Today's Day In Rock News!

Van Halen's Lost Rock Opera Streaming Online

Van Halen biographer Greg Renoff is revealing rarities from the band's past to promote his new book about the early days of the group and this week he unearthed a four decade old Van Halen Rock Opera.
The live audio clip of what Renoff calls a rock opera was captured during a live performance at Pasadena High School on April 25th, 1975 and features the two-songs "Eyes Of The Night - Forced Entry".

Renoff's new book "Van Halen Rising: How a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal" tells the story of the band's rise to fame and was writing over six years with insight from interviews with Van Halen insiders including founding bassist Michael Anthony as well as Pete Angelus, Marshall Berle, Donn Landee, Ted Templeman, and Neil Zlozower. Check out the rock opera clip here.



Megadeth Streaming Dystopia Title Song(hennemusic)

Megadeth have released an online stream of the title track to their forthcoming album "Dystopia." The tune is the third song previewed ahead of the set's January 22 release, following "Fatal Illusion" and "The Threat Is Real."
"Dystopia" is one of five tracks featured in a virtual reality experience available to fans as part of a companion project to the record. Megadeth are teaming up with Next Galaxy Corp. and director Blair Underwood ("The Bridge To Nowhere") to perform within a virtual fallen city modeled after images in the video for the track "The Threat Is Real."

The footage will then provide fans with the opportunity to virtually enter, engage and explore this parallel world with the help of "Dystopia", a CEEK Virtual Reality cardbox headset and a download code to access and unlock the exclusive content.

Megadeth recorded their 15th studio effort in Nashville, TN last year. The group will launch a North American tour with guests Suicidal Tendencies, Children Of Bodom and Havok on February 20 in Dallas, TX. Check out the song here.



Guns N' Roses, Aerosmith, Megadeth Stars Lead Ronnie Montrose Concert(hennemusic)

A memorial concert for guitarist Ronnie Montrose will take place during the 2016 NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) convention weekend in California later this month.
On Saturday, January 23, "Ronnie Montrose Remembered" will happen at the Observatory in Santa Ana, CA and will feature a varierty of performers paying tribute to the late rocker, who died on March 3, 2012 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a five year battle with prostrate cancer.

The lineup will include Brad Whitford (Aerosmith), Steve Stevens (Billy Idol), Brad Gillis (Night Ranger), Gilby Clarke (Guns N' Roses), Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns), Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake), Derek St Holmes (Ted Nugent), Keith St. John (Montrose), Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge), Marc Bonilla (Keith Emerson Band), David Ellefson (Megadeth), Jimmy DeGrasso (Black Star Riders), Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie Malmsteen) and many others. Read more here.



Lemmy Milk Commercial Released Posthumously(Classic Rock)

The makers of a milk advert filmed by Lemmy weeks before he died have released the footage as a tribute to the Motorhead icon. It was under production when he passed away aged 70 on December 28, two days after being told he had an aggressive form of cancer.
In the promo for Finnish dairy Valio, created by ad agency Hasan & Partners, Lemmy is seen leaving a shop while walking with a stick. He glares at the camera and says: "I have never drunk milk. And never will." Then he adds: "You a**hole!" turns away and grins.

Agency boss Jussi Lindholm tells the Guardian: "We were in the middle of post-production when the news about Lemmy broke. We discussed not airing the ad, but we had footage that was not part of the original script which crystallized Lemmy's spirit, so we agreed to change it and make a tribute.

"We are profoundly grateful to have worked with him, and that Lemmy's management feel good about the result." Watch the commercial here.



Steven Tyler Announces New Solo Song 'Red, White & You'

Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has announced that his next country music single will be a track called "Red, White & You," which is set to be released digitally on January 22nd.
The track was produced by Tyler and Dann Huff and written by Nathan Barlowe, Levi Hummon and Jon Vella and is the second track Tyler has revealed from his forthcoming solo album.

"Red, White & You" will also be sent to radio on January 25th and follows "Love is Your Name," which was released last May as debut single from the country music album project.



Alter Bridge Begin Work On New Studio Album(Classic Rock)

Alter Bridge have begun work on their fifth album - and they're offering a range of ways for their supporters to get involved. The follow-up to 2013's Fortress is being produced by Michael 'Elvis' Baskette, and it's expected to arrive in the autumn.
Guitarist Mark Tremonti last year told TeamRock Radio: "It could go in any direction. I've got a ton of ideas in all different styles. Last time it was just one heavy idea after another - hopefully this time we can branch out and bring something new to the table."

Limited-edition tie-in products are being offered via Fret12.com and include guitars and drumsticks used during recording, lyric sheets, artwork and VIP access to the band. Read more here.



3 Doors Down Announce New Album 'Us And The Night'(Classic Rock)

3 Doors Down will release their sixth album Us And The Night on March 11, the band have confirmed. It was initially expected to launch last year, with guitarist Chris Henderson saying he thought it would be out by November. It'll be issued via Republic Records and pre-orders begin on January 15.
Frontman Brad Arnold says: "We're all excited to release our new album Us And The Night. It's truly been a labor of love and we can't wait to get these songs out to our fans around the world."

Those buying the record ahead of launch will gain instant access to the track In The Dark, which is said to flaunt "a sexy and striking chant that emphasizes a new groove and swagger altogether." Check out the track details and cover art here.



Voivod Add Dates To North American Winter Tour

Voivod's upcoming U.S. tour has now become a North American trek with the addition of several new dates including stops in Canada and additional U.S. cities this coming February and March.
The band will be supported on the tour by Vektor for the full trek with Eight Bells providing additional support from the kick off until February 27th and Black Fast taking over the spot the next night until it concludes.

The tour is still scheduled to get underway on February 6th in Providence, RI at the Fete Ballroom, but it will now be concluding on March 5th in Hamilton, ON at This Ain't Hollywood.

In addition to the final date, other new stops on the tour include shows in Philadelphia on February 8th, Newport, KY on the 23rd, Columbus, OH on March 2nd, and Toronto on March 4th.

Earlier this week, Voivod announced that they will be releasing a new EP entitled "Post Society" on February 26th. The new release will feature five studio tracks including two brand new songs, the tracks that were released on their recent vinyl-only split with At The Gates and Napalm Death, and a cover of Hawkwind's "Silver Machine". See the dates here.



Milk Teeth Guitarist Josh Bannister Leaves Band(TeamRock Radio)

Milk Teeth guitarist Josh Bannister has left the band and been replaced by Billy Hutton. The split is said to be amicable, with the band wishing Bannister well and vice versa. Hutton - known for his work with Hindsights - will be in place for Milk Teeth's upcoming European tour, although it's not yet clear whether he'll become a full-time member.
Milk Teeth say: "We wish Josh all the happiness in the world and the best of luck for the future. Our most wonderful friend Billy Hutton will be helping us out on all our upcoming shows and tours.

"We are so stoked to have Billy sharing a stage with us. This year is going to be the biggest and best yet. We have new music, videos, tours, festivals, yoyos and puppies all coming your way in 2016." See the band's full post here.



Queen Helps Adam Lambert Become Top Earning American Idol of 2015(Radio.com)

Ryan Seacrest may have called Carrie Underwood the biggest star to emerge from American Idol's lengthy run, but it looks like Adam Lambert may be the most hard working. At least from an earnings perspective.
Forbes released their list of Top Earning American Idols of 2015, and Lambert came in first, ahead of other big stars from the show like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry.

In 2015, Lambert raked in over $10 million, while Underwood came in second with $8 million. It helps that Lambert played numerous arena rock shows as the frontman of Queen, who brought him on board for their first tour in six years. Read more here.



Little Caesar Plan Double Live Album and New Studio Effort(Classic Rock)

Little Caesar are planning to release a live album - and return to the studio later this year. Their last album was 2012's American Dream and they embarked on a European tour last summer.
The band say: "We have been off the radar for a while - we don't like shouting without having something to shout about. We just got done listening to a great live show we recorded last tour in Holland.

"We will be putting out a great double live CD - our first ever live record. We'll also be going into the recording studio late next month to start our next studio album." Read more here.



Black Stone Cherry Release Live 'In My Blood' Video(Classic Rock)

Black Stone Cherry have released a live performance of their track In My Blood. It appears on their Thank You: Livin' Live DVD, which was filmed in Birmingham, UK, in October 2014, during the band's Magic Mountain tour.
They're gearing up for the launch of fifth album Kentucky on April 1. Guitarist Ben Wells recently said: "This is the first album we've been able to fully self-produce and the result is an album jam-packed with 'in your face' riffs, huge drums, and bass that will shake your teeth."

Thank You: Livin' Live is on sale now. BSC return to the UK later this month and they'll headline this year's Ramblin' Man Fair in Kent in July. Watch the live video here.



Guns N' Roses' Slash Happiest He Has Ever Been In His Career(TeamRock Radio)

Returning Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash says he's happier than he's ever been with his career. He'll bring it full-circle when he reunites with Axl Rose at Coachella in April, with the possibility of a US tour to follow.
The duo are joined by GNR bassist Duff McKagan - although the rest of the lineup hasn't yet been revealed. Slash - who also has solo band commitments and horror movie work in his schedule - tells Sam Dunn: "Not being burned out from the night before helps. Since I'm not spending all my time at the pub or chasing dealers, I spend all my time writing and working.

"I do all kinds of sh*t and I think it's become more exciting as I get older. The passion and desire to do it is really strong. I find it to be tons of fun." Looking back on a legacy that includes GNR and Velvet Revolver, he admits: "Bands I've been in tend to be complicated." Watch the full interview here.



Frank Zappa Collaborator Pierre Boulez Dead At 90(Prog)

Composer Pierre Boulez has died at his home in Baden-Baden, Germany. The iconic maestro worked with Frank Zappa in 1984 on his classical album Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger. Zappa, who had long wanted to perform classical music, sent Boulez several scores which resulted in the collaboration.
Boulez was born on March 26, 1925, in Montbrison, France. His father, a technical director at a steel works, wanted him to study engineering - but he chose to enroll in a music conservatory in Paris in 1942, having begun composing in his teens.

Boulez was widely hailed as a leading figure in classical music for his modern approach to composing, experimenting with different sounds and new technology in his work. He founded IRCAM in 1973, a Paris-based institute focused on music, acoustics and electronics, as well as conducting the New York Philharmonic and BBC Symphony Orchestra. Read more here.


Yes: Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman Project Back On?(Prog)

The much mooted project featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman seems to be back on track. Rabin has just posted the following on his Facebook page: 'Great stuff happening with Jon and Rick'.
The project had been in the pipeline since 2011, with Rabin initially telling Prog that the three former Yes members were seriously planning on doing an album together.

At that stage, they had written a handful of songs and were passing demos of ideas around, but this was as far as it was then taken. In 2012, Anderson admitted the project had been shelved, although there was a commitment to revisiting it at a later date. See the post here.




Danny Bryant Releases Making Of Blood Money Album Video(Classic Rock)

Danny Bryant has released an interview video on upcoming album Blood Money, coinciding with the launch of his latest single. The record is launched on January 29 via Jazzhaus Records.

Sugar Sweet is available now from iTunes and Amazon. It follows his streaming of the title track, which features a guest appearance from mentor Walter Trout.
Bryant describes Blood Money as his "most bluesy album" to date and adds: "It's all about capturing the excitement." Producer Richard Hammerton says: "This album is taking Danny much deeper into his background." Watch the video here.



Opeth Are A Progressive Band By Default Says Mikael Akerfeldt(Prog)

Mikael Akerfeldt says the fact that he no longer knows how to describe Opeth's sound is what makes them a prog band. In the first episode of FreqsTV's new Into The Machine series, the frontman recalls the band's early death metal roots and explains how they forged a more progressive sound as their career took off.
He says: "We started out being a death metal band. We were finding our feet in that scene. We were hungry, young, aspiring musicians who wanted to have a career in music and do what we loved doing. And I still love our brand of death metal.

"What kept us in the genre was that type of vocals. But if you'd taken that type of vocals out of the equation, we wouldn't have been a death metal band, we'd have been a progressive metal band."

He continues: "By the time we did the very first record, I had personally moved away from consuming that type of music. For my own influences I was going back and listening to 60s, 70s stuff. And with time, 25 years later, I don't really know what we are anymore - which makes us a progressive band." Watch the episode here.




Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler Talks 'Money For Nothing'(Gibson)

Easily one of the most memorable and recognizable riffs in the history of rock and roll, Mark Knopfler's chunky guitar work on Dire Straits' 'Money For Nothing' is nothing short of legendary.
In a recent video uploaded by the Forgotten Guitar website to their Facebook page (which can be viewed here), Knopfler, with his 1958 Gibson Les Paul in hand, explains how he came up with the song's signature riff.

In the video part of a documentary titled Guitar Stories: Mark Knopfler and hosted by his former Dire Straits bandmate John Illsley, Knopfler talks about how the riff started out as a simple little lick based around his fingerpicking playing style. Eventually, combining a a Marshall amp turned up to the max and a wah-wah pedal - "just to give it something different" - the magic was born. Read more here.





Nad Sylvan Explains The Origins Of His 'Vampirate' Persona(Prog)

Nad Sylvan says his 'Vampirate' stage persona came about on the back of an off-the-cuff remark by a friend. Sylvan released solo album Courting The Widow last year and also works as Steve Hackett's vocalist.
Explaining his love of prog rock and how he came to be known as the Vampirate, Sylvan tells Progarchy: "Progressive rock is multi-dimensional in a way. It always leaves the listener free to interpret the songs the way they want, the lyrical content and everything.

"I have this stage persona called the Vampirate. Someone used to tell me, 'You look like a vampire. You look like a pirate....I know, a Vampirate.' I just laughed at it and thought, 'What a great gimmick.' So I developed that."

The character appears throughout Courting The Widow as well as Sylvan's stage show. He adds: "Of course, a pirate must have his own ship, which the Vampirate certainly has. In the first song you hear the moored boat, the people walk on board, and you hear the Vampirate's wings. He's sort of coming from nowhere before the synth kicks in, you hear him soaring through the sky and land on the yardarm and stuff like that."

Revealing that he plans to keep the Vampirate around for three albums, Sylvan adds: "The Vampirate was born in the late 16th century, but his active life was in the 17th century. If you look what I'm wearing on stage, you're probably thinking I'm from that era." Read more here.




Clive Nolan Writing Two Musicals(Prog)

Clive Nolan has revealed details of the two musicals he'll write this year. He's aiming to completed work on the provisionally-titled Dark Fables and King's Ransom in the coming months - although he admits it's a "mammoth undertaking."
Nolan says: "Dark Fables will be a modern tale based around music I have written over the last 25 years. My original concept will be developed by director Ian Baldwin, whose exceptional creative talent will ensure a tantalising story."

The show will be set up for a band plus five singers, and it's designed to be taken on tour, including interactive video elements recorded by special guests.

He adds of King's Ransom: "It will be set in the Alchemy universe. It will feature Professor King, Eva and William, alongside new characters. The story takes place two years after the events of Alchemy and explores the underworld of Victorian London with a dose of romance, intrigue and adventure."

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day In Rock News!

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day In Rock News!: Original Guns N' Roses Members Confirm Coachella Reunion At least three original members of Guns N' Roses will be reunitin...

Today's Day In Rock News!

Original Guns N' Roses Members Confirm Coachella Reunion

At least three original members of Guns N' Roses will be reuniting. The band has been confirmed to headline the 2016 edition of the Coachella festival and both Slash and Duff McKagan posted images promoting the appearances.
The original lead guitarist and original bass player posted images on social media featuring the classic two-guns wrapped in roses Guns N' Roses logo over a backdrop of the festival site with "Coachella" written in the bottom corner.

Slash posted his image to his Instagram account and McKagan added the photo to his Facebook page. The same image was added to Guns N' Roses' social media accounts. McKagan also added the classic GN'R logo as his profile picture on Facebook.

Izzy Stradlin, Matt Sorum, Steven Adler and Gilby Clarke had not made similar social media post at press time, but Axl made the following emoji filled post on Twitter "Ok,ok... It's "confirmed!" Guns N' Roses is Headlining Coachella 2016!! See Everyone There!!"

Festival organizers announced the lineup on Monday. The 2016 edition of the festival will be taking place over two weekends (April 15th, 16th, 17th and 22nd, 23rd, 24th) at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, California,

Guns N' Roses are scheduled to headline the Saturday night lineups of the festival which will also include performances from The Damned, Gary Clark Jr., Ice Cube, Disclosure, Zedd, ASAP Rocky, CHVRCHES, Halsey, James Bay, Grimes, Courtney Barnett, Run The Jewels, The Arcs, RL Grime, Lush, Zhu, Deerhunter, Unknown Moral Orchestra, Rhye, Lashes, Vince Staples, Tchami, Nina Kravitz, Snales, Rufus Du Sol, Lost Frequencies and more.

The Friday night lineups will feature the return of LCD Sound System with a headline set as well as performances from Ellie Goulding, Sufjan Stevens, Jack U, M83, Underworld, The Kills, Foals, Of Monsters and Men, Volbeat, and more.

Calvin Harris will be headlining the Sunday night lineups for the festival with support sets from Sia, Major Lazer, The 1975, Rancid, Miike Snow, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Cold War Kids, The Chainsmokers and more. See the full lineup



Fans Taking Over Entire Sunset Strip For Lemmy's Memorial(Classic Rock)

Lemmy's memorial event in West Hollywood on Saturday is to be extended across the entire Sunset Strip, organizers have said. It was announced following the Motorhead icon's death on December 28, and was originally to take place at his spiritual home, the Rainbow Bar And Grill, between 2pm and 2am on January 9 (Saturday).
But operators say in an update: "Due to the overwhelming and supportive response to Lemmy's memorial, we are now using the entire Strip to compensate for overflow.

"The Rainbow will close from 5.00 until 9.00 for a private service - however the Roxy and Whisky will remain open to accommodate those looking to show their respects during this time." Read more here.



Rollins Band's Jason Mackenroth Dies From Cancer

Jason Mackenroth, who played drums with Rollins Band, Mother Superior and the Blue Man Group, died on Sunday (January 3rd) after a battle with prostate cancer.
His former Rollins Band and Mother Superior bandmate Marcus Blake broke the news with the following online message on Sunday, "Today, I lost a great friend, Jason Mackenroth to prostate cancer. He was an incredible drummer and had the most incredible sense of humor you could ever know. I am in shock. I find it hard right now to put into words my love for him and his friendship. We traveled the world together making music, talking about his favorite band, Kiss, and laughing until our guts hurt.

"He was not only an amazing drummer but he was an excellent father and husband. Life is too short. Be like Jason. Make someone you know smile like he made me smile. A simple thing like that means so much. I miss you, Jason.

"Please donate to Jason's wife, Jaye Mackenroth and her kids on the surviving family's Gofundme page. Jason's family needs financial assistance with living expenses so they can remain in Las Vegas until the youngest son, Joren, graduates from high school in June 2016. With the loss of Jason's income, this is a real challenge." See the photo that Marcus posted and get the GoFundMe link here.



Wolfmother Streaming New Song 'Gypsy Caravan'

Wolfmother have released a stream of the new song "Gypsy Caravan". The song is the latest track previewed from the forthcoming album "Victorious," which will be released on February 19th.
The new album was recorded at Henson Studios in Los Angeles with acclaimed producer Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam, AC/DC, Chris Cornell, Bruce Springsteen).

Wolfmother's Andrew Stockdale played guitar and bass on the album in addition to lead vocals and for the drum tracks he recruited Josh Freese (Nine Inch Nails, Bruce Springsteen, A Perfect Circle) and Joey Waronker (Air, Beck, REM) to perform on different tracks on the upcoming album.

Stockdale had this to say about the effort, "Back in the early days, I'd play guitar, bass, and drums and then present the ideas to the band and we'd work on the arrangement together.

"I thought it would be cool to get back to demoing ideas by myself and playing everything. It's a good way to do things because it can make the style more cohesive." Check out the new song here.



Dream Theater's Jordan Rudess Was Almost On Pink Floyd's The Wall(Prog)

Dream Theater star Jordan Rudess has revealed to Prog that he came tantalizingly close to appearing on Pink Floyd's legendary 1979 concept album "The Wall."
"Many years ago I had a friend by the slightly unusual name of Bleu Ocean," recalls the Dream Theater keyboard maestro. "He was a very good drummer; I believe he had been one of the studio drummers for The Monkees, playing with them behind the scenes. Anyway, Bleu got the job of assembling a marching band that would appear on the song Bring The Boys Back Home.

"I was hanging out at Bleu's home one day and he said, 'Come on man, come to the studio and watch the recording of the track. You could even be a part of it'. Well, I wasn't a drummer - by that point I'd have been around 18 years old and had long since decided that keyboards would be my life - but I'd played some very basic snare drum when I was in Third Grade.

"So I went with him to the session. I walked in, someone gave me a drum and some sticks. I'm playing along and having a really good time but as I'm doing so I become aware that Bob Ezrin [producer] is looking at me across the room, eyebrow slightly askew and finally he says: 'I don't think so'.

"After he'd picked me out I went and sat in the control room and long before anyone else we got to hear a playback of that track, though of course we had no idea of what it meant or where it would fit in the overall puzzle of Pink Floyd's album." Read more here.



Axl Rose's Jimmy Kimmel Live Appearance Confirmed, Then Canceled(hennemusic)

Axl Rose has cancelled tonight's (January 5th) scheduled appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the host revealed to viewers during Monday night's broadcast.
"Axl Rose was supposed to be here tomorrow," Kimmel said, "but he will not be here tomorrow…for reasons known only to Axl Rose. Or maybe he will be here," he added while laughing, "maybe he's just trying to keep us guessing."

Rose's appearance was listed on the program's website early Monday but his name was removed from the schedule by mid-afternoon. The singer was expected to reveal details of a Guns N' Roses reunion that will see the band headline Coachella over two weekends in April while reportedly in talks for a possible 25-date stadium tour of North America this summer. Read more here.



Voivod Releasing New 'Post Society' EP Next Month

Voivod have announced that they will be releasing a new EP, entitled "Post Society" on February 26th as a digipak CD as well as digitally via Century Media Records.
The EP will include 5 studio tracks including two brand new songs, the tracks that were released on their recent vinyl-only split with At The Gates and Napalm Death, and a cover of Hawkwind's "Silver Machine".

Voivod's Michel "Away" Langevin had the following to say about the release, "More songs from out in the woods! In between tours, we are steadily finding our way through recording the next album at RadicArt studio.

"Many riffs were composed on the bus but until the North American tour with Vektor in 2016, we will spend most of wintertime in Montreal writing another batch of material. Meanwhile, we hope you will enjoy this EP of good old thrash-prog-punk-metal or whatever people want to call Voivod nowadays :)" See the tracklisting here.



Doll Skin Release New Lyric Video Ahead Of Metal Allegiance Dates

Doll Skin have released a lyric video for the track "Wring Me Out" from their new EP "In Your Face" ahead of the launch of a series of tour dates later this week with supergroup Metal Allegiance.
The short west coast tour includes the following dates: January 7th in San Diego, CA at Ramona Main Stage, January 8th in Las Vegas, NV at Count's Vamp'd, January 9th in Los Angeles at the Whisky A Go-Go and January 10th in San Francisco, CA at The Regency.

Vocalist Sydney Dolezal had this to say about the trek: "Metal Allegiance is a bunch of amazing musicians in a band together, and you know how that ends.. with amazing music and a kickass show! I'm so excited to have the opportunity to be on the road with these guys!"

Guitarist Alex Snowden adds: "I'm so psyched to have this opportunity to share the stage with such talent. Metal Allegiance really knows how to throw down and we can't wait to be a part of that."

Check out the "Wring Me Out" lyric video here.



Warbringer and Enforcer Launching North American Tour

Warbringer and Enforcer are kicking off their North American co-headline tour tonight (January 5th) in New York City. The trek will feature support from Exmortus and Cauldron.
The kick off show will be taking place at the Gramercy Theatre and the tour will be criss-crossing the U.S. and Canada before wrapping up on February 21st at the Pour House in Raleigh, NC.

Warbringer frontman John Kevill had this to say about the tour, "The band sounds f***ing killer right now and I can't wait to get out there and assault the stage. It is worth mentioning that I've seen a number of 'people leaving bands' news pieces recently. Most often they cite the complete impossibly of making a living playing music, and the difficulty of the touring lifestyle.

"Well, I can say from experience that all of that is true. It's tough, there's no denying that. But that isn't what I want to talk about here. What I want to talk about is what has kept me going for the 10+ years and 1000+ concerts I have done with this band I started right after finishing high school. I've seen more of the world than I ever thought was possible, met thousands of people from all walks of life, and from them learned much of the world.

"Among other things, I learned to remain humble and to always remember what an honor and privilege it is to perform songs I made with my friends, to complete strangers who live thousands of miles away who will come out on a work night to see me and my fellow band dudes banging our heads. Too many people lose sight of this. So that is why I am still here, and why I will see you guys on each of the 47 dates of this tour. Be ready. I am." See the dates here.



The Cult Release 'Hinterland' Video(hennemusic)

The Cult have released a new music video for the song "Hinterland", a track from their forthcoming album "Hidden City," which is set to be released on February 5th.
"'Hinterland' is a place both real and imagined, a hidden city symbolic of a new Rome," explains singer Ian Astbury. "Through the eyes of several witnesses, we observe a young woman as she realizes her enlightened self in a dystopian dream world.

"'Hinterland' is filled with symbolism, reflecting a new aeon in the shift of human consciousness as we realign with our planet's natural rhythms." Watch the video here.



Elvis Costello Releasing Detour Live Concert Film(Kayos)

Elvis Costello's new concert film "Detour Live At Liverpool Philharmonic Hall" is set to be released on February 12th by Eagle Rock in DVD, Blu-ray and digital formats.
The release, which was captured during Costello's 2015 "Detour", will include performances of classic tracks like "Watching The Detectives," "Accidents Will Happen," "A Good Year For The Roses," "Shipbuilding," "Alison," "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down," "Peace Love And Understanding" and more.

Costello is joined on several tracks by Rebecca and Megan Lovell of Larkin Poe and the bonus DVD tracks will include performances of "Love Field," "Either Side Of The Same Town," "Brilliant Mistake," and "Ascension Day." See the tracklisting here.



Motorhead's Ace Of Spades Back On UK Charts Following Lemmy's Death (hennemusic)

Motorhead's 1980 classic, "Ace Of Spades", has returned to the UK singles charts following the December 28th death of leader Lemmy Kilmister placing in the top 10 at midweek.
According to the Official Charts Company, "Ace Of Spades" has climbed 94 places to Number 9 at the midweek point on the Official Singles Chart update.

The track peaked at Number 15 upon its release in 1980, and last entered the Top 40 22 years ago, hitting Number 23 when it was re-issued in September 1993.

The confirmed weekly UK chart positions will be revealed on Friday. Read more here.



Diamond Head Announce Their Seventh Studio Album(Classic Rock)

Diamond Head will release their self-titled seventh album on March 11. And mainman Brian Tatler has admitted he had no plans for a studio return - until new vocalist Rasmus Bom Andersen injected a spark of energy to the band.
The NWOBHM icons, acknowledged as influences on Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and many others, hadn't recorded anything since 2007's What's In Your Head?

Tatler says: "Ras has certainly renewed the energy. I had no interest in doing a record - but after working with Ras on the European tour, that suddenly changed.

"I wanted to make a record with him. He's a confident singer and he's not trying to fill anyone's shoes." He continues: "This album has an echo of the early albums, but I always try to push out music forward. When we began, Ras said we should write as a band, just like we did at the beginning. There's no substitute." Read more including the track details here.



Cream and Clapton Manager Robert Stigwood Dead at 81(Classic Rock)

Band manager, producer and impresario Robert Stigwood has died at the age of 81. The Australian looked after the affairs of Cream in the 1960s and continued to work with Eric Clapton after the band split.
Along with Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart, the Bee Gees and several other acts, Stigwood found success as producer of musicals including Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar, and movies such as Saturday Night Fever, Grease and The Who's Tommy.

He'd started out as a co-owner of Robert Stigwood Associates, a theatrical agency that led to his career as the UK's first independent record producer, alongside colleague Joe Meek.

He's remembered as the victim of a notorious incident in 1966, when competitor Don Arden threatened him with violence for discussing a potential management switch with the Small Faces. In some versions of the story Arden vowed to throw Stigwood out of his own office window - in others Arden is said to have hung him out of the window by his feet. Read more here.



Rhine Streaming New Song 'The Spell of Dark Water'(AsherMedia)

Rhine have released an online stream of their new single "The Spell of Dark Water". The track will also be included on their forthcoming album "An Outsider," which is set to be released on February 5th.
Vocalist and guitarist Gabe Tachell had this to say about the song, "This is our attempt to mix prog rock with a black n' roll kind of vibe, but more playful than sinister, with a made up story about a man chasing a mermaid... and of course he dies."

The forthcoming album, 'An Outsider,' is the follow up to Rhine's 2011 debut 'Duality', which was first a solo effort by band founder Gabriel Tachell (guitar and vocals) whom is now joined by Alex Smolin on guitar (ex-Metameric), James Porter on bass (Ideofone), and Carlos Delgado (Inferion, ex-Death Crowned King) to collaborate on this project. Check out the new song here.



Trace Your Steps Release Animal (Creature Of Habit)

VideoTrace Your Steps have released a music video for the song "Animal (Creature Of Habit)". The song appears on their forthcoming album "Beating Hearts and Uncertainty," which will be released this Spring.
Guitarist Ian Schneider had this to say, "We really wanted to take our time with this release and put everything we had into it. After parting ways with our former drummer, we decided that while we searched for a replacement we would make sure that this song was the best it could possibly be.

"'Animal' is the collaborative effort of everyone in this band, and we felt it captured everything we try to portray in our music, ranging from the chorus to the breakdown. "We incorporate a lot of different elements into what we create and we thought this track really showed who we are as a band from every angle."

The new video was directed by Anthony Lopardo at Slate Media and the song was produced by Ian Schneider & Andover Studios, and mixed and mastered by Westfall Studios. Watch the video here.



New U2 Album Compares To 'Zooropa' Says The Edge(Radio.com)

When U2's Songs of Innocence unceremoniously hit iPhones in 2014, the legendary rock band confirmed plans for a companion project titled Songs of Experience. The Edge announced in a recent interview with Q Magazine the album would be made available to fans in the near future.
The guitarist called the project a nod to William Blake and said the recording process was comparable to working on 1993's Zooropa. The Edge noted Zooropa's producer Brian Eno "would love to see us making albums a bit more like that.

"Where we go, 'You know what? We're not going to second-guess any of this. Let's just go for it.' I think there's a quality you get when there's a certain momentum to the process." Read more here.



Chris Stapleton And Kings Of Leon Rock Lynyrd Skynyrd Classic(Radio.com)

Grammy nominated Chris Stapleton took the stage at Nashville's downtown New Year's Eve bash with a host of other big names like Kings of Leon, Kelsea Ballerini and Wild Cub.
After performing earlier in the night, Stapleton came back on stage to help close the show. He joined Kings of Leon towards the tail end of their set to cover Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Simple Man."

While KOL's singer Caleb Followill took on vocal duties for the song's first verse, Stapleton oversaw the second, lending the lyrics his trademark howl and growl. The audience couldn't get enough, responding in kind with excited cheers.

Throw in a rip-roaring guitar solo from Matthew Followill and 2016 sounded like it got off to a killer start. A fan in the audience captured the performance. Check it out here.



Johnny Rawls Announces New Album 'Tiger In A Cage'(MPM)

Blues star Johnny Rawls has announced that he will be releasing his new album, "Tiger In A Cage," on February 19th via Catfood Records and it includes a special duet with Ed Brent.
The album was recorded at the Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas and was produced by Jim Gaines, Tiger In a Cage also features backing by The Rays: Johnny McGhee - guitar; Bob Trenchard - bass; Richy Puga - drums; Dan Ferguson - keyboards and accordion; Andy Roman - alto/tenor sax; Mike Middleton - trumpet; Robert Claiborne - trombone; Nick Flood - baritone sax; Jon Olazabal - percussion; with vocal backing by The Iveys.

In other news, Johnny Rawls was recently nominated once again by the Blues Foundation in the "Soul Blues Male Artist" category for the upcoming Blues Music Awards to be held in Memphis in May.



Ramleh Kicking Off U.S. Dates Next Week

Ramleh have announced that they will be doing some rare appearances in the U.S. with a series of west coast live dates next week in support of their double album "Circular Time."
The tour will feature electronic sets at half of the shows and rock sets at the others and will kick off on January 13th in Oakland, CA at the Life Changing Ministries.

They will also be making other stops in San Francisco at the Elbo Room on the 14th, and two shows in Los Angeles beginning on the 15th at Echoplex and concluding the short tour the next night at the Complex. See the dates here.



Arena Announce New Live Release XX(Prog)

Arena will release a live release entitled XX next month, they've announced. XX will be released in DVD and 2CD formats on February 12 via Metal Mind Productions.
The package is described as "a veritable feast for all prog fans" with "more than two hours of darkly sublime beauty, interviews with Clive Nolan and Mick Pointer, and more."

The album and DVD was recorded in Poland last year, during their 20th anniversary tour, which followed the launch of eighth album The Unquiet Sky. See the track details here.


Damian Wilson and Adam Wakeman Preview Acoustic Album(Prog)

Damian Wilson and Adam Wakeman have launched a teaser for their acoustic album Weir Keeper's Tale. They've also streamed the track Seek For Adventure in full.
The nine-track title will be released on January 8 and it's available for pre-order now. Wakeman offered the following comments about the upcoming release:

"Damian and I both wanted to capture a real cohesive album of our songs outside of the writing we do with Headspace and other heavier bands. It gave us an opportunity to really focus on the songs as singer-songwriters, and to concentrate on telling individual stories." Check out the new song and preview clip here.



John Lydon Reflects On Inspiration For Sex Pistols Hit Anarchy In The UK(Classic Rock)

John Lydon has recalled the political landscape and inter-band tensions that inspired the Sex Pistols hit Anarchy In The UK. As the 1976 single approaches the 40th anniversary of its release in November, Pistols frontman Lydon - aka Johnny Rotten - says it was about the band's own problems as much as it was about the country's issues.
He tells Mojo: "Anarchy In The UK came from all the despondencies and discrepancies within the band in the early days. There were some really bad moments and everyone was always on the verge of quitting, except me.

"I felt under serious pressure - and so did others, I think - and was trying to coin phrases and write words that would unite us as a band, as we were so bitterly opposed to each other and Anarchy In The UK was the end result."

Social unrest also played its part in Lydon's writing process though. He adds: "The ideas in that song had been rattling around in my head for years, but I had never had an outlet. Then there I was all of a sudden, a singer in a band.

"The people running the country at that time were running it into the ground, with a pompous us-and-them attitude that Margaret Thatcher would come to exemplify. Young people were constantly being told that they had no future." Read more here.



Gojira Release Video From Recording Studio(TeamRock Radio)

Gojira are giving fans a glimpse into their creative process with the release of a short online video showing the band at work on their upcoming sixth album.
The footage was filmed at French band's newly built New York studio owned and designed by frontman Joe Duplantier where they are working on the follow-up to 2012's L'Enfant Sauvage.

Drummer Mario Duplantier said in September last year that his focus was fully directed on finishing the album, which is now expected in the spring. He said: "All my energy right now is on Gojira."

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day In Rock News!

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day In Rock News!: Axl Rose Jokes About Guns N' Roses Reunion Reports(hennemusic) Axl Rose has issued his first public response to rumors of a...

Today's Day In Rock News!

Axl Rose Jokes About Guns N' Roses Reunion Reports(hennemusic)

Axl Rose has issued his first public response to rumors of an impending announcement regarding a Guns N' Roses reunion. Rose tweeted on Friday: "The only thing I know 'confirmed' is my LOVE of Taco Bell! Mmmmm.... Taco Bell!! Happy New Years!!"
Music industry magazine Billboard and other media outlets are reporting a GNR reunion will launch in the spring - with Rose and Slash confirmed so far among the players involved.

The group are reportedly set to headline the Coachella Music & Arts Festival in Indio, CA over the weekends of April 15-17 and April 22-24 and are in talks with promoters for a 25-date stadium tour of North America this summer. Read more including the Axl's tweet here.



Lemmy's Favorite Bar Announces Memorial Plans(hennemusic)

A public memorial service for Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister will be held at the late rocker's favorite bar and hangout, The Rainbow Bar & Grill in West Hollywood.
"Join us Saturday, January 9th as we say goodbye a dear friend and loved one," announced the bar. "We will open our doors at 2:00pm. Come celebrate the life of Lemmy Kilmister. Legends never die."

Lemmy passed away from an "extremely aggressive cancer" at his Los Angeles home on December 28. The iconic frontman - who turned 70 on Christmas Eve - was diagnosed with cancer just two days before his passing, according to manager Todd Singerman.

Fellow rockers and fans from around the world have been paying tribute to the rocker, and his longtime bandmates offered their own salutes. Read more here.



Deep Purple To Begin Recording New Album With Bob Ezrin

This Month 2016 promises to be a big year for Deep Purple. The band will not only finally receive their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but they will also be making a new album.
Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice revealed in an interview published by WCSX.com on Christmas Eve that the band will begin recording the follow-up to their 2014 album "So What?!" late this month.

He said, "We start around the end of January. We'll go back into the studio in Nashville with Bob Ezrin; We had such a great time making the last record that we just want to try to duplicate that the next time around.

"There's plenty of material, probably more than we need, but there is a weeding process that happens when you start listening back in clarity. So, you know, the runts of the litter will be discarded and the best 10 or 11 tracks will be worked on."



Videos From Motley Crue's Final Show Go Online(hennemusic)

Motley Crue wrapped up their farewell tour on New Year's Eve with the last show of their career at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and videos from the show have been posted online.
The group closed out the 18-month run with three shows in their hometown after a July 2, 2014 launch in Grand Rapids, MI saw them hit the road for the last time.

Bassist Nikki Sixx and singer Vince Neil both offered extended goodbyes to fans and Tommy Lee's drum set stalled on the roller coaster during his "Cruecify" drum solo as the Crue delivered their greatest hits set to a sold-out crowd.

The event was filmed by director Christian Lamb for a theatre and Pay-Per-View release later this year. The project will also include interviews and behind the scenes footage captured during the final week of the tour, with footage shot by Jackass creator Jeff Tremaine.

Motley Crue announced the farewell run at a January 28, 2014 press conference in Hollywood, and signed a binding legal document known as a "cessation of touring" contract which prevents them from touring beyond 2015. Watch the videos here.



Kings Of Leon Begin Work On New Album(Classic Rock)

Kings Of Leon have begun pre-production on their seventh album, and they aim to complete it this year. And frontman Caleb Followill says they're "in a good place" for the follow-up to 2013's Mechanical Bull.
The band reported in July that they'd started writing material for the record. Followill tells AP: "We're all excited to do something new. Our first two albums were recorded in LA, so we're going to go back and see if it inspires us.

"If it doesn't, we have a studio at home, so we can always come back." Drummer Nathan Followill adds: "The main thing on the calendar for 2016 is getting the record finished, then the press machine kicks up." Read more here.




Anthrax's New Song 'Breathing Lightning' Streaming Online(hennemusic)

Anthrax premiered "Breathing Lightning", a track from their forthcoming record "For All Kings", during an appearance on the BBC on Sunday and the song and interview are streaming online.
Guitarist Scott Ian joined BBC Radio 1 Rock Show with Daniel P. Carter to discuss the tune from the group's 11th album, which will be issued on February 26.

The project marks the debut of former Shadows Fall lead guitarist Jon Donais, who replaced Rob Caggiano following his departure in 2013. The follow-up to 2011's Grammy-nominated album "Worship Music" is also being previewed with a lyric video for the lead track, "Evil Twin."

On January 15, Anthrax will hit the road to support Lamb Of God on their headlining US tour, before teaming up with Iron Maiden in March for a month-long run across Latin and South America. Stream the song and the interview here.




Panic! At The Disco Stream 'Don't Threaten Me With A Good Time'

Panic! At The Disco celebrated the New Year by giving fans another taste of their forthcoming album via a stream of the new track "Don't Threaten Me With A Good Time".
The band revealed the song in a series of post on their website beginning on New Year's Eve (December 31st) when they shared the song on YouTube with the message "One more thing before ya kiss 2015 goodbye… You think we'd let another holiday go by without releasing a new song?!"

On New Year's Day they announced the song had been added to Spotify and said "So this is the future, huh? Seems pretty f***ing awesome so far. Kick off your new year with an equally as new song, 'Don't Threaten Me with a Good Time'".

The track comes from the band's forthcoming album "Death Of A Bachelor" which is set to be released on January 15th. The band also announced that if fans pre-order the digital version of the album on iTunes and Amazon, they will get an instant download of 5 songs including track "Don't Threaten Me With A Good Time" and the lead single "Victorious." Stream the new track here.



Sum 41 'Almost Done' With New Album Reveals Jubilant Deryck Whibley

Sum 41's Deryck Whibley revealed in a New Year's Eve post that the band's new album is almost complete and he took the opportunity to look back on 2015, which he says was one of the best years of his life.
Whibley suffered what has been called a near-death experience in 2014 after suffering liver and kidney failure due to excessive alcohol consumption, which led him to being hospitalized for a month and warned by doctors that he could die if he continued to drink.

He has since sobered up and that new found sobriety fueled a very productive year. He tells fans in his online post, ""as the year comes to an end, i can honestly say that 2015 has been one of the best years of my life. it has been a year of accomplishments. learning to walk again and getting back on stage were some of the hardest things that i've ever had to do. getting my life back on track and my health in order, while at the same time making a new Sum 41 album, almost seemed impossible this time last year, but now the record is almost done and i feel stronger and better than ever. the band is sounding bigger and better as a 5-piece, and it's so great to have dave 'brown sound' back again after almost 10 years.

"the Alternative Press awards performance with DMC was one of the best experiences in our career and the shows in North and South America were all amazing. it's hard to believe that 2016 is going to be an even bigger year - i can't wait! thanks for all the love and support and we'll see you all in the new year!"



Supergroup Denimgoat Tribute Phil Lynott With New Single

Supergroup Denimgoat, featuring members of Truckfighters, Crucified Barbara, Backyard Babies, are marking the anniversary of loss of Thin Lizzy icon Phil Lynott with a new single.
Today, January 4th, marks the 30th anniversary of Lynott's death and Denimgoat are paying tribute with the release of their cover of Lynott's final single "Nineteen."

The Swedish supergroup features Danne McKenzie (Satan Takes A Holiday, Mustasch & Truckfighters), Ida Evileye (Crucified Barbara), Richie Puzz (Bandit Rock radio), Nicke Borg (Backyard Babies & Nicke Borg Homeland), and Max Diesel (Junkstars).

"Nineteen" follows the group's chart topping debut single "I Need To Know", which claimed the No. 1 spot on the iTunes Rock chart in Sweden, upon release.

The new single is being released digitally world wide and can found on Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, Apple Music, Tidal, Rhapsody and Deezer.



The Gathering Offer Song Download From Reunion Show(Prog)

The Gathering have made their reunion show performance of the song "Travel" available for download and streaming ahead of the release of the live album captured at the event.
It was recorded in their home town of Nijmegen in the Netherlands, when Anneke van Giersbergen rejoined her former colleagues to mark the band's 25th anniversary.

The Gathering say: "Travel is a classic song, originally from our How To Measure A Planet album. Sung by Anneke and with Hugo Prinsen Geerligs on guitars and bass, this song is played with the original lineup. One of the many highlights that day!" Read more and get the download link here.



Thy Art Is Murder Keeping New Singer Search Behind 'Closed Doors'(TeamRock Radio)

Thy Art Is Murder guitarist Andy Marsh says he wants to avoid "starting another circus around the band" following the departure of frontman CJ McMahon last month.
Instead, he hopes the Australian outfit will be allowed privacy to get on with the business of finding a replacement. McMahon cited financial pressures as one of the main reasons for quitting, saying: "We have been broke for years and I can't live like this any more."

Marsh tells The Jasta Show: "We love what we do, and we like playing heavy music, but at the same time we're low-key guys. We don't want all this attention - we want to create our shortlist in private. Hopefully we keep that in private and it goes through the motions behind closed doors."

He already knows what kind of person the band are looking for. "They have to be our friend," he says. "They have to represent our music and what our band is to people.

"Whoever we get will be good, no doubt - but they also have to fit un with us, sit in the van, sit in the bus, sit on the plane, and be bored for 20 hours a day with us." Stream the full interview here.



Neck Deep Look Back At 2015 With 'Smooth Seas' Video

Neck Deep rang in the New Year by releasing a new montage video for the track "Smooth Seas Don't Make Good Sailors" that features a look back at the band's activities in 2015.
The song comes from the band's sophomore album "Life's Not Out To Get You," which was released this past summer. The band posted the new video along with the following message on their Facebook page on New Year's Eve, "2015 was another wild year for our band, where we achieved things we could never have dreamed of 3 years ago.

"We released our second album 'Life's Not Out To Get You', and saw it charting in the TOP 10 album charts in both the UK and USA. That album has gone on to sell over 55,000 copies worldwide so far, which just blows our minds...

"We played 117 shows across UK, USA and Europe, including some of the biggest shows Neck Deep has played to date: Wembley Arena, main stage at Reading & Leeds festivals, Madison Square Garden, London Alexandra Palace....

"Here's a little look back on the year that was, filmed and edited by our friend Josh Halling." Watch the video here.



Trujillo Looks Back At 'Surreal' Metallica Audition

Metallica bass player Robert Trujillo provided a detailed account of his audition to replace Jason Newsted in a recent episode of the WTF With Marc Maron podcast.
Trujillo recalls the event as "a very surreal day for me. But when you get a gig like that, it's so… strange. Really, strange is the word. Because I remember going up there. I was late. I was always late back then."

He then went into detail (via Blabbermouth) about the audition : "I'll tell you a quick story about the audition. Basically, it was a two-day audition. The first day of the audition, I was kind of just there to be a fly on the wall. [Producer] Bob Rock's there. The bass [for Metallica's 'St. Anger' album] had already been recorded; Bob Rock recorded the bass. So I'm just hanging around. And Lars [Ulrich, Metallica drummer] and James [Hetfield, Metallica frontman] and Kirk [Hammett, Metallica guitarist] kind of live in this bubble. They were just, like, 'Yeah, make yourself at home. Just hang out.' And I was just kind of hanging out in this big complex up north [in the Bay Area]. And I'm kind of lost, because no one's really completely communicating with me, and I'm just there. And, okay. So [they tell me], 'Come on in the control room,' and I'm just there. They're cutting tracks. And that's it; hanging around. Eleven o'clock rolls around at night, and Lars... We're in the parking lot. We're the last ones leaving. And Lars says, 'Hey, man, let's go get a drink. Let's go get a nightcap.' So I'm, like, 'All right.' And we go to the first bar, have a couple of cocktails, we go to the second bar, have a few more, go to the third bar. Then we end up at his house for more cocktails. By this time, it's five in the morning. I can't even drive to where I'm staying; it's impossible. And he even says, 'Here, crash out in my guest room.' So, at nine in the morning, four hours later, he's on the treadmill, this guy, and it's like he doesn't know me anymore. He's already sobered up. And he's on the treadmill. And I've got this crazy headache. And then he's, like, 'All right. Let's go. Let's go to the studio.' And I'm driving behind him. I couldn't even keep my eyes open. I get to the studio.

He continues: "This is when [the members of METALLICA] were going through this sort of therapy thing, [with] this guy Phil Towle, who was… what do they call it? Kind of a life coach, kind of a motivator, which was, at the time, I guess, good for the band, but I wasn't used to that. Here I am with a pounding headache. James has just gone through this whole thing where, of course, he's sober, and the last person he wants to see anywhere near his band is a drunk Mexican. That would be me. So I'm sitting at the table, and I've got the worst headache, [I'm] completely hung over. And I'm thinking, 'Lars did this to me, 'cause he was checking me out, to see if I could hang with him.' It was [a test]; it had to have been. He's a Viking, really. I'd go into the bathroom. I was throwing water on my face, slapping it, going, 'Oh, man, you've gotta… Hang in there. Hang in there.' 'Cause I really wanted to say, 'I can't do this right now, guys. I don't feel good. I really can't do this.'"

Trujillo concluded: "I stuck it out. I knew the tech, the bass tech, from back when Suicidial Tendencies was touring with Metallica, which would have been in 1993 on the 'Black Album.' So, Zach Harmon, who is now still my bass tech. I didn't have a bass, so [I went], 'Let's go grab a bass. Let's choose the amp setup.' So I kind of used that as my way to get out of this hangover situation." Read more and listen to the full podcast here.



Whitechapel Heading Into The Studio For New Album

Whitechapel are kicking off the new year by heading into the studio next week to begin laying down tracks for a new studio album, according to metal site Lambgoat.
The group had previously revealed in their North American tour announcement back in late September that they planned to begin recording he follow-up to "Our Endless War" early in 2016.

Lambgoat reports the band expects to release the new effort this spring via Metal Blade Records. Whitechapel had the following to say on their Facebook page, "Thank you to anyone who supported us in 2015, without you what we do would not be possible. We look forward to bringing you album 6 in 2016."



Rusty Paul, Son Of Guitar Pioneer Les Paul, Dead At 74(Classic Rock)

The son of guitar pioneer Les Paul, who helped his father in his work, has died at the age of 74 after a long battle with diabetes, according to the Les Paul Foundation.
Lester 'Rusty' G Paul, the elder of two children, spent many years assisting his dad while he developed technology that's become standard in musical instruments and sound equipment.

A statement from the Les Paul Foundation says: "Often Rusty could be seen sitting in with legendary artists including Les' godson Steve Miller, and called many famous musicians his friends including Richie Sambora, Slash and Eddie Van Halen." Read more here.



John 5 Releases 'Black Grass Plague' Video(Classic Rock)

Rob Zombie guitarist John 5 has released a video for solo track Black Grass Plague. It features his skills on guitar, electric mandolin and banjo, along with support work from drummer Rodger Carter and bassist Ian Ross.
The promo is dedicated to the memory of camera operator Khalil Tiner, who was killed by a drink-driver soon after filming was completed. Colleagues George Maria, Tyki Sato and Ryder Page say:

"He was an amazing filmmaker and one of those rare people who could brighten any day with his smile. Khalil you are missed, and we are honoured to have called you friend."

Rob Zombie will launch sixth album Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser in the coming months. Watch John 5's new music video here.



Traitors Stream New Song Featuring Black Dahlia Murder's Trevor Strnad

Late last week, Traitors released an online stream of the song "Burnout," which features a guest appearance from The Black Dahlia Murder frontman Trevor Strnad.
The band released the lyric video for the track a couple days ahead of the January 1st release of their new EP "Night Terrors" and the kick off of their U.S. tour. Check out the song here.

The band launched the tour in support of the new EP in Orlando, FL at the Backbooth on Friday (January 1st) and will criss-cross the country before wrapping up the trek on January 27th in Odessa, FL at The Goathouse. See the tour dates here.



Former Marillion Vocalist Fish Remembers Lemmy (Classic Rock)

Fish has paid tribute to Lemmy, describing the Motorhead and Hawkwind icon as "a huge romantic with a passionate lyrical bent." The 70-year-old died on December 28, two days after being told he had an aggressive form of cancer.
Recalling long nights of conversation in London clubs during the 1980s, ex-Marillion vocalist Fish says: "We'd rattle off on our favorite subject of history, and especially World War 2.

"He was a highly knowledgeable and intelligent guy with strong opinions as well as being a huge romantic with a passionate lyrical bent. I really enjoyed his company back then.

"He came up to North Berwick in 1987 to attend my first wedding - much to the surprise and amusement of fellow guests, who he totally charmed and captivated with stories. He was a charming and sensitive man totally outwith his rough desperado image."

The pair lost contact in later years, and Fish admits to being disappointed when they last met in the 1990s. "I saw him was in the Rainbow Rooms in LA, where he was, as always, totally locked into a gaming machine. We exchanged few words as it was obvious he was somewhere else and not open to conversation with anybody. I heard later that he was dealing with a lot of dark issues around that time." Read more here.



Spoof Prog Star Brian Pern's New TV Series Trailer Released(Classic Rock)

The BBC have released a trailer for the latest adventures of spoof prog star Brian Pern. The third series, subtitled 45 Years of Prog and Roll, will be broadcast on BBC Four beginning on January 14.
It stars Simon Day as the Thotch frontman and co-writer Rhys Thomas as himself, along with Paul Whitehouse, Nigel Havers, Michael Kitchen, Martin Freeman and others. Rick Wakeman appears as himself alongside a range of other musicians.

The BBC say: "After a year out of the public eye following his heart attack, Brian is making a major comeback. Not only is he appearing on Desert Island Discs and at the the Isle of Wight Festival - he has a new album, a new look and a new wife who is half his age.

"Taking her advice, Brian sacks his picky manager John Farrow by fax and lets her take over. She quickly says yes to every offer going, including an appearance at the Thotch convention cruise with annoying fan club president, Perry." Watch the trailer here.



Nightwish May Change Musical Approach On Next Album(Prog)

Nightwish could move away from their heavily-orchestrated approach to music on their next album, says Troy Donockley. The multi-instrumentalist says they're looking at ways to explore a stripped-down sound without fully abandoning the complex arrangements they've become known for.
Asked about the possibility of an acoustic tour, Donockley tells CarlBegai.com: "I think if we went out with a skeleton crew of three woodwinds, a string quartet and the band, it would smooth over the edges of doing something that people might freak out over.

"It would still retain the orchestral elements, but strip it down to a chamber band. I think it's something we should get onto." He adds: "We're got plans for the next album - really loose plans - but some things are heading in the direction. Our fans are very forgiving." Read more here.



Big Big Train Preview 'Stone & Steel' Documentary(Prog)

Big Big Train have released a trailer for their documentary movie Stone & Steel. The production is based around nine songs recorded at rehearsals in 2014, along with four shot during performances last year.
They explain in the clip: "In August 2014, Big Big Train gathered at Real World Studios in England for a week of rehearsals, to see if gigging after a 17-year absence form the stage was feasible.

"They were accompanied by a film crew. Stone & Steel tells the story of the band's transition from the studio back to the stage." Watch the "Stone & Steel" trailer here.



Jimmy Page Might Have Prevented Guitar Solo On Jethro Tull's Aqualung(Classic Rock)

Martin Barre has recalled the moment that speaking to Jimmy Page could have led to him losing a guitar solo on classic Jethro Tull track Aqualung. He risked bandleader Ian Anderson taking away the opportunity, and filling the space on tape with flute work instead.
The album of the same name was released 45 years ago in March. It was recorded at Island Studios in London, while Led Zeppelin were working on their fourth record next door.

Barre tells Guitar Player: "We'd locked ourselves away and I hadn't seen Jimmy at all. Finally he walked into the control room to say hello, just as I was recording the solo to Aqualung.

"In those days, if you didn't get a guitar solo in one or two takes, it might become a flute solo. It was, 'Go in there and do it or else.' And here was Jimmy, waving like mad - 'Hey, Martin!' - and I'm thinking, 'I can't wave back or I'm going to blow the solo!'"

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day In Rock News!

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day In Rock News!: AC/DC Had The Most Popular Tour Of 2015 AC/DC's Rock Or Bust Tour was the most popular tour of 2015. Industry publication Pol...

Today's Day In Rock News!

AC/DC Had The Most Popular Tour Of 2015

AC/DC's Rock Or Bust Tour was the most popular tour of 2015. Industry publication Pollstar released the top tour numbers for the year with AC/DC coming out on top in ticket sales.
The Australian band launched the tour in support of their "Rock Or Bust" album, which was revealed earlier this month to the be biggest selling hard rock album of year in the U.S..

The tour was a major success as well, selling 2.31 million tickets and grossing $180 million. The list was ranked by profit, so AC/DC came in second to pop star Taylor Swift who had higher priced tickets and grossed $250.4 million but sold approximately 40,000 fewer tickets.

Elsewhere on the list, the Foo Fighters grossed $127 million with 1,682,053 tickets sold followed by Fleetwood Mac which grossed $125 million with 995,939 tickets sold.

Rock veterans The Rolling Stones brought in $109.7 million with ticket sales of 44,910 and Paul McCartney grossed $77.7 million with 26,255 in ticket sales. Read the Pollstar report here.



Axl Rose Will Reportedly Talk Guns N' Roses Reunion On Kimmel(hennemusic)

Axl Rose will reportedly end months of rumors and speculation about a Guns N' Roses reunion when he makes a guest appearance on ABC-TV's Jimmy Kimmel Live next week.
Multiple sources have confirmed to Rolling Stone that Rose will join Kimmel on the late night program, although no broadcast schedule has been revealed to date.

This week, Billboard reported that a Guns N' Roses reunion will launch in the spring - with Rose and Slash confirmed so far. Some variation on the group's lineup is expected to one of the first acts to play the new Las Vegas Arena when it opens April 6 - and then they'll headline the Coachella Music & Arts Festival in Indio, CA over the weekends of April 15-17 and April 22-24. Read more here.



Motley Crue Recording Their Final Show Tonight For Concert Film

Motley Crue will be taking the stage tonight (December 31) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles for their very last concert. But fans that can't be at the show in person will still be able to watch it.
The band revealed that they will be filming the concert for a full length concert film that will also include interviews and behind the scenes footage captured during the final week of the tour as the band prepared for their farewell show.

The live concert portion of the film will be directed by Christian Lamb and the documentary portions of the film will be directed by Jackass creator Jeff Tremaine. The film will be released theatrically and on Pay-Per-View some time next year.




Motorhead Members Pay Tribute To Lemmy, Confirm Motorhead Over

Motorhead guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee have both released online statement following the death of frontman Lemmy Kilmister on Monday (Dec. 28) from an aggressive form of cancer.
Dee writes, "Lemmy! My bandmate. My friend. My brother. There are no words to describe the emotions running through my mind at this point but I could write thousands and thousands of words of all we created and experienced together.

"It has been a true honor and a privilege to play with you and share all this time brother. I celebrate every moment we shared…you bastard. I know I'll see you sometime in the future and maybe I'll join your band again…but this time, let's go a bit slower buddy. "There is a big black hole here now that no one can ever fill. No one... Later Lem Mikkey

"P.S I am deeply moved by all the care and love that has come in from fans, friends and fellow band mates from all over the world. I appreciate each and every one of you. Now, let's make Lemmy proud and carry on his legacy."

Campbell writes, "Unfortunately by now everyone reading this post will have found out that Motörhead is no longer. I'm still trying to come to terms with everything but I've been totally overwhelmed with the well wishes and stories about how Lemmy & Motörhead affected people's lives.

"I genuinely would like to thank everyone who's supported Motörhead over the last 40 years. Please turn it up to 11 and celebrate Lemmy's life to the full."




Skid Row Not Reuniting With Bach, Surprised By Tony Harnell Departure

Skid Row have posted their first public statement since now former singer Tony Harnell announced earlier this week that he had quit the band. It turns out that the band learned about the departure via Harnell's online post and they also shot down rumors that they were reuniting with Sebastian Bach and going on tour with Guns N' Roses.
Harnell made the announcement with the following Facebook post, "I'm sorry to inform everyone that I'm no longer the lead singer for Skid Row. I thank the fans for their love and support!"

The band issued the following on Wednesday, "To the Skid Row faithful, As you may know, Tony Harnell quit the band yesterday. We found out about his decision the same way all of you did, via his post on social media. He had posted that he was no longer in the band before informing the band personally.

"The last we spoke with Tony was on December 17th. He was in the hospital being treated for 'bronchitis with asthmatic symptoms'. We were all very concerned and offered any assistance we could to help him get healthy. Due to his condition we were forced to cancel our show in Chicago on December 19th. The next time we heard anything was his post yesterday.

"That being said, we are all moving forward and wish Tony the best in his future endeavors. Lastly, amidst all of the rumors and speculation, there has been no talk of a reunion nor are we opening for Guns N Roses. That's it for now. We'll keep you updated as best we can. Thanks for your support and understanding. See you in 2016!"



Slipknot's Corey Taylor Shares His Favorite Lemmy Memory(Classic Rock)

Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor has recalled a "fanboy moment" as his favorite Lemmy story. Taylor once met him in Germany at the offices of the Gibson guitar company. He tells the Guardian: "We were there to check out some new gear, do some press, sign some sh*t. We saw each other, gave each other a quick hug and shoulder slap, and immediately went looking for a place where we could smoke.
"We found ourselves standing in a kitchen with all the windows open, chain smoking, bullsh*tting and laughing like crazy. I felt like we were cutting class and hanging out somewhere in the high school."

He refuses to repeat a "most hardcore" joke Lemmy told him, but says: "I laughed so damn hard I thought my pancreas was going to rupture. Once I caught my breath, I had a sense of where I was - hiding in a tiny room, smoking cigarettes, telling dirty jokes and hanging out with my friend, who just happened to be a man I'd been listening to most of my life. I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a little fanboy moment." Read more here.




Zakk Wylde Reflects On Paris Attack and Dimebag Murder


Former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist and Black Label Society mainman Zakk Wylde was interviewed by AMFM on the anniversary of Dimebag's murder and in the wake of Paris terrorist attacks and reflected on both during the discussion.
Wylde was asked if he now feels vulnerable on stage following these tragedies. He responded," I don't think anybody thinks about it. It's like guys that drive a racecar. I think you just get in the racecar and go, you know what I mean?

"It's just really insane with the thing that just happened in Paris and Dimebag thing and the John Lennon thing. You can't stop mental illness. It's crazy that the Dimebag thing happened the same day as John Lennon.

"The one guy said that Dimebag broke up the band [Pantera] and stole his songs and the guy with John Lennon figured he would kill him, get his fame, and get a date with Jodie Foster. It's like, 'Bro, I don't know if any chicks are going to want to date you now.' [Laughs]

"You can't stop crazy. If it's not guns, we'll be banning samurai swords or whatever weapon you can get. It's pointless, man. And the thing that happened in Paris, it's ridiculous, man. If you've got a problem with America, get an army together, and try and come over and whoop our ass then instead of this punk sh*t." Read the full interview here.




Dave Grohl Tributes Lemmy With Ace of Spades Tattoo(Radio.com)

Since Lemmy Kilmister's passing on Monday, several artists have shared thoughts, condolences and tributes to honor the Motorhead frontman. Dave Grohl did something a bit more permanent.
Hours after news broke that Lemmy passed away, Grohl visited a tattoo parlor to get some fresh ink of Motorhead's "Ace of Spades" logo on his left forearm (via SPIN). The tattoo artist who inked Grohl shared a pic of the finished work on Instagram.

Grohl's ink takes on a personal note for what the Foo Fighters have already expressed regarding the loss of their friend and sometimes collaborator. Posting on their Facebook page, the band shared "We've lost a friend & legend. My heart is broken. RIP Lemmy. Born To Lose, Lived To Win." See the photo here.



Nikki Sixx Emotional About Tonight's Final Motley Crue Show(Classic Rock)

Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx hopes he won't burst into tears during the band's final show tonight. They'll bring the curtain down on their career in Los Angeles, where it began in 1981.
The band signed a legal document ahead of their farewell tour in 2014, making it all-but impossible for them to reunite after tonight's performance.Sixx tells Billboard: "I don't know how we're going to feel. We've been dodging that question for two years - and now there's no getting out of it.

"We're pretty rough-and-tumble dudes. But even the toughest guy going in for his last fight is going to feel a pang in his heart. I'm guaranteeing that something's going to happen that I don't know about, and I don't want to think about until it happens. I just hope I don't cry during Shout At The Devil." Read more here.




Alabama Shakes and Vintage Trouble ACL TV Special Airs This Weekend(CoakleyPRess)

Austin City Limits have announced that they will be kicking off the new year with the double bill of Alabama Shakes and Vintage Trouble this Saturday, January 2nd at 8pm CT/9pm ET.
"Few contemporary singers in the world today can touch the raw power and emotion of Brittany Howard," says ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. "Since their ACL debut, before they even had their first record out, Alabama Shakes has reached new heights, and their Grammy nomination for Album of the Year says it all!"

Lickona had this to say about Vintage Trouble's set, "I've never seen anyone take command of a stage (and audience) like Ty Taylor and Vintage Trouble! It was a musical and emotional roller-coaster ride. People are still talking about that taping-and now so will viewers." See the band's setlists and the upcoming schedule for the show here.



Orgy and Bobaflex Launch Pop Killers Tour

Orgy, Bobaflex and Death Valley High will be spending the first month of the New Year playing to rock fans across North American on their Pop Killers Tour.
According to Bobafex's Facebook page, the tour kicked off on Tuesday in Arizona and will include a special New Year's Eve show tonight in San Leon, TX. The trek will visit cities across the U.S. and Canada before wrapping up on January 30th in Las Vegas.

Bobaflex are touring in support of their new album "Anything That Moves" and promise more live action in the coming year. Marty McCoy says, "The Orgy tour is the first of many shows in the new year. 2016 will be our busiest year in the band's history More tour announcements including festivals are coming soon." See the dates here.



Keith Emerson Reveals How Lemmy Got The Name Lemmy(Prog)

Keith Emerson has lead further tributes from the prog community to Hawkwind and Motorhead man Lemmy Kilmister. In a post on Facebook, which also alleges that Lemmy took his nickname from a 1950s BBC radio programme Journey Into Space, specifically the character Lemuel 'Lemmy' Barnet, originally played by David Kossoff, Emerson recalls the days when Lemmy road managed The Nice.
"Farewell Lemmy. In the late 60s Lemmy and The Nice toured England. Lemmy was our road manager and he presented a formidable figure of someone that did not take prisoners or suffer fools gladly,

"The Nice were in their destructive art period, a term used by Pete Townshend. Lemmy came up after a show. 'Ere, if you're gonna use a knife use a real one and gave me two Hitler Youth knives. He was an avid collector of World War 2 paraphernalia, not that he was into the horrors of war. No, far from it. His reckoning was that if you're going to send an army into war, dress 'em so they look and feel good. The English, according to my father who was with The Royal Engineers, had very drab outfits and consequently morale was low. And the opposition looked well turned out. So that was it with Lemmy. He just wore black.

"Many have wondered why he chose the name 'Lemmy'. In the late 50s and early 60s there was a BBC Radio series called Journey Into Space. 'Lemmy' was one of the characters. Lemmy was a big fan." Read more here.



Iron Maiden Tells Lemmy To Rest In Peace Loudly!(Classic Rock)

Iron Maiden have said farewell to Lemmy, saying the Motorhead icon "played a great set." He died at home in Los Angeles on December 28, aged 70, two days after being told he had an aggressive form of cancer.
In a message credited to all six band members and manager Rod Smallwood, Iron Maiden say: "Lemmy, rest in peace - loudly! The world has lost a unique character.

"They don't build them like you any more. But you played a great set. Our condolences to your family and friends and Motorheads everywhere. With much affection and respect." Read more here.




Peter Frampton Announces 2016 'Raw' Acoustic Tour(Gibson)

Peter Frampton closed out a round of acoustic shows in the East and Midwest this fall, and now, he's at it again. Frampton has plotted out a new unplugged tour that will take him to the West Coast this March.
The latest round of tour dates in his "Peter Frampton Raw, an Acoustic Tour" will being March 9 in Tucson, Arizona, and run through a March 26 show in Tacoma, Washington. Tickets for the shows are available now.

These shows are a family affair. On tour, expect to see Frampton accompanied by his son, singer and guitarist Julian Frampton, and longtime friend Gordon Kennedy.

Earlier this year, Frampton explained to Billboard that the acoustic shows are prepping an unplugged album he's working on that will feature raw versions of some of his songs. See Peter Frampton's 2016 'Raw' Acoustic Tour Dates here.





Annihilator Plan Live Blu-Ray and Unplugged CD and DVD

Annihilator have announced that they have signed a two studio album deal with UDR Music and Jeff Waters also revealed some details of the band's plan to release a new live Blu-ray as well as an acoustic CD/DVD set in 2016.
Waters had these details (via BraveWords): "Well, 2015 is almost over and myself and the guys want to wish everyone a great holiday season and also to thank everyone that enjoyed our latest CD, Suicide Society, and/or recent Europe Tour! We are working on Part 2 of the tour now and expect to make an announcement on dates in mid-January. That announcement should include Russia/Danish/German dates that were cancelled by the Lufthansa strike, a venue issue and one night off for a bad throat!

"Also, while I can't confirm and give details, there is 'rumor' of discussions to film our first full-length, full production BluRay concert. Tentatively aiming for April and we will likely do it in Germany. It would be a very special event for fans, as we are (apparently!) discussing all the ways to make it so!

"Another project in the final stages of confirming is something that many of you have been asking for a long, long time... a full CD/DVD of a dozen or so acoustic songs. There would be six musicians involved in this live acoustic show but we are thinking of doing it live in my recording studio in Ottawa; something along the lines of the bonus acoustic video material on the latest Van Halen release.

"South American touring is in the planning stages, as well as summer 2016 in Europe again. Yah, I know: where the fk is the USA/CAN touring? Still trying to make that happen.

"So for the best news here: We just re-signed to UDR Records for another two studio CDs! That will put us at 17 studio CDs when that deal is over! Add that to the mega-package(s) we are planning in 2016 and it's gonna be a fantastic four more years with them, us and the fans!"



Enter Shikari Release Live 'The Last Garrison and Juggernauts' Video(TeamRock Radio)

Enter Shikari have released a live video featuring performances of The Last Garrison and Juggernauts. The clip was shot during their February UK tour in support of fourth album The Mindsweep.
Frontman Rou Reynolds had the following to say of the follow-up to 2012's A Flash Flood Of Colour: "There's a lot more positivity on this album, and love is a central theme."

"But if you boil down everything we've ever done it's all about loving one another, loving the planet, loving our biosphere." Watch "The Last Garrison and Juggernauts" performance video here.



Joanne Shaw Taylor Tributes Lemmy, Releases New Year Message(The Blues)

Joanne Shaw Taylor has paid tribute to Motorhead mainman Lemmy Kilmister following his death at the age of 70. He passed away on December 28, two days after being told he was suffering from an aggressive form of cancer.
Taylor says: "After hearing the news I spent a little time re-reading some of his quotes. Obviously he leaves behind him an amazing musical legacy - but the thing that's always struck me most is that he was one of the few that really had life figured out.

"No regrets, no excuses, a one of a kind character. He knew exactly who he was and how he wanted to live. 70 years lived to the fullest - I think we could all learn a lot from him."

Meanwhile, Taylor has posted a new year greeting video, thanking fans for their support during 2015. Watch it here.



Emerson, Lake & Palmer In The Studio For 45th Anniversary (ITS)

The latest episode of syndicated radio show In The Studio: The Stories Behind History's Greatest Rock Bands 45th anniversary of the self title debut album from Prog Rock pioneers Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The show sent over these details:
ELP were a true supergroup in progressive rock, elevating the musical genre by taking it out of the science lab and onto FM rock radio, where ultimately millions of listeners would respond in favor.

Each member of ELP had a hand in defining the Prog Rock sound, albeit individually in separate bands, Keith Emerson as a keyboardist, innovator with The Nice; Greg Lake writing and singing on the 1969 King Crimson groundbreaker In The Court of the Crimson King; and Carl Palmer exhibiting power and space-filling percussion in the trio Atomic Rooster.

Greg Lake shares with InTheStudio host Redbeard the story behind the song "Lucky Man" and how it ended up making the cut on ELP's debut album. "I wrote "Lucky Man" when I was 12 years old... And I never had any use for it... When it came to the album and we were due to finish the album there and then, it was just a case of ' Does anybody got any idea?' And there was a silence, and I said, Well, I got this. 'So alright then, give it a go.'" stream the episode here.



Mansion Studio Used By Bowie, Pink Floyd To Reopen(Prog)

The French mansion studio that became known as the Honky Chateau has reopened for business - and its new owners aim to expand its activities beyond recording music.
Chateau d'Herouville, built near Paris in the 18th century, became an icon of 1970s excess when it was used by Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Rick Wakeman, Iggy Pop, the Grateful Dead, Ritchie Blackmore, Fleetwood Mac, T Rex and many others.

It opened in 1970 and got its nickname from the 1972 album Elton John recorded there. It was also known as "France's Abbey Road." Owner and composer Michel Magne became celebrated for his hospitality at the live-in location, offering a bohemian lifestyle that included drink, drugs and sex parties. He committed suicide in 1984 while being pursued for debts run up after the studio's glory era had passed. Read more here.




Alabama Shakes Release 'Don't Wanna Fight' TV Performance(The Blues)

Producers of US TV show Austin City Limits have released a preview of the Alabama Shakes' upcoming appearance. The clip features their performance of Don't Wanna Fight - a track that's just been nominated for a Grammy award.
It appears on their second album Sound & Color, which has gained a total of four Grammy mentions for the 2016 awards ceremony. The Shakes' latest Austin City Limits appearance is broadcast in the US on January 2.

Frontwoman Brittany Howard recently admitted the band's rising fame was a challenge to deal with, saying: "I'll go see shows, but it's getting harder and harder. I get recognized, and there are a lot of pictures, which is kind of hard when you're just trying to enjoy the band." Watch the video here.



Sum 41 Preview Tracks From Forthcoming Album(TeamRock Radio)

Sum 41 have released two clips from their sixth album, which is currently under production. One clip was labeled "just a rough mix" and the other "unfinished".
The band's forthcoming new album follows frontman Deryck Whibley's near-death from alcoholism, and it's been funded by fans via a Pledge campaign.

Whibley recently said: "Words can't describe how good it feels to be back, so I'll just let the music do that instead. We're really proud of these songs and we want to make sure our fans know they're coming." Check out the clips here.



Singled Out: The Knitts' Get Up Get Out

Justin Volkens from Los Angeles-based five-piece garage-rock, post-punk band The Knitts tells us about their new single "Get Up Get Out," which will also be featured on their forthcoming "Simple Folk" EP. Here is the story:
"Get Up! Get Out!" is supposed to praise and encourage those who are brave enough to create art, and able to remove themselves from formulaic tendencies...[while] in the same breath rejecting those who still believe the world is flat.

We didn't have the money to rent a rehearsal room that day [we wrote the song] so to the park with acoustics and a keyboard we went. We had established the core of what is now 'Get Up! Get Out!' throughout that one day.

The hardest part however, was trying to write a groovy, sexy song, while gleefully relaxing in the grass of Reseda Park. Within the next couple of days we managed to get into a studio and play it with a full drum set, electric guitars and VOILA!

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day In Rock News!

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day In Rock News!: Guns N' Roses Reportedly Reuniting For Coachella, Stadium Tour In 2016 Original Guns N' Roses members will reunite early nex...

Today's Day In Rock News!

Guns N' Roses Reportedly Reuniting For Coachella, Stadium Tour In 2016

Original Guns N' Roses members will reunite early next year and will headline the Coachella festival according to reports from two credible music publications that cite "multiple sources."
Axl Rose and Slash will reportedly lead the lineup, according to Billboard which reports that they have been told by multiple sources that the band is set to headline the California music festival next April.

They also report that the band is currently negotiating with a promoter to launch a North American stadium tour next summer and they are also in talks to be one of the first bands to play the Las Vegas Arena, which is set to open on April 6th.

A second report from Consequence of Sound says that an official announcement is "imminent" and the publication confirms that their "sources" tell them that the band lineup will also include original bass player Duff McKagan along with Rose and Slash and they will likely tap "Use Your Illusions" era drummer Matt Sorum for the reunion.

However, Billboard also reports that there were unable to reach representatives of the band, Coachella organizers, or AEG who will be operating the new Las Vegas venue for confirmation. Coachella's lineup is set to be revealed in January.

These new reports come in the wake of a mysterious Guns N' Roses trailer that appeared in movie theaters over the Christmas holiday during showings of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and the band launching a redesign of their website over the holiday that features the group's classic "Appetite For Destruction" era bullet logo.

Last month the band's official Twitter was updated with a series of cryptic tweets that read "What ever happened to no new is good news?... Of course today everyone is a journalist... if only they could read lips... Surely they'll read between the lines."



Rush's R40 Tour Was Not A Farewell Trek Says Geddy Lee

Rush frontman Geddy Lee has reiterated in a new interview that he does not believe that the legendary band's career is over and says that their R40 tour was not a farewell trek.
As we reportedly earlier this week, Lee told Paste Magazine that the band members at this point can not agree on their plans for the future, but he is not ruling out another album or future live performances.

The band's 2015 R40 tour was speculated to be their final large scale tour but Lee also says in the interview that the trek's "intention was not a farewell tour; its intention was a look back and a celebration of 40 years of music." Read the interview here.



Skid Row Part Ways With Singer Tony Harnell

Skid Row has lost another frontman. Former TNT vocalist Tony Harnell broke the news to fans via a social media post this week that he has parted ways with Skid Row.
Harnell was brought in earlier this year to replace Johnny Solinger. Now Harnells tells fans, "I'm sorry to inform everyone that I'm no longer the lead singer for Skid Row. I thank the fans for their love and support!"

His announcement comes following his hospitalization earlier this month, which forced the band to cancel their concert in Chicago. He posted the following message on Facebook about the situation at the time:

"I wanted to snuff out a few rumors I've seen online so here's the story. I'm neither dying nor faking! lol I was in the ER Tues night and admitted and released Wednesday for severe Bronchitis with Asthmatic symptoms and low oxygen levels, they ran tests to rule out anything serious.

"The Dr's felt traveling today and attempting to sing as soon as tomorrow would be a bad idea. I'm always willing to give it a try but everyone involved with the show felt it was best not to wait till the last minute to make a decision."



Motorhead Manager Reveals Lemmy's Reaction To Cancer News(hennemusic)

Motorhead drummer Mikkey Dee says the band is done following the death of leader Lemmy Kilmister in Los Angeles on Monday and the band's manager has revealed Lemmy's reaction to the news that he only had a short time to live.
"Motorhead is over, of course. Lemmy was Motorhead," Dee tells Sweden's Expressen newspaper. "We won't be doing any more tours or anything. And there won't be any more records. But the brand survives, and Lemmy lives on in the hearts of everyone."

Motorhead manager Todd Singerman revealed Lemmy had not been feeling well in recent weeks and went to the emergency room when he complained of chest pains.

Rolling Stone reports doctors found no heart trouble but Singerman and others decided he needed a brain scan "because his speech was getting bad." There were concerns that he'd had a stroke.

"We took him for the X-rays and they said, 'Oh, my God, there's stuff all over his brain and his neck,'" said Singerman on Monday. "On Saturday, two days ago, the doctor came by the house, brought the results and told us all that he has two to six months to live."

It was cancer, and Lemmy reacted calmly. "He took it better than all of us. His only comment was, 'Oh, only two months, huh?' The doctor goes, 'Yeah, Lem, I don't want to bullsh*t you. It's bad, and there's nothing anyone can do. I would be lying to you if I told you there was a chance.'"

"Here's the shocker for me and everyone else: He's been to a thousand doctors and hospitals throughout the world, but nobody caught this," adds Singerman. "To be told you have terminal cancer with all the blood tests he's taken in his life and everything else? It's very hard to grasp that. It's not like he had a f***ing chance here. This was outright: 'You got no more than six months.'" Read more here.




Foo Fighters Score Their Sixth Million Selling Album In The U.S.

Foo Fighters have another platinum level selling album release under their belt in the U.S. after their Greatest Hits collection passed one million copies sold earlier this month.
The 2009 best of collection reentered the Billboard 200 this past week at No. 159 and has now sold 1,009,000 copies in the U.S., following sales of 6000 copies last week and the 3000 copies sold during the week of December 17th, which pushed the compilation's total sales tally past one million.

This gives the band, formed by former Nivana drummer Dave Grohl, their sixth million selling album in America. Greatest Hits joins their previous platinum level albums The Colour and the Shape (1.9 million), In Your Honor (1.5 million), One By One (1.4 million), There Is Nothing Left To Lose (1.3 million) and their self-titled debut (1.3 million), according to Billboard. Read the report here.



Beatles Attract Younger Fans With Spotify Launch(Gibson)

Now that The Beatles catalog is available on streaming services, a whole new generation of future Beatles fans are discovering the Fab Four. And casual fans will be able to access the music more easily to dig deeper. And those of us who are die-hards who bought everything years ago have another way to access their beloved tunes on the go.
The Beatles albums are now available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, TIDAL and Amazon Prime Music. And it's particularly interesting to see which songs have had the most plays since the catalog went live on Christmas Eve.

According to Billboard, 65 percent of Beatles plays on Spotify were by users under the age of 34, and over 673,000 people added the band to Spotify playlists. And the top Beatles songs on Spotify around the world are: 1) Come Together 2) Let It Be 3) Hey Jude 4) Love Me Do 5) Yesterday. See the rest of the top 10 here.





There Would Be No Metallica Without Motorhead(Classic Rock)

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich has detailed how big a part Lemmy played in his decision to form his first band. Ulrich now explains how, after having seen Motorhead play on a number of occasions, he found his way into their rehearsal room in England when he was 16 years old and it inspired him to star Metallica.
Ulrich tells Rolling Stone, "I got down to this studio - and within half an hour I'm sitting in their room and it's Lemmy, Phil Taylor and Eddie Clark. It was just them and me, and they're writing songs for their next album.

"I remember they were talking about this new song called Iron Fist. This is the biggest band in England, and I'm just sitting there with them in the f***ing rehearsal room writing songs for their next record. Just put that in f***ing perspective."

Ulrich continues: "There was this openness to let people into their inner circle, and it motivated me. I had met this kid, James Hetfield, about six months before - I could tell he was a super-cool guy, but nothing much came out of that interaction.

"Later in the week after I got back, I called him up and said, 'We've got to form a band together. I just hung out with Motorhead. I'm feeling it, this otherworldly calling.'

"So when I say that Lemmy is the primary reason that I'm in a band to this day, and that Metallica exists because of him, it's not some cheap exaggeration. It really was. They took me in, they let me be a part of what they were doing, and it inspired James and I to form this band based on that attitude and that aesthetic. We were just a bunch of lost kids who wanted to belong to something that was bigger than ourselves." Read more here.



Phil Anselmo's Superjoint Recording New Music

Superjoint (formerly Superjoint Ritual) has started recording new music, the band lead by former Pantera and current Down frontman Philip Anselmo, confirmed in an online post.
The band simply said "new tunes are coming" in a Facebook post which linked a metal blog report about the band recording new material at Anselmo's Louisiana studio, Nodferatu's Lair.

New Orleans photographer Jody Dorignac broke the news of the recordings by sharing a series of photos on his Instagram account of guitarist Jimmy Bower recording guitar tracks for the new music. See the posts here.



Fans Pushing To Have Motorhead's Ace Of Spades Top UK Chart(Classic Rock)

Motorhead classic Ace Of Spades is at the centre of a fans' bid to pay tribute to Lemmy in the UK new year singles chart. But organizers don't want half-hearted support from those who aren't prepared to buy the single during the week of January 1.
The Facebook page was launched in 2014, but it had secured fewer than 2000 likes until Lemmy died on December 28, two days after being told he had an aggressive form of cancer. Now nearly 20,000 people have signed up.

Admins say: "As a tribute to the absolute legend that we knew and loved as Lemmy, let's chart Ace Of Spades. Buy it from as soon as Big Ben chimes in 2016."

But they warn: "Please only like this page if you're serious about downloading Ace Of Spades from 00:01 on January 1. The new chart begins then, meaning we have a better chance of a No.1 than if we download now.

"Let's make the loudest No.1 single in years as a worthy tribute to a great man." Read more here.




Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi Says Ozzy's Devastated By Lemmy's Death(Classic Rock)

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi thinks Lemmy didn't want people to know about the pain he was in before he died. The Motorhead icon passed away aged 70 on December 28, two days after being told he had an aggressive form of cancer.
Old friend Iommi, who admits he's still in shock, tells the BBC: "I'd remember him as a nice kind man, very honest, no airs and graces. He didn't want to harp on about the past - the future was what he was concerned about. It seemed so sudden, even though I knew he'd been ill. I think maybe he didn't want people to know all that. That would be him."

He adds that bandmate Ozzy Osbourne is "devastated," saying: "Lemmy wrote some lyrics for Ozzy's solo albums so he was in contact a lot. It's going to hit everybody. It hasn't sunk in properly yet." Read more here.



Stuck Mojo Reunion Over, Band To Continue Without Bonz and Lowery

Stuck Mojo drummer Frank Fontsere says that band is continuing on with him, guitarist Rich Ward, and new members taking the place of frontman Bonz and bassist Corey Lowery.
The news comes a year after the band's reunion show in Atlanta. The new lineup has already recorded a new studio album which they hope to release in mid-2016.

Fontsere explained the lineup changes in a recent appearance on the "Talk Toomey" podcast. He said (via Blabbermouth), "We did the reunion show [in December 2014], and it was great, and we did a couple of other shows that were great. But it was one of those things - not to go into too much detail - we're gonna continue on, but it's gonna be me and Rich [Ward, guitar] and two other guys. It hasn't been announced yet officially, but I was told that I can say that."

He also discussed the new album: "I think it's the best album we've ever done. I know everyone says that, but I've let a few people preview it, and I know Rich has let a few people preview it, and the responses are from people whose opinions we respect, who have no reason to be dishonest, and were, like, 'Oh my God! This is amazing!' So I really think it will silence any doubters. If anybody hears ,'Oh, Stuck Mojo put out a new record, but it's not with the guys that I want to be in the band, so it can't be any good.' Well, they'll get a surprise when they hear it. This album is not fooling around." Read more and listen to the full interview here.



Joe Lynn Turner Asks Fans Not To Buy Brazen Abbot CD/DVD Release

Former Rainbow and Deep Purple frontman Joe Lynn Turner has asked fans not to purchase a new CD/DVD compilation from another band he was involved with: Brazen Abbot.
Turner says in an online posting that the 'homemade bootleg' was released without his consent and he is looking into taking legal action to stop the release, according to BraveWords.com.

The singer posted the following message on his Facebook page, "Attention to all! I have just been made aware of a Brazen Abbot CD/DVD 20 years compilation release. I am very saddened to learn that this 'homemade bootleg' release was done without my knowledge, consent or approval. I consider this a breach of trust and fair business practice.

"I am looking into the legal aspects of such release and would urge everyone not to purchase this unauthorized product until any and all legal points are negotiated and agreed upon.

"I am shocked and disappointed at such unethical practice by Mr. Kotzev and feel this is a direct stab in the back. I have never seen this DVD and was not aware of the fact that Mr. Kotzev decided to release this DVD on his own without any regard or respect to me. This is unacceptable and appalling!

"I will ask you all to share this information with everyone to support all true artists who still keep the integrity and standards in this crumbling music industry. Your choice is the only decision that can make a difference.

"I appreciate your consideration and understanding in this matter and thank you for your continued love and support!"



Saxon's Biff Byford Tributes Longtime Friend Lemmy(Classic Rock)

Saxon frontman Biff Byford has bid farewell to Motorhead counterpart Lemmy after nearly four decades of friendship. The Motorhead icon died aged 70 on December 28, two days after being told he had an aggressive form of cancer.
Byford says: "I knew Lemmy for 36 years. If you were his friend you were his friend for life. He was a defiant rebel to the end, who loved his music and never compromised. Let's remember Lemmy as he wanted to be: as an iconic songwriter, lyricists and rock'n'roll rebel. Wherever you are, mate, give 'em hell."

Longtime Motorhead collaborators Girlschool say: "We lost a true friend, someone who since 1979 was part of our lives and our history as a band. We played together, recorded and toured together - but most and foremost we had the opportunity to know Lemmy's true and kind heart." They add: "We have no words to express how much we miss you." Read more here.




Evilyn Strange Announce Evilution EP

Evilyn Strange have announced that they will be releasing their new EP, "Evilution," in the first part of next year. The new EP is the follow up release to the band' 2013 debut album "Mourning Phoebe."
Frontman Phillip Strange had the following to say about the upcoming release, "Our aim is to make storming classic hard rock and metal music. I grew up listening to so many awesome bands such as Whitesnake, Sabbath, Dio, Megadeth, Alice In Chains, and The Cult. Listening to that music was such a massive inspiration in my teenage years."

Strange also discussed a change in the song writing dynamics for this new EP, "[guitarist Mikael Johannesson] gets to have a larger influence this time out which means we're heading in a heavier direction.

"It's important that we continue to explore new roads with our music, and Mike's influence has helped us to do that. Mourning Phoebe was a great foundation and Evilution builds on it." See the tracklisting here.



Lemmy's Firing From Hawkwind Recalled By Dave Brock(Classic Rock)

Hawkwind mainman Dave Brock has recalled the band's decision to fire Lemmy in 1975 - and the jokes both parties made about it afterwards. The Motorhead icon died at home in Los Angeles on December 28, two days after being told he had an aggressive form of cancer.
Brock yesterday paid tribute to his old friend, saying they'd always had a "magical bond" when they worked together. Lemmy went on to form Motorhead in 1975, and the bands toured together two years later. Brock tells the BBC: "He was a great character, a great musician. He'll never be forgotten because he made a lot of great records."

Lemmy regularly said he'd been kicked out of the band for "doing the wrong drugs." Brock responds: "Our little joke, we always had, was that if he hadn't been fired from Hawkwind he wouldn't have formed Motorhead and gone off to this fantastic career and lifestyle that he had.

"It was a band decision - two of us didn't want to sack him and four of us did. And off he went, blazing a star. It's a great style of playing he had. Very few bass players play like Lemmy. He was originally a guitarist, and when he joined us he didn't have a bass, so we had to go to a second-hand shop and buy a bass for him. He was a very eccentric lad - but he did what he wanted to do." Read more here.



Singled Out: City Reign's Sympathy

Chris Bull and Michael Grice from Manchester, UK indie rockers City Reign tell us about their new single "Sympathy" which will be included on their forthcoming sophomore album "Dasein". Here is the story:
Michael: Musically the song came in a purple patch where I was came up with the vast majority of the songs on the Dasein. The two riffs are one of those lucky moment where you pluck them out the air. The song has a great driving groove and it is impossible to not think of Springsteen when listening to those riffs. However once I took it to the practice room the 'creative disagreements' started. I think we came up with three different choruses before finding the winner, those included going half time, playing sixteenths on the drums and only playing one chord…all terrible ideas! For the outro we were a little reserved about how to end it but rightly in the end we threw caution to the wind and released the power ballad within us.

Chris: Lyrically I guess Sympathy is about something and nothing at the same time. It encapsulates the heady cocktail of vulnerability and bravado of unrequited love, and the ultimate feeling of helplessness it leaves you wallowing in. Love is strange and beautiful and makes no sense. Kinda like this song.

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day In Rock News!

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day In Rock News!: Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister Dies From Aggressive Cancer Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister died on Monday (December 28th) two day...