BornInBlood giving money to deserving metal bands

BornInBlood has issued the following press release:

The online metal community BornInBlood has started to give any money made on the site from donations or advertising to bands that have a genuine need for it.

The idea was announced on the site on the 20th April with a post by the site’s admin Toby
Osbourn [http://borninblood.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8330] and was followed up 9 days later by an announcement that £80 would be given to a band who demonstrated a genuine need for it. [http://www.borninblood.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=8397].

Any metal band with a genuine need or desire for the money is welcome to post their reasoning in the following post [http://www.borninblood.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=8397]. The band that will receive the money will be decided upon once there has been ample time for various bands to get their claim in.

BornInBlood is a small metal community that has always had it’s roots in helping unsigned
metal bands in various ways. The official forum can be found at this address [http://
www.borninblood.co.uk/forum] and the Facebook page can be accessed here [https://
www.facebook.com/pages/BornInBlood/181540738556331]

Contact: Toby Osbourn - toby.osbourn@googlemail.com

 

'Stage-Cam' Footage Of 'Am I Evil?" Performance From 'Big Four' Concert In Indio Posted Online

ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian has uploaded "stage-cam" footage of the "Am I Evil?" jam from this past Saturday's (April 23) "Big Four" concert at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, California. Check it out below.

The all-day festival featured the so-called "Big Four" bands of 1980s thrash metal — METALLICA, SLAYER, ANTHRAX and MEGADETH — sharing the stage in the U.S. for the first time ever, drawing an estimated 50,000 people.

The highly anticipated onstage performance of all four bands at the same time happened near the end of METALLICA's set, between "Enter Sandman" and "Hit The Lights". Members of ANTHRAX, SLAYER and MEGADETH joined METALLICA on stage for a cover of DIAMOND HEAD's "Am I Evil?" before METALLICA ended the night with its perennial set-closer, "Seek And Destroy" from the band's 1983 debut, "Kill 'Em All".

In introducing the members of the other three bands immediately prior to the "Am I Evil?" performance, METALLICA frontman James Hetfield said, "Can you believe it? Thirty years, man [referring to how long each of the 'Big Four' bands has been together. - Ed.]. I don't know how many of you have been around that long, you know?! It doesn't matter; you're here right now to see the 'Big Four,' and we're getting this prepared for a big jam, alright? It's pretty important.

"We just wanna take the time to say 'thank you' to all of you metal fans out there who have supported all the bands — not only the 'Big Four,' but the big however many out there. There's many, many other bands that have been around as long as us, and, unfortunately, broke up because of business or some other crap. There's a lot of great bands out there and we'd like to celebrate all of them, and especially the 'Big Four', getting out here and jamming, and just saying 'thank you' to the world of metal fans for just giving us your support, giving us your heart and giving us your passion, man, 'cause that's what it is for us."

Photos:

* Stephanie Cabral
* PE.com
* Examiner.com
* OC Reloaded
* KPSP-TV

Reviews:

* Stephanie Cabral's Yahoo! Music blog
* MTV.com
* The Hollywood Reporter
* RollingStone.com
* Los Angeles Times
* ARTISTdirect
* Phoenix New Times
* Metal Shop Rocks
* The Desert Sun

METALLICA's setlist was as follows:

01. Creeping Death
02. For Whom the Bell Tolls
03. Fuel
04. Ride the Lightning
05. Fade to Black
06. Cyanide
07. All Nightmare Long
08. Sad But True
09. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
10. Orion
11. One
12. Master of Puppets
13. Blackened
14. Nothing Else Matters
15. Enter Sandman

Encore:

16. Am I Evil? (DIAMOND HEAD cover) (with MEGADETH, ANTHRAX and SLAYER)
17. Hit The Lights
18. Seek And Destroy

The "Big Four" tour first played selected dates in Eastern Europe last summer to an fantastic response, which led to the scheduling of shows this year in the U.S. and other parts of Europe.

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told The Pulse Of Radio the "Big Four" tour idea first came up in 2009. "We were sitting around and we were feeling pretty nostalgic at the time because it was right around the old Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Cleveland, induction thing there," he said. "So as you sit around and talk about your past and whatever, the idea of playing shows with the other, you know, members of the so-called 'Big Four' just came up, and it finally came together just over a year later."
Source: Blabbermouth.net

"Am I Evil?" performance - stage cam:

 "Am I Evil?" performance - official Metallica.com footage (with soundboard audio):

TOM MORELLO To Release 'Union Town' EP

According to The Pulse Of Radio, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist Tom Morello will release a new EP, "Union Town", digitally on May 17 and as a CD and vinyl album on July 19. All profits from "Union Town" will benefit The America Votes Labor Unity Fund via SaveWorkers.org. The disc consists of eight pro-union songs, with Morello saying in a statement, "Unions are a crucial counterweight to the raw corporate greed that torpedoed our economy, threatens our environment and wants to strip away decades of social progress."

Morello played at pro-union rallies in Madison, Wisconsin this past February, where Governor Scott Walker put forward an anti-union bill passed by Republicans.

The title track from the "Union Town" EP is available now at SaveWorkers.org.

Morello will release his third folk-oriented album under the THE NIGHTWATCHMAN name, "World Wide Rebel Songs", late summer via New West Records.

THE NIGHTWATCHMAN is a band name Morello used for two previous solo albums — 2007's "One Man Revolution" and 2008's "The Fabled City".

Morello explained a while back the origin of THE NIGHTWATCHMAN moniker, which started when he first began performing his protest songs in coffeehouses. "I would sign up anonymously, you know," he said. "I didn't want to sign up as Tom Morello and have people, you know, between their mochaccinos clamoring for 'Bulls On Parade'. So I signed up as THE NIGHTWATCHMAN, and it was a moniker that seemed to fit the music that I was writing and playing, and it stuck."

Tom Morello is a founding member and guitarist of the rock bands RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and AUDIOSLAVE. The two bands are responsible for multiple Grammy Awards and a combined 30 million albums sold worldwide. Morello has also received critical acclaim as a solo artist known as THE NIGHTWATCHMAN. Widely celebrated for his unique voice as a master electric guitarist, he is recognized by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the "100 Greatest Guitar Players of All-Time" (#26). He is also one of only two guitarists featured as a playable animated character in the overwhelmingly popular Activision video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.

Tom Morello graduated from Harvard University with honors as a political science major and has been a widely recognized political activist throughout his career. With SYSTEM OF A DOWN's Serj Tankian, Morello formed Axis of Justice, an organization whose purpose is to bring together musicians, music fans, and grassroots political organizations to fight for social justice.
Source: Blabbermouth.net

It's Official: MIKE MANGINI Is New DREAM THEATER Drummer

Mike Mangini, the 48-year-old session artist who has played for ANNIHILATOR, EXTREME, JAMES LABRIE and STEVE VAI, has officially joined DREAM THEATER as the replacement for the recently departed Mike Portnoy.

Commented Mangini: "The day that I got the phone call to be in DREAM THEATER, it took my brain a minute to assemble what was going on, and when it sank in, the feeling was just of tremendous relief.

"It means so much to me, I almost felt like crying a couple of times. [Laughs] I didn't know what to do."

"What it means to me to be part of not only such a legendary band, but this band, is a sense of fulfillment and purpose. I feel like a puzzle piece, and with Mike [Portnoy] in particular, I feel really honored to carry on the torch for him; I'm carrying on his spirit."

Mangini is notorious for his technical prowess and holds three out of four World's Fastest Drummer titles. These include the Fastest Matched grip at 1,247 strokes in 60 seconds; Fastest Hands, which he earned by executing 1,203 single-stroke notes in 60 seconds without drumsticks mallets etc.; Fastest Traditional Grip which he earned by executing 1,126 strokes in 60 seconds; and Fastest Single Stroke Foot record, playing 13,222 hits in 15 minutes and 5,222 hits in five minutes.

Mangini has written two books about his drumming techniques. These books, titled "Rhythm Knowledge", are a practice method for deconstructing and simplifying complex polyrhythms and time signatures.

Mangini joined ANNIHILATOR in 1991 and appeared on the band's "Set The World On Fire" album. He toured with the group in support of the CD until 1994 at which point he was asked to play with the Massachusetts band EXTREME, replacing that group's original drummer Paul Geary.

After EXTREME dissolved in 1996, Mike was informed through drummer Jonathan Mover that guitarist Steve Vai was auditioning drummers for his live band. Mike successfully auditioned for Steve Vai's band and relocated to Los Angeles.

From late 1996 to early 2000, Mangini was the highly regarded drummer of Vai's live ensemble, which also included bassist Philip Bynoe, guitar wizard Mike Keneally and (in 2000) guitarist Dave Weiner. Mike also recorded several drum tracks for Steve's "Fire Garden" and "Ultrazone" albums.

In 2005, Mike accepted a full-time teaching position at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and today he is a prominent faculty member in the school's percussion department.

Portnoy, who co-founded DREAM THEATER more than 20 years ago, abruptly quit the band last summer while on tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD.

He played on AVENGED SEVENFOLD's latest album, "Nightmare", following the death of that band's drummer, Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, and toured with them in late 2010 .

A little more than a month after Portnoy's sudden departure from DREAM THEATER, the band held three days of auditions in New York City. Over an amazing and productive three-day period, the band played, jammed and spoke candidly with seven of the world's greatest drummers, learning about them musically, personally and professionally, and assessing the fit of each drummer's incredible chops with the band's trademark prog-rock sound.

The members of DREAM THEATER have been extremely sensitive to the fact that this is not only a monumental decision in their own lives, but also a critical moment in the lives of their fans around the world. "The departure of our lifelong bandmate and friend was an unexpected and truly heartbreaking blow," said guitarist John Petrucci. "The fact that as a result of that event we'd be introduced to seven infinitely capable and uniquely talented drummers was heartening."

The following seven drummers took part in the DREAM THEATER audition process:

* Aquiles Priester (age 39) (ANGRA, PAUL DI'ANNO)
* Peter Wildoer (age 36) (DARKANE)
* Marco Minnemann (age 40) (KREATOR, NECROPHAGIST, EPHEL DUATH, JOE SATRIANI)
* Virgil Donati (age 52) (PLANET X, SEVEN THE HARDWAY)
* Derek Roddy (age 38) (HATE ETERNAL, NILE, TODAY IS THE DAY)
* Mike Mangini (age 48) (STEVE VAI, EXTREME, ANNIHILATOR)
* Thomas Lang (age 43) (JOHN WETTON, ROBERT FRIPP, GLENN HUGHES)
Source: Blabbermouth.net

STEVEN TYLER's Autobiography: First Review Posted Online

The first review of AEROSMITH frontman and "American Idol" judge Steven Tyler's new autobiography, "Does The Noise In My Head Bother You?", can be found at this location.

A book excerpt is available at Today.MSNBC.MSN.com.

"Does The Noise In My Head Bother You?" is scheduled for release on May 3 as a 400-page hardcover.

"Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?" is the rock memoir to end all rock memoirs — the straight-up, no-holds-barred life of Grammy Award-winning, Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame incductee, and all-around superstar legend Steven Tyler, lead singer of AEROSMITH (and celebrity judge on "American Idol"). This is it — "the unbridled truth, the in-your-face, up-close and prodigious tale of Steven Tyler straight from the horse's lips" — as Tyler tells all, from the early years through the glory days, "All the unexpurgated, brain-jangling tales of debauchery, sex and drugs and transcendence you will ever want to hear."

Commented Tyler: "I've been mythicized, Mick-icized, eulogized and fooligized, I've been Cole-Portered and farmer's-daughtered, I've been Led Zepped and 12-stepped. I'm a rhyming fool and so cool that me, Fritz the Cat, and Mohair Sam are the baddest cats that am. I have so many outrageous stories, too many, and I'm gonna tell 'em all. All the unexpurgated, brain-jangling tales of debauchery, sex and drugs, transcendous and chemical dependence you will ever want to hear."

The son of a classical pianist straight out of the Bronx of old Archie comics, Steven Tyler was born to be a rock star. Weaned on Cole Porter, Nat King Cole, Mick — and his beloved Janis Joplin — Tyler began tearing up the streets and the stage as a teenager before finally meeting his "mutant twin" and legendary partner Joe Perry. In this addictively readable memoir, told in the playful, poetic voice that is uniquely his own, Tyler unabashedly recounts the meteoric rise, fall, and rise of AEROSMITH over the last three decades and riffs on the music that gives it all meaning.

Tyler tells what it's like to be a living legend and the frontman of one of the world's most revered and infamous bands-the debauchery, the money, the notoriety, the fights, the motels and hotels, the elevators, limos, buses and jets, the rehab. He reveals the spiritual side that "gets lost behind the stereotype of the Sex Guy, the Drug Guy, the Demon of Screamin', the Terror of the Tropicana." And he talks about his epic romantic life and his relationship with his four children. As dazzling, bold, and out-on-the-edge as the man himself, "Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?" is an all-access backstage pass into this extraordinary showman's life.

"Does The Noise In My Head Bother You?" traces Tyler's youth in the Bronx, his early music career and influences, his legendary partnership with Joe Perry, the meteoric rise, fall, and rise of AEROSMITH over the last three decades, their music, his epic romantic life, his relationship with his four children (including actress Liv Tyler and actress and author Mia Tyler) life on the road and in the spotlight, the economics of the rock star business — and all the sex, drugs, and rock and roll a reader could ask for.

Tyler spent the last few years working on his book, which he says will be more personal than the material covered in the band 2003 autobiography, "Walk This Way: The Autobiography of Aerosmith".

Commented Tyler: "This is not just my take — this is the unbridled truth, the in-your-face, up-close and prodigious tale of Steven Tyler straight from the horse's lips." Source: Blabbermouth.net

Is BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE 'Only U.K. Metal Band' That Can Fill JUDAS PRIEST's Shoes?

Uber Rock recently conducted an interview with guitarist Michael "Padge" Paget of Welsh metallers BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Uber Rock: With JUDAS PRIEST gearing up for their final tour, speculation from the metal press that IRON MAIDEN's "Final Frontier" album could be their last, how does it feel when BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE is being mentioned as the only U.K. metal band that can fill their mighty shoes?

Paget: Well, that is true to some extent. But we still dream about being the U.K.'s Number 1 band, and it's still a long way away yet. I think that is the prize that every band wants — to be the biggest band in the world.

Uber Rock: You personally enjoy the heavier end of the metal spectrum such as CARCASS and TESTAMENT along with a love of the blues. Do you think we will see a solo project from Michael Padget when the band takes a break, and if so what form would it take?

Paget: Yes. I am working on my album right now. I have seven tracks demoed already, and still working on it at home. It is heavy metal, with chugging riffs, with screaming bluesy metal guitar solos everywhere. It's gonna be great. I hope people like it.

Uber Rock: You were recently due to support IRON MAIDEN at their Japan dates during the recent earthquake. Thankfully, everybody in the BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE camp were lucky to leave unscathed. What were the feelings of the band during the atrocities?

Paget: We got diverted when we were in the air over Taiwan; so we had to stay the night there, and then fly into Japan the next day. They were still having some crazy aftershocks, and driving from the damaged airport we seen huge cracks through the road and stuff. Our crew were in the hotel for the big quake, some of them ran, some accepted their death and waved to people in opposite hotels goodbye. But everyone was safe. We all met up in the hotel lobby and when all your friends are with you things never seem that bad.

Uber Rock: Can you tell us about your gig from Hell as a performer or as a fan?

Paget: As a performer, my gig from hell was in New Jersey somewhere. We played a shithole club years ago with our friends 36 CRAZYFISTS. The stage was low so everybody could see you. The stage was horrible and full of holes...Yep you guessed it, halfway through "4 Words", I found one of these holes with my foot, and the momentum made me fall flat on my face, destroying my guitar, and very badly damaging my ego.

Read the entire interview from Uber Rock. Source: Blabbermouth.net

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH Officially Confirms Bassist's Exit - Apr. 29, 2011

According to The Pulse Of Radio, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH has exclusively given a statement to "Harddrive Radio" about the departure of bassist Matt Snell at the end of last year. Guitarist Zoltan Bathory confirmed that Snell was let go back in December, but also told "Harddrive Radio" why it wasn't made official until now and why he can't speak about the reason for Snell's exit. "You know, we want to concentrate on our record, and that's the most important right now, the third record, so that's why it wasn't really like publicly available information," he said. "As for reasons, we have contracts between each other and the contracts that we have between each other always protect the band members. Like we have a contract with Matt, you know. Word by word the contract says I can't tell you anything that would hurt his career if he goes any further."

A short audio clip of Bathory talking about Matt's split with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH can be found at this location (Real Media).

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH is in Las Vegas right now, recording the follow-up to 2009's "War Is The Answer".

Although flyers announcing an open call for bass players were posted at the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, a management rep for FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH insisted to BLABBERMOUTH.NET on Monday (April 25) that the flyers were not approved by the band and had been removed, although auditions were held.

The new FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH album is expected out in late summer or early fall.
Source: Blabbermouth.net

HAEMORRHAGE: Debut “Amputation Protocol” Online

Relapse Records has issued the following update:

HAEMORRHAGE are currently streaming “Amputation Protocol” from their forthcoming album Hospital Carnage online now via the Decibel Magazine blog. Hospital Carnage, the follow-up to 2006’s Apology For Pathology, is set for a June 6^th international release date and is available for pre-order at this location along with new t-shirt designs. Hospital Carnage will be available on CD, LP and digitally. The deluxe digital version of the album includes bonus tracks and a digital booklet and is available for pre-order through iTunes. The album art, as designed by the band’s guitarist / vocalist Luisma, can also be viewed online here.

HAEMORRHAGE recently debuted the video for Hospital Carnage track “Flesh-Devouring Pandemia” via MetalSucks.net. HAEMORRHAGE has also filmed a video for “Traumaggedon” that will be released shortly. All of the band’s videos will be made available via the new HAEMORRHAGE YouTube page.

HAEMORRHAGE recorded Hospital Carnage at VRS Studios with Samuel Ruiz. The album was mastered by Scott Hull at Visceral Sound.

Updated HAEMORRHAGE news / album release / tour information will be made available at the Relapse Records website: www.RELAPSE.com, the HAEMORRHAGE website: Haemorrhage.es, MySpace page: MySpace.com/Haemorrhage and Facebook.

EXHUMED: Debut First New Track Online

Relapse Records has issued the following update:

EXHUMED has posted a brand new track, “As Hammer To Anvil”, taken from their forthcoming album All Guts, No Glory online via the band’s Facebook and MySpace pages. All Guts, No Glory, the follow-up to 2003’s Anatomy Is Destiny, will see its international release on July 11th on a variety of formats including CD (pre-order), deluxe digital (pre-order), a limited edition 2-disc set that includes a second disc of exclusive bonus tracks (pre-order), single LP vinyl, and limited edition buzzsaw shaped vinyl. Additional information on the deluxe and vinyl packages will be posted shortly.

EXHUMED recorded All Guts, No Glory at Arcane Digital Recordings in Arizona with engineer Ryan Butler (MISERY INDEX) and at Trench Studios with John Haddad (ABYSMAL DAWN, INTRONAUT). All Guts, No Glory was mixed and mastered at Mana Recording Studios by Brian Elliott (GRAVES OF VALOR). The album’s complete track listing is as follows: “All Guts, No Glory”, “As Hammer To Anvil”, “Your Funeral, My Feast”, “Through Cadaver Eyes”, “Death Knell”, “Distorted And Twisted To Form”, “I Rot Within”, “Dis-assembly Line”, “Necrotized”, “Funereality”, and “So Let it Be Rotten…So Let it Be Done”.

Updated EXHUMED news and tour information will be made available at the Relapse Records website: www.RELAPSE.com, the new EXHUMED blog: Gorefuckingmetal.blogspot.com, Facebook page and MySpace page: www.MySpace.com/Exhumed.

AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED: Split With DESPISE YOU Streaming Online; Debut Video for ‘Miscommunication’

Relapse Records has issued the following update:

AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED are currently streaming their split release with DESPISE YOU in its entirety online now at Crustcake.com. The split, titled And On And On… will see its international release on May 9th via Relapse Records. And On And On… will be available digitally (iTunes), on 12” vinyl (pressing details here) and CD (pre-order here).

And On And On… features the first new recorded DESPISE YOU material in almost 10 years, with 18 punishing hardcore tracks clocking in at just under 17 minutes. The AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED side of the split features seven brand new tracks of ANB’s always-evolving-grindcore. And On And On… will be available digitally (iTunes), on 12” vinyl (pressing details here) and CD (pre-order here).

Additionally AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED has posted the video for “Miscommunication“ online now at MetalInjection.net. The video was edited by David Hall for Handshake Inc. (Maryland Deathfest: The Movie, Disgorge, Mexico).

Updated AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED news and album information will be made available at the Relapse Records website: Relapse.com, the AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED MySpace: MySpace.com/Agoraphobicnb and Facebook page. More information on DESPISE YOU can be found at MySpace.com/DxYx and Facebook.

MORTA SKULD: ‘Through The Eyes Of Death’ To See Release

Relapse Records has issued the following update:

Relapse Records will issue a collection of early MORTA SKULD demos this July. The collection, Through The Eyes Of Death: The Early Demos, combines the band’s two 1990 demos Gory Departure and Prolong The Agony on one disc. Through The Eyes Of Death: The Early Demos will see its release on July 5^th and is available for pre-order at this location.

Milwaukee, WI’s MORTA SKULD formed in 1990, releasing their first demo tape Gory Departure shortly thereafter. The band’s second 3-song demo Prolong The Agony came soon after and featured Viogression drummer Jef Jaeger. Both demos have been remastered for the Through The Eyes Of Death: The Early Demos collection by Chris Wisco at Belle City Sound.

For additional information on MORTA SKULD visit the MORTA SKULD MySpace page and Facebook.

STEVEN TYLER: 'Left Up To My Own Devices, I Probably Would Have Been Dead Several Times Over'

AEROSMITH frontman Steven Tyler is featured on the cover of the May 9 issue of People magazine. In the accompanying article, Tyler states that he doesn't need drugs to get high these days — all he needs is to go to work as a judge on "American Idol".

"If you think going out in front of high-def cameras and millions of people I'm not high on adrenaline, you're crazy," he is quoted as saying. "I'm stoned when that curtain drops. I just don't snort the curtain dropping. I don't snort J. Lo [fellow 'American Idol' judge Jennifer Lopez] either, though I do breathe her in."

Tyler, who has been sober for a year and a half, says he is "grateful" that he’s survived several health problems, as well as his hard-partying ways.

"Left up to my own devices," says the singer, "I probably would have been dead several times over."

For much more on Tyler, including his life as a dad and his plans for the future, pick up this week's issue of People, on newsstands Friday.

Tyler revealed in a new interview with Rolling Stone that he wasn't the only long-sober member of the band who fell off the wagon in recent times. The singer said that he and guitarist Joe Perry got high together in 2008 while attempting to record a new album. Tyler revealed, "It was just like 30 years before. I whipped out mine, he whipped out his and we got high together again. I say to Joe, 'Wow, man, how you been, it's been, what, 17 years since we got high together? Joe, you've been fucking running away from me ever since.' "

The drugs, however, derailed the sessions for the album, with Tyler saying, "Joe was high and he couldn't play. I couldn't sing, really, because I was snorting everything, and it fucks up your throat. It was the wrong time."

Perry did not respond to an Associated Press request for a comment.

Tyler's alleged fall from sobriety led to an injury onstage, a canceled tour, and tensions within AEROSMITH in late 2009. The band patched up their differences early last year and toured, after Tyler spent 90 days in rehab.

He then shocked his bandmates by accepting a job as a judge on the current season of "American Idol", throwing a wrench in recording plans.

The singer said he was motivated to take the "American Idol" gig after his bandmates threatened to throw him out of AEROSMITH. He admitted, "Did I take this job to show the band? Fuck, yeah. Not to show them, but that I can't be held hostage anymore. I will be my own hostage. The band can't throw me out."

Tyler will release his autobiography, "Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?", next month, along with the first solo single of his career, "(It) Feels So Good".

Source: Blabbermouth.net

CHIMAIRA Schedules First Shows With New Lineup

Cleveland, Ohio metallers CHIMAIRA have scheduled the following dates:

May 25 - Flint, MI - The Machine Shop
May 26 - Sandusky, OH - The Underground
May 27 - Louisville, OH - The Carriage House
May 28 - Cleveland, OH - Peabody's Down Under
May 29 - Geneva, OH - The Cove
May 30 - Mentor, OH - Live Wire

CHIMAIRA has unveiled its new lineup following the recent departures of drummer Andols Herrick and keyboardist/programmer Chris Spicuzza.

CHIMAIRA 2011 is:

Mark Hunter - Vocals
Rob Arnold - Guitar
Matt DeVries - Guitar
Emil Werstler (DAATH) - Bass
Sean Zatorsky (DAATH) - Keyboards/Samples
Austin D'Amond (BLEED THE SKY, THE ELITE) – Drums

Although D'Amond will sit behind the kit for all of CHIMAIRA's upcoming shows, the drum tracks on the band's recently completed new album were laid down by the CD's producer, Ben Schigel, who has previously worked with DROWNING POOL and WALLS OF JERICHO, among others. Tentatively due in August in North America, South America and Japan via eOne Music, the effort was mixed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, SHADOWS FALL, MURDERDOLLS, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD) .

CHIMAIRA took part in a live video chat on the band's Ustream channel on April 14. Footage from the chat can be seen below.

Drummer Andols Herrick announced his departure from CHIMAIRA earlier this month, citing "some of the same concerns that" keyboardist/programmer] Chris Spicuzza "mentioned in his statement [announcing his split from the group], namely the current state of the music industry and concerns about my future." Andols added, "A major transition in life is much more manageable at 31 than it is in your late 30s or early 40s, so as a guy with literally zero experience in anything else, better now than later. Plus, it would be hard to go back without feeling constantly uneasy about the situation."

Spicuzza explained his exit from CHIMAIRA by saying that the "situation in CHIMAIRA had ultimately become a negative environment that I had to get out of. Secondly, the music industry is completely fucked and honestly, I became concerned for my future. The amount of work and stress I took on got the best of me. I guess if you're not happy or having fun, what's the point?"

Bassist Jim LaMarca left CHIMAIRA last year in order to focus on family life.
Source: Blabbermouth.net

JAMEY JASTA Talks HATEBREED, New Solo Album At REVOLVER GOLDEN GODS AWARDS (Video)

"Metal Zone" host Nikki Blakk of the San Francisco, California radio station 107.7 The Bone conducted an interview with Jamey Jasta of HATEBREED and KINGDOM OF SORROW at the third annual Revolver Golden Gods Awards, which was held on Wednesday, April 20 at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles, California. The chat can now be viewed below.

Jasta will release his solo album, simply titled "Jasta", on July 26 via eOne Music. The CD will be made available in Europe one day earlier through Century Media Records.

During an interview with Metal Assault, Jamey states about his upcoming solo album, "It's just more of the thrash and rock element in it. I think there's a lot more clean singing than I'm used to doing. It's a lot of stuff that I recorded for other artists, but it ended up sounding cool so I just left it in there. My engineer was really liking the stuff that I was doing. I still have a lot of guest parts on there — Randy Blythe from LAMB OF GOD, Zakk Wylde, Phil Labonte [of ALL THAT REMAINS], Tim from AS I LAY DYING, Mark Morton from LAMB OF GOD — so it's just like a fun project before we do the next HATEBREED album."

"I did all of it by myself, except for the guest parts. I did it all throughout 2008, 2009 and 2010 so it was fun to go back, listen to those old tracks and go, 'These are still good, let's release them!' I'm just very lucky that I'm in a position to be able to do this and I'm grateful that the eOne label is giving it such a great push."

When asked if the release of his solo album will impact songwriting for the next HATEBREED CD, Jamey replied, "No, not at all. Actually that's why I wanted to get it out now because the next HATEBREED album is going to be short, to the point and brutal, and there will be no melody. This is my one chance to kind of get it out of the system."

Regarding whether he plans to tour behind the solo material, Jamey said, "I don't see myself doing a lot of touring for this at all. I'd like to, but I really want to focus on getting HATEBREED out for the rest of the year. We'll be going to South America, Australia, then we'll do Europe and the States again so it's going to be a lot of touring. Plus the only time to see KINGDOM OF SORROW is this summer on the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. That is the only time you'll see me and Kirk [Windstein, KINGDOM OF SORROW guitarist] together because DOWN is going to be busy, CROWBAR will be busy, and HATEBREED too. So this is it."
Source: Blabbermouth.net

DREAM THEATER: 'The Spirit Carries On' Drummer-Search Web Series To Be Released On DVD

Zach Shaw of Metal Insider conducted an interview with Mike Leonard, director of DREAM THEATER's web series "The Spirit Carries On", which chronicles the audition process behind the band's search for drummer Mike Portnoy's replacement. An excerpt from the chat follows below.

Metal Insider: Out of the seven drummers that auditioned, was there one that particularly stood out to you?

Mike Leonard: "We filmed with Mike Mangini (STEVE VAI, EXTREME, ANNIHILATOR) the night before his audition and both as a person and as a drummer, he impressed me the most. Mike is such an incredibly genuine and nice guy, just like all the members of DREAM THEATER. He's also incredibly meticulous about making sure he does his part and gets all the details right. All of the drummers that we filmed with were incredibly nice and professional, but Mike really made a great impression on me. Then watching him play in real life blew me away — he's a monster. He plays the most complicated things like they're nothing, just incredible. I'll never forget it."

Metal Insider: Are there any plans to release a physical copy of this documentary, maybe along with extra footage?

Mike Leonard: "Yes, I believe there is going to be a DVD release this summer with the new album. We have talked about many different options and I have no idea what is actually going to happen, but I'm sure it will be released at some point and there’s tons of potential for bonus footage."

Read the entire interview from Metal Insider.

A little more than a month after original drummer Mike Portnoy's sudden departure from DREAM THEATER, the band held three days of auditions in New York City. Over an amazing and productive three-day period, the band played, jammed and spoke candidly with seven of the world's greatest drummers, learning about them musically, personally and professionally, and assessing the fit of each drummer's incredible chops with the band's trademark prog-rock sound.

The members of DREAM THEATER have been extremely sensitive to the fact that this is not only a monumental decision in their own lives, but also a critical moment in the lives of their fans around the world. "The departure of our lifelong bandmate and friend was an unexpected and truly heartbreaking blow," says guitarist John Petrucci. "The fact that as a result of that event we'd be introduced to seven infinitely capable and uniquely talented drummers was heartening."

The following seven drummers took part in the DREAM THEATER audition process:

* Aquiles Priester (age 39) (ANGRA, PAUL DI'ANNO)
* Peter Wildoer (age 36) (DARKANE)
* Marco Minnemann (age 40) (KREATOR, NECROPHAGIST, EPHEL DUATH, JOE SATRIANI)
* Virgil Donati (age 52) (PLANET X, SEVEN THE HARDWAY)
* Derek Roddy (age 38) (HATE ETERNAL, NILE, TODAY IS THE DAY)
* Mike Mangini (age 48) (STEVE VAI, EXTREME, ANNIHILATOR)
* Thomas Lang (age 43) (JOHN WETTON, ROBERT FRIPP, GLENN HUGHES)
Source: Blabbermouth.net

Episode 2:

Episode 1:

FEAR FACTORY Guitarist Interviewed At REVOLVER GOLDEN GODS AWARDS (Video)

Jo Schüftan of Horns Up Rocks! conducted an interview with guitarist Dino Cazares of Los Angeles cyber metallers FEAR FACTORY at the third annual Revolver Golden Gods Awards, which was held on Wednesday, April 20 at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles, California. You can now watch the chat below.

In a January 2011 interview with SkullsNBones.com, FEAR FACTORY vocalist Burton C. Bell stated about the band's plans to go into the studio to record the follow-up to last year's "Mechanize", "We're gonna kind of take a break a little bit, but we're definitely going into the studio at some point and start writing. We wanna take our time doing it. Personally... 'Mechanize', don't get me wrong, is a good record — I'm very proud of it — but it's gotta be better than that. I've got plans where I'd like to do a full-on concept again — story, artwork. Just make it real cerebral. But there'll definitely be another FEAR FACTORY record, maybe in 2012."

FEAR FACTORY in December completed "The Industrial Discipline Tour" of Europe with HIGH ON FIRE.

"Mechanize" was released in the U.S. on February 9, 2010 via Candlelight Records. The CD, which was co-produced by the band with Rhys Fulber (FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY, PARADISE LOST), was mixed by Greg Reely (PARADISE LOST, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY, SKINNY PUPPY).

FEAR FACTORY's current lineup — featuring original FF members Dino Cazares (guitar) and Burton C. Bell (vocals) alongside bassist Byron Stroud (who was credited on the last two FEAR FACTORY albums in addition to touring and recording with STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and ZIMMERS HOLE) and legendary drummer Gene Hoglan (DETHKLOK, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, DARK ANGEL, DEATH, TESTAMENT) — made its live debut on December 4, 2009 at Espaço Lux in São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Source: Blabbermouth.net

BRING ME THE HORIZON Drummer Forced To Sit Out Remainder Of U.K. Tour

Drummer Matt Nicholls of the British metalcore act BRING ME THE HORIZON broke his arm playing soccer and will be unable to join his bandmates on the remainder of their U.K. tour.

Commented singer Oli Sykes: "So Matt's broken his hand! Fuck! But do not fear! All shows are going ahead with Dan [Searle] of ARCHITECTS taking the role of drumming. Matt, as are we, are all gutted that he can’t be a part of these huge shows, but we're just happy we don't have to cancel! We will see you at the shows!"

BRING ME THE HORIZON's next performance is scheduled for tonight in Birmingham with PARKWAY DRIVE, ARCHITECTS and THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA.

BRING ME THE HORIZON's third album, "There Is A Hell, Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is A Heaven, Let's Keep It A Secret", sold 20,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 17 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD also entered the official chart in the U.K. at position No. 13.
Source: Blabbermouth.net

BEHEMOTH Holds First Band Meeting Since NERGAL's Bone Marrow Transplant Procedure

Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH will return to the live stage in October — marking the band's first public appearances since guitarist/vocalist Adam "Nergal" Darski was diagnosed with leukemia last August.

Commented Nergal: "I just came back from the first BEHEMOTH's gathering since my imprisonment. We were brainstorming about the future of the band. We wanna make sure our upcoming shows will be our best yet. Live performance must be raised to the next level. Set list will be refreshed pretty much. Some of the songs we have never played live...huh, lotsa work but we are more than ready to bite the bullet! Wait and see and be surprised! More info will follow soon..."

BEHEMOTH tour dates:

Oct. 08 - Poznan, POL - Eskulap
Oct. 09 - Gdansk, POL - Parlament
Oct. 14 - Krakow, POL - Studio
Oct. 15 - Katowice, POL - Mega Club
Oct. 16 - Wroclaw, POL - Eter
Oct. 21 - Warszawa, POL - Stodola

In a recent interview with Metal Sucks, Nergal stated about BEHEMOTH's upcoming touring activities, "The October shows are just to get warmed up. Then we might do some shows in Australia and Asia — that's the plan. Then the priority for early 2012 is a European tour, then shortly after that, a U.S. tour. This is our top priority for the next year and we're going to fucking do it!"

He added, "Just wait and see us on the stage. You'll see. I'm not going to reveal anything about it, but we … It's not gonna just be BEHEMOTH. It's not like time stood still for us, like we were frozen in time and are just going to appear with the same entourage and in the same outfits. No. We're going to come back, we want to remind people of our existence obviously, but we want to make a fucking impact, an impression. We want to show them that, hey, we are still fucking evolving. We're not just hoping that you'll come to see us because I was sick. Fuck that. I'll be better soon and we're going to deliver!"

Speaking to Revolver magazine last month, Nergal said, "We just decided to play some so-called comeback shows in Poland just to warm up and see how we feel, just to be onstage again together. And I really hope that it's going to turn out great and that it's going to cause other tours and stuff. We have plans until the summer of next year. We already have some cool offers. We're talking to our agents. There's some really, really cool ideas. I don't want to reveal anything yet, but once we're done with October shows, and we feel good about it, and there's chemistry onstage, we definitely want to continue the 'Evangelion' touring cycle. There's still some markets we didn't even touch. We've done over 100 shows so far to 'Evangelion'. We're going to do another 100 at least, and then we can focus on the next record.

"To be honest, we can't wait to hit the stage again. I'm so fucking anxious. I'm so excited, so psyched about it. I have dreams about coming back onstage. I dream about BEHEMOTH shows. It's insane, I know, but I can't tell you how much it's a relief to the band and how much it means to us."

Nergal underwent a bone marrow transplant procedure in December.
Source: Blabbermouth.net

BEHEMOTH April 2011:

JASON BONHAM Teams Up With NICOLE SCHERZINGER For 'Black Dog' Cover (Video)

ESPN and ABC have produced a special opening video for 2011 NBA Playoff coverage airing across the networks featuring Nicole Scherzinger and Jason Bonham performing LED ZEPPELIN's iconic "Black Dog". The clip debuted Saturday, April 16 for the start of the playoffs on ESPN and ABC and can be seen below.

"We strived to create an open which captured the energy and excitement of the NBA Playoffs," said Tim Corrigan, ESPN senior coordinating producer. "This legendary track, performed by artists such as Jason and Nicole, was the perfect fit."

"It was an honor to join Jason Bonham on the iconic LED ZEPPELIN song 'Black Dog'," Nicole commented. "I am excited that fans will be able to see the video during the Playoffs."

"Working with Nicole for the NBA Playoffs spot was amazing. She is the real deal," said Bonham. "Not only is she one of the most beautiful people I have ever met, but she has a fantastic and powerful voice. She has a great rock voice and it worked out fantastic for 'Black Dog'. I was so pleased to be able to bring this song to such a huge sporting event."

Production credits include: David Saltz, executive producer for ESPN Music, creating the original concept; Valerie Fischler, ESPN producer and creative director; Steven Levy, with Habana Avenue, as producer; and Michael Amoia, with Vidiots, handling post-production edits.

Jason Bonham is a British drummer and son of legendary LED ZEPPELIN drummer John Bonham. At the age of only five, Jason could play the drums with skill. When he was 17, he was a member of the band AIR RACE. The group signed a record contract with Atlantic Records, and opened for big names like QUEEN, MEAT LOAF, TED NUGENT, and AC/DC. John Bonham died in 1980, but Jason has stepped in from time to time to help keep his father's memory alive.

On December 10, 2007, Jason played drums in one of the most anticipated concerts of all time — the LED ZEPPELIN reunion at London's O2 arena. His current projects include touring with Paul Rodgers, his supergroup BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, which features Joe Bonamassa, Glenn Hughes and Derek Sherinian. They will tour their second album this summer, but not before Jason takes his critically-acclaimed LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE tour out for a second run in May.
Source: Blabbermouth.net

PEARL JAM Releases Clip From Upcoming Documentary

According to The Pulse Of Radio, PEARL JAM has released a clip from the upcoming documentary "Pearl Jam Twenty", which will chronicle the band's entire two-decade career through interviews, rare footage, live performances and more. In the clip, taken in the band's formative days, its members discuss changing the band name from the original MOOKIE BLAYLOCK to PEARL JAM. Making a cameo right at the beginning is late ALICE IN CHAINS frontman Layne Staley.

"Pearl Jam Twenty" is due out in September from "Jerry Maguire" director and longtime band friend Cameron Crowe. The film, an accompanying book, an upcoming two-day festival and recent reissues of PEARL JAM's first three albums are all part of a 20th-anniversary celebration. Still, bassist Jeff Ament told The Pulse Of Radio he's a little tired of reviewing the past. "I'm ready to make a new record and get out of the mode of looking back and digging through boxes and looking for stuff," he said. "It's really good because I think that there's so much going on at the time that you forget so many things. And when people start pulling out pictures and footage from things, it's a trip to realize that large aspects of your life are fully documented (laughs)."

PEARL JAM does plan to begin work on a new album this year.

Frontman Eddie Vedder's new solo album, "Ukulele Songs", will arrive on May 31, accompanied by a live solo DVD titled "Water On The Road".
Source: Blabbermouth.net

THE SOULLESS: 'Unaltered' Video Released

"Unaltered", the new Thomas Welsh-directed video from British melodic death metallers THE SOULLESS (formerly IGNOMINIOUS INCARCERATION), can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's new album, "Isolated", which will be released in Europe on May 16 and North America on June 7 via Earache Records.

"Isolated" track listing:

01. Unaltered
02. The Path
03. Earthbound
04. 13th Morning
05. New Perspective
06. Clones
07. Revelation
08. Our Return
09. Unite Us
10. You Are Nothing To Me
11. Without Heart

The CD's cover artwork can be viewed below.

Commented THE SOULLESS vocalist Andy Wardle: "We chose Ryohei Hase for our artwork. He did the art for IGNOMINIOUS INCARCERATION's album and although we wanted something quite different, we know he does an awesome job.

"The guy on the front is supposed to be hung up as an outcast from society. He is isolated, which ties in with the album title and lyrical themes within.

"We are really happy with the bleak colors and the overall look."

"Isolated" was recorded at Outhouse Studios in Reading, England with producer John Mitchell (ARCHITECTS, FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND, ENTER SHIKARI).
Source: Blabbermouth.net

EARTH CRISIS: New Album Title, Track Listing Revealed

Reunited hardcore legends EARTH CRISIS have set "Neutralize The Threat" as the title of their seventh album, due on July 12 via Century Media Records. The CD was produced by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (SHADOWS FALL, HATEBREED).

Commented the band: "We are very happy with how 'Neutralize The Threat' came out. Musically, it resembles the song structures on 'To The Death', but with a 'Gomorah's Season Ends' vibe thrown in. Every song is lyrically inspired by real-life vigilante actions that have taken place around the globe. The topics range from The Black Panther party to Bernard Goetz and we think it's an original lyrical concept for the band, while also retaining some subject matter we are known for dealing with in the past. Zeuss is the man and definitely delivered the best sounding record we have ever had! We can't wait for you guys to hear it!"

"Neutralize The Threat" track listing:

01. Raise
02. Neutralize The Threat
03. Total War
04. 100-Kiloton Blast
05. Counterstrike
06. By Conscience Compelled
07. Black Talons Tear
08. Askari
09. The Eradicators
10. Raze

EARTH CRISIS' chugging riffs and barked declarations served as the mouthpiece of America's militant vegan, straight-edge movement throughout the '90s, detailing the ideas of animal and human liberation, drug-free living and personal empowerment through hardcore music. The group has continued along this path of breaking new ground, constantly working and reaching more people spreading their message to the masses.

After a lengthy hiatus, the band reformed in 2008 to the delight of the hardcore genre. They soon produced the vicious offering "To The Death" that undoubtedly proved that they have never been stronger from both songwriting and musicianship perspectives.

"To The Death" was released on May 5, 2009 via Century Media Records (April 20 in Europe). The self-produced CD was recorded at Castle Recording Studios in Utica, New York and was mixed by Tue Madsen (HEAVEN SHALL BURN, DARK TRANQUILLITY, MOONSPELL, THE HAUNTED). Artwork for the effort was handled by Paul Romano (MASTODON, GODFLESH).
Source: Blabbermouth.net

EON LIVE PUB: Date di Maggio e Apertura ROCK BEACH

Eagle Booking Agency has issued the following update:

Vi presentiamo le nostre date confermate presso EON Club di Cinisello Balsamo, Milano, per il mese di maggio. Tutte le date saranno unplugged, salvo dove diversamente indicato. EON club presenta inoltre: ROCK BEACH, un suggestivo spazio estivo, degno delle scenografie di Balderunner.

EON CLUB
VIALE BRIANZA 44 - CINISELLO BALSAMO (MI)
Eon Club Official Web Site - Eon Club On Facebook 

Le date:

SABATO 14 MAGGIO LUCKY BASTARDZ 
VENERDI 20 MAGGIO GILBY CLARKE (ex GUNS'N'ROSES)+MUPPET SUICIDE (electric)
SABATO 21 MAGGIO HEARTLESS
SABATO 28 MAGGIO HOLY SHIRE

Per ulteriori informazioni: EAGLE BOOKING AGENCY

GHOSTRIDER Italian Tour 2011 Dates

Italian Black/Thrash terror bands GHOSTRIDER (pre Necrodeath) has issued the following update:


Hi Guys, are you ready to blast??? We’re heading on the road, starting tonight in Milan! Check out the tour dates here below, and be there! \m/ 

ITALIAN TOUR 2011
28 Aprile – Legend 54 – Milano
29 Aprile – Don Marcos Pub – Padova
30 Aprile – Le Streghe – Padova
06 Maggio – United Club – Torino
07 Maggio – Exenzia – Prato
13 Maggio – Oddy Shed – Caserta
14 Maggio – Istanbul cafè – Lecce
15 Maggio – Closer – Roma
15 Luglio – Rock Inn Somma Fest. – Somma Lombarda (Va)

For more information, please visit: http://www.myspace.com/ghostriderweb

To read our recent interview with Ghostrider, please go HERE.

“THE RETURN OF THE GHOST” From “The return of the ghost album 2011”

SEPULTURA: Montreal Footage Available

Video footage of SEPULTURA's April 20, 2011 headlining concert at Club Soda in Montreal, Quebec, Canada can be viewed below.

SEPULTURA's new album, "Kairos" (an ancient Greek word signifying a time in between, a moment of undetermined period of time in which something special happens), is tentatively due this summer via Nuclear Blast Records. The artwork for the CD was created by Erich Sayers, a Los Angeles-based freelance digital artist and photographer whom SEPULTURA first met at the band's recent concert at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood, California.

SEPULTURA's new CD was recorded at Trama Studios in São Paulo, Brazil with producer Roy Z. (JUDAS PRIEST, HALFORD, BRUCE DICKINSON, HELLOWEEN). 13 tracks were laid down during the sessions, including cover versions of MINISTRY's "Just One Fix" and THE PRODIGY's "Firestarter".

SEPULTURA was joined by the Orquestra Experimental de Repertório (conducted by Jamil Maluf) during the band's appearance on April 16 at the Virada Cultural festival in São Paulo, Brazil. The concert was professionally filmed and recorded for a future CD/DVD release.
Source: Blabbermouth.net

ANTHRAX Drummer: 'Worship Music' Is 'The Most Emotional Record That We've Ever Had To Make'

ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante spoke to Christina Fuoco-Karasinski of SoundSpike earlier this week about the status of the recording sessions for the band's long-awaited new studio album, "Worship Music", tentatively due in September via Megaforce Records in the U.S. and Nuclear Blast Records in Europe.

"This is years in the making," Benante said of the forthcoming CD. "It's finally at the end stages of it all. I'm very happy. This record is like a labor of love in all the different ways that it took to get here — a lot of blood, a lot of sweat, a lot of tears. It's very emotional to get to this point. Nothing's fabricated here. It's all based on truth."

He continued, "The ANTHRAX car was driving through peaks and valleys, peaks and valleys, peaks and valleys. Sometimes we just couldn't get out of the valleys. Finally, we went in for a tune-up, and now it's running really well. We're trying to stay up in the peaks. There were so many things that went into this record that made it special. There were so many other things going into it that were not special. We needed to make this record as special as possible. Certain personalities interfered. This record is probably the most emotional record that we've ever had to make."

"Worship Music" will mark the first new ANTHRAX recording to feature singer Joey Belladonna in 20 years.

"I don't want to talk to you and give you all these clichés," Benante said. "I don't want to do that. I want to be as real as possible. Joey sounds awesome and that's the truth. When he sang on the first song, it sounded like ANTHRAX again. I finally knew this is the way it should sound."

Benante added that the album will feature a tribute to JUDAS PRIEST, tentatively titled "Judas Priest".

"Let's say that JUDAS PRIEST was one of the first true heavy metal bands that a lot of the Big Four bands looked up to and almost modeled themselves and their music [after]," he said. "You can hear how JUDAS PRIEST influenced a lot of those bands."

Read more from SoundSpike. Source: Blabbermouth.net

METALLICA: Audio Samples Of Entire 'Big Four' Concert From Indio

Audio samples of METALLICA's entire set at this past Saturday's (April 23) "Big Four" concert at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, California can be streamed at LiveMetallica.com. Full-song downloads can be purchased for $0.99 each.

Launched in March 2004, LiveMetallica.com initially sold downloads of nothing but full live sets of METALLICA's concerts. In September 2009, the band responded to fan demands to purchase single tracks from the live sets. Full shows can still be downloaded for $9.95 and a high-quality FLAC version of the entire set can be purchased for $12.95. Most shows are available with hours after they end. Fans can also visit "The Vault" section of the web site for free downloads of selected shows prior to 2004.

The all-day "Big Four" festival featured the so-called "Big Four" bands of 1980s thrash metal — METALLICA, SLAYER, ANTHRAX and MEGADETH — sharing the stage in the U.S. for the first time ever, drawing an estimated 50,000 people.

The highly anticipated onstage performance of all four bands at the same time happened near the end of METALLICA's set, between "Enter Sandman" and "Hit The Lights". Members of ANTHRAX, SLAYER and MEGADETH joined METALLICA on stage for a cover of DIAMOND HEAD's "Am I Evil?" before METALLICA ended the night with its perennial set-closer, "Seek And Destroy" from the band's 1983 debut, "Kill 'Em All".

In introducing the members of the other three bands immediately prior to the "Am I Evil?" performance, METALLICA frontman James Hetfield said, "Can you believe it? Thirty years, man [referring to how long each of the 'Big Four' bands has been together. - Ed.]. I don't know how many of you have been around that long, you know?! It doesn't matter; you're here right now to see the 'Big Four,' and we're getting this prepared for a big jam, alright? It's pretty important.

"We just wanna take the time to say 'thank you' to all of you metal fans out there who have supported all the bands — not only the 'Big Four,' but the big however many out there. There's many, many other bands that have been around as long as us, and, unfortunately, broke up because of business or some other crap. There's a lot of great bands out there and we'd like to celebrate all of them, and especially the 'Big Four', getting out here and jamming, and just saying 'thank you' to the world of metal fans for just giving us your support, giving us your heart and giving us your passion, man, 'cause that's what it is for us."

METALLICA's setlist was as follows:

01. Creeping Death
02. For Whom the Bell Tolls
03. Fuel
04. Ride the Lightning
05. Fade to Black
06. Cyanide
07. All Nightmare Long
08. Sad But True
09. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
10. Orion
11. One
12. Master of Puppets
13. Blackened
14. Nothing Else Matters
15. Enter Sandman

Encore:

16. Am I Evil? (DIAMOND HEAD cover) (with MEGADETH, ANTHRAX and SLAYER)
17. Hit The Lights
18. Seek And Destroy

The "Big Four" tour first played selected dates in Eastern Europe last summer to an fantastic response, which led to the scheduling of shows this year in the U.S. and other parts of Europe.

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told The Pulse Of Radio the "Big Four" tour idea first came up in 2009. "We were sitting around and we were feeling pretty nostalgic at the time because it was right around the old Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Cleveland, induction thing there," he said. "So as you sit around and talk about your past and whatever, the idea of playing shows with the other, you know, members of the so-called 'Big Four' just came up, and it finally came together just over a year later."
Source: Blabbermouth.net

"Orion" and "Am I Evil?" performance:

ANNIHILATOR, Reunited SWORD To Team Up For Quebec City Concert

Canadian metal powerhouse ANNIHILATOR will perform at the 2011 edition of the Festival d'Été de Québec (Quebec City International Summer Festival) on July 10 at the Imperial Theater. This will mark the band's exclusive Canadian appearance this summer, a first for Quebec City and the first show in 18 years that ANNIHILATOR has played in North America.

Despite ANNIHILATOR's lengthy absence from North American stages, the band has been a success around the globe since its 1989's debut release, "Alice In Hell". With 13 studio CDs, millions of records sold and dozens of world tours under their belt, the members of ANNIHILATOR are fired up to show metalheads in Canada why ANNIHILATOR has earned a reputation as one of the best live international acts out there today.

Commented ANNIHILATOR mastermind Jeff Waters: "Well, it's been a long, long time since ANNIHILATOR has played its home country Canada; and it's about time!

"It's been 17 years since we have played here, despite releasing records and touring Europe and Asia every year for 22 years!

"I backed out of North American touring way back in 1994 as the metal scene essentially went underground until recently. I also ended up being a single father of a young son so I also decided to go where ANNIHILATOR was 'wanted' (Europe and Asia) and spent my off-touring months at home, being a dad and working in my studio.

"Now that my kid is a teenager, and the kind of metal we play seems back in full swing here in North America, it is time to get out there and rock... and what better place to return to rock than Canada's metal province: Quebec!

"We will hit the rest of Canada and the USA soon but, this summer, some metal fans will get what they have been threatening me for, for years: ANNIHILATOR's RETURN TO CANADA!"

Moreover, metal fans will have the opportunity to experience another comeback as Montreal-based metal legends SWORD (not to be confused with Texas-based luminaries THE SWORD) will act as direct support, after nearly 20 years away from the spotlight. Fans have been demanding their return for many years, and it has now become a reality. However, most of the bandmembers remained active in the musical scene during SWORD's two-decade hiatus.

SWORD was formed in early 1985 by brothers Mick Hughes (vocals) and Dan Hughes (drums), guitarist Mike Plant, and bassist Mike Larock. After signing with local label Aquarius Records, the band released its debut album, "Metalized", in 1986 and a follow-up effort, "Sweet Dreams", in 1987.

SWORD never made much headway south of the border and split up soon after the release of its sophomore album.

SWORD's sound was previously described as "a muscular brand of classic metal with tasteful riffs and solos by Plant and infectious shout-along choruses."

Rick Hughes released a solo album in 2006 entitled "Train D'Enfer".

The stage is set for a night to remember; and of the finest quality!
Source: Blabbermouth.net