Updated 8/30/10 (Scroll down for sum sweeeet vids!!)
CORNELL INTERVIEW
The new issue of Spin magazine features a SOUNDGARDEN cover story in which the four members of the reunited Seattle grunge legends discuss their reasons for coming back after a 13-year absence and their future plans. A couple of excerpts from the article follow.
On SOUNDGARDEN's split and eventual reunion:
Chris Cornell (vocals): "The one thing about SOUNDGARDEN most people don't get is that we always got along. We drank, and any band that drinks is going to have chaos, but we never had that internal negativity that usually spells the obvious reasons a band breaks up."
"A lot of times bands reform, and people have changed in ways that might be negative, and you're just fighting to be able to play the music with some degree of efficiency. We're not that."
On Cornell's New Year's Eve tweet — "The 12-year break is over and school is back in session. Sign up now. Knights of the Soundtable ride again!" — that was widely misinterpreted as an announcement of the band's reformation:
Kim Thayil (guitar): "We're not the Knights of the Soundtable, that was our fan club. We were just re-upping it with the new website. But the rumors generated offers. The demand was overwhelming. I wouldn't say we acquiesced, but we kind of warmed to the idea."
On the possibility of SOUNDGARDEN writing new music:
Chris Cornell: "It would be exciting to record one song, to hear how SOUNDGARDEN-ish that might be this much time later. But for me, it's been more of a trip relearning the songs and playing them together. Some of the songs we're approaching we've never played live."
On Cornell's 2009 solo album, "Scream", which bitterly divided fans over its urban pop sound:
Chris Cornell: "It felt natural to me. I had a good time doing it, and the only obstacle really was the perception of it. And perception is something I never spent too much time worrying about."
FFDP on KIMMEL
Los Angeles metallers FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH performed the songs "Bad Company" (a cover of the track originally done by the group of the same name) and "Hard To See" on the Tuesday, August 17 episode of ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" (which actually aired the morning of Wednesday, August 18). Watch footage of the performance below.
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's version of "Bad Company" appears on their 2009 sophomore album, "War Is The Answer".
The Pulse of Radio recently caught up with singer Ivan Moody, who talked about how FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH first started doing the song. "On the first album, we were out playing and they started extending our sets," he said. "So we were like, 'You know what? Let's do a cover.' But we did want something that we thought we could perfect as well as enhance. So we're sifting through all these tunes and 'Bad Company' is one that came up, and we just started playing it, and it just felt so natural to us, and it gave us a chance to connect with some older music that we have an appreciation for."
BLS NEW ALBUM HIT'S NUMBER 4!
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's new album, "Order Of The Black", sold around 33,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 4.
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's previous album, "Shot to Hell", opened with 32,000 units to land at No. 21. This was less than the 45,000 copies shifted by BLS's "Mafia" (Artemis) back in March 2005 to debut at No. 15.
"Order Of The Black" was released in North America via E1 Music. The CD features four unique covers designed by Zakk Wylde himself — one for each territory: North America, Europe, Asia and Australia/New Zealand.
GREAT WHITE SINGER HAS SURGERY ON BOWELS
Jack Russell, lead singer of the multi-platinum and Grammy-nominated rock band GREAT WHITE, is recovering from major surgery after suffering a perforated bowel (a medical emergency in which a hole in the bowel opens to allow its contents to empty into the rest of the abdominal cavity). The surgery left Russell with a colostomy bag. Doctors are confident that this procedure is temporary. Russell remains hospitalized in Southern California, and his condition is improving.
"It was touch-and-go for about 48 hours whether or not he was going to live," manager Obi Steinman said. "He's been in the hospital for several days, and he's doing a lot better."
Russell is the singer behind such hits as "Once Bitten Twice Shy", "Rock Me", "Angel" and "Save All Your Love". He faces another operation, but he was in good spirits today. "I've felt better, but I've felt a hell of a lot worse," he said in a statement. "Nothing is going to keep me down. This whole thing definitely makes me appreciate life more than I ever have."
Russell is expected to recover in six to eight weeks.
Singer Terry Ilous of XYZ has stepped in to replace Russell on lead vocals.
GREAT WHITE continues to receive positive feedback from audiences and promoters from its three shows in Southern California
this past weekend.
The remaining dates on GREAT WHITE's 25th-anniversary tour will go on as scheduled, and can be viewed at GreatWhiteRocks.com.
The GREAT WHITE family extends its thanks to the entire GREAT WHITE fan community and appreciates prayers and well wishes as Russell recovers.
On September 11 at the Stockholm Rock Out festival in Stockholm, Sweden, GREAT WHITE will play a one-time-only European show with the legendary singer Paul Shortino (QUIET RIOT, ROUGH CUTT and the recently reunited KING KOBRA).
Low-quality video footage of GREAT WHITE's August 12, 2010 performance at the Brixton in Redondo Beach, California with Terry Ilous of XYZ on vocals can be viewed below.
GREAT WHITE released its latest album, "Rising", in North America in April 2009 via Shrapnel Records. The CD was issued in Europe on March 13, 2009 through Frontiers Records.
Since reuniting in January 2007 to perform a benefit concert, GREAT WHITE has moved forward with the successful release in the summer of the same year of their return album "Back To The Rhythm", a record which was hailed by critics and fans as a return to the heydays of the band. After a world tour that celebrated the first 25 years of GREAT WHITE and that brought them for 14 concerts to Europe, bass player Sean McNabb opted out and was replaced by Scott Snyder (ex-RAMOS, ACCOMPLICE).
GREAT WHITE is:
Jack Russell - vocals
Michael Lardie - guitars, keyboards
Mark Kendall - guitars
Scott Snyder - bass
Audie Desbrow - drums
STONE SOUR "SAY YOU'LL HAUNT ME" VIDEO
DISTURBED "ASYLUM" PRE-ORDER TO INCLUDE DOCUMENTARY
Chicago hard rockers DISTURBED have announced a special pre-order of their new album, "Asylum", due on August 31 via Reprise Records.
As a special gift to fans, the four-piece has created the documentary "Decade of Disturbed". The 60-plus-minute film candidly captures the band's ten-year history, with extensive behind-the-scenes and never-before-seen footage.
"Decade Of Disturbed" will be included with every purchase of "Asylum" as a thank-you from the band.
The "Asylum" limited-edition CD/DVD pre-order comes with the full album, including two bonus tracks (live recordings of "Down With The Sickness" and "Stricken"), expanded artwork, a DVD with the "Decade Of Disturbed" documentary plus nine "Disturbed Dissected" exclusive instrument video instuctionals, and an exclusive double-sided poster with guitar tabs. It is available only through Disturbed1.com.
The iTunes LP version of "Asylum" is also available to pre-order now. This version also includes a download featuring the "Decade of Disturbed" documentary, two bonus tracks (live recordings of "Down With The Sickness" and "Stricken"), an additional exclusive bonus track ("Leave It Alone"), and two "Disturbed Dissected" exclusive instrument video instructionals.
"Another Way to Die", the first single off "Asylum", is a No. 1 hit at Active Rock radio. This is the highest Billboard Active Rock debut in band's history and the fastest No. 1 for the band on Billboard's Active Rock chart in just four weeks. It is also the fastest No. 1 on Billboard's Active Rock chart in over three years.
"Another Way to Die" is DISTURBED's seventh No. 1 single on Billboard's Active Rock chart. They are tied with METALLICA for the third most No. 1s on the Active Rock chart.
DISTURBED recently tapped Roboshobo (a.k.a. Robert Schober; METALLICA, MASTODON, DEFTONES) to direct the video for the song "Asylum".
DISTURBED previously worked with Roboshobo on the clip for "Another Way To Die".
As with "Indestructible", DISTURBED self-produced "Asylum", which the band began writing in September 2009 and recording in February of this year. Vocalist David Draiman describes it as "still identifiably DISTURBED, but showing more maturation. We feel this is one of the strongest bodies of work we've ever put together. It definitely goes in familiar areas, but with new levels of precision and skill."
Lyrically, Draiman says, the themes "range from very personal and introspective, to the political and provocative. What would you expect? No songs about puppy dogs or rainbows here."
"We want this record to be a shining example of how the years have made us stronger," Draiman says. "We want it to be an album that helps people get through their own trials and tribulations, as always."
"Asylum" track listing:
01. Remnants
02. Asylum
03. The Infection
04. Warrior
05. Another Way To Die
06. Never Again
07. The Animal
08. Crucified
09. Serpentine
10. My Child
11. Sacrifice
12. Innocence
DISTURBED will headline the first annual Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival in North America this summer. Other main-stage acts include AVENGED SEVENFOLD, STONE SOUR and HALESTORM. The potent rock lineup for the touring music and lifestyle jaunt also features performances from Jägermeister Second Stage headliners HELLYEAH, as well as AIRBOURNE, HAIL THE VILLAIN, NEW MEDICINE and the Jägermeister Battle of The Bands Winner in each city. The 36-date tour launches August 17 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and will visit arenas and amphitheatres across North America before wrapping October 4 in Madison, Wisconsin.
KORN LIVE: THE ENCOUNTER
DISTURBED - ANOTHER WAY TO DIE
NEW FFDP VID
DIO MEMORIAL T SHIRT AVAILABLE
Legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL, RAINBOW, ELF) was finally laid to rest on June 1, 2010 at 3:33 p.m. at Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills, California. Ronnie was carried to his final resting place by his friends, Vinny Appice, Geezer Butler, Craig Goldy, Steve Mignardi, Scott Warren and Simon Wright.
For all the Ronnie James Dio fans that were unable to attend his memorial service on May 30, you can now make a $35.00 donation to the "Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund" and get the special Dio memorial package which includes a T-shirt (pictured below), the memorial booklet and the memorial button. The shirts come in the following sizes: M, L, XL, 2XL and 3XL. California residents, please add .0975% sales tax. Shipping for the USA, Canada and Mexico is $10.50, shipping for the rest of the world is $15.00. You can pay via PayPal on RonnieJamesDio.com or you can send cash, check or money order to: The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund, 12400 Ventura Blbd. #837, Studio City, CA 91604 USA. Please include your shirt size when ordering on PayPal or sending a check!
The Ronnie James Dio "Stand Up And Shout" Cancer Fund mission statement:
The "Stand Up And Shout" Cancer Fund was formed to bring awareness and education about cancer with the understanding that cancer screening and prevention is of vital importance in avoiding this deadly disease that robs families of their loved ones.
The philosophy stems from the notion that "Knowledge Equals Power." Cancer screening allows people to effectively plan strategies to deal with the disease early on and affords a better chance to overcome the cancer.
The fund is committed to providing free cancer screening programs and testing to all people regardless of their ability to pay.
The foundation will support community outreach programs and help provide the necessary equipment and personnel to test and screen people for cancer.
The fund also provides financial support to those individuals and families afflicted with cancer that cannot access treatment due to the overwhelming financial burden of medical treatments.
* The fund is committed to the early detection and prevention of cancer through facilitating access to medical screening and medical educational programs.
* The fund supports programs designed to integrate medical knowledge into local communities such as cancer screening programs, education on nutrition in cancer prevention, exercise and overall wellness.
* The goal of the fund is to reduce the risk of developing life threatening cancers by offering access to preventative medical services.
* Furthering the commitment for patients to access to quality medical care related to cancer, the fund seeks to assist families burdened by the cost of caring for loved ones with cancer.
