Axl Rose Breaks Foot At First Guns N’ Roses Reunion Show
Axl Rose broke his foot during when he slipped onstage while singing “Mr. Brownstone” during the Guns N’ Roses’ exclusive reunion club show last weekend at The Troubadour in Los Angeles.
Rose had surgery this past week to repair the fracture. The singer tweeted: “This is what can happen when you do something you haven’t done in nearly over 23 years, ‘Internal Fixation’”.
“Axl sustained a fracture of the fifth metatarsal, which is one of the bones in his foot,” explains Santa Monica-based foot and ankle specialist Dr. Rachel Triche.
“Axl underwent what we call an open reduction internal fixation where we go in and put the bone pieces back together and realign them. We placed a plate and screws in order to hold them in place while it’s healing. Right now he’s in a cast and we’re limiting how much weight he can put on it.”
Axl Borrows Dave Grohl’s Throne for First Guns N’ Roses Las Vegas Show
Axl Rose wasn’t going to let a lit
tle thing like a broken foot stop him from playing the first proper show on Guns N’ Roses‘ Not in This Lifetime reunion tour last Saturday.
So as Guns N’ Roses’ introductory music played just prior to their first song at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Rose was suddenly wheeled onto the stage aboard the same gigantic metal throne Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters used last year after breaking his leg in Sweden.
Before the seventh song in Saturday’s set, Rose thanked Grohl and also professed to have nothing to do with the fact that the throne’s distinctive red “FF” logo was temporarily covered up. When he returned for the encore the cover was removed, proving this was indeed the very same throne Grohl used. Rose once again thanked Grohl, remarking, “I could see how you could get used to this,” and cracked up very noticeably after singing the “I sit here on this chair…” line in “Patience”.
Gene Simmons Says He Will Agree With N.W.A Rock Hall Induction When Led Zeppelin Enters ‘Rap Hall of Fame’
The Ice Cube vs. Gene Simmons Twitter saga continues. After the N.W.A’s induction into the Rock Hall of Fame at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Friday, Cube had a few choice words during the acceptance speech in response to the Kiss legend’s comments about “looking forward to the death of rap and hip-hop.”
“Rock ‘n’ roll is not an instrument. It’s not even a style of music. It’s a spirit that’s been going on since the blues, jazz, bebop, soul, rock ‘n’ roll, R&B, heavy metal, punk rock, and yes, hip-hop…Rock ‘n’ roll is not conforming to the people who came before you, but creating your own path in music and life. That is rock ‘n’ roll and that is us.” said Cube.
Gene responded on Saturday, “Respectfully — let me know when @JimiHendrix gets into the hip hop hall of fame. Then you’ll have a point.”
Fast forward to Monday April 11 when the Cube took a screenshot of his comments and tagged Gene on Twitter, even throwing in a clever pun. “@genesimmons I repeat. And say this with a Kiss,” Cube posted.
Cube then replied, also via Twitter, saying: “@genesimmons Who stole the soul? Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Chubby Checkers help invent Rock ‘n’ Roll. We invent it. Y’all reprint it.”
Simmons fired back: “Cube – I stand by my words. Respect NWA, but when Led Zep gets into Rap Hall of Fame, I will agree with your point.”
Cube later said during an interview with Howard Stern: “I think [Gene] believes [the Hall Of Fame is] straight for rock and rollers. I got a lot of respect for Gene Simmons. I met him a couple of times, he’s actually pretty cool. But I just think he’s wrong on this.”
“Everybody’s got their own opinions and Gene, he’s an OG in the game, but he’s just wrong on this. It’s a spirit and it’s been going on since before they called it rock and roll. I hate it when hip-hoppers, some of them go to the band. I’m a turntable guy, like old-school RUN-DMC dudes. So I be having my feelings sometimes. But, ultimately, we in, baby.”
Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider, Harvey Mason Jr. Fight for Musician’s Rights
Twisted Sister front-man Dee Snider and Grammy-winning songwriter Harvey Mason, Jr. were in D.C. this week for “Grammys on the Hill,” an annual event where artists and lawmakers gather to push for rights of musicians.
Check out the video interview here.
Former Guns N’ Roses Drummer Matt Sorum Reportedly Wasn’t Asked to Be Part of Reunion
If there’s any question of former Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum’s potential involvement in the band’s reunion, it’s now seemingly been put to rest. According to sources, a now-deleted tweet from Sorum reveals he was never asked to be a part of GNR’s current revival.
Though Sorum wasn’t part of the classic Guns N’ Roses lineup, he manned the drums on pinnacle releases like the Use Your Illusion double album. He would later work with Velvet Revolver and Slash’s Snakepit, further cementing his musical legacy with GNR’s instrumental core.
Frank Ferrer has played drums for Guns’ first handful of reunion shows, though rumors are rampant suggesting classic kit-master Steven Adler will be involved. Sorum, however, hasn’t seemed to be part of the conversation.
Photo courtesy TMZ.com.
Mötley Crüe Singer Vince Neil Charged with Battery After Scuffle With Woman and Nicolas Cage In Las Vegas
Police in Las Vegas have charged Mötley Crüe‘s Vince Neil with misdemeanor battery for allegedly pulling a woman’s hair. The incident, which took place late in the afternoon on Thursday April 7, was followed by a scuffle with actor Nicolas Cage.
TMZ report that Vince Neil has an uphill battle to clear his name after his Las Vegas battery citation, since police say security cameras caught him red-handed with a fistful of the victim’s hair.
“Neil claimed he only “pushed past” a female autograph seeker at the Aria last week… but according to police records, obtained by TMZ, officers reviewed surveillance footage which showed the Mötley Crüe frontman pulling the woman down to the ground by her hair.”
Read the full report at TMZ.com.
As originally reported by NBC News, Las Vegas police spokesman Michael Rodriguez said that the woman, whose name was not revealed by the police, approached Cage for an autograph inside the Aria Hotel. Neil “came up to her from behind and grabbed her by the hair.” Cage then took Neil outside to try to calm him down, and the next few seconds were captured by a cell phone camera inside a car and published at TMZ. As onlookers gathered around them, Neil seems to attempt to lunge towards Cage, who grabs Neil and yells in his ear to “Stop this s— now!” and a few other indecipherable words. The situation appeared to be diffused after that.
Although Neil has been charged with battery, he was not arrested. He faces a maximum sentence of six months in jail, if convicted.
Jimmie Van Zant, Cousin of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Ronnie Van Zant, Dies at 59
Jimmie Van Zant, a Southern rocker whose cousins are Ronnie and Johnny Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Donnie Van Zant of 38 Special, has died after a long battle with liver cancer. He was 59 years old.
According to the Daily Banner, Jimmie had been in hospice care in Florida and had been waiting on a liver transplant for a number of years. An online funding campaign had been established to help raise money, and there had been several benefit concerts for him, as well.
Van Zant had released three albums in his career, The Jimmie Van Zant Band (1996), Southern Comfort (2000) and Feels Like Freedom (2012). You can watch the video for “Unfinished Life” here.
Joe Perry Says Aerosmith Farewell Tour “Is Definitely Not Confirmed”
Joe Perry says that Aerosmith is only “considering” doing a farewell tour as an option, despite the fact that Steven Tyler recently said that the band was “probably” going to embark on its final trek next year. “A farewell tour is something we’ve talked about doing for years, let’s say roughly in the last five years,” Perry tells Rolling Stone. “It’s just something the band’s talked about at various times. At this point, the five of us have never sat down and said, ‘It’s time to do it.’ So ‘considering’ is an appropriate word for that statement. A farewell tour is definitely not confirmed.”
On Tour
KISS Announce 2016 U.S. ‘Freedom to Rock’ Tour
25 US dates have been announced for the Kiss “Freedom To Rock” tour that begins July 7 in Boise, and ends in Huntington, W.V. on Sept. 10. However, KISS have promised to expand their itinerary over the coming weeks. Opening acts include Caleb Johnson and Dead Daisies.
For ticket info visit the official Kiss site for details. View the complete list of tour dates here.
Alice Cooper Extends ‘Spend The Night’ Tour Into October
Legendary shock rocker Alice Cooper has announced 19 new Spend The Night With Alice Cooper headlining shows in North America, beginning on August 6 in Kalamazoo, Michigan and ending on October 30 in Los Angeles, California. Ticket info is here.
View the complete list of tour dates here.
Last In Line Reveal Jimmy Bain Replacement
Last In Line have named former Ozzy Osbourne bassist Phil Soussan as the man who will be appearing in place of the late Jimmy Bain at their upcoming shows.
The launch of their debut album Heavy Crown was thrown into disarray in January after the sudden death of Bain, 68.
Guitarist Vivian Campbell later said that while the band would perform a handful of shows, they were uncertain about their long-term future.
After naming Soussan – who’s also performed with Steve Lukather and Beggars And Thieves – drummer Vinny Appice has reported: “First rehearsal with Phil kicked ass – it’s a killer set.”
Iron Maiden Reveal ‘The Trooper’ Festival Tent
Iron Maiden have launched their own festival tent called The Trooper that features the iconic cover art from their 1983 single from their Piece Of Mind album.
The product description reads: “Camp with Eddie the Head as two British classics come together to create a truly rockin’ tent. A homage to the godfathers of modern metal and their iconic The Trooper cover art, you can now truly eat, breath and sleep Iron Maiden.”
It’s said to be able to “withstand whatever the weather or the rock festival throws at you” and is priced at £199 [$281.55] via Fieldcandy.
Odds N’ Sods
CrimeStoppers Pays Out Reward In Case Of Murdered Metallica Fan Morgan Harrington
CrimeStoppers, which pays cash rewards for anonymous tips that lead to the arrest, or the solution of unsolved crimes, is awarding money to those who helped in the case of Morgan Harrington, the 20-year-old Metallica fan who vanished after leaving one of the band’s concerts.
Jesse L. Matthew Jr., a former hospital worker, pleaded guilty on March 2 to first-degree murder and abduction with intent to defile in both the Harrington and Hannah Graham cases.
Harrington, a Virginia Tech student, vanished while hitchhiking home from the band’s show at the John Paul Jones Arena on October 17, 2009. Investigators determined that Harrington was picked up by Matthew in his taxi van that night. Her remains were found on a farm about 10 miles from the venue in January 2010.
Two rewards and one donation will be given away by CrimeStoppers, which does not disclose how much money has been released and won’t say who received the rewards.
The money came from donations made in the early stages of the Harrington case, including a $50,000 contribution from the Metallica members themselves. Another $100,000 came from the Harrington family, though it’s unclear if all that money is being used.
NBC29 reports Karen Monk, the woman who spotted Matthew in Texas, will get money, as well a person in the Charlottesville area who helped police.
Matthew, who was already serving a prison term of three consecutive life sentences for sexually assaulting a woman in 2005, could have faced the death penalty in the Graham case had he been convicted at trial.
Morgan’s mother, Gil Harrington, previously told Noisecreep about Metallica’s involvement in her daughter’s case: “It has been humbling from the very beginning. Two days after Morgan was abducted, they could have distanced themselves from an ugly occurrence. But [Metallica frontman] James Hetfield called this house to speak to Dan [Harrington, Morgan’s dad], as a father, and asked, ‘What can we do?’ [More than] three years out, they [still did] things. James participated with the FBI and did public service announcements.”
Metallica also invested another $50,000 in a scholarship named in Morgan’s memory.
Megadeth’s David Ellefson Launches Apparel Line
Michigan-based lifestyle hockey apparel brand Puck Hcky, known for its edgy, stylish and often rock and metal inspired collaborations with hard-hitting NHL stars has launched a new line named Thrashers And Slashers.
The line incorporates lifestyle hockey and sports elements. It includes individual lines with Megadeth bassist David Ellefson, world-renowned shredder (and former Guns N’ Roses guitarist) Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, and Alaskan metal sensation 36 CrazyFists.
The Slashers lineup is rounded out by a goalie-inspired line with horror icon Ari Lehman, better known as the original Jason Voorhees from the classic slasher franchise “Friday The 13th.” Voorhees is also a musical virtuoso, who now fronts the aptly named horror-metal band First Jason.
Okay then, probably not something you’d get your little ones for Xmas!
Enuff Z’Nuff To Release New Studio Album Featuring One of Jani Lane’s Final Recordings
Enuff Z’Nuff’s brand new studio album is slated to arrive in the fall of 2016.
Chip Z’Nuff says: “The new record is pure rock and features a couple rock-star friends, most notably James ‘JY’ Young (Styx), and the late great Jani Lane (Warrant) singing on one of his last recording sessions.’
The band will be touring worldwide through 2016.
Def Leppard Drummer Rick Allen Selling Calabasas House For $1.9 Million
Resembling a mountain retreat with its vaulted wood ceilings and river stone fireplace, the 2,166-square-foot house takes in views of the surrounding hillsides and scenery from all sides and includes a Zen-inspired rock garden and a swimming pool with a spa (of course).
Honeymoon Suite Launch PledgeMusic Campaign For New Album
Canada’s Honeymoon Suite are working on a new album slated for release in the summer of 2016. The band has launched their first ever PledgeMusic Campaign to finish, mix and distribute the record, which will actually be a nine song EP with seven new original songs, plus two bonus live tracks. Limited edition items, signed CDs, VIP experiences and more are available with a pledge.
MetalHeads Say The Damnedest Things
“Congrats to Deep Purple for their long overdue induction… And I am proud and blessed to be a part of the DP legacy.
“However… Blackmore’s absence at the ceremony was truly noticed. His credo always was and is to know your own truth and walk your own path…follow no one. A true ‘outlaw’ til the end.
“So I am humbled and touched by the recent Blackmore post concerning my work with the band. His respectful and supportive comments of my efforts on the Slaves And Masters album were better than any ‘award’ I could receive, especially from an organization that has ‘lost the point’ many years ago.
I agree that Slaves And Masters is a great album as our collaborations have always been a mix of magical chemistry and artful integrity that will stand the test of time. My heartfelt thanks and sincere respect to a true original.”
~ Joe Lynn Turner on Deep Purple’s induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame