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On this day in 2005, Pink Floyd were voted the greatest rock stars ever in a survey of 58,000 listeners from U.K. radio station, Planet Rock. Led Zeppelin were voted into second place, third were The Rolling Stones, fourth were The Who, fifth were AC/DC, sixth were U2, seventh were Guns N' Roses, eighth were Nirvana, ninth were Bon Jovi and in tenth place was Jimi Hendrix. Listeners also named the 1970s as the golden age of rock, followed by the 1960s. Find out what else happened on this date in music history here

Surviving Nirvana Members Reunite

(Gibson) A Foo Fighters secret gig at Palodino's Club in Tarzana, California saw Dave Grohl, bass player Krist Novoselic and guitarist Pat Smear perform on stage together for the first time since 1994.

According to NME.com, they played "Marigold" with Grohl on drums and vocals.

The Foo Fighters show was to mark the completion of the band's new album produced by Nirvana producer Butch Vig and featuring Novoselic playing accordion and bass on one song. more on this story

Alice Cooper's Final Day

(Gibson) In a rather cheeky-but-morbid interview with ClashMusic.com, Alice Cooper revealed how he would ideally like to spend his final day. The newly-elected Rock and Roll Hall of Famer said that he would like to wake up that fateful morning in Maui and then take a mystical transport to the legendary golf courses of Augusta and Pine Valley, setting course records on each.

The boa-wearing frontman would then dine with Mike Myers (presumably the Wayne's World one and not the fictional slasher), Tim Rice, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta Jones, Sylvester Stallone, Rob Zombie, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney — with McCartney eating a "big thick steak" in his honor. All of this would be followed by a jam session with his dinner guests — to be made into a live album. And then? "I think you just go to sleep," said Cooper. "I can't imagine a long death."

As for an epitaph, Cooper asks for something short and sweet: "'Here lies Alice. Since when he was teething, he never stopped talking 'til he stopped breathing.'" more on this story

Joe Walsh Working On First Solo Album In 18 Years

(hennemusic) The Eagles' guitarist Joe Walsh will release his first solo album in 18 years in 2011.

In a new interview with undercover.fm, Walsh discussed the yet-to-be named album, his first since 1992's "Songs for a Dying Planet."

Joe has been working on the new record with Jeff Lynne producing at least half of the songs; he has done the rest. "I've been working on it for a long time during the Eagles downtime," Joe tells undercover.fm. "I've got new stuff after about 18 years that I haven't done an album. I really like it. It's Rock and Roll and its new songs. Hopefully it will get out April/May." more on this story

The Eagles Taking The Long Road To China

(Gibson) The Eagles have announced that the ongoing Long Road Out Of Eden tour will include dates in China next year.

The country rock superstars will play dates in Shanghai and Beijing in March 2011.

According to music-news.com, guitarist Joe Walsh is especially excited about the trip. "We are going to China and I have no idea what to expect. I am really looking forward to that. We are playing Beijing," he said. more on this story

How Bumblefoot Straddles Solo Work With Guns N' Roses

(hennemusic) Ronald van de Baan of Metalkrant recently hooked up for a chat with Guns N' Roses guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal. The two talk about Thal's solo work and what touring with GNR is like. Here is part where he discusses shuffling GNR with his solo work:

Metalkrant: Besides making good solo-records, you also are one of the lead-guitarist in Guns N' Roses. Is it hard to combine your solo-work with being in Guns N' Roses? Thal: Yes, the more we tour the less time there is for everything else. The last thing I did was put out my own 'Abnormal' album and acoustic 'Barefoot' album in 2008, while GNR's 'Chinese Democracy' was in its final stages to be released. I spent most of 2009 living out of a hotel room in LA, prepping with GNR for this past year of touring – took a break over that summer and wrote & recorded a batch of my own music, toured with Lita Ford for a few months, then got back to bizz with GNR, hit the road end of '09 and have been touring since.

On breaks in-between legs of the tour I'd try to knock out whatever I could – my first album was re-released by the label that owned it and I transcribed & released a 200-page TAB book of the album, I laid some guest solos, started laying vocals to the '09 songs I wrote ('Invisible' will be the first of them...), did a song for a 'Rock Band' style video game of rock versions of Chopin's music, mixed Return To Earth's new album 'Automata' (Metal Blade Records), mixed and mastered some other demos and albums, did work with some charities as well... just a big race against the clock all the time. I'm getting' things done, but I definitely feel the constant impending 'To Do' list hovering over my head at all times, and scramble to knock down the list every free chance I get.... more on this story

Widespread Panic 25th Anniversary

(Gibson) "I plan to do a lot of celebrating," Dave Schools told Billboard.com when asked about Widespread Panic's plans to celebrate their 25 years together.

"Twenty-five years is kind of a milestone to keep a band together through all the things we've been through. We've never had a chance to sit back and go, 'God, there's a lot of gigs under the belt.' So it'll be a good time to go, 'OK guys, we've made it a lot farther than anyone could have imagined'...and take a good hard look at how we can take this further, how we can continue to evolve as a group of people, not only musically but spiritually and hopefully in a positive way."

There won't be a new album any time soon but there will be plenty of concerts and a documentary movie that the band started filming in New Orleans in October. Schools says that they have "pretty serious backing for a major documentary over the course of next year."

Robert Plant Lands Bluegrass Gig

(Gibson) The TellurideDailyPlanet is reporting that Robert Plant and his band Band of Joy are scheduled to perform at the 2011 Telluride Bluegrass Festival along with Emmylou Harris, Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, Indie-folk band The Decemberists, Jerry Douglas and many others.

Planet Bluegrass director of communications director Brian Eyster said that Plant is one of the biggest singers in music and that "it's a huge deal. It's going to be another great year."

Band of Joy is named after the first band Plant played in with former Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham and features musical luminaries Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, Darrell Scott, Marco Giovino and Byron House. more on this story

Anniversary of Beach Boy Dennis Wilson's Death

(Gibson) On this day in 1983, Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys, having made two successful dives below a friend's yacht to find items he'd drunkenly thrown off his own boat three years before, took a deep breath and made one last plunge into the Pacific. He never returned.

The surf, ironically, took the man who had celebrated it to millions for over two decades. But truth be told, Dennis Wilson had set a course for his final voyage many years before.

Dennis was the second son of a tyrannical, abusive father, Murry Wilson. While his older brother, Brian, was the apparent alpha child — having prodigious musical talents, as well as being quarterback of his high school football team — Dennis was more the rebel, the agitator. He was the one who spoke up when everyone else was too shy or cowed, even if it got him a beating from the old man. more on this story

The Flaming Lips Plans for 2011

(Gibson) The Flaming Lips will begin the new year with a look back, performing their fan-favorite, neo-psychedelic 1999 album The Soft Bulletin in its entirety for a New Year's Eve crowd at Oklahoma City's Cox Convention Center. But as soon as the New Year rolls around, the group will begin some ambitious plans for creating and releasing new music.

Lips frontman Wayne Coyne told Rolling Stone that the band intend to record and release new songs each month of 2011, while filming the whole process.

"With this new thing, we're going to spend a lot of time recording at our houses or wherever we are at," Coyne explains. "We'll try to release a song a month and document the song in the making, whether it takes us three or five days or a week." more on this story

Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon Discusses Good and Bad Points of Music Talent Shows

(Gibson) Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon has been talking about music on television and the good points and bad points of TV talent shows.

Speaking to Ireland's Independent newspaper he said: "You've always had two parallel ways of doing things. You have Top of the Pops or The Old Grey Whistle Test on one hand, and New Faces [British TV talent show from the '70s and '80s] or Opportunity Knocks [British TV talent show from the '60s and '70s] on the other.

"And now you've got Later... With Jools Holland where you get real bands who've grown up and written their music. Then you've got The X Factor who are the ones who've been schooled and formed, and there's an awful big difference between those two." more on this story

Yoko Says John Lennon Would Have Loved Lady Gaga and Facebook

(Gibson) In a recent, wide-ranging interview with Britain's Daily Mail, Yoko Ono says Lennon would have embraced at least one current pop phenomenon – Lady Gaga. "I think she's wonderful," Ono said. "John would have loved her because she's an artist, she's fearless, and she pushes every limit, which we both always adored. She has played on John's white piano, which I think is wonderful."

Ono and Gaga performed together in October during concerts commemorating what would have been Lennon's 70th birthday. Lady Gaga received some criticism for wearing a transparent stage costume at those shows, but Ono comes to her defense in the interview. "Lady Gaga has a very pretty bottom. She performed with me on stage wearing a see-through lace cat suit and people thought it was an insult because you could see her bottom. I'm the lady who did an exhibition of bottoms. How could hers offend me?"

Ono also said that if he were around, Lennon would be an enthusiastic user of social media. "He'd love Facebook. He would love the way the world has changed. He'd love the Internet and Twitter. He'd be sending out pronouncements and messages and giving his opinion all the time on everything. He'd be 70 years old, but he'd want to know everything that was going on."

Beady Eye Release New Video

(hennemusic) Former Oasis singer Liam Gallagher's new band, Beady Eye, have released their new video for "Four Letter Word."

The track is from the band's forthcoming debut, "Different Gear, Still Standing," set for release February 28.

It's the third video out, so far – beyond the first single, "Bring The Light" and it's b-side, "Sons Of The Stage." Check it out here

Elvis and Beatles Have The Most Dangerous Autographs

(Gibson) Every year, the experts at PSA/DNA Authentication Services create a list of the most counterfeited autographs on the market. The Santa Ana, California company is the world's largest in the market of autograph authentication. This year's list of the "most dangerous autographs" of historical and entertainment figures is dominated by rock stars of yesteryear, with the recently deceased Michael Jackson landing on the charts, as well.

"This past year, our experts reviewed over 200,000 autographs submitted by collectors and dealers worldwide," said PSA/DNA's president, Joe Orlando, "PSA/DNA does not often receive obvious forgeries, so if our rejection rate for a particular autograph, such as Babe Ruth and Elvis Presley, approaches or exceeds 50 percent, you can only imagine how high that percentage might be in the overall marketplace."

Orlando said that Jackson's death has caused a flood of forgeries in the marketplace: "With his recent passing in 2009 at the age of 50, Michael Jackson forgeries flooded the marketplace in 2010. Prices for authentic Jackson autographs generally range from $200 for signed piece of paper to $1,000 or more for a signed photograph." more on this story

Radiohead Star and Edwyn Collins Pick Their Favorite Albums of 2010

(Gibson) Interviewed by the U.K.'s Independent newspaper, artists Brett Anderson, Philip Selway and Edwyn Collins discussed their favorite albums of the year.

Philip Selway of Radiohead chose an Edwyn Collins album, Losing Sleep. He said, "I remember going to the hairdressers, aged 15, with a picture of Edwyn Collins and saying, 'I want to look like him.' Sadly, my hair let me down that day, as it has continued to do over the years. The same cannot be said of Collins' songwriting. Brimming with vitality, Losing Sleep is a collection of songs that are as astutely observant and melodically infectious as anything he has written. Together with an amazing cast of musicians and a cover filled with his own beautiful illustrations, this has been the most affecting and uplifting record of my year."

Talking of Edwyn Collins, the one time Orange Juice star made a choice of his own, Box by Colorama, saying: "I love pop music, the proper stuff, full of tunes and hooks and lifts and energy. Carwyn Ellis, who has been my musical linchpin and who plays bass with me, has an album with his own band, Colorama. He tries so many complex yet simple ideas on it – it's definitely got a streak of psychedelia to it." more on this story

New Whitesnake Album Details

(Gibson) Whitesnake have released further details about their upcoming album on the band's website. Forevermore is tentatively set for release at the end of March on Frontiers Records. Leonine frontman David Coverdale assured fans the album will hit all the marks they expect from a Whitesnake album.

"The new songs are in the very familiar and recognizable Whitesnake territory of soulful, bluesy, melodic power rock, with a couple of ballads thrown in for good measure. It can't be a Whitesnake album without ballads, mate!

"As always, we want to take it to the next level,"he continued. "I feel that with the last album [2008's Good To Be Bad] we achieved a strong Whitesnake 'cocktail' that comfortably embraced and mixed all the previous musical aspects and styles of the band's history, while taking our identity a little further... all on one album." more on this story

Historic Dimebag Venue To Be Restored Under New Owner

(The Metal Den) TMD has learned that the legendary Fort Worth, Texas venue Ridglea Theater where late great Pantera/Damageplan guitarist Dimebag Darrell played his final hometown date while in Damageplan has been bought by Dallas area businessman Jerry Shults.

Shults is going to restore the Ridglea to its original glory, with everything to be totally renovated all throughout the popular landmark. It truly is a historic theater and they just don't make buildings like this anymore.

"It's the best Christmas present I could've got for myself," Jerry Shults said jokingly, when recently interviewed by DFW.com. He's talking about finally taking ownership of the Ridglea Theater, after stepping in to purchase the building in October after Bank of America backed out. more on this story

Documentary Coming About Creation Records (Oasis and Primal Scream)

(Gibson) The story behind Creation Records, the label that helped launch the careers of Oasis and Primal Scream, will be told in a forthcoming documentary, Upside Down.

The film features interviews with Noel Gallagher, Bobby Gillespie, and label founder Alan McGee, and covers the stretch of time between Creation's discovery and promotion of its biggest stars until the label's financial unraveling in 1999. The documentary will begin screening next year at a variety of international film and music festivals.

"Basically, [each screening is] going to be like a night out," director Danny O'Connor told NME. "Everyone who buys a ticket gets an aftershow pass and we're going to have DJs and hopefully a few bands playing. Also, at every single one of the parties, someone from the Creation story will be there. They might be from the bands or just a player in the story, like Irvine [Welsh] or Howard [Marks], but someone will be there." more on this story

Coldplay's Chris Martin Is Genius According To His Wife

(Gibson) Gwyneth Paltrow has been praising her husband Coldplay Frontman Chris Martin's acting skills while downplaying her own musical abilities.

According to Music-news.com there's no chance she'll work in a musical environment with Martin: "God no. No. We just can't, like, merge. His career is there and mine is there."

But she told MTV that Martin had great potential as an actor: "He definitely has great acting skills. I don't think he would ever do it, but he's genius. Did you ever see him in Extras?" more on this story

. RockPile: Rockin' in the New Year: Helmet- Ill Nino- Kings Destroy- Immolate- Haarp- Zodiac Mindwarp & the Love Reaction

Before you pop that champagne cork and butter up your lips for some New Years Eve kissing at midnight, spend a few minutes rounding up some of these 2010 releases and youll surely have a soundtrack to rock painlessly into 2011! - Read the full Rockin' in the New Year: Helmet- Ill Nino- Kings Destroy- Immolate- Haarp- Zodiac Mindwarp & the Love Reaction review

Day in Rock 2010 Rewind: Top Stories From September

We continue our look back at the top stories of 2010. Today we flashback to September

Slash Wanted Michael Jackson and Considered Axl Rose For Solo CD

(Gibson) In a new interview with ClassicRockRevisited.com, Slash discussed his self-titled solo album. The album featured appearances by a Who's Who of top singers, including Ozzy Osbourne, Chris Cornell, Ian Astbury, Myles Kennedy, Lemmy, Iggy Pop, Fergie and others. The Chapeau'ed Shredder also briefly considered asking Michael Jackson to sing on a track.

"The record was being made right around the time he passed on," he recalled. "Before that happened, he was getting ready to do those shows at the O2 in London. I thought, 'Wouldn't it be funny to have Michael Jackson do a heavy metal song.'"

While that collaboration would have turned some heads, there was another potential vocalist who would have gathered even more headlines — his former Guns-mate, Axl Rose: "You know, I will be honest with you, even at the sake of it going public," he said. "When I was in the middle of this process there were a lot of singers names who flew through my mind during the process. You are living in Singer Land, so all you are thinking about is singers. The thought of him crossed my mind at one point. I thought, 'Axl could sing the (expletive) out of any of these songs.' I, obviously, never made the phone call, because I wanted to put the record out in this millennium." -

Zakk Wylde Plans To Break Guns N' Roses Record

(Gibson) Guitar god and Black Label Society frontman Zakk Wylde has a goal to beat the length of time Guns N' Roses spent between The Spaghetti Incident? and Chinese Democracy.

"I want to break Axl Rose's Chinese Democracy record. It took him what, 14 years? I plan on going away for 20 years," Wylde said in an interview with The Toronto Sun. "That's because I went away for four years and won a Golden God award. So I figure if I go away for 20 years, I'll win a Nobel Peace Prize. The sad part is, I spend the majority of my nights thinking about this stuff. That's pathetic."

Wylde, who has a new BLS album out called Order of the Black and is currently on The Black Label Berzerkus 2010 fall tour, also praised his former boss, Ozzy Osbourne, in the interview. "When I do interviews, people want me to say something bad about [Ozzy]," he said. "But without him, there'd be no Zakk Wylde. There'd be no Black Label. I wouldn't have my own brand of coffee and hot sauces and beef jerky. These wouldn't be any Doom Crew pubs, which is this new sports-bar venture I'm working on. I wouldn't be starting my own record label. I wouldn't be writing the Black Label Guitar Bible or this coffee table book I'm writing or the movie script I'm working on. I wouldn't have my Black Label Bunker or my studio. I wouldn't have any of that without him. So yeah, I really hate the guy [laughs]." - more on this story

Unearth Star Killed By Drunk Driver

Original Unearth bassist Chris R. Rybicki died from injuries suffered when he was struck by an alleged drunk driver last month in Salem, Massachusetts. The 39-year-old was riding a scooter when he was hit.

The band broke the sad news to fans on Tuesday: Yesterday we lost our long time friend and original bass player Chris 'Rover' Rybicki. He lost his life from injuries sustained three weeks ago at the hands of an alleged drunk driver.

Rover hadn't been in the band since 2001, but he remained a good friend to us all throughout the years and this tragedy has hit us hard. Not only was Rover a talented musician, but he was also one of the funniest dudes you would ever know. His wit, dark humor and don't give a f*** attitude made him a unique person that we all loved having in our lives. His memory will live on amongst his family and friends with the countless stories of Rover being Rover. He will be sorely and forever missed. - more on this story

Van Halen Reality Show

Van Halen News Desk has a very special treat for Van Halen fans. They have posted a 1984 MTV special, "Lost Weekend With Van Halen," that includes everything that aired on the network as well as previously unaired footage.

VHND dubs the special MTV's first reality show and had this background info: When MTV announced it's Lost Weekend With Van Halen contest, the network received over a million postcard entries for a chance to spend three days with the band during their 1984 tour. The lottery couldn't have found a more perfect average Joe than twenty-year-old Kurt Jefferis, a department store loading dock employee from Phoenixville, Pennsyvania.

Kurt's catch was the American boyhood dream, 1984-style. A couple days spent tasting the life of Van Halen! Kurt's hometown newspaper ran the headline, "Would You Let Your Son Spend A Weekend With These Guys?" His mother quipped she wished her son had won a lost weekend with Perry Como instead. - watch it here

Aerosmith's Steven Tyler To Release First Solo Song

Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler continues to walk his own way. Aside from the not yet officially confirmed gig as a judge on American Idol, Tyler is also going solo on record.

Sleazeroxx reports that Tyler is singing the theme song for the live-action film version of the Space Battleship Yamato anime franchise. Tyler wrote the "Love Lives" song specifically for the film, and the single will go on sale in Japan on November 24. It is Tyler's first solo single.

After his agent received the official offer from the Yamato production staff, Tyler looked over an English translation of the script and production materials. He responded to the Yamato's theme of "I want to protect the ones I love" and agreed to write a song. - more on this story

Sharon Osbourne Vs Vince Neil

Sharon Osbourne has a few choice words for Vince Neil after learning that he trashed her in his new biography by calling her "the most evil and sh*ttiest woman I've ever met in my life".

"I was saddened to hear about the quote from Vince Neil's book. Vince, of course I tried to keep my husband away from you at all costs. I truly felt you were a danger to Ozzy, yourself and everyone around you," Sharon says in a statement according to Rock Radio. "I didn't want him to end up like Razzle, who died in a car accident because you were driving drunk; or like those two innocent people whose lives were ruined as a result of your actions.

"Today I see you as a pathetic 50-year-old party boy who continues to put innocent people's lives at risk by getting behind the wheel and driving drunk, and being arrested for assaulting women. Enough said."

Rock Radio points out that the tour in question ended 9 months before Neil killed Razzle in the drunk driving accident. Read more - more on this story

Metallica's Hetfield Still Poking Fun at Axl Rose

This fun report from BW&BK shows that much hasn't changed since Metallica and Guns N' Roses toured together 20 years ago: Metallica frontman James Hetfield famously slammed Axl Rose's rider when they toured together in the early '90's in a video that became a YouTube hit.

Hetfield picks up where he left off with Axl's 2010 rider and tells Triple M Sydney's rockin' Byron Cooke what he really thinks of Guns N' Roses.

Axl's requirements haven't changed much over two decades. The same booze, the same cheese ... however, Axl now needs a bed in his dressing room "What does he do, sleep at the gig?" Hetfield laughs. - See how the vids compare

Electric Light Orchestra Founder Killed By Bale of Hay

Nightwatcher had this tragic news: Mike Edwards, a founding member of Electric Light Orchestra, has died in a freak accident involving a bale of hay. The cellist was killed on the A381 in Devon on Friday, Sept. 3, in an incident in which a bale of hay hit the van he was driving, reports the BBC.

Police are investigating if the runaway bale of hay – weighing at 600kg – rolled off a tractor from a farm close to the road. Edwards' van swerved and hit another vehicle but the other driver escaped the incident uninjured.

Police said they used YouTube clips and photos of Edwards to identify the 62-year-old but they are still trying to find his family to help formally identify the body. - more on this story

Iron Deep Purple Sabbath Maiden Supergrouping

Tony Iommi and Ian Gillan are going to be recording together again and this time they will bring Iron Maiden's Nicko McBrain and Deep Purple's Jon Lord along for the ride... and it's all for a good cause. Iommi's site explains:

In 1989 Tony Iommi and Ian Gillan were just a few names in a long list of talent involved in the recording of the Deep Purple track "Smoke on The Water." This song was re-recorded to raise money for those affected by the Leninakan earthquake that struck Armenia in 1988.

In October of last year both Tony and Ian travelled to Armenia to see how the funds raised had helped the local community. On their trip they visited a music school only to find it being run out of temporary accommodation, it was only location not to have been rebuilt 20 years after the earthquake had struck.

Next week Tony and Ian will be heading back into the studio, joined by Jon Lord (ex Deep Purple / Whitesnake) and Nicko McBrain (drummer of Iron Maiden) to record a new track to raise money to rebuild the Armenian music school. More information about the charity single "Out of my Mind" and behind the scenes photos will follow soon! -

Unreleased Van Halen Song Now Online

The Van Halen News Desk has posted a never before 'circulated' Van Halen song. Here is their description followed by the link to check it out: "The Wild Life" movie score is legendary to Van Halen fans, as Eddie Van Halen wrote the score for the movie (Universal Pictures, 1984). "The Wild Life" stars Chris Penn and was the first script Cameron Crowe wrote after the success of "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" and is a typical '80′s comedy and is somewhat of a "Fast Times" clone. The movie was only released on VHS – never on DVD, unfortunately.

The film has an official soundtrack, but it contains only one song by Eddie Van Halen, "Donut City" (3:57). So "Donut City" is the only officially released complete track for the movie that was written by Edward Van Halen. But sharp-eared VH fans will recognize unreleased music from Eddie interspersed several times throughout the film. Portions of early versions of "Right Now," "Good Enough," "Feels So Good," "A.F.U. (Naturally Wired)," and "Strung Out" can be heard throughout the film. In addition, the synthesized backdrop music for David Lee Roth's "Tai Chi Solo" on the 1984 tour also made its debut in this film. Die hard VH fans have re-watched the movie for years just to hear the bits of EVH genius throughout. The movie's score is one of the best kept secrets in rock music. The songs were recorded and mixed at 5150 by Donn Landee and Ken Deane. Ed played all the instruments on the songs.

Presented here is a compete song from the movie score which has never circulated before now. Eddie played it on a Ripley guitar and the song is rumored to be called "Ripley." It's a wonderful piece of music and is about the closest thing to "new" Van Halen music that we've had in a long time. - check it out here

Charlatans Star Has Brain Tumor

(Gibson) As previously reported, Charlatans drummer Jon Brookes collapsed on stage in Philadelphia last week. The band subsequently cancelled the remainder of their U.S. tour so that Brookes could return to the U.K. for treatment. Now, it has been revealed that Brookes has been diagnosed as having a brain tumor.

The band has released the following statement: "The Charlatans' drummer, Jon Brookes, is currently undergoing treatment in the U.K. for a brain tumor following the postponement of the remaining dates of [The] Charlatans' North American tour.

"The Charlatans' touring schedule remains unaltered whilst the band arrange for a short-term replacement. The band and Jon would like to thank all well-wishers for their kind messages of support." - more on this story

Roger Waters Says Pink Floyd Will Never Tour Again But Doesn't Rule Out Reunion

(Gibson) Talking about his current production of The Wall, Roger Waters said a full-fledged Pink Floyd reunion tour will not happen. "David and Nick and I might do a one-off somewhere, but there's no way we're going to do a tour," he said. "It's just such a shame that we didn't get around to it before Rick died."

His new version of The Wall has a more expansive context today than it did when he and Pink Floyd first staged the show more than 30 years ago. The 67-year-old Floyd co-founder told Rolling Stone magazine it's "basically the same show, but with a broader meaning."

"We had to deal with the fact that it was one thing for a man in his 30s to sing about his young adult life, which was sort of an echo of his upbringing at that point," Waters said. "But it's something else to go on doing that when you're in your 60s." - more on this story

Mike Portnoy Quits Dream Theater

Mike Portnoy dropped a bombshell on Dream Theater fans, announcing that he is leaving the group after 25 years.

Portnoy is currently playing with Avenged Sevenfold, taking the place of drummer James "The Rev" Sullivan who was found dead in his home last December.

Both Dream Theater and Portnoy have issued statements about splitting (you can read both in full below) but Portnoy summed us his reasons for leaving by saying, ""After having had such amazing experiences playing with Hail, Transatlantic and Avenged Sevenfold this past year, I have sadly come to the conclusion that I have recently had more fun and better personal relations with these other projects than I have for a while now in Dream Theater" - his full statement

Phil Anselmo Disowns Newly Released Pantera Song

Rock Radio recently caught up with former Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo to discuss the 20th anniversary of the band's landmark album Cowboys From Hell. Here is part of their report:

To celebrate [the anniversary], the band have put out the track The Will to Survive, which was recorded during the album sessions but never released before. And Anselmo says there's a very good reason why: it didn't represent what Pantera were about to become when the 1990 record changed the metal landscape.

"You listen to that song and you can tell it was written before I was in the band," He tells Rock Radio's Paul Anthony. "We performed it early in the days of me being there. It didn't really fit the previous lineup who recorded the Power Metal album. So it sure as hell wasn't going to rest well with the tracks on Cowboys From Hell." - He's not done

Pearl Jams for Tots

Does your baby crave a little "Even Flow?" or if you are feeling ironic you can sooth them with the sounds of "Jeremy" on October 26th when Pearl Jam classics will be transformed into lullabies.

Rockabye Baby has picked Pearl Jam as the latest band to get the lullaby treatment. You know it is a slow news day when this is a lead story but here is their pun filled announcement and tracklisting:

Are new baby's cries turned up to ten? Need an alternative to the nightly riot act? When it's you vs. them, these sweet lullaby renditions of Pearl Jam's rock anthems are as comforting as a warm flannel blanket. Just breathe, Mom and Dad–it's sleeptime in Seattle. - more on this story

AC/DC and Other Rock Classics Banned At Funerals

If for some reason you wanted to be sent off into the great beyond with AC/DC's classic "Highway to Hell" or Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust," you are out of luck if you are going six feet under Down Under.

Gibson reports that The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne has banned the use of pop music at funerals, according to The New York Times. Archbishop Denis Hart has said the act of playing pop songs is not considered "a celebration of the life" of the deceased. The new guidelines state: "Secular items are never to be sung or played at a Catholic funeral, such as romantic ballads, pop or rock music, political songs, football club songs."

The Melbourne Hearld Sun reported that football songs are popular at many funerals, in addition to pop hits. Although Frank Sinatra's "My Way" and Bette Midler's "The Wind Beneath My Wings" are often requested, the newspaper reported that quirkier choices like AC/DC's "Highway to Hell," Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" and Monty Python's "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" also had been popular before the ban. - more on this story

Buffalo Springfield Reunion

(Gibson) Neil Young, Stephen Stills and Richie Furray are reforming as Buffalo Springfield for the first time in 42 years for a concert this fall. The three original members of the '60s folk-rock group will be reuniting for a performance during Young's annual Bridge School Benefit in Mountain View, California, according to RollingStone.com.

Young, Stills and Furray are the only surviving members of Buffalo Springfield's initial lineup. Bassist Dave Palmer died in 2004 and drummer Dewey Martin died last year. There's no word on who will fill those slots, or if the band will perform as an acoustic trio.

The last time Buffalo Springfield played a public show was in 1968 (they once performed privately at Stills' house in 1986). There was talk of a reunion tour, but Young wasn't interested. Subsequently, Martin and Palmer brought in other members and toured as Buffalo Springfield Revisited. In 1997, the band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but Young chose not to attend. However, three years later, he released the song "Buffalo Springfield Again," in which he discussed getting the band back together and sang, "Maybe we can now show the world what we got." - more on this story

Borat To Play Freddie Mercury in New Biopic About the Queen Frontman

Sacha Baron Cohen a.k.a. Borat a.k.a. Ali G a.k.a. Bruno has been cast to play Freddie Mercury in a film about the Queen legend that is being made by GK Films in partnership with Robert De Niro's and Jane Rosenthal's Tribeca Productions and Queen Films.

Here is part of the announcement with more details: Twice Academy Award Nominated screenwriter Peter Morgan ("The Queen," "Frost/Nixon"), is already at work on the script of the currently untitled film, which will feature Academy Award Nominee Sacha Baron Cohen who will play the legendary front man of the iconic rock band Queen, and the currently untitled drama will focus on the years leading up to Queen's appearance at the historic Live Aid concert, 1985, when the band famously took the event by storm.

Production is set to begin in 2011. GK Film's Graham King said today, "Queen is one of the greatest rock bands of all time, and a music brand all unto itself. Freddie Mercury was an awe-inspiring performer, so with Sacha in the starring role coupled with Peter's screenplay and the support of Queen, we have the perfect combination to tell the real story behind their success." - more on this story

Metallica Jams With Ozzy, Lou Reed and The Kinks' Ray Davies Coming to DVD

Metallica have released details about their part in the upcoming Rock Hall anniversary DVD set which includes the band playing with Ozzy, Lou Reed, and Ray Davies. Here is what they had to say:

Just about a year ago we were more than honored to participate in a special two-night event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The two nights of shows at Madison Square Garden brought together an incredible group of artists and resulted in some pretty amazing collaborations.

A three-DVD set commemorating the performances, available in your favorite store or online site October 5, will include the full four-hour highlight special that aired on HBO. In addition to these 51 performances, there are an additional 16 bonus performances not seen on HBO and a collector's issue of Rolling Stone magazine featuring behind-the-scenes stories. There will also be a Blu-ray version available exclusively at Best Buy for the first 30 days. - more on this story

Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Police, Coldplay Members Team Up

(Gibson) Drummers from an all-star selection of bands, including Pink Floyd, The Police, Radiohead, Coldplay and others, have joined together for a new charity project called A Beat for Peace, according to ClashMusic.com. The musicians are collaborating to bring attention to Sudan, where an uncertain peace agreement has come on the heels of civil war.

Percussionists from Nick Mason (Pink Floyd) and Stewart Copeland (The Police) to Phil Selway (Radiohead) and Will Champion (Coldplay) worked together on a video, recording their parts along with an assortment of famous and unknown artists in different locations around the world.

The video has been released before a meeting of world leaders at the United Nations in New York City on September 24. Check it ou - here

Primus Working on First Album in 11 Years

(Gibson) Primus is "accumulating material on a daily basis" for a new album, according to an interview with bassist/frontman Les Claypool on Billboard.com. The release will be the group's first album since 1999's Antipop and the first new material of any sort since 2003.

"Right now it's throwing pasta at the wall and seeing which noodles are sticking, recording musical ideas from sound checks and whatnot, even live shows," Claypool said. "We've been branching off on various tangents, and I have notebooks full of various writings. And now with the advent of the iPhone I've got my little recorder and can record things as I'm driving down the street, at a whim."

To make the new album, Claypool is working with some "new old blood." Jay Lane was the band's drummer in 1988, but left before Primus released their debut album, Frizzle Fry. Lane rejoined Claypool and guitarist Larry LaLonde when the group ended a four-year hiatus. Claypool said Lane will definitely have an effect on the new album. - more on this story

Metallica Considering Massive Scale Show and Tour With Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax

Metallica are just wrapping up their epic world tour behind "Death Magnetic" but Lars is already looking at ahead at what they should do next. Gibson reports: Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich has confirmed what the band's co-manager Peter Mensch hinted at back in March, that the band has been circling the idea of putting on a massive show on par with Pink Floyd's The Wall production. The show could potentially be so massive that it might be limited to just 10 dates.

Ulrich told New Zealand radio station The Rock FM, "We have been kicking some ideas around about doing some stuff that – how shall I say it – is pretty theatrical. We might incorporate a lot of different ideas instead of it being one particular thing. It would be a multitude of theatrical elements, maybe as an idea for a one-off tour or something."

Ulrich also confirmed that more "Big Four" (Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth) shows, including tours of both Europe and North America, could take place in the next year or two. "The vibe on this thing is so big, we'd be stupid to ignore it," he recently told Classic Rock magazine. "I would champion trying to do [the "Big Four" tour] in 2011 or 2012, obviously in England and the United States. It's just a matter of logistics." -

Bret Michaels Heart Surgery

Bret Michaels' health troubles are not over. Gibson has the story: It's already been a rough year from Poison frontman and reality star Bret Michaels – and it just got worse. The singer will be heading back into the hospital in January for heart surgery, according to RadarOnline.com. The operation will repair a hole in his heart that he's unknowingly had since birth.

The rock star was in the hospital a few times earlier this year – once in intensive care. Michaels suffered a brain hemorrhage in April, but was able to recover.

A month later, he suffered a "warning stroke" that put him back in the hospital. However, he was well enough to show up at the Celebrity Apprentice finale in May, where he won $250,000 for the American Diabetes Association. - more on this story

Steven Tyler Not Leaving Aerosmith

Rumbling that Steven Tyler's new gig with American Idol may leave him out of Aerosmith have been addressed by bassist Tom Hamilton in a new interview with the Boston Herald.

"Steven's been very emphatic in saying that the way his time is arranged on the show leaves room to work on a record," Hamilton told the paper. "He's been taking great pains to remind everybody of that, so hopefully that's the way it will come out."

Hamilton doesn't sound convinced though, "There's a lot of not knowing what's going to happen, but that's how it's always been for us," Hamilton said. "I'm not sitting here thinking that (Tyler on "American Idol") is not going to work for us. Steven is an incredible I-can-do-anything kind of guy. But he's taken a big bite, and I'm looking forward to seeing him chew it." - Check out the Boston Herald feature for more

MGMT Member Walks Off Stage After Being Hit By Fan

(Gibson) MGMT drummer Will Berman abruptly abandoned his post on-stage after an audience member struck him in the torso with a pint bottle. Two songs shy from wrapping up their set at England's Manchester Apollo, MGMT continued on as an obviously angry Berman exited the stage.

Not noticing his absence during "The Handshake," the band at last realized Berman was gone just as they were about to launch into their biggest hit to date, "Kids."

"Where's Will gone?" the band asked the crowd. Despite the band's requests, Berman wouldn't return to the stage. With their drummer missing, the band played "Kids" over a backing track. AOL's Spinner.com reports that the crowd didn't mind, and the song won the night's biggest applause. Check out a video of a drummer-less MGMT playing "Kids" - here

Metallica's Kirk Hammett Writing A Book

Metallica's Kirk Hammett may be the next rocker to hit the bestseller lists: the Metallica shredder says in a new interview that he's writing a book. Gibson has the details:

When asked if he would consider releasing a solo album, Hammett told Matera, "Yeah, eventually, but right now I have to say that Metallica is my home and I have no intentions of running away from that home. But I am going to put [out] a book, though. I am working on it and that in itself feels like I am making a solo album because it is so much [expletive] work! It is all myself. I don't have a band I can rely on or seek support. So I think once I do this book thing, maybe I may start considering doing a solo album, but I don't know."

Hammett would join an ever-growing list of rock star writers, including both Slash and Steven Adler of Guns N' Roses, Megadeth's Dave Mustaine and more. -

Ozzy Era Black Sabbath Box Set Announced

Sanctuary Records have announced the release of an Ozzy Osbourne era Black Sabbath Box set, which will hit stores on November 15th, according to Black-Sabbath.com.

Here is the announcement: This deluxe box set contains all the Ozzy era Black Sabbath albums housed in a Black Cross, the box also contains a 100 page exclusive Illustrated discography featuring rare covers from throughout the world.

Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward - four names that resonate throughout Rock's recorded history as clear and sublime as the haunting bell that tolls the opening to their eponymous debut album from 1970. - more on this story

The Song That Makes Men Cry The Most

(Gibson) A recent U.K. poll has named R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts" "the song that makes men cry the most." The 1992 hit from the alt-rock legends topped 10 tear-jerkers by the likes of Eric Clapton, U2 and Bruce Springsteen, according to Spinner.com.

The survey was organized by PRS for Music, a company that collects and pays royalties to more than 70,000 members. "A well-written tear-jerker is one that people can relate to and empathize with," PRS for Music chairman Ellis Rich said in a statement. "It is this lyrical connection that can reach deep down emotionally and move even the strongest of men."

R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry is the one mostly responsible for "Everybody Hurts," which appeared on the band's multi-platinum album Automatic for the People. Berry has said that he aimed the lyrics at teenagers. - check out the top 10

Ozzy Fart Ban

HeadbangerNYC sent over this update for us today: Ozzy Osbourne was once banned from his daughter Kelly's school in England after farting and falling asleep in the middle of a parent/teacher interview.

Kelly was horrified when her dad decided to join mom Sharon for a meeting with school officials about her grades because Ozzy is known for passing gas and dozing off in public.

Kelly revealed during an appearance on "The Wendy Williams Show" earlier today (September 29), "It was me, my mom, my dad, my teacher at the table. All he kept doing is lifting his (butt) cheek (from the chair), and then he fell asleep!" -

The Who Have Big Plans for Next Year

Pete Townshend's hearing issues won't stop The Who from rocking in 2011 according to frontman Roger Daltrey. hennemusic has the details:

"We're in the planning stages for next year…we are planning on doing something," Daltrey said. "I can't really talk about specifics yet, but it will be based around a past work."

But wait...there's more: "Pete is writing…you never know when that might turn up," Roger added. "So, between now and then, there might be a new album, plus Quadrophenia, and Tommy, and those things we haven't visited for a while. That will be fun." - more on this story

Rob Halford's Fame Was Almost Fatal

Rock Radio reports that Halford's fame almost proved fatal: Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford was nearly responsible for the death of his solo bandmate and producer Roy Z, after Z feared he was having a heart attack in their studio.

Halford tells MTV: "Roy turns to me and goes, 'I have to stop – my heart's racing. I'm really freaking out here'." An ambulance was called, but once the crew realized Halford's identity their haste in taking Z to hospital abated considerably.

"They took Roy out of the room and I sat alone for a little bit. A paramedic came in and says, 'We want to take him to hospital, just to check him out.'" recalls Halford. "Then he goes, 'Hang on – you're the metal god!' He left the room and returned with half a dozen paramedics. They took pictures and I signed autographs while Roy was just waiting." - more on this story