SAMMY HAGAR is in the process of starting his own record label, Cabo Wabo Music. The company, which will house an album of new Hagar songs this fall, will likely be in conjunction with Beyond Music, although Hagar's management reports that the contracts for that deal have yet to be signed. While Hagar will be the label's sole concentration for the immediate future, Cabo Wabo will eventually be looking at signing other artists. Hagar has scrapped plans to issue a retrospective boxed set of material covering his career from Montrose to Van Halen in favor of releasing all-new material. Recording is underway at the singer's home studio in Mill Valley, near San Francisco. Contrary to published reports, Guns N' Roses producer Mike Clink is not confirmed as the album's producer, although Clink has done some tracks for the project. Management reports that they hope to complete the project in August and have it out in time for Hagar's birthday, October 13, and the annual celebration at Hagar's Cabo Wabo nightclub in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, that accompanies it. The album's title, "Ten Thirteen," also honors that date.
ATELLO is continuing along their path to stardom, as their next gig will be at the Voodoo Lounge in Queens, opening for GILBY CLARKE (Ex-Guns & Roses) on July 29th. In the meantime, you can check them out at their site, www.ATELLO.com
Another New York outfit, SOS (see REVIEWS for their disc) is making some waves. They will be playing at McHugh's in Woodhaven, New York this Saturday, June 17. The address is 97-07 Jamaica Ave. Adam will be GUEST BARTENDING that night as well from 9:00 until they hit the stage. Also, they will be a part of the Long Island Music Festival onFriday, June 23 at Illusions, 1016 Park Blvd Massapequa Park (call 516 799 2137 for more information).
MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer RANDY CASTILLO underwent emergency surgery last weekend in Los Angeles for an undisclosed stomach problem, and with the Maximum Rock tour set to begin on June 24, the band has been talking to HOLE drummer SAMANTHA MALONEY about taking over just in case Castillo isn't able to play (although he's expected to recover in time for the tour kickoff in Sacramento, California). Mötley's New Tattoo CD will be released next Tuesday as will the album from NIKKI SIXX's side project 58, Diet For a New America.
KISS is extending the Farewell Tour a bit longer--so far, dates have been added through September 18 in Providence, Rhode Island, and the run will likely end with New York area dates at a venue to be announced. The big KISS auction takes place next weekend at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, with real-time participation available via the Internet on the Auction Channel (see www.butterfields.com/KISS or www.gregmanning.com for an online catalog). Meanwhile, a lawsuit filed against GENE SIMMONS and SHANNON TWEED by their ex-nanny was dismissed by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge, who questioned the validity of the evidence in the case. KISS' Second Coming VH1 special will repeat Sunday, June 18 at 8 PM ET/PT, following Behind The Music episodes on MÖTLEY CRÜE (10 AM ET/PT), AC/DC (11 AM ET/PT, repeated at 9 PM and 11 PM, with an AC/DC concert in between), METALLICA (noon ET/PT), ALICE COOPER (1 PM ET/PT), OZZY OSBOURNE (2 PM ET/PT), and TED NUGENT (7 PM ET/PT).
BON JOVI's video for "Say it Isn't So," filming this week at Universal Studios Hollywood, is a big-budget affair (rumor has it, $1.5 million) that takes advantage of the Hollywood setting, complete with movie star cameos. Famous faces who'll pop up in the clip include ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (as his Terminator persona), EMILIO ESTEVEZ (in a Young Guns take-off), and Friends' MATT LeBLANC, along with model CLAUDIA SCHIFFER. Singer/actor E.J. CURSE portrays loinclothed hero Tarzan in a pie fight with Superman and other screen icons. "I get smashed in the face," says Curse, who also played stand-in for JON BON JOVI in a different sequence. Bon Jovi appears on the Today Show this morning and will play a few select U.S. concerts before heading to Japan: Bonner Springs, Kansas on June 24, Asbury Park, New Jersey on June 29, and Noblesville, Indiana on July 3.
There's a big buzz on new L.A. band CARBON 9, thanks to catchy, danceable, industrial heavy rock tunes and highly theatrical visuals, complete with three 'little people' performance artists and various contraptions and robotics. The band, together less than a year, met while working at Universal Studios Hollywood (they perform in the Stomp show, and the little guys are part of the Alvin & The Chipmunks act) and recorded a CD called Systemaddict that's available via their Web site, www.carbon9.com. Last night's show at the Roxy in W. Hollywood brought out an enthusiastic crowd that included musicians TONY FRANKLIN, KELLY KEELING, DEREK SHERINIAN, GLEN SOBEL, E.J. CURSE and CARMINE APPICE, who is co-managing the band with WARREN WYATT. For those in the L.A. area, Carbon 9 has upcoming shows at The Gig in Hollywood on June 23, the Joint in West L.A. on June 30, and Paladino's in Reseda on July 7.
CREED is scheduled to appear on The Tonight Show with JAY LENO tonight, if singer SCOTT STAPP has recovered his voice in time. Creed had to cancel several recent shows due to Stapp's laryngitis.
