VAN HALEN FEATURING DAVID LEE ROTH TO LAUNCH IN LAS VEGAS?
Norm Clarke of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, it's "looking good" that the VAN HALEN reunion tour, with David Lee Roth back in the fold after 22 years, will launch in Las Vegas. A late April date at the Palms' new venue, The Pearl, is "99 percent" likely, a source told Clarke. It would be the latest coup for Palms owner George Maloof, who will open the 2,500-seat venue with a lineup that includes TOOL, EVANESCENCE, GWEN STEFANI along with VAN HALEN, all in the first month. Many critics consider VAN HALEN the greatest party-metal rock band of all time.
TESTAMENT guitarist Eric Peterson and new drummer Nick Barker (ex-DIMMU BORGIR, CRADLE OF FILTH) are currently in Northern California locked down in the studio beginning to lay the foundation for the group's new album. Peterson states, "It's feeling pretty good so far... Nick's playing has sparked some fire in me like [Dave] Lombardo [SLAYER] did back in '99 when he played with us on 'The Gathering'!"
Upcoming TESTAMENT shows:
Jan. 27 - Independent - San Francisco, CA
Feb. 07 - Prince of Wales Hotel – Melbourne, AUS
Feb. 08 - The Manning Bar - Sydney, AUS
Feb. 09 - The Waterloo Hotel - Brisbane, AUS
Mar. 23 - Almassy MK Hall - Budapest, HUN
Mar. 24 - Hala Spodek - Katowice, POL
Jul. 26 - Hellwood Fest - Subotica, SER
Aug. 25 - Up from the Ground Open Air Fest - Gemunden, GER
Spitfire will release a TESTAMENT compilation, "The Spitfire Collection", on February 13.
Former Journey singer Robert Fleischman will release a new album in March, titled " Look At The Dream".
Fleischman was in the band for a short time and co-wrote the Journey standards "Wheel In The Sky" and "Anytime," but he left for a solo career and Steve Perry was hired to take his place. Fleischman still maintains a good relationship with the members of Journey, and they made sure he was on hand when the group unveiled their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in January 2005.
Fleischman's career also includes work with a band named Channel, as well as making the debut album with former Kiss lead guitarist Vinnie Vincent and his group the Vinnie Vincent Invasion.
In addition to his own recording career, Fleishman has also carved out a niche for himself as a composer for TV and film scores.
