Asif Salam of SoundShock.com conducted an interview with Cristiano Trionfera (guitar, vocals), Paolo Rossi (bass, clean vocals), Francesco Ferrini (piano) of Italian brutal/symphonic horde FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE on January 12 at the Underworld in London, England. You can now watch the chat below.

FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE's second full-length album, "Agony", was released last August via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD's intricate cover design was handled by Marco Hasmann, who previously worked with the band on the "Mafia" and "Oracles" releases.

"Agony" track listing:

01. Temptation
02. The Hypocrisy
03. The Imposition
04. The Deceit
05. The Violation
06. The Egoism
07. The Betrayal
08. The Forsaking
09. The Oppression
10. Agony
11. Heartwork (CARCASS cover; iTunes exclusive bonus track)

Commented the group: "The album cover is about the eternal struggle of mankind; we're condemned to live facing our evil side, which dwells in every one of us. We are like tied to the ground, forced in chains that can't be broken, so the man in the cover is representing all humanity and its eternal agony, knowing that it's almost impossible to liberate ourselves from the obscurity of our nature. Unless we decide to admit to ourselves who we are and face our doom, that would be the only way to free our kind and rise to an higher conscience, someday."

FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE is:

Tommaso Riccardi - Lead Vocals, Guitars
Paolo Rossi - Vocals, Bass
Cristiano Trionfera - Vocals, Guitars
Francesco Paoli - Drums, Guitars and Vocals
Francesco Ferrini - Piano, Orchestra

Interview:



"The Violation" video:

SiriusXM Radio announced today that Ozzy's Boneyard, the new classic hard rock and metal music channel, will launch with a full slate of content featuring Ozzy Osbourne, his family members, bandmates and other musicians on Wednesday, February 8 at 6:00 p.m. ET.

Hard rock and heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne will, for the first time, discuss the recent news of BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi's lymphoma diagnosis during a one-on-one conversation with SiriusXM host Jose Mangin on Wednesday, February 8 at 7:00 p.m. ET on Ozzy's Boneyard, channel 38.

Ozzy's Boneyard will also present Ozzy himself counting down his personal top 10 rock guitarists of all time.

The channel will also include the regular specials "The Diary Of A Madman", Ozzy's thoughts on everything from music to life itself, and "God Bless The Prince Of Darkness", the special featuring musicians, Osbourne family members and other notables talking about their appreciation of Ozzy. Listeners will also hear guest DJ specials, concerts and classic hard rock and metal music from artists like BLACK SABBATH, METALLICA, AC/DC, JIMI HENDRIX, PANTERA and VAN HALEN.

"After everything I've been through in my career I never imagined I'd end up with my own radio channel on SiriusXM. This is fucking amazing! Does this mean I can play whatever I want?" said Ozzy Osbourne.

"No one represents the evolution of hard rock and heavy metal more than Ozzy Osbourne," said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SiriusXM. "We know Ozzy's Boneyard will be alive and kicking."

Ozzy's Boneyard joins SiriusXM's roster of channels created in partnership with legendary musicians, including Bruce Springsteen's E Street Radio, Pearl Jam Radio, Eminem's Shade 45, Willie Nelson's Willie's Roadhouse, B.B. King's Bluesville, Elvis Radio, Jimmy Buffett's Radio Margaritaville and Siriusly Sinatra.

For more information on SiriusXM, visit www.siriusxm.com.

Massachusetts metallers KILLSWITCH ENGAGE have announced that they have filled the singer vacancy in the band and they have done so with a familiar face: original vocalist Jesse Leach.

Leach sang on the band's first self-titled album, which came out in 2000, and on their landmark 2002 Roadrunner debut "Alive Or Just Breathing". Leach left the band in 2002 and was replaced by Howard Jones, but his work on "Alive Or Just Breathing" has always been revered by diehard, longtime KILLSWITCH ENGAGE fans. Things have come full circle a decade later, and Leach and the band couldn't be more pleased about this reunion.

The band revealed that Leach auditioned for the job he once held and pretty much blew everyone away and then some. The band stated, "After much deliberation and careful consideration, we are pleased to announce that Jesse Leach has rejoined KILLSWITCH ENGAGE. Our job was to find the best person to fill Howard's shoes: a decision based on talent and not familiarity."

The band further said, "Truth be told, Jesse blew us away in auditions. The room seemed charged with electricity. He commanded both new and old material, and proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he wanted to do this. The choice became very clear and apparent."

The band also is psyched to share the news with fans, saying, "This change is very exciting. We know you're going to love it. This is truly a new era in KILLSWITCH ENGAGE history and it is ready to shred your face off. So, please help us in welcoming Jesse back into the KILLSWITCH ENGAGE family; he is a rare and great talent, a fact that older KILLSWITCH ENGAGE fans have known for years. Here is to a killer new record and a bright future. The five of us cannot wait to write this record and play shows together and bring that feeling to our fans. It's been far too long."

The "new" guy himself also commented on his return to the band after a decade-long absence, saying, "It is a great honor to rejoin my brothers after all of these years. After some discussion and much reflection, it was obvious to me this was the path I was meant to take. We got together and jammed on the 'Howard-era songs,' as well as some 'Alive Or Just Breathing'-era songs and we all felt the synergy."

He continued, "I look forward to writing the new record, since the demos sound absolutely amazing, as well as breathing new life and getting comfortable with the soulful songs Howard has written. It is a new chapter of my life filled with new and exciting challenges. I will give all that I can to honor the position I have been given and take nothing for granted. I will sing every note with all of my soul. I am very blessed and very thankful to be back in the KILLSWITCH ENGAGE family! All things happen in their due time and now is the time for this reunion and new direction."

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE is hard at work on material for the follow-up to 2009's second self-titled album.

The band will perform at the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival on April 22.

Leach last performed with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE in March 2010 in New York City, Clifford Park, New York and Wallingford, Connecticut (see video below).

TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider recently spoke to Artisan News about his upcoming appearance on NBC's "The Celebrity Apprentice", which is scheduled to premiere February 12 at 9 p.m. Snider is a contestant on the show, alongside Clay Aiken, Adam Carolla, Lou Ferrigno, Arsenio Hall, Penn Jillette, George Takei and Paul Teutul, Sr. Check out the clip below.

When asked what was different about "The Celebrity Apprentice" compared to his appearances on other reality shows in the past, Snider told RollingStone.com, "It's different than any other one. It's really all about the win. There is no social element to it. I mean, you're certainly with people and you have camaraderie and relationships going on, but it's purely fueled by the work and it's all about taking you out of your comfort zone. Some of the reality shows I've done have been about filming you in your comfort zone — this is about keeping you away."

Regarding whether the show changed his perception of Donald Trump as a person, Snider said, "Totally. This may be an image killer for him, but every person in the cast will you that he is gracious, welcoming, considerate and self-deprecating. He jokes about his hair and his assets when the camera is off. He has his persona, but it definitely changed my opinion of him. . . I don't agree with him on [stuff like 'the Obama birth certificate is fake.'] I said I have a different opinion of him, but I don't agree with his politics. . . . In his own way, he is the P.T. Barnum of his day. It is no coincidence that he is talking about possibly running for President at the time that we're announcing the launch of 'The Celebrity Apprentice'. It's not a coincidence. Saying sensational things like 'President Obama sucks,' knowing at the same time that he wants people to lock up their TiVos."

During a brand new interview with Canada's Exclaim.ca, vocalist Randy Blythe of Richmond, Virginia metallers LAMB OF GOD was asked about the persistent comparisons between his band and metal heavyweights PANTERA.

"Phil [Anselmo] is a great vocalist and PANTERA were a great band, but they're PANTERA and we're us," Blythe replied. "Phil wasn't a huge influence on me; when I started singing I was listening to a bunch of really, really brutal death metal and really crazy grindcore, that's what got me into metal and then I had to go back and find PANTERA and a couple of the bigger bands. I was more into the underground shit first.

"The thing is, Phil is not the only dude in the world who has ever screamed and so what?"

He continued, "It's interesting to me. I think we get a lot of PANTERA comparisons for a lot of different reasons; because we're from the South, because we both have some groove and a lot of Southern rock influences that come through. PANTERA were certainly an influence on us as a band, particularly on the guitar players, but some things just sort of happen naturally, it's just the way it is. I always thought we sound more like a SLAYER rip-off than a PANTERA rip-off."

In a 2010 interview, former PANTERA singer Philip Anselmo was asked if he had any feelings about some of the modern metal bands such as MASTODON, LAMB OF GOD and AVENGED SEVENFOLD. "I've got respect for MASTODON; I think they play very well for what they do," he replied. "I think the drummer is very, very entertaining to watch; he's a fuckin' excellent drummer. Super-cool guys to hang out with; a lot of fun. I think that music is a wide open world. Of course I know what you're fishin' for. I think PANTERA left a big imprint on them. It's flattering and sometimes if I walk into a room and I hear somethin' playing real, real low that sounds real fuckin' familiar, nine times out of ten it's one of them bands you're mentioning. But that's fine. The biggest argument could be this and I get this: PANTERA doesn't exist anymore. The records exist but we're not creating music anymore so there's a void there. And I guess these bands are filling a void. So you've got to take that into account as well."

When asked if he thought that any of these contemporary bands will have the impact and staying power that PANTERA had, Anselmo said, "PANTERA revolutionized the sound and the approach to heavy metal. It's been regurgitated. Once you up the production on a product and not just the playing but the actual production, then it's going to up the ante. Period. Bands are going to want that sound and Dimebag had a monster fuckin' guitar sound; it was all a matter of getting it on tape right. He always had that great sound."

"The Great Fire", the new album from Orange County, California's BLEEDING THROUGH, sold around 3,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 193 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous, self-titled CD opened with around 3,700 copies to land at No. 143.

BLEEDING THROUGH's 2008 effort, "Declaration", registered a first-week tally of 6,000 copies to enter the chart at No. 101.

"The Great Fire" track listing:

01. March
02. Faith In Fire
03. Goodbye To Death
04. Final Hours
05. Starving Vultures
06. Everything You Love Is Gone
07. Walking Dead
08. Devil And Self Doubt
09. Step Back In Line
10. Trail Of Seclusion
11. Deaf Ears
12. One By One
13. Entrenched
14. Back To Life

In a recent interview with AOL's Noisecreep, BLEEDING THROUGH vocalist Brandan Schieppati stated about the current state of the underground music industry, "When BLEEDING THROUGH first starting doing this, you would hear people gloat about stuff like selling 400,000 albums, or selling out huge venues, but it's so different now. Now you'll hear bands say, 'We made it! We sold $700 in merch tonight!' It's a joke.

"I think people are too busy celebrating the short term, rather than the long term — and that's [disconcerting]. I've never wanted to be in a band that had a few fantastic years and then went away. We've definitely had years that were better than others. It's never been the kind of thing where we would break up as soon as we stopped drawing 1000 people at our shows. We've always done this to please ourselves, and not as some delusion of grandeur."

He added, "I hear about bands dropping out of high school because someone told them they had to do that so they can tour full time and become rich. It's scary. This stuff — hardcore, metal, punk — it has a short shelf life. So you're going to throw your education away so someone else can make money off of you? It's just wrong.

"No one is buying records anymore. So these newer bands need to know that there won't be another METALLICA. Those level bands are just not going to pop up anymore. You have to play this kind of music because you love it. Playing hardcore and metal is not a career move."

Vocalist/guitarist Alexi Laiho of Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM was interviewed on this past weekend's (February 3-5) edition of Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.

To see a full list of stations carrying the program and when it airs, go to FullMetalJackieRadio.com.

Interview (audio):



A few excerpts from the question-and-answer session follow.

Full Metal Jackie: The 15th-anniversary tour is now underway. When you look back on your entire career for an anniversary tour, what stands out most that you never realized before?

Alexi: Well, there's a lot of things that happened, a lot of things that I never really stopped to think about during these last 15 years. Obviously, the first time we got the record contract, that was kind of like the biggest deal in my life, and certain little things like the first time we went to Japan and the first headlining tour in the U.S. and a bunch of little things that might not sound like a big deal. I could go on and on.

Full Metal Jackie: Do you feel like it sort of happened quickly in terms of your level of success here and notoriety and showing up on Guitar World magazine and things like that?

Alexi: Yeah, absolutely. Like I said, I really haven't had that much time to stop and think about everything that's happened but sometimes you're like, "Wait a minute, did I just do that? Was I just on the cover of Guitar World with Zakk Wylde and Steve Vai? Really, me?" I mean, that's pretty awesome right?

Full Metal Jackie: Were you giddy that day when that photo shoot happened? I kind of remembered seeing behind-the-scenes photos, I can't even imagine as a fan of those guys what it must have been like for you.

Alexi: Well, I was trying not to, I think I did a pretty good job, too. [Laughs] The thing is that those two dudes are definitely like my ultimate guitar heroes and the guys that I grew up listening to when I was a kid and I still do. Both of them were really cool and we just hung out it was really comfortable to hang out with them.

Full Metal Jackie: Does being made more aware of your entire history, being this is a 15th-anniversary tour, does it make you rethink the direction of what the band does next?

Alexi: Usually I really try not to think about stuff like that. I like to keep it spontaneous and before I start writing music, I don't really sit down and think about what we should sound like. I just grab the guitar and see what happens. That's always been the method that's worked for me anyway.

Full Metal Jackie: Tell me about something you did recently, you were part of a Finnish cooking show?

Alexi: [Laughs] Yeah, that's very true, I know it sounds pretty messed up, but it was a lot of fun. Basically the whole concept of the show is that this guy who is a famous chef in Finland he visits Finns who live outside of Finland somewhat famous or known people. He came out to L.A. to see me and he taught me how to cook and we hung out and we had cocktails and stuff like that. I don't know how to cook, I can make us some sandwiches, but that's it. [Laughs] He taught me some stuff so it was definitely a lot of fun.
Full Metal Jackie: Will we in the states get a chance to see that at some point or is this Finnish only?

Alexi: It's only in Finland.

Full Metal Jackie: You guys have always been known to do some crazy cover tunes, which crack me up. Every time I do a metal cover special, I play the Britney Spears cover, because I can't get enough of it, it's so good. Tell me what a bunch of Finnish guys like about a 1985 electro-pop song by Eddie Murphy, no less to want to cover "Party All the Time".

Alexi: That was another moment of not knowing what to do, after you cover Britney and what-not, there's no way you can top that, but I think we actually kind of did. Somebody came up with the idea of covering that Eddie Murphy song because, for some reason, during that recording session, that song was always around and we would drink and hang out and that was on the party CD or mix CD and someone came up with the beautiful idea of covering that song and we were like, "What, dude? What the hell, we'll see if we can pull it off." I think it turned out pretty good, I mean, as long as you have a sense of humor; otherwise you're just going to hate it.

Full Metal Jackie: What is going on in terms of plans for the next BODOM album? Is there some kind of a timeline or are you guys working or writing anything so far?

Alexi: Right now we're in between tours, but we're going to keep going until next fall, so we're going to do this U.S. tour and then we got a bunch of European festivals throughout the summer, and as far as I know, I think we're going to start writing new stuff sometime this autumn. I already have written something, but basically, I really don't write while I'm touring, it's just kind of the wrong kind of environment for me writing. When you're surrounded by psycho drunks just screaming 24/7 [laughs].

Full Metal Jackie: Are you talking about us or your bandmates?

Alexi: [Laughs] Of course not you, just the bandmates. [Laughs]

Danish modern metallers MNEMIC have entered Antfarm studios in Aabyhøj, Denmark with longtime producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, HIMSA, SICK OF IT ALL) to begin recording their new album for a June release via Nuclear Blast Records.

The first in a series of webisodes featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the recording sessions can be seen below.

MNEMIC recently parted ways with drummer Brian "Brylle" Rasmussen and guitarist Rune Stigart and replaced them with Brian Larsen and Victor-Ray Salomonsen, respectively.

MNEMIC 2012 is:

Guillaume Bideau - Vocals
Mircea Gabriel Eftemie - Guitar
Victor-Ray Salomonsen - Guitar
Simone Bertozzi - Bass
Brian Larsen - Drums

Commented Mircea Gabriel Eftemie: "We've been together for a long time, and I am sad to see the guys not being there anymore, as we once used to. We were not able to work as a unit anymore, due to many reasons, being personal and even logistical. That is why we have chosen to part ways. It has not been easy at all, since lots of turns have taken place in our personal lives and, unfortunately, this has been the only solution. It's been a spirit-crusher for me, not being able to create music, being creative and share the passion we once used to have. The band needs to tour a lot more, go to places we haven't been, play for audiences that crave the music we make — and this is exactly what we intend to do with a new lineup. Apparently there is still a demand for our machine, and we are grateful for that. Therefore we are now reloading it by making a new album to be released in 2012, followed by an intensive touring schedule."

Added vocalist Guillaume Bideau: "Obeast in April and now Brian and Rune are not part of the band anymore. It's a very weird feeling, because a band, as often said, is like another family to you. It will be more than strange not to see their faces anymore on stage, in the rehearsal, in the studio and in all the other places we were used to share together. But we're still friends and that's the most important.

"We cannot look into the past, we have to be moving forward.

"I think this new lineup is the best we could have and Simone, Victor and Brian are great, creative and dedicated musicians. On top of that, they are great guys, so it could not be better.

"Today MNEMIC's face on stage is different — but what are we here for!? To play some fucking metal and kick some asses! And this will not change, I promise."

MNEMIC's fourth studio album, "Sons Of The System", was released in Europe on January 15, 2010 and in North America on January 26, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Video footage of NILE drummer George Kollias demonstrating the new Pearl Reference Pure kits can be seen below.

George Kollias is writing and recording a solo album in between drum clinics and touring cycles. Due later this year, the CD, which is primarily set to show off some of George's craziest metal drumming to date, is being completely written and recorded by George, including the guitars, bass, keys, vocals, and percussion, and it will also feature a DVD of the recording process.

Kollias' recent YouTube video shows off the blistering speed of George's hands and feet around the kit, through his quick fills and fast footwork, as well as showing his multi-talented musical ability through his guitar work and other instrumentation.

Commented Kollias: "The drumming will be crazy on this album; I will push it like never before, since the whole idea is to write something based on drums anyways. Although I will pay attention a lot to the music in general, and I arranged to have some of the best guitarists in the world playing some guest solos for the songs, which is great! The mixing will be done in Florida, at Mana Studios, [by] Erik Rutan, one of the best producers today. He worked on the last NILE album, next to Neil Kernon, our main producer. This is just a first demo…. nothing final yet… but the final thing will be crazy and will sound incredible!!"

David "Gus" Griesinger of BackstageAxxess.com conducted an interview with POISON drummer Rikki Rockett at the 2012 NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show, a massive music-products convention that took place January 19-22 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. You can now watch the chat below.


It's official, POISON and DEF LEPPARD will be hitting the road together for a joint tour. LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen had first mentioned that the band, and either POISON or frontman Bret Michaels on his own, would be hitting the road together, but Rockett posted that the tour was indeed happening. No dates have been announced. Collen had said that he had hoped that TWISTED SISTER might be added to the bill to round out the tour of bands that have their music featured in the upcoming "Rock Of Ages" movie, but so far no mention of their involvement has been mentioned.

After the departure of Lars Eikin (bass/clean vocals) and Atte Palokangas (drums), Finland's BEFORE THE DAWN experienced a rebirth of sorts. What could formerly be described as dark metal started to flow much more into melodic death metal waters. The result of this development will arise like the famous phoenix from the ashes on April 27: "Rise Of The Phoenix".

Armed with new members Pyry Hanski (bass) and Joonas Kauppinen (drums), BEFORE THE DAWN will surprise you with a totally new, incredibly thrilling listening experience on their seventh studio album.
To get a first impression of what's coming up to you, check out the official album teaser below, featuring a preview of two brand new songs: "Throne Of Ice" and "Cross To Bear".

The perfectly fitting phoenix symbolism was chosen prudently as mainman, vocalist and mastermind Tuomas Saukkonen explains. "Massive changes in the line-up during 2011 ended an era of great frustration and brought back 110% dedication and professionalism into the band," he says. "The newfound energy and motivation steered us into a victorious European tour and made it possible to produce the strongest, fastest, heaviest and definitely the most epic BEFORE THE DAWN album so far!"

"Rise Of The Phoenix" track listing:

01. Exordium
02. Pitch-Black Universe
03. Phoenix Rising
04. Cross To Bear
05. Throne Of Ice
06. Perfect Storm
07. Fallen World
08. Eclipse
09. Closure

Bonus tracks:

10. Unbreakable (2012 version)
11. Deliverance
12. Reflection (taken from the very first demo, 1999)

"The Cage", the first video from RED LAMB, the new Palm Beach, Florida-based rock trio led by former ANTHRAX guitarist Dan Spitz, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's self-titled debut album, which was released earlier this week via iTunes. The 12-song effort was co-produced by Dave Mustaine (MEGADETH) and Spitz and is described in a press release as "explosive hard rock, pop punk, alternative rock, with a taste of thrash." The CD was mixed by Grammy-nominated producer Johnny K (DISTURBED, 3 DOORS DOWN, DROWNING POOL, MEGADETH) and it features cover artwork by John Lorenzi, who worked on the last three MEGADETH studio albums — 2007's "United Abominations", 2009's "Endgame" and 2011's "TH1RT3EN" — as well as the band's 2007 box set, "Warchest". Grammy Award winner Chris Vrenna (NINE INCH NAILS, MARILYN MANSON) handled all synths and additional programming on the entire CD.

RED LAMB features Spitz (lead guitar, guitar, bass guitar, programming, background vocals, engineering,co-producer), Patrick Johansson (drums; YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, W.A.S.P.) and Don Chaffin (vocals and video productions).

"Red Lamb" track listing:

01. Watchman
02. The Cage
03. Get Up
04. Runaway Train
05. Angels Of War
06. Puzzle Box
07. Keep Pushing Me
08. Warpaint
09. One Shell (In The Chamber)
10. Standby Passenger
11. Temptation
12. Don't Threaten To Love Me

In a December 2010 interview, Mustaine revealed that he helped fine-tune the songs on RED LAMB's debut album after hearing some of the material in its early stages of development.

"[Dan] was working on a little side project, and I'd heard it a while ago and it kind of went by in passing 'cause he was just starting it," Mustaine said. "And I heard it about three weeks ago; he was almost done. And I said, 'Man, I love this record.' I said, 'And do you think it's done?' And he goes, 'Yeah.' And he goes, 'Why? What do you think?' And I said, 'Well, I would kind of do this and that.' And he goes, 'Really? Go ahead.' And I went, 'Really?' So I rolled up my sleeves and I completely dedicated myself to Danny's record for the last three weeks, working tirelessly in my studio on this record with him. And it's that good. I heard it and I just went, 'Oh my God!' It's like a cross between, say, DISTURBED, SOUNDGARDEN and RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE kind of thing. Little bit of some smatterings of ANTHRAX because of the speed stuff, but it's much more modern and much more heavy sounding."

According to The Pulse Of Radio, a source has told MetalTalk.net that the three remaining original members of BLACK SABBATH have recruited Tommy Clufetos, who plays drums in singer Ozzy Osbourne's solo band, to sit behind the SABBATH kit for the foreseeable future. The source added that manager Sharon Osbourne has effectively "fired" founding drummer Bill Ward, who announced last week that he could not participate in the recording sessions or tour plans due to his unhappiness with the contract he was offered.

Ozzy, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler responded to Ward's February 2 statement by saying, "We have no choice but to continue recording without him although our door is always open."

The absence of Ward effectively prevents this from being the full-blown regrouping of the original SABBATH lineup that was first envisioned last year.

A number of SABBATH fans have rallied around Ward and have launched a new Facebook page dubbed "1,000,000 Black Sabbath Fans Say Yes To Bill Ward".

Ward said in his statement that he could not participate in the reunion, which was announced last November, unless presented with what he described as a "fair agreement" and a "signable contract" that financially reflected his contributions to SABBATH's history and his standing as a founding member of the band.

The recording sessions for what was meant to be the original band's first new album in 33 years were recently moved to London so that Iommi, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, could be close to his doctors.

SABBATH is scheduled to release its new album later this year and is confirmed to play the U.K.'s Download festival in June. All other tour plans, however, are up in the air pending Iommi's ability to overcome his illness.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, DEFTONES bassist Chi Cheng is showing more signs of emerging from a semi-comatose state to a semi-conscious state, over three years since he was gravely injured in a November 2008 car crash. Cheng is now able to move his leg on command (see video below), but is still otherwise unable to move or speak aside from grunting noises that he began making in October.

Cheng required surgery after the car accident to remove part of his brain, but his recovery was strong enough that he was taken off life support seven months later.
Over the course of the past two years, Cheng has emerged from his coma for brief intervals. He opens his eyes and apparently can see and hear things going on around him, but cannot respond verbally.

Nevertheless, Cheng's family is running out of money. He is staying in a special facility in New Jersey and lost his insurance just months after the accident.

His family reportedly has just $17,000 out of the total $250,000 needed for his full course of treatment and recovery.

DEFTONES have held several benefit concerts and continue to donate money from the band's tours. Singer Chino Moreno said that the group's fans have continued to help as well. "Whatever people can do, it's all appreciated, and it's all just in the hopes that there will be one day where he can talk back and have a conversation and see his kids and, you know, continue on living, you know," he said. "That's what we pray and hope for, you know what I mean, that's all we can do."

DEFTONES are in the studio working on a follow-up to 2010's "Diamond Eyes", one of the band's most successful outings yet.

Sergio Vega continues to play bass for the band. Vega stepped in for touring purposes after Cheng's accident, and stayed on to record "Diamond Eyes" with the group.

QUIET RIOT played its first show with ex-MONTROSE singer Keith St. John on February 1 at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Run For Cover
02. Slick Black Cadillac
03. Mama Weer All Crazee Now
04. Sign O The Times
05. Loves A Bitch
06. Condition Critical
07. Put Up Or Shut Up
08. Thunderbird
09. Breathless
10. Bass Case
11. Breathless
12. The Wild And The Young
13. Let's Get Crazy
14. Cum On Feel The Noize
15. Metal Health

Several fan-filmed video clips of the performance can be seen below.

Photos of the show can be found at this location (courtesy of Brian Matus).

QUIET RIOT released a statement on January 12 announcing that it had split with singer Mark Huff and that Keith St. John had been recruited to front the band for three East Coast shows in early February.

A short time later, Mark posted a message on his Facebook page, stating, "As I sit in hospital… wait for my brain surgery… I have been let go from QUIET RIOT. And nobody's had balls to tell it to my face. Interesting … the rock 'n' roll business. I have to read the news in a post that's not even directed to me?… WTF?"

He continued, "Let me tell all my friends… don't count me out… Watch what happens. It's obvious what I ever meant to this situation… I deserve better treatment… Don't worry about me… Worry about your own bad selves. And I am gonna take the high road… I have so much shit I could speak… Stay tuned, my friends."

This was followed by a Facebook post from QUIET RIOT drummer Frankie Banali, who wrote, "With regards to Mark Huff: My policy has always been not to air out the dirty laundry in public. That policy remains the same even in light of those who chose to make accusations. The fact is that Mr. Huff's medical condition had nothing to do with the decision that was made, though it is unfortunate that it comes at such a time. His wife assured me that Mark would be home this week, and as legal protocol dictated, a certified letter was sent informing Mark of the decision that was made and why it was made. This was days ago. The content of that letter is a private matter unless Mr. Huff decides to make the reason for his dismissal made public, which I believe would be counterproductive for him. I will not go tit for tat with this issue. If certain persons wish to villainize me, that is their prerogative."











Photo credit: Brian Matus