Free Rage Against The Simon Cowell Machine Gig Announced

The show will take place at London's Finsbury Park on Sunday June 6th. The organizers have dubbed it the "victory party to end all victory parties!" Now you can't just walk up to the venue and expect to get in. You have sign up for an online and keep your fingers crossed that you'll score tix. Better hurry because the registration ends on Sunday. All the details are - here

The Killers Cancel Tour But Deny Breaking Up

The Killers canceled their Asian tour last month and now the Australian leg has been axed due to a family illness. The band issued a statement on their website announcing the latest cancelation and also denying reports of their demise as a band. Here is what they had to say:

The Killers had hoped that the Australian leg of their current tour would be completed as planned, but due to the severity of the illness of a close family member, they regretfully announce the cancellation of their Sydney Enmore show as well as their shows at Good Vibrations Festival Sydney and Good Vibrations Festival Perth this weekend. The band apologizes to their Australian fans and asks for their understanding. The Killers still intend to perform at the Good Vibrations Festival's Gold Coast and Melbourne shows next weekend.

The Killers would also like to take this opportunity to assure their fans that any concerns about the future of the band are unfounded. They are all looking forward to some time off at the end of this tour as they have been on the road for a long time, but there are no plans for an indefinite hiatus. -

Guns N' Roses Secret Bar Gig- Black Label Society Virus Warning- Chiodos Find New Singer?- Sass Denies Aerosmith Gig- Peter Gabriel Wont Rock Hall and lots more

New York Post's Page Six reports that "Ian Schrager's Rose Bar at the Gramercy Park Hotel will rock Fashion Week with the first of the 2010 Rose Bar Sessions, a live performance by Guns N' Roses, for a hand-picked crowd of just 100 on a secret date" more

Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society had this warning for fans on their official Myspace: This is just a warning. If you are a member of this unofficial fan run site: http://electrichellfireproductions.ning.com/ Be VERY careful. A lot of BLS family members have gotten BAD and GNARLY viruses that have wiped out their computers via emails and file transfers via Yahoo AIM from one of the admins, including our own web warden. Never accept any emails from people you don't know. Hope this doesn't happen to anyone else.

Blogger Justin Goldberg claims to have exclusively revealed Chiodos new singer as Brandon Bolmer of the band Yesterdays Rising. Goldberg says that the new lineup will debut at Bamboozle left. more

Sass Jordan has dismissed reports suggesting she'll replace Steven Tyler in Aerosmith, but confesses it would be a "cool" gig. Internet gossip suggested the singer/songwriter, who is a judge on TV talent show "Canadian Idol", has been in talks with Tyler's bandmates with a view to join them for recording and touring commitments while the frontman is on hiatus. more

When Genesis gets inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next month, founding member Peter Gabriel won't be there. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame president Joel Peresman said in a statement Thursday that Gabriel says he has a scheduling conflict with his tour that begins in Europe. more

Paul Rogers has revealed he recently jammed with Fleetwood Mac veterans Mick Fleetwood and John McVie. He says: "What we did was just play a lot of blues. I'm a big fan of Peter Green's Mac - I used to stand in awe in blues clubs around England. They're my heroes. It's fun to do these things and see where they take you. That's not to say we're getting a band together – but who knows." more

California Metalfest IV will take place May 15th and 16th at The Fox Theatre and The Glasshouse in Pomona, CA. This year will see the return of Fear Factory, who will headline day one, and Bleeding Through headlining day two. more

The White Stripes will be premiering footage of their song "Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground" from the band's 10th Anniversary show, as featured in their live DVD Under Nova Scotian Lights, available exclusively in the limited edition box set. Fans worldwide can check out this exclusive footage through AOL Spinner starting at 11am EST.

Richard Delvy, a pioneering surf-rock drummer, composer, arranger, publisher and producer, died February 6 at West Hills Hospital in California after a long illness. He was 67. more

Wednesday 13 says he and Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison are thinking about reforming the Murderdolls. more

There have been a couple changes to Ozzy Osbourne's book tour. Here are the updates: February 21 - Book Passage - 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA - Time Is Now 3PM Not 1PM and Miami Event Has Been Changed To February 26 at BARNES & NOBLE 11380 Legacy Avenue (PGA Blvd.) Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 6:00pm

Sevendust have confirmed April 20th as the release date for their new album, Cold Day Memory. more

Dragonforce have announced that their first two studio albums "Valley of the Damned" and "Sonic Firestorm" will be re-issued on February 23rd via Spinefarm Records. Both titles will now be available with updated packaging and bonus audio/DVD content, some of it exclusive to these releases. more

Ben Folds is hitting the road this spring for a string of solo dates. Grab em here

Muse are now spinning 45 second clips of the three new b-sides for Resistance are now available to listen to on the muse.mu media player more

Following an already soldout east coast preview this March, Coheed & Cambria will take to the road for a more extensive and high-profile U.S. tour in support of its forthcoming studio album, Year of the Black Rainbow. more

A restraining order prohibiting Courtney Love from contacting her daughter with late Nirvana legend Kurt Cobain has reportedly been extended until April. more

Why the labels blame their woes on downloaders, Apple's iTunes Music Store on Thursday launched "Countdown to 10 Billion Songs," and is planning to give away a $10,000 iTunes gift card to the customer who buys the song that turns the counter to eleven digits. more

Of Mice & Men singer Austin Carlile has revealed that he will miss the group's upcoming tour for health reasons. more

Scar Symmetry has been added to an upcoming North American tour with Hypocrisy, Hate, Blackguard, and Swashbuckle more

Metal Underground had this rumor: Will Haven is reportedly recording a new album with their original singer, Grady. more

Paul Weller, former frontman of seminal UK outfit The Jam, has detailed his upcoming tenth solo LP. The record is titled Wake Up the Nation and is due out April 5, 2010 through Island Records in the UK. Did someone say special guests?

Google has shut down a number of popular MP3 blogs without warning, after claiming they violated copyright law. Hosted on Google's Blogger and Blogspot services, sites such as Pop Tarts Suck Toasted, I Rock Cleveland, Masala and It's A Rap were deleted, with owners now left in the dark on what they have done wrong. more

Glastonbury Festival has been given the go-ahead to continue for the next six years. more -

Angels & Airwaves Free Album Coming Tonight

Here is a reminder that this is taking place today. Here is the announcement from earlier this month: The Fuel TV website will exclusively host Angels & Airwaves' third studio album "Love" for free digital download 48 hours before it becomes available to the general public beginning at 6pm PT on Friday February 12th.

All 10 songs from the album will be available at www.fuel.tv/ava, marking the first time FUEL TV has ever provided a free download of a whole album.

Currently fans can visit www.fuel.tv/ava to get a sneak preview of the album by downloading the Angels & Airwaves single "Hallucinations." - (Fuel's AVA page is here)

Dire Straits Frontman Mark Knopfler Announces Solo Tour

Legendary singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler will hit the road for a North American tour in support of his current solo album, Get Lucky, this spring.

The tour — during which Knopfler will also dip into his illustrious back catalog — begins April 8th in Seattle and criss-crosses the continent before finishing up in Albany, NY, on May 9th.

Released on September 15th, 2009, Get Lucky is the Dire Straits' lead singer and songwriter's sixth studio album and follow-up to 2007's highly successful Kill To Get Crimson. - more on this story

HateSphere Lineup Changes As They Launch North American Tour

HateSphere will hit North American shores later this month in support of newest album To The Nines with The Black Dahlia Murder, Obscura and Augury. Unfortunately, drummer Dennis Buhl is quitting due to severe back problems and the band is therefore forced to cancel their upcoming European tour with Hypocrisy. However, Dennis Buhl is being replaced by ex-Mercenary drummer Mike Park. Furthermore, Hatesphere has entered collaboration with Rune Walther from Dream Fire Agency, which from now on will act as the band's management.

Guitarist Peter "Pepe" Hansen comments: "This is indeed a new and exciting chapter for Hatesphere. After touring Europe for more than 7 years, we finally have the chance to visit The States. It is a huge opportunity for us and we look forward to play for our U.S. fans! A huge thank you to the guys in The Black Dahlia Murder, who were kind enough to invite us! Unfortunately, we have to cancel the European tour with Hypocrisy due to our change of drummer and personal reasons. However, it's a pleasure to have Mike behind the drums. We've known him for several years, and he wanted to play fast for a long time and now it's finally happening so obviously we're happy! We promise to return both during the summer at the festivals and in the autumn. Last but not least, we're happy to announce that Rune Walther from Dream Fire Agency will be taking care of the business as our new manager."

Drummer Mike Park comments: I've always been a big fan of Hatesphere and I've known the guys for a long time so it was quite natural to take over from Dennis. The opportunity came as an extension of my break with Mercenary and I feel great sitting behind the drums in a hard-hitting and professional band as Hatesphere. I've already played my first three concerts with the guys and it was fantastic. The energy, the drive and comradeship is exceptional - just as it should be. Now I look forward to show the Hatesphere banner in the U.S!" - more on this story

The Sword Begin Work On New Album

The Sword return to the studio in their hometown of Austin, TX, where they are crafting their follow-up to what Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich declared "one of the best albums of the decade" to Rolling Stone magazine.

The forthcoming new full-length will be released later this year on Kemado Records, and is the group's first album to involve a producer. The guys are busy hammering away at the new material with Matt Bayles, who has helmed albums by Mastodon, Isis, and Minus the Bear.

The Sword's scorching live show will also make a triumphant return when the guys open for metal titans Motorhead at Austin's Stubb's on March 16th. - more on this story

Shadows Fall To Host MTV2's Headbangers Ball

Shadows Fall have been tapped to host the next episode of MTV2's Headbangers Ball which will air late this Monday night/early Tuesday morning at 3:00 AM EST.

The guys will be spinning some of their favorite metal videos, some of their own videos and they will be premiering their video of their take on the classic Ozzy Osbourne track "Bark at the Moon".

If you can't wait to get a glimpse of Shadows Fall's new "Bark at the Moon" video, you are in luck. MySpace.com will be premiering the new video this Friday night at Midnight PST (3:00 AM EST) Make sure to check it Friday night online and check out the broadcast premiere on Headbanger's Ball this Monday night. - more on this story

Regain Records Address Bankruptcy Rumor

Due to misleading rumors being spread through God Seed's MySpace page regarding the bankruptcy of Regain Records, we would like to clarify to all who have contacted us recently that Regain Records is not in bankruptcy.

We would also like to make clear that the dispute that concerns Live In Grieghallen only involves Tom Cato Visnes (aka King Ov Hell), Regain Records and Entertainment AB, since a settlement with Kristian Espedal (aka Gaahl) was already reached in 2009. The legal outcome of this trial has no bearing on Regain Records nor does it influence our future in any way. It is also incorrect that Regain Records owes any unpaid royalties to Tom Cato Visnes or Kristian Espedal.

Furthermore, Regain Records is very content with the fact that we are still working with the band Gorgoroth and the fact that we choose to support the rightful owner of the trademark, namely Roger Tiegs (aka Infernus). This has always been our main priority during the various legal proceedings which have involved Gorgoroth in one way or another. - regainrecords.com

Live From Daryl's House Travels To Jamaica For 28th Episode Featuring Legendary Toots & The Maytals

Daryl Hall took his groundbreaking web series to sunny Jamaica this month, where he hooked up with legendary reggae group Toots and the Maytals for the 28th and most recent edition of Live From Daryl's House, available starting Feb. 15 at www.lfdh.com.

The shoot took place at the home of famed reggae DJ "Native" Wayne Jobson in Ocho Rios, where Daryl and Toots Hibbert teamed on an incredible eight-song set that featured Toots and the Maytals classics like "Time Tough," "Reggae Got Soul," "Funky Kingston," "Sweet and Dandy," "Dog War," "Monkey Man" and "54-46 Was My Number," a song Toots wrote after serving a prison sentence for marijuana possession in the mid-'60s, along with a rock steady take on Hall and Oates' "You Make My Dreams Come True," recently popularized by its use in the film (500) Days of Summer. As on all episodes, there was a chef preparing food for everyone, in this case, Suzanne Couch, who joins Daryl and Toots for "Sweet and Dandy."

Said Toots about his experience: "I had a great time hanging out with Daryl at Native Wayne's amazing house in the hills of St. Ann. It was a pleasure working with him and jamming with the band along with my son Hopeton on bass and Suzanne on backing vocals. The jam session was so tight we could have played music all night. I am looking forward to him returning to Jamaica soon. May all his dreams come true." - more on this story

Singled Out: Across The Sun

Welcome to Singled Out! where we ask artists to tell us the inside story of their latest single. Today Brandon Davis frontman for Across The Sun tells us about "The Ardent Optimist" from their new EP "Pestilence & Rapture". We now turn it over to Brandon for the story:

Our new e.p. 'Pestilence & Rapture' hit the streets in late September of 09', and was very well received by fans and peers alike! The song everyone seems to be buzzing about is "The Ardent Optimist," which happens to be a band favorite. The inspiration for this song came when my father, who's been in and out of my life since I was born, contacted me out of the blue. Every time it's the same story: he shows up, promises to stick around, I get excited, things seems great for a month or so, then just as swiftly as he was there......he's gone again. Something inside me snapped. Suddenly everything I've ever wanted to say to him, came bursting out of me like a pack of caged, ravenous wolves. TAO became my testimony of decades of pain and abandonment, my way of coping. At the same time, it mirrors as a symbol of my unwavering hope and faith that someday he will come to his senses and be the man he should have been my entire life.

Writing this song has allowed me to further accept that things happen the way they do for a purpose, and now I look upon the situation with new eyes. I can be positive and forgiving instead of resentful and loathsome, which feels so amazing. This is by far the deepest and most meaningful song we have written to date, and seems to be the song people relate to the most from the new e.p.

For all you MTV fans out there, TAO was part of the soundtrack for the recent season finale of The Ruins: Road Rules/Real World Challenge. Also, TAO is in current rotation on the Comcast Music Choice Metal Channel and AOL Radio. You can hear this song, as well as many others from Pestilence & Rapture, live at The Loch Ness MonsTour this February/March with Across The Sun and No Bragging Rights. Check out our Myspace for dates in your area, we love you all and we will see you in the pit!!!

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

Ike Reilly's Hard Luck Residency

To coincide with the release of "Hard Luck Stories" and to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, The Ike Reilly Assassination has just announced a four-show residency that begins on March 16th and criss-crosses the Twin Cities throughout the week.

Tickets for all of the residency shows go on sale on February 12th at 12 p.m. central; information regarding where tickets are being sold is included below. All tickets are $12 in advance and $15 day of show.

Ike will perform solo at the Bryant Lake Bowl on March 16th. This intimate setting is a perfect place to share a cocktail with Ike as he tells stories and lies, sings and dances, and prepares the Twin Cities for the onslaught of rock to follow. On St. Paddy's Day, March 17th, Ike and the boys will return to The Turf Club in St. Paul. - more on this story

And Hell Followed With Kicking Off Tour With Within The Ruins

Detroit, MI death metallers, And Hell Followed With are looking forward to starting their tour with Within The Ruins. It begins today in Two Rivers, WI and commences at the end of the month.

And Hell Followed With have also announced a new tour that will find them playing alongside Rose Funeral and Wretched. Guitarist, Kyle McIlmurray chimed in with some brief words on how much the band is looking forward to playing in new places on this tour: "We're all pretty damn excited to hit a lot of states we've never been to on this tour. We're totally stoked to play for new crowds and see fresh faces every night - new friends will definitely be made all over the place. We're especially thrilled about going out with Rose Funeral and Wretched. They're 2 of our favorites for sure."

And Hell Followed With have completed work on their upcoming new album, due out later this year, via Earache Records. The album was produced by Josh Wichman and will be released later this year. - more on this story

Evile Forced To Cancel Show

Evile are forced to cancel their show at Talschock in Chemnitz, Germany this Saturday, February 13th, 2010 due to technical problems beyond their control. The band apologize to their fans and hope to return to the Saxonia area as soon as possible.

Evile are currently making their way around Europe on a headlining tour with support from American thrashers Warbringer and Israel's The Fading.

Shortly after finishing their European tour, Evile will be embarking on their first major North American tours with such legendary acts as Kreator and Overkill. - dates

the bird and the bee Announce Hall and Oats Tribute Album Tracklisting

the bird and the bee, the duo of singer Inara George and multi-instrumental/producer Greg Kurstin, are set to release Interpreting The Masters Volume 1: A Tribute To Daryl Hall And John Oates, on EMI's Blue Note Records on March 23.

The follow up to 2009's Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future, the acclaimed band's third full-length is a love letter to famed "rock and soul" duo Hall & Oates. The record features eight classic covers along with the original song "Heard It On The Radio."

As the no-nonsense album title implies, the bird and the bee's feelings about Hall & Oates aren't framed with a wink or a cocked eyebrow. Their love for the music is genuine. With the intension of retaining the character of the original recordings, Interpreting The Masters carefully deciphers Hall & Oates complex musical craft, thus heightening their appreciation for Hall & Oates' longstanding discography. The duo will also showcase the record with a performance at The El Rey in Los Angeles on March 5th. - tracklisting

Luther Russell Releasing New EP in March

Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Luther Russell will release the six-track "Motorbike" EP on March 15, 2010 on Wool Recordings/Ungawa.

The songs on the EP are taken from Russell's upcoming fifth solo album a double entitled "The Invisible Audience" and were selected and sequenced by Sarabeth Tucek, who also sings on "Somehow Or Another."

Musically the EP takes in the psychedelic Americana of the title track, which is reminiscent of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club circa "Howl," the stripped-down blues of "A World Unknown," the power-pop of "Tomorrow's Paper," and the short, but sweet "Dead Sun Blues" and "Et Al," which sound like outtakes from "Sweetheart Of The Rodeo" and "Third/Sister Lovers," respectively. What keeps these seemingly disparate influences together is Russell's effortless way with a melody and the warm, analogue sound. - more on this story

Post Death Soundtrack Announce Two Albums for 2010

(Submitted News) Vancouver-based rock/experimental band Post Death Soundtrack have recently announced plans to independently release two albums in 2010.

The first album, tentatively titled "Weapons Reload", will contain remixes, alternate versions, new material and covers. Their covers of The Doors "Riders on the Storm" (from L.A. Woman) and Dead Can Dance's "Anywhere Out Of The World" (from "Within The Realm of a Dying Sun") are both already available for free download at their official website, www.postdeathsoundtrack.com. The band describes the covers as a labour of love and a way to pay tribute to some of their favorite artists.

The other planned release will be a full-length follow up to 2008's "Music As Weaponry". Since MAW's release, the band has increased from the duo of founders Kenneth Buck and Steve Moore to a 4-piece with the additions of Jon Ireson and Colin Everall. - more on this story

Tommy Bones Recording New CD

Upon the heels of his critically acclaimed self-released EP, Texas metal renegade Tommy Bones has ventured back into the recording studio to work on his next full length CD. His recent EP release has garnered rave reviews worldwide, not to mention receiving solid airplay in many pockets of the world.

"For releasing a EP, the response was very good," says Bones. "We got alot of positive responses. Really good responses came from the people that actually understood the style and what I was trying to do with that album. It was a very different style of music for the time we are in and that's what I wanted to do. I'm not going to jump on the bandwagon just to sell music... I want to make music the Tommy Bones way and only the Tommy Bones way, straight forward METAL".

A native of Iowa, Tommy Bones started in 2006 as a solo project. The guitarist/vocalist recorded a 10-song CD titled 'Scarred', which combined a mixture of Rock, Alternative and Blues. After the CD was released Tommy Bones began receiving substantial airplay around the world. Because 'Scarred', which is available today at iTunes, Best Buy, Amazon, Target, etc, began selling tremendously, Tommy relocated to Dallas, Texas to get a new band started. Consequently, Tommy's song "Alone" is featured on 'Dallas Rockers For Life' album, which is awareness against drunk driving. - more on this story

Finntroll Join 70000tons Of Metal Cruise

70000tons Of Metal, the World's Biggest Floating Heavy Metal Festival will now take off on a world tour to pick up more bands for their line-up. Before leaving port they thought they would need some more Finnish Trolls, so they welcome Finntroll to the line-up.

That makes it 9 out of 40 and counting. Now they will set sail in the Baltic Sea on their way to pick up the next band. Where may their next port call be...? You shall know soon! Stay tuned!

So far the confirmed 9 out of 40 bands are: Amon Amarth, Epica, Finntroll, Sodom, Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius, Trouble, Uli Jon Roth and Witchburner - more on this story

Dweezilla

Have you ever wanted to drastically improve your musical skills in a short period of time? Or wanted to learn to improvise like a professional? Dweezilla is the opportunity for you!

Dweezilla is a 4-day, 5-night music bootcamp designed to expand the harmonic horizons of both amateur and professional musicians alike. This musical exploration and development camp will occur in the heart of the "Forever Wild" Catskill Forest Preserve in Big Indian, New York at the Full Moon Resort from Sunday, June 20th to Friday, June 25th 2010.

Disconnected from the busy chaos of the outside world, your days at Dweezilla will include gourmet meals provided by Full Moon Resort with master classes from Dweezil Zappa, Joe Travers, Pete Griffin, Scheila Gonzales, Jamie Klime and Billy Hulting. Private performances, intimate jam sessions, campfires, film screenings, and of course, the study of Frank Zappa's brilliant approach to music, his career, and legacy. Use your time at Dweezilla to get advice from the masters, perfect your sound, learn about life on the road, master improvisation, and much more! - more on this story

Envy On The Coast Preview New Album, Offer Limited Edition

On March 30th, Long Island, NY's Envy On The Coast will release its second full-length, LowCountry. To celebrate the band has added two new songs, "Numb" and "Devil's Tongue", to its MySpace page (here) and has launched various preorder packages in the Photo Finish Records web store.

Pre-order the digital album or the physical CD for $10 here, and on March 2nd, receive a download of "Headfirst in the River", a new track off of LowCountry. The album will be shipped and/or available for download on release date, March 30th.

A special, *limited edition $75 preorder bundle package consisting of the entire EOTC catalog on separate colored vinyl LP's, includes the following: * Limited edition LOWCOUNTRY in titanium white colored vinyl * Limited Edition LUCY GRAY in thalo blue colored vinyl * Limited Edition Envy On The Coast EP in hunter green colored vinyl * LOWCOUNTRY physical CD * LOWCOUNTRY digital album download * Advanced download of the track "Headfirst in the River" available on March 2nd * EOTC Signed Thank You card from the band **this vinyl preorder package is a limited edition run limited to 250 orders** - more on this story