Sean Gardner, Getty Images Interscope honcho Jimmy Iovine spilled the beans earlier this year that Trent Reznor ‘s involvement with Dr. Dre’s Beats by Dre service involved a new streaming service. Now comes word that the Beats Electronics service will be available beginning this summer. According to Billboard , Iovine revealed during Tuesday’s (Feb. 12) AllThingsD Dive Into Media Conference that the service would simply be called Beats (it had been previously given the tentative title Daisy) and would rely heavily on hand-curated lists in order to differentiate itself from such other streaming services as Spotify, Rhapsody, Muve and Slacker. “We are making tons and tons of curated lists,” said Iovine. “If you go to the gym, we’ll know where you are. So when you wake up in the morning, there will be a list waiting for you.” As for Reznor’s involvement, he’s serving as chief creative officer and is offering his expertise in helping to personalize playlists for each listener. As someone who is overseeing the curation of playlists, he’ll also study algorithms to help determine what might fit each person the best. Iovine stated that they wanted to “marry math with emotion,” and added, “Right now there are only mathematical solutions.” The label chief also explained that Beats plans to give artists access to user data, allowing them the ability to know exactly who their audience is and where their music is being used. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/trent-reznor-atticus-ross-win-2013-grammy-award-for-best-score-soundtrack/” title=”Next: Trent Reznor + Atticus Ross Win 2013 Best Score Soundtrack Grammy” align=”center”]
Sean Gardner, Getty Images Interscope honcho Jimmy Iovine spilled the beans earlier this year that Trent Reznor ‘s involvement with Dr. Dre’s Beats by Dre service involved a new streaming service. Now comes word that the Beats Electronics service will be available beginning this summer. According to Billboard , Iovine revealed during Tuesday’s (Feb. 12) AllThingsD Dive Into Media Conference that the service would simply be called Beats (it had been previously given the tentative title Daisy) and would rely heavily on hand-curated lists in order to differentiate itself from such other streaming services as Spotify, Rhapsody, Muve and Slacker. “We are making tons and tons of curated lists,” said Iovine. “If you go to the gym, we’ll know where you are. So when you wake up in the morning, there will be a list waiting for you.” As for Reznor’s involvement, he’s serving as chief creative officer and is offering his expertise in helping to personalize playlists for each listener. As someone who is overseeing the curation of playlists, he’ll also study algorithms to help determine what might fit each person the best. Iovine stated that they wanted to “marry math with emotion,” and added, “Right now there are only mathematical solutions.” The label chief also explained that Beats plans to give artists access to user data, allowing them the ability to know exactly who their audience is and where their music is being used. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/trent-reznor-atticus-ross-win-2013-grammy-award-for-best-score-soundtrack/” title=”Next: Trent Reznor + Atticus Ross Win 2013 Best Score Soundtrack Grammy” align=”center”]
It Books / HarperCollins The history of metal music is not an easy story to tell. With over 45 years of the world’s most brutal music genre having already passed, the realms of progression, brutality and experimentation are constantly expanding thanks to both metal legends and new school heroes. Despite the difficulty of the challenge, rock journalists Jon Wiederhorn and Katherine Turman have crafted the upcoming book ‘Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History of Metal,’ which will see a May 14 release date. To create a truly definitive portrayal on metal music, ‘Louder Than Hell’ was assembled from more than 300 interviews with metal’s finest icons, including members of Metallica , Megadeth , Iron Maiden , Slayer , Death , Motley Crue , Pantera and many more. As if 300 interviews wasn’t legitimate enough, the comprehensive book will include an introduction by Scott Ian of Anthrax and an afterword by Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford . ‘Louder Than Hell’ promises to deliver all the info without censorship, delving into topics such as traumatic upbringings, drug addiction and bizarre sexual exploits, along with stories of the music business, songwriting, touring and a lot more. Metal musicians themselves have come out to praise ‘Louder than Hell,’ along with its authors. “Katherine Turman and Jon Wiederhorn know metal,” gushes Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello . “Louder than Hell is an amazing gathering of different breeds of heavy metal rockers telling the tales metal fans want to hear.” Heavy metal legend Alice Cooper also endorses the book. “This is the book every metal fan should own,” says Cooper. “A fascinating high-octane chronicle of metal mayhem that takes readers on a wild ride, from metal’s earliest days to the head-banging present. I’m not saying this just because I’m in the book, but . . . if you love metal, great stories, and music history told by the people who made it, then Louder than Hell is a must-read.” Jon Wiederhorn is a senior writer for Revolver magazine, a former editor of MTV2′s Headbangers Blog and has worked for publications such as Rolling Stone, Spin, Entertainment Weekly and Guitar World. Wiederhorn has also penned a biography on Ministry mastermind Al Jourgensen , ‘Ministry: The Lost Gospels According to Al Jourgensen,’ which will see a July 2013 release. Katherine Turman currently produces the syndicated radio show ‘Nights with Alice Cooper,’ and has written for publications such as Metal Hammer, Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone and RIP, the last of which she was the editor. Get ready for the release of ‘Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History of Metal’ on May 14. To pre-order the book, click here . Check Out a Video of Alice Cooper Promoting ‘Louder Than Hell’ [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-metal-albums-of-2012/” title=”10 Best Metal Albums of 2012″ align=”center”]
Theo Wargo, Getty Images / Facebook: Demon Hunter Metallica and Demon Hunter are featured in a fascinating new article about the successful assassination of Osama Bin Laden. Surprisingly, according to the Navy SEAL member who evidently shot Bin Laden, the music of Metallica was used to “soften people up” before prisoner interrogations were to take place. Having somehow discovered this, Metallica asked for their music to be removed from interrogation procedures, while Demon Hunter, on the other hand, volunteered their brand of metal to be used for that same purpose. In the Esquire magazine article, the anonymous Navy SEAL spoke in great detail about the assassination of Osama Bin Laden. With such a serious topic at hand, it’s one of the last places you’d expect to read about some of your favorite bands, but Esquire dug up some riveting details on the use of Metallica and Demon Hunter within the U.S. military. The Navy SEAL told Esquire: When we first started the war in Iraq, we were using Metallica music to soften people up before we interrogated them,” the Shooter says. “Metallica got wind of this and they said, ‘Hey, please don’t use our music because we don’t want to promote violence.’ I thought, Dude, you have an album called ‘Kill ‘Em All.’ But we stopped using their music, and then a band called Demon Hunter got in touch and said, ‘We’re all about promoting what you do.’ They sent us CDs and patches. I wore my Demon Hunter patch on every mission. I wore it when I blasted bin Laden. Wow … not to make a pun, but that’s pretty damn heavy. We suppose Demon Hunter, having volunteered their music to aid interrogations, would be honored to know their patch was on the man who killed Bin Laden, but what do you think of this whole situation? Let us know in the comments section below. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/casting-call-metallica/” title=”Casting Call: Who Should Play Metallica in a Movie?” align=”center”]
Ipecac Tomahawk are a unique band in more ways than one. Besides honing an incredibly eclectic and experimental style, Tomahawk happen to be comprised of modern rock heavy hitters from legendary bands such as Faith No More , Mr. Bungle, Fantomas, the Jesus Lizard and Helmet . The band recently released their fourth studio album, ‘Oddfellows,’ and we’re proud to debut Tomahawk’s new music video for the album’s title track exclusively here on Loudwire. Faith No More / Fantomas / ex-Mr. Bungle legend Mike Patton formed Tomahawk in 2000 shortly after Faith No More called it a day in 1998 (they’ve since reunited to tour). Housed within Patton’s record label, Ipecac Recordings, Tomahawk is comprised of former Jesus Lizard guitarist Duane Denison, ex-Helmet drummer John Stanier and bassist Trevor Dunn, whose resume includes stints in Mr. Bungle, Fantomas and Melvins among others. The video for ‘Oddfellows’ complements Tomahawk’s intense and strange sound perfectly, splattered with captivating animation on top of performance footage from the musical collective. Directed by Vincent Forcier and shot in black and white, the video is filled with animation of ghosts, demented cartoon faces and the band dangling as hangmen, along with distortions of the Tomahawk members while they perform ‘Oddfellows.’ For fans of experimental rock and unique video accompaniments, take a few minutes to check out Tomahawk’s clip for ‘Oddfellows.’ To purchase a copy of Tomahawk’s ‘Oddfellows’ album, click here . In addition, Tomahawk are kicking off a tour in support of ‘Oddfellows’ tomorrow night (Feb. 12) in Seattle. See the dates below the video. Tomahawk, ‘Oddfellows’ Tomahawk 2013 Tour Dates: 2/12 – Seattle, Wash. @ The Showbox 2/13 – Portland, Ore. @ Wonder Ballroom 2/15 – San Francisco, Calif. @ Great American Music Hall 2/16 – San Francisco, Calif. @ Great American Music Hall 2/17 – Santa Ana, Calif. @ The Observatory 2/19 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ The Mayan Theater 2/23 – Brisbane, Australia @ RNA Showgrounds 2/24 – Sydney, Australia @ Olympic Park 2/26 – Sydney, Australia @ The Metro 2/27 – Melbourne, Australia @ Billboard 3/01 – Melbourne, Australia @ Flemington Racecourse 3/02 – Adelaide, Australia @ Bonython Park 3/04 – Perth, Australia @ Claremont Showground 3/30 – Sao Paulo, Brazil @ Lollapalooza Brazil 4/02 – Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Malvinas Argentinas Stadium (w/A Perfect Circle) 4/04 – Santiago, Chile @ Teatro La Cupula del Parque O’Higgins 4/06 – Santiago, Chile @ Lollapalooza Chile
‘War of Change’ Video Still Thousand Foot Krutch are set to embark on a tour with Brian “Head” Welch ’s band Love and Death, as well as the Letter Black and the Wedding. Before the trek kicks off, TFK are unleashing their new music video for ‘War of Change,’ off the band’s independently released, No. 1-selling Billboard Hard Rock album ‘The End is Where We Begin,’ and you can watch it exclusively here on Loudwire. Frontman Trevor McNevan says ‘War of Change’ is about the beauty and hardship of change. “This song embodies the heart and soul of this record [‘The End Is Where We Begin’],” he explains. “I think it captures that urgency – that there are wars going on all around us and inside us. There’s something beautiful about ‘the sound of change,’ and I think this song covers those ideals and the essence of battle. Change can be beautiful and painstaking, but rarely is it comfortable.” Thousand Foot Krutch’s upcoming ‘War of Change Tour’ kicks off Feb. 21 in Columbia, Md., and runs through March 17 in Huntington, W.V. For a full list of tour dates, go here . And to pick up TFK’s album ‘The End is Where We Begin,’ head to iTunes or Amazon . ‘War of Change’ also appears on TFK’s recent remix EP, ‘Metamorphosiz: The End Remixes, Vol. 1,’ which is available at iTunes , as well. Watch Thousand Foot Krutch’s Music Video for ‘War of Change’ [Exclusive] [button href=”http://loudwire.com/thousand-foot-krutch-tour-love-and-death-the-letter-black-the-wedding/” title=”Click for Thousand Foot Krutch Tour Dates” align=”center”]
Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com As a woman in the entertainment industry, there is always the question of how much to play up the sex appeal, and Halestorm ‘s Lzzy Hale shared with Playboy.com her thoughts on taking part in sexy photo shoots and the focus on image in the music industry. Hale explained, “I don’t mind dressing up and doing the short skirt and high heels thing. I tell this to a lot of people because the only stipulation that I have about this is that you have to make sure you have something to back it up. You can’t totally ride on the fact that I’m going to show my legs and people are going to show attention. If they can get past the legs, make sure you can actually sing and be good at your instruments. Because in all honesty, all of us that are dressing up on stage, we aren’t going to be wearing fishnets forever, you gotta make sure you have a little something to ya.” With that being said, Hale says she’s come to accept the shoots as part of the industry, adding, “Sex and rock ‘n’ roll have been going together hand-in-hand since the beginning of time. You can’t get away from it.” The frontwoman also says that while image may get the attention of some fans, she’s been enthused by how their female fan base has grown and opened the doors for more women to enjoy hard rock. She explains, “I’m telling you, though, there’s a moment in every show where I’m looking out and I see all of these girls who are not there because their boyfriends dragged them along, you know? They’re very empowered, a little crazy like me, and it’s wonderful to be in a room like that because when we first started out there weren’t a whole lot of girls at the rock shows unless you count the girlfriends of somebody in the band.” Hale adds that she partook in her fair share of mosh pits and rocked out with the guys when she was younger and is thrilled to see girls coming to rock shows and carving their own paths with the world of rock and roll. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/halestorm-jimmy-kimmel-live-love-bites-freak-like-me/” title=”Next: Watch Halestorm Perform on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live'” align=”center”]