.

Day in Rock Report for 02/17/2015


Alice Cooper, Joe Perry and Johnny Depp Form Supergroup

(Classic Rock) Shock rock legend Alice Cooper and Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry are to team up with actor Johnny Depp in supergroup Hollywood Vampires at a music festival in Brazil.

The trio will perform under the banner which was the name given to members of The Doors, The Who, The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix and Cooper who would often meet for drinks in LA in the 1970s.

Cooper has recorded a covers album featuring tracks by members of the original Hollywood Vampires, and he'll now take the songs to the live arena at the Rock In Rio festival in Rio De Janeiro in September. Read more here.

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1960s Hitmaker Lesley Gore Dead at 68

(Radio.com) Lesley Gore, a famed singer-songwriter who topped the U.S. charts in the 1960s with the hit "It's My Party," has died. She was 68. According to CBS News, Gore died on Sunday (Feb. 16) of cancer at a Manhattan hospital. Her partner of 33 years, Lois Sasson, confirmed the news.

Gore, born in 1946 in New York City, was a junior in high school when "It's My Party," one of pop's quintessential songs charting the rough waters of teenage angst, hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963, as well as the U.S. R&B chart. Not only was it Gore's first hit; it was also producer Quincy Jones'.

But Gore landed multiple other top 10 hits in the '60s, including "Judy's Turn to Cry," "She's a Fool" and "You Don't Own Me," the latter of which reached No. 2 in the country. Her final top 20 hit came with "California Nights" in 1967. Read more here.

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Kid Rock and Foreigner Plan $20 Ticket Summer Tour

Kid Rock is once again bucking the trend of bilking fans with excessively priced concert tickets with the announcement that this summer he will be launching a tour with support rock legend Foreigner with a bargain ticket price.

The tour, in support of Rock's new album "First Kiss," is scheduled to kick off on June 24th in Hartford, CT at The Xfinity Theatre and will conclude on September 5th in Auburn, WA at White River Amphitheater.

Like his "$20 Best Night Ever" tour, tickets for this summer run, from the "2nd row to the lawn" will only be $20.00 with reduced parking and service fees keeping the total price of the tickets around $30 and under.

Also according to Warner Bros., "$20 all-in tickets (including parking) will be offered from participating Walmarts and at the venue box offices, and everyone who purchases a ticket at Walmart will receive a coupon for $2 off their purchase of 'First Kiss.'

As an added bonus, the tickets for the first row at each concert "will be held back and given as free upgrades for lucky fans," according to Rock's label. Check out the tour dates here.

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Within The Ruins Tour Van 'Completely Destroyed' In Crash

Within The Ruins announced that they were involved in a serious road accident on an interstate in Pennsylvania on Sunday afternoon. The band reports that no one was hurt but their tour van, trailer and their gear were "completely destroyed."

Guitarist Joe Cocchi had the following to say about the accident, "We rolled about three times from what I can remember and landed on the median. Our van and trailer are totaled."

He adds, "All I can say is that we're happy to be alive. I don't know how, but none of us were injured. We're on the road touring because this is all we know and love, and we want to continue. Help us get back on our feet by picking up a shirt. Thank you all for the continued support."

The band announced that they were on their way to California for the kick off a tour with Suicide Silence and Fit For An Autopsy and they expect to take part in the tour's third show in Seattle on Friday.

For fans that wish to help the band with their "Van Accident Fund", they are taking donations here.

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Guns N' Roses Guitarist Explains Axl's Motivation

(Classic Rock) Guns N' Roses guitarist Richard Fortus says Axl Rose is motivated purely by the music and that a future reunion of the classic GNR lineup is unlikely. Fortus - who has been with GNR for 13 years - insists any criticism that Rose is only in it for the money is absurd, because if it were all about cash he'd have pushed for a reunion.

The guitarist tells Mitch Lafon (via Blabbermouth): "I've never met anybody that has so much genuine musical integrity. He won't whore himself out, he won't do anything for business or money. It's just about the music.

"And he won't defend himself in the press, because he doesn't think it matters. It's just about the music - that's all he cares about. I've worked with a lot of people in this business, and I've never seen, or met, anybody that was motivated purely by that desire to make art.

"And you can say whatever you want about it, because he's not gonna defend himself, but he is that, and that's for sure. Otherwise, there would have been a reunion, because the offers for money have been outrageous. But he would never do a reunion unless it was for something besides money."

Rose has come under fire for repeatedly taking to the stage hours after the scheduled start time. Fortus at first thought it was for effect, but he says he realises now it is more about Rose getting himself in the right frame of mind.

He adds: "For the longest time, when I first started with the band even, I thought it was by design. I thought, 'He has this worked out.' Because it's two hours after we're supposed to start, three hours, and the stadiums are full of people just booing.

"And the second he'd walk out on stage, all that energy on the verge of chaos, of just imploding and everyone just rioting, right at that moment he walks out on stage, and all of that negative energy just goes totally up right into the palm of his hand." Read more here.

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Early Beatles Club Shows Recordings To Be Auctioned

(Classic Rock) Original recordings of the Beatles' 1962 December gigs at Hamburg's Star Club are to be sold at auction, it's been confirmed. The band played a series of shows at the venue to small audiences and performed tracks including Twist And Shout and I Saw Her Standing There along with covers of Chuck Berry's Roll Over Beethoven and Phil Spector's To Know Her Is To Love Her.

Now Ted Owen and Co auctioneers will sell the 33-track collection on behalf of Larry Grossberg, the business manager of Andy Warhol and Muhammad Ali, who spent �100,000 remixing 26 of the songs for a 1977 album release.

Grossberg had the following to say, "I'm 74 and it's time to sell. I don't want my family to have the burden of going through my things and liquidating everything." Read more here.

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Fake Asking Alexander Singer Announcement Explained

(TeamRock Radio) Former Dead By April singer Jimmie Strimell has explained how he was wrongly announced to be Asking Alexandria's new frontman. Several names have been linked with the role since Danny Worsnop quit in January to concentrate on his band We Are Harlot.

Earlier this month Strimell was said to have been given the job after a tweet that read: "I am very pleased to say I will be joining@AAOfficial I am so stoked guys! This is a brand new chapter!"

Asking Alexandria denied it, with guitarist Benjamin Bruce tweeting: "Until I say anything don't believe the rumours." Now Strimell tells Metal Insider: "I just found out that a tweet by someone calling himself Jimmie Strimell has made a joke on my behalf and may be causing Asking Alexandria some problem as well.

"I'm sorry about that - but I can assure you that it was not me. People start profiles in my name on a lot of social media sites, and the last time I counted I found eight Jimmie Strimells on Facebook. None of them were me." Read more here.

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Peter Frampton and Cheap Trick Announce Summer Tour

Peter Frampton has announced that he and Cheap Trick have expanded their upcoming coheadlining tour of North American and Frampton has also announced some solo headlining shows.

The Frampton and Cheap Trick summer tour will be kicking off on June 5th in Temecula, CA at the Pechanga Resort and will conclude on August 25th in Livermore, CA at the Wente Vineyards.

Frampton had this to say about the trek, "I've always loved Cheap Trick and their sound. Great band, great people! We played one show together last year and had so much fun we decided to do a whole tour together." See the tour dates here.

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AC/DC Stand-In Only Had Hour To Learn Songs

(hennemusic) AC/DC brought in Welsh drummer Bob Richards to stand-in for the absent Phil Rudd when they filmed videos in London in early October for the band's latest album, "Rock Or Bust."

The sessions at Black Island Studios in Middlesex saw the group film the lead single, "Play Ball", on their own on October 3 before being joined the next day by about 500 fans from around the globe for the title track.

Richards explains how he became involved in the video shoot. "I received a call on the Thursday evening asking if I could step in as Phil was unavailable, so I filled in at the last minute," Richards tells Rhythm magazine. "It was all hands on deck. I got my kit sorted out and then an early start to London. I heard the songs an hour or so before we went on to the set to start the filming. I played it over several times and did a bit of air drumming to it."

"The band were fantastic," he continues. "They made me so welcome and we had a great time shooting the videos. They were very encouraging. I could just enjoy the experience." Read more and watch the videos here.

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Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page To Receive Rock'N'Roll Soul Award

(hennemusic) Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page will be honored at the NME Awards this week. Organized by UK music magazine New Musical Express (NME), Page will be on hand at the 02 Academy Brixton in London on Wednesday, February 18 to receive a special one-off award, the Rock'N'Roll Soul Award.

The honor recognizes legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist's unique genius and celebrates one of rock's most important and influential guitar players, writers and producers.

"This special, one-off award has been created to reflect one of the most important and iconic figures to have ever picked up an instrument," says NME editor Mike Williams. "There is nobody in popular culture quite like Jimmy Page, and we are honored to be giving him the Rock'N'Roll Soul Award at this year's ceremony." Read more here.

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Heart In Hand Break Up Due To Lack Of Trust

(TeamRock Radio) Heart In Hand have split up, citing a lack of trust within the band as the reason. They've cancelled a European tour that was set to take place next month. The move means their third album, last year's Poison Pen Letters, is their last.

The band say in a statement: "Heart In Hand will no longer be continuing to create and perform music. Trust is a hugely important part of any band, and when it is tested it is difficult to come back from without causing further damage.

"We cannot apologies enough - but we wouldn't want to tour not to our full potential and see this off in an even more negative way." The six-year-old outfit add: "We will be toying about with music outside of this band in due time, but for now, this is the end for Heart In Hand." Read more here.

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Ian Anderson Plans Jethro Tull Rock Opera Tour

(Classic Rock) Ian Anderson has announced plans for a touring theatre production based on the life of the real Jethro Tull. Titled Jethro Tull: The Rock Opera, it will tell the story of the English agriculturist reimagined as if taking place in the near future and will feature Tull tracks including Heavy Horses, Farm On The Freeway, A New Day Yesterday, The Witch's Promise and Locomotive Breath. The lyrics for the songs will be rewritten to better reveal the story.

Anderson will team up with bassist David Goodier, keyboardist John O'Hara, guitarist Florian Opahle and drummer Scott Hammond on the project. Guest musicians will also appear via video, although further details have yet to be released.

A full touring schedule will be confirmed in due course but the first shows are penciled in for September in the UK to be followed by performances in Russia, Europe and South America before the end of 2015. Read more here.

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Black Star Riders Release 'Finest Hour' Video

(Classic Rock) Black Star Riders have released a video for Finest Hour, taken from the band's forthcoming album The Killer Instinct, the follow-up to 2013's All Hell Breaks Loose.

The Killer Instinct was recorded with Nick Raskulinecz, who's previously worked with the likes of Rush, Deftones, The Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains and Mastodon. It's released on February 23.

Since releasing the first details of The Killer Instinct in December and revealing more information last month, Black Star Riders have played at the Giants of Rock festival in Minehead. Watch the video and read more here.

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The Quireboys' New Album Part Of Four-Disc Set

(Classic Rock) The Quireboys have announced that their ninth album, St Cecilia And The Gypsy Soul, will be launched on March 30th and it will be released as part of a four-disc set.

The package comes via Off Yer Rocka Records and includes 2009's out-of-print Halfpenny Dancer plus two discs covering the unreleased 2010 Halfpenny Dancer live show, featuring fiddles, pedal steel, mandolin, banjo and more.

Quireboys frontman Spike says: "The plan was always to record some new acoustic songs and rework some originals - but the plan changed. The vibe got better and better and we just went with the flow.

"This side of the band needs to heard." Read more here.

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Walter Trout Returning To Road Following Serious Health Problems

(Classic Rock) Walter Trout has announced his full return to action after the liver disease that nearly killed him last year. His first show takes place at London's Royal Albert Hall in June, to be followed by a UK and Europe tour in November, after a string of US shows.

Last March the blues icon was told he had just 90 days to live unless a transplant took place. Fans raised nearly $250,000 via a crowdfunding campaign to cover his medical bills, and he underwent surgery in May.

Despite suffering a health setback in October, his wife Marie vowed: "The bottom line is this: Walter will pull through - just watch!" Now Trout says in a video: "I want to tell you I feel great these days. I'm recovering very nicely - it's kind of a miracle. I look forward to getting back in front of you, playing my music for you.

"I'm very anxious to get back. I'm thankful for the support you gave me while I was fighting for my life. It worked - I'm back, I feel great, I'm playing good." Read more and watch the video here.

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Slash Recalls Accidentally Unplugging for Bob Dylan

(Radio.com) The latest installment of Radio.com's Minimation, where they comb through their interview archive and animate pieces with legendary rock artists, features a 2014 interview with Slash where he recalls the recording of Bob Dylan's "Wiggle Wiggle" from his 1990 album "Under the Red Sky."

In 1990, Don Was was one of the most in-demand producers in music, if not the most in-demand. As such he had a lot of big name friends. So, when he was hired to produce Bob Dylan's 1990 album Under the Red Sky, he brought a lot of those friends in to guest on the record. Among them were Stevie Ray Vaughan, Elton John and the guitarist from the hottest band in the world at that time, Slash of Guns 'N Roses.

Slash told Radio.com that he was called in to play on the song "Wiggle Wiggle," where he thought he would be laying down a guitar solo. He played some acoustic rhythm guitar to start and then picked up his electric. "I put what I thought was one of my better one-off solos on there," he recalls.

When Was sent Slash the tape, the guitarist was surprised that his acoustic playing was on the track but not his solo. It turned out that Dylan felt his electric lead made the song sound too much like GNR for the Dylan's tastes.

Under the Red Sky came early in Was's producing career and he feels his inexperience worked against him. "I was thinking like a fan," Was says. "'Man, I loved Highway 61, it'd be great if he did something else like Highway 61!' So, I'm trying to get him back to something and he's trying to look forward and do something different. Which is what you're supposed to do! You're not supposed to just imitate yourself, you're supposed to do something new that challenges you. It's a lesson to everybody. It's larger than producing records. Don't be that way in life. Don't keep repeating the same old things. Be present in each new moment, don't rehash the past. So I don't think I was of great service to Bob Dylan."

Watch the video here.

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The 13th Floor Elevators Plan First Show in 45 Years

(Classic Rock) The 13th Floor Elevators have confirmed they are to play their first show for 45 years at a festival in their hometown of Austin, Texas. The psychedelic rock pioneers formed in Austin in 1965 and called it a day five years later after releasing three albums.

Frontman Roky Erickson is joined by original drummer John Ike Walton and bassist Ronnie Leatherman in the reunion lineup. Electric Jug player Tommy Hall is also onboard for the show at the Levitation festival, May 8-10, at Carson Creek Ranch.

Hall, 72, tells the Austin Chronicle: "You try to find out what the different structural levels of the universe are so you go on this trip to understand that. Eventually, you realise that you have to go back to the beginning and figure out what caused it all. So that's why this has taken so long. For a long time, it was because I wasn't in a stable environment. I had to be able to support myself. Finally I got settled and I can look at the beginning again." Read more here.

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Former Rooney Guitarist Taylor Locke Streaming New Album

(Classic Rock) Taylor Locke, the former Rooney guitarist, has released an online stream of his debut solo album Time Stands Still, ahead of its official release later this month.

"I think the term 'singer-songwriter' sadly evokes a white guy in a coffee shop strumming a f***ing G-chord all day," says Locke. "I think this record sounds more like a band record� the band just takes occasional smoke breaks."

Since Rooney's demise, Locke has released two albums and a live EP as part of Taylor Locke and the Roughs and struck up a friendship with impresario Kim Fowley, which led to the recording of Time Stands Still.

"I was given a notebook of lyrics from the legendary songwriter and manager Kim Fowley and decided to use those as a jumping off point. I was in sort of a loner mode and unsure if I wanted to start another band. I searched through the Fowley lyrics and showed the ones I liked to my friend [LA songwriter] Kelly Jones who had impressed me with her recent solo album Alta Loma. We wrote a couple songs using the Fowley lyrics but quickly exhausted that source and began moving in a new direction. We were going to call this project the Fowleys and make it a band thing but Kim said he'd sue the sh*t out of me. That made the decision to go solo pretty easy. I guess Kelly became the female J.D. Souther for this project." Stream the album here.

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Nightwish Feel 'Violated' By Music Leak

(Prog) Nightwish mainman Tuomas Holopainen says he and the band felt "violated" after their track Elan was leaked last week. The song was posted online ahead of its official release- a move which angered the group, leading them to make fans aware of their displeasure on Facebook and call out the individual responsible. This sparked a lengthy and heated debate resulting in the band issuing a statement explaining their position.

Holopainen tells TeamRock: "When Elan was leaked, the whole band was really upset and we ended up being vocal about it. Now I look back at the whole thing, I think it's good that we brought this thing into the daylight because it's a big problem these days. Not because of money but because it kills the mystery.

"Maybe we could have taken a little breather before acting in the heat of the moment. Looking back, I would have done a few things differently. But you just felt so violated - even though it's very common and happens to almost all bands, but that's not the point - it's still wrong." Read more here.

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Zwan, Slint Star David Pajo Thanks Fans After Suicide Drama

(TeamRock Radio) Former Zwan guitarist David Pajo has thanked fans for their support after he survived a suicide attempt. He told fans via Instagram last week that he was going to take his own life after a painful split with a long-term partner. But he was rescued by emergency workers after fans alerted the authorities.

Pajo, who has worked with Slint, Interpol and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs as well as Billy Corgan's short-lived group Zwan, later posted an image from a hospital bed in which injuries to his neck can be clearly seen.

He has since posted another message on Instagram. He says: "I have no words to express how thankful I am for all the love and messages I and my parents and brother have received from strangers and friends everywhere." Read more here.

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2nd Video Of Chris Cornell Interviewing Jimmy Page Goes Online

(hennemusic) Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell hosted "An Evening With Jimmy Page" in Los Angeles in November and part 2 of their interview is now available.

The rare event saw the pair discuss the Led Zeppelin guitarist's photographic autobiography, "Jimmy Page By Jimmy Page." In part 1, Page discussed his early years and musical upbringing with host Cornell in front of a live audience at the Ace Hotel Theater on November 12.

Part 2 sees the guitarist talking about how he came to join The Yardbirds. The event followed the re-release of Page's book, which sold-out of its limited-edition run of 2,500 copies upon its initial release in 2010 on its way to becoming the fastest-selling book in Genesis Publications' 40-year history.

Page and Led Zeppelin continue their extensive reissues series on Febuary 23 (Feb. 24 in North America) with an expanded reissue of their 1975 release, "Physical Graffiti." Check out the interview here.

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Slash's Soon To Be Ex-Wife Says Slit Is Amicable

(Classic Rock) Slash's estranged wife Perla Hudson says her split with the guitar icon is "amicable" and that she gets on with his new partner. Slash - aka Saul Hudson - filed for divorce from his wife of 13 years in December, saying they had separated in June of last year.

Perla Hudson tells TMZ that she still speaks to Slash and that there is no bad blood and that she doesn't expect that their lack of a prenuptial agreement to be a problem.

She adds: "It's pretty amicable. I know he's gonna do the right thing for me and his children, as I would do the right thing to him. Like I said, it's amicable, so there's no bad blood - at least not yet."

Former Guns N' Roses man Slash is reported to be dating Meegan Hodges, and the pair recently got matching tattoos. Read more here.

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Music For Nations Making A Comeback

(Classic Rock) Music For Nations, the label that released albums by artists including Metallica, Anathema, Tool, Opeth and Paradise Lost has been resurrected. The company closed in 2004 - but 11 years on they're planning to launch a series of reissues and have outlined plans to sign up-and-coming artists and release their material on a new singles label.

The first set of reissues will come from Anathema, whose albums Judgement, A Fine Day To Exit and A Natural Disaster will be remastered and released on CD and vinyl on April 13. A box set titled Fine Days 1999-2004 will launch simultaneously featuring the trio of albums along with a DVD containing the track Fine Days.

Guitarist Daniel Cavanagh says: "I'm really happy that after all these years, the Music For Nations era of Anathema music is finally receiving the attention, respect and treatment it deserves. " Read more here.

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Blackberry Smoke Release 'Too High' Video

(Classic Rock) Blackberry Smoke have released a video for Too High, taken from the band's album Holdin' All The Roses. The album entered the UK chart at number 17 this week, and reached the top spot in the rock chart.

Holding All The Roses was recorded with producer Brendan O'Brien, who's worked with the likes of AC/DC, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, and limited edition vinyl sets are still available from the Earache webstore.

Recently the band filmed a trio of videos with Classic Rock, including a live version of Living For The Song, also taken from the new album. Watch the new video and grab the link for the live videos here.

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The Tangent Releasing New Album

(Prog) Prog outfit The Tangent will release their eighth album in April, they've announced. Titled A Spark In The Aether: The Music That Died Alone - Volume Two will launch in Europe on April 20 via InsideOut Music.

A Spark In The Aether: The Music That Died Alone - Volume Two is the follow-up to 2013's L'Etagere Du Travail and takes its name from their 2003 debut.

Joining founder and multi-instrumentalist Andy Tillison on the album are The Flower Kings' bassist Jonas Reingold, saxophonist and flautist Theo Travis who has worked with Steven Wilson and Robert Fripp, Maschine guitarist Luke Machin and Kaipa drummer Morgan Agren. Read more here.

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British Blues Awards Winner Jo Harman Lands US Deal

(The Blues UK singer Jo Harman has signed a deal with Sands Foley Entertainment (SFE) to bring her music to the US market. She released her debut studio album Dirt On My Tongue in 2013 and Live At The Royal Albert Hall in October last year. Now the artist who won 2014's Female Vocalist Of The Year at the British Blues Awards will reach a wider audience thanks to the new partnership.

She says: "The core of any success we've had to date has, I believe, been due to our independently minded approach with a strong commitment and belief in artistic integrity.

"As such, we've resisted a number of attractive label offers in the past but on this occasion I'm delighted to be partnering with Paul and Sheri, who I feel truly understand our artistic aims.

"They also enjoy great experience within both the major and independent label music business whilst also understanding the changing nature of the landscape." Read more here.

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Prog Legends Van Der Graaf Generator Release Live Album

(Prog) Prog legends Van Der Graaf Generator have released a live album, Merlin Atmos, via Esoteric Antenna. Peter Hammill, Hugh Banton and Guy Evans were captured live on their 2013 European tour, performing their epic A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers in full for the first time in decades - along with Hammill's Flight as the centerpieces of the band's live set.

Hammill says: "Flight had been in the repertoire since the last North American Tour. Lighthouse Keepers had only ever been played live once before, as far as we remember, back in the seventies.

"It was a pretty major commitment to say we'd be doing it before we'd actually rehearsed together. We were also doing it as a trio, whereas the original version was as a quartet with David Jackson. It took quite a bit of work to make it stageworthy!" Read more here.

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Godflesh Lead Additions To Bloodstock Lineup

(TeamRock Radio) The industrial titans Godflesh are making their way to Catton Park to headline the Sophie Lancaster stage on Sunday night of the Bloodstock Festival this August.

Speaking about the headline slot, frontman Justin Broadrick says "Godflesh is thrilled to be playing a very metal UK festival! We don't get asked to play many, as we're often viewed as not 'real' metal enough, or we're generally seen as outsiders, which we are, thank you. That doesn't mean we don't like to be invited to be a real metal band once in a while and especially in the Derbyshire countryside! Thank you Bloodstock!"

Joining Godflesh on the Sophie stage on Sunday are the Brit thrashy bastards Onslaught. They're celebrating a baffling THIRTY YEAR anniversary since their debut album "Power From Hell" in 2015, so this is gonna be special.

Hitting up the Sophie stage on Friday are the caveman battle doomers Conan (yes you read that correctly) and the equally as heavy London blackened doom mob Bast. Read more here.

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Arjen Nervous About The Gentle Storm's Upcoming Tour

(Prog) Arjen Lucassen admits he's dealing with nerves ahead of his acoustic tour with The Gentle Storm collaborator Anneke van Giersbergen. She persuaded him to return to the stage for a run of European shows that kicks off in Hungary tonight.

Lucassen will also play at The Gentle Storm's debut album launch event next month in the Netherlands - although he won't take part in the rest of the tour.

Lucassen says: "It's really happening. Anneke and I are leaving for the acoustic tour. Exciting! Quite nervous as well, though. It's been a long time since this recluse played live."

He adds: "So sorry if we don't play near you, but I'm looking forward to seeing all of you who can come." Read more here.

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Joan Baez, Passenger, Wilko Johnson, Frank Turner Lead Festival Lineup

Joan Baez, Passenger, Nick Mulvey, John Butler Trio, Wilko Johnson, Frank Turner are just some of the acts that will be taking part in this summer's Cambridge Folk Festival.

The festival will run from July 30th through August 2nd at Cherry Hilton Hall in Cambridge England. Organizers have revealed the initial acts that will be playing this year's event.

The lineup will also include Joan Armatrading Nick Mulvey , The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain , The Unthanks Show of Hands , Katzenjammer, Altan Treacherous Orchestra , Dan� , Shooglenifty Martin Simpson, Andy Cutting & Nancy Kerr , Peggy Seeger Bella Hardy , Amsterdam Klezmer Band , The Lone Bellow Chris Smither , Angaleena Presley , Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker, Jim Moray's Silent Ceilidh , Keston Cobblers Club The Stray Birds, Rura, Goitse De Temps Antan and Lynched. You can watch a trailer for the festival here.

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Enslaved and Taake Lead BlekkMetal Festival Lineup

(TeamRock Radio) Norway isn't exactly lacking for extreme metal festivals these days, but even by the high standards already set the announcement of BlekkMetal, a once-only non-profit event taking place at Bergen's USF Verftet venue on November 13-15 this year, is a bit special.

The brainchild of one of the most respected artists in the extreme metal world, Jannicke Wiese-Hansen, whose work has graced Burzum's best known album sleeves, Satyricon's first album and created the logos for both Immortal and Enslaved, BlekkMetal is both a celebration of the roots of Norwegian black metal and a tattoo convention, as she puts it, "a look back at what were, what happened and what inspired the beginning of the scene known as True Norwegian Black Metal and a tribute to those times!"

Conceived as a small but intimate even, BlekkMetal will host 16 tattooists with strong connection to the metal scene, a series of talks, live interviews and panels dedicated to the birth of black metal's second wave, and 10 Norwegian bands formed before 1994.

The bands confirmed so far are: Enslaved, Taake, Hades Almighty, Aeternus and Helheim. The confirmed tattooists are: Uncle Allan (Conspiracy Ink, Berlin), Phil Kyle (Magnum Opus, Brighton), Welt (Yama Tattoo, Rome), Trine Grimm and Nick Morte (Lucky 7, Oslo), Jon Clue ( East Side Ink, NY) and Dagfinn Bjelland (Karma Tattoo, Haugesund).

TeamRock spoke to Jannicke about what is sure to be one of the most unmissable and resonant events on 2015's metal calendar. Check that out here.

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Will Haven Releasing New EP

(TeamRock Radio) Will Haven have announced that they will be launching a UK tour this spring that will coincide with the release of the group's brand new nine-track EP.

The Sacramento band will release the nine-track EP Open The Mind To Discomfort on May 18 via Artery Recordings. It is the group's first release since 2011's Voir Dire.

They then hit the road in the UK, starting with a show in Manchester on May 24, the tour will feature support from Raging Speedhorn and Palm Reader. Read more here.

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Singled Out: Sylvan's Shine

Today Marco Gl�hmann, the leader singer of progressive rock band Sylvan, tells us about the song "Shine" from their brand new album "Home," which was released this week. Here is the story:

Quite some time ago I was tumbling over an article about violence against children and what it does to them, how it affected them during their whole life.

It was not until the composing of our new album HOME that I thought about using these impressions for one of our songs. This special song was created during a jamming session in our rehearsal room. We right away started to play this incredible chorus with this kicking-ass melody, which came to my mind � and a clear word on my lips: "shine".

I directly knew that this had to be a song about the fragility of childhood, about the things that people are capable to do to these defenseless beings and about the hope that, out of the dark, they still have the strength to carry on � and "shine". It fitted so wonderfully into the concept of our new album HOME.

I soon realized that SHINE meant so much more to me. It actually evokes some questions that were turning in my head: "What if it happened to my own child?"

When we shot the video for SHINE I played some scenes with my son � and it was just right � as a father that I am �

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and learn more about the album right here!

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