Former INXS Singer Hospitalized For Heart Surgery Complications

Unfortunately, 46-year-old Stevens' condition has deteriorated and his recovery has been hampered due to some post-operative complications, primarily fluid around the heart and infection. The singer was taken to the hospital after doctors reportedly found a blockage in one of the main arteries during a routine check-up - more on this story

Ozzy Regrets Doing Reality TV Show

BBC reports: Ozzy Osbourne says his family's MTV reality show was an "experiment that went wildly out of control".

The Osbournes, which ran from 2002 to 2005, showed the often chaotic domestic life of the star, his wife Sharon and children Jack and Kelly.

It introduced the Black Sabbath singer to a new crop of fans, who were hooked by his bumbling ineptitude at everyday tasks like working a TV remote. But the star told BBC Radio 4's Front Row the attention was "really creepy". - more on this story

Ramones Biopic

antiMusic reports: Billboard has big news for Ramones fans, seems that talks are underway to bring the band's story to the big screen. Here is part of Billboard's report: Fox Searchlight wants to be sedated. The specialty division is in negotiations to board a project about the life of the Ramones, based on the upcoming memoir "I Slept With Joey Ramone," by the musician's brother, and featuring the band's tunes.

The project, which initially had been conceived independently under manager-producer Rory Rosegarten, would get a significant boost with the involvement of the 20th Century Fox unit.

Written by Joey Ramone's brother Mickey Leigh and longtime punk writer and Ramones chronicler Legs McNeil, it centers on the life of Joey Ramone, aka Jeffrey Hyman, the lead singer of the seminal punk act.
- more on this story

Ace Takes High Road In War Of Words With KISS

Rock Radio reports: Former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley won't join the slagging match restarted by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley last week, even though he thinks the band's 1990s reunion was as bad as they're saying it was.

Simmons and Stanley last week explained that while the original lineup put the makeup back on in 1996 to great acclaim at first, the experience turned nasty after a time. Drummer Peter Criss left again in 2001 and Frehley's contract expired the following year. Although they stopped short of naming Frehley and Criss, the remaining pair were explicit in apportioning blame. Stanley called them "delusional about their songwriting and musical abilities" while Simmons said: "When you defile Kiss you should be thrown out."

But Frehley, talking to Stop Smiling magazine, is happy to talk about Simmons and Stanley. And while he agrees with their analysis of the reunion, he doesn't blame them, and he still regards them as friends. "Originally it was put together in the spirit of all doing it together. Next thing I know, I'm feeling like a hired gun and I don't have any say in anything. That's not fun. The four of us invented Kiss but it wasn't like the old days – pretty much everyone went their own way." - He goes into more detail about what he felt went wrong and who was to blame

U2 Plan New Album Sooner Rather Than Later

MusicRadar reports: While U2 are in the midst of their massive 360 Tour that will take them around the globe well into 2010, they're already planning their next album, Songs Of Ascent, and according to The Edge, it'll come "sooner rather than later."

Speaking to Rolling Stone, the U2 guitarist said, "There's a bunch of amazing pieces that we didn't finish from the work we did in Fez [for No Line On The Horizon], and there's the songs we started with Rick Rubin, some of which are amazing songs that I'd love to get back to at some point.

"The one thing is we'd love to follow this album up sooner rather than later," Edge added. "I don't think we'll have over three years or whatever it was between the last two records." - more on this story

Neil Diamond Christmas CD To Feature Guns N' Roses Produced Song

Columbia Records reports: Columbia Records announces the release of A Cherry Cherry Christmas, the new Neil Diamond holiday collection, available in stores and online Tuesday, October 13.

The title song, "Cherry Cherry Christmas," is filled with references to many of Diamond's greatest hits. Newly written and recorded by Neil Diamond for Christmas 2009, it is destined to become a new Christmas standard.

Newly included with the re-mastered classics are a transcendent "Amazing Grace"; another new Neil Diamond original, "Christmas Dream"; and a party-time version of Adam Sandler's comedic "The Chanukah Song," produced by DJ Ashba (Guns N' Roses). - more on this story

Lynyrd Skynyrd TV

PR reports: Lynyrd Skynyrd are set to appear on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on Friday, October 2nd performing their new single, "Simple Life" from their album God & Guns; released this past Tuesday (9/29) on Loud & Proud.

Lynyrd Skynyrd recently appeared on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien in support of their new album. Watch Oct. 8th for a SPECIAL announcement on Fox News Channel's HANNITY show.

God & Guns is the band's first full length studio album since 2003's Vicious Cycle, and their first release on Loud & Proud/Roadrunner. - Check out our Singled Out special with Skynyrd if you missed it!

Testament Get Sirius

Adrenaline reports: After conquering Europe all summer long, Testament made a stop in New York City for a special taping of Sirius XM's Artist Confidential series. Artist Confidential features the most important and timeless artists in music sitting down for candid interviews, intimate conversations with fans and live performances.

Artists who will appear this season on the Sirius XM series include: Reba McIntyre, David Gray, Melissa Etheridge, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ziggy Marley, Ronnie Milsap and Smokey Robinson. The show is scheduled to air Monday October 5th at 9:00 pm EST.

Testament tore thorough a blistering six-song set spanning their entire catalog. The set list included: "Over the Wall", "The New Order", "Practice What You Preach", "Into the Pit", "More Than Meets the Eye", and "The Persecuted Won't Forget" - more on this story

Zero 7 North American Tour

{R reports: Zero 7 has announced details of their upcoming North American tour, their first in more than three years. The trek – which celebrates the British duo's new album, "YEAH GHOST" – will launch on November 26th at Washington, DC's 9:30 Club, and then travel the continent through December 17th for the final show in San Diego at House of Blues.

Zero 7's live show features singer Eska (who appears on "YEAH GHOST") and folk collaborator Olivia Chaney as well as long time band members Eddie Stevens, Robin Mullarkey and Tom Skinner.

"YEAH GHOST," available this week at all physical and digital retailers, sees Zero 7 – aka Sam Hardaker and Henry Binns – embarking on their brightest and boldest outing to date. The follow up to 2006's Grammy-nominated, critically acclaimed "THE GARDEN," the album is given extraordinary energy by a phalanx of new guest vocalists, including singer/songwriters Eska and Martha Tilston. - more on this story

Robyn Hitchcock To Release Concert Film And Live Album

PR reports: Robyn Hitchcock will release concert film and live album I Often Dream of Trains in New York on November 10, 2009 on Yep Roc Records.

I Often Dream of Trains in New York was filmed live at Symphony Space in New York City in the fall of 2008 during the U.S. leg of Hitchcock's highly anticipated I Often Dream of Trains Tour. Deftly shot by acclaimed director John Edginton (The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story) and originally aired on the Sundance Channel, this concert film DVD and accompanying audio CD captures the cult songwriting icon recreating one of his most intimate and haunting albums in its entirety.

Robyn is joined by Trains tour mates Terry Edwards (vocals, keyboards, trumpet, soprano sax, guitar) and Tim Keegan (vocals, guitar) as well as guests Gaida Hinnawi (vocals) and Amir El Saffar (trumpet) from the Robyn-led band seen in Jonathan Demme's stunning film Rachel Getting Married. As its title suggests, I Often Dream of Trains is a glimpse into the phantasmagorical mind of the artist himself. And I Often Dream of Trains in New York captures him fantastically raw and singularly in-the-moment – in other words, quintessentially….Hitchcock. - more on this story

Sangre Recording with Mikey Doling of Soulfly and Snot

PR reports: Sangre, who hail from California's Inland Empire area, have recently taken to the studio with Mikey Doling (Soulfly, Snot). The recording sessions yielded two new tracks that any fan of metal should enjoy: "Serpentor," and "Forever I."

Vocalist Henry Sanchez described the collaborative process: "[Mikey] heard things that we as a band don't normally hear because we are used to it. The songs were already "done" in our opinion but he made suggestions that when tried out gave our songs a new life and energy. We are always open minded to new things, experimentation, etc.... Mikey's credibility and background made it that much easier for us to listen and really open up our minds even more to try his ideas. He knows his shit!!!"

You can catch SANGRE playing shows in the southern California area this fall. - more on this story

Unsigned Bands To Be Bamboozle

PR reports: The Break Contest, the official unsigned band competition of the Bamboozle Festival, serves as a platform for the best and brightest local talent to perform at one of the country's biggest musical festivals.

Started in 2005 at the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ, the multiple month, battle of the bands has grown in size and reach since its inception. Each year 1000+ rising bands register to compete to win a once and a lifetime chance to perform in front of tens of thousands of fans at the Bamboozle Festival.

While other Battle of the Band competitions focus around cash prizes, The Break Contest serves as a development opportunity that helps expose the bands in each market, while providing the tools and guidance for each artist to mature and build a fan base. - more on this story

Queen: The Ultimate Illustrated History Coming Next Month

PR reports: Voyageur Press has joined forces with renowned British rock journalist Phil Sutcliffe (Mojo, Los Angeles Times) for QUEEN: The Ultimate Illustrated History of the Crown Kings of Rock. This beautifully packaged book, a perfect balance of photos and text, arrives on Nov. 15, 2009, and retraces the history of this massively popular and influential group.

Brimming with more than 400 photographs and pieces of memorabilia — including concert programs, posters, domestic and foreign 45 singles, LPs, backstage passes, ticket stubs, and more — QUEEN: The Ultimate Illustrated History of the Crown Kings of Rock also includes a discography, and commentary from dozens of admiring musicians and performers. The result is the most complete and captivating portrait of this larger-than-life group, one that captures and celebrates as never before Queen — one of popular music's most successful recording artists of all time.

Fronted by the unforgettable Freddie Mercury, Queen almost single-handedly created the common phrase "arena rock," with mammoth tours, stage shows, costumes, and such classic anthems as "Bohemian Rhapsody," "We Will Rock You," "We Are the Champions," "Another One Bites the Dust," "Under Pressure" (with David Bowie), and "Radio Gaga." - more on this story

Monty Are I Map Out Fall Tour With Hawthorne Heights

Island reports: Monty Are I returns to the road this fall on one of their biggest cross-country tours, a 7-week trip in support of their brand new second album Break Through The Silence, released September 22nd.

The 34-city tour, co-starring Ohio's Hawthorne Heights, opens November 2nd at the Grog Shop in Cleveland, and wraps up December 20th at Southgate House in Newport, Kentucky.

The tour will be preceded by the official album release show for Break Through The Silence on October 9th at Monty Are I's favorite hometown venue, Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel At The Strand in Providence, Rhode Island. - more on this story

Blackberry Smoke To Tour With Lynyrd Skynyrd

PR reports: If you had asked the members of Blackberry Smoke which other band's audience would be most receptive to their unique brand of Outlaw Country and Rock, there's no doubt that the legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd would have been the answer.

Now, with the announcement of seven shows supporting Skynyrd, Blackberry Smoke is going to get the opportunity to play for the seminal Southern Rock icons' loyal audience.

"It's such a great honor to be playing dates with our heroes, Lynyrd Skynyrd," says the band's Brit Turner. "It's gonna be a travelling southern rock revival in every town." - more on this story

From First To Last Rise

PR reports: Rise Records is extremely proud to announce the signing of From First To Last.

The band is currently in their home state of Georgia recording their new album which will be released in February of 2010.

Also, look for them this fall as they headline the US. - at these dates

LoveHateHero Join Eyes Set To Kill Tour

PR reports: Los Angeles based LoveHateHero have announced they will join Eyes Set To Kill's previously announced headlining tour.

The band is currently touring in support of their recently released new album, "America Underwater", which hit stores this week through Ferret Records. Eyes Set To Kill is currently supporting their sophomore album, "The World Outside", which was released through BreakSilence Recordings.

In each market, BreakSilence and Revolver Magazine will give two local opening acts the chance to win a recording contract with BreakSilence Recordings. The winner will receive a recording contract from BreakSilence Recordings, an endorsement deal from Ernie Ball, a feature in Revolver magazine, gear from Schecter Guitars, Daisy rock guitars and custom EMG pick-ups. - more on this story

The Greening Release Psychedelic New EP

PR reports: The Greening, an experimental psychedelic power-pop band from Northern California, released their latest EP, (She's So) Electric, on September 29 (ZaiRecords).

Marking the follow-up to their 2003 debut EP, After Shoal Parlor, features four blisteringly catchy tunes and an encoded animated video for the single, "Sunday Afternoon," directed by renowned local artist/animator Danny Ochoa. It was recorded at a private studio in Marin, and was produced and mixed by guitarist/vocalist Will Loving.

The Greening's mission statement is to push pop music to new frontiers through their blend of accessible experimentation. Combining memorable hooks, strong melodies and cascading vocal harmonies, the band craft instantly memorable songs. However, the radio friendly nature of the songwriting disguises its underlying complexity. Surprise bridges and unexpected arrangements/time signatures unite to enhance the compositions in an integrated fashion. - more on this story

LHS Doing Free Bone Marrow Drive at Austin City Limits

PR reports: While one group of rock legends and cancer survivors are hiking Mt Kilimanjaro to fight cancer in East Africa in an event dubbed Kilimanjaro Rocks, the Love Hope Strength Foundation (LHS), a rock n' roll charity that uses the power of music to fight cancer, will also be joining forces with Livestrong at Austin City Limits (ACL) to make a difference in the fight against cancer.

Every year 30,000 people in the U.S. alone are in search of a bone marrow donor match, yet only 3,000 are able to find one. In what amounts to a simple cheek swab, and completion of a registration form, ACL concert-goers can enter their name to the registry in under five minutes and help save a life. The registration process, which normally costs at least $65, will be free thanks to underwriting by DKMS Americas, one of the world's largest bone marrow registries.

Love Hope Strength will be set up in the LIVESTRONG booth, located in the Good for Austin area at the east end of Rock island in Austin's Zilker Park. The drive will kick off on the opening day of ACL – Friday, October 2, which is LIVESTRONG Day, a global day of action and awareness that engages people to join its unified movement to fight cancer thru more than 1,000 events around the world. The day also marks the 13th anniversary of LIVESTRONG founder and chairman, cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong's own diagnosis with advanced testicular cancer. - more on this story

Railway Classics Reissued

MMP reports: Railway was one of the most promising German heavy metal groups in the 80's – their first three albums released at that time became true classics of the genre. Although their career had its ups and downs, the band finally managed to reunite in its original line-up in 2006, much to their fans' satisfaction.

And now, thanks to these exclusive re-releases of "Railway", "Railway II" and "Climax" you can once again relive Railway's history and witness some of their finest moments in the music industry.

These exclusive re-issues of Railway's classic albums: "Railway", "Railway II" and "Climax" - are a great addition to any heavy metal collection, and a perfect opportunity to meet one of the most amazing German heavy metal bands of all time! They will be released by Metal Mind Productions on 2nd November in Europe and 12th January 2010 in USA (via MVD). - more on this story

. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band -The Born To Run Concert

How would the entire Born To Run album performed in sequence within the larger scope of a show? Springsteen and the E Street Band hushed the cynic in me with a tense and telescoping performance of eight of the greatest songs to ever be assembled and sequenced on a circular piece of vinyl. - Read the full Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band -The Born To Run Concert review

.... Road Trip: Malaysia - KL Rocks and Sarawak Swings!

Most visits to exotic Malaysia begin in Kuala Lumpur because that's where international flights arrive. KL, as the city is nicknamed, is a place of contrasts and first-time visitors will in all likelihood be surprised by the city's modernity. - Read the full Malaysia - KL Rocks and Sarawak Swings! Road Trip article

Wait There is More!

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Subscribe to Day in Rock Report by Email

Add the Day in Rock to your site/blog/Myspace

Read Day In Rock Reports From Other Days

Submit news or a press release to the Day In Rock report