Archive News Jul 31, 2001

METALLICA guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield spoke out for the first time about his ongoing battle with alcoholism and “other addictions” via a statement posted on the METALLICAClub web site. James' short message reads as follows: “It took a lot for me to admit to my problems, and it's a great feeling to have the support and comfort for me as a person from all the friends I've made out there. Thanks very much, it means a lot.'

The recording of ROB ZOMBIE's as-yet-untitled follow-up to 1998's Hellbilly Deluxe has been completed and the album is presently being mixed, according to the frontman's official web site. Tentatively scheduled for an October 30th release through Geffen Records, the CD will reportedly include guest appearances by SLAYER guitarist Kerry King, METHODS OF MAYHEM mainman Tommy Lee, LIMP BIZKIT's DJ Lethal, and the BEASTIE BOYS' Mix Master Mike, and will be followed up by a “monstrous tour” in November, a trek that is rumored to be going under the banner Black Christmas and which will allegedly also include BLACK SABBATH, MARILYN MANSON, DISTURBED and SYSTEM OF A DOWN. No official announcement about this tour has yet been made.

TOOL have announced the first dates of their upcoming US arena tour. The confirmed shows so far are as follows:

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Sept. 06 - St Paul, MN @ The Xcel Energy Center

Sept. 07 - Madison, WI @ Alliant Energy Center

Sept. 09 - Indianapolis, IN @ The Verizon Wrlss. Music Ctr.

Sept. 10 - Chicago, IL @ The Allstate Arena

SLIPKNOT's record company, Roadrunner Records, are reportedly furious with a new unauthorized biography on the Iowa-based group, which features pictures of the entire band without their trademark masks. According to report filed by Worldpop, a Roadrunner representative commented on the book by stating that “we've disassociated ourselves from this book because it wasn't done with the band's consent and it's poorly put together.” The book, Barcode Killers, was written by Mark Crampton and published by Chrome Dreams, and it reportedly “charts the band's rise to notoriety from the Midwest confines of Iowa where instead of hanging out at the local mall our dubious heroes spent their formative years at the local Woodland Cemetery in Des Moines dreaming of digging up graves!” The band apparently did not co-operate with the writing of the book, which features no interviews.

SATYRICON will start recording their new album at an as-yet-undisclosed studio in Denmark on August 15th.

Contrary to what we posted here yesterday, it appears that CANNIBAL CORPSE are in fact working with producer Neil Kernon (i.e. NEVERMORE, JUDAS PRIEST, QUEENSRYCHE) on their forthcoming studio effort at El Paso's Village Recorders, and are NOT utilizing the services of Colin Richardson, with whom the band collaborated on their 1999 Bloodthirst CD and last year's Live Cannibalism live album. According to a Metal Blade Records representative, the as-yet-untitled effort is due to be issued through the label in January 2002.

BLACK SABBATH's Masters Of Reality album has been certified double platinum for sales in excess of two million copies in the US since the record's release in August 1971. Gold certifications (for sales of over 500,000 copies) were recently handed out to DROWNING POOL for their June 5th, 2001 release Sinner, DEEP PURPLE for their July 1971 release Fireball, and STONE TEMPLE PILOTS for their June 19th, 2001 release Shangri-La Dee Da.

According to an online posting by producer Kevin Shirley, the upcoming IRON MAIDENRock In Rio live DVD and accompanying live CD have both been pushed back for a 2002 release. It is believed that problems with the final mix of the audio track are the cause of the delay, and it is expected that the entire CD/DVD recording will be remixed prior to being issued next year.

In the continuing saga of SEPULTURA's war-of-words with the Brazilian magazine Veja (which published a negative article about the band last week with regards to the group's recent split with Roadrunner Records),it now appears that the magazine's headquarters have been deluged with e-mails from irate SEPULTURA fans following the publication of the aforementioned article, with the story on the Brazilian band having resulted in 233 e-mails from readers while the magazine's main cover story only produced 69 reader comments. Three SEPULTURA-related letters were published in this week's issue in response to last week's article, while the rest of the stories in the same issue were limited to about one per article. It also appears that the editors of Veja have invited SEPULTURA to send in their own response to the story for publication in a future issue, although it is presently unclear if the group have any intentions of doing so.

According to Worldpop, a paramedic is suing LIMP BIZKIT, claiming that he suffered severe injuries at a LB show last October after Fred Durst invited fans to rush the stage causing him to be “kicked to the ground by the mob and rendered unconscious”. Christopher Dickinson stated in his lawsuit that he has suffered brain damage and personality changes and is unable to work. He claims the effects of the injuries have extended to damaging his marriage. According to the lawsuit, Dickinson claims that he was on duty on October 29th at LIMP BIZKIT's Anger Management concert in Detroit when he went to treat a fan who had collapsed with a seizure. But, he says, he was unable to reach her after LIMP BIZKIT fans knocked him over in a mêlée which he claims began after Durst invited fans to rush the stage saying, 'Security ... do not stop them!' Dickinson, 33, says his injuries have also damaged his marriage and his wife has had to quit her job to care full time for him at home. “I've lost my whole life in the last 10 months. I used to go fishing, hunting, spend hours on the lawn. Now after half an hour I have to lie down,” said Dickinson, who is also suing the owners of the venue, the Palace Sports and Entertainment Inc.

TNT guitarist Ronni LeTekro will accompanying ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN vocalist Jorn Lande, bassist Sid Ringsby, guitarist Tore Moren, and drummer Willy Bendiksen, among others, for a special one-off performance at the one-year anniversary celebration for the Olso rock club Rockin' on August 18th.

Former SKUNK ANANSIE guitarist Ace recently spoke to the UK's Metal Hammer magazine about the recording of his upcoming solo album, which features guest appearances from MOTÖRHEAD's Lemmy (on a track called “Murder”),Yap from ONE MINUTE SILENCE (“Your Face Hurts”),Benji from SKINDRED (“Back Up”),REPUBLICA's Saffron, GAY DAD's Cliff Jones, MORCHEEBA's Skye and SONARFLY's Shinghai Shoniwa. According to Ace, 'I worked day and night for months, but the recording was a pleasure,' he says. 'It's been difficult but fulfilling, and every session was really fantastic! I guess the distressing thing is that I financed it myself, but it's like anything in life, you've gotta take chances... and I've done something that no one else has!

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'I don't care if it sells one hundred copies or one million. It's just something that I wanted to put out there, and then I'll move on. I'd love to get it out over the summer. It's a hot, fresh sounding record and I just want people to hear it'.

Rumors indicate that the forthcoming Pledge Of AllegianceFestival tour, which is due to take place this fall and will feature co-headliners SLIPKNOT and SYSTEM OF A DOWN, will also include three or more of the following acts on the bill: RAMMSTEIN, MUDVAYNE, AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE and SW1TCHED. As previously reported, The Pledge Of Allegiance Festival will allegedly showcase a total of five bands, while the second stage will consist primarily of non-musical attractions.

As previously reported and made official via an article in the current issue of Billboard magazine, the Island Def Jam Music Group has inked a joint venture agreement with Roadrunner Records (i.e. SLIPKNOT, FEAR FACTORY, TYPE O NEGATIVE, etc.) for an estimated $33-$35 million, which gives the Island Def Jam Music Group ownership of either 49% or 50% of the label, according to varying accounts. '[Roadrunner Founder/Chairman] Cees [Wessels] and his team have built one of the most creative and successful independent labels in the market,' Island Def Jam Music Group Chairman Jim Caparro said in a statement. 'As we move forward in building our new company, we will maintain the same spirit that made Island and Def Jam such successful independents. In many respects, Cees has built Roadrunner much the same way, so the fit between both companies could not be better.' '[IDJMG President] Lyor [Cohen] and I tried to do this deal eight years ago,' Wessels added. 'And I am pleased it is finally happening. In searching for the right partner for Roadrunner, I knew I didn't want to be a part of a company that was already set in its ways. The immediate vibe I got from Jim and Lyor was that they are determined to continue building a great company, and this agreement will allow us to take Roadrunner to the next level, while preserving the integrity and credibility of our artists.' As part of the deal, distribution of all of Roadrunner's future releases will be handled by Universal.

According to Kerrang! magazine, ex-GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler is set to make a rare live appearance with another former member of GNR, Gilby Clarke, at the guitarist's South American dates in August.

QUEENSRYCHE vocalist Geoff Tate has stated that the band have not yet chosen a title for their forthcoming double live CD, the recordings for which tool place at the Moore Theatre in Seattle this past weekend. Despite previous reports indicating that Evolution has been selected as the official title, it now appears that three possibilities are being considered, and on online poll is being conducted via the group's official web site to determine what the title is eventually going to be. The three choices are as follows: Live Evolution, Evolution Live and Live Specimens. For more info, visit www.queensryche.com

PUDDLE OF MUDD's video clip for the track “Control”, off its upcoming Come Clean debut CD (due out through Flawless/InterscopeRecords on August 28th) will be premiered on MTV's TRL today, Tuesday, July 31st between 3 PM and 5 PM. As previously reported, the clip was directed by LIMP BIZKIT frontman and FlawlessRecords head Fred Durst, who signed the group to the label and has been championing them as “the next NIRVANA”.

The reunited San Francisco Bay Area funk metallers MORDRED have reportedly pulled out of their scheduled appearance at DNA Lounge in San Francisco on August 12th and will now be making their post-reformation live debut on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend at an as-yet-undisclosed club.

ALICE IN CHAINS bassist Mike Inez will be replaced by VALIUM KNOB guitarist Thieler for a week's worth of Ozzfest dates as the bassist for BLACK LABEL SOCIETY while Inez prepares for SPYS4DARWIN's debut live appearance at KNDD-FM's Endfest next weekend in Seattle. As previously reported, SPYS4DARWIN features the talents of Inez, ALICE IN CHAINS drummer Sean Kinney, ex-SPONGE vocalist Vin Dombroski, and ex-QUEENSRYCHE guitarist Chris DeGarmo. Immediately following SPYS4DARWIN's set at the aforementioned Endfest, Inez will return to his BLS duties in time for the band's appearance at the Hartford, Connecticut date on Sunday, August 5th.

Norway's ARTCH will be signing albums at the Rock Hard stand at the Wacken Festival in Wacken, Germany on Saturday, August 4th at 1:00 PM.

As previously reported, former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash will be joining Michael Jackson for the JACKSON 5 performance and for Jackson's solo hits, 'Beat It' and 'Black &amp White' at the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, the Solo Years event, which is scheduled to take place on September 7th and September 10th at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

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'I am so excited about working with my dear friend Slash again,' Jackson said in a statement released Monday. 'He is a brilliant guitarist whom I really admire, and I look forward to having Slash perform with me again on these two special nights.'

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Slash commented: 'It's going to be a blast being onstage again with Michael. I am really looking forward to two great nights of music, and I'm honored to be a part of any event honoring him. He truly is one of the greatest talents known. Michael is timeless, classic and resilient. Here's to another 30 years.'

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In addition to Slash, the concert will feature appearances by hundreds of other artists, including DESTINY'S CHILD, Ricky Martin, Missy Elliott, and Mary J. Blige.

Canadian ྌs rockers KILLER DWARFS are reportedly contemplating a reunion, which will include a tour and a brand new studio album. More information as it becomes available.

Virginia's MISURA will be issuing their Logan Mader-produced debut CD through Too Dam Hype Records in the coming months. Mader was previously a member of MACHINE HEAD and SOULFLY, and is currently playing guitar in MEDICATION, the Los Angeles-based act who also feature in their ranks former UGLY KID JOE/LIFE OF AGONY vocalist Whitfield Crane.

Germany's “beer metal” crew TANKARD have lined up a host of gigs in the coming months. The confirmed dates so far are as follows:

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Aug. 04 - Wacken, GER @ Wacken Open Air

Aug. 24 - Abtsgmünd, GER @ Summer Breeze

Aug. 25 - Cham, GER @ Moshclub-Open Air

Sept. 15 - Friedrichshafen am Bodensee, GER @ TBA

Oct. 13 - Mainz, GER @ HDJ

Oct. 19 - Gunzendorf (bei Bamberg),GER @ Tanzcenter

Oct. 20 - Hoorn, NETH @ TBA

Nov. 02 - Coburg, GER @ JUZ Domino

Nov. 03 - Stuttgart, GER @ Röhre

Nov. 04 - Mailand/Bresso, IT @ Indian´s Saloon

Nov. 10 - Bad Wünnenberg, GER @ Schützenhalle

Nov. 17 - Lauterbach, GER @ Der Vulkan

The FOO FIGHTERS are doing a special “secret” show at the Troubadour in West Hollywood, California on Sunday, August 5th. The first 300 people to enter their e-mail address and name via the group's official web site get to buy (1) ticket to the show. For more info, visit, www.foofighters.com.

Sweden's RUNEMAGICK will perform at Club Aggression in Stockholm, Sweden on August 19th. Headliner for the show will be SOULREAPER. The group will also play Club Nocturnal in Gothenburg on September 8th.

Here is how the metal/hard rock genre has fared in the German Media Control (Top 100) charts for the week ending July 30th:

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02. LINKIN PARK - Hybrid Theory

11. BLINK-182 - Take Off Your Pants And Jacket

15. BON JOVI - One Wild Night - Live

16. JUDAS PRIEST - Demolition

19. LIMP BIZKIT - Chocolate Starfish...

21. BLACKMORE´S NIGHT - Fires At Midnight

25. RAMMSTEIN - Mutter

35. WHEATUS - Wheatus

37. CRAZY TOWN - The Gift Of Game

48. OOMPH! - Ego

49. BÖHSE ONKELZ - Wir Schrieben Geschichte

53. MUSE - Origin Of Symmetry

56. WEEZER - Weezer

64. AC/DC - Stiff Upper Lip

67. ICED EARTH - Horror Show

71. LIFEHOUSE - No Name Face

74. INCUBUS - Make Yourself

83. TOOL - Lateralus

91. BÖHSE ONKELZ - Gestern War Heute Noch Morgen

95. APOCALYPTICA - Cult

100. GODSMACK - Awake

Canada's KATAKLYSM will be shooting video clips for the tracks 'Il Diavolo in Me' and 'Manipulator of Souls” from their soon-to-be-issued album, EPIC (the Poetry of War) CD. KATAKLYSM are due to embark on a US tour in October with Sweden's MARDUK.

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MEGADETH'S PROBLEMS IN ASIA CONTINUE SOUTH KOREA-TO-TAIWAN FLIGHT DELAYED TAIWAN CONCERT COMPLETED JUST BEFORE TYPHOON HITS

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Less than a week after pioneering heavy metal band MEGADETH was banned from performing in Malaysia by the government there — due to imagery 'unfit' for the country's youth — the quartet's troubles in Asia continued this past weekend.

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Vocalist/lead guitarist Dave Mustaine, lead guitarist Al Pitrelli, bass guitarist David Ellefson and drummer Jimmy DeGrasso were scheduled to take a flight from Seoul, South Korea, to Taipei, Taiwan, after their concert in South Korea on Saturday, July 28, 2001. However, mechanical problems with the airplane delayed MEGADETH's flight by 12 hours.

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MEGADETH was on the verge of having to cancel a sold-out concert Sunday, July 29 in Taipei, Taiwan. However, after conversations with the promoter, the concert promoter said he would hold the crowd if Mustaine still wanted the band to play.

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The famous show-biz motto 'The show must go on' is relevant here. MEGADETH did not want to disappoint its fans and they arrived and hit the stage at 3:30 a.m. local time and played a complete concert [correction: according to a Mustaine online posting, the band performed for less than an hour—ED.]. What makes this miraculous is that a typhoon was forecast to hit the island nation at the time. Fortunately, the band finished its concert before the weather turned bad.

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No weather-related injuries were reported in relation to the concert. However, Typhoon Toraji ended up killing 35 Taiwanese. By early Monday, the typhoon caused deadly flooding and mudslides, and many international flights were canceled. Taipei's usually crowded streets were empty Monday morning because government offices, banks, and other businesses were closed. Shopping malls and hotels had even boarded up their windows as protection against the winds.

Here is a quote from former Canadian “Metal Queen” LEE AARON about ex-MOXY drummer Bill Wade, who played on LEE's first album and who recently lost his battle with cancer. “I first worked with Billy when I was about 19. I was young and very green in the industry — Bill was about 33 at that time — and I remember having a bad couple of weeks. My expectations of the industry were pretty grandiose at that stage: I was a kid with stars in my eyes. Bill took me aside one night and, like a kind, loving father, said I had to remember to be grateful and that I had to remember every day that I was lucky to be in this business and working. Throughout the course of my career, especially at times when I felt like hanging up my microphone, I always remember those words he imparted to me. It's sad to think that such a cool and talented person can be taken at such a young age.”

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After five years and four releases with Necropolis Records, Chicago's USURPER, effective immediately, have severed ties with the Fremont, CA based label. The partnership which resulted in the following: 1997's Threshold Of The Usurper, 1999's Skeletal Season, 2000's Visions From The Gods and Necronemesis has dissolved rapidly since the completion of the band's highly successful European Tour.

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Currently writing the forthcoming LP, guitarist and co-founder Rick Scythe commented 'We feel that now the time is right for USURPER to part ways with Necropolis Records. We had a great run in accomplishing some of USURPER's primary goals but right now our minds are set on the future and this includes negotiating a new deal with a new label.'

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USURPER began in 1992 as a side project issuing their first demonstration cassette in 1994. They then inked a deal with Head Not Found/Voices Of Wonder in the same year and in 1995 their debut Diabolosis... was released.

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In 1996 USURPER signed a worldwide deal with Necropolis Records and the label has been their home until now.

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As for the future, Scythe had this to say, 'If all goes as planned, we will record our fourth full length album in January of 2002 and have it released in the summer of 2002 on a new label.'

San Francisco's WURKT, who recently completed work on their 143 Records debut with producer Josh Abraham (i.e. ORGY, THESTART, COAL CHAMBER),have lined up a couple of home state shows in early August. The confirmed dates so far are as follows:

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Aug. 03 – Sacramento, CA @ Hard Rock Cafe

Aug. 04 – Orangevale, CA @ The Boardwalk

Paul Oakenfold and CRAZY TOWN have reportedly collaborated on a new song called “Starry Eyed Surprise”. The track is set to appear on Oakenfold's next album.

DARKTHRONE's Nocturno Culto will be at Metallian's stand on Saturday, August 4th, between 1:30 PM and 2 PM during the Wacken Open Air Festival for an exclusive signing session.

ROTTING CHRIST, FINNTROLL, MADDER MORTEM, TRISTANIA and VINTERSORG will be joining forces for a European tour in September /October. Here are the confirmed dates so far:

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Sept. 22. 09. (D) Erfurt, GER @ Zentrum

Sept. 23. 09. (D) Bielefeld, GER @ Luna

Sept. 24. 09. (D) Hamburg, GER @ Markthalle

Sept. 25 - Berlin, GER @ Razzle Dazzle

Sept. 26 - Bischofswerda, GER @ East Club

Sept. 27 - Trier, GER @ Exil

Sept. 28 - Zoetemeer, NETH @ Boerderij

Sept. 29 - Vosselaar, BEL @ Biebop

Sept. 30 - Tilburg, NETH @ 013

Oct. 01 - Essen, GER @ Zeche Carl

Oct. 02 - Paris, FRA @ La Locomotive

Oct. 04 - Rennes, FRA @ L' Antipode

Oct. 05 - Strasbourg, FRA @ La Laiterie

Oct. 06 - Offenbach, GER @ Hafenbahn

Oct. 07 - Zwickau, GER @ Alarm

Oct. 08 - Pratteln, SWI @ Z7

Oct. 09 - Graz, AUS @ Orpheum

Oct. 10 - Vienna, AUS @ Arena

Oct. 11 - Budapest, HUN @ E-Club

Oct. 12 - Innsbruck, AUS @ Hafen

Oct. 13 - Wels, AUS @ Schlachthof

Oct. 14 - Milano, ITA @ Indian's Saloon

Oct. 15 - München, GER @ Metropolis

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