Rocklahoma Festival Missing Fans Found Dead in Lake
There’s sad news to report as the two young music fans who had been reported missing since attending the Rocklahoma Festival last month in Pryor, OK have been found dead. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, a vehicle carrying 20-year-olds Cody Parrick and Ben Baber was discovered submerged at the Onapa boat ramp off Lake Eufala in Oklahoma’s McIntosh County.
The two men had been last seen on May 23 when they were supposed to be leaving the Rocklahoma festival to return home to work, but they never made it back. The vehicle was discovered Sunday night, June 7. It is believed that the incident was accidental and that no foul play was involved.
Sir Christopher Lee, Iconic Horror Actor and Heavy Metal Vocalist, Dead at 93
Christopher Lee died Sunday in London after being hospitalized for respiratory problems and heart failure. He was 93. Lee was best known as the actor who protrayed Saruman in the Lord of the Rings / Hobbit films and for bringing Dracula back to the movie screen with the immortal Bela Lugosi. But, he also entered the heavy metal world at the age of 90 (!) when he released two full-length metal albums (2010′s Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross and 2013′s Charlemagne: The Omens of Death), two EPs of metal Christmas covers (2012′s A Heavy Metal Christmas and 2013′s A Heavy Metal Christmas Too) and a third, non-holiday-themed covers EP, 2014′s Metal Knight, as well as last December’s holiday single “Darkest Carols, Faithful Sing.”
Kings of Chaos With Sammy Hagar, Slash, Duff McKagan and Glenn Hughes To Perform At San Fran Benefit
Kings of Chaos will perform at a special benefit concert for Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project on Wednesday, July 29 at The Fillmore in San Francisco.
The supergroup has a rotating lineup composed of former Guns N’ Roses members Slash, Matt Sorum, Duff McKagan and Gilby Clarke, The Cult’s Billy Duffy, ex-Deep Purple vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes, Alter Bridge/Slash vocalist Myles Kennedy, and Sammy Hagar. The group performs songs from all of its members’ repertoire plus other classic rock hits.
The Dolphin Project aims to stop dolphin slaughter and exploitation around the world. This work has been chronicled in films such as A Fall From Freedom, the Oscar-winning documentary The Cove, and in the Animal Planet mini-series Blood Dolphin$.
Lightning Injures 33 at Rock am Ring Music Festival in Germany
Thirty-three people have been hurt after lightning struck twice at Rock am Ring, one of Germany’s biggest music festivals. About 90,000 music fans attended the event, which was headlined by Foo Fighters, the Prodigy, Die Toten Hosen, Slipknot, and Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators.
The first strike hit the backstage area at about 1am, injuring eight people from the festival’s production teams, according to police. Organizers later halted the concert and offered visitors shelter in large, lightning-proof tents. Just before 4am, lightning struck for a second time, hitting the festival’s camping area and injuring another 25 people. Police said all of those injured were taken to the hospital for observation and were in good health. No one suffered a direct hit.
Ronnie James Dio Weekend Raises Over $155,000
The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund was the beneficiary of over $155,000 raised during a weekend of events in honor and memory of the legendary singer. The events included a Bowl For Ronnie Celebrity Bowling tournament and red carpet, a public Memorial Service celebration with performances and speeches, and the inaugural Ride For Ronnie motorcycle ride and BBQ. Read the entire scoop at Bravewords.com.
Looks like Dave Mustaine of Megadeth will be the recipient of the Metal Hammer Golden God award to be presented June 15 in London. Good on you Dave!
The sentencing of AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has been delayed and adjourned until next month, according to SunLive. Rudd was due to be sentenced on June 26 after pleading guilty to one count of threatening to kill, possession of methamphetamine and possession of cannabis. However, the 60-year-old musician’s sentencing will now take place on July 9.
Legendary electric guitar innovator Les Paul would have been 100 on June 9, and his birth is being honored across the U.S. with a series of special events that will include appearances by some of the countless musicians he inspired.
The festivities kicked off with a 100th Anniversary Celebration concert hosted by the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City, which showcased performances by Steve Miller, Joe Satriani, Neal Schon, Peter Frampton, Steve Vai and others. In addition to the concert, the Hard Rock is also hosting a memorabilia exhibit which is scheduled to remain on display until June 15.
Slash and his wife Perla Ferrar are in the midst of divorce proceedings and have put their LA mansion up for sale for $11 million, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The 11,000-square foot Tuscan Villa-like home sits in a gated community and is three stories with six bedrooms and eight bathrooms. It includes a swimming pool with an outdoor bar, a skate ramp, a screening theater and a wine cellar. On the lower level there’s a nightclub complete with a DJ booth, LED lights, a pole dancing pole and a photo booth, and of course it comes with a professional recording studio with a vocal booth.
Metallica are becoming quite the pros at playing the National Anthem at sporting events. On May 3, they performed it at the Giants home game vs. the Dodgers. Then, on Saturday, June 6, guitarists James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett put their own unique stamp on the song at the 2015 X Games in Austin, Texas. Check out the video here.