Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS were decked out in the band's full costume and classic makeup as the grand marshals of the 33rd annual New York's Village Halloween Parade, which took place earlier today (Tuesday, October 31). Check out pictures at TalkingMetal.com.

Orange County, California's ATREYU has issued a follow-up statement explaining in further detail the circumstances behind the recent removal of support act FROM FIRST TO LAST from the group's headlining tour.

In a posting on its MySpace page, FROM FIRST TO LAST stated about the trek, "We did everything possible to stay on this tour. Sonny [Moore, vocals] would not have been able to sing due to a tear in his vocal cord, but would have been onstage playing guitar while Craig, of CHIODOS, would handle singing duties for the remainder of the tour. Our plan to enable us to play the rest of the tour was disregarded and as our crew was setting up for the show in Worcester, MA we were informed that we were being kicked off the tour. Understand that it was not our choice to leave this tour... we were forced to leave."

ATREYU's latest statement reads as follows:

"ATREYU has been portrayed in a terrible light during the course of this, and we're tired of it. We felt the need to make one final post including the honest truth about the issue.

"Due to Sonny's vocal problems forcing him to leave the tour, FROM FIRST TO LAST would become an incomplete band. In the business of touring, from personal experience, and with the help of management (we have the same management as FROM FIRST TO LAST, mind you), we came to the industry conclusion: incomplete band, incomplete money... We offered FROM FIRST TO LAST (minus the lead singer) a MORE than appropriate amount of money, whereas most other bands would have just asked them to leave altogether. The amount was MUCH MORE than we ever got on a tour as a support band (when we had sold many more records than FROM FIRST TO LAST has now and when the headliners were much larger than our band is now). FROM FIRST TO LAST responded to this by saying they were going to bring Sonny out as a guitarist and have Craig from CHIODOS sing their set so they could get paid as they had with Sonny singing... For one, if you cared about your singer at all he should be at home, resting, not playing guitar just so your band can make more money. Two, we didn't want Craig to sing two sets a night and hurt his voice, forcing both bands to have to drop off (regardless of whether he said he's done it before or not)... They, unfortunately, declined this offer.

"At this point we were sad because all we've ever tried to do was help FROM FIRST TO LAST... We've put them on numerous shows (i.e. our Halloween show last year, a tour in Europe and this tour). So in turn we get repaid with the threat of a lawsuit and public slander of us as a band and as people. We also found it disturbing that they referred to our actions as 'malicious intent' when all we tried to do was approach this issue with the highest level of maturity and professionalism. They were the ones who publicly bashed us and claimed (among other things) that they didn't know why they were kicked off the tour, as though it were a spur-of-the-moment, one-sided decision... Coming from people we considered 'friends,' we were greatly disappointed. Take note: they also declined to scale down their brand new top-of-the-line bus, extensive crew, and trailer 'studio' to make this still generous guarantee even more accommodating. Thus proving that they didn't exactly do 'everything they could to stay.'

"The breaking point came soon after when they turned down our offer and Matt Good (guitar player) threatened to sue us, our manager (who is their manager too), and our booking agent if we didn't pay them their original amount. If your band doesn't have their singer (and their singer is a huge part of that band), you shouldn't do the tour, right? We were very, very generous in giving them a chance to stay on the tour. Most bands wouldn't have... At this point we decided that we didn't want a money-hungry band on the tour and definitely not one that was threatening us with a lawsuit. We play music for the love of it. For the way it makes us feel. We don't appreciate or enjoy the company of bands that are in this for the rock-star life and the money.

"We never wanted to get into details but were forced to address the negative feedback that resulted in the absence of FROM FIRST TO LAST on this tour. Still, we wish Sonny Moore the best and hope he has a speedy and full recovery. As for the rest of the band: I hope one day you will realize that being cocky and greedy will get you nowhere but back home...

"We hope you all understand our side of the story. We hope this clears up any confusion anyone may have on this issue. This tour has continued and will continue to be great fun with our great friends EVERY TIME I DIE and CHIODOS.

"Thank you to all the people that are still coming to the shows and having a wonderful time with us."

ATREYU recently parted ways with Victory Records and inked a new deal with the Hollywood label.

ATREYU's third album, "A Death-Grip On Yesterday", has sold more than 210,000 copies since its late March release.

The CD follows up the group's 2002 release, "The Curse".

KISS members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons made a "surprise "visit to the MTV show "Total Request Live" earlier today (October 31) to promote the "Kissology: Volume One 1974-1977" DVD collection. They appeared in makeup and full costume. Check out pictures from Wire Image, Film Magic, Getty Images.

Stanley and Simmons will be at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square tonight to sign copies of "Kissology: Volume One 1974-1977". The autograph session begins at 11 p.m., but only those who bought a copy of "Kissology" at the Times Square location earlier today got a wristband allowing them into the meet-and-greet.

"Kissology: Volume One" is a two-DVD set with six hours of live footage, including four complete shows and rare and unreleased material from the band's early history with the original lineup of Stanley, Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss. Volumes Two and Three will be released next year.

A video clip of SKID ROW performing their classic track "Youth Gone Wild" — featuring a special guest appearance on guitar by Major League Baseball catcher Mike Piazza — during a free show at the Times Square Hard Rock Cafe on Sunday, October 29 has been posted online at the band's MySpace page (under "Videos"). The video was taken by AJ Coffey, SKID ROW's official MySpace profilemaster.

SKID ROW's Hard Rock record-release party was hosted by Eddie Trunk, who organizes annual Halloween rock shows in New York. Before the group hit the stage, a costume contest was held which was judged by famed producer Michael Wagener and Piazza. Among the costumed finalists were audience members dressed as Ace Frehley and Billy Gibbons.

SKID ROW's latest album, "Revolutions Per Minute", was released on October 24 via SPV Records. The follow-up to 2003's "ThickSkin" was recorded at WireWorld studio in Nashville, Tennessee with Michael Wagener, who previously worked with the band on their two most commercially successful albums to date, "Skid Row" (1989) and "Slave to the Grind" (1991).

VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony has posted the following message on his official blog:

"First of all, I'd like to wish everyone a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! Be safe out there.

"A lot has been happening since I last posted.

"First, I'll start with the two shows [with Sammy Hagar] the other week that I missed. Management booked these two shows (Gibson Amphitheatre, Soboba Casino) without my knowledge after the tour, and failed to let me in on it!! I was pretty pissed, as months before I had booked a getaway for that same weekend for my wife's birthday, and I would not have gained any points with her if I was to bail!! (All you married guys out there know what I'm saying.) Anyway, I told Sam's management to keep me in the loop in the future so this doesn't happen again!

"Cabo for Sam's B-Day bash was probably one of the best so far, and I'll post some pics for everyone to check out. I also jammed with my buddies THE ATOMIC PUNKS [VAN HALEN cover band] last week at a corporate party for Yahoo! What a blast!!! I got to play some of the early VH that I haven't played in a loooong time!! 'Hot For Teacher' ROCKED!!!! Thank you Ralph, Joe, Scott, and Lance for inviting me to come out and hang...I think there are some pics of the show out there, but I will also post some up for ya.

"Last but certainly not least, it looks like I'll be trading my snowboard this New Year's for flip flops, as I will be joing Sammy down in Cabo for some sun and jammin' at the Cabo Wabo. I'm usually in the snow for the holidays, so this will be quite a change. We'll be playing on New Year's Eve, and if I recover, a few more times. Check out Sammy's website for the dates."

Michael Anthony recently completed a tour with Sammy Hagar as THE OTHER HALF. In addition to Anthony and Hagar, THE OTHER HALF includes WABORITAS guitarist Vic Johnson and drummer David Lauser. Hagar recently told Launch that Michael Anthony has been liberated by this move, and he also said THE OTHER HALF is better than VAN HALEN right now. "He's kinda been chopped up over the years, you know, so now we took all those pieces that have been chopped up from different tours and put 'em all together, and he does this awesome bass solo," Sammy said. "And then we bust into about 10-12 VAN HALEN songs. For the hardcores that gotta have it, we're gonna give you THE OTHER HALF's version, which is basically closer to the record than (laughs) what the last VAN HALEN tour was, unfortunately."

SOIL will team up with BRAND NEW SIN and LENNON for a U.K. tour in January. Confirmed dates are as follows:

Jan. 10 - Bristol, England @ Bierkeller
Jan. 11 - Exeter, England @ Lemon Grove
Jan. 12 - Bradford, England @ Rio's
Jan. 13 - Milton Keynes, England @ Pitz Club
Jan. 14 - Norwich, England @ Waterfront
Jan. 16 - Glasgow, Scotland @ Cathouse
Jan. 17 - Belfast, Northern Ireland @ Spring & Airbrake
Jan. 18 - Dublin, Ireland @ Voodoo Lounge
Jan. 19 - Liverpool, England @ Academy 2
Jan. 20 - Wolverhampton, England @ Civic
Jan. 22 - Nottingham, England @ Rock City
Jan. 23 - Manchester, England @ Academy 2
Jan. 24 - London, England @ Mean Fiddler
Jan. 25 - Sheffield, England @ Corporation

As previously reported, a new version of the SOIL track "Give It Up", featuring guest vocals by STATIC-X frontman Wayne Static, has been posted online at www.myspace.com/soil.

The original version of "Give It Up" is featured on SOIL's latest CD, "True Self", which was released in early May via DRT Entertainment. The follow-up to 2004's "Redefine" was recorded and mixed at Bomb Shelter studios in Los Angeles, California with producer Ulrich Wild (STATIC-X, TAPROOT). The CD is the group's first to feature singer A.J. Cavalier, who previously fronted the California-based DIESEL MACHINE (also featuring ex-DAMAGEPLAN frontman Patrick Lachman on guitar). The band's original vocalist, Ryan McCombs, has since joined the Texas act DROWNING POOL.

An audio sample of HELLYEAH — the new band featuring former PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott alongside members of MUDVAYNE and NOTHINGFACE — has been posted online at www.myspace.com/hellyeah.

As BLABBERMOUTH.NET first reported on August 11, HELLYEAH has been writing and recording material in Dallas, Texas for what will eventually become its debut album, tentatively due in March 2007.

HELLYEAH's lineup is as follows:

Chad Gray (MUDVAYNE) - Vocals
Greg Tribbett (MUDVAYNE) - Guitar
Tom Maxwell (NOTHINGFACE) - Guitar
Jerry Montano (DANZIG, NOTHINGFACE) - Bass
Vinnie Paul Abbott (PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN) - Drums

A headlining tour is tentatively expected to take place beginning in March, although this has yet to be officially confirmed.

In a June 2006 interview with the Fort Worth Weekly, Vinnie Paul spoke briefly about the new group, stating, "I have been working with different people, and I really can't tell you who they are right now because we're in the middle of everything. . . The more and more I go along, the more I miss playing, but it's all been part of the healing process, and time is truth. And if [the playing] I am [doing] right now becomes the real deal, then I will get back to it very soon."

It should be noted that the new project's existence will not affect the status of MUDVAYNE, who have spent the past few weeks writing material for their fourth album.

Norwegian black metallers KEEP OF KALESSIN, who feature in their ranks Obsidian C. (a.k.a. Arnt Grønbech), have lined up the following European dates:

Nov. 03 - IT - Milan @ Alcatraz
Nov. 04 - SLO - Ljubljana @ VKP Mediapark
Nov. 05 - CRO - Zagreb @ Boogaloo
Nov. 06 - HUN - Budapest @ A38
Nov. 07 - AT - Wien @ Planet Music

KEEP OF KALESSIN performed a one-time, unique show with the duo MONOLITHIC on September 1 at the Trondheim Jazzfestival. The performance was previously described as "a concert where extreme metal meets jazz at an insanely high tempo."

KEEP OF KALESSIN's latest album, "Armada", entered the Norwegian national album chart at position No. 20 upon its release earlier in the year. The CD is the group's first with vocalist Thebon, who made his live debut with the band during their live shows in 2005, including the Eastern European tour with EXODUS and HYPOCRISY in December.

MANOWAR has announced more dates for its rescheduled European leg of the Demons, Dragons And Warriors World Tour 2007, also featuring RHAPSODY OF FIRE and HOLYHELL. Confirmed dates so far are as follows:

Mar. 14 - Sportovní Hala Novesta - Zlín, CZR
Mar. 15 - CEZ Aréna – Pardubice, CZR
Mar. 16 - Hala Lokomotiva - Plzen, CZR
Mar. 22 - Max-Schmeling-Halle - Berlin, GER
Mar. 23 - Olympiahalle - München, GER
Mar. 24 - Festhalle - Frankfurt, GER
Mar. 27 - Westfalenhalle - Dortmund, GER
Mar. 28 - Color Line Arena - Hamburg, GER
Mar. 30 - Arena - Nürnberg, GER
Mar. 31 - Schleyerhalle - Stuttgart, GER
Apr. 04 - Peace And Friendship Stadium - Athens, GRE

As previously reported, a new audio interview with MANOWAR members Karl Logan and Eric Adams, conducted by Alejandro Perez of The Metal Circus, has been posted online at this location (click on "escucha esta entrevista" on the left to hear the interview). An e-card for the new MANOWAR EP, "The Sons of Odin", has been made available at this location.

"The Sons of Odin" EP features over 25 minutes of total playing time. Besides "The Sons Of Odin" — which features MANOWAR's patented, lion-hearted metal riffs mixed with arena-rock stomping grooves and orchestral arrangements — the EP includes the title track from the upcoming MANOWAR full-length album "Gods of War", an orchestral version of the new song "Odin" and live performances of "The Ascension" and "King of Kings" from the Earthshaker Fest 2005. A special Immortal Package digipak version also features a bonus DVD boasting 38 minutes of footage from the first ever Manowar Fan Convention in 2005 and the band's rehearsal of "Heart of Steel" — recorded in the Czech Republic with a full choir and orchestra — as well as a video trailer for the upcoming "Live at Earthshaker Fest 2005" DVD. Finally, the DVD also includes a special audio section with 5.1 audio mixes of all 5 EP songs as well as a slide show of exclusive MANOWAR live shots and photos submitted by fans.

Despite an announcement on the Roadrunner Records U.K. web site that the reissue of MACHINE HEAD's classic debut album, "Burn My Eyes", will surface in January, a Roadrunner representative has confirmed to BLABBERMOUTH.NET that the "Burn My Eyes" re-release has actually been pushed back to September 2007 so as to not interfere with the release of the band's new studio album, "The Blackening". According to the representative, the bonus tracks that will be included on the reissue "are not 100% written in stone, though it will have all the obvious b-sides ([cover of POISON IDEA's] 'Alan's On Fire', the two remixes, the two live tracks) from that era, plus some really rare demos" that MH frontman Robert Flynn managed to dig up.

As previously reported, MACHINE HEAD is putting the finishing touches on the recordings for its sixth studio album, "The Blackening", tentatively due in early 2007 via Roadrunner Records. The group is recording the new CD at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, CA, with MACHINE HEAD frontman Robert Flynn returning to the producer's chair, and Mark Keaton once again handling engineering duties. Longtime MACHINE HEAD collaborator Colin Richardson (CANNIBAL CORPSE, TRIVIUM, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE) will also be returning to mix the record alongside Flynn beginning next week in London. Tentative songtitles for "The Blackening" include "Clenching the Fists of Dissent", "Aesthetics of Hate", "Halo", "The Beautiful Mourning", "Now I Lay Thee Down", "Slanderous Love", "Wolves" and "A Farewell to Arms". The band has also tapped longtime MACHINE HEAD artist Paul Brown (MARILYN MANSON) to begin working on album art in the coming weeks.

EVANESCENCE and STONE SOUR will team up for the following Canadian dates in early January:

Jan. 05 - Bell Centre - Montreal, QC
Jan. 06 - Colisee Pepsi - Arena Quebec City, QC
Jan. 08 - Air Canada Centre - Toronto, ON
Jan. 10 - Scotiabank Place - Ottawa, ON
Jan. 13 - MTS Centre - Winnipeg, MB
Jan. 15 - Pengrowth - Calgary, AB
Jan. 16 - Rexall Place - Edmonton, AB
Jan. 18 - Pacific Coliseum - Vancouver, BC

EVANESCENCE has selected Paul Fedor (DEFTONES, ALICE IN CHAINS, ADEMA) to direct "Lithium", the second video from the band's "The Open Door" album. More information will be made available soon.

STONE SOUR is continuing to tour behind "Come What(Ever) May". As the follow-up to their four-year-old debut album, which was twice Grammy-nominated, certified gold and contained the huge rock hit "Bother", "Come What(ever) May" is filled with volatile songs that mix heaviness with sharp hooks. The songs question the motives of false prophets (the title cut), tear apart hypocrisy ("Sillyworld") and smash complacency ("30/30-150", "Hell & Consequences").

The organizers of Spikefest 2006, a series of events designed to raise money for D.R.I. guitarist Spike Cassidy, who was recently diagnosed with colon cancer, have sent the following update to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"Spikefest was started by two friends to raise money for our friend Spike Cassidy from D.R.I. Spike was diagnosed with colon cancer in early 2006, and has been incapacitated for most of the year.

"Our original concept was to utilize the resources most readily available to us: bands, venues, and music fans. Originally all the Spikefest shows were going to be held on one day. We extended this to include the whole weekend — Friday (Nov. 3), Saturday (Nov. 4), Sunday (Nov. 5). We have 26 scheduled on those 3 days. Most of them are in the U.S., with a few in Europe.

"We had the kick-off show in Long Beach [on Oct. 22]. Everyone had a great time and all the bands were awesome. We had ex-and present D.R.I. members put together a D.R.I. tribute band. They had friends join them from THE ADOLESCENTS, VERBAL ABUSE, ELECTIC FRANKENSTEIN, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, etc. It was so cool! They played for about half hour or so and were amazing! GANG GREEN flew in from Boston and ended the show with their usual unique brand of controlled chaos!

"We still have offers for more shows coming in and obviously we need to cut this off at some point. What we have decided to do is this: Anyone who would like to host a Spikefest event has until the end of the year. We have several markets that are having their benefit show in conjunction with a Christmas event, the proceeds, of course, coming to Spikefest. Any interested parties can contact me directly at SarahR@Spikefest2006.com or info@spikefest2006.com. We can help with general info, booking issues, contacting performers, and whatever other issues they may have.

"After January 1, 2007, Spikefest will be changing both its format and its function. Spikefest 2006 will be becoming a foundation to assist sick musicians all over the world. This will be headed by several Spikefest committee members with Spike Cassidy being directly involved. The support and success of Spikefest 2006 has inspired all of us, including Spike. We would like to try to offer other musicians some of the help and support that we have seen coming from the music committee world-wide.

"Part of our foundation will offer help to anyone who's thinking about organizing a benefit show to raise money for a sick musician. We hope to help venues, fans, bands and promoters a way to make contact with one another. We will eventually offer a database that can be accessed to make the right connections in any market around the world. We will also have a financial fund attached to this project. We are in the process of securing 501(c)(3) non-profit status and this portion of our foundation will be classified as a charity. Contributions will obviously be tax-deductable and we hope to make this an attractive way for people all over the world to show their appreciation for the many musicians that need help.

"The final part of our organization will be involved with coordinating and presenting our annual benefit shows. We will be sticking with the concept that we came up with this year. All the events will be held during a three-day weekend period. By securing the same weekend every year we hope to make this a permanent installment in the live music calendar. This will offer a universal focal point for our endeavors and is 100% inclusive of everyone, no matter where or who.

"We have not yet decided upon a name for our foundation. We will probably open a forum and ask for suggestions to be sent in for name that we can use. Spike Cassidy has inspired us to provide a way for music fans all over the world to help and support their heroes."

For more information on Spikefest 2006, visit www.spikefest2006.com or www.myspace.com/spikefest06.

According to The Miami Herald, GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose was at Tommy Pooch and Alan Roth's party at Lucky Strike in Miami last week, but when the DJ played GUNS N' ROSES' "Welcome to the Jungle", he sent someone over to turn the song off. ''I'm here to hear hip-hop,'' sniffed the frazzled rocker. Rose then went on to Snatch two nights in a row, where he partied with Eric Clapton's band members, rode the mechanical bull for more than five minutes and closed the bar around 4:30 a.m. Rose was staying in the penthouse of the Ritz-Carlton South Beach and according to sources, he was very well behaved.

ROCK STAR SUPERNOVA, the band featuring Tommy Lee (MÖTLEY CRÜE), Jason Newsted (VOIVOD, ex-METALLICA) and Gilby Clarke (ex-GUNS N' ROSES) and vocalist Lukas Rossi, will release its self-titled debut album on November 21 via Burnett/Epic Records. The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. It's On
02. Leave the Lights On
03. Be Yourself (and 5 Other Cliches)
04. It's All Love
05. Can't Bring Myself To Light This Fuse
06. Underdog
07. Make No Mistake... This Is the Take
08. Headspin
09. Valentine
10. Social Disgrace
11. The Dead Parade

Audio samples of all 11 songs that are set to appear on the CD can be found at the Sony Music Store (upper right-hand corner).

Global Television announced last week that Lukas Rossi and Gilby Clarke of ROCK STAR SUPERNOVA will be on hand to rock the Canadian television industry — and fans nationwide — as featured musical guests at the 21st annual Gemini Awards, broadcast direct from The River Rock Casino Resort in Vancouver, B.C.

Toronto's own Lukas Rossi returns to Canada to perform for the first time since emerging victorious from the exhaustive search for a lead singer conducted by all-star bandmates Tommy Lee (MÖTLEY CRÜE), Gilby Clarke (ex-GUNS N' ROSES) and Jason Newsted (VOIVOD, ex-METALLICA). The highly publicized quest — documented on the hit series "Rock Star: Supernova" and broadcast this past summer in Canada on Global Television — fascinated audiences nationwide, dominated ratings, and cemented Canada's primetime love affair with Rossi, its homegrown hero.

The 21st annual Gemini Awards will kick off at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on Saturday, November 4 with a special half-hour presentation, "ET Canada Live: On the Gemini Red Carpet". Host Cheryl Hickey, along with the ET Canada team of reporters will welcome the stars, dish on nominee and presenter fashions, and provide exclusive backstage buzz from The ET Canada Gemini Lounge.

Then, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT, the hour-long 2006 awards telecast follows — with presenters including Evangeline Lilly, Cheryl Hickey, Brent Butt, Nicholas Campbell, Wendy Crewson, Shawn Ashmore and Shaun Majumder on hand to welcome Lukas Rossi and Gilby Clarke to the stage.

As previously reported, Newsted has been sidelined by injuries to his left shoulder, right bicep and right rotator cuff. The former METALLICA member, who was injured trying to catch a 90-pound piece of equipment that had fallen from atop of his amp, is scheduled for immediate surgery and a rehab schedule that could last up to nine months.

ROCK STAR SUPERNOVA is currently searching for a suitable replacement to handle touring duties while Newsted recovers.

NEMHAIN, the new band featuring CRADLE OF FILTH/ex-AT THE GATES drummer Adrian Erlandsson and his wife, fetish model Morrigan Hel (a.k.a. Amber England), has issued the following update:

"As promised we've uploaded another track, 'Girls like Honey'. Check it out! We also have two new gigs planned — Sunday 12th November at Bar Monsta where we'll be shooting our first NEMHAIN video for 'Ana'. The video is being masterminded by London-based independent film company The Cry & The Chainsaw, the brainchild of director Amy Akkonite, which also features our very own unwell guitarist Sam Hain. Some of their debauched efforts can be seen at www.thecryandthechainsaw.co.uk. So get your arses down there 'n' get your mug on the telly!!! We'll also be playing Zest in Ipswich on Monday 13th November. Also, NEMHAIN was hand-picked to be on KEG's MISFITS 30th anniversary tribute compilation. NEMHAIN was one of KEG's first choices for asking to be on the tribute. The compilation will feature unique, up-and-coming acts covering your favorite MISFITS songs.

"For more information on KEG, check out www.kegrocks.com."

NEMHAIN lineup:

Cherry Forever - Rhythm Guitar
Morrigan Hel - Vocals
Sam Hain - Lead Guitar
Da Witch - Bass
The Swede (a.k.a. Adrian Erlandsson) – Drums

STUCK MOJO/FOZZY guitarist Rich Ward has posted the following message on his official message board:

"With recording costs of [STUCK MOJO's upcoming] 'Southern Born Killers' album continuing to escalate, I have decided to part with two of my dear friends. Those of you who know me well will find this shocking, but I have decided to sell my 1976 Natural Top Les Paul Standard. This guitar was used to record most of [STUCK MOJO's] 'Snappin' Necks', all of 'Pigwalk', all of 'Rising', most of 'Declaration of a Headhunter', all of the SICK SPEED material, all of the first FOZZY, most of 'Happenstance', most of 'All That Remains', some of THE DUKE and used most recently on the new 'Southern Born Killers' record. It was the guitar I used in the 'Not Promised Tomorrow', 'Pigwalk' and 'Rising' videos. It was virtually the only guitar that I used on stage from 1991 to 2003, when after one of my guitars was stolen from a club and another was lost by an airline, I decided to retired it from the road and used exclusively as a recording guitar. Now, with the completion of the new MOJO record my only focus, this is a sacrifice that I must make. This guitar has been played by Dime, Zakk, Devin Townsend, Robert Flynn, Andy Sneap and many other notables, who all have claimed it, as one, if not the best playing and sounding Les Paul on the planet. Part of the guitar's unique and aggressive sound comes from a hard-to-find body, made up of a thin layer of walnut, sandwiched between two pieces of mahogany. The other key element of this guitar's tone is its maple neck, which was only found on a few Les Pauls manufactured between 1976 and 1982. These Paul hard-to-find maple necks were made from leftover stockpiles of maple that were originally intended to be used for maple tops and had been sitting in the Gibson factory since the 1950s. Ever wonder why new Les Pauls sound like shit and old ones can make you slap your Mama? Good pieces of old, dry wood. Over the years, I have modified the guitar to match my playing and my tone. It has a Duncan Jeff Beck in the bridge and a Duncan 59 in the bridge. Spertzel tunig kets, a graphite nut and a volume knob that was modified by Dime's tech Grady in 1998. There is also a small 'hip pad' on the back of the guitar's body, because I used to severely bruise my hip bone while slinging this huge piece of wood around for 15 years. This guitar has been on the cover of several magazines, including Metal Edge, Terrorizer and a photo of me from 1998's Dynamo festival appeared as the cover shot on an issue of Aardschok (Holland and Belgium's biggest metal mag).

"Equally as surprising is the fact that I am selling my 1982 'duke of metal' Marshall JCM 800. Every album that I have ever recorded was done so with this amp. This amp was modified by Bob Bradshaw himself and is the best-sounding JCM 800 in the world. Again, don't take my word for it, there have been many world class players (Dime, Zakk, Dev, Flynn, Stephen from the DEFTONES, but the list is endless), who have flipped out and claimed this amp 'KING' when giving it a test drive. Take one listen to the guitar tone on 'Rising' or 'Declaration' and all non-believers will be converted.

"With this message, I am reaching out to those of you on the MOJO/FOZZY/DUKE boards who would be very familiar with these items. I will leave this post up for a few days, to give you first 'dibs' on them before listing them on eBay.

"Anyone interested can contact me by private message through this board. This will be a silent auction and bids for the Les Paul will start at $2,500 and $2,000 for the Duke Of Metal JCM 800."

STUCK MOJO, who recently announced the addition of vocalist Lord Nelson to the group's lineup, have posted another new track, entitled "Metal is Dead", on their MySpace page. Also available at the same location is the song "That's When I Burn".

Most of the initial "Southern Born Killers" tracks were recorded at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, U.K. with producer Andy Sneap (NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY, MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS).

Joining Lord Nelson and guitarist Rich Ward in STUCK MOJO's current recording lineup are FOZZY/DUKE bassist Sean Delson and drummer Eric Sanders.

"Southern Born Killers" projected track listing (in no particular order):

01. I'm Back
02. Southern Born Killers
03. Metal Is Dead
04. Born For This Moment
05. Friends
06. The Sky Is Falling
07. That's When I Burn
08. The Fear Is All Around Me
09. Open Season
10. In My Mind
11. Home
12. Invincible
13. Rhythm and Bullshit

"Southern Born Killers" is tentatively scheduled for release in early 2007 through an as-yet-undetermined label. The band was previously signed to Century Media Records.

The members of the thrash metal band SLAYER will take a few hours off from their current European "Unholy Alliance Tour" schedule to pay a visit to the 52nd Services Squadron located on the Spangdahlem U.S. Air Force Base in Germany on Wednesday, November 8. With a sizeable chunk of SLAYER's core audience being enlisted men and women, this will be the band's first-ever visit to a military base.

The band, whose latest release, "Christ Illusion", deals with the brutality of war and religions fanaticism, scrutinizing America's role in Iraq and Afghanistan, will spend a couple of hours meeting and chatting with the soldiers, signing autographs, and possibly viewing a fighter aircraft or two.

Upon returning home just before Thanksgiving, SLAYER will take the holidays off and then launch a headlining tour of the U.S. Dates are still being confirmed and will be announced shortly, but the intended cities for the tour include:

Tucson, AZ
Las Vegas, NV
Los Angeles, CA
Sacramento, CA
Reno, NV
Salt Lake City, UT
Fargo, ND
Sioux Falls, SD
Kansas City, MO
Atlantic City, NJ
Providence, RI
New York, NY
Ottawa, ONT CANADA
London, ONT CANADA
Hamilton, ONT CANADA
Rochester, NY
Youngstown, OH
Columbus, OH
Indianapolis, IN
Myrtle Beach, SC
Orlando, FL
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Washington, D.C.

As previously reported, Holland's FaceCulture interviewed SLAYER guitarist Kerry King just before their gig in Den Bosch, Holland. King spoke about the group's new album, "Christ Illusion", collecting and breeding snakes, the return of Dave Lombardo, METALLICA's "Master of Puppets" album, the "Some Kind of Monster" documentary, and the Big Four of thrash metal, among other topics. Watch the interview in three parts at this location.

SLAYER's video for the song "Eyes of the Insane" has been posted online exclusively at MP3.com.

SLAYER's "Christ Illusion" album, which debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard chart in August, has sold 127,000 copies in the United States since its Aug. 8 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Profound Lore Records will release the third installment of ISIS' limited live series on vinyl.

Throughout the past year or so, ISIS has come out with a set of very limited CDs (four in total) that were sold during their recent tour jaunts all over the world. These CDs were a collection of ISIS in the raw, captured in that special sporadic moment that displayed a purity and intimacy that surrounded such a luminous act. Nevertheless these CDs pretty much sold out immediately, are now out of print (along with the first two vinyl chapters of this series which are also sold out), and now Profound Lore will re-release "Live 3" in the vinyl format for the die-hard collector/purist ISIS fan.

"Live 3" was captured in New Mexico on the band's "Panopticon" tour and is expected to surface soon.

Launch Radio Networks reports: Marilyn Manson is celebrating Halloween today (Tuesday, October 31) by opening his own art gallery, called the Celebritarian Corp. Gallery of Fine Art, located in Los Angeles at 667 Melrose Avenue. Manson recently told Rolling Stone that he looked at the "nearly satanic" address when signing the lease and said, "You have got to be kidding me." The gallery will launch with a showing of Manson's own paintings, which have been displayed previously in the U.S. and Europe.

Manson will make his debut on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" tonight, singing his version of "This Is Halloween" from the soundtrack of the newly reissued animated film "The Nightmare Before Christmas".

The shock-rocker is next scheduled to head for Paris to begin shooting his directorial debut, "Phantasmagoria: The Visions of Lewis Carroll", in which he also stars as "Alice In Wonderland" author Lewis Carroll.

Manson is also working on his next studio album and is also releasing his own line of absinthe, which he hopes to have in stores by Christmas.

MY RUIN lead vocalist Tairrie B., who was "seriously injured" in a car accident in late September, has issued the following message via the group's MySpace page:

"I went to the doctors this last week for my first check-up after the graft. The skin on my leg where they took some skin for my arm is healing nicely. Not much bleeding anymore just a lot of dry blood. It now looks and feels like a badass sunburn.

"As far as my arm goes, the doctor said that it is healing nicely, and as it is supposed to. Where the skin was attached stapled and sewn however, my arm is a still a long while away from normal. I am still very swollen and numb in certain areas. I have to say, this is all so intense. At times overwhelming. Every day is a new journey and discovery.

"Over the weekend Mick [Murphy, guitar] and Chris [Lisee, bass] helped me conquer my fear. I finally looked at the photos. We started with the most recent ones and went back to the beginning. I have to admit, it was scary. Seeing my wounds so vivid, deep and in detail was a bit horrific. I have been feeling so disconnected from my arm. Maybe it's all the medication. Maybe it was my mind. Maybe it was a little bit of many things combined. Whatever it was, it held me captive for what felt like a long time. I haven't allowed myself to embrace it until now.

As I write this....I am at peace with it.

"'Healing takes courage, and we all have courage, even if we have to dig a little to find it.' ~Tori Amos~

"This Wednesday, All Saints Day, I will be getting the white bandages removed as well as the stitches and staples they tell me. I will be coming home with a clear plastic wrap on my arm. Most of the dead skin will be gone and I will be forced to see it up close and personal. Thankfully the photos helped me to prepare. Wednesday will also be my first day in rehab.

"I have decided to keep to our schedule and go into the studio this Sunday, November 5th to begin recording vocals for our new album. I am going in with an open mind and heart. I have no idea what to expect or how my arm is going to react. I am hoping that whatever pain I do feel will guide me through the music and make my words even more meaningful. If, by chance, I am unable to make it through recording because my body is not yet ready.... we will simply reschedule and I will rest until it is.

"I don't want to freak everyone out but I am living this in the open. I am not hiding because I'm not afraid of what some may think. I never have been. I want you to know what has happened to me. The real me.

"I have put together a few photos of my arm. They begin from the day I came home from the hospital up to this last week after my final surgery. You can see the changes as they happen. After looking at all the photos, I still cannot believe Mick dressed my wounds for me everyday. I don't know how he did it but he is my hero.

"The following slideshow is VERY graphic. Please know this before you watch it.

"Many of you have been writing me letters with your own stories so I know that there will be people who will relate.

"For those who have sent me love, support and prayers.... keep it coming because I feel it all.

"They tell me this is the hardest part.

"LOVE saves. LOVE heals. LOVE motivates. LOVE unites. LOVE returns us to our origins and here lies the ultimate act of SAVING of HEALING, of overcoming the FEAR. The greatest THERAPY is FRIENDSHIP."

Check out Tairrie's pictures at this location.

EVANESCENCE will embark on a Japanese tour in January/February. Confirmed dates are as follows:

Jan. 25 - Zepp - Osaka, JPN
Jan. 26 - Zepp - Nagoya, JPN
Jan. 28 - Blitz - Yokohama, JPN
Jan. 30 - Zepp - Tokyo, JPN
Jan. 31 - Zepp - Tokyo, JPN
Feb. 01 - Zepp Sendai - Sendai, JPN

EVANESCENCE has selected Paul Fedor (DEFTONES, ALICE IN CHAINS, ADEMA) to direct "Lithium", the second video from the band's "The Open Door" album. More information will be made available soon.

EVANESCENCE's latest album, "The Open Door", sold 447,000 copies in the United States during its first week of release to land at the top of The Billboard 200 chart.

EVANESCENCE recorded "The Open Door" while dealing with its guitarist having a stroke, a legal battle with its former manager, and singer Amy Lee's public break-up with SEETHER's Shaun Morgan. Then just as the project was completed, bassist Will Boyd decided it was time for him to exit.

Launch Radio Networks reports: DEFTONES release their fifth album today (Tuesday, October 31), called "Saturday Night Wrist". The disc took over two years to make and was such a difficult project that it nearly broke up the 15-year-old band. Tensions especially flared when singer Chino Moreno took time off to focus on his side project, TEAM SLEEP. Guitarist Stephen Carpenter told Launch the wait was frustrating both for the band and its fans: "You run into some fans here and there, you know, and they're like, 'Hey, when's it coming out?' And I'm always like, 'Well, ask Chino, he's the one that's taking so long.' Talk to kids on MySpace and they're like, 'When's it coming out,' you know. And it's a pleasure to have it finished and get going on it now, you know. It's been good to get to the end of it, you know, and get through all of that negativity that we went through."

DEFTONES began work on the disc with PINK FLOYD, ALICE COOPER and JANE'S ADDICTION producer Bob Ezrin, but that relationship did not pan out and the band parted ways with Ezrin in the midst of recording.

"Saturday Night Wrist" follows DEFTONES' self-titled 2003 album and includes the new single "Hole in the Earth".

The group will be featured on the Family Values Tour 2006 CD and DVD, which are both due out on December 26.

DEFTONES began a headlining U.S. tour last week and plays this Thursday (November 2) in Seattle. The band recently added new dates in five cities, including a second night in Los Angeles on November 10, a Las Vegas show on November 11, a San Antonio stop on November 18, a Boston gig on December 1 and a New York concert on December 5.

Earmark Records will re-release three classic MOTÖRHEAD 7" vinyl singles on November 11. The limited-edition singles include "Ace of Spades" b/w "Dirty Love" (1980), "Bomber" b/w "Over the Top" (1979) and "Overkill" b/w "Too Late, Too Late" (1979).

For more information, click here.

As previously reported, a six-minute interview with MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy Kilmister, conducted recently by Norway's Metal Express Radio, has been posted online at this location (Windows Media).

MOTÖRHEAD's new album, "Kiss of Death", entered the national album charts in the following countries: Germany: #4, Norway: #9, Sweden: #13, Austria: #20, Switzerland: #26, U.K.: #45, Denmark: #53. The CD was recorded at the Paramount studios in Los Angeles with Cameron Webb, who also worked with the group on their last effort. The album includes guest appearances by POISON guitarist C.C. Deville and ALICE IN CHAINS bassist Mike Inez.

According to KissNews.de, KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley's new solo album, "Live to Win", will enter the Australian chart at position No. 71 next week. As previously reported, teh CD will land at No. 49 in Germany with about 2,300 units sold during its first week of release. "That is a real good position considering there was no promotional tour, no single, no video and no single interviews to promote this album," a posting on the site reads. "Gene's [Simmons] well-promoted 'Asshole' solo album missed the Top 100 two years ago..."

"Live to Win" is poised to sell between 25,000 and 30,000 copies in the United States during its first week of release to land in the Top 50 of The Billboard 200 chart. The final first-week numbers will be released on Wednesday, November 1.

Stanley was on the phone with the "Bob Rivers Show" on KZOK 102.5 FM in Seattle on Friday (October 27) to promote "Live to Win". Stanley talked about not wanting to recreate his first solo album or a KISS album, the all-star collaborations, the different ways to distribute music, how he was every parent's worst dream come true, all the band's merchandise, and more. Listen to the interview at this location.

Roadrunner Records has set a January 8, 2007 European release date for the reissue of MACHINE HEAD's classic debut album, "Burn My Eyes". The CD, which originally came out in 1994, will be packed with extra features, including a bonus CD of previously unreleased tracks and rarities.

MACHINE HEAD is putting the finishing touches on the recordings for its sixth studio album, "The Blackening", tentatively due in early 2007 via Roadrunner Records. The group is recording the new CD at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, CA, with MACHINE HEAD frontman Robert Flynn returning to the producer's chair, and Mark Keaton once again handling engineering duties. Longtime MACHINE HEAD collaborator Colin Richardson (CANNIBAL CORPSE, TRIVIUM, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE) will also be returning to mix the record alongside Flynn beginning this weekend in London. Tentative songtitles for "The Blackening" include "Clenching the Fists of Dissent", "Aesthetics of Hate", "Halo", "The Beautiful Mourning", "Now I Lay Thee Down", "Slanderous Love", "Wolves" and "A Farewell to Arms". The band has also tapped longtime MACHINE HEAD artist Paul Brown (MARILYN MANSON) to begin working on album art in the coming weeks.

Paris-based hard rock band PYRO has reportedly inked a deal with Pervade Productions/Manitou Music. The group's first release for the label will be its third album, tentatively titled "Stab in the Back". The CD is expected to arrive in early 2007.

"Stab in the Back" track listing:

01. Loaded Dice
02. Something's Wrong
03. If Words were Swords
04. Cheshire Cat Smile
05. Someone
06. Stab in the Back
07. Fuel My Engine
08. Strange Sensation
09. Unanswered
10. Here and Now

Commented guitarist Joel Pyro: "I'm very happy to get back to a rockier sound, with some great and loud guitar parts as well as good team in the vocal, bass and drum departments: it has all that pleases the fans of this genre. It's fresh and spontaneous."

PYRO is:

Bruno Pyro (guitar)
Joel Pyro (guitar)
Stephane Collin (vocals)
Alexander Demetriou (bass)
Alex Grammont (drums)

PYRO previously released two albums and an EP: "Velvet Glove", "Stop the World" and "Breaking Point".

For more information, visit www.pyroband.com.

Earache Records' latest signing EVILE will support EXODUS and BIOMECHANICAL this Friday, November 3 at the Bradford Rio in England. A poster for the show can be found at this location.

EVILE formed two years ago in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, U.K. by brothers Matt Drake (vocals/guitar) and Ol Drake (lead guitar), along with Ben Carter (drums) and Mike Alexander (bass) and have since rapidly picked up a rabid following, eager to enjoy a night of heads-down, no-nonsense thrash.

While unsigned, EVILE were hand-picked to play two prestigious U.K. festivals in the summer of 2006 — Bloodstock Open Air and most recently, Damnation Festival — both to great acclaim from fans. Now the band will spend the rest of the year gigging far and wide, and expect to record and release their debut album on Earache early in 2007. Meanwhile, check out EVILE's demo and pictures at its MySpace page.

Launch Radio Networks reports: ARMY OF ANYONE singer Richard Patrick grew up in the Chicago area and has fond memories of Halloween there. But he told Launch about one time when he was a little kid that his dad turned Halloween into something more menacing than usual: "My father came home one day. He says, 'You guys getting ready for Halloween?' It's like, 'Yeah, we got our bags and we're gonna get ready,' and I'm, like, nine or something. And he goes, 'Well, listen, um, I don't know if you guys know this, but there's a spirit that lives here and I just saw it, I was driving in, and I don't think you guys should go out there. It's horrifying. The spirit of 10,000 dead souls from all the shipwrecks in Lake Erie. Are you sure you wanna go out there tonight?'And I was like, 'Actually, no.'He's like, 'Dude, I'm just kidding. Quit being such a little kid. What the hell's the matter with you?'"

In addition to FILTER frontman Patrick, ARMY OF ANYONE features former STONE TEMPLE PILOTS bassist Robert DeLeo and guitarist Dean DeLeo, as well as ex-DAVID LEE ROTH drummer Ray Luzier.

ARMY OF ANYONE will begin its first tour on November 18 in Philadelphia. The group plans to include FILTER and STONE TEMPLE PILOTS material in its set list.

ARMY OF ANYONE's self-titled debut comes out on November 14. The quartet is releasing a digital EP through iTunes today (Tuesday, October 31), featuring the band's first single, "Goodbye", the song's video and a podcast containing interviews with all four band members.

Open Grave Records is has announced that it has signed an exclusive U.S. distribution deal with OarFin Distribution. OarFin Distribution is a national distributor that deals with national and independent music store chains as well as online retailers, as well as other distributors and key independent stores.

Open Grave Records owner James Mattern says, "Everyone at Open Grave Records is really pleased about this partnership with OarFin. With this deal in place we will be better able to get our products into the hands of the fans. This will also give every artist that is a part of Open Grave Records the opportunity to grow."

The first releases that are being made available nationwide are as follows:

DOWNLORD – "Random Dictionary of the Damned"
ATROCITY - "Contaminated"
NECRODEMON - "Ice Fields of Hyperion"
END OF DESTINY - "The Thoughtless Existence"
THE EVERSCATHED - "Razors of Unrest"

These titled will hit stores on January 30, 2007.

Launch Radio Networks reports: AUDIOSLAVE guitarist Tom Morello doesn't look anything like your typical '80s metal dude, but that's exactly what he transformed into one recent Halloween when he was stuck for a costume. Morello gave Launch the "hairy" details. "I was kind of strapped for an outfit, so I looked into the back of my closet and pulled out some of my, like, '80s heavy metal gear," he said. "And I had the full regalia, like the black and leopard-skin spandex pants, the kind of Ronnie James Dio elf bootie, the bezippered shirt...I went and got myself a big, flowing-locks wig, and then made flyers for my fake Halloween band called GYPSY FIST."

Morello's costume must have looked convincing, because when he hit the street to hand out flyers for his fake band's fake concert, he was surprised by the reaction. "The problem was, no one thought it was a gag!" he said. "Like, people were like, 'Oh, I'll come check it out, bro! Cool!' 'Cause on the flyer it said we're about to be signed. I was like, it's Halloween and I'm wearing spandex, and there's flyers for a band called GYPSY FIST. 'Yeah, I'll come check out that show, bro.'"

AUDIOSLAVE recently released its third album, "Revelations".

AUDIOSLAVE singer Chris Cornell is dressing as a solo artist this Halloween as he continues to spend the fall recording his second solo effort.