Update: 60:02 PM Thursday, May 02
We are very sad to report this news which we just received in an email from the band’s publicist:
Slayer is devastated to inform us that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11AM this morning near his Southern California home. He was 49. Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry, and will be sorely missed.
The following was news from earlier today:
Good morning, America! Up with the birds this morning! Here’s what’s happening:
Pulse Content reports Linkin Park is working through its Music For Relief organization to raise funds for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts in the U.S. and Haiti, and will give one lucky fan a chance to hang out in the studio with the band as part of that campaign. According to Audio Ink, a random winner who gives $10 or more will get to spend one hour with the group at their private studio in Los Angeles, where Linkin Park is currently working on a new album. Airfare and a hotel stay for the winner and a companion will be included in the prize package. The deadline to donate and enter is May 31st. Hit the band’s site for more…..Filter’s Richard Patrick and Johnny Radtke stopped by the hardDrive studios yesterday and we yakked for over an hour! Be looking for the video interview in the coming weeks as well. And the band is heading out next month on the Summerland tour with Everclear, Live and Sponge. (Live minus Ed Kowalczyk) That should be a killer tour. Love the guys from Live. And listen for the Filter tune “Happy Together” in the trailer for The Great Gatsby. The song was originally supposed to be used for the film Stepfather. But Dreamworks Pictures called Richard and asked for it back in November, but he didn’t even know it was going to be used for the trailer for Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio new remake)….Don’t forget to check out tonight’s Golden Gods Awards when Five Finger Death Punch open the show. Should be OFF THE HOOK as they perform their new tune, “Lift Me Up” (and we hear there’s a surprise in store, so be watching closely.) Find it on XBox Live and AXS TV…Speaking of Leo, Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose is reportedly planning to buy a tiger. The singer was spotted hanging out with actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Jonah Hill at a club in New York, with a source telling the New York Post, “They were seated at a VIP table surrounded by tons of security. They looked like a modern-day Rat Pack. (Axl was with) a harem of ladies and was telling the group about his plans to buy a tiger.” (NME)… The Rock Allegiance Tour sponsored by Monster Energy, is coming in late summer with Volbeat, All That Remains, HIM and Airbourne. Dates and ticket sale info coming soon! …Saliva will release its eighth studio album this summer, titled In It To Win It, with the title track and first single now available at iTunes. The disc will feature the recording debut of new singer Bobby Amaru, who replaced Josey Scott in 2011. Bassist Dave Novotny said, “With this record, we kind of wanted to go back to heavier stuff cause that’s what we all loved in the first place and what got us in this.” Saliva will hit the road this spring and summer in support of the new CD, which follows up 2011’s Under Your Skin. (Loudwire)…Speaking of my friends at Loudwire, check out photos and a review of Tuesday night’s HARDDRIVE LIVE TOUR from Liz Ramanand here. Thanks Liz, you rock! Lou Brutus will also be posting shots so keep your eyes peeled!….A children’s playground in Brooklyn, NY will be renamed after late Beastie Boys member Adam “MCA” Yauch tomorrow (May 3rd), according to NME.com. The Palmetto Playground in the Brooklyn Heights area of the New York City borough will rechristened the Adam Yauch Playground during a brief ceremony. Yauch grew up in the neighborhood and spent some time at the park as a child. Saturday will mark the first anniversary of his passing…Howard Jones, former Killswitch Engage singer told Metal Hammer mag about his harrowing ordeal with his diabetes, which placed him in a coma last year, forcing him to leave KSe. He said in part, “Finding out you’re diabetic is pretty dramatic. I just started feeling weird, and then I started getting really clumsy. I fell down some stars and broke a finger, then fell down some other stairs and broke a toe. Then I collapsed. I was in a coma for three days. They basically told me I had the highest sugar level they’d ever seen. Afterwards, they told me I had a 50/50 chance of coming out with brain damage.” Whoa. But do not fear, he is working on a new project with All Shall Perish guitarist Francesco Artusato and Fear Factory / Devolved / Divine Heresy‘s John Sankey… Gotta dash. Got Escape The Fate entering the hardDrive studios today! And tomorrow, calling Mike Wengren from Fight or Flight! That’s Dirt today! Stay tuned!
