Lostprophets Singer Gets 35 Years For Child Sex Crimes

Mr Justic Royce, presiding, told a "shaking and convulsing" Watkins: "This case breaks new ground. Any decent person looking at or listening to material here would experience shock, revulsion, anger and incredulity. What you did plumbed to new depths of depravity." more on this story

Def Leppard Plan Viva Pyromania Shows

(hennemusic) Following the success of their "VIVA! Hysteria" residency in Las Vegas this year, Def Leppard are planning to return to Sin City for a "Viva Pyromania" run in 2014.

"The Vegas thing was amazing," guitarist Phil Collen tells Billboard. "We're also going to be doing Viva Pyromania at some point at the end of next year."

"Pyromania," the 1983 release certified 10 times platinum in 2004, was the Sheffield, England hard rock band's breakthrough album, predating "Hysteria" by four years. more on this story

Richie Sambora and Stevie Wonder Duet

Richie Sambora and Stevie Wonder hit the stage together recently to perform a duet of "Silent Night" at the 82nd Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade.

Richie had this to say about the experience, "It is almost beyond words. He was the guy that I emulated when I was a boy, and he taught me how to sing. It was an honor to meet your teacher. The first thing I did was whisper in his ear, 'I'm sure you get this a lot, but you were my inspiration as a singer.' The first thing he said is, 'You do the first verse!'"

Sambora also played his own set at the event, which included the Bon Jovi hit "Livin' on a Prayer" and the Bill Withers classic "Lean on Me." The parade airs nationwide across the U.S. on more than 350 stations in the coming 2 weeks (many on Dec 22 and Christmas Day). Check your local listings. It will also air on the Hallmark Movie Channel on Dec 20th at 5pm ET/PT, 4pm CT & Dec 24th at 11am ET/PT, 10am CT. But you don't have to wait to watch the duet. Check out video of that here.

The Faces Spurn Rod Stewart's Reunion Plan

(Classic Rock) The Faces keyboardist Ian McLagan says the band aren't interested in working with Rod Stewart in 2015, despite the frontman saying he's finally ready to stage a reunion.

A gathering of the original line-up has been discussed for several years, but after plans kept being put on hold they went out with SImply Red frontman Mick Hucknall in Stewart's place during 2010 and 2011, following a 2009 charity show at which Stewart failed to appear.

Last week the original vocalist said he was finally ready to commit – but McLagan insists he and drummer Kenney Jones want to spend 2015 focusing on the anniversary of earlier outfit the Small Faces, which didn't include Stewart.

"It's interesting that Rod announced these things without talking to me or Kenney. Why would we f**k around with the Faces when we've got bigger fish to fry?," The keyboardist tells Uncut. "We've done the Faces – and he didn't turn up." more on this story

Paul Stanley of KISS Sets Autobiography Release

(hennemusic) KISS frontman Paul Stanley will publish his autobiography, "Face The Music: A Life Exposed", two weeks after the group are inducted into the 2014 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame next April.

A few details about the book were issued Tuesday following the Rock Hall announcement. Due April 22, "Face The Music: A Life Exposed" is a 432-page memoir of Stanley and his rise to global success with KISS, which he co-founded in January of 1973 with bassist Gene Simmons from the ashes of the pair's previous band, Wicked Lester.

Publisher HarperOne revealed the book will feature rare photographs and candid memories about Stanley's wild life with KISS. On April 10, KISS will be inducted into the Rock Hall along with Nirvana, Peter Gabriel, Cat Stevens and Linda Ronstadt. more on this story

All-Star Randy Rhoads Tribute Concert Announced

(hennemusic) A tribute concert celebrating the work of late Ozzy Osbourne/Quiet Riot guitarist Randy Rhoads has been announced for January 25 at The Observatory in Santa Ana, California.

"Randy Rhoads Remembered: A Celebration Of A Legend" will see members of Guns N' Roses, Whitesnake, Extreme, Dio and more come together to perform tracks made famous by Rhoads during his all-too-brief career.

Originally a member of Quiet Riot, Rhoads shot to fame as the groundbreaking guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne, playing on his first two solo albums, "Blizzard Of Ozz" and "Diary Of A Madman."

"Randy Rhoads Remembered: A Celebration Of A Legend" will feature every track from Osbourne's first two records performed – each song by a different guitarist. Rare Quiet Riot tracks from Randy's time in the band will also be included. See the lineup here.

Megadeth Working On New Album Songs

(hennemusic) Megadeth are currently on the road playing dates on their Super Collider US tour, but Dave Mustaine says the band are already working on new material for their next album.

"We right now have a bunch of dates that's gonna take us up until August of next year," Mustaine told 94.5 FMX in Lubbock, Texas recently. "That's when we start recording the next record. We've already started working on writing stuff , and I figure that's a long enough time for us to gestate a record. Sometimes we've been forced to really kind of write on the spot. Right now we've got an amazing luxury to be able to take some time."

"Besides doing a lot of interesting things," he added, "I''ve got a performance coming up in April with the San Diego Symphony. And just interesting stuff like that. We're trying to go a little bit out of our comfort zone while we're near the end of this cycle, because we wanna make sure that we really experience as much as we can." more on this story

Patrick Sweany Mixes A Little Slayer With Blues On New Album

(The Blues Patrick Sweany hopes people will discover there's more than just blues to his ninth album Close To The Floor. He says the work embraces a huge range of influences, all the way to thrash metal icons Slayer – and they're all there to be discovered by those who listen closely enough.

Sweany tells Glide: "There's a bunch of cool, unifying traits about the stuff I steal from, which is all basically from the beginning of the American recording industry – blues and soul."

He lists his blues influences but then adds, "I also like Iggy and the Stooges," he says. "I like the energy of what rock became in the modern era with Led Zeppelin through punk rock stuff – and even Slayer.

"Slayer is great music to listen to when you're driving by yourself. That sort of energy is what I've always been attracted to. I just stuck with what I knew and what I felt I was good at." more on this story

Metallica Excited About Next Album and Debuting New Song On Tour

(TeamRock Radio) Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich admits that he is nervous about the band's upcoming By Request tour, which will see fans choosing their set lists for each show.

Everyone who buys a ticket will be entitled to vote for 17 tracks to be played, with the performance also including a brand-new song chosen by the band themselves. They'll bring the unique show to Sonisphere at Knebworth in July, where they're headlining alongside Iron Maiden and The Prodigy.

And he reinforces that the main thrust of next year's activities will be the follow-up to 2008's Death Magnetic. "We're so excited about getting that off the ground that it's only right to bring a new song out there," he says.

"We haven't figured out what that's going to be – but as we get a little closer we'll come up with something cool." more on this story

The Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne Launching Record Store Tour

(Gibson) Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne is getting ready to set off on a special tour of local record stores for what's being called the singer's "Record Store Tour."

The trek, which kicks off today (Dec. 19), will feature Coyne meeting fans and signing copies of the Lips' debut EP, The Flaming Lips 1st EP, and the band's reissue of their second cassette demo, The Flaming Lips 2nd Cassette Demo.

On tour, Wayne will be selling a limited-edition of the EP housed with a hand-crafted, custom-made solid chocolate skull. Each skull will include a golden coin that is redeemable as admission to any show the Flaming Lips headlines in the world. Leave it to Coyne to think up something that wild.

The Flaming Lips also have a new, six-song release out, Peace Sword, offering all new Lips music, as well as a 2013 full-length, The Terror. more on this story

Supersuckers Plan Full Album Preview

(Classic Rock) Supersuckers will release their ninth album, Get The Hell, on January 14th (27th in the UK), the band have confirmed and the band will be hosting a full album stream tomorrow (December 20th) on their official website.

It's their first studio outing since 2008′s Get It Together and the first to feature drummer Captain Von Streicher, who joined in 2012. And frontman Eddie Spaghetti is delighted to have fought his way through "many delays and unfortunate setbacks" to deliver the record.

He says of the 13-track disc: "The Supersuckers have no business being this good after all these years – it's as brutal and as polished as the band has ever sounded. This is the Supersuckers at their meanest, most ferocious, and still at the top of their game in the songwriting department. This record is a juggernaut front to back." more on this story

Clutch Announce UK Tour

(Classic Rock) Clutch have confirmed a 12-date UK tour for April and May next year. Neil Fallon and co will return to continue supporting their tenth album Earth Rocker, which was released in March and was shortlisted for Album Of The Year at the Classic Rock Awards.

The frontman recently said of the acclaimed studio record: "I'm excited about how balls-to-the-wall it is. It's more cinematic, and that was the approach."

The band were forced to postpone some of their 2013 US dates after Fallon underwent spinal surgery as a result of a childhood injury. He said at the time: "I have been advised that I risk further damage were I not to address the situation. Rescheduling a tour turns my stomach, but I believe this is the wisest choice given the prognosis." more on this story

Joe Satriani Announces Initial European Tour Dates

(hennemusic) Joe Satriani has announced the first series of dates for his upcoming 2014 European tour in support of his latest studio album, "Unstoppable Momentum."

The guitarist has revealed tour stops in France and Germany that will be taking place next June, starting in Paris on June 23. More European dates will be announced soon.

Joining Satriani on the road are veteran bandmate Mike Keneally (Frank Zappa, Steve Vai) on keyboards, along with a new rhythm section featuring bassist Bryan Beller (Dethklok, Dweezil Zappa) and drummer Marco Minnemann (Adrian Belew, Steve Wilson). more on this story

Alter Bridge's Fortress Instructional Guitar DVD Released

(hennemusic) Alter Bridge's latest album, "Fortress", is featured in the newest edition of FRET12's instructional guitar DVD documentary series "The Sound And The Story."

The recently-released 2-disc/6+ hour package features Alter Bridge guitarists/vocalists Myles Kennedy and Mark Tremonti sitting down to teach you every single riff, lead, and solo from their latest album.

The set includes behind the scenes details so fans can get all access to the writing and production of "Fortress." A complete artist-approved tab book is also included. more on this story

Arcade Fire Perform Bizarre 'Little Drummer Boy'

(Radio.com) With the band's current Reflektor campaign proving them to be quite the merry pranksters, Arcade Fire keep the party going by bringing even more surrealism to the latest edition of Zach Galifianakis' aggressively awkward talk show series, Between Two Ferns.

In this holiday-themed edition of the Funny or Die franchise, Galifianakis trades random one-liners with guests Tobey Maguire and Samuel L. Jackson.

The interview segment is followed by the Arcade Fire, festively dressed and bunched together in front of a Christmas tree as the perform a bizarre version of "Little Drummer Boy," with band members taking turns singing the verses with exaggerated vocal inflections as fake snow falls ("it's asbestos," Galifianakis deadpans). Regine Chassagne in particular adopts a shrill, high-pitched accent that cuts through the otherwise traditional arrangement. Frontman Win Butler wears sunglasses and lights a cigarette.

While the Arcade Fire are done playing shows for the rest of 2013, the band is set to kick off the new year with a string of January shows in Australia, followed by the recently extended Reflektor tour launching in America on March 6 with a concert in Louisville, KY. Check it out.

Trans Siberian Orchestra To Play UK For First Time In Three Years

(Prog) Trans Siberian Orchestra will play their first UK shows in three years next month. The Manchester and London dates are part of their Europe Winter Tour 2014, which starts on New Year's Eve in Berlin. They'll perform at the iconic Brandenburg Gate before an audience of around one million people.

The band recently released a compilation album called Tales Of Winter: Selections From The TSO Rock Operas, containing 15 tracks from across their 20-year career.

This week they launched Christmas single Sarajevo 12/24, inspired by the story of Vedran Smailovic – known as the Cellist of Sarajevo – who played in the city while it was under attack during the Bosnian War. more on this story

Simmonds Details Savoy Brown's Delta Album

(The Blues Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown will release their new 12-track album Goin' To The Delta on February 10 via Ruf Records, they've confirmed.

It's described as "a musical road trip through Simmonds' spiritual homeland." The frontman explains: "When I started the band in 1965 the concept was to be a British version of a Chicago blues band. Now the music on this recording echoes the blues sounds of Chicago."

He says that, no matter where Savoy Brown went in terms of musical direction, they always remained close to their blues roots. "Now we've come full circle," he states. "The songs and playing on this album are straightforward in focus and as basic as blues should be." more on this story

Frost* Preview New Live DVD

(Prog) Frost* have released their first-ever live DVD, The Rockfield Files. Recorded at the iconic Rockfield Studios in Wales, it comes as a two-disc digipak containing the DVD and a CD counterpart. The band perform six fully-electric tracks, then Gem Godfrey and John Mitchell deliver two acoustic numbers.

Frost* explain: "The wait is finally over! The main feature is a selection of tracks from our first two albums, captured on multiple cameras at Rockfield. It showcases our infectious enjoyment of playing together, and there's also the option of viewing each track with a short introduction from Gem.

"That's followed by two bonus tracks performed by John and Gem, including Lantern – a previously unheard song. Finally, there's an in-depth interview tackling a wide range of subjects from chords to confectionery." View a trailer here.

Black Sabbath Post Handwritten Lyrics To Age Of Reason

(hennemusic) Black Sabbath have posted handwritten lyrics to "Age Of Reason", a track from the band's latest album, "13." The band have been nominated for three 2014 Grammy Awards, including "Best Rock Album" ("13"), "Best Rock Song" and "Best Metal Performance" for "God Is Dead?"

Sabbath's last Grammy win was for "Best Metal Performance" in 2000 for "Iron Man" from the band's "Reunion" live album. The 56th Annual Grammy Awards will be held January 26, 2014 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and broadcast live on CBS from 8–11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

Black Sabbath are currently playing a European tour, which is set to wrap up in the band's hometown of Birmingham, England this Sunday. Check out the hand written lyrics here.

Tommy Vance's Last Ever Friday Night Rock Show Airs Next Week

(TeamRock Radio) On Friday 27th December 2013 at 10PM (GMT), TeamRock Radio will be exclusively airing Tommy Vance's last ever BBC Radio 1 Friday Night Rock Show in association with KEF and their new M500 headphones.

For the uninitiated out there, it was in '78 when Tommy first started his Friday Night Rock Show on Radio 1, which quite frankly quickly became an institution, and he spent the next 15 years championing the world of rock on the airwaves.

He was the man who brought Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi and countless others into the UK's consciousness - all through his trademark gravelly voice. more on this story

Metallica Share Antarctica Soundcheck Video Footage

(hennemusic) Metallica performed in Antarctica recently as part of a soft drink-sponsored promotional event, and the band are now sharing video of the soundcheck and "Creeping Death" from the concert.

Metallica set a world record on December 8, 2013 by becoming the first and only band in history to perform concerts on all seven continents in under a year.

"This was the most unique show Metallica has ever done," posted the group. "The band, contest winners, research station scientists (from Russia, South Korea, China, Poland, Chile, Brazil and Germany), and the ship crew, all crammed in this little dome out on the helipad of Carlini Station in Antarctica! The energy in the little dome was amazing! Words cannot describe how happy everyone was." Check it out here.

Megadeth and Jenny Lewis Sing 'Baby, It's Cold Outside'

(Radio.com) Just in time for Christmas, Megadeth is spreading a little holiday cheer with their heavy metal take on the carols you know and love. Decked in traditional holiday sweaters, Dave Mustaine and the guys touted out their new album, Thrashing Through the Snow: A Very Megadeth Christmas on Tuesday night's (Dec. 17) episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, sneering their way through classic carols like "Frosty the Snowman" and "The Little Drummer Boy," in which Mustaine just sings the most beautifully scary refrain of "pa rum pa pum pum."

On "Do You Hear What I Hear?" Mustaine got real with all the good little children, letting them know that the sound they're actually hearing is death knocking at their door.

But the real standout on the album was their stirring rendition of "Baby It's Cold Outside," with everyone's other favorite redhead, Jenny Lewis. Showing off some of those acting skills from the 1989 classic, The Wizard, Lewis playfully sings, "I really can't stay," only to have Mustaine respond in all his full throated glory, that seriously, it's cold outside and she needs to stay the night. Or else.

Make sure you pick up a copy when it comes to a store near you, or Santa will kick you in the throat. Watch the video here.

Within Temptation Tease Dangerous Video

(TeamRock Radio) Within Temptation have released a 30-second teaser clip of upcoming music video Dangerous, featuring former Killswitch Engage frontman Howard Jones.

The track appears on their sixth studio album, Hydra, due for release next month. Vocalist Sharon Den Adel says of the number: "I always loved Howard's voice. He makes the song even heavier than it already is. It's one of my favourites on the record and one of the fastest we've ever written."

The band have already revealed a duet with ex-Nightwish singer Tarja Turunen entitled Paradise (What About Us?). Watch the new music video tease here.

Antlered Man Release 'Phoney Tough' Video

(Prog) Antlered Man have created a video for their track Phoney Tough. It's taken from second album This Devil Is Them, of which Prog said: "They've really outdone themselves."

That followed their acclaimed debut Giftes 1&2 which led to their nomination in the Limelight category of this year's Prog Awards.

Catch Antlered Man live on January 14 at the Artrocker New Blood Festival in London's Hoxton Bar & Grill. Check out the new music video here.

Tainted Nation Release 'Dare You' Video

(Classic Rock) UK rock outfit Tainted Nation have unveiled an exclusive video clip for their song Dare You. This is the second release from their debut album F.E.A.R. on Massacre Records.

Tainted Nation are ex-Helloween and Firewind drummer Mark Cross; Pontus Egberg, bass player of Scandi-rockers The Poodles; vocalist Pete Newdeck (also known as the drummer of Eden's Curse); Ian Nash, former Lionsheart guitarist; and Joel Peters, former Fury guitarist.

Tainted Nation have spent a good deal of 2013 playing on the live circuit including UK dates, a successful tour of Spain and selected European festivals.

Says Newdeck: "We are delighted to release this video exclusively with Classic Rock and are hoping to continue the momentum we are building up. It's been a fantastic year for this band and we are looking positively forward to the future – it's a pleasure being able to work with such talented and like-minded people. Believing in what you have to offer is a major hurdle that was easy to climb." Watch the video here.

Chris Cornell and Joy Williams Perform On Letterman

(hennemusic) Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell was joined by Joy Williams to perform his new song, "Misery Chain", on The Late Show With David Letterman Monday night, and video of the appearance is available.

The tune appears on "Music From And Inspired By 12 Years A Slave", the soundtrack to the new pre-Civil War film based on the true story of Solomon Northrup.

"I was moved by this film and the story in a way that transcends any film experience I have ever had," says Cornell. "I was inspired to write a hundred different songs, but finally landed on one based on what I believe is an extremely important message I took from this man's journey. Compassion, basic human rights and love must be our priorities above race, religion or commerce. Every generation needs a reminder of that simple idea."

Watch the Letterman video here.