You gotta check out this new artist I found. His name is Wolfgang Carter and I just saw him live the other night. He did a solo acoustic set of 20 or so songs and each one seemed to be better than the last. I met him after the show and he told about a website where I could find some songs posted that are his in-progress demo. If you have a myspace or facebook accout you can use the link below to add him. Be on the lookout for this guy and catch him live if you get the chance!

on ilike.com: http://www.ilike.com/artist/Wolfgang+Carter

on Facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/ilike/artist/Wolfgang+Carter

Aaron Thompson of the Las Vegas Weekly reports: Turns out, Tommy Lee vs. Kid Rock was only the undercard on [MTV Video Music Awards] night.

According to a Metro police report released Monday, the September 10 fight that landed MASTODON frontman Brent Hinds in University Medical Center's intensive care unit with brain hemorrhaging, a broken nose and two black eyes began as a skirmish between Hinds and Shavo Odadjian, bassist for multiplatinum metal band SYSTEM OF A DOWN.

According to the police report - based on firsthand accounts and corroborated by hotel-security video footage - an inebriated Hinds was leaving Mandalay Bay around 3 a.m. when he encountered Odadjian and musician William Hudson at the hotel's west valet area. Hinds took off his shirt and hit Odadjian with it, then struck Hudson in both the face and chest, prompting Odadjian to advise Hinds "to relax," several times, according to the police report.

The police report then indicates both Odadjian and Hudson punched Hinds in the face, knocking him to the ground. An unidentified friend of Hinds, who reportedly witnessed the event, rushed to the musician's aid and apologized to Odadjian and Hudson, saying Hinds was "just drunk," according to the police report. Odadjian and Hudson were both questioned by police on the scene.

No charges had been filed at press time, though the police report lists Hudson as a "suspect," facing a possible charge of "battery with substantial bodily harm." The police report lists Odadjian as a "witness."

According to the police report, tensions ran high after Hinds began drunkenly "annoying" Odadjian and Hudson inside the Palms following the conclusion of the VMAs.

"We're still stuck in the studio, but when we were invited to participate in the 21st Annual Bridge School shows, we just couldn't say "no". We're going to record both nights (October 27th and 28th at Shoreline Ampitheatre in Mountain View, CA) and have them here (www.livemetallica.com) for you shortly after. It's an acoustic show that NEIL YOUNG puts together each year in the Bay Area, and this is the second time for us. And all proceeds from the sale of downloads from these two shows will go to the Bridge School.

Tuesday, September 18, the High Voltage Tattoo Parlor will open its doors to Scott Ian, main axe-man for the legendary thrash metal band Anthrax. The heavy metal veteran will be appearing on the next episode of TLC's "L.A. Ink ," which airs at 10PM EST. In the ultimate heavy metal tribute, Ian will be inked up with a tattoo of another hard rock hero, AC/DC's Angus Young.

Ian commented on his appearance on the show, saying: "Kat Von D is the best and her shop is called High Voltage, so who and where better to get a tattoo of Angus Young?!?!"

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine will participate in an online chat on Sunday, September 16 at the MegaFanClub at 12:00 p.m. PST / 3:00 p.m. EST. This is a fan-club-members-only chat. You must be a member of the MegaFanClub to participate. Click here to join.

MEGADETH's September 22, 2007 concert at the Newport Music Hall in Columbus, Ohio will be streamed live via YeboTV.com. You will need to register at this location to catch this live event.

MEGADETH kicked off its U.S. headlining tour on September 4 in Anchorage, Alaska. The trek will take the band through 24 U.S. cites ending up in Norfolk Virginia on October 6. Support on the dates comes from IN THIS MOMENT and THE CONFESSION.

For a list of upcoming MEGADETH shows, click here.

The artwork for MEGADETH's upcoming box set, "Warchest", has been posted online at this location. The 4-CD+DVD collection features more than six hours of digitally remastered content, hand-selected by Mustaine, including 30 audio and video tracks making their global release debuts, and an additional three tracks that have never before been released in the U.S. "Warchest"'s October 2 release caps Mustaine and Capitol/EMI's in-depth MEGADETH catalog remastering and restoration campaign, which has encompassed the band's Capitol studio albums, while also adding new audio and video collections to the band's arsenal.

Columbia Records will release Plug Me In - the ultimate career-spanning DVD box set of live performances, interviews and more from AC/DC, the world's most electrifying rock and roll band - on Tuesday, October 16.

The first AC/DC release since the band came to Columbia Records earlier this year, the AC/DC Plug Me In DVD collection brings together for the very first time an astonishing five hours of definitive live concert and television performances - many of them previously unavailable - chronicling the ongoing career (now in its fourth decade!) of a groundbreaking rock and roll powerhouse whose music transcends the test of time.

AC/DC has delivered the most dynamic rock and roll music in the world, said Steve Barnett, Chairman, Columbia Records. Columbia is honored to be releasing this definitive career-spanning retrospective featuring many of AC/DC's finest filmed performances.

A deluxe collector's edition of Plug Me In - containing a third DVD of 21 additional rare performances spanning both the Bon Scott and Brian Johnson eras as well as a treasure trove of facsimile reproductions of authentic AC/DC memorabilia - will also be available for a limited time beginning Tuesday, October 16.

The AC/DC Plug Me In DVD box set is both a Holy Grail for aficionados of AC/DC as well as an ideal and comprehensive introduction to the music and history of a pioneering band that continues to define the electrifying possibilities of rock and roll.

Source: MetalUnderground.com - Click on link to view DVD track listings

According to Billboard.com, a press conference will be held on September 12 in London in connection with LED ZEPPELIN's possible reunion concert in honor of late producer/record mogul Ahmet Ertegun, to be held at the O2 in London in November,

There has been talk that tour producers AEG Live and Michael Cohl's CPI (ROLLING STONES, GENESIS) have put in offers on a ZEPPELIN tour featuring founding members Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones with late drummer John Bonham's son Jason on drums. But it is also well known in the industry that standing offers have been on the table for a LED ZEPPELIN tour for more than a decade.

Source: BLABBERMOUTH.NET

Operator's sound is a fusion of Soundgarden meets Velvet Revolver which equals nothing too new but a great and solid first album. Plus with names like singer Johnny Strong and guitarist Rikki Lixx, how can you go wrong?

Here is my track by track breakdown:

1. "Soulcrusher" - 4 out of 5 stars
2. "Nothing to Lose" - 4 out of 5 stars
3. "Make 'Em Pay" - 4 out of 5 stars
4. "So Little Time" - 4 out of 5 stars
5. "Delicate" - 4 out of 5 stars
6. "What You Get" - 4 out of 5 stars
7. "The Only One" - 4 out of 5 stars
8. "Burn Up the Road" - 3 out of 5 stars
9. "Black Cloud" - 4 out of 5 stars
10. "Good Enough" - 3 out of 5 stars
11. "Live Your Way" - 4 out of 5 stars
    

Here we go again... "Van Halen to announce reuinon tour" ...Can you say dejavu??? I have heard the rumor before when it was announced earlier this year only to be cancelled and to see the ever egotistical Eddie Van Halen fire long time bassist Michael Anthony in the aftermath. I was a big fan of the band and still am to some extent but I am soooo tired of hearing reunion rumors for what feels like the past decade, only to be dissapointed time and time again.

Now let's not put all the blame on Eddie, don't forget the "Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame" induction ceremony that David Lee Roth turned into a junior high school he said, she said thing which ultimately turned into a yet another "WTF" chapter in the band's storied career plus over-shadowed what was to be a honor for the band. Plus I read the entire band didn't even show up. This was yet another chance for the band to provide a highlight for their fanbase plus bring some new ones on the bandwagon. But instead the "Hall of Fame" moment turned into the biggest dropped the ball moment in hall's history.

So if the band ever does get around to the "reunion" tour will anyone even care anymore? Plus what about Anthony's back up vocals which is such a huge part of the bands sound?? Let's not forget the over-the-top reunioun ticket prices band's and Ticketmaster have been demanding for such shows??? Is it really worth it to see an out-dated and watered down version of the band for $50 plus the $30 in fees Ticketmaster will tack on to the bill for an upper deck row 13 seat???? You may have guessed my answer is NO! Maybe if the band put out a new CD capturing a new version of the sound they had with Roth previously I would consider it but after all the have put fans like myself through over the years I should be paid to see them play and not the other way around.

In closing I have these words of wisdom for the band - Eddie: get over yourself and put the bottle down once in for all, Alex: quit following your brother over every cliff he jumps, Dave: Lay off the weed try to find the front man the fans and ladies loved, Wolfgang: RUN AWAY AND RUN FAST!!!! save yourself before you become another stepped on footnote in the band's history.

But hey, I'm just a fan, however disgruntle I may be.

FUEL may have been passed up by the marketing machine that the genre has become when former "American Idol" finalist Chis Duaghtry declined their offer to front the band but when former SOiL singer Toryn Green agreed and signed on for the job the rock-solid and steady sound of FuEL was better served.

FUEL has always been known for it's middle-of-the-road arena rock and "Angels & Delivers" fortunately or unfortunately (depending upon which side of the fence you choose to walk) is more of the same. 12 tracks of MTV **** rock is delivered from start to finish with no diversity to be found.

If your a fan of FUEL or of the genre you will enjoy the CD but if you are not there is only a song or two you may enjoy.

for at least a song or two...

Okay the big news in the gaming world today is "GTA IV TO BE DELAYED", and I have to say I am not surprised. In fact I bet that this will not be the last game, from the massive list of the holiday season's offerings, that will be the last. The massive amount of time and money being put forth these days on multi-platform releases amid the race to have the best game with the best graphics with the best sound has turned into an ever un-winnable race.

Amidst this chaos many great games will fall to the way side and publishers will then back away from continuing some of those games because they released it at the same time everyone else did. I realize the payoff is the big thing but if they got smart about it they would realize that a great game does better more times than not in the "off-season" then during the "holiday season". But like every one else involved on the entertainment industry they will never learn.

"Stupid is as stupid does" - Forrest Gump

As the father of an 8yr old son and a regular video game player, I have to stay I am dumbfounded by the lack of kids games available for the Microsoft and Sony systems. Why are they soooo blind to the success of the Game Boy, which is full of kids games and other family games??? For years games like Monoply and Scrabble have been keys to "Family Fun Time" but no one has done these games on consoles since the Playstation 1. I believe part the Wii's success is do to the fact anyone and everyone can play. The games are fun, easy to play and the whole family get to have fun together - just like they've done with board games.

I hope the "Big Two" will take a lesson from the Wii and try to create some more family friendly games. Since Nintendo is kicking their butt all the way to bank I think we will see it soon - but I bet they will get it wrong more often at first and by the time they get it - it may be too late.

Ok so first let me start by saying that I know the "Guitar Hero" series is a huge hit and the upcoming "Rock Band" title looks to have the same success, but I don't play those games because I already play guitar and the games just don't appeal to me. For me, I play games after a long day of work and I need to get the stress out. But my problem is the over abundance of games with hip-hop dominated sound tracks. I don't hate hip-hop or dislike anyone who listens to it. It's just that I would like to hear other music in my games.

I have a Xbox 360 and have loaded all my favorite rock songs and choose them more times then I do to the games sound tracks these days. Has anyone else noticed this??? Games like madden, need for speed and other long time game franchises started out with rock song sound tracks but over time the balance has shifted to hip-hop. I just want to see some more balance in the choice and type of music in games.

Wouldn't you agree???