BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: Annual School Gig

Bruce Springsteen held his annual fundraiser for the New Jersey school his son attends Saturday night at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park. Joining him on drums was the E Street Band's Max Weinberg. Southside Johnny sang with Springsteen on a number of songs, including "In the Midnight Hour" and "Detroit Medley." Southside also played a number of his own songs, including "Talk to Me" and "I Don't Want to Go Home."

Setlist:

Source: Backstreets.com

ROD STEWART: Leaving L.A.?

Rod Stewart is packing up his Los Angeles home and heading back to England full-time, according to London's Daily Mail. Stewart and his wife, Penny Lancaster, apparently want their four-year-old son Alastair to be educated there. Penny is expecting their second child in February.

The Daily Mail also says Penny underwent in-vitro fertilization to become pregnant for the second time. And she says that cutting seafood from her diet helped. "My doctor said it was unhealthy to have so much mercury in my body, and also for conceiving babies. After two months of not eating fish, my mercury levels dropped by half, which is scary -- I had no idea what the fish had been doing to my body."

RONNIE WOOD: Was It Brown Sugar?

First there was a story that Keith Richards snorted his father's ashes. Now we hear that his Rolling Stones cohort Ronnie Wood, during his darkest days, smoked sugar. Wood tells the U.K.'s News of the World, "It got to the point where I would be on my hands and knees looking for crumbs that might have fallen out of the crack pipe. I even banned my children eating meringues in the house after I ended up smoking sugar, believing it to be cocaine."

DEF LEPPARD: Pour Some Suds On Me

Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott will launch his own brand of beer tomorrow at the Porterhouse restaurant in Dublin. He says, "Over the years I've noticed a lot of musicians putting their names to a variety of wines, which ... is not very rock and roll, is it? Beer or lager seem to be the drink of choice at nearly every gig I've ever played or attended, so for me it's a much cooler thing to do."

The beer, described as "a pilsner style" that has "a deep, rich malt character with generous hop bitterness," will be available only at Porterhouse locations.

Artists with their own line of wine include Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, Mick Fleetwood, The Doobie Brothers, The Rolling Stones, Journey keyboard player Jonathan Cain, Paul Stanley of KISS, KISS, Eddie Money, John Lodge of The Moody Blues, Mick Hucknall of Simply Red and Jim Kerr of Simple Minds.  Source: Classic Rock magazine

BOB DYLAN, PT. I: Adds More Dates

Bob Dylan is adding more dates to his fall tour, which will start in Florida on October 6th.

Dylan will release the next installment in his Bootleg Series -- The Witmark Demos -- on October 19th.

BOB DYLAN, PT. II: Dylan Manhole Covers

Bob Dylan’s hometown of Duluth, Minnesota, is honoring him in the street. Two manhole covers inspired by the lyrics of Dylan’s classic tune “Subterranean Homesick Blues” have been cast in iron. They show a candle and a pair of feet wearing sandals. “Subterranean Homesick Blues” has the line: “Better jump down a manhole/Light yourself a candle/Don’t wear sandals/Try to avoid the scandals.” The manhole covers will be installed later this year on Bob Dylan Way.

R.E.M.: New DVD

R.E.M. will release a DVD of their 2008 Austin City Limits performance on October 26th. The live performance took place March 13th during SXSW and in the run-up to their last studio album, “Accelerate.” “R.E.M. Live From Austin, TX” includes three songs not shown in the PBS broadcast. R.E.M. is currently in the studio working on a new album, due in 2011. A brief video clip was posted online over the weekend of the band in the studio.

JOHN LENNON: Pen Serenaded By Christina Aguilera

AEROSMITH: Hey Jealousy

According to someone who's worked closely with Aerosmith, guitarist Joe Perry is jealous of Steven Tyler and the possibility of his becoming a judge on American Idol. The band's former A&R man, John Kalodner, tells the New York Post that Tyler has always "sought Hollywood recognition, and now he can get that." He adds that Perry is "completely wrong; it's jealousy. He's ultra pissed off."

But Kalodner doesn't think much of Perry's threats of Aerosmith continuing with another singer. "If [Steven] makes a giant success as a TV personality, he won't want to go back on the road. And there is no Aerosmith without Steven Tyler. Period."

Aerosmith are down to the last two shows of their Cocked, Locked, Ready to Rock tour -- tomorrow in Edmonton and Thursday in Vancouver.

BACHMAN & TURNER: Randy's Dream Band

Randy Bachman describes his reunion with BTO's Fred Turner as "fabulous." But he tells us he has a "dream band" he'd love to put together -- "even if it's just one show for charity."

That band would consist of Bachman, Turner, Randy's former Guess Who bandmate Burton Cummings and Neil Young. "Four guys with completely different voices from the same '60s era in Winnipeg who've known each other for decades, it'd be an incredible evening"

Of course, Bachman realizes that getting all of them together would probably present a scheduling nightmare.

ERIC CLAPTON: The Trail of Bonus Tracks

Eric Clapton is offering up a few bonus tracks with the release of his new album, Clapton. The deluxe version contains one bonus track, "You Better Watch Yourself," and the digital version comes with another, "I Was Fooled."

Clapton will be out on September 28th. Source: WheresEric.com

ALICE COOPER: Feels for Tiger

Avid golfer Alice Cooper feels bad for Tiger Woods and his marital problems. Cooper, who's been married for 34 years and has never cheated on his wife, tells London's Sun, "Tiger has played nothing but golf since he was five. He had no teenage life. Now he's a star, he's expressing his teenage libido. I don't know why he got married in the first place."

HUEY LEWIS: Narrating Harmonica Movie

Huey Lewis will narrate a film about harmonicas. “Pocket Full of Soul” focuses on musicians who play the harmonica. John Popper of Blues Traveler, Taylor Hicks, James Cotton, Lee Oskar from War, Kim Wilson of The Fabulous Thunderbirds and Magic Dick from the J. Geils Band appear in it. A release date has not yet been announced.

DOOBIE BROTHERS: Tap Willie Nelson For New CD

The Doobie Brothers have recruited Willie Nelson to help out on “World Gone Crazy,” the group’s first new album in over a decade. Willie co-wrote a duet, “I Know We Won,” with Doobie members Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons. The new disc, due out September 28th, also includes a track featuring former Doobie Brother Michael McDonald, who helps out with backing vocals on “Don’t Say Goodbye.”

PAUL McCARTNEY: Helps On Son’s EP

Paul McCartney has helped produced a new EP for his son, James McCartney. “Available Light” will be the first official release from the younger McCartney, though he’s an established musician that has appeared on some of his father’s albums. “Available Light” features four original compositions from James McCartney, as well as a cover of Neil Young’s “Old Man.”

PHIL COLLINS: Had To Tape Drum Sticks To Hands

Phil Collins says he was forced to tape drum sticks to his hands in order to play on his new album. The 59-year-old was unable to grip the sticks on his own, due to the after-effects of spinal surgery that he underwent following the last Genesis tour. “It’s the only way I can play,” Collins said. “It wasn’t particularly comfortable but I managed to get the right noise and the performance I wanted.” The condition did not deter Collins from recording “Going Back,” an album of Motown covers. Collins says it’s a project he wanted to do his entire life. The album is due out tomorrow.

ROD STEWART: Rod And Wife Battle For Baby

Rod Stewart and his expectant wife Penny Lancaster battled for two years to have another child before turning to in-vitro fertilization. Stewart’s wife is pregnant with the couple’s second child, which is due next March. They already share four-year-old Alastair and were desperate to give him a younger sibling, but the pair had to seek medical help after Lancaster failed to get pregnant naturally. The couple battled through two courses of IVF before she successfully conceived on the third attempt.

OZZY: Fall Concert Dates

Ozzy Osbourne will return to North America for a month-long arena tour starting November 12th in Victoria, British Columbia. Dates are scheduled through December 12th in Minneapolis, but more are on the way. The tour, in support of Ozzy's album Scream, will feature special guest Halford, led by Judas Priest singer Rob Halford.

GENE SIMMONS: Doing What He Does Best -- Talking

Gene Simmons has signed on as the keynote speaker at the inaugural American Music Conference in Los Angeles on November 19th. Organizers hope to bring together artists, label chiefs, agents, managers and other industry pros.

Simmons is on tour with KISS with shows in Toronto tonight (Friday); Clarkston, Michigan, on Saturday; and Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, on Sunday

LED ZEPPELIN: Reunion Footage Coming

A source close to Led Zeppelin tells us they recently viewed the footage of their 2007 reunion show in London. Everyone was happy with what they saw, and there are plans to release it. It's just a matter of when.

RONNIE JAMES DIO: More Posthumous Releases

There are more Ronnie James Dio posthumous releases in the works in addition to the Dio at Donnington collection due in November. His widow and manager Wendy Dio says the Dio band's debut album, Holy Diver, will be issued on vinyl in November, and next year we'll see the release of a 16-CD or vinyl collection called For the Record: The Complete Dio Vinyl Collection as well as The Complete Bootleg box.

Also in the works is Ronnie's memoir, most of which was completed before his death last May from cancer. Source: Rolling Stone

THE BEATLES: Influential? No Kidding

Here's a shocker -- The Beatles are the most influential artist of the last 50 years, according to a poll conducted by the lighter company Zippo. They took in 27 percent of the vote, followed by Queen with 19 percent, The Rolling Stones with 10 percent, David Bowie at 4.7 percent and Jimi Hendrix with 4.4 percnet.

Another Zippo poll asked which song is the most popular one to wave your lighter to, and the winner was Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" followed by Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" and Meat Loaf's "I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)."

RUSH: Classic Gesture and Classic Albums

Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson has donated one of his original paintings to the Kidney Foundation of Canada's E-Bay auction. Proceeds from the auction, which runs from October 21st to the 31st, will fund research.

Rush will have two albums dissected in the Classic Album series -- 2112 and Moving Pictures. They'll be simultaneously released on DVD and Blu-ray via Eagle Rock Entertainment's Eagle Vision subsidiary on September 28th. --Sal Cirrincione

RONNIE JAMES DIO: The First Posthumous Release

The first posthumous Ronnie James Dio release will be a double-live album, according to England's Classic Rock magazine. Dio at Donington UK: Live in 1983 and 1987 will be out on November 9th. It features him and his band performing at the Monsters of Rock Festival.

Dio died in May from cancer earlier this year at age 67.

LOU REED: Spoils Susan Boyle's 'Perfect Day'

Lou Reed put the kibosh on Susan Boyle's plans to cover his "Perfect Day" last night on America's Got Talent. According to TMZ, Boyle arrived on the show's set prepared to perform the tune, but producers were still waiting for word to see if Reed would allow it. It turns out Lou isn't a Boyle fan and said no, prompting the singer to break down in tears and leave not only the building, but the country. Boyle was reportedly still in tears as she waited to catch a flight back to London.

AEROSMITH: Perry Is Pissed

The more interviews Aerosmith's Joe Perry gives, the angrier he gets about Steven Tyler's reportedly becoming an American Idol judge. He tells the Calgary Herald, "After the gig in Vancouver (on September 16th), I don't have a job with Aerosmith... I don't know when we'll be out there again, the five of us, so we'll be playing with everything we've got."

Perry doesn't believe Tyler can balance Idol and Aerosmith. "When we decided to do this tour...we basically laid out plans for the next two years. And when...one of the band members knows full well he's signed a contract that's taking him out of the music business for up to seven months of the year -- that kind of throws a wrench into things... I'm not going to sit around for two years waiting for him to come back... [You've got] four guys that are great together, and if you find the right singer, there's no reason you can't go and entertain people."

Aerosmith is in Winnipeg tonight.

PAUL McCARTNEY: Another DC Honor

Paul McCartney will be among those receiving Kennedy Center Honors in December. Joining the former Beatle will be Oprah Winfrey and country singer Merle Haggard. The ceremony will take place on December 5th and will air on CBS later in the month. The medallions will actually be presented on December 4th at a State Department dinner hosted by Hillary Clinton.

McCartney says, "President Kennedy was such an icon for us in the '60s, and his presidency was so inspiring for so many people that it is a great pleasure for this kid from Liverpool to receive this honor."

Previous recipients include Brian Wilson, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.

This June, Macca was at the White House to receive the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

JOHN LENNON: Killer Denied Parole

Mark David Chapman, who shot and killed John Lennon 30 years ago this December 8th, was denied parole yesterday for the sixth time. The 55-year-old Chapman had been scheduled to go before the parole board last month, but the hearing was postponed until yesterday.

BEATLES: Famed Venue Burns To The Ground

The Kingsway Club, one of the first venues to host a Beatles lineup that featured Ringo Starr, was destroyed by fire on Monday night. According to local media, the fire was so bad that it took seven fire engines and two aerial units, along with the pouring rain, to bring the raging fire under control. The venue hosted Beatles shows in the early-1960s, following the departure of original drummer Pete Best and the addition of Starr. The club also hosted shows by Tom Jones. However, the dilapidated building had been condemned and scheduled for demolition.

ROLLING STONES: Heading Out Next Year?

Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts says talks are under way for the band to hit the road next year or the year after. He tells the French newspaper Le Parisien, "We've reached an age where you can't look too far into the future." Watts will turn 70 next June. The Stones' last tour was A Bigger Bang in 2005, '06 and '07.

ELO: Founding Member Killed In Freak Accident?

We’ll wait to see if the rumors are true but a founding member of the band ELO has reportedly been killed in a freak accident. A giant bale of hay weighing over 1,000 lbs. rolled down a steep hill in southern England and killed Mike Edwards, ELO’s cellist from 1972-1975. The bale crashed through a hedge and onto the highway, striking Edwards van. He is believed to have swerved into another vehicle as the bale crushed his cab. Edwards, 62, died instantly. Police are investigating whether the bale may have fallen from a tractor working on farmland near the road.

RUSH: Review from Syracuse Post Standard critic on Syracuse.com

I made it out to the show on Thursday night, and stayed for both sets.  I declined to take notes however, hoping that there would be a professional review in the Syracuse Post-Standard and a full set list on setlist.com, and there was both!

Of course, another contributing factor was the fact that I got to the show a few songs late and was uncertain how many songs I’d missed (as it turns out, just one, “The Spirit Of Radio,” which opened the show).  Pretty good review.  The only thing the author got wrong is that Geddy Lee was, “adding dreamy keyboards,” not Alex Lifeson (unless I also missed a keyboard solo by Alex, but somehow, I doubt it).

RUSH: link to the concert review in the Syracuse Post-Standard

http://blog.syracuse.com/entertainment/2010/09/rush_treats_syracuse_fans_to_r.html

RUSH: Setlist Link

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/rush/2010/new-york-state-fairgrounds-syracuse-ny-33d5f07d.html

ERIC CLAPTON: Preview and Recall

You can preview four tracks from Eric Clapton's forthcoming album, Clapton, on the Where's Eric website. The songs are "Run Back to Your Side," "Autumn Leaves," "Diamonds Made from Rain" and "Travelin' Alone." Clapton hits stores on September 28th.

GUNS N ROSES: Axl Late? Then Walks Off Stage? No Way!

Another Guns n' Roses show, another Axl Rose tantrum. On Wednesday night, Rose arrived on stage an hour late at Dublin's O2 Arena and then admonished the crowded during the second song, "Welcome to the Jungle," telling them to stop throwing bottles. He threatened, "One more bottle up here and we go." And while he was introducing the band, another bottle was thrown, so Rose left the stage. The house lights came up and much of the crowd booed and left. The promoters wouldn't let Rose leave until he finished the gig, so the band went back on stage an hour later to a mostly empty venue.

Local politicians are calling for the band and promoters to refund money to concertgoers.

EAGLES: Two Go It Alone

Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh will take time out from the Eagles to perform Saturday night at the Jazz Aspen Snowmass festival in Aspen, Colorado. Speaking to the Denver Post Walsh says, "We haven't played a Glenn-and-Joe show for a while. They're always fun, and they give us a chance to open up for a while and not pay such close attention to the details." Frey and Walsh will rejoin the Eagles for a tour next month.

ROD STEWART: Urges Paris Hilton To Give Up Partying

Rod Stewart is urging Paris Hilton to put her partying ways behind her following news of her arrest in Las Vegas on a cocaine possession charge. Stewart’s daughter Kimberly was once close friends with Hilton and the two spent a lot of time together enjoying the Hollywood social scene. Rod says Paris needs to change her ways and “give up the drugs,” and he hopes her brush with the law in Sin City on Friday helps her realize her mistakes.

CROSBY, STILLS & NASH: To Cover The Beatles On Next Album

Crosby, Stills & Nash are about one-third done with their next album, a set of classic rock covers produced by Rick Rubin, but Graham Nash has no clue when it will be finished and released. “It’s a lot slower than it’s ever taken us to do an album,” Nash tells Billboard, “because we’ve been on the road since May, and we don’t quit until October.” “In the meantime, the band has been previewing some of the songs during their concerts – primarily the Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday.” Other songs part of the project include the Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood,” Bob Dylan’s “Girl From the North Country,” Jackson Browne’s “Lives in the Balance,” and James Taylor’s “You Can Close Your Eyes.” Nash expects work to resume on the set in early 2011.

CHICKENFOOT: Cramming in Work

Sammy Hagar says Chickenfoot has four new songs done, but he doesn't know when the supergroup will release a second album. The quartet -- which includes Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith -- are getting together next week to rehearse for two gigs and plan to hit the studio. But Hagar tells Billboard that Smith's duties with the Peppers will then be his priority. He says, "Once they start recording, Chad's never going to be able to get a break." Hagar adds there's no thought of getting a sub for Smith because "we care, but at the same time [Chickenfoot] is not mandatory. It's not our bread and butter."

PHIL COLLINS: The Hand Update

Phil Collins says he's still got "a long way to go" in recovering from hand surgery. His doctors have told him it will take a year before he'll have full feeling in both his hands -- and he's only three months into rehab so far. Collins can't play drums until he fully recovers

TODD RUNDGREN: Hello It's Me -- Your Teacher

Todd Rundgren will take time out from his day job to pass along what he's learned from his four-decade music career in a two-week course this fall at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. In addition to teaching, he'll hold a public lecture on October 28th and a storytelling concert on the 31st.

Steve Miller is also teaching this fall, at USC in Los Angeles.

SCORPIONS: This Isn't a KISS Retirement, Is It

The Scorpions are going to put off retirement for another year. They've announced that they'll return to the U.S in summer 2011 to play cities they didn't get a chance to hit this summer. The German band will start a South American tour this weekend and then will spend much of the fall playing shows in Europe.

BEATLES: Fans To Sing At Lincoln Memorial

Beatle fans plan to hold a moonlight sing-along at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington today. They will sing “Give Peace A Chance” at 11:11 [p.m.]. Event organizer Gary Jacob says they’re asking people to bring “their friends, families, guitars, keyboards, violins, et cetera.” A Beatles tribute festival, Abbey Road on the River, will take place across the Potomac in National Harbor, Maryland, this weekend.

NEIL YOUNG: Announces New Album

Neil Young has announced the release of new solo album “Le Noise,” due out September 28th. The eight-song follow-up to 2009’s “Fork in the Road” features Young on acoustic and electric guitar with no backing band or overdubs. “Le Noise” will be issued as a standard CD, vinyl, digital download, and as a deluxe CD/DVD set. The DVD portion, which showcases Young performing each of the album’s eight songs, will also be released as a Blu-Ray in November.

BON JOVI: ‘Reclaiming Our Beaches’

Two of the biggest names in music will use their star power to help bring attention and tourists back to the Alabama Gulf Coast. The two free concerts on the beach are slated for the weekend of October 15-17 in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with Bon Jovi performing on October 15th and Brad Paisley performing on October 17th. These two shows signify the next installments of Alabama’s “Concerts For The Coast” event series. The shows, which are free to the public, will be ticketed events. Tickets will be available through Gulf Shores and Orange Beach lodging partners starting September 8th. Find out more at http://gulfshores.com/packages-deals and www.concertsforthecoast.com.

LED ZEPPELIN: A Concert for Bonzo

Jason Bonham will lead a tribute to his father, Led Zeppelin drummer John "Bonzo" Bonham, on the 30th anniversary of his death. Among the drummers who'll perform at Key Club in Hollywood, California, on September 25th will be Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Peppers; Kenny Aronoff; former Guns n' Roses drummer Steven Adler; Heaven and Hell's Vinny Appice; and former AC/DC drummer Chris Slade.

Source: Blabbermouth.net

GUNS N' ROSES: Yeah, Riiiiiight Axl

Even though no one in the rock world believed Guns n' Roses would go on on time during their festival performances in England over the weekend, Axl Rose is still making excuses for why they didn't. He writes on Twitter, "Our start times at the Reading and Leeds festivals factually had nothing to do with us, as the previous bands (who were great, by the way) came off stage when they did and we went on within our contracted and documented changeover time period."

Rose added in his lengthy rant, "I didn't organize, arrange, authorize, have knowledge of or was even consulted about our being booked for these shows till after the fact, nor did I choose to work with anyone I'm aware of other than our manager who was involved in arranging these dates. Yet it would appear we're amazingly often legally obligated to honor such arrangements whether against our will or better judgment."

BOB DYLAN: 11 Minute Song = 90 Minute Movie?

Bob Dylan's 11-minute epic about a woman from Texas, "Brownsville Girl," might be made into a movie. A script based on the song -- which Dylan co-wrote with playwright Sam Shepherd and released on his 1986 album Knocked Out Loaded -- is making the rounds in Hollywood. Crazy Heart director Scott Cooper in is negotiations to helm the film.

ROLLING STONES: Inspire Special Edition of Monopoly

Monopoly has introduced a special edition based on The Rolling Stones. Instead of playing with the traditional thimble or shoe, the band's lips logo and a posse of wild horses will move along the board. Some addresses have been replaced by album names. Instead of houses and hotels, there are gold and platinum records. No more water works or electric company -- drums and guitars take their place. And the train stations have been renamed for some of the Stones' most famous tours.

GREEN DAY: Announces Live Album

At a recent show in Denver, Green Day announced that the concert was being recorded for a live album that would follow up last year’s “21st Century Breakdown.” The trio also unveiled a new track, “Cigarettes and Valentines,” which will presumably be included on the upcoming disc. The still-untitled album will be the band’s second live release after 2005’s “Bullet in a Bible.”

ADAM LAMBERT: Gives Freddie Mercury Props

ELTON JOHN, PT. I: Tops Duets List

Elton John and Eminem doing "Stan" tops Entertainment Weekly's list of the "15 Most Surprising Duets." Run-D.M.C. and Aerosmith are second with "Walk This Way." Other classic rock acts to make the list include:
David Bowie and Bing Crosby at number-four with "Peace on Earth"/"Little Drummer Boy"

• U2 and Luciano Pavarotti at number-12 with "Miss Sarajevo"
• William Shatner and Joe Jackson at number-14 with "Common People"

 JACKSON BROWNE: Buffalo Concert Postponed

Jackson Browne was forced to cancel a scheduled concert at Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, New York, that was set to take place yesterday. Browne canceled the show under doctor’s orders due to illness. Tour organizers are looking to reschedule the appearance, with refunds for tickets being offered at the point of purchase. The tour is in promotion of “Love Is Strange,” a 2-CD live set that features Browne and David Lindley.

ELTON JOHN, PT. II: To Roll Out “The Union” In New York

Elton John and Leon Russell will play their first gig in support of their upcoming album “The Union” in New York. The longtime friends and iconic pianists are set to play an October 19th show at New York’s Beacon Theatre – the same day the new album hits stores. The duo had previously announced a November 3rd gig at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. No further details about touring plans behind “The Union” have been announced, though John said the shows are in the works for 2011. Russell and John first toured together 40 years ago.

ROGER DALTREY: For the Troops

Roger Daltrey will play a show next month in support of the U.K. troops injured in the Middle East. He tells London's Sun, "It is astonishing to me that people's attitude to our permanently injured troops can be equally divided. 'They know what they're signing up for when they join,' has been a phrase I've heard during the last few months while trying to raise support for ... the concert ... To carry opposition of [the war] into opposition to the support of our injured troops is an anathema to me."

The concert will be held on September 12th in London.

AEROSMITH: Putting A Positive Spin On It

Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry writes on Twitter that he's "sad" to see the Aerosmith tour winding down. But he's putting a positive spin on it, saying he'll use the down time to "write new music."

Aerosmith were hoping to pick up where they left off last year on a new album, but that will likely stay on the backburner if Steven Tyler is in fact one of the judges on the new season of American Idol.

Aerosmith perform in Auburn Hills, Michigan, tonight.

ROBERT PLANT: Please, Turn That Down!

Led Zeppelin fans hoping that Robert Plant's dabbling in Americana music might go away and he'd get back to loud rock are going to have to wait a while. Plant tells the UK's Independent that when he went to see his old bandmate John Paul Jones and Them Crooked Vultures earlier this year his ears "bled for two days." Plant adds, "I feel so far away from heavy rock now. It's quite odd, how mine and John's paths seem to have crossed over -- we've sort of gone into each others' worlds a bit."

GOO GOO DOLLS: Deliver More Dates ‘For The Rest Of Us’