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MAWS

From page 9 of Classic Rock Magazine October 2007

Cover of October 2007 issue.

Drummer Nicko McBrain has let slip that Iron Maiden's next world tour will begin in January. The band are already confirmed to headline next summer's Wacker Open Air Festival in Germany, and singer Bruce Dickinson told the crowd at this summer's Download festival that the show they're planning will be performed on a Powerslave albumthemed stage set.

David Lee Roth and Van Haien (Roth and Edward Van Helen pictured) held a televised press conference in Los Angeles to announce Van Halen's muchvaunted reunion tour. Of his first outing with the group in 22 years, Roth boasted: "This isn't like The Police. The idea is that this [band] will go on and on and on [after the tour]. This is a brotherhood like it never was before." However, bassist Michael Anthony has been controversially cut out of the family portrait, not only being replaced by guitarist Edward Van Halen's16-year-old son Wolfgang for the tour, but also for having the indignity of his image being airbrushed from artwork at the band's website; it was later reinstated at fans' insistence.

Several of Van Helen's US dates sold out in days, and extra shows were added. Roth also promised the press conference that the new-look Van Halen will record a new studio album. There's no word on UK dates yet.

The Long Road Out Of Eden, The Eagles' first new album in almost 30 years, is due for release on October 31. The first singlefrom it is a JD Souther-penned song called How Long, Guitarist Joe Walsh told Billboard magazine that the follow-up to 1979's The Long Run album doesn't feature many ballads, explaining: "We need some stuff we can play live."

Robert Plant releases an album with singer Alison Krauss on October 22. Raising Sand will be on Rounder/Decca Records and features the pair's interpretations of songs by Townes Van Zandt, Sam Phillips and Little Milton Campbell, plus a revised take of Please Read The Letter, from Plant & Page's1998 album Walking Into Clarks dale.

Bruce Springsteen's (pictured) first new music with the E Street Band in five years, the album Magic, is released by Columbia Records on October 2. Like its 9/11-themed predecessor The Rising, the 11-song record was produced by Brendan O'Brien.

Asia bassist/vocalist John VVetton has undergone openheart surgery. Although the operation went as planned, VVetton and Geoffrey Downes's UK tour with sideproject Icon has been cancelled.

The second batch of Genesis reissues, released on October 1, includes expanded SACD/CD editions of Genesis (1983); Invisible Touch (1986); We Can't Dance (1991) and the Phil Collinsless ...Calling All Stations (1997). If you don't want to buy them purely for the bonus material, Virgin/EMI are putting those together in an exclusive boxed set called Extra Tracks 1983-1997

John Fogerty is vowing to return to his roots with a new album called Revival. Of the record, due on October 2, he told Billboard: "All the records I've made since Creedence Clearwater Revival have been pushed off centre. With this one I wanted to stay on the mark, right where rock'n'roll is."

System Of A Down might be taking a break, but guitarist Daron Malakian and drummer John Dolmayan have formed a new band called Scars On Broadway. For details go to: www. scarsonbroadway.com Meanwhile, SOAD vocalist Serj Tankian releases his debut solo album, Elect The Dead, on October 23.

Tommy Lee (pictured) has told a US interviewer that he is "over" rock music, preferring dance music instead. Expressing boredom with "cheesy rock guitars", the Motley Cite drummer sighs: "I'm just like ugh! tired of the same-al'."

Ex-Mama's Boys/ Celtus guitarist/violin player Pat McManus, whose bassist brother John recently resurfaced in Fastway, has a new album called In My Own Time. It's available via his website:www. patmcmanus.co.uk Diamond Head have been added to the bill of the Classic Rocksponsored Hard Rock Hell festival which takes place in Minehead in early November. More info at www.hardrockhell. cow and www. myspace/hardrockhell Purple Records offshoot Sonic Zoom are to re-release Live In San Diego 1974, a six-song recording from Deep Purple's Burn tour. Out of print for many years, it has only ever been available in limitededition form.

A Phil Lynott tribute night takes place at the Soundhouse in Bolton on September 22. Headliners Tics Lizzy will be joined by local groups The Temple Dogs and See Red, and the latter's set will feature a guest appearance from former Venom singer Tony Dolan. All proceeds go to the Roisin Dubh Trust. For info go to: www.theboysare backinbolton.com VVaysted (pictured) are making good progress with the recording of their new album, The Harsh Reality. The band have recorded a version of Aerosmith's Sweet Emotion for this month's Classic Rock cover disc.

Ray Davis has handed the man who allegedly shot him in January 2004 a get-out-of-jail card. The former Kinks star was unable to attend a court appearance, and his failure to testify against Jerome Barra resulted in the charges being dropped.

JJ Cale releases an archive collection called Rewind: Unreleased Songs on October 2. It includes contributions from Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, Randy Newman, Richard Thompson and Waylon Jennings, among others.

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of his and Wild Willy Barrett's Top 30 hit Really Free, Castle Music issue a two-CD anthology of material by John Otway called Patron Saint Of Losers 79722007 on October 8. Its 56 tracks were selected by Otway himself.

Ousted Nightwish singer Tarja Turunen (pictured) returns with her debut solo album, My Winter Storm, released on November12 via Spinefarm Records. The album was recorded with Faith No More/Jewel producer Daniel Presley, plus a cast of backing musicians that includes ex-Living Colour bassist Doug Wimbish.

Nightwish's first five albums -1997's Angels Fall First through to 2002's Century Childare reissued in expanded form in October.

The Black Crowes' new album is finished. It was recorded with keyboard player Adam MacDougall, who will join the band for live shows, replacing Eddie Harsch who quit for "health reasons" last summer. The album is expected in the spring.

Aerosmith begin work on the follow-up to 2004's Honkin' On Bobo album in October. Work will take place in the Boston-based group's collectively owned South Shore studio.

Pat Benatar and her guitarist/producer husband Neil Geraldo are recording an album of acoustic material for the singer's own Bel Chiasso label.

Radiohead won't release their seventh album until next year. A spokesperson said that while the as-yet unnamed follow-up to 2003's Hail To The Thief is finished, the band have yet to sign a new record deal after parting company with longtime home EMI.

Matchbox Twenty (pictured) have cheekily called their 'best of' collection Exile On Mainstream, a reference to The Rolling Stones' Exile On Main Street album. The gag is heightened by the inclusion of a song called Disease that was co-written with Mick Jagger. The album is released on Octoberl via Atlantic Records, preceded by a single called How Far We've Come.

Santana's 40th anniversary as a live act is commemorated with the release of a collection called Ultimate Santana on October 16. It includes a previously unreleased take of Game Of Love, as a duet with Tina Turner (the best-known, Grammy-nominated version featured Michelle Branch) and the also previously unreleased track Into The Night sung by Nickelback's Chad Krueger.

Ringo Starr has announced the line-up of his latest All-Starr touring band. Among those joining the now 65-year-old former Beatle are keyboardist Rod Argent of The Zombies, Richard Marx, Billy Squier, multi-instrumentalist Edgar Winter and percussionist Sheila E.

The London International Tattoo Convention (pictured) this year takes place on October 5-7 at The Old Truman Brewery in Brick Lane, East London. This year's event will once again be packed with top tattoo artists from all around the world, not least Paul Booth form New York and Filip Lea from Lausanne, to demonstrate their abilities. It will also feature a host of diverse related attractions, including belly dancers, Hawaiian and Maori war dances and extreme performance artists. For tickets (618 per day or £45 for a three-day pass) and more info go to www.thelondontattoo convent ion.com