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Day in Rock Report for 01/10/2017


Today's Day in Rock Stories


Lou Gramm Addresses Foreigner 40th Anniversary Tour Report

hennemusic had the breaking developments in the story: Original Foreigner singer Lou Gramm has confirmed plans to reunite with his former band during their newly-announced 40th Anniversary tour this summer, just a day after publicly stating that he had not been officially asked to do so in a story first broken by hennemusic.

"After the past 24 hours of some crossed wires and miscommunication, I can confirm that I and the rest of the original band have been invited to join Foreigner for a song or two at any show during this 4Oth anniversary year," Gramm posted Monday on his social media sites. "Dennis Elliot and Rick Wills will be in St Augustin, FL on 2/24. Ian McDonald, Al Greenwood and I will perform at a date yet to be determined. Thank you for your Patience & understanding." Read more here

Original Foreigner vocalist Lou Gramm has struck down a report that he would be a special guest on select dates of his former band's upcoming 40th anniversary tour this summer.

Founding guitarist Mick Jones told Billboard in a report published this weekend that Foreigner's upcoming trek would include appearances at some of the dates by original members Gramm, Ian McDonald and Al Greenwood.

Jones told the publication, "They're not on the whole tour, but there will be some appearances. It's the right time to do this. I'm looking forward to that and we'll see how it goes, and I'm sure it'll go down well."

A few hours after the report was published, Gramm took to Twitter and broke the following bad news (via hennemusic), "I Have Not been asked to Join Any Part of the SUMMER 40th FOREIGNER ANNIVERSARY Tour 2017." He retweeted the statement a few more times in response to various media reports.

The band confirmed the bulk of the dates for the trek on Monday and revealed that it would also include Cheap Trick and Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience. Read more here.

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Ritchie Blackmore Would Not Have Reunited With Dio

Ritchie Blackmore made his return to rock last year with a new version of Rainbow and he says in a new interview that would not have reunited with original frontman Ronnie James Dio if the legendary metal singer was still alive.

The iconic original Deep Purple guitarist was asked in an interview if he was disappointed that he wasn't able to invite Dio, who died of cancer in 2010, to be part of the Rainbow reformation.

He responded, "I hate to say it, but no, I wasn't. I'd finished with Ronnie a long time ago, and we kept in touch now and again but I went on to other things and he was in other things.

"We kept it very convivial and that, but I think neither one of us really wanted to get back together. He's a strong alpha male, and so am I; he wanted to go one way, I wanted to go the other."

Blackmore also discussed how the mid-90s regrouping of Rainbow came about and he explained why the lineup didn't last. Read more here.

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A Perfect Circle Announce Spring Tour, Begin New Album

A Perfect Circle fans are in for a great 2017 with the band announcing that they will launching a U.S. tour this spring and also revealing that they are working on new music.

The tour, their first since 2011, is scheduled to kick off with a two-night-stand at the Pearl in Las Vegas on April 7th and 8th and will wrap up with the previously announced Hollywood Bowl show on May 7th.

The new dates include stops in various markets across America in addition to the band's appearances at the Welcome to Rockvill, Fort Rock and Carolina Rebellion festivals.

The road action is in addition to the news that that band is working on their next studio album. Billy Howerdel said in the tour announcement, "Getting back to writing music with A Perfect Circle is a great way to start the new year." See the tour dates here.

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Def Leppard, Duran Duran Singers Lead David Bowie Tribute Concert Lineup

(Radio.com) A large crowd of David Bowie fans convened in London's Brixton Academy on Sunday night for a charity concert to celebrate the late artist's legendary career.

The show took place on what would have been Bowie's 70th birthday and included performances by past members of his touring band, including guitarist Earl Slick, former King Crimson frontman and touring guitarist Adrian Belew, pianist Mike Garson and bassist Gail Ann Dorsey, who played on some of Bowie's biggest hits such as "Space Oddity" and "Young Americans."

Other guests included Bowie's close friend Gary Oldman, Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliot, UK Synthpop act La Roux, Keane's Tom Chaplin, Duran Duran singer Simon Le Bon, Tony Hadley and members of Spandau Ballet.

The three-hour show was backed by the London Community Gospel Choir and a string section. Oldman sang the first song, "Dead Man Walking." Other numbers included "Let's Dance," "Changes," "Ashes to Ashes,' "All the Young Dudes," "Life on Mars," "Rebel Rebel," "The Man who Sold the World," "Suffragette City," "Starman" and "Space Oddity." Read more here.

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U2 Announce 30th Anniversary Joshua Tree Stadium Tour

(hennemusic) U2 will mark the 30th anniversary of "The Joshua Tree" by playing the album in its entirety for the first time on a 2017 tour of stadiums across North America and Europe.

The Irish band's fifth album, "The Joshua Tree" spawned three hit singles ("With Or Without You", "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and "Where The Streets Have No Name") on its way to selling more than 25 million copies worldwide, including 10 million in the U.S. alone.

A two-month run across North America will begin in Vancouver, BC on May 12 and include U2's first ever US festival headline appearance at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in June. Mumford & Sons, The Lumineers and One Republic will open select dates.

The band will hit Europe in July with Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds as special guests. "It seems like we have come full circle from when The Joshua Tree songs were originally writtten, with global upheaval, extreme right wing politics and some fundamental human rights at risk," reflects The Edge. "To celebrate the album - as these songs seem so relevant and prescient of these times too - we decided to do these shows, it feels right for now. We're looking forward to it."

"Recently I listened back to The Joshua Tree for the first time in nearly 30 years," adds Bono. "It's quite an opera. A lot of emotions which feel strangely current, love, loss, broken dreams, seeking oblivion, polarization� all the greats... I've sung some of these songs a lot� but never all of them. I'm up for it, if our audience is as excited as we are� it's gonna be a great night. Especially when we play at home. Croke Park.. it's where the album was born, 30 years ago." See the tour dates here.

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Stone Sour Entering Studio To Record New Album

Stone Sour have completed prep work on their new album and are entering the studio to record the effort drummer Roy Mayorga revealed via Instagram posts on Sunday (Jan 8)

The drummer posted a photo along with the caption "That's a wrap on rehearsals. Now off to record! #stonesour #studiolife #2017 #dw #sabian #promark #evans @dwdrums @evansdrumheads @promarkbydaddario @sabiancymbals_official (photo by @stubs_dsm )"

Frontman Corey Taylor recently discussed the group's new album plans and revealed "We're gonna record it the old-fashioned way. We're gonna get us all in the room. We're gonna record it together; we're gonna have that energy bouncing off of each other. It's gonna be a modern throwback, let's put it that way, and it's gonna destroy people." Read more here.

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Crown The Empire And Frontman Dave Escamilla Part Ways

Crown The Empire and frontman Dave Escamilla has parted company, and it appears to have been a bitter split going by statements released by the singer and the band.

The band broke the news fans with the following statement, "Bands are a lot like a relationship; you've all heard this. Sometimes when sh*t goes south, it's hard to tell who broke up with whom, if you're ever going to get back together, when to give them back their things - it's messy, and it takes a while to figure out how to get back to focusing on just yourself, when all you've known for a good part of your life is sharing it with this other person.

"Dave isn't in Crown The Empire anymore. That's how the chips have landed after the smoke has cleared. Everyone will try and make it out like it's a big corporate thing, and say we're "very excited about the future of what both he and ourselves make as we all continue to pursue music" but we all know that when you see your girl or guy with someone else it sucks. The difference is that we turned to each other during this time. The four of us found solace, respect, friendship renewed, and our purpose within this band, and stopped letting our selfishness divide us. Instead we've come together, bonded more than ever to help build each other up." Read more including Date's statement here.

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Poison Idea Announce They Have Broken Up

Veteran punk band Poison Idea has announced that they have officially broken up effective at the start of this year. The band broke the news to fans via Facebook on Sunday (Jan 8th).

The group was formed in Portland, Or in 1980 and originally broke up in 1993, only to regroup five years later but now it appears that they have officially called it a day.

They said in the social media post, "This is an official announcement. We've told our friends, talked with promoters, announced it at the last show, but I guess we have to do this to make it 'official'. Poison Idea is pulling the plug on the life support system that keeps the band side alive. Ya can't kill the spirit, but as of Jan. 1, 2017, Poison Idea is no longer a band." Read more here.

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Motorhead Star Guests On Black Label Society's Lorina's New Album

Black Label Society guitarist Dario Lorina set to release his second instrumental album "Death Grip Tribulations" next month and it will feature a guest appearance from Motorhead guitarist Phil Campbell.

Apart from the Motorhead/Phil Campbell and The Bastard Sons icon on one track, Lorina is backed on the album by his long time musical partner Dan DC Conway (Drums), fellow Black Label Society bandmates John JD DeServio (Bass) and Jeff Fabb (Drums), former Lizzy Borden bandmate Marten Andersson (Bass).

The album will be released on CD and digitally on February 24th, 2017 via Shrapnel Records. Label head Mike Varney had this to say about the effort, "Death Grip Tribulations makes it clear that Dario Lorina has become a force to be reckoned with, as at twenty seven years of age he draws from experience far beyond his years, creating a collection of songs built on forceful rhythms, strong melodies and an arsenal of advanced guitar chops." Visit Dario's official site for more details here.

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38th Blues Music Award Nominees Announced

(Conqueroo) The Blues Foundation have announced the nominations for this year's Blues Music Awards, which is set to take place on Thursday, May 11, 2017 at the Cook Convention Center in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. We were sent the following details:

Sugar Ray Norcia, individually, and collectively with his band, The Bluetones, received the most nominations with seven, including B.B. King Entertainer Award, Best Song, Best Album and Best Band. The total reaches ten with the inclusion of his Bluetones bandmates Monster Mike Welch (Instrumentalist-Guitar), Michael "Mudcat" Ward (Instrumentalist-Bass) and Anthony Geraci (Pinetop Perkins Piano Player).

Chicago-based guitarist Toronzo Cannon garnered four nominations and he faces off against Norcia in both the Best Song and Best Album categories. Best Album probably ranks as the most competitive category, with Norcia and Cannon battling Bobby Rush, Kenny Neal, William Bell and the Nick Moss Band, who all have three nominations. Read more including the list of nominees

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Suicide Silence Announce New Album and Release 'Doris' Video

Suicide Silence have announced their new self-titled studio album will be released on February 24th and they have released a music video for the track "Doris".

The new promo clip was filmed during the band's Knotfest 2016 performance and features SiriusXM's Liquid Metal's Jose Mangin on guest vocals. The band had the following to say about the new album which was produced by Ross Robinson (Korn, Slipknot) and mixed by Joe Barresi (Tool, Queens Of The Stone Age):

"From the band to you the fans we hope you had some bad ass, family filled, lovely holidays but now if the time to get what you really wanted and have been waiting for.

"We got pre-orders, a video and a new track coming right at you! Enjoy our new song 'Doris' and go put in your order while packages last! Sui is BACK!" Watch the video here.

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Judas Priest Stream Live Track From Turbo Anniversary Edition

(hennemusic) Judas Priest have issued a live recording of "Out In The Cold" as a preview to the February 3 release of an expanded reissue of their 1986 album, "Turbo", as it marks its 30th anniversary.

The track is from a May 1986 concert at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, MO that is featured in the revamped package, which also includes a remastered version of the original album.

"Utilizing the tones and textures of the latest guitar effects, 'Out in the Cold' heard Priest reinvent the classic heavy metal ballad," says the band of the opening tune from the Fuel For Life tour. "The haunting opening refrain leads into a passionate empathy of lost love, building a forceful tempo that lifts the dynamics through to a wave-crashing conclusion."

Judas Priest's tenth album, "Turbo" peaked at No. 17 on the US Billboard 200 on its way to sales of more than 1 million in the country.

The expanded 30th anniversary reissue will be available as a 3CD set, LP and via digital download. here.

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Mortiis Side Project Vond Reissues Out Of Print Albums

Fans clamoring to get their hands on music from the 1990s Mortiis side project Vond are in luck as four releases from the group are set to be released today (Jan. 10) via Funeral Industries. We were sent the following details:

The releases include reissues of three long-out-of-print albums - Selvmord, The Dark River and Green Eyed Demon - and one compilation, known as AIDS to the People, made up tracks from previously release and unreleased singles.

Selvmord, which translates to "suicide," was Vond's 1994 full length and was originally released as a limited edition LP by the now-defunct Dutch label Necromantic Gallery. "We included a razorblade with the 20 first copies," Mortiis said, adding with a morbid sense of humor that "there have been no suicides that we are aware of." That version of the record has been sold out for two decades. It was released in CD format by various record labels.

Recorded and released in 1996, The Dark River was released on vinyl and CD through Mortiis' own Dark Dungeon Music. Later pressings were available through various official labels, as well as bootlegs.
Green Eyed Demon followed in 1997. "This record differs in that it is very inspired by dark industrial noise collage type of music," Mortiis said. "It is way more 'uneasy listening' than any other Vond recording." The LP and CD were released by US label Cybertzara Records and have been unavailable since.

AIDS to the People is comprised of two songs from the 1993 debut 7" by Vond (then known as Havard-Vond), which has been sold out for over 20 years, and three tracks from an unreleased 1995 EP of the same title.

All four releases will be available on vinyl and CD. The LPs will be limited, with a pressing of 650 Black Vinyl and 100 Blue Vinyl only.
The records go on sale January 10 via the Mortiis
Webstore.

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Bruce Springsteen Concert Film TV Premiere Announced

The concert film "Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band: Live In Barcelona" is scheduled to premiere on Sunday, January 15 at 8pE/5pP on the cable/satellite channel AXS TV.

The film features the late saxophonist Clarence Clemons and was recorded at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, Spain stop of The Rising Tour on October 16, 2002.

Some of the songs performed included "The Rising," "Darkness On The Edge Of Town," "Badlands," "Dancing In The Dark," "Born To Run," "Born In The U.S.A.," and "Thunder Road", among others .

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Superjoint Launching U.S. Tour This Week

Phil Anselmo's Superjoint will be kicking off the first leg of their US headlining tour this Thursday with support acts Battlecross and Child Bite and have announced an appearance at the For The Sick Benefit.

The band will be launching the tour in support of their new album "Caught Up In The Gears Of Application" with the first show taking place January 12th in Austin and the trek wrapping up on February 3rd in Pensacola, FL.

The following night they will be taking part in the three-day festival-style benefit for Eyehategod frontman Mike IX Williams who is recovering from a liver transplant.

In addition to Superjoint, the special event will also feature performances from Eyehategod, Crowbar, Goatwhore, Thou, Mountain Of Wizard and more. See the tour dates here.

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Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes Release 'Wild Flowers' Video

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes have released a new music video for the track "Wild Flowers". The song comes from their upcoming album "Modern Ruin," which will be released on January 20th.

The band, led by former Gallows' singer Frank Carter, recruited renowned artist Jake Chapman to create the new visual, which can be streamed online here.

Carter had the following to say about the clip, "Jake Chapman is one of my favourite artists of all time. Somehow in this mad world we also became quite good friends. Foolishly I jeoardised all of that by asking him to make us a music video for our song 'Wild Flowers.'

"Luckily for me, Jake Is further into the abyss of madness than I am and he has made something completely captivating and utterly insane... but best of all, we are still friends!"

The band will be spending the rest of the winter on the road. Read more here.

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Anthrax Singer Performs National Anthem At NCAA Game

(hennemusic) Anthrax singer Joey Belladonna performed the U.S. national anthem at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, NY on January 7 prior to the start of a Syracuse Orange home game against the Pittsburgh Panthers in NCAA action, and video from the evening is available to stream online.

Belladonna's appearance marks the third time that the rocker delivered the anthem at a sporting event in recent months following a late September showing at Wrigley Field prior to a Chicago Cubs game and a November 12 appearance at Chicago's United Center prior to the start of a Chicago Bulls home game.

Anthrax are gearing up for the launch of a 2017 European tour to mark the 30th anniversary of their 1987 album, "Among The Living." The month-long run that will see the group perform the record in its entirety opens on February 19 in Utrecht, The Netherlands, with shows wrapping up in Paris, France on March 16.

Ahead of the European tour, Anthrax will perform on the four-day 70,000 Tons Of Metal cruise early next month, which features 60 bands including Death Angel, Uli Jon Roth, DevilDriver and Gojira, among others. Watch the anthem performance here.

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Joe Satriani Looks Back On Teaching Metallica's Kirk Hammett

(Classic Rock) Joe Satriani reflected on teaching guitarist Kirk Hammett during his first days with Metallica. Satriani has forged a successful solo career, but has also spent much of his time as a guitar tutor, and nurtured talent including Hammett, Steve Vai and Testament's Alex Skolnick.

Looking back on the days he spent with a young Hammett, Satriani tells Classic Rock: "Kirk was a great student. He was very eager to learn. His fingers moved great - and he had great taste in guitar players like Michael Schenker and Uli John Roth. He was completely musical.

"He'd been in Exodus, but all of a sudden got in this band, Metallica, and he disappeared for a few months then came back with a copy of Kill 'Em All. Thrash metal songs had brand new chord progressions that had nothing to do with blues, Zeppelin or the Beatles.

"Kirk would come in and say, 'Check out this new song I have to solo over - what key is this in?' Often the song wasn't in just one key. I had to teach him to decipher the song's tonality, to understand the musical possibilities, and how to make his own decisions on what to play."

Satriani says he remembers a "young kid full of talent and enthusiasm" and reports that Metallica track Hit The Lights perfectly captured the sound of the time and adds: "Kirk had just replaced another great guitar player, Dave Mustaine, and at first he took Dave's approach of playing blues rock over the progressions." Read more here.

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Graham Bonnet Band Release 'Rider' Video

The Graham Bonnet Band have released a new music video for the track "Rider". The song comes from the group's 2016 studio album release "The Book".

Bonnet is best known as a former vocalist for a number of iconic hard rock bands where he sang on numerous classic albums including Rainbow's 'Down To Earth' (1979), Michael Schenker Group's 'Assault Attack' (1982), Alcatrazz's 'No Parole For Rock 'n' Roll' (1983) and 'Disturbing The Peace' (1985), and Impellitteri's 'Stand In Line' (1988).

His new solo band also features Beth-Ami Heavenstone on bass, South American guitar sensation Conrado Pesinato on lead guitar, ex-Alcatrazz man Jimmy Waldo on keys, and Mark Zonder (known for his acclaimed work with Warlord and Fates Warning). Watch the video here.

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Grand Funk Classic Getting Limited Edition Hybrid SACD Release

(Glass Onyon) Audio Fidelity have announced that they will be releasing a limited edition hybrid SACD of Grand Funk's classic rock "Shinin' On" on January 27th. We were sent the following details:

Riding high off the success of their 1973 We're An American Band hit album and tour Grand Funk retained the extraordinary Todd Rundgren to produce Shinin' On, the band's eighth album.

Don Brewer, Mark Farner, Mel Schacher and Craig Frost took the band to another level. The songs are tight, the vocals are excellent and the group is in top form. Shinin' On is pure Grand Funk and considered a favorite among many fans and critics. here.

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