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Rock News: January 14th, 2013
by Rachel Edge
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posted Jan 14 2013 8:52AM
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RANDY BLYTHE Is 'Getting Ready Mentally' To Return To Prague To Stand Trial
LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe will stand trial February 4 on charges of manslaughter in the death of a fan at a Prague, Czech Republic concert two years ago.
The court originally had three months to set a trial date after announcing on December 3 that Blythe was officially indicted on manslaughter charges.
Writing on his Instagram account, Blythe said earlier today (Sunday, January 13): "The last two or three days I have been getting ready mentally to leave my home and return to Prague to do this whole trial thing in early February. It's not something I particularly WANT to do; but inside, my gut and heart tells me it is the RIGHT thing to do. I cannot turn my back on the right thing."
Blythe is facing the possibility of conviction and a long-term jail sentence after a 2010 incident in which a fan attending a LAMB OF GOD show died almost a month later, allegedly from injuries sustained when he was thrown off the stage. Blythe's predicament has galvanized the heavy rock community, with artists across the hard rock genre pledging their support.
Shortly after being released from the Pankrác prison in Prague in early August, Blythe sat down with Mark Holmberg of WTVR-TV — the CBStelevision affiliate based in Richmond, Virginia — to discuss his 37-day stay at the notorious Czech Republic penitentiary (see video below).
Asked about his vow to go back to Prague if there is a trial, Randy said, "I feel ethically responsible to go back there and face this charge. [The victim's] family right now is in a lot of pain, and they deserve some answers. To lose a child is the worst possible thing a human can go through, I think .. I want my name cleared. I have to go around the world and tour, you know. That's what I do. I'm not going to hide here. I'm an innocent man. I'm going to go to court and see what happens."
Regarding what the "worst-case scenario" is if he returns to Prague for a trial, Blythe told Metal Hammer magazine, "Ten years with no time off for good behavior. For my particular charge — we're saying manslaughter, but it's assault in the fourth degree with intent, resulting in the death of this young man — the sentence for that is five to 10 years with no time off. So the worst-case scenario is that get out when I'm 51, 52 years old. It's not something I really try to dwell on too much, because it's scary. I don't want to go to prison, I don't want that to happen, but the fact of the matter is it could happen. I will deal with it as it comes, that's all! can do. If you have one foot in the past and one foot in the future, you're pissing on the present. And right now, all! have is the present so I prepare myself the best I can. My band is behind me and my family's behind me and we're gonna do our best to prove my innocence. But worrying about a nebulous uncertain future, or being super-bummed out that l went to prison for 37 days does me no good."
LAMB OF GOD's manager, Larry Mazer, confirmed in a statement last month that Blythe will defend himself in the case. "We believe that Randyresponded professionally to the numerous amount of fans rushing the stage that day, a number of them captured on videos that have been posted on the Internet," Mazer said. "We have testimony from the venue operator that acknowledges lax security and an improper barricade being used that evening. Numerous testimonies from fans also were contradictory as to the actions of the multiple fans that tried to access the stage."
DAVE MUSTAINE: 'I Really Am Trying To Live My Life Differently Today'
MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has posted the following message on the band's Facebook page:
"I just wanted to take this time on a peaceful Sunday to stop and thank you for your tremendous support. I know not everyone here is a fan, but that's OK too; this message will be waiting for you when you change your opinion of me/us. Until then, I want to sincerely thank those of you for something you have no idea that you've done, but that is really a righteous and unbelievable thing to do. You see, all faults aside, I really am trying to live my life differently today, and part of that was in finding something to believe in.
"One of the things that has happened since I started this transformation is getting involved with helping widows and orphans, and helping the homeless. Now, here's what you've done...
"I was approached with an opportunity, and thanks to your unwavering support, my family and I have been able to fund a soup kitchen in Haiti with a ministry called Outside The Bowl, and you will be proud to know that when it is started (which will be very soon), we will be feeding up to 8,000 meals a day to the less fortunate.
"I am so very grateful, and I love you all so very much (yes, even you haters), because even when I am being vilified and having my character assassinated, I can find comfort knowing up to 8,000 meals will be served each day, along with a healthy serving of love and some spiritual nourishment as well.
"Again, I cannot thank you enough.
"Love and bruises…"
Source: Blabbermouth.net
Watch Jack White Engage in Serious Jibber-Jabber with Conan O’Brien
Jack White has become the latest icon to be featured on late-night host Conan O'Brien's online interview series, Serious Jibber-Jabber. In the 75-minute interview, the ex-White Stripes frontman discusses his background as an apprentice upholsterer, his obsession with the number three, the origin of the Stripes’ peppermint color scheme, and his issues with technology.
White doesn’t do much talking about his debut solo album, Blunderbuss, which scored nominations for Best Rock Album and Album of the Year at this year’s Grammys. In addition, White's Blunderbuss single “Freedom at 21” is up for Best Rock Song.
The 55th Annual Grammy Awards will be handed out February 10 in ceremonies airing live from Los Angeles' Staples Center on CBS starting at 8 p.m. ET. A full list of nominees is available on Grammy.com.
Rage Against the Machine, Avenged Sevenfold, System of a Down Members Featured on Disturbed Singer’s Side Project, Device
Disturbed frontman David Draiman has enlisted a number of rock luminaries to perform on the debut album of his side project, Device, with former Filter guitarist Geno Lenardo.
Draiman posted a message on the band’s Facebook page on Friday, announcing that the upcoming release will include appearances by Avenged Sevenfold frontman M. Shadows, System of a Down singer Serj Tankian, Rage Against the Machine guitaristTom Morello, Halestorm frontwoman Lzzy Hale, Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butlerand former Deep Purple bassist Glenn Hughes.
The singer also revealed that in addition to Lenardo, Device’s touring lineup will featureEvanescence drummer Will Hunt and Dope guitarist Virus.
Draiman noted that the album’s first single,“Vilify,” will arrive at radio on February 19. Other song titles that are expected to be a part of the release include "You Think You Know," "Recover," "Hunted" and "War of Lies."
While a title for the album has yet to be announced, it is expected to be released on April 9.
Trent Reznor Named Chief Creative Officer for Daisy Streaming Music Service
Trent Reznor is expanding his resume. The Nine Inch Nails frontman has just been named chief creative officer of Daisy, a new music streaming service he created with rapper Dr. Dre’s company, Beats by Dre. Interscope Records chairman and Beats Electronic co-founder Jimmy Iovine revealed Reznor’s new title during a conference call with reporters on Thursday, according to SPIN.
"What's missing from the digital music landscape is a cultural context," said Iovine. "We need to bring an emotional connection back to the act of music discovery. With Trent [Reznor] and now [Daisy CEO Ian Rogers] we have the right team in place to do it."
Last month, Reznor told The New Yorker that Daisy’s service will include a form of “intelligent curation” that “uses mathematics to offer suggestions to the listener...[but also] would present choices based partly on suggestions made by connoisseurs, making it a platform in which the machine and the human would collide more intimately."
While an exact release date for Daisy has yet to be announced, the music streaming service is expected to launch sometime later this year.
Sevendust Says Hiatus Helped Creative Process for Black Out the Sun; Offers Preview of “Decay”
Drummer Morgan Rose says that Sevendust’s recent year-long hiatus helped the creative process for the group’s forthcoming ninth studio album, Black Out the Sun, due in stores on March 26.
"It was a good break for us," Rose tells Billboard. "We liked being around each other again. We appreciated each other and each other's talent. I think it helped in every aspect -- in the writing as well."
To give fans a taste of Black Out the Sun, Sevendust has posted a stream of the album’s first single, “Decay,” on Billboard.com. Rose reveals that the track was created from material left over from the sessions from their previous album, 2010’s Cold Day Memory.
"We had this riff, and we said, 'Let's jam it and see if anything comes of it'," he explains. "And before you know it, it became a song that ends up on the record, and everybody listens to it and they end up picking that as the single, which was pretty cool."
Rose adds that the band expects to begin filming a video for “Decay” sometime this month, before they kick off their tour on February 2 at Ziggy’s in Winston-Salem, N.C.Lacuna Coil will support the band on all dates. Visit Sevendust.com to view the full itinerary.
The Black Keys, Vampire Weekend, Arcade Fire Make List of Entertainment Weekly's Most Anticipated Albums
Upcoming albums from The Black Keys, Vampire Weekend and Arcade Fire have all made Entertainment Weekly’s list of the "12 Albums We Can't Wait For."
EW is especially excited for The Keys follow-up to the highly-successful El Camino, which scored five nominations for this year’s Grammys, including Album of the Year and Best Rock Album, as well as Record of the Year for the song "Lonely Boy." The magazine notes that the group is hoping to “feature some input from frequent collaborator Danger Mouse” on the upcoming release.
Vampire Weekend’s forthcoming third studio album is also highly-anticipated by EW. Frontman Ezra Koenig tells the mag, “There’s some very different stuff on it, but the vibe is consistent throughout.”
Arcade Fire’s upcoming fourth studio album also gets a mention by EW. The magazine reports that the band is currently “winnowing down a batch of 35 songs” for the follow-up to their 2010 Grammy-winning album, The Suburbs.
Release dates for all three albums have yet to be announced.
Incubus Guitarist Mike Einziger Tapped for Prestigious Grammy Concert Event
Incubus may not be nominated for any awards this year, but that’s not stopping The Grammy Foundation from inviting guitarist Mike Einziger to take part one of their prestigious events.
The guitarist will perform at a concert event called "Play It Forward: A Celebration of Music's Evolution and Influencers," taking place at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills, California, on February 7, just days before the Grammy Awards. The event plans to explore the history of music's most influential figures and their "impact on the American cultural landscape."
Joining Einziger on the bill for the event are George Thorogood and the Destroyers, pop singer Ed Sheeran, country music legends Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, and British soul singer Lianne La Havas. Other artists will be added to the bill in the coming weeks.
Proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Grammy Foundation's mission of preserving our musical past for future generations. Visit GrammyFoundation.org for more information.
Stone Sour’s Corey Taylor Says Comics Are Best Way to Showcase House of Gold and Bones Storyline
Stone Sour fans will soon get their hands on the first issue of the band’s comic book mini-series based on their concept double album, House of Gold and Bones. FrontmanCorey Taylor says he chose to create the four-issue mini-series because he felt comics would be the perfect medium to showcase the album’s storyline.
“In music, you only really get the emotion of the singer or the music, which makes it hard if you're trying to convey the emotion in a scene,” he tells Comic Book Resources. “With comics, you get that snapshot of emotion: the looks on the faces, the color of the sky, the veins in people's necks, but you don't get the fluid feel of being in the moment, like film or music.”
Taylor adds that he’s still hoping to bring the House of Gold and Bones saga to the silver screen sometime in the near future. “My ultimate goal for these albums is two full-length movies,” he explains. “The music and the story are there, the comics will bring that extra dimension and really give this tale the legs it needs."
The first issue of the House of Gold and Bones comic book series will be available on April 17.
Black Sabbath Announces Title of New Album
Black Sabbath has dropped a few more details about their long-awaited new album.
In a posting on their official website over the weekend, the band announced the title of the disc: 13. It will be released sometime in June, though the exact date has yet to be revealed.
13 will be Black Sabbath's first studio album with Ozzy Osbourne at the helm since 1978's Never Say Die!
The band will tour New Zealand, Australia and Japan this April and May in advance of the album's release.
Rammstein’s Videos 1995-2012 Delayed Until February Due to “Manufacturing Plant Error”
Rammstein fans will have to wait a little longer to get their hands on the band’s complete music video catalog, Videos 1995-2012.
Though the box set was previously reported as having a release date of January 15, Universal Music released a statement on Friday which says that the collection won’t be available until sometime next month due to “a manufacturing plant error.” A new release date for the box set will be revealed sometime in the next few days.
Videos 1995-2012 is a three-DVD package that contains more than seven hours of material, including 25 music videos and 24 behind-the-scenes clips of how the videos were made. The set also features two new videos for “Mein Herz Brennt,” from 2001’sMutter.
Source: Abc ePrep
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