Metal News - METAL 101

ROB ZOMBIE To Record New Music Next Week

2010-06-28T15:39:01.000Z

Rob will head into the studio next week to record several new tracks with his current touring band, which includes guitarist John 5 (ex-MARILYN MANSON), bassist Piggy D. (ex-WEDNESDAY 13) and drummer Joey Jordison (SLIPKNOT, MURDERDOLLS). Zombie states, "These are some of the fastest, heaviest tracks we have recorded in a long, long time. These songs will available in September."

VINCE NEIL Busted For DUI

2010-06-28T15:33:42.323Z

According to the web site of the Clark County Detention Center, MÖTLEY CRÜE frontman Vince Neil was arrested last night (Sunday, June 27) in Las Vegas, Nevada on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. He was taken into custody at 11:16 p.m. and is currently in Clark County Jail, where his bail has been set at $2,000.

In a July 2008 interview with The Arizona Republic, Vince was asked if he ever looked at himself in the mirror back in the band's wildest days and said, "I'm pushing things too hard." He replied, "I tried to be sober back then, but it was tough because there was no support system. After I got into the accident in '84 (which left a passenger in Neil's car, HANOI ROCKS drummer Nicholas 'Razzle' Dingley, dead) and I did some jail time, I was ordered by the court to be sober. . . . You have to stop when you want to stop, and back then, I didn't want to stop. I wasn't ever really a drug guy; I just like to drink."

Vince Neil's tell-all book "Tattoos & Tequila", will be released on September 23 via New York's Grand Central Publishing.

Neil says the "Tattoos & Tequila" book is the perfect follow-up to the MÖTLEY CRÜE book "The Dirt" because he didn't talk much about himself in that, and this new one is all him.

Neil has just released his new solo CD, also titled "Tattoos & Tequila" (Eleven Seven Music). It is a compilation of genre-defining hits that have been given the Vince Neil rock renewal treatment. Neil's refreshed collection of classics consists of nine hand-picked, influential covers including "No Feelings" (SEX PISTOLS), "Nobody's Fault" (AEROSMITH), "Bitch Is Back" (ELTON JOHN), "Viva Las Vegas" (ELVIS PRESLEY), "He's A Whore" (CHEAP TRICK), "Long Cool Woman" (THE HOLLIES), "Another Piece of Meat" (SCORPIONS), "Who'll Stop the Rain" (CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL), "AC/DC" (THE SWEET) and two new tracks — "Tattoos & Tequila", the hard-rocking first single, and Another Bad Day", which was written by Nikki Sixx and was originally to be included on MÖTLEY CRÜE's 2000 release "New Tattoo".

Tesla's Frank Hannon Putting Finishing Touches On 'Gypsy Highway'

2010-06-27T22:42:09.830Z

Tesla guitarist Frank Hannon has revealed that he is putting the final touches on his acoustic solo album 'Gypsy Highway'. Hannon plans to release the new CD next month.

Frank Hannon states, "I'm writing this to let you know that for the past 6 months I have been working diligently in my home studio putting together a brand new album of songs. The album is now in the final stages and I am ready to tell you all about it. I plan to release it next month.

The name of the album is "Gypsy Highway" and it is an acoustic collection of songs that are very close to my heart...sort of like autobiographical stories that I wrote and sang completely on my own with acoustic guitar. The title track "Gypsy Highway" is my story of leaving on the road and flying out of Tusla Oklahoma last month from Rocklahoma. I mention Willie Nelson in the song because it seems that "On the road again..." always echos thru my head when I leave home. As a kid, I loved some of the artist my Mom was into like Kris Kristofferson, Wille Nelson, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash was my first concert ever. The "storytelling" style of songwriting has always been fascinating to me, like the song "Me and Bobby McGee" for example. Singing is a whole another world for me and it took me a long time to find my voice as a lead singer and feel comfortable exposing my soul that way.

On my new upcoming album "Gypsy Highway", I wrote, sang and played all the instruments and it is definitely an "acoustic" type album, that shares a lot of my roots and life experiences from the heart. On this new album I play acoustic and electric guitars dobro slide, banjo, fretless bass, jembe drums, drums and percussion, flute, cello, piano and organ, lead vocals and background harmonies. I engineered the album while playing as well which could get real tricky at times pushing the "record" button. At a young age I learned to overdub music on a 4 track cassette deck, and so composing all the instruments together on an album actually wasn't too hard. It's like putting together puzzle pieces and make it fit to sound as good as you can. Robbie Furiosi also played some guest drums on 3 of the songs. So after 6 months of this work, "Gypsy Highway" is now DONE!!!

Here are a few of the song titles and descriptions: "The Hills of California" is a song/story about the impact of the Sierra mountains on my childhood, going camping and learning to swim in the river. It has a tribal feel to it with the Jembe drum and a flute solo. This song also has a nylon classical guitar solo.

"After the Rain" is a song about how life and relationships have many storms, but we get thru them and everything is always better after the rain.

"Watch me fall Again" is a song that tells of how I know I'm damn sure ain't perfect, but I try hard to do the right things in this life. It's tough sometimes...

"Sweet Southern Sound" is a song I wrote about my love of "Lynyrd Skynyrd" and southern music. Originally I wrote it in Moon Dog Mane, But I re made it much better here after several of you guys told you like the song.

These are just a few, but there are 14 songs on the album, yes 14!! And I love them all. The album will be released in about a month. I hope you guys like it, but honestly I can't worry about that because it's as real as I can get. I wanted to make this album 100% real from my heart.

Stay tuned for more to come soon from the "Gypsy Highway

Bret Michaels' New Album 'Custom Built' Available July 6th

2010-06-27T22:41:01.958Z

'Custom Built', the brand new solo album from Poison's Bret Michaels, will be released July 6th! The brand new CD can be previewed at Amazon.com.

'Custom Built' features the single 'Nothing To Lose' (with Miley Cyrus), a remake of Sublime's hit song 'What I Got', a rootsy version of 'Every Rose Has It's Thorn', the theme song to the upcoming VH1 show "Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It" titled 'Riding Against The Wind' and much more! The new album will be available from Target, Best Buy, iTunes, Yahoo, Napster and anywhere else you buy digital music!

You can also pick up your copy of the album by visiting http://www.bretmichaels.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=30600.

Ozzy Osbourne: 25 Things You Don't Know About Me

2010-06-27T22:38:58.945Z

Ozzy Osbourne, 61 (his latest album, Scream, is out now) shares the 25 things you don't know about him with UsMagazine.com. Known as the "Godfather of Heavy Metal," Ozzy Osbourne (born John Michael Osbourne) has paved the way for Heavy Metal bands to come.

1. I hate being late.

2. I'm not much of a cook, but I make the best french fries.

3. I can't stand getting into arguments or being around people who argue all the time.

4. I like to shower at least twice a day.

5. I detest anchovies.

6. I love the music of Johnny Cash.

7. I'm a bit of a hypochondriac.

8. My favorite movie is Monty Python's Life of Brian.

9. I've never ever watched myself on The Osbournes.

10. Boats are my least favorite form of transportation.

11. My guilty pleasure is flying by private plane.

12. I do not enjoy shopping with Sharon.

13. I resisted getting an iPod for years, but now I don't know what I'd do without one.

14. Sometimes I wish I could have alcohol, but I know that's no longer an option for me.

15. I cannot stand organized religion.

16. I love black licorice.

17. I'm addicted to exercise since I hate feeling overweight.

18. I have more women friends than men friends.

19. I recorded my last two albums in my home studio.

20. I'm fascinated by conspiracy theories.

21. I spend most of my free time painting.

22. I love my dogs more than I like most people.

23. My favorite city is Portofino, Italy.

24. My son, Jack, has been filming a documentary about me for the last two years.

25. Most people find it hard to believe, but I suffer from terrible stage fright.

Beholder UK Tour September 2010

2010-06-27T09:04:41.105Z

Hey there Metal Heads... Beholder hit the road in September for their first ever UK Tour!! We're spreading the Lurrve all over the UK so get yerselves to one of the shows and find out what 1000s of other Metal Fans already have... The Beholder is the future of British Metal!!!!

Mea Metal!!!

KREATOR: 'Destroy What Destroys You' Video Released

2010-06-25T09:25:29.638Z

"Destroy What Destroys You", the new video from German thrashers KREATOR, can be viewed below. The performance footage for the clip was shot during the band's on October 17, 2009 show with EXODUS at Espacio Broadway in Santiago, Chile. The video was directed by Chilean video artist Carlos Toro, who has previously worked with VADER, MERCENARY and LACRIMOSA. Lyrically, the track is a homage to German protest singer Rio Reiser.

KREATOR will re-release its latest studio album, "Hordes Of Chaos", as a high-quality box set via SPV/Steamhammer on the following dates:

Germany: July 9
Rest Of Europe: July 12
USA: August 10

Entitled "Hordes Of Chaos - Ultra Riot", the box set includes the "Hordes Of Chaos" album as a digipak with a new cover, a new booklet (including new liner notes by Joel McIver) and two enhanced videos. The bonus CD comes in a cardboard sleeve and contains two cover versions (of songs by the German band SLIME and BAD RELIGION) and five previously unreleased demo songs. On top of that, the box set contains a high-quality 12 pages photobook by famous photographer Harald Hoffmann, a full-color poster of the album cover, a full-color photocard, a full-color sticker and a voucher for the KREATOR merchandise shop at www.kreator-terrorzone.de. All this comes for a very reasonable price.

Track listing and additional content info follows below.

Digipak (incl. new cover, new booklet with liner notes from Joel McIver)

01. Hordes of Chaos (A Necrologue For The Elite)
02. Warcurse
03. Escalation
04. Amok Run
05. Destroy What Destroys You
06. Radical Resistance
07. Absolute Misanthropy
08. To The Afterborn
09. Corpses Of Liberty
10. Demon Prince

Enhanced videos:

11. Hordes Of Chaos
12. Destroy What Destroys You

Bonus CD (cardboard sleeve):

01. Hordes Of Chaos (Demo Version)
02. Radical Resistance (Demo Version)
03. To The Afterborn (Demo Version)
04. World Without Religion (Demo Version of "Escalation" - different arrangement)
05. Amok Run (Demo Version)
06. Alle Gegen Alle (Demo Version) (SLIME cover featuring Nagel and Thees Ulmann)
07. You Are The Government (Demo Version) (BAD RELIGION cover)

plus:

* High-quality 12 pages photobook with unseen photos from the recordings
* Full-color poster
* Full-color photo card
* Full-color sticker
* Voucher for the KREATOR merchandise shop at www.kreator-terrorzone.de

OZZY OSBOURNE: 'Let Me Hear You Scream' Video Released

2010-06-22T16:49:40.791Z

"Let Me Hear You Scream", the new video from OZZY OSBOURNE, can be viewed below. The clip was filmed last month with renowned Swedish director Jonas Åkerlund, who has previously worked with METALLICA, SATYRICON, RAMMSTEIN, MADONNA and THE PRODIGY, among others.

"Scream" — OZZY OSBOURNE's first album in almost three years and 10th studio album overall — is being released today (Tuesday, June 22) in North America via Epic Records. The CD will be issued in Japan on June 23 with the exclusive bonus track "Jump The Moon".

SAMMY HAGAR Working On Autobiography

2010-06-22T16:44:32.010Z

Legendary rocker Sammy Hagar (CHICKENFOOT, ex-VAN HALEN) has revealed to Atlantic City Weekly that he is currently working on an autobiography titled "Sammy Hagar Red". He says, "When you read my family background, you're going to ask 'How did this happen? It's a miracle.' I came from a family in which my father died in the back of a police car when he was 53 years old, drunk on the streets of my hometown of Fontana, California. It was a small steel-mill town where everybody knew everybody else, which made it tough on me, my brother and two sisters. My mom [Gladys] would do ironing and pick fruit to raise four kids. A single mom — that's where the heart and soul comes from. Even though we were poor, we had clean clothes and she gave us values. My mom [who passed away a couple of years ago] was totally uneducated, she only went through eighth grade, but she had heart and soul and creativity. My brother and sisters all have had good lives and no problems, and it's because of my mom. Fontana was rough and tough and nothing was given to you. This is where I came from and can brag a little bit and put a feather in my cap — I came from nothing, zero."

SLIPKNOT's PAUL GRAY Died Of Accidental Morphine Overdose

2010-06-22T16:40:24.613Z

According to DesMoinesRegister.com, SLIPKNOT bass player Paul Gray died of an accidental overdose of morphine and fentanyl, a medical examiner has ruled.

Gray's body was discovered about 10:50 a.m. May 24 by a maintenance worker at TownePlace Suites in Urbandale, Iowa.

A hypodermic needle lay near the bed, and "all kinds of pills" surrounded Gray, who was hunched over in the corner of the room, according to a 911 call.

Polk County Medical Examiner Dr. Gregory Schmunk said today that it was two injected drugs — fentanyl is a synthetic form of morphine — that killed Gray. The pills did not contribute to his death, Schmunk said.

Gray also suffered from significant heart disease, Schmunk said.

Schmunk completed a death certificate on Friday afternoon.

Private funeral services for Gray were held on May 28 in Des Moines, Iowa.

The eight surviving members of SLIPKNOT held a news conference on May 25 at Wells Fargo Arena in the band's native stomping grounds of Des Moines, Iowa to address Gray's death. Also present at the event was Gray's brother Tony and widow Brenna, who spoke briefly at the end of the conference.

"He was everything that was wonderful about this band and about this group of people," Corey Taylor said. "The only way I can sum up Paul Gray is 'love.' Everything he did, he did for everyone around him whether he knew you or not ... and that's what he's left behind for us: absolute love. I will miss him with every fiber of my heart, as will everybody at this table and everyone who knew him. He was the best of us."

"It's very important that everybody on the outside of us understands that Paul Gray was the essence of the band SLIPKNOT. ... Paul was there from the very, very beginning, and none of us would be on the path that we're on now in life or have the sorts of life that we have without him," percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan added. "Paul loved the fans. He was kind of the person in the band that really wanted everybody in the band to always get along and just concentrate on the band. He was a really great friend and a really great person. He's going to be sadly missed, and the world is going to be a different place without him."

"It's very hard for me right now," added drummer Joey Jordison. "I just want to say that I love you, Paul, very much. You'll be sorely missed by the world over."

Sid Wilson, the band's DJ, credited Gray with introducing him to the band, which he described as a family.

"To me, that's the most important thing," Wilson said. "That in everyone he met there was a change in their life. He was so good at giving everyone a different perspective, and I love him for that."

Percussionist Chris Fehn said when Gray called "you just felt good," and he remembered the bass player as giving "the best hugs out of everyone I ever hugged. When he grabbed on to you, you could feel the love he had for you."

Brenna Gray spoke last, mentioning the couple's unborn child while discussing her husband.

"Paul was my husband, an amazing person, and I want people to remember him for that," Brenna said. "And his daughter will remember him for the way he was."

Paul and his wife were reportedly expecting their first child in September.