on his website: "Tony was a good guy who we knew and worked with from the early days in Hamburg. We regularly watched his late night performances and admired his style. He will be missed."

Ringo Starr used Twitter to write: "Just say goodbye to Tony Sheridan just he died. I had a great month 1960/61 playing with him was great." more on this story






Slash Tells Czech TV He Doesn't Think Randy Blythe Is Guilty
Slash was recently asked in a TV interview in the Czech Republic about his thoughts about the manslaughter trial of Lamb of God singer Randy Blythe.

"I know as much as I've been told from everybody I know in that camp. It's a strange unique situation," Slash told Be in TV. "I think that when he first came over here and put up his bail and they never let him out and they kept paying and they kept paying and paying and paying and they never let him out, I said, 'What the f— is going on there.'

"I mean, that's a whole different type of law to me, where it's just different. And so finally they let him out and now it's actually going to trial."

Slash also addressed if he thought that Blythe was guilty of a crime, "I really don't think he, in any way, shape or form, is guilty. So they're gonna let this thing run its course I suppose. And because the judicial system here is so different that he was able to stay in jail here so long, who knows what the verdict is gonna end up being?! It's hard to say." You can watch the full interview here.




David Bowie Plans Record Store Day Releases
(Classic Rock) David Bowie will release The Stars (Are Out Tonight) as the second single from surprise comeback album The Next Day.

It's available on February 26 as a digital download. A limited-edition seven-inch vinyl edition will be on sale for Record Store Day on April 20, with the album's lead single Where Are We Now? on the B-side.

Two other seven-inch discs are also planned for Record Store Day: a Drive-In Saturday picture disc and the Bowie 1965! EP. More rock news.




Slayer Want To Keep Gary Holt On Until Jeff Hanneman Recovers
(Classic Rock) Slayer guitarist Kerry King doesn't want his band to operate a revolving-door policy over the continued absence of Jeff Hanneman, who's still recovering from a near-fatal spider bite sustained in 2011.

Exodus axeman Gary Holt has stood in for him, and King wants it to stay that way. He say: "I don't want it to be a carousel, where if Gary can't do it we get somebody else, and if he can't do it we get somebody else again.

"We told Gary when our schedule is and said, 'Please keep it open.' We don't know when Jeff's going to be able to play guitar. Jeff's a wait-and-see thing." More rock news.




Glenn Danzig Adds New Leg To Danzig 25th Anniversary Tour
Glenn Danzig has announced another leg of his upcoming Danzig 25th anniversary tour with a three date stop in the UK.

Last week Danzig announced that this special tour will not only feature a Danzig set but it will also feature a special Misfits set with former Misfits star Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein, which will mark the first time the two have performed together on stage.

The previously announced North American leg will be taking place in April and will followed up with the UK leg which will take place in June and includes dates in Manchester, Wolverhampton and London. more on this story




Dark Tranquillity Lose A Member
Dark Tranquillity announced that bassist Daniel Antonsson has left the group. Both the band and Antonsson have addressed fans about the change.

"The decision has been growing for a while, and the main reason is that Daniel wanted to focus on his own musical projects as well as working more in his recording studio," The band said. "Being first and foremost a guitarist, he felt that the playing bass in a full-time band didn't allow him much time for his main instrument and true passion. With this in mind, he chose to follow his heart and step aside at this point instead of committing to another album and an intense touring cycle that would leave little room for other activities.

"We thank Daniel for his years in the band - filled with great shows and amazing memories and experiences in all corners of the world - and wish him all the best with his future musical career."

Daniel Antonsson had this to say, "I want to thank the guys in Dark Tranquillity and the amazing D.T. fans around the world for the last four years of touring around the globe! It´s been awesome! more on this story




Phil Anselmo Addresses Rift With Pantera's Vinnie Paul
Former Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo opened up about the continued rift between him and his old bandmate Vinnie Paul Abbott in a new interview with Revolver Magazine.

"I feel bad for Vince," Anselmo said in the interview according to a Blabbermouth excert). "People should pity the guy. I wasn't there when Dimebag [Darrell] was murdered, but he sure as f— was. That's his flesh and blood, murdered right in front of him. It's a shame that Vince never reached out to [bassist] Rex [Brown] and I. I think the healing process would have been beneficial to him, instead of his knee-jerk reaction to fear and his therapy through tit bars and whiskey."

Anselmo also believes that he and Dimebag would have mended their relationship if the famed guitarist hadn't been murdered. "We would have made amends. I would like to think he would be proud of me for pulling myself out of the muck, the abyss," Anselmo said.

"I just choose to remember the positive things. He was almost like the perfect counterpoint to me. We may have clashed to a certain extent, but we would always find a happy medium. It was a vital relationship that I miss greatly." more on this story





Rush Nominated For Two Juno Awards
(hennemusic) Rush have been nominated for two 2013 Juno Awards (The Canadian equivalent to the Grammy Awards.)

The rock veterans are up for Group Of The Year, and Rock Album of The Year for "Clockwork Angels", which will see them compete against projects by The Tragically Hip, Billy Talent, The Sheepdogs and Big Wreck.

Hosted by Michael Buble, the 2013 Juno Awards will take place at Regina's Brandt Centre and air live on Sunday, April 21st on CTV. more on this story




Abigail Williams Post Open Call For New Drummer
Abigail Williams have put out an open call for a new drummer after Alan Cassidy left the group to perform with The Black Dahlia Murder.

Last week the band took to their Facebook page to announce they wee looking for Cassidy's replacement. They wrote, "As some of you know our good buddy Alan Cassidy has been playing with The Black Dahlia Murder and though we are very happy for him this sadly puts Abigail Williams on the market for a new drummer.

"Before anyone even says anything he did not bail on us for a bigger band as some have in the past. I actually personally put the a good word in for him so we hold no animosity towards his decision whatsoever especially since it was made during a period when we were unsure about the future of AW. more.




Stevie Nicks Documentary Set For Screening At SXSW
(Radio.com) Stevie Nicks chronicles the recording of her 2011 solo album, In Your Dreams, in the documentary, also called In Your Dreams. Former Eurythmics legend, Dave Stewart produced the album at her home-studio, and also directed the documentary.

The film will screen at Austin, Texas' South by Southwest Interactive, Film, and Music Festival Thursday, March 4.

The film details her writing and recording process and her recollections of her career struggles and triumphs. Nicks and Stewart's collaboration is seen through the lens of writings by Edgar Allan Poe paired with lyricism and short stories from Nicks' past. more on this story




David Bowie Documentary To Be Broadcast on TV
(hennemusic) A new feature length film "David Bowie - Five Years" is set to be broadcast on BBC Two in May.

The film focuses on five critical years of Bowie's career (1971, 1975, 1977, 1980 and 1983) and will also include coverage of where he is at today with his latest album, "The Next Day."

"This is a project that has been in development for more than a decade, in fact since Bowie and I worked together in 2001 on a film for the BBC Omnibus strand," says director Francis Whately.

"This year, 2013, is shaping up to be the year of David Bowie, and now is the perfect moment for this feature length film devoted to this extraordinary artist." more on this story




Saxon Is Not Spinal Tap
(Classic Rock) Biff Byford says Saxon have no strong connection to Spinal Tap, despite having taken actor Harry Shearer on tour with them before he played the role of Derek Smalls.

Celebrated 1984 rockumentary-if-you-will This Is Spinal Tap pokes fun at the rock'n'roll lifestyle through documenting the career of its titular fictional band. And although Byford admits they shared anecdotes with Shearer, he says it doesn't follow that Spinal Tap are based on Saxon.

"All of the Spinal Tap stuff really came from our former bass player, who made those connections and talked about it and all of that," The singer tells Noisecreep.

"We definitely told some stories to Harry, and that perhaps made it in some form into the film. But there's not that big a connection between that sort of band and us.

"I love This Is Spinal Tap but that's not really the music we make. I don't feel as close a connection as some people make it out to be." more on this story




Houndmouth Announce Their First American Headline Tour
Houndmouth announced that they will be hitting the road next month to launch their first national headlining tour.

The trek will kick off on March 7th in Little Rock, AR and will conclude on April 18th in Chicago, IL.

The band will be making a stop at this year's SXSW festival in Austin, TX including a performance at Paste's official showcase.

The group is also confirmed to play two dates with the Alabama Shakes and Michael Kiwanuka in March, and the Newport Folk Festival in July. more on this story




Lynette Skynyrd Playing Free Three Set Show
The female Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band Lynette Skynyrd sent over word that they will be playing a free all ages show this Friday that will feature three different sets.

They will be kicking things off with a performance of their entire upcoming debut album, "Hot As A Fox In A Forest Fire," followed by a set of Lynyrd Skynyrd classics.

The night will be topped off with a late night set which will be the debut performance of "Acoustic Lynette."

The show is set to take place at Viva Cantina in Burbank, Ca starting at 9 pm. The venue is located at 900 W Riverside Dr, Burbank, CA 91506. Band's website.





Motley Crue Excited About Touring Australia With KISS
(hennemusic) Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx has posted an update for fans about the band's preparation for their upcoming tour of Australia with KISS.

"We got into a rehearsal room this weekend to blow the dust off a bunch of songs before we head to Australia next week. I gotta say considering we haven't played together since last year when we ended the KISS-CRUE co headline tour, it sounded pretty damn tight.....:) "

"This is the longest and biggest tour we have done to date in Australia," he added, "and it's gonna be a f**king blast, for sure... more on this story




The Who's Simon Townshend Sees It All Coming Together
(Radio.com) Simon Townshend played the Super Bowl and the Olympics and his surname is one of rock's most famous, but he's just now feeling like it's all coming together for him.

"There is a definite difference between an artist and a musician, and I've always seen myself as an artist," Townshend tells Radio.com while on the road with The Who for the Quadrophenia & More tour. "I'm all about the artistic thing, writing songs and the emotional side of it. But I have worked very hard for the last five or six years, looking at my musical ability a bit more and studying guitar a bit harder. Everything has spear-headed to this moment in time where I'm now getting the chance to sing lead vocals on one song and play some guitar solos with the Who – and I'm actually able to do it and feel comfortable and confident."

Simon says that after nearly two decades of touring with Roger Daltrey solo and The Who, he's "earned his stripes" with the band. His challenge now is balancing his role as rhythm guitarist in The Who with his solo career, in which he's feeling quite inspired these days. Maybe it's the technology that's allowed Townshend to record rough takes of song ideas while on the road, but he says he has another solo album coming out this year to follow up his first solo album in 10 years, late 2012′s Looking Out Looking In. more on this story




University Actually Conducts Scientific Study of Mosh Pits
(Radio.com) Despite concert-goer's best efforts to incite chaos, four scientists at Cornell University have released a mathematical study that finds seemingly disorderly mosh pits to be quite predictable.

Titled Collective Motion of Moshers at Heavy Metal Concerts, the study analyzes both the disorganized mosh pit (where participants run into each other from all directions) and the relatively organized circle pit (think swirling toilet bowl) or the wal.

The scientists from Cornell's Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics and Department of Physics poured over internet video and studied the participants as "self-propelled agents that experience dissipative collisions." The researchers turned the video into statistical data.

They asked why does a mosh pit that appears to be out of balance actually show characteristics of an otherwise predictable system?

The answer points to "flocking," the social phenomenon that describes the collective motion of a large number of self-propelled entities (birds, fish, humans). In other words, without direction from a central leader, the group of individuals unknowingly choose to follow a set of rules. Read more as you ponder why tuition is so high.



Journey's Neal Schon Discusses His Signature Guitars
(hennemusic) Journey's Neal Schon was at the recent NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show to promote his new line of PRS signature guitars.

Schon sat down with David "Gus" Griesinger of BackstageAxxess.com to talk about the new gear. Neal developed two distinct signature models: the NS-14 and NS-15.

"The new NS-14 and NS-15 PRS guitars are on the cutting edge of now," said Schon. "I love everything about them. I had the pleasure in helping in the creation of these beauties and I love the weight, sound, and ultimate playability. These are among the best guitars I've ever played. Check 'em out."