Music News & Notes

DEFTONES Prepare to Release "DIAMOND EYES" This Spring

One of the most respected and enduring forces in modern rock music, DEFTONES are proud to announce the release of their long-awaited new album entitled DIAMOND EYES, scheduled for release May 18, 2010. The Grammy Award-winning, Platinum-certified band's 6th full-length, was produced and mixed by Nick Raskulinecz (Alice in Chains, Coheed & Cambria, Foo Fighters), and recorded and engineered by Paul "Fig" Figueroa (Alice in Chains, Bad Religion). As expected, DIAMOND EYES is a powerful combination of muscular impact and expansive and atmospheric clarity that propels DEFTONES through their ever-evolving new sonic terrain.

Beginning today, one brand new song from the album, "Rocket Skates," will become available online only for FREE via www.deftones.com. To accompany the track, a new lyric video will be available and viewable the same day at: youtube.com/deftones.

Then on April 17, "Rocket Skates" will be available for sale as an exclusive, limited edition 7" vinyl single pressing complete with picture sleeve in support of National Record Store Day. These will go fast so don't hesitate.

DEFTONES are also pleased to confirm a string of live shows scheduled for this spring as follows:

Sat April 24 Vive Latino Festival 2010 Mexico City, MEX
Sat May 22 Rock on The Range Fest Columbus, OH
Sat June 12 Download Fest Donnington Park, UK

More dates to be announced soon.

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Abbey Road studios win preservation order

LONDON (Reuters) - Abbey Road, the recording studios made famous by the Beatles, was designated a historic site by the government on Tuesday to protect the pop music shrine against any plans to radically alter it.

Reports last week that owners EMI were to sell the studios attracted worldwide interest and sparked fears the site might be converted into a residential development.

Culture Minister Margaret Hodge declared the iconic venue a Grade II listed building -- the second-highest category -- on the advice of national preservation body English Heritage.

In a statement she said the listing had been granted "overwhelmingly on the historic merit of the studios" and because of its "huge cultural importance."

The new status means that although changes to its interior can be made, any proposed alterations must respect the character and preservation of the site.

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Sting to Do World Tour With the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra

Live Nation has announced that Sting will embark on a world tour starting June 2, performing his most celebrated songs with the accompaniment of The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra conducted by Maestro Steven Mercurio.

Orchestrations are currently being created for the tour with today's press release confirming that the following songs will be included in the show:

•Roxanne
•Next To You
•Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
•Every Breath You Take
•Englishman in New York
•Fragile
•Russians
•If I Ever Lose My Faith in You,
•Fields of Gold
•Desert Rose

The tour kicks off June 2 in Vancouver, as did the Police reunion, and will visit Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Portland, Seattle, Washington, Toronto and Montreal along with more cities to be announced. The U.K. and Europe will follow.

Sting's interest in collaborating with an orchestra began in 2008 following an invitation to perform with the legendary Chicago Symphony Orchestra. After reworking selections from his expansive catalog, he and several members of his longtime band joined the orchestra in a performance that left an indelible mark on Sting. Eager to explore the possibilities of further symphonic collaboration, Sting was excited when the Philadelphia Orchestra asked him to join them in commemoration of the 153rd anniversary of the Academy of Music.

"Performing with both the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Philadelphia Orchestra was truly a highlight of my career. I'm delighted by this new opportunity to tour with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and reinterpret the songs I've been playing for many years," commented Sting.

Along with the Royal Philharmonic, Sting will also bring along Dominic Miller (guitar), David Cousin (percussionist), Jo Lawry (vocals) and Ira Coleman (bass).

So far, the following five dates have been announced:

•6/2/10 - Vancouver - Centre for the Performing Arts (on sale 3/8)
•6/9/10 - Denver - Red Rocks Amphitheatre (on sale 3/8)
•6/15/10 - Los Angeles - Hollywood Bowl (on sale 3/8)
•7/17 & 18/10 - Chicago - Ravinia Festival (on sale 4/22)

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MANTRIC: Debut Album Title, Artwork, Release Date Revealed

MANTRIC, the Norwegian metal band featuring former members of metal visionaries EXTOL, will release its debut album, "The Descent", on april 27 (one day earlier interntationally via Prosthetic Records. The CD was recorded in Norway, with Danish producer Tue Madsen (HALFORD, BEHEMOTH, KATAKLYSM, THE HAUNTED) handling mixing and mastering duties at his Antfarm facility in Århus, Denmark.

According to a press release, "The Descent" "fuses a unique, distinctly Scandinavian take on rich, challenging metal and modern punk with a powerful progressive edge."








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Ghostface/Raekwon/Method Man Album Actually Coming Out

Wu-Massacre, the collaborative album between Wu-Tang Clan members Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, and Method Man, has seen its release date pushed back a ton of times since last year, and it was starting to seem like we'd never get to hear the thing, especially with Meth facing tax-evasion charges.

The album is set for a March 30 release from Def Jam. Wu guys RZA and Mathematics contribute production. Wu-Tang members Inspectah Deck and Cappadonna make appearances, as do associates like Streetlife, Solomon Childs, Trife, and Sun God. The live band Rhythm Roots Allstars plays on a few tracks, and Ghostface buddy Tracy Morgan shows up on a skit.