According to the Wacken Open Air festival organizers, 60,000 tickets have already been sold for this year's event, which is scheduled to take place July 31 - August 2, 2008 in Wacken, Germany. The organizers write in a press release, "We think that [we'll be] sold out latest at the end of March/beginning of April! Those who haven't already bought their tickets should act promptly. We will definitely not sell any tickets at the festival. Also one-day tickets will not be offered. Furthermore we'd like to warn you [not] to buy your tickets at eBay or any other high-priced online ticket shops!"

Wacken Open Air festival billing is shaping up as follows:

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German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR, who yesterday announced that guitarist Stefan Leibing was leaving the band in order to focus on family life, have issued the following update:

"We've decided to continue with one of the most exciting and respected guitar player in the business — Magnus Karlsson from Sweden. Magnus is known from his excellent work as a guitarist, songwriter and producer for ALLEN/LANDE, MAGNUM's BOB CATLEY, STARBREAKER and many more. We're looking forward to hit the road again with a special best-of setlist and Magnus will be an additional attraction for the shows. It looks like we're planning to get ba ...

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Guitarist Stefan Leibing has announced his departure from German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR. His statement reads as follows:

"Dear PRIMAL FEAR fans, after 10 years being in PRIMAL FEAR I have decided to take a time out from the music business for some time. I do this for my family, especially for my two little sons, who deserve to have more time together with their father. Of course, this is no easy decision, even if I know this is the right one. I leave the guys from PRIMAL FEAR in friendship and want to thank them at this point for their understanding and supporting me in this decision. I also want to thank you fans for a wonderful time during th ...

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Now taking pre-orders for the debut cd of "Dance of the Mourning Child," the piano based instrumental music of Pyramaze and Structure of Inhumanity keyboardist Jonah w! Described by the listeners as "moving and beautiful," "epic," "full of emotion and melody" and even "inspirational." Containing 8 tracks and heavily influenced by artists such as George Winston, Enya, and Hans Zimmer, this album is simply a must have! All the music is original and even self produced. Several full songs can be previewed via myspace at www.myspace.com/danceofthemourningchild. Available for the incredibly low fee of $13, or $10 a piece if you order 2 or more. Makes a great gift! Orders will begin shipping within the third week of March, 2008. Please send a well-hidden check or money order only please to:

Eli Weingarten 323 South 1000 East Salt Lake City, UT 84102

Thank you so much for your support! -Jonah W

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ACE FREHLEY has said he plans to have his new album, Pain in the Neck, ready for a spring release but is still putting the finishing touches on it, including some scheduled six-string contributions from Slash. Though most of the tunes were written in the past several years, Frehley also looked to his own past for guidance. "I've been listening to my first solo album with Kiss, because everybody says that's their favorite record. I was trying to figure out what made it so special, so I'm trying to incorporate a lot of what that record had for this new CD. It has a lot of different aspects and shows different musical sides of me and it's something I'm trying to recapture. I don't know if I can do it but I'm gonna take a shot at it."

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As BLABBERMOUTH.NET exclusively reported earlier today, former JUDAS PRIEST/ICED EARTH singer Tim "Ripper" Owens has now officially joined YNGWIE MALMSTEEN's band. The legendary Swedish guitarist announced the news to the Guitar World staff today when he came to the magazine's New York headquarters for an exclusive interview and photo shoot.

Malmsteen and Owens are hard at work on a new CD, which i ...

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The official web site of legendary heavy metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio (HEAVEN AND HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW) has been updated with the following message:

"If you've been wondering what Ronnie is up to, wonder, no longer: After taking some well-deserved time off after last year's monster HEAVEN AND HELL world tour, Ronnie will be heading off to the UK in March to begin writing the new HEAVEN AND HELL record with the guys. Tony Iommi [guitar] will then travel to L.A. to reunite with Ronnie, Geezer [Butler, bass] and Vinny [Appice, drums] to continue working on the record during Apri ...

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World-renowned Swedish multi-instrumentalist and producer Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, NIGHTINGALE, ex-BLOODBATH) is currently working on an album which he describes as "a cross between ALTER BRIDGE and MOONTOWER-style [Dan's 1999 project] stuff." He says, "I am writing it right now, and it will not be a MOONTOWER 2. I already have an album title and a cover in mind, but I won't 'leak' [it] 'cause it is so cool that it will most likely be stolen!!! I have written around 50 riffs already where maybe 10 will survive the 'filter.' There will be more normal singing there and not so one-dimensional like MOONTOWER. There will still be growls, ...

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Vocalist Maurizio Iacono of the Canadian death metallers KATAKLYSM has issued the following update:

"KATAKLYSM just recently finished mixing their new album ('Prevail') at AudioHammer Studios in Orlando, Florida with producer Jason Suecof. The album is going through a mastering process as we speak and should be wrapped up by the end of the week. In other words, fully complete and ready to kill! The anticipated album will also feature guest solo appearances by Pat O'Brien (CANNIBAL CORPSE), Dave Linsk (OVERKILL) and producer and guitar shredder Jason Suecof himself! The band promises a monstrous album that wi ...

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The new Venom album, titled "Hell", is set to be released through Universal this coming May! The album will feature new guitarist Rage. There will be 13 tracks in all. Some of the titles are "Armaggedon", "Straight To Hell", "Hand of God", "USA For Satan", "The Power and the Glory", "Evil Perfection", "Kill The Music" and the title track "Hell".

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