Vocalist Rob Halford and guitarist Glenn Tipton, members of JUDAS PRIEST, talked to Rick Wakeman and provided a mesmerizing insight into the drive and determination that led the Metal Gods from the working-class steel town of Birmingham, England to becoming one of the biggest heavy metal bands in the world.

Halford and Tipton unwrap the concept behind their 2008 album "Nostradamus" and describe the friendship, "metal magic" and self belief that fuels the chemistry behind the band's writing process, while recollecting the first-ever PRIEST rehearsals and how the band, like many, were essentially born out the back of a Ford Transit van. They went on to tour all four corners of the globe yet, Wakeman probes the band to paint the picture of their rise from initial long club tours of the U.S to supporting the likes of LED ZEPPELIN on the West Coast, drawing crowds in excess of 160,000 across two dates. Find out how it felt for the band to record their classic "British Steel" album in the now infamous "Imagine" home that was previously owned by John Lennon and discover exactly why the band ended up staying in a religious convent occupied by a collection of Swedish nuns.

The entire interview, dubbed "Rick Wakeman Face To Face With Judas Priest", will air on October 13 and October 31 on Sky Channel 378 - Rock On TV at the following times:

10.30am
12.00noon
14.00pm
17.00pm
19.00pm

A two-minute preview clip can be viewed below.

To view the entire 52-minute episode, visit www.rockondigital.com.

Ozzy Osbourne was interviewed earlier today (Thursday, October 1) on BBC Radio 1's "The Chris Moyles Show". The chat is now available for streaming at this location. (Note: The Ozzy interview begins around the two-hour, 22-minute mark.)

Hachette Audio has set an October 22 U.K. release date for the audiobook version of Ozzy Osbourne's long-awaited memoir, "I Am Ozzy". The book, which was originally slated to arrive almost two years ago but was delayed twice, was published in the U.K. on October 1.

Ozzy will do a week-long publicity tour in England and Ireland, which will include the following book-signing events:

*** Oct. 02 - HMV 150 Oxford Street, London, U.K. (6:00 - 8:00 p.m.)

*** Oct. 03 - Waterstone's Bluewater, West Village, Greenhithe, Kent, U.K. (1:00 -3.00 p.m.)

*** Oct. 08 - WHS, 29 Union Street, Birmingham, U.K. (4:30 - 6.30 p.m.)

*** Oct. 10 - Eason, 40 Lower O'Connell Street, Dublin, IRE (11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)

*** Oct. 10 - Hughes & Hughes, St. Stephen's Green Shopping Centre, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin, IRE (3:00 - 5:00 p.m.)

Due to time constraints, access to the London event is limited. 300 wristbands will be available from the store on the day of the event from 9:00 a.m. on a first-come-first-served basis; one per customer only, no reservations.

"I Am Ozzy, The Autobiography" chronicles the star's humble beginnings in the U.K. to his current position as international music and TV celebrity.

In a statement, he revealed what fans can expect from the bio, explaining: "They've said some crazy things about me over the years. I mean, okay: 'He bit the head off a bat.' Yes. 'He bit the head off a dove.' Yes. But then you hear things like, 'Ozzy went to the show last night, but he wouldn't perform until he'd killed fifteen puppies…' Now me, kill fifteen puppies? I love puppies. I've got eighteen of the fucking things at home. I've killed a few cows in my time, mind you. And the chickens. I shot the chickens in my house that night.

"It haunts me, all this crazy stuff. Every day of my life has been an event. I took lethal combinations of booze and drugs for thirty fucking years. I survived a direct hit by a plane, suicidal overdoses, STDs. I've been accused of attempted murder. Then I almost died while riding over a bump on a quad bike at fucking two miles per hour.

"People ask me how come I'm still alive, and I don't know what to say. When I was growing up, if you'd have put me up against a wall with the other kids from my street and asked me which one of us was gonna make it to the age of 60, which one of us would end up with five kids and four grandkids and houses in Buckinghamshire and Beverly Hills, I wouldn't have put money on me, no fucking way. But here I am: ready to tell my story, in my own words, for the first time.

"A lot of it ain't gonna be pretty. I've done some bad things in my time. I've always been drawn to the dark side, me. But I ain't the devil. I'm just John Osbourne: a working class kid from Aston, who quit his job in the factory and went looking for a good time."

Publisher Antonia Hodgson called the book "fantastic," adding that it was "very much in the tone of his voice, very funny and a very full story."

Ozzy did a cover shoot for the book on June 17.

A U.S. publication date has yet to be announced.

Ozzy's wife and manager, Sharon Osbourne, published her own best-selling memoir in 2005, called "Extreme: My Autobiography". A second volume was rushed out in 2008 after Ozzy's book was delayed.

Ozzy is working on a new album that he expects to release next year.

A teaser for "Round 1", the forthcoming album from reunited Australian rockers THE POOR, can be viewed below. The CD is scheduled for release on October 19 via Riot! Entertainment.

THE POOR (originally THE POOR BOYS) started out playing the pub circuit in Darwin nearly two decades ago. The plan was simple: hard rockin', hard drinkin' and world domination. In 1992 the band cut their debut release, the EP "Rude, Crude & Tattooed", produced by Rick Brewster and Bob Spencer from THE ANGELS. In mid-1993, the band recorded their debut album, "Who Cares", at Festival Studios in Sydney and Montreal, Canada with English producer Paul Northfield. THE POOR BOYS also became THE POOR, and on March 21, 1994 Epic Records released the single, "More Wine Waiter Please". It instantly became the No. 1 most added track on U.S. rock radio and attracted unprecedented acclaim from the U.S. rock press. Australia soon followed suit with the release of "Who Cares" on June 13 that year.

There was no stopping them now and with a mega-hit single and album, the whole world wanted a piece of THE POOR. They toured relentlessly, drank hard and rocked harder. Over the next two years, THE POOR toured the States (twice), Europe, Japan and all over Australia. During their turbulent roller coaster ride they scored support slots for THE ANGELS, AC/DC, KISS, SCORPIONS, ALICE IN CHAINS and VAN HALEN, just to name a few.

After relentlessly touring to support "Who Cares" and playing over 20 brand new songs to rock fans worldwide, they came to the realization that they had already toured the world with the second album without actually releasing it! Was this a case of too much too soon or the simple fact that they toured their asses off on the road for so long?

1998 saw the release of the single "Simple Livin'", and with the birth of a new decade, THE POOR went into hibernation.

It wasn't until 2008 that THE POOR returned to the stage for the first time in over 10 years when they were invited to join U.S. metal icons W.A.S.P. on a national tour around of Australia as special guests. Within minutes of being back on stage on the first night of the tour, it seemed that those 10 years had passed in the blink on an eye. THE POOR partied with many old-time fans while gaining many new fans who were witnessing their super-charged live performance for the very first time.

Liechtenstein-based gothic metallers ELIS will release their new album, "Catharsis", via Napalm Records on the following dates:

Nov. 25 - Finland & Spain
Nov. 27 - Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Benelux & Italy
Nov. 30 - Rest of Europe
Dec. 15 - USA
Jan. 12 - Canada

The follow-up to 2006's "Griefshire", "Catharsis" was recorded at Mastersound Studio in Germany with producer Alex Krull (ATROCITY, LEAVES' EYES) and marks the band's first full-length recording with Sandra Schleret, who joined ELIS in December 2006.

"Catharsis" will be released with two different designs — jewel case and the digipack — both of which were created by Stefan "Heile" Heilemann and which can be viewed below.

"Catharsis" track listing:

01. Core Of Live
02. Twinkling Shadow
03. Warrior's Tale
04. Des Lebens Traum, des Traumes Leben
05. I Come Undone
06. Firefly
07. Morning Star
08. Das Kleine Ungeheuer
09. Mother's Fire
10. Rainbow
11. The Dark Bridge
12. Ghost Of The Past (bonus on digipack)
13. No Hero (bonus on digipack)

The digipack version of "Catharsis" will include a bonus DVD featuring a recording of the band's performance at the Metal Female Voices Fest in 2007 in Wieze, Belgium.

Bonus DVD track listing:

01. Intro
02. Tales From Heaven Or Hell
03. Die Zeit
04. Show Me The Way
05. Phoenix From The Ashes
06. Der Letzte Tag
07. Lost Soul
08. A New Decade
09. Heaven And Hell

Commented Sandra: "Sometime ago, shortly before I joined ELIS, I had to go through a very hard time, physical-wise the hardest experience in my life. I was fighting against a severe disease, and while my body was struggling, I felt my soul started to go its own way. I came to new insights, and started to develop a very intense strength like I never would have imagined I would be able to, but which was really essential for me at that time. I was taken out of the 'real life' for about half a year and felt like an onlooker, not participating in the real world. With the stories I tell on 'Catharsis', I am kind of digesting this period in my life, sharing my feelings, fears and also the things I saw as an 'outcast' watching the world. The word 'catharsis' has some different meanings, but for me it represents 'the healing of the soul by going through tragedy.' As I see it now, to see how magic life can be I also had to experience its dark side..."

ELIS released the "Show Me the Way" single on November 2, 2007 in Europe and November 6, 2007 in North America via Napalm Records. The single's title cut, which originally appeared on 2006's "Griefshire" album, features lead vocals by Schleret. Also included on the single are several previously unreleased songs from the "Griefshire" recording sessions.

ELIS' previous vocalist, Sabine Dünser, suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on July 7, 2006 during rehearsal and passed away the following day in hospital.

"Griefshire" was released in Europe on November 24, 2006 via Napalm Records (the U.S. received the album on January 16). The recordings for the CD were completed prior to the death of Dünser, who came up with the original concept for the album.

Jewel case:

Digipack:

A two-minute video clip of Mary Forsberg Weiland — mother, model, bipolar disorder survivor and recovering drug addict — talking about her new book, "Fall To Pieces: A Memoir Of Drugs, Rock 'N' Roll, And Mental Illness", can be viewed below.

Mary beautifully tells the story of her life and her longtime relationship with STONE TEMPLE PILOTS/former VELVET REVOLVER frontman Scott Weiland in "Fall To Pieces" — written with Larkin Warren — due out November 10 via William Morrow/HarperCollins Publishers.

In her memoir, Mary reveals the extreme highs and lows of her life with refreshing candor and unflinching detail. She offers a window into the world of modeling and rock 'n' roll, while at the same time providing deep insights into the drug and alcohol addictions that could have killed her, and her serious, recently diagnosed and misunderstood mental illness.

Mary explains her reason for writing this book and why she felt bipolar disorder was an important subject to address: "I reject the stigma that the words 'mental illness' carry and I'd love to be a part of the movement to eliminate it." She continues: "After my bipolar diagnosis, I read countless books on the subject. I had a difficult time connecting to them because my story often lacked the intense mania that so many people struggle with. I'm hoping that someone who may be wrestling with similar demons to mine can find even an ounce of hope in 'Fall To Pieces'."

Inspired by books from public figures documenting their own struggles — including Brooke Shields' "Down Came The Rain", about a journey through postpartum depression, and Carrie Fisher's "Wishful Drinking" — Mary felt it was important to share her story, despite fears of how revealing her personal battles might affect her family. "Overall, I'm an honest and open person, so spilling my beans came quite easy, but memoirs and motherhood is a difficult marriage to broker," she says. "Keeping authenticity while trying to protect my children felt a lot like walking a tightrope. In the end, though, I was able to write about that challenge too, so the whole process felt like an honest entry in the so-called diary that became this book."

In "Fall To Pieces", Mary discusses:

* A childhood filled with depression, instability, early addictive tendencies, an overdose and a stint in juvenile hall.
* Meeting Scott Weiland, then an aspiring musician, for the first time at age 16 when he showed up to drive her to and from modeling gigs for $8 an hour.
* The Fourth of July party at Leonardo DiCaprio's house in Malibu, where the Weilands arrived in long-sleeved turtlenecks to hide needle tracks and scabs.
* Her frequent calls to JANE'S ADDICTION guitarist Dave Navarro, who somehow always seemed to know where Scott was.
* Scott's marriage proposal, which followed Mary's seventh rehab stay — and the positive pregnancy test that came soon after.
* The "domestic battery charges" that weren't true but that got Scott back into rehab — and the supportive phone call from Robert Downey, Jr. reassuring Mary that she'd done the right thing.
* The "Weiland Wardrobe Bonfire" three-day headline-making breakdown in Burbank, CA in 2007 that led to Mary's ultimate diagnosis of bipolar disorder, successful treatment, and a new life of health and hope for the future. Of the incident, she now says: "I unraveled. I don't know all the answers to what happened that day I just remember my true self watched helplessly as I fell into deep mania. Writing about it certainly helped me answer a few questions… but not all."

Advance praise for "Fall To Pieces":

"Mary Weiland's beautifully crafted memoir takes the reader through the journey that is so very common today, the slow drift into addiction and mental illness. 'Fall To Pieces' is perhaps the most vivid rendition of this experience I have ever come across. Honest, clear, and accurate, Mary takes us into the reality of a world that is idealized in the tabloids. I have always loved Mary and Scott Weiland, but never more than now." — Dr. Drew Pinsky, host of "Loveline" and "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew", author of "The Mirror Effect" and "Cracked"

"Want to take a trip to the dark side and back? 'Fall to Pieces' is a brutally honest and compelling account of Mary Weiland's struggles with addiction and mental illness that will have you on the edge of your seat with every turn of the page. This is a cautionary story that offers hope and solution to these often seemingly hopeless conditions. Brave, bold and unfiltered, Mary's writing injects humor and levity in a way that is both entertaining and necessary, while keeping the focus on the extremely serious and life threatening behaviors that she confronts. Many people don't have the opportunity to come back and share their experiences, and I have no doubt that this important book will help save many lives." — Dave Navarro

"Mary Weiland describes the depths of madness and addiction with surprising clarity. 'Fall To Pieces' is a wild, gripping story, told with intense emotional honesty." — Terri Cheney, New York Times bestselling author of "Manic"

BEHOLDER, the band led by Simon Hall, former lead singer of NWOBHM legends HANDSOME BEASTS, will release its new album, "The Awakening", on December 1. With over 70 minutes of "full-on sonic offerings and melodic sensibilities, this album has already been hailed as a welcome return to the true spirit of British heavy metal," according to a press release.

On October 26, the title track of the forthcoming album will be released on download format with an additional live bonus cut, "Never Take Us Down", taken from the band's stunning performance at this year's Bloodstock Open Air festival.

The artwork for "The Awakening" is said to be "an existing piece of mastery" by Paul Raymond Gregory. Paul is renowned for his metal album covers, including releases from SAXON ("Crusader", "Rock The Nations", "Unleash The Beast", "Metal Head", "Heavy Metal Thunder", "Lionheart", "Into The Labyrinth"), DIO ("Angry Machines"), MOLLY HATCHET ("Silent Reign Of Heroes", "Locked & Loaded", "Kingdom of XII", "Warriors of Rainbow Bridge"), FREEDOM CALL, BLIND GUARDIAN and COMPANY OF SNAKES.

BEHOLDER frontman Simon Hall is featured in the upcoming feature-length film "Dude, Where's My Music?", which has been described as "'Slumdog Millionaire' meets 'Anvil! The Story Of Anvil' or 'Wayne's World' meets Michael Moore's 'Bowling for Columbine'. It is a movie drenched in humor but with a particularly serious message. It questions why, despite millions of passionate and loyal fans, music is deemed an afterthought by many industry professionals and asks why mainstream music is now so tepid." Other musicians interviewed for the film include members of ANVIL, LACUNA COIL, EXODUS, TESTAMENT, GOD FORBID, DREAM THEATER, KORN, DRAGONFORCE and VENOM.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/beholderuk.

Reactivated Texas old-school death metallers DIVINE EVE are putting the finishing touches on their long-awaited new EP, entitled "Vengeful and Obstinate". The band entered Kearlight Recording Studios in October 2008 with engineer Scott Cooksey to begin recording the effort, which will consist of two new songs and two previously unrecorded (by DIVINE EVE) tracks that originally appeared on the CRIMSON RELIC "Purgatory's Reign" album. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Whispers of Fire", "Ravages of Heathen Men" and "Vindication".

DIVINE EVE is:

Michael Sleavin - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Xan Hammack - Lead Guitar, Vocals
Matt Killen - Drums, Backing Vocals

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/divineeve2008.

MONGO NINJA, the new punk/metal band featuring drummer Bård G. Eithun (a.k.a. Faust; BLOOD TSUNAMI, SCUM, ABORYM, ex-EMPEROR), has scheduled the following dates:

Oct. 12 - Last Train - Oslo, NOR
Jan. 28 - Betong - Oslo, NOR (w/ MUNICIPAL WASTE)

MONGO NINJA's debut album, "And The Wrist Is History", contains "13 fast punk/metal songs" and is scheduled for release sometime this month.

MONGO NINJA is:

Kristopher Schau - Lead Vocals
Bård G. Eithun - Drums
Christian - Guitar
Mads - Bass and Backing Vocals
Peter Michael Kolstad Vegem - Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/mongoninja.

Oderus Urungus, frontman and supposed "leader" of the intergalactic band of chaos warriors known as GWAR, recently called in to FLmetal.com to rant on about the 25th anniversary of his mighty band, the group's new album, "Lust in Space", his favorite planet made of crack-cocaine, the taste of the Pope's nether-regions and the band's current tour and upcoming Florida appearances.

The full interview and podcast can be heard at this location.

GWAR will take part in a signing session at Scrape Records in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on Monday, November 30 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, visit www.scraperecords.com.

"Let Us Slay", the new video from GWAR, was shot in Richmond, Virginia by director David Brodsky (SUICIDE SILENCE, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL) and his MyGoodEye crew.

GWAR's new album, "Lust In Space", sold around 5,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 96 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Swedish drummer Adrian Erlandsson (AT THE GATES, THE HAUNTED, CRADLE OF FILTH, BRUJERIA, PARADISE LOST) is auctioning off a number of cymbals that he used on various albums from AT THE GATES, CRADLE OF FILTH and THE HAUNTED.

For more information, go to this location.

NEMHAIN — which features Erlandsson alongside his wife, Amber — has inked a deal with Tiefdruck-Musik. The group's debut album, "From The Ashes", was recorded and mixed over a three-week period in April 2008 at Studio Fredman in Hyssna, Sweden and will be released worldwide on October 16.

For more information, visit the band's MySpace page.

Former MELDRUM frontwoman Moa Holmsten has issued the following update:

"I recorded a video for the piano version of the song 'The M in S&M', done by the talented man Mr. Erik Mossnelid, who's also playing piano on this song. The video was recorded a cold day early spring 2009 at Renskalla, a well-hidden place in the darkest woods of Sweden, and [it] turned out pretty good!

"This song is the third track from my EP, 'All Blade No Handle', that can be bought at iTunes or [via] PayPal. Also coming soon is my debut full-length album, 'Do You Want Me Death?' and a new video for the song 'Crazy' off that album is also in the works. Can't wait..."

The above-mentioned video for the piano version of the song "The M in S&M" can be viewed below.

Holmsten will release her full-length solo debut, "Do You Want Me Death?", in October via the U.S.-based record label Fill In The Blank Records. According to Moa, Fill In The Blank is run by "two extraordinary people who still believe in real music and an artist's creative freedom, something I cherish the most out of people taking care of my business." The CD will feature guest appearances by Conny Nimmersjö (BOB HUND, THÅSTRÖM) and Mattias Petersson.

For more information, visit Holmsten's MySpace page.

Moa announced her departure from MELDRUM early last year, explaining that she "lost the fire, the dedication and the joy. My heart was not in it anymore. A heart, the only heart, I had to be honest to or I couldn't live with myself."

Moa's former MELDRUM bandmate and group leader, guitarist Michelle Meldrum, passed away on May 21, 2008 as a result of a cystic growth on her brain that had restricted oxygen and blood flow to her brain, rendering her braindead.

Norwegian old-school black metallers KAMPFAR have issued the following update:

"2010 will be a KAMPFAR year in the name of making music. We will use a big share of the year finishing the next album and finally enter studio! We will do a very limited amount of festival appearances, and that's it. The fist festival booked for 2010 is the mighty French Hellfest open air [in June in Clisson, France]. This will be our only show in France, and most probably the only show in western Europe 2010. Be sure to visit, as we will not save anything on these shows! Expect INFERNO!!!"

KAMPFAR released its latest album, "Heimgang" (said to be "the connection between the underworld and our own"), in September 2008 via Napalm Records.

Check out audio samples on the band's MySpace page.

A press release reads: "Refusing to follow in the footsteps of others before or after them, the band delivered an album that sounds, looks, and feels like the very essence of KAMPFAR music inspired by Nordic natural beauty, folklore and myths. It is dark, cold, menacing, and yet alluring in a unique way. These Norwegians belong to the forerunners of the genre, though they cannot be compared to any one specific band. KAMPFAR does not place the most importance on speed, as do others, but rather on expression and content. KAMPFAR is a self-contained mix of raw black metal and pagan metal embossed with traditional folkloric influences. KAMPFAR's music is and remains Norse pagan folklore metal, and proves that compromises are unnecessary in creating greatness."

Californian rockers STEEL PANTHER were recently interviewed by the U.K. edition of Maxim magazine. Watch the chat below.

STEEL PANTHER will take part in an in-store acoustic performance and signing session on Wednesday, October 7 at Vintage Vinyl in Fords, New Jersey beginning at 7:00 p.m.

For more information, visit www.vvinyl.com.

STEEL PANTHER is the '80s metal/hard rock tribute act formerly known as METAL SKOOL. The group will release its first collection of original material, "Feel The Steel", in the U.S. on October 6. The CD, which was issued in the U.K. in June, was produced by Jay Ruston and was made available via iTunes on September 29 before finding its way to store shelves nationally the following week.

The four-member band, known for its outrageous stage presence and gargantuan guitar riffs, has been entertaining fans and scores of rock and entertainment VIPs with its raucous antics via L.A.'s longest-running heavy metal show on the Sunset Strip for nearly a decade (now running at the infamous Key Club every Monday night). The band also holds residencies at the Green Valley Resort and Casino on Friday and Saturday in Las Vegas and the Typhoon Saloon in San Diego every Wednesday.

Fuel TV, the 24/7 action sports lifestyle network, has announced that the Grammy Award-winning hard rock act WOLFMOTHER will be featured as the house band for the entire Oakley Week on "The Daily Habit" starting October 5, 2009. During the performances, the band played three songs off its new album, "Cosmic Egg", and two fan favorites from its debut self-titled album.

"It's really exciting to have WOLFMOTHER featured as the house band on 'The Daily Habit'," says Jeff Sosnow, senior vice president, A&R at Interscope Records. "Songs from the band's first album were used in a variety of action sports videos and the band definitely built a strong fan base within the surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding audiences. We're excited for WOLFMOTHER to premiere some of the band's new material to the Fuel TV viewers on 'The Daily Habit' during the week."

Fuel TV is just as excited to have this powerhouse band perform on its daily show. "We're thrilled to have WOLFMOTHER as our house band for a full week of 'The Daily Habit' shows," says Daryl Berg, Fuel TV director, music supervision and licensing.

Look for the band to perform its new single "New Moon Rising" as well as "California Queen" and "Cosmic Egg" off the new album "Cosmic Egg". WOLFMOTHER will also play first-album favorites "Woman" and "White Unicorn" during the week.

A teaser of the performance of "New Moon Rising" can be viewed below.

WOLFMOTHER's cross-country trek will kick off at the House of Blues in Dallas, Texas on October 29 and wrap up 20 cities later at the legendary Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles. Support for all shows will come from THENEWNO2 and HEARTLESS BASTARDS.

Slash, Rick Nielsen of CHEAP TRICK and Steve Vai are among the musicians who were interviewed for "Rock Prophecies", a feature-length chronicle of conflicted photographer Robert M. Knight, on a quest to find both himself and the world's next great guitar player. The film will have a FREE screening at the Terry Fator Theatre at The Mirage (3400 Las Vegas Blvd S) in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, October 3. Doors open at 1:00 p.m. and the screening starts at 2:00 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session with Robert Knight and director John Chester. Tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis at The Mirage box office.

Robert Knight is one of the most prolific rock photographers in history. "Rock Prophecies" explores his amazing career and follows him on his quest to help the bands of today become the rock legends of tomorrow, whether promoting Northern Irish band THE ANSWER before anybody has heard of them, or convincing Aussie band SICK PUPPIES to sell everything and move to the United States. When Robert stumbles upon Tyler Bryant — a 16-year old guitar phenom from Texas — he's convinced he may have found the next Stevie Ray Vaughan. Robert risks his reputation and career and takes a chance on Tyler. The two then set off on an unbelievable journey to take their own shot at making history.

Despite boasting footage of some of the best guitarists in the business, "Rock Prophecies" is not a concert film. "It's a true story about having a dream, and how to fulfill that dream," Knight says. "For that matter, it's the story of fulfilling other peoples' dreams, too." While building relationships with established guitar royalty, Knight has always managed to keep his finger on the cultural pulse, leaping at the opportunity to photograph and promote emerging talent such as blues-rock star Joe Bonamassa, and rising bands SICK PUPPIES, THE ANSWER and PANIC AT THE DISCO.

A film by John Chester and produced by Tim Kaiser, "Rock Prophecies" was shot in multiple locations across the U.S. and England. Kaiser has proclaimed Knight to be the "the Forrest Gump of rock 'n roll" for his ability to capture history in the making, namely the last photo ever taken of Stevie Ray Vaughan and some of the earliest of Hendrix and LED ZEPPELIN. And in the words of Chester, Knight's "ability to zero in on the legends of tomorrow is more than a little eerie. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't filmed it myself."

Watch a "Rock Prophecies" trailer below.

For more information, go to www.rockprophecies.com.

(Thanks: Fullshred)

POWERMAN 5000 frontman Spider One will guest on "Uncensored Net Noise" on Friday, October 2 beginning at 10:30 p.m. EST.

You can listen to the program live via the Internet at this location.

POWERMAN 5000 has just completed filming a video for the band's new single, "Super Villain". The clip was directed by Robert Hall ("Laid to Rest", "Fear Clinic"), and accompanied by award-winning cinematographer and director of photography Brandon Trost ("Halloween II", "Crank 2"). The video also features actor Johnathon Schaech ("Quarantine", "Living Hell", "That Thing You Do") as the "Super Villain".

"Super Villain" comes off POWERMAN 5000's new album, "Somewhere on the Other Side of Nowhere", which is scheduled for release on October 6 via Mighty Loud!/ Fontana.

"Somewhere on the Other Side of Nowhere" track listing:

01. Intelligent Creatures
02. Show Me What You've Got
03. Super Villain
04. V Is For Vampire
05. Do Your Thing
06. Somewhere On The Other Side Of Nowhere
07. Time Bomb
08. Get Your Bones
09. Make Us Insane
10. Technology Eats Its Young
11. Horror Show

POWERMAN 5000's current lineup:

Spider One (Michael Cummings) - lead vocals
Velkro (Dave Pino) - lead guitar
Evan 9 (Evan Rodaniche) - rhythm guitar
X51 (Gustavo Aued) - bass
GFlash (Gordon Heckaman) - drums

Chicago-based doom metal band EARTHEN GRAVE was shown performing on NBC's "Today" show as part of a September 25, 2009 feature on the group's violinist Rachel Barton Pine. Watch the report below.

"I've been a big heavy metal fan since I was 12, groups like PANTERA, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX, METALLICA, SLAYER," Rachel said in a 2004 interview.

Pine's heavy metal penchant came to the fore in 1997's "Storming the Citadel", according to The Republican. With her "rock trio" STRINGENDO (Barton Pine and Edgar Gabriel, violins, and Brandon Vamos, cello), she covered her favorite songs by bands ranging from LED ZEPPELIN ("Heartbreaker", "Black Dog", and "Stairway to Heaven") and BLACK SABBATH ("Paranoid") through AC/DC ("Thunderstruck" and "Back in Black") to METALLICA ("One" and "Fade to Black").

Rachel Barton Pine's official web site can be accessed at this location.

EARTHEN GRAVE's next concert will take place on Wednesday, October 7 at Chicago's Double Door. Doors open at 8:00 p.m. and Earthen Grave plays at 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $5 for the 21-and-over show that also includes RIOTGOD and BIBLE OF THE DEVIL.

EARTHEN GRAVE's November schedule includes a performance with NOVEMBERS DOOM at Reggie's Rockhouse.

The group's demo/EP "Dismal Times", comprising three original songs and two covers, was released in June and has been hailed by critics as "astounding," "phenomenal," and "pure, head-banging bliss."

EARTHEN GRAVE is a force of nature driven by the unique alchemy of its members featuring Mark Weiner on vocals, Ron Holzner on bass, Rachel Barton Pine on extended-range violin, Jason Muxlow and Tony Spillman on guitar, Scott Davidson on drums.

The six-piece thunders with dark intensity, playing with a skill and versatility that will stop listeners in their tracks. The band's 2009 performances have included an appearance at Indianapolis' Templars of Doom III festival and concerts where they shared the stage with such luminaries as PENTAGRAM, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, MAYHEM, MACABRE, and NACHTMYSTIUM, in venues including the Metro, House of Blues, and Pearl Room.

For more information, visit www.earthengrave.com.

Billboard.com reports that Fox Searchlight is in negotiations to board a project about the life of the RAMONES, based on the upcoming memoir "I Slept With Joey Ramone", by the musician's brother, and featuring the band's tunes.

The project, which initially had been conceived independently under manager-producer Rory Rosegarten, would get a significant boost with the involvement of the 20th Century Fox unit.

Written by Joey Ramone's brother Mickey Leigh and longtime punk writer and RAMONES chronicler Legs McNeil, it centers on the life of Joey Ramone, a.k.a. Jeffrey Hyman, the lead singer of the seminal punk act. The memoir is scheduled to be published by Simon & Schuster imprint Fireside in December.

Read more from Billboard.com.

According to Cyberpresse.ca, KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley will guest on this Sunday's (October 4) episode of the French-language show "Tout Le Monde En Parle". The program was taped earlier today at the Radio-Canada studios in Montreal and will air on all Radio-Canada stations across Canada.

Each of the 42 shows on KISS Alive 35 tour is being exclusively recorded by Concert Online and available to purchase as a USB leather wristband with a KISS metal buckle or an instant live CD set, consisting of two CDs in a collector's box. To ensure maximum quality, all tracks are recorded live and are mixed with state-of-the-art recording technology by Concert Online.

The original leather KISS USB wristband contains the audio recording of the show of your choice in highest MP3 quality (320 kBit/s) and KISS bonus multimedia material. Just plug in your wristband to a USB port on your computer and start the embedded KISS multimedia player to listen to your MP3s and enjoy the bonus features. Of course you can copy your MP3s to your computer, your MP3 player, etc. to listen to KISS Alive 35 wherever you want! The wristband can also be used as a standard 1GB USB flash drive.

The KISS Alive 35 digipak contains two discs with the complete recording of one concert of your choice in CD quality.

USB wristband and two-CD set are available on location at every KISS Alive 35 North American Tour show or online at Concert Online.

KISS filmed footage for the "Modern Day Delilah" video during the band's private warm-up show at Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan on Thursday (September 24). Over 1,500 lucky fans attended the event, where the group also previewed its new stage and taped two songs for an upcoming episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

Altitude TV recently conducted an interview with Sully Erna and Shannon Larkin of GODSMACK. Topics discussed include how they stayed relevant, their upcoming album, and their love for Johnny Drama and the show "Entourage". Watch the four-minute chat below.

GODSMACK capped its acclaimed tour with MÖTLEY CRÜE in style last month, scoring fifth No. 1 single at Active Rock, notching the coveted top spot at Active Rock and the Mediabase format with the band's first single in nearly three years, "Whiskey Hangover". The song was released sans album, a special gift to fans in celebration of the band's acclaimed live slot on this one of this summer's hottest rock tours. The tour finally wound down on September 5 in Darien Lake, New York, with critics like 411Mania.com hailing both the tour and "Whiskey Hangover" as vintage GODSMACK: "'Hangover' is a welcome return to the band's well-established sound. Powerful…"

The new song arrived in mid-June as the first "sanctioned" GODSMACK offering since the band's widely acclaimed greatest-hits package, "Good Times Bad Times….Ten Years of Godsmack", was delivered to fans at the end of 2007. "Whiskey Hangover" reigns as a record-breaking 17th Top 10 single for the Boston band, extending GODSMACK's ownership of the most Top 10 hits in active rock history.

The next GODSMACK album will be the band's first collection of all-new material since 2006's "IV".

After GODSMACK released "Good Times, Bad Times - Ten Years of Godsmack", the band announced that it was going on hiatus. Singer Sully Erna worked on his solo album during this period, while the other three members of the group started a side project called ANOTHER ANIMAL.

SLIPKNOT guitarist Mick Thomson will sign autographs at the Guitar Show & Swap Meet on Sunday, October 4 from 3 to 4 p.m. at Sam Ash in Clearwater, Florida. This will take place at the Kapok Special Events Pavilion behind the Sam Ash music store on McMullen Booth Rd.

The Guitar Show & Swap Meet will run from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. There will be hundreds of guitars, basses and gear for sale, plus giveaways and drawings for prizes like a $5,000 Fender Eric Clapton Antigua Stratocaster, a $3,000 Gibson Songwriter Acoustic and an $1,100 Spector bass.

Legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen will perform from 2 to 2:45 p.m.

Sam Ash
923 McMullen Booth Road
Clearwater, FL 33759

Telephone: (727) 725-8062

For more information, go to this location.

(Thanks: Fullshred)

Behind-the-scenes footage from this year's installment of the European Paganfest tour — featuring headliners KORPIKLAANI alongside DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER, UNLEASHED, ALESTORM, EX DEO and SWASHBUCKLE — can be viewed below. The seven-minute clip includes an interview with EX DEO/KATAKLYSM frontman Maurizio Iacono.

Paganfest 2009 remaining tour dates:

Oct. 01 - Innsbruck, Austria - Hafen
Oct. 02 - Wien, Austria - Arena
Oct. 03 - Linz, Austria - Posthof

Behind-the-scenes footage from the making of "Still I Rise", the new video from Massachusetts metallers SHADOWS FALL, can be viewed below. The clip was helmed by longtime SHADOWS FALL director Zack Merck at the Affliction warehouse in southern California, and was shot in the ring with actual Affliction fighters. Fans were invited to come down and rock out, and they received a special place as extras in the video.

"Still I Rise" is the first single from SHADOWS FALL's new album, "Retribution", which sold around 13,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 35 on The Billboard 200 chart.

SHADOWS FALL's previous CD, "Threads of Life" (which was released through Atlantic Records), opened with just over 24,000 copies to land at No. 46. This was substantially less than the 39,000 first-week tally registered by its predecessor, "The War Within" (Century Media), which came out in September 2004 and debuted at No. 20 on The Billboard 200 chart. SHADOWS FALL's "Fallout from the War" CD — featuring songs that didn't make it onto "The War Within", B-sides from Japan releases and a few cover songs — premiered with just under 13,000 copies in June 2006 to enter the chart at No. 83.

"Retribution" was released on September 15 via Everblack Industries, the label SHADOWS FALL created in conjunction with Warner Music Group's ILG, Ferret Music and ChannelZERO Entertainment. The CD was produced by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, MUNICIPAL WASTE), with vocal production by Elvis Baskette (INCUBUS, ALTER BRIDGE). The cover artwork was created by Sons of Nero (UNEARTH, EVERY TIME I DIE, BRING ME THE HORIZON).

"Retribution" track listing:

01. The Path to Imminent Ruin
02. My Demise
03. Still I Rise
04. War
05. King Of Nothing (feat. Randy Blythe)
06. The Taste Of Fear
07. Embrace Annihilation
08. Picture Perfect
09. A Public Execution
10. Dead And Gone

Making of "Still I Rise" video:



"Still I Rise" video:

Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force Records will soon begin releasing rare archival concert footage that many Malmsteen collectors will want to have. The first is Yngwie in Korea, which will be officially released October 13, 2009. This is the raw footage that was shot by the Korean media, and it features no bells and whistles.

"Live In Korea" DVD track listing:

01. Rising Force
02. Catch 22
03. Crucify
04. The Wizard
05. Adagio
06. Far Beyond The Sun
07. Wild One
08. Miracle Of Life
09. Bad Reputation
10. Trilogy Suite - Guitar Solo
11. Masquerade
12. Seventh Sign
13. Acoustic Solo - Black Star
14. I'll See The Light

If you are a completist and want to see these concerts, the DVD is highly recommended.

Malmsteen will make a appearance for Fender at the Sam Ash Guitar Show in Clearwater, Florida on October 4. He will also perform at the event. This will take place at the Kapok Special Events Pavilion behind the Sam Ash music store on McMullen Booth Rd. in Clearwater. The event starts at noon and is free.

Sam Ash
923 McMullen Booth Road
Clearwater, FL 33759

Telephone: (727) 725-8062

For more information, go to this location.

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.

Yngwie Malmsteen live in Korea (2001):

Finnish metallers KALMAH have been forced to cancel their previously announced shows at the Unirock Extreme Festival in Istanbul, Turkey and Nuclear Nightclub in Oulu, Finland. The band says, "Both gigs will be rescheduled to 2010. Nightclub will host our album release party in the beginning of 2010." KALMAH adds, "The reason for canceling is Pekka's [Kokko; vocals, guitar] accident with brush saw."

Check out a photo of Kokko's hand injury below.

Affected dates:

Oct. 03 - Unirock Extreme Festival - Istanbul, TUR
Oct. 17 - Nuclear Nightclub - Oulu, FIN

KALMAH entered the studio earlier in the year to begin recording its sixth full-length album. Nine new songs and a couple of covers are being laid down, with the mixing and mastering sessions set to take place before the end of the year. According to the group, "all KALMAH elements are strongly present and the band has more strength than ever. And we will very likely use real trumpet, so at least that is something new."

KALMAH's fifth studio album, "For The Revolution", was released in the U.K. in July 2008 via Spinefarm.

For the U.K. version of "Revolution", selected bonus audio/visual content was added to the mix, along with a slipcase bearing exclusive new artwork. The bonus audio track is a cover of SEPULTURA's "Arise", while on the visual side, "The Groan Of Wind" (a song from 2006's "Black Waltz") has also been included as an enhanced video.

"For the Revolution" in May 2008 landed at position No. 17 on the Finnish national album chart. This was the band's strongest chart showing to date in Finland.

The CD's cover artwork was designed by former SENTENCED drummer Vesa Ranta, who was also responsible for the artwork of KALMAH's previous album, "The Black Waltz".

"For the Revolution" was recorded at Tico Tico studio in Kemi, Finland with producer Ahti Kortelainen and was mastered at the Cutting Room in Sweden.

KALMAH took part in the Canadian "For the Revolution" tour with support from Montreal's TALAMYUS.

Washington D.C.-based metallers DARKEST HOUR have posted the second in a series of webisodes featuring behind-the-scenes footage from this year's Summer Slaughter Tour. Watch the clip below.

DARKEST HOUR recently kicked off a fall tour with TRIVIUM, DIRGE WITHIN and WHITECHAPEL. Drummer Ryan Parrish stated about the trek, "We are totally stoked to be reaching new fans with our style of melodic death metal. The bands on this tour have definitely turned it up a notch, and this is a tour not to be missed. Come bang your heads with the real metal dudes!"

"The Eternal Return", the latest full-length record from DARKEST HOUR, sold 4,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 104 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at position No. 1 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.

"The Eternal Return" was released on June 23 via Victory Records. The CD was produced by Brian McTernan (SENSES FAIL, THRICE, FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES) at his Baltimore, Maryland studio, Salad Days.

"To me, our new album redefines this band," guitarist Mike Schleibaum recently told Noisecreep. "It's got little elements from all the other records we've done combined in a way that sounds fresh, but is obviously the same band."

Video footage of AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry talking about "We've Got a Long Way To Go", the first single from his fifth solo album, "Have Guitar, Will Travel", can be viewed below.

"Have Guitar, Will Travel" will be released on October 6 via Roman Records. The hard driving, ten-song, in your face, collection features Perry's trademark rock and blues ferocity. Recorded this past spring at the BoneYard, Perry's state-of-the-art home studio, where AEROSMITH's "Honkin' On Bobo" and "Just Push Play" were recorded, "Have Guitar, Will Travel" is entirely written and produced by Perry.

"Have Guitar, Will Travel" track listing:

01. We've Got a Long Way To Go
02. Slingshot
03. Do You Wonder
04. Somebody's Gonna Get (Their Head Kicked In Tonight)
05. Heaven and Hell
06. No Surprise
07. Wooden Ships
08. Oh Lord (21 Grams)
09. Scare The Cat
10. Freedom

Check out audio samples at this location.

Still as scorching hot on guitar as he is preternaturally cool in his persona, "Have Guitar, Will Travel" is a departure for Perry in that the CD was conceived as a band recording. From start to finish it took only forty-seven days to complete. "Making this record in such a short period of time gave us a chance to capture an energy and flow that was very different from the last record," said Perry. "The way the players came together at a time when I had the music and lyrics in my head ready to go was pure synchronicity. The last record rocked, but this one rocks and then some. I'm really proud of it.

"We've Got A Long Way To Go", the CDs first single, showcases the voice of a young German singer known as Hagen, found completely by chance on YouTube by Joe's wife Billie. "I first called him from Cleveland when I went to perform at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame jam with Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Ron Wood, Flea and METALLICA," said Perry. "It took several minutes to convince him that it wasn't a prank call, but a true invitation to audition to sing on the CD." Hagen mans the microphone for five tracks, while Perry sings lead on four. The remaining tenth song is an instrumental entitled "Wooden Ships".

In addition, Perry attracted an esteemed roster of some of the best players that the music world has to offer; bassist David Hull, who played with THE BUDDY MILES BAND at 19 and was in THE JOE PERRY PROJECT in the '80s, drummer Ben Tileston, a Boston University percussion graduate, who plays drums with two of Perry's sons in TAB THE BAND, Paul Santo, who's played Hammond organ/pipe organ with the likes of Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton and Ozzy Osbourne, drummers Scott Meeder and Marty Richards and Willie "Loco" Alexander, Boston's "Godfather of Punk," who was part of the Bostown sound of the band THE BAGATELLE.

A six-week Twitter search was conducted to find the CDs title. The winner, out of nearly 2000 entries, was Joe Piscitelli, who used a play on the old CBS television program "Have Gun – Will Travel".

The release of "Have Guitar, Will Travel" follows self-produced solo releases including "Let The Music Do The Talking" (1980), "Once A Rocker, Always A Rocker" (1983), "I've Got The Rock 'N' Rolls Again" (1981) and 2005's "Joe Perry", which received universal critical praise and earned Perry his first solo Grammy nomination for "Best Instrumental Song" ("Mercy").

Finnish Viking metallers ENSIFERUM have unveiled Mobile Twilight Tavern, the virtual hotline between fans and the band from anywhere in the world. Hear what happens on the road and in the backrooms exclusively through your mobile phone, in real time. In addition to viewing and sharing videos, pictures and messages, you can comment and rate material and also connect with other fans. Step into this secret world and have ENSIFERUM in your pocket, but at your own risk, because you never know what awaits once you ride with these sword-wielding Finns!

Mobile Twilight Tavern is compatible with most Nokia and Sony Ericsson phones as well as many LGs and Samsungs. iPhone and Nokia touch-screen versions will be published later this year.

To download the application, go to this location.

ENSIFERUM will return to North America in November for a full headlining tour. Support will be provided by HYPOCRISY, EX DEO, BLACKGUARD and SWASHBUCKLE (on select dates).

"From Afar", the fourth album from Finnish folk metallers ENSIFERUM, sold around 900 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. (Note: Internet/digital sales **ARE** included in the SoundScan totals.) The CD landed at position No. 44 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.

"From Afar" was released on September 9 via Spinefarm Records. The CD was produced by Tero Kinnunen (NIGHTWISH, AMORPHIS) and Janne Joutsenniemi ('Victory Songs' producer) and was mixed by Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, SENTENCED, AMORPHIS).

According to Iltalehti.fi, STRATOVARIUS' September 30, 2009 concert at the Starlite Room in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada ended in flames. An eyewitness told BLABBERMOUTH.NET, "Near the end of STRATOVARIUS' set there was some commotion and I saw the [Finnish] band look up at something, [and it turned out that the ceiling-mounted PA speaker] had caught on fire. The concert stopped and the fire alarm went off. The building was evacuated. Three fire trucks showed up."

"Everything went well considering the circumstances, and no one was hurt. The fire was quickly put out," singer Timo Kotipelto said, according to Iltalehti.fi.

The eyewitness added, "The fire was small and everyone was laughing about it and seemed in good spirits. Also, a couple members of STRATOVARIUS came out of the tour bus and took photos signed autographs and chatted with fans. They were really nice regular guys."

Fan-filmed video footage of STRATOVARIUS' September 27, 2009 concert in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada can be viewed below.

Frontiers Records has set a November 6 European release date for CINDERELLA's "Live at the Mohegan Sun" album.

Featuring the all-original line-up of Tom Keifer (vocals, guitar), Eric Brittingham (bass), Jeff LaBar (guitar) and Fred Coury (drums), the CD features a recording of the band's July 21, 2005 concert in Uncasville, Connecticut on the VH1-sponsored "Rock Never Stops" package tour, which included support from RATT, QUIET RIOT and FIREHOUSE. The LP is being released in Europe as an appetizer to the ultimate live return of the band on the European soil, which is planned for the year 2010!

"Live at the Mohegan Sun" track listing:

01. Intro
02. Night Songs
03. The Last Mile
04. Somebody Save Me
05. Heartbreak Station
06. Coming Home
07. Shelter Me
08. Nobody's Fool
09. Gypsy Road
10. Don't Know What You Got ('Till It's Gone)
11. Shake Me
12. Fallin' Apart At The Seams *
13. Push Push *
14. Still Climbing *

* Bonus tracks available on the first pressing in digipack

Check out audio samples:

"Night Songs":



"Gypsy Road":



"Don't Know What You Got ('Till It's Gone)":



CINDERELLA's "Authorized Bootleg: Live at the Tokyo Dome - Tokyo, Japan Dec. 31 1990" CD was released on March 31 via Island/Mercury.

The band's U.S. tour with WARRANT, LYNCH MOB and LYNAM — which was supposed to take place in the summer of 2008 — was cancelled after frontman Tom Keifer's left vocal cord hemorrhaged during rehearsal, thereby making it impossible for him to sing in the immediate future.