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Saturday, March 13, 2010

Rock News for Saturday 13th March, 2010

Ronnie James Dio update from Wendy Dio

March Update on The State of Ronnie
Well, now it has been Ronnie’s 7th chemo, another cat scan and another endoscopy, and the results are good – the main tumor has shrunk considerably, and our visits to Houston are now every three weeks instead of every two weeks.

Ronnie and Vinny went down to the studio to have a listen and see how the DVD is coming along, NOT to overdub anything as presumed by Hoss2112 or Shattered 73 on the Blabbermouth rants.
I was very annoyed to read these comments, and if they were truly fans of Ronnie’s, they would know #1) that Ronnie is a SINGER and does not need to overdub a live show, and #2) He would never cheat his fans by overdubbing a Live DVD. I will not be showing these comments to Ronnie, as I know they would hurt and upset him as they did me. He has been going to the REHEARSAL studio to sing, not the recording studio!

Ronnie’s cousin Rock (from The Rods, who used to be in Elf with him) flew in from New York to visit Ronnie for a week and they enjoyed spending some time together, going to the movies and taking walks, and Ronnie and Rock went to the studio to master Rock’s new album, which Ronnie sings a track on. And Craig Goldy will be coming over to start writing new songs with Ronnie next week. It will be great to see him again, as he has been away touring with the British band Budgie.

That’s all I can think of right now until the next update. God bless you all and we are still reading all the wonderful cards and letters.
Many, many thanks,

Wendy Dio

SEVENDUST RETURN WITH NEW ALBUM, ‘COLD DAY MEMORY,’ APRIL 20 ON 7BROS. RECORDS/ILG
UNRAVELING" EXPLODING ON ACTIVE/ROCK RADIO



HEADLINING TOUR WITH DROWNING POOL UNDERWAY WITH MORE DATES AND ROCK ON THE RANGE ON THE WAY

March 12, 2010 -- SEVENDUST--Lajon Witherspoon (vocals), Morgan Rose (drums/vocals), Clint Lowery (guitar/vocals), Vince Hornsby (bass/vocals), John Connolly (guitar/vocals)--are set to release their eight studio album, 'COLD DAY MEMORY,' April 20 on their own 7Bros. Records, through Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group. COLD DAY MEMORY—produced by Grammy® Award winner Johnny K (Disturbed, Staind, 3 Doors Down, Plain White T's) is the band's first new album with their original line-up back together with Lowery’s return after his departure in 2003.

The album’s first single, "Unraveling," is already getting a great reaction at Rock Radio and is currently #20 on the Active Rock charts (it’s jumping to #18 next week). With back-to-back double-digit add weeks at Active Rock before its actual add date, this is the most well-received Sevendust track in the last decade. The song is currently available on iTunes and is available to stream on their Myspace page. A video is currently in the works.

COLD DAY MEMORY capitalizes on all of Sevendust’s chemistry and potential. While the band’s last few efforts were mainly heavy and rhythmic, the new songs balance brutality with textural passages and infectious counter-melodies. There are even fleet-fingered guitar solos. But whether confronting the listener with double-bass drums and staccato power chords or using melodic arpeggios and soft brush strokes to sweeten the sound of Witherspoon’s multi-faceted vocals, Sevendust sound excited, energized and ready to take on the world.

All five band members contributed to the lyrics on COLD DAY MEMORY, and the songs were works in progress up until the moment they were recorded. In the end, the band crafted songs that encapsulated their experiences with the world and one another. Witherspoon, who recently became a father, penned some lines about commitment and responsibility, while Rose, who was going through a painful divorce, wrote lyrics about heartbreak and disillusionment. The album’s first single, “Unraveling,” was co-written by Lowery and Dave Bassett (Shinedown, Puddle of Mudd) and is about the collapse of a relationship, while “Confession” indirectly addresses Lowery quitting and returning to the band.

“Since we all write, it’s hard to tell exactly what each song is about, but we like to leave it up to the listeners to decide for themselves,” Rose says. “It’s funny because in the end you almost don’t know what you wrote. I remember telling John one time, ‘Dude, that was an amazing line you wrote,’ and he went, ‘What are you talking about? You wrote that.’ We wanted to change the template completely from what we did with our last album, 'HOPE AND SORROW.' We were going, ‘Let’s bring back those other elements Clint brought in that made us what we were.’ So we sort of made a silent agreement that we were going to let Clint run wild. We said we’ll jump in when it’s time, but if you’ve got an idea let’s go with it.”

There’s something almost intangible about a band with strong chemistry. When the guitarists vibe off each other just right, the bassist is lock in step with the drummer, the music almost transcends the musicians. And when the vocalist is feeding off the power of the other players, almost anything is possible. It’s something Sevendust learned early in their career when guitarist Clint Lowery joined forces with the eclectic Atlanta group.
“I knew once I got him in there that he could definitely change the band fully,” says drummer Morgan Rose. “His background vocals and his writing style and guitar playing were the final ingredients for us to become the band that we needed to be.”
With Lowery as a major contributor, Sevendust released four albums that stretched the limits of hard rock and metal, combining elements of thrash, classic metal, southern rock and soul into songs that were both sinfully tuneful and ruthlessly aggressive. Then in 2003, after the release of 'SEASONS,' the guitarist quit to focus on his other band Dark New Day. Sevendust continued for three more albums, and enjoyed considerable success, but something was clearly missing. So, when the band reunited with Lowery in early 2008, it was like the missing piece of a jigsaw puzzle was finally reinserted and the picture was again complete.
"This record personally has been one of the most difficult, but most rewarding records I've ever worked on," explains Lowery. "I put a lot of pressure on myself to contribute good material to the guys after being gone for last three records and that helped me focus more than I ever had." Adds Lajon Witherspoon: "I feel this album shows new growth for the band. We're very happy to have Clint back and are looking forward for everyone hearing the magic that's made when we're all together!"

In-Progress Headlining Tour Dates:
with Drowning Pool
March 2010
3/10/10 W. Hollywood CA House of Blues
3/12/10 Las Vegas NV House of Blues
3/13/10 Anaheim CA House of Blues
3/14/10 Tempe AZ Marquee Theatre
3/16/10 Albuquerque NM Sunshine Theatre
3/17/10 Colorado Springs CO The Black Sheep
3/19/10 San Antonio TX Scout Bar
3/20/10 Houston TX Scout Bar
3/21/10 Corpus Christi TX The Pavilion @ Concrete St.
3/22/10 Mission TX Las Palmas Race Track
3/24/10 Lubbock TX The Pavillion
3/26/10 Dallas TX Trees
3/27/10 Odessa TX Dos Amigos
3/30/10 Panama City FL Club LaVela

April 2010
4/24/10 Tampa FL St. Pete Times Forum (WXTB 98 Rockfest)
May 2010
5/22 Columbus, OH Rock On The Range


Two more covers added to W.I.P. Stryper Covers release

Stryper frontman Michael Sweet has revealed through his Twitter site another 2 interesting covers being tracked right now from the new Stryper covers CD, as yet to be named / titled and still very much, W.I.P. (Work In Progress folks!). 
The two new additions mentioned are:
Kiss - Shout It Out Loud
Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song.

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