Pearl Jam Accountant Admits To Six-Figure Theft From The Band

He was employed in 2005 as Pearl Jam's accountant and financial officer, then became part of their management company the following year, with access to their tour and fan club funds. more on this story

Metallica Streaming Full Freeze 'Em All Concert In HD

(Classic Rock) Metallica have fans an early Christmas present by releasing HD video of their entire historic Freeze 'Em All concert that they staged in Antarctica. Classic Rock has these details and the full 68-minute video:

It was shot earlier this month when the thrash giants embarked on a 10-day cruise to Antarctica with a boatload of competition prizewinners. On arrival on King George Island they delivered a ten-song set through headphones in order to minimise noise pollution.

Metallica say: "On December 8 we set a world record by becoming the first and only band in history to perform concerts on all seven continents in under a year. The energy in the little dome was amazing – words can not describe how happy everyone was." Watch the show here.

Santana Reunited With Homeless Former Bandmate

(Classic Rock) Carlos Santana has been reunited with a pre-fame bandmate who fell on hard times over 40 years ago, and Santana has vowed to turn his old friend's life around.

'Magnificent' Marcus Malone was a member of the Carlos Santana Blues Band in 1967 – but wound up in trouble with the law. And by the time Santana had become a big name act they'd lost touch with the percussionist.

That changed when CNN reporter Stanley Roberts interviewed a homeless man on the streets of San Francisco, who claimed to be Malone and asked for help. Santana saw the TV report and went looking for his former colleague with no luck. Finally his manager spoke to Roberts, who arranged the emotional moment captured on camera below.

"It's an honor to be in your presence, man," Santana told his old friend after they hugged. "I always cherished you. You and your family were so gracious to us." Afterwards he confirmed: "That's him, man – that's 'Magnificent' Marcus Malone alright. His spirit is indomitable."

Santana had a lot more to say and explained how he plans to help his former bandmate here.

Guns N' Roses Tease Fans With Christmas Message

Guns N' Roses released a holiday message for fans on Monday that teased fans with the news and a graphic about the announcement of a South American tour.

The band told fans, "From everyone in Guns N' Roses, to all our fans around the world – Happy Holidays! As for everything else? …yes, Jarmo is right. Information coming soon!"

Posters on a fan forum state that "Jarmo is right" is a reference to a poster on the Guns N' Roses message board that said that a tour announcement was coming soon. Along with the text, the message also included a graphic that said "South American Tour 2014".

The posting on Facebook included part of the graphic and a link to the announcement on the band's official site. But the Facebook posting also included "Its been 5 years South America… We are coming back at ya!" which had some fans on the My GNR Forum puzzled because the band toured South America two years ago.

Some of the posters speculated that the 5 could have simply been a typo or a mistake. One poster had the following speculation about the 5 years reference: "The five years thing kind of makes me think of a new album announcement, starting the tour off in South America. It's been 5 years since [the "Chinese Democracy" album was released]."

Another poster wrote, "I think the 5 years is referring to the album release? At least I hope. I'd hate to know that management can't even count."

Read the forum postings for more of the fans reaction to the "announcement announcing the announcement" and speculations here.

Judas Priest Releasing New Album In 2014

(hennemusic) Judas Priest took to their official website on Monday (December 22nd) with a Christmas and New Year's message for their fans and also revealed they will be releasing their new studio album in coming year.

"We wish all of our fans a great Christmas and a very metal New Year!," wrote the band. "We will be releasing a new album sometime in 2014 so stay tuned!"

This past summer, Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford shared an update on the band's follow-up to 2008's "Nostradamus." "The writing process is complete," Halford told 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." more on this story

Dream Theater Frontman James LaBrie Releasing Solo EP

(Prog) Dream Theater frontman James LaBrie will release a nine-track EP called 'I WIll Not Break' on January 6th, 2014 in Europe and January 14th, 2014 in North America.

It follows the launch of his latest solo album, Impermanent Resonance, which appeared in July. The EP title track is the same one that closes the full-length record, while Unraveling and Why were only previously available as bonus numbers on certain versions. Also featured are an alternative mix of Coming Home, demo versions of Jekyll Or Hyde and Just Watch Me, and remixes of I Tried, Over The Edge and Euphoric.

LaBrie says: "This digital EP will show some of the songs with alternate mixes as well as letting you hear guitarist Matt Guillory's exceptional voice with some of the songs in their demo versions.

"We had three of the songs mixed in dubstep stylings to give them a somewhat interesting flavour and twist. Hope you all enjoy this release – I personally think it is very cool."

Listen to the title track here.

Pixies Didn't Tell Kim Shattuck Why She Was Fired

(Classic Rock) Kim Shattuck says the Pixies didn't tell her why they fired her just four months after signing up to replace Kim Deal. Bassist Shattuck was brought on board after co-founder Deal announced her departure in June, with management saying she'd "just had enough."

But the position only lasted until the end of a UK tour, after which the Pixies announced Paz Lenchantin as their third bassist of 2013. Now Shattuck tells Jonah Raydio:

"They didn't tell me why or anything – although I had some inkling why. I don't know whether I'm ready to say or not, but it wasn't to do with me as much as you'd think."

One thing she does say is that she doesn't blame frontman Black Francis: "I'm not so mad at him – he's not the problem," she states. more on this story

Eddie Veddar Jams Stones Classic With Criminal Minds Star

(hennemusic) Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder teamed up with Criminal Minds star Jeanne Tripplehorn to perform the Rolling Stones' 1978 classic, "Shattered", at a fundraiser for Heal EB in Malibu in September, and video from the event is now available.

Vedder played acoustic guitar and handled back-up vocals while Tripplehorn sang the song in the style of Julie Andrews. Heal EB is a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding a cure while raising awareness for Epidermolysis Bullosa.

Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is a rare total body disease that causes blisters after the mildest trauma. Depending on the type of EB, the effects can be mild, disabling, or life threatening. It is not contagious because it is a genetic disease. There is currently no cure, but efforts are being made to identify new strategies for the treatment of EB. Watch the video here.

Kings of Leon Pen Song For August: Osage County Soundtrack

(Radio.com) The guys in Kings of Leon left the electric guitars at home for their stripped-down song "Last Mile Home." Written for the film, August: Osage County, the song is also on the deluxe version of their latest album Mechanical Bull, though with fuller production.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, the band talked of "Last Mile Home" being the first time that they wrote a song not initially intended for an album. "It was important for us to create a song to complement such a beautiful film," Kings of Leon singer and songwriter Caleb Followill said. "We submitted the song, then went out on the road, then had to find a few days to record between tours. It was a tight squeeze but we made it happen."

He added that the film's story was something he could easily relate to. "The dynamic between family is always something that you look forward to, and dread at the same time. Not only are we family, but we all have very strong Oklahoma ties, so we totally relate to that 'frontier grit.'" more on this story

Muse Not Rushing Next Album

(Gibson) Having just wrapped up touring behind last year's release, The 2nd Law, Muse is already preparing for their next studio album. Muse frontman Matt Bellamy told triple j: "I've written some good tracks, actually" said Bellamy. "We haven't had a chance to rehearse them out yet. We'll take a break next year for a little few months and then we'll get in the studio."

Regarding a potential release date Bellamy said: "If it all goes very well, the new album could well be early 2015 or late 2015. Christmas 2014 might be [when we release] our next single."

Fans of Muse's early work will be happy to hear that the band is going for a more stripped down sound with their new music, as Bellamy told Rolling Stone in a recent interview: "I want to bring it back to just being about the music that we are playing, about the instruments, the guitar, the bass, the drums and these personalities."

Bellamy continued by saying: "I have this strong feeling that the next album should be something that really does strip away the additional things that we've experimented with on the last two albums, which is electronics, symphonics and orchestral work and all that kind of stuff. I kind of feel like it will be nice to reconnect and remind ourselves of just the basics of who we are." more on this story

Toby Jepson Giving Away Live Acoustic Song

(Classic Rock) Toby Jepson has made a live acoustic track entitled "Unwind" available for streaming and free download. It was recorded in Nottingham's Rock City Basement during his recent solo UK tour in support of new album Raising My Own Hell.

Launching lead track Shadow Boxing via Classic Rock last month, Jepson said: "Raising My Own Hell is the result of getting older – and hopefully a bit wiser. It's perhaps closer to my own kind of truth, my own kind of anger, my own kind of love.

"I've simply gathered six tunes I liked and done the best I could with them in the time available, with some cool friends who were generous enough to indulge me for a short while."

Check out the unplugged song here.

Steve Thorne Releases 'Darkest, Bitterest" Christmas Song Ever

(Prog) Prog has premiered Steve Thorne's seasonal track "English Christmas." It's taken from his upcoming album Island Of The Imbeciles. And, as the title suggests, he's pulling no punches with his message.

Thorne tells Prog: "This is probably the darkest, bitterest and most truthful Christmas song ever written. Ebenezer Scrooge would have bought ten copies! But the irony is, I really like Christmas."

He says of Island Of The Imbeciles, which features guests including Tony Levin and Nick D'Virgilio: "It's been terrific fun to make. I'm really, really pleased with the songwriting and playing. I can't wait for people to hear it, which is usually a good sign." Listen here.

Dan Akroyd Leads Lonnie Brooks 80th Birthday Celebration

(The Blues Dan Akroyd led a host of big names through a live show to celebrate the 80th birthday of icon Lonnie Brooks at the weekend. The lineup at Chicago's House Of Blues included Otis Taylor, Otis Clay, Jellybean Johnson, Shemakia Copeland, Big Head Todd, Jimmy Vivino, Donald Kinsey, Billy Branch and others. See fan-shot video of the ensemble outfit jamming Sweet Home Chicago below.

Rolling Stones' guitarist Keith Richard sent a video message. The performance was paused briefly to pay tribute to rising-star bluesman Eric 'Guitar' Davis, who was shot dead last week.

Akroyd told DNA Info: "Lonnie is one of the last living, working links to the Chicago blues tradition. He started in the late 50s with Chess Records and Checkerboard Lounge.

"You've got to recognise a guy like that for his dedication, his artistry, and really for his just hanging in there for so long. He is extremely worthy of a tribute like this, and everybody is coming out because they love him. More including video.

In This Moment Plan Special Blood In Early 2014

(TeamRock Radio) In This Moment will revisit their 2012 breakthrough album Blood with a Special Edition that is to be released on January 20th in the UK and the 21st in North America.

The original record will be packaged with a live DVD, Blood At The Orpheum, which was recorded in May and features a bonus cover of Nine Inch Nails track Closer plus behind-the-scenes footage.

The Special Edition is launched in January via Century Media, with Blood At The Orpheum appearing as a standalone digital video on February 17th (in the UK, the next day in North America). Check out the trailer.

The Enid Releasing 40th Anniversary Limited Edition Box Set

(Prog) The Enid have begun taking orders for a limited-edition 40th anniversary box set which celebrates the opening era of their career after being formed by Robert John Godfrey in 1973.

Just 2000 copies will be available with delivery commencing at the end of January, containing two audio CDs and a DVD, presented in a DVD-sized digipak case.

Included are The Enid's first two albums, In The Region Of The Summer Stars and Aerie Faerie Nonsense, both of which are extended with bonus tracks. There's also a DVD documentary in which Godfrey talks to original and current drummer Dave Storey and recently-added frontman Joe Payne about the band's early years. more on this story

Jonny Lang Explains His Voice Change On New Album

(The Blues Jonny Lang says his first studio album in seven years has underlined how much he's learned since the release of Turn Around in 2006 – and that includes how to use his voice and who to make music for.

Fight For My Soul was launched in September and sees Lang delivering a vocal style very different from his early works. He tells ADN: "I don't know how to explain it. I didn't necessarily try to sound like that – it's just what came out. I've learned how to sing better, or closer to what I would like to do in my mind."

Lang says of his earlier performances: "Some of that rasp was just me destroying my voice. I used to lose my voice all the time. It's gotten more powerful but less distorted; I can still do that, but it comes with a cost." more on this story

Eric 'Guitar' Davis Called 'The Future Of The Blues' After His Murder

(The Blues Eric 'Guitar' Davis, who was murdered in Chicago last week, has been described as "the future of the blues" by the owner of a venue he regularly played.

Tony Manguillo, boss of the city's Rosa's Lounge, said he feels like he lost a brother in the violent altercation which left the 41-year-old – son of drummer Bobby 'Top Hat' Davis – dead as a result of two bullet wounds.

Now he's running a YouCaring memorial fund with the intention of raising $10,000 for Davis' family, ahead of a memorial concert next month. "Leslie and their six children are in need of financial support for Eric's funeral, which must be paid for upfront," Manguillo says.

"Eric was not only a musician, he was an entertainer: the future of the blues. Today we don't only mourn the loss of a friend, but also the loss of an amazing force in the Chicago Blues music scene." more on this story

Status Quo To Headline Llangollen Eisteddfod

(Classic Rock) Status Quo have been confirmed as the headline act for the 2014 edition of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales that will be taking place next summer.

Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt and co will grace a stage previously trod by classical icons including Luciano Pavarotti, Montserrat Caballe, James Galway and the Welsh National Opera.

The annual event attracts more than 5000 artists every year for competitions and performances – and although it's closely associated with the finer end of the music spectrum, director Eilir Owen Griffiths says Quo are a perfect match.

He tells the BBC: "We've created a festival within a festival called Llanfest, and this is a great headlining act for ending the week." more on this story

Of Mice & Men Streaming New Song

(TeamRock Radio) Of Mice & Men have released their new track Bones Exposed, which comes from their upcoming album Restoring Force. The California-based four-piece's third studio outing is set for launch on January 28th in North America, 27th in the UK via Rise Records, and follows 2011's The Flood.

Frontman Austin Carlile recently said: "What happens after The Flood? You return to normal – you find balance again. That's what we felt like we were doing with this album.

"We wanted it to bring equilibrium back to our band and music. We're letting everyone know that we're here to stay: we're Restoring Force." Listen to the new song here.

Supersuckers Release Pushin' Thru Video

(Classic Rock) Supersuckers have released a new music video for their track Pushin' Thru. It's taken from upcoming album Get The Hell, set for launch on January 14th (January 27th in the UK).

The new album will be released via Steamhammer/SPV, their first with the label and also the first with drummer Captain Von Streicher, who joined last year.

Frontman Eddie Spaghetti recently said: "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 record is a juggernaut front to back." Watch the video here.

Rolling Stones Release Season's Greetings Video

(hennemusic) Rolling Stones frontmen Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are offering fans season's greetings on behalf of the band via a new video as they wind down 2013.

The group recently picked up three nominations for the 2014 Grammy Awards ceremony, set for next month in Los Angeles. The band's 2012 single, "Doom And Gloom", is a finalist for "Best Rock Song", while the band's release of "The Brussels Affair" – documenting a 1973 concert in Belgium – earned a nod in the Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package category.

The band's third nomination is for "Charlie Is My Darling — Ireland 1965" in the "Best Historical Album" category. 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).
Watch the holiday video greeting here.

Against Me! Recall Their First Time

(Radio.com) Long before Against Me! carried modern punk's flag, the band had high hopes of their music being played to a wider audience than just their hometown Gainesville, Fl. scene.

Voracious touring helped win over fans, certainly, but early adopters at college radio helped the band reach new levels through airplay, despite the fact that their genre doesn't have a widespread presence at radio.

"I think it was 'Pints of Guinness Make You Strong' off our first record [Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose]," frontwoman Laura Jane Grace recalled of the band's on-air debut.

"It was in our first touring van, which was a Dodge Ram. It was on the local college radio station. We heard that they were getting a DJ who would actually play punk stuff so we listened. I remember it coming on."

She added: "It's one of those surreal moments where you're just like 'Whoa, that's crazy. We're on the radio!' But then it's over and we're like…'OK, so here we go.' It's cool, having yourself played on the radio. If you're a musician and you're in a band, that's cool. You're stoked."