Megadeth Can't Afford Big 4 Tour

But Mustaine says fans hoping for a series of Stateside dates are likely to be disappointed. "When Metallica do their tours they like to do two weeks on and two weeks off, to spend time with their kids," He tells BraveWords. "We can't afford that. We do four weeks on, sometimes five, then two weeks off. In order to do the two weeks on, two weeks off thing, we'd have to pick up shows in between – and I don't know that that's going to happen." more on this story

Bret Michaels Knew He Was Dying

(Rock News Desk) Bret Michaels admits he knew he was dying when he was suddenly struck by a brain haemorrhage last year – but he says his life didn't flash before his eyes.

And he admits he didn't allow himself enough time to recover from the near-fatal trauma, because he was determined to appear on the live final of TV gameshow Celebrity Apprentice.

The Poison singer was recovering at home from emergency appendix surgery when the haemorrhage hit. "My brain blew up inside my head. I told my girlfriend Kristi: 'I don't know what the f**k is going on with me right now – but I'm dying.'," Michaels tells ABC News. "People say your life flashes in front of you. It didn't. What happened to me is I got sad. It was my kids – that's what I thought about most." more on this story

Ozzy Osbourne Secret Revealed

(Gibson) Ozzy Osbourne had a pair of unlikely guest vocalists on his 1988 album No Rest for The Wicked: Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, better known as Flo and Eddie from Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention and The Turtles (of "Happy Together" fame).

In the second part of his long-ranging interview with Bravewords.com, bass player Bob Daisley said Flo and Eddie sang background vocals on the album, for which Daisley wrote the lyrics. No Rest was Ozzy's first album with Zakk Wylde on guitar.

Daisley also discussed his Living Loud band with guitarist Steve Morse, vocalist Jimmy Barnes (who was once a contender for Van Halen) and former Ozzy bandmate Lee Kerslake. Daisley said an early plan for a collaboration with Kerslake was a Randy Rhoads tribute involving a rotating roster of guests including Brian May, Gary Moore, Deep Purple keyboard players Jon Lord and Don Airey and, in an interesting twist, Ronnie James Dio on vocals. more on this story

New Led Zeppelin Riff Given Away

(Rock News Desk) Black Country Communion frontman Glenn Hughes says he demanded Jason Bonham give him a riff that was to be used in the abandoned Led Zeppelin reunion – and the drummer agreed on condition that Hughes turned it into a song which would make him cry.

Bonham last month told how he'd begun working with Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones on a recording project in 2008 after the band's one-off show the previous year. But they failed to find a satisfactory replacement for Robert Plant, who refused to be involved, and their plans were shelved.

Now Hughes explains what happened to the embryonic song: he insisted Bonham hand it over to him for use on the new BCC album – and it became a track called "Save Me." "Jason played me the demo from when he was working with Jimmy and John and the various singers who might have been part of something," The singer and bassist tells Music Radar. "He played me this riff and I said, 'Give it to me.' He said, 'Give it to you?' and I said very emphatically: 'Yes, give it to me.' more on this story

Iron Maiden Better Than Metallica?

(Gibson) Metallica fans may run to the hills after they hear the bold declaration made by Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson. Speaking with Metal Hammer magazine, the erstwhile Astraeus airline pilot stood behind a recent boast that his band was better than a certain Big Four headliner.

"You've just got to have a sense of fearlessness," Dickinson said. "I got into trouble for saying that we're better than Metallica… and, it's true! They might be bigger than us and they might sell more tickets than us and they might get more gold-plated middle-class bourgeoisie turning up to their shows but they're not Maiden. I did say it's a bit of a wind-up. I thought, if I'm going to turn into an (expletive), I might as well, you know, go for it!"

Meanwhile, Iron Maiden released the "greatest hits" collection, From Fear to Eternity: The Best of 1990-2010, yesterday. A trailer for the two-disc set was posted online yesterday. Check it out here

Guns N' Roses Star's Brain Rattled- Motley Crue's Mick Mars Going Solo- Bon Jovi Webcast- Jack White Kinks- New Found Glory- Korn Suffocation Suicide- Trivium- more

(Rock News Desk) Guns N' Roses guitarist Bumblefoot is to undergo an MRI scan on his neck and head following the four-car pile-up he walked away from last week. He says: "I'm having a hard time – my brain is rattled and I have a mild concussion." more

(BMN) Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars tells the Dallas Observer that he recently jammed with legendary jazz guitarist George Benson, and the two found that they had a lot in common — namely that they're both fans of Wes Montgomery. The session so affected Mars, he's now considering releasing a solo effort of R&B, soul, and blues songs. However, he is no rush to enter the studio more

(BW&BK) Bon Jovi will be streaming the first 30 minutes of their show live from Olympic Stadium in Munich, Germany on June 12th. more

(Billboard) Jack White is in talks to record new music for Bobcat Goldthwait's film adaptation of "Schoolboys in Disgrace," the 1975 concept album by the Kinks more

(Rock News Desk) Trivium's upcoming album will be called In Waves and it's named after the lead track which the band leaked last week. more

New Found Glory has wrapped recording on their new album Radiosurgery with producer Neal Avron. more

(FMQB) TV On The Radio has added a month's worth of North American tour dates to their schedule, starting with a two-night stand in Minneapolis on August 30 and 31. more

(Rock News Desk) Queensryche drummer Scott Rockenfield admits fans may have found it difficult to follow their logic in last year's Cabaret tour – but the band certainly enjoyed it. more

(BME) Korn singer Jonathan Davis and Suffocation frontman Frank Mullen will make guest appearances on "The Black Crown", the new album from California deathcore masters Suicide Silence. more

(Lambgoat) Threat Signal will enter the studio with producer/engineer Zeuss next week to begin tracking their next album. more

Downpresser, Take Offense, New Morality, and Cornered will be touring together this summer more

(BW&BK) Bob Daisley (Ozzy Osbourne, Rainbow, Uriah Heep, Gary Moore, Black Sabbath) has "designed a 'Bob Daisley Signature Series' bass that will be released in the coming months. more

(NME) Coldplay unveil four more new songs at Rock Am Ring Band give fans a further taste of their forthcoming fifth album more

(Punknews.org) Merge Records has announced plans to reissue all four Archers of Loaf full-lengths, with 1993's Icky Mettle up first and slated for an August 2, 2011 release. more

(Lambgoat) Alpha & Omega has dropped off their forthcoming tour of Europe with Terror. more

(BW&BK) Poison frontman Bret Michaels is scheduled to appear on ABC's 20/20 on Wednesday, June 8th more

Ghost, Enslaved, and Alcest will team up for a tour of North America later this year more

On this day in 1975, Elton John's album, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, went to #1 on the U.S. album chart, the first album ever to enter the U.S. chart at #1.

On this day in 2007, The funeral of guitarist and singer Bo Diddley took place in Gainesville, Florida. Many in attendance chanted "Hey Bo Diddley" shortly after family members had passed by his coffin as a gospel band played Bo Diddley's music. At the service, they presented a floral tribute in form of his trademark square guitar. Find out what else happened on this date in music history here

Red Hot Chili Peppers Return With I'm With You

We had a quick mention about this in yesterday's digest but here is the official word with more details: Red Hot Chili Peppers will release their tenth studio album, I'm With You, on August 30th, 2011.

Recorded at East West In Los Angeles and Shangri-la in Malibu, CA, I'm With You was produced by Rick Rubin, who has produced the band's previous five albums, 2006's Stadium Arcadium, 2002's By The Way, 1999's Californication, 1995's One Hot Minute, and 1991's Blood Sugar Sex Magik. The album was mixed by Andrew Scheps and Greg Fidelman.

I'm With You is the band's first new album since the two-set Stadium Arcadium, which debuted at Number One in 28 countries around the world, including the U.S.- their first Number One album on the Los Angeles quartet's home turf. The album spawned three Number One Modern Rock hits: "Dani California" (which spent 14 weeks at No. 1 and is one of three songs in the history of Billboard's Alternative Chart to debut at No. 1), "Tell Me Baby," and "Snow (Hey Oh)." To support Stadium Arcadium, the Chili Peppers played to millions of fans around the world throughout 2007, including sold-out arena tours of Europe and North America, appearances at the Fuji Festival in Japan and Live Earth in London, and headlining slots at Lollapalooza in Chicago, and the Leeds and Reading Festivals in the U.K. more on this story

Radiohead Remix Series Coming

(Gibson) Clash Music is reporting that Radiohead will release a series of remixes of the group's latest album, The King of Limbs. The releases are set to begin July 4 and will be available only in limited edition on 12-inch vinyl.

The first batch of remixes will include reworkings of "Little by Little" by Caribou and "Lotus Flower" by Jacques Greene. The cover art for the July 4 release (seen here) was also released yesterday.

Over the course of the summer, the entire lineup of remixes will be revealed, which is rumored to include the Los Angeles-based DJ, Flying Lotus. The vinyl discs will only be available from select independent record stores and the official Radiohead website. more on this story

Primus Return With First New Album in a Decade

Primus have set a September 13, 2011 release date for Green Naugahyde, their first studio album in 11 years.

The record was produced and engineered by Les Claypool in his personal studio, Rancho Relaxo, in Northern California, and features Claypool, long-time guitarist Larry LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane. Lane was in an early lineup of the band, and was also in Sausage, a 1994 reunion of the 1988 Primus lineup. Green Naugahyde expands on Primus' incomparable sound and also sees them bringing it into the next millennium. It is a cerebral and complex album that, like all of the band's output, is teeming with the band's signature blend of whimsy and underlying darkness.

Says Claypool, "If I were to look at all of our records, it seems like this is reminiscent of the early stuff. Obviously, with Jay there's a newness to it, but because he left the band right before we recorded our first record, his approach has an eerie harkening to the old Frizzle Fry days." more on this story

Kyuss Lives! American Tour

Original Kyuss members John Garcia, Nick Oliveri and Brant Bjork along with guitarist Bruno Fevery have announced their first North American tour in over 15 years this fall when they hit the road as Kyuss Lives!

The north trek follows Kyuss Lives!'s sold out spring European and Australian tours which have proven to be a feast of recognition for the desert rock pioneers.

Kyuss Lives! will also perform in Mexico, Chile, Argentina and Brazil in November, 2011. more on this story

Def Leppard Streaming New Album Online

(hennemusic) Def Leppard's new live album, "Mirrorball," hits stores June 6 (UK), June 7 (internationally), Germany, Switzerland and Austria on June 17, France (June 23) and the rest of Europe on June 20.

The 2-disc set features a mix of live Leppard classics - recorded throughout The Sparkle Lounge Tour - three brand new studio songs, and a bonus DVD that contains live performances and intimate backstage footage captured on the road.

Fans can check out the full "Mirrorball" album now as it is available for streaming in its entirety at AOL Music here. more on this story

Taking Back Sunday Releasing New Music Today

Taking Back Sunday are releasing an iTunes exclusive EP today, June 7th, which contains new songs "This Is All Now" and "Best Places To Be A Mom" as well as an 2011 acoustic version of "Ghost Man On Third" off Tell All Your Friends.

Taking Back Sunday is set to kick off their nationwide headlining tour on June 14, 2011 in Denver, CO. The summer-long run, which also features Thursday and Colour Revolt, will support the release of their new album Taking Back Sunday, due out June 28, 2011.

The self-titled release is a return to the band's original line-up from their 2002 debut Tell All Your Friends: vocalist Adam Lazzara, guitarist Eddie Reyes and drummer Mark O'Connell have reunited with vocalist/guitarist John Nolan and bass player Shaun Cooper, who departed in 2003. more on this story

Tony MacAlpine Sets New Album Release

Tony MacAlpine has set a June 21st release date for this new self-titled all-instrumental album.

Favored Nations bills that album as 12 tracks of complex, intricate heavy music that demands concentration. It is a true solo album in every sense of the word. Drummers Virgil Donati and Marco Minnemann, as well as bassist Philip Bynoe are utilized on various tracks. MacAlpine plays everything else: seven-string guitar, eight-string guitar, keyboards, bass and programming.

Written and recorded at "The Cottage" studio in Pasadena, California, MacAlpine has blended jazz-fusion, metal, prog and rock'n'roll into a tightly-wound trip of mammoth proportions. "My music is instrumental guitar-oriented heavy rock with a fusion flair," he explains. "Having started with classical piano since the age of five, I've been exposed to many genres and styles from contemporary to the Romantic and Classical periods. This early development helped me define my writing and improvisation which is evident in my sound today. My guitar playing encompasses many different styles, with an emphasis on composition and theater." more on this story

Fair To Midland Announce Dates With dredg and The Damned Things

Fair To Midland are hitting the road this summer for three separate treks including their CD release shows as well as support spots with dredg, The Damned Things and Maylene & The Sons Of Disaster.

Fair To Midland will be touring in support of their brand new full length album entitled "Arrows and Anchors" which is set for release on July 12th, 2011.

"We're very excited about being a part of this tour, says bassist Jon Dicken of the Fair To Midland tout. "We're fans of all the bands involved and are looking forward to hitting the road with them for what looks like should be a fun summer. It's a great way to kick off the release of our new record." more on this story

AC/DC's Brian Johnson Shuns Autobiography Formula For Memoir

(Gibson) Instead of writing a celebrity autobiography, which he hates, AC/DC's Brian Johnson has instead penned a series of "funny and positive" anecdotes in his new book Rockers and Rollers: A Full-Throttle Memoir, according to the Daily Express.

Johnson told Billboard magazine, "I hate autobiographies. I think they're boring and rotten, and I'm not interested. It's usually some bitter old git doing a tell-all to get back at everybody."

As he contemplates another volume of stories, Johnson is adamant that there will be no muckraking. "Man, I've got a million. If I could do it (a second book) without stepping on anybody's toes, I think that would be quite fun. As long as it wasn't negative. It would have to be a positive, funny side of everything. I think that would be a great thing, and I have thought of it." more on this story

The Darkness Kick Off Their Reunion

(Gibson) The Darkness performed their first reunion show at the Norwich Waterfront in the U.K. on Sunday. Vocalist/guitarist Justin Hawkins donned a pair of tiger stripe pants and a goatee/curly moustache combo for the show, leaving behind the striped cat suits of the band's first run around the block but once again with a white Gibson Les Paul slung over his shoulder.

Speaking of interesting facial hair, fans of bass player Frankie Poullain will be pleased to know that his trademark handlebar moustache was present and accounted for. Poullain was replaced by the band's guitar tech, Richie Edwards, in 2005 but is back holding down the low end.

The band are currently working on their third studio album, and will make a number of high-profile appearances during 2011, including the Download Festival. Speaking about the reunion, Justin Hawkins said, "The main thing for us is to make sure that musically we turn the experience into something positive again. We've been remembering why it was so much fun in the first place, just four men making loud music in a room." more on this story

Unearth Premiere New Song Online

Unearth have premiered their brand new song "Watch It Burn," at Lambgoat.com. The song is the opening track from forthcoming album Darkness In The Light.

Vocalist Trevor Phipps comments: "'Watch It Burn' is the lead track from Darkness In The Light because we felt it captured the aggression and heaviness of the album while also staying true to our core sound from our earlier records. This is one of the only tunes without a guitar solo, but the harmonies are there to mix around one of the heaviest choruses we've ever written.

"The song is angry, fast and in-your-face while also allowing for a melodic bridge late in the song much like some of our older material." more on this story

Clutch Announce Second Rocks off Cruise

Clutch have announced a second Rocks off Boat Cruise which will take place on July 21st in New York City.

The original cruise which sold out in minutes will board at 7:00 PM and run from 8:00 - 10:45 PM. Tickets for the newly added cruise which will board at 11:30 PM and run from Midnight - 2:30 AM go on sale for fan club members on Tuesday June 7th and the general on sale is set for this Friday June 10th.

Clutch have also confirmed a headlining run for this July with Corrosion of Conformity serving as direct support. The first show is on July 20th at the Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn, NY. more on this story

Ted Nugent Schools Facebook Founder

(Gibson) Rock and roll legend and hunting advocate, Ted Nugent, has a few words for Facebook Founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, who said recently that he was interested in taking up hunting.

"Hunting is the pure and natural way to go grocery shopping for high protein, extraordinarily tasty and nutritious renewable wildlife, but you first have to aspire to a higher level of awareness in order to get close to the most wary and skittish beasts on the planet," said Nugent in a statement.

Nugent's weapon of choice is the bow and arrow. "My advice for Mark is to go slow, soak in the mighty spirit, and to call me. I would be happy to introduce Mark to the ultimate hunting experience," said Nugent. more on this story

Famed Record Producer Martin Rushent Dead at 63

(Gibson) Record producer Martin Rushent, a top producer in the '70s and '80s, passed away this weekend. He was 63. Rushent's son James made the announcement on his Twitter page.

Starting out as an engineer, Rushent worked on albums by Fleetwood Mac and T. Rex before hitting the heights by producing Human League's Dare album. The Guardian newspaper reports that Rushent also worked with XTC, Generation X, Altered Images and the Go-Go's.

Rushent also produced the first three Stranglers albums, who made the following statement on their website: "We have just received the sad news that another early band collaborator, Martin Rushent, passed away yesterday aged 63. Martin produced the band's first three albums: Rattus Norvegicus, No More Heroes and Black and White, as well as a string of singles. more on this story

The Living End Roll On With New Album

(Gibson) Punkabilly rockers The Living End will release album number six, The Ending is Just The Beginning Repeating, on July 22.

The title track was co-written with Craig Finn of The Hold Steady. "This was one of the first songs written for the record," the band's Chris Chaney told Triple J radio. "I wrote the lyrics with Craig Finn from The Hold Steady while I spent 3 months in N.Y. at the start of last year co-writing. I hooked up with him and he's a hell of a lyricist." The song can be heard on the band's official website, thelivingend.com.

The album, recorded at guitarist/vocalist Chaney's Red Door Studios in Melbourne, Australia, was produced by Nick DiDia (Mastodon, Train, Bruce Springsteen, Rage Against The Machine, Powderfinger) and is mixed by Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam, Velvet Revolver, Incubus, The Offspring, Stone Temple Pilots). more on this story

The Digital Trews

The Trews are releasing Live From Montreal, exclusively through iTunes on June 21, 2011.

"This was the first time that we performed a bunch of the new material from Hope & Ruin," notes John Angus MacDonald of The Trews. "I think you can feel the freshness and the enthusiasm for the new material as well as a sense of discovery of these songs growing into our live set from what they were on the record."

The Trews released Hope & Ruin last month and their fourth full-length studio album is also available on vinyl courtesy of Bumstead Records/CEN. more on this story

Attack Attack! Deluxe

(ESM) Rise Records have set a July 19th release date for a deluxe reissue of Attack Attack!'s self titled album.

The deluxe reissue features new artwork and 8 bonus tracks (4 new songs, 2 acoustic songs and 2 remixes) for a total of 18 tracks.

Two of the new studio tracks were produced and recorded by John Feldman (The Used, Story Of The Year, Panic At The Disco). These two new songs that Feldman produced show the band growing into a more mature sound, making Deluxe Reissue a great segue to their 3rd album which is scheduled for release in 2012. more on this story

Two Grateful Dead Classics Reissued

(Submitted) Audio Fidelity have announced the reissue of two classic Grateful Dead albums on 180-gram pure virgin vinyl, in limited numbered edition gatefold packages today, June 7th.

The band's 1975 Blues For Allah and 1978's Shakedown Street are available from both online and brick-and-mortar retail outlets as the latest offerings in Audio Fidelity's continuing program of audiophile reissues.

Audio Fidelity, which Blonstein founded in 2002 after leaving the pioneering DCC Compact Classics label that he started in 1986, has become synonymous with high-quality album reissues geared toward the audiophile market. Since 2009, Audio Fidelity has reissued some of the best-known and most significant pop and rock titles in both 24Karat Gold CD and 180-gram virgin vinyl editions more on this story

The Paramedic Giving Away New Devil EP

(Adrenaline) The Paramedic have announced a free download of their new EP, The Devil In Me!

The EP was self-produced by the band at their personal studio in Dayton, OH. "This EP is all about fighting off your demons and finding self empowerment, which is something we can all relate to," states guitarist Jake Nolan. "Musically, we just wanted to write the most fun and colorful piece of art that we could while still capturing the message behind it and the overall mood. At the same time we wanted to create something all heavy music fans alike could easily digest and move too. I am proud of this release, and I am so happy that we are able to share it in it's entirety with anyone who wants to hear it for free. This is our gift to the masses, we hope you like our music and share our gift to all of your friends."

Tracklisting: 1. The Sixth Seal 2. A Vessel Of Times Past 3. The Devil In Me 4. From The Throne. Grab it here

Jeff Healey Band Live Album Coming Next Week

(Kayos) Eagle Records have set a June 14th release date for The Jeff Healey Band Live At Grossman's - 1994.

The live disc features nine tracks of the phenomenally talented guitar player Jeff Healey and his band (bassist Joe Rockman, drummer Tom Stephen, and guests Pat Rush on guitar and Michael Pickett on Harmonicaphones) at the height of their notoriety and fame.

This 1994 gig, recorded at the same hometown Toronto tavern where the band was discovered, was something of a celebratory homecoming. Healey, at that point, achieved national fame with 10 straight hit singles starting in 1990. The crowd, knowing he's one of their own, responds with loving craziness, propelling the band on to the inspired heights captured herein. Healey fashioned a unique way of playing guitar. He played it like a laptop steel dobro, horizontal across his lap while sitting down. This added to his highly individualistic style: his stinging runs and sense of urgency and drama were always at the forefront of his solos. His feel for the blues, especially, coupled with his soulful lead vocals, made him and his band a sensation. more on this story

Evile Streaming New Song Online

(Earache) Evile are streaming their brand new track, "Eternal Empire," online at the Earache Records website.

The new track is taken from Evile's forthcoming new album, Five Serpent's Teeth, and gives fans their first glimpse at the new material. Five Serpent's Teeth is due to be released on September 26th, 2011.

Evile lead guitarist Ol Drake says of the track: "It is with great pleasure that we can release 'Eternal Empire' from our upcoming Five Serpent's Teeth album for your listening pleasure. It was very difficult to pick a single track to showcase the vast diversity included on this album, and I think this one is a good medium to show the direction we have gone with on FST. I can't wait for you to hear more of the album as, like I said, this album goes through quite a lot of different moods and emotions, in terms of feel and direction, yet is still rooted in the 'Evile sound'... We will also be showcasing another brand new track at Download Festival this weekend. Lots of Serpent's Teeth coming your way! See you on that road soon!"

Check out the song here and don't miss Evile performing live this summer. dates are here

The Birth of Blind Faith

(Gibson) On this day in 1969, Supergroup Blind Faith, featuring Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Steve Winwood, made their live debut at a free concert in London's Hyde Park. Gibson takes a look back: Not too long before Clapton wanted out of Cream, Winwood had had similar struggles being the frontman of the Spencer Davis Group. Wanting to do more with jazz and rock, he helped form Traffic in 1967, although the band had broken up in early '69 – partially because of disagreements with member Dave Mason.

Clapton and Winwood – who had previously worked together in Powerhouse, a short-lived studio band – began jamming together in 1969 in the basement of Clapton's house in Surrey, England. Ol' Slowhand was enjoying the sessions, although he wasn't looking to join a new band, fresh off of Cream's breakup. But everything changed once Ginger Baker visited and sat in with the dynamic duo.

With Baker behind the drums, Winwood could see the makings of a real group. Clapton was still hesitant – partially because he had promised Jack Bruce that he would only reunite with one member of Cream if the other was in the group, too. And he wasn't about to just add Winwood to Cream. Yet, Winwood was able to persuade Clapton to have Baker in the band, reasoning that they worked well together and that there probably weren't any better-qualified drummers out there. Ric Grech left the band Family to round up the lineup. Before he knew it, Clapton was back in a high-profile band with famous members. The press and rock fans were buzzing about the new "super-Cream." more on this story

Israel Nash Gripka Releases Joplin, MO Tornado Relief Album

Ozark native Israel Nash Gripka has announced the release of Missouri, a collection of new and original songs written and inspired by the tragedy of May 22nd when a tornado destroyed 1/3 of Joplin, MO and killed more than 100 people.

"The emotional and physical destruction endured by those residents of Joplin, MO is nothing less than a tragedy," says Gripka. "My aim is to promote hope through the power of song and to raise money for the victims, the city of Joplin, and the continued efforts that must be done." Donate $5 and receive a link to download Missouri.

All proceeds from the EP will go to the "United for Joplin" campaign by Heart of Missouri United Way to benefit tornado victims in Joplin. "Having lived most of my life in the Ozarks, I have always recognized the spirit of generosity and community that people have there," says Gripka. "Living in New York and not being able to physically help has been tough. I wanted to get involved and thought the best thing that I could give would be my songs." more on this story

Mom Tells Noel and Liam Gallagher To Make Up

(Gibson) The mother of Noel and Liam Gallagher is insisting that her sons sort out their differences in anticipation of Noel Gallagher's forthcoming wedding.

As reported by London's Daily Star, Peggy Gallagher has told the Beady Eye frontman there's no chance she will let him miss his brother's nuptials.

"Unless he's broken both his legs, Liam has been told he is going to watch his brother get married," a source told the newspaper. The Gallagher brothers presumably have not spoken to one another since Oasis split up in acrimony last year. more on this story

Mars Attacks Indestructible Noise Command

(PR) The latest episode of Mars Attacks Podcast features an interview with Indestructible Noise Command's Erik Barath.

During the episode Erik talks to host Victor M. Ruiz about getting the band back together, what it was like recording the new album Heaven Sent…Hellbound, and how Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal got involved in the project.

The episode can be streamed or downloaded from the Mars Attack Radio website located here

Singled Out: Mike Bloom (The Elected and Rilo Kiley)

Today Mike Bloom who you might know from his work with The Elected, Rilo Kiley and countless others, tells us about "Red Light, Green Light" from his brand new solo album "King of Circles," which was released today on Pierre de Reeder of Rilo Kiley's label "Little Record Company". Here is the story:

I had just recently gotten back from tour, and Griffith Park was on fire. It was a wild way to experience that unique adjustment of no longer moving, and being in the place you love and are most familiar with, home. Ash was all around Los Angeles, getting under your nose, into your dreams. My girlfriend, a few other friends and I went to see the beautiful green hills, and even some people's homes, being swallowed in flame. I think we all felt that very particularly surreal mix of awe, dread, and sadness. It was a sort of odd rush like you had to kneel before the greater power of nature.

When I got home, all I could do was pick up my nylon string guitar. I'll often resort to this when I'm antsy, jumbled and unsure how to otherwise handle myself.

Sometimes a song takes time, revisions, moves glacially, gets overanalyzed and beaten to death. Of course I prefer when a song comes quickly, like a beam. It's there before you even know what it is. You may never know what it is, but you've got something almost fully realized in the time it would take to listen to it twice. This happens rarely, but you cherish it and hope for more. Not necessarily because the result is so good, but because it feels like there's clarity of purpose, if only for yourself.

This was the case with "Red Light, Green Light." So, for better or worse, it wasn't slaved over and I can only try to analyze what it means (lyrically, it can easily be tied to questions of how to stay faithful on the road - to the music, to your girl at home, etc.), since it happened rather unconsciously. Most importantly to me though, is the urgent feeling it came out of. The last line is the only clear reference to the fires, and some need to act on desire. So there you have it, the backdrop to the song.

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

. Iron Maiden - From Fear to Eternity: The Best of 1990-2010

From Fear to Eternity is a great chance to catch up for old fans who havent updated their collection since Powerslave, especially considering that this generous sampler can be picked up for around ten bucks. (3.5 stars) - Read the full Iron Maiden - From Fear to Eternity: The Best of 1990-2010 review