Lemmy From Motorhead 'On The Mend'

Motorhead canceled the remaining shows on their summer European festival tour following doctor's orders as Lemmy recently suffered a haematoma (where blood collects outside of a blood vessel) and needed to address the issue; the bassist had previously been fitted with a defibrillator because of heart problems. more on this story

Lamb Of God, Killswitch Engage, Testament Tour

The rumors turned out to be true as Lamb Of God and Killswitch Engage have announced that they will be teaming up for a North American tour this fall.

Lamb Of God and Killswitch Engage will be joined on the 28-date trek by thrash legends Testament and Huntress (except at the Hollywood Palladium where Testament will be not be on the bill and another act will be announced soon.)

The tour is set to kick off on October 22nd in Toronto at Kool Haus and will be concluding on November 26th in Silver Spring, MD at The Fillmore Silver Spring. more on this story

Megadeth's Gigantour Derailed By Extreme Weather

(hennemusic) Megadeth were forced to cancel their Gigantour set Tuesday night as Oklahoma City was hit by extreme weather. Intense rain and lightning forced Device to skip their set, and then shortly before Megadeth were to take the stage, a bolt of lightning struck an Oklahoma City transformer, cutting power to the Zoo Amphitheatre entirely.

Dave Mustaine kept fans up to date on Twitter, writing, "OKC just can't get a break. It's pouring down rain & lightning is everywhere. Device was pulled. This sucks!"

"I give up...lightning hit a city transformer and the city went dark," wrote Mustaine later, followed by "We are trying to wait it out, but they say it will be hours, if not days until it's fixed."

After a 45-minute wait, the audience was advised that Megadeth would be unable to perform. more on this story

Stone Temple Pilots Explain Why They Fired Scott Weiland

(Banana 101.5) Stone Temple Pilots' DeLeo brothers, Robert and Dean, were recently interviewed by Banana 101.5 out of Flint, Michigan and covered a lot of topics including their new singer Chester Bennington, their new music, and why they parted ways with Scott Weiland. That part of the interview is below:

The DeLeo brothers were asked, "I know you probably don't want to talk about Scott much, but I was curious as to what the final straw was that made you guys decide to bring it to an end with him?" and Robert responded, "Well, I think it's a well publicized series of events…" to which Dean added, "Twenty years worth [laughs]." Then they both went into more details:

[Robert] I think you get to a point in your life where your BS meter starts running down to a certain kind of tolerance. It wasn't just a musical decision or a business decision it was a quality of live decision and that really what it's about. That's where we wanted to be. Chester is a person that's really surrounded by good fortune and that's something you want to be around. It's no longer three guys in a room, trying to make a record or trying to get a tour together – it's four guys in a room.

[Dean] We want to be able to fulfill our commitment through the band too. Robert, Eric and I, we want to be able to come to town and give you everything we've got and it was getting to a point where we were unable to do that.

[Banana 101.5] Scott Weiland came here to Flint on the first night of his solo tour, just two days after you parted ways with him, and I think you guys made the right move because Chester is going to come out and deliver every night and, as much as I love Scott, I can't say that he did that when he was here.

[Robert] We're gonna be able to do material that we weren't able to do and I think from seeing what you saw with Scott — I think you know what I mean. We're gonna be able to perform stuff that we've been dying to perform for a long time.

[Dean] I don't know if the fans want to hear this kind of stuff, they probably want to hear more about music, but our band means a lot to us. It never wavered or diminished in any way. Robert and Eric and I are really filled with gratitude. There's a lot that comes along with being in a successful band and it's all luxurious. Really. It really is. With that said, it means so much to us and it's such a big part of our life… I'm gonna say it doesn't define us, but it's a big part of our life. It comes into our homes! It really lives and resides in our homes — in our bedrooms, around our children and when a toxic orbit or environment steps into my house… would you wanna do that?

[Banana 101.5] No.

[Dean] It's like what Robert said, man. It's more about quality of life. You know, I'm gonna say something that's not slighting Chester in any way, but I would've loved for [the Scott Weiland] lineup to have gone on forever [or] until we were taken out by our elbows and heels, but it just… we did not dictate where we're at now. By any means. Read more of the interview or stream it here.

Kings of Leon Return With New Song

(Radio.com) After a tumultuous hiatus, which included a cancelled 2011 tour, Kings of Leon is back with "Supersoaker," the first single from their upcoming album, Mechanical Bull (due out September 24).

Their latest single–their first since releasing Come Around Sundown in 2010–is a return to their early days of energetic, kick drum heavy country rock. On the chorus, Caleb Followill growls,"I don't mind sentimental girls at times," as his bandmates join in, guitars a blazing.

Mechanical Bull was recorded at the group's home studio in Nashville, TN, and was produced by longtime KOL collaborator, Angelo Petraglia. "I thought we were going to make a really mature album but I'm amazed how youthful it sounds," bassist Jared Followill told NME. "It's like a mix of Youth & Young Manhood and Because Of The Times."

As for the record's album title, Caleb says it was inspired by the wild, wild, west. "Every record has to have five syllables," he told Norway's NRK P3. "For some reason we kept watching all these old cowboy clips when we listened to our songs and it was just kinda something that was sticking in our heads and I felt like the further we got into the record, the more tracks, it really did feel like it was a bit of a roller coaster ride."

He added, "A lot of the time we like our record titles to be a bit of a thinker - for people to try to decode. But for this [album] it was like, 'Man, we're havin' fun with this record. It feels like something that should be fun so let's just go against the grain and go against what we normally do and call it that.'" Check out the new song and read more here.

Alice Cooper Says Current Generation Is Not Rock

(Gibson) Veteran shock rocker Alice Cooper doesn't understand how this new crop of acoustic performers can be, well, so safe, and still be under the label of rock.

"I just feel like this whole generation maybe all need to eat a steak," Cooper said in an interview with Fuse. "Maybe they need to quit eating…vegetarian food and get out there and get some blood pumping in their system."

He added that being a rock musician means that "you're an outlaw" and that rock 'n' roll comes from your guts as opposed to your brain. "It's sexual," he said. "It's tribal."

He added that, "rock bands don't have accordions or lutes or flutes, unless, maybe, you're Jethro Tull." more on this story

Nine Inch Nails Plan Four Different Covers For Hesitation Marks

(Radio.com) With Trent Reznor's current Nine Inch Nails revival in full swing, the band's mastermind has revealed four separate album covers for Hesitation Marks, the group's first new studio release since their 2008 full-length, The Slip.

All four mixed-media images (including actual blood on two of them) were created by artist Russell Mills, who's no stranger to making art for Nine Inch Nails, having crafted the cover art for the group's famed 1994 release, The Downward Spiral.

Each piece is specific to a particular album format: "Turn and Burn" (digital), "Cargo in the Blood" (deluxe CD), "Time and Again" (standard CD) and "Other Murmurs" (vinyl).

"The artworks, (30 mixed media pieces) that I eventually produced towards uses in the Hesitation Marks releases, evolved out of lengthy exchanges between myself and Trent and in response to the conceptual ideas that thread through the tracks and to the sonic territory that the album explores," Mills explained in a statement on the official Nine Inch Nails website.

"I've tried to lock into the album's prevailing mood and echo the album's essence. The ideas are not communicated in a literal or easily digested form, as this would be boring for me and would insult the intelligence of a potential audience. I've tried to make works that obliquely allude to the essence of the subject matter, to its emotional core." Check out the artwork here.

U2's Bono Receives France's Highest Cultural Honor

(hennemusic) U2 frontman Bono has received France's highest cultural honor for his contribution to music and commitment to humanitarian causes, according to the BBC.

Bono was presented with the Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by French Culture Minister Aurelie Filippetti in Paris. Bono said the award belonged to his band. "I've got the biggest mouth and the loudest voice but the music we make comes from each other," he said.

Mr Filippetti praised the singer saying: "You committed yourself and dedicated your fame and career to wage some of the greatest wars of our time. Not for charity's sake but in the name of justice." more on this story

Johnny Marr Kicking Off Solo Tour On Halloween

Johnny Marr, the former guitarist for The Smiths, has announced plans to launch a North American tour this fall in support of his recently released debut solo album.

Marr will be launching the tour on Halloween, October 31st, in Anaheim, Ca at the House of Blues and will stay on the road for the month of November before concluding the trek on November 26th in Fort Lauderdale, FL at Culture Room.

The tour follows Marr's performance at this year's Coachella Festival and includes a new festival stop, this time at the Fun Fun Fun Festival in Austin, Tx on November 8th.

Johnny is hitting the road in support of his debut solo album, The Messenger, which was released earlier this year by Sire/ADA. more on this story

Wilko Johnson Wonders 'What's The Point' About Final Album

(Classic Rock) Wilko Johnson sometimes find himself wondering "What's the bloody point?" when he thinks about his final album. The terminally-ill guitarist is working on one more batch of new music before he bows to the inevitable, after confirming in January that he'd decided not to undergo chemotherapy for his pancreatic cancer.

He was forced to cancel the last few shows of his farewell tour earlier this year due to an unrelated illness – but after realising he felt more healthy than he'd expected to, he's added more live dates. He performed in a home crowd at Southend-on-Sea at the weekend.

Wilko tells the Guardian: "I thought I should try to get an album out before I die. But this is a rather indeterminate time for me, so sometimes I do wonder what the bloody point is.

"The last songs, strangely enough, contain a lot of metaphors for death. It's not too heavy, though – don't worry." more on this story

Slade Having Trouble Finding A New Singer

(Classic Rock) Slade are struggling to find a replacement for outgoing frontman Mal McNulty, they've admitted. He wants to bow out because he doesn't feel able to deliver the kind of performance the glam rock icons need.

And since there's no chance of persuading Noddy Holder to return to the mic, guitarist Dave Hill and drummer Don Powell have been engaged in a series of auditions with other singers.

"It's the hardest job in the world to fill because Noddy was such an incredible singer," Powell tells the Birmingham Mail. They'd tried to secure the services of Almost Slayed tribute vocalist Danny Devil, who's regarded as a "carbon copy" of Holder, but it hasn't worked out because he's based in Australia.

"On paper it sounds great," says Powell, "but his partner is in the band and he's in Australia. in reality it's a bit silly. It may have caused too many problems." more on this story

The Almighty Expanding Albums For Reissue

(Classic Rock) The Almighty will re-release their first two albums in September, with another batch due early next year. And the band haven't entirely given up on plans to write new music, and possibly even tour.

Ricky Warwick, now fronting Black Star Riders, co-formed the Scottish-based outfit in 1988. They split in 1996, then again in 2002 after a reunion.

During their first stint they released five acclaimed studio albums: Blood, Fire And Love, Soul Destruction, Powertrippin', Crank and Just Add Life. They later added a self-titled record in 2000 and finally Pyscho-Narco in 2001.

The first two will see the light of day on September 30 under the title Re-F**kin'-Issues. Each album will come complete with bonus material including additional tracks, liner notes and commentary. more on this story

Bob Dylan Bootleg Series 10th Installment Details

(Gibson) Bob Dylan is set to release the 10th installment of his Bootleg Series on Aug. 27, and the set will celebrate the musician's performance period from the late-1960s into the '70s.

The Bootleg Series, Vol. 10 -- Another Self Portrait (1969-1971) offers a mix of never-before-released demos and additional recordings around the release of Dylan's studio albums Self Portrait and New Morning.

Another Self Portrait will arrive as a two-CD set and a four-disc collection, the latter that also includes a re-mastered edition of Self Portrait and a CD of Dylan's Aug. 31, 1969, performance with the Band at England's Isle of Wight Festival.

The Bootleg Series, Vol. 10: Another Self Portrait (1969-1971) [Disc One]: "Went to See the Gypsy" (demo)
"In Search of Little Sadie" (without overdubs, Self Portrait)
"Pretty Saro" (unreleased, Self Portrait)
"Alberta #3" (alternate version, Self Portrait)
"Spanish Is the Loving Tongue" (unreleased, Self Portrait)
"Annie's Going to Sing Her Song" (unreleased, Self Portrait)
"Time Passes Slowly #1" (alternate version, New Morning)
"Only a Hobo" (unreleased, Greatest Hits II)
"Minstrel Boy" (unreleased, The Basement Tapes)
"I Threw It All Away" (alternate version, Nashville Skyline)
"Railroad Bill" (unreleased, Self Portrait)
"Thirsty Boots" (unreleased, Self Portrait)
"This Evening So Soon" (unreleased, Self Portrait)
"These Hands" (unreleased, Self Portrait)
"Little Sadie" (without overdubs, Self Portrait)
"House Carpenter" (unreleased, Self Portrait)
"All the Tired Horses" (without overdubs, Self Portrait) Check out the rest of the tracklisting here.

Joe Satriani To Publish His Musical Memoirs

(hennemusic) Joe Satriani will publish his first book, "Strange Beautiful Music: A Musical Memoir", next spring. "I'm excited for my fans, through this musical memoir, to get a deeper look inside my creative process in the studio and the stories behind the songs," says Satriani. "We have a great publisher in BenBella and I look forward to the book hitting shelves next year!"

Published by BenBella Books and told over hours of firsthand, exclusive interviews, the book is co-written by Satriani and award-winning music biographer Jake Brown (Heart, Motorhead, Kenny Aronoff, Rick Rubin) and takes fans on their first authorized tour of the story behind his climb to worldwide stardom.

Featuring a foreword by legendary Queen lead guitarist Brian May, this memoir is filled with pages and pages of never-before-seen photos as well as exclusive, firsthand interviews with former student and fellow guitar icon Steve Vai, Chickenfoot bandmates Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Chad Smith, legendary producers Glyn Johns, the late Andy Johns, AC/DC producer Mike Fraser, and Satriani/Dead Kennedys producer John Cunniberti, among others. more on this story

Elvis Presley's Last Two Recorded Concerts To Be Auctioned

Tapes containing footage of the very last known time Elvis Presley ever appeared and performed on camera with hours of never-before-broadcast material are set to be auctioned.

The tapes will be part of the inaugural Mecum Celebrity Items Auction that will be taking place on July 26-27 in Santa Monica, California, which will feature more than a dozen Elvis items. We were sent these details:

The original video and audio footage comes from Elvis' last two recorded live concerts - including one in Omaha, Neb., on June 19, 1977, and one in Rapid City, S.D., on June 21, 1977. The tapes include Elvis performing live onstage as well as footage from backstage and behind-the-scenes. Following these two live dates, Elvis would go on to perform a handful of additional shows, with the final curtain call coming at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis on June 26. Not long after these shows Elvis would unexpectedly pass away on August 16, 1977.

The uncirculated tapes, totaling approximately four-and-a-half hours, contain the unedited, multi-camera professionally filmed concert footage with the original audio mix. The electricity and excitement is utterly phenomenal during two concerts that include approximately 27 different songs sung by Elvis. The tapes also include intimate backstage scenes, candid dressing room footage and hallway shots of Elvis, his then-girlfriend, Ginger Alden, and his father, Vernon Presley. The Elvis tapes are being sold solely as a cultural collectible intended for the personal enjoyment of the successful bidder. View the lot details for the tapes here.

The Mecum Celebrity Items Auction also includes the sale of several additional pieces of Elvis Presley memorabilia and history. Highlights include Elvis Presley's personal vehicle, a 1972 Cadillac Custom Estate Wagon (Lot S119), 1958-1960 U.S. Army Induction and Discharge Papers (Lot S207) and a 1958 lot of rare Presley photographs in the Army (Lot S200). Additional items for fans of 'The King' include rare autographs from the late 1950s and early 1960s; slides of Presley at his Graceland mansion in 1958; photos of Presley on active duty in Germany and at play with the Memphis Mafia in Paris.

Freddie Mercury Gorilla Returns After Facelift

(hennemusic) The Freddie Mercury gorilla has returned to Norwich following a facelift requested by the estate of the late Queen singer. The gorilla has retained his original clothes but his face has been changed to resemble that of a real-life gorilla, according to Norfolk Eastern Daily Press.

The Freddie gorilla was removed last week after organizers of Go Go Gorillas! were contacted by the Freddie Mercury Estate; the two parties have since been in discussions to resolve the situation.

"It will be nice to have him back out there," said organizer Martin Green. "We have worked with the Freddie Mercury Estate to make some alterations.

"Our artist has carried out the work and design which was agreed by all parties, and we have got the best outcome possible which considers the wishes of the Freddie Mercury Estate." Check out before and after photos here.

Singled Out: Walking With Giants (Sevendust, Alterbridge)

Today Gary Noon tells us about "Inside Out" from the Walking With Giants' debut EP which also features Clint Lowery (Sevendust, Dark New Day, Call Me No One) and Scott Phillips (Alterbridge, Creed). Here is the story:

Inside Out is a song for everyone. I wrote it about the many mindsets that I wrestle with as a person, but because I didn't specifically call out what those are, listeners seem to find it easy to attach their own experience to the lyrics, making the song their own.

The verse riff is a strong example of who I am as a player. Having played covers for so long, I tend to think about the guitar as if I'm playing multiple parts at once: guitar, bass, and drums. The verse really came alive because, in addition to the chord progression, I was also playing a bouncy pedal tone on each quarter note underneath it. Since that riff established the feel for the song, I relaxed the rhythm a bit in preproduction so Scott "Flip" Phillips (Alterbridge, Creed) could step in and make it his own.

I wrote the verse riff first, and then added a chorus section. I passed it to Clint Lowery (Sevendust, Call Me No One), who then refined the track, and we all fleshed out the rest in the rehearsal room. Walking into the studio with core ideas instead of full demos allowed the three of us (Myself, Clint and Flip ) to influence the song into what it became.

This was also the first song I recorded vocally. It was a defining moment for the entire project because I'd never recorded vocals before. It was do or die, make or break, and with Clint's coaching I was able to find my voice and sing with a bit more confidence each time I took the mic.

I think that's a part of what makes Walking With Giants' music accessible to listeners of many different genres – it's about groove, feeling, emotion - not a specific style.

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

Soundgarden's Live From The Artists Den Performance Goes Online

(hennemusic) Soundgarden are featured on the latest episode of the public television series Live From The Artists Den, and video of the full program has surfaced.

Soundgarden were filmed in concert at The Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles on the final date of the first leg of their North American tour in support of "King Animal."

The February 17th performance mixed brand new songs with classics, radio hits, and rarities. If you missed the broadcast you can watch the episode online here.

Rob Zombie Releases American Band Lyric Video and Calls On Fans

(hennemusic) Rob Zombie has released a lyric video for his cover of the Grand Funk Railroad classic, "We're An American Band, " from the "Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor" album.

Zombie is asking fans to be a part of the video for his cover of the track. "We want singers, bands, cheerleaders, athletes, hard-working, hard-drinking, hard-rocking people!" Your submission just might end up in a special fan version of the "American Band" video created by Rob Zombie."

Zombie worked on the album with producer Bob Marlette; it's the first release on Rob's new label, Zodiac Swan, through T-Boy Records/UMe. more on this story

Metallica Release Welcome Home (Sanitarium) Video From Orion Fest

(hennemusic) Metallica have released video footage of their performance of the classic track "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" at last month's Orion Music + More festival.

The tune, from the band's 1986 album, "Master Of Puppets," was featured in Metallica's headlining set, which closed out the festival at Belle Isle in Detroit, MI.

The group have also released video of "For Whom The Bell Tolls" , "…And Justice For All" , "Harvester Of Sorrow" and "I Disappear". Check out the video here.