Rock Report February 2nd, 2012
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BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward has announced that he will not be able to partake in the recording sessions for the band's new album and subsequent touring activities unless he is presented with a "fair agreement." His official statement on the matter reads as follows: "Dear SABBATH fans, fellow musicians and interested parties, At this time, I would love nothing more than to be able to proceed with the BLACK SABBATH album and tour. However, I am unable to continue unless a 'signable' contract is drawn up; a contract that reflects some dignity and respect toward me as an original member of the band.
"Last year, I worked diligently in good faith with [fellow original SABBATH members] Tony [Iommi, guitar], Ozzy [Osbourne, vocals] and Geezer [Butler, bass]. And on [November 11, 2011, again in good faith, I participated in theL.A.press conference. Several days ago, after nearly a year of trying to negotiate, another 'unsignable' contract was handed to me. Let me say that although this has put me in some kind of holding pattern, I am packed and ready to leave theU.S.forEngland. More importantly, I definitely want to play on the album, and I definitely want to tour with BLACK SABBATH.
"Since the news of Tony's illness, and the understanding that the band would move production to the U.K., I've spent every day getting to or living in a place of readiness to leave. That involves something of a task, and as I've tried to find out what's going on with the U.K. sessions, I've realized that I've been getting 'the cold shoulder' (and, I might add, not for the first time). Feeling somewhat ostracized, my guess is as of today, I will know nothing of what'shappening unless I sign 'the unsignable contract.'
"The place I'm in feels lousy and lonely because as much as I want to play and participate, I also have to stand for something and not sign on. If I sign 'as is,' I stand to lose my rights, dignity and respectability as a rock musician. I believe in freedom and freedom of speech. I grew up in a hard rock/metal band. We stood for something then, and we played from the heart with honesty and sincerity. I am in the spirit of integrity, far from the corporate malady, I am real and honest, fair and compassionate.
"If I'm replaced, I have to face you, the beloved SABBATH fans. I hope you will not hold me responsible for the failure of an original BLACK SABBATH lineup as promoted. Without fault finding, I want to assure everyone that my loyalty to SABBATH is intact.
"So here I am. I lay my truth down before you. I'm good to go IF I get a 'signable' contract.
"I don't want to let anyone down, especially BLACK SABBATH and all the SABBATH fans. You know I love you. It would be a sad day in rock if this current situation fell to the desires of a few.
"My position is not greed-driven. I'm not holding out for a 'big piece' of the action (money) like some kind of blackmail deal. I’d like something that recognizes and is reflective of my contributions to the band, including the reunions that started fourteen years ago.
"After the last tour, I vowed to never again sign on to an unreasonable contract. I want a contract that shows some respect to me and my family, a contract that will honor all that I've brought to BLACK SABBATH since its beginning.
"That's the story so far.
"Stay safe and stay strong.
"I love every single one of you."
According to the unofficial BLACK SABBATH web site Black-Sabbath.com, Universal Music has set a March 19 European release date for the "deluxe-edition" reissues of the first three DIO albums: "Holy Diver", "The Last In Line" and "Sacred Heart". These reissues are being made available worldwide, except in North America, where Warner Bros. owns the rights to the material. More
The first review of VAN HALEN's new album, "A Different Kind Of Truth", has been posted online at Antiquiet — and it's overwhelmingly positive. Critic Johnny Firecloud says that the band's first album with original singer David Lee Roth in 28 years is a "true return" and "screaming triumph," adding, "That old familiar feeling has returned, the unique flare of excitement that comes from a muscle car rhythm section led by a six-string wizard and a singing sexual megalodon with an ego that made Kanye look like a kid flaunting his new Spider-Man underoos — and the pipes to back up the strut." The review acknowledges that much of the album is made up of material pulled from the band's archives, writing, "Thankfully, these songs do not sound like old men putting on the smelly old spandex and combing over the strays. Fresh is the operative word here, a supremely confident swing for the fences in an understandable progression from the obsessively romanticized pre-Hagar era." Read it here and more
Meanwhile VAN HALEN played an hour-long set Wednesday night at a private media showcase at Henson Studios in Hollywood, California. The performance — which served as a launch party for the band's new "A Different Kind Of Truth" album, as well as a warm-up show for their American tour — included renditions of VAN HALEN classics "You Really Got Me", "Runnin' With The Devil", "Unchained" and "Dance The Night Away", along with three three new cuts: the first single, "Tattoo", "The Trouble With Never" and "She's The Woman". More Pictures and more videos
SEVENDUST members John Connolly (guitar) and Vince Hornsby (bass) have joined forces with ALTER BRIDGE/CREED drummer Scott Phillips and guitarist/vocalist Eric "Erock" Friedman in a brand new project called PROJECTED. The band has entered the studio to begin recording its debut release, to be made available later in the year. Connolly describes PROJECTED's musical direction as "not super heavy. . . somewhere closer to FOO FIGHTERS/A PERFECT CIRCLE. It's sorta heavy, just not real metal. I guess. The songs are pretty badass, though." More
DRAGONFORCE will release their fifth studio album, "The Power Within", in the U.K. on April 16 via the band's own Electric Generation Recordings, distributed by Essential Music. The ten-track monster, which will be made available in North America on April 17 through Roadrunner, is the band's first with new singer Marc Hudson in the fold. More
IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson spent three nights earlier this week on board the nuclear submarine HMS Victorious at the Faslane naval base in Scotland. The captain of the boat is believed to have given Bruce a special invitation to come on board and get a taste of what life is like living and working on a nuclear submarine. A self-confessed submarine fan,Dickinsonpreviously toured a Royal Navy submarine base in December 2003. On that occasion, he toured two classes of boat, the 8,000-ton HMS Sovereign, and the 16,000-ton HMS Victorious at Scotland's largest military establishment, the HM Naval Base Clyde near Helensburgh. More
Duff McKagan (VELVET REVOLVER, ex-GUNS N' ROSES) and Sean Kinney (ALICE IN CHAINS) are teaming up for their own radio show. Details as to when and where this will air won't be announced for a while, but they'd like to get you involved. The guys will be doing a segment where they'll answer questions submitted by fans. What they need is for you to e-mail them a brief question about anything: music, movies, food, travel, advice, or even their mutual disdain for milk. They are looking for anything that will get a little conversation going, and also answer the burning questions you've been dying to ask. So keep it short and to the point, include your name, and e-mail them today at askseanandduff@gmail.com More
DISTURBED frontman David Draiman has posted the following message on Twitlonger.com, a related Twitter site that allows one to send tweets that require more than 140 characters: "It never ceases to amaze me the lengths that people will go to just to try and get you attention for a brief moment. The computer has become a wonderful and terrible instrument all at once. Within the Internet world, you can be anyone you want to be; the only problem is people often lose touch with themselves and who they really are, and become obsessed with these fantastic personas they try to create online. It's escapist; and while getting away from reality every once in a while can do a person some good, never grounding yourself in reality [isn't] good either. The even more comical ones are the grown adults who become like children; poking at a beehive with a stick, hoping and praying that they will elicit a reaction, and wearing it like a badge of courage that they eagerly foward to their little groups of common Internet junkies, so impressed with themselves that they think they broke through some ficticious wall or actually got someone's attention. To all of you pathetic, I-cannot-communicate-with-real-people, still-living-at-home-with-your-parents, can't-get-a-rise-unless-you-get-a-rise, pathetic, troll-like excuses for normal human beings out there; honestly, step away from the keyboard, go outside, get a real job, find someone to love you (if you can), and wake the f*** up. You are worth nothing more than a momentary chuckle, and then your stupidity is simply erased, stands for nothing, and accomplishes... nothing. You're a momentary distraction, if anything. Like a fart that is blown away by the breeze." More
For the first time in its 11 year run, American Idol has a RUSH sighting - fittingly enough on Rush Day 2/1/12. American Idol continued in Portland, Oregon this week and daring contestant David Weed tried to get a 'ticket to Hollywood' by covering the Rush classic 'Tom Sawyer'. Unfortunately, he didn't impress the judges - but Randy Jackson did have a nice thing to say about Geddy Lee.
Also appearing on the show was 22-year-old Boston student Naomi Gillies, who sang an AEROSMITH song — "Cryin'", from the band's 1993 album "Get A Grip". "American Idol" co-judge Steven Tyler, who also happens to be AEROSMITH's frontman, called Gillies' version "nice" and "different," adding that he "loved" her voice before sending her on to the next round.
The new Kia Motors 60-second commercial set to air during the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl has been released. The spot featurescVictoria's Secret Angel Adriana Lima, MÖTLEY CRÜE, and mixed martial arts legend Chuck Liddell.
Meanwhile The Cult’s "She Sells Sanctuary" will be featured this Sunday as a mashup in one of Budweiser's Super Bowl commercials. Details: Here
The video for "Nothin's Gonna Stop Us", the first new song in six years from reunited British rockers THE DARKNESS has been posted online. View it here
SCORPIONS performed on the January 30 edition of "TV Total", a German late-night television comedy talk show. View here and here
