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

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day in Rock News!: Today's Day in Rock Slash Open To Guns N' Roses Reunion, Denies Feud With Axl (hennemusic) Slash told CBS This Morning o...

Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


Slash Open To Guns N' Roses Reunion, Denies Feud With Axl
(hennemusic) Slash told CBS This Morning on Thursday that he is open to the possibility of a Guns N' Roses reunion and he also discussed the status of his relationship with Axl Rose.

"It's been one of those things that's been talked about by everybody but us for over the last 18, 19 years," he said. "I've got to be careful what I say there. I mean, if everybody wanted to do it and do it for the right reasons, I think the fans would love it. I think it might be fun at some point to try and do that."

Asked what those "right reasons" might be, Slash says "I mean, that's a hard one. That just starts to get into a whole complex thing… It's really between the guys in the band."

About his relationship with Axl Rose, he said, "Well, we haven't really talked in a long time, but a lot of the tension that you were talking about has dissipated," he explains. "We don't have all those issues anymore. It's not a lot of controversy. It's something that is more perpetuated by the media, more than anything."

As for a reunion of the classic Guns N' Roses lineup, Slash says, "Never say never." Read more here.




Led Zeppelin Stairway To Heaven Lawsuit To Move Forward
(hennemusic) A Philadelphia judge is allowing a copyright infringement suit against Led Zeppelin over "Stairway To Heaven" to proceed after denying a request by the group's lawyers to have it dismissed.

Bloomberg reports the suit - brought by the estate of Spirit guitarist Randy California and members of the band - claims the acoustic introduction to "Stairway" was lifted from their 1968 instrumental, "Taurus."

The two bands crossed paths during Zeppelin's first US tour, which saw the future rock legends open for Vanilla Fudge and Spirit, and that's where the Los Angeles band claims Jimmy Page was exposed to "Taurus."

The Philadelphia judge has ordered the case to be transferred to federal court in Los Angeles. The new venue, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division, is the same court where a jury ruled in March that Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke should pay $7.4 million for infringing on Marvin Gaye's 1977 track "Got To Give It Up" with their 2013 hit, "Blurred Lines."

Spirit guitarist Randy California drowned while rescuing his 12-year-old son from a rip current in Hawaii in early 1997. Last year, Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page called the lawsuit "ridiculous."





Scott Weiland Denies Heroin Rumor And Calls Out Online 'Haters'
(Classic Rock) Scott Weiland has once again denied he's using heroin after a shoddy vocal performance sent the internet rumor mill into overdrive. The former Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver frontman was recently filmed giving a lethargic rendition of STP track Vasoline while on stage with his band Scott Weiland And The Wildabouts in Corpus Christi, USA.

It came soon after he slammed Filter singer Richard Patrick, who said Weiland's fans were his biggest enablers when it came to drug abuse. And after the footage from the Corpus Christi show surfaced online, fans speculated that Weiland was once again in the grip of addiction.

Weiland tells AXS: "As for the show in Corpus Christi that didn't go well; that was due to the fact that my in-ear monitors were out completely. I could not hear myself for the entire set. It's impossible to sound good and be on key if you can't hear yourself… Without those monitors, you can't hear yourself. Not at all."

He also went after people that criticized him online, "For people that are haters, the Internet makes them think that they have a voice, and it makes them think that what they have to say is really important," he said. "There were people on there saying that I was on heroin again. I haven't done heroin in thirteen years." Read more and see the video of the controversial performance here.




Judas Priest And Twisted Sister Stars Worried For The Future Of Rock
(Classic Rock) Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford and Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French have told of their concerns over the future of rock. Nine months after Kiss bassist Gene Simmons rattled the industry with his claim that rock is dead, Halford continues to champion new acts and questions whether the genre will need big names to sustain itself moving forward.

Halford tells 1290 KOIL Radio: "We were pondering about this the other day in the van driving back from a gig. You know, will there be another great, big rock star giant like Ozzy Osbourne? Will there be another great, big rock star giant like Axl Rose, for example.

"Does that really matter? I don't know. But it's shifted, it's changed. The good news is there's an extraordinary display of talent coming from all different quarters in all different genres of rock and roll."

He adds: "Avenged Sevenfold, Five Finger Death Punch, In This Moment, Royal Blood. There's a ton of bands… Rival Sons… I can keep going and going."

French feels the situation is much more dire, questioning arena and stadium rock's future while suggesting fans better catch ageing acts now before the genre disappears for good.

He tells iradiousa.com: "It's an ageing genre. Name me any rock bands that are 25 and younger who are blowing up the charts. That's the scary part - the replenishment of the genre.

"Rock itself is an ageing medium and it hasn't replenished its ranks, and the kids aren't dreaming about being rock stars and playing air guitar and thinking they're Jimi Hendrix and all that stuff like they were in my generation." Read more here.




Def Leppard's Joe Elliott Leads That Metal Show Season Finale Lineup
Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott, Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth of Overkill, and Frankie Banali of Quiet Riot will all be appearing on the season finale of That Metal Show on VH1 Classic.

The episode airs this Saturday at 9:00PM ET/PT, repeating at 11:00PM ET/PT, and will also feature musical guest Billy Sheehan. We were sent the following details:

Joe Elliott's interview is a pre-taped interview, and his appearances book-end Season 14, appearing in the debut and finale. In the interview Joe discusses not slowing down, Def Leppard's upcoming tour and cruise, and the huge impact MTV had on their career.

Bobby and Frankie sit down together with hosts Eddie Trunk, Don Jamieson, and Jim Florentine live in the TMS studio as the final guests of the season.

Frankie talks about the success of the recent Quiet Riot documentary and the range of emotions he felt combing through the old footage of former singer, Kevin Dubrow.

The hosts ask "Blitz" if he ever would want to do a documentary on Overkill and he said they wouldn't. Blitz also says Overkill has gotten better with age due to his vaping of Red Bull and gasoline; and shares a hilarious story about the vitamin supplement Airborne.

Billy Sheehan tells us about the upcoming sophomore album by The Winery Dogs, how they played 101 shows on their last tour, and the bands' upcoming tour plans in October. Billy even shares a story about being asked to join Van Halen and why he declined the opportunity TWICE! Billy's playing is absolutely stellar throughout the show, and his second to last performance causes the entire panel, audience, and crew to give him a standing ovation, a "That Metal Show" first! The hosts then ask Billy to perform one more solo in lieu of "The Throw Down" to end the season, once again bringing the entire studio to a raucous standing ovation.

Billy joins guests Bobby and Frankie for "Put It On The Table". The "TMS Top 5" this week is sponsored by Just For Men © and prompts a discussion of the Top 5 Beards In Rock, in which Kerry King, John Petrucci, Zakk Wylde, and Rob Zombie all find their way into the discussion. Eddie faces some extremely difficult "Stump The Trunk" questions in the last show of the season, and for the "Pick Of The Week" the hosts pick their favorite recent reissues, and Jim Florentine didn't get the memo since his choice isn't even out yet.




Between The Buried And Me Release Making-Of Video Clip
(Prog) Between The Buried And Me have shared a scene from the making-of DVD for their upcoming album. They release Coma Ecliptic on July 10 via Metal Blade and previously explained it follows the travels of a man in a coma in search of a better life.

In the excerpt from the film, frontman Tommy Rogers says: "It's about a guy in a coma. In every song he is experiencing different past lives of his. He put himself in a coma on purpose because he found out if you're in a coma you can experience past lives and he's trying to find a better world to live in.

"At the end he realizes that was all a dream and he has been in a coma his whole life. Basically it's a coma within a coma within a coma. And then he dies."

He continues: "I liked the idea of everything being fake, like The Truman Show, The Twilight Zone. All these stories that you realise everything you've been living has not happened, I think that's a really scary thought. I felt that really fit the music, it's a very dark record.

"That was my main influence. I was thinking if I wrote a Twilight Zone mini-series, what would it be like?" Watch the video here.




New Skid Row Singer Eager To Make New Music
(Classic Rock) Skid Row frontman Tony Harnell says he's keen to start recording an album with his new bandmates as it will cement his place in the group. The former TNT man was brought into the fold following the sudden departure of vocalist Johnny Solinger, who split with the group after 14 years in April.

He tells One On One With Mitch Lafon: "The first thing I'm going to do with Skid Row as far as original music is the third EP in the United World Rebellion trilogy.

"Then there's the possibility of a full-length album maybe as soon as next year. That makes me really excited because that'll obviously make me feel much more a part of this legacy. Playing live and singing songs that I maybe co-wrote and recorded will make me feel a lot more at home."

Last month, Harnell and the band released a new version of 18 And Life which appeared on their self-titled 1989 debut with original singer Sebastian Bach. Read more here.




Halestorm, Helmet and Five Finger Death Punch To Be ShipRocked
(Classic Rock) Halestorm, Helmet and Five Finger Death Punch are among the acts confirmed for next year's ShipRocked cruise. Also setting sail from Miami to Costa May in Mexico on January 18 are Seether, Hellyeah, Nonpoint, Avatar, Islander and The Dead Deads. The event runs for five days until January 22.

Halestorm singer Lzzy Hale says: "After years of us hearing stories from all of our peers about what a great time ShipRocked is, the time has come to experience it for ourselves. It's our first time, so please don't be gentle. See all you freaks on the high seas."

5FDP guitarist Zoltan Bathory says: "ShipRocked isn't just another show. It's a music festival, and a vacation rolled into one unique experience. The whole ship is a big backstage party where every fan is invited. We are excited to return and headline the cruise in 2016." Read more here.




King Parrot Streaming New Album 'Dead Set' Online
(TeamRock Radio) TeamRock's Metal Hammer are now streaming the entire forthcoming album "Dead Set" from Aussie death metallers King Parrot ahead of its release next week.

Due for release on Agonia Records in Europe and EVP in their homeland of Australia, King Parrot have joined forces with Phil Anselmo's Housecore Records for the North American release. In fact, Phil's chosen his favorite track for us from the album:

"It's very tough for me to say which of the songs is my favourite off of Dead Set, for obvious reasons," he ponders. "But I guess I'm partial to Need No Saviour and Tomorrow Turns To Blood. Both jam, but I could say this about the whole f***ing record." Read more and stream the album here.




Ron Howard's Beatles Documentary To Screen At Cannes
(Gibson) Director Ron Howard's much-anticipated Beatles documentary will be showcased for potential studio suitors at the Cannes Film Festival later this month.

As reported by Variety, the yet-to-be-titled film chronicles the band's journey from their early days at Liverpool's Cavern Club to their last public concert at San Francisco's Candlestick Park in 1966.

Howard has voiced excitement about the project, describing The Beatles' impact on the world as "a dramatic transformation in terms of global culture and these remarkable four individuals, who were geniuses and also entirely relatable."

"I believe you're going to actually feel like you're somewhere in the '60s, seeing what it was like to be there, feeling it and hearing it," said Howard, at the time the project was announced. Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison all cooperated in the venture. Read more here.






Jenny Hval Recruits Melissa Auf der Maur For New Video
(Prog) Jenny Hval has released a music video for her track "That Battle Is Over", which comes from her upcoming third album Apocalypse, Girl which is set for release on June 8 via Sacred Bones.

The "That Battle Is Over" video was directed by Zia Anger and features an appearance from former Hole and Smashing Pumpkins bassist Melissa Auf der Maur.

Anger says: "Collaborating with an entirely female creative team, with the support of a few great gentlemen, gave birth to an exploration of Jenny's song and an inquiry into the sarcasm that pulses through it." Read more and watch the video here.




John Frusciante Wanted To Join Meat Puppets
(Classic Rock) John Frusciante wanted to join Meat Puppets after he quit the Red Hot Chili Peppers, according to the group's Cris Kirkwood. Frusciante left Anthony Kiedis and co in 1992 after becoming overwhelmed by the group's rise to fame following the release of Blood Sugar Sex Magik - a move which led to a long battle with drug addiction.

And looking to find a new challenge, Kirkwood says the guitarist turned up at his house in Arizona in a bedraggled state looking to land a gig with his influential band Meat Puppets.

He says on the first of his Cris Kirkwood podcasts: "He showed up with his guitar out of its case and barefoot. We were on a major label then, we just got signed, and those guys had blown up to where they were at and John needed to get out.

He continues: "John gets to our pad and we started getting ready to play and I said, 'You want to use my tuner?' He said, 'No, I'll bend it in.' It was so far out.

"Then we jammed but it didn't come to anything. Maybe he wasn't in the right place and we were a tight little unit. It just didn't quite happen but it could have worked." Read more here.




'Let There Be Gwar' Book Coming This Summer
(TeamRock Radio) Gwar are planning to release a book which will detail their history through first-hand accounts and previously unreleased photographs. Let There Be Gwar has been complied by Bob Gorman and Roger Gastman and is expected to launch in late August/early September.

The band say: "This book is a record and testament to all that is Gwar - the band who redefined the meaning of performance in rock music with their outlandish costumes and intense theatrical performances.

"Bohabs the world over will delight in the wretched world of Gwar through the pages of this, the most monstrous book since The Necronomicon." Along with the standard 350-page hardcover release, a limited run of 150 books will be made available, each signed by all the members of the band. Read more here.




Abrahma Streaming New Album Online
(Classic Rock) French heavy rockers Abrahma have published a stream of their Reflections In The Bowels Of A Bird album, the follow-up to 2012's debut album Through The Dusty Paths Of Our Lives.

"For this new album," says frontman and guitarist Seb Bismuth, "we wanted to be a little bit more cohesive than on Through The Dusty Paths Of Our Lives, strengthen the psychedelic side of our music, as well as darkening the overall vibe. Being on the road a lot helped us build this sound and we're really satisfied by the result, so we hope you'll like it too!"

The album was produced by the band alongside Blaak Heat Shujaa and Spindrift guitarist Thomas Bellier, while guests on the album include Monster Magnet's Ed Mundell, whose guitar solo features on A Shepherd's Grief. Check out the album stream here.



Earthside Streaming Song From Forthcoming Album
(Prog) New England instrumental progressive outfit Earthside have released the song" The Closest I've Come" as a preview to their debut album, A Dream in Static. The project also sees the group joined by the Moscow Studio Symphony Orchestra.

Due for release later this year, the project introduces the work of guitarist Jamie van Dyck, keyboardist Frank Sacramone, bassist Ryan Griffin and drummer Ben Shanbrom, who explains the significance of the lead track.

Shanbrom says: "The Closest I've Come was a coming of age song for us. It was the first piece of music we wrote for the record, and in a very personal way it represents our journey, both as musicians and people, from adolescence to maturity. This track defined us on a core level and set the bar for our future output.

"It also tells our story through an instrumental medium - the feeling of pushing oneself and striving for something greater, but also longing to reach the point of fulfilment - which rarely happens in the creative process."

Earthside recorded A Dream In Static in Stockholm, Sweden, with producer and mix engineer David Castillo who has worked with Opeth, Katatonia and Bloodbath. Mixing and mastering was handled by engineer Jens Bogren, who has worked with Opeth, Soilwork and Devin Townsend. Check out the song here.




Holy Grail To Enter Recording Studio This Weekend For New Album
(TeamRock Radio) Holy Grail will return to the studio this weekend to begin work on a new album, it's been announced. It'll be the follow-up to 2013's Ride The Void and will be released by Prosthetic Records/Nuclear Blast.

Prosthetic say in a statement: "The Los Angeles-based metal powerhouse will enter the studio this weekend with Grammy Award-winning producer John Spiker to begin tracking their third album."

Vocalist James-Paul Luna, drummer Tyler Meahl, bassist Blake Mount and guitarists Eli Santana and Alex Lee hope to launch the new material this autumn. Read more here.




Singled Out: V2's Long Live Rock N Roll
V2 (pronounced V Squared), featuring 11-year-old twin brothers, are making waves with an AC/DC influenced sound. Today the brothers, Vittorio and Vincenzo tells us about "Long Live Rock N Roll" from their debut album. Here is the story:

Vittorio: My mom is a classical musician and when she was pregnant with us, sang in a classical music choir and played classical music to us. My dad is a rocker.

Vincenzo: After we were born, our mom played classical music for us in the car. When we started talking, she would tell us who the composers were and tells us about them. By the time we went to kindergarten we could name them and their songs. Our mom wanted us to play classical music and started us on acoustic guitar and piano when we were 7, but we really didn't like it much.

Vittorio: One day when we were driving with our dad in his truck, we were complaining about having to learn the piano and acoustic guitar. He told us a story about two brothers named Malcolm and Angus Young, who attended Catholic School just like we did and started playing in a band. We asked what happened to them and he said they became Rock Gods and he put AC/DC's Back in Black CD in the truck's stereo. We listened to the whole CD. The sounds were awesome!

Vincenzo: When the CD was done we told out dad that we wanted to play music like that!

Vittorio: Our dad smiled and said, "I hoped you'd say that." He then drove us down to the music store and bought us a drum kit and electric guitars.

Vincenzo: We started making noise with them and about a week later a guitar and drum instructor stopped by the house and we had our first lessons.

Vittorio: Three months later we slayed our Catholic Talent Show by playing AC/DC's Back in Black, TNT and Highway to Hell.

The first original song we wrote is called "Long Live Rock N Roll" and it tells out story. It tells how we became rockers. The lyrics are:

Before we were born, while still in her womb
Mom played the classics, filling the room
Handel, Tchaikovsky, Mozart and Bach
Beethoven, Brahms, we never heard any rock

Long Live Rock N Roll

When we hit the ground, classics kept on playin'
Heavenly music, Mom was so fond of sayin'
Handel, Tchaikovsky, Mozart and Bach
Beethoven, Brahms, we never heard any rock

Long Live Rock and Roll

Then one day it struck, like a bolt from the blue
We heard the Rock Gods, we knew just what to do
So we cranked up the amps, laid down the beat
Struck the power chords and started moving our feet

Now we're playing hard, now we're playing fast.
Born to be rockers, gonna' make it last.
Handel, Tchaikovsky, Mozart and Bach
Beethoven, Brahms, HEAR US ROCK!

Long! Live! Rock and Roll

Vincenzo: The part about "When we heard the Rock Gods, we knew just what to do" refers to when our dad played AC/DC's Back in Black for us in his truck the day when we were complaining about mom making us learn the acoustic guitar and piano.

Vittorio: Mom was pissed off at Dad for a long time after that.

Vincenzo: Yeah, she was mad until she saw us perform at the LA Music Awards and get a standing ovation. When the LA Music Awards gave us our plaques for winning the 7 categories we thanked our mom for passing on her musical talents to us and Vittorio gave her, in front of everybody, his LA Music Awards Guitarist of the Year plaque. Mom cried a little bit.

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

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day in Rock News!: Today's Day in Rock Original Rainbow Member Craig Gruber Dead At 63 (Classic Rock) Original Rainbow bass player Craig Gruber...

Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


Original Rainbow Member Craig Gruber Dead At 63
(Classic Rock) Original Rainbow bass player Craig Gruber has died of cancer at the age of 63. Gruber passed away in Florida on Tuesday while under the care of members of the Faith Tabernacle Church, who tell TeamRock they had been looking after him for the last six months of his life. He had been battling prostate cancer for some time.

Senior Pastor at the church, Steve Anderson, says: "Our friend and brother in Christ, Craig Gruber is now with Jesus. He passed away about 3.20pm. Thank you all for your prayers of faith."

Gruber played on Rainbow's first album Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow and was also a member of Elf alongside Ronnie James Dio. He later worked with Dio on the Black Sabbath album Heaven And Hell after Geezer Butler opted not to continue with the band following Ozzy Osbourne's departure. Read more here.



Guns N' Roses Guitarist Slams 'Stupid Music Industry'
(Classic Rock) Guns N' Roses guitarist Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal has called the music industry "stupid" and says they treated fans like criminals when peer-to-peer file sharing emerged at the turn of the century.

And he says rather than embracing the technology, record executives "made a mess" that they still don't know how to clean up.
He tells the Jakarta Informer: "It's not that Napster changed anything - it's that the stupid music industry didn't see this amazing technology and say, 'My God, we could do so much with this,' and instead tried to destroy it and tried to treat people as criminals.

"What can you do money-wise if a billion people download your songs for free? It could have been the tiniest little subscription - it could have been ads or sponsors. There are a million ways it could have been done and the music industry had a lot of time to figure it out."

He continues: "Instead, through their lawyers, they said, 'Go sue that 12-year-old kid,' and they screwed up everything." Read more here.




AC/DC Tour Kick Off Videos Go Online
(hennemusic) AC/DC launched the European leg of their Rock Or Bust world tour at the Gelredome in Arnhem, Netherlands on Tuesday and several fan-filmed videos from show have been posted online.

The event marked the group's third live date of 2015, following back to back weekend appearances at Coachella on April 10 and April 17. AC/DC's 20-song set was similar to their Coachella shows, with some changes in the running order - this time opening with the title track to their latest album, "Rock Or Bust."

The tour marks the return of guitarist Stevie Young and drummer Chris Slade to the lineup following the retirement of founder Malcolm Young and a series of legal issues faced by longtime member Phil Rudd.

AC/DC will begin a fall stadium tour of North America August 22 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Check out the videos here.




Supergroup Teenage Time Killers Reveal Song Featuring Matt Skiba
(Radio.com) Matt Skiba recently earned favorable reviews for his work as the fill-in guitarist and vocalist for Blink-182. And now he is back, appearing as a guest in another project notable for their long list of guests and collaborators.

Punk-metal super-group Teenage Time Killers is reported to have a who's who of music notables appearing on their upcoming release, including Dave Grohl, Corey Taylor of Slipknot and Stone Sour, Jello Biafra from the Dead Kennedys, Lee Ving from Fear, and Foo Fighters' Pat Smear for their debut album, Greatest Hits Vol. 1.

We've already heard their first single, "Hung Out to Dry," and now have this second single, "Barrio," to sample. Featuring a pretty straight-forward punk chant-along chorus, "Bario" is right up Skiba's alley as a vocalist. Check out the tune above and look for the debut Teenage Time Killers album out on July 31st on Rise Records. Check out the new song here.




Former Motley Crue Singer Thinks Band Won't Fully Retire
(Classic Rock) Former Motley Crue singer John Corabi thinks Crue will still record together after their farewell show and he also says he understands why fans never warmed to him when he replaced Vince Neil in the 90s.

He tells 100percentrock: "I'm happy for the guys. I get their thinking. They don't want to be a band that overstays their welcome and they don't want to fade off. They want to go out with a bang and they want to go out on a high note. So I'm all for it.

"But the cool thing is they're not saying that they're not going to do anything in the future. They're just not going to tour again. So I imagine there will still be Motley music coming in the future but they're just not going to go out and do these big, huge, extravagant tours." Read more here.





Rolling Stones Stream Alt Version Of 'Can't You Hear Me Knocking'
(hennemusic) The Rolling Stones have released a stream of a unreleased version of "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" as a preview to the upcoming reissue of their classic 1971 album, "Sticky Fingers."

The tune is one of several previously unreleased and alternative takes of a selection of album tracks featured on the project, including an alternative version of "Brown Sugar" featuring Eric Clapton; unreleased versions of "Bitch" and "Dead Flowers"; an acoustic take on "Wild Horses", and five tracks recorded live at The Roundhouse in 1971 including "Honky Tonk Women" and "Midnight Rambler" - all featured on the Deluxe and Super Deluxe Editions.

Due June 8 (June 9 in North America), the remastered album will be available on CD, 2CD, LP, 2LP, a Deluxe Edition Boxet, Super Deluxe Edition Boxset and via digital download.

The Super Deluxe edition also includes "Get Yer Leeds Lungs Out!", a 13-track audio recording of the Stones March 1971 show in Leeds, shortly before they began their self-imposed UK 'exile' period in France over tax issues. A DVD includes two tracks from the band's Marquee Club show in London on March 26, 1971.

The "Sticky Fingers" reissue will be available two weeks after the band launch a 15-date stadium tour of North America in San Diego on May 24. Stream the song here.




KISS Releasing New Pinball Machine
(Radio.com) The world of rock and roll pinball machines can get a little pricy, with some going for as high as $25,000 on the secondary market. And one of the reasons is that acts like Metallica and Black Sabbath aren't rolling out the themed games like they did in the '70s and '80s.

But leave it to the always-savvy KISS to see an opening in the market and take it. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will release a new KISS pinball machine in association with Stern Pinball that will feature artwork from Kevin O'Connor, who contributed the hand-drawn art for the KISS console originally released in 1978, Ultimate Classic Rock reports.

The cabinet game, and while the exact price and release date are not available for the game, we do know that it will feature 10 KISS songs in the soundtrack, including "Detroit Rock City," "Rock and Roll All Night" and "Love Gun." Check out the video here.




Faith No More Streaming Concert Online
(Classic Rock) Faith No More will stream their May 8 show at The Fillmore in Detroit via Yahoo Live. The event is one of the first dates of the band's spring tour of North America, which opened in Vancouver on April 15.

Faith No More are on the road in support of their first album in 18 years, Sol Invictus, which will be issued on May 18. Keyboardist Roddy Bottum says the band needed to push themselves and their fans with new material for the concert stage.

Bottum says: "We got really bored with what we were doing. We felt like there are a whole lot of people out there who look to us to be inspired by what we do artistically. So to be doing old songs on a big stage, over and over, felt kind of cheap and easy - and a little too safe a place to be.

"That's not who we are. We've always pushed buttons, we've always rubbed against the grain, and we've always challenged things." Read more here.





Lenny Kravitz Releases 'Sex' Video
(hennemusic) Lenny Kravitz has released the video for "Sex", the latest track from his 2014 album, "Strut." Directed by Dikayl Rimmasch, the song follows "The Chamber" and "New York City" as the third video single issued from the project.

"I love the Fellini-esque vibe of the video," says Kravitz. "When I heard the concept, I knew that Dikayl was out of his mind; and that was the attraction."

"I couldn't think of anything more surreal," adds Rimmasch. "It made me laugh. Lenny went for it. The shoot was chaotic. The day after I walked to the beach with a hangover, laid in the sand, and thought -"what have I done?"'

Kravitz returns to live action with a show at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles on May 15, following which he'll begin an extensive summer tour through Europe in Hamburg, Germany on June 22.

"Strut" is the rocker's tenth studio album and first since 2011's "Black And White America." Watch the video here.





The Treatment Recruit Former 'The Voice' Contestant
(Classic Rock) The Treatment have named The Voice star Mitchell Emms as their new singer. The Cambridge-based band split amicably with Matt Jones in March of this year. He had been with the group for six years. They have now announced 21-year-old Staffordshire local Emms as their new frontman, exclusively via TeamRock.

Emms - formerly of the band Misternothing - appeared on the 2013 series of BBC talent show The Voice, getting through to the live stages under the tutelage of coach Danny O'Donoghue.

Emms says: "I am stoked to be joining The Treatment. I've been a fan of the band for some time and I have the first two albums, so I already knew most of the songs.

"Matt always did a great job on vocals for the band and it is my intention to do the same." Read more here.





Yngwie Malmsteen Launching Limited Art Collection
(Classic Rock) Yngwie Malmsteen will launch a limited collection of artwork created through guitar performance on June 18. The guitar icon has teamed up with LA's SceneFour to present what is being billed as "a new medium in art" that is "abstract, vivid and highly limited."

Malmsteen is the latest high-profile musician to partner with SceneFour on abstract art in recent years. Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen has produced two collections that translate rhythm into visual art, while Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward and Philm mainman Dave Lombardo have also launched similar projects.

Malmsteen is also recording material for his 20th record in his home studio, which he says gives him the freedom to full develop song ideas without worrying about the expense of traditional studio time.

Check out the promo video for the art collection here.





Anneke van Giersbergen Announces Box Set
(Prog) Former The Gathering singer Anneke van Giersbergen will release a box set titled Day After Yesterday on June 15, she's confirmed. The collection, to be released via InsideOut, contains her first four solo albums under the Agua De Annique name: Air from 2007, Pure Air and In Your Room from 2009 and 2010's Live In Europe.

The box set will also contain additional photographs, artwork and extensive liner notes. Van Giersbergen says: "When I started my solo career in 2007 I felt the sky was the limit. The four albums under the Agua De Annique tag mark a very important part of my career and my life in general.

"The freedom to explore various musical styles and forms was very exciting. It also gave me the opportunity to collaborate with many artist friends." Check out the track details here.





Foo Fighters Headlining Austin City Limits
(Gibson) Austin City Limits is known for booking high-profile talent, and this year is no exception. Foo Fighters, the Strokes and Florence + the Machine are set to headline the 2015 edition of the Austin City Limits festival.

Foo Fighters are onboard for both weekends of the event. Meanwhile, the Strokes will perform only the first weekend, and Florence + the Machine will play the second.

Other acts confirmed to play Austin City Limits are Modest Mouse, Alt-J, Hozier, Alabama Shakes, Of Monsters & Men, Royal Blood, Walk the Moon, Tame Impala, TV on the Radio, Twenty One Pilots, Vance Joy, Echosmith, Boots, Brandon Flowers, the Decemberists and Nate Ruess, among others. Per usual, the festival is heavy on alternative-minded artists. Read more here.






Death Angel Make New Album Plans
(TeamRock Radio) Death Angel are due to start work on a new album in October, according to guitarist Ted Aguilar. The follow-up to 2013's The Dream Calls For Blood is expected in April 2016 via Nuclear Blast.

Aguilar has this to say to Groovey: "In my personal opinion, I don't think we're gonna try to top The Dream Calls For Blood. You can't recreate that moment in time.

"This next album we're writing, we've got some songs. We're four songs in - no lyrics yet. It's always gonna be heavy. The foundation of Death Angel is still there, but it's kind of hard to describe what direction we're going in until it's recorded, mixed and mastered.

"The way Death Angel writes, we write a song, but it's always evolving - up until the point of recording. Even when it comes down to the mixing." Stream the full interview here.




Sepultura 30th Anniversary Documentary Goes Online
(TeamRock Radio) Sepultura's recent 30th anniversary show in Moscow is featured in an extended video report by Russia's Classic Rock magazine. Footage from one of 17 dates performed by the Brazilian thrash legends in the country in the past month is rounded out with an interview featuring guitarist Andreas Kisser, who spoke about the band's longevity.

Kisser says: "Sepultura have so many different versions of Sepultura in everybody's mind. Some people like the old stuff some people like the new stuff. That's what makes Sepultura so special and so great.

"We are just following in our steps and really growing as a band and keeping the Sepultura spirit alive. Working with different musicians from orchestras to percussive groups to Brazilian artists. Just building new bridges and opening new doors. It feels great after 30 years having these opportunities still flowing."

The guitarist also discussed the legacy of the band's split with co-founders Max and Igor Cavalera, who left the outfit in 1996 and 2006 respectively. Read about that and watch the documentary here.




Marco Minnemann Reveals New Album Details
(Prog) Marco Minnemann has revealed details of his upcoming album titled Celebration. The Aristocrats and Steven Wilson Band member will release his first solo album since 2014's EEPS on June 1 via Lazy Bones Recordings and pre-orders are now being taken.

Like his previous release, Minnemann plays every instrument on the record. He'll sign the first 1000 CDs and is offering those who buy now the chance to get their hands on items including a t-shirt, autographed drumsticks and two exclusive album tracks.

He says: "Versus the previous release EEPS - which was assembled by using a lot of crazy and different pieces and textures - Celebration stays in one solid mood, with an overall more heavy rock approach and occasionally moving into dark and film music like territories and interludes."

Read more and check out a preview video here.




Doors Fan Wants To Preserve Jim Morrison's Albuquerque Home
(Radio.com) Fans of The Doors want to preserve lead singer Jim Morrison's childhood home in Albuquerque, N.M. But there is a problem. Someone already lives there.

Morrison died at 27 after a short but illustrious career. He spent a few teenage years in a house in northeast Albuquerque, close to the airforce base where his father worked.

Today, that house belongs to a woman name Thelma Lue. According to an interview she gave to KOAT. Morrison's presence is still there. Her granddaughter told her that late one night she heard an organ playing in a bedroom.

A fan and historian named Anthony Gomez said he would like to convert the house into a historical site. 'Living in Albuquerque for a while, I think he should have a spot here," Gomez said. Read more here.




Butcher Babies Got Emotional Recording New Album
(TeamRock Radio) Butcher Babies say emotions were high during the recording of their upcoming album. The band release their second record later this year via Century Media and they previously described the follow-up to 2013's Goliath as a return to their "thrashy" roots.

And singers Heidi Shepherd and Carla Harvey let their emotions get the better of them in the studio this time out. Shepherd tells The Roman Show: "Carla and I both got emotional so many times in this album. I remember one time I was in the vocal booth and the producer didn't know I was just bawling my eyes out, and he kept trying to get me to record more.

"And I was like, 'I can't. I need an hour.' But we write from emotion, and I think a lot of people will be able to relate to that. One thing we always say is that writing these songs, for us, is a very therapeutic, cathartic experience. I think for any songwriter that's how it is. You take negative experiences in your life and you turn them into positives through music."

Read more and watch the full interview here.




Tony Banks Releasing Box Set
(Prog) Genesis keyboardist Tony Banks will release a four-disc box set featuring the best of his solo career this summer, it's been confirmed. A Chord Too Far will launch on July 6 via Esoteric Recordings and will feature 49 tracks selected by Banks from his back catalogue, including several remixes.

The tracklist has been chosen to represent his work outside of Genesis and takes material from A Curious Feeling (1979), The Fugitive (1983), The Wicked Lady (1983), Soundtracks (1986), Bankstatement (1989), Still (1991), Strictly Inc (1995), and his orchestral albums Seven: A Suite for Orchestra (2004) and Six Pieces for Orchestra (2012).

Also included in the package are four previously unreleased pieces, including three demos from his orchestral suites along with a track originally written for Still. Read more here.





Bill Bruford To Appear On New Prog Rock Radio Show Premiere
(Classic Rock) Former Yes, King Crimson and Genesis drummer Bill Bruford will appear in the first episode of Prog Rock With Charles Hazlewood, which is broadcast on Radio 2 in the UK on Monday, May 11 at 10pm.

The four-part series sees orchestra conductor Hazlewood explore the progressive rock music of the 1970s. In the opening episode, he'll focus on drums and percussion - kicking off by tracing prog's origins in the popular music of the 1950s and 1960s.

The BBC says: "Expect to hear tracks by the likes of Pink Floyd, Emerson, Lake And Palmer, Jethro Tull, The Toys, B Bumble And The Stingers and Perry Como."

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

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day in Rock News!: Today's Day in Rock B.B. King Suffers Heart Attack (Classic Rock) B.B. King has suffered a minor heart attack and he's r...

Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


B.B. King Suffers Heart Attack
(Classic Rock) B.B. King has suffered a minor heart attack and he's recovering at home after an emergency trip to hospital. The 89-year-old was admitted to medical facilities in Las Vegas after falling ill on Thursday.

The blues icon updated fans via Facebook the following Facebook post, "I am in home hospice care at my residence in Las Vegas. Thanks to all for your well wishes and prayers."

Las Vegas Police report that an ambulance was called for after a "domestic dispute" over medical care. The disagreement is thought to have involved manager Laverne Toney and King's daughter Patty. No arrests were made and no criminal complaint was filed. Read more here.




Five Finger Death Punch Singer Denies On Stage Break Up Rumors
Five Finger Death Punch singer Ivan Moody has denied speculation that the band broke up after an onstage meltdown during their performance at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, TN on Friday night (May 1st).

One fan's account of what happened during the show has been published by thenewfury.com: "Ivan held up Jeremy's book and asked the fans if they had this FFDP book. Then, still mic'd seemingly unknowingly, said "That I had nothing to do with", directed at Jeremy. Jeremy then threw his sticks and walked off stage, and the band shortly followed. Ivan talked for a minute, threw his mic, and marched off. A few minutes later, Ivan came back, rambled and talked to the fans, and attempted to play around on Jeremy's drumkit, trying to lead a song rather weakly. Jeremy and the rest of the band came back and played a song while sounding completely out of step with each other, while Ivan stayed really close to Jeremy, seeming to talk sh*t to him. Everyone left again, Ivan threw the mic again. This routine repeated a couple more times until they just ran out of stage time and walked off stage, not to return."

Moody released the following statement of Saturday (via Lambgoat) to give his account of what happened, "There were a lot of technical problems last night that were seemingly unsolvable. We had to make a decision whether to hit the stage crippled, without being able to hear ourselves; or, delay the start of the show - possibly for hours.

"We decided to proceed, but not being able to hear if I was in key, and just guessing where we were in the song frustrated me to the point that I lost my cool.

"I'm not saying I handled it appropriately. Matter of fact I've never been so embarrassed before. I apologize for taking out my anger on stage. You guys know me and you know how I pride myself on my live performances. I'd never want this to boil over in to something that epically wrong ever again.

"To some of our crew, good luck in your future endeavors we wish you the best - we also welcome our new monitor engineer Paul Weber.

"To our fans in Memphis - we'll make it up to you I promise, Houston we we will see you tonight. The rest of the world - yes we are coming.

"And to the haters... wipe that smirk off your face ...We are not going anywhere ... This "ain't my last dance!"

"We GOT YOUR SIX"






Kurt Cobain Solo Album With Unreleased Music Coming
(Radio.com) With Kurt Cobain and Nirvana making headlines thanks to the new documentary Montage of Heck, the film's director has dropped a bombshell of information.

According to Brett Morgen, the man who culled Montage of Heck from hours of archival footage, he was able to unearth enough unheard Cobain home recordings for a brand new full-length album.

"We're going to be putting out an amazing album this summer that I think will answer that question," Morgen told Bedford + Bowery during a recent interview when asked if he'd found any particularly notable music while creating the film.

Morgen went on to say that music will make the listener "feel like you're kind of hanging out with Kurt Cobain on a hot summer day in Olympia, Wash., as he fiddles about. It's going to really surprise people." Read more here.




Van Halen Rock More Rarities In Tour Rehearsal Videos
(hennemusic) Wolfgang Van Halen is sharing more video from rehearsals as Van Halen prepare for their summer tour of North America. The bassist has posted footage of the never-before performed "1984" album track "Drop Dead Legs", as well as "Little Guitars" from 1982's "Diver Down" and "Light Up The Sky" from 1979's "Van Halen II."

The new clips follow recently posted video of rarely-played, deep tracks from their catalog including "Dirty Movies" from 1981's "Fair Warning" and "In A Simple Rhyme" from 1980's "Women And Children First."

Van Halen will launch a North American tour in Seattle on July 5 in support of "Tokyo Dome Live In Concert", their first live release with David Lee Roth. See the videos here.



Pearl Jam Not Receptive To Crowdfunded Concerts
(Radio.com) Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters don't share a whole lot in common other than having roots in Seattle's grunge scene--and now they share one less thing in common: their reaction to crowdfunded concerts.

While the Foos embraced the post-millennial show approach, playing a show in Richmond last summer after it was crowdfunded, Pearl Jam have decided against going down the same route.

After one Pearl Jam fan, Daniel Sheffer, pushed to get the band to play the newly renovated Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, locking down 578 backers and raising over $140,000 in the process, management responded with a soft but firm no.

"We love the passion and enthusiasm of the fans who have spearheaded Pearl Jam crowdfund efforts," Pearl Jam manager Kelly Curtis told the Village Voice. "However, with more and more of these crowdfunded show proposals cropping up, we want to be clear before fans invest their hard-earned money into these efforts that they are unlikely to happen." Read more here.




Lars Ulrich Leads Giants Fans In Baseball Anthem At Metallica Night
(hennemusic) Metallica teamed up with the Major League Baseball's San Francisco Giants for the 3rd annual Metallica Night on Saturday, May 2nd and video of drummer Lars Ulrich leading the crowd in "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" has been posted online.

"We're having a great time down here at AT&T Park for Metallica Day with the San Francisco Giants!," posted the band, as the home team took on the Los Angeles Angels.

As with previous Metallica Nights, guitarists James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to the game. Drummer Lars Ulrich threw out the first pitch and bassist Robert Trujillo called for the players to "Play Ball."





The Who's Pete Townshend Doesn't Like Live Shows
(Radio.com) Living legend Pete Townshend belongs to what many consider to be one of the greatest rock bands of all time, The Who, yet the 69-year-old songwriter wouldn't say he's exactly satisfied by his current job.

In his words, 'The shows? I don't like them. I don't find them fulfilling," Townshend said to Uncut while promoting the band's 50th anniversary tour. "But I'm brilliant at it. I find it incredibly easy. I drift through it."

It's hard not to empathize with him: 50 years into any project, most likely anyone would have a hard time still seeing the thrill of it. That goes double for when you're doing the same thing over and over again, performing the same songs in Townshend's instance.

'It's like being able to make a pair of shoes and knowing that you've got to a point that whenever you make a pair of shoes for somebody they're going to last them for life," he continued. Read more here.




Grateful Dead Unreleased 1989 'Sugaree' Live Video Revealed
(Radio.com) The Grateful Dead will release their concert film Meet-Up At the Movies 2015 nationwide on May 4. But before their fans hit the theaters, they can watch a new unreleased performance video of the band playing Jerry Garcia's solo track "Sugaree."

Garcia recorded the song for his solo album Garcia in 1972, but the performance video of the song is from a 1989 concert by the Grateful Dead in Wisconsin. The 11-minute jam features Garcia's familiar vocals as well as an impressive guitar interlude from the late singer.

"Sugaree" is just a glimpse into the concert which will be available to watch in theaters nationwide on May 4. The show will include covers from Merle Haggard, Bob Dylan and Bobby "Blue" Band as well as Grateful Dead classics "Box of Rain," "Althea" and "Terrapin Station." Read more here.




Metal Church Reunite With Singer Mike Howe
(Classic Rock) Metal Church have got back together with singer Mike Howe - and former frontman Ronny Munroe says he couldn't be happier. Munroe left the veteran metal outfit last year after a decade. Now he's been replaced by the man who first fronted them between 1988 and 1994.

Howe says: "I didn't want to come back to just for nostalgia - it had to be for the right reasons. It had to be the best stuff we've ever written, or it wouldn't be worth it to anyone, especially the fans."

Guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof described their upcoming material as "classic Mike-era Metal Church" and adds: "It's both heavy and melodic. This is going to be truly epic." Read more here.




Gary Holt Won't Try To Copy Slayer's Jeff Hanneman
(Classic Rock) Slayer stand-in guitarist Gary Holt resists pressure to play just like Jeff Hanneman would have done - because he doesn't believe it's the best way to respect his memory.

Hanneman died two years ago this week (May 2) after Exodus leader Holt had already spent two years covering for him due to illness. He'll make his first album appearance when the thrash icons release their 11th album later this year.

Holt tells Loudwire: "Some people say I should play Jeff's solos the way Jeff did. But I don't think that's doing him justice, trying to copy him. From the riffs to the solos, they were uniquely him.

"I keep little signatures and melodies, particularly in their early songs. But I always say, if you want someone to play them exactly, there's a million guys in Slayer tribute bands who'd do a better job than I am."


Slayer and Exodus became friends during the thrash movement's formative days - and Holt recalls the night the bands met in the early 1980s. "We just destroyed their hotel room," he says."With their permission, of course. The cops came in and we scattered like cockroaches.

"We told them they couldn't wear the eyeliner. It wouldn't go over well with the hardcore people who came to all our shows. They never wore it again and they've been friends ever since." Read more and watch the video here.




Rival Sons Release 'Electric Man' Video
(Classic Rock) Long Beach, California rockers Rival Sons have released a new music video for the track "Electric Man," which is taken from the band's award-winning Great Western Valkyrie album.

"We were recently asked to be an experiment in a laboratory study," says bassist Dave Beste. "The people behind the study evidently wanted to measure our rock'n'roll power, and so we played Electric Man and in the process we broke all their equipment. Somebody taped it and we made a special video out of it. So watch it, and enjoy it. We love science."

Rival Sons are currently on tour in the US supporting the album, which was voted 2014's album of the year by both Classic Rock writers and readers. Last month, the band released a video for their recent Record Store Day single, a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's classic Long As I Can See The Light. Watch the video here.





Bob Dylan Announces UK Tour
(Classic Rock) Bob Dylan will play six shows in the UK in October, he's announced. The short tour includes three appearances at London's Royal Albert Hall followed by two in Manchester's O2 Apollo and one in Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena.

He released 36th album Shadows In The Night in February, featuring his take on songs made famous by Frank Sinatra. He received the MusiCares Person Of The Year award the same month.

The 73-year-old said in January: "Look, you get older. Passion is a young man's game. Young people can be passionate. Older people have got to be more wise.

"You're around a while, you leave certain things to the young. Don't try to act like you're young - you could really hurt yourself." See the tour dates here.




Slipknot's Jim Root Writing Music For Next Album
(TeamRock Radio) Slipknot guitarist Jim Root wants the band to make their sixth album soon - and he's already started writing for it. He believes they should get back into the studio while they're at their best following the derailment of their career with the death of Paul Gray in 2010, and their return to studio action with last year's .5: The Gray Chapter.

Root tells the Des Moines Register: "We haven't been able to do two albums back-to-back since our first one and Iowa. We're at a point in our career where the band is on top of its game. If we take two years or however long away, who knows if we could come back? Someone might decide they want direct or write, or other bands' projects might take priority."

He adds: "I plan for the best and expect the worst. I started writing again - hopefully the songs will be on a new Slipknot record. If not, I'll find something else to do with them." Read more here.





Faces Reunion Held Up By Financial Concerns
(Classic Rock) Ron Wood says the highly-anticipated Faces reunion is being held up by Rod Stewart's management and their financial concerns. And the Rolling Stones man insists he doesn't want a gathering of the surviving members to be about money.

Wood made the comments about the possible reunion during a Q&A to promote his book How Can It Be? A Rock And Roll Diary: "I think that would be brilliant."

But he added: "They make everything about money, and we're trying not to do that. Why can't the three surviving guys just get together and play for people?" Read more here.




Kataklysm Reveal New Album Details
(TeamRock Radio) Kataklysm have revealed the tracklist and cover art for their upcoming album Of Ghosts And Gods. The follow-up to 2013's Waiting For The End To Come will launch on July 31st via Nuclear Blast and they've revealed the cover was designed by Art By Surtsey.

The band say: "The cover echoes a sinister artwork depicting the reality of humanity's beautifully disturbing existence and its impending death through the mortal and the everlasting. The background shows an ancient incantation written in Aramaic."

The Canadian outfit have also announced plans to release 10 video clips from the album ahead of its July launch and have issued a teaser of their track Thy Serpent's Tongue.

The group previously reported they felt rejuvenated working on Of Ghosts And Gods and that the record would secure their legacy as pioneers of death metal. See the tracklist, cover art and a teaser video here.





Metallica Wasn't John Bush's Destiny
(Classic Rock) Ex Anthrax singer John Bush doesn't regret saying no when Metallica asked him to join them in the early 1980s - because he believes the pressure would have been too great.

The thrash giants invited him to become their frontman after the release of debut album Kill 'Em All, because James Hetfield wasn't happy with the vocal role alongside his guitar duties.

But the only other man in the frame preferred to remain with Armored Saint, who release seventh album Win Hands Down in June. Bush tells National Rock Review: "It's something that always resurfaces in my life, and I find it funny.

"I felt complimented when the band was proposing the ides to me. But it just wasn't my destiny to be in Metallica. I would have changed the face of heavy metal - and I don't need that pressure."

He adds: "James is an incredible vocalist. He really developed through the years and I can't imagine anyone else there." Read more here.




Dez Fafara Reveals DevilDriver New Album Plans
(TeamRock Radio) DevilDriver mainman Dez Fafara says he's excited with the 12 tracks he's written for the band's next album. It's expected early next year after he completes duties related to Coal Chamber's comeback Rivals, out next month.

Fafara tells The Rockpit: "In sitting on 12 blistering songs and I'm recording those in October, November. Sometime next year I'm going to get right back in a DevilDriver cycle."

The band took some time off following 2013 album Winter Kills, and since then they've replaced guitarist Jeff Kendrick and drummer Jon Boecklin with Neal Tiemann and Austin D'Amond. Read more here.




Iron Maiden Plan Trooper Beer Anniversary Celebration
(hennemusic) Iron Maiden are teaming up with 50 UK pubs to ce1ebrate their 2nd anniversary on Saturday, May 9. Trooper Beer sold more than 5 million pints in its first year.

"We're having 50 birthday parties on May 9th, hope you can join us!," says the band. "Join the #trooperparty online and send us photos, the best pubs will be rewarded!"

Customers will receive a free Trooper button badge with every pint, while supplies last. Named after one of Iron Maiden's most popular songs, the beverage was personally designed and developed as a top quality Premium British Beer by singer Bruce Dickinson in tandem with Robinsons Brewery Head Brewer Martyn Weeks. Read more here.




Yes Release Teaser Video For Upcoming Box Set
(Classic Rock) Yes have premiered a teaser for their upcoming Progeny 14-disc box set with TeamRock. The clip features a short section from their track Roundabout and artwork by Roger Dean.

Yes recently discovered seven complete concerts in their archives, which had been taped at the end of 1972 during drummer Alan White's first tour with Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Rick Wakeman. White had just three days to learn the set after Bill Bruford departed to join King Crimson.

The set contains every track recorded across North America during October and November of that year in Toronto, Ottawa, Durham, Greensboro, Athena, Knoxville and Uniondale. The restored audio from three months into the tour is described as "open" and "immediate" and "drops listeners right into the front row."

Progeny: Seven Shows From Seventy-Two is packaged in a cigarette-case style box, with new artwork and refreshed band logo by Dean. Read more and watch the video here.




Sex Pistols Frontman Knew Sid Vicious Lacked Talent When Hiring Him
(Classic Rock) John Lydon says he knew Sid Vicious had no musical talent when he joined the Sex Pistols - but the vocalist thought it would develop the same way his own had.

He invited Vicious to become the band's bassist in 1977 - kickstarting a chain of events that led to his death of a heroin overdose two years later, while under suspicion of having murdered girlfriend Nancy Spungen.

Lydon tells Rolling Stone: "Sid was very, very lazy. He had no work ethic - he never learned anything, and by all accounts he had no aptitude for music at all.

"It's curious why I brought him in. It must have been some kind of self-destructive element. But I never had any aptitude until I started. I thought, 'That's how it will work. You'll find your way.'

"He got all the postures dead right - he could stare into a mirror for ever." Read more here.




Van Halen To Perform At Billboard Awards
(hennemusic) Van Halen will perform at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas on May 17. Hosted by Ludacris and Chrissy Teigen, the 2015 awards are based on the reporting period of March 10, 2014 through March 8, 2015.

The band's first-ever performance on an awards show will promote their latest release, "Tokyo Dome Live In Concert", as well as their summer tour of North America, which begins in Seattle on July 5.

Van Halen join a list of previously announced musical performers that includes Kelly Clarkson, Hozier, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith and others. Read more here.




Rush Frontman Geddy Lee Talks New Signature Bass In Online Video
(hennemusic) Earlier this year, Rush frontman Geddy Lee teamed with Fender to issue the Fender USA Geddy Lee Jazz Bass, an updated version of his longstanding Geddy Lee Jazz Bass line.

In a new video, Lee discusses the new signature instrument, which combines the specs and features of his three favorite Fender basses - two Fender Custom Shop versions of his signature model and the original sleek black '72 Jazz Bass that he used for years.

The USA line has a thicker custom neck, topped by a maple fingerboard with elegant white binding and white pearloid block inlays. Its two vintage-style single-coil Jazz Bass pickups are specially wound and voiced to sound like those on Lee's prized 1972 original, and a Geddy Lee signature High-Mass bridge provides solid intonation.

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

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day in Rock News!: Today's Day in Rock Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Slammed By Nick Menza (hennemusic) Former Megadeth drummer Nick Menza has ...

Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Slammed By Nick Menza
(hennemusic) Former Megadeth drummer Nick Menza has called out Dave Mustaine over alleged wrongdoings with regards to publishing royalties from his days with the group.

"To: Dave Mustaine in regards to my publishing royalties," posted Menza on his social media sites. "I find it very unprofessional that you conduct business like a child, quit playing games! be a man and stop taking food from my kids mouths. It's my earned money, Not yours. quit ripping me off. WTF?"

At press time, there had been no reaction from Mustaine over his former drummer's remarks. Menza's comments are the second time recently he has chastised Mustaine publicly over his business practices: while revealing that a reunion of the band's classic 1990s lineup fell apart during negotiations when they were looking for a new drummer, he later shared the details of a contract offer put on the table by Mustaine.

Menza says Megadeth requested he record the group's 15th album without payment, with his earnings to be made from touring. "As soon as I got home and it was time to sit down and negotiate my terms in writing, I was offered a very unfair deal that was so wrong," revealed Menza. "They didn't feel I was worth anything to the band. Dave blocked my emails, changed his number and then, apparently, Ron Laffitte was fired as the band's manager. Here is one of my favorite bands and a huge part of my life achievements and I was shut out for wanting a fair deal." Read more here.



Stone Sour Streaming New EP Online
(TeamRock Radio) Stone Sour released their new covers EP Meanwhile In Burbank this week after releasing a limited edition on Record Store Day and they're also streaming it via YouTube.

At five tracks long it features covers from Metallica, Kiss and Alice In Chains. Recently frontman Corey Taylor confirmed the band were working on two more EPs titled Straight Outta Burbank and No Sleep 'Til Burbank, that will feature covers of Bad Brains and Rage Against The Machine.

Tracklist: We Die Young (Alice In Chains cover) - Heading Out To The Highway (Judas Priest cover) - Love Gun (Kiss cover) - Creeping Death (Metallica cover) - Children Of The Grave (Black Sabbath cover).






KISS Inspired Dave Grohl To Become Rock 'N' Roll Musician
Foo Fighters mainman Dave Grohl shared his love for KISS during an awards event in Hollywood on Wednesday and explains how they inspired him "to follow this unreasonable dream of becoming a professional rock 'n' roll musician."

Here is Grohl's speech: "Picture this: Springfield, Virginia, 1976. A skinny young boy with shaggy brown hair on a yellow yard sale bicycle brings home a copy of the album Destroyer, his first KISS record. Everybody remembers their first KISS record, and this is how I remember mine.

"Up until that point, it had been mainly Beatles and Carly Simon, maybe a little Phoebe Snow, f-in' 10cc. But the album cover alone was enough to make me break my old piggy bank into a thousand pieces and scrape up enough lawn-mowing money to give it straight to Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons.

"With nuclear anticipation, I let the needle drop on that legendary intro to 'Detroit Rock City,' perhaps the greatest introduction to any rock 'n' roll album ever recorded. It filled my speakers and my imagination. Thirty-four minutes later and 27 seconds later, KISS had filled my soul. I was now a member of the infamous KISS army.

"Before long, my room had become a f-ing shrine. Posters of these four musical monsters lined my walls action figures filled my shelves and KISS albums overtook my once A.M,-friendly record collection. I was converted'

"Every morning, I would wake up in my tiny bedroom and take a good look at my superheroes before walking to school. They got me through those years and ultimately inspired me to follow this unreasonable dream of becoming a professional rock 'n' roll musician.

"One hundred million albums. One hundred million f-ing albums. Countless hit singles, record-breaking concert attendance. They even made f***in' disco look cool with 'I Was Made For Lovin You.' Raise your hand if you can say the same thing.

"I remember the KISS radio, which they just showed on screen - I'm so happy that they actually have remnants of this f-ing masterpiece of technology. I remember the KISS radios advertised on TV - 'Hear all of your favorite KISS songs on your official KISS radio!' I imagined it was futuristic piece of technology and my direct link to my musical gods, so I ordered one… C.O.D., without even asking for permission from my struggling schoolteacher mother.

"I'll never forget the day it arrived. The mailman knocked on the door, my mother took one look at this thing and said, I didn't f-ing order that. Then she sent it away.

"Forty years later, my love of KISS is still strong. And these days I still spend every morning before school with Paul Stanley' in the parking lot of our kids' f-in' elementary school, chatting about Zeppelin and Electric Lady and touring and school fundraisers. So I'd say that my unreasonable dream definitely came true. And I finally got my KISS radio - it's the cheapest f-ing A.M. radio I have eve seen in my life! With the KISS logo on it. Nice one, Gene.

"So without further adieu, it is my great honor to say: you wanted the best, and you got the best. The hottest band in the world - KISS!"




Steven Tyler To Debut Solo Song On American Idol Finale
(hennemusic) Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has revealed that he will debut his new solo single, "Love Is Your Name", on the season 14 finale of American Idol on May 13.

Tyler revealed the news during an appearance on Wednesday's episode in a segment that saw series mentor Scott Borchetta of Big Machine Records take the Top 5 contestants to Nashville for meetings with label staff.

The Aerosmith singer - an Idol judge on seasons 10 and 11 - also announced plans to perform on the finale with popular New Jersey-based contestant Jax, one of the four singers remaining in the competition.

Tyler has been in Nashville since January working with songwriters on material for his debut solo album on Big Machine Records' affiliated label Dot Records. Read more here.




Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx Reveals Surprising Proudest Moment
(Classic Rock) Nikki Sixx has recalled a 1997 fan stage invasion as one of the greatest moments of his career. The band were performing in Phoenix, Arizona, when frontman Vince Neil invited the audience to join them on the platform.

Sixx tells Pure Grain Audio: "Most of the audience ended up on stage and destroyed all the gear. We were playing Anarchy In The UK. It's on YouTube and it's amazing. It's one of my proudest moments - apart from the lawsuits that came after it."

He also recalls spending a night in the cells with drummer Tommy Lee, and enduring a walk of shame through an airport the following morning. Sixx says: "Me and Tommy had been arrested because we had been creating a riot or something. They put us in jail and the next morning they let us out at 6am or 7am because we had a 9.30am flight.

"So me and Tommy were walking through the airport and we were on the front page of every newspaper - 'Rock band creates riot'. It was my mugshot and Tommy's mugshot, and everybody was just looking at us." Read more and stream the full interview here.




Sammy Hagar Issues Warning To Young Fans
(Classic Rock) Sammy Hagar is fronting a campaign to warn teenagers about the dangers of hearing loss. The Red Rocker's been involved with the Starkey Hearing Foundation in the US for several years. And he's joined their Listen Carefully campaign to encourage teenagers to turn down the volume of their music to preserve their hearing.

He said this week on International Noise Awareness Day: "So many people are unaware of loud things: city traffic, buses, aeroplanes and you just ignore it. Kids don't care or don't think about it until it's gone."

The World Health Orginisation reported that 1.1billion people are at risk of permanent ear problems through listening to loud music, with 43 million people between the age of 12 and 35 currently living with hearing loss. Read more and watch Sammy's clip here.





Alice Cooper May Re-Record Songs From 'Blackout' Period
(Classic Rock) Alice Cooper says he'd consider re-recording some of the material from his 'blackout' period of the early 80s. The rock icon released Flush The Fashion, Special Forces, Zipper Catches Skin, and DaDa between 1980 and 1983 - four albums recorded while he battled alcohol and drug problems. And while he's wary of altering history too much, he says revisiting certain tracks could be a possibility.

Cooper says on the first episode of Ask Alice: "Every one of those albums catches a different part of your life and is a portrait of where you were at that time. So in some ways it's kind of taking away from the history.

"I was insane during these four albums and I think the insanity shows up on the albums and the lyrics and I don't think I'd want to play with that. It was a certain insanity that was privately mine and everybody got to see it."

But he adds: "There are certain songs that I keep going, 'I want to redo that song - that song could be applicable today. It worked in 1981 but it would be really good today.' So possibly, yeah. That's something producer Bob Ezrin and I would talk about." Read more and stream the full video clip here.




The Who's Full 1982 Shea Stadium Show Coming To DVD and Blu-Ray
Eagle Rock have announced that they will be releasing The Who's Live At Shea Stadium 1982 on DVD, Blu-Ray and digitally on June 30th. This marks the first official release of the full concert.

The footage has been restored and the audio remixed for the new release which was captured live during the band's 1982 North American tour which was the final tour for drummer Kenney Jones.

The 25-song set featured performances of classics like "Substitute," "Baba O'Riley," "My Generation," "Won't Get Fooled Again," "I Can't Explain," "Who Are You," "See Me Feel Me," and more. Check out the full tracklisting here.





Journey Launch Las Vegas Residency
(hennemusic) Journey kicked off their first Las Vegas residency at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Wednesday and video from the show has been posted online.

The group delivered a 19-song set spanning materal from their lengthy career, opening with 1980's "Any Way You Want It" and closing the night with 1979's "Lovin', 'Touchin', Squeezin'".

"Journey Las Vegas" will see the band will perform 9 shows at the venue between April 29 and May 16. Clark County declared Wednesday as Journey Las Vegas Day in the city to mark the opening of the group's residency.






Paul McCartney Plays Beatles Song Live For The First Time
(Gibson) Paul McCartney performed at Japan's Nippon Budokan on Tuesday, marking his first appearance at the legendary venue since The Beatles performed there in 1966.

To commemorate the event, Sir Paul broke out The Beatles' classic tune "Another Girl," from the Help! album, in what is believed to be the first time the song has ever been played live by any member of the Fab Four.

Indeed, The Beatles themselves never performed the song on-stage. McCartney appeared to be genuinely moved by the significance of the occasion. "It was sensational and quite emotional remembering the first time and then experiencing this fantastic audience tonight," McCartney said, as reported by NME.com.

"It was thrilling for us and we think it was probably the best show we did in Japan and it was great to be doing the Budokan 49 years later. It was crazy. We loved it." Read more here.






Original Red Dragon Cartel Singer Explains Band Exit
(Classic Rock) Original Red Dragon Cartel singer Darren James Smith says he left the band due to a lack of guaranteed paid work. Smith, who split with Jake E Lee's group in March, says he couldn't count on making a living with RDC as there were no firm plans for future tours.

He tells Sleaze Roxx: "I just think it wasn't working enough for me and when the tour was cancelled and stuff, I just couldn't count on making a living. I've always made a living so for me going away, maybe possibly touring and not (laughs), I couldn't rely on it any longer.

"It's Jake's band -- he's the boss. He calls the shots and it was just odd for me to be in that situation. There are no bad feelings -- it's just my work ethics are a little bit more intense I guess, and I prefer to work and to know that I'm working." Read more here.




Monsters Of Rock Cruise Raised $48K For Ronnie James Dio Cancer Fund
(hennemusic) The recent 2015 Monsters Of Rock cruise raised $48,000 for the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund. The cruise - which featured more than 30 acts including Extreme, Black Star Riders, Tesla, Night Ranger and others - held daily activities to help raise funds for the charity named after the late rocker, who passed away from gastric cancer in 2010 at the age of 67.

Activities included auctions, Rock 'N Roll Bingo and Dine and Donate for Dio. "I cannot thank Larry Morand, Mike London and the fantastic Monsters Of Rock Cruise Production Staff, as well as the very generous passengers, who dug deep into their pockets during our wonderful five days at sea," says Wendy Dio.

"I want them all to know that every penny raised will go to cancer research so that one day we will find a cure for this terrible disease that takes so many of our loved one's lives. Ronnie would be so proud." Read more here.




Kansas Inspired And May Make First New Music In 15 Years
(Classic Rock) Kansas guitarist Rich Williams says ex-frontman Steve Walsh's replacement Ronnie Platt has given them a new lease of life - and they could record for the first time in 15 years as a result.

Platt joined last year after original singer Walsh retired. They're currently touring the US. Williams tells the Cleveland Scene: "Let's go to South America, let's go to Europe, let's record an album," he says. "Let's just get together and work up material.

"Every little thing is followed by a 'let's do that' response. That inspires the crew and the fanbase, and the old dogs in the band get excited. It's contagious." Read more here.




Fogerty Rocks Creedence Clearwater Revival Medley On Letterman
(hennemusic) John Fogerty performed a medley of Creedence Clearwater Revival classics on The Late Show with David Letterman on Wednesday and video from the appearance has been posted online.

Fogerty's final appearance on the program saw him deliver powerful but brief snippets of "Travelin' Band", "Proud Mary" and "Fortunate Son" to the delight of the retiring host, who exits late night television next month after more than three decades.

The rocker will launch his "1969" summer tour at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, TN on May 2. Fogerty will perform music on the trek from the three albums he released in a single year with CCR, including "Bayou Country", "Green River" and "Willy And The Poor Boys."






Roger Waters Was Stunned First Hearing Beatles Sgt Pepper's
(Classic Rock) Roger Waters has recalled the important lesson he learned from the Beatles - and his shocked reaction to hearing Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band for the first time.

Pink Floyd recorded debut album Piper At The Gates Of Dawn in London's Abbey Road Studios, while the Fab Four worked on their iconic 1967 album in the next room.

But Floyd didn't hear it until they were touring the UK as part of a package tour headed by Jimi Hendrix and also featuring The Move, The Nice, Amen Corner and Eire Apparent.

Waters tells KLCS: "I remember pulling the car over into a lay-by, and we sat and listened. Somebody played the whole thing on the radio. I remember sitting in this old beat-up Zephyr 4, just completely stunned.

"I learned a lot from protest music when I was a young teenager. But I learned from John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison that it was okay for us to write about our lives, what we felt, to express ourselves." Read more here.




Oceano Release 'The Taken' Video
(TeamRock Radio) Oceano have premiered their new video for The Taken exclusively through TeamRock's Metal Hammer. The track comes from Oceano's latest album Ascendants, out now via Earache Records.

Having just finished a headline tour of America with Martyr Defiled, The Last Ten Seconds Of Life and more, it's the ideal time to unleash more deathcore brutality onto the world.

Speaking about the track, frontman Adam Warren says "There are numerous accounts of The Taken across the globe. Some enlightening, some frightening, and others blurry images never to be retold. Skeptic or not they must be heard - the true Gods have greater purpose for us all."






Dommin Return With New Song 'Rise'
(TeamRock Radio) Five years after the release of their debut album, Dommin have returned with a new single entitled "Rise", which is taken from the forthcoming album of the same name.

Frontman Kristofer Dommin says of the new album: "It's more raw, more rock and higher energy. Lyrically it's empowering and maybe a little pissed off - pain played a big role in the last record, this one is all about resolve."

The band spent half a decade working on the follow up to debut Love Is Gone, but what took them so long? "Sometimes when you get knocked down really hard, it takes a moment to get back up.

"There were powers outside and within that kept us tied up for a while, from legal issues to financial issues to plain old self-doubt. But we're back on our feet and ready for round two." Read more and check out the video here.





Blind Melon Documentary Footage Goes Online
(Radio.com) This October will mark the 20-year anniversary of Blind Melon lead singer Shannon Hoon's death, and GRAMMY nominated filmmaker Danny Clinch is attempting to make an in-depth documentary film on Hoon's life. The project is attempting to fund via Kickstarter, and with five days to go, have only reached 60% of its goal and still needs about $40,000 more dollars.

The film aims at something unique: telling the story through the eyes of Hoon, using clips from 200 hours of personal, never-before-seen home videos. As a result, Hoon will receive a co-director credit on the doc.

In an attempt to jump start donations, Rolling Stone offers a couple of exclusive clips from the potential film. In addition, My Morning Jacket's Jim James and The Avett Brothers' Seth Avett have both shared covers of a couple of Blind Melon favorites, "St. Andrews' Fall" and "Sleepyhouse" respectively. Watch all of the clips here.





Classic Rolling Stones Ron Wood Interview Animated
(Radio.com) On the latest Minimation, where Radio.com animates classic interviews from the CBS Radio interview archives, they go back to a 1977 interview with Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones where recalls joining the band a few years earlier.

It's been about 40 years since Ron Wood joined the Rolling Stones, and he's still "the new guy." But in this interview, he explains that, after Mick Taylor quit the band, Mick Jagger had asked Wood to join the band. At that point, of course, the guitarist was still in the soon-to-be-defunct Faces.

Wood told Jagger, "If you really get desperate, and you need me, find me wherever I am in the world and tell me you want me to do it. And I'll do it." And he did, joining in '75. He's been with them ever since.

Wood also claims in this interview that the Stones were interested in him years earlier, when original guitarist Brian Jones was given his pink slip. When Jagger asked Wood's then-current Faces bandmate Ronnie Lane about Wood's availability, Lane shut it down.






Megadeth Check In From The Recording Studio
(hennemusic) Megadeth are sharing a series of photos from the recording studio as the band works on its 15th album with new guitarist Kiko Loureiro and guest drummer Chris Adler from Lamb Of God.

Images include shots of Louriero at work on his own ("Practicing! Never enough...") and with leader Dave Mustaine, a look at the former Angra axeman's guitars, and a pile of shredded drumsticks ("Ya think Chris Adler is working hard enough on the new album?").

Loureiro joined the group following last fall's departure of Chris Broderick, while Shawn Drover has been replaced by Lamb Of God drummer Chris Adler as a guest player on the follow-up to 2013's "Super Collider."

Megadeth recently launched a PledgeMusic campaign to provide the opportunity to bring fans into the recording process with a list of incentive packages.

"Pre-order the album digitally, on CD or on vinyl plus tons of other unique offerings like signed CDs, signed vinyl, gear from the studio and much more," says the group. "No matter what you order, you will get access to a variety of behind-the-scenes content such as photos and videos from the writing and recording sessions. You'll get full access to the process in real time."

Check out the new studio photos here.





Green Day Working On New Music
(hennemusic) Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong says the band have begun writing material for their next album. He spoke to Rolling Stone about the band's headspace and plans.

"There's definitely a great spirit going on," Armstrong explains. "We've always been pretty charged up. Before we found any of this out, I had already written a few songs and everybody was really excited by them. And then we heard about the Hall of Fame, and we were just blown away."

"Yeah, I mean, we're going to take our time," he continues. "We're not going to try and pull off some, like, victory lap over this because I definitely want the music to come from a real place and be inspired, not just because we got honored or anything like that, but because we're honoring music. We want to work on them, and we want to make a great album." Read more here.





Singled Out: Legs Electric's Wanna Riot
Today Legs Electric singer Ama Quinsee and guitarist Laura McCormack tell us the story behind their brand new hard rockin' single "Wanna Riot" as they prepare to rock with KISS legend Ace Frehley next week. Here is the story:

Ama Quinsee (vocals): The title of the song Wanna Riot was inspired by a denim jacket that I saw hanging in a rock 'n' roll store in downtown Perth. The phrase "Wanna Riot" was stitched on the back and I immediately thought that it would make for a great chorus to a song, such striking words and a call to action. I purchased the jacket and was reminded of my partner in crime Trease Riot, and that spawned the idea to write a song about our crazy nights out on the town running riot. We went through a period where we would get ready to go out together at my place, and we had a ritual of pre-drinks and listening to some killer tunes to get us in the mood. It would then be off to a show or club to let down our hair and forget the week's frustrations that always involved the usual suspects: work, not having any money, relationships with boys and the stresses of life in general. The concept for Wanna Riot was based on my adventures with Trease and our wanting to rebel against all our frustrations with our lives at the time.

From there it didn't take me long to finish the lyrics to the song, and a week later I took my lyrics to a jam with guitarist Laura McCormack - who had just written the perfect riff for the song while she was away on holiday in the UK.

After Laura and I came up with a basic musical framework for the song, we brought in the rhythm sisters Kylie and Abby Soanes to complete the song's arrangement. This is the first song that we've written where my vocals start the song - I have to remember that when we play it live and I'm still getting used to that!

I think Wanna Riot has almost become the Legs Electric anthem; with its hard hitting riffs and lyrics that hopefully motivate and inspire people to take control of their lives. I think this song really speaks to people these days, with the ever-growing pressures of life and the constant need to let it out and riot!

Laura McCormack (guitar): It was a cold and rainy afternoon on New Years Day 2014 in England, and I was staying at the house where my dad had grown up. I hadn't been back there in 18 years; and I was sitting there in his old bedroom where he first learned how to play guitar. I was feeling inspired, and I picked up a Gibson SG that my uncle had loaned me for the trip and I started to play. There was a dust-covered amp in the corner of the room that hadn't been used since my dad left home, so I turned it on and plugged in the guitar and continued to play. I had an idea for a riff that had been in my head since I arrived at the house that week for Christmas, and I started to work with it a bit. I played through it a few times, and it wasn't long before I came up with the rest of the music around the riff.

When I arrived back in Australia after the holidays, I took the music to a jam with Ama to get her thoughts on it. It just so happened that she had recently seen the jacket with "Wanna Riot" on it and she had been inspired to use the phrase in lyrics for a song. Within an hour of playing her the riff and music, the song was pretty much written and Wanna Riot was born!

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

Tim Abrigg Jr.'s Rock and Roll News Of The Day!: Today's Day In Rock News!: Today's Day in Rock Duff McKagan Recruits Izzy Stradlin and Jerry Cantrell For New EP (TeamRock Radio) Duff McKagan's up...

Today's Day In Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


Duff McKagan Recruits Izzy Stradlin and Jerry Cantrell For New EP
(TeamRock Radio) Duff McKagan's upcoming book will be issued alongside a companion EP featuring Izzy Stradlin and Jerry Cantrell. The former Guns N' Roses bassist's How To Be A Man (And Other Illusions) is released on May 12 via Da Capo Press - and he'll release that a three-song EP called How To Be A Man on the same day.

McKagan, ex-GnR bandmate Stradlin and Alice In Chains mainman Cantrell are joined by Stone Sour drummer Roy Mayorga on the release. It's available for pre-order from May 5.

The book, originated from his Seattle Weekly column, follows his first title It's So Easy (And Other Lies). The publishers say: "Duff takes the reader into the life of an international rock musician, and shares the solid life lessons he's learned along the way to success in both his family life and his career." Check out a video Duff posted here.




Van Halen To Play Rarities and Deep Tracks On Upcoming Tour
(hennemusic) Van Halen are currently in rehearsals for their summer tour of North America and the band are sharing video snippets of a pair of rarely-played, deep tracks from their catalog.

"Working on setlist ideas right now," tweeted bassist Wolfgang Van Halen recently. "Which 'deep cuts' or 'b-sides' would you like to hear on this upcoming #VanHalen tour??"

This week, the bassist posted some short video clips from rehearsals on Instagram. "Trying something new today at rehearsal..." he wrote as the band could be heard playing "Dirty Movies" from 1981's "Fair Warning" album.

Wolfgang followed the first clip up with a second, writing, "Another day, another rehearsal, another tune to try out..." as his father, Eddie, played the introduction to "In A Simple Rhyme" from 1980's "Women And Children First."

Van Halen will launch a North American tour in Seattle on July 5 in support of "Tokyo Dome Live In Concert", their first live release with David Lee Roth. Check out the videos here.




Slipknot's Corey Taylor Announces Book and Solo Tour
Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor has set a July 7th release date for his latest book "You're Making Me Hate You: A Cantankerous Look at the Common Misconception That Humans Have Any Common Sense Left" and he will be hitting the road to support the release.

Taylor will not only be doing book signings but he also announced a series of solo shows that will feature unplugged performances, fan Q&A and readings from the new book. Fans can preorder the book here.

The book signing events will launch on July 6th in Ridgewood, NJ and includes events in New York City (July 8th), Huntington, NY (July 9th), Edina, MN (July 12th) and Los Angeles on July 18th.

The solo shows will kick off on July 7th in New York City at the Gramercy Theatre and will include stops in Ashbury Park, Detroit, Chicago, St. Paul, Rock Island, Lawrence, Denver and conclude on July 19th in Los Angeles.

"You're Making Me Hate You" is Taylor's third book, following his previous works "Seven Deadly Sins" and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Heaven." See all of the date here.




Rush Final Tour In Part Due To Neil Peart's Chronic Tendonitis
(Classic Rock) Alex Lifeson has revealed Rush drummer Neil Peart has chronic tendonitis - and it's a contributing factor in their decision to end large-scale touring. Peart has mentioned the condition before, and his bandmates have previously said the physical nature of his performance makes it challenging to continue into his 60s.

The Canadian giants recently announced their upcoming North American tour was likely to be the last of its kind. Lifeson tells Global News: "I have mixed feelings about it. In one way I feel relief - I think 40 years is a long time to be touring the way we tour.

"I still love playing. But in Neil's case, for example, his job is really tough. Playing the way he does is very, very difficult on his body. He has chronic tendonitis in his arms and he's had problems with his shoulders.

"It's getting to the point, no matter how much we love doing it, that it's much more demanding and much more difficult." Read more here.




Slayer Found Slam-Dunk Replacement Just Like AC/DC
(TeamRock Radio) Slayer have compared the addition of guitarist Gary Holt to AC/DC's hiring of Brian Johnson. The Exodus axeman has been a touring member since Jeff Hanneman took ill in 2011 and stayed on board after the co-founder's death in 2013. He makes his first studio appearance with the band on their upcoming 11th album.

Mainman Kerry King tells Metal Hammer: "It's one of the best fits in music history. It's like Brian Johnson joining AC/DC - it's a slam-dunk replacement, and you don't get those very often.

"He was my first choice, and luckily I've been able to use my first choice since day one. Also, he's from my own era. He's been doing this for the exact same time that we have."

Frontman Tom Araya believes the fact that Hanneman and Holt were friends made it easier on him. Read more here.



Halestorm Took Inspiration From Pink Floyd's David Gilmour
(TeamRock Radio) Halestorm guitarist Joe Hottinger says he took inspiration from David Gilmour on their track "Dear Daughter." The song appears on the band's third album Into The Wild Life which was released earlier this month - and Hottinger said he deliberately wanted to inject a little Pink Floyd into the music.

He tells Music Radar: "I got my '57 Hardtail Custom Shop Reissue Strat out and tried to channel Gilmour without ripping him. I played a few licks and producer Jay Joyce said, 'Seriously, you're going to play the Gilmour licks of all Gilmour licks?'

"Jay kicked my ass on guitar solos. He had me questioning my sanity. I'm not a shredder. I kinda know the blues scale and I build from there and have some fun places to go. But Jay would say, 'Why are you playing like a sh*tty blues player here?' He really made me work." He wasn't the only one to discuss influences. Read about Lzzy Hale's here.




Neal Schon Releases Song From New Solo Album
(hennemusic) Journey guitarist Neal Schon has released "El Matador", the lead track from his forthcoming instrumental solo album, "Vortex." Due June 23, the 2CD set sees Schon regroup with keyboardists Jan Hammer and Igor Len and former Journey drummer Steve Smith to mix elements of rock, jazz, classical and world music over an 18-song package.

"Jan is all over this album," says Schon of the follow-up to 2014's "So U." "I wrote the material to give Jan room to stretch. There are not many three-minute ditties. It's all huge, epic, bombastic…futuristic."

"This is an evolutionary album for me," continues the guitarist. "I've always aspired to be a better player and push musical boundaries. And sure, I've sold 80-million records with Journey, and I'm proud of that, but this album is really me - all based on my guitar, which is my 'voice.' It's bold. There's love, and there's definitely fire and an element of danger. And the energy level is off the hook."

Schon and Journey kick off their first Las Vegas residency on Wednesday, a run that will see the band perform 9 shows at The Joint inside The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino between April 29 and May 16.





Jake E. Lee's Red Dragon Cartel Recruit Lynch Mob Singer
(TeamRock Radio) Red Dragon Cartel have named Lynch Mob and Jason Bonham man Chas West as their third singer in a matter of weeks. He'll front the band for their upcoming shows following the departure of Michael Beck, who'd only joined Jake E Lee's band after they split with DJ Smith in March.

Smith's performance during RDC's debut show in 2014 was marred when he appeared drunk and under-rehearsed, although Lee later laughed off the incident.

But earlier this month, Beck suffered his own debut nightmare when he sang the lyrics to one song while the band played another. Bassist Anthony Esposito, who replaced Greg Chaisson last month, tells Rock Music Star: "Greg offered a singer to Jake, and that would be Michael. I don't think Jake ever heard him sing - he went on Greg's word." Read more and watch the video interview here.




Muse Release 'Dead Inside' Video
(Classic Rock) Muse have released a video for "Dead Inside", taken from the band's new album "Drones," which was produced by Mutt Lange, best known for his work with AC/DC and Def Leppard.

"This is where the story of the album begins", says frontman Matt Bellamy. "The protagonist loses hope and becomes vulnerable to the dark forces introduced in Psycho and the next few songs - before eventually defecting, revolting and overcoming these dark forces later in the story."

A lyric video for "Dead Inside" was published last month, ten days after a clip for "Drill Sergeant," the first track to be released from the new album. Watch the official video here.



New Ronnie James Dio Tribute Album Coming, First Song Released
(hennemusic) A Ronnie James Dio tribute album, "A Light In The Black", will be released on May 22. Crystal Ball's version of "Sacred Heart" is the first track released from the project.

The 2-disc set features 20 tracks by the metal legend redone by a dozen different acts from the Massacre Records stable, including Crystal Ball, Messenger, Gun Barrel, Gloryful, The Order, Metal Inquisitor, Circle Of Silence, Burden Of Grief, Love.Might.Kill, Rebellion, Iron Fate and Wizard.

"Ronnie James Dio was a hero and inspiration to many musicians, such as Lars Ulrich (Metallica), Doro Pesch and Axel Rudi Pell, and rumour has it that he's the main reason why every metal head worldwide is familiar with the sign of the horns," says the German-based label. "Now it's time for us to pay tribute to him as well: 12 of our bands covered Ronnie James Dio songs to honor this exceptional musician!"

The cover art for "A Light In The Black" was created by Jan Yrlund of Darkgrove.net, who made an effort to pay tribute to the singer.

"I decided to go for an old school type of hand-painted look, like the classic Dio covers, but I still wanted to keep it original," he explains. "You'll find many hints and details that refer to well-known Dio themes: The mountain has two peaks as if they were devil's horns, and of course the Dio mascot Murray is featured too, merging from the fire."





Robert Fripp and David Cross Revisit 'Starless' On New Album
(Prog) King Crimson mainman Robert Fripp and ex-member David Cross have recorded an album exploring classic track Starless. Entitled Starless Starlight, the eight-piece work is based on a melody Cross wrote for the original, which appeared on Red in 1974.

Fripp recorded two improvised takes in 2006 and Cross has reworked them and added violin parts. Cross says: "It's a piece in which we all managed to express ourselves and get our personalities across. This little theme that Starless Starlight is based on has a kind of journey, and it emerges different but still surviving. I've always been very impressed with that."

He continues: "Somehow the piece manages to embody some very simple ideas - quite romantic and sentimental, but at the same time angry and dark." Read more here.




Slipknot's Jim Root Says Band Won't Follow KISS
(TeamRock Radio) Slipknot guitarist Jim Root has backed frontman Corey Taylor's recent comments that it is unlikely the band will ever appear on stage without their masks.

In February, Taylor said: "I don't think you'll ever see a Slipknot 'unmasked' tour." And Root agrees, saying if they were to ditch their iconic headgear, it would probably mark the end of the road for the band.

He tells News Press: "For one thing, Kiss has already done that. And two, that's something you do when maybe the career's in the pot. The masks are more of a way to present ourselves live. It's always been about the live show for us - we're having Halloween onstage every night." Read more here.




Elbow Streaming New Song From Forthcoming Movie
(Prog) Elbow have released a stream of their movie track What Time Do You Call This? It's taken from Simon Pegg comedy Man Up, and was written specifically for the production.

Director Ben Palmer says: "The band saw an early cut in Manchester and, thankfully, loved it. A couple of days later, Guy Garvey had already penned the lyrics - and we were blown away. It was the perfect fit and a dream climax to the journey."

What Time Do You Call This? is available now via iTunes. Man Up is released in the UK on May 29 and the soundtrack album will be launched four days earlier. Stream the song here.





Magnus Karlsson Recruits Ex-Black Sabbath and Deep Purple Stars
(TeamRock Radio) Former members of Black Sabbath and Deep Purple are set to appear on Primal Fear and former Allen/Lande guitarist Magnus Karlsson's next solo album.

Karlsson's last solo effort was 2013's Free Fall which featured guest appearances from Russell Allen, Tony Harnell and Mark Boals among others.

Karlsson is now working on the follow-up, Free Fall II, and has confirmed former Sabbath singer Tony Martin and ex Deep Purple and Rainbow vocalist Joe Lynn Turner will be involved. Drummer Jaime Salazar is also on board. Read more here.



Black Peaks Release 'Crooks' Video
(Prog) Black Peaks have released a music video for their new single, 'Crooks'. The Brighton-based quartet have been busy working on their as-yet-untitled debut album, which will be released later this year.

Their last single, Glass Built Castles, is also expected to feature on the full-length effort. Vocalist Will Gardner recently told TeamRock: "There's a hell of a lot of really progressive stuff on there.

"We've done some mega heavy tracks, like really disgusting songs, and it's really satisfying! It sounds a lot more developed and I think we've pushed ourselves as individuals." Watch the video here.



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Frank Wyatt Calls On Fans To Kickstart Pedal Giants Animals Project
(Prog) Happy The Man multi-instrumentalist Frank Wyatt has launched a Kickstarter campaign for his latest Pedal Giant Animals project. He's collaborating with a host of artists including his Oblivion Sun bandmate Stan Whitaker. They're aiming to raise $7500 to fund the work.

They say on their Kickstarter page: "This recording project started out as an idea for a Happy The Man reunion CD, but evolved to include many other musicians - so another Pedal Giants Animals project was born.

"The music will be produced in the studios of the respective artists and at Crafty Hands Studio using state of the art recording technologies as well as some old school hardware and techniques." Read more here.




The Tangent Star Doesn't Think Prog Heroes Don't Support Newer Acts
(Prog) The Tangent mainman Andy Tillison says he regrets the way prog's founding fathers all-but ignore younger bands - and it inspired one of his songs.

The concept lies behind Codpieces And Capes, which appears on eighth Tangent album A Spark In The Aether, launched earlier this month. Tillison tells ProgReport: "The old heroes don't really support us. They don't come and stand alongside us, or give us gigs.

"I've been operating The Tangent to a reasonable level of success over the past 12 years - and not once has any musician from the 70s said, 'I like what you're doing,' or, 'This is really good.' Not a word from any of them. I think that's a little bit sad."

Namechecking The Flower Kings, Big Big Train and Magenta, he adds: "We're their legacy. We're what they've left." Read more here.




Spin Doctors Announce 'Song From The Road' Release
(The Blues The Spin Doctors are the latest band to prepare a Songs From The Road live album - the DVD/CD set is released on May 19 via Ruf Records. The album was recorded in Germany in October 2013.

It follows their 2013 blues album If The River Was Whisky, which emphasized the background they'd grown from before finding mainstream fame with Pocket Full Of Kryptonite in 1991.

Drummer Aaron Comess recently said: "Blues clubs were our bread and butter in the 1980s. I think a lot of people might still come out and see us because of the hits - but then they get there and they're like, 'Holy sh*t, these guys have a whole other thing I didn't know about.'" Read more here.




Sweet Billy Pilgrim Release 'Just Above Midtown' Video
(TeamRock Radio) Sweet Billy Pilgrim have premiered their video for "Just Above Midtown" with Prog. It's taken from fourth album Motorcade Amnesiacs, due on May 25 via Kscope.

Frontman Tim Eisenberg admits he came close to splitting the band following the launch of 2012's Crown And Treaty. He says: "For all the years of hard work and commitment, our progress seemed painfully slow. We had very little to show for our efforts

"Then it dawned on me that I'd be recording songs even if no one bought them. It wasn't something I did - it was something I was. Progress was more than Facebook likes and album sales."

He adds: "Cynicism kills creativity. I could moan about the state of the music industry. I could complain about Spotify not paying me anything. Or I could make an amazing record with people I love, and play it to people who care - or even play it to people until they care."






The Kut Kicking Off 'Rock Paper Scissors' Tour This Weekend
British rockers The Kut will be kicking off their UK tour this weekend in support of their brand new EP 'Rock Paper Scissors' which was released on April 20th.

The band will be launching the tour on Saturday (May 2nd) at the Hell Fire Club in Redhill, Surrey and have announced dates that stretch to September 5th where they will be playing at the Unicorn in London.

They will also be playing a special acoustic show on July 4th. To get a taste of what to expect at the upcoming dates, the group have released a video for the track 'I Want You Maniac' from the EP. Watch the video here.

Frontwoman Maha had this to say about the new EP. It "probably has the closest resemblance to the material we've been playing out on the live sets this last year." See the dates here.




Leprous Streaming New Song 'Rewind'
(TeamRock Radio) Leprous have premiered their latest track "Rewind" with Prog. The track is taken from fifth album The Congregation, set for release on May 25 via InsideOut.

The Norwegian band say: "Rewind is of the more dynamic songs on the album. It kind of shows everything that Leprous is about within seven minutes, while still having a powerful and focused foundation. Not to mention that it's rather catchy."

The follow-up to 2013's Coal will be available in standard CD, mediabook CD, double-vinyl and digital versions. Leprous tour the UK in October. See the dates and listen to the new song here.




Singled Out: Victorian Halls' Tonight Only The Dead
Today Victorian Halls vocalist Sean Lenart tells us about "Tonight Only The Dead" from their upcoming sophomore album, "Hyperalgesia," which will be released by Victory Records May 19th. Here is the story:

This was the last song written for the new record. To a certain extent it was an afterthought. We had the final track listing, but felt the record was missing a certain element. I now appreciate that instinct. While not necessarily reflective of the record as a whole, it offers another layer of intrigue.

This song started off with simply the tone and timbre of the guitar. I found it to have an alluring bell like quality. When I listen now, it comes across more so as a piano or synths, either way I felt it was charming and a great starting point. From that point, I took more of a don't screw it up approach. I added synths, drums, all kinds of layers, and then ultimately, stripped it down significantly. I brought it back closer to the original idea. I think that bare bones version is pretty interesting; maybe we'll release that at some point.
Occasionally, I labor over words; that was not the case here. The lyrics came easy, as I felt more as if a journalist reporting on an event, then a lyricist "crafting" words. It was about a particular fleeting situation that I feel is somewhat universal in everyone's life. More so, it's about knowing you're in that moment when you are in it. That kinda of awareness is difficult, but when you find it, it can be pretty special.

The tag, "tonight only the dead are safe and sound" I felt embodied all that was the song. This is the carelessness of the moment. I feel it is a light track and is spelt out through symbolism. Most importantly, it eerily slips into the track perfectly. While recording, we asked out friend Aubyn to add the feminine element the song so desperately needed. The coupled falsetto vocals float above the lead, and it really comes across as intended. When listening to the track I wanted it to read as slow motion. Again, getting back to knowing when you're in the moment: deep breaths.

So what we did from there is we took that original idea, and worked it for the video. We shot over a couple days in Malibu and some of the Californian desert. The landscape definitely gave it the cinematic element we were looking for. Best part had to be driving around the desert in a late 60s Oldsmobile convertible light headed from the gas fumes... I felt we were near turning it into Fear And Loathing; the tone like the video is light. After filming the second night, we celebrated with the cast and crew. I think everyone was proud of what they'd done in a very short amount of time. Needless to say it made for a miserable flight back to Chicago.