Metal News - March '03

08

GREAT WHITE FACE JURY
The surviving members of Great White have been subpoenaed to appear before a Grand Jury in Rhode Island as investigations continue into the cause of the fire at The Station club on February 20, Altogether, 97 people were killed, including Great White guitarist Ty Longley. It is possible that criminal charges will be pressed as a result of the investigation.
 
MISS NADINE GETS USED
If you’re a fan of The Used, then don’t miss Miss Nadine’s High Voltage Punk ’N’ Roll Show on Sunday, March 2. Tune in from 9am to noon to hear a major interview with the band.
 
VOIVOD JOIN OZZFEST
Voivod are the latest name to be confirmed for the US Ozzfest tour, which kicks off in June. The band, of course, now feature former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted.
 
BIFF WINS NAME
Biff Byford has won the rights to use the band name Saxon, after a court battle with former bandmates Graham Oliver and Steve Dawson. The latter pair had claimed rights to the name, but a London judge has now ruled in Biff’s favour.
08
NECROPHAGIA TOUR UK
Cult US black metallers Necrophagia are to play the following shows: Bradford Rio’s April 6, Glasgow Cathouse 7, Manchester Bierkeller 8, Bristol Bierkeller 9, London Camden Underworld 10. Support comes from Labrat.
 
TOP NAMES HEAD FOR FINLAND
Type O Negative, Arch Enemy, The Haunted and Stratovarius head the list of bands appearing at the Tuska 2003 Festival in Finland from July 11-14.  Also set to play are Edguy, Amorphis, Rotten Sound and The 69 Eyes.
 
SWEDISH HEAVIES TEAM UP
Candlemass and Entombed are preparing to team up for a tour of the UK and Europe, Candlemass’ Leif Edling has revealed to TotalRock that this is planned for September, although dates have yet to be confirmed.
 
DANZIG A MISFIT AGAIN?
Although nothing official has been announced, various sources have indicated that Glenn Danzig is currently in talks with his former band Misfits about a Summer reunion tour. The vocalist left the band 20 years ago. What is certain is that Danzig the band are to tour America in May under the banner ‘The Blackest Of The Black’, with a support bill that is to feature some of the most ferocious underground metal bands around.
08
SKYNYRD STAR UNDERGOES SURGERY
Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington has undergone major surgery after it was discovered that he had a severe coronary artery disease. He’s expected to make a full recovery in time for the band’s upcoming touring commitments, which include June shows in the UK with Deep Purple. Lynyrd Skynyrd will now release their first studio album in four years in June. It’s called ‘Vicious Cycle’.
 
DISMEMBER ‘GROW’ NEW ALBUM
Swedish death metallers Dismember are currently working on their new album, ‘When Ironcrosses Grow’. This is to be released by Hammerheart in September.
 
AWARD CEREMONIES: ARE THEY RELEVANT?
Over the past seven days, we’ve been asking you whether award ceremonies like the BRITS and the Grammys are relevant to rock and metal. Well, the vote was decisive, with 25 per cent of you reckoning it did have a relevance, but 75 per cent dismissed them as irrelevant.
 
PITCHSHIFTER OFFER BONUS CD
Pitchshifter are to give fans a free bonus CD with copies of their upcoming live album ‘Bootlegged, Distorted, Remixed & Uploaded’. This is to feature unreleased remixes of 12 songs from their last three studio records, viz ‘www.pitchshifter.com’, ‘Deviant’ and ‘P.S.I.’. The full track listing for this extra CD is: ‘Stop Talking Loud’ (Pitchshifter mix), ‘Eight Days’ (Drawbacks mix), ‘As You Seen On TV’ (Pitchshifter mix), ‘Down’ (Logan Mader mix), ‘Genius’ (Drawbacks mix), ‘Misdirection’ (OBNY mix), ‘My Kind’ (Pitchshifter mix), ‘Dead Battery’ (Drawbacks mix), ‘Please Sir’ (Pitchshifter mix), ‘Wafer Thin’ (Dead Sexy Inc. mix), ‘Shenandoah’ (Drawbacks mix) and ‘Misdirection’ (Pitchshifter mix).
08
STRYPER IN ‘7’ HEAVEN
Veteran Christian Rockers Stryper are to release a compilation called ‘7: The Best Of Stryper’ in late March. The 18-tracker includes two new recordings, ‘Something’ and ‘For You’.
 
ZYKLON: NEW ALBUM
Norwegians Zyklon are to issue their second album in September. It’s called ‘Aeons’. The band includes former Emperor pair Zamoth and Trym.
 
TOMMY TELLS ALL
Former Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee is to write a ‘tell all’ book about his high profile marriage to Pamela Anderson. Lee is presently tying up a publishing deal.
 
NEWSTED JOINS OZZY?
Although nothing has been confirmed, it seems likely that Voivod bassist Jason Newsted will join Ozzy’s live band, replacing Robert Trujillo. What makes this slightly bizarre is that Trujillo has just joined Metallica, replacing…Newsted.
08
RUSH: IS IT OVER?
Rush have hinted that they are considering taking a lengthy, possibly permanent break. The legendary trio, who’ve just been inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall Of Fame, apparently have no firm plans for 2003, and are said to be weighing up various options, including calling it a day.
 
GOD FORBID: NEW VOCALIST
Current internet rumours suggest that God Forbid have parted with vocalist Byron Davis. And the hot favourite to replace him is ex-Five Pointe 0 man Daniel Struble.
08
TOOL DRUMMER COLLIDES
Tool drummer Danny Carey guests on the new album from Los Angeles darkwave duo Collide. He appears on a track called ‘Somewhere’ on their third album, ‘Some Kind Of Strange’. This is released in late April on the band’s own Noiseplus Music label. The album also includes a guest slot from cEvin Kev of Skinny Puppy fame.
 
P5K ‘TRANSFORM’ MAY
Powerman 5000 are to release a song called ‘Free’ as the first single from their long overdue new album ‘Transform’. The latter is released in May, preceded by the single in late March.
 
SAXON COURT CASE: OLIVER/DAWSON STATEMENT
“As reported elsewhere, there has been another result in the Saxon trademark case. When the case was originally heard in the trademark registry, by the registrar, he found in favour of Graham Oliver & Steve Dawson. Biff Byford appealed the decision and the case went before a High Court judge. He has disagreed with the judgement of the registrar, and therefore overturned his findings. Oliver & Dawson have maintained all along that the SAXON name was owned by all members of the SAXON partnership and as such registered the mark in the UK to protect their rights. The judge agreed with them, but stated that the name was an asset of the partnership, and therefore should not have been registered by any individual partners.”

 
YNGWIE RETURNS TO LONDON
Yngwie Malmsteen is to play the Mean Fiddler in London on April 3. This is likely to be his only UK date on the upcoming European tour.
08
THIRSTY PRAWN
King Prawn are to release new album, ‘Got The Thirst’, through Golf Records on May 5.
 
DILLINGER ESCAPE TO NEW RECORD
The Dillinger Escape Plan are currently working on songs for their new album. As yet untitled, it’s to be released later in the year on Relapse, and is expected to include the following songs: ‘Troy’, ‘Panasonic Youth’, ‘Bipolar Bear’, ‘Apollo’s Creed’, ‘Universal Beauty’ and ‘Sunshine The Werewolf’.
 
HALL OF FAME TEACHER FIRED OVER HENDRIX VIDEO
Julius Davies, a teacher at the Rock ’N’ Roll Hall Of Fame has been fired for showing a group of teenagers a video of Jimi Hendrix performing ‘Foxey Lady’. Apparently, the Hall Of Fame in Cleveland received a complaint about this, because Hendrix was a known drug user.
 
EAGLES FLY OFF?
The Eagles have announced the first batch of dates for what they’re dubbing the ‘Farewell 1’ tour. This will begin on May 16 in Sunrise, Florida. Whether this will actually mark the last ever tour by the veteran country rockers remains to be seen.
08
CHARLOTTE FIND GLORY
Good Charlotte and New Found Glory are to team up for the Honda Civic 2003 tour in America. This starts on April 8 and is expected to feature more than 50 date. Less Than Jake and MxPx will be among the support acts. And there will be two Civic Si cars offered as prizes, one customised by Good Charlotte and the other by New Found Glory. For further details, go to www.civictour.com
 
TY LONGLEY TRIBUTE
A tribute show to the memory of late Great White guitarist Ty Longley happened on March 2 at the Yankee Lake Ballroom in his home town of Brookfield, Ohio. This was organised by his family and featured local bands. Longley was among the 96 people who died in the fire at The Station in Rhode Island on February 20.
08
DANZIG GUITARIST QUITS
Danzig are looking for a new guitarist following the departure of Todd Youth for undisclosed reasons. And frontman Glenn Danzig has denied recent reports that he’s talking to Misfits about a reunion tour.
 
GREAT WHITE: DEATH TOLLS RISES
The number of people killed during the fire at The Station Club in Providence, Rhode Island has now risen to 98. The tragedy happened on February 20, at the start of Great White’s performance.
 
THE KOVENANT LOSE DRUMMER
The Kovenant have parted with drummer Von Blomberg (aka. Hellhammer). They’ve already started the search for a suitable replacement. The band’s new album, ‘S.E.T.I.’, is released by Nuclear Blast on March 31.
 
BORKNAGAR DRUMMER JOINS TESTAMENT
Borknagar’s Asgeir Mickelson is to take over from Jon Allen behind the Testament drum kit for the upcoming European ‘No Mercy’ tour. This is because Allen is dealing with ‘family issues’.
08
LEE GETS INTO UNDERWEAR
Former Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee is to launch his own line of women’s underwear. This should be in the shops later in the year and is said to be ‘sexy and tasteful’!
 
EX GUNNER CHOOSES BAND NAME
Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler has chosen the name Suki Jones for his new band. The line-up includes Faster Pussycat guitarist Brent Muscat and former Vince Neil bassist Robbie Crane.
 
HARDCORE SUPERSTAR RETURN
Sweden’s Hardcore Superstar are currently finishing up work on their new album with producer Roberto Laghi. Fans can expect a release in late April.
 
ENTOMBED GO TO SOUTH AFRICA
Entombed are to play three shows in South Africa during early May. The band are currently mixing their new, as yet untitled album with producer Pelle Gunnerfeldt. This is to be released in the late Spring.
08
BURTON C. BELL: WATCHERS UPDATE
The Watchers, the side project formed by Fear Factory vocalist Burton C. Bell, have posted a new song on their website (www.thewatcher.org). The band are also expected to announce their full line-up very soon, and should be playing live shows imminently.
 
SEE P.O.D IN THE STUDIO
P.O.D have posted up footage of the recording sessions for a new song at www.payableondeath.com. The song is to be used on the soundtrack album for the upcoming movie ‘The Matrix: Reloaded’.
 
IT’S A ‘GAS’ FOR TOMAHAWK
Tomahawk are to release their second album through Ipecac on May 6.. This is to be called ‘Mit Gas’. The band are to tour the US with Melvins, starting in San Diego on April 28. 
08
CHINA GETS STONED
The Rolling Stones are to play their first ever dates in China next month. They’ll be appearing in Shanghai on April 1 and Beijing on the 4th.
 
SYSTEM GRAB ‘COLOMBINE’ DIRECTOR
System Of A Down are to work with Michael Moore on the video for the song ‘Boom!’. Moore recently made a massive impact with his movie ‘Bowling For Columbine’, and has political views in sympathy with those of the band. It’s the second time the film maker has directed a rock video; he worked with Rage Against The Machine on 2000’s ‘Sleep Now In The Fire’.
 
FIREHOUSE: NEW BASSIST
Firehouse have recruited former Monkey Business bassist Dario Seixas. He replaces Bruce Waibel. The band are currently in pre-production for a new album.
08
MAIDEN FOR WALDROCK
Iron Maiden are to be the main attraction at Holland’s Waldrock Festival, which happens at Burgum on June 21. Also on the bill are Type O Negative, Stratovarius, Clawfinger and Peter Pan Speedrock.
 
BIG HAIR HEAVEN
Poison, Vince Neil and Skid Row are teaming up for a major US tour, which is to kick off in May. Dates will be announced soon.
08
ICED EARTH SET TO RECORD EPIC
Iced Earth are to start recording their first album for SPV early next month. And the centerpiece of the as yet untitled record will be a 30-minute track called ‘Gettysburg (1863)’. This is divided into three pieces, called ‘The Devil To Pay’, ‘Hold At All Costs’ and ‘High Water Mark’. The track is to feature the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. As yet untitled, the album will also include the following songs: ‘Declaration Day’, ‘When The Eagle Cries’, ‘The Reckoning (Don’t Tread On Me)’, ‘Greenface’, ‘Red Baron/Blue Max’, ‘Attila’, ‘Waterloo’, ‘Valley Forge’, ‘A Gift Or A Curse?’ and ‘Hollow Man’.
 
THROUGHSILENCE WANT GUITARIST
West Sussex band Througsilence, acclaimed by TotalRock, are currently looking for a lead guitarist. If you’re interested, then email info@throughsilence.com. You must live in that area, have your own transort and decent equipment, plus a total dedication. Mention any demos or MP3s you might have available.
 
KORN TO PRODUCE THEMSELVES
Korn are likely to produce their new studio album themselves. The band are currently writing the follow-up to last year’s ‘Untouchables’, and the record may even surface by the time they join the touring US Ozzfest in June.
 
GLASSJAW/MOVIELIFE PROJECT
Glassjaw frontman Daryl Palumbo and Movielife vocalist Vinnie Caruana are to team up in a side project called H.A. Right now, there are no further details, but the pair do intend to record an album and to tour.
08
STAIND GO GREY
Staind are to title their new album ’14 Shades Of Grey’. The record, produced by Josh Abraham, is due out in early May through Elektra.
 
SEE TRUJILLO WITH METALLICA
Metallica have posted up a video of new bassist Robert Trujillo auditioning for the band last November. Fans can see this at www.allmetallica.com.
 
CRADLE ANNOUNCE SUPPORT
Cradle Of Filth are to be supported by Immolation on their upcoming UK/European tour. The British dates happen at: London Astoria April 20/21, Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall 22, Norwich Waterfront 23. Get your tickets now via the Ticketmaster link at www.totalrock.com.
 
ANTI WAR BENEFIT
After Burner Two, N.U.K.E., The Relatives, Martini Henry and Rifles play Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach on March 23. All proceeds with be donated to the Anti War Coalition.
08
AMORPHIS READY NEW ALBUM
Finland’s Amorphis have finished work their new, as yet untitled album. The band are currently looking for a new record deal, following their split with Relapse.
 
EVIL AT WORK
As Voivod release their new, self-titled album, former bassist/vocalist Eric Forrest is preparing to start work on the debut album from his new band E-Force. To be titled ‘Evil Force’, it will be produced by Pierre Remillard and released later in the year by Season Of Mist.
 
ZOMBIE PLANS NEW MOVIE
Rob Zombie’s first film as a director/writer, ‘House Of 1000 Corpses’, isn’t yet in the cinemas, but already the man is working on a new movie. This will again be in the horror genre. ‘House Of 1000 Corpses’ finally opens in America next month.
 
POISON THE WELL NAME ALBUM
Poison The Well are to title their new album ‘You Come Before You’. This is currently being recorded in Sweden with co-producers Pelle Henricsson and Eskil Lovstrom, and should be issued in early July by Velvet Hammer.
08 KISS SYMPHONY MEETS 'GREAT EXPECTATIONS'?: Last week's KISS Symphony concert in Melbourne Australia featured the following set list:

Act One: (Full blown KISS)
Deuce
Strutter
Let Me Go Rock & Roll
Lick It Up
Calling Dr. Love
Psycho Circus

Act Two: (Acoustic set with MSO)
Beth
Forever
Goin' Blind
Sure Know Something
Shandi

Act Three: (Electric Set with full MSO)
Detroit Rock City
King Of the Night Time World
Do You Love Me
Shout it Out Loud
God Of Thunder
Love Gun
Black Diamond

-encores-
Great Expectations
I Was Made For Lovin' You
Rock N' Roll All Night

The lineup was PAUL STANLEY (guitar, vocals), GENE SIMMONS (bass, vocals), TOMMY THAYER (guitar) and PETER CRISS (drums). All wore the traditional KISS makeup.

08 ANTHRAX COMING FOR YOU ALL IN MAY!: Thrash metal innovators ANTHRAX have signed with Sanctuary Records Group and have set May 6, 2003, as the release day for 'We've Come for You All.'

'We've Come for You All' is the first new studio effort from vocalist John Bush, guitarist Scott Ian, bass guitarist Frank Bello, drummer Charlie Benante and new guitarist Rob Caggiano in five years. Special guests include The Who vocalist Roger Daltrey on "Taking the Music Back" and Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell on "Cadillac Rock Box" and "Strap It On." The album was co-produced by Anthrax and Scrap 60.

"It definitely sounds like Anthrax, and there are elements from our earlier albums. Creatively, we're on top of our game. We really pushed ourselves," says Benante. "In the late '80s, we were pigeonholed into just doing thrash metal. The past couple of years, we've decided to take more chances with our music. On this record, I handled the majority of the music. Scott wrote more lyrics than John this time around, and Frank came up with some really good melodies."

The official tracklisting for 'We've Come for You All' is: "Intro," "What Doesn't Die," "Superhero," "Refuse to Be Denied," "Safe Home," "Any Place But Here," "Nobody Knows Anything," "Strap It On," "Black Dahlia," "Cadillac Rock Box," "Taking the Music Back," "Crash," "Thinking About an End" and "We've Come for You All."

"The new album is all metal, but there are elements that explore other territories," says Benante. "For example, I'd describe 'Cadillac Rock Box' as Lynyrd Skynyrd-meets-1976/1977 Kiss."

"But it sounds like Anthrax," says Ian.

Renowned comic book artist Alex Ross created the distinctive, intentionally ambiguous cover art for 'We've Come for You All.'

"No one has ever gotten him to do an album cover before. Our webmaster suggested him and we e-mailed his agent. He has some of our records and we were thrilled when he said yes," Benante says. "I worked with him on the cover concept and it just grew. We're now actually thinking about doing a comic book based on this artwork, and our T-shirts will feature it too."

Ian added, "Alex has been my favorite artist for the last six or seven years, so to work with him on our artwork was such a huge thing for me."

Anthrax has always been a driving force in metal and their influence on music is more undeniable now than it has ever been. Albums like 'Spreading the Disease,' 'Among the Living,' 'Persistence of Time,' 'Sound of White Noise,' 'Stomp 442' and others showcased the band's supercharged energy and clever songwriting, which revealed a sense of humor without sacrificing the music's power and integrity.

And Anthrax didn't just kick down musical barriers, the band obliterated them. Starting with "I'm the Man" in 1986, and then in 1991, Anthrax teamed up with rap group Public Enemy on "Bring the Noise," a groundbreaking fusion of heavy metal and rap that directly influenced the likes of Rage Against the Machine and Limp Bizkit.

08 GREAT WHITE/R.I. FIRE UPDATE: A man close to the band TESLA, Jeff Rader, was killed in the Station nightclub fire. See how you can help out his family here: http://www.teslaweb.com Meanwhile, SFK reports that a lawyer for GREAT WHITE frontman JACK RUSSELL said the singer is asking for immunity from prosecution before agreeing to testify to a grand jury investigating last week's tragic nightclub fire in Rhode Island.

ANOTHER RAINBOW COLLECTION: (SFK) March 18 brings a new collection from RAINBOW titled “Catch The Rainbow”. The two disc set has the following tracks: Man On The Silver Mountain, Sixteenth Century Greensleeves, Catch The Rainbow, Tarot Woman, Starstruck, Stargazer, Light In The Black, Mistreated (live), Long Live Rock 'N' Roll, Gates Of Babylon, Kill The King, Rainbow Eyes, Eyes Of The World, Since You Been Gone, All Night Long, Weiss Heim, I Surrender, Spotlight Kid, Can't Happen Here, Jealous Lover, Death Alley Driver, Stone Cold, Tearin' Out My Heart, Power, Can't Let You Go, Desperate Heart, Street Of Dreams and Difficult To Cure (live).

08 COHEED AND CAMBRIA GET 'USED' TO BIG TOURS: (Press Release) COHEE AND CAMBRIA will directly support The Used (Reprise Records) for a large portion of their nationwide tour starting March 21 in Los Angeles through April 16 in Rochester, NY. Currently, the band has been riding a growing tidal wave of momentum with nearly all shows being sold out across the country on their first headlining tour of North America (which wraps up on 2/28 in New York City). Taking note of the rise Co&Ca is experiencing, Spin magazine have included the band in their "Next Big Things" issue out this month and Alternative Press profiles the band in their "100 Bands you need to know" issue.


Since the release of their 2002 debut "The Second Stage Turbine Blade" (Equal Vision), the band have been sharing their unique musical identity with audiences everywhere touring non-stop with notables such as The Get Up Kids, Hot Water Music, Thrice, Glassjaw, Thursday, Taking Back Sunday, Finch and The Movielife among others.


The band has also made time in their busy schedule to begin writing new material for their second album. Vocalist/Guitarist Claudio Sanchez recently confirmed the band will enter Applehead Studios in upstate NY in early March with Michael Birnbaum, who also assisted the band in producing their debut. The group plans to work on the album between stops on tour and aim for a fall 2003 release. One of the new songs, tentatively titled "The Back End of Forever", can be heard as part of the band's live set during their current tour. As for the direction of the new work, Claudio remarked, "It's a continuation of our previous work but also incorporating new influences we have picked up while on the road playing with so many different groups and all the experiences that we have had along the way." (All shows with The Used except*)

Date City Venue
3/21 Los Angeles, Ca Henry Fonda Theater
3/22 San Diego, CA Soma
3/24 Tucson, AZ Rialto Theater
3/25 Albuquerque, NM Sunshine Theater
3/27 Memphis, TN New Daisy Theater
3/28 Knoxville, TN Blue Cat's
3/30 Winston Salem, NC Ziggy's
4/1 Columbia, SC University SC/Union Ballroom
4/2 N. Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues
4/4 St. Petersburg, FL Jannus Landing
4/5 Ft. Lauderdale, FL The Factory
4/6 Orlando, FL House of Blues
4/8 Jacksonville, FL Marquee Theater
4/9 Athens, GA 40 Watt Club
4/11 Atlanta, GA Roxy Theater
4/12 Louisville, KY Headliners Music Hall
4/13 Cincinnati, OH Bogart's
4/15 Toledo, OH Headliner's
4/16 Rochester, NY Water St. Music Hall
4/18 Stoors, CT Student Union*
4/25 Asbury Park, NJ Skate N Surf Fest
4/26 Purchase, NY Quad Manhattan College*

08 ANDREW WK KEEPS THE PARTY GOING: ANDREW WK's official website AWKWorld.com has posted this festive message: "IT IS COMING!!! GET READY TO LIVE!!! The new ANDREW W.K. album is under way! Andrew is recording the album right now in New York City and is planning on a release for the middle of 2003!!! 'It's going to be pure solid glory, with a complete tearing down of the flood gates and a complete building up of the spectacular mind blowing pleasure that comes from exploding triumph.' The sound of living has giving birth to the sound of trans-Atlantic-Pacific ecstacy - the hard album with a massive machine! It's storming through the system and crashing with each step, but always pounding away with determination! Oh my goodness, this is going to be fun!!! STAY TUNED!!!"

 

PRIMAL FEAR UPDATE: (Press Release) PRIMAL FEAR have just finished recording two new cover songs for forthcoming Nuclear Blast tribute albums, “Die Young” from Black Sabbath and “Two Minutes To Midnight” from Iron Maiden. Currently the band have started the songwriting process for their new album and after the summer festival season in Europe, including 5 major Open Airs in Germany, Spain & Portugal, the band will enter the recording studio to start working on their fifth album.

 

BRITNY FOX/RAZAMANAZ UPDATE: (Press Release) The self-titiled RAZAMANAZ disc featuring Michael Kelly Smith with be released March 25th, 2003 thru Perris Records (www.perrisrecords.com). It will also be on sale at www.britnyfox.net.

In BRITNY FOX news (from the band): "Look for the new cd to be retitled. We were going to go with 'Heavy Elements' but that is off due to a different direction with the artwork! The artwork is being worked on right now and Tommy is mixing the new tunes at this very moment. We will have the new title and a picture of the front cover posted at www.britnyfox.net within the next few weeks! The release is still in the same time frame of late July, early August on Spitfire Records! I know that seems like forever but Spitfire has a 3-4 month turnaround after we hand the project in, so it really is out of our hands! Johnny is overseas this week doing shows with DORO. He will be back home in a week or so! Johnny's drum tracks on the new stuff sounds amazing! This could be their best release to date!! More news soon!!!"

08 NEVERMORE IN STUDIO: (Press Release) NEVERMORE are currently in the studio with producer Kelly Grey (Queensrÿche, Dokken) recording Enemies Of Reality, their follow-up album to 2000's critically-acclaimed Dead Heart In A Dead World.

Vocalist Warrel Dane provides an update on the progress made:

"EoR is well underway, sorry it took so long to get started with the studio report but this time we are all still working our regular jobs and recording so things are a bit hectic. All the drum tracks are done. All the bass tracks as well as the main guitar tracks are done. Jeff [Loomis] is doing solos as we speak. I have 3 main vocals done and things are going very good. [Producer] Kelly [Grey] is really easy to work with... so put your fears to rest!! Be patient... the enemy awaits..."

In addition to playing at the BW&BK 6-Pack Weekend (June 13th & 14th in Cleveland, Ohio), NEVERMORE are also confirmed to play Friday night at the New England Metal & Harcore Fest in Worcester, Massachusetts on May 16th.

08 SINOPOLI GOES 70s: (Press Release) SINOPOLI is recording their next album for Generation Records at East Coast mastering in New Jersey. Producing the album is Cid Birardi. The new record will be a throw back to the 1970s. The boys have broken out the old guitars on this baby! Jack Ponti and SINOPOLI team up on this new album to do a blistering remake of ALICE COOPERS,"I'M EIGHTEEN." Also included is a heavy remake of "I WAS MADE FOR LOVING YOU" by KISS.
08
JUDAS PRIEST TO RELEASE YET ANOTHER DOUBLE LIVE CD: (Press Release) The very name JUDAS PRIEST conjures immediate respect from heavy metal fans worldwide. True heavy metal evolved from the groundbreaking work of Judas Priest 30 years ago. The double CD 'Live in London' is testimony to the band's staggering legacy.
 
The 25-song 'Live in London' double CD will be released on SPV Records on April 8, 2003. It's a companion to the identically titled, best-selling DVD from last year, but the double CD has several special features.
 
Vocalist Ripper Owens, lead guitarist Glenn Tipton, lead guitarist K.K. Downing, bass guitarist Ian Hill and drummer Scott Travis recorded 'Live in London' at a special concert at Brixton Academy in London on December 19, 2001. The double CD contains additional songs, therefore offering a more complete account of the show. Judas Priest cranked out new songs and the classics at the Brixton Academy, but the band also performed many rarely played cuts, making 'Live in London' a career-spanning treat for fans.
 
'Live in London' is packaged in a deluxe slipcase, and excerpts from the DVD are included as a CD Extra track.
 
The complete track listing for the 'Live in London' double CD is as follows: "Metal Gods," "Heading Out to the Highway," "Grinder," "Touch of Evil," "Blood Stained," "Victim of Changes," "The Sentinel," "One on One," "Running Wild," "Ripper," "Diamonds & Rust," "Feed on Me," "Green Manalishi," "Beyond the Realms of Death," "Burn in Hell," "Hell is Home," "Breaking the Law," "Desert Plains," "You've Got Another Thing Coming," "Turbo Lover," "Painkiller," "Hellion/Electric Eye," "United," "Living After Midnight" and "Hell Bent for Leather."
08
BOC TO THE UK: After last year's successful UK tour, BLUE OYSTER CULT will be returning to England, Wales and Scotland in June of 2003. Their legions of UK fans are reportedly devouring tickets for these exclusive performances. BOC will be performing with other classic rockers such as FOGHAT, MOUNTAIN and MARK FARNER at selected locations all through the year. Fans can click this link for all the information for tickets and showtimes and venues: http://www.blueoystercult.com/Road-main.html
 
 
DIANNO SIGNING AND SINGING: Original IRON MAIDEN front manPAUL DIANNO will be meeting fans and signing his autobiography at Musicmania at the National Exhibition centre, Birmingham UK on Sunday 23 March 1pm and 3pm. In addition Paul will complete his UK tour with a special acoustic gig at 3pm. More info at http://www.vip-24.com
 
 
HEAVENLY WORKS ON NEW ALBUM: HEAVENLY's third album, scheduled for release in september on Sanctuary/Noise Records, will be mixed by Sascha Paeth (Rhapsody, Shaman, Kamelot, Luca Turilli, etc.) The recording had begun already. Drums were recorded in Hannover, in Ferdy Doernberg's studio. The band is now in their own studio in the south of France, recording the rest of the album. Bass is done, and work on the guitars has begun.This third effort is going to be a concept album. Meanwhile, guitarist Fred Leclercq and bassist Pierre-Emmanuel Pélisson will take some time off studio to attend the second Hard Rock awards night in Paris on April 6th.
09

MACHINE HEAD frontman Robert Flynn has once again lashed out at
SLAYER guitarist Kerry King over the latter's incessant public
criticisms of MACHINE HEAD's recent recorded output and attacks on
the group's integrity. In an interview posted at MACHINE HEAD's
official web site (www.machinehead1.com), Flynn responds to a
question about how the whole feud between the two former friends
started.

"You want to know how this whole thing started? (long pause) About
the time that 'Supercharger' got released, maybe a little before, we
started reading all these interviews where Kerry's talking shit about
us," Flynn said. "And at first it was kinda just dumb
shit... 'MACHINE HEAD sucks'... 'Robb sings like a fag now'... blah,
blah, blah. It was his opinion, we didn't care, he's entitled to it.
But you know... We were kinda trippin', we considered this guy our
friend, and all of a sudden...

"Anyways, we talk about it and we decide we're not gonna say anything
about it in the press. We're like, 'Maybe he's just going through a
phase or something.'

"So six months or so go by and he's still talking shit in interviews,
but now it's like, they don't even have to ask him about MACHINE
HEAD, he'll just start in on us. A magazine will be like, 'So Kerry,
how's the weather down in Los Angeles?' and Kerry will be like, 'Oh
yeah, the weather's great, and by the way, MACHINE HEAD fuckin'
SUCKS!!!' (laughter) And we're like... What the fuck, man? Where's
all that coming from? But again, we talk about it, and again we
decide not to say anything in the press, because... (long pause )
This guy was like our idol. We had posters of this guy on the wall in
our jam pad... It was weird.

"So three or four more months pass by, and he's 'still' going at us.
And now man, he just starts getting a little too fuckin' mouthy. It's
no longer, 'MACHINE HEAD sucks' and 'Robb sings like a fag'. Now
it's 'MACHINE HEAD are sell-outs,' 'They're responsible for rap-
metal,' 'They fooled me into thinking they're metal,' 'They have no
integrity left.' And we're like, 'WHOA!!!!!! What the fuck!?' Fuck
this motherfucker!!! How fuckin' dare you accuse us have having no
integrity?! Oh, Mr. SUM 41 video has so much fuckin' integrity now!?
Shit?!

"So I said fuck this, and I fired some rounds back. And I don't pull
any punches. I fuckin' ROASTED his ass, period, and he knows it. He
just can't take it like a man, and leave it at that. He's still
taking dumb little shots at me in the press, 'Duh, his hair looks
like Anselmo now, Duh, he's trying to copy him.'

"Whatever man. I'm over it. O-ver it. You want to know how I feel?
This whole thing just disappoints me. I'm disappointed in him that he
had to bring it to this." ( i think kerry king is the biggest shit
talker in slayer  u don't hear any other of the memeber's talk sh*t
about any other band kerry is the only one what do u guy's think)

09

Court Jails 'Satanist' Heavy Metal Fans
Fri March 7, 2003 07:48 AM ET
RABAT (Reuters) - A court in Casablanca on Thursday handed out prison
sentences ranging from one month to one year to 14 heavy metal music
enthusiasts, the official MAP news agency reported.

The trial followed articles in some newspapers which described the
accused as "Satanists" who recruited for an international cult of
devil-worship.

The 14 men aged between 22 and 35 years were found guilty of
"possessing objects which infringe morals" and of "acts capable of
undermining the faith of a Muslim."

Morocco's penal code allows a maximum sentence of three years for
attempting to convert a Muslim to another faith.

Nine of those sentenced are musicians in three Moroccan heavy metal
groups: Nekros, Infected Brain and Reborn.

Parents, friends and college supervisors of those sentenced had
argued that the case arose from a misunderstanding of the heavy metal
sub-culture and should never have come to court.

Soumayah Kortbi, whose 31-year-old brother Ayoub Kortbi was sentenced
to three months, said, "I am disappointed with justice in my country.
It is as though the court did not take the trouble to find out the
facts."

The French-language weekly magazine TelQuel had ridiculed the judge's
remarks during the trial that "Normal people go to concerts in a suit
and tie," rather than in a black T-shirt with heavy-metal symbols
which was shown to the court.

The judge also found suspicious the fact that one of the musicians
chose to pen lyrics in English rather than Arabic. Journalist
Nourredine Ben Malik, whose sensationalist interview with 21-year-old
girl involved in the heavy metal scene in the weekly As-Sahifa last
July helped trigger the police enquiry, was contrite following the
sentencing. "I am against these sentences," he told Reuters.

"There was no solid argument behind them, and I've signed a petition
saying as much.

"These are just young people who like a certain kind of music. If
there is a problem with their thinking it is not a matter for the
courts but for their families, political parties and society."

For some of Morocco's francophone middle classes, the case set alarm
bells ringing, against a background of rising electoral support for
Morocco's Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD).

In legislative elections last September, the PJD emerged as the third
largest party in parliament, and it looks set likewise to gain ground
in local elections in June.

PJD member of parliament Mustapha Ramid on January 23, before the
trial began, asked parliament to have a concert by the three heavy
metal groups banned.

The following month he criticized European and U.S. cultural centers
operating in Rabat and Casablanca.

Driss Ksikes, chief editor at TelQuel magazine, said that with this
verdict, "Morocco's young people will not feel at home in their own
country. I think our judicial system needs psychologists if they
don't understand that young people are by essence subversive and like
to shock."

12
ENTOMBED CATCH FIRE
Entombed are to call their new album ‘Inferno’. Produced by Pelle Gunnerfeldt, this is expected to be released by Music For Nations in mid-May.
 
FANTOMAS RECORD
Fantomas are about to start recording their new album for release on Ipecac in the Summer. Fantomas, of course, feature Mike Patton on vocals, Dave Lombardo on drums, Melvins guitarist Buzz Osbourne and Mr Bungle bassist Trevor Dunn.
 
GREAT WHITE FACE LAW SUIT
The first of what could be a number of law suits has been filed following the death of 98 people in the fire at The Station Club in Providence, Rhode Island on February 20. The relatives of Tina Ayer and Donald Roderiques have filed for wrongful death. Among those cited in the suit are Great White and the club owners. The death toll from the fire has now reached 99.
12
DEFAULT GET IN THE RING
Canadians Default have persuaded boxer Laila Ali, daughter of the legendary Muhammad Ali, to star in the video for new single ‘Deny’. This is released on March 31.
 
AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE: ‘RECORD’ ALBUM
American Head Charge are to call their next album ‘Just For The Record’. The band aim to have this in the shops by the end of the year.
 
RHAPSODY SIGN DEAL
Italian epic metallers Rhapsody have signed to SPV. The band are expected to release an album later in the year. This is to be self-produced.
 
KIEDIS GRABS BOOK DEAL
Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis is to have his memoirs published by Hyperion Books next year. The book is to be called ‘Scar Tissue’, and will be co-written with Larry ‘Ratso’ Sloman. Kiedis plans to deal with a number of issues, including his battle against drug addiction.
12
CHIMAIRA FIRE SHOCK
Chimaira were forced to postpone the filming of the video for new song ‘Down Again’, when Los Angeles studio due to be used for the shoot burned down. Fortunately, nobody was hurt. ‘Down Again’ comes from the band’s upcoming album ‘The Impossibility Of Reason’.
 
JAY-Z TAKES THE BIZKIT
Rapper Jay-Z has been in the studio with Limp Bizkit pair Fred Durst and DJ Lethal. The three have been working on a song called ‘Rebels’, although how and where this will be released has yet to be decided. One possibility is that it will be used on the upcoming Bizkit album ‘Bipolar’, due for release in mid-May.
  
STONE TEMPLE PAIR PRODUCE ANTS
Stone Temple Pilots duo Robert and Dean Deleo are to produce the new album for Alien Ant Farm. The record should be released later in the year.
12
SOIL TAKE ‘PRIDE’
Chicago’s Soil are currently recording their new album with producer Johnny K. It’s to be called ‘Pride’ and should be out later this year. The band are expected to be back in the UK for at least one festival appearance this Summer.
12
MAYHEM OVER SHEEP’S HEAD
Norwegian black metallers Mayhem are facing possible imprisonment because a sheep’s head they were using as a stage prop injured a fan. The incident happened in Bergen when the head flew off the end of frontman Maniac’s knife as he attempted to cut it up and hit Per Kristian Hagen, fracturing his skull. Now the band are being charged with assault and battery, and if found guilty they could be jailed for six months.
 
BEDOUIN CAMP IN LONDON
Bedouin, the band featuring Hawkwind’s Alan Davey, play Camden Dingwalls in London on March 13.
 
DOWNLOAD: MORE ACTS CONFIRMED
Murderdolls, Zwan, Disturbed, Stone Sour and Soil are among the latest acts to be confirmed for the Download Festival, which happens at Donington on May 31 and June 1. Also added to the bill are Ministry, (hed)p.e. and Less Than Jake. They join headliners Iron Maiden and Limp Bizkit, plus Audioslave, Deftones Marilyn Manson, Shadow’s Fall and Stampin’ Ground. More names will be announced very soon. Get your tickets via the Ticketmaster link at www.totalrock.com.
12
DREAM THEATER PLAN NEW ALBUM
Dream Theater are to start work on their next studio album this month. Fans may expect a release later this year. And Dream Theater drummer Mike Portony has now formed a Beatles tribute band called Yellow Matter Custard. Also in the line-up are former David Lee Roth bassist Matt Bissonette and ex-Spock’s Beard guitarist Neal Morse.
 
MALEVOLENT CREATION: NEW DRUMMER
Veteran Florida thrashers Malevolent Creation have replaced drummer Ariel Alvarado with former Nile man Tony Laureano.
 
ADEQUATE ‘EXPERIENCE’
Cardiff band Adequate Seven, who describe their music as funk-edged hardcore, have just released an album on Household Name. It’s called ‘Songs Of Innocence And Of Experience’.
 
FANCY JOINING DEAD FLY?
Dead Fly Syndrome are currently looking for a new singer, following the departure of Mike Diamond. If you’re interested then email deadflysyn@yahoo.com. But you must either live in New York, or be prepared to relocate there.
12
DECAPITATED HEAD OUT ON TOUR
Polish death metallers Decapitated are to headline shows in Britain for the first time. Supported by Insision, they play Brighton Concorde 2 March 25, Nottingham Old Angel 26, Manchester Bierkeller 27, Glasgow Cathouse 28, Bradford Rio 29, Bristol Bierkeller 30, Dudley JB’s 31, London Camden Underworld April 1.
 
KELLY O’S COMMERCIAL APPEAL
Kelly Osbourne has just filmed a TV commercial for Doritos. This will be screened in the UK, and includes snippets from her new single ‘Come Dig Me Out’.
 
HELLACOPTERS FLY BACK
The Hellacopters are to play the following UK and Irish shows: London King’s Cross Scala April 7, Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms 8, Birmingham Academy 2 10, Dublin Temple Bar 12, Manchester Academy 3 13, Leeds Cockpit 14, Bristol Fleece 15, Brighton Concorde 2 16.
 
SAL SIGN TO TRACK
Young British band Sal have signed a deal with Track Records. Expect news of their first release soon.
12
JACK BLADES STAYS SHARP WITH NEW ALBUM: (Press Release) JACK BLADES, frontman, bassist, lead singer and songwriter for such million selling rock bands as NIGHT RANGER and DAMN YANKEES, has secured a home for his highly anticipated solo debut with Frontiers Records, signing a deal for European and Asian territories.
 
"I am so excited about having this opportunity to do my own record after 20 years in bands and writing songs for so many other people. Now it's my turn!" says Jack, who recently met with Frontiers Records executives Serafino Perugino and Mario de Riso in Paris, France.
 
As of now, there is no album title chosen yet: "I always see how the music flows first and then I title the CD" says Jack, who has already secured "help" in the songwriting department with friends Neal Schon (Journey) and Tommy Shaw (Styx, Damn Yankees). But, in Jack's words: "When I begin recording I'll call in lots of friends...it's gonna be fun!"
 
Jack, who has co-written songs for such superstars as Aerosmith, Ozzy Osborne, Alice Cooper, Cher (just to name a few) is right now finishing up the writing with several songs already completed and described as straight ahead rock, with lots of melodies in typical "Jack Blades" style.
 
Jack plans to start recording in his studio in Northern California in a couple of months and hopes to have the CD finished by early summer for a release tentatively scheduled for the end of this year.
12
HEAVEN'S CRY RELEASE PARTY: (Press Release) Canadian progmetallers HEAVEN'S CRY celebrate the official release of their second album "Primal Power Addiction" in their home country Canada. The party will be held in Petit Campus in Montreal (QC), and everyone who will visit this gig will get the album for free at the entrance. DVS Records has licensed the album to MetalHertz who recently released the CD in Canada. In the meantime the band is remixing the debut CD for the re-release later this year and are writing new songs for a new album to be out in Spring 2004, probably followed by another short European tour. Visit www.dvsrecords.com for more info.
12
PROG POWER REVS UP: (Press Release) We are early this year, but the first 3 bands for this year's ProgPower event in The Netherlands, Europe, are confirmed.
 
CHROME SHIFT (denmark)
MANIGANCE (france)
PAGAN'S MIND (norway)
 
The event will be held the first weekend of October again in JC SJIWA, Baarlo, The Netherlands, just like last year. Expect some more bands to be announced during the next few weeks, we are talking to a major band right now. It will be the 5th edition so we try to make something special out of it, we think with the first 3 bands we already offer you some very talented bands.
 
See you all in October, in the meantime check out our friends of the Headway Festival, www.headwayfestival.com
12
GRIFFIN ENLIST CHILDREN OF BODOM MEMBER AS PRODUCER: (Press Release) CHILDREN OF BODOM frontman Alexi Laiho will co-produce the next album by Norwegian metal act GRIFFIN. The production will take place in Trondheim, Norway, and the album's tentative release is September 2003. The album will be released on FaceFront Records. Check out the band at www.griffin.no
12 A MOUNTAIN OF CLASSIC REISSUES: (Press Release) The New York City-based band MOUNTAIN thundered onto the music scene in 1969 and laid the foundation for the future of hard rock and heavy metal. VH1 named Mountain one of the 100 greatest hard rock groups of all time. Vocalist/lead guitarist Leslie West, bass guitarist/vocalist/producer Felix Pappalardi (who first gained fame as Cream's producer) and drummer Corky Laing were the core of Mountain but they were augmented by keyboardist Steve Knight. Mountain's most famous song is "Mississippi Queen," yet the band's talent and influence exceed far beyond that eardrum-liquefying classic.

Three of Mountain's gold-selling albums will be reissued by Columbia/Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music, in April 2003. 1970's 'Climbing!' and 1971's 'Nantucket Sleighride' will be released on April 8 followed by 'The Best of Mountain' on April 15. All of these Mountain reissues feature bonus tracks, state-of-the-art remastered sound and detailed liner notes, including essays by West and Laing.

"I'm very happy with these reissues. They show what Mountain is all about," West says. "When we started, people thought we were an English band because of Felix's work with Cream. We built a strong following in New York and were known more as a live band rather than a recording band. But we did make great records."

"We considered ourselves the quintessential heavy-rock New York band," says Laing. "Since we were from the concrete jungle, we'd be considered concrete blues -- a hard rock/blues band. And we were very well-received in New York. (The Who drummer) Keith Moon used to tell me he was always nervous about performing in New York, but for us playing a place like the Fillmore East was like playing in our own living room."

"We played the Fillmore East for a week, and it wasn't just friends in the audience. We knew something was happening," West says.

"A great deal of our fans are musicians, and we lucked out in that we arrived on the scene at a time when being a musician was everything. We were not overly obsessed with trends. Mountain was a performing band, and whenever and wherever we played, it was a celebration, an event, whether we had a hit record or not," Laing says. "I am a messenger to tell you how Felix deserves to have this music put under a microscope. Sonically speaking, I think these reissues honor Felix's work as a producer and arranger."

'Climbing!' contains "Mississippi Queen," "Theme for an Imaginary Western," "Never in My Life," "Silver Paper," "For Yasgur's Farm," "To My Friend," "The Laird," "Sittin' on a Rainbow" and "Boys in the Band." A live version of "For Yasgur's Farm" is the bonus cut.

" 'Mississippi Queen' became a surprise hit single. It was considered too heavy for regular airplay. At first, radio only played it between midnight and 6:00 a.m. Memphis was the first city where it went to number one, and it took off nationwide," West recalls.

'Nantucket Sleighride' features "Don't Look Around," "Taunta (Sammy's Tune)," "Nantucket Sleighride (To Owen Coffin)," "You Can't Get Away," "Tired Angels," "The Animal Trainer and the Toad," "My Lady," "Travelin' in the Dark (To E.M.P.)" and "The Great Train Robbery." The extra track is a live rendition of "Travelin' in the Dark (To E.M.P.)."

"I was so new at recording that sometimes I thought we were a little overproduced. At first I didn't like 'Nantucket Sleighride' at all because it was too complicated. But I really like 'Nantucket Sleighride' now," West says. "And there's another English connection. For something like 20 years, it's been the theme song for a '60 Minutes'-like show in England called 'Weekend World.' One time in the '80s we were at Knebworth, a huge festival in England, and started playing 'Nantucket Sleighride' and you could see it in people's faces when the realization struck that the song was ours."

'The Best of Mountain' contains "Never in My Life," "Taunta (Sammy's Tune)," "Nantucket Sleighride (To Owen Coffin)," "Roll Over Beethoven," "For Yasgur's Farm," "The Animal Trainer and the Toad," "Mississippi Queen," "King's Chorale," "Boys in the Band," "Don't Look Around," "Theme for an Imaginary Western" and "Crossroader." Four bonus songs are included: "Long Red" and "Dreams of Milk and Honey" (both from West's 1969 solo album 'Mountain') and "Silver Paper" from 'Climbing!' and "Travelin' in the Dark (To E.M.P.)" from 'Nantucket Sleighride.'

Mountain's origin is a complicated story. West was in a band called the Vagrants, which recorded several unsuccessful singles produced by Pappalardi, noted for his groundbreaking work with Cream. Pappalardi then produced West's solo album 'Mountain.' Their creative connection was so intense that West persuaded Pappalardi to actually join his new band Mountain, named for the album they collaborated on. Mountain's fourth live show ever was at Woodstock, unquestionably one of the most important events ever in popular culture.

Mountain officially came together as a recording unit when West, Pappalardi, Laing and Knight joined forces. Pappalardi was a business partner in the organization managing Laing's group Energy. In addition to his bass playing and singing duties, Pappalardi became Mountain's producer and musical director. He sharpened the band's skills and songwriting through countless hours of grueling rehearsals. West's progress as a guitarist surged, and he quickly became known for his sizzling tone and vibrato. 'Climbing!' was Mountain's debut album.

A variety of factors led to Mountain's first breakup in 1972 but periodic reunions occurred over the years. West and Laing joined Cream bass guitarist/vocalist Jack Bruce to form the supergroup West, Bruce, Laing. West also made several solo albums in the late 1970s that Laing played on. Mountain then reunited for awhile in the mid-1980s. In the early 1990s, Laing became vice president of A&R at PolyGram Records in Canada. Tragically, Pappalardi was shot and killed by his wife in 1983. Mountain reunited again in the mid-1990s. West and Laing, along with Richie Scarlett (from Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley's solo band), continue to perform and record as Mountain today. (Mountain's latest CD, 'Mystic Fire,' and a new concert DVD set for release on March 18 titled 'Sea of Fire,' attest to the band's viability; 'Mystic Fire' and 'Sea of Fire' are available on Lightyear Entertainment.)

The reissues of 'Climbing!,' 'Nantucket Sleighride' and 'The Best of Mountain' (along with the 'Mystic Fire' and 'Sea of Fire') will certainly foster a further appreciation of the innovative vision of Mountain.

12 DOUBLE LIVE ANNIHILATION: (Press Release) USA based The End Records is proud to announce the exclusive distribution of AFM Records (Germany) artists Canadian heavy metal band ANNIHILATOR and their latest 2 cd live release, titled "Double Live Annihilation" for the United States territory. Double Live Annihilation is to be released on 3/24/2003.

ANNIHILATOR's leader and musical mastermind Jeff Waters has assembled the ultimate metal double live cd, featuring approximately 100 minutes of heavy metal masterpieces spanning their complete musical career. The cd contains a multimedia package which includes two unreleased live videos, a screensaver and lots of pictures from all periods of the band's history. To top it off, the double cd will be sold for the price of a standard CD. The release will also be made available in a luxury digi-book version. More info at http://www.theendrecords.com.

12
TAKARA UPDATE: (From the band) In May Frontline records in Brazil will be releasing a Journey Tribute CD. TAKARA have contributed one song for this CD. Takara performed a classic rendition of "Any Way You Want It".

Next, Guitarist Neal Grusky participated in a lion Music Tribute CD to ULI JON ROTH. Neal played guitar on the the SCORPIONS song "Pictured Life". This song will be released in May through Lion Music. This tribute CD should be a very exciting.

Also, sometime in May Lion Music will be releasing the final CD of the Takara back catalogue. With the first 3 Takara studio CD's already out, Lion Music will rerelease Takara's Best of CD "Eternity". This CD will feature some special liner notes and pictures that have not been seen before.

Also, Takara will soon be making availible for online purchase the ENTIRE Takara CD catalogue
through the www.takararocks.com site. These CD's will be sold via paypal. Feel free to write with any questions regarding this soon to be launched service.

Finally, Takara has been busy working on the follow up CD to their last release "Perception Of Reality". This CD is expected to released in late 2003. Also, to coincide with the release of the next CD, Takara will soon start taking preorders for this next new release. This CD will be made availible direct from Takara. This new CD will feature many new features, and special surprises to make this package more interesting than any prior Takara release.

12 AC/DC ELECTRIFIES HALL OF FAME CEREMONY: On Monday night, AC/DC, along with several other artists, were inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame via a ceremony in NY City. The band was presented their award by STEVEN TYLER of AEROSMITH, who was instrumental in getting the band exposure in the United States during the late 70s when his band allowed them to open for them. AC/DC performed the classics "You Shook Me All Night Long" and "Highway to Hell" with Tyler helping out. View pics here: http://www.acdc-videos.com/hof.php
12 RHODE ISLAND REMEMBERS BENEFIT: (Press Release) Saturday 19th April 2003. The Fiddlers Club, Wellway Street, Bedminster, Bristol. The "RHODE ISLAND REMEMBERS" special event will feature a strong selection of classic rock with all proceeds will be going to the victims and the families effected by the fire at The Great White concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island on 20th February. 99 people have died and a further 60 are still in intensive care. We can all remember going to rock gigs at local clubs and it could have been you or someone you know.

Come along and shake those cobwebs off, feel your pulse again and make a difference!

Line-up:

New Wave Of British Heavy Metal greats:

THE TYGERS OF PAN TANG & OLIVER DAWSON SAXON

Hurricane Party
Deeds
Unleash
Ironically Maiden
Queen Rocks
Dirty DC
Stone Free
Blackfire
Fake No More
In Extremis
Tycho
Super08

All proceeds will be divided between the TY LONGLEY Foundation and the local aid fund run by the Centresville Bank in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Both have been set up to help people who have lost relatives, been injured or who have otherwise suffered as a result of the fire.

Tickets are £12 each and are available direct from Mark Curran. Please make cheques payable to Granite 'n' Steel and enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. For further details, email him at: chaoscurran@granitensteel.com

16
GREAT WHITE: SECOND LAW SUIT
Great White are facing a second law suit following the recent fire at The Station club in Providence, Rhode Island, the death toll for which has now risen to 99. The suit has been filed against a number of people, including the band at the club’s owners, on behalf of six-year-old Zoe Jean Kingsley, whose mother Lisa Kelly died in the blaze.
 
TOMMY LEE IN ‘RAGZ’
Tommy Lee is to call his upcoming autobiography ‘Ragz To Riches’. And it’s expected to contain material that didn’t appear in the Motley Crue autobiography ‘The Dirt’. Lee’s book is expected to be published before the end of the year.
 
SYSTEM STAR SUES SECURITY COMPANY
System Of A Down bassist Shavo Odadjian is suing security company DK Security over an incident in Grand Rapids, Michigan on October 28, 2001. Odadjian claims assault, ethnic intimidation and humiliaton. He alleges this happened when the band played a co-headlining date in the city with Slipknot. Following System’s set, the bassist watched parted of Slipknot’s show in the audience, but when he tried to go backstage with two female guests he claims to have been stopped, had his nose bloodied and then to have been forcibly escorted from the venue.
16
NIGHTWISH NAME DVD
Nightwish are to call their upcoming DVD ‘The End Of Innocence’. This is likely to be released in June by Spinefarm.
 
MARIA IS HAUNTED
Maria is to air a major interview with The Haunted on Friday, March 14. Tune in from 6-9pm (UK time), when you’ll also hear tracks from their acclaimed new album, ‘One Kill Wonder’.
 
EDGUY ON FIRE
German power metallers Edguy are to call their upcoming live album ‘Burning Down The Opera’. It’s released in late May by AFM.
 
ICARUS LINE IN ‘LOVE’
The Icarus Line are to release a limited edition EP called ‘Love Is Happiness’ through Sweet Nothing on May 5. Only 1500 copies are to be made available, and the record will be on sale for one week. Fans may also see the band at London’s Camden Underworld on April 12. This will mark the live debut of new bassist Dan DeVore, and also the return of drummer Jeff ‘The Captain’ Watson.
16
WAYLANDER SEEK GUITARIST
Irish band Waylander are currently looking for a new guitarist. Interested? Email ardchieftain@hotmail.com.
 
BLUEBIRD GO TO HELL
Californian band Bluebird are to support Hell Is For Heroes at: Newcastle Stage II April 25, Nottingham Rock City 26, Cambridge Junction 27, Leeds Cockpit 28, Edinburgh Liquid Rooms 29, London Mean Fiddler May 1, Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall 2, Dublin Music Centre Heineken Green Energy 3, Portsmouth Pyramid 6, Cardiff MS1 7, Manchester Academy 8.
 
DEFTONES IN MAY
Deftones are preparing to release their new album in late May. Likely to be self-titled, it was recorded at the band’s home studio in Sacramento with producer Terry Date, with mixing in Seattle.
 
FOUNTAINS OF ‘MANAGERS’
Alternative band Fountains Of Wayne finally release their new album ‘Welcome Interstate Managers’ in early June. It includes a guest appearance from former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha.
16
RHODE ISLAND REMEMBERED
A special charity concert is happening in Bristol on April 19. This is in remembrance of the 99 people who died in the blaze at The Station Club in Providence, Rhode Island on February 20. It’s to be held at The Fiddlers Club. The bill features Oliver Dawson Saxon, the Tygers Of Pan Tang, Deeds DC, Hurricane Party, Unleash, Ironically Maiden, Queen Rocks, Tycho, Super08, Fake No More, Blackfire and In Extremis. There will also be a special auction on the night. Tickets cost £12 in advance. For further info, email chaoscurran@granitensteel.com. All proceeds are to be divided between the Ty Longley Foundation and the local aid fund run by the Centresville Bank in West Warwick, Rhode Island.  Both have been set up to help people who’ve lost relatives, been injured or have otherwise suffered as a result of the fire.
 
‘SHOUT’ IT OUT FOR RONNIE
‘Stand Up And Shout’ is the title of a double CD compilation from Ronnie James Dio. Due out in America in late May, this will span the singer’s career, taking in Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Dio.
 
OPETH ARE COILED IN AMERICA
Opeth and Lacuna Coil are to team up for an American tour. This kicks off on May 1 and lasts most of the month.
16
LEWIS’ LO BLOW
Lo Pro, a band featuring former members of Godsmack and Ultraspank will have their debut album released in early June. This is slated to be the first record on Staind frontman’s Aaron Lewis’ label.
 
BEASTIES GO ‘MAD’
The Beastie Boys have posted a brand new song up on their website, www.beastieboys.com. It’s called ‘In A World Gone Mad’ and is their comment on the current global situation, in particular America’s policy towards Iraq.
 
MORTICIAN IN THE  ‘DARK’
Mortician release their latest slice of splattercore through Relapse on April 22. It’s titled ‘Darkest Day Of Horror’.
16
BUCKCHERRY STAR ON HIS TODD
Former Buckcherry frontman Josh Todd is currently mixing his debut solo album. As yet untitled and also without a label, the record features unknown musicians, whom Todd apparently met by answering an advert placed in a local paper by a band looking for a singer!
 
RAMONES ON FILM
Two new films on the Ramones are to be premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in America during May. They are ‘End Of The Century: The Ramones Story’ and ‘Hey! Is Dee Dee Home?’. The former covers the band’s entire career. It includes interviews with members of The Clash and Sex Pistols, plus footage shot by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder on the band’s last tour of South America. The latter is about the late Ramones bassist Dee Dee Ramone.
16
JACKYL UNVEIL FIRST EVER CHAINSAW GUITAR!: (Press Release) Southern rockband JACKYL will perform at CLUB VODKA at THE KEY CLUB on Wednesday, March 19 where they will launch the first ever chainsaw guitar during the group's live performance at 11:00 p.m. JACKYL recently released RELENTLESS featuring first single "Kill The Sunshine," - a collaboration with AC/DC's BRIAN JOHNSON that went Top 20 on R&R's Rock Chart. The group will next release "Vegas Smile" with a national strip off promotion. The song pays homage to the profession of stripping. JACKYL will do a live photo shoot on Friday, March 14 for a billboard to be placed above the Guitar Center on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood where the chainsaw guitars will be sold. Visit http://www.clubvodka.com for more info.
16
HUGHES NUGHES: (Press Release) Frontiers Records announces the completion of the recording of the new GLENN HUGHES album “Songs In The Key Of Rock”. The album is definitely a step towards the hard rock direction, which is nothing else than the “natural environment” for Glenn’s vocal abilities.The final tracklisting will include the following songs: In My Blood; Lost In The Zone; Gasoline; Higher Places (Song For Bonzo); Get You Stoned; Written All Over Your Face; Standing On The Rock; Courageous; Secret Life; The Truth; Wherever You Go. The album has been produced by Glenn himself and guitarist Jeff Kollman and is tentatively scheduled for a release on June 23rd 2003 on Frontiers Records.
16
THE HUNT IS BACK, ROYALLY!: (Press Release) Watch out, the hunting season is open. ROYAL HUNT is on the move again! After a short break from the Trilogy, the band started writing new material during the months of autumn 2002. In the beginning of February 2003 they started recording the new album with the working title “Eye Witness”. The album is set to include the following eleven tracks: Hunted; Can't Let Go; The Prayer; The Age Of The World; Burning The Sun; Wicked Lounge; Fifth Element; Help Us G-D; Game Of Fear; Eye Witness.
 
The album themes are based around a simple idea of “What’s the media feeding us with today?”. It’s reportedly going to be "an emotional roller coaster similar to the one that everyone goes through every morning, while listening to the news or reading newspapers and magazines. It’s understood that it’s a lot to write about, and that’s exactly what the band did. Is the album conceptual? Yes and no. The media is a concept, but the music will have no boundaries."
 
The lineup on the new album will include drums recorded by Allan Tschicaja, bass by Steen Mogensen, guitars by JK, keyboards by Andre Andersen with John West on lead vocals. The new album will be released on Frontiers Records in the entire Europe except Russia and France.
16
HOUSE OF LORDS STUDIO ALBUM REPORT: (Press Release) Recording of the highly anticipated new HOUSE OF LORDS album have finally started in Los Angeles. The drum parts have been completed last week by Ken Mary with guitars and basses to be recorded by Lanny Cordola and Chuck Wright during march.
 
The working title of the album is “The Power & The Myth” and some of the songs which will end of on the record are “The Power & The Myth” (a small instrumental piece that will open the album in typical House of Lords fashion and that – in Chuck Wright’s words – is a “total musician showcase”), “Today”, “The Man I Am”, “Hero’s Song” and more..
 
The recording of the album is going to be completed within June 2003 for a release date tentatively scheduled for Autumn 2003 anticipated by the release of a single with plenty of unreleased material.
16
NIGHTWISH AND RAGE CONFIRMED TO HEADLINE PROGPOWER USA IV: (Press Release) ATLANTA – Finland’s NIGHTWISH and Germany’s RAGE have been confirmed to make their American debuts as headliners of ProgPower USA IV, which returns to Atlanta’s Earthlink Live on September 5 and 6.
 
“It is always exciting for us as a band to take on new areas and see how our stuff goes down there,” said Nightwish’s Marco Hietala. “This time it’s also quite flattering because we know that the USA and Great Britain are very hard places to win when you come from out of their native language areas, and to play as a headliner for our first time ever in the US... Wow, we’ll do our best!”
 
After two decades together, Rage will make their long overdue first appearance on U.S. soil. “It’s great that Rage will play the ProgPower festival this year,” said Peavy Wagner. “Finally, after all these years, we can rock the U.S. Metal heads. It’s gonna be fantastic.”
 
Joining Nightwish and Rage, which will both perform exclusively at ProgPower USA IV, are New Jersey’s Symphony X, Sweden’s Evergrey, Florida’s Circle II Circle, Germany’s Vanden Plas, Italy’s Secret Sphere, Denmark’s Mercenary, Norway’s Pagan’s Mind, and California’s Redemption, which now features vocalist Corey Brown, formerly of Magnitude Nine and Psycho Drama.
 
ProgPower IV will be the U.S. debuts for Vanden Plas, Secret Sphere, Mercenary, and Pagan’s Mind.
 
“I’m very excited about performing at the ProgPower festival this year,” said former Savatage vocalist Zack Stevens, who currently fronts Circle II Circle. “It’s well known as one of the best metal festivals - even Ozzfest doesn’t showcase the ‘best metal bands’ from America and Europe!”
 
Tickets for ProgPower IV go on sale May 5 at 10 a.m. EST via all Ticketmaster outlets. Advance “Gold Badge” tickets are already sold out. Only 800 tickets will be made available to the public.
 
Last year’s festival - which featured Blind Guardian, Gamma Ray, Angra, Edguy, Threshold, Pain of Salvation, Devin Townsend, Silent Force, Zero Hour, and Reading Zero - sold out in just six days, four months in advance of the show. Tickets were sold to 36 States and 18 countries as far away as Japan.
 
ProgPower USA is an affiliate of the ProgPower Europe Festival.
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SWEDEN ROCK FOR CHILDREN: (Press Release) "October 31st 2003 we are going to try to unite all hard rockers of Europe in an effort to do something for those who are closest to our hearts: THE CHILDREN.
 
Everyone have probably given away money in charity now and then for different purposes, and every time when I have done so myself, I have thought about doing something more. If I could give away money for a really good cause and at the same time get a great product in return, maybe it would be even easier to get people to open their wallets. Now when we have the chance and are in a position to do something special we sure will try, and with the best hard rock audience in Europe as a sidekick it can’t fail.
 
What’s This All About?
Sweden Rock Records will release a CD with Swedish hard rock outfit SPEARFISH on October 31st 2003. The title will be “Back, For The Future”. The CD will contain covers of songs you never thought you would hear with screaming guitars and heavy, pounding drums, and also some classic songs in a new form and a few forgotten earrings from the past. The CD will also contain several guest artists, you can bet on that!
 
This project is not meant to be a new Metal Aid, it is only our way to try and do something good with our knowledge and our contacts. We know that there is much misery in this world and many different causes to give away money to, but this time our aim will be to help find a cure for cancer.
 
The CD will be released all over Europe and all of the profit will be given to the Childrens Cancer Fund in Sweden."
 
Sweden Rock Festival
www.swedenrock.com
16 MOLLY HATCHET TO RELEASE DOUBLE LIVE CD 'LOCKED AND LOADED': (Press Release) Southern rock hell-raisers MOLLY HATCHET will release the double live CD 'Locked and Loaded' on March 18, 2003, on SPV Records. The 22-track album runs nearly two hours. It's the band's first live release in 18 years.

Band leader and lead/acoustic guitarist Bobby Ingram and his army of vocalist Phil McCormack, keyboardist John Galvin, guitarist Russ Maxwell, bass guitarist Jerry Scott and drummer Shawn Beamer recorded 'Locked and Loaded' in Germany in 2002. The songs are taken from concerts in Hamburg and Bremen and the famous Wacken Festival. Molly Hatchet's previous release was the studio album 'Kingdom of XII.'

'Locked and Loaded' includes rabble-rousing, fist-pumping classics, choice Allman Brothers Band and Rolling Stones covers and 'Kingdom of XII' standouts.

The complete track listing for 'Locked and Loaded is as follows: "Introduction," "Whiskey Man," "Heart of the U.S.A.," "Gator Country," "Tatanka," "Down From the Mountain," "Beatin' the Odds," "Mississippi Moon Dog," "Miss Saturday Night," "Edge of Sundown," "Dreams I'll Never See," "Bounty Hunter," "Dead and Gone (The Redneck Song)," "White Lightning," "Fall of the Peacemakers," "Saddle Tramp," "Gypsy Trail," "Tumbling Dice," "Why Won't You Take Me Home," "The Journey," "Devil's Canyon" and "Flirtin' With Disaster."

Europe is like a second home for good ol' American born-and-bred Southern rock. Germany in particular loves the rugged and rowdy music, so recording 'Locked and Loaded' there felt natural for Molly Hatchet.

"As Molly Hatchet has been around the world, we have seen the most dedicated fans of Southern rock and have seen that the music, friendship, foot stompin' and downhome kick-you-square-in-the-teeth -- OK, ass! -- rock and roll is a universal and loved culture worldwide," Ingram says. "Being from the United States and, I might add, the Southern part -- Jacksonville, Florida -- we have seen a bond and brotherhood not only in America but between Southern rockers all around the world.

"With this live album we feel we have captured the best of the best in our performances to deliver to you -- our friends and family -- a 24-year walk through history and a chance to get down and throw an ass-kickin', beer drinking, foot stompin' party with us! We recorded this double live CD in Germany as we consider it to be our home away from home and 100 percent solid Kentucky bourbon proof that Southern rock is alive and well wherever you go around the world. Molly Hatchet is working hard, playing fast, living tough and still flirtin' with disaster!"

Molly Hatchet consistently plays more than 150 concerts worldwide every year. For complete tour date information, visit www.mollyhatchet.com.

16 'SECOND WAVE' OF BRITISH HEAVY METAL?: (Press Release) It has been 25 years since the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal first mobilised on the world. Now prepare for the Second Wave.

OLIVER/DAWSON SAXON, GIRLSCHOOL, & THE TYGERS OF PAN TANG have decided to get together to celebrate the 25th anniversary of NWOBHM, and have announced that they will be releasing an album called ‘Second Wave’. It is to be released in the Summer on Communiqué Records, and features 5 tracks from each band.

They have also announced that they will all tour together, and have invited their friends MILLION to join them. The first leg of the tour is in the UK, starting in June 2003.

7th Market Harborough venue tbc
8th Bolton, Albert Hall
9th Newcastle Opera House
10th Dunfermline Glen Pavillion
11th Edinburgh Corn Exchange
12th Dundee Cotton Club
13th Glasgow Barrowlands
14th Ipswich Corn Exchange
17th Liverpool Olympia
19th Bradford Penningtons
20th Milton Keynes Sanctuary
22nd Cardiff University
23rd Plymouth venue tbc
26th Swindon Brunel Rooms
27th Dudley JB’s