MÖTLEY CRÜE Drummer Settles Lawsuit With Former Assistant

According to RadarOnline.com, MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee has settled his legal battle with his former assistant, who sued the rock star for defamation and failure to pay overtime, among other claims. Lee will pay Michael Anthony Sullivan more than $400,000 and deliver “a public apology,” a source tells Star magazine.

Sullivan, who claims to have worked as Lee‘s “procurer, Man Friday, chauffeur, guide, bookkeeper, attendant, door-keeper, agent, butler, valet, attendant, cook, shopper, nanny, bodyguard, maid, nurse and nursemaid” from January 2005 to March 2011, filed a lawsuit against Lee and Lee‘s company, Mayhem Touring, in Los Angeles Superior Court in November 2011, claiming that he was worked virtually around the clock, and that Lee made improper deductions from the assistant’s paycheck. The disgruntled assistant also asserts that after he was terminated, he was hired to become the tour manager for BUSH, but lost the job because of “Lee‘s defamatory statements and interference.”

“Lee found Sullivan so useful that he required him to stay at his residence so that he was always available for service,” the suit said. “However, after requiring Sullivan to stay at the home and obtaining the benefits of Sullivan‘s presence in his home, in 2009, Lee began deducting $1,000 from his wages every month for ‘rent.’”

You can check out the entire lawsuit at this location. Source: Blabbermouth.net

JEFF SCOTT SOTO: ‘Look Inside Your Heart’ Video Released

“Look Inside Your Heart”, the new video from the legendary hard rock singer Jeff Scott Soto (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, TALISMAN, JOURNEY), can be seen HERE. The song comes off Soto‘s new solo album, “Damage Control”, which will be released on March 23 in Europe and March 27 in North America via Frontiers Records.

An extraordinary performer and amazing vocalist, Jeff Scott Soto blasts through these hard-rocking tracks with energy and masters the transition smoothly from heavy rock to a delicate ballad.

For “Damage Control”, Jeff has turned to many of his past influences and most requested aspects of his career by blending the art of melodic rock with hard rock.

“I feel ‘Damage Control’ is more of a return to what my fans would expect to hear from me,” says Jeff. “It’s a perfect blend of my first two solo albums with Frontiers Records — ‘Prism’ and ‘Lost In The Translation’ — but also mixes in some of my favorite moments of my past bands such as TALISMAN and SOUL SIRKUS. It is heavy, AOR, hard rock with loads of great riffs and melodies.”

“Damage Control” was recorded in the fall of 2011 and features appearances and writing contributions by Jeff‘s former and current bandmates, along with many guests, including Jamie Borger and Nalley Påhlsson (TREAT), Casey Grillo (KAMELOT), Joel Hoekstra (NIGHT RANGER) and legendary Y&T founding member Dave Meniketti. Jeff states, “Y&T drummer Mike Vanderhule played drums on a track and suggested I bring Dave on but, as he is a long time friend and one on the ‘wish list’ of people I would have loved to have, I didn’t want to get an excuse that he was too busy or not interested, to my surprise I got neither… he was willing to do it and I was not only grateful but beyond pleased to work with another musical hero!”

“Damage Control” will be released in two exclusive configurations; the basic version in CD jewel box will include 11 songs, while the deluxe edition in digipak format has an additional three bonus tracks and a DVD.

CD:

01. Give A Little More
02. Damage Control
03. Look Inside Your Heart
04. Die A Little
05. Take U Down*
06. If I Never Let Her Go
07. Tears That I Cry
08. BonaFide
09. Elena*
10. Krazy World
11. How To Love Again
12. AfterWorld
13. NeverEnding War
14. Afraid To Die*

* Bonus tracks only available on the Deluxe Edition.

DVD:

* Look Inside Your Heart (videoclip)
* NeverEnding War (videoclip)
* Damage Control (videoclip)
* EPK interview

Jeff Scott Soto is currently planning tour dates that will support the release of the new record. “The plan is to do as much touring as possible wherever the world will have me,” he says. “I plan to promote this album with a proper touring regiment!” Source: Blabbermouth.net

SAXON: Last Year’s SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL Performance To Be Broadcast On Swedish Radio

British heavy metal legends SAXON performed their classic “Denim And Leather” album in its entirety at last year’s edition of the Sweden Rock Festival, which was held June 8-11, 2011 in Sölvesborg, and now you can enjoy it, too. The concert will air on the Swedish radio station Sveriges Radio P4 on Saturday, March 3 between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. CET. The broadcast will be available for streaming via the Internet for 30 days at this location.

SAXON has commenced the songwriting sessions for the follow-up to last year’s “Call To Arms”. Drummer Nigel Glockler wrote on his Facebook page, “Expecting Quinny [Paul Quinn; guitar] down this week, so he, Doug [Scarratt; guitar] and myself will be in the home studio working on songs for the next album before the whole band meet up again in March. The plan (at the moment) is to have the album written by May, then studio between festivals this summer. We are hoping for a January 2013 release, but as you know, things are always subject to change.”

SAXON will release “Saxon – Heavy Metal Thunder – Live – Eagles Over Wacken”, the no-fat-no-bullshit-100%-pure CD/DVD featuring DVD highlights from the band’s Wacken shows in 2004, 2007 and 2009 comprising thirty songs, plus a live CD from Glasgow in 2011. Each set captures the Barnsley-bred British heavy metal legends delivering classic after classic, from “Denim & Leather” to “Metalhead” to “Heavy Metal Thunder” to “Princess Of The Night” to “Crusader” in front of 75,000-pluds loyal, ravenous fans, who have come to expect (and receive) the levels of performance SAXON have been delivering for 32 years.

“Heavy Metal Thunder – Live – Eagles Over Wacken” is available in a variety of formats, including the Golden Ticket D2C/Direct To Consumer Box.

Strictly limited, this exclusive package contains the “Best Of Wacken” DVD, plus the full and complete SAXON Wacken Open Air performances from 2004/2007/2009 each on a separate DVD, plus a SAXON flag.

Release dates:

April 23 – U.K.
April 20 – Rest Of Europe
May 22 – North America

Source: Blabbermouth.net

FESTER To Release ‘A Celebration Of Death’ Next Month

Norwegian blackened death metallers FESTER have risen from their grave to unleash the fury that is “A Celebration Of Death”. The band’s first collection of new material in 17 years is a whirlwind of dark musical flavors mixing black, death, thrash, heavy metal and jazz. Guitarist/vocalist Bjorn “Tiger” Mathisen states, “FESTER has never made music to please a certain crowd and this dark anthem really proves that darkness and death can come in many different disguises.”

“A Celebration Of Death” is due in mid-March through Abyss Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Rites of Ceres
02. The Black Tower
03. March of Death
04. I’ll Hunt You Down
05. Metalized
06. Jeg Spytter På Deg
07. Last Day of Battle Pt. I
08. Last Day of Battle Pt. II
09. A Face for a Funeral (bonus)
10. Rites of Mortiis (Remix of Ceres by Mortiis)

The song “Rites of Ceres” is currently streaming at the band’s MySpace page. Source: Blabbermouth.net

AMARANTHE: Video Recap Of LOUD PARK Appearance

An 11-minute video recap of AMARANTHE‘s appearance at last year’s edition of the Loud Park festival, which took place October 15, 2011 at Saitama Super Arena, a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Saitama City, Japan, can be seen below. Source: Blabbermouth.net

MASSIVE AUDIO NERVE Begins Recording New Album

MASSIVE AUDIO NERVE (formely known just as M.A.N) — the Swedish metal-hardcore-progressive four-piece featuring TRANSPORT LEAGUE/ex-MNEMIC frontman Tony Jelencovich — has entered IF Studios, the IN FLAMES-owned facility in Gothenburg, Sweden, with producer Roberto Laghi (IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE, HARDCORE SUPERSTAR) to begin recording its fourth album, “Cancer Vulgaris”. The effort will mark the group’s first release with newly recruited members Adde Larsson on drums and Mark Black on guitar.

The first two in a series of video clips featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the new CD recording sessions can be seen below.

“Cancer Vulgaris” will feature the following tracks:

* Hoax
* Grace of Time
* Underhanded Brother
* Scythe of Cupidity
* Smack Down
* Slumcult
* Death Song
* Young Insect
* Cryosync
* Man Slaughter
* Lights Out
* This Generation
* Instrumental

Source: Blabbermouth.net

MUSTASCH: ‘The Challenger’ Video Released

“The Challenger”, the new video from Swedish heavy rockers MUSTASCH, can be seen below. The clip was shot in Gothenburg, Sweden with STCC (Swedish Touring Car Championship) and was directed by Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE and KAMELOT, among others.

“The Challenger” comes off MUSTASCH‘s new album, “Sounds Like Hell, Looks Like Heaven”, which was released on February 1 via Gain Music Entertainment. The CD was produced by guitarist/vocalist Ralf Gyllenhammar and was mixed by Stefan Glaumann (RAMMSTEIN, PARADISE LOST, WITHIN TEMPTATION). The cover artwork was created by Martin Westerstrand (LILLASYSTER singer).

“Sounds Like Hell, Looks Like Heaven” track listing:

01. Speed Metal
02. The Challenger
03. It’s Never Too Late
04. Cold Heart Mother Son
05. Morning Star
06. Dead Again
07. Your Father Must Be Proud Of You
08. Destroyed By Destruction
09. I Don’t Hate You
10. Northern Link

Source: Blabbermouth.net

LAKE OF TEARS: ‘House Of The Setting Sun’ Video Released

“House Of The Setting Sun”, the new video from Swedish metallers LAKE Of TEARS, can be viewed below. The clip features live footage filmed during the shows in Beijing, Shengyang, Dalian and Shanghai on the “Xoundforce China” tour in January 2012. The song comes off the band’s latest album, “Illwill”, which was released in April 2011 via AFM Records. It was made available on CD, limited-edition digipak and limited 180-gram vinyl (with different cover artwork). Source: Blabbermouth.net

Vinyl cover:

 

CD cover:

FULLFORCE Parts Ways With Guitarist, Announces Replacement

FULLFORCE — the Swedish melodic metal outfit featuring Mike Andersson (CLOUDSCAPE, SILENT MEMORIAL, PLANET ALLIANCE) on vocals, Stefan Elmgren (HAMMERFALL) on guitar, Anders Johansson (HAMMERFALL, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) on drums and Tommy Larsson (HEED) on bass — has parted ways with guitarist Carl-Johan Grimmark (NARNIA) “due to some changes in [Grimmark's] life situation which he had to put priority to.”

During the last few months, FULLFORCE has been focusing on writing the songs for its second album and also searching for the best possible replacement for Carl-Johan, both musically and personally. Finally the search is over and FULLFORCE has introduced guitar ace Stefan Rosqvist (ex-DAWN OF OBLIVION, LALE LARSSON).

Commented FULLFORCE: “Stefan Rosqvist is a very talented, versatile guitarist and musician and the band is really excited to have him onboard.”

FULLFORCE has almost finished the songwriting for its as-yet-untitled second album and is planning to enter the recording studio during the summer.

Check out the YouTube clip below to listen to a short clip where Stefan Rosqvist plays a guitar solo on a solo part intended for the new album (pre-production). Source: Blabbermouth.net

 

NIGHTWISH – Video Contest

NUCLEAR BLAST has issued the following:

NIGHTWISH would like to invite their fans from around the world to express their creativity by making their own video for ther new single track “The Crow, The Owl And The Dove” off the band’s recent „IMAGINAERUM“ album.

Read more information on the contest’s landing page here: http://www.nuclearblast.de/en/lp/nightwish-video-contest.html

FIRST PLACE PRIZE
· Video will be uploaded to the NIGHTWISH and NUCLEAR BLAST YouTube channel

· Golden Ticket – which allows access to any show on the „Imaginaerum“ world tour, except for festivals (winners provide own transportation)

· Special Award
· Band Meet & Greet

· Limited Tour Edition „Imaginaerum“

SECOND PLACE PRIZE
· Video will be uploaded to the NIGHTWISH and NUCLEAR BLAST YouTube channel

· Two tickets to a NIGHTWISH show on the „Imaginaerum“ tour near you (winners provide own transportation)

· Band Meet & Greet
· Limited Tour Edition „Imaginaerum“

THIRD PLACE PRIZE
· Video will be uploaded to the NIGHTWISH and NUCLEAR BLAST YouTube channel

· Two tickets to a NIGHTWISH show ob the „Imaginaerum“ tour near you (winners provide own transportation)

· Limited Tour Edition „Imaginaerum“

CONTEST ENDS TUESDAY, APRIL 10th. The clip with most views will be the winning one!