PHIL LEWIS WINS LA GUNS NAME WAR?
So, there have been two different versions of LA Guns existing simultaneously for a few years, right? Phil Lewis’s version and Tracii Guns’. Well, the latest singer in Tracii’s version is Rockstar: Supernova runner-up Dilana. She’s been in the band for a few weeks and fans have been less than complimentary. Now Tracii and Dilana have announced a new ‘project’ called Pretty F’n Ugly which looks set to put an end to Tracii’s LA Guns. “The whole idea of this project is for Tracii and I to start a new musical journey together,” Dilana says. “Fresh, new music. A new beginning. Life is about change and growth. LA Guns has and always will be great and a part of Tracii’s life. It’s a moment in time that molded him into the amazing musician he is today. But, it’s soon to be the end of an era.”
GOTTARD’S NEW SINGER IS A MELBOURNIAN
Gotthard’s new singer is Swiss-born, Melbourne-dwelling multi-instrumentalist Nic Mader. Mader is the successor to singer Steve Lee, who died in a motorcycle accident last year. “Nic not only has a great voice and is a fantastic musician, but we also have a great person in our midst”, guitarist Leo Leoni said. “We can rock again at last.” Gotthard has made available a new song, “Remember It’s Me,” for free at their official website, www.gotthard.com. A new album is due in 2012.
MINISTRY ENJOYS RELAPSE
It was the shortest break-up since my dog and I stopped talking to each other over what he did in my study: Ministry return with Relapse on March 3 via 13th Planet Records. Over at the 13th Planet YouTube channel you can hear watch some candid behind-the-scenes making-of videos. The videos are awesome. You can hear some killer new tracks and listen to the band discuss how much they love cargo shorts. Seriously. Ministry’s current live lineup includes guitarist Mike Scaccia, Prong’s Tommy Victor and Aaron Rossi, Soulfly bassist Tony Campos and Fear Factory keyboardist John Bechdel.
SCARY MOTÖRHEAD BOX SET MEANS DEATH FOR US ALL
Motörhead will release The Complete Early Years, a 15-CD-plus-vinyl box set, on February 21. It includes all eight of their early albums in five-inch miniature Japanese wallets, early singles, a book, limited edition Justin Hampton print, concert programmes and badges, and it’s packaged in a bitchen’ Motörhead skull box with evil glowing red eyes.
DAVE MUSTAINE GUITAR APP
The makers of the Rock Prodigy guitar instructional app have teamed with Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine for a new app that gets you right into Dave’s guitar style, no matter what level of shredsmanship you’re at. I was a beta tester for it and it kicks ass. It should be available in the iTunes app store any minute now, and includes Public Enemy No.1 from Megadeth’s newie, Th1rt3en [Roadrunner].
AND THE ARIA GOES TO…
The ARIA for Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal album went to Front End Loader for Ritardando. Other nominees wereCoerce, Cosmic Psychos, Dream On Dreamer and the space-bar-friendly F L O A T I N G M E.
WE NEED TO TALK…
MMF Australia (Music Managers Forum) is running a metal discussion featuring industry experts on Wednesday February 8, 2012 at 8pm at the Alliance Francaise De Melbourne, 51 Grey Street St Kilda. It kicks off at 8pm, and topics will include tips and tricks, how to get a gig, where to tour, local and International markets and trends. It’ll be online too, at mmfaustralia.com.au
COMBICHRIST. GRAAR!
The masters of Norwegian Aggrotech, Combichrist, will play the Hi-Fi Bar on Thursday January 12. The band is touring on the back of last year’s Making Monsters album (Out of Line/Metropolis Records).
DON’T YOU SEE? IT’S A CONSPIRACY!
With Sepultura now containing no original members whatsoever, Cavalera Conspiracy is more Sepultura than Sepultura. Max and Iggor Cavalera are bringing their thrasheriffic riff attack to Billboard on Wednesday February 1. It’s a Big Day Out sideshow, and tickets are on sale now.
ICED EARTH FINALLY TOUR (INSERT HELLFREEZE PUN HERE)
Floridian metallers Iced Earth will tour Australia for the first time ever in 2012 for Soundworks Touring, hitting Billboard The Venue on Wednesday April 4. The band named Stu Block of Into Eternity as their new singer earlier this year, and their latest, Dystopia, was released in October.
HUMONIC & LYNCHMADA RIDE THE PONY
Melbourne’s Humonic team up with the Gold Coast’s Lynchmada at Pony on Thursday December 1. Humonic promise to deliver an ‘interactive experience’ so expect lots of brutals metallic mansweat. Lynchmada veer from a Deftones/Karnivool vibe through to Meshuggah and Chimaira influences. Scar the Surface and Decimatus are also playing. Doors at 8pm.
