--RHCP, Black Keys, Jack White, More To Play Austin City Limits

Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Black Keys, Jack White, Florence and the Machine, and the Avett Brothers are just a few of the acts who plan to spend their weekend in the Lone Star State at this year's Austin City Limits Music Festival.  The three-day event is under way at Austin's Zilker Park, with the Black Keys and Florence leading a bill that also includes Weezer, M83, Alabama Shakes and more.  On Saturday, Jack White and Neil Young and Crazy Horse are scheduled to take the stage, as are the Shins, Gotye, Andrew Bird and others.  Red Hot Chili Peppers will close things out Sunday night, after the Avett Brothers, Iggy and the Stooges, the Civil Wars, Two Door Cinema Club and more perform throughout the day.  Fans can get the full line-up and schedule at ACLfestival.com.


--Kid Rock, Sean Penn Star In PSA About Political Stereotypes

Kid Rock and Sean Penn are burying their political differences  --  at least on film.  The entertainers, both known for being outspoken about their politics, are starring in a PSA short film that leaked online on Wednesday.  The nearly eleven-minute video is called "Americans" and was co-written by both Rock and Penn.  Rock, also has an executive producer credit.  He calls the film a way to "tear down the one-dimensional political stereotypes portrayed by the media by confronting them head on."  Rock and Penn actually share a close friendship in real life.  The video starts out with the two hurling insults at each other at a bar, when a headline suddenly appears on the television saying, the U.S. death toll in Afghanistan has reached two-thousand.  As they pause for a moment of silence, they share a hug and a montage to Uncle Kracker's "Smile" starts up.  

They two are then shown attending a gay wedding ceremony and protesting at an environmental rally.  Rock and Penn are also shown strolling along the beach, with Penn wearing a NASCAR shirt and Rock wearing a shirt that says "PETA Rocks."  It closes with a statement saying, "Don't let politics divide us.  Thinking differently is what made this country great."


--Rolling Stones Release "Doom And Gloom," First Single In 7 Years

The Rolling Stones have delivered on schedule.  As promised, the band unveiled its first single in seven years, "Doom and Gloom," Thursday on BBC Radio 2.  The track is now available on iTunes and will be included on the Stones' upcoming compilation, "Grrr! Greatest Hits," due out on November 13th.  Though the song's lyrics make references to current events like the Iraq War, fracking, a plane crash in the Louisiana swamp and even zombies, Stones frontman Mick Jagger tweeted ahead of "Doom and Gloom's" release that the song is, "a really raunchy rocker you can dance to."  

Others are offering up their own opinions on the song.  Making reference to another Rolling Stones classic, website NME.com said "Doom and Gloom" "sounds like a 'Gimme Shelter' for Generation Wii."  The U.K.'s "Telegraph" called it an "energized, uptempo blues attack" but added that it "never quite takes off" like the Stones' "Street Fighting Man."


--Bret Michaels Opens Hospitality Room At Phoenix Hospital

The Bret Michaels Hospitality and Music Room is now up and running at St. Joseph's Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.  "The Arizona Republic" says the Poison frontman was on hand for Tuesday's ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the room.  Michael says the "sole purpose" of the space is to "provide comfort, serenity, and peace to families that are going through a very trying time in their lives."  Michaels was inspired to build the room when he was at the hospital recovering from his life-threatening brain hemorrhage in 2010, and could see how stressful it was for the patients' visitors.  He says his goal with the room is to give those people "a break," and "something to take their mind off what's going on."

Regarding his own health, Michaels reports that he feels "absolutely great."  He admits he's still undergoing therapy relating to recent health issues, but that he's "about 95-percent recovered."  The singer adds that he feels "blessed to be alive and the rest of it is icing on the cake."  In addition to the brain hemorrhage, Michaels also underwent surgery in January 2011 to repair a hole in his heart discovered when he sought treatment for a "warning stroke" following the hemorrhage.


--Brian May Reveals New Details Of Freddie Mercury Biopic, Release In 2014

Over 20 years after his death, Freddie Mercury is returning to the spotlight.  In a statement on his website, guitarist Brian May revealed some new details about the upcoming biopic of the flamboyant Queen frontman, who passed away from AIDS in 1991.  May has confirmed that the film should be ready for release in early 2014.  He says the production is "on course" and even though they started slightly later than anticipated, filming is now scheduled to start in the spring.  May has also confirmed that Mercury will be played by "Borat" star Sacha Baron Cohen.  May said that he had a meeting with Queen drummer Roger Taylor and longtime manager Jim Beach earlier this week to discuss how they would be involved in the making of the film.  

He said even though it's been 20 years since their beloved bandmate passed away, he is still "very much alive" for all of them, adding that Freddie "must be wryly smiling somewhere."  The still-untitled biopic is being scripted by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Peter Morgan, who was behind the movies "The Queen" and "Frost/Nixon."  Morgan will be getting input for the script from both May and Taylor.


--Black Keys, RZA Debut "Man With The Iron Fists" Collaboration

The Black Keys and RZA [[ rizzah ]] are back at it.  Dan Auerbach, Patrick Carney and the Wu-Tang leader have unveiled their latest collaborative effort, a track called "The Baddest Man Alive" from the soundtrack to RZA's upcoming directorial debut, "The Man with the Iron Fists."  The trio previously teamed up for the duo's 2009 rock-rap collaboration album, "Blakroc."  Fans can check out "The Baddest Man Alive" at Fuse.tv or the Black Keys website, TheBlackKeys.com.  "The Man with the Iron Fists" soundtrack is due out October 22nd, while the film itself will hit theaters on November 2nd.


--Today's Birthdays

The Smithereens' Pat Dinizio is 57.
The Damned singer Dave Vanian is 56.
New Found Glory frontman Jordan Pundik is 33.


--Today In Rock History

In 1966
The Jimi Hendrix Experience -- featuring Hendrix with bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell -- formalized its union with a recording session in London.

In 1969
A Detroit disc jockey perpetuated the rumor that Paul McCartney was dead, claiming that in The Beatles song "Revolution 9" -- when played backwards -- the guys say, quote, "Turn me on, dead man," referencing McCartney's passing.

In 1978
Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious was arrested and charged with the stabbing death of his girlfriend Nancy Spungen.

In 1979
The Human League performed in London, marking their last show with the band's original lineup.

Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson was injured at a concert in New York's Madison Square Garden when a fan threw a rose on stage and a thorn hit Anderson in the eye.

In 1982
The Who launched a farewell tour with a show at Shea Stadium in New York.  Punk group The Clash served as the opener for the show.

In 1985
The B-52's drummer Ricky Wilson died of AIDS.  He was 32.

In 1988
Poison released the single "Every Rose Has Its Thorn."

In 1991
Metallica's "Enter Sandman" peaked at number 16 on the pop singles chart.

In 1994
Jimmy Page and Robert Plant's MTV "Unplugged" episode aired, under the name "Unledded."  The two former Led Zeppelin frontmen were backed by the London Metropolitan Orchestra and a group of Egyptian musicians.

In 2001
Anthrax offered an apology of sorts for its name in the wake of the anthrax scares that followed the September 11th terrorist attacks.  The group explained, quote,  "Before the tragedy of September 11th, the only thing scary about Anthrax was our bad hair in the '80s and the 'Fistful Of Metal' album cover."

In 2004
Dave Navarro was among the stars participating in the "Celebrity Blackjack" charity tournament, which made its debut on the Game Show Network.

In 2005
U2 was denying allegations made by conservative media personality Rush Limbaugh that singer Bono had a mistress.

Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee was burned on his arms and face when the group's pyrotechnic display went off as he was suspended 30 feet over the stage during a show in Casper, Wyoming.  He received outpatient treatment at a local hospital for the injuries, which were described as "minor."

Nickelback's album "All the Right Reasons" debuted on the Billboard 200 chart at number one.