Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


Metallica $5 Dollar Concert
Metallica are holding a concert on Monday where they are charging just $5 for admission and giving the proceeds to charity. Why are they doing it? Here is what they had to say:
You may have heard us mention just once or twice (or 700 times!) that a Metalli-3D movie is in the works... we now need your help to finish filming it!! This Monday, August 27, we will be shooting what we hope will be the final live portion of the movie and have our last chance for quite some time to play on the gigantic, massive over-the-top stage that we rolled out in Mexico City, took to Edmonton and end our film excursion/mini tour with in Vancouver. As we have been saying a lot recently we would love to have you join us and be a part of our movie making adventure.

Here's how it works: We will be running though the full live show one last time at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, but unlike the Friday and Saturday shows there will be lots of breaks in it to allow for cameras and lights to be repositioned as the director sees fit. Since it is way more fun for us to have YOU there, tickets will be available for just $5 (no extra fees or service charges!) and all the proceeds will benefit the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Grab ticket info here.


Bret Michaels Taking Part In Celebrity Apprentice All-Stars
Poison frontman Bret Michaels revealed in a new video tour diary that he will be taking part in All Star Celebrity Apprentice.

BW&BK reports that Michael's new Adventures From The Road video ended with the following words:

"Be sure to watch and root Bret on as he fights his way to the top on All Star Celebrity Apprentice."

The show is expected to air next Spring. You can see the video and read more here.



Def Leppard's Joe Elliott Explains Vocal Issues
(hennemusic) At a recent show in Saratoga Springs, NY, Def Leppard did not perform an encore, which caused a buzz amongst fans searching for a possible explanation, frontman Joe Elliott addressed the issue Thursday with the following post on the band's website:

"OK, just to nip in the bud any Twitter/Facebook rumours you may have read regarding our recent performance at Saratoga Springs where the band didn't do an encore, here's the deal...

After the Boston gig, which was the first show on the whole tour where it was actually cold afterwards, I caught a hacking cough which just ripped the hell out of my voice. Despite all the usual stuff singers do such as lemon tea, steam, etc. it just wasn't going to heal overnight, but with sufficient rest and plenty of warming up I thought I might manage to do the following show in Saratoga Springs. I was tough and I was ploughing through it as best I could, but by the time we got to 'Photograph', there was barely anything left in the tank and it was starting to hurt, so I decided after struggling through 'Sugar' that I had to make a decision... do the encore and risk doing so much damage that we might have to cancel a bunch of shows, or blow out one song and sort out a doctor to have a look at me, which we did the following morning.

The result being after a couple of cortisone shots, I seem to be mending quite nicely!! Read the rest of his comments here.



Kings of Leon Planning Next Album
(Gibson) It's been two years since Kings of Leon released a new album, but bassist Jared Followill says the wait may soon be over.

Speaking to BBC Radio 1, Followill said the band hopes to enter the studio in the not-so-distant future. "We've been meeting with producers every day, so we're starting to get the ball rolling on album six," he said. "I don't know what I can say, but we're definitely planning on starting the record at some point in the near future."

In the meantime, Followill has been busy with Smoke & Jackal, his side project with fellow Nashville native Nick Brown. The duo's debut album, EP1, is set for release on October 16. Followill says the side project has sparked new ideas that he will bring to the next Kings of Leon album. "Doing the side project got my creative juices flowing again," he said. "Just doing something completely different, I feel like it can bring more creativity to our band." more on this story





Why The Kinks Used Jimmy Page and A Common Myth Debunked
The producer of one The Kinks biggest hits debunks a common myth about Led Zeppelin legend Jimmy Page's role in the recording of "You Really Got Me," and explains the real reason Jimmy was brought in to record with the band.

Finding Zoso this week published an extensive interview with producer Shel Talmy, who not only produced early albums by The Kinks and The Who but also worked with David Bowie and had a favored studio guitarist by the name of Jimmy Page.

Below is a small excerpt from the interview where Talmy is asked to rate The Kinks Dave Davies as a guitarist, but we also learn the truth about why Jimmy Page recorded with the band and a common myth is struck down:

FZ: How would you rate Dave [Davies] as a guitarist?

ST: I think he's one of the more under-rated guitarists there are. He was an extremely good guitarist.

FZ: He doesn't quite get the credit that he deserves.

ST: Never, I don't think he ever got the credit. His inventions of the solos and stuff, I mean, Jimmy Page did not play the solo on "You Really Got Me" which I've said about 5,000 times to people who insist that he did. The reason I used Jimmy on The Kinks stuff is because Ray didn't really want to play guitar and sing at the same time. In fact, Jimmy was playing rhythm guitar.

The interview is filled with great exchanges like the above, read it in full here.



Gregg Allman, Dierks Bentley and More To Honor Levon Helm
An all-star casts of musicians will be gathering together in October to pay tribute the late Levon Helm the only way they know how- with a live concert.

The "Love For Levon," benefit concert will take place at the Izod Center in Rutherford, NJ on Wednesday, October 3, 2012.

The event will also feature collaborations and performances by Gregg Allman, Dierks Bentley, Marc Cohn, Patty Griffin, Warren Haynes, John Hiatt, Bruce Hornsby, Jorma Kaukonen, Ray LaMontagne, John Mayer, Robert Randolph, Mavis Staples, Joe Walsh, Lucinda Williams, The Levon Helm Band and many more including Eric Church who had this to say about the event: "I can't possibly overstate what Levon Helm meant to my music or my life. He was a giant. A man among boys. I miss him personally, but that pales in comparison to how much music will miss his presence," says Church. More info here.



Foo Fighters Use AC/DC Defense
(Gibson) More developments in the Foo Fighters noise in Belfast story and the band respond by quoting rock and roll legends.

The Daily Express reports over that one hundred complaints made their way to the Belfast City Council while the police received some 20 complaints after the Foo Fighters played a loud show at a Belfast festival.

In response, the band have simply quoted AC/DC on their Facebook page: "A wise man once said... 'Rock and Roll ain't noise pollution. Rock and Roll ain't gonna die.'" more on this story





How The Darkness Got Jimmy Page's Guitar
Gibson caught up with The Darkness guitarist Dan Hawkins to discuss their comeback album but we also learn about how Dan got his hands on Jimmy Page's guitar.

Gibson: And you have a Gibson Custom Shop "Black Beauty" Les Paul especially made for Jimmy Page – but he returned it because it was too heavy for him? And you got it?

Dan Hawkins: Yep. I call that my "Love is More Than a Feeling" guitar. It wasn't on that first album track, but it's on both other albums since and live for the song. I had the Bigsby taken off, and a hardtail put on. I had a Fishman Powerbridge pickup put on so I could switch to an acoustic sound.

It's had an interesting life already, that Les Paul. I was waiting for delivery of a different humbucker to fit on it, but my then-guitar tech said he had a 'bucker that he'd taken out of one of Angus Young's SGs. He fitted Angus's old pickup, it sounded awesome, so I left it in. It's become my Page-enstein Les Paul.




Paul Stanley Says New KISS Album Won't Be Recycled Old Stuff
(Gibson) KISS promises there will be no recycled riffs on their forthcoming new album, Monster, set for release October 16.

Speaking to Billboard.com, singer-guitarist Paul Stanley said, "I'm a big believer that when people recycle old stuff, they should leave it where it was. When you hear bands that are lifting riffs that they had 15, 20, 30 years ago, I think, 'My God. Can't they come up with anything new?'"

Stanley went on to describe his 40-year-plus relationship with bassist Gene Simmons as "a marriage where thankfully I don't have to see him naked." Asked if KISS will one day be celebrating their 50th anniversary, Stanley replied, "All bets are off at this point. We're in uncharted waters. I never thought we'd be here today. Forty years ago, if you told me I'd be doing this now and loving it and doing it with pride, I'd tell you that you were crazy." more on this story





Original Further Seems Forever Lineup Reunite For Album and Tour
The original lineup of Further Seems Forever will release a new album and hit the road in Roctober.

Rise Records will release the band's new studio album, Penny Black, on October 23rd.

The band announced the initial dates for the supporting tour where the original lineup -- Chris Carrabba (vocals), Joshua Colbert (guitar), Chad Neptune (bass), Steve Kleisath (drums), and Nick Dominguez (guitar)-- are set to perform in Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Anaheim, performing together for the first time since the band's 2001 debut album, The Moon Is Down. more on this story



Dream Theater Record New Live DVD
(hennemusic) Dream Theater played two shows in Buenos Aires this week and the action was captured for a forthcoming live DVD.

The August 19 and August 20 concerts at Estadio Luna Park were professionally filmed and recorded for the band's next live DVD, to be released sometime next year.

Part of the group's latest world tour in support of "A Dramatic Turn of Events," the concerts were filmed by Over the Edge Productions with Mike Leonard in the director's chair. more on this story



The Smashing Pumpkins Plan Fall Tour
The Smashing Pumpkins will be hitting the road this fall for an arena tour of North America.

The band released the tour routing for the trek which is set to kick off on October 10 in Seattle, WA.

The concerts will be broken up into two parts; during the first half the band will perform their latest album Oceania in full and for the second half of the show they'll play classics and deep cuts. more on this story



Evergreen Terrace Working On New Music Not Breaking Up
Evergreen Terrace guitarist and vocalist Craig Chaney took to Facebook yesterday to assure fans that the band is not breaking up.

The speculation stems from co-founder Josh James' announcement that he was leaving the group to devote his full attention to his new band, Stick To Your Guns.

Chaney reassured fans on the band's Facebook page with this message: "For all those curious about the future of Evergreen Terrace, here's an update: We are writing new material which we will record and release. We will also be playing shows. Thank you for sticking by us throughout the years and during this transition. You keep us going. More news to come." more on this story



Classic 1975 Concert From The Who Set For DVD Release
A concert DVD featuring The Who's classic lineup of Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, Keith Moon and John Entwistle is set to be released. Eagle Rock have set an October 9th release for The Who Live In Texas '75. Kayos sent over these details:

Filmed in Houston, Texas 11/20/75, it was right at the start of a massive tour of the U.S. to promote The Who By Numbers, their seventh album in their 10th year of existence. With Dolby Digital Stereo sound, this 117-minute 25-song bomb blast—previously only available as a muddled bootleg—has been pridefully restored to its rightful visual and sonic superiority by longtime Who collaborator Jon Astley.

Filmed only five years after what arguably is the greatest live album in rock, Live At Leeds, The Who Live In Texas '75, lives up to and in some ways actually surpasses its predecessor's greatness. The Who, at that particular point in time, had achieved an unerring almost magical mystical chemistry. Between the windmilling antics of guitarist Townshend, the mic wire lasso of lead singer Daltrey, the crazed bombastic danger of drummer Moon (1946-1978) and, of course, their secret weapon, genius bassist John Entwistle (1944-2002), this was a truly revolutionary band who changed all the hard rock rules. Even the punks, in the anti-rock star era of the late '70s, loved The Who. more on this story



Yakuza Set New Album Release
Yakuza have announced some details about their next release, which is entitled 'Beyul.'

'Beyul' will be released on October 16 on CD and digitally with a vinyl version arriving the following month.

The seven track album was produced by Sanford Parker (Nachtmystium, Minsk, Twilight). more on this story



Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters Heading South
(hennemusic) Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters have announced a fall tour of South America.

The series of dates start October 18 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and wrap on November 9 in Lima, Peru.

Robert debuted his new band in May at the Guildhall in Gloucester, UK. and the lineup includes: Robert Plant – vocals, harmonica the rest and the dates.



Amorphis Beginning Next Album
Amorphis will be hitting the studio next month to begin recording their next album, which they expect to be released in March or April of next year. They sent out these details and comments:

The follow-up to 2011's The Beginning Of Times will be produced and mixed by no less than Hypocrisy, and Pain mastermind Peter Tägtgren. Peter has worked with some of the biggest bands in the past, such as Children of Bodom, Celtic Frost, Immortal, and Dimmu Borgir, among others.

"We had to face the fact that if we want to develop our music and sound we need a producer who has a vision and whom we can accept as an authority," commented Amorphis guitarist and founding member Esa Holopainen. "I know that we're not the most flexible guys when it comes to letting outsiders into our camp for telling us how to do things. We spent one evening at our management office, talking about the right producer and the recording sessions in general. As usual, the best decisions are not far to seek. We've been talking to Peter about him producing Amorphis for ages. I think the first time we spoke about this was when we met first at the Nuclear Blast festival tour in 1994, and it was in Helsinki around a year ago when we last speculated about the idea. We've been following Peter's career - he's developed as a musician and especially as a producer over the years. Plus he's one of the true survivors from the 90's death metal scene who is still around just like us, so we share kind of an old school mental level." more on this story



No Bragging Rights Set October Album Release
No Bragging Rights shared good news with fans on Facebook on Wednesday: their new album is coming soon.

The band posted an update on the social networking site adviings fans that their new studio album, "Cycles," will be released on October 16, 2012.

Frontman Mike Perez commented: "We cannot wait to get this album out to our friends and fans. We are very proud of the sound and even more proud of the message behind it. We're looking forward to playing these songs live and seeing everyone at the shows." Facebook link



Jake Shimabukuro's Collaboration With Alan Parsons Set For Release
Jake Shimabukuro has set an October 2nd release date his new album 'Grand Ukulele,' which is a collaboration with producer Alan Parsons (The Beatles' 'Abbey Road' and Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side Of The Moon'). We were sent these details:

'Grand Ukulele' is the follow-up to 2011's 'Peace Love Ukulele,' for which critics lauded Shimabukuro as the "Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele" (Guitar Player) and "the greatest living ukulele player" (Boing Boing).

Shimabukuro "fuses a multitude of genres" (Billboard) on the new LP, which can be heard on album highlight "Island Fever Blues," merging classical & blues over a fast-paced flamenco beat. more on this story



B Sides


Steel Panther Preview New DVD
(hennemusic) Steel Panther have offered up the first full-song preview of their forthcoming live DVD, "The British Invasion."

Fans can now watch Panther rocking out on "Party All Day (F** All Night)" from the DVD which will be released on September 28th in Australia and New Zealand, with release dates for North America, Europe and Asia to be announced soon.

The band was captured in concert in London, England in 2010 for the set, which was directed by Daniel E. Catullo III, who has previously worked with artists like Rush, Chickenfoot, Godsmack and Alter Bridge. Watch the video here.



The Cult Deliver Honey From A Knife Video
(hennemusic) The Cult have released the music video for their new single, "Honey From A Knife."

Directed by Rick Rodgers and produced by The Cult's Ian Astbury and New York City-based film company Mechanizedmules.

The clip was shot on location in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. Watch it here.



Metallica Share Live Master Of Puppets and Behind The Scenes Footage
(hennemusic) Metallica have posted official footage from the eighth and final date of their recent concerts in Mexico City.

The August 9th video includes bassist Rob Trujillo and drummer Lars Ulrich at the meet and greet, the band's pre-show huddle, and "Master Of Puppets" from the concert.

Released March 3, 1986, "Master Of Puppets" was Metallica's third studio album and major label debut. Watch the live video here



Please Don't Ask Slash About Guns N' Roses
(Classic Rock) Slash is so keen to move on with his solo career that he now issues journalists with seven rules ahead of interviews.

The no-go areas are designed to underline the guitarist is looking forward and not back as he begins work on this third album with his band, fronted by Myles Kennedy.

The New Zealand Herald reveals the rules are: Guns N' Roses is a topic that Slash can briefly touch on.

You can briefly discuss the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction – but only to the extent of the honour of that.

You can't talk about the ceremony itself and Axl not showing up and their performance etc.

No questions about Axl whatsoever.

Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


Aerosmith Streaming New Song Online
(hennemusic) Aerosmith have posted streaming audio of their new single, "Lover A Lot," online. The track comes from their forthcoming album, "Music From Another Dimension" due November 6.
Bassist Tom Hamilton recently teased that new songs would be on their way now that the band has wrapped up their summer Global Warming tour.

"We're in Bristow, Virgina," said Hamilton on August 12. "It's the last show of this leg of the tour we've been on all summer. We're going to go and chill for a while – and while we're taking a break – a couple of new songs from the new album are going to come out at the end of August." more on this story



Rolling Stones Eye Big Announcement
(Gibson) Are The Rolling Stones finally ready to unveil some big tour plans commemorating their 50th anniversary? Maybe.

The legendary band are hinting that fans better keep checking the group's Facebook and Twitter pages over the next few days, stating that they are about to announce some big news via their social networking pages.

Say you're mobile and want to check out the news there? No problem. The Stones also have posted a mysterious image of a two eyes over a dim background with direction for fans with either an Android device or iPhone to score a free app called uView. Once fans download the app, the eyes start blinking and a few words appear: "Keep your eyes peeled." more on this story





Megadeth Begin Work On New Album
(hennemusic) Megadeth are drawing near the end of their world tour in support of their 2011 release, "Thirteen," and are headed back to the studio to begin work on their next album.

"[Producer] Johnny K. is arriving tomorrow to start pre-production on our new record," tweeted Dave Mustaine on Wednesday. "This should be a very interesting record."

Johnny K. worked on "Thirteen," which debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 album chart with sales of 42,000 in its first week. "[Thirteen] is the culmination of my work over the 13 records I recorded," said Mustaine last fall, prior to the album's release. "There are moments on 'Thirteen' that capture my every emotion, and other moments where I am releasing feelings I never knew existed! My proudest moments of my musical career are captured on 'Thirteen.'" more on this story



Flesh Eating Disease Not Stopping Slayer
Jeff Hanneman's flesh eating disease (necrotising fasciitis) has not delayed work on the new Slayer album.

Slayerized transcribed part of a recent video interview Artisan News conducted with Kerry King and when asked if Hanneman's condition was delaying the recording of the new album, King answered:

"Not yet. We've recorded very little. We got a little bit done. We had a 12-day window where we hijacked [producer] Greg Fidelman from METALLICA and worked with him a little bit. So we've got two [new songs] done; they've gotta be mixed. We've got two other ones that need vocals and leads. [There are] three other demos and three other [tracks] we still have to demo. But [this summer's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival tour] is the last thing we're doing, so hopefully we'll get [the rest of the album] done before we pick up and tour again in October."

Slayerized note that "Jeff did not take part in the recent recording sessions, but his absence did not affect the new album's scheduling since Kerry typically records all the basic guitar parts himself." You can read more and watch the full interview here.



Santana Postpones Tour Dates
Santana has postponed three tour dates taking place this weekend in Florida for an undisclosed reason, though it is most likely due to tropical storm Isaac which may reach hurricane strength and hit Florida on Monday.

The concerts were to take place tomorrow, August 24th, Saturday, August 25th at the Hard Rock in Hollywood, FL Sunday, August 26th at the Ask Gary Amphitheatre in Tampa, FL

Michael Vrionis, President of Universal Tone Management, says, "It is with great regret that the upcoming performances featuring Carlos Santana and the Santana Band have been postponed due to circumstances beyond our control. Universal Tone Management is working diligently to reschedule these performances. We would like to thank all of the fans in Florida for your patronage, and we look forward to bringing you the music of Carlos Santana in the very near future." more on this story



Foo Fighters Too Loud For Belfast
(Gibson) The Foo Fighters, in the U.K for the Reading Festival this weekend, drew some noise complaints at a Belfast festival gig on August 21.

Evidently, the band cranked up the volume so much that they could be heard four miles away.

NME.com reports that local councilor Claire Hanna received some complaints over the noise. "It was exceptionally loud," she said. "I welcome that we have concerts of this level but we do have to balance it with the right of people to enjoy a quiet night at home. Most residents understand that people want to enjoy a night out but a second night at the same level might provoke a few more calls." more on this story





Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour Hoping To Take You Away Again
The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour is coming to take you away again at home in October and in theaters in late September. Apple Corp sent out these details:

Apple Films has fully restored the long out-of-print, classic feature film for October 8th release worldwide (October 9th in North America) on DVD and Blu-ray with a remixed soundtrack (5.1 and stereo) and special features. For the first time ever, there will be a limited theatrical release in certain territories from September 27th.

Songs You'll Never Forget, The Film You've Never Seen, And A Story That's Never Been Heard. In 1967, In The Wake Of The Extraordinary Impact Of The Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Album And The One World Satellite Broadcast Of All You Need Is Love, The Beatles Devised, Wrote, And Directed Their Third Film, Magical Mystery Tour, A Dreamlike Story Of A Coach Day Trip To The Seaside. more on this story



Pop Singer Wants To Turn Dylan and Radiohead Studio Into Shops and Offices
(Gibson) British pop singer David Gray is in dispute with his London community. According to the Independent newspaper, Gray has plans to convert famed recording studios The Church into shops and offices.

The studios, which once belonged to Dave Stewart, have seen a plethora of top acts record there, from Bob Dylan to Kaiser Chiefs and Radiohead.

Local resident Steve Watson wrote to Haringey council saying: "The studios have been a part of Crouch End's artistic and creative heritage for decades." more on this story





The Killers Used Five Different Producers On New Album
(Gibson) When it comes to producers, The Killers like to play the field. On the band's upcoming studio album, Battle Born, the Las Vegas rockers used five producers, all for just one album.

Singer Brandon Flowers says that the group preferred to use several producers – which included Pearl Jam producer Brendan O'Brien, U2 producer Steve Lillywhite and Madonna producer Stuart Price – because it helped keep their egos in check and gave them a constantly evolving view of their music.

"Our attitude was, let's wait until we're ready and then we'll find the right producer," Flowers told SPIN. "But once we started calling people, they had other bands booked. So we learned something from everyone and applied it to what we did next. We're a bunch of strong personalities, so there's not gonna be one guy that's gonna come in and overtake things."

Fans will get to see if the onslaught of producers was worth it when Battle Bornhits stores and online outlets on Sept. 18. more on this story





Linkin Park's Debut Hits 10 Million In U.S. Sales As Band Expands Tour Plans
Linkin Park have two reasons to celebrate this week. They announced plans to head Down Under early next year and their debut album hit a sales milestone that very few bands achieve.

The band announced on Wednesday that they will be heading to New Zealand and Australia in February and March. On February 21, they'll be playing at Vector Arena in Auckland, New Zealand. They'll then head to Australia for Soundwave Festival.

Also on Wednesday, Billboard reported that the group's debut album, "Hybrid Theory" has surfaced the threshold of 10 million copies sold in the U.S., enough to earn them a very rare diamond certification. You can read the Billboard report here.



Two Joe Strummer Remastered Special Editions Coming
Hellcat Records are celebrating what would have been Joe Strummer's 60th year with remastered special editions of two of Strummer's albums on CD and Vinyl on September 25th. We were sent these details:

'Global A Go-Go' and 'Streetcore' were recorded between 2000 and Strummer's untimely death in 2002, it was during this period that Strummer wrote, recorded and toured with the band he dubbed "The Mescaleros." These records capture the one time Clash front man amidst an undeniable creative resurgence. In a review of Streetcore, The Guardian called the record Strummer's "best work since the Clash's London Calling."

Strummer was the voice of a generation in the late 1970s and early 1980s, becoming a punk icon during his career with The Clash. After The Clash disbanded in 1985, Strummer only began working and recording with a band of his own again in the few years before his death. more on this story



Josh James Leaves Evergreen Terrace
Evergreen Terrace cofounder Josh James has left the group to devote his full attention to his new band Stick To Your Guns. Here is what he had to say about the change:

"In 1999, a few friends and I started Evergreen Terrace. The band has been a huge part of my life, but it's time for me to move on.

"Earlier this year, I joined Stick To Your Guns, and I couldn't be more stoked. It's been a natural and exciting progression for me. I really believe in the band and the message. more on this story



Lynyrd Skynyrd Return To Rock Roots With New Album
Lynyrd Skynyrd released their latest album, Last of a Dyin' Breed, this week and our friends at Classic Rock Revisited caught up with Gary Rossington to discuss the album and in the excerpt below they discuss how they tried to capture the classic Skynyrd feel for the new album:

CCR: I think this album has the classic Skynyrd hard rock sound. I am talking about songs like "Last of a Dyin' Breed," "Mississippi Blood" and "Honey Hole." There is some harder edge stuff with some kick ass guitars going on.

Gary: That is what we wanted to do on this album. We wanted to go back to the old roots of the original band and do more rocking, as opposed to being more Country flavored; that is our favorite stuff anyway. We like songs that tell a story that have a good beat and some dual guitars in there. We tried to do it right, like the old band always did.

CCR: You are the last of the founding members of the band. With all of the different lineups how are you still able to get the true spirit of Lynyrd Skynyrd in your new music?

Gary: We just do it the way that we've always done it. Once we get the material written, then we just go in the studio and get at it. For our diehard fans, who will like it, and buy it anyway, we want to make it the best we can for the name of Skynyrd and for our brothers that are no longer with us. We keep their memory alive and I really believe their spirit is in these songs.

You mentioned "Mississippi Blood" and I will tell you that if Ronnie and Allen, and the other guys were here, they would say, "You are doing it right." Read the full interview here.



Bon Jovi's Richie Sambora To Give Fans His Aftermath of the Lowdown
(Gibson) Bon Jovi axeman Richie Sambora is prepping to release his third solo album, Aftermath of the Lowdown, and the guitarist says the set reflects the ups and downs he's experienced over the past several years. That, of course, includes his divorce with actress Heather Locklear and his struggle with substance abuse.

Sambora says that because of the very personal nature of the new album, a wide range of fans can relate to the songs' subject matters. "The stuff that I've gone through isn't that alien," he told Rolling Stone. "The stuff that I've gone through, anybody can go through in their lives and they probably will. Ups and downs and things like that."

Sambora added that the collection of songs came together quickly and naturally. Following a short vacation with his daughter, Sambora came home rested and ready to write, which is exactly what happened. "Once I started writing, I really liked the material and it was authentic, passionate and honest…" he said. "So there was a bit of magic happening right off the bat."

Aftermath of the Lowdown is set to hit stores on Sept. 18 more on this story





Fan Buys Sammy Hagar's Shelby Mustang
(hennemusic) Red Rocker and car collector Sammy Hagar has sold his Shelby GT500 Coupe 2007 Mustang to a fan.

Hagar first put the car up for sale on Saturday, writing "I bought another car recently and have run out of space! Instead of letting one sit outside I've chosen to sell one and chose this beast! But, I don't want to put it up on Barrett-Jackson and see it get marked up - I'd rather see a Redhead driving it and sell it at blue book! I bought this Shelby new and have driven it very little (low miles), plus it's been driven by Mike Anthony and Chad Smith during the recording of Chickenfoot III."

A deal was done and confirmed by Hagar less than 48 hours later. "The Shelby is sold- thx for all of the offers!," Sammy tweeted. "I'm going to hand over the keys to one happy Redhead! Will try to snap some photos and share!" more on this story



Iron Maiden Continue To Support Burr's MS Fight
(hennemusic) Iron Maiden actively support many charities and fund-raising events, but unlike some entertainers, they rarely speak about their efforts in this area. But there is one that remains close to the band's heart.

"One of the things I can talk about, because we started it off, is our old drummer, Clive [Burr] has MS [multiple sclerosis], so we started The Clive Burr Trust," Maiden bassist and founder Steve Harris told SamaritanMag.com recently. "Another friend of mine [Ralph] also has got it. He's in a wheelchair. We went to school with him, my oldest friend since I was 5 years old, so we helped him, but we don't normally talk too much about it."

The band continues to raise money for Clive Burr MS Trust Fund periodically. "The fans know about it and they contribute to it, and every now and again we'll do a show and just donate all the money," says Harris. "When we need to top it up, we do something." more on this story



B Sides


Singled Out: Scarlet Smile
Today Scarlet Smile lead vocalist / guitarist Sam Varga tells us about the song "Take" from their latest EP, "Life in Lights." Here is the story:

I began writing "Take" (although at the time it was a completely different song musically) as a way to tell myself the things I needed to hear. My father had been going through an extremely difficult time and it had seemed to be taking a toll on him. My father is a true martyr for his family, and without his perseverance and unfaltering faith we would have no foundation. I unconsciously selected him for the voice in the song; needing both guidance and reassurance in my life and knowing that he was alright in his. Therefore the lyrics in the song became what I wanted/needed to hear from him at the time. My first stab at the song was disconnected and too broad. One of our friends sang the first word "take" while mumbling along with a melody. We loved the way it sounded, and decided to base the song off of it. We messed around with different uses, finally deciding to play off of the line "take from me", going a step further with meaning as to what parents really mean when they say that. They are not merely giving you advice, but offering up all of their memories, lessons, experience, and pain. With this in mind, the band finally found a good place to be able to really work together and come up with the ideas and lyrics to make the song what it is. The writing went down to the wire, and we ended up finishing the song the night before we went into the studio. We hope you like it.

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



The Black Keys Add More Tracks To Rock Band 3
(Gibson) Harmonix, the company behind the Rock Band video game brand, has announced that they are adding more tracks from the Black Keys to their popular game Rock Band 3.

The new, three-track "The Black Keys Pack 02" content pack offers a few of the Keys' latest, greatest hits: "Tighten Up" and "Howlin' for You" from 2010's Brothers, plus "Lonely Boy" from their 2011 release, El Camino.

Gaming fans can pick up "The Black Keys Pack 02" beginning this week for Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii. more on this story





Slash Helps Launch Wildlife Conservation Foundation
(hennemusic) On Wednesday, Slash was on hand to help launch the Bob Irwin Wildlife Conservation Foundation at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, Australia.

Slash says he first met Bob, the father of the late crocodile hunter Steve Irwin, a couple of years ago at a music festival.

"He [Bob] brought some animals down to Soundwave, so we got to actually meet, so I was really starstruck," said the guitarist, a well renowned animal lover and supporter. Read more and watch video here.



Quick Licks Van Halen Vol 2 DVD Released
LickLibrary have released the new Quick Licks Van Halen Vol 2 DVD, which features more than thirty guitar licks in the style of Eddie Van Halen. They sent over these details:

Following the success of Quick Licks Van Halen Vol 1, this new guitar tuition DVD brings you a whole arsenal of new licks in a series of professional guitar lessons beautifully explained by popular tutor Jamie Humphries.

Quick Licks Van Halen Vol 2 features guitar lessons with all the techniques you'd expect on a Van Halen DVD, such as tapped harmonics, tremolo picking, whammy bar dive bombs and much, much more. Included on this DVD is a solo in the style of Eddie Van Halen that uses a range of Eddie's trademark licks, which you can learn and then practice along with the backing track included.

iGuitar columnist and UK session player, Jamie Humphries, talks you through all the lessons, breaking the concepts down easily understandable chunks. And at the same time you will be able to clearly see what both his hands do on the fret board and strumming with the all-important LickLibrary split screen presentation.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRUTH SALES SURPRISE:

The question being asked by many Van Halen fans is just how many units has the band's latest studio album sold since its release in February of this year. A Different Kind Of Truth won widespread praise from fans and critics alike. It certainly remains a favourite of mine.
But that said - sales have been relatively stagnant after the initial release. As of last week, the album had sold a total of 400,620 units in the USA.
There is no real way to gauge total international sales, but if you take the USA alone, for comparison Van Halen 3 has scanned 515,322 [no mention of how many of those are in used CD bins] and the first Chickenfoot album has scanned 532,092 units to date. I don't yet have numbers for the second Chickenfoot album which was released just prior to the Van Halen album. Interesting numbers.

Today's Day In Rock News!

Nickelback's Chad Kroeger To Marry Avril Lavigne
Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger has reportedly popped the question to pop singer Avril Lavigne.
Kroeger asked Lavigne began a romance when they came together six months ago to co-write a song for Lavigne's forthcoming album, accord to People.

The entertainment publication reports that a Lavigne "rep" and/or "pal" has exclusively told them that Kroeger proposed on August 8th. You can read their report here.



Kid Rock Surprises Wounded Veteran and Wife With New Home
(Banana 101.5) Kid Rock recently teamed up with Pulte Homes and Operation Finally Home to surprise a wounded warrior and Mount Clemens, Michigan native, Davin Dumar and his wife with a brand new home.

Army Sgt. Dumar served in Afghanistan, where he lost a leg and severely injured his arm, was selected by Operation Finally Home Again thanks in part to Kid Rock, who personally called the founder of the charity to talk about Sgt. Dumar.

The charity has been custom building homes for wounded veterans for seven years and will finish customizing the new Dumar home soon. more on this story



All Star Deep Purple Tribute Behind The Scenes Video Released
(hennemusic) Information about the forthcoming Deep Purple tribute album, "Re-Machined: A Tribute To Machine Head," has been coming out a little at a time, including preview video clips and a few full songs. Now, a full-length behind-the-scenes look at the album has surfaced.

Fans can dig deep into the project, with studio footage and interviews with Metallica, Jimmy Barnes, Chickenfoot, Steve Lukather, Glenn Hughes and many more of the players involved.

"All the stuff that we do, and have been doing for the last thirty years," says Metallica's Lars Ulrich, "and the bands in the 80s and 90s and in the last decade… it all traces back to Deep Purple…and, obviously, to a degree, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin – but Purple had their own niche in that trio."





New Motorhead Book Coming Next Week
Cleopatra have set an August 28th release date for Alan Burridge's new book Motorhead: Live To Win. They sent over this synopsis:

Live To Win is the full, in-depth Motörhead story, with previously unpublished, revealing facts, rare and early photos, and is fully approved and endorsed by Lemmy (who also contributes to the introduction).

Motörhead formed in England in 1975 by bassist/singer/songwriter Lemmy Kilmister, and was an early part of the NWOBHM, the movement to reinvigorate loud music. With a big dose of punk, Motörhead's sound pioneered speed metal, and continues with consistency to support, elevate, and encourage the genre around the world. The band has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, and just finished a North American tour. more on this story



Soundgarden Tease New Track and Announce Album Title
(hennemusic) Soundgarden have revealed the title of their new album will be "King Animal."

The band's first studio release since 1996's "Down On The Upside" is tentatively due November 13.

The Seattle rockers also shared a preview of "Worse Dreams," one of the new tracks on the project. Check it out here.



Stone Sour Layout Initial World Tour Plans
Stone Sour have mapped out the first leg of their world tour plans with dates scheduled on five continents.

The tour is in support of their forthcoming House of Gold & Bones and the initial leg includes their first European tour in two years as well as festival appearances at Loud Park in Japan and Soundwave in Australia (with Metallica and Linkin Park).

Corey Taylor says, "It's gonna be awesome to bring the House of Gold and Bones to the fans live. We're all psyched to come to Japan and South America right away as well- they're some of the best fans in the world! We gave people a taste of Part One, now we're gonna bring them the best Stone Sour show they've ever seen. Get ready: it begins soon…" more on this story



The Smashing Pumpkins To Rock Leno This Week
The Smashing Pumpkins are set to perform their song "The Celestials" on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno tomorrow night, August 23rd.

This will mark the band's first national television performance since the release of their latest album, Oceania.

The band just completed a tour of Australia, New Zealand and South Korea that ran from July 26-August 14. They headlined festivals and, at their own shows, performed Oceania in full, followed by a set of classics and deep cuts. The band is expected to announce their North American tour plans soon. more on this story



Gorgoroth Fire Lead Singer
Gorgoroth have fired their singer Pest and have lined up a guest singer for their next tour and a separate singer for their new album. The band had this to say about the turn of events:

"Out of respect for and loyalty to Gorgoroth's audience and collaborators, Infernus has kicked Pest out of the band, effective immediately. This after Pest informed the band that he would not be prioritizing doing the upcoming Latin American tour after all, just two weeks before the band was set to depart for Brazil.

"Infernus has decided that the tour will go on as planned, though, and Hoest of Taake will replace Pest as vocalist on the tour starting on September 7, 2012. more on this story



Soilwork Begin New Album This Week
Soilwork will enter the studio with producer Jens Bogren (Opeth, Amon Amarth, Bloodbath) on Thursday (August 23rd) to begin recording their new album.

The new album, entitled The Living Infinite, will also mark the recording debut of long-time touring guitarist David Andersson (Night Flight Orchestra).

"It's been a pretty long time coming, but as we speak I'm sitting here smiling my ass off listening to the demos that will forge into The Living Infinite," commented the group's vocalist Björn "Speed" Strid. "I've been feeling pretty damn restless from this break to be honest with you, therefore it is with great excitement that I've approached this new album. As soon as we started working on songs in March, all my focus and energy went into building this new beast. We're finished writing songs and I'm currently laying down demo vocals and I'm having a blast. I feel very inspired. more on this story



Cinderella's Tom Keifer Releasing Solo Album
Cinderella frontman Tom Keifer plans to release his debut solo album next spring under a new partnership with Merovee Records (a joint venture with Worldwide Pants, Inc.). His camp put out these details:

The as-yet-untitled collection of 14 new songs ranges from intimate, organic, acoustic tracks to driving hard rock. It embraces the blues, rock and country roots.

The upcoming release is a raw, introspective look at the roller coaster ride that has been Keifer's life for the past 15 years. From being told that he would never sing again as a result of a partially paralyzed left vocal cord, to the emotional and personal battles that followed, his solo debut is a story of perseverance, a testament to the power of passion and will, when combined with a true love of music.



Minus The Bear Release New Video and Streaming New Album Today
Minus The Bear have released a new music video for their new song "Steel and Blood" and are streaming their forthcoming album online today.

"Steel and Blood" comes from the band's forthcoming fifth album, Infinity Overhead, which will be out next Tuesday, August 28 on Dangerbird Records. The LP will be streaming in full on MinusTheBear.com all day today.

Filmed in the band's hometown Seattle and directed by Daniel Brown (Portugal. The Man), the tension-filled video follows a reckless, young couple in a destructive relationship of sex and violence. more on this story



Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven Campout Music Festival Details
Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven have announced the details of their 8th annual Campout Music Festival:

Campout 8 will take place September 13th, 14th and 15th at Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown Palace in the High Desert of Southern California. The locale of this fest ties in perfectly with Cracker's own history as their signature album Kerosene Hat was recorded here back in 1993 in the now-closed movie soundstage next to the Palace.

This year's bill features Chris Shiflett & the Dead Peasants (of Foo Fighters), Gram Rabbit, Calamity, The Dangers, Lightning Starts Fire, The Piggies and Niantic. Along with full band performances from both Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven (the latter previewing new music from their forthcoming studio album), there will also be a number of performances from various members of both bands, including Jonathan Segel (performing material from his recent All Attractions double album), Victor Krummenacher, a special David Lowery/Johnny Hickman semi-acoustic Cracker duo set, as well as Johnny Hickman (performing material from his recent Tilting LP). more on this story



Cerebral Bore Wrapping Up Summer Slaughter and Preparing For Fall Tour
Cerebral Bore are wrapping up the Summer Slaughter tour With Cannibal Corpse, Periphery, Job For A Cowboy and Goatwhore and are getting ready to head to Europe for a tour with Dying Fetus.

Cerebral Bore guitarist Paul Mcguire comments: "We are now heading into the last week of Summer Slaughter, and so far it has been a truly awesome experience. We have gotten to know all bands on the tour as well as their crews, and it's gonna be pretty sad when the time comes to part ways.

The biggest thing for me personally has been getting to know and tour with the guys from Cannibal Corpse. These guys are my heroes, so there is a lot of room to be disappointed... but they have been amazing. We have gone out drinking with them, they've invited us onto their bus many times, fed us, watered us and supported us by wearing our shirts and watching stage-side. A real dream come true for all of us and we can't thank them enough. It's not over yet though, and we have a bunch of west coast shows still to come - the energy levels are still at max and we are raring to go, so bring it on!" more on this story



Jack White Taking His Show Across The Pond
(Gibson) Jack White has just announced a number of shows in the U.K. and Ireland in the fall, as part of his tour in support of Blunderbuss, White's first solo album.

The U.K./Ireland leg of the tour kicks off on October 31 in Dublin before heading to London, Bridlington, Blackpool, Birmingham, and finally Edinburgh on November 8.

The show in Blackpool is set to take place in the Empress Ballroom Arena, which is the same venue in which The White Stripes filmed their DVD Under Blackpool Lights. more on this story





B Sides


Singled Out: Tall Dark Stranger
Today Dee Allen a.k.a. Tall Dark Stranger tells us about the song "Angel of Seduction" from the album "There It Is" which features guest appearances by Ty Tabor (King's X), Josh Henson (Kellie Pickler), Duane Allen (Oak Ridge Boys) and more. Here is the story:

The title phrase popped into my head after meeting a very attractive girl while going to pay my rent. We spoke briefly, and she seemed receptive, and was "my type" appearance-wise, so of course I got all excited about getting together with her. We exchanged numbers. Within a day or two, I got a call from her number, and some dude opens the conversation with "You don't want to know me." (Dramatic much?) He said he was her fiance, and started asking if I was the guy he had caught her in bed with recently. Wowwwwww. She called shortly after that, but at that point I couldn't believe a word she said, so that was the end of it.

It struck me that this woman was so self-centered, and her actions so destructive, that the thought crossed my mind, "Maybe this is spiritual warfare, and she's some kind of demonic spirit in human form". So then, boom, "Angel of Seduction". I did a bit of research on angel lore, and chose to mention the angel Zadkiel, but couldn't find a pronunciation, so if I'm saying it wrong…. sue me, go write your own angel song.

Musically, the idea was to see if I could use the same chord progression through the whole song, but keep it interesting by changing up the arrangement every few bars. It walks the line between heavy and danceable; one friend described it as "Nine Inch Nails meets Duran Duran". The guitar part in the chorus is a nod to one of my heroes, Paul Stanley. It's a close approximation of his live intro to "Black Diamond".

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



Judas Priest Share Us Festival Footage
(hennemusic) On September 4, Judas Priest will release the "Screaming For Vengeance Special 30th Anniversary Edition" package which will feature not only the remastered original album plus bonus tracks, but also a live DVD from the 1983 US Festival show, filmed in San Bernardino, CA on May 29, 1983.

The US Festival live DVD was filmed on Heavy Metal Day, which was headlined by Van Halen. It set the single-day concert attendance record for the U.S. with an estimated 375,000 people. "On the day that we performed, we flew in by helicopter — and the first sight we saw was that of thousands of abandoned cars piled up around the crests of the hills that surrounded the festival arena, which as we went over took our breath away," said Priest in a statement. "For there, below us, spread throughout hundreds of acres was a massive crowd — over three hundred thousand strong! The summer heat was raging and combined with the hot Santa Ana winds made for a scorching metal furnace on stage."

Priest have offered up a preview of their US Festival performance, as they rock through the opening numbers of their set - "The Hellion" and "Electric Eye." Check it out here.



Metallica Streaming Orion and And Justice For All Live Video
(hennemusic) Metallica have posted official footage from the seventh show of their recent 8-date run in Mexico City.

The August 7th video includes the band running through "Orion" in the Tuning Room and the title track to their album, "…And Justice For All," from the concert.

The 1988 'Justice' release was the band's fourth studio album, and first full record since the passing of bassist Cliff Burton, who died in a bus crash on tour two years earlier. Check out the video here.



Marilyn Manson Releases Slo-mo-tion Video
Marilyn Manson has released a new music video for his latest single release "Slo-mo-tion".

The clip, which was directed by Manson himself, is the second to be released from his latest album Born Villain. Watch it here.

Manson will also hit the road with Rob Zombie this fall, co-headlining The "Twins of Evil" Tour. The tour kicks off September 28th in Phoenix and concludes state-side on Halloween in Dallas. more on this story



Metric Streaming First Part Of Documentary Online
Metric has posted the first of four episodes of their Synthetica mini-documentary.

The documentary is said to be the ultimate behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Metric's fifth full-length studio album, Synthetica.

Episode 2 will be shared later this week with episodes 3 and 4 to follow next week. For now you can watch episode one here.



The 69 Eyes Release Album Video Trailer
The 69 Eyes have released the second video trailer for their forthcoming album, X.

The album is set to be release in North America on October 9, 2012 via Nuclear Blast. Check out the trailer here.

The 69 Eyes recently shot a music video for the album's first single, "Red," with renowned producer, Patric Ullaeus (Dimmu Borgir, Dream Evil, Keep Of Kalessin), which will premiere in the coming weeks.

Today's Day In Rock News!

Marilyn Manson Jams With The Doors
Fans at the Sunset Strip Music Festival received a special treat during Marilyn Manson's set Saturday night.
Manson was joined on stage by The Doors legends Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger to perform The Doors classics 'People Are Strange', 'Love Me Two Times' and 'Five to One'.

Manson was headlining the annual event that took place over the weekend on the famed Sunset Strip in Hollywood. Organizers decided this year to celebrate the music and legacy of The Doors. NME has fan filmed footage of one of the Manson and Doors jams here.



Dance Gavin Dance Part Ways With Jonny Craig
Dance Gavin Dance have parted ways with controversial singer Jonny Craig and have reportedly already replaced him.

Craig broke the news to fans via a series of Twitter posts on Monday that the band had let him go, saying in part that they "want to go harder and I don't, so they have found another singer."

Who is that singer? PropertyOfZack reports that an unnamed source has confirmed to them that the band has hired Tilian Pearson (ex-Tides Of Man) to replaced Craig. Who the source is and their relation to the band was not reported by the site. more on this story



Fred Durst Not Booted Off WWE For Middle Finger
(TMZ) Fred Durst DID NOT get kicked out of WWE's SummerSlam Sunday night for giving the middle finger to the camera, despite reports to the contrary ... in fact, the real reason he left the main arena was to apologize to the producers.

The web has been blowing up this morning with reports that Durst was hauled out of the Staples Center in L.A. Sunday night because he flipped off the camera during the broadcast ... a big no, no on a family friendly show.

A rep for the WWE tells TMZ ... the reports are 100% FALSE. The "Limp Bizkit" frontman didn't get the boot, he just felt so bad following the incident, he immediately went backstage to apologize for his actions.

The rep notes, "We appreciate Fred's apology. However, we take our family-friendly environment very seriously and this was a violation of that. We sincerely apologize to our fans."

Not only did Durst peace out early to apologize ... he claims he also wanted to beat the legendary L.A. traffic following the show. Durst tweeted, "I was leaving to beat the traffic! Haha, security escorting me out?? WWE is family. hahaha. Is this really a rumor? Amazing. My boys at WWE are cracking up! Note -- never leave early to beat traffic!" more on this story



Jason Bonham Postpones Led Zeppelin Experience Dates
(hennemusic) Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience have postponed a series of shows previously announced for next month.

The dates include concerts in Chile and Australia during the first half of September.

The band posted the news, saying, "Hey Zep fans, we are sad to announce that unfortunately our September dates have been postponed for the moment. But not to worry, we are working on rerouting! We hope to see you all soon!" more on this story



Green Day Themed Angry Birds Coming
(hennemusic) A new Green Day-themed version of the popular video game Angry Birds is on its way. The Angry Birds Friends game features 10 never-before-seen levels, as well as all new Green Day pig characters.

Fans can also unlock the new song, "Troublemaker," off the band's upcoming album "¡Uno!," which is due next month.

"We're all fans of Angry Birds," said Billie Joe Armstrong. "It's such an addictive game that when we first started playing it we couldn't stop." more on this story



Dethklok Releasing New Album This Rocktober
Dethklok have set an October 16, 2012 North America release date for their new album, Metalocalypse: Dethklok Dethalbum III. Their camp sent over these details:

The Dethalbum III is once again co-produced by Metalocalypse co-creator Brendon Small and Dethklok producer Ulrich Wild (The Dethalbum and Dethalbum II). The cover art was also illustrated by The Dethalbum and Dethalbum II cover artist Antonio Canobbio.

Dethalbum III will not only be released in its original CD and digital format, but also as a Deluxe Edition CD/DVD and a clean version of the CD. The Deluxe Edition CD/DVD will include a 32-minute behind-the-scenes documentary of the making of Dethalbum III, as well as music videos and much more. A vinyl edition of the album with special etching will be released on November 6, 2012. more on this story



Thrice Anthology Coming In October
Thrice have set an October 30, 2012 release date for Anthology, a 4-Lp/2-Cd Live collection that was recorded during their recent farewell tour.

"This is a live record that is truly live," commented drummer Riley Breckenridge. "There are no overdubs, no edits and no pitch corrections. We wanted this to be an honest and accurate representation of a show from our Farewell Tour and a memento for our fans, and that's exactly what it is."

Thrice announced last fall that they were putting the band on hiatus after 13 years together and eight full-length releases and then embarked on a farewell tour. more on this story



Napalm Death and Municipal Waste Plan Fall Tour
Napalm Death will be teaming up with Municipal Waste to launch a co-headlining North American tour this fall.

The tour will be feature Vektor, Dayglo Abortions, Attitude Adjustment, and Speedwolf on select dates.

The five week trek will kick off on October 26th in Springfield, Va and will wrap up on December 1st in Tampa, FL. Napalm Death and Municipal Waste will then take part in the Barge To Hell and the pre-party. more on this story



As I Lay Dying Set New Album Release
Metal Blade have set a September 25th release date for As I Lay Dying's new album, Awakened.

The group plan to celebrate the album release by headlining a special album release show, but have not yet announced details.

They will begin touring in support of the album on October 15, when they kick off a European tour with Trivium, Caliban and Upon A Burning Body before returning to the U.S. in November for a nationwide tour. more on this story



Baroness Recovering From Bus Crash
Baroness checked in with fans yesterday via their Facebook page with an update following their hospitalization last week for a major tour bus crash in the UK.

Frontman John Baizley, drummer Allen Bickle and bassist Matt Maggioni are currently recovering in the hospital and guitarist Pete Adams has been released from the hospital and has returned home to the United States according to Antiquiet.

The group took to their Facebook page on Monday to thank their fans and posted a photo from the hospital. They wrote, "Thank you to all of you who have been sending the tidal wave of positivity our way. We are uplifted by its sheer magnitude, and power. Every single one of you is making our days and nights easier and our recovery quicker. Thank you all so much, we are truly lucky to have such incredible people on our side. A sincere and heartfelt thank you from each of us to each of you." You read more about the accident and see the hospital and crash photos here.



Nonpoint Launch North American Tour
Nonpoint have hit the road for a late summer/fall headline tour of North America ahead of their new album release.

The tour kicked off last week in Pennellville, NY and will run through November.

Nonpoint will release their new self-titled album this October and was produced/mixed by Grammy Nominated Producer, Johnny K (Disturbed, Staind, Megadeth) and also features some additional production and mixing from Brian Virtue (30 Seconds To Mars, Chevelle). more on this story



Widespread Panic's Jimmy Herring Releases New Solo Album
Widespread Panic guitarist Jimmy Herring today released his second solo album, Subject To Change Without Notice and is on the road this week supporting it. We were sent these details:

With Subject To Change Without Notice, Herring has compiled eight original songs highlighted by the addition of amazing covers, including the Mahavishnu Orchestra's "Hope", George Harrison's "Within You Without You" and Jimmy McGriff's "Miss Poopie". As one of the industry's top-tier performance and recording guitarists, Herring has once again illuminated the art form that transcends any categorization.

With Herring on lead guitar, the album also features such top notch musicians as Neal Fountain, Etienne Mbappe (Bass), Jeff Sipe, Tyler Greenwell (Drums), Matt Slocum (Piano/Keys). In addition, making special guest appearances on the album are Bela Fleck (Banjo), and Bill Evans (Sax) and Nicky Sanders (Violin) from the Steep Canyon Rangers. more on this story


Flyleaf Release First New Song In Three Years
Good news for Flyleaf fans, the three year wait for new music from the band is officially over.

The band released their first new single in three years today. "New Horizons" is the first new track and the name of the band's forthcoming third album. Full details about the album and the release date will be announced shortly.

"'New Horizons' expresses a feeling of looking toward the unknown future with hope," commented bass player Pat Seals. more on this story



Paul Simon Live In New York City CD, DVD and Blu-Ray Coming
Paul Simon Live In New York City will be release on September 18th in three formats: 2-CD/1-DVD special package, Blu-Ray and Standard DVD.

The release was captured during the first leg of Paul Simon's, 2011 U.S. tour, he played a special club performance for hometown fans at New York City's Webster Hall.

The 20-song, 90-minute set list was drawn from his career and includes several songs that haven't been performed live in many years. "Kodachrome," "Mother and Child Reunion," "Gone At Last" and "The Obvious Child" are just some of the highlights as well as songs from Simon's most recent album, 2011's So Beautiful or So What (Hear Music/Concord Music Group) including "Dazzling Blue," "Rewrite," "The Afterlife" and the album's title track. more on this story



Darrell Scott and Tim O'Brien Releasing Live Album
Darrell Scott and Tim O'Brien will release their joint live album, We're Usually a Lot Better Than This, on October 9.

The album was recorded during two separate concerts at the Grey Eagle in Asheville, N.C. in 2005 and 2006. The shows were benefits for the Arthur Morgan School, where both had children attending as students at the time. (It's not their first recording together; the Grammy-nominated studio album Real Time in 2000 was their debut as a duo.)

"With Tim and me, it's all fair game," says Scott of the collaboration. "We are fearless and we egg each other on toward the edge of crash and burn. Hopefully there's more burn than crash here." more on this story



All That Remains' Phil Labonte Part of New Season Of 3-Gun Nation
Razor and Tie sent over word that All That Remains' Phil Labonte is part of the new season of 3-Gun Nation. Here is the official word:

3GN TV host Mark Wills, a multi-platinum country singer and voice over talent instigates a new challenge by inviting fellow musician and gun enthusiast Phil Labonte (of the rock/metal band All That Remains) to join the show.

The season-long, head-to-head challenge features two lead singers receiving instructional sessions from pro 3-Gunners while comparing their individual progress throughout the experience. more on this story



Jon Anderson Going South
Original YES vocalist and songwriter Jon Anderson will be hitting the road next month for a South America tour.

More dates in Argentina to be announced soon as well as a special concert in Chile late November with the Youth Orchestra of Santiago.

In other news, Jon played a special one-off concert on August 8th at the Sadler's Wells Theater in London. This was the first time Jon had performed in the UK since his tour with Rick Wakeman in 2010. "The concert in London was with the Slovakian Chamber Orchestra with the help of my good friend composer Peter Machajdik plus a semi acoustic group I performed with a couple of years ago in Bratislava," says Jon. In honor of the UK 2012 Olympics, Jon recorded a vocal version of the Vangelis song "Chariots of Fire" titled "Race To The End", with lyrics penned by Jon. more on this story



The Wedding Releasing New Album Next Month
Tooth & Nail Records have set a September 25th release date for The Wedding's new album, No Direction.

The Wedding features frontman Matt Shelton (formerly of Letter Kills. On the album's title, Shelton explains, "No Direction" means cutting ties with the idea that you can prepare your life in such a way to keep you from danger. As C.S. Lewis said, it's an illusion of safety. We are meant to live life unabashed and free, and this can only happen in the face of danger; which to most is the idea of not knowing where you are going. It is when we have No Direction at all and still we press on, trusting that the great unknown will be our rescue and not the demise we are so fearful of. We went into making this record with complete reckless abandon. We tried to write the record that we wanted and needed to hear."

"We are stoked to join the family at Tooth & Nail. It's exciting to get to make the records we want to make with so many good friends," says Shelton more on this story



A Sound Of Thunder Begin Work On New Album
A Sound Of Thunder have started work on their third full-length album, Time's Arrow, which they expect to be released in early 2013.

The band has entered Assembly Line Studios with producer Kevin "131" Gutierrez (Shinedown, While Heaven Wept, Raven), who produced the band's 2012 release, Out of the Darkness.

The centerpiece of the album is the 9-minute sci-fi themed title track. Guitarist and composer Josh Schwartz describes the track as "a high octane headbanger with an unforgettable riff and an engaging story. Stylistically it's Iron Maiden meets Rush with a bit of Meatloaf thrown in for bombast." The tale begun in the lyrics is expanded in a short story by drummer Chris Haren, available in the limited box set edition of Time's Arrow. more on this story



B Sides


Singled Out: Project 86
Project 86's new album, 'Wait For The Siren,' is being release today and to celebrate we asked frontman Andrew Schwab to tell us about the track "Fall, Goliath, Fall". Here is the story:

I had a specific vision for this song. I wanted a song that would harken visions of epic medieval battles, where families fight for land against evil oppressors.

The picture I had in my mind was a metaphor for the obstacles we face as artists in this industry, but I also wanted it to symbolize the plight of any underdog in any walk of life. We employed the use of a mandolin and a hammered dulcimer to give the song an epic, dramatic sound.

As I wrote with my friend Andrew Welch over Skype, and the song came together, I got chills, even before the vocals were written. I knew we had a special song. Then, when I actually laid down the vocals in the studio while recording the album version-which was the first time I had ever sang them-I almost came out of my skin with joy. It was one of those moments that justifies all the hard work and sleepless nights which come as a part of doing this for a living. It was one of those moments that only happens a few times in your whole career, and that is if you are lucky.

We have all faced insurmountable odds, or a seemingly undefeatable adversary at various points in our lives. When we encounter a Goliath, how will we respond? Will we cower in fear?

When he falls, we mount his head on a pike, high amidst our camp, as a monument to this event in our lives.

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



Audio of Metallica's Deep Purple Tribute Goes Online
(hennemusic) Metallica are one of the acts featured on the forthcoming Deep Purple project, "Re-Machined: A Tribute To Machine Head."

Due September 25, the compilation CD presents re-interpretations of Deep Purple's landmark 1972 album with songs recorded by Iron Maiden, Chickenfoot, Black Label Society and more.

Metallica covers "When A Blind Man Cries," a song recorded during the 1971 sessions. The tune did not appear on the album's original release, but was issued as the B-side to the single, "Never Before." "Blind Man" was eventually included on the 25th Anniversary 2CD edition of "Machine Head." more on this story



The Cult Preview Honey From A Knife Video
(hennemusic) The Cult are gearing up for the release of their new video, "Honey From A Knife." The track is the latest single from the band's latest album, "Choice Of Weapon."

Co-produced by Chris Goss (Queens of the Stone Age, U.N.K.L.E.) and longtime collaborator Bob Rock (Metallica, Aerosmith), "Choice of Weapon" was made in several studios, including the band's own Witch Mountain, as well as spots in New York City, Los Angeles and the California desert.

The full video will be posted on Thursday, but The Cult have offered up a preview clip for fans to check

Today's Day In Rock News!

Russian Band Sentenced To Two Years In Jail
Russian punk band Pussy Riot was sentenced to two years in jail for publicly criticizing Vladimir Putin.
The 1st Five report that the group has been sentenced on Friday to two years in jail, for "crudely [undermining] social order" by protesting the Russian leader.

The trio was arrested following a guerrilla performance/protest at Moscow's main church, singing a "punk prayer" to the Virgin Mary to deliver Russian from Vladimir Putin. The 1st Five have a video report with more details here.



Sebastian Bach's Book May Make Motley Crue's Dirt Look Clean
(hennemusic) Sebastian Bach has wrapped up a series of summer dates promoting his 2011 release, "Kicking & Screaming." One of the next projects on Bach's plate may be writing his autobiography.

Sebastian tells The Macomb Daily that he's been approached to write his memoir, which he predicts will make Motley Crue's "The Dirt" "look clean" if he decides to take that tack.

"It seems like such an overwhelming project, so don't hold your breath for it," says Bach. "It has to blow me away before I release it. I want to write it by myself." more on this story



Dillinger Escape Plan Lose A Member
Dillinger Escape Plan have parted ways with rhythm guitarist Jeff Tuttle, who joined the band in 2007. Tuttle and the band have both commented on the departure.

The band had this to say: "Jeff Tuttle has been a valuable member of The Dillinger Escape Plan since the beginning of the Ire Works cycle. He started his time with us in mid 2006 in a period of turmoil, and his positivity and team player mentality, his enthusiasm, and his fire onstage, will always be appreciated and will never be forgotten. That being said, for now, as you will read, his future with us is uncertain, but whatever the future holds for our relationship with him, we love him and wish him well and success as a brother who has gone into battle with us for six years, and we hope he enjoys and finds creative fulfillment in film school and his future endeavors."

Jeff tells fans: "To the fans of Dillinger, and to the multitude of people I've met, kicked, guitar-smashed, face riffed, or otherwise touched, I'm writing this to formally announce that as of today I will be taking my departure from The Dillinger Escape Plan. The years I've spent with this band have been some of the greatest in my life. I've seen and done so many things I never thought possible and I will forever be grateful to these memories and to the band that made them possible. I'd like to thank everyone who has given me support and encouragement along the way and to express all the gratitude that fills my bones. Dillinger is a beast that cannot be contained and I have no doubts that the band will continue on the road of destruction. I wish them nothing but the best in the years to come. Music is in my blood and I will continue making it with Old Gods and my solo effort, Malo Konjche. I will also be taking the opportunity to study film and film production in the fall; something I've been deeply passionate about for many years. Life may lead me back to the Dillinger fold in the future, but for now I've decided to pursue these creative paths. The past six years have been amazing and I'm lucky to have made it out alive. I'll never forget the time we shared on stage… the scars won't let me." more on this story



60s Hit Maker Scott McKenzie Dead at 73
Scott McKenzie, best known for his hit 1967 song "San Francisco (Be Sure To Where Flowers In Your Hair)," died at his home on Saturday (August 18, 2012).

Cause of death was not immediately released but he had reportedly been ill prior to his death, according to TheMusicsOver.com.

Aside from "San Francisco (Be Sure To Where Flowers In Your Hair)," which was written by John Phillips of the Mamma & The Papas and reached the Top 5 on the charts, McKenzie co-wrote the Beach Boys 1988 No. 1 hit "Kokomo." Read more about him here.



Motorhead Offer More Previews Of New Album
(hennemusic) Motorhead are offering up some more previews of their new album, "The World Is Ours - Vol 2: Anyplace Crazy As Anywhere Else."

The project will be released in Europe on September 21, the UK on September 24 and October 9 in North America.

The follow-up to 2011's "The Wörld Is Ours – Vol 1: Everywhere Further Than Everyplace Else" will feature the band's 2011 Wacken Open Air headline appearance as well as highlights from Sonisphere (United Kingdom) and Rock In Rio (Brazil) shows. Check out the previews here.



Black Country Communion Set New Album Release
(hennemusic) The third album from Black Country Communion is due October 30, according to bassist Glenn Hughes.

Hughes tweeted about the project, which once again sees him team up with bandmates Joe Bonamassa on guitar, drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner) and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Dream Theatre, Billy Idol, Alice Cooper).

Kevin Shirley is handling production duties, as he did with the band's first two albums. BCC have issued a few videos of their work in the studio, Watch it here.



Led Zeppelin DVD Goes 13 X Platinum
(hennemusic) Led Zeppelin have reached yet another sales milestone. The band's 2003 DVD has been certified thirteen times platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) for sales in excess of 1.3 million copies in the U.S. alone.

The RIAA report includes designations for Zeppelin's release at levels of eleven, twelve and thirteen times platinum all being confirmed in July.

The double-DVD set features over five hours of never-before-available concert and performance footage from Zeppelin, spanning the years 1969 to 1979. more on this story



AC/DC Bon Scott Film Needs Producer
(hennemusic) After the official press release of an upcoming docu-drama film production about late AC/DC vocalist Bon Scott went viral on the internet last week, it has been learned that the film's organizers are seeking a producer to back the project.

"We have been approached by a number of prospective producers for this project in a fairly short period of time," said a source. "But, this is a historic opportunity for a producer to step in and back a project now with international credibility."

Much of the speculation centered around the project is who would handle the starring role portraying Scott. Moreover, who knew enough about the story to write a viable screenplay for the project? Rob Liotti took on the task. The singer has portrayed Scott onstage for years in his tribute band TNT and is actually an American musician, writer, and actor. more on this story




Duff McKagan's Loaded Headed Across The Pond This Fall
(Gibson) Duff McKagan's Loaded have announced a string of tour dates in the U.K. and Ireland for October and November, including shows as main support act for Alice Cooper and co-headlining dates with Ugly Kid Joe.

In addition, for one night only, McKagan will present a special live performance based on his best-selling memoir, It's So Easy: and Other Lies. During the special show, dubbed "Rock Stars Say the Funniest Things," McKagan will read excerpts from his autobiography, perform acoustically and participate in a Q&A session. This special event will take place at The Garage in London on October 23.

Duff McKagan Loaded's latest album, The Taking, was released in April 2011. The album is the band's first to feature new drummer Isaac Carpenter. more on this story





Doors Member Reacts To Mars Rover Playing "Break on Through"
(TMZ) One member of The Doors is amped the Mars Rover mission plays "Break on Through" as a wake-up call in the morning -- telling TMZ, it's the perfect song for an extraterrestrial ... because The Doors are basically aliens.

In case you didn't know, several crew members on the Mars Curiosity Rover Mission answered a bunch of questions on Reddit last week-- and one question involved the rover's "wake-up" songs ... i.e. songs played by mission control to start their day. (It's a Mars rover tradition, apparently)

According to one crew member, the wake-up song list includes the "Mission: Impossible" theme, "Wake Up Little Susie" by Simon and Garfunkel, "Come Fly With Me" by Frank Sinatra ... and the Doors hit classic.

But Doors drummer John Densmore tells TMZ, he's not surprised by the crew's song selection ... claiming, "The Doors were always considered 'different'... like from Mars... no bass player, no flower power."

Densmore adds, "[last Thursday] the mayor of West Hollywood declared it 'Doors Day.' It seems appropriate that we are also waking up the Curiosity on Mars." more on this story



SUNN 0))) Expand Fall Tour Plans
SUNN 0))) have expanded their upcoming Fall tour to now include eight cities on the eastern seaboard of the US.

With newly confirmed performances now confirmed in Brookline, Massachusetts, and New Britain, Connecticut, the tour includes performances at the first installment of The Power Of The Riff East in Brooklyn, New York, and Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Dead In The Dirt will provide direct support for SUNN 0))) on all dates except the Hopscotch Festival. more on this story



New Cradle of Filth Coming This Halloween
Halloween will come a day early for Cradle of Filth fans as the band have set an October 30th North American release date for their new album, The Manticore & Other Horrors

Commented the band's infamous front man, Dani Filth, "This is our 10th commandment in metal. We have diversified and kept alive the spirit of this band and breathed it into something that I can proudly say, slays like an absolute motherf**ker. The Manticore is coming… Long live the filth!"

The album was recorded in eight weeks at both Springvale and Grindstone studios (where it was also mixed by Scott Atkins), Suffolk. more on this story



Joe Bonamassa Giving Away Song From New Double Live Album
Joe Bonamassa is giving away a free download of "Slow Train" which comes from his new double live album, which hit stores next month.

Joe Bonamassa: Beacon Theatre - Live From New York, from the sold-out two-night performance at New York City's legendary Beacon Theatre will be released as a 2-CD set on September 25th. But you can get a taste of what's to come with the free download here.

Special guests on the album include Beth Hart, John Hiatt and Paul Rodgers. This CD is the companion to the March release of the DVD and Blu-ray of the same name. more on this story



Sammy Hagar Wants Fan To Have His Shelby Mustang
(hennemusic) Red Rocker, and car collector, Sammy Hagar is selling his Shelby GT500 Coupe 2007 Mustang and wants a fan to own it.

"I bought another car recently and have run out of space!," says Hagar. "Instead of letting one sit outside I've chosen to sell one and chose this beast! But, I don't want to put it up on Barrett-Jackson and see it get marked up - I'd rather see a Redhead driving it and sell it at blue book! I bought this Shelby new and have driven it very little (low miles), plus it's been driven by Mike Anthony and Chad Smith during the recording of Chickenfoot III."

Details: Shelby GT500 Coupe 2007 Mustang, V8 Supercharged 5.4L engine, manual 6 speed transmission, cruise control, power steering, tilt wheel, premium sound with Shaker 1000 audio system, power seats, leather, rear spoiler, alloy wheels, premium trim package with Shelby Blue tape stripe. more on this story



Hetfield Recaps Metallica's Mexico City Run
(hennemusic) Metallica recently played a series of eight shows in Mexico City, where the band debuted a new stage set that featured highlights from the band's lengthy career.

Frontman James Hetfield spoke to the Mexican radio station Ibero 90.9 prior to the start of the shows last month, and was impressed with the level of support Metallica has in the region.

"To play anywhere in the world for eight shows is unbelievable," Hetfield said. "I don't think we could do it anywhere else. Mexico City stepped up, and every [concert] we put on sale, there was another one and another and it kept going. It was crazy! We probably could have kept going, as the passion here is unbelievable." Read more and watch video here.



Elvis Presley Fans Get Surprise Visit at Graceland
(Gibson) Elvis Presley fans who had gathered at Graceland to mark the 35th anniversary of the singer's death got a surprise Wednesday night when Priscilla Presley and Lisa Marie Presley joined them at the vigil. It was the first time Elvis's widow and daughter had appeared together at the annual gathering, according to an Associated Press report.

"You should see this from our point of view," said Priscilla Presley, looking out at the crowd from an elevated stage. Lisa Marie Presley stood alongside her, looking at thousands of lit candles held aloft by the fans. "It's truly a sight to behold."

The vigil marked the high point of Elvis Week, an annual Memphis event that celebrates the life of the legendary singer. Organizers estimate that 75,000 fans took part in the vigil. "I've always avoided this because I felt that it would be too emotional," said Lisa Marie Presley, "but I really felt it was important to come down here tonight. I love you very, very, very much." more on this story





B Sides


Singled Out: The Commuters
Today Zeeshan Zaidi, the lead singer of the New York-based alternative rock band The Commuters, tells us about the song "As I Make My Way" from their debut album "Rescue". Here is the story:

This song is about the vision I had all my life of becoming a professional musician and just going for it. I'd been in and around the music industry much of my career as a label executive and producer, but had put my own musical dreams on the back burner. One day I was deep in thought and said to myself: 'Some day I will die. And when that day comes I don't want to look back on my life and kick myself for not doing what deep down inside I've always wanted.' So I did it. Started writing and producing my songs with the aim of putting a band together and doing what I'm doing now. The song is about that moment, and going for it, and not worrying too much about outcomes — about giving it your all and just trusting that things will work out as they are supposed to.

Ironically, even though ended up being the obvious first single off the album, in the studio this was one of the last songs to come together. It was lagging a bit behind the other songs and I wasn't sure if it would even make the album. Then one day I said to Uri — let's take a cue from the song itself and lay down some cool parts, starting with a great intro, without caring too much about how it turns out. Just let it go. So then I came up with the two guitar parts you hear in the intro and put them down, and Uri was messing around with a keyboard and came up with the really killer synth riff, as well as the scratchy sound at the beginning. It was awesome that when we took the perspective of the song it actually helped the song itself.

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



Lynyrd Skynyrd's Fox and Friends Performance Streaming Online
(hennemusic) Lynyrd Skynyrd performed live from New York City Friday morning as part of the FOX & Friends "All American Concert Series."

The free live performance was the 13th of the 14-week outdoor concert series held in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, directly outside the FOX News studios (48th & 6th).

Skynyrd are out promoting the release of their new album, "Last of a Dyin' Breed," which will be out on Tuesday, August 21st. Watch the Fox performance here.



Nickelback Video Starring Jason Alexander and Brooke Burns Now Online
(hennemusic) Nickelback have released a new video for "Trying Not To Love You." The track is the fifth single from the band's latest album, 2011's "Here and Now."

The clip features Seinfeld's Jason Alexander as a coffee shop employee who falls in love with a customer, played by Baywatch's Brooke Burns.

Nickelback recently wrapped up an extensive North American tour and will fire up a European trek in Brussels, Belgium on September 6. Watch the video here.



The Gaslight Anthem Cover Pearl Jam
(hennemusic) The Gaslight Anthem released their fourth studio album, "Handwritten," last month.

The New Jersey rockers are promoting the album with a series of concert dates and promotional appearances, including a recent stop at Sirius XM's Alt Nation.

Satellite radio listeners were treated to a live session that included a cover of Pearl Jam's "State Of Love And Trust" (one of the bands previously produced by O'Brien); the song does not appear on the band's new album. Check it out here.



Metallica Share Blitzkrieg and Battery Performance Videos
(hennemusic) Metallica continue to roll out footage from their recent 8-date run in Mexico City. Up next is material from show number six at the Sports Palace, which happened on August 6.

Fans can check out video of Metallica rocking "Blitzkrieg" in the Tuning Room and the punishing "Master Of Puppets" track, "Battery," from the concert.

The final summer shows with the new stage set used in Mexico take place in Vancouver on August 24 and 25. Watch the video here.



The Darkness Preview New Album
(hennemusic) The Darkness return on Tuesday (Aug 21) with "Hot Cakes," the reunited band's third studio album and they are offering up a preview online.

The band's debut, 2003's "Permission To Land," hit the No. 1 spot in the U.K. chart and won the "MasterCard British Album" at the 2004 Brit Awards (along with "Best British Group" and "British Rock Act").

Between 2003 and 2006, The Darkness was honored with many awards and accolades; along with three Brit Awards, the band won an Ivor Novello in 2004 for "Songwriters Of The Year", four Kerrang! Awards, two Metal Hammer Awards, an MTV Europe Music Award and even an Elle Style Award in 2004 for "Most Stylish Band."

ANGEL COME TO ROCK CANDY:

The following three new Rock Candy titles are available now from www.rockcandyrecords.com for a discounted price including postage to anywhere in the world for the next two weeks ending on September 2.

PLEASE NOTE: These are the CD reissues. There will be a limited 500 edition exact-to-original 180g virgin white vinyl release of each title to follow shortly. Details will be announced in the next week.

Angel 'S/T' CANDY153 / And then there was Angel... Meticulously assembled as part of an advanced master plan to create the perfect rock band, Angel's manifest destiny revolved around two key components: that's killer hooks and killer looks. Seasoned players all, their arrival on the Los Angeles rock scene certainly put the cat amongst the pigeons in a world crying out for something fresh, original and very different. Based in Los Angeles, and signed to the forward thinking Casablanca label (home to Kiss and Parliament), Angel's debut album was issued in 1975 and received instant approval from anyone hip to the trip. Musically the focus was firmly on a sort of pioneering seventies mash-up of progressive and melodic hard rock, spearheaded by the extraordinary operatic vocals of Frank DiMino and the wildly dexterous keyboard virtuosity of Gregg Giuffria.
Produced by Englishmen Derek Lawrence (Deep Purple, Wishbone Ash) and session guitarist extraordinaire Big Jim Sullivan, the album is treasure trove of surprises and includes several songs that have since gone on to become standard bearers in the star spangled world of melodic-rock mayhem. For categorical proof look no further than the straight-from-the-hip attack of 'Rock & Rollers', 'On And On' and, arguably the greatest pomp-rock creation of all time, 'Tower', a pumping behemoth of a track with keyboards and guitars locked in mortal combat. No home should be without a copy.
24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 4,000 word essay about the making of the album, new interviews with the band, enhanced artwork and previously unseen photos spread out over a 16 page full colour booklet.
Track Listing: 1. Tower 2. Long Time 3. Rock & Rollers 4. Broken Dreams 5. Mariner 6. Sunday Morning 7. On & On 8. Angel (Theme).

Angel 'Helluva Band' CANDY154 - There have been many great bands that didn't receive the level of recognition due to them, but none have been more deserving than Angel. Cruelly denied the opportunity to bask in the spotlight of success, Angel's story is a tear-jerker in the grandest tradition. A great band, astonishing musicianship, sensational songs and a stunning stage show but for some reason doomed to cult status, maybe because they were - in effect - ahead of their time, far beyond the realms of previously known parameters. 'Helluva Band' was Angel's second album, and a record that took their brand of adventurous pomp-rock to astonishing levels. Unafraid of throwing everything and the kitchen sink into their music, they reached a new level of achievement which allowed every member of the band to excel at their craft. Singer Frank DiMino in particular, unleashes one of the definitive vocal performances of the era, an ostentatious operatic style that thrilled audiences back then and still continues to make its mark to this day.
Originally issued in 1976,and produced by British ex pats Derek Lawrence and Big Jim Sullivan in Los Angeles, the albums contains a clutch of 24 Karat showstoppers, including the epic 'Feelings', 'Mirrors', 'Pressure Point' and 'The Fortune', a progressive pomp-rock watershed with all the trimmings you might reasonably expect from such a genre defining band.
24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 4,000 word essay about the making of the album, new interviews with the band, enhanced artwork and previously unseen photos spread out over a 16 page full colour booklet.
Track Listing: 1. Feelin' Right 2. The Fortune 3. Anyway You Want It 4. Dr. Ice 5. Mirrors 6. Feelings 7. Pressure Point 8. Chicken Soup 9. Angel Theme.

Angel 'On Earth As It Is In Heaven' CANDY155 / It was a brilliant concept. Five immaculately coffered musicians dressed in virginal white and playing a flamboyant combination of progressive pomp rock with all the genre trimmings that you could possibly desire. Their stage show was equally as breathtaking, taking in everything from holograms to spectacular magic stunts. It was as if PT Barnum himself had formed a rock band and created the ultimate spectacle. 'On Earth As It Is In Heaven' was Angels' third album and showcases the band expanding their horizons by taking a more melodic hard rock path, but one with hooks and riffs to the fore. Just because the music was harder and edgier, isn't to say that they had abandoned their progressive roots altogether as Gregg Giuffria's keyboard work will testify.
Produced by seasoned sound man Eddie Kramer (Hendrix, Zeppelin), the songs here display a raw edge that provides guitarist Punky Meadows with a platform to unleash some of his best riffs, whilst vocalist extraordinaire Frank DiMino soars to new operatic heights. Songs such as 'Can You Feel It', 'Cast The First Stone' and 'White Lightning' explode with a sense of urgency that suggests the band were scaling new heights of creativity and feeling all the better for it. Oh, and check out the band's logo – it reads the same upside down, back to front and in a mirror!”
24-bit remastering from original source tapes, original Japanese mix and superior track sequence, 4,000 word essay about the making of the album, new interviews with the band, enhanced artwork and previously unseen photos spread out over a 16 page full colour booklet.
Track Listing: 1. Can You Feel It 2. She's A Mover 3. You're Not Fooling Me 4. That Magic Touch 5. Big Boy (Let's Do It Again) 6. White Lightning 7. Telephone Exchange 8. On The Rocks 9. Cast The First Stone 10. Just A Dream.