Pulse – Rock Music News

GREEN DAY AND AJR CANCEL MOSCOW DATES: Artists are starting to cancel Russian tour dates in protest of the invasion of Ukraine.  AJR tweeted Friday (Feb. 25th) that they will be cancelling their October 22nd show in Moscow, while Green Day announced Sunday (Feb. 27th) that they will no longer play a concert at Spartak Stadium in Moscow on May 27th.  The band said in a statement, “We are aware that this moment is not about stadium rock shows, it’s so much bigger than that. But we also know that rock and roll is forever and we feel confident there will be a time and a place for us to return in the future.”

Courtney Love wrote and deleted a tribute to the late Mark Lanegan on Instagram Saturday (Feb. 26th).  According to Stereogum, the Hole singer wrote, “Rip mark. You were a good friend to me & Kurt, even if in your book you wrote our close friendship out , I’m still baffled & so sad about that.:  She continued, “In any event ‘the winding sheet’ & the stunning ‘whiskey for the Holy Ghost’ we’re my brilliant soundtracks for all of awful 1994, I always thought you were a man of great honor & underrated. I’d have done anything for you & I did. I co signed your mortgage. I put you in sober living for a year. I paid for 3 rehabs. & of course I never wanted or needed any public acknowledgment or thanks for it. And. I didn’t get it either! Lol. I heard you had a long covid bad death & im so sorry. Rest in power. I’d like to think you’d have come around & made up for your appalling rendition of me in your tome mark, wherever you are. Dropping the rocks.”

AVRIL LAVIGNE DROPS 7TH STUDIO ALBUM: Avril Lavigne released her seventh studio album, Love Sux, on Friday (Feb. 25th). The 12-track album marks the first new music to be released from the star since 2019. Love Sux showcases Lavigne’s pop-punk sound, featuring epic collaborations with artist like Machine Gun Kelly, Mark Hoppus and blackbear. 

Alice In Chains co-founder Jerry Cantrell will head out on a North American tour beginning at the Palace Theater in St. Paul, MN on March 24th. The trek is in support of his new LP, Brighten, which was released late last year.

Tickets for the Brighten Tour are available via Cantrell's website, through Ticketmaster and wherever tickets are sold.

Cantrell recently announced special VIP event packages at each show that offer fans tiered selections of exclusive experiences. These experiences include a meet & greet and photo opp with Jerry, personal autographed items of your choice, premium merch items, and at the top tier, a signed official "Atone" Gibson JC Signature Acoustic guitar. The guitar includes a letter of authenticity. Packages start at $100 all the way to $5500 which includes the Gibson guitar.

Machine Gun Kelly is dipping into the wrestling world and has signed on to executive produce the soundtrack for the WWE 2K22 video game.

In addition, MGK will also be available as a playable character within the game itself.

A new promotional trailer dropped this week, where you see Kelly on screen producing. Other than his own music, artist on the soundtrack include Motorhead, The Weeknd, Turnstile, Asking Alexandria, and KennyHoopla.

Look for WWE 2K22 to be available to purchase on March 11.

TL;DR:

• Machine Gun Kelly will executive produce the soundtrack for the WWE 2K22 video game.
• He will also be available as a playable character within the game itself.
• Look for WWE 2K22 to be available to purchase on March 11.

Metallica will play two stadium shows in the U.S. this summer with special guests Greta Van Fleet and Ice Nine Kills -- Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, NY on August 11th and PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA on August 14th. Tickets go on sale on March 4th at 10 a.m. ET.

Tonight (Friday, February 25th), Metallica plays a sold-out show at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

The Chainsmokers have taken their single "High" and created a new video. It was shot at the top of New York City's observatory, Summit One Vanderbilt. The band performs the song with a stunning look at the city for a backdrop. The building is one of the 30 tallest buildings in the world.

The release of "High" marked the end of a two-year break for the band, launching a new musical era and kicking off the journey towards their upcoming fourth full-length album.

The track is already a Top 20 hit and has received over 45 million audio and video streams combined since its release last month.
TL;DR:

• The Chainsmokers have taken their single "High" and created a new video.
• It was shot at the top of New York City's observatory, Summit One Vanderbilt.
• It's one of the top 30 tallest buildings in the world.

Slash, whose signature look is a black top hat, says that was never the plan.

His first top hat, that he wore with Guns N' Roses was stolen from a Los Angeles store. The day he stole it, he said the hat just spoke to him. He put it on and walked out the door and then went next door to another shop, and stole a concho belt. He went home, cut up the belt and wrapped it around the top hat and wore it on stage that night.

He shared the story on a podcast with Conan O'Brien and said,
"it just became a thing where I just really identified with it."

He said when he was really high he could pull it over his eyes and it was great for bad hair days too. For Slash, one of the best things about wearing the hat on stage is that even after all these years of performing, he still can't look directly into the audience. So, the hat has always been something to hide behind.

TL;DR:

• Slash, whose signature look is a black top hat, says that was never the plan.
• His first top hat he stole it
• He said when he was really high he could pull it over his eyes and it was great for bad hair days too.
• He still can't look directly into the audience. So, the hat has always been something to hide behind.

During a concert in Washington, D.C.'s Capital One Arena, Tool stopped their show to make sure a fan in the audience was able to receive medical attention. According to Rock Feed, Maynard James Keenan noticed that a fan had collapsed and he asked the audience to clear a patch for the medics to reach the fan.

He said, "Hang on we've got a little situation down here. We're going to make sure this person's OK before we continue. Make way for the EMTs, please." EMTs made their way to the fan and were able to take the fan out of the venue.

Def Leppard's Rick Allen, says that without Rolling Stones drummer, Charlie Watts, he would have never become a drummer. He said that when Watts died, it was the end of an era and that meeting him was truly an honor.

Allen recently created an art piece dedicated to his musical hero called Saint Charlie. It's part of a collection all dedicated to legendary musicians such as Eddie Van Halen, Kurt Cobain and Johnny Cash.

He's planning on making a number of appearances at Florida Galleries next month to show off and sell his art. The events are free and open to the public.

A portion of the sales from his work will benefit an organization that he and his wife work with called Project Resiliency, it helps U.S. war veterans.

Def Leppard will kick off a stadium tour in June with Motley Crue, Poison, and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts.

TL;DR:

• Def Leppard's Rick Allen says when Watts died, it was the end of an era and that meeting him was truly an honor.
• Allen recently created an art piece dedicated to his musical hero called Saint Charlie.
• He'll make appearances at Florida Galleries next month to show off and sell his art.
• The events are free and open to the public.

After decades spent rocking out on stage, night after night, Dave Grohl says that he's lost some of his hearing because of it.

Foo Fighters frontman, told Howard Stern, half joking, that he has a hard time talking to people wearing masks because he's been reading lips for the past 29 years.

He says he doesn't wear ear monitors on stage, instead relies on the speaker monitor that's always to his left. And because of that, his hearing in his left ear is worse than his right. .

Grohl's main problem with hearing comes with situations such as a crowded restaurant.

In the interview he surprisingly admitted that he hasn't had his ears tested in several years and claims he knows exactly what it is and that he has hearing damage tinnitus.

Oddly enough, he says that while recording and mixing, he still hears every little thing.

TL;DR:

• He says he doesn't wear ear monitors on stage, instead relies on the left speaker monitor
• Because of that his hearing in his left ear is worse than his right.
• He says that while recording mixing he still hears every little thing.

Yesterday (Wednesday, February 23rd), Coldplay released their first Spotify Singles two-track recording. Side A is a stripped-down acoustic version of the band's current single, "Let Somebody Go," with Selena Gomez, while Side B is the band's cover of Kid Cudi's 2008 hit "Day ‘N' Nite." Both songs were recorded at Henson Recording Studio, Los Angeles.

Chris Martin said, "I have always loved Selena's voice and when 'Let Somebody Go' arrived it felt like she was the only person to sing it with. I'm so happy she said yes. She is wonderful to work with and the kind of artist whose work sounds even better after you get to meet them."

Of "Day 'N' Nite," Martin said, "I loved when it came out, and I still love love love it This is the first time I think that we've really taken proper time to record a cover, because in my head I could hear a version of it quite different from the original, that hopefully just reinforces what a brilliant song it is. One way or another I hope that anyone listening will just think, 'Wow, Kid Cudi is amazing.'"

"Let Somebody Go" is the third single from Coldplay's 2021 Music Of The Spheres album, which has already surpassed more than a billion total streams.

Coldplay kicks off their 2022 global stadium tour next month in Costa Rica.

The Offspring's Dexter Holland will deliver the commencement speech for USC's Keck School of Medicine on May 14th. It may seem like an odd choice, however Holland has earned three degrees from USC including his PhD in molecular biology, according to Loudwire.com.

He said, "We live in an incredibly exciting time at the crossroads of advanced medical technology and breakthroughs in research. Recent innovations such as CRISPR gene editing and mRNA technologies have blown the doors open to the possibilities that medical intervention can provide. I am excited to applaud the Keck School of Medicine class of 2022 as they begin their careers during this amazing time."

Other little known facts about Holland include that he is a licensed pilot and he created the Gringo Bandito hot sauce.

Green Day posted a snip of new music on their social media pages.

The short video is the latest in a series of teasers from the band in recent months.

This new 10-second clip features the logo of frontman Billie Joe Armstrong's defunct Adeline Records, some footage of graffiti being sprayed, a studio, and the band driving around in a convertible car.

At one point in the clip, the numbers "1972" flash up on screen yet again, just like in the previous teases.

Fans online pointed out that all three members of the band… Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool, were born in 1972, and that it could be a 50^th birthday album.

In the meantime, Green Day continues on the road with stops in the UK and Europe later this summer.

TL;DR:

• Green Day posted a snip of new music on their social media pages.
• The short video is the latest in a series of teasers from the band in recent months.
• At one point in the clip, the numbers "1972" flash up on screen yet again, just like in the previous teases.

Florence Welch teased what could be new music via a social media post yesterday (Tuesday, February 22nd). It was a picture of Welch dressed elaborately with the work "King" written across the bottom in all caps. She simply captioned it, “Did you miss me….” followed by a black heart emoji.

Billboard reports that Welch shared another mysterious post on TikTok in which her "gold-laden, tattooed hands are seen turning over a playing card to reveal the same portrait next to a pink envelope with an ornate seal." That clip is captioned “Something’s coming."

Florence and the Machine‘s last full-length studio album, High as Hope, was released in 2018.

Smashing Pumpkins have announced their spring Rock Invasion 2 Tour, which will kick off at Memphis' Beale Street Music Festival on April 29th. The run will make 18 stops before wrapping up on May 29th at the Summer Camp Music Festival in Chillicothe, IL.

The tour will feature special guests Bones.

Tickets for the new shows go on sale on Friday (February 25th) at 10 a.m. local time.

Coheed & Cambria has debuted their new video for "The Liars Club." The song is off of their new album Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind, which is due out on May 27th.

Meanwhile, the band has announced the dates for their upcoming North American headlining tour, entitled ‘A Window Of The Waking Mind Tour.‘  Dance Gavin Dance and Mothica will support the band throughout the trek.

Check out the tour dates below:

02/22 Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
02/23 Memphis, TN – The Soundstage at Graceland
02/25 Huntsville, AL – Mars Music Hall
02/26 New Orleans, LA – The Fillmore
02/28 Knoxville, TN – The Mill & Mine
03/01 Chattanooga, TN – The Signal
03/02 Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
03/04 Norfolk, VA – The NorVa
03/05 Richmond, VA – The National
03/06 Newport, KY – PromoWest Pavilion at Ovation
03/08 Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
03/09 Madison, WI – The Sylvee
03/11 Fort Wayne, IN – Clyde Theatre
03/13 Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe
03/14 Rochester, NY – Main Street Armory
03/15 Albany, NY – Empire Live
03/17 Providence, RI – Fete Music Hall
03/18 New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall
03/10 Harrisburg, PA – Xl Live

With Dance Gavin Dance & Mothica:

07/12 Miami, FL – FPL Solar Amphitheater at Bayfront Park
07/13 Tampa, FL – MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre
07/15 Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
07/16 New Braunfels, TX – Whitewater Amphitheater
07/18 Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
07/19 Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
07/23 Nashville, TN – Nashville Municipal Auditorium
07/24 Charlotte, NC – Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre
07/26 Washington, DC – The Anthem
07/27 Philadelphia, PA – The Liacouras Center
07/29 Boston, MA – Agganis Arena
07/30 Queens, NY – Forest Hills Stadium
08/01 Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE Outdoors
08/02 Pontiac, MI – Crofoot Festival Grounds
08/03 Toronto, ON – RBC Echo Beach
08/05 Minneapolis, MN – Armory
08/06 Bridgeview, IL – SeatGeek Stadium
08/07 St. Louis, MO – Saint Louis Music Park
08/09 Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
08/10 Salt Lake City, UT – The Lot at The Complex
08/12 Los Angeles, CA – Shrine LA Outdoors
08/13 San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
08/14 Berkeley, CA – Greek Theatre
08/16 Seattle, WA – Marymoor Park
08/17 Troutdale, OR – Edgefield

My Chemical Romance and Green Day will be heading the 2022 Firefly festival together. 

According to Loudwire, the bands are headlining the four-day event, which will take place from September 22nd to September 25th at The Woodlands in Dover, Delaware. 

Pop stars Halsey and Dua Lipa are scheduled as the headliners bookending the event.

Pre-sale tickets for the festival will be available on Friday (February 25th) and general tickets go on sale on Monday (February 28th).