Music News: AIC's William DuVall Says He Was Detained Because of Race

The news just seems to keep getting worse and worse lately - that is, if you're black. And apparently, being rich and a rockstar doesn't help.

New Alice in Chains frontman William DuVall claims he was detained outside his West Hollywood home for 30+ minutes. Here's the tweet:

 DuVall's use of the hashtag #AliveWhileBlack further makes the point that race played a part.

This is my take on the whole thing: if a white officer choking a man to death - ON TAPE - isn't enough to get him convicted, I don't know what will be. I'm appalled by the unrestrained, racist brutality of some police officers, and their continued ability to get away with it. The video of Eric Garner makes me sick. People who think racism is dead need to wake up. And the rest of us should be doing what we can to get rid of it.

Music News: Nine Inch Nails Back in the Game

Ever since Trent Reznor formed his new band, How to Destroy Angels, with wife Mariqueen Maandig, people have been griping more than ever, wondering where the "old" Nine Inch Nails went.

Well, wonder no more. Reznor announced in an interview with Billboard that NIN weren't calling it quits, just taking a holiday, and that proved to be correct with Reznor's announcement this morning that NIN will be touring extensively this year and next. "The band is reinventing itself from scratch," Reznor said. "...The first shows will begin this summer, followed by a full-on arena tour of the US this fall, and lots of other dates to follow worldwide through 2014." Read Reznor's full statement here.

Personally, I wish they'd just do a new album, but that's my opinion. 

New Alice in Chains Video

Alice in Chains has just released the video for their latest single, "Hollow," online, from their upcoming fifth studio album, and their second without late frontman Layne Staley. I've gotta say, I've become pretty open-minded about the new lineup. Though vocalist William DuVall is certainly no Staley, their new sound is good. Staley wasn't the only talented member of AIC; Cantrell is possibly one of the best guitarists alive today, and the heavy blues feel was the course the band was going to take anyway - see "Heaven Beside You" off their self-titled 1996 album if you don't believe me. And hey, surviving members Cantrell, bassist Mike Inez, and drummer Sean Kinney were respectful enough to Staley's memory to wait more than ten years before reforming the band.

I will always be a diehard fan of old school Alice, particularly their first two albums, 1990's Facelift and 1992's Dirt. But the new stuff is solid, with soaring blues melodies and chugging riffs that take over where Staley's powerful vocals left off, helping to carry DuVall's less immediate voice.

Bonus: check out my favorite AIC concert vid with the old lineup: their title hit, "Man in the Box," in Seattle in 1991, just before Facelift broke the band onto the grunge mainstream.

Lzzy Hale Covering Lita Ford? ... In Other News, David Draiman Has a New Band

So, I'm kind of an eighties rock geek. Sorry, but there was some good music back then, although the hair was a bit much. The worst part is that I love ballads - Warrant's "Heaven," Cinderella's "Don't Know What You Got" ... yep, I'm in deep.

One of my favorite of these is "Close My Eyes Forever," by Lita Ford featuring Ozzy Osbourne. Man, I love the way that girl can screech, especially through the line "warm and dark embrace." Ozzy's dry, smooth vocals are a perfect match.

So I was really intrigued when it was announced that Disturbed frontman David Draiman has asked Lzzy Hale of Halestorm to cover the song with him on the debut album of his new industrial (Draiman tweeted: "Imagine old school NIN/Ministry, but with my vocs") project, Device.

In my opinion, songs should only be covered if they sucked in the first place and can be done better as a remake (Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game," anyone?) but it's always interesting to see different bands and genres interpret the same song differently. Draiman has a really powerful voice, and can pretty much interpret anything, but it's the female part that needs to sound powerful on this song. Hale has a great voice, but filling Lita Ford's shoes is no small thing.

Device was started when musician Geno Lenardo asked Draiman to help him write a song for the latest Underworld film. "[I] found that working with him as a songwriting partner was very easy and fluid. He's a very strong songwriter in his own right," Draiman said.

Other guests artists on the album are slated to include Avenged Sevenfold's M. Shadows, System of a Down's Serj Tankian, and Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine.

What do you think of Lzzy Hale and David Draiman collaborating?

Zoltan Bathory Slams Bans On "Defensive Rifles"

Guitarist Zoltan Bathory, of Five Finger Death Punch fame, recently spoke out about talks of banning assault weapons in the wake of the Newtown, Connecticut shooting of 20 children and six adults.

"Anti-gun advocates in the media placing all the emphasis on the word 'ASSAULT' for a reason. It sounds menacing to those who don't know much about weapons, and this particular word also embodies the concepts of 'first strike' and 'aggression'... and the media just loooves that," Bathory ranted on his Facebook page (reported by blabbermouth.net, when I went to the site, the post had been taken down).

Here's where he makes his point about assault weapons: "The fact IS, however — a rifle is an inanimate object with no free will or intent on its own. It doesn't plan to assault anyone... So really, this is all just playing with words.... If I called my rifle a 'defensive rifle' — it wouldn't throw up the red flag — and in reality THAT'S WHAT IT IS. I have it for defensive measures so that's what it should be called. A 'defensive rifle.'"

All I have to say is: are you kidding me?! Now, I've got no problem with guns. I believe that's a personal choice, one that Americans should be allowed to make for themselves. We are guaranteed the right to arm ourselves if we wish. But why the hell do you need a weapon that fires 100 rounds a second or more? Honestly, what good is that going to do you? I thought America would really step up to the plate after defenseless children were killed, and some people did. For example, Disturbed frontman David Draiman tweeted on December 15, following the massacre: "I'm a gun owner. Have been for years. Believe in the 2nd Amendment. But I would give them all up if it meant saving just one child's life." Since then, Draiman has been active in calling for assault weapons bans.

It's people like Bathory who minimize tragedies such as the Newtown shooting, ensuring that America will have a future of many more such events to come.

Three Days Grace To Continue Tour Without Adam Gontier

A black day for all TDG fans: This morning, Three Days Grace announced on their website that lead singer Adam Gontier has left the band, due to an unspecified health issue, and will be replaced by singer Matt Walst of My Darkest Days, who also happens to be bassist Brad Walst's brother. The article says he will be joining the band for the North American tour, with no further specifications as to how long he will remain in the band.

Fans are already speculating on Facebook, with many wondering if Gontier has relapsed from his earlier addiction to OxyContin. Reactions to the new lineup were almost unanimously negative, and I have to say, I am not in favor either.

With all due respect to Three Days Grace as a band, I am not a fan of My Darkest Days and hate to see one of my favorite voices replaced with their lead singer. I was not impressed when they opened for TDG at the concert I went to - their lead single "Porn Star Dancing" is trite and common, a mindless song in the vein of Nickelback.

As one fan said, "Three Days Grace without Adam isn't Three Days Grace." This is one tour I'm not buying tickets to.

Whitney Houston Found Dead

According to cnn.com, Whitney Houston was found dead in her Los Angeles home today. She was only 48.

Houston, who many compared to divas like Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin, won six Grammys in her lifetime and starred in several movies, with 1992's "The Bodyguard" touted by Billboard as one of the top ten albums in sales of all time. She also starred in 1996's "The Preacher's Wife," opposite Denzel Washington.

Houston was formerly married to Bobby Brown, an R&B singer-songwriter. The story of their life together was broadcast on "Being Bobby Brown." It was during this time that Houston began serious drug use, culminating in a 2011 intervention instituted by her mother.

According to the Los Angeles Times, a tribute performance to Houston will be done by singer Jennifer Hudson at the Grammys, airing tomorrow.

In my opinion, Houston was one of the greatest singers of our time. I grew up on songs such as "I Will Always Love You" and "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)." The music world has lost a great light.

Access Vevo's tribute playlist here.

New RHCP Vid Stars Anthony Kiedis' Son

The latest Chili Peppers video, from their new album, I'm With You, has a surprising co-star, amid Flea's predictably awesome, clothing-optional antics and new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer just kind of - well, standing there: Lead singer Anthony Kiedis appears in the segment with son Everly Bear.

Acting is kind of a family business, as Kiedis' father, Blackie Dammett, did some movies and TV spots in his day, and Kiedis himself, under the name Cole Dammett, portrayed Sylvester Stallone's son in the movie F.I.S.T. 

Check out the video, and take a look at the other recently released vid from the album, "Monarchy of Roses."

Former Weezer Bassist Predicts Own Death

According to an article on Kerrang.com, former Weezer bassist Mikey Welsh predicted on a Twitter post from September 26 that he would die this week - and then was found dead October 8 in a Chicago hotel.

The post reads: "dreamt i died in chicago next weekend (heart attack in my sleep). need to write my will today."
 Eerily, Welsh was found Saturday in a Chicago hotel. According to The Guardian, Welsh's death was not due to cardiac arrest, but resulted from an apparent overdose.

Welsh had quit Weezer in 2001, after he suffered a mental breakdown due to pre-existing conditions of PTSD and severe drug use, culminating in a suicide attempt. After checking into a psychiatric facility, Welsh left music to focus on his artwork.