Foo Fighters Dominate Rock Grammys

When it came to rock awards at the Grammy Awards, the Foo Fighters ruled the night winning five of Grammys on Sunday. more on this story

Rolling Stone Turned Down Spot in Led Zeppelin

(Gibson) The Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood has claimed that he turned down the chance to join Led Zeppelin. Speaking on his U.K. Absolute Radio show, the guitarist said that his old manager Peter Grant sounded him out about joining the group when they were still known as The New Yardbirds. But Wood declined, as he thought they were a "bunch of farmers."

"Peter Grant used to manage myself and Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart and Mickey Waller and Nicky Hopkins back in the good old days," Wood recalled. "[Peter] was behind a band that was going to be called The New Yardbirds."

Wood added: "I had an offer to join, and I said 'I can't join that bunch of farmers'. Anyway, they eventually changed their name and turned out to be Led Zeppelin, and he managed them as well." more on this story

Slash Solo Tour

Velvet Revolver/former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash is hitting the road for a North American solo tour.

The solo tour is set to kick off on May 3 in Baltimore and will include three festival appearances: Saturday, May 5 at Carolina Rebellion, Saturday, May 19 at Rock On The Range and Friday, May 25 at Rocklahoma.

Before the tour begins, Slash will make a special appearing this Saturday, February 18, when he joins Stevie Wonder, Chris Cornell, Lenny Kravitz, LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg, actors Anthony Hopkins, James Gandolfini and more at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas for a 70th birthday celebration to honor boxing legend Muhammad Ali. more on this story

Megadeth Unplugged

(Banana 101.5) Megadeth are well known for their mastery in the art of shred but aren't usually a band you think of when it comes to going, as we call it in the MTV generation, "unplugged." That's because they don't do it that often — hardly ever in fact.

Some lucky fans at The Palace of Auburn Hills last week got a chance to watch as Megadeth went from 11 to 0 (figuratively speaking) for a special acoustic set. Dave started the performance with the disclaimer "Some of the songs we haven't played in years and years and years — so just have fun with this. Try not to be too critical, because I'm not gonna be."

Watch Megadeth fire through unplugged versions of 'Public Enemy No. 1,' 'Angry Again,' 'A Tout Le Monde' with Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil, 'Symphony of Destruction,' and 'Use the Man' here.

Gary Cherone Tells Van Halen Secret

(Rock News Desk) Gary Cherone knew Van Halen weren't planning a reunion with David Lee Roth when the original lineup appeared together in 1996 – because Eddie Van Halen had already hired the Extreme singer.

Anticipation exploded when Roth walked on with his former bandmates at the MTV Music Video Awards, telling an excited crowd: "This is the first time we've stood on stage together in over ten years."

Many believed Van Halen and Roth were about to get back together – but Cherone knew better."I got on the phone with Eddie Van Halen a few times and we wrote a song over the telephone. I flew out for the weekend and we just hit it off. We started writing the moment I got off the plane and he actually asked me to join the second day I was there," He tells Rolling Stone. "I remember one morning getting up to go to the studio, and no one told me all this press was interviewing the Van Halen guys because of the Video Music Awards. They told me, 'Gary, no one knows you're in the band'. I remember bumping into a photographer who knew me from Extreme – he goes, 'What are you doing here?' I go, 'Nothing'." More on this here.

Dave Grohl Releases Sound City Studio Film Trailer

(Banana 101.5) Dave Grohl has finally given us a taste of his upcoming documentary on Sound City Studios, check out the first official teaser trailer.

It's still not clear exactly what we can expect out of Dave Grohl's upcoming 'Sound City' but we have a much better idea now that a trailer has been unveiled. "I decided to make a film about that feeling when you put five guys in a room, hit "record" and the hair on the back of your neck stands up," Grohl previously told Rolling Stone. "Expect some epic jam sessions."

In addition to the previously announced "jam sessions" with Corey Taylor, Cheap Trick, and members of RATT — it appears that 'Sound City' will include interviews with artists who previously recorded at the legendary studio prior to it's closing last year. In the preview you can see interview segments with Trent Reznor, Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks, Rick Springfield, and Krist Novoselic just to name a few. Check out the trailer here.

Kid Rock Fires Back at 'Made in Detroit' Criticism

(Banana 101.5) Kid Rock's 'Made in Detroit' clothing brand made headlines this week after it was learned that the company uses materials not made in Detroit. Kid Rock fired back with an angry response to those claims.

We chose to pass on reporting this earlier in the week and boy did we make the right choice. It just didn't seem right covering a story that was so negative towards someone like Kid Rock, who has done so much for Detroit and constantly gives back to the community. We felt it would be in poor taste until all the facts were on the table. Now we're really glad we did, as Kid Rock has responded angrily at the "irresponsible" reports made initially by Susan Tompor of the Detroit Free Press. Rock's statement reads:

"I have always said that I do care what people in my hometown think of me, and the hatchet job you have just written about The Made In Detroit company in The Detroit Free Press has made me so upset that I am left with no choice but to defend myself and my company. I purchased MID out of bankruptcy and asked a friend of mine (Tom Dubak) to give up the security of a good paying job at a car dealership for a chance to help revitalize this brand. The goal of MID is to re-instill a sense of Detroit pride, give back to the community, try to create jobs in our home state and maybe one day build our own facility somewhere close to the riverfront in Detroit. We have succeeded in most of the this and have big plans for the future, not to mention the scholarship fund we have created at Wayne State, the numerous sponsorships we do every year and the hundreds of thousands of dollars we have given to local charities (all of which somehow had no place in your attempt to slander us in your article).

"You failed to say that the majority of our products are in fact Made In America. Let me address the small number of MID products not made in America..." Read the rest here.

Bruce Springsteen Delivers We Take Care Of Our Own Video

(hennemusic) Bruce Springsteen has released the video for "We Take Care Of Our Own," the first single from his forthcoming album, "Wrecking Ball."

The album is due March 6 and, a couple of weeks later, Springsteen and the E Street Band begin their 2012 tour in Atlanta on March 18.

The theme of the single is a reality for Bruce, as he has just announced the addition of the late Clarence Clemons' nephew, Jake, to the band's touring lineup, as Springsteen tried to fill the void left by the loss of the veteran saxman. Jake will handle sax duties, along with Eddie Manion, while the band is filled out with a horn section and backup singers. Check out the video here.

Guns N' Roses Kick Off Up Close And Personal Tour

(hennemusic) Guns N' Roses launched their Up Close And Personal Tour Friday night at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City.

The nearly 3-hour show was the first of 7 intimate theatre shows GNR are doing this month.

"If you closed your eyes, you could almost imagine you were seeing Guns N' Roses on the Sunset Strip in 1987. Axl sounded that good," writes Andy Greene of Rolling Stone. "Then you open your eyes, and see a 50-year-old Axl in a black cowboy hat and sunglasses singing alongside some guy named Bumblefoot and you're brought right back to reality." Check out video from the gig here.

Shinedown, Five Finger Death Punch for Spring Fling

105.7 The X in Peoria have tapped Shinedown, Five Finger Death Punch, Kyng, and New Medicine for their The X Spring Fling.

The concert is set to take place on May 18th at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington, Illinois. Doors open at 5:30pm, the ROCK begins at 6:30pm!

General admission floor tickets are $43.00, and reserved seats are $38.00. Official on-sale is February 17th. More info here.

Rush's Clockwork Angels Inspires New Novel

(hennemusic) While Rush complete work on their new album, "Clockwork Angels," word is that a companion project is also coming together.

RushIsABand reports Colorado-based sci-fi author Kevin J. Anderson has announced, via his Facebook page, that he will be writing a novelization of the new Rush record.

"After dropping hints for a while, finally the big announcement, a new project unlike any other I've ever done...and something that I consider very cool," writes Anderson. "Most of you are aware of my long-standing friendship with Neil Peart, the drummer and lyricist from the legendary rock band Rush, as well as how much Rush has influenced my work. My first novel, 'Resurrection, Inc.', was closely inspired by the Rush album 'Grace Under Pressure', and I can point to dozens of other novels and stories that bear a clear Rush influence." more on this story

Graham Coxon Says Blur Will Release New Album

(Gibson) Blur guitarist Graham Coxon says that fans can expect a new Blur album. However, he doesn't specify exactly when the reunited Britpoppers will begin work on a forthcoming release. In a couple weeks, Blur are being honored with the Outstanding Contribution to Music award at this year's Brit Awards.

"It's pretty nice to be getting the Brit award," Coxon told NME. "We haven't planned the rehearsals yet, but there will definitely be another Blur album."

The guitarist, currently promoting his solo disc A+E, said that the band's 2009 reunion ensured the band's future. "2009 was an amazing healing experience for us. We were really swept away with it and got a lot out of our systems," he said. "We realized how much we still had in common, that we are good friends, that we are brothers. We're always going to meet up and want to play things. We do like recording. Eventually, even if things aren't around the corner, Blur will do more recordings together. We all love each other and still like making music so that's not a bad start." more on this story

Van Halen M&M Legend Explained

(hennemusic) Van Halen and brown M&M's will forever be linked in pop culture. Most people have heard that there's a connection between the two, without knowing the details.

The story begins with Van Halen adding a clause to their tour contract that required M&M candies backstage with all of the brown ones removed.

"Many years ago it was part of the Van Halen contract as we toured through the arenas in the 80s," explains frontman David Lee Roth, "that there would be no brown m&m's found in the backstage area or the promoter would forfeit the entire show at full pay. This was touted wildly and widely as simple rock star misdemeanor excess and being abusive of others simply because we could…and who am I to get in the way of a good rumor?"

"In fact, the reality is quite different…." Dave explains in a video here.

The Battle For Stratovarius

(Rock News Desk) Former Stratovarius leading light Timo Tolkki has slammed the current incarnation of the band as a "simple franchise" without soul, and says it will split within the next five years.

His outburst comes after the outfit responded to his request to use a variant of the band name with what he calls a "vicious" lawyer's letter.

The drama arose after the guitarist, songwriter and producer opened discussions with other former band members about working on a follow-up to 1994 album Dreamspace. Tolkki, who left the power metal band in 2008, tells Rock Overdose: "Me, Tuomo Lassila, the founding member of Stratovarius, and Antti Ikonen have talked about making an album called Return to Dreamspace. I wrote to Stratovarius and asked if we could use the name for this one album because there is the founding member of the band involved, who invented the name. We got a vicious letter from their lawyer, saying we'd be sued immediately if we used the name." And about that prediction for the band?

Bush Release Baby Come Home Video

(Banana 101.5) Bush have released the follow-up to their no. 1 single 'The Sound of Winter' and for the video, they've strung together a bunch of seemingly random ideas, the largest of which being the band performing 'Baby Come Home' in what appears to be a warehouse.

The new video for Baby Come Home features Gavin Rossdale driving Morpheus' car, ballet dancing, and star shaped balloons. It's pretty random but still makes for a fun music video.

The clip also had us asking these questions: What is up with the ballet sequence in the middle? Why does Gavin always wear his hair in a bun? Where did those balloons come from? What is that safety pin for on Gavin's shirt? Why does their guitarist put on a vest in the middle of the song? What kind of camera angle is that? Does Morpheus know the lead singer of Bush stole his car? Watch it here.

Bill Ward's Son Addresses Black Sabbath Reunion Controversy

(hennemusic) The Black Sabbath reunion recently hit a snag when drummer Bill Ward went public to advise fans that he had been presented with an agreement that he did not feel comfortable signing, while also disrespecting his role as one of the founders of the legendary metal pioneers.

Ozzy, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler responded with their own statement, saying "we have no choice but to continue recording without him although our door is always open." Now, Ward's son, Aron, has posted a lengthy Facebook message responding to rumors and speculation that his father has done something wrong, or that he's simply "greedy" because he received a contract that, in good faith and conscience, he could neither sign or live with.

"My dad hasn't 'declined' playing with Black Sabbath or 'threatened' to pull out of this reunion. As he stated, his bags are packed and he's ready to go. He says it loud and clear, he definitely wants to play on the album and he definitely wants to tour.

"Up 'till about three weeks ago, he was working extremely hard and close with the other three on this album/reunion tour. He was in very good spirits and sounded excited to be writing with Tony, Geezer and Ozzy again.

"'Don't be so greedy': he is by no means greedy, man. If he was, he would have settled with whatever contract given him. It's kind of obvious someone else is greedy. Wake up." More from Aron here.

Grammy Nom Helped Sum 41's Ill Frontman Deryck Whibley

(Rock News Desk) A Grammy Award nomination for Sum 41's song Blood In My Eyes has lifted the spirits of frontman Deryck Whibley, whose health issues regarding his back forced the band to cancel a tour.

Bassist Jason 'Cone' McCaslin explains: "I could tell after talking to Deryck that it kind of rejuvenated him a little bit. I think we've just gotta give him enough time to get it sorted out completely.

"I give the Grammys some credit for discarding what we've done in the past and actually looking at the song." (Brandon Sun) more rock news

Battle of the Sexes for Noel Gallagher

(Gibson) Noel Gallagher has unveiled the video for his latest single, "Dream On." It is a something of a bizarre video concept, with Gallagher acting the role of referee in a male/female boxing match.

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds has been a hit album, particularly in Europe where it has reached platinum status. "Dream On" will be released on March 12 and is the fourth single from the record, just four months after the album was released.

The b-side of the single will be "Shoot a Hole Into the Sun" – the first track to be released from the work Gallagher has recorded with the electronica outfit Amorphous Androgynous. That collaboration album is due later in 2012. more on this story

Monkees Peter Tork Turns 70

(Gibson) The bass-playing Monkee, Peter Tork, was born on this day in 1942. He was the folkie of the group, an east coast multi-instrumentalist who played with such Greenwich Village luminaries as John Phillips, Steven Stills and Dave Van Ronk.

In 1965, he landed in Hollywood, along with every other folkie musician looking to play a part in the Troubadour/Whiskey/Sunset Strip musical revolution that was happening in Los Angeles.

Bob "Five Easy Pieces" Rafelson was working on a cutting-edge new TV show loosely inspired by The Beatles' movies and music. Steven Stills chatted with Rafelson at a social function but was told he wasn't photogenic enough for TV. But he liked the concept and told old Greenwich Village buddy Tork about the gig. Tork went along, auditioned and came up with the "dummy" character. "That was my creation," he told Mojo magazine in 1998. "They liked it and that was the role I played on the series."

The Monkees of course became a pop phenomenon, outselling The Beatles in 1967 with an infectious brew of bubblegum and rock and roll. Shot on 35mm film with fast edits, and two free-form music video clips every week, their Emmy-winning show was innovative and different. more on this story

Keith Moody Singled Out Week: One Big Ending

Keith Moody releases his new album, "Dreaming Out Loud" , this week. To celebrate we asked him to tell us about some of the songs from the album. Today he tells us about, "One Big Ending". Here is the story:

The inspiration for this song is the idea that you have to fight for your soul. In a very apathetic world, you can easily just follow the "plan" and if you have a tangible view of what your dream is you can become an outcast, especially if the dream is simply to go for what you need to be happy. Those things are different for everyone, but I feel that most fear admitting to themselves what those things really are. The "heroine" of the story is told from the time she is small that "Look this is how life is…this is what you're supposed to do". She doesn't see it that way and refuses to succumb to the pressure of living the way everyone else seemingly expects and thinks she should. In my world you were expected to stay the course which was college, marriage and then kids. If you wanted something different, or even wanted these things in a different order, you are really somewhat tolerated by those around you and not truly accepted. I believe this is a microcosm of American society and one of its great flaws. I travel a lot and realize that the "plan" is different for the masses in different regions, but I feel the last barrier to personal freedom is just allowing everyone live their life their way, free of judgment and pressure. God only gives us one life and we aren't guaranteed how long we get, so it is very important to seek those things we need to be happy and let everyone else seek theirs. The song embodies in this woman's story a sort of victory anthem for doing your own thing, living your life your way and being victorious in finding those things that make you happy.

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