Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


Kid Rock Says Rap-Rock 'Turned Out to Be Pretty Gay'
As Kid Rock promotes his upcoming album "First Kiss", he has also taken a critical look back at a musical movement that he helped popularize. While Rock rose to fame on the rap-rock wave of the late 1990s, he had managed to remain relevant by shifting musical gears, while many of his contemporaries have faded into obscurity.

Rock addressed his current view of the rap-rock movement in a new op-ed that he wrote for England's Guardian newspaper. Here is an excerpt via Radio.com, "Rap-rock was what people wanted at the time, and they still love those songs at shows. But it turned into a lot of bulls- and it turned out to be pretty gay."

He anticipated some blowback from the use of the term "gay" by writing, "If someone says you can't say 'gay' like that you tell them to go f- themselves. You're not going to get anything politically correct out of me."





Lamb Of God Fan Reportedly Sues Live Nation For Concert Injury
A Lamb Of God fan has reportedly filed a lawsuit against the concert promoter Live Nation after he allegedly suffered injuries at one of the band's shows, according to gossip site/bloid TMZ.

The bloid reports that the fan, named William Tarantino, is seeking $75,000 for the alleged injuries he suffered at a Lamb of God concert in Connecticut in November of 2012. The report did not name the venue, but the band's itinerary at the time listed a November 23rd concert in Wallingford, CT at the Oakdale Theater.

According to the report, Tarantino watched the show from the "standing-only" section and he reportedly alleges that the "crowd went crazy, trampling him and causing traumatic fractures of the cervical spine which required surgical fusion. He says the surgery didn't fully heal him... he has permanent spinal injuries."

There has been no independent confirmation that such a lawsuit has been filed and the report did not disclose the court Tarantino where allegedly filed his suit. Read the report here.




Ozzy Osbourne Bringing Hell To Vegas For Halloween?
This Halloween, Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne will be the latest hard rocker to bring an elaborate show to fans in Las Vegas, according to a British media report.

"I'm working right now on a Vegas production for Ozzy," Sharon reportedly told British newspaper The Sun (via Belfast Telegraph.) 'It'll be in time for Halloween and be called Hellgate.'

If the comes to fruition, Ozzy will join the ranks of KISS, Guns N' Roses and Def Leppard, who have all had successful shows in Las Vegas in recent years.



The Faceless, Animosity, Animals As Leaders Supergroup Preview EP
The new supergroup Entheos, featuring former members of The Faceless, Animosity, and Animals As Leaders, are giving fans the first taste of their upcoming release.

The band features singer Chaney Crabb along with former The Faceless, Animosity member Evan Brewer, Frank Costa of Animosity fame and former Animals As Leaders star Navene Koperweis.

The new group posted the following message along with a preview video of their forthcoming EP on their Facebook page, "We just finished writing and making demos of our first EP!! Quick clip for you guys!"

Check it out the preview clip here.




Rammstein Frontman Launches New Project
(TeamRock Radio) Rammstein frontman Till Lindemann has formed a new project with Swedish producer Peter Tagtgren. The duo will go by the name Lindemann, although further details remain sketchy.

The group's official Facebook page is short on information, but Raubtier singer Par Hulkoff says on his own band's Facebook page that Lindemann's music "blew my mind."

Producer and multi-instrumentalist Tagtgren also fronts death metal outfit Hypocrisy and his own project, Pain. Last year, Rammstein guitarist Richard Kruspe hinted that his involvement with the band could be over. Read his comments here.




Fall Out Boy Premiere New Song 'Irresistible'
(Radio.com) Fall Out Boy have released their new single "Irresistible," which is the fourth song to be released from the group's forthcoming album American Beauty/American Psycho.

Available for an immediately download on iTunes, the new single follows previously released songs "The Kids Aren't Alright, "American Beauty/American Psycho" and "Centuries," the latter of which currently claims the No. 2 position on Billboard's Rock Songs chart.

All three tracks are available as instant downloads when you pre-order the $7.99 album. "When I think of 'Irresistible' it brings this image to my head, whether it's fictional or real, of Sid and Nancy in an alley garbage raining down on them in an eternal spiral of romance and poison," explained Pete Wentz of the song. "Sometimes it hard not to love what can hurt us the most."





Kataklysm Reveal New Album Details
Kataklysm have revealed more information, including the title, of their forthcoming album, the follow up to their 2013 release "Waiting for the End to Come."

The band revealed in an online teaser video on Monday that they will be calling the new album, "Of Ghosts And Gods" and they will be releasing the effort this summer.

Late last week (January 1), the band posted on Facebook, "2015 is here and Kataklysm is ready to claim it, Guitarist J-F Dagenais is hard at work in his studio in Texas tracking the new album and as promised we will unveil the title of the new album tomorrow, so come back and check in with us, cheers and a Happy New year to the best fans in the world, the Kataklysm legions \m/

And then on Monday (January 5), the band posted a short teaser video along with the following message on their Facebook page on Monday "Here you go brothers and sisters the new Kataklysm album title is unleashed \m/ spread it, share it !! ‪#‎newalbum‬ ‪#‎summer2015‬"





Some Skid Row Fans Don't Realize Bach Left The Band
(Classic Rock) Skid Row's Dave 'Snake' Sabo finds it "amusing" that some fans still turn up to gigs expecting to see Sebastian Bach. The guitarist says some fans who are "out of the loop" might not realize Bach left the band in 1996 and that vocal duties are now handled by Johnny Solinger.

But Sabo says he is comfortable with that, as long as the fans don't leave the show feeling disappointed once they realise Bach isn't involved. Sabo tells Talk Is Jericho: "I find it amusing. I mean, you know what, how can you judge stupidity?

"Johnny, he's fine with it. The thing is, he's a singer of Skid Row with long, blond hair, and some people might not be aware - they're just not in the loop. I get it. It's fine." Read more here.




Papa Roach and Seether Kicking Off Tour This Week
Papa Roach will be kicking off their North American co-headlining tour with Seether on Friday. The band is launching the tour ahead of the release of their new album.

The new album, entitled F.E.A.R. (Face Everything And Rise), is scheduled to be released on January 27th. Apart from the headliners the tour will feature support from Kyng and Islander.

The tour will be launching from the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, SC on January 9th and is scheduled to conclude on February 7th at The Joint at the Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix had this to say about the tour, "We are super excited to roll out on this tour with our brothers in Seether. Not only is it gonna be rad for the fans it's gonna be rad for us as well! We love and respect the guys in Seether.

"Can't wait to see the American fans and most importantly we can't wait to play our new material live!! The fans are in for a killer night of rock n roll at its finest."

Seether frontman Shaun Morgan adds, "We're really looking forward to going back out with our good friends Papa Roach and we're super excited to be bringing out our buddies Kyng and newcomers Islander too. It will be an awesome show for all our fans. Can't wait to play some new music for you all!" Check out the dates here.




As They Burn Announce Break Up
As They Burn have announced that they are breaking up. The French metal band formed in 2007 and has released two studio albums and one EP. Their final effort was 2013's "Will, Love, Life," which was released by Victory Records.

The band released the following statement about their decision to disband,
"We are deeply moved to announce the end of the band. As they burn was an amazing way to let our artistic energy flow for a fabulous seven years. We lived and grew up in rhythm with what is for us much more than a musical adventure - a real humane endeavour which embraced a lot of people. It is because we honour and respect you guys that we have taken this difficult decision.

"Up until now, we have provided you with ourselves in the best possible way and we never want to put that aside. As we are now, we are incapable of providing you with the As They Burn you expect us to be. And it is impossible for us, musically and artistically to be less than what we expect and aspire to be, and we will NEVER accept to be half of ourselves.

"By taking this decision we value honesty above become a band that we would never want to be. It is time for us to follow our own independent paths, each cradled by the memories of the past years and the brotherly love that unites all six of us. And it is the same desire of honesty and same willpower that we have decided to part ways with you guys on stage and not by a simple press release! We will be playing several farewell shows in 2015 so we can meet one last time on stage.

"From the bottom of our hearts, thank you! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!"



Armageddon Recruit Nightrage Singer For Upcoming Tour
(TeamRock Radio) Armageddon have brought in Nightrage singer Antony Hamalainen to front the band on their upcoming US tour. The band - led by former Arch Enemy guitarist Christopher Amott - parted company with singer Matt Hallquist last month, who left for "personal reasons."

But their nine-date US jaunt in February will go ahead after Hamalainen - who has also worked with Nervosia and Meridian Dawn - was recruited in the short term at least.

Amott says: "We're pleased to reveal that Antony Hamalainen will be joining us as vocalist on our US tour in February. Thank you Antony for keeping the metal alive." Read more here.



Issues Member Won't Be Touring With The Band
(TeamRock Radio) Issues keyboardist Tyler 'Scout' Acord won't tour with the band this year, he's confirmed - but his departure isn't permanent. The US metalcore outfit take to the road across Europe starting in March and have lined up 11 UK dates - but Acord has announced he's stepped back from live commitments to concentrate on other musical projects.

However, he's still part of the band and will join them later this month to begin work on the follow-up to their self-titled debut album which launched last year via Rise Records.

He says in a statement: "This decision has come from a very deep place in my heart, and was in no way an easy one to make. The reasons are simply because I want to be able focus on other things musically.

"Touring as keys and turntables in a band is fun but isn't what I want to be doing with my career. I have a passion for music production and drums and want to see how far I can take them. However, I will still play the same roll I've always had in the studio with Issues, helping to write and co produce the record."






Dave Lombardo Explains How To Form Your Own Style
(Classic Rock) Philm mainman Dave Lombardo has passed on some sage advice to young drummers. The former Slayer sticksman says he's a firm believer of picking and choosing bits and pieces from other acts and blending them together to form his own unique style.

Recalling some of the bands that influenced him as a child, Lombardo says he taught himself how to drum and he would advise any would-be drummers to do the same.

He tells WSOU: "To give you an idea of the 45s that I bought as a kid, I had Superstition by Stevie Wonder, Bachman Turner Overdrive Taking Care Of Business, The Doobie Brothers Long Train Running. A lot of different styles.

"I'm self-taught. That matters because I didn't learn from a school curriculum, I learned from the records I bought. Practice what you're taught in school, if you're taking lessons, but don't be afraid to venture out and search for new music and music that is inspiring, and try to develop your own style. Take from different genres and apply them to what you like.

"Take your favourite genres and then create your own style." Stream the full interview clip here.




John 5 & The Creatures Announce Tour Dates
Rob Zombie guitarist John 5 has revealed the initial North American tour dates for his band John 5 & The Creatures and their trek in support of his latest solo album.

The group, which also features Ian Ross (bass) and Rodger Carter (drums), will be kicking off the tour on February 8th in Ramona, Ca and have announced dates through February 27th in Ft. Defiance, Az and promise that more dates are still to be announced.

John 5's camp says in the announcement that the tour will feature performances of songs that have never been played live including tracks from his latest album "Careful With That Axe," as well as previous efforts "Vertigo," "Songs For Sanity and "The Devil Knows My Name". See the tour dates here.




Killswitch Engage Frontman Jesse Leach Plans Solo Tour
Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach is heading Down Under next week to launch his very first solo DJ and spoken word tour that will be hitting various cities in Australia.

The trek will feature three DJ shows that kick off on January 15th in Sydney at Hot Damn and concludes on January 24th in Melbourne at The Gasometer and Leach will host a spoken word show on January 21st in Melbourne at Eureka Rebellion Trading.

According to the announcement, the spoken word show will be called "Memories, Words and Songs," and will feature Leach "sharing childhood memories, opening up about his musical inspiration, discussing his lyrical themes, and reading personal poetry."

Jesse had this to say about the tour, "I am eager and excited to kick off my first DJ tour. I have been at this on and off for six years in the Northeastern U.S. and I love sharing music that moves me! There is an amazing rush I get when I play a song and watching the crowd react or when someone approaches me wanting to know what song I played. I do this because I love it. However, I also do this to bring to light and give attention to some of the underground bands that have inspired me and music in general."

Leach also had this to say about the spoken word show, "My spoken word night is something I've wanted to do for a while and it being my first one, I am nervous and quite excited to see how it turns out! I just want to give a little insight into my life and give something back to all of the fans that have supported me over the years through thick and thin..." Check out the dates here.





Metallica's Kirk Hammett Pays Tribute By Playing Legendary Guitar
(Gibson) For many players, the idea of keeping a beautiful vintage guitar in a vault instead of playing it is sacrilege. Last year Metallica's Kirk Hammett ensured that one particularly magical axe will continue to sing, by purchasing the 'Gary Moore/Peter Green Les Paul.'

On the weekend Kirk - whose Twitter handle is @FearFestEviL in honor of his horror festival - explained to a fan on Twitter why he purchased the legendary 1959 Les Paul Standard: "The best tribute is that it's being played again instead of being neglected by people who only bought it for the investment," he said.

Kirk has already been using the instrument onstage, particularly to play Metallica's cover of "Whiskey in the Jar," the traditional Irish song popularized in its rock form by Thin Lizzy in the early 1970s. Read more here.






Status Quo Reach Chart Milestone
(Classic Rock) Status Quo have spent a total of 500 weeks in the UK Official Albums Chart, it's been confirmed. The rock veterans released acoustic album Aquostic (Stripped Bare) in October. And, with their 31st studio outing sitting at no.34 in this week's official album chart, it means the band join a select group of just 50 artists who have racked up 500 weeks or more in the charts.

Mainman Francis Rossi tells the Official Charts Company: "To be celebrating 500 weeks in the Official Album Chart - that's almost 10 years - feels incredible. It's almost surreal that this band that we formed all those years ago could reach this point. It's a tangible achievement though, and a milestone we're very proud of.

"Aquostic (Stripped Bare) is itself our highest charting album for 18 years and has just been certified Gold, so it's not been a bad few weeks. I rarely believe in looking backwards though, we're by no means done yet - 2015 will be another interesting year for Quo." Read more here.





Heart Rock Paul McCartney Classic On Kimmel
(hennemusic) Heart performed the 1973 Paul McCartney and Wings classic, "Band On The Run", during their appearance on ABC-TVs Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday.

The Seattle band recorded a version of the song as part of "The Art Of McCartney", the recently-released collection featuring a variety of artists joining the former Beatle's long time band to perform songs from the bassist's legendary songwriting catalog.

Heart also contributed a second track to the project: a version of "Letting Go", the single from Wings' 1975 album, "Venus And Mars." Other guests include Def Leppard, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, The Cure, Brian Wilson, Dr John, KISS, Chrissie Hynde and ELO's Jeff Lynne.






The Scorpions Announce Russian Leg Of 50th Anniversary Tour
(hennemusic) The Scorpions have announced dates for an extensive spring tour of Russia as part of their 50th anniversary tour this year. The German rockers will play 9 shows in the country starting May 14 in Novosibirsk.

The group also revealed a July 2 appearance as Festival Beauregard in Hérouville-Saint Claire, France. The new dates follow the previously-announced first series of shows, which are set to begin May 8 in the Czech Republic.

The Scorpions recently premiered "We Built This House", the lead single from their forthcoming album, "Return To Forever." Read more and check out the tour dates here.



Slash's Full Glasgow Concert Streaming Online
(hennemusic) Slash performed live on the MTV World Stage at O2 Academy in Glasgow, Scotland on November 7 and professionally-filmed footage of his complete show has surfaced.

The concert - part of Slash's UK tour in support of "World On Fire" - was two days before the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards were held at the same venue, where Slash paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne by presenting him with the MTV Global Icon Award and closed the event with a performance of Ozzy's 1980 classic, "Crazy Train."

Slash continues his world tour in support of "World On Fire" next month with a Japanese tour followed by dates in New Zealand and Australia. Watch the Glasgow show here.



Aerosmith's Steven Tyler To Rock Super Bowl Event
(hennemusic) Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler will perform at Rolling Stone magazine's Super Bowl Party on January 31 in Scottsdale, Arizona, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The paper reports that the event will be held the night before Super Bowl 49 at the Venue Scottsdale with about 1,000 guests. This will be the magazine's fourth year hosting a big event at the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl 49 will be held at University Of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday, February 1. Last month, Tyler performed at the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize concert in Oslo, Norway on December 11. Read more here.




Moonspell Release New Song, Set Spring Album Release
(TeamRock Radio) Veteran Portuguese goth metal outfit Moonspell will launch their 10th album in March, they've confirmed. Extinct will be released via Napalm Records and it will be the follow-up to 2012's Alpha Noir/Omega White.

The record will be launched as a two-disc edition containing the full album along with bonus tracks and a behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of the album titled Road To Extinction. It will also be issued as a mediabook, limited deluxe edition and on vinyl.

A statement about Extinct reads: "It puts the D of darkness back into dark metal. It's a true lesson for the new generations of goth metal about how it's played and felt with body and soul - a lesson taught by no others than our Portuguese gentlemen wolves."

To mark the announcement, they've released a stream of latest track The Last Of Us. Hear it here.




Our Oceans Launch Crowdfunding Drive For New Album
(Prog) Our Oceans have launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise cash to record their debut album. The outfit features guitarists Tymon Kruidenier and Michel Nienhuis along with bassist Robin Zielhorst from Exivious. They're joined in the project by singer/songwriter Noora Hakkinen and drummer Jasper Barendregt.

And Kruidenier says he decided to form the band as he needed another outlet for his music away from Exivious' purely instrumental material. And he reveals when he found singer Hakkinen, everything fell into place.

He says, "Shortly after the release of Exivious' debut album in 2009, I wanted to change our musical direction in a very drastic manner. I felt there wasn't much left to say for me as a guitar player and composer in the context of instrumental fusion inspired music. So the plan was to go for a more song driven approach and add a singer to our lineup.

"I spent weeks scouring every corner of the internet, trying to find a suitable singer. Eventually I found Noora. She just started composing her own music for which she played the piano and sang. I immediately fell in love with her voice. So I contacted her and we started talking. As it turned out, she actually knew about Exivious and liked what we were doing. What are the odds?" Read more and watch the campaign video here.




Video From Alice Cooper New Year's Benefit Show Posted Online
(hennemusic) Alice Cooper hosted his annual New Year's Benefit show supporting the Maui Food Bank on December 31st and several videos from the show have been posted online.

Hosted by actor Tom Arnold, the event at the ballroom of the Wailea Mariott saw Cooper and his band run through a set of classic tracks plus covers of Jimi Hendrix's "Foxy Lady" and "Revolution by The Beatles.

Joining Cooper at the event were Steven Tyler, Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, Dexter Holland and Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman of The Offspring, Michael McDonald and Pat Simmons of the Doobie Brothers, producer Bob Rock and Weird Al Yankovic.

The 2013 event featured an appearance by Sammy Hagar and many of the regular guests. Cooper spent the fall as the opening guest on the North American run of Motley Crue's farewell tour.






IO Earth Announce One-Off Orchestra Show
(Prog) UK prog outfit IO Earth will perform with string and brass sections for a one-off show in their hometown of Birmingham in May, they've confirmed. They're currently working on their third album New World and will perform tracks from the record at the city's Crescent Theatre on May 23.

They'll be joined by the seven-piece Orchestra Of Sound & Emotion on the night - and founding member Dave Cureton reveals they want to give fans a gig to remember.

He says: "We decided to put on a show which is truly that - a show. We feel that people expect value for money and that's what we are trying to create. We want to make something really special.

"Every genre we cover and every song in the catalogue can benefit from being tweaked for this 14-piece band - and some may be tweaked a little more than others." Read more here.




Queen's Brian May The Subject Of New Book
(NDB) Music biographer Neil Daniels today released his new book about legendary Queen guitarist Brian May. Entitled, "A Casual Guide To The Music Of Queen's Brian May" the book also features previously unseen live photographs.

Here is the synopsis: "Brian May is undoubtedly one of rock music's greatest and best-known guitarists. Regularly appearing in 'The World's Greatest Guitarists' polls and such, Brian May is a living legend and an icon to musicians of all ages. As a member of Queen, he is a household name and his innovative signature guitar riffs are world famous.

"But there is more to this fiercely talented and intelligent man than Queen. He is a passionate activist and animal welfare charity enthusiast, an avid and popular blogger as well as an author and holds a PhD in Astrophysics.

"Back To The Light, however, charts his musical career outside of Queen from the pre Queen band Smile to the Brian May Band in the 1990s and his two solo albums Back To The Light and Another World as well as his soundtrack compositions and many musical collaborations as a guitarist, producer and songwriter.

"Back To The Light celebrates May's musical legacy and offers titbits of information and trivia about his career as well as a biography, discographies, a timeline, reviews and tributes from leading musicians and music writers."

Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


Aerosmith Planning To Launch New Tour
Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry reveals in a recent interview that the band are planning to hit the road this summer, but the group's plans for future music remain up in the air.

When asked by Guitar International if he is planning a new solo album or an Aerosmith album next, Perry responded, "I'm really not sure, I feel that we just finished the last Aerosmith CD and I learned a lot about making that record as well as what our hard core fans are looking for.

"I have about six songs for a solo project, as I'm always writing and working on new stuff. Whether it's a solo thing or an Aerosmith thing I'm not sure as we haven't talked about specifics.

"The industry and audience have changed so much, plus Steven is doing a solo CD this spring. Sometimes I wonder if it worth doing an album any more or go more in the direction of this EP. We put it together in two and a half weeks; put it up online for people to buy the songs they like or all four. I was thinking why not put out a song at a time and when you get a bunch together, release them as a package.

"We've certainly talked about the different options. From talking with the fans at the book signings, they were handing me vinyl instead of CDs to sign. Maybe going back and do vinyl and also release the songs online. We are wide open now and we'll decide when we start thinking about putting out new music. I know we are going back on the road this summer, so I'm not sure when we will have the time or be able to make time to get back into the studio. I know we plan on it, I just don't know when."




The Black Keys Star Injured In Accident
(Classic Rock) Drummer Patrick Carney of The Black Keys dislocated his shoulder when a wave slammed him to the ocean floor on the island of Saint-Barthelemy. Carney and guitarist/vocalist Dan Auerbach wrapped up an autumn US tour in support of their eighth album, Turn Blue, prior to the Christmas holidays.

TMZ reports the drummer was rushed to an emergency room so doctors could reset his shoulder after the holiday accident on Saturday. He is reportedly out of the hospital and recovering from the incident.

Carney posted photos of his injury on Instagram while joking: "Tune into my new Lifetime movie, Dislocated Shoulder, airing right now," a reference to the American TV and satellite channel. Read more here.




KISS Vs Motley Crue In Football Matchup
(hennemusic) Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil's Arena Football League team, the Las Vegas Outlaws, will make their debut on March 30 when they host their inaugural match against the L.A. KISS, the team owned by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of KISS.

The Las Vegas Sun reports Neil will be on hand to perform the national anthem and that plans are being discussed for a possible rival Motley Crue and KISS mini-concert before game time and at halftime.

Neil - who was awarded the new AFL franchise in September - will begin audtions this week for the team's Posse cheerleader squad. "We are going to have the 10 hottest, sexiest girls in Las Vegas leading the team, the best beauties in the league," claims Neil. "The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, who once made headlines around the world, will pale by comparison to what we assemble."

The singer also reveals the Posse will be a part of regular promotions at the games. Read more here.



Megadeth's Mustaine Promises 'Great News' Coming
(Classic Rock) Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine says Megadeth fans can look forward to great news in 2015. Mustaine recently suggested supporters would be "very happy" with what's going on behind the scenes as he rebuilds the band's lineup following the November departures of guitarist Chris Broderick and drummer Shawn Drover.

The duo's exit led bassist David Ellefson to confirm Megadeth's plans to move forward and begin work this month on their 15th album while expecting to be off the road for most of the year.

Mustaine had cheerful thoughts and news to share as part of his holiday message. He writes: "Wishing everyone a Happy New Year. 2015 will bring great news for Megadeth fans around the world, from the East to the West." Read more here.




Country Music Legend Little Jimmy Dickens Dead at 94
(Radio.com) After being hospitalized for a stroke earlier in the week, country music legend and longtime Grand Ole Opry star Little Jimmy Dickens died Friday afternoon (Jan. 2) at a Nashville hospital. He was 94.

A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame since 1983, Dickens is survived by his wife Mona (whom he married in 1971) and his two daughters, Pamela Detert and Lisa King.

Dickens is best known for goofy but well-written and -recorded novelty songs such as "Take An Old Cold Tater (And Wait)," "May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose," "A-Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed," and "Out Behind The Barn."

Though these often silly songs became the foundation of his repertoire, Dickens actually recorded a wide range of material over his long career, including rockabilly numbers ("I've Got a Hole in My Pocket"), sacred songs (such as "Old Rugged Cross" and the curious period piece "They Locked God Outside the Iron Curtain") and a surprising number of ballads like "The Violet and the Rose" and "Life Turned Her That Way"), which showed he was plenty capable of reaching emotional places far beyond the funny bone.

Born in West Virginia in 1920, James Cecil Dickens was one of 13 children. He first performed on local radio programs around the Midwest (including under his earlier stage name Jimmy the Kid) before Roy Acuff heard him and helped earn him a spot on the Opry and win a recording contract with Columbia. Read more here.




U2's Bono Says Injury May Impair His Playing
(Classic Rock) U2 frontman Bono says that he's unsure if he will ever play guitar again as he continues to mend from injuries that he sustained in a November cycle crash in New York.

Under doctor's orders not to move for several months following a five-hour surgery to repair multiple injuries, the singer hopes to heal in time for the May launch of U2's 2015 world tour in Vancouver, a trek that will see the band play six UK shows in October.

Bono has not been able to physically move around much lately, and is realizing that he may have some long-term limitations as a result of his injuries.

He says: "Recovery has been more difficult than I thought... As I write this, it is not clear that I will ever play guitar again. The band have reminded me that neither they nor Western civilization are depending on this."

"I personally would very much miss fingering the frets of my green Irish falcon or my (RED) Gretsch. Just for the pleasure, aside from writing tunes. But then does the Edge, or Jimmy Page, or any guitarist you know have a titanium elbow, as I do now? I'm all elbows, I am." Read more here.



Duff McKagan Releasing New Book This Spring
(hennemusic) Former Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver bass player Duff McKagan has revealed that he will publish a new book, "How To Be A Man (And Other Illusions)", on May 12.

The project sees the bassist share the wisdom he gained on the path to superstardom-from his time with Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver to getting sober after a life of hard living to achieving his personal American Dream of marrying a supermodel, raising a family, and experiencing what it's like to be winked at by Prince.

McKagan shared some insight into the book's development last year, telling TotalRock Radio: "I had a column for the Seattle Weekly for five years, and there was one column that was called 'How To Be A Man', and it was kind of tongue in cheek; it was really tongue in cheek. And I got a book deal from that column."

"It's a how-to guide of things I've learned about life - being a dad, being a husband and being in a rock band. And it's, like, a city guide in it, but a very tongue-in-cheek city guide; like, how I see cities. It's got all kinds of stuff. And other stories. And hopefully it's gonna be a funny book." Read more here.




Marty Friedman Hasn't Ruled Out Megadeth Reunion
(Classic Rock) Former Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman has refused to rule out a possible return to the band. Friedman left Megadeth in 2000 after recording five albums with the band, including Rust In Peace and Countdown To Extinction.

He later moved to Japan where he has lived since 2003 and has built a successful career as a TV personality.Asked whether he would go back to Megadeth, Friedman tells Myglobalmind:

"I know that people would want to know. Honestly, I don't have an answer. I have never said never to anything in my life, so who knows? I really don't know." Read more here.




Every Band Wants To Be Pantera?
(Classic Rock) Former Pantera bassist Rex Brown insists every band wants to be Panetra. And he says the impact he, guitarist Dimebag Darrell, drummer Vinnie Paul and frontman Phil Anselmo had only happens once in a lifetime.

He tells Songfacts: "Every band out there wants to be Pantera. I'm not patting myself on the back when I say that, it's just fact. They're trying to get the riffs and they'll never have it. They'll never get it. It takes the four of us.

"You can't just throw three of the original guys out of Slayer and expect to sound like Slayer, it's just not going to work. Just one of those things. You run across that once in a lifetime and you just fight for it, and that's what we did with the band."

The Kill Devil Hill bassist, who reflects on the death of Dimebag in the latest issue of Metal Hammer, also reveals Pantera found it difficult finishing the writing and recording process as they wanted everything to be perfect before laying down material. He continues: "We were such perfectionists in what we did. Really a lot of the time the thought process was thrown through the door, and it just came out naturally - it didn't feel contrived. That was the beauty of it. Read more here.




AC/DC Release Rock Or Bust Launch Party Video
(hennemusic) AC/DC are sharing video footage from the November 29 launch party for their latest studio album "Rock Or Bust" that took place at the Cartoon's Café in Antwerp.

The band's first album in 6 years was recorded this past spring at Vancouver's Warehouse Studio with producer Brendan O'Brien (Aerosmith, Pearl Jam) and engineer Mike Fraser.

AC/DC recently announced the first series of dates for a 2015 world tour, with a European trek to launch May 5 in Arnhem, Netherlands, followed by a mix of arena and stadium shows scheduled into late July.

The concerts will feature new addition Stevie Young, nephew of guitarist Angus Young and retired AC/DC founder Malcolm Young. The status of drummer Phil Rudd for the tour remains in question following his recent arrest by New Zealand police on drug possession and threatening to kill charges.





Aerosmith's Joe Perry Explains Johnny Depp Collaboration
(Classic Rock) Johnny Depp played rhythm guitar on the Aerosmith axeman's four-song EP, Joe Perry's Merry Christmas. The set features versions of seasonal favorites White Christmas, Silent Night, Santa Claus Is Back In Town and Run Run Rudolph.

Already writing songs for an upcoming solo album, Perry found time to record the festive project after the autumn release of his memoir, Rocks: My Life In And Out Of Aerosmith.

The guitarist explains how Depp's musicality first appeared on his radar. Perry tells Guitar international: "I've been a fan of his acting for a long time. I remember seeing him in the movie Chocolat, where he plays the gypsy guitar player. I was really impressed. You could tell that he was really playing guitar versus cutting back and forth to a musician."

"In the movie he plays a lot of Django Reinhardt stuff. I didn't know him at the time, but remember telling myself that someday I have to get a guitar lesson off him if I meet him since I don't know any of that type of stuff."

He continues: "As it turned out, about four years later he dropped by the studio when Aerosmith recorded our last studio record with Jack Douglas. Jack knew him and asked him to come down. We started talking music and guitars and that's where our friendship started."





Stevie Nicks and Deer Tick Rhiannon Jam Goes Online
(hennemusic) Stevie Nicks joined indie rockers Deer Tick on New Year's Eve in New York for a live performance of her 1975 Fleetwood Mac classic, "Rhiannon" and video of the jam has surfaced online.

The Brooklyn Bowl date was Deer Tick's 6th straight night at the venue as they celebrated their 10th anniversary and closed out 2014 while welcoming in the New Year.

Nicks and the band share a history as friends, including the singer officiating the 2013 wedding of Deer Tick frontman John McCauley and singer Vanessa Carlton.

"Rhiannon" originally appeared on Fleetwood Mac's self-titled 1975 album, which marked the debut of Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham with the group following the 1974 departure of guitarist Bob Welch. Watch the video here.




John Corabi Performing Entire Motley Crue Album Live
(Classic Rock) Former Motley Crue vocalist John Corabi is performing his former group's 1994 album in its entirety. Corabi launched the trek in sync with Motley Crue's farewell tour, which will see the group release a new song before playing their final show in Los Angeles early next year.

The ex-Union and Scream vocalist joined the Crue in 1992 following their split with Vince Neil and recorded the band's self-titled project, which presented an updated sound - a sonic mix of grunge and alternative metal - in the wake of Nirvana's breakthrough into the mainstream with 1991's Nevermind.

While the album debuted and peaked at No. 7 on the US Billboard 200, fan reaction to the lineup change was not favourable and the record achieved US gold status - a tough pill for the band to swallow as the follow-up to their best-selling album, 1989's Dr. Feelgood.

Corabi explains that history has been kind to the Motley Crue album. "A lot of fans, once Vince came back, saw it, picked it up and ended up really enjoying it. It's still trudging along and selling and doing its thing. The best thing to me is that it still sounds as relevant now as it did when it came out."

The singer has launched the Motley '94 Tour, which sees him performing the album in full, including the lead single Hooligan's Holiday. Read more here.



Beatles' Let It Be Album Was Garbage Says Glyn Johns
(Classic Rock) Producer Glyn Johns has described The Beatles album Let It Be as a "bunch of garbage." Johns worked on the band's 12th and final album but says it was ruined by Phil Spector who, he says, "puked all over it."

The band recorded the tracks before setting it aside. It was only issued after John Lennon handed the tapes to Spector to remix and add overdubs ahead of a 1970 release.

In his memoir Sound Man, Johns says (via Ultimate Classic Rock): "I was disappointed that Lennon got away with giving it to Spector, and even more disappointed with what Spector did to it.

"It has nothing to do with the Beatles at all. Let It Be is a bunch of garbage. As I say in the book, he puked all over it. I've never listened to the whole thing, I've only listened to the first few bars of some things and said, 'Oh, forget it.' It was ridiculously, disgustingly syrupy." Read more here.



Tony Harnell Quits TNT Again
(Classic Rock) Tony Harnell has announced his third departure from the veteran Norwegian outfit. Harnell brought his 4 octave vocal range to TNT in 1984, replacing original singer Dag Ingebrigtsen and appearing on their sophomore album, Knights Of The New Thunder.

He was on board for another three records before the band went on hiatus in 1992; they regrouped in 1996 and, after four more releases, Harnell left in April 2006 for both personal and professional reasons.

Harnell says: "This was an amazing year for me and for all the TNT fans who were lucky enough to be at the concerts. Many of the shows were the best TNT shows ever in my opinion.

"Sadly it's not possible for me to continue with the band. I won't bore you with all the details...it's nothing mind blowing and it's certainly nothing new and it's also best to respect the privacy of the band and keep our issues between us. At least that's my goal." Read more here.




Veil Of Maya Reveal Their New Singer
(TeamRock Radio) American deathcore outfit Veil Of Maya have revealed Arms Of Empire singer Lukas Magyar has joined their lineup. Magyar steps in following a split with longtime vocalist Brandon Butler, who left the group in September over musical differences after seven years with the Chicago-based band.

Magyar appears on Veil Of Maya's upcoming fifth album, Phoenix, via Sumerian Records. The group posted on Facebook: "Our brand new, and debut track with new vocalist Lukas Magyar, is available now. Check it out and tell us what you think."

The singer will perform double-duty with both acts moving forward, confirmed Arms Of Empire in a Facebook update of their own, writing: "Yes, Lukas is in Veil Of Maya, but no he's not leaving Arms Of Empire."


38 Special In The Studio For Rockin' Into The Night 35th Anniversary
The latest episode of the syndicated radio show In The Studio: The Stories Behind History's Greatest Rock Bands features 38 Special's Jeff Carlisi and Donnie Van Zant as they celebrate the 35th anniversary of their album Rockin' Into The Night. The show sent over these details:

Hailing from the Southern Rock capital of the world, Jacksonville, Florida, and with the connection to Ronnie Van Zant of Southern Rock royalty Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special found themselves in an advantageous position. But after two albums, not much had materialized until the release of 1980's breakthrough Rockin' Into The Night and the platinum follow-ups, 1981's Wild-Eyed Southern Boys and 1982's Special Forces.

Jeff Carlisi shares with InTheStudio host Redbeard how 38 Special drew a bead on the musical bullseye and came into their own with hits including "Rockin' Into the Night","Hold On Loosely","Fantasy Girl", and "Caught Up in You".

Carlisi says, "38 Special found a bit of a focus with the third album Rockin' Into The Night and then Wild-Eyed Southern Boys , which was the first platinum record for the band. We had finally developed a style of music that was not typically Southern in the sense of three chord shuffles or those type of things, but it was the attitude, the way Southern musicians approached there music."




Halestorm Tease New Album Announcement
(Classic Rock) Halestorm have launched an online countdown to the announcement of their 3rd album. The project comes on the heels of last month's vinyl release of Reanimate: The Covers Collection (2011-2014), which combines their two cover EPs - 2011's Reanimate and 2013's Reanimate 2.0 - into one package. The set features tracks originally recorded by artists including Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest, AC/DC and Marilyn Manson.

A clock on halestormrocks.com is actively ticking way until January 13, while the band are simultaneously revealing individual letters in the album's title via their social media outlets - a total of 15 will be unveiled by the launch date. Frontwoman Lzzy Hale has taken to Twitter to spread the word, tweeting "Countdown has begun" and "Prepare yourself!!! #11315".

The band's sophomore album, 2012's The Strange Case Of…, which delivered Halestorm a US Top 20 album and a Grammy Award in the Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance category for the track Love Bites (So Do I).






Blind Guardian Reveal Song From Forthcoming Album
(TeamRock Radio) Blind Guardian have issued a lyric video for Twilight Of The Gods as a preview to their 10th album Beyond The Red Mirror. Due January 30 via Nuclear Blast, the follow-up to 2010's At The Edge Of Time continues a story the band introduced almost 20 years ago.

Frontman Hansi Kursch explains: "A story between science fiction and fantasy, it begins with our 1995 album Imaginations From The Other Side. The two worlds described have changed dramatically for the worse since then. While there used to be several passages between the worlds, there is only one gate left now: The Red Mirror. It has to be found at any cost."

Blind Guardian began working on Beyond The Red Mirror with producer Charlie Bauerfeind at Twilight Hall Studios in Grefrath, Germany in 2012, mapping out a mix of their sound with classical orchestrations.

The project sees the group joined by three different classical choirs - from Prague, Budapest and Boston - plus two grand orchestras featuring 90 musicians each. Read more and watch the video here.




Van Halen's David Lee Roth Covers 1965 Classic
(hennemusic) Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth has issued a montage of his 2014 in pictures and video set to his cover of Mack Rice's 1965 classic, "Mustang Sally."

"My name is Dave Roth, and what a long great trip 2014 was ..." explains the singer as a setup to the video, billed as a Happy New Year's messsage from his online series The Roth Show.

It's the second new clip in a month from Roth, who released "Talkin' Christmas Blues" in December. In the spring of 2014, Roth revealed that he had been working on a secret Van Halen project.

"Doing some catching up here, a little bit of a scrapbook," he explained. "We've been doing a lot of travelling. [I've been] working on a great Van Halen project - can't announce anything … or I'd have to come find you and swear you to secrecy."






Steve Miller Band Classic Used In Taco Bell Commercial
(hennemusic) A new cover version of the Steve Miller Band's 1976 classic, "Take The Money And Run", is featured in a new commercial for the fast-food chain Taco Bell.

The soundtrack to the new commercial was recorded by synth-rock duo Priory as part of the fast food company's marketing campaign for the Crunchwrap Slider.

"Take The Money And Run" was originally released as the lead single from Miller's 9th album, "Fly Like An Eagle." The tune peaked at No. 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 single chart, while the album reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 on its way to selling more than 4 million copies in the States alone.






Tesla's Frank Hannon Releases Electric Chair Video
(Classic Rock) Tesla guitarist Frank Hannon has released a new music video for "Electric Chair" which is a track taken from his recently released solo album "World Peace".

The "Electric Chair" music video was directed by Hannon's solo bandmate Kelly Smith and features Hannon and his band playing in front of various kaleidoscopic scenes.

Hannon released the new "World Peace" album last month and the video for "Electric Chair" is described by the guitarist as "groundbreaking." You can watch the video here.


In Flames Not Changed By Jesper's Exit
(TeamRock Radio) In Flames miss former guitarist Jesper Stromblad as a friend but not as a musician, according to singer Anders Friden. Stromblad left the band in 2010, saying he needed to deal with his alcohol addiction. This year he expanded on that, insisting booze wasn't entirely to blame and that the band's musical direction was an issue.

Now Friden says not much has changed when it comes to writing new material since Stromblad's departure, but he admits he does miss the guitarist's friendship.

He tells Rock Total TV: "Musically, it's not that different, to be honest. We have the same approach as we always had. We're trying to write good melodies, and that's what we've done since the first album.

"So, for us, it wasn't a big departure in that sense. I mean, we miss the guy as a friend, but we just couldn't really work together anymore. And I don't think he wanted to be in the band anymore, to be honest." Read more here.




Haken Release Tour Highlight Video
(Prog) Haken have released a behind-the-scenes video from their recent UK and Ireland tour with Leprous and Maschine. Haken released new EP Restoration last October. It features three reworked songs from their 2008 demo.

The first part of what is expected to be a series of online video clips shows the British prog outfit rehearsing for the tour which saw them play nine dates.

Before the tour, the band confirmed stand-in bassist Conner Green as the permanent replacement for Tom MacLean. Check out the new tour video clip here.




Beartooth Release Body Bag Video
(TeamRock Radio) Beartooth have released a new music video for their track Body Bag. The song is taken from the Ohio metalcore outfit's debut album Disgusting, issued last year.

The video, which features live footage, was posted alongside a message which reads: "Thank you all for a great beginning. Here's to sticking with us until the end. Love, Beartooth"

Beartooth return to the UK next month alongside Bury Tomorrow, Don Broco and We Are The In Crowd. Check out the upcoming tour dates and watch the new video here.




Ray Laidlaw and Billy Mitchell Plan Another Lindisfarne Tour
(Prog) Following a successful 2014 tour, Ray Laidlaw and Billy Mitchell will be telling the story of Tyneside's favorite band again across the UK and Ireland in 2015.

In a two-man acoustic show, the pair perform classic Lindisfarne songs illustrated with tales, personal archive photographs and rare video. Founding member and original drummer Laidlaw and Mitchell, frontman for the final eight years of the veteran group, share the inside story of the group's rise to fame - from Whitley Bay to San Francisco Bay, from Rothbury to Glastonbury.

Lindisfarne burst onto the UK music scene in 1970 with a string of classic tunes, including Lady Eleanor, Meet Me On The Corner, Fog On The Tyne and Run For Home, which quickly established the band as one of the leading figures in acoustic-based rock.

Laidlaw says: "In 1971, we took the music business by storm, and for the next thirty years we shared Lindisfarne's unique brand of Geordie rock and roll with the world." Read more here.




Help Find The Future Of The Blues
(Classic Rock) The Blues magazine have joined forces with the Mascot Label Group and The Big Easy restaurant group to announce a competition that offers any unsigned guitar-slinging, harp-blowing or blues-singing artist or band a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win a record deal with the Mascot Label Group; home to blues heroes like Joe Bonamassa, Gov't Mule, Walter Trout, Robert Cray, Beth Hart, Matt Scofield, Jonny Lang and many more.

The Future Of The Blues competition, organised by The Blues Magazine in partnership with the Mascot Label Group and Big Easy restaurant group, will uncover the unsigned blues talent to carry the flag for the scene.

As part of the package, as well as winning a record deal the winner will perform at the opening of the new Big Easy in Canary Wharf, London, and receive exposure within the pages of The Blues.

Five finalists will be chosen to perform live at The Big Easy in London's Covent Garden in front of a prestigious industry panel and one winner will walk away with a deal that night, to show you need to chops to turn it on, the performances will be filmed in front of a live crowd. Read more details here.



Singled Out: Dave Kilminster (Roger Waters)
Today Roger Waters guitarist Dave Kilminster tells us about the song "Stardust" from his brand new solo album "...and THE TRUTH will set you free..." Here is the story:

I've been asked several times whether playing Pink Floyd music with Roger Waters for the last eight years has affected my song writing... to which my reply has always been 'no'... But it would be difficult to deny a certain Floydian influence on this final track of my new CD "...and THE TRUTH will set you free..."

My Mother passed away last year, and so I wanted to write a very special piece of music for her... a kind of modern day Requiem... and a slow, atmospheric Floydian vibe seemed perfect to convey those sorts of feelings and emotions... Hopefully she would have liked it.

Today's Day in Rock News!

AC/DC and U2 To Rock The Grammy Awards?
A report surfaced on Monday that suggested that AC/DC, U2 and Madonna have all signed on to perform during the 57th annual Grammy Awards on February 8th.

There are several media outlets that report music industry site Hits Double Daily reported in their "rumor mill" section on Monday that the three artists have been booked for the awards show that will be taking place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live on CBS.

However, as of Monday night that report could not be found on the HDD website. The article reportedly said, "Nothing official yet, but the word from sources in inside the Recording Academy is that AC/DC, Madonna and U2 have been booked to perform on the Grammys," according to Trendio.

Another report from Brave Words published this quote from the HDD report, "Each December, executive producer Ken Ehrlich makes an all-out effort to confirm a handful of performers for the show prior to the holiday break, during which it's difficult to get hold of pretty much anyone in a position of authority, and these three perennial draws are precisely the kind of act Ehrlich would typically approach."




Previously Unheard Dimebag Song Streaming Online
Guitar World Magazine has premiered a previously unreleased song from late Pantera and Damage Plan guitarist Dimebag Darrell Abbott and they are streaming the track online.

The musician's magazine is premiering the track to go along with their February 2015 issue of their print publication (out this week), which they have dubbed the Ultimate Dimebag Darrell Tribute Issue.

Though not known as a singer, Dimebag performed the vocals and all of the instruments on the song, which is entitled "Whiskey Road" and was recorded in 2001. Listen to the song, see the guitar tab and learn more details about the tribute issue here.




Foreigner's Mick Jones Reveals Health Scare
(hennemusic) Foreigner guitarist, producer and founder Mick Jones has revealed to CBS Sunday Morning details of a health scare years ago that left him in a haze and unable to play guitar.

When Jones was forced to take a year off, he publicly blamed it on a heart valve problem, but now admits it was much more than that. "I'd had a virtual nervous breakdown, brought on by a bad prescribing of medication," the guitarist tells CBS Sunday Morning. "It was a very dark time for me. I literally didn't know where I was anymore. I didn't know who I was. I mean, honestly I never thought I'd play on stage again."

The situation left Jones unable to play guitar. "I lost the ability to play chords briefly, only for a couple of months," he reveals. "And my brother brought a guitar over for me and said, 'You play guitar. Play it. You're a guitarist. Play the guitar, you know.'"

"It was terrifying," said Jones. "You just somehow try and hold on." Read more and stream the interview video here.

More on Foreigner - Foreigner Music, DVDs, Books and more - Foreigner T-shirts and Posters
Former Guns N' Roses Star Steven Adler Gets Back To Work
(Classic Rock) Former Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler is recording material, producer Jeff Pilson has reported. The move comes ahead of Adler's scheduled return to work following almost a year of recovering from a relapse.

Adler's self-titled solo band was derailed in 2013 following the launch of debut album Back From The Dead, when the leader fell off the wagon and began drinking again, forcing the cancellation of a US tour.

In November he celebrated 10 months sober, and said he'd wait until he'd reached the 12-month milestone before restarting his career. But Pilson recently told The Double Stop: "Steven started recording. I don't know if we're going to do a whole record - I think we're going to do a couple of songs, because why bother doing a whole record these days?

"But his juices are flowing and that's going to be great." Stream the interview here.




All-Star Tribute Randy Rhoads Tribute Album Set For Release
(Classic Rock) A tribute to iconic guitarist Randy Rhoads is to feature an array of stars from the world of rock. Tish Tone Records have announced they will release Randy Rhoads Remembered Volume 1 on January 23 to coincide with the next in a series of remembrance shows in honour of the late guitarist who made his name as part of Ozzy Osbourne's solo band.

The idea for the CD came about after former Ozzy and Whitesnake drummer Brian Tichy put on the first Randy Rhoads Remembered (RRR) show in January of this year to commemorate the contribution of his hero to rock music. The shows attracted a string of stars and, with the blessing of the Rhoads family, the idea for a CD came about.

A total of 22 musicians have contributed to the collection, including former Megadeth bassist James LoMenzo, Guns N' Roses guitarist Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal, former Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach, current Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson and LA Guns man Tracii Guns.

Tichy says: "RRR Volume 1 is a great representation of the spirit of the RRR shows. The first show was so successful that five more were held in June 2014 on the East Coast with another amazing cast of players." Read more here.




Fans Convince L7 To Launch A Reunion
(Gibson) The long-awaited reunion of 90s grunge/punk band L7 looks like it's happening soon, and they're looking for help from fans to alert promoters and get the ball rolling on shows.

The band said they were surprised by the outpouring of support and requests for a reunion after they launched an official Facebook page simply as a place to share old photos and memories. "Greetings People! We want you to know that the love and support you have shown us here on Facebook this year has taken us all a bit by surprise," they wrote. "What started as a simple band page for us to post some archival photos we had been sifting through for an upcoming L7 documentary has turned into a wellspring of enthusiasm for the band. For this WE THANK YOU!"

It's been 14 years since the band's last show, and they're calling on fans to use their social media networks to let the world know they're ready to return. They've also launched a new website at http://l7theband.com where fans can sign up for email updates. Read more here.






Devon Allman's Royal Southern Brotherhood Replacement Revealed
(The Blues Devon Allman has confirmed plans to leave Royal Southern Brotherhood, following fellow guitarist Mike Zito out the door. Both want to concentrate on their solo careers. Allman will play his final show with the supergroup in April.

Zito's replacement was previously confirmed as Bart Walker - now Tyrone Vaughan (pictured), son of Jimmie and nephew of Stevie Ray, has been named their latest addition.

The latest arrivals are currently co-writing material for the supergroup's upcoming third album, to be recorded next month. Vaughan says in the introductory video: "It's the best thing in my life right about now - I couldn't ask for a better situation. It's everything I want to be involved in.

"My dad was doing it from way back and my uncle Stevie followed in his footsteps. Those guys left a huge mark on me, my family and Texas." Read more and watch the video here.




Radiohead's Thom Yorke Releases 'Angry' New Solo Track
(Prog) Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has released solo track "You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Angry" as a pay-what-you-want title via Bandcamp. And he's also offering recent solo album Tomorrow's Modern Boxes to the streaming platform after originally launching it via filesharing service BitTorrent.

Yorke described the initial release as an "experiment," saying: "If it works well it could be an effective way of handing control of internet commerce back to people who are creating the work." He notched up over a million downloads in the first week.

Now he says of the Bandcamp move: "It's less technical for some peeps than BitTorrent - and it works on Apple mobile devices, including streaming." Read more here.




The Darkness Announce New Member, Confirm New Album Release
(hennemusic) UK rockers The Darkness have added Emily Dolan Davies as their new drummer while confirming the follow-up to 2012's "Hot Cakes" will be released in the spring.

"She's a hard hitter," frontman Justin Hawkins tells Classic Rock magazine about Dolan, who has previously played with Bryan Ferry and Tricky. "She's got the chops and the attitude that you need to be The Darkness' drummer. She also makes us feel like dirty old men."

Dolan replaces original drummer Ed Graham, with whom the band split this fall. "Ed has had some well-publicized health problems in the past. And for one reason or another, he wasn't capable of doing his job anymore," explains Hawkins. "We're still friends with Ed. But now that we have Emily in the band, the worry is gone." Read more here.




Sebastian Bach Reveals That He Is Engaged
(hennemusic) Sebastian Bach got engaged to girlfriend Suzanne Le in West Hollywood on Sunday. The pair have been together since October, following Bach's split with model Minnie Gupta after a 2-year relationship.

"She said yes," Bach told TMZ as the pair were leaving Madeo Restaurant moments after he popped the question. "I love her, man," added the singer. "Why go out for burgers when you got steak in the fridge?"

As for the timing of the wedding, Bach says "We're still figuring that; we're still working on the big night." The engagement came on the heels of a divorce from wife Maria Bierk after an 18-year marriage. Watch the video here.




Joe Bonamassa and Mahalia Barnes Releasing Betty Davis Tribute Album
(Gibson) Joe Bonamassa has teamed up with Australian vocalist Mahalia Barnes for a new album of Betty Davis covers, and fans can get a free track from Bonamassa's website right now.

Betty married Miles Davis in the late '60s and introduced him to Jimi Hendrix. She later released three albums: a self-titled debut in 1973,They Say I'm Different in 1974 and Nasty Gal in 1975. Davis left the music biz in 1979, but a fourth album recorded in 1976, Is It Love or Desire? was finally released in 2009.

The project with Bonamassa came about when Mahalia was in the studio with producer Kevin Shirley and her dad, vocalist Jimmy Barnes (Cold Chisel, Living Loud - known as Barnsey to we Aussies): she popped on a few Betty Davis tracks as reference and soon the idea for the album sprung into being. So Bonamassa visited Australia earlier this year to track the album, titled Ooh Yeah - The Betty Davis Song Book, over three days at Freight Train Studios in Sydney. Read more here.






Ex-Skid Row Star Phil Varone Pulling No Punches In New Book
(Classic Rock) Former Skid Row drummer Phil Varone says he plans to release a book which will expose what he calls the "morons" who pissed him off in 2014. Varone, who now drums with Saigon Kick, will issue A To Zanax next year and he says he will pull no punches when it comes to targeting "useless people that have nothing better to do than bother smart people under the assumption there is no consequence."

He adds: "I'm currently writing my new book titled A to Zanax, just to purge the senseless garbage I had to endure because humans do not know how to behave.

"If you tell me that Zanax isn't spelled with a Z, you will be the first idiot purged. I know how to spell Xanax, it's called a clever play on letters and that's why I'm the one with the publishing deal. Get it?" Read more here.




Pretenders Releasing New Box Set Early Next Year
(Classic Rock) A box set featuring all eight albums released by Pretenders on the Warner label will be released next year. Pretenders: 1979-1999 is issued on February 16 in various countries across the globe including the UK, Europe (the band's official store does not list a North American release.)

In addition to the box set, all eight albums will also be available separately in digipaks that include b-sides, demos, live tracks, songs recorded for soundtracks and other rarities.

The boxset is made up of six 2CD+DVD sets and two CD+DVD sets in a slipcase box. The DVDs include promo videos and TV appearances. In total, 14 CDs and eight DVDs are included in the package. Read more here.





Napalm Death Frontman Denies Mitch Harris Rumors
(TeamRock Radio) Napalm Death frontman Mark 'Barney' Greenway has slammed rumours that Mitch Harris is no longer a member of the band. But he's also suggested they're concerned that he may not be able to return.

The guitarist began an indefinite hiatus last month as a result of "illness within his family." Since then a number of stories have circulated about him, along with the suggestion that it's already known he won't be back.

Greenway tells Decibel: "People think Mitch is terminally ill - and he isn't. They think he's left the band for some shady reason, and he hasn't. There is no weirdness.

"You have to cut people some slack. We did that from Shane Embury when he had some problems." Read more here.




John Sykes Previews Long Awaited New Album
Former Whitesnake and Blue Murder star John Sykes gave his fans a special gift on Christmas day with the posting of a preview of his forthcoming studio album.

The preview, which Sykes calls an "Audio Sampler," runs for just under two and half minutes and SleezeRoxx.com notes that the album was originally planned for release in 2013.

Sykes told fans via a Facebook posting two years ago, "new album is going well, some great musicians on board." That was the last update until this summer when it was revealed that Sykes was working on the artwork for the album cover with a designer in New York.

Take a listen to the album preview here.




Of Mice & Men Release Identity Disorder Video
(TeamRock Radio) Of Mice & Men have released a new video for their track Identity Disorder. The song is taken from the California-based band's latest album Restoring Force, which was released in January of this year.

Of Mice & Men will release a deluxe edition of third album Restoring Force in February, with three new tracks and an acoustic version of their single Feels Like Forever.

Of Mice & Men will also hit the UK next year for an eight-date headlining tour. You can check out those upcoming dates and also watch the new "Identity Disorder" video here.






KISS and Japanese Idol Band Collaboration Preview Video Surfaces
(hennemusic) A video preview of the upcoming collaboration between KISS and Japanese idol pop band Momoiro Clover Z has surfaced. The pair have teamed up for the single, "Yume no Ukiyo ni Saitemina", which will be released on January 28.

Each group will issue their own versions of the tune. The KISS edition will present three newly recorded tracks including a lead track and each off vocal version in a package totaling six tunes.

The Momoiro Clover Z edition will feature two newly recorded tracks including a lead track and each off vocal version, plus a music video of the lead track.

The pop band will open for KISS on March 3 at the Tokyo Dome, the final show of the band's 5-date Japanese tour. Watch the preview video here.




Dave Grohl Reveals Inspiration For Foo Fighter's I Am A River
(hennemusic) Foo Fighters mainman Dave Grohl revealed the inspiration behind "I Am A River", the closing track on the band's new album, "Sonic Highways," during an appearance on the Tonight Show.

Written and recorded in New York - one of 8 cities the group would visit to make the album - the song includes several local references. Grohl tells The Tonight Show that the song's opening line, 'I found a secret behind a Soho door', "is referring to the Magic Shop Studio and how it's just this one tiny door on the street… you would never know it's a studio."

"'I found a reason' - that's a Lou Reed reference", he continues. "'Beneath the subway floor' - that's talking about Minetta Creek, which is a river that runs under New York City - this song is mostly about that."

"I thought it was a beautiful idea that there's something natural and prehistoric that runs underneath something as monolithic and futuristic as New York City," says Grohl, "and maybe we're all connected by something like that."

Watch the interview and the Tonight Show performance of the song here.



Zakk Wylde Leads All-Star Black Sabbath Tribute Zakk Sabbath
(Radio.com) The McDonalds Black Sabbath tribute made headlines last week, but if you like your Sabbath covers straightforward, with an actual connection to the band, turn to Zakk Sabbath, which is led by Zakk Wylde, who has done multiple stints in Ozzy Osbourne's band since first signing on in 1987.

Wylde handles vocals and guitar, with Blasko (from Ozzy's current backing band) on bass and John Tempesta (formerly of White Zombie and Helmet, and currently with the Cult) on drums.

Of course, nothing compares to the real thing. However, for a genuine Black Sabbath experience, you will probably have to wait a little longer: Ozzy has said that the band are planning a final album and tour, but hasn't given any dates for either.

Watch Zakk Sabbath's take on "Fairies Wear Boots" here.




Nightwish Release New Studio Video For Forthcoming Album
(Prog) Nightwish have released another studio video documenting their progress on eighth album Endless Forms Most Beautiful. Tumoas Holopainen and co last week confirmed the follow-up to 2011's Imaginaerum would be released on March 30 via Nuclear Blast - and lead single Elan will appear on February 13.

It's their first with vocalist Floor Jansen, and their first with piper and whistler Troy Donockley as a full-time member of the band. Drummer Jukka Nevalainen was replaced by Kai Hahto in the studio as a result of ongoing health issues.

In the clip, Holopainen says: "I guess mixing an album could be compared to editing a movie - we have to arrange the clips into a dramatic arc, and find a balance."

Watch the video here.



The Aristocrats Preview Upcoming Live Release
(Prog) The Aristocrats, the supergroup featuring Guthrie Govan, Bryan Beller and Marco Minnemann, have released a preview clip of their upcoming Culture Clash Live CD/DVD set.

It was recorded at multiple locations during their recent Culture Clash world tour. The title is released on January 20. A second title, Secret Show: Live In Osaka, will also be launched next month.

Govan recently said: "Every time we play a song live, it seems to evolve slightly. However hard we try to capture definitive versions in the studio, the true nature of any composition reveals itself during the subsequent touring process."

The trio are preparing to record their third album, which will follow a run of shows in which they'll trial the music to be tracked, next month. Watch the preview video here.




Singled Out: amandla's Talking Sweet (Ween)
Long-time Ween drummer Claude Coleman Jr.'s solo project amandla have just released the single "Talking Sweet" from their forthcoming album, "Laughing Hearts" and today Claude tells us about the track. Here is the story:

I'm a big Lindsey Buckingham fan, and fingerpicky, gangly Buckingham guitar bits have ended up in all my songs since about forever. I had been playing the front end of the chorus on guitar for a while before any other part of the song was written. It was nice to play; the energy of it was sweet but kind beat up and sad.

Originally, the tempo was twice as fast and I cut the track live with a band at this faster tempo. I experimented and brought it way back and found the pace there. It felt more stumbling to me, like the person in the tune and better matched the anger of the verses. It was less sun - more grease and dirt. Also, it fattened up Peter Kaufmann's drums.

"Friends will laugh like lovers, then war like gangs in the heat" is something everyone can probably relate to. "So duck or run for covers, before he's talking sweet" is all about when someone acting nice becomes a signal for you to run for the hills. And it must be noted that I say "run for 'covers' not "cover" because it felt really ridiculous to sing that and mean the blankets, like "run for covers!"

Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


Queen To Stream New Year's Eve Concert Online
(hennemusic) The BBC has announced plans to stream Queen and Adam Lambert's New Year's Eve "Rock Big Ben Live" concert event online for fans around the globe via BBC Music.

The event at Central Hall Westminster in London - close to the iconic landmark of Big Ben - will see just 2000 fans on hand to watch the legendary band ring in 2015.

"Queen + Adam Lambert Rock Big Ben Live" will take place in the build up to the clock striking midnight to see in 2015 and continue after the spectacular, world famous fireworks display along the river Thames, which will also be shown live on BBC One. Read more here.




Carmine Appice Wants Led Zeppelin Reunion Gig
(hennemusic) Legendary drummer Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart, King Kobra) says he wants to play as part of Led Zeppelin reunion.

"I would like to work with a Led Zeppelin configuration, whether it's just John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page and me and a singer," Appice tells Totally Driven Radio. "I've heard that they're talking, maybe, to Ann Wilson [of Heart]… There's a rumor that Ann Wilson might go out with them. I would love to play drums on something like that."

The late John Bonham's son, Jason, performed with a reunited Led Zeppelin during their December 10, 2007 concert at London's O2 Arena tribute concert for friend and Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun.

"Everybody in that band there is legendary," says Appice. "They're old school and legendary. Jason isn't legendary, and he's not old school. He's John Bonham's son, but he don't play like John Bonham. He plays more… He plays like him. He's not John. He's got that name, but he's not John Bonham."

"I'm not John Bonham either, but I think my style might be close, 'cause I came first, and John listened to stuff I did and did it his own way. And we took 'em on their first tour. It's very close-sounding stuff in feel." Read more here.




Landmark Metallica Album Predicted By Bob Rock
(Classic Rock) Producer Bob Rock has predicted that Metallica's tenth album may be a "landmark" - but he doesn't believe he'll work with the band again. He first worked with James Hetfield and co on their Black Album in 1991, and continued through the decade on Load, ReLoad, Garage Inc and S&M.

His final collaboration was 2003's St Anger, documented in controversial movie Some Kind Of Monster.But he wasn't on board for 2008's Death Magnetic, and he thinks it's unlikely he'll return.

Rock tells the Eddie Trunk Podcast: "I don't see it happening. I think they've got to keep moving forward. With Death Magnetic they went back to their roots, which was great. I get where they went and they had to go there.

"I think they've got a landmark record in them - and it's probably brewing right now." Read more here.




Slipknot Beats Slash, Mastodon For The Best Riff Of 2014
(Classic Rock) The leading riff from Slipknot track The Negative One has been named the best of 2014 by readers of Total Guitar magazine. The piece from comeback album .5: The Gray Chapter tops a poll ahead of work by Slash, Mastodon, Royal Blood, Steel Panther and others.

Total Guitar say: "The return of Iowa's finest following the passing of founding member Paul Gray was always going to be a raw one. The Gray Chapter certainly lived up to that. It's absolutely encapsulated in The Negative One's riff onslaught - it's Slipknot at their thrilling best."

The track is also nominated for 2015's Best Metal Grammy, with the winner to be named in February. See "Total Guitar readers' best riffs of 2014" top 9 list here.




Bryan Ferry's Son Injured In Serious Car Crash
(Classic Rock) Roxy Music singer Bryan Ferry's youngest son Merlin is in the hospital after a serious car crash. The 24-year-old is described as "critical but stable" after suffering multiple injuries including a head wound and fractures to his legs, pelvis and left arm.

Three vehicles including Ferry's and a lorry were involved in the incident near Shrewsbury on Tuesday. One driver escaped with cuts and bruises after his car caught fire.

Firefighters said Ferry's extraction took 45 minutes. They tweeted "Crews worked hard for 45 mins to free the man which was a difficult extrication due to the impact involved." Read more here.




Saxon's Nigel Glockler Getting Better Following Brain Surgery
(Classic Rock) Saxon drummer Nigel Glockler is making progress every day after emergency brain surgery earlier this month, his wife Gina has said in an update about his recovery.

He was rushed to hospital midway through the NWOBHM giants' winter UK tour, and later underwent an operation to address an aneurysm. A second procedure took place after the first was unsuccessful.

But in an update Gina says: "Nigel is getting better each day, and I'm hoping he can be released some time next week. There are certain things the doctors like to watch for, so they're being cautious, which is fine by me. My first and only thought right now is for his recovery."

Read more here.




Alberta Adams, Detroit's Queen Of The Blues, Dead at 97
(The Blues Blues vocalist Alberta Adams has died at the age of 97. Known as Detroit's Queen Of The Blues, she passed away on Christmas morning after a long illness.

Born Roberta Louis Osborn in 1917, she was living alone by the time she was 14, and began her performance career as a tap dancer before starting to sing alongside John Lee Hooker, Duke Ellington and others.

Chess Records signed her in the 1950s and she became a member of the Bluesettes, who toured with Tiny Bradshaw. She recorded for Savoy Records, and began an association with Johnny Bassett and his band that lasted for decades. Other collaborations included T-Bone Walker, Louis Jordan, Lionel Hampton and Red Saunders. Read more here.




Bruce Springsteen Releases Classic 1978 Club Show
(hennemusic) Bruce Springsteen has released a legendary 1978 Cleveland club show as the second offering in his new archival concert series. Last month, Springsteen launched the archival series with the release of a 2012 live set from New York's Apollo Theater.

The August 9, 1978 show at The Agora was originally simulcast in its entirety by local rock station WMMS and many other stations around the US to an estimated audience of 3 million listeners.

For years bootleg copies of the FM broadcast, in various degrees of quality, widely circulated among collectors and established The Agora '78 as a legendary performance from Darkness-era Springsteen. Read more here.




Black Sabbath Get McDonald's-Themed Tribute Band
(Radio.com) If you like your tribute bands with a culinary orientation, a la Macaulay Culkin's Velvet Underground-themed band the Pizza Underground, you might enjoy a new group paying tribute to Black Sabbath.

If the very idea of this offends you, just skip a few paragraphs. But if that sounds like the band you didn't know you were waiting for, allow us to introduce you to Mac Sabbath (via Funny or Die).

Fronted by a Ronald McDonald lookalike, the band also features an evil-looking Mayor McCheese (with tusks!) on guitar, a bass player who appears as if he's Rob Zombie's nightmare version of the Grimace. And behind the drums sits the Hamburglar.

Like the Pizza Underground, the Mac Sabbath members change the lyrics of the songs to be about their favorite subject, which in this case is McDonalds. For instance, in "Frying Pan" (their take on "Iron Man"), evil Ronald sings, "I once burned your meal/My old job was cooking veal!" Happily, he seems to be a better Ozzy imitator than grill cook. Watch the magic happen in the video here.




Annihilator Reuniting With Classic Era Singer Coburn Pharr
(Classic Rock) Annihilator mainman Jeff Waters has brought back classic-era singer Coburn Pharr for the band's appearances on a metal cruise next month. Pharr joined the Canadian outfit in time to record what remains their biggest-selling record, but he was replaced by Aaron Randall two years later. He hasn't been in contact since then.

Now it's been confirmed he'll take the mic for their shows on 70,000 Tons Of Metal, which sets sale from Florida to Jamaica on January 22 for a four-day trip.

Waters says: "Seeing as it's the 25th anniversary of my favourite Annihilator album, I thought it would be a lot of fun to invite Coburn to perform some of the songs he was part of. Read more here.





Eagles' Timothy B. Schmit Reuniting With Poco For Special Event
(Classic Rock) Eagles bassist Timothy B. Schmit will reunite with his old Poco bandmates next month for induction into the Colorado Music Hall Of Fame. He joined the band in 1969 shortly after the release of their debut album Pickin' Up The Pieces, taking over from Randy Meisner.

Meisner would go on to be a co-founder of the Eagles and when Schmit quit Poco in 1977, it was to replace the bassist again, this time in the Eagles' lineup.

Now he'll take his place beside former bandmates Rusty Young, George Grantham, Richie Furay and Paul Cotton at the induction ceremony at the Paramount Theater in Denver on January 9. They are expected to play together at the event. Read more here.





Between The Buried And Me Recording New Album With Jamie King
(TeamRock Radio) Between The Buried And Me will start recording their seventh album within the coming fortnight. The follow-up to 2012's The Parallax II: Future Sequence is expected by the middle of 2015 via Metal Blade Records.

The North Carolina outfit report: "In two more weeks we will be reuniting with the master, Jamie King, to record our seventh full-length album together. Until then, enjoy the holidays!"

In September the band launched a live companion to The Parallax II, which saw them playing the record in a studio setting. They explained: "We wanted to give our fans an intimate performance - something that made them feel a little closer to us, almost feel like they're at practice with us." here.




Down's Brutal Assault Performance Video Go Online
(TeamRock Radio) Professionally shot footage of Down's performance at this year's Brutal Assault festival in the Czech Republic has been released. The short set features the tracks Witchtripper, Lifer and Pillars Of Eternity.

They released EP Down IV Part Two earlier this year and frontman Phil Anselmo, who last week revealed he was sitting on a goldmine of material for his band The Illegals, said they would continue to issue EPs rather than albums in the future as the traditional way of delivering music was a "thing of the past."

He said: "Everyone's attention span these days is a little shorter. Honestly, for me, doing a full-length record is a thing of the past. I'm not doing it again. It's boring. If I can concentrate on making five or six songs the best I can, that's the way I would prefer to release it."





Tremonti Completes Recording Of New Album, Release Studio Video
(Classic Rock) Recording work on Creed guitarist Mark Tremonti's second album has been completed. His bassist Wolfgang Van Halen, who Tremonti recently called "the best of the best," has confirmed recording the material for 20-track record has now been finished.

He says on Twitter: "And with that last note, BVs are officially complete. Looks like we're done here. This has been such a great experience. Very happy to have been a part of this."

Meanwhile, Tremonti has issued a video showcasing studio sessions which also highlights a range of exclusive items for fans to buy from his Fret 12 page.

Included are handwritten and signed lyric sheets, guitars used on the album, autographed and framed artwork and the chance to receive a namecheck on the liner notes. View the video here.



UDO Put Out Public Call For New Member
(TeamRock Radio) UDO, led by former Accept singer Udo Dirkschneider, have appealed for applications for the role of drummer after Francesco Jovino quit the band weeks ahead of a world tour.

The German metal outfit are in need of a fully-rehearsed replacement before hitting the road in early March. They say in a statement: "Francesco left UDO due to personal reasons.

"If you feel ready to become the new drummer, feel free to mail your application to fsuepfle@itm-agency.com - please, no big attachments with sound files. If we're interested we will contact you and ask for further information." Read more here.




Citizen Cain's Stewart Bell Giving Away Solo Tracks, eBook
(Prog) Stewart Bell of Citizen Cain has offered three solo tracks and an ebook for free as a Christmas gift to fans. The opening pieces from his debut album The Antechamber Of Being Part 1 can be downloaded from the band's website.

Released in October, it's described as a prog opera based on his childhood dreams, and features guest appearances from Arjen Lucassen, Mekah Mhairi Comrie and others.

The free tracks Decoherence, A World Without Limits and Projections add up to over 30 minutes of music. Also available is the PDF version of his storybook The Cupboard Of Fear, written and illustrated by the composer. Read more and grab the download links here.




Teenage Rehab Release 'Rewind' Video
Teenage Rehab have released a new music video for their song "Rewind" on YouTube. The clip is for the track off the band's recently released 7" EP, "Break Yourself".

Alex Reject had the following to say about the making of the new video, "We had a blast filming this video, the guys are all old skateboarders but I can't skate for sh*t so I jumped on one of my daughters bikes and did some tricks.

"I took on some legitimate scrapes and bruises but the good vibes were ever present!" The new EP, "Break Yourself", was released on December 16th by Revert Records. Watch the new video here.



Furyon Release 'These Four Walls' Music Video
UK rockers Furyon have released a brand new music video for the track "These Four Walls", which is taken from their forthcoming sophomore studio album.

The band had this to say about the new song and video, "'These Four Walls' was the first song to be written for the new album. The song represents repression and is an Insight into Ones imprisoned like state.

"The performance video was shot and produced by Video Ink. Furyon want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and see you in 2015."

Furyon will be releasing the new album, entitled "Lost Salvation", in the UK and Europe on January 26th via Dream Records/Cargo Records. A North American release date is still to be announced.

Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


Joe Cocker Dead At 70
(Classic Rock) Joe Cocker has died at the age of 70 after a battle against lung cancer. The vocalist is best known for his 1969 version of the Beatles' track With A Little Help From My Friends, featuring Jimmy Page on guitar, from his debut album of the same name.

He notched up another 21 records, the last of which was 2012's Fire It Up. In 1999 he was named as one of the top 100 singers of all time by Mojo, then in 2008 was given a similar accolade by Rolling Stone.

Cocker won a Grammy for Up Where We Belong, a duet with Jennifer Warnes used in the 1982 movie An Office And A Gentleman. He was given an OBE in 2007. Read more here.





Police Close Scott Stapp Investigation
(TeamRock Radio) Police investigating Scott Stapp's theft claim have closed the case because they can't get in touch with the wayward singer. He filed a criminal complaint in which he alleged $26,000 had been removed from his bank account without his permission, and said his password had been changed so he couldn't gain access himself.

He mentioned the claim in a video posted then removed last month, in which he said he was under attack and that he was living in his van. He then launched a crowdfunding campaign for $480,000, which also disappeared at short notice. He's since lost custody of his kids after his wife, filing for divorce, cited his heavy drugs use, aggressive behaviour and an attempted suicide in her paperwork.

Now GossipExtra report that Boca Raton police, who'd received Stapp's bank account complain, have closed the case. They'd failed to make contact with him after five attempts at calling him on the number he'd given. As a result, they say they have no information to pursue the investigation. Read more here.




Slipknot Release 'The Devil In I' Knotfest Video
(TeamRock Radio) Slipknot have released a live video shot during their Knotfest event in California in October. It features their performance of The Devil In I, the lead single from long-awaited album .5: The Gray Chapter - yesterday revealed as Metal Hammer readers' album of the year.

Guitarist Jim Root recently told how he believed late bassist Paul Gray had helped him write material for the record, saying: "I was exploring the fretboard, trying different places to play. Then I realised - that's the way Paul would work. It dawned on me that he was helping me through it.

"I'm not hugely spiritual or religious, but that made me think: people do live on through you. He's always going to be involved in everything we do." Check out the video here.




Mike Myers Resurrects Dr. Evil, Targets North Korea and Sony Pictures
(Radio.com) Dr. Evil (Mike Myers) delighted the Saturday Night Live audience this weekend as he interrupted Sam Smith's (Taran Killam) Very Somber Christmas special to address North Korea and Sony Pictures directly about their massive computer hack.

Stroking a fake version of his bald feline Mr. Bigglesworth, Myers as Dr. Evil expressed his disappointment at North Korea and Sony Pictures "have both given evil organizations a bad name."

"It's just so pathetic to see you two fight over a silly comedy," continued Myers. "It's like watching two bald men fight over a comb." Speaking to whom the U.S. government now believe is the center of the hacking, Myers fired off, "Let's start with you North Korea, you're one of the most evil countries in the world and your act of war is to kill a movie? It's easy to kill a movie. Just move it to January."

Myers is likely attempting to bring the character back into public consciousness. In August HitFix confirmed that the actor/director "closed the deal" and will once again return to the dual roles of Austin Powers and Dr. Evil, making it the fourth Austin Powers film.




The Safety Fire Lose A Co-Founding Member
(Prog) The Safety Fire have split with co-founding bassist Lori Peri - and say they may not replace him. He started the band with guitarist Dez Nagle before they completed their five-man lineup in 2006. Now he's bowed out as they begin work on their third album.

Peri says in a statement: "I would never have thought all those years ago that we'd go on to release two albums and play hundreds of shows to tens of thousands of people across the world.

"What's more important is how lucky I am to have met so many amazing people, some I'll call friends for the rest of my life. The band was started through friendship, and that's what I'm lucky enough to take away from it."

He thanks fans for their support, and says he's looking forward to becoming a fan of the band himself. He adds: "It's been the most amazing experience of my life - but everything must come to and end, and this was the right time for me to take a different path." Read the band's comments here.




Ozzy Osbourne To Appear On Debut Of The Talk After Dark
(hennemusic) Ozzy Osbourne will guest on the debut "after-dark edition" of the CBS daytime show The Talk, a series co-hosted by Ozzy's wife and manager Sharon and several others.

Ozzy will also perform on the Monday, January 12 program, which will air as a late night broadcast on CBS during the time slot previously held by The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, which just wrapped up production this past week after a 10-year run.

Last month, Sharon announced that the reality series, The Osbournes, will be returning to TV. "Ozzy has decided that he wants to do another few episodes, not a whole season, about eight episodes, of 'The Osbournes'," she revealed on the UK show, "Loose Women." "He said that for the whole three years that we did it he was drunk the whole time. But he would like to do one where he's completely sober, as he is now."

Read more here.





Def Leppard's New Album To Include Experimental Songs
(hennemusic) Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott shared an update on the band's next album during a recent interview with Metal Express Radio. On hand to promote his side project, Down N' Outz - who were in the middle of a UK tour at the time - Elliott was asked how Leppard's new project is coming along.

"We've got lyrics to write for about four or five songs," explains Elliott, "which I should be getting back to work on as soon as I get done with this tour, I will be straight back in that mode."

"We've got about fifteen songs going. Seven or eight of 'em are written. The other seven are musically written that need melodies. I will get straight back to in January."

Elliott attempted to explain the musical direction of the band's follow-up to 2008's "Songs From The Sparkle Lounge." "I don't know. It's a good question," he says. "It sounds like Leppard. It sounds like what Leppard should be doing at our age as well. It's a bit more… I don't wanna say 'mature'; that's the worst word you could ever say. But it's certainly not a childish record."

"I mean, there's a couple of songs on there that absolutely are typical Leppard anthemic things. But there's a lot of cool stuff which is a lot more musical, if you like, and a lot more experimental, if you want, without being jazz or anything like that."





Savatage Reunion May Continue Past Upcoming Festival Appearance
(TeamRock Radio) Guitarist Chris Caffery says Savatage could continue playing together following their scheduled reunion at next year's Wacken Open Air festival in Germany.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra man will hook up with his old bandmates for the performance. And he says there could be more to come from the outfit who split in 2002 shortly after the release of 12th album Poets And Madmen.

He tells Vanyaland: "For 12, 13 years I've been waiting for my band to play again - now we're playing again. I don't know what's going to happen after that, but there were people that were putting a fork in it, and we're getting up and not just running a marathon, we're running in the Olympics with this festival.

"I'm not going to make any predictions, but let's just say there's a possibility that something more will happen after Wacken - that's all I can say. And nothing would make me happier." Read more here.



Nightwish Reveal More Details About Their New Album
(Prog) Nightwish have confirmed their eighth album will be entitled Endless Forms Most Beautiful, and it's set for release on March 30. And mainman Tuomas Holopainen says the entire work was inspired by a quote from Charles Darwin, who spearheaded the theory of evolution.

The follow-up to 2011's Imaginaerum is the band's first with vocalist Floor Jansen, and with Troy Donockley as a full-time member. Drummer Jukka Nevalainen sat out recording sessions over health issues - he was replaced by Wintersun's Kai Hahto. The record also features a guest appearance by evolutionary biologist and writer Professor Richard Dawkins.

Holopainen cites Darwin's words in his groundbreaking paper The Origin Of Species: "There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved." here.



Pissing Razors Reunite For New Music and Concerts In 2015
(TeamRock Radio) US rockers Pissing Razors have reunited and hope to tour and release fresh material next year. The band split in 2004 shortly after the release of sixth album Evolution.

Now the original lineup of Eddy Garcia, Danny Garcia, Joe Rodriguez and Matt Lynch are back together. A post on Robbs Metal Works' Facebook page says:

"Big announcement - original Pissing Razors have reunited. New music and shows in 2015. Welcome back… the fans have missed you. See you next year."





Grateful Dead Manager Rock Scully Dead At 73
(TeamRock Radio) Former Grateful Dead manager Rock Scully has died aged 73. His brother Dicken Scully, who previously worked for the band as their merchandise manager, told the New York Times he died in hospital in Monterey, California after a lengthy battle with lung cancer.

Scully hooked up with the band in 1965 just after they changed their name from the Warlocks and was instrumental in their rise. He organised their original record deals, planned their early tours and famously demanded that Woodstock organisers pay the group up front ahead of their 1969 performance. In 1968 he masterminded a plan to smuggle the group through a group of striking students who had shut down the Columbia University campus for a show.

He was fired from his position by the band in 1984 because of his addiction to morphine and cocaine but returned to the fold in 1985. Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir paid tribute to Scully saying he was a huge part of their success and stated that together they "made history."




Marty Friedman Takes Fans To Japan With Undertow Video
Former Megadeth star Marty Friedman has release a new music video for the song "Undertow," which is a track that comes from his latest solo album "Inferno".

Friedman had this to say about the clip, "'Undertow' gives you a look at the Japan not usually seen by the typical Japanese exports like crazy TV shows, ultra-cute singers and anime. It shows a day in the life of Japan as the Japanese see it, not the stereotypical Western 'Japanophile' view of it."

He goes on to explain the concept for the video, "the 'Undertow' video attempts to show that when you see a thing of beauty, there is often an undercurrent of true sadness and hardship behind the scenes which creates the motivation to do something extraordinary."




Soto Give Fans A Taste Of 'Pissed Off' New Album
(TeamRock Radio) Former Journey singer Jeff Scott Soto has revealed details of his upcoming album Inside The Vertigo, to be launched under the band name Soto and they've launched a lyric video for their track The Fall.

It's set to appear on January 29 via earMusic, and features guests including Gus G, Joel Hoekstra, Mike Orlando and others. The label say the music includes "a neurotic blend of power metal, prog, groove-laden guitars, hooks and production."

Soto says: "The past five or more years have propelled me to a plethora of anger and frustration. I'm actually pissed off about a lot of things - this is my outlet to release the pent-up emotion.

"We realise there are a lot of folks, young and old, who may be sharing these thoughts. So this is especially for them. We're not reinventing the wheel here - we're just creating an outlet for where our hearts are. I'm just not in a 'touch your golden hair' mood right now." Read more and watch the lyric video here.


Warren Haynes Emotional About Allman Brothers Band Ending
(The Blues Warren Haynes admits he finds it difficult the Allman Brothers Band is at an end - but he still believes it was the right move. Mainman Gregg Allman confirmed earlier this year that the band's 45-year career would come to a close after Haynes and fellow guitarist Derek Trucks decided to leave. They bowed out after a final New York residency last month.

He tells UCR: "It's a very emotional time right now because it was such a huge part of my life. Especially when I was in the band, but even prior to that.

"That music means more to me than anyone could imagine. Being on the inside of it and helping keep it alive was an unbelievable experience. I hate to see it end but I think it's the right decision."

He adds: "It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and experience for me. The Allman Brothers were and are one of my favourite bands. To have the opportunity to be involved for 25 years - I have nothing but positive emotions about that." Read more here.



Cancer Bats, Kylesa and Ulver Lead Black Sabbath Tribute Album
(TeamRock Radio) Cancer Bats, Kylesa and Ulver are among the bands who will be appearing on a new Black Sabbath tribute album. The completed work is expected next year.

The project is under production via Cleopatra Records. It was revealed by Kylesa, who posted the planned playlist online, saying: "It's finally happening - Kylesa is interpreting Black Sabbath."

They'll cover Paranoid, while Cancer Bats are to tackle Into The Void and Ulver will take on Solitude. Of the 14 tracks on the unnamed album, six are from 1970, one each from 1971 and 1976, two each from 1972 and 1975, and one is from 1980.




Karnataka Reveal Details For New Album 'Secrets Of Angels'
(Prog) Karnataka will launch fifth album 'Secrets Of Angels' in March, they've confirmed. The follow-up to 'The Gathering Light' features eight tracks including the 21-minute title piece, and it's available to pre-order on CD, CD/DVD, vinyl and digital formats.

Guest musicians include Nightwish's Troy Donockley and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's Seana Davey, Rachel van der Tang and Clive Howard, who supply uilleann pipes and whistles, harp, cello and viola respectively.

Secrets Of Angels was recorded in Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios in Wiltshire, and at Quadra Studios in London. Check out the cover art and their upcoming tour dates here.



Papa Roach Frontman Talks New Album F.E.A.R
(TeamRock Radio) Papa Roach say they wouldn't be alive today if they had recorded in Las Vegas a decade ago. They headed to Sin City to lay down tracks for upcoming album F.E.A.R (Face Everything And Rise) which launches on January 27 via Eleven Seven Music - the follow-up to 2012's The Connection.

Frontman Jacoby Shaddix previously stated he was apprehensive about visiting Vegas because of his history with drugs and alcohol and feared he wouldn't be able to stay focused. And while he now says the experience was positive, he reckons they wouldn't be alive today if they had chosen to record material there when they were younger.

Shaddix tells Artisan News: "It was a very cool place to make a record. We all went there consciously knowing that we just want to focus on the music. I think if we made that record in Vegas 10 years ago, I don't know if we would have made it out alive. So I think we went there at the right time."

The frontman, who recently guested on Glamour Of The Kill track Out Of Control, also credits producers Kevin Churko and his son Kane for challenging them on the new album. Read more here.




Paul McCartney Pays Tribute To Joe Cocker
(TeamRock Radio) Paul McCartney has paid tribute to the late Joe Cocker by saying he'll be "forever grateful" to the singer for turning Beatles track With A Little Help From My Friends into a "soul anthem."

The Sheffield-born vocalist died last night at the age of 70 after a battle against lung cancer. While he scored a string of hits and a number of accolades in his career, he remains well-known for the 1968 rendition of the Fab Four song, which features Jimmy Page on guitar, BJ Wilson of Procol Harum on drums Tommy Eyre on organ.

McCartney says: "Joe was a lovely northern lad who I loved a lot, and like many people, I loved his singing. I was especially pleased when he decided to cover With A Little Help From My Friends. I remember him and Denny Cordell coming round to the studio and Saville Row and playing me what they recorded. It was just mind-blowing. He totally turned the song into a soul anthem, and I was forever grateful to him for doing that."

A number of other stars have also paid tribute to Cocker.




Heavy Metal Truants Charity Ride Returning For 3rd Event
(Prog) The next ride of the Heavy Metal Truants, a charity bicycle ride founded by Metal Hammer and TeamRock editor-in-chief Alexander Milas and Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood, is officially go. The ride, which benefits Teenage Cancer Trust, Nordoff Robbins, and Childline has raised a grand total of £167,000 to date, and everyone can join.

"This is about the rock and metal community uniting around a common cause and getting help to the people who need it most," says Milas. "The great thing about it is that it's also an awesome way to get fit, and anyone can join. And if I can do it, anyone can!"

The TeamRock-sponsored Heavy Metal Truants ride departs London on Wednesday, June 10th for a 161-mile bicycle journey through the English countryside, finishing at Download festival at midday on Friday June 12th. Read more here.






John Lennon or Paul McCartney? 550 Celebs Make Their Choice
(Radio.com) From dorm rooms to family reunions, crowded bars to podcasts, the question of John Lennon vs. Paul McCartney has been debated countless times, with only one thing for sure: Ringo Starr is probably the wrong answer (and George Harrison is maybe the most interesting take) when the subject of the best songwriter in the Beatles is broached.

Sacred Goose has produced a video with 550 celebrities weighing in on the topic over the past 10 years. For 30+ minutes, you can watch your favorite musicians, actors, and directors lay down their pick. Some answer quickly, some give explanations, some, like The Wallflowers' Jakob Dylan, simply say "nope."

Coming in on Team Lennon: The Fray, Aaron Eckhart, Jimmy Eat World, Childish Gambino, Aaron Paul, Adam Lambert, Charli XCX, Frightened Rabbit, and Gary Oldman.

And Team Macca? Aerosmith, Counting Crows, fun., Shirley Manson, Jason Priestly, and JJ Abrams.





Bernie Torme Terrified By Crowdfunding Success For New Album
(The Blues Bernie Torme admits the success of his crowdfunding campaign gave him a sense of terror at first. He asked fans to support the production of solo album Flowers And Dirt, his first studio project in 15 years.

But to his surprise, he secured the total he was looking for within a matter of days, and went on to bring in over four times what he'd originally asked for. Torme tells Sleazegrinder: "It became a double album, and I was thinking, 'Well - this is terrifying!' Because I really didn't expect to get the money at all.

"It was, 'You have to complete it.' That was great because it was just like the old days: it had to be finished. I found that really helpful because it was almost like having a gun being held to my head." Read more here.




Crazy Horse Guitarist Wants Band To Play Farewell Tour
(TeamRock Radio) Crazy Horse guitarist Frank 'Poncho' Sampedro would love Neil Young and Crazy Horse to play a farewell tour - but he doesn't think he can talk Young into it.

He's looking forward to retirement and says he's not worried about his life ending. But he accepts his colleague is a completely different type of person. Sampedro, 65, tells Uncut: "He's speeding up while the rest of us are slowing down. I feel as if I could walk out in front of my house and put up a sign that says 'mission accomplished.' But he doesn't feel that way.

"Here's the difference: Neil is ready to live until he's 100-and-something years old, and I think I'm going to die when I'm 73. I'm happy with it - I've abused myself so bad. It's cool; I've lived a great life."

The guitarist admits he doesn't know if any Crazy Horse activity is in the pipeline. But he says: "I certainly hope so. My hope is that Neil writes a bunch of songs and in January, February, we start recording, and we go on a big tour." Read more here.




21st Century Blues Documentary Released
(Classic Rock) Big Boy Bloater has put together an hour-long documentary for TeamRock Radio which investigates the blues scene. Produced by Pete Bailey, 21st Century Blues is available on demand now at TeamRock.com.

In the show, Big Boy Bloater takes an inside look at the blues scene today, how it got here, and why it's still relevant. The documentary features interviews from John Mayall, Jimmy Thomas and Mud Morganfield - the sons of Muddy Waters.

There are also appearances from the new breed of players like Joe Bonamassa, Marcus Bonfanti and Joanne Shaw Taylor - as well as a host of other stars form the blues world.

The documentary is a reflection of where the blues is at today, it's potential future, and why, after 100 years, people keep coming back to it. Read more here.




Foreigner Release Juke Box Hero Live Video
(Classic Rock) Foreigner have released a live version of the classic Juke Box Hero. Taken from the band's new collection The Best of Foreigner 4 & More, the original appeared on Foreigner 4, which sold nine million copies worldwide and spent more weeks on top of the Billboard charts than any artist in the history of Atlantic Records.

"Our music has touched a lot of people worldwide," says guitarist Mick Jones. "Unwittingly, we've weaved our music into the fabric of people's lives."

Singer Kelly Hansen says, "The idea for this recording came from the anniversary of the release as a way to celebrate. There are some tracks that were never previously performed live in this format, and it's great to be in a group with people who really 'get it' and understand how fortunate we are to be playing and performing such great material."