Hit Songwriter Accused of Craigslist Rapes- Wilco Guitarist Overdosed- Sunny Day Real Estate Reunion- KISSmart- Cowboy Members Signed Metal Record Deal and more was a top story for this week. Here it is again: (antiMusic) The songwriter and director behind 'You Light Up My Life' has been indicted on charges of raping or sexually assaulting women who answered audition ads on Craigslist. Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau says nine of the 11 victims answered an ad seeking women to audition for acting rolesmoreAuthorities say former Wilco guitarist Jay Bennett died of an overdose of the pain killer, and that they're investigating his death as an accident.more
Pioneering Seattle rock band Sunny Day Real Estate will return to the road with its four original members this fall and will reissue its first two Sub Pop albums on Sept. 15.more
Gene Simmons has confirmed that a deal is in the works with Wal-Mart that will result in an "entire section" of the giant retailer's stores across the country (apparently dubbed "KISS Korner") being dedicated to KISS. Maybe they will be selling these?
After cancelling a number of recent festival and tour shows, Thin Lizzy have been forced to drop out of their support slot with AC/DC on their three UK tour dates.more
NFL offensive linemen bang heads all the time. A trio of Dallas Cowboys linemen are now professional head-bangers, too. Leonard Davis, Marc Colombo and Cory Procter have signed a recording contract as part of a heavy metal band called Free Reign. more
He's made documentary films about the Sex Pistols and Joe Strummer. Now director Julien Temple wants to do a full-length feature on the Kinks, according to the band's former front-man Ray Davies.more
The latest episode of Talking Rock, the sister podcast of the #1 metal podcast, Talking Metal, contains an interview host Mark Strigl conducted with singer, actress, model, and wrestler Christy Hemme. Topics include Christy's history as well as new music from her band Hemme. The podcast is available at www.talkingrockpodcast.com as well as on iTunes.
R.E.M. has announced a new two-disc set, Live From The Olympia, due out in October. The release collects songs from the band's five-night "working rehearsals" during the making of Acceleratemore
Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant donated a signed acoustic guitar to the Worcester and District branch of the Parkinson's Disease Society (PDS). The guitar was auctioned during a fundraising dinnermore
Counting Crows are planning a collaborative summer tour, dubbed the "Saturday Night Rebel Rockers Traveling Circus and Medicine Show," with Augustana and Michael Franti & Spearhead on board.more
Arctic Monkeys have announced a string of US club shows to coincide with the release of their upcoming third album 'Humbug' . The dates will kick off on August 1 at All Points West in New Jersey, and will feature club shows in New York, Boston and Chicago, as well as festival appearances at Osheaga and Lollapalooza.more
According to a posting on the Van Halen News Desk web site, the Guitar Hero: Van Halen video game will be made available in November/December. An exact release date has not yet been announced.more
Razorcake Records has announced another chapter in their Razorcake Sister Series, this one featuring simultaneous 7" releases from The Arrivals and Grabass Charlestons. The two records feature four new songs from each band — three originals and one cover of the other artistmore
Children Of Bodom will embark on their second North American tour this fall. The Black Dahlia Murder and Skeletonwitch are confirmed for a portion of the trek, with additional support acts yet to be announced.more
Former Megadeth guitarist Jeff Young has released "Always Remember Me",his "haunting tribute" to the late Jeff Buckley via MySpace. more
Members of Atlanta's the Black Lips and Montreal's The King Khan and BBQ Show (featuring Mark Sultan and Khan of King Khan and the Shrines) have formed a new act dubbed the Almighty Defenders. The six-member group will release their self-titled debut on September 22nd via Vice Records.more
Soilent Green and Goatwhore frontman Ben Falgoust has joined the line-up of New Orleans thrash/metal band Suicide War, which also features drummer Craig Nunenmacher (Black Label Society, ex-Crowbar).more
Entombed will NOT perform at U.K.'s Damnation Festival — set to take place Saturday, October 24 at Leeds University Union — despite the fact that the band's participation in the event was announced on the festival's web site.more -
