Kid Rock Angered

"I feel like someone is beating up a close friend or family member while I'm chained to a chair. I try to understand it, I try to ask my managers and people in the business I know to help me understand it, but it seems they don't either. The only way I know right now to stop it is to not buy from these people or wait till the last minute when they're scared they can't sell them and have to sell them cheap." - more on this story

New Dio Song Coming

Look out for new Dio tracks next year. The band were working on a new album before Ronnie James Dio's death earlier this year.

Guitarist Craig Goldy told Classic Rock magazine, "We were working on tracks for a new Dio album just before Ronnie died in May. And we did almost finish one song. Wendy [Ronnie's widow] has been talking about reissuing the Magica album with bonus tracks, including this one.

"The thing is that the lyrics deal with what Ronnie was going through at the time, when he was battling cancer. So now they are very emotional. It's hard to listen without a lump in your throat." For more on this story, click here. -

Guns N' Roses Up To Old Tricks

(Rock AAA) Residents of Townsville, Australia, last night slammed Guns N' Roses for starting a weeknight concert over an hour late and finishing 75 minutes after curfew.

And one angry citizen snapped that the one-time "most dangerous band in the world" was reduced to scaring dogs with fireworks for thrills.

Fans are now prepared for the fact that Axl Rose and co will appear up to two hours after their scheduled start time after a number of high-profile incidents on their current world tour. Last night it was the turn of the Reid Park venue in the Queensland town. - more on this story

Slipknot's Corey Taylor Explains Christmas Song

Stone Sour and Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor gives the inside story to his very first solo single, titled "X-M@$" which will be released on December 14.

Taylor explained that "I wrote this song in my kitchen one winter, listening to people bitch about the holidays. Personally, I love the holidays, but they seem to bring on severe stress in most people. So, I wrote this in honor of crotchety, drunken bastards who don't know the difference between a yuletide and a tool shed. Plus, I think it's funny."

Last month, when a gap arose during the recent Stone Sour UK tour, Taylor hot-footed to Metropolis Studios in London, and tracked the tune in a single afternoon. The lyrics showcase the singer's sense of humor and irreverence in full force, dispensing a fat dose of jocular stick-poking at those who loathe the holiday season. However, Taylor's joviality doesn't stop with the song words, as he even drops a sneaky 'Hi Simon!!' in the single's fade-out, as a nod to Mr. Cowell and his Xmas-hijacking X-Factor squad in the UK. - more on this story

Soundgarden Ponder New Music

(Rock AAA) Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil says writing new music is "natural" for the reunited band – and in fact it would be impossible for them not to do it.

In the meantime fans can expect a live album early next year and some early unreleased tracks within 18 months.

But it's a deliberate gradual return to work for the band, who all have other projects to work on. Thayil tells 102.1 The Edge: "We're doing little projects here and there. The guys have other commitments but this is the thing we're most excited about." - more on this story

Prince Tour Changes

Prince has changed his upcoming tour schedule by adding one date and canceling another. Here is the official word with the details:

Prince has adding another Madison Square Garden show to the previously announced New York Area concerts. The two previously announced Madison Square Garden shows taking place on December 18th and December 29th sold out in less than 30 minutes. The new MSG show will take place on January 18th, 2011.

Due to scheduling issues the first show at the IZOD Center on December 14th has been canceled. Ticket holders for the December 14th IZOD show will have several ticket options. They will automatically receive an email notification with a new seat location for the December 15th IZOD show which they can keep or receive a full refund at the point of purchase. - more on this story

Classic Bret Michaels Interview Goes Online

Michael Brandvold has opened up his archives again and this time delivers something special for Poison/Bret Michaels fans. Here is Michael to explain:

While in college radio at KGMA at Mankato State University I did a phone interview with Poison lead singer Bret Michaels shortly after their debut album Look What The Cat Dragged In was released.

Bret discusses their touring at the time, filming of videos, the history and influence of the band and more. This might be the first time it has been heard.

Note there is about eight seconds of silence at the start of the recording. Interview with Poison lead singer Bret Michaels, April 17, 1987 Part One - 22 Minutes is here. Part two of this interview will be posted next week. -

Jim Morrison Wrongly Accused of Indecent Exposure?

(Rock AAA) Doors singer Jim Morrison did not expose himself at a concert in Miami in 1969, says the band's drummer John Densmore, as Florida courts prepare to consider issuing a pardon.

Morrison was arrested, charged and convicted of indecent exposure after a police investigation into the Doors' infamous concert at the Dinner Key Auditorium. Inspired by a play he'd seen recently, the drunk Morrison attempted to incite a riot amongst the audience of 12,000, who'd been crammed into a 7000-capacity venue without air conditioning.

He was sentenced to six months in prison and a $500 fine, and the band suffered a series of tour date cancellations in the aftermath. But Morrison died while the case was being appealed. - more on this story

Ronnie Wood Jams With Former Rolling Stones

(hennemusic) The NME reports that Ronnie Wood joined two former members of The Rolling Stones onstage Wednesday night at a benefit gig for London's 100 Club.

The gig, which took place at the venue, saw Wood play with his predecessor in the band Mick Taylor, as well as their early bassist Dick Taylor, reports BBC 6Music.

"Are we ready to continue saving the 100 Club?" Wood asked the audience at one point, in reference to the threat facing the club due to rising rental costs. - more on this story

Rainbow Get More Down to Earth

(Gibson) One of the great hard rock bands of the late '70s/early '80s, Rainbow evolved over the course of its initial run (1975-1984) from a heavy sword-and-sorcery sound (helmed by Ronnie James Dio) to a lighter, more commercial enterprise attuned to early '80s FM playlists (with the Lou Gramm-esque Joe Lynn Turner on vocals). Somewhere in between was an album called Down to Earth, which managed to dial up much of the hard rock fury of the Dio years, but with the dead-on pop sensibilities of the band's later albums.

For Down to Earth, bandleader and axe-man extraordinaire Ritchie Blackmore tapped Graham Bonnet to take the mic. With Bonnet's stentorian vox, Blackmore's fiery fretwork, monster drummer Cozy Powell, veteran keyboardist Don Airey and Ritchie's old Deep Purple mate Roger Glover on bass (and co-producer), the group created some of the best tracks in Rainbow's long and winding history, including the singles "All Night Long" and the Russ Ballard-penned "Since You've Been Gone."

Now Universal Music has announced a deluxe expanded version of Down to Earth, with non-album B-sides "Bad Girl" and the atmospheric instrumental "Weiss Heim," as well as a second disc of studio outtakes and alternate versions, which lend much-appreciated context to the finished album. - more on this story

Singled Out: Vinnie Ferra

Today Vinnie Ferra tells us about his newest single "Bad For Business" from his new album "Man vs Machine". Here is the story:

I believe when I wrote BFB (Bad For Business), I was sitting on my couch at my apartment in Santa Monica overlooking the gorgeous freeway, just playing my guitar. The progression had existed in my fingers for some time, the melody on the spot, and some of the lyrics pieced together from remains of old songs never completed.

I recorded the song into garage band because I was "vibing" with the progression experimenting with different lyrics and melodies. Originally, the song at 5 verses, then I showed the song to London Venturelli (featured vocalist on the song). She helped me combined some of the verses to shorten the message and get to the point. After months of playing the song as a four verse song, I cut out the 3rd verse and replaced it with an instrumental break (as heard in the original recording).

The lyrics were heavily inspired by the girlfriend I had at the time (as most love songs are). We were dating under the pretense of knowing that we would break up when she left to move to the east coast after summer. "A summer built up so high, it was one of the best." The concept of a relationship ending when neither person was ready for it to end was so overwhelming. "Cause our days are numbered before you take flight" It's like living your life knowing when you are going to die. An extreme I know, but love is extreme.

Anyway, it's a love song, about losing someone you love "to the other side of town."

www.vinnieferra.com for the music video (premiere's today, December 3rd) -

Wanda Jackson Says Amy Winehouse Cover Was Jack White's Idea

(Gibson) In a new interview with BlackBookMag.com, Wanda Jackson "the Queen of Rockabilly" shares her memories of Elvis Presley and talks about her new project with Jack White.

Jackson credits Elvis with shaping her as a performer. "He challenged and encouraged me," she said. "He said, 'You can see that it's the young people that have money now and they don't want to buy their parents music, they want their own kind, and they like what I'm doing and that's what you need to get in on.' So my dad and I thought on that a while, and we realized he was right, and luckily my producer was open-minded and let me record whatever I wanted."

Lately, Jackson's been working with White on a new album. She was hesitant to record White's first suggestion: a cover of Amy Winehouse's "You Know I'm No Good." "That was Jack's idea. I wasn't going to sing it, and my husband thought I was wrong," she said. "Jack was very firm about it and wanted me to do that song. So it was kind of a tough situation for a little while there. But I realized what Jack was wanting to do for me – to bring me into the 21st century. - more on this story

Anniversary of The Who's Tragic Gig

(Gibson) The late '70s were tough times of The Who. First, drumming legend Keith Moon died in 1978. Once the band, after much debate, decided to continue as a musical entity, they next faced a momentous tragedy in Cincinnati on this day in 1979.

Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and John Entwistle (with new boy Kenney Jones on drums) hadn't played Cincinnati since 1975 and the buzz for the U.S. tour and this gig in particular was enormous. Fans lined up early with more than 18,000 arriving by 1:30 p.m. for the 8 p.m. show.

The Riverfront Coliseum operated a simple first-come, first-served seating policy (festival seating) and throughout the afternoon fans pushed and jostled for better vantage points and better seats. Around an hour before the show was scheduled to start and just as The Who finished their sound check, five of the arena's 124 doors were opened. The obvious happened as hundreds of fans pushed towards the few open doors. The crush was horrific with people crammed together, faces jammed against glass, and some unable to breathe. - more on this story

Earth Plan New Album Release

Earth will release their new album, Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light 1, via Southern Lord Recordings in February 2011.

Joining founding guitarist and band frontman Dylan Carlson and percussionist Adrienne Davies, the album lineup this time around also includes cellist Lori Goldston (Nirvana, David Byrne, Black Cat Orchestra, Laura Veirs) and Karl Blau (K Records, Laura Veirs, Microphones) on electric bass.

Returning to Seattle's Avast Studios in April and July of 2010 to again work with producer Stuart Hallerman (Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Built To Spill, and Earth2), Earth's newest album shows the band continuing to expand on the Americana themes represented on The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull, and even their incredible 2005 album Hex (Or Printing The Infernal Method), taking their sound into broad new directions. - more on this story

Juno and Scott Pilgrim Versus the World's Michael Cera Joins Sub Pop Band

(Gibson) Sub Pop band Mister Heavenly have a new bass player, actor Michael Cera. The Juno and Scott Pilgrim Versus the World actor gigged with Mister Heavenly this week when the band played Moore Theatre in Seattle on November 30.

According to NME.com, a Sub Pop rep said of the actor's role: "As of right now he is not an official member, just playing with the guys on this tour."

Mister Heavenly features members of Modest Mouse, Man Man and Islands. The band will continue to tour throughout December. - more on this story

Masterplan, Zandelle and James LaBrie Band Supergroup Creation's End Announce Debut Gig

This Friday, December 3rd will mark the virgin live performance from Creation's End.

This special hometown show at Manhattan's Ace Of Clubs also doubles as the official CD release show for the band's debut album A New Beginning, which was released by Sensory Records on November 9th.

The members of Creation's End, guitarist Rudy Albert (ex-Zandelle), drummer Dario Rodriguez, Mike DiMeo (ex-Masterplan, ex-Riot), Joe Black (Chris Caffery, ex-Zandelle) and Marco Sfogli (James LaBrie Band), traveled all the way from Italy for this special show. - more on this story

Slash Rocks Conan

(hennemusic) Slash sat in with the Basic Cable Band Wednesday night on Conan O'Brien's show.

Conan was clearly thrilled to have the guitarist in the house, as he referred to him often throughout the show.

The two had a funny exchange during Conan's opening monologue. check it out - here

Sweet Ride From Sons Of The Lawless

Sons Of The Lawless have released their debut EP, Sweet Ride, at the major digital music retailers.

The first single off Sweet Ride entitled, "Let Me Down," is a song about how one's heart was broken and in the end realizing your own self worth, a message almost everyone can relate to.

Sweet Ride was recorded at the world-renowned recording studio, The Village Recorder, (Aerosmith, Bush, The Doors, Johnny Cash) and is poised to take its place amongst some of the greatest modern rock albums of our era. - more on this story

Close Your Eyes Hitting The Road With I See Stars

Close Your Eyes have announced dates with I See Stars starting January 14th in Toledo.

"We are excited to go out with these bands because we will be hitting an entirely new group of kids and we'll definitely be itching to get back out on the road after being home for over a month." says guitarist Brett Callaway.

In between their non-stop touring, the band spent a few days filming a music video for "The Body". - more on this story

Coldplay's End of Career Move

(Gibson) Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has been talking about how his band didn't have the most pleasant of experiences when they were wrapping up their 2009 Viva La Vida tour. "When we came back from America last time we had some bad stuff happening in our group," he told BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe. But, working on a new album has brought the boys close together again.

"We're going for it," Martin said about Coldplay's fifth album. "We regard this as our last big shot … We had a lot of songs and we cut a lot of songs. It's quite brutal – especially if you're the person which brings the songs. Now we're close to what the album might be."

While still in the thick of the process, the band put out a new single in time for the holidays: "Christmas Lights." Martin said jokingly that it could be an "end of career" move. - more on this story

Bachman & Turner Play CFL Grey Cup Halftime Show

(hennemusic) Bachman & Turner shook the foundations of Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on Sunday as they played the halftime show at the 98th CFL Grey Cup.

The two former member of Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO), Randy Bachman and Fred Turner reconnected earlier this year for a new album, "Bachman & Turner," following a 20-year hiatus.

When the two stars went their separate ways in 1977, Randy Bachman continued to pursue his unwavering love for music as a solo artist, as well as being part of the much-celebrated The Guess Who reunion, then Bachman-Cummings, and subsequently establishing himself as a jazz artist and host of the CBC/Sirius radio show, "Vinyl Tap." Meanwhile, Fred Turner carried on with the other members of Bachman-Turner Overdrive, before retiring from music at the end of the '90s to indulge his passion for cars. - more on this story

Classic Wax Live Recording Released On CD

After 40 years, an amazing live recording of Philadelphia's hottest band of the late '60s Wax was discovered and recently released on CD by Lightyear Entertainment (distributed by EMI) titled 'Melted.'

There was once a rock band so loaded with talent that its members, and even its management, went on to help shape the American music scene in the '70s, '80s and beyond. For a time WAX was the hottest band in Philadelphia.

They opened for huge artists coming to town, and headlined at concerts and festivals all over the area, often promoted by rock FM radio powerhouse WMMR. "Inside six or seven months after forming, we were playing with The Byrds, Chicago, John Mayall, Manfred Mann, The Nazz and The Flamin' Groovies," recalled guitarist Rick Levy. - more on this story

Elton John and Leon Russell Release Live Video

Elton John and Leon Russell have released a live video for the song "If It Wasn't For Bad" from their album The Union.

The video was shot during the band's performance at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, which also aired as a live special on Fuse.

Additionally, it was announced last night "If It Wasn't For Bad" has been nominated for a Grammy award in the Best Pop Collaboration category. - Watch the video here

Talking Bret Michaels

The latest episode of Talking Metal features an interview host Mark Strigl conducted with guitarist Pete Evick of the Bret Michaels Band.

Topics include Bret Michaels, Evick, Reign Of Kings, Miley Cyrus, CC Banana, and Whole Lotta Love: An All Star Salute to Fat Chicks.

Additional podcast topics include the next Talking Metal Live show this Tuesday, Dio, Poison, and the new show intro by Arun Venkatesh. - Check it out here

The Jim Ivins Band Tribute Kathy Ivins With New Charity Compilation

The Jim Ivins Band offer three new songs on a brand new charity compilation close to the band's heart.

The project, entitled Songs of Life: The Kathy Ivins Project is a tribute to the mother of Jim and Jack Ivins, lead vocals/guitar and drums, respectively, who passed away in July of this year from melanoma.

After taking some time off in the summer, the band hit the studio with Bill Leverty, their cousin and guitar player of 90's rock band Firehouse, who agreed to engineer, mix, and master the project. - more on this story

Rare Calibro 35

Calibro 35 have announced the December 14th release of Rare, a collection of songs that were spread across different releases during the last three years: soundtracks, b-sides, deluxe editions, alternate and extended versions and it also includes some unreleased recordings.

Some of the material is from Calibro 35's first ever recording session when they decided to cover Ennio Morricone tracks like "Trafelato," Summertime
Killer," and "Notte in Bovisa."

Other tracks include originals and covers of obscure themes of various vintage soundtracks that are reinterpreted and rearranged by Calibro 35, adding their special touch of funk, rock and psychedelia. - more on this story

KROQ's Miss Double D-Cember Pageant

(Submitted) The Slidebar Rock-N-Roll Kitchen will once again host the finale and live broadcast of KROQ's Miss Double D-Cember Pageant.

The Kevin & Bean Morning Show crew along with Psycho Mike, Dave The King of Mexico, Lisa May, and of course, the Master of Ceremonies Ralph Garman will crown 2011's Miss Double D-Cember on December 3rd, 2010.

Weeding through contestants throughout the month of November, finalists will compete during the live finale that will include a talent competition, a few choice questions, and maybe a strut down the catwalk in a bikini at 7 AM. - more on this story

Lost In The Trees Get Their Own Beer

Lost In The Trees will be honored with their very own beer, as Fullsteam Brewery in Durham, North Carolina has just announced Lost In The Trees Farmhouse Ale. The group's singer and songwriter Ari Picker helped choose the flavors and offered up creative input into this one of a kind ale being made from local harvested figs.

"In the late summer and early fall, dozens of friends and supporters of the brewery harvested figs from local trees. Some gathered figs from their own backyard. Others asked a neighbor for permission to pick their tree," explains Sean Lilly Wilson, Fullsteam's Chief Executive Optimist. "A few brought organic figs they sell at the farmers market. All brought them to Fullsteam for inclusion in this collaborative offering.

The result is "Lost in the Trees," a farmhouse ale brewed with North Carolina figs. It's modest in alcohol (around 6%) with a nice balance between malt, hops, and the late-summer sweetness that can only come from sun-ripened figs. True, it's not fig season -- we're at the cusp of winter. But as the last of the fig leaves have finally fallen to the ground, it's a perfect time to partake in the great harvest, knowing that next summer is right around the bend." - more on this story

Metal Supergroup to Tribute Bathory on 70000tons Of Metal

(PR) Five prominent heroes of the Northern metal-scene have joined forces to pay endless tribute to the dignified Swedish cult-combo Bathory.

As Twilight Of The Gods, Alan Nemtheanga (Primordial), Nick Barker (ex-Dimmu Borgir, ex-Cradle Of Filth), Blasphemer (ex-Mayhem), Frode Glesnes (Einherjer) and Patrik Lindgren (Thyrfing) will open the history-books to honor the fabulous legacy of master Quorthon 6 years after his tragic decease.

Twilight Of The Gods are just one of the groups booked for 70000TONS OF METAL which will sail Monday, January 24, 2011 aboard the Royal Caribbean "Majesty of the Seas" from Miami FL to Cozumel, Mexico and will not return you to the real world for four days until Friday, January 28, 2011 - more on this story

Eminem Leads Grammy Nominations

(Gibson) Eminem received 10 nominations for next year's Grammy awards, while Jay-Z and Lady Gaga earned six nominations.

Among Eminem's nominations are Album Of The Year (Recovery) and Record Of The Year ("Love the Way You Lie" with Rihanna).

Arcade Fire are also in the running for Album Of The Year honors for The Suburbs, as are Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. Billie Joe Armstrong and Green Day received a nomination for their score to Broadway's American Idiot. Mumford & Sons and Florence + The Machine represented the U.K. in the Best Newcomer category. - more on this story