--Slash "Embarrassed" By Bowie Story

Slash is expressing his regrets about sharing a story about once seeing David Bowie naked.  The guitarist tells San Francisco's 107.7 The Bone he discussed it in "a very casual conversation with somebody on the phone in Australia," and had "no idea" it was "going to get blown up" and become "this big headline."  Slash adds that he's "embarrassed" because he's "sure David didn't appreciate it," and he also believes his late mother "wouldn't have dug it either."  Slash also downplays the incident.  He says it's "common knowledge" that his mom and Bowie "dated for a while," and explains that "there was one occasion" in which he "happened to walk into the bedroom when they weren't fully dressed.  That was it.  It wasn't anything more lewd than that."

Slash told his story to Sydney, Australia's Triple M Radio late last month.  He explained that his mom initially had a professional relationship with Bowie.  She was a costume designer who created Bowie's wardrobe for his "Thin White Duke" phase and worked with him on the film "The Man Who Fell To Earth."


--ZZ Top Album Maks Top Ten Chart Debut

ZZ Top is making a top ten debut with their new album.  The Texas trio has earned their highest chart debut with "La Futura," which is entering the Billboard 200 at number six on sales of 31-thousand.  It's the group's first top ten album in 20 years.  ZZ Top's last disc to reach the top tier of the list was 1992's "Greatest Hits," which peaked at number nine.  In addition, "La Futura" is giving ZZ Top their best sales week since 1994, when fans picked up 38-thousand copies of "Antenna."  "La Futura" is ZZ Top's first studio effort since 2003's "Mescalero."


--Twisted Sister's Jay Jay French To Speak At Atheists Convention

Twisted Sister's Jay Jay French is heading to the 2013 American Atheists National Convention.  Organizers say the rocker is among the speakers scheduled for the upcoming event, which will take place in Austin, Texas next spring.  American Atheists President David Silverman says his group is "thrilled to have Jay Jay French join us for our convention."  He calls French "a role model," explaining that in addition to being "a renowned guitarist," Jay Jay is "providing leadership as an atheist in the music industry."  As many as 15-hundred people are expected to attend the convention, which will take place at the Hyatt Regency in Austin from March 28th through the 31st.


--Deftones Unveil New Song Online

Deftones are giving fans a sneak peek at their forthcoming album "Koi No Yokan."  The band premiered a new song called "Leathers" via their website on Tuesday.  Fans can also pick up the track as a free download for a limited time at Deftones.com.  As for the rest of "Koi No Yokan," the album is scheduled to hit stores on November 13th.


--Corey Taylor Talks Future Of Slipknot, Stone Sour

Corey Taylor says he has a lot on his plate over the next two years, and most of it has to do with Stone Sour.  The group is slated to release two albums and a series of comic books, plus Taylor is working on another book and other projects with his film company with Slipknot bandmate Shawn Crahan.  But Corey recently told radio personality Full Metal Jackie that there might be some time to do something with Slipknot.  Taylor says there won't be any major tours, but there could be a random show here and there.  He explains that the more they do as a band, the closer they get to "being able to walk into a studio and feel okay about it."  The Iowa metal act has yet to release any new material since bassist Paul Gray died in 2010.  Taylor admits "it's going to be very daunting," but he says they'll be ready to get back in the swing of things when the time is right.

Meanwhile, Stone Sour is set to release "House of Gold and Bones - Part One" on October 23rd.  Part two of the concept album is on track to hit stores sometime next year.


--Roger Waters Joins Levon Helm Tribute Concert Lineup

Roger Waters is showing his respect for Levon Helm.  New York's "Poughkeepsie Journal" says the former Pink Floyd frontman has signed on for next month's "Love For Levon" concert honoring The Band's late singer and drummer.  Waters and Helm had previously worked together.  Levon, along with The Band's Rick Danko and Garth Hudson, took part in Rogers' massive "The Wall" concert in Berlin, Germany in 1990, just months after the fall of the Berlin Wall.  Other stars on board for "Love For Levon" include Joe Walsh, the Allman Brothers' Gregg Allman and Warren Haynes, Bruce Hornsby, Mavis Staples, John Hiatt, and others.  

Along with honoring Levon, the show will raise money to help Helm's estate keep possession of his property and continue staging The Midnight Ramble Sessions.  The event is set for the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey on October 3rd.


--Carmine, Vinny Appice Bringing "Drum Wars" To Europe This Fall

Carmine and Vinny Appice are teaming up for a tour.  UltimateClassicRock.com says the sibling drummers are teaming up for their "Drum Wars" trek.  Carmine says fans can expect him and his brother to really put on a show, saying that when he and Vinny "play together or battle, it's like thunder!"  They both have impressive resumes.  Carmine was in such groups as Vanilla Fudge and Beck, Bogart, and Appice while Vinny has worked with Dio, Black Sabbath and Rick Derringer.  "Drum Wars" will mark the first collaborative shows between Carmine and Vinny in 20 years.  The drummers will launch their month-long 20-date European trek in Naples, Italy on October 6th.


--John Lennon Albums Found With Unauthorized Warning Stickers

The late John Lennon appears to be a target of a group looking to draw attention to the issue of domestic violence.  NME.com says the former Beatle's albums were tagged with a sticker that reads, "WARNING: Do not buy this album! This man beats women!"  The unauthorized labels were discovered on Lennon's albums at a Fopp store in Manchester, England over the weekend.  Those behind the campaign haven't said why they put the stickers on Lennon's records.  However, while the rock legend is remembered as a peace activist and devoted family man, some accounts of his personal life contradict that image.  Lennon's first wife Cynthia describes him as an angry and possessive man with a "frightening" temper in her 2005 book "John," and says his insecurity once turned into violent rage.  In addition, biographer Philip Norman claims in his book "John Lennon: The Life" that Lennon was also physically, emotionally, and verbally abusive toward wife Yoko Ono and sons Sean and Julian.

Stickers were also discovered over the weekend on the new album from R&B star Chris Brown at HMV stores in London.  The singer is still on probation after pleading guilty to a 2009 assault on his then-girlfriend, singer Rihanna.  An HMV rep says the store didn't put the stickers on the albums.


--Lennon Voted Ultimate Music Icon

John Lennon is getting the nod as the "Ultimate Musical Icon Of The Last 60 Years."  The former Beatles legend is taking the number one spot in "NME's" search for the most distinguished icon of the past six decades.  He won the spot in the British magazine poll over other legends of the music industry like David Bowie, who ranks third, Jimi Hendrix, who has the number seven spot.  At number two is former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, while Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys and Kurt Cobain of Nirvana round out the top five.

"NME"'s Top Ten Ultimate Music Icons Of The Last 60 Years:

1. John Lennon
2. Liam Gallagher
3. David Bowie
4. Alex Turner
5. Kurt Cobain
6. Amy Winehouse
7. Jimi Hendrix
8. Morrissey
9. Noel Gallagher
10. Ian Curtis


--Today's Birthdays

Styx bassist Chuck Panozzo is 64.
Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt is 46.
Nelson's Gunnar and Matthew Nelson are 45.  They're also the sons of the late Rick Nelson.
Soundgarden bassist Ben Shepherd is 44.


--Today in Rock History

In 1967
Ricky Nelson became the father to twin boys, Gunnar and Matthew.

In 1970
Jim Morrison was found guilty of indecent exposure and profanity, but acquitted of "leud and lascivious" behavior charges in Miami.

In 1971
Peter Frampton quit Humble Pie to embark on a solo career.

In 1972
Paul and Linda McCartney's farm was raided, and police found they were growing cannabis.

In 1973
Singer-songwriter Jim Croce died in a plane crash.  He was 30 years old.

In 1976
London's 100 Club hosted the first punk rock festival in Britain.  The Sex Pistols, The Clash, and Siouxsie and the Banshees were among the artists on the bill.  Glen Matlock was the bassist for the Pistols at the time, while Sid Vicious was playing drums for Siouxsie Sioux.

In 1995
Van Halen performed an outdoor concert in Denver, even though a storm had just blanketed the city with eleven inches of snow.

In 2010
Black Country Communion -- featuring Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham Joe Bonamassa, and Derek Sherinian -- played their first official show.  They performed for 75-to-100 people at the John Henry rehearsal studios in London.

Leonard Skinner -- the real-life gym teacher who inspired the band name Lynyrd Skynyrd -- died in his sleep at a nursing home in Jacksonville, Florida.  He was 77.

In 2011
Pearl Jam released the soundtrack to the Cameron Crowe-directed documentary "Pearl Jam Twenty."  The film also hit select theaters across the country for a one-night-only showing.