Category : LATEST NEWS

OVERKILL ANNOUNCE NEW DRUMMER JASON “STICKS” BITTNER

Overkill, have kept the machine running strong in 2017 with the release of their eighteenth album, The Grinding Wheel, as well as adding another US tour under their belts. Today, the band welcomes another addition to the Overkill history with their new drummer, Jason “Sticks” Bittner (Shadows Fall, Flotsam And Jetsam).

“Overkill would like to announce it’s newest member, behind the kit and steering the ship, Jason “Sticks” Bittner,” comments Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth. “We wholeheartedly would like to thank Eddy “The Mexicutioner” Garcia for holding down the ship and keeping the momentum up for the band over this past year plus. Eddy has and always will be part of the Overkill machine. Jason is a long time friend of the band and his abilities have always spoke for themselves. Let the touring continue…onward-upward!”

Jason “Sticks” Bittner states, “When my phone rang about 2 months ago and Blitz said ‘Hey, me and DD are wondering if you would be interested in joining?’ It really didn’t take much for me to write back a one word answer… ABSOLUTELY! I am extremely excited to be a part, once again, of thrash metal history, and I can not wait to get out on the road and wreck stages across the world with the ‘Mean Green Killing Machine!'”

Overkill live dates:

June:

20 – Bel Etage – Kiev, Ukraine
22 – Opera Concert Club – St. Petersburg, Russia
23 – Volta Club – Moscow, Russia
24 – Copenhell Festival, Germanynmark

August:

9 – Brutal Assault Festival – Czech Republic
10 – Party San Festival – Germany
11 – Leyandes Festival – Spain
12 – Into The Grave Festival – Netherlands
13 – Zeche – Bochum, Germany
15 – Tivoli – Bremen, Germany
17 – More Than Festival – Slovakia
19 – Summer Breeze – Germany

October:

14-15 – Loudpark – Tokyo, Japan

Headbangers Ball Tour

November

26 – Hellraiser – Leipzig, Germany
27 – Lka – Stuttgart, Germany
28 – Ronda – Utrecht, Netherlands
29 – Große Freiheit – Hamburg, Germany
30 – Huxleys – Berlin, Germany

December

1 – Christmas Bash – Geiselwind, Germany
3 – Gasometer – Vienna, Austria
4 – Backstage – Munich, Germany
7 – Z 7 – Pratteln, Switzerland
8 – Ruhrpott Metal Meeting – Oberhausen, Germany
9 – Hessenhallen – Gießen, Germany
11 – Garage – Saarbrücken, Germany

source: bravewords.com

GUNS N ROSES’ STEVEN ADLER SPEARHEADS ALL-STAR JAM FOR THIRD ANNUAL “RIDE FOR RONNIE” ON MAY 7TH

The third Annual Ride For Ronnie Motorcycle Rally and Concert, benefiting the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund on Sunday, May 7th will be highlighted by a host of celebrity riders joining the Motorcycle Ride through the streets of Los Angeles County and an all-star jam spearheaded by Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler during the afternoon of live music in Los Encinos Park. Last year’s Ride For Ronnie event raised over $50,000 for the cancer charity.

Celebrity riders expected to join Dio Cancer Fund co-founder and president Wendy Dio and the cavalcade of motorcycle riders include Sons of Anarchy actors Emilio Rivera (and also from the forthcoming series Mayans MC), Sean McNabb (who will also perform with Lynch Mob at the concert), Rusty Coones and Star Fields, as well as actor Chris Bruno (The Dead Zone) and musicians Lita Ford, Gilby Clarke (former Guns N’ Roses guitarist), Taime Downe (Faster Pussycat) and Xavier Muriel (Buckcherry) along with KLOS Radio “Horns Up” show personality Stew Herrera. They will assemble at Harley-Davidson of Glendale with kickstands up at 11AM.

The afternoon of live music following the ride will be highlighted by “Steven Adler and Friends” in an all-star jam organized by the Guns N’ Roses drummer. He will be joined by Mike Devin (Whitesnake), Lita Ford, Robert Sarzo (Hurricane), Alex Grossi (Quiet Riot), Patrick Stone (Budderside) and Jeff Pilson (Foreigner and former Dio guitarist), playing Guns N’ Roses hits.

Live entertainment will begin at noon provided by rockers Lynch Mob, Eddie Money, Rough Cutt, Dio Disciples, The Loveless, Sonia Harley and No Small Children. Marc Ferrari (Cold Sweat), Marty O’Brien (Lita Ford), Vinny Appice (Dio, Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell) and Ronnie James Dio’s cousin David “Rock” Feinstein (The Rods) will be on hand for the concert festivities.

Additionally, Rough Cutt will conclude its set with a performance of Stars, the song released in 1986 by the organization known as Hear ‘N Aid to raise money for famine relief in Africa. Heavy metal’s answer to We Are The World raised $2 million at the time, and there are plans being made to re-issue the recording in the future to benefit the Dio Cancer Fund.

Radio personality Eddie Trunk will handle hosting duties, which will also include a raffle, silent and live auctions, food trucks, merchandise vendors and more. The silent auction will be held in one of the exhibit booths throughout the afternoon, while live auctions, featuring one-of-a-kind rock collectables, will take place during intervals between artist performances. Live Auction, raffle and silent auction items include a stage-worn full-length leather Eddie Money trench coat from his 2000 “Millennium Tour,” a Great White acoustic guitar signed by the band members, Dio photo book signed by all of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, a Black Sabbath collectables and merchandise bundle, a variety of concert tickets, wine-tasting certificates, and much, much more.

Los Angeles’ premier rock radio station, 95.5 KLOS, has come on board this year as an event sponsor and will be out in force at Harley Davidson in Glendale for the start of the ride. KLOS jock Melissa Maxx will also be at the park to assist with the show.

A donation of $25,000 will be presented to Dr. David Wong of the UCLA School of Dentistry to help fund his team’s research into the development of a simple, non-invasive saliva test for the early detection of cancer. This is part of the Dio Cancer Fund‘s commitment to this ground-breaking project, which is in keeping with its message that early detection saves lives.

Slammin Sliders, G’s Taco Spot, Greenz on Wheelz and Archie’s Ice Cream food trucks will be on site at the Park throughout the afternoon. Premium beer sponsored by Ninkasi Brewing Company will be available as well as Graffiti Wine, water courtesy of Solar Rain and soft drinks. Additional Ride For Ronnie sponsors include Harley-Davidson of Glendale, Law Tigers and Bigg Time Entertainment.

An array of merchandise-teeshirts, baseball-style shirts, caps, CDs, wristbands, event souvenirs, etc. will be available for purchase and a “Jumble Sale” booth featuring gently-used items and collectables benefiting the Dio Cancer Fund will be also on site at the Park. Additional merchandise vendors will also participate.

Both riders and concert-goers can purchase their tickets by visiting diocancerfund.org/events.

Pre-Registration Prices:

$35/rider (includes concert admission)
$10/passenger (includes concert admission)
$25 concert admission only

Day of Event Prices:

$40/rider (includes concert admission)
$10/passenger (includes concert admission)
$30 concert admission only

Free parking for the concert will be available at the Park & Ride lot at 5174 Hayvenhurst Ave, Encino, CA 91436. Shuttle service to the event will run throughout the day beginning at 11:00AM.

2017 Ride For Ronnie Motorcycle Ride and Concert Schedule

Sunday, May 7th

Ride:

9:00am – 10:45am: Rider Check-In & On-Site Registration
9:00am – 10:30am Continental Breakfast
Kickstands up at 11:00am

Harley Davidson of Glendale
3717 San Fernando Rd., Glendale, CA 91204

Concert:

11:30AM – Gates open
11:45AM- 5PM Concert

Los Encinos State Historic Park
16756 Moorpark Street Encino, CA 91436

METALLICA’S THREE LP “LIVE AT WEBSTER HALL, NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2016” AVAILABLE NOW FOR PRE-ORDER

Metallica have announced that they will release their 2016 set at New York’s Webster Hall on triple vinyl later this week.

The band played the venue in September last year exclusively for their Fifth Members fan club, with all proceeds from ticket sales going towards the City Harvest charity.

The performance came prior to the release of 10th studio album Hardwired… To Self-Destruct and featured tracks including Moth Into Flame, For Whom The Bell Tolls, Fade To Black and One.

The band say, “As we get ready to hit the road and kick off the North American tour, we thought it might be cool to revisit the very beginning of Hardwired… by pressing one of the live release celebrations on vinyl.

It all started with the Fifth Member show at Webster Hall in New York City in September of last year, so this Friday, May 5th, the three LP set of that show will be available exclusively online at Metallica.com as well as in our pop-up stores in select tour cities this summer. More on that soon!”

The limited edition vinyl is now available for pre-order.

Metallica will start the next leg of their WorldWired tour dates at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium on May 10th.

Metallica Live At Webster Hall tracklist:

Disc 1:

Side A:

1. Breadfan
2. Holier Than Thou
3. Battery
4. Harvester Of Sorrow

Side B:

1. Fade To Black
2. Moth Into Flame

Disc 2:

Side C

1. Sad But True
2. Orion

Side D:

1. One
2. Master of Puppets

Disc 3:

Side E

1. For Whom The Bell Tolls
2. Enter Sandman
3. Encore Jam
4. Whiskey In The Jar

Side F

1. Hardwired
2. Seek & Destroy

Metallica 2017/2018 WorldWired tour dates:

2017:

May 10: Baltimore M&T Bank Stadium, MD
May 12: Philadelphia Lincoln Financial Field, PA
May 14: East Rutherford MetLife Stadium, NY
May 17: Uniondale The New Coliseum, NY
May 19: Foxborough Gillette Stadium, MA
May 21: Columbus Rock On The Range, OH

Jun 4: St Louis Busch Stadium, MO
Jun 7: Denver Sports Authority Field at Mile High, CO
Jun 11: Houston NRG Stadium, TX
Jun 14: San Antonio Alamodome, TX
Jun 16: Dallas AT&T Stadium, TX
Jun 18: Chicago Soldier Field, IL

Jul 5: Orlando Camping World Stadium, FL
Jul 7: Miami Hard Rock Stadium, FL
Jul 9: Atlanta SunTrust park, GA
Jul 12: Detroit Comercia Park, MO
Jul 14: Quebec City Festival D’Ete de Quebec, QC
Jul 16: Toronto Rogers Centre, ON
Jul 19: Montreal Parc Jean-Drapeau, QC
Jul 29: Los Angeles Rose Bowl, CA

Aug 4: Phoenix University of Phoenix Stadium, AZ
Aug 6: San Diego Petco Park, CA
Aug 9: Seattle CenturyLink Field , WA
Aug 14: Vancouver BC Place, BC
Aug 16: Edmonton Commonwealth Stadium, AB

Sep 2: Copenhagen Royal Arena, Denmark
Sep 4: Amsterdam Ziggo Dome, Netherlands
Sep 6: Amsterdam Ziggo Dome, Netherlands
Sep 8: Paris AccorHotels Arena, France
Sep 10: Paris AccorHotels Arena, France
Sep 12: Lyon Halle Tony Garnier, France
Sep 14: Cologne Lanxess Arena, Germany
Sep 16: Cologne Lanxess Arena, Germany

Oct 22: London O2 Arena, UK
Oct 24: London O2 Arena, UK
Oct 26: Glasgow SSE Hydro, UK
Oct 28: Manchester Arena, UK
Oct 30: Birmingham Genting Arena, UK

Nov 1: Antwerp Sportpaleism Belgium
Nov 3: Antwerp Sportpaleism Belgium

2018:

Feb 1: Lisbon MEO Arena, Portugal
Feb 3: Madrid Wizink Center, Spain
Feb 5: Madrid Wizink Center, Spain
Feb 7: Barcelona Palau Sant Jordi, Spain
Feb 10: Turin Pala Alpitour, Italy
Feb 12: Bologna Unipol Arena, Italy
Feb 14: Bologna Unipol Arena, Italy
Feb 16: Mannheim SAP Arena, Germany

Mar 27: Herning Jyske Bank Boxen, Denmark
Mar 29: Hamburg Barclaycard Arena, Germamny
Mar 31: Vienna Wiener Stadthalle, Austria
Apr 02: Prague O2 Arena, Czech Republic

Apr 5: Budapest Sports Arena, Hungary
Arp 7: Stuttgart Schleyerhalle, Germany
Arp 9: Stuttgart Schleyerhalle, Germany
Apr 11: Geneva Palexpo, Switzerland
Apr 26: Munich Olympiahalle, Germany
Apr 28: Krakow Tauron Arena, Poland
Apr 30: Leipzig Arena, Germany

May 2: Oslo Telenor Arena, Norway
May 5: Stockholm Ericsson Globe, Sweden
May 7: Stockholm Ericsson Globe, Sweden
May 9: Helsinki Hartwall Arena, Finland
May 11: Helsinki Hartwall Arena, Finland

additional source: Classic Rock via teamrock.com

THREE DECADES LATER, GUITARIST ACE FREHLEY REFLECTS ON “FREHLEY’S COMET”

Matthew Silkening of Ultimate Classic Rock reports:

Five years after his unceremonious and somewhat mysterious departure from KISS, guitarist Ace Frehley made a long-awaited return with a new band and album — both named Frehley’s Comet.

“I was on a downward spiral and really needed to get away from the whole music business, and try and get a grasp on reality and take a step back,” Frehley told the San Diego Union Tribute when looking back on his 1982 departure from his former group. “I’d really lost my identity, being ‘The Spaceman’ in KISS for so long. I needed time to be away from that character and the whole crazy world of touring.”

A couple of years later, Frehley began to get a solo band together and perform in the New York City area. “He had been doing live shows, selling out two-night stands at L’Amour in Brooklyn,” radio host Eddie Trunk, who at the time was working at Megaforce records, tells Ultimate Classic Rock. “So, he was out there but nobody had really had many dealings with him. A lot of people hadn’t even seen him without his makeup yet.”

“Every time I bumped into a fan, the first thing out of their mouth was, ‘When are you going to come out with your own record?’” Frehley tells Ultimate Classic Rock. But major internal and external changes had taken place during the half-decade the guitar hero was out of the public eye…

…[One] would think that any doubts Frehley had about his ability to handle all the lead vocals and songwriting on a record would have gone away after the high praise and commercial success he earned with his solo debut — universally judged to be the best of the albums simultaneously released by the four members of KISS in 1978.

But that was not the case at all, and instead of initially presenting himself as a solo artist, Frehley chose to return as part of a group, sharing those duties quite liberally with his bandmates. “It basically stems from my insecurity,” he explains. “After being in one of the biggest rock bands in the world, I felt a little insecure about embarking on a career and having all the weight be on my shoulders. So I said to the guys, ‘I want this to be a band, I don’t want it to just be me with three cover guys…”

…As Trunk notes, some labels were hesitant about working with Frehley. “There was a lot of talk out there about his condition, his sobriety,” he recalls. “There were a lot of people out there who were afraid to touch him, even though they knew he could sell some records. But I said, ‘Let’s track him down and make our own assessment,’ and that’s what we wound up doing.”

With legendary producer Eddie Kramer — who had worked with Kiss and on Frehley’s 1978 solo record in the past — on board to co-produce the album, Frehley supplemented his core group of drummer Anton Fig and bassist John Regan with multi-instrumentalist Tod Howarth, who would up singing lead on three tracks.

“Myself and John both suggested Tod,” Trunk explains. “He had done some work with Cheap Trick, as an offstage keyboard player and utility guy. Ironically, there’s a song on the first record that’s a rewrite of [Howarth’s former band] 707’s song Megaforce. Ace said, ‘I feel stupid singing a song about my record label.’ So they rewrote it a bit, and changed the title to Calling to You.”

Frehley’s former Kiss bandmate Eric Carr also joined in on the songwriting fun, earning a co-credit for Breakout. “Even after I left Kiss, Eric and I stayed in touch,” Frehley reveals. “I went down to his apartment in Manhattan, and we decided to collaborate on a few song ideas, that’s where Breakout came from.” (In 1992, following the death of Carr, KISS updated and released the drummer’s original demo of the song, complete with an extended drum solo, as Revenge‘s Carr Jam 1981.)

After the Top 20 chart success of Frehley’s 1978 cover of New York Groove, the decision was also made to include a cover of Into the Night, another song written by the same artist. “We were trying to mine gold a second time there,” Trunk admits, “because New York Groove was also a Russ Ballard song. So we thought maybe lightning would strike twice…”

…Trunk says Atlantic’s record department ultimately got final say there too, deciding that Into the Night was the more mass appeal song. “I know Gene Simmons called [Megaforce president] Johnny Z. when Into the Night came out, and he said something like, ‘Nice job with Ace, but you blew it. Rock Soldiers should have been the first single.’ And he was probably right.”

After the release of Frehley’s Comet, the group launched its first major tour, which, in the pre-internet era, gave most KISS fans their first look at Frehley. “It was strange, there hadn’t been that many photographs of me without makeup,” he remembers. “I wasn’t sure how fans were going to receive me. It took a little while to get comfortable onstage, but not that long. Obviously, the fans accepted me without makeup, so that was just a period of adjustment.”

Although he jokes that being reminded Frehley’s Comet is now 30 years old is “making me feel old,” Frehley has nothing but good things to say about the album. “That was a great record, I was happy with the way that came out. I’m still proud of that record.”

Read More at Ultimate Classic Rock.

source: ultimateclassicrock.com

SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE FEATURING MICHAEL ANTHONY, JASON BONHAM & VIC JOHNSON ANNOUNCE U.S. TOUR WITH COLLECTIVE SOUL THIS FALL

Sammy Hagar and The Circle, the critically-acclaimed supergroup featuring Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham and Vic Johnson, today announced plans for a North American tour with Collective Soul this fall. Presented by Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum, the tour kicks-off September 10 at the Glen Helen Amphitheater in San Bernardino, CA and will take the multi-platinum selling artists throughout the U.S. before their final stop at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights, MO on September 30. Singer/songwriter Andrew Hagar will also join as a special guest for the fall tour. Tour itinerary follows.

Complete ticketing information, including presales and more, is available at the artists’ websites, redrocker.com/events and collectivesoul.com In addition, concerts in Irving, TX (9/14); Wantagh, NY (9/23); Toledo, OH (9/27); Clarkson, MI (9/28) and Maryland Heights (9/30) are participating in the Live Nation Kickoff to Summer Ticket Promotion with a limited-time $20 ticket offer.

Sammy Hagar & The Circle with Collective Soul Tour Dates

9/10 San Bernardino, CA – Glen Helen Amphitheater (on-sale TBA)
9/12 Englewood, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre (on sale May 5) *
9/14 Irving, TX – Irving Music Factory (on sale now) ^
9/15 Sugarland, TX – Smart Financial Centre (on sale May 12) *
9/17 Clearwater, FL – Coachman Park (on sale May 12)
9/19 Pompano Beach, FL – Pompano Beach Amphitheater (on sale May 12)
9/20 St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre (on sale May 5)
9/22 Mashantucket, CT – Foxwoods Resort Casino – Grand Theater (on sale now)
9/23 Wantagh, NY –Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater (on sale May 5) ^
9/25 Philadelphia, PA – Mann Center for the Performing Arts (on sale May 12)
9/27 Toledo, OH – Toledo Zoo Amphitheatre (on sale now) ^
9/28 Clarkson, MI – DTE Energy Theatre (on sale now) ^
9/30 Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre (on sale May 5) ^

PLEASE NOTE: All dates, cities, and venues are subject to change.
* Dates with an * do not feature Collective Soul
^ Dates with an ^ are participating in the Live Nation Kickoff to Summer Ticket Promotion with a limited-time $20 ticket offer.

Formed in 2014, The Circle has thrilled audiences and critics alike with their live concerts, with USA Today remarking, “from the first thunderous notes … it’s apparent that this machine is firing on all cylinders.” The foursome rip through a set list of 40 years of Hagar’s epic rock anthems including Rock Candy, There’s Only One Way To Rock, Finish What Ya Started, Right Now and I Can’t Drive 55, as well as some classic Led Zeppelin jams like Whole Lotta Love, When the Levee Breaks and Moby Dick. Remarking on the group’s setlist, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram said, “The Circle is a quartet capable of drawing upon some of the most indelible rock music of the last 40 years.” The band’s live DVD, At Your Service” recorded during their first North American tour, debuted at No. 2 on SoundScan’s chart – a testament to the strength of the band’s live shows.

OZZY OSBOURNE AND ZAKK WYLDE REUNITE FOR 2017 TOUR

For the first time in more than a decade, Ozzy Osbourne and Zakk Wylde are together again.

Known as one of rock’s most lethal singer and guitarist pairings, the two will hit the road for a series of Ozzy headlining shows in the U.S. this summer and fall, beginning July 14 (*see dates below). While they’ve performed together over the years, these shows are the first collaboration for the duo for a full tour since 2006. These dates also mark Ozzy’s first solo tour in the U.S. in years beyond one Ozzy & Friends performance at the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience in New Orleans, LA in October 2015.

Ozzy and Zakk first teamed up 30 years ago when Zakk (who Ozzy describes as “a f***ing absolutely amazing guitar player”) joined Ozzy’s band in 1987; they last recorded in 2007 on Ozzy’s acclaimed Black Rain album.

In addition to reuniting with Zakk Wylde on guitar, Ozzy’s band will include longtime collaborators Blasko (Bass), Tommy Clufetos (Drums) and Adam Wakeman (Keyboards). Ozzy’s tour dates kick off in July at the Rock USA Festival in Oshkosh, WI with additional dates to be announced in the coming weeks.

“I’m so happy to be getting back on the road with Zakk, Blasko, Tommy and Adam,” says Osbourne. “This is what I do. This is where I belong, on the road.”

“I’m really looking forward to the hardcore powalifting training sessions with Ozzy as well as playing music in between sets of heavy squats, Benching and deadlifts,” Zakk Wylde adds.

Next up for Ozzy: prepping for a new solo album for 2018 on Epic.

Ozzy’s initial 2017 tour dates are as follows:

July:

14 Oshkosh, WI Rock USA Festival
16 Chicago, IL Chicago Open Air Festival

August:

9 Sturgis, SD Buffalo Chip
21 Cartersville, IL Moonstock Festival