--Smashing Pumpkins Added To South By Southwest Lineup

It looks like the Smashing Pumpkins will be returning to South by Southwest this weekend.  RollingStone.com says Billy Corgan and company will be playing the Austin, Texas event on Saturday, March 16th, as part of the Red Bull showcase Sound Select: 120 Hours.  Corgan appeared at last year's SXSW to talk social media and music, as well as the release of the Pumpkins' latest album "Oceania," which arrived last summer.  The band is set to continue supporting the record with a U.S. tour scheduled to kick off April 29th in Melbourne, Florida.

In the meantime, the festivities will continue Wednesday at South by Southwest.  Some of the day six highlights include Jared Leto speaking about the film "ARTIFACT," which covers the making of 30 Seconds to Mars' album "This Is War," and Depeche Mode making their SXSW debut with an on-stage interview about their new album "Delta Machine" and a variety of other topics.  There will also be a slew of performances from the likes of Iggy and the Stooges, Japandroids, Dawes, Alt-J, Jim James, Ghostface Killah, Kendrick Lamar and many more.  The full schedule is available at SXSW.com.


--Incubus' Brandon Boyd Prepping Solo Album For Summer Release

Despite Incubus' current hiatus, frontman Brandon Boyd hasn't slowed down much.  The rocker tells Billboard.com that he has a number of irons in the fire, including a follow-up to his 2010 solo debut, "The Wild Trapeze."  Boyd says he wrote and recorded the new album with producer Brendan O'Brien, and is currently working on the "logistical stuff."  He says he'd release it now if possible, but it's more likely that the untitled project will hit stores this summer.  Meanwhile, Boyd is also working on his third art book, which he says serves as a "nice accompaniment" to the new music.  And of course, the California native adds that he's been trying to fit in as much surfing as possible during his so-called down time.


--Motion Hearing Scheduled In Ex-Hollywood Undead Frontman's Lawsuit

Former Hollywood Undead frontman Aron "Deuce" Erlichman is taking the next step in his lawsuit against some of his one-time bandmates.  A motion hearing is scheduled to take place today in Los Angeles.  Erlichman is accusing members of Hollywood Undead of assaulting him last year outside a Hollywood nightclub where he had just performed a solo gig.  Erlichman allegedly claims the men attacked him because they were angry he left the band.  Meanwhile, Hollywood Undead released their second post-Erlichman album, "Notes from the Underground," earlier this year.  Erlichman put out his first solo album, "Nine Lives," last April.


--Status Conference Scheduled In Tool's Legal Battle With Insurer

Tool's legal battle with Clarendon National Insurance Company continues today in Los Angeles.  A status conference is scheduled in the feud over whether the insurer was obligated under a policy with the rockers to pay more than 300-thousand dollars in legal bills.  Tool incurred the tab while defending a federal court copyright infringement suit originally filed back in 2005.


--Former Killswitch Engage Singer Discusses New Band

Killswitch Engage is moving on without Howard Jones, and now the former frontman is doing the same.  Jones is leading a new band that he says came together at the end of last year, and he tells the U.K.'s "Metal Hammer" that the still-untitled group marks a new musical style for him.  He says it's just as heavy as anything he or his bandmates are known for, but adds that he'll be doing "some different things" that people won't expect.  Other than that, Jones isn't sharing any more details about the project, and has yet to announce when they might make their debut.

In the meantime, Killswitch Engage is set to release their first post-Jones album, "Disarm the Descent," on April 2nd.  Jones announced his amicable split with Killswitch back in January 2012.


--Founding Yes Guitarist Peter Banks Dies Of Heart Failure

Founding Yes guitarist Peter Banks has died.  A post on his website says he suffered heart failure at his home in London, and passed away on March 7th.  He was discovered dead after he'd missed a recording session.  Banks is considered a progressive rock pioneer.  He helped form Yes in 1968, and remained with the group through their first two albums.  After leaving in 1970, Peter launched his new band Flash, which released three albums, and Empire, which also produced three discs.  Over the course of his career he also released five solo albums.  Banks was working on a live Flash album at the time of his death.


--Today's Birthdays

U2 bassist Adam Clayton is 53.
Disturbed / Device frontman David Draiman is 40.


-- Today in Rock History

In 1965
The Beatles traveled to Austria to shoot some scenes for their upcoming movie "Help."

In 1966
Rod Stewart left the group Steampacket to concentrate on his solo career.

In 1969
Elvis Presley's film "Charro" opened in theaters.

In 1983
U2's album "War" hit number one on the albums charts.

In 1993
Lenny Kravitz' album "Are You Gonna Go My Way" hit number one on the UK album chart.

In 1998
Pearl Jam's album "Yield" was certified Gold and Platinum.

In 2002
Puddle of Mudd frontman Wes Scantlin was spared legal action when the Ventura County, California, district attorney decided against pressing charges against him.  He and his fiance had been arrested a few days earlier in connection with a domestic incident.

Former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach was arrested after continually threatening a bartender in Middletown, New Jersey.

In 2006
Black Sabbath, The Sex Pistols,  Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Blondie were among the new inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Isaac Hayes issued a statement announcing his desire to leave the animated TV series "South Park" over what he called a "growing insensitivity toward personal spiritual beliefs."

In 2012
The Doobie Brothers' drummer Michael Hossack died in Dubois, Wyoming following a battle with cancer.  He was 65.