Green Day Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong Heading to Rehab
Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong is headed to rehab.
In a statement provided to ABC News Radio, the band's management announced Sunday, "Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong is seeking treatment for substance abuse."
The announcement comes following an angry outburst by Armstrong at Saturday's iHeart Radio festival in Las Vegas. The 40-year-old singer stopped a song in mid-performance and delivered a profane protest against the band's performance time allegedly being cut short, repeatedly referring to a countdown clock that read "one minute." Armstrong ultimately declares, "Let me show you what one f**kin' minute f**kin' means," then smashes his guitar into the stage floor until it breaks, after which he stalks off the stage. Video of Armstrong's outburst has since been widely posted online.
"Green Day would like everyone to know that their set was not cut short," Sunday's statement continues, "and to apologize to those they offended..." The statement concludes with, "The band regretfully must postpone some of their upcoming promotional appearances."
Green Day is currently promoting their new album Uno, which hits retailers on Tuesday.
Metallica Wants You to Choose the Setlist for Their Next DVD
Metallica needs your help. The band will release a new live DVD in December, and they want you to help decide what additional songs will be featured in the “extras” section.
“As we get ready to head back into the studio, we thought we would round out the Death Magnetic experience with the DVD/Blu-ray release of the two nights we filmed in Quebec City way back in the fall of 2009,” writes the band in a joint statement on their website. “We would like YOU to pick which setlist is the main feature with the remaining songs not played in the setlist that you choose appearing later on the disc in the "extras" section.”
You can vote for your favorite setlist now at Metallica.com, but you better hurry: voting ends on Monday at 9 a.m. PT. While an official release date for the DVD has yet to be announced, you can expect the two-disc set to arrive in stores in early December.
Trent Reznor's How to Destroy Angels Announces New EP
Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor has announced that his group How to Destroy Angels has cut a deal with Columbia Records for a series of new releases beginning this fall.
The first project under the new partnership will be a six-song EP called An Omen, due November 13 in both digital and 12-inch vinyl formats.
Although no further details were announced, in an open letter on his Facebook page, Reznor says of the group, "We are making some videos, we are going to be performing live, and that's all the details I have for now on those matters."
How to Destroy Angels features Reznor and his wife Mariqueen Maandig, as well asAtticus Ross, who worked with Reznor on the soundtracks for the movies The Social Network and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Also in the lineup is graphic designer Rob Sheridan who worked on many Nine Inch Nails projects. The new EP follows up the group's 2010 self-titled debut EP, and Ross' and Reznor's 2011 Oscar win for their Social Network score.
Tunes by Radiohead, Nirvana, Metallica Highlight New List of "Top 100 Songs Ever"
Radiohead's "Idioteque," Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and Metallica's "One" are just a few of the songs to make Consquence of Sound's recently announced list of theTop 100 Songs Ever.
"Idioteque" comes it at number 10 on the influential blog's list; "Teen Spirit" is at number 11, while "One" comes in at number 49.
The eclectic list has entries by artists from nearly every genre, from country legendJohnny Cash to electronic duo Daft Punk. Topping the list is The Beach Boys, with their 1966 single "God Only Knows."
Songs also making the list include the Beastie Boys' "Shadrach" at #26, Arcade Fire's "Wake Up" at #53, The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army" at #61, Bjork's "Army of Me" at #71, and more.
The full list is available on the Consequence of Sound website.
Open Letter to Marilyn Manson Written by Charles Manson Surfaces Online
An open letter penned by infamous 1960’s criminal Charles Manson, addressed to shock rocker Marilyn Manson has surfaced online.
Charlie’s followers at the non-profit organization ATWA, which stands for Air, Trees, Water, Animals and/or All the Way Alive, recently posted the note on their Facebook page. In the letter Charlie calls Marilyn an “Abraxas Devil” and makes a vague threat to give the singer “what you think he’s got coming.”
There’s no word yet on whether Marilyn Manson has read the letter.
Linkin Park Become First Rock Band to Score One Billion Views on YouTube
Linkin Park is celebrating a milestone. The band has become the first rock artist to score over one billion hits on their YouTube channel, LinkinParkTV. The most-watched clip on their channel is the video for the 2009 single, “New Divide,” from theTransformers: Revenge of the Fallen soundtrack, with over 131 million views. Red Hot Chili Peppers have the second-highest number of views on their YouTube channel, RCHPTv, with 327 million views. Green Day trails behind with 245 million views on their channel.
Evanescence’s Amy Lee Looking to Make “Simpler,” ”More Acoustic” Music
Amy Lee is looking forward to working on some new music outside of Evanescence. The frontwoman says that she’s been actively writing some new music that’s very different from her work with the band.
“There's more to me than what's in Evanescence," Lee tells NME. "I love folk, that's a big part of my background. I've written music that's a lot simpler and more acoustic. I'd like to do something that's not driven by loud guitars, I love the aggression they bring, but I'd like to try something out."
Lee will soon have time to work on some new material. The singer recently announced that she plans to take some time off after Evanescence wraps up their world tour supporting their 2011 self-titled album.
Hoobastank Gets Held Hostage in “This Is Gonna Hurt” Video
Hoobastank has released the video for “This Is Gonna Hurt,” the first single from their recently-released album, Fight or Flight.
The storyline revolves around an OCD-crazed actor on a children’s show who goes on a rampage after frontman Doug Robb mixes up a plate of carrot sticks that the actor had organized. The actor holds everyone hostage, including the show’s house band -- played by Hoobastank -- until police give him a briefcase containing eight perfectly-arranged carrot sticks on a plate.
