--Dave Grohl Unveils Sound City Players Lineup

Dave Grohl is finally naming his Sound City Players.  The Foo Fighters frontman announced he was putting the supergroup together last month, and on Wednesday he unveiled the identities of his bandmates.  In addition to Grohl, the Sound City Players will also feature former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic, Rage Against the Machine's Brad Wilk, Slipknot's Corey Taylor and all of Grohl's fellow Foo Fighters.  Other members include rock icons John Fogerty and Stevie Nicks, plus Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen, Rick Springfield, Chris Goss, Alain Johannes, Lee Ving, Jessy Greene and Rami Jaffee.

The Sound City Players are scheduled to make their debut January 18th at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, and tickets are on sale now.  The gig will coincide with the premiere of Grohl's "Sound City" documentary, which tells the story of the famed recording studio in Van Nuys, California.


--Lemmy Unveils Motörheadphones At CES In Las Vegas

Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister stopped in Sin City this week to officially unveil his new Motörheadphones.  Billboard.biz reports the rocker and Motörheadphones brand manager Andres Nicklassen launched the new headphone line on Tuesday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.  They shared a few more details about the product and also helped differentiate it from other high-end headphones on the market, like Dr. Dre's Beats.  Lemmy says his headphones have been specifically designed to bring out midrange sounds rather than emphasize the bass.  Nicklassen explains that too much bass takes the soul out of rock, while Lemmy compares it to listening to music "through a towel."

Motörheadphones will be available in three different over-ear designs and six in-ear models, ranging in price from 50-dollars to 130.  They're scheduled to start shipping in the U.S. in April.


--Black Keys, Fun. Among First Grammy Performers

The Black Keys will soon be making their Grammy stage debut.  The Black Keys have already been there as Grammy winners, but next month's ceremony will mark the duo's first time performing on music's biggest night.  They will join Mumford and Sons, Rihanna, and Taylor Swift, who are also booked to grace the stage at Los Angeles' Staples Center during the 55th Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 10th.  The ceremony will air live on CBS starting at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.


--Whitesnake's Brian Tichy Leaving To Lead His Own Group

Whitesnake is losing their drummer.  Brian Tichy details his departure in a lengthy Facebook post, explaining that he feels it's time for him to devote himself completely to his own band, S.U.N.  The rocker says he's very grateful for his time in Whitesnake, and that he owes frontman David Coverdale "a big fat thank you" for letting him be in the group.  He adds that he learned a great deal from the singer, and that it's from Coverdale that he came to understand that "if you want something, you better at least TRY to get it."  Brian says that's what he's doing now.  He explains that leading his own group is something he's "always wanted," and he's going to shoot for the stars.  

TIchy's departure ends his two-and-a-half-year tenure with Whitesnake.  The drummer is currently recovering from a broken collarbone and is serving as both the guitarist and drummer for S.U.N.'s studio work.  In concert he'll play guitar, and Tommy Stewart will keep the beat.  S.U.N. also features singer Sass Jordan and Whitesnake bassist Michael Devin -- who will work with both groups.  A video for S.U.N.'s debut single, "I'm The One," is also posted on the Facebook page.  The band's debut is slated for release on January 29th.


--Bowie's New Album Features Both "Classic," "Innovative" Material

David Bowie's long-time collaborator Tony Visconti says fans should be pleased with the rocker's upcoming album.  The producer tells the BBC that the material on "The Next Day" is "so strong and beautiful."  He adds that those "looking for classic Bowie" will "find that on this album," and fans "looking for innovative Bowie" will "find that on this album too."  Visconti is also dispelling the rumors that the ten-year gap between albums is because Bowie is ill.  While he underwent heart surgery in 2004, VIsconti says these days David is "extremely healthy and rosy cheeked" with "fantastic" stamina."  He explains that Bowie "doesn't release records because it's time for another record," but "releases records when there's something for him to say."

Bowie surprised fans with the release of his new single, "Where Are We Now?," on Tuesday, which was also his 66th birthday.  The track will be on "The Next Day," which is due in stores March 12th.  The album is Bowie's follow up to 2003's "Reality."


--Today's Birthdays

Rod Stewart is 68.
Pat Benatar is 60.
Former Scorpions guitarist Michael Schenker is 58.
UFO guitarist Michael Schenker is 58.
Big Audio Dynamite's Don Letts is 57.
Meat Puppets frontman Curt Kirkwood is 54.
Crash Test Dummies singer Brad Roberts is 49.


--Today In Rock History

In 1956
Elvis Presley recorded his first songs for RCA Records, a cover of Ray Charles' "I Got A Woman" and "Heartbreak Hotel."

In 1958
Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls of Fire" hit number one on the UK pop singles chart.

In 1971
The trial to formally dissolve The Beatles partnership began in London.

In 1978
The Sex Pistols made their first American TV appearance with a spot on "Variety."

In 1985
Ted Nugent made a guest appearance on the TV show "Miami Vice."

In 1991
AC/DC's album "The Razors Edge" was certified double Platinum.

In 1992
Green Day released the album "Kerplunk."

In 2000
Def Leppard's tour bus was burglarized in Kelowna, Canada.  Nearly five-thousand-dollars worth of band members' personal items -- including videotapes belonging to frontman Joe Elliott -- were taken.

Melissa Etheridge announced that David Crosby is the biological father of her children with then-partner Julie Cypher.

In 2001
Marilyn Manson performed at the Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara, California, while a group of Christians gathered outside the venue to pray for the shock rocker's soul.

In 2002
Creed's "Weathered" marked its seventh week at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart.

In 2009
AC/DC fans in Peoria, Illinois took part in a rally in an effort to persuade the band to include a stop in their city on the group's "Black Ice" tour.  AC/DC hadn't performed in Peoria in more than 25 years.  The last time the Australian rockers visited the city they incorporated cannons in their show, which irritated some residents and led to an urban legend about the group being banned from Peoria.

In 2010
Gilby Clarke suffered serious injuries -- including two broken legs -- in a hit-and-run accident in Los Angeles.  Clarke was on his motorcycle attempting to ride through an intersection when a pickup truck turned left in front of him.  Clarke struck the side of the pickup, which just kept going.  He underwent a long recovery process.  Five months later he was walking with the assistance of a cane.

In 2012
Van Halen released "Tattoo," the first single from the band's album, "A Different Kind Of Truth."  The project was Van Halen's first full collection of new studio material since 1998's "Van Halen 3," and their first with frontman David Lee Roth since the album "1984."