Day in Rock 2010 Rewind: Top Stories From March

Metallica Boycott Threat Works

(Metal Underground) Metallica fans in Israel had been boycotting the band's upcoming concert in the country due to ridiculously high ticket prices. It seems now however, that the boycott has proven a success, as a post on the boycott's Facebook group reads:

"Friends, I'm shaking with excitement as I'm writing this. After a 4 day campaign, tens of news items about us worldwide, over 6000 supporters and numerous media interviews we can say that we did it! We won!

"This afternoon, Or & Tomer Mussman met with Mr. Gad Oron, the promoter's representative and reached an agreement about a significant drop in ticket prices." - more on this story

Stoned Temple Disaster?

(Blabbermouth) According to several eyewitness accounts from fans who attended Stone Temple Pilots' Milwaukee, Wisconsin concert last Friday night (March 26) at the Eagles Ballroom, vocalist Scott Weiland forgot the words to at least a couple of the songs and seemed to be completely lost during "Dead and Bloated", forcing his bandmates to leave the stage in apparent embarrassment and disgust.

Writing on the long-running Stone Temple Pilots fan site Below Empty, a fan who goes by the name "ejsme" stated about last night's show, "Although [Scott] sounded really slurry and rambling when talking between songs, he actually did a great job for most of the show. It was excellent and thoroughly enjoyable. And the DeLeos [brothers Dean and Robert DeLeo] didn't seem mad at him or anything. Dean actually came up and played his guitar with the neck stuck between Weiland's legs at one point.

"But... once they got to 'Dead and Bloated', partway in, Scott got completely lost and just seemed to forget the whole song, lyrics and melody. They tried to kind of go into a little jammy part to cover until they could get their bearings, but it just kind got more and more off track and Scott never seemed to be able to pick back up." - more on this story

Guns N' Roses No Show Sparks Riot, While Stage Collapse Sidelines Another Show

Guns N' Roses had the weekend for hell down in South America. First on Friday they were linked to a riot after they failed to show up for a "secret" show they previously denied was even happening. Then they were forced to cancel Saturday's show due to a stage collapse.

When reports of several Latin American "secret" Guns N' Roses shows hit the news wires, the GNR camp were quick to deny that these shows were happening. But apparently some wealthy people in San Paulo, Brazil didn't get the memo and a riot reportedly broke out when the band didn't show up. Some reports state the band cancelled at the last minute, contrary to GNR's earlier public denials about doing these "secret" gigs.

The New York Post via Jam! reports that "angry fans waited hours for the band to take to the stage - and when the revellers were told the band would not play at 3 a.m. local time, the crowd descended into mayhem." - more on this story

Rare Track from Metallica's Cliff Burton Posted Online

Many consider "Orion" Cliff Burton of Metallica's masterpiece. Now thanks to The Metal Den you can hear exactly why that is and also what a tragic loss of a master musician the world suffered with Cliff's untimely death.

Here is a little of what TMD had to say about this track followed by a link to check it out: TMD reveals the Holy Grail of heavy metal bass. It's the isolated master bass track recording of the classic instrumental song "Orion" off Metallica's epic Master of Puppets album, the legendary band's third and final with bassist Cliff Burton – which was released twenty four years ago on March 3, 1986 via Elektra Records and reached #29 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart.

This album marked the very first time Metallica would strike gold record status with over 500,000 copies sold. Believe it or not, this was achieved without any radio airplay or the release of one radio single or music video. - check it out

Ozzy The Movie Planned

Ozzy Osbourne is currently in talks to have his autobiography I Am Ozzy turned into a film, according to People and his wife Sharon thinks that Oscar Nominee Carey Mulligan, the star of 'An Education' would be perfect to play her in the movie.

She said: "Next year I want to work on a movie for Ozzy. He's had offers for his book. That lady from An Education could play me - she's fabulous!" Talks of an Ozzy movie are not new; previously the starring role in the film was linked to Johnny Depp. But now that the book is out, chances of it happening are getting better.

Sharon and her daughter are the focus of yet another reality show. Sharon says, "Kelly and I are doing a series called 'Osbourne Family Values', where we go across the States meeting mums and daughters who are having problems." - more on this story

Cops Raid Megadeth Video Shoot

(Rock Radio) Dave Mustaine says police were called to the set of a video shoot because Megadeth were using a tank in their promo film.

Checking in via his Live Line service, where he leaves phone messages for fans who can listen in, he explains that officers arrived to investigate the situation as the band worked with the war machine.

Mustaine says: "We're on location making the video for Right to go Insane. We've got an M68a tank. The cops are here – it can get pretty hairy with this video shoot." - more on this story

$12 Million Payoff in Travis Barker Plane Crash Death

A $12 million dollar settlement has reportedly been reached in the case of the wrongful death of Travis Barker's friend Chris Baker who died in the 2008 airplane crash that put the Blink-182 rocker and the late DJ AM in the hospital.

While Barker and DJ AM, real name Adam Goldstein, escaped from the plane, which crashed during take off from an airfield in South Carolina, two of their friends and the two pilots were killed. Travis' best friend Chris Baker was one of those who lost his life in the crash.

Jam! reports that legal papers show that Baker's widow Otilia and three-year-old son Sebastian have received more than $12 million from Clay Lacy Aviation, Goodyear Tire and Rubber and Learjet as a result of the lawsuit - more on this story

Taking Back Sunday Reunite with Original Members?

Taking Back Sunday surprised fans with the announcement that guitarist Matt Fazzi and bassist Matt Rubano have left the group.

The band has not announced their replacements BUT when you visit their website you are greeted with a pop-up photo of the band with the members faces partially covered. FMQB reports that the photo feature original members John Nolan and Shaun Cooper, who had left the group in 2003 to form Straylight Run.

We will wait for some kind of official announcement, but for now here are the farewell messages from Fazzi and Rubano. Matt Fazzi tells fans: To everyone in the TBS family, it is with great sadness I am announcing today that I am no longer a part of Taking Back Sunday. The last 2 years with Taking Back Sunday have been beyond a dream come true, from touring and playing with bands that I really admire, to playing new places all around the world, to meeting and working with so many wonderful people along the way. It's something that I never once took for granted and that I will never forget. I want to thank Eddie, Matt, Adam and Mark for giving me the chance to play and make music with them, if even for a short while. We've accomplished a lot in a short time that I will forever be proud of. Thanks to everyone involved for making this such a beautiful experience for me, especially YOU, the fans. You have been so warm and receptive to me since I joined and for this I am forever grateful. As for me, I will continue on with my own music and I hope to see some of your smiling faces around soon. - more on this story

Roger Daltrey To Carry On With Or Without Pete Townshend

(Nightwatcher) The Who's Roger Daltrey insists he will continue performing even if the group split up because of Pete Townshend's tinnitus.

Roger Daltrey has vowed to continue performing even if The Who split up. The future of the group is in serious doubt because guitarist Pete Townshend's suffers from tinnitus - a severe ringing in the ears - but the frontman insists the demise of the group wouldn't end his career.

He said: "Would I carry on? Of course I would. I mean, I don't want to stop singing. I just can't keep going on trying to keep singing like I did 40 years ago. I'm realistic about where I am in my life now." - more on this story

Fan Blinded At AC/DC Concert

We have a follow up to Monday's report about a quadriplegic AC/DC fan who suffered serious injuries at the band's Sydney concert at the Queensland Sport and Athletic Centre on Saturday night.

The Courier-Mail now reports that the fan has lost the sight in his right eye due to his injuries. According to the Mail report, "Terry Watson, 31, of Morningside stabbed himself in the face with a metal manipulator prong as his wheelchair crashed more than a metre into the mosh pit" after his friend accidently hit a control on his wheel chair.

The accident has led to an investigation into the lack of a barrier in the wheelchair section of the venue. The Courier-Mail have obtained photos that "show that the podium had side and rear barriers but the only front barrier was a strip of floor timber and plastic caution tape. " - more on this story

Killswitch Engage Reunite With Original Frontman Jesse Leach

Rock Photographer Will Hawkins had this bit of exciting news for Killswitch Engage fans on his blog: On March 18th, the rumors were confirmed. Killswitch Engage's original frontman, Jesse Leach, took the stage with KSE at the Fillmore @ Irving Plaza in New York City.

Phil Labonte of All That Remains has been filling in on vocals since Howard Jones' surprise drop from the this tour last month. Phil has been doing a spectacular job and the crowds have been posting great reviews! Love for Howard is definitely out there as well..!

Tonight, Phil sang a few songs (killed it!!), the lights went out... and the intro to "My Last Serenade" began... The crowd began singing the intro/chorus, the lights came on, and Jesse powered out onto the stage! A few seconds later, the crowd was in a complete uproar!

Read more of Will's report, check out photos and (hopefully by the time you read this) video from the gig - here

Five Jimi Hendrix Albums Land In The Top 100

Valleys of Neptune, the long-awaited album of previously unavailable Jimi Hendrix studio recordings, has debuted on the Billboard 200 best-selling albums chart at #4, while four additional Hendrix catalog titles -- Are You Experienced (#44), Electric Ladyland (#60), First Rays of the New Rising Sun (#63), and Axis: Bold As Love (#67) -- have returned to the Billboard 200 four decades after their original release dates, a testimony to the enduring vitality and importance of the trailblazing artist-guitarist-performer.

A newly curated album of 12 fully realized studio cuts, more than a hour's worth of previously unheard Jimi Hendrix music, Valleys of Neptune, the centerpiece of the historic 2010 Jimi Hendrix Catalog Project, rocketed to #1 on Amazon in anticipation of its release. The album debuted at #1 at Barnes & Noble, B&N.com, Borders, J&R Music World, Newbury Comics, Fred Meyer, Easy Street (Seattle), Bull Moose; #2 at Amoeba and Music Monitor; #3 at Target and Best Buy. Approximately 20% of first week's sales have been in the digital realm.

"The consumer response to Valleys of Neptune and the Jimi Hendrix catalog has been phenomenal," said Adam Block, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Legacy Recordings. "It reminds us that his spirit still speaks to so many and inspires and motivates fans of all ages." - more on this story

Metallica Plan Massive Scale Show To Rival Pink Floyd's The Wall Tour

Pink Floyd's tour for The Wall was so massive they could old stage it in four different cities. Now it appears that Metallica has plans to launch a tour to equal The Wall's massive scale.

Classic Rock Reports: Metallica manager Peter Mensch has revealed the band have some major plans for 2011. "Let's just say that next year you will see a Metallica tour that will blow your mind. They will only play in 10 cities but it will be a huge undertaking. It will be Metallica's equivalent of The Wall."

This revelation came up when Classic Rock scribe Peter Makowski interviewed Mensch for a feature about the most powerful men in rock and asked him to define his role as a manager. - more on this story

Original Sunny Day Real Estate Plan New Album

Billboard had big news for Sunny Day Real Estate fans. They report that the Seattle rock act is planning to record its first album in 15 years with its original lineup.

The news was Tweeted last night by Seattle radio DJ Marco Collins of KEXP and has been confirmed to Billboard.com as accurate, although no timeline for recording or release has been determined.

Group members Jeremy Enigk, Dan Hoerner, William Goldsmith and Nate Mendel have been fleshing out new material since last fall, coinciding with their first live shows as a unit since 1994. - more on this story

Social Distortion Lose A Member

Eleven months after replacing Charlie Quintana in Social Distortion, Atom Willard is leaving the group to concentrate on Angels And Airwaves, the group he co-founded with Blink-182 guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge.

Here is the announcement from the Social D camp: Due to many foreseeable scheduling conflicts with his band Angels And Airwaves, we regret to announce that Atom Willard will no longer be able to continue on drums for Social Distortion.

We know this was not an easy decision for him, but Atom is an incredible individual and we're all better people for having him on board while we did. Atom will be sorely missed, but we wish him the very best. -

Pre Guns N' Roses Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin Video Surfaces

The Metal Den reveals rare footage of what is believed to be the earliest music video that future Guns N' Roses legends Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin ever performed in.

The Hollywood Rose band featured in the video consists of Rose, Stradlin, lead guitarist Chris Weber, bassist Rick Marrs and drummer Johnny Kreis.

All Music Guide's Eduardo Rivadavia reveals more early GN'R background surrounding this historical moment in Rock: "Years before there was a Guns N' Roses there was Hollywood Rose. Formed in — where else — Hollywood, circa 1983, by recent Indiana transplants William Bailey (later to become W. Axl Rose) and Jeff Isabelle (aka Izzy Stradlin) along with Los Angeles native Chris Weber, they were briefly billed as A.X.L...." - more on this story