Wolfmother Lose Member- MegaMixed Signals- Cypress Hill Slams Axl Rose- Fratillis Break Up- AC/DC Knocks Down Castle- Malcolm McLaren's Send Off and more

Venom is proud to announce three more live dates in Russia and Poland. more -

Metallica's Change Was Good For Pantera

(Rock Radio) Members of Testament and Pantera have slammed Metallica's 1996 album Load in a new book about the thrash giants' frontman James Hetfield.

In James Hetfield: The Wolf at Metallica's Door by Mark Eglinton, Chuck Billy of Testament and Rex Brown of Pantera and Down criticise an album which Hetfield himself recently admitted to having been uncomfortable with.

Rex Brown observes that Metallica's movement away from thrash was good for Pantera: "All that make-up and s***? I really didn't know what to think. I didn't even care. It wasn't the brand of s*** we were doing, and we kind of took over that spot where they left off." Brown said. "We only saw them spasmodically, but when we did, Lars would come in with f'kin John McEnroe! It was crazy. I don't think James was hanging out with all these artsy dudes though. He's not that kind of guy." - more on this story

Ozzy To Play Free Roundhouse Show

Ozzy Osbourne will play a free show at London's Roundhouse as part of the iTunes Festival on July 3rd, the third night of the 31 day event that will feature 62 bands in total. Aside from Ozzy, Scissor Sisters and Tony Bennett have been announced as headliners.

The event's website says that "All of the other nights will be announced via Facebook, Twitter and email alerts over the coming weeks." What about those free tix? The site says, "tickets for these shows are available for free to our customers and fans through competitions."

As for Ozzy's participation, Classic Rock had this quote: "This has all the makings of a great gig, I've never performed before at the legendary Roundhouse, and it'll be fantastic to do an intimate show there for the fans," said Ozzy. "We're also recording it, so if you can't make it to the gig, it'll be available for download on iTunes." - See the event's website for more details

2Cents Jager With Korn

2Cents will be hitting the road with Korn as part of the Jagermeister Music Tour which kicks off on May 2nd in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

2Cents will be touring in support of their latest release, 'Dress To Kill' (released April 20th via Eight O Five Records, and produced by Matt Hyde).

Their current suing "Get What?" is currently at #25 on the Mediabase Active Rock chart, and receiving steady radio spins coast to coast. - dates

Fountains of Wayne's Jody Porter Announces Solo Debut

Fountains of Wayne guitarist Jody Porter will release his solo debut Close To The Sun via Engine Room Recordings on May 11, 2010.

According to his website, the US version of Close to the Sun will include two new tracks called Twilite and Good to be Alone. Jody recorded the songs with drummer Jared Nissim throughout January 2010, in NYC.

Known for his impressive guitar playing abilities and Brit-pop style, Jody Porter first garnered attention in the early 1990's fronting and writing songs for the then London-based group, The Belltower. After topping the English charts, the band moved back to the States, eventually breaking up in 1996. - more on this story

KISS on a Stick

KISS have confirmed that their entire European tour will be released on USB stick and as MP3 download.

The UK leg of KISS' "Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour" starts at the Sheffield Arena on May 1st. Fans who attend any of the concerts will be able to purchase the entire 2 ½ hours of live entertainment on USB stick at the merchandise stand directly after the show. Alternatively, fans will also be able to pre-order the concert on USB stick or as MP3 download in advance via the simfylive.com website - http://simfylive.com/kiss.

As CD sales are in steady decline, the alternative of purchasing live recordings digitally, is developing a new revenue stream for rock bands who orchestrating live arena and outdoor festival tours. - more on this story

The Johnny Cash Project Goes Live

The Johnny Cash Project, an online global collective art project and visual testament to the life and career of Johnny Cash, "The Man In Black," celebrates its official launch today, with over 5,000 frames submitted to the dynamic website in the three weeks since the site's soft launch.

The highly interactive website celebrates American VI: Ain't No Grave, Johnny Cash's final studio recording, produced by Rick Rubin. The Johnny Cash Project sets out to engage fans of the beloved musical icon from around the world in an unprecedented collaborative project: the creation of an ever-evolving music video for the title track of the album.

"Chris told me about this great art project he had in mind, but needed an iconic artist for it to work," said Rick Rubin. "His description of it sounded so new and unusual, that I was interested just to get to see it! While I think he had originally intended to work with a living artist, I suggested Johnny Cash; he thought about it and realized that Johnny's passing changed the meaning of the project for the better, and The Johnny Cash Project was born." - more on this story

A Change of Plans For The Red Chord

Forced to miss its European tour with Rotten Sound and Aborted due to the effects of the recent volcano in Iceland, The Red Chord has lined up an amazing weekend's worth of shows for fans on the East Coast.

Saturday, April 24, The Red Chord will play the main stage at the New England Metal and Hardcore Fest in Worcester, MA, alongside Cannibal Corpse, Amon Amarth, and Job For A Cowboy. This last-minute NEMHF appearance is a homecoming of sorts for The Red Chord who hail from nearby Boston and who have played the now-legendary fest five times, starting in 2003.

Sunday, April 25, The Red Chord heads to Brooklyn, NY, to headline a show at Public Assembly with Premonitions Of War and Tiger Flowers. This is an ultra rare opportunity for fans to witness The Red Chord at a tiny venue. The alliance between The Red Chord and Premonitions Of War dates back to 2003 when the two bands teamed up on a self-booked US tour (along with none other than Between The Buried And Me!). The Red Chord frontman Guy Kozowyk went on to release a Premonitions Of War CD, Glorified Dirt + The True Face of Panic, on his label, Black Market Activities. - more on this story

Evergreen Terrace's Josh James Goes Pop

Josh James (Evergreen Terrace, Casey Jones) has started a new acoustic-based band called Me and Mark. Based out of Jacksonville, Fla., the group has self released a 4-song EP that is available for purchase/digital download here.

Me and Mark is leaps and bounds away from James' other bands and reveals his pop songwriting skills. "This is a different style than I'm used to writing, but it comes naturally and is a lot of fun," James said. "The songs are about stuff everyone goes through. I think that's why we've gotten such a great response so far. Plus we're not afraid to say things most are only thinking."

Me and Mark keep it fresh with a new brand of pop/punk/rock that will have even the most loyal Evergreen Terrace fans singing along. With humorous songs like "Hey Is For Horses, And You're A Horse" that poke fun at modern-day hipsters to classic break-up songs like "My Friends Say," fans are already praising this EP as the latest edition for the soundtrack of life. - more on this story

Good Old War Offer Fans My Own Sinking Ship

Good Old War premiered their latest single "My Own Sinking Ship" on their hometown radio station WXPN (www.xpn.org) on Thursday. The track is now available on the band's site as a free stream and download. Check it out here

The band is gearing up for the release of their self-titled second album, which arrives June 1st on Sargent House. They recently played several shows at the SXSW Music Conference in Austin, TX and completed a short run of dates with Circa Survive.

Good Old War's newest release is the result of several winter months spent holed up in a remote house in the Pocono Mountains, where band mates Keith Goodwin, Dan Schwartz and Tim Arnold crafted this earnest, original collection of songs in near-isolation. The album explores weightier topics such as love, loss and addiction, and the band experimented with new instruments, techniques and conventions to push the boundaries of their familiar indie rock/folk territory. - more on this story

Graham Nash Extremely Limited Edition Handmade Book Release

Love, Graham Nash is an original fine press book released by Legacy Editions. This magnificent handmade two-volume set is limited to 80 copies signed & numbered by Nash, with only 50 offered for sale.

Graham Nash is one of popular music's most legendary artists, celebrated for his work as a solo artist, with Crosby, Stills & Nash and with The Hollies. Nash has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame two times—with CSN and The Hollies—and into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

He is also an acclaimed photographer whose work has been shown worldwide. The images spotlighted in Love, Graham Nash are ones taken in the 1960s and 1970s, a period that Nash's era-defining artistry helped shape. Portraying friends, family, and fellow musicians, they capture the essence of a momentous time in American culture. - more on this story

Rules To Rock By With Deerhoof

Rules To Rock By, by Josh Farrar, a new young-adult novel about a girl who pursues her dream of rock stardom and forms a band at her school, will appeal to teens and adults alike. It is slated to hit bookstores June 22, 2010 courtesy of Walker Books for Young Readers.

Making this musical adventure even more exciting is the accompanying soundtrack of the same name, a collaboration between the author and non-profit partner, the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls.

RRB is the fun and inspiring tale of Annabelle Cabrerra's quest to form her own band. Annabelle once had it all—a successful kid-rock group with an adoring fan base and the potential for serious stardom. But when her parents uproot her from her in-the-middle-of-it-all Brooklyn home and move her to Rhode Island, she feels lost. Starting a new band isn't as easy as she'd hoped, but she is determined to chase her dreams, spurred on by her musical idol, Deerhoof bassist/singer Satomi Matsuzaki. - more on this story

The Acacia Strain Begin Work On New Album, Hitting The Road On Cool Tour

The Acacia Strain have released their first studio update in a series of videos to document the entire recording process while at Planet Z Studios in Hadley, MA.

The band recently entered the studio to record the follow up to 2008's, "Continent." The band was also just confirmed to take part in "Cool Tour," alongside As I Lay Dying, Underoath, Between the Buried And Me, Blessthefall, Architects, Cancer Bats and War of Ages.

The Acacia Strain join the tour July 13th in Atlanta, GA and the concludes on August 1st in San Francisco, CA. (The band was told they were unable to play the tour kick off on July 12 at House of Blues Orlando, which is on Disney property, due to objectionable lyrical content.) - more on this story

Meat Loaf Releases New Video

(Roadrunner) Meat Loaf has unveiled his new video for "Los Angeloser" from his upcoming release, Hang Cool Teddy Bear.

The upbeat "Los Angeloser" offers Meat Loaf's operatic voice and punchy, story-telling lyrics in a way that's both infectious and witty, while visually playing out the main storyline of a soldier recovering from war and having flashes of what his life could be.

Hang Cool Teddy Bear will be available everywhere May 11th. You can check out the video - here

Municipal Waste Get Intimate With Fans

Municipal Waste have just launched a tour that will take them back to their roots as they play a limited amount of dates at intimate-sized venues.

This limited run of shows will prove to be the most intense Municipal Waste shows yet!

Municipal Waste have also just released their very own skate deck! Featuring brand new original artwork, this skate deck is perfect for those who want to shred to the waste while Municipal Waste shreds you! The limited first edition of these decks features an engraved MW logo and edition number.
- more on this story

Magic Bullets Go Soph

Magic Bullets return with their second full-length on brand new label, Mon Amie Records. After losing a couple members to Girls (girls are always breaking hearts), Magic Bullets are back with a new lineup and a fresh collection simply entitled, Magic Bullets, out on June 15th.

Equal parts Billy Liar and The Smiths, Magic Bullets embody the tradition of angry young men with day jobs who daydream of glamour in the gutter. Their music fits in the continuum of great indie rock songwriting, while capturing today's west coast scene.

On first listen, you might recognize hints of C86, Orange Juice, The Cure, and Morrissey. But you might also hear some even older influences, like Glenda Collins, The Byrds, and The Marvelettes. Then there's the underlying washed-out beach sound of California in 2010 that echoes their contemporaries including Crocodiles, Best Coast, and Mika Miko. Whatever you hear, Magic Bullets are greater than the sum of their parts; sounding at once familiar and exciting. - more on this story

Burning The Masses New Album Coming in July

Burning The Masses will release their new album, Offspring of Time, on July 20th through Mediaskare Records. This album blends the best elements of Between The Buried And Me, Cannibal Corpse and Necrophagist.

Check out the scathing new track "Resonance of The Foul" and access many specially priced pre-order package deals, which are limited, so be sure to get your orders in now here.

The group will also be spending the spring touring throughout North America with And Hell Followed With, Knights of The Abyss and Those Who Lie Beneath. - more on this story

Hotel Carolina Returns This Summer

Hotel Carolina, a summertime singer-songwriter music festival, is scheduled to rock the Windjammer in Isle of Palms, SC, on August 27 and 28, 2010. The event is hosted by Rock Ridge Music.

After the success of last year's inaugural event, fans are already snapping up tickets to this year's event. Hotel Carolina boasts a line-up of popular singer-songwriters and many fans will get to see all of their favorites on one stage and over the course of the two-day event.

Friday night's line-up features Todd Carey, The Bridges, Curtis Peoples, Joe Firstman, Josh Hoge, Sequoyah Prep School, and Tony Lucca. Saturday night's line-up features Jim Bianco, Jay Nash, Sun Domingo, Matt Duke, Keaton Simons, Benjy Davis Project, and Ernie Halter. - more on this story

Boyce Avenue Announce Major Label Debut and Headlining Tour

Boyce Avenue will release their self-produced major label debut entitled All We Have Left on June 15, 2010, through Universal Republic Records. Today the band announces the first leg of its upcoming North American headline tour, kicking off in Vancouver, BC, on June 17, 2010

Singer/guitarist Alejandro Manzano comments, "It's been a long-time goal of ours to release a full-length debut album worldwide, with all of our music on it the way we've always wanted the world to hear it. We feel this album is the kind of release our fans deserve. We couldn't be happier to be a part of the Universal Republic family at this time."

The band shot the video for the album's first single, "Every Breath," in Los Angeles with acclaimed director Zach Merck (Blue October, Safetysuit). The video, which was a collaborative effort with Merck that grew from a concept written by the band, recently debuted worldwide on Vevo and YouTube. The song "Every Breath" and the music video for it are both currently available on iTunes. - more on this story

Caddywhompus To Offer New Album As A Free Download

Caddywhompus will be releasing their sophomore album 'Remainder' on May 11th, 2010 via Community Records. 'Remainder,' is a reflection of their energetic live performance and the explosive chemistry that exists between Chris Rehm (guitar/vocals) and Sean Hart (drums).

Wanting to stay consistent with their D.I.Y. work ethic, Rehm and Hart completely self produced and engineered the entirety of 'Remainder' in New Orleans.

Wanting their music to have a more immediate impact, and reach a further number of listeners, the duo has decided to offer up 'Remainder' as a free download on the Community Record's website on May 11th. - more on this story

Singled Out: Keane's 'Stop For A Minute' (feat. K'naan)

Welcome to Singled Out! where we ask artists to tell us the inside story of their latest single. Today Keane tells us about "Stop For A Minute" their new single featuring K'naan. We now turn it over to Keane for the story:

Chaplin: "I think one of the things people will hear on the song is what a great singer K'naan is. I think that was something that really took us by surprise. As Tim says, it could have been disastrous, but it was the opposite of that."

Rice-Oxley: "It's quite dark. I think the message of the song is about not trying to get too bogged down in over-thinking stuff all the time. If you sit down for too long, you can easily make yourself depressed! I guess it's about trying to rise above that."

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