My name is Rachelle Mendez and I'm a Casting Producer for ABC Television's hit reality show, "Wife Swap." I'm conducting a National Casting Search to find Metal Fans to feature on the current season of our show, and am contacting you in hopes of discussing the possibility of working together to find a family who we can consider casting.

"Wife Swap" is a family show on ABC primetime. The premise is simple: two moms from two very different families get the opportunity to swap lives (but not bedrooms - everyone has their own!) for a week to experience what it's like to live a different lifestyle - and to see what they can teach each other about their own lifestyle!

We want to feature a family of long time metal fans (Death, Black, Thrash, Speed, etc) in hopes of shattering any common misconceptions of what family life for Metalheads might be like! We encourage all families, the bolder and more adventurous the better, with 2 parents at home and school aged children (6-17) to apply immediately. The family can belong to any aspect of the Metal community - as fans, promoter, band members - it really makes no difference, as long as the family is genuinely passionate about Metal.

Maybe you know of a family or have a family yourself with made for TV personalities that you would be willing to recommend. I would greatly appreciate you forwarding my information on to any of your family members, friends, and associates who might be interested in sharing their lives with us for a week!

In addition, each family that tapes an episode of "Wife Swap" receives a financial honorarium for their time. Anyone who refers a family that appears on our program receives a finder's fee.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this - I know it is an unusual request. If you have any questions, or to apply, please contact me by phone or by email:

Rachelle Mendez
Casting Producer
ABC Television's "WIFE SWAP"/ RDF Media
EMAIL: Rachelle.Mendez@rdfusa.com

Nottingham based Metal band Awaken, released their long awaited new album on January 21 2007. This collection of material entitled “Mortal & Fragile” has been carefully crafted and put together over the last twelve months and shows a real progression for the band and hammers home the now unmistakeable Awaken sound.

“The theme and ideology behind the album was to take a look at the world and society, particularly human relationships under the microscope and show how fragile they can be” said singer Joe Hughes. “No two songs sound alike” commented guitarist Marv Bentley, “we drew on all our past and current influences, so this album covers a wide and varied style, from Old School Metal, Thrash, right through to sweeping keyboards and Power Metal guitar riffs”.

The album was recorded, engineered and produced by the band in Nottingham and Wales, using the latest technology available. “Getting the sound we wanted, especially the drum sound, proved to be a real challenge but the time and effort was worthwhile.” remarked drummer Steve H. A short sample of the album has been uploaded to the bands Myspace page at www.myspace.com/awakenuk where you can have a quick listen and if you want to purchase it, hop over to the bands main site at www.awakenuk.co.uk

The band are now rehearsing the new material and we be playing live across the UK soon. Keep an eye on their websites for announcements. “After so long recording, it’ll be great to get out play the new stuff live, it’s going to be something really special” said Rod Boston, bassist.

Nightwish a Finnish heavy metal band that played for Bloodstock Indoor Festival in 2003, have posted the following message on their official website:

“The auditions for the new vocalist have ended, with more than 2,000 demos sent to us (yesterday, Jan.15, we received 120 demos!). A big thanks to everybody! So please don’t send anymore demos, since now we need to concentrate on finishing the album recordings.

“The new vocalist will be announced at the end of May, together with the release of the new single.”

Tarja Turunen, Nightwish’s original singer was fired via an “open letter,” which was given to the singer straight after following their final concert together, which took place on October 21, 2005 at the Hartwell arena in Helsinki, Finland. Certified gold for sales in excess of 25,000 copies, entered into the German chart at No.3 was the “End of an Era” DVD and CD which was filmed and recorded at the Helsinki show. “End of an Era” was also certified Gold in Finland the day after its release.

In totalling to the live footage the DVD includes a slideshow of pictures from the Hartwell show and a 55-minute documentary, “A Day Before Tomorrow”, featuring behind the scenes footage of the band in the 15 days prior to the Hartwell show.

Timo Halo, who also edited and directed the “From Wishes To Eternity – deleted scenes” and “End of Innocence” movies that were released on previous Nightwish DVDs, also, again, edited this documentary as well.

Dan Epstein of the Revolver magazine (Website) has been told by Ozzy Osbourne that he has finally discovered the perfect environment for making records: the brand new soundproofed guest house behind his Beverly Hills mansion, which he’s outfitted with a Protools rig and mixing desk.

"When I made records before, I'd have to get up, get in a cab or car, go to the studio, and wait for everyone to turn up," Osbourne explained. "If you're already inspired before you leave for the studio, you're fucked by the time you get there! But now I have the luxury of working in my own home. I can play the music on my own sound system, and I can lie down in my room and watch my flat-screen TV whenever I like."

Unlike 2001's slickly produced "Down to Earth", the previous album of original Ozzy material, the new disc promises to be a rawer and heavier affair. With the same band that backed Osbourne on his scattered 2006 Ozzfest dates – Zakk Wylde on guitar, Mike Bordin on drums, and former Rob Zombie bassist Rob “Blasko” Nicholson. Although long time Mutt Lange protégé Kevin Churko is helping as the engineer, the album has to official producer.


"Kevin's working the machines and helping me with the songwriting," said Osbourne. "He really knows what he's doing with the ProTools, which is good because I can't work the fucking thing. I can barely work a light switch!"

"We just went in and jammed out the riffs, just like how they made 'Back in Black' and all the SABBATH record," said Wylde. "I don't need Bob Rock there to tell me what to do, like that 'Vagina Monologues' band METALLICA. When you know where you're going, you don't need to ask for fucking directions! It sounds like classic Ozzy — there's piano ballads, there's an acoustic thing, and then there's the heavy shit. From the beginning, Oz kept saying to me, 'Zakk, we need another 'No More Tears' — we've gotta piss all over that fuckin' record. This thing's gotta be able to hang with 'Diary of a Madman'!'"

"I always try to make a great album," says Osbourne. "It's not like I go in there and go, 'You know what? I've had a great run — I'm gonna do a piece of shit for my next album!' But to be perfectly truthful to you, 'Down to Earth' was just a filler album to me. It did well, and some people liked it, and I loved the ballad on it ['Dreamer']. But this album I put in the same league as 'No More Tears', 'Blizzard of Ozz', and 'Diary'. It's definitely my influence of SABBATH coming out, here and there. But then again, I would have liked to see SABBATH put out an album like this at this stage of the game."

Drawing from a diverse range of hard rock and heavy metal influences, bassist/vocalist Victor Langen (Kick Axe, Pasha/CBS), lead vocalist/guitarist Daniel Nargang (Into Eternity, Century Media), guitarist/madman Cole Stevens (Wrathchild, Canadian Independent), and drummer/percussionist Johnny Bland (Love Hunter, Bob Rock produced material) banded together in May of 2005 to begin writing and rehearsing new material that would define the SNAKE EYES SEVEN sound. Wanting something fresh and uncompromising, yet dark and powerful, the band put their collective talents together to deliver an unheralded style of music.

CHAVIS RECORDS is pleased to announce the unveiling of the SNAKE EYES SEVEN debut.
Track listing: Hell or High Water, Comin' Down, Love for a Moment, Bitter Pill, Be Leaving, Bullets & Booze, Breakdown, Devil with a Rosary, You're to Blame, Photos of th' Dead

Listen to Hell or High Water by clicking here

SNAKE EYES SEVEN is currently in talks with promoters for Ozzfest and Jagermeister to prepare plans for a worldwide tour in support of the release. A new website for the band is under construction. Look for the release in stores in the Spring of 2007.

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.”

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.

Taking a breather from supporting his first solo album in 28 years, Paul Stanley will be joining Kiss band mate Gene Simmons in New York this week.
“This Halloween we’re celebrating the release of DVD ‘Kissology Volume one’ so Gene and I will be in New York in full regalia,” Stanley tells AOL music. “We’ll be spending a day doing a whole lot of stuff, including MTV.”

On October 31st it won’t be the only time Stanley has donned the face paint. 1998 was one of the most memorable Halloweens for him in recent years, despite being fully attired, Kiss made their way back to their Los Angeles hotel by foot and unpestered.

“We had just finished the opening night of our Psychocircus tour at Dodger Stadium. The traffic was so bad, and we literally had just come offstage and wanted to get back to the hotel,” Stanley recounts “It was the perfect night for us to get out and walk to the hotel. People were just looking at us going, ‘Yeah! Great costumes’”