KISS Star To Be Launched Into Space

We have chosen VH1 to document this mission from the ground up and yesterday, Jeff Olde, VH1 Executive Vice President, Original Programming and Production, was given the latest top secret details regarding this mission. [If it's top secret than where did this info come from?] - more on this story

Phish Announce Tour and DVD Boxset

antiMusic reports: It's no longer a rumor. Here is the official word: Phish will launch its first summer tour in five years with a two-night stand at the Nikon Theatre at Jones Beach in Wantagh, NY on June 4th and 5th. Yesterday the band resumed rehearsals, which began in November, in preparation for the upcoming shows.

Phish's summer tour will be preceded by a trio of concerts (March 6th, 7th and 8th) at Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia. The shows at the 13,800-capacity venue sold out just seconds after tickets went on sale last fall. They will mark the group's first concerts since its August 2004 performance at the Coventry festival in Vermont.

On March 3rd, Phish will release The Clifford Ball on JEMP Records/Rhino. This major archival release features the band's entire performance at the 1996 festival, which was the largest concert in North America that year and the first of many two-day festivals staged by the group. Over 70,000 fans turned out for the event, which was held at a decommissioned Air Force base in Plattsburgh, NY. - more on this story

Zeppelin Gate: Major Pubs Caught Running Old Interviews As New News

MusicRadar reports: It was only yesterday that, according to BBC 6Music, Led Zeppelin were going to tour and record again. Today, however, they're not. We know this because Jimmy Page's manager Peter Mensch told us. So how did such a contradiction come about? Allow us to show you via a timeline of every critical, crucial and some minor events leading up to what someone just labeled as "Zep-gate." Or "Led-fence", perhaps…

[Here are the absolutely key parts of the timeline.] 10:52am 1/7/09: An interview with Jimmy Page's manager Peter Mensch pops up on BBC 6Music. Apparently Led Zeppelin will tour and record a new album without original frontman Robert Plant. 12:55pm
The news spreads like wildfire, with the NME, MTV and Rolling Stone (to name but a few) quoting the BBC interview.

[14:45pm MusicRadar's Joe Bosso gets a hold of Mensch to confirm the report and here is what followed: ] JB: "Hey Pete, nice interview with the BBC, who's replacing Robert Plant, then?"

PM: "What interview? I haven't spoke to those guys for like four months or something."

JB: "So Led Zeppelin are not going to tour and record?"

PM: "No chance."

- Read the full timeline and check out the interview to get the real story!

Justice Not Swift For Man Paralyzed At Bon Jovi Show

Sleazeroxx reports: It's been 18 months since Dennis Schulz, father of two, went to a Bon Jovi concert and in a heartbeat had his neck snapped under the weight of a flying human being.

But any relief for the quadriplegic from a multimillion-dollar lawsuit is still a year or two away in a case that has entangled the concert promoter, the arena owner, the people who poured the booze and even Edmonton's chief of police.

"I can't say if the (trial) date will be 2010 or 2011," Schulz's lawyer, Patrick Phelan, said in an interview with The Canadian Press. He said his client prefers not to talk to reporters, but added "his attitude is excellent," especially considering the circumstances. "How would you feel if you had no motion in your arms and legs?"
- more on this story

Gregg Allman Feeling Better and Ready To Rock!

antiMusic reports: Gregg Allman is feeling better and is ready to rock in 2009. Our good friend Ross CAT from Nightlife/Best of WNY caught up with Gregg to see how he's doing. Here is part of their exchange: Ross CAT- Thanks so much for taking time out for the Rock Rapport. First off Gregg we're glad to hear that you're enjoying a full recovery from you're various ailments throughout 2008.

Gregg- I'm feeling great and lookin forward to gettin back out with some of my old friends for this holiday tour. I just had some melanoma spots removed from the sun but they were benign so I'm sporting a couple of shiners. Now that you mention it 2008 did kick my ass but I'm a survivor, I beat the Hep C and finally took care of my sciatic nerve in my leg, after all that I'm feelin great.

Ross CAT-While I understand the Hepatitis C treatments you underwent where extremely taxing physically, what was the down time like for you creatively, were you able to write?

Gregg -That's the thing about it, when I told my solo band what was going on, my keyboard player had already been through the treatments, he told me: "I've got some bad news on top of bad news for you; don't even think about inspiration or creation during treatment, brother I didn't even want to get laid". Boy he wasn't lying I didn't touch a pencil, my guitar or my piano the entire time. I just about had enough energy to pick up the phone to talk to my mother. It's that bad, it's basically watered down chemo is what it is, for those folks that have to endure full blown chemotherapy man I say a prayer for them every night. I've got to tell you I feel like I'm thirty again and can't wait to share the Holidays on this little tour with my Friends.
- Check out the full interview for much more

Jack Black Working With Metal Legends On New Game

BW&BK reports: Jack Black is secretly working with game developer Tim Shafer for three years on Brutal Legend, in which players can slay enemies by cranking out heavy metal music.

A number of metal superstars are set to lend their voices to the game, including Rob Halford from Judas Priest, Lemmy Kilmister from Motörhead and Ronnie James Dio from Black Sabbath.

Worthplaying.com has issued the following update on the game: "Brütal Legend is a third person Action/Adventure game starring Jack Black in the role of roadie Eddie Riggs, who sets on an epic quest to build an army of rockers with only a broad axe, a big block V8 and his faithful guitar in hand."
- more on this story

Pearl Phone Jam- Merle Wants Some Green- Pharrell Williams Hard Up For Work?- Now Any Hack Can Make Music- Ticketmaster Gets Competition- Megadeth and more

antiMusic reports: Pearl Jam is rolling out tracks from the remastered version of its 1991 debut album, "Ten," exclusively through Verizon Wireless. A different song from the new edition, due March 24 from Epic, will go live through V Cast Music with Rhapsody for 10 consecutive weeks, beginning with "Once" on January 13.more

Country star Merle Haggard has sued an environmental awareness group, claiming it illegally used his name and likeness to raise money. The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Chancery Court against the Green Train, a Nashville-based organization, and its founder, Robert K. Wolf. It seeks unspecified compensatory damages. more

"Lily Allen would like to state unequivocally that she does not condone illegal drug use and has every sympathy with individuals and families whose lives have been blighted by drugs." more

Live Nation Ticketing is live. The bulk of the world's largest promoter's 10-year contract with Ticketmaster has expired and the company has now launched its in-house ticketing company. [Wonder if they'll follow Ticketbastard's example and spam customers and ignore remove requests in violation of Federal law while they wait for the inevitable class action lawsuit to be launched against them? ] more

Megadeth drummer Shawn Drover issued the following update: 'So now it is official, we have started to record our 12th record yesterday. more

Testament will play their classic first two albums — "The Legacy" and "The New World Order" — for one night only at Islington Academy in London, England on March 25.more

Pharrell Williams has stepped forward and offered to produce the new Lindsay Lohan album. From release dates mentioned last year, the actress should have already recorded and dropped her third album by now, but has recently confessed to not being ready. more

Two Tongues, the new band featuring Max Bemis and Coby Linder of Say Anything along with Chris Conley and David Soloway of Saves The Day, have posted "If I Could Make You Do Things" on Pure Volume. The track is from their self-titled debut that is due out February 3 on Vagrant. check it out

Attn Crackberry Slackers: Slacker, Inc. today announced the availability of the free Slacker Mobile application for BlackBerry. BlackBerry smartphone users can now hear their favorite Slacker radio stations wherever they go, whether they are connected to a wireless network or not; a Slacker Mobile feature exclusive to BlackBerry smartphones. The application, which is compatible with BlackBerry; Device Software version 4.3 and higher is available as a free download by visiting Slacker.com from your BlackBerry smartphone.

Jamey Johnson has been confirmed to perform on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Thursday, February 5th.

Have five minutes to waste that you'll never want back? This one is for you: Forget Britney. An army of personal trainers and personal chefs got her back in music video shape. Instead, Saint Bernadette presents you with a video pep talk guaranteed to keep you on your resolutions this new year. Set to a live mash up of two of the 80s best self-improvement anthems, watch members of Saint B and a crew of their friends go from flabby to fabulous, from two-left feet to double knee slides, ending up in a final production number worthy of Bob Fosse. more

The assets of Death Row Records, once the thriving home to artists such as Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg, are going back on the auction block Jan. 15 as part of a Chapter 11 proceeding.more

The 17th annual Noise Pop Festival in San Francisco has announced a few artist additions to their growing lineup. Bob Mould of Husker Du recently signed on to the week-long fest as well as The Ohsees, Thao, Sleepy Sun, Ra Ra Riot, and From Monument to Masses.more

Carrie Underwood was a big winner at the People's Choice Awards last at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium, picking up favorite female singer, country song for "Last Name," and star under 35 years old. more

Wolves in the Throne Room will be touring Europe in January and February of 2009. This tour will be in support of 'Malevolent Grain' e.p. which is being released by Conspiracy Records as a limited edition picture disc more

If you thought auto-tune opened the door to untalented hacks. Get a hold of this little tid bit from Billboard: " Microsoft unveiled the Songsmith software package, an application that automatically generates a musical accompaniment to whatever songs the users sings." The only silver lining is the fact it comes from Microsoft so it probably doesn't work that well.

Seems Devildriver has made another deal with the devil. Devildriver, the group fronted by former Coal Chamber singer Dez Fafara, has re-signed with Roadrunner Records after previously issuing three [poorly promoted] full-length albums through the label. more

Guitarist Jonas Khalil has left the German death metal band Disbelief. He explained in a statement, "We decided to part ways due to problems regarding our schedules. As a professional (classical) musician, I cannot allow myself to focus only on one project but instead have to be able to do any projects more

A outdoor music festival that drew more than 40,000 people to a site north of Vancouver last year has been cancelled for this summer. The three-day Pemberton Music Festival debuted in a mountain valley with acts like Tom Petty, Jay-Z and Coldplay. - more

Filter Get Retrospective

PR reports: Filter hangs its hard rock angst, electronic sheen and industrial grit on memorable hooks, rendering finely sculpted sonic broadsides that have distinguished the band over the course of four studio albums.

Rhino takes aim at the band's career—so far—with its first retrospective, The Very Best Things (1995-2008). The single-disc collection will be available from Rhino Records March 31.

The compilation's 14 songs encompass studio recordings, rare radio edits and a scattering of soundtrack contributions. It begins with "Hey Man Nice Shot," the Top 10 hit that put the band on the musical map in 1995 and pushed Short Bus—Filter's debut—to platinum status. From there, the retrospective touches on songs that reflect the evolution of the band's music, including "Soldiers Of Misfortune," from their 2008 album Anthems For The Damned. - more on this story

SXSW Announces Partial Band List

PR reports: The South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Conference and Festival, scheduled to take place Wednesday, March 18 - 22, 2009 in Austin, Texas, is pleased to announce the first round of bands scheduled to perform at the 23rd edition of the music festival.

This list is subject to change. This is only a portion of the bands that will be performing at the SXSW Music Festival.

The South By Southwest Music & Media Conference and Festival takes place at the Austin Convention Center and on over 80 stages throughout downtown Austin. The previously announced Quincy Jones' keynote will anchor four days of panels, interviews, workshops, peer meetings, trade show exhibition and the world-renowned music festival. - da insanely long list

U2's New Album Inspired By Jimmy Page And Jack White

MusicRadar reports: He won't be touring with his Led Zeppelin mates this year, but Jimmy Page is still influencing guitarists - namely The Edge, who says his playing on the U2's upcoming No Line On The Horizon is greatly informed by the Led Zep axeman.

You can list White Stripes guitarist Jack White as a recent influence as well.The Edge spent considerable time hanging out with White and Page when the trio took part in filming the documentary It Might Get Loud.

"I was just fascinated with seeing how Jimmy played those riffs so simply, and with Jack as well," The Edge told Rolling Stone. - more on this story

Less Than Jake Spring Tour

reports: Less Than Jake have announced the dates for their Spring 2009 tour. In support of their critically-acclaimed latest album GNV FLA and its recently released Deluxe 7-inch Box Set (both on Sleep It Off Records), the ska/punk/pop pioneers will be sharing the stage with The Expendables.

Less Than Jake had a great 2008 with press dousing positive praise on both their new album GNV FLA and their raucously fun headlining tours.

The re-releases of four of their earlier records with added material received plaudits of equal enthusiasm. [That's nice] - more on this story

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