Rock Daypop Archives

Jeff Beck, Paul Rodgers and Heart’s Ann Wilson have announced a North American summer tour.  They’ll play a total on 19 dates on the Stars Align Tour, kicking off in West Valley City on July 18 and wrapping up in Tampa on August 26.  Beck saId in a statement: “I always enjoy touring the US in the summer and joining with Paul and Ann Wilson should make for quite an exciting night.” Tickets will go on sale from 10am local time on Friday, February 2 via LiveNation. . ...Read Full Story

Primus will join forces with Mastodon for a late spring/early summer tour of the U.S.  Kicking off May 6 at Red Rocks, the tour will cross the country and back, with stops at Austin 360 Amphitheater, The Fox in Atlanta, Coney Island Amphitheater in Brooklyn, Northerly Island in Chicago, Greek Theaters in San Francisco and Los Angeles and many more before ending July 7 in Phoenix.  Primus’s ninth studio album, “The Desaturating Seven,” is being well-received and marks the return of singer/bassist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry “Ler” LaLonde and drummer Tim “Herb” Alexander, for its first album of original music since 1995. Pre-sale tickets start Tuesday, January 30 local time (password: Goblins) and general onsale is Friday, February 2.. ...Read Full Story

Bob Seger has just released a previously unheard track called “Finding Out,” which was intended for 2006’s Face the Promise album but didn’t make the cut. Seger is now offering the song as a free download on his website. The song was first started more than a dozen years ago but finally completed during the sessions for I Knew You When, Seger’s most recent LP which was released last year. In an interview with the Detroit Free Press back in 2003, Seger said that “Finding Out” was a new track for his then-upcoming album. “I’ve got a ballad on the new album called ‘Finding Out,’ where I really nailed the lyric,” he said at the time. Just this past fall, Seger was forced to postpone his 19-date tour that was planned to precede to the November release of his 10th studio album due to back surgery. But he’s on the road to recovery and hoping to get back on tour soon.. ...Read Full Story

Many artists took to the stage at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, two days before the 2018 Grammy Awards, to pay tribute to Fleetwood Mac at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year event.  Artists such as Miley Cyrus, Lorde, Keith Urban, Harry Styles, Little Big Town and Jared Leto were among those who performed covers of the legendary blues rock band’s songs. Former President Bill Clinton presented the blues rock band with their MusiCares Person of the Year award. The group is the first band to win the annual award, which is usually given to a solo artist.  The former president is a longtime fan of Fleetwood Mac and had chosen the band’s 1977 song “Don’t Stop” as the theme song for his 1992 presidential campaign, which they also performed at his inauguration. “They let me use it as a theme song and I have been trying to live by it ever since,” Clinton told the audience.. ...Read Full Story

Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan disclosed last week he underwent some form of medical treatment. However, he did not provide specifics on his ailment. He posted a picture to Instagram of an IV going into his left arm, saying “Sometimes rock and roll has its costs.  But it does occur to me sitting here that my aim is to make peace with my family first, and then spend whatever time I have left here making peace with God.”   Later that day, he uploaded a video of him repeatedly singing “I’m fine” while playing piano chords. He then unveiled another picture of his back covered with welts, saying it came from “yesterday’s cupping session.”  Smashing Pumpkins are reportedly planning a tour to begin in July that brings guitarist James Iha back in to the band with Corgan and original drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. The group’s founding bassist, D’arcy Wretzky, who split with the band in 1999, revealed that she is not taking part in the reunion.. ...Read Full Story

Pearl Jam will hit the road for a short set of US Home and Away tour dates this summer, hitting up stadiums in four different cities. The Home shows, which were announced earlier this week, mark their first appearance in their hometown in five years. As well as two dates Safeco Field in Seattle on August 8th and 10th,  the band will also be playing at the Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, Montana on August 13th, with two dates at Chicago’s Wrigley Field on August 18th and 20th and another two at Boston’s Fenway Park on September 2nd and 4th. Their Seattle shows will be a charitable venture for the group, with them pledging $1 million towards local homelessness campaigns. They plan to raise at least $10 million this year towards similar initiatives.. ...Read Full Story

Lynyrd Skynyrd announced it is going to embark on a farewell tour. Rolling Stone reports that the band members made the announcement Thursday. The tour begins May 4 in West Palm Beach, Florida, and ends Sept. 1 in Atlanta.  Special guests will join the Southern rock band along the way, including  Kid Rock, Hank Williams Jr., Bad Company, the Charlie Daniels Band, the Marshall Tucker Band, 38 Special, Blackberry Smoke and Blackfoot. The Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour will have stops in Tampa, Cleveland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Mansfield, Massachusetts. Tickets go on sale Feb. 2 at 10 a.m. local time.  More information on VIP tickets and tour dates can be found at LynyrdSkynyrd.com. . ...Read Full Story

Ahead of the 50th anniversary of their founding, Led Zeppelin has decided to return to one of the most celebrated live releases, How The West Was Won, by giving fans a remastered take on the triple-cd set that was first issued in 2003. This new version of How The West Was Won will be overseen by guitarist Jimmy Page. The album collects two concerts the band performed in the Los Angeles area in 1972, one at the Forum in Inglewood on June 25, and another gig down south at the Long Beach Arena two nights later.  The remastered version of How The West Was Won is set to come in a variety of formats, including a super deluxe box set that comes with both the three-CD set.  Set to be released this March, you can pre-order How The West Was Won on the band’s official website.. ...Read Full Story

ZZ Top are back in action and will soon be going Vegas with the announcement that they will be launching a brand new six-date residency at the Venetian in Las Vegas. The special Viva Las Vegas dates will be kicking off at the venue on April 20th and concluding on April 28th, which shows also scheduled for the 21st, 22nd, 25th and 27th. Tickets will be going on sale at 10am this Friday, January 26th. The residency follows the band being forced off the road due to bass player Dusty Hill’s health issues.. ...Read Full Story

Former Judas Priest and Trapeze drummer Dave Holland has died at the age of 69. The news was confirmed by former Priest guitarist KK Downing on Facebook, who says: “It is with deep regret that I have to accept the sudden and unexpected news that Dave Holland has passed away.” Holland joined Judas Priest in 1979 and went on to appear on many of the band’s classic records including British Steel, Screaming For Vengeance and Turbo. However in 2004, Holland was convicted of attempting to rape a 17-year-old with learning difficulties who he’d been giving drum lessons to. Holland was found guilty of one charge of attempted rape and five counts of indecent assault, and was jailed for eight years in the UK and moved to Spain following his release. No cause of death has been reported.. ...Read Full Story

After more than three decades, California thrash metal band Slayer is preparing to embark on their last ever world tour. Presale will begin on Wednesday, January 24 at 10:00 a.m. EST and end on Thursday, January 25 at 10 p.m.  General admission tickets will be available for purchase starting Friday, January 26 at 10 a.m. Slayer also revealed that support for the North American leg will include Lamb of God, Anthrax, Behemoth and Testament. Slayer’s last album was 2015’s ‘Repentless’ which became their highest charting album so far, peaking at number four in the US charts. It was also the first album not to feature guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who passed away from live failure back in 2013.. ...Read Full Story

Mötley Crüe’s long-awaited biopic The Dirt has entered pre-production, according to drummer Tommy Lee. The film, based on Crüe’s 2001 book of the same name, was originally slated for release in the summer of 2016.  Now Lee has given fans an updated on Twitter, where he says: “Hey kids! Good news! The Mötley Crüe movie The Dirt has begun pre-production! Starts shooting in February. Here we go!”  In casting news, English actor Douglas Booth and rapper Machine Gun Kelly have both signed on.  Booth will play Nikki Sixx in the Jeff Tremaine-directed film, and 27 year old Kelly revealed on his Twitter that he’ll be playing drummer Tommy Lee in the film. No other cast members have been announced.. ...Read Full Story

Lenny Kravitz has announced an upcoming 2018 European summer tour, called the “Raise Vibration” tour.  In addition to the tour, Kravitz is also gearing up to release new music: his new studio album Raise Vibration, will be his first record since 2014’s Strut.  Kravitz has announced he’ll play  shows in the UK, Czech Republic, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Spain. The UK dates will be Kravitz’s first performance in the UK since 2015. Tickets go on sale on Friday January 26 at 9am.. ...Read Full Story

Def Leppard and Journey are teaming up for a huge North American tour to kick off the summer. The 58-city tour will hit stadiums and arenas all over North America beginning with the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut. The tour runs from May to September. According to a press release, Def Leppard will close half the shows and Journey will close the other half. Members of the two acts are beyond excited to hit the stage together again after their joint tour in the early 2000s. Tickets go on sale online at LiveNation.com beginning Saturday, Feb. 3. . ...Read Full Story

Thousands of Cranberries fans lined up outside of a Limerick, Ireland church this weekend, where Dolores O’Riordan was lying in repose ahead of her funeral Tuesday – to pay tribute to the singer who died last Monday at the age of 46.  Fans congregated outside of St Joseph’s Church Sunday, the first public viewing since O’Riordan’s death on January 15th; earlier in the week, a London’s coroner announced they had released the singer’s body back to her family after conducting an autopsy, the results of which will be revealed no earlier than April. The public viewing concluded Sunday afternoon, before she is laid to rest Tuesday at St Ailbes’ Church in Ballybricken.. ...Read Full Story

Legendary rock band U2 has released a video for their single “Get Out Of Your Own Way.”  The video is an animated clip created by the Broken Fingaz Crew, an Israeli graffiti collective, who worked with U2 on the “American Soul” video. This new video has a strong political message with references to the Ku Klux Klan and President Donald Trump. As a rainbow appears across the screen, a marching line of Klansmen are shown holding torches. Trump is then shown pulling the curtains open in the Oval Office, revealing the line of Klansmen marching past his window – a scene that is later repeated as Trump is shown signing documents at his desk.. ...Read Full Story

The Chainsmokers are back with their first new song of 2018. This time though, the duo has abandoned their romantic hits like “Closer” and “Paris” and decided to take a darker direction with their new single, “Sick Boy.”  The track debuted on January 17 along with its accompanying music video.  The electronic duo dropped their debut studio album ‘Memories…Do Not Open’ last year, topping the US charts and reaching number three in the UK.  Meanwhile, ‘Sick Boy’ is a brand new offering, co-written by Tony Ann and Emily Warren and produced by Shaun Frank. The Chainsmokers are currently on tour in North America, though they have a handful of European dates coming up as well as shows in China, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates.. ...Read Full Story

Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor has filed a restraining order against his neighbor, claiming that the man has become increasingly threatening toward his family in recent months. In the report, Reznor accuses his neighbor Nader Afshar of expressing hatred of the musician to one of Reznor’s friends, and the vocalist spotted Afshar walking up and down the sidewalk ranting as Reznor was outside playing with his kids. A judge granted Reznor’s request, asking Afshar to stay at least 10 yards away from the singer, his family and any employees who may be working at his residence. A court hearing on the matter has been set for next month.. ...Read Full Story

Marilyn Manson and Johnny Depp have teamed up in the past, and it looks like they could be spending a lot more time together, if you believe the rumors circulating. Manson took to Twitter yesterday to say that “Johnny Depp is considering a position on guitar.” The duo worked together on various videos and projects over the years, with Depp most recently making appearances in Manson’s “SAY10” and “KILL4ME” videos from Manson’s most recent album Heaven Upside Down. This wouldn’t Depp’s first appearance as a guitarist; he and Alice Cooper, along with Joe Perry and Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum, formed the supergroup Hollywood Vampires back in 2015, where Depp played guitar.. ...Read Full Story

Dave Matthews Band has confirmed a return to the road with an extensive 2018 Summer Tour. The group will be performing in support of their just-announced new studio album. Following an appearance on February 3 in St. Paul, Minnesota as part of the Night Before Super Bowl concert, frontman Dave Matthews will reassemble the band starting on May 18 in The Woodlands, Texas. Each ticket purchased by May 17 for the 2018 Dave Matthews Band Summer Tour comes with either a CD or digital download of the currently untitled new album. . ...Read Full Story

The Recording Academy has announced the newest inductions to the Grammy Hall Of Fame. The latest additions recognize a diverse range of both singles and album recordings at least 25 years old that exhibit qualitative or historical significance. The 2018 Grammy Hall Of Fame inductees range include David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Band Of Gypsys.” The list also features Nirvana’s “Nevermind,” Queen’s “A Night At The Opera” and Linda Ronstadt’s “Heart Like A Wheel.” Other inductees include recordings by Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones and many more.  See the full list below.. ...Read Full Story

Jack White has announced details of his upcoming 3rd solo album titled Boarding House Reach.  The follow-up to 2014’s Lazaretto will arrive on March 23 and is said to feature elements of “crunching rock’n’roll, electro, hard funk, proto punk, hip hop, gospel blues and country.” In addition, the former White Stripes man has released an audio stream of Respect Commander and a video for Connected By Love. Boarding House Reach is available for pre-order through the Third Man Records online store. . ...Read Full Story

Dolores O’Riordan, singer and frontwoman of Irish indie-rock back The Cranberries, has died aged 46 in London. Her publicists released a statement on Monday saying: “Irish and international singer Dolores O’Riordan has died suddenly in London today. She was 46 years old. The lead singer with the Irish band The Cranberries, was in London for a short recording session. No further details are available at this time. Family members are devastated to hear the breaking news and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”  The Cranberries were known for its hit 1990s songs “Dreams,” “Linger” and “Zombie.”  O’Riordan split from Don Burton, her husband of 20 years, in 2014. They had three children together.. ...Read Full Story

Joe Perry is touring in support of his new solo album, and he’s invited a bunch of his famous friends. Perry is prepping Sweetzerland Manifesto, his first non-holiday solo studio effort in nearly a decade. Set to drop on Jan. 19, Perry will be working with an array of well-known collaborators including Cheap Trick frontman Robin Zander, Terry Reid and David “Buster Poindexter” Johansen. Perry was joined by Zander, Extreme singer Gary Cherone and Stone Temple Pilots members Dean and Robert DeLeo for his set at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Jan. 10. Perry’s performance spanned 17 songs, touching on covers and new material in addition Aerosmith classics.. ...Read Full Story

Ann Wilson, the lead singer of classic rock band Heart, has revealed that she is working on a new solo project honoring musicians that have passed. “There are a lot of changes in the works,” Wilson shared on social media. It’s a project very dear to me — a collection of songs by artists who have departed in the last several years: Leonard Cohen, David Bowie, Tom Petty, and Chris Cornell to name a few.”  Wilson added, “It is thrilling work and I can’t wait for you to hear what we are doing!” The singer also announced a handful of recently revealed solo tour dates, which kick off Jan. 12 in Charenton, LA.. ...Read Full Story

Newly announced Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2018 inductees Bon Jovi have announced the spring leg of their This House Is Not for Sale Tour, presented by Live Nation. The run will kick off in Denver, CO on March 14 and conclude May 14 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. The band will celebrate their return to the road with the re-release of This House Is Not For Sale in a new version, containing two brand new songs, “When We Were US” and “Walls.” Tickets go on sale Jan. 19 at 10AM local time at Ticketmaster and through participating venue box offices. . ...Read Full Story

‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke, the former guitarist of Motorhead, died Wednesday at the age of 67. The musician died while being treated in a hospital for pneumonia. The official Facebook page of Motorhead announced Clarke’s death alongside statements from other Motorhead members, including Phil Campbell and Mikey Dee. Clarke played with Motorhead from 1976 to 1982 until he left and formed Fastway with ex-UFO bassist Peter Way. Clarke was the last living member from Motorhead’s classic period, following the deaths of Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor in 2016 and Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister in 2016.. ...Read Full Story

Queen are among the acts set to be receive with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. Joining the legendary rockers as recipients of the prestigious honor from The Recording Academy are Tina Turner, Neil Diamond, Emmylou Harris, The Meters, Louis Jordan and Hal Blaine. A special award presentation ceremony and concert celebrating the honorees will be held this summer, with additional details to be announced in the coming weeks.  The Grammy Awards will take place on January 28 at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.. ...Read Full Story

Eric Clapton is facing health issues beyond the chronic nerve problems that have affected his back and hands. The guitar great is also suffering from tinnitus, a hearing problem often caused by excessive noise. But fortunately, he’s not giving up on music. “I am still going to work. I’m doing a few gigs,” Clapton said. Clapton has drastically cut back on his touring schedule after considering retirement, but said he remains thankful for fans who continue attending his occasional shows. Clapton appeared on BBC to discuss the new documentary Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars. Set to air on Showtime on Feb. 10, 2018.. ...Read Full Story

Robert Plant will release a live DVD that features an eight-song performance with his current band the Sensational Space Shifters. Robert Plant & the Sensational Space Shifters Live at David Lynch’s Festival of Disruption will be released on Feb. 9 and the film will be available on iTunes beginning Friday, January 12th.  It documents the singer’s set at Los Angeles’ Ace Hotel Theatre in October 2016, which helped raise funds for the David Lynch Foundation. Proceeds from sales of the DVD will also benefit the foundation.  . ...Read Full Story

The Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan have announced that they will be joining forces on the road this spring and summer when they launch a co-headlining tour of North America. The tour will include shows in over 30 cities and is scheduled to kick off on May 10th in Charlotte, NC at the PNC Music Pavilion and will be concluding on July 14th in Bethel, NY at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. The U.S. ticket pre-sale for most shows will be available to Citi cardmembers via their Private Pass program. The pre-sale is set to begin on Wednesday, Jan 10th, at 10 AM.. ...Read Full Story

Rod Stewart plans to spend another summer on the road, as the legendary singer announced a 22-date North American summer tour. Cyndi Lauper will once again serve as special guest on the tour, which begins June 25th at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl.  One month later, the tour picks up again on July 24th in Hollywood, Florida and makes its way across the nation’s arenas and amphitheaters before concluding September 1st at Seattle’s White River Amphitheater.  Tickets for the tour go on sale to the general public on January 12th.. ...Read Full Story

Rock producer Chris Tsangarides, who worked with dozens of artists including Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy and Gary Moore, dies of heart failure after pneumonia battle.  He was 61.  The news was confirmed by his daughter, Anastasia, on Facebook. Tsangarides’ first work was as a sound engineer on Judas Priest’s 1976 album Sad Wings Of Destiny. Tsangarides also collaborated with dozens of other artists, including Anvil, Exodus, Girlschool, Helloween, Ian Gillan, Steeleye Span, Strawbs, Killing Joke, Yngwie Malmsteen, Magnum, The Sisters of Mercy, New Model Army and Depeche Mode.. ...Read Full Story

Lana Del Rey has responded to reports that she is being sued by Radiohead for copyright infringement. This weekend, it was alleged that Del Rey was accused of copying elements of their 1993 hit ‘Creep’ on her ‘Lust For Life’ album track ‘Get Free’. Del Rey said on Twitter the matter would be dealt with in court. “It’s true about the lawsuit,” she wrote. “Although I know my song wasn’t inspired by Creep, Radiohead feel it was and want 100% of the publishing – I offered up to 40 over the last few months but they will only accept 100. Their lawyers have been relentless, so we will deal with it in court.”. ...Read Full Story

Ray Thomas, flautist and vocalist for the rock group The Moody Blues, has died at 76. His music label, Esoteric Recordings/Cherry Red Records, says Thomas died suddenly Thursday at his home in Surrey, near London. No cause of death was given Sunday (Jan. 7), but Thomas disclosed in 2014 that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Born in 1941, Thomas founded The Moody Blues in 1964 with fellow musicians including Mike Pinder and Denny Laine. The band is due to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio in April.. ...Read Full Story

Metallica was the most listened to rock artist of 2017, according to the year-end report from Nielsen. The metal legends boasted a combined total of 1,836,000 albums sales, track-equivalent albums and streaming-equivalent albums. Nielsen’s number-two rock artist of 2017 is Imagine Dragons, followed by The Beatles, Linkin Park and Twenty One Pilots. Despite huge numbers from Metallica and Imagine Dragons, rock lost its title as the most popular genre this year for the first time. Instead, R&B/hip-hop dominated in 2017.. ...Read Full Story

A teaser for the “Lightning Strike” video from Judas Priest was just released.  “Lightning Strike” is taken from Judas Priest’s new album, “Firepower”, which will be released in March. The British heavy metal legends spent much of 2017 in the studio recording the follow-up to 2014’s “Redeemer Of Souls” with the band’s longtime collaborator Tom Allom.  Lead singer Rob Halford said of “Firepower”: “It’s great. This is what PRIEST lives for. We’re a hard-working metal band still making the metal forty-odd years later, thanks to our glorious metal fans around the world.  The North American leg of their “Firepower” tour will kick off on March 13 in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania and will wrap on May 1 in San Antonio, Texas. . ...Read Full Story

Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds is examining the way Mormons treat gay and transgender church members in a new documentary. The Mormon singer is the star of Believer, which is the first movie premiering at the upcoming Sundance Film Festival in Utah to land a distribution deal and TV rights. The documentary investigates spiraling suicide rates among Mormon teens struggling with the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints’ policies on same-sex marriage and homosexuality. Reynolds helped to organize the first-ever LoveLoud Festival concert in Orem, Utah, to benefit gay rights groups, and he’s hoping the film will reach even more people within the Mormon community.. ...Read Full Story

A 1969 Honda Monkey-Trail Bike once owned by John Lennon will soon be on the market. Lennon used it between 1969-71 at his Tittenhurst Park estate in the Surrey, England, countryside. Auction house H&H Classics acquired the 1969 Honda Z50A, and will put it up for sale on March 4 at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull; their experts estimate the bike will fetch at least £30,000 (more than $48,000 in U.S. dollars).  John Harrington purchased the bike from Henry Graham in 1971 for £250. Graham had acquired it from Lennon that same year, when the singer and songwriter moved to the U.S. In 2011 Harrington rejected an offer of £90,000, saying at that time, “like a fine wine, it becomes more valuable with time.”  H&H Classics lists the bike as unrestored with largely original parts, and in running order.. ...Read Full Story

Spotify has been hit with a $1.6 billion lawsuit from Wixen Music Publishing, which handles titles by Tom Petty, Neil Young, Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen, Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo, Stevie Nicks, and others. The suit, which alleges that Spotify is using thousands of songs without a proper license, was filed on Dec. 29 in California federal court. It is seeking damages worth at least $1.6 billion and injunctive relief.  Back in May, Spotify proposed a $43 million settlement to resolve a class-action suit from a collective of songwriters. Wixen’s lawsuit, however, says the proposed settlement “does not adequately compensate Wixen or the songwriters it represents.” . ...Read Full Story

Chris Cornell fans have been making pilgrimages to the Hollywood Forever cemetery in Los Angeles to visit his final resting place ever since he was laid to rest last May.  While guests are welcome, the cemetery is unhappy that people are filming the site, and have sent a letter to his widow, Vicky. Last week Cornell’s management team tweeted, along with a scan of the letter, “We understand that some of Chris’s fans wish to video their visits at Hollywood Forever, but we’ve had confirmation that it’s against their policy. We’d like to thank everyone for their understanding.” . ...Read Full Story

Former Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo was recently interviewed, and among other things he was asked about a hypothetical Pantera reunion concert featuring all surviving members of the band paying tribute to late guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott. Anselmo said: “I think it would be a great idea if everyone else felt it was a great idea. And I would just say that if everybody came calling, then count me in for sure. But if everybody’s not on board, then it’s not legit. So, yeah, man, it’s really where I sit right now.” . ...Read Full Story

Ex-Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy has posted a photo of him apparently hanging out with his former bandmate, Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci. Portnoy, who co-founded Dream Theater more than 30 years ago, abruptly quit the band in September 2010 while on tour with Avenged Sevenfold. He has since been replaced by Mike Mangini.  Portnoy has just completed a tour with his Shattered Fortress project, with which he performed Dream Theater’s “12 Step Suite” in its entirety for the first time ever.. ...Read Full Story

Gibson Brands Inc. is suing Funko, the company behind Pop! figures, part of a toy line featuring bobble head renderings of notables across the pop culture spectrum.  The guitar company is levying charges of “repeated” unauthorized use of its trademarks for various components of the guitars in Funko’s toys. Gibson sued Funko in California federal court earlier this month (Dec. 14) and the company says they sent a cease and desist letter to Funko in October along with a list of the products which infringed upon their trademark after talks between the two parties were unsuccessful at coming to a mutually beneficial resolution without the courts involved. Gibson alleges that Funko is “deliberately and intentionally” using Gibson’s trademarks without its consent.. ...Read Full Story

Megadeth guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine revealed on Twitter that he is in the process of “collecting ideas” for the follow-up to 2016’s “Dystopia” and that Megadeth is tentatively planning to enter the studio in mid-2018 to begin recording its new album for a potential release in 2019.  The upcoming effort will mark the group’s first release to feature drummer Dirk Verbeuren, who joined the group a year and a half ago.. ...Read Full Story

Rocker Bret Michaels, via StageIt, will host a New Year’s Eve show online. Michaels will play several acoustic tracks and take part in a Q&A, in which bidders can donate to get the guitar, hat and shirt he wears during the show. All winners will also get a meet-and-greet at a future Michaels show.  In addition, portion of the proceeds from the night will be going towards Michaels’ Life Rocks Foundation. The charity aids Wounded Warriors and supports various diabetes organizations. . ...Read Full Story

Slash has found a new home, not long after the house he shared with ex-wife Perla Hudson was purchased by rapper Big Sean. The Guns N’ Roses guitarist’s new $6.25 million, 9,400-square-foot spec mansion is located in the suburban San Fernando Valley community of Encino.  Slash’s new mansion sits on a .72-acre corner lot, completely walled and gated. Inside, two driveways lead to a wraparound motorcourt and three-car garage. The home boasts 10 bathrooms and six bedrooms, including a master suite with an outdoor balcony, a sitting area, oversized shower and a spacious designer-created walk-in closet with all custom cabinets.. ...Read Full Story

According to RATT’s official Facebook page the band will tour in 2018, according to a recent post. However, no further details have been provided. RATT’s classic-era members Juan Croucier (bass), Stephen Pearcy (vocals) and Warren DeMartini (guitar) reunited in October 2016 for a surprise performance on a Monsters Of Rock cruise. The trio has since played a series of RATT shows, including high-profile sets at Maryland’s M3 Rock festival and Oklahoma’s Rocklahoma. . ...Read Full Story

Whitesnake revisited the music that singer David Coverdale recorded with Deep Purple with the release of “The Purple Album” two years ago. The LP, and the tour that followed, offered fans new modern interpretations of Deep Purple classics like “Burn” and “Mistreated”. Highlights from the historic tour will be featured in a new live collection, including double-disc versions that feature audio, video and a selection of bonus material. “The Purple Tour (Live)” will be available on January 19 as CD/DVD and CD/Blu-ray sets. Additional formats include a double-LP, single CD, and digital version.. ...Read Full Story

According to reports from the UK, Ringo Starr is to be knighted. The rock legend and former member of the Beatles could become the second person of the group to receive the honor of a knighthood from the Queen. Sir Paul McCartney received his knighthood in 1997. It’s also been fifty two years since the drummer was given his MBE. All members of the group received the accolade in 1965, although John Lennon later returned his. Friends of Starr, interviewed by the Sun newspaper in the UK, report he was overwhelmed by the news – having given up hope of a knighthood. The paper reported he’s being recognized for services to music and charity.. ...Read Full Story

After initially not included in The Moody Blues roster for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class of 2018, co-founder Denny Laine said he’s happy that he’s now been added and will be part of the group’s entry on April 14 in Cleveland.  Laine — who co-founded the Moodys during 1964 in Birmingham, England, but left after the group’s 1965 debut album and the hit “Go Now” — said “obviously, I’m very pleased I’m going to be in there. It’s an honor. I think I’m at least a little part of their story, so I feel very content, really, that it’s all come full circle now.”  Laine was added to the induction roster thanks to lobbying by Rock Hall voting committee members, including Little Steven Van Zandt, Peter Asher and Cousin Brucie Morrow. Van Zandt said that Laine’s “inadvertent omission is being corrected on the Rock Hall website as we speak.” . ...Read Full Story

As previously reported, Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner recently decided it was time to step back from the magazine he co-founded in 1967. Now several months after news broke that the magazine was searching for a buyer, Rolling Stone has changed hands as part of a deal with Penske Media Corporation (which also owns Variety.)  Penske has agreed to pick up a roughly $100 million stake in Wenner Media, with the provision that Wenner will continue to wield “majority control and editorial oversight” over Rolling Stone. Jann Wenner’s son, Gus Wenner, will remain president/COO of Wenner Media under the terms of the deal. “We are excited to build on its strong foundation and invest in its future through this partnership.”. ...Read Full Story

A coalition led by Vicky Cornell, the wife of the late Soundgarden front man Chris Cornell, has created an endowed fund of more than $1 million to support student scholarships at UCLA School of Law. The Chris Cornell Scholarship honors Cornell’s commitment to justice, human rights and advocacy for those in need. Members of the coalition include several friends and colleagues of Cornell as well as supporters of UCLA Law.  UCLA Chancellor Gene Block said “this endowment honors an influential musical artist who cared about human rights and enables others the opportunity to make a positive impact in the world.”. ...Read Full Story

Donald Fagen of Steely Dan has spoken out in a lengthy and open interview, the first since Walter Becker’s death in September. Fagen spoke about Becker’s death and how it didn’t come as a complete surprise, given he had been ill for some time. Fagen couldn’t talk much about the current legal proceedings stemming from his lawsuit for full rights to the Steely Dan name, but explained that there were commercial pressures on him to keep calling the group “Steely Dan”: “I would actually prefer to call it Donald Fagen and the Steely Dan Band or something like that.”. ...Read Full Story

Broadway will soon be host to the collision of classical music and iconic rock songs when “Rocktopia” arrives in spring 2018. “Rocktopia” is a concert that celebrates the fusion of rock songs from the past century with classical music, including works by Mozart, Journey, Handel, U2, Tchaikovsky, Heart, Beethoven, Journey, Foreigner, Rachmaninoff, Queen, Aaron Copland, The Who and more. Created by vocalist and recording artist Rob Evan and Maestro Randall Craig Fleischer, a pioneer in the fusion of symphonic rock and world music, the concert features vocalists, a five-piece rock band, a choir of 40 and an orchestra of 20.. ...Read Full Story

The legendary Hansa Studios in Berlin, where Nick Cave, David Bowie and Iggy Pop (amongst many others) recorded some of their greatest works, is getting a feature length documentary.  Hansa Studios: By The Wall 1976-90 is set to explore the historical, cultural and artistic significance of the fabled West Berlin Studios. The documentary will be broadast on the 10th of January, the second anniversary of Bowie’s death. Two of the three albums from his famed ‘Berlin’ trilogy, Low and Heroes, were recorded in the studio. . ...Read Full Story

2018 marks the 50th anniversary of Led Zeppelin’s formation, and many fans have been hoping that the band might acknowledge their anniversary. According to the group’s guitarist Jimmy Page, there might be new material to help mark the occasion. In a recent interview, Page was quoted as saying “there’ll be Led Zeppelin product coming out, for sure, that people haven’t heard, because I’m working on that. Next year will be the fiftieth year so there’s all manner of surprises coming out.” He also added, “I hope to be seen to be playing. So I’d better get on with it.”. ...Read Full Story

Rob Halford reacted to Judas Priest not getting enough votes to get into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The band came fifth on the fan ballot alongside Bon Jovi, The Moody Blues, Dire Straits and The Cars for a chance to be be inducted into the Rock Hall in April next year. Following the news, frontman Halford read the rejection letter from the Rock Hall and when asked if he wanted to be inducted at some point in the future, Halford replied: “Personally, I would love it. I think we deserve it. We put our 10,000 hours in and more – and beyond that, we just feel that heavy metal deserves more space in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.”. ...Read Full Story

 Metallica had a huge year in 2017, and found themselves back on top of the rock ‘n’ roll charts.  According to Billboard‘s annual sales tally, Metallica’s most recent album, Hardwired … to Self-Destruct, racked up the biggest numbers over this year.  The group’s 10th studio set outsold many new releases from a long list of rock acts.  The Rolling Stones, returning with their first full-length studio release in over a decade, placed ninth with Blue & Lonesome and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers‘ 1993 greatest-hits package peaked at No. 2 and has gone on to sell more than 12 million copies.. ...Read Full Story

The Offspring are back in the studio recording their long-awaited new album. On their Instagram account, the band wrote, “Who’s ready for new music in 2018?”, indicating their new album will be released soon in the new year. Their last full-length studio album, Days Go By, was released in 2012. Since then, the band released the covers EP Summer Nationals in 2014, and a one-off single, “Coming for You”, the year after.. ...Read Full Story