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SLAYER, KING DIAMOND, HELLYEAH AND OTHERS JOIN UP FOR THE 2015 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL

Slayer, King Diamond, Hellyeah, The Devil Wears Prada, Whitechapel, Thy Art Is Murder, Jungle Rot, Sister Sin, Sworn In, Shattered Sun, Feed Her To The Sharks, Code Orange, Kissing Candice make up the bill for the 2015 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. Tickets On Sale Beginning Friday April 17th, 2015 at 10:00am Local Time. General admission festival and lawn tickets are only $19.99 including all fees for the first 72 Hours of onsale.

The world’s biggest heavy music touring festival, the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival enters its eighth year with another fantastic heavy metal and hard rock line-up, featuring 13 bands performing on the Rockstar Energy Drink main stage and the Victory Records Stage.

The Rockstar Energy Drink main stage will feature some of the most ground-breaking heavy bands of all time, spanning the originating years of heavy metal to today! The main stage will feature five-time-nominated, two-time Grammy winning legends Slayer as headliner, as well as additional performances from King Diamond, Hellyeah, and The Devil Wears Prada. The Victory Records Stage will feature headliner Whitechapel as well as Thy Art Is Murder, Jungle Rot, Sister Sin, Sworn In, Shattered Sun, Feed Her To The Sharks, Code Orange and Kissing Candice.

Kerry King, guitarist of Rockstar Energy Drink main satge headliners Slayer states, “I don’t know if third time will be a charm, but it will definitely be hellish! Slayer and King Diamond on stage for the first time together in the States- NEVER has Mayhem been more evil. DON’T F–KIN’ MISS IT.”

Rockstar Energy Drink main stage performer and heavy metal hellion King Diamond states, “This is going to be one hot and hellish summer! Slayer and King Diamond on the same stage – it does not get more devilish than this! We will be putting on a one hour set with the full King Diamond stage production. As for a set list, I’m not gonna reveal that here, but it will be built around Dreams of Horror. The Puppet Master will be there with Grandma, and we will even go as far back in time as to 1777 (hint). You’re all in for one hell of a show if you come to this Sabbath!”

“It has been eight years and it feels like it started just yesterday. We are so excited about this year’s lineup and having the mighty Slayer back in support of a new album. In addition, the first time for King Diamond and Hellyeah will be awesome, as well as The Devil Wears Prada’s first time on the Main Stage. The Victory Stage has amazing bands and will play throughout the day. Heavy music is thriving in America and we are excited to be a part of it,” state John Reese and Kevin Lyman, Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival producers.

Tickets for the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival go on sale beginning April 17th at 10:00am local time. Please note – Houston, TX tickets go on sale on April 24th at 10:00am local time. General Admission Festival and Lawn Tickets are only $19.99 including all fees for the first 72 hours of onsale (while supplies last).

The festival will kick off on June 26th at Sleep Train Amphitheater in San Diego, CA and ends at Gexa Energy Amphitheater in Dallas, TX on August 2nd. See below for all confirmed tour dates.

2015 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival dates:

6/26 – San Diego, CA @ Sleep Train Amphitheater
6/27 – San Bernardino, CA @ San Manuel Amphitheater
6/28 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheater
6/30 – Auburn, WA (Seattle) @ White River Amphitheater

7/1 – Boise, ID @ Idaho Center Amphitheater
7/3 – Phoenix, AZ @ Ak-Chin Amphitheater
7/4 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater
7/5 – Denver, CO @ Red Rocks
7/7 – Council Bluffs, IA @ Harrah’s Council Bluffs
7/8 – Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Ballroom
7/10 – Noblesville, IN (Indianapolis) @ Kilpsch Amphitheater
7/11 – Clarkston, MI (Detroit) @ DTE Energy Amphitheater
7/12 – Tinley Park, IL (Chicago) @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheater
7/15 – Toronto, ON @ Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
7/17 – Camden, NJ (Philadelphia) @ Susquehanna Bank Arts Center
7/18 – Burgettstown, PA (Pittsburgh) @ First Niagara Pavilion
7/19 – Hartford, CT @ Xfinity Theatre
7/21 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
7/22 – Gilford, NH @ Meadowbrook (Bank of NH Pavilion)
7/24 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
7/25 – Boston, MA @ Xfinity Center
7/26 – Wantagh, NY @ Nikon at Jones Beach
7/29 – Atlanta, GA @ Aaron’s Amphitheater at Lakewood
7/31 – San Antonio, TX @ Whitewater Amphitheatre

8/1 – Houston, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
8/2 – Dallas, TX @ Gexa Energy Amphitheater

* Lineups in each city may vary.

TWISTED SISTER FRONTMAN DEE SNIDER IS ANGRY ABOUT DRUMMER A.J.PERO’S DEATH, SAYS “HE DIDN’T HAVE TO DIE”

Mike Tuttle of WebProNewse reports:

Dee Snider of Twisted Sister is angry. And you should know why.

A.J. Pero, drummer and original member of Twisted Sister died of a heart attack, Dee Snider took the loss very hard. He was on vacation, and flew back home to deal with the loss.

When approached at the airport as he landed the day after Pero’s death, Dee Snider told reporters:

“I’m coming home to sad news. My drummer died of a heart attack yesterday. He had a massive heart attack in his sleep, and we lost him. First member of the band to die. You don’t [replace him]. I mean, will we continue to play? Probably, for his family, ’cause his family will benefit from us playing, financially. But of the all five original members of Twisted Sister, he’s the first one we lost.”

Since that statement, an autopsy told the tale of A.J. Pero’s underlying health problems. Dee Snider is now angry that Pero has left behind a family that needs to be cared for when he did not need to leave this world so soon.

“I just gotta say, people ask me how I feel about A.J.’s passing, and quite honestly I’m going through a real period of anger right now about it. He’s a great guy, and I loved him dearly. But he had a history of heart disease, his family did. His father died in his early 60’s of heart disease. And A.J. never had himself checked out. And when they did the autopsy, he had 95% blockage on his aortas, advanced heart disease. And he didn’t have to die. And I feel it’s like basically irresponsible behavior on his part. He had two ex-wives, an ex-girlfriend of 19 years. He had four kids he left behind. You know, you have a responsibility as a parent, as an adult to get yourself checked out. So people, please, get yourself checked out. There’s no reason for people to die of heart disease in this day and age.”

Twisted Sister was already talking about calling it quits after 40 years. But they had planned on going out with a bang, with all five original members still on board. Now they have a replacement drummer filling A.J Pero’s drum throne.

EDDIE’S INTERVIEW WITH THIN LIZZY GUITARIST SCOTT GORHAM DISCUSSING THE BAND’S LIVE ALBUM, “THIN LIZZY-STILL DANGEROUS,” POSTED ONLINE

23Drumhead recently posted on old interview that Eddie had conducted with Thin Lizzy/Black Star Riders guitarist Scott Gorham on youtube.

They were discussing the 2009 Thin Lizzy release, Thin Lizzy – Still Dangerous, which was a live album recorded at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia in 1977. Listen to the interview below.

In related Scott Gorham news, Black Star Riders recently announced some tour dates for April, to see the itinerary, and four videos from the band, please click here.

ACCEPT ANNOUNCE NEW GUITARIST AND DRUMMER, POST VIDEO FOR “FALL OF THE EMPIRE” ONLINE

Accept have announced a new guitarist and drummer, ending months of speculation, they are Uwe Lulis on guitar and Christopher Williams on drums. German guitarist Uwe is best known for his work with Rebellion and Grave Digger and American drummer Christopher has worked with many bands and artists including Kid Rock, Lee Greenwood, and Peter Stroud.

Watch a video for Fall Of The Empire below.

Accept will be starting their tour on April 18th in Chihuahua, Mexico and currently winding down on December 12th in Geiselwind, Germany. Thus far no North American dates have been announced.

BABYMETAL SIGNS WITH RAL/SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, DEBUT SELF-TITLED ALBUM TO BE RE-RELEASED IN THE U.S.

Babymetal–the Japan-based all-girl-fronted “Kawaii Metal” (mix of J-Pop Idol and Heavy Metal) group–has signed with RAL/Sony Music Entertainment for the U.S. release of their 2014 critically acclaimed self-titled debut album. The album’s re-release will feature two bonus tracks (cover art and tracklisting below) and be available digitally on Tuesday, May 12th and physically on Tuesday, June 16th.

Says Bill Richards, VP of Marketing at RAL/Sony Music Entertainment, “After witnessing the band’s sold-out New York show, we knew we wanted to be involved. The core metal fans and metal press seem to get Babymetal, which shows how the language of music transcends boundaries. They hit all the entertainment buttons and are really fun to watch.”

Since forming in 2010, Babymetal–the young trio of 17-year-old Su-Metal (Vocal, Dance) and 15-year-olds Yuimetal (Scream, Dance)and Moametal (Scream, Dance), backed by a four-piece band packing a heavy metal arsenal–have already achieved two major debut singles: Ijime, Dame, Zetta! and Megistune, both of which ranked in the Top 10 Oricon Chart in Japan. Their first studio album Babymetal also earned the #1 spot on Japan’s album chart and Billboard’s World Album Chart The official live music video for their debut album’s lead single Gimme Chocolate!! has garnered over 24.5 million views on YouTube. Watch it below. Now the band will re-release their chart-topping debut album via RAL/Sony Music Entertainment.

Babymetal Death track listing:

Megitsune
Gimme Chocolate!!
line!
Akatsuki
Doki Doki ☆ Morning
Onedari Daisakusen
Song 4
Uki Uki ★ Midnight
Catch me if you can
Rondo of Nightmare
Head Bangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!
Ijime, Dame, Zettai

*Road of Resistance
*Gimme Chocolate!!-(Live at O2 Academy Brixton, London)

*Bonus tracks

Babymetal’s The Dark Knights Begin world tour 2015 dates here:

5/9 Circo Volador Mexico City, Mexico
5/12 Danforth Music Hall Toronto, Canada
5/14 House of Blues Chicago, IL
5/16 Rock of the Range Columbus, OH
5/29 Rockavaria Munich, Germany
5/30 Roc Im Revier Gelsenkirchen, Germany

6/1 La Laiterie Strasbourg, France
6/3 X-Tra Zurich, Switzerland
6/5 Estragon Club Bologna, Italy
6/6 Rock In Vienna Vienna, Austria
6/21 Makuhari Messe Chiba, Japan