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Revelation Records has announced the upcoming release of the book, Why Be Something That You're Not: Detroit Hardcore 1979-1985. Written by Tony Rettman, the book will be available on July 6th. more -

Def Leppard Member Joins Thin Lizzy

(Rock Radio) Former Almighty frontman Ricky Warwick and Def Leppard guitarist Viv Campbell have joined the 2011 lineup of Thin Lizzy.

The band, once led by Phil Lynott, now features Warwick on vocals and guitar, Campbell on guitar, Lynott-era guitarist Scott Gorham and keyboardist Darren Wharton, Marco Mendoza on bass and founding member Brian Downey on drums.

They'll play a memorial show on June 4 in Dublin to mark the 25th anniversary of Lynott's death before embarking on a UK tour running for the rest of the month. - more on this story

Danzig Announces Tour

Glenn Danzig announces a special nine-city concert trek that will kick off in Norfolk, VA on June 15.

The dates, played to usher in the release of Deth Red Sabaoth (evilive/The End Records), Danzig's first new studio album in six years, will feature long-time Danzig cohort, guitarist Tommy Victor (Prong, Ministry), drummer Johnny Kelly (Type O Negative) and former Samhaim bandmate, bassist Steve Zing.

Support for the east coast dates will be Gorgeous Frankenstein, the band of original Misfits member Doyle, and Seventh Void, the band that includes of Danzig/Type O Negative drummer Johnny Kelly and Type O guitarist Kenny Hickey. - more on this story

Social Distortion Plan New Album Release This Fall

Social Distortion have inked a deal with Epitaph Records and plans to release their first studio album since 2004 in fall 2010. The signing pairs one of rock 'n' roll's most renowned bands with one of the most respected independent labels for what could be the greatest match in decades.

"We feel that Epitaph has a natural understanding of Social Distortion; both the history of the band and the direction we want to go," says frontman Mike Ness. "Combine that with their successful track record and it felt like a good next step for us. We've always been open to new ideas and pushing the envelope, but we have also been very conscientious about the decisions we've made. We considered a lot of options, but in the end, Epitaph feels like the right home for us. We're looking forward to taking this step forward, opening some new doors with this upcoming album and this next chapter of Social Distortion."

"My relationship with Mike goes way back to the beginnings of our careers in the LA music scene," adds Epitaph owner and president Brett Gurewitz. "Through the years Social Distortion have been a matchless voice in American rock and roll and I couldn't be more thrilled to play a part in the next chapter for this great band." - more on this story

Singled Out: Against Me!'s I Was A Teenage Anarchist

Welcome to Singled Out! where we ask artists to tell us the inside story of their latest single. When we saw the premiere of Against Me!'s new video for "I Was A Teenage Anarchist," we knew there had to be a great story behind the song and video. Lucky for us (and you) frontman Tom Gabel was happy to fill us in. We now turn it over to him for the story:

I got into radical politics when I was 15 years old, shortly after discovering punk music. At first I thought punk was just nihilism, misanthropy, self destruction, Sid Vicious. Then when I was 15 I got beat up by the cops; the experience changed my life. It was the 4th of July, Naples, Florida. Every year there's a fireworks celebration down on the beach by the pier, at least there used to be. Small boardwalks connect the street to the sand. I had gone down early to meet up with a couple friends and I as I stood there on the boardwalk looking out into the sea of people trying to spot my friends, two police officers approached me. I was asked to get off the boardwalk, they said I was blocking the flow of traffic. So I did, I turned around and walked off the boardwalk back down onto the street.

Then the two officers approached me again telling me to get off the boardwalk. I told them I was off the boardwalk. Next thing I knew one of the cops had grabbed me by the neck, twisted my arm behind my back and started dragging me over towards their parked cruiser. They slammed my face down onto the sun-baked trunk of the car., kicked my legs apart and started going through my pockets. Every time I tried to get my head up off the burning trunk it was slammed back down harder. After a long and immature verbal exchange, most of the immaturity being on my part (I think the words "f**king" and "pig" were used quite a lot if I remember correctly) they cuffed me and threw me into the back of the cruiser. The one cop stood there taunting me through the window until more officers showed up on the scene, at which point they pulled me out of the cruiser. My body went limp and I fell to my knees. Two officers pulled me up, one on each elbow, putting all my weight onto my cuffed wrists, my legs kicked out involuntarily, two other cops grabbed one each. They brought me around to the other side of the cruiser and dropped me face first into the middle of the street. One officer put a boot to my head, another put a knee in my back and then they proceeded to hog-tie me. I was then lifted up like a suitcase, held by an elbow and a leg and thrown into the back of a different cruiser.

When I got down to the station I remember the main officer who instigated the whole thing opening the car door and telling me he was going to cut my legs free, that if I kicked him he would put a bullet in my head. I was charged with Battery On An Officer and Resisting Arrest With Violence, two felony charges that I was convicted of despite my mother hiring an attorney that she couldn't really afford. I know now it was a small injustice compared to other instances of police violence I've heard of over the years, I was just a dirty punk kid who walked past the wrong cops, but at the time I was more than outraged.

The experience politicized me. I dropped out of high school. I started doing a zine. I started a distro of political pamphlets and Anarcho-punk records. I started a Food Not Bombs chapter with a group of friends. We met other like minded people across Florida and started a radical activist network. We organized protests, we organized gatherings, workshops, participated in direct action. I was a Teenage Anarchist. When I was younger my opinions where very black and white, I was either for or against something, and that's how I defined myself. A lot of those opinions where formed by social influence from the scene I was a part of, being younger I felt the need to belong to something, a group of people, I wanted acceptance. Over time I realized how some people use their positions of stature to pursue their own personal agenda's, selling their own personal brand of self- serving revolution. This all being the complete opposite of what drew me towards Anarchism in the first place. I found that the people who professed the loudest that they were the most open minded individuals were in fact usually the most close minded. I feel like the revolution sold to me when I was a teenager by the punk scene, by the Anarchist scene was a lie. The real revolution was the political awakening. That initial spark that made me want to change the world. And that's what I'm interested in, maintaining that fire. That's what the song is about. I am an autonomous individual. I think for myself. I have no need to supplement my identity through belonging to a scene or exclusively endorsing any brand of political thought. And if anyone is offended by that I feel like it only reaffirms my conviction. For if it's heresy for an Anarchist to say "F**K Anarchy" then Anarchism is truly just another flag, and I say burn it along with the rest of them.

This is the title track to the band's new EP and will also be on their forthcoming new album, 'White Crosses,' which hits stores early next month. Now that you know the story behind the song, and video check it out for yourself - right here!

Clutch Release New DVD, Announce Tour and Reissue

Clutch released their new DVD Live at the 9:30 on the band's label Weathermaker Music this week. This DVD features a 90 minute concert DVD as well as a two hour road movie called Fortune Tellers Make a Killing Nowadays which includes classic Clutch footage from 1991/1992, never before seen band interviews, and unreleased music.

"Our fans have been longing for something like this for over a decade" exclaims Weathermaker label Manager Jon Nardachone. "Our director/producer Agent Ogden captured the band performing a 19 song set which includes a molten-hot version of the entire self-titled release! He then subsequently produced the quintessential Clutch road movie, which we wrapped up in one mega-DVD set!"

Clutch, along with their jazz-rock instrumentalist alter-ego, The Bakerton Group, will take to the road in June and July in support of the internationally released DVD and the Strange Cousins From the West CD. The 22 date tour will take both Clutch and The Bakerton Group through the US, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Greece, Italy, and the UK. - more on this story

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Soundtrack Listing Rolling Out Today

MySpace Music will reveal the soundtrack listing for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. Visit MySpace Music at http://www.myspace.com/music on today, (May 12th) beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET/8:00 a.m. PT to be the first to find out which bands will be featured on the soundtrack.

A new artist will be announced every half-hour throughout the day. Also follow MySpace Music on Twitter for the updates via @MySpaceMusic.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse soundtrack (Chop Shop/Atlantic) will be released on June 8, 2010. The first single from the album will be Muse with "Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever)." The previous film's soundtrack included Thom Yorke, The Killers, Muse and more. - more on this story

Swans Announce First U.S. Shows in 13 Years

Swans will be undertaking their first U.S. performances in 13 years, celebrating the Fall release of the first new Swans album since Soundtracks For The Blind (1997).

The album was recorded by Jason LeFarge at Seizure's Palace in Brooklyn and is currently be remixed by Gira with Bryce Goggin (Antony & The Johnsons, Akron/Family) at Trout Recordings.

Recently, Michael Gira decided to Re-activate Swans. Here's what he has to say about that decision at the YGR website: "About reconstituting Swans:?? …there was a point a few years ago during a particular show when I was on tour with Angels Of Light, with Akron/Family serving as the backing band. It was during the song The Provider. Seth's guitar was sustaining one open chord (very loudly), rising to a peak, then crashing down again in a rhythm that could have been the equivalent of a deep and soulful act of copulation. The whole band swayed with this arc. Really was like riding waves of sound. I thought right then, 'You know, Michael, Swans wasn't so bad after all...' - more on this story

Evans Blue Premiere New Song Online

Evans Blue have just premiered their new single, "Erase My Scars," online. The track is the lead single off of the group's upcoming new self-titled album, which is slated to hit stores on July 27th through FOF Label Group/EMI.

"'Erase My Scars' is an emotionally-charged song, but one that we are very excited to share with the world when it premieres... on Tuesday," says Evans Blue singer Dan Chandler. "With each new recording, we hope to elevate the Evans Blue sound, and sonically, we believe that this is our best song yet. We hope it is cranking at every BBQ and in every car this summer."

Evans Blue's new album was recorded with Trevor Kustiak, who has produced all of the group's previous records. Listen to the song - here

The Dig To Join Thrice, Kevin Devine, And Bad Veins Summer Tour

The Dig will support Thrice this summer, beginning June 11th at Station 4 in St. Paul, MN, and wrapping up July 17th at the Fox Theater in Pomona, CA. The outing will also feature Kevin Devine, And Bad Veins.

Before heading to the Midwest to join that tour, the band will first headline the Mercury Lounge on June 5th for a hometown record release show in celebration of their debut album, Electric Toys, which will hit stores on June 8th - dates

Joe Satriani Announces UK Tour

Joe Satriani will undertake a six date UK tour starting Sunday 17th October at the Manchester Apollo.

The outing will feature blues guitarist Simon McBride as a special guest. The tour coincides with the release of Satriani's 11th studio album. - more on this story

Queens of the Stone Age, A Perfect Circle Offshoot Sweethead Announce Family Night Show

Sweethead, the new project from Troy Van Leeuwen (Queens of the Stone Age, A Perfect Circle, Failure), released their Self-Titled debut album yesterday through The End Records. Named after a Bowie B-Side, Sweethead includes Serrina on vocals, Norm Block on drums (Mark Lanegan Band, Plexi) and Eddie Nappi on bass (Mark Lanegan Band, Handsome).

For the month of May Sweethead have settled into L.A.'s seminal indie-rock venue Spaceland. The residency kicked off on May 3rd, and every Monday following the band will be playing a FREE show.

The residency wraps on May 24th with a "family night" featuring other QOTSA-related acts such as Mini-Mansions, Alain Johannes and a "very special guest." Ashes Divide, Slang Chickens, Earthlings? and Red Fang are among other acts playing alongside the band during the stint. - more on this story

Lemmy and Motorhead Dominate ROCKtropia

Neverdie Studios has launched ROCKtropia, the first virtual music world and the first independently developed virtual planet in MindArk's Entropia Universe. Created by virtual world pioneer and entrepreneur Jon "Neverdie" Jacobs, the planet introduces a revolutionary, highly interactive venue for artists to connect with their fans while also creating a new revenue stream in the music space and a platform for artists to pursue fame and fortune.

The first continent to be inhabited on the planet will be the home to destinations created for rock icon Lemmy, lead singer of Motorhead, and hit singer/songwriter/producer Kevin Rudolf. "The launch of ROCKtropia is a personal triumph," said NEVERDIE. "It has been a long time in the making and we're thrilled to be the first new virtual world on the amazing Entropia Universe platform. With the help of Lemmy and Kevin, we have created an exciting new experience for both music fans and gamers. We look forward to exploring new ideas and working with many more artists in the future." - more on this story

Rhino Records Store To Pop-Up For A Limited Return This Month

Rhino Records, the famed Westwood hole-in-the-wall storefront that begat the iconic catalog record label of the same name and defined the independent music store paradigm -- just celebrated on "Record Store Day"-- will be back for a very limited run from May 17 - 30.

It's the pop-up store to end all pop-up stores, a reprise of a golden era when idiosyncratic customers and clerks sparked a musical revolution and catalyzed real-life debates that were more passionate than anything seen in High Fidelity.

Rhino is, for a fortnight, back from the grave bringing its legacy of eccentric, eclectic and unabashed fun with incredulous deals, in-store performances , the irreverent attitude typified by the "worst customers" chart for one last spin on the merry-go-round in the name of Hope in Action. All proceeds will go to Chrysalis Enterprises, an LA nonprofit that transitions the unfortunate and hopeless into employment. - more on this story

Secondhand Serenade Sets Summer Album Release, New Song Premiere Next Week

Singer/songwriter John Vesely, a.k.a. Secondhand Serenade, returns with his third album, Hear Me Now, out August 3rd on ILG/Glassnote.

Eight of the eleven songs on the album were produced by Aaron Johnson (The Fray) at Swing House studios in Los Angeles. The other three, including the first single, "Something More", were produced by John Vesely himself along with Secondhand drummer Tom Breyfogle at Vesely's home studio and mixed by Mark Endert (Train, Maroon 5).

"Something More" will debut at 7:40AM on May 17th on Kid Kraddick's nationally syndicated radio show and will be available at iTunes on June 1st. - more on this story

Hangout Music Festival Donating All Profits To Oil Spill Clean Up Efforts

The Hangout Beach Music and Arts Festival (May 14th - 16th) has teamed up with New Orleans concert promoter Stephen Rehage to create a two-city benefit event. All proceeds from the Concert for the Coast events in Gulf Shores, Ala and New Orleans, La will be donated to regional charities.

The Hangout, along with New Orleans producer Stephen Rehage, will expand the Concert For The Coast to New Orleans. This two-city concert experience features The Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama and a one-day concert event on Sunday, May 16th in downtown New Orleans. New Orleans? Jazz pioneers Preservation Hall Jazz Band will be on hand at both events.

Hangout Beach Music and Arts Festival May 14th - 16th in Gulf Shores, AL. Presently, the stages are being constructed upon pristine beach, but the oil slick in the gulf threatens to endanger the wildlife habitats and livelihoods of those that live in the region. "The Gulf Coast is what makes the Hangout Music Festival so unique," says Shaul Zislin, co-creator of the Hangout Music Festival. "It is one of the most pristine coastlines in all of America, and we will donate every penny above our costs to keep it clean." - more on this story

Rock On The Range To Donate 50 Cents of Each Ticket To Metro Nashville Disaster Response Fund

Columbus, Ohio's annual Rock On The Range festival--May 22 and 23 at Columbus Crew Stadium--will make a $.50 cent donation per ticket sold to the Metro Nashville Disaster Response Fund (tickets start at $59.50 for single day pass).

The Fund, consisting of a partnership between the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, the Office of the Mayor of Nashville, and Davidson County's Office of Emergency Management, will support relief efforts necessitated by flooding, which has impacted so many lives. - more on this story

J Roddy Walston and The Business Set July Release

J Roddy Walston and The Business will release their new self-titled album on July 27, 2010 (Fairfax Recordings/Vagrant).

With the anticipated upcoming album and soon-to-be-announced summer touring, J Roddy Walston and The Business will take their rowdy brand of good time, Southern coated, old-fashioned rock n' roll to a worldwide audience.

Members Billy Gordon (guitar, vocals), Steve Colmus (drums) and J Roddy Walston (vocals, piano, guitar) joined in Baltimore, MD by way of Cleveland, TN and have since spent countless months on the road. - more on this story

Bill Withers Film Finally Gets Released

Still Bill, a project by filmmakers Damani Baker and Alex Vlack, had what seemed like a simple idea: make a film about Bill Withers. Eight years later, on May 11th, the film was finally released exclusively through www.stillbillthemovie.com.

The full physical DVD and digital download are available through the website, as well as a deluxe package which includes exclusive merchandise. The DVD includes never bonus features, such as live performances from the Bill Withers Tribute Concert and conversations with Graham Nash, Bill Russell, and Jim Brown.

After touring the world in festivals and winning numerous awards, Still Bill premiered to sold-out audiences at the IFC theater in New York. - more on this story

Sarah Jaffe To Hit The Road With Dinosaur Jr.'s Lou Barlow

Sarah Jaffe is thrilled to announce a June tour with Lou Barlow before he returns to the road with Dinosaur Jr.

The 24-year-old Texas native will be main support for Barlow on nearly a month of dates starting on June 10th at San Diego's esteemed venue The Casbah.

Currently on the road as main support for Norah Jones and having wrapped a tour as main support for Midlake earlier this year, this will be the young musician's third tour in 2010 and the first following the release of her debut full-length album – Suburban Nature, out May 18th on Kirtland Records. - more on this story

Bo Bice Donating Song Proceeds To Nashville Flood Relief

Bo Bice has announced that he will donate all of his proceeds from his single, "Long Road Back," to a variety of flood assistance programs that are aiding victims of the recent Nashville-area flooding disaster.

Bice made the announcement during an interview on the FoxNews show Geraldo At Large on Sunday evening. He also appeared on Flood Relief: Vince Gill and Friends on May 6th, which raised over $1.7 million for organizations such as the Second Harvest Food Bank, the American Red Cross, and the Salvation Army and will perform at May 12th's Country Cares benefit concert at Nashville's Center Stage. "Long Road Back" appears on Bice's new album, 3, which will be released via Saguaro Road Records on May 18th.

"Nashville was hit hard by the flooding," says Bice, "and we lost a large portion of our historic city, but we are going to make it through this hard time together." "In this tragedy our community has been made stronger with love and support of so many good hearted souls," he continues. "To help our fellow Tennesseans, all of my proceeds from the sale of "Long Road Back" exclusively on iTunes will go to help flood relief victims through Second Harvest Food Bank, the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. I encourage everyone to support these charities, it goes a long way. I will also be hosting a benefit show on June 12th at Limelight in Nashville and all proceeds will go to Music Cares." -

Skeletonwitch Map Summer Tour Plans Including Ozzfest and Trek with High on Fire

Skeletonwitch have lined up a busy summer, as they've been tapped for Ozzfest, as well as a Canadian tour with High On Fire.

The band will be appearing on the second stage at Ozzfest along with former tour partners Goatwhore and Saviours and other acts including Devildriver, Black Label Society and Kingdom Of Sorrow.

The band is currently several weeks into a tour with Cannibal Corpse, which made a stop at the annual New England Metal and Hardcore Fest in Worcester, MA. That tour wraps up on the 15th in Tampa, FL. - dates

Better than Ezra To Headline Party at St. Mike's

For the 26th consecutive year, Party at St. Mike's will shift Chicago's summer street festival season into high gear with three nights of live entertainment, Friday, June 11th through Sunday, June 13th outside of iconic St. Michael's church in Old Town. Music fans revel in the lineup of high quality bands, with Better than Ezra headlining the whole shin-dig on Saturday night!

Always bringing a steady diet of riveting crowd-favorites, this year's Party at St. Mike's tops them all with top-billing going to internationally-acclaimed recording artists, Better than Ezra. The alt-rock trio is hot off last year's album, Paper Empire.

Also blowing the lid off Party at St. Mike's again is the 80's rock lore of Hairbangers Ball and the more contemporary tunes of Mike & Joe. The daily lineups are listed - here

Vander Plas Announce New Album Release

GermanProg Metal act Vander Plas is set to release its brand new album: "The Seraphic Clockwork", on June 4th, in Europe and June 22nd in the USA.

"The Seraphic Clockwork", a concept album, sounds more multi-layered, progressive and metal-oriented than any previous Vanden Plas release. "I think that my penchant for music of the tougher persuasion shines through more than ever before on this album," comments guitarist Stephan Lill, who – together with keyboardist Günter Werno and vocalist Andy Kuntz – make up the group's creative triumvirate. He adds: "Hard riffs, elaborate keyboard and orchestral arrangements plus catchy hooklines come together in a perfect symbiosis which marks Vanden Plas' own style. I feel that we were much more adventurous on with The Seraphic Clockwork than ever before." - more on this story

Rare Early Yngwie Demo Posted Online

The Metal Den unearths the holy grail of heavy metal shred. This rare demo track reportedly features legendary Swedish guitar hero Yngwie J. Malmsteen (Steeler/Alcatrazz/Rising Force) when he was reportedly only a mere 14 years old.

Talented beyond his years, Yngwie (like many of his own future solo recordings) handled all of the instruments on his early demos.

The 'Powerhouse' demos from 1978 were thought to be the earliest done by Malmsteen… that is until this little gem was found. - more on this story