Metal Xmas Week: Day 2

Any self respecting metal fan should own this album. But if you need further convincing, check out our 5 Star review of the disc - right here!

China Vs Guns N' Roses

AP reports: A newspaper published by China's ruling Communist Party is blasting the latest Guns N' Roses album as an attack on the Chinese nation.

Delayed since recording began in 1994, "Chinese Democracy" hit stores in the U.S. on Sunday, although it is unlikely to be sold legally in China, where censors maintain tight control over films, music and publications.

In an article Monday headlined "American band releases album venomously attacking China," the Global Times said unidentified Chinese Internet users had described the album as part of a plot by some in the West to "grasp and control the world using democracy as a pawn." The album "turns its spear point on China," the article said. - more on this story

Platinum Blonde Bassist Found Dead

Jam! reports: Sources say that former Platinum Blonde bassist Kenny MacLean died following a CD release party in Toronto Friday, Nov. 21.

He was found Monday morning by his sister and it is thought he passed away sometime during the night after the event.

"Kenny had his party at the Mod Club on Friday and he was really excited," local musician Angel Marr said in a brief phone interview. - more

Zeppelin Post Rare Videos Online

Music Radar reports: It could be a sign of renewed activity within the Zeppelin camp. Or it could mean nothing at all. Regardless, the band have posted a batch of rare concert videos of themselves on their very own YouTube channel.

The videos - and there's many incredible moments to be found - are mostly bootlegs (once considered anathema by the band), converted from scratchy Super8 film, of Led Zeppelin performing now-legendary shows.

One could spend hours sifting through all the gems, such the infamous Oakland, California concerts from 1977, all of the Los Angeles shows from 1975 and 1977, Philadelphia 1975, and Iceland 1970, among many others. - more on this story

Beatles iTunes Talks Stalled

AP reports: Paul McCartney said Monday negotiations on a long awaited deal to make the Beatles' catalog available on the online music service iTunes have stalled.

"The last word I got back was it's stalled at the whole moment, the whole process," the former Beatle said. "I really hope it will happen because I think it should."

McCartney, who was speaking at the launch of his new album, Electric Arguments, added: "It's between EMI and the Beatles, I think." - more on this story

Fall Out Boy and No Doubt To Headline Bamboozle

antiMusic reports: Bamboozle 2009 will be headlined by Fall Out Boy (Saturday, May 2nd) and No Doubt (Sunday, May 3rd). No other real big announcements have been made abut the event yet but here is the boilerplate we were sent:

Bamboozle, a phenomenon born on the east coast five years ago, is officially THE must see music festival of the summer. Bamboozle 2009 is guaranteed to be the best and most eclectic yet with mega music stars signing on for not to be missed exclusive performances. Bamboozle is the only place to watch over two hundred of the most
talked about bands in pop, punk, mainstream, emo and more perform live on ten stages for two days at The Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, NJ. The party kicks off in true Bamboozle tradition with The Annual Parade Of Nothing on Saturday, May 2ND at 10am assembling at gate D, followed by the 2008 Boozler Pep Rally lead by a special surprise guest. - more on this story

AC/DC Frontman Calls Rock Legend An A**hole

Sleazeroxx reports: HoundsTV.com has uncovered footage from Brian Johnson in 2003 signing autographs for fans that contains some not to nice comments about a Rock and Roll legend.

When one fan asked if he has ever asked anyone for an autograph, Brian responds "I asked Chuck Berry once in 1975. He was the biggest piece of sh*t I ever met in me life. The rudest man I ever met."

When asked if Chuck's reaction was the reason Johnson signs so many autographs today, Brian answered "Well I don't want to be an asshole like he was." - more on this story

Male Escort Claims Boy George Chained and Beat Him

E! reports: Boy George really did want to hurt him: with whips, chains and S&M toys... A male escort recounted in a British court Monday how he was allegedly handcuffed to the wall of the Culture Clubber's London home and beaten with a metal chain.

George, whose full name is George O'Dowd, is on trial for false imprisonment of 29-year-old Audun Carlsen.

The entertainer has pleaded innocent to the allegations, but today it was Carlsen who got a chance to share his bizarre story.
- more on this story

MC Breed RIP- My Chemical Baby- Album of the Year?- Manic Street Preachers Member Presumed Dead- Keef Goes Easy Listening- Britney Leak and more

antiMusic reports: Here is today's round-up of quick rock news stories: Eric Breed, known professionally as MC Breed, died Saturday at a friend's home in Ypsilanti, about 30 miles southwest of Detroit, a Washtenaw County medical examiner's spokesman said Monday. more

My Chemical Romance singer Gerard Way's newest creation isn't a CD, it's an upcoming baby. A rep for the singer says Way, 31, and wife Lindsey, bass player of the band Mindless Self Indulgence, are expecting their first child.more

Missing Manic Street Preachers guitarist and songwriter Richey Edwards has been declared as presumed dead, 13 years after he disappeared, a spokesman for the band said on Monday.more

It's yet December but Filter has named their Top 10 Albums of The Year. Coming in at the top of the list is MGMT's "Oracular Spectacular". Check out the rest of the official list and the staff lists here.

Keith Richards, the Rolling Stones guitarist and wild man of rock 'n' roll, is set to release an easy-listening album. The album is rumored to include a jazz version of the Judy Garland classic "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" from The Wizard Of Oz and Perry Como's" I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now." more

Britney Spears' new album "Circus" is streaming in full on imeem. If you care to check it out, you can go here.

Michael Jackson and a son of the king of Bahrain signed an out-of-court settlement on Monday ending a legal dispute under which the prince sued the pop star saying he reneged on a recording contract and owed him money.more

Coldplay have announced they will play three massive stadium shows next summer. The gigs will take place at Manchester's LCCC, Glasgow Hampden Park and London's Wembley Stadium. more

Rob Zombie says that he is "almost finished" recording his new album and that it will be more of a group effort rather than a pure solo album.more

Deicide was forced to cancel their Central American tour due to totally FUBAR circumstances, Glen Benton explains here

All That Remains have issued the following message to their fans regarding their cancellation of dates on their tour: "Hey guys, we unfortunately had to cancel off the Tempe and Albuquerque shows. Phil's vocals are in rough shape to a point where singing will not be possible."more
David Byrne has added a string of dates to his tour of North America, which will resume on November 28 in Buffalo, NY.more

The Brazilian death metallers of Khrophus entered studio this month to record their second album, which is being produced by Alexei Leão, vocalist of Stormental. The album will be entitled "From The Shadows They Will Rise".

New York Magazine has announced an Indie Rock Karaoke event hosted by Andrew WK and featuring Ted Leo And The Pharmacists set for Wednesday, December 3rd at Studio B in New York City more.

The man who gave us Vanilla Ice, Pete Ganbarg, has joined Atlantic Records as Executive Vice President of A&R. Ganbarg has served as a major label A&R executive for SBK/EMI, Arista, and Epic Records, and was most recently head of his own music consulting company, Pure Tone Music.

Leona Lewis's re-released album Spirit has beaten Dido's Safe Trip Home to the number one slot in the UK album charts.more

L.A. Guns sans the band's namesake guitarist (a.k.a. the version of the band featuring singer Phil Lewis) have announce thed 20th anniversary celebration of their platinum record 'Cocked & Loaded'. The band will be playing the entire record from beginning to end at selected venues starting in Tokyo, Japan on January 12, 2009, with US dates to follow. more. Maybe Tracii's version will go out and play their debut album.

Guy Peellaert, 74, a Belgian painter-collagist whose fervid imagination produced surreal album covers for John Lennon, David Bowie and Mick Jagger, as well as images for a seminal book about rock mythology, "Rock Dreams," died of kidney cancer Nov. 17 at a hospital in Paris.more

Gotthard have been elected to be part of the final of Switzerland's popular TV music show called The Biggest Hits From Switzerland. more

Buzznet confirms it is laying off around 10 employees, about an 11% cut.more

Against Me! frontman Tom Gabel was joined on stage by original Against Me! drummer Kevin Mahon during a recent performance at The Knitting Factory in New York City. Spin has a full review of the show plus photos right here.

Hot Panda are set to release their debut full length album Volcano... Bloody Volcano on February10th. Volcano... Bloody Volcano is a collection of collaborative songs that are reminiscent of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, State Bird, older Flaming Lips (think "Tangerine"), with flashes of An Albatross. - Check em out.

Winehouse's Husband Loses Appeal

AP reports: A British court on Monday rejected an appeal by the husband of singer Amy Winehouse against his sentence for assault and obstructing justice.

Blake Fielder-Civil was sentenced in July to 27 months in prison for beating up pub manager James King and then offering him a bribe to keep quiet about it.

Fielder-Civil, who had spent nine months in jail awaiting trial, was released earlier this month on condition he live at a drug rehabilitation center. - more on this story

Quiet Riot's Frankie Banali Remembers Kevin DeBrow

antiMusic reports: Frankie Banali posted a blog on his Myspace page on Monday to mark the anniversary of the death of his Quiet Riot bandmate Kevin DuBrow: On November 25, 2008 we commemorate the first anniversary of a very sad event, the passing of Kevin DuBrow.

It is both incredible and unbelievable that the bigger than life person and talent that he was is no more. You are missed my friend, but not forgotten. I'd like to take this opportunity to once again re-post here my tribute to my friend which is a permanent part of my Website.

Kevin and I shared a twenty-seven year personal and musical friendship that encompassed both great triumphs as well as difficult and hard times. We were like brothers in many ways which sometimes found us at great odds with each other. One of Kevin's most endearing qualities was also to his detriment, as he was outspoken and you always knew where you stood with him. This quality made for close friends but also many critics of his point of view. Kevin had so many sides to his personality that few saw beyond his stage and professional persona. Musically he knew more about the bands we loved from the musical periods we grew up with than anyone I've ever known. And If you were one of his close friends he always made you feel like you were the most important person in his life. He was always incredibly supportive of my drumming, more so than anyone I've ever known. - Read the rest of his tribute

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