--Steven Tyler Quits "American Idol"

It's judgment day for "American Idol" judge Steven Tyler.  After two seasons, the Aerosmith rocker says he has judged his final contestant for the show.  Tyler released a statement Thursday announcing his plans to exit the Fox singing competition in a way only Steven Tyler can.  He wrote, "After some long hard thoughts, I've decided it's time for me to let go of my mistress 'American Idol' before she boils my rabbit."  He added, "I strayed from my first love AEROSMITH, and I'm back - but instead of begging on my hands and knees, I've got two fists in the air and I'm kicking the door open with my band."  Tyler says the next few years are going to be dedicated to what he called "the ultimate in auditory takeover" while announcing the band's plans to release their new album, "Music from Another Dimension" on November 6th.

"Idol" producers added to the statement saying it's been a tremendous honor to have Tyler, whom they called "one of the most prolific artists in the world."  They also wished him the best and kept the door open for him to return to the show.  Tyler's exit follows rumors that his fellow judge Jennifer Lopez might also be leaving the series after two seasons.  Lopez told NBC's "Today" show Thursday she wasn't sure she would be back.


--Motley Crue Shares 30-Second Preview Of New Single

Motley Crue is giving fans a taste of their new single.  The band asks in a website post, "Who's up for some foreplay?," and offers a 30-second clip of their latest song, "Sex." "Sex" will have its official broadcast debut Friday on SiriusXM, and will arrive in stores on Tuesday.  The track is the first new release from Motley Crue in four years.  The band's last studio effort was 2008's "Saints of Los Angeles."  Fans will likely hear "Sex" in concert as well.  Motley Crue begins "The Tour" with KISS in Bristow, Virginia on July 20th.


--Rolling Stones' Keith Richards Reflects On Band's Future

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards says he's looking forward to the band continuing on indefinitely.  The rocker tells the BBC he believes "there might be life in the old dog yet," and expects that band members will "die gracefully, elegantly wasted."  As for the group's near future, Richards continues to fuel rumors of an upcoming tour.  He says the band's recent rehearsals have gone well, and "there's things in the works."  While he adds that he thinks a tour is "definitely happening," he still can't say when the group expects to launch the anticipated trek.  Keith also admits he finds it "weird" to look at photos from the band's past.  He and the other Stones checked out the new photography exhibit "The Rolling Stones: 50," which opens to the public today at London's Somerset House.  The Stones marked their 50th anniversary on Thursday.  The exhibit commemorates the band's milestone.


--Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson Announce Joint Tour

Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson are set to hit the road together this fall for what they're promising will be a "ghoulish" outing.  The two metal stars announced the joint-headlining "Twins of Evil" tour on Thursday.  The trek starts September 28th at the Desert Uprising Festival in Phoenix, Arizona, and will make its way throughout the entire U.S. before coming to a close with a Halloween show in Dallas, Texas, on October 31st.  After that, the duo will be heading overseas to start a European leg on November 26th.  Zombie said in a statement that fans should "be prepared for something wicked this way a-coming," which includes a stage set with animatronic robots, pyrotechnics and what he calls "psychotronic monster film clips."

Korn frontman Jonathan Davis will serve as Manson and Zombie's support for most of the U.S. stops, performing under his DJ alter ego J Devil.  Davis calls J Devil the "anti-christ" of electronic dance music, and says he's looking forward to a string of "sinister" nights alongside Manson and Zombie.

"Twins of Evil" Tour Dates closest to us:

10/9 -- Mankato, MN -- Verizon Wireless Center


--Stevie Nicks Confirms Fleetwood Mac Reunion Tour

The members of Fleetwood Mac are reuniting for another tour.  Stevie Nicks confirmed the rumors on "CBS This Morning" Thursday. Fleetwood Mac last toured in 2009.  Nicks says all of the band's members will be on board for the new trek that's expected to launch next year.  The last tour included Nicks, Lindsay Buckingham, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood.  Christine McVie officially left the band in 1998.  Nicks is also getting ready to launch a series of concert dates with Rod Stewart.  The duo will kick off their 18-day "Heart & Soul Tour" next Friday, July 20th in Cleveland, Ohio.


--Allman Brothers Band Reveal Peach Music Festival Lineup

The Allman Brothers Band is making plans for their upcoming Peach Music Festival.  The Wailers, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, the Dark Star Orchestra, and the Zac Brown Band are some of the acts that have signed on for the three-day event.  The festival will also feature several Allman Brothers offshoots, including the Warren Haynes Band, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Jaimoe's Jasssz Band.  Robert Randolph and The Family Band, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, and O.A.R. are also slated to perform.

The Allman Brothers' multi-stage Peach Music Festival will take place at the Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain and the Sno Mountain Ski Area and Water Park in Scranton, Pennsylvania from August 10th through the 12th.  Additional details are available at www.ThePeachMusicFestival.com and the Allman Brothers Band's website.


--Today's Birthdays

The Byrds frontman Roger McGuinn is 70.
J. Geils Band drummer Stephen Bladd is 70.
Cheech & Chong's Cheech Marin is 66.


--Today In Rock History

In 1969
Led Zeppelin ended up headlining a festival in New York that also featured performances from the Jeff Beck Group, Jethro Tull, and Ten Years After.  While Vanilla Fudge was supposed to perform after Zeppelin, the group dropped out of the lineup rather than try and top Zeppelin's set.  Drummer John Bonham also made a spectacle of himself even when his band wasn't playing, stripping during the Jeff Beck Group's set.

In 1973
Queen released their self-titled debut album.

In 1981
Bob Dylan gave a two-hour press conference in Denmark after he saw an interview in a Danish newspaper with a Dylan imposter.

In 1984
Van Halen guitarist Eddie Van Halen made a guest appearance at a Jacksons concert in Dallas, joining Jackson to perform "Beat It."

Jeff Beck walked out on his tour with Rod Stewart after seven shows.

In 1985
The Who, Queen, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, the Beach Boys, Elton John, David Bowie, and Joan Baez were among the performers at Live Aid.  Live Aid was a series of benefit concerts staged in Philadelphia, London, and Sydney to raise money for the starving people of Africa.

In 2000
Yoko Ono filed a copyright infringement suit against a rapid transit company in Japan because it was using an unauthorized portrait of John Lennon on its tickets.

In 2001
Ratt guitarist Robbin Crosby announced that he was battling AIDS.

In 2004
The New York Dolls bassist Arthur "Killer" Kane died at a Los Angeles hospital from complications from leukemia.  He had entered the hospital thinking he had the flu, and died just a few hours after receiving his leukemia diagnosis.  Kane was 55.

In 2006
Survivor announced that Robin McAuley was the band's new vocalist, taking the helm from Jim Jamison.

In 2011
Carlos Santana announced that he had become a co-owner of Casa Noble Tequila, and would be involved in the brand's development.