Forced to Sin: This song talks about my best friend Lual who out of hunger and desperation, I was tempted to eat when he died by my side. It's about me leaving home when I was seven, a year later I became a soldier so I thought I'd testify about the point in my life where I felt I was forced to sin to make a living. I wanted it to help and inspire people and put across the point that you should be thankful for whatever you have. This song inspires me most when things are difficult and I start to become unfocused, it reminds me where I came from.

Here are details: In celebration of the DVD set release of Steve Miller Band Live From Chicago, we are giving away a trip for two to the New York area to attend a Steve Miller Band show. Includes airfare for two, 2 night hotel stay, and VIP seating to the show.

Avril took to her blog to explain that she has acute laryngitis and still has no voice after straining her vocals last week. She had already axed two shows because of the illness, one in San Diego and one in Phoenix. Avril was also forced to cancel appearances on Jay Leno and an appearance with Ryan Seacrest. She had hoped to return to the stage Saturday night in Anaheim, but during soundcheck her voice told her it had other ideas on the matter.

Crystal Castles will kick off the tour and play through Aug 2nd. NIN will make a quick detour and play Lollapalooza, but then will be joined by Deerhunter from Aug 5th - 13th, A Place To Bury Strangers join-up on the 15th for a four date run.

Does It Offend You, Yeah? will play from Aug 22 - 29th. Then on Sep 2nd Deerhunter will jump back on the tour and ride it out until the end, which right now looks like it will end with a newly announced date at The Forum in Inglewood, CA on September 6th.

As she thanked fans for their support, singing some old hits and some new, she strutted about the stage in skin-tight, virginal-white jeans and top to match, which left very little to the imagination.

A woman is set to testify at R. Kelly's upcoming child pornography trial, revealing that she had a threesome with Kelly and the allegedly underage girl shown in the infamous video.

As previously reported, Metallicadrummer Lars Ulrich told RollingStone.com that the band intends to explore "everything" in terms of selling its music once its current recording contract expires. But although the group's upcoming ninth studio album is its last with Warner Bros. Music, Ulrich said they would be hesitant to follow in the footsteps of U2 and MADONNA and sign a comprehensive "360 deal" with Live Nation.

McCready said, "We are working on a new record right now, so we are in the process of writing a bunch of new songs, and we have our producer Brendan O'Brien - who worked on some of our earlier records - Vs. and Vitalogy.

Metal Underground has this sad news: Although right now details are vague, it has been reported that Anything On Fire drummer Tripp Joye (who was also a former member of Glass Casket) was killed Friday night (May 2nd) in an automobile accident. He was just 25 years old. more

Loaded, the band formed by current Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagan (on guitar and vocals) after he left Guns N' Roses, will enter a Seattle studio on June 4 to begin recording its new album, to be released before the end of the year. "We hope to sort of blaze right through it and make a big, live rock-sounding record!" says McKagan.more

Rev Theory have added a 5th member to their line up with guitar player Rikki Lixx, not Nikki Sixx's little brother, he was with the band Operator. The band also released the cover art to their forthcoming album, Light It Up, which hit stores on June 10th.

check out the album cover here

Cinderella announced most of the dates for the first leg of their tour with Warrant, Lynch Mob and Lynam. The outing will hit amphitheatres, casinos and fairs across the US this summer. dates are here

Sebastian Bach reveals in a new interview that he has an unexpected songwriting partner. Has Bach gone hardcore? Here is the Q&A" And although "Angel Down" is less than a year old, have you worked on any new songs or demos?

Love's rep confirms she was diagnosed with strep throat and then sent on her way. We're told the 90s rocker stopped by a gas station on the way home to pick up a pack of smokes and some toilet literature.

The ad was part of a campaign against legislation for convicted drunk-drivers to have ignition interlocks installed (a device that measures a driver's blood alcohol level before their vehicle can start) and was funded by the American Beverage Institute, a trade group that supports the interests of the alcohol industry.