Ron Galella Archive, Wire Image, Getty Images Since the news broke of a new documentary chronicling the life of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain , there have been conflicting reports as to whether the legendary musician’s widow Courtney Love will be a part of its creation. Brett Morgen, directior of HBO’s new documentary on the Rolling Stones, ‘Crossfire Hurricane,’ was recruited by Love to oversee the Cobain project, but it seems as if that will be Love’s only contribution to the project. Morgen recently told the New York Post , “Courtney [Love] is the one that brought me into this… We’ve been trying to find the right time to put this film together and the time is now. We are going to do the movie sort of like a third-person autobiography — [as] if Kurt was around and making a film about his life.” This quote led to the assumption that Love would assert creative control over the documentary, but a representative for the Hole frontwoman has asserted otherwise. Morgen has now gone on-record to clear up any misunderstandings concerning Love’s role in the film. “Back in 2007, I had a meeting in L.A. with Courtney Love to discuss my possible involvement in a Kurt Cobain documentary,” he told EW in a statement. “She had seen my film ‘The Kid Stays in the Picture,’ and thought that I had the right vision and passion to bring Kurt’s story to life. Since that time, I have been speaking exclusively with Kurt Cobain’s estate, who have given me their full cooperation in order to make the film.” He continues, “Courtney isn’t currently involved with the project in any capacity. The estate and I will be releasing more information about our plans in the coming weeks. Production on the film will begin in the coming months and we are aiming for a 2014 release.” This news comes shortly after rumors that Courtney Love was planning to create a Nirvana-based musical to Broadway or the big-screen; a claim Love was quick to deny. Stay tuned for more news on the upcoming Kurt Cobain film as news continues to break. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-grunge-bands/” title=”Next: 10 Best Grunge Bands” align=”center”]
Suspended Motion Productions Korn singer Jonathan Davis is featured in a short film titled ‘Wounded Warriors,’ which makes its debut Saturday, Nov. 10, at the GI Film Festival in Hollywood, Calif. The film (watch the trailer below) documents Davis traveling to Ramstein Air Base in Germany earlier this year to visit armed forces members stationed there along with those in transit from Afghanistan and Iraq. Davis narrates his experiences, which include a tour of a C130J Hercules Aircraft from Airmen of the 37th Airlift Squadron and an explosives demonstration from the 886th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight. Davis also visits Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) and meets with soldiers and a U.S. Embassy representative injured in Iraq and Afghanistan to thank them for their sacrifice and service. Sébastien Paquet directs the film. He has been Korn’s personal photographer and director for the past seven years and has directed numerous music videos and documentaries for Korn and other artists. Davis has been a longtime supporter of the USO and Wounded Warriors and has spent a lot of time visiting injured members of the military. Earlier this summer, a Korn fan presented Davis with the Marine uniform of his brother, who had been killed in Afghanistan. The screening of ‘Wounded Warriors’ is open to the public and will take place at the Los Angeles Film School Main Theatre at 10AM Saturday. Tickets are available here . The film is up for an Audience Choice Award. Watch ‘Wounded Warriors’ Trailer [button href=”http://loudwire.com/korn-welcome-back-guitarist-brian-head-welch-for-two-2013-shows/” title=”Next: Korn Welcome Back Brian ‘Head’ Welch for Two 2013 Shows” align=”center”]
Roadrunner Machine Head are currently on tour with Dethklok , All That Remains and the Black Dahlia Murder . With a lineup that is sure to both draw and excite metalheads, one unfortunate part of the United States is going to miss out on the full show, as Machine Head have been banned from ever performing on property owned by the Disney corporation. Thus, the Orlando, Fla. stop of the tour on Dec. 4 will be Machine Head-less. In 2007, Walt Disney Properties banned Machine Head from the ‘House of Blues’ venues in both Anaheim, Calif., and Orlando, the respective cities that are home to Disneyland and Disney World. Machine Head were banned by the company to due the band’s “violent imagery,” “inflammatory lyrics” and the group’s “undesirable fans.” These accusations come from the company that created ‘The Lion King,’ which features antagonist Scar plunging his claws into his brother Mufasa’s paws before allowing him to fall from a cliff only to be trampled to death by a heard of wildebeest. Disney also included the song ‘Savages’ in the film ‘Pocahontas,’ where the character Ratcliffe sings the lyrics, “They’re savages! / Barely even human … Dirty redskin devils,” about Native Americans. “Violent Imagery?” Check. “Inflammatory lyrics?” Massive check. Additionally, the entertainment company was happy to allow Motorhead to write the song ‘Dog-Face Boy’ for the animated film ‘Bolt,’ surely in an attempt to appeal to those same “undesirable fans” and lure them into movie theaters worldwide. The band released the following statement regarding the continuation of the Disney ban: For the third time in a row, the corporate powers behind Walt Disney Properties have once again pressured promoter Live Nation into canceling Machine Head’s performance at a House of Blues venue on Disney property, this time the December 4th show in Orlando, FL. While no one is willing to provide evidence that would prove unfavorable to Disney, sources close to events have suggested that Machine Head remains on a “banned list”, and while Dethklok, All That Remains and Black Dahlia Murder will still be allowed to play, the corporate powers at Disney have refused to allow Machine Head to perform. In 2007, Walt Disney Properties banned Machine Head from the House Of Blues venues in both Anaheim and Orlando, citing “violent imagery”, “inflammatory lyrics” and most appallingly “undesirable fans” as the reason. The diversity-impaired corporation began pressuring the promoter with vague threats of liability and reduced job security before placing Machine Head under an internal “review process”. Five days later, Walt Disney Properties would convey their alarming decision to the band, less than 48 hours before the first date of 2007′s anti-war, anti-religion, anti-conservative-themed “The Blackening” album headline run at the House Of Blues in Anaheim, CA. A stunned Machine Head announced the details and disgust regarding the situation and let fans know of the then-rescheduled show 70 miles away at The Glass House in Pomona. In retaliation for that public announcement, Disney cancelled the band’s then-upcoming performance at the House Of Blues in Orlando, citing the same absurd reasons, though they would only publicly state that they had “changed musical formats” at the venue. Machine Head wish to once again extend their gratitude to Live Nation and the House Of Blues for their poise and tolerance throughout these ridiculous developments, unbelievably transpiring here in these United States Of America in this year 2012. As they are not on Disney property and therefore not subject to the corporation’s alleged coercionary tactics, the current dates with Dethklok, All That Remains and The Black Dahlia Murder at the Dallas and Houston House Of Blues will go on as scheduled. Unfortunately, Machine Head’s Florida performance will not be rescheduled in an effort to avoid creating any conflict with the existing dates on the tour. All refund requests will be honored. Machine Head assure fans that all refund requests for the Dec. 4 show will be honored. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/machine-head-to-unleash-machine-f-ing-head-live-double-album/” title=”Next: Machine Head to Unleash Live Double Album” align=”center”]
Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images During a recent testimony at his trial against Britney Spears, music industry manager Sam Lufti stated that he was working with Courtney Love to create a film or musical about Love’s life with her late husband Kurt Cobain , featuring the music of Nirvana . Despite Lufti’s claim, Love has just stated that there will be no such project. We reported on the possible project on Oct. 25, but as reported by The Guardian on Nov. 4, Love told the publication, “There will be no musical. Sometimes it’s best to just leave things alone.” The Hole frontwoman and ‘The People vs. Larry Flynt’ actress went on to speak about using Nirvana’s music for commercial purposes. “I said yes once – to Baz Luhrmann to use eight seconds of Smells Like Teen Spirit in Moulin Rouge. But he wasn’t allowed to use it in the marketing. I didn’t get the part in the film. I was so pissed off I made up the term to ‘Baz’ somebody.” Love has publicly condemned the use of ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ by ‘The Muppets.’ “What the f—’s with ‘the Muppets?” begins Love. “I happen to like Elmo and I think the Cookie Monster is interesting but I know him [Kurt] and I know he didn’t want to be a Muppet. It was a disgrace. Like pissing on a grave.” [button href=”http://loudwire.com/frances-bean-cobain-apparently-claims-home-intruder-was-trying-to-kill-her-fiance/” title=”Next: Frances Bean Cobain Claims Intruder Out to Kill Fiance” align=”center”]
Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Anthrax bassist Frank Bello was the guest on Full Metal Jackie’s radio show this past weekend. He spoke all about the band’s journey and their success with their latest record ‘Worship Music,’ as well as the forthcoming re-release of the album. He also dished about being in the film ‘Greetings From Tim Buckley’ and much more. Read the full interview with Frank Bello below: The last couple of years have been a whirlwind for Anthrax – Joey Belladonna rejoined the band, you had the Big 4 shows, ‘Worship Music’ being released, a year long tour with Testament and Death Angel, how important has all of that been in setting up the future of Anthrax? You just said it – it’s all one. The Big 4 actually gave Anthrax a kick in the ass to really get going, we were working on songs – Scott [Ian], Charlie [Benante] and I and that made us really get back to being a serious band again. We were working and saying “We need to get a record out” and that made us finish the record. I tip my hat to Metallica for doing that for us. They didn’t have to put the Big 4 together and they did and it worked out really nicely and there’s a whole new fan base with that, which it great. Right now, you’re recording a few cover tunes for an expanded re-release of ‘Worship Music’ — like Journey, Boston, Rush – how have those bands influenced a faster, heavier band like Anthrax? Anthrax, we’ve done this stuff forever – those are our influences honestly, whether you want to take Journey and the melodic influences, great band, great musicians. I think it’s like a sponge thing like Boston, great harmonies, great vocals, great guitar. All of these things, these are the things we’ve grown up with and we would probably jam out sound check – we never really play Anthrax songs, music’s supposed to be fun and we play Anthrax for the set but it’s just so much fun to get it together. What we’ve always been known to do is to put these on a b-side and people just really dig it. I dig it – I did the Journey song yesterday, this is what we do and just the fun part about it is to hear the result. Joey [Belladonna] at times can sound like Steve Perry and I haven’t even heard his vocals on it and to hear him sing Boston – it’s going to be fun, I can’t wait to hear the finished product. This is special for the fans – you get the re-release yes but there’s always a little something different on top of it so I think it’s a special thing later on. What did it feel like for you guys to comeback with a new record in this time in terms of music and have it receive such high praise? You know what it is, after eight years first off – it was hard enough to get the record out just because getting management, lawyers out of the way all that garbage that gets in the way of music and personalities. We knew what we wanted Anthrax to be again the real deal so again I’ll go back to Big 4, it really gave us a kick in the ass to get back and really clear everything to go forward – ‘Worship Music’ we knew we had something special, we got Joey in on it and that was the cherry on top of it all. We’re fans of this music so we knew we had something good, thankfully the people, the fan base has taken on this record – this is our biggest selling record in a long time. It’s just done really well, thank God and thank the fans out there, great support- that’s why we’re still on tour. In three weeks we leave for a Motorhead tour – pretty much all sold out in Europe, which is crazy. Think about it, 30 years in, Jackie, who would have thought we’re still around – Anthrax, Motorhead in Europe selling out places, we’re very lucky, we’re humbled. It’s a really nice thing that’s going on and we couldn’t be happier, we’re stoked. I have to tell you a funny old school Anthrax story, I grew up in Jersey and in my backyard was the offices for Megaforce Records and when I was a kid – you know you don’t know what a record label does, you just assume that the bands are hanging out there and working there. I must have been 12 or 13 years old and a buddy of mine and I were like “Hey let’s go over and maybe Anthrax is hanging out” and we went into the Megaforce offices like “Hey what’s up is Anthrax here?” There were times where Scott and I and Charlie did go there. It’s funny because it was way out there too, in Jersey and they would be like “Just come by to the office” and I’m not driving from the Bronx to Jersey. There were times where we would get boxes of our stuff to give out to our families, plus all of the Metallica stuff we’d get that was for free if we went there. In ‘Greetings From Tim Buckley’ you play Richard Hell and you’ve done TV and other films too like ‘One Long Day.’ How does the rush of acting compare to the rush of playing music? It’s weird that you say that and thank you for mentioning it – it’s the same thing for me. It’s really like writing a song and I don’t want to talk acting nonsense but putting little pieces together like a chorus or verse and stuff like that, I like just being somebody else. I think it’s really cool to be somebody else so when you sink yourself into it, it’s just like a song, it’s this little life, you give a song life – it’s the same vibe in my gut that makes me feel good. I have a fire for this music, I’ve always had a fire for acting – who gives a f— about fame, it means nothing, we all know fame is bulls—. The whole thing of being a working actor really turns me on because it’s being somebody else for a little while. Being able to create gets something out of me that I need to get out – I don’t know what it is but it’s a lot of fun and I hope to do more, it was a blast. Compare to ten years ago, twenty years ago, what has been the best thing about being in Anthrax in 2012? Well right now it’s nice to be back and being accepted by not only our audience but there’s a new audience out there: 15-, 16-year-old kids. I got 15-year-old kids coming up to me saying “You’re an influence.” You don’t realize how good that feels – it’s something I’ve done right in my life and I’m very proud of it. It that kid could pick up a bass and feel the way I feel about it and make his day be a little bit better, that’s what it’s all about. It’s like passing the torch a little bit – we’ve been lucky, we’ve had a great time, if I could make somebody feel as good as the bass and music has made me feel that’s what it’s all about at this point. I feel like Anthrax is finally getting the recognition you guys deserve after all of these years, working so hard and putting out music and touring the hell out of your records. I congratulate you guys and I think it’s finally your time. Thank you, well and you know, Jackie people like you and this isn’t a kiss ass – the truth of the matter is we know our friends and people like you have supported the band forever and have been with us along this ride, peaks and valleys. There are no angels in this band, we know you have good times, you have lean times, there have been a lot lean times but it’s good to be back in this kind of way right now. We don’t know where it’s going to go – we hope it goes further but we’re taking it day to day, it’s a good vibe. There’s a metal thing going on right now, there’s a resurgence that we all know is here so we’re very happy to be part of it. We’re humbled that we are still a part of it – 30 years in, come on, we’re having a great time, we’re more relevant than ever, people love this record. For people to say this is our finest work – which we’ve heard in a lot of reviews and thank you for that, God that’s all you could really ask. That means it’s relevant and it made people feel a certain way and that’s what matters. It really got people listening again and we’re ready for it. Full Metal Jackie will welcome Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed on her next show. Full Metal Jackie can be heard on radio stations around the country — for a full list of stations, go to fullmetaljackieradio.com .
Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Black Veil Brides are pulling out all the stops for their new album, including offering a full-length music film to support the upcoming effort. The film is called ‘Legion of the Black’ and it will air in limited screenings in select cities. Black Veil Brides recently revealed an epic, 19-song track listing for their upcoming ‘ Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wilds Ones ‘ album. The film is described as a visual story corresponding to the new album following a gang of rebels known as ‘The Wild Ones’ as they fend off the big bad organization known as F.E.A.R. Dates and times of the screenings have not been revealed, but information is expected to be announced shortly. In the interim, a trailer for ‘Legion of the Black’ has surfaced online and can be seen below. For those unable to see the film in a city near them, the group intends on offering pay-per-view screenings via Facebook and will eventually offer the film on DVD. As for ‘Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones,’ the album is expected in stores Jan. 8. Watch the Trailer for Black Veil Brides’ ‘Legion of the Black’ [button href=”http://loudwire.com/black-veil-brides-2013-north-american-tour/” title=”Next: Black Veil Brides Announced 2013 North American Tour” align=”center”]
Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com / Kevin Winter, Getty Images Several months ago it was revealed that Slipknot / Stone Sour vocalist Corey Taylor was one of the artists recording music with Foo Fighters frontman / ex- Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl for the latter’s ;Sound City’ documentary. Now Taylor has revealed more about the collaboration in an interview with Phoenix radio station KUPD (watch below). Taylor reveals, “[Dave Grohl] sent an email to me, basically explaining this huge project he was doing – the documentary around the infamous board that he got from Sound City, which so many people have recorded on – myself included – we did ‘Iowa’ on that board…He bought it, and I loved the idea that he was like ‘how many albums have been made on this board?” He adds, “He wrote the song, he sent me a demo of it and I was like ‘this is fantastic’ and I just basically wrote the first thing that came off the top of my head. He didn’t even hear it until I went down there to record it. And I laid it down and he was just like ‘wow.’ Because we did it old school – two inch tape, take after take after take. And with that board, man. It just sings, it was really, really cool.” Countless legendary albums were recorded at Sound City, including Nirvana ‘s ‘Nevermind,’ Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours,’ Neil Young’s ‘After The Gold Rush,’ Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers’ ‘Damn the Torpedoes’ and Rage Against the Machine ‘s self-titled debut. While an official release date for the documentary has still not been revealed, the web site for the film has several video clips and other info. Watch Corey Taylor’s Interview on KUPD