Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images Guitarist K.K. Downing may have officially retired from Judas Priest in 2011, but the rocker apparently isn’t one to stray too far from the stage. After spending time in the last few years pursuing various business opportunities , Downing is returning to the music scene as a promoter. The guitarist tells the Shropshire Star that he’s interested in finding new, young talent and providing them with a showcase to get their music heard. As such, he’s announced a pair of shows in Wolverhampton and Birmingham where he’ll highlight some rising stars. Downing’s promotion firm will operate under the moniker The Future of Heavy Metal, and it finds him collaborating with industry veteran Dave Coleman to discover the talent. The guitarist says, “The Black Country and Birmingham are known as the home of heavy metal. Back in the ’70s and ’80s the area produced so many good bands from Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin to Judas Priest and even Slade. In some ways it’s been difficult for other bands to fill the void. Now it’s time for the next generation to step up to the plate.” Among the bands he’s currently promoting are local acts such as Hostile, Left Unscarred and Under Blackened Skies, as well as French outfit Moray Firth. The first show will take place May 15 at the Slade Rooms in Wolverhampton, with the second show scheduled for May 17 at the Asylum in Birmingham. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-judas-priest-songs/” title=”Next: 10 Best Judas Priest Songs” align=”center”]
Motley.com Aerosmith vocalist Steven Tyler, his former management company Kovac Media Group and Tyler’s lawyer, Dina LaPolt, have been entrenched in a legal battle since October 2012, regarding issues with the singer’s stint as a judge on ‘American Idol.’ Tyler’s former management company accuses the singer’s lawyer allegedly sabotaged a multimillion dollar deal for the Aerosmith legend, resulting in Tyler’s exit from the popular TV show. As if this wasn’t dramatic enough, the Hollywood Reporter reports that Mick Mars and Tommy Lee of Motley Crue are now involved in another issue between both Kovac Media Group and lawyer Dina LaPolt, adding to the whirlwind of serious allegations. Although both Steven Tyler and Motley Crue are both caught in the middle of legal battles between Kovac Media Group and Dina LaPolt, the issues involving both bands are separate. Kovac Media Group, run by Allen Kovac, claims that LaPolt’s actions cost Steven Tyler his ‘American Idol’ deal, apparently worth a total of $6-$8 million. Despite Kovac’s claim, Tyler denies any sort of sabotage took place and has taken the side of LaPolt. After Kovac filed the Steven Tyler lawsuit, the media mogul added new claims, alleging that Dina LaPolt, in an act of retaliation, has been conspiring to set up her own management company in order to steal Motley Crue, who Kovac has represented for 15 years. Much like Steven Tyler, Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars and drummer Tommy Lee are also supporting LaPolt, both Crue musicians having filed legal paperwork in an attempt to halt Kovac’s legal proceedings against their lawyer. Mick Mars first heard of the Steven Tyler case on Oct. 15, and was left aghast to say the least, claiming he was “completely shocked and mad that Motley Crue’s manager had sued our lawyer. I trust Dina implicitly, to the point that she is my trustee if I die or become disabled.” Meanwhile, Mars also says that Motley Crue never authorized a $200,000 transaction between the band’s business manager, Pam Malek, and Kovac to repay a loan that Kovac had given to Motley Crue singer Vince Neil, who is no longer a shareholder in the band. Malek has since been dismissed by the band, with Mars claiming “she was controlled by [Kovac].” Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee, meanwhile, is echoing the same sentiments as Mars, and is upset that he now has to give a deposition on the matter. For much more detail on this legal squabble, see the full story by the Hollywood Reporter . [button href=”http://loudwire.com/motley-crue-nikki-sixx-remembers-near-fatal-drug-overdose-25-years-later/” title=”Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx Recounts Near-Fatal Overdose 25 Years Later” align=”center”]
Lava/Universal Republic Black Veil Brides kick off 2013 with the release of their third studio album, a concept record titled ‘Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones.’ With 19 tracks, this massive opus begins with ‘Exordium,’ one of several spoken word cuts on the disc. It speaks of religion, God, inner strength and more. ‘In the End’ is the first single off the album and leads a series of anthems such as ‘I Am Bulletproof,’ ‘ New Years Day,’ ‘Devil’s Choir,’ and ‘Nobody’s Hero.’ Throughout the album, guitarists Jake Pitts and Jinxx provide stellar riffs, while Ashley Purdy delivers pounding bass lines and Christian Coma offers some thunderous drum patterns on the skins. Despite the heaviness, there are also flashes of beautiful orchestration album, especially on the instrumental piece ‘Overture.’ Frontman Andy Biersack shows off his softer side in tracks like ‘Done for You’ and ‘Lost It All,’ the latter of which features Biersack’s girlfriend, Juliet Simms, a finalist on ‘The Voice’ and member of the band Automatic Loveletter. Black Veil Brides also call on some of their other comrades, such as the Used’s Bert McCracken, who offers his raw vocals on the track ‘Days Are Numbered,’ which features a ‘Crazy Train’ like riff throughout. Wil Francis (also of William Control) is the voice of Fear on the record’s powerful spoken word tracks ‘F.E.A.R.: Transmission 1: Don’t Stay’ ‘ F.E.A.R. Transmission 2: Trust,’ ‘F.E.A.R. Transmission 3: As War Fades’ and ‘ F.E.A.R. : Final Transmission.’ In our interview with Biersack, he talks about the ‘F.E.A.R.’ tracks by saying, “I’ve sort of just like the whole Orwellian, dystopian future – I like the idea that it doesn’t seem to crazy or far off that there could be someone who is this omnipotent, omniscient power that tells you what to do.” Biersack continues, “I like the idea of having the narrative told through the perspective of the bad guy more than anything else. You rarely ever hear something narrated through the villain’s perspective and it was fun.” Other notable tunes on the album include the title track, ‘Wretched and Divine,’ which maintains a balance of heaviness and melody, and ‘We Don’t Belong,’ which has soft yet menacing vocals in its verses, mixed with a catchy chorus. Biersack shows a bit of vocal range with ‘Resurrect the Sun,’ where he starts off soft and almost lullaby-like, but then belts out the chorus. Meanwhile, ‘Shadows Die’ is a rollercoaster of emotion and tempo that is one of the best, if not the best track, on the album. For a relatively young band that has achieved a rabid fan base in such a short time, Black Veil Brides could have rested on their laurels and delivered a standard rock album. However, ‘Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones’ is an ambitious effort that shows the band is willing to take chances in their fast-rising career. ? [button href=”http://loudwire.com/black-veil-brides-singer-andy-biersack-everybody-is-wretched-and-divine/” title=”Next: Andy Biersack Talks ‘Wretched and Divine'” align=”center”]
Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Here’s a look at the top stories of the day on Loudwire and around the Web: – Killswitch Engage have finally revealed the name of their next album, when they expect to release the first single and more juicy details about one of this year’s most anticipated albums. [ Loudwire ] – Alter Bridge have begun working on their fourth studio album. Find out more details here. [ Loudwire ] – Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine has gone on another online rant, this time about aircrafts spraying toxic chemicals into the atmosphere. He also took a shot at CNN for not getting their facts right. [ Loudwire ] – Want to see Marilyn Manson live in concert? We’re giving away a pair of tickets to one of his Winter 2013 tour dates. Enter to win here. [ Loudwire ] – Hatebreed gave come out with a blazing new video for ‘Put It to the Torch.’ Watch all the fire, violence and blood here! [ Loudwire ] – Scorpions cancel their retirement plans and intend to continue rocking like a hurricane. [ Ultimate Classic Rock ] – New film ‘Imagines’ has been greatly inspired by Beatles legend John Lennon. Find out more here. [ Ultimate Classic Rock ] – The Black Keys and The Flaming Lips have announced a tour together in Spring 2013. [ Diffuser.fm ] – Royal Thunder premiere ‘Blue’ video + announce North American and European tour dates. [ Rock Music Report ]
Metal Blade When it comes to extreme metal, very few bands evoke fanatical buzz like Polish blackened death metal ambassadors Behemoth . After conquering North America last year, finally returning to our continent for the first time after frontman Nergal ‘s 2010 cancer diagnosis, Behemoth bassist Orion has let slip that the band will return once again for the 2013 Mayhem Festival. Last year’s Mayhem Festival lineup was unprecedented, featuring Slipknot , Slayer , Motorhead , Anthrax and many more. With Ozzfest only materializing as a one-off event occasionally, Mayhem Fest has arguably become the must-see tour for metalheads and the must-play tour for bands worldwide. Although it hasn’t been confirmed, Behemoth bassist Orion recently told Metal Storm that fans can expect the act to play Mayhem in 2013. “I don’t think it is confirmed yet, but we are coming back to the States this summer to play on the Rockstar Mayhem Festival,” says the Behemoth bassist. “This will be the very first thing we will do before the new record comes out. After that we plan on doing some other festivals, but they are not confirmed yet neither. We have done quite a few European festivals [in 2012] and I am not sure if it would be the best thing to do before the album comes out.” As for the health of Behemoth frontman Nergal, Orion offered a joyous update on the leukemia survivor’s current condition. “He doesn’t have any special needs now,” begins Orion, “he is just the same person he used to be before. He is actually doing better than ever as far as I can tell. I would have to say we don’t have to do anything to accommodate to the situation at all. Everything just seems to be going up for us and the entire situation is moving forwards and we just follow it.” Check out the full interview with Orion at MetalStorm.net . [button href=”http://loudwire.com/behemoth-nergal-meets-bone-marrow-donor-who-saved-life/” title=”Behemoth’s Nergal Meets Bone Marrow Donor Who Saved His Life” align=”center”]
Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Pantera / Down singer Phil Anselmo fans will get a taste of his solo material Tuesday, Jan. 8, with the release of the split EP titled ‘ War of the Gargantuas ‘ with Warbeast . But, Anselmo s ays that his two songs on the split are not in the same vein as his upcoming solo album. “I think those songs are still a far cry from the full-length that will be coming out this upcoming summer though,” Anselmo tells ArtistDirect.com . “To me, they’re more in line with the straight ahead songs I’ve come up with. Be prepared for a different listen when you hear the upcoming full-length. I wanted to do something different with a lot of f–king energy that would, I guess, come off as faster or more energetic than your basic fast playing at a million miles an hour with blast beats.” When it comes to his lyrical approach, Anselmo said it’s much more direct than his band Down . “With the Down lyrics, the listeners can take them and interpret them in their own ways. With the solo s–t, I’m being very direct. There isn’t any wordplay. There isn’t any hidden message. It’s all right there in front of you. There it is.” For more from Anselmo, read the full interview at ArtistDirect.com . And listen to samples from the Anselmo / Warbeast split EP here . Meanwhile, Down and Warbeast kick off a U.S. tour Friday in Houston, Texas. Down are touring in support of ‘Down IV Part I – The Purple EP,’ which was released in September. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/down-new-musical-directions-recording-while-still-alive-being-handsome/” title=”Watch Loudwire’s Video Interview With Down” align=”center”] ?
You lucky, lucky people! We’ve got a great contest to offer all of our readers, and we’re sure that you’ll want to throw your name into the proverbial hat. The winner of this contest will snag a pair of tickets to see Marilyn Manson live on his upcoming 2013 winter tour. Marilyn Manson is heading out on tour once again, and is set to invade North America with rock anthems draped in the vocalist’s infamous stage show. The 2013 trek will kick off on Jan. 18 in Milwaukee, creep into the Northeast and Canada, before heading down the West Coast and wrapping Feb. 23 in Las Vegas. The Butcher Babies will serve as support on the trek. Marilyn Manson’s self-professed 2012 comeback album, ‘Born Villain,’ has received praise for its creativity and craftsmanship, even snagging a 2013 Grammy nomination for ‘No Reflection’ in the Best Hard Rock / Metal Performance category. If you don’t have a copy of the album yet, pick up ‘Born Villain’ at iTunes . The winner of the Marilyn Manson contest will receive two tickets to one of the upcoming winter shows (see tour dates below). For a chance to win, simply enter your email address and the city of the show you’d like to attend (tickets only – travel and accommodation not included). With the tour coming up shortly, the contest only runs through Sunday, Jan. 13, so enter below! For those of you who want to ensure yourself entrance into one of Manson’s shows, tickets are available for purchase through his official website . Marilyn Manson 2013 Tour Ticket Giveaway Enter your e-mail address below for a chance to win two tickets to see Marilyn Manson live. Please specify your choice of show in the field below. Travel and/or accommodations not included. Contest ends on Jan. 13, 2012, at 11:59PM ET. By entering this contest, you will automatically start receiving daily newsletters from Loudwire. Email List Date and City of Preferred Show Marilyn Manson Winter 2013 Tour Dates: Jan. 18 – Milwaukee, Wis. @ Eagles Ballroom Jan. 19 – Cincinnati, Ohio @ Bogart’s Jan. 20 – Columbus, Ohio @ The LC Pavilion Jan. 22 – Detroit, Mich. @ The Fillmore Jan. 23 – Cleveland, Ohio @ House of Blues Jan. 25 – Wallingford, Conn. @ The Dome Jan. 26 – Boston, Mass. @ House of Blues Jan. 28 – Montreal, Quebec @ City Metropolis Jan. 29 – Oshawa, Ontario @ General Motors Centre Jan. 30 – Hamilton, Ontario @ Hamilton Place Theatre Feb. 01 – Sudbury, Ontario @ Sudbury Arena Feb. 04 – Winnipeg, Manitoba @ MTS Centre Feb. 05 – Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan @ Mosiac Place Feb. 06 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan @ TCU Place Feb. 08 – Calgary, Alberta @ Stampede Corral Feb. 09 – Edmonton, Alberta @ Shaw Conference Centre Feb. 11 – Vancouver, British Columbia @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre Feb. 12 – Seattle, Wash. @ Showbox SoDo Feb. 13 – Portland, Ore. @ Roseland Theatre Feb. 15 – Modesto, Calif. @ Modesto Centre Plaza Feb. 17 – Reno, Nev. @ Grand Sierra Resort Feb. 19 – San Francisco, Calif. @ Warfield Theatre Feb. 20 – Anaheim, Calif. @ The Grove of Anaheim Feb. 21 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Club Nokia Feb. 23 – Las Vegas, Nev. @ House of Blues [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-marilyn-manson-songs/” title=”10 Best Marilyn Manson Songs” align=”center”]