--Dave Grohl To Give SXSW Keynote Speech Today

Dave Grohl says he feels confident about giving today's South by Southwest keynote speech, although he admits he was a little intimidated by last year's speaker, Bruce Springsteen.  He recently told "USA Today" that it feels like giving the follow-up to the Gettysburg Address, adding that the Boss "laid it down."  But Grohl says he's had plenty of good training when it comes to giving speeches.  He explains that his dad wrote speeches for politicians in Washington for 20 years, and his mother is a public speaking coach.  Grohl says they taught him the importance of not reading speeches, but he shouldn't have any problem talking about the topic at the center of his address -- his Sound City experience.  Grohl has been discussing the studio for the past few months while promoting his "Sound City" documentary.

Meanwhile, Grohl is set to take the stage again tonight to perform with the Sound City Players, the rocker's supergroup that also features Stevie Nicks, John Fogerty, Rick Springfield, Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic and more.  Today's SXSW schedule also includes the 2013 mtvU Woodie Awards festival with performances from Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Alt-J and others.  The full scheduled is available at SXSW.com


--Fan Suing Axl Rose Over Microphone Incident

Axl Rose is facing a new lawsuit.  An Australian fan is suing the Guns N' Roses singer after being hurt at the band's show in Perth Saturday night.  Darren Wright tells "The West Australian" that he suffered mouth injuries when Rose tossed his cordless microphone into the crowd during the show's finale.  He says he couldn't see anything through the bright lights and explosions, and all of a sudden he was "whacked in the mouth."  Wright admits at first though he'd been punched, and it took him "a few seconds to realize what was going on."  He says he could "feel bits of teeth" in his mouth, and then someone was "climbing through" his legs trying to get the microphone.  Wright explains that he doesn't "harbor any ill feelings" toward Axl, and he doesn't think the singer "intended to do it," but he wants compensation for his dental work.

Wright says he's received an apology from the tour promoter, who has offered to give him an autographed microphone.  But he says a signed mic won't fix his teeth or pay the estimated five-thousand-100-dollars in medical bills he'll be incurring.


--Trent Reznor Says New Nine Inch Nails Songs In The Works

Trent Reznor says fans may hear a couple of new Nine Inch Nails songs when the latest incarnation of the band hits the road this year.  He tells "NME" that he and new guitarist Adrian Belew have been experimenting on a pair of tracks intended for the upcoming Nine Inch Nails greatest hits record.  Reznor also said that the compilation has been pushed back to 2014, and adds that the two new songs will most likely be the only new material from the band.  He says that "at this point," there are no plans to make a new Nine Inch Nails album.

So far, Reznor and company have only announced a handful of 2013 tour dates, and they're all festival appearances.  Up first is Japan's Fuji Rock Festival on July 26th, followed by gigs in South Korea, Germany, and the U.K.'s Reading and Leeds Festivals.


--Tom Morello's Stint On Bruce Springsteen Tour Starts Today

Tom Morello is scheduled to start his temporary run with the E Street Band today.  The Rage Against the Machine guitarist is filling in for Bruce Springsteen's usual axe man Steven Van Zandt on the rocker's Australian tour, which kicks off today in Brisbane.  Van Zandt isn't able to take part in the Down Under portion of Springsteen's "Wrecking Ball" trek because of filming commitments to his Netflix series "Lilyhammer."  But this isn't Morello's first time joining the Boss onstage.  He played with Bruce on NBC's "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," at last year's South by Southwest festival, and at the 25th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame celebration in 2010.  He also played on a pair of songs from Springsteen's latest album, "Wrecking Ball."


--Ex-Iron Maiden Drummer Clive Burr Dead At 56

Clive Burr, the former drummer for British metal rock band Iron Maiden, has died.  The band reported on its website Wednesday that Burr, who had been suffering with Multiple Sclerosis died "peacefully in his sleep at home."  He was 56.  Burr joined Iron Maiden in 1979 and performed on the band's first three albums, 1980's "Iron Maiden," 1981's "Killers" and 1982's "The Number of the Beast."  Before joining Maiden, he was a member of the band Samson, which was also led by Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson.  

In a statement, Dickinson called Burr "a great guy and a man who really lived his life to the full."  He says, "Even during the darkest days of his M.S., Clive never lost his sense of humor or irreverence."  Iron Maiden's Steve Harris described Burr as "an amazing drummer who made a valuable contribution to Maiden in the early days" when the band was starting out.  He added, "This is a sad day for everyone in the band and those around him.  Our thoughts and condolences are with his partner Mimi and his family at this time."


--Bowie's "Next Day" On Track For First Top 10 Since 1983

It looks like David Bowie will be returning to a place he hasn't been in a while next week.  Billboard.com says the rock icon's new album "The Next Day" is on track to debut in the Billboard 200 top ten, which will mark Bowie's first entry in the chart's upper echelon since 1983's "Let's Dance" peaked at number four.  And "The Next Day" might also give Bowie the first number one album of his storied career.  But the Thin White Duke will have to fend off Bon Jovi's new album, "What About Now."  Both sets are expected to sell around 90-thousand copies before the tracking week ends this Sunday.  The new Billboard 200 will be revealed on Wednesday, March 20th. "The Next Day" is Bowie's first new album since 2003's "Reality."  If it bows at either number one or two next week, it will be his highest charting record since "Station to Station" hit number three in 1976.


--Today's Birthdays

Soul Asylum drummer Michael Bland is 44.


--Today In Rock History

In 1968
Elvis Presley's 26th movie, "Stay Away, Joe" had its premiere.

In 1984
The Hard Rock Cafe opened in New York City.

In 1990
Red Hot Chili Peppers members Flea and Chad Smith were arrested on charges of sexual harassment stemming from an incident in Daytona Beach, Florida.

In 1991
R.E.M. released the single "Losing My Religion."

In 1994
Smashing Pumpkins' album "Gish" was certified Gold.

In 1995
The Goo Goo Dolls released the album "A Boy Named Goo."

In 1997
U2's album "Pop" debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

In 2002
U2's Bono was on hand as President Bush unveiled an aid program for developing nations.  Bono was in Washington working for the Drop the Debt campaign.

Former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach, who had been arrested the day earlier for continually threatening a bartender in Middletown, New Jersey, was released on ten-thousand-dollars bail.

Scott Weiland revealed that Stone Temple Pilots was turning down an invitation to go on the Ozzfest tour, and would instead spend the summer working on a new album.

In 2003
Ozzy Osbourne hosted a farewell party for bassist Robert Trujillo, who was leaving his group to join Metallica.

The Dave Matthews Band came in third place in "Rolling Stone" magazine's list of the top earning rockers of 2002.  Former Beatle Paul McCartney took first place.

In 2004
Thieves broke into the Elvis-A-Rama Museum in Las Vegas, stealing more than 300-thousand-dollars worth of memorabilia.  Most of the articles taken were pieces of jewelry.  Presley's famed blue suede shoes -- valued at one-million-dollars -- were toppled off their display stand but were otherwise unharmed.

In 2005
U2 and The Pretenders were among the new inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

U2's Bono announced the launch of a new clothing line, Edun, which is manufactured in factories in South America and Africa following the fair-labor regulations.

In 2011
The Alice Cooper Band, was among the artists formally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.