Velvet Revolver Reunion Possible?

Meanwhile, Scott Weiland seems very receptive to the idea of reuniting with Velvet Revolver and also remaining in Stone Temple Pilots. He told Rolling Stone, "If Maynard [James Keenan] can do it with A Perfect Circle and Tool, then there's no reason why I shouldn't go and do it with both bands." You can read the Rolling Stone article here.

Jack White Tops The Charts

(hennemusic) Jack White scores the No. 1 slot on the Billboard 200 for the first time this week with his solo debut, "Blunderbuss."

Billboard reports White hit the top with sales of 138,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

It's the rocker's first US No. 1 – earlier this week, he debuted at the top of the UK charts. more on this story

Metallica's Lars and Lou Reed Almost Came To Blows

(Classic Rock) Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich says his band weren't ready for the "spiteful" backlash after they released Lulu, their art-metal collaboration with Lou Reed.

He believes the heavy criticism was unfair on Velvet Underground icon Reed and describes him as a "sweet man" – before explaining how the pair nearly came to blows during recording sessions.

Tensions boiled over during recording when Ulrich felt he had to tackle Reed over his attitude to an undisclosed topic. "I had to point something out about how things were functioning in the outside world," says the drummer. "He got hot and bothered. He challenged me to a street fight, which is a pretty daunting proposition because he's an expert in martial arts, and is never too far from a sword. Find out what happened

Lost Randy Rhoads Interview Unearthed

(Classic Rock) Randy Rhoads was aiming to do create something unique with his guitar playing in the months leading up to his death. A long-lost interview reveals that while he loved playing in Ozzy Osbourne's band, he found the limitations of his heavy metal show frustrating, and hoped to move far beyond them.

He died on tour aged 25 in 1982 when an airplane joyride went tragically wrong. US journalist John Stix had recently interviewed him twice, and the results are published in the current free online edition of iGuitar magazine. Rhoads said: "Everything happens so fast in this band that I haven't had enough time to really think what I want to do," he said. "For instance, I do a solo live and I do a lot of these things that Eddie Van Halen does, and it kills me that I do that. It's just flash – it impresses the kids and I'm trying to make a name as fast as I can."

"I wish I could take time and come up with something that nobody has done. Unfortunately, it will take me a few years." Asked if he was able to achieve anything that made him proud, Rhoads said: "I can't. I experimented with a few things and tried to get some classical things in, but I couldn't get it in with this set. It calls for flash. more on this story

Guns N' Roses Jam Featured In Rock Hall TV Special Promo

(hennemusic) HBO have issued a promo video for their upcoming broadcast of the 27th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

Guns N' Roses original lineup - Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan, Steven Adler - along with later additions Matt Sorum and Dizzy Reed, were officially inducted as part of the Class Of 2012, which also included the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Beastie Boys, The Small Faces/The Faces, Donovan and Laura Nyro.

Former GNR members Slash, McKagan, Adler, Sorum and Gilby Clarke were on hand to perform (Clarke was not inducted) a few classics for the Cleveland crowd; the guys were joined by Myles Kennedy (Slash, Alter Bridge) on vocals. Check out the promo here.

Journey Would Reunite With Steve Perry for Final Tour

(Classic Rock) Journey mainman Neal Schon says the only way Steve Perry could return would be as part of their farewell tour. And he insists current singer Arnel Pineda would remain part of the band if that happened.

Perry fronted the AOR giants from 1977 to 1987 then again from 1995 to 1998. He was replaced by Steve Augeri followed by Jeff Scott Soto. Pineda was hired in 2007 after Schon heard him performing Journey tracks on YouTube.

Schon, speaking at the premiere of band documentary Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey, tells the Huffington Post: "I don't think there's any way not to have Arnel at this point. Who can say never? You can never say it's never going to happen," he said. "But if that situation ever came up, I think it would be the both of them. And I think it would be at the point where it's a farewell tour, and we're done. That's the only appropriate way to go about it." more on this story

Slash Will Pick 20 Unsigned Bands To Open His Tour

Slash has teamed up with Guitar Center for the latest On Stage program where they will be giving twenty unsigned bands the chance to open for Slash on his upcoming tour. They put out these details:

In the fourth installment of Guitar Center On-Stage, twenty bands hand selected as Slash's opening acts will perform at stops on the tour closest to their hometown.

At the closing of the tour, one of the opening bands will be named by Slash as the grand prize winner of Guitar Center On-Stage. more on this story

Lynyrd Skynyrd Releasing New Album This Summer

(RR) Lynyrd Skynyrd will be releasing their new studio album, Last Of A Dying Breed, on August 21st via Load & Proud Records.

The album reunited the band with producer Bob Marlette who produced their 2009 effort, God & Guns.

"It was great to get back in the studio with Bob for this new album," said Gary Rossington "we kind of went back old school this time. All of us playing together in the studio as a band, tracking songs and creating licks. We had a lot of fun and the music really flowed for us, so that's when you know you are on to something good. We can't wait to let the fans hear these songs and play 'em live." more on this story

Zakk Wylde Excited About Playing With Ozzy Again

(Gibson) In a new interview with Metal Hammer magazine, Zakk Wylde talks about the forthcoming Ozzy and Friends tour. Wylde play guitar with Ozzy Osbourne, as original Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi is unable to commit to a full tour following recent cancer treatment.

"It'll be awesome, man. I love all the Sabbath songs, stuff like 'Into the Void' was always slammin' – the song is amazing and so heavy. The Jake [E. Lee] stuff, the Randy [Rhoads] stuff like 'Flying High Again,' 'I Don't Know' – they're all awesome.

"Playing with Ozz is like being in your favorite covers band and getting to write your own stuff as well. Randy, he wasn't a huge Sabbath fan, so him playing all the Sabbath was like 'alright' but me, I'm a Sabbath freak. I'm playing my favorite music." more on this story

Van Halen Didn't Develop Famed Technique?

(Classic Rock) Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett believes it's a matter of fact he introduced the finger tapping technique later made famous by Eddie Van Halen. But he's not bitter the American is better known than him for the effect, even though iconic VH track Eruption appeared seven years after Genesis were heard tapping.

Hackett tells Music Radar: "I'm the inventor of tapping on record. We haven't found anyone who tapped earlier than me, unless somebody did it in the 1930s – but I doubt it.

"Eddie is a fine player, of course, and he's the one who named the technique. When you see old films of Genesis from 1971 on, you can see me using the technique. It's there on many recordings, as well. The important thing is that you play as fast as you'd like, but you do it all on one string – and you have to use a finger from your picking hand instead of the pick." The story gets even more interesting when he explains what inspired him to develop the technique.

Neal Schon Reunited With Steve Smith on New Album

(Gibson) Journey's Neal Schon has told Ultimate Classic Rock that he has a new guitar-centric album nearly ready. It reunites him with his former Journey bandmate, drummer Steve Smith. Schon describes the album as "one of the most rockin' records I've made."

He says: "I'm proud of the record, but I kind of winged it. I walked in and I didn't have anything prepared at all. I just had an open slate with a bunch of paintbrushes [in the form of] guitars and amplifiers."

Schon says that Smith would lay down some tracks, upon which he would then expand. "And then I'd say 'can you go have lunch or something for half an hour and then come back and I'll be done.' So I'd map it out and put a rhythm guitar down, arrange the thing the way I heard it in my head and then Steve would come back and he'd listen to it.

"He'd write down my arrangement and then he'd go out and replay the drums to my new arrangement and a click and play it like it was a full band playing. He's just amazing like that. And then I went back and I replayed some of the rhythm guitar [parts], some of them I kept. And then I'd start playing solos, even without bass, just freelance soloing and then I played the bass on it to go with the solos, so it came about in a different kind of way, but when you listen to it, it sounds like a really connected trio with keys here and there." more on this story

Robert Plant Presents Sensational Space Shifters Book Second Show

(hennemusic) Robert Plant has announced a summer concert date in London. Robert Plant Presents Sensational Space Shifters will be performing at the HMV Forum in London on Thursday, July 12.

The new date marks the second show for Plant and his new lineup, which features members of his former backing band, Strange Sensation, along with regular collaborator Justin Adams.

Plant debuts the new group next Tuesday, May 8 at the Gloucester Guildhall in Gloucester, England. more on this story

Sammy Hagar Plans To Celebrate 40s Years of Rocking

(hennemusic) 2013 will mark 40 years since the release of the debut Montrose album with Sammy Hagar on vocals, and the Red Rocker has announced what may be the first of many huge bashes to celebrate his four decades in rock.

Hagar's September 1 date at the Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harvey's in Stateline, Nevada is being billed as featuring everything "from Montrose to the Beach Bar Rum Bash."

Sammy says "This is a prototype to the type of thing I want to take on the road next year, so I promise it to be the party of a lifetime!" He has a lot planned, grab the details here.

Flyleaf Holding Benefit for Family of Late Soundman

Flyleaf will hold a benefit concert in honor of their longtime soundman Rich Caldwell on May 20, 2012 at The Palladium Ballroom in Dallas, TX.

The band explains in the announcement: Caldwell was in a fatal car accident near his home in College Station, TX. As soon as the band heard the news, they wanted to do something to both honor his memory and raise money in order to support his family. Caldwell is survived by his wife Katy and two-year-old son Kirby. All proceeds from the show will go directly to Katy and Kirby aiding them in the aftermath of this tragedy.

For Flyleaf, their friend and brother's light still shines brilliantly. Beyond his talents behind the board, he was a crucial part of the band's family. They did everything together, and his spirit and memory will forever be a part of Flyleaf. more on this story

Singled Out: Manafest's Human

Today global rock star Manafest tells us about the song "Human" from his brand new album "Fighter". Here is the story: 'Human' is my favorite track on the album from music to melody and lyrics.

I had just finished a tour and my producer Adam's schedule had been constantly booked, so trying to get a session in was tricky. Being fresh off the tour my wife wanted me to relax, but I knew I needed to get in the studio. We got in a small argument which ended up with me buying her flowers and heading to work. In spite of the recent argument I was inspired to write the song 'Human' which is about how as people in relationships we are not perfect and do make mistakes. Some people hold a high bar to someone else and then end up being hurt because that person doesn't live up to their expectations. That's where forgiveness and learning to work through things for the long term comes in.

Human says "I never said I was an angel, I never said I wouldnt break down. But I'll keep on climbing if you're by my side. 'Cause the truth is we're all only human."

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

Dave Grohl Talks Sound City Film

(Gibson) Dave Grohl is directing and producing the forthcoming feature documentary Sound City, about the iconic recording studio in Van Nuys, California.

Grohl's connection to Sound City began with the 1991 recording of Nirvana's Nevermind. Grohl was, of course, the drummer on the album. In a press statement, Grohl says: "Sound City is a film about America's greatest unsung recording studio. Deep in California's sun-burnt San Fernando Valley, it was the birthplace of legend. It was witness to history."

Grohl says he conceived the movie after purchasing the Neve 8028 recording console from Sound City Studios in 2011. That console, built in 1972, is regarded as a "crown jewel" of analog recording equipment and has been used for recording Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Cheap Trick, Guns N' Roses, Rage Against the Machine, Nine Inch Nails, Metallica and many others. more on this story

Bon Scott Late For First Big AC/DC Gig

(Classic Rock) Former AC/DC bassist Mark Evans says one of his lasting memories of Bon Scott is his late arrival for one of their breakthrough concerts.

Evans was with the Aussie giants through their pub-rock era and appeared on their first four albums. And he says it was impossible to stay angry with the Scottish singer, who died in 1980 and was replaced by Brian Johnson.

"I distinctly recall the first time we were headlining in London, at the Hammersmith Odeon. That is a great venue, a great indicator that you're on your way. It's a serious gig," Evans tells Bass Musician. "We were getting ready to go on – and Bon wasn't there. Earlier in the day he had decided to take the subway to the gig. Bon being Bon, he had a few drinks beforehand so he was feeling a bit relaxed. Needless to say he got on the right train going the wrong way. More of the story here.

B Sides

Soundgarden Release Live To Rise Video

(hennemusic) Soundgarden have released the video for "Live To Rise," the band's first new song in 15 years.

The track is the first single from the soundtrack for the new film, "Marvel's The Avengers," which opens Friday.

Also featured on the soundtrack are tunes from Shinedown, Rise Against, Bush and Five Finger Death Punch, among others. Watch the video here.

Video of Roger Waters The Wall Tour 2012 American Opener Online

(hennemusic) Roger Waters launched his 2012 North American tour of Pink Floyd's "The Wall" in Houston on Tuesday and video clips from the show have surfaced online.

"The Wall Live" tour had previously toured the continent in the fall of 2010; this year's edition will play almost 40 shows across the continent by the time in wraps up July 14 in Philadelphia.

"The Wall Live" tour continues this week with shows in Austin (Thu) and Tulsa, OK (Sat). In the meantime, you can watch videos from Tuesday's show here.

Chickenfoot Share Rehearsal Footage Online

(hennemusic) Chickenfoot are gearing up to kick off their 2012 Different Devil tour with two shows in Lake Tahoe on May 4 and 5.

On Tuesday, Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony and Kenny Aronoff hooked up and shared the following:

"With no advance notice we decided to just jump onto a Google+ Hangout On Air to share a glimpse at whatever was going down at the rehearsal studio while we get ready for the Different Devil 2012 Summer Tour starting Friday & Sat in Tahoe. The Hangout echo cancellation did some nasty things to the audio so this is a re-upload, but otherwise is unedited raw as-it-happened. The song performed is "Up Next" from Chickenfoot III." Check out the video here.

Motley Crue Singer Possessed?

(Classic Rock) Motley Crue singer Vince Neil lived through an "overwhelming experience" as he and a TV crew tried to capture the spirit of Frank Sinatra in an old Las Vegas hotel.

Neil was special guest on Ghost Adventure as he brought a group of female friends to party with him in the ninth-floor suite used by Sinatra in the days when he performed in the Riviera Hotel and Casino.

The paranormal investigators recorded evidence of three ghostly voices, several noises and lights – and at one point Neil appeared to be possessed by the spirit of someone who may have died on the premises. more on this story

Anniversary of Les Harvey's On Stage Death

(Gibson) On this day in 1972, Les Harvey, guitarist with Stone the Crows, died after being electrocuted on stage during a gig at Swansea University, Wales. He was the brother of Scottish singer Alex Harvey and a member of the Alex Harvey Soul Band. Gibson takes a look back:

Stone the Crows could have been one of the biggest British bands of the '70s. They had powerhouse blues vocalist Maggie Bell, regarded by many as an equal of Janis Joplin. They had a manager with more than a few connections in the business (a certain Mr. Peter Grant, who also managed Led Zeppelin), and they had one of the finest young guitarists on the blues and rock scene, Les Harvey, younger brother of Scottish rock legend Alex Harvey.

Alex Harvey, of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band fame, played a key role in the development of the group that would morph into Stone the Crows. He put his younger guitar-whiz brother in touch with Maggie Bell and she joined his band, the Kinning Park Ramblers. When that band split, Bell and Harvey formed Power and toured Europe 's army bases extensively. Talking to Chris Welch for a Stone the Crows album reissue, Maggie Bell recalled meeting Les Harvey: "He had a group called the Kenning Park Ramblers. That was in the days when his older brother Alex was doing the Star Club in Hamburg. Leslie was just a youngster like myself and we used to go to all these far away, obscure gigs around Scotland. Anyway, we all went to Germany and earned enough to buy ourselves a reel-to-reel Revox tape recorder!" more on this story

Sainthood Reps Deliver Monoculture Video

Tooth & Nail Records' Sainthood Reps have released a new music video for their track "Monoculture".

The video is dark and gritty and follows a group of skateboarders as they cause trouble on the streets of NYC.

Sainthood Reps recently toured with mewithoutyou and is currently on the road with La Dispute, Balance and Composure, and All Get Out. Watch the video here.

Sites & Sounds: Blackout Festival- Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival and More

antiMusic's travel editor Kevin Wierzbicki once again tells us about rockin' places to visit this month including The Blackout Festival, the Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival, Soul Beach in Aruba and the Revival Festival.

The Blackout Festival, Chicago
Hozac Records once again presents the Blackout Festival, this time out at Chicago nightclub The Empty Bottle. Bands scheduled to appear on Friday, May 18 will be Davila 666, Spider Fever, Rayon Beach, Screaming Yellow Zonkers and Cozy while performers on May 19 include Fungi Girls, Teledrome, White Mystery and the legendary Redd Kross. Bare Mutants, Estrogen Highs and Roky Erickson wrap up the festival on Sunday, May 20. www.emptybottle.com

The Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival, Thomson, Georgia
Blind Willie McTell was born in Thomson, Georgia and the small city honors the late bluesman with the Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival every spring. This year's 19th anniversary edition of the festival features headliners Delbert McClinton, James Cotton, Guy Davis and Randall Bramblett along with support acts the Geoff Achison Band, Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons and Mama Says. There'll be lots of Southern and Cajun food available for sale too; all the fun happens on Saturday, May 19. www.exploremcduffiecounty.com

The Soul Beach Music Festival, Aruba
The Caribbean island of Aruba uses the tourism slogan One Happy Island and you can bet residents and visitors alike will be extra happy during the Soul Beach Music Festival, taking place May 23 - 28. Beach parties, nightclub festivities and live concerts highlight all six nights of the festival but the biggest shows are on May 26 when LL Cool J and Ledisi perform and on May 27 when R. Kelly and Melanie Fiona are scheduled. For ticket info visit www.soulbeach.net and to plan your trip to Aruba click over to www.aruba.com

The Revival Festival, Austin
Billed as Austin's premiere rockabilly and Americana festival, the Revival Festival takes place Saturday, May 26 and will be headlined by Reverend Horton Heat. Also set to appear are the Nekromantix, Lee Rocker, Three Bad Jacks, Psycho Devilles, The Smites (a tribute to the Smiths), Rosie Flores, Holy Moly!, Johnny Hootrock and the Hot Rod Hillbillies. The Memorial weekend blast takes place at 7th Street and Trinity in the heart of downtown Austin. www.revivalfest.com