--Pearl Jam's Mike McCready Supports Obamacare In New Video

Pearl Jam's Mike McCready may be better known for speaking with his guitar, but now he's using his voice to speak out in support of the Affordable Care Act.  In a video titled "Life Is a Pre-Existing Condition," McCready -- who suffers from Crohn's disease -- says the act, also known as "Obamacare," is essential to so many people. The clip, which was directed by McCready's filmmaker friend Jesse Dylan, also features the guitarist talking about being denied coverage twice.  He says that was a problem many people have had to deal with, and many of those people didn't have the resources he did to fight the insurance companies.  But now McCready says the Affordable Care Act moves the country closer to universal health care, making it crucial that voters support candidates who support the act in the upcoming elections.

McCready has also started a petition on SignOn.org, giving people a chance to pledge their vote for pro-Obamacare candidates.  Those interested can also get more information at PearlJam.com.


--Geoff Tate Allowed To Continue Using Queensryche Name

Both Geoff Tate and his former bandmates can bill themselves as "Queensryche."  Billboard.com says a judge has given the singer the green light to use the Queensryche name while ownership of the moniker remains in dispute.  Judge Carol Schapira has rejected a motion filed last month by Queensryche guitarist Michael Wilton, drummer Scott Rockenfield and bassist Eddie Jackson, who were looking to block Tate from using the name.  They argued that Tate had "no right" to the name.  The group has also said that Tate's plans to tour with a "second Queensryche lineup" has "caused some confusion" for the fans.  Wilton, Rockenfield, and Jackson admit they're "disappointed" with the ruling, but will respect the judge's decision.

Tate made a similar attempt back in June to legally keep his former bandmates from calling themselves Queensryche, and was also unsuccessful.  At that time Judge Schapira admitted it would be "inherently confusing" to have two Queensryches, but said she wouldn't bar either party from using the name.  Tate, Wilton, Rockenfield, and Jackson have just over a year to try to settle the matter out of court.  If they can't come to an agreement, a trial to determine ownership of the Queensryche name has been set for November 18th, 2013.


--Black Keys Top "Billboard's" Hot Tours Chart

The Black Keys' recently-wrapped U.S. tour turned out to be pretty successful.  The duo's "El Camino" trek rises to number one on "Billboard's" latest Hot Tours list, thanks in part to a strong showing in California earlier this month.  The Keys sold out the Santa Barbara Bowl on October 2nd, and sold one-point-two-million-dollars in tickets for a pair of shows at Los Angeles' Staples Center on October 5th and 6th.  Guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney kicked off the Australian leg of their tour this weekend, and are scheduled to perform throughout Europe over the next few months.


--AC/DC's "Back In Black" Tops List Of Best '80s Riffs

The guitar work on AC/DC's "Back In Black" is getting recognition as the best of its decade.  The title track to the band's 1980 album leads the way in Gibson.com's list of the "Top Ten Riffs of the '80s."  "Gibson" praises the the disc as "perhaps the greatest riff-oriented album of all time," and says sibling guitarist Angus and Malcolm Young "cooked up some of the greatest riffs of their career" on the project.  While the album also features such classic hits as "You Shook Me All Night Long" and "Hell's Bells," the site points to "Back In Black's" namesake song as the most memorable of them all.

The Rolling Stones are landing in the number two spot with "Start Me Up," while the late Randy Rhoads' work on Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train" follows at number three.  The Scorpions' "Rock You Like A Hurricane" and Def Leppard's "Photograph" round out the top five.

Gibson.com's "Top Ten Riffs of the '80s" List

1. AC/DC, "Back In Black"
2. The Rolling Stones, "Start Me Up"
3. Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"
4. The Scorpions, "Rock You Like A Hurricane"
5. Def Leppard, "Photograph"
6. Judas Priest, "Breaking The Law"
7. Michael Jackson, "Beat It"
8. The Clash, "Should I Stay Or Should I Go"
9. Guns N' Roses, "Sweet Child o' Mine"
10. Rush, "Limelight"


--Avril Lavigne To Cover Nickelback's "How You Remind Me"

Avril Lavigne recently announced her engagement to Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger and now she'll be covering his biggest hit.  "Anime News Network" reports that the pop-punk singer will be covering Nickelback's 2001 song "How You Remind Me."  Her version will appear on the soundtrack to an upcoming anime film called "One Piece Film Z."  The film's creator Eiichiro Oda told "Anime News" that he wrote to the singer asking if she would like to contribute, and she will be providing the soundtrack with the Nickelback cover as well as her previously released Joan Jett cover, "Bad Reputation."  

Avril is recording with her new fiancé as well.  The couple has recorded material for her upcoming album, according to her label Epic's L.A. Reid.  Avril has a habit of getting in the studio with her husbands.  Her ex-husband Deryck Whibley of Sum 41 actually produced six of the song's on Avril's last album "Goodbye Lullaby."  


--Russian Punk Band Members Sent To Prison Camps

Two female members of the jailed Russian punk-rock band Pussy Riot have been sent to prison camps far from Moscow.  The women, plus a third band member, were convicted of "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred" for breaking into Moscow's main Russian Orthodox Cathedral and protesting against President Vladimir Putin.  They were sentenced to two years in prison.  One has since been released on appeal.  Lawyers for the others asked they be allowed to serve their sentences in Moscow to be close to their small children.  They also listed health and safety concerns at Russia's outlying penal colonies.  Western governments and artists have criticized the sentences as too harsh and part of a crackdown on dissent by Putin.


--Bon Iver's Justin Vernon Designs Guitar Built From Whiskey Barrels

Bon Iver fans can now place a bid on "The 1608" -- a guitar designed by frontman Justin Vernon and built using the wood from Bushmills Irish Whiskey barrels.  Proceeds from the sale of the unique instrument on eBay will benefit the Confluence Project, which is raising funds for a community arts center in Vernon's hometown of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  Justin explained in a press release that he hopes the center will become a "nucleus for art" in Eau Claire, adding that "far too many artists" from the area have had to leave because what they want to do with their lives "just isn't possible" there.  The auction has already passed the five-thousand-dollar mark, and is scheduled to close on November 1st.


--Today's Birthdays

The Selecter's singer Pauline Black is 59.
"Weird Al" Yankovic is 53.
Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo is 48.


--Today In Rock History

In 1957
Elvis Presley conducted his last radio interview.  Following a chat on a Memphis station, Elvis' manager Colonel Tom Parker insisted stations pay Presley a large interview fee, which no station could afford.

In 1978
Former Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious attempted suicide while at New York's Rikers Island Detention Center.  He was being held on murder charges in connection with the death of his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen.

In 1991
A number of Janis Joplin's professional and personal items were donated to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In 1993
Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Soul To Squeeze" peaked at number 22 on the pop singles chart.

In 1995
Def Leppard made it into the "Guinness Book of World Records" for performing three concerts on three continents in a 24 hour period.  The band performed shows in Tangiers, Morocco; London, England; and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

In 2002
Ted Nugent gave an anti-drug talk to middle school students at The Community School in Naples, Florida.

In 2003
The Datsuns announced that former Led Zeppelin bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones would produce the group's second album.

In 2005
Poison guitarist C.C. DeVille returned home after a stint in rehab to discover his home had been burglarized and about 30 of his guitars and amplifiers were missing.

In 2006
Bassist Jason Newsted needed immediate surgery after he suffered a torn rotator cuff, a torn muscle in his left shoulder, and a bicep tear in his right arm.  The injury forced him to drop out of Rock Star: Supernova's inaugural tour.