Van Halen is gearing up to head back on the road with appearances set for Australia in April and Japan in June, but bass player Wolfgang Van Halen reveals that the group also may have new material on the way.

The bass player tells, he’s proud to have had a hand in getting his father Eddie, uncle Alex and lead singer David Lee Roth together to work on material for the band’s 2012 reunion album A Different Kind of Truth, digging through old demos that he says, “kinda put dad, Al and Dave into the mindspace of when they wrote, like, ‘Runnin’ With the Devil’ and ‘Dance the Night Away’ and stuff like that.”

And he tells that while there’s still more old material to mine there’s “some new stuff that we’ve been working on, too.”  No word yet on when or if Van Halen plans to record any of the new material.

Meanwhile, Wolfgang is isn’t your average 21-year-old, content to sit around playing video games during his downtime from Van Halen.  Last year he helped Creed and Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti by filling in on bass with Tremonti’s eponymous band.  Now Van Halen has officially joined Tremonti full-time, the bass player reveals.  He’s also started writing with Tremonti for that band’s next album.

“Van Halen is definitely the priority,” Wolfgang says, “but whenever Van Halen isn’t doing anything, I treat this as another band I’m legitimately in.  I’m really excited to be on the next record and have some sort of influence on the writing.”

Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bad Company have announced a co-headline tour that takes the bands coast-to-coast for 12 dates. Both bands celebrate significant 40th anniversaries in 2013, with Lynyrd Skynyrd having released their debut album on August 13, 1973 and Bad Company being formed that same year. While the pair have shared the stage and Paul Rodgers has toured with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bad Company and Skynyrd have never toured as co-headliners together.

Frontiers Records is pleased to announce the release of bluesy hard rockers Burning Rain’s third studio album, EPIC OBSESSION, on May 17th in Europe and May 21st in North America. Burning Rain was founded by current Whitesnake axeman Doug Aldrich together with singer Keith St. John (ex-Montrose). The line-up for the new album is rounded out by Sean McNabb on bass (ex-Quiet Riot, Dokken, House of Lords) and Mat Starr on drums (Ace Frehley). EPIC OBSESSION comes after a long hiatus from the release of the band’s second album, PLEASURE TO BURN, in 2000.

On March 26th Lynch Mob will release an EP entitled 'Unplugged', featuring rare acoustic versions of "Wicked Sensation", "River Of Love", "Where Do You Sleep At Night", "All I Want" and a bonus 15 minute interview track. Pre-orders of the 'Limited Print Collectors Edition' EP are now being taken at the Rat Pak Records website HERE. 

Lynch Mob 'Unplugged' was recorded at historic Sugar Hill Studios in downtown Houston, Texas during the filming of "Slow Drag", the video from the band's highly successful Rat Pak Records release 'Sound Mountain Sessions'. 'Unplugged' was produced by renown Houston engineer Dan Workman, and the entire performance was also filmed by producer Ross W. Wells (Zen Film) for an upcoming episode of Live From Sugar Hill Studios due out in early 2013 and is sponsored by Vitamin Water. 

Hailing from the southern beaches of Sydney, Strangers are ready to make their waves in the U.S. The rock group who PUSH TO FIRE says “grabs your attention from the get-go,” Strangers are officially confirmed for this year’s SXSW. Their debut LP Persona Non Grata, recorded and produced by Tom Larkin (Shihad, The Getaway Plan, Calling All Cars), delivers on the promise that has made Strangers such an interesting prospect. Capturing the band's heavy swing and dual guitar, high octane rock 'n roll attack, the album is an impressive opening salvo from one of this nation's most exciting new bands. Persona Non Grata debuted at #65 on the main ARIA chart and at #9 on the AIR chart (Australian indies chart).

Foreigner stars Mick Jones and Lou Gramm will perform on stage together for the first time in over a decade at the Songwriters Hall of Fame awards ceremony in New York City on June 13.

In an exclusive interview, the guitarist, who has been leading a highly regarded new lineup of Foreigner since 2005, reveals that the pair will perform two songs — ‘Juke Box Hero’ and ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ — together at the event. Apparently there wasn’t much debate in terms of song choices: “Lou suggested both of them.”

Jones goes on to explain that he’s “very much looking forward” to the event. “I’m so proud of what Lou and I achieved in those early years and throughout the time that we were together. I think it’s the first time that we’ve been recognized for our work and our writing, which was really the foundation of what we did together, as much as the performing.”

He’s particularly happy for the chance to celebrate with Gramm, who left the group because he and Jones “weren’t really communicating” back in 2003. “I think this band has always been a song-driven band and so that has its place for me and it’s very important and it’s going to be great to share that with Lou. It will help us to move along in our relationship, which has been fairly quiet in the last seven or eight years.” 

Danish rocker Mike Tramp will release his new album "Cobblestone Street" on April 8th in Target Records. The first single "New Day" from this upcoming album is now available via iTunes. It is also available fro streaming on Spotify.

The new album “Cobblestone Street” is a departure from the sound that most people would expect from a singer, that has been around since White Lion crashed on to the Hard Rock scene in the 80’s. Rock fans have gotten to know Mike Tramp as a legit rock singer and frontman that looked like he was born to be just that. Therefore many might find it surprising that Tramp’s roots and musical upbringing, lie deeply buried in folk music.

Hillock Productions is proud to announce the imminent launch of the long awaited biography of Jeff Scott Soto entitled Stand Up And Shout…The Story Of A Rock Star.

This authorised biography, by Frank Tunney, takes the reader through Jeff's early years right up to the present day ahead of his forthcoming European tour. Frank, who has been Jeff's tour manager for over 10 years, has based the book on a limited edition biography, which was published in 2001 (but only in German) by Ronny Hahn, a long-time Talisman and Jeff Scott Soto fan. This original content has been translated, researched and expanded by Frank in order to cover the past 10 years and to bring the story to a wider audience.

Stand Up And Shout…The Story Of A Rock Star follows Jeff's career - from his first college band through to W.E.T. and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Running to over 400 pages, the book is filled with facts and anecdotes and is illustrated with more than 120 pictures, many of which are from Jeff's own extensive archive. These include track-listings; cover art and a comprehensive, up to date discography/videography, together with many quotes from Jeff, his fellow musicians and backstage team.

We're very pleased to announce that there is a new Seasick Steve album on the not too distant horizon. Titled 'Hubcap Music', the record will be released on April 29th via new label Fiction Records. The American blues musician is best known for playing mostly personalized guitars and singing about his early life doing casual work.

You can get hold of the album as a Digipak CD, standard jewel case CD, digital download, or a beautiful 180gsm heavy weight vinyl LP. You can pre-order all formats HERE. There will 300 signed copies of the Digipak CD available to pre-order on a first come, first served basis HERE. 

Website: http://www.seasicksteve.com/ 

Thirty Seconds To Mars new single "Up In The Air" is launched into space today. The band members will be in Florida to watch the launch of the second SpaceX cargo mission to the International Space Station. The company's Falcon 9 rocket carrying its Dragon cargo capsule is scheduled to lift off on Friday, March 1, at 10:10 a.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The capsule will be filled with more than 1,200 pounds of scientific experiments and cargo - and the first copy of "Up In The Air." Fans can watch the launch at http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html. Full details and updates on the mission are also available on NASA's website at http://www.nasa.gov/station.

The band will visit Mission Control Houston for a Q&A with Tom Marshburn, one of the astronauts aboard the space station. The Q&A, scheduled for Monday, March 18, will be broadcast live online with details available shortly at www.thirtysecondstomars.com. "Up In The Air" will premiere worldwide that day and be commercially available at all digital retailers the following day, March 19.

"Up In The Air" is the first single from the band's fourth studio record, which will be released later this year. The album follows This Is War, which contained the No. 1 Modern Rock radio hits "This Is War" and "Kings and Queens." In the course of its two-year tour in support of This Is War, the band sold out arenas around the globe, playing over 311 shows in nearly 60 countries on six continents to an astounding three million people - and breaking the Guinness World Record® for most shows played during a single album cycle. This Is War was hailed as "an artistic triumph" (Alternative Press) and "a shimmering epic" (MTV.com). Entertainment Weekly observed: "[Lead singer] Leto doesn't just shoot for the moon, he practically colonizes it."

In March 2012 UK rockers FM performed a series of sell-out concerts to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their debut album Indiscreet. Dubbed "Indiscreet 25 Live" the shows featured Indiscreet played live in its entirety for the first time ever. Transported back to 1986, both the audience and the band found themselves swept up in a wave of unashamed nostalgia... Grown men admitted to feeling so emotional that a few tears were shed... Some fans even managed to squeeze their torsos into their original 1986 FM T-shirts for the event...

Now everyone can revisit 1986 as FM release their new DVD. Filmed at Manchester Academy 2 and London O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire on 9th and 10th March 2012, Indiscreet 25 Live also features a behind the scenes documentary in which the band members reflect on Indiscreet's place in FM history.

Tracklisting: That Girl / Other Side Of Midnight / Love Lies Dying / I Belong To The Night / American Girls / Hotwired / Face To Face / Frozen Heart / Heart Of The Matter / Dangerous.

Indiscreet 25 Live is released via Riff City Films on 1st April 2013. The DVD will be available from the merchandise stand on the upcoming tour, and from release date at the FM webshop (www.fmofficial.com) and all good DVD stockists.

Europe's lead guitarist John Norum has signed a record deal with Gain/Sony Music. He will shortly enter the studio and record his new solo album, due to be released in September. 

John Norum, formerly of Dokken, released his first solo album 'Total Control' in 1987 and has made eight solo albums in total since then -- the latest album, 'Play Yard Blues', came out in 2010. John has been working with Deep Purple's front man Glenn Hughes and Don Dokken over the past years so don't be surprised if there will be some other international guest appearances on the forthcoming album. 

Norum will play live both as a solo artist and with Europe in 2013. Europe will do their 30th anniversary show as the headline act on Sweden Rock Festival in June 7th. 

"It feels real good. I'm finally on the only real Swedish rock label with international ambitions," said John Norum. "It's gonna be great working with John Norum's solo album. He's one of the best and most respected guitarist in the world," added Gain's Markus Tagaris. 

Visit John Norum at www.johnnorum.se

The Goo Goo Dolls new album "Magnetic" will be available on May 7th. The exclusive fan edition of the follow up to 2010’s "Something For The Rest Of Us" is ready for pre-order now and costs only $29.99!

Each Fan Edition Includes:
MAGNETIC on CD housed in a special digi-pack with expanded booklet featuring extra photos and an exclusive alternate cover
2 BONUS TRACKS on the CD*
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD of the "Rebel Beat" single delivered instantly
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD of the album on release date
6 MONTH ONLINE MEMBERSHIP in the Official Goo Goo Dolls fanclub
ACCESS TO PRE-SALE TICKETS (maximum 4 tickets) for their upcoming tour before the general public via the Goo Goo Dolls fanclub membership (subject to availability)

Pre-order the exclusive fan edition now HERE!

Rise Records recording artists, TRANSIT, have released a new video for their single "Nothing Lasts Forever". This track will be found on their soon to be released album, entitled Young New England, scheduled to hit shelves April 2nd. The album is available for pre-order now! Click 'read more' to check out the video or scroll down.

You may recognize TRANSIT for having toured with bands such as Saves The Day, Bayside, and I Am The Avalanche. The boys will be hitting the road this spring on the YOUNG NEW ENGLAND TOUR, with special guests SEAHAVEN and YOUNG STATUES. A full list of tour dates can be found here.

Website: http://www.transitband.com