Linkin Park Want To Kick Ass

Chester Bennington has told NME.COM that he believes his band’s headline slot at this year’s Sonisphere festival provides them with the perfect opportunity to become the best live act in the world.

Bennington said the he thinks Muse are currently the band to beat in the live arena, but he’s confident that Linkin Park will be able to equal the Devon trio’s high standards when they headline the Sonisphere festival on August 1.

“They’re one of the best – if not the best – live performing bands in the world at the moment,” he said about Muse, adding “We need to fucking kick some ass.”

The singer also singled out Metallica – who headline the second day of Sonisphere on August 2 – as friendly rivals, saying: “I think those kind of bands elevate you as a player. You either need to shoot up and show up or you need to put your tail between your legs and hope you get through it.”

Taking place at Knebworth, Sonisphere features the likes of Nine Inch Nails, Bullet For My Valentine, Machine Head and Mastodon.

Referencing Knebworth’s status for staging iconic concerts in the past by the likes of Oasis, Led Zeppelin and Queen, Bennington admitted that he feels the gig is a hugely important one for Linkin Park.

“There are definitely shows that either make or break you. And I do think [Sonisphere] could be one of those shows,” he revealed.

“I know that it’s [Knebworth] a legendary venue where legendary acts have played, from Zeppelin to Queen and many, many more. To perform there means you better show up with your kickass pants on.”

The frontman also confirmed that Linkin Park will play new single ‘The New Divide’ at their Sonisphere gig. The band are currently in the studio with Rick Rubin, recording the follow up to 2007 album ‘Minutes To Midnight’.

The Resistance Begins On The 14th September 2009

Muse have confirmed the exact release date for their fifth studio album The Resistance.

On the group’s official website Muse.mu, they revealed that the disc will be released on September 14.

The three-piece’s much anticipated follow-up to 2006’s Black Holes & Revelations was recorded mainly in Italy.

Produced by Mark ‘Spike’ Stent, frontman Matt Bellamy has described the record as “symphonic” and hinted at a “full collaboration with an orchestra”.

“There’s definitely a few things on the album which are segueing into each other and it’s all very orchestral… [That] could take over the album, so it could actually be kind of classical basically, and move away from rock all together.”

Earlier this month, Muse confirmed a UK and Ireland arena tour for November, which will promote the new LP.

Muse – The Resistance Tour – Dates

22.10 HARTWELL ARENA, HELSINKI, FINLAND
General Sale: 08.06
Tickets:http://www.lippu.fi
Tel: +358600900900

24.10 HOVET, STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
General Sale: 05.06
Tickets:http://www.ticnet.se
Tel: +46 (0)771 70 70 70

25.10 SPEKTRUM ARENA, OSLO, NORWAY
General Sale: 08.06
Tickets: http://www.billetservice.no
Tel: +47 2205 2900

26.10 PARKEN, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
General Sale: 06.06
Tickets: http://www.billetlugen.dk
Tel: +45 70 263 267

28.10 COLOR LINE ARENA, HAMBURG, GERMANY
General Sale: 19.06
Tickets: http://www.ticketonline.com
Tel: +49 (0)1805 4470

29.10 O2 WORLD, BERLIN, GERMANY
General Sale: 19.06
Tickets: http://www.ticketonline.com
Tel: +49 (0)1805 4470

31.10 STADE COUVERT REGIONAL, LIEVIN, FRANCE
General Sale: 05.06
Tickets: http://www.fnacspectacles.com/
Tel: +33 8 92 68 36 22

01.11 LE GALAXIE, AMNÉVILLE, FRANCE
General Sale: 05.06
Tickets: http://www.fnacspectacles.com/
Tel: +33 8 92 68 36 22

02.11 SPORTSPALEIS, ANTWERP, BELGIUM
General Sale: 06.06
Tickets: http://www.proximusgoformusic.be
Tel: +32 34 0000 34 (International) 0900 2 60 60 (Belgium)

04.11 SHEFFIELD ARENA, SHEFFIELD, UK
General Sale: 05.06
Tickets*: http://www.gigsandtours.com
Tel: +44 (0)114 256 5656

05.11 ECHO ARENA, LIVERPOOL, UK
General Sale: 05.06
Tickets*: http://www.gigsandtours.com
Tel: +44 (0)844 800 0400

06.11 O2 DEPOT, DUBLIN, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
General Sale: 05.06
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ie
Tel: +353 1 (0)818 719300

09.11 SECC, GLASGOW, UK
General Sale: 05.06
Tickets: http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)844 499 9990

10.11 NIA, BIRMINGHAM, UK
General Sale: 05.06
Tickets*:http://www.gigsandtours.com
Tel: +44 (0)121 780 4141

12.11 O2 ARENA, LONDON, UK
General Sale: 05.06
Tickets*: http://www.gigsandtours.com
Tel: +44 (0)844 856 0202

13.11 O2 ARENA, LONDON, UK
General Sale: 05.06
Tickets*: http://www.gigsandtours.com
Tel: +44 (0)844 856 0202

14.11 AHOY, ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
General Sale: 13.06
Tickets: http://www.livenation.nl
Tel: 0900 1010 2020 (Dutch residents only)

16.11 LANXESS ARENA, COLOGNE, GERMANY
General Sale: 19.06
Tickets: http://www.ticketonline.com
Tel: +49 (0)1805 4470

17.11 BERCY, PARIS, FRANCE
General Sale: 05.06
Tickets: http://www.fnacspectacles.com/
Tel: +33 8 92 68 36 22

18.11 HALLENSTADION, ZÜRICH, SWITZERLAND
General Sale: 11.06
Tickets: http://www.ticketcorner.ch
Tel: +41 44 316 7800

20.11 OLYMPIAHALLE, MUNICH, GERMANY
General Sale: 19.06
Tickets:http://www.ticketonline.com
Tel: +49 (0)1805 4470

21.11 FUTURSHOW STATION, BOLOGNA, ITALY
General Sale: 12.06
Tickets: http://www.ticketone.it
Tel: +39 51 75 87 58

22.11 HALLE TONY GARNIER, LYON, FRANCE
General Sale: 05.06
Tickets: http://www.fnacspectacles.com/
Tel: +33 8 92 68 36 22

25.11 ZÉNITH, TOULOUSE, FRANCE
General Sale: 05.06
Tickets: http://www.fnacspectacles.com/
Tel: +33 8 92 68 36 22

27.11 PAVELLÓ OLÍMPIC, BARCELONA, SPAIN
General Sale: 17.06
Tickets: http://www.servicaixa.es

28.11 PALACIO DE DEPORTES, MADRID, SPAIN
General Sale: 17.06
Tickets: http://www.ticketmaster.es
Tel: +34 91 444 9949

29.11 ATLÂNTICO PAVILHÃO, LISBON, PORTUGAL
General Sale: 09.06
Tickets: http://www.ticketline.pt
Tel: +351 21 891 8409

01.12 ZÉNITH, LIMOGES, FRANCE
General Sale: 05.06
Tickets:http://www.fnacspectacles.com/
Tel: +33 8 92 68 36 22

02.12ZÉNITH, DIJON, FRANCE
General Sale: 05.06
Tickets: http://www.fnacspectacles.com/
Tel: +33 8 92 68 36 22

04.12 PALA OLIMPICO, TURIN, ITALY
General Sale: 12.06
Tickets: http://www.ticketone.it
Tel: + 39 011 324 9605

* UK tickets will be capped at £41.25 maximum across all ticket agencies including all box office charges, booking fees etc (subject to P+P). Personal venue box office callers pay less.

Viva La Resistance!

Muse have revealed the name of their new album today (May 22) through their Twitter page.

This morning the band announced that their fifth record will be titled ‘The Resistance’ via their page on the social networking site, Twitter/musewire.

The band have been working on the follow-up to 2006’s ‘Black Holes and Revelations’ for the past year in Milan and Lake Como in Italy. The album is being produced by the band and mixed by Mark ‘Spike’ Stent (Oasis, Depeche Mode).

Frontman Matt Bellamy had previously revealed that an orchestra had been recruited to play on the album, which he decribed as “symphonic”.

‘The Resistance’ is expected to be released in September.

A message posted on Muse.mu stated that the band – who are currently working on the follow up to 2006’s ‘Black Holes And Revelations’ – will play shows across Europe and North America later this year.

The post also revealed that Muse are to support U2 on some of their forthcoming North American tour this September.

The full message reads:

“We are pleased to confirm that Muse will be touring in the UK, Europe and North America this autumn.

“Full details on the UK and European dates will be announced soon, but for now we can confirm that the band will be special guests to U2 at a number of their North American shows this September, including New York on September 24.

“The remaining U2 dates will be announced in the coming weeks.”

Muse’s drummer Dom Howard recently posted a blog on his MySpace page stating that the album sessions are going well.

“We’ve probably got two more [songs] to record from scratch then we might be almost looking at a complete album,” he wrote.

“Then strings, synth sparkles, llamas toenails, gongs and anything else we can think of that will help us perceive they [the songs] are finished. The hardest bit is finishing.”

Howard added that the album is sounding “fucking great,” and that he is looking forward to playing it live.