Alice In Chains, Evanescence, 5FDP to headline Rock On The Range Canada

Alice in Chains is headlining Canada’s 3rd annual Rock On The Range this summer; the festival takes place August 20 at Winnipeg’s Canad Inns Stadium.

Joining AIC on the main stage will be Evanescence, Five Finger Death Punch, Hinder, Art Of Dying and The Reason, while the second stage headliner is Sum 41, along with Volbeat, Anberlin, Duff McKagan’s Loaded and Drive A.

More bands will be announced.

Tickets go on sale Friday, April 15 at 10AM CST (11 AM EST) and range from $39.50 to $79.50 with VIP tickets going for $165.50. A limited number of early bird tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday for $29.50, and concert goers who buy their tickets before April 24 will receive $10 off.

Last year’s lineup of Stone Temple Pilots, Godsmack, Buckcherry and Three Days Grace attracted 15,000 music fans to the stadium.

Alice In Chains set for concert announcement, website relaunch

Stay tuned to AliceinChains.com on Monday April 11, for a special 2011 show announcement. The band has also released a revamped website.

System Of A Down and Alice In Chains manager speaks on future plans for both bands

The owner of Velvet Hammer management was interview about future plans for System Of A Down and Alice In Chains. You can read the interview by clicking HERE.

In the interview it is revealed that SoaD have more unannounced tour dates pending.

Alice In Chains is starting to write new material for their next album.

Public memorial for Mike Starr announced.

An official public memorial has been announced for those wishing to pay respects to former Alice In Chains bassist Mike Starr who passed away on March 8th.The gathering will take place on Sunday March 20th at 4 PM here:

The Fountain
Inside The Seattle Center
305 Harrison Street
Seattle, WA 98109
www.seattlecenter.com

Starr was a founding member of AIC, writing songs and playing memorable bass lines on the albums Facelift, the ep Sap and Dirt.

Members of Gun N' Roses, Motley Crue, Lamb Of God tweet about Mike Starr passing away

Several members of the hard rock & metal community have posted messages on their Twitter accounts about former Alice In Chains bassist Mike Starr passing away:

SLASH (VELVET REVOLVER, ex-GUNS N' ROSES): "Really tragic news about Mike Starr. RIP."

MÖTLEY CRÜE's Nikki Sixx: "RIP Mike Starr. Another fallen Soldier to addiction... :("

Former Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler: "R.I.P. Mike Starr!! Such a sad day! :( :("

Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum: "Drugs and alcohol aren't a joke. Please take care of yourself and respect yourself. We lost Mike Starr today. Rest in Peace man."

Ex-DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy: "RIP Mike Starr... I watched his struggle on Celebrity Rehab and had my fingers crossed for his recovery... this disease kills... sad stuff..."

LAMB OF GOD guitarist Mark Morton: "Horrible news. RIP Mike Starr."

According to The Salt Lake Tribune, police do not suspect foul play in the death of Starr.

The medical examiner's office will likely conduct an autopsy on Wednesday, says Reuters, but the results of toxicology tests could take up to two months.

Alice In Chains release statement about former bassist Mike Starr passing away

Alice In Chains have released a statement about former bassist Mike Starr passing away:

“Members of Alice in Chains are mourning the loss of their friend and ask that the media respect their privacy – and the privacy of the Starr family – during this difficult time. Their thoughts & prayers are with the Starr family.”

More info about Mike Starr passing away can be found by clicking HERE.

Former Alice In Chains bassist Mike Starr dead at 44

We just recieved word that former Alice In Chains bassist Mike Starr passed away today. He was 44 years old. No further details are available at this time. Another sad loss for the world of metal :(

Updated from TMZ.com:

Starr appeared on the third season of "Celebrity Rehab" back in 2009 -- and was arrested last month for felony possession of a controlled substance. Salt Lake City cops say he had 6 Xanax pills and 6 Opana (painkiller) pills when he was busted.

Starr was 44 years old.

Mike's dad tells TMZ, "It's a terrible shock and tragedy."

UPDATE: Police tell us Starr's body was found in a Salt Lake City home today. Cops say they were called to the house at 1:42PM.

Former Alice In Chains bassist Mike Starr drug bust details revealed

As reported by TMZ, former Alice In Chains bassist Mike Starr was busted for alleged drug possession in Salt Lake City.

According to Sltrib.com, Salt Lake County Jail records show that Starr, 44, remained in custody Friday in lieu of more than $20,000 bail on two third-degree felony and one class B misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance.

According to a probable cause statement filed with 3rd District Court, Starr was arrested during a traffic stop after crossing over a median about 1 a.m. Thursday near 1200 S. State Street in Salt Lake City. Starr, a passenger in the van, is alleged to have been found with a six Opana pills and six Alprazolam pills for which he did not have prescriptions.

Opana is a semi-synthetic opioid analgesic, while Alprazolam is used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks.

One of the two arresting officers reported that Starr readily identified himself. "Hey officer, have you heard of Alice In Chains? I used to be the bass guitarist for them. We are down here in Utah . . . putting together a new band," he reportedly told police.

VDOB Top 10 Essential Classic Hard Rock Albums

We are presenting to you are first list. Several magazines, websites, blogs, television shows have their all-time or favorites list. Everyone has an opinion and most are different when it comes to these type of lists. It is personal preferance in most cases. I will not include any hard rock albums released after the year 2000. Without rambling too long here is Gladiator's list of his Top 10 Essential Classic Hard Rock Albums That Every Fan Of The Genre Must Own:

1. Van Halen - Van Halen
2. AC/DC - Back In Black
3. Led Zeppelin - Houses Of The Holy
4. Guns N' Roses - Appetite For Destruction
5. Motley Crue - Girls, Girls, Girls
6. Alice In Chains - Facelift
7. Kiss - Destroyer
8. Lynyrd Skynrd - (pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd)
9. Skid Row - Skid Row
10. Danzig - Danzig

2011 Grammy Awards Feature Ozzy Osbourne, Them Crooked Vultures, Alice In Chains, Slayer, Megadeth, Korn, Lamb Of God, Iron Maiden

The 2011 Grammy Awards are this Sunday February 13th at 8:00 p.m on CBS. Here are the only categories we care about:

Best Hard Rock Performance
"A Looking In View" -- Alice In Chains
"Let Me Hear You Scream" -- Ozzy Osbourne
"Black Rain" -- Soundgarden
"Between The Lines" -- Stone Temple Pilots
"New Fang" -- Them Crooked Vultures

Best Metal Performance
"El Dorado" -- Iron Maiden
"Let The Guilt Go" -- Korn
"In Your Words" -- Lamb Of God
"Sudden Death" -- Megadeth
"World Painted Blood" -- Slayer

I expect Them Crooked Vultures and Iron Maiden to win this year.