But Portnoy has surfaced at the dawn of the New Year with a major announcement of his own, as he will be joining Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse in a brand new project.

The Las Vegas Sun reports that the M�tley Cr�e singer was to have had his bench trial on a criminal drunken driving charge this Thursday, January 6.

The group got together to play on New Year's Eve for the MALA Benefit, which helped the Maui Food Bank.

The song's title is reportedly a direct reference to a black Labrador
retriever that was seen wandering around the Headley Grange studios during the track's recording.

Rafferty passed away at his Dorest, UK home peacefully early Tuesday morning, with his daughter Martha by his side.

With Slipknot gigs announced for the late spring/early summer, the question remains who will play bass guitar in place of the late Paul Gray who died last year. "It's one of the things that we're talking about right now," Slipknot singer Corey Taylor told the Artisan News Service. "Whatever we do will make sense at the end of the day. He'll never be replaced, and it'll never be anything that will be Ok, basically, but when the time comes, we'll figure it out." more

In a recent interview with Billboard, Maroon 5 guitarist James Valentine expressed some frustration in the lackluster sales of the band's latest album 'Hands All Over' and says a new album may be coming sooner than was originally planned. more

Former Survivor singer Jimi Jamison has teamed up with ex-Toto vocalist Bobby Kimball. The pair are currently working on an album more

According to ThePRP, the Deftones and The Dillinger Escape Plan will head out together on tour in the spring. more

A tirade, along with others Courtney unleashed on social media platforms including MySpace and Etsy.com against Dawn Simorangkir, a fashion designer who was demanding payment for a few thousand dollars worth of clothes, form the basis of a groundbreaking lawsuit headed to court in Los Angeles on Jan. 18: the first high-profile defamation trial over a celebrity's comments on Twitter. more

Skinlab have once again parted ways with guitarist Mike Roberts. Comments Skinlab bassist/vocalist Steev Esquivel: "We've basically been contemplating our next move, having recently parted ways again with our brother Mike Roberts. more

Eden's Curse will return with its latest and third studio CD, "Trinity", on March 18 via Afm Records. Dream Theater vocalist James LaBrie. LaBrie lends his backing vocals to the entire album and also duets with Eden's Curse frontman Michael Eden on "No Holy Man", which is also set to be released by Afm Records as a digital single on February 25. more

Japan bassist Mick Karn has died of cancer after battling the illness since June last year. He was 52. more

According to the Late Night TV Page, The Damned Things - featuring Fall Out Boy's Joe Trohman and Andy Hurley, Anthrax's Scott Ian and Rob Caggiano, and Every Time I Die's Keith Buckley - will be guests on ABC-TV's Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday, January 13th (show actually airs the morning of Friday, January 14th). more

Titus Andronicus have announced that founding bassist Ian Graetzer has left the group. more

The Steve Miller Band are to release four more albums in a special digipack format over the next couple of months. more

Cannibal Corpse are tentatively scheduled to release a new two-disc DVD set, "Global Evisceration", on March 15 via Metal Blade. more

The Allman Brothers Band have just added the final five dates to their run at the Beacon Theatre in NYC. more

Back in 1986, Slayer released their landmark album Reign In Blood that helped shape the sound of metal for decades to come. 25 years later, it's high time to give that album the credit it's due, and ESP is doing just that with the limited-edition Slayer-2011 guitar. more

Destruction will embark on a North American headlining tour in April/May with support from Australia's Destroyer 666. more

Threat Signal has officially added guitarist Chris Feener and drummer Alex Rudinger to their line-up. The pair replaces Adam Weber and Norm Killeen, respectively, who parted ways with the band last year. more

Wavves, and Best Coast have announced that, in conjunction with their upcoming co-headlining "joint" tour, they will be releasing a split 7″ exclusive to the tour. more

You thought Axl Rose was bad? Lauryn Hill showed no remorse after keeping devotees waiting for almost four hours at a recent comeback concert in New York, telling disgruntled fans she was "worth the wait". more

Lecherous Nocturne will enter Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida on May 8 to begin recording its new album, tentatively titled "Myth Manifest". more

Toronto's own answer to Screeching Weasel, The Roman Line, have officially called it a day. more

On this day in 1973, Bruce Springsteen released his debut album Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ.

On this day in 1979, Prince made his live debut at the Capri Theatre, Minneapolis.

Hollywood Reporter had this fun bit of news: Patricia Day, lead singer of HorrorPops, claims that a doll in Mattel's "Hard Rock Barbie" collection, released last spring, appropriated her likeness: "Long black hair, retro tattoos, red fingernails, fishnets and a decorated bass fiddle (to) give this doll true rockabilly style." more

Dream Theater have officially entered the studio to begin work on their first album without drummer and founding member Mike Portnoy. The band's guitarist, John Petrucci, writes on his Twitter profile, "First day in studio [and] the dawn of a new era for Dream Theater. Can't wait to get the music flowing." more

Lambgoat reports that Whitechapel have replaced drummer Kevin Lane with Ben Harclerode of Knights Of The Abyss. more

Chuck Berry, who fell ill with exhaustion and was escorted from stage during a Chicago concert this weekend, has returned home to suburban St. Louis, a close friend of the rock-and-roll legend said Monday. more

'Bootlegs 2: From Memphis to Hollywood' is a two-CD set and will feature 11 demos and seven outtakes from the late singer Johnny Cash's time at Sun records more

While in Asheville this past October MGMT stopped by the Echo Moutain Studio to record a Daytrotter session. The band performed songs off their latest release, Congratulations. List of songs are: "Song for Dan Treacy," "I Found A Whistle," and "It's Working." Along with a cover of The Cleaners of Venus' "Only a Shadow." Check out the session here

Continuing to pioneer the no-fanfare marketing strategy, Glassjaw have digitally released an EP entitled Our Color Green (The Singles). more

Lambgoat reports that Of Mice & Men has been rejoined by former frontman Austin Carlile. As you may recall, Carlile was kicked out of the group less than a year ago. To make room for Carlile, the group has fired current (and ex-Sky Eats Airplane) vocalist Jerry Roush. Read what Roush had to say here

The reunited classic "Animosity" lineup of Corrosion Of Conformity - Mike Dean (bass, vocals), Woody Weatherman (guitar) and Reed Mullin (drums) - have announce European tour dates this spring. more

Funeral For A Friend has posted a new trailer online to promote its forthcoming live DVD release. The new DVD was filmed at the band's July 23rd, 2010 performance O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in London. more

Emery have announced via twitter that their new album will be titled We Do What We Want and is due out on March 22, 2011. more

As We Fight has entered Dead Rat Studio in �rhus, Denmark with original singer Laurits Medom, who has rejoined the band after a three-year absence. more

Matterhorn, featuring members of The Great Redneck Hope, kicked off a two-week tour yesterday in Salt Lake City, Utah. more

Todd Rundgren has reformed Utopia, to play a show in New York on January 29. This will be the 1974 line-up, which recorded the band's celebrated debut album, Todd Rundgren's Utopia. more

Entertainment Weekly reports that Bono and The Edge will be in the theater for all remaining preview performances of Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, more

2011 has already witnessed its first musical casualty as Forensics have decided to call it a day. more

No, it's not an epitaph for the band. In a recent update on the band's website, Coheed and Cambria are hinting at a tour celebrating the 10th anniversary of the band tied in with their first album, The Second Stage Turbine Blade. more

Rev Theory drew from the past for its upcoming third album, "Justice." Guitarist Julien Jorgensen tells Billboard.com that the quintet modeled "Justice," which is due out Feb. 15, to be closer to its 2005 debut, "Truth Is Currency," than to the 2008 sophomore set, "Light It Up." more

Lamb Of God drummer Chris Adler - "crappiest moment in music in the last 30 years? two words: Fred Durst" more

During a recent interview, Seether guitarist Troy McLawhorn and drummer John Humphrey confirmed the band will be releasing a new album titled "Holding Onto Strings Better Left to Fray" in May. more

"Hearts That Race", the new Blunt Headed-directed video from Slipknot Dj Sid Wilson, can be viewed here

Folk rocker Richard Thompson, who made his name with Fairport Convention, has been given an OBE in the New Year's Honours List more

Gauss, the new project featuring two former members of Demiricous - guitarist Scott Wilson and drummer Chris Cruz - will release a 12-minute song called "Empty Frames" via the group's web site on January 11 more

Due out February 15, 2011 via EMI, 'Robin Trower at the BBC 1973-1975' is the most comprehensive collection to date of Robin Trower's recordings for the BBC. more

Nazxul's 1998 "Black Seed" EP has been repackaged alongside their 1994 demo release by Seance Records. The rerelease comes with bonus live tracks, and an eight page booklet including all of the lyrics. more

Twisted Sister's Dee Snider's 2011 resolution: "To bridge the gap between Broadway and rock n' roll and introduce the hard rock audience to the amazing music of the Great White Way! Look for Dee Does Broadway on Razor & Tie Records in 2011!" more

YouTube user Maidenboots has uploaded a vintage Iron Maiden show from the band's March 31st, 1981 stop in Palasport, Italy. Check out the 30-minute concert here

Grave Digger will release a new EP, "Ballad Of Mary", on March 4. The effort will include two versions of the title track - one acoustic and the other taken from the forthcoming "The Clans Are Still Marching" CD, featuring a guest appearance Doro Pesch - as well as a new recording of "Rebellion" with Hansi K�rsch (Blind Guardian). more

Glenn Hughes has just confirmed a UK tour for the spring. more

Slumber recently threw in the towel after nearly 10 years of dedicated service. In the wake of this spilt comes two new bands. more

Fifth Angel have announced David Fefolt as their new permanent lead vocalist more

On this day in 1964, The Beatles were seen for the first time on U.S. TV when a clip from the BBC's The Mersey Sound, showing the group playing "She Loves You," was shown on The Jack Paar Show.

The BBC reports the legendary rock group recently won a court ruling against the label over whether a deal signed in the pre-download age could be applied to digital sales.

McKagan joined in March after original member Eric Avery departed. The ex Guns n'Roses bassist said he intended to be a full-time member of the band � but months later he left again with the band's thanks for helping write their long-awaited fourth album.

Idol premieres January 19, but you can check out the full crew - Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest � on The Tonight Show this Monday, January 10.

"How To Become Clairvoyant" � co-produced by Robertson and Marius de Vries - will feature several guests, including Eric Clapton (who co-wrote three tracks and plays on six), Steve Winwood (organ on two songs), Tom Morello, Robert Randolph, Trent Reznor and more.

The James Hetfield Snakebyte is a brand new body style for ESP and LTD in 2011. It has a set-neck construction at 24.75" scale, with a mahogany body and neck, and an ebony fingerboard with 22 XJ frets.

BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat reports that Grohl told Radio 1's Zane Lowe that he and the band were currently in New York mastering the tracks that they recorded in Grohl's garage.

Guitarist Tom Dumont shared the news on the band's Twitter page, explaining that he, Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal and Adrian Young had already written a batch of songs. On Monday, he wrote: "Holidays over. 2010 done. 10 new songs written. No Doubt's 2011 New Year's resolution: to record our new album... beginning today!"

According to VintageVinylNews.com, the majority of the two-disc set will spend time on Cash's early career. The first CD will be devoted exclusively to the country legend's time in Memphis. Among the treasures from Cash's vault: a radio show hosted by Cash, 11 demos and seven outtakes from sessions at Sun Studios. Disc two will focus on the star's tenure Columbia Records from 1958-69. It will include non-album singles, B-sides and outtakes.

Rushisaband.com reports it first hit the film festival circuit back in early 2008 and made its theatrical debut last fall.

As the current lineup of the band prepares for a European tour, the members of Thin Lizzy took a look back to remember their old friend, via Blabbermouth.net. "25 years on and I still miss the guy. Hell, we all miss him," guitarist Scott Gorham wrote. "It's a major reason why we go out and play the songs. But standing next to him for 11 years through all the ups as well as the down periods always brings back memories, especially at this time of year.

The 32-city "On Your Side" tour will launch on March 15th at The Chance in Poughkeepsie, New York, and then continue through late April (see attached itinerary).

Today we learn that the reformed lineup will be heading into the studio in early January to record the follow up to their Rise Records self-titled debut.

Included in the collection are photos of the band's first show with bassist Cliff Burton, the band's final show in the Bay Area with Dave Mustaine and Kirk Hammett's debut with the group in San Francisco.

Then, Tyler and band jammed the Aerosmith classic, "Sweet Emotion," before closing out the show with Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love."

Waters will release the all-star Boogie for Stu in March, with proceeds going to the British Heart Foundation. Stewart, who was an original member of the band before being relegated to stage manager and studio pianist by manager Andrew Loog Oldham, died of a heart attack in 1985 (see related story).

It's a show where celebrities would spend a few days back at home with their parents as "normal" people while the camera follows them around. The filmed pilot stars Jane's Addiction's Dave Navarro.

Frontman Matthew Bellamy told The Sun, "We've had some discussions about playing in space. Sometimes very coherent conversations and sometimes very late at night, but it's for real. I'm thinking of approaching Richard Branson to see if we could do it on his spacecraft he's got happening."

The bands' new album One Bad Bitch features performances by members of Guns N Roses and Nine Inch Nails. The first single "Reach Down" will be impacting radio on January 11th. The band is comprised of lead vocalist Kat Perkins and touring musicians Eric Warner (guitar), Steve McClurg (bass) and Peter Day Elledge (drums).

"I had this idea that, instead of going and spending a ton of money on one video, made by a director who's done it a trillion times," says Grohl.

Q magazine's greatest frontman of all time has his own fashion line, Pretty Green, and credits several rock and roll influences in his designs.

The white, two-piece suit Lennon wore on the cover of the Beatles' "Abbey Road" album sold during Saturday's auction by Braswell Galleries of Norwalk, Conn.

I have some good news to tell you and believe me - I really enjoy to tell the world: The surgery was done over six weeks ago and the first therapy is done as well. All looks good so far and as [keyboardist] Jens [Johansson] told me before: 'Do not worry, J�rg. What should survive in your body after all that you did to him!' Finally, he was right. There are only small bits and bobs left - I will fight those with another therapy [session] in about four months time.I think I've been very lucky that it was discovered by one of my friends in a very early state. Very good that my friend decided to become a doctor; he was very lousy when he tried playing the guitar.

In his review of the show, Tony writes: "Despite reports from various media sources, I can without question say that when Berry sat behind that keyboard, his hands came alive the same way as they do when he is grasping a guitar." Later in the show, "After a dispirited 'Reelin' and Rockin'', Berry once again banished the keyboard player to the side and sat behind the keys. This is where reports are appearing to vary. From my viewpoint, at no point did I see him collapse. He may have been ill but to my eyes he seemed dispirited and broken."

An update on Roger's site has confirmed plans to capture the experience: "Roger Waters will be filming and recording all 6 shows at The O2 Arena in London in May.

Billed as "the handbook to all things heavy metal," the new book by Wylde, guitar legend and Black Label Society frontman, invites all who dare onto the tour bus for tales of glory, debauchery, and general mayhem. The book is co-authored by Eric Hendrikx.

From rock and punk to country, R&B and gospel, U2's collaborations have spanned many musical genres and introduced their fans to a broad spectrum of music.

"In the old days, a band would call in the Rolling Stones Mobile [mobile recording studio owned by the musical group The Rolling Stones] and record a gig and hope that it worked well � and probably cheat and re-record it all," Lep's lead throat Joe Elliott told Artisan News Service.

01 - Steven Tyler on American Idol: Could be a wild ride. Or a train wreck. Either way, expect rock fans to check it out. Premieres January 19.

Model Brenna Gray was six months pregnant with the couple's daughter when the tragic musician was found dead in an Iowa hotel room in May. He was 38. Police later confirmed he'd taken an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.

"We're in the middle of recording it," he told Spinner.com. "We're about halfway through the writing process. We need another few months. But you can look for it at the end of 2011."

"I like the idea that there's no prohibition in listening," he told Spinner.com. "I grew up in the '70s and listening to the radio was important. We all listened and we all had a common experience. Whether it's like Boston's 'More Than a Feeling' or whatever, you were like, 'Yeah, I know that song, too.' We've kind of lost that."

People.com reports the two exchanged vows in front of about 100 guests, including Bertinelli's son Wolfgang, 19, from her marriage to Eddie Van Halen, who was also on hand with his wife, Janie Liszewski.

But Slash's wife Perla Hudson says their relationship is stronger after they filed for annulment in August last year � then withdrew the papers in November.

BBC Radio 1's longest-serving DJ died in 2004 at age 65, while on vacation in Peru. The Peel/Riley connection goes back to the days when Peel championed Riley's old band, The Fall.

They appeared on the first episode of the venerable PBS series in 2011. The hour-long show featured a variety of tracks from the band's career.

Big Head Todd and the Monsters are behind the album, 100 Years of Robert Johnson, and tour and have named themselves the Big Head Blues Club � Todd Park Mohr (guitar, vocals), Rob Squires (bass), Brian Nevins (drums) and Jeremy Lawton (keyboards).

Over the last 30 years, Ronnie has entered treatment for his drug addiction seven times, and now he says he and Jesse, who plays bass in rock band The Black Swan Effect, are motivating one another to stay sober.