--Izzy Stradlin Joins Guns N' Roses For A Song In Las Vegas

Guns N' Roses got a little help from the past this weekend as they closed out their Las Vegas residency.  "Rolling Stone" says original guitarist Izzy Stradlin joined the band at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino for the final "Appetite for Democracy" show on Saturday.  Stradlin played guitar and sang lead on the song "14 Years," which he originally recorded with GNR for the band's 1991 album "Use Your Illusion 2."  This is the second time this year Stradlin has performed with Axl Rose and company.  He also took the stage during the group's London concert back in May.

Stradlin originally left Guns N' Roses in 1991.  He was one of the band members inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year, but chose not to appear at the ceremony and instead accepted the honor through a statement.


--Rage Against The Machine Reissue Debut Album Today

Rage Against the Machine fans can celebrate the 20th anniversary of the band's self-titled debut album today with a special remastered edition, which is in stores now.  The new version of the album -- dubbed "Rage Against the Machine XX" -- includes new liner notes written by Public Enemy's Chuck D, and comes in a variety of format options.  There's the remastered CD version with three bonus tracks; the double CD and bonus DVD package; or the deluxe box set edition.  The latter comes with two CDs, two DVDs, a vinyl LP, a two-sided poster and a 40-page booklet.  Some of the bonus material includes b-sides from the era, Rage Against the Machine's first demo, music videos, and plenty of live footage.

Rage guitarist Tom Morello recently told "Billboard" he and his bandmates are "really psyched to be putting this out for the fans."  And those fans will have to be satisfied with that for now, as Morello also said the band has no plans as of yet to record another album.


--Metallica To Be Featured In New "Pro Skater" Video Game

Metallica's James Hetfield and Rob Trujillio will be doing a different kind of shredding next month.  "NME" says the metal stars are set to appear as characters in an upcoming special download pack for the video game "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD."  They'll join the list of previous "Pro Skater" musical guest characters, which includes the late Beastie Boy Adam "MCA" Yauch, Blink 182's Travis Barker, Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, and Iron Maiden's mascot, Eddie.  As for the latest edition, players will also be able to skate around to Metallica's song "All Nightmare Long," from their 2008 album "Death Magnetic."  The "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD Revert Pack" is scheduled to be released on December 4th.


--Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx Engaged

Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx is on his way to being a married man once again.  The rocker, who'll be 54 next month, states in a Facebook post that he and his 27-year-old girlfriend Courtney Bingham are engaged.  He says he "popped the question and she said YES" during their recent vacation in St. Bart's.  Sixx adds that the two of them as well as their families are "beyond happy," and they appreciate all the congratulations they've been receiving through social media.  This will be Nikki's third trip down the aisle.  The bassist was married for seven years to "Playboy" Playmate Brandi Brandt, and spent eleven years with "Playboy" Playmate and actress Donna D'Errico.  His two-year relationship with "L.A. Ink's" Kat Von D ended in August 2010.  He met Courtney three months later.


--Jimi Hendrix Remembered On 70th Birth Anniversary

Today would have been the late Jimi Hendrix's 70th birthday.  While the rock legend passed away more than 40 years ago, he's far from forgotten.  He continues to be remembered and honored today in a number of ways.  Jimi's sister, Janie Hendrix, works to protect and preserve her famous brother's legacy through Experience Hendrix.  In honor of Jimi's 70th birthday, she recently released "The Ultimate Lyric Book, a compilation of song lyrics in their original, handwritten form.  Experience Hendrix has also teamed up with Lyric Culture to create a Hendrix clothing line.

An exhibit just opened this month at the Experience Music Project Museum in Jimi's hometown of Seattle, which sheds new light on the late guitar icon's rise to fame.  Meanwhile, a Hendrix biopic starring OutKast's Andre Benjamin is in the works.  Producers hope to screen "All Is By My Side" at the Sundance Film Festival in January.  In addition, a new album of previously unreleased material, titled "People, Hell and Angels," is slated for release on March 5th.


--Deluxe Reissues Of Led Zeppelin Catalog In The Works

Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page is prepping deluxe reissues of all of the band's studio albums.  The guitarist tells "Rolling Stone" each disc will feature "added sonic and visual thrills."  While he admits the group didn't record a lot of extra material for each album, he says there's still "an overage of material" from each album, which includes "different versions of things" and "different approaches to the mixes."  Page explains the band experimented in the studio, doing things like record the drums in a hallway, and he believes "it will be fascinating for people to witness the work in progress."  The rocker adds that he's combing through the archives for live recordings and film footage to use as additional bonus material.  He also promises that he's "not just throwing on any old flotsam and jetsam," but the albums will include "really substantial stuff."

Page can't say just when the first Zeppelin deluxe reissue will hit stores.  While he admits he'd like for it to be "sooner rather than later," he explains that he, Robert Plant, and John Paul Jones all have to be "in agreement" over the material.  But Jimmy expects the rollout will start next year and go on "for a while."  Led Zeppelin just released the live album and film "Celebration Day," which features the band's 2007 London reunion concert.


--Today's Birthdays

Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante is 50.
Faith No More drummer Mike Bordin is 50.
Alter Bridge frontman Myles Kennedy is 43.  He also sings lead vocals for Slash's current solo project.


--Today In Rock History

In 1964
Mick Jagger was fined for driving offences in Totenhall, England.

In 1971
Led Zeppelin released the album "Led Zeppelin IV."

In 1982
Men At Work's "Down Under" broke into the Top 40 chart.

In 1995
Pearl Jam released the single "Merkinball."

In 1995
The Beatles album "Anthology 1" set a first-week sales record, moving one-point-two-million copies in the U.S.

In 1997
Family and friends assembled to say goodbye to INXS singer Michael Hutchence at his funeral in Sydney, Australia.

In 2000
The one-time Warner, New Hampshire, home of Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler was gutted by fire.

U2's Bono announced that his wife was pregnant with their fourth child.

In 2001
Elvis Presley was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.  Since he was already a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame, the gospel addition gave Elvis the distinction of being the only entertainer to be inducted into all three.

In 2002
Ozzy Osbourne and former Spice Girl Melanie C topped a UK poll naming the Brits with the worst teeth.

In 2003
"Billboard" reported that the Rolling Stones' Licks trek was the second-highest grossing tour of all time, raking in 300-million-dollars.  The Stones' Voodoo Lounge tour in 1994 and 1995 was the highest grossing tour.

In 2006
Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson both filed divorce papers in Los Angeles Superior Court, after just a few months of marriage.  The couple had tied the knot on August 3rd.  They both cited irreconcilable differences.