DANZIG frontman and namesake Glenn Danzig has spoken to Metal Edge magazine about his plans to retire from touring following the completion of the upcoming "Blackest of the Black" trek (which has been postponed from its originally announced fall 2004 kick-off date). Several excerpts from the interview follow:

Metal Edge: For at least the time being, this is the last DANZIG tour.

Glenn Danzig: "Yeah, I have so much shit I want to do, and I keep getting in this cycle of tour-record-tour-record, and I never get to do anything. 'Black Aria II' has never been recorded, and it's been written for five years. The cover art has been done — the cover is here, looking at me every day. There's a really dark blues record I want to do, and I've actually been talking to Jerry Cantrell [ex-ALICE IN CHAINS] about playing on it with me. Everbody's asking about these unreleased tracks, when they'er gonna get compiled and out out. It's just so much, and I'm just going to finally take some time to do stuff I want to do — and need to do."

Metal Edge: Including delving into films. Is that an idea you've hardbored for a long time?

Glenn Danzig: "Yeah, that's the other thing. I'm pretty sure, as soon as this tour is done, I get to direct my first feature, finally. When I started the comic company, most of the comics were done so they could be brought directly to film. At the time, DANZIG was on Disney [Hollywood Records], and we had a deal with Miramax, which was owned by Disney. But as soon as Roy Disney freaked out that we were on his label, and all the shareholders threatened to pull their stock, that all went down, too."

Metal Edge: Kind of funny, if you think about it, that Miramax will put out the Kevin Smith movies, but they won't put out DANZIG. [laughing]

Glenn Danzig: "Michael Eisner was into it, at first. But Roy Disney flipped because all these people were calling him, going, 'How could you have DANZIG associated with the Disney name?' [laughing] It was really funny. I mean, I think Tower Pulse did that great cartoon, with me and Eisner standing in anti-Disneyland. It was flames, and Mickey Mouse had, like, people on skewers and pitchforks. It was great! People, I guess, through I was gonna be pissed off, but when I saw the cartoon, I was laughing my ass off." [laughing]

Metal Edge: What type of movie are you going to be working on?

Glenn Danzig: "This one's going to be one of the Verotik characters. It's 'Turn of the Century Voodoo', so there will be lots of zombies getting hacked up, ripping people apart. It's all going to be horror stuff, all the stuff I do."

IMPERIA, the new band fronted by former TRAIL OF TEARS singer Helena Iren Michaelsen, will play special acoustic set at the MindView Metal Convention in Stekene, Belgium on November 7. The show starts at 4:30 p.m. and will be preceded by a signing session at 3:00 p.m.

As previously reported, IMPERIA recently shot videos for the tracks "Into Paradise" and "Angelchild".

"Into Paradise" and "Angelchild" come off IMPERIA's debut album, "The Ancient Dance of Qetesh", available now on Ebony Tears. The CD was mixed at Franky's Recording Kitchen in Nieuwleusen, Holland.

MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx has rejected widespread Internet reports that the band will be embarking on a reunion tour in early 2005. Writing to the "Diary" section of the band's official web site, Sixx said, "It's nice to hear that fans, bands, promoters and agents would like to see a MÖTLEY CRÜE tour. But right now I know Vince [Neil] is booking tons of live shows, Tommy [Lee] is busy promoting a book and doing his reality show and Mick [Mars] is in rehabilitation after surgery (Who knows when and if he would feel up to it even if there was a tour) It takes four guys to do it. It hasn't happened since 1999. All I know is all four of us haven't been in the same room in six years. In the world of MÖTLEY, I'd say, 'Don't hold your breath.'

"P.S.: Props to whoever made the tour ad I saw on the net. Maybe someday…"

MCBRAIN DAMAGE, the Florida-based band featuring IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain and ex-BLACK SABBATH/GREAT WHITE bassist Dave "The Beast" Spitz, along with members of DEEPSET and FAILSAFE, have posted the following message on their web site:

"Nicko is off to London for a week to do some studio work. He'll be home for a bit, then off for a drum clinic tour. Dave 'The Beast' Spitz came out of his cave to meet up with Rick and Jonathan to hang with Ronnie James Dio at his show here in FL. They also have plans this week to jam with Patrik Johansson (drummer for Yngwie Malmsteen) at a local rehearsal room... don't worry, it's just to have fun while Nicko is running around the world. We're hard at work getting MCBRAIN DAMAGE tour dates together for the New Year."

Former NIRVANA stars Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic will make their first public appearance together in more than ten years this Tuesday night (Oct. 19) in support of John Kerry, according to RollingStone.com. The two will attend a rally for the presidential candidate in the front parking lot of Las Vegas's Stardust Hotel and Casino, accompanied by BLINK 182's Tom Delonge and Alex Kerry and Chris Heinz, Kerry's daughter and step-son.

Ted Nugent is among the musicians that are starring in Burger King's campaign to promote voter participation among young Americans. Nugent, along with Snoop Dogg, P.Diddy, Michelle Branch, will be featured in fifteen- and thirty-second spots on several major network and cable channels through the election on Nov. 2.

Burger King said the ads are not specifically designed to be public service announcements, but some cable networks are providing free airtime, anyway.

"All of the spots are unbiased and devoid of political commentary," Burger King said.

Paul Hunter directed some of the ads, according to the South Florida Business Journal. The music video director, like the artists, donated his time.

VELVET REVOLVER singer Scott Weiland has told MTV.com that the free show they put on at a Hollywood parking lot last Wednesday (Oct. 13) is a good idea of what fans can expect on the band's current U.S. tour.

"The sum of all our parts, all our life experiences, we bring every one of the elements we have inside of us onto the stage and it explodes out of all our pores," Weiland said. "That's why people come to see us, and why our shows are selling out. I like to say it's the Evel Knievel factor. You've got to figure, the way we've all lived our lives, it's been pretty rough around the edges, so you get five guys who've lived that way, and you really never know what's going to happen. Anything can happen at any time.

"Everyone's really in a great place right now," Weiland continued. "There are five large egos in this band, that's kind of an undeniable factor. It's not like we're saints. We do argue. But we do know how to negotiate our way around those arguments. One thing that we have learned is to keep a band together. So going out on the road, when the road can be a tenuous place, and a lot of drama can ensue, and everyone has different ideas of how things should be run, well, we've learned what to do and what not to do. Through all the things we've done wrong in the past, we've learned what to do right."

VELVET REVOLVER tour dates:

Oct. 19 - Tulsa, OK @ Green on the East End
Oct. 20 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Zoo Amphitheatre
Oct. 23 - Phoenix, AZ @ Phoenix Coliseum
Oct. 24 - Dallas, TX @ Smirnoff Center
Oct. 25 - McAllen, TX @ Dodge Arena
Oct. 28 - San Antonio, TX @ Verizon Wireless
Oct. 30 - Houston, TX @ Cynthia Woods Pavilion
Oct. 31 - Little Rock, AR @ Alltel Arena
Nov. 01 - Austin, TX @ Austin Music Hall
Nov. 05 - Birmingham, AL @ Boutwell Municipal Auditorium
Nov. 06 - Memphis, TN @ Desoto County Civic Center
Nov. 09 - Worcester, MA @ Worcester Centrum
Nov. 12 - Manchester, NH @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Nov. 16 - Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
Nov. 23 - Detroit, MI @ Emerald Theatre

The special Christmas issue (between the regular December and January issues) of the U.K. magazine Record Collector will include a huge DEEP PURPLE special. 10 members of the band (past and present) were interviewed for the magazine, which is due out late November. DEEP PURPLE will be featured on the front cover of the issue.

(Thanks: The Highway Star)

The planned SOULFLY winter tour, slated to start in November of 2004, has been postponed due to heath issues. Singer/guitarist Max Cavalera will spend his time recuperating at home from a leg injury and recording material for a new SOULFLY album. The tour is slated to resume in early 2005 around the release of the SOULFLY DVD, "The Song Remains Insane".

Neil Elkes of Evening Mail reports: The Queen's Head may now be a burnt-out shell of a pub, but it rocked to the cream of Birmingham's music industry during the Sixties and Seventies.

LED ZEPPELIN's Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Bonham, SLADE, THE MOVE, Ozzy Osbourne and BLACK SABBATH all cut their teeth at Erdington's premier rock'n'roll venue.

But whereas the pub was once at the epicentre of Birmingham's youth culture, in recent years it has become a blight on the community, home only to squatters, vandals, fly-tippers and travellers.

And the bulldozers could soon move in after Birmingham Labour MP Sion Simon added his voice to calls from residents for the eyesore to be torn down.

Two years ago the site was almost sold to supermarket chain Lidl, but planners decided it was an unsuitable site for a food store and the building has stayed derelict ever since.

"I was shocked at the state of it. It is soul destroying," said Les Cole who ran the nightclub from 1964 to 1978, working for the licensee Bob Thomas.

"I lived there for 14 years and now my old bedroom is burnt out." Read more.

After twelve years as the lead singer of CRYSTAL EYES, Mikael Dahl will now hand over the job on the new album, "Confessions of the Maker", to former LOST HORIZON vocalist Daniel Heiman. Daniel and Mikael have known each other since the early '90s when they played together in a cover band. Daniel sang the lead vocals on the song "The Wizard's Apprentice" on CRYSTAL EYES' latest album, "Vengeance Descending", and he agreed already several months ago to sing on one or two songs on the new album. A few weeks ago, Mikael approached Daniel about singing on the entire album, and Daniel accepted the offer. "Daniel IS one of the best singers in the world, and Mikael has on several occasions said that if he would let someone else handle the lead vocals in CRYSTAL EYES it would be Daniel," reads a posting on the group's web site. "Everyone is really excited, and we truly believe that this will bring CRYSTAL EYES to a whole new level."

CRYSTAL EYES drummer Stefan Svantesson started to lay down the tracks for the new album last Friday (Oct. 15) at Andy La Roqcue's (KING DIAMOND) studio, Los Angered Recordings, in Gothenburg, Sweden. On November 1, the rest of the band will start working full time in their own studio, Crystal Sounds, and the plan is for the group to have a first mix ready by the end of November.

In other news, Mattias Norén just delivered the artwork for "Confessions of the Maker". "Most of you are probably quite familiar with Mattias' earlier work, so it shouldn't be a surprise that it differs a lot from CRYSTAL EYES' previous albums," reads a posting on the group's web site. "It has a quite dark overall feeling to match the mood of some of the lyrics on the album, especially, of course, the title song's." Check it out at this location.

Singer Doogie White (CORNERSTONE, ex-RAINBOW) has just finished recording the vocals for the next YNGWIE MALMSTEEN solo album at Yngwie's Studio 308 in Miami, Florida. The album is scheduled for a late 2004/early 2005 release in Japan on Universal Music. No further information is currently available.

MALMSTEEN's 2002 effort, "Attack!!", received its long-overdue U.S. release in January via Red Ink/Epic.

(Thanks: Guitar Alchemy)

IDOL X, the new band formed by ex ex-MEDICATION/ADAYINTHELIFE Blunt (a.k.a. Mark Hunt), have posted four demo tracks online at this location. The group, who are currently unsigned, are seeking a lead singer to complete the band's lineup.

Britain's Metal Hammer magazine is reporting that Glenn Danzig (DANZIG, ex-MISFITS) is working on a concept album with ex-ALICE IN CHAINS axeman Jerry Cantrell.

The record, which Danzig describes as "death blues," will double up as the soundtrack to a movie adaptation of Danzig's Verotik comic.

DANZIG released their new album, "Circle of Snakes", in August through Danzig's Evilive label (Regain Records in Europe). Cantrell is writing his third solo album while continuing to play select gigs with his "jam" band CARDBOARD VAMPYRES (which also features ex-THE CULT guitarist Billy Duffy and former MÖTLEY CRÜE frontman John Corabi).

CINDERELLA frontman Tom Keifer recently recorded an acoustic version of the band's hit "Don't Know What You Got (Til it's Gone)" for an upcoming VH1 Immortal CD, titled "Stripped". The record will consist of unplugged versions of power ballads from the '80s. A late fall release is expected.

A PERFECT CIRCLE frontman Maynard James Keenan has told Launch Radio Networks that he is happy to see the group isn't alone in doing their part for the current presidential campaign, and he praised efforts like the Vote For Change and Rock Against Bush tours. "I think it's important. I think it's important, just in general, for people to become more conscious of the decisions that are made on their behalf every day," he said. "I think both of these (candidates) have pretty much ignored the younger voters — it's a shame — so I think it's great that these people are out there trying to make a difference, and trying to explain to these people that it does affect them every day."

A PERFECT CIRCLE's new political album "eMOTIVe" is scheduled for release on November 2 (Election Day). "eMOTIVe" features two new APC songs, along with covers of protest and inspirational songs such as JOHN LENNON's "Imagine", DEPECHE MODE's "People Are People", NICK LOWE's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding", and MARVIN GAYE's "What's Going On", as well as lesser-known punk rock tracks such as FEAR's "Let's Have A War" and CRUCIFIX's "Not So Quiet On The Western Front".

Swedish power metallers ISENGARD have announced the addition of singer Morgan J. Johansson (ex-CRYSTAL BLUE) to the group's ranks.

Morgan is 36 years old and hails from Örebro, Sweden. After his CRYSTAL BLUE stint, he did a few tours with different cover bands around Scandinavia.

"Morgan has a ton of experience," stated ISENGARD bassist Ted Lundin. "Even though it's not this kind of music, he will be valuable resource for ISENGARD and it will be VERY interesting working with him."

"I never thought that an AOR singer would suit to our music until I heard Morgan," added guitarist Ronnie Andréson. "He has a voice that can take ISENGARD's music to a whole new level."

ISENGARD, who are currently unsigned, will begin writing new material for their next recording. Several gigs in Sweden are also planned.

An official web site has been launched to promote the upcoming NIRVANA box set, "With the Lights Out", due on November 23 via Geffen Records (one day earlier internationally). Right now, all the site offers is a NIRVANA photo (possibly the one that will be used as cover artwork), and the release dates. Apparently, the site will provide sound clips, video clips and images later. Check it out at www.nirvanabox.com.

As previously reported, the four-disc set will feature 81 tracks including 68 previously unreleased recordings — rehearsals, outtakes, late NIRVANA frontman Kurt Cobain's home demos, as well as a DVD which is confirmed to have unreleased band home movies, live footage, rehearsal footage and 20 full-length video performances. A 60-page booklet will accompany the release.

The title is a reference to a lyric in "Smells Like Teen Spirit".

A source told NME.com: "I've seen some of the footage and it's amazing stuff. There's a video of them performing at a friend's party with Kurt reading lyrics off a sheet of paper on the wall, footage of them covering 'Seasons In the Sun' in a studio with Kurt on drums and lots of other great stuff."

The artwork for the set is currently being put together, with the likely choice being a "landscape" box.

(Thanks: The Internet Nirvana Fan Club)

Legendary Lousiana hardcore/metal pioneers GRAVEYARD RODEO, who once featured in their ranks current CORROSION OF CONFORMITY guitarist/vocalist Pepper Keenan, are said to be planning a reunion show in early 2005, possibly in February at Dixie Tavern in New Orleans.

GRAVEYARD RODEO released a debut album, "Sowing Discord In the Haunts of Man", through Century Media in 1993 and followed it up with a European tour before breaking up. Founding member Tommy Scanlan (bass) eventually recruited a mostly new lineup for the "On the Verge" album (1994), and the band retired for good soon afterwards. Vocalist Mark Brignac, who appeared on "On the Verge", has since joined forces with Kirk Windstein (DOWN, CROWBAR) and Sid Montz (ex-CROWBAR) in VALUME NOB.

DEEP PURPLE bassist Roger Glover has posted the following Russian tour report on his official web site:

"This a tour of seventeen cities spread across parts of what was, until relatively recently, known as the Soviet Union and now called Russia and the Ukraine. As I write this, we are roughly at the halfway point and not yet in the Ukraine.

"Because of the vast distances, we are traveling on our own chartered, three-engined plane, a YAK 42, and it's really quite easy. However, this doesn't mean that we can avoid airport security and our echoing footsteps regularly bounce off the high, domed ceilings of dimly lit buildings that often look more like churches than terminals as we traipse through, bundled up and dragging our bags. Unsmiling uniformed women in unbelievably sexy high-heeled black leather boots direct us through the X-ray machines. Our plane, although it has seen a good few years of use and the seats and fittings are rather ancient and worn, has a personality all of its own. The flight attendants change from day to day but there is one regular guy who speaks a little English and looks like a young George Formby. I've christened him 'Short Back and Sides' for obvious reasons.

"On arrival, we are met at most airports by a gaggle of people from the local promoter, security men, TV reporters, photographers and autograph hunters who eagerly cluster around wanting a few words or a signature as we climb aboard a rattling van for the hairy ride to the hotel, preceded by a wailing police car. Some of our hotels are not too impressive. Dingy would be a good word. The light bulbs seem to be about 15 watts and the furnishings look they could be from the Fifties, something that was then probably considered ‘modern’ but now just looks quaint. There are some gems amongst them.

"We travel with a cheery Russian crew that are thoroughly professional and compliment our own superb crew well. There are about a dozen of them. In hotel bars after gigs I have come to look out for the words, 'it's a Russian tradition!' as they proffer shots of neat vodka that actually go down surprisingly well despite whatever it was you were previously drinking. Before you know it, the glass has been refilled and yet another toast is offered. This can so easily be the start of a 'cultural exchange' that will haunt you the following morning, a hard, fierce morning that always comes too soon!

"Food leaves much to be desired. Sometimes after a show the promoter invites us to a restaurant, the managers and waiters of which seem intent on impressing and pleasing us but usually blow it by trying too hard. We are ushered to tables laden with all kinds of food, much of which is unidentifiable. There seems to be an alarming number of dishes containing a slimy substance garnished with some kind of pickled matter. Fish is frequently cooked whole; the eyes staring vacantly back at us. Meat comes in various shades of grey and the vegetables are either overcooked, cold, or more than likely both. Predictably, the vodka is good and plentiful and helps to get the other stuff down. We shouldn't complain though because at least we're not paying for it, except with our presence. And we have had some good times.

"The gigs on the whole have been excellent, the crowds ecstatic to see us. The other day a local promoter flew half way across Russia to have his photograph taken with us so that upon his return he could have it published in the local newspaper; apparently no one could believe we were really coming to town. You can sense this in the crowd when we kick into 'Silver Tongue', the first song — they seem to be saying to themselves, 'it's them, it really is!' and then they go nuts! What a welcome we have here. The age range is impressive. Amongst the grizzled features of the older ones bent on re-living their younger days when our songs were illegal copies of copies there are plenty of rosy-cheeked teenagers jumping up and down and even younger ones raising their hands in the air and having the time of their lives. Smiling faces everywhere.

"Security is overwhelming. There are about thirty or forty of them around us wherever we go — grim, pale, heavyset men in black leather jackets, looking out for whatever trouble might be looming — and usually causing it by being in the way. However, in these unpredictable times I’m glad they’re on our side. One morning I left my room to go to breakfast and I saw one of them stationed at the end of my corridor, dark glasses and a close-cropped haircut like a stereotypical hoodlum out of any Hollywood movie. As I approached him along the corridor I nodded and smiled uncertainly as he reached into his oversized leather jacket for what could easily have been a gun but to my relief was only a 'Bananas' CD that he wanted signed.

"When we leave whatever drab hotel we are in to go to the concert it is by way of a convoy of cars and jeeps surrounded front and rear by the usual police cars with flashing red and blue lights, hurtling perilously towards the oncoming traffic, the sirens wailing and loud-hailing other vehicles to get out of the way or stop, and all this at a breakneck pace. After a few of these episodes, when we found ourselves white-knuckling the seats and holding our breath, we had had to talk to them and advise them to slow down; we don’t really need to be in that much of a car chase.

"Security at the venues, usually large sporting facilities, and can sometimes be a bit over the top as well but that is not unique to this country, it happens just as much in other places. People naturally want to get up and approach the stage and are held back not only by these goons but also with back-up squads of uniformed army types in high military hats, wading in if they think things are getting out of hand. Old habits die hard I suppose and they can be too rough on people at times but they are outnumbered and eventually have to back off. Generally the people have a good time and we end up with a heaving crowd happily enjoying the occasion in front of the stage.

"Backstage facilities can be spotty; dressing rooms are either stuffy or freezing, plastic-wrapped plates crammed with strange looking snacks that are seldom eaten cover the tables, and there is a mysterious smell that is indicative of something somewhere that should have been cleaned out years ago. Security men roam the corridors, getting in the way as usual. Most of the buildings are ancient and well used. In fact the whole country has a similar look and everything seems to be tinged with grey, even the fields and trees look rather sorry for themselves. Although some cities look like anything found in the rest of Europe, there are a large number of what can only be described as Communist blocks — utilitarian buildings that look as if only one uninspired architect on the lowest budget possible designed them all.

"As we pass the outskirts of towns and cities you can see how some of the poorer people live. Small wooden houses painted and decorated to cheer themselves up are interspersed with patches of garden that look like something out of the middle ages. Stockpiles of logs are everywhere, ready for the brutal winter ahead. Sometimes you see the newer redbrick buildings going up with more of a grandiose architectural style but somehow they don’t seem to brighten the neighbourhoods that much.

"Despite all this carping we are coping with it as best we can, spoiled brats that we are. The Russians are so happy to see us that it would be churlish to complain much. As Ian Gillan is fond of saying, 'We are lucky buggers.' It's a wonderful experience to see this country and meet people who are as down to earth, warm and welcoming as anybody anywhere. They have suffered under an oppressive system for so long that it is ingrained in their psyche and they overcome this, and the harsh weather, by being such a hardy and uncomplaining race, unlike us!

"In Irkutsk recently, we had a rare day off and were invited to an afternoon boat trip on the famous Lake Baikal, a huge body of water 400 miles long in Siberia. Although winter is approaching and there was a slight chill in the air it was a beautiful sunny day and a special occasion not just for us but also for the boat crew, owner Stan and his family and the skipper, Sergei. We were treated like royalty on the Valeria, a venerable boat that has seen many a season, and we departed from an untidy dock that was full of stalls, smoke and vendors selling souvenirs and fish. After casting off, the food and drink flowed; glasses were raised and good fortune toasted. The water of this lake is known for its cleanliness (apparently you can drink it) and it hosts a number of unique varieties of fish. There are two traditions; one is to tip some vodka in, as a salute to the lake, and the other is to drop a coin in, meaning that one day you will return. I hope we will."

While preparing for brand new European tour, Mike Tramp, former singer of WHITE LION and FREAK OF NATURE, decided to look through his archives and compile some of the songs that were either demoed or recorded during the sessions of his solo-albums and simply were "left behind" for various reasons. Hence the title of the new album, "Songs I Left Behind", due on December 6 via Frontiers Records.

"Looking back at it, it is not that these songs are any better or worse than the material that ended up on the albums but they simply did not make it on the albums at that time," says Tramp. "Sometimes a song just does not fit the sequence or the mood of the album even though it is a great song. Listening back to them I realized that this material was still better than a lot of the albums that are being released today and also felt that I had to get these out of the way before I could start working on new material."

Ranging back from 1992 to 2002, these songs are unique and classic and will leave any Tramp fan beaming with happiness. The CD serves as a welcome bridge to the next studio album, which will be released in 2005 on Frontiers Records.

"Songs I Left Behind" track listing:

01. Sometimes (mp3 sample)
02. Do It While You Can (mp3 sample)
03. Over And Out (mp3 sample)
04. Love Won't Wait On Me
05. If I Was Real
06. One For Anger, Two For Pain
07. Before The Night
08. I Won't Walk Away
09. Show Me
10. I'll Be There
11. I Don't Believe Anymore
12. What If I
13. Love Me Somebody
14. Think About The Times
15. Falling Down
16. Darkness

In the meanwhile, the European tour started finally last week with guitar ace Lance Keltner joining the Tramp ship.

"This set will feature many songs I couldn't do on earlier tours and is also the longest set we have played so far," says Tramp who is thrilled to have such a killer band also featuring Kasper Foss on drums and Claus Langeskov on bass.

Remaining MIKE TRAMP solo dates:

Oct. 19 - Hamburg, GER @ Logo
Oct. 20 - Munich, GER @ Garage
Oct. 21 - Stuttgart, GER @ Röhre
Oct. 22 - Berlin, GER @ Quasimodo
Oct. 23 - Bochum, GER @ Matrix
Oct. 24 - Uster, SWI @ Rock City
Oct. 25 - Frankfurt, GER @ Nachtleben
Oct. 26 - Hellendoorn, NETH @ De Lantaarn
Oct. 27 - Verviers, BEL @ Spirit of 66
Oct. 28 - Paris, FRA @ Le Plan
Oct. 29 - London, UK @ Underworld
Oct. 30 - Sheffield, UK @ Corporation
Oct. 31 - Newcastle, UK @ Trillians
Nov. 04 - Copenhagen, DEN @ Pumpehuset
Nov. 06 - Vordingborg, DEN @ Stars

Drummer Shane Gaalaas (GLENN HUGHES, B'Z, $IGN OF 4, DIESEL MACHINE) has posted the following message on his official web site:

"After spending half of 2003 in Japan touring with B'Z (pick up the latest live DVD 'Typhoon' to get a glimpse of what goes on at these stadium shows!), part of it with my COSMOSQUAD bud Barry Sparks on bass, and releasing my first ever solo album, 'Primer' (available through this website), I took some time upgrading my studio, Crumb West, and inaugurated it with several different projects I've been working on.

"I recorded drum tracks to 4 B'Z songs at Crumb West (not to be confused with Jeff Kollman's Crumb East, about 25 min. down the road), two of which, 'Banzai' and 'Arigato', became singles and went to #1 in Japan. Incredibly, 'Arigato' is their 28 (!) consecutive Number One hit on the Japanese charts!

"Finally! New DIESEL MACHINE (the band way ahead of its time!) is in the works. As some of you know, the band came to a halt a while back for a couple of different reasons. Our bass player Rich (Gonzales) got into a terrible motorcycle accident, which put him in the hospital and rehab for months. Then Pat (Lachman) moved out to Dallas to join Vinnie and Dime from PANTERA's new band, DAMAGEPLAN. Well, I'm happy to say that Rich will be part of this new record — he has amazed us all with his incomprehensible strength and determination to get better and not let this situation get the best of him. Pat has been working on the guitar tracks out in Big D. We should have it all wrapped up by the New Year. This record will be off the frikin' @#%&*##!!

"I've also been doing a very cool thang called CRUMB BROS., a smokin' new band with Jeff Kollman, Mark Renk on vocals, and Kevin Chown on bass that came together late last year. Musically, it's unlike anything I've ever done — dark, moody, yet very soothing. Great songs! We've started to play around L.A. a bit, at places like the Hard Rock Cafe in Universal City and the House of Blues to show our faces after spending several months putting together the album, tentatively titled 'Recycled Influence'. We don't have a deal for it yet but it should be out sometime in early 2005.

"I also laid down a few drum tracks for Jeff's new project JKB (Jeff's just killing this one, man!) The album, 'Bleeding the Soul', is out now so go have a listen over at www.jeffkollmanband.com. Also, Barry Sparks has a new solo record called 'Can’t Look Back' which is fantastic. I jammed out 6 drum ditties on it. Check it out at www.barrysparks.com. And look out for an amazing bassist/singer songwriter, Chris Maloney. I played on his first record, 'Control', and just did the tracks for his new album — gonna be cool! Go to www.chrismaloney.com.

"I also spent part of the summer in Japan doing a drum camp, which was a blast. I'll be going back to Japan before too long for more things....

"Last but not least, I’ve been writing some new shtuff for another… maybe…. I’ll keep ya posted!!!"

Legendary guitarist Uli Jon Roth's official web site has been updated with a report from his performance at the Renaissance castle Schloss Beck in Bottrop-Kirchhellen, Germany on October 9. Performing several pieces with SKY ORCHESTRA were Doro Pesch, Victor Smolski (RAGE) and Liz Vandall. The report reads as follows:

"ULI JON ROTH & SKY ORCHESTRA gave an open-air concert at the first Rock Meets Renaissance Festival at Castle Beck (Schloss Beck) in Bottrop-Feldhausen, Germany.

"This concert was designed to be somewhat of a test-run for a series of similar ones which are to be held next year and had only been advertised briefly in the local press at relatively short notice. Therefore only some insiders and avid Internet surfers had the chance to know about this event beforehand.

"It came as no surprise then that due to the combination of a general lack of promotion, coupled with the biting cold, only a few hundred people turned up, but those who did were rewarded with a unique visual spectacle and lots of great music. The first five minutes of the show were being broadcast live by WDR television and included an interview which Uli had given onstage just prior to the start of the concert. The sound throughout the evening, mixed by Georg Feltes, was excellent and crystal clear.

"The first half of the concert consisted of an almost complete rendition of 'Metamorphosis of Vivaldi's Four Seasons'. This was interspersed with various explanations and comments by Uli about the music in between the main sections of the piece.

"Uli commented several times (only half-jokingly) about the chilly temperatures and how he felt that it was nigh-on impossible to play properly in such semi-arctic conditions.

"The cold and damp also strongly affected his tuning, because the strings and tuning pegs kept recalcitrantly refusing to cooperate in the cold, which is why Uli had to re-tune the instrument a lot in between songs while making jokes about it over the microphone.

"At one point during 'Tales of the Summerwind' Uli even forgot to switch off his tuning device, started to play and looked puzzled for a few seconds as to why there was no sound emanating from his guitar until he realized what had happened. While a look which was a strange mixture of smile and exasperation swept over his face, Uli quickly stepped onto the pedal to rectify the situation and to get back his sound so that he could continue to play.

" 'Metamorphosis' received intense applause and was followed by an intermission, which gave the performers a chance to finally warm themselves up. The organizers had also not mowed the lawn in front of the large stage, and the long, wet grass slowly turned many a pair of feet in the very patient and enthusiastic audience into blocks of ice.

"U.J.R. & SKY ORCHESTRA opened up the second half of the show with two Mozart pieces, 'Rondo Alla Turca' and 'Queen of the Night', an aria from Mozart's opera 'The Magic Flute'. Uli then announced the first of the very special guests, Liz Vandall, who proceeded to sing 'Falling From The Sky', a piece she had just recorded for a solo album she is currently working on. Uli improvised a guitar solo over the intro of the song and Liz gave an amazing vocal performance. Liz still suffered a little bit from a cold which had affected her throat only a couple of days before, but this did not seem to impede her singing tonight. Next she sang the haunting introduction to 'Hiroshima' with the backing of SKY ORCHESTRA, before Uli launched into the main part of that piece.

"After this it was Victor Smolski's (RAGE) turn to brave the cold. He performed two pieces written by Johann Sebastian Bach from his new album 'Majesty & Passion' (which also features a guest appearance by U.J.R.) and one of his own. This created a lot of excitement and got the audience fired up.

"Clad in only a thin shirt Victor also made funny comments to the audience about the cold onstage before launching into a vicious guitar solo which he delivered flawlessly at break-neck speed.

"This was followed by Uli's new orchestral version of 'The Sails of Charon' which also featured Liz Vandall on vocals and was challenging the dexterity of the players of SKY ORCHESTRA, particularly at these temperatures.

"Uli then introduced the next guest, Doro Pesch who chose as her first song 'I Rule the Ruins'.

"This was followed by 'Fuer Immer' and her beautiful new single 'Let Love Rain On Me'. Doro was in great form and traded some impromptu exchanges with Uli, who answered her voice with superb feeling on the Sky Guitar. All three songs were performed with the SKY ORCHESTRA who played string arrangements by Oliver Palotai and Doro received tons of applause.

"After that Uli played a driving version of 'All Along the Watchtower', which he announced as one of his personal favourites. The evening closed with two special songs the first of which was a slightly extended version of 'Bridge To Heaven', for which Liz Vandall gave a stunning first-time vocal performance and Victor Smolski improvised a solo in the finale which followed Uli's classic Wah-Wah lead.

"All three guitarists — Uli, Victor, as well as John Boswell, who played rhythm on a few songs — were battling to keep their instruments in tune all night long because of the chilly temperatures. In fact, both Victor's and John's guitar had gone so much out of tune before the last song that there was no time to retune for them, particularly since Victor was using a tremolo locking system, which takes more time to set up. As a result it was left to Uli to play the final song alone without the other two guitarists.

"The final song of the night was 'Angel', which Uli had last performed in 1991 at the Jimi Hendrix Concert in Cologne. Doro and Liz each sang a verse and then largely shared the refrains. There had been no chance to rehearse the song beforehand and the two vocalists smiled at one another while improvising and figuring out harmony parts onstage. After this the audience clapped really hard to obtain an encore, but unfortunately no further songs had been prepared and the four main soloists as well as SKY ORCHESTRA bowed together before they left the stage.

"Since the show several promoters for castles in Germany and England have expressed their wish to stage Rock Meets Renaissance next year. Hopefully this will take place at a more benevolent time of the year and at more humane temperatures."

Download the set list for the performance in PDF format at this location. Photos from the event can be viewed here.

VELVET REVOLVER's performance of their new single "Fall to Pieces" on NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on Thursday (Oct. 14) has been made available online in streaming Windows Media format at this location. Meanwhile, VELVET REVOLVER guitarist Slash's official web site has uploaded a clip of the band performing the track "Sucker Train Blues" at a Hollywood parking lot last Wednesday (Oct. 13). Download it here (Windows Media, 12.5 MB).

VELVET REVOLVER kicked off their fall 2004 tour last Saturday (Oct. 16) in Nashville, TN.

(Thanks: Velvet-Revolver.com)

Legendary Japanese metallers LOUDNESS will be releasing a collection of re-recorded versions of some of their classic songs from their early years as chosen by the fans on October 27 via Tokuma Japan Comunications. Entitled "Rockshocks", the CD includes material from the "The Birthday Eve" (1981), "Devil Soldier" (1982), "Law of Devil's Land" (1983), "Disillusion" (1984) and "Thunder In the East" (1985) albums. The complete track listing for the album is as follows:

01. Loudness (5:03) *
02. Crazy Doctor (4:19) ++
03. In The Mirror (3:39) +
04. Crazy Night (4:32) +++
05. Esper (3:49) ++
06. Like Hell (3:58) +++
07. Lonely Player (5:51) **
08. Street Woman (5:38) *
09. Angel Dust (4:30) **
10. Rock Shock (4:45) *
11. The Lines Are Down (4:58) +++
12. Milky Way (4:23) ++
13. Mr. Yesman (7:21) +

* From "The Birthday Eve" (1981)
** From "Devil Soldier" (1982)
+ From "The Law of Devil's Land" (1983)
++ From "Disillusion" (1984)
+++ From "Thunder In the East" (1985)

KID ROCK, who was once engaged to Tommy Lee's (ex-MÖTLEY CRÜE) ex-wife Pamela Anderson, was photographed leaving Prey nightclub in Beverly Hills, CA with porn star Jesse Jane (who is known to have been recently dating Lee) on Thursday (Oct. 14). Check out pictures from Mavrix Photo.

Digital Playground's exclusive contract superstar, Jesse Jane is featured on the cover of "Desensitized", DROWNING POOL's new album and she stars in their latest music video, "Step Up", which is available for download now on DrowningPool.com.

Rhino is reportedly working on new DIO DVD featuring all of the group's Warner Bros.-era promo videos as well as an interview with frontman Ronnie James Dio talking about each of the clips on the disc. No further information is available at this time.

DIO's latest album, "Master of the Moon", was released in early September via Sanctuary Records.

SLIPKNOT fan site Black-Goat.com has uploaded several pictures of SLIPKNOT guitarist Mick Thomson "unmasked." Check them out: Photo#1, Photo#2, Photo#3, Photo#4 (with Marta from BLEEDING THROUGH).

As previously reported, Fuse will be televising a one-hour SLIPKNOT live special on the last Friday of this month (Oct. 29). It will air at 9pm, right after their "Uranium Viewers' Poll" Special.

The live footage was filmed at the Astoria Ballroom in the U.K. back on May 23, right before the release of "Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)".

Arlington Heights, Illinois-based death metallers ENFORSAKEN have finished filming their first video for the song "Poison Me". "It's being edited at this very moment, and should be available to check out sometime in November," the band write on their web site. "Thanks to Tonya and everyone at Autumn's End Entertainment for getting the job done."

As previously reported, ENFORSAKEN's latest album, "The Forever Endeavor", was released in Japan on September 29 through Soundholic Records. The Japanese pressing of the CD includes four additional "bonus" tracks — three previously unreleased numbers and a cover of CARCASS' "Incarnated Solvent Abuse".

"The Forever Endeavor" was released in March through Century Media/Olympic Records.

ENFORSAKEN's next live appearance will take place on December 18 at the Wisconsin Winter Metal Assault in Combined Locks, WI.

SONATA ARCTICA's "Reckoning Night" has entered the Finish album chart at position No. 2. View the whole chart here.

The Finnish melodic metallers' fourth studio album, "Reckoning Night" was recorded at Tico Tico Studio by Ahti Kortelainen during March, April and June 2004 and was mixed at Finnvox Studios by Mikko Karmila. The mastering duties were handled at Finnvox Studios by Mika Jussila in June 2004.