Def Daughtry Santana Preview- Metal Church Drug Bust- Guns N' Drama- System of a Down- Jani Lane Joins Great White- TNT Heart Attack- Evanescence Split Explained- more

On this date in 1995, Sterling Morrison, founding member of the Velvet Underground, died of cancer at his home in New York City two days after his 53rd birthday. The guitarist left the group in August 1971 and re-joined in 1992 for a European tour. During the '80s, he became the captain of a Houston tugboat. Find out what else happened on this date in music history here -

Blink-182 Poke Fun at Guns N' Roses

Blink-182 had "a bit of a go" at Guns N' Roses during their headline set at the Reading Festival on Sunday night, following the controversial end to GN'R's set on Friday night.

NME reports about Blink's onstage banter: "I'm sorry you guys missed out on Guns N' Roses on Friday night," Hoppus said. "But Tom's going to play the intro to 'Sweet Child O' Mine'."

DeLonge then attempted to play the song, though after trying he said: "I haven't practiced it! Axl Rose is naked with my dad." - Axl wasn't the only target for their humor

Metal Band Takes On U2 Over File-Sharing

Gama Bomb frontman Philly Byrne knows first hand about file-sharing's impact on record sales. His band did a little experiment with their latest album, offering it as a free download (and it still is, go grab it at the link which follows this article). The funny thing is that this didn't hurt their CDs sales; in fact it helped the band build their fanbase.

So when Philly saw a recent article by U2's manager in GQ Magazine discussing the problems with file-sharing, Philly felt compelled to offer up his counter argument. Here it is: U2's manager Paul McGuinness' recent article is well-reasoned, well-informed and commendable in its aims - though it's crazily short-sighted. It falls at the last hurdle when envisioning future solutions to the problems file sharing causes for the music industry, and is filled with logical blind-spots on the current state of the business. He's got the numbers right, but the headspace is all wrong.

To his credit, Mr McGuinness is here wading into an argument that, as he notes, often involves untold abuse for those willing to stick their oar in. Furthermore, it's one that doesn't affect his untouchably profitable bread-and-butter, U2. So who am I to gainsay him? Last year my band Gama Bomb released their third album free of cost as a download with the permission of our record company, Earache Records. This, to my knowledge, makes us the first signed band ever to do so. We took this step because we personally consume music in this way and were aware our previous albums were largely being consumed as shared files. To release another CD in the traditional way seemed futile. Also, as a band playing a niche form of music on a small budget, we were aware of the potential PR power of such a move. The label agreed, we did it, and that's why I feel qualified to dust off my soap box on this one." - more

Ramones Jam To Feature Billy Sheehan, The Misfits' Michael Graves, Armored Saint's Jeff Duncan, Sugarcult's Marko DeSantis and Marky Ramone

We received some exciting news for Ramones fans: Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big, David Lee Roth), Michael Graves (The Misfits), Jeff Duncan (Armored Saint), Marko DeSantis (Sugarcult) and Andy Hilfiger (bassologist/Fashion Guru) are the first fully confirmed artists to join Marky Ramone while he slams out a full concert of The Ramones.

You will hear the music that defined many generations and inspired many bands. Marky's set list is comprised of 31 historical Ramones songs such as SEDATED, K.K.K., PSYCHOTHERAPY, BLITZKREIG BOP, PINHEAD and more!

The legendary Rock Hall of Fame drummer for The Ramones is performing a special all-star fund-raising concert on Friday, October 8, 2010 at 8pm in the MI Concert Hall. Doors open at 7:30pm. - more on this story

Goo Goo Dolls Special Radio Show, Webcast, and Leno

Warner Bros. set over this news about a special Goo Goo Dolls broadcast today and webcast tomorrow. Not to leave a medium out, you'll be able to see them on TV this Wednesday on Leno. Here is the info: Goo Goo Dolls celebrate the release of their brand new Warner Bros. Records studio album, Something For The Rest Of Us, by performing a special show for an edition of Coffee House Live for SIRIUS XM listeners, on Aug 31, at 3:00 PM PT on SIRIUS channel 30 and XM channel 51.

The Coffee House Live special will feature the band performing songs from their newest album as well as chart-topping hits from their illustrious and acclaimed tenure as one of America's most enduring and endearing forces in rock. The performance will be broadcast live from the legendary club, The Troubadour, in Los Angeles, CA in front of a live audience of SIRIUS XM listeners.

Coffee House Live features intimate performances by top singer-songwriters and iconic artists. Recent performances have included Indigo Girls, Jack Johnson, David Gray, Jewel and John Mayer. The weekly show airs Thursdays at 12:00 pm ET and rebroadcasts at 12:00 am ET. - more on this story

Dio Era Rainbow Videos Now Online

Bob Daisley has a special tribute to his former bandmate and friend Ronnie James Dio, he opened his personal vaults and is sharing the Dio treasures with the world. Gibson reports that Daisley, who played with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Gary Moore and Uriah Heep, among others, has posted rare video footage of Rainbow, shot just before the release of the Long Live Rock 'n' Roll album in 1978.

Daisley posted the video to honor the memory of Ronnie James Dio, shown here at, arguably, his peak. Daisley played with Dio in Rainbow for two years, joining the band at the tail end of the Long Live Rock 'n' Roll sessions and playing on the tracks "Kill the King," "Sensitive to Light" and the epic "Gates of Babylon."

The Dio incarnation of Rainbow imploded in 1979 when Dio left the band to replace Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath. The band took another major blow the following year when powerhouse drummer Cozy Powell left because of the band's shift toward more commercial music. Daisley, himself, left in 1979 and joined Osbourne's new band, along with guitarist Randy Rhoads. - Check em out here

Sufjan Stevens At Odds On New Album

We have good news and bad news for Sufjan Stevens fans. The good news: he is releasing his first full length collection of original songs in five years. The bad news: it isn't named after a state of the union and won't have a unifying concept. But read on for details about some trippy topics that will be covered.

Sufjan Stevens' new album, The Age of Adz, will be released October 12 on Asthmatic Kitty Records. The album is available for pre-order now until September 25, with pre-orders receiving music digitally two weeks prior to the physical release date.

Stevens is planning a North American tour of large, elegant venues—including two nights at New York's fabled Beacon Theatre and The Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles—in support of the new record. With a dozen dates already sold out, Stevens will tour with his large ensemble performing alongside projections. - more on this story

Singled Out: Against All Will (Soulfly, Puddle of Mudd and Dead Kennedy's)

Welcome to Singled Out! where we ask artists to tell us the inside story of their latest single. Against All Will is a relatively new band featuring former members of Soulfly, Puddle of Mudd and the Dead Kennedy's. Tonight the band is going to rock the House of Blues in Hollywood and to celebrate we asked guitarist Jimmy Allen to tell us about their new single "The Drug I Need," from their album "A Rhyme & Reason". We now turn it over to Jimmy for the story:

The song "The Drug I Need" is about a relationship that had gone bad but I couldn't seem to quit seeing this girl. She was like a drug. I knew the girl was a mess from the start and it wasn't going anywhere... but I was so addicted to this girl and her issues and drama that always seemed to follow her in life.

When it did finally come to an end, it felt like I was getting clean and sober. (We both know you can't hate something you've never loved) this was the last song we recorded in Korn's Hollywood studio while working on the 'Rhyme & Reason' record. It really took on it own life after that. It's one of my favorites to play live. That song is my therapy.

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

Senses Fail Preview

Some good news and bad news for Senses Fail fans. First the bad news, Vagrant have announced that Senses Fail's new album, The Fire, is now set to hit stores on October 26th instead of the 19th as originally planned.

Now for the good news, you won't have to wait until October to hear new music. "Saint Anthony," the first single from, The Fire, can be heard on the band's MySpace page here.

The track is named after the patron saint of lost causes, lost items, and shipwrecks and references singer Buddy Nielsen's moments of feeling pressure over the last two years as the band faced legal battles and the upheaval from lineup changes. "That song's a reflection of self-doubt," explains Nielsen. "That's something that everybody feels, but I definitely wanted to address that on this record." - more on this story

Altar (Sunn 0))) and Boris) and BXI (The Cult's Ian Ashbury and Boris) Announce Shows

Sunn 0))) and Boris are joining forces for Altar and Boris will team up with The Cult's Ian Ashbury for BXI for some upcoming shows. Here is the announcement and dates

As BORIS wrap up their latest month-long North American tour with two California shows this week, they're also prepare to join forces with several allies for their upcoming live work with ALTAR and BXI performances scheduled in New York.

First up, ALTAR (comprised of SUNN 0))) and BORIS as one group) will perform at the All Tomorrow's Parties Festival in Monticello, New York alongside Sleep, Iggy & The Stooges, Sonic Youth and countless more in a massive outdoor space. Two days later ALTAR will make another appearance, this time alongside the first official performance of BXI (BORIS and Ian Astbury of The Cult), which will all go down at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple, which has been inarguably dubbed "the loudest room in NYC," and presented by All Tomorrow's Parties and The Blackened Music Series. - more on this story

Remy Zero Announce Reunion Shows and Plan To Release New Music

Remy Zero are honoring the memory of drummer Gregory Slay, who passed away on New Year's Day of complications from Cystic Fibrosis, with a special reunion that will see the band play four select dates in October.

On May 22, 2010 Remy Zero played their first show together in eight years as a tribute to Gregory in New Orleans, the town where he was born. After a moving and cathartic experience and an outpouring from fans, the band decided to reunite for several more one-off shows to further share the spirit of Gregory Slay and his love of performing.

To coincide with the upcoming dates, the band has also disclosed that they will be offering at least one new or unreleased song with further details to be announced. Proceeds from the shows and recordings will go to benefit the Honeymoon Trust set up for Gregory's wife, Tiana Krahn-Slay and their daughter, Honeymoon Slay. - more on this story

RPWL Lineup Change

RPWL have announced a lineup change. Their original member Chris Postl is parting ways with the group due to personal reasons.

Today RPWL are proud to introduce their newest member on the bass guitar: Werner Taus.

"We're feeling very sorry for having to go on without Chris. But we wish him - especially for his solo project Parzivals Eye - all the best and hope that we will keep in touch", says guitarist Kalle Wallner, who is introducing the newest member of RPWL: Werner Taus. - more on this story

Thom Yorke Mixes Up Liars

Radiohead's Thom Yorke remixes Liars on their new single, Proud Evolution, which will be released as a six track EP on October 19th, 2010.

The new EP features the remix from Yorke, a live version recorded at Music Hall Of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, plus three exclusive new b-sides "Come Now", "Total Frown", and "Strangers".

Liars on "Proud Evolution": "A triumphant processional piano part is hijacked by something more lurid and tempting. The clicking and gurgling of what's kicking. Soon a large rolling mass of bass displaces the equilibrium and redirects it into a groove. The tempting wave reminds you that misplaced confidence can be frightening." - more on this story

Slash Gets His Own Radio Station

All Slash, all the time. That dream will soon come true with the launch of "Slash FM," Slash's very own A.P.E. Radio station

Throughout its limited-time run, beginning with its debut on Thursday, September 2nd, "Slash FM" will broadcast a wealth of exciting content, including selected playlists of some of the guitar god's favorite songs, such as tracks by AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, The Beatles, Soundgarden and Metallica.

Of course, songs from Guns N' Roses and Slash's solo work will also be aired, and punctuated with behind-the-scenes stories told by Slash himself. - more on this story

Heart TV

Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart will be in New York City in support of their first new studio album in six years, Red Velvet Car, and will be appearing on several national television shows including:

"Fox & Friends" (9/1,) "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (9/2,) "The Today Show" (8/31,) and "ShopNBC" (8/29.) Appearance on NPR's "Weekend Edition" on September 4.

Like all Heart albums, Red Velvet Car rocks hard but also has a deep acoustic side. Nancy Wilson has long been known to play her acoustic guitar with rock ferocity. - more on this story

Four Year Strong Six-String Giveaway

Four Year Strong's are giving away their song "Find My Way Back" as a free download on the Six-String game for iPhone and iPod Touch.

Six-String is a fun, innovative music game that offers a realistic guitar experience that lets fans play lead guitar on their favorite songs. Players pluck, strum and change chords taking guitar games to a whole new level. "Find My Way Back" can be downloaded to play for free for a very limited time in the game's extensive music store.

After this week, players have until Sept 10 to enter in the Four Year Strong giveaway. Whoever has the highest score on "Find My Way Back" by Sept 10 will win a Four Year Strong skate deck, special edition CD of the Four Year Strong album "Enemy of the World," vinyl version of "Enemy of the World," and a limited edition Four Year Strong 7" vinyl EP.

Fans can download the FREE version of Six-String in the app store - here

Skillet Announces Monsters of Annihilation tour

Skillet has announced their Monsters of Annihilation tour which kicks off on October 1st in Myrtle Beach, SC at The House of Blues. Here is the official word from Skillet including comments and tour dates:

Skillet will hit the road armed with their RIAA gold-certified AWAKE album which features two Active Rock and Christian Rock radio hits with "Monster" and "Hero." - more on this story

Dillon Campbell Samples Forthcoming Album With New EP

Dillon Campbell proves once again that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree as the son of legendary musician Glen Campbell releases a new 4-song E.P. entitled Save Yourself tomorrow - Tuesday August 31, 2010 on Silver Zipper Records.

Save Yourself, actually a sampler of tracks from Campbell's forthcoming release, will be available digitally at all major online retailers and physically at live dates only.

While there is no firm release date for Campbell's sophomore full length, Journals for the Brokenhearted, his E.P. features a spectrum of tracks that are diverse as they are different. From ragtime to indie rock, Campbell isn't a musician to play it safe or even straight-ahead. While lyrically dark, Save Yourself is sonically somewhere between the rough and ready Dinosaur Jr. and the shiny glimmer of Paul Williams. - more on this story

Kamelot Release Party and Tour

Kamelot have confirmed a record release party which will take place at the NYC date of their upcoming headlining tour.

The band will embark on its first North American tour in two years, headlining the Pandemonium Over North America Tour, which kicks off September 8th in support of the band's upcoming ninth studio album Poetry for the Poisoned. Support on the trek will come from Leaves' Eyes and Blackguard.

As part of the tour, the New York City date at premiere concert and events venue NOKIA Theatre Times Square had been dubbed as the official release party for the album. To celebrate the release, the band and venue will present fans with special first time previews of the new album, a commemorative Poetry for the Poisoned shot glass, and more special events to mark the occasion of their amazing new album. - dates

Thank God Tour

Thank God announced a run of shows today in support of next month's Ice / Age LP on Exotic Fever Records.

Formed in Columbia, South Carolina, Thank God (ex. Members of Guyana Punch Line, Antischism, & .f**kingcom) was born just a short 4 years ago.

Thank God aims to deconstruct the standards and create something left-of-center with their own frantic and chaotic style of hardcore. While maintaining a sense of flowing melody, their fragmented ideas are emphasized between the progressive interplay of guitars and vocals - more on this story

New Frontiers for The Poodles

Frontiers Records have announced plans to release The Poodles' long awaited live-DVD, "In the Flesh" and the accompanying live-album "No Quarter" before the end of 2010, followed by The Poodles' fourth studio album in early 2011.

The band promises that the forthcoming studio album will be something extraordinary; a modern take on a classic rock n' roll epic. Fans of the band will recognize themselves while the journey will take them to unchartered waters. Non-believers will get an opportunity to reappraise their beliefs and take the music of The Poodles to their hearts. The producer of "Clash of the Elements", Mats Valentin, is once again the Captain of the new adventure and will take the band further along the road they started on together in 2009. - more on this story

Jeff Daniels Has Got The Blues

Jeff Daniels has got the blues. Gibson reports: Movie actor Jeff Daniels, best known for roles in films like Gettysburg, The Purple Rose of Cairo and Dumb and Dumber, is also an accomplished guitarist.

Ahead of his Nashville gig on August 27 he told Tennessean.com about his music career.

"I really went to work on the guitar, the songwriting and the whole show. I went to school on guys like Utah Phillips and others, and said, 'What are they doing? How are they doing it? What do I need to know on the guitar?' I literally took lessons from Keb' Mo' and Stefan Grossman, guys that said, 'You can play, but…' and started showing me stuff." - more on this story

John Lennon Birthday Events Hitting Iceland

Gibson reports that Yoko Ono has something special planned to honor what would have been John Lennon's birthday on October 9.

Ono has announced a series of events in Iceland that will promote worldwide peace, according to Billboard.

Ono will continue the annual tradition of lighting the Imagine Peace Tower. A special concert by the Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band will follow the ceremony. The events, which will take place on the island of Viðey, can be viewed on a live feed at ImaginePeace.com. - more on this story

John Legend and The Roots Concert Series

The John Legend and The Roots Concert Series will be held in New York City, will feature three exclusive performances at the Bowery Ballroom and Music Hall of Williamsburg.

The series sponsor, American Airlines, will launch a variety of promotions to highlight each concert, giving customers the opportunity to attend these great events. The first concert will be on Aug. 30, and will involve a ticket sweepstakes highlighting American's social networking site BlackAtlas.com.

Customers can find out details on how to obtain tickets to the second and third concerts, held on Sept. 7, 2010, and Nov. 9, 2010, respectively, by following American Airlines through its Social Media channels - more on this story

The Enid's Lost Albums Resurface

Gibson reports: Cult British rock band, The Enid, have re-released their first two albums on their own label.

The original tapes for In The Region Of The Summer Stars from 1976 and 1977's Aerie Faerie Nonsense were presumed lost but were found last year and transferred to the digital format. They will be issued with the original artwork.

The Enid were formed in 1974 by Robert John Godfrey, whom BBC Radio One's Friday Night Rock Show presenter Tommy Vance called "one of the greatest composers Great Britain has ever produced." - more on this story

The Charlatans Radio Hit

The Charlatans new single, "Love Is Ending," has just debuted at no 1 on both the FMQB Sub Modern Singles chart and on the MediaGuide Alternative Specialty Singles chart.

Stations that added the album include KBZT - San Diego, KDGE - Dallas, KFMA - Tucson, KNRK - Portland, KPNT - St. Louis, KTCL - Denver, KTCZ - Minneapolis, KUSF - San Francisco, WBTZ - Burlington, WEND - Charlotte, WEQX - Albany, and WTFX - Louisville.

The single is from the band's forthcoming release Who We Touch, due out on September 14, 2010 via The End Records. The album was produced by Youth (Killing Joke, Primal Scream, Paul McCartney) and is the band's eleventh studio release. 2010 is the 20th anniversary of the release of The Charlatans debut album, Some Friendly, in 1990. - more on this story

Black Veil Brides Entertainment or Death tour

Black Veil Brides have announced their second consecutive headlining US tour for this fall.

The Entertainment or Death" tour, set to kick off this October in Southern California.

William Control and Motionless in White will accompany Black Veil Brides on the month-long trek. - more on this story

Iron Thrones and Hero Destroyed Tour

Iron Thrones are heading out on the road with Hero Destroyed for a fall tour this November.

Iron Thrones will be touring in support of their recent EP release, The Wretched Sun.

"We focus on conveying emotion and building an epic atmosphere, and sometimes it takes 8-12 minutes to say what we're trying to say," says guitarist Steve Henningsgard. "We'd never cut it short just for children with short attention spans: there's no Disney version of Iron Thrones." - more on this story