Outkast's Andre 3000 To Play Jimi Hendrix in Biopic

It covers the period from Hendrix being discovered in a New York club by Keith Richard's girlfriend Linda Keith and his tie-up with manager Chas Chandler, through to the recording of debut album Are You Experienced. more on this story

Head Reunites With Korn

(Gibson) Former Korn guitarist Brian "Head" Welch recently rejoined the band on stage to perform the song "Blind." It's the first time he's performed with the band in seven years.

Vocalist Jonathan Davis introduced Welch on Saturday by telling the audience at the Carolina Rebellion festival that the space to his right on stage had been lonely for a long time. "I want to bring out one of my dearest, oldest and most beloved old friends to come out and have some fun with us," he said, before Welch strode out on stage with his guitar held over his head.

Welch left Korn in 2005 to focus on his sobriety and his faith. Since leaving the band, he has released two autobiographies and released a solo album, Save Me From Myself. more on this story

Original Dio Band To Reunite?

(Classic Rock) Former Dio guitarist Vivian Campbell has revealed plans to reboot the original lineup of Dio with new singer Andy Freeman, who he vows will "do justice" to the fallen frontman's legacy.

The Def Leppard and Thin Lizzy axeman had a rocky relationship with the former Black Sabbath frontman, who passed away in 2010. But the guitarist has always insisted he was proud of the work he did on the first three Dio albums.

Now he's confirmed a reunion with drummer Vinny Appice, bassist Jimmy Bain and keyboardist Claude Schnell, two months after they jammed together. That was brought about when Campbell jammed Rainbow in the Dark with Steel Panther in January. Details here.

Def Leppard and Poison Tour Expanded

Def Leppard have expanded their summer Rock of Ages tour plans with Poison and Lita Ford.

The band have added six additional dates to the North American trek with new dates set for Omaha, Buffalo, Dallas, Santa Barbara, plus Mexican dates in Monterrey and Mexico City.

The tour is set to kick off on June 20th in Salt Lake City, Ut and will wrap up on September 15th in Santa Barbara, CA. more on this story

Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Angry About Rock Hall Dishonor

(Classic Rock) Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Jack Sherman has slammed his ex-bandmates for freezing him out of their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. And he insists the decision not to invite him and Jane's Addiction axeman Dave Navarro was taken by the band rather than event organisers.

Sherman appeared on the Chilis' first album and contributed material to their second. Navarro later spent five years in the band and recorded One Hot Minute with them.

But it seems that wasn't enough to have them inducted into the Hall of Fame – only late founding guitarist Hillel Slovak, veteran John Frusciante and current six-stringer Josh Klinghoffer were included.

"That's being dishonoured. I'm being dishonoured. And it sucks," he told Billboard. More details and the reported reason for the snub.

Wolfgang Making A Lot of Van Halen's Decisions

(Classic Rock) Wolfgang Van Halen may be only 21, but he calls a lot of the shots in his dad's band. A rare interview with the bassist reveals how he's responsible for a wide range of decisions including rehearsal sessions and live set lists.

Wolfgang started working with father Eddie in 2005, a year before he became the official replacement for original Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony.

"I kind of come up with the set lists. When we've got a song that we haven't done, it's like, we should probably run through this before the show and figure out the count of it. Because Dad, for some reason, counts in odds. He'll land on three instead of four. I have to look at him sometimes.," he tells Esquire. more on this story

Slash Launching Summer Tour and Performing on Jimmy Fallon

Slash has announced plans to hit the road this summer for a North American tour and also an appearance on Jimmy Fallon.

Slash will be touring in support of his new album, Apocalyptic Love, which will be released on May 22nd.

The tour is set to kick off on July 12 and will conclude August 4 and will feature support from Monster Truck. more on this story

Guns N' Roses Kick Off New Tour Leg This Week

Guns N' Roses will kick off a European tour leg this Friday with back to back nights in Moscow.

The band will then team up with Thin Lizzy for a string of dates across the UK starting on May 17th in Dublin and wrapping with a two night stand at London's 02 Arena on May 31st and June 1st.

From there, Guns N' Roses will hope over to the European mainland for almost six weeks of dates.
more on this story

Madina Lake Attacker Found Not Guilty

(Classic Rock) Chicago rock band Madina Lake have been left "baffled and shocked" after the man accused of nearly killing their bassist was found not guilty in court.

Matthew Leone has required two years of near-constant medical attention following the brutal beating he received in June 2010, when he went to help a woman who was being assaulted herself. He had to have part of his skull removed and lost most of his teeth. He expects he'll experience symptoms, including vertigo, for the rest of his life.

Justin Pivec, her husband, was found not guilty of attempted murder by Cook County Judge Vincent Guaghan. Matthew's brother, frontman Nathan, says: "We're utterly baffled and shocked." He has a lot strong words

Dream Theater's Petrucci Reveals Solo Band Lineup

(Gibson) Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci will perform with bandmate Mike Mangini on drums and Dixie Dregs bass player Dave LaRue on the South American G3 tour in October with Joe Satriani and Steve Morse.

It will be a G3 homecoming of sorts for LaRue, who performed with Joe Satriani during the Super Colossal era, and has worked with Morse since 1988.

LaRue is also a member of progressive rock supergroup Flying Colors, who count among their ranks Morse and – how's this for a small world – former Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy. more on this story

Into Eternity's Former Guitarist Rob Doherty Dies

Into Eternity revealed to fans that their former guitarist Rob Doherty had died. The cause of death was not mentioned.

On Sunday band's website updated fans with the following: He played on the band's 2004 album Buried In Oblivion. Into Eternity mainman Tim Roth says that "he was a special part of our band. Our condolences go out to all of Rob's family and friends, and to all those, who Rob's music touched."

Doherty's band mates in Final Darkness issued the following statement: "It is with incredible sadness that we must say good bye to our brother Rob – you will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved you…thank you for being a part of our lives. May you find peace my friend…" more on this story

Sick of It All Lead CBGB Fest Lineup

Sick of It All are set to lead the lineup for the CBGB Fest, which will take place this summer.

The event will take place at Webster Hall New York City on July 6th and will celebrate the famed New York City venue.

Webster Hall announced via Facebook that the festival will also feature Cro-Mags, Vision of Disorder, Absolution and Sai Nam.

Facebook link.

Judas Priest' Ian Hill Also Pondered Retirement

(Classic Rock) Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill has considered following guitarist KK Downing into retirement – and the band's last remaining founding member says he'd give them his blessing if they went on without him.

Downing's departure came as a bombshell to fans when it was announced last April, four months after he'd made his decision. Priest brought in Richie Faulkner as his replacement and announced their current world tour would be their last.

The bassist says his ex-bandmate's decision to retire caused him to think along similar lines – but like many musicians from his era, the idea frightened him. "I thought of not doing it, not playing," he reports.

"It terrifies all of us, I think... more on this story

Pantera's Rex Brown Completes Black Sabbath Circle With New Band

(Classic Rock) Former Pantera bassist Rex Brown is enjoying life as a member of Kill Devil Hill and for him it completes a circle that opened twenty years ago.

Back then he stood offstage and watched in awe as drummer Vinny Appice performed with Black Sabbath. Now he's onstage with his friend after Appice invited him to record a few tracks with Kill Devil Hill, but he joined the band full-time instead.

"What's crazy about the whole thing is the first time I met Vinny was at the 1992 Monsters of Rock tour. That was the first time I met Dio too," Brown tells SkullsnBones.com. "I remember Pantera went on and did our thing, and then it was someone like Warrant or something, then Black Sabbath. You got to remember what year it was, but it was just unfair for them to have Warrant in between our two bands. Fans were throwing bottles at them – it got ugly." more on this story

Famed Rock Photographer Jim McCrary Dead at 72

(Gibson) Top rock photographer Jim McCrary, best known for his iconic Tapestry album cover for Carole King, died on April 29. He was 72.

Billboard reports that while he was a staff photographer for A&M Records, McCrary took photographs of numerous rock and pop legends such as Cat Stevens, Joe Cocker, Phil Ochs and B.B. King.

He also took the famous Nudie suit shots of country rock cult band The Flying Burrito Brothers. more on this story

Johnny Ramone Decided When To Die

(Classic Rock) Johnny Ramone decided the moment to let himself succumb to cancer, says his widow. The punk outfit's founding guitarist, one of only two members to appear in all its lineups, died in 2004 surrounded by his closest friends.

His wife Linda Cummings Ramone recently helped publish a book made out of his final recorded conversations, when he knew he wasn't going to survive his illness.

She tells Fuse: "The day Johnny died, he still knew exactly what was going on. Eddie Vedder was sating at the house and Johnny said to me that morning: 'I don't want you and Eddie to go to lunch. I want you to be here.'" A lot more here.

Movie Helping Soundgarden Comeback

(Classic Rock) Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell says there's no credibility issue with licensing tracks to movies and in fact it's the future for any band who wants their music to be heard.

The band's new song Live to Rise features in the soundtrack of superhero blockbuster The Avengers (Avengers Assemble in some markets). Cornell says it's an illustration of the "new landscape" facing modern artists.

He tells Rolling Stone: "It has become kind of the cheap way that bands with any version of credibility have to get their songs out in front of people." more on this story

B Sides

Video From Metallica's 2012 Summer Vacation Tour Opener Posted Online

(hennemusic) Metallica rocked Prague Monday night on the opening date of their 2012 European Summer Vacation Tour.

The event also marked the first time Metallica performed their 1991 self-titled (aka "Black") album in its entirety.

Metallica delivered their album classic with a twist: they played the songs in reverse order, closing their regular set with "Enter Sandman." more on this story

Watch Wolfgang Van Halen Play Eruption

(hennemusic) More video from Eddie and Wolfgang Van Halen's photo shoot for Esquire magazine has surfaced.The father/son duo were interviewed by the magazine while in New York early this spring to play two shows at Madison Square Garden.

While two of the three new clips feature some guitar noodling by the guys, there is video of Wolfgang playing his father's iconic guitar solo, "Eruption."

Granted, the guitars aren't plugged in, so it's a video camera microphone picking up the audio, but you can hear the younger Van Halen tapping his way through the legendary piece while Eddie looks on. more on this story

Chickenfoot Share More Rehearsal Footage

(hennemusic) Chickenfoot launched their 2012 Different Devil Tour Friday night at the first of two shows in Lake Tahoe.

Last week, the band shared some rehearsal video. Monday, Chickenfoot issued some more rehearsal footage from singer Sammy Hagar's studio, The Foot Locker.

The video features some live material, plus a band meeting with their new E.D.C.F.R.N.R. (Environmental Design Coordinator For Rock And Roll) about the tour's stage production. more on this story

Starbucks Customers Inspire Walter Trout Song

(Classic Rock) Walter Trout was inspired to write a song on a napkin in a Starbucks' branch when he realised no one in the room was talking to each other.

And the bluesman says it's the perfect illustration of his theory that communication technology actually makes it more difficult for people to express themselves.

Trout sketched the idea for the song Lonely on his 21st album Blues in the Modern Daze during a coffee stop with his band. "I was standing there waiting and there people standing beside me, and they're yelling in my ear. I thought they were all mentally ill, talking to themselves, before I realised they were all talking on phone implanted in their ears," He tells Classic Rock Revisited. "I looked around – nobody else in the place was talking. They were all staring at computers. No one was talking to person next to them." more on this story