Nine Inch Nails Vs Biffy Clyro

Asked whether Reznor was, in fact, unhappy that Biffy Clyro were ahead of him on the bill, Benn replied: "I couldn't possibly comment." More details.

Motley Crue Not Retiring Because of Mick Mars' Health

(Classic Rock) Mick Mars has insisted his lifelong health battle has nothing to do with Motley Crue's upcoming retirement. The guitarist has spent years suffered from ankylosing spondylitis, a condition that causes joints in the spine to fuse together.

Last week singer Vince Neil said that was one of the reasons the band are planning to bow out after a farewell tour and a movie based on their celebrated book The Dirt. Neil reported: "Touring is tough on him."

But Mars tweets: "Any rumours regarding a farewell tour due to 'my poor health' are BS. I am doing fine. My AS has never kept me from touring and never will." more on this story

Nazareth Singer Collapses Again

(Classic Rock) Nazareth have been forced to cancel another run of shows after singer Dan McCafferty collapsed and required medical attention for the second time in a month after suffering a stroke, according to a promoter.

The veteran Scottish outfit – who postponed a number of UK shows at the beginning of the year after McCafferty contracted a virus – had to abandon a Canadian tour in July when he collapsed on stage.

On Saturday their set at the Summerdays festival in Switzerland was cut short, with witnesses saying the singer complained about shortness of breath. Newspaper reports said he was later taken to hospital.

As a result their planned headline slot at Vosterfeesten in Belgium on Sunday was cancelled, along with shows in Germany and Sweden. Vosterfeesten Promoter Xavier Weijtens said: "Dan McCafferty is located in Switzerland in hospital after he suffered a stroke. The second in a short time, so we fear it is end of the line." more on this story

Judas Priest Making Progress on 'Heavy' New Album

(hennemusic) Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford spoke with Billboard about the band's progress on the follow-up to 2008's "Nostradamus." He says the new album will be "hard" and "heavy".

"The writing process is complete," Halford tells Billboard. "Now it's the painstaking work of making sure that you get every single note, every single nuance of the vocal, every tiny aspect...right. We're still tracking (instruments). It's just a very laborious but enjoyable part of making the record."

Priest is producing the album itself at the moment, but Halford notes that "there's always a possibility somebody might come in to overview some of the things we're doing."

Halford describes the project's sound as "hard. It's heavy. It's something we think our Priest fans will be thrilled with." more.

New Beatles BBC Set Coming?

(Gibson) A request last year by the BBC for fans to bring them rare Beatles recordings appears to have paid off, with reports that Volume 2 of Live at the BBC will be released this October, 19 years since the first set hit the streets.

Beatle fan site Wog Blog says Universal Music has added Live At The BBC Vol. 2 to its release schedule for October 4. If true, the blog writes, it fits with plans for a book about the Beatles' BBC recordings to be released in October in the UK and November in North America.

"If Universal Music carries on the EMI tradition, the re-release and the new release will also be available on vinyl, and as digital downloads on iTunes," the blog speculates. "And with the new merchandising deal, presumably some related products will be made available via the Beatles Official Stores."

The BBC routinely recorded over the tapes of their performances, but many recordings survive thanks to fans taping them at home, or in the form of BBC transcription records which were sent to radio stations in other countries. more on this story

Dave Mustaine Already Plotting Next Megadeth Album

(hennemusic) While Megadeth have been touring behind their new album, "Super Collider", leader Dave Mustaine says he is already working on ideas for the band's next project.

"I have been studying a lot of world history and a lot of crazy science stuff for new lyrics," tweeted Mustaine on Monday. "This world is so fascinating!"

"Super Collider" debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 album chart in June with opening week sales of 29,000 copies. Megadeth just wrapped up a month on the road headlining their own Gigantour festival; in September, they'll play a series of US dates with Iron Maiden before teaming up with Black Sabbath for a tour of Latin America in October. more on this story

KISS' Paul Stanley Sings Anthem at Dodgers Game

(hennemusic) KISS frontman Paul Stanley performed the National Anthem Sunday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles before the baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers, and video of the event has surfaced.

Stanley was sporting a new LA KISS shirt for the occasion, as KISS recently announced the launch of their own Arena Football League team. The news brings professional football back to Los Angeles after a five year hiatus.

The AFL will mark its 27th season in 2014 and the new season will feature primetime TV broadcasts on CBS Sports Network every Saturday. Meanwhile, check out Stanley singing the National Anthem here.

Kid Rock Added To Voodoo Music Experience Lineup

Kid Rock has been added to the lineup for the upcoming Voodoo Music + Arts Experience which will be taking place in New Orleans on November 1st until the 3rd.

He will join the previously announced lineup that will feature performances from Pearl Jam, Nine Inch Nails, The Cure, Paramore, The Gaslight Anthem, Alkaline Trio and more

"Over the last 14 years of Voodoo, we've seen some 2000 artists from nearly every musical genre perform in what some have called a musical gumbo," says Stephen Rehage, the founder/producer of VOODOO. "It seems fitting that an artist as diverse and talented as Kid Rock is returning to Voodoo for the 15TH ritual." more on this story

Runaways Lita Ford and Cherie Currie Reunite For New Song

(Classic Rock) Former Runaways Lita Ford and Cherie Currie have teamed up to record a Christmas track together. Ford had been talking up a Runaways reunion in the past months – but Joan Jett recently appeared to put the blocks on the idea, saying she couldn't think why they'd want to do it, adding: "the down side is bigger than the up side."

That hasn't stopped Ford and singer Currie laying down a track for release later this year. The guitarist tells PsychoBabbleTV.com: "My old drummer called me and says, 'Lita, let's record a Christmas song.' So I thought, 'What do you want to do – Jingle Bells?' He said, 'No, let's write something new.'

"I got out a pen and paper and I thought, 'Let's rock this Christmas down.' So we started writing a song called Let's Rock This Christmas Down." more on this story

Alice In Chains' Cantrell Talks Rock Hall Prospects

(Radio.com) 2015 will mark the 25th anniversary of Facelift as well as Alice In Chains' eligibility for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Cantrell attended this year's ceremony, performing with Heart, Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam. Did it get him thinking about Alice as Hall Of Famers?

"We're not into this to win awards," said Cantrell, "and that's the attitude I went there with. And I have to say, in fairness, that my opinion was a bit changed by being a guest with Heart and seeing how much it meant for them. It was a cool show, it was with a lot of respect. I was kind of moved.

"The best part was [Rush guitarist] Alex Lifeson's speech, but I also liked what [drummer] Neil Peart said: 'For years, we've been saying that this isn't a big deal. Turns out: it's a pretty big deal!' It was cool to see him say that."

Cantrell hopes the band is inducted at some point, but notes that Pearl Jam and Nirvana will probably be the first from the '80s/'90s Seattle scene to be inducted.

He's glad to have come up during that particular era: "We were really lucky to be a part of, not just in our own town, great bands coming up. We're really proud to be one of those bands in that generation, there were so many of them." And it's fortunate for fans who came up during that era, and for those who were too young to experience it at the time, that many of those bands — including Alice In Chains — are still making records and playing those songs on the road. more on this story

McCartney, Tommy Lee and Frampton Guest on New Bloody Beetroots

(Gibson) Peter Frampton, Paul McCartney and Tommy Lee have all worked with Italian musician Sir Bob Cornelius Rifo (real name, Simone Cogo) on the Bloody Beetroots' new album, Hide. The Bloody Beetroots usual sound is a mix of electro/rock music.

McCartney joined Rifo on the recent single "Out of Sight." Frampton guests on a track called "The Beat." Lee lends a hand on a tune called "Raw."

"I was impressed by the creative energy in the room when you get three musicians from three different generations vibing together in the studio," Rifo said after working with McCartney and producer/bassist Youth on "Out of Sight."

The cover art for Hide was created by Italian comics illustrator Tanino Liberatore, the hand behind the cover art for the Bloody Beetroots' last studio album, Romborama. See it here.

Lynyrd Skynyrd Holding Twitter Chat This Week

(hennemusic) Lynyrd Skynyrd will host a "High on the Hog" live Twitter chat this Thursday at 8/7p CT and they will be holding it live from their tour bus.

The band will be answering fan questions while on the bus headed back from Milwaukee, WI where they'll be performing at Harley-Davidson's 110th anniversary party.

Lynyrd Skynyrd are currently touring in support of their latest album, "Last Of A Dyin' Breed." The Jacksonville, Florida band celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, having released their debut album on August 13, 1973. more on this story

Black Sabbath Star Explains Halloween Maze

(hennemusic) Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler spoke with the San Gabriel Valley Tribune about the band's current North American tour as well as the 3D maze "Black Sabbath: 13 3D" at Universal Studios Hollywood's premier Halloween Horror Nights event, which opens September 20.

"They showed us the images of the maze, the drawings and photographs of the masks and the thing that they're making for it and explained the whole structure of it," said Butler.

"It's a maze and each part of the maze is based on particular lyrics from the old songs, so it's really good, it's really interesting. Once it's built, we're going out to visit it and have a tour of it. It will probably frighten us all to death." more on this story

Phil Anselmo Reflects on Far Beyond Driven Ahead of Anniversary

(TeamRock Radio) Phil Anselmo has recalled how Far Beyond Driven became the heaviest album ever to reach number one in the US charts. The Pantera record's 20th anniversary occurs next year – and the former frontman confirms there are plans to celebrate the date.

"In the early days they were very guarded about what I said," Anselmo recalls. "Finally, by Vulgar Display Of Power, it was, 'Just let me handle the lyrics – you worry about you.'

"By Far Beyond Driver I was saying anything I f**king wanted to f**king sing about, man," he continues. "It's the heaviest record to come in at number one – yes, there's a goddamn re-release coming up and it's going to have live footage and specialties." More from Phil here.

Nine Inch Nails Rehearsal Recordings Leak

(Radio.com) Nine Inch Nails are currently touring the international festival circuit, but back in June, Trent Reznor and co. were in the midst of rehearsals for their first tour since 2009. Now fans can hear these practice sessions, thanks to a rather sneaky audio guy.

According to a post on Reddit yesterday (Aug. 25), "a guy…who said he was working with the NIN production team while they were rehearsing" was bragging that he had a two-hour recording of a full set from the studio, complete with Reznor giving notes during the songs. He later uploaded the audio online for fans to download.

The studio session, recorded in L.A., stays true to the setlist that fans have been seeing at NIN's recent festival stops, including Lollapalooza, Outside Lands and Japan's Fuji Rock Festival. The recording features new songs like "Copy Of A," "Came Back Haunted" and "Find My Way" from their upcoming album, Hesitation Marks, out Sept. 3. more on this story

John Lees' Barclay James Harvest Releasing First New Album In 14 Years

(Prog) John Lees' Barclay James Harvest will release their new album "North" in October, which will be their first all-new studio album since 1999′s Nexus.

It's described as a "true group effort" between guitarist-vocalist Lees, bassist-vocalist Craig Fletcher, keyboardist-vocalist Jez Smith and drummer Kevin Whitehead and will appear as a standard CD, vinyl and a limited-edition double-disc set including a live recording from Buxton Opera House in 2011.

BJH tour the UK in November, with guests Gordon Giltrap and Oliver Wakeman at all shows except Edinburgh, where they're joined instead by Anne-Marie Helder of Panic Room and Mostly Autumn. more on this story

Devin Townsend's TeamRock Radio Show Is Part Of Z2 Project

(TeamRock Radio) Devin Townsend has revealed his TeamRock Radio show is a part of his Z2 project. The Canadian launched his series with an hour-long broadcast on Saturday, delivered in his alter-ego of Ziltoid The Omniscient and you can hear the full show online.

He explains: "The Z2 Project has now officially started and Z Radio is just one little element of it all. We've teamed up with TeamRock Radio to run the first couple of episodes and hopefully you'll like them enough for Ziltoid to make some more."

Townsend is poised to release his live Retinal Circus DVD, filmed during his extravaganza performance in London last year. He tells Metal Assault: "It was basically every emotion sort of wrapped up into one.

"Being perfectly honest, overall it was a really good experience – but it was fraught with technical hurdles. I didn't actually recognise what we'd done until I started editing it. In hindsight, it's great, but at that time it was just a lot of stress." Stream the radio show here.

Pop Evil Release Deal With The Devil Video

Pop Evil has released a brand new music video for their single "Deal With The Devil," which comes from the band's third full length studio album "Onyx".

The "Deal With The Devil" video was directed by Johan Carlen and is the second installment of a 3-part series working in reverse, the final piece "Trenches" was released previously. Watch it here.

The new album was released earlier this year and gave the band their highest chart debut to date and the previous single, "Trenches" topped the Active Rock and Mainstream Rock Charts.

Reckless Love Release 'So Happy I Could Die' Video

(TeamRock Radio) Reckless Love have released a video for their track "So Happy I Could Die." It's taken from the flamboyant Finnish outfit's upcoming album Spirit, due out on September 2 in the UKvia Spinefarm.

They're gearing up for a UK tour in October, of which guitarist Pepe says: "We're going to fire with all guns and get ground-breakingly explosive on stage as we hit hard.

"Do not miss this chance to witness the best Reckless Love shows to date!" You can grab the tour dates and watch their brand new music video here.

Celebrating Rush's Alex Lifeson On His 60th Birthday

(Gibson) Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson turns 60 today August 27. A founding member of Rush, he's dazzled over numerous albums, adapted his guitar style, and has seen Rush go from one of the most "uncool" bands on the planet to… actually, quite a cool band really.

Rush do their own thing, whether you love them or hate them. What's never been in doubt is the trio's musicianship. Geddy Lee (bass/vocals) and Neil Peart (drums/lyrics) are regularly voted "best ever" rock players in their field, and understandably so.

But does Alex Lifeson get the props he deserves? Maybe not so much. So as it's his birthday, here's a salute to Alex Lifeson of Rush. Lifeson is one of rock's premier players who are instantly recognizable and unique.

His many fans even talk about "the Alex chord." It can vary depending on which fan you ask, but it's usually a moveable sus2 or sus4, often with open higher (B and E) strings. F#7sus4 is a favorite "Alex chord." It features a lot in "Hemispheres" and "Xanadu." Suspended powerchords also feature large in "Tom Sawyer." Lifeson's chords and his counterpoint to Geddy Lee's bass are key to Rush's sound.

Harmonics are also a Lifeson staple: listen to "Hemispheres" or the intro to "Red Barchetta" (which also features plenty of suspended chords) here and read more.