Category : LATEST NEWS

AC/DC DRUMMER PHIL RUDD PLEADS “NOT GUILTY” ON THREATENING TO KILL AND DRUG CHARGES

Lars Brandle of Billboard reports:

AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has entered a not-guilty plea to charges of threatening to kill and possession of drugs.

The 60-year-old has been on bail since his arrest early last month in New Zealand. He was excused from appearing in Tauranga District Court on Tuesday, and his plea was entered by his lawyer.

A dishevelled-looking Rudd was initially charged in November with trying to procure a murder. The charge was soon dropped, but Rudd still faces charges of threatening to kill and possession of methamphetamine and cannabis. The first of those charges carries a maximum sentence of seven years in jail.

According to the New Zealand Herald, Judge Tom Ingram said the matter would likely be heard at a judge-alone trial next year. Details on the “threatening to kill” complainant and three other witnesses remain suppressed on the judge’s orders.

The veteran rocker made headlines in late November when he arrived late for a court appearance, clowned around by jumping on the back of one of his security guards outside the courthouse, and sped off in a black sports car.

Rudd was turfed from the group in 1983 but returned in 1994. He was conspicuously absent from recent band publicity photos and was missing from their October 3rd video shoot for Play Ball. Instead, Bob Richards sat behind the kit.

AC/DC’s Rock or Bust was released last week in the Australia, and in the States today (December 2nd). A 2015 tour will follow, with or without the services of Rudd.

source: billboard.com

OPERATION: MINDCRIME FEATURING FORMER QUEENSRYCHE FRONTMAN GEOFF TATE SIGNS WORLDWIDE RECORD DEAL WITH FRONTIERS MUSIC SRL

Operation: Mindcrime — featuring singer Geoff Tate, bassist Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake), drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC, Dio), guitarist Kelly Gray (Queensryche) and keyboardist Randy Gane (Myth) — has signed a worldwide record deal with Frontiers Music Srl for their forthcoming trilogy project.

“All of us in Operation: Mindcrime are looking forward to the new frontier with our new label, Frontiers Music Srl,” states Tate regarding the signing. “They’re giving us the creative freedom necessary to do the trilogy project I’ve envisioned for the past few years. It’s going to be great fun for all of us involved and we hope our fans will enjoy listening to it as much as we plan to enjoy creating and recording it.”

Ecstatic to have the band on his label, Frontiers Music Srl President Serafino Perugino comments, “As a long time fan of Geoff Tate and Operation: Mindcrime (the album), I am truly honored that he decided to sign with my label to give a home to his forthcoming trilogy. We look forward to release Operation: Mindcrime’s new music to the world!”

Tate, who has always enjoyed telling stories though his music, considers the creation of the forthcoming trilogy one of his biggest and most ambitious works to date.

“I tried to reduce the story and eventually got it down to 37 ideas that needed representing to complete the story,” comments Geoff. “I knew that one record wouldn’t cover it and that it would have to be a trilogy.”

Operation: Mindcrime, named after Queensryche’s epic concept album from 1988, recently entered the studio to begin recording the album that is expected to be released in the late Spring/early Summer of 2015.

Stay tuned for further details of the project in the months ahead.

All things Operation: Mindcrime” can be found on their official site at: operationmindcrime.com.

JUDAS PRIEST RELEASED “5 SOULS” ON VINYL FOR “RECORD STORE DAY”

Judas Priest has released a limited-edition 10-inch vinyl record entitled, 5 Souls this past Black Friday for Record Store Day (November 28th).

The pressing is described as 10″ Red EP with the bonus tracks from the Redeemer of Souls EP. Previously unreleased on vinyl.

Watch a video, courtesy of Vinyl-Blog.com, below.

5 Souls track listing:

1. Snakebite
2. Tears of Blood
3. Creatures
4. Bring It On
5. Never Forget

To find a participating store for record day, click here and ask if they still carry this special release.

ORIGINAL KISS DRUMMER PETER CRISS DISCUSSES NEW MUSIC WITH EDDIE TRUNK

Our very own Eddie Trunk interviewed original KISS drummer, Peter Criss, at the All Things That Rock Expo on November 28th at the greater Philadelphia Expo Center. Watch the chat below.

Video courtesy of mattportervideo

LIMITED EDITION VINYL PICTURE DISK FROM RONNIE JAMES DIO TRIBUTE CD AVAILABLE FOR RECORD STORE DAY ON NOVEMBER 28TH

A special limited edition vinyl release of selections from Ronnie James Dio’s This Is Your Life tribute compilation will be available from Rhino Records for Record Store Day, Friday, November 28th.

The limited release of 5500 units will feature Neon Knights by Anthrax, Rainbow In The Dark by Corey Taylor, Roy Mayorga, Jason Christopher, Christian Martucci and Satchel and Straight Through The Heart by Halestorm on Side A from the compilation album released on April 1st. Side B of the 12″ picture disk contains the live tracks Neon Knights, Rainbow In The Dark and Straight Through The Heart by Dio himself. The disks will retail for $18.98.

This Is Your Life is a tribute album created to raise funds for the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund which features an all-star group of his friends and fans performing 13 of their favorite Ronnie James Dio tracks. The album, released in April by Rhino, has already sold over 100,000 units worldwide.

Produced by Wendy Dio, widow of Ronnie James Dio and Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund President/Founder, This Is Your Life includes contributions by such metal heavyweights as Metallica, Scorpions, Anthrax, Glenn Hughes and Rob Halford, as well as appearances by many of the musicians who performed with Dio over the years.

To find a participating Record Store Day Store near you, go to recordstoreday.com.

The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable fund dedicated to supporting cancer-prevention research, raising awareness and educating the public about the vital importance of early detection and prevention, and was co-founded by Dio’s longtime manager and wife, Wendy Dio. 100% of the monies received from this album and the Record Store Day picture disk by the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund goes directly into cancer research.

MEGADETH GUITARIST CHRIS BRODERICK QUITS THE BAND ONE DAY AFTER DRUMMER SEAN DROVER DEPARTS

Guitar World reports:

Guitarist Chris Broderick has left Megadeth.

Around 1 a.m. EST, Broderick posted the following statement via Facebook and Twitter:

“Due to artistic and musical differences, it is with great reluctance that I announce my departure from Megadeth to pursue my own musical direction.

I want all of you to know how much I appreciate the amount that you the fans have accepted and respected me as a member of Megadeth for the last seven years, but it is time for me to move on.

I wish Dave [Mustaine] and everyone in Megadeth all the best. I am working on a few things of my own and hope that when they come out, you will all dig it.”

It is interesting to note that drummer Shawn Drover quit the band yesterday (Tuesday, November 25th) posting on his Facebook page:

“After 10 years, I have decided to quit Megadeth to pursue my own musical interests. I want to thank Dave Mustaine and the entire Megadeth family, as well as thanking all the amazing Megadeth fans around the world!!! I truly appreciate all of you.

Stay tuned for info on my next musical journey.”

Broderick, who is 44, joined Megadeth in late 2007 as the replacement for Glen Drover. Before joining Megadeth and while still in Jag Panzer, he was also a touring guitarist for Nevermore between 2001 and 2003 and then again between 2006 and 2007.

source: guitarworld.com