Slipknot Bassist Paul Gray Found Dead in Hotel

Posted May 25, 2010 - 12:09am by Rockaholic

DES MOINES, Iowa — Paul Gray, the bassist for Grammy-winning metal band Slipknot, was found dead Monday in an Iowa hotel room but there was no indication of foul play, police said.

A hotel employee found Gray, 38, dead in a room at the TownePlace Suites in Urbandale, a suburb of Des Moines, police said in a statement. An autopsy was planned for Tuesday.
"Paul Gray was an awesome person on and off stage. He will be missed by many including myself," Jacoby Shaddix, lead singer of metal band Papa Roach, said in a statement late Monday. "His spirit will live on through the killer music he wrote."

Gray had been staying at the hotel for "a couple days," Urbandale Sgt. Dave Disney said, declining further comment. Gray lived in the nearby suburb of Johnston.
Amy Sciarretto, a publicist at Slipknot's record company, Roadrunner Records, confirmed Gray's death but declined further comment.

Known for its grotesque masks, trashing sound and aggressive, dark lyrics, Slipknot released its self-titled debut in 1999, and it sold about 2 million copies. Most of the band's members grew up in the Des Moines area.

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Metal Legend Ronnie James Dio Dead at 67

Posted May 16, 2010 - 6:39pm by Rockaholic

Ronnie James Dio, whose soaring vocals, poetic lyrics and mythic tales of a never-ending struggle between good and evil broke new ground in heavy metal, died Sunday, according to a statement from his wife and manager. He was 67.

Dio revealed last summer that he was suffering from stomach cancer shortly after wrapping up a tour in Atlantic City, N.J., with the latest incarnation of Black Sabbath, under the name Heaven And Hell.

"Today my heart is broken," Wendy Dio wrote on the singer's site, adding he died at 7:45 a.m. "Many, many friends and family were able to say their private goodbyes before he peacefully passed away.

"Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all," Wendy Dio continued. "We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us ... Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever."

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Lifehouse Releases Fifth Studio Album - Smoke and Mirrors

Posted May 10, 2010 - 4:18am by Rockaholic

The fifth Lifehouse album, Smoke & Mirrors, went wide on Tuesday, March 2 to continue the evolution of a band that very well could have faded into musical history in 2001 after the release of their gargantuan hit, "Hanging by a Moment". Ten years after the debut Lifehouse album, No Name Face, Smoke & Mirrors certainly proves that talent and staying power are organically connected.

Although Lifehouse could have easily gone the way of a one hit wonder, the fact that Lifehouse has released their fifth studio album says a lot about the members of Lifehouse who are now ten years older. Especially lead singer/guitarist Jason Wade and drummer Rick Woolstenhulme Jr. who are the only two remaining Lifehouse band members from the debut days of No Name Face.

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DragonForce Parts Ways With Singer ZP Theart

Posted April 18, 2010 - 9:58pm by Rockaholic

Two years after the release of the band's most recent LP, 2008's 'Ultra Beatdown,' British extreme power metallers DragonForce have revealed they're now down a man, following the recent departure of frontman ZP Theart. The band confirmed rumors of Theart's exodus in a posting to their Web site.

"It is with great regret that DragonForce announce a parting of the ways with singer ZP Theart," the band says in a statement. "This is due to insurmountable differences of musical opinion but the rest of the band sincerely wishes ZP great success with his future projects. While the creative core members have begun writing the fifth album, they have also started a worldwide search for a new vocalist."

DragonForce, whose digit-straining tracks often stumble players of 'Guitar Hero,' have experienced something of a mercurial rise since forming in 1999. The band played Ozzfest's main stage in 2006, where their onstage antics won them scores of new fans. 'Ultra Beatdown' sold more than 24,000 units during its initial week of release, to open at 18 on the Billboard Top 200.

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Type O Negative Singer Peter Steele Dead at 48

Posted April 16, 2010 - 3:44pm by Rockaholic

Peter Steele, the deep-voiced singer, songwriter and bassist for Brooklyn’s goth-metal outfit Type O Negative, has passed away at the age of 48. In an e-mail to CBS News, the band’s manager Mike Renault confirmed Steele’s death, writing “Peter passed away last night. As of now it appears to have been heart failure. That’s all the details we have right now.” Steele was rumored to have been ill in the days leading up to his death, Blabbermouth reports.

News of Steele’s death was initially received with disbelief as Steele pulled a hoax in 2005, posting his picture and the years “1962-2005? on the group’s official website. Soon after, Steele all but disappeared as he battled drug problems and a prison stint. But today as members of Steele’s circle began to confirm his passing, the Type O Negative message boards opened this morning with the message, “Please play nice and expect statements from the band and family later today. Thank you for your understanding and support.”

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