Judas Priest Play Final Show of Farewell Tour

Upon announcing the "farewell" tour, Priest clarified the band's status as the trip was not going to be their final shows but, rather, their last extensive world tour. Check out video from the show here.

Guns N' Roses Late Start Reportedly Planned Ahead Of Time

(Classic Rock) The crew working at Guns N' Roses's Glasgow show were told to expect a late start, thirteen hours before Axl Rose and co hit the stage.

The news calls into question the frontman's insistence that he doesn't mean to keep fans waiting, and it simply happens by accident.

GnR played in the Scottish city on Friday as part of their current UK tour. The band and staff arrived on the Thursday evening, more than 24 hours ahead of showtime. But next morning local crewmen were invited to a production meeting and told to come to work two hours later than scheduled. more on this story

Linkin Park Release New Music Video

(hennemusic) "Living Things," the new album from Linkin Park, is due June 26. The group has released the video for the album's lead single, "Burn It Down."

The band are currently pre-promoting the new project with a series of live shows on the European festival circuit.

Linkin Park kick off a North American tour on August 11 in Bristow, VA. Until then, check out the new video here.

Ozzy and Lita Ford Duet Was A Mistake

(Classic Rock) Lita Ford has recalled how the biggest hit of her career, the Ozzy Osbourne duet Close My Eyes Forever, came about by accident during a night of drinking, getting stoned and driving under the influence.

The 1988 hit from her album Lita crowned an era during which she was named best female vocalist in rock, while Ozzy was named best male vocalist. She was managed by his wife Sharon at the time.

"Close My Eyes Forever was a mistake." The former Runaways guitarist tells Metal Underground. "It was just me and Ozzy and Sharon hanging about in the recording studio. They showed up one day and had a housewarming present for me: a life-size duplicate of Koko the gorilla from the San Diego Zoo. It was freaking huge – I had to strap it in the front seat of my jeep to get it home.

"Ozzy stayed, Sharon got bored and left, and me and Ozzy had a couple of drinks and we were jamming. We started singing, messing about and we wrote Close My Eyes Forever. more on this story

One Member Preventing Skid Row Reunion?

(Classic Rock) Sebastian Bach has backtracked on his previous vehement statements that he'd never return to Skid Row and he's revealed only one member of the hard rock outfit's classic lineup disagrees with him.

But he hasn't said whether it's bassist Rachel Bolan, guitarist Dave 'Snake' Sabo, guitarist Scotti Hill or drummer Rob Affuso. All but the sticksman are currently in the band.

The singer was sacked by Skid Row in 1996, going on to develop a solo career while they hired replacement Johnny Solinger. In the past both parties had firmly asserted getting back together wasn't on the cards. But asked again via Twitter, Bach said: "Four out of five want to do it. Believe it or not, I am one of the four who would do it." more on this story

Soilwork and Arch Enemy Supergroup Preview New Album

Coroner Records are offering a preview from the forthcoming The Night Flight Orchestra (classic rock project for Soilwork and Arch Enemy members) album.

The label have posted a preview of "Montreal Midnight Supply" taken from the forthcoming album "Internal Affairs" here

The Night Flight Orchestra's brand new album that will be released worldwide on June 18th 2012. The project features Björn "Speed" Strid from Soilwork and Sharlee D'Angelo from Arch Enemy. more on this story

Robert Plant, Razorlight, Joss Stone and More On Rockwell Concert DVD

MVD have set a June 19th DVD and Blu-ray release date for the Rockwell Benefit Concert at O2 London. They sent this background:

The O2 arena, London was stage for the gathering of some of the UK's most notable, and charitable music icons. "Rockwell" event brought together the likes of Robert Plant, Tom Jones, Joss Stone, as well as Lulu, Razorlight, Beverley Knight, Escala, Dan Gillespie Sells (from The Feeling)in one of the most memorable benefit concerts to date.

The evening with many major stars sharing the spotlight for brilliant, unexpected surprises was culminated in the final song that saw every act hit the stage for a version of The Beatles' classic "Let It Be"! more on this story

The Queen Extravaganza Tour Kicks Off

(hennemusic) Queen's official tribute band, The Queen Extravaganza, launched their North American tour Saturday in Quebec City.

"The Queen Extravaganza" band was selected after judges spent 11 weeks reviewing online auditions and weighing votes from Queen fans around the world to confirm the lineup.

The band consists of singers Jennifer Espinoza (San Antonio, TX) and Marc Martel (Montreal, QC / Nashville,TN), guitarists Tristan Avakian (Toronto, ON) and Brian Gresh (Tulsa, OK), drummer Tyler Warren (Camden, TN) and bassist Francois-Olivier Doyon (Quebec City, QC). "Audience refuse to sit down for the first 11 songs...i'm a nervous wreck, band are amazing!" tweeted Queen's Roger Taylor, who is producer and musical director for the event. Check out video here.

ZZ Top Explain Releasing New Song Via YouTube

(Classic Rock) Billy Gibbons admits many ZZ Top fans will be surprised to find them embracing the digital era after they released their first new music in nine years via an online ad.

A clip of upcoming track I Got To Get Paid is used in a YouTube promo for Jeremiah Weed Root Brew – and Gibbons says that's just the start for his outfit.

"ZZ Top would be the last guess for the most internet-savvy band. However, I think we're just in the initial stages of a very fast-moving platform," He tells USA Today. "Sooner rather than later, any other form other than digital media will be a thing of the past. It won't vanish – but let's face it, this is the way of the future." But that doesn't mean he has no doubts about what comes next.

Dance Gavin Dance Singer Jonny Craig Still In The Band

Dance Gavin Dance frontman Jonny Craig was the focus of a lot of controversy and many believed his days with the band were over. But the apparently are not.

Earlier this year the band went on tour without Craig after a controversy surrounding the reported bogus sales of laptops online and a jail stint for drug charges, followed by court ordered rehab. The band said at the time, "As some of you have heard today, Jonny Craig will not be doing the upcoming tour with Dance Gavin Dance. Jonny is very sick right now, and needs to do what he can to get better.... For this upcoming tour with A lot Like Birds, we will be joined by Kurt Travis and Matt Geise to fill in on vocals."

It now appears that Craig is back with the group, a posting via Facebook under his name reads, "I know people have been wondering, but I am STILL in Dance Gavin Dance and will be singing for them on all upcoming tour dates including The All Stars Tour."

Facebook posting

Joe Bonamassa Books Retrospective Tour

Joe Bonamassa will perform a series of four London concerts that chronicles his rise from playing the intimate Borderline to the prestigious Royal Albert Hall.

Bonamassa will be playing in support of his 13th solo album Driving Towards The Daylight, which is currently #2 in the UK's Official Album Chart.

Blues rock fans will be able to purchase tickets to see Joe perform at four different London venues including The Borderline (March 26), 02 Shepherd's Bush Empire (March 27), HMV Hammersmith Apollo (March 28) and the Royal Albert Hall (March 30). more on this story

Animals' Eric Burdon Releasing New Solo Album

(Gibson) Eric Burdon, singer with the Animals during the '60s British invasion has a new album coming soon. Til Your River Runs Dry will be released on September 18.

Burden said in a statement: "I started feeling that I needed to use this album as a catharsis, to express my own truth. It took longer than any other album, not because of time spent in the studio, but because of the subject matter of the songs I wanted to put out there.

"During the making of this record, we lost Bo Diddley, one of my greatest influences. There were many things I would have said to him, if I'd realized that his time was limited." more on this story

Elvis Presley Crypt To Be Auctioned

(Classic Rock) Elvis Presley's original crypt will be put up for auction next month. It's part of Music Icons auction which takes place on June 23.

The King's body was interred for two months at the Forrest Hill Cemetery, Tennessee, following his death in 1977, but later moved to Graceland.

Sale price will include the underground crypt, opening and closing for burial, a memorial inscription and use of the cemetery's chapel. More music news

Kamelot Set New Album Release

Kamelot has inked a new deal with SPV and their new album has been scheduled for release on September 24, 2012 in Europe, September 21st in Germany and September 25th in North America.

Kamelot are set to play a number of festivals (among them Wacken Open Air and Bang Your Head) as early as July and August before embarking on a US tour alongside Nightwish in September/October and a major headliner tour of Europe in November 2012.

The group surrounding guitarist and composer Thomas Youngblood is currently working on the drum recordings with renowned sound engineer Jim Morris at the Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida, before work on the album is due to be completed at Wolfsburg's Gate studios under the direction of producer Sascha Paeth (Edguy, Avantasia, Rhapsody). more on this story

Municipal Waste, Sepultura, Soilwork and More For Extreme Metal Cruise

Municipal Waste, Sepultura, Soilwork, At The Gates, Six Feet Under are just some of the bands taking part in Barge To Hell: The World's Most Extreme Metal Cruise. We were sent these details:

The madness begins on December 3rd, when 40 of the most extreme Metal Bands and 2,000 headbangers from around the world will go to the Caribbean to take over a luxury cruise ship for a 5 day and 4 night trip to the undead!

For the entire trip it's like everyone has a backstage pass and you can mingle side-by-side with the Artists in this incredibly fan-friendly scenario that has no comparison. See each of the 40 bands play two live shows on two different days. That's 80 shows with unrestricted festival access to the three stages, each with it's own unique atmosphere more on this story

Nikki Sixx Threw Out The First Pitch At Dodgers Game

(hennemusic) Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx threw out the first pitch in Dodger Stadium prior to Sunday's Los Angeles Dodgers game vs. the Houston Astros.

"Really grateful being from Los Angeles to be invited to throw out the first pitch today at Dodger stadium ( YES I can throw a ball )," posted Sixx. "The Dodgers are on a winning streak and you could feel it in the air everywhere today.( New owners surely helps too.) "

"My family had a blast and it was nice for me to connect with the great Victor Ortiz, who I think is a great fighter," Nikki continued. "If you remember back, I was really disappointed in Floyd Mayweather for the sucker punch he threw at Victor and, after meeting him, I see what a class act he was for not slagging Floyd in the press after that cheap shot....Here we are hanging out (see photo here).

B Sides

Angels & Airwaves Deliver Surrender Video

Angels & Airwaves have released a new music video for the track "Surrender," the lead single off their latest album Love Part Two.

Set amongst opposing scenes of passionate youth rioting and dancing in the streets, the video, as lead singer Tom DeLonge explains it, "is based on young revolution. The idea that young people are speaking their minds...and that young people across the Globe will still find a way to celebrate even when they're living their worst day."

The band enlisted director William Eubank to create the video. Eubank is previously known for teaming up with the band to create their critically acclaimed, independent feature film Love that was released in conjunction with the Angels & Airwaves double album Love Part One and Two.

"Surrender " was shot in Los Angeles at the old Herald Examiner Building, and at the La Mirage dry lakebed outside of Barstow. Indy film fans may catch the quick cameo by Evan Glodell and the Medusa car from the movie Bellflower. You can check it out here

Bruce Springsteen Releases Rocky Ground Video

(hennemusic) Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band's "Wrecking Ball" tour is currently in its third week of shows across Europe.

Bruce's latest release debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart back in the spring. With sales of 196,000, Springsteen just barely outsold Adele's "21" (195,000) to bump it from the top spot, where it had been for 23 non-consecutive weeks.

Springsteen has released the video for the project's latest single, "Rocky Ground." Watch it here.

Watch The Offspring Rock in Rio

(hennemusic) The Offspring return June 26 with their new album, "Days Go By." Ahead of the album's release, The Offspring are doing shows on the European festival circuit.

On Saturday, they played the Rock In Rio Lisbon festival on a bill headlined by Smashing Pumpkins.

The band's Dexter Holland told Rolling Stone that it was important for the band to push themselves this time around. "This is our ninth record, so we've got to dig a little bit deeper, and that's what we want to do as well." Watch the Rock in Rio performance here.

Anniversary of Jeff Buckley's Disappearance

(Gibson) On this day in 1997, Jeff Buckley disappeared after talking a swim in the Mississippi River. His body was found on June 4, after being spotted by a passenger on a tourist riverboat. Gibson looks back:

In the mid-'90s, things were looking pretty good for Jeff Buckley. Although his 1994 debut album, Grace, hadn't been a blockbuster, it was a massive critical success. Up on the record's release, Buckley seemed to become the favorite newcomer for rock's elite, earning praises from Bono to Jimmy Page to David Bowie to Bob Dylan, who called him "one of the great songwriters of this decade."

While Buckley toured incessantly, his album eventually went gold in France and Australia and began to sell better in the U.S. as well. After two years of touring, in 1996, Buckley began working on his follow-up album in New York. As he was writing, he helped Patti Smith on her record, Gone Again, and met former Television guitarist Tom Verlaine – who agreed to produce Buckley's next CD. In New York City, Buckley began testing out songs for the upcoming record (to be titled My Sweetheart, the Drunk) at live shows. Lou Reed attended one, and told Buckley he'd like to work with him in the future.

In '96 and early '97, Buckley and his band began laying down tracks with Verlaine producing, but Buckley wasn't happy with the results. He felt a change of scenery might be in order and moved to Memphis in February. The singer rented a shotgun shack in Memphis and planned to record at Easley McCain Recording.

Verlaine and Buckley's band soon joined him in Memphis to take another crack at some sessions, but the magic still wasn't there. Buckley called upon Grace producer Andy Wallace to replace Verlaine and sent his band back to New York while he continued to work on writing and demos in Memphis. In the meantime, Buckley continued to test out his new songs live, playing regular gigs at Barrister's, a downtown bar.

He sent his demos to his band, who were thrilled with the results and excited to begin work on the songs. Arrangements were made for the musicians to fly in on May 29, 1997. Sadly, the day would prove a tragic one and the band would never see Buckley alive again.

On this day in 1997, with his band scheduled to arrive in the evening, Buckley went out to dinner with friend and road manager Keith Foti. The two guys were heading to a rehearsal studio when, at about 9 p.m., the singer decided to go for a swim in Wolf River Harbor – while wearing boots and all of his clothing. Apparently, this is something Buckley had done before. Legend has it that Buckley was singing "Whole Lotta Love" to himself and he jumped in. Foti watched from the shore. more on this story