Keyboardist Ray Manzarek, a founding member of the Doors, died today (May 20) in Rosenheim, Germany, where he was being treated for bile duct cancer. He was 74. Manzarek is best known for his work with the Doors, who formed in 1965 when Manzarek had a chance encounter in Venice Beach, California, with poet Jim Morrison.
Former Foreigner vocalist Lou Gramm pulls no punches in his new autobiography, Juke Box Hero. In the book, which was co-written with Scott Pitoniak, Gramm leads readers on a journey from his humble beginnings in Rochester, New York, to the biggest stages in the world. He recounts his stint with Black Sheep, plus the ups and downs of working with guitarist Mick Jones in the band that made him famous.
Fred Mascherino and Terrible Things want to put out a guitar tabs book of their songs, and they're using Kickstarter to get it done. It's the first time the band has used the crowd-funded platform, where they're also offering Skype guitar lessons, digital downloads of tabs and tabs from Mascherino's solo project, The Color Fred.
Fans attending KROQ’s annual Weenie Roast over the weekend got a surprise when Stone Temple Pilots took the stage unannounced, for a set with Chester Bennington of Linkin Park as lead vocalist.
Halford guitarist and Guitar World columnist “Metal” Mike Chlasciak is streaming his new album, The Metalworker, for free. You can hear it below. The album will be released June 4 through C.M.M. Entertainment, LLC. Fans can buy an exclusive pre-sale package including a signed CD and postcard, plus a guitar pick, at metalmike.net.
Queens of the Stone Age have released another new music video for a track off their upcoming album, ... Like Clockwork. This time, it's for a song called "My God Is the Sun." The video, which you can see below, continues the storyline from the band's four previously released videos for "I Appear Missing," "Kalopsia," "Keep Your Eyes Peeled" and "If I Had a Tail."