DEEP PURPLE's first North American tour in four years — which is scheduled to kick off in early June — will feature classic members Ian Gillan (lead vocals), Roger Glover (bass) and Ian Paice (drums, percussion) along with Steve Morse (guitar) and Don Airey (keyboards). The trek, dubbed "A Night With Deep Purple And The Songs That Built Rock", will see the band performing in each city while backed by a 30-piece symphony orchestra.
For a list of currently confirmed dates, visit Deep-Purple.net.
When asked during a February 22, 2011 press conference in Mexico City if there are any plans for DEEP PURPLE to record a new studio album soon, the band's vocalist, Ian Gillan, replied, "I guess it's about time, isn't it?! So we're gonna get together and have a writing session quite soon. And if we get excited, then we'll probably have another [album finished and ready for release] shortly after that. We'll see how it goes. But there's no plans. But I think we're getting poked by various connections who would like to see another DEEP PURPLE record. So I think it's about time."
DEEP PURPLE released a live album last year called "Space Truckin' Round the World Live 68-76". The two-disc set features rare live recordings from various concerts all over the world, including gigs in Tokyo, Paris and San Diego. The compilation, which features multiple band lineups, also features a detailed history of the group, individual concert details and photos. It was released as part of the 10th anniversary of Purple Records — the label that handles the band's music.
DEEP PURPLE's 18th studio album, "Rapture of the Deep", was released in November 2005. It is the fourth studio CD from DEEP PURPLE since guitarist Steve Morse joined the band in 1994. It was also the second album to feature veteran keyboardist Don Airey.
"Rapture of the Deep" was produced by Mike Bradford, who also worked on the band's previous release, 2003's "Bananas".
Kevin Churko, Canadian musician, sound engineer, songwriter and record producer, was honored in the "Recording Engineer Of The Year" category at this year's Juno (the Canadian equivalent of the Grammy Awards) gala dinner and award ceremony held last night (Saturday, March 26) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Churko won for his work on the OZZY OSBOURNE tracks "Let It Die" and "Life Won't Wait" from the legendary heavy metal singer's latest album, "Scream". Churko co-produced, co-wrote, engineered and mixed the entire CD, which came out in June 2010.
In a September 2010 interview with SoundOnSound.com, Churko stated about the songwriting and recording process for "Scream", "[Former OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist] Zakk [Wylde] and Ozzy also started work on what was to become 'Scream', but then Ozzy made the choice to stop working with Zakk. He hadn't found another guitarist yet, and not to let work grind to a halt, he asked me to come up with things. So I wrote many rough outlines for songs from scratch, and he would listen to my ideas and tell me what he liked and didn't like and what he was looking for. He'd write melody lines and lyrics to my ideas, and other songs started with melody lines and lyrics he had developed on his own, to which I'd give him feedback.
"The way we worked together was very interactive. Ozzy knows what he wants and he can instantly tell whether something is good or not. He wasn't there the whole time while I was working, which was great, because he could come in with fresh ears and tell me whether I was going in the right direction or not. Adam Wakeman was also very instrumental in the earlier writing process of several songs. We'd fire ideas at each other via the Internet.
"Writing, recording and mixing the album took one and a half years altogether, but we were not working all the time. Ozzy wrote his autobiography, I did records with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH and IN THIS MOMENT, we both went on holidays, and we both did a lot of other things during that period. Sometimes I'd work alone at my studio. I don't like calling the material I recorded at this initial stage demos, because I don't believe in too much pre-production. In many cases, the best things happen early on, and I really try to capture those moments, rather than do things time and time again and eventually end up with something stale.
"The process was that once we had an idea, I'd play a scratch drum track and I'd then overdub other instruments to get the idea across. I'm not a great guitar player or piano player, but I can fool around enough on these instruments to give Ozzy an idea of the track. As soon as we had some kind of scratch sketch going, Ozzy would start to hum some melodies, which I would record. We'd use that as a rough guide to further develop the beds. Ozzy's actual vocals were laid down probably midway through the whole recording process. As soon as we had a final lyric and melody, we'd record some solid vocals and then I'd build everything else around that, sometimes replacing or changing what we had done earlier.
"Obviously, the vocal is the most important element, and I like getting a good vocal take early on. Everything else has to be designed to support that. Once we were confident of the song structures and arrangements, and once we had the map for each song, we got the band in to give the tracks some love. Even though we ended up replacing many things, if the original ideas sounded good, we kept them. Of course, the players would change their parts as they felt appropriate. I particularly encouraged Gus G. to get involved in that way, and both he and [Rob] Blasko [Nicholson, the band's bassist] really came prepared and gave it all they could. I'm sure it was an unusual situation for Gus to be in, but he selflessly and graciously worked hard and laid down some great tracks."
Ozzy previously said about Churko, "[Kevin is] a great guy for me to work with, 'cause he plays a little bit of everything — of every instrument — and he's good to work [with] in the studio."
An in-depth interview with Churko about the making of "Scream" can be found at SoundOnSound.com.
According to Terra, a surging crowd of IRON MAIDEN fans caused a barricade to collapse during the band's concert earlier tonight (Sunday, March 27) at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, forcing the group to cancel the show. The incident happened during the first song of the band's set, "Satellite 15 ... The Final Frontier", when the barrier separating the fans from the stage broke and the crowd rushed forward towards the members of the group. IRON MAIDEN's lead singer, Bruce Dickinson, noticed the commotion and urged the crowd to take it easy. He said, "Hey guys, please calm down. Everyone, take a step backward. The fence broke and it's dangerous. We do not want anyone to get hurt." The members of the band then stopped playing and Dickinson explained that they would resume in the concert in ten minutes after the fence had been repaired. The audience waited, but after 20 minutes, boos became more audible as the crowd began losing its patience.
Dickinson then returned to the stage to break the bad news. "The fence is completely broken. We do not want anyone to get hurt," he said.
Dickinson told the crowd that IRON MAIDEN will play at HSBC Arena at the same time on Monday (March 28), and that the fans should pick up a bracelet before leaving the venue giving them access to tomorrow night's show. "We cannot play tonight, but tomorrow, at the same time, we'll be here," he said. "Everyone who has a ticket or bracelet will be able to enter. Those of you who cannot make tomorrow's concert will be given a refund."
The audience responded with boos and outrage before the singer made one last attempt to calm things down. "We were told that there is no way to way to get the fence repaired tonight," he said. "I know it sucks. But please do not break anything when you leave. Those of you who cannot make tomorrow's concert, we will post on our official web site information on how you can get a refund. I'm really upset. But I can assure you that tomorrow night we will have the best fence in the world."
Dickinson left the stage and more boos followed. People threw cups on the stage and some kicked the fence as it lay broken on the venue floor.
Legendary rocker Alice Cooper spoke to AOL's Noisecreep about "Welcome 2 My Nightmare", a sequel to his 1975 concept album "Welcome to My Nightmare" — his first "solo" release after the break-up of the original Alice Cooper band.
"It will be out next year," he said, "We have to do the whole festivals tour first which will be South America, Australia, Europe, Canada, all over the States. That's going to be a big kind of heavy Alice show. But the [tour] after that will be 'Welcome To My Nightmare Part Two' — 'Welcome 2 My Nightmare,' and it's going to be a full-out nightmare so I almost can't wait for that one. The next show is going to be fun. The show after that, the nightmare show, is going to be unbelievable."
In a recent interview with Billboard.com, Cooper said about the forthcoming CD, "I had an idea to do a part two to (2008's) 'Along Came a Spider'," Cooper says. "I came to [producer] Bob [Ezrin; PINK FLOYD, KISS] with it, and he listened and goes, 'Eh. I would be more excited if 'Along Came a Spider' was a No. 1 record.' He wasn't really into it. Then we started talking about 'Welcome to My Nightmare''s 35th anniversary or something like that, and he said, 'What if Alice had another nightmare?' All I was trying to do was get Bob to say, 'Yeah, I want to produce the album,' so we found a place where both of us really felt comfortable, and that was doing 'Nightmare 2'."
"Welcome 2 My Nightmare" features the original "Nightmare" tandem of Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner, with Vince Gill guesting on a track called "Runaway Train". In addition, surviving Cooper band members Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway and Neal Smith appear on the song "When Hell Comes Home".
"There are certain songs where we let some of the themes from (the original) 'Nightmare' slip in," Cooper told Billboard.com. "All of a sudden you'll hear the little piano part from 'Steven' or from 'The Awakening'. I wanted (the albums) to be married together. I think we even make reference to a couple of characters from the original (album)."
Rob Laing of MusicRadar.com recently conducted an interview with WHITESNAKE guitarist Doug Aldrich. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
MusicRadar.com: It really sounds like "Forevermore" has got something for every fan of the different eras of WHITESNAKE…
Doug: "I really just wanted to find some music that was inspiring for David [Coverdale, vocals]. If we're both excited about a song, we have to let that song be what it's going to be. When you get down the road and you've got a group of songs then it starts to take shape, you can see where you are. It wasn't a conscious decision to represent the different eras of WHITESNAKE on the record but it's turned out that way."
MusicRadar.com: It seems like this album has a bluesier, more organic feel compared to the last one, "Good To Be Bad"…
Doug: "It was a little difficult once we did 'Good To Be Bad' to say, now we're going to bring it down, make it a little more bluesy and not quite as heavy. That's what I was hoping to do — make it a little more song-orientated, a little less about the shredding and the bombastic stuff."
MusicRadar.com: There are new members for this album and tour with Brian Tichy on drums and Michael Devin on bass. Was the whole lineup around for recording more with this album compared with the last one?
Doug: "David said, 'I really want this to be a band record.' He hired a house — he actually hired two houses. I have a nice little property, it's a suburban L.A. house but not a big house. This house David rented was amazing — it probably had a better view of Lake Tahoe than his own home. You could reach out and grab the lake! It was a mansion and amazing but it wasn't conducive to work. The view just made you want to go out and have a couple of beers! We'd started the basic tracks but hadn't got into the heavy guitar overdubs and singing. But we ended up moving to a new house down the hill, in the woods and with no view. I'll tell you man, it was a killer vibe in that place — we started kicking ass. Everybody was focused on the record and we'd do 16-hour days in the studio. Reb [Beach, guitar] would come to town, or Michael Devin and these guys were working for two weeks straight. But we had a lot of fun and it's definitely more of a band record."
MusicRadar.com: The general perception is that WHITESNAKE is David Coverdale, but you've helped bring about a renaissance for the band as a creative force with the last album and now "Forevermore". That's something you must feel very proud of?
Doug: "To be dead serious with you, I don't think it matters in the long run. It makes me feel good on the day we create things musically, and it makes me feel good for a minute when we're talking about it. But once that's done I don't really think about those things. I appreciate you saying that but I think the fans just want a good song and a good lyric. David's got the vocals to deliver it and he's the one that makes it or breaks it. You can have great chord progressions, great riffs, great grooves but with this type of music you've got to have a guy who can sing like David and write lyrics and songs like David. He really delivers — he makes whatever he's working on that much more special. That's why he is who he is. David could write a song with anybody and it would be a WHITESNAKE song. I feel really lucky David and I met and we are able to work together. I do feel like I can be helpful to see his vision through and do it as much as I can without
an ego and an agenda. I do have an ego but I try not to."
THIN LIZZY guitarist Scott Gorham tells Billboard.com that it may be time to bring his band back into the studio again. "That's the No. 1 question we're getting from people — are we gonna record some new material?" Gorham says. "The fans seem to trust this lineup, and I don't blame them. We've kind of jumped this emotional hurdle together. Ricky's [Warwick, vocals] writing some fucking killer lyrics, and with the kind of talent that's in THIN LIZZY now I think we can pull off a really cool set of tunes. At least it's something that we can think about now, where before it wasn't on the table."
Gorham and DEF LEPPARD frontman Joe Elliott recently spearheaded deluxe expanded edition reissues of the group's 1976 breakthrough album "Jailbreak" and the same year's "Johnny The Fox", part of a continuing LIZZY reissue series.
"Joe and I had been fantasizing for years, 'Wouldn't it be cool if you could get a record company to just throw some cash at you and said, 'Go ahead and do some remixes,' " Gorham tells Billboard.com. "We were calling it 'the millennium mix' — what it would be like if THIN LIZZY were actually happening today but had all the advantages of all the digital gear and different equipment that's available to everybody now. So when the opportunity came up, we just jumped at it. It was a hell of a lot of fun."
The documentary about legendary Canadian trio RUSH, called "Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage", was honored in the "Music DVD Of The Year" category at this year's Juno gala dinner and award ceremony held tonight (Saturday, March 26) in Toronto. This marks the second consecutive win in this Juno category for filmmakers Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen of Banger Films, who received the same award last year for "Iron Maiden: Flight 666".
The two-disc DVD release of "Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage" was certified double platinum last fall by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments in excess of 100,000 copies. (Note: Due to the fact that the set consists of two discs, it was eligible for platinum certification after shipping 50,000 copies; platinum certification for a single-disc release is 100,000 copies.)
Guitarist Alex Lifeson told The Pulse of Radio that it wasn't until he saw the film himself that he thought there was actually an interesting story to tell about the band. "It's just kind of a, you know, a success story — kids from the suburbs have a dream and they live their dream," he said. "And everybody can relate to that. There's been quite a dynamic in the band, a lot of stuff has happened, so there was a story to tell there. And I don't think I really realized there was one until we actually saw a rough cut and how they pieced it all together and the chronology and the ebbs and flows of the story."
RUSH bassist Geddy Lee told RollingStone.com that the band was initially hesitant when approached by Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen about making a documentary, saying, "We thought, 'How foolish are these guys?' We're just this dull band. I remember [drummer] Neil [Peart] asked them rather pointedly, 'What's your angle? What's the story you want to tell?' They said, 'Well, to be honest, we don't know.' We liked that and said, 'Good luck, let you know what you want us to do.'"
"Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage" won the Audience Choice Award at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival last April.
Rob Cavuoto of Guitar International recently conducted an interview with DEF LEPPARD/THIN LIZZY guitarist Vivian Campbell. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Guitar International: [Fellow DEF LEPPARD guitarist] Phil Collen promised Eddie Trunk that the next DEF LEPPARD LP would be hard rock. Are you guys able to deliver on that promise?
Vivian Campbell: It's not this one! [Laughing]. He was talking about the next one! [Laughing] We all agree and know on a certain level that we can make it happen. If we were with a major record label and they paired us with Rick Rubin, I'm sure he would strip us down and have us doing it. It's easier said than done. What DEF LEPPARD did 30 years ago; they were in a different head space then. You played and wrote different then. So it might actually be disingenuous of us to go back and force ourselves to do a record like "High 'N' Dry".
Guitar International: Not necessarily go back and redo "High 'N' Dry", but just a straightforward rock LP?
Vivian Campbell: Back then Rick Allen [drums] had two arms, although we can represent ourselves very well live, it difficult for Rick to jam. If I were to come in the room and show the other guys a riff, Rick would have to sit there and think how he was going to join in. It's not like other bands where you can kick out the jams and see what happens. It does take a little more patience. I'm not saying we're not going to do it; Phil and I are championing and trying to do something like that for the next record.
Guitar International: Things have really changed regarding how people listen to music since the '80s. Gone are many of the hard rock and Top 40 radios stations. Gone are the 24-hour music video channels, now people are file sharing and stealing music. How do these things affect the way guys approach writing, recording, and getting your music heard?
Vivian Campbell: We have been guilty in the past of really conceptualizing the LPs. It's like we need to make this type of LP before a song or note is written. Though "Sparkle Lounge" was not at all like that at all. I'm glad to say it was just a collection of our songs that we wrote individually and decided to record as DEF LEPPARD. I thought it was a better LP for it and easier to make. Because I'm personally not too big on conceptualizing for an LP, I tend to think let's write and see what goes out. Industry wise its very import to know your audience now, to speak directly to your audience vs. being all things to all people. I think in the past that DEF LEPPARD was lucky enough to almost be all things to all people. It was a result of the time with MTV, because of proliferation of radio of Top 40 radio and being able to get a rock band on Top 40 radio. It parlayed into millions and millions of LPs. I don't think that will happen for LEPPARD or anyone
any more. That brings us back to what we were talking about earlier and what kind of LP we would make in the future. We realize that our core audience wants us to make a rock LP. So we will attempt to address that on future records. With that said, I don't see us making an entire LP that's like "High 'N' Dry", with songs with 1 through 12 as old rock songs.
Guitar International: How do multiple platinum artists like yourself measure success in this environment?
Vivian Campbell: Certainly not in terms of sales, "Sparkle Lounge", "Yeah!" and "X" didn't sell in massive numbers. Nowhere close to a million. Nowhere close to half a million. But that's OK, because the other side of the equation is that we have been doing better and better on the road. We have been playing to more people starting with the JOURNEY tour in 2006. Our first night was Camden, New Jersey and there was close to 23,000 people. We couldn't believe it. The touring industry has become about packaging bands together to reach more than just the core fans of each act but to try and reach the casual fans. We were amazed; nothing changed for us other than we were on tour with another major catalog act. To be honest, when our management first suggested it to us, every single member of the band had reservations about it. It shows you how wrong we were. Ever since that day no one in DEF LEPPARD ever questions our management on things like that. It's not
our area of expertise. [Laughing] We have been very fortunate that we have had a rebirth as a touring act and that we have such a catalogue of hit songs and people still want to hear them after 20 to 30 years. We play them well and put on a high-energy show.
Vocalist Rick Stitch has left ADLER'S APPETITE — the band led by former GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler — in order to concentrate on his Los Angeles-based original project LADYJACK.
Stitch's LADYJACK bandmate Robo (guitar), who was filling in for ADLER'S APPETITE guitarist Alex Grossi on the latter group's most recent European tour, will not be continuing with Adler's outfit.
Grossi recently left ADLER'S APPETITE in order to focus on his work with the resurrected QUIET RIOT.
"I am extremely grateful to have had the experience of writing, recording and performing with Steven and company," says Stitch. "But it is now time for me to concentrate all of my time on LADYJACK."
Remaining ADLER'S APPETITE members:
* Steven Adler (GUNS N' ROSES) - Drums
* Michael Thomas (FASTER PUSSYCAT) - Guitar
* Chip Z'nuff (ENUFF Z'NUFF) - Bass
ADLER'S APPETITE is scheduled to kick off a new U.S. tour on May 5 in Redondo Beach, California.
ADLER'S APPETITE in December released two new singles — "Stardog" and "Fading" — via iTunes and other online music stores.
ADLER'S APPETITE entered the studio in November to begin recording its new album with CINDERELLA drummer Fred Coury producing.
A radio edit of the last ADLER'S APPETITE single, "Alive", was released on July 29, 2010 in conjunction with Adler's tell-all autobiography, "My Appetite for Destruction: Sex, and Drugs, and Guns N' Roses".
Video footage of ADLER'S APPETITE's February 25, 2011 concert at The Diamond in Sutton, United Kingdom can be viewed below.
Stitch made his live debut with ADLER'S APPETITE on April 17, 2009 at the Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana, California.
LADYJACK released a digital EP in 2010. The band's full-length debut will follow in April.
Steven recently joined the cast of VH1's "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew" for another season.
Adler appeared on season two of "Rehab" and the first season of the spin-off show "Sober House" back in late 2008 and early 2009. Adler then went on to stints in real rehab centers after being ordered to by a judge as part of a DUI bust.
Revolver magazine recently conducted an interview with MÖTLEY CRÜE/SIXX: A.M. bassist Nikki Sixx for a cover story in its March/April 2011 issue. An excerpt from the chat follows below.
Revolver: You're very candid in the ["This Is Gonna Hurt: Music, Photography And Life Through The Distorted Lens Of Nikki Sixx"] book about how you feel about the guys in CRÜE: You love them, but you don't hang out the way you once did. You guys have never even been to each other's current homes. Was the book a way to restart a conversation, or is this something you've told them already?
Sixx: I've talked — we talk to each other. I thought it was interesting because Vince [Neil, CRÜE vocalist] put out a book ["Tattoos & Tequila: To Hell and Back with One of Rock's Most Notorious Frontmen"] recently. He had a ghostwriter, and the guy called me up and said, "You wanna talk about Vince?" So I told him my feelings about Vince: I really feel he's one of the greatest frontmen of all time and has such a unique sound, and I feel so blessed to have him in my life, and I don't think he understands how much I actually love him. The guy was like, "Thank you," and then — and it's the last thing he said — he goes, "You know, Vince didn't say those things about you." And I was like, "Oh, well, that's his right to do that." He goes, "Is there anything else you wanna say?" I said, "Oh, you want me to say something mean because he said something mean? I don't have anything mean to say."
My book, it's very honest about where we're at at our age and where we've been. But we've had other documentation earlier in our life, you know, and this is about what's going on right now. I guess everyone has that right when they write a memoir. But I think that we have an opportunity and a responsibility when we do books for complete honesty. So in his case, he might have been being completely honest.
[On page 78 of Vince's autobiography, excerpts from which are available on the Hachette Book Group web site, Neil writes, "I don't think Nikki has changed much over the years. He still likes to portray himself as the Messiah. Everything is his. Everything is his idea. I'll look at him and think, 'Fuck! He just loves playing that persona.' And my sentiment is: 'I don't really care one way or the other. If he wants to be that, fine.' I do my job, and I fucking have fun. But in Nikki's world, he has to be known as the 'thinker,' or the 'creator;' He needs to be seen as Mr. All-Important. Nikki Sixx, tortured soul. Just like Tommy [Lee, MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer], he's another one of those guys who just love the whole fame thing. He wouldn't have been with the tattoo artist Kat Von D if she wasn't famous. And [former 'Baywatch' actress] Donna D'Errico before her; she was a huge star at the time he married her. He just really likes to see his face in the paper.
He likes the press buzz. He likes being that guy from the band with famous girlfriends.
"I mean, you should read the e-mails [Nikki] sends about MÖTLEY. He goes, 'I've crunched the numbers, and we should do this...' And I'm like, 'What? Is he my fucking accountant now? I mean, what the fuck?' He makes these decisions for MÖTLEY CRÜE that I think are just stupid. I call him up and I'll be like, 'You're the worst businessman in the fucking world. You're a fucking idiot!' And he'll be like, 'How can you say that?' And I'll be like, 'Because you are a fucking idiot.' Just because something looks good on paper with your name on it doesn't mean it's going to work."]
Revolver: Speaking of honest, the guys in GODSMACK wrote "Cryin' Like A Bitch" about you...
Sixx: Made me laugh so hard.
Revolver: You allude to the song in the book. You said when you were younger, you probably would have done something, but now you just laugh it off.
Sixx: It was funny because it made me laugh. Everybody that I know would call me or send emails and laugh at the song, saying, "How can you be saying someone's crying like a bitch when you're the only crying?" And that's the stuff that makes me laugh. I don't get mad, I actually laugh. And I played the song on my radio show ["Sixx Sense"] and then I asked the band to come do an interview with me. And they wouldn't do it.
They were doing something down at some studio, but I heard, "You know, the guys are really nervous, like, you were gonna come over and start a fight." And I go, "About what?" I just thought it was funny — it was like a 14-year-old mentality. Come on. If you're gonna hit somebody, dude, hit them with a 2x4, not with a toothpick. I mean, fucking do it. "Cryin' Like A Bitch"? Really? Come on, let's go big.
Revolver: In terms of just a song, did you like it?
Sixx: It was just GODSMACK — it was OK. I mean, they're not THE ROLLING STONES.
To purchase the March/April 2011 issue of Revolver magazine containing the entire Nikki Sixx interview, visit RevolverMag.com.
Comedian Hal Sparks, who was performing at the Las Vegas Hilton last Thursday night (March 24) when MÖTLEY CRÜE's Vince Neil allegedly shouted obscenities at the singer's former girlfriend Alicia Jacobs called Neil's behavior "unnecessary," "stupid" and 'mean-spirited." "I don't think you can write off that kind of behavior just on being drunk," Sparks told Las Vegas radio station Mix 94.1.
Jacobs, who works as a TV reporter in Las Vegas, left Neil on March 15, less than a month after the singer served 10 days of a 15-day jail sentence for DUI.
Sparks said Jacobs had a visible bruise on her arm from Neil poking her.
"What goes through your head that goes, 'I'll show them, I'll walk into the middle of the show where they're in the audience, yell (expletive), poke them both and walk out,'" he said. "What kind of drunk logic is that? If you're going to be a real (expletive), don't do it in public," he added.
According to TMZ.com, Neil insists he didn't touch Jacobs and that he might file charges against her.
"Videotapes would easily prove that not true," Jacobs said, "and at least 10 people gave statements to [the police]."
Neil failed three field sobriety tests and had a blood-alcohol level almost three times the legal limit during his June 27, 2010 Las Vegas arrest.
The rocker pled guilty in Las Vegas Justice Court in January and spent 10 days in jail, followed by another 15 days of house arrest. He was also ordered to pay a $585 fine and attend DUI school and a victim impact panel online.
SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor told Caller.com's "Weekly Chatter" that he is still struggling with the loss of the band's bassist, Paul Gray, and isn't guaranteeing anything about the group's future.
"There's a part of me that's ready [to carry on with the band] and there's a part of me that's not," Taylor said. "Honestly, I have a lot of trepidation about it. I don't know how to feel. I know a lot of the guys in the band are trying not to show that side, and I can't."
SLIPKNOT will make a number festival appearances this summer, including the U.K.'s Sonisphere, Belgium's Graspop Metal Meeting and Brazil's Rock In Rio. Joining the group on bass will be Donnie Steele, who was the original guitar player in SLIPKNOT and had actually reconnected with Paul in recent years.
Taylor admitted that he is still unsure going back out and performing live without Gray is the right thing to do.
"He's irreplaceable," Taylor said. "Without Paul Gray, there would have been no SLIPKNOT, and I mean that sincerely. So to me, it's strange for me to think about the future of SLIPKNOT without him.
"This tour coming up is definitely going to be like baby steps," he said. "So it's going to be a long time before I feel OK about it. I'm not saying that I'm not open to it. I'm just saying that I'm not there yet, and I don't know how long it's going to take me to get there. So we're just going to have to see what happens. Only time will tell."
Paul Gray was found dead in a hotel room in a Des Moines, Iowa suburb last May at the age of 38 from an overdose of morphine.
To celebrate POISON's 25th anniversary, 35 of the multi-platinum band's top hits and fan favorites have been gathered for "Double Dose Of Poison: Ultimate Hits", a new career-spanning 2CD and digital collection to be released May 3 by Capitol/EMI.
"Double Dose Of Poison: Ultimate Hits" features all of the band's charting singles, including the #1 smash ballad "Every Rose Has Its Thorn", Top 10 hits "Nothin' But A Good Time", "Unskinny Bop" and "Something To Believe In", and other big hits and fan favorites, including "Talk Dirty To Me", "I Want Action", "Your Mama Don't Dance", "Fallen Angel", "Ride The Wind" and many more, including standouts from the band's most recent album, 2007's "Poison'd!"
"Between 'Double Dose Of Poison' and the 25th-anniversary tour, I honestly can't think of a better way to mark this major milestone," says POISON's singer Bret Michaels. "I'm so excited to get back out on the road with the band again to celebrate — and 'Double Dose' is going to be such a must-have collection: All the hits in one place. This is going to be really special for all of the fans — and especially for all of those who have been with us since Day One."
POISON's highly-anticipated tour with MÖTLEY CRÜE and the NEW YORK DOLLS kicks off June 7 at Dallas' Gexa Energy Pavilion, before continuing on to more than 30 other cities and major venues across North America, including Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl on June 14, Toronto's Molson Amphitheatre on June 28, Detroit's DTE Energy Music Center on June 29, and Chicago's FMB Amphitheatre on July 1.
"Double Dose Of Poison: Ultimate Hits" track listing:
Disc One:
01. Talk Dirty To Me
02. I Want Action
03. I Won't Forget You
04. Cry Tough
05. Look What The Cat Dragged In
06. Nothin' But A Good Time
07. Fallen Angel
08. Every Rose Has Its Thorn
09. Your Mama Don't Dance
10. Unskinny Bop
11. Rock And Roll All Nite
12. Ride The Wind
13. Something To Believe In
14. Life Goes On
15. Stand
16. The Last Song
17. Shooting Star
Disc Two:
01. We're An American Band
02. So Tell Me Why
03. No More Lookin' Back [live]
04. Can't You See
05. Little Willy
06. Suffragette City
07. Look But You Can't Touch
08. Until You Suffer Some (Fire And Ice)
09. Bastard Son Of A Thousand Blues
10. Lay Your Body Down
11. Sexual Thing
12. (Flesh & Blood) Sacrifice
13. What I Like About You
14. Love On The Rocks
15. Face The Hangman
16. Livin' For The Minute
17. Cover Of The Rolling Stone
18. Poor Boy Blues
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/poisondouble.jpg
The vocal recording sessions for the new NIGHTWISH album, "Imaginarium", were recently postponed until April 4 in order to allow the band's singer, Anette Olzon, a longer recovery period after she suffered broken ribs in a fall. In a new posting on her blog, she states about her condition, "Well, it still hurts and I do need to take painkillers. Can't do some things and lying on the side is still too painful, even if I try every night since my left side is my favorite sleeping side... I am up, I am walking, I can go out for shorter walks, but the pain gets to me after doing that. Still, it's much better and I have learned that broken ribs can take a long time to really heal and that it might be hard to do some things for a long time. I have felt more pain now after my bad cold since the sneezing and coughing 'pulled' it up again so that was a bit bad timing, but I do feel that singing next week will work really good with some painkillers and I am so
happy to finally go over to the studio with [NIGHTWISH mainman/keyboardist] Tuomas [Holopainen]and do some magic! So I'm stronger and I am happy things are moving in the right direction again."
Holed up in the studio for the better part of this spring, NIGHTWISH is not only putting finishing touches to its new album, "Imaginarium", but also planning a movie of the same name. If all goes well, the CD will be released in early 2012, to be followed by the movie at some point further down the line. The first single off the album as well as the trailer for the film should arrive well before the end of 2011.
For the movie, NIGHTWISH has teamed up with director Stober Harju's production team and Solar Films.
NIGHTWISH will kick off the "Imaginarium" world tour in Los Angeles. The very first show of the trek will take place at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California on Saturday, January 21. This will be the biggest NIGHTWISH show production ever on North American soil and strictly a one-off — there will be no U.S. tour until later in 2012.
Northeast Ohio-based metallers WRETCH are seeking a new second guitarist. Shaun Vanek (ETERNAL LEGACY, CELLBOUND, MANIMALS, BREAKER) had been filling this role on a part-time basis the past couple of years but is unable to continue due to his busy schedule and other commitments.
"We're looking for a guitarist who can practice regularly and become a permanent full-time member of the band." says WRETCH guitarist and main songwriter Nick Giannakos. "We'd like to thank Shaun for his help and wish him the best with his other projects".
Interested guitarists can contact the band at nshred1@yahoo.com.
WRETCH added drummer Butch Likens in February.
WRETCH is gearing up for the release of their brand new, as-yet-untitled studio album, due out later this year on Auburn Records. The CD is being recorded at Noise Floor Studios in Cleveland with BREAKER guitarist Don Depew producing.
"We've been busy in the studio recording and will be starting the final mix soon," adds Giannakos. "There are still some guitar parts that need to be finished the new guitarist can contribute to if we are able to find the right person in time. We'd like to have the lineup set in place before the release of the album so we can properly prepare for both regional and overseas live shows."
WRETCH was one of the featured bands at the 2007 Headbangers Open Air festival in Germany and wrote the festival anthem "Make This Garden Burn".
WRETCH is:
Nick Giannakos - Guitar
Colin Watson - Vocals
Tim Frederick - Bass
Butch Likens - Drums
Former INTO ETERNITY drummer Steve Bolognese has issued the following update:
"Well, I'm sad to announce I am no longer a part of INTO ETERNITY, according to Blabbermouth.
"I have yet to hear from the band. I found out on Blabbermouth. Sad to see that it ended like this after almost five years of dedication to my favorite band.
"The last conversation I had with the band leader was a positive one where we talked about the new songs that we have been working on and some future plans, then next thing I know people are asking me what happened with INTO ETERNITY and I asked, 'What do you mean?' They said, 'Just read Blabbermouth, so I did and that's when I found out INTO ETERNITY announced a new drummer. Then I immediately called the band leader. I got no response. Then I emailed him, and he finally gave me a one-sentence email reply that said, 'Brian [Newbury] is doing all future shows with us.' That was it. One sentence after five years of being in that band. So needless to say, I was a bit choked.
"It's a shame how you can join your favorite band (musically) and then find out that they are not the type of people you thought they were. It's the definition of bittersweet. But, as unfortunate as it is, I don't think INTO ETERNITY has much of a future anymore. They are supposed to record a new record but there is no more record label, manager, or booking agent so it's gonna be tough to get things rolling again. Not to mention there is no more desire to tour in that band unless it's for only a week at a time.
"Sorry, but this is just sad news all around."
INTO ETERNITY's most recent video, "Time Immemorial", can be viewed below. The track appears on the group's concept album, "The Incurable Tragedy", which sold 1,900 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The clip, which features vocalist Stu Block in a prominent role, was filmed in Montreal in August 2008, just before the group embarked on the Summer Slaughter Canada tour. That trek was followed by a run alongside ICED EARTH, which capped off a year that also saw the band tour with SYMPHONY X, AT THE GATES and THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, among others.
"Unholy Cross", the fourth album from Swedish melodic metallers BLOODBOUND, has entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 50. The CD was released on March 18 via Germany's AFM Records.
Commented the band: "'Unholy Cross' was a fun album to write and record and musically we wanted to go back and create the magic from the 'Nosferatu' album but with an updated 2011 production.
"The album cover made by Mark Wilkinson (IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST) is very symbolic for the band as it symbolizes the resurrection of BLOODBOUND. It shows our monster mascot, 'Nossen', rising from the dead. We as a band feel we're resurrected as well, as we now have a stable lineup and we all like working together as a band unit.
"Unholy Cross" track listing:
01. Moria
02. Drop The Bomb
03. The Ones We Left Behind
04. Reflections Of Evil
05. In For The Kill
06. Together We Fight
07. The Dark Side Of Life
08. Brothers Of War
09. Message From Hell
10. In The Dead Of Night
11. Unholy Cross
Heavy Paradise recently conducted an interview with former WHITE LION frontman Mike Tramp. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Heavy Paradise: Allow me to take you back to 1983 when [the debut WHITE LION album] "Fight To Survive" was released. Did you expect that kind of success when you formed WHITE LION?
Tramp: No, of course not. It was a dream come true. We hoped the album would be a success, but it took many years and we had many problems with the record company before we finally got it out, a year and a half after recording it.
Heavy Paradise : What is the thing that you miss most from those days?
Tramp: I don't really miss anything, because I have learned to live with that today is a different time. But there is no doubt that it was the time when hard rock was at the top everywhere — radio, TV, concerts around the world, and rock fans were having a great time and so were the bands.
Heavy Paradise: I read somewhere that you wanted to do a reunion with the original WHITE LION members. What went wrong and it never happened?
Tramp: No, I never wanted it, but i was open to it. But everyone has to understand like Vito [Bratta, former WHITE LION guitarist] is like big sleepy elephant standing in the middle of the road preventing anything from happening. He is the single and only reason why it will never happen.
Heavy Paradise: With Vito Bratta you were a very successful duo. Do you keep in touch with Vito?
Tramp: No, I just answer his lawyers' letters... But I think it must be a miserable life to live the way he does. Never done one thing musically since WHITE LION broke up 20 years ago. No albums, no concerts, not even one little club show. Wow, it is amazing one can live like that.
Heavy Paradise: "Return Of The Pride" was a good comeback album. Do you think that it reached the expectations of the band's earlier releases?
Tramp: When I look back, I think it should have been listed as a new band. I really like the album and the songs I wrote. But I agree that it is difficult to call it a WHITE LION album.
The remaining members of the U.K. thrash band ONSLAUGHT have released the following statement regarding the departure of their drummer and founding member, Steve Grice:
"Steve Grice's contribution to ONSLAUGHT was priceless, from its original inception and subsequent rebirth. We're sad to see Steve leave over what we felt was a genuinely small issue and on the eve of one of the longest tours in the band's history.
"We'd like to take this opportunity to thank Steve for his tireless work and wish him every success in whatever path he chooses for the future, and just to say, as Steve moves on, so does ONSLAUGHT!"
Grice released a statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET in which he blamed his decision to quit ONSLAUGHT on "a series of events that, in [his] opinion, have seen the recurrence of old patterns of behavior that fuelled the band's original demise in 1991." He added, "This culmination of occurrences came to a head when I learned through a third party that the band had booked a series of shows without my knowledge, and with the intention of using another drummer, during a period of time reserved for family commitments. Be very clear — the temporary use of another drummer does not present me with a problem. My issue is with the fact that at no point did anyone from the band let me know that these decisions had been made." He continued, "Again in my opinion, there is a considerable gap between certain parties' view of ONSLAUGHT and the truth in terms of album sales and concert attendances. My reality, that of a father of two approaching 50, was simply incompatible
with this alternate world view."
ONSLAUGHT has recruited Michael Hourihan (EXTREME NOISE TERROR, DESECRATION) to play the drums during the band's "Scream For Violence" tour starting on March 31 in Hamburg, Germany. According to a press release, the band is well rehearsed and prepared to perform a killer set, including songs that they have never played before such as "Shock And Awe" and "Rest In Pieces", among others.
ONSLAUGHT's "The Sound Of Violence" video can be viewed below. The band's first official clip in twenty years (the last being from the group's 1990 full-length, "In Search Of Sanity") was filmed and edited by Lukas Hambach of Bloodwork Entertainment (DESTRUCTION, GAMMA RAY) and produced by Tommy Morriello and Thosten Lütje.
"The Sound Of Violence" comes off ONSLAUGHT's fifth album, "Sounds Of Violence", which was released in January via AFM Records. The follow-up to 2007's "Killing Peace" was recorded and mixed at Hansen Studio in Ribe, Denmark with acclaimed Danish producer Jacob Hansen (RAUNCHY, MERCENARY, VOLBEAT, HEAVEN SHALL BURN).
Quebec, Canada-based metallers HANKER have released the following statement:
"After a career spanning 26 years, HANKER announce today their retirement from the scene. It was more and more difficult for them to carry on with jobs and other daily obligations. However, their legacy is here to stay: five great CDs and one EP (which ALL received many praise reviews from diverse media) and countless gigs throughout these years. One of the highlight is their appearance in Germany as one of the headliners at the Headbangers Open Air festival in July 2004.
"HANKER went out on a high note with their latest album, 'Conspiracy Of Mass Extinction', released in 2010 via Hellion Records in Germany, which received many great reviews.
"The band members would like to sincerely thank all their fans that have been exceptionally loyal throughout all these years and all the metal media that have supported them in this great ride."
The artwork for "Conspiracy Of Mass Extinction" was once again created by David Faucher, who was also responsible for the artwork on the band's previous album, "Web Of Faith".
"Web of Faith" was released in August 2004 via Skycraper Music. The CD was recorded at Victor and JFD studios.
British vocalist Sarah Jezebel Deva — who has toured and/or recorded with CRADLE OF FILTH, THERION, MORTIIS and ANGTORIA — has completed work on her new solo CD, "The Corruption Of Mercy". She states, "[I am] so happy with it and does piss over the last album!"
Sarah Jezebel Deva's solo debut, "A Sign Of Sublime", was released in February 2010 through Rising Records. The drums on the CD were laid down by Max Blunos, formerly of the U.K. death metal outfit TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED. Other guest musicians that appear on the album include Martin Powell (CRADLE OF FILTH, ANATHEMA, MY DYING BRIDE) and Dave Pybus (CRADLE OF FILTH). The CD was mixed and mastered at Escape Route by Dan Abela.
ABSOLUTE POWER, the U.K.-based classic metal band featuring former/current members of NAPALM DEATH and BENEDICTION as well as producers behind albums for such acts as PARADISE LOST, EVILE and CROWBAR, will release its long-awaited, self-titled album on May 9. The NWOBHM-inspired, fist-pumping warriors have been sitting on the finished product for some time, but are now ready to unleash the solos, the riffs... and the power.
ABSOLUTE POWER is:
* Simon Efemey (producer; PARADISE LOST, CROWBAR) - Vocals
* Shane Embury (NAPALM DEATH, BRUJERIA) - Bass
* Mitch Harris (NAPALM DEATH) - Guitar
* Russ Russell (producer; EVILE, DIMMU BORGIR) - Guitar
* Ian Treacey (BENEDICTION, MEATHOOK SEED)- Drums
If the band lineup wasn't stellar enough, the band has roped in some well-known metal mates for guest appearances. Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, BEYOND FEAR, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) provides additional piercing vocal violence, with a '70s solo assault being launched by DIAMOND HEAD founder Brian Tatler.
Commented Embury: "I am very excited to finally get our debut album out there; it's been a long labor of love for us and it's only through our united passion for true heavy metal that we are here today!
"If all goes well with this download release, we hope to release the album in true classic heavy metal style on a limited-edition gatefold vinyl release, which will be awesome!"
The album, released via FETO Records, will be available for download from iTunes, Amazon and all usual outlets from May 9.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/absolutepoweruk.
The following statement was issued today by SHINING founder and frontman Niklas Kvarforth:
"A lot of things have been happening recently with SHINING, and the rapid growth of the band over the last year, and the commitment that SHINING now requires of me, has meant that it has become impractical for me to continue working as vocalist with other bands. This includes my work with BETHLEHEM, who themselves realized that the band could not continue with myself on vocals. BETHLEHEM is still my all-time favorite band and I wish them all the best for the future. I will also be quitting as front man for DEN SAAKALDTE.
"From now on, therefore, I will only be making occasional guest vocal appearances on albums by other bands, and my priority will be SHINING. My work with Maniac's band SKITLIV will not be affected, however, as the vocals and the bulk of the creative work is in his hands.
"As always, myself and the band very much appreciate all the support the fans are giving SHINING and their patience in waiting for the release of [the new SHINING album] 'VII', and there will be some very good news regarding this very shortly."
SHINING's seventh album, "VII / Född Förlorare" (English translation: "Born Loser"), will be released later in the year via Indie Recordings.
"Shining VII - Född Förlorare" (English translation: "Born Loser") track listing:
01. Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel
02. Tiden Läker Inga Sår
03. Människa O'Avskyvärda Människa
04. Tillsammans Är Vi Allt
05. I Nattens Timma
06. FFF
Making guest appearances on the album are Erik Danielsson (WATAIN), Peter Bjargo (ARCANA) and NORDMAN.
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