Steven Tyler Reacts to Lenny Kravitz “#Penisgate”
An onstage wardrobe malfunction that left Lenny Kravitz’s junk dangling in the breeze has prompted a flurry of online commentary — and a little good-natured teasing from Steven Tyler.
NME reports that Kravitz was partway through his set during his August 3rd appearance at the Gröna Lund theme park in Stockholm, Sweden, when his gyrations got the best of his pants, splitting the crotch open and exposing the audience to … well, pretty much everything, really! Although Kravitz quickly covered himself up with his guitar and eventually exited the stage to change into a different outfit, you know how it is with concert audiences these days — everyone’s got a camera.
Kravitz used a text message from the Aerosmith frontman to prove he could see the humor in accidentally exposing himself to thousands — or, as he’s dubbed it, “#penisgate.” [View Photo – NSFW]
Well hung…er, well DONE Lenny!!
Miley, Billy Ray Cyrus Among All-Stars at Steel Panther’s Final House of Blues Gig
During their reign on the Sunset Strip, 80s metal tribute rockers Steel Panther have shared the stage with an undeniably stellar assortment of performers, serving up countless covers over the years — some rendered flawlessly; others, not so much. Either way, it’s always a spectacle when these bawdy, big-haired boys take the stage and invite famous guests to join in on the good dirty fun.
Sadly, the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip is being razed to make room for condo and hotel developments. Steel Panther was chosen as the band to headline the final show, and headbanging fans with great expectations were not disappointed. There were a slew of celebrity sitings, culminating in a freaky family affair featuring frequent Panther guest Billy Ray Cyrus and his notorious daughter, the one and only Miley Cyrus.
It’s pretty classic – check out the video, here.
Paul Stanley’s New Band ‘Soul Station’ Announces First Concert at Roxy in LA
On September 11, Kiss co-founder Paul Stanley will present the live debut of Soul Station, an 11-piece group that’s being billed as his musical “coalition,” at the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles.
Aside from Stanley and Kiss drummer Eric Singer, Soul Station’s lineup is rounded out by guitarist Rafael “Hoffa” Moreira, bassist Sean Hurley, keyboard players Alex Alessandroni and Ely Rise, percussionist Ramon Yslas and backing vocalists Nelson Beato, Crystal Starr and Ayana Layli.
Ticket are on sale at the Roxy website.
L.A. Guns Headline West Hollywood’s Whiskey A Go Go for musicFIRST Show
L.A. Guns joined musicFIRST at the historic Whisky A Go Go rally last week, an artist sign-on event in support of the Fair Play Fair Pay Act of 2015.
Check out footage of the band performing “Wheels Of Fire”, here.
AC/DC Drummer Phil Rudd Pleads Not Guilty to Violating Home Detention Conditions
Estranged AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd began serving a home-detention sentence for his “threatening to kill” and drug charges, but the musician was arrested again on July 18. Rudd was charged with consuming and possessing alcohol, a violation of his home detention. He has pleaded not guilty to the latest charges.
A New Zealand judge allowed Rudd to remain in home confinement on bail pending a November hearing on the possible breach.
Asked by reporters after the hearing on Monday if he was nervous about what lay ahead in the case, Rudd replied: “No, the only thing I’m nervous about is I don’t, I don’t actually don’t know what’s going on.”
Asked how he would be spending time on bail, he responded with a lopsided grin “Self-improvement,” before his lawyer hustled him into a waiting car.
Guns N’ Roses Guitarist Bumblefoot Has Quit
News of Guns N’ Roses guitarist DJ Ashba leaving the band hit the internet earlier this week, and now there are rumors that fellow guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal is no longer in the band, as well.
Veteran rock journalist, Gary Graff, is reporting via WRIF that Bumblefoot is 100 percent out of the legendary rock band. “Bumblefoot quit last year,” a “confirmed source within the band” tells Graff. “I don’t understand why he continues to be evasive on his status with the band — he quit in South America. He told Axl he was done and [Las] Vegas would be his last run with the band.”
When Bumblefoot was asked in a recent interview if he had left Guns N’ Roses, he responded somewhat cryptically with, “That is the thing I am not to elaborate on. I think there’s enough clues out there for you to figure out what I’m up to now.”
Bottom line – do we even care??
Iron Maiden Release Audio Teaser for The Book of Souls
Iron Maiden are streaming a 30-second preview of a new track from their upcoming album The Book Of Souls which will be released globally on September 4th. The album was recorded in Paris with their longstanding producer Kevin “Caveman” Shirley in late 2014, with the finishing touches added earlier this year. However, the band decided to delay its release so that vocalist Bruce Dickinson could join in the preparations for the album’s launch, after being cleared of cancer earlier this year.
Steve Harris comments: “We approached this album in a different way to how we’ve recorded previously. A lot of the songs were actually written while we were there in the studio and we rehearsed and recorded them straight away while they were still fresh, and I think that immediacy really shows in the songs, they have almost a live feel to them I think. I’m very proud of The Book Of Souls, we all are, and we can’t wait for our fans to hear it, and especially to take it out on the road next year!”
Check out the song on video, here.
Mayhem Fest Co-Founder Confirms 2015 Is The Last Year
After eight years, the Mayhem Festival is over, says co-creator John Reese. Mayhem Fest started as an alternative to Ozzfest and eventually pushed that festival out of business. But now, it looks like it will suffer the same fate.
After disappointing ticket sales this year, and a big PR mistake by co-founder Kevin Lyman where he insulted the metal community, there was a backlash from headliners and bands not even on the tour. In two Facebook posts, Reese wrote his thank you’s and confirmed that this was the last year for the festival.
Side Gigs
“Alice in Chains: The Untold Story” was released this week. The book’s entire first chapter can be read here on the Macmillan website.
According to The Pulse Of Radio, Billboard magazine named “Alice in Chains: The Untold Story” in its summer “Must Reads” list, writing: “The early-’90s Seattle grunge band, long overshadowed by its hometown peers, gets its due in this debut book from a Georgetown graduate student. Taking center stage is original frontman Layne Staley who, like Kurt Cobain, found celebrity and success difficult and drugs an easy out. But there’s also a deep dive into the band’s musical influences and its impact on the broader rock scene, explaining both its roots and reach.”
Sammy Hagar is launching a lifestyle brand called Sammy’s Island. It will initially include outdoor furniture, electronics, food, entertaining, beach wear, footwear, table top, jewelry and wall art, among others.
Sammy’s Island is described as a visual blend of the best of Cabo and Maui’s tropical, laid-back, lush and vibrant patterns and colors that instantly transport consumers to the island life but with a splash of Sammy’s rock ‘n’ roll sensibility.
“For me, it started the moment I first stepped onto the beach in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in 1982. And again in Maui, Hawaii,” says Hagar. “There’s something about the island lifestyle that just makes your soul blissful and keeps you coming back for more. It’s the feeling you get from being in paradise and there’s no denying it.
“It’s this quality of life and island vibe that I set out to infuse into Sammy’s Island products. And my goal is to take you there – a state of mind that brings it all together. So welcome to my ‘Island’ – now let’s get the party started!”
Y&T frontman Dave Meniketti’s two new signature wines will be unveiled August 11 in a private event at Testarossa Winery in Los Gatos, California.
The two wines are described as “some of the finest California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation.”
Tickets are required and are available through the Y&T merchandise web site.
An upcoming film called Gutterdämmerung, which has been dubbed “The Loudest Silent Movie on Earth,” has just added Motörhead‘s Lemmy Kimister and Slayer‘s Tom Araya to its already illustrious cast.
Previously revealed guest stars in the dark fairytale are punk legends Iggy Pop and Henry Rollins, along with musicians Grace Jones and Eagles of Death Metal’s Jesse Hughes.
Check out the video promo, here.
Metallica Release Live 21-Song Set of Lollapalooza Performance
Metallica headlined Lollapalooza in Chicago last week, and the band have just released audio of their full 21-song set for download and on CD. Headlining the festival for the first time since 1996, and playing Chicago for the first time since 2009, their set included mostly crowd favorites with a few deeper cuts like “Disposable Heroes” and “Am I Evil?” mixed in.
A portion of the proceeds from the sales of downloads and CD’s from the Lollapalooza show will be donated to the Lolla Cares charities.
Stryper Release Title Track for New Album “Fallen”
Stryper is kicking off promotion for their new album Fallen with the release of the title track and the album opener “Yahweh”. Fallen is due out on October 16. Check out the video here.
Alice Cooper, Slash, Kip Winger, Johnny Depp, Sir Paul McCartney and more contribute to new Hollywood Vampires album
The Hollywood Vampires were born in 1972 in the upstairs bar at the Rainbow Bar & Grill on the Sunset Strip. The bar was a gathering place for rock stars who lived in LA or were passing through. “To join the club, one simply had to out drink all of the members,” says Alice Cooper, a founding member of the Vampires. “I would walk in on a typical night,” Alice says, “and John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, Keith Moon — who would usually be in a costume like a maid or a chauffeur — Bernie Taupin, Jim Morrison and Mickey Dolenz would be there. The next week might be Bernie Taupin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Mickey Dolenz.”
Three years ago, Alice and good friend Johnny Depp got together and decided the spirit of the Hollywood Vampires should live again (minus the drinking) with the release of a Hollywood Vampires album. Alice and Johnny were joined by Joe Perry, who is an old friend of them both, and the recording of the tribute to the original Hollywood Vampires began.
“Hollywood Vampires” will be released on September 11, and all artist proceeds will be donated to the MusiCares foundation.