COREY TAYLOR 'Conflicted' About Continuing SLIPKNOT

SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor says he doesn't want to make any rash statements about the band's future following the recent passing of bassist Paul Gray and is focusing, for the time being, on promoting "Audio Secrecy", the new album from his other band, STONE SOUR.

"It's kind of a gray area right now," Taylor tells in FMQB Productions' radio special, "Inside Stone Sour: Audio Secrecy". "Everybody is still feeling it. It's too soon to tell.

"I'm very conflicted about whether or not I want to do anything with SLIPKNOT, because to me, Paul was such an integral part of the band. He was the whole reason that the band was the way it was... Paul was the glue and the orchestrator behind some of the best music we ever wrote. He was the soul of the band.

"I don't want to make any statements that I'll look like a fool in retrospect, but to me, right now, it just doesn't make sense," Taylor says. "Until it does, that's the way it stays for me. That's why I've been saying it's too soon to tell... you never know."

"Inside Stone Sour: Audio Secrecy" is airing on radio stations nationwide from September 3 to September 7.

SLIPKNOT drummer Joey Jordison, who was recently out with ROB ZOMBIE on the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, told The Pulse of Radio that there have actually been talks about SLIPKNOT's future following Gray's passing. "Shawn (Crahan) just came out, the 'Clown,' he just came out to the Mayhem festival, and we sat down and we talked and we're starting to map out the game plan right now," he said. "So there is another SLIPKNOT record already kinda in the making. You know, we're getting timelines set and, you know, it's gonna be a little bit but there's definitely another record. Paul would always want us to make another record. He wouldn't want the band to stop — SLIPKNOT was his life."

Paul Gray's body was found on May 24 in a hotel room in a Des Moines, Iowa suburb. A coroner ruled that the 38-year-old musician died of an accidental overdose of morphine.

The Cult's New 'Capsule' To Arrive This Month

According to a posting on THE CULT's official Twitter profile, the band's previously announced four-song "capsule" — which is described as a collection of not just new music, but film, art and fashion — will arrive on September 14.

The "capsule" will span across multiple media formats, including vinyl, digital, USB, CD and DVD formats.

In an August 20, 2010 interview with the U.K.'s leading classic rock radio station Planet Rock, THE CULT guitarist Billy Duffy spoke about the "capsule" concept and how it differs from the way the band released new music in the past.

"Well, I think you'd have to have been living under a rock for a long time to not notice that the music business has somewhat changed," Duffy explained.

"It's a different way of getting music out there.

"People — not everybody, but a lot of people — are, really, now more comfortable downloading music and the fact that aren't any, really, many record shops or places to buy music in that format anymore is indicative that people's habits are changing with the Internet, and we just felt, as a band, that the idea...

"We did a new album in 2007 in a sort of traditional way — get a record deal with a company and make an album and take out a very bad loan from them and then go and promote it, and blah blah blah. This time we just thought we'd do it a little differently, and we did it on... New Wilderness is our own label. And Ian [Astbury, vocals] felt very strongly that he'd prefer to try and record two or three, four songs and get them out there while they're quite fresh than spending a lot of time trying to write a whole album. It was really Ian's general feeling, which I sort of agreed with; I think people's attention spans are shortening, and I think the idea was... He just wanted to capture the music quickly and get it out there. That was the theory; the practice is not always quite so as easy as putting that into practice. But the idea of the capsule, if you wanna be old-fashioned, you could call it an EP. So rather than doing albums...

"Other bands who operate on a grander scale two, three, four years recording a record, or they sail in from their Carribean hideaways, go on a tour that lasts 18 months, and everybody is really happy with that format. That doesn't really work for THE CULT anymore. So we're just trying to be a little more fluid.

"The people who are buying tangible, what you'd call hard products, like vinyl, they're collectors and they want stuff that has a little bit more depth and content, and that's why it'll be a multimedia package."

THE CULT's first new studio recording since 2007, "Every Man and Woman is a Star" was released as a two-week exclusive through the iTunes store.

Rock fans worldwide will immediately recognize Billy Duffy's blistering guitars and Ian Astbury's powerful vocals soaring over a relentless beat.

"The latest recordings from THE CULT, guided by legendary producer Chris Goss (MASTERS OF REALITY, KYUSS, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE), are a mixture of violent guitars, emotive vocal performances with high melody and driving beats," Astbury said in a statement. "Textured metaphysical rock music for the contemporary music head."

This new release is a partnership between the band's New Wilderness label and media pioneers Aderra.

In 2009, Aderra recorded several live shows on THE CULT's U.S. and European tours, including a sold-out appearance at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The live recordings were released exclusively through a USB flash drive housed in a dog tag necklace.

The success of this initial project lead to this partnership to release the new capsule material on multiple formats.

THE CULT in 2008 parted ways with Roadrunner Records, the label that released the group's latest album, "Born into This". That CD sold 12,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 70 on The Billboard 200 chart. It was recorded in London with producer Youth (VERVE, PRIMAL SCREAM).

THE CULT's current touring lineup includes principals Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy alongside bassist Chris Wyse, drummer John Tempesta (ex-WHITE ZOMBIE, TESTAMENT, EXODUS, HELMET) and rhythm guitarist Mike Dimkich.

KATAKLYSM Guitarist/Producer Interviewed By INFERNAL MASQUERADE

Infernal Masquerade webzine recently conducted an interview with guitarist Jean-Francois Dagenais of Canadian extreme metallers KATAKLYSM. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.

"Heaven's Venom", the new album from KATAKLYSM, sold around 2,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 8 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

KATAKLYSM's previous CD, "Prevail", opened with 2,250 units back in June 2008.

"Heaven's Venom" first-week chart positions:

Austria: #32
Germany: #35
Switzerland: #53

"Heaven's Venom" was produced by Jean-Francois Dagenais (MALEVOLENT CREATION, MISERY INDEX) and was mixed by Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, MNEMIC, DARK TRANQUILLITY).

"Heaven's Venom" track listing:

01. A Soulless God
02. Determined (Vows Of Vengeance)
03. Faith Made Of Shrapnel
04. Push The Venom
05. Hail The Renegade
06. As The Walls Collapse
07. Numb & Intoxicated
08. At The Edge Of The World
09. Suicide River
10. Blind Savior

"Push The Venom", the new video from KATAKLYSM, can be viewed below. The clip was filmed in July in Belgrade, Serbia with director Ivan Colic (TYPE O NEGATIVE, UNLEASHED, DEATHSTARS, EX DEO).

Dagenais previously stated about the new CD, "Everything you wish for in a KATAKLYSM album is here and some unexpected musical adventures as well. Everyone here has given 150% of themselves!

"As KATAKLYSM turns twenty next year, we want to be remembered as the band who never gave up and faced the odds. This explosive slab of metal will lead scene for future conquests and not be forgotten ever. The music, the vocals and the production are all top notch."

Disturbed Frontman Interviewed By CHANNEL 103.1

Channel 103.1 conducted an interview with DISTURBED frontman David Draiman at the Big Day Out concert on August 28, 2010 at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) in Saratoga Springs, New York. You can now watch the chat below.

DISTURBED will take part in a live webcast on their Ustream channel on August 31 at 2:30 p.m. PST/5:30 p.m. EST. Fans can submit questions to the band by leaving comments here.

DISTURBED kicked off its headlining stint on the very first Uproar tour on August 17 by unveiling its massive new stage show, which HardDrive Radio called "a total assault of the senses." The production features a tremendous amount of visuals on huge LED screens, state-of-the-art pyrotechnics and an opening film in which Draiman is seen in an asylum before seeming to burst out of the screen and onto the stage.

DISTURBED has just released a video for the title track from its new album, "Asylum", which arrives on August 31.

The "Asylum" limited-edition CD/DVD pre-order comes with the full album, including two bonus tracks (live recordings of "Down With The Sickness"and "Stricken"), expanded artwork, a DVD with the "Decade Of Disturbed" documentary plus nine "Disturbed Dissected" exclusive instrument video instuctionals, and an exclusive double-sided poster with guitar tabs. It is available only through Disturbed1.com.

The iTunes LP version of "Asylum" is also available to pre-order now. This version also includes a download featuring the "Decade of Disturbed" documentary, two bonus tracks (live recordings of "Down With The Sickness" and "Stricken"), an additional exclusive bonus track ("Leave It Alone"), and two "Disturbed Dissected" exclusive instrument video instructionals.

Michael Monroe Taps Legendary Producer Jack Douglas For New Solo Album

Former HANOI ROCKS singer Michael Monroe has tapped legendary producer Jack Douglas (AEROSMITH, JOHN LENNON, CLUTCH,SLASH'S SNAKEPIT, NEW YORK DOLLS) to helm his new solo album, tentatively due in early 2011. Monroe and his band spent a week earlier this month writing and recording demos at the Seawolf Studios on the Suomenlinna Island, about a 15-minute ferry ride from the Helsinki, Finland harbor. Michael said, "We chose about 16 out of over 20 songs we had written for the record.

"The newest stuff sounds especially great, and we now have a pretty clear picture of what our new studio album will sound like.

"We sent the demos to our producer, who also loved the material and can't wait to start digging into it with us.

"Needless to say, we're all really excited about the recording sessions.

"We're flying to L.A. this Sunday to get started and will record through September."

In other news, Monroe revealed in a new online posting that he broke two ribs while making a guest appearance during Slash's performance at theSummer Sonic festival in Osaka, Japan in early August. Michael said, "I sang one song with him, 'We're All Gonna Die'. During the guitar solo, I ran along the aisle all the way to the mixing board, which I had already done a couple of times during my own show, but this time on my way back I slipped and fell, hitting my back on the metal barricade."

He added,"I've never had a broken a rib before, so I didn't know how it would feel. I just figured I had banged my back up real hard, so I just kept putting ice on it, but realized that I could only sleep laying on my back due to the pain."

Professionally filmed video footage of Michael Monroe's performance at this year's Summer Sonic festival — which was held August 7-8, 2010 in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan — can be viewed below.

As previously reported, Michael Monroe will release a new live album,"Another Night In The Sun", in Europe and Japan on September 22. The CD was recorded in early July during a private concert at the Tavastia club in Helsinki and will be mixed and mastered by Niko Bolas (NEIL YOUNG,FRANK SINATRA, KEITH RICHARDS, KISS, SPINAL TAP) in Los Angeles.

"Another Night In The Sun" features highlights from Monroe's solo career, a few HANOI ROCKS classics and two brand new songs: "You're Next" and "Motorheaded For A Fall".

Michael Monroe's solo band features bassist Sami Yaffa, who has played with a remarkable variety of bands including HANOI ROCKS, NEW YORK DOLLS and JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS, and guitarist Ginger, who has dazzled audiences over the world with his band THE WILDHEARTS. Also on guitar is Steve Conte, the NEW YORK DOLLS master fretman who has played with Willy DeVille and his own bands THE CRAZY TRUTH,CROWN JEWELS and COMPANY OF WOLVES. Rounding out the band is drummer Karl "Rockfist" Rosqvist, whose resume includes providing rhythm for the likes of CHELSEA SMILES and DANZIG.

Vince Neil Talked About Sobriety Just Days Before His Arrest

When Motley Crue singer Vince Neil was arrested Sunday night on drunken driving charges in Las Vegas, he was promoting a memoir in which he claimed to have stopped abusing drugs and alcohol.


The 49-year-old rocker spent the night in the Clark County jail and was released Monday after posting $2,000 bail.

In an interview last week with The Associated Press about a tell-all book due out in September, Neil said he hadn't used drugs in 20 years, and had stopped abusing alcohol.

"There's just a point in your life where you kind of stop, that's what happened with me," he said. "There's other things in life than just drugs and alcohol."

Neil said he admired the sobriety of some of the top performers today.

"Those are the guys that are doing it right," he said. "It's the ones that self-destruct with the drugs and alcohol that have gone by the wayside many years ago."

On June 22, Neil told the Associate Press, "Well, there's just a point in your life where you kind of stop, that's what happened with me. That was like three years ago. There's other things in life than just drugs and alcohol. I haven't touched drugs in 20 years. You grow out of that. Or hopefully, you grow out of it."

Neil was in his Lamborghini near the Las Vegas Stri when he was pulled over Sunday by police. . A police spokesman said additional details of the arrest would not be immediately released, and a police report would not be made available while the investigation continued. A court date is scheduled for Sept. 27.

Also from the AP interview on June 22, Neil says, "It's funny because somebody asked me, 'Is it weird being sober in a band?' and I go, 'Well, the thing is, you look at all the top bands that are still out there, most of those guys are sober."

Neil is currently working on his autobiography, due out this September. He said it will deal with the turmoil in his life.

Bret Michaels Still Not 100 Percent

According to People.com, POISON singer Bret Michaels is still suffering side effects from his April 21 brain hemorrhage and warning stroke.

"While Bret may be out on the road and performing, he is still not 100 percent," Janna Elias, V.P. of Michaels Entertainment said Tuesday. "He still has pain from the chemical meningitis, short term memory loss and gets fatigued quicker than normal."

Michaels, 47, however, hasn't put his health in jeopardy by hitting the road. Instead, he "simply feels that music is a powerful healer," adds Elias.