The Beatles Voted America's Favorite Band

Classic rockers Led Zeppelin and the Eagles also made the cut, coming in at No. 4 and No. 7, respectively. The Eagles actually tied three other performers for the No. 7 spot: Neil Diamond, Celine Dion and Garth Brooks.

Harris conducted the same poll in 2010, and that year, U2 took the top spot, with the Beatles and Elvis both at No. 3. U2 didn't make the top 10 this year, but we're guessing that's because fans are just waiting for new music.

Looking at demographics, the millennial generation, ages 18-37, picked Beyonc� as their favorite performer. Gen-Xers ranging in age from 38 to 49 opted for Metallica. Baby Boomers, ages 50-68, picked the Beatles. Those 69 and over voted for Willie Nelson as their favorite. Check out the top 10 here.

A Look Back At AC/DC's Back in Black

A new decade had dawned and AC/DC were riding high on the success of 1979's Highway to Hell. Six months after its release, a gap in their hectic touring schedule found AC/DC back in London, the Australian band's adopted home base, where they began to write the follow-up album.

It was in London, during the writing sessions, on February 19, 1980, when lead guitarist Angus Young got a phone call from one of singer Bon Scott's many lady friends. "She was hysterical and trying to get some information," Young says. "She'd heard Bon was dead."

Bon dead? Young didn't believe it. Everyone knew Scott was indestructible. From their early days playing the tough bar circuit in Australia where Bon out-battled the clientele, to the recent incident when he'd dived out a four-story window and into a pool on a $10 dare, he always emerged with a grin on his face, a girl on his arm, and a drink in his hand. And then the guitarist's phone rang again. The band's manager was calling from a South London hospital-he'd just identified Bon's body. After a night on the town with friends, the hard partying, happy Scott had passed out and choked on his vomit. The coroner's report would later say that he had "drunk himself to death." Young was devastated.

Later, at the funeral, Bon's parents told the band that they had to find a new singer and carry on. But the band members weren't interested in carrying on. They weren't interested in anything. As Angus recalls, "Everyone was walking around in silence. Nobody knew what to do. It was hard to take in. We were so depressed." Angus' brother and AC/DC rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young agrees. A pall of depression hung over them all.

For several weeks, the brothers couldn't bring themselves to even pick up their guitars. Then finally, just to take their minds off the loss, they decided to book a rehearsal studio and play some of the bits and pieces they'd been working on with Bon. Which led to them thinking about the wishes of Scott's parents and discussion of finding a singer.

AC/DC's manager had put together a list of potential new vocalists, which up until then they had refused to look at. But then they noticed that one of those names was of a singer that Bon had been raving about for months: Brian Johnson from the Northern England band Geordie.

When Angus and Malcolm invited Johnson to come hang out for a while and sing, there was no hesitation. Johnson was a huge AC/DC fan. His chemistry with the band was instant, and he left with a new job and a plane ticket to the Bahamas, where producer Mutt Lange was waiting for them at Compass Point Studio. Recalls Malcolm, "We got the title for the album before we'd even written a tune. Angus said, 'Why not call it Back in Black? Make a black album cover and then it's for Bon.'"

But Back in Black wasn't just a tribute album, a wake for their much-missed friend-it was a declaration of intent that they'd decided to go on. Not to replace him-Bon was irreplaceable-but to start a new phase with a singer whose powerful high wail worked just as well with AC/DC's trademark sound as Bon's sleazy, bluesy growl.

It's that multi-faceted mix of intension and tensions, anger and spirit that makes Back in Black so lethally good-all that turbulence, the barely suppressed anger and pain and the fierce will to continue.

When AC/DC first heard the playbacks, their reaction, says Malcolm, was, "This is a monster!" Sure enough, it was. Not just the tone of the album and its lean power but its songs, which include three of the best rock anthems ever: the rousing title track, the brooding "Hell's Bells," and the ultimate party song "You Shook Me All Night Long."

More here.

Paul Di'Anno Says He Hits Notes Rob Halford Can No Longer Hit

Di'Anno believes his performances are better than they've ever been, even though he's still drinking and smoking. Di'Anno, who earlier this week confirmed his retirement plans had been shelved, tells Mitch Lafon:

"My voice is actually getting better. I'm hitting notes I've never hit in quite a long time. I'm hitting notes Rob Halford can't hit any more. And the reason is I don't fuss over it. Some people go, 'I've got a slight cough; let's cancel the whole show.'" More here.

Opeth Feel No Affinity With Metal Bands

He tells SpazioRock: "I don't know anything else than the metal world, because that's where we are. But we're trying to push the boundaries a little bit. Mostly musically, but also sound-wise.

"We don't like to belong in a group. We wanna be on our own. But we are OK with being defined within the metal scene, because that's our origins. Our roots come from real extreme metal, and gradually we have moved away from that. But we still feel we belong to the metal scene, but we don't feel an affinity with bands in the metal scene, and definitely not the sound from the metal scene of today." More here.

Slash's Live Performance Of World On Fire Goes Online

The song has been a part of Slash's setlist this summer as he travels across North America on Aerosmith's Let Rock Rule tour. Due September 16, "World On Fire" was recorded with Slash's touring band, Myles Kennedy And The Conspirators, and producer Michael Baskette.

A week after the album's release, Slash will promote the project and mark the Guitar Center's 50th anniversary with a series of three concerts in Hollywood's most legendary clubs.

Slash will play shows at The Troubadour (Sep 23), The Roxy (Sep 25) and The Whisky (Sep 26). Watch the video clip here.

Kamelot Release Live Falling Like The Fahrenheit Video

The track, from 2012 album Silverthorn, features special guests Alissa White-Gluz and Eklipse. Mainman Thomas Youngblood has also reported the band are working on a follow-up, set for release next year.

Although no details have been made available he says: "It's going great - we have lots of music and ideas in store." Watch the new live Falling Like The Fahrenheit video here.

Counting Crows Release Scarecrow Video From New Album

The new track "Scarecrow" comes from the band's seventh album "Somewhere Under Wonderland," which is scheduled to be released out on September 2nd in North America and September 15th in the UK.

Counting Crows have also announced a European winter tour, which includes eight UK dates. Check out the upcoming UK dates and watch the new music video here.

Me Vs Hero Challenge Fans For Access To Album Stream

The app is available on the Apple and Google stores and a trailer can be viewed below. The idea was to make the stream available in a fun way while reducing the chance of the album being illegally leaked.

It was developed by Anders Schou at Trixxr, who says: "The main goal we had with the game was to create as simple and unobtrusive an experience as possible so people could enjoy the new album, while still providing a couple of reasons for the player to do their best.

More details and a promo video here.

Keith Richards Pays Tribute To Chuck Berry

And Richards recorded a video tribute to the man he credits with influencing his musical direction. The Stones guitarist says: "Chuck Berry - he just leapt out of the radio at me. I ate him basically, I breathed him. It wasn't just food, he was the air I breathed for many years when I was learning guitar.

"Such a great voice, such a great player and also such a great showman - it was all in one package. If I listened to Chuck Berry, I was full for the day." Watch the tribute here.

Jon Allen's New Video Made By Teenaged Film Student

The winning video was directed by nineteen-year-old film student Sean Wang from Fremont, CA. The Top 3 entries earned their directors cash and camera prizes, along with being featured on our YouTube Channel.

Jon Allen has also announced that he will be launching a tour of the UK in October and November in support of his new album, Deep River. You can see the dates and details here and check out the top 3 videos from the contest here.

Abysmal Dawn Stream New Song Inanimate

Frontman Charles Elliott says: "I'm very happy to present a new Abysmal Dawn track after almost three years of waiting. It's a heavy one, so get ready to bang your head with the song on repeat until your neck won't move any more.

"Lyrically, this one is about losing your idealism and becoming a cold, unfeeling shell of a human in order to survive our modern society." He continues: "Our experiences in this life can carve us into stone, but they can also desensitise us in the process.

"This might be the most depressing song you've ever wanted to circle pit to." Stream the new song here.

Singled Out: Hero For Today's All You Wanted

"All You Wanted" is one of our favorite songs on our new EP. It was actually the last song written for this EP. We messed around with this idea we had for a while, but never really thought anything of it until we made a demo. Once we completed the demo, this song really came to life - it became everybody's favorite track. We knew this was a song that absolutely needed to be included on the new EP.

"All You Wanted" is a song with tons of energy and angst. Its upbeat punk groove drives the song, while the big guitars and bass give the song its power. John Tessin, the drummer of Hero for Today had a great idea of having a guitar solo that followed the vocal melody. We really struggled to find the appropriate place for it and one day stumbled upon starting the song with it. It was a perfect fit and the ultimate punch in the face to start off this track and the new EP.

The lyrics for "All You Wanted" are about people who somehow believe they are superior to you and others. It's about the people who get under your skin and drive you crazy. The lyrics are a reflection of the thoughts that run through my head whenever I encounter a cocky, self-centered person. I try to always keep everything very real and honest when writing lyrics. There's no need to sugar coat things or try making your lyrics sound too poetic. I just want people to relate and understand how I really feel about things going on in my life. "All You Wanted" quickly became a real crowd favorite at every show - our fans go crazy once they hear the opening drums kick in! Everyone at some time encounters someone who thinks they're better than everyone else - and this is the perfect song for everyone to scream at the top of their lungs what they'd really like to say to that person --- don't give a f*ck about you!

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

...end