Swiss hard rock legends KROKUS have released the following statement regarding the passing of GOTTHARD singer Steve Lee:

"KROKUS and management would like to extend our sincere condolences to Steve Lee's family as well as to the band GOTTHARD.

"Chris Von Rohr [KROKUS bassist] produced many of the GOTTHARD albums during his hiatus from KROKUS and helped them gain 'platinum' award status multiple times.

"Marc Storace [KROKUS singer] recorded a QUEEN medley with Steve many years ago for one of the most popular Swiss TV shows. 'Steve was a kind and friendly person to be or work with. He left us too early, but his remarkable voice will live on in the songs he so passionately sang. Rest in peace, Marc.'

"The Persecution Song", a brand new track from British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH, is available for streaming in the audio player at this location.

According to Australia's Brisbane Times, a CRADLE OF FILTH fan could face six months in jail over an allegedly offensive T-shirt.

Alexsei Vladmir Nikola, 34, was due to appear in court Thursday morning (October 7) on public nuisance charges after Brisbane police officers allegedly saw him wearing the shirt on George Street on May 6.

The shirt allegedly featured the words "Jesus Is A C**t" in large letters and shows a picture of a semi-naked, masturbating nun.

Nikola was due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court but his case was adjourned in his absence.

According to Australia's Herald Sun newspaper, a Gold Coast teenager was charged in June 2008 by police for wearing the same CRADLE OF FILTH t-shirt. The teen was charged with offensive behavior under the Summary Offences Act 2005 for public nuisance.

Metro newspaper reported in October 2005 that a British teenage heavy metal fan was handed a community service order for wearing the same shirt.

Adam Shepherd, who was 19 at the time, was reportedly convicted under the then-new anti-hate laws which ban people from displaying religiously insulting signs.

The teenager was arrested after a woman complained to police when she saw his shirt, which shows a picture of a nun in a pornographic pose. The top was being worn by Shepherd's girlfriend when a police officer approached her. As soon as the teenager realized there was a problem, he told the officer it was his and swapped tops with his girlfriend. But he refused to take it off or cover it up and was arrested.

Shepherd, who bought the shirt in his hometown of Weymouth, Dorset, admitted the charge. Weymouth magistrates gave him 80 hours community service and told him to pay £40 costs (approx. $71 at the time).

The Pulse of Radio reports that executives at concert giant Live Nation are looking at 2011 tours from the likes of VAN HALEN to save the live music industry, according to a report in USA Today. Live Nation executive chairman Irving Azoff told analysts on a Monday (October 4) conference call that the concert business will end 2010 with a whimper, with Azoff saying the industry is "still not seeing a consumer recovery" in ticket sales. But Azoff said he was optimistic about next year, specifically mentioning VAN HALEN and FLEETWOOD MAC as two acts that could lift ticket sales out of the doldrums.

Other potential 2011 moneymakers that Azoff mentioned included the cast of "Glee", AVRIL LAVIGNE and CHRISTINA AGUILERA. The latter canceled a tour this past summer because of poor sales.

Other acts that saw a dip in ticket sales this year included the JONAS BROTHERS, AEROSMITH, GOO GOO DOLLS, THE EAGLES and others.

Azoff also said that Live Nation hopes to earn money by selling more items like CDs, DVDs of that night's concert, T-shirts, posters and other memorabilia.

VAN HALEN's 2008 reunion tour with original singer David Lee Roth grossed more than $93 million and drew nearly one million fans to 74 shows.

Recent rumors have indicated that a new VAN HALEN album is in the works for a 2011 release. The new album would be the first with Roth on the mic since 1983 and first full studio effort since 1998's "Van Halen III".

According to The Pulse of Radio, CHICKENFOOT may lose drummer Chad Smith to his full-time job with the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, but guitarist Joe Satriani says he has a few replacements in mind already. Satriani told MusicRadar.com. "Were Chad not able to be in the band because of the CHILI PEPPERS, I think it would be fun to get somebody really outrageous like Tommy Lee. He's a great drummer, a lot of fun and a crazy personality. We've had some guys sit in from time to time. Some names that have been thrown around are (Paul McCartney drummer) Abe Laboriel Jr. and (LED ZEPPELIN drummer) Jason Bonham — they'd be really great."

CHICKENFOOT frontman Sammy Hagar told The Pulse of Radio that he and Smith have a chemistry that's hard to duplicate. "Him and I, the way we bounce off each other, we make the whole world go round," he said. "And it's not on a creative level, it's just really on a personality level and the way it creates an energy within the band and it makes like a carnival ride. And without Chad I'm not sure we have that."

Satriani added at Music Radar that he thinks Smith will be available in January to record the second CHICKENFOOT album, but might not be able to tour with the band after that.

CHICKENFOOT's self-titled debut disc came out in June 2009 and was certified gold for sales of more than 500,000 copies.

METALLICA has issued the following update:

"Are you sick of us yet? We sure are!! However, we're here again to tell you about one more release, this one supporting our continued beating of the drums for independent record stores across the country with an exclusive EP available only through the network of approximately 700 U.S. retailers who support Record Store Day.

"We were honored to be part of the first ever annual event celebrating independently owned records stores, a.k.a. Record Store Day, with an in-store at Rasputin Music in Mountain View, California on April 19, 2008 and we're very proud to be a part of another special event with our friends at independent retail.

"The EP includes the nine songs we played the afternoon of June 12, 2008 in the basement at one of the coolest record stores in the nation, Grimey's in Nashville, Tennessee, and is part of the series of 'Live At Grimey's' releases.

"How did this show come about? In late spring of 2008, while we were finishing up 'Death Magnetic', we were also having fun playing a few shows including the Bonnarroo festival in Manchester, Tennessee. As fans of classic, old-school record stores, we knew we just had to visit Grimey's and they were kind enough to invite us to play in their 'basement' club for METALLICA fan-club members and a few friends. As we always do, we recorded the show... and now it comes to you CD and 10" vinyl in a gatefold jacket on 'Black Friday,' November 26.

"Support your local record store... there's a complete list of stores who will be carrying 'Live At Grimey's' here: MyMetalClub.com. The EP will also be available on Metallica.com and MetClub.com."

"Live At Grimey's" track listing:

01. No Remorse
02. Fuel
03. Harvester of Sorrow
04. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
05. For Whom The Bell Tolls
06. Master of Puppets
07. Sad But True
08. Motorbreath
09. Seek And Destroy

Seven years after the announcement of their creative break, the original members of prog rock supergroup TRANSATLANTIC — Roine Stolt (THE FLOWER KINGS), Pete Trewavas (MARILLION), Neal Morse (ex-SPOCK'S BEARD) and Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER) — got together again and recorded a new studio album titled "The Whirlwind", which went on to be TRANSATLANTIC's best-selling album, entering mainstream charts in the U.S., Germany and Netherlands. Their two seminal albums, tours and DVDs redefined prog's artistic and commercial possibilities with a combination of modern and traditional prog, classic pop sensibilities, and mind-blowing musicianship.

The "An Evening With Transatlantic Whirld Tour 2010" was the group's largest tour, covering both sides of the Atlantic across 11 countries. With the addition of PAIN OF SALVATION's Daniel Gildenlöw on guitar and keyboards, it was also their most musically powerful. On May 21, 2010, at Shepherd's Bush Empire in London, the cameras were rolling.

The upcoming release entitled "Whirld Tour 2010: Live At Shepherd's Bush London" will be available as a 2-DVD PAL-version set, a 3-CD audio version and a 2-DVD and 3-CD deluxe edition. The concert featured the entire "Whirlwind" album performed exactly as on the studio recording. But that's just the beginning. For the next two and half hours, TRANSATLANTIC performed nearly every song they've ever recorded, along with some surprises. The audio recorded at the show was later mixed by the band's own Roine Stolt, ensuring a genuine presentation of the music from that night. The show doesn't end, though, with the fading echoes of the final note. Backstage, in and around cities throughout Europe, the cameras accompanied Mike, Neal, Roine and Pete on their journey. Uncensored experiences and candid moments reveal the good, the bad, and the unexpected of life on the road. Also included is the band's encore from the final night of their tour, a headlining spot at the U.K.'s High Voltage festival. For the last song at High Voltage, they performed the GENESIS classic "Return of the Giant Hogweed", joined onstage by original GENESIS guitarist Steve Hackett.

Track listing for the 2-DVD and 3-CD Deluxe Edition:

DVD 1 (147 minutes)

01. The Whirlwind
02. All of the Above
03. We All Need Some Light
04. Duel With the Devil

DVD 2 (190 minutes)

01. Bridge Across Forever
02. Stranger in Your Soul
03. Documentary
04. Band Interview
05. Return of the Giant Hogweed (w/ Steve Hacket)

Audio CD 1

01. The Whirlwind (79:52)

Audio CD 2

01. All of the Above (30:19)
02. We All Need Some Light (8:40)
03. Duel with the Devil (28:31)

Audio CD 3

01. Bridge Across Forever (6:03)
02. Stranger in Your Soul (30:00)

Connecticut metallers SACRED OATH will release their fourth studio album, "World On Fire", on October 26 as an iTunes exclusive. The deluxe bundle includes 11 songs and a PDF of the cover art, lyrics and liner notes. The CD was produced by singer/guitarist Rob Thorne at his studio in Connecticut during February and March this year. "I couldn’t be happier with how this recording turned out," says Thorne, who has produced all but one of SACRED OATH's albums. "It was important to me that 'World On Fire' have its own sonic character. That can be a challenge when making albums so close to each other, but this album stands on its own. I hope the fans will love it."

"World On Fire" contains 11 brand new tracks with a running time of 58 minutes:

01. Sweet Agony
02. Meet Your Maker
03. The King Must Die
04. Sandrider
05. Front Line
06. Face of Evil
07. Drums of War
08. Revolution
09. When the War is Over
10. On Death Row
11. World On Fire

AFTERMATH, the acclaimed 1980s Chicago thrash band which released "Killing the Future" and "Words that Echo Fear" — two of the seminal demos of the era — has inked a deal with Area Death Productions. The group will celebrate its 25th anniversary by issuing a four-disc box set, "When Will You Die", containing three CDs and a multimedia disc. All four of the band's demos will be featured, along with the "Eyes of Tomorrow" CD, a 24-page booklet with liner notes, bio, interview and photos. The multimedia disc will include hundreds of magazine and fanzine reviews and interviews. This complete retrospective of the band's career, which will include both audio and video live recordings, will be available in November via Area Death's web site and distribution network.

Reformed heavy metal legends ACCEPT will record their October 8, 2010 concert in Cleveland, Ohio for a possible future live release. The show at the Agora will also include performances by KING'S X and Cleveland's own SHOK PARIS.

A poster for the concert was created exclusively for the band by German design artist Claudia von Bihl and can be viewed below.

"If there is any American city being essential in engraving our love for America, it has been Cleveland," says ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann. "That is where we had the first impression of being 'KINGS IN AMERICA!' I believe any rock band knows if you make it in Cleveland, you make it anywhere. And so we did. We can't wait to be back!"

"I sure believe that Cleveland will be a historic night," adds ACCEPT manager (and Wolf's wife) Gaby Hoffmann. "Thank you to all of our Cleveland fans who have supported the band over the years. We are looking forward to seeing you again."

German melodic folk/death metallers SUIDAKRA have issued the following update:

"This is just a short update to remind all of you of our last few shows in 2010: We'll play two more festivals in northern Germany before heading to Turkey for the first time in the band's history. We're prepared to show our Turkish friends how the Teutonic hammer will swing and are looking forward to the two shows in Istanbul and Izmir! Last show for this year will be in Belgium, rounding off a successful live season for SUIDAKRA! All dates here. Right after that we'll enter Gernhart recording studio to record the new (10th!) album, which will be called 'Book Of Dowth'. [Famous Belgian graphic artist] Kris Verwimp will once again be in charge of the cover artwork and lyrical concept."

SUIDAKRA's ninth album, "Crógacht", was releas

GOTTHARD's record label, Nuclear Blast Records, has released the following statement regarding the passing of the band's singer, Steve Lee:

"The world has lost one of its greatest rock singers: GOTTHARD frontman Steve Lee was killed accidentally during a motorcycle trip in the USA on Interstate 15 between Mesquite and Las Vegas and died at the scene.

"The GOTTHARD singer had flown to the U.S. with some biker friends just this weekend to fulfil a long-cherished dream for which he'd never had the time due to his heavy touring schedule for many years. It was to be two weeks through the States on a Harley-Davidson.

"The 21 Swiss bikers started their journey on Sunday on a total of 12 motorcycles. On Tuesday, October 5, about 50 miles from Las Vegas, the group had stopped at the roadside to put on their rain gear as it had started to rain. On the slippery road, the trailer of a passing truck began to skid. The driver attempted evasive action but his trailer clipped five of the motorcycles parked at the roadside; one of them hit Steve Lee. Rescue services attempted resuscitation but efforts were stopped after 20 minutes. At 16:13 local time, Steve Lee was pronounced dead.

"Among the passengers were GOTTHARD bassist Marc Lynn and Lee's girlfriend Brigitte Voss Balzarini.

"All other fellow riders were unharmed.

"Steve Lee was 48 years old.

"With Steve Lee, we not only lose one of the world's best rock voices but also an extraordinary personality.

"Despite his enormous success, the Ticino singer had retained a very subtle eye for detail and often impressed the people around him with his sensitive observation. Due to his personality, he had a serious outlook, without losing his sense of humour and lust for life.

"Steve Lee met his environment with respect but always had, in his gentle way, a very simple, personal touch. He understood like no one else how to enjoy without going too far — to him, alcohol and parties were things he met with level-headedness.

"The singer sold several million albums throughout his career with GOTTHARD, several of them reaching platinum, double or triple platinum status. And yet all this bears no relation to the human greatness of Steve Lee on a daily basis."

Finnish extreme metallers IMPALED NAZARENE will release their eleventh full-length album, "Road To The Octagon", on November 20. The CD was recorded at Hellhole studio in Helsinki with the band's soundman Tero Kostermaa and was mastered by Mika Jussila. The artwork for the album was created by Darkgrove Design and can be viewed below.

"Road To The Octagon" track listing:

01. Enlightenment Process (2:19)
02. The Day Of Reckoning (2:26)
03. Corpses (2:46)
04. Under Attack (2:45)
05. Tentacles Of The Octagon (1:33)
06. Reflect On This (2:17)
07. Convulsing Uncontrollably (2:14)
08. Cult Of The Goat (3:10)
09. Gag Reflex (3:01)
10. The Plan (2:00)
11. Silent And Violent Type (2:18)
12. Execute Tapeworm Extermination (2:11)
13. Rhetoric Infernal (4:24)

Total running time: 33:30

Back for the seventh installment of the "Saw" horror series this Halloween moviegoers will once again cringe in their seats as blood, guts and body parts are up for grabs in "Saw 3D". As a deadly battle rages over Jigsaw's brutal legacy, a group of Jigsaw survivors gather to seek the support of self-help guru and fellow survivor Bobby Dagen, a man whose own dark secrets unleash a new wave of terror. What started out as a "little" indie horror movie back in 2004 has turned into a juggernaut go-for-the-throat franchise and fittingly enough, the movie soundtracks have always been amicable counterparts assaulting the senses in a manner that would make Jigsaw proud. "Saw 3D - Music Inspired By The Motion Picture" to street on October 26. Artists' Addiction Soundtracks' Jonathan Platt says of "Saw 3D", "The artist lineup and music for the 'Saw 3D' soundtrack is mind-blowing and after producing six 'Saw' soundtracks this is the one that clearly defines the mood and passion of the unbelievable 'Saw' franchise."

"Saw 3D - Music Inspired By The Motion Picture" track listing:

01. SAVING ABEL - "Never" (exclusive)
02. DEAD BY SUNRISE (Chester Bennington) - "Condemned"
03. HINDER - "Waking Up The Devil"
04. KARNIVOOL - "Goliath"
05. NITZER EBB - "Promises"
06. KOPEK - "Love Is Dead"
07. SALIVA - "Badass" (exclusive)
08. MY DARKEST DAY - "The World Belongs To Me"
09. DEFAULT - "Turn It On"
10. I-EXIST - "Firefly"
11. BOOM BOOM SATELLITES - "What Goes Around Comes Around"
12. ADELITAS WAY - "Scream"
13. KROKUS - "Hoodoo Woman"
14. LORDI - "This Is Heavy Metal"
15. WAGDUG FUTURISTIC UNITY - "Ram The Crush"
16. DIR EN GREY - "Hageshisa to, Kono Mune no Naka de Karamitsuita Shakunetsu no Yami" (exclusive)

ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTET, the Swedish band featuring former THE CROWN vocalist Johan Lindstrand, has entered Black Lounge studios in Avesta, Sweden with producer Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY, CARNAL FORGE) to begin recording its fourth full-length album, "The Dark Epic", for an early 2011 release. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Sandman Apocalypse", "Stitch", "The Pleasures Of Slavery", "How I Love To Kill You" and "The Zombie Syndrome (Of Acid And Man)". The cover artwork is being created by Björn Goosses of Killustrations.

Commented Johan: "I'm really stoked about entering the studio with my bandmates again. And to once again work with Jonas Kjellgren feels fantastic. He did an awesome job on 'Grim Tales' and I truly believe that his work will be even better this time. Our new songs are very suited for his extremely heavy productions. Nine dark, heavy and brutal death metal songs will soon be delivered at your doorstep. Embrace it and join us."