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ALICE IN CHAINS: ‘Voices’ Radio Edit, Lyric Video Available

Manos Spanos
ALICE IN CHAINS has released "Voices", the third single from new album"The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here". USA Today is premiering the song’s radio edit, which can be heard below. "Voices" follows the album's first two singles, "Hollow" and "Stone", both of which rocketed to No. 1 on both the Active and Mainstream Rock Charts and whose companion videos have amassed over 3 million YouTubeviews combined. ALICE IN CHAINS' fifth studio album, "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here", sold 62,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 2 on The Billboard 200 chart. The disc follows up 2009's"Black Gives Way To Blue", which was the group's first all-new collection of material in 14 years. That CD opened with 126,000 units back in October 2009 to debut at No. 5. ALICE IN CHAINS was last in the Top Two with its self-titled 1995 set, which debuted at No. 1 on that year's November 25 chart, according toBillboard.com. It would be their final studio release with singer Layne Staley, who died in 2002.
02 min read

DUFF MCKAGAN On VELVET REVOLVER: We’re Just Waiting For The Right Singer To Come Along

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Former GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan spoke to Billboard.comabout the current status of VELVET REVOLVER, the band that released two full-length albums through RCA/Sony BMG — 2004's "Contraband"and 2007's "Libertad" — before dismissing singer Scott Weiland back in April 2008. "We talk about it every now and again. Slash [guitar] and Matt [Sorum, drums] and Dave [Kushner, guitar] and I played in South Africa at the beginning of June...and of course we talked about it. We've tried out a bunch of singers, but I think we're just waiting for the right person to come along. It'll just happen. But the chemistry of Matt and Slash andDave and I is really good, so you don't want to let that just go away." McKagan also commented on Weiland's recent split with STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, noting that, "You could kind of see it coming, I suppose. It's a sad situation any way you look at it. That guy...You hope [Weiland] pulls it together; I shared enough good times with that guy that I wish him nothing but the best."
01 min read

METAL CHURCH Signs With RAT PAK RECORDS

Manos Spanos
Reunited METAL CHURCH — Ronny Munroe on vocals, Kurdt Vanderhoof and Rick Van Zandt on guitars, Steve Unger on bass, and Jeff Plate on drums — has inked a deal with Rat Pak Records. The band's tenth studio album, "Generation Nothing", will be released in the early fall via Kurdt's label Body Of Work Recordings in conjunction with Rat Pak. According to Vanderhoof, "Generation Nothing" — which was recorded at Kurdt's English Channel studio in Washingtion — marks a "return to [METAL CHURCH's] classic metal sound. It has elements of the first album and 'The Dark', but still embraces the new sound of the band without chasing the past." Munroe said in a recent interview with Metal Assault that the new METAL CHURCH effort would contain material that is "very reminiscent of the old days with some stuff that's very 'now.'" He added: "There's a bit of… I'm not going to say 'prog' because it's not, but there's a couple of elements in there that are a little bit progressive. For the most part, out of this batch of songs, they really sound more reminiscent of the early days than anything we've done before with this lineup. This excites me very much, and I think the fans are really going to dig it." Regarding the circumstances that led to METAL CHURCH's breakup in 2009, Ronny said: "Well, in a nutshell, without going into a huge and long story here, it was certain aspects of things that had continued to happen to the band throughout its career. Not having the proper management and the proper people in place that were handling us. You know, we ended up taking some shows we shouldn't have taken and that just
03 min read

DAVID DRAIMAN Demands Apology From ROGER WATERS For ‘Blatant’ Anti-Semitic Symbolism

Manos Spanos
DISTURBED and DEVICE frontman David Draiman has asked his 120,000Twitter followers to condemn British rock musician and anti-Israel activistRoger Waters for allegedly using the Jewish Star of David as one of the symbols on the giant inflatable pig that hovers over "The Wall" concerts. According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, the pig-shaped balloon emblazoned with the Star of David, as well as dictatorial symbols, dropped from the ceiling while Waters performed on last week in Belgium. The 69-year-old rocker has been using the inflatable pig for years to display political messages, serving primarily as a symbol of greed, fascism and oppression. In a message on Twitlonger.com, a related Twitter site that allows one to send tweets that require more than 140 characters, Draiman — who has extensive family in Israel, including his brother, Jerusalem-based folk rock and ambient musician Ben Draiman, as well as his grandmother — wrote: "My brothers and sisters, my blood, "Regarding Roger Waters' usage of a flying pig with the Star of David on it during his performances;
03 min read

PHILIP ANSELMO: It Would Mean The World To Me If VINNIE PAUL Would Let Me Back Into His Life

Manos Spanos
Puff of the 99X radio station in Shreveport, Louisiana recently conducted an interview with former PANTERA and current DOWN vocalist Philip Anselmo. The chat is now available for streaming using the SoundCloudwidget below. Asked about the persistent Internet rumors about the possibility of a PANTERA reunion with Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, OZZY OSBOURNE) filling in for the late "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott on guitar,Anselmo said: "This is something that… it started out as an Internet rumor, for sure. But rumors sometimes grow legs, so to speak. And with that, I've gotta say that I've actually spoken to Zakk Wylde about this, and he seems to be very open to the idea. And I know Rex [Brown, former PANTERA bassist] is open to the idea, to a certain degree. But right now Vinnie Paul [Abbott, former PANTERA drummer] is the captain of his own ship, and he's decided to keep, basically, a vow a silence forever concerning myself and Rex. You know, that's his decision, and I can't think for Vince, and I can't make decisions for Vince. But, really, as a music fan… forget reunion shows, forget making records or whatever… as a music fan, I hate reading about my favorite band not getting along; it hurts my heart. Because if I'm a fan of a band, that means I'm a fan of everybody in the band. So when I read, myself, about bands not getting along, it bothers me, really, as a fan." He continued: "Really, what I'm trying to say is one day, it would mean the world to me, and I'm sure to Rex, if Vince would let us back into his life, let us talk through our differences, and let the public know that at least we're speaking, at least we have some form of camaraderie again, and that we're on decent terms. Because right now, I think that it would mean a lot to all the PANTERA fans out there if we were to do that as well. And right now, it's just very difficult to gauge any of that, because things are the way they are. I believe that my door, Rex's door… our doors are open, and Vince's is locked, and that's just the way it is, and
03 min read

Video: OZZY OSBOURNE Guitarist GUS G. Performs ‘Crazy Train’ With STEEL PANTHER

Manos Spanos
FIREWIND and OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist Gus G. (real name: Kostas Karamitroudis) joined Los Angeles glam-metal jokesters STEEL PANTHERon stage this past Monday, July 22 at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood, California to perform the OZZY classic "Crazy Train". Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below. Photos are available at this location. STEEL PANTHER recently spent time in the studio putting the finishing touches on its third full-length album at a studio in Sherman Oaks, California with producer Jay Ruston (ANTHRAX, STONE SOUR,MEATLOAF) for a fall release. Speaking to the South Bend Tribune, STEEL PANTHER drummer Stix Zadinia (real name: Darren Leader) stated about the band's as-yet-untitled new CD: "If you liked [2009's] 'Feel The Steel' and [2011's] 'Balls Out', you will love this record. It is more heavy metal songs that are hooky and great and fun and make you want to rock and make you want to have a good time and party. Also, there is a lot of riffage on this album that I think anybody who has ever questioned this band — 'Oh, those guys wear spandex and it is 2000-whatever' — these songs are going to put all of that to rest." Regarding naysayers that say STEEL PANTHER is a joke-metal band,Zadinia said: "Listen to our record and tell us that our songs aren't better than most of the bands out there. How funny is that? At the end of the day, it comes down to the songs. I think our songs — without sounding egotistical — I think our songs are great. When you hear the hooks in our songs, you hear the playing and you hear the vocals, you throw that up against any band in any era, and I think it stands up."
02 min read

COREY TAYLOR: ‘I’ll Never Lose The Anger, I’ll Never Lose That Fighting Hate’

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Envision Radio Networks' "Hangar 19" recently welcomed another heavy metal legend into the Hangar, SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR lead vocalist Corey Taylor. In his two-part interview with host Cutter, Taylorspoke about his recent robbery, how he handles his anger and his new book. While in Europe on tour, Taylor had $36,000 worth of music gear stolen from him by a friend he left in charge while he was away. Taylor toldCutter that, although he and his wife have gotten about 98% of the stolen items back, he is still dealing with the situation. "There are a handful of things that are still missing," he said. "We are slowly but surely trying to get the stuff back. It sucks. You know, you think you trust somebody and then you turn around and they're sliding the knife out of your back." Faced with a betrayal of this proportion, Taylor said he has learned to channel his anger and become a more positive person. "15 years ago I was really much closer to the guy in SLIPKNOT than I am [to] the guy today, obviously," he explained. "I mean, I had a lot of anger issues, had a lot of deep-seated, like, crazy issues that, luckily, because of the things that I have been able to do with SLIPKNOT and some of the stuff I have been able to do with STONE SOUR and whatnot, I've been able to kind of let go of and channel into to more positive aspects of my life. Today I am a lot closer to just kind of being a family man."
02 min read

BLACK SABBATH Kicks Off North American Tour In Houston; Video Available

Manos Spanos
BLACK SABBATH kicked off its 20-date North American tour last night (Thursday, July 25) at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands (a suburb of Houston), Texas. The band's setlist was as follows: 01. War Pigs 02. Into The Void 03. Under The Sun 04. Snowblind 05. Age Of Reason 06. Black Sabbath 07. Behind The Wall Of Sleep 08. N.I.B. 09. End Of The Beginning 10. Fairies Wear Boots 11. Methademic 12. Rat Salad/Drum Solo 13. Iron Man 14. God Is Dead? 15. Dirty Women 16. Children Of The Grave 17. Paranoid Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below. After 35 years, three original members of BLACK SABBATH released a new disc on June 11 called "13". The first SABBATH record since 1978's"Never Say Die!" to feature singer Ozzy Osbourne, along with guitaristTony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler, it's their second attempt at new music together after a previous effort failed in 2001. The new disc does not feature founding drummer Bill Ward, who has sat out the reunion over contractual issues.
02 min read

AEROSMITH: ‘Love In An Elevator’ Performance Clip From ‘Rock For The Rising Sun’ DVD

Manos Spanos
AEROSMITH's latest concert film, "Rock For The Rising Sun", was released via Eagle Rock Entertainment on July 23. The group's connection with Japan began in 1977, when the band first played to capacity crowds in the Far East. And as evidenced by "Rock For The Rising Sun", the band-fan bond remains strong to this day. The director behind the release, Casey Patrick Tebo, is well-versed in not only his'SMITH (he directed their music video for "Legendary Child"), but has also worked with such renowned acts as MÖTLEY CRÜE, JUDAS PRIEST,STEVIE NICKS, LADY ANTEBELLUM, THE AVETT BROTHERS, and RUN-DMC, among countless others. Tebo first began working with AEROSMITH in 2006, when Steven Tylerand Tebo met through a colleague, and the singer invited the up-and-coming director (who was in film school at the time) to shoot a few of the band's shows — for just the band's personal viewing. Soon after, the band was so impressed with Tebo's work that they hired him to start directing their live shows. Fast forward to 2011, and AEROSMITH was hard at work on their 15th studio album, "Music From Another Dimension!", but took a break from recording to play shows in Latin America and Japan. Sadly, the Japanese dates occurred not long after tragedy struck the region, as the country experienced a massive earthquake, a monstrous tsunami, and the subsequent meltdown of the Fukushima nuclear plant. Despite warnings about possibly being exposed to radiation, AEROSMITHand crew, including Tebo, braved the risks and followed through with their visit to Japan. "I shot all this stuff and interviewed all these
04 min read