Van Halen Confirm Live Dates- Metallica Murder Suspect Search- Vedder Homme Strokes- Chickenfoot Set- A Perfect New Circle Song- Smashing WTF?- Soulfly- more

On this day in 1975, 10CC were at #1 on the U.K. singles chart with "I'm Not In Love'."The instrumental break featured the repeated spoken phrase: "Be quiet, big boys don't cry...", which was spoken by Kathy Warren, the receptionist at Strawberry Studios, Stockport, Cheshire where the band recorded the track. Find out what else happened on this date in music history here

Korn, Bad Religion and Faith No More Supergroup

(Gibson) Members of Korn, Bad Religion and Faith No More have formed a new group, Fear and the Nervous System, who have released their debut single.

Fear and the Nervous System features guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer (Korn), bassist Billy Gould (Faith No More), singer Steve Krolikowski (Repeater), drummer Brooks Wackerman (Bad Religion), guitarist Leopold Ross and keyboardist Zach Baird.

The band's debut single, "Choking Victim," is available now as a free download via www.fatns.com, according to Blabbermouth. Previously, Shaffer spoke about his reasons for co-founding the band: "I started this project because I want to express myself musically and show the world a different side of me creatively." more on this story

Slipknot Inspire Iron Maiden

(Gibson) One would expect Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson to feel reasonably satisfied with the bombast of his band's stage show, given that the Irons have thrown everything from a giant brain-rotted Eddie to Egyptian pyramids at audiences worldwide for over three decades. But there is one group to whom even Bruce doffs his (pilot's) hat: Slipknot.

With two weeks to go until the band's scheduled slot at the U.K.'s Sonisphere festival, Dickinson told the BBC: "Obviously we do what we do for two hours, and a lot of our stuff now is semi-theatrical and proggy. Whereas Slipknot is theatrical, but much more 'Rrrraaaaahhhh!' The audience get a really good variation of stuff.

"We're the headliners, so we are doing our usual set. We've got ourselves some new toys for it, so there's one or two spectacular monsters and things like that, but I think everybody brings their toys out for a festival. I mean, Slipknot have got some fabulous kit. I'm very jealous of their flames and fire. We haven't gone with any pyro at all on this tour. I think the next time we go out we will. We like to alternate it every other year, because if you get the reputation that you've got to go and see a band because of the pyro and then you don't do the pyro, people think, 'Oh, I won't bother then.'" more on this story

New Lynyrd Skynyrd Coming

(Gibson) Lynyrd Skynyrd are hard at work on crafting a new album. Frontman Johnny Van Zant discussed the progress the band have made with Billboard.com.

"We're getting about to the end of the writing part," Van Zant said, pointing out the familiar terrain of the new material. "If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it. We write about things that we've done or things that have happened to people around us. It's for the common people, people who have made this great country of ours. That's what the heck I say we always write about."

Lynyrd Skynyrd will begin recording the album, which will be the group's follow-up to 2009's God & Guns, this fall.

"It looks like we're going to push it back to November because we're gonna go out and do some more shows with ZZ [Top]," Van Zant said. "It's a good year so far; everybody's healthy and we're getting a lot of work. So we'll probably take to it in November and then probably take off the middle and latter half of December and come back in January and finish it off." more on this story

Staind New Album Details

Staind has released details about their new self-titled album which is set to be released on September 13th. Here is the official word:

Produced by Johnny K – known for his work with 3 Doors Down, Disturbed, and Sevendust, not to mention his Grammy Award-nominated collaboration with Staind, 2008's "THE ILLUSION OF PROGRESS" – and mixed by the legendary Chris Lord-Alge, "STAIND" stands as Staind's most intense and powerful work to date. The album is heralded by the new song, "Eyes Wide Open," which premieres today at www.staind.com. "Not Again," the first official single from "STAIND," will then impact multi-format rock radio outlets nationwide in mid-July.

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Aaron Lewis recent described "STAIND" as "the heaviest thing we have recorded in a long time. It's definitely one of the heaviest collections of songs that we have put together." more on this story

AC/DC Finally Get Respect

(Gibson) When AC/DC fans grab the recent reissue of the band's famed 1979 concert film Let There Be Rock, chances are, they'll glance through the DVD's liner notes and pick up some incredible stories. The band recruited writer Anthony Bozza to pen the notes – the same guy who recently inked the book Why AC/DC Matters, plus autobiographies from Slash and Tommy Lee.

When it came to writing the glowing liner comments, Bozza says he'd "been wanting to say that stuff for a long time." "I used to be the kid at Rolling Stone who would always say, 'Why aren't you putting AC/DC in the "Greatest Guitar Players of All-Time" issue?' and all that stuff," he told Ultimate Classic Rock.

"They would say, 'Would you just shut up with the AC/DC,' but I wouldn't," he added. "…So, [with the liner notes and the book] I finally was completely given the chance to make the argument I've been wanting to make for a very long time."

In Bozza's eye, music critics never really respected AC/DC – until now. "It just changed recently," he said. "One of the things that I wrote about in the book, on the eve of the Black Ice tour, they were suddenly getting all of that stuff. Before, they were always begrudgingly accepted." more on this story

Michael Anthony Talks Van Halen Conflict

(Gibson) Former Van Halen bass player Michael Anthony seems to have found new life in the hard rock supergroup Chickenfoot; and if you ask Anthony, he'll whole-heartedly proclaim Chickenfoot are "like how Van Halen was in the early days."

"It's four friends getting together and having a good time," Anthony told Ultimate Classic Rock about the band, which includes his former Van Halen bandmate Sammy Hagar, as well as guitarist Joe Satriani and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. "I guess a lot of that has to do with, you know, we've all had our own careers and done really well. So, it's not like we have anything to prove, and we don't need to do it for the money, so we can do it just purely for the enjoyment of making music."

He added that Van Halen's '04 reunion was more than a little uncomfortable because, "the way that turned out, Eddie didn't want me on that tour anyway, because I was a 'traitor,' because I sided with and was jamming with Hagar…" more on this story

Little Steven To Tribute Clarence Clemons Tonight

Little Steven Van Zandt will pay tribute to his late E Street Band-mate Clarence Clemons with a two hour special edition of his Underground Garage show tonight.

Little Steven's tribute "For Clarence" will air tonight Friday, July 1 at 7:00 pm ET on Underground Garage, channel 21 on Sirius XM Radio.

The special will feature Little Steven reflecting on the career of his bandmate and friend and sharing stories and personal recollections of the beloved E Street Band member who passed away on June 18 at the age of 69. more on this story

No Rest For Zakk Wylde

(Gibson) With a career that spans non-stop touring and recording with Ozzy Osbourne and now diligent work with his own metal band, Black Label Society, how does Zakk Wylde ever find downtime? It's simple: He doesn't.

"I prefer it that way, man!" Wylde told Revolver. "I've always said that vacations are for people who hate their [expletive] job, you know? I'm really not for going to Tahiti and sitting on the beach for a week doing nothing."

"And since I don't drink anymore, what am I going to do that I can't do at home?" he added. "And it's not like I'm sitting around doing nothing at home. When I'm sitting at home watching the Yankees, I've got a guitar in my hands." more on this story

Shia La Beouf Making Marilyn Manson Movie

(Gibson) Actor Shia La Beouf, best-known for his lead role in the Transformers movies, has announced that he's making a documentary about Marilyn Manson's new album. Le Beouf talked about meeting Manson at his Los Angeles residence when the actor stopped by Live with Regis and Kelly, according to Blabbermouth.

"He's a real sweet guy," he said. "He's an eccentric human being. He lives in West Hollywood above a liquor store. There's no lights in the room. And there's sort of these big metal doors and he opens the door and he's in a kimono, a big pink kimono... It's sort of like a lair. No lights, so you have to use your cell phone to guide you around.

"We sat and watched movies for a while... and talked about what kind of visuals he wanted on his album. Which are all really eccentric ideas. All things I can't really say out loud because this is morning television." more on this story

Van Halen and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Named Top American Rock Bands of All Time

Today Gibson wraps up their Top 50 American Rock Bands of All Time list with their picks for the Top 10. Here is the Gibson.com staff's pick for No 1 and the readers' pick for No 1:

Gibson.com's 1. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: OK, so we all know Springsteen is a brilliant artist and a rock and roll songwriter of the highest echelon. But this isn't a list of the Top 50 American Rock Stars – this is a band list. So, in this case, we're talking about Bruuuuuuuce and the heart-stopping, pants-dropping, house-rocking, earth-shaking, legendary E! Street! Band! Bruce wrote amazing songs about America – the promise, the failures, the hard times and the glory days. But it took this most amazing of bar bands (assembled specifically for their performance prowess) to fully demonstrate the all-encompassing power of these songs, these anthems. This was a band that could go 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours – and we're talking dynamic shows that could vary from a hushed arrangement of "The River" to the blazing epic "Rosalita," with the fearless frontman sliding all the way across the stage on his knees (even at age 60!) somewhere in between. Recently, E Street has been in mourning – with the loss of organ player Danny Federici a few years ago, and saxophonist Clarence Clemons just a few weeks ago. If the group's marathon shows have taught us anything, it's that the E Street Band doesn't quit unless it's on their terms. We likely haven't heard the last of the greatest American band. – Bryan Wawzenek

Gibson.com Reader's No 1. Van Halen (they were only No 6 on the Gibson list): I wonder if Van Halen clocking in only at #6 (they're #1 in my book) is because of the tumultuous nature of the inter-band relationships, as well and their many iterations over the years – Van Halen, Van Hagar, Van Cherone, Van Roth II (oops… maybe not), Hagar Roth, Van Hagar II, Van Roth III). Regardless, however you slice whoever's singing, Van Halen is one helluva'n American band. For virtually every rock guitarist under the age of, say, 55, most can tell you exactly where they were when they first heard Van Halen – or, more specifically, where they were when they first heard Eddie's brain-crunching instrumental, "Eruption." That one track alone changed the direction of guitar-driven rock forever, and the genre has never been the same (just as I was never the same after witnessing – from the front row in high school – Diamond Dave preening around in buttless-chaps like he owned the joint, which he did.) No wonder Jeff Spicoli hired them with his reward money! – Sean Patrick Dooley

Read the Full Top 10 here

And see the full Top 50 list plus the reader's Top 25 list here more on this story

Mutemath Announce New Album and Special Preview Shows

Mutemath will have a rockin' Roctober. The band has set an October 4th release date for their new album, Odd Soul.

Odd Soul came together over the course of six months, during which the members of Mutemath locked themselves down at Meany's home studio in New Orleans and didn't emerge until they were ready to play it for others.

"The idea of complete isolation was the only thing that appealed to us. No camera guys, no producers, no engineers, no record label people, no management. No one would hear or comment on what we were doing until we were done," Meany says. "We didn't want to make blurry music. We set out to record something that was unapologetically us." more on this story

Singled Out: Nik Frost's Deadliest Weapon

Today Bangkok Five frontman Nik Frost tells us about his brand new solo single release "Deadliest Weapon," which was just released on iTunes. Here is the story:

Some songs happen like the birthing of a child. Not unlike the bringing of a child into the world, Deadliest Weapon was conceived and brought forth from one of the most painful experiences I've ever had. I'd worn the love of my life down to nothing with my bulls*** and she was done. We'd been through it all at that point and it was unimaginable that she'd ever have the strength or courage to leave me but she had
it and she left...

I tried to win her back, first with humility, sobriety, eventually begging and of course, lots of flowers. She was unmoved. One night, face to face with myself, I realized that no amount of conjured charm or charisma could save the relationship. I walked up and down the stairs of my house, sobbing, dazed with the realization that she was serious this time. As the gravity of the situation continued to bring me to my knees, I heard a melody in my head. Then lyrics started coming. I ran down to the piano and started writing. For a furious 20 minutes the song flowed. Then I dried up. The song stopped pouring out. I tried to pump on my years of hard-boiled songwriting experience but I was drained; there was nothing.

Magically, from somewhere deep, the second verse of Lord Byron's "She Walks in Beauty" appeared on the page. See, very early in our relationship, when I started really falling for her, I bought her a silver, heart shaped pendant for Christmas and had part of the poem, the part which wound up making it into the song, inscribed onto it. She could see what a big deal it was that my road hardened ass had done something vaguely romantic and wore it religiously through all of the bulls*** we survived but made it a point to take it off around the time she'd realized she was over the relationship. Seeing her without the pendant made it obvious where her head was at a couple weeks before the final straw but I was too wrapped up in my own crap to see it.

For me, the song is a testament to the idea of music as noble and relevant: Through music, we can take the intangible, the nebulous and turn it into a living memory, a recurring experience time and time again. Something that, whether it takes up space on a computer or lives on a CD, is embodied. When times are rough and I'm angry because her clothes are hanging all over the dining room, I can always bring a track up on my iPhone, one that I wrote almost 3 years ago today, and remind myself how in love with her I was and still am. I listen to my beautiful child, her song, Deadliest Weapon, and it still brings tears to my eyes...

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself at iTunes here or stream it right here!

Michael Stipe Rescued Snow Patrol's New Album

(Gibson) Michael Stipe of R.E.M has been thanked publicly by Snow Patrol singer Gary Lightbody for helping him out of a frustratingly unproductive spell of writer's block.

While working in a California recording studio on a new album, Lightbody's creative side dried up. He told Q magazine: "I couldn't even write my name on a check. It was that bad at the time."

Fortunately, Stipe was at the same studio and offered Lightbody some tips, as the singer explains: "Michael just made a few suggestions here and there. On a track called 'New York' there was a line, 'Your face has never left me.' He said, 'That sounds like you've got a girl's head in your bag.' So we changed that." more on this story

The Eagles Rock Royal Wedding

(Scoop) The Eagles performed a special concert to kick-off the three-day celebration of the Royal Wedding (of Prince Albert II of Monaco to Charlene Wittstock) on June 30, 2011 in Monaco.

The couple offered this special concert by the Eagles in the Louis II Stadium for 15,000 people, including Monegasque citizens, residents, persons working in the Principality and people from neighbouring communities.

In addition to the concert by the Eagles, the festivities will also include a civil ceremony in the Throne Room of the Prince's palace, an open-air Mass on the Place du Palais; oceans of Perrier-Jouët Champagne; a multicourse dinner by the three-star French chef Alain Ducasse; a sound-and-light show presented by Jean Michel Jarre and fireworks. more on this story

George Thorogood and The Destroyers New Album Coming This Month

George Thorogood and The Destroyers' new album, 120 South Michigan Avenue, will be released by Capitol/EMI on July 12 on CD, vinyl LP, and digital download.

On this, their 17th studio album, George Thorogood and The Destroyers pay tribute to their Chess Records heroes, including many of Thorogood's legendary mentors who helped to launch his career in rock & roll.

The album features Thorogood's raw, rocking turn on classics by a who's-who of the blues, including Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Guy, Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Walter and other Chess greats, as well as new original songs written by Thorogood, the album's producer, Tom Hambridge, and Richard Fleming. more on this story

Warhol's Debbie Harry Portrait Sells of $5.9 Million

(Gibson) Andy Warhol's famed Debbie Harry portrait has been sold for a cool $5.9 million. According to ContactMusic.com, the portrait, from 1980, sold at auction at Sotheby's in London.

Warhol's impression of Blondie singer Harry, made at the height of her post-punk fame, was produced on a pink silkscreen canvas.

One-time Eurythmics songwriter, guitarist and producer Dave Stewart, who is currently part of Mick Jagger's new group SuperHeavy, also auctioned some of his art collection. A Damien Hirst painting that the controversial British artist dedicated to Stewart sold for $1.6 million. more on this story

The Radio Dept Go Vinyl

(Sub) The Radio Dept.'s first three albums; "Lesser matters", "Pet grief" and "Clinging to a scheme" have been release on 180 gram vinyl.

They contain no bonus tracks, badges, new artwork or gimmicks. Just three classic albums available in the way they were meant to be heard.

Lesser Matters (2003): "Lesser matters" was originally released in 2003 and ended up on NME's Top 100 Greatest Albums of the Decade - list among other things. more on this story

Blues Rocker Joanne Shaw Taylor Announces Tour

(Noble) Blues rock guitarist/singer Joanne Shaw Taylor returns to the UK for a 10 date tour in November, kicking off at the Buxton Arts Centre on Tuesday November 15th.

First discovered as a 16-year-old guitar prodigy by Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), Joanne will perform songs from her debut album 'White Sugar', and the 2010 follow-up 'Diamonds in the Dirt'.

Taylor has fast become a shining star on the burgeoning British blues rock music scene. Celebrated by Classic Rock magazine, Shaw Taylor was named 'Best British Female Vocalist' at the British Blues Awards 2010. more on this story

The Features New Album Coming on Kings of Leon's Label This Month

(BH) The Features have announced a July 26th release date for their third full-length album, Wilderness.

The album follows 2009's Some Kind Of Salvation and is the first release from Kings of Leon's label, Serpents and Snakes, a venture with music publisher, Bug Music, - began coming together upon The Features' return home after a lengthy 2010 tour alongside Manchester Orchestra.

For this album The Features teamed with longtime friend, producer Brian Carter, who recorded their 2003 release, The Beginning EP and engineer Craig Alvin at Carter's Paradox Productions Recording Service in Nashville, Tennessee. more on this story

Iwrestledabearonce's Steven Bradley To Save The Music With Merch

(AMM) Iwrestledabearonce's Steven Bradley debuted his Let's Make Mistakes clothing line this week. Initial items for sale include logo t-shirts, tanks, stickers and koozies.

The Let's Make Mistakes line is available online here, as well as this summer at the HK Army Tent on the Warped Tour and on the All Stars Tour featuring Iwrestledabearonce.

10% of the revenue from Let's Make Mistakes will be donated to the VH1 Save The Music Foundation. Steven explains why he chose to work with this charity organization and aid in their efforts to restore instrumental music education programs: "I decided that if I was going to start up a clothing line, the money made from it should definitely help a cause that I'm passionate about. I'm fortunate enough to have a great family who have supported my musical aspirations for as long as I can remember, and without their support I definitely wouldn't be in Iwrestledabearonce, traveling the world, and living the dream I've had since I was young. I know that not everyone is lucky enough to be raised in that same environment, so if selling these clothes can help generate enough money for VH1 Save The Music to purchase just one instrument for a kid who desperately wants it, then that will be by far one of the best things I've made happen in my life." more on this story

Patrick Walker of Warning's 40 Watt Sun Announce Tour and Album

Patrick Walker of Warning's new project 40 Watt Sun have announced plans for a North American Tour.

Dot to Dot Management will be bringing the heavy-hearted UK trio to the States this September for the band's first ever US tour.

The tour is in support of their upcoming album The Inside Room, which will see a North American release via Metal Blade on July 19, 2011. more on this story

Another Black Sabbath Live Classic Online

(The Metal Den) TMD has obtained rare concert audio of Black Sabbath performing the classic song "Killing Yourself to Live."

The track is off the highly acclaimed Sabbath Bloody Sabbath album and the live recording took place on February 23 in 1974 at Bowen Field House in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

The band began a world tour in January 1974 in support of the album's release, which ultimately led to their legendary Cal Jam festival appearance in Ontario, California on April 6, 1974. more

Patti Smith Career On One Disc

Legacy Recordings have announced the release of a new Patti Smith collection called Outside Society that includes her signature songs on the Arista and Columbia labels.

The landmark 18-song release marks the first single-CD collection to span Patti's entire body of recorded work. The chronologically arranged tracks move from 1975 (her debut album, Horses, with "Gloria" and "Free Money") through 2007 (Twelve, with her cover of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit").

Also released on vinyl as a double-LP set, Outside Society will be available everywhere August 23rd. The music on Outside Society is newly remastered by award-winning engineer Greg Calbi and Patti Smith band member Tony Shanahan. The CD booklet will feature brief recollections of each song written by Patti, who personally supervised the choices. more on this story

Dark Funeral Announce New Singer and Are Hitting The High Seas

We received the following about Dark Funeral naming a new vocalist and announcing their participation in 70000tons Of Metal:

Lord Ahriman admits that it surely was not an easy task to find a worthy replacement for Emperor Magus Caligula, who has been doing an amazing job for Dark Funeral during the past 15 years. The Lord says that he has not only been "the vocalist" for the band, but the also a very good friend of his and he always will be!

Anyway 10 months of intense search worldwide have finally given result and he is VERY proud to announce and welcome "Nachtgarm" to the horde. more on this story

Singled Out: King Louie's Missing Monuments

Today garage rock pioneer King Louie (Exploding Hearts/The Reatards/Bad Times) tells us about "The Girl Of The Nite" from his new band Missing Monuments' brand new album "Painted White". Here is the story:

OK Fans and Onlookers to this new single from my band the Missing Monuments, "The Girl Of The Nite." First off , there has been a question of "WHO" is singing ... YUP that's me! The old Cookie Monster! I felt it was time to redirect vocally and lyricly from super catchy POP with darker lyrical content before it was deemed my FORTE'! Oops too late for that now, I guess!!! The song is sung completely different than a lot of my other stuff! I did it on purpose. I wanted the vocals to reflect the change lyricly I was making with this. HAVING SOME FUN AND JUST A SWEET TIME FOR A GODDAMN CHANGE! I also thought it was important to put this into the spotlight and open the record with it...

The song is about a girl that I'm super great friends with named Tess and a dance that we once shared during a love song on a jukebox at a New Orleans bus-stop drop dive! It was a magical B-side that is forever seered into my thoughts! The song really just wrote itself.

YES this is a SOMEWHAT classic style pop sound! Which I'm SURE will be deemed a bit retro. UNLIKE IF I MADE 1973 METERS RECORD AND RAPPED OVER IT, I would be taking it to the next level???

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

. Motley Crue, Poison and New York Dolls Live

These three bands are possibly the best known and in the case of Motley and the Dolls, most influential glam rock bands ever. Recently in Milwaukee, all three bands gave the crowd a show they wont soon forget. - Read the full Motley Crue, Poison and New York Dolls Live review