Blabbermouth: Randy Blythe to be released on bail in Prague manslaughter charges

Update from Lamb of God via Twitter: RANDY IS FUCKIN' FREE !
Great news! Don't know if he will have to face charges in Czech or not, but just getting him the hell out of of there is great!! -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Update: It appears that Randy Blythe will be released on bail -- THANK GOD!

There's a good account of it on Blabbermouth.
There's also coverage on a Czech news site including information about the boy who was killed -- a 19 year old named in trial as Daniel N, and photos of Blythe in court.



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't have a lot of information about this but Lamb of God News tweeted "A court hearing has been scheduled for Saturday, and we expect Randy will be released. Thank you all for your support."

Yesterday guitarist Willie Adler spoke on Blythe's arrest:
“It’s been a rough couple of days,” says Adler. “All I can say is that I can’t recall that particular show [in 2010] let alone a fan being beaten on the stage. I think I would’ve noticed something like that considering the Dime thing.”

Adler continues, “We’re all still here in the Czech Republic awaiting what is to happen. All our thoughts are with him [Blythe] as well as the family of the deceased fan. We’ve no real clue as to what happened to him, but we send our condolences. All we try to do is entertain; the fans are why we’re here. We would never try and harm anyone.”

So now it's just wait and hope that true justice is served and Randy gets to leave.

Publicist: Randy Blythe was not involved in a fight

Update on Randy Blythe's arrest from the band's publicist. From the Richmond Times:

Maria Ferrero, a press agent with Freehold, N.J.,-based Adrenaline PR, which represents Lamb of God, disputed that account.[that Blythe's arrest stemmed from an altercation involving a man who jumped on stage at a show in Prague.]

"Under no circumstances was there a fight of any kind involved," she said this morning. "This incident deals with a fan that three times during the concert jumped the barricade and rushed Randy during the performance. It is alleged that the third time, security was not able to reach him and that Randy pushed him back into the audience where supposedly he fell and hit his head."

Ferrero said Blythe had been "falsely accused; lawyers are working on it and he will be exonerated."

Ferrero said she could not provide further details about the status of the group's tour but hoped to have more information by Monday.

Lamb of God bassist John Campbell, reached today on his cell phone, declined to comment.

"I’m not ready to talk about anything going on," he said. Full Story

Seems like less of a fight and more of a "Get the Hell offstage." It's too bad security didn't take care of him the second time.

Randy Blythe arrested, charged with manslaughter

Woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't sleep so I got on Twitter and saw #freeRandyBlythe trending and a bunch of musicians voicing their support.

Turns out he has been arrested in Prague, Czech Republic over a May, 2010 incident where a fan rushed the stage and got in a fight with him. The fan died and now Blythe has been charged with the crime.

As a lot of people are pointing out, after Dimebag Darrell's death, musicians shouldn't take it lightly when fans jump on stage. I feel bad that the guy died, but when you jump on stage with a metal band and start a confrontation, you're taking your life in your hands. Even if the singer doesn't kick your ass, security probably will.

Lamb of God's official statement is that Randy Blythe has been falsely accused of a crime and lawyers expect a full exoneration.

The joker in me wonders how this will affect his presidential campaign, but I know this is no laughing matter. I can only hope he is freed soon, cleared of charges and gets back to making music soon. (Though I would be interested in hearing his take on Randonesia, but I know he will be advised not to say anything on the matter until this is all over)

You can read the full story
on Loudwire.

CNN: 1 killed when Toronto stage collapses before sold-out Radiohead concert

Another sad stage collapse story. :(

One person was killed after a stage in Toronto's Downsview Park collapsed Saturday afternoon, minutes before spectators were set to begin streaming in to watch a concert by the alternative rock group Radiohead, authorities said.

Ian McClelland, deputy commander of Toronto Emergency Medical Services, said that city paramedics pronounced the person dead at the scene.

Another person who suffered serious injuries due to the collapse was transported to Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital, while two others with minor injuries were assessed and released, McClelland said. He added that he didn't believe any others were affected.

The victims were setting up a stage in the park when a "scaffolding-type structure collapsed" about 40 to 60 feet above the main stage area, said Toronto fire Capt. Mike Strapko.

Art of Dying releases video with acoustic version of "Sorry"

Art of Dying released a new video today for the acoustic version of their power ballad "Sorry." Of course the song sounds great acoustically and the really cool part of the video is that it's made up entirely of Die-Hards holding up the word "Sorry."

Early on, Art of Dying had encouraged fans to use the word "Sorry" in profile pictures. As more people did it and the song took off, they announced that some of those pictures would be part of a new video.

The following is vocalist Jonny Hetherington's statement on Facebook along with the resulting video.

Recently we had the chance to get into the studio with producer Dan Donegan from Disturbed to lay down an acoustic version of "Sorry". We've been so touched by all of the 'Sorry profile pics' over the last few months that we decided to make a video for the acoustic version of the song featuring our biggest fans. Thanks for making this video possible, we couldn't have done it without you!

-- Jonny Hetherington

KISS and 'Family Guy' announce licensing deal

What?? KISS in the middle of a lucrative licensing deal? Haha, this is the band that has a line of caskets! Personally I hope they make the "KISS Saves Christmas" TV special a reality!

In any case, found this article on CNN today, though it's a Rolling Stone article...


(Rolling Stone) -- Rock stars and merchandising extraordinaires KISS have joined forces with Fox's animated hit "Family Guy" for a co-branded product line that will hit stores in fall, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Fox will develop the products with KISS' licensing agent, Live Nation Merchandise, and will look for partners to make everything from bobblehead dolls to apparel to fine art.

For a band that has licensed their image to everything from lunch boxes to pinball machines, KISS' new partnership makes total sense.

According to singer-guitarist Paul Stanley, the deal comes as KISS "are focusing more and more on the upper-tier, blue-chip opportunities for prestige partnerships. "Family Guy's" track record and consistent success with its demographic makes this match-up ideal."

KISS are no strangers to "Family Guy," having already made three cameos on the program. They have even become part of a running storyline that involves a previous relationship between Lois Griffin and KISS bassist/ladies' man Gene Simmons.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/14/showbiz/kiss-family-guy-deal/index.html?hpt=hp_bn9

CNN: Young listeners opting to stream, not own music

Interesting article on CNN about music and how streaming is going to be the new norm:

Young listeners.. represent a looming sea change for the music industry, which has been in upheaval since the Napster era of the late 1990s. Five years ago, music consumers had to choose between buying a CD or downloading the album. Nowadays, thanks to the rise of music-streaming services like Pandora and Spotify, that choice is becoming whether to download music or just stream it online.
Interviews with college-age music fans suggest that more and more are choosing to stream music instead of downloading it. After all, why pay for music when you can summon almost any song you want, at any time, for free?

And the growth of music apps, online radio channels, and music-streaming platforms raise an even larger question: Do we really need to 'own' music anymore?

"The last time I bought a CD was probably in middle school, and I can't even remember what it was," said Sean Wilson, 21, of Atlanta, Georgia. "Ninety percent of my friends stream music. To be honest, I haven't seen someone use iTunes in a really long time."
In five years, Wilson believes "streaming will be the norm. It's more practical and more convenient than buying music and uploading it onto something. And the best part is, it's free."

You can read the full article here


Personally I stream a lot, but the songs I really love I will buy so I can listen to them without having to worry about an Internet connection/good phone signal. Another thing is a lot of people can't afford music right now with the economy sucking so badly. I wonder what this will do to the music industry especially as someone who isn't into mainstream stuff.  I love streaming music for discovery (and I have ended up buying stuff I discovered on Pandora). But the industry is changing and I hope the business can keep up and good bands aren't lost in the process. 

Corey Taylor reveals HoGaB meaning-- finally!

After teasing his twitter followers for months with a #HoGaB hashtag at the end of every tweet, Corey Taylor finally revealed what it is! This morning he released the following in a series of tweets:

I promised today you'd get the explanation to HoGaB. Well, today that's exactly what you get. Got a lot of info coming- please retweet.

The new Stone Sour album is a 2-part double concept album called House of Gold and Bones (HoGaB), parts 1 and 2. Part 1 will drop in Oct '12

Part 2 will drop next year. 24 songs, 12 on each disc. Each disc will include one half of the story- for lyrics, you'll have to our site.

Once I lock in the company who will help me put it together, there will be a comic book as well. Song titles include 'Absolute Zero', 'RU486', 'A Rumor of Skin' and 'Taciturn'. Very excited for everyone to hear it! Stay tuned!! #HoGaBoctober12

Pretty exciting stuff. Of course I happen to be a fan of concept albums in general, with two of my all time favorites being Queensryche's Operation:Mindcrime and Sixx:AM's The Heroin Diaries.

What would also be cool is a tour to support the album where it's performed live in its entirety like Queensryche did with Operation:Mindcrime but I guess we have to stay tuned to see how this all plays out.


If you're more of a Slipknot fan than Stone Sour fan, there's some good news for you as well. This weekend, they announced via their label, Roadrunner Records, that a best-of collection entitled "Antennas to Hell" will be released on July 24, 2012.

From the Roadrunner website:

Slipknot is like no other band the rock scene has ever encountered and to celebrate two decades of game-changing existence, the band will release Antennas to Hell, a "best of" collection documenting its inimitable career, on July 24. The album is scheduled to be released via Roadrunner Records while the band is spending its summer as the main attraction of the 2012 edition of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, as well as curating and headlining the inaugural year of their very own festival, Knotfest.

The time is right for a "best of" collection from the band, as it captures the first chapter of Slipknot—a chapter where they’ve gone from unknown to the one of the biggest rock bands in the world, all on their own terms.

Antennas to Hell Track Listing:
1. (sic)
2. Eyeless
3. Wait and Bleed
4. Spit It Out
5. Surfacing
6. People = Shit
7. Disasterpiece
8. Left Behind
9. My Plague (New Abuse Mix)
10. The Heretic Anthem (live)
11. Purity (live)
12. Pulse of the Maggots
13. Duality
14. Before I Forget
15. Vermilion
16. Sulfur
17. Psychosocial
18. Dead Memories
19. Snuff

Bonus CD: (sic)nesses: Live At The Download Festival, 2009
1. (sic)
2. Eyeless
3. Wait and Bleed
4. Get This
5. Before I Forget
6. Sulfur
7. The Blister Exists
8. Dead Memories
9. Left Behind
10. Disasterpiece
11. Vermilion
12. Everything Ends
13. Psychosocial
14. Duality
15. People = Shit
16. Surfacing
17. Spit It Out 

Bullet for my Valentine resuming work on album soon

Lately we've been hearing more about Matt Tuck's side project, Axe Wound, than Bullet for my Valentine. So it was a pleasant surprise to check my twitter and see the following tweet:
"Not long till the final session for album 4 resumes! 6 songs left to track vocally then done! -MT"

That's great news. I personally can't wait for new music from Bullet for my Valentine, hopefully followed by a great tour.

In somewhat related news, Axe Wound has been touring, is playing the Download festival and released a song in BBC radio called "Cold." (unfortunately when I clicked on the link from Axe Wound's page it gave me a message that I couldn't listen to it in my area. Guess thats what we in the United States get for breaking off in the 1700s.)

However I did find it on YouTube and it is awesome! Here it is: rockin' new music from Axe Wound!!

And if you want any of Bullet for My Valentine's previous music, you can find it here:

Happy Birthday Dave Navarro

Today guitarist Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction and Red Hot Chili Peppers turns 45. I didn't realize it, but his birthday is 6/7/67. There's something cool for all you numerologists out there!

So to celebrate his day, here's the first Red Hot Chili Peppers song I ever liked, "Give it Away Now."

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Mr_uHJPUlO8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

What I've got you've got to give it to your mamma
What I've got you've got to give it to your pappa
What I've got you've got to give it to your daughter
You do a little dance and then you drink a little water

What I've got you've got to get it put it in you
What I've got you've got to get it put it in you
What I've got you've got to get it put it in you
Reeling with the feeling don't stop continue

Realize I don't want to be a miser
Confide w/sly you'll be the wiser
Young blood is the lovin' upriser
How come everybody wanna keep it like the kaiser

Give it away give it away give it away give it away
now [x 3]

[chorus]
I can't tell if I'm a kingpin or a pauper

Greedy little people in a sea of distress
Keep your more to receive your less
Unimpressed by material excess
Love is free love me say hell yes

I'm a low brow but I rock a little know how
No time for the piggies or the hoosegow
Get smart get down with the pow wow
Never been a better time than right now

Bob Marley poet and a prophet
Bob Marley taught me how to off it
Bob Marley walkin' like he talk it
Goodness me can't you see I'm gonna cough it

[chorus]

Lucky me swimmin' in my ability
Dancin' down on life with agility
Come and drink it up from my fertility
Blessed with a bucket of lucky mobility

My mom I love her 'cause she love me
Long gone are the times when she scrub me
Feelin' good my brother gonna hug me
Drink my juice young love chug-a-lug me

There's a river born to be a giver
Keep you warm won't let you shiver
His heart is never gonna wither
Come on everybody time to deliver

Reports: Guns N Roses banning Slash t-shirts from shows

The latest stories making the Internet rounds are that people who show up at Guns N Roses shows in Slash t-shirts are being told to take them off or leave. I guess that's one way to up your merch sales.

Frankly this whole feud between Guns N Roses just sucks. It sucks that they couldn't put aside their differences for one night to be inducted into the rock n roll hall of fame, it sucks that Axl apparently hates his former band mates so much he can't stand the sight of them on a t-shirt and it sucks that everyone has to walk on eggshells around him. Grow up!

Reading some of the Guns N Roses books gives you some insight into why Axl is the way he is. He was subjected to a hell of a lot of abuse. And no matter how much of an asshole he is, there's no doubt he's a super-talented creative genius. The more I listen to the Use Your Illusion albums, the more convinced I am of this fact. However Axl needs to realize that a lot of Guns N Roses fans are Slash fans. As much as I love DJ Ashba, Guns N Roses peak was back when it was Axl and Slash.

If Axl wants to hate Slash, fine. But don't take it out on the fans who love both Slash and Axl.

Marion Crane cd to be released June 19

Jacksonville, Florida band Marion Crane is releasing their new cd "The New Religion" on June 19.

The first single of the same name can be heard below. It's a pretty good somg with a killer video about the Zombie Apocalypse. And yes, the video was filmed back in March, way before this current bout of Zombie Fever hit the Internet.

The album will be distributed by Full Effect Records.
You can watch this video to get a good idea of their sound. I love the fact that a Florida band filmed a video about Zombies and it's released within weeks of a so-called "Zombie Attack" in Florida. Well played, Marion Crane, well, played.

Drummer Rick Allen offers exclusive sound check and backstage packages for Def Leppard concerts Summer 2012 to benefit our veterans wounded in battle.

 Rick Allen and the Raven Drum Foundation is offering the opportunity of a lifetime. My best friends and I would have KILLED for this opportunity back in the day. It's a really great way for Rick Allen to give back.

 Raven Drum Foundation announced the Fantastic Rick Allen Experience Def Leppard meet and greet packages. The packages will be held at the Def Leppard Rock of Ages Tour with Poison. The experience will include the Rick Allen Drum Sound Check Party; guests will have the venue to themselves as they watch Rick Allen sound check for Def Leppard pre-concert, exclusive party limited to 4-6 guests. Guests will enjoy the best seats (tickets included): 1st, 2nd and 3rd rows (Vegas 2nd section, 1st row). Guest will also have quality time with Rick Allen backstage pre-concert including photo and autograph opportunities with Rick Allen. Guest will receive the exclusive Rick Allen/Raven Drum gift bag. (Please note that, to date, half of the packages have sold.)

“Our wounded warriors need our help. My hope is that in offering this special package to our donors and fans, we will raise money and build relationships to do great work with our warriors. Our donors are an essential part of our mission and I am so grateful to meet them backstage,” stated Allen. Raven Drum Foundation has offered backstage opportunities before but has not offered sound check for over 5 years. “I am happy to invite special guests to sound check. It’s a special moment before the crowds arrive when it all comes down to the listener and the music. I am looking forward to sharing that,” stated Allen.

Dates are as follows:
Las Vegas, NV June 23, 2012.
Nashville, TN July 3, 2012.
Newark, NJ July 11, 2012.
Austin, TX September 4, 2012.

For more information on the Fantastic Rick Allen Experience visit: http://www.ravendrumfoundation.org
All monies raised will benefit the Raven Drum Foundation’s Veteran Resiliency Project.

About The Raven Drum Foundation
Raven Drum Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2001 by Rick Allen, drummer for Def Leppard, and Lauren Monroe, musician and healer. Raven Drum's mission is to serve, educate and empower veterans and people in crisis. The foundation engages music as a tool for healing allowing participants to use rhythm as a form of release, an avenue for empowerment and a means to connect to others. Through the foundation’s acclaimed Resiliency Radio radio show with Rick Allen and special guests, thousands are reached around the globe.

For more information visit the Raven Drum Foundation website: http://www.ravendrumfoundation.org
Media Contact:
Jennifer Buzza, Director
Raven Drum Foundation
310- 779-6717
info(at)ravendrumfoundation(dot)org

Jesse James Dupree Taking Part in a Pancreatic Cancer Ride

Jackyl's Jesse James Dupree is a busy man! On top of all the concerts he's been putting on lately, including some FREE ones, running the Full Throttle Saloon, and developing his spirits line, the Rebel Rocker is also leading a motorcycle ride for Pancreatic Cancer in Sandusky, Ohio on June 7.

Join Jesse James Dupree of Jackyl and Full Throttle Saloon Show as he leads this ride to support pancreatic cancer and Road2ACure. 20.00 per bike 10.00 per additional rider. Ride Leaves Mad River at 10:30 AM and will travel to Marble head for a waterfront tour. We will stop for lunch stop at Margarita Ville in Sandusky.

You can find the Facebook event here and learn more on the Road 2 a Cure Website. Sounds like a great time for a worthy cause to me!