Ascension Of The Watchers (ex Fear Factory) Week: Day 3

antiMusic reports: Fear Factory's Burton Bell makes his triumphant return to the metal spotlight with his new band Ascension Of The Watchers, who release their debut album, 'Numinosum,' this week. But don't expect a Fear Factory clone, it's a new musical avenue for Burton. He is ably aided by his friends John Bechdel (Ministry, Killing Joke) and Edu Mussi (Still Life Decay) for the creation of 'Numinosum'. Other contributors include the CD's producer Al Jourgensen (Ministry), as well as the late Paul Raven (Ministry, Prong, Killing Joke) and Ben Bell. To celebrate it's release we asked Burton to tell us about some of his favorite tracks from the CD. Here is Burton with today's song "Mars Becoming":

I had this riff in my head for so long and I had been playing it just as long. When I asked Paul Raven to play on my record, he said, "SURE! You know I am down!" We recorded his bass part in a studio in Clinton Hill/Brooklyn where he had been staying with a friend of his working on his Mob Research project. This studio was in a home that was once an Abby for Nuns and was full of ghosts.

I never saw one but I knew they were there. Raven had done his part and I wanted him to play on SOUNDS OF SILENCE while I had him there, but by the time we were done with Mars Becoming it was time to go to The Alibi for some shots and beers. A week later, when I went back to the studio to grab the files we listened on the studio monitors to Mars Becoming. While I was standing outside I was hearing vocals. There were no vocals on the song, but I heard vocals as though the ghosts were singing along with the track. It was the vocals of the ghosts that I used to sing this song.

Burton is currently out on the road with Ministry on their farewell tour. And we'll be back with Burton on Friday to learn more about the new 'Numinosum' CD, but for now you can preview some tracks and learn more about Ascension Of The Watchers on their - Myspace page

KISS Sex Tape Hits Web

antiMusic reports: KISS's Gene Simmons likes to brag about his sexual conquests, he even has a Polaroid collection of his encounters with groupies. So you would think the marketing savvy Simmons would have already released a sex tape on his own, so that he could cash in on it. But it looks like a Panamanian company has beat him to it.

Sleazeroxx has the story: A sex video allegedly featuring Gene Simmons was released Tuesday at GenesSecret.com. Photos on the site promoting the sex video show the couple going at it in several positions, with Simmons keeping his shirt on and Elsa wearing lingerie.

The site's video still show a man who appears to be Simmons - bassist for the rock band KISS and star of the reality TV show "Gene Simmons' Family Jewels" - having sex with a woman identified as an Austrian babe named "Elsa," a spokesmodel for Frank's Energy Drink. Simmons reportedly endorses the drink. - more on this story

Avril Pregnant?

antiMusic reports: Seems like just yesterday that Avril burst onto the scene with the banal tween anthem "Sk8er Boi." Now she might have little sk8er boi or sk8er gurl of her own. TMZ has the speculative story: TMZ spotted Avril Lavigne and hubby rocker Deryck Whibley shopping up a storm on Robertson Blvd. yesterday ... but could it be for a wee Whiblet or Whiblette?

Consider the evidence: The couple dropped around $500 at Lisa Kline Kids, purchasing everything from a cheetah diaper bag to baby AC/DC tees, and, of course, a camo pacifier holder. Sounds a lot like she's preparing for life to get more complicated.

What's more, says a TMZ spy, "She definitely looks like she has a bump." We've contacted her reps, but haven't heard back. - If you actually care, then TMZ has a video for you.

AC/DC Finally Hitting the Studio

SleazeRoxx.com reports: Australian hard rock icons AC/DC are getting closer to ending an eight-year drought of new music. "God, I'm ready," bassist Cliff Williams, who was in L.A. to participate at the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp, tells Spinner. To that end, the group will hit the studio March 1.

Almost as long as the wait for new music is the band's absence from the stage. Tour plans, however, aren't as firm. "If we go out again or when we go out again," Williams said. "You just never know. We've been around a long time, so we're going to get together and get in the studio and I fully expect we will [tour.].

"I don't mean to be so negative about that. [When] the last tour ended in early '01, you'd see kids on their dads' shoulders. And these kids were like 10, 12 years old. It will be tremendous to see that again. And it's very cool -- younger kids getting into older music." - more on this story

U2 Recording New CD

NME reports: U2 have reportedly entered a Dublin studio to begin work on their new album.

The band have been writing songs for the follow-up to 2004's 'How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb' for several months around the world.

They are now continuing work in the studio with long-term production collaborators Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. - more on this story

Ozzy Vs Heather Mills

Hecklerspray reports: Ozzy Osbourne's hosting the Brits tomorrow night, alongside members of his family who have variously been rejected by Joss Stone and almost died in a house fire. It sounds like a should be a total shambles, but let's not forget that Ozzy Osbourne is a respectable older gentleman now, and he'll have been primped and prepared to within an inch of his life to ensure that nothing goes wrong…

What's that? Ozzy Osbourne is going to call the Brits short and launch a violent attack on Heather Mills if she manages to turn up to the Brits and present an award tomorrow? Fair enough. Female First reports:

Speaking about the rumours Heather is planning to attend the prestigious bash, Sharon said: "I would boot her off. I think she's a miserable old cow." Ozzy - who will present Paul with the BRITs Lifetime Achievement Award - added: "I'm looking forward to seeing Paul McCartney - he's my hero. The body of work he's got is just unbelievable. But I really don't want to be there if Heather shows up. Never mind McCartney having a go - I think the audience will string her up. Sharon and I have met them both her on a few occasions but if Paul doesn't know her, I'm f**ked if I do. She's f**king nuts." - more on this story

Eminem Memoirs Coming

Gigwise reports: US rapper Eminem will publish his first set of memoirs later this year, a book publisher has confirmed.

'Eminem: The Way I Am', which is released on October 16th, will provide a unique insight into the rapper, including, unseen photographs and lyric sketches.

A spokesman for Orion Books, the publishing house behind the memoirs, said it would "be one of the books of the year." - more on this story

Horse The Band Swap Drummers

Lambgoat reports: Horse The Band has parted ways with drummer Chris Prophet. The group will be joined by Jon Karel of The Number Twelve Looks Like You for their upcoming "Earth Tour." Here's a statement from the band:

"We are pleased to announce that Christopher Lyle Prophet has left HORSE the band and has given a statement to the press outside of his West Hills home this morning, saying the decision to leave came after two other decisions were made up in his mind; the decision to 'pursue other interests' and also the decision to have 'cereal for breakfast.'

Ironically, replacing Mr. Prophet on this tour exclusively will be Mr. Jon Karel, drummer of the Number 12 Looks Like You. - more on this story

Bury Your Dead Attack Suspect Arrest

Metal Underground reports: According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee police have arrested a 19-year-old man they believe was involved in the weekend armed robbery of BURY YOUR DEAD guitarist Eric Ellis, who had just played a show at The Rave.

The victim, 23, was sitting in a car about 12:30 a.m. Sunday when he was held up by five men, two with guns, according to Milwaukee police. He handed over a bag of jewelry, and the robbers fled the parking lot, near N. 24th St. and W. Wisconsin Ave.

The victim chased the robbers and caught up with them but was kicked, suffering a cut to his head. Department spokesman Bobby Lindsey said the 19-year-old suspect was arrested Monday and remains in police custody. - more on this story

Party with a Purpose Rocks Against Cancer

PR reports: Longtime www.antiMUSIC.com writer/columnist and www.Thrashpit.com editor Mark Hensch needs your help for a very worthy cause! A sophomore at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, Mark's friends/room-mates Dylan Lindgren (23) and Brad Puglisi (20) have both been diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin's Lymphoma in the last year. As Stage IV Lymphoma is the worst progression of the Lymphoma Cancer, hospital costs in treating both men are expected to be steep.

With this in mind, Mark is organizing a fundraiser the weekend of Feb. 29 through March 2. The fundraiser, called the "F*ck Cancer Social," needs all the moral and material support it can get to help these two fine young men and their suffering families.

For those that can not make this event, plans are also being discussed about organizing an online auction for all donated items (via a newly made e-bay account 207fcs) as well as a possible benefit concert and/or a digital album. - more on this story to find out what you can do to help

Spoon Mix Things Up

Filter reports: Spoon are ready to mix things up and will release the Don't You Evah EP on April 8.

The EP will feature the original and their cover of The Natural History track, "Don't You Ever" - which was renamed, "Don't you Evah" on Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga.

The EP will also feature five remixes of Spoon's version by the likes of Ted Leo, Diplo , Matthew Dear, DJ Amaze and newcomer, Doc Delay Fixerupper. - more on this story

Shout Out Louds EP and SXSW Dates

Filter reports: After a four year hiatus between their full-length records, Swedish rockers Shout Out Louds will not disappoint with another long hibernation.

The Stockholm quintet is releasing a new EP on April 8th featuring a radio edit and a video of their hit "Impossible" directed by SOL bassist Ted Malmros along with several remixes.

To promote their latest release, the band will be taking a "break" from their European tour to play a few special North American shows in March including SXSW.

- more on this story

Collective Soul Spring Tour

antiMusic reports: Collective Soul is making their way around the US in support of their latest release "Afterwords".

The month long tour will kick off on March 21 in Reno, Nevada and will conclude on April 23 in Myrtle Beach, SC.

They also have a date booked on June 6th at the Hard Rock Biloxi. Can you figure out what city that one is in?

Mar 21 Silver Legacy Reno, Nevada
Mar 22 Roseland Theatre Portland, Oregon
Mar 23 Moore Theatre Seattle, Washington
- more dates

TVT Bloodbath

Idolator reports: Last night, the New York-based label TVT Records fired the bulk of its staff, and it's expected to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection later this week.

TVT, which started in 1985 as a label devoted to bringing the television themes of yore together on the Television's Greatest Hits compilations, had a roster of artists that at one time included Nine Inch Nails, and currently includes the Polyphonic Spree, Lil Jon, and the Ying Yang Twins.

[Idolator had a follow up story as well] TVT founder Steve Gottlieb refutes the rumors that his label is going the way of the dodo, saying that yesterday's staff-cutting will actaully make the label stronger - more on this story

Junkie XL EPs

PR reports: As the one man band known as Junkie XL gears up for the March 11 release of his fifth studio album Booming Back At You, he will release two exclusive EP's for Beatport with Beating Back At You Vol 1 and Vol 2. The two EP's-both set for release February 26-each feature a brand new track exclusive only to Beatport and a cut from Booming Back At You.

The more progressive Beating Back At You Vol 1 will feature the new song "Roux" and a dub remix of "Not Enough" featuring Willoughby and Nicole Morier of Electrocute from the album. Beating Back At You Vol 2 is more techno with versions of "Prevent Confusion" for Beatport and "Zage" from Booming Back At You.

Around the same time, Artwerk Music will also issue the album's second single, "Cities In Dust," a high-voltage Siouxsie and the Banshees cover. Details will be unveiled at a later date. - more on this story

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