The News Review:

- Marilyn Manson Countersues Bandmate – News Story | Music Celebrity…
- Travelling bands between hard rock and a deadly pace
- Bullet: We like to have a tipple
- Holiday music makes registers ring

Marilyn Manson Countersues Bandmate – News Story | Music Celebrity…
MTV.com – Dec 22, 2007
Megadeth have heart — the metal band’s frontman Dave Mustaine and his wife recently organized a Toys for Tots donation drive for families affected by. The toys were delivered to Camp Pendleton the North Coast Church — which the Mustaines go to — and the town of Fallbrook. “We live in a little town and this is nothing any neighbor wouldn’t do for another neighbor” he said in a statement… “We know that this will piss off a lot of people in the music industry” guitarist Fletcher Dragge said in a statement. “And what do we say to that? ‘Who cares?’ ” Cameron Webb (Social Distortion Sum 41) will produce and mix the effort.

Travelling bands between hard rock and a deadly pace
The Age – Dec 22, 2007
In a letter sent to The Age this week reader PhilipJensen from St Andrews Beach said he hoped the latest accidentwould draw attention to the dangerous practice of “overnighters”when bands drove all night to get to their next gig. Two members of Geelong death metal band Red Shore were killed onWednesday when their hired van slammed into a tree near CoffsHarbour in NSW. “This has been a notorious practice for 50 years which(particularly young) acts just accept as the way things are done”Mr Jensen wrote. “The reckless penny-pinching tour date scheduling with norested dedicated driver and no rest or travel day betweenfar-flung venues implies some liability by the tour organisers… In a letter sent to The Age this week reader PhilipJensen from St Andrews Beach said he hoped the latest accidentwould draw attention to the dangerous practice of “overnighters”when bands drove all night to get to their next gig. Two members of Geelong death metal band Red Shore were killed onWednesday when their hired van slammed into a tree near CoffsHarbour in NSW. “This has been a notorious practice for 50 years which(particularly young) acts just accept as the way things are done”Mr Jensen wrote. “The reckless penny-pinching tour date scheduling with norested dedicated driver and no rest or travel day betweenfar-flung venues implies some liability by the tour organisers. “If a tour isn’t viable doing it safely it’s not viable atall. Promoter Brian de Courcy said: “Young bands racing home from agig with $14 and an empty drink card is part and parcel of themusic business.

Bullet: We like to have a tipple
InTheNews.co.uk – Dec 22, 2007
I really liked Bullet and I really liked Valentine so we thought that worked. And we just decided to keep it. So do you think the music industry’s more open to Maiden-esque metal now? Well it’s nice to be putting this kind of metal back in the mainstream. Kids that buy our stuff will go back and listen to early Metallica or early Maiden and that’s pretty cool. Iron Maiden are a clearly a huge influence – was it an honour to tour with them? Yeah it was great. When we got the opportunity to open up for them it was unbelievable really. How did you go down with their crowds? Unfortunately not very well.

Holiday music makes registers ring
St. Petersburg Times – Dec 22, 2007
But with such stars as Hannah Montana Josh Groban Toby Keith Michael Buble and Mannheim Steamroller all jingling out new Christmas tunes in '07 that old number could be surpassed says Billboard magazine. Go on call it a Christmas miracle. After all the music industry is on pace for one of its worst overall sales years in history down some 20 percent from 2006 which itself was notably abysmal. But Christmas music purchased in traditional stores and online is the rare bright spot for the industry. With all the iconic mistletoe music from the past – Bing Crosby Darlene Love Nat King Cole Johnny Mathis – you might think we would have tapped out on holiday music years ago. r at least slowed down the purchasing pace. After all this is a time of tradition of spiked eggnog questionable fruitcake and for better or worse Mele Kalikimaka… And Hannah Montana Ashley Tisdale and Corbin Bleu are tizzying tons of tweens with the new Disney Channel Holiday. Beyond Bing Not only are Christmas CDs hot – they're also cool. Many recent releases are courtesy of such unlikely subgenres as heavy metal indie rock and funk. In some cases covering such traditional songs Joy to the World and Holy Night couldcost an artist nothing in royalties or songwriting fees. Another factor: With the Christmas shopping season extended by eager retailers there's more time than ever to listen to – and buy – seasonal music. The shopping season now starts approximately one minute past Halloween and goes full blast till the presents are ripped open.