Def Leppard has canceled the final leg of its North American tour.

The band said in a statement on its Web site that it canceled 23 shows in the U.S. and Canada “due to unforeseen personal matters.” The last leg of the tour was to start Oct. 22 in Reno, Nevada, and wrap up Nov. 28 in Beaumont, Texas.

The band said it “agonized over this decision.”

Fans who bought tickets through Ticketmaster, by phone or over the Internet will get automatic refunds. Otherwise, refunds are available at the point of purchase.

Before canceling, Def Leppard had one the top 20 shows on tour, according to information from the trade publication Pollstar. The band was taking in nearly $700,000 a show.

Los Angeles based keyboardist Kristen Randall moves ahead from a 2 year stint in symphonic hardcore death metal outfit, Winds of Plague.
“I have decided to leave my current position as keyboardist with Winds of Plague and I’d like to personally thank each member of the band, as well as all of our fans. These experiences we shared have been such a huge part of my life the past couple years and I will cherish that forever.  I wish the band the best of luck in their future endeavors.  As for myself, music is my deepest passion and I look forward to working with musicians who have the same work ethic and honorable disposition.”
Upcoming events featuring Kristen Randall is TLC’s Hit cutting edge Tattoo documentary show; LA Ink with Kat Von D and will be aired in February 2010. Kristen Randall is also featured on the upcoming cover of Rebel Ink as well as an extensive spread in the Dec/Jan issue of Inked Magazine. The issue hits streets on December 15th.

The GENITORTURERS are preparing to kick off the “BLACKHEART REVOLUTION” tour on October 24th in Orlando, FL.  They of course are touring in support of their new album “BLACKHEART REVOLUTION” which hits stores on  November 3rd.  The new album combines the band’s signature genre-bending musical style of aggressive rock, mechanical metal and underground electric pop with all the twists and turns of a sonic roller coaster of seductive mayhem that the band has crafted over their now legendary career.

GEN had the following to say about the upcoming tour: “We can’t wait to rally the troops & broadcast the power of these new “BLACKHEART REVOLUTION” songs to the fans live!

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Swiss pagan horde ELUVEITIE have just finished the recording sessions for their new album and are currently mixing the the new songs with Colin Richardson (SLIPKNOT, MACHINE HEAD, KREATOR, BEHEMOTH, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE etc.) and Martyn “Ginge” Ford. The band has announced Everything Remains As It Never Was as the title to the groups fourth full length release. Artwork is attached. 

Vocalist/Mastermind Chrigel Glanzmann commented while taking a break from the mixing session taking place in Wales:
“Somehow it seems almost unreal to me: The recordings for our upcoming album are finished! Right now I’m in the Welsh Nott-In Pill studios with Colin Richardson and Martyn “Ginge” Ford working on the mix of the album. Believe me, the mix will be mind-blowing! What can I say? Colin is just a pure genius!

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Marge Simpson has done something that Homer might not like but will make Bart the proudest kid in his school: She’s posed for Playboy magazine.

After more than a half century featuring women like Marilyn Monroe, Cindy Crawford and the Girls of Hooters on its cover, Playboy has for the first time given the spot to a cartoon character.  And the magazine is giving the star of “The Simpsons” the star treatment, complete with a data sheet, an interview and a 2-page centerfold. The magazine’s editorial director, James Jellinek, won’t say exactly how much of Marge will show in the November edition that hits newsstands on Oct. 16 — or whether she lets that big pile of blue hair down. But, he said, “It’s very, very racy.” But he stressed that the mother of three — the youngest a baby, by the way — has a lot to be proud of. “She is a stunning example of the cartoon form,” he said on Friday at the magazine’s headquarters in Chicago, appearing both pleased and surprised at the words coming out of his mouth.