Runaways Memories Don’t Match
In the wake of Jackie Fuchs’s damning claim to the Huffington Post that the Runaways’ late manager, Kim Fowley, drugged and raped her in front of her bandmates at 16, two former Runaways have pushed back.
Joan Jett, who previously denied witnessing the rape as Fuchs described it, stood by her story saying she was “not aware of this incident.” On Facebook, she continued by saying, “Anyone who truly knows me understands that if I was aware of a friend or bandmate being violated, I would not stand by while it happened. For a group of young teenagers thrust into 70s rock stardom there were relationships that were bizarre, but I was not aware of this incident. Obviously Jackie’s story is extremely upsetting and although we haven’t spoken in decades, I wish her peace and healing.” Jett wrote on Facebook.
Cherie Currie, in response to accusations that she watched Fuchs’s rape and “did nothing,” wrote on Facebook that she “would have hit him over the head with a chair” had she seen what Fuchs described.
Fuchs has responded in a lengthy Facebook post. See her entire Facebook post here.
Lars Ulrich: “Streaming Is Good for Music”
More than 15 years after helping lead the charge against illegal file-sharing, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich has changed his mind about digital music.
“I believe streaming is good for music,” he argued. “People sit there and go, ‘I’m not getting paid very much for streaming,’ but streaming is a choice on all fronts. It’s a choice for the fan, and it’s a choice for the artists who are involved in making their music available on streaming services. It’s a choice by the record companies that represent the artist.”
Listen to the entire BBC interview, here.
Anthrax to Play Final Metal Show at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip
It’s the end of an era for Los Angeles music fans, as the House of Blues on Sunset Boulevard is preparing to shut its doors. But before the club closes, Anthrax will have the opportunity to play the final metal show at the venue, which will be torn down to make room for a new complex containing hotels, condos and retail space.
The group will offer their send-off on Wednesday, July 29, with tickets for the blow-out on sale now. Tickets are available here.
“Every show we’ve done at the Sunset House of Blues has been a party,” says Anthrax bassist Frank Bello. “Everyone who we’re friends with who’s not on tour shows up, either to jam or drink or just hang out. And I’ll really miss that. Sunset Boulevard has lost its last great place to play.”
Slash On Tour and In Production
Slash (Featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators) has been setting the world on fire with shows in support of their latest album and this fall they’ll blaze a trail through the U.S. The “World on Fire” North American trek will officially get underway September.18 in Providence, RI with a mix of headlining shows and festival appearances booked through October 24.
Slash is also continuing to pursue his passion for horror films. He’s set to produce the upcoming horror flick The Hell Within about a New York-based couple who hear from a young child named Teresa in Brazil pleading for help. The couple travel to Rio to locate the girl, but soon realize that she is only the beginning of the “hell within.”
There is currently a Fanbacked fundraising page to help offset the costs of making the film.
Metal Fans Can Attend Sebastian Bach’s Wedding Reception and Bachelor Party for $300
Ex-Skid Row leader Sebastian Bach is getting married to Suzanne Le in August, and the Rockbar Theater in San Jose, CA is hosting the reception. And, here’s the cool part – you can attend the reception, appropriately called the “Rock N’ Roll Wedding Extravaganza,” for just $300.
A post on Rockbartheater.com says, “Rockbar will be hosting the wedding of Sebastian Bach to Suzanne Le and would like to cordially invite you to attend the reception of this exciting event. Sebastian will be bringing friends along from the film and music world. Stay tuned for more details as they unravel. Tickets are on Sale NOW! Dress Code: Rockstar Chic.”
In addition, true fans can show up early for “Bands, Burlesque & Bach”, a rock n roll style bachelor & bachelorette party on Friday, August 21, featuring a “Rockstar Band Line-Up” live on stage and an “interactive burlesque show.” Tix are just $250 to get in, or $300 if you want the meet and greet package. Does that include the lap dance?
Iron Maiden To Launch Special Edition Beer “Trooper 666″ in October
In celebration of Iron Maiden’s Trooper Premium British Beer smashing through the 10 million pint barrier in just over 2 years, a special limited edition, Trooper 666, will be made available to fans in October.
Beer aficionado (and history buff) Bruce Dickinson explained, “Our fans have been asking for a stronger brew and it seemed only right to do this at 6.6% ABV! Despite the links with our song ‘The Number of The Beast,’ the name Trooper 666 has actually come about as a result of some detailed research by historian Terry Brighton, who has shown that there were in fact 666 soldiers that rode in The Charge of the Light Brigade during the Battle of Balaclava in 1854, and not just the 600 of Tennyson’s famous poem.” Huh? Just let us chug some brewskis with ya Bruce!
Run It Down The Flagpole
Tom Petty Says His Use of Confederate Flag Onstage Was “Downright Stupid”
Florida native Tom Petty now thinks differently about a mid-’80s decision to display the Confederate flag during his Long After Dark and Southern Accents tours. “I wish I had given it more thought,” Petty tells Rolling Stone. “It was a downright stupid thing to do.”
Specifically, the flag was used in conjunction with a song from the album, “Rebels,” which was written from the point of view of a Southerner who still blames the North for the troubles in his life. “I regretted it pretty quickly,” Petty said after fans started flying the flag during later tours.
Read the rest of Tom Petty’s regrets at UltimateClassicRock.com.
Philip Anselmo Doesn’t “Want Anything to F—ing Do” With Confederate Flag
In a new interview with Hard Rock Haven, Philip Anselmo, who has been tied to the flag in both Pantera and Superjoint Ritual, wants nothing to do with the flag today.
During the days of Pantera, Dimebag Darrell unapologetically shredded his custom Confederate flag Dean guitar, and to this day, you can still buy Pantera merch with the Confederate flag featured on the design. Superjoint Ritual featured the Confederate flag on the cover of their debut Use Once and Destroy album.
Much like Kid Rock, Philip Anselmo’s past is connected with the flag in some ways, but the vocalist’s future will not continue that trend. “I think, really, where the use of the rebel flag or Confederate flag with us really came from was our love of bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd and whatnot and s–t like that,” Anselmo tells. “There was never a time when it was okay to promote hate without a little bit of the tongue in the cheek, you know?”
Kid Rock Refuses to Stop Displaying Confederate Flag at Concerts
For Kid Rock, there’s no debate about his own feelings on the Confederate flag, which he expressed to Fox News.
The segment discussed a group in Detroit protesting a local museum’s Kid Rock exhibit because of his past associations with the Confederate flag, calling for the musician to renounce the controversial symbol.
In a statement to Megyn Kelly, Rock couldn’t have been more clear about where he stood on the issue, saying “Please tell the people protesting they can kiss my as…k me some questions.”
As National Action Network director Sam Riddle puts it in the segment: “How in the hell can Kid Rock represent Detroit and wave that flag just generating millions and millions in ticket sales — a flag that represents genocide to most of Detroit?”
Check out the video here.
Metalheads Say The Damnedest Things
“We’re going to do it as much while we can,” Hill said. “You might think, ‘OK, I might retire, I’ve had enough of this.’ In fact, you feel like that after every tour and then after a couple of months, you’re ready to get back at it again. You get those itchy fingers again. Three of us now are a certain age and the time we can’t do it anymore is not that far away. It will be a huge blow to any of us so we just want to keep doing it while we can.”
~ Judas Priest’s Ian Hill, commenting on how long Judas Priest will continue to rock. Ian Hill (age 64), frontman Rob Halford (63) and guitarist Glenn Tipton (67) are all in their 60s.
New Releases & New Gigs & Chh-Changes…
Aerosmith’s Whitford and Derek St. Holmes Announce Reunion Record
Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford and Ted Nugent singer Derek St. Holmes united for 1981′s Whitford/St. Holmes LP. Nearly 25 years later, the duo is back together. Whitford and St. Holmes renewed their partnership after moving to the same town on the outskirts of Nashville. The 2015 Whitford/St. Holmes lineup is rounded out by bassist Chopper Anderson and Tesla drummer Troy Lucketta. The band will tour in the fall, with the album to arrive in early 2016.
Devil City Angels Release New Video
Devil City Angels, the new hard rock supergroup featuring Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns), Rikki Rockett (Poison), Rudy Sarzo (ex-Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne) and singer Brandon Gibbs — will be releasing their self-titled debut album on September 18. This week they released the official video for the single, “Boneyard.” Check it out below.
Are Guns N’ Roses Planning Another Las Vegas Residency?
A lot of speculation was sparked following the appearance of a poster displayed at the Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino that reads “All we need is just a little patience: Guns N’ Roses. Coming September 2015, a new resort attraction.” So far, no official GNR members have confirmed or denied the report. We’ll keep you posted!
Odds n’ Sods
Phil Rudd Appeals His Eight-Month Home Detention Sentence
Phil Rudd has reportedly lodged an appeal against the home detention sentence he received after being charged with drug possession and threatening to kill.
The New Zealand Herald quotes Rudd’s attorney, Craig Tuck, as saying the appeal was filed immediately after Rudd was sentenced to eight months at home. The paper also depicts Rudd as visibly disgruntled after the hearing, telling a reporter to “get a f—ing job” on his way out of the courthouse.
Corey Taylor Calls Axl Rose ‘Douchebag’ for Making Fans Wait
A week after Slipknot singer Corey Taylor slammed Kanye West for the rapper’s “I’m the greatest living rock star” comment, he’s now blasting Axl Rose for making Guns N’ Roses fans wait for the band to come onstage at its concerts.
During a recent appearance on the Opie Radio show, a listener called in to criticize Taylor for an incident a few years ago in which the Taylor placed his testicles on Rose’s piano, which was in an off-limits room backstage at a festival the two bands were playing. Taylor then responded to the angry fan’s question, “How dare you do that to someone like Axl?” “Knowing Axl, it’s quite easy,” he replied. “I mean, anybody who makes his fans wait for two to three hours for him to go onstage, I have no respect for.”
Check out his entire rant on video below.
KISS’ Gene Simmons And Paul Stanley Report On How Much Action Goes On At Comic Con
TMZ asked KISS bandmates Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, “How many babies do they think get conceived during Comic Con?” Paul and Gene obviously don’t think anyone’s getting any action because they both say “zero”. Apparently Comic Con groupies are far different than negligee-clad KISS groupies. Check out the TMZ video below.
It’s a Scientific Fact: Great White Sharks Love Metal!
While filming the Discovery Channel special Bride of Jaws, scientists searching for a massive Great White Shark used music from Darkest Hour to help lure the sea’s most feared predator to their boat.
That’s right, sharks love metal! It’s no coincidence. Apparently, sharks literally crave the sound of low frequencies, as “the dense tones of heavy metal simulate the low frequencies of struggling fish.” To sharks, the sound of heavy metal “resonates like a dinner bell.” Does this mean metal is like a struggling fish?