--U2's Edge Announces Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund

The Edge is bringing his Music Rising initiative up north to help music programs hit by Hurricane Sandy last fall.  The U2 guitarist co-founded the campaign back in 2005 to help replace musical instruments lost or destroyed by hurricanes along the Gulf coast, but now Music Rising is expanding nationwide.  On Tuesday, the Edge announced the new National Relief Fund, and Music Rising got things started with a 250-thousand-dollar donation.  The money is slated to go toward rebuilding school music programs in the tri-state area that were affected by Sandy.  More information about the new fund can be found at MusicRising.org.


--Crows to Unplug

The Black Crowes have announced plans to unplug for one night on their upcoming "Lay Down with Number 13" tour.  The trek includes a two-night stand at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium on April 20th and 21st, and the band says the second show will be the outing's only acoustic performance.  The Black Crowes' world tour is scheduled to start March 24th in the U.K., and will make it's way to this side of the Atlantic on April 2nd.  Tickets go on sale this Friday, January 11th.


--Rush Frontman To Appear On "How I Met Your Mother"

Rush is showing some support for one of their fictional fellow countrymen.  Frontman Geddy Lee is one of many Canadian stars slated to make an appearance on the CBS sitcom "How I Met Your Mother" in an episode marking the return of Robin Sparkles -- the former teen pop star persona of actress Colbie Smulders' character, Robin.  CBS hasn't revealed any details about the episode, but a promotional video simply lists a variety of celebrities who are on board for the show.  Paul Shaffer, Alan Thicke, Jason Priestley, and Alex Trebek are also among those slated for cameos.  The star-packed episode of "How I Met Your Mother" is scheduled to air on CBS on February 4th.


--Former Judas Priest Guitarist Now A UK Concert Promoter

Former Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing is returning to music -- but not as a performer.  The UK's "Shropshire Star" says the rocker is launching a new career as a concert promoter.  Downing says he intends to concentrate his efforts in his hometown of Birmingham, England and the surrounding Black Country communities, because he wants to keep the music scene alive in that area.  He explains that back in the '70s and '80s many bands, including Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Judas Priest, came from the region, and "in some ways it has been difficult for other bands to fill the void."  But Downing says it's now time for "the next generation to step up to the plate."  He's set to stage his first show, dubbed "The Future of Heavy Metal," in Wolverhampton, England on May 16th.  The group Hostile is the headliner.


--David Bowie Releases New Single, Announces First Album In Decade

David Bowie decided to switch things up this year and give a birthday present rather than receive one.  The iconic rocker turned 66 on Tuesday, and surprised fans with a brand new single and the promise of his first new album in ten years.  The track, titled "Where Are We Now?," is currently available on iTunes, where it shot straight to number one in Bowie's native U.K.  As for the album, dubbed "The Next Day," fans can pre-order it now ahead of its scheduled March 12th release date.  The record will be Bowie's first since "Reality" hit stores in 2003.  His time away from live performances hasn't been quite as long -- he last took the stage in 2006 -- but representatives say he has no plans to tour or do any press as of yet.


--Black Keys, Mumford & Sons On Grammy Nominees Album

The Black Keys, fun., and Mumford and Sons are just a few of the artists featured on the latest Grammy review album.  The "2013 Grammy Nominees" compilation disc features Record of the Year hopefuls like the Black Keys' "Lonely Boy," fun.'s "We Are Young" and Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know."  The 22-track set also includes Song of the Year contender "The A Team" by Ed Sheeran, as well as cuts from Best New Artist nominees Alabama Shakes, the Lumineers and Frank Ocean.  Mumford and Sons' "I Will Wait" and Coldplay's "Charlie Brown" -- both nominated for the Best Rock Performance honor -- also made the cut, along with songs from Jack White, Muse, Florence and the Machine, Maroon 5 and more.  The "2013 Grammy Nominees" set is due out January 22nd, while the 55th annual Grammy Awards are scheduled to air February 10th on CBS.


--Second Inquest Confirms Amy Winehouse Died From Alcohol

Amy Winehouse's cause of death is still "alcohol toxicity."  A British coroner confirmed the verdict Tuesday in London following a second inquest into the singer's July 2011 death.  The new inquest was ordered after the coroner who performed the first one resigned following the discovery that she didn't have the necessary qualifications.  Tuesday's hearing revealed the same information from the first inquest, including statements from friends and people who worked with Winehouse.  The star was found dead inside her apartment in north London.  She was in her bed and two empty vodka bottles were found on the floor nearby.  Winehouse was 27 years old.


--Today's Birthdays

Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page is 69.
New York Dolls frontman David Johansen is 63.
L.A. Guns singer Phil Lewis is 56.
Former Hole guitarist Eric Erlandson is 50.
Dave Matthews is 46.
Smash Mouth frontman Steve Harwell is 46.


--Today In Rock History

In 1973
The Rolling Stones had to scrap a Japanese tour because the country's government wouldn't give Mick Jagger a visa.  Officials based their decision on a 1969 drug bust.

In 1981
John Lennon's "Imagine" hit number one on the UK pop singles chart.

In 1982
The Cars made an appearance on the ABC-TV show "Fridays."

In 1995
Pearl Jam was voted best band in the "Rolling Stone" magazine reader's poll, while Green Day was named best new band by both readers and critics in the survey.

In 1997
David Bowie celebrated his 50th birthday a day late with a star-studded concert at Madison Square Garden.  Lou Reed, Foo Fighters, and Sonic Youth were among the guest performers.

In 2001
The woman accused of stalking Axl Rose was arrested outside the Guns N' Roses singer's Malibu, California, home.  She was charged with violating her probation.

Pink Floyd's David Gilmour won the rights to use davidgilmour.com as his website address.  The site had been used by a man selling Pink Floyd merchandise.

In 2002
During an appearance on MTV's "TRL," Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl said he liked rap and hip-hop, and could see a place for pop in the music world, but his band was strictly rock and would not be blending genres in its upcoming work.

The Ramones, Nirvana, The Clash, and the Beastie Boys made the top ten on "Spin" magazine's list of the 50 Greatest Bands.

In 2003
Vince Neil made his TV debut on reality show "The Surreal Life."

In 2005
Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil married girlfriend Lia Geradini in Las Vegas.  Neil's "Surreal Life" co-star MC Hammer officiated at the ceremony.

In 2006
Ozzy Osbourne came in fifth on the British "Homes & Antiques" magazine's list of the World's Most Eccentric Stars.  Former Sugarcubes frontwoman Bjork took first place, while Johnny Rotten also made the tally.

In 2012
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer.  He said he was in the early stages of lymphoma, and expected to make a full recovery.