Former Anthrax Guitarist Arrested On Christmas Day

Spitz was arrested and booked into Palm Beach County jail at 5AM on Christmas Day and was released the next afternoon (December 26th). Read the report here.

Bruce Springsteen New Album Mistakenly Released Early

(Classic Rock) Bruce Springsteen's upcoming album High Hopes was mistakenly put on sale via Amazon over the weekend, a little over two weeks ahead of its release date.

And although the online retailer corrected the error quickly, the Boss' 18th studio record has already been circulated via filesharing networks. The 12-track album sees Springsteen looking back on his career with a series of new takes on old material, alongside a handful of cover versions.

"I was interested in putting this material together in some form because it sounded like it all fit together," He recently told Rolling Stone. "When I'm home, or done with a tour, I go into a studio and I'm surrounded by paintings that I've half-finished. There might be something wrong with this one and I didn't have time to finish this one. When I go into my studio, I'm surrounded by all my music that I haven't released. I wait to see what's going to speak to me." more on this story

Queen's Brian May 'Cautiously Optimistic' Following Cancer Scare

(Classic Rock) Queen guitarist Brian May has opened up about his recent cancer scare, telling fans that he underwent a series of "urgent" tests before Christmas and he's feeling "cautiously optimistic."

He's offered fans his thanks for their support, saying he didn't realise until he'd broken his silence just how many other people find it difficult to talk about the killer disease – and that he hopes going public will assist other people in the same situation.

Problems came to light after he required medical attention for back issue that were causing him a great deal of pain, following earlier knee replacement surgery. "So around Christmas I've been having a succession of blood tests, ultrasounds, and various kinds of scans, to see if they could rule out various kinds of cancer.

"Now, on hearing the C word, something happens inside you. I've seen so many of my dear friends fighting it, and my dad lost his battle at age 66, exactly the age I am now. I've been in various states of unrest. But the great thing has been that the team my GP assembled to check out the possibilities has moved Heaven and Earth to gather all the information I need quickly."

May now reports that, although he has one more scan to go, the previous procedures have "eliminated a lot of nasty things" and he's feeling "cautiously optimistic." He had a lot more to say.

Saving Abel Replace Frontman Jared Weeks

Saving Abel frontman Jared Weeks has announced that he has left the group to pursue a solo career and that the band have already selected Trash the Brand frontman Scott Austin to replace him.

Here is what Weeks had to say, "A lil over 10 years ago Jason Null and myself (Jared Weeks) started the band Saving Abel, and little did I know how much our lives would change for the better. It's been so amazing over the past decade, to meet so many fans, tour with so many of my favorite and amazing bands, and travel all over the world, to places I couldn't never imagine myself going. It really has been one hell of a ride for me. I've had such a great time experiencing all that we have accomplished with my brothers in SA: Scotty B. Eric T., Mikey M. & Jason N. these fellas have been a family to me on the road and part of my family at home, but most importantly all our FANS that have been there and supported us through thick and thin, through the good and bad. You guys have always held my head up and have always picked me up when I was down. I personally could never thank you enough for who you are and what you do for Saving Abel, 'Hell' what you do for Rock 'n Roll.

"With all that being said, and now that I'm writing this down for all to see, it seems a little harder for me to do, but sometimes you have to follow your heart even if you don't know where it's gonna take you. So as of today, I am following my heart and am NOT continuing on as the lead singer of Saving Abel.

"This wasn't a 'spur of the moment' decision, I have fought & thought about this with myself for sometime now. I have also spoken with the rest of the guys in SA and even helped get everything together for SA to keep doing what they always do, and that is… write Rock N Roll songs, keep Rockin and keep touring with the best live shows.

"Scott Austin will be replacing me as the New lead singer, he is the front man from a band called Trash the Brand, and he is very capable of the job. I have personally seen his live shows and know he will keep the SA train rolling successfully.

"As for me, I'm currently moving to Nashville TN to record a solo album with producer Skidd Mills. This was and is an amicable decision between both me and the Saving Abel fellas. As I said earlier those boys are part of my family and always will be, I do wish them all the best success and support them in their careers, as they do me.

"I apologize to any and all fans who might feel 'let down' or upset with my decision, but like I said before, sometimes you have to follow your heart, even if you don't know where it's gonna take you. I hope to have your support in the next couple of months while recording and I sure as hell hope to see you at the shows when I'm finished with the new album and back out touring. May God bless Saving Abel & may God bless you all."

Jack White's Charlie Rose Appearance Goes Online

(hennemusic) Jack White and Revenant Records' founder Dean Blackwood joined PBS host Charlie Rose recently to discuss the release of "The Rise and Fall of Paramount Records 1917-1932, Volume 1", and video of the full interview is available.

The box set features 800 songs, original ads from the era, two books, and six 180-gram vinyl LPs, and includes music recorded by Louis Armstrong, Ma Rainey, Fletcher Henderson, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Jelly Roll Morton and Ethel Waters, among others.

White recently picked up a pair of 2014 Grammy Award nominations. "I'm Shakin'", the fourth single from his 2012 solo debut, "Blunderbuss", earned nods for "Best Rock Performance" and "Best Music Video."

Check out the Charlie Rose interview here.

Jake E. Lee Discusses Controversial Red Dragon Cartel Debut Show

Classic Rock Revisited recently spoke with legendary former Ozzy Osbourne and Badlands guitarist Jake E. Lee about his brand new group Red Dragon Cartel. During the discussion they talked about the band's debut show where things did not go so well for singer Darren Smith. Here is that part of the interview:

Classic Rock Revisited: We are getting closer to the album release date. This is some hard rocking stuff. This is your comeback. Are you getting apprehensive?

Jake: About seventeen years ago, or so, I was in line in the middle of the night at Jack in the Box—this has nothing to do with anything, but I will tell you anyway. I got robbed at gunpoint and then as I was leaving I got shot at. I am only saying this…he shot like six or seven shots and I was in an SUV…he never hit anything but I could see the flash in the rear view mirror and I could hear the sounds. I wasn't apprehensive then, that is my point. I am one of those guys who doesn't get apprehensive or nervous. That is a longwinded answer to 'if I am apprehensive'…no, I am not.

CRR: Do you realize how f**king lucky you are? Not talking about not being shot, as that is obvious. I am talking about having nerves of steel. I would have sh*t myself.

Jake: Well, yeah, but it doesn't make me more disciplined or anything. It has nothing to do with that. It just doesn't happen. It is not something I have worked on to be that way. You are either born with that or you are not. It doesn't make me better than you, Jeb.

CRR: It does come in handy during gunfights and comebacks. And, I have to say, it comes in handy when the first gig goes down badly!

Jake: I wasn't nervous at the first gig at all and I'm glad I wasn't, because I would have been even more nervous after that one.

CRR: Your singer, Darren Smith was nervous.

Jake: [laughter] Yeah, he was, he was. He was brutalized on the Internet. Nobody is beating him up more than he is himself.

CRR: You remained calm. You had to deal with this issue. Did he look to you for advice after the gig?

Jake: I handled it, I think, as a good band leader would. I told him, "Hey, it is what it is. Everybody f**ks up. I've had some bad shows. The good news is that we will never have a first show that was as under the magnifying glass so much as that one was. There is no way we are going to have a worse show, so it's only going to get better from here on out."

CRR: I heard the second show he performed well. I am usually not the nerd who cruises YouTube and looks for videos, but after that first show, I did. And I did look at clips from the second show.

Jake: There is no way we are not going to get better. We got the bands worse show out of the way. Now we don't have to worry about having a worse show anymore because he already had it with the first one [laughter].

CRR: What did you say after the second show?

Jake: After the second show I said, "You did awesome. You were the best guy up there tonight. This is why you're the singer in this band." He was f**king happy after the second show because he didn't repeat himself. There was a lot of sh*t on the Net about him. A lot of people were blaming me and going, "What in the hell are you thinking?" That is such a stupid thing for people to say, I mean, yeah, that is what I was thinking and that is what I thought I was going to get as a singer. Like that would be true. No, I mean, I've been around a while. He got the job because he is a great singer and he is a good front man. It is going to be great, but it just didn't happen to be great the first gig. Read the full interview here.

Original AC/DC Singer Recalls Band's First Concert 40 Years Ago

(hennemusic) Original AC/DC singer Dave Evans shared the story of the band's first-ever concert, which took place 40 years ago on New Year's Eve 1973, in a recent interview with The Age.

"People were pretty excited about us," Evans says about the band's debut show. "The drummer was Colin Burgess from the famous Masters Apprentices, and they knew that Malcolm and Angus Young were brothers of the famous George Young from the Easybeats."

The as-yet untitled AC/DC played two short sets at Chequers that night - one at about 11.30pm and the second in the early hours of New Year's Day, which was a rather impromptu affair.

"Malcolm said, 'Look, we're about six or seven songs short, so make up some names and we'll put them through the set' type thing, you know," he continued. "And they said, 'Guys and Dave, make up the songs.' So we made up songs on the spot and played them that night." more on this story

Rush To Reissue Debut Album For 40th Anniversary

(Gibson) A reissue of Rush's 1974 debut album will be out in 2014, according to The Globe And Mail. It will mark the 40th anniversary of Rush as a recording band.

The source of the information is Universal Music Canada's VP of catalog marketing Ivar Hamilton, who says the members of Rush are "very involved" in the process of putting the package together. No details regarding the reissue are currently available, but it will likely include a remaster of the album, and new and expanded liner notes.

Rush featured the late drummer John Rutsey, who died in 2008. Rutsey was replaced after Rush by Neil Peart, who continues to be the band's drummer and lyric writer. But Rush includes a fan-favorite, "Working Man," that the Canadian trio continue to play live to this day. more on this story

KISS Plan Vinyl Reissues Ahead of Rock Hall Induction

(hennemusic) KISS have announced a series of vinyl reissues set for release next spring for albums that span the band's entire career from their debut album to the 'reunion' album "Psycho Circus."

Timed to capitalize on the hype around their April induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, the band will re-release 9 albums and issue 1998's "Psycho Circus" on the format for the first on March 18.

Included in the random set are the band's first two albums, 1974's "KISS" and "Hotter Than Hell", the breakthrough "KISS Alive!", 1976's "Destroyer", followed by "Dynasty," "Unmasked" and "Psycho Circus".

The also include their make-up free period with "Lick It Up," "Animalize" and "Revenge". more on this story

Syd Arthur Release New Video and Ink New Album Deal

(Prog) Syd Arthur have signed a deal with the recently-reactivated Harvest Records for the launch of their second album and the group have released a new music video.

The follow-up to the Canterbury outfit's acclaimed debut On An On will be released in the spring. Syd Arthur were nominated for a Prog Award earlier this year in the Breakthrough Artist category.

Meanwhile, they've launched the new music video for their track "Ode To The Summer," as part of the US release of their first record. View it here.

Stevie Nicks Performs Vanessa Carlton's Wedding Ceremony

(hennemusic) Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks performed the wedding ceremony of singer Vanessa Carlton and Deer Tick frontman John McCauley on Friday.

Rolling Stone reports Carlton shared the news on Twitter with a photo of the outdoor ceremony, along with the note to the Fleetwood Mac singer: "Thanks Stevie for marrying us!"

McCauley also posted a photo to Instagram of Nicks signing the couple's wedding license. McCauley and Carlton met through their mutual friend, Patrick Hallahan of My Morning Jacket, who played drums on Carlton's 2011 album "Rabbits On The Run." more on this story

Monster Magnet Announce Extensive European Tour

(hennemusic) Monster Magnet have announced an extensive European tour in support of their new album, "Last Patrol." The month-long trek starts January 20 in Copenhagen, Denmark and runs to February 19 in Hamburg, Germany.

Earlier this month, the New Jersey rockers cancelled the final four shows of their first North American tour in ten years due to an illness with frontman Dave Wyndorf.

"Full on flu," explained Wyndorf. "Voice-killer, gig-destroyer... I'm so sorry. I hate it more than anybody. We'll make it up, I swear." Check out the tour dates here.

Eric Clapton To Debut New Band In Japan

(Gibson) Eric Clapton's new touring group features a mix of some familiar faces from recent tours and some old friends. He will be joined by Nathan East (bass), Steve Gadd (drums), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Paul Carrack (keyboards), Sharon White (backing vocals) and Michelle John (backing vocals).

Clapton starts a Japanese tour on February 18 at Tokyo's Budokan; he'll play three shows there and another four in Japan before dates in Singapore and U.A.E. More dates are expected to be added, with two additional "small tours" predicted.

Clapton recently released a new live DVD, 2013 Crossroads Guitar Festival. The set features nearly 5 hours of music across 45 tracks, plus conversations with the artists and other behind-the-scenes footage from Clapton's now-regular guitar event. more on this story

Aerosmith's Joe Perry To Have A Lot Of Toxic Twins In New Book

(Gibson) Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry says he will publish his autobiography next year. Rocks: My Life In And Out Of Aerosmith sees Perry team up with author David Ritz, who has written books with B.B. King, Jerry Wexler and Bettye LaVette.

Perry posted a message: "Another Christmas gift to all. I finished ALL the edits on my autobiography last night. Due out on Simon & Schuster Oct 5th 2014."

"I expect there will be a fair amount about me and [and his toxic twin] Steven [Tyler], considering I've spent a good part of my life with him and three other guys," Perry told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the memoir while he was still in the early stages of the project.

Perry's memoir follows similar works by bandmates Tyler (2011's Does The Noise In My Head Bother You?) and drummer Joey Kramer's 2009 book, Hit Hard: A Story Of Hitting Rock Bottom At The Top. Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton is also working on his autobiography. Brad Whitford is seemingly staying silent, for now. more on this story

A Look At Sabbath Bloody Sabbath 40 Years Later

(Radio.com) Radio.com takes a look back at Black Sabbath's fifth album, 1973′s 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath,' which turns 40 this week: From 1970 through 1972, Black Sabbath pretty much wrote the book on heavy metal with their first four albums. By 1973, they were certifiable rock stars, with all the cash and drugs that title entailed in the early '70s. In just a few years, frontman Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist/leader Tony Iommi, bassist/lyricist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward went from having not a cent to having more money than they'd ever known, and learning — as many rock stars before and since have — that cocaine's a hell of a drug.
When I interviewed all four original Sabbath members about this album for an essay in The Black Box: The Complete Original Black Sabbath (1970-1978), drugs came up often in discussing Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. Ozzy told me, "Cocaine was a big thing — the evil f***ing cocaine. We were a rock and roll band meddling with drugs, and we ended up being in a drug band meddling with rock and roll. It took over."

Geezer Butler, who answered all of my questions via a seven-page fax, noted that their drug usage changed dramatically around this time: "We were using drugs as a necessity rather than for fun, and the cracks were beginning to show."

To make things worse, Tony Iommi was experiencing writer's block. The band returned to L.A., where they'd had a blast recording 1972′s Vol. 4. But while that album yielded metal anthems like "Supernaut," "Under The Sun" and "Tomorrow's Dream," this time around the City of Angels offered no inspiration. "We had a huge mansion in Bel-Air whee we all lived while writing and recording Vol. 4, and it was the most fun we ever had," Butler told me. "It was the ultimate extreme of sex, drugs and rock and roll, but with lots of laughter thrown in. When we went back, the atmosphere just wasn't there any more."

So the band packed up and returned to England, where Iommi rented Clearwell Castle in Wales to restart their attempt at recording album number five. They rehearsed in the dungeons "to get a vibe going." "That place was haunted, no question about it," Ward said. Iommi tells his own tale about experiencing an apparition, and Butler says that a presence in his room appeared after he'd locked the doors and windows. (Ozzy's response: "That's bulls***!")

Paranormal activity aside, the band found the vibe they were searching for, and it scared off the writer's block so fiercely that Iommi was able to come up with what may well be his greatest riff. "When Tony came up with the riff to 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath,' it was almost like seeing your first child being born," Butler recalls. "It was the end of our musical drought. It meant the band had a present — and a future — again."

With Iommi on a musical roll, Butler was free to start on the lyrics, which came quickly based on their first few years in the biz. "The lyrics to 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' were about the Sabbath experience: the ups and downs, the good times and bad times, the rip-offs, the business side of it all," Butler said. "[The line] 'bog blast all of you' was directed at the critics, the record business in general, the lawyers, accountants, management, and everyone who was trying to cash in on us. It was a backs-to-the-wall rant at everyone."

Butler, an extremely underrated lyricist, covered a lot of ground on Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, some of it more philosophical than autobiographical. Sabbath were often cast as "Satan worshippers" at the time, but anyone who believed that stereotype hadn't listened to the lyrics on "A National Acrobat": "Just remember love is live/And hate is living death/Treat your life for what it's worth and live for every breath." This was almost hippie stuff! "Satan was hardly ever conjured up in our lyrics, and when he was it was not in the religious sense, but in the sense that Satan was alive and well in the people who govern us, manipulating us and killing us in their wars," Butler said."

The band dove into more R-rated territory on "Sabbra Cadabra," a song Metallica would cover years later. The lyrics to that song were originally written by Ozzy Osbourne. Butler remembers, "His original lyrics were based on a sex tape we'd been listening to; in the studio where we were recording, they'd been recording English voiceovers on a German porno. Unfortunately, I changed them into a more 'acceptable' version."

Dream Theater Release Metropolis Part 1 Video

(Classic Rock) Dream Theater have released an online video stream of their performance of the song "Metropolis Part 1" from recently released DVD Live At Luna Park.

It was recorded in Argentina in 2011 during their A Dramatic Turn Of Events world tour – their first album since splitting with founding drummer Mike Portnoy.

Last week the band surprised fans by releasing a free collection of 13 more songs recorded during the tour, saying: "With these tracks you have a complete documentation of all the songs that were played during the tour, with the exception of cover songs." Check out the video here.

Sites N' Sounds: globalFEST- A389 Recordings X Anniversary Bash- more

Here's a cool resolution for the New Year: "I'm going to attend more live music events!" That'll sure be a lot easier to stick to than going on a diet and it'll be a lot more fun too. Kevin Wierzbicki has some ideas to get you started.

globalFEST
January 12, New York City

Taking place at Webster Hall in New York City's East Village, globalFEST is a global feast for fans of world music. Among the dozen acts scheduled to appear are Congolese rapper Baloji, Tucson's Sergio Mendoza y la Orkesta, Balkan brass band Fanfare Ciocarlia, Ukranian folk/punk outfit DakhaBrakha, Parisian post-modern pop act Yasmine Hamdan and Wu-Force who play an amalgamation they call Appalachian-Chinese avant-folk. Melbourne's The Bombay Royale will make their American debut at globalFEST; similarly Jamaican act Brushy One String will play New York City for the first time. Rounding out the bill are KiT (Kuenta i Tambu), Noura Mint Seymali, Hassan Hakmoun and Como Mamas. www.globalfest-ny.org

A389 Recordings X Anniversary Bash
January 16 – 18, Baltimore

Here's a three-day celebration for fans of hardcore and metal. This one is so heavy it's gonna take two venues to rein it all in. Playing at the Sidebar Tavern will be Ringworm, Frightened Teeth, Pharaoh, Occultist, Ampallang Infection, Ilsa, Like Rats, Sick/Tired and Sokushinbutsu. Blowing the roof off the Baltimore Soundstage will be Infest, Haymaker, In Cold Blood, Full of Hell, Iron Reagan, Sex Prisoner, Jarhead Fertilizer, Integrity, All Out War, Bloodlet, Weekend Nachos, Noisem, Power Trip, Pick Your Side, Homewrecker and Empire of Rats. www.a389records.com

30A Songwriters Festival
January 17 – 19, Highway 30A, Florida

Here's a unique festival that takes place at 25 venues along Florida's Highway 30A in the northwest part of the state in the general vicinity of Fort Walton Beach. Among the 150-or-so artists scheduled to appear are Kristian Bush of Sugarland, Ani DiFranco, Shawn Mullins, Richard Thompson, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Matthew Sweet, Marshall Crenshaw, Allison Moorer, John Oates, Rusty Young of Poco, Craig Fuller of Pure Prairie League, Kim Richey, Grant-Lee Phillips, Webb Wilder, Don Dixon & Marti Jones, Chas Sandford, Buzz Cason, Jim Lauderdale, Jonathon Edwards, Tinsley Ellis and Marshall Chapman. Many area resorts and hotels are offering special rates and packages during the festival and there will also be VIP dinners at restaurants like Watershed on Peachtree which is co-owned by Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls. www.30asongwritersfestival.com

Black Sabbath Post Handwritten Lyrics To Methademic

(hennemusic) Black Sabbath have posted handwritten lyrics to the song "Methademic", a track from the band's latest album, "13." It's the latest in a series of lyric releases from the group.

The band just wrapped up their fall European tour in their hometown of Birmingham, England. Black Sabbath return to live action in 2014 with a series of North American dates starting March 31 in New York.

The trek includes a 3-week Canadian tour that begins April 3 in Halifax, Nova Scotia and wraps April 22 in Edmonton, Alberta; it is followed by a Los Angeles stop at the Hollywood Bowl on April 26.

Check out the lyrics and the song's video here.

Singled Out: Silvertung Tell The Story Behind 'Coming Alive'

Today Speed from Silvertung tells us about the story behing the song "Coming Alive" from their brand new album "Devil's In The Details". Here is the story:

After sharing tours and stages with Godsmack, Disturbed, Shinedown, Three Days Grace and so many other great acts, I realized, I wasn't just a singer/songwriter for a hard rock band, but I'm a big fan of this music!

I'm Speed, the lead vocalist/guitarist of the hard rock band Silvertung. In the past 3 years Silvertung has climbed mountains we never thought possible for a hard working blue collar band out of Baltimore. And we are just getting started! Our brand new release, "Devil's In The Details" features the single "Coming Alive".

While sitting in our tour van during on the 2012 UpRoar Festival, I was inspired the hard-working fans. Throughout the rest of the tour, I kept hearing this guitar riff and melody with the words Coming Alive. I started focusing writing about the hard working people doing the 9 to 5 thing and how much I could relate to it. Let's face it. When working for someone else, we need to dress and speak appropriately to keep our jobs. But is that really who we are? Not me!

We are who we are. When we're surrounded by those who we have a common interest…like a live rock show, life is exciting. We forget about work, paying bills and other 'normal' life activities. It's that moment right before we hit the stage, we can hear the roar of the crowd, or that moment right before your favorite band to hits the stage. You know -- that second the stage lights go down and the intro starts. That feeling you have at that moment.

That's when we all 'come alive.' Our first single, "Coming Alive" is all about who we really are. As a band, Silvertung, comes alive when we hit that stage. All the hard work writing, rehearsing, to bring are fans the best damn show we can. Doesn't matter what you do for a living, how much money you make…when you feel that 'high' in life, that's when you are "Coming Alive."
That's just a little about Silvertung and our first single "Coming Alive." Want to know more? Please visit us at www.silvertung.com. Check out our new album, "Devil's In The Details."

Listen to the lyrics for Coming Alive… It's All About YOU !

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