--Deep Purple Co-Founder Jon Lord Dead At 71

Deep Purple co-founder and keyboardist Jon Lord has died.  A statement on his website says Lord, who co-wrote many of the band's songs, including "Smoke on the Water," died at the London Clinic on Monday, surrounded by family.  The 71-year-old rocker had been receiving treatment for pancreatic cancer.  Lord is known for fusing rock and classical music through his work as a pianist and Hammond organ player.  Deep Purple was born after his meeting with Ritchie Blackmore in the late 1960s.  Lord also played with bands like Whitesnake and Paice, Ashton and Lord after Deep Purple's break up in 1976.  The band would later reunite in 1984.    

Deep Purple has long been cited as pioneers of hard rock and heavy metal.  In addition to Lord, Blackmore and Paice, its members have included Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Glenn Hughes, David Coverdale, Joe Satriani and Joe Lynn Turner, among others.


--Robert Plant Possibly Married, Unveiling New Band

Robert Plant just might be a married man.  The former Led Zeppelin frontman tells Britain's "The Independent" that he "eloped and ran off to Texas," and now spends half of his time in Austin and half in the UK.  Relationship rumors have been circulating between Plant and singer Patty Griffin since last fall, when photographs began cropping up on the Internet showing them both wearing what appears to be wedding rings.  Griffin is in Plant's current group, Band of Joy, as well as in his new side project, The Sensational Space Shifters.

Plant is keeping busy with both groups.  He says he's just recorded a new Band of Joy album that's "far, far out with psychedelic pedal steel and all sorts of stuff."  Robert describes the Space Shifters as a more free-form outfit, explaining that "people come together to do what they want to do, and what they can."  The Sensational Space Shifters are performing in Britain in preparation for their upcoming appearance at the WOMAD festival in Wiltshire, England on July 29th.


--Geoff Tate Loses Battle For Queensryche Name

The first legal battle between former Queensryche frontman Geoff Tate and his ex-bandmates has gone to the remaining members of the group.  AGPS Management senior manager Glen Parrish tells Billboard.com a Washington state judge has ruled that guitarist Michael Wilton, bassist Eddie Jackson, and drummer Scott Rockenfield can still perform as Queensryche.  Tate had attempted to block them from using the moniker, and was looking to be awarded ownership of the name.  Parrish says the court confirmed "what we and the fans have always known, that Queensryche is more than any one member."  AGPS Management is now representing Queensryche.  Tate's wife, Susan, had been Queensryche's manager.  Geoff Tate was fired from the group up last month.


--Mick Jagger Says Stones Plan To Be Playing Live This Fall

It could only be a matter of months before the Rolling Stones are back on stage.  Frontman Mick Jagger tells London's "Evening Standard" that "you will definitely be seeing us all together soon," adding that the band plans to be performing together live "in the autumn."  Rumors of a Stones tour have been circulating for months, in conjunction with the band's 50th anniversary.  The group marked the official milestone in London last week.  The Stones held a series of rehearsals in the spring, which was the first time they'd teamed up to play together since the 2007 wrap of their two-year "A Bigger Bang" tour.

Jagger adds that the band's long hiatus is why the Stones declined an invitation to perform at the Summer Olympics.  He explains that it's "a very big gig and it's very risk taking," and band members didn't think the group would be "stage ready" in time for the event.


--Vintage Ozzy Osbourne Concert DVD In Stores Today

Ozzy Osbourne's concert DVD "Speak Of The Devil" is now available.  The video dates back 30 years, and captures the Prince of Darkness performing with his band at Irvine Meadows Amphitheater in California on June 12th, 1982.  The show was part of Ozzy's emotional "Diary of a Madman" tour, and took place just a few months after the death of guitarist Randy Rhoads.  Ozzy's backing band included bassist Rudy Sarzo, keyboardist Don Airey, and drummer Tommy Aldredge with guitarist Brad Gillis.  The 14-track set includes such classics as "Crazy Train," "Mr. Crowley," and "Suicide Solution," as well as the Black Sabbath hits "Iron Man" and "Paranoid."  Ozzy's "Speak Of The Devil" arrives in stores today.

Ozzy Osbourne's "Speak Of The Devil" DVD Track Listing

1. Over The Mountain
2. Mr Crowley
3. Crazy Train
4. Revelation (Mother Earth)
5. Steal Away (The Night)
6. Suicide Solution
7. Guitar / Drum Solo
8. Goodbye To Romance
9. I Don't Know
10. Believer
11. Flying High Again
12. Iron Man
13. Children Of The Grave
14. Paranoid


--Slipknot Releases First Greatest Hits Collection Today

Slipknot is adding its first greatest hits package to today's pack of new releases.  "Antennas to Hell" is out now with 19 selections ranging from their 1999 self-titled debut to 2008's "All Hope Is Gone."  And if that's not enough, there are also multiple deluxe editions available for fans who want something visual.  The two-disc set comes with a DVD featuring their 2009 appearance at the Download Festival, while the three-disc collection adds another DVD containing all of the band's music videos plus ten new clips created by band member Shawn Crahan, a.k.a. Clown.


--Quick Bite

Fans can now pick up Motley Crue's new single.  The band shared a preview of "Sex" on their website last Thursday, and officially unveiled the song via Sirius XM on Friday.  The track is the first new release from the group in four years.  Their last studio effort was 2008's "Saints of Los Angeles."  Motley Crue begins "The Tour" with KISS in Bristow, Virginia on Friday.


--Today's Birthdays

Black Sabbath bassist Terry "Geezer" Butler is 63.
Tommy James and the Shondells' bassist Mike Vale is 63.
Former Doobie Brothers drummer Chet McCracken is 60.


--Today In Rock History

In 1967
The Jimi Hendrix Experience was the opening act at a Monkees concert at the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium in New York.

In 1968
The Beatles' animated film "Yellow Submarine" premiered at the London Pavilion.  Band members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison attend the screening.  It opened in the U.S. several months later and became a big hit.  The film is based on The Beatles song and characters.

In 1972
A bomb placed under a ramp at the Montreal Forum blew out the cones of 30 speakers stored inside one of the Rolling Stones' equipment trucks.  Montreal radio stations received at least 50 calls from would-be bombers.  It was never determined who planted the dynamite and the show went on as planned.

In 1974
John Lennon was ordered to leave the U.S. in 60 days in connection with his ongoing legal battle with immigration officials.

While a solo artist, Joe Walsh opened for the Eagles in a show at the Mississippi River Festival in Edwardsville, Illinois.

In 1979
Gary Moore left Thin Lizzy.  He was replaced by Midge Ure.

In 1992
Guns N' Roses, Metallica, and Faith No More kicked off a tour in Washington DC.

In 1994
Kiss' Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons made a surprise appearance at a Kiss convention in Pontiac, Michigan, and found some Kiss costumes that had been stolen from the band more than a decade earlier.

In 1996
Former Animals bassist and Jimi Hendrix Experience manager Chas Chandler died in a British hospital.  He had been undergoing tests relating to an aortic aneurysm.  He was 57.

In 2000
Mike and the Mechanics lead singer Paul Young died of heart failure.  He was 53.

In 2002
Journey made its first ever club appearance, at the Quest Club in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to road test some new material.

In 2004
A memorial service was held for the late New York Dolls bassist Arthur "Killer" Kane at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Westwood, California.  He had died four days earlier of leukemia.

In 2007
Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx held a press conference in Los Angeles to present a preview of his book "The Heroin Diaries" and it's accompanying soundtrack album.  He also introduced his other band, Sixx: A.M., with whom he recorded the album.

In 2010
Halford made their concert return at The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, marking the group's first live performance in seven years.

In 2011
The members of Cheap Trick escaped uninjured when the stage collapsed during their set at the Ottawa Bluesfest in Ontario, Canada, but ten other people were hurt in the incident.  The weather was blamed for the collapse.  
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