Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford has posted a video on the band's website, www.AeroForceOne.com, in which he talks about the band's upcoming tour of South America and Europe and the band's recent dissension with singer Steven Tyler. "We understand the passion, we understand the love you have for this band and we hated to put people through some of things you had to go through and listen too... We were in that same boat. We didn't know what was going on. It was kind of a difficult time." Whitford goes onto say that the band "has to roll it out to whatever final chapter there is... and we're gonna be there and doing it for us and for you." The South American tour kicks off in May followed by Europe in June and early July.

Rock Band Three will be out in time for the holiday shopping season, according to manufacturer Harmonix Games. That's on top of previously announced plans for a Green Day edition and rumored versions focusing on The Who and Jimi Hendrix. No word on what acts will be on Rock Band Three.

Squeeze is being honored for their successful and influential career as well as for their origins.  www.Music-News.com says the band has been tapped to receive the UK's PRS for Music Heritage Award, which recognizes the sites of band's first performances.  For Squeeze, a special plaque will be posted at the Greenwich Dance Hall in South East London, which is where the new wave group made their concert debut back in 1975.  Founding Squeeze members Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook are expected to be on hand for the plaque's unveiling.  Tilbrook says he's proud that the band is getting noticed in this manner.  He notes, quote, "It's a pleasure to return to the place where we performed as Squeeze way back in 1975, I still buy my cheese just up the road!"  The plaque's unveiling ceremony honoring Squeeze, best known for such hits as "Tempted," "Cool For Cats," and "Black Coffee," is scheduled for March 23rd.

Pink Floyd filed a lawsuit yesterday against record label EMI. They're disputing the calculation of downloads in regards to royalties. Their lawyer, Robert Howe, told the High Court in London that a clause in their contract "expressly prohibited unbundling" of individual tracks on their albums.

Look for three releases from The Doors over the next month. The first two are vinyl editions of Absolutely Live and Live in New York, both of which come out on Tuesday. The third is the soundtrack to When You're Strange: A Film About The Doors. The CD is due on April 6th, and the film opens in select markets on April 9th. The soundtrack contains narrator Johnny Depp reading several selections of Jim Morrison's poetry, 14 songs from The Doors' catalog and interview clips with all four band members.

Get ready for a possible cartoon version of KISS.  The hard rock band has inked a deal with production company E1 to create a half-hour comedy targeted at a children's audience.  E1 executive Frank Saperstein said of the project, quote, "It's wonderful to collaborate with the creative forces behind one of the greatest rock bands of all time and unquestionably one of the most recognized worldwide."  E1 has played a role in leveraging the KISS brand and has attempted to get the rockers out in front of younger audiences in the process. The production company lists KISS' appearance in a Dr. Pepper ad during Super Bowl 44 and a high-profile guest spot on "American Idol" as examples of the band's longevity.

New Jimi Hendrix music is in stores today. Valleys of Neptune is a compilation of 12 songs that were never officially released. These are the final studio recordings of the original Jimi Hendrix Experience, done over four months in 1969. Janie Hendrix, CEO of Experience Hendrix, says, "Valleys of Neptune offers deep insight into his mastery of the recording process and demonstrates the fact that he was as unparalleled a recording innovator as he was a guitarist." Among the 12 songs is a cover of Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love."

The Alabama House of Representatives' Tourism and Travel Committee is recommending that Lynyrd Skynyrd's " Sweet Home Alabama" be the new state song, replacing "Stars Fell on Alabama." More than 100 artists have covered the 1934 anthem, including Jimmy Buffett, but according to Florence, Alabama's Times Daily, the feeling is that most residents don't know the song. The committee will make its final vote today, at which point the bill will go to the full house. The state senate would then have to vote on it before Governor Bob Riley signs it into law.

Judas Priest is releasing a deluxe edition of its classic album, "British Steel." www.Blabbermouth.net reports that Sony will debut "British Steel: Legacy Edition" this Spring.  The special edition will arrive in two formats.  First, there is the limited edition deluxe three-CD set with extras. There will also be a deluxe two-disc set which will feature a live DVD and the entire original album.  Just last year, during the Brit band's 30th anniversary tour throughout the U.S., Judas Priest performed "British Steel" in full for fans.  First released in 1980, "Steel" includes the tracks "Breaking The Law," "Metal Gods," and "Living After Midnight."  Sony Music will release "British Steel: Legacy Edition" on May 11th.

Rolling Stones fans, be on the lookout for new music. Keith Richards tells Rolling Stone they have "no definite plans," but adds that he "wouldn't be surprised if we did some recording later this year." He's less enthusiastic about touring, "I don't know how the rest of them feel about roadwork at the moment. Maybe we'll search for a different way for the Stones to go back on the road. Maybe not the football stadiums anymore. Maybe something different. You can't go around there in lemon-yellow tights forever." Richards has also dispelled the recent report that he is on the wagon. "Listen, the rumors of my sobriety are greatly exaggerated. And we'll leave it at that."

The Allman Brothers Band has canceled the last five shows of their 13-night New York residency at the United Palace Theater. A statement on the band's website says, "Due to an unforeseen family matter, the Allman Brothers Band shows scheduled for March 22nd to the 27th have been cancelled. The shows scheduled for March 11th to the 20th will take place as planned. Refunds are available at point of purchase." The Allmans will be on NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tomorrow night.

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne will be in Liverpool on October 9th to help celebrate what would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday. The Liverpool Echo reports that Liverpool's mayor invited them to take part in the festivities.  It's no secret that Ozzy is a huge Beatles fan, writing in his recently published autobiography, I Am Ozzy, "Thanks to Beatlemania, it seemed all right that I didn't want to work in a factory."

When Paul Rodgers re-joined Bad Company for one show in Florida in 2008, which resulted in the new CD and DVD Hard Rock Live, it came just as he was preparing to go on tour with Queen. He tells us it was "tough" switching gears going from one group to another. But, he adds that reconnecting with Bad Company was "like putting on an old pair of Levi's." Rodgers and Bad Company will tour the UK in April.

Boston's Tom Scholz has never been a fan of American Idol, but he's taken a rooting interest in Siobhan Magnus. Scholz writes on the Boston website, www.BandBoston.com, "Last December I heard a young girl from Cape Cod singing Christmas songs for kids at a little event... I was mesmerized by her ability to bring these simple songs to life... Siobhan has done all of this by herself, starting from nothing, and no matter how far she gets in the competition, she has already earned herself a place in many people's hearts, and I doubt anyone deserves it more."

There's a new LP on the way from Iron Maiden this summer.  www.Blabbermouth.net reports that the band's calling the project "The Final Frontier."  The metal rockers will also launch a trek through North America also called "The Final Frontier" in support of the new LP.  Progressive rock band Dream Theater will join Maiden on the summer tour.  Regarding the pairing, Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy said, quote, "Through the years, we've done many one-off shows with MAIDEN and they've almost all been overseas.  It is very exciting to finally be doing a full tour with them and on our side of the pond, no less."  "The Frontier Tour" will launch at www.Superpages.com Center in Dallas, Texas on June 9th.

Jeff Beck was one of the many guitarists who saw It Might Get Loud, a documentary in which Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White talk about their love of the guitar, their styles of playing and more. Beck tells us it was "a bit close to the Spinal Tap thing. A bit close." He said he might have been interested in being featured in it but nobody asked him. Beck starts a tour of Australia at the end of the month.

Though Abbey Road appears to have been saved, EMI is selling off another fabled London studio. Olympic Studios where classic music by The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Yardbirds, Jimi Hendrix, Queen, Eric Clapton and U2 was recorded has been sold to a real estate developer. Not as famous as Abbey Road, the Southwest London building closed last year. But even in its final years, top artists used Olympic U2 cut their album No Line on the Horizon there in 2008.

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are talking about the upcoming reissue of "Exile on Main Street."  According to www.RollingStone.com, the reissue will feature ten previously-unreleased songs. Regarding the as-yet-unheard material, Jagger said, quote, "I went back in the archives and dug out a load of things. I added some percussion and some vocals.  Keith put guitar on one or two."  The band reportedly did its best not to tweak the original recordings for the re-release.  Regarding new material on the "Exile" reissue, Richards said, quote, "I didn't want to interfere with the Bible, you know. They still had that great basement sound."  A reissue of the Rolling Stones' "Exile on Main Street," will debut on May 18th from Universal Music Group.

Guns n' Roses frontman Axl Rose has warned fans not to buy tickets for shows that don't exist. He writes on his Twitter, "There are no new Guns n' Roses shows added to our current on-sale itinerary. This means no shows in Panama, Costa Rica or Guatemala regardless of anyone's claims or ticket sales... If you have purchased tickets to any suggested new dates please contact your place of purchase for refunds."

Two of the 1980s biggest acts Pat Benatar and REO Speedwagon are embarking on a tour this summer.  www.RollingStone.com reports that Benatar will team up with Speedwagon for a trek called "Love On The Run."  The tour launches in Uncasville, Connecticut on June 24th at the Mohegan Sun Arena.  Benatar has put out a few compilations in recent years that showcase her catalog of hits like "Heartbreaker," "Fire and Ice," "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," and "Treat Me Right."  In addition to compilations and a Christmas album, REO Speedwagon released "Find You Own Way Home" in 2007, an LP of new material.

Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Rush are among the classic rock acts who made the list of the greatest live albums of all time. In a poll conducted by UK radio station Planet Rock, Thin Lizzy is tops with Live and Dangerous, followed by Purple's Made in Japan. Led Zeppelin have two albums on the list The Song Remains the Same and How the West Was Won.  Rush has the most entries with three All the World's a Stage, Exit Stage Left and Rush in Rio.  The remainder of the top ten are UFO, Strangers in the Night;  AC/DC, If You Want Blood, You Got It;  Iron Maiden, Live After Death;  Pink Floyd, Pulse; Peter Frampton, Frampton Comes Alive; KISS, Alive and number ten is Genesis, Seconds Out.

Iggy Pop still likes to perform shirtless, even at Carnegie Hall.  www.RollingStone.com reports Pop ripped off a black v-neck sweater that he was wearing when he performed at the Tibet House Concert at New York's Carnegie Hall on Friday.  The rocker tossed the sweater to Patti Smith,  another performer at the 20th annual event.  Smith and her Patti Smith Group performed as the house band. Other musical guests included Irish vocalist Pierce Turner, pop star Regina Spektor, and Gogol Bordello.  Among the event's highlights was a concert goer who screamed "Happy Birthday" to Smith, who turned 63-years-old last December.  In response, Smith said, quote, "As the Mad Hatter would say, it's my un-birthday."  The evening benefited The Tibet House, an organization that works to preserve Tibet's culture and unique civilization.

Everyone needs a lift sometimes, just ask Mick Jagger. The UK's "Mirror" reports that the Rolling Stones frontman wore a pair of Nike sneakers with elevated soles while he was out with girlfriend L'Wren Scott recently.  The couple had ventured out to the New York premiere of "Shutter Island" where the five-foot-ten-inch Jagger was spotted with the special sneakers, allegedly created to give him some height around Scott, who is six-feet-four-inches tall.  Mick's reportedly not the only big rocker who has employed the tactic. U2's Bono is five-foot-seven and allegedly wears lifts around his wife, Ali Hewson.

A federal judge in New York ruled last week that Ozzy Osbourne can proceed with his lawsuit against Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi over use of the Sabbath name, according to the New York Post. In papers filed last May, Osbourne notes that Iommi took sole ownership of the band's name in a filing with the US Patent and Trademark Office, and he's suing for 50 percent interest in that trademark. Iommi's lawyer argues that Osbourne singed away his rights after quitting the band in 1979. But Osbourne's lawyer says that agreement was a "red herring" that was "repudiated" when he rejoined the band in 1997.

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers are preparing to get in touch with their "mojo." www.Variety.com reports that the band plans to tour North American in support of their upcoming album, called "Mojo."  The Live Nation-produced trek will launch in Raleigh, North Carolina at The Time-Warner Music Pavilion on May 6th.  Announced supporting acts will include Joe Cocker who will open for the band at the historic Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California on May 22nd.  Also appearing as guests are Crosby, Stills and Nash and ZZ-Top.  Tickets for the tour go on sale at www.LiveNation.com next Monday, March 8th.  "Mojo," due this spring, is the first studio LP from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers since 2002's "The Last DJ."

Songs performed by David Bowie, the Sex Pistols, and Nick Gilder all make appearances on a new soundtrack for the rock biopic "The Runaways."  www.RollingStone.com reports that a track listing has leaked for the LP to accompany the film about the 1970's girl band.  The independent movie starring Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie and Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett premiered in January at the Sundance Film Festival.  Also appearing on the soundtrack are Suzi Quatro, the Stooges, Fanning, Stewart, and more.  Jett herself has a presence on the album with the track, "Don't Abuse Me.  "The Runaways" is on track for a March 19th release.