Scrap Metal May 27 2012

Sebastian Bach, Mark ‘Bam Bam’ McConnell, Blackfoot, Anthony "AJ" Confessore aka C.C. Banana, L.A. Guns, Jackyl, Metallica, Jaco Pastorius, Rolling Stones, Tool, A Perfect Circle, Puscifer, Rock Of Ages, Def Leppard, Tom Cruise, Twisted Sister, Dee Snider, Steve Vai, Aimee Mann, Beverly McClellan, Accept, Kreator, Swallow The Sun, Ugly Kid Joe, Life of Agony, Godsmack, Superjoint Ritual, Eyehategod, Mudvayne, Otep, Slipknot, Evanescence, Fozzy and Chris Jericho.

A slow but sad news week: Former Sebastian Bach drummer Mark ‘Bam Bam’ McConnell passed away on Thursday reportedly due to kidney and liver failure. He drummed with the former Skid Row singer in 1997 and 2005, and also performed as a member of Blackfoot in 2006 and 2007. Earlier in the week Bach revealed his friend and former bandmate was “fighting for his life,” with another friend stated that the drummer’s liver and kidneys had shut down, causing partial brain damage due to the swelling.

We are also sorry to report that Anthony Confessore, also known as C.C. Banana took his own life on Monday. Known as Tony to his friends, he was a regular contributor to Metal Sludge, and also published photographs and celebrity interviews on his own website with him wearing a banana suit. He released a hard rock compilation called “Whole Lotta Love — an All-Star Tribute to Fat Chicks,” which featured covers of various rock songs dedicated to well-endowed women – such as ‘Whole Lotta Rosie,’ and ‘Fat Bottomed Girls’ - by members of ’80s rock bands such as L.A. Guns and Jackyl. Tony lived in New Jersey but was known throughout the tri-state rock community and had many friends from our area. He will be missed. 



Metallica appears on the cover of a Special Summer Edition of Rolling Stone which came out this week. It is only available to subscribers, however we have hooked you up with a link to read it online  via the link below. In other Metallica news, the band will film their show in Vancouver in 3D for a future theatrical release. And, bassist Robert Trujillo is financing a biopic about Jazz great Jaco Pastorius. Tentatively titled “Jaco”, the film is being directed by Stephen Kijak, who did the Rolling Stones documentary “Stones in Exile” and they hope to premiere it at the Toronto Film Festival in September.

Tool will spend the summer of the rest of the year in the studio. A recent interview with drummer Danny Carey revealed they “have the framework of at least five good songs,” and that they hope to finish their next album by the end of the year. It’s been six years since Tool released a studio album, though singer Maynard James Keenan has kept quite busy both recording and touring with his other bands, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer.

In anticipation of the forthcoming movie “Rock Of Ages”, Def Leppard   re-recorded their megahits “Pour Some Sugar On Me and “Rock of Ages”. The two songs will be available for sale as digital downloads on June 4th. You can purchase the movie soundtrack – which does not feature Def Leppard ; instead it has  “Pour Some Sugar on Me” performed by Tom Cruise  - on June 5th while the movie comes out in theaters on June 15th.   

Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider is featured in a new Stanley Steamer commercial.  It premiered during the season finale of NBC's The Celebrity Apprentice – which Dee competed but lost. In case you missed it, watch it HERE. 

Steve Vai will release "The Story Of Light", a new solo album of original material, on August 14. Although it is mostly instrumental, the album features guest vocalists, including singer-songwriter Aimee Mann, and Beverly McClellan - a season one finalist on "The Voice". 

Two German legendary bands are teaming up for a co-headlining tour of U.S. and Canada. Accept and Kreator along with Swallow The Sun will be at the Best Buy Theater on September 7th.

Another band reunited is Ugly Kid Joe. Their new six-song EP, "Stairway To Hell” will be released digitally on June 5 and physically on July 9. The line-up includes vocalist Whitfield Crane, guitarists Klaus Eichstadt and Dave Fortman, bassist Cordell Crockett and drummer Shannon Larkin. While the band first broke-up in 1997, a few of its members remained active.  Crane fronted Life of Agony for a short time, Larkin was in Godsmack and Fortman produced a bunch of bands including Superjoint Ritual, Eyehategod, Mudvayne, Otep, Slipknot and Evanescence. You can check out the first video from the collection, “Devil's Paradise".

Fozzy frontman/ pro wrestler Chris Jericho has been "suspended indefinitely" from the WWE  for desecrating the Brazilian flag. During a match in São Paulo with C.M. Punk— who was waving the flag in the ring - Jericho crumbled up the flag into a ball, threw it onto the ground and kicked it. He was then informed that desecrating the national flag is a crime in Brazil punishable by incarceration. Although Jericho apologized to the Brazilian crowd, he is currently suspended from the WWE. Good thing he recently finished recording the vocals on his band’s new album, which is due before the end of year via the group's new label, Century Media Records.