Metallica To The Rescue

And, in a major boost for the "Marin Rocks" project, James Hetfield, frontman and co-founder of Metallica, has announced that the superstar band will play a benefit concert for the Marin History Museum in September. It would be the first show in Marin by the heavy metal supergroup. - more on this story

Alice In Chains Set Album Title And Release Date

EMI reports: Alice In Chains have revealed the title of their highly anticipated upcoming album and confirmed its release date. The record, titled Black Gives Way To Blue (Virgin/EMI) will arrive in stores on September 29th.

Black Gives Way To Blue is the band's first new studio release in more than 10 years. The quartet (vocalist/guitarist Jerry Cantrell, drummer Sean Kinney, bassist Mike Inez and vocalist/guitarist William DuVall) recorded the album with producer Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Foo Fighters) at Studio 606 in Northridge, CA and Henson Studios in Hollywood.

On July 18th, Alice In Chains will be sharing the stage with Kid Rock at Comerica Park in Detroit, to be followed by festival shows with Metallica overseas, including an August 1 date at Marlay Park in Dublin and an August 2 show at the Sonisphere Festival at Knebworth. They'll wrap up the European trip with a string of headlining shows (dates listed below). This marks the band's first appearance in Europe since the summer of '06. - more on this story

Could At The Drive-In Reunite?

MusicRadar reports: Could At The Drive-In, that much-loved post-hardcore/quasi-progressive band that called it a day way too soon, be reuniting? Nobody's saying for sure, but singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala of The Mars Volta is dropping hints.

Bixler-Zavala, who has taken responsibility for the split, saying that the band was holding him back creatively, went off with ATDI guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and formed The Mars Volta.

And while they're about to drop their fifth studio album, Octahedron, on 23 June, the frontman indicates that he's feeling nostaglic for the old days and the old gang. "We've been making amends with a lot of the members and having some really good talks with them," Bixler-Zavala told Drowned In Sound - more on this story

Motley Booed

Blabbermouth reports: Motley Crue played a headlining show last night (Wednesday, June 10) at KB Hallen in Copenhagen, Denmark. The group's performance coincided with a football (soccer) World Cup qualifier game between Sweden and Malta that took place in nearby Gothenburg, Sweden.

During a rendition of the hit ballad "Home Sweet Home", a drunk Swedish fan apparently threw his country's flag on stage and Crue frontman Vince Neil wrapped it around his shoulders — causing some of the audience members to start booing — while the band continued playing the song.

According to one attendee, "Vince had no idea what was going on, so he tried to wave the flag to please the audience. That didn't help him. He then put it down for a while only to pick it up again. The audience started yelling even louder than before, while Vince just kept on waving that Swedish flag. It looked like Tommy [Lee, drums] finally figured out what was wrong and they threw the flag to the ground." - Watch the video

Airborne Toxic Event World Tour

PR reports: The Airborne Toxic Event announces a world tour today starting June 28 at Summerfest in Milwaukee, WI.

The band will bring the music from their eponymous debut throughout the world, playing in 11 countries and on 4 continents.

The album, which features the Top 5 single "Sometime Around Midnight," was released August of 2008 on an indie label, and after a slow yet steady ascension has topped Billboard's Heatseekers chart the last two weeks, bringing the total number of times the album has been #1 on this chart to three. The band also passed the 100k threshold in albums sold. - more on this story

Willie Nelson's New Album To Feature Norah Jones and Diana Krall

PR reports: On August 25, legendary singer Willie Nelson will be releasing American Classic, his first album of standards since his landmark 1978 masterpiece Stardust, and his solo debut for Blue Note Records. Produced by Tommy LiPuma, American Classic features special guest appearances by Norah Jones and Diana Krall, string arrangements by Johnny Mandel, and a top shelf backing band that includes Nelson's longtime sidekick Mickey Raphael on harmonica, and such notable jazzmen as pianist Joe Sample, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Lewis Nash.

While it's common now for mature pop artists to attempt to put their own stamp on the American Songbook, Nelson practically invented the approach. He set the standard for playing the standards with Stardust, perhaps this "outlaw" entertainer's most daring move. The album went on to become the most successful album of his career thus far. It reached #1 on the Billboard's Country Albums chart; racked up more than five million in sales; earned Nelson a Country Male Vocal Performance Grammy; and, most significantly, helped to transform a colorful, middle-aged cult figure into a mainstream star. - more on this story

Bret Michaels Speaks Out About Tony Awards Accident

BW&BK reports: Poison singer Bret Michaels has released the issued the following update regarding the incident at Sunday's (June 7) Tony Awards when he got clocked in the head by a descending set piece during his band's performance. "I am trying to remain very positive and somewhat humorous about the whole situation. I apologize that I did not make a statement earlier as I have been feeling pretty beat up over the last few days. The fact is I was honored to be asked to perform at the event. The entire 'Rock of Ages' production [with whom Poison performed] were awesome, and even though I was completely out of my element, I was really enjoying myself prior to my injury. In fact, all involved at the awards show treated me good.

"I had a great time at the Tonys right up until I got blindsided. I must admit it was a little blurry after that. In hindsight, there is no doubt I got my bell rung. Unfortunately, it has been posted and perhaps funny to watch, but I can assure you it has been painful to experience.

"In all honesty, I had absolutely no idea what struck my head. Upon impact, I thought a piece of the lighting rig had fallen out of the ceiling and as I fell back it seemed like my head struck the stage and I blacked out for a second. When I opened my eyes, I noticed a large set prop coming down straight for me. I immediately pushed myself out of the way, and amidst the chaos, I laid on the floor and asked, 'What the hell just happened?' My nose, mouth and the back of my head felt numb. - more on this story

Massive DJ Scam Bust

exclaim.ca reports: Following a massive investigation by a joint venture of the FBI and Scotland Yard's Central E-Crime Unit, nine UK DJs have been arrested for allegedly using stolen credit cards to buy their own music via Apple's iTunes and Amazon, which not only gave the tricksters a boost in income but their chart standings as well.

Here's how the scam worked: a group of DJs recorded 19 compilations, put them on the service providers' sites, then downloaded them 65,000 times on accounts set up with stolen cards.

Recognizing something was amiss last December, a number of credit card companies warned Apple that the accounts were bogus. That prompted a deeper probe that led to nine people being arrested across the UK yesterday (June 10). They are charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering. The investigation spanned London and New York.[what do you expect, these folks steal other people's music don't they?] - more on this story

Jeff Beck Turned Down Deadly Rolling Stones Gig

Nightwatcher reports: Jeff Beck says he would have died if he joined the Rolling Stones. The 64-year-old guitar legend was approached to join the British rockers when Mick Taylor quit in 1974 but turned down the job offer from singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards because he didn't think he would be able to fit in with the hard-partying group.

Jeff explained to Word magazine: "I had this flash that said, 'Don't do it, you'll never get on with Mick and Keith musically because you're heading in a different direction'. There's the thing. There's the crossroads. If I'd turned left I'd have been a multi-millionaire Rolling Stone - and dead.

"On the right I'm here, thank you. Not that I wouldn't want to experience some of the things that went on with them but I was into speed and detail and gung-ho playing - and the way they were drinking I just don't think it would have worked. - more on this story

Radiohead Release Digital CD- Against Me Lose Member- Chickenfoot A Hit- Elvis Costello Free Shows- Faith No More Reunion Kick Off- Chevelle Set Release and more

antiMusic reports: Radiohead continue to blaze the trail of music biz innovation by making the second disc from the deluxe edition of In Rainbows available online for the first time.more

Against Me! drummer Warren Oakes has left the Florida Punk band. While a recent blog post from band founder Tom Gabel infers that Oakes was fired, he told MTV News that it was a "really amicable" decisionmore

The self-titled debut album from Chickenfoot, the new rock supergroup comprised of drummer Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), bassist Michael Anthony (ex-Van Halen), guitarist Joe Satriani and vocalist Sammy Hagar (ex-Van Halen), sold 49,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 6 on The Billboard 200 chart.more

Depeche Mode restart their world tour in Germany following singer Dave Gahan's surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in his bladder last monthmore

Elvis Costello is giving his fans more than a new album this month. The singer-songwriter will perform two free shows at indie retailer Amoeba Music in San Francisco and Hollywood, Cal.more

Chris Brown lost a bid to delay a preliminary hearing in his assault case, which his attorney argued should wait for a related California Supreme Court decision.more

Faith No More kicked off its reunion tour earlier Wednesday night (June 10) with a headlining performance at the Brixton Academy in London, England.more

Chevelle has set September 8 as the release date for its fifth studio album, titled "Sci-Fi Crimes", according to HardDrive Radio.more

A New Jersey concert promoter has sued entertainer Michael Jackson for $40 million for allegedly breaching a contract to play a reunion concert with other family members.more

The convicted killer of Selena lost an appeal Wednesday in Texas' highest criminal appeals court because it was filed in the wrong county.more

Lauryn Hill has canceled all tour dates in Europe this summer for health reasons.more

Teenage pop tart Miley Cyrus has announced dates for her first ever UK tour, which will start in December.more

Full Blown Chaos is currently in the market for a new full-time bassist. Candidates should be 21-35 years of age, have stage presence, be able to practice in New York City, possess professional gear, be ready to tour, and have both a U.S. passport and driver's license.more

Lambgoat confirms that recent rumors regarding new Rorschach reunion shows are indeed true.more

HIM have set "Screamworks: Love In Theory And Practice" as the title of their new album, tentatively due in February 2010 via Warner Bros. Records worldwide. more

Phobia has dropped off their tour with Magrudergrind and Unholy Grave, which is slated to kick off tomorrow in California.more

The new version of Fear Factory will embark on a tour of Australia in August.more

Just a little over a year since the release of Rising Down, The Roots are almost done with their eighth studio album, How I Got Over. The release is slated for a summer street datemore - more News Quicks

Singled Out: Secret Pop Band

antiMusic reports: Welcome to Singled Out! where we ask artists to tell us the inside story of their latest single. Today J. from Secret Pop Band tells us about "Sunday's Hard Rock Falls" from their brand new album "Pardon the Solar Interruption". We now turn it over to J. for the story:

The first single from our new record, "Sunday's Hard Rock Falls," was inspired by my experiences growing up in small-town upstate New York listening to hard rock and metal on the radio. In the late 80's, there was a syndicated metal program called "Metal Shop" that my friends and I tuned into religiously every Sunday night. This show introduced me to Metallica, Megadeth, Guns N' Roses and many others. In fact, I can remember the host of the program playing "Welcome to the Jungle" for the first time and saying how big Guns were going to be – but my initial reaction was they weren't anything special!

Looking back, it's pretty crazy how widespread metal was back in the 80's – in it's heyday hard rock music really reached all corners of the planet – even my tiny town, as I extol in the chorus, "Sonic waves reach a forgotten place." I do get nostalgic thinking about all the time I had to listen to music when I was young and how important these bands were to me.

Musically, the tune has taken quite a journey from the demo I first presented to my bandmates Greg Gendron (drums) and Ody Leonard (bass) a year or two ago. What started out as a keyboard-based electro-pop tune evolved into a guitar-based power-pop song in the live setting, and further underwent other changes once we began recording. After we laid down the bass and the drums, I took the tracks to my home studio and started overdubbing guitars, vocals, and keyboards. The song seemed to be missing a little something, so at the last minute I added the lead guitar line before both verses, and the acoustic guitar that runs throughout. One of the great things about recording is that a tune never ends up exactly the way you envision it.

While "Sunday's Hard Rock Falls" doesn't sound too much like the music that inspired it, if you listen really closely to the guitar line in the chorus you might hear a little hint of Rush!

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and learn more about the album - right here!

Wait there is more!

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