Behemoth frontman Back In The Hospital- Life After Paramore for Farro- Mars Volta Progress- Sum 41 Set Release- Periphery Injury- Agnostic Front 7 Inch- Six Feet Under- more

On this day in 1959, 22 year old Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, aged 17, died in a crash shortly after take-off from Clear Lake, Iowa, the pilot of the single-engined Beechcraft Bonanza plane was also killed. Holly hired the plane after heating problems developed on his tour bus. All three were traveling to Fargo, North Dakota, for the next show on their Winter Dance Party Tour which Holly had set - covering 24 cities in three weeks, to make money after the break-up of his band, The Crickets. Find out what else happened on this date in music history here

The White Stripes Break Up

Meg and Jack White had bad news for fans of The White Stripes on Wednesday: they have decided to break up. Here is the what they had to say:

The White Stripes would like to announce that today, February 2nd, 2011, Their band has officially ended and will make no further new recordings or perform live.

The reason is not due to artistic differences or lack of wanting to continue, nor any health issues as both Meg and Jack are feeling fine and in good health.

It is for a myriad of reasons, but mostly to preserve what is beautiful and special about the band and have it stay that way. more on this story

Slash To Play The Super Bowl?

(hennemusic) With a TV audience expected to top 100 million viewers, all eyes will be on the Black Eyed Peas this Sunday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

But they may be bringing along some special guests to the party for the halftime show at the Super Bowl.

The Associate Press reports a source close to the plans for the big game as saying Slash and Usher will make unannounced, surprise (well, so much for that) appearances with the Peas. more on this story

Prince and the Revolution Star in Critical Condition

(Gibson) Former Prince drummer Bobby Z has suffered a heart attack. According to Spinner.com the drummer had a serious heart attack last weekend.

Bobby Z, whose real name is Robert Rivkin, had three blocked arteries cleared by doctors, who are waiting on his health to improve before tackling another blocked artery. His son Adam Rivkin said: "They wanted him to get stronger in order to go through the final phase and take care of the third one. He's in critical condition and resting. He needs to build his strength so his heart can work on its own. Now they have him on help."

Rivkin was a key member of Prince's Revolution, especially during the early part of Prince's career. He left the band in 1986 to be replaced by Sheila E.

Michael Anthony Excited About New Van Halen Album

(hennemusic) In a new interview with ABC News Radio, former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony says he's "excited" that his former band are working on new material.

Van Halen are currently in the studio with producer John Shanks, recording their first album with David Lee Roth in more than 25 years, and their first new music as a band in 7 years.

"I'm looking forward to seeing what they'll do," says Anthony, adding that he has "no hard feelings" about his split from the band in 2005, when he was replaced by Eddie Van Halen's son, Wolfgang. more on this story

Rolling Stones Deny 2011 Tour Plans

(hennemusic) Well, that didn't take long. The Rolling Stones issued a statement on Wednesday denying recent headlines that the band will be touring this year. Here it is:

In light of recent reports surrounding the 'Breach of Contract' Court Case in America between Live Nation Entertainment and former LiveNation chairman Michael Cohl, The Rolling Stones wish to clarify their position regarding representation and touring.



Following the end of the 2007 A Bigger Bang world tour, The Rolling Stones became free from any contractual arrangements or agreements with Michael Cohl. He is neither their representative nor their tour promoter.



Also, the Stones confirmed today they have no firm plans to tour at this time.

= But does that mean they won't play at all?

Pete Townshend Haunted By The Ghost of Les Paul?

(Gibson) Glossynews.com is reporting that Pete Townshend claims to have been visited last year by the ghost of Les Paul, seeking atonement for The Who guitarist's years of smashing guitars.

According the website, which admits to not being the most trustworthy of news sources (their slogan is "Slightly better than propaganda, almost as accurate"), Townshend was awakened in a Pittsburgh hotel room last September by "a dark figure sitting in the corner of the room hugging a perfectly gorgeous one-of-a-kind Gibson Les Paul guitar to his chest and shaking his head as if in mourning."

Townshend reportedly claimed that the figure looked him in the eye and told him, "You have little respect for the instruments that made you famous. You must atone for your disrespect of the guitar or suffer the remainder of your life." more on this story

Pearl Jam Vs and Vitalogy Reissue Details

We had a story earlier this week about these reissues but now we have the official word with all of the details:

Epic Records and Legacy Recordings celebrate Pearl Jam's 20th anniversary with the release of newly restored and expanded editions of Vs. and Vitalogy, the second and third albums from Pearl Jam which broke all initial SoundScan records and secured the band's reputation as a preeminent force in American rock music.

Vs. and Vitalogy will be available in new Expanded Editions (featuring three bonus tracks on each) or together in a three-disc Deluxe Edition (featuring Live at the Orpheum Theater, Boston, April 12, 1994) and Limited Edition Collector's Box Set, on Tuesday, March 29th. Each album will also be released in new commemorative remastered Vinyl Editions on April 12th in time for Record Store Day 2011 (April 16th).
tracklistings

Singled Out: Tiger Riot

Today Christopher Tagliaferro from Tiger Riot tells us about "The Trap" from their brand new album "Look Up!," which hit stores this week. Here is the story:

The Trap is an outline of a doomed relationship using song parts to highlight a point of time, or stage. The first verse highlights the courtship of childhood friends, where the naïve protagonist meets and becomes enamored with his counterpart. The second verse to prechorus deals with becoming both physically and emotionally closer, too much so that it leads to a disagreement in which the protagonist begins to uncover unexpected truths. By the bridge, the facts have been presented: the main character was never cared for and was only being used by the girl for her own social and/or economic gain. This comes as a shock to our hero, who had blissfully assumed that he had met his angelic paragon and who is normally not so trustworthy and open for fear of being betrayed like this (normally, he "knows that s*** sideways").

The bridge's duet vocals highlight the climax of the relationship: the crushing end in which the protagonist, although bruised and betrayed, continues to believe that the girl he fell in love with will one day return to him when things go completely wrong ("I know that you'll catch me when I fall")

While the song's story is told in a linear format throughout, the chorus tells the protagonist's feelings in the present day, after the whole situation, and furthermore summarizes the Trap's story: an ode to the idea of a person that will never be.

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

The Black Crowes' Chris Robinson Taking Solo Flight

(hennemusic) They haven't even stuck a fork in The Black Crowes and Chris Robinson has moved on.

While the Crowes still have a series of European dates to play in July before embarking on their indefinite hiatus, frontman Chris Robinson has already booked the first tour for his new project.

Pollstar reports the Chris Robinson Brotherhood will spend the spring touring California with several residencies throughout the state. The trek begins in late March and wraps in late May, featuring 33 tour dates at 13 venues. more on this story

Foo Fighters Film To Debut at SXSW

(Gibson) James Moll, who directed the Oscar-winning documentary The Last Days, has just finished his first foray into rock and roll. Moll will debut a new documentary on the Foo Fighters at this year's SXSW festival. The film chronicles the band's 16-year history, rising from the ruins of Nirvana to become one of the greatest stadium acts of the last two decades.

Dave Grohl recalled in the press release, "In October of 1994, I walked into Robert Lang's Seattle studio with a guitar, a drum set, a bass, and 14 songs I thought nobody would ever hear. Five days later, I walked out with the first Foo Fighters record. 16 years and seven studio albums later, with the help of Academy Award-winning director James Moll, we're finally able to tell the story of how that one demo cassette turned into the band that we are today. This is our side of the story. From the first rehearsal, to the completion of our new album, it's all there."

He continued, "Through hours of interviews with all members of the band, past and present, we tell you the truth and nothing but the truth. So help us Lemmy. Giving James mountains of never seen before footage, and unlimited access to the recording of the new record, the film presents an insight to the band never seen before (even to some band members!) and shows the process of making our new album, in my garage, totally analog, to 24-track tape machines. No computers. No auto-tune. No drum machines. Just real rock and roll. For me, it's like watching my life flash in front of my eyes — except with a mouth full of popcorn and Hot Tamales. Hope you dig it. It's been a wild 16 years...here's to 16 more."

Augustana Coming in April

Epic Records have set an April 26th release date for Augustana's new self-titled third album.

The first single from the album, "Steal Your Heart," will go to radio on February 14th. The band, which is fronted by vocalist/lyricist Daniel Layus, recorded the album in Los Angeles with Grammy Award-winning producer/engineer Jacquire King, who is known for his work with Kings of Leon and Norah Jones, among others.

"The creative and musical progression of this record feels like the most true expression of who this band is in its most basic form," said Layus. "We worked really hard to bring the sound to a new frontier, but not so far that it lost that sense of organic sensibility." more on this story

My Morning Jacket, The Flaming Lips, Paul Simon and More for Hangout Music Festival

(Gibson) For a festival that's only in its second year, Alabama's Hangout Music Festival has a star-packed lineup.

The event, held on the coast of Gulf Shores, Alabama, will feature Foo Fighters, Paul Simon, Widespread Panic, My Morning Jacket and The Black Keys as its headliners.

The Southern festival is a three-day affair, taking place May 20-22. The rest of the lineup includes The Flaming Lips, Cee Lo Green, Primus, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Pretty Lights, Bassnectar, Girl Talk, Ween, Matisyahu, Umphrey's McGee, the Drive-By Truckers, the Warren Haynes Band, Trombone Shorty and Galactic. Although there were rumors that Phish would appear at the event, those reports proved false. more on this story

Michael Des Barres' New Band Announce Live Debut

(MSO) Michael Des Barres will debut his new group, The Michael Des Barres Band, on Saturday, February 12 with an 11:00 PM show at Three Clubs in Hollywood (1123 N.Vine St).

Says Des Barres: "I'm playing all these new songs evoking the musical world I grew up in...A world of blues-based dandies: The Faces, Free, Humble Pie...My musicians have worked with Courtney Love, Ray LaMontagne, Billy Corgan....Raucous, raw and passionate. The upcoming recordings were recorded in Austin, Texas..."

"…This is the first show...My very first show was in January 1972…I'm still in love with rock and roll as much today as I was when I first heard Robert Johnson, read Oscar Wilde and saw Brian Jones in a phone booth in Leicester Square." more on this story

The Raveonettes Album and Tour Coming

(Gibson) The Raveonettes have announced the upcoming release of their fifth album, Raven in the Grave.

The nine-song disc will hit stores in North America on April 5 and the rest of the world on April 4.

The Danes have also announced a series of North American dates, culminating in back-to-back stops at Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg. more on this story

Walter Trout Announces North American Tour

(Skh) Walter Trout has announced a North American tour that will kick off in Dallas, TX on March 9th.

The tour is in support of his 20th album, Common Ground, which has been honored with both a nomination for BMA Blues / Rock Album of the Year by the Blues Foundation, and made Classic Rock Magazine's 2010 Top 10 list.

The title of Trout's latest Common Ground is also a prayer. He sings "If there's a place where truth can still be found, Lord lead us to the common ground. The singer shared, "I am blown away by the polarization and cruelty in the world today. It goes beyond my understanding. I wrote the lyrics to that song as an attempt to come to terms with that, and as a wish that somehow – regardless of our faiths, nationalities and politics – we can find a place where truth and compassion can take us beyond our differences." more on this story

Echo & The Bunnymen Bringing Crocodiles & Heaven Up Here Tour To America

(Girlie) Echo & The Bunnymen have announced the North American leg of their acclaimed Crocodiles & Heaven Up Here tour.

The band will be playing those two legendary albums in their entirety. The UK leg of the tour saw the band play to sold out audiences.

The North American leg is set to kick off on May 9th in Boston and will wrap on the west coast with an Anaheim show on May 22nd. more on this story

Best Super Bowl Halftime Shows

(Gibson) The possible lip-syncing. The definite pyrotechnics. The marching bands. The beyond-iconic artists. And 150 millions pairs of eyes watching it all go down. The Super Bowl halftime shows have been a source of delight and (sometimes) disappointment for almost 20 years now. Michael Jackson became the first artist to have the halftime show all to himself in 1993; prior to that, the show consisted largely of marching bands, novelty acts and national anthem renditions. Nowadays it's a half-hour affair with lots of bells, whistles and high stakes. This year The Black Eyed Peas got the gig at Super Bowl XLV, set to air Sunday, February 6 on FOX. Gibson singled out their 10 favorite Super Bowl halftime performances of all time. Here are a couple:

1) Prince – 2007 - Super Bowl XLI - Indianapolis Colts: 29, Chicago Bears: 17: Just three years after Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction," Prince derived some controversy of his own by performing a guitar solo behind a transparent sheet and positioning his oddly shaped guitar in such a way that plenty of critics cried, "Phallic!" Whether it was intentional or accidental — guitars are inherently phallic, after all — we'll never know, but it turns out that Prince's pitch-perfect set list ("We Will Rock You," "Let's Go Crazy," "1999," "Baby I'm a Star," "Proud Mary," "All Along the Watchtower," "Best of You" and "Purple Rain") outshined his on-stage antics anyway.

8) Aerosmith, 'N Sync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, and Nelly – 2001 - Super Bowl XXXV - Baltimore Ravens: 34, New York Giants: 7: With an oddball collection of artists, this halftime show risked disaster but ended up working perfectly — segueing 'N Sync's "Bye Bye Bye" into Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" before returning to 'N Sync with "It's Gonna Be Me" and then back to Aerosmith with "Jaded." Britney Spears, Nelly and Mary J. Blige got in on the action for the triumphant final track, "Walk this Way." It was a cross-genre, cross-generational hit. more on this story

Watch Steven Tyler and American Idol Cohorts on Oprah

(hennemusic) Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and the American Idol crew joined Oprah on Wednesday to talk about the 10th season.

When asked about his bandmates' reaction, Tyler said, "I've been judged all my life. The band went on tour and we were off tour. I saw this as an opportunity to have some fun and to sit next to J-Lo here. And Randy."

Tyler also spoke about the show's process of seeing applicants in each of the cities where Idol looked for talent this year. more on this story

Dream Theater Shocked By Mike Portnoy

(Gibson) When drummer Mike Portnoy left Dream Theater last fall, it was the end of a 25-year musical relationship. While Portnoy had moonlighted with Avenged Sevenfold and others, there was little indication that he was looking to leave the prog metal powerhouse permanently. According to singer James LaBrie, no one in the band saw it coming.

"Absolutely not," he told BigMusicGeek.com. "And I think that's why it came as such a shock to everyone of us. It wasn't like we were all bangin' each other's heads, not seeing eye-to-eye or wanting to be in the same room with one another. None of that was going on. Everything was cool. It was quite simply a surprise. Mike had mentioned that it wasn't something that was spur-of-the-moment. He just doesn't operate like that. When he mentioned to us that he had been thinking about it off and on over the last year, it was obvious that he had been having these feelings for quite some time, wanting to separate himself from anything regarding the future of Dream Theater. It was simply something that we didn't see coming in any way, shape or form. It was just an absolute surprise."

Rumors have abounded for several months now about who would replace the superstar drummer, though it sounds like the band will be making an announcement on the matter in the near future. "We've already completed the auditioning process," said LaBrie. "At this point, it's all just a matter of us coming to a decision and announcing it when the time is truly right. more on this story

Ozzy's Spinal Tap Moment

(hennemusic) Ozzy Osbourne's "Scream" tour keeps rolling on and OzTV is there to capture the action.

Three more OzTV websiodes from the tour have surfaced: "Bus Time," which gives you a tour of one of the crew buses; and highlights from the Phoenix and Las Vegas stops.

The Phoenix footage opens with a surreal Spinal Tap moment as Ozzy makes his way to the stage. more on this story

Pop Evil Push Back Album Release

Pop Evil have announced the delay of the release of their sophomore album, War of Angels (Universal Republic).

The band has revealed that due to circumstances beyond their control, it will be necessary for the band to push back the originally scheduled February 8th release date.

"We are sorry to make you [the fans] wait even longer than you already have. We put our blood, sweat and tears into every song on this album and want nothing more than for it to be successful. By delaying the release, we are creating a greater chance for our investment to succeed," stated Pop Evil. more on this story

White Wizzard Reunite With Wyatt Anderson

Earache sent over word that Wyatt Anderson is once again the frontman for White Wizzard.

Affectionately known as "The Screamin' Demon," the fan favorite who previously appeared on the band's sophomore release, Over The Top has rejoined the band as the full-time frontman.

He replaces Peter Ellis, who's US visa issues prevented him from participating in any long term recording or touring plans. Wyatt Anderson is currently recording vocals for the band's next release and will be a part of the band's 2011 world tour. more on this story

Vince Neil Explains IRS Troubles

(hennemusic) The drama that is Vince Neil continues. Las Vegas Weekly reports the Motley Crue singer is denying one of the recent headlines about his tax issues.

"There's no lien on my house," claims Vince. "I haven't heard one thing about that. I think I'd have known about it if it goes back to April of last year. It's rubbish, definitely rubbish. In the past, I've had tax problems like a lot of other people, especially entertainers."

"But there's no liens --- nothing like that," he continued. "I got screwed by some people a few years ago, and my accountants then messed up the way it was treated. It left me with a tax bill, but I satisfied the IRS in a deal where I pay them what they want. It's life, unfortunately, but all satisfied and settled." more on this story

Johnny Reid Announces U.S. Debut

(PR) Canadian hit maker Johnny Reid will release his first album in the U.S., entitled Introducing Johnny Reid, on May 3rd, 2011, on EMI/Manhattan Records.

"Take a pinch of Bruce Springsteen, a dash of Bob Seger and enough Rod Stewart to give the mix vocal gravel, and you start to get the vibe of this Scottish-born singer/songwriter," The New York Post raved about Reid in its 2011 music preview. "Introducing Johnny Reid's 11 songs are classic rock riffs laced with blue-collar roots…his voice brims with force and honesty."

"From a young age, I listened to all kinds of music," Reid says. "My mother was a big fan of Stax and Detroit soul. My father was a big fan of all music as long as it told a story. I have taken the instrumentation, performance, and energy of soul and annexed that with storytelling of things that really matter in this world: family, love, and friendship." more on this story

The Acacia Strain Get Warped

The Acacia Strain has announced that they will be part of this summer's Warped Tour.

The trek kicks off in Dallas, Texas on June 24th and ends in Hillsboro, Oregon on August 14th.

The band will play songs from their entire catalog, including their latest release, "Wormwood." more on this story

Red Wanting Blue Van Theft Drama Documentary

(PR) Following a sold-out show in Findlay, Ohio, Red Wanting Blue began to load out of the club only to find out that they had nowhere to load out to.

Seems a fun-seeking joyrider had decided to pry open double doors of the band's custom converted airport shuttle bus (which is often left with its diesel engine running) and take it for a spin. The vehicle was recovered less than an hour later and (oops!) the culprit dropped his cell phone on the way out, making his apprehension an easy job for the local authorities.

Thankfully, nothing was stolen. A short documentary chronicling the entire incident can be seen here

Cauldron Release New Song OnRock Band

Cauldron have released a brand new track, "All Or Nothing", on Rock Band. All Or Nothing is available to download now for Xbox 360.

Cauldron are preparing for the release of their new album, Burning Fortune, which hits stores on February 14th in Europe and February 15th in North America.

Rock Band is the first chance fans will have to check out music from the new album. link

The Day The Telstar Man Shot Himself and His Landlady

(Gibson) On this day in 1967, producer Joe Meek shot his landlady Violet Shenton and then shot himself at his flat in London, Meek produced The Tornadoes hit 'Telstar' the first No.1 in the U.S. by a British group. Gibson takes a look back:

Britain's answer to American producer-extraordinaire Phil Spector, Joe Meek was one of the most eccentric musical geniuses to ever dabble with rock and roll. And like Spector, his private life was almost as bizarre as his studio creations.

Joe Meek was always different. Growing up in the British countryside, he was raised by a mother who had preferred to have a daughter and chose to dress young Joe in dresses. A music and electronics buff from an early age, one of his first ventures was to set up outdoor speakers and play music for local farm workers. After learning radar in the R.A.F., he began a business, recording local bands and singers. With his homosexuality flowering, however, rural life was far too inhibiting and conservative, so he moved to London, where attitudes, if not the laws, were more liberal. more on this story