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Day in Rock Report for 12/28/2016


Today's Day in Rock Stories


Stars Wars Icon Carrie Fisher Dead At 60

(Radio.com) Carrie Fisher, best known as Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, has passed away and fans, friends and artists mourn her loss. Fisher was 60.

The Star Wars actress was admitted to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center on Friday after suffering a massive heart attack on a flight from London to Los Angeles, her spokesman confirmed.

Fisher is also said to be reprising her role as General Leia Organa in Star Wars: Episode VIII. An official from Lucasfilm confirmed to TMZ that the Fisher had "absolutely wrapped" filming.

Various figures in entertainment reacted to the sad news including KISS frontman Paul Stanley who tweeted "Carrie Fisher RIP Her play, books&films brought joy to millions. She once told me something I never forgot. Thanks." Read more tweets from stars here.

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Breaking Benjamin Guitarist's Newborn Son Dies

(Radio.com) Breaking Benjamin guitarist Jasen Rauch and his wife, Heather, lost their son when Heather went into labor prematurely and doctors were unable to save the baby. The couple was expecting their son to be born next summer but the boy was delivered early and "went to be with Jesus" according to Rauch's Instagram post.

Rauch posted a photo of an empty bassinet and wrote a message about how the last 24 hours have been some of the hardest he has ever faced. "Most of you know Heather and I were expecting our newest little baby Rauch next summer," he writes.

"We couldn't have been more excited and thankful. Unfortunately, our Christmas took a turn on us this week. Little Henry Mitchell Rauch was delivered and went to be with Jesus earlier this morning. It's a loss neither of us know how to even begin to process."Read more here.

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AC/DC's Angus Young Should Not Retire Says Ex-Bandmate

Former AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd reveals in a recent interview that he believes that band leader Angus Young should not retire despite the personnel setbacks the band had faced.

The legendary hard rock band lost their frontman Brian Johnson due to hearing issues, Angus' brother and co-founder Malcolm Young to medical issues and bassist Cliff Williams to retirement.

Rudd who was forced out of the band prior to their "Rock Or Bust" tour due to legal problems, was asked by Rich Davenport's Rock Show if he thinks that Angus should retire and he responded, "No, I don't think that's a good idea. Angus has never played better [than he did] on the 'Rock Or Bust' album. He's playing f***ing great. What's he gonna give it up for? That's like f***ing Napoleon not finding somewhere else to f***ing conquer." Stream the full interview here.

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Eddie Vedder Gave $10,000 To Struggling Family For Christmas

(Radio.com) Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder gave one struggling family $10,000 this Christmas after reading a mother's plea on Craigslist. Tyshika Britten, a Maryland mother of six, posted a note on Craigslist that went viral after being reported by The Washington Post.

"I am a mother of six, 5 boys and 1 baby girl ' I'm so hurt," Britten wrote. "I'm trying my best. I pray everyday and now I'm begging for help. I know it's not about the gifts, but they are kids! I'm such a failure right now . . . please help me."

Vedder read the note and sent a check for $10,000 to the family. "I was just so moved by the story and what this mother did for her children," Vedder said. 'I thought those kids must be so proud of their mother for reaching out. That takes a lot of courage." Read more here.

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U2 Plan New Album and Very Special Shows For Joshua Tree Anniversary

(hennemusic) U2 plan to release a new album and perform a series of shows marking the 30th anniversary of 1987's "The Joshua Tree", in 2017, according to a social media post from their frontman.

"Happy Christmas everyone. Next year is going to be a big year for the U2 group," says Bono in a new Facebook video featuring the band. "We have 'Songs Of Experience' coming and, to honor 30 years of 'The Joshua Tree', we have some very, very special shows coming. Very special."

The band have been working on "Songs Of Experience" over the past year; the record is the companion project and follow-up to 2014's "Songs Of Innocence", which made headlines when it was launched as a free release to more than a half a billion iTunes customers.

The album was featured on the group's 2015 "Innocence + Experience" tour, which wrapped up in Paris last December with the final show broadcast by HBO before seeing its official release in June. here.

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KISS' Gene Simmons Says Rap Will Die, Rock Is Dead 2016 In Review

(Radio.com) KISS' Gene Simmons Says Rap Will Die, Rock Is Dead was a top 16 story of March 2016: KISS star Gene Simmons believes that rap music will die, reiterates his belief that rock is already dead and also makes a surprising suggestion of who can revive rock.

"I am looking forward to the death of rap," he said, echoing statements he said to Radio.com two years ago. "I'm looking forward to music coming back to lyrics and melody, instead of just talking. A song, as far as I'm concerned, is by definition lyric and melody ' or just melody."

"I'm all for anybody talking," he says of hip-hop music. "'Wild Thing' was talking: 'Wild thing, she makes my heart sing--she makes everything '' There's no melody there. That's cool' But predominantly, music is about melody and lyric, whether it's rap or doo-wop, or yeah, even rock. Rap will die," he predicted. "Next year, 10 years from now, at some point, and then something else will come along. And all that is good and healthy."

However, he doesn't see much that he believes in, even in his own genre. "As far as I'm concerned, rock is dead. There ain't no new bands. Foo Fighters, I love 'em, but they're a 20-year-old band. These are long-in-the-tooth bands: Nirvana, Pearl Jam. They're old bands."

He does think that rock, and music itself, could be saved by one of pop's biggest stars. "As far as I'm concerned, if Lady Gaga dropped the disco and the pole dancing and all that stuff and put together a rock band, that would be legitimate, because she's got the musical goods. She can write songs, play instruments and can actually sing. And she understands the fearless quality of spectacle. I'd love to see her do Queen-style music. She can do it. Madonna cannot." Read the original report here.

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Ex-Guns N' Roses Manager Speaks Out Against Reunion 2016 In Review

Ex-Guns N' Roses Manager Speaks Out Against Reunion was a top 16 story of March 2016: Former Guns N' Roses manager Alan Niven believes cash is the motivation behind the band's partial reunion tour - and he says reuniting without Izzy Stradlin and Steven Adler means it will be more of a Velvet Roses show rather than a classic GNR show.

In an exclusive interview with Eric Mackinnon of New Rock Times, Niven spoke frankly and openly about his thoughts on the forthcoming shows which will see Axl Rose and Slash join musical forces again for the first time in 22-years.

"We live in what the Chinese might call 'interesting times', began Niven when asked why now? Why this year for Guns to mend the fences which divided and eventually splintered the Most Dangerous Band in the World.

"I wish I could tell you that it is incontrovertible that Ax called Iz and said 'I have a handful of songs that we have to record and perform. I have some observations about the world I wanna get out there. I have titles like Demagogue. Illuminated. Armageddon. My Better Life. Think of it as Masonic Democracy. Lets get them done and, f*** it, lets get the old crew back together to take them on the road. Lets put that to bed at the same time.'"

"Unfortunately, all things considered, I can only assume that it's only for the money. How else to explain the lack of statements about creativity, or even who the band is? "How else to explain a ticket price of $1250 for row H." Read the original report here.

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Rush Have Retired From Touring 2016 In Review

(Gibson) Rush Have Retired From Touring was a top 16 story of March 2016: Alex Lifeson has confirmed that Rush have retired from touring, because Neil Peart "is no longer physically capable." The band completed their R40 tour in 2015, celebrating the 40th anniversary of drummer Peart's time in the band.

At the time, they heavily implied that this would likely be their last full-scale tour together, due to Peart's chronic tendonitis and Alex Lifeson's arthritis. In a new interview, Lifeson has confirmed that the band won't be doing another tour, citing Peart's condition as the main factor.

"He didn't even want to do the [R40 tour], to be honest with you," Lifeson revealed. "It's been increasingly difficult for him, but he committed to the tour and we got through it. As far as he was concerned, that was the end of touring.

"His shoulders were hurting, his arms were hurting, his elbows, his feet, everything. He didn't want to play anything less than 100 percent. He was finding it increasingly difficult to hit that mark on this last tour.

"So, all those things combined, I get it. I'm disappointed and I think Geddy [Lee] is very disappointed and we'd love to continue this tour a little bit longer... but we're off now." Read the original report here.

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David Lee Roth Reignited Doubt About Van Halen's Future 2016 In Review

(hennemusic) David Lee Roth Reignited Doubt About Van Halen's Future was a top 16 story of March 2016: David Lee Roth has issued a new acoustic blues song, "Ain't No Christmas" and reignited speculation with fans that the somber song was inspired by Van Halen and the future of the group is in doubt.

When it first surfaced in a recent episode of his online series The Roth Show, some fans speculated that the tune sounded like it could represent the singer's farewell to his days in Van Halen, who have gone quiet since they wrapped up their 2015 with a pair of shows at the Hollywood Bowl in early October.

Roth's management responded to the recent chatter, saying, "It's poetry. It has nothing to do with Van Halen." Now, the rocker has issued a direct response via Facebook, stating: "On second thought, if all work is autobiographic, maybe this song is about Van Halen..."

Speculation regarding Roth's status in Van Halen amongst hardcore fans began when three things happened since last year's North American shows ended:

1) Roth was set to perform with the lineup featured on his 1986 debut full-length solo album, "Eat 'Em And Smile", at a Hollywood club last November - a move to work with others outside VH has historically been frowned upon by guitarist Eddie Van Halen - except in the case of his bassist and son Wolfgang, who is also a member of Tremonti and is currently recording his debut solo album;

2) Former VH singer Sammy Hagar reached out to Eddie via Twitter for his birthday in late January, marking the first public attempt at communication between the two since the end of an ill-fated 2004 reunion tour; and,

3) When Roth relaunched his online presence on February 7 - almost 12 months to the day after his social media sites went dark without explanation at the end of January 2015.

Speculation in some corners of the internet based on (1) and (3) is that Roth may have been under a limited time contract with the band and the arrangement had run its course. Read more here.

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Beatles Producer George Martin Dead At 90 2016 In Review

(Classic Rock) Beatles Producer George Martin Dead At 90 was a top 16 story of March 2016: Legendary Beatles producer Sir George Martin has died at the age of 90. Known affectionately as 'The Fifth Beatle,' Martin signed the band and produced all of their hit singles.

His passing was confirmed by the band's drummer Ringo Starr, who says via Twitter: "God bless George Martin. Peace and love to Judy and his family. Love Ringo and Barbara. George will be missed."

Martin also worked with artists including Gerry And The Pacemakers and Shirley Bassey while producing more than 700 records, winning a string of Grammys. He was also awarded an Oscar for the score of Beatles film A Hard Day's Night. Read the original report here.

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Former Hatebreed Member Found Guilty Of Murder 2016 In Review

Former Hatebreed Member Found Guilty Of Murder was a top 16 story of March 2016: Former Hatebreed drummer Nicholas Papantoniou, a.k.a. Nickel P, was found guilty of felony murder, first-degree burglary and criminal possession of a firearm in Connecticut last week.

Papantoniou, who played with the metal band in 1996 and 1997, was found guilty in a jury trial last Thursday (March 3rd) on the counts related to the fatal assault of Larry Dildy in his home in Hamden, according to the New Haven Register (via Loudwire).

The former drummer faces up to 90 years in prison when he is sentenced for the charges on May 26th, according to the report. You can read more details about the case here.

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Eagles Cofounder Randy Meisner's Wife Fatally Shot 2016 In Review

Eagles Cofounder Randy Meisner's Wife Fatally Shot was a top 16 story of March 2016: The wife of Eagles co-founder Randy Meisner was fatally shot in an accident discharge of a weapon she was reportedly moving at their Studio City, California home on Sunday (March 6th), according to Radio.com.

When North Hollywood patrol officers arrived at the home they found Lana Meisner suffering from a single gunshot wound, according to the Los Angeles Police Department, and investigators reportedly later found that her death was accidental. Police had visited the residence early in the evening.

Randy Meisner was a founding member of the Eagles with Glenn Frey, Don Henley and Bernie Leadon. His song "Take It To The Limit" was a major hit for the band and a staple of their live shows during his time in the group. Meisner left the group after their widely successful Hotel California tour in 1977. Read more details here.

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Five Finger Death Punch Frontman Hospitalized 2016 In Review

Five Finger Death Punch Frontman Hospitalized, Cancel Sabbath Tour was a top 16 story of March 2016: Five Finger Death Punch have been forced to cancel their upcoming Australian tour dates (including with Black Sabbath) after frontman Ivan Moody was hospitalized for undisclosed reason.

The band was scheduled to support Black Sabbath on the Australian leg of their farewell tour next month and Five Finger Death Punch also planned additional headline shows in Melbourne and Sydney.

Tour promoter Live Nation issued the following statement, "Last Thursday, Five Finger Death Punch singer Ivan Moody was hospitalized in his hometown of Denver.

"He is expected to make a full recovery but it is with deep regret that Five Finger Death Punch will be forced to cancel their appearances in Australia, both with Black Sabbath and as headliners in Sydney and in Melbourne.

"It is especially disappointing to Five Finger Death Punch that they will not be able to play before Black Sabbath, a band Five Finger Death Punch has deep reverence for, on Black Sabbath's last ever shows in Australia." Read the original report here.

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Keith Emerson Dead At 71 From Suicide 2016 In Review

(hennemusic) Keith Emerson Dead At 71 From Suicide was a top 16 story of March 2016: Keith Emerson's girlfriend is shedding some light on the motives behind the keyboardist's March 10 suicide at their home in Santa Monica, CA. Emerson died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 71.

Mari Kawaguchi tells the Daily Mail that the Emerson, Lake & Palmer star killed himself because he feared that he was no longer good enough as a musician and was 'tormented with worry' about upcoming concerts in Japan as nerve damage to a hand had affected his playing.

"His right hand and arm had given him problems for years," said Kawaguchi. "He had an operation a few years ago to take out a bad muscle but the pain and nerve issues in his right hand were getting worse. He had concerts coming up in Japan and even though they hired a back-up keyboard player to support him, Keith was worried.

"He read all the criticism online and was a sensitive soul. Last year he played concerts and people posted mean comments such as, 'I wish he would stop playing.' He was tormented with worry that he wouldn't be good enough. He was planning to retire after Japan."

"He didn't want to let down his fans," she added. "He was a perfectionist and the thought he wouldn't play perfectly made him depressed, nervous and anxious." Read the original report here.

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Miss May I Involved In Large-Scale Traffic Accident 2016 In Review

(TeamRock) Miss May I Involved In Large-Scale Traffic Accident was a top 16 story of March 2016: Miss May I were forced to pull out of a tour in March after being involved in a large-scale traffic accident. The band and crew have all been reported safe and well following a multi-vehicle crash near Chicago.

Miss May I tweeted last night: "We will not be making the show this evening. In a huge pile-up on the way to the gig. All the band and crew are safe though."

They later posted a picture from the scene and added: "Thanks for all the well-wishes. Our rig is beat up but everyone is fine." Their North American tour in support of fifth album Deathless continues in Detroit tonight (March 2). They return to the UK in May, including appearances at the Slam Dunk festival series. Read the original report here.

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Foo Fighters Poke Fun With Break-Up Rumors 2016 In Review

Foo Fighters Poke Fun With Break-Up Rumors was a top 16 story of March 2016: The Foo Fighters stayed true to form and had fun after a tabloid story sparked rumors in the media that the band's previously announced hiatus had turned into a break-up.

Several online media outlets picked up a New York Post story from Monday (February 29) that speculated that Dave Grohl might be pondering a solo career following his performance at the Oscars this past weekend.

On Wednesday, the band tweeted that they would be making an "official band announcement" later in the day and the "announcement" arrived in the form of a link to a YouTube video that informed fans "For the millionth time, we aren't breaking up. And nobody's going f-ing solo!"

In true Foo Fighters fashion, Radio.com reports that the video features "Dave Grohl and producer Butch Vig discussing the frontman's solo career, while the remaining Foo Fighters contemplated who their new singer would be. At the end of the video, Nick Lachey is seen rehearsing with the band." Watch the video here.

Taylor Hawkins spoke about the band's hiatus in an interview back in January with Artisan News joking "We're on ihateus right now. We're on an indefinite ihateus" and he explained that the band was taking a break "not because we don't love each other, or don't want to make music together.

"We did so much in the last five or six years, we as a band could go into the studio tomorrow and have just as much fun as we ever had. But I think the world needs a break from us for a little while." Read the original report here.

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Lou Gramm Wants Foreigner Reunion For 40th Anniversary 2016 In Review

Lou Gramm Wants Foreigner Reunion For 40th Anniversary was a top 16 story of March 2016: Original Foreigner frontman Lou Gramm has enthusiastically endorsed the idea of staging a reunion with the group next year to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their self-titled debut album.

Gramm was asked by ABC Radio about the idea of the surviving original members of the band reuniting to mark the anniversary and he responded, "I think it would be terrific. It wouldn't have to be any kind of commitment or anything. Just to honor that anniversary and do something."

The band is currently led by founding Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones and Gramm says that they have not discussed the possibility of an anniversary reunion "I do talk to Mick, periodically. I haven't heard anything about any kind of reunion show or anything." He adds, "Maybe he'll celebrate that 40th anniversary with his own band in his own way. And if so, I'll certainly honor it with my [solo] band too."

Gramm believes that this milestone would be only opportunity for any kind of reunion, saying "if we don't do anything to mark [the anniversary], then we never will." Read the ABC report here.

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Rolling Stones Play Historic Cuban Concert 2016 In Review

(hennemusic) Rolling Stones Play Historic Cuban Concert was a top 16 story of March 2016: The Rolling Stones performed their first-ever concert in Cuba and video from the event has been posted online. The free show marked the first open air concert in the country by a British rock band.

The "Concert For Amity" saw the group play an 18-song set before an estimated crowd of 1.3 million fans on the Caribbean island. "Here we are finally!," Mick Jagger told the crowd. "We are sure that this night is going to be an unforgettable night, for you and for us.

"We know that years ago it was difficult to listen to our music here in Cuba, but here we are, playing for you in your beautiful land. I think that finally things have changed, haven't they?" Watch the videos here.

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Ritchie Blackmore Recovering From Surgery 2016 In Review

(hennemusic) Ritchie Blackmore Recovering From Surgery was a top 16 story of March 2016: Ritchie Blackmore had surgery in February due to an excess of uric acid buildup in his finger joint. The guitarist will be unable to play for about a month but the operation and recuperation time will have no effect on three upcoming shows this summer with a newly-reformed Rainbow.

Blackmore will be joined by Lords Of Black singer Ronnie Romero, Stratovarius keyboardist Jens Johansson, Blackmore's Night drummer David Keith and bassist Bob Nouveau when they perform the Best of Rainbow and Deep Purple at the Monsters Of Rock festivals in Loreley, Germany on June 17 and Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany on June 18, as well as a solo headlining date at the Genting Arena in Birmingham, UK on June 25.

The guitarist recently shared a preview of what fans can expect from his first return to the rock stage in decades. "The setlist will be Rainbow songs for about 70 percent, including 'Stargazer', because apparently that's a song everybody wants to hear," explains Blackmore. "About 30 percent will be Deep Purple songs. We will focus on the best-known songs. The Dio era will be a central part of the show, but we will also play songs from the Joe Lynn Turner and Graham Bonnet periods. As far as Purple is concerned; we will play the Gillan era but will also play something from the David Coverdale period." Read more here.

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Disturbed's David Draiman Rants Against Rude Fan 2016 In Review

(Classic Rock) Disturbed's David Draiman Rants Against Rude Fan was a top 16 story of March 2016: Disturbed frontman David Draiman verbally attacked a "rude" fan for texting throughout one of the band's shows. During their gig in Dallas, Texas, on March 23, Draiman turned his attention to a woman on the balcony of the House Of Blues venue. His rant was captured on video.

Draiman says: "What is so important going on in the world that you need to be texting the entire f***ing show? The whole show. You're right up front, I can see you clear as day. You've had your face in your f***ing phone the whole goddamn show. Are we that boring?

"Don't tell me to go f*** myself. You already did by looking in your phone instead of paying attention. It's f***ing rude. If you don't want to watch, don't watch. But don't stand there in front of the f***ing stage in the front row of the balcony where everybody can see you texting the whole f***ing time on your phone."

Draiman then asks the woman if he can have her "attention for the rest of whatever's left of the set?" He adds: "Now she's all pissed off. She thinks that I did something wrong to her. I love it. Welcome to the age of the internet, ladies and f***ing gentlemen." Watch it here.

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Bad Brains Frontman Diagnosed With Rare Disorder 2016 In Review

(Classic Rock) Bad Brains Frontman Diagnosed With Rare Disorder was a top 16 story of March 2016: Bad Brains frontman HR - aka Paul Hudson - has been diagnosed with a rare headache disorder which leaves him living in "almost constant pain." His wife Lori Hudson, who is also his full-time caregiver, has launched a $50,000 crowdfunding campaign to help pay for medical expenses and care.

She says: "He has a neurobiological disorder and has also had severe headaches for years, but the headaches have gotten progressively worse. In November, he began living with almost constant pain.

"He has been diagnosed with a rare type of headache called SUNCT, a trigeminal neuralgia that is similar to cluster headaches. There is no known cure and no reliable medical treatment. To give you an idea of what he's dealing with, cluster headaches are nicknamed 'Suicide Syndrome.'

"The headaches come randomly, with no warning, at all hours of the day and night; but for him, they are much worse at night. The intensity of the headaches is so great that he yells, cries out, groans, and sobs - repeatedly, every few minutes, for most of the night.

"He can't work. He has no quality of life. If you call him and ask how he is, he will say, 'Everything's okay,' because that's just how he is. But everything is not okay." Read the original report here.

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