No Chance of Full Van Halen Reunion

"I yanked him out of school for 11th grade, which is actually the most important year, because that's what they go by for college. And the school said, 'We're not going to let him back in, if you pull him out, because we've never done that before.' Well, first time for everything, dude, you know? They did let him back for 12th grade, because he wanted to graduate with his buddies." - more on this story

Ticketmaster and Live Nation Defend Monopoly Plans

AP reports: Concert promoter Live Nation Inc. and ticketing giant Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc. confirmed their merger plans Tuesday and got right to work addressing antitrust concerns that have taken center stage.

Ticketmaster Chairman Barry Diller, to be chairman of the new company — which would be called Live Nation Entertainment — sought to dispel the notion that the deal would lead to higher ticket prices.

"Ticketmaster does not set prices. Live Nation does not set ticket prices. Artists set the prices," he said, without mentioning the [outrageous] ticket surcharges Ticketmaster relies on for much of its revenue. - more on this story

Boston Leader Vs Fans

Nightwatcher reports: Being a Boston fan can be more than feeling. It can lead to litigation! According to Boston.com, no good deed goes unpunished at least in the world of Tom Scholz.

Just ask George Gouldsmith. The LA-based IT manager has been a big fan of the band Boston since 'More Than A Feeling' ruled the radio in the '70s. In 2005, Gouldsmith started a Yahoo message board called Boston Rocks, but he bagged it last year after the site's members began squabbling and Boston mastermind Tom Scholz took exception to some of the posts.

So Gouldsmith created another Boston fan board called CoolTheEngines. But before long, the members were at it again, badmouthing Scholz for his treatment of late singer Brad Delp and other former band members. The result? Scholz and wife Kim enlisted Burns & Levinson attorney Lawrence Green to send Gouldsmith a cease and desist letter. - more on this story

Snoop To Host Late Night Talk Show

MTV reports: MTV and rapper, icon, record producer, entrepreneur and actor, Snoop Dogg today announced a first-of-its kind global deal that will bring the entertainers' personality to television in a new variety talk show, "Dogg After Dark," and his music to fans with a new album release and into the best-selling music video game Rock Band.

Premiering on Tuesday, February 17th at 9pm ET/PT on MTV, Snoop Dogg will host "Dogg After Dark," a new jam packed weekly variety talk show from Los Angeles hotspot Kress on Hollywood Boulevard. "Dogg After Dark" will bring his Doggystyle swagger to the airwaves with raw interviews with A-list celebrities and musicians, hilarious sketch-comedy segments and musical performances from the hottest artists. The show will air every Tuesday night for seven weeks and feature Snoop's own in-house band, the "Snoopadelics."

"When Van Toffler and I sat down Boss to Boss, a global quintuple threat takeover was masterminded. As the world of entertainment keeps changing, we felt it was the right time to let Snoop Dogg back on MTV so we could continue to run thangs with music, movies, DVDs and bring Hip-Hop to Rock Band." said Snoop Dogg. "So screw ya wigz on tight and tune in on Tuesday nights for the first step to the next level of Snoop D-O double G. Dogg after Dark is the only nightclub tv show hosted by you know who. So take a journey with me through the mind, body, soul and musical mind state of the most prolific, authentic game spitter. And tha sh*t is funny, so show me da money!" - more on this story

Rihanna Abuse Probed- Buena Vista Member Dies- Extra Ryan Adams Cheese- Bob Marley Sold- Foo Writing- Coheed Concept Continues- Starchild is Born and more

antiMusic reports: Singer Rihanna postponed a scheduled concert in Malaysia on Tuesday as Los Angeles police continued their probe of an attack by R&B star Chris Brown on a woman widely believed to be the pop songstress.more Meanwhile, a district attorney's spokesperson says Los Angeles police have presented a case regarding singer Chris Brown, but county prosecutors have asked for further investigation. more

Ryan Adams has released a new EP exclusively via US iTunes. The digital-only EP is called 'Extra Cheese' and features seven tracks, one of which has never before been released. more

Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez, considered the "heartbeat" of Cuba's legendary Buena Vista Social Club for his internationally acclaimed bass playing, died Monday of complications from prostate surgery, fellow musicians said. He was 76.more

Bob Marley's family has teamed up with a private equity group to handle licensing of the late Jamaican reggae legend's likeness, trademarks and themes on retail products ranging from apparel to video games.more

The Foo Fighters have begun writing for their follow up to Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace. Drummer Taylor Hawkins told Spinner, "We're writing, working on music intermittently. We've already got together and worked on a little bit of stuff, but very tentatively, just ideas. We're just gonna take our time." So much for that hiatus. more

The tale of Coheed and Cambria will continue with the band's fifth album, which is due in spring 2010. The next record will be the prequel to the saga of the last four records, and the band is currently writing new tunes.more

The Piano Man and the Rocket Man are pairing up for a concert this summer at Chicago's Wrigley Field on July 21 more

Hatebreed are set to release their long-awaited new covers album, For The Lions, on Tuesday May 5th, 2009 via E1 Music (formerly KOCH Records).more

KISS frontman Paul Stanley and his wife Erin welcomed an 8 lb. baby girl on January 28. "The KISS Army has a new princess and her name is Sarah Brianna," says Stanley, 57. "Erin and I feel truly blessed with the addition of this Star Child into our lives." more

Dave Stewart announced today that he is releasing a four-song EP, "Let's Do It Again," featuring Sierra Swan, exclusively via the web. Starting today, fans can also enjoy a free digital download of the song "Let's Do it Again," just in time for Valentine's Day. [Sorry his PR company only provided an encrypted link, which we can't use. Google is your friend]

On Wednesday, 18th February Cauldron will play the Old Blue Last in London with Gama Bomb and Mutant. As this is their first excursion to London, UK - having only played London, Canada before

Paul McCartney will open the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's new Joint in Las Vegas on April 19.more

German hard rock legends the Scorpions have announced a Russian tour with special guests Alice Cooper and - more

Man Fired For Wearing KISS Shirt

headbangernyc.com reports: A 20-year-old man was fired on his first day of work at the Belgian day care center this past week because he showed up on the job wearing a KISS t-shirt with a print of Gene Simmons in a classical painted pose.

According to the director of the day care center several of the parents and staff reacted to shirt because it reminded them of the the acts of Kim De Gelder, a 20-year-old who stabbed 15 people in another Belgian day care center on January 23. At the time, many media outlets reported that the murderer's face was painted in white and black, something that was later proven to be false.

The worker was asked to go home and change his shirt, which he promptly did. While at home, he received a phone call from the day care center, who informed him that he should not bother to come back to work, and she proceeded to compare him to De Gelder, the murderer from Dendermonde. - more headbanging

Heaven And Hell Set Release

Blabbermouth reports: Heaven And Hell, the band featuring Black Sabbath members Tony Iommi (guitar), Ronnie James Dio (vocals), Geezer Butler (bass) and Vinny Appice (drums), has set "The Devil You Know" as the title of its debut album, due on April 28 via Rhino.

Song titles set to appear on the CD include "Bible Black", "Rock & Roll Angel", "Breaking Into Heaven", "Atom & Evil" and "Eating the Cannibals". The LP was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales, U.K. where the 1992 SABBATH album "Dehumanizer" was also tracked.

"Everyone had so much fun playing together that we didn't want it to end," says the group. "We started writing together and the songs started flowing like we never stopped. We wound up writing and recording an album that stands up to anything we've ever done. We're really proud of the music and excited for people to hear it."

"Each of us submitted a CD of our ideas, and we narrowed it down from there," Iommi told Classic Rock. "In some ways it was like picking up where we'd left off with 'Dehumanizer'."
- more on this story

Rainbow Rises Again With Blackmore's Son

antiMusic reports: Rainbow is back, or at least Over the Rainbow. While the new band doesn't feature the group's iconic founder Ritchie Blackmore, vocalist Joe Lynn Turner and company kept things in the family literally! antiMusic's Morley Seaver recently spoke with Joe to get the inside story. Here is part of what Joe told him:

Well, I'll tell you, quite honestly, I was sitting in Russia after a tour with a few promoters and what not and they were like: "You know, it would be great to have a Rainbow reunion. Huh? Do you think that'll ever happen?" I went, "Well you know, you're not going to get Ritchie, you know what I mean? He's really happy doing what he's doing and so on." And so they said, "Well who would you get?" And I said: 'It wouldn't work". And they said, "Well, it's got to work." And I said, "Well, you know, it's not a matter of all the other guys. It's the guitarist." So then it hit me. And I swear, all of a sudden they went, "What, What?" And I said, "I think I have an idea." And they said, "What is it?" and I said, "Blackmore's got a son." And they went, "You're kidding. Really?" Nobody knows that.

Not many anyway. You know, because he's German, half German. And his name is Jurgen Richard Blackmore. And he's been playing guitar for like 30 years, and he's great. So I was in Germany, and I started to get this bug about it, and I called Jurgen and said, "Look, can we meet for dinner?" Because I knew him when he was like 16, 17 and he would come to the shows and what have you. He was a kid and I'd probably be like his big brother or something you know, Anyway I called and we had dinner and he loved the idea. So I said, now once I got Jurgen in place here, I got Blackmore on guitar, now I can start lining up the other guys, and of course I wanted to try to represent the incarnations of Rainbow as best we could. I'm not going to get into any names in particular but we certainly don't want any people who are using drugs or abusing alcohol to a GREAT degree…you know what I mean by that. (laughs) Okay if you want to have a few drinks, but you can't be drunk and stand around all the time. And that eliminated quite a few people. (laughs)

- Check out the full interview

Return To Forever Return With New Album

PR reports: Originally formed in 1972, Return To Forever are a musical powerhouse. Thirty-two years after the release of their last album Romantic Warrior, keyboardist Chick Corea, bassist Stanley Clarke, guitarist Al Di Meola, and drummer Lenny White decided to give it another go. The result is Returns, a double-disc masterpiece to be released on March 17 by Eagle Rock Entertainment

Recorded during their successful 2008 tour, this CD marks their first tour in 25 years. Returns is exactly what the title states – a return to form by a conglomerate of all-star musicians. This live set is Jazz/Rock fusion at its finest, from an act that was at the forefront of this eclectic scene alongside contemporaries Weather Report and Mahavishnu Orchestra. Formerly a pianist for Miles Davis, Corea formed the band that enjoyed commercial success with a string of albums in the mid-seventies.

The opening track, "Opening Prayer", is electric, and sets the tone for one out-of-this-world show. Throughout this 2CD set, each musician shines. Corea deftly traverses the range of his keys, embellished by unparalleled guitar work of Di Meola. Clarke explores his bass, at times taking it on wild lyrical excursions, while White's swinging beat keeps the control underneath the other member's musical chaos. Returns stands as a beacon of what happens when great musicians collaborate to bring magic to the stage. - more on this story

Phishy Auction

PR reports: The new Mimi Fishman Foundation charity auction is up and running. The Foundation's first auction of 2009 includes amazing items donated by Phish, String Cheese Incident, Umphrey's McGee, Bonnaroo Music Festival, Jack Johnson, Scramble Campbell, moe., Dave Matthews Band, and Yonder Mountain String Band. The auction proceeds will benefit the Delta Gamma Center for Children With Visual Impairments.

One of the more unique items on the auction is a lunch with Phish drummer Jon Fishman. The winner and one guest will enjoy lunch and conversation with the Phish drummer. In addition, Fishman will hand the winner a pair of tickets for the next evening's Phish show at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis.

The auction, which concludes Feb 26, also features:* Phish Summer 2009 Ticket/DVD Packages * Dave Matthews Band Ticket/Pass Package * Yonder Mountain String Band Ticket/Signed Poster Package * Bonnaroo Ticket/Phish Laminate Package * Umphrey's McGee VIP Package * The String Cheese Incident Signed Posters * moe. Ticket/Pass Package * Scramble Campbell Original Phish Artwork * Jack Johnson Signed CD/DVD Package

To view and/or bid on the auction, as well as read about the charities the auction supports, please visit the - Mimi Fishman Foundation Auction Page.

The Blockheads Return

PR reports: On April 6th The Blockheads, one of the punk and new wave era's best loved bands, are set to return to the forefront of the British music scene with a brand new studio album "Staring Down The Barrel" via EMI Records, and will also embark on a Nationwide UK Tour.

Originally known as Ian Dury & The Blockheads, the current line-up, consisting of four of the original members; Chaz Jankel (piano, guitar), Mick Gallagher (keyboards), Norman Watt-Roy (bass) and John Turnbull (guitar), are joined by Dylan Howe (drums) and Gilad Atzmon (sax). "Barrel" is the second studio album the Blockheads have released since their original lead singer, Ian Dury, passed away from cancer in 2000.

Comprised of new music written by Jankel (who wrote the music for the hit singles Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, and Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick), the lyrics are penned by new Blockheads vocalist Derek Hussey (aka Derek The Draw), Dury's personal minder from 1990-2000. - more on this story

Sarah McLachlan and Duffy Head To Austin City Limits

PR reports: Sarah McLachlan makes her long-awaited debut on the PBS series AUSTIN CITY LIMITS February 14th, following the release of her greatest hits collection Closer: The Best of Sarah McLachlan.

Sarah McLachlan's ACL set list: Building a Mystery, Possession, Adia, U Want Me 2, World on Fire, Angel, Ice Cream.

The second half of this ACL episode belongs to the burgeoning Welsh soul singer Duffy, whose debut album Rockferry just earned a Grammy in the category of Best Pop Vocal Album. - more on this story

The Answer Set Release

PR reports: The Answer are finally set to release their new album 'Everyday Demons', on March 2nd through independent label Albert Productions.

The record is a follow up to their successful debut album 'Rise' that was released in July '06 and has now sold over 100,000 copies worldwide, garnering praise from press and legends like Jimmy page as well as awards, including Classic Rock best new band of 2006. The first single to be released from 'Everyday Demons' will be 'On and On', a digital only release on Feb 22nd '09.

Recorded in the summer of '08 at Los Angeles studio Seedy Underbelly with John Travis (Kid Rock, Buckcherry, Social Distortion etc) the album is filled with classic tracks in the making, songs to fill up your soul and heart, songs that will leave a mark after the first or 50th listen. - more on this story

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