Rock Report

THE ROCK 104 ROCK REPORT
Weekdays at 7:15 with Cory Noel
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May 24

ROLLING STONES EXHIBIT OPENS AT ROCK HALL MUSEUM
In the early 1960s, The Rolling Stones were given questionnaires by fans. Mick Jagger replied that his interests were girls, eating and clothes and his dislikes were ``intolerant people (and) having my hair cut.'' That questionnaire is part of a huge Stones exhibit that opens today at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Other items on display include Jagger's floor-length cape made from American and British flags that he wore on the 1981-82 tour and a 1970 letter the Stones sent Santana to ask for permission to use footage of their performance at Altamont for the ``Gimme Shelter'' film. For the first time, the museum will allow fans to take photos, which will be used as part of an interactive display. The exhibit runs through March.


AARON LEWIS WILL MAKE GRAND OLE OPRY DEBUT
It's rare you see the singer for an alternative rock band play the Grand Ole Opry, but Aaron Lewis of Staind happens to have a solid career in country music too. Lewis will make his Opry debut on Wednesday, appearing with Bill Anderson, Ricky Skaggs, Josh Turner, Dustin Lynch, Craig Campbell and Sam Palladio from the TV show ``Nashville.'' Lewis says it's a dream come true to stand in the same circle where musical royalty has stood.


May 23

KID ROCK STILL FENDS OFF SCALPERS
Kid Rock already has scalpers who are trying to get in on his plan to beat scalpers. Rock is offering $20 tickets to his shows this summer and he's held back the first two rows so he can relocate fans from the back to the front. Rock says scalpers have offered him thousands if he'll throw a few of those tickets their way. Rock says he's trying to make a statement on ticket prices and he wouldn't jeopardize that just for quick cash. Rock says another benefit to keeping prices low is that someone who isn't a fan might take a chance on seeing him if it's only $20. Rock says he's heard his whole career about people who didn't like his music until they saw him live.


BRITISH LIBRARY ACQUIRES HANDWRITTEN BEATLES LYRICS
The British Library is putting handwritten Beatles lyrics right out there with original copies of Shakespeare and the Magna Carta. The British Library says it has acquired John Lennon's handwritten lyrics to ``Strawberry Fields Forever,'' ''She Said She Said`` and ''In My Life.`` They were donated by Beatles biographer Hunter Davies. The library already has some rare Beatles materials, including partial lyrics written on hotel stationery on tour.


May 22

OF MONSTERS AND MEN FACE THE RUMOUR MILL BACK HOME
Of Monsters And Men hate to break it to the folks back home in Iceland, but they're not millionaires. Drummer Arnar Rosenkranz Hilmarsson says their friends know the truth, but other Icelanders think they're paid millions for every show while they're dining on caviar and champagne. Singer-guitarist Nanna Bryndis Hilmarsdottir says her cousin had to correct someone who claimed to know the band was full of drug addicts. Hilmarsson says everyone wants to be the first with the news about Of Monsters And Men in Iceland, so they make things up. Hilmarsdottir says because Iceland is so tiny, it's like a gossipy small town.


JOURNEY GUITARIST TALKS ABOUT STEVE PERRY

It’s been 15 years since Steve Perry parted ways with Journey, but his shadow remains a constant for the band who achieved their greatest commercial success with the singer. In a new interview, Journey guitarist Neil Schon spoke about Perry, who he hasn’t seen in almost a decade. "You know what? I say nice things about him, and he says nice things about me," Schon tells Noise 11. "I think, all in all, I have ultimate respect for the man, and the voice that he has. I wish him the best, but we haven't quite gotten around to speaking since we received the Hollywood Walk Of Fame star [in 2005]."


May 21

DOORS KEYBOARDIST RAY MANZAREK DIES
Even though he was in one of the biggest bands of all time, Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek said he never considered himself a rock star. He said in an April 2010 interview his heart was pumping the same energy as anyone else and ``If you do think of yourself as a rock star, then you're a fool.'' Manzarek died yesterday of bile duct cancer in Rosenheim, Germany. He was 74. Manzarek said The Doors came together quickly after they met at a Transcendental Meditation event because he and Jim Morrison knew each other and guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore knew each other. Because The Doors didn't have a bass player, Manzarek played the bass parts on a second keyboard. Densmore says he felt totally in sync with Manzarek musically, like they were of one mind. He says they held down the foundation for Krieger and Morrison to float on and he will miss his ``musical brother.''


STONE TEMPLE PILOTS JOIN FORCES WITH CHESTER BENNINGTON
The members of Stone Temple Pilots performed over the weekend with a surprise singer taking Scott Weiland's place: Chester Bennington of Linkin Park. STP and Bennington took the stage unannounced at the KROQ Weenie Roast in Los Angeles to perform STP songs and a new one called ``Out of Time.'' Bennington says he's still working on music with Linkin Park and the rest of that band has been supportive of him working with STP. Bennington says he's been an STP fan since he was 13. STP bassist Dean DeLeo says they've admired Bennington's voice for some time and they realize Linkin Park will always be his priority. STP fired Weiland in February, although Weiland says he cannot be fired because he started the band. You can hear ``Out of Time'' at STP's website


May 16

MEMORIAL SET FOR SLAYER'S JEFF HANNEMAN
Slayer has announced a free public memorial for guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who died two weeks ago. It's set for next Thursday at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. The four-hour event will be for all ages and first-come, first-served.


JAMES HETFIELD HOUSE FOR SALE

A house in Novato, California once owned by Metallica frontman James Hetfield is up for sale. Reports say the 4-bed, 3-bath, 3-half bath estate is on the market for $3.4 million. Hetfield sold the home to the current owners in 2003; it sits on five acres and features a timber outdoor kitchen and saltwater pool. Hetfield and Metallica are currently gearing up for the 2013 edition of their Orion Music + More festival, set for June 8 and 9 at Belle Isle in Detroit, MI.

 

May 15

COURT REINSTATES LAWSUIT FILED BY BOSTON'S TOM SCHOLZ
The Massachusetts Appeals Court has reinstated a defamation lawsuit filed by Tom Scholz of Boston against the ex-wife of late singer Brad Delp. Scholz had claimed Micki Delp had made remarks to the Boston Herald that could be construed that Scholz was to blame for Brad Delp's suicide in 2007. The article said Brad Delp was upset after a longtime member of Boston was dropped from a summer tour and that Delp was still upset about Boston's breakup more than 20 years earlier. A lower court had ruled that Scholz had failed to prove Micki Delp acted with malice in her comments to the Herald. The appeals court ruled a jury should decide if there was malice. A separate lawsuit against the Herald was thrown out in March.

ROB ZOMBIE CONSIDERS MUSICAL VERSION OF HORROR FILM
Rob Zombie thinks his film about torture, a demented family and running through catacombs would make a perfect Broadway musical. Zombie says he's been thinking for years about a stage version of his film ``House of 1000 Corpses.'' Zombie says it could work because it has ridiculous scenarios and characters that would make it like ``Hairspray'' or ``Rocky Horror Picture Show.'' Zombie says Broadway crowds have changed because they used to see shows like ``Annie Get Your Gun'' and now it's ``Spider-Man.'' He says he can imagine in 10 or 20 years families coming to see ``House of 1000 Corpses - The Musical.''


May 14

THE LUMINEERS' WESLEY SCHULTZ RECALLS HIS CHINA ADVENTURE
When Lumineers singer Wesley Schultz had lost his direction in life, he ran away to China. Schultz says he and drummer Jeremiah Fraites had been collaborating but Fraites went away to school in London. Schultz was in his mid-20s, living at home and had nothing to do. His friend lived in China and said Schultz could do it cheaply, so Schultz lived in a cabin in China for three months. He says his goal was to either stare at a wall or be productive. Schultz says after three months he was ready to return to the U.S., but he does believe his time there shaped him into a different person.



CHRIS HADFIELD DOES TAKE ON DAVID BOWIE'S 'SPACE ODDITY'
It's believed to be the first music video made in space. And it was done by an astronaut on the International Space Station. Canadian spaceman Chris Hadfield did a version of David Bowie's ``Space Oddity'' tweaking the lyrics here and there, but nailing the tune. Hadfield has completed a five-month mission that began last December. And he's no novice at music. He is a longtime guitarist who played in a rock band made up of astronauts.

Check out the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?vKaOC9danxNo


May 13

JEFF HANNEMAN'S LIVER PROBLEMS WERE ALCOHOL-RELATED
Turns out a spider bite had nothing to do with the liver problems that led to Jeff Hanneman's death. Slayer says the guitarist died of alcohol-related cirrhosis. When Hanneman died last week in California last week at age 49, it was thought his death might have had something to do with a suspected spider bite that led to a condition that nearly cost him his arm. But in a Web site post last week, Slayer disclosed that booze messed up his liver and that Hanneman didn't know how bad his liver was until just before he died.


ROLLING STONES TEAM UP WITH HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR IN VEGAS
Sometimes parents earn cool points with their kids by knowing about the music they listen to. In this case, a group of high school kids earned some big points with their parents by scoring a gig with the Rolling Stones. Members of the Green Valley High School in Henderson, Nevada were invited to sing on stage with the Stones to do the chorus at the start of ``You Can't Always Get What You Want.'' The choir director says she thought it was a joke when she got a Facebook message inviting them to sing backup for the Stones this past Saturday. But she learned a friend who teaches music at the University of Southern California had recommended them. When leader told the choir, she says the parents were more amped than the kids were because most of them didn't know who the Stones were.


May 10

MEGADETH CONTEST

Megadeth have launched a new contest for one fan to premiere their new single, "Kingmaker,” via Twitter. The track, from the forthcoming "Super Collider” album, will not only debut on a fan’s Twitter account but they’ll also receive a signed copy of the CD. Ten individuals chosen at random from all entries will also receive signed "Super Collider" CDs. The contest entry period runs May 10 – 16; for full details, click here. Produced by Johnny K, "Super Collider” will be released on June 4. The lead single – and title track – is out now.


IRON MAIDEN BEER

Iron Maiden and UK brewers Robinson’s officially launched the band’s Trooper beer today. The new product made its debut in select Robinson’s pubs across the UK. To support the launch, Maiden have issued a video clip featuring singer Bruce Dickinson explaining the difference between draught Trooper and bottled Trooper beers. The Sun recently reported that the product experienced record sales in advance of its official launch, with Robinsons having to work a six-day week to keep up with demand. Over a quarter of a million pints were pre-sold in the UK alone, and more than 100 countries have applied to stock Trooper beer. The company is brewing three batches a day for the first time in their 175-year history. Named after one of Maiden’s most popular songs, "The Trooper,” from 1983’s "Piece Of Mind,” the beer was created with the help of singer Dickinson. 


May 9

BRET MICHAELS LAUNCHES 80s-THEMED PET PRODUCTS

Poison singer Bret Michaels has announced the expansion of his Pets Rock collection. Launched last year and available exclusively at PetSmart, the product line already includes toys, beds, apparel, collars, leashes, and bowls. Now, Michaels has added some 80’s-themed products to the lineup. The new products, accented with bright neon pink, yellow, orange and green, include the "I Love The ‘80s Dress,” "Boombox Toy,” "Guitar Bottle Cruncher Toy” and "Rainbow Hair Bows.”Michaels will release his new solo album, "Good Songs & Great Friends,” on June 11. He is currently on tour across the U.S., with announced dates booked into late August.


35th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CARS DEBUT ALBUM

The 35th anniversary of the self-titled debut album by The Cars is featured on the latest edition of In The Studio. Produced by Roy Thomas Baker and released in early June of 1978, the record brought rock’s new wave into the mainstream with hits like "Just What I Needed,” "My Best Friend’s Girl” and "Good Times Roll.” "We made that first record in twelve days,” guitarist/vocalist Ric Ocasek says. "The Cars” sold more than a million in its first 6 months, placing the band on the Rolling Stone cover six months after its release with the headline, "Best New Group.” The album would go on to sell more than 6 million copies.

  

May 8

ROD STEWART GETTING BACK INTO SONGWRITING
Rod Stewart says writing songs used to be a chore but isn't anymore. He says in years past, cranking out lyrics was similar to going to school. But now, he says it's a joy. He even says sometimes he will get up in the middle of the night to scribble down lyrics so he doesn't forget when he wakes up. So what made him change? He says when he wrote his autobiography, it gave him a chance to reflect on his life and that got his creative juices flowing again. You can hear the results on his new album, ``Time.'' It's in stores now.


APP TELLS THE STORY OF THE DOORS
The story of the incident in Miami in which Doors singer Jim Morrison was accused of exposing himself onstage is part of a new app about the band. The app includes a comic book rendition of the incident with rare audio of Morrison recorded during the show in 1969. The app includes hundreds of photos, videos and interviews to tell The Doors story. Patti Smith and Hunter S. Thompson are among those who write essays about The Doors' albums. If you're a techie type, one section details the technical notes of the equipment used on every studio album. The app also includes an interactive Doors map of Los Angeles, all song lyrics, rare images and 44 short-form videos. The app sells for $4.99 and it's on sale now.


May 7

JUDGE FINDS SAMMY HAGAR DID NOT LIBEL WOMAN MENTIONED IN HIS MEMOIR
A judge has ruled Sammy Hagar did not defame a Playboy bunny in his 2011 autobiography, ``Red.'' U.S. District Judge Linda Reade dismissed the lawsuit filed by an Iowa woman identified only as Jane Doe. The woman claims she got pregnant with Hagar's child in 1988. The child died shortly after birth. In his book, Hagar denied fathering the child and accused the woman of extorting him for money. Reade says Hagar did not libel the woman because he did not use Doe's name and she failed to prove she suffered injury from his statements.


LED ZEPPELIN SAYS NO EVEN TO BILL CLINTON

Bill Clinton can bring together all sorts of warring parties, but he couldn't do it for Led Zeppelin. David Saltzman of the Robin Hood Foundation tells the ``60 Minutes Overtime'' webcast he and film executive Harvey Weinstein flew to Washington to ask Clinton to ask the surviving members of Led Zeppelin to reunite for the Superstorm Sandy benefit concert. Clinton asked. They said no. Led Zeppelin was in Washington just before the Sandy concert to accept their Kennedy Center Honors.



May 6

SPIDER BITE SUSPECTED AS FACTOR IN JEFF HANNEMAN'S DEATH
A spokeswoman for Slayer says it's believed a spider bite probably had something to do with the liver problems that eventually killed guitarist Jeff Hanneman. But it's possible we may never know for sure. It's unclear whether there was an autopsy on the body of Hanneman, who died Thursday at a Los Angeles hospital at age 49. The spider bite nearly cost him his arm after he failed to get immediate treatment. No word on funeral arrangements at this point.

CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH DRESS UP FOR JAZZ
Since when do Crosby, Stills and Nash wear suits on stage? They decided to shake things up by dressing in dark grey Brooks Brothers suits for a benefit concert with Wynton Marsalis in New York Friday. Graham Nash says, ``If you laugh at our suits, you're getting thrown out of here.'' David Crosby noted he was wearing what he called ``my first pair of grown-up shoes.'' The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra performed with CSN on jazz versions of their hits. Crosby says they had so much fun they felt ``like three children being let loose in NASA.''



May 3

SLAYER GUITARIST JEFF HANNEMAN DIES
Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman has died after suffering from liver failure. Hanneman died yesterday morning at a hospital in southern California. He was 49. Hanneman suffered a spider bite two years ago that resulted in a flesh-eating disease so bad he nearly lost his arm. He had to relearn how to walk and play guitar, and he has not played with Slayer since early 2011. It's uncertain if the bite was a factor in Hanneman's death. Hanneman and guitarist Kerry King formed Slayer in 1982. Hanneman was one of the primary songwriters in the band and wrote or co-wrote such Slayer classics as ``Seasons in the Abyss,'' ''War Ensemble`` and ''Angel of Death.``


LOU GRAMM SAYS NO FOREIGNER REUNION
Singer Lou Gramm says he has no plans to rejoin guitarist Mick Jones and Foreigner for a reunion tour. Recent media reports had stated their managers were tossing around the idea. Gramm's publicist says there are no talks. Gramm and Jones will be together June 13th as they're inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York.


May 2

ROB ZOMBIE CLASSIC ALBUM COLLECTION

As Rob Zombie rides high on the charts with his latest release, "Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor,” a new Zombie compilation is on the way. Due May 14, "Rob Zombie: Classic Album Collection" features the albums "Hellbilly Deluxe" (1998), "The Sinister Urge" (2001), "Educated Horses" (2006) and "Past, Present, & Future" (2003). Each album will come in a new slipcase with a placeholder card for the new album to allow fans to complete their full Rob Zombie studio album set. The "Classic Album Collection" is a series which brings together some of the best, most successful albums from an artist's catalogue, all together in one convenient and compact package.


ROLLING STONES RELEASE MORE TIX

The Rolling Stones have announced that they will be making additional $85 tickets available to shows on their upcoming "50 & Counting” North American tour. Fan demand for the low-price tickets was so great when seats originally went on sale that they immediately sold-out. Now, the Stones have revealed that fans may now have a second opportunity to but the special $85 tickets. Tickets will be available once the band’s staging and production is loaded in to the venue and additional seating availability can be determined. Some tickets will be among the best seats in the house - in the Tongue Pit - with others spread around the arena. To be part of the special opportunity, fan must register now at the Stones facebook page. Registered fans will be notified the day of show if these seats will be available for the concert in their city.

  


May 1

THE RASCALS PLAN EAST COAST TOUR
When The Rascals said they were going to do only 15 reunion shows on Broadway, they failed to account for how much fun they'd have. The Rascals will take their ``Once Upon A Dream'' reunion concerts on an East Coast tour beginning May 24th in Hollywood, Florida. Steven Van Zandt of the E Street Band is the show's producer and was instrumental in reuniting the band.


NEW FLEETWOOD MAC MUSIC

Fleetwood Mac have released their first new music in 10 years. "Extended Play,” a 4-song EP available exclusively via iTunes, marks the band’s first studio release since 2003’s "Say You Will.” The project includes three new songs, "Sad Angel,” "It Takes Time”and "Miss Fantasy,” written by guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, and a fourth cut, "Without You,” written by Stevie Nicks. "Without You” was a lost song from the Buckingham/Nicks days which had been missing and happily rediscovered when someone posted an early demo of it on YouTube.

  

April 30

DEF LEPPARD TWITTER Q AND A

Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott will take part in his first official Twitter fan Q&A this Thursday May 2 at 3pm our time. Joe will be available to answer fan questions about Def Leppard, the band’s recent Las Vegas residency called VIVA! Hysteria, Ded Flatbird, side project Down 'n' Outz, or anything else. Visit @Def_Leppard on Twitter on Thursday – add the hashtag #AskJoe to your question post. The UK group’s recent Las Vegas residency has been of major interest for Leppard fans, who have made the band No. 1 on the hennemusic Hot 10 for the past 6 straight weeks. Prior to the Vegas launch, guitarist Phil Collen confirmed the band would be recording the shows for a live album release. "Absolutely, we are going to do Hysteria Live,”said Collen.


AEROSMITH BASSIST LEAVES TOUR DUE TO ILLNESS

Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton has been forced to leave the band's current Australian tour due to illness. Yahoo!reports Hamiton has returned home to the U.S. after suffering from a chest infection. In his place, bassist David Hull was flown in from the States to take his place at Sunday's show at Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Hamilton played with Aerosmith on Saturday, April 20 for the band's Stone Music Festival appearance and again in New Zealand last week. Hull will most likely stay with Aerosmith for the final two Australian shows. Hamilton will return to Aerosmith and continue the Global Warming tour when he recovers. Aerosmith have two more shows in Brisbane and Melbourne to complete their tour down under in support of their latest album, "Music From Another Dimension.”

 

April 29

ROLLING STONES ROCK TINY LA CLUB
They are musical legends 50 years in the business and still going strong. But for one night, as Mike Jagger put it, the Rolling Stones were ``an up-and-coming band.'' That's because they played a gig Saturday night at a small club in Los Angeles as a tuneup for their arena tour which starts this weekend at the Staples Center. The gig at the Echoplex was kept a secret, with word spreading online. And instead of dialing in for tickets or camping out at a venue, fans got in by winning a lottery, and had to be ID'd and given photo bracelets to eliminate the chance of scalping tickets. The ticket prices were far different, too. The gig was just 20 dollars, compared to the hundreds of dollars fans will pay to see them during their 50th anniversary tour. But the crowd of about 700 surely got their money's worth a 90-minute show featuring a mix of new and old material. And don't expect to find a clip on YouTube cameras and smartphones weren't allowed into the Echoplex.

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND SINGING IN THE RAIN (AND THUNDER)
Music, food, crowds and rain marked last night's end of the first weekend of performances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. A soaked Dave Matthews and his band played through the storm that rocked the area as the day ended. But that didn't stop the fans many rocking rain boots and plastic ponchos from cheering and dancing to the music. The performance ended just as lighting and thunder struck. B.B. King and Dianne Reeves also performed yesterday with Reeves making a return to the festival after a year's absence. She missed last year's event because of her mother's death and as apparently talking about more than just the weather when she told the audience: ``We made it through the rain and storm clouds now sit back and relax and enjoy the music.''


April 26

JOHN DENSMORE WISHES HE HAD DONE MORE TO HELP JIM MORRISON
Former Doors drummer John Densmore wonders if Jim Morrison could have overcome alcoholism and go on to make brilliant music, the way Eminem did with his ``Recovery'' album. Densmore says Morrison lived at a time when they didn't know alcoholism was a disease, and the band was making such great music no one wanted it to end. Densmore says he lobbied for a year to put touring on hold because ``in a studio you can stop. In front of 10,000 people you can't.'' He says he'll always feel guilty he didn't do more to help Morrison. Densmore has a new book called ``The Doors Unhinged: Jim Morrison's Legacy Goes on Trial.''

AMY WINEHOUSE TO BE SUBJECT OF FILM
The family of Amy Winehouse says it's behind the effort to make a film about the late soul singer. The family says it has been approached by many who wanted to do a movie about Winehouse but they are going with director Asif Kapadia because they feel he will look at their daughter's life ``sensitively, honestly and without sensationalizing her.'' The film will feature unseen archive footage to tell about the performer who died of accidental alcohol poisoning nearly two years ago. She was only 27.


April 25

3 DOORS DOWN BASSIST CHECKS INTO REHAB
The bass player for 3 Doors Down is out of jail and into rehab. Robert Todd Harrell is accused of driving under the influence and causing a crash that killed a man in a Nashville suburb. Police say Harrell acknowledged drinking and taking prescription drugs before the wreck this past Friday. Since his arrest, Harrell was held in jail until he made bond yesterday. His attorney isn't saying where Harrell is being treated. Meanwhile, 3 Doors Down has cancelled four of its upcoming appearances out of respect of the victim.


METALLICA GOING TO IMAX WITH ITS NEW FILM
They've already had an impact on music but now Metallica is making a little movie history, too. The band's new film be the first movie to make its debut only in the IMAX format. The 3D film, ``Metallica Through the Never'' opens September 27th. The film mixes concert footage with a dramatic narrative and computer-generated images will hit IMAX a week before it hits regular theatres. Drummer Lars Ulrich says having the film debut on IMAX is ``very exciting'' and ``a bit of a confidence booster.'' He notes they are musicians, not filmmakers and for IMAX to let the film debut on their huge screens ``is super cool.''


April 24

SHARON OSBOURNE IS STICKING WITH OZZY
His wife says Ozzy Osbourne will clean up his act -- or else. Sharon Osbourne spoke out publicly about their family issues yesterday on the set of ``The Talk'' the CBS show she co-hosts. She denies that she and Ozzy are splitting up. Last week, Ozzy, a founding member of Black Sabbath, went on Facebook to say he had relapsed into drug and alcohol abuse -- something his wife says she didn't know about until his online admission. Sharon Osbourne says she's ``devastated'' by the revelation, but that the couple has dealt with worse. She blinked back tears as she said: ``This, too, shall pass.'' If not, Sharon added with a smile, Ozzy will end in a hospital to -- as she put it -- ``get my foot removed from his ass.''


SONIC YOUTH'S KIM GORDON EXPLAINS WHY HER MARRIAGE ENDED
Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth is opening up about why her marriage to bandmate Thurston Moore broke up. He cheated. Gordon tells Elle magazine a girlfriend of a sometimes band member later worked with Moore on a literary project. Gordon found a text and confronted Moore about having an affair. They went to counselling, but she says Moore kept seeing the other woman. Gordon says Moore was ``carrying on this whole double life with her.'' Gordon says she dealt with it by listening to a lot of rap. Then she was diagnosed with breast cancer, but she says it's noninvasive and she's fine.


April 23

 

 

 

3 DOORS DOWN CALL OFF REST OF U.S. TOUR
3 Doors Down are calling off the last four dates of their tour out of respect for Paul Howard Shoulders Junior. He's the man who was killed in a traffic accident involving 3 Doors Down bassist Todd Harrell outside Nashville Friday. The band has cancelled dates in Bossier City, Louisiana; Jacksonville, Florida; Nashville; and Concord, North Carolina. They will resume their tour May 31 in Moscow and they plan to keep their U.S. dates in July. Harrell has been charged with vehicular homicide by intoxication in connection with the accident. Harrell is also charged with allegedly trying to sneak prescription drugs into jail. He's being held in a Nashville jail in lieu of 100-thousand-dollar bail.


RICHIE HAVENS DIES
A Woodstock icon has passed away. Richie Havens played for nearly three hours to open up the original Woodstock, then had to break the news to his bass player that he missed it all. Havens was supposed to be fifth on the bill but other musicians were stuck in traffic, so he went on stage and kept on playing. He made up his signature song, ``Freedom,'' because he had sung everything he knew. Havens said in a 1999 interview he believes Max Yasgur's iconic farm is ``sacred land'' that either had or has acquired its own ``magnetic resonance.'' He said whatever the weather, every day people are sitting on that field. Havens died yesterday of a heart attack in New Jersey. He was 72.


 

April 22

 

 

 

FALL OUT BOY
Elton John and Courtney Love appear on the new Fall Out Boy album ``Save Rock and Roll,'' and Fall Out Boy didn't believe their luck. Singer Patrick Stump says he heard John was a fan and called his bluff by asking him to be a guest musician, and John said yes. Bassist Pete Wentz says they wanted an iconic female rock voice, so they asked Love. Wentz says they wanted a female because ``it's important for girls to understand that they don't need to be just coat hangers for boys, that it's not all about being groupies.''


BLACK KEYS MANAGER CLEARED
The manager of the Black Keys has caught a legal break. The Attorney General in Nashville says Fielding Logan didn't break the law by offering tickets for a Black Keys show to a lawyer opposed to a bill to crack down on ticket scalping. The bill -- which would have put controls on the secondary ticket market in Tennessee -- was withdrawn. But afterward, a lawyer claimed Logan tried to use the tickets to get him to change his position. Logan denies any wrongdoing.


 

April 19th

 

 

 

RUSH-ROCK ROLL HALL OF FAME
Canadian power trio Rush has finally been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Bassist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson and drummer Neil Peart were inducted last night in Los Angeles before throngs of adoring fans. Rush had long been seen as the Cleveland-based rock shrine's most egregious snub, having been eligible for induction since 1998 but passed over each year. The band's diehard fans waited and waited for this honour, pushing and petitioning for the band to finally take its place among rock royalty. Rush join a select group of Canuck acts in the Hall that includes Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen and the Band.

ROCK HALL INDUCTION CEREMONY
In addition to Rush, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened its arms to seven new members. And the members of Heart say it's more like being inducted into a sports hall of fame. Ann Wilson says she and her sister Nancy feel like they are now part of ``the cool ball team'' when it comes to musicians because many of those already in the Hall are among their biggest influences. Randy Newman says he realized how big a deal it was when people he hasn't been in touch with for years began congratulating him. He says it's a big deal to him now, too.

  

 

April 18th

 

 

 

ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS TONIGHT
Randy Newman says he's glad he didn't have to die first to get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson says they never put much thought into being inducted but they know it's important to the fans. Newman and Rush will be inducted into the Rock Hall along with Public Enemy, Heart, Donna Summer and bluesman Albert King. Quincy Jones and record producer Lou Adler will be inducted in the non-performer category. The ceremony is tonight in Los Angeles. If you want to watch, you'll have to wait a while: HBO won't run it until May 18th.

CHILI PEPPERS' CHAD SMITH STILL ENJOYS HIS ROCK HALL INDUCTION
Being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has its perks, as Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith can attest. He got a private midnight tour of the Rock Hall. The Chili Peppers were inducted last year. Smith says it hit him hard when he saw his name next to The Rolling Stones and The Ramones. He says he won't pretend like being in the Rock Hall is no big deal, because it is. He says Grammys and other awards are nice, but that's just for that year.


 

April 17th

 

 

 

OZZY OSBOURNE DENIES DIVORCE RUMOURS BUT ADMITS TO DRINKING, DRUGS
Ozzy Osbourne says he is not splitting from his wife, Sharon, but he does say he's struggling with sobriety again. Osbourne says he's been drinking and doing drugs for the past year and a half but says he's been sober for a month and a half. He says he's been in a ``dark place'' and apologizes for his ``insane behaviour.'' In June, Black Sabbath will release their first album with Osbourne in 35 years.

DOOR TO PAUL McCARTNEY'S HOUSE SELLS FOR $7,600
A beat-up olive green door with a broken pane of glass has sold at auction for 7,600 dollars -- all because it was the front door to Paul McCartney's childhood home. Dominic Winter Auctions says the people who owned the house after the McCartneys replaced the door in 1978. Singer-songwriter Glen South acquired the door and has owned it ever since. There seems to be quite a market for Paul McCartney doors. The original door to his bedroom from the same house sold at auction in 1995 for 44-hundred dollars.



 

April 16th

 

 

 

MEAT LOAF IS SICK
Something's going around on Meat Loaf's tour bus. He had to call off his show in Nottingham, England, on Sunday because of ``medical reasons afflicting several members of the band.'' He didn't give any more details. Meat Loaf's next scheduled show is in Manchester, England, tomorrow.


FALL OUT BOY
Bassist Pete Wentz wasn't sure he wanted to get back together with his punk-rock outfit Fall Out Boy. Wentz says when the band went on break, he had to learn to live his life as an adult, because up to that point his entire life was Fall Out Boy. He had a hard time with that because he says everyone just wanted to keep the band going and he wasn't held accountable. Wentz says he became a boring suburban dad who goes out for coffee and picks up his son at preschool. Then the band decided to get together. Wentz says he wasn't sure he wanted to be on that ride again, but he agreed. Wentz says it's not a reunion because they never broke up. Fall Out Boy's new record, ``Save Rock N Roll,'' comes out today.


 

April 15th

FLAMING LIPS NO LONGER HAVE OKLAHOMA'S OFFICIAL ROCK SONG
Oklahoma's governor says she's got better things to do than listen to Flaming Lips. Republican Governor Mary Fallin has passed on renewing an executive order that made the Flaming Lips song ``Do You Realize??'' Oklahoma's official rock song. A spokesman for Fallin says she has more pressing priorities and ``addressing the state rock and roll song did not make the cut.'' Fallin did renew dozens of other executive orders since taking office in January 2011. ``Do You Realize??'' won an online poll when Oklahoma decided to choose an official rock song. Democratic Representative Joe Dorman says failing to renew the song is a ``sad thing'' because ``it was done in fun to bring attention to Oklahoma's history of rock and roll.'' Flaming Lips could not be reached for comment.

 

DEFTONES BASSIST CHI CHENG PASSES AWAY
Deftones bassist Chi Cheng has died. Cheng had been in a car accident in November 2008 and fell into a coma. He improved to a semi-conscious state in 2009 and was starting to show signs of being able to move his legs. Cheng's mother writes on the site One Love For Chi he was taken to an emergency room early yesterday and his heart stopped. Cheng was 42. He played on the first five Deftones albums and had a hand in the sixth one, but the band decided to scrap it. Sergio Vega has been playing with the band since then. Singer Chino Moreno has posted a simple message on his Facebook page, ``Rest in peace Chi Cheng.''

 


April 12th

 

 

 

PAUL McCARTNEY TOPS RICH LIST
Paul McCartney continues his reign as Britain's wealthiest musician. The Sunday Times estimates McCartney and his wife, Nancy Shevell, have a combined fortune of 1.05 billion dollars. McCartney has topped the list since the Sunday Times began compiling it in 1989. Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is second with 955 million dollars. Adele tops the list for musicians under 30, with an estimated worth of 46 million dollars. The full list will be published Sunday.


WHY PETER FRAMPTON LIKES BRANDY
Peter Frampton acquired a taste for brandy back in the day because of his talk box. Frampton says to keep the tube clean, his roadies used to dip it in brandy. Nowadays he's a bit more sterile about it. Frampton says it's medical tubing and his techs give him a fresh tube every night. Frampton will launch his ``Guitar Circus Tour'' on May 26th in Little Rock, Arkansas, with Robert Cray, Sonny Landreth and B.B. King appearing on select dates


 

April 11th

 

 

 

GREGG ALLMAN MOVIE IN PLANNING STAGES
Gregg Allman's life story is going to be made into a movie. The Hollywood Reporter reports Randall Miller and Jody Savin have acquired the rights to Allman's autobiography, ``My Cross to Bear.'' Miller and Savin are the makers of the upcoming movie about the New York club CBGB. Miller and Savin say they will focus on Allman's journey with The Allman Brothers Band, and on Allman as an older man who knows he needs to clean up his act.



KID ROCK EXPLAINS THE THINKING BEHIND THE $20 TICKET
Kid Rock's plan to charge 20 dollars for tickets to his summer tour and reduce the price of beer, food and parking came out of an idea that nearly cost him a manager. Rock tells Rolling Stone a few years ago he realized it was ``highway robbery'' to sell T-shirts for 40 dollars. Rock demanded the price be cut in half and his manager refused. Rock told him he was fired if he didn't do it. The result: they made the same amount of money by selling twice as many shirts. Rock says another benefit of cheap ticket prices, even if he takes a pay cut, is a full audience. He says all rock stars have huge egos and they all love playing to packed houses.



 

April 9th

 

 

 

KID ROCK OFFERS $20 TICKETS
Kid Rock says he's taking a pay cut to fight the high price of going to a concert. He is offering tickets to his summer tour for 20 dollars for all seats. Rock is also cutting the prices for parking and beer, offering free food samples during the shows and free coffee after the shows, and selling tour T-shirts for 20 dollars. The first two rows will be reserved as free upgrades for fans to be selected at random. The tour begins June 28th outside Washington.

KORN BRINGS BACK WELCH FOR TOUR
Guitarist Brian (Head) Welch will return to Korn for their May concert dates. The first date with Welch is May 15th in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania. Welch quit in 2005 to focus on kicking drugs, his Christian faith and a solo career. He has done a few guest appearances with Korn in the past year.


 

April 8th

 

 

 

BRITISH TABLOID APOLOGIZES TO JOURNEY'S NEAL SCHON
Journey guitarist Neal Schon has accepted an apology from Britain's Daily Mail who wrongfully accused him of being a deadbeat dad. The Daily Mail ran a story in February based on a blog by Judy Kozan, Schon's former mother-in-law. The story falsely claimed Schon neglected his ex-wife and two children, when in reality a judge had found Schon met all his obligations. The paper has apologized and will pay Schon unspecified damages and legal costs. Last month, Schon had filed a lawsuit against Kozan, accusing her of harassment.



MARK KNOPFLER CANCELS RUSSIAN SHOWS AS PROTEST
Mark Knopfler has called off two shows in Russia to protest the country's human rights. Knopfler was supposed to play in Moscow and in St. Petersburg in June. He says he has always loved playing in Russia but he is pushing back against what he calls a crackdown on human rights groups in Russia. Russian authorities have raided hundreds of non-governmental organizations to make sure they comply with a law requiring many of them to register as ``foreign agents.'' The government says it's meant to curb foreign meddling, but critics say it stifles dissent.


 

April 5th

 

 

 

ROLLING STONES: IT'S NOT GOODBYE
If The Rolling Stones were going to do a farewell tour, Mick Jagger wouldn't tell anyone. He says it's embarrassing when acts do farewell tours and then return. Jagger says their upcoming tour isn't a farewell tour anyway, because you never know what might happen. He's in dance classes so he can stay fit, but Jagger says there are still moves he'd love to do that he knows he can't. Keith Richards says the shows they did in London and New York last year went so well, he could see the other guys wanted to play more. Richards says, ``I didn't want to rehearse six weeks for four shows.''


CHEAP TRICK PLAN 'BUDOKAN' ANNIVERSARY SHOWS

Cheap Trick will play two shows to mark the 35th anniversary of their ``Live in Budokan'' concert. They will play the same set for a show in New York on April 28th. That show will be broadcast live on www.LiveStream.com . They will do a similar concert April 30th and it will air live on AXS TV. Cheap Trick will do a national tour beginning May 3rd in Tampa.

 


April 4th

 

 

 

ROLLING STONES ANNOUNCE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
The Rolling Stones are launching a nine-city North American tour and no one knows when the first stop is. It's set for Los Angeles but the date will be announced later. The second date is Oakland, California, on May 5th. The tour will also hit San Jose, Las Vegas, Anaheim, Toronto, Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia. Mick Taylor will rejoin the band for the tour, which celebrates the Stones' 50 years. Jagger says their shows in London and New York last year were such a good time they wanted to do more. Keith Richards says it's the life and blood of the Stones to play in front of people.



ALICE COOPER'S 'WAYNE'S WORLD' JACKET RETURNED
Alice Cooper has gotten back the jacket he wore in ``Wayne's World.'' A year ago, the Los Angeles storage facility that houses the Alice Cooper Archives was burglarized. The jacket was stolen, along with the original sculpture from the ``Hey Stoopid'' album cover and several original vinyl records. Most of the items are still missing. However, Cooper's website says the Los Angeles police reported a man found the jacket behind a dumpster and turned it in. He requested anonymity and no reward. Cooper is so glad to get the jacket back he's taken it out of its glass case and wears it regularly.


 

April 3rd

 

 

 

SAMBORA TO MISS MORE OF BON JOVI TOUR

Guitarist Richie Sambora missed last night's Calgary leg of the current Bon Jovi tour and will not be performing with Bon Jovi during the rest of the current leg of the band's Because We Can tour. The band, on its website, cited ``personal issues.'' The band says all shows will go on as scheduled. No other information was given. Hours before the announcement late Tuesday, Sambora tweeted that he was ``Watching more of the 'Every Road Leads Home To You' cover videos.'' That was a reference to a fan contest promoting a song on his solo album, ``Aftermath of the Lowdown.'' The 53-year-old has struggled with substance abuse and has done several stints in rehab. Bon Jovi is slated to perform in Edmonton tonight and the current leg of the tour is scheduled to end April 25 in San Jose, Calif.


WHAT ARE THE ROLLING STONES HYPING?

Today's the day The Rolling Stones will make their big announcement. Their website has been counting down the days since Friday by posting video of past concert performances each day. It's expected they will announce a new tour.


LOU GRAMM WILL PUBLISH MEMOIRS NEXT MONTH
Just a few months after Lou Gramm had brain surgery, he was contractually obligated to tour with Foreigner. Even though he had co-written the songs and sang them hundreds of times, Gramm had memory problems so bad he kept the lyrics at his feet. That's one of the stories in Gramm's autobiography, ``Juke Box Hero: My Five Decades in Rock 'N' Roll,'' out May 1st. He will discuss his career, his brain tumour, his stint in rehab and his friendships and battles with Foreigner.


 

April 2nd

 

 

 

PAUL McCARTNEY HELPS RESTORE MOTOWN PIANO
An 1877 Steinway grand piano used by Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and other greats of Motown has been restored, thanks to Paul McCartney. The piano was returned to Motown's Hitsville USA building in Detroit yesterday. McCartney told officials at the Motown Historical Museum in 2011 he wanted to help refurbish the piano when he learned it was no longer playable. It's now got sound that's professional recording quality. The museum will celebrate the piano's return with free admission April 25th.



DAVE MATTHEWS BAND FUNDS OYSTER GROWTH
The Dave Matthews Band is helping to grow oysters in a New Jersey bay as part of a water improvement project. The band's Bama Works Fund gave a grant of more than 16-thousand dollars to the environmental organization NY/NJ Baykeeper Group. It will use the money to rebuild a building in Highlands, New Jersey, that was used to grow oysters. The building was damaged during Superstorm Sandy in October.

 


April 1

 

 

 

MUSIC PRODUCER PHIL RAMONE DIES
Stevie Wonder calls music producer Phil Ramone ``the star of stars behind the stars.'' Ramone died Saturday in New York of complications from heart surgery last month. He was 79. Ramone's credits include several Billy Joel albums, Paul Simon's ``Still Crazy After All These Years,'' the ``Flashdance'' soundtrack, and dozens of other works by Barbra Streisand, Ray Charles, Rod Stewart, Paul McCartney and Frank Sinatra. Joel says Ramone was the most talented guy in his band that no one ever saw onstage. Streisand says Ramone had ``impeccable musical taste'' and ``great ears.'' Elton John calls Ramone ``a friend, a musical genius and the most lovable person.''



AUTOGRAPHED 'SGT. PEPPER' ALBUM SOLD FOR NEARLY TEN TIMES EXPECTED PRICE
A copy of The Beatles' ``Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'' album autographed by all four band members was expected to sell for 30-thousand dollars. It sold Saturday for 290,500 dollars. Heritage Auctions of Dallas says the winning bidder was an anonymous Midwest collector bidding online.


 

March 28

 

 

 

NEW CHILI PEPPERS ALBUM?
The Red Hot Chili Peppers might be working on a new album this fall. Chad Smith says they'll start writing songs in September. He says he hopes an album will be ready in 2014, but don't hold him to that. Smith says an album is like a baby. He says ``when it bakes and it's ready to come out, i'll come out.''


MAROULIS WRAPPING UP 'JEKYLL AND HYDE' TOUR
American Idol rocker Constantine Maroulis says it's a good thing he's a ``beast'' who doesn't need a lot of rest. Maroulis, who previously held down one of the lead roles in the Broadway version of "Rock Of Ages”, ends his 25-city tour of ``Jekyll and Hyde'' this Sunday in West Palm Beach, Florida. He'll immediately start rehearsing for the show's Broadway opening five days after that. Maroulis says it would've been nice to rest his voice for a month, but there's no time. Jekyll and Hyde opens on Broadway on April 5th.


 

March 27

 

 

 

AC/DC GOLD RECORD AWARD AUCTIONS FOR CHARITY

A gold record awarded to original AC/DC bassist Mark Evans has sold on eBay for $4200 (Australian). Evans auctioned his French gold record award for the band’s 1976 album, "High Voltage,” to raise funds for the Sydney Secondary College girls soccer team. The school is sending the team to Hawaii to compete next month and Evans put up his coveted award to help them on their way. The gold award was presented to each member of the band in October 1980 by Atlantic Records France to signify the sale of 100,000 copies their first European album release. Evans was the bass player for AC/DC from March 1975 to June 1977, playing on the albums "TNT”, "High Voltage”, "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”, "Let There Be Rock” and "Jailbreak 74”.


SEBASTIAN BACH TALKS ABOUT TOURING WITH AXL ROSE

Sebastian Bach is making the rounds to promote the release of his new live package, "ABachalypse Now.” The singer turned up this week as one of the featured guests on The Adam Carolla Show, where he talked about a variety of things, including his Broadway success, his rock’n’roll past, and the difference between the groupies each profession attracts. Carolla also asks Sebastian about working with Guns N’ Roses and how band leader Axl Rose is doing. "Axl’s an intense dude,” replied Bach. "Here’s the scene: he’s not motivated by fame or money; he doesn’t want to be any more famous. He likes his rock and roll....(and wants to be left alone)...”


 

March 26

 

 

 

RICHIE SAMBORA BUSKS FOR CHARITY
How long could Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi play incognito at a New York market before being recognized? Not that long. Sambora recently played at New York's Chelsea Street Market during a weekday afternoon to raise money for MusiCares. He drew a crowd almost immediately. After the second song, he revealed himself and played ``Living on a Prayer.'' You can watch Sambora on CBS.com as part of its ``Tip Cup'' online series.

RARE BEATLES GUITAR WILL BE SOLD AT MUSIC AUCTION
A guitar that George Harrison and John Lennon both played is up for auction. Harrison played it while practising ``I Am The Walrus'' during ``Magical Mystery Tour,'' and Lennon played it while recording a video session for ``Hello, Goodbye.'' Julien's Auctions estimates it will sell for between 200-thousand and 300-thousand dollars. The auction also includes a cape that Elvis had designed for his ``Aloha From Hawaii'' TV concert that was so heavy it dragged Elvis to the floor, so he didn't use it. That's estimated at 120-thousand dollars. Six David Cassidy jumpsuits, a bright pink hand-painted Bette Midler costume and an autographed pillow Michael Jackson threw out of a Paris hotel window are also for sale. The auction happens May 18th in New York.


 

March 25

 

 

 

JOHN MAYER PLANS CONCERT TOUR
John Mayer will launch his first concert tour since having throat problems. Mayer will begin a tour April 25th in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Phillip Phillips will open on most dates. Mayer needed two surgeries to repair a granuloma in his throat.


MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE BREAKS UP
My Chemical Romance is over. The band announced Saturday on their website that the last 12 years have been a blessing but ``like all great things, it has come time for it to end.'' They thank fans for their support but do not say what the band members' future plans are.


DEPECHE MODE RELEASE 'DELTA MACHINE'
One of the most daunting tasks Martin Gore of Depeche Mode faces is writing an album. He says he feels a lot of pressure until he gets three or four songs done, then it becomes easier. He says it really is a bit like riding a bike. Depeche Mode will put out ``Delta Machine'' tomorrow. Gore says that title is a nod to the two influences in their music, blues and electronic. You might not think of Depeche Mode as a blues act, but Gore says it's been part of their sound all along. He says ``Personal Jesus'' has blues undertones to it.

 

March 22 

 

 

 

STEVEN TYLER ACT STALLED IN HAWAII
The Steven Tyler Act that's working its way through the Hawaii legislature seems to have hit a snag. The bill would allow celebrities to sue those who take photos or videos of their private moments. Tyler himself requested the law and gave testimony in February. It passed the Hawaii Senate, but it is missing deadlines in the state House. Representative Angus McKelvey, who chairs one of three committees the bill would have to pass, says he will not hold a hearing on the bill. He says, ``To say there is absolutely zero support would be an understatement.''


STEVIE NICKS SAYS FLEETWOOD MAC KEPT HER FROM LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM
Stevie Nicks thinks she probably would have married Lindsey Buckingham and had a child if it weren't for Fleetwood Mac. Nicks tells ``Oprah's Master Class'' everyone in Fleetwood Mac knew the band was bigger than each separate person's problems -- even the breakups of couples within the band. She says Buckingham always blamed Fleetwood Mac for his breakup with Nicks. She says had they not joined the band, they were still young enough to have had a family and pursue music, ``but destiny did not take us that way.'' ``Oprah's Master Class'' airs Sunday on the Oprah Winfrey Network.


 

MARCH 21

 

 

 

JOURNEY'S NEAL SCHON FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST EX'S MOTHER
Journey guitarist Neal Schon is suing his former mother-in-law for libel. Schon says Judy Kozan has ``attacked and harassed'' him for years on the Internet and in the media. He says she's hinting that he has failed to support his ex-wife and two daughters. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports the lawsuit quotes a judge who says Schon has exceeded his required payments. Kozan denies mentioning Schon or her daughter in her blog. She blames a British tabloid for jumping to the conclusion that she considers Schon a deadbeat dad.


``AMERICAN IDOL'' COVERS THE BEATLES
The latest argument for music education: several ``American Idol'' contestants weren't familiar with the greatest rock band of all time: The Beatles. Burnell Taylor didn't know ``Let It Be'' before he performed it on last night's show. Amber Holcomb had never heard ``She's Leaving Home'' before she sang it. Lazaro Arbos says he had to learn ``In My Life'' at the last minute because of a song switch. The judges reduced Arbos to tears, and the show came back from commercial with Ryan Seacrest asking the judges to justify that. They weren't so hard on everybody, though. They loved Angie Miller's rendition of ``Yesterday'' and Janelle Arthur's version of ``I Will.'' Mariah Carey called Kree Harrison's performance of ``With A Little Help From My Friends'' ``fan-freakin'-tastic.''

 

MARCH 20

 

 

 

CHILI PEPPERS' CHAD SMITH PUSHES FOR MUSIC FUNDING IN SCHOOLS
Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith says he's a prime example of why music education is needed in public schools. Smith was part of a group lobbying Congress on the importance of music education yesterday. Smith says he never took private lessons and he learned to play drums and read music in public schools. He says he wouldn't have graduated if it weren't for music classes. For Smith, music education had an added benefit. He met his first girlfriend, a French horn player named Julie, in fifth grade music class.


ROD STEWART FINALLY RECORDS SONGS HE WROTE
Rod Stewart is about to release an album that isn't full of remakes of other people's songs, Christmas music or live tracks. Stewart has not released a song he wrote in 20 years, but that will change with ``Time,'' out May 7. Stewart says he just lost the desire to write songs but it came back when he was working on his autobiography, ``Rod.'' Stewart says he wrote the song ``It's Over'' about divorce, then he kept getting up in the middle of the night to write more songs. He says he's never written so many songs so quickly. The first single, ``She Makes Me Happy,'' is available for digital download now.


 

MARCH 19

 

 

BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG WRITING SONGS FOR MUSICAL
Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day has the theater bug. He's writing music for ``These Paper Bullets,'' a rock version of Shakespeare's ``Much Ado About Nothing.'' The show will premiere at the Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut, next March. Armstrong also wrote the music for the musical ``American Idiot.''


PINK FLOYD CELEBRATE 40 YEARS OF ``DARK SIDE OF THE MOON''

Pink Floyd is asking fans to help create a dark side to the moon on their website. To mark the 40th anniversary of the release of ``Dark Side of the Moon'' on Sunday, Pink Floyd is asking fans to share their thoughts on Twitter with the hashtag DarkSide40. The combined messages will be used to turn the moon dark on PinkFloyd.com. Storm Thorgerson, who designed the ``Dark Side of the Moon'' cover, is revealing new prism designs on the band's website, with a new one each day until Sunday. The 14 designs will form a celebratory poster that will be available for download.


 

March 18

 

 

 

PRINCE: CLOSES UT SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST MUSIC FESTIVAL
You know it's a great show when the performer ends up outlasting members of his own audience. That was the deal when Prince closed out the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas on Saturday night. He performed until 3 a.m., apparently well past the bedtime of some of those who attended. Some bleary eyed fans were seen heading for the exits before the two-and-a-half hour show ended. Prince never played guitar during his set but seemed to take delight in his staying power as a musician. Others who performed at SXSW this week included Green Day and Dave Grohl among others.

GREEN DAY: BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG RETURNS
Billie Joe Armstrong is back and it seemed like he was never away when Green Day launched into their performance at the South by Southwest Music Festival. It's only the second time the group has performed since Armstrong finished a rehab stint that forced the band to put off an arena tour. Armstrong didn't mention his situation when he took the stage with his group on Friday night. He tried to rally the crowd, shouting out ``This ain't no cafe!'' and urged the audience to ``Get crazy!'' Back in September, Armstrong went a little crazy, having an on-stage meltdown at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas. Two days later, the group announced Armstrong was off to rehab.


 

March 15

 

 

 

PHISH - HANDS ON A HARDBODY
It was a Mexican meal that led to Phish getting a shot at an American dream: doing a Broadway musical. Trey Anastasio dined with playwright Doug Wright over a plate of enchiladas in New York about the possibility of doing the 1997 ``Hands on a Hardbody'' to the Great White Way.'' Write says Anastasio won him over by his keen knowledge of the theater. Write says he ``almost choked on my refried beans.'' That meal was three years ago -- and now the show is ready to hit the boards in New York.



BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN COUNSELS POLITICIANS
Bruce Springsteen isn't shy about speaking his mind on political issues. But he says politicians should be shy about trying to drag him into their personal causes. The Boss is in Australia with his E Street Band for their Wrecking Ball Tour. Both the Australian deputy prime minister and treasurer have said Springsteen had been political inspirations to them. When asked about that, Springsteen urged the Aussie pols to take it easy. He joked ``You better watch out there. I'm not sure how good I am with my money.'' Springsteen will play several shows in Australia before going to Europe to perform next month.


 

March 14

 

 

 

BLACK SABBATH ALBUM SET FOR RELEASE IN JUNE
Black Sabbath is ready to unleash new music this summer. They will release their ``13'' album on June 11 and it's available for pre-order now. Ozzy Osbourne's son Jack has released a second video of the band at work at www.BlackSabbath.com .

IRON MAIDEN'S FORMER DRUMMER DIES
Former Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr has died. The band say on their Web site that Burr died Tuesday night after a long battle with multiple sclerosis. Bassist Steve Harris calls Burr ``a wonderful person and an amazing drummer who made a valuable contribution to Maiden in the early days when we were starting out.'' Burr joined Iron Maiden in 1979 and performed on their first three albums.

 

March 13

 

 

 

BOB DYLAN: VOTED INTO AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND LETTERS
Bob Dylan is getting some major props. He has been voted into the elite American Academy of Arts and Letters making him the first rock star to be so honored. Categories in the Academy include music, literature and visual arts. But an Academy official says they couldn't decide whether Dylan deserved to get in for his words or for his music so they decided to make him an honorary member. Whether it's a club he wants to be part of is unclear. To receive the honor, Dylan did accept membership into the Academy. But there's no word whether he will attend the induction ceremony in either April or May. Dylan usually tours in the spring and none of his shows are in the New York City area, where the ceremony will be held.

IRON MAIDEN'S BRUCE DICKINSON CREATES BEER
Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden says he hasn't had to audition in 30 years, but he's grateful he got the job: beer maker. Dickinson teamed up with Robinsons Brewery in England to create Trooper Ale. Dickinson says he's a lifelong fan of traditional English ale and thought he had died and gone to heaven when asked to create a beer. Trooper Ale will be available through www.IronMaidenBeer.com beginning in May.



 

March 12

 

 

 

VINCE NEIL SIDELINED WITH KIDNEY STONES
Motley Crue singer Vince Neil is recovering from surgery to remove kidney stones. Bass player Nikki Sixx writes on his Facebook page Neil was in severe pain and doubled over in his dressing room right up until showtime. Motley Crue cut their set short by four songs in Sydney on Sunday. Neil tweets his doctor says he should have a full recovery and be onstage with the band for their show in Brisbane today.


SAMMY HAGAR CLOSES ATLANTIC CITY RESTAURANT
Sammy Hagar's restaurant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, will not reopen after it was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. The Sammy Beach Bar and Grill at Bally's Atlantic City Hotel and Casino opened in May 2010. Hagar's Web site reports he was interested in rebuilding but could not come to terms with Caesars Entertainment. Hagar is still looking into a new partnership in that area.

 

March 11

 

 

 

JUDAS PRIEST WITH NEW MUSIC

Judas Priest have posted an update on two of the band’s forthcoming projects. "The guys are working in the studio on their new album - and all is going is really well!,” reports the group via their website.
Last summer, the band revealed plans to regroup following their "Epitaph” world tour to start to work on some new music. And further to the tease that a new video is on the way: "We will be releasing the live 'Epitaph' DVD & Bluray soon - release date to be announced shortly!,” said the band. The final Epitaph show - at the Hammersmith Apollo in London - was professionally filmed for the DVD release.


ROLLING STONES POSSIBLE TOUR

Rolling Stone magazine is reporting that a concert business source confirms that The Rolling Stones are planning 18 concerts in North America this year. This news comes a day after Billboardreported the band will play "fewer than 20" arena dates in North America, with Australian promoter Paul Dainty and Virgin music promoting the tour. "May 2nd is the launch day," says another source. "I've heard West Coast cities – L.A. And Seattle. But I think they're going to do some back East as well." It would be the band's first major tour since 2005-2007's A Bigger Bang. The Stones completed their 50 & Counting tour in New Jersey in December, a trip which saw the band play 5 arena shows (between London, New York and Jersey) and 2 surprise club dates in Paris; the band also performed at the 12-12-12 Sandy Relief concert.  

 


March 8

 

 

 

CRUE'S NIKKI SIXX KEEPS BUSY ON AUSSIE TOUR

Motley Crue continue their Australian tour opening for KISS. Crue bassist Nikki Sixx is keeping busy on thr trip, juggling the live shows with doing press, writing new songs, recording his radio show, and apparently writing a play based around his New York Times Best Seller "The Heroin Diaries”, which were literally excerpts from his diary entries in the mid 1980s that chronicled his massive drug abuse. Says Sixx: "Going through the 3rd draft of the Broadway play and I feel we are getting really close. This is process is all about team work and I am having the time of my life….Just think that at some point in the near future my diaries that got turned into a book and then a soundtrack to a book will be on a stage with live actors and music” The Crue wrap up their Australian dates with KISS on March 16.


COOPER AND MANSON TEAM UP FOR TOUR

Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson are teaming up for a North American tour. An image on Alice’s website shows a poster for the trek, billed as "Masters Of Madness/Shock Therapy Tour.” No official announcement has been made as of yet, but there are reports of two American dates in June that have been leaked so far. Stay tuned for details as they become available!

 


March 7

 

 

 

RINGO STARR: A GRAMMY EXHIBITION
There have been a lot of great drummers over the years in rock music. But none of them has had a major exhibit dedicated to them at the Grammy museum until now. The Recording Academy says it is setting aside space to honor the music of Ringo Starr. The exhibit traces Starr's career from his growing up in Liverpool, England to his success with The Beatles and his current group, the All Starrs. Among the items to be on display are the drum kit Ringo played at the Beatles' 1964 performance at New York's Shea Stadium, the kit he played on the Ed Sullivan Show and his Sgt. Pepper suit. There will also be an interactive exhibit, where visitors can take a drum lesson from a virtual Ringo.


AXL SAYS NO TO CLASSIC GnR REUNION

As Guns N’ Roses prepare to kick off their Australian tour in Perth on Saturday, leader Axl Rose has given a rare interview to promote the shows. Among the subjects discussed in the session are the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction that Axl boycotted, the possibility of new GNR music in 2013, the late starts to the band’s shows and, of course, talk about a classic GNR reunion. "I understand the ‘romantic’ thing, the desire, the fantasy,”says Rose. "Personally, I haven't wanted other bands to reunite, or really enjoyed it when they have. For me generally something always seemed missing.” People enjoyed the product and the entertainment our lives gave them back in the day, but they weren't the ones actually living those lives together. It's not somewhere I'd go back to or would want to go again. Life's too short.”


 

March 6

 

 

 

STEVEN TYLER: HAWAII PASSES LAW TO PROTECT CELEBRITIES
It isn't officially called the Steven Tyler Act. But the Aerosmith singer and former ``American Idol'' judge is likely to be pleased with the measure passed by the Hawaii state Senate yesterday. The bill makes it a civil violation if people take unwanted photos or videos of others in private moments. Tyler asked a state senator to sponsor the bill after paparazzi took photos of him and his girlfriend last December and they ended up in a national magazine. The images caused some domestic drama for Tyler. Tyler owns a multimillion dollar home in Maui which is part of the sponsor's district. Opponents of the bill say it restricts freedom of the press. The Hawaii House of Representatives takes up the measure now.


KISS OPEN RESTAURANT VENTURE

Paul Stanley is joining forces with fellow KISS founding member Gene Simmons in his Rock And Beers restaurant venture as the company prepares for worldwide expansion. Together, the pair will co-host the March 22 and 23 opening of Rock & Brews in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, the second location for the emerging brand. The new Rock & Brews Los Cabos features a unique concert themed-atmosphere complete with hand-painted murals of rock artists, album and tour art. Guests can take advantage of the al fresco dining offered, or enjoy sitting indoors in an authentically themed backstage concert site. The restaurant features a full bar and will have the largest selection of craft beers in Los Cabos. It is set to be a main late-night attraction for locals and tourists alike, as after the dinner rush, a DJ will be spinning tunes nightly.  

 

March 5

 

 

 

ALICE IN CHAINS NEW ALBUM

Alice In Chains will release their new album, "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here,” in May. The follow-up to 2009’s "Black Gives Way To Blue” is the group’s second effort with singer William DuVall. The project was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Deftones) and, according to guitarist Jerry Cantrell, the band "made a unique record that's completely different from anything we ever did. It encapsulates a period of time, like all records do. You see growth and that the band is moving ahead in new territory that we haven't been to before, but we haven't lost our identity." Alice In Chains kick off their 2013 live dates in late April.

SAMMY HAGAR REUNITES WITH "MONTROSE"

Sammy Hagar is sharing news that he has hooked up with his former Montrose bandmates."Denny Carmassi and Bill Church in town,”posted Hagar, along with a photo of the three. "We recorded some new music last week. It was amazing. We still have that Montrose chemistry...”
Hagar has played with his Montrose bandmates in recent years. Montrose broke out with their debut in 1973, a record that featured classics like "Bad Motor Scooter,” "Rock The Nation” and "Rock Candy.” Though the album was not a big seller upon its initial release, peaking at #133 on the U.S. Billboard chart, it eventually proved to be an international sleeper hit which over a period of several decades has sold in excess of one million copies, attaining platinum status.  

 

March 4

 

 

 

BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG: WARNING SIGNS OF MELTDOWN
Billie Joe Armstrong says he had some warning signs he was headed for the meltdown that led him into rehab. He tells Rolling Stone magazine that before he got to Las Vegas, where he went off during the I Heart Radio festival, he had been taking a lot of meds to help him get to sleep. He says he and Green Day ``were zigzagging everywhere'' as they went from Japan to England as part of their world tour. At one point, his manager called him in and told him the tour was over and he was going to rehab. Armstrong said he wouldn't do that but promised to get help after the Vegas performance and other obligations. He says ``It turned out I was a week ahead of schedule.''


BRET MICHAELS NEW SOLO PROJECT

Bret Michaels' forthcoming new solo album, "Good Songs & Great Friends,” which was originally scheduled for release March 26, has been delayed until June 11. Featuring artists from a variety of genres and generations, the project contains a live duet with Jimmy Buffet, a cover of Sweet Home Alabama featuring members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and some of Poison's biggest hits, including a remake of Every Rose Has Its Thorn, featuring the legendary Loretta Lynn. Michaels is joined by Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Michael Anthony of Van Halen/Chickenfoot, Leslie West of Mountain, Ace Frehley of Kiss/Frehley's Comet, among others.  

 

March 1

 

 

 

KID ROCK: CANCELS TENNESSEE SHOW
Usually when a singer cancels a show, you get a quick note from the promoter or hear about it on the radio. But it looks like Kid Rock really wanted to do the gig he was scheduled for in Knoxville, Tennessee on Wednesday. He went on his Web site, saying he has taken "every shot and steroid" in an effort to get better in time to do the show. But he says despite his best efforts, his health has only "gone more downhill." He hopes to be better in time for a show tonight in Memphis.


IMAGINE DRAGONS ONCE OPENED FOR THEIR OPENING ACT
One of the opening acts on the Imagine Dragon tour is a band who took a chance on them when they first started. Singer Dan Reynolds says they had an incredible time with Nico Vega and learned a lot from them. Reynolds says taking Nico Vega on their tour is something special. It's also very convenient for Reynolds: his wife is in Nico Vega. Since they're keeping it all in the family, Reynolds says their baby is coming on tour too. He says, "That's going to be an adventure in itself, to say the least."


 

Feb 28

 

 

 

SCOTT WEILAND RESPONDS TO STONE TEMPLE PILOTS FIRING HIM
Scott Weiland says he's not sure how he can be fired from a band he started. Stone Temple Pilots issued a one-sentence statement yesterday that said, ``Stone Temple Pilots have announced they have officially terminated Scott Weiland.'' Weiland says he learned of his termination in the press. He says it's up to the lawyers to figure out now. Weiland is about to start a solo tour. The first date is tomorrow in Flint, Michigan.


ALLMAN BROTHERS: FORMER GUITARIST DIES
Former Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dan Toler has died. He was 65 and died after a two-year battle with ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. Toler joined the Allman Brothers in 1979. In 1982, he joined The Gregg Allman band along with his brother, David ``Frankie'' Toler.


 

Feb 27

 

 

 

GREEN DAY FRONT MAN OPENS UP ABOUT SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong opens up about his battles with substance abuse in the new issue of Rolling Stone,which hits newsstands on Friday. Says Armstrong: "I couldn't predict where I was going to end up at the end of the night. I'd wake up in a strange house on a couch. I wouldn't remember how. It was a complete blackout." He finally confronted his problem after an onstage meltdown in Las Vegas last September, where the frontman smashed his guitar onstage and shouted obscenities regarding Justin Bieber. Armstrong's recovery sidetracked promotion of Green Day's album trilogy ¡Uno!, ¡Dos! and ¡Tré!, and the group was forced to postpone tour dates..Armstrong’s interview comes as Green Day gear up for their live return to the stage March 10 at the Fox Theater in Pomona, CA.


WHITESNAKE LIVE ALBUMS

Earlier this month, Whitesnake announced plans to release "Made In Japan,” a Deluxe 2CD/DVD Edition, Blu-ray and DVD that captures the band in concert at the Loud Park festival on October 15th, 2011 at Saitama Super Arena in Japan during their Forevermore World Tour. The project will be released in North America Tuesday April 23rd. Now, singer David Coverdale tells The Rockpit that the band will issue a second live project later this year. "We’ll also be releasing a double live CD called 'Made In Britain' in July,"he says. "It was recorded on the 2011 UK tour and an extra CD tentatively called ‘Whitesnake The World Record’ recorded all over the place. Very ambitious."

 

Feb 26

 

 

 

MORRISSEY: BOWS OUT OF KIMMEL APPEARANCE OVER ``DUCK DYNASTY''
British rocker Morrissey was supposed to perform on ``Jimmy Kimmel Live'' tonight. But the singer says the stage isn't big enough for him and for people he compares to ``animal serial killers.'' The singer who is an animal rights activist was to appear on the same show with cast members of ``Duck Dynasty.'' The A reality show features a Louisiana family that sells duck calls and duck decoys. Morrissey's appearance will be rescheduled.


PETE WENTZ: ``GRAY'' IS WORK OF FICTION
Fall Out Boy lead singer Pete Wentz's book ``Gray'' tells the story of a musician from Chicago who gets wrapped up in a toxic relationship, but that doesn't mean he's telling his own story. Wentz says the characters are at best composites of people he knows, except for ``The Disaster,'' who is a real friend of Wentz's. Wentz says it would behoove him to write a story with thinly veiled characters, because that would garner more interest and sell better, but ``Gray'' is a work of fiction. He almost didn't finish it. Wentz says he was going to shelve the book but there was enough fan interest that he decided to publish it after all.

 

Feb 25

 

 

 

BANK STARTS FORECLOSURE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ACE FREHLEY
Former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley is in danger of losing his home. The Journal News newspaper reports U.S. Bank National Association is foreclosing on Frehley's three-bedroom home north of New York. The bank says in a court filing Frehley stopped paying his $735,000 mortgage in 2011. Tax authorities say Frehley also owes two years' worth of taxes, or about $18,000. Frehley's assistant did not respond to a request for comment.


PERRY, TYLER, JONES, GRAMM HEAD FOR SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME
Joe Perry and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and Mick Jones and Lou Gramm of Foreigner are going into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Holly Knight, who wrote ``Love Is A Battlefield'' and ``Invincible'' for Pat Benatar and ``The Warrior'' for Patty Smyth will also be inducted. So will JD Souther, who wrote ``Heartache Tonight,'' ``New Kid In Town'' and ``Best Of My Love'' for The Eagles and now appears on the TV show ``Nashville.'' Another inductee is Tony Hatch, who wrote ``Downtown'' and ``My Love'' for Petula Clark. The induction ceremony is June 13 in New York.

 

Feb 22

 

 

 

JUDGE DISMISSES AXL ROSE'S LAWSUIT AGAINST ACTIVISION
Axl Rose's lawsuit over a video game has been dismissed. A judge in Los Angeles has ruled Activision Blizzard did not violate an agreement with Rose by putting Slash's avatar in ``Guitar Hero 3.'' Rose had said he let Activision use the song ``Welcome To The Jungle'' in the game as long as neither Slash nor Velvet Revolver appear in the game. ``Guitar Hero 3'' features Slash. Activision says it never made that agreement. A judge in Los Angeles dismissed the suit Wednesday. Rose was seeking $20 million in damages.


BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN 'BORN TO RUN' HOUSE FOR SALE
The house where Bruce Springsteen wrote most of the music for the ``Born To Run'' album is for sale. The Asbury Park Press reports the two-bedroom one-bath cottage in Long Branch, New Jersey, is for sale for just under 350-thousand dollars. Too much? There are three owners of the house. One owner wants out and the other two are open to a buyer taking up that share. A price for the share has not been set. One other thing that comes with the house: tourists. Real estate agent Susan McLaughlin says buses of them stop by all the time, and according to local legend Bob Dylan was looking for the house when police stopped him in Long Branch in 2009.


 

Feb 21

 

 

 

MUMFORD AND SONS SEE SALES BOOST AFTER GRAMMY WIN

Winning the big award at the Grammys is good for sales, as Mumford and Sons are learning. Billboard reports their ``Babel''  album saw a sales jump of 242 per cent after winning the album of the year Grammy. It's back at number one on the Billboard album chart with sales of 185,000 last week. The album at number two? The ``2013 Grammy Nominees'' compilation, which saw a sales jump of 136 per cent. Bruno Mars, who performed on the Grammys, is third with ``Unorthodox Jukebox.'' Taylor Swift, who opened the Grammys, is fourth with ``Red.''

PEARL JAM'S 'TEN' SELLS 10 MILLION
Pearl Jam's ``Ten'' is now 10 million strong. Billboard reports the ``Ten'' album has sold 10 million copies in the U-S, crossing that threshold in the last week. It's only the 22nd album to hit that mark since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking data in 1991.


BON JOVI WILL PERFORM ON 'AMERICAN IDOL'
Bon Jovi will perform on the first ``American Idol'' voting results show. They will perform their new single, ``Because We Can,'' on the March 14th show. Their new album, ``What About Now,'' comes out March 12th.

 


Feb 20

 

 

 

JACK WHITE NAMED AMBASSADOR FOR RECORD STORE DAY
The ambassador for Record Store Day will be a guy who owns a record store himself: Jack White. Record Store Day is set for April 20 and it's a day when independent music stores have special items for sale that the big stores don't have. White owns Third Man Records in Nashville. White says his goal as Record Store Day Ambassador is ``to invigorate whoever will listen with the idea that there is beauty and romance in the act of visiting a record shop and getting turned on to something new that could change the way they look at the world, other people, art, and ultimately, themselves.''


GREAT WHITE MARK TERRIBLE ANNIVERSARY
Ten years after the fire that killed 100 people at a Great White concert, singer Jack Russell maintains he never meant to hurt anybody. Russell tells the Boston Globe no matter what he says, it will not make anybody feel any better about what happened and it will probably make them feel worse. That's why he prefers not to talk about it. The fire broke out during Great White's first song at their show in West Warwick, Rhode Island, exactly 10 years ago today. Pyrotechnics sparked soundproofing foam and fans rushed the exit. Great White guitarist Ty Longley was among those who died. The charity set up to help victims and families, The Station Fire Memorial Foundation, has refused Russell's contributions.

 


Feb 19

 

 

 

MARK DAVID CHAPMAN LETTERS TO COP ARE FOR SALE
John Lennon's killer wrote letters to the New York City police officer who arrested him. Those letters are now for sale. Mark David Chapman wrote four letters to officer Stephen Spiro in 1983. In one of the letters, Chapman asks Spiro for help in finding his copy of ``The Catcher In The Rye,'' which he was carrying when he was arrested on December 8, 1980. Gary Zimet of auction house Moments In Time says the letters are being sold for a fixed price of $75,000. He says he's selling the letters on Spiro's behalf.


35TH ANNIVERSARY OF JOURNEY'S "INFINITY” ALBUM

Journey mark the 35th Anniversary of their 1978 release, "Infinity". The band’s fourth album introduced new vocalist Steve Perry to the Journey lineup, who shared vocal duties with former lead singer and keyboardist Gregg Rolie on songs like "Feeling That Way"and "Anytime." "Infinity” is generally viewed as the album that helped propel Journey towards the mainstream, with powerhouse vocalist Perry ready to take the reigns as the band’s frontman. The record also earned Journey their highest chart success to date, reaching No. 21 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. 

 


Feb 15

 

 

 

ACE FREHLEY GUITAR SIGNINGS

Ace Frehley will hold private guitar signings/meet and greets in Las Vegas, NV on Sunday, February 17. Each fan will have the opportunity to meet with Ace in a "private" setting, obtain a photo of Ace signing their guitar, and appear in a photo with Ace and their guitar. The signing sessions are priced at $500 per guitar and can be order through Frehley’s online store. Ace is in Vegas this week to participate in the Rock N' Roll Fantasy Camp at the MGM Grand; other players include Alice Cooper, Mike Portnoy (Adrenaline Mob, former Dream Theater) and Dream Theater’s Jordan Rudess.


SKYNYRD GUITARIST HOSPITALIZED

Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington has been hospitalized, forcing the band to cancel this weekend’s live shows at the Hard Rock Boloxi. The band posted the news that Rossington has been hospitalized in Wyoming with an abdominal infection and that they're awaiting further tests and treatment. Skynyrd have been touring in support of their latest album, "Last Of A Dyin’ Breed.” Upon its release last summer, the project debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart, the highest charting for a Skynyrd album since 1977.  

 


Feb 14

 

 

 

STONES POSSIBLE 50th Anniversary Tour

The Rolling Stones are meeting next month to discuss 50th Anniversary touring options, and guitarist Ron Wood has revealed he is planning to persuade the rest of the band to headline the Glastonbury festival this year, one of the biggest rock fests in the world, which runs at the end of June near Somerset, England. The Stones completed their 50 & Counting tour in New Jersey in December, a trip which saw the band play 5 arena shows (between London, New York and Jersey) and 2 surprise club dates in Paris; the band also performed at the 12-12-12 Sandy Relief concert.


ALICE IN CHAINS NEW ALBUM

Alice In Chains are giving fans a chance to guess the title of their forthcoming new album. The band has posted an anagram of the title, as follows:

H V L E N T P S U S D A H I E E O E D T I U R R

Reassemble these letters to reveal the album title of the new record. Share your decoded messages on Instagram, tagging #AICALBUMTITLE. Alice In Chains have previously released the first single from the project, "Hollow.” The follow-up to 2009’s "Black Gives Way To Blue”. and the group’s second effort with singer William DuVall. was produced by Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Foo Fighters, Deftones) and engineer Paul Figueroa.  

 


Feb 13

 

 

 

BUCKCHERRY SET TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM

Buckcherry are gearing up for the release of their new album, "Confessions”, on February 19 with some online streaming previews. Buckcherry are also pre-releasing the album this Friday (Feb 15) on touchtunes jukeboxes. "Confessions” is inspired by the seven deadly sins, and is part of a larger vision that includes a film written by singer Josh Todd, who based the album's lyrics on his childhood and transformation into adulthood.


DEF LEPPARD RELEASE CLASSIC SINGLE DIGITALLY FOR FIRST TIME

Def Leppard's single, "When Love & Hate Collide", which originally appeared on the band's 1995 greatest-hits collection "Vault", will be released digitally for the first time on Valentine's Day.
Written by vocalist Joe Elliott and bassist Rick Savage, the tune was originally demoed for 1992’s "Adrenalize” album, but surfaced a few years later. Upon its original release, "When Love & Hate Collide” reached #2 on the UK singles charts and #58 on the Billboard 100. Def Leppard take over the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas between March 22 and April 13 for a series of shows billed as "VIVA Hysteria!”, where they’ll perform their iconic album, "Hysteria,” in full, in addition to a greatest hits segment. 

 

 

 

Feb 12

 

 


 

TED NUGENT - STATE OF THE UNION
You may spot Ted Nugent in the audience tonight, as President Barack Obama delivers his state of the union address. Republican Congressman Steve Stockman of Texas says he's inviting Nugent to Capitol Hill this evening. Nugent is no fan of Obama's. In a speech to the National Rifle Association during the 2012 campaign, Nugent said he would either be ``dead or in jail'' if Obama was re-elected. The comments led to a meeting with the Secret Service.


GRAMMY AUDIENCE
This year's Grammy ratings were good -- but down from last year. The Nielsen figures show more than 28 million people watched the awards show Sunday night on CBS. That's the second-largest audience for the Grammys since 1993. But it's way down from last year, when just under 40 million people tuned in for the awards. Last year's Grammys came just after Whitney Houston's death. The awards were dominated by Adele that year, who won six Grammys.


 

Feb 11

 

 


 

MUMFORD AND SONS VS. THE BLACK KEYS
Mumford and Sons didn't think they'd win the Album of the Year Grammy. Marcus Mumford says The Black Keys had been winning all day so he figured it was going to continue. Mumford and Sons' ``Babel'' beat out The Black Keys' ``El Camino.'' The Black Keys won Grammys for rock performance, rock song and rock album, and singer Dan Auerbach won producer of the year.


BRIAN WILSON WINS SECOND GRAMMY
Brian Wilson has won another Grammy, which brings his lifetime total to...two. Wilson won for best historical album for the boxed set ``The Smile Sessions.'' Wilson says he and Van Dyke Parks knew they were ahead of their time when they wrote the music in the 1960s.The Beach Boys never won a Grammy. Wilson's only other Grammy came in 2004 for best rock instrumental for ``Mrs. O'Leary's Cow.''

 

Feb 8

 

 

 

GRAMMYS ARE SUNDAY
There's no clear favourite for Sunday's Grammys. Six artists lead the nominations: Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, fun., Jay-Z, Mumford and Sons, Frank Ocean and Kanye West. The Black Keys, fun., Mumford and Sons, Ocean and Jack White are up for album of the year. Fun. are also nominated for record and song of the year and best new artist. If they sweep the four big categories, they'd be only the second artist to do that, after Christopher Cross.


MIKE SHINODA RUNS RECYCLING COMPANY IN HAITI
Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park has quietly been a jobs creator in Haiti. Shinoda teamed up with a childhood friend who runs a charity in Haiti to launch a recycling program called Sustainable Recycling Solutions. He says they considered making it a non-profit but the Haitians like the idea of holding a job. They have 30 full-time employees. Shinoda says most Haitians don't know Linkin Park, but they understand if he explains that they've sold as many records as Jay-Z or Rihanna.


 

Feb 7

 

 

 

LEVON HELM TRIBUTE WILL BE PART OF GRAMMYS
Elton John and Mumford and Sons will lead a tribute to Levon Helm at the Grammys on Sunday. T Bone Burnett, Mavis Staples, Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes and Zac Brown will join in the performance of ``The Weight'' by The Band. They will sing during the portion of the show that pays tribute to musicians who have died in the past year.


NEW VAN HALEN MUSIC

A new Van Halen box set is due next month. "Van Halen: The Studio Albums 1978-1984” is a limited edition 6-CD box set that documents the band’s indelible history from their self-titled 1978 debut until the "1984” album, which was to be singer David Lee Roth’s last record with the band until 2012. Included in this box are many of the band’s best-known songs - ‘Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love’, ‘ Runnin’ With The Devil’, ‘Jump’, ‘Dance The Night Away’, ‘Unchained’, ‘Everybody Wants Some’, ‘Hot For Teacher’and ‘Panama’. The new project will be available in stores and online March 26th.

 


Feb 6

 

SINGER REG PRESLEY OF THE TROGGS REMEMBERED
Singer Reg Presley of The Troggs is being remembered for influencing hundreds of garage bands -- and for a notorious underground recording. The Troggs' ``Wild Thing'' became a staple for garage rock. Their other big hit in the U.S. was ``Love Is All Around.'' A tape of The Troggs in the studio swearing up a storm became a cult phenomenon as ``The Trogg Tapes.'' Presley also had a big interest in crop circles and UFOs and even wrote a book about aliens and government conspiracies called ``Wild Things They Don't Tell Us.'' Presley died Monday at his home west of London after several strokes. He was 71.


HAWAII SENATE CONSIDERS 'STEVEN TYLER ACT'
Hawaii senators will take up the so-called Steven Tyler Act on Friday. The bill would make it easier for public figures to collect civil damages from people who take photos or video in ``a manner that is offensive to a reasonable person.'' State Senator Kalani English sponsored the bill at the request of Tyler, who recently bought a home in Maui. Opponents say the bill is too vague and doesn't specify the circumstances in which it would be OK to photograph a celebrity.


MUMFORD AND SONS WILL RETURN WITH GENTLEMEN OF THE ROAD SHOWS
Mumford and Sons are planning more of their Gentlemen of the Road concerts. The band and their music friends stop in towns that normally don't get a lot of touring acts. They will play in Troy, Ohio, in August; and Guthrie, Oklahoma, and St. Augustine, Florida, in September. Fun. and Alabama Shakes will join them on select dates.

 


Feb 5

 

 

 

THE FOO FIGHTERS CONNECTION TO YES SINGER
The band Yes found their new singer because of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins. Yes bassist Chris Squire says he's known Hawkins from music events and Hawkins told him about Jon Davison, who was in a Yes tribute band. Squire says it turns out Hawkins and Davison had gone to kindergarten together. Squire says they will never truly replace original singer Jon Anderson, who left the band five years ago with health problems, but he says Yes fans have been accepting of Davison. They will tour next month and they're planning to hit the studio in the fall.

JACK WHITE AND GIBBY HAYNES PLAY ON X-RAYS
Jack White and Gibby Haynes of the 90s rock band Butthole Surfers have created new music in an unusual format. They've recorded three songs that will be released in limited edition pressed onto old medical X-rays. The songs are two originals called ``You Don't Have To Be Smart'' and ``Horse Named George.'' They also recorded a cover of Adrenalin OD's ``Paul's Not Home.'' The three-song single is available through White's Third Man Records.


Feb 4

 

'BROADWAY IDIOT' DOCUMENTARY
Ten years ago, no one would have ever suspected Billie Joe Armstrong would be a draw on Broadway. The story of how the Green Day album ``American Idiot'' was turned into a musical and how its creative team talked Armstrong into taking a featured role is the subject of a film. The documentary ``Broadway Idiot'' will premiere at the South By Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, next month. Green Day will also premiere ``Cuatro'' at the festival. That's a film about the making of their ``Uno,'' ''Dos`` and ''Tre`` albums.


SABBATH NEW ALBUM UPDATE

Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler is sharing an update on the band’s new album, which is set for release later this year. "We’re finished recording it,”Geezer tells That Metal Show’s Eddie Trunk. "Tony [Iommi]’s back in England putting down a couple of solos. Then we start mixing it in February, and it’ll be out in June.” For the new project, Geezer continues his long-established role as principal lyricist for the band. Sabbath are working with producer Rick Rubin on the project, which is the group’s first studio album together since 1978’s "Never Say Die!” 



Feb 1

MARILYN MANSON SUES WOMAN CLAIMING TO BE HIS FIANCEE
Marilyn Manson is suing a woman he says has been telling people they're engaged. The Hollywood Reporter reports Manson is suing Yolanda Tharpe, a musician and independent filmmaker who uses the stage name Seraphim Ward. Manson's lawsuit says Manson does not know Tharpe but she's been telling media outlets they're getting married. When he told her to stop, Manson says Tharpe accused him of being pro-Nazi and of not wanting to be seen with a black woman like her. Manson is asking for $50,000 for defamation and other charges.

DAVE GROHL RELEASES 'SOUND CITY'
Dave Grohl says making his film ``Sound City'' was ``more like a keg party with a camera than making a Hollywood film.'' ''Sound City`` is about a studio outside Los Angeles where Nirvana, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, REO Speedwagon, Guns N' Roses and Cheap Trick had recorded. Grohl says people think he made an anti-technology film, but that's not true. He says, ''The intention was to inspire people to fall in love with the human element and the human process of making music.`` ''Sound City`` hits theatres in limited release today.

THE WHO PLAN FINAL SHOW FOR CHARITY
The Who want you to rethink just what ``Who Cares'' means. In this case, it's a good thing. The Who's final show on their ``Quadrophenia'' tour will be February 28th in New York and it will raise money for the charity Teen Cancer America. They're billing it as ``Who Cares.'' Elvis Costello will be a special guest.


January 31

THE DOORS' JOHN DENSMORE TELLS HIS SIDE OF STORY
Doors drummer John Densmore is writing a book about his legal fights with the rest of the band after they broke up. ``The Doors: Unhinged'' will explore Densmore's attempts to protect the integrity of the band's legacy by vetoing huge offers to use their music in commercials and suing Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger for touring without him under The Doors name. Densmore says at one point, opposing lawyers tried to label him a communist, an anarchist and an al-Qaida supporter. ``The Doors: Unhinged'' will be out April 17th.


GOLDEN GODS
Metallica will be the big honoree at this year's Golden Gods Awards, which honours the best in hard rock and heavy metal. Metallica will receive the ``Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award.'' The Golden God Award, given to an act who embodies the spirit of hard rock and metal, will go to Rob Zombie. The Riff Lord Award, for a metal guitarist, will be presented to Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath. The awards will be on May 2nd in Los Angeles.



January 30

KID ROCK TEAMS UP WITH HARLEY-DAVIDSON
Kid Rock used to ride Harleys onto stage in his early days just for the effect. Now he's become a spokesman for Harley-Davidson. Rock says that's not something the company does, so it's a lot of pressure for him not to mess it up. Rock's new album just happens to be called ``Rebel Soul,'' and he says that's not a clever tie-in to Harley-Davidson, but just ``dumb luck.'' Rock says he'll be delighted not only to have the Harley-Davidson logo on his stage, but he's happy to have a sponsor that will keep the ticket prices down for his fans.

DAVE NAVARRO APPEARS ON 'LAW AND ORDER: SVU'
Dave Navarro is picking up another acting gig. TVGuide.com reports Navarro will play a sound engineer who witnesses a crime on ``Law and Order: SVU.'' Navarro tweeted on Monday, ``On my way to NYC to hang out with Detective Benson for a day.'' No word on when the episode will air. Navarro guest-starred on ``Sons of Anarchy'' last year.



January 29

MORRISSEY DIAGNOSED WITH BLEEDING ULCER
British rock singer Morrissey is suffering from a bleeding ulcer. His spokeswoman says Morrissey is expected to recover fully. However, he's postponing all his shows this week and next week. He hopes to be back for his February 9th show in Las Vegas. Morrissey had been treated at a hospital outside Detroit this past weekend.


OHIO PLAYERS SINGER LEROY BONNER DIES
Ohio Players bassist Marshall Jones calls singer Leroy (Sugarfoot) Bonner one of the most creative people he's ever known. Bonner died over the weekend in southwest Ohio at the age of 69. Details of his death were not given. Jones says Bonner and the rest of the band were delighted and flattered when the Red Hot Chili Peppers brought new life to their song ``Love Rollercoaster.'' The Ohio Players also had hits with ``Fire,'' ''Funky Worm`` and ''Skin Tight.``


January 28

MORRISSEY IN HOSPITAL
British rock singer Morrissey's current condition is unknown after he was hospitalized outside Detroit over the weekend. Billboard quotes a representative for Morrissey as saying he was undergoing tests for a suspected bladder infection. Morrissey's next scheduled date is tonight in Asheville, North Carolina.


STEVIE WONDER TO PLAY SUPER BOWL PRE-PARTY

Stevie Wonder will join Gary Clark Junior for a pre-Super Bowl concert this weekend. He will perform on Saturday in New Orleans. Justin Timberlake will be performing crosstown in his first concert in more than four years. The Super Bowl is on Sunday.


DUANE ALLMAN BOX SET

Duane Allman, one of rock’s all-time greats, will get a fitting tribute to his legacy when Rounder Records releases a comprehensive seven-disc box set called "Skydog” on March 12. Co-produced by Allman’s daughter Galladrielle, "Skydog: The Duane Allman Retrospective" spans the guitarist’s too-short career. The box includes nearly every track that featured Duane Allman’s guitar that was originally released on the Allman Brothers albums, several tracks by The Allman Joys, many tracks that Duane played on for other artists, previously only compiled on hard-to-get anthologies, and over four previously unreleased bonus jams with contributions by Duane that have rarely been heard outside of collector circles.

 


January 25

FUN. LEARN FROM COLDPLAY AND U2
Singer Nate Ruess of the band "fun.” has been studying Coldplay and U2 to figure out how they put their set lists together. Ruess says he spent his monthlong vacation figuring out which new songs to play. He says he got heavy into Coldplay and U2 and how they choose songs and do light shows. Ruess says his favourite thing about success is that fun. can play bigger venues and use bigger production. He says they now employ Coldplay's lighting director.

MORE GRAMMY PERFORMERS ANNOUNCED
Jack White of the White Stripes is among the names added as a performer for the upcoming Grammy awards, Elton John and Ed Sheeran will perform together. Previously announced performers include fun., The Black Keys, and Mumford and Sons. The Grammys are February 10th.


POISON DRUMMER RIKKI ROCKETT CONSIDERS REALITY SHOW
Drummer Rikki Rockett of Poison is shopping around for a network to run a reality show about his drums. Rockett runs a business called Rocket Drum Works that makes custom drums. His slogan: ``drums do come true.'' Rockett says he has lunatics running his shop but he's never messed up an order.


January 24

BLACK KEYS SUE CASINO OVER SOUNDALIKE SONG
The Black Keys continue to be bulldogs about unauthorized use of their music. They are suing Pinnacle Entertainment for commissioning a song that sounds like their song ``Howlin' For You'' for use in commercials for two of its Louisiana casinos. They are asking for an injunction and compensation. The Black Keys recently settled lawsuits against Pizza Hut and Home Depot in similar cases over ``Lonely Boy'' and ``Gold on the Ceiling.''


ROCK HALL ANNOUNCES SOME PRESENTERS
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced who will do the inductions for this year's class. John Mayer and Gary Clark Junior will induct bluesman Albert King. Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Hudson will perform for Donna Summer. Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters will induct Rush. Don Henley will induct Randy Newman. The people who will pay tribute to Public Enemy and to Heart have not yet been announced. The Rock Hall inductions are April 18th in Los Angeles




January 23
PEARL JAM WRIGLEY FIELD SHOW?

Pearl Jam were active on Tuesday, revealing a series of hints suggesting a show at Chicago’s Wrigley Field could be announced soon. On the band’s website, the group posted "Follow @PearlJam on Twitter and #StayTuned”. Next up was a tweet by the Chicago Cubs, featuring a baseball jersey with the number 10 displayed. The band tweeted a series of clues throughout the day, suggesting a Wrigley Field concert is imminent. Pearl Jam currently have three South American shows scheduled in March, including dates at Lollapalooza Brazil and Chile.


RUSH HOF DEETS

More details for Rush fans about the band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: As we knew,Rush will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame’s Class of 2013; joining the rock legends are Heart, Public Enemy, Donna Summer, Randy Newman and Albert King. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held on April 18 at the Nokia Theater, marking the first time the ceremony will be held in Los Angeles since 1993. The event will be recorded for broadcast on HBO on May 18; tickets for the induction ceremony go on sale to the public on January 25th.

  

January 22

THE EAGLES TELL THEIR STORY ON FILM
Don Henley says the press likes to make a big deal about how The Eagles don't always get along, but the truth is a lot of times they have a lot of fun. He says that comes across in the documentary ``History of The Eagles,'' which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Glenn Frey says they were serious about the music but they really had a good time along the way. Joe Walsh says some of the concert footage blew him away because he had no idea they were that good. ``History of The Eagles'' will debut in two parts February 15th and 16th on Showtime. Henley says they're also planning a tour for June that will likely be their last.

SPIDER SPECIES NAMED AFTER BONO
A newly discovered species of spider has been named after Bono. The Riverside Press-Enterprise reports a species of trapdoor spider was discovered in Joshua Tree National Park in California. Auburn University taxonomist Jason Bond named the spider ``A. bonoi'' in honour of U2's 1987 album ``The Joshua Tree.''



January 21

ANTHRAX CHOOSE NEW GUITARIST
Shadows Fall guitarist Jon Donais will step in as the new guitar player for Anthrax. Rob Caggiano left the band to focus on producing music. Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian says he's worked with Donais on side projects and he's excited to have him on his right, burning up the stage with Anthrax. Donais says he grew up on Anthrax and he'd be crazy not to want to play with them. His first gigs with Anthrax will be in India next month.


DAVE GROHL AND THE SOUND CITY PLAYERS ROCK SUNDANCE
Dave Grohl's regret: so many players, so few minutes in a day. Grohl introduced the Sound City Players at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday, which included John Fogerty, Stevie Nicks, Rick Springfield, Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, Corey Taylor of Slipknot, members of the Foo Fighters and Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic. Grohl says, ``I wish we could play 100 songs, but we have 17 musicians tonight.'' Among the songs they did do: ``Proud Mary,'' ''Jessie's Girl,`` ''Stop Draggin' My Heart Around`` and ''Ain't That A Shame.`` Grohl's film ''Sound City,`` about a studio in Los Angeles, premiered at Sundance this weekend.


January 18 

FIRE AT OZZY'S HOUSE

Ozzy Osbourne required medical attention on Thursday morning after singeing his hair and injuring his hand while tackling a fire at his home in Beverly Hills.3Newsreports a candle the rock icon and his manager wife Sharon had left burning through the night exploded in its glass vase and sparked a small blaze in their living room and quick-thinking Ozzy, whose arm had been bandaged up following hand surgery on Wednesday, tried to air the room as Sharon rushed to collect some water, but her efforts to extinguish the oily flames only caused the fire to spread, singeing chunks of the rocker's long locks in the process. Firefighters were called to the scene and quickly put out the blaze, and Sharon is thankful for their prompt response.


GREEN DAY DOCUMENTARY

Green Day will screen their new documentary, "¡Cuatro!”, at the upcoming X Games in Aspen.
"¡Cuatro!" goes behind the making of the band’s new album trilogy, "¡Uno!,” "¡Dos!,” and "¡Tré!” The film pulls back the curtain and takes fans inside the world of Green Day, from the various spontaneous live performances in select cities across the U.S. to the chronicling of their creative process while conceptualizing and recording their current trilogy. The film will screen January 26 at Aspen, Colorado's Wheeler Opera House as part of the X Games Film showcase, and the band will be on hand for a post-screening Q&A to take audience questions. Green Day return to the road in 2013 for a 2-week series of North American shows that start March 28 in Chicago.


January 17

ELTON JOHN AND DAVID FURNISH WELCOME A NEW SON
Elton John and David Furnish say they have become parents for a second time and are ``overwhelmed with happiness'' at the birth of Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John. He was born Friday in Los Angeles to a surrogate mother and weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces. John and Furnish, who wed in a British civil partnership in 2005 are parents to two-year-old Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, also born through a surrogate mother. The couple told Hello! magazine that the birth of their second son completes their family ``in a most precious and perfect way.''


RUSH LIVE DVD

Last week, reports said that Rush’s "Clockwork Angels Live" DVD will be released on May 21. Now, it appears the project’s official release date has yet to be confirmed or announced. The band filmed recent concerts in Phoenix (Nov. 25) and Dallas (Nov 28) for the project. Rush resume the Clockwork Angels tour on May 22 in Manchester, UK, following their April 18 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. 


January 16 

NEW SINGLE FROM DAVE GROHL'S "SOUND CITY" ALBUM

Dave Grohl has issued "From Can To Can’t” as the new single from the forthcoming soundtrack to his film, Sound City. The tune features Slipknot/Stone Sour’s Corey Taylor on lead vocals, Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen on guitar, and Kyuss’ Scott Reeder on bass. Through interviews with the artists and producers that created decades of musical history at Sound City, the film will showcase the amazing history of the studio, focus on the albums recorded there that went on to change the world, discuss the human element of music in an age of technology, and feature performances from many of the artists that called it "home". The first album produced at Sound City was Neil Young’s 1970 release, "After The Gold Rush.” The studio closed in the spring of 2011.

METALLICA: NEW 3D MOVIE

Metallica have announced their new 3D film, "Metallica Through The Never," will make its theatrical debut on August 9. The movie stars members of the iconic rock band and Dane DeHaan ("The Amazing Spider-Man 2"). DeHaan plays a young band crew member who is sent out on an urgent mission while the band is playing a rousing live set in front of a sold-out crowd and unexpectedly finds his world turned completely upside down.


January 15

YEAH YEAH YEAHS TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM FOR SPRING
The rock group Yeah Yeah Yeahs will release ``Mosquito'' their fourth full-length album, this spring. Mosquito will be the follow up to 2009's ``It's Blitz.'' In a press release frontwoman Karen O. says the band ``took a more playful, lo-fi approach to songwriting.'' O. says she thinks the new record has ``more moodier and tripped-out songs'' including ``some roots reggae and minimalist psychedelia influences.'' The record is scheduled for release April 15th.


AC DC HEADPHONES

German company On.Earz has launched a new line of on-ear headphones licensed from AC/DC and the estates of Elvis Presley and James Dean.The unveiling happened last week in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show. The Mac Observer reports the Legends series is priced at approximately $99 for the U.S. market when it launches later in the first quarter of this year.For that price, each set of headphones comes with two cables, one of which has a microphone compatible with Apple's iPhone and iPad combo jacks. There is also an additional jack built into the headphones that allows another user to share your music source.


January 14
FREDDIE MERCURY CAR SELLS

Legendary Queen frontman Freddie Mercury’s 1974 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow was sold for a record £74,000 at Autosport International in Birmingham on Sunday. Originally estimated to fetch between £9,000 to £11,000, the car was sold to a Russian businessman through telephone bidding. Purchased by Mercury’s company Goose Productions Ltd in 1979, it was used by Freddie up until his death in 1991. The car even features a box of unused Kleenex Mansize Tissues, which have been in the car since being in his possession.

MORE DAVE GROHL "SOUND CITY" NEWS

Dave Grohl has announced a series of one-night only theatrical screenings for his directorial debut, "Sound City.” The project, which chronicles the story of the Van Nuys, California studio of the same name, will hit theaters starting January 31. Sound City is set to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 18. The same night, Grohl is putting on a live show featuring collection of musicians who perform on the film’s soundtrack. The impressive collection of players for concert at Park City Live includes John Fogerty, Stevie Nicks, Nirvana bandmates Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear (also a Foo), the full Foo Fighters crew, Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, and others.



January 11 

DAVE GROHL ANNOUNCES PLAYERS IN HIS SOUND CITY PLAYERS BAND
Dave Grohl has revealed who will be in his all-star band that will play January 18 to promote his film ``Sound City'' at the Sundance Film Festival. The Sound City Players include Stevie Nicks, John Fogerty, Rick Springfield, Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, Corey Taylor of Slipknot and Brad Wilk of Rage Against The Machine. That's in addition to his bandmates in Foo Fighters and former Nirvana bandmate Krist Novoselic. As you might have guessed, that concert is already sold out.

NEW GUITARIST REPLACES STEVE HOWE IN ASIA
Guitarist Steve Howe has left Asia, and they've already replaced him. Howe says in a statement he's leaving Asia to focus on Yes and his solo projects. Asia have announced 25-year-old guitar wiz Sam Coulson will step in. His first gig with the band will be in Sweden in June. Asia are working on a new album called ``Valkyrie'' that will come out this year


January 10

THREE DAYS GRACE SINGER EXITS
Singer Adam Gontier of Three Days Grace has abruptly left the band because of a health issue. Bassist Brad Walst says they were ``surprised and distressed'' by his sudden departure. Walst's brother Matt will step in as lead singer. They've posted rehearsals with Matt Walst on www.ThreeDaysGrace.com for fans who want to check him out. Three Days Grace begin a co-headlining tour with Shinedown and special guest P.O.D. on February 1st in Moline, Illinois.


FIRST GRAMMY PERFORMERS ANNOUNCED
The Black Keys and Mumford and Sons are among the stars who will show off their skills at the Grammys. They, along with Rihanna, Taylor Swift, and the band FUN, are the first performers announced for the February 10 show. LL Cool J returns as host.



January 9

NEW JIMI HENDRIX SINGLE NEXT MONTH
A new single from Jimi Hendrix will go on sale February 5th. ``Somewhere'' features Hendrix on guitar and vocals, Stephen Stills on bass and Buddy Miles on drums. It was recorded on March 13th, 1968, and it's a completely different version than previously released ones. RollingStone.com is previewing the song now. An album of 12 previously unreleased studio tracks will come out March 5th as ``People, Hell and Angels.'' Vinyl editions of ``Are You Experienced'' and ``Axis: Bold as Love'' also come out March 5th.


MEMPHIS CELEBRATES ELVIS PRESLEY'S BIRTHDAY

A 13-year-old Elvis Presley fan got to cut the Elvis birthday cake at Graceland yesterday. Isabella Scott heads up an Internet-based Elvis fan club of more than 2,000 members. Elvis would have turned 78 yesterday. Fans from as far away as Japan and Brazil came to Graceland to sing ``Happy Birthday'' to him. Memphis Mayor A.C. Wharton Junior declared yesterday Elvis Presley Day and says, ``Like coffee and cream, grits and gravy, peanut butter and bananas ... Memphis and Elvis is a combination that was just meant to be.''


January 8

NEW BOWIE MUSIC

David Bowie has celebrated his 66th birthday by releasing a new single, Where Are We Now?, ahead of his first new album in 10 years. The track was put on sale in the iTunes store in 119 countries this morning and a video preview posted on his website, which has been relaunched for the occasion. His 30th studio recording, The Next Day, would be released in March, said the Iso/Columbia record company.



SHERYL CROW'S 'DINER' MUSICAL PUSHES BACK DEBUT
Sheryl Crow's musical version of ``Diner'' will be delayed. It was supposed to debut this spring on Broadway, but producers say it's now being pushed to the fall. Producer Scott Zeiger says a workshop this past November got good feedback, and early fall dates will work best for all those involved. Crow wrote the songs for the show, which is based on the 1982 film


ZEPPELIN GUITAR TAB BOOK

A guitar tab book for Led Zeppelin's "Celebration Day” has been published. It's an exclusive songbook featuring authentic guitar tab transcriptions for the 16 songs which made up their 2007 show at London's O2 Arena in December of 2007. Upon its release in November, Celebration Day debuted at #9 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart, with opening week sales of 101,000. The project is Led Zeppelin's 13th top 10 album, and the first since the greatest hits package 'Mother Ship” debuted and peaked at #7 in 2007.


January 7

ANTHRAX GUITARIST ROB CAGGIANO LEAVES
Guitarist Rob Caggiano is leaving Anthrax to focus on his work as a music producer. Caggiano has played with Anthrax for 12 years and produced their last album, ``Worship Music.'' Caggiano says he shared some of the best times of his life with the band, but his heart is steering him in another direction. The rest of the band say they are sad Caggiano is leaving but they wish him nothing but great success. They plan to make an announcement shortly about Caggiano's replacement.


SCORPIONS: WHEN GOODBYE ISN'T REALLY GOODBYE
Scorpions enjoyed their farewell tour so much, they're not going away after all. Singer Klaus Meine tells Classic Rock magazine, ``With all the best parties it's sometimes hard to find the door.'' He says it was a gradual decision. They've got lots of projects in the works. They're considering an album of material they didn't finish in the 1980s, as well as one of new material. They also filmed their final show in Munich that they may release on home video.


January 4

DAVE GROHL: WHO'S IN THE BAND?
Dave Grohl's new band might have some killer players in it, but he's not saying who they are yet. He will debut Dave Grohl's Sound City Players on January 18th at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Grohl will present his documentary ``Sound City'' at the festival. It's about the Sound City Studios outside Los Angeles. Grohl says the band will consist of core musicians and special guests from the film. Among those who appear in the film are Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks, Trent Reznor, Rick Springfield, members of Rage Against The Machine and Slipknot, Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, Josh Homme of Queens Of The Stone Age and Nirvana bass player Krist Novoselic.

ELVIS PRESLEY MUSIC IS STILL CONSIDERED SCANDALOUS
Thirty-five years after Elvis died, he's still stirring up controversy. Herriman High School in West Jordan, Utah, had cancelled its production of a musical called ``All Shook Up,'' which is loosely based on Shakespeare's play ``Twelfth Night'' and features Elvis songs. A parent complained the lyrics to ``All Shook Up'' are too racy and a scene suggesting cross-dressing was offensive. One parent tells The Salt Lake Tribune says a girl dresses as a boy and kisses a boy, but that's supposed to be farce, not promoting homosexuality. But in the end, it looks like the show will go on, after all. Officials at the school near Salt Lake City were able to get permission from the copyright owners of ``All Shook Up'' to edit some of the lyrics some found questionable. The school district recently changed its policy to allow parents a bigger say over student plays wonder if they regret that move now


January 3

PEARL JAM WORKING ON NEW MUSIC

Pearl Jam have been working on new music, on and off, over the past year or so. The Seattle rockers have purposely not set a timetable for a new album, as the band members continue to work on solo projects and tours. Now, in a new interview with Rolling Stone magazine - centered around his involvement with the West Memphis Three – frontman Eddie Vedder was asked for an update onPearl Jam’s latest recording project. "We're taking our time. I was talking to Jeff Ament today, we were texting, he's got his group up there. He's heading to the West Coast, I'm heading east.And at some point we'll join forces again.


DAVE GROHL NEW PROJECT

Dave Grohl’s directorial debut, "Sound City,”will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 18 before its theatrical release next month. The documentary chronicles the story of the Van Nuys, California studio of the same name, where music legends recorded major projects throughout the years – includingNirvana’s 1991 smash, "Nevermind,”which featured Grohl on drums. For the movie, Grohl cobbles together a troupe of iconic musicians and singers who once called the studio home. Stevie Nicks, Neil Young, Tom Petty, Trent Reznor andPaul McCartneyare just some of the legends who jam with Grohl and create a brand-new album on that revered soundboard.


January 2

MICK JAGGER: ON THE ``MOVES''
He's heard it. He's even joked about it. But Mick Jagger says there's pretty much no escaping the Maroon 5 hit that takes liberties with his name. The Rolling Stones lead singer says it seems everywhere he goes, he hears ``Moves Like Jagger'' but he's cool with it. He says a friend of his helped make the video and he says it comes up a lot in conversation. In a recent appearance on David Letterman's show, Jagger joked that even though the song mentions his name and his ``moves,'' he doesn't get a dime off it.


GREEN DAY RESCHEDULE CONCERT DATES

Green Day have announced plans to return to the road in 2013 and revealed dates for the upcoming tour in support of their new album trilogy, "¡Uno!,” "¡Dos!,” and "¡Tré!” A 2-week series of North American shows start March 28 in Chicago; previously announced dates planned for January and February have been cancelled. The band ceased all live and promotional appearances in support of the new albums following an onstage meltdown by frontman Billie Joe Armstrong in Las Vegas in September, which resulted in the singer seeking treatment for substance abuse.



December 21

HEART: HAPPY TO MAKE IT TO THE HALL
Ann Wilson put it this way: ``just when you think you know the shape of Rock 'n' Roll, it changes shape on you.'' She says it had gotten to the point that she and younger sister Nancy got to thinking that Heart would never make it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Ann says it became ``a running joke'' among the band that they'd never get in. But this year, they did and now she says the honour is ``really more than thrilling.'' Nancy says it's nice to put behind them the speculation about whether they'd make it in not that she ever believed they weren't worthy. Says Nancy: ``We feel like we deserve it, so we're happy to be here.'' Neither sister feels she was an inspiration to other women that eventually played in rock 'n' roll bands. Ann says she looks forward to the time when there is no gender designation on music. The 28th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony will be held in Los Angeles on April 18th.

STUDY LOOKS AT ROCK DEATHS
Is rock and roll hazardous to your health? A new study indicates it might be for those who play it. The academic study finds that rock and pop musicians are more likely to die prematurely than the general population. The researchers from Liverpool, England looked at nearly 15-hundred acts from rock, R pop, rap and other genres who became famous between 1956 and 2006. Of that number 137 stars had died. For those slow with the calculator, that's 9.2 per cent a higher mortality rate than those in the general population. The study also did away with the popular myth that rock stars tend to die at 27 like Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse all did. The average age of death was 45.2 years for North American stars and 39.6 for European performers. The research also finds that the solo acts had twice the death risk than members of bands.


December 20

THE BLACK KEYS: PATRICK CARNEY'S RADIO SHOW
The drummer for The Black Keys is getting into radio in the States. ``Serious Boredom'' is a new show hosted by Patrick Carney. The drummer says the idea of doing a show never really crossed his mind but he decided ``to give it a shot.'' He says the show has no format and he will probably play what ever he feels like at the time. He calls the show ``a cool opportunity.


Whitesnake Prepare New Material

The boys of Whitesnake are busy. A few months ago, David Coverdale revealed that the band are working on some projects that will see the light of day in 2013, including a live album and a separate in-concert DVD from the Forevermore world tour, plus special expanded editions of "Into The Light” and "Restless Heart”. In the meantime, you can head to their website, and check out a video they've posted of Coverdale reading the holiday classic, "The Night Before Christmas”.


Sabbath Guitarist Joins National Guitar Museum

The National Guitar Museum, the first museum dedicated to the history, science, and cultural impact of the world's most popular instrument, has announced that Tony Iommi — guitarist and founding member of Black Sabbath — has joined the museum's board of advisors. As an advisor to the National Guitar Museum, Iommi will add his insight and experience to the museum's mission to promote and preserve the legacy of the guitar. While he is known worldwide for classics like "Iron Man", "Paranoid"and "Heaven And Hell", Iommi has also spent much of his career looking for ways to improve guitar technology and make the guitar more playable. He says: "I welcome the opportunity to be part of the National Guitar Museum's goal to highlight the history of the guitar — the instrument that has been part of my life since I was a teenager,"



December 19

12-12-12 TRACKS
It was a week ago tonight that a bunch of stars got together at Madison Square Garden to help raise money to help victims of superstorm Sandy. And now, you can buy some of the music that made 12-12-12 so special. Tracks from the benefit are being released on iTunes. Two dozen songs are available with a physical album set for release in the new year. Among the tracks you can download include the opening number ``Land of Hope and Dreams'' by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, ``Jumping Jack Flash'' by The Rolling Stones, Alicia Keys' ``Empire State of Mind'' and ``three tunes by Billy Joel.


Def Leppard Acoustic

Def Leppard have released an acoustic medley featuring several tracks played during their 2012 live shows. Available exclusively via iTunes, the 7-minute plus medley includes snippets of the following tracks:

* "Where Does Love Go When It Dies"
* "Now"
* "When Love and Hate Collide"
* "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad"
* "Two Steps Behind"

Leppard recently announced a Las Vegas residency in the spring of 2013. The group will be taking over the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for an exclusive nine-show run entitled "VIVA Hysteria!” The band will perform their iconic album, "Hysteria,” in full, in addition to a greatest hits segment. The shows will run from March 22 through April 10, 2013. 



December 18

AMY WINEHOUSE INQUEST
It probably won't change the results. But authorities in London are redoing the inquest into the death of Amy Winehouse. Officials say the original investigation into her July, 2011 death was done by a coroner who didn't have the right qualifications and has to be reheard. The probe was done by assistant deputy coroner Suzanne Greenaway who resigned in November, 2011 after her qualifications were questioned. The new hearing is set for January 8th. Winehouse was found dead in her London home in July 2011 at age 27. The first inquest found that the singer died of accidental alcohol poisoning. A spokesman for the Winehouse family says the singer's kin hadn't asked for a new hearing. And it's unlikely the second inquest would produce a different conclusion about how Winehouse died.


FRONTMAN BREAKS UP WITH ZOOEY DESCHANEL

It's three years and out for the latest rock/Hollywood marriage to go south. A judge in Los Angeles has signed off on paperwork dissolving the marriage of Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and actress Zooey Deschanel. They were married in September, 2009. There were no kids from the union. Deschanel filed for divorce in December, 2011 after the couple separated two months earlier. No word on how marital assets will be split up but the court papers do say the couple's marriage couldn't be fixed by counselling or mediation.


December 17

ROLLING STONES PAY TRIBUTE TO SHOOTING VICTIMS

It was a typical rock concert for the Rolling Stones, no less. But there was a sombre moment as the legendary band took a moment to acknowledge the mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school on Friday. Early in the show, Mick Jagger sent ``love and condolences to all the people who lost loved ones in the tragedy in Connecticut.'' The audience applauded and Jagger noted the whole world was feeling the pain of a stunned nation. The show was the final one in a series marking the Stones' 50th anniversary as a band. They shared the stage with Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, The Black Keys and John Mayer. The group also invited former guitarist Mick Taylor to perform and he took the final bow with the group at show's end. Jagger himself poked fun at the band's age and their fans. Speaking of the pay-per-view crowd at home, he joked: ``Some of you have got your grandchildren watching you.''


PETER FRAMPTON GIVES BALLET MUSIC FOR CHRISTMAS

Peter Frampton has promised the choreographer for the Cincinnati Ballet he will be able to work with Frampton's music by Christmas dinner. The Cincinnati Ballet asked to use Frampton's music, and he offered to write some new music as well. The first and third parts will be Frampton hits, and the middle part will be music he wrote specifically for the ballet. Frampton says it's not classical music, but in his style. He's enjoying writing it because it's pieces of music instead of the traditional verse-chorus-bridge-solo format of rock songs. The ballet will be staged in April.


BECK: PLAY IT AT HOME?
Beck hasn't done much as far as releasing music lately; his last album was released in 2008. But he's still interested in getting music into the hands of people even if it isn't his own. He's pushing a new project called ``Song Reader'' a sheet music project that encourages people to play music at home. He says these days, too many people experience music privately through their ear buds and not by listening to it together in the home. He says if he can encourage more people to pick up instruments and sing themselves, it could help people change the way they experience music.



December 14

SANDY SHOW BY THE NUMBERS
It's all over but the counting. And now that the 12-12-12 concert is in the books, there will likely be a lot of counting to do. It's unclear at this point just how much the supershow in New York on Wednesday night raised for victims of superstorm Sandy. Ticket prices for the show ranged from 150 dollars to 25-hundred dollars. With that amount collected at the box office, it's estimated that the show has already taken in more than 30 million dollars. And that doesn't even count the pledges that were taken in during the nearly six-hour broadcast and the amount collected online. At one point during the show, comedian Chris Rock cracked that so much money had already come in from the show, there was already enough money to fix all of the damage caused by superstorm Sandy.


ROLLING STONES: DOING A LAST 50TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW TOMORROW NIGHT
By now, it's a safe bet that you've heard that the Rolling Stones are marking their 50th anniversary in show business. And they're doing it with a series of shows in New York. The last of them will be tomorrow night at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. They played the first of two shows last night and that followed their set on Wednesday's 12-12-12 concert at New York's Madison Square Garden. The Stones have invited Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga and The Black Keys to perform on the show, too. Lead singer Mick Jagger says the lineup represents different parts of American music and he thinks the different parts ``kind of fit.''


MICK JAGGER: THE SECRET OF HIS LONGEVITY
So how does Mick Jagger and the rest of the Rolling Stones manage to do it? Asked how his voice was able to hold up so long, Jagger used a single word: ``luck.'' He says along with ``the way you're born'' he has held up because he gave up smoking about 30 years ago. Jagger jokes that he heard somewhere along the line it's no good for you.


December 13

12-12-12 CONCERT
What Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band started, Paul McCartney finished, with some help from Alicia Keys. And in between some of music's top stars rocked Madison Square Garden for a show that put out the call for aid to the New York City area in the wake of superstorm Sandy. The show was a mixture of a telethon and an act of defiance with celebrities calling for donations to a fund for Sandy victims and celebrity hosts defiantly urging New Yorkers to bounce back. Springsteen launched the show with the tune ``Land of Hope and Dreams'' before teaming up with fellow New Jersey native Bon Jovi on ``Born To Run.'' McCartney closed out the proceedings nearly six hours later joined by Alicia Keys with ``Empire State of Mind.'' The show was sold out and was televised, streamed online and aired on radio all over the world. Producers say up to two billion people were able to experience the show live, along with the thousands who saw it in person.


PAUL McCARTNEY HAILS 'REAL STARS' OF SHOW
There were rock artists, R&B singers and other stars on the stage not to mention the celebrities and comedians who filled in the gaps between set changes. But Paul McCartney says the ``real stars'' of the Hurricane Sandy show were the first responders. And while they didn't perform, they got themselves a curtain call at the end of the nearly six hour long show at New York's Madison Square Garden. As the smoke, flame blasts and fireworks cleared after he performed ``Live and Let Die,'' McCartney called Alicia Keys on stage and motioned for first responders to come out to take a bow. As Keys sang ``Empire State of Mind,'' the police, firefighters and other emergency workers embraced McCartney and each other, while sharing high-fives and smiles.


MICK JAGGER'S LOVE LETTERS SOLD
The love letters Mick Jagger wrote to the inspiration for ``Brown Sugar'' have sold at auction for just over 300-thousand dollars. Sotheby's of London says a private collector bought the ten letters Jagger wrote to singer Marsha Hunt. The letters touch on world events like the moon landing and John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Jagger wrote them in 1969 when he was 25 while on the set of the film ``Ned Kelly'' in Australia. The letters sold for twice what was expected.



December 12

RUSH, HEART, PUBLIC ENEMY AMONG ROCK HALL INDUCTEES
Rush fans get their wish: Rush is heading for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For the first time, the Rock Hall let fans help decide who should be inducted, and Rush led the fan poll. Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson says fans were more hurt about Rush being snubbed than Rush was. Deep Purple had been running second in the fan poll but that wasn't enough to get them in this year. Donna Summer will be inducted after six years on the ballot, but it's bittersweet -- she died in May. Public Enemy makes induction the first time they appeared on the ballot. Randy Newman, Heart and bluesman Albert King will also be inducted. The ceremony is April 18th in Los Angeles.


RAVI SHANKAR DIES AT 92
Depending on your age, you'll remember him as a musical icon of the 1960s who hung out with The Beatles -- or the father of Norah Jones. Ravi Shankar has died. The Indian virtuoso who played the sitar passed away yesterday in San Diego. He was 92. Because of his collaboration with The Beatles, Shankar helped many music lovers discover the traditions of Indian music. He also pioneered the concept of the rock benefit with the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh, a tradition which continues tonight with the 12-12-12 concert, also at New York's Madison Square Garden.


MICK JAGGER: HAPPY TO BE GIVING BACK TO NEW YORK AREA
Mick Jagger says we can only wonder how bad the effects of Superstorm Sandy would have been if there hadn't been so much warning. The frontman of the Rolling Stones says if there hadn't been a week to prepare for the storm which devastated much of the coastal New York metropolitan area, the results ``would have been pretty dire.'' Jagger will lead the Stones in tonight's 12-12-12 concert at Madison Square Garden along with dozens of other acts to raise money for victims of Sandy. He says it's important to ``support people who have been in harm's way'' and he's especially fond of New York because he is ``very familiar'' with the area. Besides the Stones, the 12-12-12 concert features Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, The Who, Billy Joel, Eric Clapton, Bon Jovi, Alicia Keys, Dave Grohl, Chris Martin of Coldplay and Eddie Vedder.


December 11

ROLLING STONES: PLAYING ANOTHER SHOW TO MARK THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY
The Rolling Stones are extending their set of shows to mark their 50th anniversary. And they extending the invitation for other artists to join in one last performance to mark the occasion. The Stones will play Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Joining them on the show will be Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga and The Black Keys and the show will be available on pay per view. The Stones have already played London and New York on their ``50 and Counting'' tour. They will also play in Newark on Thursday. Tomorrow night, they perform at the ``12-12-12'' concert at Madison Square Garden. Proceeds from that show will help victims of superstorm Sandy.


ALICE COOPER JAMS WITH DEPP AND OTHERS

Alice Cooper hosted his 12th annual Christmas Pudding concert on Saturday at the Comerica Theater in Phoenix. Proceeds from Christmas Pudding go to Alice Cooper's Solid Rock — a nonprofit organization founded by Alice dedicated to enriching the lives of teens through music, dance, and self expression. Among the performers joining Alice for the show were actor Johnny Depp, Sebastian Bach, L.A. Guns and Don Felder of The Eagles. Last month, Depp jammed with Alice during his show at The Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.



December 1p

ROLLING STONES PLAY NEW YORK ON 50TH ANNIVERSARY MINI-TOUR
Why do the Rolling Stones keep playing shows? Because people keep showing up. The Stones played in New York Saturday night in one of the few concerts they're doing this year to mark 50 years as a band. Mick Jagger told the audience, ``You're the reason we're doing this. Thank you for buying our records and coming to our shows for the last 50 years.'' Mary J. Blige and Gary Clark Junior were guest musicians. The Stones will also play in Newark, New Jersey on Thursday and Saturday, they'll do the 12-12-12 Superstorm Sandy Relief concert, and for you late night fans, they'll be presenting the Top 10 List tomorrow on Late Night with David Letterman.


Weiland Out Of STP?

Rumour is that Scott Weiland is out of Stone Temple Pilots again. In an interview with a Minnesota radio station, superstar guitarist Slash was asked about Weiland recently talking about being open to a Velvet Revolver reunion. Slash said "Yeah, well, that's because he was fired from STP”. The two worked together on Velvet Revolver until 2008 when Weiland left to reunite with STP. There has been no official word from STP on the status of Weiland.


Thin Lizzy Memoir

Thin Lizzy are in the middle of a sold-out farewell tour of the UK. In September the band announced that they will start recording a new album, to be released under a new name, and that they will cease touring under the Thin Lizzy brand after going out on one last tour this fall. Last month, Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham published his memoir "The Boys Are Back In Town. Now, the group is sharing news that, after the swift sell-out of the first edition of the book, the reprint has practically sold out as well, so much so that the publishers have ordered a second reprint as fans are anxious to get their hands on the book, the exclusive story of the band's rise, fall, and rise again. Look for the book to hit Canadian store shelves in May of next year.


December 7

New Alice In Chains Music

Alice In Chains have completed recording their new album and will debut a new song online in two weeks.The band revealed the news on Thursday, writing, "Every day for the next 10 days, a new lyrical phrase from our brand new song ‘Hollow’ will be posted at @aliceinchains on Instagram.” Due in 2013, the new project is the follow-up to 2009’s "Black Gives Way To Blue,” the band’s second record with singer William DuVall.


New Buckcherry Single

And still with new music news, Buckcherry will release a new single next week. "Gluttony,” the lead track from the California band’s forthcoming studio album, "Confessions," will be released on December 11 via iTunes. Due in early 2013, "Confessions" is an album based on the seven deadly sins, and is part of a larger vision that includes a film written by singer Josh Todd, who based the album's lyrics on his childhood and transformation into adulthood. Currently in the middle of a 3-week UK tour, Buckcherry are set to join Kid Rock as special guests on the upcoming "Rebel Soul" tour beginning February 2 in Kansas City, Missouri.


CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING
The Fray had to learn a Christmas song in a very non-Christmasy environment. Singer Isaac Slade says they were asked to perform Bruce Springsteen's version of ``Santa Claus Is Coming To Town'' for last night's National Christmas Tree lighting in Washington. Slade says they learned the song in Beijing and practiced it on an aircraft carrier because their next gig was for the USO. Last night's tree lighting also included Colbie Caillat, Jason Mraz, Phillip Phillips, Babyface, Ledisi and James Taylor.



December 6
GRAMMY NOMINATIONS

This year's Grammy nominations reflect the state of the music industry this year -- lots of big single hits -- few big hit albums. Unlike last year, when Adele's ``21'' was the big album of the year and she got a lot of nods, this year, the wealth was spread among six acts, who ended up with six nominations each. The half-dozen artists with the half dozen nods are .fun, Frank Ocean, Dan Aurebach of The Black Keys, Mumford and Sons, as well as rappers Kanye West and Jay-Z. Among the rock acts, The Black Keys have five nominations and Jack White has 4. Winners will be announced on February 10th at a live ceremony set for the Staples Center in Los Angeles.


JACK WHITE
Jack White says he's the victim of ``tabloidesque drama baiting'' by Britain's New Music Express. The magazine quoted an interview White gave to Esquire in which White appears to criticize Lady Gaga for being ``all artifice'' and ``all image with no meaning.'' White says he didn't say anything about Lady Gaga or her music, but instead was talking about the drawbacks of image for the sake of image. He says, ``If you're going to try to cause drama, at least get the quotes right.'' He wishes peace to Lady Gaga and congratulates her for championing gay rights.


December 5

FLEETWOOD MAC: NEW MUSIC, NEW TOUR
Fleetwood Mac is about to tour. But does that mean they will be on the road to support a new album? Not exactly is the best answer. Members of the group have been working on new music, with Stevie Nicks singing on tracks that Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie had worked on. But Nicks says she isn't sure what is to become of the music. She says the way things are in the music world these days, doing an album would be tough. But she says the group might release a couple of tracks here and there before deciding to share more songs. The Fleetwood Mac tour is set to start April 4th in Columbus, Ohio.


AMY WINEHOUSE'S HOUSE SELLS FOR $3.2 MILLION
The house where Amy Winehouse died has sold for $3.2 million. The B-B-C reports five bidders battled for Winehouse's home in north London during an auction Monday. The listing didn't mention that the house belonged to Winehouse, but word got out. The house had been put up for sale in May for $4.3 million but failed to attract a buyer.

GRAMMY NOMINATIONS COME OUT TONIGHT
Grammy nominations will come out tonight. Lots of rockers are potential album of the year nominees including ``Babel'' by Mumford and Sons, ``Mylo Xyloto'' by Coldplay, and ``El Camino'' by The Black Keys. The Grammy nominations will be announced during a CBS special tonight.


December 4

JON BON JOVI: WORKING THROUGH TRAGEDY
Jon Bon Jovi knows about rock and roll. But he acknowledges that it comes to raising a kid no one has all the answers. Last month, his 19-year-old daughter Stephanie was found unresponsive in her college dorm room. It was an apparent heroin overdose. Bon Jovi says he appreciates ``that outpouring of kindness'' from people after that but that he was ``shocked as much as the next parent'' at what happened. He notes when he brought his daughter home as an infant ``there was no manual'' but he tried to ``surround her with hugs and kisses.'' Bon Jovi says he hopes there will be no more problems but adds ``no one knows the future. It is what it is.''


'DO YOU FEEL LIKE WE DO' 38 TIMES OVER
Peter Frampton never takes the middle spot when he performs with his band live. That's because if he stands stage left, he looks right and can give cues to the entire band more easily. Frampton just released a DVD of his 2011-2012 tour called ``FCA 35 Tour,'' to mark the 35th anniversary of ``Frampton Comes Alive.'' The CD version has different tracks, and the band recorded every show on the tour. Frampton decided 38 shows were the best. He says after slogging through 38 versions of ``Do You Feel Like We Do'' to find the best one, he was ready never to play it again. He says that won't really happen because no way will he disappoint fans like that.


December 3

ROBERT PLANT
Robert Plant says he doesn't think anyone would have enjoyed being at the Kennedy Center Honors over the weekend than the late John Bonham. Plant says he and the late drummer went back to when they were both too young to drive cars. And he says if he had lived to see the band honoured last night, he would have had ``a few beers'' and a good laugh at being recognized by the president of the United States. Along with Led Zeppelin, Kennedy Center Honors went to bluesman Buddy Guy, actor Dustin Hoffman and comedian David Letterman.

METALLICA
Metallica have become their own bosses. They have formed their own record label called Blackened Records. Metallica now have ownership of all their master recordings. Their first release under the Blackened Records name will be the ``Quebec Magnetic'' DVD, shot in Quebec City during their 2009 tour. That comes out a week from tomorrow.

NEIL YOUNG
Neil Young says it wouldn't be right to play a show near the victims of superstorm Sandy and not do something to help. Young and Crazy Horse will hold a benefit concert Thursday in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Young says he's gotten the support of the New York-New Jersey area for 40 years, and he couldn't see coming back there and pretending it's business as usual. He says he was invited to play the big benefit concert at Madison Square Garden on December 12th with Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, The Who, Kanye West and others. He says it wasn't going to make much difference if he played that show, so he decided to go where he could make a difference.


November 30

GRAMMY NOMINATIONS CONCERT
The Who never won a Grammy, and Pete Townshend only has one for his work on the Broadway version of ``Tommy,'' but they've decided to check out the Grammy nominations concert anyway. The Who will perform on the ``Grammy Nominations Live'' show on CBS Wednesday. Hunter Hayes, The Band Perry and Dierks (DURKS) Bentley have also been added to the lineup. Other performers include fun., Maroon 5, Ne-Yo and Luke Bryan.


BEATLES MEMORABILIA FOR SALE
George Harrison's leather jacket from his Cavern Club days is up for auction. Bonhams auction house expects it to sell for at least $140,000. His ``Beatle boots'' are expected to sell for at least $19,000. Bonhams estimates the guitar Paul McCartney played as a member of the pre-Beatles group The Quarry Men will sell for at least $32,000. Plaster casts of Harrison's hands are for sale, as are four prop umbrellas from the movie ``Help,'' the trumpet used on the song ``Martha My Dear'' and an Apple Records dartboard. The auction is December 12th.


3 DOORS DOWN AND CHRIS DAUGHTRY
The reason 3 Doors Down and Chris Daughtry are touring together is because they're using it as an excuse to hang out together. Daughtry says he became friends with 3 Doors Down singer Brad Arnold when Daughtry was writing his first record. He says that day they said they should tour together, but that was six or seven years ago. Daughtry says because of conflicting tour schedules, they figured the only way to see each other was to tour together. Arnold says the camaraderie between the two bands shows on stage. The tour stops in Asbury Park, New Jersey, tonight.


November 29

RUSH LEADS ROCK HALL FAN POLL
Rock fans have long complained about who has been overlooked for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They're coming out in force to push Rush for induction. This year, the Rock Hall is letting fans vote on who should be inducted, and those votes will be considered in deciding the inductees. Rush leads the fan poll with 24.3 per cent of the vote. Deep Purple is second with 17.1 per cent, and Heart is third with 12.4 per cent. You can make your choices at www.RockHall.com. Voting ends Monday.



THE WHO: 'QUADROPHENIA' REDUX
Roger Daltrey believes The Who have finally figured out how to stage ``Quadrophenia'' properly. He says they had trouble staging it even back in 1973. The Who are playing ``Quadrophenia'' in its entirety on their current tour. Daltrey also feels better about how he sounds. He says he had been singing with a vocal condition that has been corrected, so his voice is feeling ``wonderful.'' Pete Townshend says they don't go for the jugular the way they used to in their early days. However, he says he can feel from the crowd response that they're getting it. The Who play tonight and tomorrow outside Chicago.


HISTORICAL MUSICIAN INTERVIEWS
Paul McCartney acknowledges drugs played a big part in the making of ``Sgt. Pepper,'' but he says it never was anything hardcore. He made those remarks to interviewer Joe Smith, who has donated audio of dozens of musician interviews to the Library of Congress, which has put them online for anyone to hear. In another interview, Mick Jagger says he believes the Rolling Stones' bad-boy image is what led to Keith Richards becoming a junkie and Brian Jones ``cracking up completely.''


November 28
The Rolling Stones New Tour

 

The Rolling Stones kicked off their "50 & Counting" shows Sunday in London before a packed 02 Arena crowd of 20,000 fans. The Stones delivered a 2-hour plus set with hits taken from every decade of their career. Now, UK tabloid The Sun reports the band is facing a large fine for playing past the local curfew. The Stones were scheduled to end Sunday’s show by 10:30 pm, but they started 30 minutes later than planned and finished the concert at 11:05 pm. The Sun reports the fine could be as much as £200,000 ($320,000 USD). The Stones will play a second night at the O2 Arena on Thursday, before heading across the Atlantic for three shows: New York’s Barclay Center on December 8, and the Prudential Center in Newark NJ on December 13 and 15. The final show will be telecast live via pay-per-view at 9pm ET. The pay-per-view entitled "One More Shot” will be distributed by WWE.


LENNY KRAVITZ LANDS MARVIN GAYE ROLE
Lenny Kravitz will play Marvin Gaye in a movie about Gaye's life. His publicist confirms Kravitz will play Gaye in a film that will begin production next year. It will focus on Gaye's life in the 1980s when he dealt with addiction and trying to restart his career. Gaye's father shot him to death in 1984. This will be Kravitz's first lead role in a film.

Jon Bon Jovi, Dave Grohl and Eddie Vedder have been added to the Superstorm Sandy benefit concert in New York next month. They join previously announced performers Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Paul McCartney, Kanye West, Roger Waters, The Who, Alicia Keys and Billy Joel. The concert, called ``12-12-12,'' will be on December 12th at Madison Square Garden. Proceeds will benefit the Robin Hood Relief Fund for Sandy victims in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.


November 27

MOTLEY CRUE

Motley Crue are currently enjoying some down time between tours with KISS. The two classic rock acts played shows across North America this past summer and are scheduled to tour Australia together in the spring. In the meantime, Crue members have gone their separate ways to work on various projects. Bassist Nikki Sixx has his "Sixx Sense” radio program on the go, and he shared some news over the weekend about what he’s been up to lately. He says he and Mick Mars have been busy writing and are ready to follow up the single "Sex”, their first new song in over four years, with more of what they call "The New Crue”"Sex,”was released just prior to the launch of their summer tour with KISS. The track was written when the Crue were together during their residency in Las Vegas last February.


ANDREW W.K.
The U.S. State Department has had second thoughts about sending a party-crazed rock singer famous for having a bloody face to Bahrain as a cultural ambassador. Andrew W.K. had been invited by the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain to visit. He says the purpose of his visit was to promote ``partying and world peace.'' A State Department spokeswoman says the invitation has been rescinded because Andrew W.K. is an inappropriate choice in a conservative Muslim kingdom.


ALICE COOPER
You probably didn't know there was an International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame, but not only is there one, Alice Cooper's just been inducted into it. Cooper throws knives at a target before his shows, and according to his website, he's ``deadly accurate.'' Cooper says knife-throwing is one of his favourite backstage activities.


November 23
The making of Green Day’s new album trilogy, "¡Uno!,” "¡Dos!,” and "¡Tré!”, has been captured in a new documentary called ¡Quatro!. The film pulls back the curtain and takes fans inside the world of Green Day, from the various spontaneous live performances in select cities across the U.S. to the chronicling of their creative process while conceptualizing and recording their current trilogy. The final installment in the trilogy, "¡Tré!”, will be released December 11. The full length version of ¡Quatro! will be released in 2013.

More than 40 years after his passing, a new Jimi Hendrix album is on the way. Due March 5, 2013, "People Hell And Angels” is a collection of 12 previously unreleased recordings by the guitar icon. The set features music recorded in 1968 and 1969 as Jimi works on material apart from the Jimi Hendrix Experience; sonically, the songs suggest new, experimental directions. The legendary guitarist was considering these new sounds for "First Rays Of The New Rising Sun” (eventually released in 1997), the planned double-album follow-up to 1968’s "Electric Ladyland.” Hendrix toys with horns, keyboards, percussion and a second guitar, exploring fresh diversions from his legendary guitarwork.   


November 22

AC/DC’s seminal 1980 album, "Back In Black,” is among the recordings entering the 2013 Grammy Hall Of Fame. On Wednesday, The Recording Academy announced the newest additions to its Grammy Hall Of Fame collection. With 27 new titles, the list currently totals 933 and is on display at the Grammy Museum at L.A. Live. Representing a great variety of tracks and albums, the 2013 Grammy Hall Of Fame inductees range from AC/DC's "Back In Black"album to Frank Sinatra's recording of "Theme from New York, New York."Also added to the highly regarded list are Billy Joel's "Piano Man," Paul McCartney & Wings' album "Band On The Run”, Ray Charles' "Hit The Road Jack," the Drifters' "On Broadway," among others.


With Led Zeppelin’s "Celebration Day” now out, guitarist Jimmy Page continues to promote the new live package. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Page shares his thoughts on Zeppelin’s status following the band’s one-off reunion show at London’s 02 Arena in December of 2007. "Some of us thought we would be continuing, that there were going to be more concerts in the not-too-distant-future,"explains Page. "Because there was a lot of work being put into the show." The Zeppelin reunion Jimmy hoped would continue as shut down becauseRobert Planthad no interest in moving forward with the project.


Queenhave issued an update on a new solo album in the works by drummerRoger Taylor. As part of an updated bio on Taylor, the group has announced that Roger plans to release brand new solo material in 2013 and he wants to involve the public in the choices of which tracks make it onto the album. A track will be made available each week leading up to the album release and the public will need to vote and decide what they would like to see appear on the album alongside some of Rogers favourite songs.


November 21

 

Two of New Jersey's favourite musical sons are teaming up to help those in the state affected by Superstorm Sandy. Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi are serving on the advisory board of a relief fund created to help storm victims. The Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund is a non-profit foundation set up by state first lady Mary Pat Christie to help with long-term recovery efforts. Bon Jovi says the damage and devastation from the storm are unimaginable. But Springsteen says he knows people will rally to help their neighbours ``come back better and stronger.'' So far, the board has raised more than $16 million.


Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil has officially launched his own brand of vodka, Tatuado. Neil launched his vodka in Las Vegas this past weekend. The singer has added the Tatuado vodka to his line of spirits, which include Tatuado tequila. This summer, Neil held a soft opening of his new expanded Tatuado Restaurant & Cantina at the Las Vegas Hilton. The venue is billed as having a "cool and casual atmosphere and the menu expansive, with numerous innovative margaritas like the "Green Iguana” Margarita, "Blue Coconut” Rita, or "Perfect Cadillac" Margarita. After touring all summer with Motley Crue as they opened for KISS, Vince is currently performing solo tour dates across North America


Soundgarden are doing a lot of interviews to promote their newly-released album, "King Animal.”
The project is the reunited band’s first album in 16 years. While speaking with Vulture.comabout the new effort, singer Chris Cornell was asked what his recollections were of touring with Guns N’ Roses back in 1991. "Without saying anything negative about Axl [Rose], what I remember the most was Duff [McKagan] and Slash and everyone else being regular, sweet, warm guys in a rock band that just wanted to play rock music,” The Axl-led Guns N’ Roses are currently in the middle of "Appetite For Democracy,” their first-ever Las Vegas residency at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

 


November 20

 

 

AC/DC: MUSIC COMING OUT ON iTUNES

AC/DC fans finally have the power to download the band's music on iTunes. The veteran rock group was one of the few acts holding out on Apple's digital download service but no more. Columbia Records and Apple say 16 AC/DC studio albums will now be available worldwide including ``Back in Black'' and ``High Voltage.'' There have been a few notable acts who have refused to play along with Apple over the years, but the resistance is slowing. The Beatles' record label signed on with Apple two years ago. And Kid Rock's new album, ``Rebel Soul,'' is now available on iTunes.


GnR Guitarist Releases Solo Single

Former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin has released a new single. "Baby-Rann”features Rick Richards on lead guitar, Taz Bentley on drums, and J.T. Longoria on bass. The song’s video was edited by Ed Shiers and filmed at Oceanway Studios in Hollywood, CA earlier this month. This past spring, Stradlin skipped GNR’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, as did singer Axl Rose. In June, Stradlin joined GNR for two shows in London, marking the first time he played with the band since 2006. The following month, Stradlin teamed up with GNR again when the group played a private wedding concert in Saint-Tropez, France.


Sabbath In Studio

Black Sabbath are in the studio working on a new album, which is due in April. In the past few weeks, the band has kept fans updated on the project with news that Ozzy Osbourne was recording vocals and Geezer Butler was laying down some bass parts. On Monday, Sabbath delivered news that Tony Iommi is tracking more guitars on the new album. The update included a black and white photo of Iommi’s guitars in the studio Working with producer Rick Rubin, the project is the mostly-reunited band’s first studio effort since 1978’s "Never Say Die.” Sabbath are working at Shangri La Studios in Malibu, California. 



November 19

Eric Clapton's Watch

An Asian collector bought a platinum chronograph Patek Philippe wristwatch owned by British rock guitarist Eric Clapton for 3.44 million Swiss francs ($3.63 million) at auction on Monday, Christie’s said. The "ultra-rare” reference 2499/100 by the Swiss luxury watchmaker, one of only two cased in platinum, was acquired by Clapton some 10 years ago, it said. It fetched a combined hammer price and commission that was in line with Christie’s pre-sale estimate of 2.5-4.0 million francs while also setting a world record price for this reference at auction, it said in a statement on its semi-annual Geneva sale.


New Hendrix Exhibit

The Experience Music Project (EMP) in Seattle has launched a new exhibit entitled "Hear My Train a Comin’: Hendrix Hits London.” In the mid-1960s, Jimi Hendrix wowed the swinging London scene for nine months—releasing three hit singles, a chart-topping debut album, and became the darling of the British music press—before returning home to dazzle audiences at the Monterey Pop Festival in California. The new exhibit features lyrics, personal instruments, original photographs, outrageous outfits, and rare concert footage, while inviting viewers to discover how Hendrix achieved prominence across the pond.


Sabbath Voted Most Influential

Black Sabbath have been named the most important British hard rock act of all time in a major poll unveiled over the weekend by record industry trade body the BPI (British Phonographic Industry). The Birmingham-born pioneers of heavy metal, who have sold more than 70 million records worldwide - including the 1970 classic "Paranoid”- bagged almost half of the votes (45%) in a poll of more than 3,600 hard rock / metal fans. Iron Maidenand Led Zeppelincompleted the trio of the most respected British hard rock legends, each taking one fifth of the votes..  


November 16

PROSECUTORS ELIMINATE DRUG CHARGES AGAINST BON JOVI'S DAUGHTER
Drug charges against Jon Bon Jovi's daughter have been dropped. Prosecutors dismissed drug possession charges against 19-year-old Stephanie Bongiovi and fellow Hamilton College student Ian Grant. Under New York's Good Samaritan law of 2011, someone having a drug overdose or seeking help for an overdose victim can't be prosecuted for having a small amount of heroin or any amount of marijuana. The law intends to reduce overdose deaths by encouraging people to call 911 without fear of prosecution. Bongiovi was hospitalized after apparently overdosing on heroin in a Hamilton College dorm early Wednesday.


PHISH FRONTMAN OPENS UP ABOUT DRUG USE

Phish frontman Trey Anastasio says the lowest point of his life was right before Phish called it quits in 2004 -- because he was a raging drug addict. Anastasio tells Rolling Stone keyboardist Page McConnell had told him for 20 years he had faith in Anastasio onstage, but for the first time he wasn't sure. Anastasio was arrested for drug possession in 2006 and was humiliated that a Phish fan happened to be his jail guard. Anastasio is clean now and says he hates drugs.


PERFORMERS ANNOUNCED FOR 12-12-12 CONCERT
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Paul McCartney and Kanye West will do a benefit concert for victims of Superstorm Sandy. Billy Joel, The Who, Alicia Keys and Jon Bon Jovi will also perform at the ``12-12-12'' concert in New York on December 12. More performers are expected to be added. Proceeds will go to the Robin Hood Relief Fund.

November 15

BON JOVI'S DAUGHTER OD'S
Authorities say Jon Bon Jovi's 19-year-old daughter is in a hospital recovering from a heroin overdose. Police say an ambulance was sent to Hamilton College in upstate New York early yesterday after a report that a female had overdosed on heroin in a dorm. Investigators say Stephanie Bongiovi is recovering at an unnamed hospital. She and a male Hamilton student have been charged with drug possession. Bon Jovi's representative has not commented.

THE DAVE MATTHEWS BAND PLANS SANDY BENEFIT
The Dave Matthews Band is helping out victims of Superstorm Sandy in a big way. The band says its tour opener November 30 outside New York will be a benefit concert. All ticket and merchandise sales will benefit the Bama Works Sandy Relief Fund -- even tickets that were purchased in advance. The Dave Matthews Band estimates that should be about a million dollars.

JOHN MELLENCAMP CALLS ON FRIENDS FOR ``DARKLAND COUNTY'' ALBUM
John Mellencamp is enlisting some of his high-profile friends for the album version of the musical he wrote with Stephen King. Elvis Costello plays the devil, Kris Kristofferson plays the patriarch of a family, and Rosanne Cash plays one of the wives on ``Ghost Brothers of Darkland County.'' Neko Case, Sheryl Crow, Ryan Bingham and Taj Mahal also perform. The ``Ghost Brothers of Darkland County'' album comes out March 19.


November 14

INXS WON'T TOUR ANY MORE
If you didn't see INXS on their last tour, you can't catch them on the next one. INXS have declared they will not tour again. The band performed their last concert with Matchbox 20 in Perth, Australia, this week. INXS has issued a statement saying they've toured for 35 years, 15 of that since the death of singer Michael Hutchence. Drummer Jon Farris says they knew their touring days could not last forever, but they wanted to end on a high, and they have.

ROLLING STONES ACKNOWLEDGE 50 YEARS
The Rolling Stones weren't going to do anything for their 50th anniversary, but Keith Richards says they felt pressured to do it. Richards says the Stones are famous for not obeying the rules, but they became aware that a lot of people were counting on them. They will play five shows in London and outside New York in the coming weeks, and they released a compilation with two new songs this week. Mick Jagger says they had to do something or the BBC would have done a dull film about them. Richards says it's ``impossible'' for it to have been 50 years, because in his words, ``I'm only 38.''

JOHN FOGERTY PLANS LIFE STORY
John Fogerty is ready to tell the stories of what really went on inside Creedence Clearwater Revival and his battle with his record label that went all the way to the Supreme Court. Fogerty has signed a deal with Little, Brown and Company for his autobiography. Fogerty says he wants to tell the story of how he fought hard to maintain his artistic integrity in the face of opposing forces. Fogerty's book will come out in 2014. In the meantime, he will put out an album next year called ``Wrote A Song For Everyone.''


November 13

ROGER DALTREY AND PETE TOWNSHEND ANNOUNCE NEW CANCER CHARITY
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend are starting a new charity called Teen Cancer America. Daltrey says they want to open facilities and develop support programs geared specifically toward teen cancer patients. He says teens who have cancer need to be around other patients their own age. He says ``they're going through completely different emotional, psychological and physical changes in their body than adults.'' He says teens wouldn't feel so isolated if they got to unload on other teens. Daltrey and Townshend are raising money for the charity on their Who tour. They perform tonight in Washington.

LED ZEPPELIN MUSIC FEATURED IN ``REVOLUTION'' NEXT WEEK
Led Zeppelin hardly ever lets their songs be used in movies or on TV. But they're making an exception for the NBC series ``Revolution.'' Next week's episode will feature two Zeppelin songs, ``Kashmir'' and ``Since I've Been Loving You.'' It's no coincidence that Revolution is produced in association with Warner Brothers Television, and Led Zeppelin has a deal with Warner Music Group's publishing arm. The episode airs the same day the group's ``Celebration Day'' album and DVD documentary are released.


November 9

BON JOVI
The last time Jon Bon Jovi wrote and performed a song for a movie, he won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar. That was ``Blaze of Glory'' from ``Young Guns 2'' -- but it was 22 years ago. He's giving it another try. Bon Jovi wrote and performed two songs for the upcoming criminal buddy movie ``Stand Up Guys,'' out in February. He says the song ``Old Habits Die Hard'' was inspired directly from a line in the first scene when old friends see each other again. He says the other song, ``Not Running Anymore,'' is about criminals on the run and he had to put himself in a confessional and ``be that Catholic school boy one more time.''

CHICAGO
The band Chicago has two Christmas albums out, but they don't ever do all-Christmas concerts. Trumpeter Lee Loughnane (LOK'-nayn) says they've learned they can't do more than two holiday songs live or people get antsy to hear their hits. He sort of understands: Loughnane says he only puts on Chicago Christmas music every four or five years. He says if one of the songs comes on the radio, he'll think, ``Oh yeah, that came out pretty good!'' Chicago's two holiday albums have been packaged together with a lower price as ``Chicago's Ultimate Christmas Collection.''

MARSHALL TUCKER BAND
For once, the truck belonging to the Marshall Tucker Band will be holding blankets and coats instead of tour gear. The band parked its tour truck in Spartanburg, South Carolina, yesterday to collect donated blankets and coats for victims of Superstorm Sandy. The band was on hand to thank people. Singer Doug Gray says the people of New Jersey and New York have supported the band for more than 40 years and they have a lot of friends there.


November 8

SCAFFOLDING COLLAPSES AT LINKIN PARK SHOW

Linkin Park are giving heartfelt condolences to the family of a fan who died after scaffolding holding up a temporary advertising structure collapsed in high winds outside their show in Cape Town, South Africa, yesterday. The band say on their website the fan died as a result of her injuries from the collapse outside the Green Point Stadium. Nineteen other people were hurt. Cape Town spokeswoman Kylie Hatton says engineers had given the OK to the structure. All the branding was taken down and the site was declared safe shortly afterward. Linkin Park continued with the show


ANDY SUMMERS

Andy Summers of The Police and Tom Hanks have been caught up in an insurance scam. Prosecutors have charged southern California insurance broker Jerry Goldman with overcharging Summers, Hanks and two others more than $800,000 on insurance policies. The indictment claims Goldman sent them altered copies of their insurance policies that didn't disclose the true premium to keep them from suing him or seeking criminal prosecution. Goldman has pleaded not guilty and is out on a $25,000 bond. Representatives for Summers and for Hanks could not be reached for comment.


PAPA ROACH

Papa Roach singer Jacoby Shaddix kept writing singles for ``The Connection'' and their label kept saying, nah. Shaddix says he presented his label with ``Won't Let Up'' to be the lead single, and his label said it was good, but not the first single. He came back with ``Gimme Back My Life,'' but the label reps didn't like that as a lead single either. Shaddix started to wonder about the quality of their hearing. He finally came up with ``Still Swingin.'' That's the first single. He says it's not the deepest song in the world but it's a song to ``smack 'em upside the head with the truth.''


November 7

ROD STEWART
Whatever Rod Stewart did in Tucson, Tucson forgives him. The Arizona Daily Star reports the British TV show ``Loose Women'' contacted Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild because Stewart has an autobiography coming out and says he's banned in Tucson. Rothschild says he doesn't know what Stewart did, but he's welcome there. A 2005 Stewart biography says The Faces trashed several rooms and a miniature train at an unidentified Tucson hotel because the hotel bar was temporarily closed. The Faces returned to Tucson and Stewart checked in under an assumed name: ``Fleetwood Mac.'' The band trashed their rooms again. Stewart says he's delighted he's allowed back.

JOHN LENNON LETTER
John Lennon thought Eric Clapton had promise. In fact, he offered to help Clapton develop his talent in a letter dated September 29th, 1971. That letter is for sale by the auction house Profiles in History, and it's expected to bring in at least $20,000. In the letter, Lennon tells Clapton, ``I know I can bring out something great -- in fact greater in you that had been so far evident in your music.'' Lennon says he knows it'll happen if and when they get together. The auction is December 18 in Los Angeles.

WILL CHAMPION
Coldplay drummer Will Champion will do a cameo on the H-B-O show ``Game Of Thrones.'' Entertainment Weekly reports Champion plays a drummer. ``Game Of Thrones'' returns in March.


November 6

Aerosmith Free Concert

Boston University student Becca Emmetts had a heck of a reason for missing physics class yesterday: ``Aerosmith was playing on my front stoop.'' She happens to live in the building where Aerosmith lived in the early 1970s, and they chose that spot for a free lunchtime concert yesterday. Thousands of fans crowded the streets, hung out windows and stood on fire escapes and roofs on Commonwealth Avenue for the show. A city plaque will be mounted on the front of the building in Aerosmith's honour. Aerosmith were promoting voting in today's election and today's release of their ``Music From Another Dimension'' album.

MUSICIANS AT U.S. RALLIES
Musicians have been helping with the final push of political campaigning. Kid Rock performed at the last campaign event for Republican challenger Mitt Romney in Manchester, New Hampshire, Meat Loaf,the Marshall Tucker Band and others have also done Romney events. Bruce Springsteen travelled with President Barack Obama in his final day of campaigning yesterday. Stevie Wonder played an unannounced concert for early voters in Cleveland Saturday. John Legend led a ``Souls to the Polls'' effort with local churches in Ohio. Others who have been helping the Obama campaign include will.i.am, Lady Gaga, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Beyonce', Jay-Z and Jeff Tweedy of Wilco.

GUNS N' ROSES
The Las Vegas resort that's promoting Guns N' Roses' four-week run of shows there plans to change the artwork on the ads. The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino used ads based on the original ``Appetite For Destruction'' cover, depicting a disheveled woman who appeared to have been sexually assaulted, sitting beneath the ``Welcome to Las Vegas'' sign. Rape crisis groups complained. The Hard Rock has issued a statement of apology and says it modified the ads on Friday.


November 5

AEROSMITH WILL PLAY IN FRONT OF OLD DIGS

Aerosmith have let it slip where they'll play their surprise concert at noon in Boston today. It will be in front of 1325 Commonwealth Avenue, where the band lived from 1970 to 1972. Players from the New England Patriots and some of the cheerleaders will be there too. The concert is to mark the release of the new Aerosmith album, ``Music From Another Dimension,'' out tomorrow. It's also a nonpartisan get-out-the-vote party.


BLUE OYSTER CULT REUNITE FOR 40TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW TONIGHT

Blue Oyster Cult fans who were disappointed that the band called off their New York show last week because of superstorm Sandy get a bonus for waiting. The original five members will perform at the band's 40th anniversary show tonight. The show was supposed to be last Sunday without all the original members. BOC have just released a 16-CD boxed set called ``Blue Oyster Cult - The Columbia Albums Collection,'' consisting of all their albums and two discs of rarities.

November 2

NBC RUNS BENEFIT FOR SANDY VICTIMS TONIGHT
Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and Billy Joel will hold a benefit concert tonight for victims of superstorm Sandy. Christina Aguilera, Sting and Jimmy Fallon will also participate. The concert will run on NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, Bravo, USA and E! Proceeds will go to the American Red Cross.


BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, BON JOVI PAY TRIBUTE TO NEW JERSEY

Bruce Springsteen has turned his song ``My City of Ruins'' into a tribute song for his home state of New Jersey. He played it last night in State College, Pennsylvania and offered thanks to the rescue workers. He performed it Wednesday in Rochester, New York. He singled out New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for doing ``such a hard job over the past few weeks.'' Jon Bon Jovi, meanwhile, was in London when the storm hit. He called off plans to return home yesterday. Bon Jovi pushed for donations for victims of the storm and says, ``We may not have electricity but we have power.''


SPRINGSTEEN, JAY-Z CAMPAIGN FOR OBAMA
Bruce Springsteen will be on the campaign trail with President Barack Obama on Monday. Springsteen will perform and introduce Obama Monday in Madison, Wisconsin. They'll travel to Columbus, Ohio, and meet up with Jay-Z for another event. All of them will then meet up with first lady Michelle Obama in Des Moines, Iowa, later that day.


November 1

GUNS N' ROSES
A county commissioner in Las Vegas says she regrets the board's decision to rename a street after Guns N' Roses after seeing a suggestive concert poster for the band. The poster is based on the original ``Appetite for Destruction'' cover, only the woman's breast is covered and the underwear that was around her ankles is gone. Women's groups say it still implies violence against women. The Las Vegas Sun quotes Commissioner Mary Beth Scow as saying she didn't know about the poster before county leaders voted to temporarily rename Paradise Road to Paradise City Road in honour of Guns N' Roses' run of shows in Las Vegas. The band has not responded to requests for comment.


SMASHING PUMPKINS
Smashing Pumpkins weren't able to play their planned Halloween show in New York last night because of damage from superstorm Sandy. The band is rescheduling their dates in New York; Camden, New Jersey; Fairfax, Virginia; and Uncasville, Connecticut, for December. Check out SmashingPumpkins.com for more information.


'OH, PRETTY WOMAN' SONGWRITER DIES

The man who co-wrote ``Oh, Pretty Woman'' with Roy Orbison has died. Bill Dees died last Wednesday outside Little Rock, Arkansas. He was 73. Orbison and Dees had been inspired to write the song after seeing Orbison's wife, Claudette. It hit number one in 1964.


October 31

PETE TOWNSHEND SAYS HE STOLE WINDMILL MOVE FROM KEITH RICHARDS
The windmill may be Pete Townshend's signature move, but it's really Keith Richards' move. Townshend writes in his new autobiography, ``Who I Am,'' an early version of the band called The Detours opened for The Rolling Stones in December 1963. Townshend saw Richards swing his arms like a windmill to warm up. When they opened for The Stones a few weeks later, Richards didn't do that, so Townshend adopted it for himself. A month or so later, they found out another band had the name The Detours, so they needed a new name. The name ``The Who'' came from future Who biographer Richard Barnes. Townshend himself wanted to call the band ``The Hair.''

VH1 CLASSIC CELEBRATES WHO-LOWEEN
VH1 Classic is turning Halloween into Who-loween. It will run all Who programming today. It will air ``Tommy,'' ''BBC Electric Proms: The Who`` from 2006, ''Classic Albums: Who's Next,`` ''VH1 Classic in Concert: Listening to You: The Who at The Isle of Wight,`` based on their 1970 performance, and the U.S. TV premiere of ''Quadrophenia: Can You See the Real Me?`` The Who's tour kicks off tomorrow in Sunrise, Florida.

BILLY CORGAN
One of Billy Corgan's side projects is as creative director for a wrestling company. Corgan says it's like being a baseball manager, in that he assesses each wrestler's skills and comes up with story lines. That means he knows who wins, but it doesn't make wrestling fake. He says it's no different than an opera with a sword fight on stage or a movie that uses stunt people and special effects. Besides, Corgan says he knows plenty of wrestlers with broken bones who just laugh if you say wrestling is fake.

October 30

GREEN DAY
Green Day won't tour anytime soon, but they'll make up for it by releasing the third album of their trilogy sooner. Green Day have called off all concerts for the rest of the year and they will postpone their planned arena tour next year. They have cleared their schedule through February 8. Bassist Mike Dirnt says the well-being of singer Billie Joe Armstrong is their main concern. He says Armstrong is doing well in his attempts to kick substance abuse. Green Day will move up the release of ``Tre'' to December 11th, more than a month ahead of schedule. ``Dos'' comes out November 13th.


MATCHBOX 20

Matchbox 20 drummer Paul Doucette ended up with a base tan he wasn't planning on when making the video for ``She's So Mean.'' He plays a drum kit that's on fire in that video. Doucette says by the time he was finished filming his neck was burned red. Singer Rob Thomas says Doucette looked like an Oompa-Loompa from ``Willy Wonka'' when they were done. Doucette says he wore protective clothing under the suit, and the fire marshal checked the gloves he wore by putting a blowtorch on them. Thomas says, ``That's how they check? That's a horrible idea!''


LEVON HELM

A documentary about Levon Helm of The Band is in the works. ``Ain't In It For My Health: A Film About Levon Helm'' follows Helm for the two years after he released his critically-acclaimed album ``Dirt Farmer'' in 2007. Helm died in April. The film will be released to theatres early next year, with a home video release set for the summer.


October 29

GARY GLITTER ARRESTED IN BRITISH SEX SCANDAL
Gary Glitter has been arrested in connection with a sex scandal involving popular British children's TV host Jimmy Savile (SAV'-ihl). Police will only confirm they've questioned a man in his early 60s on suspicion of sexual offenses in connection with the Savile case. British television outlets show police taking Glitter from his home. Glitter was convicted in Britain in 1999 and in Vietnam in 2006 of committing similar acts.

PAUL McCARTNEY SAYS YOKO ONO ISN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR BEATLES SPLIT

Paul McCartney believes it's someone besides Yoko Ono who should be blamed for the breakup of The Beatles. UK's The Observer published an excerpt from an interview McCartney gave to David Frost in which he says Ono did not break up the band. McCartney says while he was uncomfortable with Ono sitting in on studio sessions, he feels John Lennon could not have written ``Imagine'' without her avant-garde influence. So who's to blame? McCartney says it's Allen Klein, the manager who took over after Brian Epstein died. He says Klein got them fighting with each other, and during the interview McCartney throws a mock punch at a photo of Klein.



October 26

ROLLING STONES PLAY SMALL SURPRISE CONCERT IN PARIS
Word got around quickly in Paris: The Rolling Stones were doing a surprise warm-up gig there and tickets were less than $20. However, only 350 tickets were available, there was a limit of two per person, and buyers' names were printed on the tickets with ID's required at the door. The show was last night. The Rolling Stones often do surprise gigs in small venues to prepare for a tour. In this case it's to prepare for their two shows in London and two in Newark, New Jersey, later this year.

AEROSMITH PLAN SURPRISE STREET PARTY IN BOSTON
Aerosmith plan to show up on the streets of Boston on November 5 and just play. Where that will be won't be revealed until that morning, and they will play around noon. It's in celebration of the release of their new album, ``Music From Another Dimension,'' which comes out the next day. It's also a get-out-the-vote party, because ``Music From Another Dimension'' comes out on Election Day. Aerosmith say you can vote for whomever you choose, just vote.


October 24

JANIS JOPLIN'S FAMILY HAVE NO NEWS ON A MOVIE
For years there have been rumours about someone wanting to make a movie about Janis Joplin. Even her siblings wonder what happened with that. Joplin's family controls the rights to her music, so anyone wanting to shoot a film with her songs would have to ask them. Her brother, Michael Joplin, says he was excited years ago about a movie, but now he's just waiting to see what happens. Her sister, Laura Joplin, says if Janis was still alive, she has no doubt Janis would still be creative. Janis' life story is being told in the stage production ``One Night With Janis,'' currently running in Washington.

Mick Jagger has confirmed reports he is to produce a James Brown biopic, insisting he is honoured to be involved. The Rolling Stones frontman has joined forces with scriptwriters Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth, and Imagine Entertainment's Brian Grazer, who is also in negotiations with The Help director Tate Taylor. The film will be a co-production between Imagine and Jagger's company Jagged Films, and bosses are now looking for an actor to take the lead role as the Godfather of Soul. Jagger tells Deadline.com, "It's a great honour to be involved with a project as rich as the story of the legendary James Brown. He was a mesmerising performer with a fascinating life." 

You could be forgiven for thinking Las Vegas alt-rock act The Killers had several different musical personalities on their latest album, Battle Born. The quartet worked with not one but four big name producers on their fourth collection, handpicking each for certain songs. "We used them for what they're good at both sonically and sort of getting into the headspace," says Killers drummer Ronnie Vannucci. But really it just came down to scheduling. All these guys are juggling these schedules. It was all people we really, really wanted to work with. So we were like, 'Let's give it a shot and see what happens when we kind of go in with this sort of team type of way of doing things.' In the end, Battle Born has garnered them some of the best reviews of their career. "It's sort of scary because most of the reviews have been positive," Vannucci says with a laugh. "That's unusual for us."



October 19

JEFF LYNNE REMAKES HIS OWN MUSIC

Maybe you won't be able to hear the changes Jeff Lynne has made to Electric Light Orchestra songs, but he does. Lynne listened to each song about a hundred times to painstakingly remake them for his album, ``Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra.'' Lynne says the changes may be technical but the sound is different and ``much more powerful.'' Lynne has also done an album of standards called ``Long Wave.'' They're both out now.


GRATEFUL DEAD WORK ON BEER WITH DOGFISH HEAD BREWERY

The Grateful Dead have teamed up with Dogfish Head brewery to create a signature beer. It's a pale ale called American Beauty, and it's missing an ingredient. That's where Deadheads come in. Dogfish Head is looking for a good story about a food or drink and a Grateful Dead experience. Dogfish Head and the band will pick the ingredient that works best. Online submissions on the final ingredient will be taken online in December. American Beauty pale ale will come out in October 2013.


October 18

ELVIS, B.B. KING, JERRY LEE LEWIS SET FOR MEMPHIS MUSIC HALL OF FAME
You can't possibly have a Memphis Music Hall of Fame and not put Elvis Presley in. He's among the first 25 inductees, along with B.B. King, Three 6 Mafia, Al Green, Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. and the MGs, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bobby ``Blue'' Bland, Howlin' Wolf, The Staples Singers, ZZ Top and Sun Records founder Sam Phillips. The Memphis Daily News reports the first class will be inducted November 29th as part of the Memphis Rock n' Soul Museum.

Van Halen Doesn't Like One Direction

Van Halen rocker Wolfgang Van Halen has called out the members of One Direction after the boyband allegedly snubbed him in a hotel lobby. The bassist, whose dad is legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen, took to his Twitter.com page on Tuesday to tell followers about his less than friendly exchange with the pop stars in Birmingham, England. In a series of posts, he writes, "Fun fact: Was just insulted by that s**tty boy band One Direction in the lobby of our hotel this morning! Greetings Birmingham! No joke. That actually happened. That group of kids in One Direction were d**kheads to (my bandmates) and I." The 21 year old proceeded to take a swipe at the singers' carefully coiffed hair styles, adding, "They must call themselves that because all of their hair points in One Direction."

Billy Corgan Opens Up

Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan has opened up about his suicidal thoughts in a candid new TV interview, revealing he almost killed himself on several occasions. The rocker sat down for a chat with U.S. TV personality Carson Daly and expanded on comments he recently made to Britain's NME magazine about his mental state. He told Daly, the host of U.S. late-night show Last Call, "I almost killed myself about three, four, seven times. I literally started planning my death and what I would leave behind, and what I was gonna write... three or four times in my life. "What I finally realized, at least on the back end of this, is that God, at least as I understand God, was there all along. Once I was able to process my reality in that way, I no longer felt like a victim." In the recent NME interview, Corgan revealed he had entertained suicidal thoughts while recording classic 1993 album Siamese Dream, stating, "I was suicidal, and I'd been plotting my own death for about two months... If you've ever read anything about the warning signs of suicide one of them is you give away all your stuff, and I'd given away all my stuff. I gave away all my records, I started giving away my guitars. "I was fantasizing about my own death, I started thinking what my funeral would be like and what music would be played, I was at that level of insanity."

October 17

BEATLES SCRABBLE

Normally ``Beatle'' with an ``a'' would not be an allowable word in Scrabble, but it will in the new version. A Beatles-themed version of Scrabble will have art based on The Beatles' ``Anthology'' releases, with green apples on the Triple Word Score squares. It can be played with normal Scrabble rules or with Beatles rules that allow for Beatles-related words and use ``Help!'' cards for twists like swapping tiles with other players. Beatles Scrabble is on sale now for about $30.


THE VINES SINGER ARRESTED

The Vines singer Craig Nicholls has been arrested for assaulting his parents and a police officer. The Sydney Morning Herald quotes police as saying Nicholls punched his mother twice in the head Saturday and tried to run from police before officers used pepper spray to subdue him. Nicholls has Asperger syndrome, which forced The Vines to cancel tours in 2008. Nicholls will appear in court today.


ARLO GUTHRIE'S WIFE DIES

Arlo Guthrie is calling off his shows this week because his wife has died. Guthrie's wife, Jackie, had inoperable cancer and died Sunday at their home in Sebastian, Florida. She was 68. They were married 43 years and had four children together. Jackie also had a daughter with David Crosby. Guthrie plans to resume his tour in Canada next week.


October 16
STONES SHOWS UPDATE
So maybe it's not the 50th anniversary tour everyone was hoping for, but The Rolling Stones have booked four concert dates. Two will be later this month in London, while the December 13th and 15th shows will be in Newark, New Jersey. The band says its scenery will include the tongue-and-lips logo that will ``reach out into the crowd.'' The Rolling Stones have no plans for a bigger tour. However, the December 15th show will be on pay-per-view.

BOB DYLAN -- PUBLISHED AUTHOR
Bob Dylan is one of the first authors signed to Johnny Depp's publishing imprint. ``The Unravelled Tales of Bob Dylan'' will be based on interviews Dylan gave to historian Douglas Brinkley. It comes out in 2015 on Depp's Infinitum Nihil imprint through HarperCollins. Dylan and Brinkley will collaborate on editing a recently discovered novel by Woody Guthrie called ``House of Earth.'' That will come out in January.


October 15
A guitar belonging to J Mascis of Dinosaur Junior has been swiped. A message on the band's Facebook page says Mascis' white Squier Jazzmaster was taken during a show in Eugene, Oregon, Thursday. The guitar has a dent in the neck, the action is set high and the pickups have no screws.

You can't always get what you want but if your desire is to attend a Rolling Stones concert this might be your lucky day. The legendary band says it will return to the stage later this year, with four concerts in Newark, New Jersey, and London.The band members, who celebrated the 50th anniversary of their first gig at a bash earlier this year, revealed their plans in a video message Monday. The Stones have sold more than 200 million records. But in recent years much of their income has come from touring. Their last global tour, ``A Bigger Bang,'' earned more than $500 million between 2005 and 2007

Rocker Neal Schon stunned his girlfriend on Sunday by proposing to her during Journey's show in Maryland. Schon has been dating Michaele Salahi since she left businessman husband Tareq Salahi last year. Journey headlined a benefit in aid of Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center in Baltimore, and the rocker called his girlfriend on to the stage and asked her to be his wife. Salahi broke down in tears as she accepted his proposal and jumped up and down with joy as the band played their song Faithful, according to TMZ.com.

Rock legend Eric Clapton’s bank balance was given a huge boost on Friday when his painting by German artist Gerhard Richter sold for a record-breaking $34.2 million. The musician put the abstract work, called Abstraktes Bild (809-4), under the hammer at Sotheby's auction house in London, and the sale was expected to attract a maximum bid of $19 million. But it exceeded experts’ estimations and was snapped up by an anonymous buyer just five minutes into the auction, prompting a round of applause. The huge amount breaks the previous record for a price paid at auction for the work of a living artist, which was set in 2010 following the sale of Jasper Johns’ Flag for $28.6 million. Clapton has made a huge profit from the sale; he bought the piece as a set of four in 2001 for $3.4 million.


Oct 12

Tom Petty is selling his favourite car for humanitarian purposes. Petty has put his 1996 Jaguar XJS convertible on eBay to benefit the charity Doctors Without Borders. Petty says he got the car when he was dating his now-wife, Dana, and he had asked her what her favourite car was. The auction ends October 21st.

Oct 11
There's new Rolling Stones music today. Their new single, ``Doom and Gloom,'' is available on iTunes today. It's the new song added to their ``Grrr! Greatest Hits'' collection, out November 13th. It's also the first time the Stones have been in a studio together in seven years. The collection will also include another new song called ``One More Shot.''

Fleetwood Mac, Jimmy Buffett and Aerosmith have been nominated for inclusion in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Ray Davies of The Kinks, Elvis Costello, Foreigner, Eurythmics, B.B. King, Jeff Lynne of ELO, Steve Winwood and Linda Perry of 4 Non Blondes are also on the ballot. The hall of fame will vote to decide the inductees. The inductions will be in New York in June.

Wenn.com - The Ataris frontman Kris Roe shocked fans at a concert in New Jersey on Saturday when he flew into a rage onstage and started attacking drummer Rob Felicetti.

The Boys of Summer stars were performing their song Your Boyfriend Sucks at an Asbury Park gig when the singer lost his temper and hurled his guitar at Felicetti, before dismantling his drumkit and throwing pieces around the stage.

Felicetti made a prompt exit to escape injury and Roe attempted to explain his outburst to fans, insisting he was not impressed by his drummer's performance.

He told the stunned crowd, "Our drummer is f**king failing it tonight... I don't know what his f**king problem is... but I'm gonna finish the set by myself.

"It's f**king embarrassing... I can't handle it. I apologise... but there's a certain amount of f**king s**t I can take."

Reports suggest Felicetti quit the band after the disastrous gig, but bandmate Tom Holst has assured devotees the group is working to resolve its differences.
In a post on Twitter.com, he writes, "Everything will be alright."

However, Roe has decided to temporarily continue with The Ataris' tour on his own and will take to the stage in Rhode Island on Tuesday as scheduled.

A message on the band's Twitter page reads: "Oct. 9 Providence, RI @ Columbus Club... Kris will be playing this show solo."

Oct 10
Jimmy Page says if Led Zeppelin didn't reunite in the five years since the ``Celebration Day'' concert, why does anyone think they're going to do it now? Page says that show was so good because they had no warm-up gig and they knew they had to get it right the first time. Robert Plant says they were so happy they got it right because they were hanging on for dear life. Plant says doing one show is fun, but ``the responsibility of doing that four nights a week for the rest of time is a different thing.'' ''Celebration Day,`` based on their 2007 reunion show in London, will be in theatres October 17th, then released on DVD in November.


The band Traffic was supposed to be in The Beatles film ``Magical Mystery Tour.'' The Beatles asked Traffic to perform their 1967 single ``Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush,'' but that was cut from the film. It's now part of the bonus material included in the film's release this week on iTunes. Other bonus material includes a scene John Lennon shot called ``Nat's Dream'' and one with actor Ivor Cutler, who played the bus conductor, called ``I'm Going In A Field.'' Three new edits are included of ``Your Mother Should Know,'' ''Blue Jay Way`` and ''The Fool On The Hill.`` Paul McCartney provides director's commentary.


Oct 9
Wenn.com - Blur are making plans to play live shows in 2013, just two months after taking to the stage to play their supposed final gig.

They told fans earlier this year  that their set in London's Hyde Park to mark the end of the 2012 Olympics in August would be their last - but now they have revealed plans for more concerts.

A post on Blur's Facebook.com page reveals the band is set to headline Rock Werchter festival in Belgium in July, and hints that there are further gigs to look forward to.

The message reads, "Thank you for waiting... Rock Werchter is about to announce that Blur will headline next July. We're excited... Hope to travel in 2013 to play to more of our lovely fans who we haven't seen for a while. Don't know where yet, we'll tell as soon as we do."

Wenn.com - Green Day star Mike Dirnt has opened up about the health crisis which sent frontman Billie Joe Armstrong to rehab, revealing the singer was overworked and tired when he suffered a meltdown at a show in Las Vegas and checked himself into a treatment facility the following day for substance abuse issues, and now his bandmate has shed a little light on what went wrong.

Bass player Dirnt tells BBC Radio 1 Armstrong was under a lot of pressure as the group embarked on a major campaign to promote three albums in four months.

He says, "It was a tremendous undertaking... (and) it catches up with you a little bit. We definitely jumped off a moving train.

"All that inertia. There were signs of things hitting the fan, we hadn't slept in forever."

Dirnt admits he hasn't seen Armstrong since the Las Vegas meltdown, when Armstrong hurled expletives at the organisers of the iHeartRadio Music Festival for trying to cut his set.
But the rocker insists he and fellow bandmate Tre Cool had no qualms about scrapping their promotional commitments as Armstrong sought help, adding, "We had to put the life of our friend in front of everything."


Oct 5
Sick of hearing about who gets into the Rock Hall -- and who gets passed over? Now you can do something about it. For the first time, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is letting fans vote. You can vote for your top five nominees at www.RockHall.com from now until December 3. The Rock Hall selection committee will use that along with the votes of music industry types to make decisions on who goes in next year. The artists nominated are Heart, Rush, Deep Purple, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Kraftwerk, Public Enemy, Donna Summer, The Marvellettes, The Meters, Randy Newman, N.W.A, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Albert King, Procol Harum and Chic 

Oct 4
Mumford and Sons have blown away the competition with record sales this week. Their ``Babel'' album sold 600-thousand copies its first week out, according to Nielsen Soundscan. That puts it at number one on the Billboard album chart. Green Day's ``Uno'' was second with sales of 139,000, and No Doubt's ``Push and Shove'' was third, selling 115,000 copies

Last night's show featuring Slash and Myles Kennedy in Los Angeles was called off because Kennedy is sick. The show has been rescheduled for December 2nd. Kennedy had tweeted earlier this week, ``Dear Bronchitis...thanks for visiting. You have been rude and obnoxious. It's always a pleasure.''

Oct 3
Maybe you've heard the rumours that the Foo Fighters were breaking up, or going on hiatus. Dave Grohl himself says in a statement, ``I'm not sure when the Foo Fighters are going to play again.'' Grohl says the band is his life and his family and his world, but ``it's a good thing for all of us to go away for a while.'' He says that's why they survive. However, he says it's not time for ``gold watches or vacations just yet.'' Grohl will use his time away from the band to complete his ``Sound City'' documentary, about a southern California studio.

Smashing Pumpkins have achieved diamond status for ``Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.'' The Recording Industry Association of America has certified that album for sale of 10 million copies. The certification comes just as ``Mellon Collie'' is about to be reissued as a remastered version. That will come out December 3rd.

All the James Bond movie songs have been compiled into one collection. ``Best of Bond...James Bond'' will feature the theme songs from all 22 James Bond movies. An expanded edition includes other music heard in the movies. Both version come out on Tuesday. Neither version includes the Adele song ``Skyfall'' that will be the theme for the Bond movie of the same name that comes out next month.

Wenn.com - Josh Freese has quit cult group A Perfect Circle after 13 years.

The drummer announced his decision via Twitter.com on Tuesday, insisting he has "no plans of returning."

Freese added, "Apologies to those inquiring about the upcoming shows."

Tool star Maynard James Keenan's band have scheduled one show in December at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. They'll also take part in the 2013 Soundwave Festival in Australia.

Freese has been working with ska icons Sublime with Rome for much of 2012, replacing former drummer Bud Gaugh.

There are no further details about the drummer's departure from A Perfect Circle.


Wenn.com - Axl Rose is set to give late-night U.S. TV chat show host Jimmy Kimmel a big ratings boost by agreeing to sit for a rare interview.

The Guns N' Roses frontman will sit down with the comedian on Oct. 24.


Oct 2
Fall Out Boy singer Patrick Stump has gotten married. People magazine reports he married longtime girlfriend Elisa Yao in Chicago on Saturday
Singer Brandon Flowers of The Killers has been taking vocal lessons. Flowers says he's not looking to become an opera singer, just to get better at using what he's got. He says his vocal coach knows his style and they're just working on fine-tuning. Flowers says it's helpful because it keeps him from blowing out his voice. The Killers have a new album out called ``Battle Born.''

Oct 1
Bassist Jared Followill of Kings of Leon is off the market. He married model Martha Patterson on Saturday on a farm outside Nashville. He's the last of the band to get married.

Art Garfunkel had two concerts scheduled in Sweden and failed to show up for either one. He was supposed to play shows in Goteberg on Friday and in Malmo on Saturday. Organizers say they didn't find Garfunkel at his hotel and learned he had left the country with his staff. It's not certain why Garfunkel left.

The owner of the site of the 2003 nightclub fire sparked by Great White's pyrotechnics has donated the land for a permanent memorial. A lawyer for Ray Villanova has transferred ownership of the land in West Warwick, Rhode Island, to The Station Fire Memorial Foundation. The foundation designed a permanent memorial and got pledges to build it, but it could not do anything more because it did not own the land. Previously Villanova had run into legal obstacles to donating the land. One hundred people died in the fire that began during Great White's concert nine and a half years ago.


Sept 28
We hear plenty of stories about rock stars misbehaving. How about when they do something good? Kiss and Motley Crue have wrapped up their co-headlining tour and have raised $450,000 for charity. They've donated money to veterans' groups, health charities and victims of the shootings in Aurora, Colorado. Paul Stanley of Kiss says it's a privilege to be in a position to give back.

For the old school Beatles fans who are purists about the music, the remastered studio albums that were released digitally three years ago will now come out on vinyl. They will be the 12 UK albums, the ``Magical Mystery Tour'' album from the U.S. and ``Past Masters: Volumes One and Two.'' The White Album will include the original poster, and ``Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'' will include the original cutouts. The albums will be available individually or as a limited-edition boxed set beginning November 13th.

Sept 26
Wenn.com - Heart's induction onto the Hollywood Walk of Fame was made extra special on Tuesday after officials in Los Angeles dedicated the day to the rockers.

Sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson unveiled their pavement plaque on Hollywood Boulevard, positioned by The Musician's Institute, in front of a huge crowd, and they were left stunned by the extra honour bestowed upon them.

Ann Wilson exclaimed, "That's a big surprise, I didn't know it was Heart day too", before joking, "Okay, everything's free for everybody all day long. Nobody pays any money for anything all day."

She added, "We'd like to say this is an incredible honour. Words can't even touch it."


Hennemusic.com - The Who will begin a North American tour November 1 in Sunrise, FL.

The trip, which marks the band’s first dates on the continent in four years, will see the group - featuring founding members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend - perform their iconic 1973 double album "Quadrophenia” in its entirety, along with a selection of Who classics. 

The Who have announced Los Angeles band Vintage Trouble as the support act for the first leg of the arena tour, including shows running from November 1 to December 9.


Sept 25
NME.com - Linkin Park have become the first rock band to achieve over one billion hits on YouTube. 

The nu-metallers have scored over one billion hits on their YouTube channelLinkinParkTV, with their 2009 single 'New Divide', which acted as the lead-off single to the Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen soundtrack scoring 131 million views alone. 

Red Hot Chili Peppers and Green Day are the next biggest rock bands on YouTube, with 327 million and 245 million views respectively on their channels. 


Sept 24
Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day is going into rehab after a profane rant at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas on Friday. Armstrong complained onstage that their time was being cut short and got so angry he smashed his guitar. The rest of Green Day started smashing instruments too. Green Day have issued an apology and say their set was not cut short. It's not clear for what Armstrong will receive treatment. He was hospitalized earlier this month while on tour in Bologna, Italy, for an undisclosed ailment. Tomorrow Green Day will release ``Uno,'' the first album in a trilogy, with the second in November and the third in January.


Led Zeppelin have gotten back together to say they won't even consider getting back together. Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones were together Friday in London to promote the movie release of their last concert in 2007. Of course someone asked about a reunion, but the three of them agree they're not interested. Still, Plant says playing the music again five years ago for a tribute to Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun was ``a spectacular experience.'' The concert will be released to theatres October 17th as ``Celebration Day,'' then released on DVD in November.

Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford says once they got started writing music for their ``Music From Another Dimension'' album, they couldn't stop. He says even now, if they had a couple of acoustic guitars, they could crank out some songs. Guitarist Joe Perry says they put 15 songs on the record because they didn't know when they'd make another record so they figured they'd pack it with music. Bassist Tom Hamilton says the album shows the result of their 40 years together. ``Music From Another Dimension'' comes out November 6th.



Sept 21
Hennemusic.com - There’s been no word on the status of Velvet Revolver for some time now, as the band continues its hiatus since the 2008 departure of singer Scott Weiland, who returned to Stone Temple Pilots.

In a new interview with Australia’s Faster Louder, bassist Duff McKagan was asked for a Velevet Revolver status update.

As for who might fill Weiland’s shoes as frontman, Duff said "I have no idea.”

And the group? "Um … I think it's at nowhere,” he replied. "I think everybody just kind of got sick of talking about it, because there's really no guy, so there's nothing that me or Slash or Matt [Sorum] or Dave [Kushner] could say that would change the course of this question. So there's nobody now, I think the longer that Slash is out touring, and that I'm out touring, people will stop asking as much. Maybe once it's settled down, we'll find the guy.”

Sept 20
The Dave Matthews Band has picked up their sixth number-one record. ``Away From The World'' sold 266-thousand copies its first week, putting it at number one on the Billboard album chart. The top six albums on the chart are all new this week. Little Big Town's ``Tornado'' is number two, followed by Bob Dylan's ``Tempest, The Avett Brothers with ``The Carpenter,'' The xx's ``Coexist'' and ``La Futura'' by ZZ Top.
Wenn.com - Neil Young has given up drugs and alcohol for good after puffing marijuana and knocking back alcohol for years.

The Harvest Moon hitmaker retired both his bad habits last year and is now celebrating his sobriety.

He tells the New York Times, "I did it for 40 years. Now I want to see what it's like to not do it. It's just a different perspective."

But the 66 year old insists it has been no easy feat - in his upcoming memoir, Waging Heavy Peace, he writes, "The straighter I am, the more alert I am, the less I know myself and the harder it is to recognise myself.

"I need a little grounding in something and I am looking for it everywhere."


Randy Bachman is about to be inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame for the second time, earning his own personal star to go with the one The Guess Who received back in 2001.

"This one is much sweeter,” admits the hardworking Winnipeg-born guitar hero, who gets his star Sept. 22, along with several other prominent Canadians. "The first one was sweet, but it’s great to be recognized just for all my ongoing efforts.”


Sept 19
Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney has gotten married in a not-so-traditional ceremony. The bride, Emily Ward, walked down the aisle to ``Crimson and Clover'' by Tommy James and the Shondells. Carney was accompanied down the aisle by his Irish wolfhound, Charlotte. Comedian Will Forte officiated. Carney and Ward were married Saturday in their backyard in Nashville in front of about 350 guests.

Stone Temple Pilots called off last night's show in Lethbridge, because singer Scott Weiland has strained vocal cords. Weiland has been put on 48 hours vocal rest. The band intends to keep the rest of their tour, which ends Sunday in Sacramento.

Hennemusic.com - In a recent interview with Sydney, Australia’s Triple M, Slash spoke candidly about his mother’s affair with David Bowie back in the day.

Ola Hudson, who passed away in 2009, was a costume designer whose clients included Bowie, John Lennon and Diana Ross.

"My mum started working professionally with David Bowie at first,” said Slash. "I'm pretty sure that's how it started and then it turned into some sort of mysterious romance that went on for a while after that.”


On Monday, Slash felt the need to clarify his earlier remarks.

"That was a very casual conversation with somebody on the phone in Australia that I had no idea was gonna get blown up. It became this big headline, and it was very awkward,” said Slash. "I'm embarrassed 'cause I'm sure David didn't appreciate it. And my mom — rest in peace — probably wouldn't have dug it either. All it was, was they dated for a while, which is common knowledge, and all I said was there was one occasion where I happened to walk into the bedroom when they weren't fully dressed. That was it. It wasn't anything more lewd to that.”


Sept 18
The Sex Pistols have revealed a previously unseen live performance video of "Holidays In The Sun” from 1977.

NME reports the footage was shot during a gig in Penzance, Cornwall in September 1977 - the month before "Holidays In The Sun” was released as the fourth single from the band's debut album "Never Mind The Bollocks.”

"The performance was shot using one camera and shows the extraordinary captivating quality of the band at the time,” said director Julian Temple, explaining the origins of the video. "There was shock in the room, it was hypnotizing, contagious, and unfolded right in front of you. It was filmed in Penzance in September 1977, the Pistols arrived unannounced and the audience couldn't believe what they were getting.”

The performance will be included in the forthcoming 35th Anniversary "super deluxe” box set of "Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols,” which will be released on September 24th through Universal Music UK.

The box set includes music, videos, interviews, pictures and replica memorabilia
 

"Clockwork Angels: The Novel" – the companion work to Rush’s new album of the same name – written by Rush drummer/lyricist Neil Peart and bestselling sci-fi author Kevin J. Anderson, has landed at position No. 18 on The New York Times "Hardcover Fiction" best sellers list.

"Clockwork Angels: The Novel” was published by ECW Press on September 1.

Anderson teamed up with Peart to create a novelization of the story behind Rush’s latest release.


Sept 17
Guns N’ Roses fans can own used tour gear, just check out this link! 

Hennemusic.com - Legendary AC/DC singer Bon Scott will be honored with a statue in Kirriemuir, Scotland, his birthplace and home in his early years.

The Daily Record reports Kirriemuir community group DD8 Music, which organizes the annual Bon Scott music festival in the town, has asked sculptor John McKenna to design a statue as a lasting tribute. 

"It's early days, but it's a great honor," said McKenna. "Bon Scott was an icon from my teenage years."


Sept 14
Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart is wanted on an arrest warrant for an alleged assault. What actually happened is not clear. Police in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, say the warrant stems from an incident Saturday after Hart performed a concert. Hart says in an email from his publicist he is ``totally baffled'' by the assault claim and it's completely false.
Led Zeppelin's 2007 reunion concert will be released to theatres and on DVD. The concert was a tribute to Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun. It featured the three surviving members, with John Bonham's son Jason on drums. Twenty million people applied for 18,000 tickets. The film is called ``Celebration Day'' and will be shown in theatres on October 17th. It will then be released on multiple audio and video formats on November 19th. 

Carlos Santana is writing his autobiography. The as-yet-untitled book will cover his life and career. The book is scheduled to come out in 2014


Sept 13
The surviving members of Led Zeppelin will reunite, but that doesn't mean they will play. Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones will be awarded Kennedy Center honours in Washington in December. The band has issued a statement saying they owe a large debt to American music and the U-S first embraced the band. Bluesman Buddy Guy will also be honoured. He says the recognition bestowed on him will give blues music a boost. 

Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart will get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Their star will be unveiled September 25th. Jerry Cantrell and Mike Inez of Alice In Chains will be among the guest speakers.

Drummer Bun E. Carlos says he's still a member of Cheap Trick but he's hurt he wasn't asked to play on a Cheap Trick track for the latest ``A Very Special Christmas'' CD. Carlos has taken a hiatus from touring, with guitarist Rick Nielsen's son Daxx filling in. Carlos tells Billboard magazine not being included on the holiday track was ``a real shock.'' He says it's not a Cheap Trick recording without all of them on it. Cheap Trick has not responded to calls for comment.
Hennemusic.com - Led Zeppelin’s 2007 reunion concert is not only coming to DVD, but also movie theaters.

The band has been counting down to an official announcement, due Thursday, regarding the release of their 2007 London show on DVD and CD.

Rumor has it the package will be available November 22 to coincide with the U.S. Thanksgiving Day holiday.

On Wednesday, the band posted the studio version of Led Zeppelin III’s "Celebration Day,” to tease the news.

Cineplex has posted its plans to premiere the new package, "Led Zeppelin: Celebration Day,” in its theatres on October 17.

Here’s the Cineplex info:

On December 10, 2007, Led Zeppelin took the stage at London’s O2 Arena to headline a tribute concert for dear friend and Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun. What followed was a two--- hour---plus tour de force of the band’s signature blues---infused rock ’n’ roll that instantly became part of the legend of Led Zeppelin. 

Founding members John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant were joined by Jason Bonham, the son of their late drummer John Bonham, to perform 16 songs from their celebrated catalogue including landmark tracks "Whole Lotta Love,” "Rock And Roll,” "Kashmir,” and "Stairway To Heaven.” 

Although 20 million people applied for tickets, the band’s first headline show in 27 years was seen only by the 18,000 ticket holders who were fortunate enough to have secured seats through the worldwide lottery. 

Now, for the first time, fans in over 40 territories worldwide will be able to get a front row seat to experience this historic event in glorious high definition and incredible surround sound. Experience it on the big screen for a strictly limited period only.

Cineplex lists three dates for the screening on their website: October 17, 19 and 25.
The Foo Fighters played at Apples big IPhone 5 event, and it was awesome. 



Sept 11
Hennemusic.com - Rumours continue regarding the anticipated announcement expected later this week by Led Zeppelin.

All signs point to the band revealing plans to release their December 2007 show at London's O2 Arena this fall. 

The reunion marked the first full-length by the band concert since the death of drummer John Bonham in 1980, with his son, Jason, featured behind the kit.

Hennemusic.com -  Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine has personally overseen a new 20th-anniversary edition of the band's most popular album, 1992's double platinum-certified "Countdown To Extinction," which will be released on November 6. 

Presented in a 2CD lift-top box and digitally, "Countdown To Extinction"'s new commemorative edition pairs the remastered original album with a 1992 concert, recorded live at San Francisco's Cow Palace, which has never before been released in its entirety. The concert audio has been newly remixed for this release. The physical and digital versions both include a booklet with a new liner notes essay by music journalist Kory Grow, and the 2CD box also contains a 24" x 36" poster and four collectible postcards. 


Sept 7
Green Day singer Billie Joe Armstrong seemed to have no problems performing at last night's MTV Video Music Awards. He was even able to scream during their performance of ``Let Yourself Go.'' Armstrong was in a hospital on Bologna, Italy, on Sunday for an undisclosed illness, but it's believed to have affected his throat. 

Slipknot say they're in ``a state of anger and sadness'' that a doctor who treated bassist Paul Gray has been charged with prescribing huge amounts of narcotics for Gray. Slipknot say Dr. Daniel Baldi ``took advantage of our brother's illness while he was in a position to help others.'' They say they hope justice will be served so it won't happen to anyone else. Baldi is accused of eight counts of involuntary manslaughter by prescribing drugs to eight patients who overdosed. Gray died in 2010.

Sept 6
Green Day singer Billie Joe Armstrong was in an Italian hospital Sunday but promises to be ready to perform on tonight's MTV Video Music Awards. Armstrong was hospitalized in Bologna with an undisclosed illness. Stars who arrive at the VMAs will walk a three-level red carpet inspired by a multi-tiered driving range in Japan. MTV says 12 performers will spend at least some time floating above the stage during their performances, more than will actually perform on the stage. The show will start at 8 p.m. Eastern time instead of the usual 9 p.m. to avoid conflicting with President Barack Obama accepting the Democratic nomination after 10 p.m.

The Black Keys are bringing Derrick T. Tuggle as their date for the MTV Video Music Awards tonight. He's the guy who dances in their ``Lonely Boy'' video. Tuggle tells MTV News drummer Patrick Carney extended an invitation a few weeks ago to thank him for his hard work. Tuggle has been on a red carpet before -- but on the other side. He says he worked security at the ESPY Awards. ``Lonely Boy'' is up for best rock video, competing against Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, Jack White and Linkin Park.

Puddle of Mudd singer Wes Scantlin is due in court October 3rd to face charges of being unruly on a flight from Boston to Los Angeles. Police in Austin, Texas, say the pilot of a JetBlue flight requested an emergency landing Tuesday to remove a passenger. Scantlin is charged with public intoxication. Scantlin has not responded to requests for comment.

A Des Moines, Iowa, doctor has been charged with prescribing large amounts of narcotic painkillers to eight patients who overdosed, including Slipknot bassist Paul Gray. The Des Moines Register reports Dr. Daniel Baldi is accused of eight counts of involuntary manslaughter. Court documents say Baldi unintentionally caused Gray's death by writing prescription narcotics to ``a known drug addict.'' Gray died at a hotel in Urbandale, Iowa, in 2010. Baldi's attorney says he will fight the charges.


Sept 5
The band that Ringo Starr was in before The Beatles will finally get around to releasing their first album. The BBC reports Rory Storm and the Hurricanes made recordings in March 1960 at Storm's house and at a Liverpool club. The tapes were forgotten until they were recently discovered in Storm's sister's basement. The band released a few singles but never charted. The tapes will be released later this month.

Now we know why The Rolling Stones have been hanging out in a studio in Paris: they've been working on songs to add to a greatest-hits collection. The songs are called ``Gloom and Doom'' and ``One Last Shot,'' and they're the first songs The Stones have recorded since 2005 for the ``A Bigger Bang'' album. The greatest-hits package is called ``Grrr!'' and will be available as a 50-track three-CD collection, a four-CD version with 80 tracks. The cover is a gorilla whose mouth is the Rolling Stones lips-and-tongue logo. The collection comes out November 13th.

Sept 4

Green Day singer Billie Joe Armstrong was rushed to a hospital over the weekend. Bassist Mike Dirnt says in a video message on the band's website Armstrong was taken to a hospital just before they were to perform in Bologna, Italy. He says the doctors determined it was not good for Armstrong to play. Dirnt only will say Armstrong was hospitalized for ``illness.'' Green Day are not scheduled to play another show until September 21st in Las Vegas.


Coldplay will headline the Paralympic Games closing ceremony in London on Sunday. The ceremony has the theme of ``Festival of Flame.'' At 2 PM local time on that day, bands across England will play their own versions of ``Viva La Vida'' to mark the end of the games.

Hennemusic.com - Freddie Mercury is set to become an Angry Bird to celebrate the annual Freddie For A Day event.

Freddie For A Day was the brainchild of Liz Swanton, web editor of the Mercury Phoenix Trust, the AIDS charity set up in Freddie's name in 1992. Swanton, a City of London Banker, once raised over £1,200 by spending a working day dressed as Freddie.

Now in its third year, the annual fundraising event celebrates Freddie’s birthday – September 5 – by encouraging fans to dress like the Queen singer while raising money for the charity, which is spent fighting HIV/AIDS worldwide.

Freddie For A Day and gamemaker Rovio Entertainment have teamed up this year to make Mercury an honorary member of the Angry Birds family. 



Aug 28
Hennemusic.com - The Rolling Stones have been hinting that they’ll have soon have some news for fans as the band approaches its still-to-be-announced 50th Anniversary tour.

According to Mick Jagger, the Stones have been working in a Paris recording studio.

Late last week, Jagger tweeted a photo of him in the studio, surrounded by guitars and amps, along with the news: "Had fun in the Paris studio this week!"


Hennemusic.com - Update on story from yesterday - After two shows in Vancouver over the weekend, Metallica are filming one last concert on Monday night as part of the group’s upcoming 3D movie.

The band put tickets on sale for $5, with proceeds to benefit the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. 

According to the Vancouver Sun, scalpers are offering the charity event tickets for as much as $50 or more on Craigslist.

Monday’s show will not run like a standard Metallica concert, as the band explained when it announced the event last week.

"Here's how it works: We will be running though the full live show one last time at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, but unlike the Friday and Saturday shows, there will be lots of breaks in it to allow for cameras and lights to be repositioned as the director sees fit,” said Metallica. 

Aug 27
A restored version of the Beatles movie ``Magical Mystery Tour'' will hit selected cities next month. Less than two weeks later, the movie will be out on DVD and Blu-Ray. They'll have scenes not included in the movie and new interviews with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. McCartney will also do the commentary. A deluxe version also has a 60-page book with photos and other things from the movie along with a reproduction of the mono double vinyl EP with the six songs from the film.

The Nickelback video for ``Trying Not To Love You'' stars Jason Alexander. He plays two roles. One is a barista who falls in love with a blonde customer played by Brooke Burns, who was on ``Baywatch.'' The other is also a barista who wears a goatee and fedora and rides a motorcycle. He tries to impress Burns by making fancy designs on the froth of his lattes.

5 star Bruce. If you ever get the chance to see Springsteen in concert, do it.  Read the review here

Wenn.com - Metallica fans will be given the chance to see the band for just $5 at a concert which will be filmed for an upcoming 3D movie. The Enter Sandman hitmakers have been filming a number of shows recently to provide footage for the project, and tickets for their upcoming gig in Vancouver on Monday will be given away for a fraction of the usual price to fans who want to get involved. The show at the city's Rogers Arena will feature numerous breaks to allow the production crew time to set up cameras and the money raised will go to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.

Aug 24
Mark David Chapman has been denied parole for the seventh time. A parole board refused to release Chapman because they say that would ``undermine respect for the law'' since he committed a ``heinous, unprovoked, violent, cold and calculated crime.'' Chapman can try again for parole in two years. He's serving 20 years to life for killing John Lennon in 1980.
 
From imugr, Dave Grohl helps out a thirsty fan in the front row. Reason #430495 why Dave Grohl is the man. 
Aug 23
Billy Corgan is working on a memoir, but it's not a tell-all rock biography. Corgan says he's approaching it more as spiritual memoir, but he acknowledges he is a rock musician and that will be a big part of it. He says for as public a person as he is, people have no inkling what he's been through. However, Corgan will not dish about his famous friends. He says even though he's seen ``a lot of crazy stuff with very famous people,'' he's using pseudonyms for everyone in the book. He says he took a lot less money because he refuses to name names.

Alanis Morissette is the newest member of Hollywood's Rock Walk. She put her hands in cement near the other rock stars who came before her. Morissette says she doesn't usually enjoy the ``egoic aspects'' of her career, but by accepting this award she can acknowledge the progress women have made in rock 'n' roll.

Aug 22
It's a Canadian coupling nobody saw coming.

A spokeswoman for Avril Lavigne has confirmed a People magazine report that says the pop-punker is engaged to Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger.

The magazine says Kroeger popped the question after a six-month courtship that seemingly flew completely under the radar of media outlets and fans alike.

Nickelback appeared to verify the news Tuesday, posting on its website and official Twitter account, ``Congrats Chad and Avril!'' along with a link to the People article.

Lavigne retweeted the Nickelback note on her Twitter account and then tweeted her thanks to the multiple congratulations that came her way.

People says the romance began after the two got together in February to co-write a song for Lavigne's upcoming fifth studio album.

Kroeger, 37, has never been married before. People says the Hanna, Alta., native proposed to Lavigne with a 14-carat diamond ring on Aug. 8.

Lavigne, 27, of Napanee, Ont., filed for divorce from fellow Canuck rocker Deryck Whibley of Sum 41 in 2009 after three years of marriage.

The engagement was trending on Twitter on Tuesday night with many expressing their surprise at the news.

Lavigne surged to fame with her 2002 album ``Let's Go.'' Kroeger has served as lead vocalist and guitarist for Nickelback since the band formed in 1995.


Hennemusic.com - The nearly forty-year career of heavy metal legends Motorhead is chronicled in a new collectable book, "Motorhead: Live To Win," by Alan Burridge, to be released on August 28 via Cleopatra. 

"Live To Win" is the full, in-depth Motorhead story, with previously unpublished, revealing facts, rare and early photos, and is fully approved and endorsed by frontman Lemmy Kilmister (who also contributes to the introduction). 




Hennemusic.com - Soundgarden have revealed the title of their new album will be "King Animal.”

The band’s first studio release since 1996's "Down On The Upside” is tentatively due November 13.

The Seattle rockers also shared a preview of "Worse Dreams,” one of the new tracks on the project.

In the upcoming August 30 issue of Rolling Stone, guitarist Kim Thayil talks about the project, saying "It re-establishes that we still rock, we're still heavy, and we're still a little weird." 

Earlier this year, Soundgarden released "Live To Rise,” the band’s first new song in 15 years, as part of the soundtrack for the film, "Marvel's The Avengers." 

Aug 21

Smashing Pumpkins are coming to both Calgary and Edmonton! 

The Chicago alt-rockers kick off their visit Oct. 2 in Winnipeg.Tickets for the shows go on sale Friday Aug. 24 at Ticketmaster and will set you back somewhere between $40 and $95, depending on the city, venue and seating.

Notorious control-freak Corgan is the sole original member of the acclaimed ’90s alt-rock outfit, whose hits included Today, Disarm and 1979. The band recently released the album Oceania, a return to form that revisits many of the group’s sonic hallmarks — distorted guitars, busy drumming, proggy psychedelia — but invests them with Corgan’s newfound optimism.


Hennemusic.com - A new Green Day-themed version of the popular video game Angry Birds is on its way.

The Angry Birds Friends game features 10 never-before-seen levels, as well as all new Green Day pig characters. 

Fans can also unlock the new song, "Troublemaker," off the band’s upcoming album "¡Uno!,” which is due next month.

"We're all fans of Angry Birds," said Billie Joe Armstrong. "It's such an addictive game that when we first started playing it we couldn't stop."
Aug 20
John Lennon's killer is up for parole again, and his hearing could be as soon as tomorrow. A spokeswoman for the New York Department of Corrections says Mark David Chapman will be interviewed by members of the parole board this week. A decision could come by the end of the week. Chapman was sentenced in 1981 to 20 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in Lennon's death. Chapman has been denied parole six times.

Hennemusic.com - Led Zeppelin have reached yet another sales milestone.

The band’s 2003 DVD has been certified thirteen times platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) for sales in excess of 1.3 million copies in the U.S. alone. 

The RIAA report includes designations for Zeppelin's release at levels of eleven, twelve and thirteen times platinum all being confirmed in July.

The double-DVD set features over five hours of never-before-available concert and performance footage from Zeppelin, spanning the years 1969 to 1979.

Material includes performances at London’s Royal Albert Hall in January of 1970, New York’s Madison Square Garden in 1973, London’s Earls Court (1975) and the band’s 1979 concert at Knebworth, England.
Aug 17
Gene Simmons is packing up his ``Family Jewels.'' A-and-E has announced Simmons' reality show with his wife and two kids will not be renewed for next year. It's been on for seven horribly scripted/acted seasons.
Sure, maybe you know Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen for his checkerboard guitar, or the one with five necks, or the double-neck one shaped like a guy. What about the dozens of other guitars he has? They're on display at the Burpee Museum of Natural History in his hometown of Rockford, Illinois, through April. Nielsen also owns guitars painted with pictures of The Beatles and his own face, a 1963 Guild Merle Travis he rebuilt because it's only one of three made, and a Fender B-Bender he gave to John Lennon and Yoko Ono wanted him to have after Lennon's death. The exhibit also includes stage clothes, original lyrics, contracts and Cheap Trick memorabilia.

Aug 16
Alice Cooper has offered Johnny Depp the chance to shake off his recent romance woes on the road. The School's Out rocker has extended an open invitation to his actor pal to join him on tour after Depp impressed him during a cameo at a Cooper show in London last year.

The rock star says, "Johnny came to Hollywood to play guitar. He didn't come as an actor at all... I always say to him, 'If you really want to go out on tour, let me know and you can come with us.' I wouldn't be surprised if he did."

And a rocking tour might be just what Depp needs to give him a boost after splitting from longtime partner Vanessa Paradis earlier this summer.

He has been showing off his musical skills quite a bit in recent months – he joined Marilyn Manson in the studio to record a new version of Carly Simon's You're So Vain and he performed with the Black Keys at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards.

Wenn.com - Smashing Pumpkins star Billy Corgan has criticized reunited rockers Soundgarden for staging a comeback, insisting the move must have been motivated by money.

The Black Hole Sun hitmakers regrouped last year for the first time since their 1997 split, and they are currently performing shows across the globe but Corgan wasn't impressed by the reunion.

He tells Philippines website Philstar.com, "There are those bands that are essentially coming back only to make money - playing their old albums, and maybe somewhere in the back of their minds they're thinking there might be a future...
Skip to 2:40 for Dave Mustaine and this absolutely insane conspiracy rant. some NSFW yelling, but not a lot. 
*Update* thought I would throw this Alice Cooper quote here - 
If you're listening to a rock star in order to get your information on who to vote for, you're a bigger 

moron than they are. Why are we rock stars? Because we're morons. We sleep all day, we play music 

at night and very rarely do we sit around reading the Washington Journal.  -Alice Cooper


Aug 15
How could the Olympics closing ceremony celebrate British music and not include The Rolling Stones? They weren't interested. The Guardian newspaper reports the Stones were offered a spot in the closing ceremony but they turned it down. Same with The Sex Pistols, David Bowie and Kate Bush. A few of the Spice Girls had to be persuaded to accept the gig. The Who had to be asked three times before they said yes. They changed their minds because they announced a U.S. tour and figured it was great publicity.

Hennemusic.com - The Who’s Pete Townshend will publish his memoir, "Who I Am,” in October.

Long acknowledged as one of rock’s most intelligent and literary performers, Townshend will, at long last, tell his dramatic story in a full and frank autobiography, as well as the inside story of the iconic band from its British art-school roots, to its ground breaking rock opera "Tommy,” to five decades of guitar-smashing tours. 


Aug 12
The Who, Muse, Queen and Kaiser Chiefs certainly did not get rich by playing the Olympics closing ceremony. They each were paid one British pound -- about $1.50 U-S. That's the same amount Paul McCartney earned for playing the opening ceremony. 

Guns 'N Roses are taking up residency in Las Vegas. They will play 12 shows in Las Vegas beginning October 3, running through November 24. They're calling it the ``Appetite for Democracy'' residency because they will cover everything from ``Appetite for Destruction'' to ``Chinese Democracy.''


Aug 11
The Olympics did not have a closing ceremony as much as a celebration of British pop music. Madness played ``Our House'' while their sax player levitated. Pet Shop Boys performed ``West End Girls'' from two scrimshaws. One Direction sang ``What Makes You Beautiful'' from a flatbed truck. Ray Davies of The Kinks sang ``Waterloo Sunset,'' while Emeli Sande' (EM'-el-ee sahn-DAY') performed ``Read All About It.'' Dancers assembled pieces to form John Lennon's face while ``Imagine'' played. George Michael sang ``Freedom'' and his new song, ``White Light.'' Kaiser Chiefs singer Ricky Wilson arrived on a motorcycle to sing ``Pinball Wizard.'' Annie Lennox arrived on a burned-out pirate ship to sing ``Little Bird.'' Ed Sheeran sang ``Wish You Were Here'' backed by Pink Floyd's Nick Mason on drums and Mike Rutherford of Genesis on guitar. A high-wire walker shook hands with a mannequin that caught fire, reminiscent of the ``Wish You Were Here'' album cover. Fatboy Slim spun out ``Rockafeller Skank'' from inside a giant translucent octopus. Jessie J sang ``Price Tag,'' Tinie (TY'-nee) Tempeh sang ``Written in the Stars'' and Taio Cruz (TY'-oh KROOS) sang ``Dynamite,'' all from convertibles, then joined to perform the Bee Gees' ``You Should Be Dancing.'' The Spice Girls sang ``Wannabe'' and ``Spice Up Your Life'' on top of cabs. Liam Gallagher's new band Beady Eye did ``Wonderwall,'' while Muse did ``Survival.'' Jessie J sang with Queen for ``We Will Rock You.'' Take That performed ``Rule the World.'' The Who closed out the Olympics with ``Baba O'Riley,'' ``See Me, Feel Me'' and ``My Generation.''

Did Roger Daltrey blow the words to ``Baba O'Riley,'' or did he just change them for the Olympics? At last night's closing ceremony, instead of Pete Townshend singing ``Don't cry, don't raise your eye, it's only teenage wasteland,'' Daltrey sang, ``Don't cry, just raise your eye, there's more than teenage wasteland.'' Perhaps on purpose as well, Daltrey dropped the line, ``Hope I die before I get old,'' from ``My Generation.''

Aug 10
Radiohead are endorsing a memorial fund set up by the parents of their drum technician who was killed when a stage collapsed in Toronto in June. Radiohead drummer Phil Selway writes on the band's Facebook page the Scott Johnson Bursary Fund for Young Musicians will provide musical instruments for young people in Johnson's hometown of Rotherham, England. The fund was set up by Johnson's family.

Rick Springfield will serve probation in his drunk driving case. He has pleaded no contest to a misdemeanour charge of reckless driving. Springfield initially faced drunk driving charges. He was arrested in May 2011. His lawyer says Springfield will be on informal probation for three years and must attend a three-month alcohol education program.

Aug 9
Les Claypool of Primus is selling off one of his primary basses to help his nephew. Two-year-old Matthew has a rare form of infant leukemia that requires expensive treatments. Claypool is auctioning on eBay the final prototype for the Les Claypool brand Pachyderm bass. He's been using it live and it will be the model for other basses. As of last night, the lead bid was more than $11,200.

Hennemusic.com - A new book about Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page is on the way.

"Light & Shade: Conversations With Jimmy Page," by Guitar World's Brad Tolinski, will be published October 23.

While there is no shortage of written material out there on Led Zeppelin's legacy, no member has written their own memoir and rarely have they cooperated with the press or a biographer - certainly NEVER Page. For the most part, their exploits are merely the stuff of legend. On the rare occasions that Page has opened his doors to journalists, he has done so with caution. 

Over the last twenty years, Brad Tolinski, Editorial Director of Guitar World, Revolver and Guitar Aficionado magazines, has interviewed Page more than any other journalist in the world and by asking incisive questions, he's been able to gain the trust of this greatly misunderstood artist. 

Sifting through over fifty hours of conversations that touch on everything from the 1960s music scene and his early years as England's top session guitarist working with artists like The Who, The Kinks, and Eric Clapton, to his wild years in Led Zeppelin, and post-Zep projects, "Light & Shade" will provide readers with the most complete picture of the media-shy guitarist ever published. 

"This is the most comprehensive and compelling collection of interviews, insights and historical anecdotes of one of rock and roll's premier guitarists, songwriters and producers ever compiled. A fascinating must-have for Jimmy Page fans like myself." - SLASH 

"Light & Shade illuminates the haunted genius of Jimmy Page in an original and completely satisfying way. The conversational dynamic between the author and the subject reveals a wealth of info about the man, the music, and the magic." - Kirk Hammett, METALLICA 

"Jimmy Page... the one and only! From mild to wild, Jimmy sez it all. This fine work will rock you!" - Billy Gibbons, ZZ TOP


Aug 8
Neil Young and Crazy Horse, The Foo Fighters and The Black Keys will play a concert in New York in which you can't buy tickets -- you have to earn your way in. The Global Festival 2012 will be September 29th in Central Park. A lottery system will be used to give away 54,000 tickets. Fans can enter by earning points through www.globalcitizenmovement.com for charitable acts to wipe out poverty.

Hennemusic.com - Deep Purple will release The 40th Anniversary Edition of their 1972 album classic, "Machine Head," on October 8.

The new box set features 5 discs and will be accompanied with fully illustrated 60 page hardback booklet, housed in a luxury box. 

Contents include:

* CD1: "Machine Head" original album 2012 remaster
* CD2: 1997 remix by Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover
* CD3: Original album Quad SQ stereo (2012 remaster)
* CD4: "In Concert '72" - 2012 Mix (recorded live at Paris Theatre, London on March 9, 1972)
* DVD: 2012 high-resolution remaster and surround mix


hennemusic.com - On October 9, Dio will release "The Very Beast Of Dio Vol. 2." 

The companion compilation to the original, gold-certified "Very Beast Of Dio,” the new package will feature 17 songs, including three bonus tracks.

"The Very Beast Of Dio Vol. 2” picks up exactly where the first volume left off — from 1996 onward. And in addition to featuring such latter-day Dio classics as "Killing The Dragon", "Push" and "Fever Dreams", the compilation will also include several rarities that fans have long requested on a single disc — "Electra" (which previously was only a part of the ultra-rare "Tournado" box set), "Prisoner of Paradise" and "Metal Will Never Die".


Aug 7
Lamb of God frontman Randy Blythe says people who never knew who he was now stop him on the street and say they're glad he's home. Blythe spent more than a month in a Czech prison, accused of pushing a fan off stage during a Prague show in 2010. The fan hit his head and later died. Blythe says he was treated well in prison but it was still prison. He says if necessary, he will return to Prague to stand trial to clear his name and he will not hide in the United States. Blythe thanks fans and musicians for their support because he didn't know how his case was viewed anywhere but in the Czech Republic.

Duke's football team has a walk-on with a familiar name: Mellencamp. Hud Mellencamp, son of John Mellencamp, began practice this week with the Blue Devils. He was home-schooled and never played high school football, but he is an accomplished boxer. Coach David Cutcliffe says Mellencamp is ``a pretty courageous man'' who wanted to try something new. He says he'll try to shield Mellencamp from the media and take things slow, since Mellencamp has so little football experience.


Aug 3
J. Geils is suing the J. Geils Band. The Boston Globe reports John Geils Junior has filed a lawsuit against the rest of the band, alleging trademark infringement and deceptive business practices for touring without him. James Weinberger, an attorney for the band, says Geils trademarked the band name in 2009 without telling anyone. Geils' complaint says he twice tried to quit and claims the band forced him to sign a document in 1982 preventing band members from using the name without the others. The J. Geils Band planned a tour without Geils beginning August 25 at the New York State Fair in Syracuse.


The way to hear new music from Bob Dylan will be to watch TV. Two new Dylan songs will be featured in ``Strike Back'' on Cinemax. ``Early Roman Kings'' will be used in a video promoting the show's new season that are airing now. ``Scarlet Town'' will be played over the end credits of the first two episodes that both run on August 17. Both songs will appear on Dylan's ``Tempest'' album, out September 11th.


Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda has written the score for the upcoming video game ``Medal of Honor Warfighter.'' Linkin Park are also including a song called ``Castle of Glass'' on the game's soundtrack. They will make a video for ``Castle of Glass'' that will include footage of the game. ``Medal of Honor Warfighter'' comes out October 23rd.



Aug 2
Steven Tyler acknowledges he signed up to judge ``American Idol'' because of the turmoil in Aerosmith in 2009. He tells Rolling Stone ``Idol'' was not his ``cup of tea'' and he ``loved it and hated it.'' He says he made a ton of money and got to sit next to Jennifer Lopez, but he'd work a full day on ``Idol'' and then work another full day with Aerosmith. Tyler says the show wanted him to criticize the singers more, but that's not what he's about.

Jeff Lynne has gone back to tinker with old Electric Light Orchestra hits. Lynne has re-recorded several ELO songs for the album ``Mr. Blue Sky-The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra.'' Lynne says while the old versions are good, but they don't sound the way he thought they did when he first recorded them. He says he wanted to use his experience as a producer and improved technology to have another try. The album includes a new bonus track, ``The Point of No Return.'' ``Mr. Blue Sky'' comes out October 9th. Lynne will release a solo album, ``Long Wave,'' on that day as well.


July 31
CD/DVD Release Tuesday

Blur
Blur 21 Box set
What's inside this limited edition, $150+ box? How about 18 CDs, 3 DVDs, and a hardcover book, for starters. In addition to all seven studio albums (five of them remastered), 21 includes 65 previously unreleased tracks ... in other words, if Blur ever recorded it, started to record it but then gave up, or released it on video, it's here.

Frank Zappa 
The first dozen of what should eventually be 60 Zappa album reissues arrive this week: Freak Out (1966), Absolutely Free (1967), Lumpy Gravy (1968), We're Only In It For the Money (1968), Cruising With Ruben & The Jets (1968), Uncle Meat (1969), Hot Rats (1969), Brunt Weeny Sandwich (1970), Weasels Ripped My Flesh (1970), Chunga's Revenge (1970), Filmore East, June 1971 (1971), and Just Another Band From L.A. (1972)


July 30
The soundtrack from the opening ceremony of the Olympics has shot up the charts in several countries. The album went on sale as a download minutes after the ceremony ended Friday in London. It's hit number one in Britain, France, Belgium and Spain, and number five in the U.S. The album includes music from David Bowie, Pet Shop Boys, Chemical Brothers, Dizzee Rascal and Arctic Monkeys. Universal Music also plans to release an album after the closing ceremony on August 12th. The Who will play that event.


Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong is coming to a tv near you.

The singer has joined NBC's The Voice as a mentor to Christina Aguilera's team when the show returns for season 3 this fall.

The Green Day frontman is one of three new mentors on the series, which also welcomes new faces Rob Thomas (Cee Lo Green's team), Mary J. Blige (Adam Levine's team) and Michael Buble (Blake Shelton's team).


July 27
The Who: Quadrophenia - Can You See The Real Me?   August 1st release, and here's a sample 

Staind are sort of figuring out how to play again on their DVD ``Live From Mohegan Sun.'' Singer Aaron Lewis says it was the first show they had played in some time and ``it was straight into the fire.'' He says they never ``really had the opportunity to get back on the bicycle and remember how to ride it'' before they recorded. They did it that way because that's how the scheduling worked out. You won't hear a lot of banter during the show. Lewis says he rarely talks between songs with Staind, but when he does his solo stuff, often people tell him to shut up and play. The DVD version comes out August 14th. The CD version is out now.

Eric Burdon is calling off most of his activities to have back surgery. Burdon has been suffering from back pain for more than three years and it keeps getting worse. His surgery will be in Los Angeles and is described as ``micro-decompression in the lumbar region of the spine.'' Burdon has been ordered to reduce his workload for three to six months. That means his concert dates are off and the release of his new album, ``'Til Your River Runs Dry,'' has been pushed from September to next year.


July 26
Hennemusic.com - Aerosmith will release their new album, "Music From Another Dimension,” on November 6.

Produced by Jack Douglas, the project is the band’s first album of new material since 2001’s "Just Push Play.”

It was originally scheduled for an August 28 street date, but things changed for a number of reasons.

"It’s unfortunate,” guitarist Brad Whitford tells the Long Branch-Eatontown Patch. "We were going to have the song ‘Legendary Child’ as part of a movie soundtrack that was going to come out this summer and the movie ["G.I. Joe: Retaliation”] was delayed to next year, so the whole marketing campaign that went along with that and the album’s release went right down the toilet. So the record company wanted time for a whole new approach and they wanted to get a slot to release the album they thought would be good for it. It’ll be worth the wait.”

Whitford’s comments follow those of singer Steven Tyler, who told the Alan Cox Show on 100.7 WMMS Cleveland last month that "Too many people [other notable recording artists] are releasing [new albums] those weeks [in late summer]. We don't wanna step on their release dates. So we just said, 'You know what?! We've got the goods… ain't no doubt about it. We'll wait another couple of months.'"

Currently out on the road with their Global Warming tour, bassist Tom Hamilton revealed his frustration at the situation.

"It’s really difficult to wait until November to put this record out,” said Tom. "I mean, finally – after all these years – we have this record and it’s done. It’s been mastered. It’s ready to be unleashed but it has to remain ‘on the chain’ for another few months…which sucks…but it’s the right way to do things, so I’m going to have to learn to live with it.”

The Global Warming tour wraps up August 12 in Bristow, VA.



Hennemusic.com - The Sex Pistols are releasing a 35th Anniversary "super deluxe” box set of "Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols” on September 24th through Universal Music UK.

On the heels of groundwork laid by The Ramones and others before them, The Sex Pistols released their one and only studio album in 1977. 

While many fans will undoubtedly be of the opinion that there can be very little left in the Sex Pistols vaults that hasn't already been seen and heard, followers of the band will be thrilled by the treasure trove of music, footage, interviews, pictures and artifacts confirmed to be included.

The original master tapes from the "Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols” recording sessions in 1977 were thought to be lost for many years. Now thankfully rediscovered during the recent move from Virgin Records to Universal Music Catalogue in January 2012, the tapes have been remastered, for the very first time, by Tim Young under direction from original producer Chris Thomas


July 25
Alice Cooper is constructing two separate scary mazes for Universal Studios. The ``Welcome To My Nightmare'' maze at Universal Orlando Resort will be based on elements from his first solo album of the same name. At Universal Studios Hollywood, Cooper will stage ``Alice Cooper Goes To Hell 3D,'' based on his ninth studio album. Guests at that maze will wear 3D glasses for an enhanced experience. Both attractions debut this fall.

Former Eagles guitarist Don Felder decided it's about time to put out a follow-up to his first solo album. It's only been three decades. Felder's album is called ``Road to Forever'' and he says he wrote out the stories of his life in song. He had to deal with leaving The Eagles and his marriage of 29 years falling apart. Guest musicians include David Crosby, Graham Nash, Steven Stills, Tommy Shaw of Styx, Randy Jackson and members of Toto. ``Road To Forever'' comes out October 9th.


July 24
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Case Western University will spend a whole week studying Chuck Berry. He will be the subject of its ``American Music Masters'' series the week of October 22nd. Events of the week will include panel discussions, interviews and films. Berry will get a tribute concert October 27th and he will perform at it. Berry says he's ``looking forward to reelin' and rockin' in Cleveland.''

Wenn.com - Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson halted a concert in Indiana on Thursday to chastise a fan for texting.

The rockers were performing at the Klipsch Music Center in Indianapolis when Dickinson spotted an audience member texting throughout much of the band's set and called him out for his rude behaviour.

Pausing midway through the track Wasted Years, he shouted, "Oh, for f---'s sake, the man (in) the white shirt, you've been texting for the last three f---ing songs! You're a w--ker!"

The crowd roared with approval and the 53-year-old then carried on with the show.

CD/DVD Release Tuesday

Peter Gabriel Secret World: Live DVD/Blu-ray
Remastered/restored version of 1993 concert film; first time on Blu-ray

Slipknot Antennas to Hell
Greatest hits compilation


July 23

3 Doors Down have started work on a new album, but bassist Todd Harrell has bigger things on his mind. Harrell was arrested for D-U-I after an accident Thursday morning in D'Iberville, Mississippi. Police say Harrell failed to stop at an intersection and collided with a pickup truck. Harrell was charged with D-U-I and not wearing a seat belt. He was released on $1,000 bond after an appearance before a judge. Police say Harrell consented to a blood test and the toxicology report is pending.


hennemusic.com - British heavy metal legends Judas Priest are marking the 30th Anniversary of their 1982 album, "Screaming For Vengeance,” with an expanded version of the project due out this fall.

"Screaming For Vengeance – Special 30th Anniversary Edition" will feature not only the remastered original album plus bonus tracks, but also a live DVD from the 1983 US Festival show, filmed in San Bernardino, CA on May 29, 1983.

The US Festival was intended to be a celebration of evolving technologies; a marriage of music, computers, television and people — organized by Steve Wozniak, formerly of Apple.

The "Screaming For Vengeance – Special 30th Anniversary Edition" live DVD was filmed at the second, and what turned out to be last, US Festival in 1983. Headlined by Van Halen, Sunday was the Heavy Metal Day, billed as "the day new wave died and rock 'n' roll took over." It set the single-day concert attendance record for the U.S. with an estimated 375,000 people.


July 20
Fans who held onto their tickets for the canceled Who concert in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1979 can exchange them for their upcoming show. The 1979 show was called off after 11 people were trampled to death at a Who concert in Cincinnati. The Who never came back to Providence, but they're scheduled to bring their ``Quadrophenia'' tour to the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence on February 26. Arena general manager Lawrence Lepore says the venue will honor tickets from the 1979 show if ticket holders call his office. Tickets for the 1979 show cost $14, while the February show ranges from $57.50 to $127.50.

Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx says putting Motley Crue and Kiss on the same stage is like holding a heavyweight championship fight for fans. Sixx says it's the audience that wins. He says from the beginning of their show to the end of the Kiss show, it's nothing but hits and bombastic live performances. The Kiss/Motley Crue tour begins today outside Washington.


July 19
Maybe this time Pete Townshend will remember the ``Quadrophenia'' shows. The Who will perform ``Quadrophenia'' in its entirety on tour beginning November 1st in Sunrise, Florida. Townshend says when they staged ``Quadrophenia'' in 1996 and '97, he only remembers the Madison Square Garden show because it was chaos, but none of the other 100-plus shows. Townshend says the ``Quadrophenia'' story is still relevant, because it's about a young man who doesn't fit in. The Who will also screen a documentary called ``Can You See The Real Me?'' about the making of ``Quadrophenia'' in theatres for one night Tuesday.

The Who will play the Olympics closing ceremony and they're admitting it right now: they're lip-synching. Roger Daltrey says it's not a rock show and they can't do it live because the athletic events will be going on there. Daltrey says they've recorded a ``fabulous ending for the Olympics.'' Pete Townshend says it's not quite a medley but a ``carefully structured thematic piece.'' Daltrey says it's not about The Who but about making great music for athletes who have devoted their lives to competing in the Olympics.

Roger Daltrey got an honorary degree and walked down the aisle with some of the kids who helped reimagine ``Tommy.'' Daltrey was awarded an honorary degree from Middlesex University in London this week. He had worked with Middlesex students on new visuals for his performance of ``Tommy'' in London last year. Daltrey says the students came up with a fresh interpretation of Tommy to reflect their generation. He says if he had the power, he'd give extra honorary degrees to them.


July 18
Former Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore says without keyboardist Jon Lord, there would be no Deep Purple. Lord died Sunday after battling pancreatic cancer. Blackmore says Lord was a great musician and his favorite dinner companion. Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover says, ``Not only has the music world lost a fantastic musician but a gentleman of the finest order.'' Guitarist Steve Morse says Lord ``was the guy that would stop us from giving up on an idea in songwriting because it wasn't immediately obvious.''

Bob Dylan is about to release his 35th studio album. ``Tempest'' comes out September 11th and features ten original Dylan songs. It also marks Dylan's 50th anniversary as an albums artist. His self-titled debut came out in 1962.


July 17
Former Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord didn't want fans to worry when he cancelled a performance earlier this month, but it looks like things were worse than he was letting on. Lord died yesterday at the age of 71 in London. He died of a pulmonary embolism and had been battling pancreatic cancer. Lord's keyboard work can be heard on such Deep Purple songs as ``Smoke on the Water,'' ``Woman From Tokyo,'' ``Hush'' and ``Space Truckin'.'' As an early session player, he played piano on The Kinks song ``You Really Got Me.'' Lord also was in Whitesnake before reuniting with Deep Purple in 1984.


Lamb of God fans plan to hold a vigil in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in support of jailed singer Randy Blythe. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports the vigil will be held Sunday afternoon. Blythe was arrested in Prague in June and is accused of contributing to a man's death when the man rushed the stage and Blythe pushed him away. The man hit his head, slipped into a coma and later died. U.S. Embassy officials helped free the rest of the band, but Blythe is still in jail. He's scheduled to appear in court Thursday.

CD/DVD Release Tuesday 


Crosby Stills & Nash CSN 2012 DVD/Blu-ray
Concert performance from 2012 tour

John Frusciante Letur-Lefr EP
Five-song outing from former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist

Old Crow Medicine Show Carry Me Back

Ozzy Osbourne Speak of the Devil DVD
1982 concert performance

Smashing Pumpkins Pisces Iscariot 2xCD+DVD+CASS
Deluxe box set reissue of 1994 release includes the remastered album, a bonus disc of outtakes, a live DVD, and the band's original demo reproduced on cassette


July 16
London's mayor says he wasn't the one who pulled the plug on Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney as they jammed in a live concert in Hyde Park on Saturday night. Just as they were wrapping up ``Twist and Shout,'' the rock superstars' microphones were shut off because of a nighttime curfew. So the mayor says, ``If they'd have called me, my answer would have been for them to jam in the name of the Lord!'' E-Street Band bassist Steven Van Zandt tweeted out that English cops are the only ones on earth who wouldn't want to hear one more from Springsteen and McCartney.

Roger Waters racked up $158.1 million in concert ticket sales worldwide so far this year with ’The Wall Live’ show, outselling perennial leaders Bruce Springsteen and Madonna to become the top-selling live act for the first half of 2012.

July 13
Steven Tyler says it's time to bring back rock. The Aerosmith frontman is leaving ``American Idol,'' referring to the show as his ``mistress'' and saying it was time to leave her ``before she boils my rabbit'' -- a weird reference to the movie ``Fatal Attraction.'' Aerosmith, which he calls his first love, is releasing a new album in November, ``Music From Another Dimension,'' and the band is currently on tour. Tyler says ``Idol'' was over-the-top fun, and he loved every minute of his two seasons on the show.

Mick Jagger and the boys are getting a chuckle over some old photos of themselves. At a new exhibit in London that celebrates The Rolling Stones' 50 years together, Jagger says the pictures reveal what their attitudes were like back in 1962. He say they were just having a laugh and didn't care that much about anything. Keith Richards, meanwhile, says his biggest regret is the death in 1969 of guitarist Brian Jones, but calls the band's career, overall, ``an incredible adventure.''

Fleetwood Mac is coming back. Stevie Nicks says the group will get back together for a reunion tour next year. She tells CBS that she does her thing and right now, Lindsey Buckingham is off doing his thing. As for the suicide of former Mac guitarist Bob Welch last month, Stevie Nicks says, ``I can't even tell you what in the world would have pushed him to do something that crazy.''


July 12
Courtney Love's publicist denies the singer owes a former assistant back wages. The former employee also claims Love wanted her to do things that were unethical, such as hiring a hacker and falsifying legal letters. Love's representative denies that, too. Jessica Labrie filed the wrongful termination, wage and breach of contract lawsuit earlier this week. Love's publicist says the claims are from a disgruntled former employee, and completely unfounded.

Chris Daughtry is doing his part to fight hunger. He's recorded an acoustic version of his band's song ``Rescue Me.'' It's to benefit the We Can Be Heroes campaign to end hunger in the Horn of Africa. Daughtry teamed up with the Justice League and DC Entertainment for the project. The song went on sale yesterday exclusively on iTunes.


July 11


Courtney Love is being sued by a former assistant. The woman says she's due unpaid wages. She also claims Love made unethical requests such as instructing her to hire a hacker and falsify legal letters. Jessica Labrie says Love wanted her to hire a hacker to change records to businesses Love owned or believed she owned. The lawsuit says the former assistant had headaches, insomnia and other medical issues because of Love's conduct.


Alicia Powell, Reuters - 
Musician Slash was honoured with the 2,473rd Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame outside the Hard Rock Cafe on July 10, 2012 in Hollywood, California. 
 Hollywood rocked on Tuesday when former Guns N’ Roses lead guitarist Slash received a star on the Walk of Fame, which seemed fitting for the musician who first won fans in the nightclubs along Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip.

"I’ve been a part of the Hollywood fabric for a long time and to actually be appreciated by the city of Hollywood is a huge, huge honor,” Slash said at the unveiling of his star. "And so I want to thank everybody for this; it’s unbelievable.”



July 10
Ted Nugent's drummer faces a variety of charges, including DUI for allegedly stealing a golf cart and driving on a foot path. Security officers at Nugent's concert in Bangor, Maine say Matt Brown was drunk when he was spotted in a golf cart he'd allegedly stolen. When they tried to stop him, they say Brown sped up and shoved a security officer. He was arrested and later released.

Hennemusic.com - Green Day will be unloading a whole lot of new material this fall.

The band have already announced plans for the release of their forthcoming album trilogy: ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tré! will be released in stages, on September 25th 2012, November 13th 2012 and January 15th 2013 respectively. 

In the span of four months, that’s three full albums….but that’s not all.

Billboard reports the band will issue two documentaries to complement the trilogy.

Filmmakers Tim Lynch and Tim Wheeler are creating a documentary on the making of the band's upcoming three albums, while a second film is being created from vintage footage from their pre-"Dookie" days.

Billie Joe Armstrong tells Billboard.com that "the two Tims" have shot the band performing in clubs, rehearsing and recording over the last year and a half.

New Release Tuesday

Jimi Hendrix Jimi Plays Berkeley DVD/Blu-ray
Expanded version of concert film shot May 30, 1970

Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones Live At The Checkerboard Lounge, Chicago 1981 DVD+CD
Concert performance recorded November 22, 1981

P.O.D. Murdered Love 

Staind Live From Mohegan Sun

Serj Tankian Harakiri 
Third solo album from System of a Down frontman



July 9
Ringo Starr is happy that his birthday is catching on. Five years ago, he happened to be interviewed on his birthday, and the interviewer asked him what he would like. Starr said he'd like people to say ``peace and love'' on his birthday at noon local time. Since then he's staged ``peace and love'' events on his birthday in New York, Chicago, Hamburg and Saturday in Nashville. Starr, who's 72, says people in China and Japan tell him they're making the ``peace and love'' birthday wish, so he's happy it's gone international.

Looks like the Coachella Music and Arts Festival will stay in Indio California after all. 
Indio council member Ascension "Sam” Torres is the brainiac who thought the city should add an admission tax to all tickets, a move that had the concert’s promoters threatening to leave Indio. 
In his statement, Torres conceded that the loss of the annual Coachella festival would "negatively impact the region” and hoped that "we can now move past this episode. 
Sam would make a horrible poker player. 


Reuters - A former personal assistant to U2 bassist Adam Clayton who embezzled 2.8 million euros of his money to fund a lavish lifestyle was sentenced on Friday to seven years in jail.

Carol Hawkins, 48, from Dublin, nodded at the judge and smiled as she was led away to serve her prison term.

"These were crimes rooted in greed and nothing else,” said judge Patrick McCartan 


July 5
Linkin Park beat Maroon 5 for the top spot on the Billboard album chart by just a thousand copies. Linkin Park's ``Living Things'' sold 223,000 copies its first week, while Maroon 5's ``Overexposed'' sold 222,000. ``Living Things'' is Linkin Park's fifth number-one album.

The city of Warren, Ohio, is about to give Dave Grohl a pair of drumsticks he can't possibly spin with his fingers. The Youngstown Vindicator reports a pair of 900-pound drumsticks made of poplar logs will be unveiled Saturday. The designs on it match the tattoos on Grohl's arms. They will stay at the Warren Amphitheater until the end of the concert season in September, then be moved to Dave Grohl Alley. Grohl was born in Warren but grew up outside Washington, D.C. It's uncertain if Grohl will attend the unveiling, although he did come to the dedication of Dave Grohl Alley in 2009.

Joy Division bassist Peter Hook says unless you were in the van with the band way back when, you don't know anything about what went on. He's about to tell everything that did go on. Hook will write a book called ``Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division'' for publication this fall. Hook will discuss the rise of Joy Division and he will not shy away from discussing the suicide of singer Ian Curtis. It will be his second book. His first one was about being a co-owner of the Hacienda club in Manchester, England, called ``The Hacienda: How Not To Run A Club.''


July 4
There will be no Jimi Hendrix music in a movie about Jimi Hendrix. The Hendrix estate is refusing to allow his songs to be used in the film ``All Is By My Side.'' Rolling Stone reports the filmmakers are getting around that by only using songs Hendrix covered, not wrote. That includes songs like ``Wild Thing,'' ``Hound Dog,'' ``Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'' and the Muddy Waters song ``Mannish Boy.'' Andre 3000 of OutKast plays Hendrix and sings the new versions. The film's producers say they never intended to use Hendrix's music because it's about his early career. A representative for the Hendrix estate says making a Hendrix movie without Hendrix music is ``like making a movie about Lincoln without being able to use the Gettysburg Address.''

Neil Young thinks a new documentary about him is almost better than seeing him live. Director Jonathan Demme filmed a road trip from Young's hometown of Omemee , Ontario, to Toronto for the final shows on Young's 2011 world tour. Young says there's more in the movie than one might expect. He says viewers will go further into the sound because of how the film was created. He calls it a ``fantastic voyage'' into music. ``Neil Young Journeys'' is in select theatres now.

 Wenn.com -  KISS is set to break records by releasing the biggest book in rock.

The impressive tome, entitled KISS Monster, will be the same size as a guitar, making it the largest music book ever published.

It will feature unseen photographs from KISS' 40-year career, and only 1,000 special editions will be made and signed by the rockers.

However, fans will have to pay $4,299 for the privilege of owning the memento.

A statement from KISS reads, "Anyone who has experienced a KISS performance knows the bigger, louder and heavier, the better! The sheer size of the images the book contains means that the level of detail, vibrancy and intimacy is incredible, bringing the KISS experience alive.

"Some of the close-up photographs are, quite literally, larger than life! This is the closest any fan could ever get to their heroes without an access-all-areas pass."


July 3
Jon Bon Jovi is selling Avon. He will be the latest celebrity to endorse an Avon fragrance. This one is called Unplugged and it comes in versions for men and for women. Avon says the inspiration for the scents is the feeling you get when you listen to a favorite song. The women's version comes out in October and the men's in November. Other celebrities who have endorsed Avon perfumes include Fergie, Reese Witherspoon, Salma Hayek and Patrick Dempsey.

Slipknot now know why guitarist Jim Root hasn't been himself lately. His appendix burst and he didn't know it. Slipknot say on their website Root has been seriously sick for the past two weeks and went to a hospital last week. Doctors told him his appendix burst a couple of weeks earlier and that could have threatened his life. Root is awaiting surgery to have pieces of his appendix removed. Slipknot plan to continue their tour but will welcome Root back when he's able to perform again.

Wenn.com - Van Halen have cancelled their postponed summer tour dates, according to a U.S. report.

The group announced in May it was axing 30 dates following its June 26 concert in New Orleans, Louisiana, prompting speculation the bandmates were not getting along.

Group leader Eddie Van Halen dismissed the gossip, explaining, "We bit off more than we could chew... We went on tour earlier than we wanted to so we could play (New York's) Madison Square Garden (before a renovation), and that threw the schedule out of whack."

He insisted the band would pick up where it left off later on in the year - but now the delayed gigs have seemingly been axed.

Music website Pollstar.com claims many of the tour dates, including stops in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Detroit, Michigan, are now listed in red as cancelled on the Ticketmaster agency website.
June 29
Tommy Lee has posted an open letter on Twitter and Facebook complaining about how much he hates taking photos with fans. Lee writes he loves his fans but the fastest way to make him leave is to whip out a camera. He says fans should not care if people don't believe they met him unless they have a photo. As Lee puts it, ``I'm not here to take pictures with you, I'm here to entertain you!'' He says he never thought his musical heroes owed him a photo. He finds it irritating when people say fans put him where he is because he says ``Nobody put me where I am but ME!''

Bruce Springsteen has been named The Recording Academy's MusiCares Person of the Year for 2013. Springsteen will be honored for his music legacy and his charity work. He will be the subject of a tribute concert on February 8, two days before the Grammys.

Alice Cooper believes it's smarter for a kid to learn guitar than to join a gang and end up dead or in jail. The Arizona Republic reports Cooper will open the Rock Teen Center in Phoenix with a free concert today. Cooper has spent 11 years raising money for the center through his Solid Rock Foundation. The center will teach troubled teens aspects of the music industry like music lessons, dance, staging and lighting.

The Dave Matthews Band are finishing up their eighth studio album. It's called ``Away From The World'' and it comes out September 11.

The new Loverboy album is a little bit old and a little bit new. ``Rock 'N' Roll Revival'' features nine re-recorded Loverboy hits, like ``Hot Girls In Love,'' ``Turn Me Loose,'' ``Working For The Weekend'' and ``The Kid Is Hot Tonight.'' It also contains three new songs. Guitarist Paul Dean says the re-recorded songs are ``reflective of the evolution of our past 30 years of playing them live,'' while the new songs are in the same spirit as their classic material. ``Rock 'N' Roll Revival'' comes out August 14. Loverboy will tour this summer with Journey and Pat Benatar.


June 28
Hennemusic,com - Slash has announced a fall headlining tour of North America in support of his new album, "Apocalyptic Love.”

Dates start September 4 in San Diego, CA and wrap up Los Angeles on October 3.

Joining Slash on the trek will be openers Foxy Shazam.  Only 1 Canadian Date, and it's Toronto. 

Hennemusic.com - Aerosmith fans have waited 11 years for a new album of original music from the band, and now it looks like they’ll have to wait a little longer.

The Boston rockers have moved the release date of "Music From Another Dimension” from August 28 to November 6.

"Too many people [other notable recording artists] are releasing [new albums] those weeks [in late summer/early fall],” lead singer Steven Tyler revealed on the Alan Cox Show on 100.7 WMMS Cleveland. "We don't wanna step on their release dates. So we just said, 'You know what?! We've got the goods… ain't no doubt about it. We'll wait another couple of months.'"

While all the songs have been recorded, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry were reportedly still working on the mixes when they had to leave for their Global Warming tour with Cheap Trick, which hits Toronto on Wednesday.

"Music From Another Dimension” is the band’s first album of new material since 2001’s "Just Push Play.”

The project's lead single is "Legendary Child," which the band debuted on American Idol last month.


June 27
Anthrax have settled a $2.65 million lawsuit filed by former singer Dan Nelson. The band issued a press release in 2009 saying he was leaving Anthrax because of illness. Nelson denies he was sick. The two sides met for two hours in court Monday and reached a settlement, although the terms were not disclosed. The New York Daily News reports Anthrax walked out of court smiling. The New York Post quotes bassist Frank Bello as saying, ``I've got to put a Band-Aid on my tongue from biting it so much.''
Hennemusic.com - The Darkness have released their new single.

"Everybody Have A Good Time" will be featured on the band's third studio album, "Hot Cakes," which will be released on August 21.

"Hot Cakes" is produced by the band's Justin and Dan Hawkins with longtime collaborator Nick Brine and mixed by Bob Ezrin.

The band has put together a behind the scenes look at the making of the "Everybody Have A Good Time" music video, which premieres June 28. 

Henemusic.com - There’s a buzz in the sports community that Van Halen could be on tap to play Super Bowl 47 next year in New Orleans.

NBC Sports first speculated on the band’s involvement a few weeks ago following comments made by Eddie Van Halen regarding the group’s touring plans.

On the heels of canceling a full run of summer US tour dates, Eddie told USA Today that "a lot of the canceled dates were in cities we already played. So in November we'll hit Japan, and in the new year we'll possibly do something special, but I can't talk about it."


June 26
Godsmack singer Sully Erna will end his self-imposed silence on Thursday. Doctors advised Erna to rest his voice after he got sick with an unspecified illness, according to Godsmack's website. Godsmack had to cancel five days of concert dates in Europe. They're scheduled to return to performing in Austria on Thursday.

CD/DVD release Tuesday

Bachman & Turner Live at the Roseland Ballroom NYC Blu-ray/DVD
Concert performance from 2010

Everclear Invisible Stars

Linkin Park Living Things 

The Offspring Days Go By 

Pink Floyd The Story of Wish You Were Here Blu-ray/DVD
Documentary about the making of the album featuring new and archival interviews with the band

Stone Temple Pilots Alive in the Windy City Blu-ray/DVD
Concert performance from 2010


June 25
Kings of Leon singer Caleb Followill is a first-time dad. Followill's wife, Victoria's Secret model Lily Aldridge, gave birth to a girl Thursday in Nashville. They've named her Dixie Pearl Followill. The couple have been married for a little over a year.

hennemusic.com - Thin Lizzy is hitting the studio on Monday to record some new music.

"Thin Lizzy enters the recording studio tomorrow with electric guitars and amps a'blazin'; and Brian Downey's full drum kit!" tweeted guitarist Damon Johnson on Sunday.

Former Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan says he was on the 48-year plan for his high school diploma. He was finally awarded his diploma last week from Roosevelt High School in Seattle. McKagan tweeted a picture of it. He dropped out of school in 10th grade and later earned a GED.

June 22
Radiohead are rescheduling several of their summer shows overseas because their production equipment was destroyed when the stage collapsed in Toronto last weekend. The band say their light show was destroyed and several amplification elements were seriously damaged. The shows affected are in Europe. Radiohead plan to start playing again July 10th in Nimes, France. Radiohead's drum technician, Scott Johnson, was killed and three other crew members were injured in the collapse.

Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett is publishing a coffee-table book about his monster-movie memorabilia. It's called ``Too Much Horror Business'' and it covers hundreds of items in Hammett's personal collection. That includes Bela Lugosi's annotated script from ``Dracula'' and the bunny suit from ``Donnie Darko.'' Hammett writes captions for many of the items. The book comes out October 1st.

The version of ``Keep The Fire Burnin''' by REO Speedwagon you hear in concert this year may be different than the way you remember from the record. That's because singer Kevin Cronin finally finished it, 30 years after the fact. Cronin says he never liked playing that song live. He finally listened to the ``Good Trouble'' album again and realized they had rushed out the album before he finished writing the songs. He reworked ``Keep The Fire Burnin''' and another song called ``The Key.'' Cronin says he did some minor chord changes and took out the lyrics that made him cringe. Now he loves the songs so much he put them into the REO show.


June 21
Hennemusic.com - Green Day is making headlines this week as news surfaces that the band’s "secret” show, set for this Friday, has been canceled after the city of Burbank denied them the necessary permits due to concerns over crowd control.

Billboard reports frontman Billie Joe Armstrong tweeted about the event last week, writing, "Green day Surprise rock n roll sex party show meaning "secret show" coming soon in LA AREA. Stay tuned! Clothing optional! Dance or f*** off. And it's FREE. Bring your own booze. Weirdos and punishers welcomed!"

Armstrong then added, "For the upcoming green day dance party, there will be extra space. There's no such thing as too many friends. Chaos=love ;)”

Green Day have now announced "permits needed for the show were denied by the city due to crowd control issues. The anticipated turnout was well into the thousands, and after monitoring the situation, fears were the number would dramatically swell and pose serious concern for safety of concert-goers once the location was made public."

Green Day are gearing up to promote their recently-announced new trilogy, which features albums entitled ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tré


Hennemusic.com - Ozzy Osbourne canceled a show in Mannheim, Germany Wednesday night due to "vocal concerns.”

TMZ reports the singer pulled out of the Ozzy Osbourne & Friends show at the SAP Arena at the last minute.

The concert is one of the several that were scheduled as make-up dates when the Black Sabbath reunion tour was canceled.

Sources on site tell TMZ that Ozzy was supposed to take the stage after Black Label Society finished their set. But instead, the crowd was advised that Osbourne would be unable to perform due to a medical condition. 

Ozzy's rep tells TMZ the rock legend's overall health is OK and he merely decided to cancel the show due to issues with his voice. 

Concertgoers have been instructed to check the venue's official website to see if Ozzy will reschedule or simply issue a refund.

Hennemusic.com - Rush’s new album, "Clockwork Angels,” has debuted at the top of the Canadian charts.

The project enjoyed first week sales in excess of 19,600 in the band’s homeland, marking Rush’s first #1 debut for a studio album in the SoundScan era.

Stateside, "Clockwork Angels” entered the Billboard 200 albums chart at #2, with sales of 103,000 copies.


June 20

Hennemusic.com - Last month, Def Leppard released newly-rerecorded versions of two of their classic hist from the 1980s: "Pour Some Sugar On Me" and "Rock Of Ages." 

The concept was to tie in the name of their summer tour – Rock of Ages – with the Broadway play-turned film of the same name starring Tom Cruise, who also sings "Sugar” on the soundtrack album…another good reason for the UK rockers to keep their name front and center.

But there’s more to it than that.

"It was, well, let’s just say a sensible business decision on our part,” Leppard vocalist Joe Elliott tells MTVHive. "How can I put this politely? We were having a major disagreement with our ex-record label about the digital rights for our back catalog. We couldn’t come to a mutual understanding that seemed fair for both sides. So we finally just decided to re-record all our hits. We started with ‘Sugar’ and ‘Rock of Ages,’ and I think we did a pretty good job. It’s hard work trying to recreate something you did 30 years ago.”

Was the band tempted to tinker with their original song arrangements, after all these years? 

"None of that,” says Elliott. "I’ve heard re-recordings by people who’ve done that, and I wanted to throw the iPod through the window. There’s nothing worse than being let down by an artist you love. Here’s a great example. Bless him because he passed away, but there’s a guy called Andrew Gold. Back in the ’70s he had a song called ‘Lonely Boy’ that’s just wonderful. When we were out on tour, it just popped into my head for no reason. I was probably in Boise, Idaho at the time. So I went to download what I thought was the original, and I ended up getting a re-recording. It was like a crappy karaoke version!”

Did Leppard expect to be able to recreate their signature 80s sound during the sessions?

"We tried to do it as closely as we could,” offers Joe. "We got the same sounds, the same key, the same tempo. It was a 100% forgery. That was the idea, anyway. It’s not like a live version, where everything’s a bit looser and you’ve got the ad-libs and the slightly longer guitar solos and the crowd screaming in the background. We were very conscious of the fact that when people download our songs from iTunes, they want it to sound like they remember it.”

Hennemusic.com - The release of Rush’s new album, "Clockwork Angels,” means yet another road trip for the Canadian rockers.

Currently in preparations for the tour, Rush will launch their North American dates on September 7th in Manchester, NH.

In addition to new music, Rush will be offering a taste of something they’ve never done before in a live setting.

"Our intention is to take strings out on the road," guitarist Alex Lifeson tells Billboard.

Orchestrations, arranged by David Campbell, feature on several of "Clockwork Angels" tracks, and Lifeson says Rush will employ a small string ensemble, likely eight to 10 pieces, to recreate those pieces and to be added to some of Rush's older material. "It's just something different for us, and I can't wait to hear what it sounds like."

Wenn.com - Ozzy Osbourne has urged his son Jack to seek a second opinion following his multiple sclerosis diagnosis, because doctors mistakenly thought the rocker also had the condition.

The new dad consulted medics earlier this year after he began experiencing blurred eyesight and headaches, and he was told last month that he has the autoimmune disease.

But his rock star father is keen for Jack to undergo further tests to confirm he really does have the condition.

Ozzy tells Britain's Hello! magazine, "I want Jack to go for a second opinion as I was misdiagnosed with MS a few years ago - it took them six months to work out that I have a rare hereditary tremor, called Parkin Syndrome."

Jack reveals his uncle also suffers with multiple sclerosis - and his mother Sharon feels guilty about the family connection.


June 19
wenn.com - Rockers Radiohead have paid tribute to the tragic crew member who died after a stage collapsed ahead of their show on Saturday night.

The British band was scheduled to play at Downsview Park in Toronto, but the venue's structure collapsed in the afternoon, killing drum technician Scott Johnson.

The devastated group cancelled the concert, and drummer Philip Selway posted their condolences on their official website, writing, "We have all been shattered by the loss of Scott Johnson, our friend and colleague. He was a lovely man, always positive, supportive and funny; a highly skilled and valued member of our great road crew.

"We will miss him very much. Our thoughts and love are with Scott's family and all those close to him."

Three other people were injured by the structural collapse - a man was hospitalized with a head injury and two others were treated at the scene.

Johnson, 33, had toured with other bands including Keane, Portishead and The Charlatans.

Billy Corgan did not want to make another Smashing Pumpkins album, but making an album is what got him excited. Corgan says while he made his name as an albums artist, the music business changed to be more about singles. He even tried releasing tracks for free as part of his ``Teargarden by Kaleidyscope'' project but found that people wouldn't rally around free songs. Corgan says the thing that motivated him the most musically was creating an album. The new Smashing Pumpkins album, ``Oceania'', is out today.

Former Deep Purple and Rainbow guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has been a new dad for four months and is just now getting around to telling people. His wife, Candice Night, gave birth to a boy February 7th. They've named him Rory Blackmore. The couple also have a two-year-old daughter named Autumn Esmerelda. Blackmore also has a 48-year-old son from a previous relationship.
 

June 18
One person died and three were injured when a stage collapsed ahead of Radiohead concert at Toronto's Downsview Park on Saturday.

Members of the stage crew were setting up for the Radiohead concert around 4 p.m. "when the top portion of the stage collapsed on top of them," police say. The concert was cancelled. 

Hennemusic.com - Rush’s new album, "Clockwork Angels,” is expected to debut in the top 5 on the Billboard album charts, and possibly land in the #2 spot.

Billboard reports Rush is on track to sell about 90,000 copies of the new project, which could mean a #2 debut behind Usher’s "Looking 4 Myself,” expected to sell around 120,000 to 130,000 copies to top the Billboard 200.

"Clockwork Angels" may end up the band's highest charting release since 1993's "Counterparts" debuted and peaked at No. 2. The legendary rockers have yet to claim a #1 spot on the prestigious US chart.

Rush's last studio album, 2007's "Snakes & Arrows," debuted in at No. 3 with 93,000 in sales, according to Nielsen SoundScan.


Wenn.com - Mumford & Sons cancelled two shows this week after guitarist Marcus Mumford broke his hand last weekend.

The Sigh No More hitmakers were due to play at Denmark's Northside Festival on Friday and at Hultsfred Festival in Sweden on Saturday, but they were forced to pull out of their sets after Mumford sustained the injury.


Hennemusic.com - The BBC reports Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne have revealed that their son, Jack, has multiple sclerosis (MS).

The Osbournes said Jack was diagnosed from tests taken when he lost 60% vision in his right eye earlier this year.

He told Hello! that after first feeling angry and upset he has now taken an attitude of "adapt and overcome."

MS is an incurable neurological condition that damages the nerves and affects the transfer of messages around the body. 

Jack, 26, said he had chosen to speak out in order to raise awareness of the condition. He added that the support of his fiancee Lisa Stelly was helping him to stay positive. 

MS can have a wide range of symptoms, including tiredness, temporary blindness, loss of co-ordination and speech difficulties. 

June 15
Hennemusic.com - KISS and Family Guy have announced a new partnership that will see a Family Guy/KISS product line hit shelves this coming fall. 

The Family Guy/KISS line is a collaboration that taps into the band’s references within the show. So far, KISS has appeared three times on the series, providing viewers with insightful and hilarious nuggets that include Peter Griffin’s love for the band and the fact that Lois Griffin once dated Gene Simmons before he became famous.

To support the program, Fox Consumer Products and Live Nation Merchandise, Kisses' licensing agent, will be looking for partners in the following categories: vinyl figures, bobble heads, apparel, plush, novelty, barware, social expressions and fine art.


June 14
Metallica are offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer of a Virginia Tech student who disappeared after attending one of their concerts in October 2009. Singer James Hetfield says in a new public service announcement that any information, no matter how small, cold be the crucial piece that solves the case. Morgan Harrington's remains were found three months after the concert in Charlottesville, Virginia. The FBI says the suspect has been linked through DNA to a 2005 sexual assault case.

Ringo Starr describes the rehearsals for his All-Starr Band as hard. Starr says the first day is great because they're excited, but then they have to learn each other's songs and figure out harmonies. Starr launches a tour today in Niagara, Ontario, with an All-Starr Band that includes Richard Page of Mr. Mister, Todd Rundgren and Steve Lukather of Toto. Starr's artwork will also be on display at tour stops. He says he started creating things like stars and faces on his computer to relieve the boredom of touring. They're for sale with proceeds going to charity.



June 13
Chicago will not only be hitting the road today for their summer tour, but they will be working on a new album in their down time. Singer-keyboardist Robert Lamm says they're bringing a portable studio with them that they will set up in their bus or in a hotel conference room. Lamm says the technology has advanced that Chicago can create a great sound wherever they are. As for the concerts, Lamm says the key to summer shows is staying dry and avoiding bugs. He says he sometimes when he's singing, bugs fly in his mouth, or as he calls them, ``protein on the wing.''

Guns N' Roses doesn't have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Neither does Axl Rose -- but Slash is getting one. Slash's star will be the next one to be unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, on July 10. Charlie Sheen will be one of the guest speakers.

Joe Walsh is endorsing Joe Walsh's opponent. Walsh the guitarist is endorsing Democrat Tammy Duckworth for the Illinois congressional seat currently held by Congressman Joe Walsh. Walsh the guitarist is giving a concert as The Real Joe Walsh as a fundraiser for Duckworth's campaign next month.


June 12
Judas Priest The Complete Albums Collection is in stores today

Steven Tyler says writing with Joe Perry again for the first time in ten years was like a ``fine wine.'' Tyler says, ``It's the same bottle, man. We just corked it.'' He says it's been fermenting and now is the perfect time. Perry says he had guitar riffs he's had since 2002. His philosophy is ``playing the old songs new and the new songs old.'' The album, ``Music From Another Dimension,'' comes out in August. Aerosmith kick off their ``Global Warming'' tour with Cheap Trick Saturday in Minneapolis.

Geddy Lee says if you like Rush, you'll like their ``Clockwork Angels'' album. He says if you don't, ``you're in hell.'' Lee describes the album as some spacey songs, some beautiful songs and some ``typical Rush extravaganzas, where our songs are longer than they should be and we play far too many notes.'' He says they've been trying to make this album for years but tours keep getting in the way. ``Clockwork Angels'' is out today.


June 11
from Hennemusic.com - Just a few weeks ago, Judas Priest played the final show of their "Epitaph” world tour. The band’s year-long farewell trek kicked off last June in Holland, and has played around the globe. 

Epitaph saw the introduction of guitarist Richie Faulkner to the Priest fold, following the sudden retirement of Kenneth "K.K.” Downing just six weeks before the tour’s launch. The final Epitaph show - at the Hammersmith Apollo in London - was professionally filmed for a 2013 DVD release.

The work on the project has already begun, according to Faulkner.

Toronto prog-rock veterans Rush have finally written their Tommy.

Or so singer-bassist Geddy Lee agrees when the comparison to The Who's rock opera is offered up about Rush's first official concept disc - and 20th studio album - Clockwork Angels, in stores Tuesday (June 12), followed by fall shows in Canada.

"You know, so many of our albums were really concept albums, we just didn't say it out loud," said Lee, 58, while seated in his manager's offices in Toronto recently.

"This is more overt. We're admitting to it ... I think (Tommy's) a good reference to me because what I love about Tommy is you pull songs off Tommy and they stand on their own ... They're rock songs that are not necessarily dependent on the other rock songs on that album to be good and to be valid and that was something I was after with this album."

Clockwork Angels, which features drummer Neil Peart's lyrics about a protagonist in a fictional steam-punk sci-fi world (that will also be turned into a novel by Kevin J. Anderson for release later this year), was recorded mostly at the new Revolution Studios in Toronto with co-producer Nick Raskulinecz, who worked on Rush's last studio album - 2007's Snakes & Arrows.

June 8

BOB WELCH FOUND DEAD OF GUNSHOT WOUND
The man who sang ``Sentimental Lady'' has died. Police say Bob Welch was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest at his home in Nashville yesterday. He was 65. Police say Welch had health issues and left a suicide note. His wife found the body. Welch was in Fleetwood Mac from 1971 to 1974 when they were more of a blues band but quit as Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined. ``Sentimental Lady'' was a top ten hit in 1977, and ``Ebony Eyes'' hit number 14 in 1978

PHILLIP PHILLIPS HAS KIDNEY SURGERY
``American Idol'' winner Phillip Phillips is recovering from kidney surgery. A spokeswoman for the show says Phillips' operation went well and he will be ready to go when the ``American Idol'' tour kicks off July 6. Phillips had been plagued by serious kidney problems for most of the competition

NEIL DIAMOND WORKS ON LYRICS IN FRONT OF THE TUBE
Lots of people watch TV while they work -- even Neil Diamond. He says he was working on a lyric while watching TV before he went to bed this week. Diamond says he's constantly writing and inspiration comes up frequently during the day. He says putting his response to that inspiration down on paper makes it real, and then he'll expand on that. It seems to have worked for him. ``The Very Best of Neil Diamond'' came out in December, and his tour kicks off tonight outside New York.


June 7

AXL ROSE ROBBED
Paris police are investigating a robbery in which Axl Rose lost $200,000 worth of jewelry. Police say Rose is fuming that three gold-and-diamond necklaces were stolen during a private gathering. It does not appear that Rose was wearing the necklaces at the time.

RANDY BACHMAN SERVES UP CLASSIC ROCK THE WAY YOU REMEMBER
Randy Bachman of Bachman and Turner -- they don't use ``Overdrive'' any more -- believes if you go see a rock band to hear the hits, they better play the hits the way you remember. As he puts it, ``You don't go home to have Mama cook a new meal. You go home for comfort food.'' That's why he doesn't mess with songs like ``Takin' Care of Business'' or ``Let It Ride'' -- unless he's with his jazz side project. He says those audiences want to hear the songs differently every night. Bachman and Turner have a new live album out called ``Live at the Roseland Ballroom.''

ELVIS HOLOGRAM IN THE WORKS
The company that made the hologram of rapper Tupac Shakur for the Coachella festival is doing the same for Elvis Presley. Digital Domain Media Group says it's gotten the OK from Elvis Presley Enterprises to create an Elvis hologram. No word on when it will make its debut.




June 6

JOHN MAYER SAYS `DEAR JOHN' WAS ABOUT HIM
John Mayer's pretty sure Taylor Swift's ``Dear John'' is about him. And he doesn't think that's cool. He tells Rolling Stone that ``Dear John'' is cheap songwriting. Mayer says the song made him feel terrible and doesn't deserve it. Swift has never confirmed the two dated. And she's refused to say if ``Dear John'' was aimed at Mayer. Mayer says Swift kicked him when he was down. Mayer's ``Born and Raised'' debuted at No. 1 last week


SHERYL CROW HAS BRAIN TUMOUR
Sheryl Crow reveals she has a brain tumour but it's considered benign. Crow mentioned it at a recent concert. Her representative, Christine Wolff, says it's a meningioma, which develops from the protective linings of the brain and spinal cord. Wolff says Crow is healthy and happy. Crow has battled breast cancer in the past.

HERB REED OF THE PLATTERS DIES
The low voice from songs like ``The Great Pretender,'' ``Twilight Time'' and ``Only You'' has died. Herb Reed was the last surviving member of the original Platters. His manager says Reed had lung disease and declining health. Reed died in Boston Monday at the age of 83. Reed came up with the name The Platters, based on what disc jockeys used to call records. He sang bass and appeared on nearly all of The Platters' 400 recordings. He went to court several times over the group's name and won a decision in Nevada last year giving him rights to the name.

FOO FIGHTERS DRUMMER TAYLOR HAWKINS LANDS IGGY POP ROLE
Drummer Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters better start getting his abs in shape. The Hollywood Reporter reports Hawkins has been cast as Iggy Pop in a film about the legendary New York club CBGB. Mickey Sumner from Showtime's ``The Borgias'' will play Patti Smith. Filming begins June 25 in Savannah, Georgia, then moves to New York.


June 5

PAUL McCARTNEY WILL PLAY OLYMPICS
Paul McCartney will close out the opening ceremony of the summer Olympics. McCartney confirms to BBC's radio station 5 he will be the headliner for the ceremony July 27th. ``Slumdog Millionaire'' director Danny Boyle is overseeing the ceremony, which has the theme ``Isles of Wonder.''

AL JARREAU IS SICK
Al Jarreau is recovering from pneumonia. He's called off his French tour dates this week because he's not allowed to travel. Jarreau's next performance is set for Orleans, France, on June 28th.

POLL: AMERICANS WOULD CHOOSE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN TO WRITE NEW ANTHEM
America seems willing to give Bruce Springsteen another gig if he wants it: writing a new national anthem. A ``60 Minutes''/Vanity Fair poll finds 22 per cent of Americans would get Springsteen to write a new anthem if they were asked to hire someone to do it. Dolly Parton came in second with 19 per cent, followed by Stevie Wonder with 18 per cent and Bob Dylan at 11 per cent. John Williams, who composed the music for ``Star Wars,'' ``E.T.'' and ``Indiana Jones,'' got 10 per cent, Jay-Z garnered eight per cent and Madonna five per cent.

GREGG ALLMAN SIGNS BOOKS AT THE BIG HOUSE
Gregg Allman went home to sign copies of his autobiography for fans. He returned to Macon, Georgia, Sunday to The Big House, where the Allman Brothers Band lived early on in their career. The house is now a museum, and The Macon Telegraph reports Allman's appearance was a fundraiser to support it. He signed copies of his book, ``My Cross To Bear.'' One fan says he was looking at Duane Allman's old bedroom and turned around to find Gregg right there.



June 4

BEACH BOYS RELEASE NEW ALBUM TOMORROW
Beach Boy Mike Love says the hardest part about making their new album was getting to the studio. He lives 160 kilometres away. Other than that, Love says there wasn't much that was tough about making ``That's Why God Made The Radio,'' their 50th anniversary album. Love says Brian Wilson knows their voices intimately to do arrangements, and the whole group still records vocals together in the same room. He says it was ``kind of reminiscent of 1965 going on 1966 again.'' They were happy to go modern for the instruments, though. Love says some parts were done in Florida, sent to California and mixed in Illinois. ``That's Why God Made The Radio'' comes out tomorrow.

ELTON JOHN, PAUL McCARTNEY, MADNESS PLAY FOR QUEEN'S 60TH JUBILEE
You know it's quite a party when Elton John, Paul McCartney and Madness play for a celebration of 60 years on the job. They will perform today in London at a concert marking Queen Elizabeth's 60 years on the British throne. The concert also includes Annie Lennox, Jessie J, Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Jools Holland and Cliff Richard.

BEYONCE, STEVEN TYLER, PITBULL SET FOR `EPIC'
Beyonce, Steven Tyler and Pitbull will lend their voices to an animated film about good and evil in the forest. Beyonce plays Queen Tara in the film ''Epic,'' while Tyler voices a character called Nim Galuu and Pitbull voices one called Bufo. Colin Farrell, Josh Hutcherson, Amanda Seyfried and Johnny Knoxville also voice characters. ''Epic'' comes out next May.

KRIS ALLEN EXPLAINS `CAMELLIA'
Who is the Camellia that Kris Allen thanks in the title of his new album, ``Thank You Camellia''? It's a street, not a person. Allen crashed on the couch of friends when making the album and they live on Camellia Avenue. Allen says it was a better feeling than staying at a hotel or renting an apartment. It's Allen's second album and he feels this one represents him better than his debut. He says he had four months to make that album after winning ``American Idol,'' but he had two and a half years to make ``Thank You Camellia.''



June 1

AMY WINEHOUSE HOME IS ON THE MARKET
The house where Amy Winehouse died is for sale. Her family is selling the house in northwest London for $4.2 million. A family spokesman says the family decided it was inappropriate for any of them to live there, and it was not practical to pay for the upkeep. The house is 2,500 square feet with three bedrooms, three living rooms and private front and rear gardens.

ROBERT LAMM REMIXES CHICAGO
Singer-keyboardist Robert Lamm of the band Chicago says an album of Chicago remixes is not what you think remixes should be. He collaborated with remixer John Van Eps on ``Robert Lamm Songs: The Jive Remixes'' to reconstruct songs like ``Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is,'' ``Beginnings'' and ``25 Or 6 To 4.'' Lamm says they considered doing a dance remix album but that seemed too cliche'. Instead the songs are mellower and more jazz-oriented. Lamm says his favorite is ``Saturday In The Park,'' because it took a song about an idyllic day in the park and turned it into ``an Occupy Wall Street song.'' ``The Jive Remixes'' is out today.

SEBASTIAN BACH RETURNS TO ACTING
Sebastian Bach has picked up another acting gig. Bach says on his Facebook page he has a role on the upcoming season of Showtime's ``Californication.'' His most high-profile role was on the TV show ``Gilmore Girls.''