Jane Stevenson of the Edmonton Sun reports that veteran Toronto prog-rock band RUSH is going through a major renaissance right now.

Together for 33 years, singer-bassist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson and drummer-lyricist Neil Peart are enjoying their most successful single in a decade, "Far Cry", from the band's just-released studio album, "Snakes & Arrows".

Meanwhile, ticket sales for the accompanying tour, which kicks off June 13 in Atlanta and hits Canada for a slew of dates in July and September, are up 35% from the last time RUSH hit the road in 2004. ...

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RACER X bassist John Alderete (a.k.a. Juan Alderete) has issued the following message to his fans:

"To my friends,

"I have recently been diagnosed with a rare blood disease called Polycythemia Vera. It is classified as one of the Myeloproliferative disorders. Myeloproliferative disorders are an overproduction of platelets, white blood cells, or red blood cells in the bone marrow, which may result in serious complications that include enlargement of the spleen and liver, anemia, bleeding, stroke, heart attack or leukemia. The survival rate varies greatly, from 3-20 years depending on the type of disorder and which complications ensue. You can read more abou ...

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BBC News reports that a film first made as a podcast by three "bored" friends is about to be released on DVD for UK-wide distribution.

"Legalize Murder" (trailer) — a comedy about a "black metal" band — was made for £1,000 by Joseph Salerno, Nick Warden and Phillip Adams, from Pembrokeshire.

The film was initially a serialized podcast, but was made feature length and posted on a video sharing site where it received thousands of views.

After its unexpected success, the trio now plan ...

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Ali "The Metallian" of the Metallian webzine recently conducted an interview with former CRYPTOPSY frontman Lord Worm (a.k.a. Dan Greening) about his departure from the group. A few excerpts follow:

Metallian: Can you explain why you are no longer in CRYPTOPSY?

Lord Worm: Pretty much because every time we went out on the road for any stretch of time I ended up catching something and killing my health. It gets worse as time goes on. It is better for my health and better for CRYPTOPSY if I leave now.

Metallian: Are you referring to something as common as f ...

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Launch Radio Networks reports: SYSTEM OF A DOWN singer Serj Tankian plans to release his first solo album this fall, while the rest of his bandmates are also working on individual projects. But as for when SYSTEM itself will get back together, Tankian says it's not really on anyone's radar. "I don't know," he said. "That's the truth. I mean, we've taken an indefinite hiatus and we just said, you know, when we're all ready to come back and take time from our own things and do something together we will, if and when we want to. And it's been left at that."

Tankian plans to issue his debut solo album, titled "Elect The Dead", this fall. Th ...

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STRAPPING YOUNG LAD mastermind Devin Townsend has posted his first video transmission in connection with his upcoming solo album, entitled "Ziltoid the Omniscient". Watch it at YouTube.

Due on May 22 via Inside Out Music America, "Ziltoid the Omniscient" was recorded completely by Devin, who took care of the singing, guitar, bass, synthesizers and sampling duties, in addition to mixing and producing the album on his own. Devin has stated on the HevyDevy forums that he used "the drumkit from Hell" on this release — the same kit that was previously utilized ...

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According to Newswire.co.nz, eager fans snapped up more than 12,000 tickets to GUNS N' ROSES' June 29 Auckland, New Zealand show Monday morning (April 30), causing the show to sell out in less than an hour.

Unprecedented demand means a second and final show on Saturday, June 30 has been announced and will go on sale at 1:00 p.m. Monday.

Australian promoter Paul Dainty said: "We knew the demand was strong as we received an unprecedented number of calls from fans in the lead up to going on sale. GUNS N' ROSES have not been in New Zealand since 1993 so it ...

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Kari Koskinen of Imhotep webzine recently conducted an interview with MORS PRINCIPIUM EST singer Ville Viljanen. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

On longtime guitarist and composer Jori Haukio's decision to leave the band almost immediately after the group's new album, "Liberation = Termination", was finished:

"It's hard to say what our situation currently is. In the past, Jori did practically all the composing for us, and I don't know if we are able to compose songs in the same vein anymore. It's not like our only member capable of composing has left, but how this is going ...

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Polish extreme metal titans BEHEMOTH have posted a new live video clip for the new track "Christgrinding Avenue", taken from a recent performance at Club 13 in Tilburg, Holland. The track comes from their highly anticipated new album, "The Apostasy", which is set for a July release. Click here to check it out.

BEHEMOTH has just returned from Israel and Nergal (vocals, guitars) checks in with the following report: "This was our second time playing in Israel and once again the show, crowd feedback and the aura around the whole event blew me away! I have no words to describe how ...

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Jake Coyle of News.com.au reports: SPINAL TAP is back, to help save the world from global warming. If only they were clear on exactly what that was.

The mock heavy metal group immortalized in the 1984 mockumentary "This is Spinal Tap" will reunite for a performance at Wembley Stadium in London as part of worldwide Live Earth concerts on July 7.

The original members of SPINAL TAP will be there: guitarist Nigel Tufnel (played by Christopher Guest), singer David St Hubbins (Michael McKean) and bassist Derek Small ...

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