Rock Report January 25th, 2012
Click here to listen to the Rock Report Podcast
Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival is back for its fifth year, and is proud to announce this summer's artists. The main stage headlining slot will be occupied by SLIPKNOT. Also on the package will be SLAYER and then a major special guest (rumored to be MOTÖRHEAD) will be playing in the third slot, the details of which will be announced on March 5. Rounding out the mainstage will be THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, AS I LAY DYING and ASKING ALEXANDRIA. The accompanying Jägermeister Stage will feature a special headline set by ANTHRAX along with WHITECHAPEL, HIGH ON FIRE and the varying Jägermeister opener. The Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival will make a 26-date trek across the U.S. beginning on June 30 and including a July 21st Chicago, IL stop at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre. Pre-sale tickets go on sale Friday, April 6. Ticket info and more and more
A 90-second sample of "Blood And Fire", a brand new song from VAN HALEN, is being streamed online. Meanwhile According to the unofficial VAN HALEN web site Van Halen News Desk, those watching the CBS hit show "CSI" Wednesday night will get to hear clips of two songs off VAN HALEN's forthcoming album, "A Different Kind Of Truth". The songs featured will be the first single, "Tattoo", and the previously unheard "Stay Frosty". More and more and more
Brian Johnson of AC/DC on The Cowhead Show by mrcowhead
AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson hopes the band will return to the studio later this year to begin work on the follow-up to the hugely successful 2008 album "Black Ice". During an appearance on a recent edition of "The Cowhead Show", Johnson revealed that health issues were affecting one of his bandmates, which may have put new album plans temporarily on hold. "One of the boys is a little sick and I can't say anything, but he's getting better," Brian said. "He's doing wonderful. Full recovery fully expected." The singer added, "It's a wonderful thing when we get in a room. Whenever the boys get back together, I get all excited. The boys, after a while, pick the guitars up, Phil [Rudd] will make his way to the drums, Cliff [Williams] will pull his bass out and then all of a sudden this noise comes out and I sit there with just this big old grin on my face." More
By now, you've heard about Kanye West's ego trip at the Big Day Out Festival in Australia, and how Chris Cornell publically cussed Kanye out during Soundgarden's set. Well, now Chris says he never called Kanye out onstage. Cornell Tweeted he has no beef with Kanye, but he did have an issue with the production team behind the festival. He wrote: "My comments were directed solely at inadequate tour production. Kanye had nothing to do with it! We love him." More
AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry spoke with Ben Kaplan from the National Post about singer Steven Tyler's rendition of the US national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner at the AFC championship game this past Sunday. “That song is a bitch,” said Perry, “They should just get one guy, like an opera singer, who delivers the song exactly the same way when you see the American flag or the Canadian flag, so no one messes with it. Why can’t somebody interpret it the way that they want? He’s got a one in a million voice and people are lucky to hear it. Give me a break, he’s a rock singer. He’s using the tools that he’s got.” Perry also confirmed that Aerosmith would be touring this summer and are just now finalizing their latest album. More and more and more
As previously reported and now confimed, metal godfathers BLACK SABBATH have moved writing sessions for their long-awaited reunion album from Los Angeles to Birmingham, England due to guitarist Tony Iommi's treatment for lymphoma. According to a band update, "Sabbath has gone back to where it all started and it’s been just amazing. This is where the writing of the album will be completed. Funny how it all goes full circle sometimes." More and more
(Beware some NSFW language in the following)
SLIPKNOT singer Corey Taylor and percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan unveiled their new film and TV production company, called Living Breathing Films, this past weekend at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The 15-minute "Thy Shalt I" short film, which was created by Crahan and Taylor and which was shown at this past weekend's launch party has been posted online. More
HALESTORM has announced the release of its new album. "The Strange Case Of…" arrives in stores on April 10. The CD’s first single, "Love Bites (So Do I)", impacting radio now. The track — as well as three other highlights from "The Strange Case Of…" are featured on HALESTORM's new EP, "Hello, It's Mz. Hyde", which is now available at all leading digital retailers. More
After a brief arctic slumber, GWAR will be returning to the road this spring on the second leg of their "Return Of The World Maggot Tour". The trek kicks off with a special tribute show for fallen bandmate and friend Cory Smoot, a.k.a. Flattus Maximus, in Richmond, Virginia, at The National Theater on Friday, March 16. All proceeds from the Richmond show will benefit the Smoot Family Fund which has been established to help support Cory's widow and their unborn child. The trek will also include a March 26th stop at Madison’s Majestic Theater. Tickets for fan club members go on sale today, and tickets will go on sale to the general public Friday, January 27 and Saturday, January 28. More
JANE'S ADDICTION recently filmed a video for the song "Underground" off the band's latest album, "The Great Escape Artist". The clean version of the video has premiered online, meanwhile An explicit version of the video will debut at Playboy.com this Friday, January 27 at 9:00 a.m. More
"My Heart Is Broken", the new video from EVANESCENCE has been posted online
ANTHRAX's video for the song "The Devil You Know" has been posted online. Here
FRET12.com recently conducted an interview with ALTERBRIDGE Guitarist MARK TREMONTI.
"World Scum", a brand new song from SOULFLY, is available for free download for 48 hours here
(Beware some NSFW language in the following)
FEAR FACTORY have set "The Industrialist" as the title of their new album, due later this year. More
JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE made its live debut on January 14 at the Rock-n-Roll GangStar Apparel Pre-NAMM Festival & Jam at Delzano's in Redondo Beach. Joining singer Jack Russell for the performance were Derrick Pontier, (former drummer for GREAT WHITE), Dario Seixas (former bassist for FIREHOUSE and the Stephen Pearcy band), Robby Lochner (former guitarist for Rob Halford's band and Cherie Currie) and Evan Haymond (guitar). (Beware some NSFW language in the following)
