Did the Irish actually get off the team bus last night? Seems like they never entered the stadium. Roll Tide. I mean, as much as I dislike Saban, he is a mastermind….Alter Bridge singer Myles Kennedy and guitarist Mark Tremonti have officially begun the songwriting process for the band’s fourth studio album, according to Blabbermouth. A photo of the two musicians was posted at the band’s Facebook page on Friday (Jan 4th) with the caption, “It begins today.” A follow-up message on Monday (Jan 7th) stated, “Writing on ‘AB4’ has begun. Very productive sessions so far!” The sessions will break at the end of the month when Tremonti heads out on tour with his solo band in the U.S. and Europe, while Kennedy rejoins Slash‘s touring band for a round of European dates as well. We asked Kennedy if there’s been anything he’s learned about himself as a musician as a result of working with both Alter Bridge and Slash: “You know, I think I’ve gradually learned to become more of a frontman than I was initially. I mean, when I first started, especially playing with Alter Bridge, you know, I really considered myself more a guitar player who sang. As the years have gone on, and then especially once I started playing with Slash and I was pretty much for the entire set without a guitar, learning to evolve into more of a front guy. I don’t consider myself the greatest by any means, I just — I’m starting to feel more comfortable with it.”….Pulse Content reports Slash has said in a new interview with Classic Rock magazine he would never work with former Velvet Revolver singer Scott Weiland again, adding he is fed up with Weiland’s recent comments about a Velvet Revolver reunion possibly becoming a reality. Slash told the magazine, “I think at this point Scott just got fired from (Stone Temple Pilots) and I think he’s trying to pull off that trick of trying to get something else going on, and we’re not buying it. The door’s shut on this side and it’s probably shut on that side too, so he’s on his own. And he deserves it too.” This is the second time Slash has hinted Weiland has been thrown out of STP, first mentioning it late last year in an interview with a radio station. There has been no official news from STP, but Weiland recently told Rolling Stone about a Velvet Revolver reunion, “I am completely open to it, and I know there are other guys in the band that are completely open to it.” But Slash told me during our last interview there are no such plans happening: “No, there’s absolutely no truth to whatever he’s been talking about, and I’ve just written him off as being nuts, and so I’ve just left it at that (laughs).”…U2’s The Edge has launched a grant to support music programs affected by Hurricane Sandy. Music Rising, the award winning post-Katrina music initiative founded in 2005 has expanded its mission to rebuild music programs impacted by natural disasters within the entire US. The initial donation being made by the new, nationwide Music Rising program is $250,000 to help rebuild school music programs in the tri-state area that were affected by Hurricane Sandy. Music Rising’s original mission was to rebuild and preserve the music of the Gulf South region in the aftermath of the devastating2005 hurricanes. Having provided tens of thousands of instruments to musicians, schools, churches and community programs, Music Rising embarked on a partnership with Tulane University to create a curriculum to permanently preserve the rich musical heritage of the Gulf South. The Studies of the Gulf South: Music Rising program launched in 2012, and will eventually be available to any teaching professional worldwide. In addition, after the 2010 Nashville flood, Music Rising provided significant support to musicians and to the Nashville Symphony. The process for those affected by Hurricane Sandy in applying for assistance is to email DeAnna Sanchez at Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation at deanna@mhopus.org or to call directly at 818-762-4328. Music Rising is actively seeking support and endowments to continue its ongoing work of rebuilding music education programs as such needs arise. For more information about Music Rising or to make a donation go to www.musicrising.org. Music Rising is administered by the Gibson Foundation…..Happy 66th to “The Thin White Duke” David Bowie.
