Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed and Hot Rocks 1964-1971, the most celebrated albums in ABKCO's catalog of Rolling Stones releases, will debut later this month as 180-gram LPs, pressed on clear vinyl, in celebration of the band's 50th anniversary and 50 and Counting tour.

The biggest names in hard rock and heavy metal rocked Los Angeles on Thursday, May 2, at the fifth annual Revolver Golden Gods Award Show. As always, the event featured the once-in-a-lifetime collaborations that America’s only hard-rock and heavy-metal show has become known for.

Seymour Duncan has announced a new pickup, the Nazgûl. "It's not just a pickup, it's a weapon of tonal Armageddon," says the company in a news release issued today. "The Nazgûl was designed with a single purpose; for intense, high-output chug heavy punch you in the chest ruthless distortion.

A public memorial event for Slayer's Jeff Hanneman has been set for Thursday, May 23, at the Hollywood Palladium, which has a capacity of about 4,000. Fans are invited to the event, which is free, on a “first-come, first-in” basis, according the band. Hanneman died May 2 of alcohol-related cirrhosis. He was 49.