New Zeppelin Tracks Hinted At

Although it has been rumoured for a while, drummer Jason Bonham confirmed last week that he is indeed working on new material with Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, says Jam music. This fuels a bit more speculation that something might be in the works regarding a highly anticipated Zeppelin reunion tour despite singer Robert Plant pretending to doze off at the notion last month at a Toronto news conference.
"I've been over a couple of times with Jimmy and John Paul just trying to do some new material and writing," Bonham told Detroit classic rock radio station WCSX last Friday. "So I don't know what it will be but it will be something. I mean this is something that I always wanted to do but trying to predict what it will be at the moment ... all I know is I have the greatest pleasure to go and jam with the two guys and try and work on some new material, so it's been fantastic in that aspect."
Bonham, who had been drumming for Foreigner recently, also announced that he will stop touring with the band at the end of August to allow for some downtime to be with his children and also in the event something else becomes a reality in the future, most likely a Zeppelin tour.
"I'd say it's too early to tell, the possibility of doing something I really felt like it was in the cards from the moment we walked off stage after the O2 (reunion show at London's O2 Arena last December)," Bonham said. "There was obviously a lot of politics and things. It wasn't just as cut and dry as just go and do it."
The announcement came days before Page performed Whole Lotta Love with Leona Lewis at the closing ceremonies of the Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Page is also scheduled to appear at the Toronto International Film Festival next month when the music documentary It Might Get Loud makes its world premiere

AC/DC Album Release Date Confirmed

AC/DC have confirmed the final details about their eagerly anticipated new album, Black Ice, says Planet Rock.
The album is out in the UK on 20 October and contains fifteen tracks, opening with the new single, ‘Rock n Roll Train’ which will be released to radio on 28 August (you may want to stay tuned to Planet Rock around then).
In the US Black Ice will be released solely in Walmart, Sam’s Club and on their official website.
The band also release a new DVD called No Bull: The Director’s Cut on 9 September. The DVD is a film of a Madrid concert from 1996.
Here’s the tracklist for Black Ice:
Rock'n'Roll Train

Skies on Fire

Big Jack

Anything Goes

War Machine

Smash n Grab

Spoilin' for a Fight

Wheels

Decibel

Stormy May Day

She Likes Rock'n'Roll

Money Made

Rock'n'Roll Dream

Rocking All the Way

Black Ice

No New Squeeze Album In The Pipeline

Despite a reunion of frontman Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook and an upcoming U.S. tour, there are no plans for a new Squeeze album at the moment."No, we're not kind of talking about any of that for the time being," Difford tells Billboard.com "Glenn's got a solo record coming out very soon, and I've just had a solo record come out ('The Last Temptation of Chris'), so ... (Squeeze) is kind of like the mothership, and we're satellites that go off."Nevertheless, Difford -- who re-joined Tilbrook for live shows again last year after a nine-year break -- says the current Squeeze reunion "feels great," and that he'd entertain the notion of doing another album under the band moniker at some future juncture. "I think it would be nice. It would be an interesting thing to do," he notes. "For the time being, we've got quite a lot on our plate."Difford say Squeeze, whose last new album was 1998's "Domino," will not be playing any of his or Difford's solo material in concert. "It's very strictly a Squeeze show," he explains. "I don't think Glenn would really want to play any of my songs, particularly. And I think it's important for us to keep our separation between what we do individually and what we do together."Squeeze's U.S. run starts Aug. 21 in Washington, D.C. and wraps Sept. 16 in Seattle.
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Difford made "The Last Temptation of Chris," his first solo album since 2002's "I Didn't Get Where I Am," with Boo Hewerdine. He's already eyeballing his next project but hasn't yet decided on a collaborator."The idea is to just start writing one day and have a record the next," Difford explains. "All the concepts happen in a short space of time. That's the way I like to work. That way you can capture everybody's ideas and musicianship and it's all very fresh."

Lennon's Killer Denied Parole

John Lennon's killer has been denied parole for a fifth time because of "concern for the public safety and welfare", it has been announced.
The BBC website says Mark Chapman, 53, will remain in Attica prison, New York, for at least another two years.
Chapman told parole board members at a hearing that he planned the killing "with an essentially clear mind".
A lawyer for Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, said she was "very pleased" with the board's decision.
Chapman shot the former Beatle as he and wife Ono returned to their Manhattan apartment building on 8 December 1980.
He has been in prison for 27 years since pleading guilty to the murder.
The board noted that Chapman had a clean disciplinary record since 1994 but said his conduct had "precipitated a horrendously tragic event which has impacted many individuals".
"Your discretionary release at this time would thus not be compatible with the welfare of society at large," the board added.
A spokesman for the New York correctional services department said Chapman was being held in an isolated unit away from other prisoners because of fears for his safety.
Chapman, who had a history of mental illness before he committed the murder, was also denied parole in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006.
He will be allowed to apply again in 2010.

Queen + Paul Rodgers Album Release Date

Queen + Paul Rodgers have announced that they will release their debut studio album "The Cosmos Rocks" world wide on September 15, 2008, except for North America where it will be released on October 14, 2008, reports antiMusic.
Simultaneously, Queen + Paul Rodgers embark on a 33-date Europe and Northern Eurasia tour beginning mid-September. The tour reaches the UK on October 10 with 11 dates including two at London 02 and the tour's final date at Wembley Arena on November 8.
Here is the press release about the album:-
The first thing you notice about The Cosmos Rocks, the much anticipated first album from rock legends Queen + Paul Rodgers is "all tracks written by Queen and Paul Rodgers"…"produced and performed by Brian May, Paul Rodgers and Roger Taylor" (indicating that between them they played all instruments, including bass - Paul and Brian swapping duties - in case you were going to ask). This is obviously not a case of Rodgers lightly stepping in to fill a vocal gap, as some might have been drawn to assume would be the case when the three of them got into the studio together.
No, this is a full bodied, group endeavour: May, Rodgers and Taylor in a totally democratic union, even down to equally sharing the credits. The album's dedication to legendary Queen front man 'Freddie Mercury,' (you'll also see thanks credits to John Deacon and Paul Kossoff) shows the band mates still feel his presence strongly enough to dedicate this entirely new work to him, nearly 13 years on from Queen's last studio album.
You also wonder how Rodgers who takes control as main vocalist on all thirteen tracks here feels about his work being dedicated to the man whose fans still worship at the altar of the pre-Mercury demise Queen.
But then thinking about it, it doesn't seem quite so strange. Brian May and Roger Taylor have, after all, never shied from acknowledging the mighty presence Mercury provided to the band on stage and the wonders of his extraordinary creativity in the studio. Mostly, they acknowledge how even today, they still miss 'dear Fred'.
In the case of Rodgers, he can stand assured in the fact that Mercury always rated him as one of the best rock voices of his time. It is public record that Mercury would make a point of dropping into the Marquee or any number of other London venues when Rodgers was performing with his band Free. Mercury often in his past acknowledged FREE's Fire And Water as one of the albums to most influence Queen. On top of this, Rodgers has now played enough sold-out and wildly received dates as Queen + Paul Rodgers to know that it works, and that the acceptance is there. You only had to be there at last month's Nelson Mandela 90th birthday concert to feel the heat from the audience to the band's blinding set.
It all makes perfect sense when you get the opportunity to see what the band have to say about the sessions:
"We went in and played, every day, and ALL kinds of things happened, little bits of chemistry happening between us. It's good, organic music.
"There's a lot of guitar orchestras and some of our old trademarks, but at the core of it you'll hear the three of us playing. People really, truly playing together in the studio - you don't get that much these days. But, you will get it on their new album.
"Do they still call them 'albums'? I don't even know. But this is really, we believe, an Album in the old sense of the word - something you can put on and listen to all the way through, and it takes you on a journey ... the subjects and moods in it are widely spaced - but nevertheless, a challenge to the listener to put his day on hold for an hour or so, be drawn in, make connections, and experience something new.
"These days it has seemed to us that few people have this in mind - CD's by large tend to be a collection of songs, often produced by different teams, assembled in random sequence - with the idea that folks will shuffle the order on their iPods anyway. Of course you always have that option! But our teachers were THE BEATLES, HENDRIX, blues + soul and ... you know where we're going with this. "
The Cosmos Rocks was recorded and mixed at Taylor's The Priory studio between November 2007 and August 2008, and co-produced and engineered by Joshua J Macrae, Justin Shirley-Smith and Kris Fredriksson. It marks the first album of newly recorded material from Queen + Paul Rodgers since they first set out on the road in 2005, and the first Queen studio album since 1995.
A first single from the album, 'C-lebrity' is released September 8 in enhanced CD, 7", and digital formats. Versions contain exclusive performances of Queen + Paul Rodgers live performances of 'Show Must Go On' and 'Fire and Water' filmed during Q + PR's 2005 Japanese tour.
The track, according to Roger Taylor – and seemingly much in keeping with many on The Cosmos Rocks – is the writers' skew on the times in which we live: " 'C-lebrity' is really a comment on the current concept of fame - success and all that goes with it. Getting your face on TV is enough - talent doesn't really enter into the equation. 'Celebrity' is an overused and devalued word today. I think the song shows we have lost none of the humour of Queen!"
Other tracks on The Cosmos Rocks include 'Cosmos Rockin'', 'Time To Shine', 'Still Burnin'' (a mission statement of why artists are compelled to create), 'Small', 'Warboys', 'We Believe', 'Call Me', 'Voodoo', 'Some Things That Glitter', 'Through The Night', 'Say It's Not True' (a new version of the track donated to Nelson Mandela's 46664 HIV Aids campaign), and 'Surf's Up, School's Out'.
The album is released in three physical formats: standard CD, deluxe package which includes additional DVD featuring 15 highlight performances by Queen + Paul Rodgers from the band's Super Live in Japan concert recorded live at Saitama Super Arena, Tokyo on 27th October 2005, along with double gate-fold vinyl release. The album will also have a special digital release including bonus tracks.
Track listing:
'Cosmos Rockin'' (4:10)
'Time To Shine' (4:23)
'Still Burnin'' (4:04)
'Small' (4:39)
'Warboys' (3:18)
'We Believe' (6:08)
'Call Me' (2:59)
'Voodoo' (4:27)
'Some Things That Glitter' (4:03)
'C-lebrity' (3:38)
'Through The Night' (4:54)
'Say It's Not True' (4:00)
'Surf's Up . . . School's Out!' (5:38)
'Small Reprise' (2:05)
Produced and performed by Brian May, Paul Rodgers and Roger Taylor. Co-produced and engineered by Joshua J Macrae, Justin Shirley-Smith and Kris Fredriksson.
All tracks written by Queen + Paul Rodgers
Extra backing vocals on 'C-lebrity': Taylor Hawkins courtesy of RCA Records
This album is dedicated to Freddie Mercury.
For sound samples click http://www.thecosmosrocks.com/

Gary Moore New Studio Album

Gary Moore's new studio album will be released next month.
'Bad For You Baby', which is released in late September and contains eleven new tracks, sees the excellent form he found on last year’s 'Close As You Get' continue.
No tour dates to promote the new record have been confirmed, but they're imminent.
The tracklist for the album is:
1. Bad For You Baby (Moore)
2. Down The Line (Moore)
3. Umbrella Man (Moore)
4. Holding On (Moore)
5. Walkin’ Thru The Park (Morganfield)
6. I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know (Kooper)
7. Mojo Boogie (Lenoir)
8. Someday Baby (Morganfield)
9. Did You Ever Feel Lonely? (Moore)
10. Preacher Man Blues (Moore)
11. Trouble Ain’t Far Behind (Moore)

Is Lenny New Velvet Revolver frontman

Reports suggest that Velvet Revolver may be about to unveil Lenny Kravitz as their frontman.
According to a report in The Sun the reformed wild-child of US rock will be named as the shock replacement for the departed Scott Weiland.
The Sun said that according to 's source', “Velvet Revolver’s new album will draw heavily on their messy split with Scott. The band wanted a big name who could easily hold his own and reckon Lenny is just the man for the job.”
It had been thought that former Spacehog frontman Royston Langdon was the frontrunner after he performed a show with the band, but last week bassist Duff McKagan threw cold water on that rumour.

Oasis To Play Secret Gig

Oasis have announced plans to perform a one-off gig for their fans in London, says the BBC.
They will perform tracks from their new album, Dig Out Your Soul, live to a select audience at a rehearsal studio in the capital.
Fans who have signed up to Oasis' official website are being offered the chance to enter a draw for the gig by posting their details on the site.
The concert will be the Manchester five-piece's first before they hit the road for a world tour later this year.
The gig, which will be held on 14 August, will be filmed and may be broadcast in the future.
The closing date for the draw will be three days prior to the gig.
Oasis' seventh album, Dig Out Your Soul, will be released on 6 October.
The first single to be lifted from the record will be Shock Of The Lightning, which is due out on 29 September.
The album was recorded with producer Dave Sardy at Abbey Road Studios and mixed in Los Angeles.

McCartney To Play Israel?

Sir Paul McCartney has been asked to play a concert in Israel, 43 years after the Beatles were banned from performing in the country, says The Independent.
The star was approached about staging a Tel Aviv show this September, an insider confirmed last night. The revelation was greeted with excitement in the Israeli press. McCartney's spokesman said that nothing was confirmed, but negotiations were continuing.
McCartney, 66, and his fellow Beatles were banned from performing in Israel in 1965 when the country's then education minister, David Zarzevski, thought that a show by the band would threaten the morals of the nation's youth.
But this year Israel's ambassador to Britain, Ron Prosor, apologised during a trip to the Fab Four's home city of Liverpool for the "misunderstanding".
He sent letters to McCartney, his fellow surviving Beatle Ringo Starr and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison, writing: "There is no doubt that it was a great missed opportunity to prevent people like you, who shaped the minds of the generation, to come to Israel and perform."

The Verve Back On Form For Their Fourth Album - 11 Years Later

The Verve roars back to life after an 11-year hiatus between new albums with "Forth," a bracing blend of the experimentalism of the group's early work and the more structured songwriting of its last two efforts.

The set is due Aug 25th in the U.K. on Parlophone.

Only one song is less than five minutes long on "Forth," which begins with the seven-minute jam "Sit and Wonder." Atop a big bass groove and foreboding atmospherics, frontman Richard Ashcroft pleads, "Lord, give me the light," setting the table for the single "Love Is Noise," the most electronic track of the Verve's career.

The cut's sampled "woo-hoo" vocal and synths stake out new territory, but rarely have Ashcroft's vocals sounded as raw and angrily passionate.

"Love Is Noise" will be released in the U.K. Aug 4th digitally and Aug 11th in physical form.

"Forth" is further highlighted by the dreamy "Judas," arguably one of the most beautiful songs the band has yet penned, and the anthemic ballad "Valium Skies," a sure-fire future concert staple which is reminiscent of the hit "Lucky Man" from 1997's "Urban Hymns."

"I See Houses" muses on Ashcroft's everyday surroundings while pivoting between the eerie vibes of 1995's "A Northern Soul" and the elegant emoting of "Urban Hymns."