Rumored AFI Cover Takes The Lead In Worst Art Of 2009

I don’t know if we are classifying AFI as anything in the realm of hard rock, or anything you’d be interested in, but this rumored cover art for their upcoming album just leaked, and the world needs to see this garbage. I don’t even know what kind of joke to make about this, it just makes me feel dirty.

Footage Of Cave In Reunion Posted

Fuel TV has footage of Cave In’s first show since reuniting.

Lars Ulrich Vs. Scott Ian Vs. Dave Mustaine

It’s been one hell of a summer for band feuds, and between Fear Factory, Anthrax/Dan Nelson and Ozzy/Zakk, you can imagine my exhaustion.

I’m just too worn out from all this to process some press-driven drama about Scott Ian spreading rumors to Dave Mustaine about Lars Ulrich possibly nearly being kicked out of Metallica over 20 years ago. But I’d be remiss not to report on it, so here’s a link to Axl Rosenberg’s extensive coverage at Metal Sucks.

Leaves’ Eyes Tighten Their Corsets And State Their Case For Worst Art Of 2009

Apparently Leaves’ Eyes’ lead singer didn’t have time to change out of her work clothes from Medieval Times, but luckily her band mates were planning a LARPing session later that night anyway. The Viking ships don’t even have a dragon head on the bow, what gives? I don’t think even the loneliest metalheads could squeeze one off to either of these covers. An open letter to metal bands:

Dear Metal Bands,

Don’t put a photo of your band on your cover.

<3

Metal Insider

Hit the jump for the single’s art.

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Municipal Waste Packing Their Own Stash Box

First Coalesce, now Municipal Waste. The thrash throwback mavens will be offering a deluxe “fan box” of their upcoming Massive Aggressive, complete with sweatbands, patches and buttons, all in a “sturdy clam box.” For keeping, you know, office supplies in.

Check out the deets at the awesome Blood and Shutter metal photo/art/design blog.

P2P Trial Defense Admits Liability, Gets Existential

While the second-ever P2P civil trial took significantly longer than its predecessor to settle on a jury, the case of Sony V. Tenenbaum is racing to a much speedier finish than the drawn out, appealed Captiol v. Thomas-Rasset. Of course it always helps speed up a trial when your defense attorney is admitting liability by day three.

This morning, one of Tenenbaum’s own attorneys acknowledged—though outside the presence of the jury—that Tenenbaum is essentially defenseless on the issue of whether he committed copyright infringement. During a discussion… Tenenbaum attorney Matthew Feinberg blurted out: “We’re admitting liability, your honor.”

The seemingly off-the-cuff remark did not constitute a formal throwing-in of the towel; the case will proceed, and liability will still be decided by the jury. But now it’s out in the open: this is really a trial about how much, not whether, Tenenbaum will have to pay.

But the plaintiffs remain determined to show just how liable Tenenbaum actually is…some of the most damning evidence against Tenenbaum… appears to show that he continued his use of peer-to-peer software to obtain and disseminate music even after he was contacted by the plaintiffs’ lawyers in early 2005, then sued in August 2007.

This is important not just for liability (which the defense appears to have conceded), but for the issue of the “willfulness” of Tenenbaum’s conduct—which could have a dramatic impact on the amount of damages awarded by the jury.

What kind of moron keeps file swapping after they’ve been caught and threatened with legal action? This cutting to the chase doesn’t mean we won’t see some courtroom drama, as Tenenbaum counsel Charles Nesson continued well, being a lawyer:

Nesson suggested through his questioning that the 25 partial files might not actually represent song files, but instead “spoofs” released by copyright owners to frustrate peer-to-peer users. Jacobson countered that he is confident they were real song files… and he testified that he cannot recall ever encountering a spoof in his years of work investigating allegations of copyright infringement.

Turning to the critical issue of harm, plaintiffs called their expert Stanley Liebowitz… [concluding] that the real culprit [in the music market's downturn] was consumers’ newfound ability to obtain music on the Internet without paying for it.

On cross, Nesson’s interest in big theoretical questions returned. “What is property?” he asked to begin his examination. “Do you have a more pointed question?” retorted Judge Gertner, as she rested her face in her hands.

The attorneys ended the day by assuring Judge Gertner that they remain on track to conclude their presentations and give the case to the jury this Friday. We’ll keep you posted on this story as it develops, but for a worthwhile in-depth look, we recommend checking out Ars Technica’s superb coverage.

Metallica To Help Rock HOF Turn 25

The self-congratulating, exclusionary annual industry circle jerk known as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is turning 25 this year, and to celebrate, the foundation is throwing two concerts at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. The shows, on October 29 and 30, will feature a pretty stellar lineup of acts, with Metallica playing on the 30th alongside U2, Eric Clapton and Aretha Franklin. The 29th will feature Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Simon & Garfunkel, Crosby Stills, Nash and Friends, Paul Simon (wait a minute, does Art Garfunkel get a solo set too?) and Stevie Wonder.

The shows were curated by a team including HOF Chairman and Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner, Tom Hanks, Cameron Crowe and a handful of other older white men. All this for the affordable price of $25,000 to $100,000 for “once-in-a-lifetime VIP Benefit Packages!” Those funds from the American Express-sponsored event are going toward creating a permanent endowment for the museum.

It will be good to have at least a little bit of metal represented from a band that joined the Hall earlier this year, but until Slayer, Deep Purple, Rush and at least five other bands we can think of off the top of our heads make it into even consideration for the Hall, we don’t particularly care. Unless the Hall is holding us a pair of tickets for the 30th, in which case we’re willing to completely compromise our principles.

Poor Zakk Wylde Is Just Rambling, Completely Lost

I know I made a joke last week about Zakk Wylde playing the sad ex-girlfriend, but now I’m starting to feel bad. In an interview conducted last night with Carl Sundberg from Eugene, Oregon’s KFLY radio, Zakk just rambles for nearly three minutes and completely contradicts his “everything is cool with the boss” mantra:

I’ve gotta be honest with you. The boss hasn’t even given me a phone call, so I mean… I’m just like… I don’t know what’s going on over there. Are we doing this thing or are we not doing it? When I keep getting asked these questions, I go, ‘Call the boss. When he tells you, then he can call me back.’ I mean, it’s just like… I love you, man. Whatever you want, that’s cool.

But if we’re doing this, let’s do it, and let’s whoop some ass. But if you don’t wanna do it, then just give me a heads-up. Call me, man. Tell me what the hell’s going on. I don’t know what the hell’s going on over there. We’re working on the new record, we’ll be back in September, we’ll work on finishing the record. And then we’re supposed to do the tour.

I mean, it’s like, dude, you don’t wanna play with me anymore? Fine. Play with whoever the hell you wanna play with. I couldn’t give a rat’s ass. Like I’m gonna get all jealous or whatever.

I don’t even want to make a joke anymore. Poor guy. I’m sending him my tear-soaked copy of Sixteen Candles on DVD. I mean, my sister’s copy.

The full interview is set to air this Sunday at 8 PM PST on 101.5 FM KFLY and streaming here. Here’s the entire Ozzy-related audio clip, dripping with agony, bleeps and “not giving a rats ass”.

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Pirate Bay Sale Back On?

One day after word broke that the much-discussed sale of The Pirate Bay (and subsequent legitimization of the file-sharing site) to Global Gaming Factory was on the rocks, GGF is now insisting the acquisition is scheduled to be finalized on August 27.

“The Board of the Global Gaming Factory X AB (GGF) announces that the acquisition of The Pirate Bay will be completed August 27, 2009,” the company said in a very confident-sounding statement.

But what about the investment that [exiting executive] Wayne Rosso said he doubted would become available?

“A group of investors are prepared to inject 30 million [SEK] relating to the cash portion of the purchase price of The Pirate Bay at the date of acquisition. The company has also established its legalization plan and will execute it at the date of acquisition,” says GGF.

Precise details on the “legalization plan” will be made available to the shareholders in a couple of weeks.

After apparently traveling all around Europe and meeting with Universal Music, Sony Music, Warner Music and EMI, Pandeya says they are in “final negotiations” with a “global player” on implementing some sort of “file-sharing agreement” which GGF claims will serve as a model for the entertainment industry.

“The Pirate Bay is back. We look forward to a successful completion of the acquisition of The Pirate Bay, one of the world’s top 100 sites, and its listing on the stock market,” said GGF’s CEO.

Somehow this doesn’t feel like the final word. We’ll keep you updated.

Kylesa, Doomriders, Tombs Tour Dates

Tour dates have been released for Kylesa’s run with Doomriders and Tombs.