Black Sabbath Announce North American Summer Tour

The band kicked off their world tour in support of 13 earlier this week in Auckland, NZ. The group is currently in Australia and will perform at the very first Ozzfest Japan on May 12th in Tokyo. more on this story

Disturbed, Ra, Evan's Blue Members Form Fight or Flight

Disturbed guitarist Dan Donegan has announced his new project, Fight or Flight, and revealed details about the band's lineup and their debut album.

The band features Donegan along with Evan's Blue singer Dan Chandler, Ra's Sean Corcoran, guitarist Jeremy Jayson and Disturbed drummer Mike Wengren.

The band have inked a deal with Warner Bros. Record and will released their debut album, A Life By Design?, on July 23rd. Fans will get their first taste of the project when the first single, "First of the Last," is released to radio on May 21st.

As for the musical direction of the group, Donegan explains "This is more hard rock," he says. "It's got edgy moments, but there's more melody across the board. We had the chance to experiment as well. There are acoustic guitars and some electronics even. It's different all around."

He also had the following to say about the first single, "It's one of the more driving tracks on the record, and it's got my signature style," Donegan explains. "Lyrically, it's more cryptic. Dan and I spent a lot of time discussing conspiracy theories, and those conversations inspired the song." Check out their official site.

Judas Priest's Epitaph Hitting The Big Screen

(hennemusic) Ahead of its official release on May 28, Judas Priest have announced theater screenings of their new live DVD, "Epitaph," in New York and London.

"Epitaph" will be shown at two very special cinema events - one in New York at the Clearview Chelsea on May 14 and the other at London's Forum in Kentish Town on May 15.

On May 16, the film will then be released in theaters across the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Spain, Bulgaria, Estonia, Romania, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Central America with many more to follow.

Fans can check out details for their city in the widget here.

David Bowie Offers Mysterious Take On His New Album

(hennemusic) David Bowie has offered up his first statement on his new album, "The Next Day." In true Bowie fashion, his message is both mysterious and artistic.

The icon was asked by American novelist Rick Moody to present "sort of a work flow diagram" for the album as part of an essay he was putting together about it for The Rumpus.

Moody never expected to hear from the singer, but he did – receiving a 42-word message from Bowie, which he used in a 14,000-word critique, "produced in two short weeks", for the website. Check it out here.

Iwrestledabearonce Changing It Up On New Album

Iwrestledabearonce are currently putting the finishing touches on the tracking for their brand new studio album which they hope to release later this year and they released an update for fans.

The album will mark the first time the band will record with their new frontwoman Courtney LaPlante, who joined the band while they were on last summer's Warped tour.

"Since the day I joined this band, I've been anticipating this album!," says LaPlante. "I was pushed to the limit creatively and technically, and I've never been more proud of myself or my bandmates. We've been through alot this year, and this is the pay-off; the result of our experiences. Most importantly, I think IWABO fans both old and new will really enjoy these songs, and we can't wait to play them live for you this summer!"

Guitarist and programmer Steven Bradley is producing, engineering, mixing and mastering the album which they are recording in Los Angeles.

Bradley had this to say about the album, "Well damn! After another two years of non-stop touring, some unexpected twists, and getting to visit some new and amazing places, we're finally back in the studio working on full length number three!.

"I've 100% NEVER been this excited about an IWABO album, because it feels like we've finally reigned in "our sound" even further and really hit a stride in terms of songwriting. We've always admired bands like Deftones, Cynic, Thrice, Glassjaw, Mr. Bungle, Dredg, Cephalic Carnage, The Mars Volta, etc because they've never made the same album twice, and aren't scared to keep evolving while still maintaining their signature styles. more on this story

Styx To Release The Grand Illusion- Pieces Of Eight Live Album

Eagle Rock have set a May 7th release date for the new double live album from Styx, "The Grand Illusion/Pieces Of Eight Live."

The recording was captured during the band's performance at the Orpheum Theater in Memphis on November 9, 2010 where they performed both landmark albums in full.

The album features performances of Styx classic like "Renegade," "Come Sail Away," "The Grand Illusion," "Blue Collar Man," and more.

The same concert was the subject of a DVD and Blu-Ray release from Eagle Rock in January of last year. more on this story

Mars Volta Star Turned Eureka the Butcher For Music For Mothers

The Mars Volta Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez's has announced the release of the debut album under his solo alter-ego Eureka the Butcher.

The album is entitled, Music For Mothers, and will be released on May 28th. He had dedicated the album to his mother, Frances Sarah Rodriguez-Lopez, who died last year.

He explains, "This record is for my mom because she is the reason why I started playing the piano. She told me that it was great that I wanted to play drums, but if I played the piano, I could create music and play to a room full of people by myself. I didn't start playing drums for another 4 years, and I wouldn't start playing piano for another 7 or so. That's when i started making electronic music. Making music under the Eureka name gives me that ability: to make music and perform by myself. I, however, do not perform alone. Sadah Luna performs with me because of my love for her dance and her love for my music. She completes the live show.

"This record was made all over the world while on tour with The Mars Volta and Zechs Marquise, and at home when I was on break. I worked on it in buses, vans, planes, dressing rooms, airports, hotel rooms, backyards, sidewalks, just about everywhere. Music for Mothers is a testament to how much waiting around you do while on the road. It was a very rough time for my family and I, and this record was my therapy. My mom is my biggest fan and she gave me the drive, confidence, and clarity to start and finish this album.

"I didn't want it to be completely selfish and personal though. I want this music to be for all mothers...for all families. I hope that it will inspire other people to make music for their mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers. I was given the strength to push through and finish these songs, and I hope these songs give other people the drive to do the same. The drive to gain more knowledge and improve. If my family had not been there to motivate me, if my mom hadn't pushed me to learn other aspects of music, I would be sampling records and it wouldn't be as rewarding to me. Sampling records properly is an art form in itself, but i knew it wasn't for me. Instead, I learned to play a handful of instruments and because of that my music is all original and has a specific sound. This record is the sound of our household, the sound of our family."

To can listen to the song "Here Comes Eureka B" which appears on the album here.

Jeff Loomis To Miss Soilwork Tour Dates Due To Father's Death

Jeff Loomis announced on Wednesday that he is forced to missed part of his current tour with Soilwork due to the death of his father.

Loomis had the following message for fans, "On April 22nd in Corpus Christi, Texas, I got the very sad news of my father's passing right before we were about to perform. I will be flying home to be with my family tonight and will rejoin the Soilwork tour in Richmond, VA on the 29th.

"Thank you all for your support and warm thoughts. My dad meant the world to me and this is a very difficult time for both me and my family." You can visit his site for the latest.

Paramore Happy To Stay A Trio

(Gibson) Paramore didn't choose to become a trio, but having settled into that format, the band plans to stay that way. "We've come to love the idea of the band being just the three of us," reveals singer Hayley Williams, in a new interview with M Music & Musicians.

"It's not something we would have wished upon ourselves, or forced into being, but it seems to work. After two years of living it out, it just feels right." Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis and guitarist Taylor York were roiled by the contentious split with brothers Josh Farro and Zac Farro two year ago.

The Farros' departure afforded the punk pop band a chance to change directions on their new self-titled album, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

"We wanted to try new things, get outside our comfort zone," says Williams. "We felt if we didn't take that opportunity now it might not be there again. There was an excuse to change a bit and we wanted to take advantage of that. I'm so happy we did." more on this story

Filter Giving Away New Song and Set Album Release

Filter are giving fans a free download of the song, "We Hate It When You Get What You Want," which comes from their forthcoming album.

The band have set a June 3rd release date for the new album, "The Sun Comes Out Tonight" and you can download the free track here.

"The Sun Comes Out Tonight" was produced by Bob Marlette (Atreyu, Shinedown, Seether) and was recorded at Blue Room Studios in Los Angeles. more on this story

Rush Joke About Blah, Blah, Blah As They Resume Tour

(hennemusic) Less than a week after being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, Rush resumed their Clockwork Angels tour Tuesday in Austin, Texas.

Geddy Lee referenced the Rock Hall honors when greeting the crowd with the question, "Austin, what's happening!?," to wild applause. "I can't understand you. It's just a bunch of 'blah, blah, blah."

Guitarist Alex Lifeson's portion of the band's acceptance speech last week was literally 3 minutes of "blah, blah, blah". Many in the Austin crowd held up signs with the latest catchphrase in the world of Rush.

The show opened with 1982's "Subdivisions," and mirrored much of the setlist as the first leg of the tour, relying heavily on the band's latest effort, "Clockwork Angels." More including video.

Aerosmith To Perform at Social Star Awards

(hennemusic) Aerosmith will be one of the featured performers at the inaugural Social Star Awards in Singapore next month.

The May 23rd event at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel marks what organizers are billing as the world's first social media awards.

TV3 reports 288 Social Stars will be handed out at the ceremony; winners are based on the data of 1.7 billion users by social media analysis experts Starcount.com.

One of the winning Social Stars will go on to be crowned The Social Star Almighty - the most popular social media star on the planet. more on this story

Steven Van Zandt Helps Bring Music To Kids

(Radio.com) Steven Van Zandt has rocked many a stage as a member of Bruce Springsteen's mighty E Street Band, and now he's about to hit the classroom.

On Wednesday (April 24) at New York University, the guitarist announced that his Rock And Roll Forever Foundation has teamed up with the GRAMMY Museum for a unique curriculum designed to bring rock and roll (and its roots) into high school and middle school classrooms.

Clad in a half rocker/half educator outfit (jacket, tie and glasses, plus jeans and his omnipresent headband), Van Zandt introduced Rock And Roll: An American Story, a multimedia-based curriculum for middle and high school students that delves into more than just the music.

Explored here is the influence of the blues, country music, gospel, R&B and rock and roll on social movement, politics, history and American culture as a whole, over the past seven decades. More including video.

Oh, Sleeper Can On Fans For Help

Oh, Sleeper are turning to fans and asking for their help to fund a new EP from the band and also purchase a new trailer and repairing their touring van so they can continue touring.

The band has launched a campaign at Indiegogo and has set a $30,000 goal. As of Friday morning, they had already raised just under $7,900 dollars.

They plan to use the money for the trailer and van repairs but also to record a new EP with producer Andreas Magnusson and according to the announcement if they raise enough money they may be able record a second EP.

"We are so excited, anxious, nervous and stoked to venture out with something like this," says frontman Micah Kinard. "We know there are a lot of great methods of making and delivering music these days. After talking to several labels and looking at all of the 'crowd-funding' options, we really felt like Indiegogo was the right place to make our next move. We have gotten such passionate responses from our fans over the years, we are so excited to get even closer to them now."

Guitarist/vocalist Shane Blay adds: "We're going to be on Warped Tour all summer for the first time and we want all of our supporters to be part of the experience. Launching this EP and getting some road repairs done this way just felt perfect."

You can find out more details and prizes for various levels of donations here.

Singled Out: Thought Transfer's Light My Way

Today Thought Transfer lead singer Bob Katsiaficas tells us about the song "Another Mistake" from their brand new album "Light My Way". Here is the story:

"Another Mistake" I really didn't put too much thought into what I wanted to say, I just let the words come out on their own. But whenever I do that I have to decipher for myself afterwards what inspired the lyrics. It was a mix of 3 different topics that make up the lyrics.

The "every second we wait is just another mistake, every second it takes is just another mistake" lyrics touch on my feelings regarding the United States invasion of Iraq. I thought we lacked sufficient evidence to go there in the first place so every second longer it took us to come home was just another mistake. The "all I wanted to do was just to see you again" lyrics touch on a rough time I was having in a relationship that I thought was ending.

The "believe" lyrics in the chorus touch on my personal belief that there is a designed quality to life but that I don't know what exactly is the driving force behind our existence. So when I say "don't believe them" I am speaking about atheists. Although I also do not believe in the traditional version of God. The music has a feeling of heightened anxiety so it's fitting that the lyrics match that emotion.

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

Eddie Van Halen, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry Hang Out

(hennemusic) Eddie Van Halen has shared a backstage photo taken with Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry at the Stone Music Festival in Sydney, Australia on Saturday.

The bands were sharing the top of the bill on the first day of the weekend event, which also included performances by Jimmy Barnes, Buckcherry, Kings Of Chaos and others.

"We loved Van Halen in the beginning but they got so big so fast that we offset each other on tour and we never saw them," said Tyler at a festival press conference earlier in the week. "We've been following them ever since and I'm always honoured to see them backstage. Every time I look into their eyes I see a camaraderie that knocks me over so I love those guys." Check out the photo here.

Ulysses Release Taxi Driver Video

(Classic Rock) Ulysses have released a video for their track Taxi Driver. It's taken from their album Kill You Again, the follow-up to 2011′s Everybody's Strange.

The band say: "It's steeped in Roger Moore era Bond – there's even an imaginary Bond theme with a reggae middle-section. Take that Adele! Quirky pop delights and to-die-for big riffs bring to mind everyone from Mick Ronson, Lindsey Buckingham and Thin Lizzy to Supergrass."

Frontman Luke Smith comments: "We are finding our audience worldwide slowly but surely. People seem to need our strange mix of fun and darkness, pop songs and rockin' – when we play live we always pick up new fans. They may find it amusing at first, but I also think it is the depth of what is hitting them too. No one is quite doing what we're doing, at any rate." Watch it here.

The Mercy House Release My Disease Video

(Classic Rock) The Mercy House have released their official video for the song "My Disease," which comes from their debut album A Broken State of Bliss.

The Mercy House describe themselves thusly: "We are just five guys in London making music, we dislike limited thinking in any way, we are opinionated and we have a message we want to share."

They're on tour with Audrey Horne with a handful of headline dates. They're also playing the Classic Rock Live & Unleashed night at London's Borderline with Idiom on May 14. Watch the video and grab the tour dates here.