Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose Injured

The Sun reports Axl's agent revealed that the rocker had slipped and pulled a hamstring. Rose wrote "Can U say HemaToma?!" when he tweeted a photo of his injury, which reveals extensive bruising to his leg. See the photo here.

Ronnie Wood Hints At Rolling Stones Tour

(Gibson) Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood has hinted the legendary band will tour soon. Earlier this year, it appeared they would be delaying the celebrations until 2013 after guitarist Keith Richards suggested the band weren't ready to go back on the road yet.

Wood told The Sun, "It looks like we are going to be doing more stuff. I am keeping October/November free, that's what I've been told. I'm just awaiting more information."

A 2012 winter tour seems unlikely. It is more plausible that late 2012 will herald full Stones rehearsals for a 2013 tour – Keith Richards has already says that he considers 2013 as the band's real 50th anniversary. "The Stones always considered '63 to be 50 years, because Charlie [Watts] didn't actually join until January," Richards said. "We look upon 2012 as sort of the year of conception, but the birth is next year." more on this story

Dio Replacement Singer Ready For Backlash

(Classic Rock) Andrew Freeman is prepared to be regarded as "the world's most hated singer" when he replaces Ronnie James Dio in a reunion of Dio's original lineup.

Guitarist Vivian Campbell recently announced he'd jammed with keyboardist Claude Schell, bassist Jimmy Bain and drummer Vinny Appice, and it had gone so well they'd decided to work together again.

Now Schnell confirms they'll perform under the name Last In Line, by way of a tribute to Dio, who died two years ago yesterday. The keyboardist also reveals the reunion came about after Def Leppard axeman Campbell jammed with metal cabaret act Steel Panther. A lot more from Schnell here.

Go To Rock Camp With Gene Simmons

(hennemusic) Gene Simmons of KISS is set to headline the Rock N' Roll Fantasy Camp this Rocktober in Las Vegas.

Rock N' Roll Fantasy Camp founder David Fishof commented: "I can't think of a better way to kick off our next installment of Rock N' Roll Fantasy Camp in Las Vegas with none other than rock god Gene Simmons."

"I can't wait to reveal the secrets of becoming a rock star," added Gene. "Rock N' Roll Fantasy Camp is a grueling, military style musical training process. And I'm just the guy to be your Sergeant. Now, drop and give me twenty." more on this story

Bono To Become Richest Rock Star

(Classic Rock) U2 frontman Bono is set to become the richest man in rock when Facebook shares go on public sale tomorrow.

His Elevation Partners equity firm bought 2.3% of the social media company in 2009 for $90m, and that investment will be worth over $1.5bn – that's £940m – by close of business today.

That will make the singer and anti-poverty campaigner far more wealthy than former Beatle Paul McCartney, who's topped the rock rich list for years and is currently valued at £665m. More rock news including Queen, Twisted Sister, Rob Zombie and more

Jack White, String Cheese Incident Hangout Webcasts This Weekend

If you can make it to Gulf Shores, Alabama for this weekend's Hangout Music Fest, you are still in luck as some of the performances are set to be webcast. We were sent these details:

Fans not lucky enough to score tickets will still be able to watch the show on Myspace and catch performances by Jack White, String Cheese Incident, Dispatch, Umphrey's McGee, G. Love & Special Sauce, Paul Oakenfold, Gogol Bordello, Dr. Dog, Flogging Molly, Yelawolf, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Alabama Shakes, and more, blaze the stage on May 18-20.

"When tickets sold out so quickly, we knew we had to do something to share the festival to a wider audience. Thanks to Myspace, music fans that can't make it to our party in person can still join in the fun," said Hangout Music Fest founder and owner, Shaul Zislin. "Enjoy the broadcast and we'll see you here next year!" more on this story

Reversed Beatles Abby Road Photo To Be Auctioned

(Gibson) An alternative photo of The Beatles' Abbey Road album sleeve is up for auction. And guess what, it proves Paul McCartney is NOT dead.

For decades, the original Abbey Road picture has been cited as "proof" of a bizarre conspiracy theory by some Beatles obsessives – that Paul McCartney died in the 1960s.

On the cover of the band's Abbey Road album, Macca is barefoot, supposedly indicating that he had died and been replaced by a body double. George Harrison, in denim, was (supposedly) dressed as the gravedigger, Ringo Starr as the undertaker and John Lennon as the preacher.

Now, however, a photograph has come to light which supports McCartney's own explanation – that he had merely kicked off his sandals because it was a hot summer's day.

In the soon-to-be-auctioned image, McCartney has sandals on and the band are crossing Abbey Road from right to left. more on this story

Def Leppard's Setlist Dilemma

(Classic Rock) Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott believes his band have no option but to play a set of hits on tour and he sometimes feels guilty about it. Yet every time he tries to address the issue by changing the setlist around, it winds up backfiring.

The Sheffield giants are preparing to tour the US with Poison and Lita Ford, and the frontman vows to give fans what the want – as long as the fans keep letting the band have their own way from time to time.

"People come to hear what they know. The only place people go psychologically prepared for an hour of brand-new music is an open mic night in some little bar," Elliott tells KFAB. "You don't go to Madison Square Garden expecting to hear two hours of brand new Paul McCartney, Def Leppard, Roger Waters or the Who. You go to see Quadrophenia, something you've owned for 40 years. That's what these gigs are." He explains why they can't make everyone happy

Leslie West Plans Three Night Stand

Leslie West will rock a very special three night stand at Iridium in Times Square on June 11, 12 and 13.

These will be isolated dates with West headlining, and performing a 75-minute set. Joining the renowned guitarist at 8PM each evening will be Bobby Rondinelli on drums and Rev Jones on bass.

West has called New York home for most of his life, and shared, "Sometimes I think about where I could have come from. Then it dawns on me, I am From New York. Then I say, 'Thank God'." more on this story

Prong Explain Why They Have Two Bass Players On Tour

Prong have a rather unusual lineup for their current UK and European tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of their Beg To Differ album.

Joining mainman Tommy Victor and drummer Alexei Rodriguez are bass players Matt Brunson of Crowbar and former Cradle of Filth bassist Dave Pybus.

Tommy explained the presence of not one but two well know bassists: "Since Tony Campos (who has been touring with the band and played on Carved Into Stone) is touring with Soulfly, we've had to tour with other bass players. Everyone who has toured with us so far has been fantastic and brought their own personal style to Prong. Phil Zeller from Toxic Holocaust did the Crowbar tour. Jason Rapesi who has played with Stone Sour did a few shows with us before that. We were heading to Europe and the guy we had couldn't do it in the eleventh hour. Rather than cancel, our friend Matt Brunson from Crowbar stepped in and learned the entire Beg To Differ album in a day and a half! Then we found out that Dave Pybus who has played with Cradle of Filth, was going to be the tech on the tour. As it turned out, Dave is a massive PRONG fan! He learned some of the other songs and has been joining Alexei and I onstage every night. Now we have two great bass players each night! This tour has been a blast!" more on this story

Ted Nugent Named Detroit's Greatest Guitar Player

Motor City Madman Ted Nugent lives up to his nickname having been voted the Detroit's greatest guitar player by a landslide.

MLive! in Michigan conducted the poll and Nugent won with 428 votes, or over 51 percent of the total vote.

Nugent is current out out on the road with REO Speedwagon and Styx of their Midwest Rock 'n' Roll Express Tour. more on this story

Drivin' N' Cryin' To Release 4 EPs Within 12 Months

Drivin' N' Cryin' fans won't have to wait long for new music from the group. In fact, you will get new music and won't have to wait long to get even more.

The band sent out this update: "In an effort to release Drivin' N' Cryin' music while it's still fresh and new to both ourselves and our fans, we have partnered with our good friends at Redeye Distribution to release 4 EPs over a 12 month period beginning June 12, 2012 [on the band's own New! Records label].

This first EP, 'Songs From The Laundromat,' contains 5 songs reflecting the rock side of DNC. EP2, 'Songs About Cars, Space and The Ramones," will showcase songs from the secret landscape of the American psyche. EP3, 'Songs From The Garage,' will harken back to DNC's punk roots. EP4 - well, you'll have to wait and see!" - Kevn Kinney/Drivin' N' Cryin' Band's site.

Gojira To Deliver The Flesh Alive This Summer

Gojira will release their 2 DVD / Blu-ray, entitled The Flesh Alive, on July 31st in North America and the band has released the trailer.

The live set includes a bonus CD and poster in the deluxe packaging The title presents the French progressive metallers complete performances from Garorock and Bordeaux, plus bonus material from a Les Vielles Charrues show, a documentary and a live CD. The trailer can be viewed here

The full track listing for The Flesh Alive features: Garorock (93 min): "Oroborus," "The Heaviest Matter Of The Universe," "Backbone," "Love," "From The Sky," "A Sight To Behold," "The Art Of Dying," "Drum Solo," "Clone," "Flying Whales," "The Way Of All Flesh," "Terra Incognita," and Vacuity."

The rest here

Nick Lowe, Robyn Hitchcock, Fountains of Wayne For Yep Rock Anniversary Shows

(Gibson) Indie record label Yep Roc is celebrating its 15th birthday with three nights of concerts. Participating acts include artists who have been signed to the label, including Nick Lowe, Robyn Hitchcock, Fountains of Wayne, Dave Alvin, Chuck Prophet and many more, according to Billboard.

The shows will take place October 11-13 at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, North Carolina.

"We've always thought of Yep Roc as the label that refuses to be labeled, and the lineup for Yep Roc 15 is testament to that," label co-founder Glenn Dicker said. "What unites our roster, what's at the center of the Yep Roc identity, is that we are very artist-driven. The label itself is just the pop-up camper that follows behind." more on this story

Onslaught Explains In Search of Sanity Singer Switch

(Classic Rock) Onslaught founder Nige Rockett says the band were given a straight choice in between working with singer Steve Grimmett on 1989 release In Search of Sanity– or being sidelined until their record contract expired.

While the album was their most successful to date, it marked a significant change of direction and left diehard fans bewildered and angry, not least because popular frontman Sy Keeler had been kicked out. But Rockett explains the band were left with little say in the matter. "We'd recorded aw hole album and we were in the mixing stages. This was the fist time the label came down to listen to it, and, basically, they didn't like what they were hearing," He tells 69facesofrock.com. "You could tell something wasn't right. At the end they said, 'We were expecting something else. We want to look at the vocal situation.'

"Next day the management tells me Steve Grimmett's name was thrown into the bag. We said, 'No, Sy is our singer.' They were like: 'You do what we say or we put the band on ice for the length of your contract. You'll release no albums in that time. You got to play ball with what we want.' So that's what happened." more on this story

Own KISS Doobles For A Good Cause

(hennemusic) KISS are taking an active part in NF Awareness Month. Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder that affects one in every 2,500 births. NF is more common than Cystic Fibrosis, Muscular Dystrophy and Huntington's Disease combined.

As part of NF Awareness month, celebrity doodles, including the ones pictured below by KISS members Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer, along with Mrs. Simmons (aka Shannon Tweed) are available for auction on eBay until May 20th.

These doodles have a very important aim: the funds they raise will benefit NF, Inc. Network, an organization dedicated to providing support to individuals and families affected by neurofibromatosis (NF). More including Gene's doodle here.

Michael Angelo Batio Launching Tribute to Rock Guitar Tour

Michael Angelo Batio will be heading to Europe next week to debut his newly devised show: "Hands without Shadows - A Tribute to Rock Guitar."

This show is billed as a multimedia extravaganza featuring the music of some of the greatest rock guitarists of the past 50 years. We were sent this description. along with the dates:

Michael Angelo Batio, takes you on his 90 minute aural/visual journey to the different eras of rock music while playing guitars with incredible speed and musical precision. The "Hands without Shadow's – A Tribute to Rock Guitar" show entails an awesome display of guitar wizardry accompanied by an equally talented band. This chronological tribute features Batio's incredible arrangements and medley's from the different eras of rock beginning with Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, then moving on to Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Metallica and more. more on this story

Jimmy Cliff, Bob Mould and More Added To DeLuna Fest

The DeLuna Fest will hit Pensacola Beach, Fl on September 21 thru 23, 2012 and organizers have announced 10 additional artists to the already impressive lineup.

The newest artist additions include Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, Bob Mould plays COPPER BLUE, Trampled by Turtles, Blackberry Smoke, OFF! and Red Kross. Also added to the lineup are late night DJ sets from Diplo, 12th Planet, Paper Diamond and AC Slater.

Last month, the third annual music festival hosted on Pensacola Beach announced headliners Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters with Florence and the Machine, Band of Horses, Dwight Yoakam, Ben Folds Five, Guided By Voices, DJ Jazzy Jeff and many more. A third headliner will be announced in mid-June. more on this story

Greek Fire Release To Aid Cancer Stricken Bandmate

Greek Fire were recently hit with some very bad news, one of their own is battling cancer. Now the band is doing what they can to help their bandmate by donating the proceeds from a new release to his fight. The band sent out these details:

In February 2012, shortly after an amazing tour of Japan, Greek Fire drummer and longtime Story Of The Year drum tech Johnny Venus was diagnosed with Leukemia. As anyone can imagine, this devastating news came as a complete shock and rocked the entire camp to the core.

Johnny is fighting the battle of his life, and even in these darkest of times his incredible courage and strength inspired Johnny's fellow band mates to write a song about this profoundly difficult and emotional journey.

The song, "If this is the End (The Sound of Belief)" was utilized for a video GREEK FIRE released via YouTube on May 15th, 2012. The video was made for zero dollars by a group of amazing and selfless individuals that donated their time and talents with no thought of reward or payment, and the result is a heartfelt and emotional offering of hope and support for anyone, anywhere who has experience with cancer. Greek Fire is releasing this video in hopes that it can help people find the courage and strength to fight with all of their heart, and that there are people everywhere in the world fighting with them. That is the mission: HOPE. Please share this video with as many people as you can. Nothing will make Johnny Venus and the band more proud than if it can help someone, somewhere, in some way. more on this story

Reverend Horton Heat, Nekromantix, Lee Rocker For Revival Fest

Reverend Horton Heat is set to headline the first anniversary of The Revival Festival in downtown Austin on May 26th.

"When I first had the idea for the festival in 2007, the first band I thought of was Reverend Horton Heat," says Orlando Rios, Revival Festival Executive Producer and Founder. "They were the first band I ever saw live and they changed my life for the better. Fans always request them and we are always glad to have them. Last year saw record attendance and even a nod from Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell with our own designated day."

The following bands will join the Reverend Horton Heat in Austin: Nekromantix, Lee Rocker, Three Bad Jacks, Psycho Devilles, The Smites (Tribute to The Smiths), Rosie Flores, Holy Moly!, Johnny Hootrock, and the Hot Rod Hillbillies.

B Sides

Slash Previews New Song Unplugged

(hennemusic) This Friday, Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators will appear on DIRECTV's The Audience Network for the season premiere of "Guitar Center Sessions."

The 8:00 p.m. ET broadcast, in support of the May 22 release of Slash's new "Apocalyptic Love," marks the second time ever that the guitarist will perform an acoustic set featuring new material and tracks from spanning his career.

The latest preview features the guys performing a new track, "Not For Me." Slash's first acoustic session was filmed in Australia for "Max Sessions" back in the summer of 2010. more on this story

Mick Jagger Saturday Night Live Promos Now Online

(hennemusic) Saturday Night Live has posted a series of promos by Mick Jagger for this week's season finale.

The Rolling Stones frontman is joined by SNL's Kristen Wiig for the session, which features several different versions of a promotional ad.

In addition to his hosting duties, Jagger will perform with Arcade Fire, and the Foo Fighters with Jeff Beck. more on this story

Grandmas Smuggled Heavy Metal Behind The Iron Curtain

(Classic Rock) East Germany's cold war appetite for heavy metal was served by fans' grandparents, says Kreator frontman Mille Petrozza. And he's paid tribute to the senior citizens who risked severe reprisals to take albums behind the Iron Curtain.

As a leading symbol of western culture most heavy music was banned in the Communist bloc, with state label Amiga only publishing a range of censored pop. But those who wanted more found their own sources – and that's how German bands including Kreator found a well-informed fanbase in East Germany after the Berlin Wall came down in 1989.

Petrozza tells The Gauntlet: "They found ways to get the records. Older people were allowed to travel outside East Germany in the later years, and a lot of kids would have their grandmas bring in metal albums from West Germany." more on this story

Thief Steals Guitar By Shoving It Down His Pants

(Gibson) Stealing anything is bad. Stealing a guitar is extra-wrong. Stealing a guitar by putting it in your pants? That's crazy.

Kansas police are asking for help identifying a thief who stole a guitar by shoving it down his pants and walking out of an Olathe music store with his accomplice. The theft occurred about 2:30 p.m. April 12 at Spencer's Music Store, 1717 S. Mur-Len Road.

The two men entered the store, and surveillance photos show that as one man distracted an employee, the other grabbed a guitar and shoved it down his pants. The two men then left the store.

"We have reason to believe they are involved in similar thefts in other cities in the Midwest," Allen said. "We are working with other agencies to see if they have had crimes with similar patterns." more on this story

Remembering Sharon Sheeley

(Gibson) On this day in 2002, Sharon Sheeley, songwriter, died at age 62. Her hits include "Poor Little Fool," a U.S. #1 for Ricky Nelson in 1958 and "Somethin' Else" a 1959 hit for Eddie Cochran. Sheeley survived the car crash that killed Eddie Cochran during a 1960 U.K. tour. Gibson looks back:

There weren't too many female songwriters in the early days of rock and roll. But in 1958, Sharon Sheley, who died on this day in 2002, became the first female to compose a U.S. # 1 hit – "Poor Little Fool" for Ricky Nelson.

Born in California in 1940, Sheley fell in love with the power and glamour of rock and roll and infiltrated the scene any way she could. In Hollywood, she dated Don Everly, and hung out with Gene Vincent. She got to meet Elvis, and became friends with him and joined his Hollywood entourage.

She told Photoplay magazine in 1959 about an adventure at the move theater with Elvis and the gang: "It was intermission and while people were out buying popcorn and stuff they played records. The first record that came on was 'Don't Be Cruel.' That was followed by three other Presley records. The manager knew Elvis was there and was trying to be nice, but Elvis got embarrassed. I was sitting way down front, but I could hear a voice in the back calling out, 'Ah, lay off that Presley music. C'mon, put on somethin' else!' It was Elvis heckling his own tunes!"

Elvis also gave the young Sharon Sheeley some sage advice. more on this story

Singled Out: mbilly's malheur

Today mbilly tells us about the title track to his new album "malheur," which is set to hit stores on June 5th. Here is the story:

"malheur" is the title track of my album and takes its name for the county in Eastern Oregon where I grew up. The word is French for misfortune and supposedly came from French fur trappers who had everything stolen from them while passing through the area. They ran into nothing but trouble there so they gave it that name. It wasn't until I was a teenager that I found out what the word actually means and at the time it couldn't have seemed more appropriate to me. It's a very rural area that is both geographically and culturally miles away from Portland and what people think of as "the NW." It was around the time I was 14 that I began playing guitar and became obsessed with Uncle Tupelo, The Jayhawks, and Townes Van Zandt, all of whom were just "country" enough that I could identify with their rural aspects. Eastern Oregon is mostly dry and desolate, wide open and expansive: it looks like "the West."

I really hated it by the time I left after I graduated high school and was ecstatic to be in Portland which was everything that Eastern Oregon is not: green, liberal, and populated. I very much felt at home in Portland and no longer like a transplant. I've lived in Portland for 13 years now and slowly I've begun to feel like a transplant here. I identify with Eastern Oregon in ways that I never had before and I've become much more nostalgic for the landscape and isolation. Almost two years ago one of my best friends growing up died unexpectedly. We began playing music together when we were 14 so all of my musical development was with him. We learned the process of writing songs--both together and as individuals--with each other and we learned how to first record together. He was really fundamental in the development of something that is a huge part of my life so I can't separate making music from him, no matter how old I am or how long ago it was. We had grown apart over the years which is totally natural, but what really struck me was how immediate his death still felt to me, even though we were no longer involved in each other's day to day lives. I felt a tremendous sense of loss that I wasn't really expecting.

I found parallels in the ambivalence I felt towards my old friendship and my hometown. And I found that I can't articulate what it is about either that makes me who I am today, but I know that it's very much there. I realized that it's like trying to explain how the color of your eyes makes you who you are. It just is, it can't be separated from who you are. These feelings felt confusing and hard to solidify into any real answer or resolution. The album itself deals with this issue in one form or another on almost all the songs so I wanted the title track to be the jumping off point for it.

For the sound of the song itself I knew I wanted it to sound desolate and raw in some ways, but also driven and purposeful. I wanted it to have the atmosphere of the landscape in some way. The song wasn't going to have any kind of answer to it, so I didn't want it to be structured in a way that songs often are where the verse is setting up the question and the chorus is delivering some kind of answer. I thought of the Neil Young song "Albuquerque" which I really love and the way in which he stretches the name of the town over the whole measure so it's the only word in the chorus. I always thought that was an awesome idea and wanted to try it, so Malheur--which is a difficult word to fit in to a song--seemed like the perfect opportunity. That song became a guide for me not only for the one word chorus, but for it's lack of a resolution. It feels so sad and lonely, but it's unclear what it's really about other than he wants to get away from the pressures of his life. The song still feels complete though and for me it's one of those I most identify with. And hopefully people will have that same reaction to "malheur."

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