Ascension Of The Watchers (ex-Fear Factory) Week: Day 1

antiMusic reports: Fear Factory's Burton Bell makes his triumphant return to the metal spotlight with his new band Ascension Of The Watchers, who release their debut album, 'Numinosum,' this week. But don't expect a Fear Factory clone, it's a new musical avenue for Burton. He is ably aided by his friends John Bechdel (Ministry, Killing Joke) and Edu Mussi (Still Life Decay) for the creation of 'Numinosum'. Other contributors include the CD's producer Al Jourgensen (Ministry), as well as the late Paul Raven (Ministry, Prong, Killing Joke) and Ben Bell. To celebrate it's release we asked Burton to tell us about some of his favorite tracks from the CD. Here is Burton with today's songs "Evading," "Residual Presence," and "Canon For My Beloved":

Evading - The song lyrics were inspired in part by the dream I had in 2000. In my dream I was evading a shadowy figure that was following me. This was also the dream that was described as a NUMINOSUM.

"Residual Presence" - Nothing lasts like a memory of love. Like a ghost, there is always a residual presence.

"Canon For My Beloved" - As the wolf howls in the introduction, my love hears this calling, and with an impassioned song, will hear my apology.

Burton is currently out on the road with Ministry on their farewell tour. And we'll be back with Burton on Wednesday to learn more about the new 'Numinosum' CD, but for now you can preview some tracks and learn more about Ascension Of The Watchers on their - Myspace page

Leto Attacks Fan

Wenn reports: 30 SECONDS TO MARS rocker JARED LETO shocked fans at a London gig after attacking an audience member with his microphone.

The actor-turned-musician was performing with his band in the British capital earlier this month (06Feb08) when he lashed out at a fan during hit Buddha For Mary

It's not the first time Leto has used his microphone as a weapon - he mounted a similar attack on a fan in May last year (07) at Netherlands festival Pinkpop. - More music news from Wenn

Winehouse's Husband ODs in Jail

Newswatch50 reports: Amy Winehouse's jailed husband Blake Fielder-Civil was rushed to the prison medical block this week after allegedly overdosing on drugs.

Fielder-Civil, who is currently behind bars in London's Pentonville Prison, was found vomiting violently and writhing in pain on the floor of his cell after reportedly taking a potentially lethal combination of heroin mixed with an unknown toxic substance with five other inmates.

A Prison Service spokesperson said, "A small number of prisoners were treated in health care following the consumption of an unknown substance." - more on this story

Eddie Vedder April Fools Solo Tour

Pearl Jam reports: Eddie Vedder will embark on a small, West Coast, solo tour beginning April 2nd in Vancouver, BC and ending April 15th in San Diego. New Zealand singer-songwriter Liam Finn will open these shows.

Tickets for the general public will go on sale on Friday, February 22nd at 10am* PST through Ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets. (*Note: Santa Barbara goes on sale Friday, February 29th at 10am PST).

The base ticket price for all shows is $65 plus additional venue, service and handling fees. There is a four-ticket limit for the public on sale. - more on this story

Idol Integrity Questioned

Reuters reports: We do realize that the words "Idol" and "integrity" should never appear in the same sentence, but this is a fun story about the anger from some people that actually take the karaoke contest serious. Also of note, MCA Records used to be jokingly called Music Cemetery of America for their large number of "flops". e.g. a promising artist signs to the label and is never heard from again. Now here is the Reuters story: The integrity of "American Idol" as a contest for raw, undiscovered talent was called into question again after an Irish singer who once had a major-label deal, and solo album that flopped, advanced to the top rung of the competition this week.

Dublin native Carly Smithson, who formerly recorded for MCA Records under her maiden name, Carly Hennessy, was one of the 24 "Idol" contestants who made it on Wednesday to the semifinal rounds voted on each week by the show's home TV audience.

Online critics immediately seized on her initial success, and her professional recording background, as further evidence that "the fix" might be in for the top-rated show on U.S. television. - more on this story

Trick Daddy Cleared

Contact Music reports: Misdemeanour charges against rapper TRICK DADDY have been dropped - after prosecutors admitted the star had not committed any crime.

The Let's Go star - real name Maurice Young - was charged with disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest, following an incident in September last year (07) at Tootsie's Lounge in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Young sustained minor injuries from the fight and was treated at Jackson Memorial hospital before spending time behind bars at a Broward County jail. - more on this story

Beatle Snubs Ozzy

Contact Music reports: LATEST: SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY has disappointed pal OZZY OSBOURNE by declining an opportunity to duet with the rocker at the 2008 Brit Awards.

The former Black Sabbath singer - who will co-host the ceremony with his wife/manager Sharon - was ecstatic at the prospect of fulfilling his lifelong dream of sharing the stage with the former Beatle.

But McCartney, 65, has since decided to perform a simple solo set instead. He says, "You can either go for something wow or just do a couple of hits - I've opted for the latter. "I'm quite happy to be just doing stuff that I hope the audience will like." - Paul probably heard Ozzy's cover of John's "In My Life"

Record Store Day

PR reports: On Saturday, April 19, 2008, hundreds of independently owned music stores across the country will celebrate "Record Store Day." On this day, all of these stores will simultaneously link and act as one with the purpose of celebrating the culture and unique place that they occupy both in their local communities and nationally.

Plans are underway to set up special events at all of the stores on this day, as well as provide customers with a goodie bag that promotes new formats, new releases, and exciting information on music, theatrical, and gaming releases.

Paul McCartney says, "There's nothing as glamorous to me as a record store. When I recently played Amoeba in LA, I realised what fantastic memories such a collection of music brings back when you see it all in one place. This is why I'm more than happy to support Record Store Day and I hope that these kinds of stores will be there for us all for many years to come. Cheers!"

- more on this happening and see the who's who that is supporting it

Bono Aids AIDS Fight

NME reports: U2's Bono and British artist Damien Hirst's charitable art auction has raised far more than expected for AIDS relief.

Held yesterday (February 14) in New York, the auction brought in $42 million (£21.6m) for the fight against AIDS.

Hirst donated seven pieces to the auction, including a cabinet filled with drugs to treat HIV, which garnered $7.15m (£3.6m). - more on this story

ProgPower UK Nixed

antiMusic reports: This year's ProgPower UK festival has been cancelled due to poor ticket sales. The two day festival was to take place on March 28th and 29th in Bristol and feature sets from Jon Oliva's Pain, Kamelot, Leaves' Eyes, Communic, Haggard, Dreamscape, Scar Symmetry, and Cloudscape.

The following statement was posting on the event's website: This is the hardest decision we have ever had to make, but it is with great regret that we have had to cancel ProgPower UK III. We have made no secret of the financial difficulties that have dogged our first two years, which is why we made a significant number of changes for year three. However, ticket sales have been extremely poor and, as a result, there is no way we can stage the festival without losing a substantial amount of money – again.

This decision has not been taken lightly and we are fully aware of both the disappointment and inconvenience it will cause. However, we simply cannot afford to keep pumping money into ProgPower UK and we can assure you that we are as disappointed about this as you no doubt are. As a result of this, ProgPower UK LLP will cease trading with immediate effect. - more on this story

Portishead Set Date

Filter reports: Ten years later and we finally have the official release date for studio album number three.

Portishead's aptly titled album, Third, will hit US shores April 29 courtesy of Mercury/Island.

And what better way to show off the new material then their Saturday head lining slot at Coachella. - more on this story

Artists Sue Universal

Reuters reports: More than a dozen recording artists, including the estates of Count Basie and Benny Goodman, sued Universal Music on Friday, saying they had been cheated out of more than $6 million in royalties since 1998.

The artists, many of whom signed with recording companies that were later bought by Universal, sued the world's largest music label for breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty in a lawsuit filed in New York State Court.

In a statement, Universal, which is owned by the French company Vivendi, denied the allegations. - more on this story

Aerosmith's Career Now Reduced to a Video Game

FMQB reports: Today, Activision unveiled a new Guitar Hero video game focusing on Aerosmith. Dubbed Guitar Hero: Aerosmith.

The new game will arrive in stores this summer and will feature about 30 Aerosmith songs as well as music from various acts that have opened for the band.

The game also will recreate the sense of attending an Aerosmith concert as players will be seeing visuals of guitarist Joe Perry and singer Steven Tyler doing their moves onstage as users play along - more on this story

Van Halen Performing at Tiger Woods Benefit

Van Halen reports: The Tiger Woods Foundation announced yesterday that Tiger Jam XI, will take place this year on Saturday, April 19 at The Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Golf legend Tiger Woods will welcome VAN HALEN to Tiger Jam XI to help raise funds for the Tiger Woods Foundation and select Las Vegas-based charities.

Saturday evening's highlights will include top notch epicurean fare and exclusive live and silent auctions featuring unique items. Following the dinner and auctions, the celebration will progress to the Mandalay Bay Events Center stage, where Woods will introduce Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Alex Van Halen and Wolfgang Van Halen for a rocking VAN HALEN concert.

"Tiger Jam XI will be incredible with VAN HALEN," Woods said. "I'm thrilled to have this amazing group of diverse musical talent coming together for such a great cause. VAN HALEN is one of my favorite bands, and I can't wait to see them perform on the Tiger Jam stage." - more on this story

36 Crazyfists Now Releasing CD in May

PR reports: Alaska-based rockers 36 Crazyfists have announced a May 27 release date for their forthcoming album The Tide And Its Takers. The record, originally slated for release on April 29, marks 36 Crazyfists' Ferret Music debut. The Tide And Its Takers is produced by guitarist Steve Holt and mixed by the venerable and prolific Andy Sneap (Testament, Machine Head, Chimaira).

36 Crazyfists were just in Alaska filming the music video for the album's first single, "We Gave It Hell." The band tapped director Soren (Behemoth, Unearth, Maylene And The Sons Of Disaster) for the video.

The band is also gearing up for the upcoming "Bound By The Road" tour with DevilDriver, which kicks off February 27 in Modesto. The tour also features Napalm Death, Walls of Jericho and Invitro. - more on this story

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