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REVOLVER’S GOLDEN GODS AWARDS TO AIR IN MAY ON VH1 CLASSIC

Andrew Hampp of Billboard reports:

The Golden Gods Awards, a ceremony devoted solely to hard rock and heavy metal, is returning to TV on Saturday, May 24 on VH1 Classic at 8 p.m. ET/PT, produced by Dick Clark Productions and Revolver magazine.

The four-hour live show will tape Wednesday, April 23rd, at Los Angeles’ Club Nokia, and stream at VH1.com and on VH1’s mobile app, with a black carpet hosted by Dee Snider. The May 24th telecast will be an edited, 90-minute version of the show.

Topping this year’s star-studded talent lineup will be Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose, who will be presented with 2014’s Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award, and Joan Jett, the first-ever female recipient of the Golden God Award, which will be presented by 2011 winner Alice Cooper. Guns N’ Roses and Jett are also among the show’s confirmed performers, alongside Zakk Wylde, who will play during a very special musical tribute to the heavy-metal and hard-rock legends who’ve passed away over the last year. Additional appearances will include Dave Navarro, Alice Cooper, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Andrew Dice Clay, Joe Manganiello, Tony Hawk, Pauley Perrette, Carmen Electra, A Day To Remember and The Pretty Reckless.

The show will be hosted by That Metal Show hosts Eddie Trunk, Don Jamieson and Jim Florentine.

The 2014 Golden Gods Awards marks Dick Clark Productions’ first year producing the show, which executive producer Assaf Blecher says is an extension of the company’s growing portfolio of music-themed programming.

“We are very into music properties, so it’s just natural that the Golden Gods would make sense for us,” Blecher says. “The show is a good combination [of older] and newer heavy-metal icons, and it’s a great occasion for the community to come together for a one-night only event.”

Read more at Billboard.

source: billboard.com

AC/DC FRONTMAN BRIAN JOHNSON SAYS THE BAND ISN’T RETIRING YET, BUT CONFIRMS A MEMBER IS BATTLING A DEBILITATING ILLNESS

AC/DC singer Brian Johnson has stated the band are not retiring yet – and they’re planning to go ahead with studio sessions in May.

But his comments suggest there’s at least a hint of doubt about the band’s future, and no guarantee that their planned 40th anniversary tour will go ahead.

There’s been a flurry of speculation in recent days after it was rumoured that mainman Malcolm Young was too ill to continue, and that a long-standing agreement amongst the quintet meant that if one of them left the entire band would fold.

Johnson tells the Telegraph: “We are definitely getting together in May in Vancouver. We’re going to pick up guitars, have a plonk and see if anybody has got any tunes or ideas. If anything happens we’ll record it.”

He’d previously confirmed that one of the band, believed to be Malcolm, was suffering from ill health – but he refuses to add more details.

“I wouldn’t like to say anything either way about the future,” says Johnson. “I’m not ruling anything out. One of the boys has a debilitating illness, but I don’t want to say too much about it. He’s very proud and private. A wonderful chap. We’ve been pals for 25 years and I look up to him very much.”

He’d also said there were plans for AC/DC to play 40 shows to mark their 40th anniversary – their first show was on New Year’s Eve 1973.

Now he reports: “That would be a wonderful way to say bye-bye. We would love to do it – but it’s all up in the air at the moment.”

additional source: classicrockmagazine.com

CONFLICTING REPORTS CONTINUE TO SURFACE REGARDING THE STATUS OF AC/DC

Despite an earlier report from Billboard magazine that rumors of AC/DC’s retirement was imminent due the health of guitarist Malcom Young were false, conflicting information continues to surface.

Mark Evans, who claims that he is the son of original AC/DC singer Dave Evans, tweeted that reports of AC/DC’s retirement are true. He added: “Malcolm Young is very sick…. [Malcolm’s son] Ross Young spoke to my father this morning because the cat got out…. But yes, the band will be finished…. No new shows or music.”

Additionally, Australian journalist Darryl Mason of The Orstrahyun reports, “About three weeks ago, founding member, rhythm guitarist, co-producer and co-songwriter Malcolm Young had a stroke, which left a blood clot on his brain. When AC/DC reunited at the start of April to begin a month of rehearsals, in the lead-up to new album recording sessions, Malcolm discovered he couldn’t play. At least, he couldn’t play like he used to play.”

As previously reported, Billboard states that insiders claim here’s no truth to the rumors. However, the band, their management and the their current label, Columbia Records, have chosen not to comment on the matter.

SEBASTIAN BACH POSTS LYRIC VIDEO FOR “TAKING BACK TOMORROW” ONLINE

Sebastian Bach has released a lyric video for, Taking Back Tomorrow, which is on the singer’s forthcoming album called, Give ‘Em Hell, out April 22nd.

Watch the video below.

Bach previously released a video for the song, Temptation, which can be viewed here.

Watch an EPK for Give ‘Em Hell below.

Give ‘Em Hell track listing:

1. Hell Inside My Head
2. Harmony
3. All My Friends Are Dead
4. Temptation
5. Push Away
6. Dominator
7. Had Enough
8. Gun To A Knife Fight
9. Rock N Roll Is A Vicious Game
10. Taking Back Tomorrow
11. Disengaged
12. Forget You

RUMORS THAT AC/DC ARE ON THE CUSP OF RETIREMENT ARE PREMATURE

Rumors of AC/DC’s imminent demise appear to be exaggerated.

Reports surfaced Monday in the band’s native Australia that the group was on the verge of announcing its retirement due to one band member’s (presumably guitarist Malcolm Young’s) serious illness. But insiders tell Billboard that there’s no truth to the rumor, though the group’s management and Columbia Records, its current label, have chosen not to comment on the matter.

Australia’s Noise11.com adds that the source of the retirement rumor was an email sent to Perth radio station 6PR from an anonymous tipster using the handle Thunderstruck. The station subsequently spread the word, setting off a flurry of reports first throughout Australia and then worldwide.

This is hardly the first time AC/DC has been rumored to be on the verge of retirement. Frontman Brian Johnson set off a furor in 2011 when he spoke of it, though he subsequently claimed to have been quoted out of context.

In fact, he told Billboard at the time that, “A journalist asked me once, ‘What do you think about retirement, Brian, seeing as you’re getting older?’ I said something honest and quite naive; I said, ‘Well, I’ll retire when I can’t do it anymore and as soon as I feel I can’t do it anymore, then I’ll retire.’ Next thing I now there’s a headline, ‘Brian Johnson’s gonna retire’ and I’m like, ‘Y’know, what a piece of shit that guy is.’ And it came out all wrong so you got to be careful what you say. Retirement is like anything… There’s a time when you have to call it quits. I don’t want to do it, and if we can get out and (do) the album and do another short little tour or something, have a bit of fun, I’m your man. I’ll be right there.”

In fact, the retirement speculation ran counter to yet another report that will likely please fans more. According to The Australian, AC/DC has booked six weeks of studio time in Vancouver, to work on a follow-up to 2008’s chart-topping, double-platinum “Black Ice, which was recorded there with producer Brendan O’Brien. Nobody in the band’s camp is commenting on that, either, but earlier this year Johnson predicted that AC/DC would indeed be working on a new album as well as playing a 40-date tour to commemorate the group’s 40th anniversary.

source: billboard.com