British rockers DEF LEPPARD are currently putting together a live album from their 2009 tour which may see new material added as well. Due for release in 2011, singer Joe Elliott explains the process: "In the old days, a band would call in the Rolling Stones Mobile and record a gig and hope that it worked well.In this day in age, you record every show into a hard drive. So we've got every show from the backed up on to three or four hard drives. So we have the unenviable task of having to listen to 50 versions of every song we played."

Leader Eric Syre from Quebec-based black/thrash metallers THESYRE has issued the following update:

"We are still writing material for Thesyre's next album. We will record, produce and release it ourselves when we are ready. I am looking forward to some limited physical formats as well as sharing it for free online, as usual.

Speaking of online material, I am glad to report we had an average of six people a day downloading from our archive in the last year. Those numbers are tiny, of course, when compared to bigger bands but I think it's good enough for a band like us with no promotion, no touring, no presence in the press in the last 18 months. There's no way we could sell six CDs or LPs a day on our own and on a steady basis, so those numbers please me enough to keep the archive thing going in 2011.

Artwork-wise I had very little time to work on covers and logos. Yet, I managed to come up with a logo for Atavism Records and I am completing the artwork and layout for the upcoming NKVD album. I also got a request from a merch company to come up with a design for a MOTÖRHEAD t-shirt; not sure if they'll use it or not. More on this soon... If you'd like me to work on something for you, keep in mind that I need some time to come up with anything. Go ahead and contact me.

AKITSA released Au Crepuscule De L'esperance in 2010. The album received good reviews and made it on the top lists of a few writers and fans. There is also a 7" coming up on which I played the drums."

Former SOULFLY bassist Bobby Burns has slammed the band's mainman Max Cavalera for allegedly "talking shit" and "lying" to the press about the circumstances surrounding Bobby's departure from the group.

In a November 18, 2010 interview with MetalSickness.com (see video below), Max stated about SOULFLY's split with Burns, "Well, we're still friends. It was really a friendly split."

He continued, "SOULFLY is a very demanding band that demands of you to really... You've gotta be some kind of soldier to be in SOULFLY and it's really not an easy band to be in, and I'll be the first one to say that. We go to places a lot of people don't go, and we play places a lot of people don't play. But on the side of the coin, we get to see the world and get to travel the world and meet many people and it's great life for a musician. It was my dream from the beginning to do this. And when somebody is not feeling the same way as us...

"I always said from the beginning: If you're not 100 percent here with us, then you should not be here at all. And Bobby wasn't like that anymore; he was, really... It was a situation where nobody was even talking to him in the end, and he was not talking to anybody. It was really strange. I never had that in a band before like that. It was really kind of, like, 'What's going on with this guy?' And it got to the point where he started to drink a lot, too, and that was another problem. He started missing a lot of notes and not playing the bass so good live.

"That's another thing that cannot happen; we have to make sure that we play good at night — a lot of people want to see us, so we've gotta be... If there's 10 people at the show or 10,000, I want SOULFLY to perform the same; I always that to the other guys. Even though it's hard sometimes — if there's less people there, if there's no vibe, or the vibe sucks, you still [get into] it. Those people there are your hardcore fans because they came here. Maybe there's only 100 of them, [but] they are 100 of your most hardcore fans that came to see you, so it's very special that you play the same. And Bobby was not feeling like that anymore, so it was better for us to say to him, 'We think it's better for you to go and we'll get somebody there that's gonna be hungry again to be in the band,' and that's what we're looking for right now."

(Reuters) - Bon Jovi may have recently been snubbed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but the veteran band still ended the year as the world's top concert attraction, according to a trade publication.

The group sold $201.1 million (£130.6 million) worth of tickets, split almost evenly between North America and the rest of the world, said Pollstar magazine. Its success was noteworthy given that it was promoting a 2009 album that did not sell strongly.

Bon Jovi also shone even as overall sales slid in a tough economy. Pollstar said sales for the top 50 tours worldwide fell 12 percent to $2.93 billion. In North America, the top 50 tours dropped 15 percent to $1.69 billion.

Overseas tours are increasingly becoming more lucrative for musicians, especially as infrastructure improves across Asia and the former Soviet bloc, Pollstar said.

Indeed, hard rockers AC/DC came in at No. 2 and Irish foursome U2 at No. 3 after making all their money overseas. AC/DC grossed $177 million, and U2 $160.9 million. U2 was the top worldwide act in 2009 with $311 million, followed by AC/DC with $227 million.

In a field dominated by rock acts, flamboyant pop star Lady Gaga was No. 4 this year with $133.6 million. The "Poker Face" singer worked harder than any other musician in the top 10, playing 138 shows, two-thirds of which were overseas.

Bon Jovi, by contrast, played 80 shows. AC/DC (40 shows) and U2 (32 shows) took it relatively easy.

Metallica was No. 5 with $110.1 million from 60 overseas shows. Both Metallica and AC/DC last released albums in 2008, relying on their extensive catalogues of headbanging favourites to keep drawing fans.

The field was rounded out by Canadian singer Michael Buble (No. 6, $104.2 million), the "Walking with Dinosaurs" live family show (No. 7, $104.1 million), Paul McCartney (No. 8, $93 million), the Eagles (No. 9, $92.3 million) and former Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters (No. 10, $89.5 million).

Waters earned all his money in North America, where his acclaimed restaging of Pink Floyd's "The Wall" was the No. 2 draw behind Bon Jovi with $108.2 million. Among all-time North American tours, the Bon Jovi trek ranks at No. 9, Pollstar said. The Rolling Stones hold the record with $162 million from their 2005 outing. The publication has been collecting worldwide data for only two years.

The Dave Matthews Band was No. 3 in North America with $72.9 million. Buble followed with $65.7 million and the Eagles with $64.5 million.

Bon Jovi's previous best performance in North America was in 2008, when the band was fifth with ticket sales of $70.4 million. The New Jersey rockers, led by singer Jon Bon Jovi, were on the ballot for inclusion in the 2011 class of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, but failed to make the cut. Critics have largely been dismissive of the group's catchy "soft-rock" tunes, even as the band has little problem selling out stadiums and arenas to its female-skewing fan base. Its 2009 album "The Circle" debuted at No. 1 in the United States, but ended up selling relatively poorly.

Brenna Gray, the widow of SLIPKNOT bassist Paul Gray, has paid tribute to her late husband in the new issue of Revolver magazine, which remembers many of hard rock and metal's most dearly departed.

Paul Gray's body was found on May 24 in a hotel room in a Des Moines, Iowa suburb. A coroner ruled that the 38-year-old musician died of an accidental overdose of morphine.

"I don't want people to judge him for the mistake that he made," Brenna told the magazine. "He wasn't just a drug addict. That was a little part of his life that he couldn't overcome," she explained.

"He was a great guy, a great musician, a great husband, a great friend, a great brother, a great son. And I just want people to know that."

Brenna went on to reveal that she hopes to help others learn from the tragedy via advocacy work.

"I've been working with the organization MusiCares, and if they can get my story out there, as hard as it is to tell... if one person can save their life with my husband losing his, that's what matters," she said.

Brenna Gray gave birth to Paul Gray's first and only child, a baby daughter named October Dedrick Gray, on August 17.

The cover of the new issue of Revolver magazine features a stunning painting by legendary comic-book artist J.G. Jones (Superman, Batman, Wanted). Jones depicts Ronnie James Dio, SLIPKNOT's Paul Gray, AVENGED SEVENFOLD's The Rev, TYPE O NEGATIVE's Peter Steele, PANTERA's Dimebag Darrell, METALLICA's Cliff Burton, NIRVANA's Kurt Cobain, OZZY OSBOURNE's Randy Rhoads, QUEEN's Freddie Mercury, and ALICE IN CHAINS' Layne Staley rocking together in heaven. The cover painting also appears as a free poster with the issue.

Inside the issue, Revolver remembers the cover artists and many of hard rock and metal's other fallen heroes via exclusive interviews with members of SLIPKNOT and TYPE O NEGATIVE, Dio's wife and manager Wendy Dio, Ozzy Osbourne, METALLICA's Lars Ulrich, AVENGED SEVENFOLD's M. Shadows, JUDAS PRIEST's Rob Halford, ALICE IN CHAINS' Mike Inez, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's Zakk Wylde, RAMONES' Marky Ramone, MELVINS' Buzz Osborne, rapper Ice-T, and more.

As a tie-in to the issue and a special tribute to PANTERA's Dimebag Darrell, Revolver has produced a highly limited-edition commemorative coin in his honor. The coin comes free with the magazine when purchased at Barnes & Noble. Otherwise, it is available with the issue and an antiqued metal coin holder at this location, where a portion of the sale proceeds will go to the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund.

SLIPKNOT drummer Joey Jordison said last month that he and other members of the eight-piece band were already separately recording demos of new material, which he hoped to begin recording sometime in early 2011.

SLIPKNOT singer Corey Taylor has maintained for months that he has no desire at this point to make a new record without Paul Gray.

Taylor and SLIPKNOT guitarist Jim Root have been on the road with their other band, STONE SOUR, since early summer.

Jordison has toured with ROB ZOMBIE and recorded a new album with his band MURDERDOLLS, although that group recently canceled a tour.

Swedish hard rockers THE POODLES check in with the following update:

"2010 is coming to a close, a great and eventful year with highlights such as the Sweden Rocks Europe Tour in April/May together with TREAT and H.E.A.T, the Graspop festival in Belgium and a number of other simply fantastic shows. Also the signing of a new world wide record deal with Frontiers Records, the release of the live DVD In The Flesh and the live CD No Quarter as well as an intense recording period during the fall of our new and awesome studio album Performocracy due for release on April 15th. Thank you everyone for making 2010 such a memorable year for us and I hope to see each and everyone of you somewhere on the road next year."

STARGAZERY, the Finnish hard rock band fronted by the ex-MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP vocalist Jari Tiura, has inked a deal with Pure Legend Records, the new sublabel of Pure Steel Records. The group's debut album, "Eye On The Sky", will be released in the first quarter of 2011. The CD was recorded and mixed at the HellGate and Reindeer Horns studios in Oulu, Finland and was mastered at the Bazement Studios. The cover artwork was created by Felipe Machado, who has previously worked with AXEL RUDI PELL, BLIND GUARDIAN, ICED EARTH and BLAZE BAYLEY.

Commented the band: "We all are very excited and happy to sign to Germany's Pure Legend Records, an specialized sublabel of the well-known Pure Steel Records. We've seen that the label has been raising their profile year after year and we are really looking forward to work with them in the future."

Added Pure Legend Records: "It's a dream to release such a gem as first release. STARGAZERY are playing exactly the honest kind of music we want to support with Pure Legend Records. Anything (instruments, compositions and sound) can only be called excellent. You hear and practically feel the professionalism of the individual musicians. A perfect album in this genre!"

STARGAZERY is:

* Jari Tiura (MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, MASTERSTROKE, SNAKEGOD) - Vocals
* Pete Ahonen (BURNING POINT, GHOST MACHINERY) - Guitar, Backing Vocals
* Jukka Jokikokko (BURNING POINT) - Bass, Backing Vocals
* Marco Sneck (POISONBLACK, KALMAH) - Keyboards
* Jussi Ontero (BURNING POINT, GHOST MACHINERY) - Drums

01. Dying
02. Puppet On A String
03. I Am The Night
04. Eye On The Sky
05. How Many Miles
06. Judah
07. S.O.S.
08. Every Day I Dream Of You
09. Jester Of Kings
10. Headless Cross (BLACK SABBATH cover)

Swedish progressive metallers WOLVERINE recently finished mixing their long-awaited new album, "Communication Lost", with Danish producer Jacob Hansen at Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark for a tentative early 2011 release. The band states, "The album is right now being mastered by Eroc. Because of administrative problems, from our label's end, the recording got stuck at Jacob Hansen's studio for quite some time so we didn't start mastering until December instead of September, which was the original plan.

"The actual mastering has been taking a while because we've been sending ideas back and forth on different approaches to the album's overall sound. We came to a conclusion about a week ago but then came Christmas and the holidays. We can only hope that you all understand we're taking this long because we want the album to be perfect when it finally does come out."

Marple from German's pitXplorer magazine conducted an interview with Finnish heavy metal monsters LORDI before the band's December 12, 2010 concert at LKA in Stuttgart, Germany. You can now watch the chat below.

When asked what the differences are between LORDI and GWAR, LORDI mainman Mr. Lordi replied, "We're LORDI and they're GWAR. I mean, everything is different. I guess they're not that serious. I guess the only thing in common, actually, with GWAR and LORDI is that they're both rock bands and dressed up as monsters. Even though GWAR says that they're not human beings, but I can tell you a secret: They are."

Professionally filmed video footage of full-length performances by Finnish metal bands STAM1NA, MOKOMA, RYTMIHÄIRIÖ and FM2000 — shot on November 17, 2010 at Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland during the Sakara Tour 2010 — can be viewed on the IRC-Galleria page.

* STAM1NA: Video (approximately 60 minutes)
* MOKOMA: Video (approximately 60 minutes)
* RYTMIHÄIRIÖ: Video (approximately 40 minutes)
*FM2000: Video (approximately 30 minutes)

Norwegian melodic metallers PICTURES OF PAIN have issued the following year-end update:

"Just a few hours left of 2010, and it’s time to resume the year: 2010 has been a real interesting and satisfying year for the band, releasing the debut album,The Reckoning, on November 26th. As far, the reviews and feedbacks have been very positive. This gives inspiration, working even harder in 2011. The major priorities for the coming year, will be to do some live shows and continue to produce even more new material.

At last, we want to thank Phivos Papadopoulos & Pitch Black Records for believing in the band and releasing the album. Also a big hail to Mario Pereira for great booklet artwork, Andy LaRocque for excellent mastering and of course: all of you that supported the release-party, have bought the album and showed support for the band!

You’re the best, a great 2011 to you all!"

The Reckoning was mastered by legendary KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy LaRocque at his own Sonic Train Studios.

PHANTOM-X, the Dallas, Texas-based band featuring former OMEN singer Kevin Goocher, is working on material for its fourth CD, "Opera Of The Phantom". The effort will include a bonus DVD contaning performance, behind-the-scenes and interview footage from the band's experiences on the road over the years, along with a special surprise.

"We will most likely release in early 2012 because this project is going to be very detailed and in depth," said Goocher. "We don't want to rush it."

PHANTOM-X's third CD, "This Is War", came out earlier this year via Perris Records.

Norwegian metallers TOMORROW'S OUTLOOK have issued the following update in regards to their forthcoming debut album, 34613:

"We have been listening through the Master a couple of times and there is nothing we would like to change. It all sounds killer@#%$!!!

We would like to thank our engineer for beeing patient with us and for doing such a great job. We didn't expect the recordings to turn out as great as they did. Colin Davis is a true magician, and I have been wondering lately why he ain't up there with the best metal/hardrock producers of today!

Well, yesterday I started to shop for labels. I shipped out 13 promo packs. 7 of them to Germany: Century Media Records, Limb Music, Nuclear Blast, Massacre Records, Pure Steel Records, Avenue Of Allies and Rock N Growl. The rest to: Lion Music (Finland), Spinefarm Records (Finland), Mascot Records (Holland), Inferno Records (France) and last but not least Rockadrome Records (USA).

If you represent a serious record-label or know of someone who do let me know (theband@tomorrowsoutlook.com) and I will definitely ship out another promo pack.

The more interest the better! And if we still can't secure a good deal we will release the album ourselves. This way we'll get more money and there's a bigger chance for a follow-up sometime soon. Wish us luck, friends... and have a great remaining Christmas and forthcoming new year. All the best from Sörvik "Rock" City and Northern Norway."

A previous update from the group states: : "34613 has been in the works for the past three years, so it feels real good to complete the tracklist with a new song called 'Ice Mountain'. 'Ice Mountain' is about one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in history. It's about how the largest passenger steamship in the world at the time (1912), struck an iceberg and sank... resulting in the deaths of 1,517 people.

I guess you've all figured by now the song is about The RMS Titanic. Graham Bonnet (MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, ALCATRAZZ, RAINBOW) was upon our request writing the lyrics and he did a killer job on vocals. 'Ice Mountain' doesn't sound that far off something he did back in the days with ALCATRAZZ and IMPELLITTERI, and it will definitely be one of the highlights on the album."

Further updates to follow.

U.K-based metallers POWER QUEST have completed work on their new album, "Blood Alliance", at Foel Studios (PAUL RODGERS, NAPALM DEATH, THE WILDHEARTS) in Wales next for a late March European release via Napalm Records (early April in the U.S. and January 19 in Japan through Marquee/Avalon). Eleven songs were laid down for the follow-up to 2008's "Master Of Illusion", including one bonus track. The CD cover artwork was once again designed by Felipe Machado (BLIND GUARDIAN, SILENT FORCE)and can be viewed below.

Commented keyboardist Steve Williams: "Well, it has been a long time coming but finally the fifth POWER QUEST album is done and I don't think I have ever been so excited about releasing an album. All the guys have given 110% to this record and I'm proud of them all. It's without doubt the heaviest POWER QUEST album yet but without sacrificing the POWER QUEST melodic tradition. I just can't wait for you all to hear it!"

"Blood Alliance" track listing:

01. Battle Stations
02. Rising Anew
03. Glorious
04. Sacrifice
05. Survive
06. Better Days
07. Crunching The Numbers
08. Only In My Dreams
09. Blood Alliance
10. City Of Lies
11. Time To Burn (Japanese bonus track)

Swedish metallers THE HAUNTED have set "Unseen" as the title of their seventh studio album, due late March via Century Media Records. The CD was once again recorded with longtime producer Tue Madsen (MOONSPELL, DARK TRANQUILLITY, GOREFEST, SICK OF IT ALL) at his Antfarm Studio in Århus, Denmark.

Commented THE HAUNTED vocalist Peter Dolving: "So the work's done. We hope to pour music and inspiration into your heads.

"We spent a month and a half with Tue Madsen, who brought out the best in everyone and did an incredible job mixing."

Shape of despair have parted ways with the vocalist Pasi Koskinen. Main reason
is Pasi's contribution to his own band Ajattara which takes most of his time.

We wish him the best for his future works and thank for the work we've done altogether.

There's no announcement yet for the next vocalist but at the moment Shape of despair is working on material for the next full-length album which hopefully sees the light next year.

German metal act REBELLION have parted ways with guitarist Uwe Lulis (ex-GRAVE DIGGER), drummer Gerd Lücking and guitarist Simone Wenzel.

Lulis commented: "Rebellion was also my band and I would be pleased, if Tomi (Göttlich; ex-Grave Digger) and Micha (singer Michael Seifert) will continue successfully."

Göttlich remarks about the Rebellion situation: "We ask ourselves whether Rebellion without Uwe can still be Rebellion,
a band on the other hand one always depends on their fans, we would be pleased, if our fans told us their opinion about it (check www.Rebellion.st for a listing of the band's various internet profiles)."

Guitarist Uwe Lulis and drummer Gerd Lücking have teamed up for an as-yet unnamed project, meanwhile guitarist Simone Wenzel has joined the band VERNISSAGE.

An interview should be published in January where Tomi Göttlich will answer your questions about Rebellion's future

MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson recently spoke to Ultimate-Guitar.com's Robert Gray about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's next studio album, tentatively due in late 2011 via Roadrunner Records. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On how much new material has been accumulated at this stage of the songwriting process:

Ellefson: "There's some ideas that we're now starting to individually compose. We're starting to put some things together, but the actual getting together in the studio to really get things started for the next record as far as all of us being in a room with a producer and all that, that is something we're gonna start [in January]."

On how the new songs are sounding:

Ellefson: "We're at a stage where we're just compiling ideas — riffs, lyrics, things like that. Those early ideas often turn many corners and take many new twists before they're finalized on the final album. The seeds of the ideas I think are great, and I think they're really heavy and they're powerful. I don't think MEGADETH fans will be disappointed at all. If the final outcome of what I'm hearing at this point with these seeds of ideas, if these come to fruition like they should, I think we're gonna have ourselves a smoking record. . . . I think, more than the actual material, though... because again, at this point everybody has some individual ideas or some collective ideas that are at least established... More than anything though, I think we're excited about it because we've had such a great year of reconnecting. There've been some huge successes with the 'Rust In Peace' tour and the 'Big Four' DVD, and just coming off of that, it's an exciting time for us to start and carve out the next chapter of MEGADETH."

On whether his return to MEGADETH after an eight-year hiatus will add a different flavor to proceedings:

Ellefson: "I think so. I think what's nice to a large degree is that Dave [Mustaine] was really the primary writer, if not the only writer, of the past few MEGADETH records, and I think when a band works together as a unit, regardless of who writes it, there tends to be a different flavor and a different style. I think that one of the cool things about where the band is right now as a unit is that it isn't only... Obviously, Shawn Drover [drums] now has been there for awhile, so he's got some experience. He knows how MEGADETH writes, records and operates; he knows how Dave writes, he understands Dave's compositional style, and as well, Shawn has started to contribute some of his own material, like on 'Head Crusher' from the [2009] 'Endgame' record. Now it's kinda cool, though, because there's now me and Dave who both can go back to the seed of MEGADETH, to the origins of it. I think that there's a really cool chemistry right now with Dave and I being back together. I think our playing has a certain style, and adds a certain tonal quality to MEGADETH. There's a really cool mixture of all the ingredients right now in the kitchen to really whip up something pretty tasty."

On how the next MEGADETH album will compare to "Endgame":

Ellefson: "This much I do know. I'm sure that after playing the 'Rust In Peace' album for the last year, that that will definitely have an influence on the sound of MEGADETH moving forward."

Sleaze Roxx' Ruben Mosqueda has issued a new interview with bassist extraordinaire MARCO MENDOZA (WHITESNAKE, BLUE MURDER, THIN LIZZY). The following is an excerpt:

Q: Your musical resume is outstanding - you played with John Sykes and Blue Murder, then you followed him to Thin Lizzy and you worked with David Coverdale and Whitesnake. How uncomfortable was it for you having had a foot in both the Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy camps, seeing as the falling out between Coverdale and Sykes has been well documented.

A: "Yeah I think you hit the nail on the head, it was uncomfortable. I have since resolved my issues with John. I'm a bass player, it's not only my livelihood but my passion and my trade. If you can believe this, I received a call from David Coverdale who was looking for a bass player. He offered to fly me up to his house to see if we clicked and we hit it off. During the time that I was with David we talked about maybe him reuniting with John Sykes. I'll take credit for them talking again years after their falling out. I did the same with Tommy Aldridge. For whatever reason things didn't work out and John didn't return. It would have been great to have John back in Whitesnake but it didn't work. In my opinion that would have been the right move.

My time in Whitesnake was a great time, I loved every second of it. Going back to my time with John Sykes we did a great live album that wasn't well received for whatever reason. I'm a guy that if I make mistakes or have issues with somebody I like to resolve them. The truth is life is too short, bury the hatchet if you will, and move on. I like to keep my sanity, resentments are not good period. I was a little disappointed that John and David weren't able to forgive and more forward, but they make their own choices. I haven't spoke to David Coverdale since I left Whitesnake. I talk to John Sykes, our paths have crossed and we live in the same town."

Rocker-turned-filmmaker Rob Zombie has rolled out his very own line of coffee. His first two blends — French Roast Organic and Peru Organic — are available in 1 lb. bags for $13.99 each (plus shipping and handling) at this location.

"What can I say? I fucking love coffee," Zombie told AOL's Noisecreep. "I started drinking this magic drink when I was a little kid and never stopped. So that's the reason I now have my own Hellbilly brew; 24/7, cranked on black gold! Hell yeah, let's go!"

Rob Zombie French Roast Organic Whole Bean Coffee description: "Our deepest and darkest roasted coffee. This 100% Certified Organic, Fair Trade Certified French Roast offering has a surprising characteristic that you'll notice when you purchase whole beans — a hint of speckle. This is because we artistically blend our French Roast with a moderate percentage of different roasts, producing a complex taste profile that no other French-style coffee has in existence. Savor the deepness."

Rob Zombie Peru Organic Whole Bean Coffee description: "From the tall peaks of the Andes to the tropical forests of the Amazon Basin, Peruvian coffees are as distinct as their birthplace. Featuring 100% Certified Organic, Fair Trade Certified beans, this incredible single-origin coffee supports the battle against social and environmental challenges. Medium-bodied with a tangy fruit finish, our lively Peru has been hand-crafted to realize its complete flavor potential."

Rock artists GREAT WHITE with special guest vocalist Jani Lane (ex-WARRANT) will perform New Year's Eve (December 31) in the Woodlands Ballroom at the Fortune Bay Resort Casino in the Minnesota family vacation resort Lake Vermilion Resort from 10 p.m. to midnight. This will be a free show but you must be 18 to attend

Lane has been singing with GREAT WHITE for the past few months, filling in for the band's longtime lead vocalist, Jack Russell, who is recuperating from surgery.

"It's been fantastic," Lane told Timberjay. "I've been friends with Jack for decades and I told him I'd be happy to fill in for him."

Regarding his approach to singing someone else's material for the first time, Lane said, "I wanted to stay true to how Jack sings. I didn't realize how hard that would be." Lane said he had to train himself to sing at a higher pitch than usual. "I asked him why he sings so high all the time," Jani said.

As for his newfound bandmates, Lane said, "The guys in GREAT WHITE have been really pleasant to work with. They're very professional. For them, it's all about sounding good for the fans and coming home and taking care of business."

Legendary hard rock singer Joe Lynn Turner (DEEP PURPLE, RAINBOW, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) is slated to appear on Russia's most popular New Year's Eve television broadcast: Channel One's "Olivier". According to Russian music journalist Tatiana Mikhailova, the word "Olivier" in Russian culture is the name of the popular salad dish traditionally served on New Year's Eve. The television show itself is reportedly a "salad" mix of interviews and entertainment. Mikhailova reports that Sting, Elton John and ROXETTE are other musicians scheduled to be shown on this broadcast. Although Joe did not perform at the show's taping, he was interviewed for the program.

"Olivier" is recorded a few days before New Year's Eve and also shown on January 7 (Russian Christmas).

In mid-December, Turner was summoned to appear as a member of the "jury" on "Fashion Verdict", one of Russia's most widely viewed daytime television shows, with one of the largest audience of women viewers. It's a fashion makeover show with goals that are similar to the American TV show "Style Court" and USA cable TV programs "What Not To Wear" (The Learning Channel) or "How Do I Look?" (Style network). Joe gave advice to the woman "on trial."

To view the entire show, with Joe's remarks in English, go to this location. (Note: Joe is introduced approximately 26 minutes into the show.)

Turner's recent solo tour of Russia was a huge success. He played over 15 dates, including several in Siberia. The singer states, "Siberia was an amazing mix of Chinese, Japanese and Russian fans. They loved the music so much they were singing along to many of the songs!"

Joe is humbled by his multi-dimensional celebrity status in Russia and all of Eastern Europe. He explains, "This area is like the Wild West of the East! There is so much uncharted territory and I have enjoyed every minute of playing to these loyal audiences who still appreciate pure, classic rock. Yet I still cannot wrap myself around the fact that I am considered a major celebrity here. I am just doing my job... making music, singing, giving my 'all' on tour."

The Russian infatuation with Turner probably began in the late 1980s when he played several sold out shows in Leningrad and Moscow as a member of guitarist YNGWIE MALMSTEEN'S RISING FORCE. The singer helped the guitar virtuoso reach a wider audience with the album "Odyssey" and album/video/DVD "Live In Leningrad". The Russians did not forget and later embraced Turner when he toured the country with Glenn Hughes and the HUGHES TURNER PROJECT. Many other appearances followed, including numerous solo shows and a command performance for President Dmitry Medvedev, other major government officials and Russian oil company executives at a private concert in Moscow.

Turner has many exciting projects in the works for 2011 and will announce more news in January.