News

The Rolling Stones kicked off their 2013 50 and Counting tour last night (May 3) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The band were joined by Mick Taylor, who has been announced as special guest on the tour, to play "Midnight Rambler". Other guests included Gwen Stefani, who joined the band for "Wild Horses" and Keith Urban who played guitar and sang during "Respectable".

Hop Farm Festival has been cancelled. The festival was due to take place over the weekend of July 5 - 6 at Paddock Wood, Tonbridge, Kent. In a statement promoter Vince Power said: “After reviewing the ticket sales on Hop Farm and the predicted final figures the festival would suffer unsustainable losses so therefore, as from today, it is with great sadness I am announcing the cancelation of the festival.

Slayer guitarist and founding member Jeff Hanneman has died at the age of 49. The musician - second from right in the picture above - passed away from liver failure in a California hospital on the morning of May 2. A statement from the band's publicist released yesterday read:

Keith Richards has admitted that he does not own an iPod and feels that the sound quality of MP3s is leaving fans "short changed". Revealing that he does not own an iPod, Richards says he understands the use of being able to store thousands of songs on one device but that he feels the sound quality is poor in comparison to CDs and records. Speaking to Billboard the guitarist says: "I don't have an iPod. I still use CDs or records actually. Sometimes cassettes. It has much better sound; a much better sound than digital."

Neutral Milk Hotel are reportedly planning a world tour for 2014.

Band Of Horses have covered Jason Molina's 'I've Been Riding With The Ghost' on Jimmy Kimmel's US talk show – you can watch it below. Ben Bridwell's band took to Jimmy Kimmel Live! to perform the song, originally released on Songs: Ohia's 2003 album Magnolia Electric Co, in tribute to the late singer-songwriter, who died on March 16, 2013, aged 39. The group also performed their own 2007 song, 'The General Specific', on the show. Band Of Horses' most recent album, Mirage Rock, was released in September 2012.

A man has been accused of impersonating Pink Floyd's David Gilmour in order to get out of paying around $100,000 of medical bills.

Beck has announced plans for a new acoustic album, which he will be unveiling at a string of shows spread across the summer. The dates - which include one show as part of the Bob Dylan/Wilco/My Morning Jacket AmericanaramA festival - will see Beck road test material from the forthcoming record.

Neil Young, Chrissie Hynde and U2 are among the artists who have celebrated Willie Nelson's 80th birthday, which took place yesterday (April 30). Tributes paid by scores of musicians and friends - including Young, Hynde, Bonnie Raitt, John Mellencamp, Norah Jones and Band Of Horses - have been posted on Nelson's website. Neil Young sings "Happy birthday" to Nelson from the balcony of a roadside motel, adding: "80 years, unbelievable. Keep on rocking, man."

The Doors have launched a new, expanded website. www.thedoors.com contains video clips and new photo galleries, as well as an archive listing all the band’s shows with setlists, gig notes, and in some cases, audio available for download. Users will find detailed info on songs like "Light My Fire", which showcases the original single artwork as well as videos and lyrics. Additional website features include an integrated community for fans to meet, discuss and share all Doors memories.