Category : LATEST NEWS

GUITARIST D.J. ASHBA LEAVES GUNS N’ ROSES

Guns N’ Roses guitarist D.J. Ashba has made the following announcement:

“Six years ago, I received a call that changed my life forever. The call was from a dear friend of mine (Katie McNeil-Diamond) who was working with Guns N’ Roses. It was an offer to audition for Axl Rose and earn a role in arguably the biggest rock band of my time. While I thought it was a complete long shot, I decided to go ahead and give it a try. Much to my shock and surprise, I got the gig. And so began the most incredible journey I could have possibly imagined. I was blessed with the opportunity to not only work with one of the most talented bands, but also to share the stage with a living legend and a truly gifted human being, Axl Rose. The amount of confidence and trust that Axl placed in me was genuinely heartwarming and truly career-defining. In the years that followed, I traveled the world many times over and played these incredible songs night after night to the most enthusiastic and loving crowds. As you can imagine, the friendships that were forged during that time were deep and long lasting. But the most beautiful surprise of all was YOU… the fans. You welcomed me into your lives with open arms and showed me love and support that I could only have dreamed of. From the very first time I stepped on stage and started playing Welcome To The Jungle and felt the crowd erupt, I knew my life would never be the same. I’m not gonna lie…I was terrified!! But you were so accepting. You immediately turned my fear into pride. For that, I am truly grateful.

So now it is with a very heavy heart and yet great pride that I announce that I’ve decided to close this chapter of my life and encapsulate the wonderful times that I’ve shared with GUNS N’ ROSES into fond memories. I have reached a point in my life where I feel its time to dedicate myself to my band Sixx: A.M., my adoring wife and family, and to the many new adventures that the future holds for me.

….As I sit here writing this letter, I want to take a moment to thank Axl from the bottom of my heart for not only the most incredible experience of my life, but for truly believing in me. You are a true friend and a champion of mine and I am forever grateful. And even as I move on to pursue other endeavors, I will always remain one of your biggest fans. I also would like to thank each and every one of you fans for your love and support throughout the years. Without you, I am nothing. Please know that I do not take one minute of this amazing life for granted.

I hope that you all join me as I forge ahead. Let’s conquer the world together!”

Ashba joined Guns N’ Roses in March 2009 following the departure of guitarist Robin Finck.

BUCKCHERRY RELEASE VIDEO FOR “THE MADNESS,” TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

Buckcherry have released a video for the song The Madness from their forthcoming new album, Rock N’Roll, which is due for release on August 21st through F-Bomb records. Watch the video below.

Frontman Josh Todd tells Billboard,“I struggle with two sides of my mind. There’s the side that wants to be really bad and the side that really wants to be good, and this is a constant battle with me. So that’s what The Madness is about, and I just felt like the chorus came together really well.”

Rock ’N’ Roll will be their first release on the band’s F-Bomb Records. Todd reports that being on their own label has given them the opportunity to be more creative than on previous albums.

He says, “Over the years being on several different labels, we’ve been pushed and pulled and told so many different things. And whenever we stick to our guns and do what feels right to ourselves and to the honesty of Buckcherry, then everything works out.”

Last week, Todd revealed that the song Tight Pants was influenced by Aerosmith. To read more about this story, and to see the album track list, please click here.

Buckcherry tour dates:

August:

28 Starland Ballroom Sayreville, NJ
29 New York State Fair Syracuse, NY

September:

9 Neighbrhood Theatre Charlotte, NC
10 Ziggy’s Wilmington, NC
12 The Concourse at The International Knoxville, TN
15 Ground Zero Traverse City, MI
16 The Machine Shop Flint, MI
18 District Square Kalamazoo, MI
19 Stout Ale House Menomonie, WI
20 Wooly’s Des Moines, IA
29 Brewster St. Ice House Corpus Christi, TX
30 Scout Bar Houston, TX

October:

2 Hard Rock Casino Sioux City, IA
3 Three Hills Event Center w/ Saving Abel Nebraska City, NE
4 Singers Hays, KS
29 Mosaic Place w/ Bret Michaels Moose Jaw, Canada
31 Deerfoot Inn & Casino Calgary, Canada

December:

4 The Watering Hole Green Bay, WI

To purchase tickets, visit Buckcherry’s Facebook page.

SEVENDUST RETURN WITH KILL THE FLAW SLATED FOR RELEASE ON OCTOBER 2ND, TOUR KICKS OFF SEPTEMBER 23RD

Musical evolution comes at various points throughout a band’s career, even those who have been creating music for over 18 years together. Sevendust are the living embodiment of this fact and their new album Kill The Flaw is the next step forward. Kill The Flaw is the band’s 11th studio album and is slated for release on October 2nd via 7Bros. Records with ADA/Warner Brothers Distribution. Sevendust is comprised of iconic vocalist Lajon Witherspoon, the dual-guitar attack of John Connolly and Clint Lowery, and the driving rhythm section of Vince Hornsby on bass and Morgan Rose on drums. Kill The Flaw was self-produced by Sevendust and recorded at Architekt Music in Butler, New Jersey with engineer/mixer Mike Ferretti.

“We took some time off from the heavy side of Sevendust and when it came time to record some new music; Clint, John, Vinnie, Morgan and I put everything we had in to what became Kill The Flaw,” states vocalist Lajon Witherspoon. “We love this new music and we can’t wait to share it with our amazing Sevendust family! God bless y’all!!!”

The album opener and first single Thank You shows that Sevendust is back and better than ever. The song can be heard below.

as well as streaming partners like Spotify and Apple Music. Tracks like Death Dance, Cease and Desist and Not Today exemplify the growth of the band as songwriters. Throughout the album, the musical development flourishes while never losing the signature sound that has garnered the band fans worldwide. Kill The Flaw is available for digital pre-order at Tunes. Fans who order the album will receive an instant download of the first single, “Thank You.” The physical CD is available for pre-order in various bundles through Sevendust.com.

The track listing for Kill The Flaw is:

1. Thank You
2. Death Dance
3. Forget
4. Letters
5. Cease and Desist
6. Not Today
7. Chop
8. Kill The Flaw
9. Silly Beast
10. Peace and Destruction
11. Torched

Sevendust was recently announced as direct support on the upcoming Godsmack tour. The tour begins September 23rd in Detroit, MI and will run throughout October where it wraps on October 19th in Ottawa, ON. The tour will be making stops in Kansas City, Huntsville and Poughkeepsie to name a few. Sevendust is also playing at the Food Truck & Rock Carnival on September 19th in Clark, NJ; the Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, KY and the Monster Energy Aftershock Festival in Elverta, CA. They are also playing with Breaking Benjamin on September 18th in PA.

Sevendust tour dates:

September:

18 # Scranton, PA The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
19 Clark, NJ Oak Ridge Park (Food Truck & Rock Carnival)
23 * Detroit, MI The Fillmore Detroit
27 * Springfield, IL Prairie Capital Convention Center
29 * Kansas City, MO Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland

October:

1 * Shreveport, LA Municipal Auditorium
2 * Huntsville, AL Von Braun Center
3 * Louisville, KY Louder Than Life Festival
13 * Wallingford, CT Toyota Presents Oakdale
14 * Poughkeepsie, NY Mid-Hudson Civic Center
16 * Halifax, Canada Scotiabank Centre
17 * Moncton, Canada Moncton Coliseum
19 * Ottawa, Canada TD Place
25 Elverta, CA Aftershock Festival

* More Dates To Be Announced *
# – Playing with Breaking Benjamin
* – Playing with Godsmack

DEEP PURPLE PERFORM “SMOKE ON THE WATER” ON NBC’S “TODAY” SHOW

Deep Purple appeared on the July 23rd broadcast of NBC’s Today show at New York City’s Rockefeller Plaza.

The band played their classic song, Smoke On The Water. Watch the performance below.

The band’s latest album, Now What?!, was released in North America in April 2013 through earMUSIC.

ANTHRAX PUT NEW MATERIAL ON HOLD, AS DRUMMER CHARLIE BENANTE WORKS ON THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF “SPREADING THE DISEASE”

Charlie Benante says Anthrax’s 11th studio album can’t be released this year – because he’s focusing on a 30th anniversary edition of Spreading The Disease.

The revamp of their breakthrough record is set to appear later in 2015, pushing the follow-up to 2011’s Worship Music into 2016.

Benante tells the Examiner, I’ve been working on this anniversary thing, where I’m putting a bunch of bonus material on the second disc. It’s going to be really good.”

Spreading The Disease was originally released in 1985. It was their first to feature vocalist Joey Belladonna and bassist Frank Bello, and the last to include writing credited to former frontman Neil Turbin.

The band are currently recording fresh music – but when pressed for a release date, Benante said, “Probably [the] beginning of next year. Because if we do the Spreading The Disease release at the end of this year, we don’t want to put two things out at the same time.”

Guitarist Scott Ian previously said they wouldn’t be rushed into a release.

additional source: classicrock.teamrock.com

METAL ALLEGIANCE DEBUT ALBUM AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER, TICKETS FOR RECORD RELEASE SHOW IN NEW YORK CITY ON SEPTEMBER 17TH NOW AVAILABLE

As the excitement for the upcoming debut album by Metal Allegiance continues to grow, the album pre-order launches tomorrow via iTunes worldwide. The self-titled album contains appearances by Philip H. Anselmo, Charlie Benante, Chuck Billy, D. Randall Blythe, Rex Brown, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, Phil Demmel, David Ellefson, Alissa White-Gluz, Matthew K. Heafy, Gary Holt, Jamey Jasta, Chris Jericho, Andreas Kisser, Misha Mansoor, Mark Osegueda, Tim “Ripper” Owens, dUg Pinnick, Mike Portnoy, Troy Sanders, Cristina Scabbia, Alex Skolnick, Steve “Zetro” Souza and Ben Weinman. Fans can go to iTunes and all orders will receive an instant download of the recently released track, “Can’t Kill The Devil.” The song features Chuck Billy on vocals; Alex Skolnick, Phil Demmel & Andreas Kisser on guitars; David Ellefson on bass; and Mike Portnoy on drums.

The standard edition CD of Metal Allegiance will feature the 9 original songs. A digipak edition will be available that features an all-star tribute to Ronnie James Dio with a cover of his classic song “We Rock” as well as a 45 minute behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of the album. A double vinyl version will also be available that will feature all 10 songs. Physical CD bundles are available through the Nuclear Blast store.

Metal Allegiance recently announced that they will be having a record release concert on September 17th in New York City at the Best Buy Theater. The show, presented by D’Addario, will feature the following confirmed participants: Frank Bello (Anthrax), Charlie Benante (Anthrax), Chuck Billy (Testament), David Ellefson (Metal Allegiance/Megadeth), Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy), Gary Holt (Slayer/Exodus), Scott Ian (Anthrax), Mark Menghi (Metal Allegiance), Mark Osegueda (Death Angel), Mike Portnoy (Metal Allegiance/The Winery Dogs), Troy Sanders (Mastodon), Alex Skolnick (Metal Allegiance/Testament) along with a few special guests. Space Born Killers have been tapped to open the show. Tickets for the show are $25.00 and can be purchased via Axs.com by clicking here.

Metal Allegiance will be airing weekly webisodes every Wednesday up until the album’s release date. The webisodes offer fans an inside look at the creation of Metal Allegiance and the unique collaboration by hard rock and heavy metal’s most notable performers. The first webisode features a look at album opener “Gift Of Pain” and webisode #2 showcasing “Let Darkness Fall” can both be seen below.

Stemming from an initial idea in 2011, Metal Allegiance was born as a way to unite a collection of hard rock and heavy metal’s most notable musicians in a setting born under one ideal- a love of music and performing. In 2015, that ideal still holds true and has become the foundation for everything Metal Allegiance; furthered with the release of the upcoming debut album. While the lineup may change, the passion, the energy and the emotion all remain the same. Metal Allegiance is more than just a record or a concert, it’s an experience and a lifestyle.

Metal Allegiance on the web:

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