PRIMAL FEAR Slams Illegal Downloading

---

German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR have issued the following update:

"A newly released study by the Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) from Texas estimates that global music piracy is costing the U.S. economic output 12.5 billion dollars and 71,060 jobs every year! It came as a shock to us to realize what extreme level illegal downloading has reached for PRIMAL FEAR and the metal scene.

"We've put months of hard work into our forthcoming CD, 'New Religion', which has cost a huge investment on our part to deliver the fans the best possible product we can. Now we've found out that according to objective statistics, four weeks before the official release our new CD it has already been downloaded illegally in numbers reaching into five digits! Those numbers are very disappointing! Still we're very proud of our new album."

PRIMAL FEAR's new album, "New Religion", is due in Europe on September 21 via Frontiers Records. A U.S. release date has not yet been announced. Guest musicians on the album include Magnus Karlsson (STARBREAKER, ALLEN/LANDE), Kai Hansen (GAMMA RAY, ex-HELLOWEEN) and Simone Simons (EPICA). Check out audio samples at this location.

PRIMAL FEAR recently extended its ten-year partnership with Warner/Chappell Publishing for a minimum of three more albums and five years.

PRIMAL FEAR released a "best of" collection, entitled "Metal is Forever - The Very Best of Primal Fear", in Europe on September 29 via the band's previous label, Nuclear Blast Records (with whom they parted ways earlier in the year). The album's artwork was created by Stephan Lohrmann, who was also responsible for the cover of PRIMAL FEAR's "Black Sun" album. The 16-track compilation also includes a special bonus CD of "classic metal tracks." The CD was issued in North America on April 2.

---

ROB ZOMBIE To Guest On EDDIE TRUNK's Radio Shows

---

Rob Zombie will appear on both of Eddie Trunk's radio shows: "Eddie Trunk Live" on XM Radio 41 on August 27 between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. EST and on "Eddie Trunk Rocks" on Q104.3 FM on August 31 between 11:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. EST.

ROB ZOMBIE confirmed in an interview with the Los Angeles TV station KTLA yesterday morning (Thursday, August 23) that he will hit the road in October as the support act for OZZY OSBOURNE. According to Zombie, the trek is expected to run through December. Exact cities and dates will be announced soon.

The singer was originally in the running to open some fall dates for BLACK SABBATH offshoot band HEAVEN AND HELL, but couldn't commit to that because it was too close to the opening of his remake of the horror classic "Halloween".

Watch Rob Zombie's six-minute interview with KTLA (which aired yesterday morning) at this location (Note: You must disable your pop-up blocker in order to view video).

ROB ZOMBIE's first-ever live album, entitled simply "Zombie - Live" (cover), is scheduled for release on October 23. The CD was recorded over several nights during the band's "Educated Horses" tour and will include a 36-page super-deluxe book of never-before-seen live pictures and a DVD of live footage and animated videos. It was mixed by Zombie and producer Scott Humphrey. The track listing is as follows:

01. Sawdust in the Blood
02. American Witch
03. Demon Speeding
04. Living Dead Girl
05. More Human than Human
06. Dead Girl Superstar
07. House of 1000 Corpses
08. Let It All Bleed Out
09. Creature of the Wheel
10. Demoniod Phenomenon
11. Supercharger Heaven
12. Never Gonna Stop
13. Black Sunshine
14. Superbeast
15. The Devil's Rejects
16. Lords of Salem
17. Thunder Kiss
18. Dragula

As previously reported, Zombie is putting together a WHITE ZOMBIE box set containing "everything we ever recorded," according to the singer. "I am currently transferring all the early shit from the original tapes," he previously said. "No remixing going on here — everything will be as it was originally recorded. Don't know when this box set will be available, but it is slowly moving forward. This will be the final word on WHITE ZOMBIE."

ROB ZOMBIE's first-ever career retrospective, "Past, Present & Future", has sold more than a million copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. The two-disc set, which was released in September 2003 through Geffen Records, contains a CD of 19 digitally remastered selections and a DVD of 10 music videos, including three that were previously unreleased.

---

Two People Dead, More Than 80 Arrested At New Jersey OZZFEST

---

According to New York's WABC-TV, two people died of overdoses during the day-long Ozzfest concert at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey Thursday (August 16), which also resulted in more than 80 arrests for underage drinking.

Police say one of those who died, a 27-year-old man, had to be resuscitated several times after he lost his pulse and heartbeat.

That man is believed to have ingested a combination of alcohol, illegal drugs and caffeine.

He reportedly collapsed and was revived several times by medics before being taken to Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel for emergency surgery. He was pronounced dead Friday morning, according to WNBC.com's Brian Thompson.

Meanwhile, more than 80 people were arrested at the concert, including several for underage drinking and drug possession, as well as some for assault, resisting arrest and defiant trespass.

Authorities say the charges are similar to those recorded at other recent PNC concerts, including 92 arrests at an O.A.R. concert last Saturday and 54 at an INCUBUS show before that.

---

Black Sabbath bassist investing in football club?

---

According to Digital Spy, BLACK SABBATH/HEAVEN AND HELL bassist Geezer Butler is considering buying into a Premiership football club.

The heavy metal rocker is well known for his love of Aston Villa FC, and Butler has expressed an interest in investing some money into the West Midlands club.



Butler commented "I never miss a game on television in the US where I live and I'm looking into into investing 60 million...of what I can't say."

The bassist wouldn't be the first musician to switch from the world of popular music to football investment, with Elton John becoming chairman of Watford FC back in 1976

---

Lamb Of God singer to guest with Overkill

---

Randy Blythe collaborates with classic thrashers

OVERKILL frontman Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth has issued the following update:

"Welcome aboard... We're back from Wacken [Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany]...and holding in our greasy, little hands the footage from a night well spent with an international metal crowd on a chilly August night in Germany. Looks like you are going to get to share in it, even after the fact; as we look to include some of that Wacken night in the release of 'Immortalis' this October 9.



"So what's new kids? Keeping your heads in that up and down? Horns up? Here, too, seems we have a helluva year planned... touring... video... and your general fucking around all of the planet.

"We got underway with the project quite awhile back, before the Gigantour [in late 2006]... but didn't finish until this past July. I think the most time ever taken for a release by us.... and in our opinion well worth the extra time. Another self-produced project from the bowels of a dark New Jersey studio. It's all about the end result.... and top-notch it is.... Randy Blythe [of LAMB OF GOD] stepped in to give the track 'Skull and Bones' the ultimate hellish vocal duet vibe.... man, that motherfucker is loud!

"Ron [Lipnicki, drums] stepped up and knocked it out of the park... the best 'hands' in OK, hands down! I think when a guy enters this type of situation... the adrenaline is at such a high level he becomes contagious, like a 'good' disease. He shines throughout the record...and you'll know it from the opener, 'Devil's in the Mist'.

"We look forward to seeing you on the road... October!!!"

"Immortalis" will be released on October 9 via Bodog Music. The group's collaboration with Bodog reunites OVERKILL with Jonny and Marsha Zazula, previous owners of Megaforce Records, the label responsible for putting metal on the map and bringing OVERKILL's New Jersey thrash metal to the world. The Zazulas are now a part of the Bodog Music team in the United States.

---

Exhaustive AC/DC boxset due

---

Columbia Records will release "Plug Me In" — the ultimate career-spanning DVD box set of live performances, interviews and more from AC/DC, the world's most electrifying rock and roll band — on Tuesday, October 16.

The first AC/DC release since the band came to Columbia Records earlier this year, the AC/DC "Plug Me In" DVD collection brings together for the very first time an astonishing five hours of definitive live concert and television performances — many of them previously unavailable — chronicling the ongoing career (now in its fourth decade!) of a groundbreaking rock and roll powerhouse whose music transcends the test of time.

"AC/DC has delivered the most dynamic rock and roll music in the world," said Steve Barnett, Chairman, Columbia Records. "Columbia is honored to be releasing this definitive career-spanning retrospective featuring many of AC/DC's finest filmed performances."

Disc One of the AC/DC "Plug Me In" DVD collection begins with a performance of "High Voltage" performed in October 1975 on Australia's "King of Pop" awards show. The first disc of "Plug Me In" is devoted to the band's formative years (1975-1979) with original lead singer, the late Bon Scott capturing the group in its full early glory with more than 20 performances including rare black-and-white video footage of the notorious St. Albans High School concert on March 3, 1976; the very first UK television appearance in July 1976; pristine live full-color stereo concert performances from Glasgow and Essex University in 1978; and three songs — including the very first public performance of "Highway To Hell" — from Netherlands television in 1979. Bonus material on Disc One includes a Bon Scott interview from November 1977; extraordinary band interviews from 1976; and four songs recorded live in Nice on December 15, 1979, one of Bon Scott's last concerts with the band before his tragic death on February 19, 1980.

Disc Two of the AC/DC "Plug Me In" DVD collection covers the band's second great epoch: the Brian Johnson era which began with the release of "Back In Black" in 1980 and continues to this day. In addition to more than 20 performances drawn from three decades of concerts around the world — including an extremely rare Japanese television appearance from February 1981, blistering '80s and '90s sets from Detroit to Moscow, incredible footage from 1996's "Ballbreaker" tour (including the "Beavis and Butthead" intro), and 21st century barnburners in Paris, Munich, and Toronto — "Plug Me In" includes a fantastic array of bonus material including the AC/DC Donnington interview on the "Old Grey Whistle Test" (August 1984) and AC/DC's in-concert performance of "Rock Me Baby" with THE ROLLING STONES.

A deluxe collector's edition of "Plug Me In" — containing a third DVD of 21 additional rare performances spanning both the Bon Scott and Brian Johnson eras as well as a treasure trove of facsimile reproductions of authentic AC/DC memorabilia — will also be available for a limited time beginning Tuesday, October 16.

The AC/DC "Plug Me In" DVD box set is both a Holy Grail for aficionados of AC/DC as well as an ideal and comprehensive introduction to the music and history of a pioneering band that continues to define the electrifying possibilities of rock and roll.

---

Interview with Andreas Kisser from Sepultura

---

---

New Exodus Album To Be A Two Parter

---

As previously reported, San Francisco Bay Area thrash legends EXODUS have confirmed that Nuclear Blast will release their upcoming album, The Atrocity Exhibition... Exhibit A, on October 28th in North America. The Atrocity Exhibition... Exhibit A was produced at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, CA by Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, MACHINE HEAD, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY) and features the following tracks: 'A Call To Arms', 'Riot Act', 'Funeral Hymn', 'Children Of A Worthless God', 'As It Was, As It Soon Shall Be', 'The Atrocity Exhibition', 'Iconoclasm', 'The Garden Of Bleeding', 'Bedlam 123'.

The band have issued the following update regarding the new album: "Why Exhibit A you might ask? Because we already have four songs recorded and finished for the next album, which we will resume recording some time around the end of the year, and this is a two part record. Part two being Exhibit B. So yes, there will be another Exodus album finished hopefully soon after the release of this one."

---

Eight People Injured At Def Leppard Concert

---

Severe thunderstorms that produced high winds and flying debris caused eight people to be injured and significant damage inflicted to the Walnut Creek Amphitheatre, where DEF LEPPARD was scheduled to perform Tuesday night (August 21st) in Raleigh, NC.

"The cancellation of the concert by Def Leppard, STYX and FOREIGNER also caused major traffic back-ups around the Amphitheatre, as thousands of fans tried to leave at once. A security guard at the Amphitheatre told WRAL there was some significant damage."

Venue management has issued a statement regarding the Def Leppard show cancellation and possible reschedule.
"The Def Leppard/Styx/Foreigner show scheduled to take place tonight, August 21, at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre was unable to take place due to severe weather and in the interest in public safety. We are making every effort to reschedule the date. More information regarding a possible rescheduled date will be announced soon. Patrons are encouraged to hold on to their tickets as tickets purchased for tonight's concert will be honored if the date is rescheduled. If patrons wish to refund their tickets, refunds will be available at point of purchase starting Friday, August 24."

---

Drowning Pool Comments on Covering Billy Idol's 'Rebel Yell'

Drowning Pool guitarist CJ Pierce recently commented at the bands press conference on the selection of covering Billy Idol's 'Rebel Yell' for inclusion on the bands new CD "Full Circle." "That’s one of the songs that get covered a lot, but I love the way that we did it," stated CJ. "We just tried it out in the studio one day. There really wasn’t any kind of effort or thought into it. I think Mike came up with the idea while we were having beers at a restaurant one day. I mean any time that you go anywhere where there’s a live band playing, you play that song, if the band plays that song, the banker, the young professional woman or the older construction guy, all of a sudden they throw their drinks up in the air and they’re all singing along with the song. But we just always kind of thought it was a party tune, it’s from the era of when we were growing up with the ‘80’s rock. And we just thought it would be a fun song to play. Actually, we didn’t put a whole lot of thought into it. We didn’t start doing it until we were in the studio and it just became like a fun project."

Drowning Pool has recently set out on its North American tour in support of the bands new release "Full Circle." The new record is the band’s third effort and has proven to maintain the credulous continuity of energy from the bands debut.

The most greatest event in eastern Europe: THE FLAMING ARTS FESTIVAL 2007

It’s time to announce with proud line-up and schedule of biggest festival tour in Eastern Europe called THE FLAMING ARTS FESTIVAL 2007! We are happy to announce such great acts like VADER, ROTTING CHRIST, KRISIUN, INCANTATION and also strong supports in face of modern thrash metal from UK called AMENTI and Italian sympho black metal act RIUL DOAMNEI. Besides opener of gigs in Moscow and St-Petersburg will be young, but promising act from Moscow called AVOID.

THE FLAMING ARTS FESTIVAL TOUR 2007
VADER (Poland), ROTTING CHRIST (Greece), KRISIUN (Brazil), INCANTATION (USA), AMENTI (UK), RIUL DOAMNEI (Italy)

16.09.07- St-Petersburg (Russia) “Orlandina”
18.09.07 - Ufa (Russia) “Ogni Ufy”
19.09.07 - Ekaterinburg (Russia) “TBA”
20.09.07 - Magnitogorsk (Russia) “DK Ordzhonikidze”
21.09.07 - Samara (Russia) “Strokovski Park”
22.09.07 - Moscow (Russia) “Tochka”
23.09.07 - TBA (Belarus) “TBA”

Van Halen tour dates

Further breaking news on the Van Halen reunion tour. The dates are as follows:

Charlotte, NC Bobcats Arena (September 27)
Greensboro, NC Coliseum (29)
Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center (October 1)
Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre (7)
Cleveland, OH Quicken Loans Arena (10)
Indianapolis, IN Conseco Fieldhouse (14)
Chicago, IL Allstate Arena (16)
Chicago, IL United Center (18)
Auburn Hills, MI Palace of Auburn Hills (22)
Minneapolis, MN Target Center (24)
Kansas City, MO Sprint Center (26)
St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center (28)
Boston, MA TD Banknorth Garden (30)
East Rutherford, NJ Continental Airlines Arena (November 3)
New York, NY Madison Square Garden (13)
Los Angeles, CA Staples Center (20)
Glendale, Ariz. Jobing.com Arena (23)
San Diego, CA Arena (25)
Sacramento, CA Arco Arena (27)
San Jose, CA HP Pavilion (29)
Portland, OR Rose Garden (December 1)
Seattle, WA Key Arena (3)
Vancouver, BC Place (5)
Edmonton, AB Rexall Palace (9)
Calgary, AB Pengrowth Saddledome (11)

Guns N' Roses DVD

Just in time for a Halloween treat, MVD will release a new Guns N' Roses Under Review DVD on October 30th. This DVD is a documentary film about the Use Your Illusion double set – the people who made them, the process of making of them, the tour that surrounded them
and, most crucially, the awesome music they contained.

It features rare footage of the band from that time, including exclusive backstage film rarely seen before; lengthy interviews from musicians and vocalists who were there working on the records and the tour; comment from friends of the group and scenesters from the L.A. rock underground; insight and critique from biographers, journalists and DJs who championed Guns N' Roses throughout their career, and many other notable contributors. Also includes seldom seen photographs, location shots, news footage and much more besides.