Today's Day in Rock
This Week's Top Stories
GNR, Def Leppard, Deep Purple, Collective Soul Supergroup Plan EP
Kings of Chaos, the new supergroup featuring members of Guns N' Roses, Deep Purple, Velvet Revolver, Slash, Def Leppard, Collective Soul, The Cult, Alter Bridge, and Skid Row, rocked Cape Town, South Africa and revealed that they are planning to record an EP.
The EP revelation came during the band's "pre-concert hype" for the concert, according to a Rolling Stone South Africa's Doug Davenport who spoke with the band's ringleader Duff McKagan (Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver).
The supergroup revealed that they are currently working on writing original material for the EP as they travel across the globe performing their collective hits. However, they apparently did not offer a time table for when they expect the EP to be released.
You can read the Rolling Stone report for a full review of the show, which gives you an idea of the star power involved in this group, and also stream their exclusive interview with McKagan, - here.
Black Sabbath Headed For Their First No. 1 Album
(hennemusic) Black Sabbath are headed for their first US No. 1 album with the just-released "13" as industry sources suggest that the album may sell over 120,000 copies by the end of the tracking week on Sunday, June 16, according to Billboard.
This will be a significant achievement for the band as Black Sabbath have previously only reached the Billboard US top 10 once, when their 1971 album "Master Of Reality" peaked at No. 8.
Black Sabbath have also issued video of drummer Brad Wilk in the studio during the sessions for the album. He was added to the Sabbath project when original drummer Bill Ward opted out of participating in the planned reunion album and tour.
"[Producer] Rick [Rubin] came up with the idea of using Brad for the album," explains bassist Geezer Butler, "And Brad's turned out to be a Godsend, really."
"It's a tough job drumming in Black Sabbath," says Rubin, "because there are a lot of drummers who can play the metal but there are not a lot of drummers who can play the blues, and jazz, and bring heaviness to these more jam-oriented pieces that are part of what Black Sabbath does." - Read more and check out the video here.
Steven Tyler Feared He Would Never Be In Aerosmith Again
(hennemusic) Aerosmith's Steven Tyler was a featured guest on Howard Stern's SiriusXM show on Wednesday. Among the topics discussed was the tension and fallout created in Aerosmith when Tyler fell off the stage in Sturgis, South Dakota in 2009 while on drugs; the singer injured his head, neck and broke a shoulder in the incident, which led to the cancellation of the tour.
"I was afraid I'd never be in Aerosmith again," Tyler told Stern. "And the guys were being wise-asses; 'you should sit on a stool.' I said I'll sit on a stool Joe (Perry) if you play ukulele. Howard, I was depressed, I was crying, I couldn't walk."
"Drugs took me down," explained Tyler. "Yes, it got us [Aerosmith] through the '70s … if it wasn't for Peruvian Marching Powder, we wouldn't have been able to do what we did from the '70s to '79. We played every state in the US except for Alaska and Hawaii."
The fallout from the 2009 stage incident led directly to Tyler signing on as an American Idol judge. - Read what had to say and stream the interview.
Kings of Leon and the Flaming Lips Lead Rock For Oklahoma Lineup
(Radio.com) Kings of Leon and the Flaming Lips are teaming up to headline a benefit concert to aid those affected by the string of tornadoes that struck Oklahoma last month.
The "Rock for Oklahoma" concert will be held July 23rd in Oklahoma City, and will also feature Jackson Browne, Built to Spill and more, according to local newspaper Tulsa World.
The newspaper reports that most performers have a special connection to Oklahoma, with Kings of Leon and the Flaming Lips both calling the state home.
"We couldn't be more proud to lend a hand to our home state. We were all devastated by what happened there…we have family and friends that were affected by the tornadoes….this is the least we could do," Kings of Leon's Jared Followill told Tulsa World.
Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne added, "We are trying to not just be here at the moment of immediate need, but to stay and help with the rebuilding. After all, this is our home and they are us and we are them."
Rolling Stone reports that Coyne experienced the devastation firsthand when his Oklahoma City home flooded in the wake of the tornados. - more on this story
Metallica Release Orion Fest Recap Video
(hennemusic) Metallica are sharing a video recap of the 2013 edition of their Orion Music + More festival, which took place last weekend at Belle Isle in Detroit, MI.
The event featured more than 30 bands across five live music stages, plus a variety of activities and on-site events. Metallica played a surprise afternoon set on Saturday, performing their 1983 album, "Kill 'Em All," in its entirety.
"Thanks to the city of Detroit and the entire Metallica Family for making the second annual Orion Music + More another resounding success!," posted the band on Thursday. - Check out the video here.
Ron Wood Says Rolling Stones 'Got To Find The Gaps To Record'
(Radio.com) With the Rolling Stones' U.S. tour winding down (it comes to a close June 24 in Washington, D.C.), the question among fans is: Will this be the last time the band plays the states? The name of their tour – 50 & Counting – doesn't really shout "farewell tour."
Guitarist Ron Wood — still the "new guy" in the band, though he joined in 1975 — recently called Boston classic rock station WZLX (a Radio.com station) to chat a bit about his love of the city, recalling visiting Boston on tour when he was the bass player in the Jeff Beck Group.
With new songs "Gloom And Doom" and "One More Shot," recorded for last year's best-of collection GRRR!, in the setlist every night, do they have any plans to hit the studio again for a full-length album?
"Well it takes so much time and effort to take this thing back on the road, [but] we've got the big wheels rolling now. We've just got to find the gaps to record." - more on this story
Slipknot Drummer Says Live Show Is Like A Blackout
(Classic Rock) Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison compares his experience of playing live with the band to blacking out and insists there's no such thing as an easy set for them.
They headline Download tonight, four years after a performance that's gone down in festival history as one of the best ever, and three years after the loss of bassist Paul Gray.
"An easy Slipknot show doesn't exist. It's tough – but we wouldn't like it if it was easy," Jordison tells MusicRadar. "Once we lock in, it's like I black out; I don't notice any of the pain I might be experiencing. I've got eight other guys to guide with the tempo of the songs. I don't have time to feel any sort of pain or hurt."
But the hard work brings its own reward, he continues. "What's so gratifying about playing a show that intense is when you get off the stage – you know you really delivered at the top of your ability and performance. That's what makes it all worthwhile." - more on this story
Gary Clark Jr Jams With The Rolling Stones
(hennemusic) Bluesman Gary Clark Jr. was the featured guest Wednesday night in Boston as the Rolling Stones played the 14th stop on their "50 & Counting" arena tour.
Clark joined the band to perform the song "I'm Going Down," as he did previously twice in December of last year– once in Brooklyn and once in New Jersey.
The Stones will play Boston again on Friday before heading to Philadelphia for two dates next week; the North American tour wraps June 24 in Washington. - Check out video of the jam here.
Zakk Wylde To Receive The Riff Monster Award
(Gibson) Zakk Wylde is set to be honored for his work with Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne and beyond at the Vegas Rocks! Magazine Awards 2013 this summer.
Specifically, the Gibson loyalist will be honored with the Riff Monster award at the show, which is scheduled to rock The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Aug. 25.
In addition to Wylde, a crop of big-named guitarists and musicians are expected to appear at the event, including former Ozzy Osbourne and Quiet Riot bass player Rudy Sarzo, founding Queensrÿche singer Geoff Tate, ex-AC/DC and Dio drummer Simon Wright and Scorpions drummer James Kottak. - more on this story
Blue October Announce New Album and Tour
Blue October has announced the release of their new studio album, a record release show and special appearances and a reunion with C.B. Hudson for their upcoming tour.
Up/Down Records has set a August 20th release date for Blue October's seventh studio album, which will be entitled Sway. The band will celebrate the release with a record release show at the House of Blues in Dallas and a series of in-store appearances/acoustic performances.
The band recorded the album at the Fire Station Studios in San Marcus, TX and the effort was produced by frontman Justin Furstenfeld and David Castell (who also produced the band's History for Sale and co-produced the Platinum Foiled).
Frontman Justin Furstenfeld had this to say, "I had about 60 songs...we ended up recording fifteen and there's thirteen on the album." Justin's brother Jeremy adds, "The band is in a really great space now, everyone is health, happy and doing well. That's changed our point of view, and you can hear that new perspective on the album."
Blue October will be hitting the road on September 4th to launch an international concert tour in support of the album and on the trek they will reunite with former guitarist C.B. Hudson who played with them from 2000 until 2010. - more on this story
Norma Jean Releasing New Album
Norma Jean fans that have waited three years for the band to release a new album are about to get their wish granted as the group has announced the release of the follow-up to 2010's "Meridional."
Razor & Tie announced this week that they will be releasing Norma Jean's sixth studio album, "Wrongdoers," on August 6, 2013. It will be their second release on the label.
Norma Jean recorded "Wrongdoers" at Covenant Recording Studios in Kansas City with producer Josh Barber (Your Memorial, Hands) and the new album was mixed by Jeremy Griffith. - more on this story
Uriah Heep Says Trevor Bolder's Spirit Will Be With Them At Download
(Classic Rock) Uriah Heep insist late bassist Trevor Bolder will be with them on stage at Download this afternoon. The former Spiders From Mars man passed away last month after a cancer battle. The band had previously reported he was doing well and aimed to be back in action in time for the Donington show; but it wasn't to be.
Frontman Mick Box was moved to tears at Bolder's funeral earlier this month, saying: "I very much respected Trevor as a bass player, a singer, a songwriter and a friend.
"He was never one to go on about his previous successes; he was modest to the core and very quiet – unless he had a few brandies inside him! He was a deep thinker, really quite spiritual."
Now Heep say in a brief statement: "Can you feel the bass? Trevor is still with us! Hidden between the grooves of the vinyl, between the bits of the compact disc or between the veins of our bodies." - more on this story
Jane's Addiction Release Live DVD Trailer
(Classic Rock) Jane's Addiction have released a trailer for upcoming DVD Live In NYC. It was shot in July 2011 following the release of The Great Escape Artist, their first album in eight years.
The band had endured a tumultuous time following bassist Eric Avery's decision to leave in 2010. He was first replaced by Duff McKagan, who only lasted six months before bowing out. Dave Sitek collaborated with JA in the studio during the making of the album before former member Chris Chaney returned, and has remained ever since.
Guitarist Dave Navarro recently slated Avery for his decision to quit Nine Inch Nails ahead of the revamped band's tour, suggesting his motives were similar to those behind his departure from JA. - Check out the trailer and tracklisting here.
Bob Dylan Headed Across The Pond This Fall
(Classic Rock) Bob Dylan has announced nine shows in the UK during November. He'll play three gigs each at Glasgow's Clyde Auditorium (November 18, 19, 20), Blackpool's Opera House (November 22, 23, 24) and London's Royal Albert Hall (26, 27, 28).
The last set of shows will mark Dylan's first appearances at the Albert Hall since his controversial 1966 tour just after he'd adopted electric instrumentation.
A bootleg recording during the tour includes a fan can be shouting "Judas!" leading Dylan to tell his bandmates: "Play it f**king loud." It's often said the recording was made at the Albert Hall, but it was actually in Manchester's Free Trade Hall. - more on this story
Starship Singer Mickey Thomas Joins Raiding The Rock Vault Lineup
Starship frontman Mickey Thomas will be joining the lineup of "Raiding The Rock Vault" at the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino on July 5th through 9th. MSO sent over these details:
Raiding The Rock Vault features classic anthems from The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, the Eagles, Queen, Van Halen, AC/DC, Journey, Free, Bryan Adams, Supertramp, Toto, Deep Purple, and more, truly boasting "The Greatest Set List Ever."
The show's all-star lineup includes Howard Leese [Guitar] (Heart), Tracii Guns [Guitar] (LA Guns, Guns n' Roses), Robin McAuley [Lead Vocals] (MSG, Survivor), John Payne [Lead Vocals and Bass] (Asia), Paul Shortino [Lead Vocals] (Rough Cutt, Quiet Riot), Jay Schellen [Drums] (Badfinger, Asia), Andrew Freeman [Lead Vocals and Guitars] (Lynch Mob, The Offspring), and Michael T. Ross [Keyboards] (Lita Ford, Hardline).
"We are really excited to have Mickey Thomas of Starship guest star in Raiding The Rock Vault," says creator, director and producer John Payne. "Mickey is part of the history of this show. His voice is simply outstanding and one of my personal favorites." - More details about the show here.
Black Star Riders Release Hey Judas Video
(hennemusic) Thin Lizzy offshoot Black Star Riders have released the music video for the song "Hey Judas," which is the new single from their debut album, "All Hell Breaks Loose."
Directed by Mark Hylands, the clip was filmed a few weeks ago at The Marshall Theatre at Milton Keynes, UK, the same location where the band launched the new project with a sold-out live show.
Black Star Riders will perform at the UK's Download Festival this Saturday; they're scheduled for a 1:20 pm start time on the main stage. Check out the new video - here.
Nikki Sixx Interviews Slash
(hennemusic) Guns N' Roses legend Slash joined Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx recently on his "Sixx Sense" radio show and audio from the session has been posted.
The pair hooked up by phone on Nikki's May 23rd broadcast to talk about a few things, including Slash's work on horror films, recording music today, and the single, "Anastasia," from his 2012 "Apocalyptic Love" album.
Slash has been working on material for his third solo release, and is now playing live dates as part of Kings Of Chaos, a new supergroup featuring members of Guns N' Roses, Def Leppard, The Cult, Deep Purple and Collective Soul. - Check out the interview here.
Metallica Post Footage From Soundwave Festival
(hennemusic) Metallica are sharing live and behind the scenes type video footage from their February 23rd appearance at Australia's Soundwave festival in Brisbane.
The band has offered up video of them performing at their soundcheck, some footage from the tuning room, as well as their performance of "…And Justice For All" from the show.
The Brisbane stop was the opening date of Soundwave, which hit five (5) cities in the country over a two-week period. Metallica headlined the day-long festival, which also featured Linkin Park, A Perfect Circle, The Offspring, Slayer, Stone Sour and dozens of other acts. - Check out the footage here.
The Replacements Reunite
The Replacements have announced that they will be reuniting for this year's Riot Fest, which will mark the first time the band has played together live in 22-years.
The iconic band played their last show together at Grant Park in Chicago on July 4, 1991 but last fall the members reunited to "pay tribute to and help out" guitarist Slim Dunlap, who suffered a stroke in February of 2012.
Things went so well that the band has decided to reunite for a series of live performances at this year's Riot Fest which will be taking place in Chicago, Toronto and Denver.
Riot Fest Chicago will be taking place on September 13-15 at Humboldt Park and will also include Fall Out Boy, Blink 182, Violent Femmes, Motorhead, Rancid, Blondie, Public Enemy, Rocket from the Crypt and more.
Riot Fest Toronto will be taking place on August 24th and 25th at Fort York and will also include Iggy & the Stooges, A Day To Remember, Pierce the Veil, Every Time I Die, Rocket from the Crypt, Dinosaur Jr, Best Coast, Mayday Parade, Grade, The Ghost Inside, Structures, Real Friends, The Flatliners and Single Mothers.
The Denver Riot Fest will be taking place at May Farms on September 21st and 22nd and will include Blink 182, Iggy and The Stooges, Rancid, AFI, Public Enemy, Brand New, Airborne Toxic Event, AWOLNATION, Guided by Voices, FLAG, Rocket From The Crypt, Bad Religion, Matt & Kim, The Dismemberment Plan, Alkaline Trio, Superchunk, Yo La Tengo, AgainstMe!, Best Coast, Minus the Bear, Naked Raygun, The Stranglers, Stars, Capital Cities, Breathe Carolina, The Dear Hunter, Bosnian Rainbows, This Will Destroy You, Wovenhand, Lydia, Peelander-Z, Touche Amore, Off With Their Heads, Single Mothers, Kitten, Kongos, New Beat Fund and more to be announced. -
Ozzy Reveals There Was More Black Sabbath Drama
(Classic Rock) Ozzy Osbourne says the Black Sabbath organization failed to deal professionally with live drummer Tommy Clufetos, who was replaced by Brad Wilk in studio sessions for new album 13.
It means there's even more drama to the band's drummer issues, which started when original sticksman Bill Ward bowed out of the reunion with Osbourne months after it had been announced.
Guitarist Tony Iommi recently revealed he'd pulled the plug on negotiations for Ward's involvement after being diagnosed with cancer. Instead they hired Osbourne's drummer Clufetos to play a series of concerts in 2012, and again this year – but Rage Against The Machine man Wilk was brought in to appear on the record. That decision was made after producer Rick Rubin suggested Ginger Baker for the job, which the band vetoed.
"I don't really want to go into it. We had Tommy on hold, and it just didn't work out. We were going to use Tommy at the beginning and Rick was against it," Osbourne tells Spin. "It turned out that it wasn't dealt with professionally, and I got a bit pissed off. The way it was dealt with was wrong – you can't keep people waiting for nothing." - more on this story
Pink Floyd Lands Fan In Jail
(Classic Rock) A 51-year-old Pink Floyd fan has been sentenced to 28 days in jail for repeatedly playing the band's albums at high volume throughout the night.
Paul Foster, of Chesterton, Stoke-on-Trent, was put behind bars for having ignored five injunctions against playing loud music in recent years. Neighbours reported they'd endured night after night of having to listen to The Dark Side Of The Moon, Wish You Were Here and The Wall – followed by sessions of soul ballads.
One resident of Foster's street tells SWNS, "It's been a nightmare. I like Pink Floyd as much as the next man – but not when it's being played ten times a day until 4am.
"I've lost track of the times I've heard Barry White and Marvin Gaye coming from the house, but it was mainly Pink Floyd. I think whenever I hear their songs again I'll be climbing the walls." - more on this story
Queens of the Stone Age Rule the Charts
(Radio.com) Rock rules the Billboard 200 chart this week, as the hard-charging Queens of the Stone Age land the band's first No. 1 album with new release …Like Clockwork selling 91,000 copies in its first week out, according to data from Nielsen SoundScan.
Boasting an all-star cavalcade of guests including Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails and Elton John, the dark and diverse album is QOTSA's sixth full-length, and the band's first for indie label Matador, also celebrating its first No. 1 album ever this week.
The record has garnered a slew of critical accolades amidst a flurry of high-profile promotions, such as a two-night stand on Late Night with David Letterman, including a full Live on Letterman concert webcast.
…Like Clockwork also moved a notable 12,000 copies on vinyl, the second-largest vinyl sales week since Daft Punk's Random Access Memories shifted 19,000 copies in its first week of release back in May.
Queens of the Stone Age ends Daft Punk's two-week reign at the top of the album chart, with Random Access Memories moving into the No. 2 slot after selling another 62,000 copies. With 494,000 copies sold in just the first three weeks out, the collection is on par to give Daft Punk their third gold album in the U.S. (500,000 copies sold) next to 1997 debut Homework and 2001 release, Discovery. - more on this story
Def Leppard's Vivian Campbell To Rock This Summer Despite Cancer
(hennemusic) Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell says he is committed to summer touring despite his recent cancer diagnosis. Def Leppard are set to return to the road for summer dates starting June 22 at Hellfest in France.
"I posted about my cancer diagnosis (Hodgkin's Lymphoma) on my personal FB page a couple of days ago," writes Campbell. "Thank you to all who have offered support; I'm very, very touched by that.
"Be assured, however, that the Last In Line shows will still be happening in August - I have no intention of letting cancer slow me down. I look forward to seeing you all then. Vivian."
In addition to his duties with Leppard, Campbell will debut the reunited Dio band as Last In Line, 30 years after the recording of the legendary Dio albums "Holy Diver," "Last In Line" and "Sacred Heart." The band is being joined for the shows by vocalist Andrew Freeman. - more on this story
Tom Petty Fans To Get A Refund
(Radio.com) Tom Petty fans were heartbroken when his Saturday (June 8) concert in Los Angeles came to an abrupt end mid-set. But in a statement on Wednesday (June 12), Petty assured attendees that they will receive a full refund for their tickets.
The band was part way through their fourth show of a six-night residency at the Hollywood club the Fonda when the fire marshal declared the venue overcrowded and shut it down, according to the LA Times.
The newspaper reports that around 10:30 p.m., Petty informed the crowd that "about 100" people in the general admission floor area needed to either leave the concert or move up to the balcony, or the show could be shut down. When fans didn't budge, the singer stepped to the mic during an extended instrumental in the band's "Melinda" to say the show was over.
Luckily, frustrated fans will be getting their money back, as the group was only able to deliver three-quarters of their intended set. Billboard reported that Petty addressed his Sunday night (June 9) Fonda crowd with empathy in regards to the situation.
"We had to quit a little early last night," he said to the audience. "I don't like to assign blame, but it wasn't me. I'm absolutely sure we're going to work this out. If I have to pay it myself, everyone will be reimbursed."
The band's refund statement confirms that Ticketmaster will pay back the full price of each ticket, including all associated fees, and that "the satisfaction of fans is of paramount importance to Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers." - more on this story
Why The Clash's Simonon Didn't Want To Reunite For Corporate Rock Hall
(Classic Rock) The Clash bassist Paul Simonon has recalled his reasons for not wanting to reunite for the band's 2003 induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
Plans were dashed by the sudden death of frontman Joe Strummer ahead of the event – but the deal had not been done in any case. Simonon tells Rolling Stone: "Mick Jones, Joe and Topper Headon were very keen.
"The proviso was that, I think, if we got together and played, then we got the award. But to be honest, I didn't really want to reform the band, full-stop, especially not in that environment.
"My point was that if we were going to reform, it can't be in that corporate environment. Joe was unaware that the tickets were something like $1000 a seat, maybe more.
"I think if the Clash is going to reform, it should be somewhere where the seats don't cost $1000. Joe was unaware of that and, of course, he died a couple of days later, so I wasn't able to send him a message and give him that information." - more on this story
John Fogerty Announces U.S. Tour
(hennemusic) John Fogerty has announced dates for his fall US tour in support of his new album, "Wrote A Song For Everyone." Having previously revealed about a half dozen shows for the trek, Fogerty is now sharing the full itinerary, which will see three September dates before an October 10 start-up in Los Angeles.
On the fall trip, Fogerty will be playing full Creedence Clearwater Revival albums in their entirety; depending on the date, John will perform either 1969's "Bayou Country" or 1970's "Cosmo's Factory."
"Wrote A Song For Everyone," is an all-star duets project that features Fogerty pairing with artists like Foo Fighters, Bob Seger, Kid Rock, Zac Brown Band, My Morning Jacket, and others to perform tunes from his legendary songbook, including solo tracks and CCR cuts. - more on this story
Beatles' Octopus Garden To Be Transformed Into Children's Book
(Radio.com) Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr announced this week that he's partnered with illustrator Ben Cort to transform the band's song "Octopus Garden" into a children's picture book. Simon & Schuster will publish the book this October in England, with a U.S. release date in January 2014.
It's also shaping up to be Christmas in July for Beatles fans this year, as rights to the Fab Four's merchandise in North America have been snapped up by Universal Music, with a wave of new products expected to hit store shelves as soon as next month.
According to Rolling Stone, Apple Corps, the Beatles' business firm, has teamed up with Universal's Bravado division to launch the new wave of merchandise. Coupled with Universal's ownership of the band's music, the company has the Beatles' market all but cornered in North America.
Universal's Bravado division handles merchandise for hundreds of marquee acts such as Guns 'N Roses, Bob Marley and the Rolling Stones, including the bevy of products for the Stones' current 50th Anniversary tour. - more on this story
Motorhead To Receive 2013 Golden God Award
(hennemusic) Motorhead will be receiving the 2013 Metal Hammer Golden God Award on Monday, June 17 at the metal magazine's annual honors in London.
The Golden God award celebrates and recognizes bands and musicians that have significantly contributed, shaped and inspired the world of rock and metal.
Motorhead, who will also close the Metal Hammer evening with a live performance, join a list of previous Golden God winners such as Iron Maiden, Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie. - more on this story
Megadeth's Super Collider Debuts At No. 6
(hennemusic) Megadeth's new album, "Super Collider," has debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Billboard reports the project sold 29,000 copies in its first week.
The record was the final project recorded at Dave Mustiane's Vic's Garage studio in San Marcos, California with producer Johnny K; the guitarist has since closed the facility and is moving it to another location.
The "Super Collider" title comes from the world's largest and highest-energy particle accelerator which allows physicists to smash atoms in the hope of discovering the origins of the Big Bang Theory.
The actual device, considered one of the great engineering milestones of mankind, is pictured on the album cover, with permission from CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research), which developed and built it. - more on this story
Dying Fetus Announce Fall Tour and Renew Relapse Deal
Dying Fetus will be hitting the road this fall for a North American headline tour and the band have renewed their deal with their long time record label Relapse Records.
The tour will be launching on October 5th in Wilmington, NC at The Soapbox and will be concluding on November 2nd in Springfield, VA at Empire.
Dying Fetus have lined up support on the trek from Exhumed and Devourment, Waking the Cadaver (10/4-10/19), Abiotic and Rivers of Nihil (10/26-11/2).
These dates will follow the band's previously announced European and North American summer tour dates. The group also had this to say about renewing their deal with Relapse, "We have an addiction and have relapsed with Relapse Records. Relapse Records will remain your one stop shop for all things Dying Fetus.
"Re-signing with Relapse Records seemed like the right thing to do for the band as both Dying Fetus and Relapse Records have grown over the years. So our fans can look forward to more brutality from both parties" - more on this story
Saxon and Fozzy Announce Sacrifice And Sin Tour
Saxon and Fozzy will be teaming up for a North American fall tour that is named the "Sacrifice And Sin Tour," which is play on both band's most recent album releases.
The tour will feature support from Halcyon Way and is set to kick off on September 12th in Patchogue, New York at The Emporium and will conclude on October 10th in Vancouver, BC at The Venue.
"After our highly successful US tour last summer on Uproar, we've been chomping at the bit for the right opportunity to return to North America...and now it has arrived!" says Fozzy frontman Chris Jericho.
"To tour with the legendary Saxon is a metal dream come true and the perfect way to satisfy all of our amazing fans in the US and Canada and to make tons of new ones in the process. Get ready for Sacrifice and Sin...we're gonna tear your heads off and leave u screaming Fozzy, Fozzy, Fozzy!!"
"So far, the Sacrifice World Tour has taken us from the Bahamas to South America and back to Europe for the festival season," says Saxon's Biff Byford.
"Now it is time for us to return to North America for a series of dates with the one and only Fozzy. We have been friends with Chris Jericho for years so there has never been a better time to hook up with Fozzy for a tour that will take us from the east coast to the west coast and finally winding up in the Great White North."
Fozzy will be touring in support of their latest album, "Sin And Bones," and Saxon will be touring in support of their new album, "Sacrifice." - more on this story
Gwar and Hatebreed Team Up For Short Tour
Gwar and Hatebreed will be teaming up for a short North American coheadlining tour this fall that will feature support from Iron Reagan, which features members of Municipal Waste and Cannabis Corpse.
The short trek will kick off on September 11th in Lexington, KY at Buster's Billiards & Backroom and will wrap up on the 15th in Sayreville, NJ at Starland Ballroom.
Hatebreed frontman Jamey Jasta had this to say, "We're extremely happy to finally hook up some GWAR/Hatebreed dates after years of trying to get our schedules to connect!
"We'll have spent this entire summer rocking stages in Europe so it will be great to get back to the good ole USA, to get down & dirty in the clubs with our favorite mutants from Antarctica. These gigs are not to be missed!"
Gwar also announced that they will be returning to Riot Fest this year in Chicago for the second year in a row and they will be holding their 4th Annual GWAR-B-Q on August 18th in Richmond, VA. - more on this story
Davey Suicide Announces Hide Your Morals Summer Tour
(Sub) Davey Suicide has announced the initial dates for his "Hide Your Morals" North American summer headline tour with special guests The Bunny The Bear & The Defiled.
The tour will kick off Friday, July 19th at Rocky Point Cantina in Tempe, Arizona and works its way through the United States wrapping up on Tuesday, August 13th at The Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California.
Says Davey Suicide of the tour "We're stoked to be taking this show on the road. The circus is coming to town and we're ready to kick everyone's ass. Board ur windows, bring you wife and kids, and hide your morals." - more on this story
Aerosmith's Full Sydney Concert Streaming Online
(hennemusic) Aerosmith's recent Australian tour included a slot at the Stone Music Festival in Syndey on April 20, and video of the band's full set has surfaced.
The weekend event - inspired by the '70s cult biker film Stone – saw co-headliners Van Halen (Sat) and Billy Joel (Sun) joined by Kings Of Chaos, Richie Ramone, Buckcherry, Lifehouse and Illumination Road, among others.
Touring in support of their current album, "Music From Another Dimension," Aerosmith performed a greatest hits set at the festival, opening with "Draw The Line" and wrapping up with "Sweet Emotion." - Check out the stream here.
Mars Attacks Guns N' Roses' Appetite For Destruction
Members of Guns N' Roses, Anthrax, Megadeth, Testament and more discuss GN'R's landmark debut album "Appetite For Destruction" on the latest edition of the Mars Attacks Classic Albums. They sent over these details:
The episode features comments from Doro Pesch, Charlie Benante, Gene Hoglan, Alan Tecchio, Jon Leon(both written and verbal), Dave Reffett, Lonny Paul of the band Adler, author Martin Popoff, journalist Mitch Lafon, Mark Strigl from Talking Metal, and Roch from Radioactive Metal.
Written comments were submitted by current Guns N' Roses guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, David Ellefson, Chris Tsangarides, and Jim Florentine among others. - Check it out here.
Scorpion Child Release Liquor Video
(Classic Rock) Rising stars Scorpion Child have released a video for their track "Liquor," which comes from Scorpion Child's self-titled album, due out on June 24 via Nuclear Blast.
The five-piece cite influences as far apart as early blues icons and 80s thrash metal, aiming to deliver a hook-laden experience full of energy and drive.
Frontman Aryn Jonathan Black says: "We came to Austin, Texas, to form a band with a single vision. We've all played in different bands with a range of styles. After jamming together, we found our footing in what we do best." - Check out the video here.
The Guitar World According to Noel Gallagher
(Gibson) Noel Gallagher has made a name for himself by writing catchy rock songs. With Oasis' first two albums, it seemed he could do nothing wrong. Every song released became a massive hit for the band. After a disappointing third album, and struggling fourth one, Oasis came back strong with Heathen Chemistry, and it seems that Gallagher really has found his stride since. His first solo release Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds was a success both critically as well as with the fans. Here we take a look at what Noel has to say about some of his guitars, song writing, and his guitar playing style.
Noel spoke to TimeOutDubai on why he still enjoy recording and touring: "Neil Young gave me a piece of advice once, he said: 'just do it when you feel like it, because if you do it when you feel like it you'll always enjoy it.' That's sound advice. I don't live to work, I work to live. I do those tours because that allows me to sit on my [behind] for two years, and that's it."
In an interview with SPIN magazine, Noel was asked about his biggest regret career-wise. His answer is definitely something a young up-and-coming band can learn from: "I wish we'd let (What's the Story) Morning Glory? settle and go away. It was still No. 5 in the Billboard 100 when we started making Be Here Now. I wish someone who's paid to be bright and clever had told us to go away and do a bit of living. But we were fueled by youth and cocaine. Everything was going to be bigger and better. We were surrounded by people telling us it was the greatest thing they'd ever heard. When you're the cash cow that lays the golden goose egg, people are always going to cheer you on, whatever."
Gallagher spoke to MTV about how he ended up being the lead guitarist in Oasis. Turns out it was more out of necessity rather than actually wanting it: "I played lead guitar in the band because everybody else, in the early days, was useless, so that kind of fell to me. It's not something I ever thought I would put myself up there with John Squire or Johnny Marr or all those great British guitarists, that's not my thing. My thing was songwriting." - More.
Eric Clapton Suffers Back Injury
(Classic Rock) Eric Clapton has cancelled two concerts after suffering severe back pain. The iconic guitarist is receiving medical attention after being forced to call off shows in Vienna, Austria and Stuttgart, Germany this week.
It's not known whether he'll appear for the next scheduled gig in Oberhausen, Germany, on Friday. A statement says: "He is currently with specialists who will be able to better determine the course of treatment.
"He was looking forward to these concerts and regrets that he is not to be able to perform for the fans. He would like to apologise for any inconveniences these cancellations may cause and would like to thank the fans for their understanding." - more on this story
Dillinger Escape Plan Injury Forces Tour Cancelation
The Dillinger Escape Plan have canceled their upcoming European tour plans after guitarist Ben Weinman suffered an injury to his right hand and wrist.
Weinman will be spending the month of June recovering from his injury and the band plans to still take part in this year's Summer Slaughter festival tour with Animals As Leaders, Periphery, Norma Jean, Cattle Decapitation, The Ocean, Revocation, Aeon, Rings of Saturn and Thy Art Is Murder.
"I'm heartbroken that we will miss these shows because we were all looking forward to them a great deal," Weinman said. "Obviously nobody likes being injured. I'm looking forward to performing on Summer Slaughter at full capacity and we will be back in Europe this fall on our headlining tour."
frontman Greg Puciato adds, "Leaving for tour knowing that we would be performing without all members on stage isn't something any of us are comfortable with. Ben is going to take the next month to heal and we'll be ready to demolish Summer Slaughter and return to Europe in the fall with all systems loaded and ready to go."
That will give him a little over a month to recover as the Summer Slaughter festival tour is set to kick off on July 19th in San Francisco, CA. - more on this story
Black Sabbath Release End Of The Beginning Video and Stream Town Hall
(hennemusic) Black Sabbath's new album, "13", hit stores on Tuesday and the band celebrated the occasion with a live event broadcast which included the premiere of the video for their new single, "End Of The Beginning."
The clip was filmed when Sabbath made their guest appearance on the season finale of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation last month. The band were featured in the opening scene of the show as they rocked a small club with the new track.
Ozzy Osbourne had a short speaking role as he did a post-performance interview with a journalist who would play a role throughout the episode. Check out the video here.
Yesterday the band are participating in a live Town Hall event simultaneously from various parts of the globe: Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler appeared from the live event at Angel Orensanz Foundation For Contemporary Art in New York City; Tony Iommi connected from Birmingham, England; and, "13" drummer Brad Wilk and Jack Osbourne (who directed the clips to launch the album) joined live face-to-face via Google+ Hangout from Los Angeles. - Check out a stream here.
Metallica Won't Release New Album Until 2015?
MTV News caught up with Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett at last weekend's Orion Music + More festival in Detroit and learned that while the band is writing material for a new album, fans can not realistically expect it to be release until 2015.
"We do have a lot of musical ideas, we have something called 'the Riff Bank,' and the Riff Bank keeps getting bigger and bigger, still, to this day," Hammett said. "I'm writing stuff, Rob's writing stuff, James is writing stuff, Lars is writing stuff, continually expanding the Riff Bank.
"So, it doesn't look like we're going to be putting out an album any time soon this year, it would be an amazing stroke of luck and grace if our album came out next year.
But then he added "I think it's a more sober statement to say that the album will probably come out in 2015. That's a sober, realistic thing ... but we're psyched about it."
As for what he expects the new album to sound like, he said, "It's too early in the game to tell you it will sound like Death Magnetic. We have a lot of ideas but no actual finished songs, so it's hard for me to give you an accurate description. But we're looking forward to making it as heavy and as high-energy as possible, because that's what we want." - Check out the MTV interview here.
Gary Clark Jr To Jam With The Rolling Stones
(hennemusic) The Rolling Stones will be joined by special guest Gary Clark Jr. tonight in Boston, the first of two shows in the city this week.
The concert marks the 14th stop on the Stones 18-date "50 & Counting" arena tour, which has seen the band play with a variety of guests, including John Fogerty, Tom Waits, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood and Dave Grohl.
Clark Jr. previously teamed up with the Stones twice in December: at the first North American concert in Brooklyn, he played "I'm Going Down" with the band; Gary then played the same song – along with fellow guest John Mayer – as part of the group's live pay-per-view event from New Jersey. - Check out video of that jam here.
Eric Singer KISS Tired Of Haters
(Classic Rock) KISS drummer Eric Singer has had enough of fans voicing negative opinions about the band's current incarnation. He insists the present lineup, featuring himself and guitarist Tommy Thayer alongside founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, cares as much about their legacy as the classic outfit which included Peter Criss and Ace Frehley.
Singer is enjoying his third stint with Kiss since first joining in 1991, and has appeared on the band's acclaimed recent albums Sonic Boom and Monster.
He tells Radio Nova: "The people that want to complain about 'I don't like this,' or 'I don't like that,' 'They should play this song,' or 'I only want the original band…' The bottom line is: this is how Kiss exists right now, in 2013. Be glad there's some version of Kiss and that we're out there touring.
"We have just as much passion and case just as much as the band ever did or ever could. That's what counts. If we didn't, we wouldn't be here. I mean, Gene and Paul don't need the money; they don't need to do this. They do it because they love doing it." - more on this story
Bad Company Make Late Night TV Debut
(hennemusic) Bad Company made their US late night television debut on Monday night when they performed on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. On hand to promote their 40th anniversary summer tour, the band played the title track to their self-titled 1973 debut album, "Bad Company."
The reunited band kick off their summer tour on June 15 in Rancho Mirage, CA. On June 20, Bad Company team up with Lynyrd Skynyrd in Auburn, WA for a series of co-headlining shows that run to July 27 in Bethel, NY.
Both bands celebrate significant 40th anniversaries in 2013, with Skynyrd having released their debut album on August 13, 1973 and Bad Company being formed that same year. - Check out the Leno performance here.
Maps & Atlases' Dave Davison Shaves His Beard In New Video
Maps & Atlases have released a new music video for their latest singled, "Old Ash," which comes from the group's latest album Beware & Be Grateful.
The new video was directed by the band's drummer Christopher Hainey and was shot through a two-way mirror. The video features guitarist/vocalist Dave Davison shaving his beard for the first time in four years. Watch the video here.
The group will be hitting the road this summer for a series of North American dates that kicks off this weekend at the Bonnaroo Festival and concludes with an appearance at the Riot Fest in Chicago. - more on this story
Sigur Ros Streaming New Album and Announce New Tour Leg
Sigur Ros are giving fans an advance listen to their entire new album with an online stream and have also announced a North American tour that will take place this fall.
The band won't be releasing their new album, Kveikur, until next Tuesday ( June 18th) but they have teamed up with Amazon to provide fans will a full album stream that you can check out here..
The band doesn't only want fans to listen to the advance stream of Kveikur, have asked fans to share their reaction to it by posting photos, drawings, and more on their social media pages with the hashtag #kveikur detailing what they imagine in their heads while listening to the new album.
Bassist Georg Holm had this to say, "As a band we always write the music first and listen to it later to work out what it might be about. That's how we come up with the words, by approaching the music without preconceptions and seeking meaning that was hidden from us at the point of creation. The music tells us what it is about."
Sigur Ros have spent the past year on a global tour and have announced plans to launch the final leg of the campaign with a 20-date North American tour.
The new North American dates will kick off with the band's headline appearance at this year's Laneway Festival in Detroit on September. - more on this story
David Bowie Exhibition Headed To North America
(hennemusic) The David Bowie exhibition, "David Bowie Is," which is currently running at London's Victoria & Albert, will be headed to Toronto this September through November.
The Art Gallery Of Ontario (AGO) will host the event, which explores the creative processes of Bowie as a musical innovator and cultural icon across five decades.
On display will be more than 300 objects from Bowie's personal archive; among them are 60 stage-costumes including Ziggy Stardust bodysuits (1972) designed by Freddie Burretti, Kansai Yamamoto's flamboyant creations for the Aladdin Sane tour (1973) and the Union Jack coat designed by Bowie and Alexander McQueen for the Earthling album cover (1997).
Personal items such as handwritten set lists and lyrics, as well as some of Bowie's own sketches, musical scores and diary entries will also be shown. - more on this story
The Darkness Plan Permission To Land 10th Anniversary Tour
(hennemusic) The Darkness will mark the 10th anniversary of their debut album, "Permission To Land", by performing the record in its entirety on a fall U.K. tour.
The band will also play a selection of hits, b-sides and album tracks during the shows, which begin November 13 in London; the 6-week trek wraps up December 16 in Norwich, UK.
"Permission To Land" hit #1 on the U.K. charts and went on to sell 1.5 million copies in the UK; the success propelled the group to three BRIT Awards in 2004 - Best Group, Best Rock Group and Best Album – while also snagging two 2004 Kerrang! Awards for Best Live Act and Best British Band. - more on this story
TeamRock Radio To Launch With Iron Maiden Classic
(Classic Rock) TeamRock Radio will launch officially on Sunday, June 16 at 11.58pm. As that unconventional time indicates, the first song to be played on the station will be Iron Maiden's 2 Minutes To Midnight.
TeamRock Radio's launch will be the culmination of the Download festival, which starts on June 14 with Slipknot, Iron Maiden and Rammstein as headliners.
Once the festival ends, TeamRock Radio will make its official debut. Directly after spinning the Maiden classic the station will broadcast The Best Of Download 2013, a retrospective show telling the story of this year's festival.
In the lead-up to Download, TeamRock Radio will be sponsoring the Heavy Metal Truants – a 161-mile bicycle ride leaving Alexandra Palace on June 12 and arriving at the festival at midday on the 14th. This charity event will raise money for children's charities, Nordoff Robbins, Teenage Cancer Trust and Childline.
TeamRock Radio has released a 30-second commercial advertising its forthcoming launch. It will be broadcast on the big screens at Download this weekend – and you can get a sneak peek - here.
Mastodon, BMRC, Suicidal Tendencies For Free Concert Series
Converse will be launching a free concert series later this month to celebrate what they consider are five genres of music that represent San Francisco and its residents.
The shows will be held at Slim's in San Francisco over a period of five nights beginning on June 23rd and continuing until the final show takes place on June 27th.
Among the bands tapped to appear at these free shows are Mastodon, Suicidal Tendencies, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Hot Chip, Deltron 3030 and more.
Converse will be giving tickets away to fans that submit a request online here before June 18th. They will notify the winners via email the procedure for retrieving the tickets. - Lineup info.
Stephen Stills and Kenny Wayne Shepherd Supergroup Set Release
(Gibson) The Rides, a new all-star blues rock supergroup featuring guitarist Stephen Stills (Buffalo Springfield, CSN, CSN&Y), guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd and keyboardist Barry Goldberg (Electric Flag) release their debut album Can't Get Enough on Monday August 26 via Provogue Records.
The album, which was produced by Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads), includes co-written originals as well as covers of classics by Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Neil Young and — this might come as a bit of a surprise — Iggy and the Stooges. It was inspired by the now classic 1968 album Super Session, which featured Stills on guitar on one side and the late Mike Bloomfield on the other.
Stills says The Rides is the blues band of his dreams. What was initially a collaboration between Stills and Goldberg really kicked into high gear when Shepherd became involved.
"The Rides are a perfect mix of generations, where three musicians who love and play the blues collide and create music that goes beyond all our other individual life experiences and career achievement," Shepherd says. "Stephen and I have rock backgrounds as well, but the blues is the fabric that holds this all together."
The Rides will embark on a world tour beginning in September, with dates in the UK planned for November. - more on this story
The Sword Announce North American Tour and New Beer
The Sword have announced North American summer tour in support of their latest album, Apocrypha, and they will be launching their next beer brand this summer.
The 25-date North American trek is set to kick off on July 25th in Dallas TX at Granada and will be concluding on August 23rd in Baton Rouge LA at Spanish Moon.
The group also announced that they have teamed up with Real Ale Brewing Company out Texas to launch their latest branded beer, which they are calling "Iron Swan."
"Iron Swan" will be the group's second branded beer, following the launch of their "Winters Wolves" last fall. The band will be officially launching "Iron Swan" in late July when their tour kicks off with a string of shows in Texas, according to the announcement.
Real Ale Brewing Company had the following description of the new beer, "Our newest canned offering is a tribute to the song that first introduced us to a packaging hall favorite, The Sword. Iron Swan pours a deep copper color and has an enticing intro of fruit and caramel with subtle hints of earth and spice. This medium bodied ale showcases the fruitiness of our house ale strain, along with the rich toffee flavors of English crystal malt. Added complexity is provided by generous amounts of English hops. Iron Swan finishes slightly dry with a mild spiciness that beckons another can. Fire up your turntable and audition Iron Swan yourself." - more on this story
Beach Boys Box Set To Include 60 Previously Unreleased Songs
Capitol/UMe will be wrapping up their Beach Boys 50th Anniversary celebration with the release of a massive 6-CD box set collection that will include more than 60 previously unreleased tracks.
The new set will be entitled "Made In California" and is set to be released on August 27th in North American and on August 26th in other markets across the globe.
"Made In California" will include over seven and a half hours of music and is packaged in a high school annual-inspired hardbound book with personal recollections from the band's members, replicated classic artwork and memorabilia, photos from the band's archive, and handwritten yearbook-style inscriptions from Beach Boys Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and David Marks.
Capitol/UMe sent over these details as well as the full tracklisting: Made In California's memorabilia includes Brian Wilson's 1959 high school essay titled "My Philosophy," which is reproduced in the collection's book in its original handwritten form (the original is currently on display in The GRAMMY Museum's yearlong Beach Boys exhibit celebrating the band's 50-year career). In the essay, Wilson expresses his wish for a satisfying life, writing, "I don't want to settle for a mediocre life, but make a name for myself in my life's work, which I hope will be music."
"This box set captures the evolution of a dream which started with a family singing Everly Brothers songs around a piano, to creating the harmonies that fans would carry in their hearts for a lifetime," said Mike Love. "Seeing these photos and rediscovering some of this music, I'm reminded of the immense love I feel for Brian, Dennis, Carl, Bruce, Al, and David. I'm still floored that our stories continue to inspire new generations to catch a wave and ride it is long as it lasts."
Made In California's previously unreleased and long sought-after recordings include "Goin' To The Beach," "California Feelin'," "Soul Searchin'," "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," and "You're Still A Mystery," among others. The set also debuts 17 unreleased live recordings, including "Runaway" (1965), "Friends" and "Little Bird" (1968), "Wild Honey" (1972), "It's About Time" (1973), "Wonderful" and "Vegetables" from The Beach Boys' legendary 1993 acoustic tour, and a 1995 rendition of "Sail On, Sailor" featuring a soulful lead vocal by the late Carl Wilson. The greatly missed talents of Carl and Dennis Wilson are also celebrated with rare and previously unreleased recordings including Dennis' "(Wouldn't It Be Nice To) Live Again," "Barnyard Blues" and "My Love Lives On," Carl's lead vocals on "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Soul Searchin'," and Carl's shared lead with Bruce and Brian on "California Feelin'."
The set also features a special 'From The Vaults' disc of rarities selected by the band and the producers with longtime Beach Boys fans in mind. Among the disc's highlights are a cappella mixes of standout vocal recordings for songs including "This Whole World" and "Slip On Through," alternate versions of "Don't Worry Baby" and other Beach Boys classics, session highlights and instrumental tracks, plus newly-discovered BBC Radio live recordings from 1964 of "Wendy," "When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)," and "Hushabye." - more including full tracklisting.
Gibson Guitar Announce New Company Name
(Gibson) The Gibson name is about more than just guitars. The Gibson brand is about leading innovations in music and sound into the next century. To represent Gibson's growing selection of products and evolving lifestyle orientation, today, Gibson Guitar Corp. has become Gibson Brands.
"Of course, the Gibson Guitar Corp. remains a vital, and crucially important, division of Gibson Brands," Gibson Brands Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz said in an official statement. "But with the recent acquisitions of TEAC, the Stanton Group, KRK, and Cerwin-Vega!, as well as a major investment in Onkyo, Gibson now encompasses the entire music and sound chain—from the first chord played by a songwriter on a Gibson guitar, until the music reaches the consumer through Onkyo's premium high-fidelity systems."
Gibson Brands has dominant market share positions in multiple business segments, including the number one dollar market share in electric guitars and pro audio studio monitors, and enjoys an ever-expanding global presence.
"Gibson guitars have always represented a fusion of technology, art, innovation, and craftsmanship, resulting in a premium range of musical instruments," Juszkiewicz stated. "Gibson Brands will continue to carry that ethos into all our products. Most importantly, we've never forgotten that Gibson Brands are about bringing the joy of music and sound to a world hungry for a positive quality of life." - more on this story
Halestorm Release Lyric Video For New Single Featuring Slash
Halestorm have released their latest single, "Here's To Us," to radio and have also released a new lyric video for the song which features Guns N' Roses legend Slash.
The song comes from the group's sophomore album, "The Strange Case Of..." which was released in April pf 2012. You can watch the new lyric video here.
Halestorm will be kicking off their summer tour on June 29th in Green River, Wy at Stratton Myer's Park. The band have announced dates that last through November 29the where they will be performing at Terminal 5 in New York City. - more on this story
Heaven & Earth Release Live Performance Video
Classic heavy rockers Heaven & Earth have released a new live performance video for their song "House of Blues" and will be releasing a new official video soon.
The "House of Blues" performance was captured during the band's new album release show at the Fonda Theater in Hollywood on June 6th. You can watch the video here.
The party was the for the release of the group's new studio album, Dig. The band is lead by former Sweet guitarist Stuart Smith and features vocalist Joe Retta, drummer Richie Onori, bassist Chuck Wright and keyboard Ed Roth.
The band will be releasing a traditional music video for the song "I Don't Know What Love Is" in the coming weeks. -
How the Allman Brothers Band Launched Southern Rock
(Gibson) Gregg Allman once famously pointed out that the phrase "southern rock" contained a redundancy - after all, rock and roll was born in the American South.
"You may as well say 'rock rock'," Allman noted. True, perhaps, but there's no denying that at the turn of the '70s a new type of rock and roll emerged – one rooted in a smoldering blend of blues, jazz, country and R&B, and often served up by way of extended improvisations. Indisputably, the first group to bring all those elements together, and infuse them with earthy southern traditions, was the Allman Brothers Band.
Ironically, had it not been for the tragic death of soul legend Otis Redding, in 1967, the Allmans might never have come together. In the wake of Redding's passing, his manager, Phil Walden, turned his attention away from R&B and toward rock and roll – albeit rock with a distinctly southern vibe. With an advance of $70,000 from Atlantic Records, Walden set up the Atlantic subsidiary, Capricorn Records, and set out on a talent search.
One of the first musicians to catch his attention was Duane Allman, at the time a little-known guitarist doing session work at Muscle Shoals Studios. Upon hearing Allman's guitar work on Wilson Pickett's version of "Hey Jude," Walden become determined to sign him and build a band around him. After some personnel shuffling, the Allman Brothers Band was formed in 1969.
"Duane did some early recordings that didn't result in the formation of the Allman Brothers Band," Walden recalled, in 1998. "Later we used some of those cuts on the Duane Allman Anthology album. Things went forward, but even after the band came together we still didn't have a singer. Gregg was on the West coast and he didn't join the band for several weeks, or maybe even for a couple of months. When he did come in he sounded great, of course, but even after Gregg got there, if the Allman Brothers played an hour set, probably 40 minutes of it would be instrumental. For a lot of people the vocals were afterthoughts, to break up all that music. I thought they sounded spectacular."
Settling into a lineup of Duane, Gregg, Dickey Betts, Berry Oakley, Butch Trucks and Jaimoe Johanson, the Allmans first performed mostly in northern Florida and South Georgia. Their first show outside the south occurred in Boston, where they opened for the Velvet Underground. The northern music press was baffled not only by the band's newfangled music, but also by their shabby wardrobe.
"Most of the press didn't understand what the band was trying to do, musically," Walden pointed out. "Most of those press guys, at the time, were into bands like The Who or other English groups. The comments I heard that night were things like, 'You know, you ought to dress up those guys a bit.' I remember Duane made one of his classic remarks, which was, 'If you want to go to a fashion show, I suggest you go to the garment district. But if you want to hear rock and roll music, you shouldn't be too concerned about what we're wearing.'"
According to Walden, the Allman Brothers Band's self-titled first album sold only about 33,000 copies, with its follow-up doing moderately better. Still, the band's relentless tour schedule, which often included free shows, earned them a devoted following. Within a year the Allman Brothers became one of rock's most exciting live acts. Tangible proof of their on-stage power came in 1971, when they released their live double album tour-de-force, At Fillmore East. Culled from four spectacular shows at the famous New York City venue, the set forged a template for what southern rock would be, going forward. - more.
Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry Tour Sea Shepherd
(hennemusic) Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry teamed up with Sea Shepherd Australia when the band was on tour in the country recently in support of their latest album, "Music From Another Dimension."
Tyler and Perry were treated to an in-depth tour of three of Sea Shepherd's ships – the Sam Simon, Bob Barker and Steve Irwin – currently docked in the organization's new ships operations base in Williamstown, Melbourne, Australia.
"Oceans and water is uncharted territory for human beings, they don't even know the beauty underneath there with a mask and a snorkel, I mean, very few do, it's certainly getting fished to death," said Tyler.
"The waters in Lake Sunapee, way up in New England are now depleted, the frogs are going, honey bees are going. I was just fortunate enough to just buy a house in Maui and the reefs out in front of my house, I live on Ahihi Bay, which is a fish sanctuary, and the reefs are going away. It's a very delicate ecosystem, you know, once a little bit goes awry, it all does, it's all connected."
"I always heard about Malibu and all the movie stars that live out there and I found out you've got to get a tetanus shot if you go swimming in it," added Perry.
