German legends The Scorpions have been announced as one of the headliners for this years Rock & Blues Festival than takes place at Coney Grey Showground, Chesterfield Road, Pentrich, Derbyshire, England between July 26th & 29th. Joining the Scorpions for the show will be former guitarist Uli Jon Roth.

Other bands so far confirmed for the three days include Michael Schenker, The Levellers, Pat Savage Band, GMT, The Animals & Friends, The Handsome Beasts & Soar Patrol. Both The Scorpions & Michael Schenker will play on July 28th.

To coincide with the Rock & Blues appearance, The Scorpions, along with Roth and Michael Schemker, have also announced details of two further UK shows, playing Manchester Apollo on July 29th and then moving on to London's Hammersmith Apollo on July 30th.

Further details on the Rock & Blues Festival, and information on how to get tickets can be found via www.rockandblues.uk.com

SIX NEW BANDS ADDED WITH JUST 100 DAYS TO GO!

The first major festival of the season arrives in just 100 days and the next six bands added to the already exceptional line-up are Korn, Velvet Revolver, Dragonforce, Devildriver, Lamb of God and Dimmu Borgir.

Korn’s Download 2006 set saw vocalists from Ten Years, DevilDriver, Skindred, Stone Sour and Trivium fill the breach when Jonathan Davis was taken ill at the eleventh hour. Determined to give the performance the fans were waiting for last year Jonathan Davis explains, "I am so looking forward to coming to the Download Festival this year. I was heartbroken to pull out last time. So this time I am very happy to be coming back and we promise to rock the place! I will definitely make-up for missing the last one. You can expect an amazing Korn show!"

Velvet Revolver lead singer Scott Weiland said - "I have to say, I'm a big proponent of "the true rock and roll extravaganza". Although I might have to add that the Download Festival might have been a better handle".

Dragonforce return for the 2nd time with guitarist Herman Li saying, “We've had so many requests from fans asking us play to Download this year, and Dragon Force is always up for a free piss up, so there is no way we can let our fans down. We’re really looking forward to coming back for another rampage with more songs at Download 2007!”

Hard-as-nails metallic maelstrom DevilDriver make their second appearance and Dez Fafara says “It’s a privilege and an honour to be playing at this year’s Download. We had such a great time last year and the excitement in the DevilDriver camp is overwhelming about playing again this year! We are going to unleash a ferocious monster on the festival so get ready for the biggest fuckin’ circle pit in history!”

Vocalist Randy Blythe of Lamb of God, returns for the second year saying “The first time we played Download is one of my personal career highlights. To come back two years later will be even f*cking better. Britain might sink this time – be warned”.

And last but not least, Dimmu Borgir make their Donington Park debut with Silenoz announcing ”We’ve been looking forward to do this for many years and now it’s finally happening! We’re hoping the Diaboli Horde will turn up manifold in support of our first festival appearance on English soil!”

Fueled By Ramen (the label of Fallout Boy and Panic! At The Disco) band, The Academy Is… have unveiled the release details of their hugely-anticipated second album ‘Santi’.

The follow-up to 2005’s breakthrough debut, ‘Almost Here’ will be released on 2nd April 2007, this will coincide with the digital release of the first single ‘We’ve Got A Big Mess On Our Hands’, released on download March 19th & and limited edition 7’’ vinyl on 16th April

A trailer for ‘Santi’ and ‘We’ve Got a Big Mess On Our Hands’ has been created and can be found via the following link http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid507846802.

The band also arrive in the UK for a headline tour next month, playing the following dates:

March 20th - Birmingham Barfly
March 21st- Manchester Academy 2
March 22nd- Glasgow Garage
March 24th- Oxford Zodiac
March 25th- Leeds Cockpit
March 26th- Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
March 27th- London Mean Fiddler

The Academy Is… are absolutely huge in the US! Formed in the Chicago suburb of Hoffman Estates back in 2002, The Academy Is… captured attention right from the start with their inventive, electrifying take on expressive punk-inspired rock ‘n’ roll.

The band toured nearly non-stop behind the album’s release, sharing stages coast-to-coast with such like-minded outfits as Fall Out Boy, Motion City Soundtrack, and All-American Rejects. In 2006, the band embarked on its own rapturously received headline trek, topping a bill that also featured Hellogoodbye and Fueled By Ramen’s own Panic! At The Disco. With a fervent fanbase growing daily, The Academy Is… spent last summer winning over mainstage crowds on the annual Vans Warped Tour, while behind the scenes, they focused on penning new material for what would become the sophomore “SANTI.”

Firewind, currently on tour with Angra and Power Quest in Europe, head to the UK for a quartet of gigs in April. The Greek power metallers, who will be joined by Grand Magus for the dates, have confirmed the following shows:

Apr. 21 - Peterborough, UK @ The Park
Apr. 22 - Nottingham, UK @ Rock City
Apr. 23 - Glasgow, UK @ Cathouse
Apr. 24 - London, UK @ Underworld

Look for a review of the band's recent gig in Bordeaux over the next couple of days on HardRockHouse.

Unearth, along with Job For A Cowboy, Despised Icon & Daarth hit the UK for a series of gigs in March. The confirmed dates are as follows:

March 20th – Exeter Lemon Grove
March 21st – Nottingham Rock City
March 22nd – Manchester Academy 3
March 23rd – Birmingham Academy 2
March 24th – London Mean Fiddler
March 26th – Oxford Zodiac
March 27th – Glasgow Garage
March 28th – Stoke Sugarmill
March 29th – Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
March 30th – Newport T.J.’s

Metal Blade Records has announced the signing of German death metallers LAY DOWN ROTTEN.

Commented the band: "LAY DOWN ROTTEN are nothing but happy about the signing to one of the most respected and most active labels in the world. We are looking forward to a successful and creative collaboration and hope that this new deal helps to spread the word across the borders of Germany. The band has never been more motivated and is about to deliver their best album to date. Be prepared."

LAY DOWN ROTTEN is in the middle of the songwriting process for their upcoming album. The working title is "Reconquering the Pit", and studio time is booked for this summer. The album is scheduled to be released in November 2007. "We have stayed true to our death metal roots and added a bit more brutality," states the band.

LAY DOWN ROTTEN has created quite a buzz in Germany over the last few years, having been described as the most talented and powerful newcomer in death metal in a very long time. The band was formed in 1999, but it was not until 2003 they released their debut album, "Paralyzed by Fear".

Influenced by the brutality of American death and thrash metal acts and the melody lines of Swedish death metal masters, the band released two more albums on Remission Records, "Cold Constructed" and "Breeding Insanity".

Frontiers Records have announced the details of Joe Lynn Turner's new studio album, "Second Hand Life", which is scheduled for release in Europe on April 20th 2007.

In a career that spans nearly 30 years and includes over 50 album credits, Joe Lynn Turner ("JLT") remains one of rock and roll's most distinctive, soulful and expressive vocalists. His credits include FANDANGO, RAINBOW, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, DEEP PURPLE and more recently MOTHER'S ARMY and his successful cooperation with GLENN HUGHES on the HUGHES / TURNER PROJECT albums.

"Second Hand Life" is Turner's new studio album, his tenth solo release. This time Joe wanted to go straight back to his melodic rock roots. Therefore, he worked on the song writing with such luminaries as Jim Peterik (ex Survivor), Bob Held, Karl Cochran, Martin Briley. He also managed to include a track that he co-wrote with Ritchie Blackmore, Jim Peterik and Roger Glover entitled "Stroke of Midnight".

The players on the new disc include long time collaborators Karl Cochran (Ace Frehley) on guitar and bass, Bob Held on bass, Gary Corbett on keyboards and former Damn Yankees - now with Lynyrd Skynyrd - drummer Michael Cartellone.

In Joe's words: "I would describe the new album as a hybrid between The Usual Suspects and Sunstorm, my recent studio project which received more positive reviews than any of my solo CDs since Rescue You. I felt that the fans wanted to hear more music in this melodic rock vein. So... I think we delivered on this forthcoming album".

The full track listing for "Second Hand Life" is as follows:

Love is Life; Got Me Where You Want Me; Second Hand Life; In Your Eyes; Blood Red Sky; Stroke of Midnight; Over the Top; Cruel; Sweet Obsession; Love Is On Our Side and Two Lights (European exclusive bonus track)

Faster Pussycat join forces with Enuff Z'Nuff and the BulletBoys for a series of UK shows this Spring. The full  list of confirmed dates are as follows:

April 26th - Swansea Sin City
April 27th - Bradford Rio's
April 28th - Nottingham Rock City
April 29th - Dudley JBs
April 30th - Crewe Limelight
May 1st - London Camden Underworld

In an interesting side note it now appears that their are two Faster Pussycat's doing the rounds... sound familiar... The other day Taime Downe posted the following message regarding Brent Muscat touring Europe under the Faster Pussycat moniker:

"Faster Pussycat is NOT playing Europe in April & May. That is Brent Muscat doing his FP tribute band, playing my songs. We will be on tour in the US in May and Europe in the summer. Sorry it you already bought tickets.

See you soon fuckers! ;)
Xxx
Taime

PS... message to Brent: I didn't want it to turn into this... but I started the band, not you.... I wrote the songs, not you. I did the work.... NOT YOU!!!.... but that's you, always taking credit that's not yours!!!"

Brent Muscat responded to Taime and the fans, claiming to represent 'just the facts':

"There seems to be some confusion.

I legally own the name Faster Pussycat and have been a member of the band since it's inception in 1986.

In 2000 Taime made an awful remix cd. It was not until Greg Steele and I threatened him with legal action that we were paid and invited to join our own band.

In 2005 I was diagnosed with oral cancer. The band which I had been part of for 20 years all of a sudden replaced me and lied about my condition. I was very hurt that Taime never bothered to call me once.

As a result of Taime's drunken and erratic performances, the price for Faster Pussycat live performances plummeted and fans have voiced their displeasure.

I decided I would attempt to reunite the band to commemorate our 20th anniversary. I invited both Greg and Taime, (which is more then he did for me) but neither responded.

I felt that the fans should hear the songs as they were recorded one final time. So together with original members Eric Stacy and Brett Bradshaw, Faster Pussycat will tour Europe and beyond. Every show is 90 minutes of all classic tracks. No re-mixes, No B.S.!!!!!

I've been through too much to sit home and wait for Taime. I'm happy to say I kicked cancer's ass and as long as I own the name, there will only be one Faster Pussycat this year. 3/5 rule!

Nuclear Blast Records have announced details of the latest signing to the label, Swiss Metal experimentalists SAMAEL

In their almost 20-year-long career, the legendary quartet has evolved from Black Metal to a unique form of Dark Metal, heavily infused with electronica and grooves. The band is currently mastering the follow-up to 2004`s "Reign Of Light" and Samael's eighth album is called "Solar Soul" and was recorded in Switzerland in the fall of 2006. Some song titles have also been revealed: 'Solar Soul', 'Promised Land', 'Slavocracy', 'Western Ground' and 'On The Rise'.

Charismatic vocalist Vorph is excited about the changes in the band camp: "We're thrilled to enter this new collaboration with an album we believe to be our greatest achievement to date. We know Nuclear Blast is providing a solid ground that will enable us to build something worth your attention. For us, it feels like the time is now!"

"Solar Soul" is set to be released June 18th 2007.

Lion Music have announced details of two albums that are scheduled to be released later this year. First up is Mind's Eye's  'A Gentleman's Hurricane'

Daniel Flores of Mind's Eye has checked in with the following, "Finally! The album is done! 75 minutes of the best music we can offer! Almost 80 minutes for the Japanese release! (including bonus track). Mats "Limpan" Lindfors of Platinum mastering did an amazing job with his all new equipment and amazing ears. We have never been more satisfied with the result of songs, theme and sound of an album as we were after mastering this one. The sound is insane! Totally crushing the last album!"

"A Gentleman's Hurricane" will include the following tracks:

Praying For Confession, Seven Days, Assassination, Chaos Unleashed, Hells Invitations, Feed My Revolver, Ashes To Ashes, Red Winter Sirens, Skin Crawl, Graveyard Hands, Say Goodnight and Pandora's Musical Box

Although the release date has yet to be confirmed the album will be released as a stunning package with a making of DVD and Comic chronicling the story included.

The second album is the fist vocal album from Milan Polak , entitled 'Straight', which is scheduled for release on April 20th 2007.

After 2 hugely successful instrumental albums in "Dreamscapes" and "Guitar Odyssey", Austrian guitar virtuoso Milan Polak returns with his first solo vocal album entitled "Straight". The album is powered by 13 rocking tracks that not only showcase Milan's guitar prowess but also his great bluesy vocals backed by a killer band of Randy Coven (bass, ex Malmsteen, Ark, MCM), John Macaluso (drums, ex Malmsteen, Ark, John Macaluso & Union Radio) and Fabio Trentini (bass).

On the new album Milan comments, "'Straight' stands for the whole concept of this album. One day I sat down and thought about a single word that could perfectly describe me & my music and I found it in 'straight'. The term 'straight' has a lot of different meanings and they all apply to my personality, my lyrics, my music and my attitude. It stands for the way this album looks, sounds and was produced - no FX, no BS. What you see & hear is what you get - 100% Milan. Enjoy!".

On the change of direction, "I had started to realize that playing instrumental guitar music only offers limited possibilities, so I decided to take a step into another direction and write songs with lyrics & vocals to reach a wider audience". Fans of Milan's guitar work will not find any lack of fret board prowess but the addition of vocals gives a more balanced packaged.

The full track listung for 'Straight' is as follows:

Difference, Psychobitch, Crosses, Hero, Favorite Vice, Some Kind Of Jesus, All I Want, Superstar Mania, Straight, Happy Now?, I Don't Care, Free After All  andThe Glowing Of A Cigarette

Any fan who attended TOTO shows over the last year noticed that Mike Porcaro had toured after having sustained a very painful injury to his left hand. Despite the fact that it was difficult, Mike persevered and played each and every date of the first leg of the Falling In Between Tour. After returning home, Mike sought medical treatment and has been recovering nicely; however, he has not been able to recuperate in time to join the band on the upcoming tour.

“I was hoping that the situation would be better by now,” Mike states, “but it hasn’t improved. It’s gonna take a while. I’m working on it, and I hope to be back in the saddle soon enough. But, unfortunately, I’m not going to be able to make this upcoming run. Nobody feels worse about it than me, but that’s the reality of it.”

Despite the short notice, TOTO have recruited one of the best bass players around to substitute for Mike: acclaimed session musician and life-long friend Leland (Lee) Sklar. “Those of you on the TOTO Network have seen Lee; he’s a big part of the Network and what we’re trying to do there with the web. He’s going to play bass and you’re going to love it. You’re in great hands,” says Mike, and jokes, “Come on down and see him play and see a real bass player.”

Sklar, a renowned player whose credits include James Taylor, Hall & Oates, Jackson Browne, Phil Collins, Clint Black, Reba McEntire, and George Strait, is looking forward to playing with his long-time friends in TOTO. He will be filling in for Mike on all of the upcoming TOTO tour dates so that Mike has the time to fully recover. “I hope to see you all soon,” says Mike. “I’m sorry that this is the way it is, but this is life and I’ll hopefully be back really soon. So God bless and enjoy the upcoming tour!”

Mike recorded a special video message apologizing for not being able to do the tour and introducing Lee to the fans.
http://www.toto99.com/multimedia/videos/mike.shtml

FIREFEST 4 PRESS RELEASE

Ticket Outlets : In addition to purchasing tickets directly from FIREFEST the following are a list of official ticket agents for the FIREFEST 4 show :

Nottingham Rock City : www.rock-city.co.uk and www.alt-tickets.co.uk or in person from the Box Office at Rock City, 8 Talbot Street, Nottingham. Rock City will have tickets available for sale from Monday Feb 26th

Loud 1: 144 Congleton Road, Biddulph, Stoke On Trent, Staffs, ST8 6QN. England Tel: 01782 522370. Email: gez@loud1.net

Destiny Records: 6 Christie Avenue, Whitley, Fareham, Hampshire, PO 15 7JE. England Tel:01489603549. Email destiny.records@virgin.net 

ZRoxx: PO Box 300, Hailsham, BN27 9AY. England. Tel: 01323 833049. E mail : sales@z-roxx.com

ST Records: 165 Wolverhampton Street, Dudley, West Midlands, DY1 3 AH. England. Tel : 01384 230726 - Personal Callers Only

Manchester based alternative art-rockers DAVID R BLACK release their ‘Silence And Sound’ single on March 26 on Mighty Atom Records. David R Black have gigged extensively throughout the UK, Europe and the USA and have toured with the likes of Three Colours Red, Living Colour, The Tubes, Spin Doctors, Elbow, Hanoi Rocks, Fishbone, Breed 77, Hugh Cornwell (Stranglers), The Donots, Antiproduct... The new single was produced by Joe Gibb (Leftfield, Jane’s Addiction, Funeral For A Friend etc). The B-side, 'Dark Halo', is taken from a TOTALROCK RADIO session.

The band support their new record with a UK tour then head to Europe to support The Mission, but return to the capital to finish it all off in style. The full list of UK dates are as follows:

March 16th - Ashton Witchwood
March 18th - Nottingham The Social
March 23rd - Glasgow Barfly
March 24th - Coventry Golden Cross
March 25th - Newcastle The Cluny
March 31st - Sheffield Corporation
April 18th - York Cert 18
May 15th - Bristol Academy
May 16th - Manchester Academy
May 17th - Glasgow ABC
May 18th - Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall
May 30th - London Shepherd's Bush Empire

Hotly-tipped Cardiff pop-rock quintet Kids In Glass Houses have just announced another lengthy spell on the road. This time around it's supporting fellow countrymen and good friends, The Blackout. The quintet bring their hook-laden rock to the following venues :

March 17th - London Klub Kerrang! @ Koko
March 30th - Aberdeen Tunnels
March 31st - Glasgow Barfly
April 1st - Liverpool Barfly
April 2nd - Stoke Sugarmill
April 3rd- Leeds Cockpit
April 5th - Birmingham Barfly
April 6th - Oxford Brookes
April 7th  - Wrexham Central Station
April 8th -  Nottingham Rock City
April 9th - Sheffield Leadmill
April 10th - Southampton Joiners
April 11th - Bristol Fleece & Firkin
April 12th - Manchester Club Academy
April 13th - London Kings College
April 14th - Yeovil Ski Lodge

Saxon have been forced to postpone their  UK & Irish tour dates that were scheduled to take place from Feb 28th through March. The reason given for the postponement being due to vocalist Biff Byford contracting a throat infection. The dates have all been rescheduled for May:

May 14th - Manchester Academy 2
May 15th - London Astoria
May 16th - Nottingham Rock City 
May 17th - Dublin Temple Bar Music Centre
May 18th - Glasgow Garage
May 20th - Wolverhampton Civic Hall
May 21st -  Cardiff Coal Exchange 
May 23rd -  Belfast Spring & Airbrake

Joining Saxon for all of these dates will be Masterplan, whilst Rose Tattoo are added to the bill for the shows in Nottingham, Wolverhampton & Cardiff.

Saxon release their latest album, 'The Inner Sanctum, through SPV on March 5th.

WARRANT DVD out in April:

MTM announces the release of “Born Again D.V.D. Delvis Video Diaries” which features 12 new music videos from the 12 bombastic songs of the Warrant CD “Born Again” with video edits from Jerry Dixon, Steven Sweet & Tommy Thayer.

After the successful comeback album “Born Again” WARRANT is releasing their first DVD “Born Again D.V.D. Delvis Video Diaries”. The 2006 released album “Born Again” was perfectly describing the band’s current state: With their new singer, JAIME ST. JAMES (BLACK ‘N BLUE) WARRANT have recorded an album that surprised their old fans and definitely attracted some new ones. After the release the band was touring around the US performing lots of huge festivals and worked hard on the DVD which sees the light of day in 2007.

The DVD features bonus material of 30 minutes of the studio recording sessions, a making of “Born Again”, a funny backstage tour video debauchery of “The Down Boys” and a slide show. Feel free to enjoy all this video magic with your neighbour's, cranking up your surround sound unit to 11! Classic 80’s hard rock with the band’s trademark touch of poser and sleaze metal!

Track list:
Devil's Juice, Dirty Jack, Bourbon County Line, Hell CA, Angels, Love Strikes Like Lightning, Glimmer, Roller Coaster, Down In Diamonds, Velvet Noose, Roxy and Good Times
Special features: + Tour Outtakes, + In The Studio, + Gallery, + Live Shots

The release is scheduled for April 20, 2007.

MTM signs TRIBUZY:

The Brazilian metal band TRIBUZY, formed and headed by singer Renato Tribuzy released their studio debut “Execution” with a `heavy-metal-allstar-team´ feat. Bruce Dickinson, Michael Kiske, Mat Sinner, Ralf Scheepers, Roland Grapow, Andreas Kisser, Kiko Loureiro and Roy Z. The musical influences used by TRIBUZY during the writing process were the great classics such as Powerslave (Iron Maiden), And Justice For All (Metallica) and other 80's heavy music.

The album “Execution Live Reunion” has 11 tracks in total and features all of the guests from the “Execution” studio album in a special performance onstage with TRIBUZY. The album was produced by Roy Z and Renato Tribuzy, and mixed by Roy Z at Mountain View studio, in LA, USA.

Line-Up:
Renato Tribuzy – Vocals
Gustavo Silvera – Guitars
Frank Schieber – Guitars
Ivan Guilhon – Bass
Flavio Pascarillo – Drums

Guests: Bruce Dickinson (vocals), Michael Kiske (vocals), Kiko Loureiro (guitar), Mat Sinner (vocals), Ralf Scheepers (vocals), Roland Grapow (guitar), Roy Z (guitar)

Tracklist:

Into, Agressive, Divine Disgrace, The Attempt, Forgotten Time (feat. Kiko Loureiro), Nature Of Evil (feat. Kiko Loureiro, Mat Sinner), Absolution (feat. Ralf Scheepers, Roland Grapow), Web Of Life (feat. Roland Grapow), Execution (feat. Kiko Loureiro), Beast In The Light (feat. Bruce Dickinson, Roy Z) and The Means (Bonustrack)

The release is scheduled for April 20, 2007.

MTM signs VAINGLORY:

US melodic power metal band VAINGLORY features intense riffs, virtuoso guitar shredding, mighty drumming, heavy pounding bass parts, powerful vocals and thought provoking lyrics.

Based around modern guitar master, Corbin King “The King Of Southern Shred”, and vocal sensation Kate French, of CHASTAIN fame, this band has all the ingredients in place to be a major force on the metal market for years to come. Kate's ability to mix power, conviction, emotion, and true heavy metal singing is very uncommon in today's "metal" vocalists. Kate is a veteran to heavy metal and has not only pushed beyond the normal bounds of female vocalists, but has delivered her best recorded performance to date on this CD.

Along with bassist Chris Banja, drummer Dan Lynch and second guitarist John M