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Born on this day: 1963, James Hetfield, guitar, vocals, Metallica - 1966, Shirley Manson, vocals, Garbage - 1966, Dean Sams, keyboards, Lonestar and on this day in 1963, The Beatles played their last ever performance at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. The Beatles, whose fee for their first performance at the Cavern had been £5, received a fee of £300 for this performance. Find out what else happened on this day in music here -

Punk Legend Dies

Bryan Wawzenek at Gibson reports that we lost another punk icon: The original bassist for Los Angeles-based punk band Fear has died. Derf Scratch passed away on July 28, due to complications from an unspecified illness, according to The OC Weekly. At this time, no one knows how old Scratch was.

While Fear continues to operate under founding frontman Lee Ving, the punk band has undergone a ton of lineup changes over the decades. Scratch (born Frederick Milner) was part of the band during what most would consider its most famous years: 1977-82.

Part of Fear's notoriety was aided by Scratch, who befriended Saturday Night Live comedy legend, and punk rock fan, John Belushi. Because he liked the band so much, Belushi got Fear booked on SNL on its Halloween episode in 1981. Belushi, who had quit the show a few years before, returned to introduce the band and participate in the show. - more on this story

Aerosmith's Steven Tyler Confirms American Idol Offer

Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler made headlines earlier this year with a surprise visit to a karaoke bar so the natural next step is to get paid to judge karaoke on TV. Rumors surfaced last week that Tyler was in the running to become a judge on American Idol and now Tyler confirmed during a radio interview that he has been approached by the show.

"This beautiful girl from Fox came up to me and made an offer. I honored her offer… and it's just a work in progress," Tyler said Monday on the syndicated radio show Kid Kraddick in the Morning, according to Billboard. "They mentioned it and I listened, and we're on tour, so I gotta give it some time."

How would he judge? Tyler said, "I would be honest to the ones that think they have it, and I would be truthful in the sense that if, to those that have it, they don't have it yet enough. And I would tell them exactly why, as I see it." - more on this story

Early Graves Singer Killed In Van Crash After Tourmate Falls Asleep Behind The Wheel?

Metal Underground reported on Monday that Early Graves vocalist Makh Daniels was killed in van crash Sunday night after Funeral Pyre guitarist Justin Garcia fell asleep at the wheel prior to the crash:

Ironclad Recordings has issued the following statement: "Last night Makh Daniels, vocalist of Early Graves, tragically lost his life in a van accident while the band was traveling from Oregon to Nevada. An official statement will be released in time, but for now our thoughts are with Makhs family, friends and band mates during this terrible time."

Early Graves was on tour with The Funeral Pyre, with the tour having been scheduled to run through August 8th. Local news channel KTVL has reported that the driver of the van, Funeral Pyre guitarist Justin Garcia, fell asleep at the wheel prior to the crash. Both Garcia and Early Graves guitarist Tyler Jensen were taken to Rogue Valley Medical Center for treatment of non life threatening injuries. - more on this story

Kid Rock Announces Patriot Day Concert

Kid Rock has announced a special concert on Patriot Day (September 11, 2010) in Columbia, S.C. to honor our nation's heroes.

The special concert event will feature opening act Blackberry Smoke and will be free for all service members who present a military ID.

Tickets will be available to the general public at Ticketmaster outlets or ticketmaster.com through a pre-sale on August 4 and to the public starting August 6. - more on this story

New U2 Song Online, Band Plans Rare Songs for Tour

A new U2 song, which the band performed during tour rehearsals, has made its way online. Gibson.com has the story (and the song!): U2 resume their 360 Tour on Friday in Turin, Italy, and the Irish rockers have been busy practicing at the city's Olympic Sports Hall Stadium. Fans have been camping out to hear what the boys have in store, and it seems that they might be playing at least one totally new song on this leg of the tour, according toRollingStone.com.

A practice rendition of the rocking tune has been posted in a video on YouTube. The band's rehearsals also have included some rarities, such as "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" from the Batman Forever soundtrack, which U2 have not played since the Popmart Tour in 1998. "Miss Sarajevo," from 1995's Passengers side project, and "Gone," from 1997's Pop, were also played.

The European leg of U2's 360° Tour continues through the October 8 show in Rome. The band's North American leg (originally planned for this summer, but rescheduled due to Bono's back injury) will begin May 21, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. - Check out the new song here

Megadeth, Weezer, P.O.D., The Used, Sum 41 for Guitar Hero

Here is this month's update on new Guitar Hero tracks including the Megadeth classic "Peace Sells": the host of new tracks available this month for the Guitar Hero music library will span multiple genres of rock including alternative, punk and heavy metal and feature the bands The Used, Sum 41, Weezer, P.O.D. and Megadeth.

Thrash metal pioneers, Megadeth, who have created exclusive content for the upcoming Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock are bringing three additional tracks to the Guitar Hero music library prior to the game shipping this fall. Rockers looking to test their metal against the hard-hitting, furious finger-fretting sounds of Megadeth should begin warming up now because starting August 24, "Symphony of Destruction," "Hangar 18" and "Peace Sells" are shredding their way into the Guitar Hero music library.

American rock band, The Used, return to the Guitar Hero music library to kick August into high gear with a killer three song set list comprised of some of their biggest hits. Beginning tomorrow, players can jam along to "The Taste Of Ink," the second single from their debut self-titled album as well as "The Bird And The Worm" and "Pretty Handsome Awkward," from their third album, Lies for the Liars. - more on this story

Nick Cave, Warren Ellis's Grinderman Announce Album and Tour

Grinderman, which features Nick Cave, Warren Ellis, Martyn Casey and Jim Sclavunos, have announced the release of their new album and a tour.

On September 14th they will release their new studio album Grinderman 2 via Anti-Records and follow with a tour of North America beginning on November 11th.

Together Grinderman have forged a distinctly different way of working, having cast off musical baggage, shrugged off accepted wisdom and tested pre-conceptions about who they are as musicians. The new album was co-produced by Grinderman and Nick Launay (Public Image Ltd, Birthday Party) and mixed by Launay. - tour dates

Suicidal Tendencies Join The Army Again

Suicidal Records will release No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family on September 7, 2010. The 14-track full-length features new version of Suicidal Tendencies classic "Possessed To Skate."

No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family features re-recorded tracks from Suicidal Tendencies' second album, Join The Army originally released in 1987, as well as tunes from the second full-length from No Mercy, Suicidal Tendencies guitarist Mike Clark's speed metal band (which found ST vocalist Mike Muir on vocals) from 1986.

Since their beginnings in Venice, CA in the early '80s, Suicidal Tendencies have led the charge in the skate punk/thrash metal movement, consequently influencing an entire generation of bands along the way. - more on this story

Black Tide, Bullet For My Valentine, Escape The Fate and Drive A Tour

Black Tide, Bullet For My Valentine, Escape The Fate and Drive A have an announced a 31 date North America fall tour.

The tour kicks off September 16th in Wichita, KS at The Cotillon and wraps on October 27th in Los Angeles at the Palladium.

Black Tide are putting the finishing touches on their sophomore album which will be released in early 2011. The new album was recorded at Spin Studios in New York with producers GGGarth (Rage Against The Machine, Rise Against) and Josh Wilbur (Lamb of God). - more on this story

Farm Aid 25 Announced

Farm Aid 25 will take place on October 2nd at Miller Park in Milwaukee and will feature Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews, with other top artists to be announced. The show will be broadcast live on DirecTV.

Yesterday, Farm Aid founders Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp joined executive director Carolyn Mugar by webcast at an on-field news conference at the home of the Milwaukee Brewers to reveal details about the all-day music festival that will mark their 25th year.

"For 25 years, Farm Aid has worked to keep family farmers on the land," said Nelson. "This anniversary concert is a chance for everyone to join with Farm Aid to support the family farmers who are growing hope for America, through the good food they produce, the economies they build, and their care for the soil and water. Family farmers are the backbone of our country, and right now we need them more than ever." - more on this story

Murder By Death Map Out More Tour Plans

Murder By Death hit the road today with mewithoutYou and also announced a fall headlining tour in support of their latest album, Good Morning, Magpie.

The fall headlining club tour is set to begin September 10 in Urbana, Illinois and takes the band into Canada for three dates before finally wrapping in Newport, Kentucky on October 9.

"Being from a small town, we know that sometimes bands skip over the little cities in favor of bigger shows and more dough," said MBD's Adam Turla. "We wanted to play a few places we've never been to, and clubs we haven't played in years. Let's pack these rooms out, get drunk, and let our voices get hoarse from singing together. We will be joined every night on this tour by a new friend/cohort in music Scott Brackett (of Okkervil River) on piano, trumpet, accordion, percussion and backup vocals." - more on this story

Despised Icon Farewell Tour Dates

Despised Icon have announced their farewell tour dates for Canada which will also feature Misery Index and The Last Felon. Here is the announcement and dates:

Brutally intense, unrelenting and outright savage were just a few ways the metal community described Montreal's hottest export Despised Icon as any of their live shows are a true lesson in violence.

After four, full-length albums backed with an unrelenting worldwide touring schedule the band has decided to call it a day and wrap up a stellar career with a final U.S. and Canadian trek this fall. - more on this story

Dropkick Murphys Hit The Road This Week

Dropkick Murphys return to the road again this week for U.S. dates including a run on the Warped Tour.

They are touring in support of their Live On Lansdowne, Boston MA CD/DVD (Born & Bred Records/ILG), which captures the intensity and camaraderie of 2009's sold-out St. Patrick's Day week hometown shows in Boston.

In other news, Dropkick Murphys continue their work with The Claddagh Fund (www.claddaghfund.org), the charity established by DKM founding member Ken Casey in support of non-profits that champion the causes of children, veterans and those suffering from alcohol and drug addiction. The First Annual Claddagh Fund Celebrity Golf Tournament co-hosted by NHL Hall Of Famer Bobby Orr will take place September 10 in Falmouth, Massachusetts. Play is offered at two incredible courses: The Golf Club of Cape Cod and Ballymeade Country Club, with an awards reception dinner to follow with prizes, an auction, and a shoot out finale with the top shooters from both courses. Ken Casey and co-host Bobby Orr will be joined by additional celebrity guests at the event which will raise money for The Claddagh Fund. - dates

Singled Out: Thieves & Villains' Virginia Woolf

Welcome to Singled Out! where we ask artists to tell us the inside story of their latest single. Today Thieves & Villains' Sergio Otaegui (vocals/guitar) tells us about "Virginia Woolf" from their brand new album "South America". We now turn it over to Sergio for the story:

The story behind our newest single "Virginia Woolf" starts with the author of the same name. She had famously commited suicide by walking into a river and in 2009 many people thought we had done the same with our career...that we had "given up" or "walked it out to sea." It was March 2009 and we had just come home from several months of touring supporting our debut album. The band was the biggest it had ever been but we were falling apart internally. Not getting along, drinking too much, and just generally having an awful time. When we arrived home Chris Pennings (vocals/guitar) and me decided that we needed a fresh start so we parted ways with our drummer and bassist and set about rebuilding the band. This process took some time and during it we lost a lot of the buzz that we had just generated.

Because of this, many of our "friends" and peers abandoned us or took to trash talking us. The song is about that time and realizing that we don't need those types of fair weather friends and that we always need to do what we feel is right for us..not what those people want. It's about not shaking hands with these vampires and realizing that YOU hold the cards, not them. It's a mission statement for being who you are and making the kind of music you want...regardless of what's popular now. It's understanding that It may take a little longer to get there but once you're there you'll be staying a lot longer...and you got there yourself.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and learn more about the album - right here!

Singled Out: Wretched's My Carrion

Welcome to Singled Out! where we ask artists to tell us the inside story of their latest single. Today Steven Funderburk from Wretched tells us about "My Carrion" from their brand new album "Beyond the Gate". We now turn it over to Steven for the story:

This was the first track written for our new record, 'Beyond the Gate'. Our former Guitarist, Joel Moore, wrote the majority of it last May, just a few months after our debut record was released. He was very anxious to write new music, and he brought 'Demo 1' (The working title for 'My Carrion') to me one day with programmed drums and all. I thought it was sick! It has some sweet riffs in it, and very cool melodic sections. Originally in place of the Guitar solo section, there was a heavy power chord part. We ended up tossing it, and I wrote the Guitar solo rhythm that you hear on the album.

Its weird, this was the first song written for the record, but we still have not played it live yet. On tour last summer, we used to soundcheck with the intro from it, but never played it in our set. Another interesting fact about my Guitar solo, is a good handful of the licks were improvised in the studio. I had been working on this solo for a few weeks prior to recording, and just couldn't figure out what to do for some transition licks. So I sat down in the studio, and just went for it. The melodic section (2nd half of solo) is all improvised. I was just in the moment, and really feeling the song. After listening back to the 2nd half, I decided a harmony was a must for that part of the solo. It worked out! Originally, this track and 'The Talisman' were supposed to be back to back on the album. We ended up splitting them with 'The Guardians of Uraitahn' instead. We'll be debuting this song tomorrow at our first CD release for 'Beyond the Gate'. I hope it goes well!

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and learn more about the album - right here!

Avenged Sevenfold Going South

Due to overwhelming demand from Avenged Sevenfold fans in Brazil, the band will join the line-up of this year's SWU Music & Arts Festival held in São Paolo.

Avenged will perform on the third day of the festival, October 11th, joining Linkin Park, Queens Of The Stone Age, Incubus and many others.

The band released their fifth studio album Nightmare on July 27th. Produced by Mike Elizondo (Dr. Dre, Eminem) and mixed by noted engineer Andy Wallace, Nightmare was in the works when A7X's beloved drummer, Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, passed away. - more on this story

Name Nickelback's Chad Kroeger Custom Gibson USA Limited Edition Les Paul

Nickelback have announced a contest for fans to create and vote on the name of the new Gibson USA Les Paul Guitar for the band's lead singer, Chad Kroeger.

The winning entrant to create the name of the new guitar will receive two premium tickets and meet & greet passes to a VIP concert event on October 30th in Las Vegas, in addition to an autographed new Chad Kroeger Limited Edition Gibson USA Les Paul guitar.

"I'm very excited about the upcoming release of my Gibson USA signature Les Paul and it's an amazing opportunity to be able to work with the People's Choice Awards to have our fans, the greatest fans in the world, come up with the name of this guitar. The People's Choice Awards have always been very special to Nickelback because it is truly about and for the fans; the ultimate forum where they have the final say. It only makes sense that we would engage the fans in this very special process," enthused Nickelback's Chad Kroeger. - more on this story

Circa Survive, Dredg, Codeseven, and Animals As Leaders Tour

Circa Survive have announced a fall headlining tour with support coming from Dredg, Codeseven, and Animals As Leaders

Circa Survive are touring in support of their latest release, "Blue Sky Noise."

The cross-country trek kicks off on October 15th at the Webster Theatre in Hartford, Connecticut, and wraps up with a two-night stand on November 27th-28th at Irving Plaza in New York City. - more on this story

The Notekillers Will Be Here to Help in November

Late 70s punk experimentalists The Notekillers return to release "We're Here to Help" via Prophase Music on November 9th.

The Notekillers, who originally slugged it out during the punk wars of the late 1970's, continue their improbable reincarnation march with this barely-hinged celebration of rock & roll noise.

Woefully under-documented back in the day, their only official recording - The Zipper, a self-released 7" - was a favorite amongst the cognoscenti in the experimental underground and a secret influence on some of the most important avant-bands of the past 20 years. - more on this story

Complete Elvis Presley Masters Features 30 CDs With All 711 Master Recordings

Legacy Recordings have announced a birthday present for Elvis fans: At last, the ultimate tribute to the ultimate artist. For Elvis Presley's 75th birthday, the definitive collection of all his master recordings is being made available in stunning fashion.

The Complete Elvis Presley Masters is the crown jewel in RCA/Legacy's 2010 "Elvis 75" campaign. This limited edition, individually-numbered deluxe set contains 30 CDs with all 711 master recordings released during Elvis' lifetime, sequenced in strict chronological order. Also included are 103 rarities: additional masters, alternate takes, session outtakes, demos, rehearsal jams, home recordings, live performances and radio recordings. This triumph of musicology is the definitive document – a magnificent audio chronicle of the inspiration, pain and genius that make Elvis the world's most enduring musical and cultural icon.

Available exclusively at CompleteElvis.com, The Complete Elvis Presley Masters will be available for pre-orders starting August 2, in advance of the October 19th delivery date. Only 1,000 numbered sets will be available for sale worldwide in this limited edition first run. - more on this story

Sodom Set New Album Release

Sodom will release their new album "In War And Pieces" on November 23rd in North America on SPV/Steamhammer records.

SODOM are currently in the studio working on the new studio which is being produced by Waldemar Sorychta, who has previously worked with Tiamat, Moonspell, Lacuna Coil and Sentenced, among many others.

While you wait they have a couple recent releases to tide you over: SODOM released the long awaited DVD Lords of Depravity II on July 27. Also, Agent Orange, the classic 1989 album from SODOM, was re-released on May 18th via SPV/Steamhammer. - more on this story

The Swellers Announce Dates with Fireworks, Man Overboard and Transit

The Swellers are hitting the road this month with Fireworks, Man Overboard and Transit.

Kicking off August 12th in Traverse City, MI, the tour will crisscross the county including Canada, wrapping on October 1st in Detroit.

In addition, The Swellers will be a part of this fall's Riot Fest on October 9th in Chicago. - more on this story

New Charlie Daniels Band Album Coming Next Week

The Charlie Daniels Band have announced the release a new collection of patriotic songs on August 10th called Land That I Love.

The full-length release, co-produced by Daniels, Patrick Kelly and Casey Wood, features 15 tracks, including newly recorded studio versions of "Iraq Blues" and "(What This World Needs Is) A Few More Rednecks 2010."

"Iraq Blues" was written during previous Charlie Daniels Band tours in Iraq, and the 2010 update of "(What This World Needs Is) A Few More Rednecks 2010" includes an additional verse the iconic musician wrote to "reflect life in America in the 21st - more on this story

The Hush Now To Give Away New EP

The Hush Now has announced the release of their new EP, Shiver Me Starships, the follow-up to their successful album Constellations.

The EP is scheduled for release on September 28th, at which point it will be available as a free download on their website.

The band will be celebrating the release of the EP on September 24th at The Living Room in New York City. - more on this story

The Avett Brothers Get Animated

The Avett Brothers premiered an animated video for "Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise" on NPR Music's All Songs Considered's site.

Comprised of artwork painted by Jason Ryan Mitchum and inspired by notable modern artists such as Phillipe Halsman and William Kentridge, the video displays the importance of fine art in The Avett Brothers' work, furthermore demonstrated by Scott Avett's burgeoning art career. His own original artwork, "Julianne in Vain", served as the cover art for The Avett Brothers' 2009 American/Columbia release, I and Love and You.

The video, which NPR explains, "shows the rise, fall and inevitable decay of rampant urban development" which is shown through a series of over 2,500 paintings which comprise the animation for the video. In the below link on the Making of Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise" artist Jason Ryan Mitchum and Scott Avett lend their comentary to explain the symbolic nature of the the video and the arduous process that went into it's creation (ten alterations to the painting equaled one second of film.) - Watch it here

The Black Angels and Black Mountain Tour

The Black Angels have announced a co-headlining fall tour with Black Mountain.

The dates begin in Chicago on October 28 and end in Vancouver on November 30.

The Black Angels third album, Phosphene Dream, is set to come out on September 14th. - dates

The Charlatans Announce North American Tour and Album Release

We told you about this last week, but we now have the official word. Here you go: The Charlatans announce the North American release of Who We Touch on September 14, 2010 via The End Records.

The 10-track album was produced by Youth (Killing Joke, Primal Scream, Paul McCartney)and the first single will be "Love is Ending."

The band will be heading to America a week prior to the album's release for a tour that begins September 7 in Atlanta, Georgia and wraps September 22 in Los Angeles, California. The tour marks the first time in over four years since The Charlatans performed in North America. - more on this story

Kings Of Geek Bubblegum TV Buddhas Announce US Invasion

TV Buddhas have announced a six-week tour of the US this Fall, supporting a new EP on the We Are Busy Bodies label.

TV Buddhas are the self proclaimed kings of geek bubblegum, the kids who prefer to stay at home and watch "Lord of The Rings" than go out and get drunk. The band consists of brother and sister Uri and Mickey Triest, and Mickey's husband Juval Haring. Their music is heavily influenced by The Ramones, The Replacements and Richard Hell, while their lyrics lean more towards the outsider approach of Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers, directing their own anti-social heat against current day hipsters, Polaroid-glory and loud outgoing fun girls.

Their new self titled EP was recorded in one hour using one microphone and a field tape machine. TV Buddhas has completed over 400 shows in the past three years, mainly in Europe, and will be touring the US for the first time in the fall of 2010. See below for a complete itinerary of US tour dates. - more on this story

Argentine Soccer Star Starts Oasis Tribute Band

Supersonic Argentinian soccer star Lionel Messi has revealed that he is forming an Oasis tribute band. The World Player of the Year will apparently play the role of Noel Gallagher.

"I also spent a lot of time getting the mannerisms right," the striker told The Sun. Messi has recruited one of his Barcelona teammates to play the role of Liam, but he won't reveal that player's identity. He did, however, disclose that the band will wear full-on Morning Glory-era gear.

"Our disguise is based on how Oasis looked in the mid-'90s. We have our wigs, clothes and glasses sorted."
- more on this story

- Michael Wright of Gibson.com

Nonpoint Announce Tour Dates, New Single and Video

Nonpoint have announced some new post Ozzfest tour dates and the release of a new single.

Nonpoint will release their second single, Frontlines from latest album, Miracle. Lead singer Elias Soriano says, "Frontlines is for our country's armed forces. They risk their lives everyday to protect the rights, liberties and lives of people whose names they don't even know." Frontlines will impact rock radio on August 10th.

Soriano also put together a viral video for Frontlines that will go live on all Nonpoint's official web pages on August 3rd. "After hours of looking at photos online of soldiers, solely for the sake of a picture to be used in the artwork for Frontlines, I was so moved and inspired by their commitment," Elias says. - more on this story