06.30.05 (MusicPortal.com) Castle Music will release THE BOO RADLEYS' "Find The Way Out," the first-ever anthology of one of Creation Records' finer artists this Monday, July 4th. Compiled in conjunction with the band, the 2-disc package features key albums tracks, newly remastered singles, b-side rarities and unreleased gems spanning the 1990s. With deluxe packaging and artwork by THE BOO RADLEYS' original designer, Stephen Wood, "Find The Way Out" is the ultimate package for long-standing fans of the band, boasting all of their many hits, from the Top 10 favorite 'Wake Up Boo' to the Indie anthem 'Lazarus.' In addition to the best of their Creation recordings (1992-1998), the set includes six rare pre-Creation tracks for the Action Records and Rough Trade Records labels, including selections from their rare debut album, "Ichabod And I." Formed in Liverpool in 1988, THE BOO RADLEYS originally consisted of vocalist/guitarist Sice, guitarist/songwriter Martin Carr, bassist Timothy Brown and drummer Steve Hewitt. The band released their first album, "Ichabod and I," on a local independent label in 1990, after which Hewitt was replaced by Rob Cieka. With the support of influential DJ John Peel, the band signed with Rough Trade Records, releasing the EP "Every Heaven" in 1991. By 1992, THE BOO RADLEYS had signed to Creation Records releasing "Everything's Alright Forever," which gained glowing reviews and built them a burgeoning fan base. Topping several Best-Of-The-Year lists, 1993's "Giant Steps was also a huge critical success and led to 1995's Pop-oriented "Wake Up!" album debuting at No. 1 on the UK album charts. THE BOO RADLEYS returned in Autumn 1996 with "C'Mon Kids," a self-consciously loud and arty album designed to shake off the band's newfound Pop fans. It worked - the album debuted in the Top Ten but it soon fell off the charts, despite overwhelmingly positive reviews. In 1998, "C'Mon Kids" was followed up by "Kingsize," with THE BOO RADLEYS officially breaking up just months later.

06.30.05 (MusicPortal.com) Eclipse Records recording artists BOBAFLEX are confirmed for this year's Gigantour alongside MEGADETH, FEAR FACTORY, DREAM THEATER, LIFE OF AGONY, DRY KILL LOGIC and more. The arena tour is scheduled to begin on July 21st and last into September. Meanwhile, the band are still touring in support of their expanded and remixed album, "Primitive Epic." The band have also finished up their sophomore effort to be released later this year, entitled "Apologize For Nothing." BOBAFLEX was established in 1998 by Martin and Shaun McCoy. The brothers are no strangers to the press, having ancestral ties to the most infamous family feud in American history, between the Hatfields and the McCoys which almost caused a war between the states of West Virginia and Kentucky in the 1880's. With their anthem-style songs and maniacal live performances, the band quickly gained popularity throughout the Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky tri-state area, establishing their "base of operations" in Point Pleasant, West Virginia - home to the infamous "Mothman Prophecies." Influenced by their surroundings and the elements of the Mothman legend, the BOBAFLEX began to develop their unique style of songwriting. The press have often compared their sound to that of Modern Metal artists like SYSTEM OF A DOWN and DISTURBED, fused with the lyrical aggression of Hip-Hop pioneers WU-TANG CLAN and occasional song elements similar to those of the likes of QUEEN. Continuously co-headlining the Woodshock festival (Ohio's largest independent Rock festival), and playing 106.3 FM's X-Fest (West Virginia's largest Rock festival, sponsored by Huntington's largest commercial Rock radio station, WAMX) for 3 years in a row landed BOBAFLEX a spot on the renowned Locobazooka tour in 2002, on which they performing alongside FILTER, SEVENDUST and MUSHROOMHEAD. "It's been unbelievable, the response we get from the fans, they seem to come out of the woodwork night after night in markets that we had no idea they knew about us says BOBAFLEX band member Jerod Makin. It's been a very rewarding experience to meet and get to know them."
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06.29.05 (MusicPortal.com) Long-time denizens of the Garage Rock world THE FLESHTONES are set to make a return August 9th with the release of "Beachhead," the band's latest offering from Yep Roc Records. Produced by SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE SKIDS' Rick Miller (The Forty-Fives, The Moaners) and THE DIRTBOMBS' Jim Diamond (The White Stripes, Andre Williams), THE FLESHTONES deliver another time-tested premium blend of garageified Rock and old-school R&B on "Beachhead." The band got their start nearly 30 years ago now after forming in New York City in 1976, where and when bands like THE RAMONES, BLONDIE, TALKING HEADS and TELEVISION were making their mark in that city. THE FLESHTONES' material of choice is, like most others, music they've grown up with: THE SEEDS, THE STANDELLS, THE YARDBIRDS and funky, backfield-in-motion Soul and R&B. By 1978, their high-energy shows, Neo-Psychedelic sound (tremolo guitars, fuzz organ and pounding drums) gain THE FLESHTONES a rep as a don't-miss live band, even if the Art Punk set does dismiss them at first as a "dance/twist band," to which they have the last laugh in 2005. After a single release on the quickly defunct Red Star Records, THE FLESHTONES are snapped up by the '80s' most visible "alternative" label, I.R.S. Records (R.E.M., The Go-Gos), after which band members Keith Streng, Jan-Marek Pakulski and Peter Zaremba add drummer Bill Milhizer to the line-up. They release a classic trio of records in "Roman Gods," "Hexbreaker" and "Speed Connection," Zaremba becomes a celebrity of sorts as the host of MTV's "The Cutting Edge," a precursor to the much-praised "120 Minutes." However, mainstream success eludes the band and I.R.S. cuts them loose. Co-founder Pakulski leaves, to be replaced by Kenny Fox - the line-up that's continued to this day. Now, after 16 albums and more than 25 years conquering Rock fans in the U.S. and abroad, THE FLESHTONES have remained amazingly true to their danceable, crowd-pleasing, shindiggin' Rock ethic. Says Zaremba: "The Garage thing ... A lot of people take it and it's almost like archeology -- very dry, keeping it the same as it was -- they're too much in awe of it. We look at it as an approach - we see it as a living thing. We'll cover stuff like Sylvester's 'Do You Wanna Funk' and people accuse us of not being pure. Actually, we're working with the essence of rock 'n' roll -- the thing that gives you the buzz from the music."
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06.29.05 (MusicPortal.com) Castle Music will release the ultimate JOE MEEK anthology box set in "Portrait Of A Genius: The RGM Legacy" on August 22nd. The deluxe 4-disc set chronicles the UK's first successful independent record producer, Robert George "Joe" Meek. The anthology combines elements from his independent career, as well as from his time as a successful engineer at the IBC and Landsowne recording studios, where he'd cut many hits for the major UK record companies (albeit often without receiving a label credit). This is the first compilation to draw the two separate phases of JOE MEEK's all-too-brief career together. Meek's very first UK chart entry came in October 1955, with Gary Miller's 'Yellow Rose Of Texas,' and he subsequently carved out huge hits for Humphrey Lyttleton, Anne Shelton, Frankie Vaughan, Lonnie Donegan, Johnny Duncan, Chris Barber, Marty Wilde, Emile Ford, etc. Between January 1960 and his violent death in February 1967, he carved out a reputation as a wildly eccentric maverick, famous as much for his "difficult" personality as for his pioneering, innovative recording techniques. One of his very first independent projects was the legendary "I Hear A New World" album and he soon began registering hits with Michael Cox, Danny Rivers and Mike Berry. He cracked it big in the Summer of 1961 with John Leyton's UK No. 1, 'Johnny Remember Me,' repeating the trick the following Summer with THE TORNADOS and 'Telstar,' which went on to become a worldwide No. 1 record. After successfully launching Heinz as a major solo singer, JOE MEEK found the hits harder to come by, although THE HONEYCOMBS briefly restored him to No. 1 in 1964 with the stomping 'Have I The Right,' This led to Meek recording R&B/Freakbeat groups like DAVID JOHN & THE MOOD, THE CRYIN' SHAMES and THE RIOT SQUAD during 1965/66 in his eternal search for new sounds & styles. "Portrait Of A Genius: The RGM Legacy" juxtaposes some of JOE MEEK's biggest independently-produced early 60's hits alongside a carefully chosen selection of collectors' rarities, previously-unreleased B-sides and demos. They are all sequenced chronologically, enabling the listener to trace his wildly uneven career path in his interminable quest to make hit records. "Portrait Of A Genius: The RGM Legacy" is simply the ultimate JOE MEEK anthology.

06.29.05 (MusicPortal.com) Guitarist MARC RIZZO reveals himself to be a master musician with deeper musical roots than previously seen while playing with ILL NINO and SOULFLY on his upcoming solo album for Shrapnel Records, entitled "Colossal Myopia." One of the new breed of young guitarists in contemporary bands that has built a substantial following through his years of touring and recording with those groups, Rizzo stepped out recently with several solo projects (including IN PSYCHO BLEEDIA and COMMITEE OF THIRTEEN, whom he refers to as "the true pioneers of the flamenco/metal movement") that began to reveal a phenomenal command of the guitar. A mixture of all the styles of music that MARC RIZZO listens to, the "Colossal Myopia" album unveils him to be a master axeman - with deep musical roots in Metal, Classical and Nuevo Flamenco guitar. "I don't really listen to one type of music, and I think my album showcases that," explains Rizzo. "It's an all-instrumental album designed for music lovers that want to enjoy pure music, without all the politics and negative lyrical content." Rizzo goes on to describe some of the music on the album: "The song 'Colossal Myopia' is one that I wrote while trying to combine heavy riffing with flamenco buleria rhythms. 'Introspection Of An Introvert' is pure shred metal, while 'The Pinata Hits Back' is nuevo flamenco guitar with salsa-style percussion. This entire album is a total trip, and I'm glad to have finally put a record out that combines all the music I love on one record. 'Colossal Myopia' is really just a look into my CD collection, because on one hand I love listening to Paco De Lucia, and on the other I love listening to metal as well. Both styles mean the same to me. I guess you could say it seemed like a natural progression to mix each one into my playing. Both styles actually exude the same vibe to me." MARC RIZZO also has his own recording label in Phlamencore Records, to which he has Hardcore bands ENGAGING THE ENEMY, ONE LUMP SUM and DENY THE MYTH signed up with. MARC RIZZO's raw energy combined with the talent of a new-generation shredmaster is a much needed breath of fresh air for fans of the instrumental Metal/Fusion genre.
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06.28.05 (MusicPortal.com) "Chimaira," the self-titled third album from the Cleveland, OH sextet, is a punishing, in your face, attack on the senses. To be released on August 9th via Roadrunner Records, "Chimaira," the follow up to 2003's "Impossibility Of Reason," is filled with multi-layered songs that surge with the rage of a pitbull on steroids and the passion of a kamikaze pilot going down for the last time. Already having played some of the new songs live on their recent headlining tour, CHIMAIRA will introduce more songs off the album as one of the headliners on the inaugural "Sounds Of The Underground" tour that also features OPETH, DEVILDRIVER, LAMB OF GOD and more. The ten tracks that make up CHIMAIRA's aural assault, including the first single "Nothing Remains", are packed with some of the fiercest riffs the band has ever written, accompanied by shredding solos compliments of lead guitarist Rob Arnold. In addition, CHIMAIRA welcomes new drummer Kevin Talley, formerly of DYING FETUS, to the fold. His Death Metal-infused style is immediately felt on the album. However, the songs are ultimately brought to life by the personal lyrics of vocalist Mark Hunter. Troubled by social anxiety disorder and chronic stomach problems for years, the singer felt forced to open up as a way to ease the pain. "I thought it was time to be upfront in my lyrics and strip away the ambiguity. If not a way to connect further with our fans, but a way to lessen the suffering I feel on a daily basis." These seething and penetrating lyrics are at their best on songs such as 'Salvation,' 'Save Ourselves,' 'Lazarus,' 'Everything You Love' and others. CHIMAIRA formed in 1998, and have released two albums to date including their debut album, "Pass Out Of Existence. They have toured the world several times over as an opener, and for the last few years as a headlining act. In 2004, the band released the highly provocative documentary "The Dehumanizing Process" on DVD, which showed two years in the life of CHIMAIRA, from writing "The Impossibility Of Reason" through their touring in support of that album, plus all of the turmoil and drama contained therein.
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06.27.05 (MusicPortal.com) Cranford, New Jersey-based Rockers SOCRATIC are slated to release their debut full-length album, entitled "Lunch For The Sky," on September 6th via Drive-Thru Records. Following months of non-stop shows within New Jersey and it's surrounding states, SOCRATIC have rapidly grown a fan base within the region as the latest musical sensation to stand out in a state cluttered with hundreds of bands. They made their first appearance on the "It's Getting Late" EP, which was produced by Chris Badami (Fenix TX, The Dillinger Escape Plan, The Starting Line, Midtown) and issued via New Jersey's No Milk Records - a prime example of SOCRATIC's powerful guitar sound as found in bands such as MIDTOWN with the classic guitar solos of GUNS N' ROSES. Vocally, SOCRATIC offer amazingly catchy harmonies that have been compared to the likes of JIMMY EAT WORLD, with rougher qualities of bands in the vein of PIEBALD. The band therefore know how to write an impressive song and rock out accordingly. Their energetic live performances have earned them spots on bills with HOT WATER MUSIC, THRICE, THE GET UP KIDS, and dates on the Drive-Thru Records Warped Tour stage, driven by a strong work ethic and much love for the music. "Lunch For The Sky" was recorded at Long View Farm Studios in North Brookfield, Massachusetts, which is located on a 100-acre farm there. With producer John Goodmanson (Hot Hot Heat, Sleater-Kinney, The Blood Brothers) at the helm, SOCRATIC's goal would be a big sounding album - yet one that still maintains a rawness to it. An album with a message that's also exciting to listen to, "Lunch For The Sky" turned out to be a beautiful and fulfilling creation for SOCRATIC, who make music that's somewhat difficult to categorize. Incorporating the best elements of Pop and Classic Rock sensibilities, the 14 songs on "Lunch For The Sky" each dramatically unfold through vivid lyrics and grand arrangements, especially on the haunting 'Alexandria As Our Lens' and the explosive title track, 'Lunch For The Sky.'
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06.24.05 (MusicPortal.com) Drive-Thru Records has announced the upcoming release of "Listen To Bob Dylan: A Tribute" on August 16th. The double-disc set features 21 BOB DYLAN songs covered by a variety of artists including STEEL TRAIN, ANBERLIN, SOCRATIC, THE FORMAT, THE STAY AT HOME JONESES, RX BANDITS and more. The ambitious project has been a labor of love for Stefanie Reines, owner of Drive-Thru Records. Reines has been an avid BOB DYLAN fan since the age of sixteen, although she wasn't always a lover of his music. In fact, it took an introduction to Dylan's music by her favorite band at the time, THE ALARM, to bring her around: "Every single show they (The Alarm) played, they would cover Bob Dylan's 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door,' which I hated. When I found out that they were touring with Dylan I wasn't too pleased. I had no idea that about six shows into the tour, something inside me would change. It was an amazing, fun and insightful discovery and I completely fell in love." As a result, Reines is now a devout BOB DYLAN fan, having seen him perform over seventy times. Inspired by her own experience, Reines decided to spearhead "Listen To Bob Dylan: A Tribute" - intended to introduce a new generation to Dylan's music. For the project, Reines knew she wanted artists that she considered to be makers of timeless music, as BOB DYLAN himself does. So she hand-picked a majority of the bands, but some contacted her and really wanted to be involved. "I felt if the band really loved Dylan, then they belonged on the CD," says Reines. At one point there were so many bands turning in beautiful covers, she couldn't say no to any of them, so she decided to make the tribute a double album. "I had to include them all because they were so great and (the songs) were done with a lot of thought." The result is a double-disc filled with contemporary interpretations of BOB DYLAN's music by artists of diverse backgrounds and musical styles. "Everyone is expecting a punk rock tribute, and it's so far beyond that," says Reines. "Plus I'm so excited just to see Bob Dylan's name and the Drive-Thru logo on the same CD!"
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06.24.05 (AP) It's a scene familiar to any Summer music festival - open fields full of sweaty young bodies writhing in time. But this one appears to be missing a vital element - sound. At Britain's famed GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL this weekend, festivalgoers can take part in a "silent disco." The music, instead of being pumped out through stacks of speakers, will be streamed to the audience through personal sets of wireless headphones, and it'll look like the dancers are jumping around to a nonexistent beat. "I imagine it will be quite funny to see a couple of thousand people dancing in complete silence," says Emily Eavis, a festival organizer and daughter of GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL founder Michael Eavis. As famous for muddy hijinks as for the music acts it attracts, Glastonbury has become a staple on Britain's Summer arts calendar since it was first held in September 1970. The 125,000 tickets for this year's three-day event - which started after torrential rains this afternoon at a farm near Glastonbury in southwest England - sold out within 24 hours. Besides featuring performances by COLDPLAY, THE WHITE STRIPES, FATBOY SLIM and BASEMENT JAXX, this year's festival continues the Glastonbury tradition of seeking out the quirky - pole dancing workshops, circus acts, burlesque and belly dancing. In recent years some of the GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL's frivolities have been curbed by local council noise restrictions, which mean the main performance stages are forced to shut shortly after midnight. While the introduction of headphones in one of the dance areas at this year's festival will allow the music and dancing to continue into the night, Eavis says the decision is as much about keeping with Glastonbury's quest for the odd. "There's so many ridiculous and quirky things that go on here, it's just another opportunity to do something silly," Eavis says. The wireless headphones, which work by having partygoers tune into a restricted radio frequency through which the music of the disc jockey or band is broadcast, are the brainchild of Nico Okkerse and business partner Michael Minten from the Netherlands. Okkerse says the pair perfected the technology at raves, and Glastonbury will be... [full story]

06.23.05 (MusicPortal.com) Veteran Rock and Metal vocalist JIZZY PEARL is set to release his upcoming new solo album, entitled "Vegas Must Die!," on July 19th via Shrapnel Records. The title is a humorous homage to "Sin City" where the singer/guitarist spent a "lost weekend" that ended up lasting more than a year. Locking himself away in a room with 5 pounds of coffee and an acoustic guitar JIZZY PEARL wrote the entire "Vegas Must Die" album in three weeks, which looks to be his best solo effort yet. JIZZY PEARL is as permanent a fixture on the Sunset Strip, not unlike the Whisky A Go-Go or the Rainbow Bar & Grill. Starting in the early days of GUNS N' ROSES then with LOVE/HATE to doing arena rock with RATT, today JIZZY PEARL continues to do what he loves most, which is to write and record music. Not only has he played on 11 major albums and a host of tribute and soundtrack recordings, but he has also written and published two of his own books. In 1990, JIZZY PEARL was the singer for LOVE/HATE, whose breakthrough Sony Records release, "Blackout In The Red Room" earned that band much critical acclaim, which started him on the never-ending roller coaster of singing, recording and touring. LOVE/HATE went on to release 5 more albums in the years that followed, until the singer joined uup with L.A. GUNS in 1998, with whom he co-wrote on their fifth album, "Shrinking Violet."In 2000, JIZZY PEARL replaced original vocalist Stephen Pearcy in RATT, and has spent the last five summers touring with them. During that time, he completed his second solo album, "Just A Boy," and recorded an EP with ADLER'S APPETITE. Now his third outing on Shrapnel Records, "Vegas Must Die!" features guitar work by former SALTY DOG guitarist Pete Reveen, with production and musical help from GREAT WHITE alumnus Michael Lardie. "Vegas Must Die!" captures the intensity of the likes of early LED ZEPPELIN, AC/DC and the best of JIZZY PEARL's former band, LOVE/HATE.

06.22.05 (MusicPortal.com) Germany's LIQUIDO recently updated their fans with what's going on at their camp. The following was posted at the official website: "Dear friends! Here's some short news about what's happening these days. Last week we shot our new video for 'Love Me Love Me,' our next single, in Berlin. It was fun again working with Conchita (Soarez) and Bernard (Wedig). The video itself will be finished by end of next week, and we will put it on our site as soon as possible... The single tracklist ist going to be crazy stuff: We've got some remixes from Gabry Ponte, LSD Underground, Grossstadtgefluster and more. The festival season has also started, which means good fun, some rain, many flights and some good beer all over Europe. The last shows were great, and we hope that many of you join in in the following weeks - wherever! As well, we're working on the single's cover. As soon as we have a final version we'll show you on our website. Bye for now." - Wolfgang. Upcoming Tour Dates: 06/22 Chemnitz, Germany [Campus Fest] • 06/23 Neustrelitz, Germany [Sommerfest Carolinum] • 06/24 Nurnberg, Germany [Konfed Cup] • 06/25 Dischingen, Germany [Rock Am Hartsfeldsee] • 06/26 Wien, Austria [Donauinselfest] • 06/30 Antalya, Turkey [Summersplash] • 07/01 Munchen, Germany [Circus Krone] • 07/02 Biel, CH [Braderie] • 07/07 Wien, Austria [Chelsea] • 07/08 St. Polten, Austria [Stadtfest] • 07/09 Wurzburg, Germany [18 Jahre Radio Gong] • 07/22 Ansbach, Germany [Townquake Festival] • 07/23 Pforring, Germany [Open Air] • 07/28 Travemunde, Germany [Travemunder Woche] • 07/29 Braine L'Alleud, Belgium [Octopus Festival] • 08/05 Beratzhausen, Germany [Ccump Axe] • 08/07 Homberg, Germany [Burgbergfestival] • 08/13 Fremdingen, Germany [Steinbruch Open Air] • 08/18 Gampel, CH [Open Air] • 08/20 Rotenhain, Germany [Rock Im Feld] • 08/26 Pischelsdorf, Austria [Steiermark Oststeirerhalle] • 08/27 Bildein, Austria [Picture On Festival] • 09/02 Mosbach, Germany [Nena Open Air] • 09/10 Langen Am Waldsee, Germany [Adrenalin Festival] • 09/28 Potsdam, Germany [Waschhaus] • 09/29 Leipzig, Germany [Werk 2] • 09/30 Rohrberg, Germany [Sporthalle] • 10/01 Coswig, Germany [Borse]
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06.21.05 (MusicPortal.com) Drive-Thru Records recording artists RX BANDITS will hit the road with FINCH for 17 dates across the country beginning July 29th at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. RX BANDITS are currently wrapping up recording on their new album, their first full-length since 2003's "The Resignation." Fans who have been waiting to hear the new tracks will likely not be disappointed. "We've been working so hard on the new record that it'll be great to debut some of our new songs on this tour," says Chris Tsagakis, drummer for RX BANDITS. The still-untitled album is scheduled to be released on November 1st. Known for their genre-defying music as well as their social conscience, RX BANDITS have released multiple titles with Drive-Thru Records, including the full-length albums "Those Damn Bandits," "Halfway Between Here And There" "Progress" and "The Resignation." Together for over a decade now, the band has racked up more than 115,000 units in cumulative sales. In the past, RX BANDITS' dynamic sound has melded combinations of Reggae, Ska, Hardcore, New Wave, Jazz and Indie Rock - each album progressing musically from the last. RX BANDITS have also toured throughout the U.S. and Canada, made their mark on the Warped Tour, and wowed audiences in Europe and Japan sharing the stage with groups like GLASSJAW, COHEED AND CAMBRIA, ALKALINE TRIO, LESS THAN JAKE, HOME GROWN, MOVING UNITS, THE GET UP KIDS, BRAID and CYPRESS HILL. 07/29 Los Angeles, CA [Henry Fonda Theatre] • 08/01 Dallas, TX [Galaxy Club] • 08/03 Houston, TX [Engine Room] • 08/05 Atlanta, GA [Roxy Theatre] • 08/06 Lake Buena Vista, FL [House Of Blues] • 08/07 North Myrtle Beach, Fl [House Of Blues] • 08/09 Nashville, TN [Rockettown] • 08/10 Charlotte, NC [Tremont Music Hall] • 08/11 Norfolk, VA [The Norva] • 08/12 Millvale, PA [Mr. Smalls] • 08/13 Toronto, ONT [Wakerstock Toronto Islands] • 08/16 Philadelphia, PA [The Electric Factory] • 08/17 Sayreville, NJ [Starland Ballroom] • 08/20 Washington, DC [9:30 Club] • 08/24 Detroit, MI [St. Andrews Hall] • 08/26 Milwaukee, WI [The Rave] • 08/27 Minneapolis, MN [The Quest]
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06.20.05 (MusicPortal.com) Alternative Tentacles Records has announced that they have inked a deal with San Francisco's TURN ME ON DEAD MAN to release the band's debut album, "God Bless The Electric Freak." TURN ME ON DEAD MAN meld mind-altering Neo-Psych and mind-numbing heaviness into a musical cocktail of extreme Rock that combines everything that kicks ass and leaves out anything that doesn't. The band's live shows are spectacles of feedback-drenched aural decadence and over-the-top showmanship and imagery, a fitting accompaniment to their mountainous sonic approach. TURN ME ON DEAD MAN have been creating their unique brand of lysergic-soaked Rock since their inception in 2000, gigging extensively throughout the San Francisco Bay area and garnering praise from all over their home turf and the country, spurred on by heavy rotation at the influential WFMU station in New Jersey. Alternative Tentacles founder Jello Biafra was suitably impressed by the band's spaced-out, glammed-up, turned-up brand of audio mayhem enough to release "God Bless The Electric Freak" on his seminal imprint, a deal that the band eagerly accepted. The lead-off track off the album, 'Killer Sound Waves From Space' is a Psychedelic-tinged rocker that is at times moody and trippy but always intensely catchy - kind of like JANE'S ADDICITION meets Sgt. Pepper. "Apocalypse Rock" updates the Stoner Rock sound with distorted vocals, a repetitive thumping riff and enough angst to rip the roof of a house. 'Sunshine Supercreep' sounds like Ravi Shankar jamming with QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, while 'Beatle George' gives an obvious nod to one of the band's primary influences. TURN ME ON DEAD MAN excel in creating huge monstrous riffs and dousing them in waves of melody so that both the discerning listener and the headbanger can enjoy the sound. Perhaps most refreshing about "God Bless The Electric Freak" is its ability to be a Metal record with a healthy Pop sensibility while remaining true to rawk. Look for "God Bless The Electric Freak"'s official release on Alternative Tentacles come September 13th.
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06.17.05 (MusicPortal.com) DemonVision has announced that for the very first time on DVD, a unique collection of the visual works of ELVIS COSTELLO, "The Right Spectacle: The Very Best Of Elvis Costello - The Videos," will be released on September 5th. From his first Radar Records single in 1978, 'I Don't Want To Go To (Chelsea),' to his final video for Warner Bros. Records, '13 Steps Lead Down' (from 1994's "Brutal Youth" album), "The Right Spectacle" is a must-have for all serious ELVIS COSTELLO enthusiasts and fans alike. Widely regarded as one of today's most respected singer/songwriters in Rock and Pop, Costello was instrumental in pioneering the promotional music video in its early days - most of which became regular viewing on MTV and other noted music television channels. "The Right Spectacle" boasts a grand total of 27 videos that includes material rarely seen since the original release of the singles they supported, while the DVD can be alternatively watched with audio commentary that ELVIS COSTELLO has recorded especially for each video. Costello's witty and lively explanations provide insights into where, why and how the videos were created. Bonus features include over 70 extra minutes of early and ultra-rare television archive footage, culled from an array of TV channels from the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK. The footage includes ELVIS COSTELLO along with THE ATTRACTIONS performing 'Alison,' 'Lip Service' and 'No Dancing' on the British TV show "Granada Reports" from 1977, 'Oliver's Army' on Dutch TV show "Countdown" from 1978, "Shipbuilding" on The Tube from 1983, and more. "The Right Spectacle" is also presented in a collectible digipack, with comprehensive production notes written by ELVIS COSTELLO himself, as well as a surprise Easter Egg strategically hidden away on the DVD for the most ardent of Costello enthusiasts to find. When ELVIS COSTELLO's first album was released in 1977, his bristling cynicism and anger linked him with the Punk and New Wave explosion. A cursory listen to "My Aim Is True" proves that the main connection that Costello had with the punks was his unbridled passion. He tore through... [full story]
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06.17.05 (MusicPortal.com) German Industrial band MEGAHERZ will see a national U.S. release of their fifth CD, entitled "5" later this year via S.A.D./Eclipse Records. On "5," the band come at you with full force, who -- like fellow countrymen RAMMSTEIN -- stand ready to pound all who listen into humble submission. After a period of notable success in both 2001 and 2002, many of the European music publications described MEGAHERZ as one of the most important representatives of German Modern Rock music, and after selling over 100,000 units, the band are now back with a vengeance. After two years of preparation and intensive song writing, MEGAHERZ are back with a new front man in Mathias Elsholz, with whom the band stands more emotional and alive than before. "5" was recorded at Lundgaard Studios in Denmark with Ralph Quick (Die Happy, H-Blockx, etc.) on board as producer, the outcome being a very listenable album that spans most genres of Rock and Metal, as well as delving into some Electronica with "fat grooves." Their fans' frequent requests for a studio production which captures the raw energy of their live shows made MEGAHERZ allow themselves to add more live spirit and natural sound to their songs instead of following their usual perfectionistic standards. "We kept being told that we come across a lot livelier and more dynamic on stage, and that the fans really want to hear that sound on our records, too, says MEGAHERZ guitarist, songwriter and co-producer Christian "X-Ti" Bystron. "Therefore, the songs are less dominated by electronics, which we use as mostly an enhancement now. That way we were able to create a more lively sound. In short, the band's feeling comes across a lot better." Originating under the unmistakable influence of early 90s Grunge and Industrial acts like CLAWFINGER, ALICE IN CHAINS, SOUNDGARDEN, NIRVANA, NINE INCH NAILS, PANTERA and RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, MEGAHERZ was formed in 1993 - their first demo CD "Herzwerk" (A Work of Heart) seeing the light of day in January of 1995.
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06.17.05 (MusicPortal.com) On August 20th, Sony BMG Music Entertainment will release "Spandau Ballet: Live From The N.E.C.," a DVD showing the group riding high on a wave of worldwide success, 18 months after appearing at the first Live Aid. Originally filmed in December of 1986 as an in-concert special for television music show "The Tube" and directed by Emmy nominee and Grammy award winner Geof Wonfer, "Spandau Ballet: Live From The N.E.C." captures SPANDAU BALLET in performance during their "Through The Barricades" tour, which at the height of their success saw them play to over a million fans. Emerging from London's underground fashion and club scene of the late 1970s, they were part of the New Romantic movement in the UK pioneering styles of Electronic dance music and white Funk, before moving on to huge worldwide commercial success with the blue-eyed Soul album, "True." SPANDAU BALLET notched up 20 hit singles and spent a combined total of nearly 500 weeks on the UK charts (about 9 years), achieving album sales in excess of 20 million units worldwide along the way. "Spandau Ballet: Live From The N.E.C." serves to illustrate why Tony Hadley (vocals), Gary Kemp (guitar), Martin Kemp (bass), Steve Norman (saxophone and percussion) and John Keeble (drums) sold so many concert tickets as well. By the time the "Through The Barricades" tour -- which promoted the band's fifth album -- took place, SPANDAU BALLET's live prowess was well-known, and venues were booked accordingly - Casa Di Campo (a huge park in Madrid), bull-fighting rings throughout Spain, football stadiums all over Italy, and multiple night-after-night shows in the famous arenas of Europe like Wembley, the Ahoy in Rotterdam, and many others. 13 songs were filmed and recorded at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England on December 16th and 17th of 1986 for "Spandau Ballet: Live From The N.E.C.," the stage set and production being the group's most ambitious to date with a spectacular tilting circular lighting design by Patrick Woodruffe.
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06.16.05 (MusicPortal.com) TOMMY LEE's 'Tryin' To Be Me,' the first single off his upcoming new solo album, "Tommyland: The Ride," was the #1 Most Added Song at Mainstream Rock and #2 Most Added at Active Rock last week. This week shows even more promise, with a debut at #35 on the Active Rock Billboard Chart as 'Tryin' to Be Me' is the #2 Greatest Increased track of the week. The single has now been added at over 70 stations in the first two weeks of release and already pulled Top-5 requests across the country. "Tommyland: The Ride," due for worldwide release August 9th, is a highly listenable collection of Rock-driven tunes, some infused with Pop, Electronica and other flavors, which chart the foibles of romance, celebrity and life in general. The album follows two distinctly different solo efforts in "Methods Of Mayhem" (1999), a melange of Rock, Hard House, Industrial and Hip-Hop that reflected TOMMY LEE's desire "to do everything I ever wanted to do" after 20 years with MOTLEY CRUE, and "Never A Dull Moment" (2002), a more focused, "from the heart" album that included the song 'Blue,' written for his father who had recently passed away. "Tommyland: The Ride" will satisfy music fans in general with its solidly constructed hooks, as well as its guest performances by such artists including Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction), Joel Madden (Good Charlotte), Carl Bell (Fuel), Derick Whibley (Sum 41), Andrew McMahon (Jack's Mannequin / Something Corporate), Nick Carter (Backstreet Boys) and Butch Walker. While 'Tryin To Be Me,' is a driving grievance against fame in the age of cell phone cameras in the album's first single, its second -- the yearning, mid-tempo 'Good Times' -- will be the theme for TOMMY LEE's new NBC television show, "Tommy Lee Goes To College," which premieres August 16th. Another track revealing Lee's willingness to lampoon himself is 'Tired,' with Joel Madden belting the tongue-in-cheek chorus: "Tommy got tired of Pamela, Ed got tired of Salma, Puffy got tired of JLo and Ben did too," working its way to the everyman complaint, "I'm just tired of you."
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06.16.05 (MusicPortal.com) Germany's VIVAPlus has picked up SENTENCED's video for 'Ever-Frost' for "Axt," which is aired every Sunday from 9:00pm to 12:00pm CET. The clip for 'Ever-Frost' was directed by Mika Ronkainen for Klaffi Productions from SENTECED's hometown of Oulu, Finland. Mika Ronkainen's work includes acclaimed documentaries, his most well-known one might be "Screaming Men," a documentary about MIESKUORO HUUTAJAT, a famous Finnish choir that performs national anthems and kids' songs by screaming and shouting. That documentary was co-produced by Lars Von Trier's production company Zentropa and was shown at various film festivals throughout the world, including Sundance 2004, winning several awards including "Best Scandinavian Documentary" in 2003. SENTENCED guitarist Sami Lopakka comments on the filming of the video: "It isn't every day you carry a real, used coffin around the wilderness, in the forests, over swamps, over desolate fields, up wasteland hills, or in a big-ass rowing boat. After 36 long hours, we were so worn out that later on, watching the filmed material, we weren't sure anymore if we are the guys carrying the coffin or those guys backstage. I hope you enjoy it." Regarding the planned break-up of the band soon, fans can catch SENTENCED one last time this Summer on a final round of European festival appearances in July and August before the band goes away for good. "Metaphorically speaking, this is a mass suicide of five, and the new album is the kind of note we want to leave behind, a one-last-time-around-for-goodbyes," says Sami Lopakka. "Our wish was always to go out with style and at the peak of our so-called success. I think with 'The Funeral Album,' we are doing exactly that. There will not be a reunion, comeback or any other pathetic soap opera-esque circus. Sentenced will rest in peace," Lopakka said a few months ago. SENTENCED sprung onto the Metal scene during the early-to-mid-'90s. After original vocalist Taneli Jarva's departure, newcomer Ville Laihiala took up the microphone, which saw the band's musical direction change to a more melodic, Goth-oriented and melancholic nature.
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06.15.05 (MusicPortal.com) A new THIN LIZZY DVD entitled simply "Greatest Hits" will be released via Mercury Records on July 4th. With their anthemic, working class songs led by relentlessly blistering twin guitars, this officially endorsed DVD is sure to satisfy the most demanding of THIN LIZZY fans. Featuring all the classics, including the original promo videos for 'The Boys Are Back In Town,' 'Waiting For An Alibi,' 'Chinatown,' 'Bad Reputation' and many more, the new DVD also boasts a rare early live performance of the song 'Whiskey In The Jar' on Top Of The Pops, recorded on February 1st, 1973. Mixed for the first very time in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, this essential DVD package is an outstanding document from one of the greatest Rock bands of the 1970's. Despite a huge hit single at mid-decade in 'The Boys Are Back In Town,' as well as becoming a popular act with both Rock and Metal fans, THIN LIZZY are still, in the pantheon of '70s bands, a major influence on today's Modern Rock groups. Originally formed in the late '60s by Irish singer/songwriter/bassist Phil Lynott, THIN LIZZY combined romanticized working-class sentiments with their ferocious, twin-lead guitar attack. As the band's creative force, Lynott was a more insightful and intelligent writer who penned slice-of-life working-class dramas of love and hate, influenced by the likes of Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Irish literature. As a black man, Lynott was an anomaly in the nearly all-white world of Rock, and as such, imbued much of his work with a sense of alienation. He was the outsider, the romantic guy from the other side of the tracks, a self-styled poet of the lovelorn and downtrodden. After a few early records that hinted at the band's potential, THIN LIZZY released "Fighting" in 1975, by that time the band having molded itself into a tight recording and performing unit. The band's big break came with their next album, 1976's "Jailbreak," and that record's first single, 'The Boys Are Back in Town.' From that point on THIN LIZZY toured relentlessly, building an unassailable reputation as a terrific live band. By the mid-'80s, resembling the dinosaur that Punk truly wanted to annihilate, the band called it a career. Sadly, Phil Lynott became a victim of his long-time abuse of heroin, cocaine, and alcohol, dying in 1986 at just 35 years old.

06.15.05 (MusicPortal.com) Things are just beginning to heat up for SHADOWS FALL, as they're set to perform on the main stage at Ozzfest this Summer, while joining MUDVAYNE and ROB ZOMBIE for a few additional high profile shows. The band are also scheduled for a series of headlining off-dates with the likes of such acclaimed acts as ARCH ENEMY, IN FLAMES, THE HAUNTED and TRIVIUM, among others in the support slots. The complete SHADOWS FALL Summer touring schedule with Ozzfest off-dates follows: 07/15 Boston, MA [Tweeter Center] • 07/16 Glen Falls, NY [Glen Falls Civic Center] • 07/17 Hartford, CT [Meadows Music Center] • 07/19 Camden, NJ [Tweeter Waterfront] • 07/20 Toronto, ON [Docks Concert Theatre] • 07/21 Buffalo, NY [Darien Lakes] • 07/22 Ft. Wayne, IN [Piere's] • 07/23 Burgettstown, PA [Post Gazette Pavilion] • 07/24 Bristow, VA [Nissan Pavilion] • 07/25 State College, PA [The Crowbar] • 07/26 Holmdel, NJ [PNC Bank Arts Center] • 07/27 Holmdel, NJ [PNC Bank Arts Center] • 07/28 Virginia Beach, VA [Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre] • 07/30 Tinley Park, IL [Tweeter Center Chicago] • 07/31 Noblesville, IN [Verizon Wireless Music Center] • 08/01 Huntington, WV [Monkey Bar] • 08/02 Columbus, OH [Germain Amphitheater] • 08/03 Cleveland, OH [Tower City Amphitheatre] • 08/04 Clarkston, MI [DTE Energy Music Theatre] • 08/05 Cincinnati, OH [Bogarts] • 08/06 East Troy, WI [Alpine Valley Music Theatre] • 08/07 Somerset, WI [Float-Rite Amphitheatre] • 08/09 Spokane, WA [The Big Easy Concert Hall] • 08/10 St. Helens, OR [Colombia Meadows] • 08/11 Auburn, WA [White River Amphitheatre] • 08/13 Mountain View, CA [Shoreline Amphitheatre] • 08/14 Marysville, CA [Sleep Train Amphitheatre] • 08/16 West Valley City, UT [USANA Amphitheatre] • 08/17 Las Vegas, NV [House Of Blues] • 08/18 Phoenix, AZ [Cricket Pavilion] • 08/20 San Bernardino, CA [Hyundai Pavilion] • 08/21 San Diego, CA [Soma] • 08/22 Tucson, AZ [Rialto Theatre] • 08/23 Albuquerque, NM [Journal Pavilion] • 08/25 Dallas, TX [Smirnoff Music Center] • 08/26 McAllen, TX [La Villa Real] • 08/27 Woodlands, TX [Mitchell Pavilion] • 08/28 Selma, TX [Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre] • 08/31 Antioch, TN [Starwood Amphitheatre] • 09/01 Myrtle Beach, SC [House Of Blues] • 09/02 Charlotte, NC [Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre] • 09/04 West Palm Beach, FL [Sound Advice Amphitheatre]
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06.14.05 (MusicPortal.com) German Modern Rock band ALEV have signed a stateside recording deal with Eclipse Records, who will release the band's popular debut album, "We Live In Paradise," later this Summer. Alev's music ranges from Contemporary Rock with shades of Metal, while the band's sound is best described as a musical cross between EVANESCENCE and GARBAGE. Munich-based ALEV achieved much on their own with the demo CD's "Breakable" and "Broken" before scoring their first deal with SAD Music in Germany. They rocked to the top of the German charts without large ad campaigns, convincing their fans only with their powerful music and their numerous live gigs. Starting in small clubs and youth houses, they eventually went on to play at large festivals, performing at 25 Open Air Festivals throughout Europe in 2004 alone. Their first single, 'If We Ever', which was a huge success overseas, will be the driving force behind ALEV in the United States - the video for the song demonstrating not only the power behind the band's unique sound, but also the serious subject matter behind the song of breaking the cycle of violence among humanity on a global scale. Alev, the lead singer, is the heart of the band, adept at singing both powerful Rock anthems as well as soft, ballad-like songs with her distinctive voice. ALEV's music is a tightrope walk, switching from raging, heavy guitar riffs to softer tones, while lyrically aiming right for the heart. Combined with the singer's attractiveness, their diversified & emotional live show makes for a unique mixture. "We Live In Paradise" was recorded at Lungfull Studios & produced by ALEV guitarist Patrick Fleischer and bassist Martin Fahrnholz. The album enjoys all of the band's signature elements: catchy refrains, powerful guitar riffs, diversified harmonies, and arrangements beyond conventional cliches -- a wild, youthful, and refreshing melange full of energy and persuasiveness.

06.13.05 (MusicPortal.com) BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN has announced a new group of North American solo tour dates for the months of July and August. The dates will follow Springsteen's sold-out tour of Europe, which wraps up June 28th in Berlin, Germany. Springsteen's new album, "Devils & Dust" topped the pan-European charts for three weeks, while the album has been certified Platinum in two countries and Gold in an additional eight countries. "Devils & Dust" entered Billboard's U.S. Top 200 albums chart at the top spot, receiving extremely enthusiastic reviews. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN also toured the U.S. in the spring, netting excellent reviews for his first solo tour since the 1995-1996 "The Ghost Of Tom Joad" tour. Upcoming Dates: June 13th Munich, Germany [Olympia Hall] • June 15th Frankfurt, Germany [Festhalle] • June 16th Dusseldorf, Germany [Phillipshalle] • June 19th Rotterdam, Holland [Ahoy] • June 20th Paris, France [Bercy] • June 22th Copenhagen, Denmark [Forum] • June 23th Gothenberg, Sweden [Scandinavium] • June 25th Stockholm, Sweden [Hovet] • June 27th Hamburg, Germany [Color Line Arena] • June 28th Berlin, Germany [ICC] • July 13th Ottawa, ON [Corel Centre] • July 14th Toronto, ON [Air Canada Centre] • July 16th Albany, NY [Pepsi Arena] • July 18th Buffalo, NY [HSBC Arena] • July 20th Bridgeport, CT [Arena At Harbor Yard] • July 23rd Atlanta, GA [Philips Arena] • July 24th Charlotte, NC [Charlotte Coliseum] • July 26th Greensboro, NC [Greensboro Coliseum] • July 28th Pittsburgh, PA [Petersen Events Center] • July 31st Columbus, OH [Schottenstein Center] • August 1st Cincinnati, OH [U.S. Bank Arena] • August 3rd Grand Rapids, MI [Van Andel Arena] • August 6th St. Louis, MO [Fox Theatre] • August 7th Milwaukee, WI [Bradley Center] • August 10th Portland, OR [Rosegarden Theatre Of The Clouds] • August 11th Seattle, WA [Key Arena] • August 13th Vancouver, BC [Pontiac Theatre At GM Place]

06.13.05 (MusicPortal.com) FIVE FOOT THICK have finished the recording of their upcoming new album for Eclipse Records, entitled "This Cold Life." Currently taking a few day's break from the recording studio recharging their ears and getting ready to begin mixing the 14 new songs, which look to be every bit as heavy as the band's last release, "Blood Puddle." From their initial conception in late 1997, Spokane, Washington-based FIVE FOOT THICK have been on a steady path of evolution, helping to redefine the scope, power and influence of tyrannically heavy music in the Pacific Northwest. Formed from the fragments of several influential Spokane acts, few other Northwest groups have achieved the independent success of the band. The earliest incantations of FIVE FOOT THICK are a powerfully dark fuse of Metal and Modern Rock. Within months of their formation, the band quickly ascended to the top ranks of the Spokane music scene. After several changes to the rhythm section, however, the band was forced to regroup. But strangely, any and all changes to the FIVE FOOT THICK formula have only seemed to help the group coalesce into something previously unrealized - much stronger, diverse, textured, and -- most notably -- hellishly thick and meaty. In 2000, the band would release their debut album, "Circles." It would not only help to catapult the band into the top echelon of the Northwest's unsigned acts, but it would later go on to become one of the most successful independent releases in Spokane history. A monstrous assault of Metal sorcery, "Circles" would go on to to sell nearly 3,000 copies. A Vans Warped Tour slot, a spot in the Jagermeister Music lineup, bills alongside the likes of COAL CHAMBER, (HED) PE, ORANGE 9MM, P.O.D. and SUICIDAL TENDENCIES followed, not to mention the inclusion of FIVE FOOT THICK's music in more action-sports videos than you can shake a middle finger at. In May of 2003, the band would end its run as perhaps one of the most successful independent bands in the Northwest, signing with Eclipse Records and becoming the obvious local opener for the likes of DROWNING POOL, ILL NINO, CHIMAIRA, GODSMACK, SLAYER and more.
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06.03.05 (MusicPortal.com) The guitarist for the Romanian Rock group COMPACT has been stabbed to death, making him the second group member to be killed in six months. Police have reported that Emil Laghia, 36, was stabbed by death by his girlfriend during an argument late today, after which authorities were questioning the girlfriend in the Danube River port of Tulcea, where the couple lived with their child. Despite the killing, COMPACT will go ahead with a planned concert tomorrow in the eastern city of Bacau, private television station Realitatea has reported. Meanwhile, things couldn't be any worse for the band, as anti-corruption prosecutors recently laid official charges against current COMPACT drummer Aurel Vasilescu as well as Elena Luminita Tipirig, a former employee of the Romanian Labor Ministry's press bureau, following allegations that the two asked for money from a German citizen to help him send people to work in Germany. Both are accused of illegal use of position, and of being part of a wider network which was sending workers from Romania to western European countries illegally. Prosecutors had been investigating that case for months and heard from several people in relation to the charges brought against the two. One of those recently called as witness was independent Deputy Cozmin Gusa, a former Democrat who is now leading the party he himself founded, the National Initiative Party. At the time, Gusa said he was called because his name appeared in some conversations Vasilescu had on the phone and were intercepted by investigators. Gusa denied any involvement in the case, saying his name was simply mentioned in those conversations, and that he and Vasilescu have been friends since childhood. COMPACT's current string of bad luck began when the band's veteran bassist Teo Peter was killed in a car crash on December 3rd of last year in an incident involving a U.S. Marine, after which The U.S. Embassy established a memorial fellowship in the musician's honor. At the time, Peter's death caused an outpouring of emotion in Romania, as well as in his native region of Transylvania.

06.02.05 (MusicPortal.com) RELIENT K have been confirmed as Main Stage performers on this Summer's Vans Warped Tour. Confirmed dates will kick off at the Pomona Fairplex in Pomona, California on July 6th, after which the tour will trek across the United States and several Canadian territories through the middle of August. RELIENT K, who recently won Yahoo! Music's monthly "Who's Next?" poll and will be featured on MTV's "10 Spot Drop" this Monday, June 6th, debuted in 1998. The band quickly drew praise for their brand of melodic, optimistic Pop-injected Punk, and developed a reputation as one of the hardest working bands on the circuit, playing an average of 200 gigs a year. By 2003, RELIENT K had become one of modern music's biggest underground acts. Their third album, "Two Lefts Don't Make A Right...But Three Do" was a Top 40 smash on the Billboard 200, earning RIAA gold certification for sales exceeding 500,000 units in the U.S. The album also garnered RELIENT K their first Grammy Award nomination. "MMHMM," the band's fourth album and current offering (released via Capitol Records last Fall), has proven to be the fastest seller of RELIENT K's career. Fueled by the band's non-stop road work -- including their current arena tour alongside GOOD CHARLOTTE and SIMPLE PLAN -- the album recently re-entered the Billboard 200 in the U.S. The single 'Be My Escape' is also shaping up to be a major Summer hit, currently climbing the Top 40 radio airplay charts in the U.S. RELIENT K's reunion with long-time producer Mark Townsend on "MMHMM" comes at a time when lines are being blurred between the Post Hardcore, Post Punk and peak Emo movements, making the band's original output level command some further attention. Such sounds are amplified all the more courtesy of mixers Tom Lord-Alge (U2, The Rolling Stones, Oasis) on 'The One I'm Waiting For,' 'High Of 75,' and 'My Girl's Ex-Boyfriend,' and J.R. McNeely (UnderOath, Project 86, Demon Hunter) on the rest of the tracks.
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06.01.05 (MusicPortal.com) As preparations are made for the release of their upcoming album, "Chapter V," STAIND are slated to head out on the road with 3 DOORS DOWN, BREAKING BENJAMIN and NO ADDRESS for a North American tour beginning June 30th in Manchester, New Hampshire and continue into the first week of September. Due out August 9th, "Chapter V" marks the group's fifth album and is the follow-up to the band's 2003 platinum release, "14 Shades Of Grey." Recorded at Allaire Studios in Shokan, NY and at the band's Springfield, MA rehearsal space, the CD was produced and mixed by David Bottrill (Peter Gabriel, Mudvayne, Godsmack). The first single from "Chapter V," 'Right Here,' is currently hitting the radio waves, with STAIND soon to be shooting a video for the song. For now, some fans are getting a sneak preview of the band's new music, as STAIND frontman Aaron Lewis and guitarist Mike Mushok are in the midst of visiting 16 cities, and have invited small groups of fans onto their tour bus to hear a selection of tracks from "Chapter V." Mushok explains: "Aaron and I have been out the last couple of weeks previewing the record for fans across the country and the response has been awesome! I really can't wait to get back out on the road and start playing these songs live." Confirmed Dates Through July: 06/30 Manchester, NH [Verizon Wireless Arena] • 07/02 Charlottetown, Canada [Festival Of The Lights - Prince Edward] • 07/04 Atlantic City, NJ [Borgata Events Center] • 07/06 E. Rutherford, NJ [Theatre @ Continental Airlines] • 07/08 Mansfield, MA [Tweeter Center] • 07/09 Camden, NJ [Tweeter Center] • 07/11 Quebec City, QUE [Agora] • 07/12 Portland, ME [Cumberland Co. Civic Center] • 07/14 Sarnia, ONT [Bayfest] • 07/15 Burgettstown, PA [Post Gazette Pavilion] • 07/16 Hartford, CT [Meadows] • 07/19 Columbia, MD [Merriweather Post Pavilion] • 07/20 Hershey, PA [Hershey Park Stadium] • 07/22 Tinley Park, IL [Tweeter Center] • 07/23 Columbus, OH [Germain Amph] • 07/26 Moline, IL [Mark Of The Quad] • 07/27 Cuyahoga, OH [Blossom Music Center] • 07/29 Albany, NY [Pepsi Arena] • 07/30 Scranton, PA [Ford Pavillion Montage] • 07/31 Charleston, WV [Charleston Municipal Arena]
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[ Rock News: May 2005 ]
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