Video footage of Ozzy talking to the Artisan News Service about Zakk Wylde can be viewed at this location.
Ozzy told Classic Rock magazine in a June 2009 interview that he was on the lookout for a new guitar player to replace Wylde, who has played with Ozzy on and off since 1988. Ozzy said, "Zakk's got his own band, and I felt like my stuff was beginning to sound like (Wylde's band) BLACK LABEL SOCIETY. I just felt like I wanted a change, y'know?"
In an interview with a Eugene, Oregon radio station on July 29, Zakk slammed Ozzy over his Classic Rock comments, saying in part, "I've gotta be honest with you. The boss hasn't even given me a phone call, so I mean... I'm just like... I don't know what's going on over there. Are we doing this thing or are we not doing it? . . . I mean, it's like, dude, you don't wanna play with me anymore? Fine. Play with whoever the hell you wanna play with. I couldn't give a rat's ass. Like I'm gonna get all jealous or whatever. But you know what?! Man up and give me a phone call and tell me what the hell's going on."
Wylde's answer after that abruptly turned into an obscenity-filled rant directed at Ozzy that had to be heavily bleeped by the station.
The former BLACK SABBATH singer has been working on his latest solo album at his home studio in Los Angeles, He said that Wylde had recorded material for the project, but added, "I don't know if I want to use it."
Zakk's wife Barbaranne revealed in a recent online posting the Wylde is suffering from "a rare genetic clotting disorder" for which he is currently receiving treatment in California.
Gus G. played his second concert with OZZY OSBOURNE on September 12 at the Sunset Strip Music Festival (see video below). Also returning to Ozzy's performing lineup was drummer Mike Bordin, who did not join the singer for the BlizzCon concert on August 22 due to Bordin's touring commitments with the reunited FAITH NO MORE.
Gus spoke out about getting the job with Ozzy in the new Greek edition of Metal Hammer magazine. Asked how he got the gig, Gus said, "I got a message on my MySpace page from Rob 'Blasko' (Nicholson), Ozzy's bass player, asking me what was doing, if I was living in America or not and saying that he wanted to talk to me. I never thought he'd want me for something like that (playing with Ozzy). I initially thought that maybe he wanted to talk to me about doing a project or something and then he told me that one of Ozzfest's managers was looking for me. The manager said that they wanted me to fly out to Los Angeles immediately for a show that Ozzy was about to do in Anaheim, California."
As for replacing Wylde, Gus said, "Zakk is a tremendous guitar player, just like all the guys that have played with Ozzy. In fact, Zakk is my favorite Ozzy guitar player ever and my biggest influence of them all! It's quite an honor for me to step into his shoes."
In addition to his current axe-slinging duties with FIREWIND, Gus (real name: Kostas Karamitroudis) has played in MYSTIC PROPHECY, NIGHTRAGE, ARCH ENEMY and DREAM EVIL.
AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry's solo band, dubbed THE JOE PERRY PROJECT, will perform an intimate gig on Saturday, September 26 at the 400-seat Fusion 5 club out on Route 1 in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
The group's schedule is now shaping up as follows:
Sep. 20 - Memorial Hall - Plymouth, MA
Sep. 26 - Fusion 5 - Foxboro, MA
Oct. 06 - Viper Room - West Hollywood , CA
Perry's fifth solo album, "Have Guitar, Will Travel", will be released on October 6 via Roman Records. The hard driving, ten-song, in your face, collection features Perry's trademark rock and blues ferocity, as well as the CD's first single, the blazing "We've Got A Long Way To Go", set for release later this summer. Recorded this past spring at the BoneYard, Perry's state-of-the-art home studio, where AEROSMITH's "Honkin' On Bobo" and "Just Push Play" were recorded, "Have Guitar, Will Travel" is entirely written and produced by Perry.
Still as scorching hot on guitar as he is preternaturally cool in his persona, "Have Guitar, Will Travel" is a departure for Perry in that the CD was conceived as a band recording. From start to finish it took only forty-seven days to complete. "Making this record in such a short period of time gave us a chance to capture an energy and flow that was very different from the last record," said Perry. "The way the players came together at a time when I had the music and lyrics in my head ready to go was pure synchronicity. The last record rocked, but this one rocks and then some. I'm really proud of it.
"We've Got A Long Way To Go", the CDs first single, showcases the voice of a young German singer known as Hagen, found completely by chance on YouTube by Joe's wife Billie. "I first called him from Cleveland when I went to perform at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame jam with Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Ron Wood, Flea and METALLICA," said Perry. "It took several minutes to convince him that it wasn't a prank call, but a true invitation to audition to sing on the CD." Hagen mans the microphone for five tracks, while Perry sings lead on four. The remaining tenth song is an instrumental entitled "Wooden Ships".
In addition, Perry attracted an esteemed roster of some of the best players that the music world has to offer; bassist David Hull, who played with THE BUDDY MILES BAND at 19 and was in THE JOE PERRY PROJECT in the '80s, drummer Ben Tileston, a Boston University percussion graduate, who plays drums with two of Perry's sons in TAB THE BAND, Paul Santo, who's played Hammond organ/pipe organ with the likes of Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton and Ozzy Osbourne, drummers Scott Meeder and Marty Richards and Willie "Loco" Alexander, Boston's "Godfather of Punk," who was part of the Bostown sound of the band THE BAGATELLE.
A six-week Twitter search was conducted to find the CDs title. The winner, out of nearly 2000 entries, was Joe Piscitelli, who used a play on the old CBS television program "Have Gun – Will Travel".
The release of "Have Guitar, Will Travel" follows self-produced solo releases including "Let The Music Do The Talking" (1980), "Once A Rocker, Always A Rocker" (1983), "I've Got The Rock 'N' Rolls Again" (1981) and 2005's "Joe Perry", which received universal critical praise and earned Perry his first solo Grammy nomination for "Best Instrumental Song" ("Mercy").
Original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley will perform with legendary rocker Alice Cooper on October 28 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. More information will be made available soon.
According to Hits Daily Double, the companion web site of music industry tip sheet HITS, Frehley's new solo album, "Anomaly", is on track to sell between 12,000 and 15,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release.
In addition to the standard CD release, unique "Anomaly" packages were made available at Wal-Mart and Best Buy locations. The Wal-Mart version includes an Ace autographed tattoo while the Best Buy edition is printed on silver stock, like the KISS "Double Platinum" album.
Released on September 15 via Ace's own Bronx Born Records, with Rocket Science providing a full label service platform in the U.S., "Anomaly" was produced and recorded in Westchester County, New York between 2007 and 2009 and was mixed in Los Angeles.
Frehley last year spent time on the road fronting a band that featured second guitarist Derrek Hawkins, drummer Scot Coogan (ex-BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION) and bassist Anthony Esposito (ex-LYNCH MOB).
According to Kewadin Casino's web site, original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley will play Kewadin Casino's 1,500-seat Dream Makers Theater in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, on November 13. (Note: Even though Lita Ford is also listed as playing the show on Kewadin Casino's ticketing web site, she is actually scheduled to perform with QUEENSRŸCHE on that date in Jacksonville, Florida as part of the "American Soldier" tour.)
According to Hits Daily Double, the companion web site of music industry tip sheet HITS, Frehley's new solo album, "Anomaly", is on track to sell between 12,000 and 15,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release.
In addition to the standard CD release, unique "Anomaly" packages were made available at Wal-Mart and Best Buy locations. The Wal-Mart version includes an Ace autographed tattoo while the Best Buy edition is printed on silver stock, like the KISS "Double Platinum" album.
Released on September 15 via Ace's own Bronx Born Records, with Rocket Science providing a full label service platform in the U.S., "Anomaly" was produced and recorded in Westchester County, New York between 2007 and 2009 and was mixed in Los Angeles.
More shows have been announced for the third leg of DEF LEPPARD's highly successful 2009 tour, which will feature support from CHEAP TRICK and MAN RAZE, the rock outfit featuring Phil Collen of DEF LEPPARD, Simon Laffy from GIRL and Paul Cook of the SEX PISTOLS.
So far the following dates have been released:
Oct. 22 - Reno, NV - Events Center
Oct. 24 - Boise, ID - Idaho Center
Oct. 25 - Spokane, WA - Spokane Arena
Oct. 27 - Vancouver, BC - Pacific Coliseum
Oct. 31 - Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place
Nov. 02 - Calgary, AB - Pengrowth Saddledome
Nov. 04 - Winnipeg, MB - MTS Centre
Nov. 06 - St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
Nov. 12 - Ottawa, ON - Scotiabank Place
Nov. 13 - Hamilton, ON - Copps Coliseum
Nov. 18 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
DEF LEPPARD recently released deluxe editions of its classic albums "Pyromania" and "Adrenalize". The albums feature never-before-released B-sides and live recordings as well as nine Top 10 singles from the legendary rock band. The deluxe edition of "Pyromania" features a 15-track live show recorded at The Forum in Los Angeles in 1983. The deluxe edition of "Adrenalize" features demo tracks, live tracks and acoustic tracks.
MAN RAZE, the rock outfit featuring Phil Collen of DEF LEPPARD, Simon Laffy from GIRL and Paul Cook of THE SEX PISTOLS, has been added as the opening act on the final leg of DEF LEPPARD's 2009 tour. Also scheduled to appear is CHEAP TRICK.
So far the following dates have been announced (with more to be added):
Oct. 22 - Reno, NV - Events Center
Oct. 24 - Boise, ID - Idaho Center
Oct. 25 - Spokane, WA - Spokane Arena
Nov. 06 - St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
MAN RAZE's debut album, "Surreal", was re-released on June 9 via VH1 Classic Records as a deluxe edition with five previously bonus tracks:
01. You're So Wrong
02. Low (live in Burbank '08)
03. Turn It Up (Deep Dub)
04. Runnin' Me Up (instrumental)
05. Can't Find My Own Way (live acoustic version from Gary Crowley Show)
MAN RAZE released "Surreal" in the U.K. on November 17, 2008 through Surrealist Records. The U.K. version of the CD came with a special European-edition bonus disc.
Mixing the raw energy of the PISTOLS mixed with the immaculate pop rock of DEF LEPPARD, MAN RAZE is a unique clash of '70s simplicity with '80s excess, punk clubs with stadium rock.
"The fun part about MAN RAZE is that musically we can go off in any direction from rock to alternative the next," Phil Collen previously said.
With regards to the band's sound, Collen — who also handles lead vocals — told Rolling Stone magazine, "It's a mix. We go from really hard rock, with obviously big guitars, to dub. I was always into the alternative stuff, a very big fan of THE POLICE. And this is edgy — a lot more aggressive than DEF LEPPARD."
Before joining DEF LEPPARD, London born Phil Collen played in GIRL, who were one of the great unsung U.K. rock acts of the early 80's (singer Phil Lewis would later front L.A. GUNS — who were at the vanguard of the L.A. sleaze rock scene that eventually produced GUNS N' ROSES). While Phil went on to join DEF LEPPARD he maintained a strong friendship with Simon Laffy, GIRL's bassist. Reconnecting in 2004, and joined by SEX PISTOLS drummer Paul Cook, MAN RAZE was born. Eschewing their illustrious past, the band have spent the past two year getting back to basics, writing and recording — they also played a sold-out show at London's Spitz Club and released a limited-edition EP "Skin Crawl" in October 2005 on their own label, Surrealist Records, in the U.K.
Former GUNS N' ROSES and current VELVET REVOLVER guitarist Slash has posted a short message on Twitter regarding the new MEGADETH album, "Endgame", stating simply that it "sounds killer!"
MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine was clearly flattered by Slash's remarks, writing in an online post, "Slash and I have been friends for a really long time. I have played in concert with his band, and jammed with him in a cover band once. We used to hang and party, true, but I dug Slash the most for his amazing talent on guitar. I am honored he said that he likes it."
According to Hits Daily Double, the companion web site of music industry tip sheet HITS, "Endgame" is on track to sell between 40,000 and 45,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release.
MEGADETH's previous album, "United Abominations", opened with around 54,000 copies to land at position No. 8 on The Billboard 200 chart. This was more than the 46,000 first-week tally registered by its predecessor, "The System Has Failed" (which debuted at No. 18 on The Billboard 200 chart), and was a bit less than the 61,000 opening number of 2001's "The World Needs A Hero" (No. 16).
"Endgame" was recorded at MEGADETH's brand new, self-built studio in San Marcos, California — Vic's Garage — which was named after the legendary and iconic Vic Rattlehead character. The CD was helmed by MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine and British producer Andy Sneap (EXODUS, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY, MACHINE HEAD).
MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine will guest on "Eddie Trunk Live" tonight (Monday, September 21) on Sirius (channel 19) / XM Radio (channel 53). The program airs from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. EST, but Mustaine is expected in around 8:15 p.m.
In related news, Mustaine and MEGADETH guitarist Chris Broderick will be featured on Liquid Metal's "Thrash Attack" week this week. "Thrash Attack" on Sirius XM features half-hour blocks of thrash metal every hour for seven days straight! You'll hear stories and music from the legends of thrash and those that are helping to push the genre today.
According to MEGADETH drummer Shawn Drover, the band's new album, "Endgame", has registered the following first-week chart positions so far:
Australia: #11
Germany: #21
U.K.: #24
Drover says: "For Canada, we are receiving word that 'Endgame' will be a Top 20 record, which, of course, please me greatly (I am hoping for a single-digit chart position, just as 'United Abominations' was — we'll see).
"We have to thank all of YOU who support the cause, and get out there to purchase the record (what a concept, eh??). Without your support, these chart positions simply cannot happen, so we are grateful, believe me.
"By week's end, we should receive a lot more information on other chart positions throughout planet earth.
"With all this said, keep at it, people. Your help here is proof positive that spreading the word is making a difference. So many of you here on the boards are stepping up and making a big difference. When the other chart numbers come in, you will see it for yourselves. Again, a big THANK YOU!!!"
According to Hits Daily Double, the companion web site of music industry tip sheet HITS, "Endgame" is on track to sell between 40,000 and 45,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release.
MEGADETH's previous album, "United Abominations", opened with around 54,000 copies to land at position No. 8 on The Billboard 200 chart. This was more than the 46,000 first-week tally registered by its predecessor, "The System Has Failed" (which debuted at No. 18 on The Billboard 200 chart), and was a bit less than the 61,000 opening number of 2001's "The World Needs A Hero" (No. 16).
"Endgame" was recorded at MEGADETH's brand new, self-built studio in San Marcos, California — Vic's Garage — which was named after the legendary and iconic Vic Rattlehead character. The CD was helmed by MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine and British producer Andy Sneap (EXODUS, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY, MACHINE HEAD).
Rob Zombie will release his fourth solo studio album, "Hellbilly Deluxe 2: Noble Jackals, Penny Dreadfuls and the Systematic Dehumanization of Cool", on November 10. "Hellbilly Deluxe" was the name of Zombie's first and most successful solo outing, issued back in 1998.
"Hellbilly Deluxe 2" track listing:
01. Jesus Frankenstein
02. Sick Bubble-Gun
03. What?
04. Mars Needs Women
05. Werewolf, Baby
06. Virgin Witch
07. Dream Factory
08. Burn
09. Cease to Exist
10. Werewolf Women of the SS
11. The Man Who Laughs
Check out the cover artwork below.
Rob Zombie will kick off his upcoming North American tour on October 29 in Phoenix, Arizona, according to a press release. he will hit the road with the same band that toured behind his 2006 CD, "Educated Horses", consisting of guitarist John 5, bassist Piggy D. and drummer Tommy Clufetos. Although Zombie is also busy these days directing movies, he told The Pulse of Radio he can always count on his current bandmates to return. "Whenever I'm making a movie they go off and do whatever they want, but they're all part of this band," he said. "We just did all of our photos for the tour and stuff. It's the same band, it's just that I know those guys get itchy to play."
Support on the tour will come from NEKROMANTIX and CAPTAIN CLEGG & THE NIGHT CREATURES. The latter band appeared in Zombie's latest film, "Halloween II ".
The trek will include a very special Halloween event on October 31 in Hollywood, California hosted by Uncle Seymour Coffins, also seen in "Halloween II".
The "Hellbilly Deluxe 2" tour will mark Zombie's return to the road after moderate box office success as the writer and director of "Halloween II" (Dimension). His R-rated, animated feature, "The Haunted World Of El Superbeasto", will be available everywhere on DVD and Blu-ray September 22.
Zombie will return to the stage on October 18, when he co-headlines Loud Park festival in Japan with SLAYER that will also feature PAPA ROACH.
"Halloween II", the follow-up to Zombie's successful 2007 remake of the original 1978 horror classic, came in at No. 3 in its opening weekend, earning $17 million at the box office. That's far less than the $31 million his first "Halloween" flick did two years ago.
Zombie's next film will be a remake of "The Blob", which he is slated to begin shooting in the spring of 2010.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/reviewpics/zombienewcd.jpg
Road Crew Magazine conducted an interview with SIXX: A.M. members James Michael (vocals) and DJ Ashba (guitar) during a recent stop on the Crüe Fest 2 tour (which was once again headlined by MÖTLEY CRÜE, the band featuring SIXX: A.M. bassist Nikki Sixx). The chat can be viewed below. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow.
On the progress of the songwriting sessions for the new SIXX: A.M. album:
James: "The new SIXX: A.M. record, it's kind of gonna be a long time coming, just like the first one was. We have gone through a lot of different stages of it, ever since we got off Crüe Fest last year. And I think we finally, this week, have honed in on what this record needs to be. In fact, today we wrote what is probably gonna be the first single. And it's an amazing song. I think that because the three of us are obviously so busy doing other things — I mean, Nikki is out on stage right now with MÖTLEY — it's taken awhile for us all to be able to get our heads back on the same page and figure out what SIXX: A.M. should do next, and I think we finally honed in on it, and it's gonna be an incredible record"
On whether the upcoming SIXX: A.M. record will be based on a yet-to-be-released Nikki Sixx book?
James: "At this stage, no, it's not. But we have talked about a lot of different concepts. What I can tell you is that it's gonna be more than just a record full of songs; it is gonna be attached to some other things, and they are things that are really inspiring to all of us. And that's really all I can say at this point."
On whether the forthcoming CD will be more about all three members of the band as opposed to focusing primarily on Nikki:
James: "Yeah. In fact, I think that the last record ended up being about all three of us in different ways. A lot of the songs even were written before 'The Heroin Diaries' book came about, but they all just fit in so well, and we kind of adjusted them to work. I think that's why 'The Heroin Diaries' soundtrack so well — we were all sharing our personal experiences with it, and we found a universal theme that kind of worked. Nikki's book happened to be the catalyst for that and happened to be the guiding force, and I think that's kind of what we're doing on this one. Because for three songwriters to be in a room writing, it can't just be about one of those songwriters; I think that it has to be about shared experiences."
What is the songwriting process with the three of you?
DJ: "It's like it was on the first one. It's three friends getting together, usually in a hotel room, sitting on a floor, eating some pizza and just brainstorming and coming up with stuff that's very real, subjects that are very serious and cool that we feel, as artists, need to be talked about a little more."
Has it been hard with Nikki having to [go out and tour] and then coming back and writing?
DJ: "No. we're used to that."
James: "I think that that was something that, when we finished the tour last year, and when 'The Heroin Diaries' soundtrack kind of finished its run, because 'Life Is Beautiful' had so much success and did so well at radio, there was definitely a lot of pressure, 'What's SIXX: A.M. gonna do next?' And I think that what we all needed to do was just fend that off, not give in to that pressure, because then I think we would have very easily fallen into that rat race — follow-up record and follow-up single, and get it there within the amount of time that the audience is gonna remember who you are. And I think that we all kind of just pushed that back and said, you know what?! SIXX: A.M. was never about that. SIXX: A.M. was never about radio or anything. It was about doing something that the three of us really believed in."
DJ: "It's really a labor of love. As long as it becomes that and stays that, that's pretty much what me and James and Nikki always looked at SIXX: A.M. being — kind of our artistic outlet."
James: "I think that we all had to resist the urge to just jump right back in and make one right away so that we could fit into that time window and we could get our new record out by a certain time, and I'm glad that we did. We resisted that urge and we waited until we were all inspired by something new."
On James' work as a producer and what it is like being behind the scenes and then having to go back out on stage:
James: "Being behind the scenes is my comfort zone. Being the lead singer of SIXX: A.M. is kind of an anomaly for me; it's been a blast, but I'm comfortable behind the mixing board, writing songs, working with other artists, bringing the best out of them, and I love that. Right now, I'm just finishing up a record with Taylor Momsen, who is one of the stars of the TV show 'Gossip Girl', and it's an amazing record. She just turned 16 years old, and I know that when we think of 16-year-old artists, we think of Disney, we think of Hilary Duff — who I've also written with — but this is something different. She is the second coming of Deborah Harry or Courtney Love; it's so heavy and so beautifully written. I'm incredibly excited about that record; it's gonna be coming out on Interscope, I think, early next year. But right now, I think that the three of us have just been finally sharing that excitement again. I would say that in the last couple of days of
writing the SIXX: A.M. record, it's started to feel like it did when we first sat down and started writing 'The Heroin Diaries' soundtrack, and we were all waiting for that — we were all waiting for that moment when it all kind of hit us and we went, 'OK, it's time.' And I would say it's time."
SIXX: A.M. is the project Sixx started a couple of years ago whose debut disc acted as a "soundtrack" to Sixx's memoir, "The Heroin Diaries". Sixx revealed earlier in the year that the second SIXX: A.M. effort is also a concept album, but that's about as far as he would go. "I can't really tell you what the concept is, because I think I'd just be kind of blowing the surprise, like telling what you're getting for Christmas before it comes," he said. "But it's gonna be a pretty powerful record. You know, sonically it does fall in line with the 'Heroin Diaries' record, but I think we're stretching out in certain ways where we can take in other styles of music and expand upon them."
Although SIXX: A.M. was initially just a studio project, a touring lineup did go on the road last year as part of the first Crüe Fest package,
SIXX A.M.'s debut featured the hit "Life Is Beautiful".
Road Crew Magazine's interview with James Michael and DJ Ashba:
NWOBHM heavyweights JAGUAR have scheduled the following dates:
Sep. 25 - Kutten Festival, Hannover, Germany
Sep. 26 - Taken By Force Festival, Vroomshoop, Holland
Oct. 09 - Met Bar, Lenzburg, Switzerland
Sep. 10 - Rock City, Uster, Switzerland
In January 2007, Majestic Rock issued the first in a series of Internet-only archive releases containing a 1982 soundboard recording of JAGUAR performing in Hengelo, Holland. Entitled "Holland '82", the CD was strictly limited to 1,000 copies and featured sleeve notes from JAGUAR guitarist Garry Pepperd. It was only available from the Majestic Rock web site.
JAGUAR's most recent studio album, "Run Ragged", was released in July 2003 through Angel Air Records.
JAGUAR is:
Nathan Cox - Drums
Jamie Manton - Vocals
Simon Patel - Bass
Garry Pepperd - Guitar
For more information, visit www.jaguar-online.com.
TMZ.com reports that STONE TEMPLE PILOTS/ex-VELVET REVOLVER singer Scott Weiland experienced a mild seizure during an American Airlines flight earlier today.
Sources close to Scott tell TMZ.com he suffered the seizure while flying from Los Angeles to Miami. The plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
UPDATE: A rep traveling with Weiland tells Rolling Stone that the airplane staff called for medical assistance over the loud speaker and had to administer oxygen to Weiland. Shortly after, Weiland had come to and was "in good spirits" as was taken off the plane for the hospital.
According to the report, Scott has a history of seizures and was taken to the hospital for precautionary measures.
Weiland is scheduled to promote the launch of his new men's clothing line, Weiland For English Laundry, on Saturday, September 19 at Miami Beach, Florida's Mansion with a live performance and fashion show.
Weiland for English Laundry, a collaboration with English Laundry designer Christopher Wicks, debuted at the MAGIC trade show August 31-September 2. The collection features rock-inspired wovens, vests, t-shirts, pants, hats, ties and scarves. Weiland for English Laundry blends the classic style and high quality of English Laundry with the design flare of the iconic, fashionable STP frontman.
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS has spent the last few months working on a new studio album with producer Don Was. According to Weiland, the CD should be ready for release sometime in early 2010.
ALICE IN CHAINS will appear on the iconic "Later ... With Jools Holland" BBC television show in the U.K. this November to coincide with a European tour taking place during that month.
"Later ... With Jools Holland" is a contemporary British music television show hosted by Jools Holland. A spin-off of "The Late Show", it has been running without a break since 1992 and is a part of BBC Two's late-night lineup. It is usually recorded on a Tuesday for Friday broadcast and features a mixture of both established and new musical artists, from solo performers to bands and larger ensembles.
If you pre-order ALICE IN CHAINS' new album, "Black Gives Way To Blue", via iTunes, you will receive two exclusive bonus tracks: "Your Decision" (live) and "Black Gives Way To Blue (Elton John Piano Mix)".
ALICE IN CHAINS recently tapped U2 and WHITE STRIPES video director Alex Courtes to shoot a clip for "Check My Brain", the first official single from "Black Gives Way To Blue".
"Black Gives Way To Blue" arrives in stores on September 29 and is the first all-new ALICE IN CHAINS album in 14 years.
The disc features the recording debut with the group of singer and guitarist William DuVall. Original frontman Layne Staley died in 2002.
At the end of this month, ALICE IN CHAINS will perform three special shows in Los Angeles to celebrate the release of its new album, "Black Gives Way to Blue". The first is a very rare and exclusive 11:00 a.m. performance and interview for KROQ hosted by Kat Corbett at the Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood on September 29. The second is their "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" appearance that evening, and the third is their sold-out show at The Avalon on September 30.
According to a posting on ALICE IN CHAINS' MySpace page, the band "will be giving away a pair of tickets and VIP passes to each of these events, but you have to find them.
"Here's your first clue to find the KROQ event tickets: On Monday (September 21), a man in black holding a package will appear in front of the Whisky A Go Go at 6:00 p.m. He will give the tickets to the first person to find him and tell him the name of the fifth song the band played at the third stop of their current U.S. club tour. Do not arrive until exactly 6:00 p.m. though, because anyone he sees before exactly that time will be automatically ineligible to receive the tickets."
ALICE IN CHAINS will be IRON MAIDEN frontman Bruce Dickinson's guests on Friday, September 25 during Bruce's weekly BBC 6 Music radio program, dubbed "The Bruce Dickinson Friday Rock Show". Listen to the broadcast live via the Internet between 9:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. (midnight) U.K. time at BBC.co.uk.
If you pre-order ALICE IN CHAINS' new album, "Black Gives Way To Blue", via iTunes, you will receive two exclusive bonus tracks: "Your Decision" (live) and "Black Gives Way To Blue (Elton John Piano Mix)".
ALICE IN CHAINS recently tapped U2 and WHITE STRIPES video director Alex Courtes to shoot a clip for "Check My Brain", the first official single from "Black Gives Way To Blue".
"Black Gives Way To Blue" arrives in stores on September 29 and is the first all-new ALICE IN CHAINS album in 14 years.
The disc features the recording debut with the group of singer and guitarist William DuVall . Original frontman Layne Staley died in 2002.
GODSMACK frontman Sully Erna has released the following statement:
"As some of you may or may not know, I have recently gotten engaged to the love of my life, Jennifer Cabezon. After eight years of being together and living through the ups and downs of life, we have finally reached a place where we've decided to spend our lives together as husband and wife.
"I can't say our road has always been the easiest of roads in a relationship, but then again, what in life ever comes easy? We've separated numerous times and tried to move on in our lives, yet we always seem to find a way back to each other again. Which says to us that it's time to take our commitment to the next level. I think we both understand now that some of the best relationships have been built off of hard work and many, MANY mistakes. (and a few hundred hours of therapy doesn't hurt either… Hahahaha!!)
"I will definitely confess to my share of wrong in this relationship. Not to justify why or what I've done was right in any way, but being in the profession that I'm in, I've been subject to a lot of craziness in a very fast-paced lifestyle that they call 'rock 'n' roll.' And not always knowing how to balance it in the past has made me make some very bad decisions from time to time.
"But through these ups and downs, I've learned that I love Jen and my daughter more than anything… And to have an opportunity to put my family back together and start our life over again is truly a blessing.
"For us this is a time of celebration and happiness. And we look forward to years of good times ahead. And for all of you, (my friends and fans) I hope this letter finds you well, because I wish you all nothing but health and happiness.
"We haven't settled on a date just yet, but once we do, we'll fill you in [as soon as possible].
"Thank you for always being there for me and GODSMACK. I look forward to seeing you on the road sometime in 2010."
GODSMACK recently released a new single called "Whiskey Hangover" in conjunction with its appearance on Crüe Fest 2.
The next GODSMACK album will be the band's first collection of all-new material since 2006's "IV".
In late 2007, the band released a greatest hits collection called "Good Times, Bad Times - Ten Years of Godsmack" and announced that it was going on hiatus. Erna worked on his solo album during this period, while the other three members of the group started a side project called ANOTHER ANIMAL.
Los Angeles metallers FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH have released the following statement:
"We have not been able to locate Zoltan [Bathory, guitar] from FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH since Friday night's [September 18] show in Las Vegas. He has not responded to calls, text messages, or emails, and he was last seen around 2:00 a.m. Friday night at Wasted Space in the Hard Rock Casino, taking tequila shots at the bar with a group of guys from a bachelor party who came to the show.
"If anybody has any information as to the whereabouts of Zoltan, please email ffdp@prospectpk.com immediately. This is not like him and the band needs to prepare for the upcoming tour. We have already notified the appropriate authorities, but any help Vegas fans might be able to provide is very much appreciated."
It should be noted that someone logged in to Zoltan's personal MySpace profile earlier today (Sunday, September 20), which makes the entire story a little suspect.
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH is scheduled to begin "The Shock And Roar Tour" on Tuesday (September 22) in San Francisco, finishing up sometime in early November. Joining them on the bill will be SHADOWS FALL, OTEP and 2 CENTS.
Seminal doom legends GOATSNAKE will reunite for an appearance at next year's Roadburn festival, set to take place April 15-17, 2010 at the 013 venue and Midi Theatre in Tilburg, Holland.
GOATSNAKE — featuring the original lineup of Greg Anderson (SUNN 0))) on guitar, Guy Pinhas (THE OBSESSED) on bass, Greg Rogers (THE OBSESSED) on drums and Pete Stahl (SCREAM, WOOL, EARTHLINGS?) on vocals — will headline the Thursday Roadburn date (April 15).
With two classic-albums under their belts ("I", re-released on Southern Lord and "Flower of Disease"), GOATSNAKE have forged a considerable niche in the heavy rock underground over the last decade with their signature guitar sound. Pete Stahl's clean, soulful vocals have always been at the heart of GOATSNAKE's low and slow bulldozer rock as well, setting them apart from their peers. GOATSNAKE's influence can still be heard and felt throughout the current stoner and doom scene, even after such a long hiatus.
Greg Anderson comments: "Roadburn is hands down the only festival that consistently has a lineup that I personally would like to see. Being asked to perform with GOATSNAKE is an honor and a privilege. I'm really fucking stoked to play music with Greg, Guy and Pete again. We will do our absolute best to kick as much ass as possible!"
In other news, reunited doom metallers YOB will make their European live debut with two different shows at next year's Roadburn.
Even during their hiatus, YOB have maintained their position in the vanguard of contemporary doom because of the quality and originality of their mind-bending doom-metal. Now they have returned and are prepared to reach even greater heights (and doom depths). The band's latest album, "The Great Cessation", is definitely YOB's finest hour. Led by Mike Scheidt's crushing doom riffage and relentless stomp, YOB have easily reclaimed their rightful cosmic doom throne while generating new fans and momentum.
Roadburn will celebrate YOB's return to the fold by offering the band the opportunity to play different shows at both the 013 venue and the Midi Theatre during the festival.
Commented Mike Scheidt: "YOB is quite thrilled to announce our first European trip to play the most excellent Roadburn festival in 2010. We have wanted to come over to Europe to play for many years and to have our first show be at Roadburn is beyond incredible for us. We are looking forward to sharing in the atmosphere of the fest with all of the excellent bands and fans that will be in attendance. April will not get here soon enough! DOOM!!!"
Roadburn 2010, including Tom Gabriel Warrior's special event entitled Only Death Is Real and CANDLEMASS' 25th anniversary show, will run for three days. There will be an additional afterburner event on Sunday, April 18, 2010.
FLOTSAM AND JETSAM and HELSTAR are among the confirmed bands for the third installment of the Gates of Metal open-air festival, set to take place May 21-22, 2010 at the Recreation Plantation Camprounds in Dripping Springs, Texas (30 miles outside of Austin).
The festival will feature over 40 metal acts encompassing every metal genre, (classic, true, power, thrash, black, and death metal) on two outdoor stages in a European-style, camping, open-air setting.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
FLOTSAM AND JETSAM
HELSTAR
RUTHLESS
RESISTANCE
For event information, performance schedule, sponsorship or vendor booth sign-up, contact Paul at themetalmachine2003@yahoo.com.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/gatesofmetalfestival.
Reunited Phoenix, Arizona-based hard rockers ICON have been confirmed for next year's edition of the Headbangers Open Air festival, set to take place July 29-31, 2010 in Brande-Hörnerkirchen, Germany.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AMULANCE
ASKA
BATTLEAXE
BLOODFEAST
CULPRIT
DER KAISER
GREG LINDSTROM & FRIENDS
ICON
JAG PANZER
JAMESON RAID
OMEN
RAVEN
ROCK GODDESS
ROXXCALIBUR
TRENCH HELL
VIRGIN STEELE
WARBRINGER
For more information, visit www.headbangers-open-air.de.
ICON's current lineup consists of original members Dan Wexler (guitar), John Aquilino (guitar), Pat Dixon (drums) alongside new members Scott Hammons (lead vocals) and Dave Henzerling (bass).
Last year, ICON, in conjunction with Epicenter Multimedia, released "1984: Live Bootleg" for the first time on DVD. This enhanced multimedia disc features interviews with Dan Wexler and John Aquilino and contains live footage of one of the last concerts with the complete original ICON lineup of Stephen Clifford, Dan Wexler, John Aquilino, Tracy Wallach and Pat Dixon. The band performs in front of a sold-out crowd in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1984. This is the only known footage of an entire concert by the original band.
Swedish progressive metallers OPETH have scheduled the following Japanese tour dates:
Nov. 17 - O-East - Tokyo, Japan
Nov. 18 - Club Quattro - Osaka, Japan
OPETH guitarist/vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt recently revealed to Holland's FaceCulture that he is contemplating recording a singer-songwriter acoustic solo album.
"My views [regarding songwriting] have broadened a little bit," Mikael said. "I guess when I discovered Nick Drake, that's when I really got into that whole simplistic type of music that really needs something strong — strong material in order to make it come across with so little."
He continued, "I've always been wanting to do a thing like that. I've got a bunch of lovely acoustic guitars back I wanna use more. Even though OPETH could probably do an album like that, I wanna do it on my own, and in that sense, I wanna record it on my own — in my house, basically. I think I can do it well. I think I can do a good album like that.
"I'd like to maybe simplify it even more [than the OPETH acoustic stuff], and have it just chords playing, and maybe some finger-picking stuff, so I could be able to perform it if I would wanna do that. So I don't want it to be lots of tracks, like overdubbing guitars with lots of melodies; I want it to be fairly simplistic so if I wanted to, I could play it live on my own... on a stool. [laughs]"
For now, the plans only exist in Åkerfeldt's head. No songs have been written or recorded yet, but Mikael is certain the singer/songwriter solo album will see the light of day. "I'm getting ready to write because every time I sit down and play, I come up with something that I like," he said.
OPETH will take part in the European installment of DREAM THEATER's Progressive Nation tour, set to take place throughout September, October and November 2009. Also appearing on the bill are UNEXPECT and BIGELF.
The OPETH three-CD box set called "The Candlelight Years", featuring the band's first three albums, was released in Europe on July 13 via Candlelight Records.
BONHAM, the band led by drummer Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN, UFO, FOREIGNER) — son of the late LED ZEPPELIN drummer John Bonham — has scheduled the following dates:
Oct. 14 - Revolution Live - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Oct. 15 - House of Blues - Orlando, FL
Oct. 16 - State Theatre - St. Petersburg, FL
Oct. 29 - Coach House - San Juan Capistrano, CA
Oct. 30 - The Canyon - Agoura Hills, CA
BONHAM will perform selections from LED ZEPPELIN, UFO, FOREIGNER "and a whole lot more."
BONHAM released its first record, "The Disregard of Timekeeping", in September 1989, which was eventually certified gold, and featured the single "Wait For You". A follow-up album, "Mad Hatter", was released in 1992.
BONHAM singer Daniel MacMaster, 39, died unexpectedly on March 16, 2008 in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada following complications from pneumonia, after a strep A infection entered his bloodstream.
BONHAM, the band led by drummer Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN, UFO, FOREIGNER) — son of the late LED ZEPPELIN drummer John Bonham — has scheduled the following dates:
Oct. 14 - Revolution Live - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Oct. 15 - House of Blues - Orlando, FL
Oct. 16 - State Theatre - St. Petersburg, FL
Oct. 29 - Coach House - San Juan Capistrano, CA
Oct. 30 - The Canyon - Agoura Hills, CA
BONHAM will perform selections from LED ZEPPELIN, UFO, FOREIGNER "and a whole lot more."
According to Classic Rock magazine, Bonham is doing these gigs by way of tribute to Daniel MacMaster, the Canadian fronmtman who sang on the two albums from BONHAM (1989's "The Disregard Of Timekeeping" and 1992's "Mad Hatter"). MacMaster died on March 16, 2008, from a Group A streptococcal infection. He was 39 years old.
Jason explains: "Tragically, Daniel passed away and I always regretted the fact that I didn't do more for him during his lifetime. Just like myself, Daniel struggled with his addictions so that's something I know all about.
"2009 is the 20th anniversary of 'The Disregard Of Timekeeping', so I called up Ian [Hatton, guitarist] and John [Smithson, bass] and suggested we bring in Kelly Keeling [BATON ROUGE, MICHAEL SCHENKER] on vocals to pay tribute to what was a great period in all our lives. Whether anything new will come out of it, I don't know. It's all about having fun."
DIVINE HERESY — the California-based band featuring FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares — has been confirmed as direct support to MOONSPELL on the Portuguese group's upcoming North American tour, which kicks off on October 14 in Tampa, Florida. Also appearing on the bill are BOOK OF BLACK EARTH and SECRETS OF THE MOON.
Commented Cazares: "We have been waiting patiently for the perfect touring opportunity to present itself and we couldn't possibly be more pleased to be direct support to the mighty MOONSPELL this fall. This North American tour is exactly what we were looking for as we wanted a chance to perform in front of a lot of new faces that might not have been exposed to our band. This tour marks the kick-off of a massive worldwide touring campaign to support the new 'Bringer of Plagues' album.
"DIVINE HERESY is better than ever and we are embarking on this tour with only one, simple goal in mind: to annihilate everything in our path. Expect an unrelenting set and if your jaw isn't on the floor when we finish, then we haven't done our job, but that won't be the case. Be sure to come by the merch booth each night to say hello to us all and we look forward to seeing everyone soon. It's certainly been way too long."
The dates are as follows:
Oct. 14 - Tampa, FL - Czar
Oct. 15 - Atlanta, GA - Masqueerade
Oct. 16 - Springfield, VA - Jaxx
Oct. 17 - Allentown, PA - The Sterling Hotel
Oct. 18 - New York, NY - B.B. King Blues Club
Oct. 19 - Montreal, QC - Les Foufounes Electriques
Oct. 20 - Toronto, ON - The Mod Club
Oct. 21 - Cleveland, OH - Peabody's
Oct. 22 - Detroit, MI - Blondie's
Oct. 23 - The Pyramid Club – Chicago, IL
Oct. 24 - Kansas City, MO - Beaumont Club
Oct. 25 - Denver, CO - Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom
Oct. 27 - Vancouver, BC - The Venue
Oct. 28 - Seattle, WA - Studio Seven
Oct. 29 - Portland, OR - Satyricon
Oct. 30 - San Francisco, CA - Thee Parkside
Oct. 31 - San Marcos, CA - The Jumping Turtle
Nov. 01 - Hollywood , CA - The Roxy
Nov. 02 - Tempe, AZ - The Clubhouse
Nov. 03 - Albuquerque, NM - The Launchpad
Nov. 04 - Tulsa, OK - The Marquee
Nov. 05 - Dallas, TX - The Ridglea Theater
Nov. 06 - San Antonio, TX - Warehouse Music
Taiwanese metallers CHTHONIC have announced the following U.K. dates:
Oct. 31 - London, UK - Garage
Nov. 01 - Oxford, UK - Zodiac
Nov. 02 - Stoke, UK - Sugar Mill
Nov. 03 - Sheffield, UK - Corporation
Nov. 04 - Nottingham, UK - Rock City
Nov. 06 - Glasgow, UK - King Tut's
"Mirror of Retribution", the new album from CHTHONIC, was released in the U.S. on September 1 via Spinefarm Records.
The track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Autoscopy
02. Blooming Blades
03. Hearts Condemned
04. Venom in my Veins
05. The Aroused
06. Sing Linng Temple
07. 1947
08. Forty Nine Theurgy Chains
09. Rise of the Shadows
10. Bloody Waves of Sorrow
11. Spell of Setting Sun
12. Unlimited Taiwan
CHTHONIC (pronounced "Thonic") is:
Freddy Lim - vocals
Doris Yeh - bass
Jesse Liu - guitar
Dani Wang - drums
CJ - piano/synthesizer
CHTHONIC's "49 Theurgy Chains" video can be viewed below.
CHTHONIC (pronounced "Thonic") is:
Freddy Lim - vocals
Doris Yeh - bass
Jesse Liu - guitar
Dani Wang - drums
CJ - piano/synthesizer
In a recent interview with Speed Beaver Music, CHTHONIC vocalist Freddy Lim stated about the band's new album title and lyrical theme, "A mirror of retribution is the first thing you will meet when you are in hell, the Taiwanese, Oriental hell. Through the mirror, you see all the bad things you and your relatives have done in your lifetime. Each spirit has to face the mirror of retribution then the ghost king will send him to the specific level of hell that he deserves. In the Oriental hell, there are ten ghost kings in ten courts and there are 18 levels of hell and hundreds of small levels. So it takes millions of years for you to serve your sentence. So the original idea is to show this philosophy of hell. All the Asians, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Vietnam, share the same philosophy.
"No other metal band has tried to do this. It's too big! So the question is how to do it. It not just like Satan and one burning hell. So in Taiwanese temples, there are some mediums there are people who can travel through heaven and hell and find people, find dead relatives and talk with them. So we needed a story, not just the facts. The story should be in Taiwanese history, so where is the crossover point between Taiwan and hell? So we found the point is the 228 incident which happened in 1947.
"It's not just because it's the biggest massacre that happened in Taiwan, but that the last battle happened in front of a very important Taiwanese temple. So it makes sense that someone in the temple who is a medium would try to save his people, save the Taiwanese from the tyrannical KMT army. So he travelled to hell to try to rewrite the book of life and death. So the original idea is to write about the philosophy of hell and then we found the right story to link Taiwan to hell. That's the basic idea of the story.
"The first half of the story is how he went to hell and how level by level he tried to find the book of life and death and tried to rewrite it. But then the ghost kings, wizards and monsters in hell found out that he is not a normal spirit, he's still alive, his spirit just left his body, so they, in the 6th song, all the spirits and ghost and monsters, they came from hell to the temple to try to put some seals on his body and suck his spirit back to his body and not allow him to escape from his body again. Then, he decided to kill himself as the only way to go back to hell. But he failed. The end of the story is that he is locked in front of the mirror of retribution for a billion years as his sentence. I think the most interesting part of this album is that we tried to group the same kinds of hells and put them together in one song. There are the mountain of knives and sword forests, different kind of sharp hells all grouped together."
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