Gareth Cattermole, Getty Images Pearl Jam are taking their time finishing their next album, but singer Eddie Vedder is confident that it will come together in due time and will be as much of a “band” record as they’ve done. The frontman tells Rolling Stone , “[We’re] maybe halfway there. We’re taking our time. I was talking to Jeff [Ament] today. We were texting. He’s got his group up there. He’s heading to the West Coast. I’m heading east. And we’re out here like, you know, like Johnny Appleseed. He’s covering part of the country. I’m doing the other. And at some point, we’ll join forces again for sure, but the band is as healthy as ever and I’m sure it’s good to get a little break from each other … We’ll be ready to go when we’re ready to go.” Speaking about the band health, Vedder added that they’re perhaps more of a cohesive unit than ever when it comes to releasing their music as a whole functioning outfit. He explains, “We really work together as a unit these days. It’s really the compilation of all the parts. It’s not like one guy trying to tell everybody, ‘These are my songs. This is what it should sound like.’ We’ve figured out after all these years that if everybody just puts their stamp on it, then it sounds like how we want it to. Then it sounds new, cause everyone is growing, you know. Everyone is growing after all these years.” Until Pearl Jam regroup, Ament will continue promoting his other band, RNDM, which features singer/songwriter Joseph Arthur and drummer Richard Stuverud. Meanwhile, guitarist Stone Gossard has European shows booked with his other band Brad in February. Vedder’s solo song ‘Satellite’ can be heard on the ‘West of Memphis: Voices for Justice’ soundtrack. To read more about Vedder’s support of the West Memphis Three, check out Rolling Stone’s article here . [button href=”http://loudwire.com/eddie-vedder-tom-morello-2013-musicares-event-honoring-bruce-springsteen/” title=”Next: Eddie Vedder to Honor Bruce Springsteen at 2013 MusiCares Tribute” align=”center”]
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”]
Ethan Miller, Getty Images What started off as an interview with Guns N’ Roses guitarist Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal offering advice to young musicians turned into an attack on Axl Rose by the time it was retold by British music magazine NME and the musician isn’t happy about it. The guitarist initially spoke with Ryze-Up magazine offering a few tips on how to succeed in the music industry. His official comment stated, “1. Be on time. By ‘on time’ I mean ‘be early.’ Make sure you’re there for when you need to be — wait in your car, communicate, let them know 10 minutes early that you’ll be there in five minutes and walk in five minutes later.” He went on to list items like “be prepared” and ‘be cool,’ but it was the “on time” comment that got twisted. Metal Hammer picked up the story and ran it with their own commentary about Axl Rose’s notorious tardiness, which NME then picked up and attributed to Bumblefoot. The offending line that raised Bumblefoot’s ire read, “Remember kids, only massive goobers make a habit of not being on time.” After reading the NME version of the story, Bumblefoot took to his Facebook page with a response. He stated in his posting: Some ‘info’ sites will twist anything into an attack on Axl [Rose], LOL (only way to get more readers and hike up rates on advertisers, I guess … ) NME is ‘not’ a legit source of music info by any stretch. Not only do they make up quotes that aren’t true (I’ve NEVER used the term ‘massive goobers’ in my life, LOL). I also didn’t speak to Metal Hammer. NME is using a piece of an interview I did with Ryze-Up magazine. If NME is going to point fingers, they should have more integrity and class in what ‘they’ do, yes?” I’m at the venue early, I’ll have dinner with the crew, watch opening acts, get warmed up, I’m at every meet-n-greet, and I’m ready to get on stage at show time. That’s me. My advice was for musicians starting out, hopefully it served its positive purpose ?. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/axl-rose-feud-slash-duff-mckagan-im-surviving-this-war-not-the-one-who-created-it/” title=”Next: Axl Rose Discusses War With Slash + Duff McKagan” align=”center”]
Justin Sullivan, Getty Images Dave Grohl will bring the ‘Sound City Players’ to the Sundance Film Festival for a performance. [ Loudwire ] Stone Sour ‘s Corey Taylor has narrowed down the release for ‘House of Gold & Bones, Pt. 2′ to April. [ Loudwire ] Halestorm ‘s Lzzy Hale says there’s no end in sight for the band’s touring. [ Loudwire ] Eddie Vedder and Tom Morello will perform at the MusiCares Tribute to Bruce Springsteen during Grammy week. [ Loudwire ] How would you like to win an all-inclusive trip for two to see Soundgarden in Seattle? Details here. [ Loudwire ] Ted Nugent has penned an open letter to Vice President Joe Biden on gun control. [ Ultimate Classic Rock ] Phish celebrated New Year’s Eve by performing Black Sabbath and Steve Miller Band covers. [ Ultimate Classic Rock ] The Eels made a cameo in the recently released ‘This Is 40′ that ended up on the cutting room floor. Watch it here. [ Diffuser.fm ]
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”]
Stephen Lovekin / Noel Vasquez / Michael Buckner / Frazer Harrison / Theo Wargo, Getty Images We just finished a great year of hard rock and metal music and it’s good to know that there’s plenty more where that came from as the calendar hits 2013. Today’s Readers Poll let’s you have your say on what 2013 album you’re anticipating the most. Are you a fan of the classic metal bands? If so, Black Sabbath , Judas Priest and Slayer have been in the studio working on new music that’s expected to arrive this year. Are veteran grunge bands your thing? Then you might want to keep an eye out for new Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam records. Are you a Nikki Sixx fan? That’s good, because we’re expecting new music from both Motley Crue and Sixx: A.M. this year. We also expect to see new albums coming from rock vets like Alter Bridge , Buckcherry , Hatebreed , Queens of the Stone Age , Tool , Avenged Sevenfold and Rob Zombie ! Fans are also likely anxious to check out passion projects like the second half of Stone Sour ‘s ‘House of Gold & Bones’ album or the upcoming debut from Disturbed singer David Draiman ‘s new industrial band, Device . And, of course, there’s early 2013 albums coming from Black Veil Brides , Bullet for My Valentine and Hollywood Undead . So there you have it — just a few of the acts we anticipate hearing from in 2013. Let your voice be heard and tell us which band’s 2013 album excites you the most by voting in the poll below: Sorry, you need to have javascript running to see this poll. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/favorite-metallica-single-readers-poll/” title=”Previous Readers Poll: Favorite Metallica Single” align=”center”]
Jason Merritt, Getty Images Dave Grohl ‘s ‘ Sound City ‘ documentary will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah later this month and the Foo Fighters frontman-turned-fledgling-director will help build the anticipation with a concert at the Park City Live venue featuring some of the movie’s key players. The Sound City Facebook page stated, “Hey guess what? Sound City Players. Rock Show. Jan. 18th Park City Live. Yup. That’s totally happening.” The Salt Lake Tribune revealed that “core musicians and special guests” are expected to turn up at the show, though none of the performers have been named as of yet. Park City Live CEO Kathryn Burns stated, “The film … showcases the most talented group of musicians in the world and we are thrilled they chose to celebrate the documentary at Park City Live. The evening will be spectacular and we look forward to seeing who will join Dave Grohl and the Sound City Players onstage.” Grohl has spent the better portion of the past year working on the ‘Sound City’ documentary, which traces the history of some of the musicians that have recorded at the legendary Hollywood studio. The film features a wide array of performers, including Paul McCartney and members of Rage Against the Machine , Nine Inch Nails , Queens of the Stone Age , Metallica and Nirvana , among others. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/dave-grohl-sound-city-documentary-cast-soundtrack-details/” title=”Next: Check out the ‘Sound City’ Cast + Soundtrack” align=”center”]