Queen Return To American Idol This Week

Hitting the road across North America this summer, The Queen Extravaganza is a touring concert show designed to take the music and the live experience of legends of rock Queen to generations of fans. Check out video of their previous appearance.

Aerosmith Album Pushed Back

Canadian radio station 97-5 K-Rock caught up recently with Aerosmith's bassist, Tom Hamilton and we learn some interesting things in the chat about the band's forthcoming album and their recent 60 Minutes piece.

In an interview Hamilton says that the band's new album will be pushed back to September.

He also commented that 60 Minutes interviewer Lara Logan distracted the band with her 'low cut top' and their piece was edited to 'nail' Steven Tyler'. Listen here

Metallica To Tribute Ronnie James Dio

(hennemusic) Metallica will be appearing on two upcoming tribute albums. One for Deep Purple and one for Ronnie James Dio that will also feature Anthrax, Rob Halford, Lemmy and more.

"We reached out to Wendy Dio [wife of Ronnie] about wanting to be a part of the Dio tribute that's getting put together," says singer James Hetfield in the latest issue of Metal Hammer. "We're very honoured to be a part of that, and to be a part of a celebration of Ronnie's life and his great contribution, man."

"We're definitely looking to do the record Wendy's putting together for Ronnie," adds drummer Lars Ulrich. "We were asked if we'd contribute to the anniversary of [classic Deep Purple album] 'Machine Head', too – we can't turn that down." more on this story

Slash TV

(hennemusic) HDNet will deliver the US broadcast premiere of Slash's 2011 concert DVD, "Slash featuring Myles Kennedy Live: Made In Stoke" on Sunday, May 13 at 8:00 PM EDT.

Slash and his band tear through cuts spanning his 20-year career with Guns N' Roses (nine GNR songs will be featured) as well as songs from Velvet Revolver, Slash's Snakepit and Slash's first solo album.

Songs performed include "By The Sword," "Back From Cali," "Slither," "Sweet Child 'O Mine," "Paradise City," and more that rock through the rafters of the sold-out Victoria Hall in Stoke-on-Trent, England, Slash's birthplace. more on this story

John Fogerty Joins The Black Keys For Levon Helm Tribute Jam

(hennemusic) The Black Keys headlined the first day as the second weekend of Coachella got underway on Friday.

The Black Keys paid their respects to Levon Helm, The Band's drummer, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 71 after a lengthy battle with cancer.

The Keys' frontman Dan Auerbach was joined onstage by Creedence Clearwater Revival singer John Fogerty, dueting on a performance of The Band's classic "The Weight." Watch it here.

Rare Van Halen Rehearsal Footage Goes Online

(hennemusic) Months before hitting the road in support of their new album, "A Different Kind Of Truth," Van Halen were tucked away in a secret Los Angeles location in full rehearsal mode. Two clips have recently landed online and are being eaten up by the hardcore VH community.

The first video shows someone secretly recording footage of the band's room while band and staff are not around. It opens with the camera man flipping through a couple of pages of song titles, presumably those being worked up for the (then) upcoming road trip; a few of these tunes have yet to be played on the current tour. The videographer then walks the room, stopping by Eddie's pedalboard before scanning across stacks of speakers and Alex's drum setup. No date is listed or mentioned with the uploaded video.

The second clip was recorded December 14, 2011 as VH were in the room rehearsing "China Town" from the new album. The video does not show any of the band members; because it was recorded secretly, viewers will only be able to hear audio of the song itself. The performance of the new track does sound impressive, two full months before the record's release and the tour began. Check them out here.

Agnostic Front Plan 30 Years of NYHC Shows

(Fresno) Agnostic Front has announced a trio of commemorative shows to celebrate 30 years of NYHC.

The hardcore punk pioneer will perform the classic Live At CBGB set in its entirety to pay homage to the passionate New York hardcore subculture that has stood the test of time – a movement Agnostic Front has led since the early 1980s.

Agnostic Front have also teamed up with ASG Guitar to launch the limited-edition "Stigma" series guitar, complete with Agnostic Front body artwork, NYHC fretboard inlay and more as part of the celebration. more on this story

Stone Roses Tap Sex Pistol's Daughter For Comeback Tour

(Gibson) Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown has chosen the support act for the Stone Roses' comeback tour. Her name is Hollie Cook and she's the daughter of Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook. The former Sex Pistol invited Brown to see his daughter play and the deal was done.

According to The Sun newspaper, Hollie Cook said: "It's the most exciting and terrifying opportunity. It's such an honor."

As for Hollie's rock and roll pedigree: not only is Paul Cook her father but her mother Jen was a member of Culture Club and her godfather is Boy George. more on this story

Asia Plan New Album, Reissue and World Tour for 30th Anniversary

Asia are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year and plan the release of a new album, a world tour and collectors' edition of their debut.

Noble sent over these details: Asia, featuring the original line-up of Geoff Downes (keyboards), Steve Howe (guitar), Carl Palmer (drums) and John Wetton (bass, lead vocals), will release a new studio album entitled "XXX" on Monday July 2nd (in the UK).

The new album dovetails the news of the band's upcoming 30th Anniversary World Tour and the collectors' edition of their eponymous debut album. more on this story

Thrice Add More Farewell Tour Dates

Thrice have added two additional dates to their upcoming farewell tour which is set to take place this spring.

The band's final shows in Anaheim and Los Angeles sold out within hours but fans will now have two more chances to the see the band in Anaheim and Santa Ana, California.

After thirteen years together and eight full-length releases to their name, Thrice will begin their final tour together on May 4 in San Diego, California. Supporting Thrice on all dates will be Animals As Leaders and O'Brother. more on this story

Grateful Dead Launch Video Game

(Gibson) For Grateful Dead fans, Jerry Garcia's death in 1995 marked the end of the band's special magic. The Dead's legendary live shows with Garcia are consigned to history, but a new video game is said to capture something of what made those performances such momentous events.

Released on April 20, Grateful Dead Game: The Epic Tour is based on 10 especially memorable Dead shows staged between 1970 and 1990. Adam Blumenthal of Curious Sense, the digital media company that created The Epic Tour, spoke with Reuters about the game's development.

"What we're doing is creating an adventure by traveling through Grateful Dead history, Grateful Dead time and space …," he said. "The objective is to keep having fun rather than get to the end." more on this story

Preview Motley Crue Frontman's Ghost Adventure

(hennemusic) A preview has been posted online of Motley Crue's Vince Neil's appearance in this Friday's season finale of "Ghost Adventures," the paranormal series airing on The Travel Channel.

Vince joins the show's team of paranormal investigators — Zak Bagans, Nick Groff and Aaron Goodwin – as they investigate The Riviera Hotel, which some say is haunted.

"Built in 1955, it's one of the oldest hotel and casinos still standing on the Vegas strip," according to a synopsis of the episode. "Filled with history, the hotel has had a roster of celebrity clientele and was formerly connected to the Chicago Mafia — needless to say, the hotel has had its share of good times and bad. Perhaps its most well-known guest was Frank Sinatra, who had his own penthouse suite where he often threw lavish parties." Read more and watch the preview here.

Pete Townshend Autobiography Coming

(Gibson) The autobiography of Pete Townshend is available for pre-order ahead of its October release.

The book, Who I Am, records the life of one of Britain's most important rock voices.

The memoir will cover all areas of his life from childhood, through his glory days with The Who to the present day. more on this story

Ted Nugent Makes Plea Agreement For Bear Hunting Charge

(hennemusic) Ted Nugent has agreed to plead guilty to transporting a black bear he illegally killed in southeast Alaska.

USA Today reports Nugent made the admission in signing a plea agreement with federal prosecutors that was filed Friday in U.S. District Court.

The plea agreement says Ted illegally shot and killed the bear in May 2009 on Sukkwan Island days after wounding a bear in a bow hunt, which counted toward a state seasonal limit of one bear. more on this story

Kris Norris Returning To Straight Line Stitch For New Tour

Straight Line Stitch will be hitting the road for a North American tour which kicks off tomorrow, April 24th in Bowling Green, KY!

Fresh off of their successful 2011 album, The Fight of Our Lives, the band hits the road again through the beginning of June.

Joining them on the road is former Straight Line Stitch guitarist Kris Norris (ex-Darkest Hour), back with the group for two months. more on this story

Play in a Day Guitarist Bert Weedon Dead at 91

(Gibson) Guitarist Bert Weedon, whose Play in a Day tutorial manual served as an early guide to such greats as Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton and Brian May, died Thursday (April 19) after a long illness. He was 91.

Weedon was an orchestral guitarist during the post-war big band era, and later played on countless pop hits by the likes of Cliff Richard and Billy Fury, but it was his famous instruction guide for which he will be best remembered. Published in 1957, Play in a Day went on to sell more than two million copies, and was translated into dozens of languages.

McCartney, George Harrison and John Lennon all said Play in a Day was instrumental to their early development as musicians. Clapton said Weedon's tips and encouragement gave him the motivation to press on, when he was first learning to play. May was even more effusive in his praise, calling Weedon "a legend" and a "guitar wizard." Weedon remained in Great Britain throughout his life. He was awarded an OBE – Order of the British Empire – in 2001 for his services to music. more on this story

Arcane Saints Cancel Canadian Tour

(Sub) Australia's Arcane Saints have been forced to postpone their Canadian tour dates due to an unexpected circumstance.

"We regret to advise that due to unforeseen situation beyond our control we have had to postpone our Canadian tour. We are devastated and would like to apologize to our friends and fans that were coming to see us. We will advise our new tour dates asap. Please accept our apologies." comments Arcane Saints vocalist / guitarist Michael John.

The band recently released their new single "Never Say Die" in support of the tour and has released two EPs along with an appearance on MTV's "Up and Coming Bands" documentary. more on this story

Singled Out: Hurt's How We End Up Alone

Hurt are currently out on the road and we caught up with frontman J. Loren to tell us about their current hit single "How We End Up Alone," from their forthcoming album, "The Crux" which will be released May 1st.

The inspiration behind "How We End Up Alone" was, unfortunately inspired by personal narrative - one that I was going through at the time of its conception. I found myself thinking the same cyclical thoughts that we all do when in the throes of watching your world get turned upside-down.

While it was impossible to look on the bright side, I found the irony in the situation in that it has happened before in nearly the same way in the past and its subject matter was the topic of the majority of American blues (a style we surprisingly rarely borrow from, despite the fact that we are a rock band). I used a common blues progression to begin the song in an effort to subconsciously bring listeners into the mindframe and then went with the 6/8 progression to mimic the actual events of every failed relationship. During that same section, there is musical reference to "Et Al" (vol.2) because I was referencing the similarities between the two situations. Behind the violent rhythm is a full orchestral composition not prominently heard, which is in fact a typical movie style masquerade waltz (think "Carmen" by Bizet). 3/4 and 6/8 timing are an easy fit and I thought it deepened the sense of familiar irony. I am proudest of the back and forth lyrical and melodic simplicity juxtaposed with a few eloquent passages, which both musically and lyrically captured the state of affairs and mindframe.

For me, the pivotal statement "see it from my way" said as much as I could hope to explain with any amount of a more flowery rhetoric. The inflections are meant to portray how a discussion becomes a heated/forceful life changing argument because of its very approach and progression of the narrators' hidden intent. It is my hope that the next time you find yourself going through the identical stages and headed for inevitable disaster, you will be reminded by this song before you complete your part in this comical play and take ten seconds to think before you get your all important way. Because this is, after all, how we end up alone.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself as you check out the video right here!

B Sides

Jack Douglas Tells The Story Behind John Lennon's Double Fantasy

(Gibson) During his long career as a sound engineer and producer Jack Douglas has worked with some of rock's most elite musicians – Alice Cooper, Miles Davis, The Who and Cheap Trick.

He produced Aerosmith's blockbuster '70s albums and is again collaborating with the rock legends on their forthcoming record. Among his crowning achievements was his work helming John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Double Fantasy album – the last record to be released during Lennon's life.

Douglas stopped by Gibson's New York City Showroom and spoke about his trip to Liverpool as a young man, discussed how he and Lennon became friends and told the story behind Double Fantasy. Check out the video here.

Jack White Switches Up Bands On German TV

(hennemusic) Jack White's solo debut, "Blunderbuss," is out this week. The former White Stripes man has been spreading the word on his new release, and this week, Jack appeared on German TV to play a couple of tracks from the project.

On the German tv program Die Harald Schmidt Show, White performed a rocking version of his latest single, "Sixteen Saltines," with an all-female band, before switching gears and doing "Freedom At 21" with an all-male backing group.

White kicks off a series of US dates that begin this Friday at New York's Webster Hall. Watch the TV performances here.

Metallica's Lars Ulrich Dreams of Noel Gallagher Jam

(Gibson) It turns out Lars Ulrich is quite a fan of Noel Gallagher and his High Flying Birds. Speaking to New Musical Express, the Metallica drummer said, "I'm hard pressed to think of anyone I would rather drum with than Noel Gallagher, [although] I have to say the fellow with the Clockwork Orange get up at the back is doing a stellar job.

"When I saw them in L.A in December it was fabulous. You know, if … the other 37,000 drummers on this planet turn him down, I'll certainly play with him."

Ulrich went on to say he wasn't sure Gallagher would take him seriously, but he had little doubt the musical fit would be a good one. "I'm certainly not sure he would ever want to pick me, but I'd put together a pretty solid groove thing back there," he said. "I would make the songs bounce to the best of my ability." more on this story

Aerosmith's Steven Tyler Walks This Way With Young Cancer Patient

(hennemusic) Aerosmith's Steven Tyler continues to spread goodwill amongst his fans. WPRI-TV Rhode Island reports Tyler recently connected with Cole Grace, a 10-year-old from West Warwick, RI who was hospitalized with a brain tumor that was identified as a Grade IV Glioblastoma.

Since his January 27 hospitalization, young Cole has had three brain surgeries.

While in the hospital, Cole was able to Skype with his hero, Steven Tyler. Steven and Cole had a long conversation and sang Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" together. Check out video here.

Gibson Tribute Levon Helm With Classic Interview

(Gibson) Few artists more fully embodied the spirit of rural America than Levon Helm did. From his work in The Band to his staging of Midnight Ramble concerts at his barn-like studio in Woodstock, New York, Helm was an authentic spirit who captured something deep in the heart of small-town life. Helm, who died Thursday, April 19, at age 71, was also one of the most beloved figures in contemporary music. Speaking to USA Today in the wake of Helm's passing, Warren Haynes, who played with Helm many times, said his friend's voice "personified Americana," adding that it was "one of the great voices, and not just in rock 'n' roll."

In 2000, not long after Capitol Records reissued The Band's entire catalog, Helm's agreed to be interviewed about the making of the group's second album, titled, simply, The Band. A masterpiece that weaved folk, gospel, country and R&B into a seamless tapestry, the album also was an epic portrait-in-song about frontier America. In the interview, Helm talked about The Band's musical dynamic and their work with Bob Dylan, and shared his feelings about the group's legacy. As a tribute to the memory of a great artist, we present that interview here in its entirety, for the very first time.

You recorded The Band in Los Angeles at Sammy Davis Jr.'s house. That must have been a strange experience. We liked how we had worked at the Big Pink [a house shared by Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson in West Saugerties, New York]. The Basement Tapes, Music from Big Pink and probably the better part of a couple of other albums for Bob [Dylan] all came out of those Basement Tapes sessions. That was such a fun, kind of "workshop" situation that we always looked to do that again, as opposed to going into a cold studio, where the clock is ticking away. It's better to create your own space.

We went out to California and rented Sammy Davis Jr.'s house, which had a pool house, and we turned the pool house into a studio. It wasn't hard to do that. We boxed in some of the windows, and taped down the metal fireplace so it wouldn't rattle, and brought in some tape machines and other gear. We didn't perform for a long time. We cut Music from Big Pink, and then we went right ahead and started cutting The Band, and just about the same thing with the third album. We played shows a bit between the second and third album, but not much. Read the full interview here.

Remembering Roy Orbison

(Gibson) "Roy Orbison was the only act that The Beatles didn't want to follow," said Ringo Starr, recalling the 1963 tour the Beatles made with Roy Orbison in England.

Born in Texas on April 23, 1936, Orbison was a rock and roll original who became an international cross-over superstar thanks to his unique vocal powers and unusual songwriting style. He'd go on to win Grammys in pop, rock and roll and country categories with hits like "Ooby Dooby," "Oh Pretty Woman," "Only The Lonely," "Blue Bayou," "Crying, It's Over," "In Dreams," "You Got It" and "Handle with Care" (as a Traveling Wilbury with Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, George Harrison and Jeff Lynne). His early days, however, were tough and trying, which, perhaps, prepared him for the terrible personal tragedies that would darken the incredible highs his musical career would achieve.

Raised in the wilds of west Texas, Orbison had his own band when he was 13. He was eventually spotted by Buddy Holly producer, Norman Petty, who recorded some sides that, sadly, went nowhere. Undeterred, Orbison, whose style was already proving difficult to pigeon hole, headed to Memphis on the recommendation of Johnny Cash and impressed rock and roll icon Sam Phillips enough for him to sign Orbison to Sun Records. It all looked good when Orbison had a quick hit with "Ooby Dooby," in 1956. But Phillips didn't fully understand the music Orbison wanted to pay. He moved to RCA briefly, and then to Monument Records in 1960, where' he'd finally make it big after several years on the bread line.

Out of nowhere, in the summer of 1960, "Only the Lonely" announced Orbison as the ultimate tragic balladeer. The record made it to #2 in the U.S. and #1 in the U.K., where it stayed on the chart for over 6 months.

Sadly, life soon began to imitate art as the singer who expressed sadness and tragedy so powerfully was faced with his own personal horrors. more on this story