Rock group Van Halen have been forced to postpone their upcoming tour of Japan after guitarist Eddie Van Halen underwent emergency surgery for diverticulitis. The disease effects the large intestine and he is expected to make a full recovery over the next 4 to 6 months. The band released an official statement saying the tour will be rescheduled and they look forward to seeing their fans in 2013.

This is the second tour cancellation from the group this year previously stating they wanted to take a break from non stop recording for 18 months.

“Following sellouts in 2009, 2010 & 2011, we will once again be putting on a very special show in London to celebrate Gingers Birthday on 17th December 2012. This year we have once again upgraded the venue for the event, that looks set to be THE gig of the year.

Whats in store?

For one night only THE WILDHEARTS will reunite for the first time in 3 YEARS to play a HEADLINE set at Gingers annual Birthday show at the Kentish Town Forum!!”

The line-up of the reformed Wildhearts is said to include (alongside Ginger of course) Scott Sorry, Jon “Random” Poole, Ritch Battersby and CJ!

For now, the tickets are only on sale for those who have pledged on Ginger’s Mutation/Hey! Hello! project, so if you can’t wait three days for general release then get on over to the pledge website now: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/gingerwildheartmutation

After the recent details of their upcoming album, Stone Sour have followed the news up with 4 UK shows this December. Guest support Papa Roach will support their show in Brixton on 10th followed by dates in Manchester, Wolverhampton and Bournemouth.

House Of Gold And Bones Part 1 is set for release on 21st October with part 2 to drop in early 2013 accompanied by a comic book.

The full dates and venues are:

• O2 Academy Brixton - 10th December
• O2 Manchester Apollo - 13th December
• Wolverhampton Civic Hall - 14th December
• O2 Academy Bournemouth - 15th December

Tickets are on general sale this Friday.

Check out the first to tracks from the album, Gone Sovereign and Absolute Zero:

If anyone has been following the story of the trial of Russian political punk band Pussy Riot you will be interested to know that it came to an end yesterday resulting in the group being found guilty of hooliganism motivated by hatred. The group were arrested back in March after performing an anti-Putin protest song in a church in Moscow.

After a delayed verdict, it was announced that the band were found guilty of  hooliganism “motivated by religious hatred and emnity”. Beyond the initial guilty verdict here’s what the court has said so far:

“The Pussy Riot singers colluded under unestablished circumstances, for the purpose of offensively violating public peace in a sign of flagrant disrespect for citizens. The women were motivated by religious enmity and hatred, and acted provocatively and in an insulting manner inside a religious building in the presence of a large number of believers.” At this point the judge is still summing up the case. Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina and Ekaterina Samutsevich are all potentially facing three years in prison.

A whole host of musicians and celebrities have had their say on the matter, many dismissing the whole thing as a ‘joke’ and believing the imprisoning as ludicrous. Amnesty International have also created a petition addressed to the Russian prosecutors which you can sign here – Tell Russia To Drop All Charges And Release Pussy Riot!

Since their reunion in 2010, Soundgarden have excited many fans with the idea of a new album, having released “Live To Rise” for The Avengers soundtrack earlier this year. And now, word has it the grunge legends are finally set for a release which is to be their first studio work since 1996’s experimental “Down on the Upside”. According to Rolling Stone magazine, the album as yet untitled, is set for release on the 13th of November.

Steel Panther - The British Invasion

Check out the trailer for the new live dvd from Steel Panther! Filmed at Brixton Academy on their tour back in March, get ready for a lot of fun, spandex and boobies!

Keep your eye out for more details and a release date coming soon!

He’s at it again folks! Yes, Ginger has decided to treat us to another project over at Pledge Music, and this time its 2 for 1!

As promised, Ginger has unleashed news of 2 new projects. Mutation and Hey! Hello!, and you can help fund both over at http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/gingerwildheartmutation

Mutation is going to be 2 albums of pure heavy guitar goodness. Album one, Mutation: The Frankenstein Effect was initially recorded in early 2011 and put on hiatus until now. It features Ginger alongside Rich Jones (Black 
Halos/Amen), Tom Spencer (The Yo Yo’s), Chris Catalyst (Sisters Of Mercy/Eureka Machines) & Denzel (Young Legionnaire), with guest appearances from Dom Lawson (OAF), Paul Catten (ex Medula Nocte) Pulled Apart By Horses and Hawk Eyes. Quite the selection. 

Album two,  is currently without a name. The first phase of 
recording started in May 2012 and will continue over the coming months. It features Shane Embury (Napalm Death), Jon Poole (Cardiacs), Denzel (Young Legionnaire), Simon Wright (Canaya), and again Hawkeyes, along with guest appearances from Merzbow and Mark E Smith (The Fall).

Then there is Hey! Hello!, something completely different. Big, noisy, smiley guitar pop from Ginger and Victoria Liedtke. This album is an exclusive to the Pledge project and won’t be available anywhere else so it really is a treat. 

Already this new project from Ginger has beaten his last record. Last years triple album project 555% reached it’s target in just 6 hours, this time the target was reached target in just 90 mins! And at the moment it is riding high with a total of 322%, now if that isn’t dedication i don’t know what is! 

Check out this vid for all the info you need from the man himself and go and make you’re pledge here! http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/gingerwildheartmutation

Lamb Of God frontman Randy Blythe has been released from prison in Prague after being held on possible manslaughter charges. After just over 7 weeks behind bars, Blythe has been granted bail by prosecutors on an 8 million Czach Koruna charge and the singer will still face a trial. Martin Ravman, Blythe’s attorney, told Radio Prague  “That’s what he wants to do. As a world-renowned artist, in a specific genre of music, of course, he cannot afford to simply disappear. There would be posters with his picture all around the world, and if he wants to continue performing, he will have to return (to the Czech Republic). And he wants to return because he believes he is not guilty of anything he has been charged with.”

Blythe was arrested on June 12th after Lamb Of God’s return to the country, unaware there was a warrant out for the singer’s arrest after an incident in 2010 when he allegedly pushed a fan off stage who later died of head injuries 14 days later.

The incident shook the rock world and many musicians have expressed their shock at his arrest and backed his bid for freedom.

You may have read the other day the news that Killing Joke were pulling out of The Cult/The Mission tour this September. After a rather harsh statement from frontman Jaz Coleman, the band have taken to their Facebook page to apologise and confess that they don’t know where their vocalist is. They state he hasn’t contacted any of his band mates and the decision to take part in this tour was made as a group and one they still intend to participate in. To finish, they are trying to locate the singer and correct his mistake. You can read the full statement here.

Blues rockers Graveyard have unveiled the title and release date for their next album. The Swedish quartet will release their third album named Lights Out on 26th October. They commented on their official Facebook page that they are ‘one guitar solo away from being done with it.’

They have promised an extensive tour after the album drops; with some UK dates already cemented for November, don’t forget to get your tickets!