Did you ever read something in the press and say to yourself, “Oh that can NOT be true!!” Well, I just had that moment when I read Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger proposed to pop songstress Avril Lavigne on Aug 8th. He presented her with a 14 CARAT diamond! From what I understand, a 14 carat diamond is the size of a marble and worth millions of dollars! Who would WANT to wear that? Wouldn’t the fear of having your hand cut off by some crazed fiend be a hinderance in accepting something like that? But apparently, seeing is believing. People magazine reported it from a source. I will look into this. Earlier this year, I remember asking Chad about whether the rumor he was producing her new record was true, and I couldn’t believe then he indeed was! Chad is 37, Avril’s 27. She was married to Derek Whimbley of Sum 41. (She definitely upgraded, eh?) They’re both Canadian, and Chad met her at a concert and they talked about having him produce her next record. Six months later, they’re engaged! No date has been revealed, but this will be Chad’s first marriage….Soundgarden has revealed the name of its sixth full-length studio album and first in 16 years to be King Animal. The band launched a website and teaser video for the disc, which includes an excerpt from a song called “Worse Dreams.” Aside from the track “Live To Rise,” which appeared on the soundtrack, Avengers Assemble, this is the first new music heard from the band since 1996’s Down On The Upsidealbum. Although a release date for the new disc has not been officially confirmed, Rolling Stone recently reported it as Nov 13th. Hit www.soundgardenkinganimal.com for more and the teaser trailer…..I was on the hotLine yesterday with Phil Labonte of All That Remains. He was driving back to New Hampshire from Virginia after visiting his girlfriend who works for the military. We talked about the new album, A War You Can Not Win, his upcoming appearance in the NBC Sports television series 3 Gun Nation and his upcoming fall tour. Listen for Phil in the coming weeks on the air with Lou Brutus….Today I will be on the hotLine with a new British export, Young Guns. And tomorrow, Adam Gontier of Three Days Grace!….Seether’s Shaun Morgan has been visiting family in South Africa. In the meantime, the band has posted a music video from their debut Disclaimer album called “Sympathic” and you can watch it here. Hope to catch up with Shaun next week or so to talk about their Rise Above This festival on Sep 03 in Gilford, NH…And finally today in Brisbane, Australia, our friend Slash is helping to launch the opening of the Bob Irwin Wildlife Conservation Foundation. Bob is the father of the late wildlife advocate Steve Irwin. Slash is no stranger to wildlife charities, who donates to the LA Zoo and serves as a trustee on the board.
