Ernie Halter Week: Day 2

Hearing is believing, so go grab a listen and learn more about Ernie and his new album right - here

Metallica Plan Release Parties

antiMusic reports: Metallica have decided to celebrate the release of their new album ("Death Magnetic") with some release parties, here is their announcement: Have we mentioned that we have an album coming out in September? Maybe just a few times . . . so to celebrate, we thought it would be cool to hang with a few of our closest friends in some of our favorite cities.

On September 12 in Berlin, Germany and on September 15 in London, England we'll be hosting a little bash to celebrate the blessed event of the upcoming addition to the Metallica family/catalog.

There will be a live band (that would be us!) and tickets will only be available to Met Club members and Mission: Metallica members. - more on this story

Living La Sober Nada? Vh1's Show Loses Another Cast Member

TMZ reports: Crazytown front man Shifty Shellshock might be living out his band's name -- the singer has allegedly run away from his reality TV show.

Shifty's last chance at sobriety and renewed low-level fame was a stint on the new VH1 show, "Sober Living." While shooting scenes for the show on Friday night at GOA nightclub, he skipped out on production -- leaving the cast high and dry.

He is currently MIA. Sources close to the situation tell TMZ that producers are afraid Shellshock could be back to on drugs. VH1 recently paid him for his stint on the show, and he may be using his "Sober Living" cash for drug money. - what no butterlfy jokes? Read more here

Roundup: Foo Zeppelin DVD, Nelly To Hock Diddy Underwear, Forgotten Pop Star To Rock Iran, Faith Hill Football, Eno and Byrne Together Again, Trouble for Canada and more

antiMusic reports: A quick look at some of the top stories from across the web. The recent Foo Fighters gigs at Wembley Stadium – which saw them collaborate with members of Led Zeppelin – are to be released on DVD. more

Nelly has been named the first spokesmodel for the recently launched Sean John Underwear line. The rapper will be featured in the fall campaign promoting the new collection. more

Singer Chris de Burgh will stage a concert in Tehran with an Iranian band in late November, the first such concert in the country in nearly 30 years, an Iranian satellite news channel reported on its website. [about the same period of time since Chris had a hit] more

Faith Hill will once again perform the opening theme for NBC's "Sunday Night Football" this season. The song, "Waiting All Day For Sunday Night," will debut on Sunday, Sept. 7. more

David Byrne and Brian Eno are self-releasing their first album in 27 years. "Everything That Happens Will Happen Today" will be available Aug. 18 more

Best Buy Co. Inc. is announcing a massive new initiative that sets aside store space for an array of musical instruments and gear in dozens of sites nationwide.more

Poison's "Live, Raw & Uncut" DVD, available exclusively at Best Buy, sold around 2,400 copies in its first week of release to debut at position No. 8 on Billboard's Top Music Videos chart. more

The 11th Hour, the doom metal collaboration between Ed Warby (drums, guitar, bass, vocals, programming; Gorefest, Demiurg, Hail Of Bullets) and Rogga Johansson (vocals, additional guitar; Ribspreader, Paganizer, Demiurg), has posted two tracks online. more

As Blabbermouth.Net first reported as a rumor back on July 11, Century Media Records has now officially announced the signing of the Madison, Wisconsin-based, female-fronted five-piece metal band Luna Mortis. more

This past Saturday's (July 26) Summer Slaughter tour stop at The Rave in Milwaukee, Wisconsin was reportedly shot for future DVD release. more

Bassist Rob of the Swedish metal band M.A.N — who was recently diagnosed with "acute pancreatitis," a complication of the gallstone surgery that he underwent earlier in the month — is still in the hospital, but is said to be "slowly recovering" from his illness. more

Hatebreed will hit the road in September with support from Emmure, Soilent Green, War Of Ages And Catalepsy. more

Broken Social Scene have extended their forthcoming tour of North America, remaining on the road into October. more

Trouble will begin working East starting September 11th. This tour will go through parts of Canada and work down through Florida. more

Over the next few years What Records will be offering many exclusive Iron Maiden items. All items will be very limited and you will always be advised as to the number made. No items, whether T-shirts, records or whatever, will be made available again. more

Antigama has announced the addition of Patryk Zwolinski, who replaces departed singer, Lukasz "Lucas" Myszkowski. more

Andrew WK is set to give a one-off, stream of consciousness talk to an intimate audience in London this September. more

Ash have announced plans to release new material next year, but the band have stuck to their vow to never release a conventional album again.more

A new Whitney Houston song has "leaked" online and she conveniently talks up the track.

"Glory Days" are here again for Bruce Springsteen, whose upcoming tour could make him the biggest touring artist of the year in North America. But the numbers are a sharp drop from just last year.more

Bay area art-rock four-piece Deerhoof have announced an extensive Fall tour spanning through mid-November. - more

Adler Speaks Out About Relapse

Blabbermouth reports: Former Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler and his lawyer Barry Sands attended a court hearing in Los Angeles on Friday (July 25) regarding Steven's recent drug-related arrest.

Prior to the hearing, Steven told X17 cameras he was nervous, but looking to move on and sober up.

"I'm feeling much better," he said. "I made a recent mistake. I had a relapse after 37 days. I just wanna take care of this and move on. I'm back to seven days sober, so I wanna keep that going — seven days, seven weeks, seven months, seven years. It's the first day of the rest of my life right now. I wanna keep the sobriety going and keep my health going. I'm just glad I've got my friends behind me. I've got Slash behind me, Duff, Izzy, Axl… [they're] all behind me. I've got their prayers." - more including the video

Taproot Return

PR reports: On Tuesday, July 29th, Ann Arbor, MI-based hard rock quartet Taproot will release their first new music in three years when new lead single "Wherever I Stand" goes up on iTunes.

The hook-ridden, hard-hitting track introduces the band's long-awaited new album, Our Long Road Home, which arrives in stores on September 16.

The album—Taproot's first since 2005's Blue-Sky Research—will be released through Velvet Hammer, the label founded by the management company of the same name (System Of A Down, Deftones, Alice In Chains). - more on this story

Hinder Set Release Date And Toot Their Own Horn

PR reports: Rousing Universal Republic rockers Hinder will be releasing their much anticipated follow-up album to their breakthrough 3X platinum smash Extreme Behavior on Election Day, November 4.

The new CD, Take It To The Limit, was produced by Extreme Behavior producer Brian Howes, and features the cutting edge first single "Use Me," which officially hit radio on July 15.

Influential radio programmers are also weighing in, with one Amarillo, TX program director (KZRK) raving: 'Phones are through the roof with people calling and asking for the new Hinder. We can't wait for the rest of the album…' - more on this story

Our Lady Peace Frontman Sets Solo Release

PR reports: Raine Maida, best known for his gig fronting iconic Canadian rock band Our Lady Peace, has branched off on his own and created the record he was always meant to make.

The Hunter's Lullaby, set to hit on August 26th (Kingnoise Records) is a collection of 10 commanding songs that are poignant and lyrical, delivered in a style reminiscent of the 60's beat poets with hip hop influenced beats of today. A courageous album by an artist who is reveling in the freedom of creative and commercial independence.

The Hunter's Lullaby was created over the span of a year in Raine's private studio. Recorded using purely acoustic instruments, Maida gathered many of his nearest and dearest musician friends to help shape the record. His talented wife Chantal Kreviazuk plays piano and lends her unique vocals to several of the albums tracks. Victor Indrizzo (Beck, Gnarls Barkley) started the drum sessions with Raine back in the summer of 2006. Joseph Karnes(John Cale, My Brightest Diamond) contributed the stand up bass while Randy Cooke (Dave Stewart) laid down the majority of the drums and percussion. - more on this story

Viewers Get Their Say at This Year's VMAs

MTV reports: "And the MoonMan goes to!!!" Well, we don't know that yet but on Sunday, September 7th a few names you may hear when envelopes are opened and winners revealed are Britney, Mariah, Rihanna, Usher, Chris or Katy.

Beginning on Friday, July 18th, MTV viewers began their contribution to the 2008 Video Music Awards by helping to decide this year's nominees for "Best Female Video" and Best Male Video" guaranteed to create an award show with the music they want to hear and see.

As previously announced, MTV's 25th annual Video Music Awards will be hosted by comedian/actor Russell Brand and will air live and only one time in its original incarnation, on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 9PM (Live ET/Tape Delayed PT). Host, presenters and additional performers will be announced at a later date. - more on this story

Rise Against Expand Tour Plans

UMe reports: Rise Against today announced dates and cities for their fall headlining tour which coincides with the release of their new album, Appeal To Reason, to be released on October 7th.

The tour will kick off on October 2nd in Cleveland, OH at the Time Warner Cable Amphitheater with supporting acts Alkaline Trio, Thrice and The Gaslight Anthem. Tickets for the Rise Against tour go on sale nationally beginning Friday, August 8th

For their fifth studio album, Appeal To Reason, the band teamed up with Bill Stevenson (Black Flag, Descendants) and Jason Livermore to record at the Blasting Room in Ft. Collins, CO-- the same production team and studio used for "The Sufferer & the Witness" and "Revolutions Per Minute."

We'd give you the dates but their PR sent them over in a funky format. - Grab them here

Solo Effort From Circa Survive Singer Hits Next Week

PR reports: Photo Finish recording artist Anthony Green has announced details of his upcoming debut album, "Avalon." The critically acclaimed collection arrives in stores and at all digital retailers on August 5th.

Best known as the lead singer for the Philadelphia-based progressive punk act Circa Survive, Green recorded "Avalon" last March during an eight-day period in the sleepy beach town of Avalon, New Jersey. With songs penned over the past decade, the album spans Green's adolescence and adulthood and shows him at both his most visceral and vulnerable.

From the lush, Cure-inspired pop of "Babygirl" to the electronically driven ballad "Springtime Out The Van Window," the inventive arrangements, lyrical directness, and distinctive vocal stylings represent the first true glimpse into the inner workings of the gifted Green's psyche. - more on this story

Singer Launches Virtual Drinking Contest

Webster and Associates reports: Aria Records recording artist Stephen Cochran is launching his new video game. The virtual bar allows fans to challenge Stephen in a drinking contest to promote his new single "Thinkin I'm Drinkin". Upload a personal picture at the prompt and get started drinking. As a fan, you can actually see yourself sitting right next to Stephen at the bar drinking beer after beer and shot after shot. Beware because the interactive Stephen will let you know if you are drinking too slowly!

The game was produced by Grassroots Promotion, a Nashville radio promotions and music marketing company. GrassRoots previously produced a successful online game for the BamaJam Music Festival in Enterprise, AL. The "Thinkin' I'm Drinkin'" game interface allows the user to upload a photo and become a "virtual drinking buddy" with Cochran.

"Thinkin' I'm Drinkin'" is such a fun song and the game allows Stephen to connect with his fans in an unexpected way, while building word-of-mouth awareness that will take his music to a bigger audience. We are always looking for ways to effectively bring digital promotions into the marketing mix. "Creating innovative branded content and casual games is a new service we are excited to offer our clients," says Jim Alderdice, Director of Marketing, GrassRoots Promotion. - http://www.thinkinimdrinkin.com

Juliana Hatfield Hitting the Road and Late Night

PR reports: Juliana Hatfield will celebrate the release of How To Walk Away - her 10th solo album in a remarkable 20-year-career - and the publication of her memoir, entitled When I Grow Up, with a performance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on August 25th and a U.S. tour.

The tour launches September 9th at IOTA in Washington, DC. Other highlights include shows at New York City's Bowery Ballroom (September 12th), Boston's Brattle Theater (September 13th), and Los Angeles' new Largo (September 27th).

On October 10th, the acclaimed singer/songwriter will appear at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, England. In this special evening, Hatfield will provide a highly personal look at her life, weaving passages from When I Grow Up (which will be published by Wiley & Sons on September 29th) in amidst songs from throughout her career. - more on this story

Digital Nightwish Rarities and Real US Tour

Blabbermouth reports: Finland's Nightwish will once again tour U.S. soil, hitting all major markets and cities along the way. The band will bring its massively popular yet refreshingly unique blend of progressive Euro metal, fueled by the siren-like vocals of Anette Olzon, to North American shores for the third and final trek in support of last year's "Dark Passion Play", which has sold nearly 75,000 copies in the U.S. since its September 2007 release.

Coinciding with the tour, the band will also release a digital-only collection of demos and B-sides titled "The Sound of Nightwish Reborn", available through all digital service providers, on September 2.

This release, which clocks in at nearly 70 minutes of music, retains "must-have" status for all Nightwish diehards, since it includes a bevy of exclusive material, such as demo versions of songs from the "Dark Passion Play" sessions that were recorded prior to Olzon joining the band and that feature Marco Tapani Hietala handling the vocals, as well as B-sides. - more on this story

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