DUFF MCKAGAN On GUNS N' ROSES: 'We Were More Punk Rock Than Any Punk Rock Band I've Seen'

Oct. 31, 2011

Joe Daly of The Nervous Breakdown recently conducted an interview with Duff McKagan (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES, DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

The Nervous Breakdown: This has been quite a month for you, recognition-wise, because about a month ago, GUNS N' ROSES was nominated for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Duff: Yeah, it's weird, you know? I've never striven to get into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Never in my life have I thought, "Man, I gotta get a Grammy." In sports you try to win it all, but music's a different deal. So the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame was never on my radar. As a matter of fact, I don't know how we got roped into it, but when we (VELVET REVOLVER) inducted VAN HALEN, it went south. I don't know if you remember that. It just went south. The band (VAN HALEN) was fighting, and the only ones to show up were Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar, and it was like, "Ohhh, boy…" So when we (GN'R) got announced, that's what I remembered. But I do understand that for the fans, it's important. It's important to the people who buy your records and come to your gigs and connect with some lyric that you wrote or a groove or something. I mean, I'm part of social media — I write a couple of columns online, and people comment on those. I have Twitter and I'm on Facebook and I read people's comments about how they feel about us being inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, so then it's important to me. Only then. And I've learned to just say, "thank you."

The Nervous Breakdown: There are a few parallels between GN'R and VAN HALEN, the biggest one being the turnover in membership, both during and after your involvement. Assuming GUNS gets right in, how do you envision your induction? What do you see it looking like?

Duff: I can't. I can't picture it. Your guess is as good as mine. There is no picture. It's bound to happen but I'd love to call the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, whoever they are, and say, "Hey guys, why don't you put this off for another ten years? Thank you! Thanks for nominating us — it's great, but how about you put it off for ten years?"

The Nervous Breakdown: Would ten years give things more time to settle?

Duff: You know, that's all I need to say about this. I care about our fans and that's it.

The Nervous Breakdown: Slash and Steven Adler both have their own books out, and many other books have been written about GUNS N' ROSES that already cover parts of your life. When you sat down to write your book, was there anything you felt that needed to be corrected or cleared up?

Duff: No. No, I read Slash's book because we were on the road together with VELVET REVOLVER when that came out. It doesn't matter what's correct or what's not correct. There's stuff in Slash's book that I remember in a different way, but that's all there is. My experience of the same situation is different than his — that's what life's about, right? We all have different experiences sometimes with the exact same thing. When that book came out, I had no inclination to write a book. This book sort of wrote itself out of these little side columns that I was writing. So many people have asked me, "How much did you drink?" and "How did you get into that hospital bed?" And a lot of people ask me, "How did you get sober?" In other words, "How did you get out of that hospital bed?" And that's really what I wrote to — that was the mission statement. The arc became clear as I wrote — my family, my mom, my kids- how important all of this stuff is to me. And it's just a guy's story. I happen to be in a couple of rock bands, but it's just that guy's story. GUNS N' ROSES is a weighty subject, but in the same breath, I don't take it that seriously. It was an extraordinary circumstance that happened to all of us. Shit, we all survived! That's great! A lot of my fellows out there didn't. But at forty-seven years old, I look back and see that we fell into every goddamned trap that there was. But we were honest. We were a dangerous, real band. We were real. Nobody was faking it, and I'm proud of that.

The Nervous Breakdown: You open up an interesting discussion about your own struggles with anxiety. When you talk about playing with THE ROLLING STONES — the gig where Axl famously called everybody out from the stage (threatening to disband GN'R if unnamed members didn't curb their drug abuse), you guys kept going after that. What was it like still playing in that band with that threat hanging over your heads?

Duff: He said it and we were like, "Oh, we're discussing this stuff in public, now?" When we were all into it. We took care of our own shit inside, and I'm sure Axl had his reasons for that, and they were probably valid. At the time, I could see it. I was pissed off, too. So half of me was with him, but half of me was like, "No… not here, not now. Not here. Not in front of eighty thousand people…" (laughs) But that's the way he was, and I can't really speak for how he is now, but love him or hate him, at least there was no filter.

The Nervous Breakdown: Was there one memory of playing in GUNS N' ROSES that stands out as your absolute favorite? One thing that really makes you feel proud?

Duff: All of it. I mean, really, most of it. I could write another whole book about the first eighteen months of our band, and it would be fascinating, and fun and good, because nobody believed in us. I touched on it in the book. We just believed in us, and we weren't accepted into any little section of L.A. rock, and so we just did our own little thing. We were just young, young dudes and we just really knew that whether there were two or two hundred people who knew who we were, we were going to change their perspective on music. We were learning how to write songs together, and the chemistry was stunning. We were more punk rock than any punk rock band I've seen. And it was more JUDAS PRIEST than JUDAS PRIEST, and it was more Elton John than Elton John. It was just kind of everything. Some nights we were the best band on the planet.

Read the entire interview from The Nervous Breakdown.

John Waite Nominated For 2 Grammys

Wow - John Waite has been nominated for two 2011 Grammys - Best rock album for Rough and Tumble and Best rock song, for the title track "Rough and Tumble".

More news at: www.johnwaite.nl/pages/113274/News.html.

Today's Day In Pop

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Today's Day in Rock

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"We've been on the verge of irrelevance for the last 20 years," Bono told The Sun. "But this moment, now, for me, feels like really close to the edge of relevance. We can be successful and we can play the big music and the big places." more on this story



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What It Would Take For A Peter Gabriel Reunion With Genesis
(Rock News Desk) Former Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel has joked that he'd take part in a classic-era reunion for "a large brown envelope."

But in more serious terms he's repeated his belief that it would have to be done properly, if at all, and that last time he came close to agreeing the project took on too many extra dimensions, at which point he got cold feet.

The chances of the much-discussed regrouping to stage classic album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is further complicated by Phil Collins' retirement from music due to health issues. (UltimateClassicRock.com) more Rock News,



Muse Beat Rush, Queen, Metallica, The Who, Led Zeppelin and More
(Rock News Desk) The bass line from Muse's 2003 track Hysteria has been voted the best of all time ahead of performances by Rush, Queen, Metallica, the Who, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Led Zeppelin.

Nearly a quarter of all votes in Music Radar's poll went to the prog-pop three-piece, who included the track and its robotic-like bass intro on their album Absolution.

Around 10,000 people cast votes in a feature its editors say is "probably the most essential bass playlist ever compiled, featuring legendary session players, global megastars and contemporary bass heroes too." more on this story



Kinks Mono Box Set Coming
(Gibson) Kinks superfans and sound purists are sure to be excited about this one. The Kinks have announced the released of the Kinks in Mono box set – a 10-CD collection that compiles the band's '60s material, all delivered in its original mono state.

The set will be available on November 21 in the U.K., according to Ultimate Classic Rock. No U.S. release has been announced yet.

Included in the set – the legendary band's first seven albums (from 1964's Kinks to 1969's Arthur), plus other material (EPs, rarities) on three more discs. The whole thing comes packaged in a Dansette-style box (a Dansette was a portable record player) with a book featuring liner notes, rare photos and more. more on this story



Very Merry Xmas For Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold will headline X1039's Very Merry Xmas Party on December 17th at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, CA

X1039's Very Merry Xmas Party will also feature Hollywood Undead, Asking Alexandria, and Black Veil Brides.

Having wrapped their fall dates on The UPROAR Festival, Avenged Sevenfold hit the road for their own headlining "Buried Alive" tour, which launches in Ft. Meyers, FL, on November 23rd. Hollywood Undead, Asking Alexandria, and Black Veil Brides are also on the bill.



Sheriff Deputies Find Nikki Sixx's Missing Son
(TMZ) Nikki Sixx reported his son missing this week -- even though the Motley Crue rocker had a pretty good idea where the boy was ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Sixx informed the Malibu Sheriff's Department his youngest son had gone missing. According to our sources, Sixx had a pretty good idea where the boy had run off to -- a friend's house.

We're told deputies visited the friend's house and found the boy, who had fled following an argument with a family member. According to our sources, the deputies told the boy his family wanted him to return home ... and the kid decided to do just that.

Calls to Sixx's rep were not returned.
more on this story



Nightwish Finally At Home With Their Singer
(Rock News Desk) Nightwish believe that singer Anette Olzon finally feels like part of the band. She joined the Finnish metallers in 2007, replacing Tarja Turunen who was dismissed via open letter at the end of a tour.

Keyboard player and songwriter Tuomas Holopainen says: "She did a wonderful job on Dark Passion Play, but her singing has been taken to a different level on our new album Imaginaerum.

"It's not about me writing the songs for her voice, it's about her being relaxed and confident. After surviving the tour and the fans' reaction, maybe she feels like she's in the band and can be her versatile self." (Blabbermouth) More rock news



Bonded By Blood Lineup Change
(Rock News Desk) Californian thrashers Bonded By Blood have recruited Jessie Sanchez as their new bassist.

He replaces Jerry Garcia, who left the band earlier this year, and is currently writing a new album with them.

They say: "It was a long and devious search to find the right dude for the job, but we are proud to have him in the band slapping bass for us. Album #3 is sounding killer so far, and we can't wait to hit the studio some time in January." More rock news



Nasum Reunion Plans
(Rock News Desk) Nasum are to reform to play a number of shows in commemoration of their 20th anniversary.

The Swedish grindcore act split in 2004 after vocalist Mieszko Talarczyk was killed in the tsunami disaster in Thailand that December. His replacement will be Rotten Sound frontman Keijo Niinimaa.

The band say: "Mieszko was a vital part of Nasum's bloodline. The band died when he died. In the years that passed, the feeling that everything had been left unfinished lingered with the rest of us." more.



Don't Expect A Michael Stipe Solo Album?
(Gibson) Mike Mills has expressed doubts that Michael Stipe will record a solo album any time in the near future. Speaking to Mojo, the bassist for the newly disbanded R.E.M. said the singer's interests lie more in the visual arts than in music.

"I don't think [music] is where his passion lies," Mills said. "I think he wants to be in the visual arts. I imagine Michael will do a lot of sculpture and photography. I think those are his big interests now." Mills also recently said he doubts R.E.M. will ever take the stage again to perform together.

In other R.E.M.-related news, actress Kirsten Dunst is spotlighted in one of two videos made for the band's final single, "We All Go Back Where We Belong." The track will appear on R.E.M.'s forthcoming greatest hits set, Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage, 1982-2011, which is slated for release on November 15. Poet and performance artist John Giorno is spotlighted in a second video made for the same song. Watch the "Dunst" video here.



Glenn Hughes Wanted Tommy Bolin in Deep Purple As Drinking Buddy
(Rock News Desk) Glenn Hughes says he wanted Tommy Bolin to join him in Deep Purple so he could have a drinking buddy in the band – although he didn't realise that was his motivation at the time.

The guitarist died of a drugs overdose in 1976, just 18 months after he and Hughes became close friends. And the bassist, now with Black Country Communion, still feels the pain caused by three deaths in the Deep Purple camp that same year.

"Unbeknownst to me, I wanted to have a relationship in the band with somebody I could drink with and get high with. Tommy was that guy," Hughes tells I Heart Guitar. "Before he played a note with the band I said this to him, because he had the green and yellow and red hair: 'I don't care if you get the gig or not – you're coming home with me.' Because he looked so cool." more on this story



Steel Panther Singled Out Week: Weenie Ride
Grab your spandex and lipstick because infamous Sunset Strip rockers Steel Panther will deliver their new album, "Balls Out," tomorrow. To celebrate we asked Stix Zadinia tells us about the song "Weenie Ride". Here is the story:

The song Weenie Ride is inspired by a real situation with a real woman. In fact, that's not true at all. Weenie Ride is, at it's very core, a love song. Satchel and I were discussing the fact that we didn't have a full blown ballad yet on the record Balls Out. We talked with Lexxi Foxx in the dressing room about subjects.

Love and sex seemed to be the recurring themes. I believe the first version was Weiner Ride but we quickly realized that the word, Weiner, was much too juvenile. Who in their right mind would put a song about wieners on their record!? After weeks of toiling with different words and phrases, Weenie Ride was born. Now this was a title we could all wrap our hands around.

Satchel came in with the parts and most of the lyrics. We sat down in a Steakhouse in Las Vegas one afternoon and arranged what will forever be known as.......... Weenie Ride. We can't help it if we were divinely chosen as the voice of a generation. Nor will we shirk our duty to bring quality heavy metal and poignant lyrics to the forefront of popular culture.

A wise man once said, "don't hate the player, hate the game." Well, the game is called Weenie Ride people, and you gotta get on, to get off.

Steve Perry Interview

The legendary voice of Journey - Steve Perry has been atop my "want list" for interviews since I first started this site in late 1996. I've been fortunate to talk to all other members along the way, but still no Steve. The elusive Steve Perry interview remained a dream. Until this week. I hope you enjoy the read and if you take one thing from this interview - Steve talked and sounded like he was in a very good place. It was a great pleasure and a thrill to talk to him and have him open up about some tough subjects. Not only is he a rock icon and a personal favourite of an army of fans, but he's also one of my personal favourite singers of all time. And dare I say, one of (if not the) very best melodic rock vocalist ever.
I'm very thankful to Steve for extending out interview time and to Sony Music and Lora @ FanAsylum for setting this interview up for me...after years of nagging!

Some Interview Highlights:

Steve on first joining Journey: "When it started for me it was around 1978 when I joined the band. That's when I got my first break to get into the music business and I got signed to Columbia Records. And it was a dream come true back in those days to get a record deal. It was the sweetest thing you could ever have, is to be signed�next to the most horrific day of your life which would be to get dropped. So many of my friends did get dropped because they didn't sell records. I looked at it as if every time I had the opportunity to make a record � which the first was Infinity, with Journey � was this magical blessing that, I finally am in the record business and I get to make a record. But, I did not believe in my heart there would be a second one. I knew I had to love doing it, and if I could make any money I should save some money because I didn't trust there to be a second one."

And on the rest of the band adjusting to him: "They have to deal with this stepson that is something that they like but they wish they could have done it their way, and why wouldn't they? Why wouldn't they have wished that they could be successful without having a lead singer? Well then the label says �We want you to have a singer� and then they went, �Well, I don't know, I don't know.� So, all of the sudden, here comes me, and I think it was a real challenge for all of us to find out what that really meant. They had to let go of doing it their way. I was bringing in ideas; they were growing. But, I will tell you this�being the singer in that environment with them as we were growing together on the Infinity record brought a certain kind of vocal strength out of me that the band required it have. Otherwise, I do not know if I would have ever found that anywhere else. And I think that at some level I did the same thing for them."

Steve on that brutal tour schedule: "I was like a pitbull. I still have tons of energy. My girlfriend tells me all the time, �You're the most energetic person I've ever met.� But when I was younger, I was on fire. And, so I think that back in the day when the voice was fresh and young and I had that much energy, I kept up with that scheduled pretty good. Though it was difficult at times, I was able to keep up with it. You betcha. Everybody went through the same commitment because we were all together far away from everything together, out there. But we loved it! Don't you understand that?"

Steve on Columbia dealing with his solo record: "They were scared to death. They thought that I was going to spend a lot of money and they weren't sure what I was going to do. But you know, I ended up doing it relatively inexpensively and quickly because I had great musicians. There were no computers back then. Everything you're hearing on the Street Talk record is absolutely performed in the studio and captured on a piece of tape. I mean if you threw hamburgers in the studio, you would get hamburgers on tape you know? So, there was not a computer to be found, no auto tuner existed. Nothing of today's era existed during '84-'85. So, that is real musicians like Larry Londin on drums, Bobby Glaub on bass, Craig Kramph on drums, Michael Landau on guitar�"

And on disappearing from the public eye: "I went away. I did. I've been gone. I just went away and tried to figure out how to live life on life's terms and just come off the ride. Just put my feet on the ground. I think that has been the challenge and also to allow myself, Andrew, to start dreaming again, because the dreaming is where the music is. But the trick of the dreamer is keeping yourself from the blues..."

On Journey moving on without him: "At the time, I fuckin hated it! I hated them for doing it; I hated them for giving me an ultimatum. But now I can look back with clear eyes, you know. I can't blame them; they just wanted to get going. I was going to go to surgery, and I did. But not on their timetable. So I did that. I had my hip replacement and the rest is history. They've gone on and I'm where I'm at. Life had showed up and there was a fork in the road between us. So, we went separate ways dare I say, not making a joke. And that's okay. Now, I look back at it as the most painful time of my life. But you know what? They need to love their lives. They love performing out there all the time. The fans love the songs we wrote."

All that and more in the new Feature Interview: Steve Perry: A Legend Finds Peace

Today's Day In Pop

Today's Full Report


MTV's Real World Rape?
(TMZ) A cast member on MTV's "The Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Ruins" claims male members acted like animals during production, in one case raping her with a toothbrush ... this according to a new lawsuit obtained by TMZ.

Tonya Cooley filed the suit against MTV, Kenneth Santucci, Evan Starkman and others ... claiming the two guys "took another male participant's toothbrush and rubbed the toothbrush around plaintiff's genitals, including rubbing her labia and inserting the toothbrush into plaintiff's vagina." Cooley says it all happened while she was passed out cold ... and cameras were rolling

Cooley says producers not only knew about the rape, they even replaced the toothbrush, but never told her what happened.

The suit also claims female cast members were stripped of their bathing suits and that male cast members were encouraged by producers to "inappropriately touch female cast members' bodies, including in intimate areas."

Cooley alleges she and other cast members reported incidents of sexual abuse, but show honchos turned a blind eye.

Cooley claims she was later booted from the show after slapping a cast member. She says nothing happened to the men who allegedly raped her.

Cooley is suing for unspecified damages. Calls to MTV have not been returned. more on this story



Lindsay Lohan Bares All For Playboy
(TMZ) Lindsay Lohan didn't wuss out for her Playboy shoot -- TMZ has learned, the actress will BARE ALL in her upcoming spread ... i.e. the holy trifecta...

As we previously reported, Lindsay recently locked down a nearly-million-dollar deal with Playboy for a full pictorial -- and Wednesday, she finally wrapped her 4-day shoot.

Reports circulated Lindsay would pull one of those lame semi-nude fiascos -- all sideboob, no fun -- but sources close to Hef & co. tell us, that is NOT the case. Lindsay did insist the photos be "tastefully done," but we're told she's still going the full monty.

It's unclear when Lindsay will grace the cover -- but it could be the life-giving jolt Playboy needs for a comeback. more on this story



Big Sean Won't Face Serious Charges For Alleged Underage Girl Assault
(TMZ) Rapper Big Sean has dodged a serious bullet -- TMZ has learned he will not be charged with sexually assaulting an underage girl back in August ... but he's not entirely in the clear.

23-year-old Sean -- who got a 2011 MTV VMA nomination for best new artist -- was arrested in August during a concert in Buffalo, NY ... after a 17-year-old girl told police the rapper and his friend had sexually assaulted her.

Big Sean -- real name Sean Michael Anderson -- was charged with 3rd degree sex abuse, forcible touching and 2nd degree unlawful imprisonment.

But now, TMZ has learned prosecutors agreed to drop the first two charges on the condition that Big Sean plead guilty to misdemeanor unlawful imprisonment ... which carries a $750 fine.

Sean's lawyer Scott Leemon tells TMZ, the rapper has accepted the terms -- and has paid the fine -- but still insists "he did not engage in any type of sexual misconduct." more on this story



Marie Osmond Rushed To Hospital
(TMZ) Marie Osmond made a bee line for the ER Wednesday night after her Vegas show -- and was diagnosed with a bad case of bronchitis ... TMZ has learned.

Osmond's rep Alan Nierob tells TMZ ... Marie has a "bad lung problem" and was released from the hospital after a couple of hours.

She is currently seeing doctors. It's unclear whether her condition will affect her Las Vegas show. more on this story



Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson And More For VH1 Divas
(popmusiclife) VH1 Divas returns this December, with an all-star cast that features Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Jill Scott, Florence + The Machine and Jessie J.

This year, the series will pay tribute to the cities where soul gave birth to music's most powerful classics and inspired today's divas.

"VH1 Divas Celebrate Soul" will bring together some of the best singers across the globe, men and women alike, to honor the soulful cities that inspired these divas and their art. The cities honored include Chicago, Detroit, London, Memphis and Philadelphia. more on this story



Rebecca Black A Person of Interest
Internet star for all the wrong reasons, Rebecca Black will release her third single next month along with a video for the track.

Here is the official word: It was just about this time last year that Rebecca Black embarked on the journey that would make her one of the best known new artists of 2011. It was in the fall of 2010 that Rebecca would contemplate recording what would become "Friday." Soon after, a music video for the track was filmed and uploaded on YouTube and the result made Rebecca an instant international star and turned the Black family's lives upside down.

A year later, Ms. Black is preparing her third single, "Person of Interest," a danceable, upbeat track that's sure to be a hit with music fans all over the world. Like Rebecca's highly successful second single "My Moment," which has racked up nearly 30 million views on YouTube since its release in mid-July. more on this story



Watch Justin Bieber Sing For Children's Hospital Patients
(popmusiclife) Justin Bieber paid a very special surprise visit to a Children's Hospital on Tuesday to cheer up some of his fans.

Joining Justin was pal Sean Kingston, as the two toured the ward, met with parents and took photos with the kids. Bieber even sang a couple of songs, including his smash hit, "Baby," and his current single, "Mistletoe."

Some of the visit was filmed by Alfredo Flores, who has directed some of Justin's music videos. Watch that here.



Cops Called Over Nicki Minaj Fight With Maid
(TMZ) There was a big confrontation at Nicki Minaj's house in Hollywood yesterday ... and it got so bad the cops came ... TMZ has learned.

Here's the backstory. Law enforcement tells us, a couple of weeks ago, Nicki's maid took a photo of the singer out of the trash and then asked Nicki to sign it. Nicki got pissed and fired her.

Cops tell us, the maid did come back today, and Nicki became enraged and ordered her to leave. Now here's where the stories are a bit conflicting. One source says -- contrary to what the cops say -- Nicki actually made a mistake, saw another maid and assumed she was the one Nicki had fired.

Either way, Nicki's boyfriend got in the act and began pushing the maid with his body. The maid's boss called the cops and filed a battery report.

The cops came and the maid asked to make a citizen's arrest, but eventually decided against it so no one was taken into custody. more on this story



Christina Perri's Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Video Premieres
(popmusiclife) Christina Perri's "A Thousand Years" became the first song off of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" soundtrack to premiere a video.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Perri's song was to be the second single, with Bruno Mars' "It Will Rain" making its debut in the first slot; however, the singer announced on Twitter that he was still working on his video.

So, Perri's video, which was originally planned to debut on November 10, was moved up to this week. Perri, who told The Hollywood Reporter that she's a big fan of the series, says she was inspired to write the song after screening an early version of Breaking Dawn. "I cried the whole time, then I went home and wrote the song about Edward and Bella and their love affair. It's probably the most romantic, lovey-dovey song I've ever written." Watch the video here



Usher Vs Screaming Woman Over Handicap Parking Spot
(TMZ) Usher was bull-rushed in the middle of a crowded parking lot in ATL last weekend -- by an angry woman looking to fight the singer for parking in a handicap spot ... and TMZ has the footage.

Eyewitnesses tell us .. Usher had just arrived to the Little 5 Points Halloween Parade (hence the guy in the Elvis costume) when the woman saw U's SUV parked in a handicap spot.

We're told the woman demanded the singer move his car -- but Usher refused and she went ballistic ... screaming, flailing her arms, and grabbing Usher's hoodie.

At one point, she screams, "You don't belong here!"

Sources say the woman's husband eventually dragged her away from the scene -- and Usher drove away not long after. More including the video here



Hear Coldplay Perform Rihanna's We Found Love
(popmusiclife) Here's something you don't hear every day: a major artist covering another major artist's hit – while it's high on the charts.

Coldplay did just that on Thursday, as they performed a version of Rihanna's current hit single, "We Found Love," on BBC Radio 1.

The song was a part of the "Live Lounge" radio series, hosted by Fearne Cotton, where well-known artists usually perform one song of their own and one by another artist, in an acoustic format. Check it out here



Lionel Richie To Debut Country Duets at CMA Awards
Lionel Richie will debut songs from his upcoming Country duets album during the broadcast of The 45th Annual CMA Awards, which will be airing live Wednesday, Nov. 9 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC.

Richie will release Tuskegee, his Country duets album, in March on Mercury Nashville and during the CMA broadcast he will perform select duets of his runaway hits with Little Big Town, Darius Rucker, and Rascal Flatts. Richie is no stranger to the CMA Awards stage. In 1984, Richie performed "Lady" with Kenny Rogers and in 1986, he performed "Deep River Woman" with Alabama.

"Twenty-five years is too long to wait and we are thrilled to have Lionel back on the CMA Awards stage performing alongside our superstar acts," said CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore. "This is what the CMA Awards are known for. Those one-of-a-kind collaborations you don't want to miss because everyone will be talking about it the next day." more on this story



Terrell Owens Suicide Attempt?
(TMZ) TMZ has obtained the 911 call placed moments before Terrell Owens was rushed to an L.A. hospital for a possible pill overdose on October 6 -- and according to Terrell's assistant, T.O. was trying to kill himself.

During the call, placed at 11:02 PM, the dispatcher asks the assistant on the phone, "Was this a suicide attempt?" -- and she responds, "Yes, I believe so."

While she was on the phone with the dispatcher, the woman claims T.O. was "talking to his girlfriend, ex-girlfriend ... [I]don't really know what you wanna call it." more on this story



Teen Mom Star And 2-Year-Old Son Hospitalized After Crash
(TMZ) "Teen Mom" star Jenelle Evans was rushed to a hospital in North Carolina yesterday ... after the MTV reality star crashed her SUV into a light pole, while her 2-year-old son was in the car.

TMZ spoke with a rep for the Wilmington Police Dept. ... who tells us Evans, her son and a female passenger were all transported to a nearby hospital for minor injuries.

We're told Evans was driving the car -- and her son was in a car seat in the back.

Cops tell TMZ ... there was no indication that drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash ... but police are investigating. more on this story



Michael Lohan Falls Into A Tree Trying To Escape Arrest?
(TMZ) Michael Lohan was just arrested AGAIN in Florida after allegedly contacting his GF Kate Major -- and law enforcement tells TMZ, he tried to escape by jumping a 3rd-story balcony ... and accidentally fell into a tree.

According to law enforcement sources, Tampa police responded to a call early this morning from Kate, who claimed Michael had been trying to contact her by phone and wouldn't leave her alone.

We're told officers interviewed Kate at her apartment after she made the call -- the same apartment where Michael allegedly bruised her up earlier this week -- and while they were there, Michael allegedly called again.

According to law enforcement, officers believed Michael was a "threat" -- so they rolled up to his hotel to arrest him.

But here's the crazy part -- law enforcement tells TMZ, Michael tried to escape by hopping his 3rd story balcony ... and he ended up falling into a tree.

After officers pulled him down, Michael was placed under arrest for violating a condition of his pretrial release (presumably for contacting Kate) ... and resisting arrest without violence. more on this story



Bam Margera Porsche Smashed By A Big Truck
(TMZ) Bam Margera's brand new Porsche was "smashed" ... in a traffic collision in Pennsylvania.

The "Jackass" star tells us, "A big truck made a wide turn and smashed the whole left side. I just got the damn thing too."

Bam says he just purchased the car 4 months ago. Witnesses at the scene tell us Bam appeared upset following the collision. We're told the driver's side mirror was hanging off the car and the driver's side of the car was all scratched up. more on this story



Adele DVD and Blu-Ray Details
Yesterday we told you about Adele's upcoming live DVD and Blu Ray which is being released on November 29th and today we have more details including the tracklisting.

"Live At The Royal Albert Hall" will be available on DVD and Blu Ray and features the full 90 minute performance, plus behind the scenes footage shot throughout that day.

The package also contains an exclusive live CD of the entire show. This is the first time fans will be able to hear all of Adele's hits and best loved songs on one CD plus her covers of Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me" and The Steeldrivers "If It Hadn't Been For Love." more on this story



Glee Christmas Album Volume 2 Details
We have the official details about the upcoming release of Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 2, which is being released on Tuesday, November 15, 2011. Here are the details for fans of the auto-tuned Gleeks:

The Glee holiday cheer is spread with the cast's own festive renditions of such Christmas staples as "Little Drummer Boy," "Let It Snow" and "All I Want For Christmas Is You."

Especially poignant is the Glee cast's interpretation of Band Aid's 1984 hit "Do They Know Its Christmas?," which raised money to benefit famine relief in Ethiopia and sold 1 million copies in it's first week. more on this story



VH1 Launching Baseball Wives Next Month
VH1 sent over word that they are expanding their "wives" franchise with the launch of a new series, "Baseball Wives" which is set to debut on Wednesday, November 30 at 9PM ET/PT.

Here are the details: Set in Scottsdale Arizona, the home of baseball's spring training, the show features the wives and girlfriends of talented baseball players from various teams. No shrinking violets here, these ladies are fiercely protective of their turf and their men and if they have to bring on a little drama – then so be it.

These divas of the diamond make their pitch to be the next homerun smash as they prepare for their rookie season this November on VH1. The cast of VH1's "Baseball Wives" includes, Anna Benson (wife of Arizona pitcher Kris Benson), Tanya Grace (ex-wife of retired Chicago's Mark Grace), Chantel Kendall (ex-wife of Kansas City's Jason Kendall) and Brooke Villone (wife of big-league veteran Ron Villone). The inner circle of baseball wives proves to be challenging as the women cope with marriage, gossip and fame. With the baseball season being the longest in professional sports the women count on their friends to be their support system while their husbands are on the road but sometimes a friend can be your worst enemy. Rumors swirl and friendships are tested among the professional athletes' wives as they are forced to make emotional decisions, proving that their lives are often just like everyone else's. This captivating group makes for an adrenaline-charged rush of excitement as they showcase their style, humor and fastball drama. Get ready, because the bases are loaded for this sure-hit new series. "Baseball Wives" premieres Wednesday, November 30 at 9PM ET/PT. more on this story



Big Time Rush Set New Album Release
Big Time Rush have set a November 21st release date for their sophomore album, Elevate, which the album's first single "Music Sounds Better With You" being released next Tuesday, November 1st.

The songs on the album were produced by top music hit makers including Ryan Tedder, Tricky & The Dream, JR Rotem, and Toby Gad, among others.

Elevate features tracks including "Music Sounds Better With U (featuring Mann)," "Show Me," and "All Over Again," plus brand-new music that will debut on upcoming episodes of Big Time Rush.
more on this story



George Jones Hitting The Road
(Webster) George Jones may have just turned 80-years-old last month but he's not slowing down.

"The Possum" is keeping busy with 35 shows scheduled to date throughout the U.S. and Canada from now through November 2012.

As Jones sings, "I don't need a rocking chair…I do my rockin' on the stage, you can't put this possum in a cage." more on this story



Dave Stewart To Rock With The Roots on Fallon
(MSO) Eurythmics star Dave Stewart is to appear next Wednesday, November 2 on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon," where he will be performing with the Roots a song from his new solo album The Blackbird Diaries.

The Blackbird Diaries features a co-write with Bob Dylan ("Worth The Waiting For") as well as duets with Stevie Nicks, Martina McBride, Colbie Caillat, and the Secret Sisters.

In other Dave Stewart news, he wrote, with Glen Ballard, a brand new, original score for "Ghost The Musical." more on this story



X Factor May Have Reunited 80s Band
(TMZ) He lost out on $5 mil ... but "X Factor" reject Dexter Haygood got one hell of a parting gift from the show ... a chance at a reunion with his old band -- the first all black rock group ever featured on MTV.

Haygood was the frontman of the funk/rock sextet known as Xavion -- they were huge in the '80s ... for a minute ... even briefly touring with Hall & Oates.

But the guys went their separate ways ... and completely lost touch with Haygood ... unaware that he struggled with substance abuse and wound up on the streets.

So, when Haygood appeared on the show as a contestant ... the other band members were shocked -- and most of the guys instantly reached out to their old friend.

Now, TMZ has learned ... the guys are hoping to get the whole band back together in an effort to put together some reunion shows ... or even perform on "X Factor" ... if producers are up for it.

TMZ spoke with Dexter ... who tell us, "I'm really excited to work with my old band," adding "I'm more than hopeful that 'The X Factor' will invite us to perform on the finale."

Fingers crossed. more on this story



Kate Major Facing Eviction After Michael Lohan Arrest
(TMZ) Michael Lohan's GF Kate Major has been put on notice -- she has until next week to move out of her swanky Florida condo or else ... all thanks to the media firestorm surrounding MiLo's recent arrests.

Sources tell TMZ, Kate currently lives in an exclusive housing complex in Tampa -- home to several rich and famous people, including pro athletes.

After Michael's recent arrests, we're told the entire complex has been swarming with photogs -- and the negative media attention is ruffling some high-profile feathers.

As a result, Kate's landlord has served her with an eviction notice, giving her until November 1st to pack her crap and leave.

We're told Kate is trying to fight the eviction -- but it doesn't look good. more on this story



Singled Out: Cosmo Jarvis' My Day
Today Cosmo Jarvis tells us about "My Day" from his brand new album "Is the World Strange or Am I Strange?". Here is the story:

The song 'My Day' expresses, in a very opinionated way, many observations I have made of people my age from the first person perspective of an older person. The constant flow of different characteristics I have observed from that perspective about myself and my 'generation' was supposed to create a negative atmosphere of failure in every sense compared to the generations that have preceded it. This is because from what I have witnessed of how the presently acknowledged short comings of past generations have evolved into the increasingly ignorant, naive and detrimentally comfort seeking shortcomings of my own, I am left anticipating with great curiosity the moment where I can describe my time with the contextual distance that hindsight offers.

Although my comments are pointless as firstly, I am as guilty of being involved in what I perceive as failures as those I am commenting on and the comments one makes on ones generation are both relative to and derivative of that generation, so it's a bit of a head fuck and generally a futile exercise.

Although failures and short comings are an inevitable part of the evolution of human kind and the only real purpose that commenting on them can serve is to record the path of it's evolution/devolution, I cannot escape the undeniable knowledge that with every year that passes, so dies another excuse for having the ridiculous deficiencies we do.

Today's Day in Rock

Unreleased Freddie Mercury Vocals For New Queen Album
(Rock News Desk) Queen are working on a brand new album set to featured previously unheard vocals from late singer Freddie Mercury.

Guitarist Brian May has revealed he and drummer Roger Taylor are searching through their archives for material the band worked on before their frontman died in 1991. And he says there are enough songs to release a Queen record and also create an update to their 2002 musical We Will Rock You.

May tells the Daily Star the pair are "going through some old drawers" and adds: "As well as seeing what we can unearth, we want to do a new musical to follow We Will Rock You." more on this story



Steven Tyler Did Fall But Not Off The Wagon
(Rock News Desk) Steven Tyler accepts people suspected he was drinking again after news broke of his latest collapse – and he knows he'll live under the shadow of those doubts for ever.

The singer smashed two teeth and sustained a black eye when he took a tumble in his hotel shower in Paraguay on Tuesday, forcing the postponement of Aerosmith's concert in Asuncion. But the band delivered their rescheduled 17-song show on Wednesday night – with Tyler, 63, even playing harmonica despite the pain in his mouth.

The official reason for his collapse was given as an attack of food poisoning. But the singer told the Today Show that he knew many people would assume it was drink-related, following the spectacular dive in 2009 which forced Aerosmith on hiatus and sent him into rehab. more on this story



Poison Deny Song Theft
(Rock News Desk) Poison insist there's no truth behind a lawsuit which accuses them of stealing some of the songs which appeared on their debut album Look What the Cat Dragged In.

They're the subject of a lawsuit filed by two musicians who worked with guitarist CC DeVille before he joined Poison and made it big. Billy McCarthy and James Stonich auditioned DeVille for their outfit Kid Rocker, and they say the tryout included two of their songs which DeVille later incorporated into Poison tracks.

Now a lawyer representing Bret Michaels and co says the band are ready to defend their position. Mark D Passin tells the Hollywood Reporter, "Obviously, if the Poison songs that are the subject of the complaint infringed any songs written by plaintiffs McCarthy and Stonich, they would have filed their lawsuit over 20 years ago." more on this story



Black Veil Brides Singer Breaks Nose
Black Veil Brides have canceled some upcoming European dates after their frontman broke his nose performing some "stage antics."

Loudwire reports: Black Veil Brides frontman Andy Biersack suffered an injury resulting in a broken nose. Details are sketchy, but Biersack took to Twitter to offer up photographic evidence.

"For those asking, during last night's show I broke my nose down the center, splitting the bone. I'll let you know more info ASAP." more on this story



Judas Priest Star Says Metal An Endangered Species
(Gibson) Former Judas Priest guitarist Kenneth "K.K." Downing wants to make sure metal fans pay for their heavy music. In a message on his official website, Downing poured out his heart about the state of the music industry, stating that many of his friends in the business are having a rough time making ends meet.

"I must urge everyone to try pay for their music because without your support our beloved metal will become an endangered species if it is not that way already," he said. "I have many friends and associates that once had a good career and prospects; these include producers, record engineers, managers and of course many musicians. Now most of them are struggling to make ends meet and stay in the business…"

He added that while many bands are making albums by themselves in basements and garages, he thinks that approach is missing something. "Even as good as we thought we were back in the day we would never have made the records we did without the professionals that helped us to achieve our goals," he said. more on this story



How Metallica Teamed Up With Lou Reed
(hennemusic) The promotion machine continues to roll for Lou Reed and Metallica, as they talk to the press about their forthcoming release, "Lulu," due next week.

Lou, along with Lars and James from Metallica, sat down for an interview with the Norwegian TV show, "Lydverket."

Lars explains how the project was introduced to the metal band. "Literally, it was [because] he asked," began Ulrich. "Lou says, 'Let's make a record with Lou.' OK, cool. The problem is people don't ask us very much; I mean, we don't go out and look for it; we don't put an ad in the paper – 'Rock band looking for otherworldly experiences.' But when they come to us, great, sounds awesome." Check out the video here



AC/DC's Brian Johnson Going On Tour
(hennemusic) There's no word on whether or not AC/DC are touring in 2012 – but their singer definitely is.

Brian Johnson has announced a short tour in February to promote his recently-released book, "Rockers And Rollers: A Full Throttle Memoir."

But this isn't a typical book-signing trip: it's a speaking and live performance event. For "Rockers & Rollers - A Full Throttle Evening of Stories and Music with Brian Johnson of AC/DC," the singer will recount stories from his book, and he'll be joined by two pals from Skid Row – bassist Rachel Bolan and guitarist Scotti Hill. more on this story



Chevelle Set Album Release and Kimmel Appearance
Chevelle have set a December 6 lease date for their new album Hats Off To The Bull and they will celebrate the release with an appearance Thursday, December 8 on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (12/11c).

The first single from this their sixth full-length album will be the track "Face to the Floor." "It's an angry song," says lead singer Pete Loeffler.

"The lyrics are about all the people who have been taken advantage of. I reference Bernie Madoff and his Ponzi scheme. He raked people over the coals, stole and is a terrible person. One day, these people have everything, and the next day it's completely gone." more on this story



Aerosmith Rocks 35th Anniversary Details
(hennemusic) Aerosmith will celebrate the 35th anniversary of their iconic 1976 album, "Rocks," with a special edition release due out November 23, 2011 in Japan.

The release will coincide with Aerosmith's Fall Tour through Japan, which kicks off Tuesday, November 22, 2011 in Kanazawa.

"Rocks" 35th-anniversary deluxe edition will include: • "Rocks" Japan Edition CD (Jewel case with a replica of a golden spine onsert for Japanese LP sleeve • The First Japan Tour Programme Replica (28 page) • The First Japan Tour Poster Replica (Nippon Budokan version) More details here



Iron Maiden for Tots
(Gibson) Hard rock fans struggling to get metal-loving toddlers off to sleep can now play lullaby versions of Iron Maiden hits at bedtime.

According to Music-news.com, the record company Twinkle Twinkle Little Rockstar has issued a CD of Iron Maiden classics, lullaby style.

Lullaby Versions of Iron Maiden contains 12 Maiden hits, such as "Run to the Hills," "The Number of the Beast," "Fear of the Dark," "2 Minutes to Midnight" and "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son." more on this story



Ozzy Osbourne Gets Unusual Halloween Treat
(Gibson) What's the perfect gift for the metal man who has everything, Ozzy Osbourne? Breakfast cereal.

That's right! The "Crazy Train" vocalist has simple taste when it comes to dining and, apparently, he's a mega fan of the honey-coated British breakfast food Sugar Puffs. Sugar Puffs aren't available in the U.S., where he usually lives, so Osbourne reportedly orders boxes and boxes of the cereal on a regular basis, just to stock up. Who wants to be without their favorite wake-up food, right? Now, now the cereal's manufacturer has sent Osbourne 50 boxes of a new kind of cereal, Spooky Puffs, for Halloween.

A spokesperson for the brand, in a release, stated that, "We made sure he has enough to go around at Halloween." The special edition, Halloween-themed breakfast delicacy – represented by a fuzzy, yellow beast called, the Honey Monster – has a toffee apple flavor. Looks like we know what kiddies who arrive at Ozzy's mansion to trick-or-treat are going to get in their pillow cases and Halloween baskets this year. more on this story



A Sad Reality For Beavis and Butt-Head's Return
(Rock News Desk) The comeback series of Beavis and Butt-Head sees the cartoon characters shouting at clips from reality TV shows instead of music videos – because modern rights laws have got in the way.

Mike Judge's immature fanboys are remembered for commentating on music promos in episodes which ran for 200 episodes between 1993 and 1997.

Now they're back – but will appear without the key element. Judge tells Rolling Stone: "It used to be that we could do anything. Now we have to clear everything." At least it's keeping in MTV's change to reality TV over music. Read more here



Miley Cyrus, Adele, Sting, Dave Matthews and More Take On Bob Dylan
(Gibson) First Miley Cyrus covers Nirvana's groundbreaking "Smells Like Teen Spirit," and now the "Can't Be Tamed" starlet is prepping to interpret one of Bob Dylan's classics. What's next, Cyrus singing something from the new Metallica and Lou Reed collaboration?

Miley, according to E! News, is one of several artists selected to cover a Dylan song for Chimes of Freedom.

Other musicians slated to appear on the set include Adele, Sting, Ke$ha, Sting, Dave Matthews and Patti Smith, so Cyrus is in stellar company. more on this story



All Star John Lennon Tribute Concert Being Release
Theatre Within have announced the November 15th release of a live album chronicling the sold out, star-studded 30th Annual John Lennon Tribute, Live from the Beacon Theatre NYC.

The 15-song release will be available digitally via iTunes, Amazon and other major online music outlets. Proceeds from the sales of the digital release will be shared with the Japanese Red Cross for its ongoing Earthquake/Tsunami Relief efforts.

"John would have loved that Theatre Within has produced a special live album of his songs to benefit the Japanese Red Cross and the people still suffering from the tsunami and earthquake," states Yoko Ono. more on this story



Slash To Preview New Songs At Upcoming Shows
(hennemusic) Slash and his band are in the studio working on pre-production recordings for his second solo release, due out next spring.

Now, the guitarist has posted that he'll be sharing some of the new material with fans:

"At pre pros end we're doing 2 live private shows in LA to stretch our legs w/the new stuff b4 we record. Details tba. RnFn'R!" more on this story



Sought After Classic Phish Shows Getting Box Set Release
Phish have set a December 6 release date for Hampton/Winston-Salem '97, a seven-CD box set that showcases three complete concerts from the band's legendary fall 1997 tour.

The set will include Phish's November 21 and 22 shows at Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, VA, where they would later record Hampton Comes Alive, and their November 23 show at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, NC.

These are among the most-requested shows from the Phish's extensive archives. The box set will contain all the music Phish played over the three nights plus never-before-heard material from soundchecks at both venues - eight hours and 45 songs in all. Fred Kevorkian has remastered the songs, working from Paul Languedoc's stereo soundboard mix. more on this story



Judas Priest Can't Wait To Hear James Durbin's Debut
(hennemusic) Form the very first week of live performance on American Idol last season, where rocker James Durbin covered Judas Priest's "You've Got Another Thing Coming," to the season finale months later – where the metal gods actually joined James for a live double-shot, it's safe to say the Judas Priest-James Durbin connection is solid and growing stronger all the time.

Durbin's debut, "Memories Of A Beautiful Disaster," is due November 21 and many fans await the album's release – including the members of Judas Priest. "I can't wait to hear it," says Priest frontman Rob Halford. "Apparently, the underground vibe is that, again, he's staying true to his course and he's making some great songs."

"We love James," Halford continues, "because he's really what metal is about. He really stood his ground [on Idol]; if you saw some of those interviews [where] they wanted him to do this song or that song…he's like 'no, I'm a metal singer and I want to do my own thing.' James said, 'When I do my thing, it's going to be metal: it's going to be strong, powerful music.' James, alone, introduced that attitude into 30-something million homes in America and then, of course, it goes around the world." more on this story



Watch ZZ Top Johnny Depp Jam
(hennemusic) Johnny Depp is making the rounds to promote his new film, "The Rum Diary." A stop in Texas last week to premiere the movie at the Austin Film Festival led to a surprise live performance at The Continental Club, where the actor joined his old bandmate, Bill Carter, at the club.

Depp and Carter were in P, an alt-rock band that recorded a single, self-titled album in 1995. A renowned Austin songwriter, many of Carter's songs have been picked up by other artists, including Stevie Ray Vaughan, who recorded "Crossfire" and "Willie The Wimp."

Carter and Depp were joined by ZZ Top guitar legend Billy Gibbons for part of the 90-minute set. Check out video of the jam here.



Grave Announce 20th Anniversary Show, Lineup Change and New Album Plans
Grave have announced their 20th anniversary show, a lineup change and their new album plans. First off they will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut release Into The Grave by playing a special Stockholm hometown show on November 12th.

Following the event, Grave will start working on their 10th studio album. "The plans for our next studio album is also already in the works. We will start writing and arranging songs in November and enter the legendary Studio Soulless again in early January. We also have a very cool idea for a special bonus disc, more on this later. Stay tuned for video diaries and sneak peeks which will be updated all through the process. Album #10 is scheduled for release by Century Media Records before the summer 2012." says Vocalist Ola Lindgren.

The upcoming album will also feature a new rhythm guitarist, due to a recent line-up change. Lindgren comments, "In this small update we want to inform you that our guitarist Magnus Martinsson is no longer in the band. But don't worry ladies, we will keep goin'. Magnus has played with us since 2008 and did some epic tours/shows with us. We took this joint decision after going through plans for next year and we needed to address this within the band before we start the new album process. There aren't now and have never been any hard feelings between us and we wish him the best in any future endeavors. We've recruited Mika Lagreen (Facebreaker) for the Stockholm Anniversary gig and he should fit right in since he already handled the stage left axe on our latest European tour. He will of course also be with us through the new album process and upcoming shows/tours." more on this story



The Soulless and Bury Tomorrow Tour
The Soulless will be hitting the road this December for a UK tour with Bury Tomorrow.

The tour is due to kick off on Thursday, December 8th in Bristol, just a few weeks after the band wraps up a tour with Carcer City and Against The Flood.

The Soulless frontman Andy Wardle comments: "Everyone here in The Soulless is super excited for this tour. We cannot wait to finally showcase the tracks from our latest album, 'Isolated'. We love Bury Tomorrow's new single, 'Lionheart', and are looking forward to playing with those guys every night. We want people to learn some words and get rowdy with us! Mosh!" more on this story



The Compulsions To Beat The Devil In November
The Compulsions have set a November 8, 2011 release date for their new full length album, Beat The Devil.

The LP will be available on iTunes with all other major online music outlets to follow.

The album's core lineup consists of Rob Carlyle on lead vocal and guitar, Richard Fortus (Guns N' Roses, Thin Lizzy) on guitar, Sami Yaffa (New York Dolls, Hanoi Rocks, Michael Monroe) on bass and Frank Ferrer (Guns N' Roses) on drums along with many of Rob's favorite local musicians; including long-revered blues guitarist Hubert Sumlin (Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters). more on this story



Singled Out: The Armed's Pushing Daisies and Young & Beautiful
Today Tony Wolski from The Armed tells us about "Pushing Daisies" and "Young & Beautiful" from their brand new EP "Young & Beautiful," which features a guest appearance from Ex- Dillinger Escape Plan, Coheed & Cambria drummer Chris Pennie. Here is the story:

Young & Beautiful- We really wanted to start the EP off with a sudden burst of really violent noise. We wanted there to be a sense of absolute urgency. The EP is only five songs long anyways you know? We didn't wanna waste any time getting into it. The main verse riff was crafted while having the specific goal of making the most heavy and crushing single riff we had done yet in mind. Lyrically, this song is about not really fitting into any of the aggressive music cliques where we come from. It touches on something Jello Biafra wrote about 25 years ago...the idea that "punk's not dead it just deserves to die when it becomes another stale cartoon." Imagine if the DKs or Black Flag just tried to ape the look and sound of Elvis or something else that had happened thirty years prior. If they had only worshipped that one singular influence so hard it became like a religion. The original hardcore movement would probably have been pretty irrelevant. So it's a little bit about the whole regressive attitude in some of the hardcore scene...and it's a bit about the opposite end of the spectrum too: the absolutely vapid neo-nu metal mall punk twilight core thing too. This song finds time to hate on a lot within the confines of like a minute and a half or whatever.

Pushing Daisies - This song has been around for a long time-- about six years...well before The Armed as it exists now came to fruition. The old version had completely different lyrics and vocals.

We had started playing it live at shows in the six or so months prior to working on the EP and it seemed to fit really well into our set. We thought it'd fit in perfectly with the material we had been working on and it'd be great to finally get it recorded properly. I had recently become friends with Dave Graw, a guy who was a real inspiration when we were younger...actually when the song had been initially written. He was the singer in a band called Bang Bang which is one of my favorite Detroit bands ever. I asked if he would sing on it because it seemed appropriate. Thankfully, he agreed and wrote a whole new part for it. We're all really really stoked with how it turned out and proud to have been a part of such a cool collaboration.

JOURNEY TO RECEIVE BILLBOARD'S LEGEND OF LIVE AWARD:

Journey will receive the "Legend of Live" award at the 2011 Billboard Touring Awards, which are presented by Showclix and are taking place November 10 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York. The awards are part of the Billboard Touring Conference, taking place on the 9th and 10th.
The Billboard "Legend of Live" award honors groups or individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to live music and the touring business, and acknowledges the recipients' commitment to the art of performing live and reaching fans through the concert experience. Previous award recipients include Rush (2010), Ozzy Osbourne (2009), the Allman Brothers Band (2008), pioneering agent Frank Barsalona (2007), Sir Elton John (2006), Cellar Door Concerts founder Jack Boyle (2005) and promoter Michael Cohl (2004).
Journey remains a hugely successful touring band, having moved nearly 1 million tickets and averaging more than $600,000 a night at the box office on this year's "Eclipse" tour, according to Billboard Boxscore.
"I'm so honored to come to New York to represent the band for all the years and dedication that everyone's given," Journey guitarist and founding member Neal Schon says of the honor.
"Though they have sold millions of records and charted a wealth of the most beloved Billboard hits in history, most would agree that Journey's longevity has in large part been driven by their stellar live performances," said Ray Waddell, Billboard's Executive Director of Content and Programming for Touring and Live Entertainment. "From their days blowing up the Bay Area music scene to their ascent to international headlining and, today, iconic rock status, withstanding personnel changes that would bring down a lesser band, Journey's talent transcends musical trends and draws bigger crowds year after year. In short, Journey personifies a 'Legend of Live.'"
The Billboard Touring Awards honor the industry's top artists, venues and professionals for the year, based on actual data compiled through the Billboard Boxscore chart.
This awards reception culminates the two-day Billboard Touring Conference, presented by ShowClix, taking place at Roosevelt Hotel in New York City on November 9-10. The conference unites today's top touring professionals to discuss the current state of the industry. Guided by Ray Waddell, this unique event includes provocative panels, productive roundtables and networking opportunities with touring industry power players and decision makers. For more information about the 8th annual Billboard Touring Conference & Awards, see: www.BillboardTouringConference.com.
NewsLink: www.billboard.com/events/journey-to-receive.

B-Sides

Today's Stories


See Steven Tyler's Injuries
(hennemusic) Aerosmith's Steven Tyler was back in the saddle in Paraguay Wednesday night, the day after a slip in the shower put the singer, and his band, out of commission for 24 hours.

Tyler was showering at the Bourbon hotel near Asuncion, Paraguay on Tuesday when he apparently became dizzy because of gastrointestinal problems, and slipped and fell in the shower. The rocker was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for three hours, to deal with cuts on his face and two missing teeth.

A visit to the dentist set the American Idol judge up with two new dental implants. TMZ has a photo of Tyler at the dentist getting his repairs Check them out here




Def Leppard Remember Steve Clark
(hennemusic) For long time Def Leppard fans, it's hard to believe that it's been 20 years since the passing of guitarist Steve "Steamin'" Clark. In 1991, while on a six-month leave of absence from the group, Clark died of an overdose of a combination of alcohol and multiple prescription drugs. Steve was gone too soon, dying at the age of 30.

In part 18 of their month-long fan Q&A series, Leppard are asked, "This [year] being the 20th Anniversary of Steve [Clark]'s death, how does his influence still effect the band?"

"It affects us all the time because we think about him every day," begins Joe Elliott. "We play songs, live, that he co-wrote. We hear music that he played when we hear one of our songs on the radio from way back when."

More from Joe, and guitarist Phil Collen here.




40 Years of Led Zeppelin's Stairway To Heaven
(Gibson) How did high school dances end before November 8, 1971? That's the date that Led Zeppelin released a promotional disc to FM rock stations that would become the world's most-played radio hit and cross over to teen-packed auditoriums everywhere.

"Stairway to Heaven" was an unlikely on-air success at eight-minutes long, but in the early '70s, FM DJs still could play the full-length version of "In-A- Gadda-Da-Vida," Iron Butterfly's 17-minute bathroom break anthem. And "Stairway"'s length, plus the song's long, quiet build-up, made it perfect for slow dancing until the explosive finale, which provided an outlet for the hormonal energy that the slow dancing generate.

The song that Gibson Les Paul legend Jimmy Page described as "crystallizing the band" started taking form in 1970 during Page and Robert Plant's famous songwriting vacation in rural Wales at a cottage called Bron-Yr-Aur. Page developed the acoustic opening section there, and Plant wrote the initial verse. By the time the entire band re-grouped at the Headley Grange rehearsal and recording building in East Hampshire, England, Page had several distinct pieces of electric and acoustic music that he felt were related to that initial theme. While Page tried to weave the sections together with drummer John Bonham and bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones, Plant sat in a corner, writing. When he stood up and started singing, about 80 percent of the lyrics for "Stairway to Heaven" were complete. more on this story




Watch Lou Reed and Metallica EPK
(hennemusic) Lou Reed and Metallica have offered up the EPK (electronic press kit) video for their forthcoming album, "Lulu."

One guy we know won't be checking this footage out is Toronto rocker Danko Jones, who ranted on Twitter about the project over the weekend, even offering to sell his entire Metallica collection over, what he likely feels, is a betrayal by a band he followed. After referring to the release as the "Ishtar/Waterworld/Battlefield Earth of Rock 'N' Roll," Jones was still fuming the next morning…

"Lulu" comes out October 31 everywhere…except North America, where it'll be available November 1. Check out the EPK here




Watch Beyonce's Party Video
(popmusiclife) Beyonce debuted her new video on Wednesday. "Party" is the 6th single from "4," and the video features a special guest verse from J. Cole, replacing OutKast's Andre 3000, who appears on the album version of the track.

Also sighted at the "party" is former Destiny's Child pal Kelly Rowland, and Beyonce's younger sister, Solange, seen showing off her DJ skills.

Beyoncé is nominated in four categories at this year's Soul Train Awards, including Record of the Year ("Best Thing I Never Had"), Best Dance Performance ("Run the World [Girls]"), Album of the Year (4), and Best Female R&B/Soul Artist. Check it out here




Queens of the Stone Age Mother Load Hits The Web
(Banana 101.5) Over the last couple of weeks, the YouTube channel QOTSAarchive has added dozens of high-quality live footage from recent Queens of the Stone Age shows, as well as older rare footage, interviews, and more.

It appears that the next Queens of the Stone Age album will not see the light of day this year as many had hoped. If you're going crazy for a Queens fix, you may be able to curb your cravings with the countless hours of footage added to their YouTube channel over the course of the last month.

The channel QOTSAarchive features full concert footage from around 27 sets of live performances ranging from 1999 to 2011. In addition to full concerts, there are interviews, TV appearances, AOL sessions, and even frequent Queens' collaborators Mark Lanegan and Alain Johannes have concert footage available on the channel. Read more and check some videos out here




Robert Trujillo Recalls Early Metallica Encounters
(Gibson) Ahead of the release of Metallica's collaboration with Lou Reed, bassist Robert Trujillo has reflected on his early encounters with the band back when he was a member of Suicidal Tendencies.

Trujillo told Classic Rock Revisited (via VH1's Dave Basner) that he used to listen to Metallica's Ride the Lightning album on his Walkman to get fired up for Suicidal Tendencies shows while jogging.

Later, in the early '90s, Suicidal Tendencies toured with Metallica. "I remember sharing the stage with them and seeing this band larger than life on a daily basis and just thinking, 'Wow, it's amazing that a band can take it to this level,'" Trujillo said. more on this story




Watch Ozzy Osbourne On The Talk
(hennemusic) Ozzy Osbourne was on The Talk on Tuesday to promote his new book, "Trust Me, I'm Dr. Ozzy."

The book just debuted at #12 on the New York Times Hardcover Advice & Misc. Best Sellers list.

You can watch Ozzy doing his promotion thing with Sharon cackling by his side right
here.



WWE Star Goes Muppet Tattoo Crazy
(TMZ) WWE's resident little person wrestler Hornswoggle is so fired up about the Muppets hosting "Monday Night Raw" next week ... dude is getting THREE tattoos in their feltish, fuzzy honor.

Hornswoggle is OBSESSED with the Muppets -- and already has 5 characters inked on various parts of body ... including Miss Piggy, Kermit and Beaker.

But now, Horn-dog has scheduled a marathon session Friday ... so he can add Fozzie Bear, Statler and Waldorf before Monday's show.

Wocka Wocka. more on this story



Marcia Gay Harden Fighting Eviction
(TMZ) Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden is being evicted from the kick ass Santa Monica home where she's been staying for several months ... but the actress claims she's getting screwed ... and now she's filed legal papers to buy herself some time.

According to legal docs obtained by TMZ, Marcia claims she signed a 1-year lease with the owners of the 4,200 square foot property back in August ... in which she agreed to pay $10k per month in rent ... plus a $20k security deposit.

But Marcia claims the owners of the property sold the place after she moved in ... and the NEW owners are trying to kick her to the curb ... with only 3 days notice.

In the docs, MGH says it just ain't fair ... claiming the OLD owners cashed her rent check for October without mentioning anything about a possible eviction ... and therefore, she's legally entitled to as much as 90 days notice before she has to be out.