Rock News

Steven Tyler has confirmed he tried out with Led Zeppelin when the British giants were considering touring without Robert Plant in 2008 – but it wasn't the "shambolic" affair Aerosmith's guitarist Joe Perry says it was. Tyler says: "The kid in me was dying – I got to sing every song from Black Dog up and down, and I'll never forget it as long as I live. But I don't think a band like theirs needs a singer like me. They already had the best."

Bon Jovi are offering fans the chance to be part of the show on their upcoming world tour. Frontman Jon wants you to video yourself performing Livin' on a Prayer, and the best videos will appear on the band's screens while they play the song live.

Paul Rogers has revealed he recently jammed with Fleetwood Mac veterans Mick Fleetwood and John McVie. He says: "What we did was just play a lot of blues. I'm a big fan of Peter Green's Mac - I used to stand in awe in blues clubs around England. They're my heroes. It's fun to do these things and see where they take you. That's not to say we're getting a band together – but who knows."

Wednesday 13 says he and Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison are thinking about reforming the Murderdolls. He says: "It's just talk right now. We're having the same conversations we were having in the very beginning: 'What direction, what kind of music are we doing this time?' It's very far away from getting in a room with a full band."

Wes Borland says the new Limp Bizkit album won't change what people think of the band. He explains: "Everyone who hated Limp Bizkit before will continue to hate Limp Bizkit. It's not like we grew up and started making smarter music. It's a fun, party kinda vibe."

INXS are working with singer JD Fortune again – although it's billed as "special guest appearance". The frontman, who won the chance to work with the band in a reality TV show, last year claimed they'd sacked him with a handshake and left him living in his car, which the band denied. Now he'll appear with them at the Winter Olympics show in Vancouver on February 24.

Gene Simmons and his wife and kids are confirmed to appear in a new series of reality show Family Jewels starting in March. The fifth season will include the show's 100th edition.

John Mayer has apologised for trying to 'sex up' a Playboy interview, resulting in him appearing to make racially sensitive comments. In the magazine he's reported as saying: "Someone asked me the other day, 'What does it feel like to have a hood pass?' It's a contradiction in terms, because if you really had a hood pass you could call it a nigger pass." Now he says: "It's such a shame I did that because the point I was trying to make was in the exact opposite spirit. It was arrogant of me. I need to stop trying to be so raw in interviews. It started as an attempt not to let criticism get to me, but it's gotten out of hand and I've created a monster. I wanted to be a blues guitar player, singer and songwriter - not a shock jock. I don't have the stomach for it."

Killswitch Engage singer Howard Jones has been forced to bow out of the band's current US tour for "unforeseen circumstance". He'll be replaced by Phil Labonte of All That Remains until the outfit can decide on how to deal with the rest of their tour, which is booked until the end of March.

Guns n'Roses will start a tour of South America in Brazil on March 7, running until April 1.

Snow Patrol have announced two UK dates: Ward Park, Bangor, on June 5 and Bellahouston Park, Glasgow on June 12. Support will come from Band of Horses plus General Fiasco in Ireland and Frightened Rabbit in Scotland.

Iggy and the Stooges ill re-release their classic 1973 album Raw Power on April 27. The deluxe box set will include three discs carrying 15 previously unreleased tracks, demos and remixes, a remastered copy of the album and David Bowie's rare original mix. Plus there's a documentary movie, a 48-page book and a replica of the Raw Power vinyl single released in Japan.

The White Stripes are threatening legal action against the US military after an advert for the Air Force Reserve during the weekend's Super Bowl coverage made use of a re-recorded version of the band's hit Feel in Love with a Girl. In a statement Jack and Meg White say: "We take strong insult and objection to the implication that we licenced one of our songs to encourage recruitment during a war we do not support. The White Stripes support this nation's military - we simply don't want to be a cog in the wheel of the current conflict. We plan to take strong action."

Opeth and Katatonia supergroup Bloodbath, Gorgoth and the Black Spiders have been added to the bill for this year's Bloodstock festival, headlined by Heaven and Hell. Dream Evil have been forced to cancel their appearance.

Biffy Clyro will release the UK gold album Only Revolutions in the US on March 9 via iTunes, and will tour the States with Manchester Orchestra starting on March 6.

Kreator have signed to Nuclear Blast Records. Frontman Mille Petrozza says: "Based on a friendship with A&R head Andy Siry, becoming a part of the family means a lot to us. We'll conquer the future!"

AC/DC now include three oxygen bottles in their backstage rider, it's been revealed. Singer Brian Johnson says: "It's just in case. Some of the gigs we've been doing have been 100 degrees on stage and there's no air. Sometimes you've got to go back and take a couple of gulps."

Bon Jovi guitarist Ritchie Sambora is promising unusual sets during the band's London O2 Arena residency in June. He says: "We're going to be doing a lot of different stuff - we might do Slippery When Wet in its entirety, or Lost Highway - stuff like that."

Axl Rose has thanked fans for the success of Guns n'Roses' Canadian shows. He says: "That was insane - and I mean that in the best way possible. With the exception of scheduling and routing nonsense, a few misguided media hacks twisting Haiti comments of a 2001 bullshit Rolling Stone story, and all the bumps and bruises and landing on my ass - it's been a good run. We would have liked to hit Toronto a bit harder... and earlier. Thanks Canada - and thanks to the band for buying me 10 acres on the moon!"

Eagles bassist Timothy B Schmit will play a short UK tour in March to support of his most recent solo album, Expando:
26/03 Manchester Academy 3
28/03 Birmingham Glee Club
30/03 London Cadogan Hall

Judas Priest will release a deluxe edition of their iconic British Steel album to mark its 30th anniversary. The standard package includes the remastered album plus a live DVD of the band performing the LP last August, while a limited edition version features a live CD from the same show.

Enter Shikari have apologised to fans after having to cancel their Blackpool show at the last minute over the weekend. A part of the Empress Ballroom ceiling collapsed during soundcheck and the venue was declared unsafe. The show will be rescheduled in due course.

Kiss will release a limited edition vinyl version of current album Sonic Boom. There will be only 1000 copies each in purple, green, blue, red and black, presented in gatefold sleeves.

The Gaslight Anthem will tour the UK in June to mark the release of upcoming album American Slang:
22/06 Birmingham Academy
23/06 Glasgow ABC
24/06 Manchester Academy
26/06 London Forum
29/06 Oxford Academy

My Chemical Romance have been forced to pull out of an Australian touring festival later this month after singer Gerard Way was diagnosed with throat problems. The band says: "While in the studio, Gerard started having some problems. At first we thought it would pass but the longer it went on the more worried we all got so he went to the doctor. He's getting the best treatment possible and is going to make a full recovery. It's not going to go away overnight so we have to do what we hate doing most: cancel shows. We promised we'll be back in Australia to make it up to you as soon as possible." They'll be replaced by Jimmy Eat World on the Soundwave shows starting on February 20.

April Wine will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in April. Mainman Myles Goodwin says: "It's a tremendous honour - on behalf of members past and present, a heartfely thank-you to the Juno Awards."

For any fans of Bullet for my Valentine are giving away a free download from new album Fever. Go to www.bulletformyvalentine.com to get it.

On the 30th anniversary of AC/DC singer Bon Scott's death, the band's founding brothers Angus and Malcolm Young have paid tribute to their fallen frontman.

Scott died in his sleep in the back of a car in London on the night of 18-19 February 1980, just as the band were about to hit the big time.

And the Australian band, who displayed a montage of images of him during their Black Ice World Tour show in Syndey last night, admit they considered dropping their name after his tragic drink-fuelled demise at the age of 33.

Angus tells BraveWords.com: "It's just something that's part of you. You've always got that feeling they're there. There's always memories that keep coming back. You could be travelling, you could be relaxing, or going to play or being in the studio. There's always something that reminds you."

Malcolm says: "All sorts of thoughts went through our minds. Should we carry on with the name? We were doing nothing, out of respect and out of not caring. We got hold of each other one day and said, 'Look, we've come up with lots of music before Bon died, so why don't we get together? At least we can do something – we can play guitar'. It made us grow up fast."

Angus recalls the last time he saw Scott was behind a drumkit. "He wanted to be the drummer in the band. The first time we ever sat down with him he said, 'I'm your new drummer,' but Malcolm convinced him to sing.

"Just before he died he came down with me and Mal and got behind the kit. That's what he loved. He played the intro to one of the tracks, Let Me Put My Love Into You."

I Was There: Historical fiction author Robert Low bids goodnight to Bon Scott

The lead guitarist says that once they'd decided to continue they went looking for Geordie singer Brian Johnson because Scott had always said he was a great singer. He says there's no comparison between Scott and his replacement, who's now been fronting the band for three decades and recently shouted down rumours of his impending retirement.

"Brian had big shoes to fill," Angus reflects. "He's certainly done that and more. They've both got their own unique characters. But they have similarities which in AC/DC we all share.

"We all come from working class families. We all have the wit that seems to sustain us when things are a bit rough.

"Bon was full of life until he had the tragedy. When I think back, he was a guy that was always full of life."

Killswitch Engage have commented on the temporary departure of frontman Howard Jones: "It became overwhelmingly obvious to all of us around Howard that he's in no condition to be on tour right now, and that he needed to get off the road and get himself better. It's a personal matter – while we understand everyone's curiosity, we appreciate everyone respecting Howard's privacy." The band considered cancelling their current tour, but after having played a few gigs with stand-in singer Phil Labonte, they've decided to keep rolling. "The shows come across as fun and unique and the fans seem to be enjoying it," the band says. "We can't thank Phil enough for helping us out when we needed it the most." Ticket refunds are available for those who don't want to see the temporary lineup. Watch Labonte fronting KSE live via Rock This Way.

Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater will play drums on Avenged Sevenfold's new album, following the sudden death of drummer Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan. The band says: "We asked Jimmy's all-time favourite drummer to record and Mike said if would be an honour. Without question, that's what Jimmy would have wanted. It's comforting to us that someone like Mike, one of the best drummers in the world, held such respect and admiration for the Rev's abilities. We're excited to lay this down for our fans, and for Jimmy."

Gordon McNeil has left Gun to concentrate on his solo project, Gogobot. The band are auditioning for a replacement ahead of their Lynyrd Skynyrd support slot and their own UK tour. No dates will be changed.

Rage Against the Machine will play the Dublin O2 on June 8, two days after their free London show, and four days before their Download set.

Producer Kevin Shirley says Glenn Hughes' supergroup Black Country might change their name before their first album is released. The band also features Joe Bonamassa and Jason Bonahm. Shirley will also be working on the new Journey record, which guitarist Neal Schon says will be a concept album.

Keith Emerson and Greg Lake will tour the US with an unplugged set before reuniting with Carl Palmer for an ELP set at the High Voltage festival in London in July.

Twister Sister will headline Bloodstock at Catton Park, Derby, this year. It's the event's tenth edition. Dee Snider notes that every TS live album was recorded in the UK because "our UK fans are the best CMFs."

Pennywise have recruited Zoli Teglas as their new singer after longtime frontman Jim Lindberg decided to quit last year. Teglas, best known for his work with Ignite, stood in on a number of shows recently and says: "I'm stoked. I'm a huge fan of the band and I'm grateful to share the stage with them."

The Union, featuring former Thunder guitarist Luke Morley, will play their first UK tour in April:
10/04 Milton Keynes Pitz
11/04 Leeds Rio's
13/04 Newcastle Academy 2
14/04 Glasgow King Tut's
15/04 Manchester Club Academy
16/04 Wolverhampton Civic Bar
18/04 Oxford Academy 2
19/04 Bristol Academy 2
20/04 Southampton Talking Heads
21/04 London Islington Academy

Joe Perry will play the 100 Club, London, on April 13. Kings of Leon will play London's Hyde Park on June 30. Warrior Soul will play a short Academy tour in April: 02/04 Islington, 04/04 Birmingham, 05/04 Sheffield.

John Lydon refused invitations from Roger Waters and Alice Cooper to appear on stage with them – but the man who once wore a t-shirt saying "I hate Pink Floyd" would love the chance of working in the studio with the prog rock heroes.

In his time fronting the Sex Pistols as Johnny Rotten, the singer represented the opposite side of the musical spectrum from Floyd. But now he says the only reason he refused the guest spot was over fears he might find himself acting "pretentious."

The punk icon tells The Quietus: "Two years ago when the Roger Waters band came to LA, they asked me would I come on and do a bit of Dark Side of the Moon with them. The idea thrilled me no end.

"It would have been very, very neat – but it stunk in my head of, 'What am I doing here?' I wanted to do it, but not when 20,000 people were there.

"It felt like I was trying to set myself up as some kind of pretentious person. I'm very wary of the jam session end of things.

"But I'd have gone to a studio and played about it with it there. I'd love to do something with them in the studio."

The avoidance of a Come Dancing scenario also led to Lydon saying no to a similar invitation from Alice Cooper.

He explains: "Alice wanted me to come out and do School's Out with him. A very sweet gesture. But as a young concert-going person I was never enamoured with celebrities who would walk out, feature in certain songs and then walk off.

"It struck me as Come Dancing. A little old – what old people do."

But there was an additional reason for saying no to Cooper – the support act was Man Raze, featuring Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook (along with Phil Collen from Def Leppard and Simon Laffy from Girl).

Lydon says: "The support band was some group that Paul Cook was playing in. That would have been a bit too much. That's how I think about things – no meanness involved."

For the record, Lydon adds: "You'd have to be daft as a brush to say you didn't like Pink Floyd. They've done great stuff. They've done rubbish too. But I go right back to when they were with Syd Barrett."

Lydon recently toured with a new lineup of PiL, which he says he paid for from his celebrated Country Life butter adverts.

Peter Gabriel says his new album involves "scary" move away from his comfort zone. Scratch My Back is a collection of orchestral cover versions including songs by Radiohead and Talking Heads. It will be followed by a sister release, I'll Scratch Yours, where the covered artists will respond by covering Gabriel tracks. The singer, who recently revealed he wouldn't be able to attend former band Genesis' induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, says: "I wanted to do something different and fresh. I thought we could take away the guitar and drums, and just use piano and orchestra. Some of it is stark and empty but to my taste it works as a whole."

Meanwhile, Jeff Beck says upcoming album Emotion & Commotion is "a hell of a risk" for him. It features some orchestral tracks along with some more mainstream material, and Beck explains: "Maybe I'll lose some people, maybe I'll gain some. But I've seen grown men just lose it after Nessun Dorma and Corpus Christi with the orchestra. I'm quite pleased with the way it's going."

Rock Band game developers Harmonix say they're not working on a Jimi Hendrix edition of the title, despite Janie Hendrix's recent comments to the contrary. They do say they're "excited" about planning to include the guitar legend's work in the future.

The Quireboys have announced another clutch of acoustic gigs in the UK in March and April:
06/03 Knaresborough Stone House
25/03 Leicester Musician
26/03 Swindon 12 Bar
19/04 Milton Keynes Stables
23/04 London Jazz Cafe

Alice in Chains are running an online competition based around the video for recent single Your Decision. If you create the winning follow-on storyline you can win tickets to see then meet the band or runner-up Your Decision artwork.

The National Trust is considering launching a bid to save London's Abbey Road Studios. Owners EMI are planning to sell the building where the Beatles did much of their legendary work, in the hope of raising £10m toward the £30m they need to keep deals made with their bank. The Trust says they want to know what the public think before committing cash.

Anvil will support Ratt on their two UK shows in Wolverhampton on June 17 and Islington Academy on July 8.

Trivium frontman Matt Heafy says the band sacked drummer Travis Smith over the phone. He says: "The band was dissolving in creativity, fire and energy, so we had to make a change. We told Travis over the phone and it was hard for everyone involved. But I hope it's going to be something Travis recognises is for the better for him in years to come." Trivium have hired former drum tech Nick Augusto as replacement.

Suicidal Tendencies will release a DVD, Live At the Olympic Auditorium, on March 29. The band are headlining Hammerfest on March 13 and are completing work on a new album, due out in September.

David Coverdale says there's a new Whitesnake album in production with a new label, plus a deluxe edition of the Coverdale/Page collaborative album with Led Zep guitarist Jimmy Page. The singer says: "We're working with a company whom at this time I am reluctant to name until they wish to make their own announcement. The album will feature all-new fresh material. EMI have been making overtures about a Coverdale/Page special edition. We've discovered a ton of the demos Jimmy and I made which could be very interesting for people. Time and resource is the problem."

If John Paul Jones, Dave Grohl and Josh Homme had got their way, Them Crooked Vultures would have been called Caligula.

But Jones reveals that, just like everything else they came up with, the title was in use – which is why they settled for a name which doesn't mean anything.

Every time they came up with a moniker they liked, the next step was to check it out on Google. If a band has already set up an identity they'd be in prime position to take legal action against anyone trying to use the name as well – and a band of the Vultures' scale would be wide open to big-money lawsuits.

They found seven other acts called Caligula, so gave up on their ambition, and eventually crowbarred a reference into the track called Caligulove on their 2008 debut album.

Jones tells the Wall Street Journal: "Every name is taken. Think of a great band name and Google it – and you'll find a French Canadian jam band with a MySpace page."

The internet age has made it easy to stake a legal claim on a title, whereas in the past bands might co-exist in different parts of the world with the same name.

Online database Rovi has recorded 1.4m band names, including 27 artists working as John Williams, 18 called Bliss and 15 called Mirage. Over 6500 new names are registered every month.

Lawyer Joel Feldman says: "If 37 people log onto your MySpace, you can argue you provide goods and services, even if you haven't released an album or toured."

Joshe Homme of supergroup Them Crooked Vultures says the best guitar in his collection is a $300 (£190) Epiphone, which he calls his "most faithful soldier."

The Queens of the Stone Age mainman is currently working with Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame alongside John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin. He says the entry-level six-string is perfect for what he does in the band.

Homme tells Guitarist Magazine: "It's one of my most faithful and greatest soldiers. It's the best hammer I have in my toolbag. Because that's what I do – I hammer. I'm self-trained and I play because that's my religion: music."

Meanwhile, drummer Grohl, who plays guitar in the Foos, tells the magazine that he approaches the stringed instrument as if it were a percussion device, and compares his playing to that of AC/DC rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young.

He says: "I like to play guitar like a drummer. When I look at a guitar I almost look at it like a drum set. Your low E string is the kick drum, your A and D and the snare. When I'm writing riffs I use the lower notes as kick and snare and the higher notes as cymbals.

"I consider myself Malcolm Young. That's how I like to play guitar."

The March edition of Guitarist Magazine is available now, also featuring Mick Jones of Foreigner plus the chance to win a Taylor Built To Order guitar worth £3500.

Dio: Right pathWendy Dio says she thinks husband Ronnie is going to win his battle against cancer, and doctors have told them they're "on the right path".

The Heaven and Hell frontman was diagnosed with stomach cancer in November, forcing the late cancellation of a Dio UK tour.

The disease was caught early enough to suggest that chemotherapy will provide a complete cure. Now Wendy says she thinks that's what will happen.

She reports: "We've been back and forth to Houston three times for tests and treatments, we've had an emergency run to hospital for another blood clot, we've had an ultrasound and a cat scan.

"Ronnie's oncologist is very pleased with the treatment so far. He says we have a long road to travel - but we're on the right path.

"Going back and forth is getting old, with cancelled and delayed flights, rude staff and boring hotel food. But when we get a good report from the doctor it's all worth it.

"The only food Ronnie says he can taste is Indian curry. Everything tastes like metal - heavy metal? - because of the chemo.

"We've been reading all the wonderful cards and letters you have all sent. Thank you all so much – it keeps our spirit up. Geezer and Gloria Butler are great. Gloria has been my strength - every day she listens to me, whether I'm happy or not.

"Dr Kapoor is available 24-7 for us and spent his whole day off with us at the emergency room, and Dr Ajani mixes his magic cocktail of chemo and gives us hope."

Dio is continuing his friendship with a young fan named Carmen who's also undergoing chemotherapy and is hoping for a bone-marrow transplant. He takes regular walks and remains involved with mixing the upcoming Heaven and Hell DVD.

Wendy finishes: "He's itching to get back on tour, and with the good reports and all your prayers and good energy, I think he's going to make it."

Heaven and Hell are booked to headline the Bloodstock and High Voltage festivals in the UK this year.

Bon ScottSodium streetlights make everything look like it's covered in vomit. Overhill Street is bad enough in daylight, but at night it's puke-yellow and does Dulwich no favours. It does the Renault 5 no favours and, most of all, it does the guy in the back seat beside me no favours.

Mind you, as I point out to the wisping shade of him, it'll do him no favours in daylight – he'll still look like he's covered in vomit. Because he is.

Never again, Bon Scott moans. Never again with the drink.

"Normally," I reply, "I would doubt your statement. But I agree: Never again. Ever."

He looks at the body, then at me. His face is white. Or fading.

Oh naw, he moans. Naw...

A mix of Kirriemuir and Oz there. A bit AC/DC on the national identity – but you can forgive him, since he's just realised that he's choked on his own sick. No more lager tops. Last of the wee goldies. Goodbye to Jack Daniels and all the gigs he helped fuel.

It isn't that, he says. Dead in the back of a Renault 5? In Dull Itch? Covered in pre-used cocktails? It's hardly rock'n'roll, is it?

"It's very rock'n'roll," I reassure him. "Think Brian Jones. Hendrix. Mama Cass."

He agrees. No' bad for a wee guy from Kirriemuir - mind you, I hope they don't take me back there...

"Fremantle," I say, and he relaxes a little – then remembers he's dead, and how it happened.

Wish I'd had a better death than this. A hero in the army, maybe.

"They wouldn't let you in," I remind him. "Socially maladjusted, they said. And they were taking any psycho that year."

The smile is fading - he's growing more insubstantial by the second and I can see the seat covers through him.

Insubstantial is the word, he says. Wait till they find out I not only died pissed, but broke. Like a bad joke. Enough to turn you to the drink...

"No worries," I tell him. By the time everyone is finished with the cash-in, he'll be worth a fortune and have a hit album. "Your wife will flog your letters and personal stuff," I say.

He blinks a bit at that, then grins.

Love letters to Irene? That should give folk a laugh... He sighs. Shame about the group. Feel sorry for the lads, splitting up like this.

I haven't the heart to tell him that AC/DC doesn't end with Bon; though I would have liked him to know that he was the saving of it, thanks to Back In Black. I wish I'd asked who actually wrote the lyrics for the band's biggest-selling album, released soon after his death. He wouldn't have had a clue, I suspect.

But there's no more time for chat. All that's left now is the grin, like a black leather Cheshire Cat. Then it's gone too.

I get out of the Renault and walk off, wishing I'd asked for his autograph long before, since it will be worth a few bob soon. In fact, who hasn't made money from the death of Bon Scott? Every time you hear a song, see a video, read a book, read an article, see a t-shirt, read a memory, hear about a statue, get a street named after him, someone is making money from the name of Bon Scott.

Which is more than the bold boy himself ever did.

Brian Johnson has cleared up the rumours about his desire to leave AC/DC, saying he'll stay with the band as long as he's able to walk.

Stories began circulating last year after Johnson, 62, said he sometimes found it tough to keep fronting the biggest band in the world. He said: "I love being in this band but the other lads are in their early 50s. I don't want to look a prat if I push it too far. I don’t want people to say, 'Poor old f'ker – the band’s carrying him!'"

At one point he talked about planning to bow out in May 2009 when the Black Ice world tour was scheduled to end - but it's been extended ever since and is set to continue throughout this year.

Concern reached a peak in winter when a number of shows were cancelled after Johnson suffered throat problems, which turned out to be early-stage cancer. It was caught in time but he called it "the most terrifying time of my life", saying he didn't sleep for five days.

Now he tells the Sydney Morning Herald: "Retire? I'll get beaten up by the boys. Not while I can still walk."

AC/DC are back in Australia for their first shows there since 2001. The band will headline this year's Download Festival at Donington on June 11-13.They'll release a compilation album, the soundtrack to the Iron Man 2 movie, in April.

The Scorpions have released the tracklisting for their final album, Sting in the Tail, due out in March. Lead single The Good Die Young is a duet with ex-Nightwish singer Tarja Turunen. Tracks: Raised on Rock, Sting in the Tail, Slave Me, The Good Die Young, No Limit, Rock Zone, Lorelei, Turn You On, Let's Rock, SLY, Spirit of Rock, The Best is Yet to Come.

Guns n'Roses guitarist Bumblefoot says the band's much-hyped and much-criticised Chinese Democracy album was the victim of prejudice: "I thinke people judged it without listening to it a lot of the time. They based their ideas on what they thought of GnR's current situation, or their opinion of Axl. The amount of expectation definitely changed the way people viewed it."

Bad Company will release a live DVD, Hard Rock Live, on March 29. It was recorded at the venue of the same name in 2008.

Liam Gallagher has confirmed the lineup of Oasis without brother Noel will not be called Oasis. He says: "That was a shit name anyway. I'm glad to see the back of it. There's a name we're digging at the moment but we're going to get on with the music and see how it goes."

Ian Hunter will play two UK shows in May: 01/05 Edinburgh Picture House and 02/05 London Barbican Centre.

Rex Brown of Pantera and Down, John Luke Herbert of King Diamond, Ben Bunker of Gryn and Lanve Harvill have formed Arms of the Sun and will release their first album later this month.

Warrior Soul will tour the UK in April as part of a European trek:
02/04 Islington Academy
04/04 Birmingham Academy
05/04 Sheffield Academy

Former Xentrix singer Simon Gordon, guitarist Kristian Havard and drummer Den Gasser have formed a new band, Hellfighter. Their first album is set for release this summer.

Bolt Thrower are searching for local bands to support them on their upcoming UK tour in May. One band will be chosen for each show - find out more. Tour dates:
01/05 London ULU
02/05 Dublin Button Factory
03/05 Belfast Limelight
04/05 Leeds Rio's
05/05 Wrexham Central Station
06/05 Birmingham Asylum

Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward is preparing to release three albums this year. He tells StayThirstyMedia.com: "They're all my albums. When I write songs I usually write everything. I'll bring out the first one hopefully in the spring, then one in the summer and one towards the end of October, right before Halloween. There are some guests coming onto the two albums after the spring one, but it's all under wraps right now." Ward also says he keeps in contact with his Sabbath bandmates, particularly Ozzy Osbourne.

Australian live music fans are to re-enact AC/DC's video for It's a Long Way to the Top if You want to Rock and Roll as part of a protest. They're objecting to the government's changing of liquor laws which is putting extra pressure on live music venues, and has already forced the Tote club to close. The original video featured the band playing on the back of a truck as it drove round Melbourne in 1976. The new version will feature presenters from TV music quiz show Rockwiz.

Coverdale: New albumThis year's Firefest will take place at Nottingham's Rock City venue on the weekend of October 30 and 31. It's the only UK appearance during 2010 for all 14 acts, as follows... Saturday: Lynch Mob, Dare, Bonfire, Saraya, Bangalore Choir, Beggars & Thieves, Grand Illusion; Sunday: Nelson, Jimi Jamison, Pretty Maids, Strangeways, Stage Dolls, Newman, Grand Design.

Slash says working with Ozzy and Lemmy on his upcoming solo album was a dream come true: "Sitting next to Ozzy while he's writing lyrics and practicing the vocal is really a trip. I've been listening to him since I was 13 years old. And before Lemmy and me went into the studio I got a call from this guy saying, 'We need potato chips and Jack Daniels,' and it just reminded me of myself. It was great."

David Coverdale says the new Whitesnake record is taking shape: "We're off to a very good start. It feels good - fresh and exciting. The new songs are in the recognisable territory of bluesy, melodic power rock, with a couple of ballads thrown in for good measure. It can't be a Whitesnake album without ballads!"

An AC/DC live DVD is in production, reports producer Mike Fraser, who's working on recordings made in South America last year. "They're so into the music they actually sing along to the guitar chords - not just the chorus. It's an amazing experience with 80,000 shouting out the lyrics."

Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains says reality TV show Celebrity Rehab is "a real travesty," even though bassist Mike Starr is currently appearing in it. Cantrell goes on: "It's a shame to put people in a really vulnerable situation like that and make it into entertainment."

Iggy Pop says the Stooges are planning a three-year development cycle to include a new album. He explains: "We'll give it a good sharp poke then step back and see where we are, and what we can do with it after that. It's important that the group be resurrected, not just reunited. So that means writing and releasing new material."

Roger Daltrey wanted Liam Gallagher to guest with the Who on what could be their last-ever live show when they perform Quadrophenia for the Teenage Cancer Trust in London in March. Daltrey says: "I rung Liam to be part of it, but he's otherwise engaged. We've got room for two guests, and for anyone who wants to turn up and do something after we do Quadrophenia, to round off the night." Liam's brother Noel will make his first post-Oasis appearance at the set of shows, which will also feature Them Crooked Vultures and others.

Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins has recruited Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen to appear on his new Coattail Riders album. Other guests include Dave Grohl and Elliot Easton of the Cars.

Joe Bonamassa doesn't know what the Black Country supergroup album will be like – but he knows what it won't be like. The band also features Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple), Jason Bonham (Led Zep) and Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater). He explains: "it's not going to be Zeppelin II, Burn, or whatever Dream Theater you want to pin it to, or whatever Bonamassa record. It's going to be its own entity – and it's very heavy rock. It's not done with cleaner guitars or tons of synths. It's really organic and represents everybody's input." The band have already recorded five tracks and will record another five next month.

Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker has responded angrily to accusations of having assaulted a press photographer.

Snappers say he threatened one with violence, stole a phone and slashed another's tyres, and have produced a video which shows an argument in progress with Barker.

Police were called to the California restaurant on Sunday morning where he was having breakfast with his children, after he took them home and returned for "a fair fight".

He says he was only protecting his family and the pressmen ganged up on him – and has asked to be left along because he's not an attention-seeking star.

Writing on Twitter Barker says: "When I'm out at breakfast the last thing I appreciate is some photographer threatening me while he's three deep.

"I was outnumbered and threatened, so I did what any man would. When I defend myself and my kids that doesn't make me a tough guy."

He says he returned to resolve the business, but "Paparazzi cried like young girls when it was no longer three of them against me and my kids. Didn't they remember threatening me an hour ago? What happened to the tough guys with cameras? It was gonna be a fair fight.

"Bottom line: take photos at red carpets. I'm not a socialite out begging for attention - I'm a family man out with my kids. Don't get the two twisted."

And of the video footage he says: "It's one-sided because these lames edited it."

Mustaine: Top secretDave Mustaine has thanked and acknowledged the work of former Megadeth bass players James MacDonough and James LoMenzo after original four-stringer David Ellefson returned to the fold.

The surprise move saw the departure of LoMenzo and the return of 'Junior' in time to play classic album Rust in Peace in full on tour, along with appearing as part of the Big Four thrash shows in Europe with Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax.

Mustaine says it was difficult to dismiss both Jameses – and he's also confirmed the band have completed a secret project which he believes will become big news.

He says: "I'm grateful for everything that has led up to us being reunited in the studio, and soon on the stage.

"From Southern gentleman James MacDonough, with his edgy playing, unstoppable energy and upbeat disposition, to James LoMenzo, who also had a unique style of holding down the bottom end, while teaching us all how to continue through the mundane touring like while maintaining class, dignity and respect for everyone.

"While David Ellefson, my best friend of 30 years, and I were apart, these two fine men sat on the throne as bassist in Megadeth and served us all, fans and band alike, very well. I will always be eternally thankful to them."

The band are rehearsing for the Rust in Peace 20th anniversary tour, but have also finished work on the project Mustaine has alluded to in recent weeks.

He says: "Let's just say I have no doubt that this top secret will be in just about every heavy metal fan's hands, one way or another, within the next year. From the moment we started working until Monday it was a nail-biting experience. We were challenged by the excitement of the project and keeping it up to the quality they expect from us, and deserve."

LoMenzo is working on the new Hydrogyn album alongside former Megadeth guitarist Jeff Young. Megadeth will be in Europe during the summer, playing as part of the Big Four at several Sonisphere festivals.

Muse have slammed their record label for pulling out of streaming services.

The three-piece won Best British Band and Best Website at the NME Awards last night. But bassist Chris Walstenholm is more concerned about Warner Records deciding to remove their artists' tracks from sites including Spotify and MySpace.

Label boss Edgar Bromfman recently stated: "Free streaming services are clearly not positive for the industry." While currently-served tracks will remain online, no new Warner titles will appear, meaning the only way to legally hear a new song without buying it will be via traditional media.

Wolstenholme tells the BBC: "It's like taking your song off the radio. The corporations are setting the rules on these things because they're clutching at straws.

"They've lost so much money on record sales because of the internet. But as far as bands are concerned, you just want people to hear your music whichever way they can."

Cops called over Megadeth tank
Megatank!Dave Mustaine says police were called to the set of a video shoot because Megadeth were using a tank in their promo film.

Checking in via his Live Line service, where he leaves phone messages for fans who can listen in, he explains that officers arrived to investigate the situation as the band worked with the war machine.

Mustaine says: "We're on location making the video for Right to go Insane. We've got an M68a tank. The cops are here – it can get pretty hairy with this video shoot.

"I don't know what's going to happen from this point, but we're excited. It's a great day to be alive. God bless!"

Megadeth are about to kick off a tour marking the 20th anniversary of landmark album Rust In Peace. Original bassist David Ellefson made a surprise return to the band in time to record a "secret project" which Mustaine says will "be in every metal fan's hands later in the the year."

The band will also hit a number of Sonisphere festival stages in Europe alongside the other members of the thrash Big Four: Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax.

Coming up: Slash's solo albumSlash admits people thought he'd "gone pop" when it was revealed Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie would appear on his upcoming solo album.

But he says she's proved she sings like a rock star – and acts like one too.

The former Guns n'Roses and Velvet Revolver guitarist tells Rock DJ Paul Anthony: "I'm a rock guy. I wouldn't have made any crazy concessions.

"People were going, 'Fergie sounds like a crazy departure,' and everyone assumed I'd gone pop. But she's got a mother of a rock voice. I heard her sing live a couple of years ago and I kept in touch because I knew I'd work with her eventually.

"She's great. She manages to be in Elle magazine but she can tie one on as well."

Slash's solo album features an array of stars in collaboration, and the lineup for his touring band is nearing completion. He explains: "Myles Kennedy is singing and I have a bass player in line. I'm going to try out a couple of drummers and I'll make an announcement soon."

He repeats that Velvet Revolver will be reactivated as soon as possible, with a stack of songs already written for a new album.

"After I've done my tour we'll see where it's at," he says. "We did work really hard on it. After the last tour we went into the studio and wrote a bunch of songs. The music's killer."

And he even found talking to sacked singer Scott Weiland – now back with Stone Temple Pilots – a pleasant experience when they met on a plane recently.

Slash says: "I was with my wife and she said, 'Look, there's Scott.' We said 'hi' and he sat at the other end of the plane. But at the end of the flight we talked, and it was cool to speak to him again."

Rockipedia No.207
High Voltage: UFOClassic Rock Magazine's High Voltage festival have added UFO, the Quireboys, Venom, Dweezil Zappa, Transatlantic and former Thunder guitarist Luke Morley's new band The Union to their bill. The event takes place in Victoria Park, London on July 24-25, starring Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

Meanwhile, a documentary detailing Frank Zappa's main music influences, The Freak Out List, will be released on DVD on April 20. It features rare footage of Zappa and the Mothers of Invention along with exclusive interviews, photos and extra features.

Onslaught have been added to the Bloodstock bill for Catton Park on August 13-15. Drummer Steve Grice says: "Not only will it be our only UK show this year, but the very first outdoor show we'll have played in the UK." Heaven and Hell, Children of Bodom and Fear Factory are headlining.

Ray Davies of Kinks fame has confirmed he's working on a collaborative album starring big names performing the band's hits with him. He's recorded Better Things with Bruce Springsteen and Celluloid Heroes with Bon Jovi. It's rumoured Metallica will also appear.

Wishbone Ash will tour the UK starting in April to support of their first single in 20 years, Reason to Believe, which is being released in response to a fan campaign:
22/04 Gloucester Guildhall
23/04 Exeter Phoenix
24/04 Frome Cheese & Grain
25/04 Poole My Kyps
26/04 Swansea Pontardawe Arts Centre
28/04 Edinburgh Caves
29/04 Glasgow Ferry
30/04 Manchester Academy 3
01/05 Carlisle Brickyard
02/05 Stoke-on-Trent Sugarmill
04/05 Leeds Irish Centre
05/05 Barnsley Birdwell Venue
06/05 Morecambe Platform
07/05 Runcorn Brindley Arts Centre
08/05 Birkenhead Arts Centre
09/05 Bilston Robin 2
10/05 Milton Keynes Stables
13/05 Cambridge Junction
14/05 Farnham Maltings
15/05 London Shepherd's Bush Empire

Taylor Hawkins says the Foo Fighters will regroup for an album this year, after his Coattail Riders project and Dave Grohl's work with Them Crooked Vultures calms down. Hawkins says: "We'll find time to sit down and start planning the next album. The aim is to get a really solid basis for it."

Black Spiders will start a headline UK tour in April immediately after supporting Airbourne across the country:
19/04 Dundee Dexter's
20/04 Aberdeen Tunnels
21/04 Glasgow Cathouse
23/04 York Duchess
24/04 Sheffield Fusion
26/04 Wolverhampton Little Civic
27/04 Leicester Sumo
28/04 Cardiff Club Ifor Bach
29/04 Milton Keynes Crawford Arms
30/04 Colchester Arts Centre
02/05 Oxford Bullingdon Arms
05/05 Brighton Engine Rooms
06/05 Exeter Cavern
07/05 Southampton Talking Heads
08/05 Tunbridge Wells Forum

Gogol Bordello will release a documentary DVD on March 16. Gogol Bordello Non-Stop follows the band round the world between 2001 and 2006.

Muse will headline T in the Park in Balado on July 9-11 along with Kasabian and Eminem.

Singer Jonathan 'Joller' Albrechtsen has left Hatesphere. The band says: "Having a hard time combining full-time work, two bands and a lack of excitement, Joller came to the conclusion his time was up. We debated for a couple of days but you can't be in this band if your heart is not in place." Meanwhile, Heaven's Basement frontman Richie Hevanz has quit just ahead of the band's UK tour. He says: "The lifestyle has taken its toll and it's time for me to move on. You've all made my life a brighter place and I wish the guys all the luck in the world." Johnny Fallen of the Fallen will stand in during the tour.

Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer says the band''s lineup woes are nearly over. He reports: "Nothing''s been officially announced yet. But we did have a meeting and things in Aeroland are very copatetic. We''re going to announce this week what our plans will be." "Copacetic" means "satisfactory"...

As iTunes celebrates its 10 billionth download, and the lucky user won a $10,000 store voucher, Apple have revealed Journey''s Don''t Stop Believin'' as the most downloaded rock track on their system. It''s No21 in their all-time chart, a fair distance behind the No1 download, Black Eyes Peas'' I Gotta Feeling.

Stone Temple Pilots will release their new album on June 1, just ahead of their appearance at this year''s Download festival. The 12-tracker has not yet been titled but song titles include Huckleberry Crumble, Hickory Dichotomy, Dare if you Dare and First Kiss on Mars.

George Lynch says he jumped the gun when he was recently reported saying the classic lineup of Dokken were getting back together. He was in fact repeating his previous comments that the band are talking about it, following a couple of onstage jams last year. He explains: "I just mis-spoke in my excitement. We''re talking about a reunion for 2011, but it''s still in early stages."

Pantera will re-release vinyl versions of their Cowboys from Hell, Vulgar Display of Power and Far Beyond Driver albums on April 17, alongside a remastered 20th anniversary version of Cowboys. A best-of compilation is said to be in the works.

Sepultura will tour the UK in July to mark their 25th anniversary:
14/07 Bristol Bierkeller
15/07 Sheffield Corporation
16/07 Cardiff Millennium Hall
17/07 Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall
18/07 Dublin Academy
20/07 Reading Sub 89
21/07 Norwich Waterfront
22/07 London Scala

Rock writer and presenter Philip Wilding has dedicated his first novel, Cross Country Murder Song, to his late friend Pepsi Tate of Tigertailz fame. Tate, real name Huw Smith, died of cancer in 2007. The book is published today.

The long-vaunted Rush documentary should be released on May 18, producers say.

Kids in Glass Houses will tour the UK in May after their support trek with Lostprophets:
02/05 Newcastle University
03/05 Leeds Cockpit
04/05 Manchester Academy 2
06/05 Sheffield Leadmill
07/05 Glasgow Garage
08/05 Nottingham Rock City
09/05 Birmingham Academy 2
11/05 London Koko
12/05 Bournemouth University
13/05 Falmouth Princess Pavilion
14/05 Exeter Lemon Grove

A live DVD, Neil Young Trunk Show, will be released after the movie appears in US cinemas for a week in March. It''s made from two concerts in Pennsylvania in 2007 and includes offstage scenes. Jonathan Demme, who directed Young''s 2006 documentary Heart of Gold, plans one more title in the trilogy.

Axl Rose''s current Guns n''Roses backstage rider includes drinks, flowers and a square melon. The cultivated fruit is like a normal watermelon, but forced to grow square. So now you know.

Ozzy Osbourne’s lawsuit against Tony Iommi over the use of the Black Sabbath name is to carry on.
Ozzy is suing Iommi for a 50 percent share in the name, after the guitarist is alleged to have tried to take sole ownership by filing it with the US Patent And Trademark Office last year.

The New York Post reports that Iommi’s lawyer, Andrew DeVore, argued that Osbourne signed away all his rights to the Black Sabbath trademark after he quit the band in 1979.

However, Osbourne’s lawyer, Howard Shire, called that agreement a “red herring” that was “repudiated” when the singer rejoined in 1997 and took over “quality control” of the band’s merchandise, tours and recordings.

Now a federal judge in New York has ruled that the lawsuit is indeed valid and can proceed.

It seems that punk bands can’t get enough of classic rock – which is why Fearless Records are about to release an album Punk Goes… Classic Rock.
This features loads of punks we’ve never heard of doing covers of songs by the likes of Journey, Kiss, Boston, Blue Öyster Cult… oh, here are all the details. Read them for yerself:

1.Hit The Lights – More Than A Feeling (originally done by Boston)
2.VersaEmerge – Paint It Black (Rolling Stones)
3.The Almost – Free Fallin (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
4.Mayday Parade – We Are The Champions (Queen)
5.The Summer Set – Rock And Roll All Nite (Kiss)
6.We The Kings – Caught Up In You (38 Special)
7.A Skylit Drive – Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) (Journey)
8.I See Stars – Your Love (The Outfied)
9.Pierce The Veil – (Don’t Fear) The Reaper (Blue Oyster Cult)
10.Forever The Sickest Kids – Crazy Train (Ozzy Osbourne)
11.The Maine – Pour Some Sugar On Me (Def Leppard)
12.Envy on The Coast – All Along The Watchtower (Jimi Hendrix)
13.Every Avenue – Take Me Home Tonight (Eddie Money)
14.Never Shout Never – Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen)
15.Blessthefall – Dream On (Aerosmith)
Yes, we know All Along The Watchtower is a Bob Dylan song, but it’s the Hendrix recording that’s inspired this version. The album’s out on April 17.

Overkill have come roaring back with perhaps their best album yet. Ironbound (Nuclear Blast) possesses all the thrash focus you’d expect from a band with this much experience (nearly 30 years on the job, and still not flushing away their integrity), but there’s also a drive and power that is reminiscent of early Accept. Clearly this lot have been energised by all the young bands who’ve revitalised the thrash genre.

Savatage have been underrated throughout their career. But there’s little doubt that they pioneered the whole concept of prog metal. The double CD compilation Still The Orchestra Plays (Edel) shows how they became increasingly progressive. Some of the music here is just stunning, with the songs from Hall Of The Mountain King, Gutter Ballet and Streets: A Rock Opera proving that, in the late 80s, few metal bands had a more intelligent and creative use of their talents. This was symphonic without resorting to orchestras.

Journey are enjoying something of a renaissance, thanks to that song (you know, Don’t Stop Believin’). But as Greatest Hits (Sony) shows, this is one band with the depth of catalogue to deliver on the promise of the title, thanks to 15 supreme examples of AOR heaven. And is there a better vocalist than Steve Perry to deliver such grandeur, grace and glory?

Much loved in Classic Rock Towers, Pig Iron return with a right stormer in Blues + Power = Destiny (Sounds Of Caligula). It’s the same mix as before of blues, southern rock and epic yet dusty spaghetti western themes. But there’s a freshness here, thanks to new(ish) guitarist Ben Ash. I’ve had my doubts about his flashy style in the past, but he excels himself here, especially on closer Death Rattle. The album’s not out for a little while yet, but is so good that mention must be made, so you can save up the readies. Check out the band’s website for further updates.

Saxon’s output in the late 1980s is usually derided as derisory. But the reissues of Innocence Is No Excuse, Rock The Nations and Destiny (EMI) prove that they were still capable of stirring sounds. No longer the Big Teasers of earlier in the decade, nonetheless these are far from being the terrifyingly terrible trilogy some would have you believe.

Mutiny Within are an Anglo-American prog metal band, who combine Opeth with Children Of Bodom, and also nod at Coheed & Cambria. Their self-titled debut (Roadrunner) has a real sense of individuality and purpose, yet also hints that these songs will truly come alive onstage. This is a band who’ll be heroes in the next year.

Christopher Lee, the metal god? About as likely as David Ellefson returning to Megadeth… Er, hang on, the latter has happened. Now, so has the former on Charlemagne – By The Sword And The Cross (Cadiz Music)! The iconic actor – you might have spotted him briefly in the 1952 film The Crimson Pirate – has done a metal album that’s so overblown that it makes Rick Wakeman’s epic 70s records seem like punk singles. The 87-year-old combines legend, opera, full on symphonic and progressive metal as he relates the life and times of the eighth/ninth century King Of The Franks. As concept records go, this has gone gloriously OTT. It puts the ‘extra’ in ‘extravagance’.

Watch out for the new – and last – Scorpions album. Sting In The Tail (Sony) is not only a return to the style of the early 80s, it’s easily the band’s best record since 1984’s Love At First Sting. We’re gonna miss them when they’re gone.

Finally, a quick mention for a hot, high action five-track demo from all girl Londoners Joan Ov Arc. It’s got the straightforward, no nonsense approach of a young Girlschool. The sort of band who’ll metaphorically slap you around the face if you mess with ‘em. There again, you might like that! Check ‘em out at www.myspace.com/joanovarc

Delain bring a touch of individuality to the symphonic metal tableaux with April Rain (no, not April Wine!). Released by Roadrunner in late January, it’s actually got balls and moves very pleasantly along. By no means a facsimile of Within Temptation, this lot provide a whole cloudburst of good tunes.

The Lostprophets enter the new year with The Betrayed (Visible Noise), showing distinct signs of quality and – ulp! – maturity. Perhaps this lot might survive the post-emo cull after all.

As we all await the new Airbourne album – which is supposedly a real stonker – Sweden’s Bonafide provide yet more evidence that it is possible to emulate AC/DC without sounding like a lame copy. If Something’s Dripping (Black Lodge) isn’t exactly spectacular, then it gets a real groove on, and thrusts those groinal riffs right out there.

Bruce Kulick has a very credible history, from Grand Funk Railroad to Kiss via Meat Loaf. Not to mention Blackjack (anyone recall them?). The guitarist is out on his own with BK3 (Frontiers), although he does call on old pals Gene Simmons, Eric Singer, John Corabi, Steve Lukather and Doug Fieger (of The Knack). No, he isn’t hiding a lack of good ideas behind celeb guests, because this record truly does rock, but with a touch of class. Reflecting the man himself, the album is tidy, unfussy but very creative.

If this is to be the year of The Big Four (we’re talking thrash, not Premier League, by the way), then the timing is rather damn good for the reissue of Anthrax’s quite stunning 1987album Among The Living (Island). Now expanded will all sorts of bells and whistles added on, in reality it’s just good to hear all those moshpit marvels again.

Finally, watch out for Panic Room’s second album Satellite (Firefly Music) is a lush, flowing prog rock exposition. Not an immediate sensation, but successive listens prove very rewarding. A world class release from a band who’ve the potential to do great things in 2010.

That’s it – a half-dozen examples of why the next 12 months could be even better than the last lot. And we haven’t even mentioned White Wizzard, Scorpions, FM, Brian Howe, Ihsahn, Foreigner and Ozzy. Well, we have mentioned them now, but you know what we mean!

The last recordings made by Johnny Cash are released this week in the album American VI: Ain't No Grave. But while they're a testament to the Man in Black, his son says there's a more important album to be heard.

Cash released Bitter Tears in 1964, but it gained almost no coverage – because it was about the way Native Americans have been treated in the USA. And while it's available on CD and MP3, Carter Cash says it's too important to be almost completely unknown.

Carter tells Billboard.com: "This album solidifies my father's role as a humanitarian and a spokesman for the underdog. It's such an important historical record. I'd love to see it get a proper re-release.

"People don't talk about the struggles of the Native populations. Their issues got swept under the rug and my dad tried to do something about it. No other major artist has ever made a full album about Native rights."

Author Antonino D'Ambrosio, who published A Heartbeat And A Guitar about the album, says he only discovered it by accident, and even hardcore Cash fans haven't heard of it.

He says the only reason the Man in Black got away with making it at all was because Ring of Fire had made so much money for the Columbia label the year before. Otherwise he wouldn't have been able to record songs including The Ballad of Ira Hayes, which tells the story of a Native American marine who became a war hero but died alone and ignored.

Cash even bought a full-page advert in Billboard magazine, slamming Columbia and radio stations for ignoring the album. He wrote: "DJs, station managers, owners... where are your guts?"

D'Ambrosio explains: "It would have been very easy for Johnny Cash to make a civil rights record at the time. He didn't. He chose to focus on the very real struggle of another group. The album is relevant to this day.

"But I've met Cash buffs who have never heard of the album. While it's technically available, it's pretty buried."

American VI was recorded with producer Rick Rubin in the last months of Cash's life, while he knew he was dying. He passed away in September 2003, for months after his wife June Carter.

"The toughest thing to do is write a hit song and the easiest thing to do is act like a rock band," says OneRepublic singer-songwriter Ryan Tedder. "But we had a hit song before we had an album and we can't pull off the 'rock god' thing. We do everything backwards. OneRepublic's hit "Apologize" was not even the song's original version, but a remix heard on Timbaland Presents: Shock Value. The original appears on Dreaming Out Loud, the band's debut album, released November 20, 2007, on Timbaland's Mosley Music Group imprint via Interscope Records. That's right, OneRepublic is a full-on rock band executive-produced and on a label headed by a super-producer best known for hip-hop (Missy Elliott, Jay-Z) and who has branched out into pop (Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado). "It sounds insane," says Tedder, who produced a couple of songs on the album, largely produced by Greg Wells (Deftones, Mika, Pink). "But Timbaland is the single most musical guy I've ever met, no matter the genre. That's why we said, 'Let's do it.' If you do things for the right reason, good things happen." A few years ago, Tedder had another choice - either go down the road of writing and performing "pop" tunes as a solo artist or try to strike out in his own direction making music he felt could connect on a more personal level. He chose the latter. He had performed on a singer/songwriter show on MTV and was given a recording contract at the epicenter of all things pop during the era of boy bands and pinup princesses. "But how could I ever take myself seriously," he says, "if I was embarrassed by what I was singing? There are a lot of artists who want to make you shake your ass on the dance floor, but only a handful that connect on a deeper level. I wanted more than just a catchy tune. There's nothing like a good pop song, but there's a fine line between accessibility and credibility, and that's the line I want to walk." Fortunately, Timbaland saw him perform on the MTV show and called to say he wanted Tedder to work with him. For a 21-year-old who quit his job at a Pottery Barn warehouse in Nashville, vowed to never take another non-music gig, and sold his car so he could buy recording equipment, being taken under Timbaland's wing was a dream come true for Tedder. He calls the next two years in studios from New York to Los Angeles to Miami "Producer 101" because it was like going to college for production. Tedder's father had been a singer/songwriter in the 70's for acts like gospel star Sandi Patty. Tulsa-born Tedder took up piano at age three and singing when he was seven. Studying the art of songwriting by deconstructing hits chord by chord, he became enamored with songwriters as diverse as Diane Warren and Bono. Yet he also had a desire to be center stage. "It's the typical lead singer insecurity--I wanted the spotlight but not all of the responsibility. I was finding my own voice, but I knew that for the songs I wanted to do, the vehicle had to be a band." Thus, in 2003, after his MTV experience and subsequent tenure with Timbaland, he returned to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he had spent his senior year in high school, and recruited classmate and guitarist Zach Filkins. The Iowa-born Filkins had spent his formative years, from 7 to 15, in Barcelona, Spain, where he intensely studied classical guitar. Back in the States for a couple of years in Illinois, he then relocated to Colorado Springs, where he met Ryan on the soccer team. Though they went their separate ways after graduation-- they kept in touch. When they reunited, they moved to L.A., and promptly fell on hard times. "I'm not proud of it," Tedder admits, "but to buy groceries I had to write bad checks." Given such dire straits, a couple of early band members exited and were replaced by guitarist Drew Brown and drummer Eddie Fisher. Born and raised in Boulder, Colorado, Brown saw his first concert as a 10-year-old in 1994. "My dad took me to see Weezer and Teenage Fanclub. He threw me in the

… as a 10-year-old in 1994. "My dad took me to see Weezer and Teenage Fanclub. He threw me in the mosh pit so I could get the full experience." When his former band's drummer went to L.A. and joined OneRepublic, Brown followed. "I told my parents, 'I'm not coming home. Send more money.' I'm just not cut out for anything more responsible than being in a rock band. Only recently my dad stopped regretting taking me to that concert." The Oregon- and California-raised Fisher had a similar inspiration. A kid who was always beating out a rhythm tapping pencils on desks, he didn't become serious about the drums until he was in 7th grade and saw a U2 concert at Tempe Stadium in Arizona. It happened to be the 1987 performance recorded for the Rattle and Hum album and film. "It moved me so much that I sacrificed everything to be in music," he says. What followed for OneRepublic was a short-lived deal with Columbia, and upon the deal's termination, the band was contemplating whether or not to continue, when, out of nowhere, OneRepublic became one of the most popular bands on MySpace. "Maybe the music climate changed," says Tedder. "All of a sudden we were getting e-mails from kids saying that because of one of our songs they didn't commit suicide or they got through their parents' divorce. We finally connected with the audience. We said to ourselves, 'We can't quit now.'" When Timbaland launched his Mosley Music Group label with Interscope, he was quick to sign OneRepublic as his first rock act. Meanwhile, Tedder has continued with his production work on pop and hip hop under the pseudonym "Alias." Even now, some industry insiders do not realize that Tedder and Alias are one and the same. His credits include writing, and singing on, three tracks for Paul Oakenfold's Grammy nominated A Lively Mind, penning and producing "Do It Well" for Jennifer Lopez, "Bleeding Love" for Leona Lewis and "He Said, She Said" for Ashley Tisdale, and co-producing and co-writing "Love Like This" for Natasha Bedingfield with The Runaways. He's also worked on tracks for Baby Bash, 2Pac, Chris Cornell, Bubba Sparxxx, Blake Lewis, YouTube phenomenon Esmee Denters, and produced and wrote songs for the acclaimed 2006 indie film Step Up. "I've written and produced from the poppiest of pop to rock to heavy hip-hop to electro," Tedder says. "That's my job, but OneRepublic is the big picture." That picture gained a new sound with the band's most recent addition. Orange County-native Brent Kutzle has played bass in hardcore and pop punk bands, but has also played the cello since the fourth grade. " I made myself a promise to never join a band where I wasn't able to play both instruments. I could never give up cello�I really love playing it." Using effects such as delay, reverb and looping, Kutzle has transformed the sound of the cello for a rock band. Clearly, OneRepublic is an unusual rock band. "One difference (from) other groups is that we're always rotating instruments," Kutzle points out. "I might play keyboards, and Ryan bass, or I play ce

Kiss were forced to drop four songs from their tiny club show in London on Tuesday, it has emerged.

Confetti guns used at the end of set-closer Rock and Roll All Nite generated so much carbon dioxide that the band were left gasping for breath, and considered not performing any encores.

After a short break they came back on stage and finished the show with Detroit Rock City. But that meant they'd played just 12 songs, when they'd rehearsed 16 the previous night.

Frontman Paul Stanley says: "Once the confetti cannons went off, we barely made it off stage. None of us could breathe. Each of us thought we were the only one until we saw each other. Pretty scary and there was no way we could continue. We came out for the encores but couldn't get past one."

Video recordings of the encore shows Stanley struggling to complete the performance, while it's also reported bassist Gene Simmons nearly collapsed through lack of breath.

Stanley adds: "Still, all in all it was an amazing night. It left many people breathless..."

Just 500 tickets were made available for the concert in London's Islington Academy, with 300 guests making it the smallest show Kiss have played in nearly a quarter of a century.

Meanwhile, a handwritten Kiss setlist from their 1973 New Year's Eve show is up for auction on eBay, currently valued at $177 with seven bids and three days to go.

Kiss will tour the UK in May. Stanley and guitarist Tommy Thayer recently recorded a takeover show for Rock Radio, which will be broadcast in the near future.

Escape: Jane's AddictionEric Avery has confirmed he's left Jane's Addiction, and says he's regretful but relieved. It's still thought he's been replaced by ex-Guns n'Roses and Velvet Revolver star Duff McKagan.

Avery has commented via Twitter: "That's it. With equal parts regret and relief, the Jane's Addiction experiment is at an and."

Later, band frontman Perry Farrell tweeted: "Slipping out of that shell of a past. Gripping. Wow - we're onto something faster now, and so worth the wait. It's the art of great escape."

While Farrell's statement could be taken as the entire alt rock band splitting up, it's more likely they will be continuing, with a previous quote suggesting they'd already started work with a new creative writer.

Jane's Addiction reformed at the behest of Nine Inch Nails mainman Trent Reznor, who wanted them to play on his own band's final live tour in return for them giving NIN their big break in 1991.

But reports surfacing throughout 2009 suggested the band couldn't stop arguing. Farrell has observed that when they decided to start work on new material, "Things got ugly – the headbutting really came out."

Avery was a founding member of Jane's Addiction in 1985 but the band split in 1991. They got back together in 1997 but Avery was not invited to rejoin. They split again in 2004 then returned with Avery four years later for the NIN/JA tour with Nine Inch Nails.

Meanwhile, Duff McKagan is currently negotiation with a number of publishing houses over his biography. He's been writing a regular column for the Seattle News, and in a recent article he discussed his regrets over the death of Kurt Cobain and wonders if he might have been able to save the Nirvana star's life.

Iron Maiden have finished their 15th studio album. It's to be called The Final Frontier and is set for release later this year.

The NWOBHM giants are headlining this year's Sonisphere festival at Knebworth Park on July 30 - August 1, but before that they're tour the United States with prog metal outfit Dream Theater in support.

They'll also appear at a handful of European festivals, with more dates to be announced.

Frontman Bruce Dickinson says: "We're still working on the setlist for the shows. This time it will cover the whole history of the band. I can hint we'll be playing a taster from the new album.

"We already have the designs for the new Final Frontier stage show which we're building to bring out with us. It's looking very spectacular, with a brand new Eddie and an amazing light show."

Dream Theater mainman Mike Portnoy says: "Touring with Maiden is a bit of a dream come true. At this stage in our career there's honestly only three bands we'd consider opening for, and Maiden is one of them. It's very exciting."

Maiden are also working on measures to make sure their tickets aren't subject to the acts of scalpers. Using paperless ticketing they plan to guarantee that the person who bought a ticket is the person who uses it.

The US tour kicks off in Dallas on June 8 and ends in Washington on July 20. After Sonisphere Maiden will appear at these festivals in August:
05/08 Wacken, Germany
07/08 Sonisphere, Sweden
08/08 Sonisphere, Finland
11/08 Bergen, Norway

The album title will have some fans speculating about the band's future, given that mainman Steve Harris has frequently said Maiden would record 15 studio albums before stopping.

Gorillaz issue 3rd album with Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed
11 hours 35 mins ago

Virtual band Gorillaz released its third album "Plastic Beach" on Monday, with Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed and Bobby Womack among the eclectic list of guests featured. Skip related content
Related photos / videos
Holographic animated members of Gorillaz perform at Grammy Awards in Los Angeles
Enlarge photo .Underlining the cartoon group's star-pulling power, Hollywood actor Bruce Willis also appears on the video to the single "Stylo."

"You've got to remember that the Gorillaz name goes a long way now, much further than it did at the beginning," said Murdoc, fictional bass player and self-styled leader of the band in a recent interview on the BBC Radio's 6 Music channel.

"Now it sort of gives you carte blanche really, you can ask whoever you like," he added in a tongue-in-cheek interview. "Some people will basically just agree on the back of that. Others, let's be honest, it takes a little bit more persuading."

The group, created by Blur frontman Damon Albarn and comic book artist Jamie Hewlett, has steered clear of scoring political points despite the ecological message in the record.

The plastic beach of the title is an island of the imagination, "the furthest point from any landmass on Earth," which is the tip of a continent of waste beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean.

"Plastic Beach is not really a green record, it's a soundtrack for a plastic beach," Murdoc explained.

"It's taking little snapshots of many, many places around the world and then stuck them all together on a billboard so you can see how they all fit. It's not a judgement on the world, it's just a picture."

PLASTIC FANTASTIC?

Reviews of Plastic Beach, released on EMI's Parlophone label, have been generally favourable, with the Independent newspaper's Andy Gill awarding it four stars out of five and Rolling Stone magazine three-and-a-half out of five.

"Plastic Beach, Gorillaz's third excellent album in a row, is all Albarn -- he writes the tunes, produces, sings, plays most of the music and gets people on the phone for left-field cameos," wrote Rolling Stone's Rob Sheffield.

"Albarn hasn't totally given up his day job -- Blur are back in the headlines after recent reunion shows. But Plastic Beach proves that he's most truly himself when he turns into a cartoon," he concluded.

Gorillaz will be hoping to extend their early success, with record sales of around 15 million worldwide already.

Foo Fighters have begun working on their next album. Skip related content
Related photos / videos
New Foos .Frontman Dave Grohl has revealed that the band are currently writing new material for what will be their seventh studio full-length.

With Grohl also preparing new material for supergroup side-project Them Crooked Vultures, it looks set to be a busy year for the former Nirvana drummer.

“Foo Fighters have just started writing and we’re going to start recording in September, so life is full of music,” Grohl told BBC 6 Music.

A new Them Crooked Vultures album should be ready “by the end of summer”, bassist John Paul Jones said recently

Kiss bassist Gene Simmons has bemoaned the lack of stars in UK music.

Simmons, in England after playing an intimate show at the Islington Academy in London this week, revealed a love for British music, but also declared that Noel and Liam Gallagher are its only “interesting people.”

“God bless the UK for giving the world the music that makes all our lives better,” he told radio station Xfm.

“A thousand years from now they’re going to look back on the 20th century and what have the countries of the world given us? The United States gave the world atomic weapons. England gave the world music.

“What a great legend.”

Simmons went on to single out Keane, Arctic Monkeys and Franz Ferdinand as particular favourites of his, but complained that “What’s missing is stars”.

“I don’t care what they do, who they’re shagging, where they live… they’re not interesting people.

“The most interesting people to me are the Gallagher brothers,” he continued. “The interesting thing about them is they’re drug addicts and alcoholics and they fight with each other. That’s really it.”

Kiss will begin their European tour at Sheffield Arena on May 1.

Pink Floyd began court action against record label EMI yesterday, in a test case which may force changes to the way companies release digital downloads. The band want clarification on how royalties are calculated, and they also believe EMI are not allowed to release tracks outside the album format, which is a stipulation of Floyd's contract. But the label says the terms of the deal don't extend to the digital market. The case is expected to continue for some time.

Paul Di'Anno will perform tracks from the first two Iron Maiden albums when he appears at Hard Rock Hell IV in Prestatyn on December 3-5. He's marking the 30th anniversary of his work with the band. Fellow ex-Maiden frontman Blaze Bayley will also be appearing at the festival, alongside Diamond Head, Enuff Z'Nuff, LA Guns, MSG, Skid Row, Pretty Boy Floyd and Tank.

Extreme will release a live CD and DVD, Take Us Alive, on April 23. It was recorded in Boston at the end of their 2009 world tour after a 13-year break. Guitarist Nuno Bettencourt says: "We wanted to do something special for our hometown fans who were there for us since the club days."

If the Who have a future after their charity show at the end of the month, singer Roger Daltrey would like to play more of the band's albums in full when they're on tour. He says: "There's only tiny bits of the show you can change every night. With us trying to place a lot of the newer songs, a lot of the older ones have to drop out. We're stuck between a rock and a hard place. Hopefully we will find other formulas – I'd like us to be doing Quadrophenia and Tommy, as well as the show we've got now. But the main thing is to be out there in front of people."

Paul Mahon of the Answer says the band are working up new songs: "The material has been coming along well, although they won't be in the set list just yet." The band are about to tour Spain.

Nowhere Boy, the John Lennon biopic, will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on May 10. Bonus features include interviews, commentary, deleted scenes and mini-documentaries.

Billy Idol's touring band for 2010 will include guitarist Billy Morrison of the Cult and Camp Freddy and drummer Jeremy Colson of Steve Vai's band. Both are members of Circus Diablo. Idol will appear across Europe in the summer including a set at Download on June 11-13.

Alexisonfire and Les Claypool will perform Rush songs to honour the band as they're inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame on March 28. The Primus frontman will play The Spirit of Radio while Alexisonfire will cover Tom Sawyer.

Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine says he's writing the scre for the upcoming Iron Man II movie, as he did for the first feature. The soundtrack carries 15 AC/DC songs too. Morello says: "The movie is awesome."

Tyketto singer Danny Vaughn will tour the UK in December:
03/12 Belfast Rosetta
04/12 London Camden Underworld
05/12 Sheffield Corporation
10/12 Dudley JBs
11/12 Newcastle Cluny
12/12 Glasgow ABC2

Rumourmill: Blink 182 are thought to be returning to the UK during the summer, with websites listing shows in Glasgow and Aberdeen on August 16 and 17 respectively. No official statement has been made.

Bruce Dickinson's Friday Night Rock Show on BBC6 Music has been dropped. While the corporation are discussing closing the entire station, they've already committed to ending the Iron Maiden singer's eight-year run in April. A spokesman says: "We're reviewing the way we reflect the rock and heavy metal genres across the network and we've decided to decommission the Friday Night Rock Show. We thank Bruce for the hard work and commitment he has shown. The network remains committed to reflecting rock and heavy metal throughout the schedule." Meanwhile, Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie's Radio 2 show is being trimmed back to three nights a week, to make room a live gig show on Wednesdays.

Slash has confirmed the full lineup of the band he'll tour with to promote his solo album. He says: "Ladies and gentlemen, the lineup, besides myself, is Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge on vocals and guitar, Bobby Schnek, who stood in for an ailing Brad Whitford in Aerosmith on rhythm guitar, Dave Henning on bass and Brent Fitz of Union, Vince Neil and many others on drums." He adds an update on his current single: "We're getting traction on radio with By the Sword, so keep hounding your local stations. It's working."

Marshall Law have pulled out of this weekend's Hammerfest after drummer Steve Hauxwell fractured his wrist while he was snowboarding in Belgium.

Adam Yauch AKA MCA of the Beastie Boys is finally getting back to work after his battle with throat cancer. He says the band's album, Hot Sauce Committee Part 1, may finally be released this year after being put on hold. Yauch explains: "It was touch and go there for a while but I'm finally getting my energy back. It was really disappointing to have to hold the record and postpone the tour. We may or may not release it in September, depending on my health. we want to, but we have to play it by ear. We finished it over a year go so we want to re-evaluate it. But I don't think we'll change it too much."

Children of Bodom bassist Hankka Seppala says the band are re-energised now they have their own rehearsal space: "We can rehearse whenever and as long as we want. This is a new thing for us, so making songs is different from before. I'm really excited, looking forward to get there every day to see what's new this time." Children of Bodom will co-headline Bloodstock in August alongside Heaven and Hell, Twisted Sister and Fear Factory.

Kiss are continuing work on their long-discussed TV show. It's to be a series of 30-minute kids' comedy shows. Gene Simmons says: "Like all things Kiss we intend to make this very special for our fans."

The Godfathers have reunited to tour the UK starting in April, marking their 25th anniversary:
16/04 Manchester Academy 2
29/04 Aberdeen Warehouse
30/04 Newcastle Academy 2
01/05 Glasgow King Tuts
05/05 Nottingham Rescue Rooms
09/05 Colchester Arts Centre
14/05 Birmingham Academy 3
15/05 Bedford Esquires
17/05 Liverpool Academy 2
18/05 Sheffield Academy 2
29/05 Manchester Rugby Club
12/06 Milton Keynes Midsummer Fayre
17/06 London 100 Club
07/08 Blackpool Rebellion

OK Go have left record label EMI after a long drawn-out dispute over use of their videos. The band object to new label rules which say the vids can't appear anywhere but YouTube. They've formed their own organisation, Paracadute Recordings, and will manage heir own back-catalogue.

Why Slash binned Ozzy single


Slash: Stepping on toesSlash wanted the first single from his solo album to be the track he recorded with Ozzy Osbourne – but was forced to make another choice

Instead, he went with his collaboration with Wolfmother mainman Andrew Stockdale – and that's why By the Sword is a single and Crucify the Dead isn't.

The guitar hero explains: "The problem with this record is, because I have all the guest singers, you run the risk of interfering with the release of other people's records.

"That's what the issue was. I had to make sure that whatever single I was using wasn't stepping on the toes of that artist's own record – and Ozzy's got a new record coming out."

Slash's track and guest list:
Ghost - Ian Astbury
Crucify the Dead - Ozzy Osbourne
Beautiful Dangerous - Fergie
Promise - Chris Cornell
By the Sword - Andrew Stockdale
Gotten - Adam Levine
Doctor Alibi - Lemmy
Watch this Dave - Dave Grohl, Duff McKagan
I Hold On - Kid Rock
Nothing to Say - M Shadows
Starlight - Myles Kennedy
Saint is a Sinner Too - Rocco de Luca
We're All Gonna Die - Iggy Pop

Slash is released in May but Classic Rock Magazine are offering an exclusive Slashpack from April 7, containing the CD with two bonus tracks featuring Alice Cooper, Nicole Scherzinger, Fergie and Cypress Hill, plus a souvenir magazine.

His tour schedule is being finalised and he hopes to announce dates for Europe, Japan and Australia next week, with US and more dates to follow.

Meanwhile, the guitarist's former band Guns n'Roses are making a movie of their South American tour. Frontman Axl Rose has brought in music video director Dale Rage Resteghini to create the documentary.

Rage says: "Axl is the quintessential rock star. He's very humourous and very passionate about his fans, and ensuring the legacy of GnR."

The band have also denied reports that they'd play three secret shows during their South American tour.

Mastodon guitarist Bill Kelliher says it will be "all over" for the band if they can't make their next album better than 2009's acclaimed Crack the Skye.

They're beginning work on their fifth studio release, alongside their heavy tour schedule and completing a movie score – but Kelliher knows they have to give it everything they've got.

He tells Ultimate Guitar: "It's all over if you don't top your last record. To have a healthy band and be a healthy artist, you really need to keep outdoing yourself. You don't want to plateau.

"You have to keep interesting ideas coming – and so far we've done that.

"Even as far back as Remission in 2002, people were saying, 'How are they going to top that?' And that record was good, but that was when Mastodon was just a baby. We're only ten years old, so the sky's the limit with ideas.

"We have a lot of good ideas and a lot of fire under our asses."

The band have nearly finished creating the music for upcoming movie Jonah Hex, and haven't had much time off – but Kelliher is positive they'll fulfill their ambitions for their next record.

He says: "We had September off. I had all my wisdom teeth pulled out, which took a week. Troy Sanders got married, other things had to be taken care of, then we went back on tour.

"We've done a little bit of late for the record, but it's not always easy to find the time to write when you're on the road. I bring a Pro Tools rig out with me, but you can't force the process. If a riff comes to me, a lot of the time I'll use the dictaphone on my telephone. But there's always a certain amount of unconscious writing going on at all times."

Asked what he's learned about the rock'n'roll industry, Kelliher says it's important to keep in with the sound crew. He explains: "Always be friends with your front-of-house guy, and your monitor guy too. They can push a button real quick and you can feedback real quick.

"Generally, be nice to everyone on your way up – because on your way down they're going to be there and will remember what a dick you were."

Dave Grohl says the next Foo Fighters album is going to be their heaviest yet, and he's already started working on new material.

He announced the band were taking a break when they released a best-of compilation at the end of 2009, saying: "We haven't had enough, but I think the world's had enough of us for a while."

The former Nirvana drummer went on to tour with supergroup Them Crooked Vultures, who are already planning a second album to follow their self-titled debut from last year.

But he's not slowing down, and instead reveals he's already working with Foos drummer Taylor Hawkins, and will enlist producer Butch Vig to record the album in his garage in a few months' time.

Grohl tells Rolling Stone: "Me and Taylor have already started demoing songs. I think this could be our heaviest album yet."

The untitled release, which will be the Foo Fighters' seventh album, may see the light of day in September. Vig's involvement is partly to mark the 20th anniversary of Nirvana's Nevermind album, which he produced in 1991.

DragonForce: search is onFrontman ZP Theart has left Dragonforce, the band have announced. And they're immediately launching a worldwide search for his replacement.

A short band statement says: "It is with great regret that DragonForce announce a parting of the ways with singer ZP Theart.

"This is due to insurmountable differences of musical opinion – but the rest of the band sincerely wish ZP great success with his future projects.

"The creative core members have begun writing the band's fifth album and have started a worldwide search for a new vocalist."

Guitarist Herman Li says: "We're looking for a powerful, melodic singer to write a new chapter of DragonForce with us."

Applications are invited via the band's website – if you want to apply you must download two tracks without vocals then record your own versions and upload to YouTube.

The power metal six-piece, formerly called DragonHeart, formed 11 years ago and were nominated for a Grammy in 2008 for the track Heroes of our Time, taken from that year's album Ultra Beatdown.

The Kinks and the Rolling Stones are both set to release albums including new material this year – if everything goes to plan.

Ray and Dave Davies of the Kinks have managed to overcome health problems and their frequent fallouts to begin work in the studio, reports drummer Mick Avory.

He tells Spinner: "We're certainly doing another album. We've got old tracks which need to be baked – you have to go through the process to transfer them to digital, and you only get one shot at it."

The band are also working on new tracks, while Ray will tour the UK with his solo band in May:
04/05 Gateshead Sage
05/05 Edinburgh Usher Hall
07/05 Killarney INEC
08/05 Dublin Grand Canal Theatre
09/05 Belfast Waterfront Hall
11/05 Ipswich Regent
12/05 Oxford New Theatre
13/05 Cambridge Corn Exchange
15/05 Bournemouth Pavilion
16/05 Cardiff St David's Hall
17/05 Southend Cliffs Pavilion
18/05 Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
20/05 Birmingham Symphony Hall
21/05 Harrogate International Centre
23/05 London Royal Albert Hall
24/05 Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
25/05 Sheffield City Hall

Meanwhile, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards is continuing his push to force the band back into the studio.

He tells Rolling Stone: "I wouldn't be surprised if we did some recording later this year. There's no definite plans, but I can't see any of us stopping."

The band will re-release their 1972 classic album Exile on Main Street on May 17, with ten previously unreleased bonus tracks.