DIR EN GREY: North American Tour Dates announced, include Miwaukee, Mnpls & Chicago

Japan’s DIR EN GREY will embark on a North American headlining tour in November/December. Support on the trek will come from THE HUMAN ABSTRACT.

The dates are as follows:

Nov. 05 - Revolution - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Nov. 07 - The Club @ Firestone - Orlando, FL
Nov. 08 - Center Stage - Atlanta, GA
Nov. 10 - Rams Head Live - Baltimore, MD
Nov. 11 - The Theatre of Living Arts - Philadelphia, PA
Nov. 12 - Wilbur Theatre - Boston, MA
Nov. 14 - Terminal 5 - New York, NY
Nov. 15 - Le Medley - Montreal, QC
Nov. 16 - Kool Haus - Toronto, ON
Nov. 18 - Clutch Cargo’s - Pontiac, MI
Nov. 19 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL
Nov. 20 - First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN
Nov. 22 - The Eagles Club - Milwaukee, WI
Nov. 23 - Pop’s - Sauget, IL
Nov. 25 - House of Blues - Houston, TX
Nov. 26 - Palladium Ballroom - Dallas, TX
Nov. 28 - Marquee Theatre - Tempe, AZ
Nov. 29 - The Wiltern LG - Los Angeles, CA
Nov. 30 - Warfield Theatre - San Francisco, CA
Dec. 02 - Hawthorne Theatre - Portland, OR
Dec. 03 - The Showbox - Seattle, WA
Dec. 05 - Gothic Theatre - Englewood, CO

DIR EN GREY will release its new album, “Uroboros”, on November 12. The album will be released in three editions; a standard edition, a limited edition and a deluxe edition. The standard edition will be released as a single-disc CD album, while the limited edition will include a bonus disc. The deluxe edition, a significantly more expensive release, will include two CDs, one DVD and two LPs, and will be available for pre-ordering only until August 17.

“The album will be stuffed with themes of ‘guilt and reincarnation’ as well as ‘the past, present and future of DIR EN GREY,’” guitarist Kaoru explained back in May. “This will be heavier and darker than previous albums, with a sort of oriental and religious mood and connotations. We’re experimenting with different sounds — we’d like to introduce a multitude of different instruments on this album.”

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE To Play Minneapolis During Republican National Convention

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE will give a rare performance at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September 3 — the same week as the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. for $60.

RAGE guitarist Tom Morello has also committed to perform with country-rocker Steve Earle at a union rally September 1 at St. Paul’s Harriet Island, the first day of the convention.

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE performed outside the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles in August of 2000, one of the group’s final performances before going on a seven-year hiatus.

The band reunited last year for a series of concerts and festival appearances that continues in 2008.

Rumors persist that a new RAGE album is in the works, but the group has not announced any official plans to record new music.

VINCE NEIL: Minneapolis Footage Posted Online

Fan-filmed video footage of MÖTLEY CRÜE singer Vince Neil and his solo band — which includes Jeff Blando (guitar) and Dana Strum (bass) of SLAUGHTER along with drummer Zoltan Chaney — performing the CRÜE classic “Kickstart My Heart” on April 26, 2008 at Trocadero’s in Minneapolis, Minnesota can be viewed below (courtesy of “Trustygumby”).

The new MÖTLEY CRÜE album, “Saints of Los Angeles”, is now apparently due in North America on June 24 through Mötley Records. The CD’s title cut, which is also its first single, includes backing vocals by Josh Todd (BUCKCHERRY), Jacoby Shaddix (PAPA ROACH), James Michael (SIXX: A.M.) and Chris Brown (TRAPT).

In support of the album, MÖTLEY CRÜE will embark on a 40-plus-city North American amphitheater tour, beginning July 1 at the Cruzan Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Fla., and wrapping August 31 at the Post-Gazette Pavilion in Pittsburgh.

Produced by Los Angeles-based Live Nation, Crüe Fest ‘08 will also feature rock acts BUCKCHERRY, PAPA ROACH, TRAPT and CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx’s side band SIXX: A.M.