Velvet Revolver Recorded Album With Corey Taylor- Coheed And Cambria's Todd Out On Bail- Minus the Bear Pirate Tour- Mike Portnoy and John Sykes Form Band- more

Find out what else happened on this date in music history here

Disturbed Breaking Up?

(Gibson) Disturbed singer David Draiman has revealed that the band are preparing to enter an indefinite hiatus. Speaking to KQXR in Boise, Idaho, Draiman said the band were looking at an extended hiatus, and had "some things going on internally …personal things going on."

Later Draiman took to Twitter to elaborate: "We don't know what we're doing yet," he wrote. "All I can say is that we're certainly going away for a long while."

Draiman said the band would not be undertaking its Music as a Weapon tour in 2012, but might consider leasing the brand name out to other bands to use. "It has kind of become its own entity," Draiman explained. "It's something we have talked about in the past, and that's possible. But you're not gonna see a Disturbed tour for a while."
more on this story

Guns N' Thin Lizzy Shuffle

(RockAAA) Richard Fortus admits he is desperate to retain his place in Thin Lizzy when the band embark on their UK tour in the new year and he expects to have wrapped up a handful of Guns N' Roses dates in South American in plenty time to do both.

The GNR guitarist was drafted into the new Lizzy line-up last year when Vivien Campbell went back to Def Leppard and Fortus says he is having a blast playing with the band.

Chatting to Rock Radio DJ Tom Russell backstage at High Voltage Fortus joked he will be back if invited, with the band when they kick start their tour in the Glasgow Barrowlands in January after being wowed by stories of the famous Scottish venue by Lizzy singer Ricky Warwick.

"I certainly hope so," said Fortus. "We (GNR) are doing some shows in October but hopefully I'll be free and clear by January." more on this story

Soundgarden Won't Rehash

(RockAAA) Chris Cornell says the secret to Soundgarden's success has been their determination never to play the same song twice. The recently reformed band are currently working hard on a brand new studio album and frontman Cornell says the strangest thing about reuniting with his band mates has been how smooth it has been.

Talking as the band continue to record material for the new album Cornell said: "We were so inventive as a band that the music, from album to album, was always fresh.

"We've always been a band that's tried really hard to never play the same song twice. And that, to me, is our secret — that there's a real breadth to what we've done." more on this story

KISS Hopeful About New Album

(Gibson) KISS drummer Eric Singer says the band's new album will be more produced than 2009's Sonic Boom, with a more bombastic drum sound and generally better sonics than its predecessor.

In an interview with Mitch Lafon of Bravewords.com, Singer said the band was eight songs into the recording, but at this stage the album doesn't have a title. "This isn't The Elder where we have a theme for the whole record," Singer said. "It's a straight-ahead rock KISS record and I think this stuff is far stronger, better material [than Sonic Boom]. It's more riffy, which makes it more interesting." The drummer likened the approach to the band's classic 1976 album Destroyer.

Singer says there are plans for both he and guitarist Tommy Thayer to have a vocal song on the album. "We've never asked to sing a song," the ironically named Singer said. "Paul [Stanley] is the producer and that was his choice and decision. It was him encouraging me to sing." more on this story

Jane's Addiction To Premiere New Music Next Week

(EMI) Jane's Addiction will premiere their new single "Irresistible Force" on Los Angeles radio station KROQ's morning radio show "The Kevin & Bean Show," next Tuesday August 2nd, a day ahead of its official digital release.

The song is taken from the band's new album The Great Escape Artist (Capitol Records). Marking the first new studio album in eight years by Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro and Stephen Perkins, it is due out Tuesday, September 29.

The album also features "End To The Lies," a pre-single teaser track which the band made available to their fans as a free download this past April. more on this story

Jag Panzer Announce Retirement

Heavy metal veterans Jag Panzer have decided to retire after three decades of making music together. Here is what the band had to say:

"We are proud of every album we released and the support we've received from the heavy metal community," states guitarist and founder Mark Briody. " We've played so many places around the world and enjoyed every minute of it but the time has come where we just cannot move forward as a band."

Guitarist Christian Lasegue left the band last month to pursue his degree full time. "Christian did an amazing job on The Scourge of the Light and it was a pleasure working with him," continues Briody. "We wished Christian well but kept this quiet until we found a replacement." more on this story

Hank Williams III Hitting The Road

(HER) Hank Williams III, aka Hank3, will kick off the first leg of his 2011 North American tour in Atlanta on Labor Day, Monday, September 5.

The 22-date tour will play shows through the South into Texas, across to Los Angeles, and up to the Pacific Northwest, ending in Denver on October 6.

"I've been off the road for awhile, and I'm looking' at two years of bein' full-on dedicated to goin' out there and doin' what we do," said Hank3. "That's one of the reasons I wanted to release all of these albums at the same time, so I could just focus back on the touring again." more on this story

Def Leppard-Sex Pistols Supergroup Manraze Set New Album Release

Supergroup Manraze have set a August 2nd North American release date for their sophomore album, punkfunkrootsrock.

The group, featuring Def Leppard's Phil Collen, Sex Pistols' Paul Cook and Girl's Simon Laffy, will perform a "one night only" event in Los Angeles. Billed as the official Album Release Party at the legendary Roxy Theater, MANRAZE will hit the stage on Sunday, October 2nd to perform songs from the new album, as well as a selection of hits from their debut album, Surreal.

On Wednesday July 27, Manraze will be the featured guests on the nationally syndicated radio show ROCKLINE with host Bob Coburn. The iconic rock music program begins at 8:30pm PT (11:30pm ET). more on this story

Robert Plant Plays Surprise Club Gig

(Gibson) Rock legend Robert Plant played a $5 gig last weekend in Wales for just 200 people.

According to The Sun, the Led Zeppelin legend sang at a village hall in Monmouth, South Wales, for a crowd who had paid just $5 per ticket.

The gig was a charity benefit for one-time Plant producer Pat Moran, 63, who died earlier this year. Darren Martin, who witnessed the show, told The Sun: "It was amazing – he's a rock god and he was playing in a village hall. It was a real honor to be there – and he chatted with the audience afterwards." more on this story

Vince Neil Says Motley Crue's A Bunch Of Idiots

(Gibson) In the midst of Motley Crue's summer tour, Vince Neil has been talking about the band's enduring appeal. He told the Rochester City Newspaper: "It's just a great show; lots of visuals, lots of pyro, dancing girls, the whole thing. Throw in some good music and there you go."

Despite the passage of time, Neil still feels like a kid wen he gets on stage with the band. He said: "It doesn't feel like we've been together 30 years. I still feel like we're playing the Whiskey A Go Go. We're still the same guys. We feed off the audience. They're going crazy and we're just having a good time out there.

As for the band's special appeal? "Individually we're a bunch of idiots, and together we're one, big, crazy idiot." more on this story

Slash The Ultimate Sideman

(Gibson) Slash has been the guitar star for Guns N' Roses, Snakepit, Velvet Revolver and, currently, his own "solo" band. But Slash also has played sessions that would make many guitarists-for-hire weep. Sure, the fame of his name got him many gigs, but Slash's session story is a whole world in itself: 2004 and 2007 are the only years since 1988 when Slash hasn't guested on at least one other artist's recordings. From rock to metal, from blues to R&B, from hip-hop to pop, Slash's Gibson Les Pauls have been places you wouldn't necessarily know. And not on other songs you thought he was on.

With Alice Cooper… Guns had only just hit big when Slash made his first guest apperance in 1988's The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years, appearing on "Under My Wheels" by Alice Cooper. Slash later spilled some insane guitar wailing on Cooper's "Vengeance is Mine." He also played on Cooper's "Hey Stoopid" and on the live album, A Fistful of Alice.

With Michael Jackson… The King of Pop and Slash were unlikely friends. After Jackson's death, Slash even described himself and MJ as "very similar people, it was always all about the music." That said, Slash also was at pains to clarify what he did and did not contribute to Jackson hits. Speaking to CNN in 2010, Slash said of a popular misconception: "I never played on 'Black or White.' I played on 'Give in to Me' [also from Jackson's Dangerous album] and in the 'Black and White' video, when Macaulay Culkin was trashing around, that's me playing." "Black or White"'s recorded guitars are played by co-writer Bill Botrell and the solo by L.A. session player Tim Pierce. But Slash did famously play with MJ on a medley at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1995. Slash also played on that year's "They Don't Care About Us" and "D.S." and "Morphine" (from the 1997 remix album Blood on the Dancefloor.) A lot more here

Jackson Browne, Brian Wilson, Stevie Nicks, Patrick Stump Take on Buddy Holly

(Gibson) This is the summer of the dueling Buddy Holly tribute albums. The previously released Rave On Buddy Holly featured Paul McCartney and Kid Rock tipping their caps to the rock and roll legend. Now, Listen to Me: Buddy Holly includes another batch of all-stars taking on Holly's classic songs.

The album, due September 6, includes artists such as Jackson Browne, Brian Wilson, Stevie Nicks, Ringo Starr, Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy, Pat Monahan of Train, Lyle Lovett, Natalie Merchant , Zooey Deschanel and others.

The Listen to Me compilation is one part of a multi-media celebration of Holly's life and work timed to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the Texas native's birth (which is September 7). more on this story

What You Might Not Know About AC/DC's Angus Young

(Gibson) It's been nearly four decades since Malcolm Young invited his kid brother, Angus, to join a new band he was putting together. Who could have imagined, at that time, that all these years later AC/DC would still be churning out some of the world's greatest riff-rock?

Through the years, legions of guitar players and fans have delved deeply into Angus' background, perhaps looking for the secrets behind his artful riff-making. Still, we managed to uncover some biographical facts that might have escaped all but the most diehard followers.

He still owns the very first Gibson SG he bought – 41 years ago. Young purchased a late '60s Gibson SG from a music shop located within walking distance of his family's home in Sydney, Australia, when he was just 16 years old. To this day, it remains one of his main go-to guitars. "I think it was the little devil horns [that sold me]," he told the New Zealand Herald, in 2010. "I've still got it and it's still my favorite guitar of them all."

His main pre-AC/DC job prepared him well for the band's bawdy lyrical content. Young left school before his 15th birthday. Not long afterwards, he took a job working as a typesetter at a "men's" magazine that sported the title, Ribald. Malcolm, incidentally, had by then put in a couple of years doing sewing machine maintenance for a company that manufactured bras.

His older sister, Margaret, suggested something even more important than Angus' trademark schoolboy uniform. Most AC/DC fans know that it was the Young brothers' sister, Margaret, who encouraged Angus to wear his schoolboy get-up on-stage. But fewer fans realize that it was also Margaret who christened her siblings' band "AC/DC" after noticing the letters on a vacuum cleaner. According to biographer Susan Masino, Angus and Malcolm liked the fact that the letters denoted power and electricity. A lot more here

The Brian Jonestown Massacre Announce Double CD Collection

The Brian Jonestown Massacre have set a August 30, 2011 release date for the double CD, The Singles Collection (1992-2011).

Remastered from the vinyl originals this collection features 14 tracks that have not been available on CD before, these versions are completely different from any version that found itself on a full-length album. The package comes with a 24-page booklet featuring the front and backs of the entire original cover art.

The Singles Collection (1992-2011) features tracks only previously available on 7 inch singles including "Convertible," "Their Majesties 2nd Request (Enrique's Dream)" and also the most recent 2011 vinyl single release "Illuminomi" and "There's A War Going On." The collection also features "Thoughts of You" and "Never Ever" recorded in 1993 from the band's alter ego, Acid. more on this story

Wolves In The Throne Room New Album and Tour

(Earsplit) Southern Lord Records have set a September 13th release date for Wolves In The Throne Room's fourth full-length album, Celestial Lineage.

In celebration of the new album, Wolves In The Throne Room will take to the road throughout North America in several waves to kick off the touring cycle in support of Celestial Lineage.

With very D.I.Y. ethics fueling the tour dates, the horde will perform in many wooded locations and smaller, off-beat venues along the way. Some of these specific locations for the shows won't be announced until just days before some of the shows, where fans are urged to reference WITTR's official website for exact show locations and/or directions. more on this story

Redemption Set New Album Release

(Freeman) InsideOut Music will release Redemption's new album, This Mortal Coil, on October 11th, 2011 in North America and on September 26th, 2011 in Europe.

Redemption recorded and mixed "This Mortal Coil" with legendary producer Neil Kernon (Queensryche, Nevermore, Kansas, etc.).

Redemption's Nick van Dyk checked in commenting on the album as follows: "I'm extremely pleased to announce that work on 'This Mortal Coil' has been completed. more on this story

Karma To Burn Late Summer Tour

Karma To Burn are gearing up to hit the road for a North American Tour next month.

These will be their first U.S. dates supporting new album V, released this June by Napalm Records.

Karma To Burn's latest tour will see them playing 20 dates total and hitting some new places they haven't played before. more on this story

Dropkick Murphys Fenway Park Lineup Announced

(AMM) Dropkick Murphys have announced the complete band lineup for their Fenway Park gigs on September 8 and 9th.

For both shows, the main stage will feature headliners Dropkick Murphys, special guests The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, as well as Street Dogs.

The side stage will be headlined by Chuck Ragan and will include performances from The Parkington Sisters and Old Brigade. more on this story

Michael Monroe Recruits Motorhead Legend For New Album

Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe will release his new album, Sensory Overdrive in the U.S and Canada on August 23rd on Spinefarm/ Universal.

The album was produced by legendary producer Jack Douglas (Aerosmith, John Lennon, Cheap Trick) and features features guest performances from Americana artist Lucinda Williams and Motorhead front man Lemmy. The first single and video from Sensory Overdrive is the track "78". The video will have its world premiere on AOL on August 1st.

Monroe will head out September 30th on a 16 date U.S and Canadian tour with his all star band featuring guitarists Steve Conte (New York Dolls) and Dregen (Hellacopters , Backyard Babies), bassist Sami Yaffa ( Hanoi Rocks, Jetboy, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts), and drummer Karl "Rockfist" Rosqvist (Danzig). more on this story

Alter Bridge and Slash Frontman Myles Kennedy Talks Inspiration

(RockAAA) Myles Kennedy says he is looking to stretch his songwriting practices to not only write about personal situations and emotions as he is wary of exhausting himself.

In an exclusive chat with RockAAA backstage at the High Voltage Festival where he was fronting Slash's solo band he also explained the inspiration for the pair's smash hit 'Starlight.'

He explained: "Generally I like to gravitate towards something I've lived through and experienced. I feel like it is easier to convey those emotions but I am trying to stretch as a writer because after a while you tap into everything you've experienced." more on this story

Arctic Monkeys, Public Image, Ltd., Ringo Starr and Brian Wilson Lead Glenfiddich Mojo Honours

(Gibson) Rumer, John Grant, Arctic Monkeys, Public Image, Ltd., Ringo Starr and Brian Wilson led the way at the Glenfiddich Mojo Honours List 2011 last week after winning gongs at annual awards ceremony.

Hosted by Mojo magazine's Editor-in-Chief Phil Alexander at The Brewery in London's East End, the event included guests Jimmy Page, Brian Wilson, Ringo Starr, Sir Bob Geldof, Phil Collins, John Lydon, Sandie Shaw, The Arctic Monkeys, The Vaccines, Grinderman, Primal Scream, Gary Numan, Thomas Dolby and New Order's Bernard Sumner to name a few. Consisting of key awards which were voted for by readers of the monthly music bible Mojo magazine, and users of its website www.mojo4music.com, the awards were described by Alexander as "a triumph for music," as they celebrated the achievements of the last 12 months as well as career-long accomplishments, while at the same time supporting Glenfiddich's ethos of inspiring people to realize their potential.

Suzi Quatro, best known for her hit "Devil Gate Drive," took to the stage to present Booker T & The MG's guitarist & Blues Brother Steve Cropper with the Gibson Guitar sponsored Mojo Les Paul Award.

During the awards ceremony, a Gibson Les Paul Standard Goldtop was signed by all winners and presenters on behalf of Mojo's chosen charity, War Child. more on this story

Devin Townsend Project North American Tour

The Devin Townsend Project will be hitting the road this fall on a headlining tour of North America.

Hevy Devy will spend rest of the summer be abroad playing various European festivals and solo acoustic dates.

The U.S. dates for the North American tour have been announced with Canadian dates to be announced soon. more on this story

Blink-182's Travis Barker Picks A Winner

(Submitted) Blink-182's Travis Barker announced Twin Berlin as the winner of Guitar Center's Your Next Record unsigned artist competition.

After an intense 8-week period of peer judging through OurStage.com, Barker personally selected the winning band from the top 100 artists entered, sending one talented unsigned band into Red Bull Studios in Los Angeles with the acclaimed drummer and producer.

As winner, Twin Berlin will have the opportunity to record a 3-song EP with Barker, have Barker appear on their single from the EP, receive worldwide digital distribution of the album through TuneCore as well as $10,000 in new gear from Guitar Center. more on this story

Megadeth and Rob Zombie K.O.s at Heavy T.O.

(RockAAA) Megadeth headlined day 1 of the first-ever Heavy T.O. festival in Toronto on Saturday, and Rob Zombie did the rocking honors on Sunday to close it out.

The opening day featured sets by Motorhead, Anthrax, Opeth, Childron Of Bodom, Diamond Head and others; Sunday's lineup included Rob Zombie, Slayer, Mastadon and Anvil, among others.

Held at Downsview Park, Heavy T.O. is an offshoot of Heavy MTL, the metal fest that's been happening in Montreal for a few years now. Since the two festivals were running on the same weekend, many of the bands played one city on Saturday and then headed to the other major Canadian centre the next. more on this story

Needtobreathe Reckoning Coming in September

(BH) Atlantic Records have set a September 20th release date for Needtobreathe's new album The Reckoning.

After two years of non-stop touring, Needtobreathe went straight into the studio to create The Reckoning - an album centered on the songwriting talents of Bear and Bo Rinehart.

Inspired by the dynamics they had developed on the road, the band was determined to capture their on-stage energy and exhilarating live performances, along with their experimental recording ideas, on record. more on this story

Rival Sons Up For Two Awards

(Earache) Rival Sons have been nominated for two awards at the 2011 Classic Rock awards.

The band have had an incredible year so far, with the release of their new album Pressure & Time to critical acclaim, a tour with British heavy metal legends Judas Priest, and performances at some of Europe's largest rock festivals.

Now, Rival Sons have been nominated in the categories of "Best New Band" and "Best Album" at the Classic Rock awards. more on this story

Castevet Limited Edition

Castevet will be releasing a vinyl edition of their 2010 release, Mounds of Ash, via Forcefield Records on August 30th, 2011.

Mounds of Ash will be given the deluxe treatment in a limited run of white (100 copies) or black wax, lovingly packaged in full color jackets with black-lining on the inside.

Vinyl aficionados take note, both the front and back have spot UV gloss, and the records are house in thick euro sleeves that are also black-lined with inside printing. more on this story

Buddy Rich, Gannin Arnold and Peter Erskine DVDs

Drum Channel has released three new DVDs for Buddy Rich, Gannin Arnold and Peter Erskine. Here is the info they sent over:

The Special Edition of Buddy Rich Up Close brings with it a previously unreleased CD which includes the Band Mix and the Buddy Hot Mix of six fantastic songs: Love For Sale, Bugle Call Rag, West Side Story, Birdland, Greensleeves and Dancing Men. The DVD features footage from three of Buddy's shows with shots from as many cameras as possible highlighting Buddy's incredible drumming techniques. You can also listen to two different versions of the audio, plus a slow motion rendering to catch all the nuances of Buddy's performances. Modern Drummer magazine who rated the DVD five stars commented, 'Whether you're a longtime Buddy fan or you're just discovering his talents, this DVD, which features six songs performed by Buddy Rich and filmed in a club with Rich's big band, is one to check out . . . fun and inspiring, with lots of wow.'

Next comes the Gannin Arnold Project: 5 World Class Drummers. Featuring Taylor Hawkins, Jimmy Chamberlain, Simon Phillips, Terry Bozzio and Gary Novak, this has to probably be one of the most exceptional, engaging and interesting performance and educational drumming DVD's ever produced. Joining Gannin Arnold and this marvelous array of drummers are Billy Mohler on Guitar and Bass and Tim Landers on Bass. These top notch drummers each play the Gannin Arnold song 'Not From Here' showing you how differently they interpret it. During the DVD you will be able to see the drummers playing from overhead and watch what their feet are doing with the special close up edits that are included. On top of that the DVD also included interviews with each of the drummers, and 19 remarkable band performances. more on this story

Singled Out: Release The Sunbird (Rogue Wave) - Always Like the Son

Rogue Wave's Zach Rogue releases "Come Back To Us" the debut album from his new project Release The Sunbird today. To celebrate we asked Zach to tell us about the single "Always Like the Son". Here is the story:

I wrote this song shortly after my grandmother passed away. She was a very delicate soul and I was with her in her last moments. In the hospital, she told me she was afraid to die and just wasn't ready yet. And it made me reflect on whether or not I was a good grandson to her and if I ultimately have given enough to those that are the closest to me. There is this image I have in mind of whom I aspire to be and then there are the rare times in life when the mirror is held up and I see myself for who I really am. I think we always feel like we never do enough – but it is this sense of acknowledgement that helps us hopefully get to the next stage: forgiveness. Once we can accept that we are imperfect and our lives are littered with mistakes, only then can we move forward and improve ourselves. I hope.

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

. Root 66: Dolly Parton- Burns & Poe- Jonny Burke

Kevin Wierzbicki takes a listen to new rootsy releases Dolly Partons Better Day, Burns & Poes self-titled album and Jonny Burkes Distance and Fortune in this brand new edition of Root 66. - Read the full Dolly Parton- Burns & Poe- Jonny Burke review