Limp Bizkit Murder- 80s Rocker Dies- Steven Tyler Solo Release- Metallica's Hetfield To Speak At Church- Queen Delayed- Pearl Jam Film Sneak Peak- Fugazi Archives- Taking Back Thursday- more

On this day in 1990, Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose married Erin Everly, daughter of Don Everly, at Cupid's Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. Find out what else happened on this date in music history here

Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry Did Drugs Again

(Rock News Desk) Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler says the band's shambolic attempt to make an album in 2008 collapsed because he and guitarist Joe Perry started using drugs again. But the frontman says the situation threw up a terrible contrast: the once-celebrated Toxic Twins rekindled their friendship while they were high – but they couldn't work as a band while they partied.

The Boston giants' recent history is littered with near disaster. In 2009 Tyler fell off stage while under the influence of drugs, breaking his shoulder and forcing the band to cancel their tour with ZZ Top. Months later he announced he wanted to concentrate on his solo career, and his bandmates set about finding a replacement.

At the end of the year Tyler crashed a Perry solo show and told the crowd he wasn't leaving Aerosmith. Months later the band settled their differences and hit the road again, with both Toxic Twins saying the situation had got out of hand, and hadn't needed much conversation to repair. more on this story

Sabbath, Maiden, Metallica, Purple Supergroup Set US Release

(Gibson) WhoCares, the musical project featuring current and former members of metal and hard rock gods Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden and Metallica, will release their debut single in North America this June.

According to Black-Sabbath.com, "Out of My Mind"/"Holy Water" will be available in the States on CD single on June 27. Proceeds will be donated to help rebuild a music school in Gyumri, Armenia.

"Out of My Mind" features a who's who of metal giants, including singer Ian Gillan (Deep Purple), guitarists Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) and Mikko "Linde" Lindström (HIM), bassist Jason Newsted (Metallica, Voivod), drummer Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden) and keyboardist Jon Lord (Deep Purple). As such, it is a reunion of sorts on multiple fronts. Gillan fronted Black Sabbath for the Born Again album in the early '80s. Gillan is also reunited with founding Deep Purple member Jon Lord, who retired from the band in 2002. "Holy Water" also features Gillan and Iommi, though with a different supporting cast.

As previously announced, the single will be released in Europe on May 24 and available for digital download on May 6. more on this story

Metallica Release Downloads From Big 4 Show

(Rock AAA) LiveMetallica.com has released audio of the Metallica's full set at Saturday's Big 4 show in California. Audio samples of Metallica's set can be streamed at LiveMetallica.com.

Full-song downloads can be purchased for $0.99 each. Full shows can be downloaded for $9.95 and a high-quality FLAC version of the entire set can be purchased for $12.95.

During the show, fans were treated to rare, full version of "Orion" – the Cliff Burton-penned instrumental from "Master Of Puppets." While the first half of the song was performed at two shows in 2005, this was the first time that the full version was performed in the U.S. more on this story

Guns N' Roses Plan U.S. Dates?

(Gibson) Guitarist DJ Ashba, who has been a member of Guns N' Roses since 2009, recently appeared at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards (presented by Epiphone). As he walked the "Black Carpet," Ashba was asked by Metal Injection if Axl Rose and company were planning any U.S. dates this year.

"Absolutely," he replied. "We just booked [Brazil's] Rock in Rio [festival] for October 2, but there's talk we're gonna be going out way sooner. And hopefully we're gonna be [playing dates] here in the States this year. I'm hoping. That's the plan."

Ashba's other band, Sixx:A.M., is set to release a new album, titled This is Gonna Hurt, on May 3. more on this story

Emotions High As Slipknot Prepare For Paul Gray-less Shows

(Rock News Desk) Slipknot's Shawn Clown Crahan and Joey Jordison say their upcoming European shows without Paul Gray will be their most emotional performances ever – and Clown says he'll be in tears even before they start to play.

The festival sets mark the outfit's return to the stage following the death of bassist Paul Gray nearly a year ago, and the bandmates say it's a difficult but important step in the grieving process. But there's still no guarantee they'll record any new material, despite drummer Jordison's hopes. He tells Bare Bones Music: "I definitely want a new Slipknot record. I personally have, I don't know, probably over 17 songs ready."

Percussionist Crahan is more cautious. He comments: "I'm not a fortune teller so I can't promise anybody anything. Do I want a record? Yes. Do I know if it'll happen? I don't know." more on this story

John Lennon Wanted To Redo Every Beatles Song

(Rock News Desk) Beatles producer Sir George Martin remains intensely proud of his work with the Fab Four but remembers how upset he was when John Lennon said he wanted to re-record everything they'd ever done.

The desk-jockey gave the band their big break in 1962 after every other label they'd approached refused them. He remained with them until their final days eight years later, but he can't forget the moment Lennon offended him.

Martin tells the Independent: "I said to John, 'I can't believe that. Think of all we've done, and you want to re-record everything?' He said, 'Yeah, everything.' And I said, 'What about Strawberry Fields?' He looked at me and said, 'Especially Strawberry Fields.' more on this story

Mike Portnoy Regrets Public Split With Dream Theater

(Rock News Desk) Mike Portnoy regrets that his split with Dream Theater went sour in public, but says despite all the negative headlines he's as happy as he's ever been.

The drummer likens last year's breakdown in relations with the band he helped form as similar to getting divorced in public, and insists he'd rather it hadn't happened that way.

Portnoy says: "It kind of sucks. It was like getting a divorce on nation TV. Everything I said would be misinterpreted or taken the wrong way. A lot of people will take a little snippet from an interview then use it in a way that shows me complaining, or upset, or pessimistic. That's not the case – I'm a very happy person. I'm happier than ever. more on this story

Paul McCartney Classics To Be Remastered in Deluxe Editions

(Gibson) Paul McCartney is planning to reissue his solo debut, 1970's McCartney, as well as 1980's McCartney II in remastered, deluxe editions. The albums will be available starting June 13 and were remastered at Abbey Road Studios by the same team that worked on 2009's Beatles reissues.

McCartney will feature seven bonus tracks, including live performances and outtakes, on a bonus CD. A deluxe edition will add a DVD (with a behind-the-scenes look at the album and live footage) and a 128-page booklet with rare photos taken by Paul and his late wife Linda.

McCartney II will feature eight bonus tracks on a bonus CD with live and alternate versions. A deluxe edition will add another CD and a DVD with music videos. It also will come with a 128-page booklet with rare photographs. more on this story

Dream Theater Issue Part Two in Three Part Web Series To Announce New Drummer

(Gibson) Dream Theater have made their search for a new drummer into a three-part web series. "The Spirit Carries On" features the prog metal giants auditioning seven potential replacements for outgoing founding member Mike Portnoy.

The drummers in contention are Aquiles Priester (Angra, Paul Di'Anno), Peter Wildoer (Darkane), Virgil Donati (Planet X, Seven the Hardway), Derek Roddy (Hate Eternal, Nile, Today is the Day), Mike Mangini (Steve Vai, Extreme, Annihilator), Thomas Lang (John Wetton, Robert Fripp, Glenn Hughes) and Marco Minnemann (Kreator, Necrophagist, Ephel Duath, Joe Satriani).

In episode two, frontman James LaBrie discussed the wide range of material the group threw at the skinsmen during their auditions: "You have a heavy metal tune. Then you have a more lighter, atmospheric tune like 'Spirit,' and then you have an epic tune. If there's anything that a drummer has to grasp, it's those aspects of Dream Theater." Check it out here

Seether Set New Album Release

Wind-Up Records have set a May 17th release date for Seether's new album, Holding Onto Strings Better Left To Fray.

The album was is produced by the legendary Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Rage Against The Machine).

The PR says the album "showcases songwriter and frontman Shaun Morgan's ability to successfully meld raw emotional lyrics with intensely melodic elements of heavy metal, post-grunge and alternative."

Slayer Release New App

(Gibson) Slayer have launched an official band app for iPhone, iPad and Android devices. The app is identified by the metal band's famous eagle logo and is free.

Slayer's official app will feature exclusive content, band news, rare photos, social media feeds, music, videos, a fan wall, tour dates and more. The app is available in more than a dozen languages.

This isn't Slayer's first foray into apps. The group previously put out the Pinball Rocks music game app. The official Slayer app is currently available to download in the iTunes and Android stores. more on this story

Corrosion of Conformity Announce Tour and New Album Almost Done

The recently reunited Animosity-Era Line-Up of Corrosion of Conformity have announced a full summer tour.

Corrosion of Conformity is also wrapping up work on a new album, the first new release featuring the Animosity-era line-up of Woodroe Weatherman, Reed Mullin and Mike Dean since the mid-'80s.

The trek will be kicking off May 26 in Carrboro, N.C. at Cat's Cradle with the Scream as support. more on this story

Singled Out: Death Valley High's Multiply

Today Death Valley High tell us about "Multiply" from their brand new album "Doom, in Full Bloom," which was released this week. (As a sidenote, the main songwriter in Death Valley High co-wrote The Deftones' "Lucky You"). Here is the story:

You know those stories of heightened senses, where an individual can become so adrenalized that they can do these miraculous things? A mother picks up a car to save her child, or even more recently; a boy picking up an assailant (ie: BULLY) and ultimately tossing him over his shoulder? There's these high pressure moments where you are completely taken over by the moment and you can perform things you normally couldn't have.

Similarly, there are times when you are moved to tears; or to laugh; or react without control. That loss of control where you have no option other than succumb to the energy and space around you. That "rush" that takes you out of your normal state and into a new reality.

I'd like to think that "Multiply" embodies these fevered moments in lyrical and musical content. It's a "foreign" agitator pushing you to scary places; both eerie and euphoric. That feeling of your heart racing and adrenaline multiplying.

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

Joe Elliot Says The Time Is Right For Def Leppard's First Live Album

(Rock AAA) With a career spanning more than 30 years and 10 studio albums, it's astonishing that Def Leppard have waited all this time to put together a live album. The band's first, "Mirrorball" hits the shops in June but frontman Joe Elliott says that they never really had an opportunity to do it sooner.

Speaking to Rock Radio's Tom Russell, Elliott explained: "We found growing up all the live albums that influenced us – Strangers in the Night by UFO, Live and Dangerous, Frampton Comes Alive, All the World's a Stage by Rush – they would come out notoriously after three studio albums that weren't necessarily the most brilliantly produced.

"When you heard them live they were so superior. It gave these bands careers a bit of a kick start and a year off to write a fourth album. We never had that luxury. By the time we had done an 18 month world tour, we had the record company breathing down our necks looking for the next studio album."

However things changed for Leppard once they had completed their touring schedule in 2010. more on this story

Roger Waters Box Set

The official live and studio works of Roger Waters are being gathered together into The Roger Waters Collection, a new deluxe box set that will be released on May 30th, 2011. Here are the official details:

The Roger Waters Collection includes his solo works The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking, Radio K.A.O.S., Amused To Death and his Opera, Ca Ira, plus a 2 CD/DVD edition of In The Flesh - LIVE, recorded and filmed on Waters' three-year "In The Flesh" tour.

The Roger Waters Collection includes seven CDs and one DVD in a special edition box, each album packaged in a mini-LP replica sleeve with original artwork and masters. more on this story

The Who's Roger Daltrey Announces Tommy Tour

(Gibson) Roger Daltrey is set to embark on a U.K. solo tour this summer in which he will perform The Who's legendary rock opera, Tommy.

Accompanied by Pete Townshend's younger brother, Simon Townshend, Daltrey will take Tommy on the road beginning July 3. Pete Townshend has expressed enthusiastic support for the venture.

"Great to see Roger performing Tommy with his band in 2011," Pete said. "Roger is touring his unique concert version … using his faithful presentation of the original work as the backbone for a set of wider material. It is wonderful to hear the way Roger and his new band re-interpret the old Who songs. I will be there in spirit, and Roger has my complete and most loving support." more on this story

Mick Mars Seeks The Right Liar

(Rock News Desk) Mick Mars wants to join his Motley Crue bandmates and have his own book published, but he's having trouble finding someone to write it for him.

The guitarist is keen to have his own say on the band's 30-year career once he identifies the correct candidate to do the word work. "I want the right liar!" Mars tells The Aquarian. "I had a couple of guys come over and give me a ten-page thing on what they wanted to do. But they didn't know what to write about and they didn't know what I'm about.

"I took this guy out on tour with us so he could help me write. I wanted to show him what the road was all about – but he just sat in my bus and got drunk. I just said to him, 'Get outta here!'" more on this story

Queen's Brian May Says Sacha Baron Cohen Is Perfect To Play Freddie Mercury

(Gibson) Queen's Brian May is convinced that actor Sacha Baron Cohen is "perfect" for the role of Freddie Mercury in the Mercury biopic. Nonetheless, in a lengthy interview with London's Daily Record, the Queen guitarist said he and the surviving members of the band have mixed feelings about the film.

"It is a project which is taking up a lot of time even though it is in the preparatory stages," May said. "It is a bit early to say how we will feel about it. Obviously, we go into it with a great amount of enthusiasm but also a certain amount of caution, because Freddie's legacy is very precious and we have a great responsibility not to mess it up. It is more about Freddie than it is about us, and that is deliberately so."

May went on to say it's only recently that the band put their full support behind the project. "We have resisted making this film for a long time," he said, "and it is only now we feel we have the right people that we have given it the OK. If it hadn't been for Sacha pushing and pushing, we wouldn't be at this point. We didn't choose him. He chose us. He is passionate about playing Freddie. For years, he's been saying he is going to do it." more on this story

Vampires Everywhere Star Hospitalized

Vampires Everywhere! have explained that is was health issues that forced them to pull out of some dates with Brokencyde on 'The Death Race Tour'.

Michael Vampire has issued a statement regarding their return to the tour and explains their absence: "Hello Evil Ones, I am writing to update all of you on my current situation regarding tour & my health. I have been in the hospital for over a week. During the Death Race Tour, I noticed my arm was swollen which progressed throughout the tour.

"The day of our Atlanta show, I was feeling horrible and asked the band to drive me to the hospital, which I thought was going to be an in and out experience. It turns out my arm was infected badly & needed immediate surgery. Thus VE! had no choice but to cancel tour dates until I was fully recovered. I am being released from the hospital this week and I am feeling much better! more on this story

Red Hot Chili Peppers and Smashing Pumpkins Make Top Albums of the 90s List

(Gibson) Gibson continues their countdown of the Top 50 Albums of the 90s with today's list showing their picks for No 11-20. Here are a couple of highlights:

12. Siamese Dream, The Smashing Pumpkins (1993): While The Smashing Pumpkins' 1991 debut, Gish, didn't hit it big with the mainstream, it made the Pumpkins one of the most buzzed about acts on the alternative scene, and expectations were sky-high for their follow-up, Siamese Dream. With mysterious frontman Billy Corgan at the helm, Siamese Dream played on prog rock with delicately layered guitars and introspective lyrics. Anyone who questions the influence of this album need only look to rock radio monsters "Disarm," "Cherub Rock" and "Today." – Anne Erickson

11. Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Red Hot Chili Peppers (1991): Nowhere have the Red Hot Chili Peppers better showcased their ability to break down musical walls as on 1991's Blood Sugar Sex Magik. With producer Rick Rubin in the director's chair, the album spawned funky hits ("Suck My Kiss"), personal acoustic ballads ("Under the Bridge") and alt-rock nuggets about lost love ("Breaking the Girl"). Musically, John Frusciante's guitar work is smart and strong – carefully placed riffing and raw soloing fit tightly alongside frontman Anthony Kiedis' self-reflections, making this a noise-funk collection hard to beat. – Anne Erickson more on this story

Prince: Chaos, Disorder, and Revolution

Backbeat Books have released Jason Draper's new book about the Purple One called Prince: Chaos, Disorder, and Revolution. Here is the background info:

For more than thirty years Prince has cut a singular path through the heart of popular music. Right from the beginning, he insisted on producing his own albums, directing his own music videos, and continuing to live in his hometown of Minneapolis.

After making some of the most inventive albums of the 1980s — including 1999, Purple Rain, and Sign O' the Times — he turned his attention to redefining his role in the music industry, changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol, declared war on his record label, and became the first artist to release an album online, helping to lead the Internet revolution. more on this story

Captain Kirk An Honorary Headbanger

(hennemusic) Last week, legendary actor, recording artist and author William Shatner was presented with the Honorary Headbanger Award at the third annual Revolver Golden Gods Award Show, held at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles.

Revered for his role as Captain James T. Kirk on Star Trek, Shatner was on-hand to accept his award, an honor Revolver magazine bestows each year to someone who has made their name outside of the metal world but still embodies its spirit.

When Revolver asked me to come down," said Shatner, "it seemed like a natural thing to do – to go from Zakk Wylde to this. I'm just thrilled to be among this enthusiastic group of people filled with heavy metal emotion." more on this story

Who Was That Man? Tokyo Rosenthal

(Glass Onyon) Rock & Sock Records have released "Who Was That Man?", Tokyo Rosenthal's fourth album on their label. The CD features 10 tracks, all written by Rosenthal.

This is "Toke's" first release since the critically acclaimed "Ghosts" which reached number five on the Euro Americana Chart in early 2010.

As always Tokyo's tunes are topical, reflecting politics, personal history, observations, and relationships. "The Librarian" is the true tale of Toke's grammar school librarian turned "porn star" at age 87 (check the Day in Rock next week for Toyko's Singled Out on that one!). "Little Old Man" tells the story of Tokyo's 18 year old cat while "Your 3rd Score" is an ode to his wife. And Toke is known for his songs about particular cities and he does it again with "San Antone". Another stand out is the story of a female boxer who rebounds from a near fatal car crash to become a 4 time world champion. It's entitled "Ann Marie" and really happened. And the title track, "Who Was That Man?", is about a classic case of mistaken identity. more on this story

Ringo Starr Plans Autobiographical Album

(Gibson) Ringo Starr is working on an autobiographical album about his years in Liverpool, the former Beatle has revealed. As reported by NME.com, the legendary drummer recently told Uncut magazine he prefers to write about his life through music, rather than go the hardback route.

"It's like I've decided to do mini-autobiographies," Starr said. "Instead of writing a book, I'm doing it on record. I have been offered [deals for] autobiographies, but all they really wanna know about is those eight years in The Beatles, and there would be three volumes before I even got to that."

Starr went on. "Right now, I'd rather put it quickly in a song, snippets of part of my life," he said. "Everybody talks about the Cavern Club, but in this new track, I actually mention the Iron Door, which was a much better club. It was more of a real rock club." more on this story

Runner Runner Acoustic Tour

(EMI) Runner Runner will be hitting the road on May 16th for an intimate acoustic headline tour.

The 16-city Spring trek will open at the Visulite Theater in Charlotte, NC running through June 3rd at Redwood Art Space in Wilkes Barre, PA.

The band will then join Good Charlotte and Yellowcard on their co-headline summer tour starting June 10th at the House of Blues San Diego, CA and ending June 24th at Jannus Live! in St. Petersburg, FL. more on this story

Twisted Sister Rock Classics on Jimmy Fallon

(hennemusic) Twisted Sister were out in full force Tuesday night, as they rocked a couple of songs on Jimmy Fallon's show.

The band played two tracks: their massive 1984 anthem, "We're Not Gonna Take It," as well as "I Am (I'm Me)," an album cut off of 1983's "You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll" – a request by Fallon himself.

On Friday, April 29, Twisted Sister will perform at the Best Buy Theater in New York City to benefit The Pinkburst Project. Check out the clips from Fallon here

Black Sabbath Film To Feature Black Sabbath Music

(Rock AAA) New filmmaker Jack Osbourne is establishing himself in the field as producer of the God Bless Ozzy Osbourne documentary, which debuted Sunday at the 10th Annual Tribeca Film Festival in New York.

Expected in theatres later this year, the Ozzy feature is the first venture for Osbourne's Jacko Productions. And now comes word that Jack's second project will also be something with ties very close to home: a horror film called "Black Sabbath" that will feature music from the legendary band.

"Jack and I are about to do a horror movie called Black Sabbath, so there's some connective tissue there," God Bless Ozzy Osbourne co-producer Marc Weingarten told WENN following Sunday's premiere. "Just the music of Black Sabbath is in the movie, but it's not about the band." more on this story

Singer Owns Unusual Elvis Presley Memorabilia

(Gibson) Former Catatonia singer Cerys Matthews has revealed that she owns an unusual piece of Elvis Presley memorabilia.

According to the Daily Express, the singer owns some wood from the recording studio in Nashville where Elvis recorded many of his hits.

Matthews told the Telegraph magazine: "I have a piece of a gobo from the RCA studio in Nashville where Elvis Presley recorded. It is covered in Elvis' spit. A gobo is a panel about seven or eight feet tall, sometimes with a window in it, which acts as a sound barrier in a recording studio. It separates the noise of different musicians, and prevents too much spillage down the microphones." more on this story