Metal Singer Killed- Steven Tyler Surprise- 3 New Mars Volta Songs- Godsmack Loveline- Radiohead Side Release- Scorpion To Tell All- One Without Lose Member- more

On this day in 1976, The Damned made their London debut supporting The Sex Pistols at the 100 Club.Find out what else happened on this date in music history here
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A Clue To New Van Halen Album's Sound

(Gibson) Yesterday we told you how David Lee Roth has told fans to get ready and today we learn that the old school Van Halen sound is front and center on the new album. Gibson reports: Alter Bridge/Creed guitarist Mark Tremonti recently spent some time at Van Halen's 5150 studio listening to material from the band's forthcoming album. The as-yet-untitled CD will be the group's first with singer David Lee Roth since 1984's…err, 1984.

Tremonti appeared recently on Colorado's 94.3 KILO Radio and divulged more details on his visit. "What makes it so great," he told host Ross Ford, "is that they took what they could from all their old demos back in the '80s and pretty much did what they could to create songs out of old ideas. So it sounds like vintage Van Halen. Musically, it sounds in the era. I didn't hear any vocals — David [Lee Roth] was not there. It was just [Eddie, Alex and Wolfgang Van Halen] and the music sounded like very authentic, old-school Van Halen."

Tremonti said he nearly stepped into hot water when he complimented his pal, Wolfgang. "I remember commenting on Wolfgang's bass parts. I said, 'Man, that was a great chordal thing you did at the end there.' And then Eddie looked at me and said, 'How was my part?' [I said], 'Dude, you're Eddie Van Halen. Your part is incredible every single time!' He was very, very nice. I couldn't have had a better experience." more on this story

Ryan McCombs Reunites With SOiL

Ryan McCombs is reuniting with SOiL for the group's upcoming co-headlining tour with Puddle of Mudd.

McCombs left the group in 2004 after they were dropped by J Records. He went on to join Drowning Pool.

The group comprised of McCombs, and fellow founding members Tim King (Bass) and Adam Zadel (Lead Guitar), will once again share the stage in October for the 12 date UK tour with Puddle of Mudd. more on this story

Rob Zombie Denies Selling Out

(Rock News Desk) Rob Zombie has slammed claims he's sold out as "absurd" and explains his TV commercial is an artistic project with as much importance as everything else he does.

The shock rock icon and movie director recently shot an advert for Woolite detergent, and maintains that anyone who believes it suggests corporate motivation doesn't know what they're talking about.

"I like doing different things. I did an episode of CSI: Miami because I wanted to see what it was like to do a TV show. Now I've done a commercial – you want to get these things under your belt," Zombie tells cp24.com. "Every single director does it; it's just that they don't usually mention it. I could have easily done the commercial and never said a word, and no one would ever know. But I thought it was funny so I told people about it. more on this story

Metallica's Full Pro-Shot July 3rd Concert Streaming Online

(hennemusic) Swedish TV channel SVT aired Metallica's set from the Big 4 show at Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden, and fans have offered it up on Youtube for others to check out.

The Gothenburg show was the second Big 4 gig of their current European swing.

The concert featured an encore jam of Am I Evil? with Megadeth and Anthrax. You can now watch the full Metallica set here

Guns N' Roses and Prince Members Recording With Soul Asylum

(Gibson) Yesterday we had a quick story about this in the digest, today Gibson provides a few more details: Soul Asylum have reconvened to record their first new album in five years. Frontman Dave Pirner and guitarist Dan Murphy have been working in Minneapolis and New Orleans on the follow-up to 2006's The Silver Lining, according to Billboard.com. They've enlisted assistance from drummer Michael Bland (Prince, Nick Jonas), who has toured and recorded with the band and Guns N' Roses bassist, and ex-Replacement, Tommy Stinson.

Stinson previously worked with the band on Silver Lining, due to Soul Asylum bassist Karl Mueller's death from cancer. The new album is tentatively titled Rough Air.

"I've been cutting vocals here in my studio, and we've cut a bunch of guitars," Pirner said. "When all four of us are in the studio together, it's pretty spectacular. more on this story

Mike Portnoy Never Returning To Dream Theater?

(Rock News Desk) Dream Theater's new drummer Mike Mangini says Mike Portnoy will never return to the band – because the new man is going to work hard to keep his job.

Mangini was named as sticksman for the prog metal outfit after Portnoy sensationally quit last year. He asked to rejoin soon afterwards but Mangini had already been given the role. But since then Portnoy and guitarist John Petrucci have both said it's likely they'll work together again in the future.

That doesn't concern Mangini, who tells Radio Metal: "I don't feel like it's hanging over my head. The reason why is I like Mike very much. He's a friend and I have new brothers in Dream Theater, and when you love somebody you let them do what they need to to.

"I feel very comfortable I'm in the band for good. Mike's not coming back, and that's the deal. I'm the drummer. I feel confident of that." more on this story

Duran Duran Lose Their Voice

(Gibson) Duran Duran have announced the postponement of part of their summer tour and the cancellation of some festival appearances. The BBC reports that singer Simon Le Bon hurt his voice while performing at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. He has lost the top range of his vocal range, temporarily, and doctors have ordered him to rest his vocal cords.

"This has been an extremely difficult decision to make as the injury I seem to have sustained is an internal one and so noone can tell me exactly how long it's going to take to mend completely," Le Bon said. "We feel we can't keep moving shows piecemeal as it's just not fair on the fans. I am doing everything I can to work through this and get back on track as soon as possible."

The band's upcoming European tour was set to begin on July 14 in Dublin and continue into September. Duran Duran has to cancel appearances at the iTunes Festival on July 16 and at the V Festival on August 20-21. more on this story

Alice Cooper Goes Disco With Ke$ha

(RockAAA) Alice Cooper is everywhere these days. The Rock & Roll Hall Of Famer joined Foo Fighters at their Milton Keynes show on the weekend, he played Stockholm on Monday…and Tuesday he was on stage in Oslo, Norway.

Alice joined Ke$ha Tuesday night for her dance version of his classic, "School's Out."

Cooper - who Ke$ha affectionately refers to as "dad" - stopped by to say hello during her soundcheck Tuesday afternoon, where the two decided to surprise her fans with the classic Alice track as one of her encore songs...with the rock legend himself at the helm.

Shortly after her gig was over, Ke$ha tweeted: "Thanx for coming to Oslo to do SCHOOLS OUT with me dad... ; ) LEGEND. F**KING LEGEND." Check out video

Watch Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones and Jack White Get Seasick

(hennemusic) Seasick Steve was joined by some special guests during his appearance at the iTunes festival in London on Saturday.

Joining the bluesman for a performance of "Write Me A Few Of Your Lines" were Dead Weather bandmates Jack White and Alison Mosshart, along with former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones.

Jones played on Steve's new album, "You Can't Teach An Old Dog New Tricks," which is being distributed by Whites' Third Man Records in the US; elsewhere, Steve is signed to UK record label Play It Again Sam. Check out video of the jam here

A Perfect Circle Playing New Music

(Gibson) A Perfect Circle have made good on their promise to perform new material on their current American tour.

The band performed a new song, believed to be titled "By and Down," at a tour stop in Portland, Oregon, last week. Band founder Billy Howerdel had previously indicated that the band would be road-testing new material, although there is no word on how that material might ultimately make its way into the recorded world. Howerdel told The Pulse of Radio that while he would like to make a new album, he is hesitant to do so while audiences seem disinterested in the album format.

Aside from Howerdel, who is also the main man for Ashes Divide and has worked as a guitar tech for Nine Inch Nails, the current lineup of A Perfect Circle consists of Maynard James Keenan (Tool), former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha, bass player Matt McJunkins and drummer Josh Freese. Freese has a resume a mile long: aside from his permanent gigs in Devo and the Vandals, he has also played with Dweezi Zappa, Guns N' Roses, Nine Inch Nails, Weezer, Paramore, Infectious Grooves, Chris Cornell, Orianthi, Filter… and the list goes on. more on this story

Joe Satriani and Steve Vai To Webcast Benefit Concert

Joe Satriani and Steve Vai have announced a live webcast of their second benefit concert in support of music industry veteran and good friend, Cliff Cultreri.

"A Benefit for Cliff II" will take place on Sunday, July 10th at the House of Blues, Hollywood, and will feature performances by both Satriani and Vai, as well as special guests and friends of the duo, including Dweezil Zappa, Orianthi, Brendon Small and Tony MacAlpine, among others.

On July 10th, 2011, GuitarTV will be streaming the full Joe Satriani & Steve Vai (and friends) "Cliff II" Benefit Concert- Live from the House of Blues in Hollywood! The "virtual concert ticket" to see the show is priced at $5.99 and the proceeds will go to Cliff Cultreri's medical fund. more

Status Quo's 30th Album Arrives Next Week

Eagle Rock has announced a July 12th release date for Status Quo's new album Quid Pro Quo.

The release is the band's 30th album, and the first since Eagle Records released 2007's In Search Of The Fourth Chord in the U.S. [MSRP $13.98]

Recorded in the spring of 2010, Mike Paxman is again behind the board, producing with Bob Young and Francis Rossi. Led by original members Rossi and Rick Parfitt, the lineup also includes keyboard player Andrew Bown (35 years in the band), bassist John Edwards (25 years) and drummer Matt Latley (11 years). more on this story

Slash Talks Slasher Films

As we previous reported last week, Slash is getting into the movie biz. Gibson has more details: (Gibson) Slash has been talking about yet another new project; his Slasher Films horror movie production company. The guitar star's Slasher company has hired Sixth Sense star Haley Joel Osment to star in a new film called Wake the Dead who, according to Variety, will play Victor Franklin, a college student experimenting with reversing death. The film is based on a graphic novel by Steve Niles, best known for 30 Days of Night.

And Slash likes his horror flicks. "My favorite type of horror movies have always been the ones with layered performances and rich characters," Slash tells Dread Central. "Haley brings a wealth of experience to a character who is already wise beyond his years. I'm really looking forward to working with him."

Slash described Wake the Dead in a previous interview as "basically a modern, young Frankenstein story about a brilliant college student who's discovered how to animate dead tissue – but he's a teenager so he goes overboard."

Slash's Slasher Films are also developing three other projects: a movie called Nothing to Fear, about a town that sits on the gateway to hell; Theorem, about a mathematician who discovers the equation for evil; and The Other Kingdom, about a hospital struck by a zombie plague. more on this story

Even Morbid Angel Surprised At Latest Album's Sound

(Rock News Desk) Morbid Angel guitarist Destrukthor has reacted to criticism of the band's latest album Illud Divinum Insanus by admitting its industrial-tinged sound took him by surprise as well.

He says: "It's very different from everything else we've ever put out. I was very surprised when I first heard it. You can't please them all.

"But do also remember a big part of the album still represents fast and sick death metal extremities. It shows Morbid Angel were always walking their own path, being different." more rock news

Jimmy Page Launch Coming Next Week

(RockAAA) Cryptic goings-on in Jimmy Page's world these days, but so what else is new? The Led Zeppelin guitarist has been diligently working on the development of his official website at JimmyPage.com, and it now appears that a launch date is on the horizon.

The site currently displays a front page featuring a daily-changing Roman numeral (as of July 6, it's VIII) and the adjacent hourglass video shows sand flowing through it, but not filling it up…yet.

The Morton Report suggests the significance of the launch date may have to do with July 14 being 9 days until a full moon in Capricorn; Page was born on January 9 - remember the jeans that the guitarist wore during Zeppelin's 1973 tour, emblazoned with his astrology symbols: Capricorn Sun, Cancer Moon, Scorpio Rising. more on this story

Dethklok To Rock Music Festival

(Gibson) Dethklok will emerge from the Mordhaus this coming weekend to headline the Mayhem Festival in San Bernadino, California.

As bass player Bryan Beller says in an e-mail update, "It's the only Dethklok show this year. If the whole audience dies somehow, then it will be just like the television show. (Yeah, it's an in-joke, I know. Sue me.) We go on dead last, 11 p.m., after Godsmack, Distubred, and 34,926 other bands. Maybe the audience will be dead before we go on. Either way, we're playing for somewhere around 30,000 people, so we thought it would be a good idea to rehearse this week so we don't suck or get killed ourselves."

The Dethklok live band also features Metalocalypse creator and Gibson signature artist Brendon Small on guitars and vocals, Mike Keneally (solo, Frank Zappa, Steve Vai) on guitar, and Gene Hoglan (Strapping Young Lad, Fear Factory) on drums. more on this story

Machine Head and Sepultura Tour

Machine Head are teaming up with Sepultura for a Roctober tour of South America that kicks off October 14 in Sao Paulo.

Machine Head vocalist/guitarist Robb Flynn exclaims, "Going back to South America is going to be f**king rad! The crowds there are absolutely insane, it has been a long time coming and we cannot wait for this! We've been working on getting back there for a while now and this proved to be a great opportunity." Flynn adds, "This is going to crush, and having Sepultura together with us? Well, all I'll say is that these dates are going to be one hell of a monster unleashed on the crowds in Brazil, Argentina and Chile. No one will be left standing at the end of the night!"

Sepultura frontman Derrick Green adds, "We are all looking forward to touring with Machine Head in South America. It was an idea that we have had for some time and it will be a great pleasure to share the stage with them. This is a show that cannot be missed by anyone." more on this story

Awaken the Empire Announce Tour and Record Deal

Awaken the Empire have inked with Burn the Records! and will head out on a West Coast tour on July 15th.

The tour will culminate with the band performing at the Sunset Strip Music Festival (Featuring Motley Crue, Bush, among others) in Hollywood, Ca.

In October of this year, the band is scheduled to go into the studio to work with famed Producer/Engineer Erik Ron (Panic at the Disco, Good Charlotte, Saosin) on their debut release through Burn the Records more on this story

The Wrecking Crew Movie Sidelined By Music Rights

(Gibson) The collective of Los Angeles studio musicians dubbed "The Wrecking Crew" have earned tons of respect in the music community – and yet most of the music-loving public has no idea who most of these people were. Sure, they know the songs by Frank Sinatra or The Beach Boys, but they're not nearly as familiar with Wrecking Crew drummer Hal Blaine, bassist Carol Kaye or guitarist Tommy Tedesco. And that's something Tommy's son Denny wanted to change.

Starting in the mid-'90s, Denny Tedesco began assembling footage for a documentary about the musicians, simply titled The Wrecking Crew. He spoke to all still-living members, including his father before he died in 1997. Denny told Music Radar's Joe Bosso that the film has been done since '08 and has screened at film festivals, but hasn't been released due to the music rights needed for the movie.

And it turns out that is a hefty sum, just due to the amount of legendary recordings that The Wrecking Crew played on. The very thing that was amazing about this group of players is hurting the movie's chances at being distributed. more on this story

Foo Fighter Excited About Festival Appearance

(Gibson) Foo Fighters are continuing their world takeover with a headline slot at next week's T in the Park festival in Kinross, Scotland. Drummer Taylor Hawkins, for one, can't wait.

"It's been a while since we last did T in the Park — 2005," he noted to the Daily Record. "And I think we did it in 2002, as well. The Scots are definitely some of the wildest crowds around, there's no question about that. The dudes are real dudes — it's great. And I love Scotland, it's beautiful."

For Hawkins, playing to wild festival crowds is what it's all about: "It's always scary, but always fun. Every time I get on stage, it's do or die — that's the way I am." more on this story

Pop Evil Finally Deliver

(RockAAA) Pop Evil released their new album War of Angels yesterday (July 5) and celebrated the moment with a no 1 hit on the i-Tunes rock chart.

However 'War of Angels' is an album which may never have seen the light of day, had the band not managed to extricate itself from a pervious record deal.

Front man Leigh Kakaty made Spin.com's top ten festival moments when he ripped up their contract with Universal Republic on stage at Rock on the Range saying: "What I have in my hand is our old record contract. This old record contract is the reason that Pop Evil fans haven't been able to get our album"

As he tore the contract up he shouted: "F**k that, dude" more on this story

Tank Announce War Machine Tour

(MMP) Tank will kick off their European 'War Machine' tour early next month. They start with a couple of shows in England, then they move to Poland to be a part of Metal Hammer Festival (along with Judas Priest, Morbid Angel, Exodus, Vader to name a few) and later they visit countries like Norway, Sweden, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Holland and Belgium.

The band is very excited about the forthcoming tour: "The band members are delighted with the response to the tour dates so far and are looking forward to meeting as many fans as possible in all ten different countries that we are playing in. Everyone involved is looking forward to unleashing this live set which will include many classic Tank anthems as well as several tracks from our acclaimed 'War Machine' album (2010, Metal Mind Productions). Tank drummer Mark Cross (Firewind, Helloween), who joined the ranks in April, is a very welcome addition to the band and has provided an extra dimension. Wait until you hear this!"

Tank is going to document the tour on their official site in real time so the fans can follow them around Europe as 'War Machine' makes its way through the continent. more on this story

Psychoteria Lineup Special Guests for New Album

(Freeman) The End Records will deliver Psychoteria's third album, "I Think I'll Just Stay Home" on September 13th.

Special guests include guitarist Jan Akkerman (Focus) and drummer Jonathan Mover (Joe Satriani, GTR, Steve Howe, Alice Cooper and Frank Gambale). Psychoteria will be performing select dates in the U.S. during the second half of 2011 in support of the album.

"I Think I'll Just Stay Home" continues guitarist/composer Errol Antzis' explorations into guitar driven melodic rock. Antzis also plays bass, keys and drums, as well as provides lead vocals on the album, following in the footsteps of such multi-insturmentalists as Todd Rundgren and Prince. His collaborations with Akkerman and Mover add yet another dimension to the album, with styles ranging from Metal to Pop to Country. more on this story

Historic Zappa Related Release From Napoleon Murphy Brock

(Glass Onyon) Napoleon Murphy Brock has released a rare live recording from the actual night that the singer and Frank Zappa first met.

It's been released on a new CD titled 'This Is What Frank Zappa Heard - Communication Plus Live at the Red Noodle Waikiki, Hawaii'. This very significant historical document is now available and ready to be shipped to you to complete your collection of the history of The Mothers Of Invention. Frank was actually in the audience this very night, listening to two sets of music performed by Napoleon Murphy Brock and his 5-piece musical ensemble called "Communication Plus".

After Zappa saw and heard this performance, he said to NMB, "Hello, my name is Frank Zappa, and you are my new Lead Vocalist." Having never heard of Frank Zappa or the Mothers of Invention, Napoleon asked Frank who was in his band. When he replied with the names Jean Luc Ponty, George Duke, Ruth Underwood, Tom Fowler, Bruce Fowler, and Ralph Humphey, Frank told Napoleon that this ensemble would now be complete with him, Napoleon (as the Lead Vocalist, saxophonist, flutist and Front Man), and that no audition, other than what he had heard that evening, would be required. All that Napoleon need do was to come to 5831 Sunset Blvd in Hollywood, listen to the band, and accept, if he liked what he heard. more on this story

Baby You Can Drive Paul McCartney's Car For A Price

(Gibson) A Lamborghini sports car once owned by The Beatles' Paul McCartney sold at auction for £122,500 ($197,000) on Thursday. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the winning phone bid for the 400GT 2+2 was purchased by a Beatles fan in the 19th annual Bonhams sale at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in Sussex.

According to three histories of the Italian carmaker, McCartney was the first owner of the 400GT. The auctioned sportster, built in 1967, was originally orange and was owned by Macca for three years.

In October, RM Auctions sold a 1972 Lamborghini Miura SV once owned by Rod Stewart for $1.1 million. more on this story

As They Sleep Kick Off Summer Tour

(Fresno) As They Sleep hit the road yesterday for their headlining summer run on the "Mid-Westbound and Down Tour," alongside Letter To The Exiles.

The tour officially launched last night in Goshen, IN before wrapping up in the band's home state of Michigan on July 17th.

"We're super stoked for our 'Mid-Westbound and Down Tour'," said vocalist Aaron Bridgewater. "And although we aren't hitting Tampa, we believe Kenny Powers would've wanted it this way." more on this story

Bootsy Collins One Off

(Noble) Legendary American funk bassist, singer-songwriter, Bootsy Collins will perform his only UK concert of 2011 at the London indigO2 on Monday July 11th.

Bootsy Collins will be appearing in support of recently released critically acclaimed album "Tha Funk Capitol of the World."

Rising to prominence playing bass guitar for James Brown in the late 1960s, and with Parliament Funkadelic in the 1970s, Bootsy's thunderous, infectious bass guitar and humorous vocals established him as one of the leading pioneers in funk.

George Lynch The Mad Scientist

(Gibson) Former Dokken guitarist George Lynch is a breed apart from most of his six-string cohorts. The 56-year-old axeman, whose new Kill All Control album hits stores on July 19, is an admitted scavenger and mad scientist when it comes to his trademark instrument.

The man behind "Mr. Scary" told GuitarWorld.com that the tinkering started when, as a 10-year-old, he remodeled his first electric guitar with a hacksaw, swapping "the terrible pickups with new crappy pickups." He also set about creating his own amps.

"I kept the old cabinets and stacked them on top of each other to make it look like I had a bunch of amps," he said. "I would make these cabinets six feet tall, so they would look impressive, but they would only have one speaker in them. I made them out of Masonite and fiberglass and covered them with green shag carpet. Since I didn't know what I was doing, the new cabinets sounded horrible." more on this story

. Quick Flicks: Elvis Costello, David Bowie, The Sacred Triangle: Bowie, Iggy & Lou

Kevin Wierzbicki takes a look at new home video releases from Elvis Costello, David Bowie, plus The Sacred Triangle: Bowie, Iggy & Lou in this latest edition of Quick Flicks. - Read the full Elvis Costello, David Bowie, The Sacred Triangle: Bowie, Iggy & Lou review