Porn Star Split Static-X- Bret Michaels New Album Preview- Fuel Snag Shinedown Guitarist- The Who's Future- Big Four Dio Tribute Video- U2's Muse- Rush- more

Former Skid Row vocalist Sebastian Bach continues to work on his new solo album. In a recent posting Sebastian stated, "I'm recording the 3rd ballad for the next CD today. Nick (Sterling) is very prolific, this will be the most demos by far I have recorded for any record I have ever done" more
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Ozzy's Real Reason For Firing Zakk Wylde

Times they have changed for Ozzy Osbourne. The "Prince of Darkness" has revealed yet another reason for firing Zakk Wylde: Apparently Ozzy felt that Zakk was drinking too much. That's what he reportedly has told Guitar World magazine according to Jam!

Osbourne tells Guitar World magazine, "Zakk came in at the beginning of the new one (record), but he was still drinking. When you're drunk and somebody else is drinking, it's OK, but when you're sober and somebody's blabbering away in your ear, it ain't. I mean, Zakk's a great player and I love him. I love his playing. But in the end, it came to the point that I had to get another guitarist.

"It was hard for me to be around someone who is actively drinking. I heard he's not drinking anymore. I don't know if that's true or not." Ozzy said. "I love his playing; he's one of the greats. But it was the drink getting the better of him. I couldn't watch him die. In one sick respect, it was good for me to see, because that's what I was like, and worse. Believe me, if I started drinking now you'd think, 'F**k, this is b**locks! I've got to get out of here.' - Jam! report

High Def Maroon 5 Special

Fuse has announced a special broadcast featuring Maroon 5, who will be performing at the Beacon Theatre on Tuesday, July 27 at 9pm ET to celebrate the release of their new album, Hands All Over.

Kicking off their summer tour, the band will take the stage for "Fuse Presents: Maroon 5 Live From the Beacon Theatre" airing live in HD on Fuse. Fuse and Coca-Cola have collaborated to bring the show to fans across the U.S. with limited commercial interruptions.

"We couldn't be more excited to be doing this concert with Fuse," said Maroon 5's frontman Adam Levine. "The network has always been a huge supporter of what we're doing musically and we're honored to be joining the lineup of artists who have done this special with them in the past." - more on this story

Iron Maiden Frontman Slams Band's New MP3

(Rock Radio) Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson has launched an astonishing attack on [the quality of] digital music downloads.

At their Final Frontier gig in Concord, California, Dickinson told fans that their latest track, El Dorado, which the band allowed fans to download free as an MP3 from their website, is only worth listening to live or on CD.

And Dickinson blamed the situation on Apple guru Steve Jobs and internet giant Google. He told fans: "The problem is that when you listen to it on tiny little headphones, propelled by a battery, on a device made by Steve Jobs and Google, it sounds like sh*t." - more on this story

Rock Band: Nickelback

The rumors about a Nickelback flavored Rock Band are true... almost. Harmonix and MTV Games announced that Nickelback will make their Rock Band debut this week in the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation3 computer entertainment system and Wii.

With more than 400 artists, including Jimi Hendrix, The Who, AC/DC and Green Day, who are exclusive to Rock Band, as well as more than 1,500 songs available through the Rock Band platform and 70 million songs sold through its download store alone, Rock Band is the undisputed sales and content leader in the interactive music space, providing the deepest and best selection of artists, songs and albums.

The band will make their debut in Rock Band next week with a six pack of songs. "Nickelback Pack 01" will include "Burn It to the Ground" and "This Afternoon" from 2008's album, Dark Horse, which has held a place in the Top 100 of the Billboard 200 since its release last year. Also included are "Photograph" and "Rockstar" from 2005's All the Right Reasons, which was certified eight-times platinum in the United States in October 2009, making it one of the best-selling albums in U.S. history. "Figured You Out" from 2003's three-time platinum The Long Road and "Never Again" from 2001's six-time platinum Silver Side Up will also be featured in "Nickelback Pack 01." - more on this story

You Say Party! We Say Die! Make Changes Following Member's Death

You Say Party! We Say Die! have updated fans about their plans as a band following the death of Devon Clifford from a brain hemorrhage this past April, which includes a new lineup and a new name: Heartfelt thanks for all the messages of love and condolences that you have sent since Devon's passing. We have drawn a lot of strength from these as we navigate this difficult time. Losing Devon has been a profound loss for the family this band has grown to become. We have taken some time out of the spotlight these last few months to heal, process, reflect and re-evaluate the future of this band.

We have talked at great length with each other and our families and friends about the future. Devon's parents have encouraged us to continue on and given us their blessing. It is their opinion (as well as ours) that Devon would never have wanted his death to end the band. He would have wanted us to continue on.

In the time between Devon's passing and this statement, we have all reflected upon our personal lives. Krista has decided that her time with us has come to an end as she no longer desires the long drives, poor sleeps and revolting selection of road food. Instead she's choosing a home, a garden, some gluten-free baking and a proper education. We will miss Krista very much and she remains a part of our lives. - more on this story

iRolling Stones

You can now rock some Rolling Stones' classics with Guitar Hero for iPhone and iPod touch as Activision have released a ABKCO Records' Rolling Stones song pack featuring "Gimme Shelter," "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and "Honky Tonk Women," which is available for purchase through the in-game app.

"We are thrilled with the explosive launch of the Guitar Hero app," said David Haddad, Chief Operating Officer for Guitar Hero. "Bringing the Guitar Hero experience to iPhone and iPod touch allows our fans to experience and interact with great music in a compelling way – anytime and anywhere. We've seen great support for the app and also for the exciting additional game tracks... What better way to reward our fans, than by bringing them an incredible new song pack by The Rolling Stones?"

Published by Activision and created by Guitar Hero veteran developer, Vicarious Visions, Inc., and built exclusively from the ground up for the iPhone and iPod touch, the Guitar Hero app takes full advantage of the platforms' functionality and features all-new, innovative gameplay that will keep players rocking out as they strum, tap, slide and whammy to the hottest tracks from bands they know and love. - more on this story

Machine Head Frontman Robb Flynn Records Sabbath Cover in Tribute to Debbie Abono

Machine Head frontman Robb Flynn has recorded an acoustic cover of Black Sabbath's "Die Young" for free download in tribute to the late Debbie Abono, who sadly passed away on the same day as legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio.

There are no plans to officially release Flynn's version of "Die Young", but an MP3 version of the track is available for free download at the MACHINE HEAD web site, www.machinehead1.com.

In a statement made at the beginning of the video, Robb says, "I don't know why I recorded this song, it doesn't really have relevance to Debbie or Dio, but I was sad and depressed and it was the only thing that made sense in the world." - more on this story

Live's Ed Kowalczyk Solo Album and Tour

Live's Ed Kowalczyk has announced a U.S. tour in support of his new solo album, Alive, which is set for release on July 6.

The summer tour schedule starts July 1 in Buffalo, NY and ends August 6 in Chicago, IL at Lallapalooza for a solo acoustic set. Ed is also giving away a FREE download of the song "Grace" which is featured on the new album if you tweeting the phrase "Get @EDDIEKLIVE new song "Grace" for free in exchange for one tweet!" details here

"During the last two years, I found myself at a new level of personal inspiration and creativity. I am so excited that my long time fans, as well as new ones, are about to experience the fruit of my labor of love! This album is a gigantic achievement for me and I couldn't be more thrilled at the prospect of finally sharing it with the world," he says. - more on this story

Flatline's Randy Weitzel Undergoes Emergency Surgery

Former Flatline guitarist Randy Weitzel recently underwent emergency surgery. His wife gave The Metal Den an update on his condition:

Randy and I want to thank everyone for all of their thoughts, prayers, meditations, emails, facebook messages, texts, calls, card and flowers. The outpouring of love that came to both of us during this scary time was amazing and we will be forever grateful. First and foremost, know that he is doing well, healing, recovering and really looking forward to getting back into the studio soon to record Three Thirteen's FULL TILT. His sessions were postponed because of this crisis, and I know that getting back to work on the album is going to be the best healing therapy he could have. He had a closer call than any of us originally thought. What began as merely a sore throat, turned, within hours to a life-threatening situation involving emergency surgery and a few days in ICU. The amazing doctor who ultimately saved his life, told Randy and I that we basically experienced "the perfect storm." All minor situations came together to form a major one.

Randy somehow contracted a bacterial infection that attacked his throat and vocal chords. The infection attacked him so rapidly and was taking over so quickly that the pain became excruciating, indicating a more severe problem than we originally thought. Emergency room doctors were unable to alleviate any pain (even with 2 morphine doses back to back) or reduce what appeared to be swelling in his throat and around his voice box. An Ear, Nose and Throat specialist and an anesthesiologist were called in and Randy was subsequently rushed into emergency surgery. Adding to the severity of the situation was that his epiglottis (which acts as a flap valve in the throat, protecting the airway when people swallow) is shaped like an omega sign (or a horseshoe), rather than the normal flat shape, and was rapidly swelling and cutting off his oxygen. By the time he was in the OR he was unable to talk. I'll spare you the gory details, but they told us he was about 2 minutes away from dying, and they were preparing to give him a tracheostomy had the intubation not worked on the first try. - read more here

Singled Out: Glyder's Knockout

Welcome to Singled Out! where we ask artists to tell us the inside story of their latest single. Today Glyder tells us about "Knockout" from their brand new album "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow," which hits stores tomorrow. We now turn it over to Glyder for the story:

Mostly when I write the music comes first and the lyrics just seem to pop into my head, In that way I think the Lyrics suit the music best, The riffs on this tune are really punchy so when the lyrics came I started to think about a fight. Eventually the theme of the song evolved into telling the story of The Rumble in the Jungle between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.

Also the lyrics had another significance for me because of the fact that at the time Muhammad Ali was the underdog being thirty two years old. Im the eldest in Glyder and in my thirties now , ten years older than the other guys in the band. The fact that Ali could be a world champion in his thirties gave me the courage to know if I focus hard I can be successful in my endeavors in my thirties. Muhammad Ali's challenge to prove he was the greatest is like my challenge to prove that Glyder are the greatest! I think you have to keep a very positive frame of mind to be successful in anything you do, to quote from the song "A winners mind, you could see it in his eyes".

When we originally recorded the song I used samples from a BBC commentary and from Muhammad Ali himself speaking before the match but we could not get permission to use either so we had to remove the samples and remix the track. I got my friend to do the commentary you hear at the start of the song and after the guitar solo. Maybe someone might leak the original onto the web sometime!

In the songs performance Tony sings the song almost like he is the commentator of the match. The chorus is very strong with layers of harmonies. Pete plays a very effective solo which he double tracked and this gives it a chorus effect. The end of the song is a mass of drum fills almost like the final punches in a boxing match.

Its three minutes of honest contemporary Classic Rock, It will make you feel good, so check it out!

Learn more about the band and their new album - right here!

Owl City's Austin Tofte Now Swimming With Dolphins

Owl City's Austin Tofte returns with Swimming With Dolphins, who will begin recording their debut album for Tooth & Nail Records this summer.

"I'm more than excited to announce Tooth & Nail as the home of Swimming With Dolphins," shares Austin Tofte about the recent signing. "I grew up inspired by so many T&N artists. It's a great honor now to be a part of this family."

Independently releasing "Ambient Blue EP," Swimming With Dophlins' ambient electronica pop sound has attracted a huge fanbase, which has increased as the band has been touring with the likes of Owl City, Lydia, We Are The In Crowd and Places and Numbers.
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Senses Fail Working on New Album

Senses Fail began the recording of their fourth full-length album at producer Brian McTernan's Salad Days studio outside Baltimore, Maryland. They band are aiming for a fall release via Vagrant Records.

"We're very excited to be back in the studio and working on our new record which is going to be titled The Fire," said singer Buddy Nielsen. "The direction of the music is still developing but we have about 17 solid songs and based upon which ones turn out the best in the studio, they'll determine the overall vibe of the record. This record is a reaction and a release of a whirlwind of emotions that came from fighting for what we love and dealing with change and growth both personally and creatively."

Senses Fail won't be locked away in the studio the entire summer – they recently announced several dates in Australia and Tasmania and they'll be performing in Dallas, Texas on July 25 as part of Summerfest with Forever The Sickest Kids, Schwayze, Silverstein, and more. - more on this story

Alejandro Escovedo Gets Personal

NPR's Morning Edition spoke with Alejandro Escovedo for an interview segment that aired on Friday. If you missed it you can still check it out online.

It's a very personal segment where he talks about some of the identity struggles that he's faced. He also talks openly about relationships with his father and son.

He says his new album, 'Street Songs of Love' (which comes out tomorrow), is about a search common to all of us. He says, "That something they're trying to find is love."

As a side note the new album features a duet with Bruce Springsteen on a track called "Faith."
- Listen to the NPR feature here

Rolling Stones, J Giles, Hall & Oats, Tears for Fears Featured on The Middle Men Soundtrack

The Middle Men (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) will be released by ABKCO Records on August 3. The film's score, composed by Brian Tyler, will be released in digital format (only) on August 10.

Music heard in the movie and on the ABKCO soundtrack is integral to the film's central narrative, reflecting moods and providing a sense of time and ambiance. The soundtrack offers "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Sympathy For The Devil," two classic Rolling Stones tracks from the ABKCO catalog, along with such diverse selections as "Buona Sera" by Louis Prima, Patsy Cline's "Sweet Dreams" and "The Way You Move" by Outkast (featuring Sleepy Brown). Of special note is the original version of "Oye Como Va" by Tito Puente, "Body Rock" and "Honey", two Moby selections, plus tracks from Tears for Fears, OMC, J. Geils Band, Hall & Oats, George Thorogood and 2Pac.

The Paramount Pictures release, directed and co-written by George Gallo, opens nationally on August 6. The film's producer is Christopher Mallick with Tricia Holloway serving as music supervisor. MIDDLE MEN stars Luke Wilson, Giovanni Ribisi, Gabriel Macht, Jacinda Barrett, Laura Ramsey, Terry Crews, Rade Sherbedgia, with Kevin Pollak and James Caan. - more on this story

Landmine Marathon Kick Off US Tour

Landmine Marathon kick off their US tour tonight in support of their latest release "Sovereign Descent."

Their previous two full lengths, "Wounded" and "Rusted Eyes Awake" were originally released by Level Plane, and have both been reissued by Prosthetic. - more on this story

These Are They Going Soph

These Are They have set a September 14 release date for their sophomore full-length, Disposing of Betrayers.

The album was recorded at Belle City Sound in Milwaukee, WI with producer Chris Wisco (Michael Angelo Batio, Dirge Within, Jungle Rot) and mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö (Hail of Bullets, Edge of Sanity, Nightingale) at Unisound in Örebro, Sweden.

The five-piece band began writing Disposing of Betrayers soon after the 2009 release of their debut album Who Linger. These Are They have increased speed, aggression, and power to create perhaps the strongest death metal release to come from the city of Chicago in years. Combining the classic style, with new elements and modern ideas, Disposing of Betrayers is sure to impress even the most stubborn of death metal fans. - more on this story

Fences Is Coming

Onto Entertainment/ADA will release Fences debut album on September 28. The band is the moniker of 27 year-old Christopher Mansfield, a self proclaimed f*ck up, who uses it to perform and record under.

The Seattle-based artist's first full length was produced by Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara fame and shares a kindred down-trodden spirit to the music of Elliott Smith and Townes Van Zandt.

Mansfield's musical life started in Boston where he spent his late teens studying music at the prestigious Berkelee School of Music. His girlfriend of the time was studying the plays of August Wilson and suggested that Mansfield name his band after the famed playwright's most beloved play, Fences. - more on this story

Order Of Ennead Tap Death Guitarists For Tour with Hate Eternal and Cannabis Corpse

Order Of Ennead will be hitting the road with Hate Eternal and Cannabis Corpse for a limited run of the east coast this summer.

Joining Order Of Ennead on lead guitar at all dates will be the talented Shannon Hamm (Death, Control Denied).

An Examination Of Being, the new album from Floridian extreme metal act Order Of Ennead, is out now in North America.
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Mozart Season Limited Edition EP for Equal Vision

Pop-(punk)ers Mozart Season will release their debut EP with Equal Vision Records, Nightmares, on July 20th. The EP will be available exclusively through MerchNow, digital retailers, and the band.

Nate Richardson (vocals), Benton Christensen (guitar), Sam Trux (guitar), Troy Cooper (bass) and Luke Allen (drums), show maturity beyond their years as they collectively produce innovative melodic, post-hardcore music on Nightmares. The album was recorded at Fat Cat Studios with engineer Jay Trammell [Self Against City, Early States] in March.

Nightmares features three songs off of Mozart Season's previous album, Apotheosis EP, and three brand new songs showcasing their growth and development. Cooper describes the EP as the perfect mix of old and new, "...it gives listeners a chance to hear the range in our sound. There are some heavy songs, some jammy sing-alongs, the occasional breakdown and lots of catchy pop melodies over heavy, melodic guitars." - more on this story

Welcome To The Family Vol. 4

Old Shoe Records have announced the track details for the Welcome To The Family Vol. 4, the compilation that put the company on the map four years ago.

With numbers reaching well over 50,000 units stretching across the US, the summertime tradition for the label has evolved into a recognizable brand for the punk rock community. Founder and label president Josh Stolo explains, "This is our tribute to the Give 'Em The Boot compilations we would score every summer at punk rock concerts. This is our way of not only introducing Old Shoe bands, but also including friends of the label, bands we are fans of, and giving it to the masses for free."

In addition to all new music from Old Shoe artists including Flatfoot 56, Far From Finished, The Sparring, Longway, as well as The Bombpops and the new project from the original guitarist of Dropkick Murphys Rick Barton, Continental, some 19 tracks include a host of friends of the label. Some of the bands included in this year's compilation include Street Dogs, Roger Miret & The Disasters, The Briggs, Riverboat Gamblers, and Bullet Treatment to name a few. A collection of 19 tracks with some of the genre's most seasoned ensembles, Old Shoe also made room for some promising new prospects fresh to the public. - more on this story

Bad City Announce Album and Smashing Pumpkins Tour

Atlantic Records will release Bad City's debut album, entitled "Welcome To The Wasteland," on August 24th.

In the meantime, Bad City has been invited to serve as special guests on Smashing Pumpkins' eagerly awaited summer tour of intimate venues across the country. What's more, Billy Corgan himself recently commanded his many Twitter followers to check out the band's Myspace.

The dates will kick off July 6th at Cleveland's House of Blues and then continue through a July 21st show at The Ritz in Ybor City, Florida - dates

Engrained Anger, Roots & Rock n'Roll

Engrained have announced the release of a brand new 5 track EP entitled "Anger, Roots & Rock n'Roll", on SPV/Steamhammer July 13th in North America.

Engrained was born in Sarstedt (Rock City) near Hannover/Germany in the early nineties as a three headed hardcore band. For over 20 years Engrained rocked a many stages with excellent bands including: The Dickies, Peter Pan, Gluecifer, US Bombs and many more. Today the fast, hard and straight punk´n´roll of ENGRAINED is well known in local clubs around Hannover, Germany.

The band self released one mini-album and four EP's since their formation 1993. They have also had a number of tracks featured on various sampler albums, such as the hugely successful Husker Du tribute, "Case Closed", alongside Sick of It All, Motorpsycho and others.
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Willard Revisit The Steel Mill

Willard's "Steel Mill" will be reissued as a new digipak edition digitally remastered using 24-Bit process on a golden disc and limited to 2000 copies on 2nd August in Europe and 5th October in USA (via MVD).

When you think of Willard, two words come to mind – identity crisis. You see, the band hails from Seattle, Washington – the birthplace of grunge. They emerged around 1989 – right in the middle of the 80's – 90's grunge movement. And to top it off, their debut album "Steel Mill" (1992) was produced by the legendary Jack Endino – the man responsible for Nirvana's "Bleach". And still, with everything around them screaming "grunge!", Willard managed to deliver a sound of their own, compromising between the music they were surrounded by and the music that came from their various influences… Willard was heavier than Pearl Jam, rawer than Soundgarden and definitely more aggressive than say, Mudhoney. Plus they had this whole metal thing going on about them, making the album sound like Pantera meets early Nirvana. "Steel Mill" was a real treat for fans of heavy, groove-laden music. Twelve tracks, including a cover version of Johnny Cash's "Folsom", filled with sleazy, monstrous riffs and packed with hard rockin' melodies – what else could you wish for?

The band remains a phantom from the past, one of those groups that were this close to making it big but never really got the golden ticket. Even after all these years "Steel Mill" is a fantastic listen, an album that gives a whole new perspective to the "grunge" label. Heavy and uncompromising, this re-release is sure to blow your speakers… - more on this story

Stan Ridgway Sets New Album Release

Stan Ridgway will release his new album, Neon Mirage, on August 24, 2010. Here is the official word: Neon Mirage is arguably the most emotionally revealing, musically far-ranging — dare we say mature? — album of the L.A. singer-songwriter's accomplished career. Yet it's also a project whose troubled circumstances might tempt Stan to paraphrase John Lennon's familiar wisdom: Life is what happens when you're busy making another album.

Indeed, in many ways Neon Mirage can't help but feel like an elegy to the colleague and family Stan lost in the midst of writing and recording its dozen, typically eclectic songs: gifted Texas-born violinist/session player Amy Farris; a beloved uncle; and the man who helped forge the very foundations of Ridgway's unique outlook on life and music, his own father. "Events like that can't help but have an impact on the music you're making at the time," Stan admits. "You'd be lying to yourself — and your listeners — if you thought otherwise." - more on this story

Red Line Chemistry Announce Their First National Tour

Red Line Chemistry will hit the road for their first national tour on July 7th in Lincoln, NE.

The routing which is heavily concentrated on the West Coast, in the Midwest and across Texas, will find the quintet supporting Evan's Blue along with Lansdowne.

The lead track from RLC's forthcoming album DYING FOR A LIVING "Dumb Luck" is rising fast at active rock radio, with strong support across the U.S. Stations including KQRC (Kansas City), KPNT (St Louis), KUPD (Phoenix), alongside others in Spokane, Jackson, Dayton, Indianapolis and many more are banging the single up to 18 times a week. - more on this story

Chris Shiflett & The Dead Peasants Album and Tour

Chris Shiflett & The Dead Peasants will embark on their first U.S.
headlining tour on July 7th at the Hotel Cafe.

The tour is in support of the July 13th release of the band's debut self-titled album on Le Coq Napoleon/RCA.

The Hotel Café kick off is the first of a three-week Wednesday night residency in their hometown. The national tour will wrap up August 14th at the Mercury Lounge in New York, NY.
- more on this story

Votum Getting Festive with Katatonia, Opeth, Pain Of Salvation and Korn

Votum have been confirmed for this year's edition of the Metal Hammer Festival in their native Poland alongside Katatonia, Opeth, Pain Of Salvation, Riverside and headliners Korn (with one band still to be announced). The event will take place on August 27 at Spodek Hall in Katowice.

Votum formed in Warsaw in 2003. The band will unleash their second full-length, Metafiction, in the US on August 3 via Armoury Records. At once dark, somber and beautiful, Metafiction was recorded at the famed Izabelin Studio in Poland and is a seven-track concept album that focuses as much on the music as it does the lyrics and visual art surrounding it.

Votum's concern is not of the particular style of music they play but rather the atmosphere pouring from within. For fans of Opeth, Porcupine Tree and Anathema. - more on this story