Cheeky Swedish chaps ROYAL REPUBLIC have created an awesome tour trailer, which they have just posted on their YouTube channel. Check it out below and be sure to come out and see the guys at one of their upcoming dates!

You can find ROYAL REPUBLIC’s upcoming tour dates on our Tour Page by clicking here.

Kentucky rockers BLACK STONE CHERRY stopped off in Glasgow as part of their UK tour recently and in the video below they take us through a typical day on tour including a Real XS Secret Session:

Find out more about the Real XS Secret Session on their website by clicking here.

US funny man DOUG STANHOPE had a show in Cardiff last week, which was reviewed by Buzz Mag and that review is now up online. Check out an extract from the article beloiw:

Hard to gauge the precise level of good or bad done by the notion of comedy being “the new rock’n’roll,” or just plain ‘rock’n’roll comedy’. Doubtless it has opened up doors, allowed for greater freedom of presentation in standup, and maybe without it we wouldn’t be here watching American renegade Doug Stanhope’s first ever show in Wales. On the flipside, it has led to arena tours with annoyingly lavish stage sets – often for some of the least rock’n’roll comedians out there, ironically – touring theatre productions imagining Bill Hicks routines were he still alive, and, on the evidence of this evening, Stanhope fans who yell requests and applaud with their arms above their head.

So it is that bits homing in on individual audience members (they were filming him on their phones and deserved it) get applause. Bits on the Occupy movement and single-issue campaigner types, which you imagine would prickle parts of his broadly left-liberal crowd (Stanhope is a small-l libertarian, but avoids most of the dickheaded trappings of that party-cum-ideology), get bigger applause. Bits explaining why respect for the dead is largely an irrelevance (using his own late mother’s dying hours as an example) get bigger applause. And his final flourish, another rambling but meticulously detailed fantasy outlining why America is (or can be) a wonderful place, sees him joined on guitar by Henry Philips – Stanhope’s friend and tour support, who is a lot funnier than any comic who performs most of his material as upbeat folk songs has a right to be. That gets a standing ovation, because it’s the end and because he’s invited us to all stay with him in the States – “I’ve got a big couch.”

It may not be as big as St David’s Hall, but it’s a fair bet that it’s got exponentially larger over the years as Doug Stanhope’s cult status has expanded. Assuming the world remains cretinous, shite and hilarious for the foreseeable, there’s no reason he should hit a wall yet.

Click here read the full review on Buzz Mag’s website.

Click here to find dates and tickets for Doug’s current UK tour.

Point your mouse in this direction to pick up a copy of DOUG STANHOPE’s latest DVD ‘Before Turning The Gun On Himself’.

The new issue of Total Guitar is on sale nationwide (and, digitally, around the world) and in this issue they’ve got tabs from LAMB OF GOD, awesome features with ALTER BRIDGE and SHINEDOWN, plus much more!

Features

ALTER BRIDGE‘s Mark Tremonti and Myles Kennedy answer YOUR questions
Plus! An interview with SHINEDOWN.

Learn To Play

Full tabs, backing tracks, the story behind the songs and a guide to getting the tones for LAMB OF GOD ‘Ghost Walking‘.
Essentials: Get Playing Now Part Five – Goals and tips
Rockschool Grade Four
RGT Preliminary Stage Rock

Gear

Over 20 pages of gear news, reviews and advice. Reviewed this issue…
Fender Kurt Cobain Mustang
Ibanez AW3010CE-LG
Washburn XM-DLX2
Zoom G3
Group Test: Five-watt valve combos
Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster Special
Head To Head: shred guitars
Dunlop Joe Bonamassa Cry Baby
EC Custom The Mystical Sustainer

Plus! Accessories, First Look: PRS SE 30 amplifier, In Praise Of: Ovation bowl-backs, Ed’s Shed: fixing a buzzing E-string

Buy Total Guitar for iPad, iPhone and iPod // US readers click here.
Buy Total Guitar for PCs and Android devices.

SLIPKNOT‘s Shawn Crahan has spoken about his debut acting role, which he makes in the new rock opera The Devil’s Carnival. Clown plays the part of ‘The Tamer‘ in the short film, which tells the story of three individuals that have somehow found their way to a carnival set in Hell that’s run by the Devil. The film is currently touring cinemas across North America and its producers are actively seeking funding to turn it into a long-runnng series, with Crahan revealing that the project’s backers want to make 38 episodes.

Speaking to NME about his role in the rock opera, Crahan said that his long-time friend Sean Dermott helped him score the role and that director Darren Bousman originally lined him up to play the part of a ‘Hobo Clown‘ but then decided that he thought Crahan was more suited to the part of ‘The Tamer‘.

“I have a friend whose name is Sean Dermott, who helped Ross Robinson with our first record. He and I have stayed really close and he got me the gig. I got introduced to Darren before Sonisphere last summer and we hit it off straight off. Initially he was interested in me for the part of a ‘Hobo Clown’, but after Darren looked at me as the clown, he actually decided to use me as this character called ‘The Tamer’. I was much happier being ‘The Tamer’ because there’s only one fucking clown in this world and that’s me in Slipknot. I wouldn’t disrespect myself or my art with any imitations. No there’s other actor who could play The Clown in Slipknot. No one in the fucking world.”

Click here to read the full interview on NME.com!

Our friends over at Planet Rock are premiering another of our exclusive STORM CORROSION conversation clips today. In today’s clip Steven and Mikael discuss the songwriting process, which involved ‘doing a load of record shopping, watching some movies and getting hammered on wine’, followed by jamming sessions in Steven‘s studio. You can watch that clip over on Planet Rock’s website by clicking here.

Find out more about STORM CORROSION by clicking here.

‘Storm Corrosion’ is out on the 7th of May and you can pre-order it by pointing your mouse in this direction.

18 new acts have just been confirmed to join the 2012 Hard Rock Calling bill, supporting the weekend’s iconic headliners for what is sure to be a once in a lifetime lineup, blending rock legends and today’s hottest up-and-coming talent! BLACK STONE CHERRY and KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES will be joining headliners Soundgarden, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band and Paul Simon in London’s Hyde Park on July 13-15th.

You can find the full line up below:

Soundgarden
Bruce Springsteen And E Street Band
Paul Simon
Black Stone Cherry
Kids in Glass Houses
Christina Perri
Guillemots
Skindred
Big Country
Amy MacDonald
Life In Film
Dawes
NEEDTOBREATHE
The Night
Gary Clark Jr.
Jonathan Wilson
Punch Brothers
Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Robert Ellis
Marlon Roudetten
Marcus Foste

You can find tickets on the Hard Rock Calling website by clicking here.

We’ve teamed up with ace US shirt firm Badcock Apparel to offer you a prize bundle literally bursting with pure awesome. Not only will one winner walk away with five Badcock Apparel shirts – which have only JUST gone on sale in the UK – they’ll also get their grubby mitts on some super-rare money-can’t-buy items.

One main winner will receive FIVE Badcock Apparel shirts, plus:

From HALESTORM:
A drumskin signed by the whole band • The band’s debut album signed by the whole band • A copy of the new album ‘The Strange Case Of…‘ • ‘Here’s To Us’ promo CD • Arejay Hale signature drumsticks (as used at the band’s London Roundhouse show with Shinedown) • T-shirt

From KORN:
‘The Path of Totality‘ special edition CD/DVD and posters • T-shirt • Original artwork from ‘III – Remember Who You Are‘

From BLACK LABEL SOCIETY:
Two baseball caps, a beach towel, pair of gloves and a hoodie • Original ‘Order of the Black‘ artwork

From MACHINE HEAD & MEGADETH:
‘Unto The Locust‘ and ‘Th1rt3en‘ posters

Two runners-up will receive two Badcock Apparel shirts, plus a selection of goodies from the list above.

Click here to enter.

CONTEST CLOSES 16 MAY 2012

Judge’s decision is final. Prize bundle can be shipped only to a UK address. Multiple entries will be disqualified.

This promotion is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook. Any questions, comments or complaints should be directed to Roadrunner Records UK. Facebook is not associated with this promotion and by entering, you fully and completely release Facebook from any liability arising out of this promotion

French metallers GOJIRA are set to release their new album on the 25th of June and in anticipation of the release, we decided to get them involved in a filmed fan Q&A session. Ever wanted to ask the guys about the band, their gear and what to expect from the new album? Well now you can! Simply click here to submit your details and question – we’ll then pick the best 20 questions to film with the guys.

You have until Thursday the 19th of April to submit your questions!

Click here to find out more about GOJIRA’s upcoming album ‘L’Enfant Sauvage’.

Influential Canadian rock band RUSH are known for their complex compositions and their prominent element of fantasy. Their 2007 album Snakes & Arrows reflects both traits and it is no fluke that it went on to sell an estimated 611,000 copies worldwide, establishing the band as one of Canada’s leading exports! The album was promoted via a series of concerts, with two performances in Rotterdam particularly earning widespread acclaim. Sky Arts will be showing the progressive power trio at its best tonight at 10pm and again tomorrow morning at 10.30am. You can find details below:

Sky Arts on Sky – channel 129
Sky Arts HD on Sky – channel 130
Sky Arts on Virgin – channel 281
Sky Arts HD on Virgin – channel 282
UPC Ireland – channel 141 (1)
Smallworld Cable – channel 202
Smallworld Cable – channel 203

And if you click here, you can watch a teaser video that Sky Arts have posted on their website.

Click here to find out more about RUSH’s upcoming album ‘Clockwork Angels’ and be sure to listen out for the brand new single ‘Headlong Flight‘ that will be played on Darren Redick’s Planet Rock radio show, this Thursday at 2:12pm! The single will be available to buy this Sunday the 22nd of April.