France's Radio Metal recently conducted an interview with ICED EARTH mainman/guitarist Jon Schaffer. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Radio Metal: Do you think a dystopia is where our world is heading at?

Schaffer: I do, yeah. I think we're very close to that, especially in the West. In the United States, it's terrible actually. Things are so bad there, and they've been going that way for a long time, but it's just gotten worse and worse and worse at a record pace. It's turned into a police state, we're going to have a major financial crash, we have martial law, we have military on the streets, and you can't fly in a fucking airplane without either going through the radiation thing or getting your balls felt up by a TSA agent. It's just tyranny, that's what it is: there's no liberty left in America. It's time for a revolution.

Radio Metal: Actually, many people think that the world crisis we're going through is the sign that we have reached the limits of the capitalist system upon which the American economic system is based. What's your opinion about that?

Schaffer: I think that what we have is not real and certainly not free market capitalism. We have corporatism, we have fascism, we have communism, we have all these different forms of totalitarianism, but we certainly don't have free markets, and that's the problem, and this has been a rigged game for a long time by the global elite that have seized control of the American monetary system through fraud and deception back in 1913 with the signing of the Federal Reserve Act. When that institution was established, the United States of America ceased to exist and now it's accelerating. The collapse is coming because none of these fiat currencies ever last. They never last. A hundred years is about as long as anyone has ever lasted and we're getting close to that point, so I think that what needs to happen is an honest monetary system, instead of this fraudulent paper system, needs to be put back into place. We need to go back to some kind of commodity-based currency, whether it's gold and silver or whatever, something that takes effort and that governments can't just create money out of thin air and spread the warfare and the welfare empires that they are doing. I mean, all of our governments are involved in some really brutal criminal stuff, and it's based on this fraudulent monetary system, and that's what it roots from. So if we have sound money and free markets, then I think we would have prosperity and peace, but with a criminal monetary institution like the Federal Reserve which really owns and runs the United States, Bush has no power, Obama has no power, Clinton… these guys were just puppets for the banks. They may come out and tell you whatever rhetoric they want to tell you, politicians are professional liars, so they're going to come out and say what the people are going to hear, but it's divide and conquer tactics man, the only way to turn the world around is to get smart about monetary policies and to go back to a more sound and honest monetary system and to stop the wars and stop the welfare state and work towards liberty and prosperity.

Radio Metal: I know you have always been very proud of your own country, but when I hear you talking right now about it, I hear some disappointment in your words…

Schaffer: I'm proud of what America stood for in the beginning, what the founding ideals were. I mean, I didn't realize until a few years ago what my country has really become. I mean, we are being deceived in America; you are, too. Your government's deceiving you, too, and so is Germany, so is the U.K. I mean, the whole West is going down the shitter. And we're all being deceived by the same group of people, it's a hostile corporate take-over of the Western world they call the New World Order and they're trying to put about a world government. They're talking about it openly now. So the people in the United States and in the West are victims of high tech propaganda. It's worse in the United States, clearly, people have become far too trusting of the government. For me, my big wake-up was when I learned about the financial system and how fraudulent it is. And then everything started to make sense of how all of this deception is going on, it's very disturbing when you do the research, and that's what the SONS OF LIBERTY project was all about. If you go to the web site, there's a great booklist there, there are great documentaries to watch and it will let people know what's going on and inspire them to learn and to get prepared, because I think we've got the Fourth Reich rising, and I don't like it.

Terrorizer is proud to present the premiere of Krisiun's new song 'The Will To Potency', taken from forthcoming album 'The Great Execution'.

The Brazilian death metallers once again land their distinctively barbaric punches, but have shown their ability to vary tempos and sounds so that the driving pound carries even more of an impact. Following on from 2008's scorching 'Southern Storm', we've barely let 'The Great Execution' off the stereo ever since it arrived in the office.

'The Great Execution', the band's eighth album, was recorded entirely on analogue equipment, which perhaps explains why this sounds so human.

Powerhouse heavy metal vocalist James Rivera (HELSTAR, SEVEN WITCHES, VICIOUS RUMORS, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM) has released the following statement:

"Some of you may be aware through online media that ARMORED SAINT has announced three confirmed shows in the Northeastern U.S. with SEVEN WITCHES as a support band.

"To avoid any confusion, I would like to make it clear that I will not be performing with SEVEN WITCHES. In fact, I have chosen to no longer be a part of this band due to circumstances beyond my control. I tried my best to get things going in the right direction for SEVEN WITCHES, although the powers that be did not see it the same way and have decided to go out and represent the new SEVEN WITCHES record with a whole different lineup again already.

"I'm more than positive the long-anticipated return of ARMORED SAINT will be well worth the wait. As for the fans who have been looking forward to the SEVEN WITCHES lineup with me back in the picture, my deepest apologies go out to you.

"In related news, I am working on booking some dates in Europe with my tribute band, SABBATH JUDAS SABBATH, which will be billed as special shows performing a night of SEVEN WITCHES and METALSTEEL songs. Three gigs have been confirmed in November with others in the works. When all shows are finalized, the dates and locations will be announced."

Legendary WHITESNAKE singer David Coverdale is going to celebrate his 60th birthday on September 22. During his six decades, the rocker has made some amazing music with both WHITESNAKE and DEEP PURPLE, but his most famous song has to be the WHITESNAKE hit "Here I Go Again". Next year, the song turns 30 years old and David told VH1 Radio Network's Dave Basner about some plans to mark the occasion.

"It's coming up to some 'Here I Go Again' anniversary," he said, "so I think they're talking about putting a lot of people in to do that song. You know, I have some amazing versions that Warner/Chappell, my publishing company, sends to me of people auditioning for deals — beautiful R&B versions, super contemporary folk versions, they're readings of the song and I embrace them fully. I would love to see them highlighted in that kind of tribute package. It'd be great to do something like that, for instance for Japan, I'd be totally up for it."

San Francisco Bay Area metallers EXODUS were added to the billing of the "Big Four" concert at September 14 at Yankee Stadium in New York City as the last-minute replacement for MEGADETH after it looked like Dave Mustaine wasn't going to be able to make the show.

Two days prior to the "Big Four" event in New York City, rumors spread that MEGADETH had pulled out of the concert so that guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine could undergo surgery for stenosis, a neck and spine condition that he says was caused by "years of headbanging." Mustaine eventually had a change of heart and decided to go through with the performance, but struggled through the set due to the pain.

During an interview with Guitar World magazine conducted at the "Big Four" concert (see video below), SLAYER guitarist Kerry King stated about MEGADETH's near-cancelation, "I just felt bad for EXODUS, 'cause they were on the bill. They were working on flights [so they could make it to New York in time for the show]. And that got yanked. I mean, Gary [Holt, EXODUS guitarist who is touring with SLAYER as the temporary replacement for Jeff Hanneman] is gonna be here anyway, but the [rest of the] band EXODUS, I felt bad for them."

On September 20th the pumpkins concluded the final part of their 2010 / 2011 7 SINNERS world tour with a great show in St.Petersburg / Russia.

This marks the end to a very successful tour of almost one year taking the boys throughout 36 countries, playing more than 80 shows in front of several hundred thousand people all over the world. There have been far too many great moments in this period of time to be mentioned here.

A big "thank you" goes out to the guys of Stratovarius who have contributed their part by being far more than a "very special guest" on the tour!

Now, the pumpkin-heads will go on a well-deserved break before entering the studio in the beginning of 2012 to work on the new record. Last and foremost HELLOWEEN wishes to thank you - all the pumpkin-maniacs all over the globe - for your enthusiastic support at every single show.

DISTURBED's first-ever collection of B-sides and rarities, "The Lost Children", will be released on November 8. The set includes a previously unreleased track, "Mine", and "3", which was as a benefit track for the West Memphis Three. Other tracks on this B-side collection include "God Of The Mind" and "A Welcome Burden". which appeared on the 2010 reissue of the band’s 2000 debut album, "The Sickness"; "Monster", "Two Worlds" and "Sickened", which were included as bonus tracks on the U.K. tour edition of "Ten Thousand Fists"; "Run", which was featured on a limited-edition version of 2008’s "Indestructible"; and "Parasite", which appeared on the Japanese edition of "Indestructible".

"The Lost Children"track listing:

01. Hell
02. A Welcome Burden
03. This Moment
04. Old Friend
05. Monster
06. Run
07. Leave It Alone
08. Two Worlds
09. God Of The Mind
10. Sickened
11. Mine
12. Parasite
13. Dehumanized
14. 3
15. Midlife Crisis (FAITH NO MORE cover)
16. Living After Midnight (JUDAS PRIEST cover)

German metallers RAGE will enter Twilight Hall Studio in Grefrath, Germany in mid-October to begin recording their new album for a March 2012 release via Nuclear Blast Records. The recordings will once again be helmed by Charlie Bauerfeind, who has previously worked with SAXON, BLIND GUARDIAN, HAMMERFALL and HELLOWEEN, among others.

As a direct consequence of RAGE's decision to release orchestral compositions under the LINGUA MORTIS ORCHESTER banner in the future (with the first album due in 2012), the bandmembers will fully concentrate on producing their "hardest" album to date.

"Follow", a brand new song from PURE SWEET HELL, the metal band featuring former NEVERMORE drummer Van Williams, is available for streaming on the group's official web site. The track comes off PURE SWEET HELL's sophomore album, "Spitting At The Stars", which is slated for a late 2011 release. The CD, which is currently being mastered, features guitar solos from some of heavy metal's top shredders, including Glen Drover (EIDOLON, MEGADETH), Steve Smyth (NEVERMORE, TESTAMENT, FORBIDDEN), Chris Amott (ARCH ENEMY), Jeff Loomis (NEVERMORE) and Attila Vörös (LEANDER, NEVERMORE). John Winters (HATEFIST), who contributed in the production/engineering of the record, got a chance to lay down a solo as well.

Eagle Vision released GARY MOORE's "Live At Montreux 2010" on September 20 on DVD, Blu-ray and CD. The set strikingly shows a major return to rock for the musician who spent years exploring the blues. In fact, in the last days of his life, Moore, who died on February 6 of this year, was working on a new rock album.

A free video download of the song "Oh Wild One" is available at Moore's official web site.

Bill Murphy, the publicist and official webmaster of American power metallers ICED EARTH, recently conducted an interview with the band's new singer, Stu Block (INTO ETERNITY). A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

Q: Since you've become ICED EARTH's vocalist, what has happened to you that has surprised you the most?

Stu Block: The way that my vocal is being taken to a new level. That's a big surprise. I mean, I wasn't surprised that these guys were gonna be cool. I didn't have any expectations of anyone being jerks in the band or anything like that. Those guys are just sweet dudes. Like, they're true metalheads that just love what they do and have embraced me. But it's really the vocals. As soon as I started working with Jon with my vocal style and finding that middle range in my voice, and putting that venomous shit behind it, you know what I mean?

Q: Yeah.

Stu Block: And learning technique and all that stuff. That's the thing that's surprised me the most, is I knew I had it, but it just took someone to really bring it out. And Jon [Schaffer, ICED EARTH mainman] really did that. I've said it before in a few interviews, it's almost like Christmas morning. You know, my eyes, he would see it in the studio, he'd be like, "Oh my god, you look so surprised." It's like I was like, "Oh my god, this is my new toy." And so I was having fun with it, man. And it was really cool. I'm embracing this new spot in my voice. Of course, there's always going to be those high vocals, you know, those Halford-esque vocals and all that kind of stuff. And I'm always going to put that kind of stuff in there, and the lower keens, but this middle spot in my voice, the venom spot, it's fucking killer, man. It feels good.

Q: How did it feel to let loose with one of your growls right at the start of "Dystopia"?

Stu Block: Man, well that was kind of funny. We didn't have that at the beginning, and I was sitting there in the studio, and we were all just talking about it, because we sit there deciding if we want to add anything, or maybe take something away, who knows, right? And we're sitting there, I'm like, "Man, this is speaking to me right now." And I just said, "Listen, there's a guy being forced onto a fucking train, that's going to be taken into a prison city, shaved, vaccinated, and microchipped. He's pissed off. He does not want to get in that train." So I thought a very frustrated sort of scream at the beginning, I mean, all I did was put myself in that mindset, and I screamed like I would have screamed. And it came out like that. I heard it, and Jon was so amazing, because he's like, "Go and do it right now. Let's do this. Let's try it." He's open to all sorts of ideas. Because if you're not, hey, there was a few things I was like, "Jon, let me try this, let me try this." And he's like, "No, man, that sucked." [laughs]

Q: Let me ask you about [former ICED EARTH singer] Matt [Barlow]. Everybody talks about Matt, everybody talks about [another ex-ICED EARTH vocalist] Tim ["Ripper" Owens], everybody talks about [the first ICED EARTH singer] Gene [Adam]. You just said that Matt played a big role in your life. Did you have, I don't even know how to phrase this question. Were you worried at all about living up to Matt or being like Matt or sounding like Matt?

Stu Block: As much as I look up to Matt, he's great. But there's only fucking one Matt Barlow.

Q: [laughs]

Stu Block: And I'm not gonna be him. Ever. In a million years.

Q: [laughs] Yeah.

Stu Block: No one will ever, ever. I wanna get that straight. I'm being me. I can't help it if maybe there are some Matthew-esque things that come out in my vocal. It's ICED EARTH. It brings that out in ya. You know what I mean?

Q: Yeah.

Stu Block: But I'm scared shitless what he thinks about my album, man. [laughs]

Q: [laughs]

Stu Block: You know what I mean? I hope he likes it. I hope he digs it. I hope he's proud that I'm doing it. But in the end of the day, if he hates it, he hates it. [laughs] And if he's not into me as a vocalist, that's cool too. It doesn't matter. Because I'm just trying to be me. But I've talked to him, we had a brief email exchange, and he's a very sweet motherfucker, man.

Q: Oh yeah, he's a nice guy.

Stu Block: I talked to him a few times on tour, and he's really down to earth. And I really don't think he's, I'm sure we're gonna cross paths at some point, and we're gonna talk, and I'm going to ask him, "What'd you think?" And I'm quite prepared, but I can't worry about that, because I'm just being me. I'm Stu Block, and there's one Tim Owens, and there's only one goddamn fucking Matt Barlow.

Q: [laughs]

Stu Block: [laughs] I'm gonna repeat that again to all the fans out there. One of them. And that's the thing, man. And I understand why there's so many dedicated Matt Barlow fans, because I'm a dedicated Matt Barlow fan. But I have to step away from that, and do what I do as a vocalist in ICED EARTH. And be like, I'm doing what I do because that's what Jon wants me to do. He doesn't want a Matt clone. He doesn't want a Tim clone. The crazy thing is, is that I can do a lot of those different elements. That's what all those singers do.

Q: Absolutely.

Stu Block: But there's certain things that Tim Owens and certain range in his voice that I could never touch with the power and rasp and whatever he does to get that out. There's definitely things, I mean, I wouldn't fucking ever be able to do some of the stuff that he does. But I'm pretty sure there's some things that I do that probably Tim Owens can't do. And we all possess our different qualities. It's intimidating a little bit, because I look up to Tim Owens. He's a fucking phenomenal singer. I mean, he's so technically proficient, that it's amazing. It seems like he does it without even fucking taking a breath. [laughs]

Q: [laughs] Yeah.

Stu Block: And I look up to him so much. And I look up to Matt so much, and all these guys, but I have to step out of those shoes, because now I'm in a position where I have to put my fingerprint on this. And I have to do what I do, which is Stu Block, and if certain elements come out, that's OK, but I'm gonna do what I do. And that's what I do. [laughs]

Q: Yeah. As you may have discovered so far, ICED EARTH fans are way passionate. These people are very attached to the band. In this particular question from Tarlz Bannister, she asks, "What is it like to work with the single best metal group alive?"

Stu Block: [laughs] It's a fucking dream come true, man.

Q: [laughs]

Stu Block: I mean, that's all I can say. It's like waking up from the dream and, "Oh god, I'm still in this dream." [laughs] It's awesome, man. I would actually consider it, let's say if you want to, I won the lottery kind of thing. I mean, it feels so good. Here's a funny little story for you. It's been non-stop right now. It's been crazy ever since I got the gig in March, it's been non-stop. I've been flying back and forth to Indiana, then Florida, and now Europe and all this kind of stuff, and in between I'm rehearsing. I haven't even had time to think. But the only thing I've been thinking about is doing this and focusing all my energy on this. Basically, there were a couple of moments where I was like, in the shower, and I was like, "Oh my god, I can't believe this is happening" kind of thing. You know, you kind of think to yourself for a second, like, "Wow, this is crazy." But all of a sudden the phone rings and it's like, "OK, I've got to get back to business." But we were filming. We were just in New York, and we were filming two music videos. People know there'll be a video for "Dystopia". But we were filming the other music video [from the album], and basically, there was a spot where they didn't need me in the scene, but it was all the rest of the boys and they were fucking jamming. And the lights were on them, and I was sitting there. And I got this like, goose-bump feeling, and I was looking at Jon, and I was looking at all the boys, and I was like, "Oh my god, this is insane." I almost got like a lump in my throat. I couldn't believe that I was there, being a part of this magical part of metal history. I mean, ICED EARTH is metal history, and they're always continuing to make metal history. And I'm a chapter, I'm a snippet in this amazing book.

Q: [laughs]

Stu Block: When they stopped jamming, I walked over and I almost got a tear in my eye, and I'm like, I yell at the fucking top of my lungs, "I can't fucking believe I'm in ICED EARTH!" And, of course, Jon comes up and gives me a big hug, and the rest of the guys, they give me a hug, and it was awesome, man. It was like, the guys are so good to me, and it's been surreal. It's been amazing. I don't think words can ever describe the feeling that I have. And I think that feeling stems from passion of being a metalhead, man. I feel like I've, a feeling of accomplishment, and I feel like I'm part of this amazing chapter in ICED EARTH's history. And I hope I continue to write chapters with Jon and the rest of the guys.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the release of NIRVANA's landmark 1991 album, "Nevermind", this week's issue of U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine comes with an exclusive 14-track NIRVANA covers CD, featuring the following artists/songs:

01. ARCANE ROOTS - "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
02. FRAMING HANLEY - "In Bloom"
03. DEAF HAVANA - "Come As You Are"
04. RISE TO REMAIN - "Breed"
05. FRANCESQA - "Lithium"
06. YOUNG - "Polly"
07. THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN - "Territorial Pissings"
08. KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES - "Drain You"
09. EVILE - "Lounge Act"
10. THE BLACKOUT - "Stay Away"
11. FRANK TURNER - "On A Plain"
12. SPYCATCHER - "Something In The Way"
13. DANGEROUS! - "Endless, Nameless"
14. WE ARE THE OCEAN - "Sliver" (bonus track)

Commented EVILE lead guitarist Ol Drake on his band's contribution: "So the cat is out of the bag; EVILE have covered 'Lounge Act' by NIRVANA for Kerrang!'s upcoming anniversary issue of the 'Nevermind' album.

"When we got the offer, all I could see was fun to be had, and what an honor it was to be included. I was a big fan of Nirvana when I was a young teen, so it's an extra honor in that way for me.

"I wondered what we could do to the track to make it our own, so we approached it like we would one of our own songs. That bass riff is brilliant and I wanted to make it more a core element of the track guitar-wise and just metal it up in general. I wanted to respect the approach of the song but also alter Kurt's [Cobain] chord approach to a style more suited to EVILE, and that's a chug-athon!

"Hope you all enjoy it; we definitely do."

SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor had the following to say about what "Nevermind" means to him: "I was a huge fan of NIRVANA. I remember playing 'Bleach' for my friends and telling them they were going to be massive. When 'Nevermind' was on the verge of dropping, I made all my friends go out and buy it. Never knew it would be that big, but they deserved it.

"No pun intended, but never mind the singles — the album is deep as hell. From 'Lounge Act' to 'Territorial Pissings' it is the perfect blend of punk, college, rock and pop. To this day, one of the best albums of all time."

Legendary WHITESNAKE singer David Coverdale is going to celebrate his 60th birthday on September 22. His latest studio record, "Forevermore", released on March 25, shows experience, musical maturity and a personality that is far from jaded after an almost-40-year career. It is also evidence that WHITESNAKE's career is far from finished, even if Coverdale evoked the end quite a few times in the last years.

"I've retired more times than Frank Sinatra — but luckily, I didn't tell many people." he laughs. "The music business can be so exhausting and destructive on a person, which makes you think sometimes, that you have to step back and take stock of your situation and circumstances," Coverdale confessed.

Today David Coverdale is happy that he never threw totally stepped away. He recently wrote a song called "Best Years" that he says still perfectly fits describes his life with him turning 60 years old. He explains: "It's great that I'm able to still work as a musician. And with it came consistency in my career and also in my private life. I really am experiencing the best times of my life these days, and believe me, I've seen a lot."

"Forevermore" is WHITESNAKE's eleventh album released on Frontiers Records. The band is still known as one of the most successful acts of all times with several platinum awards. Through his eloquent, always cultivated, British-charming personality David Coverdale is not only known as a rock patron, but a highly regarded gentlemen within the rock business. There are not many other musicians that deal with love and passion in their lyrics like he does. And also there are just a few acts that are able to highlight lyrics perfectly and successfully with thrilling blues and soul anthems like he does.

Before Coverdale, who's originally from Saltburn-by-Sea area, founded WHITESNAKE, he was the lead vocalist for DEEP PURPLE. When Coverdale celebrates his 60th birthday on September 22, he's able to look back at a musical career that is almost 40 years long.

"I'm going to celebrate my birthday with my private family and my musical family," he reveals, "I will party several times on several different continents. Even if it sounds a little un-rock and roll, I will use the day to reflect and be thankful for what I achieved in my life so far. I'm incredibly grateful to still be experiencing professional success and to be so physically active in what I do, after all these years."

Norwegian/British hard rockers TNT had their September 17, 2011 concert at Sala Heineken in Madrid, Spain professionally filmed video for future DVD release.

The group's setlist was as follows:

01. Hello Hello
02. Substitute
03. Ship In The Night
04. Refugee
05. U.S.A.
06. Barracuda
07. Harley-Davidson
08. Guitar Solo
09. My Religion
10. Tonight I'm Falling
11. 10,000 Lovers (In One)

Encore:

12. Engine
13. Everyone's A Star
14. Intuition
15. Seven Seas

Revolver magazine has released a special issue based around all things SLIPKNOT.

"The Book Of Slipknot" is out now and you can buy a copy online by clicking here.

As the masked metal maniacs celebrate the 10th anniversary of their landmark album "Iowa", this collector's magazine tells their story in their own words. From their start in Des Moines, Iowa, to the untimely death of bassist Paul Gray, it covers all of SLIPKNOT's turning points, illustrated with rare and intimate photos from the group's vault. And in new, exclusive interviews, vocalist Corey Taylor, percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan, and drummer Joey Jordison talk about the current state of the band and its future. The issue also features appearances by members of LAMB OF GOD, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, ASKING ALEXANDRIA, HALESTORM, MACHINE HEAD, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA and many more, all of which pick their favorite SLIPKNOT song.

The issue features:

Part 1: Pulse of the Maggots: an album-by-album history of the band. – "Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat" - "Slipknot" - "Iowa" - "Vol 3: (The Subliminal Verses)" - "9.0 Live" - "All Hope Is Gone"

Part 2: Everything ends: Paul Gray remembered.

Part 3: (Re)Surfacing: SLIPKNOT look back on their return to the stage this summer - and a look ahead to their future.

Part 4: Disasterpieces: A gallery of fan tattoos.

Also, in celebration of the issue, Revolver is kicking off SLIPKNOT month at RevolverMag.com, and every day for the next 30 days, they will be unleashing exclusive interviews, photos, favorite SLIPKNOT song picks from a host of celeb columnists and much more..

Released in September 1991, NIRVANA's sophomore album and major label debut elevated Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl from a critically acclaimed Aberdeen, Washington, cult band to generational spokesmen who'd unwittingly created a cultural shift and musical touchstone. Rising to No. 1 the world over by year's end and ultimately selling over 30 million copies worldwide, "Nevermind" would come to be much more than one of the most successful and influential albums of its or any era. As the album that returned unaffected rock 'n' roll integrity and passion to the top of the charts, "Nevermind" would prove a singular inspiration to fans and musicians alike over the last two decades — and will undoubtedly do so for generations to come.

The band's first attempt at mixing "Nevermind", though, was a disaster. "I'd be balancing the drums and the guitars," producer Butch Vig tells RollingStone.com, "and Kurt would come and say, 'Turn all the treble off. I want it to sound more like BLACK SABBATH.' It was kind of a pain in the ass."

He adds, "Kurt was charming and witty, but he would go through these mood swings. He would be totally engaged, then all of a sudden a light switch would go off and he'd go sit in the corner and completely disappear into himself. I didn't really know how to deal with that."

Elsewhere in the interview, Vig recounts how Cobain, Novoselic and then-drummer Chad Channing arrived at his studio after driving 1,900 miles from Seattle without taking a break. "They rolled up in a van and they probably hadn't taken a bath or shower in three or four days," he said.

As previously reported, a 20th anniversary edition of "Nevermind" is due out in multiple formats on September 27.

Late KISS drummer ERIC CARR’s album Unfinished Business, a special 20th year commemorative CD release, will be released It will be released on November 8th. The album features over 17 rare Eric Carr recordings, including unreleased music, live performances, interview clips and more.

Guests include members and former members of KISS, TWISTED SISTER, SEETHER, ZO2, EUROPE, DANGER DANGER and more.

Track info for seven of the songs on the album can be read below:

‘Songs Like Shandi’ (never released): “Performed by Eric Carr, Eric's 'Shandi' vocals, from his KISS audition tape.”

‘No One's Messin' With You’ (never released): “Performed by Eric Carr, Bruce Kulick. This song was discovered on an old DAT recording owned by Eric, This is an alternative version of ‘Little Caesar’, from the 1989 KISS, album Hot In The Shade has an entirely different set of lyrics and vocal melody.”

‘Just Can’t Wait’ (never released): “Performed by Ted Poley, (Danger, Danger), originally released as an instrumental in 2001. This song was re-mastered using Eric and Bruce's (KISS) original studio drum and guitar tracks. In addition, Ted Poley adds his vocals using lyrics written in 2006. This song is complete with full vocals and backgrounds.”

‘Elephant Man’ (debut release): “Performed by AJ Pero, (Twisted Sister), Kee Marcello, (Europe) Bob Gilmartin. The song features special performances by Eric's sister Maria and niece Sara- Jean. Eric Carr wrote the lyrics for this song in 1991, in 2006, music was composed.

‘Dial L For Love’ (never released): “Performed, by Eric Carr, written by Eric Carr and Adam Mitchell. Written in 1987 during the Crazy Nights album sessions, Eric was proud of this upbeat demo, but it never made it to the albums final track list.

‘All Hell's Breakin Loose’: “Performed by ZO2 (co-written by Eric Carr, KISS Lick It Up 1983).”

‘Troubles Inside You’ (never released): “Performed by Eric Carr and Mitch Weissman. Mitch Weissman comments: "Him and Eric were playing around with this song at Gene's house so Mitch wanted to do something different with his vocals, so he sat in the closet and sang away, while eric played some guitar, set up the beat on the drum machine and sang background vocals.”

According to Billboard.biz, Rondor Music Publishing has signed Alice Cooper to a worldwide publishing agreement and renewed the company's publishing agreement with producer Bob Ezrin, who has worked with Cooper as a producer, co-writer, arranger and musician, as well as other artists like KISS, NINE INCH NAILS and THE DARKNESS.

"Bob played some of the new Alice Cooper record last December and I was literally blown away by the quality of the production and the songwriting collaboration between the two of them," said Rondor Music Publishing president Lance Freed. "At Bob's suggestion I spoke with Alice, and I told him we absolutely had to publish his music. He agreed to join us!"

Alice Cooper's new album, "Welcome 2 My Nightmare", is likely to sell between 20,000 and 22,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to industry web site Hits Daily Double. The estimate was based on one-day sales reports compiled after the record arrived in stores on September 13 via Universal Music Enterprises.

Cooper's previous CD, 2008's "Along Came A Spider", opened with just under 10,000 copies to debut at position No. 53 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Recorded with longtime collaborator Bob Ezrin, who produced the original multi-platinum "Welcome To My Nightmare" album in 1975, "Welcome 2 My Nightmare" picks up right where they left off, with Alice trapped in his own warped mind.

That original album is an all-time rock classic that spawned a worldwide theatrical tour and pioneering U.S. TV special and cemented Alice Cooper as a visionary trailblazer whose influence persists today in rock, metal, pop, punk, theater, television, film and much more.

More than 35 years later, Alice and Ezrin have resurrected the horror and humor for a new generation.