The Great Rock News Report 10.24.09

Posted by Daniel Wilcox on 10.24.2009

Them Crooked Vultures track listing and release date, Faith No More and Guns N' Roses for North American dates, The Rakes split, Attack! Attack! loses vocalist, updates from Against Me, Jack's Mannequin and much more all in the latest Great Rock News Report!



The release date and track listing has been confirm for the debut from Them Crooked vultures. The first single "New Fang," will impact radio from Monday with the self-titled album coming on November 17. The track listing for the record is as follows;

1. No One Loves Me & Neither Do I
2. Mind Eraser, No Chaser
3. New Fang
4. Dead End Friends
5. Elephants
6. Scumbag Blues
7. Bandoliers
8. Reptiles
9. Interlude with Ludes
10. Warsaw or the First Breath You Takes After You Give Up
11. Caligulove
12. Gunman
13. Spinning in Daffodils

Guns N' Roses are gearing up to play their first shows since the release of their long overdue sixth studio album, Chinese Democracy, last November.

The band have already confirmed a number of Canadian shows - which are being billed as Guns N' Roses Chinese Democracy World Tour - which kick off in Winnipeg on January 13 and conclude in Halifax on February 4.

According to US mag Rolling Stone, before the Canadian dates, the band will head to Taiwan, Korea and Japan in December.

European dates are expected to be officially announced shortly, not that anyone over here actually wants to see Axl & friends live, especially when the set list is made up predominantly of tracks from that God awful album Chinese Democracy.

Florida political punks Against Me! have completed work on White Crosses, the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2007 album, New Wave. The band finished tracking the album this past Saturday (October 17) in LA with producer Butch Vig (Nirvana, Garbage, Green Day). White Crosses, which is the first Against Me! album to feature new drummer George Rebelo (formerly of Hot Water Music), will be released through Warner Bros in early 2010.

Attack Attack! frontman Nick Barham has parted ways with the group, just a couple days before their scheduled headlining tour. Lead guitarist Andrew Wetzel issued a statement on Thursday about Nick's departure and announced who will be taking his place. Here is what he had to say:

"Thought we'd throw you all a quick little update about what's currently going on in the AA! lineup. The band and Nick parted ways recently in a mutually agreed non-explosive fashion, which we all believe is the best for both sides. Caleb is going to retire his keys and start screaming in the front of the band. We DO NOT have a new person in our band. Don't worry, our music will still be full of Caleb's programming, keys, and all the good things he concocts. It will just be back-tracked live with the 808 samples and other nonsense on my iPod. Anyways, we're not gonna stop touring, playing shows, and having a generally wonderful time with all of you."

Andrew McMahon, frontman for Sire Records' pop/rock recording artist Jack's Mannequin, will join Stand Up To Cancer's team of celebrity ambassadors in December 2009. The Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) initiative funds groundbreaking research aimed at getting new treatments to patients faster, and aims to rally the public around the fight against the disease. To date, the group has raised more than $100 million, SU2C's celebrity ambassadors support the initiative by participating in fundraising events and serving as spokespeople in public service announcements and media interviews to generate awareness about cancer's devastating impact and the role research plays in the effort to end it.

In addition, Sire Records will release Dear Jack on November 3rd, a DVD documentary shot by McMahon himself which chronicles his own personal fight against leukemia. Equipped with a DV camera Sire Records originally gave him to capture the making of his debut Jack's Mannequin album, Everything in Transit, McMahon kept the camera rolling after the crucial day in May 2005 when he not only finished his debut solo album, but was also diagnosed with cancer at only 22 years old. Directed by filmmakers Corey Moss and Josh Morrisroe and narrated by Tommy Lee, this documentary is a raw look at the battle that is leukemia. The film will be available in-stores, on the Jack's Mannequin website www.jacksmannequin.com and via digital download through iTunes.

Also on November 3rd, The Dear Jack EP will be made available exclusively through iTunes. The EP features four previously unreleased tracks: "Dear Jack," "Diane, the Skyscraper," "There, There Katie," and "Swim (Music Box)."

The Rakes have announced they are to split with immediate effect. The band who formed in 2002, came together as a foursome of childhood friends and kindred sprits and went on to release three critically acclaimed albums; the first Capture/Release in 2005, followed by Ten New Messages in 2007 and Klang (2009). Both the October UK tour and American dates are cancelled and full refunds will be given to ticket holders.

A statement from the band reads: "The Rakes have always been very adamant and proud of the fact that we give 100% to every gig we've ever played. If we can't give it everything then we won't do it. That was the rule we set ourselves from day one.

"After much deliberation we have come to the shared conclusion that we can't give it 100% anymore and regret to announce that The Rakes are calling it a day. We are sorry to let down all the people who were coming to see us on the UK & US tours. Writing your own obituary is a surreal thing to do but we want to give particular thanks to our much-loved fans, all the great people we've worked with over the years, our management and loyal record label. We feel privileged to have had the opportunity to write music together and perform around the world. Genuinely, thanks for the good times.... That was one hell of a party! But now, we really must get some sleep."

The Rakes 3rd and final full length album Klang is set for US release on iTunes Tuesday October 27.

Arcade Fire are apparently "hard at work" on the follow up to 2007's Neon Bible, due for release some time in 2010.

And finally, after playing some reunion shows in Europe over the summer, Faith No More is apparently planning to bring that show to the States. Bassist Billy Gould wrote via Twitter, "In response to all of our concerned U.S. brethren, YES, we are now actively planning U.S. dates."