According to a posting on JUDAS PRIEST's official web site, the legendary British heavy metal band is currently working on new material. The message adds that "all is going really well" and promises that more details will be made available at a later date.
A separate posting on JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Glenn Tipton's official web site reads, "As you may already be aware, PRIEST have announced a fair well world tour beginning this summer.
"We are all excited about the tour and are currently having meetings to discuss the stage production, but above all the set list. We intend to include some classic PRIEST songs that we haven't played before and of course the old favorites that everybody will want to hear.
"To put everyone's mind at rest, this is by no means the end of the band. In fact, we are presently writing new material, but we do intend this to be the last major world tour."
JUDAS PRIEST's most recent double-disc concept album, "Nostradamus", sold 42,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 11 on The Billboard 200 chart. This marked the band's highest-ever chart position in the U.S. In Canada, the CD opened at position No. 9 after shifting close to 4,000 units.
JUDAS PRIEST's previous studio CD, "Angel of Retribution", premiered with 58,000 copies in the U.S. back in March 2005 to debut at No. 13.
When asked about the varied reaction from JUDAS PRIEST fans to "Nostradamus", singer Rob Halford stated in a 2008 interview, "The reaction has been very kind of mixed and diverse — very passionate responses. There are some PRIEST fans that only want 'Painkiller', 'Painkiller', 'Painkiller', which is fine. If you want to listen to 'Painkiller', throw it in your CD player. But I think, in terms of achievement, this is something we've always wanted to do. We've often talked about making a concept record, but it took until now to personally have the strong structure of an idea — in Nostradamus — and secondly have enough time to disappear into the recording/writing realm through almost a two-year period. But it's done now, and we feel very satisfied — we're proud of what we've achieved — and it's out there around the world settling into the psyche of everyone. My gut feeling tells me that in two, three, five years from now, the light will go on and
people will go, 'Oh yeah. I've got it. I understand what this is all about now.' We're all about music. Some of it is instant; some of it takes awhile [to connect with the listener] . That's the joy of listening to music in all the ways that we do."
JUDAS PRIEST's "A Touch of Evil: Live" live album sold around 5,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 87 on The Billboard 200 chart.
PRIEST chose 10 songs not previously released in live album form for "A Touch of Evil: Live", which was released in July 2009, in the midst of the band's U.S. summer tour.
"A Touch of Evil" included live renderings of longtime fan favorites such as "Painkiller", "Dissident Aggressor", "Riding on the Wind", "Between the Hammer & the Anvil" and "Eat Me Alive", as well as "Hellrider" from "Angel of Retribution", the group's 2004 reunion album with frontman Rob Halford, and two tracks — "Death" and "Prophecy" — from 2008's rock opera "Nostradamus".
Recorded by Martin Walker and Brian Thorene during JUDAS PRIEST's mammoth 2005 and 2008 world tours, "A Touch Of Evil: Live" marked the first PRIEST album that producer Tom Allom has worked on since 1988 (co-producing along with the band). It was such Allom-produced albums as "Unleashed In The East", as well as "British Steel" and "Screaming For Vengeance" (among others) that made PRIEST not only one of the premier metal acts, but one of the leading global rock acts.
JUDAS PRIEST announced in December that it will head out on its farewell world tour beginning in 2011. The band intends to hit all major cities across the globe as they sign off on a career that has lasted for nearly 40 years. The "Epitaph" tour will launch on June 9 at the Sweden Rock Festival and hit a number of European festivals throughout the summer, with more dates yet to be confirmed.
According to Billboard.com, AEROSMITH frontman Steven Tyler, guitarist Brad Whitford, bassist Tom Hamilton and drummer Joey Kramer have been working since last Saturday (January 22) with the band's longtime collaborator Marti Frederiksen on material for a new album at Marti's Monrovia, California studio. Guitarist Joe Perry was unable to attend the sessions due to an unspecified commitment, according to Frederiksen.
"It's been really good, great," Frederiksen tells Billboard.com. "We've been playing songs, putting together riffs, having fun, laughing and working from noon to 11 (p.m.) We're just digging in, man."
AEROSMITH's forthcoming CD will be the group's first since "Honkin' on Bobo" in 2004, and first of all new material since "Just Push Play" in 2011.
Legendary rockers KISS are planning on entering the studio in March to begin recording their new studio album for a late 2011 release. During an interview with BackstageAxxess.com that was conducted during this year's NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show, KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer said, "The great news is that we are going in the studio again in the next month or two. We are starting to work on writing some songs, [and we will] approach it just like we did with [2009's] 'Sonic Boom' and keep it all in the band in terms of the writing, with no agenda besides writing great rock and roll songs that we love, then rehearsing them before recording them. It really felt good to us so we'll go the same way this time."
KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley will once again produce the new effort after things went so smoothly on "Sonic Boom". "Paul knows more what a KISS record should sound like than anybody, to be honest with you, so he is going to lead the charge and produce it again and we are all really excited about it," Thayer said.
He added, "I know we are going to start working on it really soon in terms of the writing and rehearsing and we'll probably be in the studio by March, so sometime this year I'm sure you'll see a spanking new KISS album that's gonna kick some butt!"
"Sonic Boom" sold 108,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 2 on The Billboard 200 chart. This marked the band's highest-charting LP ever.
KISS has notched eight Top 10 albums, according to Billboard.com. Its previous highest-charting set was 1998's "Psycho Circus", which debuted and peaked at No. 3 with 110,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The group's other high-charting sets include 1975's "Alive!" (No. 9), 1977's "Love Gun" (No. 4) and 1992's "Revenge" (No. 6).
"Sonic Boom" was released in Europe on October 5, 2009 via Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records. The CD was made available in the U.S. and Canada on October 6, 2009 exclusively via Wal-Mart, Walmart.com and Sam's Club retail locations.
Almost 25 years after the death of legendary Irish rocker Phil Lynott, THIN LIZZY has just hit the road again — this time with THE ALMIGHTY frontman Ricky Warwick at the helm.
Warwick, 44, replaces Lynott in the latest reincarnation, joining THIN LIZZY alumni Scott Gorham, Brian Downey and Darren Wharton. Also on board are DEF LEPPARD's Vivian Campbell and former WHITESNAKE bassist Marco Mendoza.
THIN LIZZY U.S. dates (with more to be added):
March 24 - Jim Thorpe, PA - Penn's Peak
March 25 - New York, NY - Best Buy Theater
March 26 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Casino Wolf's Den
March 27 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
THIN LIZZY 2011 is:
Scott Gorham - Guitar
Brian Downey - Drums
Darren Wharton - Keyboards
Vivian Campbell - Guitar
Marco Mendoza - Bass Guitar
Ricky Warwick - Lead Vocals / Guitar
The new THIN LIZZY lineup kicked off its European tour on January 6 at the Aberdeen Music Hall, United Kingdom.
Thomas S. Orwat Jr. of RockMusicStar.com recently conducted an interview with ANTHRAX singer Joey Belladonna. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
RockMusicStar: Your solo band BELLADONNA has just scheduled a few shows in the upstate New York area and the mid-west. Why did you decide to do solo dates at this time?
Joey Belladonna: Well, I'm always putting dates together. Right now, I'm working with some agents and we found some places to play. But, I'm always pursuing that, regardless. I've been doing this solo for so long and even though I'm with ANTHRAX now, I'm still doing it. It's not just because I have nothing to do, but because it's what I do. We really aren't working that much (with ANTHRAX) anyhow, but at the same time it really doesn't have anything to do with that. But, the dates are just falling in this year, as opposed to last year. I also play out every weekend, locally. I have a cover band called CHIEF BIG WAY. And we do a classic rock covers from BOSTON, JOURNEY, FOREIGNER, LED ZEPPELIN and bands like that.
RockMusicStar: Do you plan any releasing a new BELLADONNA CD anytime soon?
Joey Belladonna: I have about three-quarters of a record ready. And we are trying to finish it up. It seems like it takes forever, but it's really a matter of who is available to work on it and finish it. And of course, I have to start working on some ANTHRAX material as well. I have been, but there is still more work to do on that one. So that's going to take some time, but that shouldn't interfere with what we are doing to finish up the release. But, I'm really enjoying the music that we are creating.
RockMusicStar: I agree. Now, how much of the new ANTHRAX CD is completed at this point?
Joey Belladonna: Well, there are three or four more cuts that need to be recorded. Vocally, I'm already into my fourth or fifth song as far as pre-production. I'm not laying down anything for real yet. I'm working out what I can move and what I can do and how I can make it better.
RockMusicStar: Is all the material already written?
Joey Belladonna: Yeah, the three or four that I'm talking about may have some changes. But, I've had my moments of looking at some of the tracks and thinking how I'm I going to do this one and make it cool. It would be cool if we were starting from day one, but we are moving from point "A" to point "C" at this point.
RockMusicStar: It must be a bit of a challenge because of the fact that most of the material was written for a different vocalist.
Joey Belladonna: I kind of hate that someone was already singing this stuff and now I have to kind of dance around it and do it all over. They (ANTHRAX) have in their mind already how they want it to sound, so it's kind of hard to shake it away. They are not going to say to me, "Go on and do something totally different and we will just dig it." [Laughs] It's hard, but I'm not worried about it.
ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian spoke to Vanessa Franko of The Press-Enterprise about the U.S. leg of the "Big Four" tour, which unites Eighties thrash metal legends METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX on stage for the first time. The single North American gig will take place on Saturday, April 23 at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, California — the same location where the Coachella festival takes place every year.
"This isn't a manufactured thing put together by management or record companies or anything like that. This is put together because these four bands have all been around for so long," Ian said. "We're still at the top of our game and we all really get along well, and really do love each other, as lame as that sounds for a bunch of metal dudes."
Ian also said that he thinks that the bands will get together to do something like the all-star jam of DIAMOND HEAD's "Am I Evil?" in Europe last summer, which Ian called "probably the high point of my career."
"If something is gonna happen, it's going to be different," Ian said. "There's a reason why the four of us bands are still doing it. We've always followed our own path and always been different. I think the last thing we ever want to do is repeat ourselves."
ROB ZOMBIE, APOCALYPTICA, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, DISTURBED, ALTER BRIDGE, MONSTER MAGNET, THE CULT, MORBID ANGEL, MESHUGGAH and SUICIDE SILENCE are among the newly confirmed bands for this year's edition of Hellfest, set to take place June 17-19, 2010 in Clisson, France.
The festival billing is as follows:
Friday, June 17:
IGGY AND THE STOOGES
ROB ZOMBIE
THE CULT
DISTURBED
ALTER BRIDGE
ARCHITECTS
VALIENT THORR
MORBID ANGEL
MESHUGGAH
THE EXPLOITED
MAXIMUM THE HORMONE
DAGOBA
THE DWARVES
SUICIDE SILENCE
KLONE
MAYHEM
GORGUTS
BELPHEGOR
VADER
UNLEASHED
KRISIUN
DODHEIMSGARD
MALEVOLENT CREATION
SVART CROWN
MONSTER MAGNET
THE MELVINS
CLUTCH
CORROSION OF CONFORMITY
THE YOUNG GODS
KARMA TO BURN
EYEHATEGOD
MASTERS OF REALITY
CHURCH OF MISERY
KRUGER
IN SOLITUDE
MY SLEEPING KARMA
HANGMAN'S CHAIR
+ 2 surprise, to-be-announced acts
Saturday, June 18:
SCORPIONS
TRUST
APOCALYPTICA
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
UFO
HAMMERFALL
BLACK RAIN
CRUCIFIED BARBARA
CORONER
KREATOR
SODOM
DESTRUCTION
MUNICIPAL WASTE
THE HAUNTED
MEKONG DELTA
WHIPLASH
LYZANXIA
BOLT THROWER
TRIPTYKON
1349
SEPTICFLESH
LOCK UP
SKYFORGER
EXHUMED
SKELETONWITCH
TOTAL FUCKIN DESTRUCTION
BAD BRAINS
CONVERGE
TERROR
COMEBACK KID
D.R.I.
TIMES OF GRACE
US BOMBS
SHAI HULUD
RAW POWER
YOUR DEMISE
DEEZ NUTS
NASTY
ARMA GATHAS
Sunday, June 19:
OZZY OSBOURNE
JUDAS PRIEST
MR. BIG
CAVALERA CONSPIRACY
DORO
ANGEL WITCH
FIREWIND
SUP
OPETH
THERION
ANATHEMA
PAIN OF SALVATION
OPRHANED LAND
ATHEIST
TURISAS
AUDREY HORNE
CRADLE OF FILTH
KORPIKLAANI
MORGOTH
GRAVE
TSJUDER
ANAL CUNT
HAIL OF BULLETS
ARKONA
IMPUREZA
KYUSS LIVES!
HAWKWIND
GOATSNAKE
ELECTRIC WIZZARD
GRAND MAGUS
KYLESA
THE BLACK DALHIA MURDER
BUZZOV*EN
KNUT
RED FANG
THE GATES OF SLUMBER
ANCESTORS
MORNE
For more information, visit www.hellfest.fr.
Keith Spera of The Times-Picayune recently conducted an interview with Philip Anselmo (DOWN, PANTERA, ARSON ANTHEM, SUPERJOINT RITUAL). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
On coming to terms with his past, while looking to the future:
"I don't know how you measure success in your life. But I'm happy. I'm relatively healthy. And when I look back on things, bands and people, there are negatives, there are the bad times. I choose to look at the positives.
"It's OK to look back, but I wouldn't want to get stuck there. I'm the type of guy who is ready for tomorrow. I'm ready to put that foot forward."
On the 20th anniversary reissue of PANTERA's "Cowboys From Hell" album:
"Standing in front of Darrell's ['Dimebag' Darrell Abbott, late PANTERA guitarist] amp, it was always this treacherous, ripping, awesome sound. Capturing that sound onto tape back then where there was no Pro Tools, everything was organic … that was a trick.
"We really worked on capturing that live feel. You can hear the jump in production; (producer) Terry Date opened up a whole new area. PANTERA, in my opinion, upped the heavy metal production game. People wanted their records to sound like this record."
On taking pain medication throughout DOWN's 2006 tour while also drinking:
"[I learned I] couldn't drink like I was 21 anymore. I tried. I damn well tried."
"When you see the footage [on DOWN's 'Diary Of A Mad Band' DVD], it's like, 'I can't believe this is me all over again.' It doesn't come off any better than when I was (messed) up before."
"I don't want to see that version of me anymore. It's ugly to watch."
On his girlfriend Kate Richardson, whom he credits with helping him through his darkest day:
"I love her. She is the anchor in my life."
"She came into my life and caught the tail end of the worst part of Philip. She laid down the line: Me or the drugs, jack. I chose her, in good faith. And it's paid off, it really has."
Russia's Darkside web site recently conducted an interview with HELLYEAH/ex-PANTERA drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott and HELLYEAH vocalist Chad Gray on November 17, 2010 in Oslo, Norway. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Darkside: Both of you have been in the music industry for quite a while. What would you say was the most valuable lesson that you have learned along the way?
Vinnie: Probably the most valuable lesson anybody should learn is never piss on the people on your way to the top, 'cause you're gonna have to see them on your way down, some day. That's a very valuable lesson. And another lesson is to try to learn to be sort of business-minded. You know, it's called the music business. We've all gone into it, 'cause we love the music and a lot of people end up with nothing at the end of the day, after they've done all of this great music, 'cause they never learned any of the business side. So to be able to pick up on some of that is helpful for sure. Don't just say, "Well, I'll just let my accountant handle that." Still, to this day, I pay my own fucking bills, they come to my house, they don't go to some dude in L.A. and he does it. I wanna look through them, I want to make sure there's no bullshit.
Chad: The first thing he said about not pissing on people on your way up… I've always been the kind of person who has really kept my feet on the ground. I know that he has been that kind of person, too. I think that's why the respect level that we have for each other was so high right from the get go. It's 'cause when we met each other — there was no bullshit, there was no ego. It was like wow, this is fucking amazing, 'cause it's really hard to find it in this business. HELLYEAH has been very humble. MUDVAYNE saw a [certain] level of success: we have three records out in the States. We make money when we go out in States, we sold almost six million records worldwide and that's a big deal. HELLYEAH is like starting over in this new world that we live in with downloading and so on. It's been really humble; it's been fucking awesome, too. It's really taking me back to be able to live a life and make a climb for 10 years and then turn around and come
back and start all over again. It just makes you really appreciate all of your work, where you kind of end up. It's been really awesome for me. I never saw the level of success he saw. It's a testament to the headspace of HELLYEAH and what we are. I don't know many people that could do what we're doing right now, how we are living our lives right now.
Darkside: Vinnie, I have read some speculations online regarding the possibility of you ever re-creating PANTERA without Dime [late PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott]. I don't know what triggered these speculations, but what do you have to say to these people?
Vinnie: It's ridiculous. Dime was such a huge part of it; it would be just completely asinine to even consider that. I think it's pretty disrespectful from people to even suggest it. He left an amazing legacy and it's gonna be left untouched, it's beautiful, it's pristine and I wanna leave it that way. I am really proud of what I do with this band [HELLYEAH]. Of course, the history of PANTERA speaks for itself. I want him to always be known as "the dude," you know. Period. Forever.
Darkside: Yeah, but the comments I have read were actually criticizing you as if you have ever said that this was possible.
Vinnie: No no, I have never said this was possible. Not me. Might've been some other clowns that used to be in that band, but not me. (laughs)
Darkside: There are many young bands these days who act kind of arrogant, thinking that they basically make history in a way, even though for real they just make noise. And then there are you guys who have actually made history, but you are really down to earth. So what helps you keep your feet on the ground?
Chad: It's probably that statement that Vince made. That's the greatest thing I have ever learned and I learned that from Ozzy from this "Decline Of Western Civilization Part II" [documentary], where he says that. Don't fuck with people on your way up, 'cause you'll meet them on your way down. I remember watching that whole documentary and I was like, "That's it!" I was probably 17 when I saw it, way before I have ever done anything, but I always kept that in my head for some reason. It's all gonna go away, it all ends. Here today, gone tomorrow. If you got the attitude like, "I'm the fucking shit" for the here today, what happens when you're gone tomorrow? You're gonna look like a fucking fool, when you're working at the record store or flipping fries. Hang on to your integrity as a person. It's just a fucking job. We love our job, but it's a job.
Darkside: What is it about music that you love so much, what gives you goosebumps?
Vinnie: It's just creating it and performing it, you know. There's not a bigger rise in this world than hear the crowd [roar] when the lights go down. If you can't get up for that, you can't get up for anything. That's what it's all about — performing. You look out there and whether it's 500 people or [playing] Donington [in front of] 100,000 people or Monsters of Rock — half a million people, you're making these people happy and they're into it.
Chad: For me it starts [when] we start writing something, putting something together. I listen to a song and I'll listen to it over and over. A lot of times you're kinda holding on, you're trying to figure it out so you know where to go with it. The more I listen to the song as a singer and a writer, the more I familiarize myself with it, the more I tend to just unconsciously let go off the song. Then it's just in my head, and all of a sudden here comes the melody, here come the lyrics, everything just starts coming in. And I love that feeling when I start writing and everything is just pouring out, I am so fucking excited, I can't wait to get behind the mike. So you got that one moment. Then you get the moment of getting behind the mike and actually hearing it. And then you get on stage and there's this fucking energy, like what Vince was talking about. We'll get on stage tonight and there are all these people, they've never seen us here [in Oslo]. And
if everything is really cool and everybody's being really open-minded and everybody really wants to give it a shot, there's this energy exchange that happens. We're giving them something and then they go, "Waaaah!!" and they give it back. And then we go, "Oh yeah" and we give it harder and then they give it harder. And the next thing you know everybody is fucking partying and fist-pumping and drinking… We fucking bring it pretty hard and I think that's what people receive from us. They see that we are very passionate about what we do. It's a real fucking thing, you can almost touch it. The big thing with us is honesty, we're not out to fool anybody. We just want to share our music, and if you like it, take it; [and] if you don't — [that's] okay.
Alan Sculley of The Portland Press Herald recently conducted an interview with DISTURBED drummer Mike Wengren. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
On how the purpose of DISTURBED's music has never been to bring listeners down:
Wengren: "Some of the records are dark and some of them are darker, but I think ultimately the point of the darkness is to let everyone know you can experience the darkness, but you can use the music to heal yourself up and get out of that hole."
On the particularly difficult stretch in singer/lyricist David Draiman's life which inspired the lyrics for DISTURBED's new album, "Asylum":
Wengren: "David had a pretty rough touring experience during [the cycle for 2008's] 'Indestructible'. He had a lot of bad personal issues that happened to him. His fiancée left him. His dog that he had had for many, many years, she was sort of our tour mascot got sick, and we had to put her down at the beginning of the (tour) cycle, and it was a pretty devastating thing for all of us, because she was such a good, close part of the family. I think he loved that dog more than he loved any person out there, so that was tough. And one of his best friends sort of betrayed him on a personal situation. It seemed like every time he turned around, something horrible was happening to him, and he was just in a really bad place."
"We knew already where his head space was at. He needed to be able to vent and heal through the music. We knew what to give him, and I think it definitely has worked well. He's back, stronger than ever. He sounds great on stage, and he's happy to be around, and he's doing great. At the same time, of course we're going to say this, we feel it's our best and most complete body of work to date."
SHADOWS FALL guitarists Matt Bachand and Jon Donais have joined foces with former members of UNEARTH and SEEMLESS in a new band called DEAD OF NIGHT.
Combining modern hard rock and metal with powerful vocals, huge driving guitars, and a massive rhythm section, DEAD OF NIGHT is poised to destroy the current stale world of rock. With a strong focus on the melodic elements of the Eighties, the dark harmonies of the Nineties and a new modern twist, Bachand, Donais, Derek Kerswill (UNEARTH, SEEMLESS, KINGDOM OF SORROW), Jeff Fultz (SEEMLESS) and Jason Witte (GOADED) have teamed up to deliver a familiar, but original sound.
After completing a five-song demo in late 2010, DEAD OF NIGHT set out to find a singer who could take the songs to the next level. In stepped Arizona native Jason Witte, whose previous band GOADED featured former members of DIO, Tracy G. and Larry "Bones" Dennison, and current KORN drummer, Ray Luzier. After a few weeks and a flight out to Massachusetts, it was clear that he was up to the task. The new tracks were recorded mostly in each member's home-studio and then sent to Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, SHADOWS FALL) for mixing.
"There are too many bands out there with one radio-friendly song and nine throwaways just to fill up an album," says Jason. "We want our audience to be blown away with each and every song."
DEAD OF NIGHT is:
Jason Witte (ex-GOADED) - Vocals
Matt Bachand (SHADOWS FALL) - Guitar
Jon Donais (SHADOWS FALL) - Guitar
Jeff Fultz (ex-SEEMLESS) - Bass
Derek Kerswill (ex-UNEARTH, SEEMLESS) - Drums
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/officialdeadofnightband.
DOCTOR MIDNIGHT & THE MERCY CULT, the new Scandinavian supergroup featuring former/current members of such acts as TURBONEGRO, MARILYN MANSON, SATYRICON and EXTOL, has inked a deal with Season Of Mist. The band's debut album, which has been described in a press release as "hard, uncompromising and catchy," will be released on June 6. a single will precede the full-length CD on May 9 to coincide with the start of the European music festival season.
Upcoming DOCTOR MIDNIGHT & THE MERCY CULT shows:
May 14 - Metallsvenskan - Örebro, Sweden
Jun. 17 - Metaltown - Gothenburg, Sweden
Jun. 30 - Peace & Love - Borlänge, Sweden
Jul. 07 - Getaway Rock - Gävle, Sweden
Jul. 14 - Slottsfjellfestivalen - Tønsberg, Norway
DOCTOR MIDNIGHT & THE MERCY CULT is:
* Hank von Helvete (real name: Hans Erik Dyvik Husby) (TURBONEGRO) - Vocals
* Tim Skold (MARILYN MANSON, KMFDM, SHOTGUN MESSIAH) - Bass
* Anders Odden (SATYRICON) - Guitar
* David Husvik (EXTOL) - Drums
* Audun Stengel (APOTYGMA BERZERK) - Guitar
Henrik Ostergaard, lead singer for the band DIRTY LOOKS, passed away today (Thursday, January 27) at 9:18 a.m. The cause of death at this time is unknown and the results of the autopsy are pending.
Ostergaard, who was of Danish descent, lived in Erie, Pennsylvania.
In 1985, Henrik started DIRTY LOOKS. Three independent albums and an EP soon followed, which led to DIRTY LOOKS getting signed by Atlantic Records. Henrik was later picked up by Sony and most recently FnA Records through which DIRTY LOOKS released a new album, "I.C.U.", in 2010.
Ostergaard is survived by his two children, Henrik Jr. and Elliot.
GoErie.com reports that Henrik Ostergaard, the founder and leader of internationally known hard-rock band DIRTY LOOKS, died of "natural causes" at 9:18 a.m. while under hospice care, according to Erie County Coroner Lyle Cook. He was 47 years old.
"I'm deeply saddened by the news of Henrik's passing," said Jack Pyers, who played bass on numerous DIRTY LOOKS albums. "I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to work with and share some significant achievements with Henrik.
"He is and will certainly always be in my thoughts and close to my heart. So, my deepest respect to Henrik as a friend, father, husband and one of the best (expletive deleted) rock 'n roll singers that ever was."
Henrik, who was of Danish descent, nearly died from alcohol poisoning a few years ago. He lived in Erie, Pennsylvania and ran a local moving business, 2 Guys & A Truck.
Dutch progressive metallers TEXTURES have entered Split Second Sound studios in Amsterdam to begin recording their fourth album for a fall release via Nuclear Blast Records. The as-yet-untitled CD is being produced by TEXTURES guitar player Jochem Jacobs, who helmed all of the band's previous albums.
Commented Jochem: "It's all really exciting! This album is really going to express where and what we are these days....and that's a good thing.
"We've been through a lot lately, especially the last year. Now with some new air and fresh ideas, we finally reached the point that we are actually quite confident in the new material.
"Sometimes you just have to crawl through the mud first to get to dry grounds.
"We are in the middle of the preproduction now, getting our asses in gear...to create this baby. It's kinda cool to see this band grow more and more and to continue this musical journey that we've been on for 10 years!
"Let's make this thing heavy!!!"
TEXTURES last year announced the addition of keyboardist/samplist Uri Dijk to the group's ranks.
Keyboard player Richard Rietdijk left TEXTURES in April 2010 to pursue other interests.
TEXTURES made its first appearance with vocalist Daniel de Jongh (exCILICE) at the Fortarock festival in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
TEXTURES's last album, "Silhouettes", was released in North America on September 30, 2008 via Listenable/Koch. The CD entered the Dutch chart at position No. 100. This was the band's first chart showing ever.
San Diego metalers CAGE will release their first-ever DVD, "Cage - The Rise To Power", on March 15 in Europe through Music Buy Mail and through Heavy Metal Media for North America and the rest of the world. The two-disc DVD set packed full of material and is available for pre-order on the official CAGE web site at www.cageheavymetal.com. It will ship two weeks before release date to those who pre-order on the site. In April, a Blu-ray version will also be available.
Disc 1 of "Cage - The Rise To Power" features CAGE's entire performance at the ProgPower USA X festival in Atlanta, Georgia in September 2009. Disc 2 features footage from various festivals and performances around the world as well as backstage and on tour clips. Also on disc 2 are five previously unreleased audio tracks, including one off CAGE's upcoming CD.
"Cage - The Rise To Power" details:
Disc One
* Planet Crusher
* I Am The King
* Kill The Devil
* Scarlet Witch
* Hell Destroyer
* Black River Falls
* Speed Kills
* Metal Devil
Disc Two
* Rise Of The Beast
* Kill The Devil
* Final Solution
* King Diamond
* Chupacabra
* Shoot To Kill
* From Death To Legend
* Wings Of Destruction
* War Of The Undead (previously unreleased track)
* Skinned Alive (previously unreleased track)
* Europe Raging
* Mexico Madness
* New Album Preview
Note: Three hidden Easter Eggs are also located somewhere on the discs.
CAGE — featuring new guitarist Steven Brogden and bassist Pete Stone — is putting the finishing touches on the follow-up to "Science Of Annihilation" for a spring release. In addition, the band is currently booking dates for Europe in May in support of the DVD and upcoming CD.
FATES WARNING/OSI guitarist Jim Matheos and former FATES WARNING singer John Arch are currently working together on a new full-length album that will be released in late spring/early summer via Metal Blade Records. The band, called ARCH/MATHEOS, began tracking the drums on January 12 and will continue to record through mid-February with both John Arch and Jim Matheos producing the album. ARCH/MATHEOS features an all-star lineup, including the talents of Joey Vera (ARMORED SAINT, ANTHRAX, FATES WARNING, SEVEN WITCHES) on bass, Bobby Jarzombek (HALFORD, FATES WARNING, SEBASTIAN BACH, RIOT) on drums, and Frank Aresti (FATES WARNING) on additional lead guitar.
Commented Jarzombek: "This thing has actually been in the works for a while but has been kept under wraps.
"The process started in early 2010 as Jim began e-mailing me Pro Tools sessions and wav files of the songs as Jim and John were writing them. I demoed my drum ideas during the breaks in my 2010 schedule and began sending files back and forth to Jim and John, making changes along the way.
"There's some amazing music here and it really inspired me to create some unique and challenging drum stuff. And FATES longtime engineer Phil Magnotti captured some great drum sounds in the studio so I can't wait to hear the finished product when the CD is done."
Arch's solo EP, "A Twist Of Fate", was released in 2003 through Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded at the Carriage House studios in Stamford, Connecticut and featured guest appearances by Matheos, ex-DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy and Vera.
Swedish sleaze rockers HARDCORE SUPERSTAR have been confirmed for this year's edition of the Sweden Rock Festival, set to take place June 8-11, 2011 in Sölvesborg in southern Sweden.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows (in alphabetical order):
AGENT STEEL
BUCKCHERRY
CLUTCH
CRASHDIET
DAN REED BAND
DESTRUCTION
DOC HOLLIDAY
ELECTRIC WIZARD
FLÄSKET BRINNER
FM
GHOST
GROUNDHOGS
HARDCORE SUPERSTAR
HAWKWIND
HELLOWEEN
JASON & THE SCORCHERS
JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS
JUDAS PRIEST
KANSAS
MASON RUFFNER
MOLLY HATCHET
MOONSPELL
MORBID ANGEL
MR. BIG
MUSTASCH
OVERKILL
OZZY OSBOURNE
RAGE (acoustic)
RAUBTIER
RHAPSODY OF FIRE
ROB ZOMBIE
SAXON
STRYPER
STYX
THE CULT
THE DAMNED
THE HAUNTED
WALTER TROUT
WHITESNAKE
SAXON will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its classic album "Denim And Leather" by performing it in its entirety at the event, "spiced with a lot of other immortal SAXON classics and yes, they will bring the eagle!"
The first annual Avalanche Tour brings together some of the biggest names in rock for a massive North American winter trek. This year's tour runs from March 24 to May 8 and features STONE SOUR, THEORY OF A DEADMAN, SKILLET, HALESTORM and ART OF DYING. Tickets for most shows go on sale Saturday, February 5. A special fan club pre-sale will begin Tuesday, February 1 through Artist Arena. Visit AvalancheTour.com for more details.
"So stoked to be a part of the Avalanche Tour!" STONE SOUR singer Corey Taylor exclaims. "We've been looking for the right tour to headline and this is definitely it. We're already working on an amazing show, the kind we have NEVER done before. We're gonna rip these stages to shreds and leave the audience with crazy eyes and sore throats! Here we go!!"
"After almost a year off writing and recording our new record, we're so pumped to be back on the road playing for our fans!" says THEORY OF A DEADMAN vocalist/guitarist Tyler Connolly. "Along with some great bands and some great friends it's gonna be a 'not to be missed' tour for sure. Who knows, maybe we'll pull out a new song or two for the crowds."
Avalanche Tour dates:
Mar. 24 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
Mar. 25 - Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom
Mar. 26 - St. Paul, MN - Roy Wilkins Auditorium
Mar. 28 - Bloomington, IL - US Cellular Coliseum
Mar. 29 - Fort Wayne, IN - Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
Apr. 01 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade Music Park
Apr. 02 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum
Apr. 03 - Ladson, SC - Ladson Fairground
Apr. 08 - San Antonio, TX - Illusion Theater at Alamodome
Apr. 09 - Corpus Christi, TX - Concrete Street Amphitheater
Apr. 10 - Grand Prairie, TX - Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
Apr. 12 - Houston, TX - Reliant Arena
Apr. 13 - Wichita Falls, TX - Kay Yeager Coliseum
Apr. 15 - Belton, TX - Bell County Expo Center
Apr. 16 - Lubbock, TX - LoneStar Amphitheater
Apr. 17 - El Paso, TX - El Paso County Coliseum
Apr. 19 - Tulsa, OK - Tulsa Convention Center Arena
Apr. 21 - Park City, KS - Hartman Arena
Apr. 22 - Springfield, MO - Shrine Mosque
Apr. 29 - New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom
Apr. 30 - Bangor, ME - Bangor Waterfront
May 01 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena -
According to a Twitter message from Eddie Trunk, the host of VH1 Classic's hit television program "That Metal Show", veteran Japanese metallers LOUDNESS will embark on a U.S. tour soon. No further details are currently available.
A brand new song from LOUDNESS entitled "The Eternal Soldiers" serves as the opening theme to "Mazinkaiser SKL", a Japanese OVA (original video animation) series and the 11th Mazinger series ever made based on Go Nagai's original works. The single, which features lyrics by Minoru Niihara and music by Akira Takasaki, was released in Japan on December 15, 2010. It is currently available for purchase at Amazon.co.jp.
"The Eternal Soldiers" single track listing:
01. The Eternal Soldiers
02. The Danger Zone
03. The Eternal Soldiers (instrumental)
04. The Danger Zone (instrumental)
X JAPAN, the most successful rock band in Japanese history, and EMI Music have signed an exclusive three-year manufacturing and distribution agreement that will have EMI Label Services handle the band's releases in North America. The first release will be the track "Jade" on March 15, followed by the band's as yet untitled American debut set for a late summer 2011 release.
"We are so honored to have X JAPAN as part of the EMI Label Services/Caroline family," commented Mike Harris, Executive Vice President/General Manager, EMI Label Services and Caroline Distribution. "After the highly successful North American tour last fall, the timing is perfect for the upcoming X JAPAN release."
Added Dominic Pandiscia, Executive Vice President EMI Music Services North America, "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with X JAPAN. They have cultivated a strong following in the U.S. and we look forward to working with them, helping to reach even more fans."
X JAPAN — Yoshiki (band leader/producer/songwriter/drums and piano), Toshi (vocals), Pata (guitar), Sugizo (guitar and violin), and Heath (bass) — is in the studio putting the finishing touches on the album, the band's first new studio release since 1996 and fifth overall. Half of the songs will be culled from some of the band's gold and platinum Japanese singles; the other half are brand-new songs, and an estimated 95% of the lyrics are being sung in English.
"Some of the songs on this new album were originally written with Japanese lyrics," Yoshiki explained, "so translating them into English has been challenging. For some reason, English needs more words, so I ended up re-writing many of the lyrics but kept the same message."
Most of the album has been recorded in Los Angeles at Yoshiki's own studio. It's the same studio where METALLICA recorded its classic "Black" album, and artists from VAN HALEN to MICHAEL JACKSON to KISS also recorded there before Yoshiki bought it and turned it into a private facility. Yoshiki, who lives in Los Angeles, traveled to Japan a handful of times to record with the rest of the band there. In addition, some of the album has been recorded live over the Internet, with Yoshiki in L.A. and the band's other members at their studio in Japan.
Added Yoshiki, "X JAPAN's music is everything from fast, super-heavy rock to ballads with classical piano — all of those elements are what makes X JAPAN's music. We don't play just one kind of music — we want to take people on a journey."
The X JAPAN/EMI agreement comes on the heels of X JAPAN's U.S. concert debut last August at Lollapalooza, and the band's first-ever North American tour that wrapped up on October 10 with a sold out show at New York's Roseland Ballroom. Many of the new album's tracks were introduced to western fans when they were performed on the tour, including "Rusty Nail", "Kurenai", "I.V.", "Born To Be Free", "Endless Rain", and the album's first single, "Jade".
Over the course of the tour's seven dates, all played in theatre-sized venues, X JAPAN easily demonstrated why they've sold more than 30-million units and filled the 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome a record-setting 18 times. X JAPAN hadn't played venues that small in more than 15 years, so they tailored their "stadium-mindset" production to the theaters, making every effort to bring their take-no-prisoners theatrics and spectacular visuals to America. As the SF Weekly put it, "All it took was one show to make it very clear why X JAPAN is such a phenomenon in its homeland."
Distribution agreements outside of North America, including Japan, will be announced shortly.
To support the new album, X JAPAN plans to tour extensively in 2011.
Check out some song teasers from the new album at www.xjapanmusic.com.
Jari Lindholm, the former guitarist of the Swedish melodic doom/death metallers SLUMBER, has joined ATOMA, the new band featuring former SLUMBER keyboardist/vocalist Ehsan Kalantarpour alongside Rickard Insulander, Siavosh Bigonah and Markus Hill, among others. The group's debut album, "Skylight" — which was originally supposed to be made available as SLUMBER's long-awaited new CD, "Resonance" — will be released in the fall.
Josh Freese — drummer for A PERFECT CIRCLE, DEVO, NINE INCH NAILS, WEEZER, THE VANDALS, GUNS N' ROSES, THE REPLACEMENTS and STING, among others — released "Since 1972" in 2009, which quickly became a widely discussed release as much for its unique marketing strategy as it was for the music itself with outlets worldwide reporting on the unique, tiered pricing plan that ranged from $7 for an album download to a $75,000 package of goodies that included Freese joining the purchaser's band for a month, going to his house to pick clothes out of his closet and a flying trapeze lesson with Robin Finck from NINE INCH NAILS. On April 1, Freese will release "My New Friends", which is both a follow-up and an extension of "Since 1972".
In early 2009, Freese announced the 11-tiered pricing plan for "Since 1972" mentioned above. He freely shared that he had no expectations of people buying the "ridiculously priced packages" (his words) but was aware that the press attention he received for the grassroots marketing was not only fun for all but would help propel sales of the album that was a personal labor of love many years in the making and completely self-funded. Of course, Freese, who has been playing professionally since he was 12, was game for any of the stunts and pranks he outlined in the various packages but did divulge his wife was fearful that he would be spending weeks eating at P.F. Chang's restaurants with "complete strangers" (see $250 package). Other highlights from the purchasing options included original songs written for the buyer, taking possession of Freese's used Volvo station wagon (after being given a personal tour of Disneyland) and a miniature golf outing with
Maynard James Keenan (TOOL, A PERFECT CIRCLE) and DEVO's Mark Mothersbaugh.
So did he sell any of those "ridiculously priced packages?" He sure did. While the $75,000 package is still available, Freese sold the $20,000 package, all of the $5000 packages and multiple $500, $1000 and $2500 packages. Freese's wife was right; all 25 of the $250 packages that included a meal with Josh sold out within 24 hours of the packages going on sale.
"All the direct-to-fan stuff that I sold and wacky stuff that I participated in was a great success, in my opinion. Because all I really wanted was to get people talking about my record, forwarding the web site to their friends, having a laugh about it and say 'Can you believe what THIS guy's doing?' I honestly didn't expect to sell as many of those things as I did." Freese said. Between breaks in his touring and recording schedule, Freese penned songs about the people he met through the promotion and created the five-song EP, "My New Friends". He once again played all of the instruments on the release and will release three videos in the weeks leading up to the April 1 release.
Asked if he had any plans for new pricing strategies for "My New Friends", Freese shared, "I have a few things up my sleeve but it won't be as elaborate as the last batch. It took a lot out of me that last time around. I'll probably do another set of P.F. Chang's lunch dates and some more of the 'thank you phone calls' like I did on the last album. I am going to have a few involved 'packages' that will include everything ranging from customized 'box sets' to having Dexter from THE OFFSPRING fly us in his jet up to San Luis Obispo and go see BUBBLE GUM ALLEY (I think if ya slip Dexter a C-note he'll do a few doughnuts or wheelies on the way back). I'm also trying to get Tommy Lee involved in a seance up at Danny Lohner's castle with one of the buyers too. Maybe have him DJ while we get in touch with the spirit of Divine or Buddy Rich or something." Freese plans to share the package details via his web site on March 28.
Freese is also proud to announce that he just signed the first ever "720 deal" with Outerscope Records (which is comprised of Freese, his wife and their nanny when the kids are napping). "360 deals were all the talk a couple of years ago but the folks at Outerscope Records came up with a deal where we get paid twice around instead of just once," Freese continued. "That made a lot more sense to us... why only go around once? I bet Madonna, Jay-Z and all those bands that were signing 360 deals a few years ago are going to feel kind of silly when they hear about my 720 deal!"
Freese also mentioned that a portion of the profits from the sale of "My New Friends" will go to the 2011 Freese Family Hawaiian Vacation Fund.
"I am proud of this record and hope the same 812 people that got
WOLVES LIKE US, whcih features members of such notable Norwegian acts as AMULET, INFIDELS FOREVER, JR EWING and SILVER, has inked a worldwide, multi-album deal with Prosthetic Records. The band is currently in the studio recording its debut album, "Late Love", for an early summer release. Alan Douches will be handling mastering duties and Justin Bartlett will be crafting the artwork. A main-stage appearance at this year's Øyafestivalen has just been confirmed, with a lot more dates to be announced shortly.
WOLVES LIKE US is without a doubt one of the most exciting bands of the moment at the forefront of the burgeoning Oslo music scene. Although barely a year old, they have already established themselves on the live circuit with a showcase at last year's legendary Øyafestivalen and recent touring with KVELERTAK, GALLOWS, PURIFIED IN BLOOD and BLOOD COMMAND. Extensive domestic radio play followed off the back of a stunning demo and debut seven-inch vinyl.
Drawing influence from artists such as PLANES MISTAKEN FOR STARS, DRIVE LIKE JEHU, HOT WATER MUSIC and the AFGHAN WHIGS, WOLVES LIKE US' mission is clear: to make the urgent, powerful new music that they love.
Commented WOLVES LIKE US drummer Jonas Thire: "WOLVES LIKE US are honored to sign with Prosthetic and be a part of a label with so many great bands. Even if we are a slightly more melodic outfit, we all share the passion for hardcore, metal and hard rock which is what we grew up listening to. We also had a wish to sign with an international label and the fact that our album(s) will be available around the world means a lot to us. Looking forward to the years to come and a great relationship!"
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/wolveslikeusss.
The avant-garde metal craftsmen at The Flenser have announced the signing of the unique entity SEIDR to the label's growing roster. SEIDR's debut full-length release, "For Winter Fire", is in its final stages of completion for the label and will be unveiled to the public in late spring.
With only a handful of self-released demos and EPs to its credit since its 2009 inception, the unit known as SEIDR is brand new to widespread metal legions as of now, but its organic postrock-influenced black/death/doom output is sure to fascinate forward-thinking fans of the contemporary bastardization of extreme metal. With the bulk of the band's lyrical content mainly centered on spirituality, nature and the cosmos, musical comparisons to the SEIDR sound can be traced to acts ranging from ASUNDER to KATATONIA to FAUNA and well beyond, with dramatic progressions raging from the beautiful elements of ALCEST to the hallowing funeral crush of DISEMBOWELMENT within the same hymn at times!
Formed in the open-minded music haven of Louisville, Kentucky, one of SEIDR's most notable aspects may be that one of the two main songwriters is Austin Lunn, the solo artist behind anarcho-black metal solo act PANOPTICON, with recent releases also a part of the Flenser family. Together Lunn (guitar, vocals, recorded drumming) and his songwriting counterpart Wesley Crow (guitar, vocals, recorded bass) wrote all of "For Winter Fire", and recently revamped the band's full-time lineup to include live vocalist Jack Hannert and bassist Adam Nicholson. SEIDR completed several mini-tours of the East Coast and Midwest U.S. in 2010, and already in 2011 completed a mini-tour with FALLS OF RAUROS and LAKE OF BLOOD.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/seidrdoom.
Finnish metallers PROFANE OMEN have inked a deal with Spinefarm Records. The band's third album is currently being recorded at Petrax studios in Hollola, Finland for a September release.
Bassist Tomppa Saarenketo left PROFANE OMEN in November due to his "lack of motivation." A replacement bassist has not yet been announced.
PROFANE OMEN's sophomore full-length album, 2009's "Inherit The Void", entered the national chart in the band's home country at position No. 9. The CD was recorded with producer Ville Sorvali of MOONSORROW and Aleksanteri Kuosa.
PROFANE OMEN's "Left To Disintegrate" video can be viewed below. This clip was shot by Timo Honkanen, Maria Jaskari, Jere Kilpinen, Petri Koivunen, Toni Salminen and PROFANE OMEN. It was directed and edited by Toni Salminen.
Based in Lahti, Finland, PROFANE OMEN was formed in 1999 and released its debut album, "Beaten into Submission", in 2006. An EP, "Disconnected", followed in 2007.
MORBID ANGEL, THE HAUNTED and IHSAHN are among the confirmed bands for the Kabuto Metal Festival, set to take place May 21 at Namba Hatch in Osaka and May 22 at Studio Coast in Tokyo, Japan.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
Saturday, May 21:
MORBID ANGEL
THE HAUNTED
IHSAHN
ORIGIN
ROTTEN SOUND
LEPROUS
Sunday, May 22
STORY OF THE YEAR
ENVY
WARMEN, the brainchild of CHILDREN OF BODOM keyboardist Janne Wirman, has commenced work on material for the follow-up for the band's critically acclaimed 2009 studio album "Japanese Hospitality". The Finnish group hopes to find time to work intensively on the CD in 2011 despite CHILDREN OF BODOM's hectic touring schedule.
WARMEN is hoping to have its fifth album completed by the end of the year for an early 2012 release.
WARMEN celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a concert during the Helsinki Metal Meeting weekend in February 2010 at Dante's Highlight in Helsinki, Finland. The band's third live performance ever included guest appearances by Alexi Laiho (CHILDREN OF BODOM) on a cover version of ROCKWELL's "Somebody's Watching Me", Timo Kotipelto (STRATOVARIUS), Finnish pop/rock queen Jonna Kosonen (JONNA'S PROBLEM) and Pasi Rantanen (ex-THUNDERSTONE).
Spinefarm Records released a WARMEN compilation album entitled "The Evil That Warmen Do" on January 27, 2010.
WARMEN's fourth album, "Japanese Hospitality", entered the Finnish chart at position No. 36. The CD was released via Spinefarm Records. The 10-song effort includes two cover versions — "Separate Ways", originally recorded by JOURNEY, and "Black Cat" by JANET JACKSON, featuring a guest appearance by Jonna Kosonen. Other guest musicians that appear on the CD include Laiho, Rantanen, Kotipelto and Marko Vaara.
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