Live4MusiC

Avenged Sevenfold issued a statement yesterday saying:

"We want our fans to know that with Jimmy in our hearts, our journey to record has officially began. Jimmy helped leave this world an amazing gift and now it's our job to make sure to deliver that gift to our fans.

"We asked Jimmy's all time favorite drummer Mike Portnoy to record on behalf of him. Mike said it would be an honor and without question that’s what Jim would have wanted. Its comforting to us that someone like Mike, who is undoubtedly revered as one of the best drummers in the world, held such respect and adoration for the Rev's abilities.

"Even though it will never be the same without our brother by our side, his essence lives in our hearts and through the music he helped create. He was a legend before any of the success or any of that bullshit and we are fucking excited to lay this down for our fans, and especially for Jimmy.

Avenged Sevenfold"

To complete their new album, the band recruited Dream Theatre drummer, Mike Portnoy, Jimmy Sullivans' favourite drummer, as mentioned above.

Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan passed away on the 28th of December 2009 and toxicology reports have resulted inconclusive. Jimmy was laid to rest on the 6th of January 2010, with over 600 guests including Lostprophets and Brian Haner Sr.

Avenged Sevenfolds new release is expected to be released July this year.

- Ultimate-Guitar

Paramore’s new music video for the “The Only Exception” has premiered on the band’s website! Directed by Brandon Chesbro, it features a key scene of Williams laying down on a pile of Valentine’s Day cards that were made by fans of the band. If you watch the video, one of the cast looks remarkably like Chace Crawford, I had to do a double take. Did you spot that too?

- MTV Asia

Jean Flowers, mother of Killers frontman Brandon Flowers, passed away last Thursday in Nevada after a two-year battle with brain cancer. She was 64.

The Killers had canceled several recent tour dates in Australia and Asia "due to the severity of the illness of a close family member," but the exact situation had remained undisclosed until late last week. An obituary in the Las Vegas Review-Journal (via Spinner), posted on February 13, confirmed the sad news.

Memorial services were held earlier this week in the Las Vegas suburb of Henderson, and Mrs. Flowers' body was laid to rest yesterday. She's survived by her husband, Terry, six children, 20 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Despite Mrs. Flowers' illness, the Killers had planned to perform this coming weekend at Australia's Good Vibrations festival, and those tour dates still appear on the band's website, which was last updated February 15.

In the midst of the nixed gigs, a planned hiatus after their current run of concerts, and reports in 2009 that the band was "sick of the sight of each other," rumors of the band's demise began to circulate. However, the official line from the Killers camp remains firm: "[T]here are no plans for an indefinite hiatus."

- NME

We'll be back later today with Monday's barrage of music downloads, but we just wanted to interrupt normal service briefly with this exclusive first listen of new Muse tune 'Prague'. The b-side to forthcoming single 'Resistance' (out next Monday), it's a cover of eighties pop-punkers Mega City Four. Check their somewhat doomier version here and let us know what you think of it below.

Listen to the track here.

- NME

Gorillaz will release their third album,'Plastic Beach' on March 8, the cartoon creations of Damon Albarnand Jamie Hewlett have toldNME.COM. 

Confirming the record's full tracklisting, the band also announced that the likes of Lou Reed, Mos Def,Mark E Smith, Snoop Dogg, Bobby Womack, De La Soul and Super Furry Animals' Gruff Rhys, while The Clash duo Mick Jones and Paul Simonon reunite on the title track.

"Leeching is the wrong word now isn't it?" the band's 'frontman Murdoc Niccals told NME.COM of the guest stars. "It's not like I've drawn blood or anything. No, I think the word 'coerced' sings the deal a little better. Although, yes, the coercion did come via chloroform and rohypnol."

See this week's issue of NME – on UK newsstands now – for an exclusive comeback interview with Gorillaz.

As with the band's previous releases, the album boasts a back story, which this time sees "the band have taken up residence, recording on a secret floating island deep in the South Pacific, a Plastic Beach HQ, made up of the detritus, debris and washed up remnants of humanity. ThisPlastic Beach is the furthest point from any landmass on Earth; the most deserted spot on the planet".

'Plastic Beach' has the following tracklisting.

'Orchestral Intro'
'Welcome To The World Of The Plastic Beach' (feat. Snoop Dogg)
'White Flag (feat. Kano & Bashy)
'Rhinestone Eyes'
'Stylo' (feat. Bobby Womack and Mos Def)
'Superfast Jellyfish' (feat. Gruff Rhys and De La Soul)
'Empire Ants' (feat. Little Dragon)
'Glitter Freeze' (feat. Mark E Smith)
'Some Kind Of Nature' (feat. Lou Reed)
'On Melancholy Hill'
'Broken'
'Sweepstakes' (feat. Mos Def & Hypnotic Brass Ensemble)
'Plastic Beach' (feat. Mick Jones & Paul Simonon)
'To Binge' (feat. Little Dragon)
'Cloud Of Unknowing' (feat. Bobby Womack)
'Pirate Jet'

 

- NME.com

Garage-punk rocker Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr., a.k.a. Jay Reatard, has died at his home in Memphis, TN, according to Memphis newspaper The Commerical Appeal. He was 29 years old.

The Memphis police have opened an investigation into the rocker's death, said spokesperson Jennifer Robinson. Lindsey was found around 3:30 A.M. in his bed.

Memphis' Goner Records, Lindsey's onetime label home, posted about the death on their website: "It is with great sadness that we report the passing of our good friend Jay Reatard. Jay died in his sleep last night. We will pass along information about funeral arrangements when they are made public."

Details regarding his passing are scarce, but just days ago Lindsey Tweeted that he was feeling sick.

Lindsey began performing in bands at age 15, and later recorded under the Reatards and the Lost Sounds monikers. In 2006, after a series of short-lived side-projects, Lindsey released Blood Visions, his first album under the Jay Reatard moniker.

As a three-piece band, Jay Reatard -- picked for SPIN's Big in '08 package -- built a loyal following with a fusion of punk and garage rock, and their intense live shows, which wowed SPIN deputy editor Steve Kandell at 2008's SXSW. "[Jay Reatard] rocked harder in 15 minutes than some bands will their entire silly careers," he wrote.

After being picked up by New York-based indie powerhouse Matador Records in 2008, Jay Reatard toured relentlessly, then started running into problems: earlier this year Lindsey's longtime backing band, bassist Stephen Pope and drummer Billy Hayes, left the group.

- SPIN

Band member hint as reunion after being inactive since 2006

System Of A Down bassist Shavo Odadjia has hinted that the rockers may be reuniting this year.

The band have not been active as a band since 2006 – but Odadjiaposted a message on his Twitterpage, Twitter.com/officialshavo, suggesting that a comeback may be on the cards.

"Are u guys ready for System???" he wrote.

Rumours of a System Of A Downreunion have abound at various points since they went on hiatus. Frontman Serj Tankian embarked on a solo career, while last November three of the band members joinedDeftones on stage together inHollywood for a benefit gig forDeftones bassist Chi Cheng, who is currentl hospitalised.

- NME.com

'It's time to move on,' mogul says about decision

Simon Cowell is to quit his role as a judge on the American Idol TV show to launch The X Factor in the USA, he has confirmed.

Guitarist says no amount of money could prompt reunion

Guns N' Roses' former guitarist Slashhas revealed that he has turned down "seven, eight digit kinds" of sums of money to reunite with his old band at various times since his departure.

Marking the first contest Live4MusiC ever organised, this has been an amazing contest to say the least! Could never have done it without the enthusiasm all our participants have for Big Night Out 2010, in particular, MUSE!

Without further ado, let us present to you our deserving winner, all the way from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Aidil! 

This video is really, my personal favourite! Who says voting contests are always unfair? (Oops Singapore Idol >.<)