Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com The numbers are in for the highest grossing touring acts of 2012, and there are a few surprises peppered into the list. What isn’t surprising, however, is that Metallica were the biggest draw of any hard rock act in 2012, followed closely by bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nickelback . Metallica amassed a tremendous amount of wealth from their live performances in 2012, even though they didn’t tour very extensively throughout the year. With only 30 shows performed last year, including their very own Orion Festival in Atlantic City in N.J., Metallica managed to rake in $86.1 million from ticket sales. Overall, Metallica came in at No. 8 on the list of highest grossing touring acts. Red Hot Chili Peppers toured a bit more extensively in 2012, performing a total of 77 shows and gaining a total gross of $57.8 million for their efforts. Nickelback also made a killing from their live performances. Don’t jump out of your seats, Nickelback haters, but the Canadian rock band acquired $43.6 million from their 81 live performances. Think of it this way: At least they made more than Justin Bieber did last year. We’d tell you how much the pop singer made, but if you laid your eyes on that number, you’d probably smash your computer. Other top draws of 2012 include Paul McCartney ($56.9 million), the Black Keys ($38.1 million) and German heavy metal veterans Scorpions, who made $32.7 million last year. The top grossing act of the year was Madonna with an astonishing $296 million. Check out the full list of 2012′s highest-grossing musical acts at Pollstarpro.com . In other Metallica news, the band were given some new certifications from the RIAA to start the new year, with their 1991 self-titled disc (aka the Black Album) hitting 16-times platinum and ‘Ride the Lightning’ attaining 6-times platinum status. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-metallica-songs/” title=”10 Best Metallica Songs” align=”center”]
Kevin Winter, Getty Images Jane’s Addiction ‘s Perry Farrell recently spent some time recovering from surgery enjoying a creative burst that resulted in some 60 tracks being worked through, but the singer says that the material was not necessarily all for Jane’s Addiction. Farrell tells GrungeReport.net , “There’s over 60 [songs] lyrically written and then there’s probably 38 recorded, but they were not Jane’s Addiction, they were mine, for the next project.” The vocalist went on to add, “The next project’s going to be a really interesting affair, never before done in history. It’s going to be immersive theater, like a musical or play. I’m going to have Jane’s writing one record and then I’ve written another one that’s electronic. It’s theater, and in some cases, the scene takes place out in a place like Phuket or a region like that in a bar or a club, so you’d be listening to dance music.” The vocalist says he’s already written the first, dance-related portion, but the second half is still incomplete. He added, “I have many song melodies, but they haven’t been recorded or worked with Jane’s Addiction yet.” Farrell also spoke about a proposed Porno for Pyros reunion and explained that his current project has cooled him on the idea for the time being. He explains, “I love all the guys in Porno and I’ll always want to do it, but I’ve gotten so hot with this new project, now that it’s in the works and moving forward, that … something really great came up. It’s sort of like you were with a girl or with a guy, and then you guys broke apart, and you started getting in contact with each other, like, ‘Yeah, we should see each other again sometime,’ and then all of a sudden this amazing person comes into your life.” For more of the singer’s thoughts, including working with Trent Reznor , the latest on Lollapalooza and more, check out the full GrungeReport.net interview here . [button href=”http://loudwire.com/janes-addiction-dave-navarro-plotting-two-solo-records/” title=”Next: Jane’s Addiction’s Dave Navarro Contemplates Two Solo Records” align=”center”]
Photo by Matthew Rodgers Anthrax have just released a triumphant and in-depth video about their road from nearly calling it quits to gaining a Grammy nomination for ‘I’m Alive.’ The New York thrash masters have completed an incredible journey in the past few years, and according to the video, we all owe Lars Ulrich of Metallica a great debt. The introspective video begins with the story of how the very first ‘Big 4′ show was finally concocted. The video begins: “April 3, 2009: Challenges have brought Anthrax to the brink of an uncertain future… Charlie Benante , Scott Ian and Lars Ulrich are having a drink at a Cleveland bar just prior to Metallica’s being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Lars suggests the idea of The Big 4: Metallica, Slayer , Megadeth and Anthrax in concert. It’s just the kick in the ass that Charlie and Scott need…” From there onward, the video documents vocalist Joey Belladonna rejoining the band on May 10, 2010, the recording of ‘Worship Music,’ the various ‘Big 4′ shows that were performed, the declaration of ‘Anthrax Day’ in the Bronx and even the fact that Anthrax became the first metal band in history to have their music played on Mars. Anthrax are now enjoying one of the peaks of their career and are now awaiting the 55th Annual Grammy Awards, where they will face formidable competition in the Best Hard Rock / Metal Performance category . Check out the story of Anthrax’s resurgence in the video below. Anthrax ‘I’m Alive’ Grammy Nomination Video
Samir Hussein / Dimitrios Kambouris, Getty Images Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder and Rage Against the Machine / Nightwatchman guitarist Tom Morello are both scheduled to perform at the 2013 MusiCares benefit gala. The show will be held on Feb. 8 in Los Angeles to honor Bruce Springsteen, who has been named the 2013 MusiCares Person of the Year. The event is held during Grammy Week, and along with Eddie Vedder and Tom Morello, the show will feature Elton John, Patti Smith, Neil Young and many more. The 2013 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute show will be hosted by Comedy Central television personality Jon Stewart. In its 23rd year, the MusiCares Person of the Year gala has celebrated musical icons such as Paul McCartney , Bono and Paul Simon, among others, in the past. According to the official Grammy’s website , “The 2013 MusiCares Person of the Year gala, which will celebrate Springsteen’s exceptional artistic achievements and philanthropic work, will begin with a cocktail reception and silent auction … that will offer an exclusive and unparalleled selection of luxury items, VIP experiences and one-of-a-kind celebrity memorabilia for bidding guests.” The MusiCares event will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center two days before the 55th annual Grammy Awards, which features Anthrax , Halestorm , Iron Maiden , Lamb of God , Marilyn Manson and Megadeth as nominees in the Best Hard Rock / Metal Performance category. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-pearl-jam-songs/” title=”Next: 10 Best Pearl Jam Songs” align=”center”]
Twitter: arejayhalestorm Halestorm may have received an early Christmas gift with their Grammy nomination but when we spoke to frontwoman Lzzy Hale she humorously reflected on the presents she got last year and explains what she would like this Christmas. We asked Hale if she ever got her latex pants and custom Gibson guitar, the presents that she told us she wanted last Christmas, and she explained, “I didn’t get either of those items under the tree but it just so happens later on, after a month or so, things started happening.” She goes on to talk about actually getting the infamous latex pants: “I did end up getting them — [Laughs] I don’t know whether to be flattered or creeped out, but I got these latex rubber pants from a fan who actually heard that or saw that article. He was so sweet about it but it was basically in a brown paper bag [Laughs]. It was interesting.” She continued, “It was just a pair of latex pants and the funniest thing was — I still have them. I didn’t wear them yet because I’m trying to think of the most appropriate [time] — it has a couple of accessories on them that I don’t know if it would be appropriate to be photographed in. They have the crotch zipper. I’m like, ‘Well I’m just going to put these in a drawer and will save them for a special occasion’ or maybe not. More power to them, we have crazy fans — you got to respect the crazy.” Hale went on to say, “I also did end up getting a custom Gibson guitar, so it was very cool. They ended up making that for me — so yes both of those came true.” When asked what she would like for this Christmas she responded by saying, “This year you know what I would love, as much as I love to travel and I love how busy our schedule has been — what I would love right now is to be on a boat for three days [Laughs] take some time off. I can’t afford to do that yet but that’s what I want.” [button href=”http://loudwire.com/halestorm-lzzy-hale-on-grammy-nomination-personal-victory-for-the-four-of-us/” title=”Next: Lzzy Hale Talks Grammy Nomination” align=”center”]
YouTube Papa Roach are ending 2012 with a little video extravaganza. Earlier this month, fans got the ‘ Where Did the Angels Go ‘ clip and now, getting in just under the 2012 deadline, there’s a new video for ‘Before I Die.’ The promo itself finds a grieving Jacoby Shaddix haunted by visions of lost love, often to his own detriment. Playing it close to the lyrical concept of the song, the video shows Shaddix expressing his heartbreak by chasing his visions into dangerous situations in an attempt to hold onto the past. Earlier this year, Shaddix told Loudwire about ‘Before I Die,’ “I was going through a separation with my wife during the process of making the record. Fast forward to the present and we’re working it out now, but in the process of making this record we were separated. I was at the end of my rope; I was in a lot of pain. This music is where I found my sanctuary, where I could express myself and just take myself out it for a second and not feel the pain and just be creative. During the process of making this song, ‘Before I Die’ I felt like everything was taken from me and I was just left out there raw and broken, it made everything clear to me, what really mattered to me.” ‘Before I Die’ is a key song for Shaddix as the vocalist says it spurred a change in his life. He explains, “At the end of the day it’s the people that I love in my life that are the most important to me and sometimes when you treat the people that you love the most the worst, that’s the wrong path. I had to take a long hard look at myself and realize how I was living my life and make those changes. Just being out there on my own and having those realizations, that’s where the song came from.” ‘Before I Die’ appears on ‘ The Connection ‘ album and likely will be part of the band’s performances when they begin their 2013 North American touring with Stone Sour . Watch Papa Roach’s ‘Before I Die’ Video [button href=”http://loudwire.com/papa-roach-still-swingin-guitar-center-sessions-exclusive-preview/” title=”Next: Watch Papa Roach’s ‘Still Swingin’ from ‘Guitar Sessions'” align=”center”]
Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com The end of the year offers the perfect time to reflect on where you’re at in life, and you’d have to think that Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has a brighter outlook on things now than he did earlier in 2012. The guitarist confirms as much in a newly posted year-end update. Things appeared to be on the upswing for Iommi in 2011 as Black Sabbath had reunited and the band was preparing to work on their first new album in years, but then Iommi learned early this year that he had lymphoma that needed to be treated in order for his survival. Suddenly his focus for 2012 had changed, but thankfully his initial plans for the year still appear to be in reach as his post-chemotherapy recovery has gone well. In his year-end posting , Iommi states: What a year! Certainly not the one I was expecting. Thanks to you all for your massive help and support, it was very encouraging. I’m still working on the album and managed to play three shows, not bad given the news a year ago. I’m looking forward to next year, seeing what you think of the record and touring as much as we’re able. My best wishes to you all, I hope you have a great Christmas and New Year, most of all, stay positive. The guitarist did come through his treatment, worked closely with his bandmates on completing a new record which is now due in April and managed to make a handful of high profile shows in England and the U.S. despite the setback. As for what lies ahead in 2013, Iommi will get in his first extended touring since the reunion was announced. After his lymphoma battle, the guitarist also decided to go back and update his autobiography. The newly reissued paperback version of ‘Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven & Hell With Black Sabbath,’ includes a chapter on his treatment and recovery. In addition, he’s also recorded an audio book with one of his former bandmates providing the voice. He explained , “I had a go myself but wasn’t comfortable when I listened back. Normally you just get an actor to voice it but I didn’t want someone who didn’t know me or the music business so I asked my old mate Bev Bevan (former Black Sabbath / MOVE / ELO drummer) as he already has a radio show and lived some of the chapters with me! I’m really pleased how it’s turned out.” [button href=”http://loudwire.com/black-sabbath-tony-iommi-writing-chemotherapy/” title=”Next: Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi Discusses Writing During Chemotherapy” align=”center”]