Merry Christmas from Metallica

Metallica continues to give in a really big way. For Christmas. Fans connected to their website received 12 incredibly hot seconds of one of the new songs featured on an album under construction. Just knowing the band returned to the studio in 2015 was big enough. But now that it's taken a little longer than expected... that doesn't mean those that support the groups creative flow have walked away. Little gifts like this for Christmas are huge in the making of all things Metallica.

Steve MIller Calls For A Change

Bruce Springsteen went into the Hall of Fame without the E Street Band. Paul Stanley believes every member of KISS should have gotten into the Hall. The drama continues. Steve Miller is going in. But not his band. Miller is calling for an overhaul of the decision makers.

Could 2016 Be A New Page For Jimmy Page and Company

Legendary drummer Jason Bonham talking about how Robert Plant plays with the press about a Zeppelin reunion. Does Jason Bonham know something or is he just being overly optimistic? The son of the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham says he thinks the band still has a future. He told Vanyaland, "In my heart of hearts… I do believe we will play together again. It remains to be seen if it will be in public or privately, but I do think we will play again." Jason, who tours with a show called the Led Zeppelin Experience, quit Foreigner to join Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Robert Plant for the 2007 reunion show at London's O2 arena. At the time, he believed that would lead to more work together, but it never panned out.

Steve Miller's In The Hall Of Fame

Steve Miller talking about his induction next year into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and while it's still early, he tells us he knows who he'd like to have induct him. "Elton John is a really good pal," says Miller. "That would be probably my first choice because he's such a great record maker and he's always been so supportive of me. He loves my Greatest Hits." We reached out to Elton's office but have yet to hear back. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony is on April 8th in Brooklyn, New York, and as far as Elton's tour schedule is concerned, there is nothing announced for that date. Despite being eligible for induction since 1993, Steve wasn't nominated until this year. Regarding this week's news that he is headed in, he tells us, "I was surprised and relieved on one hand and sort of disappointed on the other because it was so much fun every year being complained about that I wasn't in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It was always good for like a week of press every year. Now I assume that now I am going to be inducted I won't get that bump next year." But in all seriousness he says, "I know that it's important to the fans, and so for that part I'm thankful." Joining Miller in the Class of 2016 are Cheap Trick, Chicago, Deep Purple and N.W.A.

2016 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Inductees

Janet Jackson didn't make it in. But Cheap Trick did. I'm more impressed that NWA got the invitation. Ice Cube and company have been an instrumental part of keeping those riffs and hardcore bass beats alive inside a generation passionately in love with loud rhythms and lyrics. Also headed into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame is Steve Miller, Deep Purple and Chicago. The induction is April 8th in New York.

Jerry On Jerry

Jerry on Jerry is now available. Jerry Garcia sharing his own story via two different books. Print and audio. Actual conversations of how Jerry lived his life and style. Publicist Dennis McNally talks about the incredible journey of experiencing the conversations personally with Jerry and now making them available for all Grateful Dead fans to hold onto forever.

Rick from Cheap Trick

Not only is Cheap Trick in the running to be inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. But they're set to release their new collection of songs during the opening moments of 2016. Rick Nielsen talks about the early chapters of the band which included a stint with John Lennon's producer.

New Music from Steve Perry 2016

Steve Perry is talking, "I finally went into the studio in March, and I've been in there ever since, just trying to finish this record... I certainly am looking forward to finishing it... I wanna get it done probably in the early part of this coming year." Perry's last album was 1994's For the Love of Strange Medicine. "There's been so many rumors going around that I'm in the studio, I've been there for years. The truth is, I finally went into the studio in March, and I've been in there ever since, just trying to finish this record. I wanna get it done probably in the early part of this coming year."

Springsteen's New Collection and Tour

New collection. New tour. Tickets on sale today. Bruce Springsteen talks about what he required of himself to make sure The River made its way to your turntable and huge living room speakers. The release of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s new project “The Ties That Bind: The River Collection” which came out last Friday and the upcoming nationwide tour which goes on sale today. Bruce recorded an hour long special where he talks about the album and plays tons of tracks from it. We have taken that special and turned into an iHeartRadio Channel for the next few weeks for all Bruce fans to enjoy.

Peter Gabriels Monkey Business

Peter Gabriel has signed on for a project that sounds a bit like the James Franco version of Planet of the Apes. According to London's Sunday Times, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer will work with MIT researchers to see if monkeys can use video technology to communicate with each other. Gabriel says, "The idea is to extend a big video network that already exists in labs at [the school] so that different species -- including our own -- have a chance to communicate. He says he's "absolutely certain the monkeys will use the video cameras in Monkey World to communicate with each other." He's also curious whether the apes "would use the Internet to communicate." Needless to say, there's skepticism to this effort. Dr. Bridget Waller from Britain's University of Portsmouth says, "I think we’re already pretty good at communicating with primates when they’re in captivity... Whether videoconferencing will help that, I’m not entirely sure. Primates are complex creatures and they need to be stimulated when we keep them in captivity." This isn't the first time Gabriel has interacted with man's closest relative -- back in 2001, he taught monkeys to play the keyboard.

Chicago Topping The List of Fan Favorite

We are down to the final 48 hours. Fans can help rock the vote at the Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame. At last count the group Chicago was leading the pack of fan favorites. But where does Deep Purple and Steve Miller fit in? How do the guys of Chicago feel about this moment knowing it's just another trophy? In an interview last year, Chicago trumpet player Lee Loughnane shares his feelings about their omission thus far from the Rock Hall. “We used to think more about it than we are now, because it’s inexplicable why we wouldn’t be in it. To be able to work at this level this much time later it doesn’t mean anything to be in it or not be in it -- or, if it does, we haven’t been able to experience that yet. If it does happen, that’s something that will happen and then be gone, ‘cause any award or accolade that you are given is fleeting. Then you have the next moment after the ‘Thank you very much.’ What do you do now? Move on.” The fan-voting process for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will be ending on Dec. 9. According to the current standings, Chicago is leading the pack, having picked up more than 37 million votes, or 23.4 percent of the overall tally. While Chicago has a clear hold on the top spot, a little more than half a million votes separate Yes, the Cars, Deep Purple and the Steve Miller Band for second through fifth places. Cheap Trick, the only other classic rock band among the 15 nominees, are in seventh place. Janet Jackson (fifth place), the Spinners, Chaka Khan, Chic, the J.B.’s, N.W.A., Nine Inch Nails, the Smiths and Los Lobos (eighth through 15th places) are the other nominees. You can cast your vote and then see the latest count at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s website. However, this doesn’t necessarily suggest that Chicago will automatically be inducted. As the Hall’s website says about the induction process, “The Top Five Nominees as voted by the fans count for one ballot entry, which is weighted the same as individual ballot entries submitted by members of the international voting body.” In other words, with “more than 600 artists, historians and members of the music industry” comprising the voting body, the fan vote counts for less than 0.0017 percent of the overall tally. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame traditionally announces the inductees in mid-December, with the Induction Ceremony taking place in April. An edited version of the ceremony will be televised on HBO in the summer.

John Lennon's 75th Birthday Concert

October 9th would have been John Lennon's 75th birthday, so why not throw yet another tribute concert. This one, Imagine: John Lennon 75th Birthday Concert, was held Saturday at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York and it featured Steven Tyler, John Fogerty, Peter Frampton, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Tom Morello, Sheryl Crow, country acts Eric Church and Chris Stapleton, Brandon Flowers from The Killers, Spoon, and a bunch of other artists, many of who weren't even born when Lennon was alive. At the show, 22 songs were performed -- 12 from Lennon's solo catalog, and 10 from The Beatles. You can see it all on AMC on December 19th at 9 p.m. ET/PT, but if you want to know what happened now, here is the complete list of performers and what they sang: • John FogertyYoko Ono took the stage to say a few words, and Paul McCartney sent in a videotaped message wishing his former bandmate a "happy birthday." Tom Morello used his teeth during his guitar solo in "Power to the People," and when he lifted his guitar to his mouth you saw the word "Imagine" emblazoned on the back of the guitar. Sheryl Crow played a black six-string Rickenbacker -- just like John's -- on “A Hard Day’s Night,” which she chose because it was one of the more up-tempo Beatles songs in the show. Lennon was killed 35 years ago this Tuesday (December 8th) -- 40 blocks north of where Saturday's show was held.

CSN At The National Tree Lighting

Crosby Stills and Nash helped light the national tree last night in Washington DC. David talks about the song he would've loved to have shared. Plus shares his deepest Christmas wish for this nation. If you missed out on the lighting last night. Watch it at thenationaltree.org.

Ringo's Auction

It's not everyday you get to buy Beatles memorabilia from a Beatle. Ringo Starr is auctioning off a serious chunk of the past that made him famous. Most would ask why? Once you learn why. You'll see that peace sign he proudly shares has a much deeper purpose and meaning. It's not everyday you get to buy Beatles memorabilia from a Beatle. Ringo Starr is auctioning off a serious chunk of the past that made him famous. Most would ask why? Once you learn why. You'll see that peace sign he proudly shares has a much deeper purpose and meaning. Among the items going up for bids are seven drum kits he used over the years, including the 1963 Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl three-piece kit he played in The Beatles between May of 1963 and February of 1964. He played it in the studio on “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “She Loves You,” “All My Loving” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” The auction also includes an original mono British copy of the White Album stamped with the serial number A0000001, a Mercedes, the suit Ringo wore in A Hard Day's Night, a 1964 Rickenbacker guitar given to him by John Lennon and a pair of rings he wore at every Beatles show. Ringo says, "I don't mind getting rid of a lot of stuff and it goes to good use. That's the deal." Chances are Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay will be one of the top bidders. He recently bought a drum head with The Beatles logo and already owns John Lennon's 1963 Gretsch guitar, a 1966 Vox played by Lennon and George Harrison and a 1964 Gibson SG owned by Harrison. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Ringo's Lotus Foundation. The charity is dedicated to "advancing social welfare" for a variety of causes, including child and family issues, homelessness and substance abuse.

Bono's Next Generation Of Art

Bono of U2 talking about his daughter Eve Hewson. She playing the role of Carol Donovan in the Steven Spielberg new movie Bridge of Spies. Carol is the daughter of the film's main character, James Donovan, who is portrayed by Tom Hanks. Though Eve's had some success as an actress, Bono says he does worry about her. "I think it's a really tough job. She's had a break with Steven Soderbergh and this series The Knick and she's very grateful. But you know, you don't know whether they're gonna get another job and you know, you live hand to mouth as an actor. So that's why myself and Ali were trying to talk her out of it, but we clearly failed."

Joe Walsh Scoring Documentary

Joe Walsh talking about an upcoming documentary he's creating lyrics and riffs for. Joe says, “There’s this documentary, it’s called Citizen Soldier and it’s about a National Guard unit in Oklahoma that out of nowhere got called to Afghanistan.” Walsh says the unit shot the film themselves using Go Pro cameras and that "they ended up deep in enemy territory and all hell broke loose and not all of them got back."