Widespread Panic At the Georgia Music Hall of Fame

"Sharing this honor... with so many of our greatest musical influences, is something I'm sure none of the Band members imagined when we first started making music together. September 20th is going to be a truly special day for the entire Widespread Panic Family," says John Bell, vocalist and founding member of Widespread Panic. - more on this story

Johnny Guitar Watson DVD

MVD reports: Johnny 'Guitar' Watson was one of the hottest and most influential rocking blues guitarists of the Fifties, playing a pivotal role in the development of rock 'n' roll from its R&B roots and pioneering the use of feedback and reverberation in the process. Watson's groundbreaking recordings from the Fifties were technically years ahead of their time.

This DVD (out 08/05/2008), filmed at the 1993 North Sea Jazz Festival, captures Watson in blistering form, playing a selection of his most popular numbers, including the hits 'Gangster Of Love', 'I Need It' and 'A Real Mother For Ya'.

It also includes seven bonus tracks filmed at one of his last ever appearances, at the 1996 Bluesfest in Levekusen, Germany. Inspired by innovative guitarists Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown and T-Bone Walker, Watson's own virtuoso and flashy guitar style and stage pyrotechnics in turn were to influence countless R&B and rock guitarists who followed in his wake, ranging from Bo Diddley to Jimi Hendrix, from Ike Turner to Frank Zappa. - more on this story

Keaton Simons Hitting the Road

PR reports: Keaton Simons is getting ready to launch a U.S. tour with Ernie Halter, and he'll be doing a slew of dates with Curtis Peoples and Todd Carey in August.

In the midst of all these shows, he'll be making a special in-store acoustic performance/signing appearance at Borders in Cincinnati, OH on Sunday, August 31. Keaton will also be participating in Koffeehouse Music Productions' "An Evening of Independence," a benefit concert on Sunday, August 10 at the Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, CA.

The show will also feature performances by A Fine Frenzy, Tyrone Wells and Matt Scannell (Vertical Horizon), among many others, and is supporting the Guitar Center Music Foundation. - more on this story

Willie Basse Album Stream

PR reports: '80's Metal Pioneer, Willie Basse has streamed his new album "The Money Grind" in its entirety online through AltSounds.com. The album, which was released through Basse's own label New Empire Media, features a guest appearance by Randy Castillo (Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue).

"I never really understood artists who don't want to share their music as many people as possible. The way the industry has headed towards the online world, so why not embrace it and use it as tool to get your music out there," says Basse about the online stream of his new album. "Head over to AltSounds and check out entire album if you are looking for a great metal album that's rooted in classic metal."

Basse is best known for his role as bassist/frontman for the LA based legendary metalheads, Black Sheep, who were staples of Sunset Strip during the metal explosion of the '80s. Basse has now reemerged with his solo effort "The Money Grind", an unapologetic approach to metal returns the genre to the classic sound of bands like Dokken, Ratt, W.A.S.P and Dio. - Listen here

Protest The Hero Remixed

PR reports: Protest The Hero announces the August 5 release of a new, exclusive three-track EP that will available worldwide only on iTunes. The Sequoia Throne Remix EP will include three remixes of the band's current single created by three very different artists.

C0ndu1t, the cerebral industrial band from Canada, created the brutally intense first remix. The winner of a Metal Hammer magazine contest - known only as L-Ion - created the electro-heavy second remix, and the otherworldly atmospherics and textures of the third were created by Devin Townsend, record producer (GWAR, Darkest Hour, Misery Signals) and original member of influential heavy music pioneers Strapping Young Lad. - more on this story

Starving For Gravity to open Rock Against Diabetes

PR reports: The 3 month search to find the opening band for Rock Against Diabetes in Las Vegas August 23rd 2008 has come to an end, with Orange County's Starving For Gravity coming out on top as the winners.

The band was pared down from a massive list that originally submitted their bands to take part, to a Top 45 list that was further trimmed to a Top 10.

The Top 10 was then opened to a public vote that saw nearly 8,000 votes from fans made, with a final decision being handed down from the judges participating in the decision process. - more on this story

K-Fed and Lawyer Cash In

TMZ reports: Settlement means payday for K-Fed and his lawyer. TMZ has learned under the terms of the settlement, that will become a done deal shortly, K-Fed will get more child support, i.e., more jack in his bank.

Currently, he pulls in $15,000 a month from Britney. Under the deal, he'll get just south of $20,000.

As for K-Fed's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, there's something in this settlement for him. Kaplan, who wanted a trial last month, will now settle and get an additional $200,000 from the bank of Britney.
- more on this story

Kylesa Begin Work on New Album

Prosthetic Records reports: Kylesa are scheduled to enter the studio, here is what they have to say: "It's been a while since our last update so here you go: We've been writing a new record over the past few months and we're about to head to the Jam Room studio on Monday [July 21] to begin tracking. We're excited to record a new album since it's been two years since we recorded 'Time Will Fuse its Worth.'

It's hard to believe it's been that long! The CD will be released on Prosthetic Records in early '09 and the vinyl version will come out around the same time. Phillip [Cope, Kylesa guitarist/vocalist (Baroness, Black Tusk)] will be producing the record. We'll send a few updates and photos from the studio."

In other Kylesa record news, Red Cobalt Industries is producing a very limited alternate CD version of 'Time Will Fuse its Worth' for a Japanese release. The packaging was totally re-designed by Laura and is loaded with extra things including a poster of the "Double Skull" tee shirt design by John Baizley (Baroness, Darkest Hour, Torche, Skeletonwitch) and a sticker by Santos. It will be a sort of matchbook digipack with foil stamping and metallic inks. It should be in production very soon, and more details will be available soon. Once released, Kylesa plans on touring Japan for the first time, playing shows with Birushanah, Coffins, and several other bands. More details will be available as they are confirmed. - more on this story

Beneath The Massacre Join Pillage The Village Tour

Prosthetic Records reports: Beneath The Massacre have been confirmed for a run of dates on the Pillage The Village Tour as support to Necrophagist and Dying Fetus, along with Veil of Maya, including one appearance with legendary British gore-grinders Carcass.

The band is currently completing work on its second full-length release, 'Dystopia,' the follow-up to the band's Prosthetic debut, 'Mechanics of Dysfunction.'

7/31 St. Catharines, ONT – L3 Nightclub
8/01 Hamilton, ONT – The Assumption Hall
8/02 Newcastle, ONT – Wie Gehts Amigo's (Newcastle Deathfest)
- more dates

The Morning Light Announces Fall Tour With The Rocket Summer

Fearless reports: With their debut full-length, self-titled album set to drop on September 23, 2008, The Morning Light has a whirlwind year ahead of them.

Following on the trails of their current summer tour, The Morning Light continues full steam ahead with the announcement of a brand new nationwide tour with The Rocket Summer.

Other artists on the tour will include Phantom Planet and The Secret Handshake. The Morning Light will be debuting new tracks from their upcoming album and drumming up anticipation for its release. - dates

Guns N' Roses Drug Bust

TMZ reports: TMZ has learned Steven Adler, former drummer for Guns N' Roses, was arrested early Friday morning in Hollywood for possession of narcotics, being under the influence and an outstanding warrant.

Earlier this month, the 43-year-old rocker told a radio station he was planning on being part of the cast of "Sober Living," a spin-off of VH1's "Celebrity Rehab." The timing couldn't be better.

Adler is still in police custody [as this went to post]. The warrant stems from a 2005 case where Adler was charged for being under the influence of a controlled substance and driving on a suspended license.
- more on this story

. Portishead - Third

Rather than trying to replicate its earlier triumphs, Third finds Portishead still stretching expectations in profound new ways. (5 stars) - Read the full Portishead - Third review

. The Ocean - Precambrian: Protezoic

Challenging, vast, and masterful, Precambrian is not for the feeble-minded. It shows The Ocean for what they are, innovators unafraid of pushing the envelope or breaking down boundaries. - Read the full The Ocean - Precambrian: Protezoic review

. The Dark Knight

Chris Nolan's The Dark Knight, the second of his Batman films, is a thing of dark, twisted and conflicted beauty. There's immense hype behind The Dark Knight and I'm here to tell you, that it just won't live up to your expectations, but may surpass them. - Read the full The Dark Knight review

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