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Day in Rock Report for 03/16/2016


Today's Top Stories


AC/DC Considering Krokus Singer?

(Classic Rock) Krokus frontman Marc Storace says he'd accept the offer to replace Brian Johnson in AC/DC - if it's ever made. And his comments suggest that wheels may already be in motion behind the scenes.

The Maltese vocalist was invited to audition for Angus Young and co in 1980, following the death of Bon Scott. But he declined because Swiss outfit Krokus were enjoying their own success at the time.

AC/DC this month reported that Johnson was ordered to stop touring immediately or risk a total loss of hearing. They cancelled a run of shows on their Rock Or Bust world tour, but said they'd be rescheduled, probably with another singer in place.

Storace tells Blastechno: "Obviously there's my loyalty to Krokus, but the guys would understand if the offer came. I would certainly take it up this time and go for an audition.

"Then it's up to Angus to decide. For me, AC/DC is Angus Young - no offence to Brian Johnson. I think Brian did a magnificent job with his unique kind of voice. But losing your hearing is not a nice thing."

Both bands are signed to the Sony label, making it possible that negotiations are already underway. Storace says: "I actually didn't even have to call Sony. They were already on the ball. This thing is not an easy thing to decide.

"I don't know what's happening and I don't want to ask. If they decide it's going to be someone else, I'll continue with my life like I've always done." Read more here.

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Carl Palmer Plans Keith Emerson Tribute Concert

(Radio.com) Emerson Lake and Palmer drummer Carl Palmer, who first shared the news of Keith Emerson's death on Friday (March 11) has taken to his website to say that he hopes to organize a tribute concert to the legendary keyboardist.

He said, "I will be looking at putting together a tribute show to Keith Emerson hopefully in June this year, and I hope this is something you will all want to come along and see to help celebrate his music. This I feel, is the very least I can do to honor Keith's talent and musicianship in the best way I know. "

He added "I will deeply miss Keith and I want you all to know I will carry on flying the ELP banner and playing the great music with my band for many years to come' We have lost a very talented and gifted musician but this great music will continue for a long, long time." Read more here.

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Bullet For My Valentine's Matt Tuck Makes Gig History

(TeamRock Radio) Bullet For My Valentine's Matt Tuck has performed the world's first ever continuous air, sea and land show in Lyngsfjord, North Norway. The vocalist performed in freefall from a helicopter, on a speed boat across the Lyngsfjord and on a sled pulled by huskies.

He was joined by three friends, who listened to him via headphones. After the gig, Tuck says: "I've played some incredible gigs around the world, but that was right up there, literally. Jager's Ice Cold Gig was one of the very best and definitely the most extreme.

"It was my first skydiving experience, so dealing with the excitement and nerves - even before you add in the ruthless cold - was intense, but totally worth it.

"It's awesome to say you did a world's first in music, but to do it with my best mates, the guys who were there with me from the beginning, made it unforgettable." Read more and watch video here.

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Halford Loves Idea Of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Sabbath Tour

(Classic Rock) Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford says that he loves former bandmate KK Downing's idea of a greatest metal tour with Priest, Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath sharing the bill.

Guitarist Downing - who left the band in 2011 and was replaced by Richie Faulkner - said this month that he would only consider a return to Priest if they embarked on a "greatest metal tour" with other giants of the genre or as part of any future Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction.

Now Halford says the idea excites him too. He tells Metal Shock Finland: "I think that's the dream of a lot of people, to imagine Maiden and Sabbath and Priest and Led Zeppelin. Can you imagine what that would be like at Wembley? Oh my God! It would just be mad.

"It would be like multiple nights. Forget about 50 shows that Michael Jackson didn't do. It would be 100 shows at Wembley. So, yeah, it's great to hear that there's that passion still in KK's voice for Priest." Read more here.

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Latest News


Killswitch Engage Streaming New Album 'Incarnate' In Full

(TeamRock Radio) Killswitch Engage have streamed latest album Incarnate in full - featuring bonus tracks that only appear on the special edition. The band's eighth record was launched last week, featuring 12 songs in the standard edition. Three more can be heard in the online stream series.

Frontman Jesse Leach recently told Metal Hammer: "There was no discussion with Incarnate - people just wrote demos, submitted them, and that was what it was. It was a natural progression.

"We definitely pushed our style a bit and didn't stick to the formula, but we also made a record that to me still sounds like Killswitch Engage." Check out the stream here.

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Firestorm Over AC/DC's Brian Johnson Status In The Band

AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson's friend Jim Breuer caused a firestorm over comments that he made in a podcast that suggested the singer felt that he "kinda got kicked to the curb" by the band and have already found a replacement singer.

After several news stories based on his comments surfaced, the Saturday Night Live alumni Breuer walked back his remarks while reminding people that he is a comedian that exaggerates and gets carried away.

Here is the clarification Breuer posted on Facebook, "I have seen some stories circulating about my podcast. As a friend, I saw Brian withdrawn for the first time in my life. He's not a quitter, he seemed hurt by the situation of being between a rock and a hard place. I spoke as a true fan and friend, simply venting as if he was a brother of mine. I hope to see him Rock Out one more time. You have to remember I'm a comedian & a storyteller. I definitely exaggerate and sometimes I get a little carried away!! And this was one of those times!"

The comedian later took to Twitter to further explain, "As far as the podcast - I was not quoting Brian Johnson's words- he was down & out - hoping to finish the tour! It's mostly me venting." He also tweeted, "I had no clue that story would go so viral- but people need to understand . I'm just a friend & fan - with hopes they all finish the tour!"

You can listen to his original comments that sparked the controversy below:



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Ozzy Osbourne In The Studio For Blizzard of Ozz Anniversary

(ITS) The latest episode of the syndicated radio show In The Studio: The Stories Behind History's Greatest Rock Bands features Ozzy Osbourne for the 35th anniversary of his best-selling solo debut Blizzard of Ozz. The show sent over the following details:

Having been fired by Britain's heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath, by 1980 Ozzy Osbourne was, for all practical purposes, washed up. Ozzy found himself with low self esteem and a raging drug and alcohol problem. If not for the heroic actions of his then-manager and future wife Sharon Arden, Ozzy would never have been offered the chance to clean up his act and hold auditions for a new band, where he discovered a diminutive 25-year old guitarist, Randy Rhoads, who inspired Osbourne.

After waiting nearly six months for Blizzard of Ozz to be released in the US, Ozzy's "Crazy Train" nearly derailed his solo career with two of the most notorious incidents ever in rock history, including a shocking stunt in a record company conference room involving a live dove. Ozzy explains to InTheStudio host Redbeard what happened.

"So Sharon (manager) says to me 'We've got to make an impression.' She says, 'I want you to go into the board room, take these two doves, and throw them up in the air as a peace offering.' So, I drank a bottle of booze in the morning and said, 'I'll make an impression.' - Ozzy Osbourne

Nevertheless Osbourne would end up selling over four million copies in the US alone while helping to define the '80s pop-metal movement with classics "Crazy Train", "Mr. Crowley", "I Don't Know" , and "Suicide Solution". Additionally in this interview, Ozzy makes a passionate plea for anyone struggling with substance abuse to seek free help. Stream the episode here.

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Coheed And Cambria Release 'Island' Video

(Prog) Coheed And Cambria have released a new music video for their track Island. It's taken from latest album The Color Before The Sun - their first non-concept release. It's the second video they've made for the track, the first being issued last year.

Mainman Claudio Sanchez says: "When I think of these two iconic characters, I think of opposite attraction. I think of myself and my wife. How two opposite ends of a spectrum can create harmony and balance.

"In one way or another, these characters have been paired up with like-minded love interests - the bat and the cat, the alien and the Amazonian. I wanted to bring the Dark and the Light together." Watch the video here.

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Def Leppard's Vivian Campbell On His Worst Show Ever

(Classic Rock) Vivian Campbell has recalled a horrendous experience of playing a gig the day after undergoing chemotherapy. Def Leppard guitarist Campbell was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2013 and the following year the band were on tour with Kiss when he went through what he describes as his "worst ever show."

He tells the Irish Times: "It was in the summer of 2014 at the Los Angeles Forum. We were on tour with Kiss and I was having chemotherapy at the time, scheduling my treatments around the shows and the travel.

"It was one of the three regimes of chemotherapy that I had gone through over the last several years, but this was a particularly brutal one. It was called Ice - named after the combination of drugs used: ifosfamide, carboplatin and etoposide.

"I don't remember a thing about that show, but I do know we had to cut out a few of the songs as I sing a lot of the high parts and there was no way I was going to reach those notes that night. I've no idea how we got through it, but somehow we did."

He continues: "I had been at hospital the whole night before this show getting an infusion of Ice. I didn't realise it at the time, but it turns out I had a bad allergic reaction to one of the chemotherapy drugs.

"My eyes were completely swollen and I looked as if I had just done 10 rounds with Mike Tyson. That was the first time in my life that I wore sunglasses indoors for an arena show, but I looked truly horrendous and needed something to hide behind." Read more here.

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Rival Sons Streaming New Song 'Hollow Bones Pt. 1'

(TeamRock Radio) Rival Sons are streaming their new track Hollow Bones Pt. 1. It's taken from upcoming fifth album Hollow Bones, due for release on June 10 via Earache Records.

Guitarist Scott Holiday has previously said that the band wanted to challenge themselves on Hollow Bones, the follow-up to 2014's Great Western Valkyrie.

Discussing the album artwork, which was created by Martin Wittfooth, Holiday said: "I won't try to overly interpret the album cover or explain in detail why I believe it works perfectly with the album. But I can safely say I think this just might be my favorite cover of ours yet." Check out the song here.

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Tarja Turunen Announces New Album 'The Shadow Self'

(Prog) Tarja Turunen has revealed that her fourth rock album will be released in August. She'll issue The Shadow Self on August 5 via earMusic. The former Nightwish vocalist says: "I am very excited to finally be able to share the first details of my new heavy rock album with all of you.

"The Shadow Self is full of songs that are very dear to me. I cannot wait for you to hear the record that I believe is one of my heaviest albums to date. Keep your eyes open as there will be many surprises along the way to the album release on August 5. I really mean it. Surprises will follow very soon."

Tarja's fourth rock album is now available for pre-order in various formats, including standard CD, special edition CD/DVD and digital. See the cover art and upcoming live dates here.

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Escape The Fate Release 'Remember Every Scar' Video

(TeamRock Radio) Escape The Fate have released their music video for Remember Every Scar. The track is taken from the band's album Hate Me, which was released in October.

Singer Craig Mabbitt said: "Lyrically, a lot of these tracks are based around the hate we've received over the years and just embracing that and using it to our own advantage.

"It's very humbling for me to be able to listen to this collection of songs and think about where we've come from and what we've been through to get to this point."

Escape The Fate will also kick off on the 18-date We're All In This Together Tour in May with From Ashes To New and New Years Day. Watch the new video here.

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Europe Announce Final Countdown 30th Anniversary Tour

(Classic Rock) Europe have announced a run of show to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their seminal album The Final Countdown. The record was released in 1986 and spawned the smash hit single of the same name. Europe will play the album in its entirety on the tour, which includes an appearance at the Roundhouse in London on November 12.

Frontman Joey Tempest says: "With a catalogue of songs as big as ours, it is hard to devote so much of the setlist to one album. But this anniversary is special and we want to give the fans what they have asked for.

"The whole band is proud and excited to play the whole album from start to finish, especially as this, our third album, made it possible for us to fulfil our dream to become an international touring band.

"To make it extra special we will try and play songs from War Of Kings and other albums we haven't played before and at the same time we want to design a show that will be majestic and memorable for all of us." See the dates here.

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The Grateful Dead Announce 'July 1978: The Complete Recordings'

(Radio.com) The Grateful Dead have a rich concert history and fans will be happy to hear the latest effort to emerge from their massive vaults is a 12-CD box set featuring previously unreleased concerts recorded in July 1978. The collection contains five complete concerts, including the band's historic debut at the famed Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado.

July 1978: The Complete Recordings will be released on May 13 and is available for pre-order now at Dead.net. The set is limited to 15,000 individual numbered copies and includes five complete shows: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri (July 1), St. Paul Civic Center, St. Paul, Minnesota (July 3), Omaha Civic Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska (July 5), and Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison, Colorado (July 7 & 8).

The band will also release a stand alone three-disc set of their complete July 8, 1978 show at Red Rocks, which will be available on May 13 as well. The show is widely considered one of the greatest concerts in Grateful Dead history.

1978 was a banner year for the San Francisco band who performed over 80 shows, including three historic concerts at the Gizah pyramids in Egypt. That year the band also released their tenth studio album Shakedown Street, which features the iconic title track as well as classics like "I Need a Miracle," "Fire on the Mountain" and a cover of The Young Rascals' "Good Lovin'." Read more here.

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Every Time I Die In The Studio Working On New Album

(TeamRock Radio) Every Time I Die have confirmed that they've returned to the studio to record their next album. The band are working with New York producer Will Putney on the as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2014's All Parts Unknown.

Frontman Keith Buckley says: "You would think that by now the studio process is pretty familiar to us, but in just the first week Will has taught us things about ourselves that make it feel as if we've never even stepped foot in one.

"He has stripped our music down to the bolts and laid everything out on display and only now that we're able to see how each part functions can we fix it, shine it and put it back together into a machine that runs better than it ever has." Read more here.

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Pat Travers and Carmine Appice Release Barry White Cover Video

(The Blues) Pat Travers and Carmine Appice have released a video for their cover of Barry White track Never Gonna Give You Up. It appears on The Balls Album, an updated version of their 2004 collaboration It Takes A Lot Of Balls.

Guitarist-vocalist Travers and drummer Appice both say the record represents the best of their many collaborations. Appice comments: "I love playing with Pat, and this was one of the best albums I've made. Great songs, great playing, lots of energy, and each track has a lot of balls."

Travers adds: "I've been a fan of Carmine since 1967. I would bump into him at this and that affair over the years, then in 2003 we had a blowout jam at NAMM. That led to this amazing album." Watch the video here.

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Amon Amarth Release 'At Dawn's First Light' Video

(TeamRock Radio) Amon Amarth have released a video for their track At Dawn's First Light, taken from 10th album Jomsviking. The follow-up to 2013's Deceiver Of The Gods arrives on March 25 via Sony - and it's the band's first-ever concept album.

Frontman Johan Hegg says: "The Jomsvikings were a shadowy and legendary sect of Viking mercenaries. Their code was simple - show no fear, never retreat, defend your brothers, and when called upon, avenge their deaths.

"The Jomsvikings and their world is the background for the story of a young man in love with a girl, but unfortunately she's being married off. He accidentally kills a man and has to flee, but he swears to have revenge and win her back. It is not a happy story." Watch the video here.

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Brian Fallon Says The Gaslight Anthem Didn't Want To Be Rock Saviors

(Classic Rock) Brian Fallon admits that he was relieved when The Gaslight Anthem went on hiatus. The Gaslight Anthem singer says the prospect of making another record after the band's divisive last album Get Hurt was more daunting than the launch of his solo career.

He tells Kerrang: "There was definitely a lot of relief because of the pressure. It was always like, 'Gaslight Anthem is gonna be the next Bruce Springsteen, or the next Foo Fighters, or the next Pearl Jam - the next big rock'n'roll band'. And it kind of never happened.

"We got big, which was cool with us, but we didn't need to be the next big rock'n'roll band. We didn't expect to be millionaires. We just wanted to play, and it was awesome that we could pay our bills.

"But the pressure of, I don't know, 'saving' rock'n'roll� that bothered me. 'The Saviours Of Rock'N'Roll' always killed me. Because we were just like, 'Dude, we're not saving anything.'" Read more here.

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Katatonia Reveal Details For New Album 'The Fall Of Hearts'

(Prog) Katatonia have revealed the tracklist and available formats for upcoming album The Fall Of Hearts. The follow-up to 2012's Dead End Kings is their first with guitarist Roger Ojersson and drummer Daniel 'Mojjo' Moilanen, and it arrives on May 20 via Peaceville Records.

The Fall Of Hearts is now available for pre-order in CD, vinyl, earbook, CD/DVD and bundle editions. The band have also confirmed that Paradise Lost guitarist Greg Mackintosh makes a guest appearance on one of the bonus tracks.

Katatonia recently said: "This album is probably everything we unknowingly ever dreamed of. It's a bleak but adventurous journey through our elements. We have pushed to get forward and backward in the ever spiralling night of our musical legacy." Check out the trailer and the tracklisting here.

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Opeth Announce Wembley Arena One-Off Show

(Prog) Opeth have confirmed a one-off show at London's Wembley Arena. The Swedish prog metal outfit will perform at the famous venue on November 19, with tickets available for general sale from March 18 (Friday).

A pre-sale for 02 customers begins on March 16 at 9am, while TicketMaster will hold a pre-sale from 9am the following day. TicketMaster will also offer access to VIP tickets.

The band say: "Opeth are very pleased to announce that on November 19 they'll headline the highly prestigious SSE Wembley Arena, London UK."

Opeth support Iron Maiden in Gothenburg on June 17 and also appear at the Be Prog! My Friend festival on July 2 in Barcelona. On July 7 they will play at Helsinki's Monsters Of Rock and on July 9 they are scheduled to appear at the Eistnaflug festival in Finland. Read more here.

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Tigertailz Announce New Album 'Blast'

(TeamRock Radio) Tigertailz will release their album Blast on April 25. The Welsh glam metal outfit will also kick off their UK tour in Sutton on April 8 in the lead-up to the record launch.

Blast is the band's first release since 2006's Bezerk 2.0. It includes track Pipped It Popped It, the song which they submitted for this year's Eurovision Song Contest - though it didn't make the cut.

Tigertailz say: "This is the first full Tailz studio album in nearly 10 years. And we are extremely excited and very proud of it. It's going to blow your crazy minds. Read more here.

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Vredehammer Streaming New Album 'Violator' Online

(TeamRock Radio) Vredehammer have made their second album Violator available to stream online. The Norwegian metal outfit also released track Light The F***ing Sky last month to promote the upcoming release.

Frontman Per Valla says: "Vinteroffer was a good release, but our new album Violator takes our music to a whole new level when it comes to writing really powerful and well-composed songs. I feel confident that this album will be one to remember.

"With Violator I wanted to take a step back and focus on the feeling I used to get from listening to bands like Metallica, Pantera and Megadeth. This resulted in an album that isn't really focused on speed and aggression, but rather groove and power.

"It will be interesting to see how such an album will be received these days, when a lot of the focus seems to be on speed for many of the extreme metal bands out there today."

He adds: "The lyrics on this one are pretty dark. I was very much inspired by Stephen King and old horror movies while writing Violator. Personally I feel this is the best Vredehammer release so far." Stream the song here.

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Hey! Hello Cancel Tour After Singer Quits

(Classic Rock) Hey! Hello! singer Hollis Mahady has left the band - forcing them to cancel their upcoming UK tour. Ginger Wildheart's group were due to play a run of shows in April, but say they will have to reschedule them once they find a replacement for the vocalist, who has moved back to Los Angeles to concentrate on her work with Love Zombies. Full refunds are being offered at the point of purchase.

Hey! Hello! are inviting interested singers to get in touch. The band say: "We are bitterly sorry to see our singer leave the band at this point, but we respect her decision and wish her nothing but good luck in the future.

"Right now, our main concern is finding a new frontperson - male or female - to lead our band to world domination. If you have the star quality that Hey! Hello! needs, then get in touch at [email protected] - the world is waiting for you." Read more here.

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Singled Out: Hungover's Girlfriend

Central Florida rockers Hungover recently released a music video for their track "Girlfriend" and to celebrate we asked lead singer Marc Cortes to tell us about the inspiration for the song. Here is the story:

"Girlfriend" was inspired by a very pesky habit I've displayed over my dating years. For some reason, I've found myself in-and-out of relationships with the same girls over and over. I've actually become pretty familiar and comfortable with the "on again/off again" concept, which probably isn't a good thing.

The original idea came about after Austin (Bass/Vocals) came up with the line "it just goes to show that no matter what you do, something bad will always catch up to you." The words immediately reminded me of my peculiar dating habits and from there it was kind of a "lightbulb" moment. The song just fell into place after that.

Every other line in the song is a (sometime's too honest) comment on the different relationships that I've revisited time and time again, now that they are all said and done. For example, the first line in the chorus "your love is like bad poetry, poorly written, but I know what you mean" refers to a relationship I was in that suffered because we could never quite find the right words to say to each other.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself as you watch the video right here!

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