Incubus Going On Hiatus

Boyd also added that he might release a second solo album during Incubus' impending break. If you're worried that means the end of Incubus, it's not. Boyd says Incubus plan to work on new music during their break, so while the hiatus "can be frustrating for our listeners and stuff, but I think we'll make better music as a result," he said. more on this story

Queensryche Deny Using Tapes Of Tate Live

(Classic Rock) New Queensryche singer Todd La Torre has denied fan suggestions that the band are using backing tapes of sacked frontman Geoff Tate's voice at live shows.

Last weekend the latest lineup made their first official appearance under the Queensryche title, after performing a handful of shows as Rising West before completing moves to get rid of Tate in June.

But La Torre, who's sticking with his other outfit, Crimson Glory, has taken to Facebook to deal with claims that the former singer's work could be heard from the stage. Instead, he says, it's all him and bassist Eddie Jackson. more on this story

ZZ Top's New Album Coming Next Month

(Classic Rock) The nine-year wait for a new ZZ Top album ends next month when La Futura is released, the Texan three-piece have announced.

They've set September 11 as launch day for La Futura, their 15th studio disc and the follow-up to 2003′s Mescalero.

Guitarist Billy Gibbons says: "We thought long and hard about what this album should be. We wanted to recall the directness of our early stuff, but not turn our backs on contemporary technology.

"The result of this melding of the past and the present is La Futura." A lot more details.

Doors, Deep Purple, Asia, Yes, Dream Theater Members Tribute Supertramp

Members of Asia, Yes, King Crimson, The Doors, Deep Purple, XTC, Toto, Mr. Mister, Dream Theater, Nektar, Porcupine Tree, Gentle Giant, Renaissance, and Rainbow will appear on Cleopatra Records Songs Of The Century: An All-Star Tribute To Supertramp which will hit stores on August 14th.

Supertramp hit songs are reenvisioned on Songs Of The Century, including "The Logical Song," "Take The Long Way Home," and "Goodbye Stranger," plus takes on gems like "Rudy" and "It's Raining Again."

Producer Billy Sherwood enthuses, "There are some cool, unique moments like Annie Haslam singing "Dreamer" and one of the other highlights for me is Rick Wakeman's piano playing on "Crime of the Century." And Joe Lynn Turner singing "Bloody Well Right" is just killer."" Richard Page offers a delightful version of "Give A Little Bit" that exudes all the sweet charm of the original. The bonus track is a new piece from Chris Squire and Tony Kaye of Yes. more on this story

Led Zeppelin Artist Dies

(Classic Rock) Classic Rock has learned of the death of cover artist Zacron, real name Richard Drew, best known as the sleeve designer for Led Zeppelin III. Drew died in January this year from bowel cancer but his estranged family have only just learned of his passing.

Zacron was born in Sutton, Surrey in 1943, and studied with Eric Clapton and members of the Yardbirds at Kingston College of Art between 1957-60. During this time he met fellow art student Jimmy Page and the pair reconnected in 1969 when Zacron was commissioned to do the sleeve for III. The artist took four months to complete the distinctive sleeve, featuring a rotating cardboard disc that revealed different images through holes in the sleeve as it was turned. The idea originated with Jimmy Page (based on a crop rotation volvelle) but the guitarist has since commented that he thought the finished product "very teeny-bopperish".

In 2007, Zacron designed the cover of Classic Rock's special issue dedicated to the Led Zeppelin reunion and talked through the genesis and meaning of the album cover. See it here.

Bad English Singer Slams Former Journey Bandmates

(Classic Rock) John Waite insists he'd rather shoot himself than sound like Journey, which he described as "super-white music".

And the singer is adamant there will be no reunion of Bad English, the band he formed with Journey men Neal Schon, Deen Castronovo and Jonathan Caine.

Waite is happy with his relatively low-key solo career and has no desire to return to the supergroup he co-formed in 1988 and split in 1991. "I think it's garbage," He tells Metal Sludge. "I hate to say it, but I listen to Journey and think, 'That is just wrong.' That's why there will never be a Bad English reunion." more on this story

Rush and Alanis Morissette To Receive RockWalk Honors

Rush and Alanis Morissette lead the classic of 2012 inductions into Guitar Center's RockWalk. They sent over these details:

Each Guitar Center RockWalk induction will be held at the retailer's historic Hollywood location on Sunset Boulevard. The inductions, which are invite only, will include an induction speech and ceremony, in which the musicians' handprints will be immortalized for the millions of music fans who visit Hollywood each year.

Each of the new inductees' handprints will reside in the RockWalk alongside other accomplished musicians and innovators such as, Eric Clapton, George Martin, Jimmy Page, Iron Maiden, Carlos Santana, Johnny Cash, Van Halen, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, B.B. King, Stevie Wonder, Run-D.M.C. and Queen,among numerous others. more on this story

Bloc Party To Broadcast Terminal 5 Show in HD

Bloc Party's August 8th show at Terminal 5 in NYC is set to be streamed live in HD via The Bowery Presents Live.

The show precedes the August 21st release of their new album, Four, and will stream live from starting at 9:30 pm EDT here.

Bloc Party is currently on the road and making a number of festival appearances in U.S. In addition, they recently announced their Fall tour with Ceremony. more on this story

Even Boston's Singer Not Sure When New Album Will Be Released

(Classic Rock) Boston singer Tommy DeCarlo says he knows as much as the fans do about when Tom Scholz will release their next album. But he insists it will be worth the wait.

DeCarlo has been with the band for four years, but took over the mic full-time last year following the departure of Michael Sweet. He landed the job after writing a tribute song to classic-era frontman Brad Delp, who committed suicide in 2007.

Mainman Scholz has been working on the follow-up release to 2002′s Corporate America for several years. In 2011 he said it was "85percent complete" and rumours suggest it will see the light of day in 2013. Read what DeCarlo has to say about the new album.

Mastodon Release A Commotion Video

(hennemusic) Atlanta rockers Mastodon have released a video for their latest single, "A Commotion."

The song is a cover of the tune by Canadian indie singer Feist, who is featured in the video. The track was featured on a "split-single" that also included Feist's cover of Mastodon's "Black Tongue."

The "Feistodon" split-single was one of the most in-demand exclusives during Record Store Day this past April. Only 5000 color vinyl 7" singles were pressed and they sold out instantly. Watch the video here.

Judas Priest Preview Screaming Release

(hennemusic) Judas Priest fans are about a month away from the release of an expanded, 30th Anniversary edition of the band's 1982 set, "Screaming For Vengeance" and the band is giving them a preview.

The project will feature not only the remastered original album plus bonus tracks, but also a live DVD from the 1983 US Festival show, filmed in San Bernadino, CA on May 29, 1983.

The "Screaming For Vengeance – Special 30th Anniversary Edition" live DVD was filmed at the second, and what turned out to be last, US Festival in 1983. Headlined by Van Halen, Sunday was the Heavy Metal Day, billed as "the day new wave died and rock 'n' roll took over." It set the single-day concert attendance record for the U.S. with an estimated 375,000 people.

"On the day that we performed, we flew in by helicopter — and the first sight we saw was that of thousands of abandoned cars piled up around the crests of the hills that surrounded the festival arena, which as we went over took our breath away," said Priest in a statement. "For there, below us, spread throughout hundreds of acres was a massive crowd — over three hundred thousand strong! The summer heat was raging and combined with the hot Santa Ana winds made for a scorching metal furnace on stage." Watch a preview here.

Bob Dylan Retells Titanic Story With New Song

(Classic Rock) Bob Dylan has revealed the title track of his upcoming album, Tempest, includes a 14-minute retelling of the Titanic disaster. And he admits his account of the 1912 tragedy isn't accurate – but insists it doesn't matter.

Dylan tells Rolling Stone: "It's not very truthful. But a songwriter doesn't care about what's truthful. What he cares about is what should have happened, what could have happened. That's its own kind of truth.

"It's like people who read Shakespeare plays, but they never see a Shakespeare play – I think they just use his name."

Tempest, Dylan's 35th studio album, is released on September 11. A long clip from the track Early Roman Kings is to be used in TV series Strike Back. Check it out here.

Jeff Lynne Releasing Solo Album and New Versions of ELO Classics

Frontiers Records will celebrate the 40th anniversary of ELO with the October 9th release for a new look at some ELO classics and a new solo album from the group's mastermind Jeff Lynne.

Lynne's new solo album, Long Wave, is billed as a tribute to some of the songs that originally inspired him.

The second release, Mr. Blue Sky–The Very Best Of Electric Light Orchestra features Lynne revisiting and re-recording--at his home studio in Los Angeles--the greatest hits of Electric Light Orchestra. more on this story

Major Jimi Hendrix Exhibition For His 70th Birthday

EMP Museum will be holding a major new exhibition to celebrate the 70th birthday of Jimi Hendrix this November. We were sent these details:

Endorsed by Experience Hendrix LLC, Hear My Train a Comin': Hendrix Hits London focuses on Jimi Hendrix's arrival in London in September 1966, his rise to prominence on the British pop charts, and his subsequent return to America in June 1967 when his incendiary performance at the Monterey International Pop Festival created a worldwide sensation.

Hear My Train a Comin' opens at EMP Museum on November 17, 2012. Highlights from the exhibition are now on view at The Hospital Club (thehospitalclub.com) in London through August 31, 2012. more on this story

Motorhead's Lemmy Remembers Jon Lord

(Classic Rock) Lemmy Kilmister says he might not have got into rock'n'roll without Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord, who passed away last month aged 71.

His sudden death, as a complication of his cancer battle, triggered an outpouring of grief from the rock and metal community. One of the pioneering performer and composer's last interviews appears in the Classic Rock Fan Pack tied in with ReMachined: A Tribute to Deep Purple's Machine Head. The album, an official Purple release, features big-name acts including Metallica and Iron Maiden delivering their renditions of tracks from the acclaimed 1972 record.

Lemmy and Lord first met at a pub gig in Wales in the mid-sixties – and the Motorhead mainman believes it was a turning-point in his life. It's quite the story.

The Dear Hunter Line Up Coheed & Cambria And Intimate Dates

The Dear Hunter have lined up two shows supporting Coheed & Cambria next month in New England.

The Dear Hunter's Casey Crescenzo will also be playing a short series of intimate solo dates this fall and Equal Vision says that the dates will include a mix of older fan favorites as well as the revealing of several new, unreleased songs.

The Dear Hunter is currently recording at Vu Du Studios in Long Island, NY with producer Mike Watts. Of the band's forthcoming album Crescenzo explains, "I haven't been more happy, or felt more creative in years, and I am truly anxious to push myself, and my music, to places I still haven't ventured, and to create the best possible album I can." The full-length album is expected to be released in early 2013 on Cave & Canary Goods, Crescenzo's recently launched imprint label on Equal Vision Records. more on this story

Journey's Neal Schon Leading Legends Ride at Sturgis

(SM) Journey guitarist Neal Schon will help lead the 5th annual Legends Ride on Monday August 6, 2012 to kick off the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.

Schon, along with actress Kristy Swanson, legendary motorcycle daredevil Robbie Knievel and custom motorcycle builders Arlen, Cory and Zack Ness, will be joining hundreds of riders at the event in support of the Black Hills Special Olympics and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame.

Led by Schon, the Legends Ride departs Deadwood on a 55-mile guided tour of the scenic canyons of the Black Hills to a reception at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip. After the ride and catered reception, Journey will take over the main stage of the Sturgis Buffalo Chip to unleash their hits such as "Wheel In the Sky," "Anyway You Want It" and "Don't Stop Believing." more on this story

Abandoned Pools Set Album Release Party

Abandoned Pools will be playing a rare headline club show to celebrate the release of the new album, Sublime Currency.

The album is set to be released on August 28, 2012 by Tooth & Nail Records and the release show will take place at the The Roxy in Hollywood on Saturday, September 15.

Sublime Currency is the culmination of the eleven-year journey of Tommy Walter, bassist and co-founder of the critically acclaimed band eels. The album is the follow up to Abandoned Pools' 2005 release Armed to the Teeth. more on this story

Attika 7 Joining Uproar Festival Lineup For Several Stops

Attika 7 will be joining the Uproar Festival on several western U.S. tour stops this September.

The Uproar Festival also features Shinedown, Godsmack, Staind and Adelitas Way.

The band will join on September 19th in Salt Lake City, UT and will tour with the festival until September 30th in Albuquerque, NM. more on this story

Hardcore Classics From Right Direction, Warzone and More Get US Release

(Fresno) Dead City Records have digitally released eight classic European hardcore albums from Right Direction, Warzone, One Night Stand, Ultimatum and M-Town Rebels for the first time ever.

All of the bands/records come courtesy of the various musical endeavors of iconic European hardcore front man, Dave Reumers, over the course of more than a decade. These pivotal hardcore releases can be purchased now via iTunes.

Commented, Reumers, "This music was released between 1989 and 2002. I've wasted half my life screaming nonsense into a mic thinking I was Mick Jagger, but I wouldn't have done it any other way. I'm glad I was part of this and I was lucky to be in so many bands that helped spread the hardcore, punk, and metal sound throughout Europe in the early days. If you still dig our music in this day and age there's no hope for you anymore. Enjoy!" more on this story

B Sides

Anchor & Brail Singled Out Week: Goes Without Saying

Anberlin's lead singer Stephen Christian's released the new Anchor & Brail album "Quiet Life," this week. Today Stephen tells us about the song "Goes Without Saying":

Kevin and Micah (the co-production team) sat me down near the end of pre production and told me that did not feel we had a complete record, they needed a few more songs to round out the moment. They wanted an upbeat song in the vain of the others on the record and felt that that would be the missing puzzle piece to the record.

I drove straight home and sat down at my piano, inspiration struck immediately. Realize that inspiration never strikes me; it's more like a slow moving sloth that catches up to me when I sleep. This 'lighting in a bottle' moment just hit that night; I started to play the main melody line on the piano and the chords just followed.

I had the song in delivered to them the next morning and both agreed that it was their favorite song on the record. For me personally it is my favorite song on the record musically. The additional percussion and eerie guitar movements make me want to listen to it over and over.

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

Lynyrd Skynyrd Release New Lyrics Video

(hennemusic) Lynyrd Skynyrd will release their first new album in three years, "Last Of A Dyin' Breed," on August 21. Skynyrd have released a lyric video for the album's first single, and title track.

The project reunites Skynyrd with producer Bob Marlette, and sees the debut of bassist Johnny Colt (Black Crowes, Brand New Immortals, Train, Rock Star Supernova).

"He's really cool; he's crazy like us," says guitarist and founding member Gary Rossington. "He's from the South and he was raised on Southern music, and I guess he was influenced by us. He knew all the songs, and it was an easy choice." Check out the video here.

Megadeth's David Ellefson Releases Thailand Video

(hennemusic) Megadeth are currently playing a series of dates in the Far East as part of their "Thirteen" world tour.

On Wednesday, the metal legends played in Bangkok, Thailand. Bassist David Ellefson checks in from Thailand as the he did some sightseeing the day after the show.

Ellefson and crew take an extensive boat tour of Bangkok and visit some of the local landmarks.
Watch it here.