weekly music news

[FH]

VELVET REVOLVER: New Album Title Revealed - Dec. 29, 2003

VELVET REVOLVER's much-anticipated debut album, due on April 27, 2004 through RCA Records, looks likely to be titled either "Contraband" or "Controband", BLABBERMOUTH.NET can exclusively reveal.

As previously reported, the CD — which will include twelve of the more than fifty tracks the band co-wrote before and after vocalist Scott Weiland (ex-STONE TEMPLE PILOTS) joined the lineup last spring — was produced by Josh Abraham (LIMP BIZKIT, STAIND) and mixed by Andy Wallace (NIRVANA, WHITE ZOMBIE, LINKIN PARK, SLAYER, SEPULTURA). Mastering took place on December 19 in New York City.

Weiland, who is currently completing a six-month residential drug rehabilitation program in Pasadena, Ca., finished recording the vocals to the last song for the album Friday (December 26) at Lavish studios in California with engineer Douglas Grean. Songtitles set to appear on the album include "Slither", "Falling to Pieces", "Superhuman" and "Illegal Eye".

VELVET REVOLVER's current lineup is rounded out by former GUNS N' ROSES members Slash (guitar), Duff McKagan (bass), and Matt Sorum (drums), along with guitarist Dave Kushner (SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, LOADED).

[FH]

SCORPIONS To Begin Mixing In January - Dec. 24, 2003

Veteran German hard rockers SCORPIONS are continuing to work on their new album at the Peppermint Park Studio in Hannover throughout the holiday season, according to a post on the band's web site. The group are scheduled to begin mixing the effort in January for a spring release. SCORPIONS' forthcoming album is expected to feature a return to the band's classic hard rock sound following a foray into a more dance-inspired direction on their last studio release, 1999's "Eye II Eye".

[FH]

Update: JUDAS PRIEST Boxed Set To Feature 'Pleather Case With Metallic Studs' - Dec. 23, 2003

JUDAS PRIEST's forthcoming boxed set will carry the title "Metalogy" and will be delivered in a special package featuring a pleather case with metallic studs, according to Billboard. A March 9, 2004 release through the Sony Music catalog division Legacy is expected. The set comes two years after Legacy reissued the band's entire catalog.

As previously reported, JUDAS PRIEST are believed to be on the verge of signing a new major-label deal with Sony Music following their split with the Atlantic label in 2002. Their forthcoming CD will be the group's first to feature vocalist Rob Halford since 1990's RIAA gold-certified "Painkiller".

[FH]

Report: SARS Concert Featuring AC/DC, RUSH TO Be Released On DVD - Dec. 30, 2003

The mammoth SARS extravaganza held outdoors in Toronto last July 30 will be released on DVD next spring, according to Billboard magazine.

ROLLING STONES tour manager Michael Cohl said in a newspaper interview that all 13 performers at the Downsview Park concert were recorded and should be included in the DVD, but it's not known at this stage if the entire concert will be released.

"We're hoping by April or May to have it out," Cohl said.

The day-long concert, which was designed to boost the city's sagging economy in the wake of the deaths caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, attracted some 450,000 people and also featured AC/DC, RUSH, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and the FLAMING LIPS. It was formally billed as Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto.

Highlights included an appearance by AC/DC siblings Angus and Malcolm Young as the STONES covered "Rock Me Baby". But Timberlake's duet with Mick Jagger on "Miss You" was rewarded with a volley of empty water bottles from outraged fans, who in turn received stern glares from Keith Richards.