BRMC

In case you were unaware of its low key release, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's fourth album entitled Baby 81 was released two weeks ago on May 1st.

If you have been following BRMC's career, you will be aware of the risky approach they took for their third album, Howl, which is a far cry from their first two offerings. Its acoustic approach didnt go down to well and the band were almost forgotten about.

But Baby 81 has taken the Band back to their original dark, gritty and atmospheric rock sound and doesnt dissapoint.

I havent heard it yet myself, but i am a fan of BRMC's music and look forward to hearing the new material as Metal Hammer have given a 7/10 rating.

Angels and Airwaves show

Angels And Airwaves, fronted by ex-Blink 182 man Tom Delonge, have just confirmed their first UK show for 2007.

The band, who are currently working on the follow-up to their 2006 debut 'We Don't Need To Whisper', will play the London Astoria on August 24.

Smashing Pumpkins gig

Finally the Smashing Pumpkins are back. The band fronted by Billy Corgan, are set to play their first show in seven years in Paris on May 22nd.

Their new album, entitled Zeitgeist is due for a July 9th release on Warner Records.

I am eager to hear the new material and hope it will be somewhere near as good as previous releases.

I wonder if they will ever recapture the sound from MACHINES OF GOD, a personal fave of mine.

Another GnR Track Leak

A studio mix of another new GUNS N' ROSES song, "There Was a Time", was leaked on Sunday, May 6, making it the fourth new GN'R track in two days to be released via the Internet.

"The Blues", "Chinese Democracy" and "I.R.S," were leaked two days earlier."There Was a Time" (also known as "T.W.A.T.") was played live only twice at the first New York City warm-up show on May 12, 2006 and Madrid, Spain on May 25, 2006 and was mentioned as one Axl Rose's favorites in an interview he gave to Rolling Stone magazine in January 2006. All tracks are rumored to be set for inclusion on GUNS N' ROSES' upcoming album "Chinese Democracy."

"Chinese Democracy" is the first GUNS N' ROSES album since the 1993 covers collection "The Spaghetti Incident." In the ensuing decade, the group has lost every original member besides singer Axl Rose and burned through a reported $13 million in recording expenses.

Longtime GUNS N' ROSES associate Del James revealed in a February 2007 online posting that "Chinese Democracy" was in the "mixing" stage.

GUNS N' ROSES has announced that the band's 2007 world tour will begin on June 2 in Monterrey, Mexico. Launch dates in South Africa and Japan were bumped due to a wrist injury sustained by bassist Tommy Stinson.

Projekt Revolution Tour

Linkin Park officially announced their Projekt Revolution tour for 2007 on Monday, May 7 at New York City's Museum of Radio & Television.

The band announced at the press conference that the tour will also feature My Chemical Romance, Placebo, Taking Back Sunday, H.I.M. and Julien-K as mainstage acts. Saosin, Mindless Self Indulgence, and The Bled will be among those featured on the second stage.

Linkin Park is touring in support of their soon-to-be-released album Minutes To Midnight, and vocalist Chester Bennington called this year's Projekt Revolution the best eve

One More Slipknot Album?

Fear not, for there will be a new Slipknot record in the not-so-distant future. But whether the band carries on after that, no one can say for sure, reports MTV News.

Frontman Corey Taylor and guitarist Jim Root are firmly involved in Stone Sour, while drummer Joey Jordison is filling in for Korn’s on-hiatus drummer David Silveria during this summer’s Family Values Tour. So the members of Slipknot don’t have any definitive plans to begin writing new material for their next LP and have no idea when they’ll record it.

Taylor is well aware that the band’s fans will be summarily dissapointed if the ‘Knot' decide to call it a day after reconvening for the recording and touring of their impending studio offering, to which the singer responded, “Grow up!” Taylor said he’d like Slipknot to go out when the time is right and doesn’t want to see the band hanging on past its prime.

Taylor is more certain about Stone Sour’s future however. “I will always make music with Stone Sour,” he said. “Stone Sour will always be here”

Queens of the Stone Age stuff

Queens Of The Stone Age played a last-minute surprise show in London on Thursday night (May 3), unveiling both the band's new lineup and seven songs from its upcoming new record.

According to NME.com, the group's latest incarnation now includes bassist Mikey Shoes, a.k.a. Michael Shuman, and guitar/keyboard player Dean Ferlita. Among the songs the band previewed from its "Era Vulgaris" album were "Misfit Love", "Battery Acid", "I'm Designer" and first single "Sick, Sick, Sick".

The small club show was arranged to break up the monotony of the band's current promotional tour. Frontman Josh Homme explained, "I only wish we could have played for longer. We had to do this promo tour so we just begged them, 'Can we put some shows in?'"

"Era Vulgaris" is due out on June 12. It follows up 2005's "Lullabies To Paralyze".

The group recently shot a video for "Sick, Sick, Sick".

Tracks from "Era Vulgaris" are slated to show up in the Madden 08 and NASCAR 08 video games, as well as both the upcoming Guitar Hero III and Rock Band.

The band has lined up some radio festival appearances and will begin a U.S. tour on July 23.