LED ZEPPELIN has teamed with media and technology company Interlude to produce a groundbreaking interactive video to the previously unreleased rough mix of "Trampled Under Foot", which goes by the early working title "Brandy & Coke". Through this immersive music video, which can be seen below, LED ZEPPELIN fans will be able to see beyond the façade of one of rock's most iconic album covers, "Physical Graffiti", and step inside the building through each of the 16 featured windows.

Until now, no fan has had so many ways to explore and see a music video come alive. By selecting one of the featured 16 windows, the audience can enter into the room and will discover events that pay homage to the window illustrations on the original artwork.

Featuring archival footage, such as the band's full Earl's Court performance of the song, original animation and more, Interlude technology allows viewers to follow and interact with characters from room to room without disrupting the flow of the song.

Accordng to The Pulse Of Radio, Jimmy Page says that LED ZEPPELIN's 1975 "Physical Graffiti" double album gained strength by collecting the band's previous outtakes and morphing them with their new work. "Physical Graffiti" — which has just been reissued, remastered, and expanded under Page's supervision — featured unused tracks from "Led Zeppelin III", "Led Zeppelin IV" and "Houses Of The Holy", combined with then-new 1974 sessions in the English countryside at Headley Grange, a home away from home for the band.

Jimmy Page spoke to Rolling Stone and shed light on the construction of "Physical Graffiti", recalling, "It gave us the chance to put in the material that was left over from the first visit to Headley. There were three tracks that were left off of the fourth album, and that was 'Boogie With Stu', 'Night Flight', and 'Down By The Seaside'… Each of them had their own individual charm and character. So with those, plus the fact that 'Houses Of The Holy' was a track that wasn't included on the album 'Houses Of The Holy', that was four things straight away [to include]. And, you know, given the chance of having a good run at this writing and recording process, I didn't want it to be a double-album with any padding on it. It would be a double-album with all character pieces, the way that LED ZEPPELIN did their music with the sort of ethos of it, if you like, that everything sounded different to everything else."

Page was asked about how the band came upon such a unique and iconic title for the album. "Graffiti had started to appear on buildings at the time, and usually it was quotes from William Blake, and it wasn't in the graffiti which we know think of, which was more from the hip-hop times," he said. "Nevertheless, graffiti was appearing, and I imagined something, which was like a physical reaction to it. Since we were in a recording studio, if you're doing a recording, and it's going on the tape, even though its magnetic tape, that's like a graffiti in itself. The music was a physical manifestation."

Jimmy Page says that one shouldn't underestimate how comfortable ZEPPELIN was while creating new music while camped out at Headley Grange. "'Trampled Under Foot' comes out virtually out of, like, John Paul Jones is doing an electric piano vamp and that comes together really… relatively quickly, the way that 'Rock And Roll' did on the fourth album on our first visit there," he said. "The whole point of going back to Headley Grange was that it was really a tried and tested blueprint. I knew that was going to work, and that's why I elected to go back there, and yeah, we got a double album at the end of the day."

"Physical Graffiti" sold around 40,248 copies in its first week of re-release to land at position No. 11 on The Billboard 200 chart. This marks a 6,875 percent increase in sales compared to the previous week's total of 577.

LED ZEPPELIN's expanded three-disc reissue of "Physical Graffiti" features seven previously unissued alternate tracks and outtakes — in addition to remastered versions of such ZEPPELIN classics as "Kashmir", "Trampled Under Foot", "Houses Of The Holy", "In My Time Of Dying", "Down By The Seaside", "Boogie With Stu" and "The Wonton Son", among others.

Diabolical death/black metal troop, Belphegor, have released a new live video for the title track of their latest offering Conjuring The Dead, recorded at Loud Park festival in Tokyo, Japan on October 19th, 2014. The footage comes courtesy of WOWOW On-Air Loud Park 14 Special broadcast. Live Sound: Norwin Palme/ FOH.

Belphegor will return to Asia for three rituals this May. The troop will play in China for the first time and play two dates in Japan. Serpenth comments: “The ingenious Loud Park festival last year was an excellent experience. We're looking forward to coming back to Tokyo in May and marching into China for the very first time. Expect Diabolical Death Musick."

Tour dates:

April
4 - Johannesburg/ Gauteng Province, South Africa - Witchfest Open Air
10 - Kufstein, Austria - Kulturfabrik
11 - Aarhus, Denmark - Royal Metal Fest
24 - Dettelbach, Germany - Metal Franconia Festival
25 - Oberhausen, Germany - Helvete Club

May
9 - Beijing, China - Yu Gong Yi Shan
12 - Tokyo, Japan - Shibuya Club Quattro
13 - Tokyo, Japan - Astro Hall

June
6 - Bangalore, India - Bangalore Open Air

July
3 - Roitzschjora, Germany - With Full Force Knüppelnacht
11 - Hollandscheveld, Netherlands - Graveland Festival

August
7 - Derbyshire, UK - Bloodstock Open Air
14 - Hodonin, Czech Republic - Made Of Metal
15 - Dinkelsbühl, Germany - Summer Breeze
28 - Crispendorf, Germany - Wolfszeit Festival

 

 

US-based metallers Kill Ritual have released the preview track “The Enemy Inside” from their upcoming release Karma Machine CD, which will see the light of day in Summer 2015 through a yet to be determined label. The track ushers in the bands new line up of vocalist David Reed Watson and drummer Koryuan Bobikyan alongside stalwarts’ guitarist Steven D. Rice and bassist Danyael Laughing Bear following the departure of vocalist Josh Gibson and drummer Gee Anzalone.  The CD will be mixed and mastered by Andy LaRocque (King Diamond) at his Sonic Train Studios in Varberg Sweden in May  and was tracked and produced by Kill Ritual guitarist Steven D. Rice at Fossil Sound. The track is available here for free download and streaming.

Formed in 2010 by former members of Imagika, Dark Angel and Eldritch, Kill Ritual launched themselves into the metal world with their debut CD The Serpentine Ritual in 2012 on Scarlet Records. They then completed a 30-date US tour in the fall of 2013 and followed it up with the release of their 2014 CD The Eyes Of Medusa on Golden Core/ZYX.

 

 

Acclaimed rockers STONE SOUR will release "Meanwhile In Burbank…", a five-song "Record Store Day" exclusive EP featuring covers of legendary artists BLACK SABBATH, METALLICA, KISS, JUDAS PRIEST and ALICE IN CHAINS, next month. Recorded live at Room 237 in Burbank, California, "Meanwhile In Burbank…" will be available on vinyl exclusively at select record stores on April 18.

"Meanwhile In Burbank…" track listing: 01. We Die Young (ALICE IN CHAINS cover)02. Heading Out To The Highway (JUDAS PRIEST cover)03. Love Gun (KISS cover)04. Creeping Death (METALLICA cover)05. Children Of The Grave (BLACK SABBATH cover)

An audio snippet of STONE SOUR's cover version of ALICE IN CHAINS' "We Die Young" can be streamed below. STONE SOUR guitarist Josh Rand commented on the EP: "Back in February of 2014 while STONE SOUR was touring, Corey [Taylor, vocals] approached me about STONE SOUR doing a cover of the METAL CHURCH song 'The Dark' for the movie 'Fear Clinic'. I thought it would be cool not only to record 'The Dark', but the five cover songs that we had played on that tour." Rand added: "The idea was not to shy away from a song because it was popular or pick a band that most people might not have heard, but to pick ones that truly meant something to one of us at some point in our life." Last month, STONE SOUR released their new digital single "The Dark", which was recorded for the film "Fear Clinic", the latest excursion into unrelenting terror by Anchor Bay Entertainment starring horror icon Robert "Freddy Krueger" Englund alongside STONE SOUR and SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor in his acting debut. Originally performed by METAL CHURCH, "The Dark" is currently available via iTunes with a companion video piece streaming on "Fear Clinic"'s official YouTube channel. "Fear Clinic" is available now on Blu-ray and DVD.

Corey Taylor said on "The Jasta Show" podcast about the record, "This is something that we've been talking about since the first album came out, with STONE SOUR. We've always wanted to do this. Even as people have come, people have gone, this is still something we've always come back to, and we just never had the opportunity to do it. And we just kind of said, 'Well, screw it.'"

Taylor added, "You're going back to these songs that you just love to listen to, not only just sing. And that's why it's called 'Meanwhile In Burbank', because, without giving too much away, that's where Roy lives — he lives in the Valley — so that's why we call it that. Because it's, like, that's what we're doing right now."

On its last North American tour, STONE SOUR played a different cover every night, including METALLICA's "Creeping Death", KISS' "Love Gun", JUDAS PRIEST's "Heading Out To The Highway" and PETER GABRIEL's "In Your Eyes".

Guitarist Christian Martucci joined STONE SOUR in late 2013 as the replacement for Jim Root, who was fired from the group after deciding he wanted to sit out the band's last tour in order to start work on the next album from SLIPKNOT, of which he is also a member.



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Listen to a preview of "We Die Young" off of "Meanwhile in Burbank", available in record stores on April 18th!Limited to 3000 copies worldwide, find a record store near you at www.recordstoreday.com or www.recordstoreday.co.uk

Posted by Stone Sour on Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Australia's incendiary extreme musical export THY ART IS MURDER will release its third studio album, "Holy War", on June 30 via Nuclear Blast. Produced and mixed by Will Putney (SUICIDE SILENCE, EXHUMED, THE ACACIA STRAIN), the CD will be made available in various formats: digital; limited digipak + bonus track; assorted color vinyl; exclusive mail-order picture disc. THY ART IS MURDER guitarist Andrew Marsh shares the following about the origins of the new album and its title: "Late last year, we entered the studio in secret to create our follow up to 'Hate', free of expectation and public pressure. What we came out with was a reaction to things going on around the world that crawl under our skin, that make us feel sick to be alive. Musically, it is darker, faster and more technical than anything we've done in the past and it hits hard lyrically. We wrote about concerns of ours, real issues, hardships that people are facing around the world today. Of course, it wouldn't be a THY ART record if a lot of those affairs weren't rooted in religion somehow, and what better way to sum up the state of all things than by entitling our album 'Holy War'. This is our war on racism, homophobia, child abuse, animal cruelty and all evil born of religious immunity, indoctrination, and ignorance. It is ultimately a push for secularism and humanism. Without it, we will be left in the hands of mad men." Rising from the unhallowed wastes of Western Sydney, THY ART IS MURDER successfully cleaved a trail of blood and mayhem since their inception in 2006. With the acclaimed "Infinite Death" EP (2008) and their debut album, "The Adversary" (2010) firmly establishing their name in the global metal music scene, the band has traversed highways and autobahns all around the world, playing 342 tour dates alone in support of their Nuclear Blast Entertainment debut, "Hate" (2012), which landed at No. 35 on the Top 40 ARIA chart — the highest chart debut of any Australian extreme metal band. Known for their tireless work ethic, THY ART IS MURDER performed at Summer Slaughter 2014 aand 2013, headlined their own "Hate Across America" tour in 2013, and supported EMMURE and BORN OF OSIRIS in 2014, playing throughout the U.S. more times in a two-year period than any other Australian band in any genre of music. THY ART IS MURDER will tour through Europe with EMMURE this May; a return trek to the U.S. will be announced soon. Photo by Thomas Savage

New York hardcore legends AGNOSTIC FRONT will release their eleventh album, "The American Dream Died", on April 7 via Nuclear Blast. The CD was produced by MADBALL singer Freddy Cricien and engineered, mixed and mastered by Paul Miner (H2O, TERROR). The record, which features guest appearances by Cricien, Toby Morse (H2O) and Lou Koller (SICK OF IT ALL), will be made available as digital download, on vinyl as well as on CD. A limited bundle with an exclusive t-shirt will also be on sale.

The entire "The American Dream Died" album can now be streamed until this Sunday, April 5.

Commented AGNOSTIC FRONT singer Roger Miret: "We chose this title 'cause we want to open up people's eyes to what's going on in this country.

"We have a lot to say.

"Not everyone realizes that our government and the people who run this country are so corrupt, greedy and ruthless.

"We need to educate the ones we reach.

"We're losing our values.

"We address real issues, from full-blown corruption and scandals to unjust police abuse and brutality.

"Everything we stood for as a country is going down the drain. But we still somewhat have our freedom of speech. We're expressing it all through this record while we can."

"The American Dream Died" contains the following tracks:

01. Intro02. The American Died03. Police Violence04. Only In America05. Test Of Time06. We Walk The Line07. Never Walk Alone (feat. Freddy Cricien, Toby Morse, Lou Koller)08. Enough Is Enough09. I Can't Relate10. Old New York11. Social Justice12. Reasonable Doubt13. No War Fuck You14. Attack!15. A Wise Man16. Just Like Yesterday

AGNOSTIC FRONT's last album, "My Life My Way", was released in March 2011 via Nuclear Blast. The CD was recorded at Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida and featured 13 anthemic songs laid down by Erik Rutan (MADBALL, GOATWHORE, CANNIBAL CORPSE, etc.) under the watchful guide of producer Freddy Cricien of MADBALL. The record was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music (SEPULTURA, SUFFOCATION, UNEARTH) in New Windsor, New York.

SIX FEET UNDER bassist Jeff Hughell has released his debut full-length solo album, "Chaos Labyrinth", showcasing his unique skills as a preeminent bass guitar player. His technical metal roots shine through on tracks such as "Jagermeister Death Grind" and "Chaotic Implosion", yet exceptional versatility is shown through calmer melodic songs such as "Still" and "Let It Go". The album is an embodiment of all that can be done on a bass from awe-inspiring tapping to beautifully flowing melodies.

"Chaos Labyrinth" is now available on iTunes and Amazon. "'Chaos Labyrinth' is different because it's a whole new level of sounds and dynamics from anything I have ever done," says Hughell. The album is composed of ten songs and is 43 minutes long. It succeeds a solo EP, "I Came To Hate", that was released in 2009.

"Chaos Labyrinth" was recorded at Castle Ultimate Studios by Zack Ohren. Artwork was done by Shaun McInnis, and photos by Jason Anaya at Anaya Photography. Hughell brought in many guest artists to collaborate with on the album. The title track alone features bass solos from Steve DiGiorgio (DEATH), Sean Martinez (RINGS OF SATURN) and Alex Webster (CANNIBAL CORPSE) as well as a guitar solo by Nick Avalonitas, drums by Alex Bent (ARKAIK), and keyboards by Marc Gilson. The rest of the album also features bassist Brian Wood (CYANIC), guitarists Tyler Lane, Matt Sotelo (DECRIPT BIRTH), Ola Englund (SIX FEET UNDER), and drummer Kevin Talley (FEARED). Hughell even shows off his own skills on the piano on "Dreams Of Chaos". The combination of all these musicians led by Hughell resulted in a truly special recording. Hughell is a renowned seven-string bass player who is well established in the technical metal scene. Bands he has played with include SIX FEET UNDER, RECIPROCAL, FEARED, BRAIN DRILL, VILE, OSMIUM, SEVERED SAVIOR, ASYLUM, RINGS OF SATURN and CRYPTOREUM. He is endorsed by Warwick, Gallien Krueger, Seymour Duncan and Dean Markley. For more information, visit www.jeffhughell.com.

Considered to be a pioneer of the "shred guitar" genre, Michael Angelo Batio is set to release his first-ever career retrospective. Due on April 14 via Rat Pak Records, "Shred Force 1: The Essential Michael Angelo Batio" not only highlights Michael's best work to date, but also brings together many nationally renowned musicians from the hard rock and heavy metal genres. The album features some of Michael's most memorable performances, including a dynamic version of RUSH's "What You're Doing", which features QUEENSRŸCHE vocalist Todd La Torre, METAL CHURCH guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, ALICE COOPER bassist Chuck Garric, METAL CHURCH/TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA drummer Jeff Plate and guitarist Craig Blackwell. There is also a cover of DEEP PURPLE's "Burn" with La Torre and ALTER BRIDGE guitarist Mark Tremonti. The album also includes Michael's tributes to Eric Clapton ("Slowhand"), Randy Rhoads ("RRR"; also featuring Rudy Sarzo on bass), and a new version of Michael Angelo Batio's unique tribute ("Diamond") to the late great Darrell "Dimebag" Abbott of PANTERA, that features guitarist Michael Wilton of QUEENSRŸCHE. Also included are some of Michael Angelo Batio's most notable instrumental tracks such as "8 Pillars of Steel" (with guest appearances by Elliott Dean Rubinson, Dave Reffett, Jeff Loomis, Rusty Cooley, George Lynch, Andrea Martongelli and Craig Goldy), "Juggernaut" (featuring ex-MEGADETH guitarist Chris Poland, Dave Reffett, Annie Grunwald, Guthrie Govan, Mike LePond and Michael Romeo).

Pre-order bundles are now available at this location.

An official audio stream of "Burn" can be found below.

"I feel that 'Shred Force 1' is the culmination of my best musical work," exclaims Batio. "These are some of my personal favorite performances along with an army of featured guest stars pulled together by an amazing record company to bring it all into focus!"

Michael Angelo Batio showcased his guitar techniques and innovations for the first time with his early instructional programs, as well as in his live performances, which are now considered "standard techniques" amongst guitarists worldwide. Michael not only invented, but was the world's first player of the double-guitar, and was also voted one of the world's "Top 100 Guitarists Of All Time" by Guitar World magazine. He also holds the YouTube record for his instructional video "Speed Kills", which has had the most views for a guitarist, coming in at over 15 million!

Michael Angelo Batio has performed over 1,700 shows in 58 different countries since 1993 and continues his relentless touring and clinic schedule in 2015.

Michael will bring his shred abilities to television when he makes his debut on VH1 Classic's "That Metal Show" on Saturday, March 21 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT as the guest guitarist.

"Shred Force 1: The Essential Michael Angelo Batio" track listing:

01. Hands Without Shadows (featuring Bobby Rock and William Kopecky)02. Burn (featuring Todd La Torre and Mark Tremonti)03. Juggernaut (featuring Chris Poland, Dave Reffett, Annie Grunwald, Guthrie Govan, Mike Lepond, and Michael Romeo)04. What You're Doing (featuring Todd La Torre, Kurdt Vanderhoof, Chuck Garric, Jeff Plate and Craig Blackwell)05. 8 Pillars Of Steel (featuring Elliott Dean Rubinson, Dave Reffett, Jeff Loomis, Rusty Cooley, George Lynch, Andrea Martongelli, Craig Goldy)06. Call To Arms (featuring Dan Lenegar, William Kopecky and John Mrozek)07. 2X Again08. Slowhand (featuring Warren Dunlevy Jr.)09. Diamond (featuring Michael Wilton, Elliott Dean Rubinson)10. Rainforest11. Gotta Run (featuring Dan Lenegar, William Kopecky and John Mrozek)12. No Boundaries13. RRR (featuring Rudy Sarzo and Bobby Rock)

Bonus Tracks (digital version only)

14. I Pray The Lord15. Peace

Guitarist Greg Tribbett (MUDVAYNE, HELLYEAH), drummer Matt McDonough (MUDVAYNE), vocalist Billy Keeton (SKRAPE) and bassist Perry Stern have joined forced in a new band called AUDIOTOPSY. The group recently completed recording its debut album for a summer release. The album is currently being mixed. "I'm extremely excited about AUDIOTOPSY," says Greg. "The music has everything you want in a record... heavy, melodic, atmospheric, big, hooky riffs/singalongs as well. The guys in the band are great and we all feel as if this was meant to happen. Everyone is very artistic and we all felt an energy from our first meeting. We can't wait for the world to hear AUDIOTOPSY and can't wait to get out there and tour the world. AUDIOTOPSY is coming! I'm ready to fuck shit up!" Billy adds: "From the first few notes I knew this was going to be killer. The chemistry happening just took over and spawned this sound, this animal. I'm super stoked to get this music out, and to get this band on tour. Let the madness begin."

AUDIOTOPSY has not yet announced a label deal for its first CD, which is currently being mixed. HELLYEAH and MUDVAYNE singer Chad Gray told Songfacts in a new interview that he doesn't know if the latter group will ever work together again. Asked if there was a chance for MUDVAYNE to regroup, Gray said, "I don't know if the full band will. Who knows — they might be putting something else together. We were talking for a while and that whole Greg thing went down and everything kind of fell apart." "The Greg thing" was the departure of Tribbett from HELLYEAH in 2013. Gray called his connection with Tribbett "the only truly solid relationship in [MUDVAYNE], although Matt and I are still great, Ryan [Martinie, bass] and I still briefly talk. I mean, the only way I personally would want to do MUDVAYNE is if everybody licked their wounds and got over it."

Gray said that there were "a lot of things" that tore MUDVAYNE apart, adding, "Maybe MUDVAYNE was the martyr for people that stopped supporting music. You sell 159,000 records the first week, and then the next record is like, 'Whatever, fuck it.'"

Gray admitted to Revolver recently that Tribbett's exit from HELLYEAH "was like losing a great friend… He has always been my right-hand man."

MUDVAYNE posted a message on Facebook one year ago saying that the band had not broken up and would be "back in action" at some point.

It's been more than five years since MUDVAYNE released its self-titled fifth album, which was barely promoted and sold weakly upon release.

FAILURE will release "The Heart Is A Monster", the Los Angeles-based trio's follow-up to 1996's "Fantastic Planet", on June 30 via INgrooves Music Group's artist services division, INresidence.

"Trying to follow up 'Fantastic Planet' was a bit daunting," said Ken Andrews, who mixed the 18-song collection with the band acting as producers. "We've pushed the bar upward again, but at the same time, we've kept the signature sound of the band intact."

"Thematically we've moved from the outer space of 'Fantastic Planet' to inner space," explained Greg Edwards. "From the dislocation of one's identity to the complete erasing of it by sleep and dreams. I think we've used instrumentation in the service of mood and emotion to an even greater degree than on our previous records."

"FAILURE is that rare band who define a sound that transcends space and time. They are truly iconic and their time is now. Listen," said Bryan Mead, INgrooves senior vice president of INresidence, about the new partnership.

The band returned from a 17-year hiatus in early 2014 with a single Los Angeles date planned. The show sold out in seconds, which led to a North American tour, including a run of dates with TOOL, and eventually back to the studio. In a recent interview with Noisey, Andrews admitted that by the time the band announced their first live outing, he, Edwards and Kellii Scott were already working on new music. He said: "One thing that Greg and I agreed on very early on is that we did not want to reform for just one or two nostalgia tours. We wanted to come back as a full functioning musical force and creatively pick up where we left off with 'Fantastic Planet'. That meant we needed to start experimenting in the studio first, which we did in late 2013. After a few months, we came to the conclusion that we were having a good time and that we liked the results, and that we thought the results were definitely FAILURE. We've been chipping away at a new album this whole time."

In that same article, Andrews and Edwards explained that their approach to writing and recording "Fantastic Planet" and "The Heart Is A Monster" have been similar, saying "The songs on 'Fantastic Planet' appear more or less in the order that we wrote them… when, we do a song now, we write it and record it soup-to-nuts without moving to another song… It takes longer, but it makes more sense for us artistically to explore a song completely before you move on."

FAILURE's SXSW performance, which was the trio's first live outing since wrapping production on "The Heart Is A Monster", included the new song "Hot Traveler", which Entertainment Weekly said "had every bit the sonic thickness, rhythmic thump, and melodic bite as favorites like 'Another Space Song' and 'Heliotropic'."

FAILURE formed in Los Angeles in the early '90s, releasing "Comfort", their debut album, in 1992 via Slash Records. "Magnified" followed in the spring of 1994 with the band's final offering, "Fantastic Planet", released in 1996. "Fantastic Planet" earned a perfect 5-star score from Alternative Press, with the magazine saying the album was able "to breathe life into the corpse of contemporary, guitar-driven rock," adding that the band was "willing to stretch the definition of both their instruments and their songs." The 17-track album is considered one of the era's most influential and enduring rock records. Over the years, FAILURE has become known as a "band's band" whose songs have been covered by such diverse artists as A PERFECT CIRCLE ("The Nurse Who Loved Me") and PARAMORE ("Stuck On You"). TOOL/A PERFECT CIRCLE singer Maynard James Keenan said, "FAILURE has been a huge inspiration to me. They say amateurs borrow and professionals steal. Well, over the years this pro has robbed those poor saps blind."

The band recently announced the vinyl reissue of "Fantastic Planet", available exclusively via PledgeMusic.

Photo credit: Ken Andrews

On September 25, 2014, shortly after the release of their "World On Fire" album, SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS took the stage at the legendary Roxy Theatre on Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. The atmospheric venue, steeped in rock history, gave fans a brilliant opportunity to experience the band up close as they delivered a set packed with more recent solo tracks, including several from the new album, and classics from Slash's earlier career with GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER. The intimate setting inspired the band to deliver a scintillating, dynamic performance, due for release on June 15 on 3LP set, as well as 2CD, DVD and Blu-ray.

"Live At The Roxy 25.9.14" track listing:

01. Ghost 02. Nightrain 03. Back From Cali 04. You Could Be Mine 05. Rocket Queen 06. Bent To Fly 07. Starlight 08. You're A Lie 09. World On Fire 10. Anastasia 11. Sweet Child O' Mine12. Slither13. Paradise City

Additional tracks:

01. Stone Blind02. You're Crazy03. Wicked Stone 04. 30 Years To Life

Speaking about his working relationship with his backing band THE CONSPIRATORS — Myles Kennedy (vocals), Brent Fitz (drums), Todd Kerns (bass) and Frank Sidoris (touring guitarist) — Slash told Australia's Moshcam: "It's just something that clicked right from the very beginning. Initially, Myles and I just had that spark, sort of a creative connection, from the very, very beginning. And that's something that's established; it always happens when we work together. And then, with Brent and Todd, it's the same kind of thing where we just have a really great writing and performing and recording chemistry, where everybody just really digs what we are about individually and collectively, and it just works."

Asked if he thinks more in terms of being a solo artist or as a bandmember, Slash said: "I don't think I ever really thought in terms of solo artists, per se. Ever since I first started playing guitar, I've always been drawn to the band dynamic. But being in a position to steer it where I want it to go, and be more of a captain of the ship was how it first started. And at this point, now that we've been working together for a while, it definitely has turned very much into a band. But all if do is spearhead it."

Slash recently told Classic Rock magazine that he has "already started working" on material for the follow-up to "World On Fire".

"On the road is the platform that I find is the easiest for me to work on new material," he said. "It's easier here than it is for me to do when I'm at home. So I just get going. I take my phone and I record ideas on the phone and then we jam stuff at soundchecks; when we have soundchecks. So we compile a bunch of ideas, and then when the tour is over, we go home and, sort of, hash them out."

"World On Fire" sold around 29,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 10 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores on September 16, 2014 via Slash's own label Dik Hayd International distributed through Roadrunner Records (Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America).

"World On Fire" is the second album to feature Slash's regular backing band, MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS, and follows up 2012's "Apocalyptic Love", which sold around 38,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 4 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Slash's self-titled debut album scored the highest new entry on The Billboard 200 chart in April 2010, with first-week U.S. sales of around 60,000 copies.

On Slash self-titled solo effort he employed a different vocalist on each track, before settling on ALTER BRIDGE member Kennedy for both touring and eventually recording.

THE CIRCLE, the combo consisting of legendary rocker Sammy Hagar alongside Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham and Vic Johnson will release a concert album, "At Your Service", on May 19 in both digital and physical packages.

Recorded live on tour in 2014, this release documents the blistering performance of a band on fire performing hits from Sammy's four decades of rock (MONTROSE, solo, VAN HALEN, THE WABORITAS, CHICKENFOOT) as well as classic tracks from the LED ZEPPELIN catalog.

Available for preorder on iTunes, "At Your Service" will include an instant download of THE CIRCLE's version of VAN HALEN's "Poundcake", which can now be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.

"At Your Service" track listing:

Disc One

01. There's Only One Way To Rock02. Rock Candy03. Good Times Bad Times04. Poundcake05. I Can't Drive 5506. Mikey Bass Solo07. When It's Love08. Whole Lotta Love09. Little White Lie10. When The Levee Breaks Disc Two

01. Moby Dick/Jason Drum Solo02. Why Can't This Be Love03. Finish What Ya Started04. Heavy Metal05. Vic Guitar Solo06. Best Of Both Worlds07. Right Now08. Rock And Roll09. Dreams

Speaking to Ultimate Classic Rock, Hagar stated about THE CIRCLE: "I think THE CIRCLE is the band that I want to play with right now. It's the band that I choose to play with over any band. Even CHICKENFOOT is hard, because we only play CHICKENFOOT. So I miss playing 'When It's Love' and 'Right Now' and 'I Can't Drive 55' and 'One Way To Rock' and 'Heavy Metal' and 'Rock Candy'. I miss doing that, as much as I love CHICKENFOOT."

He continued: "THE CIRCLE is so satisfying that I don't even see a reason to make a record. We have so many great hits that we can choose from our catalog, all of those VAN HALEN hits, all of the Sammy solo, all of those MONTROSE hits, CHICKENFOOT hits, LED ZEPPELIN songs — we have that catalog to choose from for our shows, so to make a record would just be kind of a waste of time. I wouldn't say never, but first I'd like to put together the greatest set list that ever existed in rock 'n' roll, and I think we're pretty close to it right now with the one that we have, but it can even get better. There's a frikkin' goldmine to choose from of songs that I've written and sang in my life."

Hagar's first-ever acoustic album titled "Lite Roast", was released on October 14, 2014 via Mailboat Records. Joining Sammy on the CD was Vic Johnson, longtime guitarist of WABORITAS, Hagar's backup band, on guitar and vocals.

Society 1 has released a new music video, for the track “Pain And Torture”, featured on their latest album, A Collection Of Lies.

 

 

The video, directed by vocalist Matt Zane, depicts a woman partaking in questionable acts with an over-sized stuffed bear. The clip also features band members (DV Karloff, Iorden Mitev and Alex Crescioni) performing while the action unfolds to a gruesome end.

"We just wanted to do something absurd and different. Something that may confuse people just for moment and make them watch it a few times. Maybe tell a friend and have some philosophical discussion about the possible meaning of it all." said Zane

 

Sworn In will release their new studio album, The Lovers/The Devil on April 7th on Razor & Tie. The album was produced Will Putney (Amity Affliction, For Today, Miss May I). Pre-order the album here. The new track “Lay With Me” can be heard below.

The Lovers/The Devil is the follow up to Sworn In's 2013 debut album, The Death Card, which debuted on the Billboard Top 200 chart. The Lovers/The Devil, in short, is a concept record delving into the darkness of a destructive relationship. The CD is split into two halves, the first dubbed "The Lovers" and the second called "The Devil."

The Lovers tells the story of the man feeling obsessed, psychotic, depressed, and drowning in unrequited love. This half of the CD covers the desperate romantic who lives inside his own head because the real world has become too unbearable. But such is life and this character reaches a breaking point. And with that, comes the split of the record.

The Devil charts the course of the role reversal, where the man snaps and becomes the cold, bitter, and numb person that drove him mad, while the female occupies the position the male just went through.

However, the record does not glorify self-destructive love; rather, it chronicles that situation and can be interpreted in any way that feels personal to the one listening.

 

 

The Lovers/The Devil tracklisting:

“Sweetheart”
“Sugar Lips”
“I Don’t Really Love You”
“Oliolioxinfree”
“Waltz”
“Pins And Needles”
“Lay With Me”
“Weeping Willow”
“Pocket Full Of Posies”
“Sunshine”
“Scissors”
“Sour”
“Love Drunk”

“Lay With Me”:

“Oliolioxinfree”:

“I Don’t Really Love You”:

“Sunshine”:

The band recently kicked off their first headlining tour with special guests The Plot In You, I Declare War, and Gift Giver.

 

 

For a complete listing of tour dates visit this location.

On June 2nd, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release Jeff Beck’s Performing This Week… Live At Ronnie Scott’s Special Edition on 2CD and Digital Audio. A 3LP edition will be released shortly thereafter.
 
Now released for the first time with the full audio from these incredible shows, Performing This Week… features classic tracks from across Jeff Beck’s career including: “Beck’s Bolero”, “Led Boots”, “Scatterbrain”, “Where Were You”, “Angels (Footsteps)”, “Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers” and his now iconic version of “A Day In The Life”. This amazing show includes guest appearances by Joss Stone, Eric Clapton and Imogen Heap, in addition to a 7-track set with the Big Town Playboys.
 
This 2007 series of concerts at the renowned Ronnie Scott’s club in London became a must-have ticket of the year, with a packed audience every night consisting of the famous and the fans. The CD and DVD releases of these shows (released via Eagle Rock Entertainment in 2008, 2009 respectively) have become the definitive Jeff Beck live recordings. Now for the first time on LP and CD, all of the live tracks are available (including those with special guests plus the Big Town Playboys set, which has previously only been on the Blu-ray release).
 
From his time with the Yardbirds in the sixties, through the Jeff Beck Group and throughout his solo career, Jeff Beck’s unique guitar style and constant desire to explore new musical areas and sounds has won him the admiration of peers and legions of fans worldwide. Performing This Week… Live At Ronnie Scott’s – Special Edition is a stunning representation of the unmatched live experience that only he can deliver.

 

 

Tracklisting:

Disc One:

“Beck’s Bolero”   
“Eternity’s Breath”   
“Stratus”   
“Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers”   
“Behind The Veil”   
“You Never Know”   
“Nadia”   
“Blast From The East”   
“Led Boots”   
“Angels (Footsteps)”   
“Scatterbrain”   
Medley: “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” / “Brush With The Blues”   
“Space Boogie”   
“Big Block”   
“Day In The Life”
“Where Were You”

Disc Two:

“People Get Ready” (with Joss Stone)   
“Blanket” (with Imogen Heap)   
“Little Brown Bird” (with Eric Clapton)   
“You Need Love” (with Eric Clapton)   
“Rollin’ And Tumblin’” (with Imogen Heap)   

Jeff Beck & The Big Town Playboys Set:

“Race With The Devil”   
“Crazy Legs”   
“Train Kept A Rollin’”   
“My Baby Left Me”   
“Matchbox”   
“Baby Blue”   
“Honky Tonk”
 

 

A banjo cover version of METALLICA's smash song "Enter Sandman" courtesy of Banjo Guy Ollie can be seen below.

Says Ollie about the clip: "Coinciding with the end of my first year on youtube, this one took a while but here's a full version of 'Enter Sandman', the first one in my series of tributes to all the bands I loved from the '80s and '90s.

"I was scratching my head thinking of the most random way to start the video, and as I was cutting down firewood for drying it, [I] thought… perfect !! :) True story!"

"Enter Sandman" was featured as the opening track and lead single from METALLICA's eponymous 1991 album. The song was produced by Bob Rock, and the music was written by Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich, and James Hetfield. Vocalist and guitarist Hetfield wrote the lyrics, which deal with the simplest concept of a child's nightmares.

The "Enter Sandman" single was certified gold in the United States for sales in excess of 500,000 copies. Acclaimed by critics, the song is featured on all of METALLICA's live albums and DVDs released after 1991 and has been played live at award ceremonies and benefit concerts. It is considered to be METALLICA's signature song to the general public.

METALLICA's self-titled "black album" has sold more than 16 million copies in the U.S., according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

SYSTEM OF A DOWN bassist Shavo Odadjian has directed the launch trailer for the "Mortal Kombat X" video game. The TV spot premiere, which is scheduled for April 6, will include the SYSTEM OF A DOWN song "Chop Suey!" as its main theme.

A teaser clip is available below.

Odadjian is no stranger to video direction, as he helmed the SYSTEM OF A DOWN videos for the songs "Aerials", "Toxicity", "Hypnotize" and "Question!"

Odadjian said in a recent interview with Madcap Music Review that SYSTEM OF A DOWN has already worked on its first new music in a decade, with plans to enter the studio in the coming months to record a full-length album. Asked about the chances of the group recording for the first time since 2005, Odadjian said, "Yeah, there's a very good chance. I don't have a date. We've already gone. We've written some songs. We're keeping it to ourselves. We're getting back to the bullshitt of being together."

Odadjian told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that he could never envision SYSTEM OF A DOWN going away permanently. "We're brothers, man, we'll take bullets for each other," he said. "So it's like, you kind of miss each other after a while and you, one guy makes the first move, then another starts making phone calls.... this is a juggernaut, man. SYSTEM OF A DOWN is my lifeline. It'll never go away. We could not make a record for 10 years — that's not gonna happen, but I'm just saying we could — and we'll come back strong."

SYSTEM OF A DOWN recently added two more North American dates to its upcoming world tour. In addition to shows in Los Angeles on April 6 and Quebec on June 18, the band will now stop in Detroit on June 17 and Toronto on June 19.

The tour commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and will feature SYSTEM OF A DOWN’s first-ever performance in their homeland of Armenia, on April 23.

Highlights of Sixx:A.M.'s trip to Japan for VAMPark Fest 2015, the band's first ever international gig, can be seen in the clip streaming below:

Sixx:A.M. recently debuted the lyric video for their cover of "Drive", from the Modern Vintage album. "Drive" was originally issued in 1984 by The Cars. It was the third single from the band's Heartbeat City album. Upon its release, "Drive" became The Cars' highest charting single in the United States, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; on the Adult Contemporary chart, the song went to number one.

Next month, Sixx:A.M. will embark upon their first ever headlining tour with special guests Apocalyptica and Vamps. Confirmed dates are as listed:

April
8 - San Francisco, CA - The Regency Ballroom
10 - Las Vegas, NV - The Joint @ Hard Rock Hotel / Casino
11 - Los Angeles, CA - Club Nokia
13 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
14 - Kansas City, MO - Arvest Bank Theatre At The Midland
16 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
17 - Dallas, TX - The Bomb Factory
19 - Minneapolis, MN - Mill City Nights
20 - Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre
21 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre
23 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert Theatre
24 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
25 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
27 - New York, NY - Best Buy Theater
28 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
29 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore Silver Spring

 

 

 

Celebrities from all around the world and from all branches of the arts are rallying behind what international talk show host Jerry Springer has described as an "Incredible (rock) video" aimed at raising funds for fostering charities all over the world.

The video, a rock / metal cover of "Don't You Worry Child", released by Swedish band We Are The Catalyst goes live today on YouTube (see below) and goes on general release globally next week with all the profits going to The Fostering Network. The video is a no holds barred look at the darker side of a broken home and the horrific struggle many children face on a daily basis.

 

 

Ruthie Henshall, one of the stars of the West End hit show Billy Elliott summed up what many of the celebrities are saying about the video when she said, "Music is obviously something that is very close to my heart and when I see music specifically being released to raise money and awareness for such a great cause as Fostering, then I just have to give my support. I would urge music fans everywhere to check out the wonderful video for “Don't You Worry Child” by We Are The Catalyst and then please download the track so that with the help of The Fostering Network, we can all make a real difference to so many at risk children".

Tony Round, Head of Fundraising for The Fostering Network commented "The children who come into care have all too often experienced neglect and abuse, or witnessed domestic violence or substance misuse. The Fostering Network has worked hard for the past 40 years to ensure that these children can experience love, support and stability in a foster family. We are delighted to have been chosen as the charity receiving funds raised through Rock for the Children, and thank We Are The Catalyst for shining a huge spotlight on foster care and the amazing work that foster carers do around the world through the release of “Don't You Worry Child”.”

With additional celebrities also pledging their support for the campaign Rock For The Children ranging from Hayley Atwell, one of the stars of the blockbuster Captain America movies, right through to Michael Van Schoick who plays Epic Strut Dave, in the current Money Supermarket TV adverts in the UK, the project clearly has not shortage of well known supporters.

"A lot of people are also supporting Rock For The Children, by sending us Index Finger Smiley Selfies”, said Kenny Boufadene, guitarist and co-vocalist for We Are The Catalyst. "They are simple smiley faces drawn on the index finger, but it signifies how a simple #OneClick (downloading the single) can literally change a childs life forever"

To download the track and for more information on Rock for the Children, visit this location.

 

Agonia Records has announced the signing of the rising Polish black metal force, Blaze Of Perdition. Both parties are excited in this new venture and are pleased to announce that the band's third full-length album will be titled Near Death Revelations. The album, whose cover artwork was created by Mentalporn, is scheduled to be released this June.

Blaze Of Perdition have managed to built up an excellent reputation with their two previous albums, Towards The Blaze Of Perdition (2010) and The Hierophant (2011), which solidified the outfit’s position as one the most interesting acts in the field of black metal. While the group does not reinvent the wheel, it truly makes use of its creative capacities, focusing on intelligent arrangements and developing a dark, yet enigmatic unity.

After a tragic road accident in November 2013, the band's career was open to doubt, but eventually the event did not manage to slow Blaze Of Perdition for long. The upcoming Near Death Revelations album, will refer directly to those past experiences.

 

 

Tracklisting:

“Królestwo Niczyje”
“Into The Void Again”
“When Mirrors Shatter”
“Dreams Shall Flesh”
“Cold Morning Fears”
“The Tunnel”
“Of No Light”

 

 

Lineup:

S. - vocals
XCIII - guitars
Revenger - guitars/bass
Vizun - drums

 

Vancouver, BC-based melodic death/thrash outfit, Dead Asylum, has unleashed their new music video, “Forgotten Sacrifice” and you won’t believe what they do with a leg and a cheese grater.

 

 

Directed and produced by up-and-coming creative powerhouse Joshua Keith Young, the video is dark and suspenseful with great visuals and a storyline that captures the band's headbanging message in support of their debut album, General Carnage, released in 2013, available on iTunes and CD Baby.

 

 

"We had a disturbingly fun time filming the video. All the actors and crew were great and unbelievably professional. Josh [director] was amazing at bringing out the best in the cast and definitely brought the best out in us. We can’t thank him enough for it! It’s exciting to be able to give people a look into the idea of Dead Asylum." comments vocalist / guitarist Mike Lister.

Director Joshua Keith Young also comments: "The creative team wanted to make sure the video told a story but embodied the band’s personality as well. ‘Forgotten Sacrifice’ does a great job of featuring the band while telling a captivating and dramatic story that will affect people on an emotional level. Those words don’t often come to mind when describing a metal video, but the cast and crew are confident that when viewers see what’s being held captive in a barren dog crate, they’ll likely feel the same."

Live dates:

May
30 - Vancouver, BC - Invisible Orange Metal Cruise

June
5 - Calgary, AB - Lord Neslon's - Calgary Metalfest
17-18 - Armstrong, BC - Hassen Arena - Armstrong Metalfest

Album stream:

(Photo: Greg Nicholls)

Sacramento, California-based female fronted symphonic metallers, Graveshadow, are currently on working on their debut full length which is being produced by Matt "Hazmatt" Thomas (Fallrise), with mixing duties being handled by Deathstars’ guitarist/songwriter/producer, Emil “Nightmare” Nodtveidt. The album will include reworked versions of the five song EP that was released in 2014, plus three additional tracks including the duet “Blink”, which features guest vocals from Primal Fear vocalist, Ralf Scheepers.

The band has been a heavy favourite of the Northern California region over the past year and a half, including a recent nomination for “Best Metal Band” in the long running and prestigious Sammie Awards (sponsored by the Sacramento News & Review). Graveshadow features lead vocalist Heather Smith, keyboardist Valerie Hudak, guitarists William Walker III and Matt Mitchell, bassist Benjamin Armstrong, , and drummer Roman Anderson.

The Graveshadow sound is a mix of symphonic metal and traditional metal, and features the vocals of Heather Smith, who utilizes her voice with a combination of both clean and gritty vocals, changing between them effortlessly. While many bands have utilized this combination, typically two vocalists handle these duties. In Graveshadow, Heather handles all of the vocal sounds independently, which is something that is unexpected, powerful, and surprising.

The album is expected to be released later this year.

 

 

Graveshadow has the following shows scheduled over the coming months:

April
9 - Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades (supporting Apocalyptica)
18 - Placerville, CA - PJ's Roadhouse
19 - Hollywood, CA - Loaded

June
26 - Sacramento, CA - Starlite Lounge
27 - Redwood City, CA - Bobby D’s
28 - Hollywood, CA - Loaded

 

Stoke-on-Trent, UK-based heavy metal quintet Incarcerate have announced their singing to Boston, MA based label We Are Triumphant (Victory Records). Their self-titled debut EP, Incarcerate, will be released May 12th. You can get a taster of what’s to come on the eviscerating new track “Doomsday” which is available to stream in full below.

 

 

Priding themselves on their very particular approach to the brutal riffs and beat-downs that make up their crushing, down-tuned and doom-laden brand of heavy metal, the five piece began life with just two founding members as the vision of James Statham (guitar) and imposing, larger-than-life front man Chris Myatt. After months of searching to complete the lineup, Josh Geddes (bass) joined the project followed by Steve Johnson (guitar) and Sam Hunt (drums) a month later.

Shows alongside names including For The Fallen Dreams, The Hell, Carcer City, High Hopes and Create To Inspire prove that these ferocious newcomers can cut it with some of the best of the rising crop of UK hopefuls and with interest from across the Atlantic already piquing, this release could be the first step to breaking out of their local scene and onto an international stage.

Incarcerate’s debut EP is released digitally on May 12th via We Are Triumphant.

“Doomsday”:

UK tour dates with Heritage:

April
24 - Newport, UK - Meze Lounge
25 - Carmarthen, UK - The Parrot
26 - London Camden, UK - Unicorn
27 - Stoke-on-trent, UK - Underground

Incarcerate lineup:
Chris Myatt - Vocals
James Statham - Guitar
Steve Johnson - Guitar
Josh Geddes - Bass
Sam Hunt - Drums

 

France’s In Other Climes have released their new album, Leftover, in CD and digital formats via Bastardized Recordings. The album is streaming in its entirety below.
 
Leftover brings eleven tracks mixing metal, thrash, hardcore and punk influences with groove, rock n’ roll solos and catchy choruses. The quintet initially seems too heavy for the hardcore kids and to punchy for the metalheads, but when the show begins a reverberating blast of hate and revolt overtakes minds and hearts, uniting the crowd and band with one voice screaming: "ONE LIFE, ONE CHANCE, NO FUCKIN' REGRETS!" Leftover was produced, mixed and mastered by Michael Khettabi in the Gonzovision Studio. Check out the official video for "Now I Know" below.

 

 

Tracklisting:

“Dreams”
“Now I Know”
“Who Are You”
“City Of Glass”
“Bigger Than Life”
“Brainwashed”
“I Walk Alone”
“Have You Ever”
“Dead Man's Fingers”
“Sincerely Yours”
“We Are An European Band”

Album stream:

"Now I Know" video:
 

In Other Climes was formed in Nice in 2004 sharing the same goal: Showing the world how they use their positive energy to make each show a true messianic party experience. Being one of the most active French bands and well-known for their video clips, In Other Climes gained a strong international fan base through the years, giving them the opportunity to tour all across the globe (Europe, USA, Brazil) and share the stage with bands such as Down, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Hatebreed, Entombed, Walls Of Jericho, Comeback Kid, just to name a few. In Other Climes have released several diverse EPs and albums.

Bergen-based Dark Essence Records have announced the signing of Norwegian black metallers Orkan, and are set to release the band's sophomore full-length album, Livlaus, later this year.
 
Orkan's four-man lineup, all of whom also play in Enchanting Darkness, was formed in 2008 by Taake’s live guitarist Gjermund Fredheim and ex- Byfrost drummer Rune Ness. Having been joined by former Grimnorth bassist Sindre Hillesdal and frontman Einar Fjelldal (ex-Gravemachine), Orkan released their debut full-length album, Crimson Canvas in 2012.

 

 
Whilst Crimson Fields is, as described by the band, "a self-financed, thrashy album", Orkan have left this sound behind them and taken their musical vision in a much darker direction, taking the classic Norwegian black metal sound and incorporating into it influences from many other genres, to create atmospheric melodies with haunting vocals and intense blast beats.

 

Fan-filmed footage of Orkan playing the track "Deus Vicit" from their debut album Crimson Fields, at the Ferrailleur in Nante during their tour with Take and Helheiim in 2003 can be seen below:
 

 

Jeremy Brown (pictured), guitarist for former STONE TEMPLE PILOTS/VELVET REVOLVER singer Scott Weiland and his backing band THE WILDABOUTS, has died. The group was scheduled to perform a record-release show Monday (March 30) in Hollywood for its debut album, "Blaster", which comes out today (Tuesday, March 31).

In a post on his official Facebook page, Weiland wrote: "We received a call today about my friend Jeremy Brown that has shaken me to the core.

"We were all concerned this afternoon when Jeremy didn't show up for a long-scheduled rehearsal for tonight's album release show at School Night. An hour later, Jeremy's family called us to say that he had passed away.

"I am in shock right now. Everyone that knows him is devastated. It is a terrible loss that goes beyond words.

"He is one of my best friends, a truest friend and one of the most gifted guitar players that I’ve ever known. A true genius.

"It's impossible to explain how much he will be missed and what a hole this will leave in our hearts.

"A post on Facebook feels so trite and small compared to the love that I have for him and for the talent that has passed on, but I felt it was necessary to at least start here. Please keep his family in your thoughts."

Weiland met Brown in 2008 during the recording of the former STONE TEMPLE PILOTS' second solo album, "Happy In Galoshes", and they have worked together for seven years, including on "Blaster".

In celebration of its 2015 summer/fall North American tour, VAN HALEN performed a special concert for ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" last night (Monday, March 30) on Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. Featuring some of the band's essential rock and roll classics, the show is being broadcast over two nights, March 30 and March 31, on the late night talk show and marks VAN HALEN's first U.S. television performance with original lead singer David Lee Roth since he rejoined the band in 2007.

A portion of Hollywood Boulevard between Highland and Orange was closed yesterday gearing up for the special event.

Roth cut himself on the nose with the microphone early in the performance, forcing VAN HALEN to stop the show for a few minutes so that he could step to the side and get it taped up.

Video footage of VAN HALEN performing the songs "Panama" and "Runnin' With The Devil" during onday's concert can be seen below.

"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. / 10:35 p.m. Central Time on ABC.

VAN HALEN has announced the dates and cities for a summer/fall North American tour that will kick off on July 5 in Seattle, winding down on October 2 in Los Angeles.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, VAN HALEN is also scheduled to appear on the April 2 edition of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show".

This will be VAN HALEN's first full-length tour after the band abruptly canceled a 2012 summer run in support of that year's studio album, "A Different Kind Of Truth".

Tickets for the trek go on sale beginning April 4 at Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com, with special pre-sale information being announced locally. The opening act will be KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD.

March 31 will also see the release of "Live: Tokyo Dome: In Concert", the band's first official live album with Roth.

Recorded on June 21, 2013 at the Tokyo Dome in Japan, the set features 23 tracks taken from all seven albums the band recorded with Roth on the mic.

A deluxe edition of the album will come with the newly remastered "Van Halen" and "1984" albums, as both a four-CD collection and a six-LP vinyl set in special packaging.

TESLA lead singer Jeff Keith has made a full recovery from his hip replacement surgery and is currently enjoying some much-needed rest and relaxation. The band will resume rehearsals for the Monsters Of Rock cruise next week and run through a set of songs from its latest album, "Simplicity".

TESLA's 2015 tour was cut short due to pain resulting from arthritis in Keith's hip, and the band had to make a quick decision to get him into surgery in order to be ready for the DEF LEPPARD/STYX tour this summer.

TESLA will be play two separate shows on the Monsters Of Rock cruise, the first of which will contain the majority of songs from "Simplicity". Monsters Of Rock will also see TESLA lead guitarist Frank Hannon perform two separate shows with his FRANK HANNON BAND, playing songs from his latest album, "World Peace".

"Simplicity" sold around 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 24 on The Billboard 200 chart. The record arrived in stores on June 10, 2014 via Tesla Electric Company Recording's arrangement with Entertainment One Music and distribution.

In an interview with NI Rocks, Keith stated about the band's approach while writing and recording the new album: "We wanted to keep it simple. With so much of today's technology, Pro Tools and all that stuff, it's very easy to overdo it and oversaturate the record, because there is an endless amount of tracks you can do and there are so many ways you can cheat and stuff. We like to make records that we can keep simple and reproduce live you know." He continued: "'Simplicity', we thought, was a great name for the record because we wanted to keep it simple and we're a simple blue-collar rock 'n' roll band. We always like to make records, like I said, that we can play live."

"Simplicity" was mixed by legendary producer Michael Wagener, who has previously worked with SKID ROW, OZZY OSBOURNE, METALLICA and DOKKEN, among others.

Carsten Steinhausen of MetalAssault.com has uploaded video footage of QUEENSRŸCHE performing the song "Take Hold Of The Flame" on March 27 at House Of Blues in Anaheim, California. You can watch it below.

As previously reported, QUEENSRŸCHE has tapped Chris "Zeuss" Harris (pictured below; ROB ZOMBIE, HATEBREED, SOULFLY, SHADOWS FALL) to produce the band's new album, due later in the year via Century Media. The CD is being recorded at Uberbeatz Studio in Washington.

In an interview with Metal Nation Radio, QUEENSRŸCHE singer Todd La Torre spoke about what fans can expect to hear on the band's follow-up to 2013's self-titled album. He said: "When you've got five guys that, everyone has different musical backgrounds… I mean, we all have a common likeness for a style and sound… But, you know, I'm always pushing for… It's a fine line, because I'm always pushing for heavy. And it has to be QUEENSRŸCHE; it can't be over-the-top heaviness… I don't wanna change the dynamic. Nobody in the band wants to change the real core sound and dynamic and style of the band. With that being said, QUEENSRŸCHE's never been afraid to try new things."

La Torre added: "The songs that we have right now are, I would say, melodic. There are some heavy tunes on there that are just, like, really rocking. I mean, some of the songs remind me, again, of 'Rage For Order', '[Operation:] Mindcrime'… We'll probably slip in something that's got a commercial… Not that we're trying to… Something with a more commercial appeal, like the song 'In This Light' did on the record that I did before. But, overall, I'm hopeful that, when it's all said and done, this record will have a really good drive, great, melodic choruses, great guitar parts, very dynamic... A little more prog… There's a little more proggy elements…

"When you've got two years [between albums], you don't want [people] to say, 'Wow, that's the best they could come up with?' You never want that. You always want, 'Hell yeah! This is another great QUEENSRŸCHE record.' And that's all that you can really hope for. But it's definitely going to have, again, what I consider all of the elements that the true QUEENSRŸCHE fans will enjoy: great drumming, solid foundation, bass driven, great guitar work and harmony things… Vocally, there's some things where I get into the upper register pretty good.

"I always wanna keep that metal… [Laughs] Sometimes I think [the other guys in the band] get sick of hearing me saying that. I'm, like, 'I wanna melt their fucking faces off.' [Laughs] But I have to do what the music calls for. And, overall, it's been a great process. It's always a learning experience.

"I'm finding, as a songwriter, what my stylistic things are, musically. I love ALICE IN CHAINS harmonies; they always had these interesting harmonies in their music. And I always find myself, when I'm writing and I'm recording, doing new things, I kind of lean on those types of harmonies. So I'm finding out things about myself as a writer that I didn't know before. And so it's a lot of fun."

QUEENSRŸCHE's latest, self-titled album sold around 13,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 23 on The Billboard 200 chart. The record arrived in stores on June 25, 2013 via Century Media Records.