Today's Day In Rock News!

Pearl Jam Allegedly Robbed By Former Management Exec
The former CFO at Pearl Jam's management company, Curtis Management, has been charged with 25 counts of first-degree theft and 8 counts of second-degree theft.
King County prosecutors filed felony charges against Rickey Charles Goodrich, who stands accused of stealing steal $380,000 from the management firm before he was terminated in September of 2010.

Seattle PI reports that "Prosecutors allege Goodrich transferred money from company accounts to pay debts held by himself and his wife. He is also alleged to have used band credit cards to pay for personal expenses, including family vacations and wine."

You can read their full report for more details here.



Linkin Park Streaming New Album
Linkin Park fans will have wait patiently until next Tuesday, June 26th to get their hands on the band's new album, but that doesn't mean you have to wait until then to hear it!

iTunes is offering Linkin Park fans an advance free stream of the group's forthcoming album, Living Things.

All you need to listen is your ears and to have the iTunes software installed on your computer and you can grab a listen to the full album here.



Record Co Forced Def Leppard To Rerecord Classics
(hennemusic) Last month, Def Leppard released newly-rerecorded versions of two of their classic hits from the 1980s: "Pour Some Sugar On Me" and "Rock Of Ages."

The concept was to tie in the name of their summer tour – Rock of Ages – with the Broadway play-turned film of the same name starring Tom Cruise, who also sings "Sugar" on the soundtrack album…another good reason for the UK rockers to keep their name front and center.

But there's more to it than that. "It was, well, let's just say a sensible business decision on our part," Leppard vocalist Joe Elliott tells MTVHive. "How can I put this politely? We were having a major disagreement with our ex-record label about the digital rights for our back catalog. We couldn't come to a mutual understanding that seemed fair for both sides. So we finally just decided to re-record all our hits. We started with 'Sugar' and 'Rock of Ages,' and I think we did a pretty good job. It's hard work trying to recreate something you did 30 years ago." more on this story



Ozzy Wants Son Jack To Get Second Opinion On MS
(Classic Rock) Ozzy Osbourne wants his son Jack to get a second opinion from doctors after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

The Black Sabbath singer says: "I was misdiagnosed with MS a few years ago. It took them six months to work out I have a rare hereditary tremor called Parkin Syndrome."

Jack, 26, was given the news two months after he became a father. Read more rock news including Layne Staley, Jon Anderson, Slayer, Exodus and more here.



Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Pearl Jam For Isle of Wight Broadcast
(VH1) Palladia plans to air the best of this year's "Isle of Wight Festival 2012" and simulcast with VH1 Classic with limited, commercial interruption this Sunday, June 24th at 9 PM-12 AM/6 PM-9PM PT.

This special, one-time-only event will celebrate one of the oldest, biggest and most legendary ongoing rock festivals in the world. Talent scheduled to appear include: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Pearl Jam, Jessie J, Elbow, Madness, Big Country, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, and Joan Armatrading. All talent appearances are subject to change.

The 3-hour special will be hosted by Jim Shearer – host of host of VH1's "Top 20 Video Countdown" and music correspondent for "VH1 Big Morning Buzz Live." more on this story



LAPD Recover Animals As Leaders Stolen Property
Animals As Leaders returned home to Los Angeles to found they have been robbed, but the LAPD have recovered some of their property.

They reported a few days ago, "Upon returning home to our house in LA we discovered that we'd been robbed while were out on tour. The thieves were able to get away with Javier's Chevy Blazer and all of the equipment we didn't have on tour with us. 10 guitars in total. This includes many of our one of a kind custom instruments (Stranberg, Rick Toone) as well as amplifiers, PA equipment and personal items."

Yesterday the band updated fans with, "We've actually got some good news to report! The LAPD successfully recovered Javier's car. The even better news is that one of the stolen guitars was in the back seat! I'm now reunited with Strandberg #17. We want to commend the LAPD for their ability to find the stolen vehicle within 24 hours of receiving the police report. Hopefully this is the key to finding the rest of the guitars! Something still may pop up online so please keep your eyes open. Thanks for all of the support."





Sebastian Bach Makes Life Hell For Opening Band
(Classic Rock) Irish band Stormzone have revealed how Sebastian Bach made their lives hell when they supported him on last week's UK tour.

They say he blocked access to their dressing room, made it nearly impossible for them to play their set – then sent them home without full pay before the three-date trek was over.

The four-piece includes former Sweet Savage drummer Davy Bates, who's been credited as an influence on Metallica sticksman Lars Ulrich. Read their wild tale here.



Zac Brown Band, Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters Lead DeLuna Fest
Zac Brown Band will join previously announced headliners Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters at the 2012 DeLuna Fest.

The festival will take place in Pensacola Beach, FL during the weekend of September 21 – 23, 2012.

Also joining the lineup are Fitz and the Tantrums, Honey Island Swamp Band, The Canvas Waiting, Astronautalis, High On Fire, Brass-A-Holics and a Sunday Gospel Brunch set from The Legendary JCs. more on this story




Tim Armstrong Produced New Jimmy Cliff Album
Universal Music have set a July 17th release date for Jimmy Cliff's new album, Rebirth.

"I was inspired to re-visit my musical past and decided to go back to my roots on this record," said Cliff. "Rebirth is a new chapter in my life and signifies a rebirth in my career and all I have left to accomplish."

Rebirth once again pairs Cliff with Rancid's Tim Armstrong, who produced the thirteen-track album. Armstrong also produced Cliff's Sacred Fire EP which was released late in 2011. more on this story



Rush Taking String Ensemble On Tour
(Gibson) Rush will be utilizing a string section for their upcoming Clockwork Angels tour. Guitarist Alex Lifeson said there would be eight to ten string players in the ensemble.

He told Billboard: "It's just something different for us, and I can't wait to hear what it sounds like. As far as what the set list will look like, there will be a number of songs from the new album.

"The set list is quite fluid these days. We're dropping and replacing songs constantly, and that's the way it always goes before we get into rehearsals. There's a great deal of pressure on us now to do the whole record, which we don't anticipate. I think our intention is probably to prepare the whole thing; whether we'll do it or not we're still not sure, especially on the first leg of the tour." more on this story






Jackson Browne Expands Acoustic Tour
Jackson Browne has added additional Fall dates to his 2012 U.S. Acoustic Tour which will feature support from special guest Sara Watkins.

The tour, which begins this summer on July 14 in Charlotte, NC runs thru mid-August, before picking up again mid-October and ending on November 15 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Playing guitar and piano, Jackson will perform songs from his entire body of work, with varying set lists each night. more on this story



Dew-Scented Announce Special Guests On New Album
Dew-Scented have tapped Rob Urbinati (Sacrifice), Dennis Schneider (Retaliation/ Final Breath) and Dan Swano (Edge of Sanity/Bloodbath) as guests on their new album, Icarus, which will be released on July 31st.

Rob Urbinati (Sacrifice) says: "Sacrifice have been honored by Dew-scented in the past with a cover song ("Apocaplyse Inside" on 1999's "Ill-Natured"); now I am honored to be included on the track 'Gleaming Like Silver.'" Dew-scented vocalist Leif Jensen claims that Sacrifice "are one of the best and most underrated thrash metal bands ever" and admits that Sacrifice have had a big influence on his vocals.

No stranger to the band, Dennis Schneider (Retaliation/ Final Breath) is slated to appear on both tracks "The Fall of Man" and "Perpetuated." The band came up with the idea to have him be a part of "Icarus" from jamming with him during rehearsals. Schneider had the following to say: "I've been hooked on Dew-scented ever since the release of 'Impact' back in 2003. When they asked me to do a few guest leads on the new album, I didn't hesitate one second. I'm really happy with the way it turned out – 'Icarus' will rip your head off!" more on this story



Thy Will Be Done Releasing New EP
Thy Will Be Done have finished recording a brand new EP which they plan to release later this summer. Their camp sent out these details:

The band, renowned for their DIY approach, engineered the EP themselves and teamed up once again with acclaimed metal producer Zeuss to mix their six brand new studio tracks. With influences and roots that harkens the listener back to metal's glory days, and songs and arrangements that echo the voice of the oppressed and broken, the end result is a release that brings hope and far surpasses its predecessors, and in all aspects possesses the capabilities of cementing Thy Will Be Done's position in the metal world. More details, including title and release date will be revealed in the coming weeks.

J. Costa commented on the new EP: "There's always a sense of accomplishment when unveiling a piece of expression that we've created. Personally, what makes this not so much different as much as special, is that it represents my rediscovery of exactly why I enjoy expressing myself through the medium of music. more on this story



Sylo's Jared McCasland Drowns
(The Metal Den) Sylo bassist Jared McCasland died this week from drowning. He was 30-years old.

Sylo band manager JB Griffin of WEMG has released this official statement: "Jared was the backbone of SYLO. He was a great musician and we are going to truly miss him. Words cannot describe what we are feeling right now. Thanks to all the fans that have supported Jared and SYLO up to this point and we will give you more information as this works itself out."

Sylo won TMD's first Battle of The Bands contest in 2011 and in June/2012 signed a worldwide label representation agreement to release their forthcoming debut full-length album with The Metal Den Records. more on this story




Metal Festival Gamble Paid Off For Europe
(Classic Rock) Europe risked upsetting fans of heavier music when they headlined the Bloodstock Open Air festival in 2009 but the gamble paid off, says singer Joey Tempest.

Reaction was mixed when event organisers announced the Swedish outfit were to close out a bill including Cradle of Filth, Blind Gardian, Carcass, Satyricon and Amon Amarth.

Tensions increased after Cradle of Filth, playing the night before Europe, were pelted with missiles and guitarist Paul Allender was taken to hospital. But instead of being a disaster, Tempest says the set gave them a new lease of life in an environment where they'd been all but forgotten. more on this story



The Beatles' First U.S. Tour Focus of New Exhibition
(Gibson) The Beatles' first U.S. tour is being documented in a new photo exhibition in New York.

According to NME the band were photographed by Curt Gunther, and his Unseen Beatles exhibition can be viewed at the Morrison Hotel Gallery in Soho.

Gunther's son told Rolling Stone that his father had incredible access to The Beatles on the tour: "He was there on every plane ride and in every hotel room. I think there was real, genuine affection between The Beatles and my dad." more on this story





Lee Aaron Releases New DVD
(hennemusic) Lee Aaron today releases her new DVD, "Live In Sweden." Recorded at the 2011 Sweden Rock Festival, the show marked Aaron's first performance in Sweden.

Lee had the distinction of being the only Canadian act featured on the bill, which also featured Ozzy Osbourne, Thin Lizzy, Black Label Society and Styx, among others.

"Live In Sweden" features Lee's performance, with bonus features that include her press conference, backstage interview, Lee Aaron's special message to Sweden Rock fans and tons of pictures. more on this story



B Sides


Singled Out: Ian Frank
Today Ian Frank tells us about his song "Take The Long Way" from their new album "Breaking Grounds". Here is the story:

"Take The Long Way" was a song that actually came to me pretty quickly. Ironic, as the song is really about the need to slow down and take the time to enjoy life more often… yet the song was penned swiftly.

I feel like society is just so fast paced and I am always runnin' to try and catch up…. Every one around me is always looking for the short cut, instant gratification.

Society now breeds shorter attention spans and encourages efficiency and getting there quickly…. I wrote this song to help remind myself and others that we can take the long way and still find fulfillment and/or meet our needs, or the needs of others… It's a tribute to One of Aesop's Fables "The Tortoise and the Hare"…. Wherein the slower tortoise wins the race.

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



Bret Michaels Launches Pet Product Line
(hennemusic) Poison singer Bret Michaels is teaming up with PetSmart to launch his new Bret Michaels Pets Rock collection.

Available exclusively at PetSmart stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico and online at PetSmart.com, the collection includes toys, beds, apparel, collars, leashes, and bowls.

"I know there are other pet parents like me who want to show off their pets in rock-star style," said Michaels. "I've been a pet lover since I was a child so I created this line for everyone who wants something unique to rock their pets' world." more on this story



Remembering Chet Atkins
(Gibson) Over the years the word "revolutionary" has been bandied about from time to time to describe some of the great musical pioneers who have helped shape the musical landscape. Rarely, however, has the word been more fitting than when describing Chet Atkins.

Born Chester Burton Atkins on this day in 1924 in Luttrell, TN, Atkins was the youngest of four children, all who lived with their mother after their parents divorced when Chet was just six. Music was always an outlet for the Atkins family, and in particular, Chet, whose natural ability was evident very early in life. Before the age of nine he'd become quite proficient on the ukulele and fiddle before ultimately landing his first guitar, which his older brother, Lowell, traded to him for an old pistol and some chores.

At the time, of course, the nation was in the throes of the Great Depression. Atkins said in his 1974 autobiography, Chet Atkins: Country Gentleman: "We were so poor and everybody around us was so poor that it was the forties before anyone even knew there had been a depression." To compound the Atkins' difficulties, Chet suffered from severe asthma, which forced him to relocate to Fortson, Georgia to live with his father. So severe was his affliction that he had to sleep in a straight-back chair to help keep his lungs open. This debilitating condition, ironically, helped him as a guitarist because he learned to fall asleep, sitting upright in his chair, holding his guitar, which he played for hours on end.

By the time Atkins was in high school he was an accomplished guitarist. It was around this time that his style began to really evolve, thanks in no small part to the great Merle Travis, whom Atkins listened to on the radio. Travis was a master picker, and this greatly influenced young Chet, who worked on, and perfected, his own four-finger (thumb and three fingers) picking style.

Today's Day In Rock News!

Red Hot Chili Peppers Releasing 18 New Songs
Red Hot Chili Peppers plan to release 18 previously unreleased songs from the "I'm With You" recording sessions beginning in August.
Each of the tracks will be available worldwide both digitally and on vinyl, with two sides per seven-inch. Each of the nine seven-inches released will be able to combined by fans to create one larger piece of artwork.

The first pair of sides - "Strange Man" on the A-side and "Long Progression" on the B-side - will be released on August 14, 2012. more on this story



Rolling Stones Rep Shoots Down Farewell Show Report
(Gibson) The Rolling Stones have moved quickly to shoot down a rumor which broke overnight that the band would play their last-ever concert at the Glastonbury festival in the U.K. in 2013.

The report in The Mirror in the U.K. quotes "a band insider" as saying, "All four members have agreed that next year is the right time to have one final hurrah and put on the gig of their lives. It's a case of now or never, and obviously Glastonbury is the most important festival on the circuit. Everybody's incredibly excited ... it's a final bow."

However, when The Guardian contacted the band's representatives they were told that not only is the talk of retirement false, but the band isn't even planning to play Glastonbury. more on this story





Hawkwind's John Harrison Dies
Former Hawkwind guitarist Huw Lloyd-Langton issued a statement about the death of John Harrison, a founding member of the group who died in his sleep on May 26, 2012 after a long battle with Huntington disease. He would have been 70 on May 28th.

Huw issued this statement: "John was an integral part of Hawkwind's formation and eventual success. His honest, solid character and playing held the whole thing together in that first year of the group's existence (in more ways than one)! All who worked with him and have followed in his footsteps, i.e. Lemmy :) and all Hawkfans, old & young. Wherever you are owe him big time! May he Rock In Peace wherever he is now!"

Cleopatra Records says John's throbbing and inventive bass parts on the band's self-titled 1970 release laid the foundation for Hawkwind's influential sound, both then and now. After his departure from the band, John also worked successfully as a producer and staff engineer at Village Recorders in Los Angeles. more on this story



Skid Row Refused Rock of Ages Use Of Hit Song
(hennemusic) The Broadway play-turned-movie Rock Of Ages opened this past weekend with disappointing results.

The Tom Cruise flick landed in 3rd place at the box office with ticket sales of just $15.1 million, placing it behind "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" ($35.5 million) and "Prometheus" ($20.2 million).

One of the songs music fans won't hear in the movie is Skid Row's hit, "I Remember You." Former frontman Sebastian Bach tells Sonic Shocks, "The fact is Snake [Dave Sabo, Skid Row guitarist] and Rachel [Bolan, Skid Row bassist], who have co-writing credits for 'I Remember You', refused to allow it to be in the movie," explains Bach. "[The producers of 'Rock Of Ages'] wanted 'I Remember You' [to be] in the play and the movie, but Snake and Rachel don't like money. [Laughs] They have an aversion to cash. They'd rather not have cash. I don't know why — you can interview them about that — but that is the truth of the matter. The play wanted the [song] and they [Skid Row members] didn't want it in the movie — because money is bad." more on this story



Morrissey Plans North American Tour
Morrissey will be hitting the road this fall for a North American Tour that will include a special one-off with Iggy and The Stooges.

The trek kicks off in Boston on October 5th and ending in Atlantic City on December 8th.

The 33-city tour includes the special date at the Staples Center with special guests Iggy and The Stooges, as well as, his first NYC performance in three years at Radio City Music Hall. more on this story



Layne Staley Songs in New Movie Have Been Heard Before
(Banana 101.5) Contrary to the initial reports, the songs featuring late Alice in Chains singer Layne Staley from the film 'Grassroots' may not be on everyone's radar, but they are definitely not unknown. In fact, one of them was already released in the mid 1990s.

We initially wrote about Paste Magazine's report on the "previously unheard" Staley songs that were set to be included in 'Grassroots,' but now it seems as though that description is not completely accurate.

According to Grunge Report, the two songs that appear in the film are 'It's Coming After' and 'Things You Do.' The former was released on Second Coming's 1994 debut album, ' L.O.V.Evil,' and is well known among Staley enthusiasts. Second Coming featured Staley's bandmates from Alice N' Chains, the band he was in prior to Alice in Chains. More including YouTube videos with the songs.



Rock Hall Snub Doesn't Bother Rush
Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson has addressed the band's snubbing by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A bone of contention with fans, Lifeson shrugs it off in an interview.

"Honestly, we really, really don't care about it," Lifeson tells Rolling Stone who's founder was also instrumental in starting the Rock Hall. "It's someone's thing, and they can do whatever they want with it. They can have whomever they like. It's their thing."

"It's a little bit different here in Canada," continues Lifeson. "We've received awards that mean an awful lot more to us than being in the Hall of Fame. We got the Governor General's Performing Arts Award a couple weeks ago. That's really the highest accolade you can get in this country for the performing arts, and it's recognized nationally, and I felt so proud as a Canadian to be in this esteemed group of artists that have been there for the last 20 years." You can read the full interview here.



Cavo Hitting The Road With Evanescence, Chevelle, Halestorm
Cavo have been added to the upcoming Carnival Of Madness Tour with Evanescence, Chevelle, Halestorm and New Medicine.

Kicking off Tuesday, July 31 in Springfield, IL, the 2012 trek will hit major cities across the U.S. including Boston, Baltimore, Atlanta, Detroit, Milwaukee, Chicago and Pittsburgh.

"We're really looking forward to the Carnival of Madness tour this summer," says Evanescence front woman Amy Lee about the upcoming tour. "We love Chevelle and haven't hit the road together in years, and I'm really stoked to finally be playing some shows with Halestorm. Naturally I'm a fan of strong women in music and Lzzy's voice is spectacular." more on this story



The Academy Is Singer William Beckett EP And Tour Coming
Former The Academy Is... singer William Beckett has set a July 17th as the release date for Winds Will Change, the second of three EP's he will release in 2012.

The EP was recorded in Phoenix, AZ and produced with Matt Grabe (A Rocket To The Moon, The Maine).

Following the release, Beckett will join Relient K and Hellogoodbye on a 19-city tour featuring stops in Seattle, San Diego, Austin and Denver. more on this story



Fiona Apple Releases New Album and Kicks Off Tour
Fiona Apple today releases her first album in seven years, The Idler Wheel is wiser / than the Driver of the Screw / and Whipping Cords will serve you more / than Ropes will ever do.

She will also kick off her summer headline tour today at the State Theatre in Ithaca, NY.

The first leg includes performances at The Governors Ball Music Festival on New York City's Randall's Island (6/24) and Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium (7/13) and wraps up at the Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood, CA (7/29). more on this story



Slipknot's M. Shawn Crahan Plans Apocalyptic Nightmare Journey Events
Slipknot's M. Shawn Crahan aka Clown will soon embarking on his Apocalyptic Nightmare Journey. MSO sent over these details:

His first-ever art book collection of photography, the Apocalyptic Nightmare Journey will be released exclusively through MTV Books beginning June 19 worldwide.

As M. Shawn Crahan prepares to hit the road with Slipknot on June 30 as the headlining act on the Mayhem Festival and the newly announced Knotfest, August 17 and 18, he'll launch a series of book signings/Q&A's in select cities. more on this story



Widespread Panic's Jimmy Herring Releasing New Solo Album
Widespread Panic guitarist Jimmy Herring has set the release date of August 21 for his second solo album, Subject To Change Without Notice. MAD Ink sent over these details:

As the founding member of The Aquarium Rescue Unit, Project Z and Jazz is Dead, in addition to playing with everyone from The Allman Brothers Band, The Grateful Dead to Phil Lesh and Friends, and Bela Fleck, HERRING has made his indelible impact on the music world. He currently serves as the lead guitarist for the very popular American Band, Widespread Panic.

Prior to releasing his first solo outing, Lifeboat, Herring was known for his limitless improvisations, long flowing phrases, and highly charged, yet soulful, lead guitar that drew high praises from a diverse set within the musician community including Chick Corea, John McLaughlin to Dweezil Zappa. Throughout his early career, he plied his skills in multiple musical contexts, ranging from classically song-driven rock to technically demanding jazz fusion. more on this story



Lita Ford Settles Her Differences With Runaways Bandmates
(Classic Rock) Lita Ford has settled her differences with former Runaways Joan Jett and Cherie Currie but that's no guarantee the band will reunite.

She buried the hatchet after dinner dates with each ex-bandmate, putting to an end years of feuding and legal action.

Ford recently experience a lifestyle turnaround after ending a marriage she described as "like Ike and Tina Turner." She's put it behind her by working on new album Living Like a Runaway, which she hopes will help dull the memories of 2009 release Wicked Wonderland, made in partnership with ex-husband Jim Gillette.

Now she reveals she's gone further and made things right with Jett and Currie. more on this story



Mike Keneally Completes Collaborative Album With XTC Frontman
(Gibson) Multi-instrumentalist Mike Keneally has wrapped up work on Wing Beat Fantastic, an album featuring a number of songs written with XTC frontman Andy Partridge. "It's done," Keneally says. "Finally. It's done. Mastered, packaged, the lot. The release date is July 24 but we'll make it available for pre-order before then."

In an interview with Chicago Music Magazine recently, Keneally described Wing Beat Fantastic as "almost like a pop album for me. It's more accessible than my stuff that's normally melodic. It's rocking, but it's also very direct. I'm also including a group of other songs that I wrote on my own. Its my own boundaries that I'm trying to break whenever I do anything."

Aside from playing guitar in the live incarnation of Dethklok and keys in Joe Satriani's band, Keneally's musical resume includes guitar and keys in Steve Vai's band, Dream Theater vocalist James LaBrie's Mullmuzzler, and a tour as Frank Zappa's final "stunt guitarist" on Zappa's last tour in 1988. more on this story





Caravan's For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night 40th Anniversary Tour
Caravan will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of one of their landmark albums with 10-date UK tour early next year.

The tour kicks off on 8th January 2013 at the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Hall, at London's Southbank Centre.

The tour will see Caravan celebrate the 40th Anniversary of what many critics regard to be one of the most influential British prog albums of all time; 1973's "For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night". more on this story



The Treatment Releasing Album Ahead of KISS and Motley Crue Tour
The Treatment will release their debut album, This Might Hurt on July 17, 2012, a few days before embarking on their first North American tour where they will be supporting KISS and Motley Crue.

Since the release of the album outside of North America, the band has done extensive touring in the UK and Europe—supporting Alice Cooper, Motorhead, Steel Panther, and Thin Lizzy.

The band is appearing this month at UK's Download festival, Belgium's Grasspop Festival, Germany's Reload Festival, and Switzerland's Earshaker Days Festival. more on this story



The Trews Announce North American Live Dates
The Trews will be returning to North America for a handful of summer dates in July to support their fourth full-length studio album, Hope & Ruin.

The Trews begin their mini-tour on July 18 at their familiar haunt, Artpark in Lewiston, where they've played multiple times to packed crowds in the thousands.

The quartet then head west to Wisconsin and Chicago before heading back east to Philadelphia, Asbury Park and finally up to New Hampshire to close out on July 27. more on this story



Johnny A Launches American Guitarist TV,
(Gibson) Johnny A. has launched American Guitarist TV, a new YouTube channel where he shares his expertise, answers fan questions and gives viewers an insight into his creative process.

In preparation for his next album (due in February), Johnny A. is currently expanding his studio with legendary studio designer John Storyk, studio designer at Walters-Storyk Design Group and designer of Jimi Hendrix's Electric Lady Studio, with completion expected by the end of August.

Recently, Johnny A. sat in with fellow Gibson signature artist Joe Bonamassa at the Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, to perform "Look Over Yonders Wall." Fan-filmed footage of the performance is here.





White Wizzard, Icarus Witch and Widow Tour
White Wizzard will be hitting the road this summer for a North American tour which will kick off on August 9th in Kansas City, Missouri.

The band will be joined on the two-week 'North American Assault' tour by fellow heavy metal bands Icarus Witch and Widow.

White Wizzard mainman and bassist Jon Leon comments: "White Wizzard is excited to be doing an East Coast tour with the great bands Icarus Witch and Widow - both are fantastic and we think it is a fantastic bill. Come out if you want to see three bands doing traditional heavy metal and have a blast... See you there!" more on this story



B Sides


Singled Out: The Overseer
Today The Overseer's drummer Abishai Collingsworth and singer Anthony Rivera tells us about the song "Amend" from their brand new album "We Search, We Dig," which was released by Solid State today. Here is the story:

Abishai- "I think we can all agree that this is our favorite song on the record. I feel the dynamics in this song are very well-rounded and can appeal to many listeners. The writing process for this song was similar to how we write most of our songs. Darren demoed the song out on GarageBand and presented it to us at a practice. Once we had an outline for the song, we had a pretty clear vision of where we wanted to go with it. Me and Brad sat down to write the patterns where the kick and bass match up at the beginning. I honestly wasn't sold on the intro at first until the vocals were set. It really brought life and intensity to the song. We jammed this song for months until I had the drums set. I really like to break the guitar riffs down and write a drum line that will compliment them. We pre-proed the song in Joplin, MO with ZombieLife Studios and producer Jerrod Naff. There, I could really sit back and listen to the song as a whole and ended up changing a couple drum fills and adding accents where the guitars hit. Once you record what you've written, you can take a step back and see how everything lines up. In pre-pro, we changed and added things we realized didn't hit as well as we thought. We tried many different melodies before we settled on the choruses you hear now. The song came together really well and were super stoked on the changes we've made to it and hope you will be too!"

Anthony- "For the most part, I will have lyrics already written for each song we write. For this song I wanted to to try something different. I waited until the music was complete to see how the song made me feel when I heard it. When I got the song I knew exactly what I wanted to write about and the way it made me feel. Amend is a very emotional and intense song that is based around many marriages falling apart in our generation. I feel that we live in a generation that gives up too easily and takes marriage very lightly. Many of us come from broken homes and that needs to change. The lyric "You gave your heart, till death do us part" hits me really hard. No one is perfect and marriage is a battle, but we vow to be together till death, that man shouldn't break that bond. This song gives hope that true love can mend a marriage. Once I have my screaming parts written, Darren and I will get together to write out melodies. He will read what I have lyrically and then write what he gets from the meaning of the song for the choruses, etc. I think it brings out more diversity having another band member bring their ideas to the meaning of the song."

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




Aerosmith Release Backstage Video
(hennemusic) Aerosmith kicked off their Global Warming tour this past Saturday night in Minneapolis.

The Boston rockers return to the road for a summer tour with Cheap Trick, while also promoting their new single, "Legendary Child."

Aerosmith have released backstage video from opening night; fans can see the guys comparing wardrobes and having a laugh just moments before taking the stage to play a sold-out Target Center. Watch the video here.




Wolves At The Gate Release Dead Man Video
Wolves At The Gate have released a new music video for their new song "Dead Man."

The track comes from the band's upcoming full-length Captors set for release on July 3rd via Solid State Records.

The debut full-length is the follow-up to the band's independently released EP We Are The Ones. Watch the video.



Twin Atlantic Giving Away EP
Twin Atlantic are celebrating their tour supporting Blink-182 by giving away a free EP.

The EP features tracks from their sold-out show at Glasgow's O2 Academy and a special acoustic performance of previous single ' Make A Beast Of Myself' as well as 'Crashland'.

Fans can get their free download by visiting the band's Facebook page here and following to links to 'Twin Atlantic Live EP'.

Currently in the middle of supporting Blink-182 at their UK arena shows, the Scottish rockers have also recently announced a 10 date jaunt around the UK this autumn. more on this story



Metallica Share Sonisphere Helsinki Footage
(hennemusic) Metallica continue to share concert footage from their 2012 European Summer Vacation tour.

The band played the Sonisphere festival in Helsinki, Finland on June 4. Metallica are now sharing some footage from the event.

The footage includes video of the pre-show meet and greet and "The Shortest Straw" from the concert.

Today's Day In Rock News!

Rolling Stones Farewell Show Rumor
(hennemusic) A UK tabloid is reporting The Rolling Stones will play their farewell show at the 2013 Glastonbury festival.
The Mirror reports the Stones will play the coveted Sunday night headline slot on the Pyramid stage after talks with festival organizers.

"All four members have agreed that next year is the right time to have one final hurrah and put on the gig of their lives," a source tells The Mirror. "It's a case of now or never, and obviously Glastonbury is the most important festival on the circuit. Everybody's incredibly excited... it's a final bow." more on this story



Fatal Radiohead Stage Collapse
(Classic Rock) Radiohead's drum tech Scott Johnson was killed and three others injured when a stage collapsed hours before the band played in Canada.

Witnesses say the structure "caved in on itself" leaving Johnson, 33, crushed underneath. A 45-year-old suffered a head wound and two others sustained minor injuries.

The tragedy took place a week after ZZ Top refused to play a show saying there was a risk of a stage collapse – although that statement has been questioned by event organisers.

Radiohead crew were setting the stage at Downsview Park, Toronto, when the structure fell in. Around 1000 people were in the 35,000-capacity open-air arena. more on this story



Ozzy Osbourne's Son Jack Diagnosed With Multiple Sclerosis
(Classic Rock) Ozzy Osbourne and wife Sharon have revealed their pain after son Jack was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The news comes just two months after the 26-year-old TV presenter and moviemaker became a dad with fiancee Lisa Stelly.

MS is a disease of the nervous system which generates physical and mental symptoms including memory loss, slurred speech and dizziness. Its causes are not clearly understood.

Jack was diagnosed after he suffered the loss of 60% vision in his right eye. He tells Hello: "While I was waiting for the results I got really angry. Then I got really sad. After that I realised being angry and upset is only going to make it worse." More from Jack as well as Ozzy and Sharon here.



Deftones' Chi Cheng Hospitalized
Deftones bass player Chi Cheng has been hospitalized for an infection after returning home to California last week from a brain injury clinic where he had been receiving treatment.

Gina of OneloveforChi.com website said on Friday, "chi is in ICU on 3 antibiotics for pneumonia. blood pressure and oxygen are both low. please send healing."

Lambgoat reports that Cheng's mother, Jeanne Marie Cheng posted this message online, "[Chi] just got home last night from NJ and is in ER with something serious going on... pneumonia and don't know what else. Not good!" The latest updates should be posted here as they are known.



Paul Stanley Can See Gene Simmon's Ego From His House
(Classic Rock) Paul Stanley admits Kiss bandmate Gene Simmons lets his ego run away with him – and talks as if their achievements as a partnership are all his own work.

And the frontman is amazed that anyone would pay attention to a musician's opinions on other matters, which is why he keeps his thoughts to himself.

"Gene lives about five minutes from me -– I can see his ego from my house!," Stanley tells CNN. "Gene enjoys being out there saying 'me, me, me' when it's actually 'we, we, we.' We're partners, and part of the dynamic of a successful partnership is knowing its limitations.

"Friends come and go; we're family, which is more important." more on this story




Joe Perry, Ace Frehley, Michael Anthony on New Bret Michaels Album
(Gibson) Poison frontman Bret Michaels has teamed up with a stellar cast for a new solo album that's slated to arrive late July.

Bret Michaels and Friends: Get Your Rock On will include guest appearances by Aerosmith's Joe Perry, Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley, ex-Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, Def Leppard's Phil Collen and Lynyrd Skynyrd's Rickey Medlocke and Peter Keys. The record also will feature a few major artists from outside the world of rock — Jimmy Buffett, country legend Loretta Lynn and rapper Lil Jon.

Talking to Billboard about the album, Michaels says, "I have either jammed with, partied with, or hung out with every friend that joined me on this album. There is such an awesome and diverse mix of talent on this record…It was truly one of the highlights of my career." more on this story






Kerry King Updates Slayer Fans On Jeff's Recovery and New Music
(Banana 101.5) Slayer axe-man Kerry King gives the lowdown on co-guitarist Jeff Hanneman's rehabilitation progress, the rumored two-song EP and their in-the-works new album in a new interview.

"If you look at him, he looks fine. But playing the intricate things that we do, he's not ready to do that," King tells MTV of Slayer's decision to tour with Exodus guitarist Gary Holt in Hanneman's place. "He doesn't know if he has the stamina for an hour-and-fifteen-minute set. He can play any of the slower stuff and do it just like the record. But we made a name for ourselves, historically, for being good live, so we had to make the decision and say, 'You've gotta get better before you try to come back. If you come back, make it a special thing, not just an adequate thing.'"

Jeff's absence hasn't slowed the band from moving forward in the studio either, as they have been working on material for a new album and just finished two songs that they're unsure of what to do with. Read what he has to say about that here.



Rob Zombie Plans His 'Best Record Yet'
(Banana 101.5) As Rob Zombie puts the finishing touches on his upcoming witchcraft horror flick 'The Lords of Salem,' he is simultaneously preparing to enter the studio to record what he calls his "best record yet."

Bob Marlette, known for in the world of rock for his work with bands like Black Sabbath, Shinedown and Seether, has been announced as the producer for Zombie's forthcoming fifth solo album.

Marlette established a working relationship with current Zombie guitarist John 5 on the first album he produced, Red Square Black's 1994 'Square' EP, and later on a Marilyn Manson release. more on this story



Animals as Leaders Robbed While On Tour
(Classic Rock) Animals as Leaders' LA home was robbed while the band were on tour, resulting in the loss of 10 guitars and a range of gear.

The loss comes as frontman Javier Reyes fights what he says was a wrongful arrest during the tour.

A band statement says: "This is beyond devastating. We know so many of you have been supportive with Javier's legal troubles. We need more of your help now to find some of these one-of-a-kind instruments that may pop up on eBay, Craigslists, pawn shops and music stores." more on this story



Robert Plant Adds Another U.S. Live Date
(hennemusic) Robert Plant has announced the second of two US concert dates this summer. Plant and his new band, The Sensational Space Shifters, will perform at Birmingham's historic Alabama Theatre on Sunday, August 12.

Robert is joined for this special show (from Austin, TX) by Patty Griffin. Since Patty's Grammy winning album "Downtown Church" in 2010, she has collaborated with Plant in the very successful Band Of Joy project.

Plant will also play the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival's 25th anniversary in Clarksdale, Mississippi. more on this story


Billy Corgan Slams Former Smashing Pumpkins
(Banana 101.5) On the eve of opening a new chapter for the Smashing Pumpkins with the release of 'Oceania,' frontman Billy Corgan offers his thoughts on his former bandmates.

In an interview in the latest issue of NME, Corgan offered some harsh words on former drummer Jimmy Chamberlin's 2009 statement about leaving the band, that implied that he felt they were unjustly cashing in on the Pumpkins' name. "See now, here is a perfect opportunity for me to bury Jimmy as a f—ing liar. But I won't. That's a lie. That statement's just a flat-out lie," said Corgan. "I'm OK with Jimmy. We don't have a relationship at the moment, but I mean, I have no ill will. I want to see him do well."

Although Corgan did clarify his feelings about Chamberlin, he was not so kind when it came to another ex-bandmate. "James Iha, I think, is just a piece of s—. I think he's one of the worst human beings I've ever met in my life." And what about D'arcy?




Aerosmith Kick Off Summer Tour
(hennemusic) Aerosmith launched their Global Warming tour Saturday night in Minneapolis.

Joined by openers Cheap Trick, the Star Tribune reports Aerosmith rocked a sold-out Target Center before 14,000 fans for the opening night of their summer run across North America.

The band played material dating back to its 1973 debut and from its upcoming album, "Music From Another Dimension." Check out video clips from the show here.




Pantera Vaults Are Empty
(Classic Rock) Ex Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul has warned fans not to expect any more unreleased material after their recent track Piss surfaced because he doesn't think there's any more to be found.

"It was definitely forgotten about," he says of the song recorded during sessions for their 1992 album Vulgar Display of Power.

"For some reason, and I don't know why, we left it off the record. The people at the label were digging through the vaults and came across it. With a lot of these things there's a verse there, maybe a chorus. The songs is maybe half-way done and producers and engineers go in and finish it. But this song was truly finished. And it's special because I truly don't believe there's any more unheard Pantera tracks out there." More rock news here.



Green Day Tease New Album
(Gibson) Green Day will release three separate albums starting later this year. The trio have debuted the new cover of ¡Uno!, which features singer Billie Joe Armstrong's face, with his eyes crossed out, against a swamp green background, via a new YouTube clip.

The trailer shows the trio recording the new album in their studio. There's also a glimpse of a white board with, presumably, the record's song titles. They include "Carpe Diem," "Crushing Bastards" and "Makeout Party."

¡Uno! ¡Dos! ¡Tré! will be released in three stages, with the first album ¡Uno! coming out on 25 September in the U.S. ¡Dos! comes out on November 13 with ¡Tré! following on 15 January 15. All the albums are available to pre-order now from the band's official website Greenday.com. more on this story





Gene Simmons Daughter Tries Out For The X Factor
(TMZ) Gene Simmons spent Father's Day with Simon Cowell and Britney Spears ... but not by choice -- he joined his daughter at the last minute as she tried out for "X-Factor."

Sources close to "X-Factor" tell TMZ ... Sophie Simmons showed up at the San Francisco auditions yesterday ... saying she wanted a "fair shot" and telling the judges, "This isn't about my dad. This is about my audition."

Of course ... her famous father was in attendance, but we're told he almost didn't make it. Sources say the KISS front man got a surprise call from his 19-year-old daughter the night before ... saying she couldn't come home for Father's Day because she was trying her hand at the talent competition.

We're told Gene decided to hop on a private jet and made it just in time to see his daughter belt out some tunes.

We'll find out soon if the apple falls far from the tree. more on this story




B Sides


Singled Out: The Given Motion
Today Frank Mitaritonna from pop-rockers The Given Motion tells us about their song "Don't Blink" from their new album "Human Dictionary". Here is the story:

It was our favorite accident and we haven't done a show without it. People always tell us it's their favorite if they don't know us and it kills us because we try so hard with every song we write. This one was a fluke we can't seem to get past.

The whole tune is based around the combination of a drum rhythm CJ clapped in my living room and a guitar riff that I was messing with. I'm sure I had a totally different idea for what it should've been played against. As soon as he did it though, I knew we had something. The guitar was bouncy and together it formed this really engaging beat which you really hear in full at the very end of the song.

We got together as a band and like all our best tunes it came together in no time. Our recording habits then were fairly undisciplined and in summer 2008 we decided to add it to 2 other songs we were doing for a 6 song EP. We had no idea what the chorus would be, but CJ came in pretty open minded. Ryan and I had an idea how we wanted it to be and true to form, what he wound up singing was the total opposite. His original vocal idea for each chorus was what you hear him belting out over the last chorus. We needed something a little more restrained for the rest of the song and so, totally on the spot in the control room he jotted out some lyrics and I kinda hummed something basic and he went in and laid it down. When it came time for "Human Dictionary" we wanted to do the song again, right.

This song was really inspired by some advice by the father of his friend, about not missing out on life, he said "Don't Blink". We could've named the song "There Was a Time" or something like that, but this felt right to us. I think people can't help getting into this song and admittedly, neither can we. It's always been with us and we've done it so many ways, including beat-boxing it. It was a song we wrote on the cusp of breakup and it gave us the confidence we needed to know we could move on writing music together.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, grab a free download right here!



Sites & Sounds: Rockapalooza- Rockwave and More
If you are looking for a rockin' destination this summer, antiMusic travel editor Kevin Wierzbicki gives us the lowdown on four great events taking place in June and July: Rockapalooza, A Taste Of Bloomington, Montreal Guitar Show and Montreal Guitar Show

Rockapalooza – Jackson, Michigan – June 23
Scheduled to appear at the 5th annual edition of this Midwestern rock festival are Puddle of Mudd, Saliva, Reha3, We Came as Romans, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Coolio, Afroman, I See Stars, Bobaflex, 12 Stones, Sore Eyes, the Elder Beer Men and 50 other acts. Bam Margera and Brandon Novak host. www.rockapalooza.net

A Taste Of Bloomington – Bloomington, Indiana – June 23
More than 50 food, drink and goodie vendors will be on hand to tempt any and every appetite as the 30th edition of A Taste of Bloomington takes over Showers Common in downtown B'Town. Upland Brewing and Bloomington Brewing Company and Oliver Winery and Butler Winery will be offering Indiana-made adult beverages and of course there'll be a "taste" for the ears, too: scheduled to appear are Main Squeeze, Hairbanger's Ball, Polka Boy, the Vallures and bluegrassers New Old Calvary. There'll also be a country stage featuring Ragin' Texans and a jazz corner featuring the Chris Parker Group and Neil Ferris Sound Machine. www.visitbloomington.com/taste

Montreal Guitar Show – Montreal, Quebec, Canada – June 29-July 1.
This show for "guitarophiles" takes place at the Hyatt Regency Montreal, right in the heart of the concurrently running Festival International de Jazz de Montreal (Montreal Jazz Festival) site. More than 140 acoustic and electric luthiers will display their wares and manufacturers of amps, effects pedals, etc. will also be exhibiting. Performing live will be Philip Catherine, Pierre Bensusan, Larry Coryell, Matt Schofield, Kelly Joe Phelps, Steve Hill and Paul Deslauriers. www.montrealguitarshow.com

Rockwave – Athens, Greece – June 30-July 2.
Ozzy Osbourne headlines Greece's biggest rock festival, also one of the biggest in all of Europe. Others scheduled to appear are The Prodigy, Iggy & the Stooges, Everlast, Nashville Pussy, Machine Head, Paradise Lost, Unisonic, the Locos and quite fitting for a show in Greece, the Planet of Zeus. www.rockwavefestival.gr



Eddie and Wolfgang Van Halen Appear On CNN
(hennemusic) The father-and-son team of Eddie and Wolfgang Van Halen were featured on CNN Friday as part of the station's Father's Day coverage.

An interview and feature with the pair appeared on CNN's Newsroom with Brooke Baldwin.

The feature focused on the recent summer tour date cancellations, peace and harmony within the band, future tour options and, naturally, the Father's Day theme.

"I'm just the luckiest father on the planet," says Eddie. "For what he's grown up in…he doesn't smoke, he doesn't drink, he doesn't do drugs."

"You're not so bad, either," replied Wolfgang.

"Anymore," added Eddie with a laugh. Watch the interview here.



Def Leppard Rock Fox News
(hennemusic) Def Leppard have been doing a lot of media interviews and sessions, to promote Rock of Ages film and the re-recording of two of their hits.

The media blitz included a live performance on Fox News Channel's Fox & Friends' Summer Concert Series on Friday morning.

Def Leppard's Rock Of Ages tour with Poison and Lita Ford is set to kick off on Wednesday in Salt Lake City. Check out the Fox appearance here.




Things You Might Not Know About Paul McCartney
(Gibson) Gibson.com wishes Paul McCartney Happy Birthday today. Few lives have been as thoroughly documented as the life of Paul McCartney. Biographies – both of The Beatles and Sir Paul – number in the hundreds, many filled with minute details about the public and private life of the former Beatle. Still, we managed to unearth a few interesting tidbits that may have eluded all but the most avid fans.

The artist who showed him the option to play guitar left-handed was … Slim Whitman.: McCartney's father bought him a trumpet for his birthday when McCartney turned 14, but the young lad had his Dad exchange it for a cheap acoustic. The future Beatle struggled mightily with the instrument until he happened upon a photograph of Slim Whitman, the country yodeler who played guitar lefty-style. McCartney flipped his guitar, modified the string setup, and soon wrote his first song, a ditty titled "I Lost My Little Girl."

Before they became Wings, McCartney's post-Beatles band nearly became … a paint thinner. In August 1971, when he was trying to get his post-Beatles band off the ground, McCartney was having a terrible time coming up with a name for the nascent group. Among the top name-candidates floated were The Dazzlers and, for reasons unknown, Turpentine. Alas, while praying for his wife, Linda, as she was giving birth to their daughter, the image of "wings" kept springing to mind.

His 1980 hit, "Coming Up," was a prime factor in John Lennon's decision to get back into music.: This charming ditty, from McCartney's homespun 1980 album, McCartney II, was first heard by Lennon as he was traveling with his assistant, Fred Seaman. The next morning, Lennon confessed to Seaman that he couldn't get the song's distinctive riff out of his head. Seaman later said the track stirred the muse in Lennon. "If Paul was writing decent music," Seaman wrote, in his memoir, "John felt compelled to take up the challenge." Read more here.





HearJapan Shutting Down
HearJapan sent over the sad news that they will be closing HearJapan.com on June 30th. They provided these details:

HearJapan launched a new version of the site in February that was over two years in the making. Unfortunately, there were many unanticipated costs in doing this that made HearJapan impossible to manage.

This website will be shut down by June 30th, unless another company decides to purchase the website.

HearJapan was started in late 2007 as an mp3 download store dedicated to spreading Japanese music around the world. Until June 30th, users will still be able to make purchases and download music. HearJapan.com




Metallica Release Rock Am Ring Footage
(hennemusic) Metallica continue to share concert footage from their 2012 European Summer Vacation tour. The band played the Rock Am Ring festival in Nurburgring, Germany on June 2.

Metallica are now sharing some footage from the event, including video of the pre-show meet and greet, tuning room and "Enter Sandman" from the concert.

The metal icons launch of their own festival – Orion Music + More – at Bader Field in Atlantic City, New Jersey on June 23 and 24

Cheap Trick Show Reveiw!

Cheap Trick
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tulsa, Oklahoma
June 7, 2012

By Jeb Wright

Set List:
Hello There | Elo Kiddies | California Man | Clock Strikes Ten | Ain’t That a Shame | On Top of the World | Don’t Be Cruel | I Know What I Want | Need Your Love | Stop This Game | The Flame | I Want You to Want Me | Out in the Street (Theme to That 70’s Show) | Sick Man of Europe | Surrender

Encore:
Gonna Raise Hell | Drum Solo | Dream Police | Goodnight Now




After audio snippets praising Cheap Trick from Homer Simpson and Damone from Fast Times at Ridgemont High, the PA system announced, in a sexy female voice, “Please welcome the best fucking rock band you’ve ever seen…Cheap Trick!” With that, the band blasted into their famous intro, which first appeared on 1977’s In Color, titled “Hello There.” This is without a doubt the best way for a band to take the stage, as the song serves as a rockin’ introduction to the crowd and gives the sound guys a couple of minutes to make sure everything is correctly dialed in.

Next up was a great surprise, all the way from their eponymous debut, the band performed “Elo Kiddies.” This is a great song that showcases all of Cheap Trick’s uniqueness. From guitarist Rick Nielsen’s quirky suit, cap and sneakers to vocalist Robin Zander’s leather pants, red coat and bad-ass hat, Cheap Trick ekes of originality – sort of. They are their own band for sure, but when asked if Cheap Trick really wanted to be the Beatles, Rick told this writer, “Our producer Tom Werman wanted us to be the Who, but we wanted to be the Sex Pistols!” Maybe it is this combination of odd musical personalities mixed with such misspent ambition that created the bands’ sound in the first place!

Cheap Trick has never been afraid to put their spin on other’s tunes, performed this evening were several remakes, including “California Man,” originally by The Move, “Ain’t That a Shame” by Pat Boone and “Don’t Be Cruel” by Elvis Presley. It was the early Trick tunes, however, that stole the show. “Clock Strikes Ten” and “Top of the World” were unexpected treasures from Trick’s early days. Two album cuts from the classic Dream Police album were also performed. “Gonna Raise Hell” and “Need Your Love” are two of the best Cheap Trick has to offer. “Need Your Love” came across especially well, as Nielsen added some guitar muscle to the song that really took the tune over the edge. A rare performance of “Stop This Game” from 1980’s All Shook Up was also a well received treat.

“The Flame” was introduced by Nielsen who stated, “This was a number one song around the world. In fact, it was even number one in Oklahoma…so…thank you.” Other hits included “I Want You to Want Me” and “Surrender.” “Out in the Street” ended with Nielsen saying, “Hello Oklahoma” instead of the TV theme song’s home of Wisconsin.

One new song, “Sick Man of Europe” from Trick’s latest studio effort The Latest was performed proving that Cheap Trick is one of only a few classic bands whose new music stands well alongside anything from their past catalog.

Bassist Tom Petersson was given the spotlight for “I Know What I Want,” another song from Dream Police. His vocals are not quite as crisp as they once were, but he hung in there and gave it his all. The tune, itself, is a great one, as the chord changes in the verses build up to a smashing chorus, leaving only those without a soul able to sit still in the audience. Nielsen, once again, became the focal point of the song, cranking out a danceable solo.

When the band left the stage, everyone knew the evening was not over. The bass notes of “Gonna Raise Hell” thundered throughout the concert hall as Robin Zander returned to the stage with his hat off, showing off his long blonde locks. It must be noted that Zander is still on top of his game, from the shrieks of “mother” in “Gonna Raise Hell” to hitting the high note in “The Flame” this man continues to be one of the best vocalists in rock and roll.

What came next, however, had nothing to with vocals. Petersson and touring drummer Daxx Nielsen, Rick’s son, remained onstage. As the bass droned, Daxx played along. Eventually, the younger Nielsen took over and played a drum solo that had everyone on their feet. The drummer played intricate rhythms that sent the sound into the stratosphere before the rest of the band returned to the stage with the opening notes of “Dream Police.” The evening ended with the same notes it began with, only this time, “Hello There” was replaced with “Goodnight Now.” Rick Nielsen showered the crowd with guitar picks as the audience yelled out for more.

This was a special headlining show, the like of which will be rare this year as Cheap Trick is heading out on tour opening for Aerosmith in the summer of 2012. If this night in Tulsa is any indication, fans will get their moneys worth, as Trick is still, after all of these years, on top of their game.

For tour dates and all things Trick visit www.cheaptrick.com

This Week In Rock News!

Slash To Receive Walk of Fame Star
Former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash will be the recipient of the 2,473rd Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next month. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce sent out these details and comments:

"Slash is widely considered one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time," said Ana Martinez, Producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremonies, "We are proud to place his name among the stars on our fabled Hollywood Walk of Fame."

Slash will be performing at a private acoustic performance and exclusive Q&A with Slash and Myles Kennedy at Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood Blvd. after the ceremony. Fans will have the opportunity to win tickets to the exclusive show by listening to KLOS 95.5 starting June 25. - more on this story


Black Sabbath Reunion Helping Iommi's Cancer Fight
(Gibson) Tony Iommi, who has recently been undergoing chemotherapy, has said that playing with the reunited Black Sabbath helped him with his illness.

According to orange.co.uk, working helped him get through the ordeal. He told Kerrang! Magazine: "It was good for me to do that. I did feel tired and sick - and it does make you sick, you start throwing up. But on the days when I felt I could do it, we were all there working."

Black Sabbath were just honored at this year's Kerrang! Awards with the Inspiration Award. - more on this story


Zakk Wylde, Lars Ulrich and Skid Row Walk Into A Bar...
(Classic Rock) Black Label Society mainman Zakk Wylde recalls a night in the early 1990s where even rock star status didn't excuse himself and members of Metallica and Skid Row from a bar queue.

It led to a celebrated story in which Lars Ulrich wound up handing cups of Wylde's urine to fans, thinking it was beer. But the guitarist is more surprised the event took place at all.

He recounts the memory in his new book Bringing Metal to the Children, and tells Guitar International: "It doesn't make any sense. I didn't want to lose my spot in line for drinks. I was putting them on the bar and I was going to throw them out when I was finished pissing – there was a garbage can a few feet away.

"The funny part was that it took place in 1990 or 1991. To have Lars Ulrich from Metallica, the guys from Skid Row and me all having to wait in a long line to get a beer in a packed club? We didn't get any special attention there. I'm just trying to picture that now – it would never happen." - more on this story



The Who Selected For Olympics
(Classic Rock) After the London Olympics Committee asked Who manager Bill Curbishley whether Keith Moon was available to appear at their closing ceremony, the band have been confirmed as one of four acts representing British music at the event.

Describing Pete Townsend's outfit as "an inspired throwback to the swinging 60s" the committee said they'd be joined by Take That, George Michael and Emeli Sande at the show on August 12.

Read more rock news including Great White's Jack Russell, Steel Panther, Not so Sweet court battle, Stone Sour and more - here.



Alice Cooper Goes Gaga At Music Fest
(Gibson) As if recording with Ke$ha on his recent Welcome 2 My Nightmare album wasn't a radical enough foray into the pop world, shock rock pioneer Alice Cooper performed an even more daring feat this weekend: a cover of Lady Gaga's "Born This Way."

Cooper performed the song during his set at the Bonnaroo Music And Arts Festival.Gaga wasn't there in person but she appeared in spirit: a gigantic 'Frankengaga' towered over Cooper's band on stage.

Fans shouldn't be too surprised though: Cooper had previously spoken of his admiration for Gaga: "She can sing, write and play piano — she's not just a costume queen ... you can be as outrageous as you want as long as you back it up with the music," Cooper said. - more on this story



Stone Roses Play First Official Show Together in 16 Years
(Gibson) The reunited Stone Roses played their first official concert together in 16 years on Friday June 8 in Barcelona, Spain.

The 14-song set at the Razzamatazz began with "I Wanna Be Adored" from their self-titled debut, and included classic tunes such as "Fools Gold," "She Bangs The Drums" and "Made Of Stone," ending with a ten-minute version of "I Am The Resurrection."

The show in Barcelona was actually the band's second show since reforming, if you count the secret warm-up gig in their hometown of Manchester on May 23. At that show, fans who had been tipped off were asked to bring along a CD cover, record sleeve or Stone Roses t-shirt to prove they were a fan before they could be given a wristband. - more on this story



Slipknot To Release Antennas to Hell and New Mobil App This Summer
Roadrunner have set a July 24th for the new Slipknot "best of" compilation which has been dubbed, Antennas to Hell. And the band is also releasing a mobile application this summer.

The label sent over these details: The two-disc version of Antennas to Hell includes a bonus live CD that captures the band's 2009 performance at the legendary Download Festival in the U.K.

The live disc showcases the band playing a set of career spanning classics in front of 80,000 rabid fans. The journey from - "(sic)" - track 1 on their self-titled debut - to "Snuff" - the haunting No. 1 rock track from 2008's All Hope Is Gone - proves that. The album features fan favorites, live classics and well-known radio hits. - more on this story


Bruce Dickinson, Joe Bonamassa and Steve Morse On Jon Lord's New CD
(hennemusic) Former Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord has revealed plans to release his "Concerto for Group and Orchestra," re-recorded by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and a selection of invited guests.

Guests and soloists include Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden), Joe Bonamassa and Steve Morse, along with Jon's 'house singers' Steve Balsamo and Kasia Laska.

Scheduled for release in September, the album will be accompanied by a specially filmed documentary. - more on this story



Ozzy Osbourne Movie To Air On Television
(hennemusic) "God Bless Ozzy Osbourne," the documentary about the life of the legendary heavy metal singer, will air on July 13 on the US cable network Showtime.

The film had a short run in US theatres last summer before being released on DVD last fall. Co-produced by Ozzy's son, Jack, the movie debuted last year at New York's Tribeca Film Festival.

The story is packed with never-before-seen Black Sabbath footage and recent solo tour clips. Fellow musicians Paul McCartney, Tommy Lee and others share stories, while an exclusive interview with the Osbourne family explains why bringing Ozzy's storied history to life — through the eyes of his son Jack — was the perfect motivation to capture the story of one of music's greatest icons on film. - Check out a preview here.



Uproar Festival Dates Announced
Organizer have released the latest dates for this summer's Uproar Festival, which is set to kick off on August 17 in Kansas City, MO.

The main stage is set to feature sets from Shinedown, Godsmack, Staind, along with Adelitas Way.

P.O.D. will lead the second and third stage linesup which will feature Deuce, Fozzy, Redlight King, Mindset Evolution, In This Moment, Thousand Foot Krutch, Candlelight Red and a local Battle Of The Bands winner. - more on this story



Smashing Pumpkins Streaming New Album Online
The Smashing Pumpkins are offering fans a free stream this week of their forthcoming album, Oceania, on iTunes.

The new album is set to be released next Tuesday. We were sent these details: Having his own label through EMI afforded Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan the opportunity to try something different. It is a launch scenario that goes against industry standards by allowing the album to be heard as it was meant to be. The group's release plan was in no way intended to slight radio stations, video channels, press or online outlets. Instead, it represents the artistic vision of a band who, says CORGAN, "was dead set on making an album where every song was just as valuable as any other, ignoring the typical claptrap you hear about needing a single. The only way to make the case that every song on Oceania is worth hearing is to put your heart into the sequence as a cohesive whole." Listen here.

Oceania was recorded at the group's studio in Chicago with Corgan's bandmates: guitarist Jeff Schroeder, drummer Mike Byrne and bassist/vocalist Nicole Fiorentino. The powerful 13-song collection (see track listing below) was produced by Corgan and Bjorn Thorsrud and mixed by David Bottrill (Muse, Tool, King Crimson, etc). - more on this story



Rush Excited About New Album
(hennemusic) Rush release their 20th studio album, "Clockwork Angels," today. The band are in the midst of doing worldwide press for the new project and, on Monday night, bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee was featured on CBC Canada's national evening newscast, "The National."

Lee sat down with host Peter Mansbridge to talk about "Clockwork Angels," and was asked if he still feels pressure upon the release of new music to fans.

"It's nothing you can ever take for granted, really," explained Geddy. "To me, every time and album is finished and mixed, there's an incredible sense of pride, an incredible sense of relief because they always seem like impossible tasks, in one way or another. You want to know what people think of your work; you put a lot into it. We've always dedicated ourselves to working hard and hoping to improve every time out. And ya, the new one's coming out and we're excited to see if people like it." - more on this story



Lita Ford Likens Her Marriage To Ike and Tina Turner's
(Classic Rock) Lita Ford has likened her marriage to ex-bandmate Jim Gillette to the tumultuous relationship between Ike and Tina Turner – and believes her new lease of life is a gift from God because she survived.

The guitarist is set for a tour with Def Leppard and Poison to promote new album Living Like a Runaway, and says her life is massively different from when she released 2009′s Wicked Wonderland, which she now describes as "more of a JIm album".

Now recovering after a messy divorce, Ford says working with Gillette was similar to the unbalanced and sometimes violent relationship the Turners lived through before their 1976 split.

She tells Sleaz Roxx: "It really was like Ike and Tina, completely. It was incredibly awkward for me. I believe in working with your spouse, in supporting your spouse in whatever they want to do." - More from her here.



Blondie and Devo To Launch Whip It To Shreds tour
Blondie and Devo are teaming up for a North American co-headline tour dubbed the "Whip It To Shreds" tour.

The trek will be kicking off September 7th and hitting 13 select cities before wrapping September 26th.

"We can't wait to get out on the road with Devo. It's going to be an incredible show and we're excited to share it with our fans," says Debbie Harry. - more on this story



Early Metallica and Megadeth Explored In New M&M Podcast
Bill Hale is the special guest for the latest episode of The Decibel Geek Podcast which focuses on the early days of both Metallica and Megadeth.

Hale was a photographer with Metal Rendezvous Magazine in San Francisco in the late 1970's and early 1980's and was witness to the formation and formative years of both legendary thrash bands.

Hale has published books on both bands including Metallica: Club Dayz: 1982-1984 and the recently-released Megadeth: Another Time, A Different Place. - more on this story



Geoff Tate Plays Queensryche Show Solo
(Classic Rock) Queensryche singer Geoff Tate played the band's Scorpions support slot last night as a solo artist.

Ahead of Monday's concert in Valley City, Utah, the frontman announced "some of the members" of Queensryche weren't able to appear "due to personal reasons." He went on: "Although I would have really loved for all of us to play together, it wasn't possible for them.

"I couldn't miss playing for one of the best rock audiences in the world and opening for one of my all-time favourite bands for anything. I plan to rock Salt Lake City today." - more on this story



Les Paul Auction Brings In Over $5 Million
(Gibson) Some of Les Paul's most famous guitars and musical equipment were auctioned by Julien's this past weekend.

A very rare 1982 prototype sold for a staggering $180,000, according to Reuters. Another historic item, a 1940s Epiphone Zephyr, a.k.a. "Klunker #3," sold for $144,000.

The sale raised in excess of $5 million for the Les Paul Foundation, an organization founded by the iconic guitarist and inventor to support music education, engineering and medical research. - more on this story



Zappa Family Trust Plans To Release 60 Frank Zappa Recordings
The music of the legendary Frank Zappa is now back in the hands of the Zappa Family Trust and we received these details about the first new release:

The estate has signed a global license and distribution deal with Universal Music Enterprises to release 60 of the iconic composer's recordings. The roll-out kicks off July 31 with 12 recordings, with another dozen recordings to be released monthly through the end of 2012.

"The ink is not yet dry on The Zappa Family Trust's worldwide deal with Universal Music Enterprises," says Gail Zappa. "They made us the offer we couldn't refuse--for all the right reasons. It is a win-win for all of us, but mostly for Frank Zappa. Long may his baton wave. We are so ready to go." - more on this story




Dr Feelgood's Wilko Johnson Set For Solo Tour
(Noble) Former Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson plans to launch a fall tour of the UK with special guest Virgil and the Accelerators.

Johnson is promoting his autobiography, Looking Back At Me. Dr Feelgood is said to have influenced everyone from Joe Strummer and Mick Jones to Steve Albini.

After pioneering the Feelgood's distinctive mid 70s, pre-punk British R&B sound (which had a significant impact on the British punk rock music), Wilko went on to play guitar for Ian Dury and the Blockheads. - more on this story



Dream Theater Heading South
Dream Theater will follow the second leg of their North American tour with a tour of South America.

The South American run, in support of their latest album A Dramatic Turn Of Events, will launch in Guatemala City, Guatemala on August 8 and will include stops in El Salvador, Costa Rica, Columbia, Argentina, Chile and Brazil.

The tour will conclude September 1 at the Ulysses Guimaraes in Brasilia, Brazil, almost a full year after the band first went on the road in support of the new album. - more on this story



BoDeans Expand Tour As New Album Is Released
BoDeans have expanded their 40+ date North American tour with headlining stops in Nashville, Atlanta, Memphis, and Cleveland.

They play a special Fourth of July show at Milwaukee Summerfest before playing NYC's City Winery on August 9.

BoDeans are touring in support of their new studio album, 'American Made,' which was release this week. - more on this story



Dropkick Murphys Add Halfway To St. Patrick's Day Tour Dates
Dropkick Murphys have added more dates for their "Halfway To St. Patrick's Day Tour," with U.S. shows from September 14 through 21.

The "Halfway To St. Patrick's Day Tour" will include stops in Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Utica, and culminates with a previously announced performance at Boston's Bank Of American Pavilion waterfront amphitheatre.

Dropkick Murphys are touring in support of Going Out In Style and Going Out In Style: Fenway Park Bonus Edition CDs, both released via the band-owned Born & Bred Records. - more on this story



Icarus The Owl Releasing New Album This Month
Icarus The Owl have set a June 21st release date for their new album, Love Always, Leviathan.

The Stephan Hawkes produced full length will will contain twelve tracks of technical pop-punk.

Joey Rubenstein commented on the sound of the album by saying, "This album still has all the main attributes of Icarus The Owl. It is still very technical with odd time signatures, tap guitar, poly-rhythms among other aspects. Love Always, Leviathan is our most technical work to date, but also our poppyest. The songs differ vastly track to track, ranging from everything between quirky pop songs to heavier technical songs. The last two tracks are both over six and a half minutes long, which is definitely something new for us." - more on this story



Tom Cruise Explains Def Leppard's Reaction To His Cover Of Their Song
(hennemusic) The new Tom Cruise film, Rock Of Ages, hits theaters this Friday. The Broadway play-turned-movie is billed as a love story told through the music of Bon Jovi, Journey, Poison, Twisted Sister and other artists from the 1980s.

Cruise plays Stacee Jaxx, the biggest rock star in the world; in the film, he sings renditions of Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar On Me" and Guns N' Roses' "Paradise City."

The actor promoted Rock of Ages during an appearance last Friday on The Tonight Show, with Cruise explaining that he found out the day before filming that members of Def Leppard would be stopping by to listen. "I'm just trying to honor you," Cruise told the band before singing their smash hit. "We played the whole song, and most of the crew was watching [Def Leppard] for their reaction. The band's lead singer [Joe Elliott] walks over and points at me, and I can't say what he said ... some sort of obscenity, and they had us perform it again for them. They were very generous." - Watch the interview here.



Preview The Story Of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here
(hennemusic) Pink Floyd fans will get some insight into the band's history on June 26 when Eagle Rock Entertainment releases "The Story Of Wish You Were Here" on DVD and Blu-ray.

This is the authorized story of the album made with the full involvement and approval of the members of Pink Floyd.

The DVD and Blu-ray releases contain additional bonus material not featured in the TV broadcast version, including further interviews with Waters, Gilmour and Mason plus Roger and David performing excerpts from the album. - Check out a preview here.



All Else Fails Proclaim That Kanye West Is Still A Giant D****
All Else Fails take aim at Kanye West with the first episode of their new web series.

The band previously released a web series called 'Studio Space' where the band chronicled their studio and tour adventures for fans.

The band is now rebooting a new series called 'Breaking Acclaim' that features AEF's satirical sense of humor along with their road side antics. To view episode 1 titled 'Kanye West Is Still A Giant D*****' you can go - here.



Faulkner Got Judas Priest Gig In Unusual Place
(Classic Rock) Judas Priest new recruit Richie Faulkner has revealed he was offered the job of replacing KK Downing while the band were in Glenn Tipton's kitchen.

The guitarist was enjoying the atmosphere backstage at the tenth Download Festival in Donington Park this weekend. It's the same place Priest appeared in 1980 for the first-ever Monsters of Rock event as second-headline act under Rainbow. And unlike the modern three-day, 140-band extravaganza, that formative event lasted a single day and featured just seven acts.

Faulkner was invited to join the metal gods after Downing astonished fans by announcing he'd quit last year, ahead of their last-ever world tour. Priest will continue playing and are working on a new album, but don't plan on travelling round the world again in the future. - more on this story



Tweeter Vs Black Sabbath
(Classic Rock) It's not easy being pioneers of heavy metal four decades after you first got together. Just ask Black Sabbath. In recent months their anticipated reunion with Ozzy Osbourne has been blotted with the breakdown of relations between the band and original drummer Bill Ward.

Amid all the drama guitarist Tony Iommi insisted: ""We've had our ups and downs over the years, feuds, this, that and the other. It all sorts out and the friendship never goes away, whatever's going on. This band is strange like that."

Bassist Geezer Butler wasn't the first to call it a "soap opera". But one Sabbath fan has taken it a step further with a Twitter account called "Sabbath Soap Opera" – and the username @Back_Stabbath. If you haven't been following the story you may not appreciate the cruel but observant humor in the spoof tweets - here.



Judas Priest Plan Farewell Tour DVD
(hennemusic) Just a few weeks ago, Judas Priest played the final show of their "Epitaph" world tour.

The final Epitaph show - at the Hammersmith Apollo in London - was professionally filmed for a 2013 DVD release.

The work on the project has already begun, according to guitarist Richie Faulkner. "Had a sneaky listen to the recording of the Hammersmith show with [producer] Tom Allom. Rearrange these words: Face your off it's tear gonna," posted Faulkner on his Facebook page. - more on this story


Festival Crowd Surfing Stunt Ends in Broken Neck
(Classic Rock) Stand-up comedian Bob Slayer broke his neck during his Comedy Tent performance at Download on Thursday night – and didn't even realise.

It wasn't until he went to hospital after being injured at another show he discovered the damage he'd done during a wheelie-bin crowdsurfing stunt at the Donington festival.

Ominously, Slayer had started his performance by saying: "This is the last gig I'll ever do" before an assistant helped push his bin into the crowd. - more on this story



Fleetwood Shocked Over Bob Welch Suicide
(Gibson) Mick Fleetwood and Stevie Nicks have issued statements paying tribute to former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Bob Welch. "He was an amazing guitar player -- he was funny, sweet and he was smart," Nicks recalled. "I'm so very sorry for his family and for the family of Fleetwood Mac. So, so sad."

Welch was found dead at his home in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday. A police spokesperson said the 66-year-old musician died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A suicide note was found at the house.

"He was a very, very profoundly intelligent human being and always in good humor, which is why this is so unbelievably shocking," Fleetwood told Reuters. "He was a huge part of our history, which sometimes gets forgotten…. Mostly his legacy would be his songwriting abilities that he brought to Fleetwood Mac, which will survive all of us." - more on this story



Metallica's Lars Ulrich Moved By New Documentary
(Gibson) Metallica's Lars Ulrich said he found watching the new movie about a disabled fan's mission to meet Metallica, 'deeply moving.'

According to the Daily Express, the movie, Mission to Lars, focuses on Tom Spicer, who has Fragile X syndrome, and his sister Kate as they attempt to meet the band and Tom's hero, Lars.

"I thought the film was deeply moving. Meeting Tom and Kate, when they came out to film, it was an experience in itself. But seeing the film and reconnecting with the team was another experience," Ulrich said. "It's not something we're directly involved in - it's their film, their journey. But we're supportive of their endeavor. We don't want to take it over and have it turn into some kind of vanity project.

"It's a great testament into a world I didn't know much about and a great testament to the importance of music and what it means to different people." - more on this story



Collective Soul Live TV Special This Weekend
Collective Soul fans are advised to tune into HDNet this Saturday, June 16, to watch the band perform live to the Roseland Ballroom in Portland, Oregon.

"An Evening with Collective Soul: The Dosage 2012 Tour" will include their memorable 1999 album Dosage in its entirety, and several of their #1 radio hits including "Shine," "December," "World I Know," "Where the River Flows," and many others.

The band will also premiere new, never-heard-before songs from their forthcoming studio album, which they plan to release in the near future. - Check out a preview here.



Slipknot's Corey Taylor Slams Media Over Metal Coverage
(Classic Rock) Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor believes metal is the only genre in which musician keep trying to raise the bar and that's one of the things that makes it a unique art form.

His comments come during a Guardian discussion about why rock and metal is almost entirely ignored in mainstream media, despite a strong following and healthy sales.

Taylor argues that if the press are going to ignore the good points of the genre, they shouldn't keep digging up the bad points instead. He says: "The thing that really pisses me off is they only talk about metal in the sense: 'Metal is going to kill your children.' It would almost be better if they never talked about us at all." - more on this story



Rock & Roll All Nite: A Tribute to KISS Coming
Versailles Records are eyeing a 2013 release for 'Rock & Roll All Nite: A Tribute to Kiss.'

The record will feature current/former members of Alice Cooper Band, Trans-Siberrian Orchestra, RATT, Keel, LA Guns, Megadeth, Metal Church, Dangerous Toys, Lillian Axe, White Lion, Slash's Snakepit, Richard Kendrick, and others to be announced.

This summer Versailles Records will also deliver star-studded tributes including 'No More Tears: A Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne- 1971 - 2012,' 'Take Your Whiskey Home: A Tribute to Van Halen- 1978 - 1984' and 'Two Minutes to Midnight: A Tribute to Iron Maiden.' - more on this story



Le Butcherettes Hitting The Road With The Mars Volta
Le Butcherettes will be heading to Europe this week to kick off a tour where they will be The Mars Volta.

Le Butcherettes are currently at work on a followup to last year's breakout debut, Sin Sin Sin.

Omar Rodriguez Lopez -- who is also reprising his role as producer and bass player for the band's sophomore album -- will be pulling double duty for these shows, as the permanent bassist for Le Butcherettes in addition to his role as co-founder and guitarist in The Mars Volta. - more on this story



Lucero Summer Tour
Lucero will be hitting the road for a North American tour which will kick off on June 20 in Carrboro, NC.

Lucero will be touring in support of their latest album, Women & Work on ATO Records Women & Work, the band's eighth album, is a love letter to their hometown of Memphis.

"Having a band in Memphis puts you through a tradition," says frontman Ben Nichols. The band immersed itself in Memphis' long skew of musical traditions: Sun, Stax, Elvis and Al Green, Jim Dickinson and Alex Chilton. - more on this story



Nashville Pussy's First Ever Summer Rock n' Roll Showdown
Nashville Pussy will be playing a very special hometown show in Atlanta, Georgia on June 27th at The Star Bar.

The event which has been dubbed "Nashville Pussy's First Ever Summer Rock n' Roll Showdown", sees the return of bassist Karen Cuda who has been recovering from a neck injury. The show will feature support from The El Camino's and The Babyhaters.

Nashville Pussy recently released a live record recorded all over Europe in a special 2 CD re-release of their last studio album From Hell To Texas which was completely remixed for this edition. - more on this story



Queensryche Members Debut New Band Rising West
(hennemusic) Queensryche members Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, Scott Rockenfield and Parker Lundgren debuted a new band Friday night in Seattle with vocalist Todd La Torre of Crimson Glory.

Rising West played their first show at the Hard Rock Café, where they performed rare and classic hits from the first five Queensryche albums; the set also included a cover of Iron Maiden's "Wrathchild."

Last week, the Rising West crew were denied access to Queensryche's social media platforms to promote their new project. Read more about that and watch video from the debut gig - here.



Black Sabbath Rock Download Fest
(hennemusic) Black Sabbath headlined the closing night of the 10th annual Download Festival on Sunday.

It was Sabbath's second show of 2012 and, like last month's warm-up gig in their hometown of Birmingham, the band used fill-in drummer Tommy Clufetos in place of the absent Bill Ward, who continues to sit out the group's planned reunion due to a contractual dispute.

NME reports the metal pioneers came onstage at Donington Park on Sunday to a montage of vintage photos, opening the show with their eponymous track from their eponymous debut album. Guitarist Tony Iommi was in full force on a crucifix-adorned fretboard while frontman Ozzy Ozbourne played harmonica. - More including video here.



Girl In A Coma Summer Tour
Girl In A Coma will be heading out on the road for a headlining summer North American tour.

The trek focused on the East Coast and Midwest will kick off in Madison, WI on June 16th and will wrap up on August 16th in Pharr, TX

Girl In A Coma is hitting the road in support of their latest album Exits & All the Rest. - more on this story



Former Angel Dust Singer Dirk Thurisch Returns With Mercury Tide
Former Angel Dust singer Dirk Thurisch returns after almost a decade with his new band Mercury Tide.

Limited Access Records have announced a July 10th North American release date for the group's debut album, Killing Saw.

The band's website is listing a May 25th released date for the new album in Europe. You can learn more about them and trade a "tweet" for a song - here.



Red Fang Deliver Pizza Picture Disc
Red Fang have delivered a limited edition Pizza Picture disc of their album Murder the Mountains.

The A Side of the disc features The "Red Fang" Pizza, which is actually available on the menu at Relapse Records owner Matt Jacobson's restaurant Sizzle Pie, which has two locations in Portland, Oregon.

The B-Side of the disc features Red Fang's drink of choice PBR, pizza crusts and bloody band-aids. - more on this story



PiL Changed Steve Vai?
(Gibson) John Lydon says guitarist Steve Vai's work on Album, the full-length disc PiL released in 1986, may well have marked a shift in Vai's approach to playing. "I think he kind of altered his perspective after working with us," Lydon said, speaking to MusicRadar. "He did some wonderful stuff after that. He got out of just heavy metal, and that's a good, good thing. To this day, I rate the man very, very highly. Very highly!"

Lydon said he was already familiar with Vai's work before recruiting him for the project. "People think that I wouldn't be listening to stuff like that, but I listen to everything," he said. "It was great. It was [producer-bassist] Bill Laswell who put us together."

Lydon said he was seeking more than musicianship, at the time he approached Vai. "I have a keen ear for sheer bravery and audacity, and people who are prepared to stretch the boundaries of what most musicians call 'common sense,'" he said. - more on this story



Ian Gillan and Bernie Torme Giving Business Seminar
(Gibson) Former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Bernie Torme and Deep Purple's Ian Gillan will be teaching at a business seminar in Dartford, England on June 19.

The event, at the Hilton Hotel in Dartford on 19 June, says The Independent, is being put on by ex-manager the Peter Cook, a former manager who lectures on the parallels between music and business for corporate executives.

Cook said: "What we're teaching them is about balancing the need for order and structure with a little bit of creative spark which gives them the edge over their competitors."

Tormé said: "I have worked with a fair mix of Class A rock stars. The music business is a great teacher of life skills such as negotiating, marketing, teamwork, high performance and so on, both how to do them well and occasionally the dark side of the force. Big companies are far more complex, although it's not as different as you would think." - more on this story



Download Got Off To Rainy Late Start
(Classic Rock) The tenth Download Festival was forced to start two hours late Friday amid worsening weather conditions that caused traffic chaos and forced organisers to cut bands from the bill.

Headliners The Prodigy closed out the iconic event's first day following performances by Machine Head, Slash, Nightwish, Little Angels, Terrorvision and many others.

But Europe, Cancer Bats, Rise to Remain and Six Hour Sundown were amongst those to miss their sets – although Cancer Bats managed to make two appearances later in the day. - more on this story



Black Tusk Map Out Headline Tour Dates
Black Tusk will follow up their current North American tour with Municipal Waste and 3 Inches of Blood with their first ever European headlining tour.

Support on the tour will come from Okkultokrati. The tour is scheduled to begin July 8th in Köln, Germany and run through July 20th in Tonsberg, Norway with an appearance at Slottsfjell Fest.

Black Tusk will also be taking part in the "Orion Music & More Festival" curated by Metallica. The event is set for Saturday June 23rd and Sunday June 24th at Bader Field in Atlantic City, NJ. Black Tusk will be featured on the "Damage Inc" stage on Saturday June 23rd alongside label mates RED FANG and many others. - more on this story



Natur Hit The Road With Occvlta
Natur kicked off a mini East Coast tour yesterday, ahead of the release of their debut album, Head Of Death.

Natur hit the road with Occvlta for the run of dates, which begins in Baltimore, Maryland at the Talking Head Lounge.

Natur drummer Tooth comments: "Finally! Our German brothers in Occvlta will be coming to our side of the planet! Very excited to hit the road and play some new places. This will be a great week for sure! After seeing them kill London two years in a row at the Live Evil Festival it was certain we had to host them in the States. Can't wait to bang skulls side by side again! Heavy metal is our way!" - more on this story



Titans Eve Announce Tour With Anvil
Titans Eve have a set July 13th release date for their second full-length album, 'Life Apocalypse'.

In support of the effort, the band plan a Western Canadian tour with legendary Canadian metal band Anvil.

"Our album 'Life Apocalypse' drops on July Friday the 13th, just in time for our tour with Anvil!!! We are all very excited to start playing for you guys again and to be able to join Canadian metal legends this time!." says vocalist/guitarist Brian Gamblin. - more on this story



Auroch Plan Summer Album Release and Tour
Auroch have officially named their debut full length album, 'From Forgotten Worlds,' which will be released in July.

"At long last we're excited to reveal the name of this first full length release and the songs that lie therein. This has represented a lot of work, sweat and blood and it is reflected in the music. Prepare for a total death metal onslaught!" comments Auroch vocalist/guitarist Seb Montesi.

Auroch are gearing up for their 'Canadian Abomination Tour' which will kick off on July 13th. - more on this story



Dee Snider Jams Skid Row Classic With Sebastian Bach
(hennemusic) Sebastian Bach played the Sweden Rock Festival Thursday night, and had a little help along the way.

Sebastian was joined by Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider for the Skid Row cut, "Youth Gone Wild."

Bach is currently on the road promoting his latest effort, "Kicking & Screaming." - Watch the Dee/Bach jam



The Hives Deliver Go Right Ahead Video
The Hives have released their official music video for their single "Go Right Ahead" online.

According to the announcement, the concept is: Howlin' Pelle Almqvist & the gang take charge of a Gotham-esque city with their very own Hives blimp. There's chaos & confusion, plenty of top hats, and possibly even some space exploration.

"Go Right Ahead" comes off the band's new album, Lex Hives, which was released last week. Watch the video - here.



Van Halen Light Up The Sky In St. Paul
(hennemusic) Van Halen have been mixing up the setlists on their current "A Different Kind Of Truth" tour, giving fans a chance to hear some classic deep cuts that haven't been played live in many years.

Video shot during a recent soundcheck in St. Paul, Minnesota captured the band playing the 1979 track, "Light Up The Sky," with background vocals by Wolfgang.

The video was shot by a fan who was in the venue early as part of a VIP package; occasionally, VIP ticket holders have been able to sit in on soundcheck during the tour. - Watch the video here.



Duane Allman Taught Joe Walsh Slide Guitar
(Gibson) Joe Walsh has revealed it was Duane Allman who showed him the basics of slide guitar.

In an interview to be published by M – Music & Musicians, Walsh said, "The James Gang played lots of shows with the Allman Brothers Band, back when it was common to have two headliners on the bill. At some point I sat down with Duane backstage, and he showed me the basics – things like proper tunings to use, based on what you're trying to accomplish. He showed me how you put the slide directly over the fret, instead of between them, like you do when you're normally playing. And he stressed using a very light touch. Duane taught me these things out of the goodness of his heart. I've always tried to keep his tradition going, because he was such a good guy and such a great player."

Analog Man, Walsh's first solo album in 20 years, was released on Tuesday (June 5). - more on this story



Terror Post Documentary Online
Terror posted their full, uncut version of their documentary about front-man Scott Vogel and Terror on YouTube.

Originally posted as a series, fans can now view the entire movie from start to finish. Focusing on Vogel's early bands, plus the history of Terror from the band's formation through the making of their latest album, Keepers Of The Faith. Watch it here.

Terror will be on tour in North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe this summer, appearing at various festivals as well as hitting the road with BANE, NAYSAYER, and ROTTING OUT in July/August.