Joey Jordison: I Did Not Quit Slipknot

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Gossip, Rumors, Rock,

Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison insists he did not quit the band and was left "blindsided" by the news.

The 38-year-old musician played in the Grammy-Award winning heavy metal act since their formation in 1995 and was co-songwriter with frontman Corey Taylor. A statement on the band's website last month cited "personal reasons" for his departure but he has now refuted claims he had decided to quit.

"To my fans, friends and associates. I would like to start the New Year by addressing the recent rumors and speculation regarding my departure from Slipknot. I want to make it very clear that I DID NOT QUIT SLIPKNOT," he wrote in a statement posted on Facebook. "This band has been my life for the past 18 years, and I would never abandon it, or my fans. This news has blindsided me as much as it has all of you. While there is much I would like to say, I must remain silent to further details at this time. I would like to thank you all for your unwavering love and support, and wish everyone a very happy and healthy New Year."

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Adrian Belew Quits Nine Inch Nails

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Rock,

Adrian Belew has quit Nine Inch Nails.

The 63-year-old guitarist has parted ways with the band after a discussion with frontman Trent Reznor - who was inspired by Adrian to reform the group - in which the pair concluded his involvement was "not working" and he has apologized to fans for letting them down.

Adrian - who previously fronted band King Crimson and has worked with the likes of Frank Zappa, Talking Heads and David Bowie - wrote on his official Facebook page, "hey folks, before this goes too far let me say this: I greatly respect trent and the music he makes. no one is at fault. we both agreed it just was not working. I'm sorry to disappoint anyone. that really hurts. but NIN will do an amazing show and I am back where I belong: creating FLUX. (sic)"

His departure comes just a month after bassist Eric Avery quit, admitting he was "overwhelmed" at the thought of a long tour and instead wants to remain in Los Angeles to focus on his solo career.

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Ne-Yo Signs Artist During Gig

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Concerts / Tours, Industry News, Performances, Hip-Hop & Rap, R&B / Soul,

Ne-Yo surprised new artist Sonna Rele by signing her to Motown Records Thursday night.

The "Closer" star invited the London-born singer - whom he discovered on Facebook - on stage with him at Under the Bridge venue in Chelsea where he offered her to opportunity to join the iconic label, which has been home to Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and the Temptations.

Speaking about Ne-Yo - who is Vice President of A& R at Motown - Sonna exclusively told BANG Showbiz, "I have a lot of respect for him, he's an amazing artist, an amazing songwriter. I feel like I've got a really good team around me where I can kind of grow as a songwriter and an artist. I'm smiling from ear-to-ear right now. I'm really, really excited."

The 25- year old has already worked with Fugees star Wyclef Jean and music producer Dallas Austin, who between them have worked with likes of Michael Jackson, Madonna, TLC, Boys II Men and Gwen Stefani.

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Travis Barker Apologizes for Flying Fear

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Concerts / Tours, Rock,

Travis Barker can't get past his horrific plane crash.

The Blink-182 drummer has apologized to fans for missing the band's upcoming Australian tour, that kicks off in Sydney on Wednesday and admitted he is still haunted by the crash in 2008, in which four people died, and hasn't been able to board a plane since.

In a heartfelt message on his Facebook page on Saturday night, the rocker said, "I'm sorry to announce I won't be joining Blink-182 on this Australian tour. I still haven't gotten over the horrific events that took place the last time I flew when my plane crashed and 4 people were killed, two being my best friends. I gave the band my blessing to take another drummer if they still wanted to do the tour without me. I hope to come to Australia again some day perhaps by ship if need be. Unfortunately, there wasn't a boat that worked with the schedule this time around. Once again I'm sorry to all the fans."

The 37-year-old rocker suffered second and third degree burns in the crash, in which he and his good friend DJ AM - who died of an accidental overdose less than a year later - were the only survivors.

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Fiona Apple Cancels Tour to Tend to Her Dying Dog

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Artist News, Concerts / Tours, Alternative,

Despite releasing her first album this year since 2005's Extraordinary Machine, 2012 has not been very good to Fiona Apple: first she was arrested in September for drug possession, and now her faithful dog of 14 years is dying.

In a Facebook message to her fans, Apple revealed in a scanned handwritten letter why she is postponing her current tour. “I just can’t leave her now, please understand... If I go away again, I’m afraid she’ll die and I won’t have the honor of singing her to sleep, of escorting her out," she wrote.

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Read More | ABC News

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Adam Horovitz Pays Tribute to Beastie Boys Bandmate Adam Yauch

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Hip-Hop & Rap,

Beastie Boys musician Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz has paid tribute to his late bandmate Adam Yauch following his death.

The 45-year-old star praised the hip-hop group's fans, family and friends for all the "love and support" they have shown to the 47-year-old rapper, also known as MCA, since he passed away on Friday after battling cancer in his parotid gland and a lymph node since 2009.

"as you can imagine, s**t is just fkd up right now. but i wanna say thank you to all our friends and family (which are kinda one in the same) for all the love and support. i'm glad to know that all the love that Yauch has put out into the world is coming right back at him. thank you. (sic)" Ad-Rock wrote in a post on the band's blog last night.

A number of stars have paid tribute to MCA - who founded the group with Kate Schellenbach, John Berry, and Michael Diamond (Mike D) in 1979 with Berry leaving in 1983 to be replaced by Ad-Rock - including Madonna, who took to her Facebook page to express her sadness about his passing: "The Beastie Boys were one of a kind! And so was Adam! They were all an important part of my musical history and integral to the musical revolution that was happening at the time. I'm very sad to hear about Adam's passing. God bless him and his family."

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Lady Gaga to Debut Songs Via Facebook

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Release Dates, Upcoming Releases, Pop, New Releases,

If you want to hear the latest Lady Gaga song the minute it’s released, you’d better have a farm on Facebook. Gaga will make some new tracks from her Born This Way album available through FarmVille, before iTunes -- or anyone else -- has them.

Simply jump to GagaVille from the popular Zynga app to hear one new track each day from May 17 to May 19. On May 20, new, non-exclusive songs will be unlockable. Approximately 46 million Facebook users currently play FarmVille.

GagaVille will no longer exist after May 26, so visit it while you can.

Read More | Yahoo! News

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Justin Timberlake: No Current Musical Plans

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Artist News, Pop,

“Does a painter make a painting because he has to make it by December 21st?” Justin Timberlake questioned in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly. “No, he doesn’t. It happens when it pours out of him. That’s how music is for me.”

“I never stop making music,” he was quick to add … but the rest of his comments weren’t exactly filled with promise. “I don’t know what else to tell you, expect that I just don’t know [in] what capacity I want to be involved anymore.”

But somehow, we think Timberlake will be just fine. His recent film success shows that Justin may be on the brink of a new, successful movie career. “I grew up in a generation that was like, ‘why not do everything?’” he explained.

Currently, and perhaps ironically, a Facebook campaign has been started which encourages support for Timberlake to receive an Oscar for his performance in The Social Network, a film depicting the messy and controversial origins of Facebook.

Read More | Popeater

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Singer Commits Suicide at Belgian Music Festival

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Artist News, Music Videos, Electronic, Pop,

For the second time in less than a week, a tragic suicide has overshadowed a musical event.

On Thursday night, a concertgoer fell onto the stage during a Swell Season concert in California. One day later, it was a band’s lead singer who jumped to his death.

Charles Haddon, the frontman for Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, was pronounced dead Friday night after a performance with his British group in Hasselt, Belgium. The 22-year-old, who had climbed a telecommunications mast, jumped and fell onto the backstage parking lot at the Pukkelpop festival.

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Read More | Daily Mail

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Man Commits Suicide During Swell Season Concert

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Concerts / Tours, Videos, Alternative,

UPDATE: The group has offered to pay for group counseling sessions to help those who witnessed the suicide.

Fans attending a Swell Season concert Thursday night in Saratoga, CA left stunned by what they saw.

A man who had climbed onto a roof behind the stage jumped to his death before the crowd. The victim, later identified as 32-year-old from San Jose, fell approximately three stories onto a speaker. He reportedly landed within feet of singer Glen Hansard. (The video above was shot after the event.)

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Read More | SF Weekly via Entertainment Weekly

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