Greetings dear friends of cyber-world! It's hard to believe we've already reached another Friday and another Weekly Rock Wind Up Blog for you to enjoy. Thanks for reading and feel free to pass it along to anyone you'd think would enjoy it and please take note of the new segment below!!!
*Country Love, oh how you're always in the news for just being… well… a psychopath! Seems daughter Francis Bean spoke out this week about her mom's "habits" and how they resulted in the death of her cat and dog. The cat died after becoming entangled in Love's piles of garbage, boxes of paperwork and piles of fabrics while the dog died after swallowing some of Court's sleeping pills. Mom of the year for sure Ms. Love!
*KISS action figures are back! The original line up of toys was introduced in 1977 and stood at twelve inches tall. The new figures will be eight inches.
*Opeth, Mastodon, and Ghost announced this week they'll be going on a Spring tour. No stops planned as of yet for KC. If that changes, we'll let you know! Here's the list of shows, though, in case you wanna make a road trip!
4/4/2012 State Theatre Portland, ME
4/5/2012 Orpheum Theatre Boston, MA
4/6/2012 Metropolis Montreal, QC Canada
4/7/2012 Sony Center Toronto, ONT Canada
4/9/2012 Electric Factory Philadelphia, PA
4/10/2012 Wallingford, CT
4/11/2012 Roseland Ballroom New York, NY
4/13/2012 Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL
4/14/2012 The Intersection Grand Rapids, MI
4/15/2012 Stage AE Pittsburgh, PA
4/16/2012 Tennessee Theatre Knoxville, TN
4/18/2012 Diamond Ballroom Oklahoma City, OK
4/19/2012 Palladium Ballroom Dallas, TX
4/20/2012 Backstage Live San Antonio, TX
4/21/2012 Concrete Street Amphitheatre Corpus Christi, TX
4/23/2012 Fillmore Auditorium Denver, CO
4/25/2012 House of Blues Las Vegas, NV
4/26/2012 Gibson Amphitheatre @ Universal City Walk Universal City, CA
4/27/2012 Fox Theatre Oakland, CA
4/28/2012 Grand Sierra Theatre Reno, NV
4/30/2012 Paramount Theater Seattle, WA
5/1/2012 Orpheum Vancouver, BC Canada
5/3/2012 Edmonton Events Centre Edmonton, ALB Canada
5/4/2012 MacEwan Hall Calgary, ALB Canada
5/5/2012 Odeon, The Saskatoon, SAS Canada
5/6/2012 Burton Cummings Theatre Winnipeg, MAN Canada
5/9/2012 The Fillmore - Silver Spring Silver Spring, MD
5/10/2012 The Fillmore Charlotte Charlotte, NC
5/11/2012 House Of Blues N. Myrtle Beach, SC
5/12/2012 Masquerade Atlanta, GA
*Speaking of tours, Guns-n-Roses announcing this week more additions to their North America run. All shows listed below take place this month and the tour is being called;
Up Close and Personal
10: New York, NY (Roseland Ballroom)
12 New York, NY (Terminal 5)
15 New York, NY (The Ritz n.k.a Webster Hall))
19 Chicago, Il. (House of Blues)
23 Silver Springs, Md. (The Fillmore)
24 Atlantic City, N.J. (House of Blues)
*Nikki Sixx, Motley Crue/SIXX AM bassist, took a shot at "Cryin' Like A Bitch" author Sully Erna of Godsmack. As many of you know Crue is set to embark on a three week residency in Las Vegas and Sixx said he wanted to hire an angry midget for their show, and was wondering if Erna could fill that role. No word back, yet, from Sully.
*A conman in the UK, Scott Travis, allegedly defrauded a pensioner out of $158,00 claiming he was Whitesnake's drummer, named Franco, who was set to received a boat-load of cash from his mother's will.
*Matt Sorum (Drummer for GnR, Velvet Revolver, and The Cult) was a busy body this week. Selling personalized autographed Velvet Revolver drum sticks. He also finished the first 50 of 100 "Epic Rhythm Canvases" which are described as "massive, abstract and unprecedented". Check out www.mattsorumart.com
NEW MUSIC ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK AC/DC Back in studio, New album later this year Joe Walsh "Analog Man" May or June The Cult "Choice of Weapon" May 22nd
And a new segment I'm starting in the Weekly Rock Wind Up is a posting of new music, either audio or video, I've received this week. Some of the music came via mail in hard copy CD's, some in the digital format from email. Do enjoy below.
*NOTE: The Slowdown is a KC band and I love their video and Die Antwoord is something my girlfriend showed me that is just weird and I had to share it with you!
"How Do We End Up Alone" - Hurt
"This Time It's Different" - Evans Blue
"To Die For" - Edisun ft. Matt Reardon of Black Sunshine
Dear Sabbath Fans, Fellow Musicians and Interested Parties,
At this time, I would love nothing more than to be able to proceed with the Black Sabbath album and tour. However, I am unable to continue unless a "signable" contract is drawn up; a contract that reflects some dignity and respect toward me as an original member of the band. Last year, I worked diligently in good faith with Tony, Ozzy and Geezer. And on 11/11/11, again in good faith, I participated in the L.A. press conference. Several days ago, after nearly a year of trying to negotiate, another "unsignable" contract was handed to me.
Let me say that although this has put me in some kind of holding pattern, I am packed and ready to leave the U.S. for England. More importantly, I definitely want to play on the album, and I definitely want to tour with Black Sabbath.
Since the news of Tony's illness, and the understanding that the band would move production to the U.K., I've spent everyday getting to or living in a place of readiness to leave. That involves something of a task, and as I've tried to find out what's going on with the U.K. sessions, I've realized that I've been getting "the cold shoulder" (and, I might add, not for the first time). Feeling somewhat ostracized, my guess is as of today, I will know nothing of what'shappening unless I sign "the unsignable contract."
The place I'm in feels lousy and lonely because as much as I want to play and participate, Ialso have to stand for something and not sign on. If I sign as-is, I stand to lose my rights, dignity and respectability as a rock musician. I believe in freedom and freedom of speech. I grew up in a hard rock/metal band. We stood for something then, and we played from the heart with honesty and sincerity. I am in the spirit of integrity, far from the corporate malady, I am real and honest, fair and compassionate.
If I'm replaced, I have to face you, the beloved Sabbath fans. I hope you will not hold me responsible for the failure of an original Black Sabbath lineup as promoted. Without fault finding, I want to assure everyone that my loyalty to Sabbath is intact.
So here I am. I lay my truth down before you. I'm good to go IF I get a "signable" contract. I don't want to let anyone down, especially Black Sabbath and all the Sabbath fans. You know I love you. It would be a sad day in Rock if this current situation fell to the desires of a few.
My position is not greed-driven. I'm not holding out for a "big piece" of the action (money) like some kind of blackmail deal. I'd like something that recognizes and is reflective of my contributions to the band, including the reunions that started fourteen years ago. After the last tour I vowed to never again sign on to an unreasonable contract. I want a contract that shows some respect to me and my family, a contract that will honor all that I've brought to Black Sabbath since its beginning.
Hello again to all those out there in the cyberworld. Pleasure to be here again and sharing with you this weeks Rock and Music news. Let's jump right in with one of my favorite artist of all time:
*Leonard Cohen. He's dropping new matierial, first time in eight years, and you can stream it for your little heart and ears to enjoy here
*Slipknot was announced as headliner for this years Mayheim Festival.
*Occupy Wall Street and the whole Occupy movement will be getting its own soundtrack this spring with "Occupy this Album". Featured artist will include; Tom Morello, Willie Nelson, Jackson Browne, Yoko Ono, Devo, Crosby & Nash and more. A few of the artists, including Joan Baez and Crosby & Nash, performed at the New York OWS site and all proceeds will go to the Occupy movement.
*After the massive success of 2010's "Infestation" it seems Ratt is working on a new album with a goal of releasing it in the summer.... Speaking of new albums it seems Sweden's Europe is working on a new album.... and Alter Bridge/Creed guitarist Mark Tremonti is working on a heavy-ballad induced album.
*Simon Cowell of American Idol and X Factor has teamed up with Will & Jada Pinkett-Smith for a new reality show in search of the best turntable DJ.
*As I promised, in my Weekly Rock Wind Up Vlog, here's the three clips of new Van Halen that came out this week.
It's tough to believe it's nearly the end of January. Just seemed like yesterday we were ringing in the New Year. Your second to last WRWU Blog for this month starts out on a somber note in the passing of Etta James. As many knew she was ill and it was only a matter of time until the 73 year old icon passed. However, she leaves behind a body of work that continues to stand the test of time.
Metal giants Iron Maiden were down in Santiago Chile this past April and brought with them a film crew with more than 22 HD cameras to capture the event. Now, Maiden, is set to release a new Blu-Ray 2 DVD set and album on March 27th titled "En Vivo! Live at Estadio Nacional, Santiago".
Kill Devil Hill which features drummer Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio), bassist Rex Brown (Down, Pantera), guitarist Mark Zavon (Ratt, W.A.S.P.) and vocalist Jason "Dewey" Bragg (Pissing Razors) -- have officially announced, also, a March 27 release date for their self-titled debut album. AND Grammy-winning prog-rockers The Mars Volta will drop their 6th studio album "Noctourniquet" on March 27th.
"Unsung" is a brand new book by Megadeth bassist David Ellefson featuring never seen before lyrics and images.
On Monday we'll find out the name of the tour Godsmack/Staind/Halestorm are to embark on this Spring and I suspect soon we'll find out Cities and Dates.
What other stories did I miss in this weeks Weekly Rock Wind Up Blog or Vlog?
Thanks for reading
_Nivens
Velvet Revolver reuinted the other night for a benefit show. They did a four song set and no word on what that'll mean in terms of them getting back together.
I've mentioned it a couple times on air but www.killswitchengege.com is where you want to head if you plan on submitting your work to replace Howard Jones as front man.
And speaking of bands changing their lead singers, Quiet Riot have parted ways with Mark Huff, who stepped in after the passing of Kevin DuBrow. Replacing Huff will be ex-Montrose singer Keith St. John.
Faith No More front man Mike Patton has been tapped by writer/directorDerek Cianfrance("Blue Valentine") to provide the score for "The Place Beyond The Pines", which stars Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper and Eva Mendes. He also has stated he's working on a new Tomahawk album which should drop by the summer.
Adrenaline Mob announced this week their debut cd, Omerta, will drop on March 13th. If you recall this band is made up of Mike Portnoy, formerly of Dream Theater, Symphony X vocialist Russell Allen, guitarist Mike Orlando and Fozzy member Rich Ward and Paul DiLeo.
It's still too early to know what all will come from this but Trent Reznor opened up this week that he plans on creating new Nine Inch Nails music. Haven't seen NIN in action, really wanting to... so please... get on the road again!
And if you're a fan of The Dillinger Escape Plan make note of this: January 19th they plan on streaming a live show, for free, on the internet, www.stickam.com/dillingerescapeplan
Creedence Clearwater Revival Reunion? Not gonna happen!
John Fogerty had suggested it in July. Stu Cook nixed it in January.
Corrosion of Conformity announces a U.S. Headlining Tour with a stop in KC at the Beaumont Club on March 9th and King's X announced "First Church of Rock and Roll" tour. Sadly, no stops expected in KC.
Meshuggah announces March release date, the 27th, for their new as of yet untitled album.
RHCP's Flea and Damon Albarn from Blur form Rocketjuice and the Moon with Tony Allen. Album also expected in March.
Speaking of super-groups, The Mars Volta's ex-drummer Jon Theodore joins Giraffe Tongue Orchestra featuring Ben Weinman (The Dillinger Escape Plan), Brent Hinds (Mastodon), and Eric Avery (ex-Jane's Addiction).
Testament's Chuck Billy is first Native American to be displayed at Albuquerque Hard Rock!
Metallica's "Beyond Magnetic" to receive CD release on January 31st. It'll be a four song EP with the tunes "Hate Train", "Just a Bullet Away", "Hell and Back" and "Rebel of Babylon".
Johnny & Dee Dee Ramone have been turned into bobblehead figures by FUNKO or as they refer to them, Wacky Wobblers.
Many people heard about the Black Keys talking smack on Nickelback in this week's Rolling Stone magazine. They gave a backhanded compliment by calling them the biggest band in the world, but continuing on to say that their "Shit". Nickelback tweeted a simple, "Thanks for calling us the biggest band in the world" in response. Funny!
And Ronnie James Dio's widow, Wendy, spoke out this week about what she thought Ronnie would've thought in regards to Black Sabbath reuniting with Ozzy for a new album/tour saying, "I think Ronnie would have given his blessing. It's the right thing to do." Classy!
2011 is over and done with. No mulligans and no redos, and ya know what… Let's just move on. Here's what I think we'll be talking about in 2012 and music.
Guns-n-Fuckin-Roses are first time entries into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame. Now, I know many of you have a serious beef with the RnR HOF but that's another topic on another blog on another board. Let's focus on this…
Seems Axl's chummy with some of the guys, (see Duff, Izzy, shit everyone's favorite Celebrity Rehabber Steven Adler will do whatever and has already communicated to the press and been publicly agreed upon by Matt Sorum of an openness to a joint drumming committee for a live GNR show). Least we not forget that Dizzy's been along since 1990 and the Use Your Illusion days, making him pretty damn close with those who helped get it off the ground. There is obviously a giant elephant in the room in the greatest feud between a frontman and his wingman aka lead guitarist with Slash. Is Slash the man in helping to make GnR GnR or is he just a top hat? And while you ponder that ponder this; Is AXL v SLASH the grudgiest of all grudges, ever?
One thing is certain, Axl reinstated his presence to the American audience that he still has ground to promote himself as the "baddest frontman in Rock" with his run in the closing months of 2011! The Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame will certainly be one to watch this year.
Rolling Stones, in the world of radio, are pretty much considered these days as "Classic Rock", a statement not meant to poke fun or make a joke at the band but rather a statement of considerable feat because the genres radio has broken itself down to over the last twenty to thirty years could only have happened with the birth, growth, and continual life of the Stones. At this very moment Mick and Keef are talking and honestly considering a run in support of the Rolling Stones being FIFTY YEARS OLD! Not the band members rather the band itself. The volume of music and huge, golden hits the Stones have put out, their style on stage and in their social/personal lives where they very much were the first band of the truest definition of "Punk", to the influence they've had time and time again on up-and-coming bands I.E. New York Dolls, Aerosmith, GnR, Buckcherry, Lenny Kravitz, . If they do and they go on the road I will answer with a resounding "FUCK YES!" if asked if I'd try to see them. I know people who've seen them perform live over the last decade and if you've seen their 2008 documentary, "Shine a Light" filmed by Martin Scorsese, you know… They still got it and I wanna see it! Hopefully we hear something soon.
Van Halen… without Michael Anthony and with David Lee Roth back in… are they still relevant? That's the serious question here. With a new single "Tattoo" coming on Tuesday the 10th from a new album slated to drop on the 7th of February, and now being featured on a new label with a live 45 minute show that recently happened at Cafe Wha? in NYC, what's going to happen? How Big Are The Venues They Book vs. How Full Of A Crowd Is In The Room They Play will be what I wanna see from this. Remember a little band that came through KC, played the Sprint Center, would've had the image of a stronger looking turnout had they played in Independence at the Event Center due to the fact only about forty-five hundred people came out in Motley Crue? Or would the turnout have been a lesser in going to a show NOT in the City?
Rumored from one of the DeLeo Bros. of STP (Stone Temple Pilots), the band is seriously considering a full tour on the engine of "Core" their debut album (which by all accounts is a solid start to finish cd) with an audience participation request show after said performance. LOVE the idea. STP is most certainly one of those bands whose music has carried on and transcended time. I hope they, the band, has a good handler to help move them all along from gig to gig in theater to theater of a more scaled back show that could truly be intimate and reaffirming of who Stone Temple Pilots are. (More on Scott Weiland in a while…)
Will lighting strike twice for Trent Reznor the mastermind behind Nine Inch Nails as well being behind the scoring of "The Social Network" which lauded him and his colleagues winners of nine major awards including the Golden Globe award for Best Original Score in a Motion Picture and the Academy Award for Best Original Score at last year's Oscars. Undoubtedly you know the story of "The Social Network" is about the rise of Facebook and directed by a David Fincher. Fincher has an impressive list of films he's directed such as; Fight Club, Se7en, Zodiac, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and recently has tacked onto that list the American remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. What's that have to do with Reznor? Mr. Reznor was tapped once again to tackle the duties of scoring the movie and struck with a sledgehammer on the first sounds we heard from it on his rendition of the Led Zepplin's classic "Immigrant Song' with Karen O. of the Yeah, Yeah, Yeah's on vocals.
It's going to be fun watching the stock value of Volbeat, who've been building an army of fans . On the twelfth of this month Velvet Revolver will reunite with Scott Weiland (told ya he'd come back around) for a charity gig. As for replacing Weiland, no concrete name has been stated and it seems, for now, their future is still uncertain. Same could be said for Drowning Pool. With the sudden (or was the writing on the walls) departure of Ryan McCombs back to SOiL you've got to wonder how much longer this band can carry on. You know, I get it… first singer, Dave Williams, dies. Can't help that. Second singer leaves citing irreconsirible differences and now your third frontman walks??? Esssshhhh… who knows what'll happen. I'm pulling for 'em, but this hill's gonna be tough. And speaking of bands without frontmen, Howard Jones OUT of Killswitch Engage. Nobody is talking and it's probably gonna stay that way. Slipknot is to be back out on the road in the new year, no new album, but their presence will be felt again albeit one man short. This should be interesting to see. Talking about Slipknot it's only natural for us to chat about Stone Sour. Corey Taylor (frontman for both bands if you don't know) saying the new Sour album will be a "double concept album… The Wall (Pink Floyd) meets Dirt (Alice in Chains) on steroids." He continued on to say, "if I can pull it off, it's gonna be the biggest thing we've ever done in our career." Shinedown's follow-up to "The Sound of Madness" in "Amaryllis" is highly anticipated with the first single "Bully" already being worked into heavy rotation on el radio. This new single feels like a safe play to me. I'm hoping we see a real turning up of the volume on the rest of the album. Rush fans are stoked about new stuff from the Canadian trio. Metal's alive and well with Testament dropping new stuff in March, same with Meshuggah. Corrosion of Conformity recently announced a U.S. Headlining Tour, which'll be fun and King's X announced "First Church of Rock and Roll" Tour! Fan footage from a November Faith No More show revealed they might have new stuff on the horizon, ZZ Top's rumored, Everyone knows Soundgarden's working on a new album and Pearl Jam's supposedly on album number ten! A cult-like fan base is surrounding "The Darkness" and what they'll put out this year. Other musical acts I'm keeping my eye on is the murmur of new Soul Asylum, and profound news of "Old Ideas" from Leonard Cohen album coming later this month. Keep a close eye on Mr. Cohen and his touring habits for 2012. If you have the chance to see him, don't miss it!
Other music news, less RnR more POP, is what's to come about this year from KCK native Janelle Monae? She roared through 2011 as a supporting act on tour with Bruno Mars. I saw it, loved it, will see it again-so long as the promoter doesn't make the mistake of moving venues. Killed the vibe man! She had a show-stopping, standing ovation performance at last year's Grammy's, despite not winning in the two categories she was nominated in. Mumford & Sons started '11 like they ended '10 with an explosion that propelled them into everyone's homes and minds in 2011 with their pop-alternative-folk tunes of "The Cave" and Grammy nominated "Little Lion Man". Will they come back strong in 2012 or fade into oblivion. And what will come about for the music industry itself in 2012. Clearly for some the old model of an album out from the label is even more broken now than ever before. Last year the expression floated around was Gold is the new Platinum. Whereas you hoped to sell a million copies of your CD in the past, nowadays you're feeling pretty good about moving a measly five hundred thousand. Digital, digital, digital, turn out those digital singles seems to be what drives the Pop world but that's not exactly the model Rock's used to using. Where are the record labels screwing up, where are they doing it right? These are just some of the stories in the world of music I'll be keeping an eye on.
2011 is over and done with. No mulligans and no redos, and ya know what… Let's just move on. Here's what I think we'll be talking about in 2012 and music.
Guns-n-Fuckin-Roses are first time entries into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame. Now, I know many of you have a serious beef with the RnR HOF but that's another topic on another blog on another board. Let's focus on this…
Seems Axl's chummy with some of the guys, (see Duff, Izzy, shit everyone's favorite Celebrity Rehabber Steven Adler will do whatever and has already communicated to the press and been publicly agreed upon by Matt Sorum of an openness to a joint drumming committee for a live GNR show). Least we not forget that Dizzy's been along since 1990 and the Use Your Illusion days, making him pretty damn close with those who helped get it off the ground. There is obviously a giant elephant in the room in the greatest feud between a frontman and his wingman aka lead guitarist with Slash. Is Slash the man in helping to make GnR GnR or is he just a top hat? And while you ponder that ponder this; Is AXL v SLASH the grudgiest of all grudges, ever?
One thing is certain, Axl reinstated his presence to the American audience that he still has ground to promote himself as the "baddest frontman in Rock" with his run in the closing months of 2011! The Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame will certainly be one to watch this year.
Rolling Stones, in the world of radio, are pretty much considered these days as "Classic Rock", a statement not meant to poke fun or make a joke at the band but rather a statement of considerable feat because the genres radio has broken itself down to over the last twenty to thirty years could only have happened with the birth, growth, and continual life of the Stones. At this very moment Mick and Keef are talking and honestly considering a run in support of the Rolling Stones being FIFTY YEARS OLD! Not the band members rather the band itself. The volume of music and huge, golden hits the Stones have put out, their style on stage and in their social/personal lives where they very much were the first band of the truest definition of "Punk", to the influence they've had time and time again on up-and-coming bands I.E. New York Dolls, Aerosmith, GnR, Buckcherry, Lenny Kravitz, . If they do and they go on the road I will answer with a resounding "FUCK YES!" if asked if I'd try to see them. I know people who've seen them perform live over the last decade and if you've seen their 2008 documentary, "Shine a Light" filmed by Martin Scorsese, you know… They still got it and I wanna see it! Hopefully we hear something soon.
Van Halen… without Michael Anthony and with David Lee Roth back in… are they still relevant? That's the serious question here. With a new single "Tattoo" coming on Tuesday the 10th from a new album slated to drop on the 7th of February, and now being featured on a new label with a live 45 minute show that recently happened at Cafe Wha? in NYC, what's going to happen? How Big Are The Venues They Book vs. How Full Of A Crowd Is In The Room They Play will be what I wanna see from this. Remember a little band that came through KC, played the Sprint Center, would've had the image of a stronger looking turnout had they played in Independence at the Event Center due to the fact only about forty-five hundred people came out in Motley Crue? Or would the turnout have been a lesser in going to a show NOT in the City?
Rumored from one of the DeLeo Bros. of STP (Stone Temple Pilots), the band is seriously considering a full tour on the engine of "Core" their debut album (which by all accounts is a solid start to finish cd) with an audience participation request show after said performance. LOVE the idea. STP is most certainly one of those bands whose music has carried on and transcended time. I hope they, the band, has a good handler to help move them all along from gig to gig in theater to theater of a more scaled back show that could truly be intimate and reaffirming of who Stone Temple Pilots are. (More on Scott Weiland in a while…)
Will lighting strike twice for Trent Reznor the mastermind behind Nine Inch Nails as well being behind the scoring of "The Social Network" which lauded him and his colleagues winners of nine major awards including the Golden Globe award for Best Original Score in a Motion Picture and the Academy Award for Best Original Score at last year's Oscars. Undoubtedly you know the story of "The Social Network" is about the rise of Facebook and directed by a David Fincher. Fincher has an impressive list of films he's directed such as; Fight Club, Se7en, Zodiac, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and recently has tacked onto that list the American remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. What's that have to do with Reznor? Mr. Reznor was tapped once again to tackle the duties of scoring the movie and struck with a sledgehammer on the first sounds we heard from it on his rendition of the Led Zepplin's classic "Immigrant Song' with Karen O. of the Yeah, Yeah, Yeah's on vocals.
It's going to be fun watching the stock value of Volbeat, who've been building an army of fans . On the twelfth of this month Velvet Revolver will reunite with Scott Weiland (told ya he'd come back around) for a charity gig. As for replacing Weiland, no concrete name has been stated and it seems, for now, their future is still uncertain. Same could be said for Drowning Pool. With the sudden (or was the writing on the walls) departure of Ryan McCombs back to SOiL you've got to wonder how much longer this band can carry on. You know, I get it… first singer, Dave Williams, dies. Can't help that. Second singer leaves citing irreconsirible differences and now your third frontman walks??? Esssshhhh… who knows what'll happen. I'm pulling for 'em, but this hill's gonna be tough. And speaking of bands without frontmen, Howard Jones OUT of Killswitch Engage. Nobody is talking and it's probably gonna stay that way. Slipknot is to be back out on the road in the new year, no new album, but their presence will be felt again albeit one man short. This should be interesting to see. Talking about Slipknot it's only natural for us to chat about Stone Sour. Corey Taylor (frontman for both bands if you don't know) saying the new Sour album will be a "double concept album… The Wall (Pink Floyd) meets Dirt (Alice in Chains) on steroids." He continued on to say, "if I can pull it off, it's gonna be the biggest thing we've ever done in our career." Shinedown's follow-up to "The Sound of Madness" in "Amaryllis" is highly anticipated with the first single "Bully" already being worked into heavy rotation on el radio. This new single feels like a safe play to me. I'm hoping we see a real turning up of the volume on the rest of the album. Rush fans are stoked about new stuff from the Canadian trio. Metal's alive and well with Testament dropping new stuff in March, same with Meshuggah. Corrosion of Conformity recently announced a U.S. Headlining Tour, which'll be fun and King's X announced "First Church of Rock and Roll" Tour! Fan footage from a November Faith No More show revealed they might have new stuff on the horizon, ZZ Top's rumored, Everyone knows Soundgarden's working on a new album and Pearl Jam's supposedly on album number ten! A cult-like fan base is surrounding "The Darkness" and what they'll put out this year. Other musical acts I'm keeping my eye on is the murmur of new Soul Asylum, and profound news of "Old Ideas" from Leonard Cohen album coming later this month. Keep a close eye on Mr. Cohen and his touring habits for 2012. If you have the chance to see him, don't miss it!
Other music news, less RnR more POP, is what's to come about this year from KCK native Janelle Monae? She roared through 2011 as a supporting act on tour with Bruno Mars. I saw it, loved it, will see it again-so long as the promoter doesn't make the mistake of moving venues. Killed the vibe man! She had a show-stopping, standing ovation performance at last year's Grammy's, despite not winning in the two categories she was nominated in. Mumford & Sons started '11 like they ended '10 with an explosion that propelled them into everyone's homes and minds in 2011 with their pop-alternative-folk tunes of "The Cave" and Grammy nominated "Little Lion Man". Will they come back strong in 2012 or fade into oblivion. And what will come about for the music industry itself in 2012. Clearly for some the old model of an album out from the label is even more broken now than ever before. Last year the expression floated around was Gold is the new Platinum. Whereas you hoped to sell a million copies of your CD in the past, nowadays you're feeling pretty good about moving a measly five hundred thousand. Digital, digital, digital, turn out those digital singles seems to be what drives the Pop world but that's not exactly the model Rock's used to using. Where are the record labels screwing up, where are they doing it right? These are just some of the stories in the world of music I'll be keeping an eye on.
Here's some more Rock News from this week that didn't make it onto my Weekly Rock Wind Up Vlog...
Seems that Sixties Pop sensations, the Monkees, are to be a musical stage show next year. Producer Michael Rose was recently quoted as saying, "Monkee Business the Musical is a feel-good night out for all the family..." It's set to open at the Manchester Opera House in March.
New Slipknot album to be all about Paul Gray. As we all know, bassist Gray died of a drug overdose and when the Knot goes back into studio, according to Corey Taylor to Billboard, "We know that everything we do on that album is going to be about Paul. It's going to be very melancholy. It's going to be a more saddened form of rage when it does happen, and it'll be a whole path that we've never gone down before."
For the right amount of Cha-Ching Peter Gabriel would consider a Genesis reunion. He also stated he would be open to the idea of playing a reunion show for a good cause, referencing the 2007 Led Zeppelin show in honor of Ahmet Ertegun.
The Who's Pete Townshend thinks the technology giant Apple is a "digital vampire".
I'd be remissed if I didn't mention that Steel Panther dropped a new album this week in "Balls Out".
Jakob Dylan is getting the band back together! Seems he's bringing back memebers of his 1990's hitmakers Wallflowers. Dylan's been doing the solo thing as of late but said, "I miss it. I'm happy to put the acoustic guitar down. I came up loving bands and I want to be in one."
Rock Monkey
