Newsbites: Green Day rehab is ‘no joke’

Meltdown: Armstrong of Green Day

Green Day‘s label boss has described Billie Joe Armstrong’s visit to rehab as “no joke.” The frontman checked in for treatment over substance abuse issues after an onstage meltdown in Las Vegas. Warner Bros chairman Rob Cavallo, who used to produce Green Day records, says: “He’s under medical supervision for a while. His doctors are still evaluating. I don’t know if we’ll see him before Christmas – it’s undetermined when he’ll be back.” Green Day are scheduled to commence a US tour in November. Metallica have been announced as their replacement for the Voodoo Experience in New Orleans on October 27. [Rolling Stone]

Phil Lynott’s mother Philomena says she spent over five years in constant mourning after the Thin Lizzy founder died in 1986. She explains: “They didn’t want me there when he passed, because they figured I’d lose my reason – which I did. When he died I died for five years. It’s a dreadful waste, but what can you do? I listen to his music every day. I visit his resting place every day because it’s only round the corner from my house. I pour water on his stone – I call it washing his face. Then when I’m leaving I give him a kick for breaking my heart.” Thin Lizzy last week announced they wouldn’t release their new album under Lynott’s title. [The World]

Guns n’Roses guitarist Bumblefoot has listed the lows and highs of life on the road. He says: “The lowest: being sick or injured and trying to get through a show when you’re not physically able. That’s the worst – not just physically but mentally. It’s a vulnerable helpless feeling. And when your family at home needs you and you can’t be there for them. The highs are about making people happy. When an audience rolls out a huge banner over their heads spanning 100 people, it’s an incredible sight. When people let you know your music has got them through difficult times, when you can make music to help those in need, that’s what matters most. Those are the highs.” [Metality]

Queen guitarist Brian May says the Freddie Mercury biopic starring Sacha Baron Cohen is set for release in 2014. He’s hinted the film will be connected with “other plans that will have to stay under wraps for now.”

Jack Bruce has revealed a Cream reunion was on the cards for 2013, but another fall-out has put paid to it. He explains: “There was supposed to be one next year but I think Ginger upset Eric this time, so it’s not happening.” Asked what happened Bruce says: “I can’t tell you!” but adds that he’s still as fired-up about playing live as he ever was. “I’m just a blast from the past, keeping the old music going. The rest of my life is dragging myself around a bit. When I’m on stage I feel no pain.” [BBC]

Meanwhile, Cream guitarist Eric Clapton sold his Gergard Richter painting at auction for £21m last week – breaking the world record for the highest price reached by a living artist. The work, entitled Abstraktes Bild, is regarded as one of the 80-year-old painter’s greatest pieces.

Terrorvision frontman Tony Wright believes supporting Motorhead was one of many of the band’s biggest achievements. “It was an honour to tour with them,” he says. “It’s one of those learning processes to play to a Motorhead crowd – it makes sure you mean what you write and play. The Def Leppard gigs were great for us – Joe Elliott really got what we are about and helped a lot. Having Joey Ramone ask you to turn the music down was an eye-opener: we were asked by the guy that was usually singing when others asked us to turn it down years before!” Terrovision are currently touring the UK.

Floor Jansen has confirmed she’ll remain with Nightwish until at least the middle of next year. She was flown to the US at short notice after the band decided to bring forward their sacking of frontwoman Anette Olzon, which was thought to heave been planned for after the release of their Imaginaerum movie. Jansen says: “I am super-excited to join Nightwish on the rest of the world tour and the summer festivals in 2013.”

Peter Frampton will release a live CD and DVD to mark the 35th anniversary of his groundbreaking Frampton Comes Alive. Shows in February this year were recorded for the new record, called FCA 35 Tour: An Evening with Peter Frampton. It’s out on November 13.

Ginger Wildheart has completed work on his first of three grind/noise albums under the group name Mutation. The band includes Shane Embury of Napalm Death, Jon Poole of the Cardiacs and a guest appearance by Mark E Smith of the Fall. Ginger says of the first record, Frankenstein: “It’s very early thrash mixed with really extreme arrangements. That’s what we were going for – let’s see what happens when we get a member from the Cardiacs, a member from the Wildhearts and a member from Napalm Death together.” [Terrorizer]

Elvis Presley‘s LA mansion is up for sale with an asking price of $13m. He lived in the home with wife Priscilla until their divorce in 1973. It boasts four bedrooms, five bathrooms, pool, spa, glass walls and a guesthouse. It was sold after the Presleys split but remains a site of pilgrimage for fans.

A breast cancer show in Canada starring LA Guns has been cancelled at short notice – but the band don’t know why. The Rock’n For A Cure event was set for Ontario on Thursday and was also to feature Skid Row, Dokken, Lordz of Rock, Warrant and Kix. LA Guns say: “We’re not sure exactly why it’s been cancelled. We will notify if and when we find out. We sincerely hope something else can be put together soon.”