Eddie Van Halen Wanted To Join KISS

Simmons spoke about it on Nikki Sixx's radio show, "So I take him to lunch across the street and he actually tells me: 'I want to join Kiss. I can't take Roth – he's driving me nuts. We're not getting along. I've got this sound in my head that I want Van Halen to do, and Roth doesn't want to do it, and we're just getting to a point where he's believing his own hype.'," Gene said. "I remember feeling proud of what I said. I said: 'Don't do it. Stay with the band you started. There's no role for you – you're too big. You cast too much of a shadow to be the guitar player in Kiss.' That's not all.

Coheed And Cambria Replace Michael Todd

(Classic Rock) Coheed And Cambria have named Zach Cooper as their new bassist after sacking Michael Todd following his arrest for armed robbery on tour last July.

Todd is awaiting trial after witnesses say he entered a drugstore and showed staff a message on his phone, saying he had a bomb which he'd detonate if they didn't give him the drugs he asked for.

He jumped in a taxi with six bottles of pills and returned to the Comcast Center, Mansfield, Massachusetts, where Coheed And Cambria were to support Soundgarden. He was arrested moments before he went on stage after the taxi driver identified him. The band dismissed him immediately.

Now they've unveiled Cooper, who's already working with them on their upcoming album. more on this story

Gregg Allman Delays Book Tour For Medical Reasons

(hennemusic) Gregg Allman has postponed the start of a book tour to promote his new memoir, "My Cross To Bear," which is due May 1.

Rolling Stone reports Gregg will undergo diagnostic cardiac testing Friday (today) at the Mayo Clinic's campus in Jacksonville, Florida to determine whether he needs additional care stemming from his recent hernia operation. Allman received a liver transplant at the same facility back in 2010.

"I've been working on the book for years and am grateful for all the support I've received in putting it together," said Allman in a statement. "As soon as doctors give me the thumbs up to go back on the road, I will be heading out onto my book tour and I can't wait to meet all of my fans." more on this story

Motley Crue Releasing New DVD

(hennemusic) A new Motley Crue live DVD is on the way. "Motley Crue – Kickstart Live 2011" was recorded at various venues across North America last year.

The DVD will be released by Showlight/IDS/Fontana North on June 5; the same day, the Crue launch their 2012 series of dates with a show in Moscow.

After 6 weeks in Europe, the Crue team up with KISS for a North American summer tour that starts July 20 in Bristow, VA. more on this story

Jack White Already Ready For Next Album

(Gibson) Jack White's solo debut, Blunderbuss, just came out this week, but apparently the indie guitar star already has his eyes set on the follow-up. White spoke to BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe (via NME) about his stash of new tunes.

"We had enough for an album at one point, but I just kept going… I've got another 12 songs that I haven't finished yet," he said.

White is promoting Blunderbuss with a big tour, which he said is allowing him to perform all sorts of different material. "There's songs that White Stripes never really played live, or Raconteurs never really got that into, or songs that I brought to the table in a band – songs like 'Buffalo' – and now I can elaborate on them," he said, before clarifying that the tour has nothing to do with nostalgia. "It needs to be alive in the moment. It has to be something new to everybody on stage, it can't be some recreation of something from years ago. I don't wanna waste my time doing that." more on this story

Alice Cooper Voicemails Inspired Dee Snider Broadway Album

(Classic Rock) Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider was inspired to record his Broadway album after a series of missed phone calls with Alice Cooper.

They entertained each other so much with their answerphone messages it led to a demo – and it's now resulted in Dee Does Broadway, out next month.

Snider tells BackstageAxxess: "Me and Alice Cooper kept missing each other. I don't know who sang the first show tune – 'Hey Alice please call me!' – but I said, 'Dude, we should do a record.' more on this story

Life Celebrating Rolling Stones 50th Anniversary With New Book

LIFE Books is commemorating the Rolling Stones' 50th anniversary with the May 22 release of 'The Rolling Stones: 50 Years of Rock 'n' Roll.'

Fifty years after they first got together, the immortal Rolling Stones are still on top, still selling out arenas around the world. It's a feat that is unparalleled in the history of rock and roll. The Rolling Stones: 50 Years of Rock 'n' Roll chronicles the rise—and the occasional dramatic tumbles—of the group that's been called "the greatest rock and roll band in the world, music's original bad boys.

In this deluxe book, LIFE's editors tell the story of the Stones in more than 140 pages of remarkable photos and narrative. It begins with the band's founding—not, in fact, by Mick and Keith, who were recruited by the founders of the original "Rollin' Stones"—by the little-known figures who got the group off the ground and ultimately faded into obscurity. more on this story

Lemmy Says Motorhead Lyrics Underappreciated

(Classic Rock) Motorhead icon Lemmy Kilmister admits he'd love his lyrics to be appreciated as much as his music.

Lemmy says he's got used to people failing to appreciate the value of his words – but he still hankers after appreciation for the nuances of the verses he writes.

"Does anyone appreciate anything?" he asks. "It would be nice to be more appreciated. But it's nice to be known for anything really. Also, by now I'm used to it." more on this story

Unreleased Beatles Hard Day's Night Photos To Be Auctioned

(Gibson) Beatles fans will have a chance to get their eyes on some previously unreleased band photos that have been sitting in a family album for nearly a half-century, according to the BBC.

The photos – which include 20 black and white images – were shot in 1964 in London, while John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison filmed their movie A Hard Day's Night. Studio props manager Peter Allchorne shot the photos, ignoring the fact that photos were banned on the set. Now, Allchome, who is 87 years old, is offering up his collection for auction starting on May 19 via Omega Auctions in Cheshire, England.

Apparently, Allchome didn't even realize he was sitting on a goldmine. His daughter, Jacqueline Griffin, says her dad was never a big Beatles fan. "He doesn't have any sentimental attachment," she told BBC.com. "They're just dad's pictures. He didn't like the music, he was into jazz." more on this story

Twin Atlantic Added To Reading and Leeds Festivals

Twin Atlantic are set to perform at Reading and Leeds festivals this summer. They will be performing on the NME / BBC Radio 1 stage (Reading August 25th, Leeds August 26th).

Currently enjoying enormous support from BBC Radio 1 with their latest single - "Make A Beast Of Myself" (out now!) - Twin Atlantic recently completed a sold out UK tour and this week has seen the second biggest week of album sales since "Free" came out in the UK a year ago

UK fans will also be able to catch the group on tour with Blink-182 and All American Rejects in June. more on this story

Paul McCartney Is The Richest Music Maker in UK

Sunday Times sent us over this preview of their music millionaires list which will be published in a special edition of the paper this Sunday: Sir Paul McCartney, Britain's richest performer, moves up to third place in the latest Sunday Times Rich List Music Millionaires Top 50, thanks largely to his marriage in October to Nancy Shevell..

The chart of The Top 50 Music Millionaires in Britain and Ireland is included in The Sunday Times Rich List 2012, the definitive annual guide to wealth in Britain and Ireland to be published in an extra 104-page magazine free with The Sunday Times this weekend. The richest sportsmen will appear in The Sunday Times Sport Rich List 2012 published on May 6. Additional guides to wealth will appear at thesundaytimes.co.uk/richlist from April 29, with the Richest 2,000 people in Britain available from May 13.

The family fortune of Sir Paul McCartney has gone up by £170m in a year – from £475m to £665m – thanks largely to the personal wealth of his new wife Nancy Shevell, who has a £150m stake in New England Motor Freight, the haulage business led by her father. Nancy Shevell is vice-president of the New Jersey-based business. Performing and album sales account for the other £20m added to the McCartney fortune in the last year. more on this story

Demon Hunter Summer Tour Plans

Demon Hunter will be hitting the road this summer for two North American tours following their and European trek this spring.

The band will be on the road in support of their recently released new album, True Defiance.

Demon Hunter will headline select dates of the upcoming Scream The Prayer tour this June with support by Emery, Sleeping Giant, Mychildren Mybride, Close Your Eyes, Hundredth, The Great Commission, Gideon, A Bullet For A Pretty Boy and Your Memorial. more on this story

This Is Hell Summer Tour

This Is Hell have mapped out another round of North American headlining tour dates for this summer.

"Great American Thrash," beginning June 15th in Whitehall, Pa. and wrapping up in Ottawa, Ontario, Can. on July 22nd. The Greenery, Xerxes, Waster and Hollow Earth will support on select dates.

"North American touring in the summer is always difficult due to everyone and their mothers' band wanting to go out during summer break and hit the festivals," said guitarist, Rick Jimenez. "So we put together a super diverse package of bands we really like joining at different times throughout the tour to keep it fresh." more on this story

Lostprophets Invading North America With Album and Tour

North American Lostprophets Weapons fans be advised that the band will be releasing their new album and touring stateside this summer.

The band's new album, Weapons, will be released in North America on June 19th, 2012. The album was recorded in North Hollywood, CA at NRG Studios with producer Ken Andrews (A Perfect Circle, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club).

In support of the new album, the band is currently on a European headline tour, with support from Modstep and Young Guns, respectively, and will be touring North America throughout the summer on the Warped Tour 2012 from July 12 - Aug 5. more on this story

Van Halen Guitar Tab Book Released

(hennemusic) Van Halen fans who play guitar and want to learn their new album now can with help a guitar TAB songbook released by Alfred Music Publishing.

The book includes complete note-for-note guitar TAB transcriptions of every song on "A Different Kind Of Truth."

Released this past February, the album is the band's first with original lead singer David Lee Roth since 1984, and their first full project since 1998. more on this story

Cannibal Corpse To Torture Australia and America

Cannibal Corpse are heading Down Under this fall for a Australian tour in support of their latest album, Torture.

The trek kicks off on October 4 and will hit five cities: Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

Cannibal Corpse are currently nearing the end of their U.S. Torture Tour with Exhumed, Abysmal Dawn, Arkaik but they will again tour North America when they headle the upcoming Summer Slaughter Festival 2012 which will also feature Between The Buried and Me, The Faceless, Periphery, Veil of Maya, Job For A Cowboy, Goatwhore, Exhumed, Cerebral Bore. more on this story

Gyroscope To Play Hometown Benefit Show

(CM) Gyroscope will perform live at The Benefit Show For Dana, which will take place at The Rosemount Hotel in Perth on Friday 1st of June.

The benefit show is in aid of 26 year old Dana Vulin, who two months ago fell victim to a horrendous crime in her hometown of Rivervale, Perth. An intruder broke into Dana's home confronting her and dousing her body in methylated spirits, then setting her alight. This premeditated attack has left Dana with burns to 60% of her body.

The Benefit Show For Dana will raise much needed funds to aid Dana and her family with the expenses of medical treatment, legal fees and further rehabilitation costs. Tickets for the show are $35 and go ON SALE on Monday May 30 at 9AM. All proceeds from the show to be donated to the Foundation For Dana Vulin. more on this story

Write This Down Set New Album Release

Tooth & Nail Records have set a June 5th release date for Write This Down's new album, Lost Weekend.

Hailing from Minneapolis, Johnny Collier (vocals), Chad Nichols (drums), Nate Rockwell (guitar) and Nick Lombardo (bass) released their debut self-titled album in 2010.

"There's a huge difference between our two albums, starting with the fact that the first disc was just all over the map and we were still trying to find our identity," recalls Collier. "With this one, we sat down and consciously decided to have me sing a bit grittier and not so clean, plus we've always loved having dual vocals. That turned into me doing a lot of the screaming and [guitarist] Nate [Rockwell] doing the choruses with me singing along. We found our formula on how to work and build our sound, which led to this album having a true identity." more on this story

B Sides

Adler Releases Debut Music Video

(hennemusic) Original Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler, has launched the first video for his new project, Adler.

"The One That You Hated" hit iTunes on April 10, timed to sync up with the media attention Adler would receive from the Rock Hall induction with his former group.

Steven's new band features frontman Jacob Bunton (Lynam, Mars Electric), guitarist Lonny Paul (Adler's Appetite) and bassist Johnny Martin. Check out the video here.

Jack White The Featured Guest On The Colbert Report

(hennemusic) Jack White was the featured guest on Thursday's edition of The Colbert Report.

Jack joined the host to talk about his new album, "Blunderbuss," and to perform his latest single, "Freedom At 21."

White kicks off a series of US dates that begin Friday at New York's Webster Hall. Watch it here.

Queen Return To American Idol

(hennemusic) Queen were on hand Thursday for the second of back-to-back nights on American Idol.

The group's official tribute band, The Queen Extravaganza, opened the show with a performance of "Somebody To Love," and they were joined by guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor for the last half of the song.

Roger is the producer and musical director for the tour, while word is that Brian will be involved at some point. Check it out here.

Jack Makes Ozzy A Grandfather Once Again

(hennemusic) Ozzy Osbourne has become a grandfather for the fifth time. On Tuesday, Ozzy's son Jack and his fiancée, actress Lisa Stelly, welcomed a daughter named Pearl at a healthy 8 lbs., 6 oz. The couple were engaged last September.

Ozzy already has four grandchildren; two each from daughter Jessica and son Louis from his previous marriage to Thelma Riley.

Proud sister – and Aunt - Kelly Osbourne tweeted, "thank you so much for your congratulations but they realy should be gonig to @lisamarstelly & @mrjacko! I am one proud Auntie!" more on this story

Garbage Plan To Stick It Out

(Gibson) Garbage will break their seven-year hiatus next month with a fresh studio album, Not Your Kind of People. Speaking with Billboard.com, frontwoman Shirley Manson promised that Garbage are back in full force and have no plans to take another long break.

"I don't think it would be good for any of us," Manson said. "I think right now everyone feels in a very good place, creatively. How long everyone will have the stomach for the road I'm not sure, but I do know everybody is excited about making music, so we'll see."

Producer and drummer Butch Vig seconded her statement, insisting that Garbage "won't be going on hiatus, at least not any time in the near future. We were all pretty excited about this recording process, and I think there are a lot of ideas that are still percolating in our brain space as a band." more on this story

Singled Out: San Francisco Music Club's Te Quiero

Jimmy Dillon, who was Clarence Clemmons' guitarist and has played with Springsteen and Robert Cray, has teamed up with Lorin Rowan in San Francisco Music Club who have released their new album, 'Love and Freedom.' Today Jimmy tells us about the track "Te Quiero".

This song has a colorful history as I wrote it with my partner Lorin Rowan here in San Francisco and then had the idea of going to Havana,Cuba to record and capture the true flavor of this magical place.

Having visited the now infamous Egrem Studios on a previous trip, where Buena Vista Social Club recorded their Grammy award winning album produced by Ry Cooder, my dream was to record Te Quiero at Egrem.a

I made the journey to Cuba with my guitar and dreams of playing with some Cubanos to capture the vibe of Old Havana…as it turned out the experience was mind blowing and far exceeded my expectations!

I was introduced to drummer and band leader Geraldo Piloto by a mutual friend, Chuck Silverman who teaches at Blue Star Music Camps, a non profit kids program I run in summertime.
Geraldo is a monster drummer and director of Havana Jazz Festival.

So, I landed in Havana and felt myself transported back to the 1950's…the old vintage Chevy's, waves breaking on the Malecon and everywhere the sound of Musica de Cuba…the divine decadence of a long forgotten time when gangsters and Mambo Kings
mingled with the great jazz players from America.

I went to Geraldo's modest home in Marianao and we sat down to speak the universal language of music…. I played him "Te Quiero" and we wrote the arrangement together on the back of an old cardboard box…
Geraldo helped me with some of the lyrics and I learned a bit of "Ritmo de Cuba" from a true master.

We set the time for the following sunday 6pm at Egrem. My dream was coming true…

I arrived early and checked out this classic studio in the old, still elegant section of Miramar. One by one the musicians arrived and I realized how incredibly fortunate I was to be recording where not only the Buena Vista Social Club had made history, but was also told of many rum soaked sessions in the 40's and 50's that were also epic jazz collaborations. If the walls could talk!

The band is called "Klimax" one of the hottest in Cuba. We cut the basics in classic Cuban style with timbales, congas, upright "Baby Bass" and acoustic piano, and I played nylon string. Once we got a take that felt right we overdubbed the trumpet solo, Geraldo played some brilliant brushes on the trap set and we added a string flourish on the chorus.

I have some video footage of the session and a great reel of the whole band dancing to the track. Luckily we had it all on pro tools so I was able to "smuggle" the tracks back into the US and add vocals to the final mix.

I will never forget my experience in Cuba and playing with so many fantastic musicians and singers…I was truly humbled by the virtuosity of the players and their generous spirit to collaborate with a "gringo" from "Yuma" as they call America.

Thanks for listening to my story and I hope you enjoy "Te Quiero" and our new CD "Love and Freedom"

Abrazos,
Jimmy Dillon

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and learn more about the album right here!