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4 äåê 2019
KING DIAMOND Pays Tribute To TIMI HANSEN At Atlanta Concert: 'It Is Super F**king Sad That He's Gone'
 King Diamond has paid tribute to his former bandmate Timi Hansen.
The Danish heavy metal singer addressed Hansen's passing during the November 4 concert by his namesake band in Atlanta, Georgia.
King told the crowd at the show (see video below): "Most of you might already know that we lost Timi Hansen today — our old, old bass player from [KING DIAMOND's] 'Abigail' [album], and, before that, MERCYFUL FATE. It is super fucking sad that he's gone. He's one of my best friends. He's been my favorite bass player through the entire time I've known him. And we're gonna play this song for him tonight. And every single time that we play this song in the future is for him. 'Black Horsemen'."
Hansen died on Monday (November 4) after a long battle with cancer.
Earlier that day, King posted a message on social media expressing his sadness over his friend's passing, He wrote: "I just found out that I lost one of my dearest friends, who has been fighting cancer for a long time, in such an incredibly brave way. He was not just my roommate on the early MERCYFUL FATE tours, but he was always my favorite bass player of all times. I was fortunate to have been able to visit him at his apartment with some other good friends, and we had a great afternoon that will never be forgotten.
"When I last talked to Timi on the phone on October 24th, I could understand that things had gotten tougher than they ever were, and yet he said 'we fight on.'
"I feel so so sad for his entire family, you have my absolute deepest sympathy.
"Rest in Peace my dear dear friend."
Timi went public with his diagnosis in early August after it was announced that he wouldn't participate in MERCYFUL FATE's 2020 reunion. Filling in for him will be ARMORED SAINT and FATES WARNING bassist Joey Vera.
The 61-year-old Hansen played in MERCYFUL FATE from 1981 to 1985 and again from 1992 to 1993. He was also a member of KING DIAMOND from 1985 to 1987.
MERCYFUL FATE will reunite for an unspecified number of concerts throughout Europe during the summer of 2020, including next year's edition of the Copenhell festival, set to take place June 17-20, 2020 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
In 1998, METALLICA paid tribute to MERCYFUL FATE by recording a medley of classic MERCYFUL FATE songs on the album "Garage Inc." Titled "Mercyful Fate", the medley included parts from "Satan's Fall", "Curse of the Pharaohs", "A Corpse Without Soul", "Into the Coven" and "Evil".
Lars Ulrich of METALLICA (a fellow Dane) played drums on a new version of MERCYFUL FATE's "Return of the Vampire" on the "In the Shadows" album, which came out in 1993.  | +4 |  |
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4 äåê 2019
HEATHEN – The Evolution Of Chaos 10th Anniversary Edition Due In January
 The 1980s San Francisco Bay Area scene was a seismic moment in the world of metal and part of that moment was Heathen. The band return January 31st with the 10th Anniversary remastered reissue of ‘The Evolution of Chaos’ via Mascot Records. The release will be available on CD/DVD, 2LP and digitally with a previously unreleased bonus track ‘Seasons of Purgatory’. The CD/DVD will be accompanied by a 2 hour “Making Of” documentary on the album as well as a live performance from 2009's Thrash Domination, Japan.
When the album was originally released back in January of 2010 it was the band’s first album of new material in 18 years and saw them ride a wave of the resurgent thrash scene. The line-up consisted of vocalist David White, guitarist Lee Altus, guitarist Kragen Lum, bassist Jon Torres, and percussionist Darren Minter. The album also featured performances from a number of members of Exodus.
Altus had originally formed the band in 1984 and they released two studio albums, Breaking The Silence (1987) and Victims Of Deception (1991). Driven by the riffs and harmonic structure provided by Altus and the memorable vocals of David White, the Breaking The Silence album showcased Heathen’s signature sound, mixing aggression and melody. For Victims Of Deception they signed to Roadrunner Records and it further established Heathen’s unique identity in the thrash scene with more complex arrangements.
They were building a formidable live reputation in the US and toured Europe with contemporaries such as Sepultura and Sacred Reich and then an unexpected hiatus followed as grunge exploded. Altus was invited to join the German industrial metal band Die Krupps and, later, thrash pioneers Exodus.
“I was sorta hiding out in industrial land,” remembers Altus. “I joined Die Krupps. It was more up my alley because grunge wasn’t my thing. I couldn’t do thrash metal because no one wanted to listen to it. At that time industrial was the heavy music, I liked the heavy aggressive edge to it and I stayed there for like 8-9 years I think. I was hiding out whilst grunge would blow over.”
Talking about the time White says; “Lee came back and we toyed with the idea of trying to do something with Heathen. Metal still had not recovered from its death by grunge. Then I think it was 2000 when we were asked to reform for the Thrash of the Titans benefit concert. It was an incredible night and an amazing feat for everybody to pull together.”
Thrash Of The Titans was a benefit concert held in California for Testament’s Chuck Billy and Chuck Schuldiner of Death, who were both battling cancer. The concert featured Heathen, Death Angel, Vio-lence, Forbidden Evil and Exodus as well as appearances from Anthrax, S.O.D. and Sadus. “All of a sudden Wacken called and we hadn’t heard from them in a decade,” says Altus. ”It had come full circle and a lot of bands were reuniting.”
The Evolution Of Chaos idea all started with that Wacken show in 2002. It was supposed to be a one off, but then Altus mentioned to White he had a lot of songs, some finished, some not and that maybe it’s time to reunite and do an album. White, Altus and Torres were all on board, they just needed a guitarist.
After Heathen went on hiatus, White auditioned for guitarist Kragen Lum (Psychosis/Prototype) and although it didn’t work out he remembered the LA guitarist when Heathen reformed.
Remembering that period Altus says; “The first time I met Kragen I almost didn’t meet Kragen. We kept auditioning all these guitar players and at that time, you’d get a really good shredder but you give them rhythm and they can’t play a note. Then it would be the other way around. It got frustrating and I remember Dave saying, I’m gonna bring this guy from LA, who is a big Heathen fan and wants to come into audition. I was like, great, a guy from LA, so for sure he can’t play rhythms and probably looks like a poser. I wasn’t going to go. But I did show up and I’m so glad I did. To my surprise this guy comes in and starts playing and I was like, this is amazing.”
“He just knocked it out of the park. Everybody knew that this was the guy,” White says with a smile.
The album was released to great reviews and the band took on their biggest tour to date, including shows at Rock Hard festival in Germany as support to UFO and Thrash Domination in Japan with Testament, Exodus, and Kreator. The latter makes it on to the special bonus DVD and shows the band in their element and in full flow at Club Citta in Kawasaki.
As we sit in 2020 on the reissue of this great album, one missing part of the Heathen puzzle is bassist Jon Torres, who sadly passed away of a heart failure in 2013 at only 50 years old. Talking about him, Lum says, “he was such a great guy, and we really miss him. He embodied everything that you hear about from the Bay Area scene. He was always willing to lend a hand or piece of equipment to help people out.”
Remembering him White goes on to say; “I knew Jon since I was 21/22 and I miss him a lot, he was a very talented guy. He was an electrician and when I moved into my house, he did a lot of work for me. So, every time I look at certain things he did, it reminds me of him. I miss him dearly,” with Altus adding, “he just loved music; making it, creating it, playing it, you name it. No matter how bad things got, he was always upbeat and positive.”
To mark the 10 Year Anniversary edition, the album was remastered, and an unreleased bonus track has been added. This bonus track, “Seasons Of Purgatory”, was written by Torres. Talking about the addition, Lum says, “For the reissue there was the chance to add something to it, to do something to improve it and to give fans something new. We recorded this extra track which Jon called ‘Seasons In Purgatory’ and it ended up not really getting completed because we couldn’t find the right vocal melody. Going back we were able to complete it and add it to the album as it should be. Listening to it, it really sounds like an instrumental so that’s how we’re going present it. We’re stoked to have it on the record.”
Having had space since the album’s original release, Altus reflects on his favourite moment on it. “’A Hero’s Welcome’ is a really special song to me. I always wanted to write a song differently and lyrically. I’ve always had a soft spot for our military. Some people took it like it doesn’t sound like Heathen. If that’s what you’re saying I think you’ve missed the whole point of Heathen. We wanted to be a thrash metal band that has no boundaries. Thrash metal when it started was to break any rules, you can do whatever the hell you want. I’ve heard from younger kids that thrash should be this or that. I’m like, well show me the rules on that, who wrote the rules? It’s not like we had a meeting and decided here’s how thrash metal is going to sound. We just did it, there was no rules, and we were doing something different. That’s what attracted me to it.”
Tracklisting:
“Intro”
“Dying Season”
“Control By Chaos”
“No Stone Unturned”
“Arrows Of Agony”
“Fade Away”
“A Hero’s Welcome”
“Undone”
“Bloodkult”
“Red Tears Of Disgrace”
“Seasons In Purgatory” (Bonus Track)
“Silent Nothingness”
DVD content:
The Making Of The Evolution Of Chaos
Live In Japan 2009
Dying Season – Director’s Cut
Dying Season – HD
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4 äåê 2019
QUEEN Guitarist BRIAN MAY Recovering From Leg Surgery
 QUEEN guitarist Brian May is recovering after undergoing surgery on his leg on Monday, December 2. He checked in via his Instagram, telling his fans: "I'm done ! After a snip to my calf muscle, I'm feeling good ! The theory is that it will release the excess tension in my Achilles' tendon and get me out of a painful heel situation I've been in for many months."
He continued: "I had the problem all through our last tour of the USA — and although adrenaline got me through, my running around was severely curtailed, and there were a couple of nights when I really couldn't move at all around the stage (nobody noticed, it seems !). So now I'll be taking it easy just a bit for a while, but full recovery should be just in time for getting back out on tour in January — hopefully with a good pair of heels !
"THANKS for your good wishes, folks. No cause for alarm."
He added earlier today: "Thanks for your kind messages folks. I'm doing fine this morning — a little sore but home and ready for a relatively relaxing day. As you can see, everything still works ! Still got my Sympathy Bandage and my anti-clot sock on — but they come off tonight. There's a small band-aid underneath covering a very small incision. I actually CAN walk, but stairs are a bit of a challenge !! Onwards ! Have a good day folks !"
QUEEN is continuing to ride high on the momentum of its box-office-busting, Oscar-winning "Bohemian Rhapsody" biopic, which has introduced its music to new audiences with record-breaking results. Apart from becoming the highest-grossing music biopic of all time, in the U.K. it is also No. 1 biggest-selling film of 2019 on home release.
QUEEN's original soundtrack to the film has remained high in the U.K. album chart ever since its November 2018 debut; in the U.S., it became the band's highest-charting album in 38 years, and QUEEN sold more albums in North America than any artist in the first half of 2019. The timeless and groundbreaking "Bohemian Rhapsody' video has reached a historic one billion views on YouTube making it the most viewed music clip of the 20th Century. In addition, YouTube views of "Don't Stop Me Now" have passed the 500-million mark.
View this post on Instagram
I’m done ! After a snip to my calf muscle, I’m feeling good ! The theory is that it will release the excess tension in my Achilles’ tendon and get me out of a painful heel situation I’ve been in for many months. I had the problem all through our last tour of the USA - and although adrenaline got me through, my running around was severely curtailed, and there were a couple of nights when I really couldn’t move at all around the stage (nobody noticed, it seems ! ?). So now I’ll be taking it easy just a bit for a while, but full recovery should be just in time for getting back out on tour in January - hopefully with a good pair of heels ! THANKS for your good wishes, folks. No cause for alarm. Bri
A post shared by Brian Harold May (@brianmayforreal) on Dec 2, 2019 at 11:44am PST
View this post on Instagram
Thanks for your kind messages folks. I’m doing fine this morning - a little sore but home and ready for a relatively relaxing day. As you can see, everything still works ! Still got my Sympathy Bandage and my anti-clot sock on - but they come off tonight. There’s a small band-aid underneath covering a very small incision. I actually CAN walk, but stairs are a bit of a challenge !! Onwards ! Have a good day folks ! Bri
A post shared by Brian Harold May (@brianmayforreal) on Dec 3, 2019 at 3:35am PST
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4 äåê 2019
VIVIAN CAMPBELL: 'For So Many Decades, I Did Not Consider DIO A Credible Part Of My Legacy'
 DEF LEPPARD guitarist Vivian Campbell spoke to the Belfast Telegraph about his LAST IN LINE side project, which was formed in 2012, when he, Vinny Appice and Jimmy Bain — Ronnie James Dio's co-conspirators and co-writers on the "Holy Diver", "Last In Line" and "Sacred Heart" albums — teamed up with esteemed vocalist Andrew Freeman.
He said: "I got fired from [DIO] and that's another reason I do the LAST IN LINE thing. Because the whole way the DIO thing ended left a really bad taste in my mouth, for so many decades, I did not consider that a credible part of my legacy and it was only after Ronnie died and a lot of life experience and a lot of miles under my wheels that I could look at it in a different way and realize, that's my legacy every bit as it is Ronnie's. Which is part of why it is such a joyous experience now to be able to go back and play this music and experience it with a completely different point of view.
"But I'm trying to be as busy as possible as you get one go-around at this and I kind of feel that because I've been in and out of so many bands over the years, I've never had the chance to fully make my imprint and I'm trying to do that as much as possible."
Campbell, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2013, continued: "I feel like I've got a lot more to offer — I'll be 58 next summer but I still feel like I'm 18. My body doesn't feel like I'm 18, but my mind definitely does, and when I get up onstage and play my Les Paul, I still play like I'm 18. I still just have that energy and conviction to it and I got that from my guitar heroes, Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore, two fellow Irishmen.
"There's just something about the way we Irish play guitar," he added. "I know that's not a traditionally Irish thing — it's rock guitar and a modern invention — but we approach it very melodically and very aggressively, for whatever reason, and that's something that I've picked up from both of those guys and that I've continued with."
LAST IN LINE's debut album, "Heavy Crown", was released in February 2016, landing at No. 1 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. Initially, the release had been preceded by tragedy when Bain unexpectedly passed away at the age of 68 on January 23, 2016. LAST IN LINE, honoring what they knew would be Bain's wish to keep the band moving, brought in Phil Soussan and committed to sustained touring in support of the album, hitting festivals, headlining clubs, and sharing the stage with metal luminaries such as SAXON and MEGADETH.
LAST IN LINE's sophomore album, "II", came out this past February.
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4 äåê 2019
MÖTLEY CRÜE's VINCE NEIL Undergoes Hand Surgery
 MÖTLEY CRÜE singer Vince Neil underwent hand surgery earlier today (Wednesday, November 27) in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee.
Neil shared an Instagram photo of him wearing a hospital gown and a hair cap, along with the following caption: "Hand Surgery Today!! #vikingdisease #Dupuytrenscontracture #nashville"
Based on Vince's hashtags, it appears that he was being treated for Dupuytren's contracture in at least one of his hands.
Dupuytren's contracture prevents curled fingers from straightening, and is known as "Vikings disease" because it is disproportionately found in people of Northern European descent.
Neil's operation comes less than two weeks after CRÜE announced it had blown up the "cessation of touring" agreement the band signed on January 24, 2014, that it said prevented the members from touring after their farewell tour wrapped in 2015.
CRÜE fans who shelled out for the "farewell" tour were led to believe that the group would never return after playing its final show on December 2015 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The band touted the signing of a pre-tour agreement as cementing the fact it truly was the end of CRÜE's life on the road.
But earlier this month, the band posted a video explaining that due to the group "becoming more popular than ever" and "gaining an entirely new legion of fans" in the four years they've been off the road, the CRÜE is coming out of retirement. They will reportedly embark on a stadium tour with DEF LEPPARD and POISON in 2020, but that has yet to be officially confirmed.
View this post on Instagram
Hand Surgery Today!! #vikingdisease #Dupuytrenscontracture #nashville
A post shared by Vince Neil (@thevinceneil) on Nov 27, 2019 at 11:00am PST | 0 | |
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4 äåê 2019
GLENN HUGHES: 'I've Played With The Greatest Guitar Players. GARY MOORE Was The Jewel In The Crown'
 Vocalist and bassist Glenn Hughes, known as "The Voice Of Rock," has put Gary Moore right at the top of the pile as the greatest rock guitarist of all time. In an in-depth and wide-ranging cover story interview with Rock Candy magazine editor Howard Johnson, Hughes talks about every aspect of his 50-year-plus career, from TRAPEZE to DEEP PURPLE and on to BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION and his most recent collaboration with THE DEAD DAISIES. After working with many of rock's greatest guitar players Hughes has come to the conclusion that it was Irishman Moore — who sadly died in 2011 — who was the best of the best.
"I've played with the greatest guitar players of them all — people like Tony Iommi, Ritchie Blackmore, Joe Bonamassa, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Brian May — the list is endless," says Hughes. "But for me, Gary Moore was the jewel in the crown. To sit next to him on my couch and to see him play with those insane fingers and come up with those insane melodies, well, it was out of this world. I've sat with a lot of guitar players, but this man spoke to me directly."
Hughes and Moore collaborated in the mid-'80s when the former was going through difficult times caused by his drink and drug problems.
"What's a shame is that Gary was close to me in the '80s when I wasn't at my best," admits Hughes. "I worked with him on his 'Run For Cover' album in 1985, but he had to let me go." Harsh words were spoken at the time, but nonetheless Hughes is full of admiration for Moore, both as a player and as a man.
"Gary was Gary," he says. "When he decided he was going to do something, then he did it. He was compassionate and sensitive, but at the same time you didn't want to mess with him. But what I never, ever heard Gary say was, 'I'm so much better than that guy' or 'I'm the best'."
Read the whole of this revealing 14-page article in issue 17 of Rock Candy magazine, available in shops worldwide or direct online at this location.
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4 äåê 2019
DEMONS & WIZARDS Feat. JON SCHAFFER And HANSI KÜRSCH: 'III' Album Due In February
 DEMONS & WIZARDS, the side project of ICED EARTH mainman Jon Schaffer and BLIND GUARDIAN singer Hansi Kürsch, will release its third studio album, "III", on February 21, 2020 via Century Media Records. The LP marks the band's first collection of new material in 15 years.
Schaffer states: "I'm excited to be releasing another DEMONS & WIZARDS album after all of these years. I feel like we've put together something really special, and I'm looking forward to hearing what the fans think about it. I'm proud of this album. It's definitely a journey of epic proportions.”
Kürsch adds: "2019 is an extremely exciting year for DEMONS & WIZARDS in general. We have accomplished a lot. A lot! This third album is the peak of our career for sure. Mark my words, you will love this album!"
"III" track listing:
01. Diabolic
02. Invincible
03. Wolves In Winter
04. Final Warning
05. Timeless Spirit
06. Dark Side Of Her Majesty
07. Midas Disease
08. New Dawn
09. Universal Truth
10. Split
11. Children Of Cain
Presales for "III" will kick off December 13.
The "III" recording lineup is:
Hansi Kürsch – Lead and backing vocals
Jon Schaffer - Rhythm and lead guitars, bass guitar, 6- and 12-string acoustic guitars, mandolin, keyboards, backing vocals
Guest musicians on "III":
Brent Smedley - Drums
Jim Morris - Additional guitars, backing vocals
Jake Dreyer - Additional guitars
Ruben Drake - Bass
Thomas Hackman, Olaf Senkbeil, John Jaycee Cuipers, Zakery Alexander, Jeff Brant, Todd Plant, Jerome Mazza - Backing vocals
PA'dam chamber choir - Classical choir
Kürsch told Heavy New York about "III": "It will stand out completely. It's 14 years [since the last album] and you can feel that. And we're not even intending to go back and do something which will build on what we did in the past. Still, the roots are there. It's the definition of Jon and me. This cannot be denied, not one single second on this album. But it has a very intense, modern, new feeling to it. It goes away from what we've done in the past."
Added Jon: "Like he said, it's very honest. It's us. There's no question about who it is, but we've grown as individuals and as artists. I think you can hear that. There's a lot of big, huge dynamic range on this album, and it's going to take people on a journey, man. For sure."
During a press conference at this year's Hellfest, Jon stated about the songwriting process for "III": "At the end of [ICED EARTH's] 'Incorruptible' album cycle, I went out to the mountains in Arizona and hiked for a month and spent one week with my [ICED EARTH] bandmates, because we were going on hiatus. So the five of us went out into the desert and stayed together, and then I stayed three weeks by myself and got an enormous amount of power from that and energy from just staying away from the music business and not talking to management. I talked to Hansi about twice, and other than that, I was completely disconnected from everybody, and it was a really great thing. So when I got back to songwriting, it was, like, 'Boom!' Everything went really fast, and I knew there was really, really strong material, and it's good. And the arrangements came, and everything came, and I started sending Hansi stuff. I knew, from an instrumental standpoint, that this is some of the best material I've ever written. And then when he added his stuff on top, it was, like, 'Okay, we have something really special for the people.' And at the end of the day, I actually don't care if you guys love it, because I do, and [Hansi] does. And that sounds harsh, but that's art, and it's honest — it's actually honest. And it's real, and it is actually some of the best material I've written in my entire life, from my standpoint, and what [Hansi has] done, it's killer. And people are gonna be shocked, I think — very pleasantly shocked — by what's coming, honestly."
DEMONS & WIZARDS recently released remastered versions of its first two albums on all digital platforms. Remastered by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (ICED EARTH, QUEENSRŸCHE, SANCTUARY), "Demons & Wizards" (2000) and "Touched By The Crimson King" (2005) were also released as expanded deluxe editions in June. The expanded editions feature liner notes by Kürsch and Schaffer as well as bonus material and were released as a limited-edition digipak, deluxe 2LP with etching and LP booklet as well as digital deluxe editions.
Photo credit: Dirk Behlau
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4 äåê 2019
ANTHRAX Joins Forces With PUCK HCKY For Hockey-Inspired Clothing Line
 ANTHRAX has announced a new alliance with Puck Hcky, the Michigan-based, premium hockey apparel brand. Beginning immediately, Puck Hcky is making available a series of high-quality, small batch hockey jerseys and streetwear that pull visual inspiration from the band's rich catalog of album, EP, single, and t-shirt artwork, including ANTHRAX's instantly-recognizable logo and its longtime mascot, "Not-Man." You can check it all out on the Puck Hcky web site.
"We're huge fans of ANTHRAX so we reached out to their manager to propose a collaboration celebrating this iconic group that reflects our other passion, hockey," said Matt Marini, Puck Hcky's CEO. "We worked closely with the band's Scott Ian, as well as Charlie Benante, who is personally involved with all of ANTHRAX's visual imaging, to fashion five-star, hockey-themed merchandise for its fans. One of our collaborating artists, Jon Gregory (of Garbage Pail Kids artwork fame), created a sick goalie mask design incorporating instantly recognizable ANTHRAX visuals."
For this series of ANTHRAX jerseys, Puck Hcky started with its pro-weight hockey jerseys, incorporating four different ANTHRAX designs, and finished them with customized detailing, such as embroidered patches and custom-made logo hem tags. Currently, there are hockey jerseys, hoodies, flannels, 3/4 sleeve raglan baseball shirts, and t-shirts featuring four different ANTHRAX designs available on Puck Hcky's web site, with plans to introduce additional designs and apparel.
"On behalf of ANTHRAX," said Benante, "I can honestly say that we are so excited to be joining forces with Puck Hcky. The clothing is next level, and the designs are a sports and music fans' dream."
ANTHRAX is continuing to tour in support of its latest album, "For All Kings", which was released in February 2016. A follow-up effort is expected in 2020. | +1 | |
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4 äåê 2019
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS Unveil 'Perdida' Album Details, Announce North American Acoustic Tour
 STONE TEMPLE PILOTS embark upon a new sonic adventure with "Perdida", the band's first-ever acoustic album. It includes 10 deeply personal songs that weave introspective lyrics together with unexpected instruments to take listeners on an emotional and musical journey through letting go and starting over.
"You have to live it to write it," says guitarist Dean DeLeo. "And this record is a reflection of where we've been recently."
Bassist Robert DeLeo says "Perdida" (Spanish for 'loss') shows how music has helped them process grief, search for meaning and, ultimately, create something beautiful from the pain. "When I've gone through things in my life, I've found that sitting down and having an honest conversation with my guitar is the best therapy."
"Recording an acoustic album like 'Perdida' is something the band has wanted to do for many years," says drummer Eric Kretz. "We performed on 'MTV Unplugged' in 1993, and we usually play acoustic mini-sets on tour, so when Robert and Dean started playing their new songs for us during our tour last year, we knew right away they would be perfect for an acoustic album."
Writing lyrics for an introspective album like "Perdida" meant exposing himself like never before, says singer Jeff Gutt, who joined the band in 2017. "It's an emotionally honest album and I needed to approach it that way for these songs to resonate. I had to let myself be as vulnerable writing the lyrics as Dean and Robert were writing the music."
To record "Perdida", the quartet assembled at Kretz's Bomb Shelter Studios in February. The key to making the album, Dean explains, was finding a way to say more with less. "Everything you hear serves a purpose, from the space in the arrangements to the different instruments. We only added things that served the songs."
As a result, there are instruments on "Perdida" that you don't normally hear on an STP record, like flute ("I Didn't Know The Time") alto saxophone ("Years") guitarrón ("Miles Away") and enough vintage keyboards to make Rick Wakeman jealous. "We've done similar things before — like the trumpet solo on 'Adhesive' from 'Tiny Music' — but never on such a large scale," Robert says. "Working with other musicians on this album was such a joy because it gave us a rare opportunity to hear our songs through someone else's ears."
That approach shines on the title track, where a nylon-string guitar takes the lead as keyboard, violin, viola and cello ebb and flow behind Gutt's soaring vocal on the chorus: "Oh perdida come and go/Stay with me tonight/But in the morning please be gone."
"She's My Queen" is another highpoint on the band's sonic adventure. Built around an Indian drone and carried along by a gently pulsing beat, the song casts a hypnotic spell that's punctuated by background singers, flute and Marxophone — a special kind of hammered dulcimer from the 1920s.
The songs that open and close "Perdida" — "Fare Thee Well" and "Sunburst", respectively — are fitting bookends, Gutt says. "They really capture the emotional journey that takes place on this album. It starts with saying goodbye on 'Fare Thee Well' and ends with a new beginning on 'Sunburst'. It's a melancholy record, but it ends on a hopeful note."
As it happens, those two tracks also spotlight facets of the DeLeo brothers' distinctive songwriting voices. "Fare Thee Well" by Robert pulls you in from the first strum of the guitar and has you singing along after one listen. In Dean's "Sunburst", the melody unfolds gradually, rising and falling multiple times before building to a cathartic guitar-fueled crescendo.
"Perdida" track listing
01. Fare Thee Well
02. Three Wishes
03. Perdida
04. I Didn't Know The Time
05. Years
06. She's My Queen
07. Miles Away
08. You Found Yourself While Losing Your Heart
09. I Once Sat At Your Table
10. Sunburst
In addition to the album, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS will also launch an acoustic tour in early 2020.
"Some songs are obvious candidates for an acoustic performance," Dean says. "What will be really interesting are the unexpected choices, where we reimagine a familiar song and present in a totally different light."
Kretz says the band is looking forward to not only performing the new songs, but also pulling songs from previous albums into the setlist. "We'll finally get a chance to play songs from our catalog that we've never played live, or in some cases, haven't played live in more than 20 years."
"We've talked about doing this kind of tour for years, and now it's finally happening," Robert explains. "We're excited because it's not only a chance for us to celebrate our new album in a special way, but also everything that's brought us to this moment."
"An Evening With Stone Temple Pilots" tour dates:
Feb. 05 - Vancouver, B.C. @ Commodore Ballroom
Feb. 07 - Snoqualmie, WA @ Snoqualmie Casino
Feb. 08 - Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
Feb. 09 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
Feb. 12 - San Francisco, CA @ Herbst Theatre
Feb. 13 - Beverly Hills, CA @ Saban Theater
Feb. 15 - Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
Feb. 17 - Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater
Feb. 19 - Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom
Feb. 21 - Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit
Feb. 22 - Covington, KY @ Madison Theater
Feb. 25 - New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre
Feb. 27 - Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
Feb. 29 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Tropicana
Mar. 01 - Boston, MA @ The Wilbur Theatre
Photo credit: PR Brown | +3 | |
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4 äåê 2019
CURRENTS Release Video For New Single "Poverty Of Self"
 Connecticut metal band Currents have released a brand new music video for "Poverty Of Self". The band will release their second studio album in Spring 2020.
Comments vocalist Brian Willie,"'Poverty Of Self' is a stab at predatory enterprises taking advantage of the sick and broken for profit; driving further division in our already fractured world.”
Catch Currents live on stage at the following shows:
December
11 - Asbury Park, NJ - House Of Independents
12 - Buffalo, NY - Mohawk's Place
13 - Amityville, NY - Amityville Music Hall
14 - Hartford, CT - Webster Underground
For further details, visit Currents on Facebook.
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4 äåê 2019
PORN To Release Final Act Of Their Concept Trilogy, No Monsters In God's Eyes - Act III In March 2020
 In 2017, Porn released its third album: The Ogre Inside - Act I, the first act of a trilogy based on the enigmatic character Mr Strangler. In 2019, the band released the second act of its trilogy: The Darkest Of Human Desires – Act II. On March 27, 2020, Porn returns with the final act: No Monsters In God's Eyes – Act III.
The Ogre Inside is an album about inner struggle, about dark desires, and how society can oppress your will. This is a fight no one can win, the Ogre that devours you from the inside always wins. The album is an invocation, a way to set the Ogre free, embrace your ”true self" and allow your darkest desires to express themselves. It's an incitement to act. The Ogre Inside won this inner struggle, giving birth to Mr Strangler.
In the second opus, Mr Strangler, by embracing his "true self," expresses his dark impulses without limitations and has no boundaries. With his crew, Mr Strangler commits murders and massacres. He also invites everyone to make a step forward and act, invites you to express your darkest desires and join his death cult. For Mr Strangler and his team, the Ogre was released. They let the darkest of human desires be: murder.
In this last part, Mr Strangler's bloody odyssey comes to an end. He is in jail awaiting execution. This final Act is his testament. Faced with the imminent end of his life, he takes stock of his life and begins a dialogue with his death and enjoins everyone to continue his work... the work of God, because if God exists everything is his. And even the worst monsters are the children of God. There is no monsters in God's eyes.
After collaborating with Tom Baker (responsible for the masterings of legendary albums like Marilyn Manson's Antichrist Superstar, NIN's Downward Spiral, Ministry's Psalm 69, and Rob Zombie's Hellbilly Deluxe), Porn gave Brian Lucey (Magic Garden Studio in Los Angeles) the task of mastering this album. Lucey previously worked with Ghost, Marilyn Manson, Arctic Monkeys, Royal Blood and more.
Porn formed when psychology and sociology student Philippe Deschemin aka Mr Strangler decided to start a band. Named after the Pornography album by The Cure and influenced by bands like Type O Negative, Nine Inch Nails, Tool, Killing Joke... and legendary acts like David Bowie, Alice Cooper, and Pink Floyd. His mission was to create dark, sexy and dangerous music, "Something like a beautiful, tasty fruit with a razor blade inside called Murder Rock."
No Monsters In God's Eyes – Act III artwork and tracklisting:
"Dead In Every Eyes"
"High Summer Sun – Part 1"
"A Lovely Day"
"Low Winter Hope – Part 1"
"In An Endless Dream"
"Low Winter Hope – Part 2"
"Sky Outside"
"High Summer Sun – Part 2"
"Some Happy Moments"
"God's Creatures"
"Low Winter Hope – Part 3"
"Among Dark Red Roses"
"Mr Strangler's Last Words"
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4 äåê 2019
JEFF PILSON, ROBIN MCAULEY, REB BEACH And MATT STARR Join Forces In BLACK SWAN
 Bassist Jeff Pilson (DOKKEN, FOREIGNER), vocalist Robin McAuley (MCAULEY SCHENKER GROUP, SURVIVOR), guitarist Reb Beach (WINGER, WHITESNAKE) and drummer Matt Starr (MR. BIG, ACE FREHLEY) have joined forces in a new project called
BLACK SWAN. The outfit's debut single and video will be released on Tuesday, December 10. A full-length album will follow in early 2020 via Frontiers Music Srl.
Speaking to Rock Titan, Starr stated about how his involvement in the project came about: "[In early 2019], Jeff reached out and said, 'hey, I've got this new thing with Robin McAuley and Reb Beach, and I wanted to see if you'd be interested in talking about playing drums.' And I said, 'Yeah. Of course.' I know all those guys — [they're] super talented. They have a record, and the record was done and they needed to put some drums on it. So they had asked me, and I checked out the music and it was very cool. I said yes, and then, three days later, I was up at Jeff's place and we were cutting drum tracks. We spent four days, three and a half days recording 12 songs. And it's awesome… And it's really, really, really good. Everybody says that about whatever they're working on, but we were all, like, 'Holy shit! This is awesome.'"
The drummer, who has played with a number of high-profile acts in the past, said that he is an official member of the new project, "which is great. And I think that's kind of the first time for me, because I'm always coming into situations where I'm the hired guy," he said. "And look, there's advantages to that too — you negotiate your rate and then the tour can do whatever it does and you don't have to worry about it. So there's pluses and minuses to all that. But, yeah, I'm a member of this band. And I think everybody's pretty excited to get out there and play. Just how and when we can do that, we'll have to wait and see."
Back in February, Pilson officially confirmed the project's existence, saying that the album was "turning out amazing. Wait until you hear everybody's playing and singing. It's beyond — way beyond," he promised.
Pilson — one-fourth of the classic DOKKEN lineup — joined FOREIGNER in 2004. In recent years, he has also produced albums by LAST IN LINE, KILL DEVIL HILL, STARSHIP and WARRANT.
Beach — who was among the artists recently interviewed for Guitar World's February 2019 cover story on the "last days of hair metal" — is an original member of WINGER. He joined WHITESNAKE in 2002. Notably, he also performed on one DOKKEN album alongside Pilson, 1999's "Erase The Slate".
Irish vocalist McAuley is best-known for fronting MCAULEY SCHENKER GROUP from 1986 to 1993. Alongside Graham Bonnet and Gary Barden, he has toured with MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST in recent years and also appears on "Resurrection", the group's 2018 album.
Starr — who joined Ace Frehley's band in 2012 and continues to perform with him periodically — began touring with MR. BIG in 2014 and appears on the group's latest album, 2017's "Defying Gravity". He has also toured and/or recorded with HOOKERS & BLOW, BEAUTIFUL CREATURES and BURNING RAIN, among others. | +3 | |
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4 äåê 2019
Video Premiere: AGNOSTIC FRONT's 'Conquer And Divide'
 "Conquer And Divide", the new video from New York hardcore pioneers AGNOSTIC FRONT, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's 12th studio album, "Get Loud!", which was released last month through Nuclear Blast. The clip was was directed by Punchdance Studios, which was also responsible for the video for "I Remember".
Frontman Roger Miret comments: "That's it, nothing new. The rich stay rich, the poor stay poor, but we've lost sight of how we are pawned against each other for political gains as we fight to simply exist."
Miret previously stated about "Get Loud!": "So excited for everyone to hear our new record. I really love the songs and it feels like a great mixture of what we have done our whole career! We put 100% into this from top to bottom! Everyone involved from start to finished just killed it! See you in the pit to celebrate these songs soon!"
"Get Loud!" was produced by Miret, while longtime friend Paul Miner handled the recording, mixing and mastering of the record at Buzzbomb Studio in Orange, California. For the artwork, the band returned to 1986's "Cause For Alarm" artist Sean Taggart. It features the iconic "Cause For Alarm" characters combined with a modern freshness.
"Get Loud!" consists of 13 tracks that are nothing short of classic, homegrown, New York hardcore, but still include some thrashy and punky variety.
"Get Loud!" track listing:
01. Spray Painted Walls
02. Anti Social
03. Get Loud!
04. Conquer And Divide
05. I Remember
06. Dead Silence
07. AF Stomp
08. Urban Decay
09. Snitches Get Stitches
10. Isolated
11. In My Blood
12. Attention
13. Pull The Trigger | +4 | |
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4 äåê 2019
SLIPKNOT, SOUNDGARDEN, ANTHRAX, EXODUS, STEEL PANTHER Members Among Guests On BRIAN POSEHN's 'Grandpa Metal' Album
 Comedian/actor/ writer Brian Posehn will release his new comedy/metal album, "Grandpa Metal", on February 14, 2020 via Megaforce Records.
Produced, engineered and mixed by Jay Ruston (ANTHRAX, STEEL PANTHER), the disc features guest appearances from some of metal's finest, including Brendon Small (DETHKLOK), Scott Ian and Jonathan Donais (ANTHRAX), Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR), Gary Holt (SLAYER, EXODUS), Jeff Pilson (DOKKEN, FOREIGNER), Alex Skolnick and Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT), singer/songwriter/comedian Al Yankovic, Pearl Aday, Johan Hegg (AMON AMARTH), Joe Trohman and Patrick Stump (FALL OUT BOY, THE DAMNED THINGS), Michael Starr (STEEL PANTHER), Jacob Bunton (MARS ELECTRIC), Rob and Aiden Cavestany (DEATH ANGEL), Steve "Zetro" Souza (EXODUS), Kim Thayil (SOUNDGARDEN), Phil Demmel (MACHINE HEAD), Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (GUNS N' ROSES, ASIA), and the late Jill Janus (HUNTRESS).
The idea for "Grandpa Metal" is a perfect aggregate of Posehn's love of comedy and metal. "The original concept for this album came from bands like SCATTERBRAIN and S.O.D., and even Cheech and Chong," said Posehn. "They all made music that was fun and funny, heavy music that also made you laugh. I wanted this to be the ultimate comedy/metal record, a loving record that made fun of some of the things in heavy metal, so I called all my friends and asked for a bunch of favors. There's a Satan song, and there's a Viking song, there's one song that sounds like black metal, and then there's one that sounds like a VAN HALEN party song. The intention was just to make a funny metal/comedy record for people who like both of those things."
"Grandpa Metal" also presented the opportunity for Posehn to once again collaborate with longtime pal Ian. The two of them had co-written and recorded the track "Metal By Numbers" that appeared on Posehn's 2006 album "Live In: Nerd Rage", and for 2010's "Fart And Wiener Jokes", "More Metal Than You". While Posehn and Ian wrote or co-wrote most of "Grandpa Metal"'s 14 songs, two covers were recorded: 2013's dance novelty song "The Fox, What The Fox Say" by Norwegian comedy duo YLVIS, that was a Top 10 Billboard single and that year's top trending YouTube video that accumulated more than 890 million views, and "Take On Me", A-HA's 1985 classic synth-pop hit whose innovative music video has just passed onembillion views.
"I honestly feel that every good song would be better if it were heavy metal," said Posehn, "and I think I proved my case with 'Take On Me'. It's such a catchy song, it's so cool, but I always thought if it had three guitars instead of a keyboard, it would be even cooler."
Posehn worked on lyrics with Ian as well as Small and Trohman, who helped Posehn finish the album. "Brendon helped with 'New Music Sucks', and Joe helped me get through writer's block on the lyrics for 'Grandpa Metal'," Brian said. "When we needed to write two more songs to complete the album, Scott was out with ANTHRAX, so Brendon and Joe and I whipped out our horror-themed song 'Monster Mosh' and our big, dumb innuendo-filled hard rock song 'Big Fat Rock', and we were finished.
"This was such a dream project for me," said Posehn. "I wanted to take my time, I wanted it to be perfect, so it took us six years to complete. It's the 'Chinese Democracy' of comedy-metal records. And it didn't cost thirteen million dollars to make."
Posehn has appeared in several films, including Rob Zombie's "The Devil's Rejects", starred in Comedy Central's "The Sarah Silverman Program", had a recurring role on the Emmy-winning TV series "The Big Bang Theory", has written 45 issues of Marvel Comics' "Deadpool" series, was an executive producer for the Netflix comedy sketch series "W/ Bob & David", and was most recently seen on "The Mandalorian" on Disney Plus.
Photo credit: Seth Olenick | +2 | |
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4 äåê 2019
UNEARTH Releases Music Video For 'Sidewinder'
 UNEARTH has released the official music video for the song "Sidewinder", taken from the band's "Extinction(s)" album, which came out in November 2018.
For its seventh release and Century Media debut, the band worked with Will Putney (EVERY TIME I DIE, BODY COUNT, GOJIRA, THY ART IS MURDER, SILENT PLANET) at Graphic Nature Studios. Additionally, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's Adam Dutkiewicz recorded drums for the effort.
Frontman Trevor Phipps told Distorted Sound about "Extinction(s)": "It sounds like us but we've definitely taken things to a different level. There's some songs on there that dig more back into our roots, where the band came from. There's also some new directions in there as well. It was four years between records for us, so we had a lot of material. We had 24 songs ready to go and we cut those down to 14 then to the best 10. I think this is our strongest record to date. Time will tell whether that's the truth, but we all feel really good about this record. It's heavy, it's dynamic and I think the songs will translate to a live setting very well too. That was a big thing for us. We wanted to write a record where we could play the entire thing live. Our last record, 'Watchers Of Rule', that was more, not prog metal but the most progressive of our catalog, and those songs didn't really translate into our live show as some of the earlier stuff. We definitely take pride in our live performance and interaction with the crowd, high energy, so we had that in mind when writing this record."
Regarding how the members of UNEARTH continue to push themselves creatively, Trevor said: "With the four-year break between records, we did our fair share of touring around the world. I think right now, it's a really good time for music, especially metal and hardcore. It really inspired us to become fans of music again. I don't want to say we got complacent, but we definitely relied on where our roots were from and what we grew up listening to. There is so much great music out there now that we all got fully inspired again, and I think that's where the energy for this album came from. We just became big fans again of what is going on right now, and not just yesterday. We've been doing this for a long time and you have to stay hungry if you wanna stick around. We've seen a lot of our peers come and go over the years and we are still standing. We are determined to go further and further."
UNEARTH will head to Europe in February with support from PRONG and DUST BOLT. | +3 | |
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4 äåê 2019
LINKIN PARK's MIKE SHINODA Releases 'Fine' Music Video
 LINKIN PARK's Mike Shinoda has released the official music video for his new single, "Fine". The song is featured on the soundtrack of the film "The Blackout" which was released across Russia on November 21 and in Germany, Austria, and the Baltic States on November 28.
Shinoda announced the "Fine" release on social media, sharing some of the song's lyrics on Instagram: "Tell all the children to lock those doors / I've seen the smoke in the sky before / Gotta be up on my feet / When the morning comes / 'Cause this fight you can't ignore / Everything is gonna be fine."
Mike's full-length solo album called "Post Traumatic", came out last year. Some of the disc was inspired by the death more than two years ago of LINKIN PARK singer Chester Bennington. The latter was found dead in his Los Angeles-area home on July 20, 2017 after hanging himself. LINKIN PARK headlined an all-star tribute concert for Bennington in October 2017 in Los Angeles but has not announced any future plans for recording or touring. | +1 | |
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3 äåê 2019
DEEP PURPLE Completes New Album, Announces U.K. Tour With BLUE ÖYSTER CULT
 DEEP PURPLE is heading back to the U.K. to tour arenas in 2020 with special guests BLUE ÖYSTER CULT. The tour starts at the Manchester Arena on October 2, 2020, and hits London The O2 on October 3, Glasgow The SSE Hydro on October 5, Leeds First direct Arena on October 6 and ending at Arena Birmingham on October 8. Tickets on sale on Friday, December 6 at 10 a.m. from www.aegpresents.co.uk.
The announcement of the live shows coincides with news on DEEP PURPLE's social media, with Ian Gillan confirming that they have completed the recording of a brand new studio album to be released in 2020, with further details to follow.
Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Steve Morse and Don Airey, Mark VIII of the band, continue to travel the scope of hard rock — the textures and nuances of recent works are anything but thudding retreads. If you set a random play setting for the band's entire catalog, the result is one of the finest musical outputs to grace rock music.
Paice said: "As always, playing in your home country is special and exciting and touring with the 'CULT' ensures it's going to be a great run of gigs."
Gillan said: "It is fantastic to be playing some home shows again… The band is cranking and full of it. Plus there will be a couple or three new songs. Dunno how we're going to squeeze it all in, but we always manage somehow. Can't wait to blow your socks off."
BÖC's Eric Bloom said: "I am personally thrilled to be playing with DEEP PURPLE again. As a fan of their music, I'll be sure to stay and watch their show nightly. Such a deep catalog of great classic songs plus great musicianship and singing. Great guys too. Looking forward to it."
BÖC's Buck Dharma said: "BÖC is excited to return to the U.K. and support DEEP PURPLE, a band we've always admired and who has inspired BÖC to rock since the beginning."
For over four decades, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT has been thrilling fans of intelligent hard rock worldwide with powerful albums loaded with classic songs. Indeed, the Long Island, New York based band is revered within the hard rock and heavy metal scene for its pioneering work. BLUE ÖYSTER CULT occupies a unique place in rock history because it's one of very few hard rock/heavy metal bands to earn both genuine mainstream critical acclaim as well as commercial success.
The band is often cited as a major influence by other acts such as METALLICA, and BÖC was listed in VH1's countdown of the greatest hard rock bands of all time.
The intense creative vision of BÖC's original core duo of vocalist/lead guitarist Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser, and vocalist/rhythm guitarist Eric Bloom are complemented by Richie Castellano on guitar and keyboards, and the longtime rhythm section of bass guitarist Danny Miranda, and drummer Jules Radino.
The latter-year DEEP PURPLE has moved progressively into new areas, piquing fans' interest who were not born when the mighty PURPLE machine ruled the music world's money trees. Their holy grail of "In Rock" (1970) "Machine Head" (1972) and "Made In Japan" (1973) catapulted DEEP PURPLE to the top in concert grosses and album sales around the world, with track "Smoke On The Water" ascending to mega-status.
Having amassed so many songs that get coined under the "classic" moniker, setlists have been a never-ending debate among diehards and newer fans especially with the albums "Now What?!" and their last studio album, "Infinite".
DEEP PURPLE with special guests BLUE ÖYSTER CULT:
October 02 - Manchester Arena
October 03 - London The O2
October 05 - Glasgow The SSE Hydro
October 06 - Leeds First Direct Arena
October 08 - Arena Birmingham
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3 äåê 2019
BRET MICHAELS On POISON's Tour With MÖTLEY CRÜE and DEF LEPPARD: 'That Is The Rumor'
 Bret Michaels has addressed rumors that POISON will will hit the road next year for a U.S. tour with fellow hard rock acts MÖTLEY CRÜE and DEF LEPPARD. Sources recently told Rolling Stone magazine that the three acts will perform at stadiums around the country.
While being interviewed by Fox11 last week (see video below), Michaels would not confirm reports that POISON was planning to tour with MÖTLEY CRÜE and DEF LEPPARD, choosing only to smile and say "That is the rumor" when confronted with the Rolling Stone report.
Fueling speculation that an official announcement regarding the tour is imminent, POISON's web site now features a countdown clock that is scheduled to hit zero on Wednesday (December 4) at 1:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. ET.
Michaels has repeatedly stated in recent interviews that POISON will return to the road in 2020 and he claimed he was "working real hard" to put together an "incredible" and "really awesome" package tour with other acts.
Two weeks ago, MÖTLEY CRÜE announced that it was coming out of retirement, nearly four years after playing what was billed as the band's final concert at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
CRÜE fans who shelled out for the band's 2014/2015 "farewell" tour were led to believe that the group would never return after completing the trek. The band touted the signing of a pre-tour "cessation of touring" agreement as cementing the fact it truly was the end of CRÜE's life on the road.
In 2018, POISON completed the "Nothin' But A Good Time" tour with CHEAP TRICK and POP EVIL.
POISON's last album of new material was 2002's "Hollyweird". An album of covers, "Poison'd", followed in 2007. | 0 | |
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3 äåê 2019
DAVE MUSTAINE Says MEGADETH Hopes To Release At Least Two New Songs Prior To Start Of European Tour
 MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has told Rolling Stone that the band will release at least two new songs prior to embarking on a European tour with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH in January. "All we need to do is get in the studio and capture them," he said. "We've got scratch drum tracks. We just have to get Dirk [Verbeuren, drums] to play through the songs once or twice and then it's up to me and David [Ellefson, bass] and Kiko [Loureiro, lead guitar] to finish."
Regarding the musical direction of the new MEGADETH material, Mustaine said that "The Dogs Of Chernobyl" has a feel similar to 2016's "Dystopia" albim, while he said "Faster Than Anything Else" and "Rattlehead, Part Two" — both of which only have working titles at this point — speak for themselves.
According to Mustaine, Ellefson has contributed a ballad at the frontman's urging that will feature the bassist's lead vocals for the first time. "I said to him, 'What was the biggest song that KISS ever had?'" Mustaine said. "He goes, 'Beth'. I said, 'Yeah, we should write a song like 'Beth', where it's a ballad and it’s just you singing it. I think you should write a song about what it's like being in MEGADETH with me, because I read all your lyrics, and I know that your lyrics are aimed at me. You're upset. So why don't you write about it?'"
He added: "I'm going to try to work on it now for this record, and if it doesn't get on this record, I'm going to try to work on it on the next record. Because it was actually really cool to see Ellefson writing something and hear him singing."
The early sessions for MEGADETH's 16th studio album took place in Franklin, Tennessee with co-producer Chris Rakestraw, who previously worked on "Dystopia".
Mustaine has spent the last few months receiving treatment for throat cancert with which he was diagnosed in May.
MEGADETH's next LP will be the first to feature Verbeuren (ex-SOILWORK), who joined the band more than three years ago.
Kiko made his recording debut with MEGADETH on "Dystopia", whose title track was honored in the "Best Metal Performance" category at the 2017 Grammy Awards.
Mustaine and Ellefson are the two remaining original members of MEGADETH, which was formed in 1983, following Mustaine's dismissal from METALLICA.
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3 äåê 2019
GARY HOLT: I Am 'Forever Honored To Have Been A Part Of' SLAYER
 Gary Holt says that he is "forever honored to have been a part of" SLAYER.
The guitarist, who is also a member of San Francisco Bay Area thrash icons EXODUS, has been the touring axeman for SLAYER since January 2011 when Jeff Hanneman contracted necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease, from a spider bite in his backyard. The infection ravaged the flesh and tissues of Hanneman's arm, leading to numerous surgeries, skin grafts and intense periods of rehab that forced him into semi-retirement and left him near death at several points.
Hanneman eventually died in May 2013 from alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver. He is credited for writing many of SLAYER's classic songs, including "Angel Of Death" and "South Of Heaven".
SLAYER played its last-ever concert at The Forum in Inglewood, California on Saturday night (November 30) during the second of two last tour dates dubbed "The Final Campaign". The next day, Gary took to his Instagram to thank the rest of SLAYER, their crew and the band's fans for supporting him while he trekked around the world with the legendary thrash metal act and promising to "destroy the world" with EXODUS's next album.
"Now that the final show has come and gone, I just want to send a heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported me stepping into this monster called SLAYER," he wrote in part. "[Saturday] night was a whirlwind of emotions for all four of us. I want to thank [Tom Araya], [Paul Bostaph] and Kerry Fucking King. I will miss so much more than just sharing a stage with you guys. I'll miss the jokes, the penalty shots for our onstage fuck ups, the philosophical discussions, the fart jokes, the millions of laughs, the songs, the bus ride movies and more shots. MASSIVE love to all three of you.
"And to the SLAYER fans, thanks for making me feel welcome, it’s been a special and magnificent metal journey. Three epidurals, seven cortisone injections, trigger point injections, all to keep me in raging mode. Worth every second of the pain. Forever honored to have been a part of this band. But I never wanted this. Jeff should have been there. I just held down the fort for him.
"And all my boys in EXODUS, you are my family, and this wayward son is coming home! New EXODUS is a world destroyer. See you in Europe in February!"
Holt did not contribute to the songwriting process on SLAYER's latest album, 2015's "Repentless", although he did lay down guitar solos on most of the album's twelve tracks.
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3 äåê 2019
CREAM: 'Goodbye Tour – Live 1968' 4CD Live Box Set To Be Released In February
 UMe has announced the four-CD, special edition of CREAM's "Goodbye Tour Live 1968". Set for release on February 7, 2020, this sumptuous set brings together 36 tracks, including 29 making their first appearance on CD, recorded during CREAM's farewell tour of the U.S. in October 1968 and their final U.K. date at London's Royal Albert Hall on November 26th of that same year. There are a total of 19 previously unreleased tracks, and a further 10 tracks from the Royal Albert Hall show, which have only ever been available on DVD. Rolling Stone magazine's David Fricke supplies insightful liner notes, chronicling the group's collective musical genius and their legendary final tour.
For all pre-orders, there will be free downloads made available starting today with "Sunshine Of Your Love" (Live At Oakland Coliseum Arena, California / 1968), followed by "Crossroads" (Live At The San Diego Sports Arena / 1968) on January 13, 2020.
On its original release in February 1969, "Goodbye", which combined live performances from their last tour dates with a handful of studio recordings, rose to the U.K. No. 1 slot and to No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard chart. This new expanded edition comprises three U.S. concerts; Oakland Coliseum, Los Angeles Forum, San Diego Sports Arena alongside London's Royal Albert Hall. It captures CREAM at their virtuosic best, at the end but also at the height of their career.
With CREAM, Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton, set the template for not only the "supergroup" but also the "power trio," with their innate musical talent and brilliance. Only coming together as CREAM in July 1966, they shone briefly but blindingly brightly throughout two trailblazing years.
Clapton said: "CREAM was a shambling circus of diverse personalities who happened to find that catalyst together… any one of us could have played unaccompanied for a good length of time. So you put the three of us together in front of an audience willing to dig it limitlessly, we could have gone on forever… And we did…. just going for the moon every time we played."
Disc One: October 4, 1968 - Oakland Coliseum, Oakland (all tracks previously unreleased, except *)
01. White Room 6.19*
02. Politician 5.22*
03. Crossroads 3.57
04. Sunshine Of Your Love 5.35
05. Spoonful 16.47
06. Deserted Cities Of The Heart 5.26*
07. Passing The Time 10.40
08. I'm So Glad 7.07
Disc Two: October 19, 1968 - Los Angeles Forum, Los Angeles (all tracks previously unreleased except *)
01. Introduction by Buddy Miles 1:39
02. White Room 6.53
03. Politician 6.41*
04. I'm So Glad 9.37*
05. Sitting On Top Of The World 4.53*
06. Crossroads 4.25
07. Sunshine Of Your Love 6.27
08. Traintime 8.11
09. Toad 12.55
10. Spoonful 17.27*
Disc Three: October 20, 1968 - San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego (all tracks previously unreleased)
01. White Room 6.42
02. Politician 6.26
03. I'm So Glad 7.53
04. Sitting On Top Of The World 5.45
05. Sunshine Of Your Love 5.13
06. Crossroads 4.13
07. Traintime 9.39
08. Toad 14.03
09. Spoonful 9.12
The Oakland Coliseum, Los Angeles Forum and San Diego Sports Arena concerts were mastered from the original 1968 analog mix reels by Kevin Reeves at Universal Mastering, Nashville, Tennessee.
Disc Four: CREAM Farewell Concert November 26, 1968 - Royal Albert Hall, London (all tracks first-time release on CD)
01. White Room 8.02
02. Politician 6.37
03. I'm So Glad 6.53
04. Sitting On Top Of The World 5.06
05. Crossroads 5.03
06. Toad 11.22
07. Spoonful 15.47
08. Sunshine Of Your Love 8.37
09. Steppin' Out 5.02
The Royal Albert Hall concert was mastered from the original 1968 analog transfer reels by Jason NeSmith at Chase Park Transduction, Athens, Georgia. | +2 | |
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3 äåê 2019
There Is 'Not A Chance In Hell' SLAYER Will Ever Reunite, Says KERRY KING's Wife
 Ayesha King, wife of SLAYER guitarist Kerry King, says that there is "not a chance in hell" that the thrash metal icons will reunite for more shows following the completion of their farewell tour.
Ayesha made her comments in response to fan inquiries on Instagram about a possible SLAYER comeback, one day after the band played its final show at the Forum in Los Angeles.
When one fan predicted that SLAYER will be back in 2022, Ayesha replied: "Not a chance in hell." Another fan then pointed out that MÖTLEY CRÜE's Mick Mars and GUNS N' ROSES' Slash both said the same thing about their respective bands once upon a time, Ayesha shot back: "Kerry King is not Mick Mars or Slash." She then quipped: "I might just have slightly more info than the rest of you." When a fan joked that the new SLAYER album would be great, Ayesha responded: "Don't hold your breath." Finally, when a fan wondered if this was truly the end for SLAYER, Ayesha commented: "You can bet on it."
Back in April 2018, Tom Araya's wife said that he had not questioned his decision to embark on one final SLAYER tour before the band called it quits.
Sandra Araya, who has been married to the SLAYER frontman for more than 20 years, told the Metal Pulp And Paper web site that the announcement that the band was pulling the plug on its nearly four-decade-long career didn't come as a surprise to her. "Not to me," she said. "I can't comfortably go into too much detail. I'll just leave it with a no."
Asked if the decision to end SLAYER was a difficult one for Tom and Kerry to make, Sandra said: "Tom never second-guesses any decision he makes. I have no idea about Kerry."
Sandra also confirmed that she and Tom had "some ideas and plans" for how they plan to spend their post-SLAYER years, although she did not offer any details.
When SLAYER first announced that it was embarking on its final tour back in January 2018, Ayesha assured fans that they would "always get music" from her husband.
King has said in previous interviews that his post-SLAYER musical efforts would not be much different from the sound fans have grown accustomed to hearing from him.
"If someone quit, I'm not going to go around with a made-up SLAYER," he told AZCentral.com back in 2010. "But my next band would sound like SLAYER, that's all I know."
King told Rolling Stone in 2015 that he had entertained the idea of working on a solo project. "There's plenty of people that I considered doing [one] with ... but I have to have SLAYER covered before I consider anything like that," he said at the time.
Also in 2015, a short time before Lemmy passed away, King told a Danish radio station that he hoped SLAYER would follow MOTÖRHEAD's lead of continuing to perform as long as they're capable of playing live. But, he added, "there's a physicality in what we do that's never been MOTÖRHEAD. When you see them, they play their instruments and they're awesome. That's what you've gotten from day one. Ours has been more of an event — there's stuff going on."
Although Araya had neck surgery in 2010 and had to give up his trademark headbanging, King said "We've picked up the slack. Me and Gary Holt [guitar] put on a show. Paul Bostaph [drums] puts on a show. Tom has actually gotten better at singing and playing bass since he's not throwing his head every which direction. So I think, at a time if we couldn't put on a show, I hope I'm smart enough to say, 'Let's do a farewell tour right now and chop it.' Don't give anybody that view of seeing you in a way that you shouldn't be seen."
Tom had been vocal in recent years about his growing distaste for the touring lifestyle and his desire to spend more time with his wife and kids at home. "There came a time where I became a family man, and I had a tough time flying back and forth," he said in a 2016 interview. "And now, at this stage, at the level we're at now, I can do that; I can fly home when I want to, on days off, and spend some time with my family, which is something I wasn't able to do when [my kids] were growing up. Now they're both older and mature. So now I take advantage of that." Araya added: "Yeah, it just gets harder and harder to come back out on the road."
Original SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo has left the band on at least three different occasions, including in 2013, when he was once again replaced by former FORBIDDEN drummer Paul Bostaph.
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3 äåê 2019
ASKING ALEXANDRIA Releases 'The Violence' SIKDOPE Remix
 "The Violence", the latest anthem from British metal outfit ASKING ALEXANDRIA, has been given the remix treatment by one of EDM's hottest producers — Polish beatsmith Sikdope. Watch the accompanying visualizer below.
Sikdope has built a reputation as a chameleon in the studio — from vicious bass-house to radio-ready progressive cuts and futuristic trap sensibilities — with an uncanny knack for keeping everyone guessing. His brand of merciless festival ammunition eventually caught the ears, and co-sign, of Calvin Harris on his breakout hit "Snakes", essentially lighting a fuse that continues to burn with 760,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and a combined social following of 750,000.
Now the 27-year-old producer is steering the direction of electronic music's most exciting new sounds. When he's not canvasing clubs and festivals across the world — from Creamfields China to EDC Orlando's Main Stage — Sikdope is buried under headphones in the lab, tampering with dangerous new sonics.
Speaking on his bombastic remix of ASKING ALEXANDRIA's latest anthem, Sikdope says: "I've been a fan of ASKING ALEXANDRIA for as long as I can remember. They're also great friends of mine, so, of course, I was thrilled when they asked me to remix 'The Violence' (also one of my favorite tracks this year). I sang in a rock band as a teenager so remixing this track felt like second nature to me; I got to go back to my roots but also showcase the evolution of my sound. This remix feels like such an accomplishment for me because when I was in a band as a kid, my dream was to have a release on Sumerian… now I'm on it as a DJ."
ASKING ALEXANDRIA guitarist Ben Bruce says: "I'm a firm believer that the best collaborations come from when artists come together through a true and real connection. A great collaboration can't be forced; they are born from a mutual respect and passion. In this case, Sikdope and myself had been friends and mutual fans of each other's work for many years prior to this collaboration. We went out for dinner one night and decided, spur of the moment, to collaborate! I'm so excited that we finally got to work together and through combined efforts have created such a MONSTER of a tune!"
Since launch back in July, the original version of "The Violence" has clocked up over eight million Spotify streams and two million YouTube views. The track has stayed firmly on the SiriusXM Octane's "Big Uns Countdown" since its debut four months ago.
ASKING ALEXANDRIA is currently in the studio working on its sixth studio album, the follow-up to 2017's self-titled release, which spawned massive radio hits "Alone In A Room", "Vultures" and "Into The Fire" and to date has amassed over 130 million Spotify streams. | 0 | |
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3 äåê 2019
SLAYER's Manager Doesn't Foresee Band Changing Its Mind About Retirement: 'I'm Not Sensing That At All'
 SLAYER's longtime manager Rick Sales has told the Los Angeles Times that he was surprised by the band's decision to end its career as an active performing and recording unit.
"They've been doing this for so long," he said. "They just said, 'Okay, this is enough.' My analogy is Jerry Seinfeld, who had probably the biggest TV show when he went out on top. I respect the band for the decision. If you're going to do it, this is the way."
Sales went on to say that he doesn't foresee SLAYER changing its mind.
"I'm not sensing that at all," he said. "Let's put the touring to bed. I've got a couple of ideas [for future projects], but we haven't made any decisions. Right now, they're preoccupied with the end, and I imagine it's emotional. It's emotional for me."
The legendary thrash metal act's final run of dates began on May 10, 2018 with the band's intention to play as many places as possible, to make it easy for the fans to see one last SLAYER show and say goodbye. By the time the 18-month trek wraps on November 30, the band will have completed seven tour legs plus a series of one-off major summer festivals, performing more than 140 shows in 30 countries and 40 U.S. states.
Earlier in the month, Sales told MassLive.com that SLAYER "has always had a lot of integrity," adding that "there are a couple things that go on. I totally get that they made a decision to stop touring. That doesn't mean the end of the band. It's just the end of touring. I always thought of it as, 'You go out on top.' They made that decision. They're not milking it. From that standpoint, I get it and they made the right choice."
Kristen Mulderig, who works with Rick Sales Entertainment Group, recently said that there will still be plenty of SLAYER-related activities even after the band stops performing live.
"We're in legacy mode," Mulderig told Pollstar, "which is a lot to do, even though they won't be making records or on the road. They still have their endorsers, there's still merch and branding to do — sync licenses and who knows? Maybe coming up with some sort of event that is SLAYER-based. This is all stuff we're thinking about and talking about. SLAYER lives on, absolutely."
SLAYER will conclude its final tour with a two-night stand at the Forum in Los Angeles.
Formed nearly four decades ago, the quartet has released 12 studio albums, selling millions of records worldwide without the hint of a hit single.
The two remaining original members of SLAYER are bassist/vocalist Tom Araya and guitarist Kerry King.
Gary Holt has been the touring guitarist for SLAYER since January 2011 when original member Jeff Hanneman contracted necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease, from a spider bite in his backyard. Hanneman died in May 2013 from alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver. He is credited for writing many of SLAYER's classic songs, including "Angel Of Death" and "South Of Heaven".
Original drummer Dave Lombardo's most recent stint with SLAYER ended in 2013 when he made allegations about the way the group's financial bookkeeping was handled. He has since been replaced by Paul Bostaph, who was previously SLAYER's drummer from 1992 until 2001 and recorded four albums with the band.
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3 äåê 2019
EVANESCENCE's WILL HUNT Slams 'A Small Group Of Morons' For Torching His 'Beautiful' Drum Kit At KNOTFEST MEXICO
 EVANESCENCE drummer Will Hunt says that "a small group of morons" is responsible for the riot that ensued when the band canceled its set at Knotfest Mexico Saturday after a broken barricade sparked safety concerts at the festival.
SLIPKNOT and EVANESCENCE called off their performances due to the barricade problem, which began after the security barriers were pushed down during BEHEMOTH's set. After organizers were unable to fix the issue, the sets were scrapped.
A viral video from Knotfest captured several incidents of vandalism, including fans storming the stage, grabbing Hunt's drum kit and then lighting it on fire.
On Sunday, Hunt took to his Instagram to post several videos of the riot and the aftermath and included the following message: "So, a lot of questions about this. First and foremost everyone is ok. We love Mexico and as a whole the fans are incredible. The riot that happened was a small group of morons and they WILL NOT change my love for the Mexican people or our fans in Mexico. As for the rest of it, here are my (somewhat comical) take aways.
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3 äåê 2019
The Music For OZZY OSBOURNE's New Album Was Written And Recorded In Four Days
 Rapper Post Malone's song "Take What You Want", featuring Ozzy Osbourne and Travis Scott, recently debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at No. 8. The track marked Osbourne's first Hot 100 top 10 in over 30 years, as the BLACK SABBATH singer broke the record for the most time between top 10s in the chart's 61-year history. The song appears on Post Malone's new LP "Hollywood's Bleeding", which landed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
In a brand new interview with Billboard, Post Malone's producer, Andrew Watt, spoke about how he got Ozzy to guest on "Take What You Want". He said: "One night, Post was at the Rainbow Bar & Grill and saw this picture of Ozzy, and he bought it and took it home. When I heard that, I had this image of him walking down Sunset with that picture, and I was, like, 'I gotta make a song for Post and Ozzy.' I've said insane shit out loud before, and this was one of those times.
"I'd never met Ozzy before, but I had met his daughter [Kelly Osbourne]. I told her my idea and asked if she thought her dad would be into it. She's a Post fan, so she's, like, 'Yes, absolutely.' Then Ozzy got really sick and was in the hospital, so it was, like, 'He's gonna do it,' but then his health was taking longer, and it was, like, 'Is he gonna do it?' I just kept staying on Kelly and [Osbourne's wife] Sharon, and eventually they told me to come over. So we did it. That experience was incredible."
The unlikely collaboration led to Watt helming production for Ozzy's upcoming solo album, "Ordinary Man". Recorded in Los Angeles, the album features Watt on guitars, Duff McKagan (GUNS N' ROSES) on bass and Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS) on drums.
"The day after [the vocals for 'Take What You Want' were recorded], Ozzy texted me, like, 'I want you to make an album with me,'" Andrew recalled. "I was, like, that would be amazing, but can I do this? I picked up the phone and called up Chad Smith. I said, 'Dude, Ozzy just asked me to make an album for him. Are you down to do it?' And he said, 'Are you fucking kidding me? When?' Then I called up Duff McKagan from GUNS N' ROSES and he said, 'Are you fucking kidding me? When?'
"We wrote and recorded Ozzy's entire album, musically, in four days. There was no premeditation. The three of us just got in my basement, put on headphones, looked at each other, and wrote 12 songs, 10 of which constitute the album. It was magic. I don't even remember it. Then Ozzy came over to my basement to listen to the music. I played him all 10 tracks at full volume, and at the end he just goes, 'It's cool.' And my heart just fuckin' went into my gut. He was, like, 'I'll call you tomorrow.' Stands up, gets his cane, goes upstairs. I go, 'Oh my God, he hated it! What do I do?' He calls me the next day, like, 'Okay, so when do we start writing?' I sound like I'm making this up, but he comes over the next day, and we made Ozzy's entire album from top to bottom — all music, guitar solos, all vocals written — in four weeks. It's the proudest of anything I've ever been, because it brought the 12-year-old kid out of me again. Don't get me wrong, I love the pop music that I make, but this is what I feel like I was born to do: play rock guitar. I got to be fuckin' Randy Rhoads in 2019."
Two songs from "Ordinary Man" have been released so far: the anti-drug anthem "Straight To Hell", featuring a guitar solo by GUNS N' ROSES' Slash, and the ballad "Under The Graveyard", which was Osbourne's first new solo song in nearly a decade.
Back in 2014, the now-29-year-old Watt released one album with CALIFORNIA BREED, the short-lived project featuring former DEEP PURPLE bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes and THE CIRCLE drummer Jason Bonham.
Ozzy has not released an all-new solo effort since 2010's "Scream", having spent the last few years touring with BLACK SABBATH in support of that band's "13" LP, as well as playing a number of solo shows. More recently, Osbourne has been recuperating at home after sustaining a bad neck injury resulting in the postponement of his solo tour.
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3 äåê 2019
CARMINE APPICE Talks Aborted BLUE MURDER Reunion - "I Don't Need To Go Out And Play Under JOHN SYKES As JOHN SYKES & BLUE MURDER"
 In the clip below courtesy of Full In Bloom, drum legend Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Ozzy Osbourne) talks about Blue Murder and their rehearsal reunion, explaining why the band did not officially reunite. Blue Murder featured Appice, guitarist John Sykes (Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, Tygers Of Pan Tang) and Tony Franklin (The Firm, Jimmy Page).
Appice: "We actually rehearsed for a few days. It sounded amazing and then we go outside, we're talking: 'How are we going to do this?' and John came up with: 'I think I want to call it John Sykes & Blue Murder.' I said, 'No, dude, why do you want to do that? People are waiting to hear Blue Murder, we got two albums that people love of material that we can go out, we don't need to do your history.'
"I said, 'If you want to do your history, would you do my history? I got songs probably bigger than your songs.' He said, 'No, I want to call it that and I want to do my Thin Lizzy...' He was in Thin Lizzy at the end (1983's Thunder and Lightning album) (but) nobody really knows Thin Lizzy songs he was on, I think. Maybe in England they do, but not over here. I don't need to go out and play under John Sykes as John Sykes & Blue Murder. That's not Blue Murder, that's just John Sykes doing his history.'"
Hudson Music recently unearthed a clip from the Modern Drummer Festival 2008, featuring Carmine Appice's Slamm!! Watch below.
The festival features performances and interviews by Todd Sucherman, Simon Phillips, Thomas Pridgen, Bill Stewart, Dafnis Prieto, Ndugu Chancler, Will Calhoun, Billy Ward and Derek Roddy. Included are inspiring conversations with each drummer as well as unprecedented drummer-to-drummer interviews, such as Simon Phillips with Gavin Harrison, Ndugu Chancler with Will Calhoun, and Todd Sucherman with Derek Roddy.
The full Festival is available on DVD and Digital Download and includes a 28-page printable eBook. Get it here.
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3 äåê 2019
ONI To Release New Digital EP, Alone, In December; "Breathe Again" Single Streaming
 On December 13, Oni will release a new digital EP, Alone, via Blacklight Media Records / Metal Blade Records. Produced by Josh Wilbur (Lamb Of God, Gojira, Trivium), Alone can be pre-ordered here. The new single, "Breathe Again", is available for streaming below, along with the title track.
Vocalist Jake Oni adds, "I've been working on new music for the last couple years and am very excited for 'Breathe Again' and the full Alone EP to release. More music coming soon!"
With their influences rooted in progressive metal, Oni's sound can be compared to the genre's heavy hitters - The Human Abstract, Protest The Hero and Between The Buried And Me - yet they remain truly unique. Oni's debut album, Ironshore (2016), took listeners on an absorbing ride that provided ample opportunity for head-banging, singing along and deep introspection. Fans can expect another crushing release when Alone drops this December.
Alone EP tracklisting:
"Alone"
"Rift"
"Dead Inside"
"Breathe Again"
"Faceless Portrait"
"Breathe Again":
"Alone":
Oni lineup:
Jake Oni - Vocals
Martin Andres - Guitar
Chase Bryant - Bass
Johnny D - Xylosynth
Joe Greulich - Drums
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3 äåê 2019
WALKWAYS Gearing Up For UK / European Tour Supporting MEMPHIS MAY FIRE; Official Live Video For "Hell Born Shove (Impossible)" Released
 Israeli alternative metallers Walkways released their latest album, Bleed Out, Heal Out, on June 14th through Nuclear Blast. They recently announced that they'll be supporting Nashville, TN based rock / hardcore outfit Memphis May Fire on their upcoming EU / UK tour in December 2019. To give their fans an impression of their live shows, the band release a new live video for their song "Hell Born Shove (Impossible)".
The band comments: "We love touring the world and visiting new countries and making new fans, but there is nothing like playing for our hometown crowd. Our album release show at the Barby club in Tel Aviv was an experience we will never forget thanks to the amazing audience that sang along with every single word."
Tour dates:
1 - Bristol, UK - Thekla
2 - Brighton, UK - Chalk
3 - Birmingham, UK - O2 Academy 2
4 - London, UK - The Underworld Camden
5 - Leeds, UK - The Key Club
7 - Stoke, UK - The Sugarmill
8 - Glasgow, UK - G2
9 - Manchester, UK - Rebellion
10 - Nottingham, UK - Rescue Rooms
11 - Haarlem, Netherlands - Patronaat
13 - Cologne, Germany - Luxor
14 - Hamburg, Germany - headCRASH
15 - Berlin, Germany - Musik & Frieden
16 - Munich, Germany - Strom
17 - Zurich, Switzerland - Dynamo
18 - Vienna, Austria - Szene
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3 äåê 2019
HELIX Guitarist KALEB DUCK Calls It Quits - "An Outstanding Human Being; Total Class"
 Helix frontman Brian Vollmer has checked in with the following update:
"At the end of touring for 2019, longtime Helix guitarist Kaleb Duck gave me his resignation. Kaleb was a baby-faced kid when he was hand picked by The Doctor himself (Brent Doerner) to replace Jim Lawson, who I had to let go for various reasons. Kaleb was so green then that he didn't know how to play the boogie beat in 'Animal House' (LOL). He's come a long way since then and has developed into an awesome player. In the end it WASN'T friction with other members that caused him to cash in his chips - it was his dedication to his wife and two young children, and his high paying construction job, where he is the foreman over multi-million dollar jobs. Frequently we would be in airports flying somewhere and he'd be on his cell phone arranging dry-wallers, electricians, carpenters, building inspectors, etc. Throughout it all he didn't complain once! But with this last summer's touring he confided to Brent, 'My kids are starting to call me Uncle Kaleb!' He realized he had too much on his plate and had to make a decision. He chose his family - ALWAYS THE CORRECT CHOICE. After all, a band is ultimately just a band; your family should always come first.
I gotta say here that for someone so young (early 30's, as opposed to myself - 64) Kaleb has shown remarkable maturity, not only as a player but as an outstanding human being. I love him like a son, and him leaving the band changes none of that. He also graciously offered to "help out in a pinch" and will be playing our two acoustic shows coming up next April. Total class.
Kaleb is being replaced by ace axe-man Gary Borden, who has played with us in the past. Gary also has a great voice and is a song writer, so expect to hear collaborated tunes in the future. Gary spent many years playing for Sass Jordan. Lastly, Gary's demeanor and sense of humor fits right in. He gets along with everyone and is a welcome addition to the Helix band."
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Mercyful Fate
