According to The Pulse of Radio, former NIRVANA bassist Krist Novoselic told DailyWorld.com in a new interview that fans should not expect to hear any music from the band emerging from the vaults. But while previously unreleased music may be scarce, Novoselic added, “What there is, is video. There’s a lot of video. There’s not going to be any new NIRVANA records.” Novoselic was interviewed when he participated in an oral history for the Washington State Legacy Project, which is dedicated to profiling influential residents of the state who have helped shape its history.
Novoselic did not indicate what kind of video footage is in the band’s archives, nor did he say whether it will ever see the light of day.
The last NIRVANA studio song released was “You Know You’re Right”, issued in 2002 as part of a boxed set. The track’s release was held up for years by a legal battle that pitted Novoselic and NIRVANA drummer Dave Grohl against Courtney Love, widow of late NIRVANA frontman Kurt Cobain. The tune was recorded in January of 1994, three months before Cobain committed suicide.
Asked if he was now on good terms with Love, Novoselic said, “It’s not bad terms.”
NIRVANA was crucial in bringing mainstream attention to both the Seattle music scene and alternative music in general. Novoselic told The Pulse of Radio a while back why he thought the band took off so explosively. “Well, it was a phenomenon. I think a lot of it was timing as what was going on in the music business. And a lot of the Sunset Strip hair bands were past their prime and people were ready for something new. NIRVANA always tried to be sincere.”
The bassist told DailyWorld.com that he wished he had done more to stop Cobain from killing himself, saying, “There’s regrets. I was angry. It’s just a waste . . . Kurt called me the first time he did heroin and he told me he did it. And I told him, ‘Don’t do it man. You’re playing with dynamite.’”
Novoselic has continued a low-key music career since NIRVANA’s demise, playing in EYES ADRIFT, SWEET 75 and punk act FLIPPER. He is also active in local Washington politics and has his own show on a community radio station.

ROSS THE BOSS and FREEDOM CALL are among the confirmed bands for the third edition of the Roadgrill metal festival, set to take place Saturday, July 18, 2009 at Spaanse Polder in Rotterdam, Holland.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
ROSS THE BOSS (USA / GER )
FREEDOM CALL (GER)
ROADKILL (NL)
IVORY NIGHT (GER)
CELL 29 (NL)
DAWN OF DESTINY (GER)
CONORACH (NL)
For more information, visit www.roadgrill.nl.

German thrashers KREATOR have been confirmed for the Derrame Rock festival, set to take place July 10-11, 2009 in Pravia (Asturias), Spain.

Seattle-based metallers NEVERMORE will perform at the Theatre Club in Tel Aviv, Israel on July 28.
NEVERMORE’s “The Year Of The Voyager” DVD last year entered the German DVD chart at position No. 82.
“The Year Of The Voyager” was released in North America on November 25, 2008 via Century Media. The set covers the “This Godless Endeavor” touring cycle, starting with amazing live footage from the U.S. Gigantour 2005, the Metal Mania festival 2006 in Poland, the Wacken Open Air festival in 2006 in Germany and the main DVD show recorded at the Zeche in Bochum, Germany on October 11, 2006. Bonus material includes two songs from Century Media USA 10th Anniversary Party 2001, all promo videos and an interview with singer Warrel Dane which was recorded at the Roax Film Studios in Berlin in the spring of 2008.
“The Year Of The Voyager” was released as a limited-edition 2DVD+2CD, standard 2DVD, standard 2CD and limited 3LP (the latter two containing the audio from the main show in Bochum only).

British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH have been confirmed for the Kivenlahti Rock festival, set to take place June 6-7, 2009 in Kivenlahti, Espoo, Finland.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AMORPHIS
APULANTA
BACKYARD BABIES
CLARK KENT
CRADLE OF FILTH
D-A-D
DIABLO
EGOTRIPPI
HAPPORADIO
JOENSUU 1685
JUKKAPOIKA JA TISKIPEKKA
KIUAS
KOTITEOLLISUUS
KUUKOIRAT
LAPKO
MAIJA VILKKUMAA
MAJ KARMA
MARITTA KUULA JA KARVANOPAT
PROFANE OMEN
REINO & THE RHINOS
SARA
STAM1NA
VON HERTZEN BROTHERS
For more information, visit www.kivenlahtirock.com.

FAITH NO MORE, NINE INCH NAILS, DIMMU BORGIR, DIR EN GREY and SONIC SYNDICATE have been confirmed for this year’s Nova Rock festival, set to take place June 19-21 on the Pannonia Fields in Burgenland, the easternmost federal state of Austria (near Nickelsdorf and the Hungarian and Slovak borders).
The festival billing is shaping up as follows (in alphabetical order):
3 FEET SMALLER
ALL THAT REMAINS
AUGUST BURNS RED
BLACK STONE CHERRY
BLACK TIDE
BRING ME THE HORIZON
CHRIS CORNELL
DIE TOTEN HOSEN
DIMMU BORGIR
DIR EN GREY
DISTURBED
DREDG
EISBRECHER
EXPATRIATE
FAITH NO MORE
GOGOL BORDELLO
GUANO APES
IN EXTREMO
KAISER CHIEFS
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
LACUNA COIL
LIMP BIZKIT
MADSEN
MASTODON
METALLICA
NINE INCH NAILS
PLACEBO
SEVENDUST
SLIPKNOT
SMOKE BLOW
SONIC SYNDICATE
STATIC-X
THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM
THE LIVING END
THE SWORD
TRIVIUM

Z Rock 09 is scheduled for May 29th – 30th at JB’s in Dudley, England.
Organizers have announced the final lineup for May 30th with the confirmation of CORNERSTONE and H.A.R.D. Previously announced for the 30th were ANGELHOUSE, who are currently not listed on the lineup.
Acts currently confirmed for Z Rock 2009 are as follows:
Friday, May 29th: WIG WAM, TONY HARNELL, STORMZONE
Saturday, May 30th: JOHN WAITE, BIG NOIZE, VON GROOVE, EDEN, NEWMAN, H.A.R.D., LEC ZORN PROJECT, CORNERSTONE.
For more info visit www.myspace.com/zrockfest.
In other news, Z Rock organizers recently announced: “We are proud to announce that for the first time ever a European melodic rock label is staging an event outside of Europe. Z has already of course staged shows in Germany and Sweden in the past and notably stages the longest running melodic rock festival in Europe each year.
Z Rock 09 Canada will be staged in Toronto, ON – Canada on August 23rd, 2009 at the El Mocambo (464 Spadina Ave.), Toronto.
Tickets will be priced at $30.00 [Canadian] advance. The lineup is as yet not fully completed but so far the following acts are confirmed: ARABIA, D DRIVE (feat Phil Naro), SCREAM IN EDEN, MAYCHILD.”
Tickets are onsale online now at www.zrecords.net and www.myspace.com/zrockfest.
Bands wishing to apply to appear should email zrockagency@zrecords.net .

San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE HEAD have been confirmed for the Optimus Alive! 09 festival, set to take place July 9-11, 2009 at Passeio Marítimo de Algés in Oeiras, Portugal.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
Thursday, July 9:
Stage Optimus:
METALLICA
SLIPKNOT
MACHINE HEAD
MASTODON
LAMB OF GOD
Stage Super Bock:
TV ON THE RADIO
KLAXONS
CRYSTAL CASTLES
EROL ALKAN
Friday, July 10:
Stage Optimus:
PLACEBO
Stage Super Bock:
THE TING TINGS
Saturday, July 11:
Stage Optimus:
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND
CHRIS CORNELL
Stage Super Bock:
LOS CAMPESINOS!
Last year’s Optimus Alive! festival featured performances by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and WITHIN TEMPTATION, among others.

MÖTLEY CRÜE has been confirmed as the headliner of the opening night of the fourth annual Kaliakra Rock Fest, set to take place July 1-3 in Kavarna, Bulgaria. DREAM THEATER will perform on the last night of the festival, July 3. More acts will be announced soon.

Varg Vikernes (a.k.a. Count Grishnackh) – the former BURZUM mastermind who is currently serving a Norwegian prison term for the August 1993 murder of MAYHEM guitarist Oystein Aarseth (a.k.a. Euronymous) and setting fire to three churches – will soon be a free man.
In September 2008, Vikernes’s fourth application for parole was denied, but a couple of weeks ago he finally received the message he has been waiting for: after almost 16 years in prison, he will be released.
“I will have to report [to the parole officer] for one year – initially every two weeks, and then once a month,” Vikernes told the Dagbladet newspaper.
Varg’s mother, who last year wrote a letter to Dagbladet in which she argued that her son was being unfairly treated by the justice officials who repeatedly denied his parole application, is very relieved that her son will be able to join his family in Bø (a municipality in the county of Telemark, Norway), where he recently purchased a small farm.
“I am very happy that he has been so strong and that he held out,” she said. “It will be good for the family that they can be together every day.”
For the past couple of years, Varg has been allowed to leave the prison regularly to walk around Tromsø, Norway (where the prison is located) and visit his family: his mother, his wife, eighteen-month-old son and sixteen-year-old daughter.
“I’m ready for society – and I have been for many years,” Vikernes told Dagbladet last July . “I have learned from my mistakes and become older. Now I just want to be together with my family. My mind has never been in prison; I think all the time about what I should do on the day that I am released.” He added, “I have barely seen my son since he came into the world. Even though I hear his voice on the phone almost every day, it is very tough to not be present while he is growing up. I miss my family. And I look forward the day that I could work on my farm, create music, write books and be with the wife and kids around the clock – and live a normal life. I have received tremendous support from my family. It means a lot.”
Last year it was reported that case workers at the Justice Ministry feared that Vikernes would be unable to adjust to life on the outside after his years in jail.
In denying his parole for the second time, the Justice Ministry emphasized that Vikernes escaped from prison in 2003 and that he has ties to neo-Nazi groups.
“I haven’t been in contact with them for a long time. Police security services know this,” Vikernes previously told the VG newspaper.

The tracklisting for DEEP PURPLE’s Archive Collection DVD – due in June 2009 in the UK – has been revealed. It is as follows:
DVD I
Mk 1 – ‘Help’, ‘Hush’, ‘Wring That Neck’
Mk 2 – ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Mandrake Root’, ‘Speed King’, ‘Black Night’, ‘Child In Time’, ‘Lazy’, ‘Strange Kind Of Woman’, ‘Fireball Writing’ Session’, ‘Fireball’, ‘Demon’s Eye’, ‘No No No’, ‘Into The Fire’, ‘Never Before’, ‘Highway Star’, ‘Smoke On The Water’
Mk 3 – ‘Burn’, ‘Mistreated’
Mk 4 – ‘Love Child’, ‘You Keep On Moving’
DVD II
Mk 1 – ‘And The Address’ (Playboy TV)
Mk 2 – ‘Wring That Neck’ (Bilzen Jazz Festival 1969), ‘Mandrake Root’, ‘Wring That Neck’ (”Pop Deux” Paris Concert 1970), ‘Black Night’ (Promo), ‘No No No (Take 1), ‘No No No (Take 2) (Beat Club Rehearsal Session)
Mk 3 – ‘Jt Nuit” – French TV 1974 , ‘Burn’, Interview, ‘Space Truckin’/Interview (Leeds Polytechnic Project 1974)
Mk 4 – New Zealand TV Documentary (Nov 1975), ‘Smoke On The Water’ (New Zealand TV)
Plus a short history and a 1976 interview with Tony Edwards.

Word spread like wildfire across the Internet today that VELVET REVOLVER had picked Gord Prior, a singer with a Canadian-based band called BLU BONES, as their new lead singer.
Not so, says a spokesperson for Sanctuary Artist Management, which reps Velvet Revolver. “Gord Prior isn’t the new guy. In fact, no decision has been made as to who the singer is.”
According to management, Prior was sent tapes of two new Velvet Revolver instrumental tracks and asked to write words and melodies and to then sing over the music.
“But he’s just one of numerous singers that tapes went out to,” says the spokesperson. “Gord submitted his demos just like everybody else. He wasn’t even asked to come in and do a formal audition. I don’t know why these videos get out there, but that’s just the nature of the Internet.”

TYKETTO and CRAZY LIXX have been confirmed for the inaugural Rock Gone Wild festival on August 20-23, 2009 in Algona, Iowa.
The festival billing is now shaping up as follows:
CANDLEBOX
CRAZY LIXX
DANGEROUS TOYS
EVE 6
GREAT WHITE
GYPSY PISTOLEROS
HARDCORE SUPERSTAR
HELIX
JUNKYARD
KIX
LITA FORD
LIZZY BORDEN
PUDDLE OF MUDD
RHINO BUCKET
SAIGON KICK
SALIVA
SAXON
SKID ROW
TANTRIC
TIGERTAILZ
TYKETTO
WARRANT
Rock Gone Wild marks the only festival appearance for SAIGON KICK – featuring Matt Kramer and Phil Varone – in 2009.
Rock Gone Wild will feature more than 50 bands on two stages over four days of hard rock and heavy metal. The festival promises four decades of rock n’ roll debauchery at its finest!
Rock Gone Wild will take place at the Freedom Park festival grounds, located at 2507- 160th Avenue in Algona, Iowa. While Algona is a rural community, the area is close to many hotels and both the Des Moines and Minneapolis airports are easily accessible.
Visit www.rockgonewild.com for updated festival information.

British thrashers ONSLAUGHT have been confirmed for the Rock City Open Air 2009 festival, set to take place August 20-23 in Fetesti, Romania. Guitarist Nige Rockett comments: “This is gonna be an awesome and crazy event, if our last visit to Romania was anything to go by. We met some wonderful people and made some real good friends; definitely one of my most memorable and special experiences with ONSLAUGHT and I really cant wait to return.”
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AGATHODAIMON
AMON AMARTH
ANCIENT RITES
BETRAYER
BLAZE BAILEY
BRAINSTORM
BUCOVINA
CIRITH GORGOR
CLAYMORE
CROSSOVER
DAWN OF DESTINY
DE PROFUNDIS
EASTERN FRONT
EINHERJER
EUPHOBIA
GHAMOREAN
HANZEL UND GRETYL
HOLLENTHON
INFECTED RAIN
LAKE OF TEARS
MORIBUND OBLIVION
ONSLAUGHT
OVERGARVEN
PAUL DI’ANNO
PRIMAL FEAR
SINNER
SIRENIA
SYMBOLIC
THE COLD EXISTENCE
THE REVENGE PROJECT
THEATRES DES VAMPIRES
TRAIL OF TEARS
TROOPER

CLUTCH and DUFF MCKAGAN’S LOADED have been added to Rock On The Range – America’s premiere destination rock festival – which will return to Columbus, Ohio’s Crew Stadium Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17. The 2009 lineup for the nationally renowned festival, centrally located in the heart of the country, will be highlighted by performances from some of rock’s biggest artists, including MÖTLEY CRÜE, SLIPKNOT, ALICE IN CHAINS, AVENGED SEVENFOLD and KORN.
“We try to listen to our fans and they’ve been saying for years that we should play at Rock On The Range,” said Nikki Sixx of MÖTLEY CRÜE. “We’re really excited to play one of America’s great rock festivals.”
SLIPKNOT’s Corey Taylor says, “Being asked to headline Rock on the Range is an absolute pleasure! Columbus, Ohio has always been very good to us. The line-up looks great; the shows look fantastic. And I personally think it will be an absolute blast for everyone. See you in May!”
Presented by Right Arm Entertainment, AEG LIVE and Crew Stadium, the two-day, multi-stage music and lifestyle event will feature a potent line-up of more than 35 bands. This year’s well-rounded mix of rock’s top artists also includes SHINEDOWN, BUCKCHERRY, THE USED, ATREYU, CHEVELLE, FLYLEAF, SAVING ABEL, SALIVA, BLUE OCTOBER, HOOBASTANK, BLACK STONE CHERRY, and many more.
This marks the third outing for the annual event, which drew 30,000 people in its inaugural year in 2007 and more than 55,000 people in 2008. Event features this year include the addition of a third stage, the Jägermeister Music Stage, onstage fan platforms – for contest winners – and an expanded vendor village.
In 2009, Rock On The Range will also increase their “Go Green” initiative via Rock On The Range “Go Green,” an online portal that allows fans to recycle old cell phones and mp3 players for free tickets and Rock On The Range memorabilia and official festival merchandise. Rock On The Range is the first festival to have an online recycling trade-in rewards component. More information can be found at www.rotrgogreen.com.
Tickets for Rock On The Range, as well as VIP packages that include festival tickets, hotel accommodations and festival merchandise, go on sale Saturday, February 21 at 10:00 a.m. (ET) via www.rockontherange.com and www.ticketmaster.com, all local Ticketmaster outlets and at the Crew Stadium box office. Two-day ticket packages will start as low as $99.50.
2009 lineup (subject to change):
ADELITA’S WAY
ALICE IN CHAINS
ALL THAT REMAINS
ATREYU
AVENGED SEVENFOLD
BILLY TALENT
BLACK STONE CHERRY
BLUE OCTOBER
BUCKCHERRY
BURN HALO
CAVO
CHARM CITY DEVILS
CHEVELLE
CLUTCH
CROOKED X
DRIVE A
DUFF MCKAGAN’S LOADED
EARLY PEARL
FLYLEAF
FRAMING HANLEY
HALESTORM
HOOBASTANK
KORN
MÖTLEY CRÜE
POP EVIL
SALIVA
SAVING ABEL
SHINEDOWN
SICK PUPPIES
SLIPKNOT
STATE OF SHOCK
STATIC-X
THE LEO PROJECT
THE USED
TRAPT
X FACTOR 1

German thrash legends KREATOR have been added to the bill for the Bloodstock Open Air 2009, which will be held from August 14th-16th at Catton Hall in Derbyshire, England.
Acts on the bill for Bloodstock Open Air 2009 include: AMON AMARTH, APOCALYPTICA, ARCH ENEMY, CANDLEMASS, CARCASS, DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER, ENSLAVED, GWAR, KATATONIA, KREATOR, MILLION DOLLAR RELOAD, MOONSPELL, MUNICIPAL WASTE, SATYRICON, SAXON, TURISAS, THE HAUNTED, WINTERSUN, SABATON.
For more info visit www.bloodstock.uk.com.

MÖTLEY CRÜE, MONSTER MAGNET and W.A.S.P. are among the confirmed bands for the “metal day” of this year’s edition of the Rockwave festival, set to take place June 29 at Terravibe Park, Malakasa, Greece.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
Crüe Fest Stage (Terra Stage):
MÖTLEY CRÜE
MONSTER MAGNET
ARCH ENEMY
LAUREN HARRIS
Vibe Stage:
W.A.S.P.
VOIVOD
Pre-sale starts on March 17.
Ticket prices:
* March 17 to March 31: 45 euros
* April 1 until day of show: 50 euros
* Box office: 55 euros
For more information, visit www.rockwavefestival.gr.

NINE INCH NAILS, ANTHRAX, AIRBOURNE and KILLING JOKE have been confirmed for the METALLICA-headlined inaugural Sonisphere festival, set to take place on August 1-2 at the legendary Knebworth Park, United Kingdom.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows (in alphabetical order):
AIRBOURNE
ALICE IN CHAINS
ANTHRAX
AVENGED SEVENFOLD
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
KILLING JOKE
LAMB OF GOD
LINKIN PARK
MACHINE HEAD
MASTODON
METALLICA
NINE INCH NAILS
THE SWORD
THIN LIZZY
ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian commented: “We are really excited to be making our only U.K. appearance at Sonisphere. We’ve been anticipating our return to the UK and we are honored to be a part of this amazing lineup. It’s also going to be Dan Nelson’s [vocals] first U.K. gig and what better way to show him off than on this show?! Leave it to METALLICA to create what I will wager is going to be THE festival of the year. See you at Sonisphere and get ready for a full-on ANTHRAX attack!!!”
AIRBOURNE added: “We are really excited to be rockin’ Sonisphere ‘09 at such a classic venue as Knebworth House. We can’t wait to get back to the U.K. again and we are honoured to be sharing the stage with the legendary METALLICA. Stand up for rock ‘n’ roll!”

Powerhouse American heavy metal vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) will tour Mexico in May. He will be joined by friends John Comprix of BEYOND FEAR/RINGWORM and MANDARINA and COHETICA.
The dates are as follows (venue details to be confirmed):
MAY 07 – Reynosa, MEX
MAY 08 – Monterrey, MEX
MAY 09 – Saltillo, MEX
MAY 10 – San Luis Potosi, MEX
MAY 14 – Aguascalientes, MEX
MAY 15 – Leon, MEX
MAY 16 – Queretaro, MEX
MAY 17 – Mexico City, MEX
MAY 21 – Puebla, MEX
MAY 22 – Veracruz, MEX
MAY 23 – Merida, MEX
MAY 24 – Cancun, MEX

PSYCROPTIC, SADUS, POSTMORTEM and DAATH have been confirmed for this year’s edition of the Party.San Open Air festival, set to take place August 6-8, 2009 in Bad Berka, Germany.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows (in alphabetical order):
AZARATH (PL)
DAATH (USA)
DARK FUNERAL (SWE)
DEN SAAKALDTE (NOR)
DESTRÖYER 666 (NL)
EVOCATION (SWE)
EXMORTUS (USA)
HATE ETERNAL (USA)
HELLSAW (AUT)
INHUME (NL)
MARDUK (SWE)
MISERY INDEX (USA)
MOONSORROW (FIN)
POSTMORTEM (GER)
PSYCROPTIC (AUS)
ROTTEN SOUND (FIN)
SADUS (USA)
SATYRICON (NOR)
SIX FEET UNDER (USA)
SHINING (SWE)
SOLSTAFIR (ISL)
SUMMERS DYING (GER)
SWALLOW THE SUN (FIN)
THYRFING (SWE)
UNLEASHED (SWE)
As previously reported, Swedish black metallers MARDUK will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the release of their legendary “Panzer Divison Marduk” album at the Party.San Open Air festival by performing the whole LP in its entirety as well as playing a number of selections from the band’s other releases. According to the group’s record label, Regain Records, “It will be a massive night to remember and there will also be some very special guest appearances.”
For more information, visit www.party-san.net.

Dutch female-fronted death metal ACROSTICHON will co-headline this year’s edition of Mario’s Metal Meeting festival, set to take place on October 4, 2009 at 013 in Tilburg, Holland. According to the organizers, “The band will do a one-time-only reunion 20 years after their formation and 10 years after their split!”
The festival billing is as follows:
HOLY MOSES (Germany)
ACROSTICHON (The Netherlands)
HYADES (Italy)
SANITY’S RAGE (Belgium)
HATCHERY (Germany)
For more information, visit www.mariosmetalmania.com.

Tickets to this year’s Dong Open Air festival – which is set to take place July 17-18, 2009 in Neukirchen-Vluyn (near Krefeld), Germany – sold out within four hours after they went on sale this past weekend.
The festival billing is as follows:
7 SEALS
AMORPHIS
CAST IN SILENCE
CHEENO
CLANROCK
COMMON GRAVE
DEW-SCENTED
DORNENREICH
ELEXORIEN
FAILED PERFECTION
HATRED
IN DECEMBER
INTERROBÄNG
KINGDOM OF SALVATION
ORPHAN HATE
RAGE
SHEEPHEAD
SKYCLAD
SPLATTER AND GORE DEPARTMENT
SYCRONOMICA
THE VERY END
For more information, visit www.dongopenair.de.

SEATTLE – Hard Rock International has announced it will open a Hard Rock Cafe in the heart of downtown Seattle this summer. The 14,0000-square-foot Hard Rock Cafe Seattle will open at 116 Pike Street in July.
“After searching for the perfect location for many years, we are proud to bring Hard Rock Cafe to Seattle,” said Hamish Dodds, president and CEO Hard Rock Cafe International. “Seattle is famous for its rich music history and live music scene, and we feel Hard Rock is a perfect complement to this vibrant city.”
In addition to a state-of-the-art facility with a live music space, the cafe will also feature rock `n´ roll memorabilia from Hard Rock´s collection, which includes items from many of Seattle´s legendary crop of home-grown music talent, such as Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and Audioslave, Alice in Chains and Foo Fighters.
Unique pieces of memorabilia on display include Jimi Hendrix´s 1969 Fender Stratocaster guitar; the snow globe that was on the top of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love´s wedding cake; the original door from Robert Lang Studios signed by several Seattle musicians and bands; and a letter from Quincy Jones to Ray Charles thanking him for his love and support at the 1991 Scopus Award Gala.
The Seattle cafe´s Rock Shop will offer both rock `n´ roll-inspired items, as well as classic collectible Hard Rock Cafe Seattle merchandise in its ground floor retail location. The Seattle-specific merchandise can only be purchased at this location. A collectable, limited-edition Seattle pin will be offered.

Massachusetts metallers SHADOWS FALL have scheduled the following dates:
Apr. 11 – The Crazy Donkey – Farmingdale, NY
Apr. 30 – Pulp Summer Slam – Manila, Philippines
Jun. 25 – Chilkoot Charlies – Anchorage, AK (21+)
Jun. 26 – Club Millennium – Anchorage, AK (All Ages)
SHADOWS FALL is rumored to be planning to release its new album in U.S./Canada independently through a deal with Independent Label Group, which is composed of Warner Music Group’s Asylum Records and East West Records.
SHADOWS FALL’s latest effort, “Threads of Life”, was made available through Atlantic Records in the U.S. and Roadrunner Records in Europe. The CD shifted around 100,000 copies in the United States since its April 2007 release – a fraction of the 300,000-plus sales total achieved by its predecessor, 2004’s “The War Within”, which was issued by Century Media.
SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner recently stated about the band’s new material, “The songs are a little more on the darker, angry side… lots of heaviness, lots of crazy guitar, and LOTS of room for me to have some fun. There is no doubt in my mind that this will be the best performance of my career, so far, and I owe that to my guys for bringing me incredible riffs to write killer drum parts to.”

Sirius XM. “Mandatory Metallica” will be broadcast on Sirius channel 27 and XM channel 42 and will debut on Saturday, March 14 starting at 6:00 p.m. ET and run through Monday, April 13 at 3:00 a.m. ET. The launch of Sirius XM’s “Mandatory Metallica” channel coincides with the band’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 4, 2009.
“METALLICA is one of the most influential and distinctive bands in the world,” said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, Sirius XM radio. “We are thrilled to broadcast ‘Mandatory Metallica’ for Sirius XM listeners and give METALLICA fans a place to go to hear all the music, interviews and rarities with this incredible rock band all in one place for thirty days.”
“Mandatory Metallica” will air classic METALLICA music 24/7 as well as new songs from the band’s recent release, “Death Magnetic”, which debuted at #1 on The Billboard 200 and was certified platinum in less than six weeks. The channel will also feature interviews with METALLICA guitarist and singer James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo.
In addition to interviews with all four band members, “Mandatory Metallica” will air exclusive interviews with other artists sharing their personal insights about METALLICA’s influence on music, including LINKIN PARK, SLIPKNOT, DISTURBED, GUNS N´ ROSES, CHRIS CORNELL, RUSH, ASHES DIVIDE, BLACK STONE CHERRY, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, ATREYU, CINDERELLA, MASTODON, JUDAS PRIEST, DRAGONFORCE, TRIUMPH, TESLA and others.
“Mandatory Metallica” will offer fans exclusive access to the band and their music. The limited-run channel aired exclusively on XM in 2008 and will be available to Sirius subscribers for the first time. The channel will feature virtually every METALLICA song ever recorded, plus rare live cuts from the band’s personal archives.

De-evolution has finally arrived…and who better to guide us through the mess than DEVO.
What the iconic new wave, art punk pioneers cautioned us about almost 30 years ago is no longer a humorous theory. It’s pretty much fact–we now live in a devolved world that’s getting wackier each and every day.
The fall of 2009 will bring a new DEVO studio album, their first one since 1990’s Smooth Noodle Maps. It’ll mark their first new music since the strong fan reaction that greeted the 2007 single “Watch Us Work It,” their first new song in 18 years and one that was produced by Sweden’s TeddyBears (Robyn). They’re now in the studio putting the finishing touches on their new album (title TBA).
The five-piece–featuring co-founders and songwriters MARK MOTHERSBAUGH (lead vocals, synthesizer innovations) and GERALD CASALE (lead vocal, bass) and rounded out by BOB CASALE (guitarist), BOB MOTHERSBAUGH (guitars/vocals) and JOSH FREESE (drums)–are set make a special U.S. appearance at SXSW this year including a press conference (4:00pm) and keynote panel (5:00pm)–moderated by radio veteran Nic Harcourt–set for Thursday, March 19 at the Austin Convention Center (500 East Cesar Chavez St.). They’ll follow that up with a Friday, March 20 one-night-only SXSW concert at the Austin Music Hall (208 Nueces St.). Pre SXSW, DEVO fans in Dallas can catch a special one-off show on Wednesday, March 18 at the Palladium Ballroom. To purchase tickets, go here: http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0C004251D5078964?brand=aeglive.
In May, DEVO will head to the United Kingdom for a series of dates. On Wednesday, May 6, DEVO will perform their debut album, the seminal Q: Are We Not Men, We Are Devo! in its entirety from beginning to end at London’s Kentish Town Forum. Released in 1978, the seminal album produced by Brian Eno and recorded in Germany features such notable tracks such as the band’s cover of The Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” “Mongoloid” and “Jocko Homo.” Next up on Friday, May 8, they’ll headline the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival in Somerset at the Butlins Holiday Centre.
Formed in 1972 in Akron, OH, DEVO–short for “de-evolution”–began as an art project cautioning that humans were devolving and regressing into a herd mentality of American society, not evolving. A conceptual band from the beginning, DEVO were ahead of their time, incorporating elaborate aesthetics into their live shows and seamlessly combining their music with visuals years before MTV or any music-video culture existed. Indeed, the group’s first appearance at Kent State University in 1973 was recorded with a black and white portable video system. Societal satirists, DEVO’s lyrical mix of comedy and quirky wit, warned of the dangers of rampant capitalism in “Whip It” and “Freedom of Choice”, and the devolution of society in “Jocko Homo” and ”Beautiful World.“ Onstage in their early incarnation, the group began with a mixture of synthesizers and rock instruments; as they developed in the late seventies and early eighties, DEVO became one of the first American acts to perform using only synthesizers. DEVO have now returned with an evolved look, ready to impact the vastly devolved world we now find ourselves trying to navigate.

Jackson Guitars has welcomed U.K. metal titans IRON MAIDEN to the Bloodline in the form of the sleek new Adrian Smith Dan Dimas Dinky signature guitars.
Introduced in January 2009, Smith’s pair of signature Jackson guitars at long last formally cements the relationship between Jackson and one of metaldom’s biggest, most enduring and most beloved acts. Smith’s molten, incredibly fast legato guitar work is an integral part of why Iron Maiden has remained such an influential band over the decades, and the man himself is a most enthusiastic champion of his namesake signature model – as evidenced by its frequent use on MAIDEN’s top-grossing 2008-2009 Somewhere Back in Time tour.
“When Jackson sent me a prototype of my signature guitar, I liked it right away,” Smith said. “So much so, it became my number one choice onstage for the Somewhere Back in Time tour. It passed the test with flying colors, performing the all-important basics like staying in tune, (having) great electronics and providing me with a great means of expression. It’s one of the loudest guitars I have. I can’t wait until the next tour.”
Based on Smith’s original late ’80s Custom Shop guitar, the Jackson Adrian Smith San Dimas Dinky comes in two Snow White versions – one with an ebony fingerboard, mother of pearl position inlays and single-ply white pickguard; and one with a maple fingerboard, black dot position inlays and single-ply black pickguard. Both models have an alder body and bolt-on quartersawn maple neck with a 12″ to 16″ compound radius fingerboard and 22 jumbo frets.
Read more from www.jacksonguitars.com.

Former SOUNDGARDEN/AUDIOSLAVE singer Chris Cornell has been confirmed for the Optimus Alive! 09 festival, set to take place July 9-11, 2009 at Passeio Marítimo de Algés in Oeiras, Portugal.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
Thursday, July 9:
Stage Optimus:
METALLICA
SLIPKNOT
MASTODON
LAMB OF GOD
Stage Super Bock:
TV ON THE RADIO
KLAXONS
CRYSTAL CASTLES
EROL ALKAN
Friday, July 10:
Stage Optimus:
PLACEBO
Superstage Super Bock:
THE TING TINGS
Saturday, July 11:
Stage Optimus:
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND
CHRIS CORNELL
Stage Super Bock:
LOS CAMPESINOS!
Last year’s Optimus Alive! festival featured performances by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and WITHIN TEMPTATION, among others.

Fearless Records is excited to release the highly anticipated, eighth album in the Punk Goes compilation series, Punk Goes Pop 2. The album hits stores and all digital outlets today.
Fearless Records has also teamed up with social networking giants, Imeem, for a special feature which includes audio of artists from the compilation discussing their recordings. Mayday Parade, Escape The Fate, Silverstein and others will offer fans an insight into their cover selection, the album, and the recording process. This feature is accompanied by a full stream on AOL Music and on MTV’s The Leak.
A Static Lullaby, Alesana, and Mayday Parade also took a second this week to host a special “Punk Goes Pop 2″ edition of “Rock The Deuce” on mtv2. This show featured “Punk Goes” artists discussing their recent music videos and their favorite rock songs of the moment. The show aired Sunday night and will re-air throughout the week.
Punk Goes Pop 2 will join Punk Goes Crunk, Punk Goes Acoustic, Punk Goes 80’s, Punk Goes Pop, Punk Goes Acoustic 2, Punk Goes 90’s, and Punk Goes Metal in a series that remains the top selling full-priced compilation series in the punk genre. This album features many of today’s biggest alternative, hardcore, and screamo bands covering today’s catchiest pop tunes.
To learn more, visit www.myspace.com/punkgoespop2
Tracklisting:
Alesana – “What Goes Around” (Justin Timberlake cover)
Silverstein – “Apologies” (One Republic cover)
August Burns Red – “…Baby One More Time” (Britney Spears cover)
Mayday Parade – “When I Grow Up” (Pussy Cat Dolls cover)
A Day To Remember – “Over My Head (Cable Car)” (The Fray cover)
Escape The Fate – “Escape The Fate” (Santana cover)
There For Tomorrow – “Ice Box” (Omarion cover)
Chiodos – “Flagpole Sitta” (Harvey Danger cover)
Bayside – “Beautiful Girls” (Sean Kingston cover)
Breathe Carolina – “See You Again” (Miley Cyrus cover)
The Cab – “Disturbia” (Rihanna cover)
A Static Lullaby – “Toxic” (Britney Spears cover)
Four Year Strong – “Love Song” (Sara Bareilles cover)
Attack Attack! – “I Kissed A Girl (Katie Perry cover)

Wilmington, North Carolina metal troupe GOLLUM, who recently signed with Rotten Records, will release their long anticipated The Core full-length on April 14th. The record is dedicated to late drummer Hunter Holland, who died suddenly of heart failure just a short time after he completed the drum tracks for the new record. “You helped lay the foundation and blueprint, then you left us with a gift,” writes the band on their official MySpace page. “We will never forget. Thank you dear friend for the inspiration you have given each of us. Your beat goes on and forever with us you shall be.”
Check out preview tracks here: http://www.myspace.com/gollum
Upcoming GOLLUM Tour Dates:
Mar 21 – Headliners – (Tattoo Convention ’09!) – Columbia, SC
Mar 26 – Lucky’s w/ Skeleton Witch & Kylesa – Wilmington, NC
Apr 11 – Soapbox – (CD RELEASE SHOW!) – Wilmington, NC
Apr 17 – Volume 11 – Raleigh, NC
Apr 18 – Plan B – Danville, VA
May 09 – Tremont Music Hall – Charlotte, NC
May 29 – The Dive Bar- Raleigh, NC
June 05 – Outback Lodge – Charlottesville, VA
Jun 9 – Dark Horse Saloon – Atlanta, GA
Sep 26 – Old Dorchester Club – Charleston, SC
GOLLUM Bio:
Wilmington, North Carolina metal troupe Gollum — a name derived from the Yiddish “goylem” which literally translates to “shapeless mass”— formed in the summer of 1998 by late drummer Hunter Holland and brothers Frank and Serge Stroehmer (guitar and bass respectively). “Hunter and I met through a mutual college friend and always talked about jamming after realizing that we were each into heavy music,” recalls Frank. “I had played with Hunter and was very impressed. He will forever be recognized as one of the most intense drummers the world has ever known. Serge soon entered the picture after moving to Wilmington from Goldsboro to live with me. The three of us jammed regularly. The chemistry was undeniable.”
Frank would later incorporate samples and keyboards to further expand Gollum’s already eclectic palette. Once confident enough in their delivery, they took to the road opening for the likes of Mastodon, Soilent Green, Vital Remains, Incantation, God Forbid, Death Angel, Rwake, Alabama Thunderpussy, Minsk, Skeletonwitch, Crisis, and home-state sludge kings, Weedeater. They went on to self-produce and release their first full-length album in 2004 in the form of Lesser Traveled Waters. The disc received a host of positive reviews and featured a guest appearance by Grammy-nominated singer D. Randall Blythe of Lamb of God as well as Weedeater’s Dave “Dixie” Collins.
All the while, Gollum employed a revolving door of vocalists but finally found a keeper in Shawn Corbett. A multi-instrumentalist and longtime band friend, Corbett’s talent and natural intensity meshed perfectly with the band’s music. By 2008, Gollum had garnered a considerable buzz and caught the attention of Los Angeles-based label Rotten Records. After a three-month courting process and a successful showcase in Wilmington, the band signed to the label in June and quickly entered the studio to craft and perfect what would become The Core. Just before the band could finish recording the record however, tragedy struck when founding member Hunter Holland died of heart failure just a few weeks after completing his drum tracks. The surviving members, devastated by Holland’s untimely passing and unsure of the band’s future, ultimately put all Gollum-related dealings on hold. After some deep soul-searching, the band soldiered on, confident that it’s what Holland would have wanted.
Gollum eventually recruited gifted drummer Seth Long who had played with Frank in a side project. Long played his first show with the band on New Year’s Eve 2008.
Recorded in Wilmington, NC at Umbilical Studios by Frank Stroehmer, The Core is dedicated to the memory of Hunter Holland. Guest appearances include the return of D. Randall Blythe and Dave “Dixie” Collins as well as Scott Angelacos of Hope & Suicide, the angelic vocal work of Cassie Sipe and Dr. George Zervos, professor of Religion/Philosophy at UNCW. The Core is scheduled to hit streets, April 14, 2009.

OSLO, NORWAY — Athera ( Pal Mathieson) , vocalist with Norwegian band SUSPERIA, was rushed to Akershus Universitetssykehus Hospital in Lørenskog, Norway on the morning of March 9th suffering from acute stomach pains and heavy bleeding. Initial tests revealed that the singer had suffered a heart attack caused by a damaged blood vessel. Athera is currently in the intensive care unit under close observation, while further tests are carried out. He is expected to remain hospitalised for the foreseeable future. At this moment future plans including touring commitments remain unchanged, until a full diagnosis of his condition has been confirmed.
Athera recently completed vocals on SUSPERIA’s fifh studio album, which is due for an early summer release through the bands new label Candlelight Records.The band worked continuously throughout 2008 on the album which Athera described as “going back to the early days with the melancholic riffing and dark emotional vocals and coming all the way through to today, with a perfect blend of everything Susperia has been and become.”
Everyone involved with the band wishes Athera a fast and speedy recovery.