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Van Metallica? 
Blabbermouth reports: According to an article in the British Columbia newspaper The Province, producer Bob Rock (METALLICA, THE CULT, MÖTLEY CRÜE) is mulling over the possibility of producing some tracks for the newly reunited VAN HALEN. 

The three tracks would feature Sammy Hagar on vocals and would be included on a new "greatest hits" album, tentatively dubbed "Best Of Volume 2".

Rumors of a possible Hagar-VAN HALEN reunion surfaced last month, with unconfirmed reports claiming that the group had teamed with high-powered manager Irving Azoff (EAGLES, CHRISTINA AGUILERA, SEAL, JEWEL, JOURNEY) � who currently represents Hagar � and are eyeing a new album and tour in 2004.

Soon after those rumors surfaced, Hagar posted a message on his web site, in which he confirmed that he, guitarist Eddie Van Halen and drummer Alex Van Halen were on speaking terms for the first time since Hagar and the group split in June of 1996.

Hagar and VAN HALEN bassist Anthony have remained friends, and Anthony has frequently performed with Hagar over the past two years. The duo will make their next joint appearance at next year's Super Bash, a five-day concert event (Jan. 28 until Feb. 1) in downtown Houston that coincides with Super Bowl XXXVIII. . Click Here for the Full Story 

We have been unable to find any other reports of this development and could not reach a representative for either camp over the weekend. The Providence report says that the news came out of the Dec 8th Vancouver reunion show of THE PAYOLA$, a joint project between Rock and Paul Hyde. Given the recent history of VH, it is best to keep a wait and see attitude. But if it does happen, please keep the kitchen wear out of the studio. 

Audioslave & Trapt Top Rockers For 03
Move over Linkin Park... Billboard reports: The self-titled debut from Audioslave -- the band comprising former Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell and three-fourths of Rage Against the Machine -- polarized music critics. But what do they know? The disc spawned enough hit singles to propel the act to the top of the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart for 2003. 

The Epic/Interscope set yielded four charting singles: "Like a Stone," "Show Me How to Live," "Cochise" and "I Am the Highway." The first two led the charge. "Like a Stone" spent 33 weeks on the chart, with two of them at its pinnacle. "Show Me How to Live" peaked at No. 4 and spent 24 weeks on the tally. 

All four tracks have helped "Audioslave" sell almost 2 million copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. In addition, "Like a Stone" and "Show Me How to Live" also played a key role in making Epic the top modern rock label for the year. 

Those songs, along with Chevelle's "Send the Pain Below" and "The Red" and Good Charlotte's "The Anthem" -- as well as singles from Fuel, Pearl Jam, Vendetta Red, Revis and Mudvayne -- helped the label rise to the top. Twenty Epic titles charted on Hot Modern Rock Tracks this year.

While Audioslave owned the Modern Rock Tracks chart overall, Trapt scored the chart's top song of the year with "Headstrong." Worth noting is that Trapt is largely influenced by Cornell's former band, Soundgarden, as well as the likes of Korn and Metallica. "Headstrong" spent five weeks atop the Modern Rock Tracks chart and 45 weeks on the tally overall.. Click Here for the Full Story 

Puddle of Resentment
Blabbermouth uncovered an interesting article at ThePitch.com about Puddle of Mudd frontman Wes Scantlin's not so sweet homecoming. An excerpt is below followed by the link to the full article:

Kurt Cobain's head is split in two, and that's the way Pat Scantlin likes it. 

"Our son Scott painted that," she says, pointing to a portrait. "He made it in two pieces, so we split it up." 

Pat is referring to an oversized image of Cobain hanging in the dining room of a three-story A-frame overlooking Lake Waukomis. The Nirvana martyr's face has been halved to fit on the wall. 

"It's almost too ironic that we have this painting of Kurt Cobain," she says before adding, "Wes doesn't really sound like Kurt Cobain." 

Actually, he does. But it's a comparison that's difficult for many purists to stomach. It doesn't simplify matters any that her son's band makes a good living playing darkly polished music derivative of Nirvana and the other plaid-shirt poster boys. It's near-heresy for music snobs to utter any comparison of the two, but it's hardly the only source of discontent for critics of the band. 

A lot of people hate Wesley Reid Scantlin, including many in his hometown. They hate his voice. Hate his band, Puddle of Mudd. Hate his music. Hate his image. They hate his friends. They hate his success. They hate how he became a star. They hate that he is a star. And they really hate that a lot of people also love him. 

"The problem isn't with Kansas City, and it's not with the fans," Pat says. "It's the people in the music world who feel it's necessary to tear Wes down. They say he deserted his friends, and, well, that's not true." 

Maybe. Maybe not. 

Scantlin and two former bandmates spoke with the Pitch to clarify how one Puddle of Mudd fell and another rose, the circumstances of which have cast a shadow over Scantlin's past, his present, and, perhaps, his future. 

But even as Puddle of Mudd launches Round Two with its new album, Life on Display, the band's lead singer is still struggling to shake a reputation that has made one of the world's biggest rock stars a pariah in his own backyard. .Click Here for the Full Story

Heaviness is The Cure
NME reports: THE CURE have started recording their �heavier' twelfth studio album in LONDON, which they aim to release next summer.

The band have written and demoed twenty seven songs for the LP, which also sees them teaming up with producer Ross Robinson - best known for his collaborations with nu-metal bands Korn, Limp Bizkit and Slipknot.

Singer Robert Smith said: "We are trying to get a heavier sound than we've been associated with in the past. We convinced (Robinson) that the doom and gloom of London is more conducive to making our music than sunny California."

He added: "The heavier sound we're going for is more to do with the tempos and dynamics and the space were leaving. The more space you leave, the heavier you get. It's actually the antithesis of the new-metal assault, which is all about piling things on. It's going back to the 'Faith' period, but making the sounds themselves a lot heavier and more savage.". -Click Here for the Full Story

The Darkness To Upstage the Queen?
NME reports: THE DARKNESS' JUSTIN HAWKINS will go head to head with the QUEEN when he delivers his own speech on Christmas Day.

During the message - which will air on MTV at 3pm on December 25 - the flamboyant singer is expected to reflect on the whirlwind year the spandex-rockers have experienced in 2003.

Hawkins message will include statements such as: "This time last year I was a music nobody. Today I sit at the top of the music tree, feeling pretty good."

He adds: "Another major highlight of 2003 was when we headlined Knebworth with Mr Robbie Williams as our warm-down act. Despite the fact that we upstaged him in a pretty dramatic way, Robbie was extremely gracious in accepting a lesson in rock, administered by The Darkness - until the point that his cool friends like Max Beasley turned up, that is, and he dropped us like a hot potato."

The Darkness' singer will also impart advice on life, saying: "I've learnt that if you're stout of heart, solid of mind and you stand tall and cheer up everything works out for the best."

Hawkins will face competition from the Queen, who delivers her speech on BBC1 and ITV1 and Victoria Beckham who will give Channel 4's alternative Christmas message..-Click Here for the Full Story

Free Beer.. No Free Music. 
Billboard reports: The great digital music giveaway is about to begin. 

In the New Year, some of the world's biggest brands will promote their products and services by doling out millions of free downloads through alliances with digital music services. 

"You're going to see lots of free music given out via third-party companies," buymusic.com founder Scott Blum says. "It's not going to be Apple and iTunes driving the business. It's going to be companies like Pepsi and other third parties that are promoting digital music on bottle caps and on labels." 

Indeed, Apple Computer has inked a deal with Pepsi to give away 100 million iTunes downloads in a promotion that kicks off in February with a Super Bowl ad. 

And Miller Brewing will give away thousands of Napster-branded digital music players and downloads next summer as part of a new marketing alliance between the beer maker and Napster parent Roxio. 

Other beverage suppliers, MP3 player manufacturers, airlines and credit card companies also are looking to get in on the act. Even fast food giant McDonald's confirms it has discussed marketing possibilities with a number of online music distributors. .Click Here for the Full Story 

Creed Impersonator Jailed
Blabbermouth reports: A Florida man who impersonated CREED guitarist Mark Tremonti, running up large tabs at bars and restaurants and stealing more than $1,000 from a woman, was sentenced to 25 months in prison Friday (Dec. 19), according to the St. Petersburg Times.

Kevin Eckenrod is described as a nomadic career criminal who has more than 30 aliases and had amassed more than 60 criminal charges in Florida over the last decade, many of them for scamming and swindling. He also has pretended to be the son of New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.

Eckenrod, 40, is said to have a slight resemblance to Tremonti, though he was 11 years older than the guitarist when he pulled the scam. Residents and bar-goers along other Pinellas beaches also reported seeing someone posing as Tremonti last spring.

When Clearwater police arrested Eckenrod in April, he told officers: "It's my hustle. I am a stone-cold alcoholic, and it's my way of getting my drinks and a place to stay."

He also said: "This is getting old, but you have to admit, I do look like the guy from CREED."

Prosecutor Bill Burgess said an attorney for the rock guitarist called him and said Tremonti wanted Eckenrod sent to prison.

"His client was very concerned about this (and) he wanted to make sure the case was thoroughly prosecuted," Burgess said. . Click Here for the Full Story 

It's a Mad World
siN's metal news reports: Little known US singer Gary Jules has beaten THE DARKNESS and OZZY/KELLY OSBOURNE, and many more to clinch the Christmas Number 1 song spot in the UK. 'Mad World' (a cover version of the 1982 hit by Tears For Fears which was used in the film Donnie Darko) by Gary Jules came out of nowhere to surprise bookies, and to nudge out fierce competition from Britain's two other present rock elites. 

'Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)' was widely expected to be THE DARKNESS' first UK number one, as OZZY/KELLY were knocked off the top spot and fell to down to 3rd earlier in the week.

Here's how it all ended up..

1. Mad World - Gary Jules
2. Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End) - The Darkness 
3. Changes - Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne
. Click Here for the Full Story 

Jules deserves it. He took a pop tune and made it a haunting ballad that fit the film perfectly. 

Elvis Hanukkah
This year's Hanukkah program at Beth Sholom Synagogue featured a uniquely Memphis touch � telling the story of the holiday of lights through retooled versions of Elvis Presley's hits. 

The synagogue featured an Elvis impersonator and students from Solomon Schechter Day School singing "Blue Suede Jews" and "Heartbreak Kotel," a reference to Jerusalem's Western Wall that's also known as the Kotel Ha Maarvai. 

"It's a fun way to get the kids involved in the history of what Hanukkah means," said Jonathan Ross, who helped produce the program. "Since we're in Memphis and Elvis is such a force here, we thought it would be a perfect way to blend modern culture and ancient customs." 

Hanukkah began at sundown Friday and continues through Dec. 27. .-Click Here for the Full Story

Clutch Tour
The PRP reports: Clutch will soon be taking to the road alongside Nebula and Mastodon, dates are as follows:

January 20th Morgantown, WV - 123 Music Hall
January 21st Asheville, NC - Stella Blue
January 22nd Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club
January 23rd Tallahassee, FL - Beta Bar
January 24th Tampa, FL - Masquerade
January 25th Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room
January 26th Orlando, FL - The Social Club
January 28th Birmingham, AL - The Nick
January 30th Shreveport, LA - 516 Sound Stage
January 31st Little Rock, AR - Juanita's Cantina Ballroom
February 02nd Columbia, MO - Blue Note (Feat. Dysrhythmia)
February 03rd Louisville, KY - Headliners (Feat. Dysrhythmia)
February 04th Cincinnati, OH - Bogarts (Feat. Dysrhythmia)
February 05th Bowling Green, OH - Howards Club H (Feat. Dysrhythmia)
February 06th Kalamazoo, MI - Club Soda (Feat. Dysrhythmia)
February 07th Flint, MI - Machine Shop (Feat. Dysrhythmia)
February 08th Youngstown, OH - Nyabinghi (w/ Clutch, Nebula) February 12th Lancaster, PA - Chameleon Club (Feat. Hidden Hand)
February 14th Attleboro, MA - Jarrods (Feat. Hidden Hand)
February 15th Manchester, NH - Bomb Shelter (Feat. Hidden Hand) .- Click Here for the full story

Nonpoint NonGeffen
siN's metal news: Its being rumored that NONPOINT and Geffen Records have parted ways. NONPOINT's third album will be released on a yet-undetermined label. -Click Here for the Full Story 

Doomsday Has Arrived
Message from Spider One of Powerman 5000: Anyone for Doomsday? The record that almost never was. Since its original pressing in the summer of 2001, it's been stolen, burned, downloaded, traded, and sold for upwards of $300 on eBay, but never officially released. Over two years have passed since its creation and this monster has refused to die. Most of you know the story - Powerman 5000 record the follow up to platinum plus "Tonight the Stars Revolt" and two weeks before the release date decide to scrap the whole thing only to start over and create what would eventually become the album "Transform." End of story, right? Wrong. "Bombshell," the original single from AFD?, has reared its head on several movie soundtracks and compilations and has even become the theme song for WWE wrestling stars "The Dudley Boys." Night after night on tour we would hear chants of "Bombshell!!" "Bombshell!!" until we had no choice but to play the damn thing. Not to mention the endless questions from radio, press and fans I have answered regarding this mysterious lost record. As I said, this monster refused to die, and it became clear to me that it is finally time to unleash these tracks for our diehard powerfans. So here it is, the real thing, and you can get it!!! Powerman 5000 at our loudest, heaviest and most destructive. Doomsday has arrived....I hope you're happy.

-Spider One
-Click Here for the Full Story 

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