Rammstein Blamed For School Shooting

Gladden describes himself as a "metalhead" – but the New York Daily News branded him "a misfit obsessed with Rammstein" after looking at his social media presence. Putting the ignorant blame game aside, there was a hero in this tragic tale.

Aerosmith Going Deluxe

Aerosmith have released two songs from their upcoming album, From Another Dimension, to radio this week and announced deluxe edition details and special guests for the effort.

The album is set to be released on November 6th and is the band's first new album in 11 years and features guest appearances by Johnny Depp and Carrie Underwood.

It was recorded in Los Angeles and at the band's studio in Massachusetts; it was produced by Jack Douglas, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, with the exception of three tracks produced by Tyler and Marti Frederiksen.
The album's 15 tracks include "Out Go The Lights," "Oh Yeah," "Luv XXX," "We All Fall Down," "Street Jesus" and "Can't Stop Loving You," on which Tyler duets with Carrie Underwood. The album also includes "Freedom Fighter" which features Johnny Depp on backing vocals. more on this story

Duran Duran Sidelined By Illness

(Gibson) Having just cancelled two shows, Duran Duran have been forced to add last night's Ohio gig to the list. NME reports that the band posted this statement on their website: "Following the loss of their last two dates, in Pittsburgh and Atlantic City, Duran Duran, have announced that they are being forced to cancel (Tuesday night's) performance in Kettering, Ohio, at the Fraze Pavilion, due to keyboardist, Nick Rhodes' continued illness.

"Rhodes, who has been unwell for the past week now, has been advised by doctors today that he is not yet ready to perform, as he is still experiencing the same symptoms that have kept him from the stage for the last few nights.

"The band members are all extremely disappointed, as this is the final leg of their world tour and more than anything, they hate to disappoint their fans. Duran Duran are looking at whether it will be possible to reschedule the show within the next few days." more on this story

Iron Maiden Launching Picture Disc Campaign

Iron Maiden fans mark your calendars for Rocktober, that's when the band will be kicking off a new vinyl picture disc campaign for their albums released in the 80s starting with their self-titled debut all the way through to "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son." The band put out these details:

A series of special limited edition Iron Maiden vinyl picture disc albums are due to be released by EMI and UMe starting in October 2012. Comprised of the first eight albums of Maiden's career, all released in the 1980's, each picture disc will be packaged in a gatefold sleeve with full colour printed inner bags and the heavyweight vinyl will be cut from the original album master tapes.

The albums will be released chronologically between October and February, starting with 'Iron Maiden' and 'Killers' on 15 October 2012 followed by 'The Number Of The Beast' and 'Piece Of Mind' in November 2012.
To open the new year 'Powerslave' and the double album 'Live After Death' will be released in January, with the final two titles, 'Somewhere In Time' and 'Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son' coming out in February 2013. more on this story

Radiohead Kicking Off Austin City Limits

Radiohead will be making a rare television appearance during the new season opening of the PBS series Austin City Limits.

The show will kick off its 38th season on Saturday, October 6th with full hour of Radiohead.

The initial schedule for the new season has been announced and will include Bonnie Raitt with Mavis Staples, The Shins, and The Civil Wars. more on this story

Joe Perry and Ronnie Wood Contribute To New Slash Book

Insight Editions will release Slash: An Intimate Portrait, a new book by Guitar World senior editor Richard Bienstock and rock photographer Robert Knight, this fall.

The 144-page hardcover book will feature a foreword by Slash's close friend, Rolling Stones' guitarist Ronnie Wood, and a preface from Aerosmith's Joe Perry.

Amazon is listing a September 10, 2012 release date, while the announcement says it will be released in October with Barnes & Nobel listing an October 9th release dates.

The book will reportedly be promoted by Slash, to coincide with the release of a special edition of his 2012 album, "Apocalyptic Love". More info and preorder here.

Ill Nino Releasing New Album

Victory have set an October 22nd North American release date for Ill Nino's new studio album, Epidemia.

The band and their label have not released any additional information about the album aside from direct preorders from the label's website.

In other news, Ill Nino and Emmure will support Static X on their upcoming fall tour starting September 18 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. more on this story

DevilDriver's Dez Fafara Records Song For Sister's Cancer Battle

(Classic Rock) DevilDriver frontman Dez Fafara has recorded a track in order to raise funds for his sister's breast cancer battle.

He's collaborated with studio colleagues Greg Weiss and Logan Mader to prepare the song Dark Meadowland, which he describes as "badass."

Fafara's sister Kerri is facing years of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which will cost much more than her health insurance will pay. more on this story

Dokken Releasing New Album

Frontiers Records have set a September 25th North American release date for Dokken's new album, Broken Bones.

The album will be released in two configurations: standard CD and limited edition CD in digipak with a bonus DVD, which features a comprehensive "Making Of The Album" documentary.

Broken Bones was produced by frontman Don Dokken and was mixed Bob St. John (Extreme, Duran Duran, Collective Soul) and Wyn Davis (Black Sabbath, Dio, Whitesnake) and mastered by famed engineer Maor Appelbaum (Halford, Yngwie Malmsteen, Sepultura). more on this story

Kylesa Opening The Vaults This Fall

Kylesa have set a November 20th North American and November 16th European release date for their new collection, From The Vaults, Vol. 1.

The release is a twelve-song collection featuring unreleased, new and alternate versions of songs spanning their catalogue including one entirely new song ("End Truth") as well as the band's cover of Pink Floyd's "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun".

"This project has been a labor of love," explained guitarist/singer/producer Phillip Cope. "We have spent over a year going through old songs, covers, etc. and collected those we felt went well together; remixing and finishing them up. We didn't want to release something just thrown together so we put a lot of thought and time into it. I am really happy about how this came together. I think it is a good representation of Kylesa's different styles from early on to present day." more on this story

AC/DC Classic Added To National Registry

(hennemusic) An AC/DC classic is one of ten songs which have been selected for inclusion in Australia's National Registry Of Recorded Sound.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports AC/DC's "It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Want To Rock And Roll)" will be included in the National Registry.

Written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott, "It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Want To Rock And Roll)" first appeared on the band's 1975 album, "T.N.T." more on this story

10 Years Plot Cutting Like Knives Tour

10 Years will be launching their Cutting Like Knives Tour this fall with support from The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and The Last Place You Look.

The tour kicks off September 18 in Cleveland, OH and wraps up on October 28th in Mobile, AL.

"After the last touring cycle, we realized where we should strive to be, and that's to be totally fine in the club environment," says lead singer JESSE HASEK. "We don't plan to chase after arena rock or amphitheaters. If things like that happen, then so be it, but we live and die by the loyalty of the club audiences. Our fans are loyal. They travel with us, and they want us to be loyal to ourselves. That's what keeps them coming back. What we tried to do on this album is really give them what they want and what they need because they've been so good to us through the ups and downs of our career." more on this story

Sammy Hagar Day Happening Next Month

(hennemusic) Roseville, California has declared that September 15, 2012 will be Sammy Hagar Day.

The Roseville Patch reports the date also marks the opening of the Red Rocker's new restaurant and entertainment venue, Sammy's Rockin' Island Bar & Grill, in Downtown Roseville.

Hagar will perform live at the restaurant during an invitation-only event on September 15th. more on this story

Kasabian Guitarist Wants To Collaborate With Jack White

(Gibson) Serge Pizzorno, guitarist with Kasabian thinks it's time for America to embrace British rock and roll again. According to an interview with the U.K.'s Daily Star he said:

"We hit a new level this year in America, something I didn't think existed. It feels like it's time for Americans to dig British rock again."

He also mentioned he'd be very interested in collaborating with Jack White. "We like to do our own thing most of the time but there's one person I can see me working with and that's Jack White. I respect Jack, and in some way, shape or form we'd love to kick around in the studio with him." more on this story

Shiny Toy Guns Plan Fall Tour

Shiny Toy Guns will be hitting the road this fall to play a series of dates in support of their new album, III.

The album is set to hit stores on October 22nd, that night the group will kick off their tour in San Francisco.

The headlining trek will hit venues in Los Angeles, Toronto, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington D.C., New York City before wrapping up on November 1st in Chicago. more on this story

Grave, Morbid Angel and Dark Funeral Tour

Grave will be hitting the road next month to kick off a North American tour with Morbid Angel and Dark Funeral.

Grave and Dark Funeral will kick things off on September 20th in Charlotte, NC before being joined by Morbid Angel for the rest of the trek which wraps up on October 19th in San Antonio, TX.

Dark Funeral and Grave will play three additional dates on the back end of the tour without Morbid Angel. more on this story

The Groundhogs Live DVD Coming Next Month

Eagle Rock will release The Groundhogs' 'Live At The Astoria' DVD on September 18th. Here is the official word:

Filmed in London on February 20, 1998, with audio in Dolby Digital Stereo, this 12-song 81-minute excursion into the blues has guitarist/vocalist T.S. McPhee, bassist Eric Chipulina and drummer Pete Correa celebrating the legendary bluesman Howlin' Wolf [1910-1976] while on tour in support of their Hogs In Wolf's Clothing album. Starting and finishing with songs from that album, the concert—the first such Groundhogs show ever filmed—also spans 30 years worth of material.

The Groundhogs formed in 1963. Their 1968 Scratching The Surface debut, with "Still A Fool" (included here) introduced an eccentric jam-happy band of Brits who became legendary for stretching their songs to interminable lengths. They disbanded in '76, reformed in '85, and by the time of this '98 show, had honed their craft into a razor-sharp no-frills blues blast of classic rock'n'roll proportions. more on this story

Set It Off and Sparks The Rescue Fall Tour

Set It Off will be staying on the road this fall, teaming up with Sparks The Rescue for a coheadlining tour of North America which will be supported by Handguns.

The tour will kick off on November 3rd in Dallas, TX and will wrap up on December 2nd in Douglasville, GA.

Set It Off will be touring in support of Cinematics, their debut full-length record which will be released on September 18 by Equal Vision Records. more on this story

B Sides

Singled Out: Brian Boggess Group

Today Brian from the Brian Boggess Group tells us about the song "Indigo" from their brand new limited edition vinyl and iTunes release "Debut EP". Here is the story:

For me, songs don't necessarily evolve in a purposeful manner. Most of the time I just wake up with a woody to write a song. Such was the case with "Indigo," the first track from my Debut EP.

Several years ago I was on a bit of an avant jazz bender chasing it down with a shot of prog even though I generally play in a more traditional rock idiom. The song opens with a compositionally unusual riff in 6/4 time which sort of naturally popped out based upon influences or being under the influence at the time. I was surprised when it drew a bit of attention from other NYC musicians and even considerable confusion as to what exactly I was playing. It sounds heavy and a little threatening. I thought it would be intriguing to follow up with some sweet jazzy major sevens mixed with simple power chords on the verse. The chorus is another series of power chords where I threw in a quick outside C# to spice things up the way some people put ketchup on spaghetti. A few Texas pull-offs tossed in for good measure, I felt like I had a tasty dish.

Lyrically, "Indigo" is not a specific linear narrative. It's a moon in the gutter urban noir...a collage of snapshots skipping through puddles of fantasy, romance and nightmare. On the surface it's about a street prostitute, but it's more of a word poem that depicts the mood or tone of New York City as seen through the eyes of a fictional individual. As much a portrait of the city as it is of a person. A bit of urban ennui reflected off surfaces of rain and neon. There's an abrupt shift in perspective in the last line of the chorus as a reminder that there's always a human being behind individuals too easily dismissed and marginalized simply as a stereotype.

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

Robert Plant Honors Delta Blues Influence On Led Zeppelin

(Gibson) Robert Plant performed at the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival recently with his band The Sensational Space Shifters. The festival is held in Clarksdale, Mississippi, which also happens to be part of the name of Jimmy Page and Robert Plant's 1998 album Walking into Clarksdale, which is the only album of all new material that the duo has recorded together since the end of Led Zeppelin.

Plant decided to address Led Zeppelin's delta blues influences while at the festival. Said Plant: "So much Zeppelin did come from here. Almost subconsciously, just through the floor of the room where we were recording. With Jimmy's enthusiasm and knowledge and record collection, between the two of us, on that level, we had such a mutual preference towards that stuff, and the wild side of rock 'n' roll."

Plant continued by acknowledging the importance of his old band, and how Zeppelin continue influencing newer acts "It's all a long way back, even to go back to Led Zeppelin or the Stones or whatever, but it did shape, and still does shape, the music from around here. It goes through to the Black Keys, to Jack White, to all over the place. There's nothing new under the sun - you just get a can of paint out." more on this story

Coheed And Cambria Release Domino the Destitute Video

Coheed And Cambria have debuted the new music video for their new single "Domino the Destitute."

Directed by Robert Schober (Metallica, Mastodon, Disturbed), the eight-minute long epic tells the story of Domino the Destitute, a boxer who is fast on the rise, but who's career comes crashing down in dramatic fashion. Shot in black and white, the video uses classic cinematography and powerful fight scenes, against a powerful performance delivered by Coheed and Cambria throughout the video. Watch it here.

The song comes from the band's forthcoming album, The Afterman: Ascension, which is set for release on October 9, 2012. more on this story

Boots And Bonnets Once More For AC/DC Frontman Brian Johnson

(Gibson) You might think that English is the same wherever you go, but Brian Johnson of AC/DC can tell you that it is not.

Classic Rock reports that the singer, who resides in the United States, has to be careful with how he expresses himself when he visits his native Gateshead in north east England.

Johnson recently told Sunday Sun "The trouble is, with living in America, I'll go back to Newcastle, got to a garage and I'll ask for gas. Oh my God, the hell I've got: 'Oh, you've changed, son!' I've got to be real careful not to call a car bonnet a hood, or a boot a trunk. I walk on eggshells." more on this story

Anthrax Audiobiography of Among the Living Goes Online

Anthrax's hit album Among the Living is the focus of Google Play's latest "Audiobiography" episode.

Anthrax's Scott Ian and Joey Belladonna recently pulled back the curtain exclusively for Google Play, discussing at length stories behind the making of their Gold-certified 1987 album.

The album includes some of the band's most popular tracks - "I Am The Law," "Indians," and Caught in a Mosh." Check out the special here.