Southern rock pioneers the Allman Brothers Band have been named recipients of Billboard magazine’s prestigious Legend of Live Award for 2008, to be presented at the Billboard Touring Awards show on November 20 at New York City’s Roosevelt Hotel.

The honor is given annually to music business professionals who have made a significant, long-term impact on the concert industry.

Now in their 39th year, the Allmans continue to be one of rock’s most popular and consistently compelling live acts. The band’s At Fillmore East is only one of two live albums to rank in the top 50 of Rolling Stone’s list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.”

“The Allman Brothers Band has rocked the house for four decades,” notes Ray Waddell, Billboard’s executive director of content and programming, touring and live entertainment. “They’re an American institution and concert icons, and Billboard is thrilled to honor them as this year’s Legend of Live.”

The Allman Brothers band lineup features original founding members Gregg Allman, Butch Trucks and Jaimoe, along with longtime members Warren Haynes, Marc Quinones, Oteil Burbridge, and Derek Trucks. ―Jerry McCulley

After years of standing firm on his punk ideals, Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten has appeared in his first television commercial for ― wait for it ― Country Life British Butter.

The 52-year-old singer, born John Lydon, appears in the 30-second spot wearing a tweed suit and running around the countryside.

“People know I only do things that I want to or that I believe in and I have to do it my way,” Lydon told Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper. “I’ve never done anything like this before and never thought I would, but this ad was made for me and I couldn’t resist the opportunity.”

The ad reportedly cost $9-million, possibly making it Rotten’s biggest swindle yet. ―Aidin Vaziri

A representative for Courtney Love has struck against an Australian performance artist’s claims that she is in possession of the remainder of Kurt Cobain’s ashes, saying that the remains of the former Nirvana singer were never actually taken. 

In June, Love went public with the news that her late husband’s ashes were stolen from her Los Angeles home, along with thousands of dollars worth of clothes and jewelry. Love was apparently storing them in a pink bear-shaped handbag in her closet, which she claimed a friend had swiped.

At the time the story broke, Love said, “I can’t believe anyone would take Kurt’s ashes from me. They were all I had left of my husband. Now it feels like I have lost him all over again.” However, the theft was never confirmed, and most of Cobain’s ashes had previously been scattered at a New York Buddhist temple and in Washington’s Wishkah River.

Things got more bizarre on Wednesday when artist Natascha Stellmach said that she had somehow come into possession of the ashes and planned to smoke them at an exhibit at Berlin’s Galerie Wagner + Partner, as part of an art piece entitled “I Just Wanted You To Love Me.”

Alan Nierob, speaking on behalf of Love, now says the remains “were never taken.”

For her part, photographer-painter-videographer Stellmach told Art World magazine that smoking the ashes in a joint was “a chance to release Cobain into the ether from the media circus.” But many skeptics think the stunt is just her ploy for jumping into that very same frenzy. ―Aidin Vaziri

Voted among the top 10 favorite pasttimes in the U.S., the movie theater has done much to bring joy and excitement to millions of kids across the country. But what about those who are battling life-threatening illnesses and can’t even get to a movie theater?

The Jonas Brothers, eBay and many more have teamed up with Lollipop Theater Network, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to giving hospitalized children a chance to see the season’s biggest blockbuster movies, in an effort to support a fun getaway from the daily reality that many children face of battling chronic or life-threatening illnesses.

During the VMA rehearsals at Paramount Studios, the Jonas Brothers signed an Epiphone Les Paul Special II, which is now up for auction on eBay, along with other items ranging from a baseball signed by Derek Jeter to a mask used in the movie The Dark Knight. One hundred percent of the proceeds from these sales will go to Lollipop Theater Network, giving buyers the opportunity to partner in a project that will bring the magic of the red carpet, the bright movie spotlights, and the thrill of a movie premiere directly to hospitalized kids and their families throughout the nation.

“We believe hope and laughter are key ingredients in having the strength to fight and to cope with hospitalization,” said Evelyn Iocolano, Executive Director of Lollipop Theater Network. “We literally roll out the red carpet, distribute movie tickets and memorabilia, and screen movies only available in theaters. Sometimes the stars of the film are even available to make a special visit!”

You can take part in this great work by checking out the signed Epiphone Les Paul at eBay’s auction along with the many other items that are for sale!—Seth Daggett

Click here to go directly to Lollipop Theater’s auction on eBay!

The Gibson Robot Guitar was awarded with the prestigious “Best Music Hardware Award” at the BT Digital Music Awards 2008. Now in its seventh year, the awards ceremony was held at the Roundhouse in London on Wednesday, Oct. 1.  

The world’s first guitar with robotic technology, the Robot Guitar beat stiff competition from the Motorola ROKR E8 and Ripserver. The Best Music Hardware Award in association with Stuff Magazine was decided upon by a panel of distinguished industry judges. The Robot was selected for its innovation, usability, style and price point, among other features.  

Gibson's Robot Guitar eliminates tuning problems for guitarists. It automatically tunes to standard A440 tuning. It also allows players to access six commonly used altered tuning presets at the push of a button.  Furthermore, it allows the guitar to be intonated in seconds after string changes, truss rod adjustments or change in weather conditions. Finally, with the locking tuner, single string changes or changing the entire set of strings are an automated breeze. 

“The Robot Guitar was a vision I had for many years prior to its production," said Gibson Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. "To win Best Music Hardware at the Digital Music Awards goes to prove that it has been embraced by musicians around the world and I am delighted.”

The annual Digital Music Awards were presented by TV’s Fearne Cotton and Rufus Hound and was filmed for ITV2. Bands performing in between the awards included Sugababes, Ida Maria, British Sea Power, Sam Beeton, Fightstar and Iglu & Hartly.

Other award winners included Kylie Minogue, who picked up best pop artist and best innovation for the site Kylie Konnect, where fans can create their own profile on the site dedicated to the pop princess. Coldplay picked up an award for Best Official Music Web site, which featured the free download of their single "Violet Hill." The band also picked up the Best Rock/Indie Artist award. Radiohead walked away with the Artist of the Year award, fighting off competition from Leona Lewis and Bloc Party. Further winners included The Zutons for Best Video Podcast, Vampire Weekend for Best Breakthrough Artist and The Camden Crawl 2008 for Best Mobile Campaign.

Thirteen of the 20 awards given last night were voted for online and the remaining seven by a panel of industry experts. —Jeremy Singer

For more information on the BT Digital Music Awards, click here. 

For more information on the Gibson Robot Guitar, click here.

To rock like AC/DC, you got to give it all you got. There's no nights off for good behavior, no gear other than fifth, and no rest for the weary — just paint-peeling, cranked-to-overload rock and roll.
 
Think you can keep up? Prove it. This guy went all-out, grabbed our attention and became an AC/DC sensation covering the band's new song, "Rock N' Roll Train" before it was even released. Can you top that? Here's your chance to try.
 
AC/DC's Give It All You Got contest is now open for business. It's a three step process: First, get out the video camera and set the scene. Next, record your own version of the brand new AC/DC fist-pumping, get-the-whole-gang-together-sing-along-chorus-inducing anthem "Rock N' Roll Train" in any style you want — karaoke or ukulele, electric guitar through a Marshall amp or air guitar on top of your kitchen table. Anything goes as long as the passion is there. Finally, add your video by following the steps outlined on our Give It All You Got contest page and keep checking back to see your competition as the days roll on.
 
If you truly let it all hang out, you'll have a shot at one of our grand prizes: a Gibson Angus Young Signature SG model, hand-signed by AC/DC. 

Black Ice is the upcoming fifteenth studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, set to be released Oct. 18, 2008 for Australia and Oct. 20 for the rest of the world. It will be their first album in eight years, since the release of Stiff Upper Lip in 2000, the longest gap between AC/DC's studio albums to date.
 
Black Ice features 15 new tracks from brothers Angus and Malcolm Young, along with Brian Johnson, Cliff Williams and Phil Rudd. The album was produced by Brendan O’Brien and mixed by Mike Fraser at the Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, BC.  

Track Listing:
1. Rock N' Roll Train
2. Skies On Fire
3. Big Jack
4. Anything Goes
5. War Machine
6. Smash N Grab
7. Spoilin’ For A Fight
8. Wheels
9. Decibel
10. Stormy May Day
11. She Likes Rock N Roll
12. Money Made
13. Rock N Roll Dream
14. Rocking All The Way
15. Black Ice
 
 

Click here to pre-order the album at the official AC/DC store!
 
For more information on AC/DC, visit the band's Web site.

The former members of Phish have announced that the band will reunite for three shows at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia, on March 6, 7, and 8 of 2009. The group plans to announce additional 2009 dates early next year.

Known to Phish fans as "The Mothership," the Hampton Coliseum has long been one of the group's favorite venues. The jam band recorded the Grammy nominated six-CD set, Hampton Comes Alive, at the venue 10 years ago. The reunion announcement comes as a pleasant shock to many fans, given that frontman Trey Anastasio has been vociferous in his comments that he didn't want Phish to become a caricature, or a nostalgia act. The band last performed together in August 2004.

An online ticket request period is currently underway at http://www.phish.tickets.musictoday.com. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Saturday, October 18th, at 10:00 a.m. ET and may be purchased online at http://www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 757.671.8100, 757.872.8100 or 804.262.8100. Tickets will not be available at the venue box office; there is a two-ticket limit per show. —Russell Hall

Metallica might be starting to re-think the maxim that says "any publicity is good publicity." Speaking with Blender.com, drummer Lars Ulrich defended rampant allegations that the mix of the band's Death Magnetic album is distorted, over-compressed, and generally inferior to the Guitar Hero mix.

"Listen, there's nothing up with the audio quality," Ulrich said. "It's 2008, and that's how we make records. [Producer] Rick Rubin's whole thing is to try and get it to sound lively, to get it sound loud, to get it to sound exciting, to get it to jump out of the speakers. Of course, I've heard that there are a few people complaining. But I've been listening to it the last couple of days in my car, and it sounds … smokin'."

Ulrich went on to address an online petition that's been circulating among fans clamoring to have the CD re-mixed and re-released. To date, the petition has garnered more than 12,000 signatures.

"The Internet gives everybody a voice," Ulrich told Blender, "and the Internet has a tendency to give the complainers a louder voice. Part of being in Metallica is that there's always somebody who's got a problem with something that you're doing."

In an earlier story posted on Blabbermouth.net, engineer Ted Jensen, who mastered the CD, was said to have chimed in with the following statement: "The mixes were already brick-walled before they arrived at my place. Suffice it to say I would never be pushed to overdrive things as far as they are here. Believe me, I'm not proud to be associated with this one, and we can only hope that some good will come from this in some form of backlash against volume above all else."

A recently launched fan-based website — http://www.justiceforaudio.org/ — is gaining traction among fans, and features a number of posts addressing the controversy. — Russell Hall

As of this morning (Sept. 30) at 12:01 a.m., NPR Music has made available free audio streaming of the latest Bob Dylan album. Titled Tell Tale Signs, the rarities collection is the eighth volume in the long-running Dylan "Bootleg Series." The 2-CD set, which hits record stores on October 7, features work-in-progress tracks and alternate-takes from the period covering the albums Time Out of Mind, Love and Theft, Modern Times, and Oh Mercy. According the NPR.org, the set "offers a rare glimpse into Dylan's creative process, with alternatives takes that show the evolution of his work, as his songs take shape lyrically and musically." The stream, which will be available until October7, can be heard in its entirely by clicking here. --Russell Hall

Paul McCartney's next album, which is scheduled for release on November 17, will mark a radical departure from last year's solo disc, Memory Almost Full. Resurrecting his side project The Fireman, Sir Paul has re-teamed with dance music maestro Youth for a 13-track CD titled Electric Arguments. Unlike the first two Fireman albums, which were all-instrumental affairs, the new CD will feature vocals. An unnamed studio source told the London newspaper The Guardian that the album is "like Arcade Fire Meets Led Zeppelin."

Further details were provided at paulmccartney.com. A press statement on the website describes the disc as "an eclectic and varied album consisting of thirteen tracks recorded in thirteen days over a period of nearly a year." The statement goes on to say that each track was recorded in the span of a single day, and that "the results will surprise anyone expecting to hear the previous sound of the band."

Earlier this year The Fireman donated one track, "Lifelong Passion," to the charitable organization Adopt-A-Minefield. London's Radio 1 premiered a radio-edit of a second track, "Nothing Too Much Just Out of Sight," on last night's show (Sept. 29). The broadcast can be heard here for one week. --Russell Hall

Track listing:

1) Nothing Too Much Just Out Of Sight

2) Two Magpies

3) Sing The Changes

4) Travelling Light

5) Highway

6) Light From Your Lighthouse

7) Sun Is Shining

8) Dance ‘Til We’re High

9) Lifelong Passion

10) Is This Love?

11) Lovers In A Dream

12) Universal Here, Everlasting Now

13) Don’t Stop Running