Led Zeppelin Members Reuniting Today For Celebration Day Event

Led Zeppelin's 2007 reunion show was at London's famed O2 Arena. more on this story

Velvet Revolver Update From Duff McKagan

(hennemusic) In a new interview with Australia's Faster Louder, bassist Duff McKagan was asked for a Velvet Revolver status update.

As for who might fill Weiland's shoes as frontman, Duff said "I have no idea." And the group? "Um … I think it's at nowhere," he replied.

"I think everybody just kind of got sick of talking about it, because there's really no guy, so there's nothing that me or Slash or Matt [Sorum] or Dave [Kushner] could say that would change the course of this question. So there's nobody now, I think the longer that Slash is out touring, and that I'm out touring, people will stop asking as much. Maybe once it's settled down, we'll find the guy." more on this story

Eric Clapton Planning New Album and Tour

(Gibson) Fans haven't heard much from the legendary Eric Clapton in 2012, but as it turns out, the guitarist is plotting a big 2013. After all, next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the beginning of his lengthy music career, so there's no better time to hear some new Clapton tunes.

In a post on his official website, Clapton broke the news that, indeed, he has been recording a new studio album that will reach fans' ears in early 2013.

As for live performances, for overseas fans who want to see Clapton live, he also has some U.K. shows booked for May. Those dates include gigs in Birmingham on May 13, Manchester on May 14 and a five-night residency at London's Royal Albert Hall on May 17, 18, 20, 21 and 23. At the live shows, Clapton will be joined by several key players of his longtime backing band: guitarist Doyle Bramhall II, drummer Steve Jordan and bass player Willie Weeks, to name a few. Paul Carrack will also be on the trek. more on this story

Lamb of God's Randy Blythe Recalls Manslaughter Arrest

Metal Hammer have released some excerpts from their exclusive interview with Lamb of God frontman Randy Blythe following his release on manslaughter charges.

Here is an except: On Being Arrested Upon Touching Down In Prague "It still didn't sink in that something weird was happening with my band, but as soon as I got to the top of the ramp, the first thing I noticed was four or five really large men with guns and great pig pointy knives, pistols and facemasks. All you could see was their eyes and their mouths and they looked like they were there to apprehend a terrorist.

"After a minute this woman goes, 'Mr Blythe', and I said, 'Yes?' and she's looking at my passport, then she hands me a piece of paper that said I was to be charged with…well..we're using the term 'manslaughter' because it's the nearest translation in English. It said I was to be charged with, what I think in English would be, GBH, grievous bodily harm with malicious intent resulting in someone's death." Find out what happened next.

Iron Maiden To Headline Download Fest

(Classic Rock) Iron Maiden will headline the UK's Download Festival on Saturday, June 15, 2013, marking the 25th anniversary of their first appearance at Donington Park.

The NWOBHM giants topped the bill at Monsters of Rock in 1988 then again in 1992. They were first headliners in 2003 when Download replaced the old event with a multi-day show, and they returned once more in 2007.

And their performance, part of their current Maiden England world tour, will be based on the Seventh Son of a Seventh Son concert they delivered a quarter of a century ago. more on this story

Robin McAuley To Sit Out Schenker Tour For Medical Reasons

(Classic Rock) Michael Schenker Group frontman Robin McAuley will miss the band's upcoming North American tour as he undergoes surgery for a hernia.

Guitar icon Schenker has confirmed that David Van Landing, who's previously performed with MSG and spent a short time with Crimson Glory, will take the mic for the scheduled shows next month.

McAuley, previously of McAuley Shenker Group, Grand Prix and Far Corporation, says: "I'm regretfully forced to cancel my appearance with Michael. I expect to be back in the saddle soon as this is taken care of. I make a point of staying healthy and always ready to meet the challenges of each day as it comes. This is one of those days I rarely have to confront, but here it is nonetheless. more on this story

Cliff Burton's Isolated Bass Track From Metallica's Orion Goes Online

Next Thursday marks the 26th anniversary of Metallica bassist Cliff Burton's death and a new Youtube clip illustrates what a huge loss his untimely death was.

Metal Injection ran an article earlier this week about the posting of a new Youtube video which features an isolated bass track from one of Cliff's most beloved recordings.

The clip features the bass track to Orion, the instrumental from Metallica's Master of Puppet's album which has long been heralded as one of Cliff's finest works. You can listen and find out why here.

Black Country Communion Pull The Plug On One-Off Show

(Classic Rock) Black Country Communion have cancelled the one-off show which could have been their last-ever appearance.

The band's future is in doubt after frontman Glenn Hughes revealed his frustrations with not being able to tour because of guitarist Joe Bonamassa's hectic solo schedule.

Last week they announced they'd play a single show in Wolverhampton, England, on January 5 next year. Now they've said it's cancelled "due to unforeseen circumstances." more on this story

Fans To Pick Songs For Metallica's New DVD

(hennemusic) Metallica have announced plans to release a two-disc DVD set this December featuring a mix of two 2009 World Magnetic concerts from Quebec City.

Fans are being invited to vote on the setlist for the package - here's the full details from Metallica: "Happy September... we've got an early Christmas present for you! As we get ready to head back into the studio, we thought we would round out the Death Magnetic experience with the DVD/Blu-Ray release of the two nights we filmed in Quebec City way back in the fall of 2009. We were in the thick of the World Magnetic tour at that time and thought it would be cool to invite our friend Wayne Isham out to capture the shows, so while we were getting ready to film the 3D movie and all the other shenanigans we've been up to since then, Wayne and his team have been quietly editing and working with our team of next level audio engineers. The resulting two disc set will be ready in early December of this year with all the details coming very soon. However, we need your help now!"

"As we mentioned before, we played two shows... we would like YOU to pick which setlist is the main feature with the remaining songs not played in the setlist that you choose appearing later on the disc in the "extras" section." more on this story

Iron Maiden's Steve Harris Streaming New Album Online

(hennemusic) Iron Maiden founder and bassist Steve Harris will release his debut solo album "British Lion," on September 24 (UK) / September 25 (North America), but you can listen to it now online.

The project features ten songs that Steve and his collaborators have been working on for the past few years between Iron Maiden tours and releases. Metal Hammer is streaming the album here

"How it started was that Graham Leslie came to me with a cassette of songs – which shows how long ago it was! – and I thought they were really good, so I said I'd try to help his band do something," Harris recently told Classic Rock. "I ended up managing them and producing them and writing with them, although I kept that fact under wraps, to the point where even some people in the band didn't know. Anyway, when that band imploded I thought, 'Well, I've got to do something with this', because I thought the songs were so strong." more on this story

Aerosmith Found New Energy Working With Old Producer

(hennemusic) Aerosmith spoke with Fuse TV recently about making their forthcoming new album, "Music From Another Dimension."

According to Steven Tyler, the band discovered a new energy by revisiting methods that worked for them in their earlier days.

"The band has been around for 40 years [and] we found a new energy," he says. "An energy in fighting and making up; an energy in not playing forever; an energy in getting together in a room with an old producer named Jack Douglas that we could sit in there and write the songs all together like the old days. Sometimes you need a little energy to blow into the mix because it gets a little boring putting a record out, going on tour, putting a record out, going on tour….so this definitely had a whole new vibe to it." more on this story

ZZ Top Score Their Highest Debut Ever With La Futura

(Gibson) ZZ Top's first studio album in a lengthy nine years, La Futura, enjoyed a major showing on the Billboard 200 chart this week, landing at No. 6 and selling 31,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

La Futura's first-week sales showing at No. 6 is actually the highest sales week to date for ZZ Top.

The last time the Texas trio entered the Billboard's Top 10 was in 1992 with their Greatest Hits compilation, which topped out at No. 9. more on this story

Wolfsbane To Release Long Lost Album

(Classic Rock) Wolfsbane have found recordings they made in 1993, which they say shows what the band would have turned into had Blaze Bayley not left and joined Iron Maiden.

They thought the recordings, consisting of tracks taped live in a studio, had been lost for ever – until they discovered an unmarked cassette.

Now the contents have been remastered and will be available to fans only during the reunited band's upcoming UK tour. more on this story

The Wallflowers Plan Tour and TV Appearances

The Wallflowers have lineup a number of TV appearances and a fall tour in support of their new album, Glad All Over.

The band will launch their North American tour in San Antonio, Texas on October 6th.

The band will also be making appearances on Good Morning America (10/1), The Late Show with David Letterman (10/5) and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (10/8). more on this story

Jon Bon Jovi Help Big and Rich's Hillbilly Jedi

(Classic Rock) Jon Bon Jovi is responsible for country band Big and Rich being allowed to call their new album Hillbilly Jedi.

He stepped in when the duo's record label told them they couldn't use the title because George Lucas had trademarked the Star Wars word. And it took just one call from the singer to turn things round.

Big Kenny Alphin and John Rich co-wrote the song Born Again with Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, during which the title "Hillbilly Jedi" came up.

Rich tells Billboard: "I don't remember who actually said it first, but I remember Jon Bon saying: 'If I ever saw a couple of hillbilly Jedis it would be you knuckleheads.' The title just kind of stuck. Find out how Jon helped make the album title possible.

Rolling Stones Ronnie Wood Years Focus of New DVD

The Rolling Stones Under Review 1975-1983: The Ronnie Wood Years Part 1 is set to be released on DVD on November 20th. Here is the synopsis:

By the end of 1974 all was not well in the camp of the group tagged 'the greatest rock n' roll band in the world'. Their last two records had received little in the way of critical acclaim, the co-songwriters and main players had drifted far apart and in one notable quarter heroin addiction was rife. So when the man who had, for the previous five years, often been seen as the ensemble's anchor announced his resignation, many fans wondered if the game was all but up for The Rolling Stones.

But those of little faith had no further need to fret once Ronald David Wood, formerly of the much loved but shambolic Faces, plugged his Fender Strat into the Stones' PA, having been offered, to rapturous acceptance, the coveted position formerly occupied by Mick Taylor, and before him, the late Brian Jones. more on this story

Yuppicide Streaming New Album Online

Yuppicide are currently streaming their first studio album in 14 years, 'American Oblivion' EP, online. The EP was released this week.

"Even when the band was apart, I wrote songs for Yuppicide: I'd hear Jesse's voice or Joe's bass," said Yuppicide guitarist and founding member, Steve Karp. "Once we started working with new drummer Jay, the reunited band got back into songwriting mode quickly and almost too easily - like we never stopped. 'American Oblivion' is our very best effort yet, and sums up all our hard work since forming way back in 1988." Stream the album here

Yuppicide will play a CD release show on Sunday, September 30th at St. Vitus in Brooklyn, N.Y. to commemorate the release. more on this story

Mars Thinks Album Without Vince Neil Was Motley Crue's Best

(Classic Rock) Mick Mars believes Motley Crue's 1994 self-titled album, featuring John Corabi on vocals instead of Vince Neil, is their best work.

The guitarist says: "Musically, to me, it was my Beatles' White Album. I'm not saying any other albums are crumby or anything.

"I love every album that we did – but that one just has a special thing for me." [93.3 WMMR] More rock news.

Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund Awards Gala Details

The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund have announced the details of their second Awards Gala.

The event will take place on Halloween night, Wednesday, October 31 at the Avalon nightclub in Hollywood. Awards will be presented to seven distinguished honorees for their contributions to spreading awareness of Fund's important work, which was founded in memory of the world-renowned voice of Dio, Black Sabbath and Heaven & Hell, who lost his life to cancer.

SUASA privately funded 501C3 charity organization dedicated to cancer prevention, research and education, the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund has already raised more than $500,000 in its short history. Monies raised have been committed to the cancer research work of the T. J. Martell Foundation for Cancer, AIDS and Leukemia Research and the gastric cancer research unit of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where Ronnie was treated for gastric cancer during the last six months of his life, according to Wendy Dio, widow of the late singer and Fund President/Founder. more on this story

Vivian Campbell Tributes Late Def Leppard Contributor Dick Decent

(Classic Rock) Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard and Ricky Warwick of Thin Lizzy have paid tribute to their colleague Dick Decent, who died suddenly.

Campbell says: "It is with great sadness that I heard of the passing of Dick, a super-talented musician, friend, and occasional keyboard player for Def Leppard.

"He was a young man and he should have lived a lot more life. Our time here is short and never fully in our control. Live well and be good to each other." Read Ricky's comments here.

Sammy Hagar and Matt Sorum Taking Part In Little Kids Rock Event

(hennemusic) On Saturday, September 29, Sammy Hagar and Matt Sorum are among the musicians that will be at Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, California to support music education at the inaugural "Rock Their World Celebration," a fundraiser and celebration of national nonprofit Little Kids Rock's decade of service, restoring and revitalizing music education for disadvantaged public schools nationwide.

Little Kids Rock makes this possible by training teachers to teach their students to perform, improvise and compose the music kids love - pop, rock, reggae, funk, blues, rap and hip-hop.

Little Kids Rock also provides all the instruments and resources necessary for teachers in underfunded public schools to reverse the trend of budget cuts by restoring and revitalizing music programs for their students. more on this story

The Replacements Documentary Coming To DVD

MVD have set a November 20th DVD release date for The Replacements documentary, "Color Me Obsessed." Here is the synopsis:

Told through the eyes of fans, friends, and contemporaries, Color Me ObsesseD breaks from the traditional music documentary format of music and performances. Not looking to make a VH1/where-are-they-now style documentary, director Gorman Bechard took a unique approach, "I decided to present the band in a more iconic way," he explains. "I thought, people believe in God without seeing or hearing him but rather through the passion, faith, and stories of others. After watching COLOR ME OBSESSED, I'm pretty sure music fans will believe in The Replacements in much the same way."

Telling the band's story was a project close to the heart for Bechard. Like many who were weaned on punk music he latched onto this brash young Minneapolis band with fervor. Dubbed "the last best band" by Spin Magazine, their live shows could be miraculous or downright disasters. Their fans, unwaveringly faithful. As critic's darlings, their albums were wrought with angry guitars and passionate well-written lyrics that hinted at potential commercial success. Yet, somehow, the band managed to continually shoot themselves in the foot. Their relative obscurity was a motivating factor in presenting their story on film. "The Replacements should have been the next Rolling Stones," Bechard says, "And to the people who loved them, I think they were." more on this story

B Sides

Becoming The Archetype Singled Out Week: The Sky Bearer

Becoming The Archetype released their new album, "I Am," this week and we asked the band to tells about some of the tracks. Today drummer Chris Heaton tells us about the song "The Sky Bearer". Here is the story:

When I first entered the writing process for this album, most of the songs had already been completed, at least from a compositional standpoint. Daniel had created some fabulous pre-production tracks that he sent to me in Nashville, which I was using to learn the songs and write my drum parts. At that time, there was only one song that had yet to be fully fleshed out. "The Sky Bearer."

Although the song was hardly half-finished when I received it, I could not stop myself from playing it over and over again. I had a feeling early on that it would become one of, if not my most favorite track on the record. I just love the vibe of the song. It flows in a really interesting way right from the beginning, and has a great chaotic feel that suddenly tightens up at the first "breakdown" section.

I remember hearing that part for the first time, and having to rewind it right away to hear it again. From a drummer's perspective, talk about fun!

To say the least, I was very excited to see how the song would progress from there. A few days before we entered the studio, I went down to Georgia to meet up with everyone for final rehearsals and, of course, to finish "The Sky Bearer." Daniel and Seth already had some things in mind for how the song might develop. They knew it should change gears and move into a softer middle section, so with that in mind, the three of us began hashing out ideas and trying to put something together.

It's interesting to me how certain songs reveal themselves differently during the writing process. Some songs just come out all at once, almost spontaneously, while others almost need to be coaxed into existence over a longer period of time. "The Sky Bearer" seemed like a bit of both. It sat unfinished for a pretty long while, and during that time didn't change at all. Once we started working on it again, however, it almost seemed to write itself. It didn't take long at all before the rest of the song began taking shape, and within a day "The Sky Bearer" was finally constructed.

Because drums were the first thing to be recorded, we mainly just focused on the structural and rhythmic aspects of the song at that time, so when the vocals, keyboards, harmonies, and guitar solos got added into the mix, the song really took on an exciting new life! I believe this song is a really great combination of new and old BTA sounds, and hopefully listeners will pick up on that as well.

After everything was said and done, "The Sky Bearer" definitely became a personal highlight of the album. So I suppose my original feeling was correct!

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

Black Country Communion 2nd Afterglow Webisode Released

(hennemusic) Black Country Communion's third studio album, "Afterglow," will be released on October 30.

BCC are also sharing the second webisode in a new series entitled "The Making Of Afterglow."

"Let's be clear," says Hughes of the band's sound. "I went about writing all these albums to sound like an early '70s thing. We went out of our way to be that way." Watch the video here.