Vince Neil In Jail- Special Unearth Reunion- Arcade Fire Steal the Brits- May Death Cab- Avenged Leppard Zombie Fest- Slayer Recruit Exodus Guitarist- Offspring Hoax- more

On this day in 1974, Bob Dylan started a four-week run at #1 on the U.S. album chart with Planet Waves, his first U.S. #1. and during a tour of America the members of Emerson, Lake & Palmer were arrested in Salt Lake City after swimming naked in the hotel pool. They were each fined $75 Find out what else happened on this date in music history here

Deftones Fans Riot

(Rock News Desk) Deftones fans rioted in Bangkok, Thailand, last night after the band were forced to cancel a show at the city's Thunderdome Arena.

The event was already running 90 minutes late by the time the waiting crowd were told to go home. Hundreds of angry gigglers began throwing bottles, breaking windows and setting fire to beer tents.

Deftones have apologized for the call-off, stating: "Local power issues threatened the safety of the band and fans. We're sorry to those who were inconvenienced and hope to return to Thailand in the near future." more on this story

U2's New Album To Be Like Corn Flakes?

(Gibson) U2 frontman Bono says that the band's new album, rumored to be coming out in the Spring, will be a marked departure from the band's last release, No Line on the Horizon.

The singer told Billboard.com that the album, which features production work from Danger Mouse, will be more streamlined.

"We were trying to write an album with No Line on the Horizon that had a kind of narrative and if I look back on it now, it's probably too long. Maybe just by one song or two," Bono said. "It's incredible that people think, 'Oh gosh, I can put 17 songs on this' … it's like more corn flakes in a better box." more on this story

Slash No Comments on Corey Taylor Joining Velvet Revolver

(Rock AAA) Slipknot/Stone Sour vocalist Corey Taylor's name popped up as a candidate (maybe even the candidate) to front Velvet Revolver.

Both Taylor and Duff have been quoted side stepping the topic (see the full story link below for that) and now another former Guns N' Roses turned Velvet Revolver star put his two cents in.

While rumors continue to swirl, Slash has told Australia's Courier Mail that the rumor mill will have to wait a little longer. "A couple of people have said one thing or another, but it's been blown out of proportion. I've made no comment on that one," Slash said of Taylor joining VR. more on this story

Buffalo Springfield, The Strokes, Arcade Fire, Robert Plant for Bonnaroo

(Gibson) The Strokes, Arcade Fire, Robert Plant and his Band of Joy and the reunited Buffalo Springfield are just some of the acts announced to play this year's Bonnaroo festival.

The music festival will take place June 9-12 in Manchester, Tennessee. Other acts scheduled to play include:

Loretta Lynn, Eminem, Ray Lamontagne, Bassnectar, Iron & Wine, Widespread Panic, The Black Keys, My Morning Jacket, Lil Wayne, Florence + the Machine, Girl Talk, Primus, Big Boi, Gregg Allman, Robyn, Deerhunter, The Walkmen, Sleigh Bells, Amos Lee, Opeth, Hayes Carll Jazz Band, Wanda Jackson, Old Crow Medicine Show, Justin Townes Earle, Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses, Deer Tick, Phosphorescent, Railroad Earth, Abigail Washburn, The Decemberists, Primus and the legendary Dr. John. more on this story

Foo Fighters Release Album Details

(Gibson) Foo Fighters have named their new album. The band's seventh studio record will be titled Wasting Light and will be available on April 12. The lead single for the new effort by Dave Grohl and company will be "Rope."

Producer Butch Vig helmed the sessions for the album, which was recorded in Grohl's garage.

The album features a mini-Nirvana reunion. Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic guests on Wasting Light, which, of course, features former Nirvana drummer Grohl and Nevermind producer Vig. Tracklisting

Arcade Fire TV Special To Air This Weekend

Vh1 sent over this good news for Arcade Fire fans: 2011 Grammy Award Winner for Album of the Year, Arcade Fire, will be taking the stage in Galicia, Spain.

Palladia will premiere the indie rock band's exclusive performance on "MTV World Stage: Arcade Fire" this Friday, February 18th at 9 P.M., with an encore at midnight.

The hour-long performance by Arcade Fire will feature a selection of hits from their award winning album "The Suburbs" such as "We Used to Wait," "Ready To Start," "Rococo" and "Sprawl II (Mountains beyond Mountains)." more on this story

Judas Priest Taking Requests For Final Tour

(hennemusic) Following the recent announcement that the upcoming Judas Priest world tour will be the band's last, the group have been locking in tour dates and considering ways to make the event even more memorable for fans.

Here's the latest posting on Priest's official website: "We are planning on possibly doing a track from every album throughout our careers in the set list, so let us know what your favorites are and maybe we'll pick some of them!!"

Fans are encouraged to post their song lists to the community forum on the band's site (registration required), specifically under the section "Epitaph Tour Setlist requests." more on this story

Soundgarden Working On New Music

(Gibson) It might not be long before fans get a new studio album from Soundgarden. The reunited rockers have been working together during recent months, according to a post on the band's official website. The post also featured a photo showing the guys playing together in the studio.

"Over the past few months, we've been busy jamming, writing and hanging out together – exploring the creative aspect of being Soundgarden," the band wrote.

"It feels great. We have some cool new songs that we are going to record very soon. Thank you for all of the support!" more on this story

Panic At The Disco Move Up Album Release

Panic! At The Disco has moved up the release of their new album, "Vices & Virtues" which will now hit stores on March 22nd.

Produced by Butch Walker (Weezer, Pink) and John Feldmann (Neon Trees, The Used), "Vices & Virtues" marks Panic! At The Disco's first new release in three years, as well as their debut outing as a duo comprised of singer/multi-instrumentalist Brendon Urie and drummer Spencer Smith.

Panic! At The Disco will herald "Vices & Virtues" with an live performance at The Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles on March 1st, following their recent series of sold out shows in London, Germany, and New York City. more on this story

Singled Out: Egypt Central

Today Joey Chicago from Egypt Central tells us about the titled track from their forthcoming new album "White Rabbit." The album hits in May but you can grab the single starting today! Here is the story:

I remember flying down the highway at 90 miles an hour and first thinking of the white rabbit lyrics. We were driving fast being fueled by a punk style, upbeat, instrumental demo we had recently recorded. We were headed from Memphis, Tennessee to McGehee, a small town deep into the Arkansas landscape. A small cabin, used mostly for hunting dear, was open to be used during the off season months. It was pushed deliberately back into the woods and surrounded by thick trees and large farm lands. It was the perfect place to escape all distraction and begin crafting our new record. We had struggled so badly over the last few years, fighting personal and business trials, and had been so anxious, desperate really, to get a chance to write some new music. One of the main focuses of the new music was going to be honesty and transparency, something we felt was lacking from everyone around us. We started discussing metaphors for the business as we had experienced it, ideas of how to show just how strong deception can be when you want so badly to believe it is true. At first we compared it to hell, being pushed into the fire and coming to a point where you no longer feared the pain of the blaze. We had faced almost every negative turn of events a band could and somehow had come out standing, we were not afraid of anything and weren't going anywhere. We wanted to get that point across.

We lived out at the cabin for a couple months, drinking, writing and blowing things up in the campfire. All a part of the creative process. We had about 50 song ideas and pieces as we headed back to civilization. One of our favorites being our harder fast paced song about the gates of hell. In it, the first verse lyric read " Your magic, white rabbit, has left its writing on the wall, we follow, like Alice, and just keep diving down the hole". A perfect description of the way we had been feeling. The deception continued and once again deeper down the hole we went. We had gone and recorded 14 songs and a month after finishing what we thought was a completed sophomore record, we had business tragedy strike again. We lost the ability to use any of the songs we had just recorded. All that work gone forever into the hands of circumstance and misunderstanding. We were devastated but determined. We rebuilt and started again.

Months later we drove down to meet Skidd Mills in Nashville for a song writing session. The first of our writing sessions scheduled for the second, second record. We played a lot of our new ideas for Skidd, one of them being the song including the white rabbit lyrics. That verse had been tossed aside in the last recordings and was still very much a useable and unrecorded lyric. Skidd loved it, and so did we. The song White Rabbit started to take form. The original purpose of the song had rooted itself so far into all of us at that point, by the end of the first couple nights the structure of the song was there. We wanted the song to have a diminished kind of creepy, haunting, warning like feel to it and really incorporated that idea into the riffs and scale selections. When it was complete,we loved it so much, we chose to record the whole record with Skidd.

The chemistry was obvious and it really stood as an anthem and real jumping off point for the band on the brink of a new horizon.

White Rabbit is the song that bridges that gap between where we were and where we are now. Who we were to the people we have become, both individually and as a band. What is truly ironic is that the song goes hand in hand with the metephor that supports it. White Rabbit was one of the oldest song ideas and it had made the long, bad dream-like journey with us, changing all the while as we had. Staying with us as we fell down the hole, met strange characters, and defeated deceptive con artists and evil adversaries. The song, like us, came out older and wiser on the other end. White Rabbit is a reminder of where we have been and what we a striving for. We believe whole heartedly as we scream triumphantly in the bridge, "I won't be pushed aside, I will be heard".

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

Brian May and Kerry Ellis Announce Remix and Tour Dates

Kerry Ellis and Brian May are teaming up again for a UK Tour this Spring and have announced a new remix single from their Anthem album. Here is the official word with all of the details:

Kerry Ellis, billed as one of the most thrilling vocal talents on today's West End stage joined forces with founding member of Queen, Brian May, for the album "Anthems", for which May produced and wrote new material. The album charted Top 20 in its first week of release.

Now they take their highly successful collaboration a stage further with the release of a pounding club remix of "Defying Gravity" - the lead track from the musical, Wicked, and a standout song on Kerry's debut album. more on this story

Jeff Beck Hitting The Road

(Gibson) Sunday's three-part victory at the Grammy Awards was just the icing on the cake for guitar god Jeff Beck, who is on a roll in early 2011. Having pocketed awards for Best Rock Instrumental Performance ("Hammerhead"), Best Pop Instrumental Performance ("Nessun Dorma") and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals ("Imagine," with Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No 1 and Oumou Sangare) at the Staples Center ceremony in Los Angeles, Beck can now concentrate on an ambitious touring schedule.

With his Rock 'n' Roll Party: Honoring Les Paul coming out on CD, DVD and Blu-ray on February 22, Beck will hit the road with The Imelda May Band, who recorded the aforementioned set with him at a tribute show at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City last June.

The group will play 12 U.S. dates in March and April before Beck rejoins his Emotion Commotion band for further North American dates, including an April 29 appearance at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. more on this story

Slash Cheap Trick Jam

(hennemusic) On a night off from Cheap Trick's extended run of "Dream Police"-themed shows in Milwaukee, guitarist Rick Neilsen joined Slash for a jam at his Chicago gig.

Slash introduced Nielsen as "a major f**king influence" and "a mother**ker of a guitar player," admitting he "even played air guitar to [Rick] before I learned how to play" the instrument properly.

Rick joined Slash at the House Of Blues for a cover of the Fats Domino classic, "Ain't That A Shame." Check it out

More Music Acts Bamboozled

The Bamboozle Festival has announced new additions to this year's line-up including 30 Seconds to Mars, Plain White T's, and Travie McCoy.

A brand new stage, The Temple of Boozle, hosting some of the hottest DJs in the country has added Wolfgang Gartner joining previously announced DJs, Super Mash Bros., The Hood Internet and Wait What.

Previously announced performers include: the recent Grammy Award winner, Bruno Mars, Lil Wayne, Taking Back Sunday, The Gaslight Anthem, Wiz Khalifa, LMFAO, Chiddy Bang, Dashboard Confessional, and Further Seems Forever featuring original members including Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba, Alkaline Trio, Sam Adams, Thrice, A Day To Remember, New Found Glory performing their own set and a Ramones tribute featuring Marky Ramone, Circa Survive, Waka Flocka Flame, Streetlight Manifesto, RX Bandits, and many more! more on this story

Dropkick Murphys, Descendents And More For The Punk Rock Bowling Tournament and Music Festival

The line-up for the 13th Annual Punk Rock Bowling Tournament and Music Festival has been announced and it's a big one.

The event will take place over Memorial Day Weekend (May 27-30) in downtown Las Vegas.

BYO Records has just confirmed the following headliners for this year's event: Dropkick Murphys, Descendents, Cock Sparrer, Me First and The Gimme Gimmes, Bouncing Souls, Dwarves, Manic Hispanic & The Undertones, with many more bands to be announced soon. more on this story

Whitesnake Star Says David Coverdale Can Still Sing

(Rock News Desk) Whitesnake have released a video for new track Love Will Set You Free from the band's upcoming eleventh album Forevermore – and bassist Michael Devin insists frontman David Coverdale has lost none of his vocal power.

After a series of shows in 2009 where the singer's performance was called into question, he was forced to cancel a US tour after losing his voice four songs into a show in Denver, Colorado.

At the time he explained he'd been suffering from a throat infection, but rumours continued he'd permanently damaged his voice and would be unlikely to tour again. Find out the story behind that story here

Kataklysm Plan 20th Anniversary DVD

Kataklysm have announced some details for their 20th anniversary DVD, The Iron Will: 20 Years Determined.

The documentary will begin with the band's inception in 1991 and tell the lasting story behind of one of the most important extreme musical exports in Canada's short 143-year history.

Director and producer Tommy Jones (Lamb Of God, Soilwork, Death Angel) will catch the band's heartbeat on the road and to put the memories together. Expected release date is Spring 2011. more on this story

The Pixies Ponder New Album

(Gibson) Although the Pixies have been a steady concert attraction since reuniting in 2004, they have yet to record a new album together.

The sole bit of new music from Black Francis and Co. was the single "Bam Thwok," a download-only written and sung by bassist Kim Deal. Now, it seems that the group might be heading back into the studio.

"We've been talking about [doing an album] for about three years now, actually," drummer David Lovering told Billboard.com. "I don't know if it will come to fruition; I'm waiting and waiting to see what will happen. All I can say is if there is one, it better be good. We'd really have to work at it." more on this story

Trans-Siberian Orchestra Heading To Europe For The First time

(Rock AAA) Trans-Siberian Orchestra founder, composer and all-round main man Paul O'Neill has promised music fans who check out the TSO when they bring their epic rock opera to Europe for the first time will be 'exhausted and exhilarated' by the live performance of their lives.

TSO bring live music to another level as they combine rock guitars and music with strings and opera, add a dash of poetry, stunning imagery and chuck the whole lot in a blender with smoke, lasers, lights and spell binding pyro.

The electrifying mix has been a huge success across the Atlantic for the TSO, who have been described as the Who's Tommy meets Phantom of the Opera with Pink Floyd's lighting, having racked up a album sales in excess of more than seven million and they have become one of the world's top touring acts, with a $20 million-plus production that by 2009 had played to over 7 million people in over 80 cities, selling more than $280 million worth of tickets Read Rock AAA's exclusive conversation with Paul here

Coldplay For Glastonbury

(Gibson) It's official: Coldplay have been named as one of the headline acts for this summer's Glastonbury Festival in England.

BBC News reports that the U.K band will play the prestigious festival's main Pyramid Stage on Saturday, June 25.

Festival organizer Michael Eavis said, "This is the triumphant return of a band that everyone here feels part of." more on this story

Evile Dimebag Tribute

(Rock AAA) Thrash metal band Evile may have a nomination for a prestigious Metal Hammer Golden Gods award to their name and they may have been handpicked to cover a Pantera classic for a Dimebag Darrell tribute CD before going on to play the track in the legendary guitarist's home-town.

And their debut album earned massive critical acclaim when they were tagged with 'carrying the whole genre's revival on their shoulders.' And lead guitarist Ol Drake exclusively revealed to RockAAA he still can't help pinching himself and wondering if the band's success is for real with every milestone they achieve.

"It's still weird for me as I think we'll always just be four metal fans from Huddersfield. Every time something major or cool happens to us I always think 'Oh my God, us, wow.' It's always an honour and pleasure and it'll never get old and we'll never turn into arseholes," he said. "I don't even see us at a level all I see is a few more people are coming to see us at gigs. I find it weird to know we have fans. It is hard to explain but I'm a music fan and I like to go and see Metallica and to be on the other side of that and have people coming to see our shows is weird and I can't help wondering if they are here to see someone else." more on this story

Thunder Announce One Off Reunion

(Rock News Desk) Thunder will reunite for a one-off appearance at the High Voltage Festival in London's Victoria park in July.

The band split two years ago but singer Danny Bowes says: "I can't lie – I've missed being in the band more than I thought I would. So when the call came last week I was keen to explore the possibility.

The band stress it's a one-off: they all have other projects including drummer Harry James' commitments with Magnum and guitarist Luke Morley's new outfit The Union. more on this story

12 Stones Land New Deal

(Submitted) 12 Stones announced that they have signed a new record deal with Executive Music Group (EMG).

The band stated "We are very excited to be part of EMG / Fontana / Universal. We are looking forward to working with a label and team that see the potential in our music and direction. We look forward to getting back to all our fans and showing them the new and rejuvenated 12 Stones."

12 Stones are currently writing and will be heading into the studio very soon to work on the new album. "We are excited about the future of this band, we feel our fans are the best in the game" states frontman Paul McCoy. "They have allowed us to be part of their lives for the last 10 years and we want to make sure we give them something very special on this album. We couldn't do it without them."
more on this story

Does It Offend You, Yeah? Set New Album Release

Does It Offend You, Yeah? have set a March 15th release date for their new album, Don't Say We Didn't Warn You.

Says frontman James Rushent, "I think it's about time we have a f***ing mess. We want to perform music that, if we heard it, we'd go 'oh, who's that?' rather than 'here's another f***ing '60s soul artist.' [The 18 months spent recording the album] was stressful, panicky and hard work. It's the nature of how we work. It's like trying to put a jigsaw together where you don't know what the picture is at the end."

Synth master Dan Coop concurs, "This is our break-out album. It has got balls-out angry stuff and serene melancholic, quite depressing stuff as well. We'd rather show all our hands like that than write a whole album that sounds the same." more on this story

Gibson' Birthday Tribute to Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi

(Gibson) This Saturday, February 19, Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi celebrates his 63rd birthday. While Iommi's gear has undergone changes over the years, his choice in guitars — Gibsons, and mostly SGs, including his signature model Epiphone G-400 — has remained as constant as his ability to weave some of the boldest, most evil sounding solos and tracks ever recorded.

What's the secret of his literally monstrous tone? In 1969 and 1970 Iommi was experimenting to find a signature sound during the making of both Black Sabbath and Paranoid when he hit on the combination of Gibson SGs and Les Pauls teamed with a high-gain amp, specifically Laneys, to set him apart from all the six-stringers blasting through Marshalls and Hiwatts at the time.

First, he tuned his guitars down to allow for greater flexibility and to create a darker instrumental voice. Rolling the tone pots back on his instruments and turning the mids, treble and gain up to 10 on his amps, Iommi created a basic sound that was entirely unique, varied only by the positions of his pick-up switch — full rhythm up for chords and full lead down for solos. Treble was an essential part of his tone crafting as well, and he employed a Rangemaster treble boost box to enhance highs. more on this story

Carmine Appice Resurrects King Kobra

Carmine Appice has resurrected King Kobra with Paul Shortino now fronting the group.

The band will release a new self-titled album on April 15th in Europe and May 5th in North America.

"This album captures all the great points we had in the 80's, but better" says Carmine Appice "The music is more traditional King Kobra music. Great lyrics, kick ass songs with cool hooks and really good playing. A really great hard rock/metal record with lots of energy". more on this story

Rolling Stones Pinball

KISS may be selling Kaskets and Kondoms but The Rolling Stones are keeping it Klassy and going old school with their own pinball machine. Here is the official word with details:

Stern Pinball, Inc., the world's only maker of real pinball games, announced today the availability of The Rolling Stones pinball machine. Collectors, casual players and avid fans can all enjoy the timeless hits of The Rolling Stones while playing one of Stern Pinball's arcade masterpieces.

With The Rolling Stones pinball machine, players experience the ultimate rock concert under glass. The player will collect famous record albums, ride Rolling Stones ramps and advance through four decades of Rock 'n Roll history. The machine plays thirteen Rolling Stones favorites during game play, including "Brown Sugar," "It's Only Rock 'n Roll," "Start Me Up" and many more classic Stones hits. more on this story

Jeff Healey Band Classic Getting US Release

Eagle Rock is finally giving American Jeff Healey Band fans the 2000 international release, Get Me Some. The US release is set for March 29th.

A master guitarist and vocalist, Canadian-born singer-songwriter Jeff Healey formed his band in 1985, with drummer Tom Stephen and bassist Joe Rockman. Known for playing the guitar flat on his lap, Healey perfected a unique, vibrato-infused resonance that solidified the band's signature sound. The trio's blend of jazz, rock, and blues scored them platinum sales, and hit singles like "Angel Eyes."

Get Me Some continues to thrive in this versatile style, packed with 13 tracks of electrified boogie and blues-rock. The dynamic quality of these musicians is evident on tracks like "Which One," "My Life Story," and "Rachel's Song." Topped with supreme fret work, stylistic solos, and memorable hooks, Get Me Some proves it was definitely worth the 10-year wait for American fans. more on this story

Lionheart and Legend On The Road To Metalfest Tour

New England Metal & Hardcore Festival have announced the Road To Metalfest Tour.

The Road To Metalfest Tour is a taste of what you will get at the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival at The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts April 14th, 15th, and 16th.

Lionheart and Legend will be co-headlining this tour, with direct support from Monsters, The Great Commission, and The Greenery. more on this story

Heartsounds Recording With Bad Religion Star

Heartsounds have entered the studio to record their sophomore album which they plan to release this summer.

Made up of Ben Murray (guitar/vocals) and Laura Nichol (guitar/vocals), Heartsounds have once again tapped Zach Ohren to helm producing duties with the help of Epitaph founder and Bad Religion member Brett Gurewitz.

"This time around, we are returning to our good friend Zack Ohren for the engineering, tracking, and production of the music for the record, which will be a blast as always," says Murray. "We are so comfortable with him, so we're excited for a relaxed, fun process. We are also ecstatic to be able to work with Brett Gurewitz for the production of the vocals on the new record, which is really a dream come true. He is my favorite songwriter of all time, so what more could I ask for? I think he will help us achieve the vocal performances we are really striving for with these songs." more on this story

Australian Guitar Prodigy Joe Robinson Announces US Dates

(Plan A) Australian guitar prodigy Joe Robinson, who released his sophomore cd Time Jumpin' late last year, has just announced several U.S. tour dates.

Produced by Grammy-winning producer Frank Rogers, the album showcases the incredible talent of this young musical prodigy. Time Jumpin' is the follow up to Joe's 2005 debut cd Birdseed, which was recorded when he was just 14 years old.

Joe will be doing selections from both releases, as well as previewing several of the new songs from his as yet untitled new album, scheduled for release Summer 2011. more on this story