Indie Band in Serious Accident

Frontman Jamie Getz released the following statement: I´m going to try and make this as short as I can. After all these years of touring in unsafe vans, and doing stupid things, I guess I was overdue for this... We had a serious van accident in route from our show in Graz, Austria to Dresden, Germany, somewhere along the highway in the Czech. more on this story

Travis Barker Vs LAPD

(TMZ) The LAPD wants a face-to-face meeting with Travis Barker -- hoping to find out why the rocker has accused an officer of crossing the line during a routine traffic stop this weekend ... TMZ has learned.

Barker was pulled over Sunday after an officer noticed the drummer's car had no license plate and illegally tinted windows. Cops confirm Barker was issued a "fix-it" ticket and sent on his way.

But after the incident, Barker BLASTED the cop on Twitter -- saying, "Officer FARD of LAPD, get a life man. Find some bank robbers or do something productive 2 do with your time. I know high school was hard 4 u."

Barker continued, ""Pullin me over interrogating me & acting like u did over tinted windows till u scared the piss out my kids was uncalled 4.Job well done man."

He also claims the officer "had the nerve" to ask if he had guns in the car.

Now, TMZ has learned ... Sgt. Riggs of the Topanga Station tells TMZ, "I'd like to invite Travis to speak with me about the incident ... and possibly discuss the situation with the officers involved."

A rep for Barker tells TMZ, "We are handling this privately with the LAPD." more on this story

Nickelback Get Nickelblocked

(Banana 101.5) Are you tired of reading about Nickelback? Well apparently someone is because they invented 'Nickelblock,' a plugin for your internet browser that will shield all traces of the Canadian rockers from your sight.

'Nickelblock' was created by AUX Labs for those who are tired of reading about the mainstream rockers on the interwebs. The developers describe the new tool very simply, stating:

"Once installed, NICKELBLOCK will eliminate all mention of Alberta's finest swamp heshers from your web browser. That's it. You'll never read about Nickelback again." more on this story

Muse Recording New Album

(Banana 101.5) Muse have their hearts set on an October 2012 release date for their sixth studio album, but their camp says there are no guarantees, especially on the length of time it takes for them to record.

In a recent interview with Billboard.biz, Muse manager Anthony Addis gave some details on the upcoming release and it appears that the band is holding off on their plans to record in space until their next album:

"They've now gone into the recording studio. The plan is to do it all in London…Hopefully, [the album] might come out October next year. They've written a lot of material already but you don't know how it's going to gel between them all. more on this story

Tracii Guns and Dilana Get Ugly

(Gibson) Is the Tracii Guns-led version of L.A. Guns coming to an end? Or is Guns splintering off into a side project with the band's current singer?

There have been two different versions of L.A. Guns existing simultaneously for a few years: singer Phil Lewis's version and guitarist Tracii Guns' version. The latest vocalist in Tracii's version is Rockstar: Supernova runner-up Dilana Robichaux, as we recently reported. Now Tracii and Dilana have announced a new project called Pretty F'n Ugly ("The F'n is silent," according to the singer), and Dilana has hinted that it might mean the end of Tracii's LA Guns.

"The whole idea of this project is for Tracii and I to start a new musical journey together," Dilana says. "Fresh, new music. A new beginning. Life is about change and growth. L.A. Guns has and always will be great and a part of Tracii's life. It's a moment in time that molded him into the amazing musician he is today. But, it's soon to be the end of an era." more on this story

Chevelle Go Into Overdrive Next Month

Get ready for Chevelle to go into overdrive as the band will not only release their sixth album, Hats Off To The Bull, on December 6th, they have lined up a number of live shows as well as major TV and radio appearances.

MSO sent over these details: The group has announced a new string of dates, including a couple high-profile radio shows. Before kicking off their fall trek, the group will perform two special gigs; the first in their hometown of Chicago on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at Subterranean and the second in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at the Rock and Roll Hotel.

On Thursday, Dec. 8 Chevelle will perform live on ABC TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" (12 ET/PT/11pmCT). On Saturday, Dec. 10 the group will join Blink-182, Incubus, Bush, Social Distortion, New Found Glory, 311 and Young the Giant for the sold-out 22nd annual KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas show. more on this story

AC/DC For Back In Black Friday

(hennemusic) AC/DC's iconic "Back In Black" is featured in a new commercial for Walmart.

The song's use was tied in with Black Friday, while the ad promotes pre-holiday shopping in general.

No word on why AC/DC licensed the song for the huge retailer, although the band did sell its 2008 "Black Ice" album exclusively through the company, so there is a shared, recent history between the two. Check it out here.

Guns N' Roses Add North American Date

(hennemusic) Guns N' Roses have added another date to their current North American tour.

The band has announced a December 27 show in Phoenix at the Comerica Theatre.

Heads up to fans: GNR's facebook page incorrectly lists the Phoenix date as December 2, while the band's website only shows dates from this past October (?!). more on this story

Phish's Trey Anastasio To Launch Symphony Tour

Phish's Trey Anastasio will kick off the new year with the Trey Anastasio Winter Symphony Tour, his first-ever orchestral tour.

The trek will begin on February 9, 2012, where he will be performing with the Atlanta Symphony at the Atlanta Symphony Hall.

The Trey Anastasio Winter Symphony Tour will also include performances with the Pittsburgh Symphony (2/14), the Colorado Symphony (2/28) and the Los Angeles Philharmonic (3/10). more on this story

Lamb Of God's Resolution Heading South

Lamb Of God have plotted the next target for their world wide 2012/13 Resolution tour.

The group will continue the trek with seven South American shows and one show in Mexico.

Support on all shows will be Hatebreed with Lacuna Coil added to the bill in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. more on this story

The Early November Returning With New Album

The Early November have returned and currently locked away at The Living Room Studio in Hammonton, NJ working on their first new record in six years, set to be released in the spring of 2012 under a new deal with Rise Records.

In a joint statement the band says, "We are pleased to announce that after a few years of rest and even longer since last recording, The Early November will be making another record to be released by the fine folks at Rise Records.

"Our very own Ace Enders will be recording and producing and even in these early stages, we are all incredibly excited and happy. Look for it and much more of The Early November in 2012. From the bottom of our collective heart, thank you all for the support all these years. It's truly overwhelming." more on this story

Red Hot Chili Peppers Initial North American Tour Dates

Red Hot Chili Peppers have released the initial dates for the North American leg of their I'm With You World Tour.

The 2012 arena tour will be the band's first full-scale tour of the U.S. since 2007 when they hit the road in support of 2006's Stadium Arcadium.

Red Hot Chili Peppers are currently touring Europe through mid-December in support of I'm With You, which debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart and No. 1 on Billboard's Rock and Alternative album charts. Initial Dates

Paradise Lost Set New Album Release

Paradise Lost's 13th studio album, Tragic Idol, is scheduled for a worldwide release through Century Media Records on April 23rd, 2012 in Europe and April 24th, 2012 in North America.

Gregor Mackintosh (lead guitar) comments, "We are currently holed up in The Chapel studios in Lincolnshire, England recording our new album which is entitled 'Tragic Idol'. The album will again be produced by Jens Bogren and is influenced by classic doom metal and classic metal. I would say it is more melodic than the last record whilst retaining the heaviness. There are lots of guitar solos and melodies. The album will contain such track titles as 'Honesty in Death', 'Theories from Another World', 'In this We Dwell' and the title track 'Tragic Idol'."

Tour dates will be announced soon, but a few summer festivals have already been confirmed more on this story

Porcupine Tree's Steve Wilson Explains Collaboration with Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt

(Metal Injection) Metal Injection caught up with Porcupine Tree frontman Steve Wilson at the New York stop of his solo-tour. During the 10-minute video interview, Wilson discussed his new solo album, Grace For Drowning, his day job in the Porcupine Tree and Wilson goes into depth about his forthcoming collaboration with Opeth frontman Mikael Akerfeldt. Here is what he had to say about the collaboration:

Well the only stuff I've collaboration with Mikael on in the past has been working on his records. This is obviously a collaboration, so it's a different approach. We sat in a room together and wrote music together, rather than taking his music that he'd already written and working it into a record. We actually started from the very basics, composition and arranging. If you'd ask me three months ago, I would have said expect the last thing you would've expected. But actually, now that [Opeth's new record] Heritage has come out, and [Steve Wilson's solo album] Grace of Drowning has come out, I don't think it's going to be that much of a shock to people because it's almost like a third part of the trilogy in a way."

Wilson continued "If anything, it's even more orchestral, more stripped down, even more dark, twisted and melancholy… but it certainly feels like it comes from the same place as Heritage and Grace For Drowning, which indeed it does because it was written during the same period. We were, in a way, egging each other on to do those particular records but also at the same time coming up with the music that's now going to be on Storm Corrosion. So it's a very orchestral record, as you'd expect, the songs are quite long and develop in unusual ways. I'm realistic about it, that half the people are going to hate it and half the people are going to fall in love with it. I'd be happy with that anyway"

Watch the entire interview here.

Smashing Pumpkins Deliver Reissues and Offer Bonus Downloads

Today at 9:00AM The Smashing Pumpkins Record Club will release the reissues of their first two albums, 1991's Gish and 1993's Siamese Dream, and they are offering fans special bonus tracks.

According to the band's website www.smashingpumpkins.com/reissues, fans will get five free unreleased demo tracks for download: "All orders of Gish and/or Siamese Dream include an instant download of the four tracks that have been previously available only through the Smashing Pumpkins Record Club (SPRC) - the 8-track demo of "Drown," "Suicide Kiss Geek" (no vox), "Barb Wire" and "Rhinoceros Version 2," plus one new exclusive.

As a little bonus for purchasing these from the SPRC directly, we have found another little buried treasure for you. Enjoy the "Frail and Bedazzled Instrumental" -- This is a Billy Corgan home demo from back in the day! While you are at it, be sure to sign up for the SPRC for future gems...Digital purchases will be delivered via download link at midnight on November 29. more on this story

Riot Announce North American Tour Dates

Riot will celebrate the release of their new studio album with a handful of North American shows in January.

The band has announced stops in New York City, West Springfield, VA and Rochester, NY which kick off on January 18th.

The shows are in support of their recently released album, 'Immortal Soul,' which was the most added at CMJ's Loud Rock Radio chart and debuted on the Loud Rock chart at #10 in its first week. more on this story

Scott Kelly and Friends Tour Kicks Off Tonight

Earsplit sent over a reminder that Scott Kelly and friends Western U.S. acoustic tour kicks off today in Seattle, Washington.

The say that on this tour, the Neurosis/Shrinebuilder frontman will mesmerize open-minded locals and followers of his infamous, dark solo material to audiences across the western half of the country.

Kelly hand-picked the opening acts for the tour, including outlaw country rocker Bob Wayne and country/folk artist Jay Munly, the goal of the tour to promote the underground folk/country rock movement for these hard-working artists and their vision of what American music can stand for, across the grain of our society's habitually mainstream musical frame of mind. more on this story

Virgin Steele Confirm North American Dates

Virgin Steele have confirmed two North American shows for 2012 in support of their latest studio effort "The Black Light Bacchanalia".

The first is a headlining appearance in Amityville, New York January 14th at Ollie's Point.

The second show will be May 12th in Joliet, IL at Mojoe's where Virgin Steele are headlining the Ragnarokkr Festival.

Ephel Duath Ink EP and Two Album Deal

Ephel Duath has inked a worldwide deal with Agonia Records for the release of an EP and two full-length albums.

Under the leading role of guitarist and songwriter Davide Tiso, Ephel Duath will feature the contribution of a new line-up of well-known special session musicians, soon to be announced.

The upcoming spring release EP is going to be recorded in January 2012 at Sharkbyte Studios (Machine Head, Exodus, High On Fire) in Oakland, California. Erik Rutan will do the mixing at his Mana Recording Studio (Cannibal Corpse, Hate Eternal, Goatwhore, Agnostic Front) in San Petersburg, Florida. Alan Douches will master the material at West West Side Music (Death, Swans, Mastodon, Converge, Baroness, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Clutch) in New York.

Reign Supreme To Talk Sky Burial With Fans This Weekend

Reign Supreme have announced a live video chat with their fans on Saturday December 3rd at 7PM EST / 4PM PST via their official Facebook page.

The band will be taking questions from fans live from The Machine Shop, where they are currently recording their new EP 'Sky Burial', which is expected to be released early next year. The chat will take place here.

Additionally, the band has lined up a handful of new east coast dates in January in addition to their North American dates this month. more on this story

Nails and Skin Like Iron To Release Split EP

(Earsplit) Nails and Skin Like Iron are teaming up to collaboratively self-release a split 7" EP this January.

San Francisco's Skin Like Iron have already become a well-known entity in modern hardcore with nearly ten releases on such admirable dissident hardcore labels as Six Feet Under and React Records.

The split leads off with two tracks of their melodic, yet abrasive hardcore, boasting an ambitious and emotive energy that many similar contemporary acts lack in severely. more on this story

Halestorm's Lzzy Dreams Of Female Rocker Supergroup

(Banana 101.5) Lzzy Hale of Halestorm revealed recently that her and some other famous ladies of rock have often spoke of joining forces to become a modern day version of The Runaways.

The anticipation is high for the follow-up album to Halestorm's breakout self-titled debut record — from both the band and their fans. Despite her excitement about the new material, Halestorm's vocalist Lzzy Hale told The Saginaw News that she has another dream project she would like to get off of the ground someday.

She revealed that herself, bassist Emma Anzai of Sick Puppies, guitarist/vocalist Orianthi (known for her work with Michael Jackson), along with Jen Ledger and Korey Kooper of Skillet have all been plotting a supergroup of sorts. more on this story

U2 Achtung Baby Documentary Coming To Blu-Ray and DVD

UME announced that a documentary film about the making of U2's Achtung Baby, entitled From The Sky Down, will be released worldwide on Blu-ray and DVD on December 12th, 2011, ahead of a U.S. release on January 24th, 2012.

Earlier this year, U2 returned to Hansa Studios in Berlin to discuss the making of Achtung Baby. From The Sky Down, is a documentary film directed by Academy Award winning director Davis Guggenheim (It Might Get Loud, Waiting for Superman, An Inconvenient Truth).

Screened in the UK as part of the BBC's Imagine Series, From The Sky Down was the first ever documentary film to open the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival. Now set for release on Blu-ray and DVD, From The Sky Down includes bonus footage of So Cruel, Love Is Blindness, and The Fly shot last May during the band's visit to Hansa Studios to mark the 20th anniversary of Achtung Baby; as well as a Q&A with Bono, The Edge and Davis Guggenheim filmed at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2011. more on this story

Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's Rocky Road

(Gibson) The news that Ozzy Osbourne has again reunited with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward as Black Sabbath is one of the biggest metal stories of the year. Bigger than Slipknot's return to the stage minus the late Paul Gray, bigger than Dream Theater's chart smash without Mike Portnoy – heck, even bigger than Metallica and Lou Reed's Lulu collaboration. The metal pioneers are at work on an album of new material with megaproducer Rick Rubin, and are already booking dates in 2012.

But this is not the first time Iommi, Butler, Osbourne and Ward have patched up their differences to share the stage together, and Sabbath's various reunions, break-ups and re-reunions make for a pretty interesting story. In fact, Ozzy actually quit the band in 1977 after the album Technical Ecstasy and had begun working with a new band featuring ex-Dirty Tricks members John Frazer-Binnie, Terry Horbury and Andy Bierne. The new band were three days away from going into the studio to record an album when Ozzy got cold feet and decided he wanted to go back to Sabbath. The problem was, Sabbath had already hired a new singer, Dave Walker, and they'd begun working on new songs, too. They even performed "Junior's Eyes" on the TV show Look Hear in 1978. But the lads patched things up with Ozzy and recorded 1978's Never Say Die before ultimately parting ways during the drawn-out writing sessions for the planned follow-up.

It was six years before Iommi, Butler, Osbourne and Ward would play together again. This first reunion of Ozzy and Sabbath occurred during the Live Aid concert at the JFK Memorial Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1985. Introduced by comedian Chevy Chase and performing a short set consisting of "Children of the Grave," "Iron Man" and "Paranoid," it was obvious at even a quick glance at the footage that this show took place during the height of the glitzy '80s. Sabbath were never more studded and bedazzled. The Live Aid telecast made the sacrilegious error of spelling Ozzy's name "Ozzie." Although well received, it wasn't Sabbath's finest hour, musically. The tale continues here.

10th Anniversary of George Harrison's Death

(Gibson) On this day in 2001, Former Beatles guitarist George Harrison died in Los Angeles of lung cancer at age 58. Following the breakup of The Beatles, Harrison had a successful career as a solo artist and later as part of the Traveling Wilburys. The youngest member of The Beatles, (16 when he joined), his compositions include "Taxman," "Here Comes the Sun," "Something" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Gibson takes a look back:

On November 29, 2001, media outlets all over the world reported that former Beatle George Harrison had passed away, having lost his battle with cancer. But such statements were grossly insufficient to capture the breadth of Harrison's life. Though he contributed mightily to The Beatles — with his guitar playing, his vocal harmonies and as a burgeoning songwriter — Harrison's life encompassed much more than those 12 years on the Beatle rollercoaster.

When the group split in 1970, Harrison took a stockpile of songs — many of which he was unable to release with The Beatles due to the Lennon/McCartney stranglehold on the band's songwriting — into the studio to record what turned out to be a triple album, All Things Must Pass. Aided by such legendary friends as Eric Clapton, Dave Mason, Billy Preston and Beatle pal, Ringo Starr, Harrison laid down such classics as "My Sweet Lord," "What Is Life" and the gorgeous title track. The resulting album is considered by many to be the best solo record by any of The Beatles.

During the following decade, Harrison was unable to match the critical or commercial success of All Things Must Pass. Still, his musical output was more than noteworthy. He released the hit single, "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)," and wrote or produced multiple hits for Ringo Starr, including "It Don't Come Easy" and "Photograph." He also appeared on albums by John Lennon, Harry Nilsson and Billy Preston. Eclipsing all of this, though, was his role as organizer of The Concert for Bangladesh, an all-star charity event featuring the likes of Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Leon Russell, Ringo Starr and others. The Madison Square Garden concert, which was filmed and recorded for subsequent commercial release, set the template for later events like Rock for Kampuchea and Live Aid.
more on this story

Drowning Pool Lose Their Voice Again

Drowning Pool have parted ways with former Soil singer Ryan McCombs and are looking for a new frontman, according to Loudwire.

"We have always been a band who has gained success despite having multiple singers … maybe we suffer from reverse 'lead singer's disease'," quipped guitarist and vocalist C.J. Pierce about the band's third frontman change in 10 years.

"Changing things up has not always been easy, but the band has become re-energized time and time again." more on this story