More Led Zeppelin Reunion Shows Unlikely

But of any more Led Zeppelin shows, Page is pessimistic. "We're almost five years after the O2 concert. I must say, I thought there might be some other get-together, for some reason or other. But as the years tick by… one year, two years, three years, four years… It doesn't look very likely, does it?" more on this story

Black Sabbath Making Progress on New Album

(hennemusic) Black Sabbath continue working on their new album with producer Rick Rubin and are keeping fans informed about the progress.

The group updated fans on the project on Thursday, posting news that Geezer Butler "is all set to record some more bass tracks on the new album today." The update included a black and white photo of Geezer's basses in the studio.

Three original Sabbath members - Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Butler - press on while drummer Bill Ward sits out the planned reunion over a contract dispute. more on this story

Rolling Stones Plan Stripped Down Shows At Upcoming Concerts

(hennemusic) Keith Richards explained in a new interview what fans can expect at the Rolling Stones upcoming live shows.

"We'll have Bobby Keys in for a few horn things but we're not carrying sections. Charlie said, 'We should have the stripped-down thing.' I said, 'Charlie, you realize how much pressure that puts on the guitar lineup?' But at the same time, it's a challenge, and he's right," agreed Richards. "The fact is that what we try and do onstage is deliver what's on the record, and there's a lot of horns and a lot of voices. OK, you want the blues band, you want the rock 'n' roll, stripped down? You're going to get it. It's going to be fun, man," Richards told Rolling Stone.

There's four concerts on the band's current schedule, but can fans expect more live Stones in 2013? "This juggernaut, once it gets rolling, is almost unstoppable," replies Keith. "'Oh, an extra gig,' or, 'Let's play somewhere you've never played before.' So things go on. Right now, I'm just happy to have the thing rolling and moving. It'll be great, playing London and New York. The rest of it, it'll happen. Don't worry about it." more on this story

Roger Waters Plans 2013 The Wall Tour

(hennemusic) Roger Waters held a press conference Thursday in London to discuss his newly-announced 2013 European tour of "The Wall."

The 2013 tour starts July 20 in Werchter, Belgium, with dates currently scheduled to September 21 in Paris.

For these large open air stadiums, Waters has re-designed and scaled up The Wall show to create the ultimate stadium event, bringing The Wall experience even closer to fans wherever they are sitting and making the production even more encompassing in large venues. "I'm extremely glad to be playing The Wall in Europe again," says Waters. "It's going to be a lot of fun for all of us. I've reworked the show to play outdoors in large stadiums. It's really good. Even more moving, engaging, dramatic and thrilling than the Arena shows. I've had to rethink the whole thing about stadiums. This wide wall stadium show couldn't have been done 40 years ago. We couldn't have filled the space in a way that would have been emotionally, musically and theatrically satisfying. Technology has changed. Now we can." more on this story

Chickenfoot Box Set Coming

(hennemusic) earMUSIC have set a January 25, 2013 release date for the new Chickenfoot box set "I+III+LV".

The box set will include the worldwide Top 10 debut album "Chickenfoot" and the successful follow-up, "III", and the limited live release "LV", released in December and limited to 10.000 numbered copies in Europe.

"LV" features over an hour of live music made of four unreleased live songs recorded during the "III" world tour and a series of very rare digital bonus tracks and B-sides live. more on this story

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Releasing New Album and Plan Special Shows

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club have announced some special concerts as they put the finishing touches on their new album, which they expect to release next March.

The band will play three intimate shows next month that trace their California roots: Slim's in San Francisco on December 19, The Catalyst in Santa Cruz on December 20 and The Troubadour in Los Angeles on December 21.

These will be the first shows they've played in their home markets in nearly three years and are ready to try out some of their newly recorded material live for the first time. more on this story

Down and Warbeast Map Out North American Tour

As previously reported, Down and Warbeast are teaming up for a North American tour early next year and have now mapped out the tour dates.

The "The Weed & Speed Tour: West Coast Throwdown in the Year of XIII", will kick off on January 11, 2013 in Houston, TX at Warehouse Live.

The tour will make its way through several states, coming to a close on February 1st in Chattanooga, TN at Track 29. more on this story

Alice Cooper Releasing Old School Box Set

Alice Cooper has set a December 4th U.S. and November 19th international release date for the 'Old School 1964-1974: Special Edition' box set filed with rarities. His official site had these details:

'Old School 1964-1974: Special Edition' is a career-spanning 4CD and download set taking you inside one of rock's great bands in a unique full-length school yearbook, with an array of amazing audio rarities direct from the depths of the band's own vaults and personal collections, with unearthed gems also generously provided by family, friends, road crew and long-time fans.

Housed in a very apt mini school desk design, this set features 4 discs crammed with demos, pre-production and rehearsal recordings of classic Alice Cooper tracks, radio spots, interview anecdotes, plus a full live show captured on the 1971 Killer tour -- Live in St Louis -- along with a 60-page yearbook charting the incredible rise of Alice Cooper complete with many rare photos. more on this story

Two Rush Albums Getting Super Audio CD Reissues

(hennemusic) Two new Rush Super Audio CD reissues are set to be released soon by Audio Fidelity.

Audio Fidelity said in their newsletter that they will be releasing an SACD (Super Audio CD) version of Rush's "Counterparts" next month, along with an SACD of Yes's "Close to the Edge," reports Rush Is A Band.

These two projects will be the company's first SACD releases in over 10 years. Released in 1993, "Counterparts" is Rush's fifteenth studio album; it featured the singles "Stick It Out," "Nobody's Hero," "Double Agent" and "Cold Fire." It became Rush's highest-charting album in the U.S., peaking at No. 2 on The Billboard 200. more on this story

KISS Plan To Have Another Kruise

(hennemusic) KISS recently completed its second annual cruise and Sixthman have put together a KISS Kruise II video recap. Paul Stanley also announced during the show that there will be a KISS Kruise III.

For the second straight year, KISS partnered with Sixthman for "Kiss Kruise II," which set sail October 31 - November 4 from Miami, Florida to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas onboard the Norwegian Pearl.

KISS played a sailaway concert as the Pearl left the Port of Miami. More than 2200 members of the KISS Navy sang along as the band played classics, lesser-heard tracks and many instant requests from fans. Watch the recap here.

Hollywood Undead Recruit Slipknot's Clown For New Video

Hollywood Undead have recruited Slipknot's M. Shawn Crahan aka clown to direct the music video for the lead single from their forthcoming album, Notes From The Underground, which will be released in January.

According to SKH, Crahan has been an acclaimed director for years working in the field of music video, delivering clips for his own band Slipknot throughout their multi-platinum Grammy-winning career. Crahan also directed Slipknot's 2005 DVD Voliminal: Inside The Nine.

On the selection Da Kurlzz shares, "We are very excited to be working with someone that thinks as progressively about their art as we do. clown is a great director, and together we are going to deliver something truly memorable." more on this story

Godsmack's Sully Erna Plans Limited Edition Box Set and TV Concert

Godsmack frontman Sully Erna has set a December 19th release date for a limited edition box set of his 2010 solo debut, Avalon, and the collection's live concert is set to air on Palladia tonight. We were sent these details:

The Avalon limited edition box set contains 5 DVDs – the double disc, Avalon Live, shot December 16th in Boston at The Wilbur Theatre in 2D, on Standard and Blu-ray; The Making of Avalon Live, a 40-minute documentary of behind the scenes footage from the concert in December; The Journey To Avalon documentary – an hour long version of the acclaimed doc seen on Palladia, and a bloopers and outtakes DVD of Sully in the studio along with videos from Avalon.

The box also contains 2 CDs – Avalon, the studio album, and Avalon Live, the live show from Boston. Other items include an autographed limited edition coffee table book, an updated version of Sully's personal memoir, The Paths We Choose, a limited edition poster from the Wilbur show and a limited edition t-shirt, a Sully Erna hat and necklace, commemorative backstage pass from the 2010 tour, a guitar pick, and custom hand-made incense chosen by Sully. more on this story

Dengue Fever Launch Label With Deluxe Reissues

(IAM) Dengue Fever are launching their own record label, Tuk Tuk Records, with digital deluxe reissues of back catalog and are kicking things off with their debut eponymous release and their follow-up Escape From Dragon House.

Each release will be expanded into a deluxe edition with rare and unreleased bonus tracks from the bands archive.

Each title will be available for digital download from all major online retailers, including iTunes, on Sunday November 25 throughout the world (minus U.S. and Canada) and Tuesday November 27 in the U.S. and Canada. more on this story

Intronaut Releasing New Album

Century Media have set a March 19, 2012 North American release date for Intronaut's new album, Habitual Levitations (Instilling Words With Tones).

Drums were recorded by producer John Haddad [Exhumed, Phobia] and Derek Donley [Bereft] handled recording for all other elements on the record. It was mixed by Josh Newell and artwork and layout will be done by David D'Andrea who has worked with the band on previous albums.

The band is confirmed for this year's Roadburn Festival held in the Netherlands and will be doing a full European tour around the event with The Atlas Moth and Castle. A full North American tour will be announced soon.

Stolen Babies Added To Turisas and Firewind Tour Stops

Stolen Babies will be joining the Turisas and Firewind North American tour for several dates in February.

Stolen Babies will appear on the tour from February 2nd in Jacksonville, FL and through February 21st in Oakland, CA.

A month prior to the tour on December 29th, the band will perform a solo show at Bar Sinister in Hollywood, CA. Stolen Babies also plans on scheduling select headlining dates before the 2013 tour kick off. more on this story

Balance and Composure, Jealous Sound and Daylight Tour

Balance and Composure will launch a North American headlining tour early next year.

The tour, featuring support acts The Jealous Sound and Daylight, will kick off on January 31 in Cleveland and culminate on February 24 in New York City.

Balance and Composure will be touring support of their debut full length album, Separation more on this story

Singled Out: miggs

Today miggs frontman Don Miggs tells us about "Stars", first single off of their new album "15th & Hope". Here is the story:

I had come up with the riff and basic structure on tour somewhere. Apparently, Walker [drummer] remembers it more vividly than me! He should tell it. Anyway, I had this riff and then sat in my studio right before Phil (Ramone, producer of 15th & Hope) flew down to start recording and it all fell together quickly. Wrote itself almost.

I wrote Stars starting with the feeling the riff and "ooh oohs" gave me just led to the lyric being sort of upbeat and positive. It felt like movement, so I thought about my newborn son and how fast life goes by and the need to stop and, forget smell, but grab the roses for all they're worth.

The guys always have a real input and effect on the outcome of a miggs song. Basically, I have a good idea of what I believe the lyric is asking for and then they interpret it their way and we find a place that works for all of us. Their influence gives the song more dimensions, I feel.

During the recording process, the damn "ooh oohs" were the hardest part!!! Lol. Simplest thing but getting them right was tough. Not even sure we did in the end. Otherwise it went super easy.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and check out the video right here!

Trey Anastasio Releases New Animated Valentine Video

Phish star Trey Anastasio has released an animated video for the song "Valentine," which comes from his new solo album Traveler.

In this video, an animated Anastasio explores various worlds, seemingly led by the horn-accented spirit-lifting soundscape of the song.

Anastasio's ninth solo album, Traveler, was co-produced by Peter Katis, an old college friend of Trey's, who is known for cultivating the sound of such important indie rock acts as Interpol and The National. Watch the video here.

Mean Creek Premiere New Single Online

MTV Hive have premiered Mean Creek's new single, "Come On, Before It's Gone," which comes from their new album, Youth Companion.

"It's a song about grabbing hold of people and moments as they are here and as they are happening so that you don't end up with regrets, and so that love, life, and opportunities don't pass you by," frontman Chris Keene said. "The pop music we love is all about living in the now, so for these three minutes you can feel fully alive. That's what we try to do with our music - make people feel alive. Whether it's a sad song or a happy song, feeling anything, good or bad, is what life is all about." Listen to it here.

The new album, Youth Companion, was recorded at 1867 Recording Studio by Chris McLaughlin, producer of Mean Creek's acclaimed debut album, The Sky (Or The Underground), follows the band's Hemophilac EP, a four-song offering produced by John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr., The Hold Steady, etc.) more on this story

Decibel Geek Talk With Dokken's Mick Brown

The latest episode of the Decibel Geek Podcast features an interview with Mick Brown, the drummer for T&N, Dokken and Ted Nugent. They sent over these details:

Mick recently called in to chat with Decibel Geek writer Wally Norton to discuss the new T&N project and a whole lot more.

Also included in the interview is discussion on how Mick became interested in the drums, forming the band Dokken, the Hear n Aid project, touring with Aerosmith and playing with Ted Nugent. Check out the interview here.

Sites & Sounds: The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival

For this week's edition of Sites & Sounds, Kevin Wierzbicki Travel Editor gives us the lowdown about the The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival which is set to take place in Playa del Carmen, Mexico on November 22-24:

This popular jazz festival continues to grow in international stature and this year marks its 10th anniversary. The festival takes place at a favorite Playa del Carmen party spot: beautiful Mamita's Beach where you can watch the lights of the island of Cozumel twinkling in the distance as the music plays.

Scheduled to appear on November 22 are Big Band Joe-D'Etienne, Pete Escovedo and Victor Wooten. The 23rd will see performances by Nortec, Pancho Sanchez and Level 42 (the Brit band famed as a pop/dance act was originally a jazz/funk fusion outfit) and the festival closes out on the 24th with shows by John Scofield, the Wayne Shorter Quartet and perennial festival favorites Aguamala. Admission to all shows is free. Playa del Carmen is about 45 miles down the beach from Cancun.

www.rivieramayajazzfestival.com
www.rivieramaya.com