.
Day In Rock 2/20: RIAA Gestapo Raid Kazaa- Ozzy Doubts Future- Van Hagar Rumors- Linkin Snoop Korn- Bad Acid- Oasis Trouble- Steal Pepsi MP3s?- Damageplan Fan Jam- Vadar Accident- plus Unearth- Mayhem- DMB Tour- Stuttering Leno- Smack My Ass Band- Great White- Meshuggah- NIN- more
by Keavin Wiggins
.
The Day in Rock Friday antiMUSIC.com's look at Today's Top Rock News Stories From Across the Web

Click Here To Bookmark our new address DayInRock.com

RIAA Gestapo Raid Kazaa
P2Pnet reports: One of Big Music's private police forces has raided the homes of Sharman Networks ceo Nikki Hemming, Brilliant Digital Entertainment ceo and president Kevin Burmeister (Altnet) and Sharman director of technology Phil Morle, as well as Monash University, the University of Queensland, the University of New South Wales and four ISPs. 

Various music industry-owned 'trade' organs such as America's RIAA and its international arm, the IFPI, run by ex-RIAA boss Jay Berman, have been successfully using international police forces as unpaid music industry enforcers for years. 

But this easily tops anything it's been able to get away with so far. 

Through a unit called Music Industry Piracy Investigations, the major record labels obtained an Anton Pilar order from Justice Murray Wilcox, says ZDNet Australia here. 

The order allows a copyright holder to enter a premises to search for and seize material that breaches copyright without alerting the target through court proceedings, says ZDNet, going on to quote Michael Speck, the man who runs the music industry police force, as saying: 

"This is not about individuals, this is about the big fish. This is a signal that Internet music piracy is finished in Australia." - Click Here for the Full Story 

Ozzy Doubts Future
Ananova reports: Ozzy Osbourne says he is frightened that he might never perform again after his near-fatal quad bike accident. 

The former Black Sabbath star also said he worried that he could become addicted to the medication he needs to aid his recovery. 

Ozzy told ABC's Primetime programme, in the US: "I'm really frightened, because music is the love of my life. And performing... the thought of not being able to do that anymore frightens me." 

"I've been fighting that battle for nearly 20 years. I can't just stop." he said. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Linkin Snoop Korn
antiMUSIC reports: The third Projekt Revolution tour will include Korn, Linkin Park and Snoop Dogg. Organizers held a press conference on Thurs(Feb 19) to announce details of the tour. 

The tour is expected to include two more bands. There is speculation that The Used will fill one of the slots. - Click Here for the Full Story 

That lineup sounds like that children's song. Linkin Snoop Korn and I don't care. 

More Van Hagar Rumors
BW&BK reports: 96 Rock FM have posted the following message at their website (www.96rock.com): 

"The Reunion They Said Wouldn't Happen 

They formed in 1973, became their namesake in '74, 96 Rock brought them to Atlanta for the first time on April 23, 1978 at the Fox Theater, and it's been six long years since they last played the A-T-L. Keep listening for a major concert announcement...SOON!" - Click Here for the Full Story 

Bad Acid
The PRP reports: Bad Acid Trip will be releasing their new album "Lynch The Weirdo" through System Of A Down frontman Serj Tankian's Columbia imprint label Serjical Strike on April 20th. The album will feature 17 tracks and was produced by System Of A Down guitarist Daron Malakian.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Oasis in Trouble Again
NME reports: Police are investigating claims OASIS singer LIAM GALLAGHER attacked a photographer. 

The alleged incident happened after Liam left the Brits aftershow party hosted by Pharrell Williams of N*E*R*D*. 

A tabloid photographer claims he was punched by the star in the Belsize Park area of London in the early hours of the morning (February 18). - Click Here for the Full Story 

Steal Pepsi MP3s?
Aversion reports: Want some free downloads from Pepsi, but don't think the 1:3 odds are good enough for you? Here's your link. 

Jon Gales posted a how-to guide on how to sort through Pepsi bottles and locate the winning game pieces that can be redeemed for a free download at iTunes - Click Here for the Full Story 

How long before you think that Mr. Gales will get a nice little letter.

Unearth Band Heads
Blabbermouth reports: Massachusetts-based metallers UNEARTH have been officially added to the forthcoming "Headbangers Ball Tour II", featuring HATEBREED, DAMAGEPLAN and DROWNING POOL. 

"Touring with HATEBREED, the most credible, hard working hardcore/metal band around today is something we have wanted to do since this band's inception," UNEARTH write on their web site. "As a lot of you know, DAMAGEPLAN is the new band featuring Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrel of PANTERA. For me personally it is a dream come true to tour with those guys. PANTERA helped mold heavy music into what it is today and it is a complete honor to hit the road with those dudes. 

"Even though our next CD does not come out until June 29th, we just had to take this tour. We want to personally thank [HATEBREED singer] Jamey Jasta for all his help. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Damageplan Fan Jam
Blabbermouth reports: DAMAGEPLAN, the new band featuring former PANTERA members Dimebag Darrell (guitar) and Vinnie Paul (drums), ex-HALFORD/DIESEL MACHINE guitarist Patrick Lachman (on lead vocals), and bassist Bob Zilla, have posted the following message on their official web site: 

"The band's uncompromising commitment to their fans has been revealed with an ingenious 'plan' to include their fans in the most intimate way possible, giving them the chance to jam with them via the Internet. For the first time anywhere, fans can download 4 different versions of 4 different songs from 'New Found Power'. Each version will leave off a full track (vocal, guitar, bass or drum) from each song, allowing the fan at home to fill-in for their missing hero.".... click full story for more- Click Here for the Full Story 

Vadar Studio Accident
RIFTrock reports: The following is a Metal Blade press release regarding the accident which occured during Vadar's recent recording session: 

"Three days into the recording sessions for the new Vader album entitled "The Beast", Doc suffered an unfortunate accident at the studio, seriously injuring his hand and leg. The band was forced to cancel the session and postpone the recordings until May. Unfortunately, Doc's injuries require a longer time of convalescence; therefore he won't be playing the drums on the new album! " - Click Here for the Full Story 

They seem mighty excited that he won't be on the album! ! ! 

New Mayhem
siN's metal news reports: Legendary Norweigan black metallers MAYHEM's forthcoming album, "Chimera" will be released on April 6th in the US and March 29th in Europe through Season Of The Mist Records. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Check the full story link for track listing and tour dates 

Dark Rarities
siN's Metal News reports: DARK TRANQUILLITY issued the following update via their newsletter: 

Exposures - In Retrospect And Denial - double CD to be released on the May 31st. 

DARK TRANQUILLITY celebrates its 15th birthday by releasing a double CD featuring rare and previously unreleased material. 

For many years, we've received lots of questions regarding the possibility of our pre-album material ever being released on CD, and we're very happy to provide old and new fans that are interested in the first chapter of our history with a viable alternative to forking out a small fortune on Ebay for a worn-out original copy of the demo or 7" EP. 

After a lot of digging though the vaults, the original DAT tapes for our Trail Of Life Decayed demo (1991) and A Moonclad Reflection EP (1992) were found, and we could happily note that they were intact and had survived the ten years in limbo remarkably well. With the help of some carefully executed mastering magic, the sound quality has been boosted a great deal.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Track listing and more info at siN's

All Star Inductors
Reuters reports: Keith Richards, Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys and Tom Petty are among the artists who will be on hand to induct the 2004 class into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on March 15. - Click Here for the Full Story 

DMB Tour
Reuters reports: Dave Matthews Band will once embark on an extensive summer tour, kicking off June 17 in Maryland Heights, Mo., and wrapping Sept. 5 outside Seattle. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Beach Boy Landmark
AP reports: Landmark status could be given to the site where Beach Boys brothers Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson grew up to proselytize California surf, sun and cars. 

The Wilsons grew up in a house at 3701 W. 119th St., which was demolished in the mid-1980s to make way for the Century (105) Freeway. The landmark status application for the site, now occupied by a freeway wall, was submitted by Harry Jarnagan, 50, of Tracy. 

Jarnagan argued in the 84-page application that the site was deserving because the Beach Boys "broadcast to the world an image of California as a dreamlike place of sun, sand, surfing, hot rods and romance, contributing to a specific migration to this state during the 1960s." - Click Here for the Full Story 

Stuttering Leno
New York Daily News reports: Stuttering John Melendez is leaving the Howard Stern radio show to become the new announcer on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno." 

He'll replace Ed Hall, who left the show to pursue acting. 

"I'm leaving because the money is a lot better, and I always wanted to be in Los Angeles," Melendez said yesterday. 

"I would eventually like to get a sitcom, to be in a sitcom, and acting has been real important to me." - Click Here for the Full Story 

Click the full story link to read about John's rise to stardom.

Smack My Ass Band
Electric Basement reports: In an EXCLUSIVE interview with Electricbasement.com, PUDDLE OF MUDD lead guitarist PAUL PHILLIPS talks about being known as the "smack my ass band" after their debut hit single "Control" featured it prominently. Three years later he reflects, "You know, I think we will probably play that one forever! It actually looked a lot worse when it first came out than it does now because when it first came out that was all we were, 'The smack my ass Band.' We weren't Puddle of Mudd. Nobody knew who the hell Puddle of Mudd was but if you said, 'The smack my ass Band,' they knew it then! It was a little troublesome at first but once 'Blurry' came out and actually surpassed the success of that song it kind of started fading away a little bit. It is all good though, I like playing it, it is fun."- Click Here for the Full Story 

Click the full story link for the full interview

Great White Remembers
Electric Basement reports: As we approach the anniversary date of February 20, 2003, words will not now, nor will they ever, begin to express the sorrow we are all feeling. Although it has been a year, we are all only at the beginning of the healing process. We will always fondly remember our friends that we lost, as will as our band member and brother Ty Longley. To everyone that was affected, by this terrible tragedy, we send our love, prayers and encouragement. 

Jack Russell & Great White - Click Here for the Full Story 

Meshuggah Shuffle
I Ate Your Microphone reports: Sweden's Meshuggah have replaced their bassist Gustaf Hielm with former In Flames/Arch Enemy member Dick Löwgren. The band are currently in the studio working on their upcoming new one track EP, still tentatively due for a Spring release through Fractured Transmitter Records. - Click Here for the Full Story 

NIN Tales II
I Ate Your Microphone reports: Well, I hinted at this on Tuesday, but it looks like it's official now that Nine Inch Nails will be headlining Lollapalooza 2004. At least, according to fansite The NIN Hotline, which reports that radio stations K-Rock in NY and 107.7 The End in Seattle have made announcements confirming this.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Isn't the rumormill great. Yesterday it was B.S., Today it is confirmed by a couple radio stations. Which will it be?

QOTSA Rebound
I Ate Your Microphone reports: Billboard reports that Josh Homme is pressing on with the next Queens Of The Stone Age record, which will see a release through Interscope towards the end of the year. He currently has some sixteen songs written towards the effort, and is likely to hit the studio by the end of April.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Macca Glasto
Ananova reports: Sir Paul McCartney looks set to play a headlining Saturday night set at this year's Glastonbury Festival. 

Organiser Michael Eavis revealed that the former Beatle signed up two days after last year's festival. 

During a speech at the Oxford Union, Eavis said soul legend James Brown had also been booked. 

He also said he's waiting to hear from The Strokes, who he really wants to play, and that he's in talks with Oasis but they've not confirmed - Click Here for the Full Story 

RI Fire 1 Year Later, We Are All In This Together.
Keavin reports: In last Friday's Day in Rock I linked up my latest antiTorial on some of the biggest blunders in the history of rock. I received a lot of emails about that antiTorial (most were positive), so I decided to once again mention an antiTorial here. 

Today's marks the anniversary of the tragic night club fire in Rhode Island, where 100 people lost their lives. Last August I wrote an antiTorial to coincide with the six month anniversary of the tragedy. There is some reflection on the tragic fire but the core of the article is about how music binds us together in a common goal. By us, I mean hard core music fans. It's a little cheesy, but nonetheless true. 

Linking that antiTorial is my small way of paying tribute to and remembering those we lost at the Station Night Club the night of February 20, 2003. If you care to read that article click the full story link below. - Keavin - Click Here for the Full Story 

Friday Fun
reports: Let's not end today's Day in Rock on a sad note. 

This item was inspired by a discussion on our Fan Speak boards, thought it might be fun to include this for some silly Friday fun. 

A picture is worth a thousand words, so if you have a horrible album cover, chances are your musical career didn't go too far. (there are always exceptions.) A couple of iconoFANs post some fun "worst album covers" links. Check em out and have a chuckle at other people's expense. 

10 Worst Album Covers

More Worst Album Covers

.