Rock News

Smashing Pumpkins founder and frontman Billy Corgan has officially confirmed 19-year-old Mike Byrne as the band's new drummer, according to a press release. Online reports speculated that the Portland, Oregon native won the job after Corgan held a number of open auditions, but his recruitment has not been made official until now. Byrne replaces original drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, who was part of the Pumpkins' 20-year history almost continuously until departing earlier this year.


Three Days Grace has revealed the details of a "Super Deluxe" edition of its upcoming third album, Life Starts Now, out September 22nd. The $100 package will be limited to 1,500 autographed and individually numbered copies and will include the album on CD and MP3, a download of the single "Break," a smashed fragment of a Three Days Grace guitar, a 32-page photo and lyric book, an exclusive T-shirt, a pair of custom drumsticks, a guitar pick card, concert ticket access, one-year fan club membership and exclusive video download access. Three other editions are also available. Meanwhile, BrokenAgony.com reports that Three Days Grace may join Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown and Chevelle on a blockbuster tour in 2010

Weezer has revealed that the group's new album will be called Raditude. A post at the band's official website states, "Weezer's seventh album due out on October 27th, does indeed have a title, and the title is Raditude." The first single from the set, "(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To," was briefly leaked online Monday (August 17th).


Radiohead officially issued the song "These Are My Twisted Words" as a free download on Monday (August 17th), but torpedoed rumors that a full EP called Wall Of Ice was also imminent. In a statement, guitarist Jonny Greenwood said, "We've been recording for a while, and this was one of the first we finished. We're pretty proud of it. There's other stuff in various states of completion, but this is one we've been practicing, and which we'll probably play at this summer's concerts. Hope you like it." Meanwhile, a solo track from singer Thom Yorke, a cover of Mark Mulcahy's "All for the Best," will be released as a limited edition seven-inch single on September 7th


Dave Matthews Band is giving away a free downloadable album for fans who pledge to recycle and conserve energy. The set, called So Much To Save 2009, features live tracks from the band, along with supporting acts on tour, including Avett Brothers, Gomez, Hill Country Revue, Switchfoot, Umphrey's McGee and Yonder Mountain String Band. Fans who recycle at a Dave Matthews Band show will receive a free downloadable album. People not able to to make it to a show can still download the set by pledging to recycle and save energy via an online pledge.