The first solo album from former Slayer guitarist Kerry King is basically the “Still D.R.E.” of thrash metal.
But where Dr. Dre wanted to remind his fans that he was still puffin’ his leafs, still fucking with beats, and still not lovin’ police after close to a decade’s absence, King wants his fans to understand that even though Slayer are essentially hellbound, he’s still Satan’s preeminent ambassador with furious, jagged riffs and sweet nothings like “Crucifixation” and “Everything I Hate About You.” On From Hell I Rise,...
But where Dr. Dre wanted to remind his fans that he was still puffin’ his leafs, still fucking with beats, and still not lovin’ police after close to a decade’s absence, King wants his fans to understand that even though Slayer are essentially hellbound, he’s still Satan’s preeminent ambassador with furious, jagged riffs and sweet nothings like “Crucifixation” and “Everything I Hate About You.” On From Hell I Rise,...
- 5/17/2024
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Kerry King moved on from Slayer, whose breakneck-paced declarations of destruction redefined metal for a generation, a long time ago. In 2018, as soon as frontman Tom Araya told him he was done with the band, King says he “shifted gears.”
“I’m like, ‘Well, I’m not done,'” he tells Rolling Stone with a piercing gaze. “The only regret I have is that we finished when we finished. But it’s also like, ‘Hey man, we’re Peyton Manning: We won the Super Bowl and we left.’ And...
“I’m like, ‘Well, I’m not done,'” he tells Rolling Stone with a piercing gaze. “The only regret I have is that we finished when we finished. But it’s also like, ‘Hey man, we’re Peyton Manning: We won the Super Bowl and we left.’ And...
- 2/5/2024
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Slayer’s classic 1983 debut album, Show No Mercy, is set to receive a 40th anniversary edition vinyl reissue via Metal Blade.
The reissue arrives February 9th in two configurations. The first is a “deluxe-edition” style set featuring a slipcase that houses the LP on “Gold Black Dust” colored vinyl, a turntable slipmat, poster, replica show flyers, and a signing card. It retails for $64.99.
Alternatively, hardcore Slayer fans might be tempted by the extremely limited “Blood Filled” liquid vinyl variant. Limited to 250 copies worldwide, the LP itself is a wonder to behold, as it appears to be actually filled with blood. It would appear the vinyl required a costly production process, as this edition — which does not include the aforementioned ephemera in the standard “deluxe” version — will set you back $199.99 (though the record is sure to become a collectible).
Both copies feature a fresh remastering job by Patrick W. Engel, who...
The reissue arrives February 9th in two configurations. The first is a “deluxe-edition” style set featuring a slipcase that houses the LP on “Gold Black Dust” colored vinyl, a turntable slipmat, poster, replica show flyers, and a signing card. It retails for $64.99.
Alternatively, hardcore Slayer fans might be tempted by the extremely limited “Blood Filled” liquid vinyl variant. Limited to 250 copies worldwide, the LP itself is a wonder to behold, as it appears to be actually filled with blood. It would appear the vinyl required a costly production process, as this edition — which does not include the aforementioned ephemera in the standard “deluxe” version — will set you back $199.99 (though the record is sure to become a collectible).
Both copies feature a fresh remastering job by Patrick W. Engel, who...
- 11/15/2023
- by Jon Hadusek
- Consequence - Music
Celebrated metal guitarist Kerry King, one of the lead guitarists and founding members of the legendary American thrash metal band Slayer spoke on the death anniversary of co-lead guitarist and co-founder of Slayer, guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who died at 49 due to liver failure on June 2, 2013.
In an interview with Metal Hammer, King opened up on the passing of his friend and former band member’s death and also shed some light on Hanneman’s place in the band during the days before his tragic passing. Battling alcoholism, Hanneman had missed several shows between 2011 and 2013.
This led to fellow guitarist and another legend of the thrash genere, Exodus member Gary Holt to fill up for him as a session member, before becoming full-time replacement for him after Hanneman’s passing.
Speaking of his final days, King said Hanneman was on the mend and “wanted nothing more than to come back” to Slayer.
In an interview with Metal Hammer, King opened up on the passing of his friend and former band member’s death and also shed some light on Hanneman’s place in the band during the days before his tragic passing. Battling alcoholism, Hanneman had missed several shows between 2011 and 2013.
This led to fellow guitarist and another legend of the thrash genere, Exodus member Gary Holt to fill up for him as a session member, before becoming full-time replacement for him after Hanneman’s passing.
Speaking of his final days, King said Hanneman was on the mend and “wanted nothing more than to come back” to Slayer.
- 6/8/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
The revamped lineup of Pantera played the band’s first US show in 22 years on Saturday (May 6th) at the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally in Panama City, Florida.
Pantera — featuring classic members Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass), alongside Zakk Wylde (guitar) and Charlie Benante (drums) — returned to perform gigs in Latin America this past December, as well as a couple of dates in Japan in March. Last night’s show in Panama City marked the band’s first US concert since a July 25th, 2001, gig in Tacoma, Washington.
In advance of their proper headlining Summer 2023 North America tour with special guests Lamb of God (tickets available here), Pantera are playing a couple of US festival shows this month, including last night’s Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally and May 20th at Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, Florida.
The 11-song set in Panama City kicked off with “Mouth for War,...
Pantera — featuring classic members Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass), alongside Zakk Wylde (guitar) and Charlie Benante (drums) — returned to perform gigs in Latin America this past December, as well as a couple of dates in Japan in March. Last night’s show in Panama City marked the band’s first US concert since a July 25th, 2001, gig in Tacoma, Washington.
In advance of their proper headlining Summer 2023 North America tour with special guests Lamb of God (tickets available here), Pantera are playing a couple of US festival shows this month, including last night’s Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally and May 20th at Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, Florida.
The 11-song set in Panama City kicked off with “Mouth for War,...
- 5/7/2023
- by Spencer Kaufman
- Consequence - Music
Some classic rock songs are just terribly racist. The fact that some of these classic rock songs got any airplay is upsetting. For example, John Lennon released a song that was supposed to be feminist but failed miserably.
John Lennon | Harry Benson / Stringer 5. John Lennon’s ‘Woman is the N-Word of the World’
According to a 1980 interview from the book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, John called “Woman Is the N-Word of the World” the first feminist song ever. That’s just false. He praises “Woman Is the N-Word of the World” for coming out before Helen Reddy’s “I Am Woman,” a song that aged far better.
In “Woman Is the N-Word of the World,” he’s definitely trying to speak about the oppression of women, but he repeatedly uses a slur to make his point. He never should have gone there.
John Lennon | Harry Benson / Stringer 5. John Lennon’s ‘Woman is the N-Word of the World’
According to a 1980 interview from the book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, John called “Woman Is the N-Word of the World” the first feminist song ever. That’s just false. He praises “Woman Is the N-Word of the World” for coming out before Helen Reddy’s “I Am Woman,” a song that aged far better.
In “Woman Is the N-Word of the World,” he’s definitely trying to speak about the oppression of women, but he repeatedly uses a slur to make his point. He never should have gone there.
- 2/23/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Slayer’s lengthy farewell tour and the thrash metal legends’ four-decade touring career came to an end Saturday with what was billed as the band’s final concert ever at the Forum in Inglewood, California.
Following the conclusion of “Angel of Death,” the last song of the final show, Slayer spent 10 more minutes onstage, with band mates hugging each other and taking one last photo of themselves together in front of a crowd. Bassist/singer Tom Araya and guitarist Kerry King then remained onstage as the crowd continued to shower them with applause and chants.
Following the conclusion of “Angel of Death,” the last song of the final show, Slayer spent 10 more minutes onstage, with band mates hugging each other and taking one last photo of themselves together in front of a crowd. Bassist/singer Tom Araya and guitarist Kerry King then remained onstage as the crowd continued to shower them with applause and chants.
- 12/1/2019
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
The legendary band Slayer is on the road as their Final World Tour is coming to an end, now is your chance to buy the tickets. Get Slayer Tickets Here! The group was originally formed in 1981, in Huntington Park, California, by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, vocalist and bassist Tom Araya and drummer […]
The post Slayer Concert Tickets For ‘Final World Tour’ On Sale Now [Dates & Ticket Info] appeared first on uInterview.
The post Slayer Concert Tickets For ‘Final World Tour’ On Sale Now [Dates & Ticket Info] appeared first on uInterview.
- 11/7/2019
- by Sofia Shengelia
- Uinterview
American
Slayer are the heaviest band on the planet. Everyone knows this. Their brutal mix of shredding guitars, devastatingly fast blastbeats, snarled vocals, pitch black lyrical themes and ridiculously fast songs not only drove thrash metal into spaces that Metallica and Megadeth could only dream of, it also effectively laid the blueprint for extreme genres such as death metal, grindcore and black metal. There’s no question – without Slayer, metal would be far less pulverising.
The band has been throwing out its dirty, gnarly and aggressive sounds for almost 35 years now, and it has gone through some incredible hardships in that period. The most devastating of these, undoubtedly, was the death of founding Jeff Hanneman in 2013. Along with Tom Araya and Kerry King, he was one of the mainstays on the band, and there can be no doubt that his absence from their eagerly-anticipated 11th album Repentless will be felt keenly.
Slayer are the heaviest band on the planet. Everyone knows this. Their brutal mix of shredding guitars, devastatingly fast blastbeats, snarled vocals, pitch black lyrical themes and ridiculously fast songs not only drove thrash metal into spaces that Metallica and Megadeth could only dream of, it also effectively laid the blueprint for extreme genres such as death metal, grindcore and black metal. There’s no question – without Slayer, metal would be far less pulverising.
The band has been throwing out its dirty, gnarly and aggressive sounds for almost 35 years now, and it has gone through some incredible hardships in that period. The most devastating of these, undoubtedly, was the death of founding Jeff Hanneman in 2013. Along with Tom Araya and Kerry King, he was one of the mainstays on the band, and there can be no doubt that his absence from their eagerly-anticipated 11th album Repentless will be felt keenly.
- 7/23/2015
- by Michael Waugh
- Obsessed with Film
Last night (April 23), Slayer showed up at Revolver magazine's Golden Gods Awards in Los Angeles for a surprise three-song set. Listen to new song “Implode” below and head to the band’s website for a free download. “Implode” is a four-minute romp through Slayer’s various influences, including doom, speed-metal and apocalyptic themes. Guitarist Kerry King told ArtistDirect that the song was intended for a 2012 Ep, which was never released: "It's not directly connected to the Mayan Calendar, but everybody always talks about the world ending. Whether it's with war or disease, that's where I went with it." The new song is Slayer’s first since 2009. The legendary thrash metal band has been quiet since founding member and guitarist Jeff Hanneman died last year. A new album is in the works, according to Rolling Stone, and will be released on the band’s own imprint, in association with Nuclear Blast.
- 4/24/2014
- by Whitney Phaneuf
- Hitfix
Another American International Toy Fair is in the books and as always, aside from the kids products and the mainstream licensed products, we’re always guaranteed to come across some oddities walking down the aisles. It’s our luck that the strange stuff often has to do with horror-related collectibles and once again, we’ve collected some cult favorites and weird, but excellent things to bring an end to our floor coverage.
Talking Chucky Dolls
Mezco gives fans of the murdering hero of Child’s Play lots of new collectible opportunities this year with a 15-inch Talking Good Guy Chucky, or the evil 15-inch version from Bride of Chucky. There will also be 16-inch plush versions of Chucky and his beautiful bride, Tiffany. Last but not least, a stylized vinyl Chucky and a strange, decorative pillow that features the box art for the doll. Available in fall 2014.
Battle-Damaged Stay-Puft Marshmallow...
Talking Chucky Dolls
Mezco gives fans of the murdering hero of Child’s Play lots of new collectible opportunities this year with a 15-inch Talking Good Guy Chucky, or the evil 15-inch version from Bride of Chucky. There will also be 16-inch plush versions of Chucky and his beautiful bride, Tiffany. Last but not least, a stylized vinyl Chucky and a strange, decorative pillow that features the box art for the doll. Available in fall 2014.
Battle-Damaged Stay-Puft Marshmallow...
- 2/20/2014
- by Tara Bennett
- FEARnet
We're back with another installment of Radio 66.6! This week features the latest news, music, videos and tour dates from the likes of Tool, Slayer, Chiodos, Metallica, Comeback Kid, Suicidal Tendencies, Goo Goo Dolls, Protest the Hero, At the Gates, Black Sabbath, Ghost and more. Don't touch that dial!
News
Black Sabbath took home the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for their song "God Is Dead?" The deserved it, but can we talk about how the "In Memoriam" segment did not include Slayer's Jeff Hanneman?! Not to mention cutting off Nine Inch Nails’ performance.
Swedish metal legends At the Gates have reunited. They'll release their first album in 18 years in the fall on Century Media Records.
Comeback Kid will release Die Knowing on March 4 via Victory Records.
Century Media Records co-owner Oliver Withöft has passed away at the age of 49. Rest in peace.
Music
Listen to a new Chiodos song...
News
Black Sabbath took home the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for their song "God Is Dead?" The deserved it, but can we talk about how the "In Memoriam" segment did not include Slayer's Jeff Hanneman?! Not to mention cutting off Nine Inch Nails’ performance.
Swedish metal legends At the Gates have reunited. They'll release their first album in 18 years in the fall on Century Media Records.
Comeback Kid will release Die Knowing on March 4 via Victory Records.
Century Media Records co-owner Oliver Withöft has passed away at the age of 49. Rest in peace.
Music
Listen to a new Chiodos song...
- 1/28/2014
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- DreadCentral.com
Fans of the thrash metal band Slayer sent off recently-deceased guitarist Jeff Hanneman in the best way they knew how — with a massive memorial mosh pit.
Four thousand Slayer supporters filled the Hollywood Palladium to capacity on May 23 for Hanneman's memorial service. At one point during the memorial Hanneman's guitarmate in Slayer Kerry King joked how ironic it was that the event was happening at the Palladium because both he and Hanneman had been banned from the venue for over 20 years.
And then when the band's iconic song "Raining Blood" played over the venue's soundsystem, well, all hell broke loose.
It's actually pretty touching in a smash-yourself-into-everyone-around-you kinda way.
Correction: This article initially misidentified the song played at Hanneman's memorial service as "Reign In Blood." "Reign In Blood" is the name of one of Slayer's albums. The song was actually called "Raining Blood."...
Four thousand Slayer supporters filled the Hollywood Palladium to capacity on May 23 for Hanneman's memorial service. At one point during the memorial Hanneman's guitarmate in Slayer Kerry King joked how ironic it was that the event was happening at the Palladium because both he and Hanneman had been banned from the venue for over 20 years.
And then when the band's iconic song "Raining Blood" played over the venue's soundsystem, well, all hell broke loose.
It's actually pretty touching in a smash-yourself-into-everyone-around-you kinda way.
Correction: This article initially misidentified the song played at Hanneman's memorial service as "Reign In Blood." "Reign In Blood" is the name of one of Slayer's albums. The song was actually called "Raining Blood."...
- 5/28/2013
- by HuffPost Canada Music
- Huffington Post
Heavy metal music has done much good for the world, introducing us to the talents of Bruce Dickinson on vocals, Jeff Hanneman on guitar, and the sartorial delights of a really close-cut stonewash jean.
Unfortunately, for fans of the genre it has also been responsible for much ill in the world too.
No, we don't mean the music (though much of the output between 1998 and 2004 is fairly questionable).
We're talking about the genre's ideas for robots.
While browsing our favourite music streaming service this week, we noticed an album which reminded us just how many terrible ideas for androids, cyborgs and mechanical humans metal bands have come up with over the years.
We've pulled some of our favourite examples below. Let us know if we've missed any. And in future if you see a long-haired Viking wandering around Maplin with a Flying V in one hand and a Raspberry Pi in the other,...
Unfortunately, for fans of the genre it has also been responsible for much ill in the world too.
No, we don't mean the music (though much of the output between 1998 and 2004 is fairly questionable).
We're talking about the genre's ideas for robots.
While browsing our favourite music streaming service this week, we noticed an album which reminded us just how many terrible ideas for androids, cyborgs and mechanical humans metal bands have come up with over the years.
We've pulled some of our favourite examples below. Let us know if we've missed any. And in future if you see a long-haired Viking wandering around Maplin with a Flying V in one hand and a Raspberry Pi in the other,...
- 5/21/2013
- by Huffington Post UK
- Huffington Post
We're back with another installment of Radio 66.6! This week features the latest news, music, videos and tour dates from the likes of As I Lay Dying, Black Flag, Emmure, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Slayer, Tesseract, Children of Bodom, Parkway Drive, Daft Punk and more.
Don't touch that dial!
News
It was a bizarre week for music news. Most notably, As I Lay Dying frontman Tim Lambesis was arrested for attempting to hire a hit man to murder his wife. Lambesis pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Emmure vocalist Frankie Palmeri received an electric shock while performing in Russia last week. Footage of the incident can be found here.
Former Obituary and Six Feet Under guitarist Allen West was arrested after police discovered a meth lab in his Florida home. The kicker? He was the one who called the cops and asked them to search his property.
The official cause of...
Don't touch that dial!
News
It was a bizarre week for music news. Most notably, As I Lay Dying frontman Tim Lambesis was arrested for attempting to hire a hit man to murder his wife. Lambesis pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Emmure vocalist Frankie Palmeri received an electric shock while performing in Russia last week. Footage of the incident can be found here.
Former Obituary and Six Feet Under guitarist Allen West was arrested after police discovered a meth lab in his Florida home. The kicker? He was the one who called the cops and asked them to search his property.
The official cause of...
- 5/14/2013
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- DreadCentral.com
While Jeff Hanneman's sudden death at 49 from liver failure last week brought tons of attention to the possible lingering effects of venomous spider bites, his mates from Slayer say that is not what ultimately killed their founding guitarist. "We've just learned that the official cause of Jeff's death was alcohol related cirrhosis," the band said Thursday in a statement on their website. "While he had his health struggles over the years, including the recent [necrotizing fasciitis] infection [from a spider bite] that devastated his well-being, Jeff and those close to him were not aware of the true extent of his liver condition until the last days of his...
- 5/10/2013
- E! Online
Los Angeles — Members of Slayer say Jeff Hanneman died of alcohol-related cirrhosis.
The guitarist died last week at a hospital in Hemet, Calif., at age 49. It was initially theorized that Hanneman's death might have had something to do with a suspected spider bite that led to a case of necrotizing fasciitis, nearly costing him his arm.
The band disclosed Hanneman's cause of death on its website Thursday, and a publicist said Friday the determination was made by his attending physician. She did not know the doctor's name.
The statement says Hanneman was not aware of the extent of damage to his liver until his last days.
The band also says it is planning a public celebration of Hanneman's life later this month with details to come.
___
Online:
http://slayer.net...
The guitarist died last week at a hospital in Hemet, Calif., at age 49. It was initially theorized that Hanneman's death might have had something to do with a suspected spider bite that led to a case of necrotizing fasciitis, nearly costing him his arm.
The band disclosed Hanneman's cause of death on its website Thursday, and a publicist said Friday the determination was made by his attending physician. She did not know the doctor's name.
The statement says Hanneman was not aware of the extent of damage to his liver until his last days.
The band also says it is planning a public celebration of Hanneman's life later this month with details to come.
___
Online:
http://slayer.net...
- 5/10/2013
- by AP
- Huffington Post
Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman died of alcohol-related cirrhosis -- scarring of the liver from years of heavy drinking ... this according to the band's official website.The band posted a statement on its website ... saying, "While he had his health struggles over the years, including the recent Necrotizing fasciitis infection (Aka flesh-eating disease) that devastated his well-being, Jeff and those close to him were not aware of the true extent of his liver condition until the last days of his life.
- 5/10/2013
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
The actress, who starred on the popular soap opera for more than three decades, died of an ‘infection.’
The world has lost a major soap opera icon. Jeanne Cooper, who won a Daytime Emmy for playing Katherine Chancellor on CBS’ The Young And The Restless, died May 8.
Jeanne’s son Corbin Bernsen — who also appeared on The Young And The Restless — broke the sad news to his followers on Twitter.
“Mom passed this morning,” Corbin tweeted May 8. “She was in peace and without fear. U all have been incredible in your love. In her name share it 2 day with others.”
HollywoodLifers, were you a fan of Jeanne’s work? Drop a comment below with your reaction to this sad news.
Watch: Jeanne Cooper Talks Playing Katherine Chancellor
More Recent Passings: Chris Kelly Dies: Diddy & More Celebs React On Twitter Jeff Hanneman: Slayer Guitarist Dead At 49 Ravi Shankar, Sitar Player For The Beatles,...
The world has lost a major soap opera icon. Jeanne Cooper, who won a Daytime Emmy for playing Katherine Chancellor on CBS’ The Young And The Restless, died May 8.
Jeanne’s son Corbin Bernsen — who also appeared on The Young And The Restless — broke the sad news to his followers on Twitter.
“Mom passed this morning,” Corbin tweeted May 8. “She was in peace and without fear. U all have been incredible in your love. In her name share it 2 day with others.”
HollywoodLifers, were you a fan of Jeanne’s work? Drop a comment below with your reaction to this sad news.
Watch: Jeanne Cooper Talks Playing Katherine Chancellor
More Recent Passings: Chris Kelly Dies: Diddy & More Celebs React On Twitter Jeff Hanneman: Slayer Guitarist Dead At 49 Ravi Shankar, Sitar Player For The Beatles,...
- 5/8/2013
- by Hollywood Life Staff
- HollywoodLife
We're back with another installment of Radio 66.6! This week features the latest news, music, videos and tour dates from the likes of Slayer, Black Flag, Black Sabbath, Children of Bodom, Megadeth, Every Time I Die, Overkill, Black Label Society, Him and more.
Don't touch that dial!
News
The metal community lost a legend this past week, as Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman passed away as the result of liver failure. He was 49. Read the band's brief statement here.
Music
Listen to a new Black Flag song titled "Down in the Dirt" here, and grab a free download of it here. The band will release a new, 22-song album this summer via Sst Records.
Listen to a new Palms song titled "Patagonia" here. The band features Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno and former members of Isis. Their self-titled debut album comes out on June 25th via Ipecac.
Videos
Watch Black Sabbath perform a...
Don't touch that dial!
News
The metal community lost a legend this past week, as Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman passed away as the result of liver failure. He was 49. Read the band's brief statement here.
Music
Listen to a new Black Flag song titled "Down in the Dirt" here, and grab a free download of it here. The band will release a new, 22-song album this summer via Sst Records.
Listen to a new Palms song titled "Patagonia" here. The band features Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno and former members of Isis. Their self-titled debut album comes out on June 25th via Ipecac.
Videos
Watch Black Sabbath perform a...
- 5/7/2013
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- DreadCentral.com
On the 3rd May 2013 the metal world was devastated to learn of the death of Slayer guitarist and founding member Jeff Hanneman. Although his battle with the disease necrotising fasciitis, a flesh-eating disease that he is believed to have contracted from a spider bite, was well publicised, his return to full health was expected by Slayer’s legions of fans. His death, sadly attributed to liver failure, came as a sudden shock and Slayer fans and fans of extreme music in general are left to mourn the loss of a true trailblazer and a powerful and innovative force in Thrash Metal.
Slayer formed in 1981 and Tom Araya (Bass/Vocals), Kerry King (Rhythm & Lead Guitar), Jeff Hanneman (Rhythm & Lead Guitar) and Dave Lombardo (Drums) quickly cemented their position at the forefront of the emerging thrash movement. The band went onto sell millions of records, touring the world on numerous occasions and winning 2 Grammy Awards,...
Slayer formed in 1981 and Tom Araya (Bass/Vocals), Kerry King (Rhythm & Lead Guitar), Jeff Hanneman (Rhythm & Lead Guitar) and Dave Lombardo (Drums) quickly cemented their position at the forefront of the emerging thrash movement. The band went onto sell millions of records, touring the world on numerous occasions and winning 2 Grammy Awards,...
- 5/4/2013
- by Christopher Jennings
- Obsessed with Film
Revolver Magazine presented the 5th annual Golden Gods Awards Thursday (May 2). The show is essentially the heavy metal Grammys, presenting awards for various categories in the hard rock genre.
Hosted by WWE wrestler, rock singer and host of "Robot Combat League" Chris Jericho, the show was loaded with tributes to Jeff Hanneman. A founding member of metal band Slayer, it was announced shortly before the show that Hanneman had died. Fellow Slayer member Kerry King led the audience in a "moment of noise" as a tribute to Hannemen, because a moment of silence just would not do.
The full list of winners from the show is below:
Best Guitarist:John 5 (Rob Zombie)
Best Drummer:Arejay Hale (Halestorm)
Best Bassist:Lemmy Kilmister (Motörhead)
Best Vocalist:Corey Taylor (Stone Sour & Slipknot)
Best New Talent:Device
Most Metal Athlete:Triple H (WWE Superstar)
Best Live Band:Slipknot
Comeback of the Year:Tenacious D
Song of the Year:...
Hosted by WWE wrestler, rock singer and host of "Robot Combat League" Chris Jericho, the show was loaded with tributes to Jeff Hanneman. A founding member of metal band Slayer, it was announced shortly before the show that Hanneman had died. Fellow Slayer member Kerry King led the audience in a "moment of noise" as a tribute to Hannemen, because a moment of silence just would not do.
The full list of winners from the show is below:
Best Guitarist:John 5 (Rob Zombie)
Best Drummer:Arejay Hale (Halestorm)
Best Bassist:Lemmy Kilmister (Motörhead)
Best Vocalist:Corey Taylor (Stone Sour & Slipknot)
Best New Talent:Device
Most Metal Athlete:Triple H (WWE Superstar)
Best Live Band:Slipknot
Comeback of the Year:Tenacious D
Song of the Year:...
- 5/3/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
The attention-seeking Westboro Baptist Church has been busy this week, having protested NBA player Jason Collins for revealing he's gay and the late George Jones' funeral, stating the late country legend was a "drunkard," according to Taste Of Country
Now the church is attempting to exploit the death of Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman.
The church group tweeted about Hanneman's death by including a photo of him performing alongside fellow Slayer guitarist Kerry King coupled with a separate image of another recently-deceased performer, Kris Kross' Chris Kelly along with the line "Which of your idols will God kill next?" and the hashtag #picketfunerals.
Which of your idols will God kill next?Yesterday Chris Kelly #kriskrossToday Jeff Hanneman #Slayer#PicketFunerals twitter.com/WBCSays/status…
— Westboro Baptist (@WBCSays) May 2, 2013
The band responsible for songs like "Not Of This God," "The Anti-Christ," "Witching Hour" and "World Painted Blood" has made no comment so far,...
Now the church is attempting to exploit the death of Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman.
The church group tweeted about Hanneman's death by including a photo of him performing alongside fellow Slayer guitarist Kerry King coupled with a separate image of another recently-deceased performer, Kris Kross' Chris Kelly along with the line "Which of your idols will God kill next?" and the hashtag #picketfunerals.
Which of your idols will God kill next?Yesterday Chris Kelly #kriskrossToday Jeff Hanneman #Slayer#PicketFunerals twitter.com/WBCSays/status…
— Westboro Baptist (@WBCSays) May 2, 2013
The band responsible for songs like "Not Of This God," "The Anti-Christ," "Witching Hour" and "World Painted Blood" has made no comment so far,...
- 5/3/2013
- by HuffPost Canada Music
- Huffington Post
How sad. The guitarist of one of the most iconic metal rock bands ever passed away on May 2 from liver failure. He was 49 years old. Keep reading for more details.
Jeff Hanneman, the man behind the heavy guitar riffs that drove the metal band Slayer to fame, died from liver failure on May 2 in a Southern California hospital near his home. The iconic guitarist was only 49 years old.
Jeff Hanneman Dies At 49
An official statement released on Slayer’s website announced the band member’s passing:
Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11Am this morning near his Southern California home. Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry, and will be sorely missed.
In 2011, Jeff contracted necrotizing fasciitis, a rare skin tissue disease,...
Jeff Hanneman, the man behind the heavy guitar riffs that drove the metal band Slayer to fame, died from liver failure on May 2 in a Southern California hospital near his home. The iconic guitarist was only 49 years old.
Jeff Hanneman Dies At 49
An official statement released on Slayer’s website announced the band member’s passing:
Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11Am this morning near his Southern California home. Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry, and will be sorely missed.
In 2011, Jeff contracted necrotizing fasciitis, a rare skin tissue disease,...
- 5/3/2013
- by Andrew Gruttadaro
- HollywoodLife
Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman has passed away, aged 49.
Hanneman who played rhythm and lead guitar on classic Slayer tracks such as Reign in Blood, Seasons in the Abyss and Angel of Death, died of liver failure at a hospital near his home in California today after a long battle with illness.
Hanneman was known as the co founder of the thrash metal band and is credited for writing the band’s most iconic track ever ‘Reign in Blood’. Although the band haven’t recorded any new material in almost 5 years Slayer have remained at the forefront of many fans minds especially at the beginning of April when it was announced Hanneman was struggling with illness.
The band were quick to reassure fans that the iconic guitarist was still a member of the band despite his prolonged time away from the spotlight. It is now clear exactly why Hanneman had been absent from the lineup.
Hanneman who played rhythm and lead guitar on classic Slayer tracks such as Reign in Blood, Seasons in the Abyss and Angel of Death, died of liver failure at a hospital near his home in California today after a long battle with illness.
Hanneman was known as the co founder of the thrash metal band and is credited for writing the band’s most iconic track ever ‘Reign in Blood’. Although the band haven’t recorded any new material in almost 5 years Slayer have remained at the forefront of many fans minds especially at the beginning of April when it was announced Hanneman was struggling with illness.
The band were quick to reassure fans that the iconic guitarist was still a member of the band despite his prolonged time away from the spotlight. It is now clear exactly why Hanneman had been absent from the lineup.
- 5/3/2013
- by Matt Aspin
- Obsessed with Film
Jeff Hanneman, the guitarist for iconic trash metal band Slayer, passed away from liver failure on Thursday (May 2). The musician was 49.
The band shared the news of Hanneman's passing on their website and Facebook page. Hanneman founded Slayer with fellow guitarist Kerry King in 1981. Together, they created a sound that was born of heavy metal and punk. They are known for such classics as "Raining Blood" and "Angel of Death"
The band's full statement reads: "Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11Am this morning near his Southern California home. Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry, and will be sorely missed."
In 2011, Hanneman contracted a flesh-eating disease after suffering from a spider bite, forcing him to take time away from the band to recover.
The band shared the news of Hanneman's passing on their website and Facebook page. Hanneman founded Slayer with fellow guitarist Kerry King in 1981. Together, they created a sound that was born of heavy metal and punk. They are known for such classics as "Raining Blood" and "Angel of Death"
The band's full statement reads: "Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11Am this morning near his Southern California home. Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry, and will be sorely missed."
In 2011, Hanneman contracted a flesh-eating disease after suffering from a spider bite, forcing him to take time away from the band to recover.
- 5/3/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
After spending thirty years rocking out with the band Slayer, guitarist Jeff Hanneman passed away on Thursday (May 2).
According to a statement on the band's Facebook page, "Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11Am this morning near his Southern California home. Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry, and will be sorely missed. Our Brother Jeff Hanneman, May He Rest In Peace (1964 – 2013)."
Along with fellow guitarist Kerry King, Jeff formed the legendary metal band in 1981, going on to earn two Grammy awards for Best Metal Performance.
Two years ago, the 49-year-old musician contracted a rare skin tissue disease called necrotizing fasciitis, though it's not clear if it contributed to his liver failure.
According to a statement on the band's Facebook page, "Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11Am this morning near his Southern California home. Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry, and will be sorely missed. Our Brother Jeff Hanneman, May He Rest In Peace (1964 – 2013)."
Along with fellow guitarist Kerry King, Jeff formed the legendary metal band in 1981, going on to earn two Grammy awards for Best Metal Performance.
Two years ago, the 49-year-old musician contracted a rare skin tissue disease called necrotizing fasciitis, though it's not clear if it contributed to his liver failure.
- 5/3/2013
- GossipCenter
Los Angeles — Jeff Hanneman, a founding member of Slayer whose career was irrevocably changed after a spider bite, has died. He was 49.
Slayer spokeswoman Heidi Robinson-Fitzgerald said Hanneman died Thursday morning of liver failure at a Los Angeles hospital with his wife, Kathy, by his side.
The guitarist had recently begun writing songs with the band in anticipation of recording a new album later this year. He had been slowly recovering from what was believed to be a spider bite that nearly cost him his arm after he failed to seek immediate treatment.
"The music industry has lost a true trailblazer, and our deepest sympathies go out to his family, his bandmates and fans around the world who mourn his untimely passing," said Neil Portnow, president and CEO of the Recording Academy, in a statement.
Robinson-Fitzgerald said it's believed the spider bite contributed to the failure of Hanneman's liver, but...
Slayer spokeswoman Heidi Robinson-Fitzgerald said Hanneman died Thursday morning of liver failure at a Los Angeles hospital with his wife, Kathy, by his side.
The guitarist had recently begun writing songs with the band in anticipation of recording a new album later this year. He had been slowly recovering from what was believed to be a spider bite that nearly cost him his arm after he failed to seek immediate treatment.
"The music industry has lost a true trailblazer, and our deepest sympathies go out to his family, his bandmates and fans around the world who mourn his untimely passing," said Neil Portnow, president and CEO of the Recording Academy, in a statement.
Robinson-Fitzgerald said it's believed the spider bite contributed to the failure of Hanneman's liver, but...
- 5/3/2013
- by AP
- Huffington Post
Slayer's Jeff Hanneman died of liver failure in a California hospital on Thursday; he was 49. The guitarist co-founded the pioneering metal group in 1981, penning the lyrics to many songs along the way. Hanneman was beset with a rare flesh-eating disease called necrotizing fasciitis in 2011, though he was said to have recovered. The band has continued touring and recording records since its inception, releasing World Painted Blood, its tenth studio album, in 2009.
- 5/3/2013
- by Zach Dionne
- Vulture
Slayer guitarist and founding member Jeff Hanneman died earlier today in Southern California. He was 49.
Hanneman formed Slayer with Kerry King and Dave Lombardo in 1981, and they quickly recruited Tom Araya to round out the band. Slayer was considered one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts to come out of the 1980s (along with Anthrax, Megadeth, and Metallica). Like all good heavy metal bands, Slayer was controversial, at times being accused of being pro-Nazi, white supremacists, Satanists, anti-religious, and encouraging violence through their lyrics. Hanneman in particular brought war and military themes to the lyrics he wrote. Slayer has released 10 studio albums since 1983, and won Grammys in 2007 and 2008 for Best Metal Performance. They have been nominated an additional three times.
Hanneman was born in Oakland, California in 1964. In 2011 he contracted necrotizing fasciitis - sometimes called the flesh-eating disease - which rapidly eats away at the skin and tissue. Hanneman retired from full-time touring,...
Hanneman formed Slayer with Kerry King and Dave Lombardo in 1981, and they quickly recruited Tom Araya to round out the band. Slayer was considered one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts to come out of the 1980s (along with Anthrax, Megadeth, and Metallica). Like all good heavy metal bands, Slayer was controversial, at times being accused of being pro-Nazi, white supremacists, Satanists, anti-religious, and encouraging violence through their lyrics. Hanneman in particular brought war and military themes to the lyrics he wrote. Slayer has released 10 studio albums since 1983, and won Grammys in 2007 and 2008 for Best Metal Performance. They have been nominated an additional three times.
Hanneman was born in Oakland, California in 1964. In 2011 he contracted necrotizing fasciitis - sometimes called the flesh-eating disease - which rapidly eats away at the skin and tissue. Hanneman retired from full-time touring,...
- 5/3/2013
- by Alyse Wax
- FEARnet
The music world suffered a shocking loss today as Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman has passed away at the all too young age of just 49 due to liver failure. Read on for details and some words from his surviving bandmates.
Sadly Hanneman hadn't been a touring member of the iconic metal band since 2011, when he contracted necrotizing fasciitis (the flesh-eating disease).
The band issued the following statement via their Facebook page:
Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11Am this morning near his Southern California home. Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry, and will be sorely missed.
Our Brother Jeff Hanneman, May He Rest In Peace (1964 – 2013)
We here at Dread Central would like to take this time to offer our sincerest of condolences to Jeff's friends,...
Sadly Hanneman hadn't been a touring member of the iconic metal band since 2011, when he contracted necrotizing fasciitis (the flesh-eating disease).
The band issued the following statement via their Facebook page:
Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11Am this morning near his Southern California home. Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry, and will be sorely missed.
Our Brother Jeff Hanneman, May He Rest In Peace (1964 – 2013)
We here at Dread Central would like to take this time to offer our sincerest of condolences to Jeff's friends,...
- 5/3/2013
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Heavy metal band Slayer has confirmed that their guitarist and founding member, Jeff Hanneman, passed away today after suffering liver failure. He was 49.
Related: Stars We've Lost
The band made the announcement via their website with the following statement: "Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11Am this morning near his Southern California home. Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry, and will be sorely missed."
Hanneman established the group in 1981 with guitarist Kerry King in Huntington Park, California. Slayer's major label debut album Reign In Blood hit the market in 1986, going on to sell millions of records and solidify the band as a pioneer of the heavy metal genre along with Metallica, Megadeath and Anthrax.
Some notable songs from the album are Angel of Death and Raining...
Related: Stars We've Lost
The band made the announcement via their website with the following statement: "Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11Am this morning near his Southern California home. Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry, and will be sorely missed."
Hanneman established the group in 1981 with guitarist Kerry King in Huntington Park, California. Slayer's major label debut album Reign In Blood hit the market in 1986, going on to sell millions of records and solidify the band as a pioneer of the heavy metal genre along with Metallica, Megadeath and Anthrax.
Some notable songs from the album are Angel of Death and Raining...
- 5/3/2013
- Entertainment Tonight
The world of heavy metal has lost one of its pioneering guitarists. Jeff Hanneman, one of the cofounders of Slayer, died today, the band announced on its website. He was 49. "Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11 am this morning near his Southern California home," the statement reads. "Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry, and will be sorely missed." Hanneman and fellow guitarist Kerry King founded the band in 1981 in Huntington Park, Calif. Their early brand of thrash metal was an instantly recognizable,...
- 5/3/2013
- E! Online
Jeff Hanneman, a founding member and guitarist for the thrash metal band Slayer, died Thursday of liver failure. He was 49. Formed in 1981 by Hanneman and fellow guitarist Kerry King in Huntington Park, Calif., Slayer fused heavy metal and punk and joined Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax as the leading bands of the genre. Slayer made its major label debut in 1986 with Reign In Blood, featuring the Hanneman co-written songs "Angel of Death" and "Raining Blood," and went on to sell millions of records. His death was announced on Slayer's official website:"Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother,...
- 5/3/2013
- by Mike Fleeman
- PEOPLE.com
Jeff Hanneman, guitarist and founding member of the thrash-metal group Slayer, died on Thursday, a spokeswoman for the group told TheWrap. He was 49. According to a statement from the group, Hanneman died at approximately 11 a.m. near his Southern California home, and suffered liver failure while hospitalized. Also read: Kris Kross' Chris 'Mac' Kelly Dies at 34 The group added that Hanneman "will be sorely missed." Born in Oakland, Calif., in 1964, Hanneman grew up in Long Beach, Calif., forming the group with fellow guitarist Kerry King in 1981. Also read: Notable Celebrity Deaths...
- 5/2/2013
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
Slayer has announced that guitarist and co-founder Jeff Hanneman died today after suffering liver failure. Hanneman was 49 years old, and had been through many medical maladies of late—including a bout with necrotizing fasciitis stemming from a spider bite that forced him to bow out of a tour in 2011. The band posted the following statement on its website: “Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11Am this morning near his Southern California home. Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure. He is survived by his ...
- 5/2/2013
- avclub.com
Jeff Hanneman, rhythm and lead guitarist for legendary metal group Slayer, died this morning at the age 49 due to liver failure. The band posted the news to its Facebook page, noting that Hanneman was at a hospital near his Southern California home when he passed away around 11 a.m. Hanneman, born in 1964, was one of Slayer's founding members. "Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away... He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry, and will be sorely missed." At press time, about 20,000 fans...
- 5/2/2013
- by Katie Hasty
- Hitfix
Monstrous thrash-metal guitar hero and founding member of Slayer Jeff Hanneman has died of liver failure ... TMZ has confirmed. He was 49.Reps for the legendary axeman said Hanneman was in a hospital near his SoCal home when his liver failed around 11 a.m.The punk-influenced thrasher was a major part of Slayer's songwriting ... contributing lyrics and music on each of their albums ... including songs "Raining Blood," "War Ensemble" and "Seasons in the Abyss."Hanneman and...
- 5/2/2013
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman has died. He was 49. According to a press release announcing this sad news, Hanneman passed away May 2, at 11Am Pst this morning in his Southern California home. The official press release reads: Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11Am this morning near his Southern California home. Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry, and will be sorely missed. Reports of a spider bite gone terribly wrong have been in the news earlier for Jeff. Hanneman was sidelined for almost...
- 5/2/2013
- by April Neale
- Monsters and Critics
Iconic heavy metal guitarist Jeff Hanneman of legendary band Slayer died of liver failure on Thursday, May 2. He was 49. "Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11 a.m. this morning near his Southern California home. He was 49," a rep for the band told Us Weekly in a statement. "Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry, [...]...
- 5/2/2013
- Us Weekly
Much like real life, gaming isn’t devoid of contentious subjects. Granted, while piracy and boosting rest atop that conversational heap, they’re not the only prominent topics. In fact, this generation’s surge in downloadable content availability is yet another thing that has players debating merits, with Dlc costumes and map packs being at the centre of it all. Of course, it goes without saying that companies will continue to take advantage of these options, so long as they continue to be profitable revenue streams. As such, even though many adamantly dislike the idea of paying for digital clothing or new locations in which to shoot their friends’ digitized allies, both types of extra content seem to be here to stay.
As the series’ faithful are well aware, Halo 4‘s Majestic Map Pack is the latest location-based content drop to hit Xbox Live’s highly contested waters. Offering three...
As the series’ faithful are well aware, Halo 4‘s Majestic Map Pack is the latest location-based content drop to hit Xbox Live’s highly contested waters. Offering three...
- 2/28/2013
- by Chad Goodmurphy
- We Got This Covered
343 Industries announced today that the Majestic Map Pack for "Halo 4" will be available to all on February 25th. The Map Pack comes with three all-new maps -- Landfall, Monlith and Skyline -- designed with close-quarters combat in mind. The Dlc wil also introduce a new game type, Infinity Rumble, and two new multiplayer playlists.
Here's the full breakdown via Major Nelson:
Landfall: A shining city under attack…
The world of Tribute is now a graveyard, but its capital was once a bright beacon of commerce among the inner colonies. Fight in the corridors and courtyards of Casbah’s port authority buildings, but don’t stand still too long. Perfect for Infinity Slayer, this small to midsize asymmetrical map offers interiors with sparse cover, which encourages close-range combat, while the exteriors offer long lines of sight to stalk your opponents. Awesome jump routes let players spring around the outside of the map,...
Here's the full breakdown via Major Nelson:
Landfall: A shining city under attack…
The world of Tribute is now a graveyard, but its capital was once a bright beacon of commerce among the inner colonies. Fight in the corridors and courtyards of Casbah’s port authority buildings, but don’t stand still too long. Perfect for Infinity Slayer, this small to midsize asymmetrical map offers interiors with sparse cover, which encourages close-range combat, while the exteriors offer long lines of sight to stalk your opponents. Awesome jump routes let players spring around the outside of the map,...
- 2/19/2013
- by Don Hatfield
- MTV Multiplayer
Bangalore, Oct 19: Popular American thrash metal band Slayer is set to rock Bangalore late Saturday on the maiden visit of its stars - guitarist Kerry King, Chilean-born bassist/vocalist Tom Araya and drummer Dave Lombardo.
"We are excited to perform in India for the first time. We are sure that it will be a lifetime experience for us to perform in front of a passionate crowd," King told reporters Friday, ahead of the band's live concert.
Of the band's gang of four, guitarist Jeff Hanneman, however, could not join the.
"We are excited to perform in India for the first time. We are sure that it will be a lifetime experience for us to perform in front of a passionate crowd," King told reporters Friday, ahead of the band's live concert.
Of the band's gang of four, guitarist Jeff Hanneman, however, could not join the.
- 10/19/2012
- by Leon David
- RealBollywood.com
It's been an incredible year in the world of showbiz, with the usual headline-grabbing antics, scandal, sleaze, celebrity births, star weddings, and bitter break-ups. Here, WENN takes a look back at the first six months of 2011...
January
The new year began with wedding bells for many couples including singer Shania Twain, who married her fiance Frederic Thiebaud in Puerto Rico on New Year's Day, while country star Kellie Pickler and actress Valerie Bertinelli also walked down the aisle on 1 January.
The new year brought baby news for a number of celebrity couples - Orlando Bloom and his wife Miranda Kerr became first-time parents with the birth of their son Flynn. Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem also welcomed a son, and Owen Wilson became a father just days after he announced his girlfriend's pregnancy. Nicole Kidman also hit headlines when she and her husband Keith Urban revealed they welcomed a daughter called Faith via a surrogate mother over the holidays.
There was also pregnancy news for actress Kate Hudson, who announced she was expecting a baby with Muse rocker Matt Bellamy, as well as Marion Cotillard, Jewel, Selma Blair and Victoria Beckham, who confirmed she was pregnant with her fourth child.
However, the first few weeks of 2011 also brought a slew of celebrity splits - Keira Knightley ended her longtime romance with actor Rupert Friend, Shakira parted ways with Antonio de la Rua, her boyfriend of more than 10 years, and Mila Kunis and Macaulay Culkin separated after eight years together.
Many stars saw in the new year by addressing their personal problems, and a number of famous faces went in and out of rehab in the first few weeks of 2011. Lindsay Lohan and Demi Lovato both ended long treatment stints in January, while David Arquette, Backstreet Boys star A.J. McLean and his bandmate Nick Carter's younger brother Aaron all enrolled in programs. Troubled actor Charlie Sheen also admitted himself to a clinic just weeks after he was hospitalised to treat a hernia, and he later admitted he turned to booze to blot out the pain of the medical condition. Sheen’s rehab stint forced TV bosses to shut down production on his show Two and a Half Men.
Another colourful character to hit the headlines in January was British funnyman Ricky Gervais, who managed to cause controversy during his stint as Golden Globes host. The comedian was condemned by organisers for poking fun at celebrity guests including Robert Downey, Jr., Johnny Depp and Tom Hanks during the glitzy prizegiving.
The month held good news for veteran actor Michael Douglas as he was given the all-clear after a gruelling battle with throat cancer. His wife Catherine Zeta-Jones subsequently admitted she cried tears of joy when doctors told the couple the actor had beaten the disease. Poison rocker Bret Michaels also overcame a health crisis after undergoing successful surgery to close a hole in his heart.
January also saw the loss of a number of great stars including Oscar-winning James Bond theme composer John Barry, and Scottish musician Gerry Rafferty, who passed away after suffering liver failure. The world of Hollywood was again plunged into mourning following the death of British actor Pete Postlethwaite, who died at the age of 64.
February
As awards season got into full swing, The King's Speech was the toast of Hollywood after scooping four Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor for the movie's star, Colin Firth, and Best Director for Tom Hooper, while Natalie Portman fought back tears as she walked away with the Best Actress honour for her role as a tormented ballet dancer in Black Swan. It was a different story at the Independent Spirit Awards, where Black Swan trounced its rivals, picking up four honours including Best Director for Darren Aronofsky.
In the world of music, Lady Gaga's incredible rise continued as she picked up three Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Vocal Album, but her achievements were overshadowed by country trio Lady Antebellum, who scored five accolades, and the shock win for Canadian rockers Arcade Fire in the prestigious Album of the Year category for their disc The Suburbs. Across the pond at the Brit Awards in London, Arcade Fire were again bathed in glory when they were handed the International Group and International Album honours, while newcomer Tinie Tempah crowned a triumphant 12 months by taking home the British Breakthrough Act and British Single titles. Rihanna was named Best International Female solo star, and Justin Bieber was named the International Breakthrough Act of the year.
Away from the red carpet, it was a bleak month for My Name Is Earl actress Jaime Pressly, who was charged with driving under the influence after failing a field sobriety test, Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey, who was underwent an operation to remove a growth from her foot, Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who was hospitalised with a flesh-eating bug, and Dame Judi Dench, who broke two of her toes on the set of her new movie J. Edgar.
There were also woes for Rihanna, whose raunchy promo film for single S&M provoked outrage around the world and was banned in 11 countries, actress Eliza Dushku, who broke a finger on holiday, and fashion king John Galliano, who was suspended and later sacked by Christian Dior after he was filmed launching an anti-Semitic rant at stunned drinkers in a bar in Paris, France.
Rock duo the White Stripes stunned the music world when they announced they were splitting up after 14 years, and Lady Gaga's much-hyped new single Born This Way was unveiled to a barrage of accusations she had ripped off Madonna's classic Express Yourself. But there was good news for older music fans, as '60s icons The Monkees announced they were reuniting for a U.K. tour.
Loved up celebrity couples Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez, and Anna Friel and Rhys Ifans, both confirmed their engagements, and there were wedding bells for Kelsey Grammer - who married for the fourth time - and Mark Ronson and Katherine Jenkins, who both announced their respective engagements.
Among the stars hearing the pitter-patter of tiny feet this month were Christina Applegate, who gave birth to a daughter, magician David Blaine, who became a first-time father to a baby girl, reggae star Zac Marley, rocker Rod Stewart, Sex and the City's Cynthia Nixon, and No Doubt star Tom Dumont.
Jude Law continued his unlucky-in-love streak when he split - yet again - from Sienna Miller, Iron Man star Terrence Howard was hit with divorce papers, Olivia Wilde split from her husband after eight years, and celebrity couple Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz announced their marriage was over.
The world of showbiz bid farewell to guitar legend Gary Moore, who died aged 58, blues legend Eddie Kirkland died in a car crash at the age of 88, Seinfeld star Len Lesser succumbed to pneumonia aged 88, and The Dukes of Hazzard actress Peggy Rea, who passed away at the age of 89.
March
Tinseltown lost one of its brightest lights in March after movie icon Dame Elizabeth Taylor died of congestive heart failure at the age of 79. Tributes from the world of showbiz poured in for the Cleopatra legend, with Sir Elton John, Jane Fonda, Barbra Streisand and Liza Minnelli leading the heartfelt remembrances. The acting great was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, where her dear friend Michael Jackson was also laid to rest in 2009.
March was also marked by controversy as a host of famous faces found themselves in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Pop star Christina Aguilera was arrested for drunkenness in West Hollywood, while Boardwalk Empire beauty Pas de la Huerta was also apprehended after a bar fight in New York City. Jackass daredevil Steve-o was taken into custody in Canada on an outstanding warrant, and rapper Rick Ross got caught smoking marijuana in a Louisiana hotel room.
But it was Charlie Sheen who really gave fans something to talk about after he was fired from Two and a Half Men following months of public feuding with writer/creator Chuck Lorre. Days later, cops raided Sheen's Los Angeles home to investigate a tip that the troubled star was in violation of a court order by keeping a gun in the house.
March also brought one of the year's most devastating tragedies as Japan was hit by a massive earthquake, which then created an enormous tidal wave. More than 15,000 people perished in the disaster and Slash, Lady Gaga, the Black Eyed Peas and the Foo Fighters were among the big-name acts who staged gigs to raise money for victims, while actresses Sandra Bullock and Demi Lovato also donated $1 million (£625,000) each to boost relief efforts.
Back in Hollywood, there was plenty of heartache as Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel ended their romance, Renee Zellweger called it quits with Bradley Cooper and Twilight beauty Ashley Greene split from Joe Jonas.
But love was most definitely in the air for Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon, who married showbiz agent Jim Toth in a romantic ceremony at her California home. Canadian crooner Michael Buble also wed stunning supermodel Luisana Lopilato in a civil ceremony in her native Argentina.
Celebrations were in order for former Spice Girl Melanie Brown, who announced she and husband Stephen Belafonte were expecting their first child together. Actors Robert De Niro and Mel Gibson became proud grandfathers in March, while Elizabeth Banks also became a first-time mother to a baby boy, born via surrogate.
Emily Deschanel confirmed she was expecting her first child with actor husband David Hornsby, while Cruel Intentions star Ryan Phillippe also had baby news after the tabloids reported that his ex-girlfriend, actress Alexis Knapp, was pregnant.
There was a health scare on the cards for tennis ace Serena Williams after she was hospitalised with a blood clot in her lungs, while fears for Zsa Zsa Gabor's wellbeing mounted when she began coughing up blood and suffered circulation problems in her left leg.
There was a close call for actor David Arquette after he was in a head-on car crash in Los Angeles, and Glee star Lea Michele was also involved in a smash when her car was struck by a drunk driver.
Hip-hop star Wyclef Jean had a lucky escape after he was shot in the hand during a visit to his native Haiti, while James Taylor suffered a broken leg in a skiing accident in Utah.
Courtroom battles loomed for Britney Spears, who was hit with a $10 million (£6.25 million) lawsuit over a perfume deal, and Jay-z was accused of trademark infringement over the logo for Roc Nation.
Even clean-cut teen pop sensation Justin Bieber found himself named in court papers after a songwriting duo sued over claims they hadn't received royalties for his hit song One Less Lonely Girl.
April
There were births, marriages and bust-ups galore as Spring sprung in April, but only one subject was on everyone's lips - the royal wedding. Celebs and commoners alike got carried away in the buzz of the big day on 29 April, when brunette beauty Kate Middleton walked down the aisle with her very own Prince Charming, William. Who would design the dress? Who would be invited? Would best man Harry fall for bridesmaid Pippa? But all questions fell by the wayside on the morning of the magical day, as Britain and two billion viewers across the world came to a standstill to watch the future Queen of England step out of her Rolls-Royce wearing a stunning Alexander McQueen lace gown to huge cheers from the crowd. The pair wed in front of 1,900 quests, including Queen Elizabeth II, the entire royal family, and even showbiz royalty Victoria and David Beckham, and left London's Westminster Abbey to great fanfare as the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. But Kate didn't hog all the limelight - who can forget the backing support of her sister Pippa, hailed Her Royal Hotness thanks to that figure-hugging dress and her much-discussed derriere?
The wedding was of fairytale proportions, one even our favourite celebs couldn't compete with - but that didn’t stop them from trying! Canadian crooner Michael Buble was one of the biggest stars to walk down the aisle in April - his second set of nuptials to stunning fiancee Luisana Lopilato following their original wedding day in March. Controversial couple LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian also wed in a private ceremony in Malibu, which was a surprise for guests - they thought they were there for the pair's engagement party! Funnyman Rob Schneider also joined the marriage club, exchanging vows with fiancee Patricia Azarcoya Arce over the Easter Weekend. The marriage mood of the month gave many stars ideas; the likes of Kate Hudson and Matt Bellamy, and Tom Fletcher and his longtime girlfriend became engaged.
Despite love being in the air, some unions were destined to end - Elizabeth Hurley started divorce proceedings against her millionaire husband Arun Nayar, while Christina Aguilera's five-year marriage to Jordan Bratman was declared officially over. After marriage must come babies, and April was awash with stars welcoming newborns. Superstar Mariah Carey welcomed twins Moroccan and Monroe, and in true diva style, gave birth to them on her fourth wedding anniversary to Nick Cannon. The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers and Black Eyed Peas rapper Taboo both welcomed their third sons, while Jane Krakowski, Kevin James, Toni Collette and Drea De Matteo all also became parents to baby boys. Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal was an exception to the rule - he became the proud father of a baby girl.
But with ups, there must be downs - and nobody does scandal like the stars. Teen sensation Demi Lovato stunned her legions of loyal fans by opening up about the emotional issues which landed her in rehab earlier in the year, revealing she was battling an eating disorder and cut herself at her lowest moments. Charlie Sheen continued his madcap ways by embarking on a comedy tour following his sacking from Two and a Half Men - only to get booed offstage on his first night, with critics calling his stand-up debut an "epic failure". Bond fans mourned April as the month Sir Sean Connery announced he was retiring from public appearances after he failed to show up to a charity event in New York. Lindsay Lohan was back in trouble - and in court - when a judge decided she'd had enough of the actress' antics and sentenced her to 120 days behind bars for violating her probation. Nicolas Cage hit the headlines when he was arrested on domestic violence charges following a street bust-up with his wife in New Orleans, and Vince Neil was also in hot water for domestic violence - his ex-girlfriend accused him of jabbing a finger at her during an argument. However, the biggest shock came when Welsh beauty Catherine Zeta-Jones checked into a mental health facility to overcome her bipolar disorder. The stint in the clinic came after a tough year for the Oscar-winner following husband Michael Douglas' cancer battle.
April was a sad month for actor Tim Robbins, who tragically lost his father, Gil, and his mother, Mary, within days of each other. The punk world was left in mourning when X-Ray Spex legend Poly Styrene lost her battle with cancer at the age of 53, while British actress Elisabeth Sladen, Dr Who's longest running sidekick, also passed away after a fight with the disease.
May
May was a shocking month as Hollywood tough guy Arnold Schwarzenegger split from his wife of 25 years Maria Shriver, only to reveal later on in the month he had fathered a lovechild with their housekeeper 13 years earlier. Although the scandal rocked Hollywood, he wasn't the only one heading for splitsville - Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller became officially divorced, as did actress Neve Campbell and James Bond star George Lazenby. Lady Gaga also split from boyfriend Luc Carl, while Hayden Panettiere ended her romance with her boxer boyfriend Wladimir Klitschko. Girls Aloud beauty Nadine Coyle also became single after calling off her engagement to American footballer Jason Bell.
But it wasn't all doom and gloom - Beatles legend Sir Paul Mccartney announced he was engaged to marry for the third time, to American Nancy Shevell, while director Sophia Coppolla and reality star Kim Kardashian also announced plans to walk down the aisle.
As for marriages, Marie Osmond remarried her first husband Stephen Craig, 29 years after they first exchanged vows and in the same wedding dress. Wedding bells also rang for Kings Of Leon frontman Caleb Followill and Victoria's Secret supermodel Lily Aldridge, while country king and queen Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert also became man and wife in Texas.
New romances between Sienna Miller and Tom Sturridge, as well as Nick Jonas and Australian pop star Delta Goodrem also came to light.
It was a baby boom month, with many stars becoming parents for the first time. Rockers Bryan Adams and Matthew Followill, actors David Schwimmer and Mike Myers, and actresses Alicia Silverstone, Marion Cotillard and Lost's Evangeline Lilly all became first-time parents. Former Spice Girl Emma Bunton welcomed her second son. French first lady Carla Bruni and actress Bryce Dallas Howard were also celebrating pregnancies. But it was a sad month for British actress Kelly Brook, who suffered a miscarriage.
Other sad news in May came when Grease actor Jeff Conaway passed away at the age of 60, sending Hollywood into mourning. Boxing legend Sir Henry Cooper died two days before his 77th birthday and Superman star Jackie Cooper also died, aged 88. The month started with the shock news that al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden had been shot dead in Pakistan. Other stars facing struggles included Sean Kingston, who was involved in a horrific jet-ski crash, while veteran actress Zsa Zsa Gabor was also hospitalised with pneumonia-type symptoms and fell into a coma.
It was also a controversial month for Lindsay Lohan, who started a 120-day jail term in the comfort of her own home for parole violation. British rocker Pete Doherty was also jailed for six months for cocaine possession. Other stars facing woes included Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston, Friends star Matthew Perry and boxer/singer Oscar De La Hoya, who were all submitted in to rehab programs. It was an embarrassing month for British singer Cheryl Cole, who was hired, then fired to sit on the judging panel of America's The X Factor. In music news for the month, Silverchair announced they were to split, Rod Stewart announced a Las Vegas residency, while it was a big movie month as the Cannes Film Festival in France also kicked off. While Brad Pitt was hailed at the glitzy event, with his film Tree Of Life winning the coveted Palme d'Or prize for Best Film, it was a bad experience for director Lars Von Trier, who was banned from the festival for controversial statements he made about Nazi leader Adolf Hitler during the festivities.
June
As summer blossomed, June marked a baby boom in Hollywood. Pop star Pink became a first-time mum at the beginning of the month when she welcomed little Willow, while drummer Adrian Young added to the No Doubt family with daughter Magnolia. Natalie Portman became a yummy mummy to son Aleph, actress Tia Mowry also welcomed a little boy, and model/actress Devon Aoki was another addition to the first-time mum club with the arrival of Hunter. Denise Richards made headlines when she announced she'd adopted a baby, Eloise, into her brood, while Meat Loaf became a grandfather when his daughter Pearl Aday gave birth to a baby boy. Lindsay Price and Nia Long also announced their pregnancies in June, as did Lily Allen - whose baby news went public on the same day she married partner Sam Cooper.
Lily's wedding wasn't the only one at the start of summer - Rachel Weisz married actor Daniel Craig following a whirlwind romance and Noel Gallagher put his wild ways behind him after exchanging vows with longterm partner Sara MacDonald.
However, the month was marred by a string of high-profile splits - David Duchovny and Tea Leoni separated just two years after reconciling following the actor's sex addiction admission, Jack White parted ways with model/singer wife Karen Elson after six years of marriage, and Hugh Hefner was dumped by fiancee Crystal Harris - just days before their planned wedding. Elizabeth Hurley's divorce from Arun Nayar was granted, and George Clooney split from Elisabetta Canalis.
There were health dramas aplenty - pop princesses Selena Gomez and Jennifer Hudson were hospitalised within days of each other. Both stars were forced to pull performances, and getwellselena even became a top trending topic on Twitter.com as fans rallied to support the Disney idol. Gomez later revealed she was malnourished and feeling exhausted, while Hudson was diagnosed with a severe bout of food poisoning.
The music world was left reeling when legendary saxophonist Clarence Clemons, who had worked with Bruce Springsteen and Lady Gaga, died from complications stemming from a major stroke. The rocker led the tributes to his pal, declaring, "His loss is immeasurable and we are honoured and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly forty years." TV fans were also left in mourning following the passing of Columbo star Peter Falk at the age of 83, while legendary TV cowboy James Arness also died.
In other June news, the vampires from Twilight overpowered the magical Harry Potter kids at the MTV Movie Awards, taking home five golden popcorn prizes to their film franchise rival cast's one. The Cmt Awards took place in Nashville, Tennessee just days later and newlyweds Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert dominated the ceremony - picking up three of the nine top honours between them. But it was a bad month for their country music rival Trace Adkins when his Tennessee home was destroyed by fire.
The month was special for U2 when they headlined Britain's iconic Glastonbury festival after a year-long wait - they were forced to pull out of the event in 2010 after frontman Bono underwent surgery on his back. In a spooky echo of U2's concert drama, pop star Jessie J was forced to axe several summer shows after undergoing emergency surgery on her broken foot – but still fulfilled her duties at Glastonbury, performing while perched on a red and gold throne.
January
The new year began with wedding bells for many couples including singer Shania Twain, who married her fiance Frederic Thiebaud in Puerto Rico on New Year's Day, while country star Kellie Pickler and actress Valerie Bertinelli also walked down the aisle on 1 January.
The new year brought baby news for a number of celebrity couples - Orlando Bloom and his wife Miranda Kerr became first-time parents with the birth of their son Flynn. Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem also welcomed a son, and Owen Wilson became a father just days after he announced his girlfriend's pregnancy. Nicole Kidman also hit headlines when she and her husband Keith Urban revealed they welcomed a daughter called Faith via a surrogate mother over the holidays.
There was also pregnancy news for actress Kate Hudson, who announced she was expecting a baby with Muse rocker Matt Bellamy, as well as Marion Cotillard, Jewel, Selma Blair and Victoria Beckham, who confirmed she was pregnant with her fourth child.
However, the first few weeks of 2011 also brought a slew of celebrity splits - Keira Knightley ended her longtime romance with actor Rupert Friend, Shakira parted ways with Antonio de la Rua, her boyfriend of more than 10 years, and Mila Kunis and Macaulay Culkin separated after eight years together.
Many stars saw in the new year by addressing their personal problems, and a number of famous faces went in and out of rehab in the first few weeks of 2011. Lindsay Lohan and Demi Lovato both ended long treatment stints in January, while David Arquette, Backstreet Boys star A.J. McLean and his bandmate Nick Carter's younger brother Aaron all enrolled in programs. Troubled actor Charlie Sheen also admitted himself to a clinic just weeks after he was hospitalised to treat a hernia, and he later admitted he turned to booze to blot out the pain of the medical condition. Sheen’s rehab stint forced TV bosses to shut down production on his show Two and a Half Men.
Another colourful character to hit the headlines in January was British funnyman Ricky Gervais, who managed to cause controversy during his stint as Golden Globes host. The comedian was condemned by organisers for poking fun at celebrity guests including Robert Downey, Jr., Johnny Depp and Tom Hanks during the glitzy prizegiving.
The month held good news for veteran actor Michael Douglas as he was given the all-clear after a gruelling battle with throat cancer. His wife Catherine Zeta-Jones subsequently admitted she cried tears of joy when doctors told the couple the actor had beaten the disease. Poison rocker Bret Michaels also overcame a health crisis after undergoing successful surgery to close a hole in his heart.
January also saw the loss of a number of great stars including Oscar-winning James Bond theme composer John Barry, and Scottish musician Gerry Rafferty, who passed away after suffering liver failure. The world of Hollywood was again plunged into mourning following the death of British actor Pete Postlethwaite, who died at the age of 64.
February
As awards season got into full swing, The King's Speech was the toast of Hollywood after scooping four Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor for the movie's star, Colin Firth, and Best Director for Tom Hooper, while Natalie Portman fought back tears as she walked away with the Best Actress honour for her role as a tormented ballet dancer in Black Swan. It was a different story at the Independent Spirit Awards, where Black Swan trounced its rivals, picking up four honours including Best Director for Darren Aronofsky.
In the world of music, Lady Gaga's incredible rise continued as she picked up three Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Vocal Album, but her achievements were overshadowed by country trio Lady Antebellum, who scored five accolades, and the shock win for Canadian rockers Arcade Fire in the prestigious Album of the Year category for their disc The Suburbs. Across the pond at the Brit Awards in London, Arcade Fire were again bathed in glory when they were handed the International Group and International Album honours, while newcomer Tinie Tempah crowned a triumphant 12 months by taking home the British Breakthrough Act and British Single titles. Rihanna was named Best International Female solo star, and Justin Bieber was named the International Breakthrough Act of the year.
Away from the red carpet, it was a bleak month for My Name Is Earl actress Jaime Pressly, who was charged with driving under the influence after failing a field sobriety test, Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey, who was underwent an operation to remove a growth from her foot, Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who was hospitalised with a flesh-eating bug, and Dame Judi Dench, who broke two of her toes on the set of her new movie J. Edgar.
There were also woes for Rihanna, whose raunchy promo film for single S&M provoked outrage around the world and was banned in 11 countries, actress Eliza Dushku, who broke a finger on holiday, and fashion king John Galliano, who was suspended and later sacked by Christian Dior after he was filmed launching an anti-Semitic rant at stunned drinkers in a bar in Paris, France.
Rock duo the White Stripes stunned the music world when they announced they were splitting up after 14 years, and Lady Gaga's much-hyped new single Born This Way was unveiled to a barrage of accusations she had ripped off Madonna's classic Express Yourself. But there was good news for older music fans, as '60s icons The Monkees announced they were reuniting for a U.K. tour.
Loved up celebrity couples Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez, and Anna Friel and Rhys Ifans, both confirmed their engagements, and there were wedding bells for Kelsey Grammer - who married for the fourth time - and Mark Ronson and Katherine Jenkins, who both announced their respective engagements.
Among the stars hearing the pitter-patter of tiny feet this month were Christina Applegate, who gave birth to a daughter, magician David Blaine, who became a first-time father to a baby girl, reggae star Zac Marley, rocker Rod Stewart, Sex and the City's Cynthia Nixon, and No Doubt star Tom Dumont.
Jude Law continued his unlucky-in-love streak when he split - yet again - from Sienna Miller, Iron Man star Terrence Howard was hit with divorce papers, Olivia Wilde split from her husband after eight years, and celebrity couple Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz announced their marriage was over.
The world of showbiz bid farewell to guitar legend Gary Moore, who died aged 58, blues legend Eddie Kirkland died in a car crash at the age of 88, Seinfeld star Len Lesser succumbed to pneumonia aged 88, and The Dukes of Hazzard actress Peggy Rea, who passed away at the age of 89.
March
Tinseltown lost one of its brightest lights in March after movie icon Dame Elizabeth Taylor died of congestive heart failure at the age of 79. Tributes from the world of showbiz poured in for the Cleopatra legend, with Sir Elton John, Jane Fonda, Barbra Streisand and Liza Minnelli leading the heartfelt remembrances. The acting great was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, where her dear friend Michael Jackson was also laid to rest in 2009.
March was also marked by controversy as a host of famous faces found themselves in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Pop star Christina Aguilera was arrested for drunkenness in West Hollywood, while Boardwalk Empire beauty Pas de la Huerta was also apprehended after a bar fight in New York City. Jackass daredevil Steve-o was taken into custody in Canada on an outstanding warrant, and rapper Rick Ross got caught smoking marijuana in a Louisiana hotel room.
But it was Charlie Sheen who really gave fans something to talk about after he was fired from Two and a Half Men following months of public feuding with writer/creator Chuck Lorre. Days later, cops raided Sheen's Los Angeles home to investigate a tip that the troubled star was in violation of a court order by keeping a gun in the house.
March also brought one of the year's most devastating tragedies as Japan was hit by a massive earthquake, which then created an enormous tidal wave. More than 15,000 people perished in the disaster and Slash, Lady Gaga, the Black Eyed Peas and the Foo Fighters were among the big-name acts who staged gigs to raise money for victims, while actresses Sandra Bullock and Demi Lovato also donated $1 million (£625,000) each to boost relief efforts.
Back in Hollywood, there was plenty of heartache as Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel ended their romance, Renee Zellweger called it quits with Bradley Cooper and Twilight beauty Ashley Greene split from Joe Jonas.
But love was most definitely in the air for Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon, who married showbiz agent Jim Toth in a romantic ceremony at her California home. Canadian crooner Michael Buble also wed stunning supermodel Luisana Lopilato in a civil ceremony in her native Argentina.
Celebrations were in order for former Spice Girl Melanie Brown, who announced she and husband Stephen Belafonte were expecting their first child together. Actors Robert De Niro and Mel Gibson became proud grandfathers in March, while Elizabeth Banks also became a first-time mother to a baby boy, born via surrogate.
Emily Deschanel confirmed she was expecting her first child with actor husband David Hornsby, while Cruel Intentions star Ryan Phillippe also had baby news after the tabloids reported that his ex-girlfriend, actress Alexis Knapp, was pregnant.
There was a health scare on the cards for tennis ace Serena Williams after she was hospitalised with a blood clot in her lungs, while fears for Zsa Zsa Gabor's wellbeing mounted when she began coughing up blood and suffered circulation problems in her left leg.
There was a close call for actor David Arquette after he was in a head-on car crash in Los Angeles, and Glee star Lea Michele was also involved in a smash when her car was struck by a drunk driver.
Hip-hop star Wyclef Jean had a lucky escape after he was shot in the hand during a visit to his native Haiti, while James Taylor suffered a broken leg in a skiing accident in Utah.
Courtroom battles loomed for Britney Spears, who was hit with a $10 million (£6.25 million) lawsuit over a perfume deal, and Jay-z was accused of trademark infringement over the logo for Roc Nation.
Even clean-cut teen pop sensation Justin Bieber found himself named in court papers after a songwriting duo sued over claims they hadn't received royalties for his hit song One Less Lonely Girl.
April
There were births, marriages and bust-ups galore as Spring sprung in April, but only one subject was on everyone's lips - the royal wedding. Celebs and commoners alike got carried away in the buzz of the big day on 29 April, when brunette beauty Kate Middleton walked down the aisle with her very own Prince Charming, William. Who would design the dress? Who would be invited? Would best man Harry fall for bridesmaid Pippa? But all questions fell by the wayside on the morning of the magical day, as Britain and two billion viewers across the world came to a standstill to watch the future Queen of England step out of her Rolls-Royce wearing a stunning Alexander McQueen lace gown to huge cheers from the crowd. The pair wed in front of 1,900 quests, including Queen Elizabeth II, the entire royal family, and even showbiz royalty Victoria and David Beckham, and left London's Westminster Abbey to great fanfare as the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. But Kate didn't hog all the limelight - who can forget the backing support of her sister Pippa, hailed Her Royal Hotness thanks to that figure-hugging dress and her much-discussed derriere?
The wedding was of fairytale proportions, one even our favourite celebs couldn't compete with - but that didn’t stop them from trying! Canadian crooner Michael Buble was one of the biggest stars to walk down the aisle in April - his second set of nuptials to stunning fiancee Luisana Lopilato following their original wedding day in March. Controversial couple LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian also wed in a private ceremony in Malibu, which was a surprise for guests - they thought they were there for the pair's engagement party! Funnyman Rob Schneider also joined the marriage club, exchanging vows with fiancee Patricia Azarcoya Arce over the Easter Weekend. The marriage mood of the month gave many stars ideas; the likes of Kate Hudson and Matt Bellamy, and Tom Fletcher and his longtime girlfriend became engaged.
Despite love being in the air, some unions were destined to end - Elizabeth Hurley started divorce proceedings against her millionaire husband Arun Nayar, while Christina Aguilera's five-year marriage to Jordan Bratman was declared officially over. After marriage must come babies, and April was awash with stars welcoming newborns. Superstar Mariah Carey welcomed twins Moroccan and Monroe, and in true diva style, gave birth to them on her fourth wedding anniversary to Nick Cannon. The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers and Black Eyed Peas rapper Taboo both welcomed their third sons, while Jane Krakowski, Kevin James, Toni Collette and Drea De Matteo all also became parents to baby boys. Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal was an exception to the rule - he became the proud father of a baby girl.
But with ups, there must be downs - and nobody does scandal like the stars. Teen sensation Demi Lovato stunned her legions of loyal fans by opening up about the emotional issues which landed her in rehab earlier in the year, revealing she was battling an eating disorder and cut herself at her lowest moments. Charlie Sheen continued his madcap ways by embarking on a comedy tour following his sacking from Two and a Half Men - only to get booed offstage on his first night, with critics calling his stand-up debut an "epic failure". Bond fans mourned April as the month Sir Sean Connery announced he was retiring from public appearances after he failed to show up to a charity event in New York. Lindsay Lohan was back in trouble - and in court - when a judge decided she'd had enough of the actress' antics and sentenced her to 120 days behind bars for violating her probation. Nicolas Cage hit the headlines when he was arrested on domestic violence charges following a street bust-up with his wife in New Orleans, and Vince Neil was also in hot water for domestic violence - his ex-girlfriend accused him of jabbing a finger at her during an argument. However, the biggest shock came when Welsh beauty Catherine Zeta-Jones checked into a mental health facility to overcome her bipolar disorder. The stint in the clinic came after a tough year for the Oscar-winner following husband Michael Douglas' cancer battle.
April was a sad month for actor Tim Robbins, who tragically lost his father, Gil, and his mother, Mary, within days of each other. The punk world was left in mourning when X-Ray Spex legend Poly Styrene lost her battle with cancer at the age of 53, while British actress Elisabeth Sladen, Dr Who's longest running sidekick, also passed away after a fight with the disease.
May
May was a shocking month as Hollywood tough guy Arnold Schwarzenegger split from his wife of 25 years Maria Shriver, only to reveal later on in the month he had fathered a lovechild with their housekeeper 13 years earlier. Although the scandal rocked Hollywood, he wasn't the only one heading for splitsville - Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller became officially divorced, as did actress Neve Campbell and James Bond star George Lazenby. Lady Gaga also split from boyfriend Luc Carl, while Hayden Panettiere ended her romance with her boxer boyfriend Wladimir Klitschko. Girls Aloud beauty Nadine Coyle also became single after calling off her engagement to American footballer Jason Bell.
But it wasn't all doom and gloom - Beatles legend Sir Paul Mccartney announced he was engaged to marry for the third time, to American Nancy Shevell, while director Sophia Coppolla and reality star Kim Kardashian also announced plans to walk down the aisle.
As for marriages, Marie Osmond remarried her first husband Stephen Craig, 29 years after they first exchanged vows and in the same wedding dress. Wedding bells also rang for Kings Of Leon frontman Caleb Followill and Victoria's Secret supermodel Lily Aldridge, while country king and queen Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert also became man and wife in Texas.
New romances between Sienna Miller and Tom Sturridge, as well as Nick Jonas and Australian pop star Delta Goodrem also came to light.
It was a baby boom month, with many stars becoming parents for the first time. Rockers Bryan Adams and Matthew Followill, actors David Schwimmer and Mike Myers, and actresses Alicia Silverstone, Marion Cotillard and Lost's Evangeline Lilly all became first-time parents. Former Spice Girl Emma Bunton welcomed her second son. French first lady Carla Bruni and actress Bryce Dallas Howard were also celebrating pregnancies. But it was a sad month for British actress Kelly Brook, who suffered a miscarriage.
Other sad news in May came when Grease actor Jeff Conaway passed away at the age of 60, sending Hollywood into mourning. Boxing legend Sir Henry Cooper died two days before his 77th birthday and Superman star Jackie Cooper also died, aged 88. The month started with the shock news that al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden had been shot dead in Pakistan. Other stars facing struggles included Sean Kingston, who was involved in a horrific jet-ski crash, while veteran actress Zsa Zsa Gabor was also hospitalised with pneumonia-type symptoms and fell into a coma.
It was also a controversial month for Lindsay Lohan, who started a 120-day jail term in the comfort of her own home for parole violation. British rocker Pete Doherty was also jailed for six months for cocaine possession. Other stars facing woes included Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston, Friends star Matthew Perry and boxer/singer Oscar De La Hoya, who were all submitted in to rehab programs. It was an embarrassing month for British singer Cheryl Cole, who was hired, then fired to sit on the judging panel of America's The X Factor. In music news for the month, Silverchair announced they were to split, Rod Stewart announced a Las Vegas residency, while it was a big movie month as the Cannes Film Festival in France also kicked off. While Brad Pitt was hailed at the glitzy event, with his film Tree Of Life winning the coveted Palme d'Or prize for Best Film, it was a bad experience for director Lars Von Trier, who was banned from the festival for controversial statements he made about Nazi leader Adolf Hitler during the festivities.
June
As summer blossomed, June marked a baby boom in Hollywood. Pop star Pink became a first-time mum at the beginning of the month when she welcomed little Willow, while drummer Adrian Young added to the No Doubt family with daughter Magnolia. Natalie Portman became a yummy mummy to son Aleph, actress Tia Mowry also welcomed a little boy, and model/actress Devon Aoki was another addition to the first-time mum club with the arrival of Hunter. Denise Richards made headlines when she announced she'd adopted a baby, Eloise, into her brood, while Meat Loaf became a grandfather when his daughter Pearl Aday gave birth to a baby boy. Lindsay Price and Nia Long also announced their pregnancies in June, as did Lily Allen - whose baby news went public on the same day she married partner Sam Cooper.
Lily's wedding wasn't the only one at the start of summer - Rachel Weisz married actor Daniel Craig following a whirlwind romance and Noel Gallagher put his wild ways behind him after exchanging vows with longterm partner Sara MacDonald.
However, the month was marred by a string of high-profile splits - David Duchovny and Tea Leoni separated just two years after reconciling following the actor's sex addiction admission, Jack White parted ways with model/singer wife Karen Elson after six years of marriage, and Hugh Hefner was dumped by fiancee Crystal Harris - just days before their planned wedding. Elizabeth Hurley's divorce from Arun Nayar was granted, and George Clooney split from Elisabetta Canalis.
There were health dramas aplenty - pop princesses Selena Gomez and Jennifer Hudson were hospitalised within days of each other. Both stars were forced to pull performances, and getwellselena even became a top trending topic on Twitter.com as fans rallied to support the Disney idol. Gomez later revealed she was malnourished and feeling exhausted, while Hudson was diagnosed with a severe bout of food poisoning.
The music world was left reeling when legendary saxophonist Clarence Clemons, who had worked with Bruce Springsteen and Lady Gaga, died from complications stemming from a major stroke. The rocker led the tributes to his pal, declaring, "His loss is immeasurable and we are honoured and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly forty years." TV fans were also left in mourning following the passing of Columbo star Peter Falk at the age of 83, while legendary TV cowboy James Arness also died.
In other June news, the vampires from Twilight overpowered the magical Harry Potter kids at the MTV Movie Awards, taking home five golden popcorn prizes to their film franchise rival cast's one. The Cmt Awards took place in Nashville, Tennessee just days later and newlyweds Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert dominated the ceremony - picking up three of the nine top honours between them. But it was a bad month for their country music rival Trace Adkins when his Tennessee home was destroyed by fire.
The month was special for U2 when they headlined Britain's iconic Glastonbury festival after a year-long wait - they were forced to pull out of the event in 2010 after frontman Bono underwent surgery on his back. In a spooky echo of U2's concert drama, pop star Jessie J was forced to axe several summer shows after undergoing emergency surgery on her broken foot – but still fulfilled her duties at Glastonbury, performing while perched on a red and gold throne.
- 12/31/2011
- WENN
The four thrash founders shared the stage together for the first time in the U.S. on Saturday.
By Ryan J. Downey
Metallica's James Hetfield performs at the Big 4 concert on Saturday
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
Indio, California — One week after indie hipsters and pop enthusiasts stood on the same desert ground for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, an estimated 55,000 metal fans watched "The Big 4" of thrash share a U.S. stage together for the first time.
"This is history tonight and you're part of it," Metallica frontman James Hetfield told the crowd Saturday at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, California. "Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer and Metallica as one — with you!"
As members of all four bands gathered together toward the end of Metallica's set to perform the Diamond Head classic "Am I Evil?," fans roared. The group of friends, sometime rivals and ex-bandmates embraced one another affectionately and shared wide smiles.
By Ryan J. Downey
Metallica's James Hetfield performs at the Big 4 concert on Saturday
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
Indio, California — One week after indie hipsters and pop enthusiasts stood on the same desert ground for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, an estimated 55,000 metal fans watched "The Big 4" of thrash share a U.S. stage together for the first time.
"This is history tonight and you're part of it," Metallica frontman James Hetfield told the crowd Saturday at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, California. "Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer and Metallica as one — with you!"
As members of all four bands gathered together toward the end of Metallica's set to perform the Diamond Head classic "Am I Evil?," fans roared. The group of friends, sometime rivals and ex-bandmates embraced one another affectionately and shared wide smiles.
- 4/25/2011
- MTV Music News
Ever since forming in Suffolk in 1991, Dani Filth's Cradle of Filth have been one of England’s highest profile extreme metal bands. Over the years their musical style has evolved from a classic black metal sound to a cleaner, more "produced" mixture of Gothic metal, symphonic black metal and other extreme metal styles. Thematically the band’s imagery has pretty much remained the same: one that is heavily influenced by Gothic literature, poetry, mythology, sex and horror films.
In early November, 2010, after having already released eight albums and assorted E.P.s, they put out their newest record, the lushly evocative Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa, which is a concept album based on the legend of the lascivious demoness and wife of the Biblical Adam, Lilith. Within the narrative of the album are references to diverse topics (such as Greek mythology, The Knights Templar and Carmelite Nuns) woven into a...
In early November, 2010, after having already released eight albums and assorted E.P.s, they put out their newest record, the lushly evocative Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa, which is a concept album based on the legend of the lascivious demoness and wife of the Biblical Adam, Lilith. Within the narrative of the album are references to diverse topics (such as Greek mythology, The Knights Templar and Carmelite Nuns) woven into a...
- 12/15/2010
- by Carnell
- DreadCentral.com
Fangoria Musick just got the word that the long-churning rumors are true: Slayer and Megadeth are once again joining forces for an American Tour - their first together since 1991's Clash Of The Titans tour!
Slayer. Megadeth. Two names synonymous with fierce, crunching power. Two bands whose histories are inevitably intertwined in defining the thrash/metal genre. Individually, their respective prowess and accomplishments are impressive; but together, they're brutal and unstoppable. Megadeth and Slayer will join forces to co-headline "American Carnage," the most blistering, the most explosive, and the most eagerly-antcipated mega-tour of the winter - and you do not want to miss it.
"American Carnage" will kick off on January 18 in Seattle, Wa for a 26-date trek across North America that will include the six Canadian dates postponed earlier this month. Tickets for most shows go on sale this Friday, November 20. Ticketmaster is offering a special presage for most shows from Wednesday,...
Slayer. Megadeth. Two names synonymous with fierce, crunching power. Two bands whose histories are inevitably intertwined in defining the thrash/metal genre. Individually, their respective prowess and accomplishments are impressive; but together, they're brutal and unstoppable. Megadeth and Slayer will join forces to co-headline "American Carnage," the most blistering, the most explosive, and the most eagerly-antcipated mega-tour of the winter - and you do not want to miss it.
"American Carnage" will kick off on January 18 in Seattle, Wa for a 26-date trek across North America that will include the six Canadian dates postponed earlier this month. Tickets for most shows go on sale this Friday, November 20. Ticketmaster is offering a special presage for most shows from Wednesday,...
- 11/16/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (Staff)
- Fangoria
With Slayer's World Painted Blood (see our advance rave here) set to hit retail on November 3rd, news is beginning to flow from the Slayer camp. Today brings word that the limited-edition CD/DVD Combo version of the album will come with a 20-minute short film created by Mark Brooks, director of Adult Swim's Metalocalypse.
Get the details and view the trailer below.
Official Statement:
It was only a matter of time before Slayer's lyrics leapt off the printed page and made their wanton way to the visual medium. The band's discography is gorged with tales of mass murderers, serial sadists and drooling deviants of every stripe - vicious mental cases just begging for a cinematic reception.
Enter Metalocalypse director and big-time Slayer fan Mark Brooks who created a 20-minute DVD titled Playing with Dolls, a 12-episode video-graphic novel that will be included exclusively in Slayer's World Painted Blood Deluxe Edition,...
Get the details and view the trailer below.
Official Statement:
It was only a matter of time before Slayer's lyrics leapt off the printed page and made their wanton way to the visual medium. The band's discography is gorged with tales of mass murderers, serial sadists and drooling deviants of every stripe - vicious mental cases just begging for a cinematic reception.
Enter Metalocalypse director and big-time Slayer fan Mark Brooks who created a 20-minute DVD titled Playing with Dolls, a 12-episode video-graphic novel that will be included exclusively in Slayer's World Painted Blood Deluxe Edition,...
- 10/14/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (James Zahn)
- Fangoria
As if Slayer fans needed any more motivation to pick up the special edition of the thrash lords' long-awaited album World Painted Blood next month, the band has just announced they'll have even more blood on their hands in the form of a short horror film entitled Playing With Dolls, included as a bonus DVD with the set. Read on to find out more about this mini-splatterfest – and watch a sick little teaser while you're at it! Taking its inspiration from the Jeff Hanneman-written track of the same name, the 20-minute, 12-chapter serial killer opus was created by Metalocalypse director Mark Brooks, who fashioned it as a kind of semi-animated graphic novel. "It's not live action and it's not...
- 10/14/2009
- FEARnet
I was a little bit surprised last week when a "biohazard" bag arrived at my doorstep. The clear plastic, medical-grade bag bore the unmistakable red/orange Biohazard logo/warning, but beneath that was another familiar logo. Slayer.
Contained in the ziplock bag was a photo, bio, and a copy of the band's long-awaited new album, World Painted Blood.
After numerous failed attempts to give the album a few good spins this weekend, I finally dug out my now-ancient Sony Walkman CD player, hooked up some earbuds and retreated into darkness to give the album a thorough and proper listen for a track-by-track breakdown.
L-r: Jeff Hanneman, Kerry King, Dave Lombardo, Tom Araya
Photo Credit: Mark Seliger
1. World Painted Blood
While Fangoria readers know that I am no fan of the obligatory "intro" that most artists feel necessary to place on their albums, there are exceptions. Slayer has always been one of those,...
Contained in the ziplock bag was a photo, bio, and a copy of the band's long-awaited new album, World Painted Blood.
After numerous failed attempts to give the album a few good spins this weekend, I finally dug out my now-ancient Sony Walkman CD player, hooked up some earbuds and retreated into darkness to give the album a thorough and proper listen for a track-by-track breakdown.
L-r: Jeff Hanneman, Kerry King, Dave Lombardo, Tom Araya
Photo Credit: Mark Seliger
1. World Painted Blood
While Fangoria readers know that I am no fan of the obligatory "intro" that most artists feel necessary to place on their albums, there are exceptions. Slayer has always been one of those,...
- 10/12/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (James Zahn)
- Fangoria
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