Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi is working with band on their upcoming album, even though he was recently diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system.  Tony spent a short time in Jethro Tull and that group’s frontman, Ian Anderson, told us if he’s been in touch with Tony after hearing the news of his illness. “I sent an email to him when I heard about this.  It’s been a few emails like that over the years.  I sent an email to Keith Emerson a couple of years ago when he was rumored to be precariously unwell and then Jon Lord at the end of last year, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  It’s, well, it’s a horrible thing to say but when people are getting into their 60s the incidence of illness and often life-threatening illness is going to be that much higher.  So sad to hear about anybody with a major problem like that but we wish Tony well and hopefully a diagnosis and treatment will at least allow for things to go on.”   It seems that Tony is doing okay as the band, minus drummer Bill Ward who is upset over the contract he was offered, are hard at work on their new record.  Meanwhile, Ian is prepping the sequel to his 1972 album Thick as a Brick, due out in April.  Learn more at JethroTull.com.

Black Sabbath plan to replace Bill Ward on their upcoming album and tour because the drummer feels he has not been presented with a “signable” contract, however, the band’s decision has upset fans.  Many have rallied around Ward, launching a new Facebook page called 1,000,000 Black Sabbath (more...)

Last year, Carlos Santana rocked Switzerland’s Montreux Jazz Festival and now, that performance is coming to DVD and Blu-ray with a ton of bonus material.  The package, aptly titled Santana Live at Montreux 2011, features the legendary guitarist’s 23-song show (more...)

Today, Motley Crue singer Vince Neil turns 51 years old.  He’s been making music with the band for 30 years, but the simple act of cutting his hair could’ve meant a whole different career path for the rocker.  Vince explained it all to us.  “People ask me how I got into music and it could’ve gone either way with me.  I was a freshman, made the varsity ball team, so obviously I was pretty good but the coach said, ‘But you gotta cut your hair,’ and I said no.  Then later on that same year, a guy asked me if I want to sing for his band and I said why and he goes, ‘Because you have the longest hair in high school.’ So if I would’ve made the decision to cut my hair, my whole life could’ve taken a complete turn, but I’m good with the way it turned out.” These days, Vince and the rest of the band are amidst their residency at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas.  Get all the news on the group at Motley.com.

Today (2/7), Paul McCartney will release his latest album, Kisses on the Bottom.  The set features two new songs plus Paul’s take on tunes he grew up listening to.  While the singer is very proud of his new record, he told us he never likes release dates.  “Releasing isn’t my favorite bit because you’re letting your baby go.  Making it is, that’s great, you know, the whole creative process.  Releasing it’s a bit more difficult, you’ve got to sort of think about promoting it and (more...)

Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward has pulled out of the reunion of the band’s original line-up until he is offered what he feels is a “signable” contract, but it doesn’t seem that he is going to get it.  On the group’s Facebook page, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler wrote that they were saddened to hear, via Facebook, that Bill no longer wants to (more...)

It’s finally here.  Van Halen’s new album, A Different Kind of Truth, is out today (2/7).  It’s the group’s first record of all new material since 1998’s Van Halen III and the first album with singer David Lee Roth since 1984’s 1984.  It seems like the band will keep making music for years to come too since, as drummer Alex Van Halen told us, it’s pretty much impossible to stop. “There’s always that itch.  It’s like having a carrot dangle in front of you, you’re always reaching for it.  You’re just always (more...)

Slash has announced the release date of his upcoming solo album.  The as-yet-untitled disc will hit shelves on May 22^nd.  It’s the follow-up to the legendary guitarist’s 2010 self-titled effort though unlike that record, which featured various guest vocalists, on the (more...)