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On this day in 1974, guitarist Mick Taylor announced he was leaving The Rolling Stones, saying he felt that now was the time to move on and do something new. Find out what else happened on this date in music history here

Duff McKagan Has Surgery

(hennemusic) Duff McKagan is undergoing surgery on his sinuses after he developed a hole (perforation) in the cartilage of his nasal septum as a complication from years of cocaine use.

His wife Susan Holmes writes on her Twitter profile: "[I] am thankful and blessed my man is alive today! Kids, don't do drugs!

"Say a prayer for Duff as he's getting surgery on his sinuses (a hole the size of a quarter from years of abuse). "We must live and learn how lucky we are for our health and family and friends. Love you, Duff." more on this story

Original Alice Cooper Band To Reunite For Tour and Rock Hall Induction

(Rock AAA) Alice Cooper says his original band have always been victims of the "misconception" they were more concerned with theatre than music – when the reverse was true. And their upcoming induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a good enough reason to reunite and play a series of major city shows.

The band known as Alice Cooper formed at school and released a stack of world-class tracks – including I'm Eighteen, School's Out and the acclaimed 1973 album Billion Dollar Babies – before splitting up, leaving frontman Cooper to continue with the same name.

Now the shock rocker tells Rolling Stone: "When I heard we'd made it into the Hall of Fame I called the original band guys immediately and said, "Remember when we started in high school? Here we are. It only took 45 years." more on this story

Mark Hoppus Explains The Direction Blink-182's New Album Is Going in

Mark Hoppus spoke with MTV about Blink 182's upcoming album, how it is progressing and what musical direction they are going in.

"We've gone through a lot of really heavy stuff over the past few years. ... There's plenty of heavy stuff to write about," he said. "I think in moments it will [be dark]. We're still just barely getting into the whole writing process. We have about three or four songs done.

"I wouldn't say it's going to be a dark record; I think it's really an expansive record. There's stuff that sounds like what we were doing on the last Blink record, and there's stuff that sounds like what we were doing 10 years ago and stuff that we've never done before." Read the full MTV feature here

Jason Bonham To Give Football Fans The Led Zeppelin Experience

(hennemusic) When you need to get the Led out these days, there's one current touring act that can get the job done: Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience.

Bonham and crew will take part in a special, abbreviated four-song performance prior to Sunday's (December 19) Miami Dolphins-Buffalo Bills game at the Land Shark Tailgate Stage on the AT&T Grand Plaza at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

"We're looking forward to performing our tribute on the Land Shark Tailgate Stage at Sun Life Stadium," said Bonham. "This South Florida appearance is a culmination of our successful 2010 tour across the U.S and Canada and will give fans a glimpse of what the full show is all about, which has truly been a labor of love for me." more on this story

Pink Floyd Win Royalties Battle

(hennemusic) Pink Floyd have won a Court of Appeal battle against EMI over online royalties.

In March, the band won their case at the High Court barring the record company from selling single downloads from their concept albums.

EMI were found in breach of agreements by "wrongly exploiting" album works by releasing singles online. The group also claimed they were not paid properly for the digital downloads. more on this story

Whitesnake Announce 2011 Tour

(hennemusic) Whitesnake singer David Coverdale has announced the band's return to the stage with the initial series of dates on the 2011 Whitesnake World Tour.

Whitesnake will be introducing new Snakes, drummer Briian Tichy & bass player Michael Devin, alongside guitarists Doug Aldrich & Reb Beach.

The band will be touring in support of their as yet un-named new studio album on the Frontiers label, slated for release in late March of 2011. more on this story

Gorillaz Name Free iPad Album

(Gibson) Damon Albarn has revealed the name of the new Gorillaz album. He told Australia's Triple J radio that the free release due on Christmas Day will be called The Fall.

The name likely comes from when it was recorded. The Fall was mostly made during Albarn's band's autumn tour of North America.

As previously reported, the album can be downloaded for free at http://Gorillaz.com starting on December 25. During the radio interview, Albarn confirmed that most of the album was made using an iPad, although a few tweaks were added later. more on this story

Last Week's Bruce Springsteen Intimate Show Video Online

(Gibson) The small, intimate Bruce Springsteen show we told you about last week has been released online. Recently, the Boss teamed up with the Darkness on the Edge of Town-era E Street Band members (Steve Van Zandt, Clarence Clemons, Max Weinberg, Garry W. Tallent and Roy Bittan, plus Charles Giordano, filling in for the late Danny Federici) to play songs from the new/old release The Promise.

The band was augmented by a horn section and Jackson Browne sideman David Lindley on violin, which he played on the Darkness sessions.

The concert took place in front of a select group of 60 people at Asbury Park, New Jersey's Carousel House. Selections from the show, totaling 30 minutes, are now available through VEVO (www.vevo.com). Watch the performance here

Corey Taylor Wins Moral Victory Against Simon Cowell

(Rock AAA) X-Factor winner Matt Cardle has announced he'll donate money raised from his Christmas single to cancer charity in a clear moral victory for Corey Taylor's seasonal campaign.

XM@$ is currently at No.34 in the chart, and there's time to get it up to the top.

The charity decision is likely to come direct from TV gameshow owner Simon Cowell – because under the terms of Cardle's contract he's to receive any hard cash himself for months to come. Corey says: "Surprise surprise – but at least the charities benefit." more on this story

R.E.M. Set Album Release and Offer Free Download

(Gibson) R.E.M.'s new album, Collapse Into Now, has a release date. The album, the alt-rock legends' 15th studio effort, will hit stores and online retailers on March 7.

And, to whet fans' appetites, the band are offering a free download of the song "Discoverer." By entering an e-mail address at www.REMhq.com, listeners can get a taste of the new record.

Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Co. recorded the album in Berlin, New Orleans and Nashville with producer Jacknife Lee. Special guests on the release include Eddie Vedder, Patti Smith, Lenny Kaye and Peaches. more on this story

Being Poor And Famous Is Hell For Twisted Sister's Dee Snider

(Rock AAA) Twisted Sister mainman Dee Snider was reduced to answering phones and posting fliers after his band split up in the 1980s – but he's fought his way back to the top.

And he says the moral of his story is: "Being rich and famous is hard… but being poor and famous is hell."

Snider is currently appearing in the musical Rock of Ages in New York, one of his many recent media roles which include radio presenter, scriptwriter, movie actor and star of a reality TV show. more on this story

U2 Rarities To Be Played On The Vinyl Experience

(Submitted) U2 fan and author John D. Luerssen will bring his extensive collection of U2 rarities to New York's WRXP this Sunday when he is the special guest of "The Vinyl Experience" host Paul Cavalconte.

Among the goodies that NYC area listeners can hear on 101.9 FM (and stream live via www.1019rxp.com) this Sunday include U2's 1978 demo "Street Missions," a 1979 track from the group's CBS Eire debut EP Three, the band's long disowned 1982 A-side "A Celebration" and more.

In a special segment of "The Vinyl Experience" dedicated to Luerssen's new 450+ page book, U2 FAQ: Anything You'd Ever Want To Know About The World's Biggest Band And More (Backbeat), Cavalconte and Luerssen talk at length about the accomplishments of U2 and the impact the Dublin band has had on the rock world since it first came together at a non-secular arts high school in Dublin in 1976. The show airs Sunday at 9 a.m. more on this story

Motorhead's Lemmy Coming To The Big Screen

Lemmy Kilmister is headed to the big screen this winter, as the new documentary "Lemmy: 49% Motherf**ker, 51% Son Of A Bitch" (Damage Case Films/Megaforce) is confirmed for theatrical bookings around the country.

The first round of screenings to be announced include New York City (Cinema Village, opening Jan. 28), Austin (The Draft House Downtown, Jan. 14-21), Seattle (Film Forum, Feb. 4-10), Portland, OR (Clinton St. Theater, Jan. 14-21), and Atlanta (The Plaza Theatre, opening Jan. 14). More cities to be announced soon.

Critics around the world can't get enough of "Lemmy." The film won the Best Documentary prize at the In Edit Film Festival in Santiago, Chile last weekend, and it's been a major hit at dozens of other international festivals, including screenings in France, England, Germany, Spain, Australia, The Netherlands, and South Korea. Currently in theaters in the U.K., "Lemmy" has recently sold-out screenings in Paris, Berlin and Tokyo, where it was rated by one firm as the second most popular film in theaters last weekend. more on this story

Watch Roger Waters Appearance On Conan

(hennemusic) Roger Waters made a rare TV appearance on Conan on Wednesday night. There were moments of fun and serious talk through the interview and, naturally, much of the conversation was based on The Wall and Roger's current tour.

Waters spoke of his original inspiration for the concept album, its relevance today and its influence 30 years after its release.

As for the tour, there was talk of Roger meeting veterans backstage during the show's intermission, as well as his support the local music groups that accompany him for "Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2." check it out here

Sammy Hagar Sets Autobiography Release Date

(hennemusic) Sammy Hagar's autobiography "RED: My Uncensored Life In Rock," is set for release on Saturday, March 12, 2011 through HarperCollins.

In the book, Hagar tells the outrageous and unbelievable stories of his rise through rock music, detailing how his voice became recognizable all over the world, starting with his early days with Montrose, to a solo career, and then with Van Halen.

Readers can expect behind the scenes stories from Sammy's days with Van Halen, one of the biggest rock groups in history, as Hagar tells of the global stadium tours, private jets, parties, and of course the ups and downs that came with fame and success. more on this story

Anniversary of Big Country's Stuart Adamson Death

(Gibson) Big Country guitarist and singer, Stuart Adamson was found dead on this day in 2001. His body was found in a hotel near the Honolulu International airport. He'd been missing for some time, disappearing after watching the Republic of Ireland play Iran in a World Cup qualifying match on television in a bar on November 15.

His estranged wife, stylist Melanie Shelley, had reported him missing on November 26 and The Tennessean newspaper reported that the couple had already separated and were filing for divorce. A concerned manager, Ian Grant, and fellow band members pleaded with Adamson to get in touch via their website.

He was not heard from again until the discovery of his body in the hotel in Hawaii. Adamson was found at the Best Western Plaza Hotel on the floor of his room's closet with a rope around his neck. An autopsy showed that the cause of death was confirmed as asphyxia due to hanging. more on this story

The Drive-By Truckers Go-Go Boots Tour

(Thirty Tigers) The Drive-By Truckers have announced the first leg of their Go-Go Boots tour.

The band will kick of the 15 dates on February 25th with a two-night stand in Chicago, IL at the Vic Theater; they will also do two-night stands in San Francisco, CA and Denver, CO. The Heartless Bastards will support through March 18th.

ATO Records will release Go-Go Boots, on February 15, 2011. Go-Go Boots is their eleventh record and was produced by their longtime producer, David Barbe (Deerhunter, Bettye LaVette, Sugar). more on this story

Arson Anthem Heading South

Arson Anthem have announced a string of new headlining tour dates that will take them through the Southern U.S. at the end of January 2011.

Joining them on the tour will be fellow Housecore Records artists haarp and Warbeast.

The tour begins on January 25th in Spartanburg, SC. A final date is set to be added to the end of the tour more on this story

Liam Gallagher Surprise Pub Gig

(Gibson) Beady Eye singer Liam Gallagher surprised drinkers in a Stockport pub with an impromptu performance.

BBC Manchester reports that the former Oasis star popped into the Town Bar in Heaton Moor after visiting family and gladly chatted with fans and posed for photographs. One fan offered up a guitar to be autographed and Liam Gallagher surprised everyone by performing Oasis and John Lennon tunes with Primal Scream bass player John Mani.

Pub customer Jamie Entwistle said that he rushed to the bar after reading about it on a friend's Facebook page.

The Def Leppard Workout

(Gibson) Fred Turner, formely of Bachman Turner Overdrive and currently of (simply) Bachman & Turner, recently talked about a recent conversation he had with Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott.

"We were doing the High Voltage Festival [in England over the summer] and Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott had the dressing room next to ours," Turner told the Winnipeg Free Press. "I met Joe and said to him: 'You're responsible for 120 pounds.'"

Being from the U.K., the rock veteran thought Turner meant that Elliott owed him money. "You got the wrong idea!" said Turner, laughing. "I took off 120 pounds listening to Hysteria on my treadmill." more on this story

Gang Of Four Tap Hollerado For Tour

(Press Here) Hollerado will be supporting English post-punk legends Gang Of Four on their North American tour this February.

Hollerado are honored to travel alongside the Leeds legends, whose music is openly credited as having inspired countless bands over the last 30 years including Bloc Party and Franz Ferdinand.

Hollerado's profile rose sharply during the latter half of 2010, with the band unveiling its brilliant "Human 8-Bit" video for the track "Americanarama," a video that ended up on Top 10 End-Of-Year lists by Spinner, Paste and many others. more on this story

Twin Atlantic UK Club Tour

Twin Atlantic will be embarking on a headline UK club tour in January, ahead of the release of their debut album in Spring.

The tour kicks off on January 19th in Hull and continues throughout the UK until 13th February.

"We are really looking forward to this tour. We have supported so many bands over the last year with next to no headline shows & that has made us really miss the vibe & community of our wee fan base. This is us getting back to what we do best and it is only made all the better that we have just finished recording our debut full-length album. We will be playing some new songs that define the new direction for us, and we can't wait to let people hear what we have been working on. To top it off, it'll be great to be back on the road with Tom DeLonge and Angels & Airwaves for the shows in Europe."
 - Sam McTrusty, Vocals /Guitars more on this story

Murder By Death To Hit The Road

Murder By Death have confirmed a two-month headlining tour of the US in support of their fifth full-length album, Good Morning, Magpie.

The tour begins February 1st in Lexington, Kentucky at Cosmic Charlie's and currently wraps in Bloomington, Illinois on March 19th at the Castle Theatre.

We've been holed up at home this winter and are itchin' to hit the road," said singer/guitarist Adam Turla. "Can't wait to share in the drunken rock n' roll revelry!" more on this story

Jon Mess and Jonny Craig Return To Dance Gavin Dance For Downtown Battle Mountain Tour

Dance Gavin Dance have announced their upcoming Downtown Battle Mountain Tour 2011, which kicks off March 10th at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, CA.

The tour marks the official return of original front men Jon Mess and Jonny Craig (Emarosa, Isles & Glaciers).

DGD Drummer Matt Mingus tells fans, "We are all really excited to be back with the original line up! The new album is already mostly written and so far we are all very pleased with the way things are turning out! We can't wait for you to hear the finished product!" more on this story

2011 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame: The Alice Cooper Band

The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Class of 2011 was officially announced yesterday and hennemusic posted the bios for each inductee. Here is the bio for The Alice Cooper Band:

Before there was Ozzy Osbourne, Marilyn Manson or KISS, there was Alice Cooper, the original self-proclaimed "rock villain."

Born Vincent Furnier, Cooper and his mighty band of the same name – lead guitarist Glen Buxton, rhythm guitarist Michael Bruce, bass player Dennis Dunaway and drummer Neal Smith – pioneered the dark spectacle of heavy metal with their huge blues-rock sound and extravagant stage show. more on this story

2011 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame: Tom Waits

The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Class of 2011 was officially announced yesterday and hennemusic posted the bios for each inductee. Here is the bio for Tom Waits:

Only one songwriter could be covered by the Ramones ("I Don't Want to Grow Up") and the Eagles ("Ol' '55").

Beginning with his first album in 1973, Tom Waits has carved out a unique place in rock and roll. His music mixes Chicago blues, parlor ballads, beat poetry, pulp-fiction parlance and – when you least expect it – heart-breaking tenderness. His enormously influential live shows combine elements of German cabaret, vaudeville and roadhouse rock. more on this story

2011 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame: Neil Diamond

The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Class of 2011 was officially announced yesterday and hennemusic posted the bios for each inductee. Here is the bio for Neil Diamond:

Neil Diamond's half-century as a prolific singer, songwriter and recording artist (nearly four decades on Columbia Records) is one of the eternal verities of American popular music.

He began taking pre-med studies at New York University, but was interrupted in 1962 by an offer to write songs for $50 a week at 1619 Broadway, the Brill Building. Like many writers there, including fellow Brooklynites Neil Sedaka and Carole King, Diamond was writing as much for himself as for others. more on this story

2011 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame: Leon Russell

The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Class of 2011 was officially announced yesterday and hennemusic posted the bios for each inductee. Here is the bio for Leon Russell:

Leon Russell has been called a rock and roll Renaissance man, and indeed there is little that this piano-playing legend from Oklahoma hasn't done.

He was a busy session musician in Los Angeles in the 1960s, playing on countless records, including many of Phil Spector's greatest productions and hits by the Byrds, Paul Revere and the Raiders and Gary Lewis and the Playboys, as well as George Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh benefit in 1971. more on this story

2011 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame: Dr. John

The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Class of 2011 was officially announced yesterday and hennemusic posted the bios for each inductee. Here is the bio for Dr. John:

New Orleans' own Dr. John has been recording for more than 50 years. He is steeped in the rhythms and traditions of the city, and has spent his career championing its music. As he told New Orleans rhythm & blues historian Jeff Hannusch, "[New Orleans music] is part of whatever I'm about. The importance of it is beyond anything I do."

Born Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, he learned piano and guitar as a child. Schooled by Crescent City legends like Walter "Papoose" Nelson, James Booker and Cosimo Matassa, Rebennack began recording in 1957; between 1956-1963, more than 50 of his songs were recorded in New Orleans. In 1965, Rebennack moved to Los Angeles and worked as a session player. more on this story

2011 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame: Darlene Love

The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Class of 2011 was officially announced yesterday and hennemusic posted the bios for each inductee. Here is the bio for Darlene Love:

Darlene Love was a high-school sophomore in California with a powerful church-choir voice when she joined the popular girl group the Blossoms as their first lead singer in 1958. They shot to immortality in 1962, when producer Phil Spector used them as surrogates on his new Crystals' singles.

With "He's a Rebel" and "He's Sure the Boy I Love," Darlene Love turned into a familiar (though uncredited) voice on radio and records; she also became a member of Spector's Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans. more on this story