The Day in Rock Digest for 12/20/10: On Saturday (Dec. 18), Paramore announced that guitarist Josh Farro and drummer Zac Farro -- two founding members of the multi-platinum pop-punk group -- were leaving the band, confirming speculations that hit the internet earlier in the week about the brothers' departure. moreSlayer and Megadeth are teaming up for the European Carnage Tour 2011 in March/April. Confirmed dates are here
Avenged Sevenfold have issued an official statement on the recent departure of drummer Mike Portnoy. This is what they’ve had to say: "For the past few months, we’ve been blessed with Mike Portnoy’s talent and humanity. When Mike agreed to tour with us, it was only through the end of 2010. We always knew we’d need to find another solution for 2011 and beyond. And it’s time for us to take that next step. We know we are not ready to add another permanent member of Avenged Sevenfold. We don’t know if we will ever be. But if we do, it will only be with someone who is not only a brilliant drummer, but also someone we’ve gotten to know well on the road and off, and who you the fans have had a chance to get to know, and hopefully accept. In other words, in this family, we take these steps together, band and our extended fan family." more
Matthew Blakout, former drummer of Tigertailz, will be joining fellow Welshman and Mott The Hoople legend Verden Allen in his side project Soft Ground more
Stone Temple Pilots have confirmed they will hit the road in Australia and New Zealand for the first time ever this March. The run will kick off at Challenge Stadium in Perth on March 16 and will continue through March 26 more
Further Seems Forever to release first recordings in 10 years with original lineup: Chris Carrabba, Josh Colbert, Nick Dominguez, Steve Kleisath and Chad Neptune. Vinyl-only release features new acoustic renditions of "The Moon Is Down" and "New Year's Project" Press is limited to 1000 copies. Currently available exclusively through the band's official store here
Bassist Oliver "Ollie" Riedel of Rammstein revealed during an interview with MusikUniverse.net that the band's recent concerts in New York and Montreal were filmed for a forthcoming DVD. In addition, the group is planning to release a "best-of" collection in April 2011 featuring two previously unreleased songs. more
Porcupine Tree has announced through its official website that it is in the early stages of creating its own official iPhone/iPad app. more
The Victorious Secrets are now The American Secrets. As to the reasoning why- in typical form for a band that never takes itself too seriously, guitarist Bryon Rossi said it simply here
Night Of The Vinyl Dead is releasing Deep Purple's In Concert With The London Symphony Orchestra - Live At The Royal Albert Hall on limited edition vinyl. more
While touring with Paramore in the U.K. earlier this year, fun. frontman Nate Ruess decided to add a supremely arena-friendly cover to his band's setlist: Queen's "Radio Gaga." Hear an exclusive stream of fun.'s live version at Spin.com
Rotten Sound's brand new full-length album Cursed will see its worldwide (excluding Finland) release on March 15th via Relapse Records. more
Plus Rotten Sound will headline a tour of Europe next April with support from Trap Them, Gaza, The Kandidate, and Haust. more
Ex-Nitro guitarist Michael Angelo Batio performed at Rhoadsfest II on December 4th in Tarzana, CA at Paladino's. The tribute show to Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Randy Rhoads was attended by members of the Rhoads family and featured RHOADS TO OZZ featuring his brotherm Kelle. Check out the footage here
Saxon frontman Biff Byford has revealed that the band is working hard on the follow-up to 2009's 'Into The Labyrith'. more
Sonic Prophecy would like to introduce our latest member of the Sonic Prophecy family Jeff Dreher! He is one bad ass drummer and we look forward to many epic nights of Metal! more
Starring Janet Leigh (Ironclad Recordings) will be put to rest following one final tour of Eastern Canada. more
German-based Yo-Yo Records have announced plans to release a three-way (kinky!) split featuring Worn in Red, Attack! Vipers! and OK Pilot. more
Candiria will be in the studio this month tracking new material. The group will be recording drums at Jupiter4 Studio in Rockaway Park, NY with a spring 2011 release planned. more
Amon Amarth have announced European headlining tour dates with support from The Black Dahlia Murder: more
Last time we heard from Swarm Of The Lotus (nearly a year ago), they were working on a new album. Plans have changed in the interim as the band has gone on an "indefinite hiatus." However, the majority of its members have now launched a new, as-yet-titled band. more
On this day in 1992, American blues singer and guitarist Albert King died from a heart attack in Memphis, Tennessee. King recorded dozens of influential songs, such as “Crosscut Saw” and “As the Years Go Passing By,” and the 1967 album, Born under a Bad Sign. Find out what else happened on this date in music history here