The Great Rock News Report 12.03.08

Posted by Daniel Wilcox on 12.03.2008

The success, or lack thereof, of Chinese Democracy, the return of Creed and Faith No More, the new Green Day album and the hunt for a Velvet Revolver singer and more, all covered in the latest Great Rock News Report!

Before we get onto the news, a massive thank you to Joshua George for covering for me last week while I was away in London. He did an excellent job and for more of Joshua's work, go here.

I've been browsing through some of my old 411 work the last few days and it turns out that today's edition of The Great Rock News Report is the 49th edition, making next week's edition the 50th. Something worth celebrating? Perhaps not, but I may do something a little different anyway. The 12/17 edition is likely to be a look back at the best albums of 08, and I've something planned for the Christmas eve edition too, so who knows what I'll do for next week.

OK, so to kick off with a music video as usual, this is the first single from William Control, the gothic solo project of Aiden mainman Wil Francis.


"Beautiful Loser" – William Control


Creed Reunion Tour Announcement Imminent?


Creed is hammering out details for a lucrative 2009 reunion tour, sources tell Billboard. The Scott Stapp-led group, which was one of the top sellers of the past decade, has not performed since a rancorous split in June 2004.

Stapp promptly embarked on a solo career, while guitarist Mark Tremonti, drummer Scott Phillips and original bassist Brian Marshall formed Alter Bridge with vocalist Myles Kennedy and released two albums. The 2004 Wind-Up debut, One Day Remains, sold 496,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan; a 2006 follow-up for Universal, Blackbird, has moved 227,000.

However, Kennedy is rumored to be the top contender to replace Robert Plant for a tour with Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones. And following a recent USO tour performing for American servicemen oversees, Stapp is said to be in prime physical and mental condition.

As such, there are "significant dollars" on the table for a Creed trek, according to sources close to the situation, who say an official announcement could be imminent. A spokesperson for Wind-Up tells Billboard, "There have been some talks, but it would be premature to comment on them at this time."

Creed has sold 26.1 million albums in the United States since 1997, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The group was also a significant touring presence, having grossed more than $70.3 million from 220 shows reported to Billboard Boxscore between Nov. 1997 and Dec. 2002.

Velvet Revolver's Hunt For New Singer Finally Over?


A rumour has reached Classic Rock that the singer Velvet Revolver are seeking to recruit to replace Scott Weiland is Irishman Phil Conalane from Million Dollar Reload.

Conalane was apparently recommended to Velvet Revolver by ex-Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler, and also by Stone Gods, the band formed from the ashes of The Darkness. Stone Gods reportedly tried to recruit Conalane themselves when Justin Hawkins left The Darkness.

Classic Rock's source, who claims to be in contact with an insider at Velvet Revolver's management, tells them:

"Though a surprising choice, Phil is experienced but relatively unknown on the international stage, which would fit Velvet Revolver's bill of fresh blood as they try to rebuild their career following the disappointing sales of their last album, Libertad, and the GN'R return that has left them reeling. Phil is also well known as a good songwriter, something that scuppered Velvet Revolver's plans when previously they tried to bring in the less-than-prolific Josh Todd of Buckcherry."

Green Day "Just Going For It" On New Album


Many fans of Green Day would call the band's 2004 album, American Idiot, a brilliant concept album with the concept being this: every song was brilliant. In short, it's the record the group can't possibly top.

Or can they? In an interview with Alternative Press, Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong promises the group aren't resting on their laurels, and that their best work may be coming soon.

"I really like fucking with arrangements, and I always try to look at the possibilities of how you write power-pop music," says Armstrong. "I'm pushing myself to be progressive in songwriting and being a songwriter.

"I come from a culture where I'm into great albums. I'm not saying I can go for it this hard every time - there might be times when I want to have something that's a little bit more spontaneous and off the cuff - but with this record, the feeling's been that you've got to just go for it."

As we previously noted, Green Day are working with producer Butch Vig - he of Nirvana's Nevermind and a member of the band Garbage - in place of longtime helmer Rob Cavallo. Armstrong sounds stoked by the Vig's musical approach.

"He's just got a lot of integrity and a lot of class, and one of the things I really respect about Butch is that he doesn't just go for things that are going to be million-sellers," Armstrong says.


Faith No More Planning 2009 Reunion Tour


According to UK magazine "Kerrang!" Faith No More is planning a UK tour this spring/summer.

The rumor is that a number of UK venues have been placed on hold for the spring and festivals are being looked at for the summer-time.

Founding bassist Bill Gould played down the speculation, telling Kerrang! "If anything like this were to happen, it would have to come from the band, and I haven't spoken with any of them in over a year. So as far as I know, there isn't anything to talk about, and I'm pretty sure that if you were to contact [Mike] Patton [vocals], he would tell you the same thing.

Elsewhere
The eighth Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival will be held June 11-14, 2009, on its usual site in Manchester, Tenn., an hour southeast of Nashville. The first round of ticket pre-sales begins Thursday (Dec. 4); a lineup announcement is expected early next year. The initial batch of tickets will be available for the first time as part of a payment plan, encompassing five installments of $50.

Though the formerly estranged members of Blink 182 are talking again, drummer Travis Barker has quashed any rumours of reunion. According to an MTV report, the drummer was recently asked if Blink are getting back together; "No," he says. "We're friends, though, everyone's getting along pretty good."

Dillinger Escape Plan has announced that they will enter the studio next June to begin recording a new full-length. The effort will be tracked by engineer/producer Steve Evetts, who also recorded the band's previous albums. Meanwhile, DEP has also revealed plans to tour Australia in late-February/early-March.

Turbonegro guitarist Knut 'Euroboy' Schreiner has announced that he has now fully recovered from cancer. A statement from the guitarist reads as follows: "As the year 2008 is coming to an end, I'm happy to inform you all that I've undergone successful treatment for lymphoma cancer.

Epitaph has set a date for the debut full length from New Jersey's Leathermouth. The hardcore band features Frank Iero of My Chemical Romance and promises "raw confrontational punk rock." The record is titled XO and is due out January 27, 2009

Napalm Death will release their new album, Time Waits For No Slave on February 2 through Century Media. According to bassist Shane Embury, the new disc will feature a slightly different direction. "Even though we're a very extreme band, I don't think any album sounds the same as the last one [2006's Smear Campaign]," he says. "There's a little more experimentation."

The Ting Tings are already planning work on their second album. "We've got loads of ideas but we've consciously made a decision not to write anything down yet," singer Katie White tells the Daily Star. "Some of the best shows we've ever done were in France. So we're hoping to go to Paris for inspiration next year. We're obsessed with Berlin," adds Katie. "But I don't think we'd get much work done out there because there's too many distractions." As for the new direction The Ting Tings may take, White adds: "We'd like to have a brass section."

SPECIAL CHINESE DEMOCRACY PROGRESS REPORT


It's not doing well. I know that people are saying GN'R are hardly mainstream, but the likes of AC/DC and Metallica have had tremendous success this year and you'd think what with it being "the most anticipated album ever," that Chinese Democracy would have a similar degree of success. So far, it hasn't come close.

While not all international charts are available at this time, the only two countries the album has debuted at No. 1 in are Finland and Brazil. The album entered the Dutch chart at No. 4, the Irish, Israeli, Italian and Australian charts at No. 3 and the UK Chart at No. 2, comfortably beaten out by Day and Age, the third studio album from The Killers.

Perhaps most importantly, the record is set to debut at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, shifting around 250,000 units in its first week of sales, way down on the project sales that ranged from 500,000-750,000. While Kanye West's new record also had low sales figures compared to the projected range, I don't think either flop is because of the economic crisis. I'd imagine a lot of people have been put off by Kanye's new sound, whilst people have just given up caring about Democracy, and who the hell can blame them?

Reviews for the album have ranged from pretty good to excellent. Some people are calling album of the year. Some people are saying it's average. Personally, I think it blew. I fully understand that it's not Guns N' Roses as much as it's an Axl solo effort, but that doesn't excuse it from being shit. If I'd been anticipating its release for 17 years, I'd be pissed the fuck off. It's balls. No redeeming qualities.

I now await the "you're not giving it a chance, give it another listen," comments. Fuck that. I've listened to it a few times now and it's not going to get better. I would have loved for this to be a quality album; I don't ant Axl to fail. But I'm sorry, it's shit. I compiled my "100 Best Albums of 08" list at the weekend in preparation for a Year-End news report, and Chinese Democracy didn't make it. Nor will it be getting another listen from me for a long, long time. And being British, I don't even get the free can of soda. Thanks for nothing, Axl.

On the other hand, way back from when Guns N' Roses used to not suck...


"November Rain" – Guns N' Rose