AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry told the Las Vegas Sun on Friday (November 6) that singer Steven Tyler quit the band following a recent concert in Abu Dhabi.
"Steven quit as far as I can tell," Perry said. "I don't know any more than you do about it. I got off the plane two nights ago. I saw online that Steven said that he was going to leave the band. I don't know for how long, indefinitely or whatever. Other than that, I don't know."
Part of the problem, Perry said, is that Tyler doesn't return his phone calls.
"He's notorious for that," Perry said. "That's one thing I've learned to live with. I try to overlook it. I like to pick my battles. Frankly, the last few months I've been wanting not to rock the boat. I don't want him canceling any more gigs. We really wanted to do these last four. We just kind of didn't want to call him out or anything and get him anymore pissed off, for whatever reason. So we just let things lie. So we did the gigs and, like I said, I got off the plane and saw this online. That's how I know about it."
Perry said he arrived home in Boston on Wednesday and read on the Internet that Tyler planned to leave the band.
"He has had no contact with me or the other band members," Perry said.
He says he hopes to keep AEROSMITH together, with or without Tyler, but he was so stunned by recent developments he doesn't know what's going to happen.
"Right now I'm adjusting to how we're going to go on," Perry said. "AEROSMITH is such a powerful band, I mean it's like a steam locomotive. You just can't disregard 40 years of four guys who play together as well as they do. We're just trying to — at least I am — trying to figure out what direction the band should take.
"As far as replacing Steve, it's not just about that, it's also four guys that play extremely well together, and I'm not going to see that go to waste. I really don't know what path it's going to take at this point, but we'll probably find somebody else that will sing in those spots where we need a singer and then we'll be able to move the Aerosmith up a notch, move the vibe up a notch."
LEAVES' EYES, LEGION OF THE DAMNED, POWERWOLF and HEIDEVOLK have been confirmed for the Metalfest Open Air festival, set to take place May 13-15, 2010 in Dessau, Germany.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
ALESTORM BOLT THROWER DECAPITATED ENFORCER EPICA HEIDEVOLK LEAVES' EYES LEGION OF THE DAMNED MILKING THE GOATMACHINE MYSTIC PROPHECY NEVERMORE POWERWOLF
Cult classic debut from SACRED OATH repackaged in twentieth anniversary edition for store shelves November 10.
WorldSound label group has repackaged the cult classic debut album from Connecticut heavy metallers SACRED OATH, "A Crystal Vision", in a twentieth-anniversary edition (compact disc) for release on November 10, 2009.
Originally released by Mercenary Records in 1988, "A Crystal Vision" has come to be regarded as one of the seminal metal albums that spawned the power metal movement of the '90s, despite the band breaking up shortly after its release.
The reissue faithfully preserves the contents, song order, and front cover design of the original Mercenary release but features the front cover artwork as it was always meant to be seen — in full color. The original pressing of the vinyl LP had the artwork in brown sepia tone, much to the band's dismay. "I cannot tell you how pleased I am that this album is still being celebrated twenty years later, and that the cover art will finally be seen as it was intended back then," says Rob Thorne, the band's lead singer and founding member. "This is certainly the best edition of 'A Crystal Vision' ever." The package also contains an eight-page booklet with song lyrics, art, and unseen archival photos of SACRED OATH from 1988.
This reissue is part of WorldSound's exclusive license to press and distribute the entire SACRED OATH catalog, including the acclaimed live album "Till Death Do Us Part", "Darkness Visible" and, of course, the self-titled "Sacred Oath" which was released on August 25. Distribution is through E1 Entertainment in the U.S.
Italian news blog Musica Metal recently conducted an interview with Pete Trewavas, bassist for the progressive rock supergroup TRANSATLANTIC (which also features Mike Portnoy of DREAM THEATER, Roine Stolt of THE FLOWER KINGS and Neal Morse [ex-SPOCK'S BEARD]). The chat is now available for streaming using the audio player below.
TRANSATLANTIC released its long-awaited third album in October. "The Whirlwind" is described in a press release as "a 77-minute piece of music that is sure to satisfy the band's legions of fans that have patiently waited almost the entire decade for the reunion of these four musicians."
"The Whirlwind" is available in two formats: A regular-edition single CD of the entire 77-minute epic as well as a two-CD special edition containing a bonus disc with eight newly recorded studio tracks (four new TRANSATLANTIC compositions and four cover songs)
The track listing for the special edition is as follows:
Disc One:
The Whirlwind
Disc Two:
01. Spinning 02. Lenny Johnson 03. For Such A Time 04. Lending A Hand 05. The Return Of The Giant Hogweed (GENESIS) 06. A Salty Dog (PROCOL HARUM) 07. I Need You (AMERICA / THE BEATLES) 08. Soul Sacrifice (SANTANA)
Metalzone.gr conducted an interview with Santeri Kallio of Finnish metallers AMORPHIS on November 1, 2009 when the band played Athens, Greece. Santeri talks about how it feels being in a band that's been around for almost 20 years, gives advice to new groups coming into the metal scene and also offers as a sneak preview of AMORPHIS' forthcoming DVD which will be out released in 2010. Watch the chat below.
"Skyforger", the new album from AMORPHIS, sold around 1,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD landed at position No. 33 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
"Skyforger" entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 1. Released on May 29 via Nuclear Blast Records (May 27 in Finland), the follow-up to the "Eclipse" and "Silent Waters" LPs, both of which were certified gold in the band's native Finland, was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki.
Rock My Monkey recently conducted an interview with INCITE frontman Richie Cavalera,. The chat is now available for streaming using the audio player below.
Richie Cavalera is the stepson of SOULFLY/CAVALERA CONSPIRACY mainman Max Cavalera.
INCITE released its debut album, "The Slaughter", in North America on October 20 and in Europe on November 2 via I Scream Records. The CD was produced by Logan Mader, who has previously worked with GOJIRA, DIVINE HERESY and CAVALERA CONSPIRACY.
"The Slaughter" track listing:
01. Intro 02. The Slaughter 03. Nothing To Fear 04. Army Of Darkness 05. Time For A Change 06. Divided We Fail 07. Rage 08. Tyranny's End 09. Die With What You've Done 10. Down And Out 11. End Result 12. Awakening
INCITE's current lineup is as follows:
Richie Cavalera - Vocals Zak Sofaly - Drums Kevin "Dis" - Guitar Luis "Marrufo" - Bass
Richie Cavalera makes a guest appearance on CAVALERA CONSPIRACY's debut album, "Inflikted", which was released in March 2008 via Roadrunner Records.
Sarjoo Devani of the Explicitly Intense web site recently conducted an interview with UFO guitarist Vinnie Moore. The chat is now available for streaming using the audio player below.
Vinnie Moore released his new solo album, "To The Core", in North America on May 26 via Holland's Mascot Records.
The track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Fly (4:51) 02. Panic Attack (6:19) 03. Off The Hook (5:15) 04. Transcendence (3:53) 05. Soul Caravan (5:55) 06. Jigsaw (3:41) 07. Remorse (7:02) 08. Tailspin (5:33) 09. Over My Head (3:57) 10. Into the Open Highway (6:47) 11. Into the Sunset (5:41)
"To The Core" recording lineup:
Vinnie Moore - Guitar Van Romaine - Drums John "J.D." DeServio - Bass Tim Lehner - Keyboards
Moore spent the last several years on tour with UFO. Once off the road, Moore took his time meticulously laying down the tracks to his newest guitar instrumental masterpiece.
Choosing a very retro-contemporary rock style mixed with many other styles and influences, Moore decided he would make it a good old-fashioned rock 'n' roll instrumental album. It's just Vinnie Moore, his guitar, and his raw guitar talent — all the ingredients that make this album a work of art.
"The only plan I had when making this record was to do some things I have never done before," explains Moore. "I am into many types of music and wanted to make a record where I could just let it all pour out without limitations. I am basically a rock guy but all these other influences that filter into my music. You can hear many styles from an R&B/hip hop vibe to one that is heavy but has an indian vibe with lots of exotic percussion. I even have a couple tunes with techno elements, some funk, some blues and some bepop. Hell, there is even some motorcycles on it and I even played slide guitar on 'Jigsaw', which is fairly new for me. The common thread that ties it all together is probably the fact that it's me playing guitar through it all."
"Genocide", the new video from California deathcore masters SUICIDE SILENCE, can be viewed at BloodyDisgusting.com. The track can be found exclusively on the "Saw VI" soundtrack, which was released on October 20 through Trustkill Records, and its accompanying clip features dynamic live performance footage interwoven with grizzly, striking clips from the hit movie.
SUICIDE SILENCE will embark on a U.S. tour with MEGADETH and MACHINE HEAD starting on November 14 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Additional support will come from ARCANIUM and WARBRINGER on select shows.
Commented vocalist Mitch Lucker: "It is a huge honor to be touring this fall throughout North America with MEGADETH and MACHINE HEAD, who our entire band worship. This is a big opportunity for us to take our crushing live shows to the unsuspecting masses and it's always a great feeling seeing the bewildered looks on people's faces during our sets as they weren't expecting to be bludgeoned to death for 30 minutes. We go out on stage with one sole intention in mind: to blow people's fuckin' heads off. This is going to be one of the biggest parties of the year, so we hope to see you all out there for a crushing night of unrelenting metal the way it was meant to be delivered by some of the all time best."
SUICIDE SILENCE's August 30, 2009 performance at The End Of Days festival at the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana, California was filmed for a future DVD. This was the band's first hometown show since the release of SUICIDE SILENCE's new album, "No Time To Bleed".
"No Time To Bleed" sold 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 32 on The Billboard 200 chart. The effort was made available on June 30 in a number of different versions (for a limited time only). Among these are the standard CD version, an LP version (limited to 2,000 pieces), the exclusive Hot Topic edition featuring the standard album with a bonus "Live in Paris" CD (track listing below), the "Maximum Bloodshed" addition ("Maximum Bloodshed" box set with bonus DVD, bonus studio track "Misleading Milligrams", five collector cards, fold-out poster and mail-in t-shirt offer [limited to 10,000 copies]) and the iTunes version with has the exclusive bonus cover track of the hit ALICE IN CHAINS song "Them Bones".
"No Time To Bleed" was recorded with acclaimed producer Machine (LAMB OF GOD).
Official Metallica.com footage from METALLICA's November 3, 2009 concert at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — including clips of the pre-show tuning-room jam and the actual performance — can be viewed below.
The band's setlist was as follows:
01. That Was Just Your Life 02. The End Of The Line 03. Creeping Death 04. Fuel 05. Fade To Black 06. Broken, Beat And Scarred 07. Cyanide 08. Sad But True 09. One 10. All Nightmare Long 11. The Day That Never Comes 12. Master Of Puppets 13. Battery 14. Nothing Else Matters 15. Enter Sandman - - - - - - - - 16. Last Caress 17. Motorbreath 18. Seek and Destroy
According to MetOnTour.com, which is described as "your FREE virtual backstage pass to every METALLICA show," METALLICA will release a new DVD featuring footage from the band's Canadian performances in Quebec City, Quebec (October 31 and November 1) and Ottawa, Ontario (November 3). Drummer Lars Ulrich commented from the stage at the second Quebec City show, "I couldn't think of a better city for METALLICA to film a DVD." The concerts were filmed by the band's longtime friend and collaborator, famed video director Wayne Isham.
Wayne Isham, 51, is an American movie director who has directed music videos of many popular artists such as MÖTLEY CRÜE, SIMPLE PLAN, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, PANTERA, 'N SYNC, SHANIA TWAIN, GODSMACK, BRITNEY SPEARS, LEONA LEWIS, PINK FLOYD, SHERYL CROW, JOSS STONE, MADONNA, AVRIL LAVIGNE, DEF LEPPARD and BON JOVI, among others.
Previous METALLICA videos that were directed by Wayne Isham:
* "Enter Sandman" * "Wherever I May Roam" * "Sad But True" * "Fuel" * "No Leaf Clover" * "Nothing Else Matters" (from "S&M") * "I Disappear" * "Frantic" * "Broken, Beat And Scarred"
METALLICA has set November 23 as the release date for "Francais Por Une Nuit", or "French For One Night", the full-length concert DVD that the band filmed in Nimes, France on July 7, 2009. The show took place at a historic Roman amphitheatre called the Arenes de Nimes. In addition to the band's complete 18-song set, the disc also includes interviews with the group and five video clips shot by members of the audience. Although initially announced as a France-only release, fan demand has led to Metallica also making the set available through their web site, Metallica.com, as well as the site of the French branch of the band's record company.
A statement posted on the band's web site said, "ALL aspects of the project are French as the show was filmed, recorded, and edited with French camera and recording crews, the artwork on the package and special box set (more on that in a minute!) were created by a French design team; even the credits are in French."
The DVD will come in three formats: standard DVD or Blu-ray in a digipack including a 16-page booklet, and a deluxe limited edition box set that includes the DVD, a copy of "Death Magnetic" on CD, a T-shirt, laminated pass, and five exclusive photos.
Legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen will release a new album called "High Impact" on December 8 (one day earlier internationally). The set is described as " a mind-boggling, high-paced compilation record with a surprise bonus track that is a unique song choice for the guitar god!"
Rising Force Records has begun releasing rare archival concert footage that many Malmsteen collectors will want to have. The first is Yngwie in Korea, which was madea available on October 13, 2009. This is the raw footage that was shot by the Korean media, and it features no bells and whistles.
Malmsteen in March released an all-instrumental acoustic album, "Angels Of Love", which contains rearrangements of his ballad songs played on acoustic guitar and string and choir arrangements only. It is a masterpiece showing the tender, delicate version of his classic songs as well as a new composition. Yngwie also released two DVDs via Rising Force Records in March — "Live Animal" and "Live In Budokan".
"Perpetual Flame", the latest full-length studio album from Malmsteen, was the first-ever Yngwie effort to be issued via Rising Force Records, It marked the debut of Malmsteen's new singer, ex-JUDAS PRIEST/ICED EARTH frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens.
Veteran Los Angeles metallers ARMORED SAINT entered Tranzformer Studios in Burbank, California on October 12 to begin recording their sixth full-length album. The SAINT is working with Bryan Carlstrom, who is once again handling engineering duties, with the band's very own Joey Vera (bass) in the producer's chair. Joey and Bryan will mix the record, which is scheduled for release in early 2010 via Metal Blade Records.
Video footage of ARMORED SAINT's Gonzo Sandoval laying down tracks for the band's new CD can be viewed below.
The as-yet-untitled album will feature the following songs, among others:
* Black Feet * Chilled * Loose Cannon * Blues * La Raza * Head On * Get Off The Fence * Left Hook From Right Field
Tranzformer Studios is owned by Dave Jerdan (ALICE IN CHAINS, JANE'S ADDICTION), who produced ARMORED SAINT's 1991 classic "Symbol of Salvation" and Carlstrom, who engineered the same album.
Commented Vera: "John [Bush, vocals] and I began writing over 14 months ago, and in the beginning we had only a general musical direction in which we were going. Once we decided to keep writing and with more of an intention of turning it into an ARMORED SAINT project, we were faced with a few questions. One was how does this new music we're writing fit into the current musical styles of today? And should we care? We quickly answered the latter. We realized we should do what we always did and that is to write good songs. And for ourselves first.
"We are not unaware of our parameters in which we have created over the past 25 years, but we are also not afraid to take chances and simply do what we do best.
"The idea of trying to continue where we left off over 10 years ago since our last release is not very appealing to me. I have to let go of what I did in 1991 and in 2000. Nothing at all against what we've recorded in the past but my head is in a different place now. Trust me; I still want to kill your senses with music, but just in a different way."
To get a taste of what the new ARMORED SAINT album will sound like, check out a demo version of "Loose Cannon" (performed with a drum program) in the YouTube clip below (also available for download as a ZIP file at this location). "Loose Cannon" gives fans a glimpse into ARMORED SAINT's writing process and is also a nice taste of what's to come on the band's forthcoming full-length studio release.
Fans can keep up with the band in the studio through Twitter at this location.
To celebrate ARMORED SAINT's recent first-ever tour of Australia, Riot! Entertainment, in conjunction with Metal Blade Records, produced an exclusive tour best-of compilation to combat the lack of ARMORED SAINT product on the market. This killer compilation covers the band's entire career and features such classic tracks as "March of the Saint", "Last Train Home", "Symbol of Salvation", "Hanging Judge". etc.
The CD is now available to international buyers by clicking here. For wholesale enquiries, contact John Howarth at john@riotact.com.au.
The band's current lineup is the same as the one on 2000's "Revelation" and 1992's "Symbol of Salvation" LPs:
John Bush (vocals) Jeff Duncan (guitar) Phil Sandoval (guitar) Joey Vera (bass) Gonzo Sandoval (drums)
Demo version of new ARMORED SAINT song "Loose Cannon":
Guitarist Gio Geraca (UPON INFLICTION, EVIL AMIDST, WYKKED WYTCH, CRUCIFEAST) will be taking over bass duties for MALEVOLENT CREATION for the band's upcoming tours. He is also expect to contribute material to MALEVOLENT's forthcoming 11th studio album, which is tentatively due next year.
Crash Music released a limited-edition digipack from MALEVOLENT CREATION entitled "Essentials" in February. The package features 38 tracks on three discs, with over 110 minutes of "pure brutality."
MALEVOLENT CREATION's "Lost Commandments" DVD was released in August 2008 in Europe via Massacre Records. The one-hour, 45-minute disc features two complete shows from the band — Party.San Open Air festival (August 9-11, 2007 in Bad Berka, Germany) and Paris, France (2004).
MALEVOLENT CREATION's latest album, "Doomsday X", was released in the U.S. in July 2007 via Nuclear Blast Records and in Europe in August 2007 via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded and engineered at Mercury Recording Studios in Pompano Beach, Florida by longtime friend and producer (and sometimes session member) Gus Rios, and is said to be the most diverse MALEVOLENT CREATION album recorded to date and "without a doubt their fastest!!" Mick Thomson, guitarist for SLIPKNOT, contributed a "ripping" guitar solo to the song "Deliver My Enemy".
Video footage of MALEVOLENT CREATION's September 6, 2009 performance at Baroeg in Rotterdam, Holland can be viewed at this location (courtesy of "letthedeathmetalflow"). One of the clips is available below.
According to The Pulse of Radio, a 1988 MTV Moon Man award for "Best New Artist In A Video," given to GUNS N' ROSES for their "Welcome To The Jungle" clip, has been acquired for sale by music memorabilia clearinghouse Rockaway Records.
The statue belonged to former GUNS manager Alan Niven, who wrote an accompanying letter in which he says, "In 1988 this 'Moon Man' was presented to me in my capacity as manager of GUNS N' ROSES...it ought to have really been offered since the video 'concept' was mine — but then it should have been presented to the talents I stole from — the makers of the movies 'Midnight Cowboy', 'The Man Who Fell to Earth', and 'Clockwork Orange'."
The award is available at the Rockaway site for a mere $13,500.
27-year-old tattoo artist and "L.A. Ink" star Kat Von D (born Katherine Von Drachenberg) recently spoke to Fox News about her relationship with MÖTLEY CRÜE/SIXX A.M. bassist Nikki Sixx, 50. "I learn so much from him — this is the most fruitful relationship I have ever had," she said. "We read a lot together and we are really into self-help books and wisdom books and it's cool — I am constantly learning from him. We are big fans of the 'Four Agreements', 'A New Earth' and we just finished Dr. Drew's new book which has made the most impact on me recently. He talks about narcissism and healthy ways to handle it. But (being in the public eye) is difficult — anybody who says it's not is lying. Especially being in a relationship with someone who is also in the limelight makes it hard not to pay attention to some of the public's feedback."
Erica Landau of New Times recently conducted an interview with Brendon Small, co-creator of "Metalocalypse", the smash hit animated series on Adult Swim featuring the fictitious metal band DETHKLOK. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.
New Times: What does metal touch on, and why is it so funny?
Brendon Small: Well here's the logic for me. What is death metal? Death metal is about the idea that you're going to die. Dying is brutal, metal is brutal. But there is a lot of other shit that's brutal that you experience every day of your life, that isn't death, but it makes your life brutal and horrible and fucked up. Things like humidity, going to the dentist, hangovers...that's why people relate to the brutality of metal is because their lives are filled with a whole bunch of torturous torments. So that was the universality of brutality that is somewhat mundane and boring, but those mundane and boring things can be tortuous things as well. That's my comic angle on it, at least. I don't think that that's actually true.
New Times: Why are there so few females on the show?
Brendon Small: People ask us why there are no main characters that are girls. And I kind of disagree I think some of our main characters are girls. I think Toki Wartooth is a woman. I think he is the sister. I think Pickles is very maternal.
New Times: So you're busting gender constructs as opposed to incorporating females?
Brendon Small: Come to one of our shows, and look at the ratio of girls to guys. It is an extension of the world. The world is a sausage fest. That's what metal is. This tour is like Sausage Fest 2009. You can spot a few girls here, but you definitely see a bunch of dudes, like, chanting along with the lyrics. And their numbers are outweighing the girls and it's kind of always been that way as far as fanship. The fans, the tour bus, it's a sausage fest. It is. The show is a sausage fest. And it's an unfortunate reflection of the world of metal.
New Times: How did the original incarnation of the tour go? I heard there were problems.
Brendon Small: The first thing was a college tour. My problem with it was that it wasn't played at venues with metal bands. It was kind of with indie-rock bands and it was somebody, somewhere packaging a really ridiculous package that I was very unhappy about it, because I thought they missed the mark about who the audience was. That was it. Playing-wise I had the same amazing, outstanding players including Gene Hoglan, [Bryan Beller], and Mike Keneally... You are playing at commencement halls in a college, and that's just not a cool metal venue. There's a big difference between a club atmosphere and a cafeteria.
New Times: When you conceptualized the show, did you always want to do a tour?
Brendon Small: It was all very thought-out, and it was logical thinking. Let's put out a record, there should be some way to be able to do it. How do I do that? Well, there's an anime show. You have a gigantic screen, you play the picture. Basically that was the idea. I wanted to do all that stuff, and I wanted the show to be able to live outside of its TV. I wanted it to be a big, fun, stupid ride. Seriously, I've been to a lot of shows and even bands that I love, when they're four songs in, I'm like, they're playing, that's really cool. But there's real opportunity to do something exciting and new.
New Times: "Metalocalypse" is in some ways the opposite of "Spinal Tap". How did "Spinal Tap" serve as inspiration?
Brendon Small: The thing is that "Spinal Tap" is the ultimate music comedy project. It's the best version of music and comedy and authenticity wrapped up in one... This show will never be anything as good as that and unfortunately "Spinal Tap" nailed it so early that we had to do things to not be like "Spinal Tap". It's a band going on its way out, and we went the other way and made it the best entertainment act on earth, to make it less "Spinal Tap"-esque.
The Belfast Telegraph recently conducted an interview with MOTÖRHEAD frontman Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.
On living life in the fast lane and possible retirement:
"I can't think of anything better to do, can you? I can't see retirement being any better than running round the world chasing birds."
On staying on the road for long periods of time:
"Tours really blur after a while. But every tour's good, as long as you're not crippled!"
On how many other veteran acts take five or more years between albums:
"I think the band kind of dies about the third year in without another album. If I sold as many records as AC/DC, I'd do one every six fucking months!"
On MOTÖRHEAD's influence, with everyone from METALLICA to Dave Grohl crediting the English rockers for having inspired them:
"It's nice to be complimented. If we made somebody pick up a guitar and make music, then it can't be all bad."
On resisting calls to reunite with guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke and drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor — the mob that recorded seminal metal masterpieces like "Overkill", "Bomber" and "Ace of Spades":
"It wouldn't be fair on these two [current drummer Mikkey Dee and guitarist Phil Campbell]. These guys have played 'Ace of Spades' a lot more times than Phil [Taylor] or Eddie did. We've been working too hard at this band now to put it on hold while I go fucking around with the other two. I'm loyal. I was loyal to Phil and Eddie, too, until they weren't loyal to me any more."
On his lyrics, which continue to rail against the injustices of modern society:
"It's all war and child porn. Mankind hasn't progressed beyond the caves. All we've got are bigger weapons. We can just kill our enemies from further away. We don't have to see what we did."
MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has issued the following update:
"I would like to congratulate Roadrunner for passing up their previous efforts, and also surpassing other various milestones in our recording career, becoming the 10th longest-charting record of my career.
"Yes, you heard right, of our more than 12 official releases, I am excited to say that [MEGADETH's latest album] 'Endgame' has lasted on the charts one week longer than 'United Abominations' [2007] did, and of the various albums before 'Endgame', it has done six weeks more than 'Rude Awakening' [2002], two more than 'The System Has Failed' [2004], and one week more than 'The World Needs A Hero' [2001], and it has tied 'Hidden Treasures' [1995]. It will tie 'Risk' [1999], and 'Back To The Start' [2005] if it remains on the charts next week.
"Thank you all for buying 'Endgame' and you should be able to hear it on 'Megadeth Radio' soon, so those of you that are planning on buying or are still undecided on buying our new album, the proof will be available for your ears real soon on the station; however, you can hear songs off of 'Endgame' at Megadeth.com in our audio player.
"I say this because this week is the 1,320th week that MEGS has been a band and we have been on the charts for 237 weeks. And 237/1320 is almost a sixth of our entire lives as MEGADETH. I hope that the next record I do will be a worthy successor to 'Endgame', and I have learned a lot since recording this last gem. And I want this last record for Roadrunner to be a great way to say thanks for having us.
"I look forward to helping tying and hopefully breaking our next goal for our previous records remaining on The Billboard Top 200 chart. The next milestone, once we pass our next target, would be the classics — 'Peace Sells' [1986] at 11 weeks, 'So Far So Good So What' [1988] and 'Youthanasia' [1994] at 23, 'Cryptic Writings' [1997] at 29, 'Rust In Peace' [1990] at 30, and the pinnacle of albums on the charts for MEGADETH, 'Countdown To Extinction' [1992] at 58 weeks.
"I have my fingers crossed that we will at least have the '8' in '58' next week, and we will work on the '5' after that."
It was only a couple of weeks ago that Mustaine was singing a different tune with regards to MEGADETH's record label. Writing on the band's official forum on October 16, Mustaine accused the U.S. branch of Roadrunner Records of dropping the ball in regards to the promotion of "Endgame". He wrote, "I don't know what to say. How a record company could be presented with a worldwide critically acclaimed record, and that they can let it plummet down the charts in just four weeks into the hundreds, is inexplicable.
"I knew I shouldn't have done this. Why didn't I trust myself?
"I regret a lot of things in my life, but this is the most regrettable."
"Endgame" has sold around 82,000 copies in the United States since its release seven weeks ago. The CD registered the following U.S. weekly sales, according to Nielsen SoundScan:
The artwork for the new self-titled album from MUDVAYNE can be viewed below. Reportedly the first album to ever use blacklight-reactive ink (making it only visible under a black light), the CD's cover image was created by world-renowned tattoo king Paul Booth.
Every bit of art and text in the packaging of the record will be printed on ink that can only be seen under a black light (see video below).
Commented Booth: "This project has been absolutely killer to work on! The whole black light concept was totally experimental and quite the challenge, so of course, as an artist, I was drawn to it like a moth to a bugzapper."
He added, "I am happy to see bands focusing more energy on their album art… something I thought the Internet had killed. Hailz to MUDVAYNE and everyone at the label for going the extra mile!"
The album will be available in the following formats:
***1. Super Deluxe - "Limited-edition" run of only 1,000 copies which will be sold direct to the consumer from the band's site. Pre-order it at Mudvayne.com starting next Tuesday, November 10 and receive the digital album two weeks before release!
It contains:
a. The deluxe version of the album b. The album on glow-in-the-dark vinyl (also blacklight-reactive) c. A 24-inch blacklight d. A 24x24 poster designed by Paul Booth in blacklight-reactive ink e. An 8x8 blacklight-reactive decal designed by Paul Booth
***2. Deluxe – "Limited-edition" first run of 100,000 copies. Pre-order it at Mudvayne.com starting Tuesday, November 24 and receive the digital album two weeks before release!
It contains:
a. The album in jewel case b. A LED, keychain-sized blacklight c. Special blacklight-reactive packaging designed by Paul Booth
***3. Vinyl
a. Glow-in-the-dark vinyl (also blacklight-reactive) b. Blacklight-reactive art designed by Paul Booth
***4. Jewel Case
a. Blacklight-reactive art designed by Paul Booth
Due on December 22 via Epic, "Mudvayne" has been described by drummer Matt McDonough as "the best" CD "the band has recorded since our second album, 'The End Of All Things to Come'." The album was produced by Dave Fortman's (SLIPKNOT, EVANESCENCE) right-hand man, Jeremy Parker, and is "a little more retro for MUDVAYNE" from a songwriting point of view, according to singer Chad Gray. "We've been kind of making this natural progression, and I think for this one, we just sort of naturally regressed," he told Noisecreep. "We took the smarter songwriting guys that we've become and mixed it with the not-smart songwriting guys that we were ... I mean, we used to just take 20 parts, cram it together, and call it a song. Over time, playing in a band, you kind of know what to expect. It doesn't really make it easier, but you kind of have this thing in your head that you kind of know where you're going. You can see the light at the end of the tunnel before entering the tunnel. It's faint, and dim, but it's there."
MUDVAYNE wants to give the fans a chance to hear another track off the forthcoming album. The band has teamed up with AOL's Noisecreep to debut the track "Scream With Me". Head over to www.noisecreep.com starting Tuesday morning, November 10 to listen to an exclusive stream of the song.
MUDVAYNE's fourth studio album, "The New Game", has sold more than 200,000 copies in the United States since it came out in November 2008, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD shifted 48,000 units in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 15 on The Billboard 200 chart.
DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy is featured in "Ask The Artist," a series of interviews on Roadrunner Records' web site where fans submit questions for musicians to answer. A couple of excerpts from the question-and-answer session follow below.
Q: Has DREAM THEATER ever considered scoring movie soundtracks?
Portnoy: We would love to; we've talked about that our whole career, especially the instrumental side of us. Sometimes we'll go off on these improv jam tangents which we ended up using a lot in the LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT. We would love to, we just need the right opportunity. Bands like PINK FLOYD used to do it back in the '60s and '70s, they scored a few films. I think we'd be able to come up with some cool shit so we're just waiting for the invite.
Q: We are all aware that recovering from alcoholism has a lot to do with attending meetings and working on those steps on a daily basis, and sometimes even sponsoring someone. How do you deal with these issues being a musician on the road? Do you still go to meetings when you're at home, or even find time to go to meetings in other countries?
Portnoy: That's a good question. AA for me was the solution to my problem. It's not for everybody, different people have different ways of tackling their issues but for me that was the solution. It wasn't until I started going to meetings that I was able to put drink and drugs down once and for all. I'm coming up on ten years of sobriety now and that's due to the AA meetings. My first couple of years of sobriety I had to go to the meetings every day, and I went every day, and even on the road the first thing I would do when I got into a town was call up the hotline and find a meeting to go to. I've been to meetings everywhere from Kansas to Tokyo to London, and everywhere in between. It was absolutely mandatory for my sobriety. Now, with close to ten years under my belt I'm able to go stretches on the road without going to meetings, but stopping completely's not recommended, you really have to always go to meetings. Sometimes people at home will ask why I'm still going, but I know that if I don't, I'll drink again. You have to keep it fresh. I don't go now as much as I used to, but I do still go, it's absolutely important for me.
Q: DREAM THEATER offers a lot to the fans with DVDs, live shows, bootlegs, side projects etc. With so much going on, how do you keep it together as a band and as an individual?
Portnoy: Well, time management is a big issue for me 'cause I'm overseeing all this stuff for the band, so it's a matter of somehow squeezing it all in there. I don't know, I'm just built for keeping busy. The other guys can go home and take weeks or months off and not do anything and they're cool with that, but for me I need to be doing a million projects. I don't know what the answer is, it's not something you can design. You're either that type of person — a workaholic — or you're not. There are certain personalities that are made for it, and fortunately, or unfortunately, that's just my personality.
Q: Did you create any of your signature fills by accident, or did you sit down on the kit and work things out?
Portnoy: I don't think any of my "signature fills" are created in a vacuum, it's a culmination of mining things that I've picked up from so many other drummers. My drum heroes have been well documented but people like John Bonham, Keith Moon, Neil Peart and Terry Bozzio, when I was young I learned all of their fills and all their tricks of the trade. I think my style is kind of a combination of all of them. I think that's how any music or any musician develops, you have to take a lot of different influences and put them into a melting pot, and that's how my drumming came about.
Q: I would like to pursue a career in music with my band. From your perspective, has becoming a successful act in the entertainment business turned out differently to what you expected when you first started DREAM THEATER as a teenager?
Portnoy: It is everything I dreamed it would be, I get to live a charmed life and I have a lot of gratitude for that. Thank god I succeeded in this business because I really can't do anything else in the real world. I can't wake up in the morning and go do a job, I can't do anything that's handy, so thank God I succeeded at doing something creative. When we formed this band, we didn't have these illusions of playing all around the world, selling records and touring; that wasn't our goal. We were just a bunch of kids who wanted to play music together. I think if we'd really wanted to have all of those rock 'n' roll lifestyle rewards, we probably would have chosen a different style of music! If it was all about sex, drugs and rock n' roll I probably should have been in a band like MÖTLEY CRÜE, but somehow we ended up doing what DREAM THEATER does, which is obviously a more specialized style of music which, if you wanted to be rich and famous, probably wouldn't be the best choice. We've been very fortunate to have the perseverance and to have made a name and a career for ourselves doing what we do, but it took a long, long time to get where we are. I have a lot of gratitude. We have a great fanbase all around the world, we get to play to a lot of people every night, we all have wives and children and we make enough money to provide our families with a nice lifestyle, and I've met, hung out and played with all of my heroes through the years, so it certainly has been a dream come true.
MEGADETH drummer Shawn Drover has refuted rumors that the band will embark on a U.S. tour in February with SLAYER, TESTAMENT and HIGH ON FIRE. Writing on MEGADETH's official forum, Drover, states, "Rumors are just that. [There is] no truth to this [rumor] at all."
SLAYER was forced to postpone its "Canadian Carnage" tour with MEGADETH, which was due to begin on November 8. In addition, the band has cancelled its appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", which had been set for this Wednesday, November 4.
SLAYER's Tom Araya is currently under the care of a specialist for a back injury, thought to be related to his on-stage activity, and the physician has ordered an immediate surgical procedure, which was to take place in Texas on Tuesday morning (November 3).
MEGADETH will embark on a U.S. tour with MACHINE HEAD and SUICIDE SILENCE starting on November 14 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Video footage of Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN) and his band performing "Like I've Never Been Gone", a song from ROBERT PLANT's first solo album, 1982's "Pictures at Eleven", on October 30, 2009 at The Canyon in Agoura Hills, California can be viewed below.
The musicians in the video are as follows:
Jason Bonham (drums) Ian Hatton (guitar) Doug Henthorn (vocals) Francesco DiCosmo (bass) Tony Catania (guitar)
According to Lemon Squeezings, Bonham had five dates scheduled this month, billing shows as "An Evening with Jason Bonham." During shows, his band played songs from his own past as well as from that of his father, the late LED ZEPPELIN drummer John Bonham.
One song from Jason Bonham's own past is one that required a spoken introduction from the man behind the drum kit. Bonham spoke up before performing "Like I've Never Been Gone" to tell a story about his own life and how he came to be involved in Plant's post-ZEPPELIN career in those days.
To set the scene, the 44-year-old described the setting as "a period in my life which was a bit — quite sad, really.
"I was 14 years old and had just lost my father and really didn't know what to be doing in life, but Mr. Plant came along, picked me up from school one day. He said, 'Would you like to come and jam?'
"So I did, and we went to his house, and Robert was working on the first solo album, 'Pictures at Eleven'. And this, to me — I did all those demos, by the way, before Phil Collins came along...
"It was a great moment, and it was a great time where I could just forget about that Dad had gone and just be playing music. It really helped me through it.
"This song means a lot to me."
According to Classic Rock magazine, Bonham did these gigs by way of tribute to Daniel MacMaster, the Canadian frontman who sang on the two albums from BONHAM (1989's "The Disregard Of Timekeeping" and 1992's "Mad Hatter"). MacMaster died on March 16, 2008, from a Group A streptococcal infection. He was 39 years old.
Jason explained: "Tragically, Daniel passed away and I always regretted the fact that I didn't do more for him during his lifetime. Just like myself, Daniel struggled with his addictions so that's something I know all about.
"2009 is the 20th anniversary of 'The Disregard Of Timekeeping', so I [wanted] to pay tribute to what was a great period in all our lives. Whether anything new will come out of it, I don't know. It's all about having fun."
British thrashers EVILE have confirmed that they are carrying on as a band following the death of bassist Mike Alexander, who passed away on October 5, 2009 while on tour with the band in Sweden. According to guitarist Ol Drake, Mike died of a pulmonary embolism, a blockage of an artery in the lung.
EVILE is starting to audition bassists for the new year. Doing such a tough task so soon, with so little time until the new year tours, they are simply looking for an experienced, friendly and skilled professional bassist/musician.
Applicants must be able to commit 100% to the band, be expected to be available for extensive global (with valid passport) touring from January 2010 onwards, be a resident of the U.K. (preferably close to Huddersfield, but not necessary) and have touring/performing experience.
To apply please, email the following to bass@evile.co.uk:
* Full Name * Age * Location * A quality link to a video of you playing the bass (YouTube.com etc) * A few pictures of yourself (on and off stage) * Details of playing and gigging experiences * Detail why you want to join the band
All applications must be received by December 8, 2009.
Two memorial shows for Mike Alexander have been announced:
Dec. 07 - Leeds, UK - Rio's Dec. 08 - London, UK - Underworld
The band states: "The entrance fee will be £5 minimum as a donation to Mike's family. To raise more for Mike's family, we will be holding a tombola/raffle. Items will include gifts from bands from around the world — EXODUS, OVERKILL, HIRAX and many more being confirmed every day. Raffle tickets will be £10 with all takings going to the family."
EVILE has launched a tribute web site for Mike Alexander at this location.
EVILE's sophomore album, "Infected Nations", was released on September 21 in Europe and September 22 in the U.S. via Earache Records.
EVILE members Matt Drake, Ol Drake and Ben Carter spoke exclusively to U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine about the passing of Mike Alexander. You can stream the interview and check out pictures of Mike below.
SCHENKER BARDEN ACOUSTIC PROJECT has scheduled the following dates:
Dec. 26 - Agora Hills, CA - Canyon Club Dec. 27 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick Dec. 29 - Redondo Beach, CA - Brixton Dec. 30 - San Juan Capistrano, CA - Coach House Dec. 31 - Exeter, CA - Orange Blossom Junction Jan. 01 - Santa Clara, CA - Avalon Nightclub Jan. 02 - Fairfax, CA - 19th And Broadway Jan. 03 - Pleasenton, CA - Tommy T's
SCHENKER BARDEN ACOUSTIC PROJECT's October 12, 2009 concert at the Hard Rock Cafe in Cologne, Germany was filmed/recorded for future release.
The band's lineup for the show was as follows:
Michael Schenker - Guitar Gary Barden - Vocals Michael Voss - Guitar, Backing Vocals Kai Luennemann - Drums, Percussion, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Audio samples of all 12 tracks that appear on SCHENKER BARDEN ACOUSTIC PROJECT's first album, "Gipsy Lady", are available for streaming on Play.com.
"Gipsy Lady" was released on May 19 via Inakustik/MVD.
The track listing is as follows:
01. Lost 02. Dance Lady Gipsy 03. All Of My Life 04. Fight For Freedom 05. El Grande 06. Starting Over 07. Can't Live On Life Alone 08. Another Melody 09. Travelled So Far 10. Hungry 11. Night Of The Stare 12. The Journey
Almost one year after his phenomenal comeback album "In The Midst Of Beauty" and follow-up tour, guitarist Michael Schenker has collaborated with singer Gary Barden to give the cleverly arranged songs just the touch of soul they need for full impact. And with Michael Voss, Schenker has an experienced producer, a second guitarist as well as a background vocalist on board, who delivers an outstanding performance. Kai Luennemann on percussion completes the team. Using a flamenco guitar with castanets in "Dance Lady Gipsy" conjures up a hot-blooded gypsy dancing before your eyes, while the fiddle and flutes in "Fight For Freedom" transport you to beautiful Ireland.
U.K. gothic metal pioneers PARADISE LOST have issued the following statement:
"Tragically, lead guitarist Greg Mackintosh will be unable to continue with PARADISE LOST's 'Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us' tour of Europe due to a terminal illness within his family.
"Greg's father was taken critically ill some weeks ago, yet Greg decided to commence the tour anyway in the hope that future news from home would be positive. This, unfortunately, was not the case. Therefore (as of 6th November 2009), Greg will remain in England to support his relatives during this difficult time.
"Everyone involved with the band would like to offer Greg our support and to let him know all our thoughts are with him.
"The tour will not end here, though. Milly Evans (PARADISE LOST's long-standing guitar technician and keyboardist from TERRORVISION) will fill in for Greg with immediate effect.
"Having worked with the band for many years, Milly knows PARADISE LOST's repertoire far more than most, and will endeavour to provide a seamless transition between guitarists. Milly is highly regarded among PARADISE LOST's fan-base and is the best person to fill Greg's role in the band for the rest of the European tour.
"We apologize in advance to those of you who will be joining us for the European dates and will no doubt be disappointed by Greg's absence. However, I am sure you will appreciate this unfortunate situation was unavoidable and everyone is doing everything they can to ensure the shows run as smoothly as possible."
Portugal's Riff magazine recently conducted an interview with Greg Mackintosh. Watch the chat below.
PARADISE LOST's new album, "Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us", has registered the following first-week chart positions:
The limited formats of this landmark gothic metal opus include two orchestral versions of the album tracks "Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us" and "Last Regret", which were recorded by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra in July 2008.
The limited-edition deluxe two-CD includes special packaging (DVD-sized Mediabook with O-Card in a special leather look) and a bonus track, "Cardinal Zero", on Disc 1 plus a separate bonus CD featuring the "Lost In Prague" tracks. All vinyl lovers will be delighted to hear that the album is available as a limited-edition gatefold LP, including the bonus track "Cardinal Zero", the orchestra mixes on a separate bonus 7" EP, the entire album on CD (in a blank sleeve), and an exclusive poster.
The highly anticipated follow-up to 2007's "In Requiem", "Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us" was recorded at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden with producer Jens Bogren.
The album's artwork (see below), which is based upon a "Danse Macabre" woodcut by Hans Holbein the Younger (first published in 1538), was created by Stefan Wibbeke at Medialogistics (LACUNA COIL, POISONBLACK).
VINTERSORG, the Swedish band led by BORKNAGAR frontman Andreas Hedlund (a.k.a. Vintersorg), is working on a new album, for a fall 2010 release via Napalm Records. The keyboards and vocal tracks are almost completed for the effort, with guitars and drums to be recorded next.
VINTERSORG's last album, "Solens Rötter" (English translation: "The Origin of the Sun"), came out in April 2007 in Europe and May 2007 in the U.S. via Napalm Records. The CD was mixed at Ballerina Audio with the engineer Nils Johansson. The follow-up to 2004's "The Focusing Blur" did not feature contributions from Steve DiGiorgio (SADUS, SEBASTIAN BACH, TESTAMENT, DEATH) and drummer Asgeir Mickelson (SPIRAL ARCHITECT, BORKNAGAR), both of whom performed on the band's previous two releases.
Vintersorg's collaboration with BORKNAGAR's Oystein G. Brun (guitars and programming), dubbed CRONIAN, released its debut album, "Terra", in the U.S. in 2006 via Century Media Records. A follow-up effort, "Enterprise", came out in 2008.
Due to health concerns, LEAVES' EYES bassist Alla Fedynitch will sit out the band's shows for the remainder of the year. Her temporary replacement will be Oliver Holzwarth (TARJA TURUNEN, BLIND GUARDIAN), who previously joined LEAVES' EYES on stage for two songs during the German/Norwegian female-fronted metal group's acoustic performance at the Metal Female Voices Fest on October 19, 2009 in Wieze, Belgium.
Watch fan-filmed video footage of the perfomance below.
Fedynitch is suffering from a herniated vertebral disk and paralysis on her right hand, making it impossible for her to tour with the group.
Commented LEAVES' EYES: "Alla has to take a physiotherapeutic treatment for the next six weeks which makes it impossible for her to play the upcoming shows in Italy (October 31) and the Beauty & The Beast Tour (with LEAVES' EYES, ATROCITY, SIRENIA, ELIS and STREAM OF PASSION).
"Alla and the whole band deeply regret all this."
"Njord", the new full-length album from LEAVES' EYES, has sold 2,200 copies in the United States since its September 29 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
"My Destiny", the new video from LEAVES' EYES, was directed by Patric Ullaeus (DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL) of Revolver Film Company in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Photos from the video shoot, as well as a German-language report from guitarist Thorsten "Tosso" Bauer, can be found on the Sounds2Move.de web site.
Tonight's (Friday, November 6) W.A.S.P. concert at Sigurdsgatan 25 in Västerås, Sweden was cancelled due to "technical issues" (reportedly due to "insufficient video screen size").
W.A.S.P. will hit the road in the U.S. in February 2010. Exact cities and dates will be announced soon.
W.A.S.P.'s new album, "Babylon", entered the U.K. "Rock Albums" chart at position No. 15. The CD was released on October 12 through Global Music (via Demolition Records).
"Babylon" is themed around biblical visions of "The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse," and is described in a press release as "a metal masterpiece that will make fans both old and new craving for more."
Audio samples of all the tracks that appear on "Babylon" are available at Amazon.co.uk.
"Crazy" was made available for download via various digital service providers from September 28.
Frontman Blackie Lawless commented on the track: "Although like it may sound like a man talking to a woman, 'Crazy' is about a performer talking to an audience; the dangers of idol worship and elevating musicians and politicians to a level that's dangerous!" Fan-filmed video footage of W.A.S.P. performing the song "Wild Child" on October 28, 2009 at Byscenen in Haugesund, Norway can be viewed below.
Virginia's melodic/technical death metal band ARSIS has revealed the Mark Riddick artwork and track listing for the limited-edition iTunes / Nuclear Blast mailorder / vinyl version of "Starve For The Devil", set to be released in North America on February 9, 2010.
The Nuclear Blast mailorder edition of "Starve For The Devil" (limited to 1,000 copies) will come with a slipcase and features two bonus tracks (one being a cover of KING DIAMOND's "The Lake"). The single-disc vinyl version is limited to 500 copies and will feature the same track listing plus bonus tracks as the mailorder edition.
"Starve For The Devil" track listing:
01. Forced To Rock 02. A March For The Sick 03. From Soulless To Shattered (Art In Dying) 04. Beyond Forlorn 05. The Ten Of Swords 06. Closer To Cold 07. Sick Perfection 08. Half Past Corpse O'Clock 09. Escape Artist 10. Sable Rising
Bonus tracks:
11. A Pound Of Flesh (For The Hell Of It) 12. The Lake (KING DIAMOND cover)
"Starve For The Devil" was recorded at Planet Z Studios in Hadley, Massachusetts with producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who has previously worked with MUNICIPAL WASTE, AGNOSTIC FRONT and HATEBREED, among others.
ARSIS' recording lineup:
James Malone - Guitars/Vocals Mike Van Dyne - Drums Nick Cordle - Guitars Nathaniel Carter - Bass
ARSIS will take part in the North American "Tyrants Of Evil" tour with ARCH ENEMY, EXODUS and MUTINY WITHIN beginning January 20, 2010. Malone said, "Not only will it be our first tour in support of our new album, but it will also be the first time that ARSIS toured in the United States in well over a year.
"I hope to see many familiar faces; I have greatly missed hanging out with all the ARSIS fans at shows."
ARSIS is currently on the road in in Europe as part of the Neckbreakers Ball tour with BEHEMOTH, DEVILDRIVER, and SCAR SYMMETRY.
ARSIS' previous album, "We Are the Nightmare", was released in April 2008 through Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was produced by Zeuss at Planet Z Studios and was mastered by Alan Douches (KATAKLYSM, UNEARTH, SHADOWS FALL).
Slash has tapped ALTER BRIDGE's Myles Kennedy to sing on the final song of the legendary VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist's upcoming self-titled solo album, due in Europe in early 2010 via Roadrunner Records. "This track is awesome, [and] it completes the record," Slash writes on his Twitter page. "Myles did an amazing job and the song is fucking great."
Slash told MusicRadar.com this week that he got almost every special guest he wanted to appear on his upcoming solo album, except for one: WHITE STRIPES singer/guitarist and DEAD WEATHER drummer Jack White. Slash revealed, "I wanted to get Jack White to sing on something, but he didn't want to sing. He said I'll play drums, I'll play guitar, but I don't wanna sing. He was one guy that I wanted to work with. Pretty much everyone else that I went after I managed to get."
Speaking at the Marshall Classic Rock Roll of Honour awards in London on Monday (November 2), Slash said regarding his upcoming CD, "There's quite a list of [guest musicians] on the album. I'm not publicly talking about who it is until all the ink is dried on all the different contracts, but the rumours are out there — you sort of know what's going on."
Slash added, according to AOL Music, "There will be some people from the pop business that people are surprised that I'm using, and there's also some real rock 'n' roll people with pop guises."
Slash said he only drew up his wish list of singers when he had written the songs for the record. He explained, "When I was actually doing the writing of the songs I didn't have singers. But then, when I had finished them, I thought 'you know who would sound good on this...' and that's how it would start."
"Slash" will see Roadrunner Records enter into a unique and innovative association with a U.K. media partner — the special-interest media group Future. In a brand new concept in record distribution the standard album release will be preceded by a "fan pack," in which the Roadrunner Records album will be bundled together with a highly collectable special issue of Future Publishing's Classic Rock magazine dedicated to Slash's career. This will be the first format of the album available anywhere in the world.
Slash will release a two-track CD single in Japan on November 11 containing the song "Sahara" (featuring singer Koshi Inaba of the Japanese hard rock duo B'Z) and a version of the GN'R classic "Paradise City" (featuring CYPRESS HILL and Fergie [a.k.a. Stacy Ann Ferguson] of the BLACK EYED PEAS).
Slash tracked most of the CD with former NINE INCH NAILS drummer Josh Freese and ex-JANE'S ADDICTION bassist Chris Chaney. Other confirmed guest singers so far include Ozzy Osbourne, AVENGED SEVENFOLD's M. Shadows and Chris Cornell (SOUNDGARDEN, AUDIOSLAVE). The CD was produced by Eric Valentine (GOOD CHARLOTTE, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE) and features additional appearances by ex-GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS bassist Flea and former NIRVANA drummer and current FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl.
Italian rock/metal band LACUNA COIL has scheduled the following dates:
Jan. 29 - Dublin, Ireland - The Academy Jan. 31 - Manchester, UK - The Manchester Academy Feb. 01 - Birmingham, UK - O2 Academy Feb. 02 - Glasgow, UK - The ABC Feb. 04 - Bristol, UK - O2 Academy Feb. 05 - London, UK - O2 Shepherds Bush Empire Feb. 07 - Eindhoven, Netherlands - Effenaar Feb. 08 - Paris, France - Bataclan Feb. 09 - Borgerhout, Belgium - Trix Hall Feb. 11 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Pumpehuset Feb. 12 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Brewhouse Feb. 13 - Oslo, Norway - John Dee Feb. 15 - Helsinki, Finland - Nosturi Feb. 17 - Stockholm, Sweden - Gota Kallare Feb. 18 - Malmo, Sweden - KB Feb. 20 - Berlin, Germany - Columbia Club Feb. 21 - Hamburg, Germany - Knust Feb. 22 - Aschaffenburg, Germany - Colos-Saal Feb. 24 - Cologne, Germany - Essigfabrik Feb. 25 - Karlsruhe, Germany - Substage Feb. 26 - Munich, Germany - Backstage Halle Feb. 28 - Vienna, Austria - Arena Mar. 01 - Zurich, Switzerland - Dynamo Mart. 02 - Milan, Italy - Alcatraz Mart. 04 - Bologna, Italy - Estragon Mart. 05 - Rome, Italy - Atlantico Mart. 06 - Treviso, Italy - New Age
Three unique artists were approached to remix LACUNA COIL's "I Like It" track for a single, which was made available digitally only on September 21 in Europe and Australia.
Interface: One of New York's longest-running electronic music acts, Interface combines the sonic edge of industrial, the club energy of trance, and a melodic sensibility for a unique experience.
Das Basslaster: Das Basslaster, synthies/samples/computer and vocals as well as producer for electro/pop/emo/trash darlings FRITTENBUDE, went for a more pop mix of the song.
Dan Peace: 20-year-old underground electro/big bass producer and DJ from the Northeast England, Dan Peace emerged from the bedroom mid-September 2008. He has since been knocking out his own brand of dance music and DJing regularly.
LACUNA COIL's latest album, "Shallow Life", was recorded in September/October 2008 at NRG Studios in North Hollywood, California with producer Don Gilmore, who has previously worked with LINKIN PARK, TRAPT, AVRIL LAVIGNE, GOOD CHARLOTTE, THE VERONICAS, PEARL JAM, TRUST COMPANY and DURAN DURAN.
LACUNA COIL is currently on the road in North America as part of the "HardDrive Live Tour", which also features ALL THAT REMAINS, MAYLENE AND THE SONS OF DISASTER, FROM SWORD TO SUNRISE (first leg) and TAKING DAWN (second leg).
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