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Slayer Consider Retirement As Record Deal Nears End

With nine albums in the tank and a tenth set to be recorded next year, thrash metal forefathers Slayer are considering life after their contract with Rick Rubin expires, says singer/bassist Tom Araya. “Let’s put it this way, this is the final record of our commitment with Rick Rubin. When we first signed a deal with him back in 1986, we never sat down and said, ‘How long do you guys want to keep this together?’” Araya tells Thrash Hits. The band still has another album to record, which they’ll begin after their Unholy Alliance tour ends. After that, the future is unclear. “Once we’ve put together new material, we can get together and discuss our future plans,” Araya said. Retirement is an option, as the band is “maybe” financially secure enough to pack it in. Plus, “Seeing a 50-year-old man headbanging on stage would make me cringe. If I was watching that, I’d think, ‘Dude, you’re a little too old for that, aren’t you? You’re gonna fall off!’” [Photo: Evansen/AFP/Getty]

Published: 2008-07-23 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Slayer in the Studio: Loud, Fast and Ready to Thrash

Rolling Stone’s Steve Appleford recently stepped into a California studio with Slayer to watch the thrash-metal vets assemble their 10th studio album. The record — executive produced by Reign in Blood producer Rick Rubin, and produced by Greg Fidelman — is the band’s second with its reunited original lineup, and promises blinding speed and brutal rage. Check out our report straight from the studio, where the band tested out one of “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott’s old guitars and mused on how their fan

Published: 2009-04-16 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, In the Studio

Metallica Reveal “Guitar Hero” Track List

Metallica have revealed the track list for their upcoming Guitar Hero game, out on March 29th. The 28-song list combines the band’s greatest hits like “Enter Sandman” and “One” with fan favorites like “Battery” and “Dyers Eve.” Additionally, gamers can play the band’s new Death Magnetic in the full-game mode if they downloaded that album. Plus, GH: Metallica will also feature songs by artists like Bob Seger, Alice in Chains, Foo Fighters and new metal all-stars like Mastodon and the Sword. As reported in Rolling Stone’s preview of Guitar Hero: Metallica, the game features a storyline concocted by James Hetfield, with players starting the game as the band’s opening act before eventually becoming Metallica. The game also contains artwork from the band’s longtime collaborator Pushead and bonus features like live performances and behind-the-scenes footage. To see the entire Guitar Hero: Metallica track list, keep reading. Metallica songs: “All Nightmare Long” “Battery” “Creeping Death” “Disposable Heroes” “Dyers Eve” “Enter Sandman” “Fade To Black” “Fight Fire With Fire” “For Whom The Bell Tolls” “Frantic” “Fuel” “Hit The Lights” “King Nothing” “Master of Puppets” “Mercyful Fate (Medley)” “No Leaf Clover” “Nothing Else Matters” “One” “Orion” “Sad But True” “Seek And Destroy” “The Memory Remains” “The Shortest Straw” “The Thing That Should Not Be” “The Unforgiven” “Welcome Home (Sanitarium)” “Wherever I May Roam” “Whiplash” Other artists: Alice In Chains – “No Excuses” Bob Seger – “Turn The Page” Corrosion of Conformity – “Albatross” Diamond Head – “Am I Evil?” Foo Fighters – “Stacked Actors” Judas Priest – “Hell Bent For Leather” Kyuss – “Demon Cleaner” Lynyrd Skynyrd – “Tuesdays Gone” Machine Head – “Beautiful Mourning” Mastodon – “Blood And Thunder” Mercyful Fate – “Evil” Michael Schenker Group – “Armed and Ready” Motorhead – “Ace of Spades” Queen – “Stone Cold Crazy” Samhain – “Mother of Mercy” Slayer – “War Ensemble” Social Distortion – “Mommy’s Little Monster” Sui

Published: 2009-01-26 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Jonathan Davis, Serj Tankian Remember Dimebag at Ozzfest

When Pantera and Damageplan guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott was killed onstage at an Ohio concert in 2004, friends and admirers were quick to note that he wasn’t just a martyr who was only appreciated after his demise, but one of the most storied figures in heavy music while he was still alive. Every metal band who passed through Dallas at one point or another has a story about being taken to the Clubhouse, the strip club Dimebag owned along with his brother, Pantera and Damageplan drummer Vincent “Vinnie Paul” Abbott, or about the escapades and chaos that ensued at the brothers’ property in Arlington, Texas. In addition to the onstage tribute at this year’s Ozzfest, which featured performances from members of Alice in Chains, Slayer, Anthrax and Sepultura, just about everyone in the backstage area had something to say about the late guitarist. Here are three memories from some of the Ozzfest main stage performers: Jonathan Davis (Korn): “The shit he did, that’s what got me into heavy music — Vulgar Display of Power. I was only into Eighties music before that. The heaviest thing I listened to was Skinny Puppy and Ministry, but that wasn’t metal. When I heard Vulgar Display, I was like, ‘Holy shit, what the fuck is this?’ The first time I ever saw them live, before Korn was even signed, me and Fieldy went, and it was Pantera and Sepultura at Irving Meadows in L.A. They came out, started the first song, the curtain dropped, and me and Fieldy just started crying. We looked at each other and we had tears in our eyes because it was so fucking intense and heavy and sick.” Serj Tankian: “When [System of a Down] played with Pantera at the Forum, my parents had come to the show, and my parents are definitely not into heavy music at all. They were older, in their late sixties. What they were doing was very special, to a point where my parents, who are not into any rock or metal or any type of heavy music, really got them. I was blown away, and I said, ‘Really? You’re not j

Published: 2008-08-12 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Beastie Boys Open and Close With Brooklyn Anthems at First-Ever Show In the New York Borough

“Did we mention this is our first show ever, in the history of the band, in Brooklyn, New York?” Mike D asked the crowd last night. Can you believe the Beastie Boys never played here before? After all these years of “No Sleep Till Brooklyn,” it was like finally seeing Lou Reed in Manhattan, Skynyrd in Alabama or Slayer in Hell. McCarren Pool in funky Greenpoint has hosted some of the summer’s best shows in recent weeks, from Sonic Youth to Erasure, but the Beasties were disgustingly great. They looked great in their natty suits — Mike D’s wig was like a Jewish-Afro version of Ricky Sylvers. They began with “Hello Brooklyn,” from Paul’s Boutique, and ended with “No Sleep Till Brooklyn,” two of their best and two of the finest non-Biggie songs ever written about the borough. In between, the thousands of checked Medina heads who opted to spend their hot August night here instead of with Daft Punk (in Coney Island) or the Hold Steady (in Prospect Park) were richly rewarded, swiftly devolving into a concrete bowl full of party people screaming, “I play my stereo loud! I disturb my neighbor! I want to enjoy! The FRUITS of my LABOR!” “Hello Brooklyn” was such a killer intro, they could have just played instrumentals from their new album the rest of the night and people would have been half happy. But they pummeled us into submission with non-obvious fan faves like “Posse In Effect” (MCA rapping about Abe Vigoda, who he resembles more every year), “Root Down” and “Time For Livin.’” Adrock handed “Paul Revere” to the crowd, and let us carry every word of the story. They picked up their instruments for stoner-fuzak jams that really did sound excellent on a summer night (with a lot of help from keyboardist Money Mark and drummer Alfredo Ortiz), plus vintage hardcore thrashers like “Heart Attack Man” and “Egg Raid On Mojo.” It was weird to hear Adrock rap, “On the L we’re doing swell,” the day after the L-train got shut down by a freaking tornado in Brooklyn. The security dude

Published: 2007-08-11 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

“Guitar Hero: Metallica” Confirmed By Band, Details Emerge

Photo: GettyConfirming “the worst kept secret in rock n’ roll,” Metallica officially revealed on their website this weekend that there will be an all-Metallica Guitar Hero game “released in the first half (!?) of 2009.” According to the band, gamers will have the option of playing as Metallica themselves, with a “career mode” that echoes Metallica’s own rise to heavy metal stardom. The game will house roughly 28 Metallica songs, plus songs from “buddies” like the Foo Fighters, Alice in Chains, Slayer and Queen. The game will also contain new Guitar Hero features like an “Expert+” mode that requires faux-drummers to emulate Lars Ulrich and master two bass kick drum pedals. While the band didn’t let slip the track list, the gaming community has confirmed that “Enter Sandman,” “Fuel,” “Master of Puppets,” “Nothing Else Matters,” “Sad But True” and “For Whom the Bell Tolls” will all make the final cut. The All-Metallica game continues a bond between the band and Guitar Hero that started when Metallica made their Death Magnetic playable for GH3. The Metallica game is also the second GH game to chronicle one band’s discography, following the Guitar Hero: Aerosmith game from earlier this year. Related Stories: • Metallica’s “All Nightmare Long” Video Premieres • Fans Complain After Death Magnetic Sounds Better On Guitar Hero Than CD • Metallica’s Death Magnetic Playable on Guitar Hero III Same Day of Album Release

Published: 2008-12-15 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Metallica

Iraqi Heavy Metal Band Asks for Help as They Fight to Survive

When Rock Daily reported on the stirring Spike Jonze-produced documentary Heavy Metal in Baghdad as part of our Toronto International Film Festival coverage, we were told the bandmembers’ situation was dire. Now new information has emerged about Acrassicauda, Iraq’s only heavy-metal band, and their fight to survive. The group, which formed in 2001 and was influenced by Metallica, Slayer and Slipknot, almost immediately began receiving death threats from fundamentalists who called their music Satantic — playing in public became almost impossible, and even practicing was dangerous. Like approximately two million other Iraqis, they fled their home country and became war refugees in Syria, but as of October 10th, their visas expire — if they return home, they will almost certainly die. Now the filmmakers who documented their struggle in the film are asking for help raising money to relocate the band someplace safer (they’re not disclosing where for fear of endangering the band further). For more information and instructions on how to donate, check out the movie’s Web site. [Photo: Hondros/Getty]

Published: 2007-09-22 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Metallica’s James Hetfield Calls “Guitar Hero” a “Gateway Drug”: Inside the Band’s New Game

A week before James Hetfield and Co. are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the metal icons’ Guitar Hero: Metallica video game hits stores, on March 29th. The new addition to the GH franchise boasts 28 controller-shredding songs taken from Metallica’s voluminous catalog as well as band-approved acts including Motorhead, Slayer and Mastodon (check out our sneak preview here!). Rolling Stone sat down with frontman James Hetfield at SXSW a few hours before Metallica’s epic “surprise” show to find out how he likes his pixellated persona, whether he thinks Death Magnetic sounds better on video game or record and if he believes encouraging kids to pick up plastic instruments is hurting their chances of learning real ones. Which member of Metallica is the best at playing Guitar Hero? Oh, I don’t know. I think we’re all equally bad. As a guitarist, how are you at using the guitar controller? The initial thought was, “This is gonna be so easy.” And then I picked it up and tried doing it. And it was like [makes plunking sound]. “Are you kidding me? You guys suck! You’re supposed to follow me!” I gotta be on with the lines. And Metallica’s not as on with the lines as some other bands. Especially having Lars as a drummer [Laughs]. How do you feel about the criticism that games like Guitar Hero are keeping a generation of kids from picking up actual guitars? That’s an interesting backlash. I think Guitar Hero is a great gateway drug to real music. If you’ve got the music bug, nothing’s gonna stop you. It’s your destiny to express your gift. When you were speaking out about file-sharing in 2000, Metallica was accused of being anti-technology. And now you’re on top of a technological trend… We’ve never been anti-technology. Never ever. When we’re recording records, I want the newest, coolest gear possible. You want to combine it with the old amp or the vintage something. We’ve had one of the coolest websites from way back. Obviously the Napster part and the music-sharin

Published: 2009-03-21 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, SXSW, Metallica

Marilyn Manson Bringing Twiggy Songs, Satan, “One Giant Evil Cocktail” On Tour

With his “Rape of the World” tour set to terrorize Orlando, FL, tomorrow night, Marilyn Manson spoke with Rock Daily about what he has planned this time around. With bassist Twiggy Ramirez back in the fold, Manson promises that fans will “get a little bit of what they may have seen in the past, but turned up to a thousand.” That includes many older songs that Manson has refrained from playing in recent years “because they didn’t sound right” without Twiggy’s assistance. The reacquisition of Ramirez has invigorated Manson, who says, “It’s hard for us when we get together because we’re a real bad mixture of trouble. It’s going to be difficult for people to keep us from tearing our faces off.” Twiggy may not be the only surprise Manson has up his sleeve, as his band’s recent tour with Slayer seems to have reaped some benefits. “I’ve invited Kerry King, who’s become a good friend of mine, to come play on stage with us for a few songs here and there. Hopefully we can not only bring Twiggy back but bring Satan back into one giant evil cocktail that’s one thousand proof.” Also figuring into that mixture is opening band Ours. Manson was also eager to talk about his beloved film project, Phantasmagoria: Visions of Lewis Carroll. While the WGA strike and his current tour have pulled him away from the film, Manson predicts shooting will begin in either Prague or Romania in the late spring. “I’m going to be able to make a better film now because I had time to step away from script. I think its going to be a very disturbing film.” Marilyn Manson’s Rape of the World Tour January 19 - Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Hotel Orlando January 20 - Miami Beach, FL @ Jackie Gleason Theater January 22 - Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle January 24 - Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live! January 26 - Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre January 27 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Fac

Published: 2008-01-18 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, On Tour

The Who Pen New Tunes, Prince Sues the Pirate Bay, My Bloody Valentine Reunite

According to the Who’s Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend is already working on new material for the follow-up to 2006’s Endless Wire. “At the moment Pete’s writing new material. I haven’t heard anything. He’s told me some of the ideas which sound really intriguing again, and as usual from Pete, it’s never dull,” Daltrey says. Fans endured a twenty-four year wait between 1982’s It’s Hard and Wire, so this is some real progress. Not content with just suing his own fans (and writing songs about it), Prince’s purple wrath will now result in lawsuits aimed at torrenteers the Pirate Bay. While the site has already survived multiple attempts to shut it down, Prince and Internet-piracy slayer Web Sheriff have filed lawsuits in three countries (United States, Sweden, France) to try to sink the Pirate’s ship. My Bloody Valentine’s Kevin Shields has revealed on VBS.tv’s Soft Focus that his shoegazing band has reunited and is working on a new album as we type. It’s been a Who-like sixteen years since the band released their epic Loveless. Jay-Z dedicated a moment of silence to Donda West, Kanye’s mother, during his set last night at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom. It was a somber moment in an otherwise upbeat week for Jay, as his American Gangster is expected to cruise to the top of the Billboard charts on the strength of sales in the 450,000 range. The Dave Matthews Band will add to their already large volume of live recordings with Live at Piedmont Park, a CD/DVD documenting the band’s September 8th, 2007, performance in Atlanta. The set features three new DMB songs, as well as appearances by opening act the Allman Brothers’ Gregg Allman and Warren Haynes.

Published: 2007-11-13 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Afternoon News Roundup

Breaking Artist: Midnight Juggernauts

Who: Aussie new-rave trio Midnight Juggernauts, who just wrapped up their first U.S. tour supporting Summer ‘07 “It” band Justice. After tours of Europe and China, the group — guitarist-singer Andy Streetcrimes, singer-keyboardist Vin Vendetta and drummer Daniel Stricker — started accruing some major word of mouth thanks to MySpace. The dance-rockers ultimately scored their Justice gig the old-fashioned way: by cooking the French duo dinner. Sounds Like: David Bowie if his Berlin Trilogy was a collaboration with Kraftwerk and Faust. Their debut album Dystopia takes uplifting Numan synths, Daft Punk beats and Pink Floyd’s affinity for all things astronomical and Orwellian, then melts them all together with the help of some good psychedelics. Three Things You Should Know: 1. The band played fake Michael Jackson benefit shows to lure in unsuspecting fans. “He was having some some legal troubles and the idea was to give money to the show to fund legal expenses,” says Vincent. “It was just a joke, but I think some papers caught up on it and did some stories. They even got some child-abuse spokesperson to comment on it.” Some attending the event didn’t find the joke funny, as they complained when no actual Jacko covers were played. 2. The group’s rejected monikers include Dragon Lord and Warlords. “We had revolving names in the beginning and then there were other bands on the other side of the world who contacted us saying ‘We already had the title. We’ll sue you if you continue with that,’ ” Vincent explains. “So we just tried to come up with the most ridiculous thing. I guess Midnight Juggernauts is just literally an unstoppable force in the middle of the night, so we thought that may suit our music.” 3. The trio’s influences are wide-ranging — from Bowie and Floyd to Pixies and Slayer to old-school melancholy surf music — and their overall goal is lofty. “It’s not a

Published: 2007-11-01 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Videos, Breaking, Podcasts