Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com The U.S. government may not have been forthcoming with information to Randy Blythe before the Lamb of God singer traveled to the Czech Republic and found himself serving a jail stint over the summer, but they’re definitely keeping an eye on his alleged manslaughter case now. A Lamb of God fan from Brandenburg, Ky. was responsible for creating a petition on the White House website asking for the government’s help as the singer prepares to head back to the Czech Republic to answer to the charges. The vocalist was arrested this past summer when the band returned to play a show in Prague. Local officials claimed that Blythe was involved in tossing an audience member from the stage and that the man in question later died from an injury sustained when he hit the ground. The petition garnered 29,000 signatures over a 30-day period, which is 4,000 more signatures than necessary for it to receive the requisite attention. Michael Posner, the Assistant Secretary of State of Democracy for Human Rights and Labor, drafted a statement on the Randy Blythe matter. It reads as follows: We appreciate your inquiry about the case of D. Randall Blythe, who was released from detention in the Czech Republic on August 3, 2012, and returned to the United States shortly thereafter. Mr. Blythe has publicly stated his intention to return to the Czech Republic to face trial for the alleged manslaughter of a Czech man at a concert in 2010. He recently told MTV, ‘It’s the correct thing for me to do … this poor young man’s family deserves some answers.’ Pending Mr. Blythe’s trial, we cannot discuss the details of his case. We are closely monitoring the progress of his trial. The Department Of State noted in its 2011 Human Rights Report that in the Czech Republic, ‘The laws provide for the right to a fair trial, and the independent judiciary generally enforced this right.’ We expect that the Czech government will make all efforts to ensure a fair, transparent, and timely trial for Mr. Blythe, and guarantee full protection of his legal rights under Czech law and his welfare. If you would like to know more about what the Department of State does for U.S. citizens overseas, please visit our website at Travel.State.Gov. General information on U.S. human rights policy is available at HumanRights.gov. On Nov. 30, the Czech state attorney filed criminal charges against Blythe after reading the case file presented to him about the investigation. The Prague court has three months to set a trial date. Blythe, who already served a 37-day stint behind bars this summer, could face a long-term sentence if convicted. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-lamb-of-god-songs/” title=”Next: 10 Best Lamb of God Songs” align=”center”]
Posts Tagged ‘singer’
Fan-Generated Randy Blythe Online Petition Receives U.S. Department of State Response
10 Best Rock Songs of 2012
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images / Chelsea Lauren, WireImage / Kevin Winter, Getty Images There were some incredible rock songs unleashed in 2012 from a diverse group of artists. Bands like Three Days Grace , Stone Sour and Papa Roach maintained their excellence with standout tracks at rock radio. There was a welcome return this year from Marilyn Manson , and breakout tracks from female-led bands like Halestorm and Dead Sara . It was tough to narrow the picks down to 10, but after some heated debate and occasional fisticuffs among our staff members, Loudwire has made its choices for the year's best tunes. So check out our list of the 10 Best Rock Songs of 2012: ? 10 'Chalk Outline' Three Days Grace ? ? From: 'Transit of Venus' We kick off our 10 best songs of 2012 list with Three Days Grace's 'Chalk Outline,' a track that many people loved as evidenced by its 12-week reign atop the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and 10-week run at No. 1 on the Billboard Active Rock Chart. The jarring opening notes definitely catch the listener right off the bat, while singer Adam Gontier belts out lines about being cursed by a love that's left him behind. Listen to 'Chalk Outline' ? ? 9 'Still Swingin'' Papa Roach ? ? From: 'The Connection' Papa Roach have battled against the odds to establish themselves as one of rock's enduring bands, and 'Still Swingin'' provided the group with the perfect anthem to qualify their journey. It's got blistering guitars, hard-hitting drums and a rap-like delivery in the verses before Jacoby Shaddix shows his melodic side in the chorus. As long as they keep cranking out songs like 'Still Swingin',' Papa Roach will continue to stay on top of their game. Listen to 'Still Swingin'' ? ? 8 'Harakiri' Serj Tankian ? ? From: 'Harakiri' (2012) System of a Down singer Serj Tankian delivered one of the best rock albums of the year with his solo effort 'Harakiri,' and standing tall among the disc's songs is the title track. Featuring perhaps the most beautifully melodic chorus in a rock song in 2012, the tune 'Harakiri' questions if today's environmental factors may be playing a part in the freakish mass deaths of various animals over recent years. It's a thought-provoking tune that is both memorable in its lyrics and its music. Listen to 'Harakiri' ? ? 7 'Bully' Shinedown ? ? From: 'Amaryllis' Bullying has become an increasing problem in schools and the guys of Shinedown take on the issue with this blistering tune. The aggressive nature of 'Bully' fits perfectly with the band's condemnation of bullying and encouragement to those being bullies to stand up for oneself. Add in Brent Smith 's infectious sing-along lyrics and you've got a track that's not only inspirational but also rocks. Listen to 'Bully' ? ? 6 'No Reflection' Marilyn Manson ? ? From: 'Born Villain' Marilyn Manson experienced a musical rebirth with his 2012 album 'Born Villain' and the first single, 'No Reflection,' made it clear that the singer had recaptured the old magic that led to his superstardom in the first place. The fuzzed out opening guitars, the catchy but dark lyrical content, and a chorus where the emotion in Manson's voice takes hold as he digs deep into his soul makes this one of 2012's best rock tracks. Listen to 'No Reflection' ? ? 5 'Gone Sovereign' Stone Sour ? ? From: 'House of Gold & Bones, Pt. 1' 'Gone Sovereign' was half of a two-part single that Stone Sour released in late summer (the other half being 'Absolute Zero'), and the hard-hitting nature of the song immediately connected with fans. The frenetic power and fury of the guitar play between Jim Root and Josh Rand stands out, while Roy Mayorga's thunderous drumming drives the song. Corey Taylor starts the song by singing, 'No one's laughing now,' but the vocalist probably has a smile knowing that 'Gone Sovereign' has turned into one of 2012's standout songs. Listen to 'Gone Sovereign' ? ? 4 'March to the Sea' Baroness ? ? From: 'Yellow & Green' Baroness had one of the year's better, yet often overlooked, albums and one of the tracks that makes it such a standout disc is 'March to the Sea.' The song starts innocently enough, with some nifty psychedelic picking before the power of the drums kicks in. The track provides a hypnotic feel throughout, as the band tell the tale of a friend lost to drugs, comparing it to someone who tied themselves up and jumped in the sea never to come home again. Listen to 'March to the Sea' ? ? 3 'Love Bites (So Do I)' Halestorm ? ? From: 'The Strange Case Of…' Halestorm got 2012 off to a rocking good start with the single 'Love Bites (So Do I),' a song that was an infectious concoction of punk, thrash and rock all in one foot-tapping, fist-pumping package. Drummer Arejay Hale absolutely kills the drumkit, while Lzzy Hale tells the tale of a girl honing in on a guy with a girlfriend and explaining why she should be his. 'Love Bites' became the first song ever from a female-fronted act to be No. 1 on the Active Rock charts. Well done, Halestorm! Listen to 'Love Bites (So Do I)' ? ? 2 'Leathers' Deftones ? ? From: 'Koi No Yokan' Fans certainly were excited when Deftones announced the impending release of their album 'Koi No Yokan,' but it was the first song unleashed from the disc that truly sent the band's devotees into a frenzy. While not the official first single, 'Leathers' is the most dynamic song on a disc that took the top spot on our 10 Best Rock Albums of 2012 list. Chino Moreno's voice soars to new heights when he sings the line 'Shedding your skin / Showing your texture.” All told, 'Leathers' just might be the most powerful rock song of 2012. Listen to 'Leathers' ? ? 1 'Weatherman' Dead Sara ? ? From: 'Dead Sara' Every once in a while, the rock world needs a swift kick in the butt from a new band. And in 2012, it was Los Angeles rock act Dead Sara who delivered the most dynamic song of the year. 'Weatherman' is a raw, uninhibited tune that perfectly melds frontwoman Emily Armstrong's incredible voice with a no-holds-barred musical attack led by guitarist Souixsie Medley. The track features the memorable line 'Go for the kill,' and that's exactly what Dead Sara did with 'Weatherman,' making it the No. 1 tune on our list of the best rock songs of 2012. Listen to 'Weatherman' ? ? What Was Your Favorite Rock Song Of 2012? Well, that rocked! Do you agree? Let us know what you think about our 10 Best Rock Songs of 2012 list. Is there a song we missed and if so, what would you knock out? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below. ?
Puddle of Mudd’s Wes Scantlin Cleared of Public Intoxication Charge
Kevin Winter, Getty Images Puddle of Mudd ‘s Wes Scantlin is breathing a little easier, as TMZ reports that the public intoxication charge against him for a JetBlue airline incident has been dropped. The rocker was arrested in September in Austin, Texas for alleged public intoxication after fighting with an airline attendant who refused to serve him alcohol. The argument was significant enough that the Los Angeles-bound plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Austin. According to reports, the judge in the case ruled that there was “insufficient evidence” to prosecute the singer. The vocalist claimed that he was sober at the time of the argument. The Puddle of Mudd singer could have faced jail time had the charge stood, as he was previously charged with cocaine possession in June, but remained free as part of a plea deal so long as he stayed out of trouble for 18 months. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/puddle-of-mudd-control-top-21st-century-hard-rock-songs/” title=”Next: Puddle of Mudd – Top 21st Century Hard Rock Songs” align=”center”]
Unite the United Auction to Raise Funds for Late Suicide Silence Singer’s Daughter
Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com One of the more tragic deaths of the year occurred on Halloween night when Suicide Silence vocalist Mitch Lucker perished in a motorcycle accident, leaving behind a wife and young daughter. The rock community has rallied around the Lucker family and the Unite the United charitable organization is the latest to help out. Unite the United was started by Warped and Mayhem Tour founders Kevin Lyman and John Reese, and they’ve decided to hold an auction with all the proceeds going to benefit young Kenadee Lucker, the singer’s daughter. Lyman and Reese said in a statement: We are all in shock about the sudden and tragic death of Mitch Lucker of Suicide Silence. Although the world and our lives will move on, he leaves behind a beautiful daughter, Kenadee, who will need the support that he promised her, and sadly will not be able to fulfill. With that said, we feel his music family from the Vans Warped Tour and Rockstar Mayhem Festival can step up to help in the best way we can and that is to dedicate our winter charity auction proceeds to a trust fund for her future education and care. Please show your support by checking our auction frequently for new items and bidding generously. Thank you. The Unite the United Mitch Lucker Memorial Fund auction will run from this Friday (Nov. 23) at 9AM PT through Monday, Dec. 3, at 3PM PT at this location . Some of the items on the auction block include: * a trip for two to London for the 2013 UK Vans Warped Tour. * a three-day, all-access ride-along on Kevin Lyman’s tour bus for the 2013 North American Warped Tour * one ESP LTD JH 600 guitar autographed by Slipknot * one ESP LTD TA Tom Araya bass guitar autographed by Slayer * a one of a kind drumhead hand-painted by Suicide Silence drummer Alex Lopez and autographed by the band * an autographed Mitch Lucker poster with the photo taken during the 2011 Rockstar Mayhem Festival. * Plus many autographed items from Slipknot, Slayer, Godsmack, Megadeth, Motorhead, Unearth, Machine Head, Trivium, As I Lay Dying, The Devil Wears Prada, Bring Me the Horizon and more. Fans can also donate directly to the Mitch Lucker Memorial Fund at the Suicide Silence website . [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-suicide-silence-songs/” title=”Next: Best Suicide Silence Songs” align=”center”]
Jon Bon Jovi on Daughter’s Heroin Overdose: ‘We’ll Get Through It’
Tim Whitby, Getty Images Jon Bon Jovi has not spoken publicly about his 19-year-old daughter Stephanie’s heroin overdose (and subsequent arrest ) in a dorm room on a New York college campus on Nov. 14 … until now. The rock singer opened up, briefly, during an interview with Fox 11 L.A., to thank people for their support of his family during this trying time and to admit that even a difficult situation such as this is part of the cycle of life. “It’s human,” the singer said, in a measured tone when asked about his daughter. “What I do for a living, it seems glitzy and glamorous, but if you don’t take it too seriously, it’s a great way to make a living. And then life goes on. Things happen. This tragedy is something… was something that I had to face too, so we’ll get through it.” The criminal charges of drug possession against Stephanie Rose Bongiovi were dropped, and she made a recovery at a local hospital, so she dodged two bullets. JBJ also made sure to thank those who were sending their good thoughts and prayers to his family. “And people’s incredible warm wishes for my family and I have been really reassuring. So, we’re good,” he finished. Watch Jon Bon Jovi Talk Daughter’s Heroin Overdose ?