ContactMusic — Former Ramones star Christopher Ward has revealed he twice turned down the chance to replace bassist Jason Newsted in Metallica The rocker aka C J Ramone admits he was honoured to be asked but family issues forced him to turn the gig down He tell... more info

411 Mania — He was asked twice... more info

NME — Bassist says metal titans asked him not once, but twice to join the band more info

Altsounds — “Osaka Ramones” is not only the name of this tribute album, but is also the name of the side project which has made its way in and out of Shonen Knife's performing history for decades. This East meets West punk rock combination is n... more info

Brooklyn Vegan — "The Straight Arrows play no frills spazz rock and have grown up on a healthy diet of the Ramones and Hüsker Dü, culminating in a fearless, boozy punk. They used to play on the scungy fringes of Sydney's live scene... more info

Guardian Music — Victor Ferreira's pitch-shifted vocals and chopped-up melodies create a compellingly itchy, glitchy R&BHometown: Luxembourg.The lineup: Victor Ferreira (vocals, music).The background: We were wondering yesterday who first came up with the paradigm of... more info

Guardian Music — Louis Oliver Jones might be a 21-year-old lad from Leeds, but his music is totally in hock to American garage rockHometown: Heckmondwick.The lineup: Louis Oliver Jones (vocals, instruments), Will Jones (drums).The background: We realise that rock'n'r... more info

Guardian Music — Other Lives, On tourYou don't necessarily need a cabin in the woods in order to connect with the American landscape. From a remote Oklahoman town, Other Lives are a band whose music is, spiritually, many miles from the back-to-basics communion of mus... more info

Altsounds — *SHONEN KNIFE / OSAKA RAMONES* ****OSAKA RAMONES make their European live debut ...* * *********OSAKA RAMONES EUROPEAN DEBUT!* The only show in Europe this year by Shonen Knife side project OSAKA RAMONES takes place at The Windmill, Brixton on Thursd... more info

Guardian Music — These Danish punks are in thrall to the spirit of 76, but we'd be lying if we said they take the music anywhere newHometown: Copenhagen.The lineup: Elias Rønnenfelt, Jakob Tvilling Pless, Johan Surrballe Wieth and Dan Kjaer Nielsen.The background: I... more info