Original KISS drummer Peter Criss has just released his autobiography, "Makeup To Breakup: My Life In And Out Of KISS."
The memoir is billed as being “from sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll to multiple brushes with death, 'Makeup to Breakup' will be Peter Criss' unvarnished and eye-opening life story."
Fans can preview an excerpt from the first chapter of “Makeup To Breakup” here.
Criss has been promoting the new memoir with a series of book-signing events, including one that brought him the Barnes & Noble outlet at the Monmouth Mall in Eatontown, NJ on October 27.
David Griesinger of BackstageAxxess.com caught up with Criss in New Jersey for an extended sit down interview to discuss the book.
Lynyrd Skynyrd have released a lyric video for “Homegrown,” the latest single from the band’s newly-released album, “Last Of A Dyin’ Breed.”
The project debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart, the highest charting for a Skynyrd album since 1977.
This week, Skynyrd rocked The Simple Man Cruise, along with The Doobie Brothers, The Outlaws and many other acts. The trip ran October 27th – 31st on the Pearl, Norwegian's newest and luxurious rockin’ party ship, which headed out of Miami to Key West and Great Stirrup Cay.
The Southern Rock icons kick off a UK tour in Newcastle, England on November 11.
Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale continues to answer fan-submitted questions about his life, music and career in part 4 of a series produced for Whitesnake TV.
“I want my...I want my...I want my Snake TV!!!!” wrote Coverdale - with a nod to the opening of “Money For Nothing” by Dire Straits - when he announced the new online channel on the band’s website.
The fan Q&A sessions have been fleshed out with additional interview sessions featuring the singer and his guitarist, Doug Aldrich.
Soundgarden have released “Non-State Actor,”a track from the band’s forthcoming new album, “King Animal.”
The project is the reunited band’s first studio album in 16 years.
“’Non-State Actor’ is a song that [bassist] Ben [Shepherd] brought in and I wrote lyrics for,” explains guitarist Kim Thayil. “We haven’t done that songwriting combination before.”
The group recently released “Been Away Too Long,” the first single from the project; earlier this year, Soundgarden issued another tune,“Live To Rise,” as part of the soundtrack for the film, "Marvel's The Avengers."
Led Zeppelin have released the full-length video of “Kashmir” from their forthcoming live package, “Celebration Day.”
The set captures the reunited band in concert at London’s O2 Arena on December 10, 2007, when they headlined a tribute concert for dear friend and Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun.
What followed was a two-hour-plus tour de force of the band’s signature blues-infused rock ’n’ roll that instantly became part of the legend of Led Zeppelin.
Although 20 million people applied for tickets, the band’s first headline show in 27 years was seen only by the 18,000 ticket holders who were fortunate enough to have secured seats through the worldwide lottery.
Due November 19, "Celebration Day" will be available in multiple video and audio formats:
* Standard Editions – 1-DVD/2-CD set and 1-Blu-ray/2-CD set
* Deluxe Editions – 2-DVD/2-CD set and 1-Blu-ray/1-DVD/2-CD set featuring exclusive bonus video content including the Shepperton rehearsals, and BBC news footage.
* Music Only CD Edition – 2-CD set
* Music Only Blu-ray Audio Edition – Blu-ray Audio release featuring high-resolution 48K 24 bit PCM stereo and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound audio only, no video
* Vinyl Edition – 3 LPs, 180-gram, audiophile quality vinyl (Available December 11)
* Digital Edition – Audio will be available at all digital retail outlets
The New York Post reports Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler’s engagement to longtime fiancée, Erin Brady, may be on the rocks.
While sources say that Tyler has quietly split with Brady — whom he proposed to in Hawaii last year — an Aerosmith rep tells the paper, “Just as any couple goes through trials and tribulations in a relationship, Steven and Erin are asking for their privacy at this time. They are engaged to be married and each is committed to their sobriety. Any claim to the contrary is absolutely false and misleading.”
The Rolling Stones are sharing the spirit of Halloween.
The band has posted a photo of themselves dressed fully in black and wearing huge witch hats.
The Stones have played two secret shows in Paris in the past week as they continue rehearsing for their initial 50th Anniversary concerts.
The band will perform at London’s O2 Arena on November 25 and 29, and then the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on December 13 and 15.
The December 15 concert will be telecast live via pay-per-view at 9pm EST. Entitled “One More Shot”, the pay-per-view will be distributed by WWE.
The Rolling Stones live shows will also mark the launch of a new venture in global touring – Virgin Live. Virgin Live sees the coming together of the Dainty Group and Virgin Group. Richard Branson and Paul Dainty’s history with the Stones spans five decades – so it is fitting that these shows marks the two joining forces for the first time as Virgin Live.
The concerts follow the November 12 release of “GRRR!”, a new greatest hits collection to mark the band’s 50th. Learn more about “GRRR!”here.
Sammy Hagar‘s Beach Bar & Grill in Atlantic City, New Jersey has suffered severe damage due to Hurricane Sandy.
Located at Bally's Atlantic City Hotel and Casino since May 2010, the restaurant is only open from May through Labor Day weekend.
"Hope all Redheads and BB&G staff are safe and dry!,” said Hagar. “Here is a look at the damage - we will rebuild!"
A full series of pictures can be seen on Hagar’s Facebook page here.
“A special message of support to all east coast Redheads and their families and friends as Hurricane Sandy comes through,” posted Hagar on Tuesday. “I hope everyone is safe out there and I'll be supporting the area when it's over. The Atlantic City Beach Bar & Grill can be rebuilt, but people can't!”
Profits from the Beach Bar & Grill go to the Hagar Family Foundation, which supports local children’s charities.
Black Sabbath have announced their first Australian tour in nearly 40 years.
The partial reunion of the metal legends – still working without drummer Bill Ward, who continues to sit things out over a contract dispute – will play Australia in April 2013.
The series of shows kicks off April 25 in Brisbane and wraps up May 4 in Perth.
General public tickets go on sale midday Thursday, November 8.
An exclusive presale will be available to Live Nation members from 9 a.m. Friday, November 2 until 5 p.m. Monday.
In addition to the tour news, Sabbath have also confirmed that their forthcoming album – their first since 1978 – will be released in April.
Black Sabbath
Australian tour 2013
Apr 25 - Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
Apr 27 - Allphones Arena, Sydney
May 01 - Rod Laver, Melbourne
May 04 - Perth Arena, Perth
Green Day have released a video for“The Forgotten,” a new tune that will be featured on the soundtrack to “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2.”
The soundtrack will be issued November 13, and the film is set to hit theaters three days later.
“The Forgotten” will also be included on the third album in the group’s new trilogy, “¡Tré!”; the album’s release date has been moved up to December 11, 2012 from its original date of January 15, 2013.
The trilogy’s second effort, “¡Dos!,” is due November 13.
As Billie Joe Armstrong continues treatment for substance abuse, Green Day announced this week that they have cancelled their club tour that was due to launch in Seattle at the Paramount Theatre on November 26th and wind down in Tempe, AZ at the Marquee Theatre on December 10th. Tickets for these clubs shows will be refunded at point of purchase.
The band has also postponed all scheduled appearances for the months of January and February 2013. New dates for these rescheduled shows will be announced shortly and previously purchased tickets will be honored on the new dates.
Soundgarden return November 13 with “King Animal,” the reunited band’s first album in 16 years.
The group recently released “Been Away Too Long,” the first single from the project; earlier this year, Soundgarden issued another tune, “Live To Rise,” as part of the soundtrack for the film, "Marvel's The Avengers."
Beyond the album’s 13 tracks, an exclusive Best Buy Deluxe Edition of “King Animal” will feature five bonus tracks: demos of “Worse Dreams,” “Black Saturday,” “By Crooked Steps,” “Bones Of Birds” and “A Thousand Days Before” - all of which will appear on the album itself.
Soundgarden
"King Animal"
Release date: November 12 (Europe) / November 13 (North America)
01. Been Away Too Long
02. Non-State Actor
03. By Crooked Steps
04. A Thousand Days Before
05. Blood On The Valley Floor
06. Bones Of Birds
07. Taree
08. Attrition
09. Black Saturday
10. Halfway There
11. Worse Dreams
12. Eyelid's Mouth
13. Rowing
Best Buy Deluxe Edition bonus tracks:
“Worse Dreams” (demo)
“Black Saturday” (demo)
“By Crooked Steps” (demo)
“Bones Of Birds” (demo)
“A Thousand Days Before” (demo)
Faster Louder reports a Black Sabbath Australian tour announcement on Halloween seems imminent as a mysterious video posted by concert promoters Live Nation Wednesday morning (Aussie time) suggests that the reunited band could be announcing a tour.
The seven second video (which has since been pulled) promises that “darkness descends” tonight at 10pm (Aussie time) before directing fans towards a collection of Sabbath clips.
Ozzy Osbourne’s wife and manager Sharon Osbourne has already confirmed the group will tour the country in 2013.
"[Black Sabbath] is in the studio right now with Rick Rubin recording,” Sharon told Sydney’s Triple a few weeks ago. “And they are going to be touring here in the Spring of next year. Definitely.”
Sharon didn’t elaborate further to clarify if she meant US Spring, which starts in March, or Australian Spring, which begins in September.
After playing three concerts this year, Ozzy and original Sabbath members Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler continue working on a new album while original drummer Bill Ward continues to sit out the planned reunion over a contract dispute.
The visit was scheduled to promote the upcoming Las Vegas residency by GNR, who will launch their “Appetite For Democracy” show at The Joint inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Wednesday.
Now, Axl continues the Vegas promotion in a new interview with USA Today.
Rose speaks openly about a variety of topics, including his past, writer’s block, the music industry, new music, the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, and GNR’s history.
"Here's what I miss about old Guns the most. And this is really before we got Appetite [For Destruction] out,” said Axl. “In the very beginning, you had three people (Rose, Slash and guitarist Izzy Stradlin) on the same page for a short period looking out for the best interest of that band and its goals. We were trying to get signed from the beginning. We were figuring out the right attorney, the right label. I had two other guys I could rely on. I don't necessarily have that now because it is more my thing, but I do ask everyone's opinion about everything."
On the topic of how the original band might have lasted, Rose explained "Maybe if we could have worked together in the way Appetite was put together. I was really naïve. I thought the success of that record would bring everyone together more. It did the exact opposite. They got success and wanted to run in their own directions. I thought they'd go, 'Whoa, it did work.' But they wanted to do their own huge bigger success off of Guns."
As for the odds of a Guns truce, "I feel that ball's not in my court,” said the singer. “I'm surviving this war, not the one who created this war."
Read more with Axl at USA Today – part 1 is here and part 2 is here.
Guns N’ Roses will play 12 concerts between October 31 and November 24, and the shows will span the band’s biggest hits from their debut album “Appetite For Destruction” (1987) through to 2008’s “Chinese Democracy.”
KISS
Green Day 
