BREAKING NEWS :

No matter what you think about Internet social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, there is no denying their power.

This week British D.J. John Morter and his Facebook campaign to push Rage Against the Machine’s 17-year-old single “Killing In the Name” into the United Kingdom’s No. 1 Christmas single slot claimed victory, outselling runner-up Joe McElderry’s single, “The Climb,” a cover of a Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus) single. “Killing In the Name,” which was released in 1992, outsold McElderry – this year’s winner of “The X-Factor,” a show similiar to “American Idol” and produced by “Idol’s” Simon Cowell – roughly 500,000 to 450,000.

Rage Against the Machine’s victory breaks a four-year streak of “X-Factor” winners capturing the top single spot on Christmas.

Rage Against the Machine announced that proceeds from the single will be donated to the Shelter homelessness charity in the United Kingdom and added that they will play a free show sometime in 2010 in the UK to celebrate.

For more information visit the BBC here.

Here’s an interview with the band and an uncensored performance of “Killing In the Name Of” from the BBC. WARNING: Contains profanity.

Rage Against the Machine

Here’s  a link to McElderry’s single “The Climb.”

Five Finger Death Punch lead singer Ivan Moody exhorts the crowd during the band's opening set Nov. 2 at the Showbox SODO in Seattle

Here’s some pics from the Five Finger Death Punch, Shadows Fall, Otep and 2Cents show this past Monday, Nov. 2, at the Showbox SODO.

Normally, I’m a big fan of the SODO, with it’s ample bars, big floor and usually decent sound.

Shadows Fall lead singer Brian Fair is bathed in light at the band's opening gig for Five Finger Death Punch this past Monday at the Showbox SODO. The show was the last of Shadows Fall's current U.S. tour. The band, who is supporting their new album "Redemption" will tour Europe and Australia in the upcoming months.

This show however sounded a bit muddy for my taste, except for headliner 5FDP, who had a little crisper mix. The muddy sound really hindered my enjoyment of thrash metal giants Shadows Fall. One of the main draws of the Massachusetts band is the virtuosity of their lead guitarist, Jon Donais. Donais’ fretboard histrionics found themselves lost in the mix, as did OTEP’s sound.

OTEP lead singer Otep Shamaya performs the band's newest single, "Smash the Control Machine." No one was injured by the baseball bat.

A rowdy crowd and pure energy from the bands saved the day, making the show enjoyable, despite the sound.

This Monday, Nov. 2, the Shobox SoDo will play host to Los Angeles recording artists Five Finger Death Punch (5FDP) – supported by Springfield, Mass. thrashers Shadows Fall, LA’s OTEP and Malibu, Calif. artists 2Cents.

The show marks just another stop in 5FDP’s 2009 headlining tour in support of their new album “War is the Answer” which sold 44,000 copies in it’s first week and debuted at No.7 on the Billboard charts. The album is 5FP’s second since the band formed in 2005 in LA.

After their debut album dropped in July of 2007, the band joined the KORN Family Values Tour, following up with supporting stints for KORN, Disturbed and Lamb of God. The band also toured on the inaugural Rockstar Mayhem Festival in 2008.

The band’s first album, “Way of the Fist” charted in the Billboard 200 and spawned two singles, “The Bleeding” and “Never Enough.”

“NEVER ENOUGH”

The new album’s first single is “Hard to See” which you can see here.

More information about Five Finger Death Punch is available at their Web site www.5fdp.com

Shadows Fall are touring in support of their new album “Retribution” and have released the single “Still I Rise.”

STILL I RISE

More information about Shadows Fall is available here.

OTEP, fronted by poet, artist and activist Otep Shamayan recently released “Smash The Control Machine” and a single of the same name.

“SMASH THE CONTROL MACHINE”

More information on OTEP is available here.

More information on 2Cents is available here.

Tickets for the all-ages show are $20 and available here.

Slipknot guitarist Jim Root on stage at the White River Amphitheatre, Oct. 10. Photo by Shawn Skager

More than a month ago 16,000 rabid Slipknot fans were denied their fix when the multi-platinum selling metal band was forced to cancel their scheduled appearance at KISW’s Pain in the Grass show.

After an unspecified illness suffered by drummer Joey Jordison forced the band to cancel their headlining slot, the band promised to return for a makeup show in the near future.

On Saturday, the nine members of Slipknot, including Jordison behind the kit, made good on their promise, headlining a three-band show at the White River Amphitheatre.

After whizbang opening slots by the Sabbath-influenced Seattle band Witchburn and Vancouver B.C. based headbangers 3 Inches of Blood, the Slipknot took the stage, ripping through a 12-song set with a two-song encore.

Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison. Photo by Shawn Skager

Setlist – courtesy of Setlist coutesy of www.opiumofthepeople.com, who also have some great video up of the show.

Sic

Eyeless

Wait and Bleed

Get This

Sulfur

Before I Forget

Disasterpiece

Dead Memories

The Blister Exists

Psychosocial

Duality

People=Shit

Encore

Surfacing

Spit It Out

Slipknot lead singer Corey Taylor.

Witchburn will be playing locally on Oct. 25 at Hell’s Kitchen in Tacoma. More information can be found at http://www.myspace.com/witchburn or http://www.myspace.com/hellskitchenvenue

Witchburn bassist Jessica Bos. Photo by Shawn Skager

3 Inches of Blood recently released a new album “Here Waits Thy Doom” and are touring the U.S. and Canada, including two shows on Dec. 11 at El Corazon in Seattle. More information on them is available at http://www.3inchesofblood.com/ or http://www.myspace.com/3iob

3 Inches of Blood guitarist Justin Hagberg. Photo by Shawn Skager

The White River Amphitheatre’s 2009 schedule will run a little later than normal this year with the rescheduling of Slipknot, on Oct. 10.
On Aug. 22 Slipknot, the headliners of the KISW 99.9 FM 2009 Pain in the Grass show, were forced to postpone their show due to a medical emergency suffered by drummer Joey Jordison.
Members of the band took the stage to inform the audience of the cancellation, reassuring them that the band would reschedule as soon as possible.
Good to their word, KISW announced the band will come back during the BJ Shea Morning Experience show Wednesday at 7:20 a.m.
Tickets from the original show will be honored at the gate and additional tickets for the show will go on sale on Sept. 11 through Live Nation.

Slipknot lead singer Corey Taylor performs at the White River Amphitheatre during last summer's Mayhem Festival.

KISW’s annual Pain in the Grass show proved to be a true pain for thousands of Slipknot fans as the band was forced to cancel their headlining set on Saturday, due to a unspecified medical emergency to drummer Joey Jordison.
Unmasked members of Slipknot, including lead singer Corey Taylor, broke the news to the crowd after openers Mudvayne had left the stage and had their gear broken down.
Taylor promised fans that the band would return in a “couple of months” to play a make-up date for ticket holders.
The bands official Web site, www.slipknot1.com reported Sunday morning that the band’s Sunday evening Kennewick show would go on as planned.

Okay, so if you’re like me Sept. 22 is simply too long to wait for the new Pearl Jam album “Backspacer.” So in the public interest Electric Phase contributor Brian Beckley dug up these nuggets to hold you over for a few weeks until you can finally pop that new disc into your stereo.
The first is “The Making of Backspacer” a nine-minute-pluse video documentary put together by Three on the Tree and direcrted by Danny Clinch (who also directed Pearl Jam’s “Immagine in Cornice” DVD featuring a 2006 concert in Italy).

http://www.pearljam.com/video/making-backspacer

And if that’s not enough to supress the PJ jones, here’s a YouTube video YouTube video of the band perfoming one of their new songs, “Supersonic” at the O2 Arena in London. Here’s a link to the set list courtesy of Pearl Jam’s fanclub site tenclub.net
Pearl Jam will headline two Key Arena shows on Sept. 22 and 23.

Aerosmith’s fan club site www.aeroforceone.com is reporting that Aerosmith has canceled their remaining summer tour dates, including their Aug. 17 White River Amphitheatre show with ZZ Top. The cancellation comes on the heels of 61-year-old lead singer Steven Tyler’s fall from the stage Aug. 5 in Sturgis, S.D. Tyler suffered head injuries and a broken shoulder in the fall.

Tickets can be refunded at the point of purchase. For more information visit www.livenation.com

Here is a video of the fall.

Here’s a look at the Mayhem Festival 2009 video from the White River Amphitheatre earlier this month in Auburn, Wash.
In addition to a taste of the onstage performances it also features interviews with Alex Wade of Whitechapel and Trevor Strnad from The Black Dahlia Murder.
Also on the festival bill was God Forbid, Job for a Cowboy, Behemoth, All That Remains, Trivium, Cannibal Corpse, Killswitch Engage, Bullet For My Valentine, Marilyn Manson and Slayer.
Check it out.

Check out this video from Auburn-based metal band Unhailoed. It’s from their four song E.P. “Razors.”

At 8 p.m. Aug. 8, Unhailoed will be playing a free 21-and-over show at Chihuahuas at 4202 N Auburn Way.
The band will also be playing Aug. 15 at Seafarer’s in Tacoma and Aug. 16 at El Corazon with H.M.P, Sword of Judgment, Rattlehead and Devastator.
For more information hit up Unhailoed at their Web page at www.myspace.com/unhailoed