Jeff Hanneman – Rest in Peace

Thrash forefather, Jeff Hanneman, died yesterday, May 2nd, from apparent liver failure in his Southern California home at 11 am (PST).

The influential thrash god was one of the founders of Southern California thrash metal band, SLAYER, which erupted onto the club scene in 1981-1982 and rose to prominence in metal circles shortly thereafter. His solo style and menacing thrash riffs can be heard on numerous ‘classic’ thrash anthems, including Reign in Blood, South of Heaven and Angel of Death. Hanneman was instrumental in the creation of what most metal fans consider to be the greatest thrash album of all time, Reign in Blood (1986).

Jeff Hanneman (1964 – 2013) was just 49 years old.

You will be sorely missed.

Rest in Peace… and Thank You!

John Bonham Honored By Iron Maiden, Slayer, Anthrax Drummers At 2013 Bonzo Bash

Tribute to the late legendary Led Zeppelin drummer JOHN BONHAM was paid by metal’s top drummers at the NAMM Convention in Anaheim on January 24, with an all-star lineup of skinbeaters slamming sticks and crushing crash cymbals to celebrate the 2013 “Bonzo Bash.”

Held at the Observatory, the “Bonzo Bash At NAMM Jamm” featured Iron Maiden’s Nicko McBrain pounding through “Immigrant Song,” while Slayer’s Dave Lombardo swung low and jazzy on Led Zep’s “Down By The Seaside.” Mike Portnoy of Adrenaline Mob blew eardrums to smithereens on “How Many More Times” from Led Zeppelin I, with ex-Megadeth bassist James Lomenzo bringing the hammer of the gods to each tune.

Also drumming in celebration of Bonzo’s Led Zep legacy were Anthrax’s Charlie Benante, Testament’s Gene Hoglan, Korn’s Ray Luzier, Buckcherry’s Xavier Muriel, Jane’s Addiction’s Stephen Perkins, Poison’s Rikki Rockett, and Steven Adler of Guns N’ Roses. Joining in the NAMM Jamm onstage were Tesla’s Frank Hannon, Warrant’s Robert Mason, Whitesnake’s Doug Aldrich, and Great White’s Jack Russell.

Iggy & The Stooges Announce A New Album Is Coming

IGGY AND THE STOOGES are about to drop their second reunited record on the unsuspecting rock world.

The new Stooges album — the band’s first since The Weirdness produced a napalm blast of rock n’ roll in 2007 — will be titled Ready To Die, according to HitFix, who received word directly from the LP’s producer Ed Cherney.

“It’s raw,” Cherney told HitFix. “It’s old-time Stooges. They’re great songs, but not necessarily big choruses. They’re the Anti-christ of anthems,” he said. Cherney then described Iggy’s lyrics as “very timely. He knows what he wants to say. He’s watching the world around him.”

Back on guitar for the new Stooges record is Raw Power alum James Williamson, who rejoined his bandmates after the death of original Stooge guitarist Ron Asheton in 2009. Mike Watt will be on bass, with production in San Francisco while Iggy’s recording all his vocals in Miami.

Two of the song titles revealed by Cherney are “Gun,” and “I Got A Job But It Don’t Pay Sh**.” Total old-time Stooges indeed!

Geezer Butler Reveals New Black Sabbath Album Will Be “Heavy”

“This is the first time we’ve done an album together sober,” BLACK SABBATH bassist GEEZER BUTLER told Southern California radio station KCAL Rocks recently, sharing news about the reunited band’s upcoming album, 13. “None of us have been drinking or doing drugs or anything. So it’s been more professional in that way. And we’ve stuck to a schedule every day. We’d go in at one o’clock and finish at six, just to keep everything fresh. Five hours a day. That’s it.”

“It’s sort of got the feel of the first three albums,” Geezer admitted. “Back to the basic rawness. And the lyrics are very…They’re just about life. Life and death and doom and everything else. You get Prozac with every album!”

To Black Sabb fans, who’ve been endlessly scrutinizing the name of the new LP, Butler confessed: “Well, [13] was sort of a temporary name, that we had something to refer to the album as, and I think it kind of stuck. But I don‘t know if that’s gonna be the final title or not. It was named partly because it’s coming out in 2013, and originally we were gonna put 13 tracks on the album. We ended up doing 16 tracks, so I’m not sure what’s gonna be on the album and what isn‘t.”

Regarding Rage Against The Machine’s Brad Wilk manning the drum kit for the new album, Geezer said, “That was [producer] Rick Rubin’s idea, ‘cause he didn’t want to have a typical heavy metal drummer on the album, because it’s not really a heavy metal album. It’s more rock…heavy rock. And Rick suggested having Brad, ‘cause he’s more of in the vein of [original Sabbath drummer] Bill Ward. So we jammed with him and he sounded great with the stuff. It’s sort of back to the way we used to be in the ‘70s. That’s his feel. Sort of a jazzy, bluesy feel to him, and that’s the way the music is now.”

Dave Mustaine Promises New Megadeth Album Will Be About “The Battle Of Good And Evil”

MEGADETH maestro Dave Mustaine is wrapping his band’s latest disc. “It’s basically the battle of good and evil,” he told VintageRock.com. “I think a lot of people misinterpret heavy metal fans as all of us being lost and deranged and being drug addicts and alcoholics and being satanic and stuff like that. I mean, we all have a little bit of darkness in us. But as far as the battle of good and evil, that’s something that everybody encounters every day. The stop sign: Do I roll through it, or do I stop?”

Megadeth has been recording the new album with Grammy-winning producer Johnny K, in San Diego. “We’re almost done with it,” Dave promised. “[Johnny’s] gonna be mixing it out in Chicago at his studio…Last night, Dave Ellefson — he’ll probably not appreciate me telling this story — but he was sitting in a chair and his hand was hanging over the side of the chair. And I said, ‘What’s the matter?’ And he goes, ‘Man, I haven’t played this much in a long time.’ And I was like, ‘Good.’ So that was really exciting for me, because David, he’s a monster on bass guitar, and for him to be saying stuff like that and just showing that he’s a little tired because there’s so much activity with the songs, I think the fans are really gonna respond to that.”

‘Deth’s also with a new record label, after splitting with Roadrunner Records. “We’re with a great new label,” Dave said. “I can’t say who it is. I’d love to tell you who it is. But we’re not with Roadrunner anymore. That was some good years for us there, and we really look back with great fondness on our times with Roadrunner. But the excitement level for us right now is just insane.”

“We’ve also got some [tour] dates this summer with Iron Maiden over in Spain, Italy, and France, and some headlining shows in the U.K.,” Dave added. “And then we’re coming back to the States and doing some concerts here. And we’ve got some stuff lined up at the end of the year with Gigantour — not only here in the States, but also down in South America. We’ve got some really interesting lineups for that. We’re hoping that the music is gonna be the most important thing, so that the fans will get what they want.”

Cannibal Corpse & Napalm Death Tour Dates Announced

“We’re psyched to be headlining this year’s Decibel Magazine Tour, along with Napalm Death and Immolation!” gushed CANNIBAL CORPSE bassist Alex Webster. “This is a lineup of bands that has been a consistent part of the death/grind scene for decades. And we’re proud to be a part of it. It will be a legendary night for extreme music.”

Decibel Magazine’s 2013 tour kicks off May 10 in Houston, Texas, with death metallers Cannibal Corpse headlining along with support from Napalm Death, Immolation, Beyond Creation, Cretin, and Magrudergrind.

Both Cannibal Corpse and Napalm Death released acclaimed albums in 2012, Cannibal Corpse with Torture and Napalm Death with Utilitarian.

Decibel Magazine 2013 Tour hits the following U.S. cities:

5/10 Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s
5/11 Dallas, TX @ Trees
5/12 San Antonio, TX @ Backstage Live
5/14 Tucson, AZ @ The Rock
5/15 Ramona, CA @ Ramona Mainstage
5/16 Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory
5/17 Oakland, CA @ Oakland Metro
5/18 Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
5/19 Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
5/21 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
5/22 Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Ballroom
5/23 Edmonton, AB @ Starlight Room
5/24 Regina, SK @ Riddell Centre
5/25 Winnipeg, MB @ The Garrick
5/26 St. Paul, MN @ Mill City Nights
5/28 Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
5/29 Detroit, MI @ Harpos
5/30 Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
5/31 Toronto, ON @ The Phoenix
6/1 Montreal, QC @ Club Soda
6/2 Boston, MA @ Royale
6/4 New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place
6/5 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
6/6 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
6/7 Cleveland, OH @ Peabodys
6/9 St. Louis, MO @ Pops
6/11 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
6/12 Orlando, FL @ Beacham

Massive 2013 Rock On The Range Lineup Includes Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Halestorm, Korn, + More

“We’re really looking forward to returning to Rock On The Range with a batch of brand new killer Alice tunes to play everyone!” says Jerry Cantrell of ALICE IN CHAINS.

“Head is back!!” says KORN’s Jonathan Davis. “Rock On The Range is going to start it all off!! Get ready, we are going to hit it hard!!”

The massive lineup for the 2013 Rock On The Range festival of musical madness has been revealed. Rocking the Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio over three days in May, the event will feature the reunited SOUNDGARDEN in their first Ohio gig in two decades. “Getting Soundgarden, and having seminal acts Alice In Chains, Korn, Volbeat, and Papa Roach return,” announced Gary Spivack, co-producer of the event, “along with bands new to Rock On The Range including Smashing Pumpkins and Bush, and everything in between — the spectrum of rock n’ roll is covered…three days of constant energy. Rock On The Range is truly where rock lives!”

Though metallers Lamb Of God are confirmed to rock the stage, with vocalist Randy Blythe due to appear in Czech court on February 4th on a manslaughter charge, organizers are still pondering whether LoG will remain on the bill.

The full lineup for Rock On The Range, which takes place May 17-19, includes:

Soundgarden
Alice In Chains
Smashing Pumpkins
Korn
Bush
Stone Sour
Three Days Grace
Papa Roach
Cheap Trick
Bullet For My Valentine
Volbeat
Lamb Of God
Skillet
A Day To Remember
Buckcherry
Hollywood Undead
All That Remains
Device (with David Draiman)
Steel Panther
Sevendust
Sick Puppies
Asking Alexandria
Pop Evil
In Flames
Clutch
In This Moment
Black Veil Brides
The Sword
Ghost
Motionless In White
Red
Deuce
Middle Class Rut
Big Wreck
Oleander
Otherwise
Red Line Chemistry
Young Guns
Thousand Foot Krutch
Mindset Evolution
Tracer
Beware of Darkness
Heaven’s Basement
American Fangs
Love And Death
Gemini Syndrome

Def Leppard Hoping To Record New Tunes During Vegas Residency

Joe Elliott of glam NWOBHM legends DEF LEPPARD is hoping for some “Hysteria” to be ignited during his band’s nine-show run in Las Vegas, which kicks off at the end of March.

“This will be the first time in at least 10 years where we’re all actually in one room banging out songs from scratch,” Elliott told Billboard. “We don’t all live on the same continent, so it’s increasingly more difficult for us to just do what people expect a band to do — wander into a dusty old rehearsal room and go, ‘What you got?’”

“So the whole point of this Vegas thing,” he said, “when we’re not on stage, is to attack pieces of work we have that aren’t finished songs. ‘I’ve got this riff.’ ‘Great, let’s play around with it.’ I’m sure everybody’s got some individual ideas, and we’ll go from there.”

Joe plans for Def Lepp to convert an extra room at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino into a mini-studio. “Hopefully they won’t kick us out!” he laughed. As to what the Vegas stay will produce for Def Leppard fans, Elliott said, “I don’t know if we’ll do an album. Maybe the way to go is put one or two tracks out at a time, and see how it goes. Almost like a 7-inch single…We’ve got a golden opportunity, to look each other in the eye and just rock. We’re back to that rehearsal-room vibe.”

Scott Ian Drops Hints That Anthrax Guitarist “Made A Mistake” In Leaving Band

Guitarist Rob Caggiano departing from ANTHRAX on January 4th came as a shock to the masters of thrash. At the time, Anthrax was celebrating their 2013 Grammy nomination and finishing up tracks for their Anthems EP. And now, the band’s Scott Ian has come forward and offered more details into Rob’s hasty departure.

“The fact that Anthrax is at the top of their game right now and totally ‘out for blood’ after all these years is a testament to this band’s longevity and conviction,” Caggiano stated upon his exit. “I’m truly honored to have been a part of their brilliant legacy.”

Though Caggiano’s send-off message sounded brotherly, Scott Ian now says his band-brother may have made a “mistake” in leaving Anthrax. Ian told MTV:

“We didn’t know he was planning on leaving while we were tracking [Anthems]. He was literally finishing solos in Berlin on the last days of the tour. It wasn’t until after the tour ended and we started having conversations, and just to put it in a nutshell, Rob just needs to do his own thing at this point in time. We knew he had a record that he was going to be doing possibly. We had already told him, if you need to take a hiatus, that’s fine. The best thing I can say is that he’s on a mission to do his own thing. And I’m certainly not going to stand in his way.

“As much as it sucks,” Scott said, “this whole thing has been friendly. I may think Rob had made a mistake by leaving the band. But at the same time he’s my friend, and I back his decision all the way, in whatever he feels he needs to do.”

Listening To Heavy Metal Is A Sign Of Teen Delinquency, Study Reports

Kids who like heavy metal are more likely to become hardcore criminals and thugs. That’s according to a new study, published in the Dutch journal Pediatrics.

“We were stunned ourselves,” admitted Dr. Tom Ter Bogt, of his findings. “But we checked it over and over again.”

The Dutch study tracked 149 boys and 160 girls, from ages 12 to 16. Over those four years, researchers discovered that 12-year-olds with a strong preference for “deviant music” — labelled as “heavy metal, hip-hop, gothic, punk, and techno-hardcore” — were more likely to become engaged in vandalism, shoplifting, fighting, and gang delinquency by age 16, whereas kids who listened to other genres of music — pop, classical, or jazz — did not.

“What we believe happens,” reported Dr. Ter Bogt, “if you have this taste for rebellious music, for noisy music, it brings you into contact with other kids with the same type of music taste. And you are contaminated by the behavior in that group.

Ter Bogt added, “If you listen to classical music, or jazz, overall these kids tend to behave far less dramatically. So I would suggest to parents if your 12-year-old listens to very, very noisy music, rebellious music, be aware of what kinds of friends he or she brings to the house.”

After studying the connection between music and behavior for 10 years, Ter Bogt now admits his own pre-teenage metalhead tastes in music affected his young adulthood.

“The first LP I bought in those days was the Beach Boys. The second was Black Sabbath. I was into the heavy stuff myself, and at 16 or 17, I was involved in an occasional thing or two, although I was never at a police station.

“LIke most kids,” he said, “I grew out of it and became a normal law-abiding citizen.”

The doc did admit his findings do have him worried about his own son, a 10-year-old who likes popstar Justin Bieber but also has a taste for German heavy metallers Rammstein.

“I’ve got to keep an eye on him,” he concluded.