Starr Says Beatles Remasters Helped his Reputation as a Drummer

Beatles drummer Ringo Starr feels that it took the remastering of The Beatles’ catalog to present him in what he feels was a proper light.

“I love the remasters,” he told M – Music & Musicians, in a just-published interview. “And you know why? You can hear the drums! Suddenly people [were saying], ‘Oh, we better look again at his playing.’ Sometimes that’s been in doubt in a lot of people’s minds. Of course, with Lennon and McCartney in the group, what do you expect? The first clue was when we remixed Yellow Submarine. Paul and I went to Abbey Road to listen to it, and we both said, ‘Who the hell played that?’ So yeah, suddenly people were saying, ‘Oh, maybe he could play.’ The one thing I can always look at is that The Beatles' music is great. What we did, the four of us, is incredible.”

Starr’s new album, Ringo 2012, was released January 31. His 13th All Starr Band tour will launch June 14 at Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Aerosmith Guitarist On New Bonamassa LP

Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford just recently revealed in a video blog that he's working on Joe Bonamassa’s new record in Las Vegas and that he's heading back to LA to continue working on the new Aerosmith album.

Joe's new album is expected in May while Aerosmith's record is looking likely to be released towards the autumn.

Petty, Fleetwood Mac, Cheap Trick, REO Speedwagon Members Featured in Grohl's Documentary

Members of Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Cheap Trick and REO Speedwagon are among the many famous musicians featured in Sound City, an upcoming documentary that the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl is directing about the famous Los Angeles recording studio of the same name. In conjunction with the film, Grohl has been working on new tracks with a number of artists who have used the facility over the years, including Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen and members of Ratt.

Speaking recently to MTV.com about the project, Grohl said, "There may be an album that accompanies [it.]  I recorded a lot of songs with a lot of people in the past couple months."

He added that the film will feature him interviewing artists who have recorded at Sound City "to tell the history of the studio, but then I invite them back to record with me, and we make a record."

Boston Are Back On The Road

Boston’s Tom Scholz has revealed "Just 10 months till the end ... at least till the end of the Mayan calendar, anyway. I wonder, did they mean to prophesize the end of the world, or was the December 21st planetary alignment just a convenient place to stop chiseling stone tablets on a really long calendar project? Some people think it is the same thing, so why take a chance? If I was making a bucket list, it would definitely include going out one more time to play some Boston shows — before time runs out!”

"I don’t really think the world is going to end this year,” Scholz continued, "but on the off chance the Mayans were on to something, let me take a moment to thank all of you for helping make the Boston experience an awesome ride. One of the best things about Boston to me is its fans; they are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met, and collectively the best crowds anyone could wish to play for.”

"I regret that we can't play as many shows as we would like, but we will do as much as we can in North America.”

It's widely expected that the band will release a new studio album at some point in the not too distant future. Last summer they were said to be 85% finished on the follow-up to 2002's Corporate America.

Here's the band's summer schedule:

Jun 28 — Hollywood, FL – Seminole Hard Rock Live

Jun 29 — Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckard Hall

Jun 30 — Valdosta, GA – Wild Adventures Theme Park

Jul 01 — St. Augustine, FL – The Saint Augustine Amphitheatre

Jul 03 — Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live Orlando

Jul 26 — Rama, ON – Casino Rama

Jul 27 — Belleville, ON – Empire Theatre

Jul 28 — London, ON – Harris Park

Aug 01 — Columbus, OH – Crew Stadium, Ohio State Fair

Sabbath Cancel All Dates Except Download

The members of Black Sabbath have revealed on their official website that they have postponed all of their forthcoming tour dates due to Tony Iommi's ongoing battle with lymphoma. 

"At this time, BLACK SABBATH will perform only one show of this summer´s previously scheduled European tour. It will take place Sunday, June 10 at the ,U.K.'s Download Festival.

"So as not to let the promoters and fans down, OZZY OSBOURNE will now perform the majority of the previously scheduled BLACK SABBATH dates (both festival performances and the headlining shows) billed as OZZY & FRIENDS. These "first ever" OZZY & FRIENDS shows will feature appearances by "special guest" musicians including GEEZER BUTLER (who will join Ozzy for a special BLACK SABBATH set as a show of respect and support to their friend, Tony Iommi) and longtime former OZZY band member Zakk Wylde. In addition, OZZY will be accompanied by longtime collaborator and friend Slash at select shows, with other "special guests" set to join the tour at various stops along the way.

"Tony Iommi continues to make excellent progress and is looking forward to getting back out on the road. Meanwhile, BLACK SABBATH continue to write and record music in the U.K. for their upcoming album. More information about these dates and BLACK SABBATH´s recording and touring plans is forthcoming."

Guns N’ Roses to Stream Sunday Night Concert

A live Guns N’ Roses show will be streaming from their concert at Chicago’s House of Blues starting at midnight ET on Friday.

The $5 fee will provide access to the stream from the band’s website, and a portion of the money will go to support the hunger relief organization Feeding America.

Journey's Schon Makes New Solo Single Available for Free Download

Journey guitarist Neal Schon has teamed up with his band's original drummer, Steve Smith, to record a new solo album.  The first single from the as-yet-untitled effort, "The Calling," is now available as a free download at the veteran rocker's official website, SchonMusic.com.

No release date has been announced for the project, which also will feature a guest appearance by keyboardist Jan Hammer who has recorded several collaborative albums with Schon over the years.

Gene Simmons to Receive Golden God Award

Nominees for the fourth annual Revolver Golden God awards were announced on Wednesday, with Kiss‘s Gene Simmons named this year’s Golden God for embodying the “spirit of hard rock and metal.”  Alice Cooper, Zakk Wylde and Wendy Dio (wife of the late Ronnie James Dio) were all part of the Los Angeles press conference.

The Apr. 11 award show will be available on Xbox Live, as well as the Revolver and Xbox Facebook pages. Slash, Sixx: A.M. and Marilyn Manson are amongst the scheduled performers. The show will once again be hosted by WWE wrestler Chris Jericho.

Fans can vote on categories like Best Guitarist, Album of the Year, and Comeback of the Year at GoldenGodsAwards.com until Apr. 1. Amongst the classic rock nominees are Guns N’ Roses and Judas Priest for Best Live Band, Slash and Eddie Van Halen for Riff Lord, and Van Halen for Comeback of the Year.

Simmons will join previous Golden God Award recipients like Cooper, Rob Halford of Judas Priest and Dave Mustaine of Megadeth. “It’s an honor and privilege to accept the Golden God Award,” he said in a press release. “A God is only as powerful as the faithful who worship him. Signed GOD OF THUNDER.”

KISS: How They Were Made

KISS has set August 14th as the publication date for Nothin' to Lose: the Making of KISS (1972-1975). Written by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, along with author Ken Sharp, the 448-page book features more than 200 interviews, including some with the other two founding members, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss.

Also sitting down for interviews were producers, engineers, management, record company personnel, roadies, costume and stage designers, photographers, promoters and such artists as Bob Seger, Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper, members of Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, Rush, Styx, Blue Oyster Cult, Journey, REO Speedwagon, Mott the Hoople and many others

Benoit David Addresses Departure From Yes

Benoit David has reportedly issued a statement explaining his departure from Yes and that he learned he was out of the group indirectly. Richard Lanthier posted the "official press release from Benoit David" on the Closer To The Edge Facebook page. That was the band whom Yes recruited David from in 2008. Here is the statement:

As you all know, the final three shows of last year's European tour were cancelled due to my ill health. On my return to Canada, I was advised to cease touring, for the foreseeable future, in order to avoid further damage to my voice. Following this extremely disappointing diagnosis, I had no alternative but to inform my fellow band members that I was unable to confirm my availability for, at least, the forthcoming concerts in New Zealand, Australia and Japan.

Although there was no alternative, I did so with a heavy heart as I felt that I was letting everyone down especially those who have supported me since I had the privilege of becoming the band's vocalist in 2008. The band members were all very understanding and asked if I would mind being replaced for the April shows – I immediately agreed that this would be the best way forward and gave them my blessing. I was then pleased to learn that Jon Davison would be my replacement as he is an accomplished musician with a fine voice.

I subsequently learnt, from a band member's interview, that I had officially left Yes and that my departure was permanent. As this is the situation, everyone should know that I will be eternally grateful for the opportunity I was given and very proud to have contributed to more than 200 concerts and to the 'Fly From Here' and 'In The Present Live From Lyon' albums. I would also like to express my appreciation for the support I was given by each member of the band, the fantastic crew, the management and everyone else involved during my time as vocalist in the band. Finally, to the fans who have applauded my efforts and to those I have had the pleasure of meeting – many thanks, my best wishes and please continue with your support of one of the world's greatest bands – YES.

Bret Michaels Pays For Diabetic Fan To Attend Summer Camp

Poison frontman Bret Michaels has shown off his softer side by sending one young girl to summer camp.

Kennah Hebert, 11, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes three years ago and earlier this month she wrote a letter to Michaels asking if he would attend a charity walk in her native Roanoke, Pennsylvania to help raise money for research.

Fellow diabetic Michaels was quick to respond, letting Hebert know he would try to clear his schedule for the event and offered to pay for the young girl to attend Carilion's Camp Too Sweet, a summer program for children suffering with diabetes.

A representative for the rocker tells local news station 10 On Your Side, "Bret wants children to know that they are not alone.  He wants kids to create friendships with other children living with diabetes.

"Bret remembers his parents sacrificing to give him opportunities, and staying true to his roots, he wants to help other hard working parents give their children living with diabetes the same opportunities he had. Knowing the seriousness of diabetes, added that it is hard enough being a kid these days, Bret wants to afford kids the opportunity to just be kids."

And Hebert was shocked by the star's kindness, adding, "I would have to say thank you so much for making it happen."