According to The Pulse Of Radio, Paul Rodgers revealed that following the death of Jim Morrison in 1971, THE DOORS were seriously considering asking him to replace the "Lizard King" as their new frontman. Rodgers explained that it's only recently come to his attention that he was shortlisted to become THE DOORS' second lead singer before Ray Manzarek decided to take over vocal duties himself. Rodgers told Uncut magazine, "I discovered quite recently that I was lined up to join THE DOORS, which blew my mind. Robby Krieger told me that THE DOORS were all fans of FREE and after Jim Morrison's death; they came to England looking for me. (The) thing is, at that time, I had buried myself in the country, working on things, and they couldn't get a hold of me."

He went on to explain: "My jaw actually dropped like in a cartoon when Robby told me this. Would I have joined them? I dunno. It's hard to say, looking back. But I think not. I tend to form bands, that's what I do. Although it's always flattering to be asked!"

Rodgers told The Pulse Of Radio that throughout his career, his primary musical inspiration has always been linked to the blues: "You used to look around and think, 'God, is there no other way?' — y'know? And then I heard these blues guys singing about jumping on the first train smoking, and heading out of town, you know, and my friends can have my room. And I thought, 'Wouldn't it be great if you could just do that?' And that drew me to playing and singing blues. And it's actually what I did, and I'm still doing."

As reported earlier this week, quintessential prog-rockers YES have announced that they have reunited with legendary producer Trevor Horn for their highly anticipated new album, Fly From Here. The album marks the band's first studio album in ten years.




Frontiers Records now reports:

Horn and Yes bassist Chris Squire re-discovered the track 'Fly From Here', which has never been recorded as a studio track.

“Chris and I were talking one evening about a song ‘Fly From Here’ that we never recorded,” explains Trevor Horn. “I said I was prepared to spend two weeks with Yes recording that song. When I arrived in America to record it, I was taken prisoner by the band and only allowed my freedom again in return for producing the whole album. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse!!!”

Fly From Here encompasses Yes’ signature brand of mysticism and grand-scale compositions. Maintaining a complex, symphonic sound that features the beautiful harmonies and strong heavy riffs they are known for.

“The new album represents the best of Yes from the 70s and the 80s with a current twist,” states Squire.

Yes are the pioneers for the use of synthesizers and sound effects in modern music, which produced such timeless, symphonic-rock masterworks as 'Roundabout', 'Close To the Edge', and 'Awaken'. Yes continued to push the cutting edge of art-rock music to their limits, selling over 30 million albums, reaching platinum status multiple times worldwide.

Yes’ powerful mainstream progressive compositions have influenced a generation of musicians with a hugely successful and indelible catalogue of music with hit albums such as Drama, Fragile, Close To The Edge and 90125. Classics such as 'Roundabout,' a seminal hit which consistently appears on “the best songs of all-time” lists, and the group’s #1 hit 'Owner Of A Lonely Heart', which Horn is responsible for. Taken from the Yes album 90125, this single would form part of a unique double, which would see Yes and Horn top both the UK and US charts simultaneously.

Fly From HEre will be released on Frontiers Records in July 2011. More details about the album, its packaging and Yes’ live plans for the rest of the year will become available shortly.

Auch ohne europäischen Chauvinismus kann man sagen, dass Japaner schon immer und in fast jeder Hinsicht ein ganz besonders faszinierendes Völkchen sind. Das betrifft natürlich ebenfalls die dortige Musikszene, die sich immer wieder einer interessanten Verbindung von amerikanischen und europäischen Einflüssen mit landeseigenen Elementen widmet.

Das populärste Resultat ist die J-Rock-Welle der letzten Jahre. Das beeindruckendste sind GALLHAMMER! Die Damen haben aus irgendeinem Grund alte europäische Undergroundhelden wie Amebix und Hellhammer mit der Muttermilch aufgesogen. Dermaßen authentisch nach bösem Achtziger-Metal klingen nicht mal mehr die aktuellen Inkarnationen bzw. Nachfolge-Acts der Originale. Über die Jahre haben GALLHAMMER einen immer stärkeren individuellen Stempel in ihrem Sound hinterlassen.

"The End" (VÖ via Peaceville Records am 29. April 2011) zeigt sie nur noch als Duo, ohne Gitarristin Mika und somit mehr denn je als fiese Noise-Drone-Doom-Kapelle ganz eigener Art.

"The End" Track List:

1. The End
2. Rubbish CG202
3. Aberration
4. Sober
5. Entropy G35
6. Wander
7. 108=7/T-NA

Keyboardist/programmer Chris Spicuzza has left Cleveland, Ohio metallers CHIMAIRA. "The choice was extremely tough and stewed around in my mind for quite awhile," he told ThePRP.com. "Many things led to this decision. The situation in CHIMAIRA had ultimately become a negative environment that I had to get out of. Secondly, the music industry is completely fucked and honestly, I became concerned for my future. The amount of work and stress I took on got the best of me. I guess if you're not happy or having fun, what's the point?:

He added, "As far as the new CHIMAIRA album, I have not contributed to it. There is no doubt in my mind that CHIMAIRA's sound will not suffer minus my presence. The demos I heard showed great potential and I’m sure the album will melt faces. I'm proud to say I was on five CHIMAIRA albums and wish those guys the best."

CHIMAIRA has tapped Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, SHADOWS FALL, MURDERDOLLS, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD) to mix the band's new album, due in August in North America, South America and Japan via eOne Music. The CD was recorded with producer Ben Schigel, who has previously worked with DROWNING POOL and WALLS OF JERICHO, among others.

WRITTEN IN BLOOD werden ihre Debut EP "We Are Divinity" via Revenge Recordings veröffentlichen. Aufgenommen wurde die EP mit Mark Lewis (DEVILDRIVER, DAATH) in den Hammer Studios in den USA. HIER auf Facebook wurden jetzt drei neue Songs zum probehören online gestellt.

"We Are Divinity" Track List:

01. This Purpose Driven Life
02. In This Fire
03. Your Fortress Falls
04. We Are Divinity
05. Alone We Walk
06. This Passion
07. Create A Dream

Swedish metallers IN FLAMES will release a new digital single, "Deliver Us", on May 10 via Century Media. The song comes off the band's tenth album, "Sounds Of A Playground Fading", which will be released on the following dates:

Sweden - June 15
Germany - June 17
Rest Of Europe - June 20
North America - June 21

13 songs were laid down for the CD, which was recorded at the band's IF Studios in Gothenburg with engineer Roberto Laghi (HARDCORE SUPERSTAR, LOK, SONIC SYNDICATE).

HYDROGYN guitarist Jeff Westlake has joined forces with Jeff Boggs, Keith Ramsey and Matt Scheen in a new project called URA-KIA. The band has been holed up in the studio for the past 10 days and is nearly done recording its self-titled debut album for a late spring release. A promotional video for the CD's first single is also in the works.

Audio samples of five songs that are set to appear on the album can be streamed below.

DOWN 'N' OUTZ — a project fronted by DEF LEPPARD's Joe Elliott, backed by THE QUIREBOYS and playing rare tracks connected only by MOTT THE HOOPLE — is about to unleash its first live DVD, "Live At The Hammersmith Odeon".

Shot at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo Hammersmith Odeon in London on October 6, 2009 when DOWN 'N' OUTZ opened for the reunited MOTT THE HOOPLE, the DVD will be first available at merchandise stands at shows on the British PAUL RODGERS/DOWN 'N' OUTZ tour later this month. A limited edition of only 500 copies will be made available initially, all of which personally signed and numbered by Joe and the rest of the band. Any remaining copies, and a regular (unsigned) version will be available through our web site shortly after the tour.

The track listing is as follows:

01. Golden Opportunity
02. Overnight Angels
03. One More Chance To Run
04. Storm
05. Shouting And Pointing
06. Career (No Such Thing As Rock 'n' Roll)
07. Who Do You Love
08. By Tonight
09. England Rocks
10. Good Times

Bonus material includes footage from the Dave Kilner tribute show (featuring DEF LEPPARD bass player Rick Savage), three promo videos and a behind-the-scenes documentary.

According to CDJapan.co.jp, WHITESNAKE's "Live At Donington 1990" DVD/live double CD will be released in Japan via Columbia Music Entertainment on May 20 in the following formats:

* DVD+2CD / Limited Edition
* Regular-Edition DVD
* Cardboard Sleeve / Limited Edition
* Regular-Edition CD

WHITESNAKE's "Live At Donington 1990" DVD/live double CD set will be available on June 3 in Europe and June 7 in North America via Frontiers Records. Since the inception of Whitesnake.com more than ten years ago, this DVD has been the most requested product from fans of the 'SNAKE.

On August 18, 1990, WHITESNAKE headlined the legendary Monsters Of Rock at Castle Donington festival (now known as Download). WHITESNAKE's performance at the festival was one of the most memorable events on the "Liquor & Poker World Tour" that saw the band play sold-out shows to over one million people. This incredible, never-before-seen, visual footage captures one of the most musically intense WHITESNAKE lineups performing in front of more than 70,000 fans. Mixed in glorious 5.1 and living, breathing stereo, it's the next best thing to actually being there! WHITESNAKE 1990 featured guitar greats Steve Vai and Adrian Vandenberg, bassist Rudy Sarzo, drummer Tommy Aldridge and, of course, incomparable frontman David Coverdale.

The "Live At Donington" 1990 DVD also includes a substantial gallery of never before seen stills of the band on the "Liquor & Poker World Tour 1990", plus an intimate behind-the-scenes documentary of the making-of the "Slip Of The Tongue" album.

The "Live At Donington 1990" will be available in 2CD set, DVD coverpack, combo 2CD + DVD in digipak and digital edition.

In other news, WHITESNAKE's brand new album, "Forevermore", is out this week on Frontiers Records and is available in multiple configurations. The album is already receiving rave reviews from the press with The Aquarian dubbing it, "excellent…their bluesiest and grittiest release since their 1984 masterpiece 'Slide It In'…", while Hard Rock Hideout declares, "Make no mistake, 'Forevermore', is an early front runner for record of the year." "Forevermore" finds founder/singer/songwriter David Coverdale and company returning to their no-holds-barred, bluesiest, sexiest rock' n' roll roots.

WHITESNAKE is David Coverdale (vocals), Doug Aldrich (guitars), Reb Beach (guitars), Michael Devin (bass) and Brian Tichy (drums).

"Live At Donington 1990" DVD track listing:

01. Slip Of The Tongue
02. Slide It In
03. Judgement Day
04. Slow An Easy
05. Kitten's Got Claws
06. Adagio For Strato
07. Flying Dutchman Boogie
08. Is This Love
09. Cheap An' Nasty
10. Crying In The Rain (featuring Tommy Aldridge drum solo)
11. Fool For Your Loving
12. For The Love Of God
13. The Audience Is Listening
14. Here I Go Again
15. Bad Boys
16. Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City
17. Still Of The Night
18. Bonus content: The Making of Slip of the Tongue; Slide Show

"Live At Donington 1990" CD 1 track listing:

01. Slip Of The Tongue
02. Slide It In
03. Judgement Day
04. Slow An Easy
05. Kitten's Got Claws
06. Adagio For Strato
07. Flying Dutchman Boogie
08. Is This Love
09. Cheap An' Nasty
10. Crying In The Rain (featuring Tommy Aldridge drum solo)

"Live At Donington 1990" CD 2 track listing:

01. Fool For Your Loving
02. For The Love Of God
03. The Audience Is Listening
04. Here I Go Again
05. Bad Boys
06. Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City
07. Still Of The Night

American technical death metal innovators ORIGIN will release their new album, "Entity", on June 7 in North America and June 10 in Europe via Nuclear Blast Records.

One of the most intense and technical forces of the contemporary death metal world, ORIGIN has returned to stake its claim as the leader of metal's new wave of extremity with its fifth studio effort. As expected, the death grind trio of Mike Flores (bass, vocals), Paul Ryan (guitar, vocals) and John Longstreth (drums) continues to churn out frantic, hell-paced grids of metal torment, but now further complements the arrangements with a newfound propensity for churning grooves and the hook-laden approach that first reared its ugly, but accessible head on the band's 2007 offering, "Antithesis". The band once again returned to Chapman Recording Studios in Lenexa, Kansas to work with longtime engineer and friend Robert Rebeck.

As stated multiple times in the past, ORIGIN proves once again that they stand head and shoulders above their peers.

Commented drummer John Longstrength: "As you can see, we're getting closer and closer to having a new album available for you.

"This has been a project that has been a long time in the making with all the unexpected twists and turns that come with creating an album and we are almost there.

"So, this is the new album cover! Designed by the band and executed flawlessly by artist extraordinaire, Colin Marks.

"As you can see, this time there's no aliens, no scary faces, no silly comic book imagery, no bullshit. It's back to basics for the people that don't fall for, or appreciate, bullshit trends that currently compromise the validity of this art.

"Let this album cover with its grey, dead, coldness reflect our disdain for the misconception that ORIGIN is represented by a giant, planet eating, scary face that's aimlessly roaming the cosmos like an idiot.

"Like the cover, the music on this album is stone, it's cold, it's serious, it's desolate, it's very angry, it's the band unified and working overtime to create what we feel will be the finest 45 minutes ORIGIN has created yet. This album is its own bitter entity."

Added artist Colin Marks: "It's been a real pleasure collaborating with the ORIGIN guys on the artwork for 'Entity'.

"From the beginning John had a very specific vision of how this record should look and I tried to interpret that as accurately as possible.

"The whole look of the album, the way I see it, is a suffocating vision of absolute solitude and isolation, with huge barren otherworldly landscapes. It's a simple concept, but it works well and hopefully reflects the bleak tones and heaviness of the new songs."

Catch the band, with their new frontman Jason Keyser, on tour with HATE ETERNAL, VITAL REMAINS and ABYSMAL DAWN in North America starting on June 15 at Emo's in Austin, Texas. Look for ORIGIN on the road in Europe, South America, Mexico, Asia, Australia and the rest of the world in 2011 and 2012.

Former CHIMAIRA guitarist/co-founder (most recently of Cleveland metal band YEARS OF FIRE) Jason Hager has officially retired from music and is pursuing different artistic routes. As of late Hager has been devoting his time to tattooing. He says, "I've been drawing since I could hold a pencil and have been wanting to become a tattoo artist since I was 13 and I finally got the opportunity to pursue it." He adds, "Art is something I've always loved and has always been the best way to release all the things going on in my head in a positive way. For me music has become more of a chore than fun, I lost the love for it. There's just way too much negative drama in music for me to want to make the sacrifices needed in order to succeed. I get way more out of tattooing when I see the reaction from people when I put something on their body permanently to remind them of an important memory in their life than I do by kids getting pissed that they have to pay for music and record labels who don't know their ass from their elbow."

Hager is currently tattooing at A NU TATT2 in Bedford, Ohio.

A NU TATT2
681 Broadway Ave.
Bedford, OH 44146
440-439-6999

For more information and to inquire about getting a tattoo, you can contact Hager at his Facebook page.

"At The Edge Of The World", the new video from Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based extreme metallers KATAKLYSM, can be viewed below. The clip was filmed on March 20 at the band's hometown show at Club Soda. This concert also marked the end of the group's "Spread the Venom" European/North American tour. The video was helmed by director Tommy Jones (DEATH ANGEL, SOILWORK), who is also working with KATAKLYSM on the band's upcoming documentary DVD, "The Iron Will: 20 Years Determined".

"The Iron Will: 20 Years Determined" will begin with the band's inception in 1991 and tell the lasting story behind of one of the most important extreme musical exports in Canada's short 143-year history. Tommy Jones will catch the band's heartbeat on the road and to put the memories together. The DVD will also include interviews with a wide range of characters, including the band's infamous first frontman Sylvain Houde, who sang on the first three KATAKLYSM albums: "The Mystical Gate Of Reincarnation" (1993), "Sorcery" (1996), and "Temple Of Knowledge" (1999).

A single and a video clip for the title track "The Iron Will" will be recorded this summer.

The massive content of the DVD will include KATAKLYSM's upcoming headlining show at Summer Breeze festival in Germany where the band will perform classics from all of its eleven releases.

KATAKLYSM's latest album, "Heaven's Venom", sold around 2,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 8 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

KATAKLYSM's previous CD, "Prevail", opened with 2,250 units back in June 2008.

"Heaven's Venom" was produced by Jean-Francois Dagenais and was mixed by Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, MNEMIC, DARK TRANQUILLITY).

Florida-based death metal veterans MORBID ANGEL will release their long-awaited eighth studio album, "Illud Divinum Insanus", on June 7 (one day earlier internationally) via Season of Mist. The cover artwork was designed by Gustavo Sazes and can be viewed below.

"Illud Divinum Insanus" track listing:

01. Omni Potens
02. Too Extreme!
03. Existo Vulgoré
04. Blades for Baal
05. I Am Morbid
06. 10 More Dead
07. Destructos Vs. the Earth / Attack
08. Nevermore
09. Beauty Meets Beast
10. Radikult
11. Profundis - Mea Culpa

"Illud Divinum Insanus" will be available in the following formats:

* Wooden foldout box
* Metal starpak CD (outside North America)
* Deluxe digipak CD (North America only)
* Double gatefold LP with download card
* Jewel case CD
* Digital download

Most of these formats are already available for pre-order on Season of Mist's e-shop.

The wooden foldout box is a triptych made of solid fine wood with all panels engraved, and includes the following items:

* "Illud Divinum Insanus" CD in real leather-bound book
* "Illud Divinum Insanus" double gatefold LP in coloured heavy weight (180 grams) vinyl, different from the regular LP edition
* Two black candles with red wax Blasphegram and their holders
* Incense burner with incense
* Exclusive poster
* Exclusive full colour t-shirt with back print

All above items are exclusively made for this limited box and will not be available separately!

DOCTOR MIDNIGHT & THE MERCY CULT, the new Scandinavian supergroup featuring former/current members of such acts as TURBONEGRO, MARILYN MANSON, SATYRICON and EXTOL, will release its debut album, "I Declare : Treason", on June 7 (one day earlier internationally) via Season Of Mist. A seven-inch vinyl single, "(Don't) Waste It", will precede the full-length CD on May 9. It will come with a digital download card and a sticker.

"I Declare : Treason" track listing:

01. You Are God (Intro)
02. Sign My Name
03. I Declare: Treason
04. Bleed Idiot Bleed
05. (Don't) Waste It
06. Blame Is The Game
07. OK (We're Just About To Die)
08. Misconception
09. Glory (Throw The Axe)
10. Revenge
11. Victorious

Greek demons SEPTICFLESH will release their new album, "The Great Mass", on April 18 in Europe (April 19 in North America) via Season Of Mist. The new opus will be made available in the following formats:

* CD + Blu-ray digipak
* Collector's book, including 2 CDs + Blu-ray
* 12" gatefold LP
* CD jewel case
* Digital download

The cover artwork of the album's jewel case edition was designed by Seth Siro Anton himself.

"The Great Mass" track listing:

01. The Vampire From Nazareth
02. A Great Mass Of Death
03. Pyramid God
04. Five-Pointed Star
05. Oceans Of Grey
06. The Undead Keep Dreaming
07. Rising
08. Apocalypse
09. Mad Architect
10. Therianthropy

A teaser clip for "The Great Mass" can be viewed below.

You can now witness the Suicidal God statue in all its gruesome glory, the final part that completes the cover artwork of the CD+DVD digipak, the gatefold LP and the dust jacket of the artbook edition. Check it out below.

Commented Seth: "This is a small fragment of the artwork that will dress the new artistic experiment of SEPTICFLESH, 'The Great Mass'. It is a small part of an occult machine made from marble and flesh, fantasy and reality, order and chaos. A great machine composed from the blasphemous union of strange figures, creations of Man, the creator of the gods and demons. Their grotesque purpose will be revealed soon, when all the cover editions of the new album will be presented and will be combined together… Let the great self-cannibalistic symposium begin."

The main artwork for "The Great Mass" will appear on the limited digipak edition, the gatefold LP and the dust jacket of the collector's book.

A brand new song from SEPTICFLESH's forthcoming album, entitled "The Vampire From Nazareth", can be streamed below.

JOURNEY's new single, "City Of Hope", has just been made available digitally at all European online music stores. The song is described as a "classic JOURNEY-style anthem" by MelodicRock.com.

JOURNEY is currently touring Latin America in front of packed audiences. Following shows in Santiago, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Lima and Caracas, JOURNEY will play dates in Guatemala, Panama and Mexico.

JOURNEY's new album, "Eclipse" will be released on Scarecrow Records in Mexico, WET Music in Brazil and D.B.N. in the rest of Latin America.

The first single from "Eclipse" in South America is "Human Feel", also available digitally from April 4. Online stores carrying the new single include iTunes and Telcel in Mexico; Claro, Telefonica and Comcel in Colombia; and Porta in Ecuador.

"Eclipse" will be released in the U.S. and Canada on May 24 exclusively at Walmart and beginning June 3 in Europe on Frontiers Records. The 12 tracks were written over the past 18 months by the core team of guitarist Neal Schon and keyboard player Jonathan Cain, with collaboration from singer Arnel Pineda.

"Eclipse" track listing:

01. City Of Hope
02. Edge Of The Moment
03. Chain Of Love
04. Tantra
05. Anything Is Possible
06. Resonate
07. She's A Mystery
08. Human Feel
09. Ritual
10. To Whom It May Concern
11. Someone
12. Venus

"I'm in love with this record, which I haven't said about one of our albums for a long time," says founding member and lead guitarist, Neal Schon. "It's a rock record and it sounds amazing." Commenting on the upcoming tour, Schon continues, "We've got a lot of hits to play and there's plenty of time to do some new stuff too, so we're gonna mix it up. We haven't toured with FOREIGNER for over 10 years, so we're re

Blame It On The Boom Boom", a brand new song from Kentucky rockers BLACK STONE CHERRY, is available for free download at this location (sign-up required). The track comes off the band's third album, "Between The Devil And Deep Blue Sea", which will be released on May 31 via Roadrunner Records. The "White Trash Millionaire" single, which can be streamed below, was made available digitally on March 29.

Legendary heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne — who has often said in interviews that he is "lucky to be alive" after decades of substance abuse, casual sex and drinking — wants his funeral to be "a celebration, not a mope-fest."

In his health column for the Sunday Times magazine, the 62-year-old Osbourne writes, "I don't care what they play at my funeral; they can put on a medley of Justin Bieber, Susan Boyle and We Are The Diddymen if it makes 'em happy — but I do want to make sure it's a celebration, not a mope-fest (sic).

"I'd also like some pranks maybe the sound of knocking inside the coffin, or a video of me asking my doctor for a second opinion on his diagnosis of 'death'.

"There'll be no harping on the bad times. I don't want my funeral to be sad. I want it to be a time to say 'thanks.'"