Ritchie Blackmore is “shocked and appalled” that his image has been removed from a new T-shirt featuring the iconic sleeve of Deep Purple’s Machine Head album. The band’s original manager Tony Edwards slams the editing as “artistic sacrilege”. The original album sleeve (with Blackmore arrowed) is pictured above; the 'airbrushed' version is below. The new T-shirt is apparently being sold as official Deep Purple merchandise, which implies it has the blessing of the current band.
Jimmy Page is planning to record some new material. Page told journalists at the recent UK Music Hall Of Fame ceremony: “I’m starting up in the New Year. I need to get it out of my system. There’s a good album in there, and it’s ready to come out.”
Encouraged by the success of their guest spot in Coronation Street, Status Quo are planning to make a movie. Described as an action thriller, it will be filmed in early 2008 and release to cinemas the same autumn, coinciding with a soundtrack album.
Dutch gothic-proggers Epica have moved quickly to deny reports linking Simone Simons with the position of new Nightwish vocalist. Even though they sacked Tarja Turunen at the end of a world tour, Nightwish have already begun recording a follow-up to 2004’s million-selling Once album.
Michael Schenker ended a recent show at Tokyo’s Nakano Sunplaza Hall after just three songs due to what’s euphemistically being called 'bad health condition'. However, the following night’s gig in Sapporo was completed.
Reclusive ex-Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic joins up with influential US punks Flipper for a string of UK and Irish shows next month.
Motörhead are sponsoring a boys’ football club from Lincoln. The Greenbank Under-10s B team have the band’s logo on their shirt and take the pitch to the strains of Ace Of Spades. Says coach Gary Weight: “The hope is that we can go out on the football pitch and terrorize the opponents and come away worthy winners.”
New Wave Of British Heavy Metal band Witchfinder General have reunited and are holding auditions for a new singer. Although the group don’t plan to play live again, they will make a third album. For more go to: www.witchfindergeneral.net.
Judie Tzuke will be previewing songs from a new album called Supposed To Be A Grown Up when she tours in February. The dates are: Croydon Ashcroft Theatre February 8, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall 10, Sheffield City Hall 11, Leeds City Varieties 12, Hove Centre 15, Basingstoke The Anvil 17, Salford Lowry 18, Camberley Theatre 19, Burnley Mechanics 21, Gateshead The Sage 22, Wavendon The Stables 23, Wimborne Tivoli 24, Bristol St. George’s Hall 26, London Queen Elizabeth Hall 27, Worcester Huntingdon Hall 28.
Dream Theater’s original singer Charlie Diminici resurfaces again with a new album from his current band 03 in April. It will be released via Inside Out Records.
Former At The Gates/The Haunted drummer Adrian Erlandsson has left Cradle Of Filth. His replacement is a Czech known simply as Marthus.
