Today's Day in Rock
The Who To Launch Long Goodbye With 50th Anniversary Tour
The Who announced that they are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year by launching The Who Hits 50! British tour, which frontman Roger Daltrey says "is the beginning of the long goodbye."
There is no word yet if the tour plans will extend to other markets across the globe but Daltrey's comments have lead to speculation that this is the first leg of the band's farewell tour.
The British trek is scheduled to kick off on November 26th in Dublin, Ireland and will include stops in Belfast, Glasgow, Leeds, Nottingham, Birmingham, Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester, Cardiff and will conclude on December 17th in London.
The Who Hits 50! tour will feature music spanning the legendary band's entire career from present day songs, classic hits and deep cuts from the band's classic albums including Who's Next, Tommy, My Generation, Quadrophenia and even material from their The High Numbers days.
Guitarist Pete Townshend bills the setlist as 'Hits, Picks, Mixes and Misses'. Here is what he had to say about the tour, "Trying to stay young. Not wearing socks. Growing a great big woodcutter's beard. Might even wear a check shirt on stage and get a tattoo of a Union Jack. Always a fashion victim. But under no illusions.
"We are what we are, and extremely good at it, but we're lucky to be alive and still touring. If I had enough hairs to split I would say that for thirteen years since 1964 The Who didn't really exist, so we are really only thirty-seven." more on this story
Neil Young and Crazy Horse Member Suffers Stroke
Neil Young and Crazy Horse bass player Billy Talbot has been forced to sit out the band's European tour that kicks off next week after he suffered a minor stroke.
Warner Bros. Records said in the announcement on Monday that Talbot's doctors expect him to make a full recovery but they have advised him not to join the tour so that he can recover.
Talbot will be replaced on the tour by Rick Rosas, who has a long history of performing with Young including with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
The tour will be kicking off next Monday, July 7th in Reykjavik, Iceland at the Laugardsholl and will conclude on August 8th in Alsace, France at the annual Festival de la Foire aux Vins. more on this story
Metallica Frontman Calls Out KISS and Scorpions For 'Farewell' Tours
Metallica have lasted over 30 years and it's natural that talk of their retirement comes up in interviews but James Hetfield says the band won't be like KISS or the Scorpions and launch farewell tours that aren't really farewell tours.
"I don't think that's fair to anyone," Hetfield says in the latest issue of Kerrang. "Kiss' farewell tour for the 10th time? Scorpions were done and then they tour? You can't say that and then not do it.
"I don't know what's in store for us. I don't want to go on the history of how other bands have done it. We're unique in our own path and unique in how our path ends."
Motorhead Delay Expanded Album Release
Fans hoping to get their hands on Motorhead's "Aftershock - Tour Edition" this month will have to be a little more patient. The band announced that the release has been pushed back.
Citing a production error, the band announced on Monday that the new expanded edition of their latest studio album will now be released on August 26th instead of this month.
The new version is set to feature the studio album along with a bonus disc that will include live material that is comprised from the band's 2014 West Coast Tour.
Motorhead fans will get a little taste of what is come this month. On July 7th VH1 Classic will premiere the live video for the song "Lost Woman Blues" which was captured at The Warfield in San Francisco on Friday April 18th, 2014.
The band will be performing at various music festivals across Europe this summer. Check out the dates and the album track details here.
Pennywise Streaming New Album 'Yesterdays' In Full
(Radio.com) Pennywise's new album 'Yesterdays' Doesn't come out until July 15 on Epitaph, but the band is giving fans an advance listen to the full album via Radio.com.
One thing about Pennywise's new album Yesterdays: it's not actually new.The songs featured on the band's 11th studio album - their first with original frontman and Punk Rock Dad Jim Lindberg since he left the band in 2009 - have been lying around for 25 years. Most of these songs were written in the late '80s by original bassist Jason Thirsk but were never properly recorded. He died in 1996.
"Jason was a truly gifted person," the band's current bassist, Randy Bradbury, told Radio.com over email. "The songs he wrote, that we included on Yesterdays, really show the raw talent Jason had for melody and lyrical expression…We always say Jason is still with us in spirit. I hope he would be proud of our efforts to capture the true essence of how these songs should be presented."
When Thirsk wrote these songs, the guys were still playing backyard parties in their hometown of Hermosa Beach, Cali., trying to fit as many songs as they could into a set before the cops showed up and shut it down. Perhaps, that's why many of these tracks seem as if they're being played at 300 beats per minute. The guys had to make their point quick. But these songs don't sound dated.
"After 25 years the songs still sound fresh," Bradbury said. "This album may even be more of a stretch than we would have taken if we were writing all brand new material."
Read more and listen to the full stream here.
Ozzy Osbourne All For Becoming Sir Ozzy
Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne has responded very favorably to the latest fan push to have Queen Elizabeth II honor him with a knighthood. Ozzy says he "can't imagine anything better" than receiving the honor.
The latest initiative to have Osbourne knighted was launched by Australian fan Helen Maidiotis, who started a petition to have Osbourne honored by the Queen. Ozzy was asked by British magazine Time Out London about the fans move and he responded, "I've heard about that. Getting knighted? I can't imagine anything better," he said with a smile.
"And my wife [Sharon] would become a Lady, which would be pretty cool. But I'm not gonna get upset if it doesn't happen. I never thought I'd get further than Aston [in Birmingham, England, where he was born]."
Ozzy also discussed how he doesn't look back over his long career which began in 1969 with the formation of Black Sabbath. "I don't do that [look back], but I guess I should a bit more. Because I know when I had my first successful album with Black Sabbath I thought: 'Oh, this is great, this will last a couple of years, I'll just get drunk every night and have a few chicks in my room,'" he recalled.
"And here I am, 45 years down the road, and I'm doing better than ever. I haven't always been on top of the world, there have been bad times as well, but you don't just give up at the first sign of choppy waters, you carry on rowing."
Mick Jagger Pokes Fun at Rolling Stones and Monty Python Reunion
(Radio.com) Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones have found themselves at the butt end of a fair amount of jokes about their age, not to mention questions about whether it's appropriate or not for them to still tour, 50 years after they started. So Mick Jagger probably jumped at the chance to shoot a video introducing the reunion of legendary British comedy troop Monty Python.
The video, which precedes a string of performances by the five surviving members of Monty Python, saw Jagger "taking the piss" out of them (and himself), to use the British term.
In the video, Jagger watches a soccer (or football) match with Stones drummer Charlie Watts at his side. An assistant informs him that one of their crew members is in London for the Monty Python reunion shows.
"Monty Python?" Jagger asks, "They're still going?" The assistant points out that they have 10 shows booked. "10 shows? They must be coining it in! It must be expensive! Who wants to see that again? It was really funny in the '60s…"
"Well, the first show sold out in 40 seconds."
"Wow!" Jagger replies. "Still, it's a bunch of wrinkly old men trying to relive their youth and make a load of money," he says, mirroring the complaint often aimed at the his own group. "The best one died years ago!" he says, a reference to Graham Chapman, who died in 1989.
"You've seen it all before! I mean, they've put it all up on YouTube!" he adds. It doesn't end there.
Jack White and Zac Brown Band Cover Metallica's 'Enter Sandman'
(Radio.com) Metallica fans attending Glastonbury this past weekend got to witness the band twice during the festival on Saturday (June 28) - well, "Enter Sandman," at least.
While Metallica headlined Saturday's show - complete with a foxy little intro video - Jack White paid homage to the band during his set when he covered "Enter Sandman," albeit briefly.
At around the 45-minute mark of the hits-filled showcase at the U.K. fest, White tore into the famous riff from Metallica's 1991 hit. White wasn't the only artist to pay tribute to Metallica over the weekend. Rolling Stone Country reports that Zac Brown Band closed their set at Fenway Park on Saturday with "Enter Sandman."
Watch video White's performance here.
King 810 Frontman's Assault Charge Dismissed
(TeamRock Radio) An assault case against King 810 frontman David Gunn has been dismissed by a US court, according to the band. However, bassist Gene Gill will have to appear in court again to answer a charge of 'Assault with Intent to do Great Bodily Harm Less Than Murder'.
According to a statement on the band's Facebook page, the judge at Flint Michigan's 68th District Court today dismissed the charges against Gunn, 28.
The pair were said to have been involved in a bar brawl in October last year and were arrested as they tried to board a plane bound for the UK this month. The band were due to appear at Download but were forced to pull out at the last minute as Gunn and Gill were in police custody. more on this story
Crowbar Singer Can See Pantera Tribute, Not A Reunion
(TeamRock Radio) Crowbar singer Kirk Windstein says he wouldn't like to see an official Pantera reunion - but he would be in favour of a live tribute to the band's legacy.
Windstein, a former colleague of Phil Anselmo in Down, admits to being a huge fan of the band, but says he can't see the surviving members performing as Pantera with Zakk Wylde - or anyone else - on guitar.
Windstein tells Riff-Mag: "I know Phil was doing a Pantera song or two with Black Label, but I can't ever see it being billed as Pantera. If it's Philip Anselmo, Rex Brown, Vinnie Paul and special guest Zakk Wylde doing the music of Pantera or celebrating the legacy of Pantera - I can see that happening. But to say 'This is Pantera', no.
"In my opinion and knowing Philip for so many years, I don't see them calling themselves Pantera. But to go play the songs, why not? We all love it. It's on of the best bands ever." More including a full stream of the interview
Motley Crue Preview Justin Moore's Version Of 'Home Sweet Home'
(hennemusic) Motley Crue are previewing country rocker Justin Moore's version of "Home Sweet Home" from the forthcoming album, "Nashville Outlaws: A Tribute To Motley Crue."
Joining Moore on the track is Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil; the band are previewing the track by sharing a behind the scenes look at the making of the video for the tune.
Due August 19, the project sees a variety of country artists covering Motley Crue tracks as the rockers prepare to launch their farewell tour this summer. "Nashville Outlaws" features performances by Rascal Fatts, LeAnne Rimes, Florida Georgia Line, Darius Rucker, Gretchen Wilson and more.
Watch the preview here.
Lostprophets Members Regroup at No Devotion
(TeamRock Radio) Former members of Lostprophets have released the first single by their new project, No Devotion. As previously suggested, guitarists Mike Lewis and Lee Gaze, keyboard player Jamie Oliver, drummer Luke Johnson and bass player Stuart Richardson have snapped up Thursday singer Geoff Rickly to front their new band.
Stay is available now via iTunes. Rickly's label, Collect Records, will also make a 12" vinyl version available on Monday, July 13. Following singer Ian Watkins' conviction for a string of horrific child sex offences - for which he was last year jailed for 35 years - the remaining members of Lostprophets were left in limbo. With the band's name tarnished, bringing in a new singer was not an option.
The Welsh musicians opted to start again. Richardson says: "We didn't know if we would ever make music again, if people would look us in the face. Everything felt like it was over."
Read more and listen to the first single here.
Bruce Springsteen Releasing Short Film
(hennemusic) Bruce Springsteen will debut a new short film, "Hunter Of Invisible Game", on his website next week. The project sees the rocker working with director Thom Zimny.
Set to premiere July 9 at 12 PM ET at brucespringsteen.net. Zimny who has shot several music videos for Springsteen in recent years, including everything from his last two releases, 2012's "Wrecking Ball" and 2014's "High Hopes."
The singer has not yet provided additional details about the film, which may turn out to be an extended video for the song of the same name from his latest album.
Watch a preview of the film here.
Guns N' Roses Release Live 'Sweet Child 'O Mine' Video
(hennemusic) Guns N' Roses have released a performance of "Sweet Child 'O Mine" from their new package, "Appetite For Democracy 3D: Live From The Hard Rock Casino - Las Vegas."
The new DVD and Blu-ray collection were released today. The sets features the band filmed in concert on November 21, 2012 during their first residency in Las Vegas.
The Blu-ray includes the complete concert film in both 3D and 2D plus an interactive 3D photo gallery, and the standard DVD presents the 2D version of the film.
Watch the video here.
Steve Hackett Goes Behind-The-Scenes Of Genesis Revisited DVD
(Prog) Steve Hackett has launched a six-minute trailer for his Genesis Revisited: Live DVD, out this week. The behind-the-scenes clip shows the preparations leading up to his Royal Albert Hall concert in October last year, featuring a range of guest musicians including Ray Wilson, Roine Stolt, John Wetton and Amanda Lehmann.
Hackett describes the show as "the musical equivalent of climbing Everest," adding: "I know I've done bigger things in my time, but none more stupendous than this." Referring to probably the best-known regular event at the Albert Hall, he says: "You might say it's the last night of the progs."
Genesis Revisited: Live will be released on June 30 via InsideOut as a standard DVD/2CD digipak and limited-edtiion Blu-ray/2DVD/2CD art book with liner notes, photos and bonus features. Hackett tours the UK later this year with what's likely to be the last of his Revisited shows, with tracks previously not included during live shows.
Watch the video here.
Tarja Turunen Releases Full Orchestra Song
(Prog) Former Nightwish frontwoman Tarja Turunen has released an online stream of the full orchestra version of the song "Neverlight" which is featured on her forthcoming album.
The album, Left In The Dark, was previously only available as an exclusive tour CD as part of a ticket bundle on Tarja's tour for previous release Colours In The Dark.
Left In The Dark contains b-sides, rarities, demos and instrumental versions as well as five previously unreleased versions of tracks. It is released on Friday, July 4.
Stream the song here.
Radiohead's Philip Selway Releases New Solo Song
(Prog) Radiohead drummer Philip Selway has released Coming Up For Air, the first track from second solo album Weatherhouse. The 10-track record is due on October 6 via Bella Union, and it's described as featuring a "generally darker and fuller" sound than 2010's Familial.
It's a collaboration with his solo band colleagues Adem Ilhan and Quinta. Selway says: "From the outset we wanted the album to be the three of us, and we covered a lot of instruments between us. Different musicians stretch you; I felt stretched on Weatherhouse, but very enjoyably so."
He adds of Coming Up For Air: "It's very much about taking stock of my life - I wanted to convey a sense of release and affirmation. This was the first song we recorded. Immediately it felt in a very different space from Familial."
Stream the song here.
Black Star Riders' Robbie Crane Fitting In Via Crazy Stories
(TeamRock Radio) New Black Star Riders bassist Robbie Crane is quickly winning over his new bandmates - mainly with his crazy stories. Guitarist Damon Johnson says Crane - who replaced Marco Mendoza earlier this month - has brightened up the BSR tour bus, as well as being a great bassist.
Johnson tells Hard N Fast: "Robbie has a flawless reputation in the business of being a great player and a great guy. At this point for us, being able to travel and be around somebody that you dig is every bit as important as the playing ability.
"Robbie came in and just crushed the audition. We gave him a couple of Black Star Riders songs and a couple of Thin Lizzy tunes and he killed it. He's got such a great attitude.
"My jaw is hurting from laughing so much, that guy has got so many great stories. He's got good energy, so we feel really lucky. If we're going to have to move on from such a great player as Marco, it's great to have a killer guy." more on this story
Metallica Share 'Foxy' Intro Video From Glastonbury
(Radio.com) After weeks of controversy over whether Metallica was an appropriate headliner for the British rock festival Glastonbury, or if they should be protested because frontman James Hetfield narrated The Hunt, an eight-part television series documenting the killing of Alaskan Kodiak brown bears, the weekend of the festival finally came. Metallica performed as scheduled, but not before showing a bizarre intro film called "Glastallica."
As usual, the band used Ennio Morricone's theme to the Sergio Leone 1966 spaghetti western The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and showed a scene from the film (the film started with the words "R.I.P. Eli Wallach 1915 - 2014″ on the screen, in tribute to the one of the film's leads, who had just passed away on June 24).
After that, things got weird. A minute and a half into the film, the scene changed to a British fox hunt (which has been illegal in England since 2005). The hunt, which sees a troop of scent hounds as well as hunters on horseback pursuing a fox (soundtracked to the Sweet's "Fox on the Run," which plays after what sounds like Hetfield yelling "What does the fox say?") is interrupted by four bears with shotguns who - surprise! - turn out to be Metallica's Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo.
Watch the film, directed by Julien Temple (Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten, The Great Rock and Roll Swindle), here.
Mars Attacks Prong's Tommy Victor
Prong frontman Tommy Victor was the featured guest on the latest episode of the Mars Attacks Podcast, which is now available for streaming and download. The show sent over these details:
During his interview he discussed the reality of how smaller labels work, how Spotify has affected the band, reteaming with Steve Evetts for Ruining Lives and what he brings to the band. He also goes into how his lyric style has changed for the album, Prong's upcoming tour with Overkill, why Schecter guitars have become his instrument of choice.
Tommy was also gracious enough to comment on three albums that will be featured during upcoming editions of our Classic Albums series. His comments are more like a history lesson, as he was there when some of the bands discussed were rising through the ranks.
He also gives a brief rundown of new Danzig material that will be out at some point in the future. Stream or download the episode here.
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