Since I am probably the most gullible person you will ever meet, you will not read any phony April Fool’s Day news listings here, so if you are looking for some, go elsewhere! LOL…Yesterday the 7th annual Rockstar Mayhem festival was announced. Avenged Sevenfold and Korn top the bill with Asking Alexandria, Trivium on the Rockstar mainstage, Cannibal Corpse, Suicide Silence, Miss May I, Mushroomhead, Texas Hippie Coaltion & King 810 on the Coldcock Whiskey Stage, Body Count featuring Ice T, Upon A Burning Body, Veil of Maya, Darkest Hour & Headbang Local Winner on the Sumerian Headbang for the Highway Stage, Emmure, Ill Nino, Wretched, Islander & Erimha on the Victory Records stage. Good times. Paulie Walnuts posted dates on the Road Rage page. Tickets including a ton of special packages are available Friday at 10 AM local time in all zones. Hit the tour site for more….And yesterday, while perusing my Facebook, I saw David Draiman was in NYC to appear on the Fox Business Network to talk about his new venture with the dude who started Vonage. They are putting together a new social media people search app called Wingman. What’s it all about David?
…..Meanwhile, I had Jonathan Davis of Korn on the hotLine yesterday from his Bakersfield home and today I will check in with Head and Munky tomorrow. The band is getting together soon to start recording a couple of new songs (hmmm, must be getting ready for the 20th anniversary?) with producer Don Gilmore. And the band will also be rehearsing for their shows coming up in order to get some more new songs under their belts off The Paradigm Shift. No word on what the next single might be at this point. Jonathan also told me he was proud the way the score turned out on the film he did called After The Dark. It’s probably available to rent or purchase it this point. Gotta check it out. JD did say he was pitching some other films too, and working on new Killbot music, which he’s describing as “digital metal.” He said he can’t wait to unleash it! Nice!…..In the hardDrive studios today, my boys from Beware of Darkness! Kyle, Daniel (we might be related) and Tony will also do an acoustic performance. Should be cool…..Mastodon are working on their new album. Brann Dailor told Metal Hammer,“It’s a gorgeous album,” says the drummer. “It sounds like us, it sounds like Mastodon. Its a reflection of our past with a few songs that are a bit out there and show a new direction. There’s some simple songs and some songs that are all over the place. I can tell you that we are as happy with it as we were our previous albums, and I really think this is a true Mastodon album in the sense that everyone had a chance to touch each song.” They are in the mixing process and powerhouse workaholic producer Nick Raskulinecz (damn, who HASN’T he produced lately?) recorded the album with the band in his Nashville sudio. Can’t wait to hear it…..Friday morning, I am invited to a listening session for the new Linkin Park album, The Hunting Party. Excited to see Mike Shinoda who will be there to introduce the music! Friday at the same time, there will be a press conference with Brandon Boyd of Incubus, Johnny Lydon of Sex Pistols and PiL, JC Chasez of N’Sync and Andrew Lloyd Webber. What the hell could they be announcing? An arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar? A revival on Broadway? Rumors have Brandon cast in the role of Judas. Wonderers are wondering….Black Label Society released their music video for “My Dying Time” and you can watch it here. The album, Catacombs Of The Black Vatican, is out next Tuesday….Pulse of Radio reports founding Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan is rumored to be joining the band for a string of upcoming South American shows as a replacement for current bass player Tommy Stinson. According to Blabbermouth, Stinson is scheduled to reunite with his original band, the Replacements, for two high-profile dates at Coachella in mid-April and is reportedly unable to make the Guns shows. McKagan is expected to join Guns N’ Roses for shows in Buenos Aires, Argentina on April 6th, Asuncion, Paraguay on April 9th, La Paz, Bolivia on the 12th, Recife, Brazil on April 15th and Fortaleza, Brazil on the 15th. These would be his first full shows with the group since he left in 1996. There has been no official confirmation of McKagan’s participation, but an Argentinean radio station has reported McKagan will join the band in Buenos Aires. In addition, McKagan himself hinted via Twitter he will be present at the Guns dates. McKagan joined singer Axl Rose on stage for the first time in seventeen years at Guns’ October 14th, 2010 concert in London. He also performed with the current version of Guns in December 2011 at shows in Vancouver and Seattle. All three appearances were for a few songs, not full gigs. Rumors the original lineup of Guns N’ Roses would reunite have been around for years, although any possibility of that happening seemed to end when the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Axl Rose declined to show up….Out today, a TON of GREAT new albums! Chevelle‘s La Gargola, Lacuna Coil‘s Broken Crown Halo, VARIOUS ARTISTS Punk Goes 90′s-Vol. 2, Ronnie James Dio Tribute CD/Various Artists, Band of Skulls Himalayan, The Used Imaginary Enemy, and Chiodos Devil….And last, but not least, hit the hardDriveRadio Facebook page for new photos of Halestorm posted by Lou Brutus! Lzzy is rockin’ it so hard! Love her! ….Wu Tang Clan’s Method Man turns 43 today! WU FOREVA!