On November 2, UK-based publisher John Blake Publishing Co. will release the authorized book “Motörhead: In The Studio” by biographer Jake Brown, featuring exclusive interviews with Motörhead mainman Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister.

“Motörhead: In The Studio” is described in a press release as “the first comprehensive study of the in-studio making of Motörhead’s legendary catalog — including such classics as ‘Overkill’, ‘Bomber’, ‘Ace of Spades’, ‘Orgasmatron’, ‘March or Die’ and ‘Motörizer’, among others — told via first-hand interviews with engineers and legendary producers as Tony Platt, Trevor Hallesy, Will Reid, Thom Panunzio, John Burns, Howard Benson, Ryan Dorn, Mark Dearnley, Chuck Reed, Peter Solley, Arabella Rodriguez, Cameron Webb, and former drummer Pete Gill.” The book’s cover was conceived by Kilmister and features the band’s classic warpig logo sporting sunglasses and headphones.

SPV Motörhead, SPV

Hannover, Germany-based record company SPV is planning new releases up from august 2009. SPV submitted an application to commence insolvency proceedings on May 25 and in response to this, on May 27, the District Court of Hannover appointed the attorney Manuel Sack as the provisional insolvency administrator. According to SPV managing partner Manfred Schütz, together with Manuel Sack, the management of SPV GmbH is is continuing working in the areas of production and distribution in the usual way while talking to potential new investors. “We keep on doing business across all segments of our portfolio,” Schütz tells German trade magazine MusikWoche.

Though not all details of the new company structure are finalized yet, news is spread that SPV will still exist in the future under its company name. „We definitely see potential for ongoing business of the company“, attorney Manuel Sack of lawyers office Brinkmann & Partner confirms: „Currently we´re still in the state of applying for insolvency proceedings“.

He´s convinced, that SPV will be part of the record business beyond august 1st. The first aim is to find a solution via external investors: „We are currently in negotiations with a huge number of potential partners“, says Sack. Based on the interest of competitors, he´s confident, „to work out a medium- or long-term solution scenario“.

Prior to the commencement of insolvency proceedings, several companies had expressed interest in taking over SPV, including Edel, Warner Music, the Groove-Attack-companies and intermediately by Universal. Sack and Schuetz don´t want to name the current interest holders, or confirm any of them at this stage. „All our activities are focussed on the aim, to do ongoing business with SPV after the process of insolvency and to keep and ensure the essential and basic assets of the company“, Schuetz emphasizes. This includes the know-how and competence of the company in the fields of Rock and Metal since 25 years.

An ongoing international artist relationship and export business is planned, though in a restructured and cost-optimized way, as the fixed costs of the former setup have been over the top to be handled by a middle enterprise like SPV. Another reason why SPV also shut down both offices in the USA, but have now decided to work together with former product manager Maria Ouellette to secure ongoing US business. Furthermore digital distribution and marketing and the audio book market are “important focal points”. “Of the formerly 124 employees, there are currently around 80 people working at SPV”, says Schuetz. Head of Sales Germany/Austria, Joerg Peter just left the company, stated as “big loss” by Schuetz. Following up is former JTV- and TMI-employee Sven Gerke. All sales representatives and the export department team are fully being kept in place. Martin Ruder, former Head of Labelmanagement, is about to leave the company.

“Of course we had to face a certain level of restraint in the daily business relationship with some of the most important retail partners like MediaMarkt and amazon”, Sack admits. After having cleared the various legalities, we now proceed with doing “noteworthy business”. „We notice a stabilization of the overall situation and we´re able to offer the full power of our company portfolio to all artists and labels”. Schuetz agrees: “We are aware of having caused uncertainties at our business partner side, but in fact we also received an overwhelming feedback of believe, trust and positive stimulation to move onwards from various parties.” Schuetz also concedes „homemade mistakes“ in the past. A reason why there won´t be any more artist deals with unrealistic advances at SPV in the future. „We are mainly looking for mid-size releases that keep us on a financially safe and reliable level,” says Schuetz.

The SPV team is currently putting together a completely reworked release schedule starting august 2009. For the 25th anniversary of SPV there will be a sampler available plus new releases from Annihilator, The Mission and Iced Earth in September – Helloween, Skinny Puppy, Welle:Erdball and a new Max Raabe DVD in October – Die Krupps, The Answer and a new studio album by Klaus Schulze in December. All releases will be supported by substantial promo/marketing campaigns.

SPV SPV

Don’t forget it’s Waldrock time this weekend. Thousands of metalheads will be joining the great line-up of bands on the left for a big metal party! Waldrock 2009 is their 22nd edition of the festival, the 18th one as a rock/metal festival. Again it will take place in Bergum, Friesland.

This years line-up  features great hard rock and metal bands from all over the planet, including Roadrunner Records artists Heaven & Hell, Killswitch Engage, Trivium and Delain and SPV artist Motörhead.

Petting Zoo also also recommends Voivod (YEAH!!!), Wolves In The Throne Room, Napalm Death, Carcass and Legion Of The Damned.

There are still a few tickets left, click here for more info! For a small history or overview of all the bands that played the festival you can click here.

See you at Waldrock!

Archive, SPV, Tourdates Roadrunner Records, SPV, Waldrock

Aggronautix is releasing very cool limited-edition figures of GG Allin “1991″ (2000 numbered) and Tesco Vee of the Meatmen (1000 numbered). Each “Throbblehead” figure stands at 7 inches tall, is made of a lightweight polyresin, and will be displayed in a tri-windowed box.

The idea first surfaced two years ago when Aggronautix pitched the GG figure idea to Merle Allin, GG’s brother. “I had been thinking about doing a GG figure for a while, so when the guys came to me with the idea, I was into it,” said Allin. “The proofing process took a long time, but we got it right. The doll looks really good and I’m happy with it.”

Aggronautix soon discovered another likely personality to polyresinate, Tesco Vee of The Meatmen. He states, “As a toy collector of two decades, and classic bobble head collector, imagine just how geeked I became, when informed that yours truly would enter the pantheon of ‘Throbblehead’ punk rock losers, along with poopy soulmate GG Allin!”

The figures are now available for purchase on www.aggronautix.com and will soon be available at many independent retailers, comic shops, tattoo parlors, etc. everywhere.

Aggronautix is currently working on a Dwarves “Two-Headed Throbble”, to be released this summer.

Petting Zoo favorites, SPV Petting Zoo favorites

Tonight, the new music video from Irish rockers The Answer, can be viewed here or below. The clip features never-before-seen backstage footage of the band’s life on the road with AC/DC.

Here’s what the band had to say in a recent post on their website: “The band are back on the road again with AC/DC, this run is the stadium tour of Europe. At present the drum stool is being used by Carl Papenfus again, the news on James’s hand is that it is healing but slowly. He will be back on his stool as soon as he can play again, hopefully sometime in June. More news here as we get it. Check the gigs page, I have just confirmed festival appearances at Eurockeenes in Belfort and Oxegen in Eire. When the european run is done the band will take a week or so off then head out to America to continue on the Black Ice world tour, dates should on the gig section very soon. They will be in America until they return to embark on the much anticipated ‘Everyday Demons’ UK tour, the band cant wait! Tickets are on sale now, check the gigs section for full info. One or two of the shows are already close to selling out so dont leave it too long if you want to go along.

I am looking at all the posts on the forum re what you have all been up to, more news on that in the next few weeks. In the meantime the latest record news is that Tonight will be the next single from the album. It will be released as a download only on June 21st. And before any of you moan about wanting the b-sides on a cd all the b-sides will be collected on to one cd at some point in the future so you will have chance to own a hard copy at some point. Also in Europe SPV are re-releasing the album with a bonus disc of the recording from the  Shibuya Ax show in Tokyo, this version of the album will be out across Europe on June 8th.”

SPV, Videos & trailers SPV, The Answer

If you like death metal, grindcore or anything else extreme, the Neurotic Deathfest 2009 in Tilburg is where you want to be. On Friday May 29 and Saturday May 30 the Neurotic Deathfest will be held at the 013 venue in Tilburg, the Netherlands.

The Neurotic Deathfest is one of Europe’s biggest indoor extreme metal events. Grown from the Rotterdam deathfest (2004 and 2005) it transformed into the Neurotic Deathfest (2006 and 2007) when the organisation decided to change venue, and city. 2008 marked the year of the first Neurotic Deathfest in club 013 in Tilburg featuring bands like Napalm Death, Hate Eternal, Behemoth, Suffocation, Asphyx, Dying Fetus and Cryptopsy

Swedish death metal legends Unleashed will be playing at the 2009 edition of NDF. For the latest updates, news and whatever else, please check the Neurotic Deathfest website.

See you in Tilburg!

SPV, Tourdates Neurotic Deathfest, SPV, Unleashed

Hi all, last weekend Petting Zoo Propaganda visited the 2009 Roadburn festival, and we had a blast! So many great bands, so many great people. 4 days of fun, friends and great music! Some of our personal highlights included performances by Baroness, Rose Kemp, Wolves In the Throne Room, The Devil’s Blood, Negura Bunget, Angel Witch, Mono, The Atomic Bitchwax, Saint Vitus, Amenra, The Young Gods, Neurosis, Zeni Geva and of course the Orange Goblin Metal Disco! Thanks to all the good folks at Roadburn and the 013 club for another great festival. See you again next year!

There are various live reports online, here’s a selection!

Kindamuzik online NL

Terrorizer magazine UK

3voor12 online NL

If you have spotted some cool live reviews or live pics of this years festival, let us know!

Petting Zoo favorites, SPV Petting Zoo favorites, Roadburn festival

UFO will release its new studio album The Visitor on June 2nd on Steamhammer/SPV. UFO composed more than 35 new tracks in the run-up to the recordings, 13 of which were short-listed and produced at the studio. 11 of these songs are expected to make it onto the regular album, while the other two are scheduled to become bonus tracks on the limited-edition digipack. The current lineup continues to consist of the three original members, Phil Mogg (vocals), Paul Raymond (guitar, keyboards), and Andy Parker (drums), as well as American world-class guitarist Vinnie Moore. Bass legend and original member Pete Way is currently suffering from a liver disease and was unfortunately not available for the studio production.

“All those who have been into UFO for a long time will find all our characteristic trademarks on The Visitor, and anybody new to the band will be impressed by our enthusiasm and dynamism,” frontman Phil Mogg enthuses on the subject of the new songs. The Visitor sees the band benefiting especially from their collaboration with Vinnie Moore, who joined UFO in autumn 2003 and has made an excellent impression on the albums You Are Here (2004) and The Monkey Puzzle (2006), and on the band’s tours. Mogg says,”Without running down previous UFO lineups, it’s been a long time since we had a team as strong as this one. Vinnie contributes his youthful energy and amazing guitar technique, and in Andy’s return we’ve seen the reappearance of a musician who has always been very important to the band’s original sound.”

UFO have also scheduled the following dates:

May 31 – Rock Hard Festival – Gelsenkirchen – Germany
Jun. 01 – Pressenwerk – Bad Salzungen, Germany
Jun. 03 – Theaterfabrik – Leipzig, Germany
Jun. 05 – Sweden Rock Festival – Sölvesborg, Sweden
Jun. 07 – Nieuwe Pul – Uden, Holland
Jun. 09 – Concorde 2 – Brighton, UK
Jun. 10 – The Junction – Cambridge, UK
Jun. 12 – Spring & Airbrake – Belfast, N. Ireland
Jun. 13 – 02 Academy – Glasgow, Scotland
Jun. 14 – 02 Academy – Newcastle, UK
Jun. 16 – 02 Academy – Leeds, UK
Jun. 17 – Rock City – Nottingham, UK
Jun. 19 – Wulfrun Hall – Wolverhampton, UK
Jun. 20 – Academy 2 – Manchester, UK
Jun. 21 – O2 Academy – Bristol, UK
Jun. 23 – The Brook – Southampton, UK
Jun. 24 – Shepherd’s Bush Empire – London, UK
Jun. 27 – Ulmer Zelt – Ulm, Germany
Jun. 28 – Graspop Festival – Dessel, Belgium
Jul. 30 – Wacken Open Air – Wacken, Germany
Aug. 07 – Bulldog Bash – UK

New releases, SPV SPV, UFO

Click the link below for brand new Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens banners in different sizes! His new album Play My Game will be released on May 15th on Steamhammer/SPV.

www.spv.de/banner/timripper

Banners, widgets & e-cards, New releases, SPV SPV, Tim 'Ripper' Owens

Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens (Yngwie Malmsteen, Beyond Fear, ex-Judas Priest, ex-Iced Earth) has revealed the backing band that will accompany him for his upcoming summer tour in support of his first solo album, Play My Game. The group will consist of the following musicians:

Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens – Vocals
Chris Caffery (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra) – Guitar
John Comprix (Beyond Fear, Ringworm) – Guitar
David Ellefson (ex-Megadeth, F5) – Bass
Simon Wright (DIO, ex-AC/DC) – Drums

So far, only one date has been confirmed: Sweden Rock Festival, which will take place June 3-6, 2009 in Sölvesborg, Sweden.

Play My Game will be released in May via Steamhammer/SPV. The album consists of tracks that Owens composed himself or together with renowned friends, such as Bob Kulick, Chris Caffery, Mike Callahan and John Comprix.

The list of guest musicians featured on Owens’ solo debut is even more spectacular:

Guitar:

Bob Kulick
Bruce Kulick (Grand Funk Railroad, ex-KISS)
Carlos Cavazo (Ratt, ex-Quiet Riot)
Craig Goldy (DIO)
Zeil Zaza
Mike Callahan (ex-Earshot)
Chris Caffery (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra) – Guitar
John Comprix (Beyond Fear, Ringworm) – Guitar
Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake)
Michael Wilton (Queensryche)
Jeff Loomis (Nevermore)
Steve Stevens (Billy Idol)

Bass:

Marco Mendoza (ex-Whitesnake)
Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big, ex-David Lee Roth)
Dave Ellefson (ex-Megadeth, F5)
Rudy Sarzo (DIO, ex-Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot)
James Lomenzo (Megadeth)
Tony Franklin (ex-Blue Murder)
Dennis Hayes (Beyond Fear)

Drums:

Simon Wright (DIO, ex-AC/DC)
Vinny Appice (Heaven & Hell, DIO)
Ray Luzier (Korn, David Lee Roth)
Bobby Jarzombek (Sebastian Bach, Riot, Halford)
Brett Chassen

Fans and experts alike will love this sensational all-star lineup and may rest assured that the haunting songs will effortlessly live up to this illustrious cast of musicians: Tim “Ripper” Owens has never sounded more impressive, melodic and multi-faceted!

“I’ve gotten better as a songwriter,” Owens explains. “And I also write songs that the fans can really get into and get their fist pounding in the air. I’ve always been a great fan of the Black Sabbath lineup featuring Ronnie James Dio, and I love Judas Priest. Both bands delivered records that are straightforward and go directly to the bloodstream – which also happens to be my compositional approach.”

‘Play My Game’ will be released on the following dates:

Germany, Austria, Switzerland: May 15
Rest of Europe: May 18
USA, Canada: May 19

New releases, SPV SPV, Tim 'Ripper' Owens