100 Concert Goers Arrested As 'Satan-Worshippers'

"These people drank alcohol, hurt themselves and sucked blood," Hamidi said. "They even bow to Satan in some ceremonies." Iranian authorities sometimes link hard rock and heavy metal music and their icons with devil worship. Alcohol is banned in the Islamic republic. - more on this story

Eddie Says Michael Anthony Quit Van Halen

antiMusic reports: There was a lot of rumbling when Van Halen reunited with David Lee Roth and decided to tour with Eddie's son Wolfgang instead of original bassplayer Michael Anthony. Now Eddie Van Halen says that Anthony wasn't fired, but quit the group.

RollingStone.com interviewed Eddie Van Halen and when the discussion turned to Chickenfoot, the new group featuring his former bandmates Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar, Van Halen had this to say, "I wish them well. The funny thing is that everyone who quits the band always claims they got fired by me. Hey, I'm not the bad guy here. When Hagar left the band, Mike went with him. Then when we get back together with Dave, and all of a sudden, he wants back in. It's like, 'No, dude, you quit the band.' So my son became the bass player. But we didn't give Mike the boot to have my son play. He was around. We didn't have a bass player. 'Hey Wolfie, you want to play?'"

As for the future of the current incarnation of Van Halen, Eddie told Rolling Stone "It wasn't just a reunion one-off thing. I've already gone to Dave's house four or five times over the last month. I've got so much music. It's just trying to figure out what Dave's into because we haven't written together in a long time. But it's great. It feels like we've always felt in the beginning. But I'm sober, so it's different. He's sober, so it's different. It's a wonderful feeling." - Read the Rolling Stone interview here

Travis Barker and DJ AM Give Away Free Download For A Tweet

PR reports: Monday morning Travis Barker of Blink 182 (@trvsbrkr 162,628 followers) and DJ AM (@DJ_AM 61,128 followers) released the First Ever Coachella '09 downloadable mixtape to fans for Free in exchange for only one tweet, crashing servers and exploding the digital airwaves! Fans went into a digital frenzy using the application built by Culture Jam Labs, retweeting the message and downloading the mixtape from the TRV$DJAM twitter website by tweeting the following message for the free download: "Download the new #trvsdjam mixtape "Fix Your Face Vol. 2 - Coachella 09" in exchange for one tweet!

Here is the official announcement from Culture Jam Labs: Superstar drummer Travis Barker and world-renowned turntablist DJ-AM are breaking new ground with the release of their second mixtape, "Fix Your Face Vol. 2 – Coachella '09". As social media enthusiasts, the two musicians have chosen to offer Twitter users an early download of their album for an unconventional price—one "tweet".

Over the past year, the innovative duo, collectively known as TRV$DJAM, has pioneered a new style of live performance by pairing DJ-AM's crowd-pleasing mixes with Barker's rowdy, live drumming. Now they'll reinvent the way their projects are distributed to fans using a unique application built by Culture Jam Labs, a unit of stealth Santa Monica start-up Culture Jam. - more on this story

Pearl Jam Record Target Ad

Reuters reports: As Internet reports suggested, Pearl Jam was indeed recording a Target commercial under the direction of Cameron Crowe last week at Seattle's Showbox theater. But there's more to the story than an exclusive retail relationship.

It has been known that Pearl Jam is no longer under contract, after 18 years of recording for Sony-affiliated labels, and there has been a good deal of speculation about who would release the rock act's next album.

Kelly Curtis, who has managed Pearl Jam since day one, conducted a wide-ranging interview with Billboard on Sunday night, confirming that the band's next release -- rumored to be called "Backspacer" and currently scheduled for an early fall release -- would arrive without a U.S. label but backed by a consortium of partners, including Target as the "big box" retail partner. - A lot more details

Motley Crue Add Corporate Stage To Cruefest

PR reports: Crue Fest 2 has announced a partnership with [an overpriced energy drink] to add an additional stage at this year's festival. The new [overpriced energy drink] Stage doubles the entertainment value at Crue Fest 2 with five extra bands showcasing the next generation of rock, including one local band in each tour market.

The performances on the [overpriced energy drink] Stage will be staggered between main stage acts creating a non-stop music event and adding to the overall festival atmosphere. With no change in ticket prices, rock fans will be given the opportunity to see ten great rock bands for the price of one.

A local band will be chosen by the presenting radio station in each market contributing to the legacy of rock bands on the tour. The chosen band will open the [overpriced energy drink] Stage for a dedicated and Crue Fest 2 sized crowd [half filled venues like last year?]. - more on this story

Live Nation Won't Overcharge Fans on Wednesdays for Lawn Seats

PR reports: Live Nation announced that it's dropping service fees on more than five million lawn tickets and hundreds of concerts, helping add value and save money for fans throughout North America. The 24 hour event makes June 3rd the biggest one day sale in concert business history. Now that's something for fans to sing about!

"No Service Fee Wednesdays," kick off June 3 at 12:01 a.m., offering fans some of the lowest prices of the summer with no ticket service fees on any LiveNation.com-ticketed amphitheater show, and only at www.LiveNation.com.

Throughout the rest of the summer, Live Nation becomes Free-Nation, as it offers a variety of "No Service Fee Wednesdays" specials at www.LiveNation.com, making Wednesday the biggest day of the week for savings on concert tickets for hundreds of shows and millions of fans. - more on this story

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr Premiere The Beatles: Rock Band

PR reports: Original band members Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, along with Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison, came together today to kick off the 2009 E3 Media & Business Summit with the world premiere of The Beatles: Rock Band.

The first-of-its-kind music-based video game offers a revolutionary tour of The Beatles' music, career, and legacy. Presented by Apple Corps, Ltd., and MTV Games' Harmonix Music Systems, a part of Viacom's MTV Networks, The Beatles: Rock Band will be released worldwide on 9/9/09, as will the release of the entire, original, digitally re-mastered Beatles CD catalogue.

Unveiled at Microsoft's E3 press conference, the game represents the first time fans will be able to experience The Beatles' musical career for themselves. From the early touring days in 1963 Liverpool to the immortal, final performance on the Apple Corps rooftop, fans can follow in the band's footsteps as they traverse the globe during the height of Beatlemania. Adding to the experience is the introduction of three-part vocal harmonies to game play, allowing gamers to revel in the unparalleled vocal stylings of the Fab Four. Beatles fans will also be thrilled to hear previously unreleased authentic voice recordings from John, Paul, George and Ringo chatting between takes during studio sessions recorded at Abbey Road more than four decades ago.

Of The Beatles' epic catalogue, 45 songs will be available on-disc. - more details

24 Year Old Guitarist Dies In His Sleep- Nas No Show Causes Fan Unrest- Guns N' Slipknot- Weiland's Wife Releasing Tell All- Harvey Out Of Danger and more

antiMusic reports: Frederick, Maryland hardcore/thrash band Cobra Clutch is mourning the loss of guitarist Pat O'Brien after he died in his sleep Friday night. The group recently recorded its debut CD and had been playing shows up and down the East Coast, including several with Murphy's Law.more

It appears things got out of hand last week in Torbay, Newfoundland, when NYC rapper Nas failed to show up for his headlining performance. According to reports, an audience of 700 at Jack Byrne Arena waited for over an hour for the MC to show but upon realizing that there would be no Nas, organizers were forced to call in police after many in the crowd apparently caused an uproar.more

Sigur Ros are set to perform for the Dalai Lama when he gives a public talk in Reykjavik next week. more

Duff Mckagan's Loaded was joined on stage in Kansas City by Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor. According to an update from Loaded, Taylor "nailed" the Guns N' Roses classic 'It's So Easy'. more

Mary Weiland, the estranged wife of Stone Temple Pilots/ex-Velvet Revolver singer Scott Weiland, will publish her memoir, "Fall to Pieces", on October 27more

Phil Spector was sentenced Friday to 19 years to life in prison for the second-degree murder of Lana Clarkson, a one-time B-movie actress who was shot through the mouth in Spector's castle-like mansion six years ago. more

The first new Eels studio record in four years "Hombre Lobo: 12 Songs of Desire" (Vagrant Records) is now streaming in its entirety on the EELS' Myspace page

Harvey Danger has called it quits. The band explained: "After 15 years, three albums, hundreds of shows, and far more twists and turns than we ever imagined possible, we've decided to put Harvey Danger to rest. The decision is totally mutual and utterly amicable." more

Dizzee Rascal is enjoying a second week at the top of the UK single chart with Bonkers.more

Faster Pussycat, Bulletboys and Bang Tango will being teaming up to tour together for about the 7 zillionth time. This go around they are cleverly calling the outing "the Summer Rock Fest" which is expected to take place in July/August. more

Street dance group Diversity has been crowned the winner of this year's Britain's Got Talent in a shock victory over favorite Susan Boyle. more

Tool has expanded its upcoming summer tour, adding six more shows to the itinerary. The trek now kicks off at the Mile High Music Festival in Commerce City, Colorado on July 18more

The Mag Seven have completed work on their fifth. Brandon Landelius and Doni Blair (Toadies, Hagfish, Only Crime) are once again joined by Bill Stevenson (Descendents, Black Flag, ALL, Only Crime, Lemonheads) who returned to play drums on all tracks on the instrumental album. more

Bleeding Through has announced the addition of Dave Nassie (No Use For A Name) to their line-up on guitar. Nassie replaces Jona Weinhofen, who recently left the groupmore

Nightrage will release their fourth full-length album, "Wearing A Martyr's Crown", on June 22 (Europe) and August 4 (USA) via Lifeforce Records.more

Exhorder, cited by many as the originators of the riff-heavy power-groove approach popularized by Pantera, have been rejoined by the band's original bassist, Andy Villafarra. more

Steve Vai is set to release his famed Naked Tracks on CD for the first time, housed in a special limited edition digi-pack box set. This series of play-along CDs is designed to help create an atmosphere of focus so you can shred yourself into a personally-induced inspirational nirvana. Included in the set are 5 CD's featuring backing tracks from several of his albums. more

Brand New has announced a short run of small club dates around the U.S. in July. No word on openers yet, while the band promises these will be their only U.S. shows of the summer. more

Bad news for fans of The Offspring. It looks like the band will once again work with Bob Rock. Dexter is reportedly working with Rock right now on the leftovers from the last album. more

The Great Commission and Earth From Above will tour a good portion of the U.S. together this summer.dates

Awake has announced the addition of second guitarist Steven Coles (brother of other guitarist Andy Coles) to its ranks.more

antiMusic's Gary Schwind has just released a new book, "Buy A Gopher I Couldn't Defuse (The Illustrated First Year of the Uncle Sal Chronicles)." You can see what that's all about, read the continuing adventures and order your copy of the book at Uncle Sal Chronicles

The answer to yesterday's trivia question: 'Endless, Nameless' was the hidden track on Nirvana's "Nevermind." The story goes that when Howie Weinberg mastered the track he accidently misunderstood the band's intentions of including it on the album at the end of "Something in the Way," so he didn't include it and the initial pressings of the album did not contain the track. - more News Quicks

Guess Who Is Going To Celeb Rehab?

vh1 reports: VH1 has once again partnered with Dr. Drew Pinsky for a third season of the hit reality series "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew." The series, consisting of eight one-hour episodes, is slated to premiere in early 2010.

Similar to the first two cycles, the third season of "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" will follow the real-life experiences of celebrity patients undergoing detoxification and treatment at The Pasadena Recovery Center. The show will follow Mackenzie Phillips (One Day At A Time), Heidi Fleiss, Tom Sizemore, Dennis Rodman, Mindy McCready (Country Music Singer), Lisa D'Amato (ANTM), Mike Starr (Alice in Chains), Joey Kovar (Real World Hollywood) and Kari Ann Peniche (Playboy Playmate).

The series will chronicle the patients' intensive 21-day program with both group and one-on-one therapy and non-traditional therapies like art and music. Returning to the show to help Dr. Drew are drug counselor Bob Forrest and resident technician Shelly Sprague who have each spent years on both sides of the rehab fence. Dr. Drew is also bringing in some additional prominent physicians to help him give the patients supplementary one-on-one care. - more on this story

Nickelback, Hinder, Papa Roach and Saving Able Tour

EMI reports: Virgin Records rock quintet Saving Abel's winning streak continues as they gear up for one of this Summer's hottest rock tours. The band are set to hit the road with Papa Roach, Hinder and Nickelback beginning July 10.

Saving Abel's third single & video, "Drowning (Face Down)," has raced it's way into the Top 5 at Rock radio this week and the video recently debuted on MTV2 and Yahoo! Music (music.yahoo.com).

Saving Abel is currently on the road playing some shows with Shinedown before returning to arenas with rock giants Nickelback . Saving Abel's 18 Days Tour Ep which features an acoustic version of "18 Days" and two b-sides is available now exclusively at iTunes. - more on this story

Def Country Rock DVD With Def Leppard and Taylor Swift

Blabbermouth reports: CMT has partnered with Big Machine Records for the first DVD release of its critically acclaimed series "CMT Crossroads", when the episode featuring Taylor Swift and Def Leppard hits stores on Tuesday, June 16.

"CMT Crossroads: Taylor Swift And Def Leppard" includes 11 electrifying performances by 2008's best-selling artist among all genres of music and Great Britain's premier arena rock band.

The DVD will be available exclusively at a low price of $11.88, in Wal-Mart stores in the U.S. and Canada, including Sam's Club and on Walmart.com, and hits shelves the same day Swift and Def Leppard are scheduled to appear on the 2009 CMT Music Awards. - more on this story

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