Ray Manzarek, a founding Member of The Doors, has died at age 74.
The keyboardist succumbed this afternoon (Monday) at the RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim, Germany, where he was being treated for bile duct cancer. He was surrounded by his wife of 46 years, Dorothy Manzarek, and his brothers Rick and James Manzarek.
Just last week, Doors guitarist Robby Krieger told us Ray was sick, but was hoping to play a show they had scheduled in Los Angeles in August. He has issued a statement saying, "I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and bandmate Ray Manzarek today. I'm just glad to have been able to have played Doors songs with him for the last decade. Ray was a huge part of my life, and I will always miss him."
In addition to his wife and brothers, Manzarek is survived by his son Pablo, his daughter-in-law Sharmin and their three children. Funeral arrangements are pending. The family asks that its privacy be respected at this time. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Ray's name to Stand Up 2 Cancer at StandUp2Cancer.org.
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH: Albums Go to Heaven and Hell
Five Finger Death Punch have picked a mouthful of words for the title to their new album. The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Volume 1 on July 23rd, whileVolume 2 is scheduled for later this fall. The first single, "Lift Me Up" featuring Judas Priest singer Rob Halford, will go on sale through all digital retailers on Tuesday.
AS I LAY DYING: Metal Band's Singer Arrested In Plot to Kill Wife
This would make a good lifetime movie don't ya think?
This story broke last night. Real life is stranger than fiction I tell ya!
The singer for Christian metal band As I Lay Dying singer was arrested Tuesday -- for allegedly trying to have his estranged wife killed.
Police picked up Tim Lambesis at a store in Oceanside, California, near the band's hometown San Diego, after he tried to hire a hit man who turned out to be an undercover cop. They've charged him with solicitation of another to commit murder.
An investigation began last Thursday when police learned that Lambesis had solicited someone to kill his wife, Meggan. According to court records, Meggan filed for divorce last September.
Mastodon fans might get to hear some new songs when the band plays theMayhem Festival this summer.
A new post on the band's Facebook page says, "For those of you who are interested, yes, we have been very busy writing and putting songs together for the next studio. We are down at our space, hammering out riffs that can be friends and working our fingers to the bone to put out another great album."
Mastodon's last album, The Hunter, was released in the fall of 2011. The Mayhem Festival, which includes Rob Zombie and Five Finger Death Punch, kicks off June 29th in San Bernardino, California.
KISW and Rockstar Energy Drink Presents Mayhem Festival 2013
Wednesday, July 3rd White River Amphitheater
Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars is doing fine after being knocked over by a fan who rushed the stage over the weekend.
A fan jumped on the stage during the band's show in Estevan, Saskatchewan, Canada Saturday night as the Crue were performing "Primal Scream." The fan not only bumped into Mars -- he also grabbed singer Vince Neil before being tackled and hauled off. The band left the stage for a few minutes before returning to complete the set. Mars tweetedto fans, "Thank all of you for your concerns about me being knocked down. I'm alright, nothing broken. My bodyguard Rhyno got two busted ribs." The Crue's Canadian tour continues Tuesday in Winnipeg.
In good Crue news, the band will be inducted into the Mohegan Sun Walk of Fame May 18th before they play the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
REVOLVER GOLDEN GODS AWARDS: Bittersweet Night for Metal
The news of Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman's death earlier in the day lent an edge of sorrow to the fifth annual Revolver Golden Gods Awards last night (Thursday) in Los Angeles. Still, with Metallica getting the Ronnie Dio Lifetime Achievement Award and performing the closing set -- and many other memorable performances and special guests -- it was quite a night at Club Nokia.
Hanneman was remembered early and often:
· In the opening set by Anthrax, guest vocalist Phil Anselmo dedicated "This Love" by his old band, Pantera, to Hanneman.
· Host Chris Jericho dedicated the show to Hanneman's memory.
· Rob Zombie guitarist John 5 won for Best Guitarist and dedicated it to him as well.
Later, Kerry King -- Hanneman's longtime guitar partner in Slayer -- took the stage as a presenter, but first led the audience in what elsewhere might have been called a moment of silence. Instead, he said, "Because this is metal, a moment of noise" in honor of his fallen bandmate.
· Metallica closed the show with "Disposable Heroes," "For Whom the Bell Tolls," "Rapid Fire," with special guest vocalist Rob Halford of Judas Priest, and "Seek and Destroy."
· Danzig performed a five song set, their own "Hammer of the Gods," "Mother" and "Death Comes Ripping" and, joined by former Misfits guitarist Doyle, two Misfits songs, "Last Caress" and "Skulls."
· Stone Sour performed "Gone Sovereign" and "Absolute Zero," before being being joined by Slipknot percussionists Shawn "Clown" Crahan and Chris Fehn for Black Sabbath's "Children of the Grave."
· Five Finger Death Punch opened with "Burn It Down," then were joined by Rob Halford, who's the guest vocalist on their upcoming single, "Lift Me Up," for that song. Another Rob, Zombie, and his guitarist, John 5, then joined them for White Zombie's "Thunderkiss 65."
· Halestorm performed "Love Bites (And So Do I)" and "I Miss the Misery," then were joined by Disturbed and Device singer David Draiman on Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love."
· The Dillinger Escape Plan played "Prancer" and "When I Lost My Bet," before being joined by Deftones singer Chino Moreno for a cover of Depeche Mode's "Behind the Wheel."
· Anthrax opened the show with "Caught in a Mosh" and "Fight 'Em Till You Can't," then were joined by two former Pantera members, singer Phil Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown, for Pantera's "This Love," which they dedicated to the late Jeff Hanneman of Slayer.
The following awards were handed out at Revolver Golden Gods Awards, held Thursday night at L.A.'s Club Nokia:
· BEST GUITARIST John 5 (Rob Zombie & solo)
· BEST DRUMMER Arejay Hale (Halestorm)
· PAUL GRAY BEST BASSIST Lemmy Kilmister (Motörhead)
· BEST VOCALIST Corey Taylor (Stone Sour & Slipknot)
· BEST NEW TALENTDevice
· MOST METAL ATHLETETriple H (WWE wrestling)
· BEST LIVE BAND Slipknot
· COMEBACK OF THE YEARTenacious D
· SONG OF THE YEARBlack Veil Brides, "In The End"
· MOST DEDICATED FANSHIM
· ALBUM OF THE YEARDeftones, Koi No Yokan
SPECIAL ANNUAL AWARDS (previously announced)
· RONNIE JAMES DIO LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDMetallica
· GOLDEN GOD AWARDRob Zombie
· RIFF LORD AWARD Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH: Two Albums Are Better Than One
Following in the footsteps of Stone Sour, Five Finger Death Punch will release their new album in two parts.
The first volume of the as-yet-untitled project will be released on July 23rd, with the second due out in the fall. The band will debut the first single, "Lift Me Up," live atRevolver's Golden Gods Awards in Los Angeles on Thursday. They promise that their performance will feature "a very special surprise guest."
Five Finger Death Punch will co-headline the 2013 Mayhem Festival with Rob Zombie this summer. That tour kicks off on June 29th in San Bernadino, California.
Some new singles and such that have come across my desk as of recent. Please feel free to let me know what you think of the songs in the comments section below!
