But now there's real reason to get your flannels in a knot: the rumor mill continues to spin that Cornell will be joining his buds for a full-on reunion.

With headliners Weezer and Blink-182, organizers say 35,000 free tickets will be given away to the newly branded Virgin Mobile FreeFest, to be held Aug. 30 at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md.

Authorities say former Wilco guitarist Jay Bennett died of an overdose of the pain killer, and that they're investigating his death as an accident.more

Pioneering Seattle rock band Sunny Day Real Estate will return to the road with its four original members this fall and will reissue its first two Sub Pop albums on Sept. 15.more

Gene Simmons has confirmed that a deal is in the works with Wal-Mart that will result in an "entire section" of the giant retailer's stores across the country (apparently dubbed "KISS Korner") being dedicated to KISS. Maybe they will be selling these?

After cancelling a number of recent festival and tour shows, Thin Lizzy have been forced to drop out of their support slot with AC/DC on their three UK tour dates.more

NFL offensive linemen bang heads all the time. A trio of Dallas Cowboys linemen are now professional head-bangers, too. Leonard Davis, Marc Colombo and Cory Procter have signed a recording contract as part of a heavy metal band called Free Reign. more

He's made documentary films about the Sex Pistols and Joe Strummer. Now director Julien Temple wants to do a full-length feature on the Kinks, according to the band's former front-man Ray Davies.more

The latest episode of Talking Rock, the sister podcast of the #1 metal podcast, Talking Metal, contains an interview host Mark Strigl conducted with singer, actress, model, and wrestler Christy Hemme. Topics include Christy's history as well as new music from her band Hemme. The podcast is available at www.talkingrockpodcast.com as well as on iTunes.

R.E.M. has announced a new two-disc set, Live From The Olympia, due out in October. The release collects songs from the band's five-night "working rehearsals" during the making of Acceleratemore

Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant donated a signed acoustic guitar to the Worcester and District branch of the Parkinson's Disease Society (PDS). The guitar was auctioned during a fundraising dinnermore

Counting Crows are planning a collaborative summer tour, dubbed the "Saturday Night Rebel Rockers Traveling Circus and Medicine Show," with Augustana and Michael Franti & Spearhead on board.more

Arctic Monkeys have announced a string of US club shows to coincide with the release of their upcoming third album 'Humbug' . The dates will kick off on August 1 at All Points West in New Jersey, and will feature club shows in New York, Boston and Chicago, as well as festival appearances at Osheaga and Lollapalooza.more

According to a posting on the Van Halen News Desk web site, the Guitar Hero: Van Halen video game will be made available in November/December. An exact release date has not yet been announced.more

Razorcake Records has announced another chapter in their Razorcake Sister Series, this one featuring simultaneous 7" releases from The Arrivals and Grabass Charlestons. The two records feature four new songs from each band � three originals and one cover of the other artistmore

Children Of Bodom will embark on their second North American tour this fall. The Black Dahlia Murder and Skeletonwitch are confirmed for a portion of the trek, with additional support acts yet to be announced.more

Former Megadeth guitarist Jeff Young has released "Always Remember Me",his "haunting tribute" to the late Jeff Buckley via MySpace. more

Members of Atlanta's the Black Lips and Montreal's The King Khan and BBQ Show (featuring Mark Sultan and Khan of King Khan and the Shrines) have formed a new act dubbed the Almighty Defenders. The six-member group will release their self-titled debut on September 22nd via Vice Records.more

Soilent Green and Goatwhore frontman Ben Falgoust has joined the line-up of New Orleans thrash/metal band Suicide War, which also features drummer Craig Nunenmacher (Black Label Society, ex-Crowbar).more

"First and foremost, we are all still praying and hoping for our brother's and bandmate's recovery. He continues to get hospital care, but often it feels as if we're no closer to knowing what is ultimately going to happen to him as he continues to fight off infections as part of an ongoing battle with his condition. We trust all of you have been following his progress at One Love For Chi; we have as well. Whenever we have significant information regarding his condition, we will share it with all of you. In the meantime, we're working on getting a benefit show together for Chi in Los Angeles this fall; details will follow very soon. Let's all continue to channel positive energy into the universe for Chi's recovery.

"(The reunion rumors surfaced when) we took time to bury the hatchet with the other members. There had been a lot of ---- talk, at least on my behalf, and I had stuff that I wanted to say. I wanted to be friends with the guys again. (A reunion) couldn't happen any time soon because we have so much Mars Volta material.

Written by U.K.-based author Joel McIver and published by Jawbone Press, the book includes a foreword by Cliff's close friend in METALLICA, Kirk Hammett.

The two-month itinerary is slated to kick off on September 23rd at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida and end with a multi-night stand at the famed Beacon Theater in New York beginning on November 12th. The tour will include special guests One Republic and Carolina Liar.

Their debut release Crazy Rhythms is a masterwork of perfectly honed minimalist rock that leaps and darts into the corners of the listener's consciousness, a true sonic tour de force that Rolling Stone deemed one of the "100 Best Albums of the 1980s." Fans of the Velvet Underground, Wire and Brian Eno's early solo work will surely appreciate the "forces at work" (to quote a song title!) on this masterpiece.