Rage Against The Simon Cowell Bubblegum Machine Falters

While the campaign was focused on upsetting the Christmas chart, Rage's "Killing in the Name" still showed a strong showing the second week but they were easily beat by X Factor winner Joe McElderry's version of "The Climb," which was a hit for Miley Cyrus back in April (an eternity in the disposable pop market).

BBC news reports that "The Climb" sold 196,000 copies in its second week to push the US rock band's single Killing In The Name down to second place in the singles chart. The Rage song sold 130,000 copies.

the BBC report

Nine Inch Nails Is Not Dead

It appears that Trent Reznor has had a change of heart about retiring Nine Inch Nails, giving fans a big Christmas gift with news that he will rock on in 2010 with NIN and without. Here is what he had to say:

Happy holidays everyone and thank you for an exceptional year! Sorry I haven't been around much lately, I've been working on not working for a couple of months, which for me is hard work.

2010 has a number of things planned including new material from nine inch nails and something else that isn't nine inch nails. I am in a state of rediscovery and reinvention that feels unfamiliar, unsure and exactly what I need.

Nine Inch Nails site

AC/DC A Rare Danger?- Lamb of Korn Zombie Mayhem- More Guns N' Roses Tour Date Rumors- Warlord UK Drummer Dead- Metro Station Lose Member and more

We hope everyone had a great Christmas weekend! Due to the long holiday break, today's report is a lot shorter than normal. Hopefully things will pick up before the new year. With that said, here are some the quick news stories that have come across our radar in the past few days.

AC/DC may have to cancel a sold-out concert because their big sound supposedly poses a danger to rare birds. Animal rights campaigners are threatening legal action if the veteran band goes ahead with a gig planned for Wels airport in Austria in May. more. Some on forgot to tell them that rock and roll ain't noise pollution.

This weekend The Metal Den said that preliminary details have surfaced regarding the line-up for the upcoming 2010 edition of the now annual Mayhem Festival. The bands rumored to be in talks for the tour include Korn, Rob Zombie, Lamb Of God, Five Finger Death Punch, Hatebreed, Chimaira more

According to Ultimasnoticias.com.uy, Guns N' Roses will perform for the first time in their career in Montevideo, Uruguay on March 18th at the Estadio Centenario. more, Blabbermouth had this new for Columbian fans: According to Estereofonica, Guns N' Roses will perform at Parque Simón Bolívar in Bogotá, Colombia at the end of March as part of the band's South American tour. The exact date for the Bogotá concert has not yet been confirmed. more

Drummer Neil Farrington of the reunited British punk/thrash crossover band Cerebral Fix and old-school death metallers Warlord UK passed away on December 20. He was 38 years old. more

Crowbar has officially announced the addition of guitarist Matt Brunson (Kingdom Of Sorrow) to their line-up. Brunson replaces Steve Gibb, who has amicably left the group. more

Vital Remains has lined up a handful of January shows in the West and Midwest. more

Drummer Anthony Improgo has departed from Metro Station, leaving only vocalist/guitarist Trace Cyrus and guitarist Mason Musso as members. more

Resurrected frontman Carsten (Scholz) is forced to sit out both Portugal shows in January due to a chronic pneumonia. Chris Mieves from Grind Inc. will step in for both shows more

Take It Back!, Continuance, and Ambush! will hit the road together in early-February for a four-week tour. more

Gorath has parted ways with their drummer and issues the following update welcoming his replacement: 'New blood joins the ranks of Gorath. After some years of spreading the plague K. Deleener got replaced by B. Vanderheyden - Known from other bands such as Ill Fares the Land and Storm Upon the Masses.' more

Got Twitter? The Day in Rock is now on Twitter after countless request from readers. Check it out here. It's all automated so if you find any problems with it, let us know.

Vic Chesnutt RIP

Antiquiet.com had this sad news about the death of Vic Chestnutt: On Wednesday, word spread by tweet of indie singer/songwriter Vic Chestnutt falling into a coma, later revealed to have been the result of a suicide attempt, sadly not Chestnutt's first.

We followed the story, despite having never been previously exposed to Chestnutt's music. We read about his discovery in the 1980s by REM's Michael Stipe, and his recent performances backed by members of Fugazi, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and A Silver Mt. Zion. We read about a car accident that left him in a wheelchair since age 18.

And then, about an hour ago, we read his friend Kristin Hersh's words: "He's gone… So much to go away in a moment." Chestnutt was 45. We didn't know him, but sifting through the body of work he left behind, we wish we had. - more including a moving live video

Gene Simmons Sued For Alleged Mall Attack

Remember that silly restraining order attempt against Gene Simmons we told you about last week? Now it seems that the couple have turned around and sued the KISS star, claiming he attacked them.

AP Reports: Nathan Marlowe and his wife Cynthia Manzo said Simmons attacked them, threatened them and took their video camera at the upscale The Grove mall on Saturday after they started filming the rocker.

According to the complaint and restraining order application, Marlowe asked Simmons for his view on monogamy, and Simmons responded by telling Marlowe to get his shot and leave. The filings state Simmons then lunged and attacked Marlowe, taking the video camera, then turned on Manzo when she tried to get the camera back. - more on this story

Blink-182 Make Summer Tour Plans

Summer is half a year away but that hasn't stopped Blink-182 from looking ahead and making plans. Mark Hoppus updated fans over the holiday weekend about the band's summer tour plans. Here is what he had to say:

Yes indeed!! I have been asked to announce that blink-182 are once again heading back over "the pond" for a few weeks of touring in Europe during the summer of 2010.

Exact dates and schedules are going to be released over the next couple of months by the promoters, as well as on blink182.com and our other affiliated sites. We're very excited to get back on the road overseas this next year. See you at the shows!! - Mark's blog

Top 9 Stories from June 09

Soundgarden Reunion On Tap?

exclaim.ca reports: Legendary grungers Soundgarden mostly reunited for a one-off show at Seattle's Crocodile Café. Three-quarters of the band were there, minus their leader Chris Cornell.

But now there's real reason to get your flannels in a knot: the rumor mill continues to spin that Cornell will be joining his buds for a full-on reunion.

In a recent interview with Kerrang! [via TwentyFourBit], Brent Smith of the band Shinedown dropped hints that he's heard the news, saying, "There's talk of a reuniting of Soundgarden in the States soon. I know actually someone specific who told me that, who is actually specifically in their organization. Kinda told me that they're talking about it. - more on this story

Anthrax Guitarist Has Open-Heart Surgery

Former Anthrax guitarist Dan Spitz underwent open-heart surgery on Friday, June 5 after it was discovered that the main artery to his heart was almost "completely closed," according to Blabbermouth.net.

Dan, who says that he nearly died, has already been released from the hospital and is currently resting. "[I had a] scary few days," he says. "Thanks again for all of the prayers."

According to BW&BK Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante updated his status: "He is recovering well - in a lot of pain but will make a full recovery. They hope to have him home soon. Whew! - more on this story

Eddie Says Michael Anthony Quit Van Halen

There was a lot of rumbling when Van Halen reunited with David Lee Roth and decided to tour with Eddie's son Wolfgang instead of original bassplayer Michael Anthony. Now Eddie Van Halen says that Anthony wasn't fired, but quit the group.

RollingStone.com interviewed Eddie Van Halen and when the discussion turned to Chickenfoot, the new group featuring his former bandmates Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar, Van Halen had this to say, "I wish them well. The funny thing is that everyone who quits the band always claims they got fired by me. Hey, I'm not the bad guy here. When Hagar left the band, Mike went with him. Then when we get back together with Dave, and all of a sudden, he wants back in. It's like, 'No, dude, you quit the band.' So my son became the bass player. But we didn't give Mike the boot to have my son play. He was around. We didn't have a bass player. 'Hey Wolfie, you want to play?'"

As for the future of the current incarnation of Van Halen, Eddie told Rolling Stone "It wasn't just a reunion one-off thing. I've already gone to Dave's house four or five times over the last month. I've got so much music. It's just trying to figure out what Dave's into because we haven't written together in a long time. But it's great. It feels like we've always felt in the beginning. But I'm sober, so it's different. He's sober, so it's different. It's a wonderful feeling." - Read the Rolling Stone interview here

Michael Jackson RIP

Pop star Michael Jackson died Thursday afternoon after being rushed to a Los Angeles hospital in a coma. He was 50 years old.

Initial reports said that Jackson suffered cardiac arrest and was taken to UCLA Medical Center by paramedics 12:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

Capt. Steve Ruda of the Los Angeles Fire Department told the Los Angeles Times that Jackson was not breathing when paramedics arrived at the hospital.

Jackson was set for a comeback next month with a 50-show residency at the O2 Arena in London. -

Ozzy Vs Black Sabbath's Iommi

Rock Radio reports: Ozzy Osbourne has launched legal action against Tony Iommi, demanding a share of the rights to the Black Sabbath trademark.

Iommi owns the name outright and is entitled to do anything he likes with it. But Osbourne says he's been arguing the point for three years, and believes all four founding members of the band - himself, Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward - should co-own the brand.

He says he's been forced to go to court after failing to persuade Iommi to "do the right thing" by any other means - and he's only taking action "with regret". In a statement Osbourne explains: "In the mid-1990s, after constant changes in band members, the brand of Black Sabbath was in the toilet, and Tony, touring under the name Black Sabbath, was reduced to performing in clubs. Since 1997, when Geezer, Bill and myself rejoined the band, Black Sabbath has returned to its former glory. - It did? Read more here

Aerosmith Star Calls In Sick

MusicRadar reports: Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford will be missing the opening string of dates of the band's Guitar Hero tour while he recovers from recent surgery.

The nature of Whitford's medical condition and surgery have not been specified. However, in true show-must-go-on tradition, Aerosmith will hit the road with guitarist Bobby Schneck, who has performed with Green Day, Weezer and Slash as a temporary replacement.

Undoubtedly, Schneck has been listening to nothing but Toys In The Attic and Rocks on his iPod, as in a recent interview MusicRadar, guitarist Joe Perry indicated that the band would be playing both albums in their entirety. - more on this story

Curtains for NIN? Reznor Announces End of Nine Inch Nails

exclaim.ca reports: There must be something in the bong water down in Tennessee, as the announcement of retirement is becoming a yearly tradition at the annual Bonnaroo Festival. Last year, it was M.I.A. who announced her short-lived retirement from music. This year, Nine Inch Nails front-man Trent Reznor has decided to call it quits.

As the Associated Press is reporting, the outspoken alterna-forefather opened up during his set on Saturday night. "It just dawned on me that this is our last show ever in the United States," he said. "Don't be sad. I'll keep going. But I think I'm going to lose my... mind if I keep doing this, and I have to stop."

Reznor recently hinting in a fan interview that Nine Inch Nails would soon quit playing live, citing his own mental health and to "make Nine Inch Nails a precious thing." - more on this story

Evanescence Members Hire American Idol Singer

Spin.com reports: Old band, new singer: It's potentially a recipe for disaster -- just ask the boys in defunct groups like Velvet Revolver and Audioslave.

But three former members of goth rock stars Evanescence, all booted from the group over the years by frontwoman Amy Lee, are joining forces for a new band -- and they've tapped American Idol finalist Carly Smithson to contribute lead vocals.

Dublin-born Smithson, who finished sixth in the 2008 season of American Idol, joins ex-Evanescence guitarist/songwriter Ben Moody, guitarist John Lecompt, and drummer Rocky Gray in their new band, the Fallen - more on this story

Men At Work Accused of Stealing Down Under

A couple decades late and a copyright short? Aussie rockers Men at Work who enjoyed a couple of big hits in the 80s, are now being accused of stealing the melody to one of those hits.

According to Billboard.biz, a music publishing company, Larrikin Music, is suing over the song "Down Under," claiming the "flute riff" in the song was lifted from the "refrain of a 1934 children's tune, 'Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree.'"

The band's record labels are asking that the case be tossed out. And according to the Billboard report, "They also question whether Larrikin even holds the copyright to that song -- a Girl Guide campfire favorite from New Zealand to Canada -- and therefore whether it has the right to sue." - more on this story

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