The Day in Rock Digest for 03/17/11: It was a slow news day, so let's kick off with this: Slash was asked for probably the 3,456,730'th time about a possible Guns N' Roses reunion and had this response: "It's been, what, 15, 16 years. No one in the original Guns N' Roses ever said, 'Let's try to put the band back together.' Also, it's all about Axl. The reason that everybody left was because in the back of his mind I think that's the way he wanted it. So the reason why there's no Guns N' Roses was because of him. I've got nothing to do with it. I quit for the same reason that everybody did. So it's really his problem." moreIn the wake of vocalist Matt Barlow's retirement, dozens of demos and resumes flooded Iced Earth's management team. But one name kept popping up Into Eternity vocalist Stu Block, who has been named the new lead singer for Iced Earth. more
According to OFF!s facebook, the band was arrested in Arizona while traveling to their show with Bad Brains at SXSW. more
Motorhead drummer Mikkey Dee says he risked ridicule to appear on the Swedish version of TV show Im a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here because he needed a change of pace. more
Guitarist Marty Friedman, perhaps best known for his work with Megadeth during the Rust In Peace era and a resident of Japan since 2003, tells fans that he "will be auctioning ALL of my guitars from the Megadeth era and will donate 100% of the proceeds to the earthquake relief." more
HORSE the band has made its 10 hour 'Earth Tour' DVD available for free download. more
Unearth has completed the recording process for their new album. Mixing will begin this week more
Soundgarden fans can now listen to the entirety of the band's remarkable Live on I-5 album more
Dillinger Escape Plan singer Greg Puciato says he and ex Sepultura mainman Max Cavalera have an album of thrash brutality ready to record. more
Grand Magus have been forced to cancel their previously announced European with Grave Digger. more
Hammerfall's new album, titled 'Infected,' will see its release on May 20th, 2011. more
The Pink Floyd news site, Brain Damage, reports that Roger Waters - The Album Collection will be out on April 4th to coincide with the European leg of The Wall Live tour. It's a limited edition (available during the tour) 8-disc box set, with a lift-off lid, it is a collection of his studio and live albums housed in mini-LP replica wallets, and sitting alongside a 16-page booklet. more
For select dates on his upcoming spring tour, Pete Yorn will play his entire 2001 breakthrough album Musicforthemorningafter to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the album's release. more
On this day in 1957, Elvis Presley bought the Graceland mansion in Memphis from Mrs. Ruth Brown-Moore for $102,500. The original building had, at one time, been a place of worship, used by the Graceland Christian Church, and was named after the builders daughter, Grace Toof.
On this day in 1968, The Bee Gees made their U.S. television debut on The Ed Sullivan Show.
On this day in 1973, Dr. Hook & the Medicine Shows single, The Cover of the Rolling Stone, peaked at #6 on the U.S. chart, but was banned in the U.K. by the BBC, due to rules about product placement.
On this day in 2006, The Smiths, who split acrimoniously in 1987, turned down a $5 million offer to reform for the Coachella festival. Find out what else happened on this date in music history here
