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Day in Rock Report for 12/11/2017


Today's Day in Rock Stories


Van Halen Star Previews Debut Solo Album

(hennemusic) Eddie Van Halen's song Wolfgang is streaming a brief audio preview of a track from his forthcoming debut solo album. The Van Halen bassist is reportedly playing everything on his debut - from guitars, drums and bass to keyboards and vocals.

"A sneak peek to start your week," wrote the multi-instrumentalist on his social media sites alongside the audio snippet from the project, which he's been working on over the past couple of years.

The new audio preview follows one Wolfgang shared in August, where he updated fans on the record, saying: "Progress. Shouldn't be too much longer until everything I've been working on is done."

"Wait til you hear his record," his father, Eddie, told Denise Quan during a 2015 interview at The Smithsonian's National Museum Of American History in Washington, DC. "This is not 'pop' (Dad) talking, this is real talk; it blew my mind."

No official timetable for the set's release has been revealed to date. Read more and check out the preview here.

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Alice In Chains Announce North American Spring Tour

(hennemusic) Alice In Chains have announced dates for a spring 2018 tour of North America. Set to open in Boston, MA on April 28, the 3-week, 12-show run mixes headline events with festival appearances, including Charlotte's Carolina Rebellion, Wisconsin's Northern Invasion and Ohio's Rock On The Range.

Earlier this year, Alice In Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell revealed plans for the Seattle band's follow-up to 2013's "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here."

"We are just gearing up to make a record," Cantrell told Good Celebrity during an appearance in May at the George Lopez Celebrity Golf Classic in Toluca Lake, CA. "We'll be moving up to Seattle in about a month and record the record over the summer out there in the same studio we recorded our third record in. So it'll be kind of fun: go home, make a Seattle record. Hometown boys in a hometown studio."

Asked what fans can expect from a new album, Cantrell adds, "Hey, this is what we do. At this age, I can't really do much else. So we do us, and we're lucky enough to be able to have the opportunity to still be doing it and making good music and having a good time." See the tour dates here.

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Morrissey Addresses Recent Controversial Interview Quotes

(Radio.com) After recently swearing off interviews, Morrissey has taken matters into his own hands. The alt-rock legend took to Facebook to decry commentary presented in a recent interview with German publication, Der Spiegel, regarding Donald Trump, Kevin Spacey and more.

"A few weeks ago, I foolishly allowed Germany's Der Spiegel into my life," Moz shared on the post under the headline, "The Slander System." "Since they eagerly flew from Berlin to beloved Los Angeles in order to talk and laugh, I assumed a common understanding. Would I kill Donald Trump? No, never. Would I support Kevin Spacey's private proclivities? No, never. Would I ever support abuse of children? No, never."

"In the world of music, as with politics, if you show any signs of being able to make a difference, you will be blocked, and you will have your arms tugged out from their sockets," Morrissey added later in the message. "In the same world of music, if you have nothing to say, if your brain is a mental frost and if your pointless songs are the eyes of a dead fish, then your number 1 position awaits unmasked, and your five-star reviews shall keep the press alive." Read Morrissey's full statement here.

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U2's New Album Debuts At No. 1 On Billboard 200

(hennemusic) U2 have debuted atop the US album charts with "Songs Of Experience." According to Billboard, the band's fourteenth release debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with opening week sales of 186,000 equivalent album units, of which 180,000 were in traditional album sales.

The feat marks the Irish group's eighth chart-topper on Billboard and first since 2009's "No Line On The Horizon."

"Songs Of Experience" also nets the biggest week for a rock album in 2017, both in terms of overall units as well as album sales.

The companion to 2014's "Songs Of Innocence" was completed earlier this year with a series of producers - including Jacknife Lee and Ryan Tedder, Steve Lillywhite, Andy Barlow and Jolyon Thomas - following recording sessions in Dublin, New York and Los Angeles.

The two projects draw inspiration from a collection of poems, "Songs Of Innocence And Experience", by the 18th century English mystic and poet William Blake. here.

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Bob Weir and Phil Lesh Teaming Up To Tour As A Duo

(Radio.com) Bob Weir and Phil Lesh have been sharing the stage together for over 40 years and now the two members of the Grateful Dead will embark on a tour as a duo.

On Monday (Dec. 11), the two founding members of the Grateful Dead revealed they will perform back to back sets together of acoustic and electric versions of Dead classics. The brief tour will launch March 2 in New York and run through March 11 in Chicago.

"I guess it was last summer, Phil and I played a little duo show'.we had enough fun so we figured hey let's do this, let's make a little go of this," Weir said in a press release.

"Playing with Bob always brings me great joy," added Lesh. "The intuitive playing that we have developed over five decades of creating music together always leads to new realms of musical experience, something that I find especially exciting, and I think that fans of our music will enjoy this new format as much as I do." See the dates and ticket details here.

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David Coverdale Reveals Whitesnake's New album Details

(Gibson) Whitesnake's next album is likely to be called Flesh & Blood. A press release detailing new tour dates for David Coverdale's veteran band says that Whitesnake "are currently in the studio recording their tentatively titled new studio album Flesh & Blood."

It will be the band's 13th studio LP and the follow-up to 2015's - The Purple Album. It is not yet confirmed whether it be released in time for the band's mid-2018 tour with Foreigner and Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening.

But will it mark the full debut of Gibson Les Paul-toting guitarist Joel Hoekstra as a writing member? In a recent interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, Coverdale said: "We've never had such an immense amount of positive material. I've worked, for the first time as writers, with Reb Beach and with Joel Hoekstra. Because when Joel came in, we were doing The Purple Album. And not only do we have great Coverdale/Hoekstra and Coverdale/Beach songs, but we have the three of us combining.

"The songs are f---ing excellent," he added. "We have 18 or 19 extraordinarily positive, potent, juicy classic Whitesnake songs from balls-to-the-wall to blues, to epics to ballads. It's kick-ass. It's definitely got me fluffed up." here.

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Karnataka Singer Hayley Griffiths Speaks Out On Surprise Band Move

UK prog rockers Karnataka fans were surprised when bassist Ian Jones announced that band was changing their lineup, even more surprised was lead singer Hayley Griffiths who learned of the move in the same way that as fans.

She wrote the following message on Facebook (via Prog), "It is with enormous sadness that I learn the news tonight along with all of you that Karnataka will continue with a brand new line up. This is a decision that has been taken firmly out of my hands and one I am utterly devastated about after 6 fantastic years with the boys. I have simply loved every second up on that stage with the band! Karnataka has been the most incredible musical experience of my career to date and one that I have learnt and grown so much from. On Sunday night I said that I didn't know when the 5 of us would perform together again but little did I know it would so swiftly bring an end to this magical line up.

"I am so proud of everything we have achieved and accomplished together. Winning Album and Song of the Year for _Secrets of Angels_ at the CRS Awards was a huge unexpected highlight. HRH Prog, Crescendo and the final Robin 2 and Citadel gigs especially will stay in my heart forever. The love and loyalty from the bands fans around the world has been overwhelming and truly appreciated over the years. We have been so lucky to have you all, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your support. I am just sorry our K journey together ends here when we had so much more to give and achieve. But I hope you'll stay tuned for the next chapter and continue following me on my next crazy adventure! Much love Hayley x"

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Billy Idol Announce 2018 Summer Tour Dates

(hennemusic) Billy Idol is already looking ahead to next year as he has announced the first series of dates for a summer 2018 tour of the UK and Europe. More dates will be announced soon.

Scheduled to begin in Manchester, UK on June 20, the Live! 2018 run mixes headline shows with some festival appearances, including Serbia's Guitar Fest and Germany's Tollwood.

Prior to the European trek, Idol will perform at the Welcome To Rockville Festival in Jacksonville, FL on April 29, and the Carolina Rebellion in Concord, NC on May 6.

The rocker's 2017 live schedule primarily centered around a pair of spring and fall residencies at the House Of Blues Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino; the "Billy Idol: Forever!" show saw the singer deliver tunes from throughout his career, including tracks from seminal British punk band Generation X and his solo hits. See the dates here.

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Anthrax Announce Kings Among Scotland DVD

(hennemusic) Anthrax have announced that they will release "Kings Among Scotland", a new live DVD filmed this year at Glasgow's Barrowland Ballroom, on April 27.

Recorded February 15 before a sold-out crowd, the two-hour package delivers the thrash band's entire live show alongside interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and other B-roll shot on the band's tour bus, backstage, in hotels and elsewhere; the DVD will also include a "gear rundown" from each of the band members.

"Playing for our friends at the Barrowlands has always been very special," says bassist Frank Bello. "We all know we're going to get together and have an insanely great time, and we think that incredible interaction and energy really comes through on this video."

Directed by Paul M. Green (Opeth, The Damned, The Levellers) with the sound mixed by Anthrax studio producer Jay Ruston, "Kings Among Scotland" was filmed using 17 cameras, including a crane and several mobile and stationery Go-Pros to capture all the action.

"It was pretty a intense show," explains guitarist Scott Ian, "especially when the crowd was so insane, the floor actually started moving up and down."

Anthrax's live show on the spring tour is presented in two parts: a fan-voted favorites set followed by a performance of their 1987 album, "Among The Living", in its entirety.

"It was a challenge for all of us to play 'Among The Living' live," admits drummer Charlie Benante. "We've played a number of that album's songs in our shows over the years, but not all of them, and playing a song in a recording studio is not the same as playing it live on stage. So we put in a lot of time to get all of the tracks down perfectly. And I'll tell you, after we finished that set, as arduous as it was, we all felt a sense of exhilaration, like we could go out and do it again." Read more here.

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The Killers Cover The Smiths At Festival

(Radio.com) The Killers brought a dose of Morrissey and the Smiths to this year's KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas show over the weekend (Dec. 10), rolling out the pair of Moz covers during the band's headlining set.

While Morrissey was originally scheduled to top the bill, the singer was forced to cancel due to illness. Brandon Flowers and the Killers admirably assumed the show's top slot.

During the set The Killers invoked the spirit of Morrissey with versions of the Smiths' 1983 classic, "This Charming Man." Later in the set, the Killers shared a take on Morrissey's 1988 solo single, "Everyday is Like Sunday." Watch fan video of the performances here.

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Van Morrison Announces 'In Concert' DVD And Blu-Ray

(Radio.com) Van Morrison has announced a new concert DVD/Blu-Ray. Entitled Van Morrison In Concert, the new home video offering from the music icon is set for release on February 16.

The upcoming DVD and Blu-Ray release captures Morrison's intimate 2016 show at the BBC Radio Theatre, as part of the critically acclaimed BBC Radio 2 In Concert series.

Among the songs featured in the performance include "Brown Eyed Girl," "Wild Night," "Cleaning Windows" and the new track, "Keep Me Singing." Bonus features include the "Up On Cyprus Avenue" concert, a milestone show recorded on "Van the Man's" 70th birthday. Watch the concert trailer here.

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Famed Keith Richards Guitar Get Profiled

(Gibson) A 1963 Gibson SG Custom that was famously played by Keith Richards is the subject of a recent Vintage Guitar profile. Currently housed at the Hard Rock Caf�'s home-base "Vault" in Orlando, Florida, the visually striking instrument was a go-to guitar for Richards during one of the Stones' most fertile and creative periods.

"It's cool because he used it for a brief time in '73, including on the 'Exile on Main Street' tour," notes Andy Babiuk, author of the book, "Rolling Stones Gear." "He also used it at the L.A. Forum benefit show to aid survivors of an earthquake in Nicaragua, and during the subsequent Pacific tour, particularly on 'Midnight Rambler,' which he played in standard tuning with a capo on the seventh fret."

Vintage Guitar points out that the Hard Rock organization acquired the guitar from Marshall Chess, who was hired by the Stones in 1970 to oversee the band's new label imprint, Rolling Stones Records. Read more here.

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Royal Blood Take Over Rise Against Interview With Tough Questions

(Radio.com) Did you ever just eat a whole quail and not tell anyone? Have you ever tripped over a raccoon? Did you ever kick a fireplace? Yeah, we haven't either. But Rise Against guitarist Zach Blair may or may not have.

Radio.com spoke with Royal Blood at Almost Acoustic Christmas, and the guys answered a few of our questions, covering all kinds of topics, from karaoke to Jesus. And then mayhem ensued.

The British rockers stole the show, taking over our interview to take off their interviewee hats and put on that of the interviewer, asking Blair the tough questions. But we don't want to give it all away. We'll let the below interview do the talking. Watch it here.

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Neil Young's Model Trains Sold Fetches Big Price At Auction

(Radio.com) Neil Young is a long-time avid model train collector and at a recent auction in Los Angeles, the singer made nearly $300,000 from the sale of his prized collection.

According to Reuters, Young visited Julien's Auctions in L.A. where he sold off some rare pieces in his collection, including a 'custom-painted Commodore Vanderbilt 4-6-4 locomotive," which garnered $10,000.

Reuters reports the musician also sold rare cars and music gear at the auction. Young will donate some of the proceeds from the auction to the Bridge School. Read more here.

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Singled Out: Jane N The Jungle's Wild Side

Arizona alt-rockers Jane N The Jungle recently released a music video for their single "Wild Side" which was directed by Will Goldstein. To celebrate we asked Jordan White to tell us about the song and clip. Here is the story:

"Wild Side" was written at a time of uncertainty with the band and our musical direction moving forward. I felt like I was crazy for following a dream and was ready to give up to perhaps seek a "normal" life.

"Wild Side" was born out of frustration and hope that my craziness could be used as good and asking for my "Wild Side" to "come save me" at a time where I felt I lost myself and that spark to keep moving forward pursuing the music. "Shooting stars on the boulevard" was in reference to always shooting for the stars and never giving up on your dreams, even in times where you feel like you are at the bottom level of a grimy "boulevard." It reminded me of times while I was at school in Hollywood and how there's something glamours about pursing a life full of dreams. We recorded the single with Joe Asselin at Switchblade Studios in Tempe, AZ while working on preproduction for our upcoming EP. There was this unique charm and rawness the demo had that captured this cool essence of the song and we decided to release it as a single. We worked with Will Goldstein on the music video and filmed it in Los Angeles during our tour playing at The Whisky A Go Go. We wanted to embody exploration of pursing a dream and how our "Wild Side" was going to help get us there.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen and watch for yourself hereand learn more about the group right here!

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