Kings Of Leon's new album debuts at No.1

Kings of Leon have landed their third consecutive No.1 album on the ARIA chart as their sixth album Mechanical Bull debuts at top.

The Nashville rockers' sixth studio release bumps off Keith Urban's album Fuse, which drops down two spots to No.3.

Another new entry is Drake's Nothing Was the Same at No.2, which becomes his first Top 10 entry and highest charting album all in the same week.

Jason Derulo's third album Tattoos has debuted at No.5, becoming his third Top 10 album.

Jack Johnson is down three places to No.6 with From Here to Now to You, while the fourth Top 10 debut is Jessie J with Alive at No.7.

Pink's The Truth About Love has dropped two spots to No.8 and Rudimental's Home moves up five places to No.9.

Avicii's album True plummets eight places round out the Top 10.

Meanwhile Katy Perry's Roar has spent another week at No.1 on the singles chart.

The top three all hold steady this week, with Miley Cyrus at No.2 with Wrecking Ball and Redfoo at No.3 with Let's Get Ridiculous.

The big mover is John Newman with Love Me Again, which charges up four places, pushing Derulo's Talk Dirty down to No.5.

OneRepublic spends a third straight week at No.6 with Something I Need, Lana Del Rey is down a couple of places to No.7 with her Summertime Sadness and Drake climbs a place to a new peak of No.8 with Hold On, We're Going Home.

Avicii has slipped to No.9 with Wake Me Up, while Lorde is back up two places to No.10 with her EP The Love Club feat Royals.

AUSTRALIAN SINGLES CHART

1(1) Roar - Katy Perry (CAP/EMI)

2(2) Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus (RCA/SME)

3(3) Let's Get Ridiculous - Redfoo (INR/UMA)

4(8) Love Me Again - John Newman (ISL/UMA)

5(4) Talk Dirty - Jason Derulo Feat. 2 Chainz (WAR)

6(6) Something I Need - OneRepublic (INR/UMA)

7(5) Summertime Sadness - Lana Del Rey vs Cedric Gervais (INR/UMA)

8(9) Hold on, We're Going Home - Drake Feat. Majid Jordan (UNI/UMA)

9(8) Wake Me Up - Avicii (UNI/UMA)

10(12) The Love Club Feat. Royals - Lorde (UNI/UMA)

AUSTRALIAN ALBUMS CHART

1(-) Mechanical Bull - Kings Of Leon (RCA/SME)

2(-) Nothing Was The Same - Drake (UNI/UMA)

3(1) Fuse - Keith Urban (CAP/EMI)

4(3) AM - Arctic Monkeys (DOM/EMI)

5(-) Tattoos - Jason Derulo (WAR)

6(3) From Here to Now to You - Jack Johnson (UNI/UMA)

7(-) Alive - Jessie J (UNI/UMA)

8(6) The Truth About Love - Pink (RCA/SME)

9(14) Home - Rudimental (WAR)

10(2) True - Avicii (UNI/UMA)

AUSTRALIAN STREAMING CHART

1(1) Roar - Katy Perry (EMI)

2(2) Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus (SME)

3(3) Wake Me Up - Avicii (UMA)

4(4) The Love Club EP - Lorde (UMA)

5(6) Counting Stars - OneRepublic (UMA)

6(5) Talk Dirty - Jason Derulo Feat. 2 Chainz (WAR)

7(9) You Make Me - Avicii (UMA)

8(7) Burn - Ellie Goulding (UMA)

9(8) La La La - Naughty Boy Feat. Sam Smith (EMI)

10(10) Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke Feat. T.I. Pharrell (UMA)

AUSTRALIAN COUNTRY CHART

1(1) Fuse - Keith Urban (CAP/EMI)

2(2) The Very Best Of Slim Dusty - Slim Dusty (EMI)

3(-) The Buegrass Album - Alan Jackson (SME)

4(3) The Great Country Songbook - Troy Cassar-Daley Adam Harvey (SME)

5(-) A.M - Chris Young (RCA/SME)

6(6) Red - Taylor Swift (BIG/UMA)

7(3) 40 Years Of Pride - Charley Pride (RCA/SME)6 (WAR)

8(6) A Hell Of A Career! - John Williamson (WAR)

9(7) Crash My Party - Luke Bryan (CAP/EMI)

10(8) The Story So Far - Keith Urban (CAP/EMI)

source: bigpondnews.com

Serpentine part company with frontman Black

British rockers Serpentine have released a statement confirming that singer Matt Black has left the band.

The statement in full reads:

Serpentine, the British melodic rock quintet currently in pre-production for their third album with producer and songwriter Gary Hughes [of Ten] have parted company with lead vocalist Matt Black, who wishes to move into a different direction musically, away from the melodic rock sound the band are associated with.

The band, who were initially fronted by Shy/TNT vocalist Tony Mills, burst on to the scene in 2010 with their critically acclaimed, and Japanese charting, Touch Of Heaven album, and went on to release their second full album Living And Dying In High Definition, in 2011.

Mills, who departed in 2011 to concentrate on TNT, was replaced by the hitherto unknown Matt Black and a series of UK tours with the likes of Crashdiet, Ten, FM and Romeo’s Daughter cemented Serpentine’s reputation as an exciting live band, which led to appearances at many major festivals at home and abroad.

This decision was reached while writing for their next record, when it became apparent that the music the band was composing was at odds with the direction Matt wanted to take.

Serpentine’s Gareth David Noon commented: “We wish Matt all the very best for the future. He has been a tremendous asset for Serpentine in the live arena and we remain on excellent terms. Matt had certain ideas for the band but the truth is that the rest of us had a clear vision for the next record that we weren’t prepared to compromise on. Serpentine is evolving and we will be back with a bang in 2014.”

On his departure, Matt says: “It has been a tough choice to make, but I want to take a different road in my musical style. I would like to thank Serpentine, the management and fans for all the amazing support, friendship and good times we’ve shared. It’s been an honour to share the stage with such amazing musicians. I wish the band all the best for the future and I sincerely hope they continue to do the ‘business’ on and off stage.”

Serpentine’s search for a new vocalist has already started and the band have been flattered by some of the candidates who have so far applied. A shortlist will be drawn up shortly prior to auditioning.

Any other interested parties can apply by messaging the band’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/planetserpentine

source: classicrockmagazine.com

TNT to lose Tony Mills…

Norwegian veteran rockers TNT are to lose singer Tony Mills after a seven-year stint including three studio album appearances.

And it’s raised the possibility of a return for Tony Harnell, who fronted them for 22 years before bowing out in 2006.

Mills doesn’t think his decision will come as a surprise, following the death of keyboardist Dag Stokke in 2011 and Victor Borge’s decision to move on last year.

He says in a statement: “After the passing of our beloved Dag and the parting with Victor, my departing may not be altogether unexpected.

“There are other contracts I need to fulfil and a different focus I need to maintain in the coming years. I wish Ronni Le Tekro and his team all the best for their future, however it may shape itself.

“We’ve had some remarkable experiences together and we’ve worked with some incredible characters.”

Mills has vowed to remain until the band’s current commitments have been fulfilled, including two shows in Norway this weekend.

Meanwhile, Harnell has refused to go into detail about rumours suggesting he’ll return to TNT. “The ‘press leak’ in Norway was a bit premature,” he says. “Meaning: if anything were to happen it’s not happening this soon – and I’m not saying anything is going to happen.

“The beginning and the end are sometimes a little too close to each other. But the door of possibility always remains open.”

Guitarist Le Tekro is the only founding member remaining, and the only person to have appeared in all lineups of TNT.

source: classicrockmagazine.com

AC/DC’s Cliff Williams Gives Update on Next Album

AC/DC haven’t exactly been the hardest-working band in show business over the last few decades. The legendary Aussie rockers have only released three albums since 1990, and their last album was ‘Black Ice’ in 2008. But in a new interview, bassist Cliff Williams says guitarists Angus Young and his brother Malcolm have been working on some new material — though he stops short of promising a timetable for a new album.


“[There is] nothing in the works right now [as far as recording],” Williams tells BackstageAxxess (quote via Loudwire). “We’re still getting over the last tour, so we’re just hanging out and doing stuff. The guys are writing material and when they’ve got some stuff together, they’ll give us a holler.”

The bass players adds, “[Angus and Malcolm] get a bunch of ideas together. Some are more together than others — and then we’ll all hit the studio or a little rehearsal room and we’ll kick it around with a producer. And then we get in a studio and record, and that’s kind of how it runs. The guys, I’m sure, are putting their time in [writing material for the new album] — Malcolm and Angus — but they’re not ready for [the rest of the band to get involved] yet.”

Still, it’s a step forward from last June, when Angus Young put the kibosh on rumors of a new album after singer Brian Johnson dropped a hint that one might be in the works.

source: ultimateclassicrock.com

ZZ Top To Play London

And Billy Gibbons turns down $1,000,000 to shave his beard.

ZZ Top have announced plans to play two UK tour dates later this year, in celebration of their 42nd anniversary.

The band will play at the London Hammersmith Apollo on June 24, and the Manchester O2 Apollo on June 25.

The veteran rockers will be playing tracks from their 2012 album 'La Futura'. Mainman Billy Gibbons recently revealed that he and bandmate Dusty Hill once turned down an offer of $1 million (£638,000) to shave off their beards.

Recently Billy Gibbons, also revelaed that he and bandmate Dusty Hill down down a $1 million offer to shave their beards.

"No dice. Even adjusted for inflation, this isn't going to fly. The prospect of seeing oneself in the mirror clean-shaven is too close to a Vincent Price film ... a prospect not to be contemplated, no matter the compensation" said Gibbons on the offer.

(NME)

source: planetrock.com

Led Zeppelin to Visit 'Letterman'

John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin will visit the Late Show With David Letterman when the show broadcasts from Washington D.C. on December 3rd. The rockers, along with Letterman, are among the recipients of this year's Kennedy Center Honors, which take place December 2nd. There's no word on if the band will play on the show.



The 35th Annual Kennedy Center Honors will air December 26th.

source: rollingstone.com

Eddie Van Halen Has Emergency Surgery

Eddie Van Halen has undergone emergency surgery for "a severe bout of diverticulitis," Van Halen posted on its website, and will spend the next four to six months recovering. As a result, the rockers are rescheduling a tour of Japan that had been slated for November. "The band looks forward to seeing and playing for their fans in 2013," read a brief statement.

Diverticulitis is a digestive disease that occurs when pouches of the inner lining of the intestine, most often in the colon, become inflamed or infected. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever and cramping.

Van Halen also canceled a series of dates earlier this summer. Although there was talk at the time that the musicians weren't getting along, singer David Lee Roth said in a video that the group had simply "bit off more than we could chew," a sentiment Eddie Van Halen echoed in an interview.

The band this year released A Different Kind of Truth, Van Halen's first album with David Lee Roth in 28 years.

source: rollingstone.com

Smashing Pumpkins rock again with ‘Oceania’

LOS ANGELES – Alternative rockers The Smashing Pumpkins have had huge hits – ”Siamese Dream” and “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness” – as well as well-publicized in-fighting and drug use that led to the Chicago band’s break-up in 2000.

But after some false starts, lead singer Billy Corgan recently reformed the Pumpkins with new musicians and embarked on an ambitious 44-song project titled “Teargarden by Kaleidyscope.”

Their new album, “Oceania,” which entered the Billboard 200 charts this week at No. 4, is part of that project and the always-outspoken Corgan talked to Reuters about the new music.

What sort of album did you set out to make?

(Laughs) We thought we’d better make a really great album or we’d have to blow this business up. The necessity of an album has pretty much gone by the wayside. It doesn’t seem to have the cultural impact anymore, and people aren’t waiting around for the next ‘Sgt. Pepper’ or ‘Pet Sounds.’

In our case, we saw where my musical legacy and the band’s abilities were being marginalized by a culture that celebrates a lot of stuff that has nothing to do with bands. So you can sit and whine, but if you believe you can make strong band music, then it trumps all other arguments – even sales. So either get out of the business or do something.

As for ‘Oceania,’ I don’t even know where the title came from. It just felt right.

You weren’t seriously thinking of quitting, were you?

No, but I felt, you have to morph the intention. OK, so the album’s dead – what does it morph into? Maybe 3D projects, like a movie you do the soundtrack for, which you also self-finance.

You say the album’s dead, yet you’re working on this massive ‘Teargarden’ multi-album project.

(Laughs) Yeah, well I ran my mouth and said I was doing this 44-song project, and the reason is, I picked a big enough number that’d force me to start and end somewhere, and give it an arc. So we began by just releasing a song at a time, and then an EP, and that was almost like an album. But I wasn’t trying to do that – I was just trying to make interesting music.

Is it true you worked in total secrecy?

Yeah. Nobody heard the music – no manager, agent, publicist. Total isolation. You definitely want and long for the validation of others hearing it, but I just felt we needed to keep everyone out of the room. We had to build our own internal confidence.

Sometimes, even people I’ve known for 20 years with the best intentions will walk in and say the wrong thing – ‘Oh, it sounds like The Beach Boys.’ I love the Beach Boys, but that might be the wrong thing to say at that moment. Or the manager comes in and says, ‘I don’t know if we can get that played on the radio,’ and you’re not even thinking that way. So we had to just trust each other.”

What comes first for you – music or lyrics?

I’m a total song-whore (laughs). I’ll do it whatever way works. Sometimes I write lyrics, sometimes I’ll have a title, or steal something from myself, warp it and change it. I don’t care.

You initially streamed ‘Oceania’ free on iTunes. Why?

There was a general perception – even among our fans – that I was no longer able to make high level, credible music. It was the watered-down version of what I used to do. This is the first time in a long time where I intended the expectation they were expecting.

The Stones in particular are a band I admire because they just roll it out whenever they feel like it, and when they don’t, they don’t. That’s rock ‘n’ roll.

I could be in the Bahamas right now, sipping a margarita … But I get up every day wanting to pursue an artistic agenda, and I’ve had moments where it’s worked spectacularly and I’m a genius, and then had it miss, and I’m an idiot. I’ve lived it all – the good and the bad, and you just have to keep going forward.”

source: interaksyon.com

New Muse Track 'Survival' Chosen As Official Song Of The 2012 London Summer Olympic Games

Need more proof of how loved electro-rockers Muse are in their native UK? Their upcoming new single, “Survival,” has been chosen as the official song for the 2012 Olympic Games, which kick off in London on July 27. The track will be our first taste of Muse’s upcoming sixth studio effort, The 2nd Law.

The song is expected to debut tonight (June 27) on Zane Lowe’s BBC Radio 1 radio program at 7:30 p.m. BST. The news was broken earlier today on the band’s official website.

The posting also reveals the new single’s inspiration was the Olympics in the first place: "Matt wrote the song with the Olympics in mind. It's about total conviction and pure determination to win."

The track is expected to get plenty of play throughout the games, so there's no doubt you'll have it memorized by the time of the closing ceremony.

"The song will be played throughout the Games including when athletes enter the stadium, in the lead up to the medal ceremony and also as the theme for all international TV coverage," the band writes. "We are honoured that the Olympics have chosen our song to officially represent the London 2012 Olympic Games across the globe."

After the song premiere on BBC Radio, “Survival” will immediately be available to buy on iTunes and through the band’s website.

Muse are currently completing work on The 2nd Law in London with producer David Campbell, who has worked on over 450 gold and platinum albums with everyone from Michael Jackson to Aerosmith as well as orchestrating the arrangements for the much-publicized musical “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.”

source: mtv.com

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Rock Tunes

There is always a gap in many rockers' lives when it comes to rocking out, but there is a way to solve the issue. Metal heads are always looking for the right moment and way of unleashing ear drum blowing death metal blast beats inside their cranium. There are too many instances in a metal head's life where it is unacceptable to rock out, and serving drive through and going to church are no omissions. Fortunately, there are a few different options that fill in the spaces and make the adrenaline rush harder than ever, getting the most out of some lovely double bass drum slams.

Bringing grandma to bingo can be the most challenging time ever. The hardest of the hardcore rockers always experience the urge to crank their stereos up to 11, though grandma does have some terrific stories. Even rocking at a modest level is often difficult, given that most grandmas have sensitive ears and get headaches very easily. The best sound experience is essential in these cases in order to make electronic thunder after such situations. Replacing the minivan's aging speakers with some that can deal with a high powered amp is completely required. Getting a good stereo, or at least one with an auxiliary in, is essential to provide the control needed for the remainder of the setup. With all the room the back of the minivan has, putting some sweet subwoofers in will be the main thing that makes the music better. Right after grandma says adios, she will be greeted with the gently fading sound of thunder as her ride slowly moves away.

Sound systems in the minivan fill a significant void in a rocker's life, but there are also times when the listener has to leave the car. As a way to fill in the gaps in time, getting an MP3 player or smartphone makes up for the break in listening time. These devices offer a world of possibilities, but can have sound quality that lags behind that of a speaker system. Compact headphone amps are a great way to increase the clarity and volume of most devices. Smartphones can also play tunes through Bluetooth devices, which will remove both wires and the visibility of the earpiece. This makes it easier to listen covertly while doing other things, but try not to head bang too hard in the wrong scenarios.

A different, unique way of making up for listening voids is listening in pure analog. Getting some timeless Metallica vinyl can soothe even the most insisting metal head needs, because getting rid of digital sources makes the sound feel more real. It is okay to use modern day turn tables and amplifiers for the rest, but vinyl records on their own cannot be mimicked. Even though it is important to get some killer palm muted guitar riffs on record, getting some Radiohead vinyl for when somebody is feeling like no one understands helps. Simply put, vinyl records sound pure and unaltered, as opposed to their digital cousins.

SoundStage Direct, LLC is an online independent store based in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. SSD has the largest selection of vinyl records online. And you don't want to miss amazing closeout deals available at our LP outlet! We have record albums in every genre (example: Metallica vinyl) and in a variety of formats available ready to be shipped at your doorstep.

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