As previously reported, guitarists Yngwie Malmsteen, Uli Jon Roth, Gary Hoey and Bumbleoot will be touring this summer as part of Malmsteen’s Guitar Gods 2014 tour. A promotional video and a list of tour dates can be found below.
Guitar Gods tour dates:
June:
13 – Paramount Theatre – Huntington, NY
14 – Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ
17 – Bergen Performing Arts Center- Englewood, NJ
20 – Arcada Theatre – St. Charles, IL
21 – Phoenix Theatre – Toronto, ON
26 – Showbox Theatre – Seattle, WA
27 – Roseland Theater – Portland, OR
July:
3 – Saban Theatre – Beverly Hills, CA
8 – Rialto Theatre – Tucson, AZ
To read more about the Guitar Gods 2014 tour, click here click here.
Amid all the rumors and speculation of retirement that have floated around the past couple of days, AC/DC have finally released an official statement through their Facebook page:
“After forty years of life dedicated to AC/DC, guitarist and founding member Malcolm Young is taking a break from the band due to ill health. Malcolm would like to thank the group’s diehard legions of fans worldwide for their never-ending love and support.
In light of this news, AC/DC asks that Malcolm and his family’s privacy be respected during this time. The band will continue to make music.”
As previously reported, AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson also confirmed that the band will continue to make music and disclosed that a member of the band was battling a debilitating disease.
The Golden Gods Awards, a ceremony devoted solely to hard rock and heavy metal, is returning to TV on Saturday, May 24 on VH1 Classic at 8 p.m. ET/PT, produced by Dick Clark Productions and Revolver magazine.
The four-hour live show will tape Wednesday, April 23rd, at Los Angeles’ Club Nokia, and stream at VH1.com and on VH1’s mobile app, with a black carpet hosted by Dee Snider. The May 24th telecast will be an edited, 90-minute version of the show.
Topping this year’s star-studded talent lineup will be Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose, who will be presented with 2014’s Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award, and Joan Jett, the first-ever female recipient of the Golden God Award, which will be presented by 2011 winner Alice Cooper. Guns N’ Roses and Jett are also among the show’s confirmed performers, alongside Zakk Wylde, who will play during a very special musical tribute to the heavy-metal and hard-rock legends who’ve passed away over the last year. Additional appearances will include Dave Navarro, Alice Cooper, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Andrew Dice Clay, Joe Manganiello, Tony Hawk, Pauley Perrette, Carmen Electra, A Day To Remember and The Pretty Reckless.
The show will be hosted by That Metal Show hosts Eddie Trunk, Don Jamieson and Jim Florentine.
The 2014 Golden Gods Awards marks Dick Clark Productions’ first year producing the show, which executive producer Assaf Blecher says is an extension of the company’s growing portfolio of music-themed programming.
“We are very into music properties, so it’s just natural that the Golden Gods would make sense for us,” Blecher says. “The show is a good combination [of older] and newer heavy-metal icons, and it’s a great occasion for the community to come together for a one-night only event.”
AC/DC singer Brian Johnson has stated the band are not retiring yet – and they’re planning to go ahead with studio sessions in May.
But his comments suggest there’s at least a hint of doubt about the band’s future, and no guarantee that their planned 40th anniversary tour will go ahead.
There’s been a flurry of speculation in recent days after it was rumoured that mainman Malcolm Young was too ill to continue, and that a long-standing agreement amongst the quintet meant that if one of them left the entire band would fold.
Johnson tells the Telegraph: “We are definitely getting together in May in Vancouver. We’re going to pick up guitars, have a plonk and see if anybody has got any tunes or ideas. If anything happens we’ll record it.”
He’d previously confirmed that one of the band, believed to be Malcolm, was suffering from ill health – but he refuses to add more details.
“I wouldn’t like to say anything either way about the future,” says Johnson. “I’m not ruling anything out. One of the boys has a debilitating illness, but I don’t want to say too much about it. He’s very proud and private. A wonderful chap. We’ve been pals for 25 years and I look up to him very much.”
He’d also said there were plans for AC/DC to play 40 shows to mark their 40th anniversary – their first show was on New Year’s Eve 1973.
Now he reports: “That would be a wonderful way to say bye-bye. We would love to do it – but it’s all up in the air at the moment.”
Mark Evans, who claims that he is the son of original AC/DC singer Dave Evans, tweeted that reports of AC/DC’s retirement are true. He added: “Malcolm Young is very sick…. [Malcolm’s son] Ross Young spoke to my father this morning because the cat got out…. But yes, the band will be finished…. No new shows or music.”
Additionally, Australian journalist Darryl Mason of The Orstrahyun reports, “About three weeks ago, founding member, rhythm guitarist, co-producer and co-songwriter Malcolm Young had a stroke, which left a blood clot on his brain. When AC/DC reunited at the start of April to begin a month of rehearsals, in the lead-up to new album recording sessions, Malcolm discovered he couldn’t play. At least, he couldn’t play like he used to play.”
As previously reported, Billboard states that insiders claim here’s no truth to the rumors. However, the band, their management and the their current label, Columbia Records, have chosen not to comment on the matter.
Sebastian Bach has released a lyric video for, Taking Back Tomorrow, which is on the singer’s forthcoming album called, Give ‘Em Hell, out April 22nd.
Watch the video below.
Bach previously released a video for the song, Temptation, which can be viewed here.
Watch an EPK for Give ‘Em Hell below.
Give ‘Em Hell track listing:
1. Hell Inside My Head
2. Harmony
3. All My Friends Are Dead
4. Temptation
5. Push Away
6. Dominator
7. Had Enough
8. Gun To A Knife Fight
9. Rock N Roll Is A Vicious Game
10. Taking Back Tomorrow
11. Disengaged
12. Forget You
