FAMED PRODUCER ANDY JOHNS DEAD AT THE AGE OF 61

Gary Graff of Billboard reports: Andy Johns, the veteran producer and engineer who worked on classic albums by Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Van Halen and many others, has died at the age of 61. The news was confirmed to Billboard.biz by guitarist Stacy Blades, who was working on an untitled project with […]

N.Y. PAPER ALLEGES THAT RICHIE SAMBORA WAS “PUSHED” OFF THE BON JOVI TOUR

The New York Post’s Page Six reports: Richie Sambora didn’t jump — he was pushed, sources say. The hard-partying Bon Jovi guitarist left the band over “personal issues,” the group announced on its Web site this week. He was replaced at Tuesday night’s show in Calgary, Canada, by Theofilos “Phil X” Xenidis, who also filled […]

SLAYER’S TOM ARAYA SAYS THAT GUITARIST JEFF HANNEMAN IS STILL A MEMBER OF THE BAND

Slayer frontman Tom Araya insists that guitarist Jeff Hanneman is still a member of the band and that he hopes he is working on new music. The frontman suggests that speculation over Exodus’ Gary Holt joining full-time has been fueled by the band’s internal communication problems. Slayer’s Kerry King recently said he’d be “okay” if […]

GEOFF TATE’S QUEENSRYCHE UPLOADS NEW SINGLE FOR STREAMING

Geoff Tate’s version of Queenryche has issued a new single called Cold from their forthcoming album Frequency Unknown, due for release on April 23 through Deadline Music/Cleopatra. Listen to it below. Frequency Unknown track listing: 1. When Lightning Strikes 2. Running Backwards 3. Fallen 4. Life Without You 5. In The Hands Of God 6. […]