KISS frontman Paul Stanley has lashed out at people who download music illegally.

"Downloading is one of the tragedies of the 21st century," Stanley said yesterday.

"Under the guise of technology and fancy jargon, people have legalized stealing.

"When you say you're sharing files . . . you can't share what you don't own.

"I can't share your car. Sharing something with one person is one thing, sharing with tens of thousands of people is a crime. It's robbery."

Stanley rejected claims rock bands such as KISS and METALLICA had made enough money to not worry about downloading.

"I don't owe anyone any justification for wanting to get paid," he said. "For anybody else to decide when I have enough money is bollocks.

"I feel angry about it happening to me, but it will kill new artists.

"New bands depend upon that money to carry on. They desperately need that money and, on principle, I want it."

Source Herald Sun

QUEENSRŸCHE will join HEAVEN AND HELL tour in the fall.

Although the U.S. leg of the HEAVEN AND HELL tour begins this Sunday, April 22, in Phoenix, Arizona, QUEENSRŸCHE will join the quartet of Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice in September after a few solo dates (including dates in Japan in late May/early June) scattered amongst rehearsals this summer.

Last summer, QUEENSRŸCHE went on an ambitious 74-date trek in support of "Operation: Mindcrime II" (on Rhino Records) where they performed both "Mindcrime" albums in their entirety from beginning to end.

This year's tour will contain hits and rarities.

Source BBM

THE ACCUSED will team up with DAYGLO ABORTIONS and GOLERS for a European tour beginning mid-May.

Commented THE ACCUSED guitarist Tommy Niemeyer: "This will be a THIRD attempt in a year to tour there — so we've lovingly coined it 'Third Time's A Harm Tour'!!"

THE ACCUSED, DAYGLO ABORTIONS, GOLERS European tour dates:

May 18 - Prague - Czech Republic - @ 007 strahov
May 19 - Leipzig - Germany - @ TBA
May 22 - Berlin - Germany - @ Cassiopia
May 23 - Hamburg - Germany - @ Hafenklang
May 24 - TBA
May 25 - Sneek - Netherlands - @ Bollwerk
May 26 - Ulm - Germany - @ Beteigeuze
May 27 - TBA
May 28 - Munich - Germany - @ Feierwerk
May 29 - Vienna - Austria - @ Arena
May 30 - Ljubljana - Slovenia - @ Channel Zero
June 01 - Bilbao - Spain - @ Santana 27
June 02 - Madrid - Spain - @ Lorca Rock Festival
June 03 - Barcelona - Spain - @ Razzmatazz 2
June 04 - Palma - Spain
June 06 - Weinheim - Germany - @ TBA
June 07 - TBA
June 08 - Kontich - Belgium - @ Lintfabrik
June 09 - TBA
June 10 - Rotterdam - Netherlands - @ De Barog (early show)

Source BBM