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NIKKI SIXX SAYS THAT HIS BANDMATES IN MOTLEY CRUE ARE “NOT ENEMIES, BUT NOT FRIENDS”

Bassist Nikki Sixx has predicted that the former members of Motley Crue are unlikely to spend any time with each other in the future, adding that they’re “not enemies but not friends.”

His comments appear in the band’s concert movie The End, shot during their farewell show in Los Angeles in December.

Drummer Tommy Lee said last month that he, Sixx, Vince Neil and Mick Mars had gone their separate ways after the show without saying goodbye to each other, and that he hadn’t spoken to Sixx or Neil since.

In The End Sixx says, “We probably won’t see each other. We don’t hang out now. We go on stage like motherf–kers but we don’t hang out. We’re not enemies, but we’re not friends. I’ll probably never see them, except in passing.”

Neil shares similar thoughts. “The politics of being in a band shouldn’t be as tough as it is,” he says. “The hardest part of being in Motley Crue is being in Motley Crue.

I don’t know if other bands of our stature go through some of the crap that we go through. That’s the tough part – being onstage and doing that stuff, that’s the easy part.”

Lee recently told Rolling Stone he hasn’t heard from his bandmates since their last show. “I haven’t spoken to Vince Neil or Nikki Sixx,” he said. “I speak to [guitarist] Mick Mars a lot. He’s actually working on some new stuff, and I’m really happy for him. I think Nikki unfollowed me on Twitter, like, the next day. I was like, ‘Wow. Okay dude.'”

The End will be screened in selected cinemas on June 14th, with a DVD release expected later. For more information about this event, and where to screen the movie, please click here.

additional source: Classic Rock Magazine via teamrock.com/news

AC/DC ANNOUNCE RE-SCHEDULED “ROCK OR BUST” U.S. TOUR DATES

While packing out stadiums across Europe to rave reviews from critics and fans alike this summer, AC/DC have today announced full details of their re-scheduled USA tour dates. The AC/DC Rock or Bust World Tour returns to America for ten final shows in August and September 2016. They are in Greensboro, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, Columbus, Cleveland. Detroit, Buffalo, New York, Washington & Philadelphia. Original tickets will be honored for all rescheduled dates, refunds are available at point of purchase.

AC/DC have played to over 4 million fans on the Rock or Bust World Tour and the current line-up of Angus Young, Cliff Williams, Stevie Young, Chris Slade and Axl Rose are set to continue their global trek with a return, for the final leg, to the USA.

The second part of AC/DC’s European tour which kicked off in Lisbon on May 7th has been greeted with acclaim from all quarters. Rolling Stone headlined with “AC/DC is a triumph – this new union is one of the touring hits of the summer” while the Guardian in London called the gig – “triumphant…a rock n roll victory on wheels…” The Telegraph critic added: “Angus Young is a consummate showman rocks the duck walk… Axl hit every note and sent it to the heavens… simply great.”

Not for the first time last year, AC/DC were hailed as the biggest selling live act in the world when, sadly, vocalist Brian Johnson was forced to step down midway through the U.S. tour after being advised by doctors that he risked total hearing loss if he continued to perform live.

For the shows in Europe with Axl Rose on vocals, AC/DC have been surprising fans by including rarely played tunes from their formidable archive such as Rock N’ Roll Damnation, Riff Raff, Touch Too Much and If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It).

Angus Young commented, “This band has got a ton of energy and you’re going to see a fusion of all that terrific chemistry that we have felt ever since rehearsals in Lisbon. I want to get back out there onstage in the US with these guys so our audience can see and feel it too.”

AC/DC released their highly acclaimed studio album, Rock or Bust, in December 2014 and it peaked at #1 in twelve countries and #3 in the U.S. Billboard charts. In a career that spans over four decades, AC/DC have sold an incredible 200 million albums worldwide, over 70 million in the US alone, producing landmark albums such as Highway to Hell and the seminal Back in Black which is the biggest selling hard rock album ever, helping to make AC/DC one of the top five selling bands in American music history. Their distinctive brand of high voltage rock n’ roll, awesome stadium rock shows and everlasting anthems continues to energise fans globally from Adelaide to Atlanta, from Prague to Philadelphia and all points between.

The rescheduled AC/DC Rock or Bust U.S. dates are:

8/27 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
8/30 Ft. Lauderdale, FL BB&T Center

9/1 Atlanta, GA Phillips Arena
9/4 Columbus, OH Nationwide Arena
9/6 Cleveland, OH Quicken Loans Arena
9/9 Detroit, MI The Palace
9/11 Buffalo, NY First Niagara Center
9/14 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
9/17 Washington, DC Verizon Center
9/20 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center

AC/DC on the web:

Official website
facebook.com/ACDC
twitter.com/ACDC
instagram.com/ACDC
YouTube.com/ACDC

SECOND ANNUAL “RIDE FOR RONNIE” MOTORCYCLE RALLY & CONCERT RAISES $50,000 FOR RONNIE JAMES DIO STAND UP AND SHOUT CANCER FUND

The 2nd Annual Ride For Ronnie Motorcycle Ride and Concert, held on Sunday, May 22nd, raised $50,000 for the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund. Some 1000 people participated in the day’s events, including 300 motorcycle riders who made their way from Harley Davidson in Glendale to an afternoon of live entertainment at Los Encinos Park in Encino, California.

Joining the ride were Sons of Anarchy cast members Emilio Rivera, Michael Beach, Star Fields and actor-musician Sean McNabb as well actor Al Coronel (The Last Ship) and musicians Lita Ford, EJ Curse, Taime Downe and Gilby Clarke. Wendy Dio, Ronnie James Dio’s widow and co-founder of the Dio Cancer Fund, welcomed everyone before joining SUAS board member Scott Sentinella on his motorcycle for the 20-mile ride to the Park. Also riding was “Boston” Tom Foresteire on the Holy Diver Harley-Davidson motorcycle he won at the recent Street Party that launched this year’s Ride. The one-of-a-kind motorcycle is custom-painted with the illustration from the cover of Ronnie James Dio’s iconic Holy Diver album.

The afternoon’s entertainment kicked off with Doctors of the Earth as the procession of motorcycles arrived at the Park. They were followed by sets from Sonia Harley, Budderside, Gabbie Rae, Dio Disciples, Lita Ford and headliners Great White. The festivities were hosted by DJ Will.

Wendy Dio and SUAS Medical Director Dr. Sandy Kapoor presented a check for $25,000 to Dr. David Wong, Director of the Dental Research Institute at the University of California Los Angeles to further his research into a saliva test for the early detection of cancer. Dr. Wong believes this simple, non-invasive test will be available for medical use within the next three years.

Assorted merchandise, a jumble sale booth, a silent auction and a raffle for a special limited edition ASG Vision Motörhead white-body guitar with the Ace of Spades graphic raised additional funds as did live auctions conducted by SUAS board members Adam Parsons and Danny Zelisko between performances. Among the live auction items were a B.C. Rich guitar signed by Ronnie James Dio, Rob Halford (Judas Priest), Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden), King Diamond and Geoff Tate, a custom-made leather “Kutte” motorcycle vest with a set of specially-embroidered Dio Cancer Fund patches and an ESP guitar signed by all of the event’s performers.

The Sons of Anarchy cast members as well as Great White, Lita Ford and Dio Disciples signed autographs at special “Meet and Greets” during the afternoon. Rocker Gabbie Rae hosted a Meet & Greet following her set to promote Free2Luv, the Anti-Bullying initiative for which she is a spokesperson.

100% of the net proceeds from the Ride For Ronnie will go to the Dio Cancer Fund.

RONNIE JAMES DIO’S FIRST SIX STUDIO ALBUMS HAVE BEEN REMASTERED FOR A NEW BOXED SET CALLED, “A DECADE OF DIO: 1983-1993,” DUE JULY 22ND

Ronnie James Dio’s sinister howl and wicked songcraft bewitched hard rock fans in the Seventies and Eighties during his memorable stints with Elf, Rainbow, and Black Sabbath. In 1983, the singer formed his own band, launching a successful solo career that led to 10 studio albums and sales of more than 10 million records around the world.

Rhino follows Dio through the band’s early years with A Decade Of Dio: 1983-1993, a new boxed set that brings together the group’s first six studio albums, each one featuring newly remastered sound. It includes: Holy Diver (1983), The Last In Line (1984), Sacred Heart (1985), Dream Evil (1987), Lock Up The Wolves (1990), and Strange Highways (1993).

Rhino will release two versions of A Decade Of Dio: 1983-1993, first on CD and then on vinyl. Both versions come housed in boxes featuring new artwork by Marc Sasso, who was responsible for many of the band’s iconic covers. The CD set will debut on July 22nd for a list price of $34.98.

The vinyl incarnation of the set will be available on October 4 for $99.98, and comes with a bonus 7″ single. On the first side is the 1983 version of Evil Eyes, which was originally released as the b-side on the Holy Diver single. In addition, this version is different from the one featured on the 1984 album The Last In Line. The flip side features Time To Burn, which was the only studio track featured on the otherwise live release, Intermission (1986).

After two albums with Black Sabbath, Ronnie James Dio left in 1982 and formed Dio with fellow Sabbath band mate Vinny Appice on drums. The group’s platinum-selling debut Holy Diver arrived in 1983 and is now revered as a heavy metal masterpiece, including two songs that would become rock signatures: the title track and the epic Rainbow In The Dark.

The band returned the following year with The Last In Line (1984), which became the band’s second platinum seller and included the single Mystery, as well as We Rock, a song the band often used to close its shows. Sacred Heart (1985) achieved gold certification and introduced fans to the concert staple Rock N’ Roll Children. Dio’s fourth studio album, Dream Evil (1987) included the singles All The Fools Sailed Away and I Could Have Been A Dreamer.

In the Nineties, the group released two more stellar studio albums. Lock Up The Wolves arrived in 1990 and featured the single Hey Angel and rocking title track. Following a brief reunion with Black Sabbath in 1992, Dio returned with Strange Highways in 1993. The album featured future fan favorites like Jesus, Mary and The Holy Ghost, Evilution, and the title track.

Although Ronnie James Dio lost his battle with stomach cancer in 2010, his towering voice and legacy live on. The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund, co-founded by Wendy Dio, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable fund dedicated to supporting cancer-prevention research, raising awareness and educating the public about the vital importance of early detection and prevention when dealing with this deadly disease.

A Decade Of Dio: 1983-1993 album listing:

Holy Diver (1983)
The Last In Line (1984)
Sacred Heart (1985)
Dream Evil (1987)
Lock Up The Wolves (1990)
Strange Highways (1993)

WHITFORD/ST. HOLMES STREAM “HOT FOR YOU”

Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford, and Ted Nugent singer, Derek St. Holmes, has resurrected their Whitford/St. Holmes band. Their second album called, Reunion, will be released on on June 3rd.

The band is currently streaming the song, Hot For You, at Billboard, click here to listen to it.

Whitford/St. Holmes will be touring with Whitesnake, starting June 3rd in Dallas, Texas. To view their complete tour itinerary, and read more about, Reunion, please click here.

Regarding Aerosmith, Whitford tells Billboard, “We keep talking about doing what we may call a farewell tour, but based on the KISS approach that could go on for three to five years,” Whitford says with [a] laugh. “But, yeah, we’re talking about it and seriously looking at that just based on our age and some of the markets, will we ever get back there?” It could start as soon as next year and will likely be a worldwide trek, including Europe and Asia in addition to North America.”

“It’ll probably be a bit of a relief,” Whitford confesses. “It’s a struggle to get things done with that band. It can take the wind out of your sails sometime, there’s so much time wasted. For me it’s about the music, and we seem to have lost quite a bit of that energy in the Aerosmith camp. Everything turns out to be about something else, and it has nothing to do with the music. It gets old.”

additional source: billboard.com