Gene Simmons Vs Axl Rose

So, Gene, what could Axl have done differently? "A good beating would have helped," Simmons replied. "I mean, when you misbehaved as a little kid and continued to do it, there was somebody there to give you a what for. Then when you become a grown-up, who's there to set you straight?" more on this story

Rammstein Set Release Date and North American Tour

Rammstein have plotted a North American invasion, first with a new release and then a spring tour.

The 21 date date tour will be kicking off on April 20th in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and hit cities across the U.S. and Canada for before wrapping up on May 25th in Houston, Tx.

The release date for the new Rammstein retrospective, Made in Germany 1995-2011, has been set for December 13th. more on this story

Courtney Love Rants About Dave Grohl and Smashing Pumpkins

(Banana 101.5) Courtney Love's Hole took the stage in Brazil over the weekend and the notoriously opinionated vocalist launched into a tirade against Dave Grohl after a fan held up a picture of Kurt Cobain and she also claimed to have inspired all of The Smashing Pumpkins' best music.

According to Antiquiet, early in the set Love made an incoherent speech about The Smashing Pumpkins — claiming that Billy Corgan wrote all the songs on 'Siamese Dream' and 'Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness' about her.

She also alleged that the lyrics, "The killer in me is the killer in you" from 'Disarm' were cribbed directly from a letter she wrote to Corgan. A lot more here including video

Rick Rubin Got Black Sabbath To Reunite

(Rock News Desk) Black Sabbath say producer Rick Rubin should take the credit for bringing about the band's reunion.

Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward last night confirmed the long-standing rumours were true, and revealed they'll begin recording a new album, their first in 33 years, just after Christmas.

It's set for release in autumn 2012 and will tie in with a world tour, marking the first time Sabbath have played together since 2005. All four members appeared at a press launch at the Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood, presented by Henry Rollins. Guitarist Iommi said of Rick Rubin, who was also present: "He phoned us every five minutes." more on this story

Scott Reeder To Join Kyuss Lives's Special Home Town Show

Kyuss Lives! announces former Kyuss bassist Scott Reeder will join them as a special guest as their upcoming home town show.

Kyuss Lives! are billing the event as a very special one-off homecoming show, set for Friday, November 18 at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles.

The event will see the band perform an extended two and a half hour long set showcasing songs from all of the band's records in addition to never-before-performed songs taken from the band's archive. more on this story

Prong Plan New Album Release

(Freeman) Prong have signed a worldwide recording contact with Long Branch Records/SPV for the release of their as yet untitled album, which will be released in Spring 2012.

Prong frontman Tommy Victor commented on signing with SPV: "I feel like Prong has come full circle. We have the same energy and excitement about our music that we did at the beginning of our career. With Long Branch SPV we've found people to work with who are very supportive of us and what PRONG has accomplished so far in our career."

SPV A&R representative Maria Ouellette spoke about signing Prong: "We're extremely excited to welcome Prong into the SPV/Long Branch Records fold! Tommy Victor's musical innovation and influence is far-reaching and inspirational, and exactly what we're about. We're proud that we can be part of their next musical milestone!"

EMI Split Up Between Rivals

(Gibson) Record label EMI has been split up and sold to other majors by Citigroup, who took control of the company from Guy Hands' Terra Firma private equity company earlier this year.

Vivendi and its Universal Music Group subsidiary will acquire EMI's recorded music division for a total consideration of $US 1.9 billion, while EMI Publishing will be acquired for $US 2.2 billion by a consortium comprising Sony Corporation of America, the Estate of Michael Jackson, Mubadala Development Company PJSC, Jynwel Capital Ltd, the Blackstone Group's GSO Capital Partners LP and David Geffen. Sony/ATV Music Publishing will oversee EMI Music Publishing on behalf of the consortium.

Universal Music Group chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge said the deal was an historic acquisition for UMG and an important step in preserving the legacy of EMI Music. more on this story

Hail The Villain Lose Their Voice

(Banana 101.5) Hail The Villain will be continuing as a band, but will be doing so without vocalist Brian Crouch. Word of the split comes after Crouch suffered a vocal chord hemorrhage that forced the band to cancel several tour dates.

Just as things were starting to look up for the Ontario based hard rock unit, they've been dealt what is often a career deathblow for newer bands.

Hail the Villain announced on Facebook that their vocalist Brian Crouch has quit the band. more on this story

Nonpoint Tease Fans With New Demos From New Lineup

(Banana 101.5) Just after news broke that Nonpoint would be moving forward without their guitarist and bassist, they confirmed they had already found replacements and are now showing off some new material via YouTube.

Towards the beginning of the month, Nonpoint announced the departure of guitarist Zach Broderick and founding bassist Ken MacMillan. It was immediately rumored, and confirmed just days later, that members of the Chicago based hard rock band Inn Cinema would be filling the void.

Now vocalist Elias Soriano and Robb Rivera are now joined by guitarists Rasheed Thomas and Dave Lizzio and bassist Adam Woloszyn, and are predicting their new album could be in stores as early as Spring of 2012. Read more and checkout the new demos here.

The Doors L.A. Woman 40th Anniversary Edition Coming

(Gibson) Rhino Records will release a 40th anniversary version of The Doors' 1971 classic album L.A. Woman on November 25.

The two-CD set includes a bonus disc featuring covers of Willie Dixon's "(You Need Meat) Don't Go No Further" and Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)."

According to Noise11.com, the remastered album features several noticeable changes compared to the original. For instance, the fade-out of "Love Her Madly" is 18 seconds longer than on the original album; an extra verse has been reinstated to "Cars Hiss by My Window," and the title track includes the guitar intro "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," adding an extra 10 seconds to the track. more on this story

F***ed Up Future in Doubt

(Rock News Desk) F***ed Up frontman Damian Abraham is not ready to leave the band but admits he is guilty of spreading such rumours.

Abraham reveals he no longer wishes to tour, having a wife and young son at home, but does not want to leave his bandmates in a difficult situation by quitting.

He says: "I've been talking about it a lot because I don't want to take away these five other people's livelihoods. I would love to find a way to make it into a constantly-evolving thing, where sometimes we can tour and other times it's another band involved with us." more on this story

Stevie Ray Vaughan Collaborator Doyle Bramhall Dead at 62

(Gibson) Austin, Texas, drummer and songwriter Doyle Bramhall died suddenly at home on Sunday. He was 62. The exact cause of death is not known and Bramhall's family will request an autopsy, according to dfw.com, one of the first news websites to break the story.

Bramhall was a fixture on the Austin scene and wrote or co-wrote several songs performed by Stevie Ray Vaughan, including "Dirty Pool," "Life by the Drop," "The House is Rockin'," "Tightrope" and "Change It."

Bramhall also played drums on the Family Style album by Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan. Bramhall and Jimmie Vaughan first played together in The Chessmen in Dallas, moving to Austin in the early '70s. His most recent solo album was 2007's Is it News. more on this story

Ace Frehley Scores Top 10 Debut on Best Sellers List

(hennemusic) Ace Frehley is in the New York groove. The original KISS guitarist's new book, "No Regrets: A Rock 'N' Roll Memoir," has just debuted at #10 on the New York Times "Hardcover Nonfiction" best sellers list.

Co-written by New York Times journalist Joe Layden, the book is billed as "a funny, truthful, candid memoir about a hard-drinking, drug-addicted, music-loving guitar player who lived life as a rock star and survived to tell the tale."

The book was published November 1, and Ace has been doing book-signing events around the country – and lots of media interviews – to help promote it. more on this story

Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi Scores Best Seller

(hennemusic) Black Sabbath legend Tony Iommi's tale of his history with the legendary band has landed at no. 35 on the New York Times "Hardcover Nonfiction" best sellers list.

"Iron Man" chronicles the story of both pioneering guitarist Tony Iommi and legendary band Black Sabbath, dubbed "The Beatles of heavy metal" by Rolling Stone.

"Iron Man" reveals the man behind the icon yet still captures Iommi's humor, intelligence, and warmth. He speaks honestly and unflinchingly about his rough-and-tumble childhood, the accident that almost ended his career, his failed marriages, personal tragedies, battles with addiction, band mates, famous friends, newfound daughter, and the ups and downs of his life as an artist. more on this story

Red Hot Chili Peppers Kiedis' Sobering Reality

(Rock News Desk) Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis believes sobriety to be the key to his success as he enjoys fatherhood.

He explains: "The greatest thing for me was becoming a dad and not having to work or go on the road for the first two years of my son's life. I recently moved to the seashore and having this little person in my arms looking at the ocean was a reawakening for me in terms of being an elated human being.

"I wouldn't have been a dad if I wasn't sober. It's what led me to fatherhood. It's what led me to most of the great success in my life. It allows me to do my best at everything." (The Mirror) More rock news.

Remix Queen

Queen have teamed up with Talenthouse to bring remixers, musicians and producers the chance to remix 'Don't Stop Me Now'.

This will be the first time Queen have released isolated parts or 'stems', including Freddie Mercury's original vocals in order to discover a modern remix of the much loved track.

The winner will be featured on Queen's official site and across their social media channels including their Facebook and YouTube pages. They will also receive $1,000, Avid Pro Tools software and studio time with a top mastering engineer at Metropolis Studios in London* where Queen famously recorded their hit albums 'Made In Heaven' and 'Innuendo'. The runner-ups will receive Avid music software and Queen goodies. more on this story

Thy Will Be Done Finish Recording New Release

Thy Will Be Done have completed the recording process for what is to be for their upcoming EP.

The forthcoming release was engineered by the band's own rhythm guitarist Kurt Fraunfelter, who adequately possesses a Bachelor of Science Degree in Audio and Media Technology, and is currently being mixed by Zeuss (White Chapel, Suicide Silence, Chimaira) at Planet Z in Hadley, MA.

The follow-up release to 2009's 'In Ancient of Days' LP will feature 6 brand new studio tracks including the track, "You, The Apathy Divine" which the band debuted live on last year's Stillborn Fest tour with Hatebreed.

Slash and Ozzy Lead This Week's New Rock Releases

(hennemusic) Two veteran hard rockers lead this week's new rock releases as we draw another week closer to Christmas and the big guns in new music releases are starting to come out.

"Made In Stoke 24/7/11," a new live package from Slash is now available; in comes in audio and audio + DVD options.

On the heels of Friday's Black Sabbath reunion announcement comes the "God Bless Ozzy Osbourne" film, in both DVD and Blu-Ray. See what else is hitting stores this week.

Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven Map Out Year End Plans

(PPR) Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven will be teaming up for their annual year-end California tour.

Cracker will follow up the dates by heading further north to Portland on December 30th for a special one-off with bluegrass jam band Leftover Salmon, where the two bands will perform their highly-lauded 2003 album O Cracker, Where Art Thou? together in its entirety.

The following night Cracker & CVB will be in Chicago for a celebratory New Year's Eve bash at Chicago's House Of Blues. Camper Van Beethoven will open, followed by Cracker ringing in the new year, and then Big Head Todd & The Monsters playing into the wee hours. more on this story

Polyphonic Spree Connected Good Records Recordings Relaunched

(Paradigm) Good Records Recordings, the independent label co-owned by The Polyphonic Spree's Tim DeLaughter and Julie Doyle and their longtime associate Chris Penn, has been relaunched as a label focused on releasing one song at a time from its stable of artists, in both digital and vinyl formats.

Each track will be available two ways: a high-quality download (with a choice of MP3 or lossless FLAC) or as a limited-edition, colored, collectible vinyl record with custom artwork and a surprise B-side not available elsewhere. Additionally, artists will create a music video for every track they release.

The relaunch sees the release of new music from DeLaughter and Doyle's two bands, The Polyphonic Spree and Preteen Zenith, as well as a previously unreleased outtake from DeLaughter's previous band, Tripping Daisy. Also on the roster are music from New Fumes and Sweet Lee Morrow (the alter egos of former Polyphonic Spree members Daniel Huffman and Jesse Hester, respectively), as well as the Texas bands Pilotdrift (who released their acclaimed debut "Water Sphere" on Good in 2005) and Binary Sunrise. And later this fall, the label will release new music from former Grandaddy frontman Jason Lytle. Each month will feature new song releases from various GRR artists. See what's coming up from the label.

R.E.M.'s Stipe on Stephen Colbert's Rock and Roll Shelf of Fame

R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe made a surprise appearance on The Colbert Report last week.

During the appearance, host Stephen Colbert said goodbye to the band by putting Stipe on his Rock and Roll Shelf of Fame (literally.) They were then joined by guest Brian Eno for an impromptu acapella rendition of "Lean On Me." Watch the surreal clip here.

Stipe made the appearance to promote the release of their final album, R.E.M., Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage, 1982 - 2011, was released by Warner Bros. Records today November 15th. more on this story

David Lynch Delivers His Take On The Blues

(Gibson) Legendary filmmaker David Lynch has just released his first solo album, Crazy Clown Time, a mix of blues and electronica.

Described as being "filled with foreboding soundscapes, hypnotic rhythms and enigmatic lyrics," the album is a collaboration between the influential auteur and engineer Dean Hurley. It was recorded in Lynch's own home studio.

In an interview with the New York Times, Lynch said the album's tracks typically started from jams with Hurley on drums and Lynch on guitar. "And out of the jamming comes some kind of form, like, lots and lots of garbage – you can picture a landfill – but some chunks of gold." more on this story

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds Plot North American Return

(hennemusic) Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds are wrapping up a short North American swing this week to promote their new self-titled debut.

But they'll back for more in the Spring, as the band have announced a series if 2012 concert dates through Australia, Europe and the US.

The Aussie shows in February are a part of the 20th Anniversary of the annual Big Day Out concert events across the country. more on this story

Otis Taylor Sets New Album Release

(conqueroo) Bluesman Otis Taylor will deliver his new album, Contraband, on February 13, 2012.

"When I sing, I just do what I do," Taylor says. "Whatever comes out — that's the way I leave it. And if I make a mistake, I leave it in. I like to keep the emotion." Otis Taylor's Contraband is evidence of that. Set for release February 13, 2012, on Telarc, a division of Concord Music Group, Taylor's new album finds the artist on familiar thematic terrain: love, social injustices, personal demons and war.

The album takes its title from an article that appeared in the May/June 2011 issue of Preservation Magazine about runaway slaves who during the American Civil War escaped to the Union lines at Fort Monroe, Va.. Known as "contraband," they lived in camps where conditions were often worse than life on the plantation. more on this story

The Prophets Of Addiction Reunites Pretty Boy Floyd Members

Ex-Pretty Boy Floyd's Lesli Sanders new The Prophets Of Addiction have announced a lineup change.

The group have split with guitarist Amit Lee Ron and announced Tchad Drats (Pretty Boy Floyd , City Girls Boys) as a replacement.

The Prophets Of Addiction will release their debut album "Babylon Boulevard" which was mixed by Phil Soussan (Ozzy Osbourne, Billy IdoL) and mastered by Dave Hillis (Pearl Jam) on french label Deadlight Entertainment (Undercover Slut, Los Disidentes Del Sucio MoteL) by the beginning of January.

Their track "Self Portrait" is available for free download on the label's Bandcamp page here.

Freedom Call Set New Album Release

Freedom Call will release their new studio album, "Land Of The Crimson Dawn," in various territories in late February 2012.

The album will be released on February 24th in Germany, February 27th in Europe and February 28th in the USA/Canada.

Singer and Guitarist Chris Bay offers news to the fans: "We started in the beginning of September to record the first tracks for the new album. The band was working the past months intensely creative and did a fantastic job! Now we're happy and satisfied with the result and will finish the recordings in the next days!! more on this story