The band’s new EP, United World Rebellion – Chapter One, will be released in North America on April 16th, with an international release date to be announced shortly.
Skid Row guitarist Dave “Snake” Sabo said, “We’ve known the Megaforce family and their various incarnations since 1982. Their history and legacy speaks for itself. We always thought that at some point we would work together and this turned out to be the perfect time and vehicle for us to finally do it. They have a sincere belief in what we’re doing and what our vision is which is really rare today. Needless to say, this is a very exciting time for us!”
United World Rebellion – Chapter One is the first of three EPs that will be made available over the next 12-18 months.
Bassist Rachel Bolan explains, “We wanted to do something different. Living in an age of information overload, it seemed like the perfect time to try something new. We came up with the idea to release three consecutive EPs over the course of the next year or so. This way we have new music out there on a consistent basis. And who better to do that with than Megaforce? They practically invented the EP! United World Rebellion – Chapter One ROCKS!”
Adler, the new band led by former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler, announced the first part of their Back From The Dead tour. The first string of shows kicks off March 2nd at Ramona Mainstage in Ramona, California and continues through late July. The band are currently finalizing the European leg of the tour, which is slated to start in mid-September. The European tour will include dates in Spain, Germany, Italy, Holland, France, Belgium and the United Kingdom with dates and venues to be determined.
Adler’s debut album Back From The Dead was released on November 26th through New Ocean Media. Recorded in Los Angeles with producer Jeff Pilson (Foreigner, Dokken) and mixed by Jay Ruston (Anthrax, Stone Sour), the CD consists of 11 tracks, ranging from adrenaline-pumping rockers to arena-rock anthems to powerful, heartfelt ballads. The album features guest appearances by Adler’s former Guns N’ Roses bandmate Slash and Rob Zombie/ex-Marilyn Manson guitarist John 5.
Adler is comprised of Steven Adler, frontman Jacob Bunton (Lynam, Mars Electric), guitarist Lonny Paul (Adler’s Appetite), and bassist Johnny Martin (Chelsea Smiles).
“The process of making this record was incredible,” states Bunton. “Our musical influences are all over the place and this record is a perfect reflection of everything that we love about rock ‘n’ roll.” “I’m so proud of this record,” adds Steven Adler. “This is the record I’ve been wanting to make for over 20 years and now I’ve finally found the band with the perfect chemistry to make it happen!”
3/2 Ramona Mainstage – Ramona, CA
3/7 Tokyo Duo – Tokyo, Japan (with Duff McKagan’s Loaded)
3/8 Tokyo Duo – Tokyo, Japan (with Duff McKagan’s Loaded)
5/16 The Coach House – San Juan Capistrano, CA
5/17 Count’s Vamp’d – Las Vegas, NV
5/18 Club Red – Tempe, AZ
5/30 St. Rocke – Hermosa Beach, CA
5/31 Whisky A Go Go – Hollywood, CA
6/19 Backstage Bar – Tacoma, WA
6/20 El Corazon – Seattle, WA
6/21 Diamondz – Jerome, ID
6/22 Rock The Falls Festival – Idaho Falls, ID
6/23 Jammin Joe’s – Arvada, CO
6/26 TBA – Bismarck, ND
6/27 Legacy Ballroom – Fargo, ND
6/28 The Reverb – Waterloo, IA
6/29 The Grove – Lincoln, NE
6/30 Busters – Mankato, MN
7/3 The Summit Summer Concert Series – Whitesburg, KY
7/4 The Back Bar – Janesville, WI
7/5 Diesel Concert Theatre- Detroit, MI
7/6 Montage Theater – Rochester, NY
7/7 Shipwrecked Music Hall – Dennisport, MA
7/8 Legendary Dobbs Concert Hall – Philladelphia, PA
7/9 House Of Rock – White Marsh, MD
7/10 Dead Horse Cantina – Mckees Rocks, PA
7/11 Changes Niteclub – New Castle, PA
7/12 Revolution Music Hall – Amityville, NY
7/13 The Rock Junction – West Greenwich, RI
7/14 TBA – New Jersey
7/15 TBA – New York, NY
7/16 Empire – West Sprinfield, VA
7/17 Tink’s Rock House – Marion, OH
7/18 The Tap House – Akron, OH
7/19 TBA – Cleveland, OH
7/20 Tailgators – Bolingbrook, IL
7/21 TBA – St. Louis, MO
7/24 House Of Blues – Houston, TX
7/26 House Of Blues – Dallas, TX
7/27 TBA – San Antonio, TX
7/28 TBA – El Paso, TX
Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo has just given a clue into the band’s business dealings and internal turmoil. One week ago, on Valentine’s Day, Lombardo was notified by the band’s lawyers that his services would no longer be needed for Slayer’s upcoming Australian tour dates. Lombardo has detailed the sudden decision in an official statement.
Lombardo posted the following on his Facebook page today (February, 21st):
“I want to personally apologize to all of our fans in Australia who have bought tickets for the tour expecting to see me in my usual place on the drums.
So that you all know the truth, as of the end of the business day on February 14th, I was notified that I would not be drumming for the tour in Australia. I’m saddened, and to be honest I am shocked by the situation.
Last year, I discovered 90% of Slayer’s tour income was being deducted as expenses including the professional fees paid to management, costing the band millions of dollars and leaving 10% or less to split amongst the four of us. In my opinion, this is not the way a band’s business should operate. I tried rectifying it by letting my band mates know, and Tom and I hired auditors to figure out what happened, but I was denied access to detailed information and the necessary back up documents.
I spent the Christmas and New Year holidays realizing I had toured all over the world in 2012, but yet, had not been paid (except a small advance) or provided a proper accounting for a full year’s sweat and blood. On top of this, I was told that I would not be paid until I signed a long form contract which gave me no written assurance of how much or on what basis management would deduct commissions, nor did it provide me access to the financial budgets or records for review. It also forbade me to do interviews or make statements having to do with the band, in effect a gagging order.
Last Monday, I sat down with Kerry [King] and Tom [Araya] to rehearse for Australia and to propose a new business model that I felt was the best way forward for Slayer to confidently protect itself so we could do what we do best . . . play for the fans. Kerry made it clear he wasn’t interested in making changes and said if I wanted to argue the point, he would find another drummer. On Thursday, I arrived at rehearsals at 1 pm as scheduled, but Kerry did not show. Rather, at 6:24 pm I received an email from the lawyers saying I was being replaced for the Australian dates.
I remain hopeful that we can resolve our issues. But once again, I sincerely apologize to all of our fans in Australia who spent their money expecting to see the 3 of us original Slayer members.
I look forward to seeing you in the future.
Sincerely,
Dave Lombardo”
As for Lombardo’s replacement, according to a Tweet from Soundwave Festival promoter AJ Maddah, Jon Dette will be the replacement drummer for Slayer while the band is in Australia. Dette was the band’s drummer in 1996 and 1997.
It was also recently revealed that Dette would be filling in for Anthrax‘s Charlie Benante for the same Australian Soundwave shows, after Benante was forced to take a break due to “personal issues.”
As far as the future of Slayer is concerned, the band is working on a new album, but with guitarist Jeff Hanneman still recovering from a spider bite and Lombardo being kicked off the Australia tour, things seem up in the air right now. We’ll be sure to keep you updated as news on the Slayer situation continues to break.
Platinum selling solo artist and iconic guitarist Orianthi is gearing up for the release of her new album, Heaven In This Hell. Orianthi will captivate fans with a record that delivers a mega-dose of rock and weaves elements of modern country and swampy blues. The album, produced by Dave Stewart, will be released on Robo Records (distributed by Universal/Fontana) and is scheduled to be releases on March 12th, 2013. The first single, Frozen, will be serviced to Rock and Classic Rock radio on January 28th.
From writing her first song at the age of 6, to being discovered and playing alongside her idols Carlos Santana and Steve Vai early in her career, Orianthi has made an enduring mark on the music industry. While many were introduced to this timid guitar goddess when she played the Grammy Awards in 2009 as part of Carrie Underwood’s band, it was being selected for Michael Jackson’s ill-fated This Is It Tour that exposed her to mainstream audiences. In the Fall of 2009, Orianthi released According To You, her first solo single, which went platinum in the U.S. and abroad. More than just a gifted guitarist, this success showed she had serious vocal chops as well.
In late 2011, between legs of Alice Cooper’s world tour (where she played lead guitar), she began work on her forthcoming project. “I am so proud of this album because it really showcases my style of riff heavy rock and energetic blues,” Orianthi remarks. “The success of Believe [her previous CD] helped give me credibility and afforded me the freedom to create the kind of album I have been wanting to make, with musicians I respect, playing together live in a studio, creatively exchanging ideas…the way I want all my records to be made. My friend, collaborator and producer, Dave Stewart and I just jammed and hashed out a variety of songs and sounds until we found the grooves that inspired us” she continued.
While Orianthi recorded a majority of Heaven In This Hell at Blackbird Studio in Nashville, she also recorded several songs and overdubs at Dave Stewart’s (of The Eurythmics) Hollywood Studio. “Working with Ori over the last year has been an inspiring experience for me,” said Stewart. “She is such a dedicated guitarist and focused songwriter; her enthusiasm is infectious and all the musicians who worked on the record were motivated to give her their best. When we went to Nashville, we knew we were about to embark on something exciting, something career altering,” he continued.
The time spent in Nashville left an indelible impression that can be heard in several of the tracks, which were mixed by Nashville resident John McBride. New tracks like Rock and Another You are examples of crossover country-AC songs that blend heartfelt harmonies and melodies with lyrics that showcase a more vulnerable, exposed emotional side, often veiled by her signature PRS axe. Heaven In This Hell the title track, is a blues-rooted rock song which features swampy guitar riffs with an edgy Zeppelin-esque vibe. Songs like Frozen, the first single, and You Don’t Wanna Know provide listeners with some insight into a couple of her primary musical influences with raw, crunchy guitar riffs reminiscent of Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn. If You Think You Know Me is an arousing anthem with thunderous drums, meant to inspire and empower anyone who has ever felt alone. This track, which begs to be played in a large arena, asks listeners, “Have you ever felt like you didn’t fit in?/Like there’s somebody else inside your skin?/ Well you’re not alone/We all came here for something.”
“To say that we are excited about this record is a complete understatement” said Rob Christie, founder of Robo Records. “Not only is Orianthi one of the most gifted musicians I’ve heard, but she also has a heart of gold. She is extremely passionate about music, animals, family and her fans. She truly is an inspiration to adults and children, literally around the globe.”
“I’m so excited to share Heaven In This Hell with the fans! It’s been a long time coming for me,” says Orianthi.
Watch a sneak peek into the making of Orianthi’s Heaven in This Hell below.
“The Pride” Featuring Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, ex- Ozzy Osbourne), Kevin Martin (Candlebox, The Gracious Few), Morgan Rose (Sevendust, Call Me No One), John “JD” DeServio (Black Label Society, Cycle Of Pain) & The Infinite Staircase, the song written and recorded for the victims of Hurricane Sandy, is now available on iTunes. Preview and download it at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/pride-feat.-zakk-wylde-morgan/id598185653.
The Pride was recorded at Architekt Music, the state of the art recording facility in Butler, New Jersey where Sevendust recently tracked Black Out The Sun and The Infinite Staircase continue to record their new album with Morgan Rose. It was mixed by house engineer Mike Ferretti (Sevendust, Call Me No One) and mastered by Alan Douches (Fleetwood Mac, Yes) at West West Side Music in New Windsor, New York.
The song was released via Vanity Music Group and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Carl V. Bini Memorial Foundation for distribution to those affected by Hurricane Sandy.
A music video is also in the works with details on its release expected soon. Ralph Savercool lll is directing it.
The Carl V. Bini Memorial Fund was founded in honor of Firefighter Carl V. Bini, a member of the FDNY tragically taken during 9/11. The fund’s mission is to memorialize the heroism of its fallen hero by providing aid to those who so desperately need it now and in the future.
The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund (Dio Cancer Fund) Board of Directors presented the T.J. Martell Foundation with $100,000 during the 5th Annual Wine Celebration Dinner in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 6th. The contribution is part of a three-year pledge for gastric cancer research at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
Formed in honor of the legendary singer who lost his life to stomach cancer, The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable fund dedicated to support prostate, colon and stomach cancer research, raise awareness and educate the public with the focus that early detection and prevention is of vital importance when dealing with this deadly disease that robs families of its loved ones.
Wendy Dio, President and Founder of the Cancer Fund, made the check presentation to the T.J. Martell Foundation’s CEO Laura Heatherly, saying, “After my husband, Ronnie James Dio passed away from Gastric Cancer, I made a promise to him to raise funds for cancer research and education and I formed the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund. Two and a half years ago we pledged $300,000 to the T.J. Martell Foundation and with our recent donation of $100,000 we have met our pledge. We intend to continue to raise funds for cancer research and hope one day we can find a cure for this horrible disease.”
“We have a special partnership with Wendy Dio and the Board of Directors of the Ronnie James Dio Cancer Fund,” said Laura Heatherly. “Both groups are working hard to do what we can to fund important cancer research that will eventually turn into drug discoveries and clinical trials which ultimately may save someone’s life.”
With the support of the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund, Vanderbilt has established a collaborative research environment with some of the leading gastric cancer researchers in the world including Pelayo Correa, M.D., Richard Peek Jr., M.D., James R. Goldenring, M.D., Ph.D., Robert J. Coffey, M.D., Wael El-Rifai, M.D., Ph.D., and Stephen Fesik, Ph.D. These key investigators have made seminal discoveries on the causes of gastric cancer and are using these discoveries to find new therapies.
 Board of Directors presented the T.J. Martell Foundation with $100,000 during the 5th Annual Wine Celebration Dinner in Los ... )
