--Anthrax Drummer's Lawyer Expects "Vindication" In Court

Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante is due in an Elkhart County court Friday in conjunction with his recent arrest in Indiana.  The rocker's lawyer WIlliam Hotopp says in a statement that he expects the proceedings will result in "complete vindication" for his client.  South Bend, Indiana's WSBT-TV says Benante and his wife Sandra were both arrested last Friday.  They are facing charges of domestic battery in front of a child.  Hotopp explains in his statement that Charlie had brought his six-year-old daughter Mia to Indiana to see her mom, who was in Elkhart for her son's basketball game.  The lawyer says "words were exchanged," and Charlie pushed Sandra away after she hit him in the face.  He claims Charlie was trying to leave with Mia when Sandra "assaulted him from behind."  Hotopp adds that Charlie suffered a gash to the back of his head that "required several staples to close."  Benante's head is bandaged in his mug shot.

Anthrax has been on the road this summer, but Benante hasn't been able to participate in the tour.  He's recovering from a hand injury that prevents him from performing.  Anthrax is currently a headliner on the Rockstar Mayhem Festival.  The tour wraps up this weekend with shows in Mansfield, Massachusetts on Friday; Scranton, Pennsylvania on Saturday; and Hartford, Connecticut on Sunday.


--Pink Floyd's Nick Mason To Perform At Olympics Closing Ceremony

At least one member of Pink Floyd is expected to help bring the Summer Olympic Games to an end.  British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran tells Brisbane, Australia's Nova radio that he's slated to perform the Pink Floyd classic "Wish You Were Here" with the band's drummer Nick Mason.  He adds that organizers are "trying to get someone else" from the group as well -- which would be either singer-guitarist David Gilmour or singer-bassist Roger Waters.  Keyboardist Richard Wright died in 2008, and guitarist Syd Barrett passed away in 2006.  The 2012 Olympics Closing Ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on August 12th.

Sheeran had previously told MTV that he "might be playing with quite a big rock band" at the Olympic event, and that he "might be playing one of their most famous hits."  His remarks led to speculation that he'd be performing with The Who, since the group has been mentioned as another performer for the event.


--Joe Walsh Discusses "Seriously" Running For Congress

Joe Walsh says he might "seriously" enter the political arena.  The rocker tells Washington, DC's WASH-FM he's contemplating one day running for a Congressional seat to see if he can "stir up the hornets."  He describes the current Congress as "so dysfunctional," and says Americans are "dead in the water until Congress gets to work and passes some new legislation to change things."  Walsh adds that he thinks the problem stems from having career politicians in office.  He explains his belief that Congress would be much more effective if the public were to elect "people from where we're all from" and "not politicians," and some day he just might try to become one of those non-politicians.  But regarding when he might make his bid, he only says it "won't be in November."

Walsh has previously made a couple of less-than-serious attempts to run for office.  He proclaimed himself a presidential candidate in the 1980 election and a vice presidential hopeful back in 1992.  Joe is currently on the road supporting his latest release, "Analog Man."  The album arrived in stores in June, and is his first solo album in 20 years.  Walsh will be performing at the South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset, Massachusetts Friday night.


--Bret Michaels Considering Another "Celebrity Apprentice," Not "Rock Of Love"

Bret Michaels just might make another run on NBC's "The Celebrity Apprentice."  The rocker's rep tells TMZ.com it's possible the singer will compete on the show again, but nothing has been confirmed as yet.  Michaels says Donald Trump has asked him to take part in an all-star edition of the reality show.  The Poison frontman was the winner in the third installment of the series that aired in 2010, and raised money for the American Diabetes Association.

Meantime, Michaels' rep is denying rumors that Bret is planning another edition of his VH1 show "Rock Of Love" following the end of his engagement to fiancée Kristi Gibson.  The couple announced their split earlier this week, ending a relationship spanning nearly 20 years.  The rep adds that such speculation is insensitive, explaining that "anyone who knows Bret's family and knows him as a father and a friend would truly understand that he is hurting over the separation."


--Black Sabbath Among Headliners At This Weekend's Lollapalooza

Black Sabbath is expected to play their only U.S. concert of 2012 this weekend at Lollapalooza.  The veteran metal band will make their debut at the three-day festival that's launching today and runs through Sunday at Chicago's Grant Park.  Black Sabbath is among the opening day headliners.  Others on board for Friday include The Black Keys, Passion Pit, and Band of Skulls.  The Red Hot Chili Peppers are among Saturday's headliners, while Jack White will help close the festival on Sunday.

Lollapalooza is the last of only three shows for Black Sabbath this year.  The band had planned to go on a full tour this year, after announcing the reunion of the group's original lineup last fall.  But over the winter guitarist Tony Iommi was diagnosed with cancer, which forced the group to alter their plans.  Another wrinkle for the group came from drummer Bill Ward, who dropped out of the reunion saying he wasn't able to negotiate an adequate contract with the group.  Sabbath's only other shows this year included a charity concert in their hometown of Birmingham, England and an appearance at the UK Download Festival.  Black Sabbath has been performing with drummer Tommy Clufetos.


--Today's Birthdays

Metallica's James Hetfield is 49.
Collective Soul frontman Ed Roland is 49.
Deftones guitarist Stephen Carpenter is 42.
Bleeding Through frontman Brandan Schieppati is 32.
The Stray Cats bassist Lee Rocker is 51.
Earth, Wind and Fire guitarist Johnny Graham is 61.
War bassist Morris "B.B." Dickerson is 63.
Tony Bennett is 86.


--Today In Rock History

In 1966
The Beatles music was banned in South Africa in response to John Lennon's comment about his group being more popular than Jesus.

In 1969
Beach Boy Carl Wilson was arrested, and agreed to do civilian duty instead of being drafted into the Army.  However, when he went to the Los Angeles County Hospital to complete his sentence, he taught music classes instead of serving as an institutional helper.

In 1974
Vocalist-keyboardist Michael McDonald joined Steely Dan.

In 1987
New releases included Def Leppard's "Hysteria" and The Scorpions' "Animal Magnetism."

In 1989
The Rolling Stones shot the video "Mixed Emotions."

In 1999
Santana released the single "Smooth," his Grammy-winning collaboration with Matchbox Twenty's Rob Thomas.

In 2002
Surviving members of the Grateful Dead, performing as The Other Ones, began its two-day "Terrapin Station: A Grateful Dead Family Reunion" at the Alpine Valley Music Theater in East Troy, Wisconsin.  The shows marked the first time band members had performed together since the death of the group's frontman, Jerry Garcia, in 1995.

In 2004
Velvet Revolver frontman Scott Weiland was in Los Angeles court for a progress hearing, during which officials praised him for doing so well with his rehab program and congratulated him on the success of his band.  They also apologized for the mix-up in scheduling his appearance, which forced the judge to issue a bench warrant for Weiland.  After court the singer lashed out at the media for its reporting on the warrant, saying the press made it look like he had done something wrong when it was the court's clerical error.

In 2005
The Jimi Hendrix biography "Room Full of Mirrors" arrived in stores.  According to the book, the guitar great lied to an Army psychiatrist, claiming he was gay, in order to receive a discharge from the military so he could focus on his music.

In 2007
Queen guitarist Brian May submitted his research paper, titled "Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud," to the head of the astrophysics department at England's Imperial College.  He turned in his work more than 35 years after he abandoned his academic pursuits to devote himself full time to Queen.