Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com Linkin Park and their Music for Relief organization are hard at work once again following Hurricane Sandy’s destruction in both Haiti and the U.S. last week. Co-vocalist Mike Shinoda is raising awareness for Music for Relief’s efforts, which will provide assistance to those in need in the aftermath of the natural disaster. Shinoda says, “We really started the organization to provide relief in the wake of natural disasters, so when something like this happens, this is really what Music for Relief is designed for … Following Hurricane Sandy, we’re going to work for people not only in the U.S., but also Haiti.” While most are aware of the destruction in the U.S., Hurricane Sandy also claimed the lives of 66 people in the Caribbean last week, and much like in the U.S., there have been major power outages. Shinoda reveals that Music for Relief has partnered with the Save the Children organization in the U.S. and the International Medical Corps in Haiti in their attempts to help out. The vocalist says that he’s been hearing from those affected by Sandy through Twitter. He says, “I was talking to fans the next morning and they were submitting pictures and telling stories and stuff. One thing that’s nice to see is there are people who are a little more upbeat about it and making jokes about it, and they’re not talking about something light, so that sense of perseverance is cool. But definitely people uploaded some pictures that were horrendous — stuff underwater and cars basically demolished, destroyed by the hurricane. It’s really scary stuff, especially when you see it on homeland soil, and I know that a lot of fans are trying to help out so that’s why we’re spreading the word about MusicForRelief.org.” To make a donation, you can go to musicforrelief.org or mail a check payable to “Music for Relief” to: Attn: Music for Relief c/o GSO 15260 Ventura Blvd. Suite 2100 Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 You can also help by joining Music for Relief by pledging to match donations from other fans and sharing messages via Twitter and Facebook that mirror the following sample postings: SAMPLE TWEETS Join @musicforrelief to help the millions affected by Hurricane #Sandy. Donate today to assist families as they recover and rebuild http://bit.ly/b32gjc Hurricane #Sandy caused extensive damage and flooding. Donate to @musicforrelief to aid the survivors http://bit.ly/b32gjc Music for Relief is raising funds to support those impacted by Hurricane #Sandy in the U.S. northeast and in Haiti. There were millions affected, and they need your help. http://bit.ly/b32gjc SAMPLE FACEBOOK POSTS Hurricane Sandy left 66 people dead in the Caribbean, and an additional 29 (and counting) here in the US. With billions of dollars in damage, the families affected need your help. Donate to support the recovery effort in the U.S. and Haiti. http://bit.ly/b32gjc Hurricane Sandy destroyed homes, businesses and took lives away. Music for Relief is supporting the relief and recovery effort. Donate today to send aid to families affected by this worst storm recorded in the Northeast region. http://bit.ly/b32gjc Watch Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda Discuss Music for Relief’s Efforts [button href=”http://loudwire.com/green-day-shinedown-van-halen-linkin-park-nominated-peoples-choice-awards/” title=”Next: Linkin Park Nominated for People’s Choice Award” align=”center”]
Mark Metcalfe, Getty Images When Soundgarden got back together, they started by touring and playing the old hits and getting back in the habit of performing their music again. But now, a couple of years later, the group is preparing to move forward in their career with their first full original studio album since 1996, and frontman Chris Cornell says that they’re looking forward and evolving with their next record. Cornell tells Spin , “We don’t feel nostalgia trying to remember who played what parts on a song that we recorded in 1988. It doesn’t feel like looking at baby pictures of me. It’s nice that we have fans that were fans in 1988. That’s great, but that’s not enough for us. And I would’ve never expected that to be enough.” Earlier this year, one of Cornell’s contemporaries, Smashing Pumpkins vocalist Billy Corgan , called out the group for cashing in on a reunion, stating, “When Soundgarden came back and they just played their old songs, great. I was a fan of Soundgarden, but call it for what it is. They’re just out there to have one more round at the till.” Corgan would add that it’s important for bands to make music for the present rather than relying on their past, and Soundgarden are definitely of the same mindset by moving forward with their new record. Though not addressing Corgan’s comments specifically, Cornell says, “If we’re writing and recording new and vital music, it’s taking care of itself. I definitely feel like there’s a place for who we are and what we do. We’re doing what we’ve always done as a band and we’re fortunate enough to have a long enough history that someone could actually suggest that we’re a nostalgia act. Good for us.” If anything, Soundgarden may actually be coming from a creative space where many new bands come from, as the group has been away long enough that all of the label entanglements and outside pressures that weighed on them at the height of their fame have fallen by the wayside. The singer adds, “We’re writing and recording an album ourselves. We do everything, from choosing producers to picking packaging, until it’s done. Then we find a label to put it out on [Universal Republic], and communication’s what it used to be. It’s almost like it was in the beginning of the band.” Soundgarden returns with their ‘ King Animal ‘ album Nov. 13. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/soundgarden-unleash-new-king-animal-track-non-state-actor/” title=”Next: Listen to Soundgarden’s Song ‘Non-State Actor'” align=”center”]
Jason Merritt, Getty Images / Facebook: I See Stars Falling in Reverse singer Ronnie Radke has courted his own amount of trouble over the years, but he’s doing his best to change that path and that means distancing himself from up-and-coming rockers I See Stars . Radke reveals that the young band has been kicked off ‘The Thug in Me Is You’ tour at his request. Radke, who previously dealt with substance abuse issues of his own, says that the time had come for I See Stars to go after failing to live up to the second chance they were given after their own arrest for drug possession earlier this year. The singer offered a full Facebook posting to explain his reasoning for the band’s exit from the tour. It reads as follows: I wanted to let everyone know I See Stars is no longer on the tour. We had offered them the tour several months back and then not long after we sent the offer, the entire band was arrested for drug possession. If you have been following my story, you know I am very serious about my sobriety and have been sober for 4+ years now. I decided to remove them from the tour at that time as I did not want drug users in my environment. After we informed them they would no longer be on the tour for that reason, their label approached us and asked us to give them a 2nd chance, they assured us the band would not use drugs and they would be professional on my tour. We came to an agreement and I gave them their 2nd chance. Throughout this entire tour, they have been unprofessional. They have rarely showed up on time and have caused undue difficulty on my crew plus employees of the various venues. It’s been next to impossible to keep the show running on time. I feel at this point we have no choice but to continue on without them. We’re simply trying to deliver the best possible show to all you guys and we don’t feel like we can do that with I See Stars. We’re stoked to continue on with Enter Shikari, Letlive and Matt Toka (on select dates). I’ll see you at the shows. Love and respect, Ronnie. Back in late August, multiple members of I See Stars were arrested in Kansas for alleged possession of hallucinogenic drugs. At the time, singer Devin Oliver tweeted about it, calling it “the worst 13 hours of my life” and vowed it would be his “first and last time in jail.” [button href=”http://loudwire.com/falling-in-reverse-ronnie-radke-reportedly-arrested-throwing-mic-stands-into-crowd/” title=”Next: Falling in Reverse’s Ronnie Radke Arrested for Microphone Throwing” align=”center”]
Sire Records H.I.M. are in the homestretch of getting together their follow-up to 2010′s ‘Screamworks’ album. Singer Ville Valo, who entered the studio with his band in September to begin working on a disc titled ‘Tears on Tape,’ says they’ve got a feel for the album that’s a blend of “melancholy” and “Motorhead.” Valo tells ARTISTdirect , “‘Tears on Tape’ is going to be really organic, straight-in-your-face, super melancholy bulls— [Laughs]. It’s going to be something nobody’s heard before. I’m really happy about it. It sounds great. Remember the soundtrack for ‘Twin Peaks’ that Angelo Badalamenti did? It’s got that similar forlorn, melancholy quality but mixed up with Motörhead . That’s where we’re at! We’re really happy. It’s got that dreamlike quality. It’s like Roy Orbison meeting Metallica .” As for the ‘Tears on Tape’ album title, Valo explains, “The point behind that is I grew up with music so music has been my safe haven in good and bad situations. Those tears that the artists put on tape are the ones that carry us on. The ‘Tape’ in the title is symbolic. It’s about the fact you actually put your heart out. When you pour your heart into whatever you’re doing, it’s valid. Nobody can take that away. It’s so tough to start writing. When you get the flow, it revitalizes you and gives you the opportunity to feel you do have the reason to exist.” While we wait for the new album, H.I.M. have a hits collection placeholder. ‘ XX: Two Decades of Love Metal ‘ arrives in stores this coming Tuesday (Nov. 6). The vocalist says of being able to put out a hits collection, “It makes us feel really f—ing old. [Laughs] At the end of the day, we’re proud of what we’ve done, and there’s an opportunity to do something like this. I belong to the Black Sabbath school that albums are albums. You have your bad tracks, you have your good tracks, you have your sentimental tracks, you have your heavy metal tracks. You have to have that yin and yang going on.” He goes on to add, “It’s a reminder that we do exist. I think that was the most important thing with the compilation, per se. Nine out of ten bands don’t get this far. I’m not talking about success. I’m talking about the fact [that] bands actually stay together. It’s a long time to be in a band and still appreciate everybody you’re playing the music with.” Look for the ‘XX’ hits collection next week, with the upcoming ‘Tears on Tape’ record tentatively expected sometime in 2013. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/h-i-m-right-here-in-my-arms-top-21st-century-hard-rock-songs/” title=”Next: H.I.M. – Top 21st Century Hard Rock Songs” align=”center”]
Karl Walther, Getty Images As one of the most anticipated video games in history, ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops II’ is set to make an enormous impact in the world of gaming on Nov. 13. Along with what promises to be a unique gaming experience, the musical score for ‘Black Ops II’ was created by Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor . The first ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops’ game had broken the record of the largest ever entertainment launch in history within any form of entertainment, breaking the record 24 hours after its release and bringing in a staggering $650 million within five days of its release. That record has now been surpassed by ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.’ With a true artistic desire to be a part of yet another groundbreaking moment in the entertainment world, Reznor jumped at the chance to create the score for ‘Black Ops II.’ “I look at video games as a true art form,” begins Reznor. “The chance to be involved in something like this is exciting to me. I feel its every bit as viable as film work or music or anything else. The games have gotten more intense and more realistic and more engrossing and deeper. Video game culture has expanded into the largest form of entertainment.” “I was watching the Oscars last year and I see Trent Reznor win the Academy Award,” says ‘Black Ops II’ director Dave Anthony. “A year later, I see him walking around Treyarch [game developers], and I think to myself, ‘Am I dreaming? Trent Reznor is creating the score for our video game.’” The entire 40+ song soundtrack will be given its own individual release on Nov. 13. Reznor’s soundtrack, which also features an original score by Jack Wall, will also come with the physical edition of the game. Watch Trent Reznor + Other Game Developers Discuss ‘Black Ops II’
Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com The death of Suicide Silence singer Mitch Lucker is a tragic one, but was there a contributing factor to his motorcycle crash? Lucker’s wife, Jolie Carmadella, says it’s probable the singer drank alcohol before getting on his motorcycle. Carmadella spoke about Lucker’s troubles with alcohol at last night’s candlelight vigil (watch below). She explained to those in attendance, “He was an alcoholic, and it’s been a big battle. I tried to stop him. I was in front of him begging him not to leave the house. Begging him, ‘Just seriously, for us, don’t leave,’ and he did. And this is what happened.” She added, “It’s a wake-up call. He was an amazing man. He was a wonderful father and a great husband, and now he’s gonna miss out on watching [our daughter] Kenadee grow, because he decided to drink and ride. Just don’t. Just think before you guys do something stupid. Please learn from this. Please.” Lucker had reportedly been riding his new 2013 black Harley Davidson south in Huntington Beach, Calif., when he struck a light pole. After the initial impact, the motorcycle continued to skid into an oncoming pickup truck. The singer’s bandmates issued a statement Thursday (Nov. 1), stating, “There’s no easy way to say this. Mitch passed away earlier this morning from injuries sustained during a motorcycle accident. This is completely devastating to all of us and we offer our deepest condolences to his family. He will be forever in our hearts. R.I.P. Mitchell Adam Lucker. We love you, brother.” Watch Footage of Jolie Carmadella + Others Speaking About Mitch Lucker [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-suicide-silence-songs/” title=”Next: Best Suicide Silence Songs” align=”center”]
EMI After five straight wins, Adelitas Way and their latest single ‘Alive’ have made it into the Loudwire’s Cage Match Hall of Fame. The song, which is the fourth single off of their disc ‘Home School Valedictorian,’ took down some worthy opponents along the way. Adelitas Way defeated their fifth and final competitor, Deftones , after beating heavy hitters Theory of a Dead Man and 3 Doors Down , as well as Pop Evil and Danko Jones . Congrats to Adelitas Way and their fans on this impressive achievement. Their song ‘Alive’ now joins tunes from such bands as Avenged Sevenfold, Down, Fozzy, Anthrax, Korn, Trivium and more in Loudwire’s Cage Match Hall of Fame. Adelitas Way are currently on a U.S. tour with Theory of a Deadman and Charm City Devils. For a full list of dates and cities, go here . Listen to Adelitas Way, ‘Alive’ [button href=”http://loudwire.com/adelitas-way-debut-new-video-for-alive/” title=”Check Out the music video for ‘Alive’ by Adelitas Way” align=”center”]