Stone Sour bassist Shawn Economaki has left the band's current tour for personal reasons. The band say they'll continue their US trek with Theory of a Deadman, Skillet, Halestorm and Art of Dying with a stand-in more

The latest supergroup to hit the studio features former Yngwie Malmsteen singer Mike Vescera, Dio bassist Rudy Sarzo, Judas Priest drummer Scott Travis and guitarist Chris Imellitteri more

Variety has lost in its attempt to pursue a trademark claim in Delaware against the punk band The Vandals over the band's 2004 album cover which featured their name in a similar style to the entertainment trade paper's logo. But the case isn't over yet. This is only one victory, the case isn't over yet

L.A. Guns guitarist Tracii Guns Tweets: "Just found out I get to shred on The Price Is Right next Tuesday (April 19th) and it airs May 9th." more

X legend Exene Cervenka has called off her current solo tour, citing a flare-up of the multiple sclerosis that she revealed in 2009 she has been diagnosed with. more

Korn are giving away a free download of a new song called "Get Up," which is a collaboration with Skrillex. Grab it on their official site here

Five Finger Death Punch guitarist Jason Hook has refused to confirm or deny rumours the band have parted ways with bassist Matt Snell. more

Chimaira has announced replacements for drummer Andols Herrick and keyboardist Chris Spicuzza, who recently exited the band. Now joining the group are Sean Zatorsky (Daath) on keyboards and Austin D'Amond (Bleed The Sky) on drums. more

Behemoth will release an expanded package version of their early EPs Conjuration and Slaves Shall Serve in June. Abyssus Abyssum Invocat features remastered tracks, bonus tracks, new artwork and liner notes. more

Billy Milano joined Exhorder for a performance of the classic S.O.D. song "United Forces" in Austin, Texas on April 16th. "United Forces" appeared on S.O.D.'s 1985 crossover classic "Speak English or Die." more

Vertical Horizon has released a new EP featuring five acoustic versions of songs from the band's latest release "Burning The Days." more

Ex Black Sabbath singer Tony Martin will record guest vocals for Cypriot metal band Arrayan Path's upcoming album, due out in September. more

Quiet Riot has announced that they have cancelled their previously announced tour of Australia and New Zealand with Warrant and L.A. Guns, stating: "As a consequence of the promoter's breach of contract the Metal Health Tour scheduled for April 2011 in Australia and new zealand has been cancelled." more

Kiss mainman Paul Stanley says the band have nearly finished work on the follow-up album to 2009′s acclaimed Sonic Boom more

Crooked Ways had this bad news for fans: "After four years as a band, we've decided to call it quits. No drama, no broken friendships, no broken edges, no creative burnout. We played the music that we wanted to play, had countless adventures, and never sacrificed our integrity to fit a mold. We'd like to say thanks to everyone who has supported us inside and out of Denver. The friendships that we've made along our journeys will continue long after the memory of this band has faded. The last 5 songs that we recorded will be made available for free download [get it here]. Right now we're in the process of scheduling our final show. Keep an eye out for an announcement soon."

Irony alert: Rolling Stone readers have voted Robert Plant the best lead singer of all time. See the Top 10 here

On this day in 1984, Michael Jackson underwent surgery in a Los Angeles hospital to repair damage caused by his hair catching fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial.

In response to the devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster that struck Japan, March 11th, 2011, Al Jardine of the Beach Boys has asked his fellow Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame pals, Brian Wilson, Mike Love & Bruce Johnston to lend their name and voices to a new benefit release.

It looked like they were close to naming a singer, but all of a sudden it appeared that Velvet Revolver had returned to the backburner. Slash is touring and Duff McKagan is focused on the new Loaded album. Duff was interviewed by Guitar International about that new Loaded album and was asked the following: "Why do you think it is taking so long to find a singer for Velvet Revolver? "

Grohl, a confirmed punker from his teenage days in the Washington, D.C. suburbs, is at the center of mainstream rock these days�like it or not�with the new Foo Fighters CD, Wasting Light, heading straight for the top of the charts.

The band teamed up with renowned producer Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam, Rage Against The Machine, Bob Dylan) for the effort.

Slash: "I first discovered Metallica when they came out with their first EP. Metallica has always been one of my favorite heavy metal bands. I think that they are one of the most versatile metal bands that came out in the '80s. They are also one of the most creative. I think that James Hetfield is one of the greatest heavy metal guitarists to ever walk this earth."

Kerry King (Slayer): "I imagine it was at The Woodstock in Orange County, when Dave Mustaine was in the band. I instantly became a fan. I couldn't believe Mustaine was ripping these incredible leads way back then and not even looking at his fingers. I'm still [expletive] looking at my fingers. [Laughs] There were no records then; it was just seeing them. I think Metallica might've just been on the Metal Massacre compilation or something."

Scott Ian (Anthrax): "I was actually at Johnny Z's record store, Rock 'n' Roll Heaven, in New Jersey. He played me the No Life 'Til Leather demo, so that was the first time I had ever heard any Metallica. It was pretty mind-blowing to hear for the first time. One of the coolest feelings about hearing it was just knowing there was another band out there on the West Coast that had the same mindset. Certainly, we didn't sound alike at the time. Just the fact that they were playing their own music and had their own thing going on was how we felt about what we were doing as Anthrax in New York."

Frontman James Mercer spent his time off working on a collaboration with Danger Mouse called Broken Bells. The band underwent a few major changes, too. Keyboardist Marty Crandall and drummer Jesse Sandoval left the band and were replaced by Ron Lewis and Joe Plummer from Modest Mouse. The Shins also left Sub Pop Records for Mercer's label � Aural Apothecary.

Guest appearances on the album include Tim Lambesis (As I Lay Dying), pro skater Mike Vallely, Philip Labonte (All That Remains), Randy Blythe and Mark Morton (Lamb Of God), and guitar icon Zakk Wylde.

Last week, the man with tiger's blood and Adonis D.N.A. sought to juggle the act again by adding an opening band to the show. Having seen the British metal group, Asking Alexandria, on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Sheen contacted the band to offer them the opening slot. Asking Alexandria, however, have declined the invitation.

At a press conference Thursday, a spokesman for the university said that the plans would be paid for by proceeds generated by an annual Johnny Cash Music Festival.

"I told [bassist] J.D. [John DeServio] and the other guys in the band, 'You know, I'm also known as Icon; they use the word 'legendary' around me. I guess now we can just throw 'Idol' in there," Wylde said, with tongue planted firmly in cheek. "J.D.'s like, 'Dude, I'm not going to puke, I'm going to go hang myself.' So I'll definitely get some mileage out of this."

A post on AliceCooper.com reads as follows: "Featuring original band members Alice Cooper, Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith and Michael Bruce, plus Steve Hunter standing in for the late Glen Buxton, the 'J�germeister Ice Cold Event' will be the first time the group has 'appeared' together in the U.K. since 1972.

This is the 44th year for the festival, which began in 1968 by showcasing local artists, and has since evolved into an annual major attraction featuring the cream of international talent across all genres of music.

An event update was issued by promoter Roberto Medina, who has announced that the Opening Show will pay tribute to the different generations that enjoyed the previous shows in Rio in 1985, 1991 and 2001.

"It was enormous for us," bassist Geddy Lee told the Plain Dealer. "The fact that we were able to create a buzz in Cleveland and the fact that people were paying attention to us there opened everything up for us. It was really the start of our entire career."

"Underachievers" is one of those self absorbed artist songs that tries to alleviate some of the neuroses that I feel by voicing them. A lot of musicians are well acquainted with the dual nature of being an artist. There's the egotistical/ambitious side and then there's the self loathing/reflective side. I think a lot of musicians reach for the brass ring - and then try to hang themselves with it. So the song is the negative voice, the self saboteur in your head that questions your every step.

On a more positive note, the song has some fun elements. I'm particularly fond of the fuzz guitar work in "Underachievers." We were paying homage to Lennon's great fuzz guitar sound, and just overloaded a channel on the board when we recorded it. No amp, just direct in. It's a cool, raw sound, and unlike anything I thought would be recorded when I wrote it. "Underachievers" was initially a very slow acoustic song.

Perhaps my favorite thing about this song, is that it inspired a subtle, yet funny music video, starring Ravishers' guitarist, Jonathan Barker. When I first suggested filming him for a day, I knew he would say yes. I thought getting him to do some pole dancing in the video was going to be harder. I was wrong. Some people are just born artists.

The Guardian reports the classic 1975 song won by double the number of votes claimed by the runner up, Snow Patrol's "Chasing Cars," in army radio station British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS)'s survey to find its listeners' top 500 songs.

"It's fantastic," said Queen's Roger Taylor. "It makes me feel very, very proud. I'd like to wish all the forces the very best � and especially to those who voted for Bohemian Rhapsody � from the very bottom of our hearts."

"You wanted it, you got it, f**kers..." says Sixx. A voting page will be up and running at the group's official web site, Motley.com, on Monday, April 18.

The track is the first single proper from the Sheffield quartet's highly anticipated fourth album, Suck It and See - out June 7th on Domino Records.

BCC are bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Trapeze, Black Sabbath), blues rock guitarist/vocalist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin), and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater).

In addition to Asheton on drums, the Stooges lineup will feature frontman Iggy Pop, guitarist James Williamson, bassist Mike Watt, and sax player Steve Mackay. Deniz Tek, from Radio Birdman, will play Ron Asheton's guitar parts on some songs. Henry Rollins will serve as M.C.

Seventeen years ago their second-stage set was stopped after two songs after they invited the crowd to rush the stage. They were escorted back to their dressing room, which they smashed up in protest, and were ejected from the arena as a result.

Queens commemorated the upcoming reissue with a limited series of intimate shows at which the band played the record in its entirety, plus B-sides and other rarities and hits from the early Queens catalogue up to the present. The tour kicked off March 16 in Austin Texas and concluded in Los Angeles on April 13.

Fan videos posted on YouTube show Bono taking a stab at the Taking Heads classic "Psycho Killer" with an assist from Larry Mullen Jr. and Muse's Dom Howard on drums.

Guitarist The Edge also had a couple turns at the mic, delivering The Rolling Stones' "Miss You" and David Bowie's "Let's Dance." Even Mullen got to front the band for a bit, when he performed "The Wild Rover."

The veteran rockers are thrashing out the details which will see them head for Poland for a special performance of unplugged and orchestral versions of their songs which will then be filmed for a DVD � as will the build up as part of a 'Making of' documentary.

BBC News reports that the replica is in the town of Randers and will be called Graceland Randers. The Danish Graceland will actually be bigger than the Memphis original and will include a shop, restaurant and museum.

Producing this time will be Steve Evetts, who has an impressive resume working with bands as diverse as Dillinger Escape Plan and Symphony X to Sepultura and Hatebreed.

Nichols worked as a physicist at a nuclear power plant in the late '60s before making the transition to recording work. He started out making commercial advertisements, some of which featured Karen Carpenter on vocals and Larry Carlton on guitar, before expanding his studio operations.