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Crazy Town Guitarist Dies
Chart Attack reports: Yesterday, Pre)thing lead guitarist, singer and songwriter Rust Epique died of a heart attack in his home in Las Vegas. He was only 35 years old. In addition to playing with Pre)thing (formerly known as Rustandthesuperheroes), Epique was a former member of Crazy Town. Epique signed to V2 in 2002, much to the excitement of the label's top brass, who at the time called Rustandthesuperheroes "perhaps the most groundbreaking artist to grace music in the last 30 years." - Click Here for the Full Story 

Hatred Sells
New York Daily News reports: In the world of hard rock, hatred sells. 

So it should come as no surprise that the group Three Days Grace has the nation's longest-running hit on rock radio these days with the scream-fest "I Hate Everything About You." 

For the last 35 weeks, this anthem for the p.o.'d has been ruling both Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock stations. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Metallica's Third Leg
liveDaily reports: Dates continue to surface for the third leg of Metallica's current North American tour, which now runs into the fall. 

The latest dates include new September and October shows in the U.S. and Canada, tickets for several of which will hit the box office on Saturday. Details are shown below. 

Tickets for most remaining dates are on sale now. Members of Metallica's official fan club have access to fan-club-only tickets. Details are available at the fan club's website. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Cold Quits
The PRP reports: Cold frontman Scooter Ward has given his side of the bands recent departure from Geffen Records on the bands official messageboard. In a posting dubbed "Cold did not get dropped.we quit", Ward had the following to say: "hey yall Geffen and Cold had a disagreement on how to promote our band. they wouldnt do what we wanted so we asked if they would let us go. we will be with another label soon. we are switching labels. im sure everyone here can understand.we need a label to be with us instead of holding us back. its better for us and better for you. sevendust is still on and we will start our new record after the tour. im so thankful to those of you who stand beside us." According to the recent rumors circulating in the industry however, the band were allegedly dropped by Geffen following a few arguments with key figures at the label, though expectedly no official word has been released on the matter. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Titled Unearthed
The PRP reports: Unearth have chosen "The Oncoming Storm" as the title to their upcoming new album which will see a release through Metal Blade on June 29th. The band have been recording the album as of late with Adam Dutkiewicz of Killswitch Engage fame producing. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Coldplay Delay
Rockdirt reports: Chris Martin has told fans not to expect any more Coldplay material in 2004. "This is the only time we're coming out of our shell at the moment, to come and talk about trade and stuff, because we really feel like we have to be away for a while," Martin told Radio 1. "We certainly won't release anything this year, because I think people are a bit sick of us, also we're trying to make the best thing anyone's ever heard. I'm not promising that but my philosophy in life is why not just try and be Einstein, even if you're never going to make it." - Click Here for the Full Story 

Led Genesis
BW&BK reports: Former GENESIS guitarist STEVE HACKETT's official website (www.stevehackett.com) reports that Steve will be joined by former LED ZEPPELIN bassist John Paul Jones for one song at his upcoming gig at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire venue on March 13th. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Unwritten Law Fire Drummer
RIFTrock reports: Unwritten Law have fired their drummer Wade Youman. No word yet on who will be filling the void in the lineup. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Arista Shakeup
Reuters reports: Arista Records, home to such acts as OutKast, Dido and Avril Lavigne, is in the process of being restructured, sources said Tuesday. 

Many Arista artists are being moved to Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) corporate siblings Jive Records, RCA Records and J Records, sources said. Layoffs are expected, though some positions will be redeployed to other parts of BMG. Arista will, however, remain a label complete with some artists, an A&R team, marketing and promotions staff, sources said. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Siouxsie is Back
Pollstar reports: Get ready for "An Evening With Siouxsie: The Creatures & The Banshees." Original punk rock queen Siouxsie Sioux has announced a string of performances during which she'll play two hours' worth of material spanning her vast 25-year catalog with Siouxsie & The Banshees and The Creatures. 

She'll be joined by longtime bandmate/husband Budgie as well as ex-Kodo drummer Leonard Eto. No opening acts will appear and venues will be of "intimate" size. - Click Here for the Full Story 

See pollstar for more details and dates

Punk Guitar Hero Dies
NME reports: SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES and MAGAZINE guitarist JOHN McGEOCH has died in his sleep at the age of 48. 

The punk veteran was also famous for his work with Sex Pistol John Lydon's Public Image Limited. 

Steven Severin, bass player for the Banshees, said in a statement on his website: "I was shocked and saddened to hear that John passed away in his sleep last Thursday. Although we hadn't worked together for a long time and I hadn't seen him for a couple of years he was always in my heart and often in my thoughts." 

He added: "Without doubt the most inventive guitarist of our generation and my favourite Banshee. Love to all his friends and family. Bye John." 

According to press reports, McGeoch qualified as a nurse in 1995 after giving up performing. However, he continued to work on music for television. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Pearl Jam Honored
Press Release reports: GRAMMY(R) Award-winning rock band Pearl Jam, legendary GRAMMY-nominated jazz and blues vocalist Ernestine Anderson, internationally renowned GRAMMY-nominated conductor (Oregon Symphony, L'Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec) Maestro James DePreist, and veteran of music and arts festival production Norm Langill have been chosen by the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Recording Academy(R) to receive its 2004 IMPACT Award on April 9. The IMPACT Award honors Northwest music professionals whose creative talents and accomplishments have crossed all musical boundaries and who have been recognized as an asset to the music community. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and will take place at the Westin Hotel in Seattle. Highlights include a silent auction, VIP reception, dinner and awards celebration that will feature video tributes and performances by members of Pearl Jam, Ernestine Anderson, El Vez, Norm Durkee and others to be announced. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Grunge The Movie
Chart Attack reports: According to the Hollywood Reporter, director Gus Van Sant (My Own Private Idaho, Good Will Hunting) has written a script for a film that he will direct and produce called Last Days, which focuses on the mid-�90s Seattle music scene. Van Sant has reportedly hatched out a deal with HBO films, who also backed his last movie, the high school shooting drama, Elephant. It's not known if HBO will release the movie in theatres (as was the case with Elephant) or if they'll run it on their American cable network. 

While the script is purely fictional, it apparently focuses on the rise of an indie rock band fronted by an intense leader uncomfortable with the band's sudden rise to fame. While no one is calling the project a Nirvana biopic, the similarities between the fictional protagonist and the late Kurt Cobain are said to be fairly obvious. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Living Solo
liveDaily reports: Guitar whiz Vernon Reid, best known for his work with Living Colour, has signed with the Favored Nations label, which has set a May 4 release date for the new Vernon Reid & Masque album "Known Unknown." 

Reid recorded the set over the last two years, between touring and other commitments. In a statement, Reid said that the album contains a mix of originals and "fractured standards," like the band's take on Thelonious Monk's "Brilliant Corners" and Lee Morgan's "Sidewinder." - Click Here for the Full Story 

George Michael Net Only
Ananova reports: George Michael is retiring from the music business to become an Internet-only artist. 

The singer said he will never make another album for sale in record shops - because he does not need the money and is sick of being famous. 

Instead he intends to put all future songs on the Internet for free. Fans will be invited to make donations in exchange for downloading the tracks, which multi-millionaire Michael will give to charity. The 40-year-old star made the surprise announcement during an interview with Jo Whiley on Radio 1. 

He is currently promoting his long-awaited new album, Patience, but revealed it would be his last. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Letterman Vines
Press release reports: Tune in to CBS on 3/17 to check out The Vines perform �Ride', the first single from their upcoming release �Winning Days'. The album will hit the shelves on 3/23. Check your local listings for time and channel. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Anti-Nazi Show
Aversion reports: England's Anti-Nazi League steps up its efforts to rouse the punk community, with its Love Music, Hate Racism concert. 

The concert, scheduled for March 16 at the London Astoria, features The Libertines, Buzzcocks, The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, The Others and more. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Megadeth Ellefson On Reunion
Blabbermouth reports: [abridged]Former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson spoke with BLABBERMOUTH.NET about the recent Internet reports suggesting that he was asked by Dave Mustaine to join the newly revamped MEGADETH but turned down the offer for reasons that were never clarified. 

"I am currently not involved in any new [MEGADETH] recordings at this point, even though I was ready, willing and able to do so when Dave approached me about it last year," Ellefson said. "It's unfortunate for all the fans that things did not work out with us on this go 'round. Not sure yet if this is a bump in the road or a permanent closure for me with MEGADETH." 

[see full story link to learn about David's new band]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Devildriver Vid
Blabbermouth reports: DEVILDRIVER, the new band fronted by former COAL CHAMBER singer Dez Fafara, will be filming a video for the track "Nothing's Wrong?" in late March/early April at Velvet Jones in the group's hometown of Santa Barbara. DEVILDRIVER's first video, for the track "I Could Care Less", was directed by P.R. Brown (JERRY CANTRELL, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE) and was shot last October. Both cuts come off the group's self-titled debut album, out now on Roadrunner Records. - Click Here for the Full Story 

More Download Bands
Digital Noise reports: The first wave of bands has been confirmed to appear on the SNICKERS Game On stage at Download Festival at Donington. Joining an already amazing line-up of Metallica, Linkin Park, Korn, Slipknot, Iggy & The Stooges, The Distillers, Machine Head and The Hives will be HiM, Electric Six, SOiL, Bowling For Soup, and Life Of Agony.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Queensryche DVD
Electric Basement reports: The extraordinary live show of the progressive metal band QUEENSRYCHE is captured on the new DVD 'The Art of Live' scheduled for release by Sanctuary Records on April 20, 2004. 

'The Art of Live' was filmed in summer and fall 2003 on Queensryche's tour promoting the Sanctuary studio album 'Tribe.' The summer tour was a co-headlining run with Dream Theater. 

Vocalist Geoff Tate, guitarist Michael Wilton, guitarist Mike Stone, bass guitarist Eddie Jackson and drummer Scott Rockenfield perform Queensryche classics, the finest 'Tribe' songs and a cover encore of The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" featuring Dream Theater. 

The songs on 'The Art of Live' include: "Tribe," "Sign of the Times," "Open," "Losing Myself," "Desert Dance," "Great Divide," "Rhythm of Hope," "My Global Mind," "Roads to Madness," "Della Brown," "Breaking the Silence," "The Needle Lies," "Best I Can" and "Won't Get Fooled Again." - Click Here for the Full Story 

Obituary Reform
I Ate Your Microphone reports: Obituary have followed their reunion at the Tampa, Florida Sun N' Steel Festival by announcing that they will be playing more shows, and working on a new album to be released later in the year through Roadrunner Records.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Andre Hendrix
Net Music Countdown reports: Outkast's Andre 3000 says he won't be trying to fill Jimi Hendrix's boots in the film about the rock legend when it comes to playing guitar. Said Andre, "I won't do my own guitar playing. It will probably be someone who knows Jimi's style inside and out." The rapper says that what he does plan on concentrating on is Jimi's persona offstage, where he was a quiet and thoughtful man. "Jimi was wild onstage," comments Andre, "Offstage, he was really calm." - Click Here for the Full Story 

More Mac
liveDaily reports: Fleetwood Mac, which kicks off a U.S. tour in May, has extended the run into July. 

About a half-dozen July dates now grace an itinerary that already features a full contingent of May and June shows. The latest additions include stops in Washington state, Montana, Colorado and Canadian province Alberta. 

The group has also flip-flopped two late-June shows; a planned June 26 stop in Concord, CA, is now June 27, and a planned June 27 stop in the Sacramento area is now June 26. 

More dates are expected, as the band plans to remain on the road through the summer, according to Warner Bros. Records. - Click Here for the Full Story