Van Halen Bring Variety To Tour Kick Off Show

Blackmore has spent most of the past two decades focused on his medieval folk group Blackmore's Night, which also features his wife Candice Night. But in a recent interview he discussed taking a short break from that music to form a band to put on a handful of shows to perform some classic songs from Deep Purple and Raindow.

He tells French newspaper Le Parisien via Ultimate Classic Rock, "Just for a few days, next June. But for now, I'm not decided on the persons I want to work with.

"I've got a good idea about the ideal candidates, but it wouldn't be fair to say anything now. I will know exactly in one month who I want to have in this band to play Deep Purple and Rainbow songs. We will probably play three or four shows in June; that's all."

One person that isn't likely to be part of the group is former Rainbow and Deep Purple frontman Joe Lynn Turner. Blackmore had to say about the singer's possible involvement, "I think that Joe will not be part of the adventure, and he doesn't know it yet.

"He does his thing, I like him, and I made good albums and good songs with him, like "Street of Dreams' (a 1983 Rainbow track that Blackmore's Night later reworked). But I'm thinking about doing a mixture in the band, with famous people and not so famous ones. That's my state of mind at the moment, and you're the first person I talk to about it."

Mensch tells the BBC: "There aren't quality new hard rock bands to keep it up. Hard rock used to appeal, essentially, to your average 15-year-old male. He had bad skin, he didn't like his parents, girls didn't like him, and he was an angry kid - he was frustrated. And, lo and behold, there were 10,000 other people like yourself.

"The problem is, and we ask this all the time, where is the new Metallica? Please, anybody out there that's in a hard rock band under the age of 25, call me. We need you."

The rocker performed the show sitting on a metal throne, complete with the band's logo, more than a dozen guitar necks and lights shooting out in every direction.

The event in Grohl's hometown landed 20 years to the day of the release of the group's self-titled debut album, which the singer wrote and recorded on his own.

During the intro to "Big Me" from the debut, Grohl told the story of his June 12 accident in Gothenburg, Sweden, when he fell off stage early in the show, received treatement, and returned to finish the concert.

While in hospital following surgery, the singer came up with an idea as to how he could return to the stage for the group's summer tour of North America.

"If we come back to do some shows," Grohl thought, "build a throne. So I took a couple of Oxycontins and I drew a picture (which was then displayed on the big screen behind the band). I said, 'If we're going to go out and do that Washington, DC show�I said I'm not missing this show for the world so you build me that throne and we'll play a Washington, DC rock concert.'"

He then dedicated "Big Me" to the group's road crew for their assistance in making his sketch a reality. The Foo Fighters delivered a 24-song set, opening with "Everlong" and covered material from throughout their career.

Frontman Bruce Dickinson and guitarists Adrian Smith and Janick Gers were on hand to receive the honor also recognizes the group as one of the most globally successful and influential rock bands of all time, with more than 90 million albums sold worldwide.

"Nordoff Robbins is an exceptional charity and their dedication to changing people's lives through music therapy is something we all very much support," said the group. "We're extremely proud to receive the O2 Silver Clef Award and be part of the 40th anniversary event celebrating this wonderful achievement."

Last year's honoree was Jimmy Page; past winners include The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd, Genesis and Queen.

And while it at first seemed Adler was onboard for recording duties only, he has since agreed to play as many live shows as possible. But whatever happens, he has promised Randy Blythe and co that he is going nowhere as far as Lamb Of God is concerned.

He tells The Jasta Show: "The first thing I did after I had that conversation with Dave was to get in touch with the guys and just see, 'How does everybody feel about this? I don't want it to come across as a threat. I don't want this to feel like I'm leaving or anything.'

"And everybody was stoked. Because they know. They just know. I'm up until 4am every day listening to Megadeth. So, they were, like, 'Dude, it's amazing. Good for you.'

"If ever it came to a point where there was a question of this or that, it's gonna be Lamb Of God. Lamb Of God is my baby. Being in Megadeth is kind of like I'm helping babysit somebody else's kid. I love being there, but that's not where home is."

The Danish band was set to perform at the annual music festival which is set to take place on September 9-12 in Atlanta, Ga. and it would have been the band's very first live appearance in the U.S.

The group and Olesen both released statements about the turn of events. The band says, "It is with deep regret that we have to announce the following: Anubis Gate will have to cancel this year's Prog Power US Festival. This is an event that we have been looking forward to for years now, but due to unfortunate health problems within the band, we see no other way but to cancel the show.

"We hope for your understanding and pray that all who have been looking forward to the show and bought tickets will accept our deep-felt apologies. It is really out of our hands, and even though we should have wanted a replacement for Kim it is impossible at this hour. Hopefully we'll see you sometime in the future, when the "clouds have passed".

Kim Olesen explains, "Dear Anubis Mates. I have recently been diagnosed with a deep depression and panic anxiety (meaning that I suffer from heavy panic attacks). It is with the greatest of regrets that I have had to realise that I am simply not well enough to go through the logistics of playing so far away from home. I was looking enormously forward to playing in front of you all, indeed it would have been a highlight of my career as a musician. And, of course, I was also looking forward to meeting so many people I know from social medias, it would have been a hangout that I would cherish for the rest of my life.

"But the reality is that even though I am in treatment and the depression side of things has seen progress, the panic anxiety is taking much longer to subside than I had anticipated and hoped for. My doctor and therapist's verdict is clear; the risk I would be taking is that my condition could become chronical. I am glad that my fantastic bandmembers Henrik, Michael and Morten have been supportive through what is a very hard time for me, as has my family, friends and all other relations as well.

Sarzo tells The Metal Voice: "I can tell you this because I was on the bus when Ozzy got the mix version of the record and I saw his expression and I heard how he felt about it. He thought it was crap, the mix.

The new lineup, which also features Jerry Only and Eric "Chupacabra" Arce, plan to release a new single this fall called "Zombie Girl" with a b-side called "Vampire Girl".

The band has also revealed that they will be playing their debut album "Static Age" on their upcoming tour legs. The band will be playing the tracks from the long delayed first full length album in order at each show during the trek.

The "Static Age" album was recorded in 1978 but wasn't officially released until a decade later when it was part of the band's 1996 Box Set and was later released on its own the following year..

The tour will also feature special second night shows in New York City and Los Angeles where the band will play their "Walk Among Us", the band's first official album release (1982), and the 1983 follow-up "Earth A.D." albums in their entirety.

The first leg of the Static Age Revisited Tour is set to hit the UK in August, kicking off on August 1st at the O2 Academy Islington in London and wrapping up on August 6th in Blackpool.

The North American leg of the Static Age Revisited Tour will begin on October 16th in Toronto, On at the Phoenix Concert Theatre and conclude on November 27th in Chicago.

In a statement signed off by all four members, Blitz Kids say: "We have always said that we are friends, first and foremost, before a band. And it is as friends that we have reached this decision to end this incredible adventure that we started eight years ago.

"Between then and now, this band has taken us to beautiful places that we'd never have experienced otherwise, and introduced us to people who we consider family and friends for life.

Draiman tells Sixx Sense: "I'm done with social media. I'm done being anybody's punching bag. I invested three, four years of solid interaction, of trying to make a difference, of trying to be a voice of reason, of trying to be something entertaining for people."

He continues: "The internet, sadly, has become a preying ground for trolls and predators. When you're in the position that I'm in, a wife and a child who'd just come into this world, you start wondering whether some of the threats and nonsense are worth it."

The band also revealed that they will be going forward with taking part in this year's Summer Slaughter Tour with Conquering Dystopia's Alex Rudinger filling in for Lanser on the trek that will also feature Arch Enemy, Born of Osiris, Veil of Maya, The Acacia Strain, Obscura, After the Burial, Cattle Decapitation, Beyond Creation.

Obscura's Steffen Kummerer released the following message to fans via the band's Facebook page, "Regrettably, we are unable to perform at Progstage Festival, Tel Aviv and Metaldays Festival Slovenia this year.

"Our drummer Sebastian Lanser overstrung his left hand and suffers from a serious inflammation since then. Playing this complex music with this condition won't allow us to play a tight 80 minute headlining show our fans and we as musicians demand.

"We decided not to play a halfhearted set, instead we postpone both concerts and come back with an extended live show including songs of our new, upcoming album. Dates will be published soon.

"In the meantime Alex R�dinger (Conquering Dystopia) will step in to play this year's Summer Slaughter festival tour in North America."

Rudinger released the following statement via Youtube, "I am very happy to announce that I'll be filling in for OBSCURA on the 2015 Summer Slaughter tour this July/August!

The band's North American tour will be kicking off on July 17th in Santa Cruz, CA at Don Quixote's and wrapping up on September 13th in Portsmouth, NH at 3S Artspace.

The European tour will launch two days later on September 15th in Amsterdam at the Melkweg and conclude on October 3rd in Sion, Switzerland at Le Port Franc.

The band expects to announce additional dates and have already revealed stops in Istanbul, Turkey on October 7th and a three night stand in Moscow on October 9th, 10th and 11th.

Heavily influenced by classic rock, The Night Flight Orchestra features Bj�rn Strid (Soilwork) David Andersson (Soilwork) and Sharlee D' Angelo (Arch Enemy, Spiritual Beggars).

The new album, "Skyline Whispers", was released last month and was recorded at Nordic Sound Lab Studios, Skara (Sweden) and was engineered by the band and Bengan Andersson and was mixed by Sebastian Forslund.

Bowness revealed these details about the song, "Originally a No-Man demo called Best Boy Electric, I heard this for the first time in over 20 years when Steven Wilson sent it to me in October 2014 for consideration for the reissue of no-man's Lost Songs album.

"I'd completely forgotten the song, and on hearing it again couldn't believe we'd not pursued it further. The No-Man version was skeletal with an improvised, incomplete lyric, but on re-hearing the song in 2014, it felt special to me and I knew where I'd like to take it musically. A new lyric was written as were a couple of new instrumental themes.

"One of my favourite songs on the album, it reminds me of aspects of the early no-man that I loved, while also feeling very much a part of the music I'm currently making."

Now, the singer says doctors had to deal with removing two tumours during his treatment. Dickinson tells the BBC: "I had two - one was three and a half centimetres, the size of a golf ball - and the other one was two and a half centimetres and getting a bit bigger.

"The only symptom was that I had a lump in my neck, and that was the second one. So I went to the doctor and they took a scan of it, had a look, took a poke around and went, 'You have neck cancer.'

"I've just been through what a ton of people actually go through every day. There's thousands of people in the UK and around the world who have treatment for this kind of thing, so, in that respect, the only thing that's special about it is that I'm quite a well-known person."

Innes was one of the founding members of the powerhouse quartet, which also features Grigor Leslie on bass and Polish harp player Peter Narojczyk. The band pledged to Innes that they would continue after his death.

Trouble With The Blues received an 8/10 from The Blues Magazine who called it "blues at its best, dripping with anguished emotion yet also joyful and entertaining."

Speculation mounted that surviving members Mike 'Mike D' Diamond and Adam 'Ad-Rock' Horovitz were contemplating a live return after they filed an application with the US Patent and Trademark Office for the Beastie Boys name to be used in conjunction with "live performances by a musical group".

Neither the album or film have been given titles as of yet, but the record comes out on March 11, 2016, with the documentary being shown the following day.

Portony tells Metal Wani: "We're almost done with the new album. Richie's finishing up his tracks at the moment. And mixing begins in July, so we'll deliver the record to the label very soon. The tour is already scheduled to begin at the beginning of October in America.

Gould tells KaaosTV: "I kind of felt we got into this era when Guns N 'Roses came in and everything went retro. We're still coming out of this retro thing.

"It has nothing to do with music sales or the business. It has to do with culture working in a forward direction. We went backwards for about 20 years - I'd like to see us go forward again."

Asked about the future of stadium rock, he replies: "It's hard today. To get to that size you need so much organization, logistics, corporate sponsorship and stuff.

Frontman Barney Greenway says: "Having been fortunate to be invited to Kathmandu just over three years ago to play a gig, I remember fondly the unique, enriching experience that it gave us as a band.

"When the earthquake struck on April 25, 2015, I recalled the general frailty of the buildings in Kathmandu - something which you see on several continents where deprivation makes everyday habitation a very hazardous experience - and could already imagine the consequences.

The band say: "We started work on I Heard You Listening back in September of 2013 and made it a point to get together every Thursday night to smash really big rocks into little bitty rocks that can be thrown with purpose.

"Over the next year we bashed and crashed and chipped away until we had something worth pointing at. The year left us with 14 songs, nine of which fit together perfectly for this new album.

Bonus tracks, demos, extensive sleeve notes and rare photographs are also included, along with previously unreleased live concert recordings from performances at Stockholm's Konserthuset, the BBC and Woburn Abbey Festival.

The Moore track is one of 10 covers of classic anthems from Judas Priest, Savatage, Black Sabbath and more featured on Metallum Nostrum, a bonus disc included with the 2CD mediabook and all limited editions of the group's sixth album, Blessed & Possessed, due July 17 via Napalm Records.

Drummer Roel Van Helden says: "Like most of us, I began listening to metal when I was 11 years old. Later, I discovered Thin Lizzy, who - just like Iron Maiden - had a big influence on me. I still love to spin Gary Moore's records while having a good glass of wine. Also, his blues phases were genius."

Drummer Pieter Von Hoorn had the following to say about the new DVD, "We had a preview of the Knight Area 'Hyperlive' DVD yesterday evening. We were amazed, it is far beyond expectations. The guys of Metal Mind Productions did an excellent job! Sound and vision are superb."

An October 5 show at London's Underworld is one of 10 stops on the autumn run, which will open in Berlin on October 1. Frontman Paul Masvidal says: "We are ecstatic to be coming to Europe and sharing the Cynic frequency with fans across the pond. Cynic will be performing as a trio with many new surprises yet to be seen and heard in this tight format."

John Etheridge, Roy Babbington, John Marshall and Theo Travis have been playing and recording under the name Soft Machine Legacy, but the band's agent says they've now dropped the 'Legacy' tag.

When the Fab Four first came to the United States, the country was in the full throes of Beatlemania. Before stepping off of the airplane, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr was major celebrities; this was evidenced by the huge crowd waiting to meet them at New York's John F Kennedy Airport on February 7, 1964.

The band didn't have much downtime during their first trip to America, and when they did they spent a lot of it in their hotel room.

John Lennon, however, decided he wanted to experience Manhattan. Of course, he couldn't just stroll out into the streets of the city. So, as he recalls in this interview that took place about a decade later, he snuck out of his hotel and stopped into a few bars and clubs.

After seeing a series of paintings by MANDEM that incorporated the mythology of Medusa into contemporary feminist and social issues--such as domestic violence--I became stuck on the idea of writing a song about her from her own perspective. Eventually, it morphed into something larger, with Medusa becoming one of many characters mentioned, but I was able to stay true to the theme of violence against women, from objectification and manipulation to tangible forms of abuse.

I decided it needed to be an anthem, of sorts, but I didn't want to lose the "myth" aspect that had inspired it all, so it became a summoning song: we recognize the crimes, we call the entities, and we take revenge. It's not a happy song about making peace, it's a war cry.

When we got to the chorus, it only made sense to pay homage to the biblical story of the demon Legion ("My name is Legion; for we are many.") as this was my female version of the demon(s).

"To those who cannot speak/ to those whose mouths are empty/ we will stand for you/ for we are many..."

Hence, the New Legion.