Black Sabbath And Bill Ward Dispute Over Final Show Claims(hennemusic)
The feud between Black Sabbath members over failed attempts to fully reunite ahead of their farewell tour continues. Things flared up last week when bassist Geezer Butler said that drummer Bill Ward was not healthy enough to tour behind the group's 2013 album "13", which prompted an immediate denial from Ward.
Now, Butler claims Ward has been invited to perform at the band's final US show in Phoenix, AZ on September 16. "It's been mentioned to him," the bassist tells Radio.com. "But he doesn't want to do it. He wants to do the whole tour or nothing. We'd love him to come on at the very last gig and be part of the whole thing, but he didn't want to do that. And I understand: I wouldn't want to be asked to come out just for the last gig. It's a shame, but that's the way it is."
"If he's there, he's welcome," says Ozzy Osbourne. "But I don't really want to talk too much about Bill Ward! Because every time I do, he starts getting pissed off at me! Things are quiet between us right now, you know?"
"It's a shame that Bill won't be a part of it, but whatever happened, happened," adds Butler. "It's great that at least the three of us can end it on a high note and be friends together. I still get on with Bill, I saw him last year at some award show. We got on great, we had a laugh together. It's not personal, as Bill would say, it's business."
Ward denies the invitation and has stepped up to issue his side of the story. "I must respond once again to inaccurate statements made by Geezer," writes Ward on Facebook. "I never received an offer to play the final show of The End tour with Black Sabbath. When the tour was confirmed, my management reached out to the Black Sabbath management to inquire as to whether or not they would like to discuss my participation in the tour. We were told there was no interest. That is last conversation we had with them regarding the tour.
"I will say that I wouldn't want to play only one gig when I am completely capable of touring. I would not validate their untrue statements about my health by playing only one gig. Also, I wouldn't want to show up for only some of our fans and not for all our fans when I could have played multiple shows." Read more here.
Journey and Santana Teaming Up For Spring Concerts(hennemusic)
Journey and Santana are teaming up to perform three shows this spring to help launch "Santana IV", a reunion record featuring members of both bands.
Due April 15, the project sees Journey guitarist Neal Schon and keyboardist Gregg Rolie regroup with Carlos Santana and drummer Michael Shrieve, among others.
The two bands will play New York's Madison Square Garden on April 13, the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT on April 15 and the PPL Center in Allentown, PA on April 16.
Schon and Rolie were members of Santana before leaving in 1972 to form Journey alongside former Santana manager Herbie Herbert. Journey will follow the April series with a North American tour starting in May that will see the band joined by The Doobie Brothers and guest Dave Mason. Read more here.
Brian Wilson Celebrating 'Pet Sounds' Anniversary With Tour(Radio.com)
Brian Wilson, founding member of The Beach Boys, has announced a tour to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his former band's classic album, Pet Sounds.
The album, originally released on May 16, 1966 is considered to be one of the greatest albums of all time, and will be performed in its entirety by Wilson and his band as they will be joined by former Beach Boys Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin.
"It's really been a trip to sit here and think about releasing Pet Sounds 50 years ago," says Wilson. 'I love performing this album with my band and look forward to playing it for fans all across the world."
Show starts in Australia on March 26th and will end in California on October 14th at Harrah's Casino in Lake Tahoe. Tickets will go on presale January 27 and then go officially on sale January 29th. See the dates here.
Iggy Pop and Josh Homme Stream New Track 'Break Into Your Skin'(Radio.com)
Iggy Pop and Josh Homme continue revealing what their upcoming album Post Pop Depression will entail. After appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Jan. 21 to premiere the album's first single "Gardenia," the pair released "Break Into Your Heart" Monday (Jan. 25).
Loaded with reverb, Iggy's vocals hover against a guitar riff that would make Queen's of the Stone Age proud. The song's subdued rock sound, replete with heady sustain, has a traipsing rhythm to it that contrasts the forceful lyrics.
"I'm going to break into your heart/ I'm going to crawl under your skin/ I'm going to break into your heart and follow/ Until I get under your skin/ And the wall comes tumbling down/ And you finally let me in/ I break into your heart," Iggy sings on the song.
Post Pop Depression drops March 18th. Listen here.
Jimmy Bain's Death News Leaked Online Before Family Informed(Classic Rock)
Last In Line drummer Vinny Appice has revealed the band's frustration that news of Jimmy Bain's death went online before they'd had time to tell his family.
And he's suggested some people only spread the word because they wanted to "attach themselves to a tragedy." Bain passed away at the weekend on Def Leppard's cruising festival, while Last In Line geared up for the launch of debut album Heavy Crown. He was 68.
Close friends of the veteran bassist began posting online tributes to him soon after he'd died - but that was before his relatives had been informed. Appice says: "We are very sad about the news, and in shock. The band are also saddened that the news leaked out before we were able to contact Jimmy's family.
"Within an hour and a half it was all over the internet, confirmed by people that have no business confirming anything about this, and not knowing the facts of the situation. We apologies to Jimmy's family, and Jimmy's memory." Read more here.
David Bowie's Blackstar Remains At No. 1(hennemusic)
David Bowie's final album, "Blackstar", has earned a second week at the top of the UK charts. The Official Charts Company reports the project sold just over 80,000 combined sales to maintain its hold on No. 1.
Bowie continues to dominate the charts in his native land with 8 more entries in the Top 40, including two in the Top 10: his 2002 retrospective "Best Of Bowie" leaps from 18 to No. 3, while 2014's "Nothing Has Changed" lands at No. 6.
Outside of the Top 10, 1971's "Hunky Dory" climbs two places to No. 12, 1972's "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars" slips two to No. 19, 2013's "The Next Day" moves up one to No. 24, 1977's "Low" holds steady at No. 31 and 1983's "Let's Dance" climbs 7 into the No. 35 spot.
The music icon died on January 10, just two days after his 69th birthday and the release of "Blackstar." Read more here.
Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony Share Favorite Sunset Strip Memories(hennemusic)
Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony can be seen sharing memories of the Sunset Strip in behind the scenes footage from Hagar's new AXS-TV series Rock & Roll Road Trip.
The pair teamed up at the Whisky A Go Go - where Van Halen were once the house band in the 70s - to talk about the club's legendary history. "I was in high school when Black Sabbath played their first US tour and they played here," explains Anthony. "Except that night I couldn't get in. We drove up and down and stood outside and listened."
"Rhinoceros - they were from L.A.," says Hagar. "Kind of a band that never made it but when I was coming up they were my favorite band. And I came to see them and they were opening for Steppenwolf. It just happened that I got to see Steppenwolf, too."
Hagar's 6 episode AXS-TV series sees the Red Rocker drive across the country to jam with some of music's biggest names, including Tommy Lee of Motley Crue, Bob Weir and Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead, Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson, Alice Cooper and Alice In Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell. Watch the video clip here.
Bruce Springsteen Releases Free Concert Audio After Canceled Show(Radio.com)
Bruce Springsteen was forced to cancel his Madison Square Garden gig Sunday night due to Winter Storm Jonas, but had a special consolation gift for fans up his sleeve.
Springsteen has released audio from his January 19 Chicago show for free download over a two-day window. Springsteen followers will immediately know that's the evening the Boss paid tribute to Glenn Frey of The Eagles with a touching rendition of "Take It Easy."
His Madison Square Garden stops will resume on January 27, Springsteen has released recordings of all of the concerts on his tours since 2012 (and select shows from before that) for $9.95 on mp3, $23 on CD. Read more here.
Last In Line Tribute Jimmy Bain With Two New Music Video(hennemusic)
Dio-offshoot Last In Line has released two new music videos as a tribute to bassist Jimmy Bain, who passed away on January 24 at the age of 68. News of Bain's death came as the band were scheduled to perform on Def Leppard's Hysteria On The High Seas cruise this past week.
"Today, we release two videos from our upcoming album in tribute to the memory of our very own Jimmy Bain," posted the band on Monday. "The first official lyric video for 'Blame It On Me'" and the official music video for 'Starmaker.'
"A few weeks ago, we had scheduled the release of the lyric video for January 25. Instead of delaying the premiere of this song and the next one - which we had scheduled for release February 1 - we want to release both songs and videos today in celebration of Jimmy's life and music. RIP #JimmyBain."
Both songs will be featured on Last In Line's debut album, "Heavy Crown", which will be released on February 19. The group features Bain, Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell, drummer Vinny Appice and vocalist Andrew Freeman. Watch the videos here.
Pearl Jam Help Raise $300K For Flint Water Crisis(Classic Rock)
Pearl Jam have helped raise $300,000 to help the victims of the Flint water crisis in Michigan. Eddie Vedder and co donated $125,000 of their own money to the United Way of Genesee county's Flint Water Fund.
Live Nation, the group's record label Republic Records, Universal Music Publishing Group, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, Glaser Progress Foundation, Brandi Carlile's Looking Out Foundation and Ticketmaster threw in an additional $175,000 to the pot, bringing the total donation to $300,000.
The Seattle band also kickstarted a crowdfunding campaign on Crowdrise to help Flint residents purchase water filters, bottled water, emergency support services and prevention efforts.
Flint Mayor Karen Weaver declared a state of emergency in December last year after it was revealed that a dangerous amount of lead was contaminating the water flowing into residents' homes. The city had begun pumping water from Flint River instead of Detroit in April 2014, after it underwent a temporary water supply switchover to cut costs. Read more here.
Testament New Album Plans Were Delayed By Slayer Tour(Classic Rock)
Thrash veterans Testament say only the prospect of their upcoming tour with Slayer and Carcass has kept them out of the studio. Guitarist Eric Peterson insists the band would be recording the follow-up to 2012's acclaimed Dark Roots Of Earth album if it wasn't for the mouthwatering prospect of the live dates.
Drummer Gene Hoglan is set to return for the album. Hoglan has been working with Death and Dark Angel, with his place with Testament being filled by Alex Bent.
The Slayer/Testament/Carcass trek launches on February 19 in Chicago and sees the three bands touring the States for five weeks, climaxing with a show in Las Vegas.
Peterson, the band's sole remaining original member, tells Dean Guitars: "Right after the tour we're getting in the studio and we're gonna be doing the new record.
"Basically, we would be going into the studio if it wasn't for the fact that Slayer asked us to do a tour. When we got the offer, we were like 'Slayer...' And then I saw Carcass mentioned and I was like, 'Oh my God. That's killer - maybe the record could wait a couple more months." Watch the full interview here.
Gary Holt Receives Guitar Painted In His Own Blood(Classic Rock)
Slayer guitarist Gary Holt has been presented with a guitar painted in his own blood - and he's planning to use it during the band's upcoming tour. He agreed to allow surrealist artist Vincent Castiglia to draw some of his blood after a Slayer concert in New York last year. Castiglia used it to decorate a Gary Holt Signature ESP instrument, which he handed over to the axeman at the NAMM exhibition this week.
It's the first time Castiglia has used blood on a guitar, although he's well-known for using it on other materials. He says: "I pushed it as far as was physically possible in terms of detail - the subject matter, look and feel, and functionality of the piece are all in perfect line with my work.
"It's a functional piece of fine art that memorialises Gary's life's work with his lifeblood. It was an honour to work so intimately with Gary and ESP on this project - which was literally bonded by blood." Read more and see the guitar here.
Dream Theater's The Astonishing Was Mind Blowing For Mangini(Classic Rock)
Mike Mangini says making Dream Theater's concept album The Astonishing was a mind-blowing experience. The Dream Theater sticksman also says writing music with guitarist John Petrucci and keyboardist Jordan Rudess becomes a "visual" experience.
He tells Artisan News (via Blabbermouth): "John Petrucci put together the whole thing, and he organised it in a really amazing way. And then he used our keyboard player, Jordan.
"When he plays, you see things, you see a landscape, you've got a picture in your mind. It's so visual, it's unbelievable. There really is nobody better to help bring a story to life, so you feel it and see it. It's not something I do on my instrument. So when I experience it, it blows my mind."
But the 52-year-old admits that he finds the creative process demanding at times. He says: "The biggest challenge for me was interpreting the initial music that was given to me, because there were no drums." Read more here.
Black Sabbath May Still Make Another Album Following Farewell Tour(Gibson)
For the next year, at least, Black Sabbath will traveling around the world on what's being billed as their final tour. Will a new studio album follow, once the tour winds down? Too soon to say, but bassist Geezer Butler offers a glimmer of hope, as he clarifies earlier reports that he nixed the idea of making another Sabbath LP.
"I was just being logical," the bassist tells Rolling Stone. "At the time, we were given six months to write and record an album and I said, 'There's absolutely no way we can do it in six months.'"
Butler goes on to say that once the tour is complete, such constraints will no longer apply. "There's nothing stopping us from doing another album after the tour," he says. Read more here.
Jeff Healey's Lost Album 'Heal My Soul' Preview Goes Online(Classic Rock)
A trailer has been released for Jeff Healey's 'lost' album Heal My Soul. The album will be issued via Provogue on March 25 to mark what would have been Healey's 50th birthday. Healey died in March, 2008, at age 41 after a three-year battle with sarcoma cancer.
Heal My Soul was restored and remastered under the supervision of the Jeff Healey Estate, who say the songs "capture Healey in full flight, displaying the virtuosity that made the Toronto native one of the most revered musicians in the world during his all-too-brief lifetime."
In a joint statement, Jeff Healey Estate co-Administrators Cristie Healey and Roger Costa say: "Heal My Soul is a project that we have wanted to tackle for years. A 'lost' album, it contains material recorded during one of the most creative periods in Jeff's rock career.
"Until now, it has never seen the light of day. Jeff was very proud of this work and it features some of the most powerful and impassioned performances he ever committed to record. With complete creative control we've laboured hard, tracking down recordings, identifying the right performances, restoring them to their proper stature and mixing and mastering them from the ground up.
"This has been a true labour of love for us from beginning to end and we're absolutely thrilled to be able to finally share this significant release with the world." Check out the preview here.
Simo Streaming New Album Online Ahead Of Official Release(Classic Rock)
Simo have streamed their album Let Love Show The Way in full. All 10 track can be heard ahead of its release on January 29 (Friday) via Mascot Label Group.
Frontman Simo recently said of the work: "We live and die by the take. We don't edit, - and if there are overdubs, they're minimal. I want it to be unaffected and pure.
"For me, the music that always resonates most is when a performance is captured. That's what I love, and that's what we go for." The Nashville trio tour North American later this month, then play Europe and the UK in April. Stream the album here.
Steven Tyler Performs New Single On The Late Show(hennemusic)
Steven Tyler appeared on CBS-TV's The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Friday. The singer was on hand to announce the release of his new solo single, "Red, White & You", and to promote his organization Janie's Fund, a new initiative with Youth Villages to provide services to girls who have endured neglect and abuse.
The charity project was inspired by the feedback to Tyler's 1989 Aerosmith song, "Janie's Got A Gun", which addressed the trauma of sexual abuse in children.
Part of the campaign's launch last year saw the singer send fellow rockers like Bono, Elton John and others a version of his classic scarf-wrapped microphone stand to use in promoting the venture through social media.
Tyler hooked Colbert up with his own mic stand and proceeded to demonstrate the proper use of the stage tool. "This is my girlfriend that I live vicariously through on stage," he told the late night host. Watch the video of the appearance here.
Per Valla Launching Post Abbath Project(TeamRock Radio)
Per Valla has launched his black metal solo project Valla with the digital release of track Oceans. The former Vredehammer vocalist and guitarist began writing his own material after he quit his session guitarist role in Abbath due to personal reasons late last year - days after the departure of drummer Kevin Foley.
He says he will release more songs periodically throughout the coming days. Valla says: "The plan is to do this project a little against the current. The music business is just so messed up today and because of that I will record at home and release this on YouTube.
"If anyone wants to buy the music, they can download it directly from me for one euro per song. This way I don't have to give 99% of everything to Spotify or other services. It's just not fair." Stream the song here.
Gojira's From Mars To Sirius Gets Anniversary Box Set(TeamRock Radio)
Gojira's From Mars To Sirius is being reissued in a deluxe box set for its 10th anniversary next month. The repackaged version of the French outfit's third album will be available in limited numbers via Listenable Records from February 12.
The box includes an exclusive cassette version of From Mars To Sirius, four never revealed prints of frontman Joe Duplantier's sketches made before the final cover art, an exclusive artwork flag with one of those sketches and an exclusive guitar pick.
Also, a competition to win a Jackson guitar featuring From Mars To Sirius artwork will be available for the first 500 buyers to enter. Read more details and check out a promo image here.
Anima Mundi Announce 20th Anniversary UK Tour(Prog)
Anima Mundi will bring their 20th anniversary tour to the UK in May, they've confirmed. The five-date run will follow the launch of latest album I, Me, Myself, which features Michel Bermudez in place of vocalist Emmanuel Pirko Farrath.
The Cuban prog outfit recently explained: "The relationship between Anima Mundi and Emmanuel stays as good as always. He is now living in the USA for a long period of time. We will keep our eyes open for future collaboration."
They add: "Michel is a trainer singer, with a clear and high vocal reach and melodic tone. We are looking forward with faith." Support on the UK dates comes from Rikard Sjoblom of Beardfish and Big Big Train, who'll release solo album The Unbendable Sleep next month.
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