"It got progressively worse to the point that about three months ago I wasn't able to play at all," says Van Halen. "My pinky and my thumb were totally locked up and felt like there was something broken."

Several dates on the tour have been postponed after frontman Steven Tyler tore a muscle in his leg. Guitarist Brad Whitford sat out the initial dates on the tour after undergoing emergency surgery because he reportedly hit his head getting out of his Ferrari. Sccording to a press release, Whitford is expected to return to the stage when the band resumes the tour on Wednesday night. But now it's bass player Tom Hamilton's turn to call in sick.

Johnson tells Classic Rock magazine, "We were talking about the end of the (current Black Ice) tour and I said, 'We're finishing in May (10) - and that's me done!'

Police reports indicate a car lost control and slid into the side of Mr. Michaels's tour bus causing a five car pile-up on the roadway. There was damage to all vehicles involved, but no serious injuries were reported.

Here is the statement the band issued: "We are sorry to inform our Spanish fans that Chickenfoot cannot perform tomorrow night in Madrid due to a serious injury to drummer Chad Smith. "

AEG Live, the team behind the King of Pop's 50-night stint, want the rock supergroup to alternate shows with Abba. [Abba has already denied reports of a reunion] Both bands - who have sold 600 million albums between them - have been offered big money to reform.

"A friend of mine conducted an interview with Slash last year in which he called me a thief and wished that I 'rot in jail,'" Kevin Cogill said. "I found that surprisingly crass, especially considering the guy has made no bones about shoplifting cassette tapes with the same rationale as today's downloaders. So if he wants to see me in jail, I'll see him in the cafeteria."

Although he had to be helped off stage, he exclusively told Team Sonisphere that he is now feeling okay.

"Zakk Wylde came down and did a bunch of stuff - I don't know if I want to use it but I've got it there if I do. I haven't fallen out with him, but he's got his own band I felt my stuff was beginning to sound like Black Label Society. I just felt like I wanted a change.