The Fender Custom Shop is paying tribute to the "anvil" used to forge one of the greatest guitar riffs in rock history, the one from Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water," with its limited-edition Fender Custom Shop Ritchie Blackmore Tribute Stratocaster.

Besides functional gear, sensible footwear and a guaranteed ride to gigs, members of good backing bands must have the following qualities: Humility, talent and personality. The best backing bands, of course, have all these qualities — and lots of success. Some of them of have played on countless hits. Some have played a role in music history. Others just have so much talent that they automatically move to the next level.

Think you’ve got what it takes to be reggae’s next big thing? Let reggae’s royal family be the judge of that. Bob Marley’s family has launched “Marley’s Music Uprising,” a contest to discover the next great artist inspired by reggae and influenced by the legendary Jamaican icon.

The Dillinger Escape Plan, who blew minds with their fiery performance at the 2013 Revolver Golden Gods, have released a new song, "Nothing's Funny."