Jon Blank reportedly passed this past Saturday night. Jon was well-known in Maryland and beyond for his time plowing riffs with his band Rezin, and was the bassist on Scott "Wino" Weinrich's critically-praised solo album "Punctuated Equilibrium." An official statement from Jon's sister, Andrea, reads in part: "Jon passed away Saturday night from a drug overdose. That is what we believe/know at this time. He just got back in the States from an amazing European music tour on Friday. He was doing so well and, well, I guess he thought he was invincible and wanted to celebrate his return." more

Rigor Mortis guitarist Mike Scaccia has made it through his surgery. He says he just woke up and that they had to slit his throat open to perform the surgery. He said he won't be able to talk for a few days, but that the surgery looks like a success.more

Just a month after Rihanna was booked for her first public performance since her alleged assault by Chris Brown, the show has been abruptly scrapped. The 21-year-old R&B star had been scheduled to perform later this month in the United Arab Emirates. But Yassin Matbouly, of would-have-been concert organizer Vibe Entertainment Management Agency, said in a statement that she's not yet ready to return to the stage.more

Tracii Guns will take his League Of Gentlemen, fronted by vocalist Scott Foster Harris, on the road later this month. Confirmed dates are here

According to the New York Times, a Nine Inch Nails-themed application for the iPhone was rejected by Apple because it contained potentially offensive content.more

Nipplegate Controversy Continues The Supreme Court on Monday ordered a federal appeals court to re-examine its ruling in favor of CBS Corp. in a legal fight over entertainer Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction.more

Metallica resumed their European tour on Monday when they returned to Stockholm, Sweden to make up for the concert on March 8 which was cancelled after frontman James Hetfield was hospitalized with a stomach bug and dehydration (that he attributed to "a bad oyster"). The Swedish fans were given a unique gift by Metallica. Thousands of attendees (before supplies ran out) received a free, specially designed "sick and destroy" Metallica t-shirt which showed Hetfield losing his lunch with the band looking on.more

An overzealous Britney Spears fanatic was arrested at the singer's concert in Connecticut on Saturday night after storming the stage during the show's finale. The pop tart was "performing" her song Womanizer at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville when the male fan climbed over the security barriers and jumped onstage to get closer to Brit.more

REM have announced that they will release a 25th anniversary edition of their second full-length album, 'Reckoning', this summer. The deluxe edition of their landmark 1984 album is set to be reissued in the US on June 23. more

Weezer, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kings Of Leon and Silversun Pickups are among the bands set to headline KROQ's 2009 Weenie Roast. The Los Angeles radio station's annual event takes place May 16 at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine, California. more

Malawi's highest court heard arguments Monday on Madonna's bid to adopt a 3-year-old girl from the southern African country, as a dispute erupted over whether a man trying to stop the proceedings is the girl's father.more

Free Tunes: The Brand New Exploding In Sound Compilation Album is available now for Free Download, and unlimited entertainment!! The Recession Rock Revival '09 is an entirely new compilation featuring 21 up-and-coming bands spanning all sub-genres of rock music. From singer/songwriter to power-pop all the way to stoner metal and shoegaze, there is something for Everyone on this collection of brilliant bands and musicians. Don't take my word for it though...Download And Give It A Listen! more

Veteran heavy rocks Riot have issued the following update: "So far, so good, people. We've just concluded our first writing session as a band in almost 20 years and we're happy to say that it was a very productive get-together"more

The Airborne Toxic Event new video for its song "Sometime Around Midnight" has been added to VH1's "You Oughta Know" initiative, which begins this month. The video made its debut on MySpace Friday, May 1st and is still featured today.

Newly signed to Atlantic Records, Mayday Parade has begun recording their follow up to "A Lesson In Romantics." The band is currently hard at work at The House of Loud Studios in Elmwood Park, New Jersey, with David Bendeth (Paramore, All Time Low) producing. Fans can keep track of the sessions via in-studio video blogs Posted here.

Within The Ruins (Victory Records) has reportedly parted ways with singer Jon Grande and bassist Madison Roseberry.more

AP has this news for Green Day fans: You've known the routing, you've known the venues. Now you know the day you can run out and buy tickets for this summer's Green Day tour. The complete itinerary has been announced and ticket prices run between $25 and $49.50. Grab that here

American Idol "judge" Paula "What Randy Just Said" Abdul will release a new single "Here For The Music," sometime this month. The single reunites Paula with producer Oliver Lieber who helmed her debut album Forever Your Girl. "I'm Just Here For The Music" was co-written by Danielle Brisebois and Wayne Rodrigues and is the first track from Paula's upcoming album due out in Fall 2009. You didn't expect her to write her own song did you?

St Helens have finished recording their new album and the first FREE MP3 sample of these wonderful new recordings, How To Choose Your Guru Part 2, can be downloaded here. The CD is expected to hit stores this summer.

Indie crooner and acclaimed songwriter AM is putting the finishing touches on his new album "Future Sons And Daughters" with producer Charles Newman (Magnetic Fields) and is previewing his new songs on Saturday, May 16th, 2009 at 8:30pm with his full band at Spaceland in Los Angeles, CA. AM's song "Troubled Times" will be featured on ABC Family's "Greek" on June 1 and "Mainstay" will be featured in Ashton Kutcher's movie "Spread" in theatres August 14, 2009.

John Forte has been busy since his release from prison, laying down the framework for 24 new songs at a downtown Manhattan's Pulse Music studio and hitting the stage for the first time in eight years in New Yorkmore

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