Hulk Hogan Jams With Metallica.

Hulk Hogan reveals he almost joined Metallica

Wrestling star Hulk Hogan has revealed that he almost joined an early version of Metallica.

The grappler, who stars in his own reality TV series Hogan Knows Best, said that he used to be close mates with the metal titans' drummer Lars Ulrich during his days as a session musician.

He told The Sun: "I used to be a session musician before I was a wrestler. I played bass guitar. I was big pals with Lars Ulrich and he asked me if I wanted to play bass with Metallica in their early days but it didn't work out."

Hogan also spoke about his love for The Stone Roses and said that the reunited Manchester band were once the soundtrack to his workout sessions. He said of this: "I love the Stone Roses. They're getting back together, right? That's cool man. I used to work out to some of their songs".

The wrestler also said he was aware that Kasabian often use his name as a pseudonym to check into hotel rooms under and joked that he wasn't happy about it.

Speaking about the Leicester four piece, Hogan said: "I heard about these guys. They have made a show about UK wrestling in the '80s, called 'Walk Like A Panther'. I know Rollerball Rocco, he's in it. He's my guy. I'll be his tag partner and sort them out for trashing hotel rooms under my name".

Oh..what might have been...

Ebony and Ivory - Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder

Paul McCartney: 'Stevie Wonder is a genius'

Paul McCartney has spoken about working with Stevie Wonder on his new album 'Kisses On The Bottom', 30 years after the pair collaborated on the Number One song 'Ebony and Ivory'.

The pair join forces once again on new track, 'Only Our Hearts', which is one of only two new McCartney songs on the record. Of working with Wonder at Los Angeles' Capitol Studio, McCartney said:

Stevie came along to the studio in LA and he listened to the track for about ten minutes and he totally got it. He just went to the mic and within 20 minutes had nailed this dynamite solo. When you listen you just think, 'How do you come up with that?' But it's just because he is a genius, that's why.

Paul McCartney's new album, 'Kisses On The Bottom', is out on February 6. Eric Clapton features on the album's other new song 'My Valentine'.

'Kisses On The Bottom' is a collection of standards McCartney grew up listening to in his childhood as well as the two new McCartney compositions mentioned above. The album was produced by Grammy Award-winning Tommy LiPuma and also features Diana Krall and her band.

Check out the old school vid by Paul and Steve below!

Neil Young - Rockin' In The Free World

Neil Young: 'The sound of music today makes me angry'

Photo: PA Photos

Neil Young has hit out at the sound quality of 21st century recorded music, revealing that listening to it makes him "angry".

The Canadian singer songwriter, who released his 33rd studio album 'Le Noise' in 2010, has said that the sound quality of music is the "worst sound we've ever had".

He told MTV News: "I'm finding that I have a little bit of trouble with the quality of the sound of music today. I don't like it. It just makes me angry. Not the quality of the music, but we're in the 21st century and we have the worst sound that we've ever had. It's worse than a 78 [rpm record]. Where are our geniuses? What happened?"

Young went on to say that he believed people had changed their listening habits to cope with the worsening quality of recorded music.

He added: "I like to point that out to artists. That's why people listen to music differently today. It's all about the bottom and the beat driving everything, and that's because in the resolution of the music, there's nothing else you can really hear. The warmth and the depth at the high end is gone."

Young made sure to say that though he hated the way modern music was recorded, he did not hate the new bands who made it, and talked up Mumford and Sons and My Morning Jacket as two of his favourite new bands.

He said: "Mumford And Sons and My Morning Jacket are great bands. I love them both and I know them well. I feel good about saying that."

Etta James - At Last

R.I.P. Etta James

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the great soul and blues wailer Etta James died of complications from leukemia this morning in Riverside, California. She was 73.

As a teenager, James was discovered in 1950 by the bandleader Johnny Otis (who also died this week), and she scored her first minor hit, “Roll With Me, Henry,” in 1954. She toured with Little Richard and went on to sign with the great blues and early-rock label Chess, where she recorded for 18 years. Her best-known song, “At Last,” is one of the all-time classic first-dance wedding jams, but she had many, many other hits. She also overcame heroin addiction and continued to perform and record until very recently. Beyoncé, who played James in the 2008 movie Cadillac Records (and who James didn’t seem to like too much), sang “At Last” to President Obama at his Inaugural Ball.

Below, the classic:

De La Soul's Plug 1 & Plug 2 present First Serve -- 'Mrs. Whitter' [offi...

De La Soul to release concept album under the name First Serve

Photo: Press

De La Soul are set to release an old school hip hop, disco and funk inspired concept album under their new alter egos First Serve. Scroll down to hear the song 'Pushin' Aside, Pushin' Along' and to watch the skit Mrs. Whitter.

Plug 2/Dave and Plug 1/Pos from the hip hop band have stepped into character for the project, becoming Deen Whitter and Jacob 'Pop Life' Barrow to record the 'First Serve' album, which will be released on April 2.

Described as "the soundtrack to a movie that has yet to be made and a fable for our times", the album tells the story of Deen and Jacob, two childhood friends living in Queens, New York with dreams of making it big in the music world.

The album's story follows the pair as they go on to release a single and then become successful artists. In the skit Mrs. Whitter, we are shown the pair in their early years in Deen's mother's basement as they drink beer and smoke weed – watch it below.

The Beatles - A Day In The Life (VOODOO FARM DUBSTEP REMIX) by VOODOO FARM

The Beatles – A Day In The Life (VOODOO FARM Remix)

Jonathan Sawyer

Music

January 18, 2012

Sure dubstep is everywhere these days — remixing rock, rap, pop, and now the classics. Some will say this is like repainting the Mona Lisa. You just don't do it. While we're also positive that EDM heads will applaud this adventurous effort. Nonetheless, VOODOO FARM has decided to rework The Beatles' "A Day In The Life." Stream below and then let us know how you feel about the lively re-up in the comment section


The Beatles - A Day In The Life (VOODOO FARM DUBSTEP REMIX) by VOODOO FARM

Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl collaborates with Slipknot's Corey Taylor (from NME)

 

Photo Gallery: Foo Fighters
Photo: PA

Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor has revealed to fans that he has recorded a song with Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl.

Taylor took to Twitter to say that he had just completed a song with Grohl and Nirvana producer Butch Vig. Posting at Twitter/CoreyTaylorRock, Taylor, who also performs with Stone Sour, wrote: "HUGE checks off the Bucket List today- did a song with Dave Grohl and Butch Vig. Do the words 'holy shit' say enough about it?!?"

It is not yet known if the song is for a Dave Grohl or a Corey Taylor project, however Dave Grohl recently collaborated with members of 1980s metal band, Ratt on a brand new song for a new Grohl project currently referred to simply as 'TBA'. This suggests that the Taylor and Grohl song is being headed up by the Foo Fighters man.

Foo Fighters recently confirmed they are planning to head into the studio to record a new album this year. The band only released their latest studio effort 'Wasting Light' in April 2011 but frontman Dave Grohl revealed on the band's official blog that he has already started compiling ideas for new songs.

He wrote: "We're not finished yet. There are still more shows to play, more songs to write, more albums to record, for years to come. I mean if you would have told me 17 years ago that in 2012 I would be writing songs for our eighth studio album... well."

Foo Fighters have been nominated for six gongs including Album Of The Year for 'Wasting Light' at the 54th annual Grammy Awards, which takes place on February 12 in Los Angeles.

Coldplay, Noel Gallagher and Foo Fighters revealed as biggest selling rock acts of 2011

Photo: PA

Coldplay, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds and Florence And The Machine have been revealed as the biggest selling rock acts of 2011.

According to The Official Charts Company, Coldplay scored both the biggest selling rock single of 2011 with 'Paradise', which sold over 410,000 copies and the biggest selling album with their fifth effort 'Mylo Xyloto', which sold over 900,000 copies despite only being released in October.

Noel Gallagher's debut solo effort was the second biggest seller in the album stakes with sales just shy of 500,000. He was followed by Florence And The Machine, who were narrowly in front of Foo Fighters and Mumford and Sons.

Elbow were sixth, Kasabian seventh, Snow Patrol in eighth and in their best ever sales year Noah And The Whale were ninth, just ahead of Arctic Monkeys' 'Suck It And See', which was in 10th place.

In the singles chart, Goo Goo Dolls' 'Iris', which was first released in 1998, sold 264,000 copies in 2011 after it was brought back to life by an X Factor performance to become the second biggest selling rock single of the year.

Birdy was the third largest seller with her cover of Bon Iver's 'Skinny Love', while Coldplay made their second appearance in the chart at Number Four, just ahead of Noah And The Whale, who were fifth with 'L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.'

James Morrison, Foster The People, Snow Patrol, Florence And The Machine and The Calling made up the rest of the Top 10.

The Top 10 selling rock singles of 2011 were as follows:

1. Coldplay - Paradise (410,000)
2. Goo Goo Dolls - Iris (264,000)
3. Birdy - Skinny Love (259,000)
4. Coldplay - Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall (247,000)
5. Noah & The Whale - L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N. (242,000)
6. James Morrison - I Won't Let You Go (228,000)
7. Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks (225,000)
8. Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars (128,000)
9. Florence And The Machine - Shake It Out (127,000)
10. The Calling - Wherever You Will Go (125,000)

The Top 10 selling rock albums of 2011 were as follows:

1. Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto (908,000)
2. Noel Gallagher - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds (492,000)
3. Florence & The Machine - Ceremonials (384,000)
4. Foo Fighters - Wasting Light (380,000)
5. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More (373,000)
6. Elbow - Build A Rocket Boys (327,000)
7. Kasabian - Velociraptor (279,000)
8. Snow Patrol - Fallen Empires (269,000)
9. Noah & The Whale - Last Night On Earth (261,000)
10. Arctic Monkeys - Suck It And See (223,000)

Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

Lana Del Rey: 'People talking about me makes my success bittersweet'

Photo: Press

Lana Del Rey has admitted that people constantly talking about her has made her rise to fame "bittersweet".

The singer, who shot to stardom after her video for 'Video Games' made her a YouTube sensation, told Billboard that her career had taken a "funny turn" since her increase in popularity.

She said:

I'd rather it was just as simple as being just the songs and no one else taking about it at all, because it makes things more bittersweet instead of just clear and easy. It just seems to have taken a funny turn.

Del Rey went on to add: "I'm not really sure if it'll come back around. I don't know. But the record is really good. I have that."

Earlier this week (January 11), the singer admitted that she was still finding it difficult to adjust to being famous. She also recently attracted a notable fan in the form of Prime Minister David Cameron.

Lana Del Rey will release her debut album 'Born To Die' on January 30. The tracklisting is as follows:

'Born To Die'
'Off To The Races'
'Blue Jeans
'Video Games'
'Diet Mountain Dew'
'National Anthem'
'Dark Paradise'
'Radio'
'Carmen'
'Million Dollar Man'
'Summertime Sadness'
'This Is What Makes Us Girls'

You can watch the video to the title track to her LP, by scrolling down to the bottom of the page and clicking.

Facebook launches 'Listen With Friends' service

Facebook have launched their new 'Listen With Friends' service, it has been announced.

Users of the social networking site will be able to listen to music at the same time as their friends and discuss the tunes using Facebook Chat, with PC Mag reporting that up to 50 people will be able to listen and talk about the tracks at the same time.

A musical note will appear next to Facebook users' names whenever they are listening to a track to notify their friends, who will then be able to select the 'Listen with' button to hear the song they are listening to.

In a blog post published today (January 13), Facebook product designer Alexandre Roche said of the 'Listen With Friends' service:

You can listen to the same song, at the exact same time—so when your favorite vocal part comes in you can experience it together, just like when you're jamming out at a performance or dance club

.
However, the service will only work if both parties have access to the same online music programmes. At the moment, only Spotify and Rdio can be used in conjunction with 'Listen With Friends', although ZDNet claims that more services are set to be announced in the future.

In September last year, Facebook and Spotify joined forces as part of a new initiative set up by the social networking site. The new features gives users access to over 15 million songs, and will also allow them to see what tracks are trending on the site, as well as letting users share music with friends, as part of a free service.

Red Hot Chili Peppers forced to move tour dates after Anthony Kiedis suffers foot injury 

  

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been forced to move a series of US tour dates after their frontman Anthony Kiedis was forced to undergo foot surgery.

The frontman is now recovering after he was forced to go under the knife to remove a crushed sesamoid bone and correct a detached flexor tendon in his foot.

The dates were scheduled to begin next week, but have now been pushed back until April. The band's European summer tour is completely unaffected by the postponement.

Van Halen - Tattoo

Van Halen unveil full details of comeback album 'A Different Kind Of Truth'

Photo: PA Photos

Van Halen have revealed full details of their long-awaited comeback album 'A Different Kind Of Truth'.

The album, which is the band's first with original frontman David Lee Roth since 1984's '1984', will be released on February 7. It is also their first studio album since 1998 and the 12th of their career thus far.

Van Halen have revealed that the first single from the album will be the record's opener 'Tattoo'. This is due for release tomorrow today.

The band have announced a large scale US tour and are set to be on the road across North America throughout the summer. No UK or European dates have been confirmed as yet.

The tracklisting for 'A Different Kind Of Truth' is as follows:

'Tattoo'
'She's The Woman'
'You and Your Blues'
'China Town
'Blood And Fire'
'Bullethead'
'As Is'
'Honeybabysweetiedoll'
'The Trouble With Never'
'Outta Space'
'Stay Frosty'
'Big River'
'Beats Workin''

Check out the official vid below:

The Doors - She Smells So Nice (FULL)

Hear The Doors’ Newly Discovered Song "She Smells So Nice"

The Doors debuted their newly discovered track today. Titled “She Smells So Nice,” the song captures the original band consisting of organist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, drummer John Densmore and late singer Jim Morrison on a high-energy bluesy original that was recently discovered by the album’s co-producer Bruce Botnick while reviewing the L.A. Woman session tapes.

While the song is billed as the band’s “first new, unreleased recording in 40 years,” the surviving members of The Doors actually released “Orange County Suite” in 1997. For that song, the members of The Doors played over a Morrison spoken word recording to create the first new Doors song since the ’70s.

You can hear “She Smells So Nice” below.

The White Stripes - 'Seven Nation Army'

The White Stripes to put out new 'outtakes' release this month

Photo Gallery: The White Stripes

The White Stripes are set to release alternate versions of two classic tracks, which have not been available to fans before now.

An early version of the band's 2002 single 'Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground', which is simply titled 'Dead Leaves' and an early recording of 'Let's Build A Home' will both be released on a special 7' vinyl, simply titled 'Outtakes'.

The recordings will be sold as part of Jack White's Third Man Recordings' exclusive series of From The Vault releases, with a third singles collection also set to be released by the Nashville based label.

The Killers will 'definitely' release a new album this year, says Brandon Flowers

• • 

The Killers' Brandon Flowers has revealed that the band will "definitely" release a new album this year.

In an interview with BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe, the singer confirmed that the band would put out their fourth studio album in the next 12 months, but refused to give a precise release date.

"It's just whether it's [released in] the summer time or the winter time," said Flowers when asked about the band's plans for a new LP, before adding it was "exciting getting everyone in the room to make some noise".

The frontman also said that he was eager to move away from the direction of their previous albums, stating:

We don't want to make 'Hot Fuss 2' or 'Sam's Town 2', or 'Day & Age 2'. We'll maybe take all that stuff, the best of all of it and do what we know how to do.

The Killers' as-yet-untitled new album will be the follow-up to their 2008 effort 'Day & Age'.

Previously, drummer Ronnie Vannucci revealed that the LP would have a more guitar-heavy sound and said he and his bandmates had been "writing some great Killers songs".

Van Halen to Perform at New York's Cafe Wha? This Thursday

Band expected to debut new single sometime this month

Jeffrey Ufberg/WireImage

Journalists across New York have been invited to a Van Halen concert at the Cafe Wha? in Greenwich Village this Thursday.  Though nothing is official, word is the band are going to perform a 45-minute set. The group hasn't played in public since the end of their 2007/'08 reunion tour with original frontman David Lee Roth, though they have been rehearsing for their upcoming world tour at the Roxy in Los Angeles for the past few months. A new album is in the works, and a new image released by the band has the date 2.7.12 on it. A new video and single is expected to hit sometime this month. The tour goes on sale January 10th.
The 250-seat Cafe Wha? may seem like an unlikely place for Van Halen to launch their new tour, but the club has an important family connection to David Lee Roth. His uncle Manny Roth owned and operated the venue, providing a stage to then-up-and-coming acts such as Jimi Hendrix, Bill Cosby, Bob Dylan, Richard Pryor and many others.
While the Van Halen camp has been extremely quiet about the band's plans for 2012, they recently put up a giant billboard in Times Square and teaser footage showing the band rehearsing at the Roxy. They have also given the fansite VHLinks two exclusive videos of the band reminiscing about Eddie Van Halen's old Volvo and judging wet T-shirt contests back in the Seventies. The site also says that a "trusted source" tells them the band has been "busy booking rehearsal space and hotel rooms for the band and their crew for [this] week in NYC."
Check out the image of the band's Times Square billboard below.

Van Halen's newly revealed album artwork.