AC/DC Finally Win A Grammy But Does It Really Matter?

Consider for a moment that both AC/DC's latest album "Black Ice" and Beyonce's "I Am Sasha Fierce" was certified double platinum. So each album was just as popular with fans but who got all of the attention by the Grammy folks? What about the album that won the Rock Album honor? Green Day's "21st Century Breakdown" has only been certified gold (500K copies sold), a fourth of the amount of AC/DC. And let's not forget the "Record of the Year," Kings of Leon's Use Somebody, which has only gone platinum, thus it sold half as many copies as AC/DC's Black Ice. - more on this story

Steven Tyler May Sue Aerosmith If He Is Replaced- Pete Doherty Questioned in Ex-Girlfriend's Death- Guns N' Roses Booed In Toronto- Zakk Wylde TV Ball and more

It seems that Steven Tyler won't take being replaced in Aerosmith lying down. Billboard reported on Sunday that: Amidst continuing reports of other singers being approached to front Aerosmith, Steven Tyler and his handlers are taking steps to reassert his position in the band. Tyler's Los Angeles-based attorney, Skip Miller, fired off a letter to Aerosmith manager Howard Kaufman last week, independently obtained by Billboard.com, requesting that Aerosmith's management "immediately cease and desist from engaging in acts and conduct to the harm and detriment of your own client, Aerosmith, and our client who is one of its members." more

In other Aerosmith news, Joe Perry spoke to 97-5 K-ROCK in Newfoundland Canada and he comments on Steven Tyler's impromptu performance at a California Home Depot and talks about Aerosmith meeting last Friday to discuss a new singer! Check it out more

Geoff Workman, who collaborated as a producer and engineer Queen, Journey, King Crimson, Motley Crue, The Cars, Twisted Sister and Toto, has died. more

Rock 'n' roll pioneer Roy Orbison was given his long-overdue due on Friday when he was posthumously given a star on the Hollywood Walk more

Axl late again: Gilles Leblanc of Consequence of Sound reports that the crowd at the Air Canada Centre on Thursday night "began booing. LOUDLY" when Guns N' Roses failed to take the stage before 11:30 PM. However Leblanc says that "once Axl Rose and his new friends emerged through the pyrotechnics accompanying opener 'Chinese Democracy'", all seemed forgiven." Read the full show write-up here.

These Arms Are Snakes recently announced that they have disbanding after nearly seven years together. You can read the band's farewell message here

Pete Doherty is going back to the jailhouse, except this time it won't be for bringing heroin into a U.K. courtroom. This time the former Libertines band member will be questioned by the police about the death of his ex-girlfriend and Goldsmith heiress, Robin Whitehead. more

Zakk Wylde will be the featured guest on this Monday's edition of "Headbangers Ball", which now airs every Monday night (technically Tuesday morning) at 3:00 a.m. EST/PST on MTV2. This episode includes short interview segments conducted by "Talking Metal's John Ostronomy and Mark Strigl, as well as numerous music videos spanning Zakk's legendary career.

A bunch of bands have been added to the Bamboozled Left festival including Story of the Year, Bobby Long, Circa Survive, The Fall of Troy, Pierce The Veil and more

Noel Gallagher is set to play his first post-Oasis gigs in March, for the Teenage Cancer Trust. The guitarist will join Arctic Monkeys, Them Crooked Vultures, a reformed Suede, The Who, Depeche Mode and JLS on the line-ups for the charity gigs. They will take place at the London Royal Albert Hall from February 17. more

Haste The Day and Oh, Sleeper will team up for a brief UK run in April more

A new documentary called The Posters Came From The Walls is set to be released profiling Depeche Mode's rabid fan base. more

Jimi Hendrix is a rock star legend and one of Seattle's favorite sons. But plans to find a new home for a famous Hendrix statue on Capitol Hill is stirring up a whole lot of controversy. more

Police arrested 50 people at an AC/DC gig in New Zealand Sat. night (January 30). Fans were held mostly for drunk and disorderly behavior following the show at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington. more

1997 had this bad news for fans "we each feel like its a time in our lives where we need to do some soul-searching and find some new ways to express ourselves. we have been touring and recording for coming on 5 years now, and it has been the most rewarding, difficult experience for us all. we got to live out the dreams of our childhoods! it was perfect. but now we feel it is time to try out some different lifestyles and re-evaluate and re-define our dreams." more

Goatwhore and Enfold Darkness will team up for a handful of March shows more

F*ck the Facts have posted the new song 'Loss Upon Loss' from their upcoming 'Unnamed' EP on their MySpace page. The band has also announced tour dates in support of the new EP more

Limp Bizkit will reportedly release their first new music in almost 10 years, sometime later this month according to this report

Rancid's Tim Armstrong and director/animator John Roecker (Live Freaky Die Freaky) have unveiled plans to produce a new web series called Svengali. more

Courtney Love was reportedly so embarrassed by her "terrible singing" on a leaked Hole recording, she hired a vocal coach. The rocker was left red-faced after an early version of "Nobody's Daughter", the title track from the band's upcoming album, leaked on the internet and was ridiculed by fans. And they somehow never heard her "sing" before?more

Fake Problems will be heading to the UK on a headlining tour in April with Sharks as support. more

Backstreet Boys have sparked outrage among heavy metal fans in India after it was announced they will follow Iron Maiden as a headliner for the upcoming Rock in India festival. The event marked the first ever rock festival in India when it kicked off in 2008, with Megadeth and Machine Head playing top of the bill. Iron Maiden took the stage in 2009. more -

Kings of Leon Rock The Grammys (Plus Other Rock Related Winners)

The pop loving Grammy voters made Beyonce the big winner on Sunday but the Kings of Leon stole some of her thunder by beating her out for Record of the Year. Here are the results for the rock related Grammy winners.
Kings of Leon took home the Record of the Year, Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals for "Use Somebody"

Judas Priest won the Best Metal Performance Grammy for "Dissident Aggressor" from A Touch Of Evil - Live. AC/DC won their first Grammy by capturing the Best Hard Rock Performance Grammy for "War Machine." Green Day won the Best Rock Record Award for 21st Century Breakdown. Phoenix's Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix won for best Alternative Music Album.

Jeff Beck's "A Day In The Life" won for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. And predictably Bruce Springsteen's "Working On A Dream" won for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance. The Grammy for best new artist went to the Zac Brown Band - If you care to know, the full list of winners can be seen here

Paramore Hitting The Road with Relient K and fun.

Paramore has unveiled details of its upcoming headline tour. The tour is set to kick off on April 26th with a home state show at Tennessee's Knoxville Civic Coliseum. Dates will then continue through mid-May (see attached itinerary). Support will come from Relient K and fun.

The tour comes hot on the heels of Paramore's recent European itinerary, a blockbuster trek that saw the Grammy Award-nominated band blowing the roof off of sold-out arenas across the continent, including London's 12,500-capacity Wembley Arena. Next month will see Paramore venturing across the Pacific for a long-awaited tour of Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, which already includes sold-out shows in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

In addition, Paramore is set to headline the first day of 2010's installment of The Bamboozle New Jersey. The hugely anticipated annual festival is slated for Saturday, May 1st at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey. - more on this story

Great White Fire Survivor Pens Book About The Tragedy

One of the survivors of the Great White fire at the Station Nightclub has released a book about the tragedy, here is some background info on the book followed by a link to learn more: Despite so much personal loss in the national tragedy that was The Station Fire, author Gina Russo offers readers an emotional story of hope and triumph that will amaze and inspire.

On February 20, 2003, nearly 500 people filled a small rock club in West Warwick, RI to see Great White. During the performance, a pyrotechnic display ignited a fire that quickly engulfed the interior. The incident became the fourth deadliest fire in US history, killing 100 and injuring hundreds more.

Gina Russo was one of the survivors. She woke from a long coma to learn of the devastation that claimed her fiancée. She would endure months of physical therapy and carry psychological scars that would test her spirit. This is the story of how one woman found strength and hope rise From The Ashes. - Info and a preview

Aerosmith Also Approached Chris Cornell About Replacing Steven Tyler

Classic Rock has uncovered another notable frontman who was approached to replace Steven Tyler in Aerosmith, following exclusive reports last week that both Paul Rodgers and Billy Idol were approached by guitarist Joe Perry for the gig. Today they report that Chris Cornell was also approached. Here is part of their report:

A source close to the Aerosmith camp tells Classic Rock: "Joe approached Chris Cornell and asked him if he would be interested in the Aerosmith job, because the band were running out of patience with Steven.

"But Cornell, to his credit, didn't take Joe's request very seriously. He thought he was joking and was surprised when Joe said he wasn't."

Cornell's response is classic! Read it along with the other rumored singer reports - here

Ratt Drummer Addresses Arrest Report

Last week Metal Sludge broke the news that Ratt drummer Bobbie Blotzer was arrested before Christmas on a felony charge. The site did not have the details about the arrest, but reported that they were rumored to revolve around some kind of domestic dispute. Now Blotzer has issued a statement calling the arrest a misunderstanding and pointing out the he was not charged with any crime. Here is what he has to say:

"The stories of a relationship problem I had in December 2009 are significantly overstated. To my friends and fans, you know how gossip over public figures can get blown out of proportion. What is being disseminated is not within my character and an insult. I was arrested, not charged for this misunderstanding we had last month. Public record shows that the 'suspected felony' charge was dismissed by D A s office.

"I consider this the end of a unfortunate personal family issue that has seeped its way on to the computer screens around the globe."

Bobby Blotzer -

Rolling Stones: Just for the Record Video Series Now Online

SnagFilms, an online library of over 1,000 feature length documentaries – all free - to stream and share have recently acquired the entire 5 part series, "Rolling Stones: Just for the Record" and it is now available to watch, for free.

This series has over 5 hours of first-hand footage from a vast array of friends, family, fellow musicians, biographers, and managers as they recollect the amazing career of the band.

This extensive, in-depth documentary has been released to coincide with the Stones 40th anniversary.
- Check it out here

Evasive Andrew W.K. Discusses Controversy, or Does He?

Someone has a new release! That's the only explanation for the recent Andrew W.K. "controversy". Was this stirred up to give him a lot more press than he would have received? You be the judge of that, but Metal Sucks spoke with the man behind the myth for some questions and answers (and non-answers). Here is a little of what they sent over:

Over the past few months rumors have been swirling around the identity of ANDREW W.K. Is "Andrew W.K." merely a concept dreamed up in a record company boardroom? Are there multiple actors playing the role? Who is Steev Mike? Why did "Andrew" seemingly admit that he's not the same person as the guy who played on the first album, "I Get Wet," only to retract the statement later?

Vince Neilstein of MetalSucks caught up with Andrew a couple of weeks back in an intense drill-down interview to clarify the mysteries surrounding him. In the interview, W.K. makes some bizarre and elusive statements and even asks for a certain statement to be stricken from the record.

Here is a sample quote from the interview "on one hand I was wanting to follow some advice that was presented to me on how to address this and that advice involved certain language that was deemed the most appropriate on how to not avoid the truth but address the issue in a way that allowed me to still retain my own standing."

- Read the full interview here

My Morning Jacket Hit the Road With The Preservation Hall Jazz Band

My Morning Jacket are ready to bring their electrifying live show back on the road. The guys will make their way around the Southeastern United States this Spring, including a performance at this year's Jazzfest in New Orleans. MMJ are also excited to both try something new with their choice for an opening act, and bring some of the spirit of NOLA along with them. The band is honored that the historic Preservation Hall Jazz Band will be supporting them on the run.

The connection with the PHJB originated in the Spring of 2009 when MMJ frontman Jim James was invited to sing with them at their home turf, New Orleans' legendary Preservation Hall. James recorded two songs with the band: "St. James Infirmary" and "Louisiana Fairytale." The tracks will appear on the bands forthcoming album, PRESERVATION: An Album To Benefit Preservation Hall & The Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program, out February 16th.

"When I got the invitation to go to the legendary Preservation Hall – where SO much of the music we now know and love on this earth found its early roots – I did not waste a minute," James reminisces. "Getting to sing while the guys played with such glorious bursts of sound – all live in that holy room with the ghosts and garbage trucks crankin' along – was an experience I'll never forget." - more on this story

Singled Out: The City Champs

(antiMusic) Welcome to Singled Out! where we ask artists to tell us the inside story of their latest single. Guitarist Joe Restivo of The City Champs tells us about "The Safecracker", the title track to the band's new album. Here is Joe with the story:

Most of my ideas come from hearing a melody or bass line and The Safecracker is no different. I guess it's kind of ironic that writing for a band with no bass player that a lot of bass lines are the embryo for our tunes.

When we made the record "The Safecracker" we had been primarily a stylized 1960's type soul-jazz organ trio so a lot of our tunes sounded like Lou Donaldson, John Patton, George Benson Quartet tunes. With this number, I thought we needed a more Memphis-y, Booker T type tune with a straighter groove. It's really a simple song. Basically a blues form with a rubato organ intro and a tag at the end in A minor. I think I told our drummer George to play something like Al Jackson Jr., the late great Stax session legend. No biggie. The title has no major significance. I'm not real good on naming tunes and our organ player Al Gamble has named a few of mine for lack of a title by me. At the time I was reading turn of the century thief Jack Black's autobiography "You Can't Win" so a bunch of tunes ended up with titles coming from that book.

We cut the entire record in two days at Scott Bomar's Electraphonic Studio here in Memphis. I can't remember exactly, but I'm sure the cuts on the record is probably the first or second take. We had been playing The Safecracker a little while so it was a pretty smooth tune to knock out. I do remember that we added the organ intro at the session. I think Al was playing around with the melody by himself and I suggested he open the tune solo to create a mood.

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

Lamb of God Members Split Over Going To The Grammys

In a recent interview with Axl Rosenberg of MetalSucks, Lamb Of God drummer Chris Adler discusses his band's recent Grammy nomination, touring with Metallica, not letting all the success go to his head, and how the band keeps things fresh and vital. An excerpt follows:

Are you even planning to attend the ceremony, or do you watch it from home, or do you just not watch at all? Last time we did, all of us attended except for Randy [Blythe, vocalist]. He had his own little personal boycott of it in the same vein that we're talking about – thinking that it's kind of a joke. This time, I think three of us are attending. Mark [Morton, guitarist] and Randy are staying at home. Randy, out of some personal protest, is not attending. I did attend the first time, and I am attending this time. It's not that I'm going and thinking that we're going to win. In fact, I'm fairly certain that we're not. I think that there are several bands on the list that definitely deserve to win. For me, the after-parties and the show itself are just crazy. It's so out of my world. I'm just this kid from Virginia that grew up listening to metal. Last time I went to the Grammys, I ended up at a party with "Weird Al" Yankovic and Smokey Robinson. Paris Hilton was there, Dave Grohl was there, and I'm looking around like, "How the f*** did I get in here?" [laughs]

Do they seat you with the other metal nominees so at least you're close to the Slayer dudes and the Megadeth dudes and some of the guys you know? Yeah. Well, the last time they did. We all kind of sat together and jeered each other on. At this point, we all know each other fairly well. It's a pretty cool little community there.

- Read the full interview here

Crashdiet Singer Returns with Reckless Love

(SleazeRoxx)Reckless Love, the band fronted by former Crashdiet singer H. Olliver Twisted, is set to release their self-titled debut album on February 24th. The CD will be released through Universal Music in Finland and the Baltic countries.

Reckless Love is a four-piece group from Finland that plays exceptionally good rock n' roll. With it's rousing and joyful attitude the band offers a true alternative for today's rock scene where everything seems too dull, dark and serious. Reckless Love's formula is simple; big hard rock just for the fun of it!

The band was founded in 2001 and started to gradually gain underground reputation as an energetic live act. Eight years of small scale touring, two line-up changes and four demos later the band finally took it's current form and found it's own recognizable sound. In the spring of 2009 Reckless Love started recording it's debut album and signed a world wide record deal with Universal Music.
- check out a video here and get more info

Hero Destroyed Enter The Studio

Pittsburgh, PA's Hero Destroyed entered the studio this weekend to begin work on their debut full-length. The band is recording with engineer Dave Watson at Soundscape Studios in McKeesport, PA.

The album is tentatively titled Throes and will see a summer 2010 release date via Relapse Records. Additional album details will be announced shortly.

Hero Destroyed recently posted a demo track, "The Last Upper," from the forthcoming album online on the band's - Myspace page.

Helloween Set Album Release

The End Records, under exclusive license from Sony Music Entertainment Germany, is pleased to announce the North American release of Helloween's long awaited album Unarmed - Best Of 25th Anniversary, out March 30th.

Helloween, one of the most eminent melodic metal bands worldwide and - along with the Scorpions and Accept - Germany's ultimate metal export, got their start exactly 25 years ago. A total of eleven headlining world tours took the band all over the globe, and their sensational show at the Monsters Of Rock in Castle Donington in front of more than 100,000 metalheads. Spectacular tours alongside Iron Maiden, Dio and Ozzy Osbourne, as well as their MTV Headbangers Ball US tour with Anthrax and Exodus remain unforgotten. Helloween have sold more than five million record! s and garnered 14 gold and 6 platinum awards globally, receiving two gold records in Germany. Now Andi Deris (vocals), Michael Weikath (guitar), Sascha Gerstner (guitar), Markus Großkopf (bass) and Daniel Löble (drums) have set out to prove that their great anthems ooze that special Helloween flair even with totally new arrangements.

Unarmed – Best Of 25th Anniversary is Helloween's 'thank-you' to millions of fans old and new and will prove their exceptional position on the international metal scene. Instead of putting together a regular greatest hits compilation featuring their most successful tracks to celebrate this anniversary, the five band members completely rearranged the greatest melodies they had written in the course of their career to date. The album features Supercharge's exceptional saxophonist Albie Donnelly, Hellsongs's vocalist Harriet Ohlsson, pianist Matthias Ulmer, plus the 70-piece Prague Symphonic Orchestra and the choirs of! the Gregorian singers! - more on this story

White Wizzard Release Over The Top Video

New Californian traditional heavy metal act White Wizzard have released a brand new music video for the title track of their upcoming debut full-length album, Over The Top.

White Wizzard trade their axes for guns in the "Over the Top", as the five members turn into rugged outlaws and bring true heavy metal to the wild west.

Filmed with director Dave Vorhes, the video strays from today's standard dark videos and instead features a light-hearted and entertaining story. Fans of White Wizzard's first music video for "High Speed GTO" will instantly recognize "Over the Top" as a sequel, with the same fun approach. The legendary White Wizzard himself may even make an appearance! - Watch the video

Municipal Waste Enter The Final Week of Their Euro Tour

Municipal Waste are currently tearing their way around Europe on a headlining tour in support of their new album, Massive Aggressive.

The band are touring with support from Victims and Reproach, and are set to take their European tour to the UK this weekend for a string of shows.

Municipal Waste drummer Dave Witte posts from the road: "The tour has been the best one so far I think. Every country and show has been packed and full of energy. Our first time in Stockholm was incredible." - more on this story

A Hero A Fake To Let Oceans Lie on Headbangers Ball

A Hero A Fake will introduce the video for Let Oceans Lie on Monday, February 1 at 3:00 am EST on MTV2's Headbangers Ball.

The title track of the new album melds raw energy with a visceral blend of sinuous melodies and shifting rhythmic patterns in the same catchy style of Victory Records label mates Between The Buried And Me.

Hailed as a "virtual melting pot of several different metal styles" by Outburn Magazine, A Hero A Fake prove they are not confined to traditional musical boundaries. Check out the equally gripping music video this week. - more on this story

Mumiy Troll Releases Appbum for iPhone

Russian "rockapops" band Mumiy Troll continues its experiments with new formats for the band's music, with the English language EP Paradise Ahead previously released in MP3 format now available as Appbum (APPlication alBUM) developed by FlySoft for iPhone.

Appbum displays Mumiy Troll's videos, photos and lyrics from Paradise Ahead, the band's history and discography and allows users to communicate to other Appbum listeners.

Mumiy Troll has long been noted as a technology-forward band, being the first in Russia and one of the first in the world to open its own social network, Ikra.tv. Appbum Paradise Ahead is the next Mumiy Troll's step in friendly technologies that will make the band's music even more accessible. - more on this story

Stark Sands Joins Green Day Musical Cast

Tony Award-nominated actor, Stark Sands, has joined the cast of the highly anticipated Broadway musical, "American Idiot," based on the hit album by Green Day.

"American Idiot" follows the exhilarating journey of a new generation of young Americans as they struggle to find meaning in a post 9/11 world.

Following a 2009 world premiere at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in California, the show will open at the St. James Theatre on April 20, 2010. - more on this story