Away Team

Following the massively successful Final Frontier World Tour 2010-11, IRON MAIDEN are back on the road this summer with a series of Arena, Amphitheatre and Festival shows in the U.S.A. and Canada, opening in Charlotte, NC, U.S.A. on June 21, and finishing in Houston, TX, on Aug 18 (dates listed below), to be followed by further dates around the World in 2013. The MAIDEN ENGLAND WORLD TOUR will closely mirror, in terms of production and content, the original 1988 concert video of the same name, shot on the “Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son Tour”. This opening section of the World Tour is the band’s most extensive visit to North America for many years and includes a number of cities the band have not played in a very long time, such as Charlotte, Atlanta, Buffalo, Indianapolis and Salt Lake City.

In most venues, tickets will go on sale on March 2 and 3 but watch this site or check local venue information for fuller details. Fan Club members should check out ironmaiden.com for exclusive first day ticket presales and contest to be ‘First To The Barrier’.

MAIDEN ENGLAND marks the third chapter in the History of Iron Maiden, a journey which began in 2004 with The Early Days DVD and subsequent 2005 Early Days Tour. Part Two followed in 2008 with the Live After Death DVD – the seminal 1984 concert recorded at Long Beach Arena (L.A) during the World Slavery Tour – and the band embarking on their groundbreaking Somewhere Back In Time World Tour 2008/9, which saw them play to over two million fans in almost 40 countries.

Comments vocalist Bruce Dickinson, “We have great fun playing the History of Maiden Tours because it gives us an opportunity between new albums to go out and play songs from our earlier catalogue. It’s always fantastic seeing the crowd reaction from a new generation of fans who have never experienced some of these tracks performed live before, and of course we know our longstanding fans will enjoy seeing the original Seventh Son Tour re-visited – with many other surprises! Our intention is to play about two thirds of the original track list of Maiden England, including some songs we have not played live in a very,very long time, plus other favourites we just know the fans are going to want to hear! We always try to give our fans a great show musically, but we have always tried to make it as entertaining and memorable an experience as we can visually. And we all feel this show is going to do that splendidly! We can’t wait to get started in Charlotte”.

Iron Maiden are delighted to announce that the extraordinary and legendary Alice Cooper will be their Very Special Guest on all shows up to July 21. After that date, Special Guest will be Coheed and Cambria, the inspiring, cutting edge band from New York.

Iron Maiden continue to be actively dedicated to ensuring their fans always have full access to the best possible tickets in the fairest possible way. Manager Rod Smallwood comments:

“We are trying to ensure that our fans get the tickets they want in the prime positions without paying over the odds to ticket scalpers. Maiden get infuriated with the way fans sometimes have to pay more than the ticket price to get good positions at our shows. So we will, wherever possible (Festivals excluded), with the assistance of the Promoters, arrange a paperless ticketing system at least for the front sections to try to eliminate as much of the ticket scalping and exchanges as we can. We put this into practice on our North American Tour in 2010; it worked well and we received many positive comments back from our fans, so we intend to increase this where feasible. With paperless ticketing, only those who actually pay initially for the tickets will get into the show so scalping is generally avoided. We are also doing everything we can to avoid any drain of prime tickets going to the Secondary Ticketing sites which we feel make unfair profits from music fans.

Finally, we are of course once again arranging exclusive ticket pre-sales for our fan club members so they can be quick off the mark for great tickets and will also continue to run the contest in appropriate venues for fan club members so they can be ‘First To The Barrier’ prior to the show. We hope that these measures will help our fans as much as possible and ask that they keep checking for details on our website.”

MAIDEN ENGLAND 2012 TOUR DATES:
Thur 21st June Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Sat 23rd June Atlanta, GA Aarons Amphitheatre
Tue 26th June Boston, MA Comcast Center
Wed 27th June Wantagh, NY Jones Beach
Fri 29th June Philadelphia, PI Susquehanna Bank Center
Sat 30th June Washington, DC Jiffy Lube Live
Mon 2nd July Newark, NJ Prudential Center
Thur 5th July Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank
Sun 8th July Quebec, QC Colisee Pepsi Arena
Wed 11th July Montreal, QC Bell Center
Fri 13th July Toronto, ON Molson Amphitheatre
Sat 14th July Sarnia, ON Bayfest
Mon 16th July Buffalo, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Wed 18th July Detroit, MI DTE Music Theatre
Thur 19th July Indianapolis, IN Klipsch Music Centre
Tues 24th July Winnipeg, MB MTS Center
Thur 26th July Calgary, AB Scotiabank Saddledome
Fri 27th July Edmonton, AB Rexall Place
Sun 29th July Vancouver, BC Pacific Coliseum
Mon 30th July Auburn, WA White River Amphitheatre
Wed 1st August Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre
Fri 3rd August San Francisco, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
Mon 6th August Phoenix, AZ Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion
Thur 9th August Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Sun 12th August Albuquerque. NM Hard Rock Pavilion
Mon 13th August Denver, CO Comfort Dental Amphitheatre
Wed 15th August San Antonio, TX AT&T Center
Fri 17th August Dallas, TX Gexa Energy Pavilion
Sat 18th August Houston, TX The Woodlands









For more IRON MAIDEN click here.

Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, and Ozzy Osbourne… aside from being iconic figures in the world of rock ‘n’ roll, what do they all have in common?  They’ve all had the honor of calling Tommy Clufetos their drummer.  Ever since he picked up the drumsticks at the age of seven, Tommy Clufetos has lived and breathed rock ‘n’ roll, doing more in ten years than most people dream of accomplishing in a lifetime.  It’s that kind of dedication that has brought him from keeping time for the Motor City Madman to tearing through the Diary of a Madman.  Recently I had a chance to speak with Tommy about what it’s like to play with rock royalty, covering everything from the Prince of Darkness to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.  So sit back, grab a cold one, and kick up your feet as we delve into the mind of one of rock’s great stickmen….

AWAY-TEAM:  I’d like to start by congratulating you on the success of the current tour, and on semi-recently being named the new full time drummer for Ozzy Osbourne.

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  Thank you.

AWAY-TEAM:  You guys are currently touring with Slash as your supporting act, I know you’ve had the chance to play with him before, how did that come to be?

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  You mean how did it come with me jamming with Slash before?

AWAY-TEAM:  Yeah.

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  I was doing this thing with Alice Cooper, not when I was in Alice Cooper’s band, he just asked me to help him out and do this thing called the MAP Fund, which is affiliated with the Grammy’s and it helps those with substance abuse addictions.  So we played at this concert, and Slash jammed with Alice when I was playing drums, I think he played “School’s Out” or something.  So we played together then, and he just asked me to jam with him a couple times out of that.  He’s a total gentleman, Slash, I love his guitar playing.  Ya know he’s one of the last guitar hero rock stars out there, so…  I can’t say enough about that guy, he’s such a great guy, and great musician.

AWAY-TEAM:  Yeah, he’s legendary!

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  Right.

AWAY-TEAM:  Now I spoke with Gus G. a few months ago, and he hadn’t yet met Slash, and I asked him this very question, but he didn’t have the answer yet.  So now it’s time for an update… have you guys played any songs on this tour with both Ozzy and Slash on stage at the same time?  I know they played together on Slash’s album.

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  Ozzy sang on Slash’s album, yeah.  But they don’t do that during the concert, because we fly in and out of the shows, so it doesn’t really leave much time for us to… ya know, sometimes we’ll get there when he’s already on stage, and we have to get ready, so.  The schedule is quite compact, so I don’t think it technically leaves room to do that.  But that would be cool.

AWAY-TEAM:  Sure would.

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  But the package of Slash and Ozzy  together is going over really well, and I think it’s a great thing for fans.  Alot of tunes that people are familiar with, and alot of tunes where people go ‘Oh, I forgot about that song’, so it’s a great night of rock ‘n’ roll hits for everybody.

AWAY-TEAM:  I think the great part of it, is we haven’t seen something like this in a long time, and I’ve said this before, it kinda brings you back to the days of the old Monsters of Rock tours and things like that.

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  Yeah.  I mean Slash is just an icon, and so is Ozzy, so it makes for a great night for everybody.

AWAY-TEAM:  Right.  So how did you get the gig with Ozzy?  Did you have to audition? Or did they call you and say “Hey, what are you doing? We want you to play with us”?  How did that work out?

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  I was kinda in the right place at the right time.  I was brought in to help out during Gus G.’s audition, he came in from Greece, and their drummer at the time couldn’t make it, so I was asked to do it just so Gus could be comfortable and focus on playing guitar… and the music would be solid.  So that’s what I came in to do, and then they asked me to play at a thing called Blizzcon in California, which again Mike Bordin, who’s an amazing drummer, could not make due to commitments with Faith No More.  They asked me to do that, and out of those couple experiences they asked me to join the band.  So I was very lucky, and excited, and so ecstatic to say ‘Yes’.

AWAY-TEAM:  Now you left Rob Zombie’s band to take the gig with Ozzy, I understand Rob was a little bitter when you left him.  Have you spoken to him since, and managed to salvage your friendship?

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  I have not spoken to him.  But I have nothing but great things to say about Rob and my time spent there, and ya know I base our relationship on what I saw when I was there and I have nothing but great things to say about that.  I wouldn’t say anything negative, just because of a couple statements in the press.  So, no hard feelings on my end.  I wish him, his wife Sheri, and all the guys nothing but the best.  I still think the world of all of them.  So, that’s how I feel.

AWAY-TEAM:  These days Ozzy seems to be a bit more energized than he has been in the past few years.  I’m sure in part it has to do with some of you younger guysbeing around.  With guys like yourself and Gus being closer in age to Ozzy’s kids, than the man himself; do Ozzy and Sharon treat you with more of a parental instinct? Or are you still just one of the guys?

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  The age thing doesn’t really come into play.  We play in his band, and it’s business.  But this is more like a family than anything I’ve ever been involved with.  They’re super cool, and super nice, and ya know we just played an L.A. show and Ozzy’s whole family was out there.  They couldn’t be better to us, they treat us all great despite the age.  Whether you’re old or young, it’s all the same thing.

AWAY-TEAM:  It’s all rock ‘n’ roll.  And speaking of that, Ozzy’s still going at age 62, where do you see yourself at age 62?

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  I’ll still be rockin’ n’ rollin’ my friend!

AWAY-TEAM:  Kick ass! 

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  I just hope I die on stage.  That would be… not too soon! (laughs)

AWAY-TEAM:  (laughs) Yeah. Let’s not rush it!

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  I can’t stop.  So I’ll probably be that dude up there that people are saying ‘Why won’t he quit?’

AWAY-TEAM:  (laughs)

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  At least I know it right? (laughs)  I’ll probably still be taking my shirt off when I’m a fat guy!

AWAY-TEAM:  (laughs)  I gotta ask this question… the whole metal world let out a collective ‘What the fuck?” when we first heard that Ozzy was working with Justin Bieber, in fact I even read somewhere somebody said ‘I hope Ozzy bites his head off’ (laughs)

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  (laughs)

AWAY-TEAM:  How did the guys in the band feel about it, see when we first heard we didn’t know it was a commercial, we just heard they were working together so it obviously created a bit of a storm in the media.  So how did you guys feel about it? I mean did you bust his balls a bit?

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  I mean he’s doing a Super Bowl commercial, so who wouldn’t be in a Super Bowl commercial?  It’s like the biggest thing in the world, and I mean he’s Ozzy Osbourne he can do whatever the hell he wants.  So I think it’s great, Ozzy is more than music, he’s a cultural icon!  He’s like Coca-Cola.  Coca-Cola is just fucking cool, and so is Ozzy.  So, I mean we go up on stage and Ozzy just rocks balls!  Harder than anybody out there, harder than any punk kid.  He’s the real deal, so whether he’s in a commercial with Justin Bieber, or in The Osbourne’s, he still IS rock ‘n’ roll.  He’s the definition of rock ‘n’ roll, and he proves it when he gets on the stage, and we’re there to back him up on it!

AWAY-TEAM:  Speaking of backing him up, current band not included, if you could pick an all-time, all-star lineup for Ozzy, consisting of former band members who would it be?

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  Oh man, that’s a tough one.  He’s always had such great bands.  The No More Tears era was a great band, of course the Blizzard era was a great band, ya know I just feel honored to be in the Ozzy Osbourne band legacy.  That’s what I feel lucky about.  My name is in those ranks, and that’s just a great feeling, because he’s always had and always found the great musicians.  Ozzy’s so good at getting great musicians in his band, and he can see talent, so I feel blessed and honored to be in that category.   I’m not saying I’m in that category, but just to be mentioned with the same guys is a great feeling.

AWAY-TEAM:  Yeah, I think Gus put it really well.  He said you guys get to “…go out there every night and play the Bible of Heavy Metal”  That’s pretty fucking cool!

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  When we played in Los Angeles the other night, Tony Iommi was out there and Bill Ward came into our dressing room… sweetheart of a guy, total monster, amazing drummer.  So it was great to meet those guys and have ‘em at the show.

AWAY-TEAM:  That’s awesome.  So how did you get started playing drums?

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  My father was a musician, and I got drums for my 7th birthday, and from that moment on I’ve known what I was gonna do with my life.  So it was full on instantly, blinders on, to get to doing what I’m doing now.  So it’s been an endless, relentless pursuit of quality and determination to get where I am now.

AWAY-TEAM:  What was the first song you ever learned?  And who did you idolize, or style your play after growing up?

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  Wow, first song I ever learned (pauses)  I think it was, my dad was a musician, so I think it was growing up a song called “C-Jam Blues” which was a Duke Ellington thing.  Kinda like a little swing number, and it had little breaks for me to do some fills in, and stuff like that.  That’s the earliest thing I can remember doing.  I started so early, it just sort of came easy for me.  I could just play tunes instantly, so um, ya.  Once you look back it’s kinda funny how quickly it goes by.

AWAY-TEAM:  So who did you idolize growing up?

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  I idolized my parents.  Ya know, as you get older it’s harder to have idols, but my parents; I give them the greatest credit for me doing what I’m doing now.  They never told me I couldn’t… I mean my mom, I can’t imagine the noise she had to deal with for 20 years in the house, at all times of the day blasting music and playing drums.  And my dad always made sure I had drum stuff, and took me out and saw music, and put me in his band, so.  The support was always there, and they always told me I could do whatever I wanted as long as I put the effort in.  So they gave me the tools to have the confidence, in order to go out and do what I do.  That’s really who I’m gonna give credit to.  To do music, ya know, you gotta have that right mindset.  Being able to play your instrument and be good at it is almost the easy part.  Your mind has to be together, and you have to understand your place and your role.  So it’s very easy, ya know we’re staying at the Four Seasons Hotel and just got off a private jet, it’s easy to start thinking you’re a big shot.  But you gotta remember where you came from, and remember why you’re there.  You gotta stay grounded, and I credit that to my parents for instilling those values in me.  Ya know, when I did wrong, they put you in your place, when you did good, you got credit for it.  So I carry those lessons with me to this day.

AWAY-TEAM:  Now you got your first real big break with Ted Nugent,  how did you end up playing with him?  Had he known you from the Detroit scene?

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  I got to first play with Ted, a guy in Detroit, a great sax player named Alto Reed whose played in Bob Seger’s band for the last 30 years, asked me to play on a movie soundtrack that he was putting together.  Ted Nugent also played on it.  So I first played with Ted during that, and didn’t have any idea of what music we were gonna play, he just sat down and wrote a song, and I immediately followed him.  We did one take of it, and we cut it.  Then we did another one in one take, and I think I impressed him because he called me the next day to go on tour with him.  So, ya know, you get certain moments in life where you go “This is my shot.”  If I didn’t buckle down and kick ass, Ted Nugent is not gonna give me another shot.  You can work for ten years busting your hump, and eventually your break will come in a round about way, and you get that one opportunity to go to the next level.  And I knew that was my moment, my one moment.  I’ve had numerous moments like that, that have led me to where I’m at.  But you don’t get those moments without the years and years of hard work and preparation in order to lead you to be prepared to take advantage of that moment.

AWAY-TEAM:  Right, it’s all about what you make of it.  So being with a guy like Ted, it’s almost a requirement to be into guns…

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  You know what, Ted doesn’t give a shit.  Ted only cares about you working your ass off, and being professional, and doing your job.  Of course he’s gonna take you to shoot guns, but he doesn’t care if you’re a vegetarian, if you’re black or white, as long as you kick ass and do what you do to the best of your ability, your his best friend.

AWAY-TEAM:  So what’s the sickest weapon you ever shot with him?

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  Oh my god.  We went out in Texas, he would fly us out to these hunting ranches for his birthday and shoot like, I don’t even know what they’re called.  But like insane crazy machine guns, like you’d see in movies, like in Red Dawn.  Just stupid, stupid stuff.  I’d be firing these things and be like “What am I doing right now!”  For me it was crazy, being the city guy, ya know?

AWAY-TEAM:  (laughs)  Right.  Having played with so many greats over your career, do you ever get jaded?  In other words, let’s take someone I know you’ve never met, at least I hope you’ve never met!  Elvis walks by, is it ”So what it’s Elvis he’s just another guy like me”? Or do you still get a little starstruck?

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  You picked the one guy, I mean I’m an Elvis nut…

AWAY-TEAM:  Likewise!

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  …so if he walked by, I’d really be going crazy.  Second of all, I would have loved to play for Elvis, that’s one guy I would’ve loved to play for.  I am an Elvis fanatic!  To me though, we’re people.  Elvis would be the one dude that I would freak out about though.  But, we’re all people, and at this point you’re either an asshole, or you’re not an asshole! (laughs)  So sometimes you meet famous people and they’re fucking assholes, sometimes you meet famous people and they’re the greatest people in the world.  So, ya know, we’re all just people.  I don’t really let anybody freak me out, cuz who cares.  You can’t be intimidated by people either.  You can be excited, and have a certain charisma that makes you excited to meet them because they’re exciting.  But it’s not just because they’re a star, ya know.  Like Ozzy has a certain charisma, where you’re like “Oh my god, this is Ozzy“  It’s fucking cool!  But it’s not just because it’s Ozzy, it’s because he’s a cool person.  If that difference makes sense.

AWAY-TEAM:  I know exactly what you mean!

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  Like there’s certain guys I’ve played in bands with where I go “Oh my god, this guys a douchebag!”  But the guys I play with now, everybody is so cool, everybody is on the same page, and so professional, it’s just a joy to be around.  We’re having a riot out here…Blasko, Adam Wakeman, Gus G, Ozzy…all top notch supreme gentlemen, and highest level musicians.

AWAY-TEAM:  Of all the legends that you’ve played with, Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, and Ozzy, what’s the best advice any of them has ever given you?

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  Best advice anybody has ever given me… that’s a tough one.  (pauses)  I have no idea.  I learned alot from Ted Nugent, he gave me my first big break, we’re both from Detroit, share alot of the same influences, come from the same place and look at things the same way so I learned alot of things from him.  But most of the stuff, my parents gave me the tools, I knew what I was doing.  I was ready when anything came down the pipeline.  I’m talking emotionally, and mentally I was ready.  The best advice I can give somebody, if they wanna do this, is to keep the music number one.  If something else comes in front of your music, or whatever you wanna do in your life you will not make it.  Everything I do during the day has to do with me wanting to play music for the rest of my life.  And when you get away from that, when you start getting into drugs, and start drinking, when the partying becomes too much eventually, it may take years, you’re gonna fall.  I don’t care who you are, when you stop practicing as much you will lose your chops.  You will lose it, I’ve seen so many drummers that are like “Oh yeah, I don’t really pick up the sticks in between tours.”  WHAT? You don’t pick up the sticks?  I have to pick up the sticks, I have to play, I have to stay hungry for it.  Or year, after year, after year you will become dull, and you will lose it slowly.  You gotta keep the hunger, and you gotta keep the music number one.  So that’s my biggest advice, and everybody who I’ve worked for, that’s what they do and they have 42 year careers because of it.  So they may not say something, they may not say the advice, but if you’re smart enough and perceptive you can pick it up on your own.  Watch and learn.

AWAY-TEAM:  Very true.  Excellent pearls of wisdom.  Tommy, thank you for your time, it’s been a true honor.

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  Thank you very much for your time.  I appreciate it, and all the best to you!

AWAY-TEAM:  Same to you.  Best of luck with everything, and I look forward to seeing you behind the kit for many years to come.

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  Appreciate it.  all my best.

AWAY-TEAM:  Thanks buddy!  Talk to you soon.

TOMMY CLUFETOS:  Bye.

For more info on Tommy Clufetos visit http://www.tommyclufetos313.com/ and http://www.ozzy.com for info including tour dates.

Special thanks to Tommy Clufetos for so graciously giving me his time, and to George Vallee at Sumerian Records for making it all happen.

WHITESNAKE, the legendary rock’n’roll legacy founded and formed by renowned singer/songwriter David Coverdale, unleashes a brand new storming ‘Snake statement, “Forevermore” on Frontiers Records on March 25th in Europe and March 29th in North America.

Their 11th studio album, “Forevermore” was recorded, produced and mixed by Coverdale, guitarist Doug Aldrich and Michael McIntyre at Snakebyte Studios and Grumblenott Studios & Villas in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, with additional work at Casa Dala, Sherman Oaks, CA, and WHITESNAKE will take to the road for a full world tour in support of the release.

Formed in 1977, and steered by the legendary Coverdale, WHITESNAKE carry a rightful reputation as one of the world’s leading rock’n’roll bands. Coverdale’s blues and soul roots, combined with a feral sense of rock and roll, have consistently shaped the ‘Snake’s sound, and add to that Coverdale’s love and appreciation of impeccable musicianship and you have a failsafe recipe for success.

Their ascent to the very top of the rock’n’roll tree was confirmed with 1987’s self-titled mega-platinum album, which saw two top 10 hits, two number one singles with ‘Here I Go Again’ and ‘Is This Love’ and a virtual 24 hour domination of MTV around the world. Such triumphs were surely foretold when as a young man from Saltburn-By-Sea; Coverdale enthusiastically answered the call to be Deep Purple’s singer. Such bombast, bravado, talent and passion have thus helped establish WHITESNAKE as the perennial platinum favorite they have become.

With “Forevermore” Coverdale has reignited an explosively fruitful vein of creativity with guitarist and co-writer/producer Aldrich, Reb Beach (Winger, Alice Cooper) on guitar, Brian Tichy (Ozzy, Billy Idol, Foreigner) on drums and Michael Devin (Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Lynch Mob) on bass, and as with all WHITESNAKE’s albums, Coverdale aided so capably by Aldrich opens up his heart and soul to express emotions and empathy rarely heard these days in any musical genre.

More than simply their latest release, “Forevermore” represents WHITESNAKE’s no holds barred, most heartfelt, melodic and musically muscular excursion for many a year.

The album’s release will be anticipated by the digital only release of the first single/video clip “Love Will Set You Free” on February 21st.

“Forevermore” will be specially released on a “Snake Pack” edition for the first 3 weeks in England only. This very special release – arranged in conjunction with Future Publishing and Classic Rock magazine – will come with a collector’s edition 132 pages deluxe magazine + A1 poster & metal pin badge and shall feature an exclusive cover art and 2 bonus live tracks “Slide It In” and “Cheap An’ Nasty” which will serve as an appetizer for the forthcoming “Live @ Donington 1990” to be released in the summer 2011.

The album is also being released on a double gatefold vinyl format, with deluxe special editions to be announced shortly.

This time Coverdale and Co. have really laid it on the line for their fans, and be sure of this, the Snake’s charms are going to convert a whole new army of believers… just watch.









For more WHITESNAKE click here.

Canadian heavy metal legends ANVIL have signed a new recording contract with The End Records.

As recently announced, the band is currently recording their upcoming album, entitled Juggernaut Of Justice, at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606 in Northridge, California with famed producer Bob Marlette (BLACK SABBATH, AIRBOURNE, FILTER, ATREYU, ALICE COOPER).

Juggernaut Of Justice is due to be released in spring 2011. Prior to the release of the new album, The End will be releasing the definitive Anvil anthology. The collection will be comprised of classics old and new, with some surprises, and will showcase the band’s entire career spanning back to 1978.

Anvil, considered a major influence for a generation of hard rockers including METALLICA, SLAYER, ANTHRAX and GUNS N’ ROSES, was the subject of 2009’s award-winning rock documentary, Anvil! The Story of Anvil. The globally revered film has made the group – founding members singer/guitarist Steve “Lips” Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner, and bassist Glenn Five (the “new guy” with 15 years in the band) – a household name.

Lips commented, “I must say that this is by far the best Anvil ever. There will be a few new surprises including Glenn 5‘s first lead vocals in Anvil‘s history. The production that Bob Marlette has done far surpasses anything we’ve done in the past. The excitement within the band is over the top and we can’t wait to unleash this amazing cd to the fans.”

Reiner concurs, “The new album is pure Anvil with a new fresh kick, very exciting. Looking to rocking with The End, putting the music where it belongs – in everybody’s ears and face!”

Anvil are currently planning a world tour for 2011 in support of Juggernaut Of Justice. Details will be announced shortly.









For more ANVIL click here.

ALICE COOPER will hold his 10th annual Christmas Pudding celebrity charity concert on December 18th at the Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona.

This year The Coop will be joined by members of the original ALICE COOPER BAND – Neal Smith (drummer), Michael Bruce (guitar/keyboards) and Dennis Dunaway (bass) – along with ROB ZOMBIE, former EAGLES guitarist Don Felder, Cheech Marin and others.

Proceeds will benefit Cooper’s Solid Rock Foundation, a Christian organization that strives to help children and teens in the Phoenix area by providing a center where young people can learn about and participate in sports, music and educational activities.

For more information click here.

What do Rob Zombie, Paul Gilbert, Steve Vai, Alice Cooper, Marky Ramone and so many other rockstars have in common? They all love animals and have signed guitars and more to help support the upcoming concert HUMANITY THRU MUSIC and the building of a No-Kill animal sanctuary. Right now you can get your ticket for $35 as a special Halloween price – Just Paypal to donations@furfeather.org and get yours now!!!

Come wag your tail and rock-out in Hollywood on November, 6th at the First Annual “Humanity Thru Music” concert and paw-sta dinner in benefit of Fur & Feather Animal Sanctuary a 501c3 dedicated to much needed animal welfare in California. Come help save the lives of our homeless animals from having to enter shelters and face needless euthanasia by supporting the building of Southern California’s first full NO-KILL animal sanctuary, medical and educational center.

The night will dazzle you with bright lights and stars as you cross the green carpet to the corridor off of Hollywood Blvd for fun, food and a paw-stompin concert with Platinum super-group players from YES & TOTO – YOSO – playing hits from both bands Roundabout, Owner Of A Lonely Heart, Rosanna, Hold The Line and so much more!!

Join celebrities and rockstars at the vegetarian Paw-sta buffet bar then trot over and chase your tail around one of the largest silent auctions full of the best treats, including guitars signed by Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert, George Lynch, drum heads signed by Marky Ramone, weekend trips, Hi-end spa weekends, signed sports memorabilia, autographed Star Wars memorabilia, Two Brunches at the House of Blues, Tickets from the LA Philharmonic (winter season) and Hollywood Bowl tickets (summer season), a Two Night Stay at the beautiful Carmel By the Sea, Cypress Inn – part owned by Doris Day and pet friendly. The list of auction items is endless and all proceeds go to Fur & Feather Animal Sanctuary to further their goal of building in 2011.

NIGHTS SCHEDULE: Will-call opens at 5:30 pm to check in and purchase tickets with the Green Carpet and silent auction starting at 6:00 pm. The vegetarian paw-sta buffet starts at 6:30 pm with a martini and wine bar. 8:00 pm is your cue to go rock-out to classic rock in the amphitheater for the concert that will start at 8:30pm. The concert will end about 11:00 pm in which the guests will return to the corridor for the last chance to bid on the silent auction before the winners are announced. At this time, coffee and dessert will be served.

ONLINE ADVANCE SALE: General Admission seats, dinner and dog tags (festival seating) is $50, VIP seating, dinner, dog tags and commemorative book is $100 (guaranteed first 5 rows), $195 VIP Backstage (First 3 center rows seating guaranteed | VIP Lounge | After-Show Meet & Greet | Special YOSO Gift bag), Platinum group seating for 10 includes all above* $1250.

TO BUY TICKETS – Go to www.ticketfly.com, Paypal at www.furfeather.org OR Paypal direct with ticket seat-type and quantities to music@furfeather.org – You will be provided with a confirmation page you will bring to will-call night of the event. Will-call starts @ 5:30 pm sharp!

WALK-UP (day of show): General Admission seats, dinner and dog tags (festival seating) is $50, VIP seating, dinner, dog tags and commemorative book is $100 (guaranteed first 5 rows), VIP Backstage not available.

The term “Super-Group” describes a band rising out of two of the most creative bands of the past 30 years: YOSO is formed out of TOTO’s brilliant lead vocalist Bobby Kimball and the creative force of former YES members, Tony Kaye and Billy Sherwood, thus equalling the magic of YES with the voice of TOTO. However, YOSO is much more than a combination of two classic rock groups. The band’s debut album “Elements” will debut this Fall in the USA on Frontiers Records. This long awaited release comes with a bonus live CD where the band plays some old and new classics. Their musical blend presents a fascinating combination of the sound of YES (“90125″/”Big Generator” era) and TOTO, with a very interesting and original sound that truly encompasses the styles.

For more on FUR & FEATHER ANIMAL SANCTUARY click here.
For more on YOSO click here.

The Deluxe Edition of SLASH‘s (VELVET REVOLVER, ex-GUNS N’ ROSES) latest solo record was released on September 28th in the US and will be issued October 19th in Canada via Universal.

Ultimate-guitar.com is streaming three exclusive tracks from the reissue – ‘Sweet Child Of Mine‘ Live, ‘Baby Can’t Drive‘ and ‘Mean Bone‘.

The two CDs/one DVD features a limited-edition guitar pick designed by Ralph Steadman and Slash and an exclusive 3′ x 3′ fan-contributed-photo-mosaic-poster of Slash that is available for fans to interact with four weeks prior to and after release date and is redeemable online to everyone that buys the Slash deluxe edition.


The deluxe edition features the following tracks:
Disc 1
Ghost (Ian Astbury of THE CULT)
Crucify The Dead (OZZY OSBOURNE)
Beautiful Dangerous (Fergie of THE BLACK EYED PEAS)
Back From Cali (Myles Kennedy of ALTER BRIDGE)
Promise (Chris Cornell of SOUNDGARDEN/AUDIOSLAVE)
By The Sword (Andrew Stockdale of WOLFMOTHER)
Gotten (Adam Levine)
Doctor Alibi (Lemmy Kilmister of MOTÖRHEAD)
Watch This (Dave Grohl/Duff McKagan of FOO FIGHTERS/VELVET REVOLVER )
I Hold On (KID ROCK)
Nothing To Say (M Shadows of AVENGED SEVENFOLD)
Starlight (Myles Kennedy of ALTER BRIDGE)
Saint Is A Sinner Too (Rocco De Luca)
We’re All Gonna Die (IGGY POP)
Disc 2
Sahara (English) (KISHI INABA)
Paradise City (CYPRESS HILL/Fergie)
Mother Maria (BETH HART)
Baby Can’t Drive (ALICE COOPER, NICOLE SCHERZINGER)
Sahara (Japanese) (Koshi Inaba)
Beautiful Dangerous Radio Mix (Fergie)
Demo #4
Demo #16
Back From Cali (Acoustic) (Myles Kennedy of ALTER BRIDGE)
Fall to Pieces (Acoustic) (Myles Kennedy of ALTER BRIDGE)
Sweet Child O’ Mine (Acoustic) (Myles Kennedy of ALTER BRIDGE)
Watch This (Live) (Myles Kennedy of ALTER BRIDGE)
Nightrain (Live) (Myles Kennedy of ALTER BRIDGE)

DVD:
Making Of The Album
Back From Cali – Live From The Roxy
By The Sword – Music Video
By The Sword – Behind The Scenes
Starlight – Live From MTV Classic Launch
Mean Bone – Live From MTV Classic Launch









For more SLASH click here.

On behalf of Metal Assault, Aniruddh “Andrew” Bansal recorded live videos of ROB ZOMBIE performing ‘Pussy Liquor‘ and ‘Mars Needs Women‘ at the Gibson Amphitheater in Universal City, CA. This gig was the first night of their Halloween Hootenanny tour with ALICE COOPER and MURDERDOLLS.









Remaining HALLOWEEN HOOTENANNY Tour dates:
OCTOBER
1 San Diego, CA Harrah’s Rincon
2 Tucson, AZ Anselmo Valencia Amphitheater
4 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre
6 Kansas City, MO Independence Event Center
7 St. Charles, MO The Family Arena
8 Bloomington, IL U.S. Cellular Coliseum
12 Binghamton, NY Broome County Arena
14 Portland, ME Cumberland County Civic Center
15 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun
16 Worcester, MA DCU Center
19 Roanoke, VA Roanoke Performing Arts Theater
20 Nashville, TN Nashville Municipal Auditorium

For more ROB ZOMBIE click here.

ROB ZOMBIE recently called in to the Dennis Miller Live radio show recently to talk about the upcoming Halloween Hootenanny Tour, and the guys shared some amazing laughs while discussing ALICE COOPER, MURDERDOLLS, random golf trips, living life on a tour bus and Zombie‘s love of film.

Click here to listen to ROB ZOMBIE & DENNIS MILLER

Rob Zombie is gearing up to release the special edition of Hellbilly Deluxe 2 on September 28th. The expanded set features 3 brand new tracks recorded with the current touring line-up: guitarist John 5, bassist Piggy D. and drummer Joey Jordison, as well as a documentary shot by all four members while out on tour earlier this year.

HALLOWEEN HOOTENANNY w/ROB ZOMBIE, ALICE COOPER, MURDERDOLLS dates:
September
30 – Los Angeles, CA – Gibson Amphitheatre
October
1 – San Diego, CA – Harrah’s Rincon
2 – Tucson, AZ – Anselmo Valencia Amphitheater
4 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
6 – Kansas City, MO – Independence Event Center
7 – St. Charles, MO – The Family Arena
8 – Bloomington, IL – U.S. Cellular Coliseum
12 – Binghamton, NY – Broome County Arena
14 – Portland, ME – Cumberland County Civic Center
15 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun
16 – Worcester, MA – DCU Center
19 – Roanoke, VA – Roanoke Performing Arts Theater
20 – Nashville, TN – Nashville Municipal Auditorium

For more ROB ZOMBIE click here.

The masters of musical mayhem have paired up yet again to embark on a three week tour of debauchery. Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper have returned to destroy a city near you on The Halloween Hootenanny Tour with special guests Murderdolls. The tour kicks off in Los Angeles at the Gibson Amphitheatre on Thursday, September 30th and will criss-cross the USA with a tour de force of ghoulish s delights for your aural pleasure, giving the fans a show of a lifetime.

The Halloween Hootenanny Tour Featuring The Gruesome Twosome with special guests Murderdolls:
SEPTEMBER
30 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheatre
OCTOBER
1 San Diego, CA Harrah’s Rincon
2 Tucson, AZ Anselmo Valencia Amphitheater
4 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre
6 Kansas City, MO Independence Event Center
7 St. Charles, MO The Family Arena
8 Bloomington, IL U.S. Cellular Coliseum
12 Binghamton, NY Broome County Arena
14 Portland, ME Cumberland County Civic Center
15 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun
16 Worcester, MA DCU Center
19 Roanoke, VA Roanoke Performing Arts Theater
20 Nashville, TN Nashville Municipal Auditorium

For more Rob Zombie click here.
For more Alice Cooper click here.
For more Murderdolls click here.

The godfather of shock-rock Alice Cooper completed his 2009 Theatre of Death World Tour by filming the final show at London’s legendary Hammersmith Apollo. The concert features many of Cooper’s massive hits including ‘School’s Out‘, ‘I’m Eighteen‘ and ‘Poison‘, Alice Cooper’s Theatre Of Death is a very different show than anyone has ever seen before. Always expect the unexpected from the unpredictable Alice Cooper. Fans of the ultimate Rock ‘n’ Roll showman won’t be disappointed as Alice is subjected to guillotines, gallows and much more on his way to being ‘killed’ four times!

To Pre-order ALICE COOPER’s Theater Of Death click here.

The complete tracklist is as follows:
School’s Out
Department Of Youth
I’m Eighteen
Wicked Young Man
Ballad Of Dwight Fry
Go To Hell
Guilty
Welcome To My Nightmare
Cold Ethyl
Poison
The Awakening
From The Inside
Nurse Rozetta
Is It My Body
Be My Lover
Only Women Bleed – I Never Cry
Black Widow
Vengeance Is Mine
Devil’s Food
Dirty Diamonds
Billion Dollar Babies
Killer
I Love The Dead
No More Mr. Nice Guy
Under My Wheels
School’s Out

For more ALICE COOPER click here.

ROB ZOMBIE and ALICE COOPER will reunite for the “Halloween Hootenanny” tour featuring the Gruesome Twosome with special guests (and Zombie’s Roadrunner labelmates) MURDERDOLLS. The tour kicks off in Los Angeles at the Gibson Amphitheatre on Thursday, September 30. The pair shared the stage for a highly successful, sold-out limited North American run earlier this year and have long been fans of one another, as well as good friends. The Billings Gazette declared, “Thousands of fans got the show of a lifetime…With elaborate multimedia stage shows and classic fist-pumping anthems, both artists brought much more to the stage than their music…the multi-sensory experience of the show will likely not be forgotten.” Charlotte’s Creative Loafing stated, “Zombie was a wildman — running around stage, flipping his hair in every way and stomping away to rev the crowd into a frenzy…Two fantastic performances...” Drummer Joey Jordison will be doing double-duty on the dates, playing drums with ROB ZOMBIE, as well as playing guitar with his own band, special guests MURDERDOLLS.

“Halloween Hootenanny” tour dates featuring ROB ZOMBIE, ALICE COOPER and MURDERDOLLS:
Sep. 30 – Los Angeles, CA – Gibson Amphitheatre
Oct. 01 – San Diego, CA – Harrah’s Rincon
Oct. 02 – Tucson, AZ – Anselmo Valencia Amphitheater
Oct. 04 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
Oct. 06 – Kansas City, MO – Independence Event Center
Oct. 07 – St. Charles, MO – The Family Arena
Oct. 08 – Bloomington, IL – U.S. Cellular Coliseum
Oct. 12 – Binghamton, NY – Broome County Arena
Oct. 14 – Portland, ME – Cumberland County Civic Center
Oct. 15 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun
Oct. 16 – Worcester, MA – DCU Center
Oct. 19 – Roanoke, VA – Roanoke Performing Arts Theater
Oct. 20 – Nashville, TN -Nashville Municipal Auditorium



For more ROB ZOMBIE click here.
For more ALICE COOPER click here.
For more MURDERDOLLS click here.

ROB ZOMBIE‘s Hellbilly Deluxe II ‘special addition’ is due in stores September 28th. Noisecreep reports that the special edition will be a CD/DVD combo package featuring three new songs, a re-imagining of ‘The Man Who Laughs‘ and the 30-minute tour documentary, Transylvanian Transmissions.

The new cuts feature Rob Zombie backed by guitarist John 5, bassist Piggy D and drummer Joey Jordison (SLIPKNOT/MURDERDOLLS). One of the songs is a cover of the ALICE COOPER classic ‘School’s Out‘, featuring both of the Gruesome Twosome on vocals.

Hellbilly Deluxe II special edition track list:
‘Devil’s Hole Girls and the Big Revolution’
‘Jesus Frankenstein’
‘Sick Bubblegum’
‘What?’
‘Theme For An Angry Red Planet’
‘Mars Needs Women’
‘Werewolf, Baby’
‘Everything Is Boring’
‘Virgin Witch’
‘Death And Destiny Inside The Dream Factory’
‘Burn’
‘Cease To Exist’
‘Werewolf Women Of The SS’
‘Michael’
‘The Man Who Laughs’

DVD
‘Mars Needs Women’
‘School’s Out’ with Alice Cooper
Transylvanian Transmissions’

ROB ZOMBIE is currently on tour with the ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL.
Remaining dates:
Tue 07/27/10 Mansfield, MA Comcast Center
Wed 07/28/10 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
Fri 07/30/10 Tinley Park, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Sat 07/31/10 Noblesville, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center
Sun 08/01/10 Atlanta, GA Aaron’s Amphitheatre At Lakewood
Tue 08/03/10 Raleigh, NC Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion
Wed 08/04/10 Virginia Beach, VA Virginia Beach Amphitheater
Fri 08/06/10 Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
Sat 08/07/10 Burgettstown, PA First Niagara Pavilion
Sun 08/08/10 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live
Tue 08/10/10 Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheatre @ State Fairgrounds
Wed 08/11/10 West Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre
Fri 08/13/10 Dallas, TX Superpages.com Center
Sat 08/14/10 Oklahoma City, OK Oklahoma City Zoo Amphitheatre





For more ROB ZOMBIE click here.

Members of THE NEW CZARS have worked with influential musicians across the music spectrum: Alice Cooper, Lita Ford, Bootsy Collins, Buckethead, Reeves Gabrels, Bruce Dickinson, Puddle of Mudd, Courtney Love, Pink, and others. Now it’s time for the band–singer/guitarist Greg Hampton, bassist Paul Ill and drummer David “Chilli” Moreno–to do things on their own terms. They’ll release their debut album, DOOMSDAY REVOLUTION, September 14 on Samson Records. As the listener will discover, the band refuses to be linked to one specific style.
The songs “Don’t Watch,” “So Sure” and “Confessions” are being serviced to radio stations in the next couple of weeks. Remixes of “So Sure” and “Crashed” by world renowned remixer/producer Danny Saber will also be made available. Hampton and Saber had previously worked together on Alice Cooper‘s ALONG CAME A SPIDER album.
“You can hear some of the elements of the past records I’ve been involved in,” explains band mastermind Greg Hampton. “There’s an inherent nature in my writing direction, which stems from my roots. I had been raised on in the South, in the blues-rock/funky vein, but there are some industrial rock, pop and progressive elements to our music. Nine Inch Nails, The Beatles, King Crimson, and Funkadelic are among the many bands that influenced me. And I was hugely influenced by great guitar players when I was a kid like Tommy Bolin, Todd Rundgren, and guys like that. Guys who didn’t have a lot of boundaries musically.”
Produced by Hampton, DOOMSDAY REVOLUTION also includes contributions on the six-string by Adrian Belew. “His sensibilities for progressive and weird music and bizarre pop stuff are certainly on par with my thinking,” beams Hampton about the living legend. “I rang him up and we decided that he would contribute some things to it.” According to Chilli, the sessions were “A lot of fun. Greg let us do what felt would work for the parts, and let us tear it up as well. I can’t complain. A lot of producers don’t let you set up more than a four piece kit and a couple of crashes, which is fine for the right application. But this was balls-to-the-walls rock & roll. Keith Moon meets John Bonham with Christoph Schneider, combo 1 super-sized!”
In an early review, Michael Molenda at Guitar Player praised: “Hybrids of pop and the avant-garde can be inspiring, but when they go bad, it’s like Mount Vesuvius bad. But the New Czars nail it. Their music has all the stunning surprises that make great experimental music so thrilling, and they top it off with monstrous grooves and compelling melodies. Hey, if the New Czars had erupted in AD 79 instead of Vesuvius, Pompeii would still be standing!”
About the formation of THE NEW CZARS, Hampton explains, “It came about when I finished Alice Cooper’s ALONG CAME A SPIDER, Lita Ford’s WICKED WONDERLAND and Science Faxtion’s L.O.A.F. albums. Over the course of recording those three releases back to back, unique ideas started materializing. I had become closer friends with the owner of Samson Records, who like me, has very eclectic tastes in music. I had originally anticipated them being more soundtrack-type instrumental songs, but the progressive ones took their own direction musically–with some of the things I had envisioned. I actually approached Paul Ill first, before I approached anybody, because I wanted to do something that would be more progressive. Even though Paul has played and written with Christina Aguilera, Pink, Courtney Love, etc, he is extremely versatile and that guy can go toe to toe with the heaviest rockers.”
A consistent record from front to back, several specific tracks stand out for Hampton. “I really like the stuff we cut with Chilli and Paul together: ‘Time Stops’ and ‘Don’t Watch Me.’ On some of the instrumentals, I was able to stretch out on my guitar playing. ‘Desperate’ was a real challenge, because originally, it was a sprawling seven-minute piece, and I had to edit it so it was cohesive. That was probably the most difficult instrumental to turn into a song with vocals, but it really turned out to be one of my favorite songs.”
And where does Paul Ill see the band going in the future? “I look forward to the band playing live, and we’re all excited about doing the next record with everybody in the room at the same time. I really regret that I didn’t get to play alongside Adrian Belew when he was at the studio. Maybe next time! I was incredibly honored when Greg asked me to play on the New Czars record. What started as me being hired as a session bass player evolved into becoming a full-time band member, which I quite like.”
Hampton is willing to juggle his busy schedule to make room for THE NEW CZARS. “We’re going to do a lot of viral video stuff. We cut 24 songs, so we definitely have enough for another album. It’s hard to look that far in the future. It also depends on everybody else’s schedules. I’m going to continue working and producing other bands. There’s a lot of stuff I want to do, perhaps dabbling in film scoring, as well.”

For more information on THE NEW CZARS check out their MySpace page here.

Rob Zombie has posted on his website that he will head into the studio next week to record several new tracks with his current touring band, which includes guitarist John 5 (ex-MARILYN MANSON), bassist Piggy D. (ex-WEDNESDAY 13) and drummer Joey Jordison (SLIPKNOT, MURDERDOLLS).

Rob posted that: “These are some of the fastest, heaviest tracks we have recorded in a long, long time. These songs will available in September.”

Rob recently wrapped up a North American tour with Alice Cooper entitled The Gruesome Twosome Tour. And recently released Hellbilly Deluxe 2 which debuted on Billboard at #8.

For more information visit ROB ZOMBIE at his website here.