Bruce Dickinson Rescues UK Soilders
Mood:  bright
Topic: Heavy Metal
According to Metalhammer.co.uk Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson, who is a qualified pilot, helped to airlifte 200 British citizens back to the UK from Cyprus. This was part of a major operation to rescue British citizens caught up in war torn Beirut.

Following the announcement of the forthcoming early September release of their new studio album A Matter Of Life And Death, Iron Maiden announced the news that The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breega will be released as a very special single on 14th August.

Says Steve Harris, "This is a very intense album in many ways and we really wanted to go with a lead track that demonstrated that in the best way, rather than going for a shorter track on the album just to please the chart rules. Benjamin Breega is a great example of the feel of the album in its really heavy riff and lyrically it's a very dark, atmospheric and powerful song which really epitomizes what the album is all about for us. So it made a natural choice for us."

Rolling Stones Return To US
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: The Rolling Stones return to the US for their ongoing 'A Bigger Bang' tour.
Topic: Classic Rock
Wed Jul 26, 12:54 AM

NEW YORK - The Rolling Stones will return to North America this fall as part of their ongoing "A Bigger Bang" tour. The Stones, now packing venues in Europe, will open the tour Sept. 20 in Boston's Gillette Stadium. Other stops include Chicago, Seattle, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Vancouver, British Columbia, with the final stop in Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium on Nov. 18.

"Most of the shows are going to be on the big stadium stage with fans in the balconies behind us," Mick Jagger said in a statement Tuesday. "We're going to play many cities we didn't get to before and also return to some of our favorite places."

The Stones kicked off "A Bigger Bang" last August at Boston's Fenway Park.

They were forced to postpone the start of the European leg of the tour, which ends Sept. 3 in Denmark, after Keith Richards suffered a head injury in a fall from a tree while vacationing in Fiji in April.

The 62-year-old guitarist said he's feeling great and can't wait to play "more gigs in America and Canada."

"I thought we left too soon you know, so that's the reason we're coming back," Richards said.

Tickets go on sale Monday.

Richard Fortus Comments On The Riot
Mood:  accident prone
Now Playing: GN'R guitarist Richard Fortus sticks up for the band after the Newcastle Riot.
Topic: Hard Rock
Message from Richard Fortus

"To my knowledge, there was never a bottle thrown at the stage while we were on it. Newcastle (in my opinion), was one of (if not the), best shows of the tour. It was also the hottest! It was a steam bath! The fans were amazing, and seemed 100% with us the entire show.

It was a really magical show for me, until the very end. During Night Train, someone threw a coin and it hit Axl and he stopped us and we walked off. We made an announcement that we weren't going to keep playing if anything else was thrown. Unfortunately, we came back, started the song again and the same thing happened. So we left. That's what this band has always done when people keep throwing shit. Maybe people were booing in the back. If they were, I sure as hell didn't hear it nor did I see it.

Except for some asshole that ruined it for everyone, it was one of the greatest shows of my life. The Newcastle audience was amazing. The press reports that I've read made it sound as though we were bottled and booed off the stage, but as usual they are full of shit. That includes the story about Axl refusing to go on until he got a roast duck dinner. Complete bullshit. I know, I was with him. Blatant lies. Don't believe what you read kiddies!

The fans have been amazing here in Europe. It's pretty overwhelming. I'd like to personally thank all the fans that have come to the shows. Especially the ones that didn't come as fans, but left as fans. Your emails and all the posts on the websites have really meant a lot.

oh yeah, one more thing. Izzy Stradlin is one of the coolest people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. It's a pleasure to play with him and to hang out with him. Again, thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone that has helped make this tour so much fun."

Courtesy of www.heretodaygonetohell.com

Metallica Joins iTunes
Mood:  happy
Now Playing: Metallica believes the digital format death of the album.
Topic: Thrash
They may have been dragged kicking and screaming, but Metallica has finally joined the digital revolution.

After famously decrying online downloading as the death of the album format, and filing a few lawsuits in the process, the head-banging quartet has finally acquiesced to Apple and made available their back catalog on the iTunes Music Store Tuesday.

"From the 'It's about f---ing time!' file, comes this...," the group said on its Website Monday.

"Over the last year or so, we have seen an ever-growing number of Metallica fans using online sites like iTunes to get their music. So, in continuing with the tradition of offering our albums for sale online (which we've been doing for a few years through various sites), as well as making our live concerts available for download in their entirety (through the livemetallica.com site), we are now offering fans the opportunity to obtain our songs individually."

Metallica had previously made available their music for downloading on Yahoo! Music, MSN Music and Rhapsody, but the iTunes collaboration marks the first time listeners can purchase a single song rather than an entire album.

As of Tuesday, each of the band's 10 albums were available for download, along with a handful of previously unreleased live songs, included as bonus tracks on Metallica's first four discs, Kill 'Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets and ...And Justice for All.

"We chose these four because, unlike the more recent releases, we were only capable of writing 8-9 songs for each of these albums!" the band said.

The iTunes deal marks a significant turning point for the foursome of James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich and Robert Trujillo, who had became the poster boys for the luddite music industry during the Napster wars.

The thrashers waged a high profile and vicious legal battle against the file-swapping service in 2000, blaming the network for "hijacking" their music. In a particularly fan-unfriendly move, Ulrich even went so far as to hand deliver a list of names of roughly 30,000 Napster users to a Redwood City, California, court house.

In 2003, when the iTunes Music Store launched, the group declared it would not allow Apple to hawk its tunes, saying it would "contribute to the demise of the album format."

As it is, Metallica's entire catalog was available for download Tuesday morning on iTunes' U.S. and Canada editions only.

"This is unfortunately due to the fact that our record company overseas doesn't seem to want to play ball with us on this at the moment," the band posted online. "Enjoy iMetallica!"

Although Metallica is finally on board, iTunes still has some major holdouts.

The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Radiohead and Garth Brooks are the biggest artists refusing to partner with the download service. And with the Beatles' recent loss to Apple in a trademark infringement cases, it's unlikely the Fab Four will strike a deal anytime soon.

Courtesy of www.eonline.com

L.A. Guns Slam Former LAG Members
Mood:  don't ask
Now Playing: 2 bands named L.A. Guns are touring this summer.
Topic: Hair Metal
It has come to our attention that a former member of L.A. Guns with rights to use the name has put a Tribute band together with some of the guys he played with before the band were signed to Polygram records in 1986. It is a band that never recorded a record together just played some local shows. Twenty years ago. So if you intend to book or attend a concert by this band you should know that a singer who's voice you have never heard on a single LAG record will be attempting to cover LAG classics with a drummer that hasn't played in a band since 1989. Unfortunately this situation has developed due to the fact that Tracii has burned every bridge that he has ever crossed and these are the only guys left that take him seriously. It should be apparent to anyone with the slightest understandING on how a band operates that certain people are indeed toxic which is why Steve Riley, Phil Lewis, Adam Hamilton and Stacy Blades decided that the band had to continue after our former guitarist jumped ship two weeks before the release of a new record and world tour four years ago. Since then the band has gone on to prove that live and in the studio the loss has not hurt us a bit, in fact public and press option has made it clear that we are in fact much better off.

We anticipate there might be some confusion in the coming months with both bands playing live shows so we want to make it clear that we do not endorse of have any control of this situation and expect our fan base to stand by us as we have always stood by them.

So if you're a life long fan or someone that has recently discovered L.A. Guns and you want to hear all the hits from the first self titled record all the way to Tales From The Strip played authentically with the real singer and drummer who have been playing together for sixteen years then be sure not to confuse the two groups.

L.A. Guns is a band that thrives on the support of our fans. If any doubt this special relationship that only need to check out the message board on the official LAG web site www.laguns.net or any of our nine thousand friends over at my space.com to see that there is great enthusiasm for our work and we promise that this temporary annoyance will not affect our commitment to delivering the best live shows and records.

So be warned that if you find yourself in an empty club with a band called the original L.A Guns. It' not us.

L.A. Guns:
Phil Lewis - Vocals
Steve Riley - Drums
Adam Hamilton - Bass
Stacy Blades - Guitar

Courtesy of Obi Steinman Mgmt

Zakk Wylde & BLS: New Album
Mood:  lucky
Now Playing: Blavck Label Society Prepares to Release New Album This Fall.
Topic: Heavy Metal

New York, NY – (July 14, 2006) -- Legendary Grammy winning guitarist Zakk Wylde and his band Black Label Society (BLS) are preparing to release their new studio album Shot To Hell on September 12th. Produced by Zakk and executive produced by Michael Beinhorn (Soundgarden, Red Hot Chili Peppers) this latest offering is his 8th album since becoming Ozzy Osbourne’s lead guitarist and co-songwriter 20 years ago. Shot to Hell is the first BLS release for Roadrunner Records and follows the band’s success of selling nearly 2 million albums in the U.S. to date. Currently headlining the second stage at Ozzfest, BLS will announce a US headlining tour shortly.

 The buzz is already starting to build dramatically as the September 12th release date approaches. In June, Zakk appeared on the cover of Guitar Player Magazine and he’s on the cover of the September 2006 issues of Guitar World and Metal Edge Magazines. Radio is hotly anticipating the July 24th add date of the first single off Shot to Hell, which is “Concrete Jungle.”

Shot To Hell is the follow up to Mafia, which debuted in March 2005 at #15 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart and at #1 on the Top Independent Albums chart and # 15 on the Top Internet Releases. Zakk is Guitar World Magazine’s 3 time reigning MVP who in their year end readers poll was named #1 most valuable player, #1 best metal guitarist and #1 best shredder. In addition he was the recipient of Metal Hammer Magazine’s 2005 “Riff Lord” Golden God Award. 

Capitalizing on the buzz and Zakk’s diverse fan-base, (including Hard Rockers, Bikers, a CNN anchor, professional Athletes, ESPN Analysts, Teachers, Stock Brokers, Housewives and Kids) companies are calling upon him to help give a face to their products. Recently, this father of three who married his high school sweetheart has garnered new endorsement deals from Gibson and Epiphone Guitars, Marshall Amps, Dunlop strings and pedals and more. Many of these companies have created special Zakk Wylde models such as the Marshall Amp Zakk Stack. Additionally, Zakk and the gift emporium Spencer’s partnered up to offer one lucky fan tickets to an Ozzfest show and a personal guitar lesson with the legend himself.

Never one to rest on his reputation or past accomplishments, Zakk is keeping himself very busy touring the world with BLS. He is, once again doing double duty on Ozzfest, a tour for which he has played more shows than anyone, including the tours namesake Ozzy Osbourne. Last year, Zakk’s original compositions for ESPN helped promote the popular X-Games and this year his piano based songs will promote other sporting events either for or on ESPN. Zakk is a sports fanatic whose son can even claim notable MLB All-Star, Mike Piazza as his Godfather.

In 1986, at the age of 19, Zakk was plucked from a gas station in NJ to be the new guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne. He quickly asserted not only his guitar skills but also his songwriting prowess, having co-written some of Ozzy’s best-selling albums including, No Rest For The Wicked, No More Tears and Ozzmosis.  Additionally, he has released one album with the short-lived project Pride & Glory, one solo album and five albums with Black Label Society. BLS has released the DVD Boozed, Broozed & Broken-Boned- Live with the Detroit Chapter, which is certified Platinum. Zakk is also a budding actor who appeared in the 2001 movie Rock Star with Mark Wahlberg as well as voicing the Zakk Wylde character in the Cartoon Networks hit series Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

For more information visit www.ZakkWylde.com .

What's Up With: Sammy Hagar
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Hard Rock

The New Album:

Sammy Hagar sings about what he knows best on his fifteenth studio album--parties, beaches, and love. Livin' It Up contains 11 new studio tracks featuring Hagar and The Wabos--drummer David Lauser, guitarist Vic Johnson, and bassist Mona. The album mixes eclectic styles that range from the hard-driving hits "Sam I Am" and "Mexico," to the roots rocker "The Way We Live," and the country-rock ballad "Halfway."

On Van Halen:

Rocker SAMMY HAGAR fears a VAN HALEN reunion will never happen because former bandmate EDDIE VAN HALEN needs "an overhaul".

The WHY CAN'T THIS BE LOVE singer still tours with former Van Halen bandmate MICHAEL ANTHONY and speaks regularly to ALEX VAN HALEN, but he rarely speaks with guitarist Eddie - and fears he never will.

But he's always hoping his former bandmate sees sense and reforms Van Halen: "If Eddie ever wants to be friends again, not just business... I would hope Van Halen does a reunion again sometime. It's too great of a band, the fans deserve it. But he needs an overhaul."

Courtesy of pr-inside.com

Kid Rock & Pamula Anderson Marry, Dave Navarro & Carmen Electra Split
Mood:  not sure
Topic: Hard Rock

Kid rock & Pamula Anderson:

LOS ANGELES - The on-again, off-again love affair between actress Pamela Anderson and singer Kid Rock is on again and this time they plan to marry.

The former Playboy model and the Detroit rap-rocker will exchange vows on July 29 aboard a yacht near the French Riviera city of St. Tropez, the celebrity magazine US Weekly reported.

"Yes, I'm finally getting remarried ... I'm in love. I'm happy," Anderson writes on her Web site, pamelaanderson.com, in an entry on Tuesday.

Anderson's spokeswoman declined to comment but US quoted an Anderson representative as saying, "They have been close for a very long time and decided that now is the right time to take the next step."

Anderson, 39, and Rock, 35, whose recordings include 1998's "Devil Without a Cause," have been romantically linked since the early 2000s but broke off their relationship in 2003. Recently, they have been seen together vacationing along the Riviera.

The blond actress, who gained stardom in the 1990s on TV show "Baywatch," was previously married to drummer Tommy Lee of rock band Motley Crue with whom she had two sons.

Courtesy of www.reuters.com

Dave Navarro & Carmen Electra:

LOS ANGELES - Former "Baywatch" babe Carmen Electra and her rocker husband Dave Navarro, who once starred in MTV television show "Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen + Dave," have separated, the couple's publicist said on Monday.

"They are amicably separating," said publicist Brit Reece.

He declined to provide further details of the break up.

Electra, 34, gained stardom in the 1990s as a Playboy magazine model and an actress in TV shows such as "Baywatch," about attractive southern California lifeguards.

Her marriage to Navarro was her second. For a brief period in the late 1990s, she was married to professional basketball star Dennis Rodman, as well known for his colored hair, tattoos and piercings as for his playing ability.

Navarro, 39, won fame as lead guitarist of 1980s hard rock band Jane's Addiction, and is currently hosting TV reality show "Rock Star: Supernova."

The pair were married in November 2003, and they documented the wedding for the reality show "Til Death Do Us Part".

Courtesy of www.reuters.com

Ozzy's New Album
Mood:  celebratory
Now Playing: Ozzy teams up with Zakk Wylde to make a new album full of anthems and ballads.
Topic: Heavy Metal
Ozzy Osbourne is getting ready to enter another chapter in his diary of a madman -- with longtime sidekick Zakk Wylde alongside. "There's a bunch of kick-ass stuff on there," Wylde tells Billboard.com of the material earmarked for Osbourne's 15th solo album. "It is just ass-kicking, heavy stuff, and we've got the ballads, some piano stuff and some acoustic stuff."

Wylde's Black Label Society is headlining the tour's second stage, and the guitarist is also playing with Osbourne on the select dates the former Black Sabbath frontman is doing on the tour.

He says "It would've been great if we got [Osbourne's album] done before the Ozzfest, but it's like trying to cram three pounds of crap into a two-pound leaking bag, if you know what I mean. There's not enough hours in the day to get everything done."

"But right now it's coming out slamming. I think once the Ozzfest is done, Ozz can start writing at home in the studio and start knocking vocals out." The as-yet-untitled album is Osbourne's first featuring all original material since 2001's "Down to Earth."

Wylde, meanwhile, will release Black Label Society's sixth album, "Shot to Hell," on Sept. 19. Wylde, who co-produced the set with Michael Beinhorn, cracks that the title refers to "what happens to our kidneys, livers and pancreas, being out on the road with Black Label."

Courtesy of www.billboard.com

All the Axl news you can take.
Mood:  spacey
Topic: Heavy Metal

First, June 30th:

GUNS N' ROSES frontman AXL ROSE has blasted Swedish police for blackmailing him into co-operating with their demands.

The singer was being held in a Swedish jail after being arrested in the early hours of Tuesday morning (26JUN06) for allegedly biting a security guard during a drunken brawl.

After agreeing to pay a fine of 40,000 kronor (US$5,500/UK3,000), he was released from jail. He was also ordered to pay 10,000 kronor (US$1,360/UK756) in damages to the security guard.

But tour manager MERCK MERCURIADIS says the star only admitted to the "violent conduct" because he was physically mistreated as well as threatened with up to three weeks behind bars if he didn't. Rose would have missed the tour had he not complied.

Mercuriadis says, "We are in the middle of a tour.

"The Swedish authorities were very aware of this, yet continually threatened us over a 12-hour period with between five days and three weeks incarceration without bail if Axl did not 'co-operate'.

"They were fully aware that there were millions of dollars at stake, not to mention the hopes of tens of thousands of fans who had paid for tickets to see Guns N' Roses." "The point is, the police report should not be taken at face value, and if one were to be explicit, this experience is tantamount to being held for ransom.

"If the context were any different, Axl would probably have preferred to spend the time in jail in order to ensure that all the facts were a matter of public record."

Courtesy of pr-inside.com

Second, Axl does what he does best on July 22nd, causing a riot.

AXL ROSE sparked a riot at a concert after refusing to appear on stage until he had been given a full roast dinner.

The GUNS N' ROSES singer kept the crowd at Newcastle's Metro Arena waiting on Thursday night (19JUL06) for over an hour in the sweltering heat as he tucked in to his meal.

His behaviour didn't go down too well with the thousand strong audience, who started jeering and throwing objects at the empty stage.

Concert goer SASKIA GREEN says, "It was really hot and the crowd was booing because he was taking forever. A security guard said it the delay was caused by Axl demanding a lamb dinner before he went on - very rock 'n' roll." COLIN REVEL, manager of the Metro Arena, confirmed the bizarre request for the British delicacy and said, "Only a roast dinner would do."

Courtesy of www.pr-inside.com