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Day in Rock Report for 05/18/2016


Today's Top Stories


AC/DC's Brian Johnson And Jim Breuer Stream 'Mr. Rock N Roll'

(hennemusic) AC/DC singer Brian Johnson is a featured guest on the new Jim Breuer single, "Mr. Rock N Roll." The pair share vocal duties on the tune - one of two tracks Johnson appears on (the other is "My Rock N Roll Dream") - as part of the comedian's debut album, "Songs From The Garage."

Due May 27, Jim Breuer and his band The Loud & Rowdy roll through 11 tracks on the project, which was produced by Volbeat/ex-Anthrax guitarist Rob Caggiano.

Breuer says he wrote the song about the rock spirit. "Don't ever underestimate someone's ability to live for the moment," Breuer tells Rolling Stone. "At the end of the day everyone has a 'Mr. Rock n Roll' in them."

The record gave the comedian a chance to work with his longtime friend and AC/DC legend. "To me, Brian is the most powerful voice in rock & roll," he says. "He is also the funniest and most generous man I have ever known. I am still in awe of how he recorded the song and forever thankful."

Breuer was one of the first people to speak up about Johnson's status with AC/DC back in March following news that the singer was forced to step aside from live performances on the advice of doctors in order to prevent further damage to his hearing.

"(Brian told Angus Young) 'I would really like to finish and do some shows. I think we can knock this out,'" Breuer explained. "Then all his luggage that he toured with showed up at his driveway. There's been no calls. No, 'How's your hearing? How's your health?' Boom. Here's your (stuff), nice to know you."

A month later - in mid-April - AC/DC confirmed Axl Rose would handle vocals for the group's spring European tour, which launched in Lisbon, Portugal on May 7. Check out the song here.

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Aerosmith Consider Replacing Steven Tyler

(Classic Rock) Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford says the band have considered touring without frontman Steven Tyler. The singer has been in Nashville working on his upcoming solo country album since last year. And when asked if they could hit the road with a guest vocalist, Whitford says it's something the band have discussed.

He tells Metal Rules: "Absolutely, we have considered it - but whether it will happen I don't know. I think it would be great." Tyler's side-project has been a bone of contention amongst his Aerosmith bandmates, as it resulted in them cancelling most of their 2016 tour plans, according to the guitarist.

Whitford, who'll release Reunion from his collaboration with former Ted Nugent Band singer Derek St Holmes next month, admits their studio sessions felt "like a vacation" from Aerosmith as they work so well together. Read more here.

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Eric Clapton Shoots Down George Harrison Rumor, Mystery Remains

(The Blues) Eric Clapton has stated that late Beatle George Harrison doesn't make a posthumous appearance on his upcoming album I Still Do, after a pseudonym credit gave rise to speculation.

A guitarist called "Angelo Mysterioso" is listed for the song I Will Be There, and the name bears close resemblance to "L'Angelo Mysterioso" - the title used by Harrison on Cream track Badge, which he co-wrote with Clapton in 1969.

But Clapton tells Guitar World: "It's not George. The thing is, the person wishes to remain anonymous. So we came to that arrangement and we both thought it was the best idea.

"I can't even tell you that much. I'm sworn to secrecy, and I hope he is too. But I quite liked it." Read more here.

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Latest News


Danzig Hopes To Surprise Fans With Misfits Reunion Sets

(Classic Rock) Glenn Danzig says it's possible that Misfits could continue working together after their upcoming shows. Last week it was confirmed that the band's classic lineup of frontman Danzig, bassist Jerry Only and guitarist Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein would reunited for two Riot Fest events in Denver and Chicago in September.

The reunion plans came after Danzig and Only attended a meeting originally set up to avert further legal wrangles between the pair. Danzig tells Rolling Stone: "It is going to happen for at least two shows. We'll see how it goes. It may lead to some other work, but who knows how it's going to turn out? I mean, I don't think it's going to be a disaster - I think it's going to be incredible."

Only previously revealed that he'd asked Danzig to pick the setlist - and the singer says there will be a few surprises thrown in - along with a "cool" stage set.

He continues: "There are gonna be songs people know we're gonna do, but there's some stuff we've been talking about that people would never guess. I just want you to be surprised. I think it's better that way, especially in this whole internet age. I hate that sh*t." Read more here.

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Queen and David Bowie Top Favorite Duets Poll

(Classic Rock) Queen's collaboration with David Bowie on 1981 single Under Pressure has been voted Britain's favorite ever duet. The song appears on compilation record The Duets Album, out now via Universal Music. And in a poll carried out by Morar Consulting, Under Pressure was the most popular across all age groups.

Participants in the 16-29 year-old age group were not even born when the song came out 35 years ago, but they rated it more than anyone else, with 49% of the vote.

Under Pressure came about after a jam session in the Swiss Alps. In a recent tribute to the late David Bowie, Queen guitarist Brian May described how Bowie latched on to the signature bass line in the early part of the jam.

May said: "Each of us went into the vocal booth consecutively, without listening to each other, and, listening to the track, vocalised the first things that came into our heads, including any words which came to mind.

"The next step was to cut up everybody's bits and make a kind of compilation 'best of' vocal track. We all backed off and David put down a lyric which now focussed on the 'under pressure' part of the existing lyric. It was unusual for us all to relinquish control like that but really David was having a genius moment." See which other duets made the cut here.

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Zappa Vs Zappa Battle Heats Up

(Prog) Dweezil Zappa has hit back after his brother, Frank Zappa Trust executor Ahmet posted an open letter disputing the guitarist's claims that he was forced to change the name of his Zappa tribute show and pay $150,000 each time he played one of his father's songs.

Branding Dweezil's story that he was forced to change the name of his Zappa Plays Zappa show to Dweezil Zappa Plays Frank Zappa as "incomplete and misleading," Ahmet points out that Dweezil only has to pay a $1-a-year fee to using the original show name and "follow the exact same rules as the rest of us."

But Dweezil has issued a statement of his own suggesting his brother's "actions speak louder than words," accusing him of "contradictions and unsubstantiated half truths." He also launches a tirade against the "bogus" contract, alleging their late mother Gail created an "unfair and unacceptable working relationship" by reneging on their deal and withholding merchandise profits from his shows over the last 10 years.

Dweezil also claims their late mother, who managed Zappa's estate until she died last year, left a "legacy of multi-million dollar debt-inducing lawsuits" in a bid to trademark everything connected to the late rock icon. He says Ahmet is "continuing the injustice" by not honoring the original contract. Read more here.

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Peter Gabriel Announces Half-Speed Reissues Of Classic Albums

(Prog) Peter Gabriel will issue his albums So, Us and Up on remastered vinyl on June 10. The records will be reissued at half-speed 45 RPM to "deliver the maximum sound range."

The So album from 1986 will be released across two heavyweight 180g LPs, while 1992's Us and 2002's Up will launch across three heavyweight 180g LPs.

Gabriel says: "It has been heart-warming to see the return of vinyl. Even though I loved being free of its limitations in the digital world, there is still a warmth and presence to vinyl that somehow makes it a more natural human companion. It is great to see a new generation learning the secrets of the grooves." Read more here.

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No Sinner Stream Full 'Old Habits Die Hard' Album Online

(The Blues) No Sinner are streaming their album Old Habits Die Hard in its entirety with TeamRock. The group's follow-up to 2014 debut Boo Hoo Hoo is released on May 20 via Provogue/Mascot Label Group and can be heard in full below.

Singer Colleen Rennison says:" It's definitely a departure from Boo Hoo Hoo. It's been the meat and potatoes of our live set for a long time and we're really excited to show everybody what we've been doing and who we really are.

"The songs on Boo Hoo Hoo were mostly written on a kitchen floor with an acoustic guitar, and what you'll get on this album is the sound of a full band." Stream the album here.

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Lou Reed's Final Project Being Released This Fall

(Radio.com) Since the icon's death in 2013, the Lou Reed estate has worked to finish Reed's "final project," a box set of recordings entitled The RCA & Arista Album Collection.

A long and painstaking remaster of tracks from the '70s and '80s culminated in the commemorative collection, due for release on October 7. Reed's wife and collaborator Laurie Anderson said the box set contains the recordings in all their original, imperfect glory.

"Lou put his heart into remastering these records," she said in a statement. "They are not smoothed out. Sometimes remastering revealed their details and roughness in the most exciting ways. They leap out at you with their original energy." Read more here.

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Slayer Announce Comic-Con Takeover

(TeamRock Radio) Slayer are set to take over this year's Comic-Con in San Diego in July. The thrash metal outfit will perform at the House Of Blues on July 21. Tickets can be purchased via their official website and are available from May 20.

Guitarist Kerry King says: "I can't believe Comic-Con are gonna let us shred the House Of Blues San Diego. It will definitely be a night of fury and intensity that the city won't soon forget.

"We will be coming off a seven week European run, so Slayer's guns will be blazing." They'll hold two exclusive signings at the Dark Horse Comics booth (no.2615) and at the Nuclear Blast records booth (no.501) on July 22. Read more here.

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Periphery Preview New 'Select Difficulty' Album

(Prog) Periphery have released brief clips of some of the material on upcoming album Periphery III: Select Difficulty. They'll release their fifth album on July 22 via Sumerian Records, to be followed with a US tour that won't include bassist Adam 'Nolly' Getgood.

Periphery III: Select Difficulty follows the twin releases Juggernaut: Alpha and Juggernaut: Omega last year. The band posted a 15-second audio teaser on their social media accounts, along with the caption: Periphery III: Select Difficulty out July 22nd / periphery.net"

Getgood, who produced the album, remains a member of the band but he'll no longer tour with them as he expands his production work. A touring bassist will be named in due course. Check out the preview clip here.

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Billy Talent Streaming 'Afraid Of Heights' Title Song

(TeamRock Radio) Billy Talent have made the title track for their upcoming fifth album Afraid Of Heights available to stream. The Canadian rock outfit will release the album on July 29 via The End/Warner Records. It's the follow-up to 2012's Dead Silence.

Billy Talent tell Alternative Press: "This record is about struggle, both within ourselves and within the society we live. It's about asking questions. It's about friendship and loyalty and it's about choosing to not accept things that don't apply to us. That don't represent us.

"It's about believing in the person that's reflected in the mirror and taking responsibility. It's about the pressures that society creates and how we're all trying to figure out where we fit in.

"It's about following your dreams and knowing that when you get knocked down you have to get back up. It's about listening to our planet and learning to respect her.

"It's about love and loss and life, but more importantly it's about the power of rock'n'roll." Check out the song here.

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Volbeat Release 'The Devil's Bleeding Crown' Video

(TeamRock Radio) Volbeat have released a live-action video to accompany latest track The Devil's Bleeding Crown. It appears on upcoming album Seal The Deal & Let's Boogie, to be launched on June 3.

Meanwhile, the band have confirmed that stand-in bassist Kaspar Boye Larsen has become a permanent member, following the departure of Anders Kjolholm last year.

Frontman Michael Poulsen says: "We just got back from a great US tour and Kaspar showed, as we expected, that he's the real deal. The fans love him - we can't wait for the rest of you to hook up with us as a full band again." Watch the video here.

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Ex-Guns N' Roses Guitarist Will Always Be Thankful For Axl

(New Rock Times) DJ Ashba says leaving Guns N' Roses was the 'hardest decision' he ever made but he says his decision has been justified through the satisfaction of touring with Sixx: A.M playing songs he helped pen himself.

The guitarist was speaking to Music Radar when he revealed: "I loved sharing the stage with Axl Rose and the guys. Axl put together such an incredible bunch of musicians, and I was proud to be part of that."

He continues: "I'll always be thankful for Axl believing in me. But it's not my band and it never will be. I was performing songs written before I got there. I had a blast doing it, and I will cherish it.

"But we did a 19-day sold-out run on the SIXX:A.M. 'Modern Vintage' tour and it was that tour of playing my own songs - songs that came from my soul - and seeing how they connected to the fan base, I could not put that feeling into words, and I realized that I needed to follow my heart." Read more here.

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Overkill Announce European Headline Tour

(TeamRock Radio) Overkill have announced a 17-date European headline tour. They wrapped up a run of UK dates last month, and frontman Bobby 'Blitz' Ellsworth says while they've been spending a lot of time on the road, work on the follow-up to 2014's White Devil Armory will soon begin.

He says: "Here we go again. With a lead foot and speed, and a hammering stampede, as our ears they will bleed, we are preparing to start recording our next project.

"The riffs and ideas have been flying and exploding - all systems are go and the wheels are rolling." Overkill will be joined on the road by Crowbar, Shredhead and Desecrator.

In addition to the newly announced dates, Overkill were this week confirmed for the inaugural Ozzfest Meets Knotfest event, which will take place at the San Manuel Amphitheatre in San Bernardino, California, on the weekend of September 24-25. Check out the tour dates here.

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Avantasia Release 'Draconian Love' Video

(Classic Rock) Avantasia have released a video for their track Draconian Love. It's taken from the band's latest album Ghostlights, released earlier this year via Nuclear Blast.

The promotional clip for Draconian Love features live footage captured on Avantasia's recent shows in Brazil. It was directed by Junior Carelli and produced by Foggy Filmes.

Avantasia say: "Thank you for being in our video, it is an honour to do a video with such great fans. Without an audience like that, the video wouldn't be anything."

Ghostlights features guest vocals from Dee Snider and Geoff Tate, ex-Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick, Marco Hietala of Nightwish and Sharon Den Adel of Within Temptation. It follows their 2013 release, The Mystery Of Time. Watch the video here.

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Today's Report Continues...

Read the second part of today's report here!




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