So here are the first band announcements for 2007...

B.O.A

KORPIKLAANI

*Exclusive UK Show in 2007*




Korpiklaani will perform a one off UK show in 2007 at Bloodstock Open Air on Saturday 7th July. This is perfect timing as the band are currently working on the latest Finnish Folk Metal hymns for their new album ‘Tervaskanto’ to be released April 2007. Check them out on our bands line-up page.


BLOODSTOCK 07 – INDOOR

SINNER

*Exclusive UK Show in 2007*



Matt Sinner is no stranger to the Bloodstock stage as a member of Primal Fear. In September 2006, Sinner and his band entered the studio to work on a new SINNER masterpiece. Watch out for a release by MTM Music in January 2007! Check out Sinner on our bands line-up page.

POWER QUEST



Power Quest will be making a welcome return to Bloodstock indoor having graced the stage back in 2003. This is a timely return as the band are due to record their 4th album titled "Master of Illusion" in the spring of 2007. Song writing is now complete and the band are hard at work honing the material into what should be the best Power Quest album to date. Go to our bands line-up page for more info on these guys.

BLITZKRIEG



N.W.O.B.H.M band Blitzkrieg are confirmed for the Indoor festival in September. Blitzkrieg are long overdue to take to the Bloodstock stage. Following a fantastic reception on their recent UK tour with Doro, these guys are stronger than ever. For more info on Blitzkrieg and their latest Album release ‘Sins & Greed’ go to our bands line up page.

Keep watching as this is just the start of an amazing line up that we will be announcing over the coming weeks for B.O.A and Bloodstock 07 Indoor………………

Tony Iommi Black Sabbath’s guitarist, has lent one of his guitars to the National Museum of Ireland Dublin .

The National Museum of Ireland Dublin had been lent one of Tony Iommi’s from Black Sabbath guitars, this is for a new exhibition called “RockChick: The Life and Times of the Electric Guitar 1931-2006”.

More than 100 legendary, rare, vintage and customized guitars will feature on the exhibition, including instruments played by: Keith Richards, Bo Diddley, Carlos Santana, Jimmi Hendrix, Phil Lynott, Rory Gallagher and Van Morrison. Also Patrick Cox, David Lachappelle, Christopher Bailey, Diane Von Furstenburg, and the Irish famous broadcaster Dave Fanning these will be the likes of the new customized guitars.

Once the exhibition is complete, these guitars will form a part of a charity auction. Played on recordings and Black Sabbath tours since 2001, the guitar on loan from Tony is one of the black limited edition Gibson custom shop SGs.

From November 23rd 2006 to January 21st 2007 in Dublin, is the length of time that “Rock Chic” runs at the National Museum of Ireland, Collin Barracks. Admission is free. The exhibition is moving to London from the end of January, there will be more information on this when details are confirmed.

Blind Guardian that played at the Bloodstock Indoor festival 2002, have recently launched their North American tour with Leaves Eyes in support of “A Twist in the Myth” Blind Guardian’s German roots that are never left far-off behind. “Betcha can’t play this” featured in the section on page 34 of the holiday 2006 issue of Guitar world and on DVD insert, guitarist André Olbrich explains that how being exposed to classical music during childhood has made an impression on his adult life as a musician.

Demonstrating the old-age saying “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” vocalist Hansi Kürsch and Olbrich, which in August were stopped by the Revolver magazine to record an unprepared song in two hours. Additional information is on the current issue of Revolver.

André’s guitar pick used in creation of the “Snake of Destruction” MP3 and Hansi’s handwritten autographed lyrics is being given away by the Nuclear Blast magazine, in honour of Blind Guardian’s “Adventure of ‘The Unit’”.

Aerosmith seems unstoppable these days. Singer Steven Tyler's throat surgery, bassist Tom Hamilton's bout with throat cancer, guitarist Joe Perry gets whacked in the head by a 2,000 pound camera boom – it seems nothing can get in Aerosmith’s way from its current "Route of All Evil" tour that comes to Tampa on Wednesday.

November the 4th at the MGM garden Arena in Las Vegas, was when Aerosmith’s near fatal blow occurred. When the camera boom struck guitarist Joe Perry in the head and face, the band was three songs into its performance, singing its classic “Back in the Saddle”. Joe finished the 90-minute show but sustained a concussion and severe bruising to his face.

"I was so pissed off - really, really pissed off by the time show was over," confessed Perry in Arizona on Monday. "I was a mess by the next day and felt like (expletive)."

The Guitarist was glad even though he couldn’t remember finishing the show - the 15,000 in attendance were pleased, as well. The legendary rock band is earning its strongest reviews in years from its tour “Route of All Evil”. The musicians are taking their shows a little more seriously, one can conclude by their recent health issues.

"That's exactly it," Perry said. "That feeling of wondering when you're gonna play again is what does it. I gotta think there's a sense of immediacy that all this stuff brings. When I play these cities I can't help but think: Who knows, this might be it."

The 56-year-old guitarist added: "It's like that old saying; if you wanna make God laugh, tell him your plans. Be humble and play the show, that's all I can do. If I had my head tilted a few more inches the other way I couldn't have finished that show - or maybe ever played again. And then look at Tom (Hamilton), who's never missed a show, and then something happens out of his control. Things like that really make you feel you gotta just live for the day."

David Hull is temporarily replacing Hamilton who is recovering from throat cancer. However, in Boston last month Hamilton found the strength to perform “Sweet Emotion”

"That was pretty incredible," Perry said. "Talking about it, I also saw him a couple weeks ago . . . It was great he came out and played. I think he's also gonna join us when we play Mohegan (Sun Uncasville, Conn)."

Tyler and Hamilton’s health had prevented the bands hopes of completing a new record, but Perry said we should expect the album out by next summer.

What can we expect to hear?

"There will be the rock stuff that has that familiar sound and a couple of ballads," Perry said.

On Wednesday, Aerosmith will perform at the 20, 000-person capacity Ford Amphitheatre in Tampa, with opening act Motley CrŸe. In 2003 it is likely several people in attendance witnessed the band perform at Hyatt Sarasota Ballroom. Their long time producer Jack Douglas was who they wanted to honour, who was given a career lifetime achievement award by the Sarasota Film Festival. The Late Night Unwrap Party was the event.

Nearly causing a riot, Aerosmith’s surprise concert kicked off in the ballroom shortly after midnight February 1st. Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander joined the band in the unprepared performance. The performance included “Walk This Way”, “Sweet Emotion”, “Walkin’ the dog” and a wild, frenzied version of “Train Kept a Rollin’” That sent the room into pandemonium.

“At a gig like that where everything is loose it's great to just get up there and just start playing,” said Perry who has spent time vacationing in the area. “It was fun night. Sarasota has always been like a second home to us.”

An under-10s football team from Britain is terrorising the opposition after signing a sponsorship deal with the Heavy metal rockers Motorhead.

All in black-strip which features the bands icon ‘Snaggletooth’ skull logo and band name on their shirts, Greenback FC, from Lincoln, England, now go running onto the pitch backed by Motorhead’s hit “Ace of Spades”.

Team manager Gary Weight struck the deal when an old acquaintance of front man Ian Lemmy Kilmister, approached the band.

He says: “It was from a bizarre idea one evening. I sent an email off to them and they came back and said it was a great idea. They were totally up for it.” He also added “I knew Lemmy years ago, and for him, I think, the thought of a football team running out with the Motorhead logo made him chuckle a bit, so that’s where it came from.”

“The hope is that we can go out on the football pitch and terrorise the opponents and come away worthy winners.”

“Bloodstock…….a celebration of your favourite recognised acts along with our usual talent for spotting the cream of emerging international Metal magic….. and all without losing our roots and focus”

As the huge industry clout that is Wacken takes a hold of Bloodstock 2007 the Festivals are really moving up a gear or two. Some familiar faces who have put in invaluable effort in establishing the Bloodstock success story may be taking a well earned break for the time being whilst the new team takes shape. Rest assured we are still the Festival ran by fans for fans!

Taking the next step towards “bigger and better things” means we have to be more commercially astute and pro active but not necessarily selling our collective souls to the corporate mega monsters. It has been an interesting marriage of existing and potential partners as Bloodstock ascends the Festival ladder.

We intend maintaining the unique family atmosphere we’ve all spent years creating whilst building upon the positive industry perception we enjoy.

Deathchain, the biggest name in Death/Thrash Metal from Finland has re-signed with Dynamic Arts Records. Production of third album has already begun under the title Cult of Death. Release of the upcoming album have been scheduled to May 2007. On the upcoming album Deathchain dwells into the darker sound of Death/Thrash Metal. Some titles from the forthcoming album: Incantations Of Shub-Niggurath, Serpent of the Deep, Deathammer, In the Crypt of Vengeance ja Witchstorm.

Dynamic Arts Records have released the previous albums Deadmeat Disciples (2003) and Deathrash Assault (2005). During the November and December ’05 Deathchain travelled through 13 countries and did 25 shows along the legends Destruction and Candlemass. Latest album Deathrash Assault hit the official Finnish charts to place 18.