CLIFF BURTON Biographer Announces U.K., Italian Signings

U.K.-based author Joel McIver will be reading from his recent book, "To Live Is To Die: The Life And Death Of Metallica's Cliff Burton" (pictured below) at two Milan and London locations.

The first event takes place in Milan this coming Saturday (September 27), the 23rd anniversary of Burton's death in a coach crash in Sweden in 1986. The venue, the Alcatraz, is the city's foremost metal club and will host concerts by SLAYER and CANNIBAL CORPSE in the fall. McIver will guest on bass with a local METALLICA tribute band, ORION, sign copies of the Italian translation of "To Live Is To Die…" and participate in a question-and-answer session with clubgoers. The Italian branch of Metclub and Universal Records are also involved in the event, billed as "Cliff Burton Night" (see promotional video clip below).

The second event takes place at London's famed Crobar on Friday, October 2 and will feature a set by the renowned tribute band METALLICA. The Crobar was once hailed by FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl as "my favorite bar anywhere" and holds a unique position in British heavy metal culture.

"To Live Is To Die: The Life And Death Of Metallica's Cliff Burton" features a foreword written by METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett and has been internationally praised.

For more information, visit www.joelmciver.co.uk.

Ex Yngwie Malmsteen Bassist Marcol Jacob Dead at 45

Legendary vocalist Jeff Scott Soto (TALISMAN, JOURNEY, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) has issued the following statement:

"It is with deep regret and remorse I, along with fellow members of TALISMAN, am announcing our brother, longtime colleague and overall greatest musician we've ever played with, Marcel Jacob, is no longer with us as of today, Tuesday July 21, 2009. Marcel took his own life after many years of personal and health issues he was battling.

"We were mere days from starting what would have been our eighth TALISMAN studio album together, celebrating the 20 year anniversary of the band. I spoke with him just yesterday about finalizing the details that would get us started only to get the news this afternoon that my friend merely gave up on it all.

"I want him to be remembered as everything I have already mentioned above but more so, he helped influence so many musicians and songwriters. He was a quiet, gentle soul with a very intense passion for his craft. I have been associated with him since 1994 but it was when we started TALISMAN is when he truly became a brother, one of my dearest friends.

"It is far too early to say anything now but I plan to organize a memorial for his legacy, although not known by the masses, the ones who do see him as the genius I know he was.

"R.I.P. my friend, you will be sorely missed, you will be in my heart forever and I'll see you on the other side... I hope now you will get your dream and jam with Phil Lynott!!"

Jacob formed RISING FORCE with YNGWIE MALMSTEEN in 1978 and later became involved in the pre-EUROPE act called FORCE. Jacob was also a member of HUMAN CLAY, John Norum's (EUROPE) solo band and HUMANANIMAL. He was 45 years old.

blabbermouth.net

Ampeg's New See-thru Dan Armstrong Transparent Bass

Among bass players, Ampeg is a name synonym with bass history itself: a legendary brand which has influenced entire generations of bass players and has written the history of modern music itself.

From the early creations of guitar guru Dan Armstrong, the clear acrylic body guitar taken on stage by Rolling Stone's Keith Richards to the modern basses and amping played by today's rock/metal big names, everything is there: an almost mythical, natural drive for high-quality, zero-compromise and exceptional bass performance that keeps on inspiring young and elderly alike.

This year's Winter NAMM will be the host of the new Ampeg launch, a re-issue of the 1969 Dan Armstrong's ADA4 "Plexi" bass guitar. The new ADA4 boasts the same head-turning diamond-cut acrylic body with dual cutaways on full two-octave fretboard made from Indian rosewood. The neck of the new bass also sports a new bolting method for enhanced rigidity and better sustain.

Also related to the eternal sustain-issue, the Ampeg ADA4 has a compensated brass saddle bridge that is directly-connected to the tail-piece and forming a very solid assembly for increased note sustain and offering one of the best string-to-body coupling possible. The two pickups in the new Ampeg bass are grouped together in a stacked unit and they work as either "Bright Bass" or "Deep Bass"; these custom PUs are also removable, in case you feel like adding a new sound to your axe.