Big 4: Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax Announce 2nd U.S. Show

We can't wait for a night in the Bronx as our second American show and for those of you who love fun facts, this will also be the second live music event hosted at the new ballpark. more on this story

Dream Theater Announce New Drummer

(Rock AAA) The long running saga of the mystery of Dream Theater's new drummer has finally come to an end. In the third episode of The Spirit Carries On 'soap opera' that has been drawn out on Youtube the band finally whittled the field of seven down to two – Marco Minnemann and Mike Mangini.

In the latest video episode, Mike Mangini makes the anxious call to Dream Theater HQ to find out if he has got the gig. As he punches in the number he says: "This is awful, just awful, just say it… don't put me through this."

As the call is answered, James LaBrie takes the bull by the horns and puts him out of his misery. "Obviously this is one of the most important decisions of our career. I'm sorry to have made you wait. None the less we have some news for you. We'd like to welcome you to the family."

[Mike Mangini has played with Steve Vai, Extreme and Annihilator] more on this story

Free Poison and Warrant Show- Godsmack Breakup Rumors Denied- Ozzy Willing to Do Black Sabbath Reunion- Deftones Mix It Up- New Black Dahlia Murder- more

The Day in Rock Digest for 04/29/11: Poison and special guests Warrant will perform a free show on May 3rd at Speaking Rock Entertainment Center in El Paso, Texas more

"I'm willing," Ozzy Osbourne said when asked about a Black Sabbath reunion. "But there are three other guys as well." And one of them – Butler – publicly ruled out a reunion in February. "It goes backwards and forwards. One day this, one day that. I'm up for it. But we'll see. If it's meant to happen, it'll happen." more

Godsmack mainman Sully Erna has shouted down rumours the band are splitting, and says they'll go from strength to strength even if his solo work takes off. more

Corey Taylor says that the upcoming Slipknot shows are way of letting fans share in celebration of Paul Gray more

Nergal reports Behemoth's first band meeting since he recovered from his battle against leukaemia went well more

Deftones frontman Chino Moreno says that, instead of playing albums in full during live shows, he feels obligated to play tracks from as many releases as possible. more

The Black Dahlia Murder will release their new album, "Ritual", in Europe on June 17 and in North America on June 21 via Metal Blade Records. more

U2 are promising to break the rules of the Glastonbury festival in order to make things up to fans who missed out when they were forced to cancel last year's appearance as a result of frontman Bono's back problems. more

Hatesphere has issued the following update about entering the recording studio in June: 'We have booked the Antfarm Studio, Aarhus, Denmark, from June 13th in order to make you a new album! 'Tue Madsen (The Haunted, Sick Of It All) will be guiding us through it, hopefully without getting too many gray hairs!" more

Voivod will release a new live album, "Warriors Of Ice", on June 17 via Indica Records. The CD was recorded on December 12, 2009 during the band's first headlining show in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in ten years. more

Culture Brats just posted an interview with Greg Kihn where he discussed his new compilation CD, the playoff song he just wrote for the San Jose Sharks, Joe Satriani (who was actually a guitarist for Kihn), and indulged them with an in-depth look at the classic "Jeopardy" video. Check it out here

News Corp. is looking for initial bids for MySpace by the end of the week and expects to announce a deal around June more. Hopefully the first thing they do is fire the person who came up with the redesign and return it to "old school" that actually worked.

Kevin Conklin from 93.7 KCLB Rocks Palm Springs interviewed Mark Tremonti from Alter Bridge backstage at the 4/27 show at the Grove of Anaheim. Check it out here

Degradead will release their third album, "A World Destroyer", in North America on June 28 via Metalville Records. more

On this day in 1963, publicist Andrew Loog Oldham and agent Eric Easton signed a management deal with The Rolling Stones after buying the rights to the group's first recordings for £90. Oldham persuaded keyboard player Ian Stewart to drop out of the line-up and become the band's road manager (while continuing to play piano on the Stones' recordings and, occasionally, on stage).

On this day in 1976, after a gig in Memphis, Bruce Springsteen took a cab to Elvis Presley's Graceland home and climbed over the wall. A guard assumed he was another crank fan, stopped him and threw him out. The incident later became one of Springsteen's best-known audience "raps."

On this day in 1993, guitarist and producer Mick Ronson died, aged 46, of liver cancer. "Ronno" recorded and toured with David Bowie from 1970 to 1973, co-produced (with Bowie) Lou Reed's 1972 album, Transformer, released two solo albums, Slaughter on Tenth Avenue and Play Don't Worry, and was also part Mott The Hoople and the Hunter-Ronson Band with Ian Hunter. Ronson also worked with such artists as Morrissey, Slaughter & The Dogs, The Wildhearts, The Rich Kids, Elton John, John Mellencamp and T-Bone Burnett. Find out what else happened on this date in music history here

Phil Anselmo's Head Busted Open Onstage

(Rock News Desk) Phil Anselmo of Down was the victim of an onstage accident last night, as witnessed by Skid Row guitarist Snake Sabo.

Anselmo's bandmate Pepper Keenan appeared to strike the frontman on the head with his instrument while they were playing the song Lifer, which he'd just dedicated to Pantera icon Dimebag Abbott.

Sabo reported from the scene: "Pepper just busted Philip's head open. Blood all over the place – but they keep going! F**king awesome!" more rock news

Sambora Rehab Won't Stop Bon Jovi Tour

(Rock News Desk) Bon Jovi are planning to start a tour of the US and Europe tomorrow without Richie Sambora, after the guitarist checked himself into rehab.

The 51-year-old has dropped out of the band's current activities with immediate effect, citing exhaustion and alcohol issues.

Bon Jovi will kick off a run of North American shows in New Orleans tomorrow night (April 30). They wind up on May 22, after which the band will head to Europe for a number of festival sets which end on July 31. more on this story

Dave Grohl and Eddie Vedder Jam

(Gibson) Grunge legends and famous frontmen Dave Grohl and Eddie Vedder hit a Seattle stage on Wednesday night for an impromptu performance, according to Spin.com. Along with Pat Smear, they joined Mike Watt (The Minutemen, The Stooges) during his show with the Missingmen at the Triple Door club.

The Pearl Jam and Nirvana guys go back a long way with Watt. In 1995, they all toured together – Vedder was with his side project, Hovercraft, and Grohl and Smear had just begun the Foo Fighters.

Wednesday night, they all teamed up for "Big Train," a track off Watt's 1994 album Ball-Hog or Tug Boat?, which included contributions from all three musicians. Grohl took to the drum kit while Vedder and Smear strapped on guitars. more on this story

Bring Me the Horizon Star Sidelined By Injury

(Rock News Desk) Bring Me the Horizon drummer Matt Nicholls broke his hand during a football match featuring members of the support acts on their current UK tour, and won't be able to play drums for six weeks.

Nicholls says: "Members of BMTH, Parkway Drive and Architects decided to play footy and I made the mistake of going in the net. The ball came to me and I knocked it away with my hands.

"Winston from Parkway Drive clipped my hand with his foot, and there you have it – one broken hand." Architects drummer Dan Searle will replace Nicholls for the upcoming shows. more rock news

Steven Tyler Doesn't Snort J.Lo

(Gibson) In addition to being the subject of a Rolling Stone cover story, Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler also is making the cover of People magazine this week. In the interview, he talks about the natural high he gets from being a judge on American Idol.

"If you think going out in front of high-def cameras and millions of people I'm not high on adrenaline, you're crazy," he said. "I'm stoned when that curtain drops. I just don't snort the curtain dropping. I don't snort J. Lo either, though I do breathe her in."

Aside from breathing in Jennifer Lopez, Tyler said he's been clean for a year and a half and that he's "grateful" to still be among the living. more on this story

Disturbed Release West Memphis 3 Benefit Song

(Rock News Desk) Disturbed are selling an unreleased track online to help raise money for three men who, the band says, have been wrongly jailed for a horrific multiple murder.

Support for the 'West Memphis Three' has been gaining ground after forensic evidence proved there was no connection between Damien Echols, Jason Baldwil and Jessie Misskelley and the deaths of three eight-year-old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, USA, in 1993.

A retrial was ordered in November but by the time it begins the trio will have spent another year behind bars. And although the evidence appears to prove their innocence, the defendants will have to cover the costs of re-testing the material.

Disturbed are selling the track 3 for 99c on their website to help cover the cost of justice – and urge their fans and fans of heavy music in general to contribute. more on this story

Led Pussycat Zeppelin NBA Jam

(hennemusic) ESPN and ABC have produced a special opening video for 2011 NBA Playoff coverage airing across the networks featuring Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger and Jason Bonham performing the Led Zeppelin classic "Black Dog."

"Working with Nicole for the NBA Playoffs spot was amazing. She is the real deal," said Bonham. "Not only is she one of the most beautiful people I have ever met, but she has a fantastic and powerful voice. She has a great rock voice and it worked out fantastic for 'Black Dog'. I was so pleased to be able to bring this song to such a huge sporting event."

"It was an honor to join Jason Bonham on the iconic Led Zeppelin song 'Black Dog'," Nicole commented. "I am excited that fans will be able to see the video during the Playoffs." Check it out here

Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott Planned Huey Lewis Collaboration

(Rock News Desk) The demo version of a song which Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott planned to record with Huey Lewis and the News has been released online.

The Thin Lizzy mainman was working with Lewis on Still Alive but died before its completion.

News guitarist Johnny Colla says: "Contrary to rumours, Mutt Lange was present one night but he didn't produce the sessions. Huey and Phil did some painstaking lead vocals, then we made rough mixes and went home." more on this story

Staind's Aaron Lewis Up For CMT Awards

(Gibson) CMT has revealed its list of nominees for the 2011 CMT Music Awards. Jason Aldean leads the pack with four nominations, with The Band Perry, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift and Zac Brown Band falling close behind with three apiece. And right behind them is a new face on the country music scene, Staind frontman Aaron Lewis.

Lewis garnered two nods for Breakthrough Video of the Year and Collaborative Video of the Year (with George Jones and Charlie Daniels) for "Country Boy." The song and video helped push Lewis' solo album, Town Line, to the top of the country albums chart.

In February, Lewis told Gibson.com that he has always loved country music: "I grew up on it," he said. "As a kid I spent a lot of time with my grandfather. When we went fishing, he had country music playing. When we went hunting, he played country music. He had country in the car, in the house. It was everywhere. So I grew up with Hank Williams and George Jones and the classics, but then my grandfather passed away and we moved away and I didn't hear the music as much and, as a teenager, I was into rock like everyone else." more on this story

Mastodon's Brent Hinds Going Double Solo

Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds will be releasing two special solo project debuts, West End Motel and Fiend Without A Face, as a two-CD set on June 7th. Here is the background info:

Fiend Without A Face are a rockabilly/porno/metal concoction mixed with a bit of a country, surf guitar and apple sauce on the side. They've been rockin' house parties for nearly two decades, but word on the street is that they're about to go legit thanks to Rocket Science!

The self-titled debut features 13 tracks of singular awesomeness that needs to be experienced by anyone looking for a bit of adventure in their listening outings. Like a fat man sending back soup, these boys are on a mission for the world's condition. Fiend Without A Face are armed and dangerous, packing just pantyhose, a fez and a bit of Vyvanse. more on this story

Morbid Angel Announce First Album in 15 Years

(Skh) Original Morbid Angel members Trey Azagthoth and David Vincent return after a fifteen year recording hiatus with Illud Divinum Insanus on June 7.

Drummer Pete Sandoval is recuperating from a back injury, with Tim Yeung now behind the kit. Over the past five years, Morbid Angel has been conquering stages across the world, and a return to the studio was inevitable.

Vincent shares, "We've been told that this is one of the most anticipated recordings and we pulled out all the stops and pushed things to a new level. This is exciting! more on this story

The New Regime (Nine Inch Nails, Lostprophets) Singled Out Week: Final Day -What Brings Us Down

The New Regime, the one-man outfit created by Ilan Rubin of Nine Inch Nails and Lostprophets fame, releases 'Through Speak Through the White Noise' this week. To celebrate we asked Ilan to tell us about some of his favorite tracks from the album. Today he tells us about "What Brings Us Down":

What Brings Us Down is a definite favorite of mine off of Speak Through The White Noise. The song has a completely individual character with a mood and feel all it's own.

The verses are pretty different because they're in 7/8 time, yet feel very fluid and natural. I've always found it interesting when songwriters come up with melodies and parts in odd time signatures where you don't notice them until you actually count them out. John Lennon did this quite a bit on more than a few Beatles songs. The chorus straightens out into 4/4 time with a big sequenced synth providing the rolling movement.

What is unique about this song from a recording standpoint is where and how it was constructed and completed. The bulk of it was recorded in a single day off at home during a NIN tour. I had purchased a vintage Roland RE-201 Space Echo and was very eager to use it when I got home, so lots of the guitar parts, rhodes parts, and other keyboard achieved their sound through that tape echo unit. Days off in the following two weeks were spent recording and emailing guitar and MIDI synth parts from various hotel rooms. To date, this was the only time I had recorded a song this way. It really makes you appreciate how advanced technology is when you can record something of such quality on a laptop at your own will. All of the backup vocals and harmonies were recorded in one night after a NIN show in NYC.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself as you preview the album right here!

Machine Head Working On New Album

(Rock AAA) Machine Head frontman Rob Flynn has revealed the band have begun recording sessions for their as-yet untitled seventh album while he expects to be wrapped up and available by September.

In an interview with Jo Schüftan of Horns Up Rocks! at the third annual Revolver Golden Gods Awards, Flynn said: "We've been in there for three days. Dave McClain's been laying down the drums, killing it, and we're getting going on the journey. In July we're out on the (Rockstar Energy Drink) Mayhem (Festival) tour, and then the record drops in September."

Drummer McClain believes they have another metal masterpiece on their hands. He explained: "For the past two records (as well as) this one, we've really been writing for ourselves. And we don't really have a set plan; we didn't really sit down and even go, like, 'We had a bunch of long songs on the last record, we've gotta do a bunch of short ones.' more on this story

Kid Rock, Paul McCartney, Lou Reed and Patti Smith Tribute Buddy Holly

(Gibson) To commemorate what would have been Buddy Holly's 75th birthday this year, a new all-star tribute album, Rave On Buddy Holly, will honor the rock and roll pioneer.

Some of rock's biggest names have contributed Holly songs to the collection including Kid Rock, The Black Keys, Modest Mouse, My Morning Jacket, Cee Lo Green Florence and the Machine, Paul McCartney, Lou Reed and Patti Smith.

According to a press statement, the artists were encouraged to "explore radically new interpretations." Tracklisting

Noel Gallagher Vs Tom Jones?

(Gibson) Rumors are flying faster than Craig Bellamy's elbows these days regarding this year's FA Cup final songs. Noel Gallagher has been tipped for several days to be recording a song for his beloved Manchester City. Now, according to a report in the Daily Mail, Man City's opposition in the title match, Stoke, are looking to recruit Tom Jones to re-record the team's adopted anthem, "Delilah," for the event.

"The club would be delighted if Tom agreed to re-do Delilah as the song for the FA Cup final," said a club spokesman. "The reaction of our supporters at Wembley for the semi-final—when Delilah was played over the PA system—was first class. It really helped make it feel like a home game."

If Jones is looking to duke it out with the former Oasis guitarist in the charts, he may have to do a little training first. Metro.co.uk reports that boxer Ricky Hatton may guest on Gallagher's recording, along with former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr. Rumor has it the track will be a cover of "Blue Moon." more on this story

Dr. John, Levon Helm, John Hiatt, more Guest on New David Bromberg Album

David Bromberg has recruited an all-star list of special guests for his new album, Use Me, which is set for release on July 12th. conqueroo sent over the following info on the release:

When David Bromberg, one of America's finest roots musicians, emerged from a recording hiatus of 17 years with the solo, acoustic, traditional folk-blues album Try Me One More Time (Appleseed, 2007), fans and critics were thrilled, and the CD was rewarded with a Grammy nomination.

For his follow-up album, Use Me, Bromberg chose a different approach: Why not ask some of his favorite singer-songwriters and musicians to write (or choose), produce, and perform on songs tailored to his versatile but distinctive skills as a guitarist and vocalist? more on this story

Chimaira Finish Album and Announce New Tour Dates

Entertainment One sent over word that Chimaira have announced a handful of tour dates this spring throughout Ohio and Michigan.

The band is fresh out of the studio having completed their upcoming yet to be titled record due out later this year.

After making headlines with recent member changes and Charlie Sheen related shenanigans, Chimaira are ready to get back to playing live shows. more on this story

Big Head Todd and The Monsters Announce Tour and All Star Robert Johnson Tribute

Big Head Todd and The Monsters have announced their summer tour plans and remind us about their all-star tribute to Robert Johnson as we approach the music legend's 100th birthday.

In addition to a handful of theatres in the midwest, the band headlines their annual Red Rocks Amphitheatre gig on June 11, where Guster will be on hand to open the show.

The band also returns to Chicago's famed Ravinia Festival and to the idyllic Colorado mountain town of Telluride for the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival, later this summer. more on this story

The Vaccines Announce Album, Tour and Letterman Appearance

(Filter) The Vaccines' debut, What Do You Expect From The Vaccines? will be released by Columbia Records on May 31.

Coming off the heels of their highly praised U.K. release, The Vaccines will be bringing their guitar anthems to the stage beginning May 17th in Washington, DC supporting the Arctic Monkeys.

The Vaccines will be making their American network television debut on the Late Show with David Letterman on Tuesday, June 7th. more on this story

Krazy Fest Returns Next Month

(Fresno) After an eight-year hiatus, Krazy Fest will make its long-awaited return next month.

The comeback of Kentucky's premiere punk weekend is set to kick off on Friday, May 20th and continue through Sunday, May 22nd.

The event will feature performances by Krazy Fest alumni Hot Water Music, Hot Rod Circuit, Bane, Cave In and Bouncing Souls, as well as festival newcomers Against Me!, Anti Flag, Lucero, Title Fight and more, scheduled to take place throughout the three day extravaganza at Louisville's Expo 5. more on this story

Sex Pistols, the Clash, the Damned Tribute Coming Next Week

(Musebox) On Tuesday, May 3, No Future: A Tribute To The Sex Pistols, the Clash, the Damned will be released by UK label Released Emotions, and distributed in the US by E1.

This is tribute to the three bands that pioneered the punk revolution in the late seventies, and are still influencing new bands to this day, includes cover versions provided by a varied selection of established UK indie and alternative acts from the last twenty years.

There are 18 tracks on the album, with 6 tracks each dedicated to the Pistols, the Clash and the Damned. All the bands were tasked with providing covers of a high standard. Expectations were high, and yet the artists managed to create something new & radically different. more on this story

Don't Compare Paul Simon to Bob Dylan

(Gibson) Paul Simon doesn't like being compared to fellow '60s legend and songwriter Bob Dylan. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he discussed the differences between him and Bob.

"One of my deficiencies is my voice sounds sincere," Simon said. "I've tried to sound ironic. I don't. I can't. Dylan, everything he sings has two meanings. He's telling you the truth and making fun of you at the same time. I sound sincere every time. Rock and roll has a lot to do with image. If that's not your strength, people find fault with the work."

Simon and Dylan toured together in 1999 and even played together during the shows, but he doesn't encourage comparisons. "I usually come in second," he says. "I don't like coming in second. In the very, very beginning, when we were first signed to Columbia, I really admired Dylan's work. "The Sound of Silence" wouldn't have been written if it weren't for Dylan. But I left that feeling around The Graduate and "Mrs. Robinson." They weren't folky anymore." more on this story

Grouplove Announce U.S. Tour

Grouplove have announced a run of U.S. headlining dates with support from Walk The Moon on all dates.

The U.S. tour will kick off with a hometown show on June 3rd at Satellite in Los Angeles, CA, and wrap up on June 18th at the Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn, NY

Grouplove are continuing to tour in support of their self-titled debut EP, released in January via Canvasback Music. more on this story

Nirvana and Radiohead Top Gibson's Top Albums of the 90s List

Today Gibson wraps up their countdown of their picks for the Top 50 albums of the 90s with another round of surprises. What isn't surprising, Radiohead and Nirvana ultimate claimed the top two spots. Here is what they had to say about those two:

2. OK Computer, Radiohead (1997): Radiohead are the Pink Floyd of this generation. They're a band that's capable of being wildly experimental and yet extremely accessible (code words for "weird" and "good"). OK Computer, the British band's third album, found the boys in transition from the stadium-sized riffs of The Bends to the bedroom blips of Kid A. It's an incredibly dense album, sonically, that's able to conjure some amazing atmospheres. It reveals different details depending on if you're listening on headphones, in your car or on your living room stereo. Of course, all that would be for nothing if the band didn't write great tunes – from the sweeping, mini-epic "Paranoid Android" to the music box twinkle of "No Surprises." And then, there's the album's overarching theme – Thom Yorke's vision of a society that struggles with becoming less connected emotionally as it gets more connected digitally. Guitar tandem Jonny Greenwood and Ed O'Brien make sure that you don't just hear the unease in Yorke's voice, but feel it in their ominous, even sinister, playing. The end result: one of the best albums of the '90s, and an all-time classic. – Bryan Wawzenek

1. Nevermind, Nirvana (1991): Nirvana's 1991 masterpiece Nevermind changed everything – and the radical 180-degree turn the music industry experienced in the wake of Nevermind's immediate impact happened in a blink of an eye. Before the phalanx of spandex-clad glam bands that had dominated the '80s knew what two-by-four had just smacked them upside their Aquanet-lacquered coifs (that two-by-four being Nevermind's first single "Smells Like Teen Spirit"), it was out with pointy guitars, eyeliner – and some might argue musicianship ¬– and in with angst, anger and a whole lot of flannel. Produced by Butch Vig, Nevermind had very low commercial expectations when it was released in September of '91. So meteoric was Nevermind's rise, however, that it dethroned the King of Pop's Dangerous album barely three months after its release. This was the very moment alternative rock became mainstream, and the music industry has never been the same. Easily one of – if not the – most influential albums in the history of recorded music. – Sean Patrick Dooley

See the rest of the Top 10 here