Both of the above cuts are culled from a single that was just recently shipped to radio and are not yet officially available for download (so if the above links don't work for much longer, don't write to us wondering why). In the meantime, SLIPKNOT will be performing the first single off Iowa, “Left Behind”, live on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on the NBC network on August 10th.
SEPULTURA will be taking part in an online chat with their fans this Wednesday, August 1st at 5:00 PM (8:00 PM GMT) via this Brazilian web site.
According to the unofficial IRON MAIDEN web site Up The Irons, IRON MAIDEN vocalist Bruce Dickinson was in Italy last week promoting the release of his upcoming Greatest Hits solo album, which is reportedly due in September through Sanctuary Records. During the course of the ensuing press interviews, Bruce revealed that IRON MAIDEN's forthcoming Rock In Rio two-CD live set is ready for a September release, but that the accompanying DVD—which is presently being edited by MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris—will not be issued until January 2002. Dickinson also confirmed that a new IRON MAIDEN studio album will not surface before the end of 2002, with the band scheduled to return to the road in early 2003. Meanwhile, Harris turned up at a recent DIRTY DEEDS gig at the Ruskin Arms in the UK, where he evidently stated that the Rock In Rio DVD is finished, but the band were not at all happy with the mixing and have to start over again, which is presumably contributing to the aforementioned delay. In related news, Dickinson has now withdrawn from the proposed project featuring AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen (ex-BODINE, VENGEANCE), after an earlier guest appearance on Lucassen's high acclaimed Universal Migrator Pt. II: Flight Of The Migrator concept album. According to a letter sent to the AYREON mailing list, Arjen is presently working on “new options”, the details of which are expected to be announced shortly.
JUDAS PRIEST's brand new Demolition CD reportedly debuted at number 16 in the official German Media Control Album charts this week. A seemingly impressive entry, this latest chart showing is apparently lower than those for HALFORD's Resurrection or PRIEST's Jugulator were on the very same list, a factor fueled in no small part by the negative reviews afforded the new album, including one from Germany's biggest metal magazine, Rock Hard, which gave the CD a rating of 7.5 out of 10.
According to the current issue of Billboard magazine, the Island/Def Jam Music Group has acquired a 50% stake in independent label Roadrunner Records in a deal worth $33 million-$35 million, in a move that has been rumored for weeks but had not been made official until this past Friday (July 27th). Under the deal, Island/Def Jam also has an option to eventually purchase Roadrunner in its entirety. While Roadrunner will continue to operate as a stand-alone label (with no involvement in day-to-day activities by Island/Def Jam), distribution of the label's product will switch from RED to Universal Music Group.
According to Encyclopedia Metallica, all METALLICA albums and future releases are banned in Jordan, a small country in western Asia. Here is what Jordanian resident Tamim Salem reported to encycmet.com: “METALLICA is looked at as the best thing that has ever happened on this earth by some of us here in Jordan, but because METALLICA are very popular, and sometimes loud, a newspaper did an article accusing them of being satanists and worshipers. They also included some photos of the band, jamming in the mid 80's, and names of non-existent albums such as 'No Life', 'Crow', and 'Poison'. When I read that article, I didn't really give a sh.t, but when I went to the music store to buy some tapes (we still use tapes here), the guy in the store told me that the Jordanian authorities will collect all METALLICA CDs and tapes and dispose them in the end of this year and ban all future releases.” The URL to the Jordanian newspaper is: www.alarab-alyawm.com.jo.
In other METALLICA-related news, drummer Lars Ulrich reportedly appeared on the CBS tennis/sports program Topspin TV yesterday, July 29th, mixing it up on the tennis court with REM's Mike Mills, plus tennis superstars Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and John McEnroe, as well as New York Yankee Paul O'Neill.
As previously reported, promotional copies of ECHOBRAIN's debut CD are currently available for purchase via eBay at this location.
According to hitsdailydouble.com, disagreements over the rights to the next Family Values Tour album may jeopardize the line-up on this year's edition and possibly the event. So far, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, STAIND and LINKIN PARK have all committed to the tour, which would appear in its third installment this year, following the decision by the festival organizers to postpone last year's planned outing due to heavy touring traffic.
Former HELLOWEEN vocalist Michael Kiske has pushed back the release of his third full-length solo CD to January of 2002. The album will be the singer's first (as a solo artist) for Noise Records.
CANNIBAL CORPSE have entered Village Recorders Studios in El Paso, Texas with producer Colin Richardson to record their upcoming CD, which is due at the end of the year.
BOLT THROWER are in the middle of recording their long-awaited new CD, entitled Honour - Valour – Pride, at Sable Rose Studios in Coventry, UK. Co-produced by the band and Andy Faulkner, the album should be completed in the first week of September for a November 19th release through Metal Blade Records. A European tour is planned for January/February 2002.
DARK FUNERAL's long-awaited new album, entitled Diabolis Interium, will be released on September 24th in Europe through No Fashion Records, on August 22nd in Japan through Soundholic Records, and on October 2nd in North America through Necropolis Records.
ONE MINUTE SILENCE will play the Kerrang! Week of Rock at The Barfly in London on August 30th. Support will come from MIOCIENE and VACANT STARE.
According to his official web site, former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach will be making an as-yet-undisclosed appearance in Detroit on August 5-6. More info as it becomes available.
Photos taken at the recent VIO-LENCE rehearsal sessions for their upcoming appearance at the Thrash Of The Titans benefit concert for TESTAMENT vocalist Chuck Billy, who was recently diagnosed with cancer, can be viewed at this location.
ANOTHERDAY, the New York-based band featuring former DRAIN STH guitarist Flavia Canel, has made two songs available for listening in streaming audio via the group's official web site. The two songs in question are entitled “Held Underneath” and “Real Enough”, and can be heard by clicking here and here.
SIX, the new Los Angeles-based act featuring former DROWN/FAMOUS vocalist Lauren, ex-MALFUNCTION mainman Alfunction and Bob K, will be playing a special 1605 show on Friday, September 7th at The Shack in Anaheim, California. Support will come from LOONY BINN.
According to the band's official web site, GRAVE DIGGER have recorded a cover of IRON MAIDEN's 'Running Free', which will be included as the bonus track on the Japanese version of the group's forthcoming album The Grave Digger (release date: October 22nd) and which will also be released on an upcoming IRON MAIDEN tribute album from Nuclear Blast Records. “We gave this song the typical face of GRAVE DIGGER', stated GD vocalist Chris Boltendahl.
A live recording of DIO's performance of the songs “Rainbow In The Dark” and a medley of 'Man on the Silver Mountain/Long Live Rock n' Roll' (originally done by RAINBOW), taped during the group's Magica Tour in Antwerp, Belgium on May 3rd 2000 and also featuring a guest appearance by IRON MAIDEN vocalist Bruce Dickinson and drummer Nicko McBrain, can be heard in streaming real audio by clicking here and here.
METAL CHURCH will be hosting a live chat with fans in the chat room of their official web site on Tuesday, August 7th from 7:00-10:00 Pacific time. Scheduled to appear are members Kurdt Vanderhoof, John Marshall, Duke Erickson, Kirk Arrington, plus roadie/band associate Bill 'Lewy' Lewis and RegiMan.