Drummer Matt Sorum posted an update to Twitter on Monday: "Did 4 days with an amazing singer and VR and have 9 killer demo tracks. Going to make the decision one way or another this week."

(hennemusic) The Boston Herald reports a rumor generated through distant sources that the first Van Halen single from their new album, "Late Term," is set for release next Tuesday, August 23. The paper admits the rumor is based on somewhat shaky information, so it's too early to tell if there's anything to this but mere speculation.

Since VH themselves never provide comments on things like this, the closest confirmation/denial of anything VH-related seems to be coming through the Van Halen News Desk, who have unofficially taken on the role on VH spokespeople, for some reason.

(Gibson) Slipknot's Corey Taylor says the band's upcoming festival shows will help him decide if he can continue after the death of bass player Paul Gray.

According to the Daily Express, Taylor is still unsure whether the band can continue. He said: "There's a part of me that's ready and there's a part of me that's not."I have a lot of trepidation about it. I don't know how to feel. I know a lot of the guys in the band are trying not to show that side, and I can't."

While Gray's bass duties will be handled by the band's original bassist, Donnie Steele, Taylor is unsure whether Gray can be replaced. "Without Paul Gray, there would have been no Slipknot, and I mean that sincerely... It's strange for me to think about the future of Slipknot without him.

(Rock News Desk) Dave Mustaine is currently working on a new Megadeth album and the band will participate in Big 4 shows across Europe and in the US throughout the year. But he hints the outfit will roll to a halt at some point in the future.

"I've got the dubious honour of managing a band called Baptized in Blood, and my manager and I are managing Testament, which is awesome. We're doing some other things outside the scope of playing music, so once I hang up my guitar I'm still going to be very much involved � and I'm excited about that."

(Rock AAA) Vinnie Paul has responded to rumors that Pantera could reform without his brother, late guitarist Darrell 'Dimebag' Abbott.

In an interview with Russia's Darkside, the current Hellyeah drummer � who was a founding member of Pantera alongside Dimebag � slammed the suggestions as 'disrespectful.'

(RockAAA) The real reason for the cancellation of the Kings of Leon tour is so frontman Caleb Followhill can get help for his out of control drinking, claims US Weekly.

It has been claimed the remainder of their summer tour has been canned so Followhill can rest and recover from 'vocal issues and exhaustion' but US Weekly claims a source close to the band has laid the blame at the door for his boozing.

(Rock News Desk) Ozzy Osbourne was notably absent at the premiere of his documentary movie this week, fuelling rumors he's in England working with the original lineup of Black Sabbath.

God Bless Ozzy Osbourne was shown in Hollywood at a charity event for MusiCares, and while his son Jack, who filmed and produced the movie, was there, the star of the show wasn't.

Daughter Kelly Osbourne said: "My dad is doing something that is very, very exciting. But I don't know if I'm allowed to tell you. He's just finished a tour but he's doing something very exciting."

(hennemusic) "I've never hit the PASS button so quick." That was Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee's reaction Tuesday to receiving an offer to appear on the next season of "Dancing With The Stars," the tv dance contest show.

"Ok! Ready for the funniest sh*t ever!!!," tweeted Lee. "Dancing With The Stars just offered me a spot on the show!! I've never hit the PASS button so quick."

(Gibson) Despite rumors suggesting that ex-Beatle Ringo Starr may be part of an Olympics 2012 supergroup, the drummer has said he will not be involved at all.

According to the Daily Express, it was multi-gold-medal-winner Steve Redgrave who hinted that there could be a Beatles reunion of sorts with Starr and Paul McCartney and other iconic stars like Mick Jagger and John Lydon teaming up for the opening ceremony in London next summer.

(Rock News Desk) Friends of former Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr have refuted the suggestion he killed himself � saying that he was making big plans for the future.

Starr, 44, was found dead on Tuesday after mixing methadone with an anti-anxiety drug, three weeks after having been arrested in possession of prescription pills for which he had no prescription. The mixture can stop the breathing reflex � and that's what's believed to have killed Starr. But his associates insist it was accidental, and he didn't plan to end his life.

Axl Rose once again took to his Twitlonger account to address the recent rumors swirling around Guns N' Roses and also to announce yet another change in management.

The key issues addressed were the rumored U.S. tour plans as well as the relaunch of "Chinese Democracy." Here is what he had to say:

Contrary to anyone's claims there are no concrete plans nor were there ever for a tour, a relaunch or sponsors (n' certainly not to replace anyone in the band) beyond a collection of random ideas thrown out by various individuals w/out any real foundation or negotiations in place other than our prior involvements (which wouldn't take a rocket scientist to put together). And 4 the record Doc McGhee is no longer involved w/either myself or GN'R.

Meg and Jack White had bad news for fans of The White Stripes on Wednesday: they have decided to break up. Here is the what they had to say:

(Gibson) Disturbed singer David Draiman has revealed that the band are preparing to enter an indefinite hiatus. Speaking to KQXR in Boise, Idaho, Draiman said the band were looking at an extended hiatus, and had "some things going on internally �personal things going on."

Later Draiman took to Twitter to elaborate: "We don't know what we're doing yet," he wrote. "All I can say is that we're certainly going away for a long while."

The now former guitarist for Judas Priest, K.K. Downing has once again addressed fans about his decision to leave the legendary heavy metal band.

He writes on his website, "I would just like to say a big thank you for your support and kind words. It is most heart-warming for me to be the recipient of such graciousness and compassion from you all.

(Rock News Desk) Staind have shouted down rumors they're about to break up. The band's future became the subject of fan speculation after drummer Jon Wysocki left in May. More stories circulated after a documentary about the making of their recent self-titled album appeared to show an outfit dissolving in acrimony.

The success of frontman Aaron Lewis' country music side project has provided yet more grist to the rumour mill. But he and guitarist Mike Mushok say Staind have a long future ahead of them � although Lewis will be taking time out to work on his solo projects.

The band are currently touring Europe and Lewis explains what will happen afterwards: "I go back to doing my solo stuff and filming for my hunting TV show. After Thanksgiving Staind goes out for a couple of weeks.

Bassist Chip Z'Nuff just announced on Twitter and Facebook that he's out of the band. Here is Chip's Facebook message:

Kenneth Wilson, better known as Ginger Fish has announced via Facebook that he is leaving Manson to pursue other opportunities. Ginger was the longest running member of Manson, after replacing Sara Lee Lucas in 1995.

Official statement from Ginger Fish: I am regretful to inform the fans that I have decided to step down as a member of Marilyn Manson, and see where my life , and the knowledge of my availability cares to take me . I can't stand by to watch opportunities pass me by simply because the knowledge of my availability wasn't clearly expressed by me .

(Gibson) Silverchair have announced they are calling it quits, at least for the foreseeable future. In a lengthy statement posted on their Facebook page this morning, the veteran Australian three-piece said that "after much soul-searching � [we're] putting Silverchair into 'indefinite hibernation'."

"Back in 2009 we went into the studio to start work on a record," the statement reads. "Initially things were going well and as a result we did some shows in 2010 to maintain creative momentum. However, over the months that followed in the studio it became clear to us that we were moving in different directions. Despite our best efforts over the last year or so, it's become increasingly clear that the spark simply isn't there between the three of us at the moment."

(Rock News Desk) 30 Seconds to Mars are refusing to take seriously rumors that the band is about to split but won't entirely discount the idea of taking a break.

Speculation has been building over brothers Jared and Shannon Leto's plans for the future after frontman Jared said the band might not record a follow-up to 2009 album This is War, adding: "We're not bound to continue walking down a path unless we're really inspired to do so."

Yesterday we told you that NME was reporting that a spokesperson for Phil Collins had denied reports that the star was planning to retire from music. It seems the spokesperson spoke out of turn because now Collins himself has announced his plans to retire and disputed press reports about his reasoning.

The Genesis star tells fans via a message on his official website: Greetings to all, I've decided to write this in response to the articles that surfaced last weekend regarding my retirement. Why they were printed at all is a mystery, as I haven't spoken to anybody in the press for a few months.

(Gibson) The Who's veteran frontman Roger Daltrey is gearing up for his performance of Tommy for the Teenage Cancer Trust concert series at London's Royal Albert Hall next month.

According to Music-news.com, Daltrey doesn't think he'll be performing for much longer: "I've probably got two or three years left to do that kind of music and I want to make the most of it, because again I've been given a gift, use it, use it or lose it, so I'm going to do Tommy at the Albert Hall.

(Gibson) R.E.M. have decided to "call it a day as a band." After 30 years together, singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck and bassist Mike Mills have had enough. Founding drummer Bill Berry left in the mid-'90s.

In their own words: The guys share their thoughts on ending the band. Mike Mills: "During our last tour, and while making Collapse Into Now and putting together this greatest hits retrospective, we started asking ourselves, 'what next?' Working through our music and memories from over three decades was a hell of a journey. We realized that these songs seemed to draw a natural line under the last 31 years of our working together.

Appetite for Destruction continues to outsell most new album releases, so will people still be listening to Glee's auto-tuned karaoke in 25 years... or even 5 years? Something to ponder as you read about the ironic attack from the man who gave us this decade's answer to Cop Rock and the Partridge Family. Gibson has the story:

After Slash called Glee "worse than Grease" in Entertainment Weekly, Glee creator Ryan Murphy lashed out at the guitarist via Rolling Stone. "Usually I find that people who make those comments, their careers are over; they're uneducated and quite stupid," Murphy said.

(Rock News Desk) Sammy Hagar's career with Van Halen started out so well the band nearly changed their name to "Van Hagar" but by the end of his time with them he was desperately trying to wriggle out of his contract.
The singer reveals he tried to quit after 40 shows of their disastrous 2004 reunion tour, during which guitarist Eddie Van Halen regularly turned in substandard performances. And he says the reason he's telling all in his book Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock is to explain to the band's fans why he did what he did.

"Eddie's always made me out to be the bad guy. He's always had the upper hand when it comes to the press, and he could tell the story and frame it the way he wanted," Hagar tells MusicRadar. "I thought the story needs to be told so the fans know why everything's happened the way it has. I didn't like what was going on at the time. I didn't like the way Michael Anthony was treated and the way they tried to treat me. Eddie and Alex Van Halen really made the experience unpleasant.

(hennemusic) Shannon Tweed completely busted Gene Simmons' family jewels on US national TV Monday morning. The pair's visit to the NBC Today Show was scheduled to promote the upcoming new season of the KISS bassist's alleged reality series.

In a teaser clip from the show, Tweed confronts Simmons about a photo of the rocker posing outside a Hollywood restaurant with two young blondes on his arm. Simmons tries to explain that he had no idea who the women were, prompting Tweed to snap, "I'm sick of hearing it, I'm sick of seeing it, and I'm sick of looking at it... Gene, please don't play me for a fool."

Tweed looks visibly upset throughout the NBC interview while Gene is clearly uncomfortable, even to the point of being speechless, and how many times has anyone seen the fast talker in that shape?

When asked about their 28-year relationship, Tweed responded "the last two were a bitch," adding the relationship "has pretty much unraveled."

But longtime Aerosmith collaborator Marti Frederiksen insists the group has been very productive during its first few days of writing for a new album at his studio Monrovia, Calif.

(Rock News Desk) Guns N' Roses guitarist DJ Ashba has recounted how he and frontman Axl Rose "literally kicked the sh*t out of" a drunk fan who'd gatecrashed a private party.

The guitarist insists it was "all good" and that the fan in question took the attack in good spirits, later admitting he'd deserved it. "Me and Axl kicked the living sh*t out of this dude," Ashba tells Guitar International. "He snuck into this private aftershow party that was just held for the band and the crew. He was a drunk obnoxious big dude � he walks in and he's telling everyone he's our tour manager. We're like, 'What the f**k?'

(Rock AAA) John Lydon (a.k.a. Johnny Rotten) has dubbed Green Day 'coat-hangers' insisting they haven't done enough to earn the punk tag. The former Sex Pistols singer blasted the band in an interview with the LA Times this week although he was more generous with his praise for pop princess Lady Gaga. Speaking to the LA Times he said:

"Many of the punk bands are cop-outs and imitators and have made it easy for the likes of Green Peace � Green Day, who I hate. I really � I can't stand them.

(Banana 101.5) Corey Taylor continues his pull-no-punches approach to the Q&A portion of his solo shows. At Monday's gig the Slipknot vocalist called Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland "a lazy piece of s�" and ridiculed his recently released Christmas album.

Just a few shows after he verbally assassinated mega-producer Rick Rubin for being "overrated," "overpaid," and "lazy," the outspoken Corey Taylor began disassembling Scott Weiland without even being prompted by the audience. Taylor started talking about commercials and movie remakes and eventually began warning the audience to be cautious of those looking to cash in on their curiosity and give them nothing in return. His first example ended up being the man whose old job (as Velvet Revolver's vocalist) he recently auditioned for: "I'll give you another example. Does anyone know who Scott Weiland is? Do you know that Scott Weiland has a Christmas album now? Oh, it's bad. It's bad. Let me f�ing explain to you how bad it is. There is a video online of him singing, and he's very serious. 'Cause Christmas is serious. His hair is all slicked back and he's in his f�ing s�-ty tuxedo."

(hennemusic) Here's some not-so-groovy news: drummer Mike Portnoy sued Dream Theater after he left the group last fall.

Courthouse News Service reports Portnoy, who left the band on his own after failing to convince fellow band members to take a break from the write/record/tour cycle, filed a lawsuit against his former bandmates in April claiming that they "wrongfully excluded" him from the group and continue to "wrongfully using the name of the band in connection with [their] recording of an album without the participation or consent of [Portnoy]."

(RockAAA) AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson has hit out at reality shows which turn wannabes into overnight music stars and claimed the format is chewing up and spitting out young hopefuls.

In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph the legendary AC/DC singer insists the only road to glory is the old fashioned graft to the top method. He said: "There's only one way to do it.

Def Leppard's Joe Elliott has lashed out at a fan who criticized their choice of songs on tour while they were trying to get to grips with the death of the singer's father.

Joe Senior, who'd actively supported the band since their earliest days, died last month. But he'd insisted they kept to their touring schedule despite his illness, and Elliott has admitted "I wasn't at the top of my game" during the difficult period.

(hennemusic) Steven Tyler was a guest on Fox & Friends on the Fox News channel, talking about his purpose for being on the show and had a little go at his predecessor.

When asked about his love of country music, Tyler took the opportunity to clearly distance himself from previous judge, Simon Cowell.