Category : LATEST NEWS

GUITARIST VIVIAN CAMPBELL DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER, SAYS HE’S FEELING “RATHER SPIFFY, ALL THINGS CONSIDERED”

Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell says a “cough that wouldn’t quit” has turned out to be cancer. The guitarist had a surgical biopsy on March 11th following several months of coughing that revealed he has Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, he said through a spokesperson on Monday, reports Marc Schneider of Billboard.

Doctors prescribed six months of chemotherapy for the 50-year-old guitarist, who joined Leppard in 1992 after stints in Dio and Whitesnake.

“I’m about 2 months in and feeling rather spiffy, all things considered,” he said in a statement. “Hodgkin’s has an over 80% cure rate, so by my reckoning, if you’re going to have a cancer, Hodgie’s is the one to have!”

Campbell has no plans to miss the upcoming Def Leppard summer tour and playfully explained that part of the reason he’s revealing his illness is to prevent any walkouts from fans.

“Me and my new aerodynamic hairstyle (read: no hair) are going on tour this summer with the band and I don’t want anyone to be so shocked by my new look that they ask for a refund,” he said. “Simple economics, really.”

Following the Leppard tour, which runs from June 21th-July 17th, Campbell plans to reunite with other original Dio members to tour under the moniker, Last In Line. The group will play a short UK tour to commemorate three decades since recording classic albums like Holy Diver, Last In Line and Scared Heart. Frontman Ronnie James Dio died of stomach cancer in May 2010 at 67.

[Ed’s note: All of us at EddieTrunk.com send Vivian Campbell our best wishes for a complete and speedy recovery.]

source: billboard.com

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METALLICA PLAY “KILL ‘EM ALL” IN ITS ENTIRETY AT THE ORION FESTIVAL IN MICHIGAN

Metallica stunned fans at the first day of their Orion Music + More Festival by appearing on the second-smallest stage to perform debut album Kill ‘Em All in full.

The official schedule had listed a band called Dehaan to play at 4.30pm on the first day of the thrash giants’ event in Belle Isle, Detroit, Michigan.

But minutes before the unknown outfit were to take to the fourth stage of five, Metallica frontman James Hetfield posted on Instagram: “Don’t miss Deehan! #MUYA #mff #UwillRegretMissingThem #IfUdoUmightKillEmAll #winkWink #getIt?”

Soon afterwards he appeared on the before a medium-sized crowd, while the Deehan backdrop had been crossed out with red paint and the slogan “Metal up your ass” sprayed above. Hetfield said, “Good morning – whatever it is. I’m here to introduce Dehaan. Does anyone know who they are? They’re from Baltimore. A totally mystery band that no one knows anything about, except us.”

Seconds later he was joined by Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo, and they launched into a delivery of all 10 tracks from 1983′s Kill ‘Em All, staring with Hit The Lights and ending with Metal Militia, including the first full performance of (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth since 1986. Fans were seen running from all directions as they became aware what was going on. The performance lasted 45 minutes.

Metallica have a history of playing surprise sets. In 2009 they were listed as Volsung at the South By Southwest festival. The previous year just 175 people saw them performing at a Nashville club. In 2003 they appeared unannounced on the second stage at Download. In the past they’ve been billed as The Four Horsemen, Frayed Ends and Spun.

The first day of Orion was headlined by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, while tonight’s acts include Deftones, Rocket From The Crypt, Death and Gogol Bordello, with Metallica themselves closing the second annual event.

source: classicrockmagazine.com

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GEEZER BUTLER ON ANOTHER BLACK SABBATH ALBUM: “NEVER SAY NEVER”

Gary Graff of Billboard reports:

Geezer Butler says that he’s happy that he and his Black Sabbath mates Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi “were able to come together and do one final album”-13, which comes out June 11th and is currently streaming on iTunes.

Um…final?

“Well, I guess you should never say never,” the bassist tells Billboard. “It could be, though. We’ll see how this album goes, see what happens.” And Osbourne, who’s appearing on his first Sabbath studio album since 1978’s Never Say Die, also prefers caution when talking about future Sabbath recordings. “Let’s put it this way; it’s taken us 35 years to do this one,” he notes with a laugh. “So if there’s gonna be (another) album there’s gonna be an album but I don’t want to say if there’s going to be a follow-up. I wouldn’t mind doing another Sabbath album with them, though.”

Read more at Billboard.

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ACCEPT ANNOUNCE DOCUMENTARY PLANS AND ASK FANS TO HELP

This year, German metal legends Accept are headlining European festivals, preparing a new album as well as working on their first live DVD and CD featuring Wolf Hoffman, Peter Baltes, Mark Tornillo, Herman Frank & Stefan Schwarzmann.

The Teutonic Metal band has touched the lives of so many fans and musicians alike along the way in their 30+ year career. Having inspired legions of fans with songs like Fast as a Shark and Metal Heart; Accept helped create the Speed Metal genre. This time, however, it is the band that is inspired by the fans. With the making of new music on the horizon and their busy schedule, the band is eager to share even more of themselves with their loyal following by announcing the making of the first official Accept documentary. From their humble beginnings as a garage band in their German home town of Solingen in the late ‘70s, their ‘80s Balls to the Wall ‘glory days,’ and all the way up their most successful re-incarnation with power house vocalist Mark Tornillo. This is a very proud and important moment for the ‘German Heavy Metal Band’.

Accept invites everybody who has ever crossed paths with the band to head over to their official Facebook page to submit pictures, letters, recordings, videos, films, memorabilia, stories, simply anything and everything Accept. We invite producers, music industry professionals, promoters, writers, photographers, families, friends, and other musicians whether you’ve stayed connected with or only passed through the doors to participate – including a special invitation to (our former frontman) Udo and all the musicians who have been performing Accept songs for more than 30 years.

If you were deeply touched by whatever Accept was and is, you are invited to contribute to the archives which will be used for the long awaited and forthcoming Accept documentary. Many have had their lives influenced and changed and enriched by Accept including Lasse in Sweden for instance, who owns the largest Accept memorabilia collection on the planet. “These are our heroes and we owe them the recognition and a place in Accept’s documented history,” says guitarist Wolf Hoffmann.

Helming the project, will be Stefan Kaufmann. Under his command (as an expert of Accept’s history) and along side the band, he will whip the project into shape in order to capture the legacy for all. Peter Baltes adds, “This is not the story of one musician or their ‘personal success’; it is ultimately about a band from Germany who defined and inspired more than one music genre.”

Fans can submit their material via the Accept’s Facebook including posting on the Accept Facebook wall all or by sending a Facebook Message or by emailing the band at: acceptology@gmail.com. Remember Accept is looking for live photos, stories of meeting the band, fan gatherings, tattoos, ticket stubs, ads (print/audio/video), artwork, collectibles, various merchandise, t-shirts, denim jackets, magazine covers, magazine articles and so much more.

Please note we can’t use videos on YouTube, we need the actual video file. If you have a file that is too large to email or post you can send to us using WeTransfer.com. Please zip the file and visit WeTransfer.com and send to acceptology@gmail.com, we will download it. Please be sure to include a text file with your name and email address in the zip file.

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AC/DC’S BRIAN JOHNSON TO APPEAR ON STING’S FORTHCOMING ALBUM

Sting‘s first album in 10 years will include an unexpected collaboration with Brian Johnson, the lead singer of AC/DC, reports Billy Dukes of Ultimate Classic Rock.

Sting‘s first album in 10 years will include an unexpected collaboration with Brian Johnson, the lead singer of AC/DC. The Last Ship will be released on September 24th. As previously reported, the collection is the soundtrack to a theater production of the same name set to debut on Broadway in 2014.

It’s not clear what song, or how many songs Johnson will appear on, but a publicist has confirmed the cameo from the singer. Sting screened the production in May in hopes of finding financial backers, according to the New York Times.

The Last Ship explores themes of homecoming and self-discovery. The plot is focused on a shipyard in Wallsend, Eng., a town near where Sting grew up. It’s the story of the demise of the shipbuilding industry in the ’80s.

Look for the album in several configurations, including a 12-song version and a two-disc deluxe set featuring five bonus tracks. There’s also a 20-song super deluxe version with special packaging that will be available through Amazon. Digital and vinyl versions will also be available.

source: ultimateclassicrock.com

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GUITARIST ZAKK WYLDE TO PLAY WITH THE LES PAUL TRIO IN NYC ON JUNE 10th

Guitarist Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne, Pride and Glory) will performing with Les Paul Trio on Monday, June 10th at The Iridium in New York City for a very special performance. In addition to performing with the Les Paul Trio, Wylde will spend the following two nights (June 11-12) on the Iridium stage, as well, with two intimate shows billed as An Evening With Zakk Wylde. Call 212-582-2121 for more information.

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