ROBIN TROWER UK Tour Dates

Guitarist Robin Trower has announced UK tour dates for the end of the Summer.

The former Procul Harum guitarist will play 13 dates in September.

The dates are as follows...
Sept. 08 - Cardiff, Globe
Sept. 09 - Bilston, Robin 2
Sept. 10 - Birkenhead, Pacific Arts Centre
Sept. 11 - Glasgow, Academy
Sept. 12 - Holmfirth, Picture Dome
Sept. 15 - Norwich, Waterfront
Sept. 16 - Newcastle, Academy
Sept. 18 - London, Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Sept. 22 - Bath, Komedia
Sept. 23 - Cornwall, St. Ives Festival
Sept. 24 - Barnstaple, Queen’s Hall
Sept. 25 - Sevenoaks, Stag Theatre
Sept. 26 - Brighton, Komedia



www.robintrower.com/

The Final Two Bands For The WINTER'S END FESTIVAL Announced

The Winter's End Festival has completed it's line-up with IO Earth and Lou Richardson added to Sunday's schedule.

The Winter's End Festival takes place at The Space, Stroud on March 13th & 14th and tickets are on SALE NOW.

“After their show-stopping set at Summers End last year, we are delighted to welcome IO Earth back to Gloucestershire. Expect a mixture of guitar-led instrumentals and dynamic, emotional song writing.

I caught a great set from Lou Richardson at Greenbelt last summer, and thought her very imaginative use of loops and effects seemed well suited to a Prog audience, so I’m delighted she has agreed to play a 30 minute mid afternoon set for us.”

Contact information

IO Earth:
www.ioearth.com
www.myspace.com/islasho

Lou Richardson:
www.myspace.com/louiserichardsonguitar

The completed schedule now looks like this. Expect draft timings shortly:

Saturday 13th
Magenta (headliner)(UK)

Moon Safari (Sweden)
RC2 (Venezuela)
Lee Abraham and Band (UK)
Andonova (UK)
James Hollingsworth (UK)

Sunday 14th
Galahad (UK) Touchstone (UK) (co-headliners)

IO Earth (UK)
Crimson Sky (UK)
Sanguine Hum (UK)
Lou Richardson (UK)

Visit the Facebook Page:
www.facebook.com/pages/Winters-End-Progressive-Rock-Festival/228180126766?ref=ts

www.winters-end.co.uk
www.classicrocksociety.co.uk
Email: wintersend@btinternet.com

www.winters-end.co.uk

SCORPIONS To Retire

German hard rockers the Scorpions have announced that their next album and tour will be their last and they will then retire.

A post on their official website said that the band were to go out on a high following their next studio album, "Sting In The Tail", which is released on March 19th.

“It was always our pleasure, our purpose in life, our passion and we were fortunate enough to make music for you - whether it was live on stage or in the studio, creating new songs.

While we were working on our album these past few months, we could literally feel how powerful and creative our work was – and how much fun we were still having, in the process. But there was also something else: We want to end the Scorpion’s extraordinary career on a high note. We are extremely grateful for the fact that we still have the same passion for music we’ve always had since the beginning. This is why, especially now, we agree we have reached the end of the road. We finish our career with an album we consider to be one of the best we have ever recorded and with a tour that will start in our home country Germany and take us to five different continents over the next few years.

We want you, our fans, to be the first to know about this. Thank you for your never-ending support throughout the years!”

There has been no UK dates announced, so far, on what is now their farewell tour.

www.the-scorpions.com/

UFO Announce UK Dates

UFO (PHIL MOGG, VINNIE MOORE, ANDY PARKER & PAUL RAYMOND) have announced 7 UK shows for April; but suprisingly no London date!

The band are touring in support of last year’s excellent "The Visitor" album.

Tickets for the shows are on sale now from the usual outlets and the dates are as follows...
April 22nd - Workington, Carnegie Theatre
April 23rd - Middlesbrough, Town Hall
April 24th - Edinburgh, Picture House
April 25th - Inverness, Ironworks
April 27th - Sheffield, Academy
April 28th - Leamington Spa, Assembly Rooms
April 29th - Cardiff, Millennium Music Hall



http://www.ufo-music.info/band.htm

The BLACK CROWES To Release Acoustic CD

The Black Crowes have re-recorded some of their back catalogue acoustically for the release of a new studio album later this year.

Over twenty songs have been recorded so far!

“As 2010 begins we would like to let you in on the next epic phase of Crowedom.

“We just finished a new 20+ song set of Crowes' catalogue recorded acoustically with the full band and a few other friends. We're very excited about the session and feel it represents where we've been, who we are, and where we're going.”

http://www.blackcrowes.com/

TYGERS OF PAN TANG To Re-record Classic Tracks From "Wildcat" Album

The Tygers Of Pan Tang are to re-record five of their classic tracks from their debut "Wilcat" album.

This is to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the album's release.

The songs were originally sung by Jess Cox and now The Tygers’ current vocalist Jacopo Meille will sing his version of the songs.

The tracks are Euthanasia, Suzy Smiled, Don’t Touch Me There, Wildcat and Slaves To Freedom.

The band hope to have this ready for sale via their website towards the end of February.



www.tygersofpantang.com

WINTER'S END FESTIVAL Tickets Now On Sale

Tickets for the first "Winters End Festival" at The Space, Stroud, on March 13th and 14th are now on sale.

Tickets are available priced £32 (£27 for Classic Rock Society members in advance) for the weekend and £18 (£15 members advance) for each day from the CRS Shop. Full price tickets can also be purchased via the festival website, and discounts are available for those buying tickets over the counter in Stroud.

Full details are available on the website, alongside venue, travel and accommodation information.

Tickets are strictly limited to 200 for each day, so early booking is essential.

With one more band to be announced, the line-up is as follows...

Saturday 13th March
Magenta (headliner)(UK)
Moon Safari (Sweden)
RC2 (Venezuela)
Lee Abraham and Band (UK)
Andonova (UK)
James Hollingsworth (UK)

Sunday 14th March
Galahad (UK) Touchstone (UK)(co-headliners)
TBC
Crimson Sky (UK)
Sanguine Hum (UK)

http://www.winters-end.co.uk/

OZZY Changes New Album Title

Ozzy Osbourne will change the title of his new album due to feedback from fans.

The CD was to be called "Soul Sucka"; but Ozzy said, “The fans just don’t seem to like it. As soon as it was announced, people were really negative about it. They just weren’t gonna buy T-shirts with that on.”

The now untitled album is due out in July, the same month that OzzFest will start in America after a year's break.

Ozzy also proposes to release a live DVD for later in the year which will feature footage from 1981 with the late Randy Rhoads on guitar.

www.ozzy.com

FATES WARNING - Classic Line-up To Reunite

The classic 1991 line-up of progressive metal band Fates Warning is to reunite in March.

Ray Alder (vocals), Jim Matheos (guitar), Frank Aresti (guitar), Joe DiBiase (bass) and Mark Zonder (drums) will play a couple of shows in Greece during March, with more to follow later.

This coincides with the reissue of their 1991 album "Parallels, via Metal Blade, on March 16th.

This reissue will include a bonus CD with live and demo material, a DVD with an entire show from 1992, plus a documentary on the making of the album.

www.fateswarning.com

SLAYER Reschedule UK Tour

SLAYER have once again rescheduled their UK dates which will now take place in May/June.

Having been twice forced to postpone tours due to bassist/vocalist Tom Araya’s ongoing back problems it is hoped that this time the shows will go ahead.

The dates are as follows...
May 26th - Leeds, O2 Academy
May 27th - Glasgow, Barrowlands
May 29th - Birmingham, O2 Academy
May 30th - Manchester, O2 Academy
May 31st - Nottingham, Rock City
Jun 02nd - London, HMV Forum
Jun 03rd - London, HMV Forum

www.slayer.net

GIANT Preview New Album

Melodic rockers GIANT have unveiled the first single and video from their forthcoming new studio album "Promised Land".

The single, is the title track from the band's new album to be released on February 26th via Frontiers Records (March 9th in the USA).





http://www.myspace.com/gianttheband

KROKUS - New Song Available For Streaming

Swiss hard rockers KROKUS will release their new album, "Hoodoo", on February 26th via Sony Music.

The album was recorded by Dennis Ward at House of Music Studios in Winterbach, Germany, with additional recordings at Pink Bild and Ton in Solothurn, Switzerland and Henson Studios, Los Angeles.

"Hoodoo" track listing as follows...
01. Drive It In
02. Hoodoo Woman
03. Born To Be Wild
04. Rock N' Roll Handshake
05. Ride Into The Sun
06. Too Hot
07. In My Blood
08. Dirty Street
09. Keep Me Rolling
10. Shot Of Love
11. Firestar

The digipack version includes a bonus DVD containing some of the "magic moments" from Krokus' 2008 reunion concert at Stade De Suisse in Bern, Switzerland.

The track "Hoodoo Woman" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

http://krokusonline.seven49.net/

TARJA TURUNEN To Start Recording New Album

Former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen will be in the studio in early February to start recording her new solo album, "What Lies Beneath".

She commented on her website...

"In these last couple of weeks I have been daily preparing the production, schedules, arrangements for the songs and for the album itself.

"It feels great to be able to start the recordings very soon, since I have been waiting for the moment already for a long time. I am truly excited to witness how all will unfold!

"The process for my second album started back in June 2008. Among the first songs that my friends and I composed at that time, a character called Naiad was born. The fantasy story of Naiad gave me the idea for the album title and for the whole album concept: 'What Lies Beneath'.

"The last touches for the music, last lines of lyrics and arrangements for the songs need to be done now before getting into the studio.

"I have chosen the musicians for each song, the recording and mixing engineers and some the studios where the album will come alive.

"We are also starting to organize the artwork and photos for the album.

"It has been wonderful to be able to brainstorm again and decide the direction the album is going to take. I hope that you will be surprised again by my work; because that's the way I like it.

"The recordings of the drums will begin on February 4th. I will be in touch with you daily from the studio, so you will have a chance to read, see and maybe also hear what is happening there."

www.tarjaturunen.com/

Pendragon & IQ Win Majority Of Classic Rock Society Awards

The Classic Rock Society staged their awards night on Saturday (16th) evening in Rotherham.

IQ played an excellent 135 minute set with Anne-Marie Helder supporting with an acoustic performance.

A great night it was too.

Gordon Giltrap presented the awards with the winners as follows...
BEST CRS GIG - Pendragon
BEST BASS PLAYER - John Jowitt (IQ)
BEST DRUMMER - Scott Higham (Pendragon)
BEST TRACK - Questioning Eyes (Breathing Space)
BEST KEYBOARD PLAYER - Clive Nolan (Pendragon, Arena, etc.)
BEST NEW BAND - DeeExpus
BEST ALBUM - Frequency (IQ)
BEST ROOTS MUSICIAN - Troy Donockley
BEST GUITARIST - Nick Barrett (Pendragon)
BEST MALE VOCALIST - Peter Nicholls (IQ)
BEST FEMALE VOCALIST - Christina Booth (Magenta)
BEST BAND - IQ
DIRECTORS AWARD - Martin Hudson

http://theclassicrocksociety.blogspot.com/

OPETH Added To The Bill Of SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL

Swedish progressive metallers OPETH have been confirmed for this year's Sweden Rock Festival, which takes place from June 9th-12th, 2010 in Sölvesborg, Southern Sweden.

The festival line-up is now as follows (more bands to be added)...
ALDO NOVA (CAN)
ALESTORM (UK)
ANVIL (CAN)
BACHMAN & TURNER (CAN)
BEHEMOTH (PL)
BIGELF (US)
D-A-D (DK)
DANZIG (US)
JORN (N)
MAGNUM (UK)
MOTHER'S FINEST (US)
NAZARETH (UK)
OPETH (S)
RICK SPRINGFIELD (AUS/US)
RATT (US)
RAVEN (UK/US)
SABATON (S)
SAGA (CAN)
STEEL PANTHER (US)
STRATOVARIUS (FIN)
UNISONIC (D)
W.A.S.P. (US)
WATAIN (S)
Y&T (US)

www.swedenrock.com

AIRBOURNE - New Song Available For Streaming

"No Way But The Hard Way", the new single from Australian rockers AIRBOURNE, is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

The song comes from the band's sophomore album, "No Guts. No Glory.", which will be released on March 8th via Roadrunner Records.

Airbourne have recently been filming a video for this release.

www.airbournerock.com/

SANCTUARY's Classic Albums To Be Reissued In One Package

Ironbird via Cherry Red Records will reissue SANCTUARY's first two albums (1987's "Refuge Denied" and 1990's "Into The Mirror Black") in one CD package.

"Refuge Denied" contains a version of Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit".

"Into The Mirror Black" was the band's second and final album which was one of my favourite albums in it's year of release.

Singer Warrel Dane and bassist Jim Sheppard went on to form the band NEVERMORE.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanctuary_(band)

W.A.S.P. - "Babylon's Burning" Video Released

W.A.S.P. have just released their new "Babylon's Burning" video.

The song comes from the band's new album, "Babylon", which was released in Europe last October and charted at number 15, in the UK, on the Rock Albums chart.

The video can be viewed below...

500.000 metal videos on ROCKTUBE and METALHEAD

www.waspnation.com/

SCORPIONS Reveal New Album Artwork

The SCORPIONS have revealed the artwork for their forthcoming new album, "Sting In The Tail".

The new album will be released on March 19th and is the band’s 17th studio effort.

This is Scorpions first CD since 2007's "Humanity: Hour I".

The cover is below...

www.the-scorpions.com/

SOLISIA To Release Debut Album Shortly

Italian progressive symphonic metal band SOLISIA has posted a new song, "Vortex Of Indifference", on their MySpace page.

The track is from the band's forthcoming debut album, "Ordinary Fate", which will be released later this year via Underground Symphony Records.

The album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Simone Mularoni at Fear Studio in Ravenna, Italy.

Solisia is Marilena Stigliano (Vocals), Gianluca Quinto (Guitars), Andrea Arcangeli (Bass), Wilson Di Geso (Keyboards) & Marcantonio Quinto (Drums).

www.myspace.com/solisia

JEFF BECK To Tour The UK In October

Jeff Beck has announced nine UK shows for October of this year.

After two dates with Eric Clapton at the O2 Arena in London on February 13th/14th, Beck has confirmed the following shows...

Oct 15th - Bournemouth, International Centre
Oct 16th - Brighton, Centre
Oct 17th - Birmingham, Symphony Hall
Oct 20th - Clyde, Auditorium
Oct 21st - Manchester, Apollo
Oct 22nd - Sheffield, City Hall
Oct 24th - Bristol, Colston Hall
Oct 25th - Cardiff, St. David’s Hall
Oct 26th - London, Royal Albert Hall

Tickets are on sale now at £36.50 each except in London where they are £43.50, £35 and £30.

The guitarist is currently in the studio working on a new album, with co-producers Trevor Horn and Steve Lipson.

This as yet untitled album will be released by the end of June.



www.jeffbeck.com/

STRATOVARIUS Confirmed For Sweden Rock Festival

Finnish melodic rockers STRATOVARIUS have been confirmed for this year's Sweden Rock Festival, set to take place from June 9th-12th, in Sölvesborg in southern Sweden.

The festival line-up, so far, is as follows...
ALDO NOVA (CAN)
ALESTORM (UK)
ANVIL (CAN)
BACHMAN & TURNER (CAN)
BIGELF (US)
D-A-D (DK)
DANZIG (US)
JORN (N)
MAGNUM (UK)
MOTHER'S FINEST (US)
NAZARETH (UK)
RICK SPRINGFIELD (AUS/US)
RATT (US)
RAVEN (UK/US)
SABATON (S)
SAGA (CAN)
STEEL PANTHER (US)
STRATOVARIUS (FIN)
UNISONIC (D)
W.A.S.P. (US)
WATAIN (S)
Y&T (US)

www.swedenrock.com

SAVATAGE's Greatest Hits Due Out In March

March 2nd will be the European release date for "Still The Orchestra Plays: Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2", the official anthology from legendary US progressive metallers SAVATAGE.

The collection contains remastered classics plus three new, previously unreleased acoustic recordings.

A limited edition of the anthology comes with the complete "Japan Live" show from 1994, which appears for the first time on DVD.

These will be released by earMUSIC/Edel Records

Savatage will then re-release their complete catalogue, remastered and featuring bonus tracks as well as newly recorded audio commentary.

"Still The Orchestra Plays: Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2" track listing...
CD1: Greatest Hits Vol.1
01. Power Of The Night
02. Hall Of The Mountain King
03. 24 Hours Ago
04. Legions
05. Gutter Ballet
06. Summers Rain
07. When The Crowds Are Gone
08. Ghost In The Ruins
09. If I Go Away
10. NYC Don't Mean Nothing
11. Edge Of Thorns
12. All That I Bleed

CD2: Greatest Hits Vol.2
01. Handful Of Rain
02. Chance
03. One Child
04. I Am
05. Anymore
06. Hourglass
07. The Wake Of Magellan
08. Morphine Child
Bonus tracks (recorded by Jon Oliva in 2009)
09. Anymore (acoustic)
10. Not What You See (acoustic)
11. Out On The Streets (acoustic)

DVD - "Japan Live 94"
01. Taunting Cobras
02. Edge Of Thorns
03. Chance
04. Conversation Piece
05. Nothing Going On
06. He Carves His Stone
07. Jesus Saves
08. Watching You Fall
09. Castles Burning
10. All That I Bleed
11. Stare Into The Sun
12. Damien
13. Handful Of Rain
14. Sirens
15. Gutter Ballet
16. Hall Of The Mountain King

www.savatage.com/

HOLE Announce First UK Date For Almost Eleven Years

HOLE will play their first UK gig for almost eleven years, on February 17th, at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London.

Tickets go on sale today (January 8th) from the usual outlets.

Only Courtney Love remains from Hole’s previous line-up and will be joined this time by guitarist Micko Larkin, bassist Shawn Dailey and drummer Stu Fischer.

The band are also working on a new album "Nobody’s Daughter"; but no release date has yet been confirmed.



http://nobodysdaughter.com/nbd/
http://www.courtneylove.com/

LACUNA COIL To Release "Shallow Life" Deluxe Edition At The End Of The Month

Italian rockers LACUNA COIL will release a special double-disc "deluxe edition" of their latest album, "Shallow Life", for the price of a single CD, featuring alternate artwork, a disc full of rare and previously unreleased material (studio, acoustic and live tracks) and an expanded booklet.

Release dates are as follows...
January 22nd - Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy
January 25th - UK, France, Benelux, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Rest Of Europe
January 26th - Spain
January 27th - Sweden, Finland, Hungary

Don't you just hate it when band's do this and you have to buy the album once again.
Personally I don't think that "Shallow Life" is one of their best releases.

LACUNA COIL's forthcoming European headlining tour will feature support from DIRTY LITTLE RABBITS and the gothic rock band DOMMIN.



www.lacunacoil.it

HELLOWEEN - New "Dr. Stein" Video Released

German heavy metal band HELLOWEEN have released a video for their new version of "Dr. Stein" with Oliver Sommer from AVA Studios.

The video will make its German online debut on January 8 via Tape.tv.

It is described in a press release as "a comical video where the guys don't take themselves too serious and intentionally present the band in a very self-ironic way!"

See the video below...

500.000 metal videos on ROCKTUBE and METALHEAD

HELLOWEEN have joined with Sony Music/SPV Records, to release the band's forthcoming album "Unarmed - Best Of 25th Anniversary".

The album will be released in Europe on January 29th with the U.S. release date yet to be announced.

"Unarmed" will be released in a limited-edition version with a special digipack, including a 30-minute making-of DVD, containing interviews and studio footage.

It will also be made available as a double vinyl.

The track listing is as follows...
01. Dr. Stein
02. Future World
03. If I Could Fly
04. Where The Rain Grows
05. The Keeper's Trilogy
06. Eagle Fly Free
07. Perfect Gentleman
08. Forever & One
09. I Want Out
10. Falling To Pieces
11. A Tale That Wasn't Right

www.helloween.org/

LEAVES' EYES Guitarist Quits

Guitarist Mathias Röderer has left ATROCITY and LEAVES' EYES for "family reasons."

ATROCITY commented...

"Matze has been a part of ATROCITY from the beginning and did music with the band for more than 20 years. Both bands wish him the best for his future!"

Sander van der Meer from Dutch death metallers CYPHER has been announced as his replacement for both Atrocity and Leaves' Eyes.

LEAVES' EYES will be supporting KAMELOT on their forthcoming European tour in March/April 2010.

The dates are as follows...
Mar 25, 2010 Charleroi - BE Le Coliseum
Mar 26, 2010 Tilburg - NL O13*
Mar 27, 2010 Amsterdam - NL Paradiso*
Mar 28, 2010 London - UK Koko*
Mar 31, 2010 Paris - FR Elysée Montmartre*
Apr 01, 2010 Pratteln - CH Z7 Kulturfabrik*
Apr 02, 2010 Montpellier - FR Rockstore*
Apr 03, 2010 Barcelona - ES Salamandra 1*
Apr 04, 2010 Madrid - ES La Riviera*
Apr 07, 2010 Dortmund - DE FZW*
Apr 08, 2010 Köln - DE Live Music Hall*
Apr 09, 2010 Hamburg - DE Markthalle*
Apr 10, 2010 Gothenburg - SE Trädgårn**
Apr 11, 2010 Stockholm - SE Tyrol**
Apr 13, 2010 Helsinki - FI Nosturi***
Apr 14, 2010 Tampere - FI Pakkahuone***
Apr 16, 2010 Oslo - NO Sentrum Scene***
* plus Adagio
** plus All Ends
*** plus Amaranthe

www.leaveseyes.com/

RAVEN Release New Album In March

Geordie rock band RAVEN are set to release their brand new album in March 2010.

"Walk Through Fire" is released on March 29th through the SPV/Steamhammer label.

It is their first studio album for almost ten years.

The album will contain a Europe only bonus track and the full listing is as follows...
01. Intro
02. Against The Grain
03. Breaking You Down
04. Under Your Radar
05. Walk Through Fire
06. Bulldozer
07. Long day's Journey
08. Trainwreck
09. Grip
10. Running Around In Circles
11. Hard Road
12. Armageddon (the beginning)
13. Attitude
14. Space Station Number 5
15. The King (live)(Bonus Track)



www.ravenlunatics.com/

KROKUS - New Album Artwork Revealed

Veteran Swiss hard rock band KROKUS will release their new album, "Hoodoo", on February 26th, 2010.

For two years Marc Storace, Chris Von Rohr, Fernando Von Arb, Mark Kohler and Freddy Steady have worked diligently on their highly anticipated comeback album.

The album will be released via the band's new deal with the Swiss branch of Sony Music.

The artwork can be viewed below...






http://krokusonline.seven49.net/

ROYAL HUNT Reveal New Album Title

Danish rockers ROYAL HUNT have announced that "X" will be the title of their 10th studio album, due out in the early part of this year.

There will also be a tour in April/May in support of the album.

Royal Hunt recently parted ways with bassist Per Schelander and replaced him with Andreas Passmark (Narnia, Rob Rock, E-Type).



www.royalhunt.com/

A HAPPY NEW YEAR

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