White Noise: News on Linkin Park, Aerosmith, Burnt By the Sun, W.A.S.P. and More
We've made it to another Friday. And today, a bunch of us will be getting together in one of AOL's recording studios to do our very first podcast. Pretty soon, you'll be able to not only read our words, but hear our unusual voices. Unusual because we're sure we sound nothing like you might imagine. No one ever sounds the way you imagine they would. The best example of a dude who sounds nothing like we ever imagined he would? Rick Ta Life, who, we guess, rode a horse once. Remember 25 Ta Life? Anyways, the Rockstar Mayhem Fest winds to a halt this weekend, which means this summer is also coming to an end. Bummer. Feels like it just started warming up, and now the leaves are starting to shed here in New York. Let's kick your weekend off right, with a healthy heaping of heavy metal news. White Noise, hoping you woke up on the right side of the bed.
+ It's almost as if some higher power didn't want Aerosmith to tour this summer. Injuries and setbacks have threatened to derail the tour from its onset. And now, Steven Tyler's broken shoulder blade has forced the band to cancel the remaining dates on the trek. Refunds will be offered to ticket holders soon. "Words can't express the sadness I feel for having to cancel this tour," guitarist Joe Perry said in a statement. "I would like to thank our loyal fans for sticking by us through thick and thin and all the good energy they are sending our way. We hope we can get the Aerosmith machine up and running again as soon as possible. I sure am going to miss playing with ZZ Top just as I'm sure the fans are going to miss seeing them playing with us as well. Hope to see you sooner than later." Brad Whitford adds that the band "never anticipated this tour coming to such a swift and unfortunate ending. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Steven for a speedy recovery and return to good health."
+ On a related note, Demi Lovato's favorite band Abigail Williams have dropped off of the Conquered & Cursed Tour, blaming "sickness within the band" for the move. According to a press release, several bands on the trek have been battling the flu, with several members having to visit emergency rooms in the past week -- and are under doctor supervision to regain their strength.
+ Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale is back home and resting after pulling the band from Judas Priest's U.S. tour. Coverdale is suffering from severe vocal fold edema and a left vocal fold vascular lesion. "I genuinely appreciate your care and concern, but may I assure you all that I am now safely home and doing well," Coverdale says in a statement. "All I need to do is to rest my vocal cords for a couple of weeks. Everything will be fine. With hand on heart, I thank Judas Priest and their fine crew for extraordinary hospitality and camaraderie ... and, of course, my fantastic band and crew for their amazing support."
+ Yesterday, we told you Kelly Osbourne would be the focus of a new MTV reality series. Well, that's not true. According to ContactMusic.com, Ozzy Osbourne's daughter has denied she'll be the subject of a new series, saying, "MTV has asked us on several occasions to do a new show for them but we respectfully declined!"
+ Evanescence vocalist Amy Lee says she's been doing "a lot of writing" this summer with guitarist Terry Balsamo. "I have a little surprise for you that I can't spill just yet, but it's coming soon and I can't wait," she says. "I will let you know as soon as I'm allowed to!"
+ You need to hear the new Burnt By the Sun record. It is the business.
+ Next year's Maryland Deathfest keeps expanding its lineup. New additions to the fest, which will go down in Baltimore May 28 to May 30, include Pestilence, Converge, Malevolent Creation, Naglfar, Deceased, Gorod, Nazxul and more.
+ Linkin Park will donate a portion of the proceeds from its Thursday night gig in Thailand to benefit victims of Typhoon Morakot. The storm toppled tens of thousands of homes and trapped hundreds of people in mudslides, and the money will help aid recovery efforts. "Our hearts go out to the families of the victims and we're praying for the swift recovery of the survivors," vocalist Mike Shinoda said. "Our thoughts are with the Taiwanese people during this difficult time."
+ This is what we all needed ... the original Adema lineup is regrouping, and will release a DVD later this year. The band also hopes to record new material and tour soon.
+ W.A.S.P. will release its new album, 'Babylon,' on Oct. 12. The disc features nine tracks, including 'Live To Die Another Day,' 'Babylon's Burning' and 'Thunder Red.'
+ We gave you a heads up about this the other day, but now we have dates for All That Remains' upcoming tour with Lacuna Coil, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, From Sword to Sunrise, and Taking Dawn. The tour kicks off in Albany, N.Y. on Sept. 22, and runs through Nov. 17 in Toronto. A tour with the Devil Wears Prada will follow.
+ The Bled have inked a deal with Rise Records, and will release their new album in the coming months.
+ Despised Icon will release 'Day of Mourning' on Sept. 22. The band will be touring with Through The Eyes Of The Dead, ABACABB and Molotov Solution starting Sept. 26 in Aurora, Ill.
+ A ridiculous war of words is brewing between Matador records head Gerard Cosloy and Victory Records' Tony Brummel. Cosloy has been slamming Brummel and his label for years, and when Cosloy's house burned to the ground last week, it seems Brummel contacted him in an email, to rub it in. "An innocent pet burning to death is acceptable payback for mocking his dopey-as-f--- records, ads and business practices?," Cosloy wondered in his blog. Brummel says he has "never spoken to Gerard Cosloy or anyone at Matador. As a man, why not 'man up' and pick up the phone if you have a problem with someone? I am an easy guy to find. Regardless of his juvenile ramblings, I wish him and his company the best of luck."
+ Every Time I Die will be hosting a yard sale. Seriously. According to frontman Keith Buckley, the sale goes down this weekend and the band will be selling its old gear. The address for the yard sale, hosted on one of the band members' lawns, is 502 Meadow Drive, West Seneca, N.Y.