Guns N' Roses/Axl Watch

[muthagoose]

More weirdness from the good folks over at Rolling Stone:


Sly Stone and the $8,500 Puppy: How Sebastian Bach Nearly Reunited Guns N’ Roses

Yesterday, Sebastian Bach recalled the smackdown he received from Axl Rose when he dared to suggest Rose nail down a Chinese Democracy release date. Today, the onetime Skid Row frontman has an amazing story about how he nearly got Axl and Slash together — to rock out with Sly Stone:

“I actually talked on the phone to Sly Stone because I always wanted to do obscure covers of Sly Stone songs. I want to do them in the style of ‘Back in the Saddle’ from Angel Down. I had a whole session ready to go. Sly said, ‘I’d love Axl and Slash to come play on this.’ I texted Axl and said, ‘Would you be interested in singing with Sly Stone on some music?’ He goes, ‘Yeah. If this is a real album that Sly’s doing, I will come down there and sing with you guys.’

“I was footing the bill for this session on my own. I had everyone ready to go. At the very last minute my manager calls Sly and says, ‘What’s Sly going to need?’ Sly wanted me to buy him a dog. He gave me this information on a specific kennel in northern California in Napa Valley and a specific breed for one puppy that he wanted me to buy for him for $8,500. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back on the session.

“If this isn’t crazy enough, two months ago Slash called me out of the blue and asked me to work on a project that it is not Velvet Revolver — it’s another project with high-profile musicians. I asked him, ‘Would you be interested in playing with Sly Stone on a thing?’ I explained it to him and Slash goes, ‘Yeah, I’ll do that.’ I almost had them reunited on a Sly tune. That still could happen. If I can afford to buy Sly the puppy he wanted, I can reunite Guns n’ Roses.

“I was raised on Sly and the Family Stone as much as Kiss and Judas Priest and I’m so honored he’d want to work with me. To get Axl singing on it, it sounds nuts, but that’s what I do. If I can get together the $8,500 bucks to buy Sly the attack dog, then it’s on.”

[muthagoose]

DUFF MCKAGAN's LOADED:
'Dark Days' Album Available For Free Download

LOADED, the band formed by current VELVET REVOLVER bassist Duff McKagan (on guitar and vocals) after he left GUNS N' ROSES, has made its 2001 album, "Dark Days", available for free download at this location (the link is in red, top left):

www.idolmanagement.com/duffmckagan's/loadeddarkdays.htm

LOADED has posted the first webisode (see below) featuring footage from the recording sessions for the group's new album, to be released before the end of the year. The sessions are progressing well and they band already has three new tracks ready — "Forgive Me", "Sick" and "No More".

In addition to McKagan, LOADED features drummer Geoff Reading (GREEN APPLE QUICK STEP), bassist Jeff Rouse (VENDETTA RED, ALIEN CRIME SYNDICATE) and guitarist Mike Squires (ALIEN CRIME SYNDICATE).

LOADED will embark on a European tour in September. Confirmed dates are as follows:

Sep. 06 - Vittoria, SPA @ Azkena Festival,
Sep. 13 - Milan, ITA @ Rock Of Ages - A September To Remember Festival
Sep. 14 - Bristol, UK @ Academy
Sep. 15 - Liverpool, UK @ Academy 2
Sep. 16 - Sheffield, UK @ Academy 2
Sep. 18 - London, UK @ Islington Academy
Sep. 19 - Wolverhampton, UK @ Wulfrun Hall
Sep. 20 - Nottingham, UK @ Rock City
Sep. 21 - Newcastle, UK @ Sage Club
Sep. 22 - Glasgow, UK @ Garage
Sep. 23 - Inverness, UK @ Ironworks
Sep. 25 - Belfast, N. IRE @ Limelight
Sep. 26 - Dublin, IRE @ Academy

Support on the UK/Ireland portion of the trek will come from THE LOYALTIES.

[muthagoose]

Guns n’ Roses’ “Chinese Democracy” Leaker Gets FBI Visit

Last week, the Internet was rocked when California blogger Kevin Skwerl posted nine newly leaked Chinese Democracy tracks, including three previously unheard songs allegedly from Guns n’ Roses long-awaited album. Skwerl — who used to work in the distribution department of Universal Music and is now a Web designer — runs the blog Antiquiet, and says he received the tracks from “an anonymous online source.”

Yesterday Skwerl was surprised to find himself face to face with two FBI agents who paid a visit to his day job. “It was kind of an ambush,” Skwerl tells Rolling Stone. “When I came back from lunch they were waiting in the lobby for me. It’s a little creepy they know where I work.” Two young FBI officers, who Skwerl describes as “Mulder and Scully types,” questioned him for 15 minutes about where he got the tracks and made plans to visit his house at 7:00 a.m. this morning.

“I wasn’t sure if they were going to come by with a warrant and trash the place, like in the movies,” he says. “It was nothing like that.” The FBI officials wanted to see the original files, but Skwerl erased them last week per instructions from Axl Rose’s attorneys. Skwerl ultimately gave them second-hand files that are now widely available on the Internet.

Last week Skwerl’s blog crashed from the traffic flood that resulted from his controversial posting. “My host contacts me and says, ‘What the fuck did you do?’” I go, “Uhhhh. I posted some music.” He goes, “What exactly did you post?” I go, “Uhhhh. [Meek voice] New Guns n’ Roses.” He goes, “Motherfucker.” Before long his cell phone rang with an unfamiliar 323 number. “It was a really cool guy from the Gn’R camp that was a middle man between someone who was very angry and me. He was trying to reach out and see if I’d go without a fight, which is more or less what I did.”

Skwerl agreed to take them down, but a cease-and-desist letter soon followed threatening possible legal action. “I’m not so worried about that,” Skwerl says. “It’s a legal grey area since it wasn’t for download, it wasn’t a finished product. We aren’t sure who owns the recordings. I feel like I might survive this.”

[muthagoose]

BUMBLEFOOT: Collaborates with The Gibson Foundation To Raise Money For Rock Against Diabetes

Starting now you can purchase a special limited Bumblefoot/The Gibson Foundation t-shirt in support of Rock Against Diabetes. Every time you purchase this t-shirt you get a chance to win a huge package of rock n roll treats. The package includes a Gibson Les Paul BFG w/ hard case, a 3 hour lesson with Bumblefoot at the NYC Gibson Showroom and much, much more. This prize package values at about $4,000 currently and growing weekly. The more shirts that sell, the bigger the prize will be! Other sponsors for this promotion are Spectraflex, DiMarzio and Atari.

This promotion runs from June 22 to August 23rd, where Bumblefoot will announce the winner live at the show in Las Vegas. Price of this special edition t-shirt is $20.00 and all proceeds go to R.A.D.

To see Bumblefoot talk about this special promotion, go to www.rockagainstdiabetes.org or www.myspace.com/rockagainstdiabetes.

[muthagoose]

It has been a GNR heavy news week... here is the latest claim from Sebastian Bach...

Axl Rose Penning Autobiography,
Sequel to “Estranged”?

When Rolling Stone spoke with Sebastian Bach about the alleged Chinese Democracy leak, he reported that he’s heard “at least four albums’ worth” of finished Guns n’ Roses tracks, recalling a night in January 2007 when Rose rolled out new songs from midnight to 6 a.m. at New York’s Electric Lady studios. He says Rose told him that a slow, grinding track called “The General” is “the sequel to [Use Your Illusion II’s] ‘Estranged,’ that goes to the parable that Del James wrote of the trilogy” (James penned the short story that inspired the “November Rain” video). “He’s like the George Lucas of rock,” Bach marvels. “I know for a fact it’s not him saying, ‘Let’s wait and work on [Chinese Democracy] some more. He has a whole new business team. Irving Azoff is in control, along with Andy Gould. They are trying to figure out the best way to put the music out.”

In addition, Bach implied Rose is working on an autobiography. “I was saying to Axl one day, ‘I’m going to write a book.’ He was like, ‘Cool. How many pages you got?’ I go, ‘I’ve got six pages.’ He starts laughing and goes, ‘Yeah, I started my book a while back. I’m up to 12,000 words at this point,’” Bach says. “He’s very prolific. He’s just not motivated by fame at all. He’s had enough of it. He gets excited by making music, by putting on a concert. Making albums, he loves doing it.”

[muthagoose]

Time Magazine did a great piece on the Chinese Democracy. So here it is... to round out a heavily GNR laden week.

Source: www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1818182,00.html

Pirating Axl Rose's Record
By Joel Stein

I have Chinese Democracy. This is the Guns n' Roses album that lead singer Axl Rose has devoted himself to working on for 14 years, the same amount of time it took to carve Mount Rushmore. More than $13 million is reported to have been spent so far to make it, way more than any other album ever. It still has no formal release date. Every few years Rose assures his fans that it's about to be released, and then it isn't. It's gotten so ridiculous that the album title is used to mean something that is long promised but will never happen, like "That marriage proposal is total Chinese Democracy. Move on, girl."

I got the album June 18, a few hours after a political breakfast at which I met the girlfriend of a guy named Skwerl. It was, as you might guess, a Democratic event. After the breakfast, Mrs. Skwerl, mistaking me for a metalhead (must condition hair more), informed me that Skwerl had just posted Chinese Democracy on his blog at antiquiet.com and gave me the tracks. I have never been this excited about having an album. I play it all the time, everywhere. This is despite the fact that I don't like Guns n' Roses or heavy metal. Which is far outweighed by the fact that I really like having things that everyone else wants.

The nine tracks Skwerl put on his site were pretty exciting (you have not fully rocked until you've heard Axl Rose give it to Hu Jintao: "Blame it on the Falun Gong!/ They've seen the end, and you can't hold on now!"). But they weren't as exciting as talking to Skwerl. Until our conversation, I didn't really understand how piracy worked. Unfortunately, before he could explain, I had to interrupt to get to the bottom of this "Skwerl" thing. After bottle-nursing an injured squirrel back to health in high school and taking it in as a pet, Skwerl was given some other hurt squirrels by squirrel-loving kids in Philadelphia, and then some squirrels saw his generosity, and he soon had a small squirrel army. And when you have that many squirrel responsibilities on top of school and rocking out to Guns n' Roses albums, you don't have time for spell-check.

Skwerl, 27, is in a punk band and used to work for Universal Music. Now he works for a Web marketing company. "Among my friends, I'm the guy known for getting things no one can get," he says. "I'm just that rabid for information." Skwerls are the people who make the Internet useful. To everyone but record companies.

When blogs reported in April that Rose had finally delivered the album to his record company, Skwerl implied on his blog that he'd post the tracks if he got them. So someone who works for the record company sent them to Skwerl, and Skwerl threw them up on a player so people could listen but not download (though, of course, they found a way). The traffic crashed his server in 10 minutes. Within the hour, someone from Rose's camp called. "He was pretty cool. He seemed to be kind of like a warning-shot thing," says Skwerl. An hour later, he got an e-mail from the band's lawyer. "I've gotten cease and desists before," he says. "I sent back a very professional e-mail saying it's down, sorry for any inconvenience, and tried to do damage control." After 14 years of waiting, the record-company execs were not planning to launch the album with 10 minutes on a blog. I'm guessing they wanted to get Axl a whole hour on The View.

On June 23, two FBI agents were waiting for Skwerl in his office lobby and then checked his computer, hoping to find his source. While that makes Skwerl a little uncomfortable and he feels a little sad that Rose, his favorite rock star, is probably angry with him, he still thinks he did the band a favor. Now people know that the album isn't just a myth, that it's coming soon and that people who've heard it are saying it's good. And other than some increased traffic on his blog, Skwerl didn't profit from his stunt. "There were posts on Craigslist saying 'I'll give you $1,500 per track if you just play it for me.' I'm not going to say I'm the most morally virtuous person around after yesterday, but I didn't go that route." He also didn't go the route of driving all the way to someone's house to learn that there's no way any Guns n' Roses fan has $1,500 lying around.

Even if piracy seems unfair, megafans aren't going to stop themselves. Record companies will have to learn that giving music previews away--just as Google gives away its searches--in exchange for ads, sponsorship and merchandise is the new business model. And if I wasn't sure of that before, I was when Skwerl told me that as we were speaking, a live version of one of the songs appeared in his inbox.

But I don't need it. I have enough tracks to send to friends and feel the outlaw glow that I could never have experienced before the Internet. I might even go to a gop breakfast next week. There's got to be some long-lost Lee Greenwood album people are jonesing for.

Extra Democracy For Joel Stein's track-by-track review, go to www.time.com/gnr



TIME Magazine - Chinese Democracy Review

Joel Stein of TIME Magazine reviews the nine recentely leaked demo tracks from Guns N' Roses upcoming album 'Chinese Demoracy'.

Track 1: Better
This does not sound like 1994. The first 30 seconds are like a Rihanna song with this woman singing the chorus. Then Axl and the guitars break in, hard. It's catchy and rocking and modern sounding, and his voice sounds all over the place, in an impressive way. The chorus is from the woman, and there are some sound effects — like a rap song. And there are two short guitar solos, either from Slash, Buckethead or Bumblefoot — the first of which has a silly, fun Eddie Van Halen quality. All I get from the lyrics is that, apparently, Axl is upset about the way an ex treated him. She, apparently, is "crazy." I'm guessing she has a different take. I totally like this song.
Grade: A

Track 2: Chinese Democracy
This is what took 14 years. The song actually starts with every person in China talking before there's any music. Then it starts with a riff that sounds a lot like "Rock You Like a Hurricane" by the Scorpions. But then it gets a lot more interesting and catchy and rocks pretty hard. At first, you think it's about democracy in China — and it might be — but I'm guessing it's about a woman who changed for the worse and pissed him off. I like it, but not as much as Better.
Grade: B+

Track 3: IRS
This is a really good song. Like this could sneak into a GnR Greatest Hits album and no one would notice. It starts with a sweet little wail about how a woman has changed to be no good. Then, to resolve this matter, he says he's "gonna call the President/ gonna call a private eye/ gonna get the IRS/ gonna need the FBI," which I can't get out of my head. It interrupts its super-rockingness with little bits of mellowness to keep me interested, and then some weird named guitarist rocks out and Axl's right back to calling the President. I play this all the time. I would love it a lot more if some band that wasn't heavy metal played it.
Grade: A+

Track 4: Madagascar
This is that crappy song the band played when I was at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards and they sucked and he was fat and out of breath and I kept saying I was pretty sure it was a fake Axl Rose. It's Axl's attempt to do Led Zeppelin's Kashmir. It's vaguely Middle Eastern and slow and bombastic and a little trippy. But it's boring. And why does it end with all those clips of Martin Luther King Jr.?
Grade: C

Track 5: Rhiad and the Bedouins
This song, oddly, starts with him wailing almost exactly like Robert Plant in Kashmir. Then Axl sings really fast. Kind of a nicely sung and interesting chorus, but the rest of it sucks. Slash/Buckethead/Bumblefoot seems to get to do whatever they like.
Grade: C+

Track 6: New Song #2
Skwerl didn't know the name of this song, but I'm guessing its "Message For you" because Axl sings it more clearly than any thing else. And I'm guessing the message is "You done me wrong, girl." It's not a bad song, but it's very serious about itself and a little boring at the same time. It sounds like if it had come out earlier, Michael Bay would have used it for the soundtrack for the Transformers.
Grade: B

Track 7: If The World
Pretty good for a metal ballad. I can almost picture the hot, big-haired, leather-pants girls I went to high school with having sex to this. With me. Because I have Chinese Democracy.
Grade: B+

Track 8: The Blues
I'm pretty sure this is a song from some upcoming Broadway show: it's mostly just a piano and lots of emotive singing. Axl should totally be a Broadway singer. He's got the range and the histrionics. Picture Mandy Patinkin singing this: "So now I wander through my day/ Tried to find my way/ To the feelings that I felt/ I saved for you and no one else/ And though as long as this road seems/ I know it's called the street of dreams/ But that's not stardust on my feet/ that leaves a taste that's bittersweet/ That's called the blues." Again, Axl thinks some woman he loved has turned into a real bitch.
Grade: B+

Track 9: There Was a Time
Again, an artsy intro. Then a ballad that kind of swings, if heavy metal ballad can swing. Oddly the verse is catchier than the chorus. And the guitarwork is kind of pretty and bluesy and mournful, as if it were hurt by a woman it trusted but then went and did it wrong. These guitars are so hurt the song lasts almost seven minutes.
Grade: A-

Overall grade: B+

[muthagoose]

More 'Chinese Democracy' Release Date Speculation

According to Gnrdaily.com, Amazon.co.uk is now listing the release date of GUNS N' ROSES' Chinese Democracy as August 25th. It is worth noting that they have previously listed its availability as September 2007, February 2008, and December 2008. Because of this, it is hard to put any faith in these dates. Amazon only knows what they are told by the record companies.

This is the first time that Amazon.com has a page for Chinese Democracy. Again, Amazon only knows what they are told by the record companies, but this one is worth putting stock in! Why? Never before has Amazon.com put up a Chinese Democracy page.

[muthagoose]

BUMBLEFOOT: Ron Thal's New Album 'Abnormal' Out Today!

Bumblefoot's new album "Abnormal" is released today (July 1st).

You can order your copy from Bald Freak Music:
www.baldfreak.com

www.AntiMusic.com continues their 'Bumblefoot Week' and it is definitely worth a look!

Abnormal, the long-awaited 16 track follow-up to Bumblefoot's 2005 Normal CD, is now available for sale at Amazon and Bald Freak Music. Fans can also download individual tracks or the entire album at iTunes and other digital stores. In addition, fans will be able to download instrumental and "radio-friendly" versions of the songs. At this time, these versions are available by download only.

"Initial response to the Abnormal presale has been a bit overwhelming, definitely more than expected," says Ron Scalzo, Bumblefoot's distro partner at Bald Freak. "We've increased staff and we're doing our best to keep manufacturing and shipping on schedule, and without delay."

A complete DIY project, Abnormal features Guns N' Roses guitarist Ron Thal (aka Bumblefoot) on vocals and guitars, with Dennis Leeflang on drums. Thal recruited opera singers and tuba players to participate, soliciting an online "Opera Challenge" in which the contest winners performed on the album. Abnormal's sound has been described as "Sex Pistols meets Queen, with innovative guitar and a Zappa-esque twist."



Track Listing:

1. Abnormal

2. Glad To Be Here

3. Objectify

4. Some Other Guy

5. Jenny B

6. Last Time

7. Simple Days

8. Conspiracy

9. Piranha

10. Guitars Still Suck

11. Green

12. Spaghetti

13. Misery

14. Redeye

15. The Day After

16. Dash

[muthagoose]

Bumblefoot Names His Top Albums of 2007

Here's some weekend reading for you all. Sputnikmusic recently contacted Guns N' Roses guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal and asked him to pick his top albums of 2007.

Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal top albums of 2007:

1. Mika - Life in Cartoon Motion
2. Type O Negative - Dead Again
3. John 5 - The Devil Knows My Name
4. Chris Cornell - Carry On
5. Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta
6. Symphony X - Paradise Lost
7. Serj Tankian - Elect the Dead
8. Jordan Rudess - The Road Home
9. Sebastian Bach - Angel Down
10. Mudvayne - By the People, for the People

[muthagoose]

Richard Fortus Top Albums of 2007

Here's Guns N' Roses guitarist Richard Fortus list of his favorite albums of 2007.

British artist M.I.A. is number one on his list with her second album "Kala".
"I can't stop listening to Kala by M.I.A. Great references (Pixies, Modern Lovers), love the Bollywood elements and the production is very fresh and exciting", Fortus says about the album.

Richard Fortus top albums of 2007:

1. M.I.A. - Kala
2. Sea Wolf - Leaves in the River
3. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
4. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
5. Radiohead - In Rainbows
6. Tacks, The Boy Disaster - Oh Beatrice
7. Blonde Redhead - 23
8. Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero
9. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
10. The Shins - Wincing the Night Away

[muthagoose]

GUNS N' ROSES - New Song Due In September, On Rock Band 2

A decade and a half after releasing its previous album, Guns N’ Roses plans to put out a new song in September — on the video game Rock Band 2. MTV expects to announce on Monday that the sequel to its popular Rock Band game will include “Shackler’s Revenge,” a track from the Guns N’ Roses album that has been in the works for more than a decade, said people familiar with the deal who spoke on condition of anonymity because the arrangement has yet to be announced.

The inclusion of the song on a game suggests that the Guns N’ Roses album “Chinese Democracy” will come out this fall, after years of delays. Axl Rose, who has selected replacements for the other original members, has said that the album is finished, but a release date has not been announced.

MTV and Universal Music Group, Guns N’ Roses’ label, declined to comment on the deal.

Guns N’ Roses’ plan to reintroduce its music to the public in a video game underscores how important to the music business games have become — especially Rock Band and Activision’s Guitar Hero series, which allow gamers to play along with songs on instrument-shaped plastic controllers. Rock Band 2 will also include songs from marquee acts like AC/DC and Rush; the game may also feature music by Elvis Costello and Bob Dylan, according to a track listing leaked online. Activision recently released a version of Guitar Hero dedicated to Aerosmith, and a game based on Metallica is due next year.

Both Rock Band and Guitar Hero have helped the ailing music industry by licensing songs and using online networks to sell additional tracks for gamers to play along with. Those tracks, which usually sell for around $2 each, are more profitable for record companies and musicians than iTunes sales.

MTV, which has focused more than Activision on selling additional songs online, recently announced that it had sold 15 million tracks, and sales are especially impressive for hard-rock bands. During the week in June when Mötley Crüe released “Saints of Los Angeles,” the first single from its new album, the song sold 14,000 copies on iTunes and 48,000 on Rock Band through Microsoft’s Xbox Live network, said Allen Kovac, founder of the group’s management company and record label.

Perhaps more important, Rock Band is introducing young listeners to older bands they might not know. Mr. Kovac said that Mötley Crüe’s exposure in the game helped it sell more albums because gamers spend significant time with the band’s music. “I credit Rock Band for bringing in the younger audience,” Mr. Kovac said. “The people who downloaded that song aren’t just listening to it, they’re interacting with it.”

Guitar Hero and Rock Band have become sensations in the video-game business, creating a product category that a back-of-the-envelope calculation suggests could be worth $1 billion this year in the United States alone. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock has sold more than eight million copies since its fall release, according to the NPD Group, a sales-tracking company, while Rock Band has sold about 2.5 million in about the same period. Rock Band 2, to be released for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 in September and other consoles later in the fall, will face off against Guitar Hero World Tour this holiday season.

Rock Band has been an especially important promotional vehicle for bands that no longer get the radio play they once did. “On the last tour we started seeing young people who had heard of the band from Guitar Hero and Rock Band,” said Andy Curran, an executive at Anthem Records, the record company for the band Rush. So Rush gave Rock Band an alternate version of its song “Working Man,” which proved so popular that the group is now thinking of making it available through Apple’s iTunes store. It is also talking with MTV about selling a full album through Rock Band, Mr. Curran said, as well as some other projects.

MTV also sells digital songs through its stake in the Rhapsody online music service, and it could eventually cross-promote new tracks for Rock Band. Activision — now Activision Blizzard after its merger with Vivendi Games — may be thinking along similar lines, since its chief executive, Robert Kotick, recently said that the company was considering starting its own digital music store.

Online stores could further raise demand for older rock at a time when physical stores are closing. “These games absolutely have an impact because the opportunity to hear these songs on radio is dwindling,” said Mike Davis, executive vice president and general manager of Universal Music Enterprises. “This is becoming an important piece of the marketing puzzle.”

[muthagoose]

A little more clarification on the new GNR developments...

“Shackler’s Revenge” Could Appear on Rock Band 2!

The New York Times reports that MTV is expected to announce today that a brand new Guns N’ Roses song will make it’s debut via Rock Band 2, the sequel to the hit video game that allows players to contribute their own guitar, bass, drums and vocals to hit rock songs. “Shackler’s Revenge,” a track mentioned in track listings for Chinese Democracy for a decade (though not included with the recently-leaked supposedly finished tracks), will get its world premiere via the game, also suggesting that an autumn release for Chinese Democracy is inevitable. Rock Band 2, developed by Harmonix and distributed by MTV Games, will also feature songs from Rush and AC/DC, and according to a track list leaked last week may also include songs from Elvis Costello and Bob Dylan.

[muthagoose]

It's Official: New GUNS N' ROSES Track To Debut In 'Rock Band 2'

Harmonix, the world's premier music video game development company, and MTV Games, a division of Viacom's MTV Networks, along with marketing and distribution partner Electronic Arts Inc., today revealed at the 2008 E3 Media & Business Summit new features for the next evolution of the groundbreaking music platform, Rock Band 2. With the original Rock Band title providing millions of players with a new way to interact with the music and artists they love, Rock Band 2 builds upon its core band foundation to offer an unparalleled, deeper, dynamic gameplay experience.

Rock Band 2 raises the bar in music gaming innovation with new features to rock the world:

* Local and global online modes to connect the entire Rock Band community

* World Tour mode, now online, simplifies the best of gameplay from the original Rock Band by fusing Solo Tour and Band World Tour modes and cranks it up a notch with an all new collection of opportunity gigs, challenges, cities, venues and hirable staff

* Tour Challenges that offer rockers a chance to play through mini-campaigns focused on the best songs by instrument, decade, genre, artist, album and more Battle of the Bands mode challenges players to go head to head against other bands in constantly refreshed contests* created by Harmonix (*Internet connection required)

* Quickplay makes it easier than ever to get in and jam without hassle while allowing for new prefab characters or customized characters that can play on any instrument plus lets you make your own set lists and organize your song lists in a variety of categories (genre, era, etc.)

* Customizable Set Lists keep the music rolling and your band rocking in Quickplay mode

* Drum Trainer mode gives players the fundamentals of different beats and fills, translating gameplay into real drumming skills

* Character Creator completes your look with all new choices in clothing, accessories, tattoos, hairstyles, instruments and more to keep your unique rock avatar playing the full rock part

* Backwards compatibility with all Rock Band downloadable music content released to date

* Disc Export Feature gives owners of the original Rock Band the ability to export most of the Rock Band disc tracks and upgrade them into Rock Band 2 gameplay — the first time ever in videogame history!

Rock Band 2 features the largest music catalogue of any music-based videogame to date including:

* The Rock Band 2 soundtrack will feature over 100 songs — with over 80 songs on disc plus an additional 20 bonus tracks which will be made available for free download this fall .

* Unrivaled Blend of Classic, Developing and Emerging rock acts including PEARL JAM, METALLICA, ALLMAN BROTHERS, MOTÖRHEAD, DEVO, JANE'S ADDICTION, MEGADETH, PARAMORE, MODEST MOUSE and more.

* Rock Band 2 is the first and only video game to feature the music of AC/DC. It includes their epic rock anthem, "Let There Be Rock"

* After 14 years since GUNS N' ROSES last official music release, Axl Rose selects Rock Band 2 to debut official new track, "Shackler's Revenge" from the highly anticipated album "Chinese Democracy"

* For the first time ever, music from American music icon Bob Dylan is featured in a video game with "Tangled Up In Blue"

With ongoing weekly DLC releases including individual tracks, track packs and full albums, the Rock Band music library will feature more than 500 songs by year's end!

From the solid officially licensed Rock Band 2 instruments to the expanded third party options, Rock Band 2 introduces new and improved choices that promise to deliver unsurpassed realism. In addition, Harmonix and MTV Games have become the first companies to officially support third party instruments and accessories in a music videogame.

Achieve ultimate stardom with the upgraded functionality and smooth new look of the official Rock Band 2 instruments.

* Fender Stratocaster Controller takes on a new authentic look plus adds a reinforced strum bar, quieter buttons, wireless functionality and a built in calibration tool that automatically sets your AV setup to an ideal setting for maximum rock.

* Drum set goes wireless while also featuring quieter, velocity sensitive drum pads and a metal reinforced pedal.

* Microphone showcases authentic styling and weight.

Kick up the intensity with officially licensed third party instruments from Mad Catz:

* Fender Telecaster Controller features soft buttons with lower action to help you shred faster than ever.

* Fender Bass Controller, the first bass guitar controller ever, takes the shape of the Fender P-Bass with extended length, tuning pegs and a split strum bar to replicate finger-bass style picking.

* Full-sized Squire Stratocaster Guitar Controller multiplies the authentic guitar experience by featuring a controller built into an actual Squire Stratocaster body.

* Cymbal Expansion Pack is a straightforward but amazing upgrade to the Rock Band 2 drum set featuring add-on cymbals.

Take Rock Band 2 instrument authenticity to a whole new level with a high-end peripheral from ION:

* ION Drum Rocker, a real electronic drum kit that functions as a game controller, brings the Rock Band fantasy to life featuring a simple substitution that takes the drum kit from a controller to a real instrument.

Rock Band 2 will make its debut on Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft this September and have an exclusive launch window in North America. Rock Band 2 will be available for additional platforms later this year. Rock Band 2 will be available for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment systems and Wii later this year.

As previously revealed today, Rock Band will ship with an exclusive launch window on the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft in Italy, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland and Benelux July 24, and on other platforms this Fall.

The Rock Band online music store recently surpassed 16 million paid downloads since the game's launch in late November 2007. With more than 200 tracks available to date via disc and download purchase, the massive Rock Band Music Store allows players to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks, packs and albums from the vast selection of offerings available as they build their own custom Rock Band library.

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Steven Adler Arrested for Narcotics Possession

TMZ has learned Steven Adler -- former drummer for Guns N' Roses -- was arrested early this morning in Hollywood for possession of narcotics, being under the influence and an outstanding warrant.

Adler is still in police custody.

Earlier this month, the 43-year-old rocker told a radio station he was planning on being part of the cast of "Sober Living," a spin-off of VH1's "Celebrity Rehab." The timing couldn't be better.

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STEVEN ADLER Makes Bail, Is Released From Police Custody

According to the web site of The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, former GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler was released from police custody at 5:28 p.m. PST today (Friday, July 18) after making bail in connection with his arrest early this morning in Hollywood for possession of narcotics, being under the influence and an outstanding warrant.

Los Angeles police spokesman Richard French told the Associated Press that the 43-year-old Adler was arrested around 4 a.m. Friday by officers called to a home where a man reportedly was creating a disturbance and refusing to leave.

The warrant stems from a 2005 case where Adler was charged for being under the influence of a controlled substance and driving on a suspended license. He then sealed his fate by missing a court date in April of 2006.

Bail was set at $45,000.

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Guns N' Roses To Get Their Own Version of Guitar Hero?

Famous rockers such as Guns 'N Roses and Van Halen are said to be fleshing out deals to capitalise on the popularity of Guitar Hero and Rock Band.

That's according to Front Line Managemet boss Irving Azoff, who was speaking to the Wall Street Journal. Those groups, alongside others such as The Eagles and Steely Dan, "all have deals of varying types in the works with one or the other or both of these companies" said Azoff, referring to Activision and MTV.

The Front Line music label has Aerosmith among others on its books.

The reason Azoff believes videogames deals are becoming so popular is money. "[They] can be much more lucrative than anything you can do in the record business," he said.

Not only do bands apparently get millions of dollars up front, but also a hefty royalty on all of their songs sold through the games.

The Wall Street Journal claims a source close to Aerosmith says the rock group could make more from its Guitar Hero spin-off than from a dozen or more CD albums.

However, there is one band still eluding the greed grasp of us videogame head-bangers: Led Zeppelin. The world renowned rock group is uneasy with outsiders touching its master recordings, apparently.

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Did 'Sober Living' Staff Have STEVEN ADLER Arrested?

TMZ.com reports that Steven Adler's July 18 arrest came about after the former GUNS N' ROSES drummer got into a "confrontation" at the house where he was living as part of the cast of "Sober Living" — a spin-off of VH1's "Celebrity Rehab" — and a member of the "Sober" staff called the cops, who came and popped Adler on an outstanding warrant. According to the site, the staff contacted the police because Adler was allegedly doing drugs in the house.

David Weintraub, Steven's manager, told TMZ.com, "Steven Adler's arrest was an unfortunate situation that didn't have to occur in the context of him starring in a television show."

Los Angeles police spokesman Richard French told the Associated Press that the 43-year-old Adler was arrested around 4 a.m. on July 18 by officers called to a home where a man reportedly was creating a disturbance and refusing to leave.

The warrant stems from a 2005 case where Adler was charged for being under the influence of a controlled substance and driving on a suspended license. He then sealed his fate by missing a court date in April of 2006.

"Sober Living", which was described as a cross between "Surreal Life" and "The Real World", reportedly features a number of "Celebrity Rehab" alumni living together in a luxurious Beverly Hills mansion for 30 days while they try to rebuild their careers without drugs and alcohol.

Like "Celebrity Rehab", the new show will prominently feature Dr. Drew Pinsky ("Loveline"), who oversees the celebs during their stints in televised rehab.

Steven Adler last month underwent detoxification and treatment at a center in the Los Angeles area on the second season of the hit reality series "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew". The series, consisting of eight one-hour episodes, is slated to premiere October 2008 on VH1.

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GUNS N' ROSES, Ex-QUIET RIOT Members Release Promo For Rock And Roll Fishing Series

Keyboardist Dizzy Reed (GUNS N' ROSES, HOOKERS 'N' BLOW) and guitarist Alex Grossi (QUIET RIOT, HOOKERS 'N' BLOW) have released a promo video for the first-ever rock and roll fishing series called "Rock And Reel", where the two musicians are put through the rigors of deep-sea fishing.

Watch the clip at this location:
www.monuart.com/gregkuzma/video/RockReel.html

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GILBY CLARKE On 'Rock N' Roll Fantasy Camp',
ROCK STAR SUPERNOVA And 'Chinese Democracy'

Jason Price of www.Live-Metal.Net recently got a chance to sit down with former GUNS N' ROSES/ROCK STAR SUPERNOVA guitarist Gilby Clarke to discuss musical roots, his upcoming musical endeavors, his new role as a Rock N' Roll Fantasy Camp counselor a possible book about GN'R and even a little "Chinese Democracy". A couple of excerpts from the chat follow.

Live-Metal.Net: Currently you are on tour as a counselor for the Rock N' Roll Fantasy Camp. How did you become involved with the program?

Gilby Clarke: Actually a bunch of my friends have always been a part of it. Teddy Andreadis who used to play keyboards for GUNS N' ROSES, and Bruce Kulick have done it. Whenever they talk about it they always have great things to say about it and how it not only gives back to people who aren't professional musicians and the way it gives back to the musicians themselves. They get a sense of accomplishment working with people. I went down to Los Angeles to audition and I had a great time! I thought that the people were really fun and I just really enjoyed the whole process.

Live-Metal.Net: I would imagine that having experience on the production side of things probably lends itself pretty well to this project by putting all your expertise to work in a classroom setting.

Gilby Clarke: Yeah it definitely is a good experience for everyone involved.

Live-Metal.Net: What are you looking forward to the most about the Rock N' Roll Fantasy Camp tour?

Gilby Clarke: It is mostly about just talking to people. As a musician, you surround yourself with other musicians, so it is very easy to lose touch. What is really great about this is that you are one-on-one with people and get to hear what they are inspired by. I have never been one of those musicians that follows a trend. It always bothers me when I hear other artists saying, "Do this for the fans. Give them what they want." I just don't think that is really an artist. Being an artist is creating something original and you get fans from that. So it is always nice to get a little feedback, some honest feedback. That is another thing that is really great about this.

Live-Metal.Net: ROCK STAR SUPERNOVA reunited back in May of 2008 for a benefit. Is there any chance we might see you all back together again sometime soon?

Gilby Clarke: It is kind of funny because we never officially pulled the plug on it. It was a project, and Tommy (Lee) and I will always be friends. I just don't think it is anyone's priority at this point. I think we gave it our best shot and there were some things that were successful about it and some things that weren't. I don't think it will ever really go away but over time we may forget about it. At this point, you never really know what will come up.

Live-Metal.Net: I have a habit of throwing this one in here. When do you think that "Chinese Democracy" will be released?

Gilby Clarke: There was point there, I have to tell you, that I was absolutely sure it was coming out but at this point I have no idea. I am just like every other person and I am a fan of GN'R's music but I have no idea. I have heard a couple songs just like everybody else and I am just as curious as everybody else. I am really curious to see what kind of music you break up a really good band for.

Read the entire interview at www.Live-Metal.Net.

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Trent Reznor Wanted Fans To Dig In Axl's Frontyard

GNRDaily.com reports:

Nine Inch Nails recently kicked off their North American Lights In The Sky tour, unveiling a complex new stage setup and a new touring lineup behind frontman Trent Reznor. Speaking to Rolling Stone, Reznor said that his goal for the new show is simple: "I want you to leave feeling like your head exploded."

As an experiment, Reznor gave away a pair of tickets for the tour's dress rehearsal by hiding an envelope under a rock in Burbank. Using a Google Earth link on his Website, Reznor indicated the tickets' location with a question mark. Fans quickly found the envelope. "Well, we couldn't leave that alone," Reznor says. "We hid another 30, in places from Watts Towers to behind a mirror in a strip-club restroom to a Home Depot."

Reznor contemplated providing the location of Axl Rose's house and encouraging people to dig in his yard for tickets, "just to see how many people got arrested on his front lawn."

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DUFF MCKAGAN's LOADED: EP Title Announced

LOADED, the band formed by current VELVET REVOLVER bassist Duff McKagan (on guitar and vocals) after he left GUNS N' ROSES, will release a five-song EP entitled "Wasted Heart" in September via Century Media Records. A new full-length album will follow in early 2009. The sessions with producer Martin Feveyear are progressing well and they band already has several new tracks ready — "Roll Away", "Forgive Me", "Sick", "No More", "Southern Girl", "No Shame" and "Translucent".

Commented McKagan: "We are truly looking forward to this partnership with Century Media. I am encouraged that they indeed understand the spirit and integrity of LOADED. This first EP should shed some light on who we are, what we do and how the fuck we do it!"

A new LOADED song entitled "No More" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page: www.myspace.com/loadedlamf

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GUNS N' ROSES: "Shackler's Revenge"
Hits The Internet

After a mess of leaked GNR tracks popped up a few months back, another new cut has apparently popped up online. “Shackler’s Revenge” (which was supposed to have its premiere on the upcoming sequel to the video game “Rock Band”) opens with a deep-voiced Axl gradually building towards his characteristic yowl, and features guitar noodling that is very likely the work of the man called Buckethead.

The song’s low crunch sticks with the album’s long-stated industrial leanings, and again, layers upon layers of Axls create a particular sort of demented choir. <br />

We’re getting thirsty for some Dr. Pepper.

Check it out here while you can:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QciAA9viRsI

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GNR's 'Democracy' To Be Retail Exclusive?

The June leak of nine allegedly "mastered, finished" tracks from Guns N' Roses' long-delayed "Chinese Democracy" spurred a renewed round of chatter about whether the Axl Rose-led band will finally release the 14-years-in-the-making album.

But some concrete signs are finally emerging that the album's release could be imminent. That's because, according to sources, negotiations are underway for "Chinese Democracy" to come out as an exclusive at one of the big boxes -- either Wal-Mart or Best Buy.

Negotiations are also ongoing to have conventional record company distribution, another source says.

Guns N' Roses is now managed by Irving Azoff's Front Line Management, and Azoff is a well-known proponent of issuing albums exclusively through retailers. He released the Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" through Wal-Mart, much to the chagrin of other merchants.

Most recently, it became known that AC/DC's next album will come out exclusively through Wal-Mart. Merchants were particularly incensed that the deal was apparently struck with the blessing of Columbia.

It's unclear who initiated the Guns N' Roses exclusive negotiations -- Front Line or Interscope, the band's label.

Representatives at Front Line and Interscope with knowledge of the situation couldn't be reached for comment by deadline. A Wal-Mart representative says the chain couldn't confirm this fall's exclusives. Best Buy representatives couldn't be reached for comment by deadline.

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Harmonix: "Axl himself chose 'Shackler's Revenge'" for Rock Band 2

Hilary Goldstein of IGN.com recently spoke with Harmonix's Audio Director, Eric Brosious, about the process of compiling tracks for Rock Band 2. Not only did they discuss the new Guns N' Roses track, but also the reasoning behind the selection of other music. A couple of excerpts from the chat:

"Well of course we really wanted to have GN'R included in RB2 and Paul DeGooyer, our music guru and all-around good guy at MTV, worked directly with the GN'R folks to make it happen. Everyone involved decided that it'd be ultra fab to have something from the mysterious "Chinese Democracy." And Axl himself took an interest and chose "Shackler's Revenge." Very cool."
— Eric Brosious, Harmonix

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Ex-Guns N Roses Drummer Steven Adler Pleads Not Guilty To Drug Charges, Will Remain In Rehab

Fidgeting, sniffling and wiping tears from his eyes, Steven Adler, who was Guns N' Roses' drummer for five years before being fired in 1990, pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning (August 20) to drug charges. He was ordered by a judge to remain in drug rehabilitation at the Pasadena Recovery Center in Pasadena, California, for at least the next month.

According to The Associated Press, Adler went before a judge in Los Angeles Superior Court with a friend and therapist by his side. The judge instructed the rocker to continue with his rehab as he awaits a preliminary hearing on a felony drug-possession count and a misdemeanor charge of being under the influence of drugs. Adler was arrested last month after police were called to a Los Angeles home, which Adler allegedly refused to leave and was creating a disturbance. He was released after posting $10,000 bail.

The 43-year-old musician, who was reportedly set to star in a spin-off of VH1's "Celebrity Rehab" called "Sober Living" after finishing his stint on the just-wrapped second season of "Rehab," was also arrested on an outstanding warrant dating back to 2005, when he was charged with being under the influence of a controlled substance and driving on a suspended license. The warrant was issued because he allegedly didn't show up for an April 2006 court date on the case.

AP reported that Adler's attorney claimed his continued recovery is being monitored by celebrity rehab specialist, Dr. Drew Pinsky.

Adler, who was a childhood friend of ex-GN'R guitarist Slash, was an original member of the iconic hard-rock outfit and appeared on the band's first three releases, including their breakthrough LP, 1987's Appetite for Destruction. He was fired from the group in 1990 due to his ongoing struggle with drug addiction, and suffered a stroke in 1996 after ingesting drugs. He suffered a second stroke a short while later, and was left with impaired speech.