Jesse Leach Reunites With Killswitch Engage

No official comment has been made, but KSE have confirmed a reunion show on April 22 in Worcester, Massachusetts, followed by a European festival tour starting on June 6. more on this story

Wild Thing Singer Fighting Cancer and Retires Troggs

(Gibson) Troggs singer Reg Presley has retired from the band following his diagnosis with lung cancer.

The singer, who also suffered a stroke two years ago, released a statement to fans last week saying, "As you all know I was taken ill whilst doing a gig in Germany in December. During my stay in hospital tests showed that in fact I have lung cancer. I am receiving chemotherapy treatment and at the moment not feeling too bad. However I've had to call time on The Troggs and retire. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the cards and calls and for your love, loyalty and support over the years."

The Troggs rose to infamy with their cover of Chip Taylor's "Wild Thing." The band formed in 1964 as The Troglodytes. Presley wrote "Love is All Around," which was a hit for The Troggs in 1967 and again for Wet Wet Wet in 1994 when that band performed the song for the soundtrack of the film Four Weddings and a Funeral. Presley used some of the proceeds of the cover on crop circle research. more on this story

Slash Sets New Album Release

(Gibson) Slash has announced that his new studio album will be available on May 22. According to a press release, the second solo disc from the former Guns N' Roses member has yet to receive a title.

The disc follows on the heels of Slash's celebrated, self-titled 2010 debut, and features the members of his touring band – Myles Kennedy (vocals, guitar), Brent Fitz (drums) and Todd Kerns (bass). Eric Valentine, who produced Slash, is also helming this record. The boys are still hard at work on the new songs, which were co-written by Slash and Kennedy.

"Myles and I basically collaborated on the new material. The main thing is we wrote these songs together which is a big difference from the last album where I wrote each song with all of the different collaborators," Slash said. "The whole creative nucleus is between Myles and me. On top of this, the whole rhythm section of Brent and Todd brings something to the table and changes the dynamic completely from the last record – it's much more cohesive."

Check out the first volume of Slash's behind-the-scenes video here.

New Soundgarden Album Coming Later Than Expected

(Banana 101.5) Soundgarden fans have waited for a new album from the band for over 16 years and if what Chris Cornell said in a recent interview is accurate — they'll have to wait just a bit longer than planned.

Soundgarden have been working on their sixth studio album for almost a year now — initially with the intention of a 2011 release and then a tentative spring date had been assigned to the highly anticipated comeback record. Last time we heard from frontman Chris Cornell, he told Rolling Stone that the album was mostly finished and they were still on track for a spring release — his latest interview with Australian radio station Triple M told a different story.

When asked if the band had any plans return to Australia for a full scale — where they recently played a few dates — Cornell responded by saying "Well the album will be out in the fall, so sometime after that." more on this story

Guns N' Roses Add Date To Intimate Venue Tour

(Banana 101.5) Guns N' Roses will be embarking on a brief tour where they will play smaller venues — as oppose to the giant arenas they played on their recent North American tour — and have just added a Detroit date to the limited run.

It's been a long, long time since Guns N' Roses have played anything but gigantic arenas while touring but the band will scale things back considerably for an upcoming string of U.S. dates.

The "intimate venue" tour's six previously announced shows all sold out relatively quick, causing the band to add the latest date at The Fillmore in Detroit. more on this story

New Motley Crue Album and Movie Coming

(Rock News Desk) Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars has laughed off Vince Neil's claims that he's thinking of retiring from the band when their Las Vegas residency ends later this month. And the guitarist reveals his long-awaited solo album could feature elements of death metal.

Mars is currently appearing with the Crue in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, with two-hour shows scheduled to take place until February 19. But he's convinced Neil won't act on his recent comments about leaving the band to pursue other projects he might not otherwise find time for.

The guitarist tells Ultimate Classic Rock: "Okay, here's my answer: Fat chance. That's a good neutral answer, I think." On the contrary, Mars says fans can expect a new album within the next 18 months, along with the much-vaunted movie version of their book The Dirt. more on this story

Def Leppard and Poison Teaming Up For Tour

Def Leppard are once again teaming up with Poison for a summer tour. While there have been some hints at the trek, Poison drummer Rikki Rockett posted a message on his Facebook page, confirming the plans.

"It's Official!
 Def Leppard / Poison Tour 2012 Summer Tour!" Rockett wrote on his Facebook page. hennemusic reports: Rockett's info follows a recent interview Leppard guitarist Phil Collen did with AOL's Noisecreep, where he talked about the band's summer plans.

"We're actually going to be back on tour around when the [film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical 'Rock Of Ages'] is out, and it would be a lot of fun to get some of the other bands featured in 'Rock Of Ages' out with us," he said. "Nothing has been finalized yet, but apparently Poison will be joining us — at least according to Bret Michaels, who has been telling everyone that they'll be touring with us this year. [Laughs]"

"We went out with Poison in 2009, and we all had so much fun," continued Collen. "If it does end up happening like that, I would love for the third band to be someone like Twisted Sister, since they're also in the new movie. I think that would make for a great lineup." more on this story

Life After Headbanging For Slayer Frontman

(Rock News Desk) Tom Araya has got over the "bummer" of not being able to headbang any longer – and believes it's made him a better musician.

The Slayer frontman's onstage antics were brought to an end in 2010 after he was forced to undergo back surgery, which left a metal plate in his neck, leaving him unable to throw his head about in his trademark manner. But he insists he's put the experience behind him and he's looking forward to working on the band's twelfth album, along with guitarist Jeff Hannemann, who was sidelined a year ago after a spider bite resulted in him contracting necrotising fasciitis, which wasted the flesh in his arm.

Araya tells The Quietus: "I just can't headbang. I just can't do the things that I'd normally be doing on stage – going crazy, flipping my head. After the surgery it was a bummer, but I got over that. I like to think I've improved as a singer and as a player. I focus more on that, and making sure my performance is one hundred percent." more on this story

Oni Logan Reunites With Lynch Mob

(Gibson) Vocalist Oni Logan has returned to Lynch Mob, just weeks after band leader George Lynch announced that Jesse Forte, from expat Swedish hard rock act Vains of Jenna, had been hired to take the mic.

The news of Logan's return was confirmed via an update from Lynch's other band, Tooth and Nail, which features his former Dokken bandmates Jeff Pilson and Mick Brown as well as Brian Tichy. The update reads: "There will be lots of George Lynch music out this year. New Lynch Mob with Oni, and the long awaited reunion of Jeff Pilson, Mick Brown and El Lyncho! Throw in a multi-talented Brian Tichy and you have Tooth and Nail!"

Forte also confirmed that Lynch and Logan are collaborating again: "I actually won't be working with George on Lynch Mob," he said in a statement to fans. "He informed me over the phone that he and Oni have reconciled and have decided to continue on. I wish them the best. Stay tuned for my next project." more on this story

Surprise Billy Joel Jam

(Gibson) Motorcycle fan Billy Joel surprised the crowd at a Miami vintage bike fair by riding up on his motorcycle and jumping on stage with a local band, over the weekend.

The organizer of the Dania Beach Vintage Motorcycle Show, Clare Frost, told the Miami Herald, "He walked through the crowd without people really knowing who he was and looked at the over 230 vintage bikes on display and talked to a few of our vendors and out of the blue, he walks up on stage and stood there facing the lead singer, Bob.

"Bob did a double take, and Billy asked him if he could jam with them. Only about 25 were around them at first but I guess with Facebook, about 100 more showed up, and when he got off the stage after about three songs, he signed autographs and had pics taken. He then got about halfway across the field, got lost in the crowd, got on [his] bike and left." more on this story

Love & Death For Brian Head Welch

New Ocean Media sent over word that former Korn guitarist Brian Head Welch has announced that his band will now go by the name Love & Death.

"I put this band together in 2009" states Welch. "Since then, we've experienced some very intense highs and lows. Michael Valentine, Dan Johnson, J.R. Bareis and myself have toured around the world playing a lot of killer shows, but we've also had some heart shattering difficulties along the way as well. To us, the name Love and Death symbolizes everything we've been through as a band over the last few years. We love this band so much and we'll go through hell to connect with our fans. We've proven that to ourselves over and over again."

"Many people have confused my speaking dates and our band dates because they were both being booked as Brian Head Welch" says Welch. "I have wanted to use a band name for branding my music for a few years. It has been an ongoing discussion with my management, but we were just starting to tour and I was in the middle of supporting my third book and it seemed like a bad time to switch names. Now with the new music coming out, its time to really separate the things I do. I want the music to be about music. I will still be doing public speaking under Brian Head Welch. I am happy that all the confusion will be over." more on this story

David Lee Roth Interviews The Van Halen Brothers

(hennemusic) Van Halen has released a new clip of frontman David Lee Roth interviewing the Van Halen brothers Eddie and Alex in the studio.

The guys talk at length about their family roots, including how their father, Jan Van Halen, met their mother, Eugenia.

"Our pop went over to Indonesia on a 6-week radio contract," explains Alex, "which turned into 6 years. He loved the tropics, he couldn't get enough. They got married and then the government became destabilized and they threw all the colonialists out."

"Indonesia was a Dutch province at the time," adds Eddie. Check out the video here.

Our Lady Peace New Album and Tour Coming

Our Lady Peace will release their eighth studio album, Curve, on April 3, 2012 and will be hitting the road in late March.

"This is the record we've been trying to make for the past 10 years. There's something to be said about being beaten up and being able to dust yourself off and get back in the ring," says vocalist/lyricist and founding member Raine Maida about the new album, which was recorded in Toronto and his own L.A. home recording studio with co-producer Jason Lader (Mars Volta, Julian Casablancas, Rilo Kiley, Elvis Costello and Noah & the Whale.).

"Jason and I had a very frank discussion about the early recordings for Curve before he came in," says Maida. "He asked why we weren't making a record that we'd like to listen to ourselves. That was our impetus for abandoning what we started, bringing in Jason and truly challenging ourselves to come up with something more authentic and inspired. He helped us operate without the filter predicated by walking the major label tightrope." more on this story

Night Ranger's Jack Blades Sets Solo Release

Night Ranger's Jack Blades will deliver his brand new solo album, Rock N' Roll Ride, on March 27th via Frontiers Records.

Of the new offering, Blades commented, "Rock N' Roll Ride is an extension of what my music has been for the last 30 years. It has been quite a rock n' roll ride and I decided to lay it all down on a record!"

Rock N' Roll Ride features contributions from Blades' Night Ranger bandmates Brad Gillis, Kelly Keagy, Joel Hoekstra and Eric Levy, as well as a special guest appearance by Cheap Trick's Robin Zander. more on this story

Camper Van Beethoven's Jonathan Segel Sets Solo Release

(PPR) Camper Van Beethoven's Jonathan Segel will be releasing his latest solo album, All Attractions, on March 6th in both Digital and CD formats.

Most of the songs were written in the Swedish countryside where he and his (Swedish) wife have been staying with her family every summer. Although one would expect a pastoral tone, the music ends up as some rocking electric guitar-based tunes, evoking the big '70s rock bands of the past, along with some more contemporary features thrown in.

The record was started by Jonathan working with fellow Camper Van Beethoven bandmate Victor Krummenacher on bass and guitar, and their SF Bay Area cohorts former King Missile/Moth Wranglers' Chris Xefos playing some bass and doing the recording and mixing, and John Hanes on drums. As the project progressed, he got some backing vocal help from the Counting Crows' David Immergluck, Baby Flamehead's Eden Daniels and Espers' Helena Espvall (who also contributed some cello). Built To Spill's Brett Netson also delivers a show-stealing guitar lead on the track "I Know You Know Me (Hey You)." more on this story

Adam Ant Rewind

(Noble) Adam Ant and The Good, The Mad & The Lovely Posse" has been announced as a special guest for this summer's Rewind Scotland (20-22nd July, Scone Palace, Perth) and Rewind Festival (17-19th August, Temple Island Meadows, Henley-on-Thames).

Adam Ant will perform at Rewind Scotland on Sunday 22nd July, and Henley-on-Thames on Sunday 19th August.

Rewind Scotland's line-up: Saturday 21st July features Ali Campbell's UB40, Average White Band, Jimmy Somerville, Midge Ure, Five Star, Go West, Sinitta, Chesney Hawkes, Katrina (ex-Katrina and the Waves), Limahl, Right Said Fred, and Les McKeown's Legendary Bay City Rollers. Sunday 22nd July features Holly Johnson, Village People, Adam Ant and The Good, The Mad & The Lovely Posse, Lightning Seeds, Marc Almond, ABC, Roland Gift, The Straits, Wang Chung, John Parr, Altered Images, and The Christians.
more on this story

Santana Live At Montreux 2011 Coming To DVD and Blu-Ray

(Kayos) Eagle Rock have set a February 21st release date for Santana Live At Montreux 2011 on a 2DVD set and Blu-ray.

The set was filmed in high-definition and recorded in DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital 5.1 and LPCM Stereo.

Live At Montreux 2011 is a career-spanning show that covers all the bases: from Tito Puente's "Oye Como Va," Fleetwood Mac's "Black Magic Woman," Babatunde Olatunji's "Jingo" and Willie Bobo's "Evil Ways" to John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme." more on this story

The Cult's Super Bowl Commercial Online

(hennemusic) Music from The Cult was featured in a Super Bowl commercial on Sunday. A new ad for Budweiser featured a mashup of The Cult's "She Sells Sanctuary" with rapper Flo Rida's Top 10 hit "Good Feelin'".

The one-minute spot is a celebratory romp through several decades of great times in America that begins with the end of Prohibition in 1933.

Written by The Cult's vocalist Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy, "She Sells Sanctuary" reached No. 15 on the U.K. chart and was a Top 40 dance hit in the U.S. Check out the commercial here.

Foxy Shazam Take Fans To The Church of Rock and Roll

(Banana 101.5) Foxy Shazam introduce us to 'The Church of Rock and Roll' in their new music video for the lead single from the album of the same name.

The band's much buzzed about single "I Like It' combines Foxy's operatic glam rock and love of posteriors to create an unusually potent concoction.

In the new music video we see vocalist Eric Nally firing a Glock from the back of a motorcycle that then drives into 'The Church of Rock and Roll,' where a booty shaking dance-off ensues. Check out the video here.

Green River Ordinance Return With New Album and Tour

Green River Ordinance will release their third studio album, 'Under Fire,' on February 28.

"Our primary purpose was just to make the most authentic and honest music possible," says Jamey Ice. "We also tried to push ourselves to think outside of our traditional instruments. We used all sorts of random percussive instruments and unique drums; we used banjos, mandolins, baritone guitars, 12 string guitars, upright bass, accordion, lap steel, old vintage amps and old vintage guitars. We tried to push ourselves to explore more, even if it meant forfeiting safe and traditional structure and instrumentation."

The band will kick off an extensive North American tour on March 29 in Houston, TX, crossing the country with special guest Graham Colton. more on this story

Motley Crue Kick Off Vegas Run

(Gibson) Motley Crue have kicked off their Las Vegas residency with two sold-out shows and a Super Bowl commercial appearance.

In a synergy of L.A. flash and Vegas glitz, the "Mötley Crüe in Sin City" residency includes showgirl dancers, female aerialists, little people, macabre clowns and stilt walkers while the Crüe play classics such as "Kickstart My Heart," "Shout at the Devil," "Saints of Los Angeles," "Same Old Situation" and "Girls Girls Girls."

The band also performs an acoustic segment on a floating circular platform, featuring "Without You," "On With the Show" and "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)." And Tommy Lee's roller coaster drum kit from the band's 2011 tour is back in action after a disassembled portion made a grand appearance at the 2012 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California in January. more on this story

Holy Grail Map Out North American Dates

Holy Grail are hitting the road for some North American tour dates in March surrounding the South By Southwest festival.

The dates will take the band to Austin for South By Southwest, and most of them will see them alongside old friends and tourmates, Saviours.

These dates are in addition to the previously announced Australian appearances at the Soundwave Festivals, and the "Sidewave" off dates. more on this story

Liam Misses Oasis

(Gibson) Liam Gallagher has said that, despite enjoying his Beady Eye success, he misses singing for Oasis.

According to NME.com, the former Oasis singer would prefer to still be in Oasis, telling Live magazine, "If people think I'm going to be happy about the Oasis split, then they're wrong. Even though I love Beady Eye, I'd prefer to still be in Oasis, because that was my thing. Oasis was my life."

Not that there aren't bonuses to performing with his new band. Gallagher especially likes playing smaller venues. He said: "It's been great doing all these little shows, going back to square one. It's good to see the crowd and hear them. Long may that continue. Big gigs are soulless masses of people – I'm glad I've done them, but I don't miss them. I've got nothing to prove anyway." more on this story

The Day Led Zeppelin Hit The Top At Home

(Gibson) On this day in 1970, Led Zeppelin scored their first U.K. no. 1 album with Led Zeppelin II. Featuring the U.S. hit single "Whole Lotta Love," it went on to stay on the chart for 138 weeks, selling over 6 million copies in the US. Gibson takes a look back:

Led Zeppelin were busy bees during the first part of 1969. Touring heavily in support of their debut album, Led Zeppelin, the band criss-crossed Europe four times and the United States three times during an eight month period between January and August. In between performing and partying and laying the foundation for becoming this biggest rock band on the planet, they also found time to conceive and record what would eventually become their critically-acclaimed and wildly successful sophomore effort, Led Zeppelin II.

Embolden by their debut recording and touring success, Led Zeppelin kept the ball rolling with Led Zeppelin II by not only furthering the lyrical themes introduced in its predecessor, but also by displaying a growing and evolving musical palette, replete with blues-based monster riffage coupled with a healthy dollop of ethereal folk. The bulk of the album's recording took place between concerts, with each song recorded, mixed and produced separately from the others, and in different studios in the U.S., U.K. and Canada.

According to bassist John Paul Jones, this creative spontaneity only added to the overall flavor, and eventual success, of the album. "We were touring a lot," Jones said. "Jimmy [Page's] riffs were coming fast and furious. A lot of them came from on-stage, especially during the long improvised section of 'Dazed and Confused.' We'd remember the good stuff and dart into a studio along the way." more on this story