3 DOORS DOWN bassist Robert Todd Harrell was charged with vehicular manslaughter on April 19th in Nashville, Tennessee. According to police, Harrell,41, clipped a pickup truck, sending it down an embankment and killing the driver. Police also said he showed signs of impairment and acknowledged he had consumed hard cider and taken the prescription pills Lortab and Xanex. As of print, he was being held in lieu of $100,000 bond. The driver, Paul Shoulders was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from his truck.

Guitarist Frankie Sullivan has rejoined the reformed SURVIVOR which completes four original members of the band. "Our fans are the best and I can't think of a better way to give them our best. With this line-up, and both Dave and Jimi singing in the band, we can perform ALL of our hits, " says Sullivan. Second lead singer Jimi Jamison returned to the band last year to complement original lead singer Dave Bickler. Their hits include Eye of the Tiger, High on You, and The Search is Over.

THE CALL have reunited and are expected to release a live album and DVD. Original members Scott Musick, Tom Ferrier, and Jim Goodwin will be taking the stage with Robert Been, filling in for his father, the late Michael Been, who died in 2010. Been, who is lead singer of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, said it was an honor to perform in his father's shoes with The Call. They performed two shows in late April in San Francisco and Los Angeles and plan to go into the studio later this year. The Call have ten albums to their credit and last performed in over twenty years ago. They disbanded in 1990.

BLACK SABBATH have announced four summer dates in North America in support of their new release 13, due out on June. August 4th in Holmdel, New Jersey is the only date and place on the east coast that has been scheduled. No more tour info as of this print date has been released.

Legendary rock producer ANDY JOHNS passed away last month at the age of 61. Johns' engineering resume included classic albums from The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, Humble Pie, and Van Halen just to name a few. To read more about his life, go to www.billboard.com/news and read more about his incredible music journey.

BURNING RAIN return this month with their third album titled Epic Obsession on May 21st on Frontiers Records. Burning Rain was founded by current Whitesnake guitarist Doug Aldrich and former Montrose singer Keith St. John. It's rounded out by Sean McNabb(ex-Quiet Riot, House of Lords) on bass and Mike Starr(ex-Ace Frehley) on drums. Their last album, Pleasure to Burn was released in 2000. "I think we have a good batch of songs that will stand up," said Aldrich. "It's really the only thing I have done outside of Whitesnake in the last ten years." Also being re-released on Frontiers will be Burning Rain's first two albums, the self-titled Burning Rain and the aforementioned Pleasure to Burn, both long out of print, with bonus material on each album.

JUDAS PRIEST celebrate their 40th year as recording artists this year with the release of the live concert Epitaph on May 28th through Legacy Recordings. This release precedes a new studio album which the band is working on now. The album was recorded in London's HMV Hammersmith Apollo in May of last year and last date of the tour. Adding to the drama is the fact that this was Judas Priest's final large scale world tour ever. Epitaph's 23 tracks represent at least one song from every one of the band's fourteen studio albums, from 1974's Rocka Rolla( Never Satisfied) to 2008's Nostradamus(Prophecy). In the special case of British Steel, four songs are featured including the encore and perennial closer Living After Midnight.

NEW MAY RELEASES.......ANVIL,TIMO TOLLKI'S AVALON, THE POODLES, FAIR WARNING, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, U.D.O, JOE SATRIANI, AIRBOURNE

Alvin Lee, founder of the band TEN YEARS AFTER, passed away March 6th in Spain due to complications following a routine surgical procedure. He was 68. He mostly played and still recorded under his own name following his split from the band in 2003. Their biggest hit was 'I'd love to Change The World' from the 1971 album A Space in Time. The group still performs with the remaining three original members.

Peter Banks, the original guitarist for YES, who played on the first two albums, also has died. He was 65. After 1970's Time and a Word, Banks left Yes and was replaced by Steve Howe. He then founded the prog-rock band Flash, which released three albums.

IRON MAIDEN do not have an album coming out or planning to tour, but they are coming out with their own beer called Trooper. They teamed up with the Cheshire family brewers Robinsons to create a unique ale." I'm a lifelong fan of traditional English ale and I thought I'd died and gone to heaven when we were asked to create our own beer," said Bruce Dickinson. "Robinsons are the only people I have had to audition for in 30 years. Their magic has been to create the alchemical wedding of flavor and texture that is Trooper. I love it." The Iron Maiden character Eddie will adorn the center of the label and look for it sometime in May of this year. Check out www.ironmaidenbeer.com for more info.

In related Iron Maiden news, former drummer Clive Burr lost his battle with multiple sclerosis in early March. He was 56. Burr played on the bands first three albums.

Melodic Rockfest Three has been set for September 27-29 at H.O.M.E. Bar in Chicago, IL. On the bill for this three day event are such acts as TANGO DOWN, W.E.T., TED POLEY, MECCA, ERIC MARTIN, HOUSE OF LORDS, ADRIANGALE, COLDSPELL, ECLIPSE, HAREM SCAREM, and STEVE AUGERI.

WHITESNAKE return this month with a live CD/DVD called Made In Japan on April 23rd from Frontiers Records. It was filmed during their co-headlining set at the Loud Park festival October 2011 at Saitama Super Arena in Japan during their Forevermore World Tour. Classic hits Is This Love, Love Ain't No Stranger, and Here I Go Again are just some of the songs highlighted on this disc. A deluxe 2CD/DVD format will be available also with a bonus disc consisting of acoustic versions of songs from the sound check.

THE EAGLES have announced the initial concerts for their History of the Eagles Tour kicking off in Louisville, KY on July 6th. In celebration of the release of the band's documentary, History of the Eagles, which made it's television debut on Showtime last month, the Eagles will perform 11 concerts through July 25th. Check Ticketmaster for dates and prices. The closest they perform around here are in Philadelphia and Washington DC.

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION is officially "over" following guitarist Joe Bonamassa's decision to leave the band. "Joe has left and will not allow us to keep the name," said bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes. "Jason(Bonham),Derek(Sherinian) and I will continue with a different name when the time is right."

SAIGON KICK have reunited and are touring this spring. They are best remembered for their 1992 album The Lizard which spawned their smash hit "Love Is On The Way. The group broke up in 1999. No info on a new album have been announced as of yet.

FATES WARNING has finally reamerged again also. They are getting ready to enter the studio in April to record a new studio album--its first collection of new material in nine years. Their last album was X in 2004. The band's 11th album will be set for a fall release and will feature founding guitarist Jim Matheos alongside classic lineup members Ray Alder, Joey Vera, Frank Aresti, and Bobby Jarzombek. They have also announced a fall tour starting in November. Tickets are available now. The closest they come around here will be at the Chameleon Club in Lancaster, PA on November 27th.

NEW APRIL RELEASES.......KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, SIX FEET UNDER, LANDSLIDE, BAI BANG, MASTERPLAN, FREEDOM CALL, DEVICE, KINGDOM COME, BILL LEVERTY(FIREHOUSE),THIN LIZZY LIVE 2012

L.A. GUNS released a live DVD last month called L.A. GUNS: Live in Concert which is from the highly talked about show they played at 2012's M3 Festival from Columbia, MD. Playing songs Never Enough, The Ballad of Jayne, and Sex Action, the band continues to carry the torch of the Hollywood sleaze/rock scene of the late eighties. The concert is uncut and contains material not seen at the festival live feed. It also contains uncensored backstage footage. In related news, guitarist Frankie Wilsey(ex-Sea Hags), who only lasted one month in the band, was replaced by Michael Grant(ex-Endeverafter). Longtime guitarist Stacie Blades left in December due to musical differences with the band.

PRETTY MAIDS anticipated new album Motherland will be released on March 26th. Founded in 1982 by guitarist Ken Hammer and singer Ronnie Atkins, they established themselves as a band to be taken seriously and with 1987's Future World, the Danish rockers hit it big with their first big album. Now thirty years later, Motherland will be their 13th studio album to date. Produced by Jacob Hansen(Volbeat), it takes off where 2010's Pandemonium release left off.

Carlos Santana has confirmed he is recruiting his original band SANTANA which included Mike Carabello, Michael Shrieve, Greg Rollie, and Neil Schon. Schon, who was only fifteen when he joined, says he is definitely on board with the reunion which is projecting a 2014 release. "I've reconnected with Carlos and we have been talking a lot about doing it." said Schon. "It's very exciting." Original bass player Dave Brown passed away in 2000 and will be the only member to have to be replaced for the album.

One of the top grossing tours of last year has teamed up again for another tour this year. STYX, REO SPEEDWAGON, and TED NUGENT will be touring in April and May all over the country. Unfortunately the closet they will come around here is Roanoke, VA.

SEBASTIAN BACH has a new cd/dvd release out on March 26th titled ABachalypse Now via Frontiers Records. It includes live performances from Hellfest in France and from the Nokia Center in Los Angeles, both from last year's highly successful Screaming and Kicking tour.

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE released their fourth album titled Temper Temper in late February and landed on number 13 on the Billboard charts on it's first week of sales. The Welsh quartet traveled to Thailand to do most of the writing and recording this time. "Being able to write 24/7 there was a huge advantage," said lead singer Matt Tuck. "We had no distractions from home, which was the main reason we went there. It turned out great." Look for them to headline this summer with guests Halestorm and Young Guns. The first single from the record is called Riot.

VOMITORY have officially called it quits. From their website--"After 24 years, eight albums, and hundreds of shows, we have finally come to the end of the road. We have made a collective decision to end Vomitory by the end of 2013. Thank you all for everything and we will play as many shows as possible this year as a thank you." Their latest release, Opus Mortis VIII, was in 2011 on Metal Blade.

BLACK STAR RIDERS has started where THIN LIZZY has ended. In October, Thin Lizzy reported they would no longer be recording music under the name Thin Lizzy. According to guitarist Scott Gorham, the music has that classic Lizzy vibe, but not that classic Lizzy sound. The Riders record, due in the spring, is the next step in the evolution of the Thin Lizzy story. "There's no way it could sound like Thin Lizzy with [late front man] Phil[Lynott]," Gorham said. Added lead singer Ricky Warwick, "It sounds like classic Lizzy brought up to date." The band also features Marco Mendoza on bass, Damon Johnson on guitar, and newest member Jimmy DeGrasso on drums.

New rock super group SOMETHING UNTO NOTHING (S.U.N.) will release their self-titled album on February 5th on Robo Records. The band, which consists of Michael Devin (Kenny Wayne Shepard Band), Brian Tichy (Whitesnake, T&N), Tommy Stewert (Godsmack), and singer Sass Jordan, released their first single, "I'm The One," in early January, and it's creating a buzz in the rock world. In related news concerning Tichy, he has officially announced his departure from Whitesnake to devote his time to playing guitar for S.U.N. Added Whitesnake front man David Coverdale, "We are truly sad to see him go, but we fully support his dreams and ambitions and wish him well." No replacement has been named.

FIREWIND singer Apollo Papathanasio has left the band. According to their websire, "Apollo has decided to step down permanently from the vocal duties. Apollo could not keep up with Firewind's ever growing and demanding touring schedule. Although we are sad to see him go, we feel the show must go on. We are happy to announce that Kelly Sundown Carpenter (Adagio, Beyond Twilight) will be singing for us on the upcoming North American tour with Turisas."

SANCTUARY have signed with Century Media. A new album is in the works with a release date sometime this year. It will be their first album since 1989's Into The Mirror Black. Steve Howe has left ASIA. As posted on his website, he says, "I have left Asia to concentrate on Yes, my solo work, and my band, Trio. I've enjoyed the six years of touring and recording with Asia, but now it's time to focus more on the above mentioned formations." Rock newcomer Sam Coulson has been named as Asia's new guitar player and will be recording a new album with them this year.

Rock Candy Records have re-released the first four albums from '80s rocker EDDIE MONEY. Life for The Taking, Playing For Keeps, No Control, and his self titled first album have all been remastered from the original tapes. With hits like "Shakin," "Think I'm In Love," "Running Back," and "Two Tickets to Paradise," these four albums are chock-full of classic hits from the ex-New York police officer.

"Villify," the first single from the new rock industrial band DEVICE, featuring Disturbed frontman David Draiman, hits radio on February 19th. Says Draiman, "We hope the record will be released in April, but no finalized date has been given." Device also recruited Geno Lenardo from Filter to play guitar. As for Disturbed, they have been on hiatus since 2011, with all four members stating a comeback would happen but not indicating when they plan to return.

Marking their 30th anniversary, VOIVOD returned to the metal scene with their 13th album,Target Earth, from Iron Gang Factory Records. "This album is more prog-metal than the last few albums," says drummer Michel Langevin. "It's like going back in time from the beginning." With the return of original bassist Jean-Yves Theriault to the mix, the album is being compared to the bands first four releases. Look for them on tour this summer.

Another band celebrating their 30th year is GREAT WHITE, and they are doing it the only way they know how...releasing a live album called 30 Years–Live from the Sunset Strip. Recorded at the Key Club in March of last year, the band returned to the infamous Sunset strip in Los Angeles, where they played their entire repertoire to a packed house. "Lady Red Light," "Rock Me," "Desert Moon," and "Once Bitten Twice Shy" are just a few of the hits on the disc. SCORPIONS have done an about-face on their retirement, officially postponing it and opting to continue forward for now. More details coming soon.