KISS Def Leppard Deep Purple Supergroup Promoter Trouble

Evenpro, organisers of the event at Campo De Futbol Universidad, Caracas, say they paid up front for a two-hour performance and meet-and-greet session. When it was cancelled Gabe Reed Productions didn't return the cash. more on this story

Why Slipknot Are Hiding Their Bass Player

(Banana 101.5) Slipknot percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan talks about his disdain for greatest hits albums and why their forthcoming retrospective 'Antennas to Hell' is so much more. In his typically candid fashion, Crahan also talks about why temporary bassist Donnie Steele will remain off stage while playing with the band.

After doing so for their first performances following the death of founding member and bassist Paul Gray, the band will again employ former guitarist Donnie Steele to play bass — from backstage. "What gives him the right to be onstage with us right now?" Clown explains. "When we're going through an experience like this with our fans, they need to concentrate on the eight members that are grieving, not on someone new.

"This isn't a diss on Donnie. I love Donnie, but we chose to tour for just one reason — to share the tragedy, pain and grief of what happened to Paul with our fans instead of going through it alone." Now about that greatest hits collection...

Story Behind The Who's Quadrophenia Hitting Movie Theaters

Fathom continue to bring rockin' films to movie theaters with the latest, "The Who: Quadrophenia- Can You See The Real Me?" The Story Behind The Album set to premiere as a one-night in-theater event on Tuesday, July 24, at 8:00 p.m. local time nationwide. Fathom sent over these details:

Beginning with a special welcome message from lead guitarist Pete Townshend, "The Who: Quadrophenia – Can You See the Real Me?" The Story Behind The Album event will give fans an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look into one of rock's most influential bands – Roger Daltrey (lead vocals, harmonica and guitar), Townshend (guitar, keyboards and vocals), John Entwistle (bass guitar, brass and vocals) and Keith Moon (drums and percussion) – and the creation of their celebrated album, "Quadrophenia," originally released in October 1973.

Tickets for "The Who: Quadrophenia- Can You See The Real Me?" The Story Behind The Album are available at presenting theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. For a complete list of presenting theater locations and prices, please visit the website (theaters and participants may be subject to change). more on this story

Minus The Bear Preview Forthcoming Album

Dangerbird Records have set an August 28th release date for Minus The Bear's fifth studio album, Infinity Overhead.

The band reunited with former member and longtime producer Matt Bayles (Mastodon, Isis, Cursive) to create the guitar-laden 10-track record. The band is giving a sneak peek into the album with a minute-long trailer you can watch here.

"We wanted to branch out on the last record and explore some more musical directions and work with someone we didn't know," says guitarist Dave Knudson about the band's 2010 LP, Omni, produced by Joe Chiccarelli. "That was very educational and eye opening but at the same time we weren't in our wheel house." Drummer Erin Tate adds: "I look at it like when we started this band we were building a house with the first three records, then with Omni we decided to go to a beach house. Now, with Infinity Overhead, we are back working on our house." Bassist Cory Murchy succinctly exclaims: "We didn't go anywhere, but we're back."
more on this story

Anthrax Covering AC/DC, Journey, Rush and Boston on New EP

(Gibson) To celebrate the one-year anniversary of the release of their most recent album, Worship Music, Anthrax is planning a special EP of covers.

Drummer Charlie Benante broke the news during an interview with Loudwire. "To commemorate the first year of 'Worship Music' being out, we're putting together a little companion EP with some fun s--t on it," he said. "It started out as what I call 'The '70s EP.' It's made up of some cover songs from our favorite bands – consisting of Rush, Thin Lizzy, Boston, Journey… We're still working on it now, but I think it's gonna be really cool."

Fan can expect to hear Anthrax's takes on AC/DC's "T.N.T.," Boston's "Smokin'," Journey's "Keep on Runnin'" and Rush's "Anthem." The EP is due around September 13. more on this story

Incubus HQ Live Set For Release

Big news from the Incubus camp this week, the band has the announced the release of Incubus HQ Live in multiple configurations. Here are details they put out:

In summer of 2011, celebrating their 20th year together, Incubus turned a Los Angeles storefront space into a low-key, hi-tech residency that resulted in six nights of free performances and fan encounters now chronicled on Incubus HQ Live.

The celebration takes place across three separate multi-disc packages released by Legacy Recordings: INCUBUS HQ LIVE (16-track CD + DVD, available August 14th); other package details.

Rare AC/DC Item Fetches Big Price Online

(Classic Rock) A rare AC/DC tour program has sold on eBay for $1500. The 1976 souvenir was produced for the band's Giant Dose of Rock'n'Roll tour of Australia.

But the program was withdrawn midway through the 20-date trip because authorities deemed it "a case for the moral decline in the nation's youth."

The action is thought to have stemmed from a "politically incorrect" comment on bassist Mark Evans' page about Swedish actress Britt Ekland. More rock news here.

All That Remains Finish Recording New Album

All That Remains have finished recording their new album, A War You Can Not Win, which is expected to be release in September 2012.

A War You Can Not Win sees ATR reunited with longtime producer Adam D. (The Devil Wears Prada, As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage).

The record is the culmination of an intense writing period for the group that began shortly after their 18-month tour in support of For We Are Many. "So we're gonna release a new disc in the fall and it's called 'A War You Can Not Win'. We really busted our asses and tried to do some new stuff (like we always do) and we're really happy about what came out of it. Some of it is pretty different and is REALLY gonna blow you guys away. Some of it is gonna sound just like what you expect from ATR. And I'm sure all of it is gonna make the internet have a conniption fit! Release is gonna be this fall and we're already working on a co-headline tour to show some of it off! Get into it," comments All That Remains frontman Phil Labonte. more on this story

Former These Arms Are Snakes Frontman Returns With Crypts

Former These Arms Are Snakes frontman Steve Snere returns with Crypts who have set their debut album release and lineup some live shows.

Crypts self-titled debut will be released on LP, CD and download via Sargent House on September 4th, 2012.

Crypts are also planning some live shows include a night supporting Russian Circles and a run in September with Chelsea Wolfe -- dates to come. The also play their hometown at Seattle's Capitol Hill Block Party on July 20th. more on this story

Reminder: Metallica Orion Festival To Stream This Weekend

(Gibson) While it's pretty killer to see Metallica putting together their own music festival this year – Orion Music + More – unfortunately, tons of fans won't be able to trek out to Atlantic City to take part in the metal fun.

Thankfully, Fuse TV has announced they will webcast select performances from the event all weekend long, starting on Saturday (June 23) at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Fuse will stream Metallica's Friday and Saturday night headlining sets, where the guys will perform Metallica (the Black Album) and Ride the Lightning from front to back. In addition, Fuse's YouTube channel will highlight performances by Gaslight Anthem, Modest Mouse and Best Coast, among other acts. more on this story

Duff McKagan Receives High School Diploma

(hennemusic) Duff McKagan is now a high school graduate. On Tuesday, the former Guns N' Roses bassist received his diploma during the Class Of 2012 graduation ceremony at Seattle's Roosevelt High School.

Duff had previously dropped out of the school while in 10th grade; he later went on to take his General Educational Development (GED) tests, which is widely accepted by employers as an alternative to a traditional high school diploma from an accredited high school. "Finally got my high school diploma today. I did the not-so-popular 48-year plan," tweeted Duff.

McKagan's previous education included a basic finance course at Santa Monica Community College in 1994; in the early 2000s he enrolled full-time at Seattle University's Albers School of Business and Economics. more on this story

Alice in Chains' Jerry Cantrell Receives Stevie Ray Vaughan Award

(Banana 101.5) Alice in Chains co-founder Jerry Cantrell was honored with the Stevie Ray Vaughan award for his contributions to the MusiCares MAP fund at an event on May 31. In a new video, you can hear Cantrell, former Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan and more talk about their struggles with sobriety.

Alice in Chains has had many substance abuse problems over the course of their 20+ year history, ultimately losing two of their original members — singer Layne Staley in 2002 and bassist Mike Starr in 2011 — to addiction. They weren't the only band members with problems though, "I'm as imperfect as they come," said Jerry Cantrell at the podium for the MusiCares MAP benefit. "I just try to do what I can to not get high today, you know. And that's pretty much gotten me to where I am today."

Rocking a sweet 'stache, Cantrell even gave the details of his, literally, rocky road to sobriety. "Shawn [Kinney, Alice in Chains' drummer] was at the door with my brother. So my choices were open the door and go to rehab or jump out the back window, down down a cliff, into some blackberry bushes. That's the choice I took." said Cantrell. "And I ended up here. So, I didn't intend to get here but I'm very grateful that I am here and it took a lot of people to help me get here." Check out the video here.

All Else Fails Replace Tom Wolf

All Else Fails have announced that they have replaced drummer Tom Wolf with Shane Tym and plan to begin recording a new album. We were sent these details:

Tym who has been drumming for the last 15 years and was born in Edmonton but grew up in Chilliwack, BC and has played in multiple bands, will be making his AEF debut at this year's Normfest in Fishing Lake, AB on August 4th.

"I'm super pumped to be a part of such a wicked band with such great (and kinda weird) dudes, and am really looking forward to creating some sexy sexy music together!' says new drummer Shane Tym. more on this story

Kill Devil Hill Summer Tour Plans

Kill Devil Hill have mapped out some late summer North American tour dates which will kick off on August 1st in Las Vegas, NV.

Kill Devil Hill is the new project featuring drummer Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell, Dio) and bassist Rex Brown, (Pantera, Down) guitarist Mark Zavon and lead vocalist Dewey Bragg.

The group's self-titled debut album was released May 22nd via Steamhammer/SPV and landed at #9 on the Billboard Top New Artist Albums (HeatSeekers) Chart, #41 on the Top Hard Music Chart and #50 on the Independent Album Chart. more on this story

Halestorm Kicking Off Headline Tour This Weekend

Halestorm will be kicking off their summer headline tour tomorrow, June 23rd, in Portland, ME.

The band is hitting the road once again in support of their latest release, "The Strange Case Of…"

Halestorm also recently made history with their new single, "Love Bites (So Do I)" when the track ascended to #1 at Active Rock radio outlets nationwide, marking the first ever female-fronted group to top the format's airplay ranking. more on this story

Alastor Albums Gets Remastered

Remastered versions of Alastor's first two albums will on September, 3rd in Europe and September, 11th in USA (via MVD).

The material will be remastered using tube technology and released in a limited digipack edition.

Their debut album entitled "Syndroms of the Cities" from 1989 will be available for the first time in CD format, while their previously unreleased second studio album "Destiny" (1190) will have its official premiere. more on this story

B Sides

Iron Maiden World Tour Kick Off Footage Online

(hennemusic) Iron Maiden kicked off their "Maiden England World Tour" Thursday night in Charlotte, NC and some footage has appeared online.

The tour will closely mirror, in terms of production and content, the original 1988 concert video of the same name, shot on the "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son Tour."

Maiden were joined in Charlotte by special guest Alice Cooper, who opens shows through to July 21. The North American tour will hit more than 30 cities before it wraps in Houston, TX. on August 18. Watch the footage from the kick off here.

Joe Walsh Talks Hotel California and Eagles Flight Plans

(Gibson) Joe Walsh talked to Gibson about making his new album with producer Jeff Lynne, his distinctive guitar style and how he and Don Felder pushed one another during the recording of the Eagles' classic, "Hotel California."

People always want to know about the guitar interplay on "Hotel California." Did you and Felder spend a great deal of time working out your parts? Not a great deal. Once Don [Henley] had figured out the words, and once the vocal was sung, so we knew where not to play, Felder and I decided we would have multiple guitars playing together, doing the same thing, in different voices. We wanted to build that up within the body of the song, so that it would gradually become more complex. And we decided that, at the end of the song, we would have a go at one another. Felder and I pushed each other. It was competitive. It was like, "Okay, watch this!" We did that on purpose, because it created tension, that effort to be the tougher guy. You can hear that in our performances.

How far along are The Eagles' plans for next year? We're working on a documentary. We've looked at all our archives – lots of archived video and interview footage that dates back even before I joined the band. It's going to cover the entire lifetime of the band. Everybody on the perimeter is interviewed, and we're all interviewed. We've got great people producing and directing it. My best guess is that it will come out around the end of the year. The plan is to put together a new show based on the theme of it being our 40th anniversary as a band, and based on the documentary project. With all that content, we'll go out and have a "Happy Birthday" tour sometime next year. Read the full interview here.

Green Day Preview Second Installment of Album Trilogy

(hennemusic) Green Day have unveiled a preview of the second part of their forthcoming album trilogy.

The band has been in the studio recording not one, but three albums – a trilogy entitled ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tré!. The projects will be released in stages, on September 25th 2012, November 13th 2012 and January 15th 2013 respectively.

Last week, Green Day offered up the preview trailer for "¡Uno!" – now, they've issued an advance look at "¡Dos!" Watch it here.

Anniversary of The Glastonbury Festival

(Gibson) On this day in 1971, Melanie, Quintessence, The Edgar Broughton Band, Pink Fairies, Terry Reid, Gong, David Bowie, Hawkwind, Arthur Brown, Brinsley Schwarz, Fairport Convention and Family all appeared at the second Glastonbury Festival in England. Gibson looks back:

Current Glastonbury Festival chief Michael Eavis put on a small music festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset in September 1970. The following year, the same location saw another more ambitious, more magical festival, where ancient ley lines met in some mystical pattern and which organizer Andrew Kerr and his cohorts called the Glastonbury Fayre, setting the spiritual tone for Glastonbury festivals to come.

Eavis, writing an obituary for Arabella Churchill (granddaughter of Winston Churchill and one of the Andrew Kerr gang) for the Independent newspaper remembered the 1971 organizing team as a "crowd of upper-crust hippies … who wanted me to let them have the farm to put on a free festival to coincide with the 1971 summer solstice."

Bill Harkin, who would design the original giant wooden pyramid stage that was designed to focus the energy of the solstice, met the upper-crust hippies while out walking on Glastonbury Tor (hill). He writes on pyramidstage-glastonburyfestival.co.uk:

"I found myself at the foot of Glastonbury Tor at about midnight and on making a brew of tea on my Primus in the back of the van, I was surprised to see a group of freaks, big hats, long scarves and cloaks stumbling down the Tor path towards me with shrieks of laughter.

"They said that they were meeting a farmer the following day, Michael Eavis who had staged a small music event, Worthy Farm Pop Festival some weeks before … they wanted to rent a farm for a free festival the following year. They had all been so horrified by the steel fences and commercialism of the Isle of Wight Festival and wanted to do something very different."

Eavis was happy for the plan to take place and explained in his Independent piece why he was not actually involved in 1971. "When I had a disagreement with them they threw a load of Tarot cards on the kitchen table. The message read: 'No one with the name of Michael should be involved with the festival.' And I said: 'Hang on a minute, isn't this my farm?'" more on this story