Bret Michaels Hospitalized for Stroke- Guns N' Roses Tour Still On- Dead Weather Pearl Jam Fest- AC/DC Still On Top- Dave Matthews Band Tour- Slash on Dio- more

Indie pop/rock act Lydia will be calling it a day. Upon releasing their sophomore full-length in July, the band will hit the road on a final U.S. tour. more -

Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax To Thrash Theaters Around The World

Metallica has good news for fans who are bummed they can't afford to travel to Europe to see them play with Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax: Can't make it to Europe this June for one of the seven Sonisphere "Big Four" shows featuring the 'Tallica along with Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax? No problem . . . we've got the next best thing through the magic of satellite technology with a special HD simulcast from Sofia, Bulgaria on June 22!

Here's how it works: The live show will be transmitted via satellite to over 450 movie theaters in the U.S. and over 350 theaters across Europe, Canada, and Latin America. Within hours of all of us walking off the stage, depending on what time zone you live in, you'll be able to rock out to each set in the cozy confines of your local movie theater that same night.

Now the nitty gritty details: Tickets for the one night only event are available at the local theater box offices and online at thebigfourlive.com where you can see a complete list of presenting theaters. They will start to go on sale Friday, May 21 in the U.S and Friday, May 28 internationally. - more on this story

Vh1 Classic To Tribute Ronnie James Dio This Saturday

VH1 Classic is celebrating the life and career of Ronnie James Dio, the Black Sabbath/Dio/Rainbow/Heaven & Hell singer who lost his battle with cancer last Saturday, with a special tribute, "Dedicated To Dio," on Saturday, May, 22 at 11:30PM*.

Following "That Metal Show" at 11PM*, Vh1 will take viewers on a special half-hour celebration showcasing rare interview footage, including Dio's appearances on "That Metal Show" which is one of his last interviews before his tragic passing, and his classic videos.

Tune in to celebrate the life of the legendary Black Sabbath singer and honor his legacy with his well-known videos "Neon Diver," "Holy Diver," "Hear 'n' Aid" and "The Mob Rules," and never before seen footage from Dio's appearances on "That Metal Show." - more on this story

Ozzy Osbourne Plans Release of Rare Randy Rhoads Footage

BW&BK caught up with Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne and learned some more about the upcoming 30th Anniversary Editions of Ozzy's first two legendary solo albums featuring the late guitarist Randy Rhoads - Blizzard Of Ozz (1980) and Diary Of A Madman (1981), but also learned that there is some rare Randy Rhoads video footage that will see the light of day soon as well. Here is part of their report:

"They definitely are coming out this year," Sharon Osbourne told BraveWords.com earlier this week. "They are coming out for (US) Thanksgiving and they will be on the market then. It's going back to the original recordings with (Bob) Daisley (bass) and (Lee) Kerslake (drums). And there will be a lot of stuff that you haven't heard before in the packages. Like certain conversations that were going on in the studio with the guys just messing around while the tape was still rolling. All of that will be added into it." Ozzy added jokingly - "Do I sing good?" Sharon - "Fabulous!"

There's also talk of some visuals in the archives with Randy Rhoads? "There's two shows that we have in the archives that we are working on right now," Sharon reveals. "Of course in those days, the tapes were like twenty minutes and then you had to change the tape. So we're trying to clean it up, make sense of it. So we are working on it, along with another film we have of Randy. It will all be boxed together and it should be a great piece to have for a real fan. It will be an amazing piece." - more on this story

Avenged Sevenfold's Nightmare Scoring No. 1s

The title track from Avenged Sevenfold's forthcoming album, "Nightmare," is the No. 1 Most Added track at Active Rock Radio in the United States this week.

It is also the No. 1 Rock Song on iTunes in the United States selling over 23,666 units in its first day. Additionally, across the pond in the United Kingdom, "Nightmare" is the No. 1 Rock Song on iTunes.

On the band's official website, www.avengedsevenfold.com, "Nightmare" premiered via a Youtube "Lyric" Video that received over 275,000 plays in 24 hours. - more on this story

Bret Michaels Hospitalized for Stroke, Has A Hole In His Heart

If you missed this report last night, we included part of it in today's quicks but here is the article: Bret Michaels website had this bad news about the Poison frontman/ reality TV star: Bret Michaels was readmitted to the hospital this week after suffering numbness on the left side of his body, predominately his face and hands which doctors described as a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) or warning stroke.

While MRI and CT scan tests were being conducted, Michaels also received a Doppler Ultrasound of his legs and lower abdomen looking for blood clots and most importantly an Ultrasound Bubble Test of his heart was conducted which proved positive for a Patent Forum Ovale (PFO), a hole in the heart.

Dr. Zabramski (Bret's neurosurgeon), Dr. Becker (who ordered the test), Dr. Cook (who conducted the test) and Dr. Frey (Director, Outpatient Stroke Program) all confirmed the results. Dr. Zabramski states "There is no doubt that the positive Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) is devastating news to Bret and his family. The good news is that it is operable and treatable and we think we may have diagnosed the problem that caused the Transient Ischemic Attach (TIA) or warning stroke; however we feel it is highly unlikely this is connected to the brain hemorrhage he suffered just a few weeks earlier. Once again it is great that he quickly reacted to the severe numbness and got to the hospital immediately." - more on this story

Stork Causes Change in Muse Tour Plans

Muse must cancel two dates and reschedule two dates on the thir upcoming headlining tour of the U.S. due to the arrival of a new member of the Muse family. Bassist Chris Wolstenholme is expecting a child with wife Kelly in November of 2010.

As a result, the following tour dates have changed: The November 2nd show in Kansas City, MO, and the November 3rd show in St. Louis, MO, will be cancelled with ticket refunds at point of purchase.

The November 5th show in Columbus, OH, will be moved up to October 12th and the November 6th show in Cincinnati moved up to October 11th. - more on this story

Singled Out: We Are Scientists' Nice Guys

Welcome to Singled Out! where we ask artists to tell us the inside story of their latest single. Today We Are Scientists frontman Keith Murray tells us about "Nice Guys," the new singled from their forthcoming new album "Barbara". We now turn it over to for the story:

Recently, a friend of mine was the object of romantic pursuit by a guy who seemed like an objectively good catch, but, despite his numerous recommending traits, she simply couldn't seem to bring herself around to him. She thought he was "great," sure, but, when pressed, she insisted that, he was ultimately "just too nice." As a self-diagnosed nice guy, I was stricken by her assessment. Had I been unwittingly sabotaging my own romantic viability through years of spineless deference and unchallenging chivalry? Clearly, I had. Girls hate nice guys. At least I knew it now, though, and could subsequently use that knowledge against the rest of the world's population of perfectly pleasant gentleman callers. "Nice Guys," then, is my call to arms to those poor saps, my encouragement that they continue their nice, faulty courting practices, thereby thinning the herd of legitimately attractive romantic competitors who might someday come between me and some hot chick.

Musically, I just wanted the song to sound like something the late, great Oxford Collapse would have written. Just for clarification, the guys in Oxford Collapse aren't dead. The band has simply broken up. The members are all alive and well, despite having temporarily moved to places like Pittsburgh.

For further clarification, I just want to point out that all of us in We Are Scientists really love Pittsburgh. Once, many years ago, we had a marvelously cheap breakfast of ludicrous proportions there, and we still talk about it fondly, on occasion. We also named a song on our new record "Pittsburgh." The song is about sex.

We'll be back with another story from Keith around the time the album hits stores (June 15th). But for now, hearing is believing- Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and check out the video - right here!

Eels Announce World Tour and New Album

Eels are set to embark on a world tour August 3 in support of their forthcoming new album entitled Tomorrow Morning, which is set for release on August 24th.

Eels leader Mark Oliver Everett, aka E calls the 14 track album the final installment of a trilogy that began with Hombre Lobo (June 2009) and End Times (January 2010). Following a four year absence, Tomorrow Morning will be the third new Eels album in a little over a year and a half and will be released on the Eels' E Works Records label.

The world tour starts in Santa Ana, California, hitting Japan, Australia, Europe, United States and Canada. It will be the first time EELS have performed live since the release of Hombre Lobo, End Times and the new album. - more on this story

Metric Pen Theme Song For The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Film

A brand-new track by Metric will be featured as the theme song for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. The song, titled "Eclipse (All Yours)", was co-written by Metric lead singer Emily Haines and guitarist Jimmy Shaw with legendary film composer Howard Shore, who wrote the acclaimed score for the Lord of the Rings film trilogy among many others.

"I've always wanted to write music for a film, but I never expected to start with something on this scale," said Emily Haines about the soundtrack. "I don't have to tell you what an honor it was to be hand-picked by Howard to do this work. We are massively grateful for the opportunity."

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack will be released on June 8, 2010 via Chop Shop/Atlantic. The first single from the album will be Muse's "Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever)". Metric's "Eclipse (All Yours)" will be featured along with music from such major artists as Vampire Weekend, Muse, The Black Keys, Bat for Lashes, Florence and the Machine, Band of Horses and The Dead Weather. - more on this story

Mogwai Announce Concert Film and Live Album

Mogwai have announced an August 24th release date for their first official live concert film release "Burning" with accompanying live album Special Moves.

The film, directed by Vincent Moon and Nathanael Le Scouarnac of the world-renowned La Blogotheque's Take-Away Shows, was shot at the band's sold-out three-night residency at Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg in April 2009. - more on this story

New Danzig Songs To Premieres This Week

Danzig will premiere two new songs this week. First up, Danzig's new song "On A Wicked Night" off of his Deth Red Saboth album will have its worldwide premiere this weekend (5/21-5/23) on Full Metal Jackie's syndicated metal radio program.

Another track from the album, called "The Revengeful," will be premiered Monday, 5/24 on Sirius Satellite Radio.

Danzig recently announced a special nine-city concert trek that will kick off in Norfolk, VA on June 15. The dates, played to usher in the release of Deth Red Sabaoth (evilive/The End Records), Danzig's first new studio album in six years, will feature long-time Danzig cohort, guitarist Tommy Victor (Prong, Ministry), drummer Johnny Kelly (Type O Negative) and former Samhaim bandmate, bassist Steve Zing. - more on this story

Minus the Bear Extend Tour Another Month

Minus the Bear announce the addition of four weeks worth of tour dates on their already successful North American headlining tour.

Currently on the west coast with upcoming shows at The Mayan Theatre in Los Angeles and a performance at this year's Sasquatch! Music Festival, the band is on the road in support of their new album OMNI, which debuted in the Top 50 of the Billboard Top 200.

The new set of dates begin June 25th in Victoria, BC and include a performance at this year's Lollapalooza. - dates

Behind the Video: Reggie Watt's F_ck Sh_t Stack

Earlier this week funny man Reggie Watts told us about "F_ck Sh_t Stack" from his brand new album "Why $#!+ So Crazy?" Today he helps us kick off our brand new "Behind the Video" series by giving us the inside story behind the video from the song. Here you go!

A lot of [the video] was honestly the ideas of Ben Dickenson and Duncan Sciles the directors, they were the ones who proposed a lot of it. For me the elements that I wanted to be in there was the dance element. My friend Amy O'Neill a choreographer and lead dancer was always someone that I wanted to work with, in that context. I always wanted her to be in that video when I got to make it. Walking around Williamsburg was my idea, I definitely wanted to have this hip hop "hood" type of thing going on. Just a lot of the standard pastiches. But a lot of the stuff like the cartoon stuff, the woman with the lampshade on her head, that was all Duncan and Ben and there crazy ideas. They're video masters so I just trusted them.

The Circus performers just kinda go along with the idea of the song. I think what they did when they came up with these ideas, the clown and the unicyclist, if you look at the party and you see all of these construction workers and different people. It imitates the absurdity of the song. I think the clown has a double meaning. Essentially when hip hop gets to that level, and you start seeing all of these videos with all this materialism and all of these girls dancing, essentially they are just clowns. And yeah there is a lot of skill and I am not doubting that, but what you choose to do with those resources is quite another thing. So I think it's just me poking fun at that idea and they just picked up on and embodied it.

Part of me always believed that if we could make a "f*** s*** stack" video, people would really like it. But always really wanted it to be the right people doing it, and luckily and thankfully I got hooked up with the right people. I really love the video we came up with and it's a great feeling to have where people associate with something a larger experience they can get into.

Now that you know the story behind this video, you can watch it for yourself - right here!

Sodom Forced To Pull U.S. Dates

Due to Visa problems, German thrasher Sodom have been forced to cancel their upcoming U.S. dates. The dates affected include May 26th in Hollywood, CA, May 28th in New York, NY, and their appearance at Maryland Deathfest scheduled for May 29th.

Sodom have issued a statement on the tour cancellation: "Due to solid problems with our local tour promoter and getting our Visa in time, we are forced to cancel the upcoming shows. We already had our suitcases packed and were ready to go. We are awfully sorry to take these steps, but everybody acquainted with the entering provisions of the USA knows what we're talking about.

"We are deeply disappointed by this situation, but in the end there's the awareness, that not everything is done to our entire satisfaction. We are only the musicians, who would have loved to rock the USA again. - more on this story

Darker My Love Announce New Album, Tour and Free Download

Darker My Love have announced the release of their new album, Alive As You Are, which will hit stores on August 17th on Dangerbird Records.

To get fans excited, the band is offering the driving new track Dear Author, a song full of stomp, hypnotic arrangements and soulful harmonies, for free download more

Beginning June 4th in Dublin, Ireland, the band will head out on a six-date run with Band of Horses throughout the United Kingdom. A full North American tour to be announced shortly. - more on this story

Pentagram Announce US Dates With Black Tusk

Pentagram have just announced the Southern US tour dates with Relapse recording artist Black Tusk.

This tour will kick-off in Raleigh, NC and finish at the Maryland Deathfest. A listing of confirmed tour dates and cities can be found - here

Gong Add New Date to Fall Tour

Progressive/psychedelic rockers Gong have added a fourth date to their forthcoming UK tour at the newly refurbished Birmingham HMV Institute venue on Monday September 20th, shortly after the venue's grand opening night of Friday September 17th.

Gong first played at the Birmingham venue back in 1968, when it was known as the Digbeth Civic Hall. Support for all four UK concerts comes from very special guests Nik Turner's Space Ritual

The forthcoming UK tour will reunite core GONG members, including original founding member Daevid Allen (Guitar, Lead Vocal), Steve Hillage (Lead Guitar), Gilli Smyth (Space Whisper, Poetry) and Miquette Giraudy (Synthesizer). The band will also feature Chris Taylor (Drums), Dave Sturt (Bass) and Ian East (Sax, Flute). - more on this story

Taroot To Fuel Wrestling Event

Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling have announced the selection of Taproot's single, "Fractured (Everything I Said Was True)" as the theme song for the TNA Pay-Per-View summer event, "Slammiversary".

In celebration of TNA Wrestling's 8 years of non-stop action, this three-hour epic event will feature Hulk Hogan, Rob Can Dam, AJ Styles, Jeff Hardy, Desmond Wolfe, The Pope, Ric Flair, Sting, and Jeff Jarrett among other TNA superstars. Live from Universal Studios in Orlando, FL, "Slammiversary" will broadcast on Sunday, June 13th. - more on this story

Fight Fair Attempt To Mix The Ramones With The Beach Boys On Upcoming Debut

Fight Fair look to bring that care free beach aesthetic back on their debut LP, California Kicks, on June 29th through Triple Crown Records.

The album came to life in San Diego with Mike Green (Paramore, Yellowcard) on pre-production and mixing. Brian Grider, who also produced the band's 2008 Settle The Score EP, produced the record. On their 11-track LP Fight Fair fuses their current punk influences with records and lifestyle of the '60s surf community.

"We wanted to take music back to its roots and do something that's classic but original for the modern times right now. And also mix it with a kind of aggressive early punk style—it's like mixing the Ramones with like The Beach Boys. We just wanted to do our own style and really make something cool that people could relate to and have fun over the summer, go to the beach," says Alex Bigman, Fight Fair's vocalist. - more on this story

This Or The Apocalypse Premiere New Song

This Or The Apocalypse will debut a brand new track today on Myspace, entitled 'Charmer' from their Good Fight Music debut, Haunt What's Left.

Haunt What's Left is produced by Josh Wilbur and Lamb Of God's Chris Adler, and is set to hit stores on June 22nd, 2010.

When asked to comment on 'Charmer', Adler stated, "This is the s*** that makes me get up in the morning. This is not the hit, this is not the second single, this is not the third – it is the 'shedding skin' tune. This gives me goose bumps and makes me jealous." - more on this story

Armored Saint Select Holy Grail for Show Support

Holy Grail has been hand-picked to open for metal icons Armored Saint at their only show this year - Friday, May 28th at the House Of Blues - Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, CA.

Armored Saint's Joey Vera commented, "When I heard Holy Grail, it reminded me of 1982 all over again, which was a great time for the beginning of heavy metal in the U.S. The band's riffs are both timeless in their familiarity, and a breath of fresh air."

Holy Grail frontman James Paul Luna added, "Opening for Armored Saint is such an honor, it's like living the dream. I can't believe they actually know who we are! I'm truly psyched for this one - it's a great match-up. I just hope I get to meet the band!" - more on this story

Lez Zeppelin Founder Announces New Solo Album

Lisa Brigantino, singer-songwriter/composer/multi-instrumentalist and former founding member of Lez Zeppelin (the all girl, Led Zeppelin tribute band), announces the release of her latest solo CD "Wonder Wheel," an eclectic collection of original songs ranging from Rock to Folk, Pop to Blues, plus Old-Time, Americana and more.

The album will officially be released on June 7th, 2010. Brigantino's debut album "A Brooklyn Night" received great reviews and international airplay and garnered a Citation of Merit from past Brooklyn Borough President Howard Golden.

"Wonder Wheel" was recorded and produced by Brigantino and husband Tomi Millioto in their Brooklyn studio. The album contains 13 tracks all written and performed by Brigantino with guest performances by Tomi Millioto, Lori Brigantino, Susan Haefner and Jerry Snee. - more on this story

Conil To Bring His anti-James Blunt Sounds to Festival Goers on Both Sides of the Pond

Conil has been called "the anti-James Blunt" for his dark, edgy, late-night music inspired by his "Strange Part Of The Country", the title of his debut full length disc on UK label Great Hare Records.

The new single, "Devil Leaving", features Peter Gabriel's band (since Gabriel left them at home while on his latest world tour which features Gabriel and an orchestra, but no drums or guitars), and was also produced by Blake. The result is a gumbo of cerebral and otherworldly rock music by a man with a raw and unique voice.

This summer will be a busy time for Conil as he treks across the UK to appear at numerous festivals as well as several US festivals. He will also have the honor of appearing at Lake Of Stars in Malawi. - more on this story

Eagle Rock Launch This is the Blues Series

Eagle Rock will celebrate the blues on June 22 when the first two CDs of its exciting new series This is the Blues are released. These are the songs that sting, burn, and hurt so good, performed by the artists who studied it, and expanded upon it.

This Is The Blues presents a musical collective interpreting some of the greatest blues and blues-rock tunes of all time. Classics written by the likes of Robert Johnson, Willie Dixon, T-Bone Walker, Peter Green, and John Lee Hooker are honored with performances by a gathering of supreme musicians in modern rock and blues.

Volume 1 features Jeff Beck, Chris & Mick Jagger, Mick Taylor, Gary Moore, Harvey Mandel, and T.S. McPhee, while Volume 2 boasts Rory Gallagher, Jack Bruce, "Lonesome" Dave Peverett, Southside Johnny and honorees John Lee Hooker and Peter Green, in addition to many others. Volumes 3 and 4 will be released on July 20. - more on this story

(Hed)pe Announce New Compilation CD/DVD Details

(Hed)pe have revealed the track listing for their upcoming career spanning greatest hits package, "Major Pain 2 Indee Freedom".

The two disc CD/DVD package, which lands in stores on June 22nd through Suburban Noize. The album collects all the songs that have made (Hed)pe an underground force for over 13 years, along with a DVD that captures the band's live show.

"The reason we wanted to release a compilation album right now, was to give something back to the fans. We really appreciate all the support we get, and we wanted to put out a proper compilation album that the band had a hand in putting together," commented Jahred. "Previously one of our former labels put out a compilation album without our input. This is all about giving the fans one package with tons of music and video content, while giving it to them at a discounted price. We're also excited to offer fans a pre-order package, where they can order VIP passes with the album and meet the band face to face. We're currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on our eighth studio album, and then we head out on the Strange Noize 3 Tour with Kutt Calhoun." - more on this story