Atreyu Go On Hiatus- Slash N Lemmy Monuments- Linkin Park Relief- Bono Facebook Billionaire?- No More Hostility- Rise Against's End Game- Krazy Fest Returns- more

On this day in 2005, a $100,000 statue honoring the late punk guitarist Johnny Ramone was unveiled by his widow Linda at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Johnny died from prostate cancer in September 2004 at the age of 55. Hundreds turned out for the ceremony, including Tommy Ramone – the only surviving band member. Dee Dee Ramone died of a drugs overdose in 2002 and Joey died in 2001 of lymphatic cancer. Find out what else happened on this date in music history here

Roger Daltrey Cancer Scare

(Gibson) In an interview with CBS Los Angeles, Who frontman Roger Daltrey revealed that, just before the band were set to play at the Super Bowl last year, he came face to face with his own mortality. "Suddenly my voice wasn't behaving in a normal way. It was becoming hard work to sing," Daltrey recalled.

Daltrey sought out the care of Dr. Steven Zeitels, Director of the Mass General Voice Center and professor at Harvard Medical School. Zeitels had previously treated such high-profile patients as Steven Tyler and Julie Andrews.

"When he came in, said Zeitels, "there were changes that were the typical ones we would see, but then there were other changes on his vocal chords – evidence of pre-cancerous dysplasia. It could have been cancer."

Daltrey was scheduled for surgery and underwent the knife the week before Christmas. "I got depressed after surgery, during what I call the big silence, that's when I realized what it would be like to not have a voice," Daltrey said. "I had two weeks of silence. Silence and no drinking. How's that for a good Christmas. So, you know, it was the strangest Christmas I've ever had." Fortunately for Daltrey, the problem was not cancer

Soundgarden Set Album Release

(hennemusic) Soundgarden have announced the upcoming release of the band's first-ever live album.

Due on March 22, "Live On I5" will feature tracks taken from the west coast leg of Soundgarden's 1996 tour.

"We had always intended to release this as a live record and now it's time to unleash the fury!," says the band. Track details

Another Band Drops Rick Rubin

(Gibson) Hot Hot Heat are no longer working with legendary producer Rick Rubin, frontman Steve Bays told Undercover: "We started a record with Rick Rubin and we let him go because it didn't really work.

"I don't want to say we fired him, I mean I'm sure he could have fired us, too. I like the idea of doing the album ourselves just 'cause it's more fun and you can get a bit weirder," Bays said. "We're still [expletive] when we need to be [expletive], but for the most part, when a producer says 'Maybe you should try this,' you just give him the benefit of the doubt, or you give her the benefit of the doubt, whereas it was nice to have that extra level of not having to worry about somebody's feelings."

Hot Hot Heat are the second band to party ways with Rubin this week. Crosby, Stills and Nash recently announced that they were no longer working with Rubin on their covers album. more on this story

Zakk Wylde Gets Some Californication

(hennemusic) Guitar enthusiasts and fans of Showtime's hit comedy series "Californication" will get a special treat when guitar god Zakk Wylde makes a guest appearance this Sunday, January 16.

Tune in to Showtime at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT to witness Wylde make his hilarious premium cable acting debut.

"Californication" stars David Duchovny as hedonistic novelist Hank Moody, a man who struggles to raise his teenage daughter while still carrying a torch for his ex-girlfriend.

Robert Plant and Kings of Leon Up for Brit Awards

(Gibson) Robert Plant, Kings of Leon and Arcade Fire are among the nominees for this year's BRIT awards, which were announced Thursday, according to Billboard.com. Mumford & Sons, The XX and Eminem also are nominated in multiple categories.

At age 62, it's the first BRIT nomination for Plant, who's up for Best British Male Artist. Plant will be competing against Paul Weller, Mark Ronson, Plan B and Tinie Tempah.

The BRIT awards, called the biggest night of the year for British popular music, will take place at London's O2 Arena on February 15.

Singled Out: Blackmore's Night

Today Candice Blackmore of Blackmore's Night CD (she's also the wife of Deep Purple/Rainbow guitar legend Ritchie Blackmore) tells about the song "Darkness" from the new 'Autumn Sky,' which hits stores next Tuesday. Here is the story:

We often get musical inspiration from various sources in our band Blackmore's Night. The writing process usually begins where my writing parnter and husband, Ritchie Blackmore, will hear a traditional song, usually from the 12-1500's, and we will take the melody line of a part of that song and add new instrumentation, new arrangements and new musical parts. Then I add new lyrics and a whole new song is created in the process, while retaining the spirit of the original song from hundreds of years ago.

We are very inspired by traditional melodies and have found great sources of inspiration in regional folk melodies as we tour around the world. Our fans know that we love regional folk music and often compile cds for us to listen to the traditional songs of their area when we arrive in their country. One of the songs on our latest cd is called "Darkness" and originally was a traditional melody from the Brittany area of France. We heard it when a German Renaissance band called Des Geyers rediscovered it and reinvented it as an instrumental called "Britonish". When we heard it, we took that melody and played it on recorders and acoustic guitars and slowed it down and it gave it a very haunting feel. Much different than the original version we heard. In writing lyrics I usually listen to the idea of the music that Ritchie has in mind, and then I go into another room and just breathe that melodyline in. I have to really absorb it and feel it, and often the song will tell me what it wants to be about. I find that if you listen to any instrumental melody, it will paint pictures in your head as to what it wants to be about. So I take those pictures painted by the melody and describe them in visual descriptions. Lyrics are my craft so its very important for me to create a storyline that resonates deeply with the listener but that is also reflective of the melody so it all works together and completes the transporting process. Ultimately I want people to be able to escape stresses of the modern day when they listen to our songs.

Darkness was written as the seasons were changing, the summer days were fading into cold autumn nights and as we live right next to a forest I felt as if that were the perfect setting for such an olden melody. The woods always have deep creative meaning, whether it is for poets, painters, or lyricists and this began no differently. But the woods are a very different place during sunlight than during the night time. Our woods are beautiful but very mysterious and with the moon shining overhead and the ancient rocks hidden around certain bends, it holds energies that are very intense, and can be unnerving at night. We often walk through in our cloaks with lanterns in search of owls that we can hear from our home, calling to the darkness. The lyrics of the song brings us to the mysteries of the forest, how while tossing in the modern comforts of our bedroom at night, we still are drawn to the dark, deep, openness of the forest outside and all of her mysteries seem to call us, to entice us from the very arms of sleep. And though many stories run rampant about the woods and what may or may not have happened there...that which only the trees know, we still feel drawn to walk beneath the ever seeing branches and lose ourselves in the magic of the wood.

The final lyric and the chorus alludes to the fact that in reality, it is mankind -which is often an oxymoron- that we need to escape from. There is so much corruption, lies, jealousy, pettiness, greed surrounding us. Nature is an all accepting and incredible place to be, yet man has a constant source of evil running through him. So, in essence, perhaps to return fully to nature and surrender and become one with it is the only truly peaceful place to be. That us what Darkness is about. The dark of peoples souls far outweighs the scariness of the dark, peaceful and calm night time in the wood

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

Green Day Release Album Details

We received an update on Thursday with details about Green Day's new live album, entitled Awesome As F**k, which is set to be released on March 22nd, 2011.

The set, which includes a CD plus bonus DVD, features performances captured during the band's 2009-2010 World Tour in support of 21st Century Breakdown.

Green Day recorded every show on the 21st Century Breakdown tour. When it concluded, the band members, singer-guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool, sifted through the audio to deliver the best performances from their shows around the world. An iTunes Exclusive edition of the audio portion will feature two bonus tracks. The footage on the bonus DVD was shot at the band's show in Tokyo, Japan. The package includes Green Day's biggest hits and fan favorites, including "21 Guns," "American Idiot," "When I Come Around," and "Good Riddance." Tracklisting

Radio Station To Defy Gay Dire Straits Ban

A classic rock radio station in Canada will tonight defy the ban on the original version of Dire Straits' 1985 track Money for Nothing.

The hit features the word "faggot" three times because writer Mark Knopfler wanted to demonstrate an example of unacceptable behaviour. When a Canadian station broadcast the uncut version in February last year, one person complained about the word in reference to a homosexual – and this week the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council upheld the complaint.

The CBSC is a self-regulating body, which seeks to avoid government intervention by making broadcasters adhere to high standards. Although they can't fully ban a song, their ruling amounts to an effective ban. more on this story

Jane's Addiction Going In A Different Direction

(Gibson) Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro and drummer Stephen Perkins recently talked to Billboard.com about the progress being made on the band's new album. The two both stressed that the follow-up to 2003's Strays will be very different from anything the alt-rockers have done before.

"It's a completely different direction for Jane's Addiction," Navarro said. "However, it still sounds very much like Jane's Addiction … We probably have more material for this record than we've ever had for any record, which is a pretty great place to be."

Perkins talked about how the band has been assisted by co-producer and multi-instrumentalist Dave Sitek, saying that the TV on the Radio member "opened up my eyes to a lot of new ideas as a drummer," especially in regards to technology. Although Navarro called Sitek a "stabilizing force" for Jane's Addiction, he also said that he wasn't the band's new, full-time bassist – contrary to reports. Navarro, Perkins and Perry Farrell have been without a fourth member since the departure of Duff McKagan (Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver), who replaced Eric Avery. more on this story

Max Cavalera Escape Plan

Metal Injection sent over this update: Last night, on the 100th edition of the Metal Injection Livecast, the frontman of The Dillinger Escape Plan, Greg Puciato called into the show as the special guest.

During our conversation, Greg revealed the band is in the process of writing new material for what could materialize into either a new full length or an EP of tunes.

Additionally, Greg revealed that he may once again collaborate with Max Cavalera on an entire record, similar to Max's work in Nailbomb. Greg also mentions he may work on new music with his other side projects Spylacopa and Error (which features Atticus Ross).

The entire interview can be heard as part of the Metal Injection Livecast, which is downloadable at this location

Arcade Fire, Cee-Lo Green, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Eminem and Miranda Lambert To Play The Grammys

(Gibson) Arcade Fire will be among the performers at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards on February 13.

The Canadian rockers are up for three awards: Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group for "Ready to Star" and Best Alternative Music Album and Album of the Year for The Suburbs.

The Grammys have announced their initial lists of performers, who also include nominees Cee-Lo Green, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Eminem and Miranda Lambert. more on this story

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock Celebrate Megadeth and Soundgarden Grammy Noms With Free Download

(PR) Two tracks Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, Megadeth's "Sudden Death" and Soundgarden's "Black Rain," have been nominated for Best Metal Performance and Best Hard Rock Performance, respectively, at the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards.

Inspired by, composed exclusively for, and debuted in the game, "Sudden Death" marks the first time an original track created for a videogame has been nominated by The Recording Academy for the prestigious awards.

To commemorate these exciting nominations, Guitar Hero® is offering a free MP3 of Soundgarden's "Black Rain," the previously recorded song that was finished for inclusion in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, exclusively to all of its over two million Facebook fans. The free download will begin Friday, January 14, 2011, at 12:01 am EST and end Sunday, January 16, 2011, at 11:59 pm EST. For more information on the free download, please visit facebook.com/guitarhero. "Black Rain," which debuted in a big way on both the band's first new album in over ten years, Telephantasm, and in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock simultaneously, marked the first time an album has received RIAA platinum certification upon the day of its release. more on this story

Kylesa Tour Kick Off Postponed

Season of Mist sent over word that due to recent, inclement weather and widespread black ice, Kylesa's scheduled tour kickoff in Atlanta GA will now be postponed until January 31st @ The Earl.

All previously purchased tickets will be honored. Now kicking-off by default in the band's home town of Savannah GA @ The Jinx, the tour will be Kylesa's first headlining run in support of their new release on Season of Mist, Spiral Shadow.

Support will be provided on the two legs of the tour by Zoroaster (Jan 14 - Jan 20), Rosetta (Jan 21 - Jan 29) and Fight Amp opening all dates. more on this story

Def Leppard Mike Huckabee Jam at Namm

(hennemusic) NAMM can make for some strange musical bedfellows. Take former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee on bass jamming with Def Leppard rocker Phil Collen on lead guitar, for example.

The two were on hand at the Anaheim Convention Center on Wednesday to kick off the 2011 NAMM Show, a massive music-products convention that runs through Sunday.

Huckabee, widely rumored to be a 2012 presidential candidate, left heated politics behind – as well as, at first, his trademark bass guitar – choosing instead to speak about his efforts to get more school kids access to musical instruments. more on this story

Slash Appetite For Destruction Amp

(hennemusic) Marshall is proud to present the AFD100 Slash Signature amplifier: a dual-mode, all-valve 100. head that captures the tone and spirit of one of rock's most celebrated and sought after sounds: Slash's guitar tone on GUNS N' ROSES' legendary "Appetite For Destruction" (AFD). Released in 1987, this highly influential has sold in excess of 18 million copies worldwide and is the best selling debut album of all time.

Using the original "Appetite For Destruction" master recordings, Slash and Marshall painstakingly worked together to replicate his "AFD" sound.

"This is an idea I've had for quite some time," said Slash. "So many fans have been trying to duplicate that sound. I thought, 'Who better than to really perfect it other than Marshall?' We spent a lot of time together developing this amp. We stripped a couple of guitar tracks off the original 'Appetite For Destruction' masters and basically got in there with a fine tooth comb and sussed out exactly what made that sound the way that it was." more on this story

Chiodos Team With Emarosa For US Tour

Chiodos has announced a co-headline tour with Emarosa featuring support from Go Radio and Decoder.

The US tour will kick off on February 15th in Jacksonville, FL. They will then join Asking Alexandria, Emmure, Miss May I, Evergreen Terrace and Lower Than Atlantis this Spring on a US and Canada tour.

Chiodos also recently announced that they will be direct support on Skindred's upcoming Union Black UK Tour. Joining them on the 11-date tour will be pop-punk outfit, Me Vs Hero. more on this story

Record Store Day 2011 Announced

(PR) On Saturday, April 16th, independently owned record stores across the country will once again celebrate the culture of the record store with their customers and friends with Record Store Day!

The worldwide event, now annual, and in its fourth year, stands as a remarkable testimony to the dedication, not only of the indie record store owner, but also to the artists and fans that have kept this unique and passionate culture going.

Since 2008, participating stores have celebrated Record Store Day, and have been supported by artists, who chimed in with resounding in-store performances, special product and supportive quotes and, perhaps most importantly, the music fans who make it out to their favorite record store and take advantage of all the big day has to offer. more on this story

Meshuggah Alive Stream and Q&A

(The Orchard) On Monday, January 17th, 2011 at 12 noon Pacific / 3 p.m. Eastern / 8 p.m. CET, Meshuggah members Tomas Haake and Jens Kidman will host a live stream of the band's first DVD Alive.

The event will begin with a live Q&A video session via uStream.com with Haake and Kidman, who will answer questions submitted by fans via Meshuggah's Twitter and Facebook pages.

Alive will stream at the Nuclear Blast Streaming Room following the fan Q&A at this location more on this story

Buddy Guy Still Got The Blues

(Gibson) He was a hero to everyone from Eric Clapton to Jimi Hendrix. He played with nearly every major blues star of the last 70 years. And he's still tearing it down on a regular basis at his own club in Chicago. He is, of course, Buddy Guy – and he sat down recently with ClashMusic to talk about the music that has coursed through his veins for 74 years.

"I played music no matter what," said Guy, as he looked back on his youth. "But I didn't look to make a career out of it, because I didn't think I was good enough. I played the guitar because of the love of music. I didn't see me making a decent living out of playing the guitar. I'm seventy-four-years-old now. Once, when I was fifteen-years-old, you couldn't reach out there and find a guitar player doing well like it is today, where some of these guitar players making millions of dollars. Wasn't no such thing as that."

He continued, "You look at Arthur Crudup and Lightnin' Hopkins and those fellas like T-Bone Walker: they was the ones who were playing the blues music then, and I imagine they would make enough to buy a bottle of wine or maybe get a hamburger or something like that, but they weren't going to no banks or nothing like that. I had the pleasure of meeting Lonnie Johnson – I didn't meet Robert Johnson – but I met Fred McDowell, Son House and those people like that, and I met them before they passed away, and they were just down in Mississippi playing for a drink on a weekend – what they call a Saturday Night Fish Fry. I'm like saying I want to do that, because that's what I wanted to do. I didn't say one day I'd be talking to you and making a decent living out of playing my guitar." more on this story

The Sex Pistols Last Stand

(Gibson) On this day in 1978, The Sex Pistols played their last live gig at Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, (they re-formed in 96). Gibson takes a look back: With the rock and roll scene in London well and truly all shook up, members of Parliament still outraged at John Lydon's sneering arrogance and parts of the etablishment still scared to death of the Sex Pistols' potential to inspire riots, what was there left for Johnny Rotten and crew?

Of course: America! Malcolm McLaren, taking a leaf out of Beatle manager Brian Epstein's book, had carefully planned a smart and considered assault in the U.S., beginning with a well-researched appearance on the hippest show on U.S. TV, Saturday Night Live. Yet, assorted criminal records caused a Visa delays and Elvis Costello ended up taking the TV exposure and launching himself on a long and profitable American career.

The Pistols, however, were undeterred and headed to the land of the free a few weeks later. But with no major event to hang the tour on, the exercise was in trouble from the start. With northern gigs cancelled after the SNL debacle, McLaren went into maximum headline mode and booked the band into what he thought were hardcore redneck bars in the South. He wanted tension, aggression and the resultant outraged headlines for his band (and himself). more on this story

Innerpartysystem Announce New EP Release

(Press Here) Innerpartysystem will release their new 6-song EP, Never Be Content, digitally on Feb 22, 2011 and physically on March 29, 2011.

Never Be Content, which introduces an expanded electronic soundscape for the band, was recorded at their home studio in Pennsylvania, as well as Hoboken, NJ, Los Angeles and London.

While the trio recorded and produced most of the tracks themselves, renowned producer Richard X (MIA, Kelis, Annie, Rachel Stevens) contributed additional production and mixing.
more on this story

Trey Anastasio Intimate Theatre Tour

Trey Anastasio announces plans for an intimate theatre tour with the Trey Anastasio Band.

The outing will kick off on February 18th at the State Theatre in Portland, ME and include a return to New York City's Terminal 5 (2/22).

Anastasio will play his first solo dates in Colorado and California since 2006, wrapping up the tour with a two-night stand at Denver's Ogden Theatre (3/1 & 2) and shows at the Music Box in Los Angeles (3/4) and the historic Fox Theatre in Oakland, CA (March 5th). more on this story

Ronnie James Dio's Father Dies At 92

(hennemusic) Pat Padavona, the father of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio, passed away peacefully on December 28, 2010 at Cortland Care Center in Cortland, New York.

Blabbermouth reports Pat, 92, was laid to rest on January 11 at St. Mary's Cemetery in Cortland. He served his country during World War II.

He enjoyed working with his hands, making many pieces of fine furniture and accent pieces. more on this story

Alice Cooper Classic Car Auction

(hennemusic) Alice Cooper is auctioning his 1969 Chevrolet Custom Coupe Camaro via Barrett-Jackson.

The write-up on the car confirms "the exterior is black and the interior is black houndstooth. The three-speed automatic vehicle is fully restored with a fuel injected LS3 and automatic transmission. It comes with four-wheel Baer disc brakes, Vintage Air and heat, Z06 Corvette wheels and show quality black paint."

This is being billed as a "unique and rare opportunity to own and drive the car that Alice Cooper drives to the golf course. When you drive this car, you too can have that 'no more Mr. Nice Guy' feeling." more on this story

Rock History App

(Gibson) If you've ever wanted to retrace the steps of The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and countless other British music greats, a new iPhone/iPad app can be your guide to rock history.

Rock Music Landmarks of London will help you find dozens of famous places, including Marylebone Station (made famous in A Hard Day's Night), the "death flat" where both Mama Cass and Keith Moon died and St. Martin's College, where the Sex Pistols played their first show.

The app features an enhanced map, which can take you directly to the points in question. Once you arrive at the location, former Old Grey Whistle Test host "Whispering" Bob Harris will tell you what happened on that spot. Rock Music Landmarks is £1.19 ($1.99). more on this story