Ibanez Guitars and Tama Drums have announced their signing schedules for the 2008 Winter NAMM show in Anaheim, California. All appearances are subject to change. Signings will be at the Hoshino USA Inc. booth (#4634) in Hall C.

Friday, January 18:

12 Noon:

Dino Cazares (DIVINE HERESY, ASESINO)
Ravi Bhadriraju
Bobby Thompson
Jon Rice (JOB FOR A COWBOY)

2 PM:

Jason Bittner (SHADOWS FALL)
Paul Romanko (SHADOWS FALL)
Matt Bachand (SHADOWS FALL)
Sharlee D'Angelo (ARCH ENEMY)

3 PM:

Herman Li (DRAGONFORCE)
Sam Totman (DRAGONFORCE)

4 PM:

Mick Thomson (SLIPKNOT)

Important: The NAMM Show is **NOT** open to the public. The only attendees are NAMM member companies and their invited guests.

According to HardDrive Radio, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH — the Los Angeles-based band featuring ex-W.A.S.P. guitarist Darrell Roberts, former MOTOGRATER vocalist Ivan Moody (Ghost), ex-U.P.O. guitarist Zoltan Bathory, former DEADSETT bassist Matt Snell, and drummer Jeremy Spencer — will take part in this summer's Rockstar Mayhem tour, also featuring SLIPKNOT and DISTURBED. The outing, sponsored by Rockstar Energy drink, will run in July and August, with additional artists and dates to be announced.

As BLABBERMOUTH.NET reported on December 7, 2007, Billboard.com has now confirmed that SLIPKNOT and DISTURBED will hit the road this summer on the first-ever Rockstar Mayhem tour. The outing, sponsored by Rockstar Energy drink, will run in July and August, with additional artists and dates to be announced.

Rockstar Mayhem is being assembled by Vans Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman and John Reese, Lyman's partner on the Taste of Chaos tour.

SLIPKNOT will be out in support of its new Roadunner album, expected in August. DISTURBED's new album, "Indestructible", is due in May.

SLIPKNOT percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan recently told Revolver magazine that the masked nine-piece from Iowa is coming from a "different place" as it prepares to record its fourth major label album. When asked what has changed since 2004's "Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)", Crahan replied, "I can't stress enough that we're going into this from a different place. When we did (2001 album) 'Iowa', we hated each other. We hated the world; the world hated us. The next record ('Vol. 3') was like rehabilitation. We had all this healing that needed to happen. Now, everything feels good because we feel good."

SLIPKNOT went on hiatus at the end of 2005, when it finished touring in support of "Vol. 3". Since then the band members have worked on various other projects, including a second album from singer Corey Taylor and guitarist Jim Root's STONE SOUR.

Crahan said, "These breaks that we take, they get our appetites going. They let our brains slow down and then speed up again. We gotta decompress for a little bit just to feel human if we're going to be forced to be here in this reality."

The full interview with Crahan is in the February issue of Revolver, on sale now.

SLIPKNOT is scheduled to enter the studio in February with producer Dave Fortman, who's previously worked with MUDVAYNE and EVANESCENCE. There's no word yet on a release date or title.

Revolver magazine recently spoke to SLIPKNOT percussionist M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan about his hopes for the band's next album, how all the side projects will influence the disc, integrating new instruments into the mix, the death of rock's former spirit, the dissipation of hope, and the pervasive sadness that has infected our once-exuberant nation. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

Revolver: How far into the creative process are you?

Crahan: We're going to be entering the studio in the first part of the year. But we write all the time. Joey Jordison [drums] writes 365 days a year. These breaks that we take, they get our appetites going. They let our brains slow down and then speed up again. We gotta decompress for a little bit just to feel human if we're going to be forced to be here in this reality.

Revolver: Do you think the side projects you guys have been involved with will affect the sound of the next record?

Crahan: For sure. Every time we're away, we grab life and learn things. I'm constantly writing songs in different genres. I'll work with metal, alternative, and blues in my studio, and then I'll go play some jazz with friends. We all do that, and that gives us a fresh perspective.

Revolver: What new elements do you plan to bring into the picture this time?

Crahan: Corey Taylor [vocals] brings the whole beginning, and I can't wait to read his murder bible. What’s on his mind? Self-destruction? Self-healing? I don't know. But I'm on my own trip playing drum seets, working to challenge myself. I'm a primal drummer, man, and I want to harness that. In the past, I would dictate parts. Now I'm interested in being involved in the whole process. I've learned a lot in 10 years, and now I think it would be really cool if [co-percussionist] Chris Fehn and I could utilize high-hats and cymbals, SLIPKNOT-style.

Revolver: What else will be different?

Crahan: I can't stress enough that we're going into this from a different place. When we did "Iowa", we hated each other. We hated the world; the world hated us. The next record was like rehabilitation. We had all this healing that needed to happen. Now, everything feels good because we feel good.

For more of Revolver's conversation with M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan, pick up the February 2008 issue of the magazine, available on newsstands now. More information is available at www.revolvermag.com.

Peavey artists TRIVIUM, DRAGONFORCE, CHIMAIRA and more will appear at the Peavey booth during Winter 2008 NAMM, January 17-20 in Anaheim, Calif. All clinics and signings will be at Peavey booth #5740 in Hall B. The signing schedule is as follows:

Thursday, January 17, 2008:

4 p.m. - Marc Rizzo (SOULFLY) clinic

Friday, January 18, 2008:

Noon - Marc Rizzo (SOULFLY) clinic
Noon - Josh Rand (STONE SOUR) signing
2 p.m. - Rob Arnold (CHIMAIRA) clinic
2 p.m. - BLACK STONE CHERRY and PRIMER 55 signing
3 p.m. - Iron Steel (feat. Morgan Rose of SEVENDUST, Jim LaMarca of CHIMAIRA and David Ellefson of F5) signing
4 p.m. - Johnny Hiland performance
5 p.m. - Johnny Hiland signing
5 p.m. - CHIMAIRA, GORGOROTH and DIVINE HERESY (feat. Dino Cazares) signing

Saturday, January 19, 2008:

11:15 a.m. - Josh Rand (STONE SOUR) signing
Noon - Mike Stone and Eddie Jackson (QUEENSRŸCHE) signing
1 p.m. - Paul Gray (SLIPKNOT) signing
2 p.m. - Gary Hoey clinic
2:30 p.m. - Herman Li and Sam Topman (DRAGONFORCE) signing
3 p.m. - Gary Hoey signing
4 p.m. - Doug Wimbish clinic for Trace Elliot
5 p.m. - Doug Wimbish signing

Sunday, January 20, 2008:

2 p.m. - Mike Stone (QUEENSRŸCHE) clinic

Joe Lawler of DesMoinesRegister.com reports: Before Corey Taylor fronted SLIPKNOT, he was one of the THE DÜMFÜX. Back in 1995, Taylor (then a member of STONE SOUR) volunteered to play a house party with some friends. They had no set list and finished no songs before the $1,500 soundboard was destroyed. The band's first show looked to be its last, but they came out of retirement for a 2003 New Year's Eve show.

"We were talking about the old days and the house parties and the idea came up to do the same thing on a bigger scale, jamming with our friends," said Denny Harvey, 35, an original member of STONE SOUR and THE DÜMFÜX.

THE DÜMFÜX shows have become something of a holiday tradition for Des Moines. Monday they will perform again, at the Val Air Ballroom. For people used to Taylor's harder sound with SLIPKNOT, his New Year's Eve show will be something of a surprise. Songs by CYNDI LAUPER, THE BEATLES, BLACK FLAG, THE MISFITS and FLOCK OF SEAGULLS have populated past setlists.

"We agonize over the setlist," Harvey said. "All year we assemble lists of songs we would like to hear live. We're real music geeks."

Sharing the stage is an expansive list of local musicians including Joe Corigliani of CALLOUS, Joni Lawler of RETROGRADE, John Brainard of ON A PALE HORSE, Matt Nyberg of FACECAGE and other friends Taylor has made on the local (and maybe national) scene.

U.S. death metal pioneers NECROPHAGIA have set "Death Trip 69" as the title of their long-awaited new album, tentatively due before the summer via an as-yet-undisclosed label. The band is also planning a major tour with its international lineup, which includes Mirai Kawashima of SIGH, Italy's Titta Tanni, former IMMORTAL bassist Iscariah, Undead Torment, Fug and, of course, founding member Killjoy.

"Death Trip 69" will feature several guest appearances, including lead guitar parts by SLIPKNOT's Mick Thomson.

The Loc Dog Show bids farewell to Joey Jordison, and the Bitch we got a problem tour. A very special 3 part edition of the Loc Dog Show documenting the past six months of Joey's life on tour with Korn.

>> Joey Jordison & KoRn - summary pt.1 - video

>> Joey Jordison & KoRn - summary pt.2 - video

>> Joey Jordison & KoRn - summary pt.3 - video