Bret Michaels Released From Hospital- Roger Waters Lip Synchs?- Saosin Leave EMI- Lady KISS Gaga- Iron Yoga Maiden- Mike Portnoy Avenged Sevenfold and more

Finally, never count yourself out. When there is a will, there is a way. Case in point: A Massachusetts woman who was born without arms or kneecaps is preparing to test for her black belt in taekwondo. more -

Cancer Battle Kills Heaven and Hell Tour Plans

Heaven and Hell were forced to cancel their summer tour plans due to frontman Ronnie James Dio's battle with cancer. The band and Dio both issued statements. The band told fans: "We have to announce that all forthcoming European shows have been cancelled as sadly Ronnie isn't well enough to tour this summer. We hope that everyone understands and want to thank fans and industry colleagues for their continuing support at this time."

Dio told fans on his site, "I would like to voice my great disappointment on the cancellation of the Heaven And Hell summer tour. Wendy, my doctors and I have worked so hard to make it happen for all of you, the ones we care so much about, that this set back could be devastating, but we will not let it be.

"With your continued love and support, we... will carry on and thrive. There will be other tours, more music, more life and much more magic. Ronnie James Dio" - more on this story

Taking Back Sunday Announce Summer Tour Dates

Taking Back Sunday have announced a handful of summer tour dates. The six shows kick off at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ on June 22nd and will take the band through New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles. The dates mark the first time the New York band's newly reformed line up will share the stage since 2003.

Taking Back Sunday vocalist Adam Lazzara, guitarist Eddie Reyes and drummer Mark O'Connell have reunited with vocalist/guitarist John Nolan and bass player Shaun Cooper, who departed in 2003 after the release of their 2002 debut Tell All Your Friends. Tell All Your Friends has sold over one million records worldwide, spawned breakthrough anthem "Cute WIthout the 'E' (Cut from the Team)" and launched the band as one of the most influential of its generation. The band will begin recording their fifth studio album in Los Angeles this summer with producer Eric Valentine.

"We are so excited to be able to play songs in front of people with this line up of the band," says Lazzara. "So we have to play a few shows before we go off to make the new record. All of these venues have special meanings for us, and we've had so much support in these cities." Nolan agrees. "I think we're going to be backstage waiting to go on and just jumping up and down. It's going to be amazing to share the excitement that we've been feeling for these past few weeks with an audience." - more on this story

Guitar Hero Adds Foreigner, Skynyrd, Steve Miller, Snow Patrol, Aerosmith and More in May

Fans can look forward to further expanding their Guitar Hero music libraries and shredding this month with tracks by Foreigner, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Steve Miller Band, Alpha Rev, Capra, Snow Patrol and Aerosmith.

Foreigner, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Steve Miller Band will have Guitar Hero players rocking in the beginning of May with the Classic Rock 3 Track Pack. "Juke Box Hero," the third single off Foreigner's 1981 album, 4, will join Lynyrd Skynyrd's second hit single, "Sweet Home Alabama," and "Take the Money and Run" by Steve Miller Band. The Classic Rock 3 Track Pack will be available on the PlayStation Store for PlayStation3 computer entertainment system starting May 11. It will also be available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and on Wii on May 6.

Gamers looking to add some alternative-pop to their Guitar Hero library are in for a treat on May 11 with a three-song Alternative Pop Track Pack featuring Alpha Rev, Capra and Snow Patrol. The track pack will contain "Face Down," off Alpha Rev's just released new album New Morning, Capra's debut single, "Low Day" and "You're All I Have," the first single from Snow Patrol's fourth album, Eyes Open. - more on this story

Hanoi Will Never Rock Again

(Rock Radio) Michael Monroe says there will be no more Hanoi Rocks reunions because the band have "finished what we started". The singer – who's now touring a new Michael Monroe band featuring Ginger from the Wildhearts – says the Finnish hard rock heroes' six-year comeback which ended in 2008 is the end of their story.

He tells Goldmine: "That's it. There's no chance of another reunion. Me and Andy McCoy got re-acquainted and the whole thing was born again. But we finished what we started.

"It was interesting to see what we could do after all these years, with the way we'd both evolved. We did three great albums but after that it wasn't going any further. - more on this story

Lamb of God Boxset Details

Lamb of God will celebrate their 15th anniversary with the release of the Hourglass collections. Hourglass will be released in multiple formats, giving the band's fans an opportunity to experience the music in compact disc, vinyl, and digital configurations. In addition, there will be 2 deluxe packages, including extra goodies and groundbreaking packaging.

The releases include: Hourglass: Vol 1 - The Underground Years: 13 of the most choice Lamb of God songs from their early years. Culled from their first album Burn the Priest, their debut as Lamb of God, New American Gospel, and the album that put them on the map, As The Palaces Burn.

Hourglass: Vol 2 - The Epic Years: 13 of the most choice Lamb of God songs from their career on Epic Records to this point. Both Grammy nominated songs "Redneck" and "Set To Fail" are surrounded by fan favorite anthems and crushing riffs from Ashes Of The Wake to Sacrament to 2009's #2 debut Wrath. - more on this story

Panic! at the Disco Off Shoot The Young Veins Announce Release Party, Offer Song Download

The Young Veins' debut album, Take a Vacation!, will come out on June 8th via One Haven Music. On release day, the band will be in Los Angeles to perform at famed independent record store, Origami Vinyl, for a special street date appearance.

The Young Veins have announced summer touring plans that will kick off with a set at Bonnaroo on June 11th. The band will then hit the road for a coast to coast tour with Rooney.

The Young Veins was created when the two members of the wildly popular Las Vegas band Panic! at the Disco exhibited a writing progression that began to fall increasingly outside the lines of the band's context. After their last world tour for Pretty. Odd, Ross and Walker took their new material to Castle Oak Studios and Sunset Sound in LA, teaming up with producers Alex Greenwald (Phantom Planet) and Rob Mathes (Panic!, Carly Simon, Loud Reed). The result, Take A Vacation!, features guest vocals and instrumentation by fellow Angelenos Chief , Alex Greenwald, The Like and Jason Boesel (Rilo Kiley). The LP embraces archetypal styles of the 60's with inflected elements of surf rock, psychedelia, and brit-pop, all of which translate effortlessly into the live setting.

Lead single "Change" can be downloaded now at the band's
- website

Jackyl Announce Strip Bar Release Party Tour

To celebrate the release of their new album, "When Moonshine and Dynamite Collide (Mighty Loud)," Jackyl is embarking on a promotional tour called, April Showers Bring May Jackyl T?#@Y-Bar Dates.

Partnering with radio in cities across the south and Midwest, the band has targeted some of their favorite strip clubs in which to throw a series of CD release parties that will double as on-location video shoots for the first single "She's Not A Drug".

Vocalist Jesse James Dupree had this to say, "JACKYL is working with Rock radio stations in some of the coolest Rock cities and taking Rock back to the DIRTY DIRTY." Dupree goes onto add, "When the kids in the 50's were interviewed and asked why they were digging this new Rock & Roll, they didn't say because it's going to bring world peace or cure cancer, they were getting hot and bothered ..... SHAKE IT SHAKE IT SHINEY GO-GO BOOTS AND LOTS OF HINEY SHAKING........ PUH-POW!!!!" - more on this story

Bloc Party's Kele Okereke Announces Tour In Support of His Solo Debut

Kele Okereke of Bloc Party will be embarking on his first U.S. shows in support of his solo debut, The Boxer, out on June 22nd on Glassnote Records.

Arriving with a full live band in tow, these shows will present The Boxer's textures in an entirely new light, in addition to showcasing Kele's incredible voice, which sounds bigger and better than ever. The tour will kick off at The Metro in Chicago on July 23rd.

Produced by XXXchange (Spank Rock, The Kills), with additional mixing by Philippe Zdar (responsible for Phoenix's Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix), The Boxer sees the talented frontman pushing the boundaries of his own melodic sensibilities, boldly stepping out as a solo artist in his own right. - more on this story

Tonic Return With New Album and Tour

Tonic's new self-titled album hit stores this week on 429 Records and the band will hit the road later this month in support of the effort. Here is the announcement:

It's been almost eight years since the Grammy-nominated "Head on Straight" (they released a Greatest Hits collection early last year), and the band has returned reenergized with a collection of twelve new songs. Produced by Tonic and Nathaniel Kunkel, "Tonic" is redolent of their trademark honest, powerful, melodic rock sound.

The first single, "Release Me," is currently being promoted at several radio formats and debuts at #40* on R&R's Hot AC chart this week! In addition, Tonic has confirmed a number of tour dates and will be performing throughout 2010 in support of "Tonic." - more on this story

Thrice Summer Tour Still A Go

Thrice drummer Riley Breckenridge took to the band's website on Tuesday to reassure fans that the group still plans to hit the road this summer. Here is what he had to say:

Since the situation with Dustin's Dad arose and we had to cancel the remainder of our tour with Manchester Orchestra and O'Brother, there have been many questions regarding the status of our summer headline tour. Today we got word from Dustin that he's good to go, and as a result, we will be continuing with our plans to do that tour in it's entirety.

It has been an indescribably difficult seven months for all of us. In September, my and Ed's Dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in his throat and tongue and has since undergone seven weeks of chemo and radiation, and a major surgery three weeks ago to remove the remaining tumors. No more than two weeks after my Dad's diagnosis in September, Teppei's Mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, and passed away in January. And most recently, Dustin's Dad's diagnosis and surgery last week. It's just been relentless. - more on this story

Against Me! Video Premiere

Against Me! will premiere their brand-new video "I Was A Teenage Anarchist" on MySpace Music on May 7th, 2010 at 12am PST. It is the title track from the band's new four-song EP, I Was a Teenage Anarchist, which is currently available on iTunes.

The video for "I Was A Teenage Anarchist" was directed by noted film, commercial, and video director Marc Klasfield, who has lensed clips for Jay-Z, Foo Fighters, Nelly, as well as Against Me!'s "Stop!" video.

"I Was A Teenage Anarchist" is also included on Against Me!'s upcoming new studio album White Crosses, which will be released by Sire Records on June 8th. White Crosses was produced by veteran producer Butch Vig (Green Day, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins) who also produced Against Me!'s 2007 album New Wave. - more on this story

The Maine Announce Major Label Debut

The Maine have announced the release of their new album Black & White. Their major label debut for Sire/Action Theory Records is the follow-up to Can't Stop, Won't Stop, the band's acclaimed first album, which came out on Fearless Records in 2008. The Howard Benson-produced release will hit stores on July 13, 2010.

Black & White is a departure for the band. "We're trying to go for more of a raw feel - really just a free, loose record," explains front man John O'Callahan. Inspired by the classic sounds of American rock-n-roll, the album is a collection of songs with universal, relatable themes that retain the sense of youthfulness and fun that is distinctly The Maine. A new song from the album, "Inside of You" is available exclusively on iTunes starting today, May 4th. - more on this story

Evans Blue Announce New Album

Evans Blue have signed with FOF Label Group for the release of the group's upcoming new self-titled album, which is slated to hit stores on July 27th, 2010. The group's new single "Erase My Scars" will impact radio on June 8th.

"Evans Blue is thrilled to be teaming up with FOF Label Group to release our third album in stores nationwide this summer," says Evans Blue singer Dan Chandler. "We love the label's energy, passion and commitment to breaking artists, and we look forward to taking over the airwaves with our new single 'Erase My Scars.'"

Evans Blue emerged on the scene in 2006 with their debut album, "The Melody and the Energetic Nature of Volume," which produced the smash Top 5 single "Cold (But I'm Still Here)". The single garnered national attention after Sirius Octane and KUPD Phoenix picked it up early, and the band was soon signed to Hollywood Records. - more on this story

Singled Out: Six O'Clock Saints' Cancer Girl

Welcome to Singled Out! where we ask artists to tell us the inside story of their latest single. Today Six O'Clock Saints guitarist Andrew John Jackson tells us about "Cancer Girl" from their debut new album "Exculpation," which hit stores this week. Before we get to the story, it's noteworthy to point out that Andrew is one of the triplet brothers who front the band. Now here is the story:

For the most part, the songs on Exculpation were recorded in small rooms, closets, and basements, but for the song "Cancer Girl", we wanted to do something different. We wanted to get this big, dark sound, so we recorded it on the top floor of the warehouse we practice in. When you're up there, you hear the traffic noises below, (most of the windows are busted out), and it is littered with 100 year old dirt and grime and bird feces. Actually, the traffic noises and bird tweets you hear in the beginning of the track were the natural sounds the mics picked up when we started the the drum track. It sounded so cool we decided to leave them in there.

The area has tons of old metal and broken glass lying around, so we hit record and started banging things together. That loud pop you hear in the beginning that sounds like a gunshot is just DeeJay's snare echoing around and pounding a 2x4 off of an enormous steel heater that hasn't been used in decades. The loud hiss and following water sploosh at the end of the song is an old pressurized water hose that was sitting in the middle of the floor. The high pitched squeel happened when we turned it on.

We played with so many tracks for every instrument, sometimes going direct into the board, sometimes through each others amps. Whenever we recorded the amped tracks, we set up different types of mics at various locations to pick up the natural acoustics, then in post listened to each individual mic's track to see which sounded the best layered over top of each other. For Tony's vocals, sometimes he would be right on top of the mic, other times he'd be a 1/2 block away, (that's how big this area is), screaming the vocals and letting them bounce all over the room into the mics.

The song itself started as an acoustic folk song, (really)! Andy and Allen wrote it in Allen's bedroom in about 5 minutes. When they brought it to practice, Tony said, "I like it, but could you slow it down to 1/4 of that speed and add some crunch to your guitar". Cancer Girl was born.

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

Wintersleep Streaming New Album Online, Announce Tour With Matt Pond PA

Wintersleep is currently anticipating the June 1st release of their new album New Inheritors. Even though the street date is a few weeks away, the band is hard at work, touring the UK and prepping a big summer of festivals and a month-long tour with Matt Pond PA.

New Inheritors is the follow up to the bands critically acclaimed album, Welcome To The Night Sky, which saw them win a Juno Award for "Best New Band," and open for Paul McCartney, Pearl Jam and Editors.

Beginning today the entire album is available for streaming on www.wintersleep.com. Tickets are on sale now for US tour dates in June with Matt Pond PA, as well as dates on August 28th and September 4th in Toronto (Molson Amphitheatre w/ City & Colour, Tegan and Sara and Ra Ra Riot) and SONiC BOOM festival in Edmonton with Bad Religion, Weezer, City & Colour. - more on this story

The Dwarves' HeWhoCanNotBeNamed Set For Sunday School Massacre in June

MVD Audio is pleased to announce the debut solo album from HeWhoCanNotBeNamed, the mask-wearing guitar icon of punk legends The Dwarves, Sunday School Massacre for North American distribution on June 8.

The project was engineered and co-produced by Bradley Cook (Counting Crows, Foo Fighters). HeWhoCanNotBeNamed wrote all the tracks and enlisted the help of top musicians including many former Dwarves members like Nick Oliveri (Kyuss, Queens of The Stone Age & The Dwarves), Blag Dahlia (The Dwarves, Candy Now), Andy Selway (KMFDM & The Spittin' Cobras, The Dwarves) and more.

While this is generally a dark, guitar heavy album that Dwarves fans can appreciate, the lyrics invoke an ironic playfulness that invites a wider audience and the high production level gives it a big arena sound. The lyrics and title, Sunday School Massacre, were inspired by HeWhoCanNotBeNamed's experiences as a counselor/teacher with teenagers suffering from mental illness or abuse. Many of the songs were actually written while he was on duty at a residential treatment facility. Some of them were used to teach students in a "school of rock" type music program that he created and directed. - more on this story

Umphrey's McGee Summer Tour Plans

Umphrey's McGee today unveil their complete summer 2010 tour schedule. The band's summer plans include stops at festivals throughout the country: Bonnaroo, Summer Camp, Wakarusa, Summerfest, and All Good, among others.

Additional tour highlights include a highly anticipated Colorado visit - for a July 3 "Red Rocks & Blue" show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre with Galactic (w/ Cyril Neville) and The Wailers and an intimate play on the 4th of July at the Gothic Theatre, and an opening stint for Widespread Panic on July 13 at LC Outdoor Amphitheater in Columbus, OH. Umphrey's McGee's complete summer tour schedule is included below.

The always forward-thinking Umphrey's McGee recently carved out new terrain in musical interactivity with fans, when they hosted the first annual "UMBowl" - an unprecedented 4-quarter evening-long concert at Lincoln Hall in the group's hometown of Chicago. - more on this story

Stereos Plan US Invasion

Canadian band Stereos are ready to take U.S. audiences by storm. Even before the release of its self-titled debut release on Universal Canada, the band's first single for the party anthem "Summer Girl" was certified double platinum in digital downloads and debuted at No. 2 on the charts.

The full-length release went gold in only three months and is now headed to platinum status. "Summer Girl" will hit radio stateside on June 7th.

Teaming up with producer Gavin Brown (Three Days Grace, Billy Talent, Cancer Bats) for its stellar debut, the band is now embarking on a U.S. tour which kicks off May 13th in Santa Ana, CA. - more on this story

Cancer Bats Post Record Store Day Video

Cancer Bats have recently unveiled a brand new video recording of their Record Store Day performance at Banquet Records this past April.

The video features Cancer Bats performing, interacting with fans, and much more! Record Store Day is an annual event in which independently owned record stores come together every third Sunday of April to put on special vinyl and CD releases, performances, and other fun activities. Check out the video here

Make sure to catch Cancer Bats live this May while on the road with Every Time I Die and Norma Jean! The 2 week tour starts on May 11th in Columbus, OH at Newport Music Hall and comes to an end in Wilmington, NC at Soapbox Laundrolounge. On May 8th, CANCER BATS will also being performing in Buffalo, NY at Town Music Hall with Snapcase and Sick of it All! This date and all spring dates with Every Time I Die and Norma Jean are listed - here

1349 Instore and Party This Friday

1349 will be appearing at Vacation Vinyl in Hollywood CA on Friday evening, May 7th, for a meet and greet and a signing session. The band will be wrapping up their leg of the Cannibal Corpse tour the night before.

1349 CDs, limited edition 12" picture discs and other merch will be available that night. To GUARANTEE an opportunity to meet the band, purchasing something that night is suggested. This is free and open to all ages. Vacation Vinyl 4679 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90027 7:30pm - 9:00pm All Ages Welcome

Immediately following the in-store appearance, the band will head to Hank's Bar, in downtown Los Angeles, where they'll be hosting a tour wrap up party. Their new album, "Demonoir," which hit the streets in North America on Prosthetic Records on April 27, will be played in its entirety. There will be DJ sets from John Strachan (The Funeral Pyre), Dan Dismal (Crematorium, Church of the 8th Day) and Pete Majors (Harassor). - more on this story

Animals As Leaders Virtuoso Tosin Abasi Announces Guitar Clinic Appearance

Animals As Leaders mastermind and eight string guitar virtuoso, Tosin Abasi, will be appearing and performing at a guitar clinic, this Thursday, May 6 at The Fender Center, located at 365 N. Main Street in Corona, CA. Doors are at 7pm and the cost is $15.

The band recently confirmed their participation in this year's "Summer Slaughter" tour, alongside Decapitated, The Faceless and many more. This will be the second year in a row Abasi will be on the tour, as he served as a touring guitarist in Born of Osiris for much of 2009, which included last year's edition of the tour.

Abasi commented: "We're very excited about being a part of Summer Slaughter this year. I was able to experience the tour last year alongside friends Born of Osiris and to be a part of the tour this year with my own band is going to be one great Summer. Get there early!" - more on this story

Framing Hanley Going Soph

Framing Hanley is set to release their sophomore album A Promise To Burn, May 25th via Silent Majority Group/ILG.

The double disc package includes a 30 minute DVD, featuring exclusive behind the scenes footage and interviews, shot in HD, during the recording process of A Promise To Burn.

"You Stupid Girl", the first single off of A Promise to Burn is available as an instant grat track when pre-ordering the album. Limited edition t-shirts and autographed CD/DVDs bundles are also available for pre-order. - more on this story

The Graduate Begin Work on Razor & Tie Debut

Razor & Tie is excited to officially announce the signing of The Graduate, an atmospheric rock band based out of Chicago. The band began recording a new album May 3rd and are looking forward to begin working once again with producer Brian McTernan, who produced several of the tracks that resulted in their signing.

Previously signed to Icon MES Records, The Graduate have released the independent EP Horror Show, as well as the Icon MES released EP Evergreen and full length album Anhedonia. When Icon MES folded in late 2008, the band took it upon themselves to continue their busy touring schedule while looking for a new place to call their home. The band already had fans at Razor & Tie who were determined not to let The Graduate slip away, as the label saw extreme talent and potential in the band. Lead singer Corey Warning expressed the band's feelings when he said, "We were looking for someone who gets us and will put us out the right way. We're excited about how excited everyone at Razor & Tie is to begin working together."

"When I first heard The Graduate, I was blown away," said Beka Tischker, Vice President of A&R at Razor & Tie. "I knew that we had to have the band. I am so excited to be working with them, and we are expecting very big things in the future. Kudos to Adam Hogan here at Razor & Tie for bringing this band to my attention." - more on this story

Naked Raygun To Give Fans 7 Inches in June

Chicago punk rockers Naked Raygun have a new 7" coming out on Riot Fest Records June 15th. The new songs are "Growing Away" and "Just For Me".

Easily the most influential band bursting forth from the initial Chicago punk rock explosion, Naked Raygun also holds the distinction of being the longest running. When many of their peers were either breaking up or going metal in the mid-to-late 1980s, Naked Raygun soldiered on with their trademark sound, combining infectious vocal melodies with muscular guitar and a precision rhythm section. Echoes of the golden era of Raygun sound can be heard in punk rock circles worldwide.

In the fall of 2006 drummer Eric Spicer began to get the itch to play the old songs again and gathered the guys together again to reunite for Riot Fest in Chicago. The overwhelming response from the sold out crowd of four thousand prompted Naked Raygun to re-form permanently with their final lineup of Spicer, Bill Stephens on guitar, Pierre Kezdy on bass and Jeff Pezzati on vocals. - more on this story

Lost In The Trees Hitting The Road

Lost In The Trees have announced a series of live performances in support of their Anti Records debut All Alone In An Empty House out on August 10.

Led by songwriter, musician and vocalist Ari Picker, the ensemble creates a startlingly original sound merging the dramatic and symphonic elements of classical music with the accessibility and intimacy of American folk and pop. All Alone In An Empty House was co-produced by Scott Solter (St. Vincent, Mountain Goats, Okkervil River) and deftly creates a landscape in which both genres can seamlessly co-exist to stirring result.

The album is equally striking for its lyrical content with Picker's words detailing the moving and dramatic stories within the generations of a family - places and people left barren and devoid of life - fires consume, babies die young, a painter takes a walk in the woods, empty rooms wait to be filled. - more on this story

Classic Blue Shadows Album Finally Getting US Release

Throughout the history of popular music, there have been albums, that for one reason or another (timing, bad luck, etc.), were never given their proper respect at the time of their release.

Legendary Americana/roots band The Blue Shadows was a perfect case in point, especially for American audiences, where music buyers never even got the chance to purchase their 1993 debut album, as it was not released in the U.S.

Now, Bumstead Productions, Ltd. is rectifying that omission with the June 15 U.S. release of a special 2-CD reissue of The Blue Shadows classic, On the Floor of Heaven: Deluxe Edition. U.S. Distribution for the 2-CD set will be by Burnside Distribution, with a special list price of $15.99, while Fontana Distribution will handle the album for its Canadian re-release on June 1st. Bumstead Productions is the same label that launched the iconic k.d. lang's career in Canada. - more on this story