Today's Dirt

Thursday, Feb 09


 Good morning folks!   This morning I read about an interview Shanw Crahan did for Kerrang! mag in the UK.  He told the reporter  fans should not even think about a new Slipknot album for at least another year.  He doesn't expect the band will reunite in a recording studio until at least sometime in 2013.  Hopefully, 4 years after the passing of Paul Gray, the boys will get that urge again to pummel us audiably again.  I hope so.  I miss new music from them....I also read news of  Disturbed bassist John Moyer, who has joined Adrenaline Mob, a band formed last year by progressive metal musicians  former Dream Theater/Avenged Sevenfold drummer Mike Portnoy, Symphony X frontman Russell Allen and Sonic Stomp guitarist Mike Orlando. Moyer will make his live debut with the band on March 12th at Hiro Ballroom in New York City. The band plans to release an album, "Omerta," on Mar 13th.  We'll have to definitely look into getting the boys over to the studios when they are in town for sure!  Our gal pal Lzzy Hale reportedly sings on the Duran Duran cover of "Come Undone."  Man, I had no idea that song is so popular with musicians.  What with My Darkest Days recording it for their last record.  Meanwhile, speaking of covers. the next Godsmack record will be a package of live performances along with 5 covers.  I LOVE cover tunes and suspect we'll have them in time for this Memorial Day's Under Cover special edition on hardDrive!...Michigan's OTHER favorite sons, Taproot, have a new album planned for April 10th.  Look for "The Epidosdes" to be released and once again, it was produced just outside of Ann Arbor, MI with their pal Tim Palatin.  Looking forward to that. I like those guys and hope this is successful for them!...Had a really nice chat yesterday with Johannes Eckerstrom of Sweden's Avatar, who release their new album, "Black Waltz" on EOne on Valentine's Day!  You MUST check them out online if you haven't already.  The video for the track features performances from the freak show known as Hellzapoppin' (think Jim Rose Circus.)  We were talking about the clip and Johannes assured me everything you see in the clip is real.  The glass, nails, drill, and I found out what those round things were on the fellow Bryce's eyelids when he pulls them down.  Kernels of corn that passed from his nasal cavity  through his tear ducts!   CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE THAT??  Kids, don't try this at home for sure!  I hear it's very painful!  But do check out the band's music!  I really like their brand of extreme metal! .....Happy 69th today to "Do I Amuse You" Joe Pesci!  And yes, Joe, you do!  

Wednesday, Feb 08


 Good day friends!   I am so excited to read this news on Pulse of Radio this morning, I must share! Deftones bassist Chi Cheng is showing more signs of emerging from a semi-comatose state to a semi-conscious state, over three years since he was gravely injured in a November 2008 car crash. According to Metal Underground, Cheng is now able to move his leg on command, but is still otherwise unable to move or speak aside from grunting noises he began making in October. Cheng required surgery after the car accident to remove part of his brain, but his recovery was strong enough he was taken off life support seven months later.  Over the course of the past two years, Cheng has emerged from his coma for brief intervals. He opens his eyes and apparently can see and hear things going on around him, but cannot respond verbally.  Nevertheless, Cheng's family is running out of money. He is staying in a special facility in New Jersey and lost his insurance just months after the accident.  His family reportedly has just $17,000 out of the total $250,000 needed for his full course of treatment and recovery.If you can help, hit this right now:  www.oneloveforchi.com.  Thank you!....The other big news item that will definitely make you smile is the ORION MUSIC AND MORE two-day rock festival extravaganza Metallica is throwing down in Atlantic City, NJ on Sat-Sun Jun 23-24!  The band did an aon-line press conference yesterday via LiveStream and said the name of the two day event is in honor of former bassist  Cliff Burton.  The show will be held at an old airfield in the heart of AC along the ocean called Bader Field.  The line-up so far:  Metallica headlines both nights.  First night, they'll do the "Black Album"  in it's entirety and the second night, "Ride the Lightning." OMG!  Avenged Sevenfold (yeah!), Cage the Elephant, Artic Monkeys, Modest Mouse, Gary Clark, Jr.,. Gaslight Anthem, Best Coast, Roky Erickson, Lucero, The Sword.  You'll have to go online to find out who some of these groups are, but more will be added.  Lars Ulrich is helping to arrange the bands and likes all kinds of music from the ecclectic to the hard.  I so hope they invite Avatar!  I think it would be cool!  I am actually interviewing Avatar's singer today and told their manager to get a call into  promoters C3 and Metallica!  Hope it happens!  Anyhow, tix on sale today for Met Club members through Friday and on Saturday, general on sale happens.  I heard two-day tix are $225.  But there will be more there than just music.  Of course, AC is a gambling town and it has some really nice beaches. And I am hearing things about car shows and other life style events  will also take place.  Hit www.orionmusicandmore.com for more!.....Happy 35th today to David Michael "Phoenix"  Farrell  of Linkin Park who turns 35 today!  Have a great day! 

Tuesday, Feb 07


 Happy 44th birthday to Sully Erna, sorry about your Patriots!  (Not!)  Man,I had a great time last night watching Foxy Shazam!  (Ha!  Roxy @ Foxy!)  Anyhow,  they were at Irving Plaza with The Darkness (whose lead singer, Justin Hawkins,  you probably saw in an ad during the Super Bowl Sunday night.)  Show was fun and funny!  Dee Snider and his wife sat next to me.  (Can you believe he's on "Celebrity Apprentice" this year?)  Dee was wearing his Foxy Shazam t-shirt and the band did a line from "We're Not Gonna Take It" in one of their songs, which simply delighted Dee!  At one point, Eric the lead singer, a wiry little fellow, jumps on the back of his lead guitarist, Loren, and starts to hump his neck!  Then he jumps off and asks the audience for a cigarette.  Several are thrown onto the stage.  Then he asks for a lighter.  Someone throws one.  He puts like 4 cigs in his mouth and lights them all at once. UGH!  I was vomiting (I hate cigarettes!)  But it was pretty funny.  Eric falls to the floor, on his knees and full body, so many times during the set, I gotta think the boy is one constant black and blue!  The band gets into such a frenzy when they perform.  It really is fun to watch.  And the cowboy joke, well, you'll have to see a show to appreciate it!  Catch Foxy Shazam on tour now with The Darkness.....Oh dear!  Puddle Of Mudd frontman Wes Scantlin was recently arrested for drug possession yet somehow kept the incident quiet for nearly a month. According to TMZ, Scantlin was busted on Jan 12th at around three in the morning when he was pulled over for a traffic violation in the Culver City section of Los Angeles. Officers on the scene suspected he was intoxicated and a search of his vehicle turned up some sort of "powdery substance" as well as a stash of pills. Scantlin was arrested and booked for felony possession of a controlled substance and had to pay $10,000 bail.   Wes has had it rough lately.  His wife is divorcing him and he owes back taxes to the state and feds to the tune of $60K.  The boy needs to get his act together, quick!.....Today at 2 PM ET, 11 AM PT,  hit www.metallica.com for a big announcement.  My guess as to what it could be?  They'll announce they'll be filming a big show this year in 3D, maybe live.  That's what I think anyhow.  We'll see later today.....Blabbermouth reports Killswitch Engage has officially reunited with original singer Jesse Leach, who left the band in 2002. The news was broken via an image of the group, with Leach, posted at its official website. Leach, who had hinted at possibly rejoining the act in several interviews, replaces Howard Jones, who parted ways with the group last month due to illness and other personal issues. Jones took over for Leach in 2002 and sang on three studio albums. Yeah!  The band should be getting down to recording their next album very soon!.....Other celebrating their birth today:  Wes Borland of Limp Bizkit is 37, Ashton Kutcher is 34.  

Monday, Feb 06


 What can I say?  The NY Giants won the Super Bowl, New York is happy.  Mike Mushok and Sully Erna, not so much!....Got a mysterious email from Metallica over the weekend.   Pulse of Radio ran this: Metallica will make a "special announcement" this Tue (Feb 7th) at 2:00 p.m. ET, according to a post at the band's official website. A teaser video posted at the site features text which reads, "You've seen them at festivals across the world. But you've never seen them . . . Tune in Tuesday, February 7 at 11 a.m. PST. Metallica.com." Metallica is known to have several potential projects or events in the works. Drummer Lars Ulrich hinted during the band's 30th anniversary concerts in December that the group would make an announcement in January about a special interactive fan event to take place in June. Wonder if this has anything to do with the 3-D movie in the works....Our Five Finger Death Punch "Remember Everything" contest begins today and ends Mar 04th!  You can enter right now via the home page link, but you must be a registered hardDriveRadio Radical first!  And you must write in to tell the band what "Remember Everything" conjures up in your mind and heart.  The band will be choosing the winner, so make it good! Meanwhile, over the weekend, the band shot a video for the song.  Should be ready in a couple of weeks....Forgot to mention last week I heard 3 new Slash songs.  One was better than the next!  If I recall properly, they are "Black Rain," "Halo" and "Standing in the Sun." But don't quote me 'cuz I might not have those titles right.  But they were really good.  Man, Myles Kennedy is an awesome singer and there's a blistering guitar solo that starts at 1:15 into one of the tunes!  Love it!  Tentatively the new album will be out the third week in May.  Slash will be at Rock on the Range to give us a taste! Meanwhile, Slash filmed a video for a track that appeared on his last album that will be made available for charity.  The tune "Gotten" was sung by Adam Levine of Maroon 5 and the proceeds from the clip will go to the Los Angeles Youth Network (LAYN)  that helps homeless kids.  Cool stuff.  Look for the clip soon and support the cause....RockAccess announced Saliva have posted a new song "All Around the World," the first song they've recorded with new singer Bobby Amaru.  You can find it on Saliva's Facebook....RockAccess also posted videos of Korn's performance from their appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live."  Cool!... Blabbermouth reports Soundgarden's Chris Cornell told Triple M in Australia the band's new album may not be out til the fall. Hmmm.  They said they weren't in a rush....And said to read Black Sabbath memebers will carry on recording their new album without drummer  Bill Ward.  If you read the report last week, Bill posted on his Facebook he can not move forward without a fair contract.  Sad but true! Gotta dash, got Foxy Shazam coming into the office this morning and I'll be on the hotLine later with Avatar's Johannes Eckerstrom.....Happy 50th to Axl Rose.  

Friday, Feb 03


 Had a great time yesterday with Sully Erna of Godsmack and Mike Mushok of Staind, who both came into the studios to promote their upcoming Mass Chaos Tour!  Guess I provoked Sully a little TOO much about our NY Giants beating his New England Patriots in this weekend's Super Bowl!  When I wasn't looking, he took a sharpie to our nylon Giants' banner and wrote "SUCK SOOOOO  BAD!!!"  I had to run around to find a bottle of White Out to cover up his graffiti!  LOL  Was pretty funny actually!   Then I cracked the joke, "See the color of my finger nail polish?"  Sully said, "Yeah, they're green."  I said, "Yeah, the color of the Patriots when they fly home losers from Indianapolis!"  Groan!  I know!  Anyhow,  Mike told us he wrote a song for some film project and gave it to Sully to sing vocals on. Sully is writing lyrics for it as we speak.  Could be interesting. Meanwhile, Godsmack is going to record 5 cover songs, (can't tell ya the single yet,) all American rock classics, along with a live album.  Sully said his knee surgery went well.  He had to have it because he hurt it playing sports (hello, he plays volleyball!)  and the recovery is going fine.  He also answered some of your questions you sent in:  One was from Jill  in WI who wanted to know what the status is of the DVD Sully's solo band filmed back in December.  He said it was in the works, being edited and trying to schedule it. It will definitely be released.  Another question from Brian about balancing the solo project with Godsmack.  To that he said, it hasn't been a problem. He's done this solo work while his other band has been on hiatus.  And Ed from the UK wrote in to find out if this tour will come to Europe.  They looked at each other and said, "That would be GREAT!"  And Sully said both bands will be touring (separately) this summer on the festivals, so there could very well be a chance for this to happen!  SO thanks to all who sent in questions.  And look for this tour, and a possible jam session between all the bands! (Maybe a cover song or two!)....Other news today:  Pulse of Radio reports Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl has signed on to be an executive producer of a new sitcom for the FX cable network. According to Deadline, the show will star comedian Dana Gould and will focus on a rock band that's about to become superstars but seeks therapy to avoid breaking up a la Metallica. The catch is that the therapist they enlist hates people and is on the brink of getting a divorce herself. Gould will write the series as well, and enlisted Grohl to come on board because he is a fan of Grohl's music and because the former Nirvana drummer is known as a funny guy himself. Grohl is no big fan of band therapy, telling NME.com a while back, "I believe one of the reasons (Foo Fighters have) managed to stay together (is) because we just don't tell each other everything."  ...Pulse also reveals Sevendust guitarist John Connolly and bassist Vince Hornsby have joined forces with Creed and Alter Bridge drummer Scott Phillips in a new outfit called Projected. According to Blabbermouth, the lineup also features guitarist/vocalist Eric "Erock" Friedman, who has played on Alter Bridge/Creed guitarist Mark Tremonti's upcoming solo debut, All I Was.  Interesting!.....This news is a bummer!  Original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward has announced  he'll not be able to participate in the recording of the reunited band's new album or perform with them on tour unless he is presented with what he described as a "fair agreement" and a "signable contract" that financially reflects his contributions to Sabbath's history and his standing as a founding member of the band. Ward issued a statement in which he said in part, "At this time, I would love nothing more than to be able to proceed with the Black Sabbath album and tour. However, I am unable to continue unless a 'signable' contract is drawn up; a contract that reflects some dignity and respect toward me as an original member of the band."   Ward said he worked last year in "good faith" with fellow original members Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler, including rehearsals and a November press conference in Los Angeles. But then, he wrote, "Several days ago, after nearly a year of trying to negotiate, another 'unsignable' contract was handed to me." The drummer, who played on 10 of Sabbath's first 11 studio albums, emphasized, " Recording sessions for the original band's first new album in 33 years were recently moved to London so that Iommi, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, could be close to his doctors."  Ozzy!!!!  Please have Sharon make this right!!! You can't have a reunion without Bill!.....Birthdays this weekend:  Sat:  Alice Cooper can sing "When I'm 64!" and  Noodle (Kevin Wassrman) of the Offspring  turns 49!  Sun:  Duff McKagan turns 48 and Adam Carson of AFI will be 37.  Have a great weekend!  Listen to Lou Brutus tonight on hardDrive XL and this weekend on the world famous hardDrive!  See ya Monday!   

Thursday, Feb 02


 It's Groundhog Day.  I still never remember if it's a longer winter if he sees his shadow or not.  But who knows if he can actually SEE his shadow anyhow,  and who thought this stupid thing up?  Ugh!....Today is MASS CHAOS DAY in my office. I gotta do this quick 'cus Sully from Godsmack and Mike from Staind are on their way in to do a radio tour to promote their upcoming tour with Halestorm and I gotta interview them.  So now my big dilemma, do I sit behind the glass due to my sniffles?  I don't want to get them sick, that's for sure!  But right about now, they're walking into my office where we hung a giant GIANTS' flag and the flatscreen welcoming them says "You're in GIant's Country!"  So they are NOT gonna be too happy when they see me!  LOL  Damn Patriots' fans, those boys!....Another rocker has thrown their hat into the Obama ring. Foo Fighters will perform at a fundraising concert for President Barack Obama's re-election campaign on Feb 15th in Holmby Hills, CA, according to Audio Ink Radio. The show will take place at the home of television writer/producer Bradley Bell and tickets will cost between $250 and $500, with organizers hoping to sell up to $1,000. A separate post-concert dinner at the Bell house for the president, hosted by actor Will Ferrell, will cost attendees a whopping $35,800 per person.  Waiting to see which rockers are behind the Republican candidates.  Anyone?....Rhino Records is reissuing Pantera's "Vulgar Display of Power."  The remastered disc will feature a track that was recorded in those sessions, but didn't make it on there called "Piss."  We're working out a schedule for Lou Brutus to interview Vinnie Paul about it.  The album will be 20 years old on Feb 25th.  Man, I am feeling old!.....Congrats to Lacuna Coil who's "Dark Adrenaline" debuted at # 15 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart.  It's the highest debut of their career....And set your DVR to record "Jimmy Kimmel Live" tonight to see my boys Korn performing "Narcissistic Cannibal." That's at tonight on ABC-TV.  Check local listings....Gotta dash.  If you want, send me some questions you'd like me to ask Mike and Sully,  get them to me before 10 AM ET via the email link on the home page!...Happy 46th to Stone Temple Pilots' bassist Robert Deleo!  

Wednesday, Feb 01


 I've got the opnly  bit of news YOU are gonna wanna hear today and that's ROCK ON THE RANGE 2012 is announced!  The line up is SICK!  Mark down these dates Fri May 18-Sun May 20.  Here's the line-up (details on which day each band is playing is TBA:)  INCUBUS, ROB ZOMBIE, SHINEDOWN, MARILYN MANSON, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, SLASH, MEGADETH, CHEVELLE, CYPRESS HILL, MASTODON, THEORY OF A DEADMAN, VOLBEAT, HALESTORM, LACUNA COIL, ADELITAS WAY,  P.O.D.,, REDLIGHT KING, BLACK STONE CHERRY, CAVO, TRIVIUM, DOWN, THE DARKNESS, ESCAPE THE FATE, ARANDA, EMPHATIC, JAMES DURBON,  FALLING IN REVERSE, BOBAFLEX, BLACK TIDE, KYNG, SOIL, 12 STONES, RIVAL SONS, EVE TO ADAM, OTHERWISE AND GHOSTS OF AUGUST.  Plus there's the Friday Night Free show starring FOXY SHAZAM, HAIRBALL, HELLS BELLS and more TBA!  Three stages, three days!  Total rock chaos!  It's gonna be awesome!  Tickets go on sale  Friday, Feb 10th, and there will also be VIP packages and a layaway plan for tix (starts Feb 29th.)  See www.rockontherange.com for more! YEAH BABY!  We'll  have a flyaway contest coming later this year, too!....Shinedown have posted 4 song samples from their forthcoming "Amaryliss"  album, due Mar 27th.  Hit www.shinedown.com for them and see the artwork,  which reminds me of the work the dude that does Mastodon's art, actually.  Can't wait to hear the whole thing.....Brian Johnson of AC/DC was 32 in a pack of 59 racers in the Daytona Rolex 24 Race last Saturday down in Florida.  He did end up raising a lot of money for his charity, the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer.  Good on ya, son! ....A City Council member in Birmingham, England has called on the council to create a "Black Sabbath Day" in honor of the band, which formed in the industrial city in the late Sixties. According to the Birmingham Post, council member Philip Parkin brought up the idea in a report titled "Destination Birmingham," saying, "Black Sabbath's reunion and their agreement to headline Download Festival in June is an opportunity we should not miss. Early discussions are taking place about how best the city should celebrate this and the council should be supporting any celebrations . . . we need to celebrate the fact these people come from Birmingham and there could be various ways we could do it." (Pulse of Radio.)

Tuesday, Jan 31


 Man, I just watched the YouTube 1 hour 1988 Guns N' Roses show  MTV filmed at the Ritz (now called Webster Hall) here in NYC.  (I woulda been there, except I was living in LA at the time, damn!)  Anyhow, the new GNR will be doing a string of  club shows at three different NYC clubs during Fashion Week.  Feb 10 @ Roseland, Feb 12 @ Terminal 5 and Feb 15 @ the Ritz (I will always call that club the Ritz..  Ya know when names of places you used to frequent are changed,  like they tried to rename Irving Plaza to the Fillmore.  Now out of respect for the man who started the Fillmores (West and East), the legendary concert promoter Bill Graham,  I could NEVER call it the Fillmore!  And apparently no one else could either;  they changed it back to Irving Plaza!...You know it's an election season when rock stars start to come out in support of their candidates.  First up,  Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell will perform at a Feb 16th benefit show in San Francisco to help raise funds for President Barack Obama's re-election campaign, according to the Mercury News. The performance will include a reception at a yet-to-be-disclosed location. Tickets will run $100 for general seating, $1,000 for preferred seating, and $7,500 for a package that includes preferred seating and an individual photo with the President. More people can be added to the photo for $2,500 per head. (Do they take MasterCard?).....Meanwhile, have you been in an airport security line where they show video to inform people on the TSA rules?  Well Seattle's airport has done it one better!  Alice In Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell and Death Cab For Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard are two of the musicians who have taped public service announcements for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The PSAs notify arriving travelers about the airport's policies, with Cantrell, for instance, announcing its no-smoking rules. (Which is hilarious since last I knew, he was a change smoker!)   Music and videos from famous local acts like Nirvana and Heart will also play throughout the airport terminals. Seattle mayor Mike McGinn said in a statement, "Seattle is known around the world for its music culture, so it's great to see this identity embraced and showcased to all the travelers going through the airport."....Ya know, Michael Anthony is a class guy.   The former Van Halen bassist (and current Chickenfoot member)  told the U.K.'s Planet Rock  he has no plans to go after the band for songwriting royalties from its upcoming album, A Different Kind Of Truth. With at least seven of the songs on the new disc consisting of reworked material from the Seventies -- when Anthony was in the band and used to receive equal songwriting credits with the other three members -- a case could be made that Van Halen owes him money from the use of this vintage material.  But Anthony said, "I don't want to do anything. I just let it be. And, hey, it'll be nice to hear some of those old songs again that I haven't played in a long time." Anthony added that he's especially looking forward to one track -- "She's The Woman" -- which was written before he joined in 1974. Anthony was replaced in Van Halen by guitarist Eddie Van Halen's son Wolfgang in 2006....Foo Fighters are offering fans free video for "These Days" on iTunes.....Man, I am getting hooked on "Downton Abbey" on PBS.  Anyone else out there into it?  I LOVE IT!....Happy 48th to Slayer's Jeff Hanneman.  

Monday, Jan 30


 I guess my immune system is shot.  I got slammed with a huge, nasty head cold.  Can't leave the room without a kleenex in my hand.  This SUCKS SO BAD!  Shawn will have to fill in for me for Dirt on the XL.  So be listening in for her tomorrow night! Meanwhile, Shawn had Eve to Adam in the hardDrive studios last week!  And thank to the band  for all the cool swag!   Friday, I spoke with Brent from Shinedown.  So great to talk to him.  He's so stoked about the new album, produced once again by Rob Cavallo.  Look for "Amaryliss" in stores Mar 27.  The band leaves for Europe to start a tour with Halestorm Feb 1.  We wish them all the best and safe journey! And the AVALANCHE TOUR with Shinedown, Adelitas Way, New Medicine (and Art of Dying 4/12-25) is in Road Rage...tool seems to be rediscovering its energy as a band on its current North American tour after years of identical set lists and apathetic performances from singer Maynard James Keenan, according to a review posted at Antiquiet.com. Writing about the band's Jan 25th concert in Toronto, the site said, "It was almost inevitable to expect a lifeless show that merely revisited a better, more artful period of an assuredly still artful yet uninspired band. Then the band took the stage and all those worries disappeared almost instantly."  Lou Brutus has a concert report coming up next weekend with Max Volume of KOZZ in Reno on the tour's opening night.  Max definitely agrees with this Antiquiet report for sure!...Korn has posted footage online of singer Jonathan Davis recording vocals for a song called "Sanctuary" while staying in a hotel room in Manila, the Philippines. The tune is included on Korn's latest album, The Path Of Totality, which features the band collaborating on every track with a different dubstep DJ or producer to create a new fusion of heavy rock and electronic music. Meanwhile, Pulse of Radio reports former Korn drummer David Silveria has resurfaced in a new band called Infinika,  (with Riz Story and Miki Black of Anyone) which will soon release an album called "Echoes And Traces."  Silveria left Korn in late 2006 and was reportedly focusing on family life along with running his steak house and sushi restaurant. But in December 2009, David reportedly changed his steak house into the rock and sports-themed bar Silveria's Rockbar and sold his ownership of the sushi place to his ex-wife after a year-long court battle. I guess he bought all new gear, since he sold or gave most of it away, and even used the cases he used for his drums as tables in his bar! And he looks like he's had a few too many burgers and fries!!!!!.....Slash's second album could be out in May. (FIngers crossed!) This time around, the band is recording on tape, totally live as it happens, with producer Eric Valentine.  It's all down to the vocals now, as Myles Kennedy is doing the songs as full takes.  Usually a pain in the butt to record that way, but a live-as-it happens is always a pleaser, as I think a lot of us are tired about the Pro-Tools sound.  Who knows, maybe things will turn around and the rise of the recording studio will return!  Gotta go blow my nose some more.  Talk later.  

Friday, Jan 27


 Man, Dave Navarro made a good point when he said nowadays, when he looks out into the audience, all he sees are cameras and smart phones focused on the stage.  Not like people are enjoying shows like they used to.  Case in point:  someone who went to see tool's opening night in Reno, filmed the entire show, all one hour and 35 minutes.  I mean, how can you really enjoy a concert doing that?  And now we can all see it on YouTube......Five Finger Death Punch singer Ivan Moody has joined Slipknot percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan in the cast of the upcoming movie The Devil's Carnival. According to Artist Direct, Moody will play "the charming yet doomful character of Hobo Clown. For some spare change, he'll spin you a story, but you may not like the tale's outcome." The horror rock musical, a sequel to Repo: The Genetic Opera, is being directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, who directed Repo as well as the second, third and fourth movies in the Saw franchise.  This isn't Ivan's first role.  He appeared in a straight to DVD film in 2009 called Bled. He played an ogre....I saw surprised to read about this today on Pulse of Radio: The marriage of Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale and No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani could be on the rocks, according to a report from the tabloid magazine Star. The report alleges that the 46-year-old Rossdale and 42-year-old Stefani have been in and out of marriage counseling in an effort to save the relationship, which sources say has been battered by a continuous stream of revelations about Rossdale's past. One insider told the Star, "He's just not been honest with her about his past."  Just a couple of years after they were married in 2002, Rossdale confessed that he had a now 22-year-old daughter, model Daisy Lowe, from a previous relationship with designer Pearl Lowe.   In 2009,  Hole frontperson Courtney Love claimed to have had an eight-month affair with Rossdale -- while he was dating Stefani. Love also hinted that Rossdale had cheated on his future wife with others as well. Sounded to me  Gavin was totally committed to Gwen when I spoke with him last.  He related a romantic Valentine's Day surprise he had for her last year and was wondering what he was going to do this year (a hard one to  top....you'll hear it on hardDriveXL on Valentine's Day!)  Anyhow, I hope this is all rumor, after all, it's coming from Star Magazine, where all credible news comes from!.....I had a great conversation yesterday with Lacey Sturm of Flyleaf!  She is so sweet!  She's at home with her husband and 9 month old son (Joshua and Jack, respectively)  while Jack is teething his first 4 teeth!  Poor kid!  Meanwhile, the rest of Flyleaf is recording in LA with producer Howard Benson.  She will join them in early Feb and said they have a lot of really cool songs and she can't wait to record!  I asked her if it will be hard leaving Jack when the band gets ready to tour, but she said both her husband and son will join her on the road.  She said she was inspired by Skillet, who bring their kids with them when they tour.  She even had Skillet over to her home recently when they had a day off in the Pittsburgh area and invited then  over to the house for a home-cooked meal and they made "monster cookies."  Hit up Lacey's Twitter page where she's posted photos!  Mmmmm.  Cookies.  Anyhow, be listening for the interview with Lacey on hardDrive and the XL soon and watch the music video for "Heavy Prey"  from the "Underworld:Awakening"  soundtrack, featuring Geno Lenardo, former guitarist for Filter.  It's a great song and a beautiful video! ....Speaking of Skillet, Lacey told me they are already working on new songs and they will also be recording this year, after this next leg of their tour (see Road Rage.)....I love this story:  Despite what moral watchdogs may think, the music of Metallica is good for you. That's the finding of Columbia University professor Galina Mindlin, who asserts in her latest book, Your Playlist Can Change Your Life: 10 Proven Ways Your Favorite Music Can Revolutionize Your Health, Memory, Organization, Alertness and More, that listening to songs with a certain number of beats per minute can generate specific mental states, such as productivity and relaxation. Mindlin said, "It's how music affects you -- how it can improve your memory, how it can relieve anxiety, enhance your mood, how we can use playlists for specific tasks. Using music with certain frequencies, you really can create the desired state of mind." Along with Metallica, Mindlin says that certain songs by the Beatles, U2 and the Black Eyed Peas all can be used to improve people's mental and emotional states. Interesting. (from Gibson.com)....Here's something I know Lou Brutus will be looking into for "It Came from the Web":  In addition to fronting two bands, producing a feature film and running his own online marketing company, Blink-182 and Angels & Airwaves singer/guitarist Tom DeLonge recently launched Strange Times, a website focused on extraterrestrial life, paranormal activity, cryptozoology, conspiracy theories and other otherworldly or non-mainstream topics.  DeLonge explained to Noisecreep why he wanted to create the site, saying, "People forget that a lot of fringe stories routinely had disinformation and were marketed to be unbelievable by our own government for so long for a variety of purposes. So over the decades people became conditioned to think these stories are not real even when some of them were."  Asked if there was one mystery he would like to solve, DeLonge replied, "There's one riddle I'd love to solve - about ancient man on this planet and the capabilities we had. Like, the fact that we may have been to the moon or mars long ago . . . Did we go there a million years ago and are we just rediscovering it all now? I don't think we're working with little green aliens in a mountain, but I do think there's a lot of stuff in our solar system that's pretty trippy."....Have a great weekend!  Be sure to listen to hardDrive XL with Lou Brutus tonight and this weekend's hardDrive!   Happy 68th today to Nick Mason of Pink Floyd and Happy 44th to Mike Patton of Faith No More/Tomahawk.  

ROCKSTAR MAYHEM 2012 in ROAD RAGE


SLIPKNOT, SLAYER and more!   See the ROAD RAGE page now!