Rock Report

Bonnaroo organizers are going to give ticket sales another go. Sales will resume at noon Eastern on Saturday. High demand and technical problems shut down Bonnaroo's website when tickets went on sale last Saturday. Bonnaroo will be held June 7-10 in Manchester, Tennessee, and feature The Beach Boys, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bon Iver and Phish.

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Motorhead don't want fans to think they're ripping them off with a new boxed set. The company that holds the rights to their early music has released a collection called ``Complete Early Years Box Set.'' It sells for around $600. Frontman Lemmy is advising against fans from buying it, saying, ``Unfortunately greed once again rears its yapping head.'' The band say they have no control over those early songs and don't want fans to think they're involved in such an expensive item.

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Gordon Lightfoot and Bob Seger are among those who will be honored with induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Jim Steinman, who wrote most of Meat Loaf's hits as well as ``Total Eclipse of the Heart'' and ``Making Love Out of Nothing At All'' also will be inducted. They will be inducted in a ceremony in New York on June 14.

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When Yes told singer Benoit  David they wanted to replace him while he recovered from a health issue, he didn't realize they meant permanently. Yes announced two weeks ago singer Jon Davison would replace David for their upcoming dates in Asia and Hawaii. David says in a statement after their European tour, he needed time to rest his voice to avoid further damage, and the band members were ``very understanding.'' David says he found out from a band member's interview he's now out of the band. David is taking it in stride. He says he's grateful for his time in Yes and he'll go back to music once his voice has recovered. Original singer Jon Anderson had suffered a severe asthma attack in 2008 and had expected to return to the band, only to be replaced by David.

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Wenn.com - Ronnie Wood has hinted the Rolling Stones are on the brink of announcing a new world tour to celebrate the legendary band's 50th anniversary.

The Stones have not toured together since wrapping up their Big Bang trek in 2007, and fans are hoping the rockers will hit the road again to celebrate 50 years since the group's formation in 1962.

Wood has now revealed they are talking about a tour after meeting up for rehearsals before Christmas, but admits it takes time to get used to working together again.

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Paul McCartney says The Beatles did consider reuniting. McCartney tells Rolling Stone they didn't because ``there was not enough passion behind the idea.'' He says they were also worried about ruining their legacy by reuniting and being no good. He says the reunion suggestions were nice, but one of them was always not into it. As for McCartney now, he says he's really gotten into playing guitar lately and he can imagine playing music well into his 80s.

Very Cool News - The entire Guns N’ Roses lineup - Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Gilby Clarke, Duff McKagan, Dizzy Reed, Steven Adler and Matt Sorum will attend the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony on April 14 in Cleveland.

Why not "Awesome fantastic news'? well, nobody knows what exactly is going on.

keyboardist Dizzy Reed told Billboard.com. "I know that all the original band is going to be there," "I don't know exactly what's going to go down. It's one of those things I'm sure will all come together and be really cool. I'm just going to go in with a good attitude and a clear head and a grateful heart."

But the question, THE question. Will we see a "one more time" show. 

"Honestly, we haven't spoken about it," Reed says. "I don't know when or why or how to bring it up. It's not an every day sort of thing. So we haven't really talked about it - but I'm sure we'll have to at some point."

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Hellyeah frontman Chad Gray says as an artist, he can't go wrong painting with his own brush, and he says lately he ``just painted with a bigger, heavier brush.'' Hellyeah are putting the final touches on a new album called ``Band Of Brothers,'' set for release in early June. The band made it at drummer Vinnie Paul's home studio in Dallas.

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The ratings for the Grammy Awards were up -- way up. It was the second-most watched Grammys in history. Nielsen reports more than 39.9 million people saw the show. It beat last year's viewership by 50 percent and was the biggest audience since 1984, the year Michael Jackson's ``Thriller'' won eight awards.

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Media Beat - As much criticism as record labels receive for how they treat artists, Sony Music might take the cake. The company pulled the ultimate in shameful activities this weekend by raising the price on Whitney Houston’s Ultimate Collection album on iTunes and Amazon within 30 minutes of her death on Saturday.

Music mega-star Whitney Houston died on Saturday at the age of 48. And when a high-profile artist passes away, fans often look to re-experience their music, which causesdigital and physical sales soar. Most recently, Michael Jackson’s catalog considerably jumped on the charts after his death.

But instead of reverence in the wake of Houston’s passing, Sony chose to raise the price of one of her most popular hits collections. The Ultimate Collection album in the U.K. jumped in price by more than 60 percent from 4.99 to 7.99 within 30 minutes of Houston’s death, according to Digital Spy. The album price fell back down to 4.99 some time during the weekend, but it’s unclear when it happened.

Fans originally blamed Apple for the price hike on iTunes, but The Guardian is reporting that Apple automatically raised the price after Sony Music "lifted the wholesale price” of the album.

Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl says their Grammy night ``represents the human element of music that you really get when you just go straight to tape and record something that sounds like human beings.'' The Foo Fighters won five Grammys, including best rock album for ``Wasting Light'' and best hard rock performance for ``White Limo.'' Grohl says it was the most fun he ever had making a record because they made it in his garage. He says music should be less about sounding perfect and more about the head and the heart. Drummer Taylor Hawkins took a different approach: he swore all through his acceptance speech, but it was during the part of the ceremony that wasn't broadcast.

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Derek Trucks of the Allman Brothers Band gets the Grammy bragging rights. The Tedeschi Trucks Band won best blues album for ``Revelator.'' Trucks' Allman Brothers bandmates, Gregg Allman and Warren Haynes, each had albums nominated in that category as well.

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Paul McCartney has a Grammy for an album he made 37 years ago. The re-release of ``Band on the Run'' won for best historical album. It was nominated for album of the year in 1975 but lost to ``Fulfillingness' First Finale'' by Stevie Wonder. Sam Okell, who engineered the re-release, says after they were finished with the new version, he asked McCartney when was the last time he heard his album. McCartney told him, ``I've never listened to it.''

Speaking of Sir Paul, he has heard plenty of versions of his songs, but he was intrigued to hear Neil Young perform ``I Saw Her Standing There.'' Young was one of several musicians who paid tribute Saturday to McCartney, who was the Recording Academy's MusiCares Person of the Year. Katy Perry conducted a singalong of ``Hey Jude'' with a sparkly baton. Other performers included Coldplay, James Taylor, the Foo Fighters and Alicia Keys.

Clarence Clemons' nephew is one of two saxophonists who will fill the Big Man's shoes on tour for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Springsteen says Jake Clemons will share sax duties with Eddie Manion. It will be the first E Street Band tour since Clemons died last summer. The tour starts March 18 in Atlanta. Springsteen's ``Wrecking Ball'' album comes out March 6.

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Paul McCartney was the last Beatle to get his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Beatles got one as a group, and John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr each have gotten individual ones. McCartney did not get his until yesterday. He called ``an impossible thing to happen.'' McCartney is the Grammys MusiCares Person of the Year and will get a tribute gala in Los Angeles tomorrow. He'll also perform at the Grammys on Sunday. His ``Kisses on the Bottom'' album came out this week.

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The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will induct six backing groups whose lead singers have already been inducted. That includes the Blue Caps, who backed Gene Vincent; Bill Haley's Comets; The Miracles, who backed Smokey Robinson; Buddy Holly's Crickets; James Brown's Famous Flames: and The Midnighters, who backed Hank Ballard. They will be inducted during an April ceremony in Cleveland. The other inductees this year are the Beastie Boys, Donovan, Guns N' Roses, Laura Nyro, Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Small Faces/The Faces.

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from hennemusic.com - The status of the Black Sabbath reunion is currently in limbo, thanks to drummer Bill Ward’s recent announcement that he has been presented with a contract that he did not feel comfortable signing, while also disrespecting his role as one of the founders of the lengendary metal pioneers.

Judging by the rumblings of fans, many assumed Sharon Osbourne was involved and somehow responsible for the unsuitable agreement presented to Ward.

Not so, she says.

"I am not in any position to hire or fire anyone in Black Sabbath. I don't manage the band, I manage my husband,” tweeted Sharon on Wednesday evening.

It remains to be seen who is behind the fee structure for the Sabbath reunion, as each of the players seem to have their own managers.

Three-quarters of the band are in the UK working on a new album with producer Rick Rubin, while Ward awaits the presentation of a contract more to his liking.

A Sabbath world tour is schedule to start May 18 in Moscow.

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Speaking of the whole situation, Hennemusic.com also reported that Bill Ward’s son, Aron, has posted a lengthy Facebook message responding to rumors and speculation that his father has done something wrong, or that he’s simply "greedy” because he received a contract that, in good faith and conscience, he could neither sign or live with.

Here’s a snippet of Aron’s remarks:

"The press is spinning this sh**storm to read as if my dad has quit. This is not true. The guys know that. That's why they said the door is ALWAYS open.

"My dad hasn't 'declined' playing with Black Sabbath or 'threatened' to pull out of this reunion. As he stated, his bags are packed and he's ready to go. He says it loud and clear, he definitely wants to play on the album and he definitely wants to tour. 

"Up 'till about three weeks ago, he was working extremely hard and close with the other three on this album/reunion tour. He was in very good spirits and sounded excited to be writing with Tony, Geezer and Ozzy again.

"'Don't be so greedy': he is by no means greedy, man. If he was, he would have settled with whatever contract given him. It's kind of obvious someone else is greedy. Wake up. He lives in a modest home in Southern California. Pays rent like the rest of us. In case you're still blind, look at it this way — sadly, the current 'Sabbath' statement reads as if someone would rather see the remaining members play in front of thousands of disappointed, confused and resentful fans then give my dad a dignified agreement. Additionally, the record sales will be severely affected because it isn't the promised original lineup. All this because of someone's inability to respect him as the committed founding member he is. This has derailed the fans' hopes of seeing the original lineup and strongly divided the fans. What a way to f* up such a powerful, influential and inspirational legacy for the rest of time.

"To Terry ([a.k.a. Geezer] my godfather), Ozzy (my friend when I was little) and Tony (towering hero), I hope that you will listen to your fans. They want all of you together. As YOU are Black Sabbath, so is my Dad. I hope you guys can work it out."

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Adam Lambert has cleared up reports he is the new frontman of Queen, insisting remarks he made about joining the "We Will Rock you" stars were "taken out of context".

In a recent interview, the pop star appeared to confirm he was heading on the road with original group members Brian May and Roger Taylor for a tour later this year.

However, Lambert claims he was actually referring to a previous performance he and the rock icons gave at the MTV European Music Awards in November.

In a post on Twitter.com, he writes, "Oooh them clever reporters takin (sic) my quotes outta context... I haven't confirmed any guest appearances. I was talking about the EMAs.

"That being said, I'm truly flattered by your jump to such glorious conclusions Mr Journalist!!"

A spokesperson for Queen's label, Hollywood Records, admits there have been discussions about Lambert teaming up with the band, but no official deal has been inked.

The representative tells Rolling Stone, "Adam may perform with Queen at (European music festival) Sonisphere. This is not confirmed. Nothing has been signed." - from wenn.com

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Wenn.com Black Sabbath made headlines this week when drummer Bill Ward issued a public statement advising fans that he will not participate in the band’s reunion unless he is presented with an agreement that reflects his contributions to the group’s success and longevity.

Ward basically told fans that he’s not getting what he feels is fair share of the Sabbath financial pie and that he deserves better than what band management have put on the table for him.

Read Bill’s statement here.

Now, the other three original Sabbath members – Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler – have responded to Ward’s public news with a statement of their own.

"We were saddened to hear yesterday via Facebook that Bill declined publicly to participate in our current Black Sabbath plans,” said the trio. "We have no choice but to continue recording without him although our door is always open... We are still in the U.K. with Tony. Writing and recording the new album and on a roll... See you at Download!!!"

Sabbath are currently working with producer Rick Rubin on a new album, and have a world tour scheduled to start May 18 in Moscow.

Biggest Rock story in recent memory, Queen is set to tour again, with a new lead singer. Adam Lambert.

The star was joined by original group members Brian May and Roger Taylor during his finale performance on 2009's American Idol, and the trio teamed up once more at the MTV European Music Awards in November.

The collaborations led to speculation that Lambert would be stepping in to take the place of late singer Freddie Mercury in an upcoming trek, and Taylor fuelled the reports, saying in December, "He has grown into a really great performer with an astonishing voice... We would like to work with him again. There's nothing signed just yet but we're talking about live dates."

Lambert has now announced he will be touring with May and Taylor throughout 2012 - including dates at Knebworth in England, where Queen played their final gig with Mercury in 1986, before his death in 1991.

He tells Britain's Daily Star, "The intention is to pay tribute to Freddie and the band by singing some F*n great songs. It’s to keep the music alive for the fans and give it an energy that Freddie would have been proud of."

However, Lambert insists he doesn't intend to take Mercury's place: "After the EMAs, I heard faint little slithers of a backlash from people saying: ‘You can’t replace Freddie Mercury.’ But I already knew that.

"There’s no intention in my mind of replacing Freddie. That’s impossible. The way I’m choosing to view it is that it’s a great honour and one I’m in no way going to shirk... Being asked to front Queen is the best thing that can possibly happen."

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Drummer Bill Ward is threatening to hold up the Black Sabbath reunion until he gets a fair contract. Ward says he's waiting for a contract he says ``reflects some dignity and respect toward me as an original member of the band.'' He says he's in a holding pattern but he's packed and ready to leave the U.S. for England to start recording. He wants to play on the album and the tour. Ward says he's not holding out for money but he needs to stand up for his ``rights, dignity and respectability as a rock musician.'' He says he hopes fans don't hold him responsible if the Black Sabbath reunion falls apart. No word from the rest of the band.

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Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform at the Grammys. Other performers that night include Coldplay with Rihanna, the Foo Fighters, and Paul McCartney. The Grammys are February 12 in Los Angeles.

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 Today is Motley Crue Day in Las Vegas. Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman made the declaration to mark Motley Crue's first day of their Vegas residency. They will play there four days a week until February 19.

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Journey drummer Deen Castronovo has pleaded not guilty to four charges stemming from an argument with his ex-girlfriend, according to the Salem Statesman Journal. The police report states the woman, who was not named, says they started fighting January 20 when he accused her of cheating on him. She says they had broken up four weeks earlier after a three-year relationship. Castronovo is charged with recklessly endangering another person, interfering with making a police report, second-degree criminal mischief and harassment.

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According to the legend of Jethro Tull, the lyrics on the ``Thick as a Brick'' album were written by a boy named Gerald Bostock whose parents lied about his age. Singer Ian Anderson thinks it's time to see what Gerald is up to these days. Jethro Tull has recorded ``Thick as a Brick 2,'' for release April 3. Anderson says the sequel will be about the different paths Gerald may have taken in the past 40 years. He's using Gerald as a metaphor for how chance encounters can change our own lives. Jethro Tull plan perform both ``Thick as a Brick'' albums on tour later this year.

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Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will play at the Apollo Theater in New York on March 9. That's three days after Springsteen releases his new ``Wrecking Ball'' album. It will be Springsteen's first appearance at the Apollo.

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The Chevelle entry on Wikipedia is generally correct because drummer Sam Loeffler corrects it himself. Loeffler says it's because half the journalists who interview the band use their Wikipedia entry as source material, and he can tell because they'll use a line from each segment. Loeffler says it's easier on the band if the journalists are at least getting the right information.

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One of the composers of ``Eye of the Tiger'' is suing Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich to keep him from using that song at campaign events. Frank Sullivan and Rude Music Incorporated have filed a federal lawsuit, saying Gingrich has been using that song since 2009. The suit says Gingrich did not ask for permission. Sullivan and Jim Peterik co-wrote the song in 1982. Gingrich's attorneys could not be reached for comment.

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Bryan Adams has finally set his sights on a Canadian tour - and he has 20/20/20 vision.

The veteran pop-rocker and his band will play 20 shows in 20 cities from Newfoundland to British Columbia this spring and summer on his first national trek in over 20 years.

Calgary - June 20th

Edmonton - June 19th

Three bands weren't enough of a musical outlet for Jack White. Now he's gone solo. White will release his first solo album, ``Blunderbuss,'' on April 24. He's already released the first single, ``Love Interruption.'' White says he wrote the songs from scratch and they have nothing to do with anyone or anything except his own expression. White is a member of The Ranconteurs and of The Dead Weather. He announced the breakup of The White Stripes last year.

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Anthrax are back on the road but the lineup is still not at full strength. Guitarist Scott Ian and drummer Charlie Benante both had to drop out of shows last week. Ian was hospitalized with a viral infection but he appears to be better now, although a little bit weak. Benante is taking a leave of absence to be with his mother, who is terminally ill. It's uncertain how long he'll be out. Testament drummer Gene Hoglan is filling in while Benante is away.

Kris Kristofferson says Bob Dylan was an inspiration and a hero before they ever became friends. Now at 75, Kristofferson says he's been around long enough to understand and appreciate Dylan's impact on music. On the new ``Chimes of Freedom'' Dylan covers album, Kristofferson does ``Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn).'' Money raised from ``Chimes of Freedom'' goes to Amnesty International.

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QMI - Aerosmith are climbing back in the saddle.

The Boston rockers are finally putting the finishing touches on their first studio album in seven years, and preparing to return to the road this summer, says guitarist Joe Perry.

"We’re in the middle of a bunch of stuff,” says the 60-year-old rocker from a Hollywood hotel. "I’m out here finishing up the Aerosmith record that we started last summer. Hopefully we’ll have it done in the next month or so.

"And we’re definitely touring this summer. We’re gonna put tickets on sale in February or March and we’re going on the road in June.

Everybody’s lined up. We’re ready.”

That’s a big improvement over the past couple of years, when a lengthy string of bad breaks and ill will left the 40-year-old group’s future in serious doubt. The trouble began when flamboyant frontman Steven Tyler tumbled from a Sturgis stage in 2009 — eventually landing back in rehab for a painkiller addiction — and continued when the singer signed on to be an American Idol judge without consulting his bandmates. At one point, Perry told me Aerosmith planned to replace Tyler temporarily to tour, a move the singer later took legal steps to prevent.

But now, he says that’s all water under the bridge — "bands just go through ups and downs, like any other family” — and everybody is happy, healthy and on the same page

Calgary's Rock Guitar Shelter is looking for homeless instruments.

The shelter takes unwanted guitars and other musical devices, restores them and then passes them on to budding musicians.

The volunteer organization operates from a garage in the northwest part of the city.

The facility also teaches up-and-comers about the ins and outs of the music industry and helps them with their songwriting skills.

Sixteen-year-old Julian Gagnon says he wouldn't be a musician if it wasn't for the Rock Guitar Shelter.

He says it's a good place to get more familiar with music and begin to make a name for yourself.

 

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CD / DVD RELEASE TUESDAY

Joe Cocker, Hard Knocks

The Doors, L.A. Woman [2xCD] - 40th anniversary edition includes bonus disc with alternate versions and one previously unreleased song

The Doors, Mr. Mojo Risin': The Story of L.A. Woman [DVD/Blu-ray]

Lamb of God, Resolution

U2, From the Sky Down [DVD/Blu-ray] - Documentary about Achtung Baby directed by Davis Guggenheim

Various, 2012 Grammy Nominees

Wilco, iTunes Sessions - iTunes exclusive; new versions of 7 Wilco tracks plus a cover of Nick Lowe's "Cruel to Be Kind"

Yardbirds, Performances [DVD]

Bono says poets and painters don't usually collaborate with three other people, so it's odd that musicians do. He says that's ``a tricky thing to hold together'' and suggests maybe that's the point of their film, ``From The Sky Down.'' It's about the making of their 1991 album ``Achtung Baby.'' The Edge says taking risks seems to work for them and that was never more evident than on ``Achtung Baby.'' He says, ``Playing it safe is the scariest thing that we could ever consider.'' ``From The Sky Down'' comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray today.

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Garbage have formed their own label to release their own record. The band say on their Facebook page they've had their fill of ``greedy corporate interest'' and they're going to do it their own way with their label, Stunvolume. They will release their first album in seven years in the spring. It was recorded in Los Angeles, the first Garbage album not to be recorded in their hometown of Madison, Wisconsin.

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Iggy Pop will be the official ambassador for Record Store Day. That's the day when independent record stores sell exclusive releases from big-name artists. Pop says he got his name, his musical education and his personality from working at a record store. He says being the Record Store Day ambassador makes him ``feel like a representative from some exotic jungle full of life and death and sex and anger, called upon to wear a leopard skin and translate joy to the world of the dead.'' This year's Record Store Day is April 21.

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Alice Cooper will be dropping the puck when the Phoenix Coyotes host the Dallas Stars on February 18. The first 10,000 fans will also get Alice Cooper bobbleheads for military appreciation night. The bobblehead wears Alice makeup, a snake and a Coyotes shirt.

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An insurance company is suing Neil Young's company over a warehouse fire that authorities say was caused by Young's vintage car. The San Jose Mercury News reports Unigard Insurance is suing LincVolt, accusing the company of negligence for converting a 1959 Lincoln Continental to run on electricity and biodiesel. A malfunction when the car was charging is believed to have caused a fire in November 2010 that damaged two warehouses. Unigard paid nearly $500,000 to the warehouses' owner. Young did not respond to requests for comment.

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Sum 41 have called off their European tour dates because singer Deryck Whibley suffered a back injury. He does not say what he did, but he does say it's bad enough that doctors told him he could be in a wheelchair. The tour was to begin February fourth in Dublin, Ireland.

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Van Halen in Calgary/Edmonton tickets go on sale to American Express front of the line customers WEDNESDAY Jan 25, Facebook/Live Nation on FRIDAY Jan 27, and General public sale - SATURDAY Jan 28th.

Hennemusic.com - The Red Hot Chili Peppers mobile app is now available - for free! Fans can expect to get the latest Chili Peppers news, tour dates, and more, and the band says they’ll also get stuff first - including a behind-the-scenes video of the upcoming "Look Around" music video.

The Peppers were originally schedule to kick off their US tour this weekend, but have had to postpone the tour’s start due to multiple foot injuries sustained by singer Anthony Kiedis. Anthony recently underwent surgery to remove a crushed sesamoid bone and correct a detached flexor tendon in his foot and is expected to make a full recovery.

The North American tour, to promote the band’s latest album, "I’m With You,” will now kick off March 29 in Tampa Bay.

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AC/DC now have their own pinball machine.

It’s the newest the newest addition to the iconic Stern Pinball collection, honoring one of the most legendary rock and roll bands the world has ever seen.

Players will be able to rock out to 12 classic AC/DC hits including "Back in Black," "Highway to Hell" and "You Shook Me All Night Long." Other exciting game features include two separate ramps, a lower play field, ball shooting cannon, eight drop targets, a mechanized Hell's Bell and animations of AC/DC. Players can also join the party with a TNT detonator and the Devil's Jukebox.

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The Boss is swinging back into action.

Bruce Springsteen’s new studio album will be titled Wrecking Ball and is due March 6 — but the first single off the disc has already been released.

We Take Care of Our Own debuted online Thursday -

Johnny Ramone is publishing his autobiography, eight years after his death. ``Commando: The Autobiography of Johnny Ramone'' will come out April 1. His widow, Linda, says Ramone started writing it when he first was sick with prostate cancer. Linda says the book was supposed to have interviews with Ramone's friends, but she decided it was more powerful to have it just be his story. That means she didn't put in her two cents when Ramone discussed his romance with her -- after she had dated Joey Ramone. She says all three of them had different stories about that, but this one is Johnny's.

Ozzy Osbourne is teaming up with CBS for a contest in which the winner gets a trip to New York City to get a colonoscopy. Osbourne's wife, Sharon, says her life was saved by a colonoscopy that Ozzy urged her to get. The winner of the CBS Cares Colonoscopy Sweepstakes will get a trip for two to New York City, including a hotel for three nights overlooking Central Park and a colon screening with a colon cancer expert from New York-Presbyterian Hospital. The winner will be selected by random drawing in early April. Details and rules are at www.CBSCares.tv.

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It could be the coolest library card ever: the Rock Hall library card. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum opened its library and archives yesterday at the Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland. The collection includes 3,500 books, 1,400 audio recordings, 270 videos, as well as photos, albums, magazines, oral histories and scrapbooks. A few artifacts from the museum are on display, like guitars from Les Paul and Joe Walsh. Getting a Rock Hall library card is free with ID.

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Kid Rock is apologizing for lighting up a cigar in a nonsmoking venue outside Detroit Friday. The Detroit News reports an asthma suffer complained about Rock smoking at a Travis Tritt show. Michigan bans smoking in most public places. Rock says he probably should not have accepted all the drinks people bought him and he doubts he's ``the first one to ever make a bad decision while being intoxicated.'' He offers his ``most sincere apologies to the patrons I may have offended, and a big middle finger in advance to all the haters and attorneys who will somehow try to find an easy paycheque in all this.''

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Alice In Chains singer William DuVall won his fantasy football league, so he got to pick the charity. Besides bandmates Jerry Cantrell, Mike Inez and Sean Kinney, the league also included HellYeah drummer Vinnie Paul, Ann Wilson of Heart, Duff McKagan, former Queensryche guitarist Chris DeGarmo, Meat Loaf, Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Randy Wolf and Jay Ferguson of ``Mad Men.'' Each year they donate items to be auctioned and the league winner chooses the charity. DuVall chose Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

You can view the items at http://myworld.ebay.com/aliceinchainsfootball

Auction ends next Monday.

Some of the items up for bid -

Jerry Cantrell's Stage Outfit & Autographed G&L Tribute Series Rampage Guitar

Duff McKagan Autographed Fender P-Bass

Sean Kinney's Signature Snare, Drumsticks, & Autographed Drumheads

Ann Wilson of Heart Autographed Gold Record

Mike Inez Autographed Warwick Streamer LX 5-string Bass

Chris DeGarmo's Fernandes Sustainer AFR-150S Guitar

Cast-Autographe​d Mad Men Script & Mad Men Blu-Ray DVD Set

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Even Axl Rose has to serve jury duty. His representative tells People magazine Rose served four days on a civil trial outside Los Angeles. Rose says it was ``relatively painless'' and court staff and jurors were ``all really great.''

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``Weird Al'' Yankovic isn't giving up on making movies, but he says if he does make one, it won't be a sequel to his 1989 film ``UHF.'' Yankovic says, ``Generally you don't do sequels to movies that bombed.'' He recalls even before the film came out, a reporter told him it would make a great midnight cult movie, and he was offended the reporter didn't think it would be a hit. Yankovic came close to directing a film last year for the Cartoon Network and had gotten as far as the fourth rewrite on the script. Then, he says, Cartoon Network called and said they weren't going to do films like that after all.

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Red Hot Chili Peppers are postponing their tour because singer Anthony Kiedis is recovering from foot surgery. He had a crushed bone removed and a tendon repaired. He's expected to make a full recovery. The tour was to begin January 20 in Sunrise, Florida, but it will now start March 29 in Tampa.

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It's been a while since Bob Dylan performed on TV. He's taking out his guitar and doing it tonight. Dylan is performing live on VH1. He's doing a musical tribute to director Martin Scorsese. Also honoring Scorsese are George Harrison's widow, Olivia Harrison, and Leonardo DiCaprio. It's part of the Critics' Choice Movie Awards airing live from the Palladium in Hollywood.

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The new Aerosmith record is still a work in progress, and it looks like Steven Tyler is holding things up. Tyler says they've written about half the album -- but not his half. He says he's got to write lyrics and he hasn't had a lot of time. He says he's not pretentious enough to say the songs are hits, but he thinks they've got something. He says it will sound like the Aerosmith everyone knows with some new sounds, because as he puts it, ``How do you hide from my big mouth?''

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With frontman David Lee Roth back on board, American rock group Van Halen released Monday their first single and video with the flamboyant frontman in 27 years. The black and white video for the new song, "Tattoo,” from the band’s upcoming album, "A Different Kind of Truth,” shows Roth and the Van Halen brothers, Eddie and Alex, performing on stage complete with a trademark guitar solo, and Roth, now 57, singing and dancing. Roth returned to touring with Van Halen in 2007 after leaving in 1985 for a solo career that included the hit remake of the Beach Boys classic, "California Girls.” The new album will be the first for the rock group, whose first album "Van Halen” was released in 1978, in 14 years. The group was admitted into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

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The 2012 Coachella lineup

Friday - the Black Keys joined by Pulp, the Arctic Monkeys, Swedish House Mafia, Mazzy Star, Refused, Explosions in the Sky, M83, Afrojack, Cat Power, Amon Tobin, Madness, Jimmy Cliff and more.

Saturday - Radiohead with Bon Iver, the Shins, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, David Guetta, Kaskade, Miike Snow, Jeff Mangum, Sebastian Ingrosso, Andrew Bird, Firehose, Feist, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, St. Vincent and more.

Sunday - Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg joined by At the Drive-in, Justice, Florence + the Machine, Avicii, La Roux, Beirut, the Weeknd, Girl Talk, the Hives, DJ Shadow, Calvin Harris, Nero, Wild Flag and more.

This year's festival will stretch across two weekends instead of just one, but the lineup will be the same both weekends. Coachella 2012 is April 13-15 and April 20-22.

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Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma. A statement from the band says Iommi is still considering treatment options but he's hopeful for a full recovery. Black Sabbath had been working in Los Angeles on their first studio album in 33 years. They will move to Britain so Iommi can continue to work with them while he gets treated.

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Godsmack singer Sully Erna is resting after having surgery on his left knee. It was to repair an old sports injury. The band say on their website Erna ``is already bored and ready to get back to work.''

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Paul McCartney wants you to stop giggling about the title to his next album. It's called ``Kisses on the Bottom.'' It's a line from the first song on the album, a remake of the Fats Waller song ``I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself A Letter.'' The song is about pretending his love wrote him a letter and put kisses on the bottom of it. The album is a collection of standards and features Stevie Wonder and Eric Clapton as guest musicians. It comes out February 7.

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An autopsy on former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Bob Weston reveals he died of gastric intestinal hemorrhage and cirrhosis of the liver. Weston's body was found in his London home on Tuesday. He was 64. His death is not being treated as suspicious. Weston replaced Danny Kirwan in Fleetwood Mac in 1972 and played on the albums "Penguin" and "Mystery to Me." Mick Fleetwood later discovered his wife, Jenny Boyd, was having an affair with Weston, and Weston was fired.

Metallica are working on a 3D movie. The band say on their Web site they are in the very early stages of production and they can't say much more because they don't know the finer points yet. They plan to have it finished sometime next year.

Velvet Revolver is to reunite with sacked frontman Scott Weiland next week to honour a late friend of guitarist Dave Kushner.

Slash, Duff McKagan, Kushner and Matt Sorum have been looking for Weiland's replacement since he was fired from the group following a public bust-up with his bandmates in 2008, but how the quintet will reteam at a benefit gig for musician John O'Brien's widow in Los Angeles on 12 January.

O'Brien was found dead in a Chicago, Illinois hotel room last August. He was 45.

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Ending months of speculation, reunited rockers Van Halen finally confirmed Thursday that they’re about to release a long-awaited new album with original singer David Lee Roth. Even better: They’re heading out on a tour that includes several Canadian stops.

The California quartet — rounded out by guitarist Eddie Van Halen, his brother Alex on drums and son Wolfgang in place of ousted original bassist Michael Anthony — will hit seven cities north of the border this spring. They'll play three Eastern Canad dates in March and four shows in the West in May. See below for a full list of dates, cities and venues. Ticket information and on-sale dates were not immediately available.

It will be the band’s first tour with Roth since a well-received reunion trek in 2007 and ’08. But this time they’ll be armed with new material. A Different Kind of Truth, the group's first disc with Diamond Dave since 1984 — the album and the year — will be released Feb. 7 on Interscope. Tattoo, the leadoff single and video, will be released Jan. 10.

Van Halen Canadian tour dates:

March 15 | Montreal | Bell Centre

March 17 | Toronto | Air Canada Centre

March 21 | Ottawa | Scotiabank Place

May 7 | Vancouver | Rogers Arena

May 9 | Calgary | Scotiabank Saddledome

May 11 | Edmonton | Rexall Place

May 17 | Winnipeg | MTS Centre

Killswitch Engage have parted ways with frontman Howard Jones after nine years.

Jones was temporarily replaced by All That Remains singer Phil Labonte for dates on the band's 2010 tour, after the group told fans he needed "to get himself better".

And now it appears Jones won't be back.

A statement posted on the band's website reads, "We have decided to continue on without Howard Jones... We love Howard and are thankful for the nine years that we've had him in the band. Out of respect for everyone involved, we will not be discussing the specific reasons behind this decision.

Black Keys star Patrick Carney has sparked a New Year war of words with rockers Nickelback after blaming the much-maligned Canadian band for the current state of music. In the new issue of Rolling Stone magazine, Carney takes aim at Chad Kroeger's band as he attempts to explain why he thinks rock music is suffering in 2012.

He says, "Rock 'n' roll is dying because people became OK with Nickelback being the biggest band in the world. "They became OK with the idea that the biggest rock band in the world is always going to be s**t (and) therefore you should never try to be the biggest rock band in the world. F*** that! "Rock 'n' roll is the music I feel the most passionately about, and I don't like to see it f******g ruined and spoon-fed down our throats in this watered-down, post-grunge c**p, horrendous s***. When people start lumping us into that kind of s***, it's like, ‘F*** you,' honestly." -- Wenn.com

The Kid comes out swinging to start 2012! Here's hoping The Black Keys come out on top in this fight!

Dee Snider will be the "Rock World"'s hope to win next seasons Celebrity Apprentice. Michael Andretti, Lisa Lampanelli, , Paul Teutul, Sr., Arsenio Hall, Adam Carolla, Lou Ferrigno, Penn Jillette, George Takei will also be on next season.

Wenn.com says Brandon Flowers has confirmed his band The Killers will be back this year with their first album in four years. The singer released his own record, Flamingo, in 2010 after the band went on hiatus earlier in the year following a tour of its 2008 album Day & Age. Flowers revealed he was "winding down" his solo career to concentrate on his kids following the birth of his third child last year. Now he has announced the Mr. Brightside hitmakers are preparing for a chart return and have already recorded several new tracks.

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Shinedown are about to release the follow-up to their ``The Sound of Madness'' album. ``Amaryllis'' will come out March 27. The first single, ``Bully,'' is for sale now at digital outlets. Frontman Brent Smith says ``Amaryllis'' is ``a message of empowerment, perseverance and inspiration.''

A beloved guitar Peter Frampton thought he'd lost forever following a plane crash in the Caribbean 30 years ago has been returned. His prized Gibson Les Paul Custom, which he played on his landmark Frampton Comes Alive album was on board a cargo plane that crashed en route to Panama in 1980, and the guitar great felt sure he'd never see the axe again. But following an exhaustive search, two fans stumbled across the instrument on the Dutch island of Curacao, confirmed its authenticity and teamed up with local tourism bosses to get the guitar back to Frampton. The rocker received the lost axe last month in Nashville, Tennessee and admits he's stunned to have it back. He says, "I am still in a state of shock, first off, that the guitar even exists, let alone that it has been returned to me. He plans to insure it for 2 million dollars. - from Wenn.com

There is ANOTHER Van Halen rumour. apparently this week they will play a secret show. this comes after last week word of near daily practices. The official announcement is now expected next week. the wait continues....

Two founding members of Creedence Clearwater Revival have ruled out ever reuniting with frontman John Fogerty, insisting his offer of an olive branch is "20 years too late". Fogerty, the main songwriter for the Bad Moon Rising hitmakers, quit the group in 1971 at the height of its popularity, and has been at war with his former bandmates Stu Cook and Doug Clifford ever since. In July last year, rumours of a possible reunion were sparked when Fogerty admitted he hadn't ruled out a comeback and he'd "sit still long enough to listen" if an offer was on the table. But Cook and Clifford have now spoken out to scupper fans' hopes of a reconciliation, insisting there is too much bad blood between the musicians for it to work.

Cook tells Uncut magazine, "Leopards don't change their spots. This is just an image-polishing exercise by John. My phone certainly hasn't rung." And drummer Clifford tells the publication, "It might have been a nice idea 20 years ago, but it's too late." - from Wenn.com

Former Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord says he's doing well, five months after announcing he's battling cancer. He says he's been sustained by reading the ``wonderful, kind and inspirational messages'' from fans. Lord announced in August he was taking a break from performing because of his illness. He has not said what kind of cancer he has.

Steven Tyler has confirmed the rumours -- he's engaged to Erin Brady. No other details were given. This will be Tyler's third marriage.

How was your New Years Eve party? probably didn't cost you over 7 million bucks. Red Hot Chilli Peppers headlined for over 400 very lucky guests. Click here for Pics and more Details!

Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill is going to be a dad. People magazine reports Followill's wife, Victoria's Secret model Lily Aldridge, is pregnant with their first child. They were married in May. No word on when Aldridge is due.

from hennemusic.com - Van Halen have been hard at work gearing up for their forthcoming world tour in support of their new album, due February 7.

VH will announce the first wave of shows on January 3, with tickets going on sale on January 10.

The Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood have updated their website with some VH news:

"For the past 2 months VAN HALEN has been rehearsing here 2-3 times a week!!!!!!

Do you have any idea how hard that was to not tell you?? When you come in at 10:00AM and David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, and Wolfgang Van Halen are on stage with 3 other people in the room playing "Running With The Devil” and you can’t say anything?! It’s tough, to put it simply.

According to wenn.com, Metallica frontman James Hetfield hit out at members of the paparazzi in Uruguay over Christmas, allegedly hurling stones at the snappers after they failed to leave his vacationing family alone.

The rocker was taking a break with his wife Francesca and their kids in the Punta Del Este region of the country when he reportedly lost his temper with local photographers tailing him as he took a moped ride with his 11-year-old son Castor.

Hopping off the vehicle to confront the paparazzi, he exchanged words with the snappers and then appeared to pick up pieces of gravel and started throwing it in their direction.

James hurls a boulder at the photographers.

U2's 360 tour has emerged as 2011's biggest concert trek, grossing $231 million globally.

Officials at concert tracker Pollstar report the tour made $156 million in North America alone.

Statistics show U2 sold 1.7 million tickets in North America during the year, putting the Irish rockers ahead of Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney.

Globally, grown-up boy band Take That ranked number two behind U2, taking in $224 million from 34 appearances. - Wenn.com

Steven Tyler is set to wed for a third time after reportedly proposing to his longtime girlfriend Erin Brady. The 38-year-old was spotted wearing a diamond ring on her wedding finger during a Christmas vacation with the Aerosmith frontman in Hawaii and sources tell TMZ.com she's set to become the third Mrs. Tyler.

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Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante can shop like a maniac if needed. Benante says Anthrax was on tour for six weeks with Ozzy Osbourne in 1988 or '89 and the last show was on December 23. No one in the band had time to shop while on the road. Benante says he got home from tour and had 24 hours to get his Christmas shopping done. He did it. He says it was kind of exciting doing it that way.

Sir Paul McCartney is ending his year on a high as official records show the Beatles legend has accumulated almost double his 2010 earnings. The singer has enjoyed a successful tour in the past 12 months, and wrapped his On The Run shows in his hometown of Liverpool, England on Tuesday night. Now, documents from his company show McCartney, who married American heiress Nancy Shevell in October, made $46.4 million in 2011, compared with $26.2 million last year, according to Britain’s The Sun. However, the star paid himself an income of just $1.6 million, compared with a previous $10.7 million salary and dividend payments in 2010. From Wenn.com.

Hennemusic.com - The Allman Brothers Band are among the artists to be honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the Grammys in February. On Wednesday, The Recording Academy announced its 2012 Special Merit Awards recipients. One of this year's Lifetime Achievement Award recipients are Allman Brothers Band.

As pioneers of Southern rock, the Allman Brothers Band created a unique sound, blending elements of blues, country, jazz and rock. Known for their outstanding improvisational and jam-style shows, the band's breakthrough album, 1971's "At Fillmore East,” is a definitive live concert recording. The band has achieved artistic and commercial success with hits such as "Whipping Post," "Ramblin' Man" and "Jessica," the latter having earned them a 1995 Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. In 1995 the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Want to see an original Guns n Roses line up reunion? well, keep those fingers crossed. Click here to read the Axl Rose interview.

According to Wenn.com, The Foo Fighters made the ground shake at a concert in New Zealand this week as experts picked up seismic tremor readings from the gig more than two kilometres away. The band took to the stage at Auckland's Western Springs stadium for the outdoor gig on Tuesday and earthquake monitoring devices around the region picked up geological vibrations from the show.The readings taken by scientists at the GeoNet project, an organisation which monitors earthquake activity in the country, show the rock concert, attended by 50,000 fans, produced tremors comparable to volcanic activity. A statement from GeoNet reads, "The first vibrations were recorded around 7.30pm, part way through the (opening act) Tenacious D set, but the biggest shakes started at 8.20pm when the Foo Fighters took the stage, and then it all went quiet at 11pm when the gig ended. "The ground was shaking three times per second in a nice rhythmic motion. There are lulls in the signal between the songs and peaks in signal intensity during the songs."

Elton John maybe could have predicted he'd compete against Chris Cornell and Mary J. Blige for best original song at the Golden Globes -- but Glenn Close? She wrote the lyrics for the song ``Lay Your Head Down'' from the film ``Albert Nobbs.'' John and songwriting partner Bernie Taupin are nominated for ``Hello Hello'' from ``Gnomeo and Juliet.'' The competition includes Cornell for writing ``The Keeper'' from ``Machine Gun Preacher.'' Blige co-wrote ``The Living Proof'' from ``The Help.'' Madonna co-wrote ``Masterpiece'' from ``W.E.'' Trent Reznor is nominated for best original score for co-writing the one for ``Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.'' The Golden Globes are January 15.

Singer Jimi Jamison is back in Survivor. He left the band for a solo career in 2006. Jamison says it's great to be back in the band ``singing the songs that the fans love.'' Jamison was the singer for Survivor when they had hits with ``High On You'' and ``The Search Is Over.'' Dave Bickler was the singer during the ``Eye of the Tiger'' era.