Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose Rejects Rock Hall Induction

Rose issued an open letter on Wednesday, explaining his decision. Here is what he had to say: When the nominations for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame were first announced I had mixed emotions but, in an effort to be positive, wanting to make the most of things for the fans and with their enthusiasm, I was honored, excited and hoped that somehow this would be a good thing. Of course I realized as things stood, if Guns N' Roses were to be inducted it'd be somewhat of a complicated or awkward situation.

Since then we've listened to fans, talked with members of the board of the Hall Of Fame, communicated with and read various public comments and jabs from former members of Guns N' Roses, had discussions with the president of the Hall Of Fame, read various press (some legit, some contrived) and read other artists' comments weighing in publicly on Guns and the Hall with their thoughts.

Under the circumstances I feel we've been polite, courteous, and open to an amicable solution in our efforts to work something out. Taking into consideration the history of Guns N' Roses, those who plan to attend along with those the Hall for reasons of their own, have chosen to include in "our" induction (that for the record are decisions I don't agree with, support or feel the Hall has any right to make), and how (albeit no easy task) those involved with the Hall have handled things... no offense meant to anyone but the Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony doesn't appear to be somewhere I'm actually wanted or respected. The rest of his statement

Green Releasing Album Trilogy

Green Day are working on what will be an album trilogy called ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tré!, with two months spanning each release

The first album will be released on September 25th 2012, the second will follow on November 13th 2012 and the third will hit stores on January 15th 2013.

The albums are being produced by the band's long-time producer Rob Cavallo. ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tré! are being recorded in their hometown of Oakland, CA. more on this story

Rush Returning With Clockwork Angels

It's official. Rush will release their new studio album, Clockwork Angels, on June 12th. Their camp sent over these details:

Rush will herald the release of "Clockwork Angels" with a new single "Headlong Flight" landing at rock radio on April 19th. Details of a full-scale North American tour to support the new album will be announced shortly.

The recording of "Clockwork Angels" began in April 2010 with Grammy Award winning producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Deftones) – who also collaborated with the band on their last studio album, 2007's "SNAKES & ARROWS." Rush co-produced both records. more on this story

Dictators and Twisted Sister's Rich Teeter Dead and 61

Former Dictators and Twisted Sister drummer Rich Teeter died on Tuesday, April 10th at the age of 61, from esophageal cancer, according to The Music's Over.

They report: "Teeter joined the band following the release of their first album, Go Girl Crazy, and can be heard playing on 1977′s Manifest Destiny and 1978′s Bloodbrothers. Both are considered essential for any respectable early New York punk collection.
"Teeter went on to play in Twisted Sister in late 1980/early 1981, but never appeared on any of their albums. He did participate in later Dictator reunion shows, though not much is known about his more recent life." more on this story

Hurt Kicking Off Spring Tour This Weekend

Hurt will be hitting the road on Saturday to kick off their spring tour of North America.

The tour kicks off on April 14th in Orlando, FL at the 101One/WJRR Earth Day Festival and will wrap on May 31st in Washington, DC.

They will be touring in support of their forthcoming album, The Crux, which will be in stores on May 1st on Carved Records. more on this story

Nighthawks Frontman Mark Wenner Has Heart Bypass Surgery

(MPM) The Nighthawks frontman Mark Wenner, has undergone successful heart bypass surgery and is expected to make a complete recovery.

Because of the operation, Mark will stay off the road for approximately six weeks while he recovers, and the band has postponed the affected dates. The Nighthawks are expected to resume touring the end of May or early June.

Mark Wenner's condition was diagnosed on Monday, April 9 when he went in for an angiogram/angioplasty and doctors discovered he needed the bypass operation, which was done the following day. Because they caught it early, the doctors feel very confident that his prognosis for a full recovery is excellent. more on this story

Peter Frampton Plans Summer Tour

Peter Frampton will hit the road this summer for his 6 Days in August: Grin & Bear It Tour.

The trek follows his two year world tour which celebrated the 35th Anniversary of his landmark album Frampton Comes Alive!.

This short summer tour will kick off on August 3rd in Ostego, MN and will conclude on August 11th in Asheville, NC. more on this story

Foreigner's Alive & Rockin CD Coming Next Month

Eagle Rock have set a May 29th release date for Foreigner's Alive & Rockin', recorded at one of Europe's most popular Hard Rock fests, the 2006 Bang Your Head Festival in Balingen, Germany.

This 9-track concert, previously released on DVD only will be available for the first time on CD.

"My initial musical vision for Foreigner was to combine blues and R'n'B with British Rock and make it sound soulful and authentic," says guitarist Mick Jones. "I'd grown up in England and had the English influence but I was also inspired by many elements of American music from Mississippi blues to country. Foreigner was the vehicle to get that musical blend across." more on this story

Rolling Stones Watts To Rock With Les Paul Trio

(Gibson) Rolling Stones fans disappointed by the band's decision not to tour this year will get at least some "satisfaction" from one current and one former band member.

Stones drummer Charlie Watts has announced he will perform a series of dates at the Iridium in New York City beginning June 29. In addition, on July 2, Watts will sit in with the Les Paul Trio as part of the weekly tribute the trio performs to their late bandleader. In total, Watts will perform eight sets with his jazz band over the course of four nights.

As previously announced, former Stones guitarist Mick Taylor is set to appear at the esteemed jazz venue as well, staging a six-night run from May 9 through May 14. more on this story

God Forbid Star Launches Realjerseyguys Podcast

God Forbid drummer Corey Pierce has launched a new weekly podcast series called "Realjerseyguys" with fellow N.J. music scene troopers, Will Oblack and Sa Pace.

"Realjerseyguys" explores various manly subjects from a hilarious and unique Jersey perspective. New episodes will be posted each Wednesday.

"Our podcast is all about discussing a range of topics from a 'Realjerseyguys' point of view," said Pierce. "Our hope is to turn an eye to the everyday guy's view of life and enjoy a few laughs." Check it out

The Darkness Announce Lady Gaga Dates

The Darkness have announced dates for their trek on Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way Ball' Tour' for Summer 2012.

Invited by Gaga herself, The Darkness will provide main support for the dates across Europe. Before joining Lady Gaga, The Darkness return to Australia for the first time in six years (their Melbourne show sold out within an hour this past Friday). Next, they'll head to the U.S. in May for select dates as well as three festival appearances: Saturday, May 19 at InfieldFest (Baltimore, MD), Sunday, May 20 at Rock On The Range (Columbus, OH) and Saturday, May 26 at Rocklahoma. They'll perform festivals across the U.K. and Europe as well as a hometown outdoor headlining gig at Thetford Fest in Suffolk before teaming up with Lady Gaga.

"I've been living with my Lady Gaga secret for many moons and it's such a relief to be able to tell folk at last. I was beginning to go insane," says lead vocalist JUSTIN HAWKINS. "She is the best pop star of the 21st century bar none and we're honoured to have been selected. 2012 has been the most brilliant of years so far, and it's about to get even more magnificent!" more on this story

Timothy B. Schmit Spring Tour

Eagles and Poco legend Timothy B. Schmit is hitting the road this spring for a North American solo tour.

For the three-week trek, Timothy and his full band will perform songs from his fifth solo album Expando (2009, Lost Highway/Universal) as well as classics by The Eagles and Poco.

Timothy B. Schmit explains the impetus for the spring run of dates: "What I like best about doing solo shows is it gives me a chance to interact with the audience in a smaller, more intimate setting. But, don't get me wrong. I very much enjoy being a part of the Eagles and all it implies. For instance, as of this writing, I find myself in a hotel in the exotic city of Dubai where we (The Eagles) will end a short tour that started in South Africa. After a few more scattered shows in the U.S., I look forward to taking my own band out on the road and having a completely different experience. I'm a fortune man. I get the best of both worlds." more on this story

Baroness Releasing New Album This Summer

Relapse Records has set a July 17th release date for Baroness' new studio album, Yellow & Green.

Yellow & Green reunites Baroness with Blue Record producer John Congleton (Explosions in the Sky, St. Vincent, Xiu Xiu) following both the band's busiest period (multiple worldwide tours including stops at Coachella, Bonnaroo and Soundwave) and most luxurious year, having taken nearly all of 2011 off to freely write and demo for the 2CD/LP album.

"We had been on tour for eight years, and we decided to take a break from our adventure to dig our heels in at home and write a new record," explains John Baizley, front man for the band and the artist responsible for Baroness' now iconic album art (an article profiling Baizley as a graphic artist is in the April edition of Juxtapoz). more on this story

Walter Trout New Album and Tour Coming This Week

(SKH) Walter Trout returns to the road in the U.S. on April 25th in Solana Beach, CA, the day after Mascot Label Group release Trout's 21st album Blues For The Modern Daze.

The offering displays the contemporary guitar legend returning to his hard-core blues roots, with songwriting at a creative and personal zenith. Blues For The Modern Daze is Trout's sixth recording for Provogue Records, a division of the Mascot Label Group, and his first pure blues album in 23 years as a bandleader.

Trout's practical schooling in blues started when he arrived in Los Angeles in 1973 and got gigs behind Hooker, Big Mama Thornton, Finis Tasby, Pee Wee Crayton, Lowell Fulsom, Percy Mayfield and Joe Tex. In 1981 he joined the remaining original members of Canned Heat. But the real turning point was his tenure with British blues giant John Mayall. Trout became part of the Bluesbreakers' lineage of great guitarists along with Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor. Beginning in 1984 he shared six-string duties with Coco Montoya in Mayall's band, creating a flexible guitar dynamic that helped provide the Bluesbreakers a renaissance that returned the group to the apex of the international blues touring circuit. Trout began leading his own group in 1989 and cut his debut album Life In the Jungle, rapidly becoming a star in Europe. His first Stateside release, 1998's critically heralded Walter Trout, made him start down the road towards becoming the fixture of the American blues-rock scene that he is today. more on this story

Preteen Zenith (Polyphonic Spree and Secret Machines) Set Special Release

(Paradigm) Preteen Zenith, the new band featuring Tim DeLaughter (The Polyphonic Spree) and Philip E Karnats (Secret Machines), will release an early, limited-edition vinyl version of its debut album, "Rubble Guts & BB Eye," for Record Store Day 2012 on April 21.

The run of 2,000 copies of the album will be pressed on 180-gram, hand-thrown, colored swirl vinyl, each copy unique in its coloring and design, with one of five different silk-screened cover art prints signed and numbered by artist Nevada Hill. Each vinyl LP will also include a CD-R of the full album.

A trailer video for the Record Store Day release here shows the making of the vinyl records, from cutting the master to coloring the vinyl to hand-stamping the tracklist on each sleeve. The trailer video also includes the full-length debut of a new track from the album, "Relief." more on this story

Sites & Sounds: Music Travel News April 2012

antiMusic travel editor Kevin Wierzbicki gives us the lowdown on rock'n travel events this month including the Wild Hog Music Fest, Seabreeze Jazz Festival, Barbados Reggae Festival and Bear on the Square.

12th Annual Wild Hog Musicfest and Motorcycle Rally
You don't have to be a motorcycle enthusiast to enjoy the Wild Hog Festival; the event taking place in Helena, Arkansas (about an hour south of Memphis, Tennessee) April 26-29 has fun in store for everyone. Bikers have their poker run on Saturday, April 28 but the festival will also feature a motorcycle parade through Helena, the Ms. Wild Hog contest, vendors selling food, drink and all kinds of souvenirs, a bike show and a "dyno shootout." Musical performers scheduled to appear include Edgar Winter, Down 2 Five, R.T. Scott, the Eskimo Brothers, PULSE: The Pink Floyd Experience and Eagles tribute band 7 Bridges. www.wildhogmusic.org

Seabreeze Jazz Festival
Panama City Beach, Florida is home to the ResortQuest Seabreeze Jazz Festival and the 14th annual edition of the event will be taking place April 19-22. The sound of smooth contemporary jazz will fill the air at the city's Aaron Bessant Park, right across the street from the Gulf of Mexico and PCB's famous sugar-white sand beaches. Among the scheduled performers are: Fourplay, Dave Koz, Trombone Shorty, Mindi Abair with Jeff Golub and David Pack, Alexander Zonjic and Jeff Lorber, Brian Culbertson and comedian Alonzo Bodden. Reggae J's Island Grill will host an after-party jam on Friday and Saturday nights. www.seabreezejazzfestival.com www.visitpanamacitybeach.com

Barbados Reggae Festival
The 2012 Digicel Barbados Reggae Festival takes place at various locations around the island on April 22-29. Mr. Vegas and Baby Cham kick off the festivities at the Reggae Beach Party at Brandon's Beach on April 22 but the fun moves to the 3W's Theater for a two-night stand April 27-28 when performers will include Freddie McGregor, Glen Washington, Admiral Tibet, Buggy Nakhente, Kirk Browne, Crimeson, Fari, Lil Rick and many others. The festival wraps on April 29 with Reggae on the Hill at Farley Hill National Park featuring music from Third World, Jah Cure, Capleton, Konshens and others. American, US Airways and Jet Blue are among the carriers flying into Grantley Adams airport in Bridgetown, Barbados. www.thebarbadosreggaefestival.com www.visitbarbados.org

Bear on the Square Mountain Festival
Down home fun and good music is the order of the day at the Bear on the Square Mountain Festival taking place in Dahlonega, Georgia (about an hour north of Atlanta) April 20-22. Among the scheduled performers on April 21 are BlueBilly Grit, the Buzzard Mountain Boys, Barefoot Creek, John Lilly, Gold Rush with Neel Pender, John Grim and Beverly Smith, the Georgia Crackers and Whitepath. Georgia Pick and Bow Recital, the Rosin Sisters with Whit Connah and George Norman, Curtis Jones with Insonnia, Curley Maple and Packway Handle Band take to the stage on April 22. All main stage shows are free and there'll also be arts and crafts for sale, children's activities, open jam sessions, eclectic shopping and much more. www.bearonthesquare.org www.dahlonega.org

Hugh Cornwell To Play Classic Stranglers Album On Tour

(Noble) Hugh Cornwell plans to hit the road in October for a special a nationwide UK tour.

The concerts will be divided into two sets. The first will feature his new studio album 'Totem And Taboo'.

The second set will see Hugh playing The Stranglers' seminal 1977 second album 'No More Heroes' in its entirety with keyboards added to the lineup. more on this story

Before Their Eyes' New Album A Hit

(WMG) Before Their Eyes had an impressive debut week with Redemption, their first album since 2010's Untouchable (Rise Records).

The new LP which was released March 27, landed at #29 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart, as well as at #10 on the Alternative New Artists chart, #38 on Hard Rock and #82 on in the Independent Record Label Album chart.

The debut numbers are all the more impressive considering the act has not done a full US tour since 2009 and toured only a total of 7 weeks in 2010. more on this story

Untimely Demise Denied Entry Into The US

Earsplit sent over word that Canadian thrash trio Untimely Demise were denied access to the United States earlier this week, only several dates into their three-week tour of the western half of North America.

Having successfully blazed their way through the first five performances in Canada on their way south, Untimely Demise proceeded to the border checkpoint into Washington, and due to a logistical paperwork error involving one member, after multiple attempts, the band were not allowed entry into the country.

Frustrated, they turned around and headed home, posting a statement on their Facebook last night explaining the situation in detail and apologizing to their American fans and friends they'd planned on raging with over the next few weeks. more on this story

B Sides

Between The Buried And Me Webcast Tonight

Tonight The Rave Live will be rebroadcasting the Between The Buried And Me concert from April 25, 2011 to celebrate the one year anniversary of the band's CD "The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues."

The concert was recorded at The Rave in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The webcast is scheduled for tonight, Thursday, April 12th at 9pm ET / 8pm CT / 6pm PT and will be available for free to all fans at www.TheRaveLive.com.

On Tuesday, April 17th, The Rave Live will be broadcasting a live concert from Kittie with Blackguard, Bonded By Blood, and Candy Machine Guns. The webcast starts at 8pm ET / 8pm CT / 6pm PT and will be available for free here.

Slash Rocks New and Old Songs on Kimmel

(hennemusic) The promotion trail continues for Slash as he spreads the word about his forthcoming album, "Apocalyptic Love."

Slash and his band, now known as Myles Kennedy And The Conspirators, dropped by Jimmy Kimmel's show Tuesday night to perform a couple of tunes.

The guys played the sophomore album's lead single, "You're A Lie," as well as "Back From Cali" off of Slash's 2010 self-titled effort. Check out videos of the performances

7 Horns 7 Eyes Preview New Album

(Century Media) 7 Horns 7 Eyes will be releasing their first full-length album, Throes Of Absolution, in North America on April 24th.

To give fans a preview of this upcoming release, the band has now posted an album teaser trailer that features clips of all the tracks on Throes Of Absolution. Listen here.

7 Horns 7 Eyes also recently released an instrumental version of the track "Divine Amnesty", which can be downloaded for free on SoundCloud.

End Of September Premiere Isolate Video

End Of September have released their new music video for their new single "Isolated" online.

The song is the opening track from the self titled debut album from End of September. Check out the video here.

The album will be released on May 11th in Europe and on May 22nd in North America, through Ulterium Records. more on this story

AC/DC's Angus Young and the SG

(Gibson) There are few players – OK, maybe only Tony Iommi – who have done as much for the popularity of the Gibson SG as Angus Young. Sure, there have been other greats like Duane Allman, Gary Rossington and Robby Krieger who have taken the SG and made it their own, but if you show an SG to a non-guitarist, often their eyes will light up and they'll say, "Oh! The Angus guitar!" The sleek contours, devilish pointy horns and no-nonsense electronics make the SG the perfect guitar for Angus's blues-gilded rock and roll swagger.

Young adopted the SG early, preferring thin necks like on his original model (which was eventually retired from the road). "It had a really thin neck almost like a custom neck," Young told Guitar World in 1984. "I liked the SGs because they were light. I tried Fenders but they were too heavy and they just didn't have the balls. And I didn't want to put on them DiMarzios because then everyone sounds the same. It's like you're listening to the guy down the street. And I liked the hard sound of the Gibson."

Young replaced the pickups of this guitar with another set of Gibson humbuckers in 1971, and continued playing it until 1978, when it became too road-worn to go on. He replaced it with another SG, a Gibson second that had made its way to a pawnshop in New York, and with a similarly slim neck profile to his original axe.

The SG makes perfect sense, given Young's playing style. It's much lighter than a Les Paul, which suits his smaller frame; likewise the thinner neck enhances playability. The tone is more midrange-heavy than a maple-topped Les Paul, and the body bevelling makes it a particularly fun guitar to jump around with onstage. Also, the SG cooperates particularly well with overdriven tube amp power sections, whether cranking out chunky power chord riffs or kicking out screaming solos. more on this story

The Day Ringo and Keith Moon Helped Launch a Star

(Gibson) One of the most down-to-earth, accurate and realistic rock and roll movies of all time premiered on this day in 1973.

Britain's answer, in some ways, to American Graffiti, That'll Be the Day looked back fondly, but realistically at Britain's late '50s, early '60s pre-Beatle youth culture. Future pop star David Essex, in his breakthrough role (he'd been playing Jesus in Godspell on the stage), played Jim MacLaine, a frustrated teen determined to break out of the shackles of small-town life in dull, boring, bland, post-war Britain.

Essex's own life was probably a lot harsher than that of his essentially middle-class character who opts out of a cozy path to university for life on the edge instead. In fact, Essex grew up in a particularly impoverished and tough part of London, and was pals with soccer pro Frank Lampard Sr., father of current Chelsea and England soccer star Frank Lampard. more on this story