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Day in Rock Report for 05/11/2016


Today's Top Stories


Sharon Osbourne Addresses Ozzy Split Rumors

(hennemusic) Ozzy Osbourne's wife Sharon has made her first public comments following a split with the legendary Black Sabbath rocker. It's been widely reported that Sharon kicked the rocker out of their Los Angeles mansion last week over accusations that he's been having an affair with 45-year-old celebrity hairstylist Michelle Pugh.

After skipping out on Monday's broadcast of the CBS-TV daytime series The Talk, Sharon returned to the panel on Tuesday and offered viewers an update on the situation.

Asked if it was true that she had kicked Ozzy out or just a rumour, Sharon said, "No, it's true!", adding "I honestly, at this point today, have no idea what I'm doing with the rest of my life. I need time to think. I really want to think about it very carefully. I'm 63 years of age and I can't keep living like this."

She further revealed that Ozzy had returned to the family home, saying, "No, he's back, and I'm out of the house." She added, "I spoke to him last night. I'm not with him, but I speak with him. I love Ozzy dearly, he's given me an unbelievable life and three gorgeous children."

Asked if she thought that her marriage to Ozzy was over, she replied "At this point I can't answer that.. I don't know what I want. I'm doing great, I really really am. I honestly, honestly can't thank people enough for their backing me, for sending me messages of love. I am empowered and I have found this inner strength and I'm like, 'right, ok, what's next.' I can handle this." Read more and watch the video footage here.

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Eagles Of Death Metal Fan's Ear Bitten Off At Concert

(TeamRock Radio) An Eagles Of Death Metal fan had his ear bitten off at the band's show at Toronto's Opera House this oast weekend. Canadian author and radio broadcaster Alan Cross was given the information about the incident between two unnamed men, which was later confirmed by the venue's general manager.

A member of the crowd told Cross: "Some guys just got into a fight in front of us and the one guy bit off the other guy's ear. I am not joking - it was the most f***ed up thing I have ever seen."

Aux.TV later confirmed the story after speaking with Opera House general manager Athena Ellinas-Towers. She said: "I didn't witness anything, but there was a confrontation between two individuals. It was brought to my attention by the medical team." Read more here.

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Gene Simmons Apologies For Controversial Prince Comments

KISS star Gene Simmons has posted an online apology after he sparked controversy with remarks that he made in an interview about the death of music legend Prince.

Simmons told Newsweek, "I think Prince was heads, hands and feet above all the rest of them. I thought he left [Michael] Jackson in the dust. Prince was way beyond that.

"But how pathetic that he killed himself. Don't kid yourself, that's what he did. Slowly, I'll grant you, but that's what drugs and alcohol is: a slow death."

He added, 'The one question I have is: When we all start out and we have these big dreams and you finally get your wish--you have more money than God and fame--what is that insane gene in us, well, a lot of us, that makes us want to succumb to the cliche of cliches: drugs and alcohol?"

Gene's bandmate Paul Stanley was the first to take to social media to address the controversy. He tweeted, "Embarrassed by cold clueless statements re Prince's death. Without all the facts better to say nothing. My apologies."

Gene later took to Twitter to offer his own apology for the comments, "I just got such s*** from my family for my big mouth again. I apologize - I have a long history of getting very angry at what drugs do to the families/friends of the addicts. I get angry at drug users because of my experience being around them coming up in the rock scene. In my experience they've made my life, and the lives of their loved ones, difficult.

"I was raised in a culture/crowd where drug addicts were written off as losers, and since that's the narrative I grew up with, it's been hard to change with the times. Needless to say, I didn't express myself properly here - I don't shy away from controversy, and angry critics really don't bother me at all. If I think I'm right, I'll throw up a finger and dig my heels in and laugh. But this time, I was not. So, my apologies."

He added the following post-script, "What I will say is that there is a part of this that is journalists quote-mining things I've said in the past and applying it to new situations. This, too, happens often and not just to me. So, quote-mining, too, is wrong. It doesn't make my past quotes any more tactful, but still - be wary of click bait. The uglier they can make it seem, the more views they can get."

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Latest News


Van Halen Manager Enters YouTube Battle

(Classic Rock) Van Halen manager Irving Azoff has called on YouTube to come up with a fairer deal for musicians. Azoff - who also manages Thirty Seconds To Mars, Steely Dan and Christina Aguilera, among others - has penned an open letter to the video and music streaming site on Recode's website.

It's a response to a post on YouTube's Creator Blog called Setting The Record Straight, which addressed recent comments by Sixx AM, Metallica manager Peter Mensch and others that YouTube was mistreating artists.

Azoff says YouTube's policy of not allowing artists to opt out of appearing on the site is unfair. YouTube uses the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) to justify its stance, meaning artists have to send YouTube a notice every time one of their songs is uploaded by a different user - a situation Azoff says is "impossible" to stay on top of.

He says: "If YouTube cares about copyright management then join the music business in its efforts to reform the DMCA. Or, better yet, you could really prove your love for music by not allowing music on to YouTube unless you ask the creators of that song for permission.

"I know realistically you won't voluntarily agree to take on the task of asking artists for their permission. So, if you are going to continue to force artists to notify you when an infringing song is on YouTube, once an artist tells you that she wants her song taken off YouTube, you should keep it off. When the artist sends a 'take down,' it should be a 'stay down.'" Read more here.

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Zakk Wylde Announces American Summer Tour

Zakk Wylde has announced that he will be hitting the road this summer for a North American tour that will feature support from Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown and Jared James Nichol.

Wylde will be launching the 40-city tour across the U.S. and Canada to promote his first solo album in 20 years "Book Of Shadows II", which was released last month.

The tour is scheduled to get underway on July 8th in Dallas, Tx at Gas Monkey Live and will conclude two months later on September 3rd in Los Angeles at The Fonda Theatre. See the tour dates here.

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Five Finger Death Punch Producer Sounds Off On Label Lawsuit

(TeamRock Radio) Five Finger Death Punch producer Kevin Churko has taken the band's side in their legal battle with their record label. And he's spoken of his frustration over Prospect Park LLC's failure to pay him on time for his work on their last five albums.

The company last month launched a lawsuit against Ivan Moody and co, accusing them of breaching contract over a best-of compilation and the recording schedule for their next title - and adding that they were attempting to "cash in" before Moody became too ill to remain on board.

Five Finger Death Punch responded in detail, saying the frontman had received medical attention for his addiction issues and saying of label boss Jeff Kwatinetz: "Desperate people do desperate things."

Now Churko has said in a statement: "Prospect Park claims that if Five Finger Death Punch were to hire a different producer, they could sell well over a million records, maybe even two million.

"Honestly, there hasn't been a record in the hard rock genre that has achieved anywhere close to those sales in a two-year period of time. With 5FDP, I have the privilege of working with gifted and prolific songwriters, whose singer, Ivan Moody, has a truly special and distinctive voice.

"Not only have they sold over four million records at a time when general album sales are diminishing - 5FDP have created a solid brand and raised thousands of dollars for veteran charities." Read more here.

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Motley Crue's Final Show Concert Film Coming To Theaters

(hennemusic) Motley Crue have announced that they will be premiering "The End", the concert film of their final farewell concert, in theaters on June 14 via Fathom Events.

Directed by Christian Lamb, "The End" captures the band on the last show of their career during a three-night stand at the Staples Center in their hometown of Los Angeles, CA this past New Year's Eve.

The group announced The Final Tour at a January 2014 press conference in Hollywood, and signed a binding legal document known as a "cessation of touring" contract which prevents them from touring beyond 2015.

Motley Crue were formed in Los Angeles in January of 1981 by bassist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee; the pair recruited guitarist Mick Mars and singer Vince Neil and released their debut, "Too Fast For Love", in November 1981. Read more and watch the teaser video here.

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Video From AC/DC's Second Show With Axl Rose Goes Online

(hennemusic) Axl Rose performed his second show with AC/DC on the Rock Or Bust tour in Seville, Spain on Tuesday and video from the event has surfaced online. The band delivered the same 22-song set at Estadio de La Cartuja that they presented in Lisbon, Portugal on May 7 with Rose, who has stepped in to assist the band in Brian Johnson's absence due to the singer's deteriorating hearing.

Rose continues to perform confined to scaled down version of a throne on loan from Dave Grohl after breaking his left foot during Guns N' Roses' April 1 club gig at The Troubadour in Los Angeles.

Seville marks the second stop of a 12-date European tour by the Australian outfit that runs into next month, following which Rose will rejoin GNR for a summer stadium tour of North America.

Rose says he will regroup with AC/DC sometime later this year for the to-be-rescheduled 10 US dates that were postponed following Johnson's departure on the advice of medical professionals in an effort to save his hearing.

"I'm happy and excited in one sense, but I think it would be inappropriate to be celebrating, in a certain way, at someone else's expense," Rose told the BBC last week in his first interview in years. "That's not what I'm here to do. It's an unfortunate situation." Check out the video here.

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Sixx: A.M. Almost Top Rock Album Chart With 'Prayers For The Damned'

(hennemusic) Sixx: A.M. have scored a Top 20 debut on the US charts with their fourth album, "Prayers For The Damned." The first half of a double album project enters the US Billboard 200 at No. 19, while sitting at No. 2 on the Rock Charts, No. 2 on the Hard Rock Charts and No. 5 on the Top Current Albums Chart.

"It is thrilling for us to see how Sixx:A.M.'s message of hope, unity and empowerment is resonating on a global scale," says vocalist and album producer James Michael. "Vol. 1 Prayers For The Damned is clearly impacting people in ways that we couldn't have imagined. It's gratifying to have something that is so important to us become so important others."

"Vo1 1" will be followed by a second record later this year as the trio of Michael, Nikki Sixx and DJ Ashba plan an extended two-year touring cycle in support of both projects. Stream the album here.

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Deftones Drummer Felt Relief When Chi Cheng Died

(TeamRock Radio) Deftones drummer Abe Cunningham has recalled the "relief" he felt when bassist Chi Cheng passed away in 2013. Cheng had been in a semi-comatose state since a serious car crash in 2008 and he eventually died from heart failure.

Deftones released latest album Gore this year - their first since Cheng's death. And while that was an emotional experience, Cunningham says it was 2010's Diamond Eyes that was the most difficult record the band has ever made.

Cunningham tells the Broward Palm Beach New Times: "The the most emotionally draining and cathartic album was the Diamond Eyes record, because that is when everything happened.

"His passing, for me, was a relief. For him, for his family, for us, when his accident happened, it wasn't immediate. He was seriously injured and left in a minimally conscious state for five years.

"All the initial emotion was when the accident happened, and to have him pass was a relief after all those years." Read more here.

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Trail Of Dead's Conrad Keely Releases Engines Of The Dark Video

(Prog) ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead frontman Conrad Keely has released a video for his solo track "Engines Of The Dark," which is a song from his debut solo album Original Machines.

It was recorded in Montreal, Canada, throughout last summer and features tracks written while he was travelling through Cambodia where he currently lives.

Keely previously released a stream of In The Words Of A Not So Famous Man. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead will play Pappy & Harriet's in Pioneertown, California, on September 23. Watch the video here.

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Neal Schon Doesn't Care If Journey Gets Rock Hall Induction

(Classic Rock) Journey guitarist Neal Schon says that he doesn't care if the band are ever inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame after the recent Steve Miller controversy.

Miller sparked uproar following his induction after he launched a tirade against the ceremony, claiming that his bandmates were asked to pay $10,000 to attend, and slammed the music business.

Black Keys duo Dan Auerbach and Pat Carney inducted Miller but later said they wish they hadn't after the music veteran "made no effort to figure out who they were."

Now Schon tells Billboard: "After reading and talking to Steve Miller about what went on with him and how it was not a good experience, I don't really care right now one way or the other

"I'd have to see what the situation is for real. I'm not about to pay money to anybody to get in anywhere - I would never do that. And at this point, there's so many people in there that are not even rock'n'roll, I don't really care about being in there at all." Read more here.

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Ugly Kid Joe Release Video Featuring Motorhead's Phil Campbell

(Classic Rock) Ugly Kid Joe have released a video for their track Under The Bottom - featuring Motorhead guitarist Phil Campbell. The song is taken from UKJ's latest album Uglier Than They Used Ta Be, out now.

Both the track and video feature a guest appearance from Campbell. The guitarist guests on three tracks on the album - My Old Man, Under The Bottom and Ugly Kid Joe's cover of Ace Of Spades.

Ugly Kid Joe have also announced a 36-date European winter tour. Frontman Whitfield Crane says: "You can expect a kick ass rock n roll show." The tour kicks off in Glasgow, Scotland, on October 01. See the dates and watch the new video here.

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Store Owners Freed On Treason Charge Over Metal T-Shirts

(TeamRock Radio) An Indonesia store owner and his employee have been freed by authorities after being detained for selling Kreator t-shirts. Kebayoran Baru Police arrested Mahdi Ismed and Yosvita at the weekend for stocking the German outfit's merchandise featuring the hammer and sickle logo.

The symbol, which was conceived during the 1917 Russian Revolution, was adopted by the now defunct Indonesian Communist Party - and the pair faced charges of treason for selling the t-shirts.

However, the Jakarta Post report the two men will face no charges after being questioned. Kebayoran Baru Police chief Ary Purwanto says: "From our investigation, the sellers sold the t-shirts purely for business purpose. We won't detain them further." Read more here.

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Candye Kane Dead At 54 After Long Cancer Fight

(The Blues) Award-winning blues singer Candye Kane has died after an eight-year cancer battle. She was 54. Born Candace Hogan in California, she first came to attention as a porn star in the 1980s, using her income to keep her children and fund her first blues album after she progressed through opera, punk and country genres.

Kane won a number of awards during a career that saw her appear on 22 albums and contribute tracks to several movie soundtracks. Her record label, Delta Groove, say in a statement: "We are deeply saddened. Thank you, Candye, for the unwavering strength and courage you demonstrated in the face of adversity.

"You truly are an inspiration. We will continue to cherish the years we worked together, as well as the incredible music you left behind. Forever our superhero." Read more here.

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Fans Flock To Statue Of Late AC/DC Legend Bon Scott

(hennemusic) A statue of AC/DC legend Bon Scott has become the top attraction in the late singer's Scottish hometown of Kirriemuir just two weeks after it was unveiled.

The life-size bronze statue - funded by fans around the world - took sculptor John McKenna three years to complete. The landmark was unveiled on April 30 as part of the town's 10th annual BonFest event, which featured special guests Mark Evans, Tony Currenti and Bob Richards who all played with AC/DC, and Melbourne fashion designer Mary Renshaw, whose new book Live Wire charts her friendship with the singer who was her soulmate.

Now, The Courier reports the tribute has surged ahead of the Angus Glens and Peter Pan author JM Barrie's birthplace on reviews website TripAdvisor to become the town's most popular attraction. Read more here.

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Today's Report Continues...

Read the second part of today's report here!