Today's Day in Rock News!

Today's Day in Rock


Megadeth Confirm Lamb Of God's Chris Adler On New Album
(hennemusic) After months of rumors and speculation, Megadeth have officially confirmed Lamb Of God drummer Chris Adler will join the band as a guest player on their new studio album.

"Chris is a tremendous talent, and an amazing person," says leader Dave Mustaine. "He is going to bring a new level of excitement and energy to Megadeth that the fans are going to lose their minds over. I have nothing but respect for my previous drummers, but this is going to absolutely KILL!

"Back in 1989, Megadeth originally worked as a three piece - guitar, bass and drums - when we laid down the framework to our Grammy-nominated platinum album 'Rust In Peace'. I want to thank the other members of Lamb Of God for allowing this opportunity to take place for all of us in the metal community."

Bassist David Ellefson adds, "Chris has been an endearing friend to us in Megadeth for many years now, and he truly appreciates our music and its legacy. His drumming has forged such an innovative and ferocious path for metal music and I'm very proud that he is anchoring our rhythm section with us on this new album. I can clearly see a new dawn of 'utmost heaviness' unfolding in Megadeth's next chapter."

Adler expressed his excitement about working with a group that inspired his own musical direction. "Megadeth was the game changer for me," he explains. "Growing up, there was no other band that meant as much to my musical interest and direction. There is no doubt I would not be doing what I have been doing for the past three decades had I not stumbled across 'Killing Is My Business' and the bible of all metal, 'Peace Sells' in my formative years. About 10 years ago, Lamb Of God toured with Megadeth and I was able to share that story with Dave and David, and we have kept in touch ever since.

"When Dave called me a while ago and asked if I was interested in making a thrash metal album with him, I felt like I must've been on a hidden camera show. I was trying to play it cool, but I was speechless other than YES! Once I called my wife and my band guys to let everyone know, I had some time to really think about it and how I can best fit into this situation. I'm coming into this on fire." Read more here.



Gene Simmons Teams With WWE To Make Horror Movies
(TeamRock Radio) KISS star Gene Simmons has signed a deal with WWE Studios to co-produce three horror movies. And he's vowed the films will be "elevated" works - starting with Temple, which begins shooting later this year.

WWE Studios was launched in 2002 for WWE wrestlers and personnel. The company has produced more than 30 movies to date including The Scorpion King, Walking Tall and The Condemned. They'll work under the banner Erebus Pictures for the upcoming releases.

Simmons says: "The horror genre continues to fascinate me, as it proves to be endlessly thrilling and engaging for audiences. I'm so thrilled to be working with the masterminds from WWE Studios in launching Erebus Pictures." Read more here.




The Who May Make New Album
(Radio.com) The Who are reportedly in talks to make a new record. Roger Daltrey revealed that his bandmate Pete Townshend is already at work in the studio, in a new interview with Rolling Stone.

"I know that Pete wants to make another record," he said. "He's just talking about it. I've heard a couple of tracks, which are great." Daltrey isn't ruling it out, especially since he and Townshend have rekindled their friendship over the years, leading up to their recent 50th anniversary tour.

"After all the testosterone of youth, all of the problems and middle age and drugs and losing people we love, in the end you suddenly realize you deeply love each other," Daltrey said. 'We are like brothers. Family is like that, aren't they? One minute you love them, the next minute you can't stand them. But as soon as it looks like they're not going to be around, they're knocking on the door."

While Daltrey revealed that the band's anniversary tour will likely be their last string of shows on that level, he talked about the future of the band's live performance, saying that perhaps they'd embark on an acoustic tour. Read more here.




Sevendust Finish Recording New Album
(TeamRock Radio) Sevendust drummer Morgan Rose has confirmed the band have finished recording their tenth studio album, the follow-up to 2013's Black Out The Sun.

Last month, he revealed the band were heading into a New Jersey studio to work on the album without having written any songs in advance. Now Rose has tweeted: "10th studio record done! On my way home! Ready to squeeze my babies and smack my woman's bootay!"

He'd previously described the sessions as "heavy as f***" and "the most challenging record I've ever been a part of," adding: "Extremely excited for everyone to hear it." Read more including the tweet here.




Carcass React To 'Laughable And Embarrassing' Country Ban
(TeamRock Radio) Carcass have been forced to cancel a trip to Malaysia after government officials banned them from entering the country. The move affects a planned appearance in May - and comes a year after the band performed in the country without incident or intervention.

Carcass say in a statement: "Sorry, Malaysia. Seems like your government haven't updated their calendars to the 21st century. We've had our visas declined on the basis of our 'lyrical content'. Laughable and embarrassing."

Bill Steer and co add a note for officials: "If you're reading this you're too late, we already 'corrupted' your youth and played Kuching last year." Read more here.




Mudvayne and Skrape Members Form New Group Audiotopsy
(TeamRock Radio) Members of Mudvayne and Skrape have joined forces to form the band Audiotopsy, it's been announced. Guitarist Gregg Tribbett and drummer Matt McDonough, both of Mudvayne, along with frontman Billy Keeton of Skrape and bassist Perry Stern have completed recording their debut album and are aiming for a summer release once they've secured a deal with a label.

Tribbett says: "I'm extremely excited about Audiotopsy. The music is everything you want in a record - heavy, melodic, atmospheric, big hooky riffs and sing-alongs as well.

"The guys in the band are great and we all feel as if this was meant to happen. We all felt an energy from our first meeting and we can't wait for the world to hear Audiotopsy." Read more here.




Queen Manager's Freddie Mercury Movie Joke Taken Seriously
(Classic Rock) Reports that Queen's Freddie Mercury biopic was back on track with Sacha Baron Cohen leading the production are the result of a joke, guitarist Brian May has reported.

The band's manager Jim Beach did say Cohen had returned to the project after departing in 2013. But his quotes at a manager's convention on Thursday were meant in jest.

May says via his website: "Jim said that, in response to enquiries about progress on the Freddie film, that Sacha Baron Cohen had been re-engaged to write, produce and direct - as well as starring in all four major roles!

"I'm afraid some folks might have taken it seriously." Read more here.




Slayer's Tom Araya Reflects On Making Album Without Hanneman
(Classic Rock) Slayer frontman Tom Araya still can't get used to working without late guitarist Jeff Hanneman, he's admitted. The band are in the process of mixing and mastering their 11th album - their first without the co-founding guitarist, who died in 2013 after a two-year absence with health issues.

It was previously revealed that one track on the follow-up to 2009's World Painted Blood was written before Hanneman's death, and features his playing.

Araya tells Revolver: "The whole process of his album started three years ago, when Jeff was still a part of it. The track was completely done, except we hadn't finalised the vocals for it. So we're fortunate to have something he had participated in."

A total of 13 songs have been laid down by Araya, Kerry King, Gary Holt and Paul Bostaph, although it's likely only 10 will appear. Slayer have still to decide on the album title, artwork and other details.

Araya reflects: "Ever since Jeff's passing it's been just odd and strange - because he's never going to be there again, you know? Even when we were doing stuff without him while he was still alive, that felt strange. I missed him during the process. But the way things turned out, I think he was definitely a part of it, even if he wasn't there physically." Read more here.





Van Halen Sitting Out Tremonti Tour
(hennemusic) Tremonti bassist Wolfgang Van Halen will miss the band's upcoming tour in support of their forthcoming second album, "Cauterize", due to a scheduling conflict with Van Halen.

"I am still part of Tremonti and very excited for the release of Cauterize," explains Wolfgang, "but unfortunately am unable to participate in the upcoming dates due to my prior commitment with Van Halen for the summer tour in support of the Tokyo Dome Live In Concert album. Look forward to seeing all of the Tremonti fans on the road as soon as my schedule permits!"

Tremonti - led by Alter Bridge/Creed guitarist Mark Tremonti - will hit the road for a spring US tour starting April 25 in Orlando, Florida, while "Cauterize" will be released on June 9. Read more here.




Motley Crue's Vince Neil To Sing Anthem At Las Vegas Outlaws Debut
(hennemusic) Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil will perform the National Anthem at the Las Vegas Outlaws first game on Monday, March 30 at the Thomas & Mack Center as the team host the San Jose SaberCats in Arena Football League action.

Neil and his company, Rockstar Sports Group, were awarded the new AFL franchise last September. The ownership group includes former Florida Gator and Tampa Bay Buccaneer's quarterback Bob Hewko, aviation businessman Mark Daniels and technology businessman Sohrob Farudi.

"I'm going to perform the National Anthem in honor of the Outlaws first game, for the fans and families in attendance, and for our veterans and service men and women everywhere," says Neil. "The players and coaches are ready to get this season rockin' and to make Las Vegas proud of its awesome Arena Football team." Read more here.




Amoral Reunite With Original Singer Niko Kalliojarvi
(TeamRock Radio) Amoral have reunited with original vocalist Niko Kalliojarvi for the band's seventh album. He left in 2008 following the release of third record Reptile Ride, and was replaced by Ari Koivunen. The pair will now share vocal duties.

Kalliojarvi says: "The cameos at during the last few years have been fun. When I was asked to come back to the group I was both surprised and excited for musical reasons, but also since I've always been comfortable in said company."

Amoral are now working on the follow-up to 2014's Fallen Leaves & Dead Sparrows, expected next year. Guitarist Ben Varon reports: "Niko's company felt natural both on stage and backstage. Hearing his voice on those songs after a long time felt good." Read more here.





Photo Of Kim Fowley's Corpse On Magazine Cover
(TeamRock Radio) Fetish magazine Girls And Corpses have granted eccentric rock icon Kim Fowley his dying wish to be a cover star. The former manager of The Runaways who also wrote co-wrote songs with Kiss and Alice Cooper died aged 75 in January after a long battle with cancer.

It was reported after his death that Fowley had expressed an interest in appearing on the cover and indicated he wanted former girlfriend Snow Mercy to be involved in the photoshoot. However, publishers were unable to contact her and now claim they've gone ahead and given the icon his final wish.

They say in a statement: "This is a truly historic moment in publishing because it is the first time a corpse has been photographed in a body bag with a fetish model and put on a magazine cover.

"We also have the last mad writings of Kim Fowley which we have exclusively published in this diseased issue and it will make your head spin and pop off." See the cover here.




Def Leppard, Whitesnake, Black Star Riders Announce UK Tour
(hennemusic) Def Leppard and Whitesnake have announced a co-headline UK tour this winter. The pair will be joined by openers Black Star Riders for a triple bill for a 10-show run in December.

"I am very excited to be working with Whitesnake again, we had such a wonderful time when we did it back in 2008," says Leppard frontman Joe Elliott. "It's a great experience for rock fans to be able to see two great live bands on the same stage on the same night."

"Ohh, have you got trouble…Brother Joe & The Lepps?…D.C. & The Snakes?... Them Black Star Riders?…On the same night???…I can't wait!!...SEE YOU THERE!!!" added Whitesnake's David Coverdale. See the dates here.




Van Halen Preview Eddie's Solo From New Live Album
(hennemusic) Van Halen have released an audio preview of guitarist Eddie Van Halen's solo as they approach the March 31 release of "Tokyo Dome Live In Concert."

One of the featured spotlights in the band's live set sees Eddie showcase a montage of riffs and signature solos from his career, including the groundbreaking 1978 track "Eruption", "Cathedral", "316", the opening to "Mean Street" and more.

Van Halen recently announced dates for an extensive North American tour in support of the album, which was recorded in Japan in 2013 on the group's "A Different Kind Of Truth" tour.

The band will launch the project with a special concert tonight, March 30 for ABC-TV's Jimmy Kimmel Live on Hollywood Boulevard. Check out the solo preview here.




Genesis: 1983-1998 Box Set Coming In May
(Classic Rock) Genesis will release the third and final installment in their vinyl box set series with Genesis: 1983-1998, due on May 11 via Universal. The six-disc package includes the band's final four studio albums: Genesis (1983), Invisible Touch (1986), We Can't Dance (1991) and Calling All Stations (1997).

Genesis: 1983-1998 ("The Red Box") completes the vinyl box set trio that began with Genesis: 1970-1975 ("The Green Box") and Genesis: 1976-1982 ("The Blue Box").

The first two records in the latest set are single LPs while the others are presented in double-disc gatefold format, with Calling All Stations featuring music on three sides and an etching on side four. Read more here.




Porcupine Tree's Gavin Harrison Tried To Avoid Cheese On New Album
(Prog) Porcupine Tree and King Crimson drummer Gavin Harrison says he was careful to avoid sounding cheesy on his upcoming solo album. Harrison issues Cheating The Polygraph on April 13 via Kscope. It features reimagined, big band versions of eight classic Porcupine Tree songs.

The idea first came about in 2009 when he was asked to take part in a memorial concert for the late drum icon Buddy Rich. Rich's daughter Cathy planted the seed for what eventually became Cheating The Polygraph.

Harrison tells MusicRadar: "Cathy said to me, 'You're welcome to play any of Buddy's tunes, of course, but what would be really fun is if you did a song from your band.'

"My band's music isn't anything like Buddy's, obviously, so I thought about it, and then I got together with Laurence Cottle, a big band arranger, to see what might work.

"I told Laurence, 'I don't want this to be funny. It couldn't be comedy, cheesy, 'rock does swing' or anything like that. I thought it should be serious music. We went with that approach, and it came out great." Read more here.




Royal Thunder Streaming New Song 'Wake Up'
(Classic Rock) Royal Thunder have released an audio stream of Wake Up. It's taken from forthcoming album Crooked Doors, the follow-up to 2012's CVI. So what's Wake Up about?

"What do you want to change?" asks vocalist Mel Parsons in explaining the new song. "Then change it! Wake up and move forward. Looking back will hold you back."

The band will be joining Rival Sons and Halestorm for a brief Western United States tour in June. Check out the dates and listen to the stream of "Wake Up" here.




Tommy Bolin's Teaser Getting Deluxe 40th Anniversary Reissue
(Classic Rock) Tommy Bolin's debut solo album Teaser is being reissued in a deluxe vinyl package to celebrate its 40th anniversary. UDR will issue Teaser 40th Anniversary Vinyl Edition Box Set on May 18.

The one-time Zephyr and James Gang guitarist originally released the work in 1975 while he was a member of Deep Purple. He died of a drug overdose the following year, at the age of 25.

The 3-disc collection is accompanied by two live CDs featuring long-lost outtakes and alternative mixes. The live CDs are made up of performances from Ebbets Field, The Northern Lights, My Father's Place and Albany. More details here.




Purson Ink Deal For New Album Release
(Classic Rock) Purson have signed to Spinefarm Records for the launch of second album Desire's Magic Theatre, they've confirmed. The follow-up to 2013's The Circle And The Blue Door will be launched later this year, following a UK tour and an appearance at Download.

Vocalist Rosalie Cunningham says: "Our second album has turned out to be everything I'd imagined - and more. It's become a technicolour variety show; a playful display of the musical whims only briefly hinted at in our previous work; a psychedelic rock opera dedicated to Sarge Pepper and Zig Stardust.

"I give thanks to everyone who's bought a Purson record or been to our shows - and you have our promise that the best is yet to come." Check out the tour dates here.




The Graveltones Releasing New Album In May
(Classic Rock) The Graveltones will release their second album Love Lies Dying on May 31, they've confirmed. Before the May launch they will release album opener World On A String as a single on April 12.

It's the UK-based duo's follow-up to their 2013 full-length debut Don't Wait Down and will launch via Lagoon Dog Records. It was produced by Jaime Gomez Arellano at Orgone Studios, London.

Vocalist and guitarist Jimmy O says of the record: "When you record a bunch of songs and send them out there to play ball, you hope you've raised them up good enough to take care of themselves. All these songs seem to get along with each other real well." Read more here.





Steve Hackett Releases Wolflight Video
(Classic Rock) Steve Hackett has released a music video for the title track from his upcoming album Wolflight. The former Genesis man releases the album on March 30. It's his first original solo work since 2011's Beyond The Shrouded Horizon.

Wolflight sees him joined by guest musicians and longtime collaborators, including keyboardist Roger King, drummers Gary O'Toole and Hugo Dagenhardt, saxophonist Rob Townsend, bassist Nick Beggs and singer Amanda Lehmann.

Also joining Hackett on the project is Yes bassist Chris Squire, who plays on the track Love Song To A Vampire. Check out the track details and watch the new video here.



Nelson Reveal New Album Details
(Classic Rock) Nelson have detailed their upcoming album Peace Out to be released on May 15. The twin brothers will issue the record via Frontiers Music and they say they've pushed themselves to make the best album they possibly could.

Gunnar Nelson says: "We set a pretty high standard with our previous release with Frontiers - Lightning Strikes Twice. That record received by far the most critical acclaim of any Nelson record to date. Peace Out was expected to be even better, so the goal was to push ourselves to the very limit - past what we believed we could do.

"We wanted to write and record the most exciting, authentic, uplifting, and rocking Nelson record ever made. The mission - to make a classic." Read more here.




Archive's Dave Pen Releases Video From We Are Bodies Project
(TeamRock Radio) Archive vocalist Dave Pen has teamed up with French-based composer Robin Foster to create We Are Bodies, and they'll launch their self-titled debut album next month.

In the meantime, they've released a video for their track Capsize, which illustrates their take on music in the vein of Radiohead, Talk Talk and Tears For Fears.

Their work is is described as a "a true reflection of modern society, narrating the numb monotony of living in the unconscious conformity of the 21st century."

The duo previously worked together on Foster's second album Where Do We Go From Here? and on the award-winning soundtrack to feature film Metro Manila. Watch the video here.




Toto's Steve Lukather Explains Angry 'Holy War' Solo
(TeamRock Radio) Toto guitarist Steve Lukather has described a solo on latest album XIV as a "f*** you" to bandmate Dave Paich - but adds that it's all done with love. They recently launched a stream of their track Holy War, taken from the follow-up to 2006's Falling In Between, released this week.

Lukather tells MusicRadar: "Making the album was blood, sweat, tears, love, pain, laughter - it was all that. We had fun, but we kept pushing each other. We had a couple of times when we almost killed each other. But without any tension you make pussy music."

He adds of Holy War: "I was really pissed off at Dave. He kept messing with me, and I got pissed off and played that solo. You can hear it's like, 'F*** you, Dave!'" Read more and listen to the track here.




Marillion Frontman Steve Hogarth Announces Special Show
(Prog) Marillion frontman Steve 'h' Hogarth will appear on stage with his son for the first time in Gibraltar in May, he's confirmed. Entitled h Super Natural - A Special Evening With Steve Hogarth & Friends, the performance at St Michael's Cave also features Dave Gregory, formerly of XTC and now with Tin Spirits - and also a member of The h Band.

Hogarth says: "This will be my fourth time performing in my beloved Gibraltar. Last year's Literary Festival gig in the King's Chapel was truly special for me and I came home with that rare feeling that I had 'nailed it.' Must be something in the water...

"I immediately began hustling to return, so the chance to play once again in the unique space that is St Michael's Cave is, well, icing on the cake." Read more here.




Adimiron Release Animated 'Ayahuasca' Video
Adimiron have released an animated music video for the song "Ayahuasca." the track comes from their fourth studio album, "Timelapse," which was released in November of last year. We were sent these details about the new video:

Named after the hallucinogenic brew used by indigenous tribes of South America that allows them to commune with the 'spirits' and even to travel to different dimensions, the band describes ayahuasca as "the perfect concept for the final track of Timelapse, which was born with the desire to gradually carry the listener on a mystical and visual journey to the end of the album."

Czech artist Monika Janouchova, responsible for the "Ayahuasca" video animations, states: "'Ayahuasca is an inspiring song. It has the power to take us to unreal places, and I just wanted to transform its potential into images.

"Each scene and situation brings us, together with the music, to a long surreal trip. Our mind opens and we are enabled to see more...It's like a vivid dream in which we cannot tell whether it is real or not and if everything will be normal once woken up."

Watch the video here.




Ozzy Osbourne's Infamous Haircut Minimation Video Released
(Radio.com) In Radio.com's Minimation, where they comb through the archives of legendary New York radio station WNEW-FM and animate interviews with legendary rock artists, they revisit a 1987 interview where Ozzy Osbourne explains why he'd gotten a crew cut a few years earlier.

In the 1980s, being shocking was part of Ozzy Osbourne's bag of tricks. There was the bats, the doves, not to mention lots of drugs and alcohol. But one of the most shocking things he did, at least as far as the metal community was concerned, was to cut his hair. And he was asked about that in this interview (by which point, his long locks had returned).

"At the end of the tour, I was so down and miserable," he said, and he decided to go on a road trip across America. Of course, that's easier said than done if you're the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne.

He, quite reasonably, figured that if he cut his hair, no one would recognize him. And to hear him tell it, his trip - which took him to Toronto, Minneapolis, Seattle and Los Angeles, undisturbed by fans.





Singled Out: The Breton Sound's Illuminate
Today The Breton Sound singer and guitarist Jonathan Pretus tells us about the song "Illuminate" from their forthcoming EP "Don't Be Afraid of Rock & Roll, Vol. 1." Here is the story:

"Illuminate" is one of those songs that just kind of fell out of the sky and into our laps one day during a rehearsal. Just playing with melody and different feels, it just appeared. Within about 15 minutes, the bones of everything was there, melody, arrangement moods. Some of my favorite songs happen like that, just a lightening quick moment of inspiration.

We've been playing it live for a while and it's always gotten a great response. Our bassist Joe [Bourgeois] was kind of a hero on this record. He joined the band a week before we went to Ardent Studios to start working on the record. He learned the song as we'd been doing it, but once we got working in the studio, he really rebuilt the part completely and put a great groove into it that wasn't there before.

The lyric of the song is about feeling trapped, frustrated, and beat down where you are, and looking to that person next to you that you love and saying "wouldn't it be great to just run away and get the hell out of here together?" There's a real tension in the verses musically, especially in the 2nd verse where the drums, bass and guitar lock in a driving, pushing groove, and then as it gets to the chorus (the escape), the playing opens up, it's a really neat movement we put together that we're really proud of.

This was the first song we did for this EP, and the first thing we recorded in Studio A at Ardent. It's the room where all the Big Star records were done, which are some of my favorite albums. I actually ended up using the old Hi Watt amp and cabinet that was used on "Radio City" and "Third", which was a thrill in and of itself, but it's one of the best sounding guitar tones I've ever had. That room has an amazing vibe and sound, and we tracked live in there, so the energy really comes out in the recording. It's one of the best things we've ever done, and we're so proud of how it came out.

As a side note, playing this song live taught me a great lesson. A few people had come up to me and said how much they liked our song "Lemonade." The first time I heard that, I had to stop and think about what they were talking about it. Then I realized that maybe I ought to annunciate better when I sing.