Matthew Wilkening

Lynyrd Skynyrd place one foot in their past and one in the present, with mostly positive results, on their new album ‘Last of a Dyin’ Breed.’

Lemmy from Motorhead joined Slash on stage in Boston, Mass. recently to perform ‘Doctor Alibi,’ their collaboration from Slash’s self-titled 2010 album. You can watch the whole thing right here.

Stuart Swanlund, longtime member of the Marshall Tucker Band, died Saturday (Aug. 4) of natural causes. The slide guitar specialist joined the band in 1985, touring and recording with the group until unspecified health problems forced him off the road recently.

‘Rock in a Hard Place,’ the aptly-named 1982 album that found Aerosmith recording without founding guitarist Joe Perry for the first time, celebrates its 30th birthday this month.

Robert Plant has released a new live album featuring the second-ever show from his newest band, Sensational Space Shifters. The 15-track set was recorded barely two weeks ago — July 12 at the HMV Forum in London.

It seems hard to believe now, but as this photograph proves, there was indeed a time when ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons did NOT have a foot-long beard.

The Who will embark on a 37-date North American tour entitled ‘Quadrophenia and More’ this fall. Surviving members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend will perform the 1973 album in its entirety, along with other popular songs from their catalog.

Kiss has begun accepting pre-orders for their much-touted oversized photo book, ‘Monster.’ The three-foot tall tome will cost — get ready –  $4,299! Before you get a case of sticker shock, keep this in mind: Shipping is free!

The film version of ‘Rock of Ages‘ merits a lengthy and highly qualified recommendation: Can you stand the Broadway musical format at all? Can you stay extremely open-minded as some of your favorite ’80s rock songs are re-recorded by actors, then endure a couple of questionable lead role casting choices and an openly cheesy atmosphere?

That Velvet Revolver reunion story from a few hours ago was pretty exciting, right? Well… hold onto that happy feeling, because according to Slash that’s all you’re going to get for a while: “I have absolutely no intention of going back to that.”

Paul McCartney stunned the studio audience — and by the looks of it, possibly actor Alec Baldwin — by making a surprise walk-on appearance during a live episode of NBC’s ’30 Rock.’

Our May 2012 New Music Releases rundown is highlighted by the long-awaited return of Joe Walsh. The legendary guitarist and songwriter will release ‘Analog Man,’ his first solo album in 20 years.