White Noise: News on Black Label Society, Dillinger Escape Plan, Slipknot, Pelican and More
Yesterday, we told you that the Aug. 26 stop of the Pedal to the Metal Tour had been canceled, which, we guess, sparked rumors that the entire rest of the tour was nixed. Of course, we assumed the show's cancellation was probably due to Zakk Wylde's recent hospitalization for the treatment of a blood clot. Why, we wondered, would the entire gig be canceled because one band can't make it? Now, we can tell you that the tour will go on, but that starting Saturday (Aug. 29), Wylde's band Black Label Society "will be pulling out of the tour due to health issues," a publicist tells us. An official statement will be released at some point later today. In the meantime, we've got all the news you need to know in this morning's White Noise column. Happy birthday to me!
+ The Dillinger Escape Plan will be entering a recording studio on Sept. 7 with producer Steve Evetts, to commence the tracking of the band's fourth studio album, 'Option Paralysis.' The album will be in stores early next year. Frontman Greg Puciato says "it's basically starting to feel like I'm being dropped down a long flight of steep stairs over and over again. I'm telling you ... every time we make a record, I think we all go gradually more and more insane from it, and we haven't even started real recording yet." The band hopes to have the disc recorded by Halloween.
+ Slipknot have canceled the remainder of their August and September shows, thanks to drummer Joey Jordison's undisclosed illness. He was taken to a hospital over the weekend, and the band had hoped to be able to resume touring this week. We'll keep you posted.
+ Wanna hear some new Hatebreed? We know you do, so head on over to the band's MySpace page, and check out 'In Ashes They Shall Reap,' a new song taken from the band's forthcoming eponymous LP, which hits stores Sept. 29.
+ Rush drummer Neil Peart is a proud papa, now that he and his wife, photographer Carrie Nuttall, have given birth to a new daughter, Olivia Louise Peart. Congrats, Neil! We hope we're still that randy at 56.
+ Kiss' Paul Stanley was recently asked if he felt the timing of former Kiss member Ace Frehley's new solo album was unfortunate. Stanley's response rules. "For who? Look, it's a hard one for me to answer. This album took us months to do, that album from what I understand took Ace 15 or 20 years to do. I can't say anything about the timing or the release schedule or what have you -- I truly, always go back to: I hope Ace is happy, and I think it's terrific that he's alive. Anything else past that is a bonus. I wish him well." Meanwhile, dates for Kiss' Alive 35 tour have been revealed. The trek kicks off Sept. 25 in Detroit, and the tour runs all across the U.S. before wrapping Dec. 6 in Dallas, Texas.
+ What's more, Kiss were sued last month by former guitarist Vinnie Vincent. He's seeking damages from the band for using his image without his permission. Vincent says his image was used in a DVD boxed set called 'Kissology: Volume 2 1978-1992,' and was later used as part of the 'roast' episode of A&E's 'Gene Simmons Family Jewels.' He is seeking unspecified damages.
+ Keep of Kalessin will begin recording their new disc late next month. According to guitarist Obsidian C, the band is still "writing some songs. New ideas are flowing and we're very excited about being home enough to actually have time to only focus on the new album ... We'll probably continue writing songs until we enter the studio, which will probably be in about a month."
+ The Red Chord, Job For a Cowboy, and Gwar are teaming up for a plethora of fall and winter gigs. The tour launches Sept. 29 in Houston, Texas and wraps Dec. 13 in New York.
+ Metalsucks attempts to answer a question whose answer is very obviously a resounding "Yes."
+ Pelican have posted a new track, called 'Strung Up From The Sky,' over on their MySpace page. The song comes from the band's new album, 'What We All Come To Need,' which will be in stores soon.