Black Sabbath Reveal Drummer For Farewell Tour(hennemusic)
In a new online video, Black Sabbath have revealed that Tommy Clufetos will be behind the drum kit for the band's upcoming farewell tour, which they will be kicking off on January 20 in Omaha, NE..
The group shared a preview clip of a run-through of their 1970 classic, "Paranoid", from rehearsals for The Final Tour, with Clufetos on drums behind Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler.
Original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward continues to sit out a reunion with his bandmates over contractual disputes and a nasty exchange with Osbourne over remarks he's made in recent years.
Ward previously declined to participate in the group's 2013 album "13", which was ultimately recorded with Brad Wilk, while Clufetos - Ozzy's solo drummer - handled live dates for the tour. Watch the video here.
Metallica Stop Legal Move Against Tribute Band(Classic Rock)
Metallica have given their blessing to a tribute band who were sent a 41-page cease and desist letter by an "overzealous attorney." Canadian band Sandman - fronted by Warmachine singer Joe Di Taranto - were told to stop using Metallica's registered trademarks on their promotional material. Sandman's logo uses the same font adopted by Metallica on their 2003 album St Anger and they refer to themselves as "Canada's tribute to Metallica."
The legal papers were delivered to FitzRay's, a venue in London, Ontario, where Sandman were due to perform at the weekend. It reads: "We are kindly writing to request that Sandman stop using the name Metallica, the phonetic equivalent of Metallica or any of Metallica's logos on or to identify or promote live musical performances."
Di Taranto posted an image of the front page of the letter on Facebook, adding: "So as some of you may or may not know, in my spare time from Warmachine, I play in a couple of tribute acts - one being a Metallica tribute called Sandman.
"Last night when we arrived at the venue for our show in London, we were served with cease and desist papers courtesy of Metallica's lawyers. Quite funny."
But when Metallica heard about the legal action, they immediately rescinded the letter and gave their backing to Sandman, joking that their lawyer was "permanently ice fishing in Alaska." Read what Metallica had to say here.
Ozzy Shocked By David Bowie's Death(Classic Rock)
Tributes poured in from the worlds of music and film in the wake of David Bowie's death, and Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne is among the latest to speak about his impact.
Ozzy tells Rolling Stone: "It knocked the sh*t out of me. I had no idea that he was so ill. I don't think anybody knew how sick he was. I'd heard the reason he stopped touring was because he had two heart attacks or something. But apparently it was cancer.
"Anyway, he's gone. It's a terrible hole in the f***ing business. He was such a talented guy, man. When you go from Ziggy Stardust to his tours, and he's a fashion guy, he was always trying to beat himself and he pulled it off time and time again."
Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx adds: "Bowie not only inspired me as a songwriter but inspired me to add layers to my creativity as an artist. People are meant to evolve. It's a natural part of life, but so many artists become stagnant. Bowie showed us that it's not only important to evolve as artists but mandatory.
"Funny thing is what David was doing all along was teaching us to expect more from ourselves and never settle for less that extraordinary. Proving all along he was the teacher and we were all just his students. He taught us well. Bowie was my hero and always will be." Read more here.
Dave Mustaine Talks Megadeth's Grammy and Rock Hall Snubs(Classic Rock)
Dave Mustaine says he still hopes Megadeth will eventually win a Grammy and be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The band will release their 15th album Dystopia on January 22 and the mainman hopes it'll help in his quest for Grammy and Rock Hall recognition. Having released their debut album in 1985, Megadeth became eligible for the Rock Hall in 2010.
Mustaine's previous band, Metallica, were inducted in 2009. He tells Noisey: "In the beginning, the Grammy thing was really important to us. Then, we started to see that it wasn't really as easy as somebody would think, because the people that are on the board, they've gotta listen to 45 Latin records and a bunch of Hawaiian stuff and then Weird Al Yankovich kinds of records.
"So when it comes time to listen to metal, they just go, 'Oh f***, I ain't listening to that, what's the name that I recognize there?' That's why they saw Jethro Tull and went, 'Okay, give Jethro Tull the metal award.'
"There's been some bad ones. But I'm cool with it, if I get the Grammy or if I don't get the Grammy, I've been recognized by my peers a lot, I've been nominated almost a dozen times so at the end of that day it's like, are you satisfied with what you have? I'm content, I'm not satisfied. I'm not giving up yet.
He continues: "I'm hoping that I'll be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, too. But if they don't want me in there, it's okay. I mean, I am in there vis a vis Metallica, and no matter what those guys say or what anybody believes about their induction ceremony, they wouldn't have been there if it wasn't for me being in the band, because I was there in the beginning, so I have some satisfaction." Read more here.
Dave Lombardo Says He Has 'Ended' Philm(Classic Rock)
Dave Lombardo has announced that he's dissolved Philm. The drummer formed the band in 2012 with Civil Defiance frontman Gerry Paul Nestler and guitarist and bassist Pancho Tomaselli of War.
Speculation surrounded the group's future last month, when they pulled two planned shows in Los Angeles and Pomona. The stickman's new punk outfit Dead Cross stepped in to play the dates instead
When asked if the band had split, their label UDR told TeamRock they were still together. But Lombardo says he's no longer associated with the group who released the albums Harmonic in 2012 and Fire From The Evening Sun in 2014.
He tells Let There Be Talk: "I'm not with that band anymore. They didn't want me to promote the band while I was with them, and I'm certainly not going to do it when I'm without them. 'Don't play hard. We want you to play a little softer.' I said, 'Nope.'"
He later posted messages on social media confirming that the band were no more. He says: "To be clear, I did not 'exit' Philm - I ended Philm. Thank you to all who supported that band. Now, I'm off to the studio to do what I love - play the f***in' drums." Listen to the interview here.
Dave Grohl Shares A Favorite Lemmy Memory(Gibson)
Lemmy Kilmister's memorial service took place last weekend in Los Angeles. Many in the rock community were there to honor the late Motörhead frontman, including Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl, who concluded the service with a powerful eulogy.
In his speech, Grohl recalled seeing Kilmister backstage and introducing Kilmister to his family. Kilmister, Grohl said, was smoking and drinking whiskey, but as soon as he came into the dressing room and saw Grohl's baby daughter, he put his cigarette out in his drink.
"To most people, that would seem like nothing, I suppose," Grohl said. "But to me, that was my hero putting out his cigarette into his drink and putting it aside because my daughter was there in the room."
He added, "So I think what everybody has always known or at least learned today is that Lemmy was not only that gun-slinging, whiskey-drinking...rock and roll star, but he had the biggest heart and set such a great example because he was so kind to everyone." Read more here.
Kim Mitchell Recovering From Heart Attack(hennemusic)
Canadian guitarist Kim Mitchell is recovering following a heart attack in Toronto on Tuesday. Mitchell formed the pioneering rock outfit Max Webster in Toronto in 1973.
"Alert Music confirms that Kim Mitchell had a heart attack in the early morning of January 12th," read the official statement on Mitchell's Facebook page.
"After successful emergency surgery, Kim is resting in hospital for another day or two. Doctors tell him it will be 6-8 weeks before he is back to full strength. Kim would like to thank the nurses and doctors at St. Joseph's and St. Michael's hospitals."
Max Webster delivered five studio albums and countless Canadian rock radio classics - including "Battlescar" with Rush - before disbanding in 1981, with the guitarist moving on to a solo career.
Mitchell enjoyed solo Canadian chart success with singles like 1984's "Go For Soda", 1986's "Patio Lanterns" and 1989's "Rock And Roll Duty," among others. Read more and check out some of Kim's hit songs here.
Cage the Elephant Announce Spring Headlining Tour(Gibson)
Cage the Elephant have announced a spring headlining tour behind their latest album, Tell Me I'm Pretty. The Spring Fling Rock AF 2016 tour will kick off on March 11 in Fresno, California, and run through an April 1 stop in Providence, Rhode Island.
Cage the Elephant are bringing a group of musical friends along on Spring Fling Rock AF 2016, including Foals and Beat Hands. Frontman Matt Shultz says the musicians involved with the trek have a lot in common.
"There's a real sense of camaraderie and a shared philosophy amongst all of us on this tour," Shultz said in a statement. "We come from all over the world, but we share a love of music and being on the road. These shows will celebrate that spirit." See the tour dates here.
Monster Truck Release 'Don't Tell Me How To Live' Video(Classic Rock)
Monster Truck have released a video for their track Don't Tell Me How To Live. It's taken from the Canadian band's upcoming album Sittin' Heavy, set for release on February 19 via Mascot Label Group.
Guitarist Jeremy Widerman says the band's sound has been polished by months of touring alongside some of the biggest names in rock. He says: "Touring the last record we've been privileged to play with a lot of great headlining acts.
"For instance, when we opened for Slash we would pick up on how accurately he controls the wah pedal, and we wanted to include some of that in our own songs. Or touring with Alice In Chains and watching their vocal harmonies and realising that we needed to strengthen up in that area - so we did. There are so many little ways to hone our sound."
The band previously issued an audio stream of Don't Tell Me How To Live and also The Enforcer - a track inspired by ice-hockey's hard men. Watch the video here.
Metal Church Releasing New Album 'XI' In March(Classic Rock)
Metal Church have revealed the tracklist and artwork for their 11th album. The new album, entitled XI, will be released on March 25 via Nuclear Blast on CD and limited-edition double red vinyl.
The new effort marks the band's first record with frontman Mike Howe since 1993's Hanging In The Balance. Guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof had the following to say:
"Mike's voice sounds the same as it did two decades ago when we were writing The Human Factor - and the band is about as tight as you can possibly get." Read more here.
Rolling Stones Release Classic 'Angie' Performance Video(hennemusic)
The Rolling Stones are sharing a performance of "Angie" from their latest project "From The Vault: Live In Leeds Roundhay Park 1982." Issued last November, the set captures the finale of the band's 1982 European tour in support of "Tattoo You."
The lead single from 1973's Goats Head Soup" album,, "Angie" was a No. 1 hit in several countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, France, Norway, Switzerland and the Netherlands, while peaking at No. 5 in the band's native UK.
The latest release in the Stones "From The Vault" series was the group's final live performance for 7 years and pianist Ian Stewart's last show before his passing in 1985.
The band have previously issued performance clips of "Some Girls" tracks "When The Whip Comes Down" and "Shattered" from the Leeds show. The Rolling Stones are currently gearing up for their first South American tour in a decade, with shows starting in Santiago, Chile on February 3. Watch the video here.
Dead Swans Hint At Reunion Announcement?(TeamRock Radio)
Dead Swans are hinting strongly that their mooted reunion will happen this year. The hardcore five-piece uploaded a short video clip to Facebook, along with the caption: "2016... announcement soon."
Dead Swans announced their split in 2012 after six years together, having put out three EPs, one full-length and a split LP with metalcore outfit Architects. Their last studio effort was the Anxiety And Everything Else EP, which was released in February 2012 via Bridge 9 Records.
Explaining the split in a 2012 interview with Rocksound, vocalist Nick Worthington said: "Compared to what we were doing a few years ago, the band had slowed down a lot before we even came to the decision.
"I think the main factors are Pid starting his business in London and me moving to Vienna to work at a skateboard distribution company and live with my girlfriend." Read more here.
Ricky Warwick Streams 'When Patsy Cline Was Crazy' Title Track(hennemusic)
Black Star Riders frontman Ricky Warwick is streaming the title track to his forthcoming solo album "When Patsy Cline Was Crazy (And Guy Mitchell Sang The Blues)."
Due February 26, the project is included in a 2CD package that also presents the acoustic record "Hearts On Trees." The singer wrote both albums alongside friend Sam Robinson.
"He handed me these lyrics and my jaw hit the floor," explains Warwick. "They were the lyrics for the title track and that title alone just evoked so many memories for me from my childhood. The strange thing is that Sam and I grew up about a mile apart from each other and supported the same football team, we had the same working class upbringing but never met each other.
"Now here was a guy who wrote in this song about the music that his father listened to, which was the same music that my father listened to - about his father working during the week, having a flutter on the horses on a Saturday, winning money, buddies coming over, the whiskey coming out, the cards coming out and we'd get to be the DJs and get to put the records on."
"And when you're 10 years old," continued the singer, "that was a big thing that you were in charge of the record player. You got to put on Sinatra, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and all these greats, and that was magical.
"Sam and I both had that when we were kids. So as soon as he handed me those lyrics I could hear the song, I could hear the music and I could hear the melody." Stream the song here.
Queensryche Release 'Eye9' Video(hennemusic)
Queensryche are premiering the video for "Eye9", a track from their latest album "Condition Human." Produced by Zeuss (Rob Zombie, Hatebreed, Sanctuary), the project marks vocalist Todd La Torre's second album with the group following their 2013 self-titled release and a split with original singer Geoff Tate.
The group scored a Top 30 debut on the US Billboard 200 with their 15th album, as it entered the chart at No. 27 with opening week sales of 14,000 copies. In advance of its release, the Seattle band previewed the record with the lead single, "Arrow Of Time", and follow-ups "Guardian" and "Hellfire."
Queensryche are currently playing dates on a recently-launched US tour, and will join the Scorpions for a five-night residency in May at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. Watch the video here.
Sunn O))) Announce 'Domkirke' Reissue(Prog)
Sunn O))) will reissue their 2008 live album Domkirke on February 2. The four-track, double LP was recorded at Bergen Cathedral, Norway in 2007, during the Borealis Festival.
The record features a band lineup consisting of Attila Csihar, Tos Nieuwenhuizen, Lasse Marhaug, Steve Moore, Greg Anderson and Stephen O'Malley.
Sunn O))) released their latest studio album Kannon last month - and Anderson gave TeamRock an insight to how the writing process differed from 2009's Monoliths & Dimensions.
He said: "There are no premeditated ideas. Monoliths started out similar, but was developed in a way more complicated way by bringing on extra instrumentation and embracing different musical theories and concepts." Read more here.
Former Yes Stars Anderson, Rabin, Wakeman Confirm New Project(Prog)
More information has been confirmed concerning the plans for the eagerly anticipated supergroup featuring former Yes stars Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman.
Writing on his own Facebook page, Rabin has confirmed: "About the most I can say for now is that we have decided to tour", whilst Jon Anderson has added on his own Facebook page, "at last I will start singing with Trevor and Rick later in the year as ARW, we have been writing some unique songs together, and feel it is time to go out together and perform on stage... all very exciting...".
Meanwhile, Jamie Glaser, who is the guitarist with the Anderson Ponty band has been a little more open on his own Facebook page: "The rumor you may have heard about ARW... Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, and Rick Wakeman.. is entirely true." Read more here.
Mountain Jam To Feature Beck, Gov't Mule, Gary Clark Jr And More(Classic Rock)
Beck, Gov't Mule, Gary Clark Jr, Wilco and the Chris Robinson Brotherhood have been confirmed for this year's Mountain Jam in Hunter Mountain, New York.
The event takes place on June 2-5 and 2016 marks the festival's 12th year. The Chris Robinson Brotherhood say: "Let the CRB set the Mountain Jam Festival free. Pleased to announce that we'll be returning to this raddest of Catskill gatherings in June."
The bill also includes Umphrey's McGee, The London Souls and more. Tickets are on sale via the Mountain Jam website. View a trailer for the event here.
Trivium To Hit Smaller Markets On Upcoming UK Tour(TeamRock Radio)
Trivium have announced a UK tour on which they'll play a number of what they call "smaller" towns. The shows are in support of latest album Silence In The Snow, released last October via Roadrunner.
The metal outfit - who are currently on the road in the US - launch their run of 11 UK dates in Norwich on March 20 and will also perform in York, Kilmarnock and Lincoln.
Frontman Matt Heafy says: "The UK was the first place to ever truly embrace Trivium and make us feel at home. I feel now - at this very moment in time - Trivium is a better live band than we have ever been. For us to pay true homage to the place who took us in first, we can now give them the Trivium they have always deserved."
The decision to play smaller towns came about as a result of repeated requests by fans. See the dates here.
Headspace Stream New Song 'Your Life Will Change'(Prog)
Headspace have released a stream of their track Your Life Will Change. The song comes from their All That You Fear Is Gone album, out on February 26 via InsideOut.
The album sees Threshold frontman Damian Wilson and Ozzy Osbourne keyboardist Adam Wakeman reunite for the follow-up to 2012's I Am Anonymous. They're joined on the record by guitarist Pete Rinaldi, bassist Lee Pomeroy and drummer Adam Falkner.
Wilson says of the track: "We have a natural need to better ourselves, our situation and future. This is part of the human survival instinct and is encouraged and fed by the world we live in.
"Despite being aware that the real value is in the here and now, we find ourselves brushed along. But is it truly possible to opt out from this merry go round?"
He continues: "Your Life Will Change references past civilizations to modern entertainment. We are distracted and controlled by a society. But what happens if we really break away from the group and ignore the ideal we're being sold? Will we become gods or fallen angels?" Stream the song here.
Stevie Nimmo Announces New Solo Album 'Sky Won't Fall'(Classic Rock)
Stevie Nimmo will release his latest solo album Sky Won't Fall on March 4. He and his brother Alan announced in June last year that they'd take a break from playing together in the Nimmo Brothers to concentrated on individual projects.
Alan has been concentrating on King King, while Stevie's been focusing on his solo work. Stevie says: "I wanted Sky Won't Fall to have as broad a musical spectrum as possible to showcase a bit of every side of my song writing.
"There's rock, blues, country, pop-rock and even acoustic. It really is a good representation of what I do." The album, produced by King King drummer Wayne Proctor, will be released via Manhaton Records. Read more and see the artwork and track details here.
PiL Announce European Tour(TeamRock Radio)
Public Image Limited are setting off on a European tour in May, which includes 11 UK dates. Fronted by former Sex Pistol John Lydon, the four-piece are kickstarting the 22-date run in Valencia Noize Club, Spain, on May 6, and wrapping up at Sheffield's O2 Academy, UK, on June 7.
Last year the band released What The World Needs Now, the follow-up to 2012's This is PiL - which was their first studio effort in 20 years after they went on hiatus in 1993.
The band released a video for their track Bettie Page last year, and also performed Double Trouble on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. See the upcoming tour dates and ticket information here.
Behemoth's Nergal Hints At Influences On Next Album(TeamRock Radio)
Nergal says that he has been inspired by the "avant-garde" when writing Behemoth's upcoming record. The frontman previously said that the follow-up to 2014's The Satanist would be a "new chapter" for the band which would redefine their music.
And Adam 'Nergal' Darski reveals he listens to classic rock bands and artists from other genres when writing a record - admitting he's "getting more into blues" as he grows older.
Nergal tells Asq me: "Theres some rigid strength in the punk scene - they have this thing that makes you come back to the origins like a boomerang. I drift away, then come back to classic heavy metal, punk, goth. I'm not a big goth fan but Fields Of The Nephilim is a classic. Once in a while I rediscover them for myself, like Bauhaus and Siekiera, Sabbath, David Bowie coming back with a new record."
Nergal also says that it's "crucial" that younger fans explore the roots of rock and metal by listening to bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and the Beatles - and that they should check out blues artists including Howling Wolf, Robert Johnson and Buddy Guy." Read more here.
Hexvessel Release 'Cosmic Truth' Video(Prog)
Hexvessel have released a video for their track Cosmic Truth with TeamRock. The song features on the Finnish psych-folk outfit's latest album When We Are Death, out on January 29 via Century Media.
Singer and guitarist Mat McNerney says: "For our first video from When We Are Death, we chose one of the most poignant and personal songs from the record. This piece called Cosmic Truth goes to the heart of what Hexvessel is about, both lyrically and musically, as we present a track which is direct and pure in its message and sound.
"For a deep enlightening knowledge of real true love, through a close relationship to nature and mother earth, you will be able to experience the Cosmic Truth this universe has to offer."
McNerney says they chose to include time-lapse visuals of Finnish nature by filmmaker Riku Karjalainen in the promo so viewers could "gain a glimpse into the divine spirits of our most beautiful surroundings, which illuminate and inform all our work."
He continues: "We hope this song and video can bring some of nature's light, life and warmth into your winter days and the peace in certainty that nature's death and rebirth can instill in us all." Watch the video here.
Dave Grohl Gets Birthday Serenade From Ethiopian Students(Radio.com)
Dave Grohl turned 47 today (Jan. 14). He received an early birthday gift earlier this week when a teacher posted a video of his students in Ethiopia singing a Nirvana classic.
Peace Corps volunteer Matt Westerberg began teaching his students at Yechelia Secondary School the lyrics to "Smells Like Teen Spirit" to help them learn English. The class wrote a message along with the clip that read, "Special birthday wishes to legendary drummer Dave Grohl."
NME reports Westerberg said he originally began teaching his class the lyrics to "Smells Like Teen Spirit" as a joke. "I thought it would be funny to have the kids try and learn it. They laughed their way through it. The next day, they demanded to try it again," he explained. "After a while we went through most of the song day by day as a motivational tool. At first it was all just a joke, but after awhile, the students began to really build confidence through learning the song." Check it out here.
Chris Jericho's WWE Fame A Hurdle To Rock Fans With Fozzy(TeamRock Radio)
Fozzy frontman Chris Jericho says his WWE wrestling fame can make it difficult for potential fans to take the band seriously. The singer juggles his music career with his role as a WWE Superstar and says it can often prove a hurdle to rock fans.
Jericho tells TeamRock presenter Pete Bailey's The Playlist Podcast: "Because I have notoriety from another area, that works against Fozzy. People think it's some kind of a novelty thing. Not as much any more, but you still get people who say, 'Yeah I've heard of them, but I've never listened to them - it's Jericho.'
"Then I get tweets every day, 'I just listened to Fozzy for the first time...why did I wait so long?' And that's just how it goes. It doesn't matter what band you're in, you've still got to hustle. And when you get people interested in your band, you still have to give them their money's worth. You still have to give them more than they paid for." Read more here.
David Bowie's Diamond Dogs Changed Marilyn Manson's Life(Classic Rock)
Marilyn Manson has told how David Bowie's Diamond Dogs changed his life "forever." The shock-rocker paid a heartfelt tribute to the late star in an article written for Rolling Stone.
Manson says: "My first introduction to David Bowie was watching Ashes To Ashes on MTV. I was confused and captivated. But it wasn't until my first real stay in Los Angeles, around 1997, that someone told me to take a moment to listen to something other than Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane and Hunky Dory. So I went for a dizzying car ride through the Hollywood Hills and listened to Diamond Dogs.
"All of my nostalgia instantly turned to awe. I was hearing him sing about fiction as a mask to show his naked soul. This changed my life forever. Every song of his was a way for me to communicate to others. It was a sedative. An arousal. A love letter I could never have written.
"It has become and remains a soundtrack to a movie he painted with his voice and guitar. He sang, 'Hope, it's a cheap thing.' I don't need hope to know that he has found his way to the place that equals his untouchable, chameleon-genius beauty." Read more here.
Children Of Bodom's Alexi Laiho Reveals Fleetwood Mac Inspiration(TeamRock Radio)
Children Of Bodom singer and guitarist Alexi Laiho says he's trying to improve his playing style - by copying Fleetwood Mac mainman Lindsey Buckingham. Laiho's been playing since he was 12 years old but reports that he still manages to find new ways to challenge himself.
He tells Music Radar: "This might surprise some people, but I've been on a huge Lindsey Buckingham trip recently and listening to his playing in Fleetwood Mac.
"I always thought there were two guitar players playing together, but it was just him doing all that Travis picking stuff. That's how good he is. I thought, 'You f***in' a**hole, how is that possible?'
"So that's actually something I'm working on right now and it's hard - like a whole different sport. In many ways, it was the same drive I felt when I first saw someone sweep picking - I had no choice but to try and master it. If you keep your eyes open and observe, there's always something out there to learn." Read more here.
Fish Announces Euro Leg Of Farewell To Childhood Tour(Classic Rock)
Fish has announced a 17-date European tour. The latest leg of his Farewell To Childhood trek has been set up following the postponement of dates scheduled for late last year. Some gigs were called off following the singer's viral infection and keyboardist John Beck's arm break.
And while reshuffling the tour, the former Marillion man realized he was able to slot in an additional six UK appearances. Fish says: "Having lost the two German shows at the beginning of the last tour and the three Dutch shows, I had to find a way to fulfil the gigs and at the same time make sense of the logistics and expense of an awkward routing and venue availabilities.
"I decided to add some shows to fill the gaps and give me a short run in the UK and into Europe. What we have come up with is 17 dates that fit in with the availability of the band members and the bus - as well as get to some places we didn't play on the previous tour." Read more and see the dates here.
Latitudes Announce Old Sunlight Album Release Party(Prog)
Latitudes have announced they'll hold a launch party for their album Old Sunlight in London on February 5. Support on the night will be provided by Telepathy and PSOTY, with both bands playing sets featuring new material.
The event to mark the release of their third record and follow-up to 2012's Individuation will be held at the Chaos Theory's monthly night The Facemelter, at the The Black Heart, Camden, on February 5.
Old Sunlight is said to be a "captivating structure of monstrously heavy riffs and haunting mellifluous vocals surrounded by an impressive maze of curving and twisting melodies." Read more here.
Tony Patterson Releases Equations Of Meaning Album Preview(Prog)
Tony Patterson has released a teaser video for his fifth solo album Equations Of Meaning, which is scheduled to be released on February 26 via Cherry Red Records.
The multi-instrumentalist and frontman of cover band ReGenesis' latest effort is said to feature "beautiful soundscapes with heartfelt, wistful songs dealing with such subjects as loss, longing and even a cynical observation of social media."
Patterson is joined on the record by Brendan Eyre, Nick Magnus, Andy Gray, Adrian Jones, Doug Melbourne and Fred Arlington. Check out the tracklisting and the teaser video here.
Davina And The Vagabonds Announce Nicollet And Tenth Album(The Blues)
Davina And The Vagabonds will release a live album in March after a widespread American tour. The band's first live release, Nicollet And Tenth, will be issued on March 25.
It was recorded in a Minneapolis jazz club and follows the band's two studio albums, 2011's Black Cloud and 2014's Sunshine. Singer Davina Sowers had the following say: "On the corner of Nicollet And Tenth, in downtown Minneapolis, lies a moody jazz club called the Dakota.
"The Vagabonds and I have been playing there for over 10 years. It is our second home and we are welcoming you to come in, grab a drink, and listen to us play our hearts out to you." Read more and see the upcoming tour dates here.
All-Star 'Johnny B Goode' Cover Helping To Fund Documentary(The Blues)
Sales of a star-studded cover version of Chuck Berry classic Johnny B Goode will help fund a planned documentary about the song. Grammy winners Michael McDonald and David Sanborn joined forces with producer and drummer Mike Mesey and guitarist Steve Scorfina for their new version of the track – which also features piano by the late Johnnie Johnson, who inspired the song.
The version was recorded in New York, St Louis and Los Angeles and the seeds were sown years ago when Mesey asked Johnson to play piano on a recording of Johnny B. Goode. Johnson ended up providing the only studio recording of him ever playing the song.
Years after Johnson's death in 2005, Mesey heard a lap steel guitar performance by Scorfina, formerly of Pavlov's Dog and REO Speedwagon, and immediately thought of Johnson's piano tracks. They roped in McDonald, Sanborn and Jimmy Vivino to help complete the song. Read more here.
Textures Stream New Song 'Illuminate The Trail'(TeamRock Radio)
Textures have released a stream for the track Illuminate The Trail. The song is taken from their forthcoming record Phenotype, which will be released via Nuclear Blast on February 5. The Dutch six-piece are also putting out a follow-up concept album, Genotype, next year.
Founding member and drummer Stef Broks recently told TeamRock: "I had to halt the guys and say, 'Listen, do we really want to make just another album? Or do we want to do something completely different?'
"I knew we couldn't just write 10 songs for a new record and think that was going to be enough. This is our fifth album, and traditionally that's a very important step for a band. It's where reputations are cemented.
"We could carry on as normal, or we could really strive to make a statement. So we made the decision – we were going to make something that would make the fans sit up and take notice. Something we'd never even attempted before." Stream the song here.
Black Sabbath Releasing New Songs For Farewell Tour(hennemusic)
Black Sabbath will issue four unreleased songs from the sessions for their 2013 album, "13", as part of a new limited-edition CD available only during shows on their upcoming farewell tour.
The band are packaging "Season Of The Dead", "Cry All Night", "Take Me Home" and "Isolated Man" on "The End" CD alongside four live tracks from the "13" world tour.
With original artwork by Shepard Fairey of the Obey Giant street art campaign, the extras from the "13" sessions feature Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler with drummer Brad Wilk, while the live material presents the three original Sabbath members rounded out by touring drummer Tommy Clufetos and keyboardist Adam Wakeman.
Last November, Iommi revealed the group were planning to issue the unused tracks but weren't quite sure what form the package might take at that point. "For the last LP we did record 16 songs (and only used 12)," said the guitarist, "so we may still put something out from that. We don't know yet."
Black Sabbath will launch the farewell tour on January 20 in Omaha, NE. Read more here.
The Ghost Inside Member Lost Leg In Tour Bus Crash(TeamRock Radio)
The Ghost Inside's drummer Andrew Tkaczyk has confirmed that he lost his right leg in last year's fatal bus crash. The band were involved in an accident in El Paso, Texas, on November 19 last year. Their driver Greg Hoke died, along with the driver of the other vehicle involved, Steven Cunningham. Guitarist Zach Johnson, frontman Jonathan Vigil and Tkaczyk were airlifted to hospital and were in a critical condition.
In an Instagram post, Tkaczyk reveals he lost a leg as a result of the crash and also details a string of other injuries. But he insists he'll play the drums again. Tkaczyk says: "So the rumors are true everyone. Unfortunately I did lose my leg in this accident.
"This is one injury among many others such as fractures in my ribs, spine, and hip along with some ligament tears in my rotator cuff and labrum. I have remained in positive and good spirits since I woke up from a 10-day coma in November to the sight of my missing leg. Not going to let it stop me.
"I don't care what anyone says. It's a long road ahead, but I will play drums again. Can't wait to get back on the kit. Couldn't have dealt with this without the love and support from my brothers in TGI and crew, friends, fans and family. Thank you all." Read more here.
Led Zeppelin's Stairway To Heaven Lawsuit Update(hennemusic)
Led Zeppelin are being accused for undertaking "a pure fishing expedition" by attorneys representing the estate of Spirit guitarist Randy California (Wolfe) in the copyright-infringement lawsuit against the band over "Stairway To Heaven."
The suit claims the acoustic introduction to 1971's "Stairway" was lifted from Spirit's 1968 instrumental "Taurus." The Wrap reports attorneys for plaintiff Michael Skidmore - trustee for the Randy Craig Wolfe Trust which, according to the papers, owns Wolfe's copyrights - slammed Led Zeppelin for questioning the validity of the trust in papers filed on Tuesday.
"There is no evidence to cast even the slightest bit of shade on the validity of the Trust, nor have Defendants argued that there is any real reason to doubt the validity of the Trust," the papers read. "This is a pure fishing expedition."
Led Zeppelin's camp contends that the Wolfe trust is only valid if it is a qualified charitable foundation or other qualified entity, and claims that Skidmore's legal team hasn't provided evidence to that effect. Read more and listen to both songs here.
David Bowie Tribute Concert Adds Second Night(Radio.com)
Due to overwhelming demand, a second date has been added to the David Bowie memorial concert in New York City. According to The New York Times, Cat Power, Perry Farrell, Heart's Ann Wilson and the Polyphonic Spree will perform at the April 1 show at Radio City Music Hall.
As previously reported, the March 31 show will feature performances from Michael Stipe, The Roots, Jakob Dylan, Cyndi Lauper and Farrell. That show will take place at Carnegie Hall.
The tribute concerts turned into a memorial following Bowie's death on January. David Bowie's longtime producer Tony Visconti will lead the house band for both shows. Read more here.
Avenged Sevenfold In Legal Fight With Their Record Label(TeamRock Radio)
Avenged Sevenfold are being sued by Warner Brothers Records for an alleged breach of contract. A7X are trying to walk away from their deal with the label using California's so-called 'seven-year rule' which allows parties to leave contracts after that period has passed.
But under an amendment to the law introduced in the 1980s, record companies can claim lost profits on uncompleted albums, which is what Warner Brothers intends to do, according to Billboard.
A7X's lawyer Howard E King says: "Avenged Sevenfold recently exercised the rights given them by this law and ended its recording agreement with Warner Bros Records.
King adds that, since A7X signed the deal with Warner in 2004, the label has undergone "multiple regime changes that led to dramatic turnover at every level of the company, to the point where no one on the current A&R staff has even a nodding relationship with the band."
Warner Brothers claim that the band owe them a live album to complete the terms of the contract and the label say that they've already paid for it. Read more here.
Metallica Release Statement About Tribute Band Controversy(hennemusic)
Metallica have cancelled a cease and desist order against a Canadian tribute band called Sandman and apologized for what they call "a very overzealous attorney who sent this letter without our knowledge."
Last weekend, Sandman received a package from Metallica'a lawyers before a show at a London, Ontario club with a 41-page document threatening legal action over the use of the group's name and trademarked, official, stylized logos.
Billed as "Canada's tribute to Metallica," Sandman promote themselves with a stylized logo that appears similar to branding used by the veteran metal outfit.
Once the news made international headlines, it caught the band's attention and they stepped in to correct the situation. "We hear that a Canadian Metallica tribute band is a little upset with us and with a little digging figured out why," posted the band on their website. "It turns out that a certain letter was delivered to the band Sandman that neither we nor our management were aware of until it surfaced online. Lucky for us, the band was kind enough to post it for us to see, and it turns out that we have a very overzealous attorney who sent this letter without our knowledge.
"We have a long history of not only enjoying tribute bands, but we started as one. Heck, we even recorded a two-disc album of covers! We will always remember those days and continue to enjoy tribute bands, even inviting them to support us on various tours over the years.
"Sandman should file the letter in the trash, we've spoken to Joe Di Taranto of the band and it's all good. Keep doing what you're doing... we totally support you! And in the meantime our attorney can be found at SFO catching a flight to go permanently ice fishing in Alaska." Read more here.
Saxon Announce Eagles And Dragons Box Set(Classic Rock)
Saxon have announced the release of a vinyl box set featuring nine albums recorded between 1991 and 2009. Demon Records will issue Eagles And Dragons on March 18 and it marks the first time the albums have been made available on vinyl outside Germany, Italy and the UK.
The LPs are pressed on luxury 180-gram vinyl and include inner sleeves with lyrics, presented in a hand-numbered outer slipcase box with a specially commissioned cover painting by artist Paul Gregory.
In addition, 500 copies with a framable print of the cover signed by frontman Biff Byford will be available exclusively via Demon's online store. Read more here.
Rolling Stones Art The Subject Of New Exhibit(Classic Rock)
Visual artist Geronimo, aka Jumping Bull, is showing many of his Rolling Stones creations at the The Club at Cafe Royal in Regent Street in Londay. The viewing runs until January 31.
Admission is free of charge, but fans can register to attend by filling in the contact form on Geronimo's website. The site also carries further details about the event. "From the sofa to the Coca Cola tongue, my new collection has around thirty pieces," says Geronimo.
A special launch night takes place on January 21. Geronimo has invited several members of the Rolling Stones, but admits he has no idea whether anybody from the group will swing on by. "I don't really want to comment on that, or hundreds of thousands of people will want to attend," he says.
Having grown up on a North Dakota reservation, the self-taught Geronimo first met the Stones in 2006, and they became a huge part of his life. "Andy Warhol did pop art, I do rock art," he tells Classic Rock. Surprisingly, he sees only in black and white, although he's known for using a range of vivid colours. This is the legacy of a fight that left him blind for three months. Read more and see some of the images here.
Driver Facing Homicide Charges In Crash That Killed Three Musicians(TeamRock Radio)
A man has been charged with three counts of homicide for his part in a car crash that killed three musicians last year. Sergio Jose Quesada, 28, is charged with DUI (driving under the influence), failing to maintain a lane and three counts of first degree homicide by vehicle. The crash happened in Jackson County, Georgia, on April 6 last year.
Online Athens reports that Quesada was driving the vehicle which was carrying members of bands Khaotika and Wormreich. Paul Truesdell and Ian McKinney (aka Nazgul Vathron) of Wormreich and Khaotika's Nicholas Crisostomo died at the scene.
The van was on the I-85 highway as the bands were heading to Atlanta for a show. Eight other people were treated in hospital for their injuries, with three of those said to have been in a critical condition. Read more here.
Lamb Of God Star Doesn't Think A Metal Grammy Is Relevant(TeamRock Radio)
Chris Adler says he'll give his Grammy to his mum if Lamb Of God win the prize for Best Metal Performance at this year's ceremony. The band's track 512 is up against Slipknot song Custer, Ghost's Cirice, Sevendust's Thank You and August Burns Red's Identity for the honour at the 58th annual Grammy Awards, which takes place on February 15 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
But the drummer says he doesn't even think heavy metal has a place at an awards ceremony that 'doesn't understand' the genre. He tells Elliot In The Morning: "This is not the kind of award that we aim for when we're writing music. And metal, for me, shouldn't really even be a part of it.
"In the way that the Grammy awards has presented itself, it's basically a pop show. As far as songwriting, it comes down to lyrics and melody. Metal, to me, is not supposed to be popular. It's not supposed to be awarded, it's the music for outsiders. It's rebellious and a little more aggressive than most people would want to deal with.
"I'm glad that it's represented there, but I don't think there's method in place there that really understands what we're doing. Yes, I respect the artists that we're up against, but basically it's a popularity contest when we get there." Read more here.
Black Veil Brides Tease New Music In Online Video(TeamRock Radio)
Black Veil Brides have uploaded a seven-second Instagram video from the studio which hints at the sound of their forthcoming release. The metalcore five-piece are once again working with Goldfinger frontman John Feldmann on the successor to 2014's self-titled full-length.
They first worked with the producer on their record Wretched And Divine: The Story Of The Wild Ones two years ago. Black Veil Brides announced to fans last month that they were re-entering the studio to begin pre-production on album number five.
Frontman Andy Biersack previously told Jagermeister UK that the band are under less pressure than before when writing music. He said: "We've never had an opportunity, in all of our career, to make a record that had some time behind it.
"Every record that we've done has been a really quick turnaround, and that's not by design - that's because, times being what they are, the record label goes, 'Give us a record now.'
"And we go, 'We wanna do this crazy concept record.' And they go, 'Well, you have two months to do it. So good luck with that.' Now, by virtue of the fans, we've got an opportunity to take a little bit of time." Read more and watch the video here.
Supersonic Blues Machine Stream New Song Featuring Warren Haynes(Classic Rock)
Supersonic Blues Machine have released a lyric video for their track The Remedy featuring Warren Haynes. It's lifted from the supergroup's debut album West Of Flushing, South Of Frisco - out February 26 via Mascot Label Group.
The band were formed by Fabrizio Grossi, Lance Lopez and Kenny Aronoff and along with Haynes' contribution, the record also features Billy Gibbons, Walter Trout, Robben Ford, Eric Gales and Chris Duarte.
Grossi says: "More than a band, I like to see this entity as a party - a party with hosts and a bunch of friends coming over. Without the blues there is no soul and without the soul there is no feeling and groove and tension. It's our own respectful tribute to what blues means to us." Check out the song here.
Cheap Trick And Heart Launching Summer Tour(hennemusic)
Heart are teaming up with Joan Jett and Cheap Trick for the Rock Hall Three For All US tour. The 31-date run marks the trio's connection as Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees: Heart in 2013, Jett in 2015 and Cheap Trick this year.
Cheap Trick will enter the Rock Hall during an April 8 ceremony at New York's Barclays Center alongside Deep Purple, Steve Miller, Chicago and N.W.A.
The tour begins July 14 at the DTE Energy Music Theater in Clarkson, MI and will wrap up in West Palm Beach, FL in late September. See the dates and ticket info here.
Spiritual Beggars Announce New Album 'Sunrise To Sundown'(Classic Rock)
Spiritual Beggars have announced that their ninth record Sunrise To Sundown will be released in March. It will be available via InsideOut Music in Europe from March 18 and in North America from March 25. The Swedish supergroup will then set off on a European tour in support of the album on March 28.
The members admit that they juggled writing the record over the past couple of years while playing in other big name bands, such as Arch Enemy, Candlemass and Grand Magus.
Spiritual Beggars reissued classic titles Another Way To Shine, MantraIII, Ad Astra and On Fire on vinyl last year. Their last studio release was Earth Blues in 2013.
Frontman Michael Amott says: "I'm super excited about how the album sounds sonically. I think every album we have made has had its own vibe and atmosphere." Read more and see the tour dates here.
Black Tusk Stream New Song 'Desolation In Endless Times'(TeamRock Radio)
Black Tusk have released a stream of their track Desolation In Endless Times. The song is taken from their fifth album Pillars Of Ash, which is out on January 29 via Relapse Records.
It'll be the Georgia outfit's first full-length since the death of founding bassist Jonathan Athon. He died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash in 2014. The album features Athon's final recordings with the band.
Guitarist Andrew Fidler and drummer James May recruited former Kylesa bassist Corey Barhorst for their live shows. They'll head out on a North American tour later this month. Stream the song here.
Steel Panther Release Acoustic 'That's When You Came In' Video(Classic Rock)
Steel Panther have released a live acoustic video of them performing previously unreleased song That's When You Came In. It's taken from the band's upcoming release Live From Lexxi's Mom's Garage, issued on February 26 on their own Open E Records via Kobalt Label Services. A CD version will be available, as well as a CD/DVD combo which includes their first full-length film.
The film presents a 10-song acoustic concert of their most popular songs recorded in Los Angeles last October in front of a live audience of 100 female fans.
On the release, bassist Foxx says: "It was so much fun playing our songs on these new wooden guitars in my mom's garage. Satchel says that he might be my new dad, but I'm not really sure what that means." Watch the video here.
An Evening With Neil Young Coming To Movie Theaters(Radio.com)
An Evening with Neil Young will arrive in theaters for one night only on February 29. It begins with a showing of the 1982 film Human Highway, followed by Young's 1979 concert film Rust Never Sleeps.
The night will be capped off with a live Q&A with the iconic singer and songwriter hosted by Cameron Crowe. The critically-acclaimed musical comedy Human Highway, which stars the late-Dennis Hopper, Dean Stockwell and the members of Devo, will be seen in an all new digital restoration. Young co-directed and co-write the film with Stockwell and also stars in the post-apocalyptic cult classic.
Young's full-length feature film Rust Never Sleeps captures his spectacular live show and was recorded on October 22, 1978 in San Francisco. It features his most popular songs including "Cinnamon Girl," "Like a Hurricane" and both the acoustic and electric versions of "Hey Hey, My My."
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