Slash's New Song Preview

"Apocalyptic Love" is due May 22; Slash begins a brief US tour on May 3 in Baltimore, with dates booked throughout the month. Have a listen here.

Big Four- Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax- A Failing Answer On Test

(Banana 101.5) It's not easy being a metal head - just ask whoever took this test that asked for the name of "Four Heavy Metals and Their Symbols."

The metal-loving student gave the most correct answers possible and all four answers were marked incorrect. Sorry teach, but that's gonna get you a 'Rock Fail.'

Everyone knows there are none more metal than The Big 4 — Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax — well, everyone but this teacher. Check out the test here.

Fallon Updates Pearl Jam's Jeremy for Jeremy Lin

(hennemusic) The latest overnight pop culture sensation is New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin.

Lin's last-minute, game-winning heroics have helped the injury-ridden Knicks turn their season around since he joined the lineup early this month.

Now, Jimmy Fallon has stepped up to deliver a tribute to the new basketball star: Fallon becomes Eddie Vedder as Pearl Jam sings "Jeremy (Lin)."

Here's a sample of the updated lyrics:

"The Knicks were 8 and 15
Oh and before that, no one really cared
Now Jeremy is winning
And the Knicks don't suck

Jeremy Lin-sanity" Watch the clip here.

Motorhead's Lemmy Taps Dave Grohl, Horton Heat, Damned for Solo Album

(Gibson) Sure, Motorhead leader Lemmy Kilmister has collaborated with a long list of rock stars, from Dave Grohl to Billy Gibbons. But, ask Mr. Kilmister, and he'll tell you there are still a slew of peeps with whom he's itching to lay down tracks.

"Janet Jackson," Kilmister told SF Weekly, laughing, when asked whom he'd like to work with down the road. "I don't know. There are a lot of people out there who are great players. It's just whether the spark arrives. Whether somebody wants to do it and I've got some free time…"

Kilmister then dropped a bombshell: He's working on a solo album! The set, thus far, totes tracks with Grohl, Reverend Horton Heat and others. "I'm three quarters of the way though a solo album right now," he said. "I've got two tracks with the Damned, two tracks with [German hard-rock band] Skew Siskin, one with Joan Jett, one with Grohl and two with the Reverend Horton Heat. So I've got quite a mixed bag on there. I'm trying to get one with Skin from Skunk Anansie." more on this story

Motley Crue Star Settles Dispute

(hennemusic) Motley Crue's Tommy Lee has settled a lawsuit brought by one of his former assistants.

13WHAM-TV reports Michael Sullivan launched legal action against the Lee in December, claiming he was regularly asked to be "on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week" during his six-year employment with the drummer, but did not receive full payment for the extra hours worked.

According to Sullivan, Lee was in the habit of making improper deductions from Sullivan's pay. When the rocker had Sullivan move into his home to better serve him and his family, the suit says, Lee began deducting $1,000 a month for rent - even during the last six months of his employment with Lee, when he was no longer living at the house. Find out how much he settled for.

Metallica's Lars Says Lou Reed Took Lulu Criticism Hard

(Gibson) Lars Ulrich is standing behind Metallica's recent collaboration with Lou Reed, Lulu. When asked for his thoughts on fan response – which wasn't exactly stellar – to Lulu, Lars told Washington, D.C. radio station DC101 that he takes it all with "just a little bit of distance."

"Obviously, it's fantastic in 2012 that the Internet gives everybody access to voicing their opinions, and I think it's an incredible medium to communicate and to bring the world closer," he said. "But, obviously, as an artist, or somebody who is creating something, you've gotta be careful how deep you dive into what everybody's talking about, because it could really screw with your mind. I've always been in a place where I'm pretty thick-skinned, so it doesn't bug me that much… "

Ulrich added that Reed didn't take the negative criticism so well. "It was difficult for Lou Reed because he takes everything very personally," Ulrich said. "And I think he was very surprised. We told him all along: 'Listen, there are some very, very, very hardcore metal fans out there that like everything pre-packaged in a particular little box that looks like this, and the minute that you slightly veer outside of that, then they have a hernia.' And that's fine – I'm fine with that…" more on this story

Ozzy Osbourne Loses Family Member

(Gibson) First, Kelly Osbourne tweeted a sad note about her family losing their beloved Chihuahua, Martin, on Christmas. Now, America's favorite metal clan are saying "goodbye" to their much-loved bulldog, Lola.

Jack Osbourne let out the news on his official Twitter page this week, announcing that the family's cherished pet passed away on Tuesday (February 21). "Lola, you were the best friend anyone could ever have. I will love you and miss you always. RIP," he tweeted. Jack went on to thank his Twitter followers for their support: "Thank you for all the kind words about [the dog, Lola]. It's nice to know she was loved by so many people."

Lola was more than a pet to Ozzy Osbourne and company. She was a full-fledged member of the Osbourne family. The doggie even had her own Twitter profile! "Lola" Tweeted a "thank you" to followers for their support over the years, too: "Thank you all for your kind words. I'm in a better place now. Heaven needs a new princess." more on this story

The All-American Rejects The Kids In The Street Tour

The All-American Rejects are hitting the road this spring for their six week North American The Kids In The Street Tour.

The tour, featuring support from A Rocket To The Moon, kicks off on March 31 in Flagstaff, AZ and will visit major cities in the U.S. and Canada before wrapping on May 13th in Cincinnati.

The All-American Rejects are also scheduled to perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday, March 27th. more on this story

Godsmack's Sully Erna Plans Box Set

(Banana 101.5) Details have been revealed for Godsmack frontman Sully Erna's upcoming live DVD, which features Erna performing songs from his debut solo effort 'Avalon' and will be part of a box set loaded with extras like a documentary, posters, incense and more.

A few months ago Sully Erna told That Metal Show that Godsmack has a "special kind of retail piece" planned for 2012. If the upcoming limited edition 'Avalon Live' box set doesn't also fit that description — we don't know what does.

Erna filmed last year's Dec. 16 concert in his native Boston, where he performed songs from his 2010 solo album 'Avalon,' with plans of releasing it as a DVD. Now the Godsmack frontman has revealed that 'Avalon Live' will be released as a box set and has a tentative late April release date. more on this story

Black Stone Cherry Honor Military Families Hardships in New Video

(Banana 101.5) Black Stone Cherry pay tribute to the hardships facing American military families in the music video for their soulful ballad 'In My Blood'.

Black Stone Cherry recently wrapped up a headlining tour with Cavo and are currently taking a week off after performing with Pop Evil in Tulsa, Oklahoma last night. After that the band heads overseas to play 21 shows in March before returning to the U.S. to begin a rigorous touring schedule that will carry them well into mid-June.

Just one look at their itinerary adds some weight to their latest single from 'Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea,' which is a love ballad about the agony of long-distance relationships. If there's one thing the band knows, it's being apart from their loved ones. That is the central theme of the new music video for their current single 'In My Blood,' as seen through they eyes of 20-year old PFC Randy Hirneisen. Watch the video here.

Carlos Santana Plans Two Year Intimate Residency

Carlos Santana is going Vegas for a two-year run of "An Intimate Evening with Santana: Greatest Hits Live - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow" -- in the specially re-configured House of Blues at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas beginning in May 2012.

"I am deeply honored that our new home in Las Vegas is The House of Blues at Mandalay Bay," Carlos Santana said. "I have long admired their love of "the Blues" and that it is a world-class entertainment venue. We hope to honor and celebrate the diversity and brotherhood of world culture that the House of Blues promotes."

The two-year residency kicks off on May 2 with a series of shows taking place throughout the months of May & June. The residency will then resume in September and play through 2013. more on this story

Fear Factory and Shadows Fall Tour

Fear Factory, Shadows Fall, The Browning, The Devastated, and Legacy Of Disorder are hitting the road together for a North American tour this spring.

Set to begin in San Antonio on May 1, the tour's initial dates include stops in Dallas, Philadelphia, New York City, Baltimore, and Denver among others.

The tour will precede the release of Fear Factory's new album titled The Industrialist and the band recently announced the addition of bass player Matt DeVries. The Ohio native previously noted, "I have been asked to join one of my favorite bands. I have been a fan of FEAR FACTORY since 1992 and I could not be more excited to be part of this incredible band." Guitarist Dino Cazares and vocalist Burton C. Bell noted, "we are very excited to have Matt playing bass for FEAR FACTORY. We feel he is a great addition to our touring line-up. He has been a friend for a very long time and he is a great musician who will be a perfect instrument in the FF machine." more on this story

Unreleased Clapton, Rory Gallagher, Van Morrison For Chris Barber Anthology

Proper Records have set a May 8th North American release date for a new two-CD Anthology for British bandleader Chris Barber.

The Anthology features music from Barber's 60-year career including previously unreleased collaborations with Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Mark Knopfler, Jools Holland, Dr. John and Rory Gallagher.

We were sent these details: To followers of 20th century British music, Chris Barber needs no introduction: The trombonist and bass player is the pre-eminent name in British trad jazz. A fixture on the British music scene since the early 1950s, he has led a number of excellent bands and can be heard alongside countless world-class players, a title he can surely also claim for himself. The octogenarian, who in 2012 approaches the 60-year mark as a pro bandleader, contributed greatly to the evolution of the British blues and rock scene as a founding director of the legendary Marquee club, linked to the rise of bands such as the Who, Rolling Stones and Sex Pistols. more on this story

Anthrax's Dan Lilker Releasing Autobiography This Summer

There is another heavy metal memoir set to hit stores this summer: Perpetual Conversion: 30 Years & Counting in the Life of Metal Veteran Dan Lilker, which follows Lilker's career from his pre-Anthrax band, White Heat in 1980, through Brutal Truth's latest 2011 release, End Time.

We were sent these details: Perpetual Conversion traces Lilker's time spent in seminal metal bands Nuclear Assault, Brutal Truth, Anthrax, Stormtroopers of Death (S.O.D.) and Hemlock, and also includes his lesser-known projects The Ravenous, Crab Society, Crab Society North, Exit-13, Extra Hot Sauce, Crucifist, Nokturnal Hellstorm, Nunf**kritual, Last Satanic Dance, Overlord Exterminator and more.

The life-spanning biography was written by Dave Hofer, a Chicago-based music fan, record store employee and sporadic freelance writer. Although not classically trained in long-form writing, Hofer spent years interviewing Lilker, his friends and his family to present what Hofer calls "the most comprehensive interview Lilker has ever done." more on this story

Joe Satriani's View of Van Halen

(hennemusic) While doing interviews to promote his upcoming concert film, "Satchurated," guitarist Joe Satriani was asked for his thoughts on the new Van Halen album, "A Different Kind Of Truth."

Classic Rock Revisited says they wanted to get Joe's opinion because of Chickenfoot's ties to the band, with singer Sammy Hagar and bassist Michael Anthony sharing a history between the two acts.

"I kind of like it," begins Satriani. "I was talking to Sammy about it the other day. I said, 'You know Sam, I have to congratulate you on the enduring success of Van Halen. It is something that Mike and you should be proud of.' Mike and Sam were at least as successful, if not more so, than when Dave was in the band. If you turn on any classic rock radio station then you hear just as much Sammy era Van Halen as you do David Lee Roth era Van Halen. As uncomfortable as it might be for those guys to try to sort out business between them, from my perspective, I'm just a guy and I like it all. If I hear Eddie and Alex playing together then I'm pretty much all the way there, immediately." More from Joe here.

Coldplay To Play GMA and Jimmy Kimmel's Oscar Special

Coldplay have lined up two special television appearances next week including Good Morning America and Jimmy Kimmel's Oscar special. Here are the details:

Coldplay will perform on the seventh annual "Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Academy Awards" special, televised live on ABC from Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre on Sunday, February 26, immediately following the Oscar telecast and late local news.

Other guests will include Meryl Streep, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Tom Hanks, Billy Crystal, Charlize Theron, Don Cheadle plus many more. Coldplay's block party performance on the JKL outdoor stage will wrap up the special and include a performance of the band's latest single, "Charlie Brown."

"Charlie Brown" will also be part of Coldplay's three-song set when the band makes its debut on ABC's "Good Morning America" on Friday, March 2, performing in the show's Times Square studio. Check out the video for the song here.

Rob Zombie's John 5 Sets Solo Release

Rob Zombie's guitarist John 5 has set a new release date for his upcoming full-length solo CD/DVD, God Told Me To. The CD/DVD will now be released on May 8th, 2012

God Told Me To was recorded and produced by John 5, Chris Baseford (Rob Zombie, Tommy Lee) and Bob Marlette (Sebastian Bach, Black Sabbath) in 2011. The cover art for the album is illustrated by none other than Rob Zombie, who is also tapping John 5 to score the entirety of his upcoming film, 'The Lords of Salem'.

"I'm so proud of this record, I've put more time into this release than any other! It's half acoustic and the other half electric with a tribute to Michael Jackson and Eddie Van Halen with 'Beat It'," states John 5. "The DVD shows me actually recording the songs as well as behind the scenes of a "day in the life" of JOHN 5! This album will take you on a musical journey designed to show more diversity in my playing than in the past. Enjoy!" more on this story

Cavo New Album and Tour Coming in April

Cavo have set an April 10th release date for their new album, Thick as Thieves, and will be hitting the road for a North American tour to support the effort.

Cavo will be headlining new dates with Janus as support. The tour, which starts on April 7th in Battlecreek, MI, will hit clubs in the country's heartland, and wraps up with a return performance at the famed Rocklahoma Festival on 5/25.

"We are extremely excited to be hitting the road in support of our new CD hitting stores April 10th as well as our new track 'Celebrity.' We will be touring with our good friends in Janus and The Veer Union so this will be an amazing tour that you won't want to miss! See you all soon!" - Brian "Pookie" Smith more on this story

Peter Frampton Reunites on Stage With His Comes Alive Les Paul

(hennemusic) Last Saturday night at New York's Beacon Theatre was a magical one for Peter Frampton.

The guitarist was reunited on stage - for the first time in more than three decades – with his prized Gibson Les Paul guitar, originally lost in a cargo plane crash in 1980.

It's a remarkable story to behold: Peter rode his favorite guitar to the heights of solo stardom in the mid-70s with "Frampton Comes Alive," the biggest selling album in music to that point. Some dicey career moves brought the guitarist back down to earth, and he was forced to rebuild his profile one step at a time.

Along the way, a 1980 cargo plane crash in Caracas, Venezuela took his beloved guitar away, and Frampton pressed on. Read more and watch video here.

Noel Gallagher Changes Gig So He Won't Miss Stone Roses Reunion

(Gibson) Discovering that he was booked to play a festival at the same time as the reformed Stone Roses are due to take the stage for their first reunion show, Noel Gallagher insisted on moving his time slot.

According to the Manchester Evening News, the former Oasis singer told promoters to change the running order. "I was billed at these festivals to headline another stage and I said, 'Well I'm not going on while the Roses are on,' do you know what I mean? They've not done a gig for 100 years, what am I going to do? Play to two [expletive] dogs and a cat and two stewards? ... So I said, 'It's either that or I won't do it.' 'Cos I want to see them, do you know what I mean? I don't want to be the only person in England who hasn't seen them."

Gallagher also explained why the so-called "Madchester" bands mean so much to him. "I think those bands, the Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, are quite heroic bands and they have quite heroic figures in those bands: Shaun and Bez, Ian and Mani. They're heroes to people and they're working class heroes… People in bands seem middle class to me, which is not a bad thing, it's just an observation. But in the case of the Roses and the Mondays, their music is great; to my generation, they're why I started in music, and to 40-somethings they just want to relive it a little bit. But to people who are 16, 17, they are heroic figures and good luck to everybody that's at Heaton Park that night, I hope the weather stays fine." more on this story

Switchfoot, Disciple, Jason Crabb Among Dove Award Nominees

(Gibson) The nominees for the 43rd Annual Gospel Music Association Dove Awards dropped Wednesday (February 22), and Southern gospel singer Jason Crabb leads the pack with eight nominations at the annual gospel and Christian music event.

Other big names nominated at this year's awards ceremony – which is scheduled to take place April 19 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta – include Casting Crowns, NEEDTOBREATHE, Switchfoot, RED and Newsboys.

In the rock category, Christian heavy music-makers RED, Switchfoot, Blindeside, Ashes Remain and Abandon all scored nominations for Rock Album of the Year for their respective releases. Rock / Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year nominees include Switchfoot for "Dark Horses," RED's "Faceless," Disciple with "Invisible," Skillet's "One Day Too Late" and "Lucy," Hawk Nelson for "Your Love is a Mystery" and "Crazy Love," Newsboys with "Born Again," Plumb with Dan Haseltine for "Drifting" and NEEDTOBREATHE with "Slumber." more on this story

BangTower Previewing Forthcoming Tour With Videos

(Glass Onyon) Progressive rock/fusion ensemble BangTower are releasing several new music video's over the next four weeks to get fans ready for their 2012 BangTower tour.

In addition to celebrated bassist Percy Jones, who is also known for his work with Brand X a band he formed along with Genesis legend Phil Collins, BangTower also features Grammy Award winning guitarist, engineer and producer Neil Citron.

Completing this trio of master musicians is drum virtuoso Walter Garces, who also performs with '60s psychedelic marvels The Electric Prunes and is celebrating a partnership of 25 years with Premier Percussion, Paiste Cymbals and Gongs, and Calato/Regal-Tip sticks as an endorsing artist. more on this story

Singled Out: Imminent Sonic Destruction's Sick

Imminent Sonic Destruction are releasing their new album "Recurring Themes" today and are playing a special release show tonight at The Magic Bag in Ferndale, MI. To celebrate we asked Pete Hopersberger to tell us about the song "Sick". Here is the story:

There we were. Autumn in Detroit, in a recording studio located in a sparsely populated area of the city. Graffiti. Barbed wire. A lonely barbecue in the parking lot, waiting to be pressed into service. Roy Z had flown in from LA, and was staying with us. We had been recording, barbecuing, laughing, and playing beer pong for the better part of a week. Most importantly, we were basking in the glow of our first experience with a big name producer. Who happened to be the coolest guy any of us had ever met. Life was good. The end.

Just kidding. So. Recording "Sick." Roy had us record together, in the big room of the studio, catching the energy and dynamics of the songs. After a few run-throughs of "Sick," we had a good take going until someone made a mistake. So we stopped. Roy ran into the room saying "Why did you stop? That was great!" Apparently, he was feeling a magic vibe in that take. Thus started our epic journey...

We played that song for hours, back to back, looking for that spark that Roy had glimpsed and wanted to capture. Pat, our drummer, has the most physically demanding part in this song, and I kept waiting for his shins to break off and fly across the room. It only happened once, but we had a doctor on hand, so it was taken care of quickly and we got back to work. It was interesting, playing the song over and over, looking through the window to see if Roy was "feeling it." That sounds dirty, but you know what I mean. Shut up. We would finish a take, and think it was the one, only to hear Roy on the talkback: "That's cool, that's evil. Do it again."

Needless to say, eventually we hit a take where EVERYONE was feeling what Roy was looking for. It was a transcendent moment. At least, I think it was. I'm not sure what that word means, but it sounds awesome. And this was awesome. Roy and the engineers in the control room were rocking out, and we were just ENERGIZED while we played, after we thought we wouldn't be able to recapture that elusive vibe. Pat summoned some inner power that I've only read about, and at one point our guitarist/vocalist Tony let out a yell that was kept in the final mix. It serves as a reminder of the work we put in, and of the feeling that Roy heard, and we finally attained. It also serves as a warning. Something about the end of the world, and the soundtrack to it. Or something like that. Whatever.

Then we adjourned to the parking lot, barbecued some ribs, had a few drinks and enjoyed the rest of that beautiful, Detroit fall evening.

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