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. The Day in Rock - antiMUSIC.com's look at Today's Top Rock News Stories From Across the Web

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ZZ Top Live DVD Debut and Tour

Kayos reports: On June 24, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release the first-ever live concert on DVD and Blu-Ray from ZZ Top, Live From Texas. With a running time of more than two hours, the disc is filled with the kind of Southern Fried sizzle ZZ Top is world-famous for. Live From Texas features 17 barnburners of blues, barrelhouse boogie and deliciously fuzz-toned hard rock.

Singer/guitarist/frontman Billy F Gibbons, Bassist Dusty Hill and Drummer Frank Beard make up one of the most instantly recognizable bands in rock history. From their 1969 Houston inception to this 2008 DVD release, they are the only major band in history to never have had a personnel change in almost a 40-year history.

Bonus features on Live From Texas include Gibbons, Hill and Beard discussing the evolution of the band over a hot game of poker. Viewers will also go behind-the-scenes on show day in Dallas and on location on a band photo shoot. There is also one bonus track: a ZZ Top's reverent re-interpretation of Jimi Hendrix's "Foxy Lady." Plus, initial quantities of the DVD will come packaged in a slimline digipack with booklet of exclusive live photos. - tracklisting and tour dates

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Death Video For Cutie Fans

PR reports: Death Cab For Cutie has released the much awaited new video for "I Will Possess Your Heart," the first single from their upcoming album "NARROW STAIRS".

Death Cab For Cutie once again push the envelope creatively and visually, enlisting long time friend and collaborator Aaron Stuart-Ahn as well as acclaimed cinematographer/videographer Shawn Kim to shoot this amazing companion piece.

Stewart-Ahn and the female protagonist traveled the world, filming in ten different locations � London, Paris, Frankfurt, Carthage and Tunis in Tunisia, Bangkok, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Cambodia, Tokyo and Hokkaido in Japan, and NYC. For the performance footage, Shawn Kim spent a day shooting the band in a food storage facility in Los Angeles where the temperature never rose above 12 degrees. - Watch the video for "I Will Possess Your Heart" here

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Madonna Books 2 Gigs for 25 Million Dollars?

antiMusic reports: The material girl doesn't come cheap. In fact, you better have some serious money on the table if you want her to grace your stage. The Sun has the story: MADONNA is to sign the most lucrative contracts of her career � playing two gigs in Dubai for �12.5MILLION. [roughly 25 million USD]

The Queen Of Pop is finalising negotiations on a deal to finish her forthcoming world tour in the oil-rich Arab state in November.

[a source told The Sun's reporter] "The negotiations for the tour to stop in Dubai in November are being finalised and she will get �7.5million for the one show only. The figure is so big because of her new contract with Live Nation and the huge funds available from private promoters in Dubai." - more on this story

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Gnarls Barkley Going Backwards

Gigwise reports: Gnarls Barkley have released their latest album again � only this time 'The Odd Couple' is available backwards.

'ElpuoC ddO ehT' can be downloaded in full via the band's new fronttoback-backtofront website.

The duo were forced to release 'The Odd Couple' early last month after it was leaked online. - more on this story

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Circa Survive Donate Song to Invisible Children

punknews.org reports: Circa Survive have donated a b-side titled "1,000 Witnesses" to Invisible Children who are currently giving the track to fans who donate $0.99 or more to the charity.

The charity aims to fight the horrible practice of recruiting children into a bloody civil war in Uganda, many of whom are kidnapped from their parents and forced to serve in the rebel armies currently in conflict with the government of the country.

The charity says that fans can give more than a buck, "feel free to tack on a few extra bucks for the kids by clicking in the box and setting the amount you'd like to donate! - more on this story

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Kanye Photo Shy

idolator reports: Given their love of content control, it's probably not too surprising that Universal Music Group has been issuing DMCA takedown notices to YouTube users who have posted bits of Kanye West's Glow In The Dark Tour to the video-sharing site�for example, Animal, who threw up a few clips from this week's Seattle kickoff show only to have them swiftly removed.

But as it turns out, Kanye doesn't want there to be any unauthorized record of his performances on this tour at all�he's not letting "photography of any kind" go down at his shows this summer, possibly because he only wants people to pay $60 and up to see his crazy staging. (Don't worry, Kanye�the picture attached to this post is from the Grammys!)

If this email is regarding Kanye West's Glow In The Dark Tour, please be advised that Kanye is not allowing photography of any kind during his performance on this tour, and be prepared to adjust your coverage accordingly. We will be contacting you regarding ticket requests a few days prior to the show in your market. - more on this story

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Electrocute Junkie XL By Guessing EP Release Date

PR reports: Electrocute are back with a brand new EP titled "On the Beat" produced with their pal Junkie XL.

It's a 6-track package of pop goodies, dance classics and glamorous rock'n'roll defiance. Founding member Nicole Morier has relocated from Berlin to Los Angeles and paired up with sassy Aussie Legs Le Brock to bring you this summer's beach party hits, inspired by their new sun stroked, palm tree surroundings. "One the Beat" is a dazzling infusion of grooving electro dance beats, swaggering fuzz fueled guitars, and sugary vocals delivering Electrocute's trademark naughty but clever lyrical design. Get ready for a delightfully eclectic journey that blends what the duo have branded "spaghetti western-disco-rock" into an all around fun and inspired collection of songs.

Will be released digitally through iTunes, Amazon, Napster, etc. [But you'll have the guess the release date since their publicist didn't bother to mention it.] Electrocute kicks off another leg of infamous live show adventures on their European tour beginning May 3rd. - Find some clues to the EP release date and grab the tour dates.

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The Veronicas US Tour

Total Assault reports: The Veronicas will begin their U.S. tour in May with Natasha Bedingfield and Kate Voegele.

Here are all of the Veronicas upcoming dates. The * dates are without Natasha and Kate.

05/21 - Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues
05/23 - Orlando, FL House of Blues
05/24 - * Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
05/25 - * Greenville, SC Heritage Park
05/27 - Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
05/28 - * Charlotte, NC Whisky River
05/30 - * Savannah, GA Forsyth Park
- more dates

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Fall of Serenity Set US Release

PR reports: German behemoth Fall of Serenity is set to bring its fourth full-length, The Crossfire, to American soils on May 13th. But much has changed since we last heard from the death-thrash ax slayers.

After 2006's herculean Bloodred Salvation, long-time bass player John Gahlert hooked up with the microphone, while guitarist Alex Fischer switched over to the bass and Ferdinand Rewicki joined the band on the vacant 6-string spot. All the personnel shifting made for a creatively reinvigorated FoS, and a gargantuan leap forward from the group's previous work. Clearly trumpeting the vintage bay area spirit of the 80s, The Crossfire is a confident slab of ultra-heavy thrash, bolstered by massive guitars, smartly-written hooks, and extreme metal's characteristic brutality. The Crossfire was produced and recorded at the well known Rape Of Harmonies Studio by Ralf M�ller (Impending Doom, Maroon, Heaven Shall Burn, etc) and was mixed and mastered by legendary metal-minded Swede Dan Swan�.

Singer John Gahlert on the new tunes: "We have worked hard to have these new circumstances within the band. There's a new spirit we feel, pushing us forward into a slightly different and thrilling destination. The Crossfire is our statement against musical boundaries and bigotry. Working with Dan Swan� (hail to the king!) was another new piece in the puzzle and it perfectly fits to the aura of our sound. After Leif Jensen (Dew-Scented) appeared on the last album Bloodred Salvation, we forced female metal icon Sabina Classen (Holy Moses, Temple Of The Absurd) to be part of the new record...with fantastic result, she has a great and authentic voice. We are really looking forward to the things to come." - more on this story

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Original CrueFest Sets The Record Straight

Sleazeroxx reports: CrueFest, an event by the fans for the fans that donates its proceeds to The Skylar Neil Memorial Fund, would like to set the record straight regarding the just-announced "First Ever CrueFest"... as it is being touted as the "First Ever"...

CrueFest was founded by a group of Motley Crue fans from all over North America. The ORIGINAL CrueFest took place in 2001 in Ohio. Two weeks later, CrueFest was held at the Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood, California, and it expanded throughout North America to cities such as Orlando, New England, New York, Texas, Chicago, San Francisco, Nova Scotia, and even Vancouver in 2006 at The Roxy. The Vancouver show at the Roxy was sponsored by 99.3 The Fox in Vancouver. There is also a CrueFest held in Australia.

Cruefest is an established charity event from the very beginning (August of 2001) ...involving the Skylar Neil Foundation. Members of Motley Crue have participated in CrueFest, as they have signed prizes that were given away at the events. In addition, Neil Wharton (Vince Neil's son) has headlined a number of events with his band - Rock N Roll Junkies. As a result of our hard work, several thousand dollars has been donated to the Skylar Neil Foundation over the past 7 years. - more on this story

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54 Seconds Tour

PR reports: 54 Seconds has confirmed a tour that will see them on the road in May. The band, headed up by Spencer Gibb, who is the son of the Bee Gees' Robin Gibb, released their latest album, "Postcards from California," in 2007.

54 Seconds was born in Southern England but burst out as a musical force in Austin, TX in the late 1990's. Best described as psychedelic-pop headphone music with swirling guitar textures and freakish keyboards, the band renders excellent melodies, heartening lyrics and eerie, otherworldly atmospheres that wrench the gut of the listener. Joining Gibb in 54 Seconds are Rachel Loy (bass), Stewart Cochran (keys) and Jeff Botta (drums).

Each member has played with other bands in a myriad of musical styles. Gibb is both a music and film producer, having created several noteworthy videos for the band. "Better?" (off critically-acclaimed album Coma) won the SXSW Film Festival Jury Award for Best Music Video and was in rotation on MTV Europe. A performer from a very young age, singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist Loy has appeared on NBC's Today Show and had a Billboard-charting hit song in 2003. - more on this story

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Midnight Maniacs Krokus Reunite

BW&BK reports: Long anticipated and now officially confirmed: KROKUS is back in its original formation. Marc Storace (vocals), Fernando Von Arb (guitar), Chris Von Rohr (bass) and Freddy Steady (drums) are rocking together again.

The band's greatest success internationally happened in the early '80's with this line-up. Up to today Krokus is still the biggest rock export Switzerland ever had.

According to a band update, "On August 2nd, the 'originals' are playing the only concert planned for 2008 in their native Switzerland. Fasten your seatbelts, because on that date Krokus will rock the Stade De Suisse stadium in Bern. Afterwards the band will work on their comeback album - more on this story

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Synastry Tour

PR reports: Montreal based death metal quartet Synastry have announced headlining tour dates in support of their upcoming debut album, "Blind Eyes Bleed". The band will be playing a string of dates in Ontario, before their CD Release party on May 17th, 2008. A summer tour across Canada is being planned and will be announced shortly.

"We are thrilled to be on the road again in support of 'BLIND EYES BLEED'. SYNASTRY is looking forward to meeting up with old friends and new faces throughout the coming tours," says frontman Jimmy Anastasopoulos. "Each night will be a party and each show will be crushing. Make sure you're there."

Synastry's "Blind Eyes Bleed" will be released on May 20th, 2008 through Year of the Sun Records. The album was produced and engineered by Slaves on Dope guitarist Kevin Jardine and features guest appearances by The Agonist's frontwoman Alissa White Gluz and former Arch Enemy founding vocalist Johan Liiva. - more on this story

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Lou Reed's Berlin The Movie

Noble PR reports: Artificial Eye today announced the forthcoming 25th July UK theatrical release of "Lou Reed's Berlin." Directed by Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly), "Lou Reed's Berlin" documents the world premiere of "Berlin" when it was originally filmed at St. Anne's Warehouse, New York City in December 2006.

Staging Berlin has been discussed for over 30 years and in December of 2006 it became a reality. Berlin was said to be one of the most depressing albums ever made and as it was brought to life it was far from dismal. Using the divided city of Berlin as its backdrop the story of Caroline and her lovers is told through the emotive and provocative words of Lou Reed.

With performers like Fernando Saunders, Antony, Steve Hunter, Rob Wassermann, Rupert Christie and Sharon Jones, a seven piece orchestra and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus all working to create a captivating and enveloping world, Lou Reed is able to take the audience with him as he bares witness to Caroline's self-destruction. - more on this story

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Slipped Disc Records Closes

Blabbermouth reports: Legendary independent record store Slipped Disc Records of Valley Stream, New York officially closed its doors today after 25 years in business.

Slipped Disc Records has been the top independent record store for heavy metal, hardcore, rock and alternative music in the New York area since 1982. The store was featured in the documentary "Get Thrashed: The Story of Thrash Metal" and "Headbanger's Ball".

DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy recently stated about Slipped Disc, "Growing up a rock and metal fan on Long Island in the '70s and '80s was very different than it is today. There were no chain stores like Virgin and Tower and, of course, no Internet mailorder services like Amazon. The only way to pick up albums was to shop at your local 'mom and pop' record stores... in the early '80s, as I discovered more 'underground' metal bands like IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST, MOT�RHEAD, ACCEPT, MERCYFUL FATE, LOUDNESS and RAVEN (from reading my imported copies of Kerrang!), there was no place in small town Long Beach, Long Island to find the latest records from these bands I was reading about. - more on this story

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. Tantric - The End Begins

Tantric completists will probably be picking this up on release date, there's enough material here to keep you happy. Most modern rock fans should dig this, too. Even with the weaker songs floating around on this disc. (3.5 stars) - Read the full Tantric - The End Begins review

. Bisc 1 - When Electric Night Falls

When Electric Night Falls takes an honest and chilling look at the daily life of a young man desperately trying not to succumb to the gang lifestyle even though he is completely surrounded by it. (4 stars) - Read the full Bisc 1 - When Electric Night Falls review

. Artist of the Decade: Clutch

We're looking back at 10 years of antiMusic. No pretense, no posing, no hype and no BS- just pure rock fury. That's Clutch. So forget artist of the month, or even artist of the year, Clutch is the undisputed artist of the antiMusic decade. - Read the full Artist of the Decade: Clutch review

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