New Led Zeppelin Songs Written- Stone Temple Pilots Tour Hold- My Chemical Weezer- Zuton Guilty- Battle for INXS- Underoath- W.A.S.P. Disown F**k Like A Beast- more

Wild Flag is a new indie rock assemblage that brings together members of Sleater-Kinney, Helium and The Minders. more -

Steven Tyler and J.Lo Confirmed As Judges for American Idol

(Gibson) It's official: Steven Tyler will be a judge on the next season of American Idol. The rumors that have been circulating for months about the Aerosmith frontman and the network TV singing contest were confirmed by host Ryan Seacrest today, according to CNN.com.

Tyler and fellow new judge Jennifer Lopez will join Randy Jackson, who's been with the series for each of its nine seasons. Music industry exec Jimmy Iovine also is being added to the show as a mentor to the contestants.

"I want to bring some rock to this roller coaster," Tyler said, after jumping onstage at the Los Angeles Forum.
- more on this story

Metallica Announce Another Release This Year

Metallica had this bit of news about what they are calling another Metallica related release this year: About a year ago, we had the honor of playing with Ray Davies at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary concert in New York . . . it was the first time we had ever met Ray and was definitely one of the highlights of our night. Fast forward a few months to the tuning room before the show in Oslo on April 14 and there we were recording with Ray!!! How cool is that?

Turns out that Ray has been planning to put out a record of collaborations on classic Kinks songs with a wide variety of today's musicians and low and behold we were actually asked to be included in this stellar group spanning many genres and styles. The result is coming to your favorite place to purchase music around the world on November 1, 2010.

Titled "See My Friends," our version of "You Really Got Me" appears on disc, or in bits and bites, along side of Ray with Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, Lucinda Williams, Jackson Browne, Alex Chilton, Spoon, Frank Black, Billy Corgan and many others.

Check out the Davis/Metallica jam - here

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

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

Dio HD

Eagle Rock will commemorate the legacy of Ronnie James Dio with the high definition release of Holy Diver Live on Blu-Ray October 12. Here is what they have to say about it:

Ronnie and his band whipped the crowd into a frenzy at London's Astoria Theatre on October 22, 2005. Treating the audience to a blazing presentation tog the classic Holy Diver album in its entirely, this concert, originally released on standard DVD in 2006, is the first ever live recording of this album.

Sprinkled with Sabbath and Rainbow tracks "Heaven and Hell," "Tarot Woman," and "Long Live Rock and Roll," this Blu-ray is a shining statement of Dio's commanding, compassionate, and behemoth performances. An interview with the band is included as a bonus feature. - more on this story

Linkin Park On A Different Spin with Mark Hoppus Tonight

An all-new episode of A Different Spin with Mark Hoppus premieres tonight on Fuse featuring Linkin Park. Here are the details plus a preview clip:

Linkin Park hits the studio to hang with Mark and Amy on A Different Spin with Mark Hoppus to talk about their recently released album, A Thousand Suns.

And Brooklyn-based indie rockers The National hit the stage! Catch their rocking performance on Thursday's all-new episode - Thursday, 9/23, at 7/6C and 11/10C on FUSE - Preview clip

Slash To Continue Solo Tour Into 2011 As Velvet Revolver Look for New Singer

(Gibson) Slash has said singer Myles Kennedy will be touring with him well through 2011. However, Kennedy will be alternating between touring with his band Alter Bridge, who are releasing a new album in October, and spending time with Slash on the road.

We have it set up so that he does Alter Bridge from October 'til January," he said. "And then we start up January through May or April. And then he does Alter Bridge from May through – into July, and then we do July through August, September. And so we're just juggling.

"And then during those periods that we're off, I'm doing Velvet Revolver and hopefully we'll find a singer and get that together."
- more on this story

My Chemical Romance Spin New Song

(Gibson) After taking radio, MTV and the charts by storm with Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (2004) and The Black Parade (2006), My Chemical Romance have gone quiet for the past four years when it comes to new tunes. But they've now broken their silence with a new song: "Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)."

The New Jersey rockers recently debuted the song on BBC's Radio 1 (you also can hear it here). It's the first song from My Chemical Romance's November 22 release, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys.

In an interview with radio host Zane Lowe, frontman Gerard Way said the song helped the band find the right artistic path for the new album – especially after they trashed their work and started over again. "It took a little while to decide who and what this band is, then re-embrace that instead of turn our back on it," he said. "There was a lot of intensity underneath ["Na Na Na"] and it propelled all of us forward." -

Rob Zombie Announces New Film

Rob Zombie is set to write and direct The Lords Of Salem. Set in modern-day Salem, the film involves the demonic return of a 300-year-old coven of witches.

Zombie is about to embark on a three week tour of debauchery with Alice Cooper on The Halloween Hootenanny Tour with special guests Murderdolls. The tour kicks off in Los Angeles at the Gibson Amphitheatre on Thursday, September 30th and will criss-cross the USA - more on this story

Alright Now Declared Greatest Rock Single

(CO5) Planet Rock has announced the results of their latest online fan poll for the top 40 "Greatest Rock Singles," declaring Free's 1970 hit song "Alright Now" tops in "one of the most decisive polls" they've ever run.

"When I started writing 'All Right Now' the lyrics and the melody flowed easily. It felt special and it's still special to me and the fans. It's a 'must play' in my solo set," said Paul Rodgers.

Throughout September at PlanetRock.com, fans have been voting for their favorite singles of all time. Beating out 39 international chart-topping hit songs from artists such as Guns n' Roses, Queen, AC/DC, The Eagles, Led Zeppelin and Nirvana, "All Right Now" has remained a radio staple for 40 years - passing 1,000,000 radio plays in the US (1990), and passing a massive 2,000,000 radio plays in the UK (2000). - more on this story

Pearl Jam Sideband Brad Hitting The Road

Pearl Jam had this update for fans: Time to get excited cause Brad is hitting the road from September 27th to October 13th in support of their new album Best Friends?. Brad will headline shows in Seattle, Chicago, Philly, Baltimore, and New York.

They will also join forces with Band of Horses for concerts in Des Moines, Cleveland, Columbus, Louisville, Tulsa, St. Louis and Kansas City.

Additionally , the tour will include in-store performances at Ear X-tacy in Louisville and Vintage Vinyl in St Louis plus an appearance on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon - more on this story

Special Counting Crows and Broken Lizard Show Announced

Counting Crows will be doing a special performance at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre (in the Hollywood Hills) on October 1st.

Also performing at the event will be sketch comedy group Broken Lizard (Super Troopers, Beerfest.)

Adam Duritz and Broken Lizard recently made a movie together called Freeloaders, which they will also play that night. The movie is a tongue-in-cheek story about a group of loveable slackers living in the home of their super famous rock star friend...and what happens when they have to move out. - more on this story

First Sounds From Earth Reissued

Southern Lord had this exciting news for Earth fans: For the first time ever the debut recordings of Earth are available in one capsule. A Beaurocratic Desire For Extra Capsular Extraction contains the entire 1990 Smegma Studios sessions which are the debut recordings from Earth.

Previously available scattered via the Extra Capsular Extractions EP and Sunn Amps and Smashed Guitars CD, this essential collection contains every note from the infamous first Earth recording sessions. All 7 tracks have been carefully remastered by Mell Dettmer.

It is actually questionable what mastering if any was done on the original tracks so they entrusted the task into the very capable hands of Mell who has mastered all the other Earth releases via Southern Lord. Bearing exclusive artwork by Simon Fowler and package design via Stephen O'Malley, the end result is a burly, mammoth and crushing audio experience that makes this collection a must have even for the diehards that own previous versions of these recordings. - more on this story

Rare and Unseen David Bowie DVD

David Bowie will be the focus in the next installment of the Rare and Unseen DVD series. The Bowie edition is set for release on November 23rd.

Most famous for his alter-ego, the ostentatious, androgynous "Ziggy Stardust" during the glam-rock era of the early 1970s, Bowie has continually reinvented his music and image and is regarded as an influential innovator, particularly in rock music. He has had numerous top ten hits, most notably China Girl, Modern Love, Starman, Space Oddity, Under Pressure and Let's Dance, amongst others. Bowie is also a multi-instrumentalist, singing vocals as well as playing Electric, Acoustic, and Twelve String Guitar, Keyboards, Alto, Tenor, Piano, Harmonica, Xylophone, Tambourine, Drums, Percussion and many other instruments, making him one of the most multi-talented musicians in the world.

Told through missing-believed-wiped archive interviews and rare and unseen footage, this insightful DVD is a worthy addition to any Bowie collection. Items genuinely unseen and never before appeared on DVD including film from the ITN archive. Includes lost and now restored TV interviews from the past and rare film of the singer talking about his career. - more on this story

My Darkest Days for Nickleback's Chad Kroeger

Nickleback frontman Chad Kroeger and longtime Nickelback producer Joey Moi teamed up to produce My Darkest Days' debut album which includes the single "Porn Star Dancing."

The video for the single captured some attention by featuring Kroeger and Zakk Wylde in the clip. Also of note, My Darkest Days' lead singer Matt Walst is the brother of Brad Walst of Three Days Grace. - more on this story

Nordic Maiden

(Band Statement) Iron Maiden will continue the Final Frontier World Tour extensively into 2011 and their return to the Nordics can now be announced with the confirmed dates.

An extensive tour of Australia has already been announced for 2011, and watch Iron Maiden.com for many more additional countries over the next few weeks and months. Hopefully Maiden will play somewhere near you !!

The Final Frontier album was hugely successful in all the Nordics, being the number one album in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. In Norway and Finland it remained No 1 for 3 weeks and in Sweden, after being No 1 for 2 weeks, dropped to 2 before returning to No 1 again! It was also Maiden's FOURTH consecutive No 1 album there and third in Finland. The album is already Platinum in Finland and gold in Sweden and Norway. - more on this story

Reel Big Fish and Goldfinger Announce Shows

Reel Big Fish and Goldfinger have announced they will be playing a set of four dates together in early November.

Kicking off November 3rd at the House of Blues in San Diego, CA, the bands will also play venues in Los Angeles (Nov. 4), San Luis Obispo (Nov. 6) and Las Vegas (Nov. 7).

On November 9th in Salt Lake City, UT, Reel Big Fish will make a special guest appearance on Yo Gabba Gabba! Live, the national concert tour spun off of the popular Nick Jr television series, Yo Gabba Gabba! The band is expected to perform one song during the show. - more on this story

Evile Bungee Jumping For A Cause

Evile guitarist Ol Drake and Metal Hammer editor Alexander Milas will be bungee jumping from Pottersfield Park, next to Tower Bridge, at 10:30am this Saturday whilst dressed as cowboys. Fans are encouraged to head down and watch the brave metalheads throwing themselves off the 160ft crane.

Ol Drake will be jumping in memory of late Evile bassist Mike Alexander and in aid of the British Lung Foundation, while Alexander Milas will be jumping in aid of the Ronnie James Dio 'Stand Up and Shout' Cancer Fund.

With just days left until the jump, Ol Drake offers his final thoughts: "I think I am more nervous of having to walk through London to get to the jump while dressed as a cowboy. If anyone gives me any abuse, I will spray them with the two water pistols I have. I will no doubt be shouting 'Slayer' on the way down in honour of Mike. Looking forward to it! Hope to see some people at the bottom shouting things at us. In the name of Mike and Dio, we shall jump off a big crane (never thought I'd be saying that, in so many ways). - more on this story

Spock's Beard Check In From The Road Ahead of Next Week's Album Release

(Mazur) Spock's Beard is in the midst of a European tour in support of its tenth album, 'X,' which will receive an American release on September 28 by Music Theories Recordings, a subsidiary of Mascot Records.

"It is so great to be playing live again," said drummer/vocalist Nick D'Virgilio. "We made a new record we are all really proud of and now it is time to rock the house. It has been way too long."

Added bassist Dave Meros: "We're playing some really great venues that we've been in before and also a couple of countries that we've never been to. We're exploring new territories, which is always exciting." - more on this story

Shania Twain Plans Memoirs

(Gibson) Shania Twain has signed a deal with Atria Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, to publish her memoirs next year. The as-yet-untitled book is planned for release in the spring of 2011.

According to a Simon and Schuster statement, Shania will discuss her upbringing in Canada, the tragic death of her mother and stepfather and her rise to the top, as well as recent challenges in her personal life.

"There have been moments in my life I was concerned by the reality that tomorrow would never come," Twain said in a press statement. "Recently I experienced one of those moments to an intensity that brought on a sudden urgency to document my life before I ran out of time, before I had the opportunity to share an honest and complete account of my life, in my own words. There are times in your life that are meant for reflection, and this was one of them. I began writing this book with a sincere respect for the past, present and future as something never to be taken for granted." -

Marco Mendoza Releases New Album

Mascot Records have released the second solo album from Marco Mendoza, which is entitled "Casa Mendoza".

"From the production process to the playing, everybody involved had a big influence on the record and I give them a lot of credit," said Mendoza.

Mendoza is most famous for his work with rock and hard rock acts like Thin Lizzy, Blue Murder, White Snake, Ted Nugent, Lynch Mob, and Neal Schon and Soul SirkUS, but his vast repertoire of work goes beyond the rock genre. Mendoza has most recently been working on a project with Dolores O'Riordan from pop giants the Cranberries. When he's not touring or otherwise working, Mendoza can often be found playing local Los Angeles jazz clubs with Joey Heredia and Renato Neto. The highly-sought-after monster bassist has rejoined Thin Lizzy once more and will be touring in 2011. - more on this story

Miggs To Tour with Green River Ordinance

Miggs are hitting the road this fall, where they will be opening for Green River Ordinance.

Miggs is currently touring to support the release of their new album, "Wide Awake," which became available in stores and online on May 18.

Green River Ordinance will be performing songs from their latest EP, "The Morning Passengers EP – Acoustic Sessions," which debuted #3 Billboard Heatseeker this week, including "Dancing Shoes," along with fan favorites from their Capitol/Virgin Records debut album, "Out of My Hands," "Come On" and "On Your Own." - more on this story

Taddy Porter Release New Single, Touring With Slash and Finger Eleven

Taddy Porter has just released their second single, "Big Enough" as the band continues on the road opening for legendary guitarist Slash and about to begin a nine date jaunt with Finger Eleven.

Taddy Porter's first single, "Shake Me", will appear on the new NBC drama Chase on Monday, October 4. The songs "Railroad Queen" and "In the Morning", from the band's self-titled debut released this summer, make an appearance in the movie Legendary, starring Patricia Clarkson and WWE superstar John Cena, which is currently in theatres.

The band will also perform on WGN America's Midday Show on November 5, 2010. The show can be seen in over 200 markets across the country and in over 70 million households. - more on this story

We Barbarians Announce Tour with Ra Ra Riot and Release Free Download

We Barbarians have announced that they will hit the road this fall with Ra Ra Riot for a US tour.

After playing two headlining shows in Los Angeles and San Francisco, the band will join Ra Ra Riot for a three-week run that will take them across the country.

We Barbarians is currently in the studio nearing completion of a forthcoming EP, slated for release in early 2011. The band is offering new track "Headspace" for free download, to give fans a taste of what is to come. Download "Headspace" here Get the tour dates - here

Linkin Park Come Out On Top

Linkin Park's fourth studio album A Thousand Suns has debuted at no. 1 on Billboard's Top 200 album chart.

Among other countries whose charts have been already announced, A Thousand Suns also came in #1 in Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, New Zealand and Switzerland.

The new single, "Waiting For The End," the follow up to their #1 alternative single "The Catalyst," is exploding at radio, making Linkin Park the #1 most played artist at the alternative format. -

Amusement Parks on Fire Announce New Album

Filter US Recordings have set an October 5th release date for Amusement Parks on Fire's third album, Road Eyes.

Recorded with the help of producers Michael Patterson (Great Northern, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Beck's Midnite Vultures) and Nic Jodoin during a yearlong stay in Los Angeles, Road Eyes was an attempt to channel the bands love of both sonic adventurism and classic songwriting in to one fat free forty five minute fever dream of a pop record.

With a sound perhaps fittingly termed stargaze (which is not to be confused with shoegaze), the tracks that make up the new album are a colossal rush of massed guitars, voices, drums, keyboards and strings that burn with urgency and soar with sumptuous lyricism -- while packing a visceral punch not unlike the feral punk that inspired the band back in the day. - more on this story

Wanna Buy Jerry Garcia's House?

(Gibson) The home that Jerry Garcia owned at the time of his death in 1995 is up for sale. The former abode of the Grateful Dead frontman is being sold for about $4 million, according to Zillow.com.

The Mediterranean-style house is located in Nicasio, California, which is about 30 miles north of San Francisco. The 7,000-plus-square-foot home includes five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a family room with a movie screen, a swimming pool and panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, Mount Tamalpais and downtown Berkeley.

Singer-guitarist Garcia led Rock and Roll Hall of Famers the Grateful Dead for three decades. He was staying at a drug rehabilitation facility when he died of a heart attack on August 9, 1995. - more on this story

Powerglove Tease New Album

(eOne) Powerglove have released the second video teaser surrounding their next record "Saturday Morning Apocalypse" which is due out September 28th, 2010.

"Saturday Morning Apocalypse came out brighter and darker, faster and slower than our previous releases," says drummer Bassil Silver. This is the band's first record with eOne Music and this time they're taking their songs in a new direction. The band had previously stuck to 8 bit Nintendo game theme songs. However, this new release is their take on Saturday morning cartoons and movies that anyone who's grown up in the 80's will immediately recognize.

Silver concludes with, "No matter what we write, we know all the comments will be about how bizarre we look, how ridiculous this track list is, and the fact that we somehow got Tony Kakko to sing the Pokemon theme for us. We would tell you how clown-rapingly awesome it is, but you can decide that for yourself when the album comes out in September."

The Second teaser trailer with morphing album art can be seen - here

Lamb Of God Pull Monterrey Show

We received this update on yesterday from Lamb of God: Due to circumstances outside of the band's control, Lamb Of God will not be able to perform in Monterrey on October 6th, 2010.

While the band was anxiously looking forward to play for their fans in Monterrey, the promoter Rock Amerika did not fulfill their obligations in regards to the band's fee, travel, or production logistics.

Therefore, the band did not feel the show would be presented in a professional way for the band's performance or for their fans. - more on this story