Earlier today, Slayer posted an update on the facts surrounding the death of guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who died May 2, at a Southern California hospital at age 49. According to the statement, Hanneman's official cause of death was alcohol-related cirrhosis.

His first car, in fact…provided you have the cash. John Lennon’s 1965 Ferrari 330GT 2+2 Coupe will go on the auction block this summer courtesy of Bonhams auction house, a sale estimated to fetch — conservatively — more than a quarter of a million dollars.

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.