This just in! Avenged Sevenfold will miss tonight’s performance on Metallica‘s WorldWired Tour as Synyster Gates‘ wife went into early labor. No more info other than that right now. Stay tuned!
The Pulse Of Radio reporting Stone Sour and Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor offered his thoughts on Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington‘s recent comment that Linkin Park fans should “move the f**k on” and stop asking the band to return to the sound of its 2000 debut album, Hybrid Theory. In an interview with Tucson radio station and hardDrive affiliate KFMA-FM, Taylor said, “I understand where he’s at. God, I would’ve never say it the way he did, but you get frustrated and you want people to embrace the evolution. At the same time, you should probably be very, very fortunate that people this far along the line still love that music you made.”
Taylor added, “For what it’s worth, (Hybrid Theory) is a great fusion rock album. It’s got pop elements to it, the songs are great, so if you’re going to have a problem, it’s a good problem to have . . . Be fortunate for what you have, be fortunate for that fact that people are still coming to see you, to hear the music . . . You have to pick your spots, dude, and this is coming from the guy who’s notorious for running his mouth.”
Asked about some fans saying Linkin Park had “sold out” with the pop direction of its new album One More Light, Bennington told Music Week, “If you’re saying we’re doing what we’re doing for a commercial or monetary reason, trying to make success out of some formula, then stab yourself in the face . . . Why are we still talking about Hybrid Theory? It’s f**king years ago. It’s a great record, we love it. Like, move the f**k on. You know what I mean?”
To be fair, Bennington told us a while back that he has a vast appreciation for Linkin Park fans: “I think we have the best fans in the world, and we just totally appreciate everything they do for us, in whatever way, you know, our fan club, our street teams, just kids out there just buying records or coming to the shows or whatever. It’s awesome, and everything we do, they support us one hundred percent and we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them. So we just totally, we love ’em and try to do as much as we can for ’em.“
Meanwhile, both Bennington and Linkin Park vocalist Mike Shinoda have attempted some damage control following Bennington’s remarks. Bennington tweeted about Hybrid Theory that he loves the record and is “glad people still do to,” later listing all seven of the band’s albums as “equaling” Linkin Park. For his part, Shinoda wrote, “For the record, all fans of all albums are welcome here. Online or at the show, HT to OML. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” One More Light arrives in stores next Friday, May 19th.
Always knew he was a smart cookie!
The Offspring frontman Dexter Holland announced on Thursday (May 11th) that he had completed his dissertation and graduated that day with a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Southern California. Holland began his studies before The Offspring achieved major commercial success with its third album, Smash, in 1994. He eventually put his education aside to focus on his music career but asked the university five years ago if he could return.
Holland wrote in a statement, “As many of you already know, I started the Ph.D. a long time ago, but put it on hold when we started touring a lot. I finally went back a few years ago. To finish, I had to research and write a thesis, or dissertation, which is kind of like the biggest term paper you’ll ever do (mine is about 175 pages).”
The singer added, “My research focused on the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, the virus which causes AIDS. I am interested in virology and wanted to contribute in some small way to the knowledge which has been learned about HIV and AIDS.“
He continued, “My research is not meant to be a cure or even an immediate step toward a cure, but I believe that by adding to the vast amount of information that we’ve learned about HIV in the last 30 years or so, we’ll get there.” Holland said he will continue to do research in the years ahead and might publish some papers on his findings from time to time.
As for the Offspring, Holland said, “Well, we never really stopped touring and making records, but we’ll be doing a bunch of shows all around the world this year plus recording new stuff every chance we get. Look for new music by us out soon.” The band’s last album, Days Gone By, surfaced in 2012.
The Offspring will start a string of North American dates this weekend at Wisconsin’s Northern Invasion festival, followed by appearance at Rock On The Range and Rocklahoma. A headlining tour is set for Sep as well.
Oh this is creeeeeppppyyyyyyy! The Pulse Of Radio & Blabbermouth reporting Marilyn Manson told Fabulous TV earlier this week at the premiere of the new movie King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword that his upcoming album is now called Heaven Upside Down and not Say10 as he first revealed last year. Manson also said that the album — which is due for release later in 2017 — has been completed. The new disc will follow up 2015’s The Pale Emperor.
Meanwhile, Manson appears in a new film called Let Me Make You A Martyr, in which he plays a hired killer. The movie is opening in selected cities over the next few weeks and will premiere on digital platforms on June 6th.
In This Moment are releasing their new album, “Ritual” on Jul 21st. Their single, “Oh Lord,” will be on hardDrive this weekend! The album was once again produced in Las Vegas at Hideout Studios with Kevin Churko.
Celebrating life this weekend: Today: Kiss drummer Eric Singer is 59. Billy Duffy of The Cult is 56. Brett Gurewitz of Bad Religion and Epitaph Records is 55. Sat: Stephen Colbert is 53. Sun: Alice In Chains’ Mike Inez is 51, Ian Astbury of The Cult is 55, Hunter Burgan of AFI is 41 and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is 33.
Have a great weekend!