Category : LATEST NEWS

METAL ALLEGIANCE ANNOUNCE DEBUT ALBUM TO BE RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 18TH

After the recent announcement that Metal Allegiance will be releasing an album of original material, a date has been set for the debut album of the musical collective. The self-titled album is scheduled to be available worldwide on September 18th through Nuclear Blast Entertainment. The album features a collection of hard rock and heavy metal’s most notable perfromers. Brought together by principal partner Mark Menghi, Metal Allegiance 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.

“It’s always my pleasure to jam with such esteemed musicians and brothers, and my contribution to this project is further proof of that fact. Hail to all Heavy Metalers the world over!” states Philip H. Aneslmo.

Mike Portnoy adds, “I could not be any more excited or proud of the Metal Allegiance album… it’s everything I’ve always dreamed of and hoped for & 100x more!”

From the blistering opening of album starter Gift Of Pain to the final notes of closer Pledge Of Allegiance, it is clear this collective have created something special. The diversity of the individual tracks is apparent through each musical collaboration. The standard edition CD of Metal Allegiance will feature the nine 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 as well.

D. Randall Blythe adds, “When Lamb Of God asked Alex Skolnick to rip a guest solo on Ashes of the Wake, it was a big deal to us to have one of the legends of our scene play on our record. Much to my amazement, years later he returned the request, and it’s an even bigger deal to me to be asked on a peer level to contribute to a project with so many stellar players. I was honored to be chosen – Gift Of Pain rips! Play it LOUD!”

The tracklisting for Metal Allegiance is:

1. Gift Of Pain (Vocals: D. Randall Blythe Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy Additional Lead Guitar: Gary Holt)

2. Let Darkness Fall (Vocals: Troy Sanders Lead, Rhythm & Acoustic Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson Drums & Percussion: Mike Portnoy Additional Bass: Mark Menghi & Rex Brown Additional Screams: D. Randall Blythe)

3. Can’t Kill The Devil (Vocals: Chuck Billy Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy Additional Lead Guitar: Phil Demmel & Andreas Kisser)

4. Dying Song (Vocals: Philip H. Anselmo Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: Mark Menghi
Drums: Mike Portnoy)

5. Scars (Vocals: Mark Osegueda & Cristina Scabbia Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: David Ellefson Drums: Mike Portnoy)

6. Destination: Nowhere (Vocals: Matthew K. Heafy Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy Additional Lead Guitar: Matthew K. Heafy)

7. Wait Until Tomorrow (Vocals: dUg Pinnick & Jamey Jasta Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson Drums, Percussion & Additional Vocals: Mike Portnoy)

8. Triangulum
I. Creation
II. Evolution
III. Destruction
(Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson Drums: Mike Portnoy Additional Lead Guitar: Misha Mansoor, Ben Weinman, Charlie Benante, Phil Demmel, Matthew K. Heafy & Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal)

9. Pledge Of Allegiance (Vocals: Mark Osegueda Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy Additional Lead Guitar: Charlie Benante, Gary Holt & Andreas Kisser)

10. We Rock (Deluxe Edition Only) (Vocals: Mark Osegueda, Chris Jericho, Tim “Ripper” Owens, Alissa White-Gluz, Chuck Billy &
Steve “Zetro” Souza Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson Drums: Mike Portnoy Additional Lead Guitar: Andreas Kisser, Phil Demmel & Gary Holt)

SLAYER GUITARIST KERRY KING CALLS DEPARTED BAND MEMBER JEFF HANNEMAN “WORM FOOD” IN NEW INTERVIEW

Katherine Turman of The Village Voice spoke with Slayer guitarist Kerry King. Quotes from the interview appear below.

On whether or not he feels the spirit of long-time friend and band co-founder guiding the band:

“Jeff is worm food,” King states in his blunt-yet-likable fashion. “When you die you go in the dirt. There is no doubt. Doubt’s called agnostic. I’m not agnostic.”

Discussing Hanneman’s song, Piano Wire, which appears on the band’s forthcoming new album, Repentless:

“I didn’t know this until Tom [Araya, singer/bassist] told me recently. I didn’t talk to Jeff about that song, because I didn’t really have to police Jeff. If he wrote it, I was pretty sure it was all right. It was about sometime in World War II, because he was a big World War II history buff. I don’t know the exact instance, but apparently the Germans would hang people from buildings by piano wire as a warning to people not to go against them. That’s a very general description.”

Speaking about Exodus guitarist Gary Holt:

“Holt being in the band has changed my playing, absolutely. Before he was even in my band, I would praise Gary to the guitar press, because I felt it was the Glenn Tipton of our era, meaning that he was overlooked. Even though everyone knew Judas Priest, nobody really talked about Tipton. I thought that was a tragedy, because he was responsible for so many innovations and awesome heavy metal songs and riffs. Now that Holt gets to play with us it keeps me on my toes, because I’m not going to let the new guy kick the old Slayer dude’s ass.”

Discussing whether Slayer should have carried on after the passing of guitarist Hanneman:

“I’m not a social media guy, because I don’t have time for that nonsense; I mean the people who speak nonsense on social media, I’m sure, that when the record comes out, someone will say, ‘Oh, it’s only half of Slayer. They should have hung it up when Jeff died.’ My answer to them is, ‘What if AC/DC had hung it up when Bon Scott died?’ How much awesomeness would we have missed out on?”

Read Kerry King’s entire interview with the Village Voice, here.

Slayer’s Repentless is due September 11th. Read more about it here.

RUSH FINALLY LAND THE COVER OF ROLLING STONE

Rush have finally made the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

For the in-depth, career-spanning cover story, senior writer Brian Hiatt ­followed the band to early tour rehearsals in Los Angeles and soundchecks in Tulsa, Oklahoma, interviewing Neil Peart, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson about their lives and careers, from their childhoods to their Eighties evolution to the recording of 2012’s Clockwork Angels. Throughout the story, one question looms: Can their current run of shows, which began May 8th in Tulsa, really be their “last major tour of this magnitude,” as they’ve called it? The band members themselves don’t seem altogether sure.

“It’s most likely our last tour,” says Lee. “I couldn’t put it any more accurately. I can’t say for sure. But it doesn’t mean we don’t want to work together still, it doesn’t mean we won’t do another creative project and I’ve got ideas for shows we could do that don’t involve a tour.”

To see Rush’s Rolling Stone cover, please click here.

source: rollingstone.com

“AEROSMITH ROCKS DONINGTON 2014” DUE OUT SEPTEMBER 4TH ON MULTIPLE FORMATS

As Aerosmith gears up for their 2015 summer tour, a date has been announced for the release of Aerosmith Rocks Donington 2014. Due out September 4th, the 20-song collection captures the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famers delivering a scorching career-spanning show at the famed Donington Park in Leicestershire, UK in June 2014. Filmed in high definition, the critically acclaimed concert film–which premiered in February with a highly successful nationwide theatrical run–will be available on multiple formats: Blu-ray+2CD, DVD+2CD, DVD+3LP and digital formats for North America and DVD, Blu-ray, DVD+2CD, DVD+3LP and digital formats for ROW/Europe. Details about a special pre-sale–with bonus items–of Aerosmith Rocks Donington 2014 will be available in the coming weeks.

Headlining the massive Download Festival as part of the band’s Let Rock Rule tour, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Joey Kramer, Tom Hamilton, and Brad Whitford unleashed supercharged versions of Love In An Elevator, Janie’s Got A Gun, I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing, Dude Looks Like A Lady, Walk This Way, Dream On, Sweet Emotion, Toys In The Attic, Mama Kin, and many more. Watch a trailer below.

“It’s always an absolute hoot that leaves me howling at the moon, performing at Donington we couldn’t have had a better time on stage that night,” says Steven Tyler. “I could feel the vibes of all the greats pulsing through the stage like AC/DC, Rage Against the Machine, Metallica and so many more.”

“We have played Donington many times but this performance was one of our best,” recalls Joe Perry. “Thanks to our fans who were there who helped us make it a night to remember. We are proud to have it be part of this theatrical series and it will give our fans who weren’t there around the world a chance to relive an ass kicking night of rock and roll.”

“We’re really proud and grateful to have been chosen to headline the Download festival at Donington for 2014,” Tom Hamilton adds. “It was an awesome experience and I think this film captures it. Special thanks to the insane fans who stuck with us through mud and rain.”

“I’m grateful to have been able to play this show at Donington,” says Joey Kramer. “I thought the band played great, the audience was great. That night was a very special time.”

“Playing in Donington has always been a highlight of the tour for us,” adds Brad Whitford. “The fervor of the crowd there is a sight to behold and this night was no different.”

Aerosmith Rocks Donington 2014 track listing is as follows:

1) Train Kept A-Rollin’
2) Eat The Rich
3) Love In An Elevator
4) Cryin’
5) Jaded
6) Livin’ On The Edge
7) Last Child
8) Freedom Fighter
9) Same Old Song And Dance
10) Janie’s Got A Gun
11) Toys In The Attic
12) I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing
13) No More No More
14) Come Together
15) Dude (Looks Like A Lady)
16) Walk This Way
17) Home Tonight
18) Dream On
19) Sweet Emotion
20) Mama Kin

Aerosmith on the web:

aerosmith.com
facebook.com/aerosmith
twitter.com/#!/Aerosmith
youtube.com/theofficialaerosmith

AC/DC ‘S “ROCK OR BUST” TOUR TO WIND DOWN IN NEW ZEALAND, TOUR MANAGER SAYS PHIL RUDD WILL NOT BE RETURNING FOR THOSE SHOWS

AC/DC will end their celebrated Rock or Bust tour with a pair of New Zealand dates, sparking another round of questions about the return of Tauranga resident Phil Rudd.

“It’s not going to happen, tour manager Garry Van Egmond tells the Bay of Plenty Times, despite the proximity. AC/DC has been touring with former drummer Chris Slade, and that is the way it’ll remain.

“Chris Slade will be on drums,” Van Egmond confirms. “He replaced Phil when he left the band some years back, and he has been playing in the Rock or Bust tour worldwide.”

AC/DC play December 12th at Westpac Stadium in Wellington and the 15th at Western Springs in Auckland. Rudd, meanwhile, is still awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty in April to charges of drug possession and threatening to kill. He’s been tangled up in legal matters, and off the road with AC/DC, since an incident late last year in which Rudd was initially accused of attempting to procure the murder of a former associate.

That brought Slade back into the fold for a second time. Rudd was AC/DC drummer from 1975-83, followed by a three-album run featuring Simon Wright. Slade took over in 1989, and stuck with the band until 1994 – when Rudd returned. In February, AC/DC once again tapped Slade to replace the troubled Rudd, whose role in the group remains unknown. Van Egmond said he has “no confirmation that Phil has left the band permanently. All I can say is that Phil will not be playing in the New Zealand concerts.”

source: ultimateclassicrock.com

SINGER ALICE COOPER JOKES THAT HE IS GOING TO KILL MOTLEY CRUE AT THEIR FINAL SHOW

Singer Alice Cooper says he only offered to “kill” Motley Crue on stage, as a joke – but drummer Tommy Lee loved the idea so much that it will happen.

Motely Crue are on their Final Tour, which ends in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve. Cooper is their main support and in January he said he’d lop off their heads with guillotines and auction them off on stakes.

Cooper, Lee and Crue singer Vince Neil spoke to TeamRock Radio ahead of Download, where Motley will play the main stage on Sunday.

Cooper says, “The idea was, because people were saying, ‘It’s not really gonna be the end,’ and I go, ‘New Year is their last show. You know how I know? Because I’m gonna kill them at the end.’ Of course I was kidding, but Tommy said that wasn’t a bad idea. With a machine gun and blood packs.”

Cooper is known for ‘dying’ in a variety of ways during his own gigs, and Lee jokes that he doesn’t want blood packs – he wants the real thing.

Lee says, “No blood packs, real bullets. We’re tired, we’re old, we’re cranky. You’ve gotta put us down.”

Neil admits that the band would have loved to play more places on their last ever tour. He adds: “I wish there was some more dates because a lot of people are asking, ‘Why aren’t you coming to our city?’ But hey, we’re trying to get to everywhere we can in the short time that we have left on this earth.”

Crue’s final U.S dates are as follows:

Jul 16: Alaska Airlines Center, Anchorage, AK
Jul 17: Alaska Airlines Center, Anchorage, AK
Jul 22: Eugene Matthew Knight Arena, OR
Jul 24: Tacoma Dome, WA
Jul 25: Paso Robles California Mid State Fair, CA
Jul 26: Billings Rimrock Auto Arena, MT
Jul 28: Boise Taco Bell Arena, ID
Jul 29: Salt Lake City EnergySolutions Arena, UT
Jul 31: Denver Pepsi Center, CO

Aug 5: Saint Paul Xcel Centre, MB
Aug 7: Milwaukee BMO Harris Bradley Center, WI
Aug 8: Chicago Allstate Arena, IL
Aug 9 Detroit The Palace At Auburn Hill, MI
Aug 11: Hershey Giant Center, PA
Aug 12: New York Barclays Center, NY
Aug 14: Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center, PA
Aug 15: Worcester DCU Center, MA
Aug 16: Uncasville Mohegan Sun Arena, CT
Aug 18: Cleveland Quicken Loans Arena, OH
Aug 19: Cincinnati US Bank Arena, OH
Aug 20: Indianapolis Bankers Life Fieldhouse, IN
Aug 26: Baltimore Royal Farms Arena, MD
Aug 28: Raleigh PNC Arena, NC
Aug 29: Charlotte Time Warner Cable Arena, NC
Aug 30: Atlanta Philips Arena, GA

Sep 2: Miami American Airlines Arena, FL
Sep 4: New Orleans Smoothie King Center, LA
Sep 5: Houston Toyota Center, TX
Sep 6: San Antonia Alamodrome, TX

Oct 5: Hidalgo State Farm Arena, TX
Oct 7: Dallas American Airlines Arena, TX
Oct 8: Little Rock Verizon Arena, AR
Oct 10: Evansville The Ford Center, IN
Oct 11: Lexington Rupp Arena, KY
Oct 13: Grand Rapids Van Andel Arena, MI
Oct 14: Buffalo First Niagra Center, NY
Oct 16: Bridgeport Webster Bank Arena, CT
Oct 17: Manchester Verizon Wireless Arena, NH
Oct 18: Bangor Cross Insurance Center, ME

Dec 20: San Diego Viejas Arena, CA
Dec 22: Anaheim Honda Center, CA
Dec 27: LAs Vegas MGM Arena, NV
Dec 28: Los Angeles Staples Centre, CA
Dec 30: Los Angeles Staples Centre, CA
Dec 31: Los Angeles Staples Centre, CA

source: classicrock.teamrock.com