"Room 24", a brand new song from Danish metal rock 'n' rollers VOLBEAT, is available for free download right here. The track, which features a guest appearance by legendary Danish heavy metal singer King Diamond, comes off VOLBEAT's fifth studio album, "Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies", which will be released in Germany, Austria and Switzerland on April 5, in the rest of Europe on April 8, and in North America on April 9 viaVertigo/Republic Records/Universal Music.

Comments VOLBEAT guitarist/vocalist Michael Poulsen: "I'm a huge fan of MERCYFUL FATE and KING DIAMOND. Having King on the record is a huge privilege. Normally, it's not something he does. He wrote his own lines, and it is half my lyrics and half his. It's a weird, scary story, and he's the perfect person for it." 

 Guitarist Richie Sambora will not be performing with Bon Jovi during the current leg of the band's Because We Can tour.

The band posted a message on their website assuring fans that all of their scheduled shows will go on as planned and chalking Sambora’s absence up to "personal issues" and nothing more than that. Sambora has struggled with substance abuse in the past and has done several stints in rehab but if that’s the case now the band isn’t talking.

There’s no word on who’s going to fill Sambora’s snakeskin boots, but we’ll find out tonight when Bon Jovi plays in Edmonton, Canada.

 He seemed to be just fine here though...just sayin'. Stay tuned - this could get interesting!

Metal legends JUDAS PRIEST are celebrating their 40th anniversary with the release of the live concert Blu-ray and separate DVD called "Epitaph" on May 28. The footage was shot in London during the final show of their year-long "Epitaph" world tour, which the band claims will be their last large-scale world tour ever.
Priest aren’t retiring altogether, though. They’re currently at work on a new studio album that will mark the recording and songwriting debut of guitarist Richie Faulkner, who replaced the band’s co-founder KK Downing in 2011.

 Here's a taste of what to expect! I'm PUMPED to check it out!

 

 I went and got my hopes up for nothing. And I can't really be mad at the people who pulled the ol' trick - I was gullible enough to fall for it.

 A message was posted on several Monkees fansites yesterday that the band were planning a 2013 Summer tour to follow up their mega-successful run last winter.

 Well, Monkees bassist Peter Tork (ask your mother...) stepped in on his Facebook page to squash the rumor as being hogwash.

 Damn.

I've been had.

 Which, again, is OK I suppose because I spent a BOATLOAD of loot I didn't have chasing them from city to city at the end of 2012.

 Still kinda sucks, though.

Come on over to my Facebook and tell me about the meanest (or funniest) April Fool's pranks you've pulled. And if we're not already friends, add me up won'tcha?

 In the meantime, here's one of Peter's solo spots from last year's tour.

The line-up for this year's Lollapalooza music festival has officially been announced, featuring headliners Nine Inch Nails, the Cure, Mumford & Sons, the Killers.

Jane's Addiction lead singer and the festival's founder Perry Farrell said, "The first time I ran into Robert Smith of The Cure was 1997 in New York City. We were both going into the same club; and it was Halloween. I was dressed as myself and so was he. I am so happy the Cure have finally arrived at Lolla in Chicago."

The announcement was made more than a week ahead of the original release date of April 9 after the line-up was leaked when a poster revealing the acts hit the internet late last week.

This year's line-up is also packed with about 14,000 other bands including Queens of the Stone Age, Phoenix, the Postal Service and Vampire Weekend.

Check out the complete Lollapalooza 2013 line-up here.

 I was JUST complaining about how my wife "strongly suggested" that I don't spend my money on going to see DEF LEPPARD during their current Vegas residency.

 Turns out, she was spot on. I guess things really DO happen for a reason! I'd MUCH rather save some loot to see MOTLEY CRUE there!

Motley Crue are returning to Las Vegas for a second residency in Sin City and will announce the news today according to their unlikely pal Robin Leach. Leach tweeted the news last night, writing, "Motley Crue returns for Hard Rock residency Sept 18-Oct 6. Look for a trashed hotel room theme and a dangerous set whole new production."

He later added, "#MotleyCrue show will be confirmed tomorrow with tickets on sale this Friday. Not April 1 joke but still exclusive."

In February of 2012, the Crue became the first hard rock band to sign a short-term residency in Las Vegas, playing a series of shows at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Are Nine Inch Nails and The Cure going to be at Lollapalooza? A leaked photo of the poster for the three-day festival poster sure says they’ll be in Chicago August 2-4

.

According to The Chicago Tribune, "multiple industry sources" confirmed that the picture, which hit the net via various music-related Twitter accounts and blogs is the official lineup of the festival and The Cure and Nails will be two of your headliners.

Nine Inch Nails have already announced six tour dates and on the band's site they note that "more dates are coming soon." With no shows scheduled during Lolla, it wouldn't be that surprising if they made an appearance at the festival.

We’re gathered here today to mourn the death of any dignity KISS had left as news surfaced that the band are teaming up with Hello Kitty for a new cartoon TV series. The program has a working title of "Kiss Hello Kitty" and is now in development for The Hub, and KISS bassist Gene Simmons will be one of the executive producers.

Frontman Paul Stanley said "Knowing and viewing The Hub as I do daily with my three children, it is the perfect home for us to bring the Kiss Hello Kitty juggernaut to yet another generation.