TOOL Places Hidden Certificates In 'Opiate' Packages
Five lucky fans will get something extra in their copies of TOOL's forthcoming commemorative edition of the "Opiate" EP.
Dubbed the "Seal of Xatanitos," the five certificates will be placed randomly amidst the 5,000 copies of the collectible reissue. The prize will only be disclosed to each of the five winners.
The 21st-anniversary edition is limited to 5,000 copies and features art direction by guitarist Adam Jones, illustrations by legendary artist Adi Granov and design packaging by Mackie Osborne, who has collaborated with TOOL on many albums, including "10,000 Days", "Lateralus" and"Salival" as well as posters and merchandise.
The 5,000 copies will be broken down into five variations (each 1,000 pieces) with each set featuring a slight alteration of the exterior graphics and included bonus items which include a new stereoscopic image for fans to use with their glasses from the "10,000 Days" packaging.
The packages will only be available via TOOL's web site on March 26, with the band setting aside a small number of packages (200 of each variation) for Toolarmy members. Toolarmy members will be able to purchase on March 22 via Toolarmy.com.
Jones recently spoke to Revolver about the deluxe reissue of "Opiate", telling the magazine, "What I want is to go to the store and buy something and go, 'Damn, I got more than my money's worth.' I want something where you can tell a lot of time went into it."
Jones has always been deeply involved in TOOL's artwork and visuals, telling The Pulse Of Radio a while back that his interest started long before the band. "I've always been into art and drawing and sculpting, and I did makeup effects for a long time, and it's always been a big part of my life," he said. "And Maynard too, and, you know, the other band members — you know, when I met those guys, they were all doing something kind of creative, and I think that's why it clicks."
As for revisiting the music on "Opiate", Jones said, "It's kind of like a time machine. It takes you back to that time and what you were thinking. Creatively speaking, there's always room for improvement . . . but overall I like it. It's something I'm very proud of."
Staind’s Mike Mushok Joins Former Metallica Bassist Jason Newsted’s New Band
Mike Mushok is keeping busy while Staind is on hiatus. The guitarist has just announced that he’s joined Newsted, a new band fronted by former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted.
“Staind is taking a break for a while, so when Jason asked if I was interested in joining them to record an album and play on the upcoming tour, it was perfect timing,” said Mushok in a statement. “All I could say was, Hell yeah! I’m totally down for this.”
We’ll get our first chance to hear Mushok shred with Newsted when the band drops their first full-length album, which is expected to be released early this summer.
Star-Studded Soundtrack to Dave Grohl’s Sound City Documentary Debuts at #8 on Billboard 200
The soundtrack for Dave Grohl’s Sound City documentary scored a decent debut on the Billboard 200 album chart this week. Sound City - Real to Reel -- which features the Foo Fighters frontman performing with unique groups of musicians featured in his film -- debuted at #8 on the tally, selling around 37,000 copies its first week out, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
The album includes collaborations with Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic, Paul McCartney,Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme and Alain Johannes, Rage Against the Machine’s Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk, Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor and Foo Fighters’ Pat Smear and Taylor Hawkins, among others.
Meanwhile, Mumford & Sons Grammy-winning album is struggling to stay in the top 10 on the list. Babel fell from #4 to #9 this week, selling 31,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Scott Weiland on STP Firing: “Every Band Has Issues”
Scott Weiland still isn’t happy about being fired from Stone Temple Pilots. The singer says while he still respects his former band mates, he feels that they made a hasty decision.
“They’ve done it before, and they can do it again,” he tells Vindy.com. “Every band has issues. I just think sometimes people say things before they really think about it.”
Weiland feels that his current tour with his new solo band, The Wildabouts, was one of the main reasons he was dismissed as the group’s lead singer. “I think that the fact this [solo] tour was doing so well was a reactionary thing on their part,” he reveals. “But it actually isn’t quite so simple.”
While STP's future is uncertain, Weiland adds that he is “over halfway finished” making a new solo album with The Wildabouts.
Muse Reveals Winner of "Animals" Video Contest
Muse has announced the winner of a contest launched in December of 2012 asking filmmakers to create a video for "Animals," a cut from the band’s latest album, The 2nd Law. The band has revealed that Inês Freitas and Miguel Mendes, two filmmakers from Portugal, have created the winning video.
The four-minute animated clip tells the story a group of shadowy figures in red ties that wind up feeding pieces of people into a grinder in order to make money to pay off a very large debt. In the end, the dark figures end up feeding pieces of each other into the grinder.
Freitas and Mendes will receive a grand prize of 3,000 British pounds -- which translates to a little over $4,500 in U.S. currency -- as well as tickets to one of Muse's stadium shows this summer, where their video will be aired. You can watch videos from the top five finalists at Genero.tv.
Slash Begins Work on Next Solo Album
Slash took to his Twitter account on Wednesday morning to let fans know that he’s back in the studio working on tracks for his next solo album, which will feature his backup band Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators.
He tweeted, “Started the demo process for the next S/M & the Conspirators record last night; lots of material to work up. It's going 2 be good. iiii]; )'”
The former Guns N’ Roses guitarist will have about a month to work on cuts for the new album before he hits the road in May for a number of tour dates and festival appearances overseas.
Lamb of God Schedule Summer Tour Dates, Announce Metal on the Mountain Retreat
With frontman Randy Blythe recently acquitted of manslaughter by a Czech Republic court, Lamb of God is ready to get back out on the road. The band has just unveiled a lengthy list of tour dates in support of their latest album, Resolution.
The North American trek kicks off on May 16 at The Orange Peel in Asheville, North Carolina and will make stops in Nashville, Salt Lake City, Atlantic City and Baltiomre, among other cities. Decapitated with Terror and The Acacia Strain will open for the band on select dates.
In addition, Lamb of God has announced that they'll be holding their own themed summer camp shortly after their tour ends. Dubbed the Metal on the Mountain Retreat, the event will be held July 15-19 at the Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, New York. The retreat will offer a variety of workshops taught by band members, including guitar and drum clinics, songwriting sessions and nightly jam sessions where fans will get to perform with the group.
The camp will also include Q&A sessions with Lamb of God and a full concert by the band on the last night of the event. For more information on the retreat, go toMetalOnTheMountain.com.
Here are the tour dates:
5/16 -- Asheville, NC, The Orange Peel
5/17 -- Chattanooga, TN, Track 29
5/18 -- Nashville, TN, Marathon Music Works
5/19 -- Columbus, OH, Rock on the Range
5/20 -- Columbia, MO, Blue Note
5/22 -- Boulder, CO, Boulder Theater
5/23 -- Salt Lake City, UT, In The Venue
5/24 -- Boise, ID, Revolution Center
5/25 -- Reno, NV, Knitting Factory
5/26 -- Ventura, CA, Ventura Theater
5/28 -- Tucson, AZ, Rialto Theater
5/29 -- Anaheim, CA, The Grove
5/31 -- Chico, CA, Senator Theater
6/1 -- Portland, OR, Roseland Ballroom
6/2 -- Kennewick, WA, Toyota Ice Arena
6/3 -- Missoula, MT, Wilma Theater
6/4 -- Billings, MT, Shrine Auditorium
6/6 -- Fargo, ND, The Venue
6/7 -- Madison, WI, Orpheum Theater
6/8 -- Lincoln, NE, Bourbon Theater
6/9 -- Wichita, KS, The Cotillion
6/10 -- Tulsa, OK, Cain's Ballroom
6/12 -- Ft. Wayne, IN, Pierre's
6/13 -- Rochester, NY, Water Street Music Hall
6/14 -- Atlantic City, NJ, House of Blues
6/15 -- Montebello, QC, Montebello Marina
6/16 -- Portland, ME, State Theater
6/18 -- Worcester, MA, Palladium Ballroom
6/19 -- Baltimore, MD, Rams Head
6/20 -- Norfolk, VA, The Norva
The Offspring, Marilyn Manson, Rise Against to Perform at 2013 Amnesia Rockfest
The Offspring, Marilyn Manson and Rise Against are part of a stellar lineup of artists who will perform at the 2013 edition of Canada's annual Amnesia Rockfest. The event is scheduled to take place June 14-15 in Montebello Marina in Montebello, Quebec.
Other acts set to take the stage at the fest include Deftones, Social Distortion, Rancid,Lamb of God, Anthrax, Dropkick Murphys, Killswitch Engage and Blink-182 drummerTravis Barker’s side project with Rancid’s Tim Armstrong,Transplants.
Tickets for the musical extravaganza are on sale now, with three-day passes starting at $79. To get your tickets and see the full lineup and schedule for the event, head over to PNRockfest.com.
Guitarist Rob Caggiano on Leaving Anthrax: “My Heart Wasn't into It Anymore”
Guitarist Rob Caggiano says that his recent departure from Anthrax was driven by his need for more creative freedom.
“My heart wasn't into it anymore,” he tells Noisecreep. “I think the main reason is that Anthrax was never a creative outlet and it just got to a point where I realized there was no emotional attachment to the music for me at all. At the end of the day, I think they really understand why I left.”
Caggiano, who is now a member of Volbeat, adds that he found exactly what he was looking for when he began working with the band to produce their upcoming album,Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies. “The vibe and chemistry was just killer and I was being creative again which is something I haven't been able to do in a long time,” he explains. “It definitely didn't take me long to realize this was the perfect situation for me.” Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies will arrive at all the usual outlets on April 9.
