Helmet and The Halo Method Added to ShipRocked 2012

The band additions just keep coming for ShipRocked 2012! Helmet and The Halo Method were just added to the cruise.

The Halo Method features Ben Moody (founding member of Evanescence), Dave Buckner (founding member of Papa Roach) and front man Lukas Rossi (winner of Rockstar: Supernova). The Halo Method will make their debut live performance onboard ShipRocked.

Also on the boat will be Godsmack, Five Finger Death Punch, P.O.D., Pop Evil, Sevendust, Filter, Fuel, Black Stone Cherry, Lit, In This Moment, Geoff Tate, Gilby Clarke, Dead Sara, Write This Down, and Andy Wood and Amalgam.

A very big band announcement is coming Monday as well.

ShipRocked sails November 27 - December 1 out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Cabins are available for booking now.

Rolling Stones 50th Anniversary Shows Will Happen

Talk about longevity! Mick Jagger just confirmed that the Rolling Stones will hit the road for select 50th anniversary shows. While the band won't do a full-scale tour, Jagger said the band will celebrate with some autumn shows.

Jagger told the Evening Standard:

“You will definitely be seeing us all together soon. It’s been great fun being back together and there are a lot of memories in here. I can’t believe it’s been 50 years. We’ve been hanging out together, seeing quite a bit of each other and we want to do some gigs.”

The Stones haven't performed live together in five years. Even if the band doesn't do a full-fledged tour, I suspect they will fly to the U.S. for at least a couple shows. Will you attempt to see the Rolling Stones live for their golden anniversary?

Farewell Jon Lord

Jon Lord, the keyboardist for Deep Purple, died Monday at age 71. He was battling pancreatic cancer.

Lord also played in Whitesnake and Paice, Ashton and Lord.

Joe Lynn Turner, of Deep Purple and Rainbow, sent this statement regarding his friend Jon Lord.

"I am deeply saddened about the passing of Jon Lord...I am proud and humbled to have known him both personally and professionally ...and blessed to share a special time with him. He was a true and gifted original...a gentleman of the industry ...and he shall be greatly missed! My sincerest sympathies to his family and relations...and to all of us who have lost one of the great musicians of our time!...R.I.P. Jon...may God hold you in his hands."

The Hollywood Reporter has a beautiful write-up on Lord, including a detailed musical history.

The Black Tora EP 'Raise Your Fists' Will Rock

Holy Glam! A teaser from the forthcoming Black Tora EP Raise Your Fists popped up on YouTube a couple days ago. If the album snippets are any indication, we are in for an amazing record! I'm not sure when the album is coming out, but I'll keep an eye out and let you know!

Is Corey Hart Glam?

You remember Corey Hart, right? The Canadian who rose to fame in the 80s thanks to songs like "Never Surrender" and "Sunglasses at Night." I never really considered Hart Glam until yesterday when I was randomly listening to "Never Surrender" and it dawned on me that the song sounded a lot like Sleez Beez-era Glam. Now, "Never Surrender" came out in 1985, so maybe the song laid the groundwork for Sleez Beez? At any rate, I think "Never Surrender" is definitely Glam, even if the rest of Hart's work is not. And at the end of the day it doesn't matter because I love the music regardless!

Motley Crue To Offer Free Download July 16

For 24 hours on Monday, July 16th, Motley Crue will offer their new single "Sex" for free. To get the free single, all you need to do is visit www.motley.com.

Motley is releasing the song in advance of their co-headline tour with KISS. That tour starts July 20. Motley bassist Nikki Sixx says the band plans to perform "Sex" each night of the tour. We'll see I guess. I'm seeing the tour at the very end of August, so it will be interesting to see how long the new song makes it... if you know what I mean.

Here's the teaser of "Sex." What do you think so far?

Steven Tyler Quits 'American Idol'

American Idol fans saw this coming: Steven Tyler has quit the judges panel. Tyler issued a statement yesterday:

"After some long ... hard ... thoughts ... I’ve decided it’s time for me to let go of my mistress American Idol before she boils my rabbit... I strayed from my first love, Aerosmith, and I’m back – but instead of begging on my hands and knees, I’ve got two fists in the air and I’m kicking the door open with my band. The next few years are going to be dedicated to kicking some serious ass – the ultimate in auditory takeover."

Jennifer Lopez is wishy-washy over her return to American Idol as well. The singer was on the Today show recently and said this about her possible return to the Idol stage:

“But I am thinking that maybe it’s time for me to go and do other things that I really love to do. Like films, and right now I’m on tour and performing -- all the things that I do.”

Hopefully Tyler's departure from the show really does mean more Aerosmith, especially more tour dates. Time will tell I guess.

Update on Friday, July 13, 2012 at 02:28PM by Allyson B. Crawford

Ok, so J. Lo officially quit American Idol today as well. That just leaves Randy Jackson on the judge's panel and rumors are swirling that he will be canned.