The version of Queensryche fronted by Todd La Torre have released their first track with the new vocalist called Redemption. Hear it below.
The band, who fired singer Geoff Tate last year, will release their next album on June 10th via Century Media.
Bassist Eddie Jackson recently said, “Queensryche is excited to begin writing this next chapter in our career with Century Media. We are pleased to call them partners on this journey. We are also thankful for all of the fans who have supported us from day one and helped us to get where we are today.”
Tate has formed his own version of Queensryche following a court ruling that allows both parties to use the name until a final decision in November. His band will play 1988 classic album Operation: Mindcrime in full on tour in April in the US, while La Torre’s version of the band tour the UK.
Sebastian Bach has posted a video for 18 & Life taken from the singer’s new live CD/DVD package ABachalypse Now, which will be released in North America on March 27th. Watch the clip below.
Abachalypse Now track listing:
CD1 – Sebastian Bach — Live at Hellfest, France 2012
Slave to the Grind
Kicking & Screaming
Here I Am
Big Guns
Piece of Me
18 & Life
American Metalhead
Monkey Business
I Remember You
Youth Gone Wild
CD2 – Sebastian Bach — Live at Nokia, Los Angeles CA 2012
Big Guns
(Love Is) a Bitch Slap
Piece of Me; 18 & Life
American Metal Head
Monkey Business
I Remember You
TunnelVision
Youth Gone Wild
DVD Contents:
Live at Hellfest, France 2012
Slave to the Grind
Kicking & Screaming
Here I Am
Big Guns
Piece of Me
18 & Life
American Metalhead
Monkey Business
I Remember You
Youth Gone Wild
Live at Nokia, Los Angeles CA 2012
Big Guns
(Love Is) a Bitch Slap
Piece of Me; 18 & Life
American Metal Head
Monkey Business
I Remember You
TunnelVision
Youth Gone Wild
Live at Graspop, Belgium
Kicking & Screaming
Dirty Power
Here I Am
Big Guns
18 & Life
American Metalhead
Monkey Business
I Remember You
TunnelVision
Airbourne, who’s third album, Black Dog Barking, will be released on May 21st through Roadrunner Records, has released their first single. The tune called Live It Up can be heard below.
The band says, “A lot of thought and effort has gone into this record not only by the band, but by the production crew who worked countless hours, seven days a week, even through Christmas and New Year’s Eve to achieve the best possible performances, backed by real undying tones. Now we’re handing it over to you… so crank it up, crack a beer and stick some rock ‘n’ roll in your ear!”
Inspired by the likes of Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, AC/DC and Motorhead, Airbourne has been winning fans since 2003 with their high-energy, whiplash-inducing, workingman’s rock ‘n’ roll. Their first album Runnin’ Wild was named Best Debut Album at the 2008 Metal Hammer Golden Gods awards.
Hailing from Warrnambool, a small drinking town on the southwestern coast of Victoria, Australia, Airbourne — vocalist/lead guitarist Joel O’Keeffe, drummer Ryan O’Keeffe, guitarist David Roads, and bassist Justin Street — has gained an immense following with their explosive live shows and main stage festival appearances including a headliner spot at Wacken 2011, Rock Am Ring/Park (Germany) and Download (UK).
The Poison rocker — and lifelong road warrior — has put his shocking elimination from All Star Celebrity Apprentice in the rearview mirror and moved on to an even more personal project: Travel Channel’s Rock My RV.
Michaels, who turned 50 last week, has been leading a team of top designers as they broken down campers into over-the-top mobile mansions for the new series, premiering May 26th.
“There’s very few shows that deal with what I have loved to do since I was a child,” he says. “My whole life — and I have got all the baby pictures to prove it — I have traveled in RVs. I have been in a camper not only for my childhood, but for the last 26 years of my professional life. That is all I have known.
Michaels shared more with The Post during an exclusive visit to the set in Northridge, California.
Q: Can you put a dollar figure on what these custom jobs are worth?
Bret Michaels: I would say it’s a minimum $100,000 improvement. They would almost, in some cases — if they had to pay for it — be able to buy a new RV.
Q: So why bother reconditioning them then?
Bret Michaels: The owners are in love with them. There’s sentimental value. A new motor home can cost $250,000 and a lot of people don’t have that kind of money. So they write to us and we go “This is an interesting story.” The guy we are doing today is called The Sausage King. He helped all those firefighters in Colorado Springs. He has a business called Bite Me Sausage but he ran out of money.
Q: You have a new CD coming out. Will your songs be featured on the show?
Bret Michaels: Yes! It’s music from throughout my career. Mostly Bret Michaels stuff, but some from the Poison catalog. Luckily we were one of the bands that held on to the publishing rights. In my contract — like Rock of Love or any show I do — even Apprentice — I always put my music in the show.
Q: You have been doing a lot of TV lately.
Bret Michaels: I love to do TV, provided that it is something I have a true interest in. I have had to turn down a lot of stuff that is technically great and probably the right thing to do, but wouldn’t work for me.
Q: Like Dancing with The Stars?
Bret Michaels: Dancing with The Stars is fantastic. They’ve hinted around for years. I think it is a great show, but I wouldn’t do it. First of all, I can’t dance my way out of a paper bag!
Q: What about scripted TV?
Bret Michaels: I would love to — but my acting skills are very limited. If you said to me “I need you to deliver these lines…” Probably not my forte. I have no learned acting skills. I have been asked to do several things. With really good actors… There is such a natural skill to being able to act natural when there are all these people around watching. For me, reality seems best.
Q: Has Simon Cowell called you yet to be a judge on X Factor?
Bret Michaels: No. And he damn well should! I will tell you now, with all those show.. I have said “If you ever need my expertise for a music show, I played at Dutch’s Bar & Grill and it was so small they had to move the pool table out of the way.” I was my own roadie. I lived it long before there was the internet, so I can give real advice.
Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted’s new band, Newsted has announced some North American tour dates.
Newsted tour dates:
Apr. 19 – Red House – Walnut Creek, CA
Apr. 23 – San Jose Rock Shop – San Jose, CA
Apr. 24 – The Starline – Fresno, CA
Apr. 26 – The Alley – Sparks, NV
Apr. 27 – Ace of Spades – Sacramento, CA
May 1 – The Roxy – Los Angeles, CA
May 3 – Vinyl – Las Vegas, NV
May 4 – KUPD Ufiesta – Mesa, AZ
May 15 – Planet Rock – Battle Creek, MI
May 17 – The Crofoot – Pontiac, MI
May 18 – Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL
May 21 – Highline Ballroom – New York, NY
May 22 – The Middle East Downstairs – Cambridge, MA
May 23 – The Stone Pony – Asbury Park, NJ
Last week Newsted announced that Staind guitarist Mike Mushok had joined the band.
Slayer’s Kerry King has implied that the band could move on without guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who has been sidelined for two years after sustaining a near-fatal spider bite.
The guitarists haven’t spoken to each other in some time, leading King to wonder whether Hanneman has any intention of rejoining the band. With two songs underway for their next album, King reveals he’d be comfortable with stand-in man Gary Holt of Exodus making his presence more permanent.
That could leave Slayer facing the future with just two founding members remaining after they dropped drummer Dave Lombardo for their Australian tour following a contractual dispute. Temporary replacement Jon Dette has already discussed the chances of his return becoming a full-time commitment.
King tells Metal Obsession, “I don’t have an update – I haven’t seen Jeff in forever. He’s always been a recluse, and he’s even been more of a recluse since he’s not going on tour with us. Our manager talks to him from time to time and sees him in LA just randomly. But I’m far from LA, so I’m not in that loop.”
Hanneman could be on the road with Slayer if he wanted to be, King suggests, “He can do anything in life – he could be hanging here having a good time with us.” But he accepts a full-power show might not be forthcoming, “He can probably play South Of Heaven, but he’s not gonna be playing Jihad, you know what I mean?”
The band plan to mix the tracks they’ve already recorded then continue with work on the rest of the album over the summer – and King believes it could easily be completed without Hanneman’s input. “It’s just all my stuff for now,” he says. “I did that just in case; I don’t know what Jeff’s intentions are. So I wanted to have Slayer covered in case he doesn’t come to the party. If he comes to the party, then we’ve got tons of songs.”
Meanwhile, if Holt’s position were to become permanent, that wouldn’t present a problem. “I think Gary is in for the long haul,” says King. “I haven’t really discussed it with him. But he keeps his schedule free when he knows we’re on tour.
“If Jeff all of a sudden came back in June, we would probably pay Gary for freeing up his time. I don’t wanna treat somebody that’s bailed us out for two years badly. But if Gary played with us for ever? I’m okay with that.”
