04.29.05 (AP) THE DAVE MATTHEWS BAND, settling a lawsuit stemming from human waste dumped from a tour bus onto people touring the Chicago River in 2004, has agreed to pay $200,000 to an Illinois state environmental fund and take measures to avoid a repeat of that type of incident again, the Illinois attorney general said in a statement released today. The bus was crossing a bridge last Summer when the waste poured through metal grates onto the open deck of an architectural tour boat carrying more than 100 passengers. The agreement with Attorney General Lisa Madigan does not settle several personal-injury lawsuits that also have been filed. The band has also agreed to record when and where its tour buses empty septic tanks. Last month, the band's driver Stefan Wohl was sentenced to probation and community service stemming from the incident after he pled guilty to reckless conduct and discharging contaminates to cause water pollution. DAVE MATTHEWS BAND spokesman John Vlautin said Wohl has since been fired. "Although the band members were not on the bus when the incident took place, we have always said that if it was our bus we would take responsibility for what happened," Vlautin said. "That is exactly what we're doing today." The lawsuit alleged violations of state environmental laws, and the settlement is to go into a fund for environmental protection and other projects. The band had already donated $50,000 to "Friends Of The Chicago River" and $50,000 to the Chicago Park District. "This settlement is reasonable and appropriate given the public and environmental health threats caused by this foul incident," Madigan said. After the incident, the tour boat returned to dock, where it was disinfected, and the Chicago Architectural Foundation offered the tour boat passengers refunds. State authorities also said there were no reports that anyone developed infections or diseases related to the illegal dumping.
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04.29.05 (RockAndMetal.com) It's been seven long years since legendary Metal vocalist BRUCE DICKINSON released his last solo album, "The Chemical Wedding," which received massive critical acclaim and explored intriguing and dark Blakean themes. The intervening years have seen him make a highly successful return to IRON MAIDEN, with two huge albums and record breaking live shows and tours. "Tyranny Of Souls," BRUCE DICKINSON's new solo venture (due for release May 24th via Mayan/Sanctuary Records) sees him return to once again to collaborate with guitarist/producer/writer Roy Z in Los Angeles. The album is adorned with a 15th century depiction of hell by Hans Hemling, and continues this theme to explore dark apocalyptic themes delving into science, theology and of course his love of flight, with thought-provoking, intelligent and menacing lyrics that leave the listener's mind unsettled. Heavy riff laden songs and explosive virtuoso guitar work from Roy Z joined with Dickinson's trademark soaring vocals make "Tyranny Of Souls" a tour-de-force of modern Metal. It was following on from the end of the last Maiden tour that Bruce saw an opportunity to work alongside Roy again. "With Maiden, once the band have finished up on the tours, we all tend to go our separate ways and do our own thing for a while until it's time to saddle up again for the next album. I knew I could seize the chance to work with Roy in between his work on the new Judas Priest album. We both work quickly together which I like, and the recording is very organic, so it came together quite easily. I'm very proud of it." BRUCE DICKINSON is a man for all seasons, whose punishing schedule would terrify a less-driven soul, an artist who has influenced thousands of singers, musicians and fans alike in his outstanding role as the frontman for IRON MAIDEN. His drive has also helped Dickinson on the way to achieving great success separately not only as a solo artist, but also acclaimed as a radio DJ, TV presenter, pilot, author and definitive voice of modern music.
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04.28.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Sanctuary Visual Entertainment has announced details of an upcoming worldwide DVD release of a live greatest hits collection by LOU REED entitled "Spanish Fly: Live In Spain," which captures the legendary performer on stage in Spain during the Summer of 2004. The DVD is scheduled for release in the UK and Europe on Monday, June 6th, followed by North America on Tuesday, June 7th. "Spanish Fly: Live In Spain" features a rousing set of eleven of LOU REED's most well known songs, including re-worked versions of his VELVET UNDERGROUND classic songs 'Sweet Jane' and 'Venus In Furs,' as well as his acclaimed solo work including the undeniable 1972 classic 'Walk On The Wild Side.' Filmed and recorded on August 7th, 2004 at the Benicassim Festival in Spain, LOU REED is joined on "Spanish Fly: Live In Spain" by long-time collaborators Mike Rathke on guitar, bassist Fernando Saunders, drummer Tony "Thunder" Smith and Jane Scarpantoni on the cello. Together, the musicians showcase the music of LOU REED in a powerful new light, featuring performances that show both stunning range and a resilient edge. A celebrated musician and Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee, LOU REED began his career as a founding member of THE VELVET UNDERGROUND and has since released numerous solo works to critical acclaim. "Spanish Fly: Live In Spain" is a definite pick for die-hard LOU REED fans as well as classic Rock music lovers in general, as it features a full concert performance as well as a rare photo gallery that includes a collection of 14 photographs taken by Reed himself. "Spanish Fly: Live In Spain" DVD Track Listing: 1. Modern Dance • 2. Why Do You Talk • 3. Venus In Furs • 4. Sweet Jane • 5. Jesus • 6. Romeo Had Juliette • 7. Satellite Of Love • 8. Ecstasy • 9. The Blue Mask • 10. Perfect Day • 11. Walk On The Wild Side

04.28.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Metal titans ARCH ENEMY, whose dynamic mixture of melody and aggression has earned them massive critical acclaim, a worldwide fan base and a slot on this Summer's Ozzfest, have officially signed a new agreement that sees Century Media, in conjunction with band leader Mike Amott's Savage Messiah Music label, become the home for the group's future albums worldwide outside Southeast Asia. ARCH ENEMY are currently wrapping up work on their new full-length album, "Doomsday Machine," which is set for a July 26th release in North America (July 25 in Europe). "We have all been working hard in the studio to make the ultimate metal album," Amott says. "The drums sound totally amazing, as Daniel (Erlandsson, percussion) has excelled himself yet again and the grooves he's created are catchy, but powerful as hell. People will be stunned when they hear what he has done. I think all great metal needs that killer mix of classic riffs and ripping solos, something that has been a bit of a dying art recently," he continues. "We are doing our best to recreate that mix on this new album, and one thing I can guarantee is that there will be tons of guitar for fans to head-bang to. All in all, I am really happy with the songs, and I believe we have found the right balance of melody and brutality." ARCH ENEMY, featuring the all-star lineup of Amott (guitars), brother Chris Amott (guitars), Sharlee D'Angelo (bass) and Daniel Erlandsson (drums) first garnered praise with the Metal milestones "Black Earth" (1997), "Stigmata" (1998) and "Burning Bridges" (1999). Those albums were fueled by flawless technical dual guitar execution and that previously unheard mixture of melody and aggression, which helped them quickly solidify their reputation as one of the genre's elite. However, ARCH ENEMY really began to develop their true potential once vocalist Angela Gossow joined the fold on 2001's critically acclaimed "Wages Of Sin," with the band's 2003 album, "Anthems Of Rebellion," hailed as a modern Metal masterpiece.
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04.27.05 (RockAndMetal.com) KELLY OSBOURNE is gearing up to release her sophomore effort, entitled "Sleeping In The Nothing," on June 7th via Sanctuary Records. The ten-song album presents an intimate look into the mind of this young scion of music royalty and shows what makes her tick. A departure from her breakthrough debut, 2004's "Changes" (Sanctuary), and produced by Linda Perry (Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani), "Sleeping In The Nothing" includes a number of musical gems co-written by KELLY OSBOURNE herself. Creating a clever hybrid of Electronica melded with just the right touch of attitude, Osbourne establishes a sincere sound that comes together with a sense of confidence on the new release. Complete with intriguing lyrics and a unique sound, "Sleeping In The Nothing" is a well-crafted collection of Pop mementos that still packs one hell of a punch, as well as the vocalist's temperament that we've all come to know and love. Already a seasoned veteran of the music industry, television and good old rabble rousing, Kelly presents a more mature sounding album in "Sleeping In The Nothing." While the first single, 'One Word,' offers up a haunting Pop ballad, Osbourne delves into a variety of topics on the album, taking on date rape with 'Don't Touch Me,' restlessness with 'Suburbia' and the deterioration of society with 'Entropy.' On the other hand, tracks such as 'I Can't Wait' and 'Save Me' show a much softer side of KELLY OSBOURNE. At a time when she could have easily packed it in and given up, she chose music to show the world what she's made of, managing to turn the events of the past few years into fuel for "Sleeping In The Nothing." So forget what you think you know about KELLY OSBOURNE. If you watch her hit MTV reality series "The Osbournes," she says you're just seeing "24/7 of my life edited into twenty minutes." And if you bought her debut album, "Shut Up," you don't know the depth and range of music that this complex girl is capable of making. But if you think that KELLY OSBOURNE is opinionated, not afraid to make a statement and could care less what... [full story]
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04.27.05 (RockAndMetal.com) AS I LAY DYING have finished recordings for their anxiously awaited new album, entitled "Shadows Are Security." The European release date for the new album has been pushed back to June 20th in Europe according to Metal Blade Records, however the time of release remains on schedule for the U.S. Produced by AS I LAY DYING vocalist Tim Lambesis and Steve Russell, engineered by Russell and mixed by Andy Sneap, "Shadows Are Security" looks to be the most mature, powerful and best sounding album that the band has recorded to date. There will be a limited first edition of the album that will include a free bonus DVD, which documents an intense AS I LAY DYING show filmed at the Substage Club in Karlsruhe, Germany on November 28th, 2004. AS I LAY DYING has become very popular with their current album, "Frail Words Collapse," which to date has soundscanned over 118,000 copies in the United States alone. Relentless touring with bands such as KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, IN FLAMES, SHADOWS FALL, EVERY TIME I DIE and CHIMAIRA developed AS I LAY DYING's reputation as one of the fiercest live bands around, and with every tour, their fan base has grown exponentially. Recently AS I LAY DYING completed a highly successful European tour with LAMB OF GOD, their first tour ever of Europe. In other AS I LAY DYING news, the band is now confirmed for the second stage Ozzfest 2005 along with label-mates THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER. Ozzfest triumphantly returns this Summer to celebrate its hard-earned 10th anniversary with a staggering line-up of BLACK SABBATH, IRON MAIDEN, ROB ZOMBIE, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, SHADOWS FALL and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY. The concert festival, which has propelled many of today's most popular Rock and Metal bands to superstardom while paying close attention to its discerning fans, will roll out July 15th in Boston and visit 26 cities by the time it reaches West Palm Beach on September 4th.
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04.26.05 (AP) It was as if BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN invited 5,100 of his closest friends over for a while to listen to a few tunes he had put together in his spare time. But the setting was a packed concert hall at the downtown Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan. Springsteen performed 27 songs Monday night, including most of the 12 new songs from his latest release "Devils And Dust," which was recorded without the E Street Band. Prior to beginning the concert, Springsteen told the audience to switch off their cell phones and sit quietly during the show. The mostly dark stage was often illuminated with red, purple and blue lighting cascading down the drapes on each side, creating an elegant yet intimate setting. Springsteen, dressed in a black shirt with rolled-up sleeves and jeans, had a harmonica around his neck, a couple of microphones, a guitar, a piano, speaker monitors, a dimly lit beaded lamp on a table and an old-style chandelier. A stagehand brought him several guitars over the course of the night. The 2 1/2-hour concert marked the first in a 13-city North American acoustic tour. Springsteen will perform in theaters and in arenas scaled down to a theater format. This is his first solo act since the "Ghost Of Tom Joad" tour in 1996-97. Most concertgoers had not heard the new songs; only the title track could be heard online and on the airwaves before the album's release, set for today. The romantic, somewhat upbeat 'Maria's Bed' got the biggest reaction among the new songs, with one fan yelling, "that's a keeper!" BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN kept it light, occasionally joking with the crowd. He recalled times when his parents would listen to the Top-40 stations filled with love songs on the radio. He said his dad believed love songs "were a government conspiracy to get you married, have children and pay taxes. "That stuck with me for about 40 years," he said before singing 'For You.' After performing what was supposed to be the last song, 'Matamoros Banks,' from the new CD, Springsteen returned to the stage to chants of "Bruuuuuce!" to do four more of his older songs, including 'Waitin' On A Sunny Day.'

04.26.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Metal Blade Records has announced the signing of Sweden's ANGEL BLAKE to a recording deal. The main man behind the band is Marko Tervonen, former guitarist and main songwriter behind THE CROWN. "When The Crown split up, I took a heavy trip into soulsearch land to figure out what I wanted to do with my musical life. To stop writing music was never an option. Simply because I can't and don't want to. I came to the conclusion that I didn't want to form or join a new band and start getting to know new people just to be "active" as a musician. It's definitely a challenge, and most important, it's something new and fresh in my life. Whatever happens with Angel Blake is up to me. So it's both a scary and a satisfying feeling," Tervonen comments on the reasons behind the founding of ANGEL BLAKE. For vocals, Tervonen acquired the great talents of another well-known musician. "One late night it hit me, 'I want Tony Jelencovich (Transport League) to do the vocals. I've known the man since years back. We've met during gigs and stuff.' So, I contacted him, and he was into it!! Tony has a very cool rock voice with a lot of feel in it, and that just fits the music beautifully!! He also has a wide vocal range that I really feel will be useful." So what is ANGEL BLAKE all about? "Well, I do have a certain style in me that I can't get away from. If The Crown was more about speed and aggression, then Angel Blake is more about heavy melancholic songs. There's no blastbeats here. Over the years I have always enjoyed writing these songs that were kind of "different" from The Crown. Songs that were not within the typical death/thrash borders." "For a Crown fan, I would describe the sound as somewhere along the lines of 'Dead Man's' Song,' 'Bow To None,' 'In Memoriam,' 'World Below,' 'Death By My Side,' 'Vengeance'... The heavier side of The Crown's sound. And for someone who has never heard The Crown, I would describe it as influenced and inspired by bands such as Metallica, Paradise Lost, Him, Danzig and Sentenced, spiced up with some heavy Morbid Angel twists."
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04.25.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Dave Grohl's FOO FIGHTERS have unleashed their new single, entitled 'Best Of You,' to commercial radio, with several majors adding it immediately to high rotation. Almost exactly a decade from the release of the first FOO FIGHTERS album, the band are set to unleash their fifth studio effort, "In Your Honor" -- a release Dave Grohl says is the most devastatingly good album the band has ever laid down laid down -- on June 12th. The undeniably brilliant (and ever charismatic) Grohl says: "It will surprise you. It surprises me ... it is by far the most ambitious project I have ever had anything to do with in my entire life," In one of the world's worst kept secrets, "In Your Honor" will be a double album. The first disc is acoustic, dedicated to delicate acoustic workouts and featuring guests as unpredictable as Norah Jones, while the second disc is electric - dedicated to what Dave Grohl calls "fucking 60,000-strong sing-alongs" featuring guests such as LED ZEPPELIN's John Paul Jones and QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE frontman Josh Homme. Grohl further explains: "I love playing the acoustic guitar, so I thought 'Maybe I'll make an acoustic record.' I wrote 14 or 15 songs, but then it occurred to me that there's something about drinking half a bottle of Crown Royal and jumping up onstage at Reading Festival. So I decided I should probably write some rock songs too. It's something I've never done before, as much as we like to go to 11 and scream our balls off, I think all of us appreciate the delicate dynamic. I'm a gentle giant, really. Tough on the outside and all squishy and nice on the inside." Australian fans have already confirmed their admiration for the FOO FIGHTERS by rocketing their last album "One By One" (featuring the hits 'All My Life,' 'Times Like These,' 'Have It All' and 'Low') straight to a #1 debut, and being the first international territory to certify that album double platinum. FOO FIGHTERS' fervent Australian fan base also delivered the band their only double platinum sales award in the world on their previous album, "There Is Nothing Left To Lose."

04.25.05 (RockAndMetal.com) The new NAPALM DEATH studio album, entitled "The Code Is Red...Long Live The Code," hits European stores today as a Limited Edition Digipak CD, jewel case CD and also as a numbered vinyl LP version. Very rarely it is that such a long-serving and worldwide band manages to attain such refreshing feedback on a new release, the album already being mentioned as a future classic by those who have reviewed it. "The Code Is Red...Long Live The Code" is filled with relentless amounts of killer riffs that efficiently clash frontally with the intimidating growls of vocalist Barney Greenway. Currently, NAPALM DEATH are working on a new video clip for the album's opening track, 'Silence Is Deafening,' with director Roger Johansson, who also worked on recent clips for the likes of THE HAUNTED and DARK TRANQUILLITY. With a storyline that will be "quite frightening and surreal" according to the band, the video for 'Silence Is Deafening' will be shot in several locations in and around Gothenburg, Sweden. A rare collector's item is also being brought to NAPALM DEATH fans by Grind father and band bassist Shane Embury. Together with the Shane company, the Japanese toy specialists behind Gargamel Toys, Embury has created a new monster, the Grind Kaiju (Japanese for "grind monster") named "Garga Death," a very limited action figure that will soon be available in Europe only via the Century Media web store. In other news, NAPALM DEATH will kick off an extensive tour in the coming months, which will lead the band all over Europe with label-mates DIECAST and MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD from late May until the end of Summer, hitting several open air festivals along the way. Recently, NAPALM DEATH finished up a successful headlining tour of Japan, ending with the band's firs-ever show in Indonesia being played in front of 7,000 people in Jakarta.
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[Music News: 04.11.05 - 04.17.05]
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