Stone Temple Pilots recently parted ways with singer Scott Weiland (again), leaving a vacant spot center stage that needed to be filled. In an unexpected twist, Stone Temple Pilots stunned an Irvine, Calif., crowd as Linkin Park vocalist Chester Bennington took the stage with STP to perform an eight-song set Saturday night at KROQ’s Weenie Roast. The collaboration would be exciting enough simply as a one-off, but as reported in a new interview, it looks like Bennington will act as Stone Temple Pilots’ new full-time singer.

Not only has Bennington performed with Stone Temple Pilots, he’s hit the studio with them, as well. Over the weekend, Stone Temple Pilots released the new track ‘Out of Time,’ which features Bennington on vocals and is available as a free download for a short period of time. What does the future hold for Linkin Pilots? The group addressed their future in a new interview with radio duo Kevin & Bean from KROQ.

“Every band has its own kinda vibe,” says Bennington. “Stone Temple Pilots has this sexier, more classic rock feel to it. Linkin Park is a very modern, very tech-heavy type of band. It was kind of nice. I got to use my voice tonight. I got to sing and show my range a little bit. I still got to through a little scream in here and there but it’s really just so much different. I grew up listening to these guys. When this opportunity came up, it was just like a no-brainer.”

Good news for Korn fans: founding guitarist Brian "Head" Welch has rejoined the band for their next album.

Korn has just released a trailer for the upcoming release, featuring the guitarist working on tracks with the group in the studio. Welch, who had performed with Korn on a number of occasions over the last five months, says that he’s excited to be working with the band again.

"We knew we would have a blast playing together, because we love each other so much, but we really wanted to make sure the music felt right before we committed to making a whole album together," Welch said. "But since we got in the studio, everything just started pouring out, now I can't wait until our fans hear this stuff!"

While a firm release date for the group’s eleventh studio album has yet to be revealed, it is expected to arrive in stores sometime this year.

Check this out...

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/korn-enters-the-studio-for-new-album-20130502#ooid=5zMWxiYjoA3b00M11DZxM0E-5eYDiDe9

The night was a success. Hosted by WWE Superstar and lead singer of Fozzy, the ayatollah of rock and rolla, Chris Jericho. Including performances from bands such as Anthrax, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Deftones, Halestorm, Stone Sour, Rob Zombie, Five Finger Death Punch, Danzig, and Metallica.

For a full list of the winners and the runners up, read on.

BEST GUITARIST presented by Epiphone
- John 5 (Rob Zombie & solo)
- Stephen Carpenter (Deftones)
– Alex Lifeson (Rush)
– Misha Mansoor (Periphery)
– Brendon Small (Dethklok)
– Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)

BEST DRUMMER presented by Drum Workshop
– Abe Cunningham (Deftones)
– Mario Duplantier (Gojira)
- Arejay Hale (Halestorm)
– Gene Hoglan (Dethklok & Testament)
– Roy Mayorga (Stone Sour)
– Neil Peart (Rush)

PAUL GRAY BEST BASSIST presented by Dean Markley
– Rex Brown (Kill Devil Hill)
– Steve Harris (Iron Maiden & solo)
- Lemmy Kilmister (Motörhead)
– Geddy Lee (Rush)
– Jason Newsted (Newsted)
– Sergio Vega (Deftones)

BEST VOCALIST presented by Rockstar Energy Drink
– Phil Anselmo (Down & solo)
– Maria Brink (In This Moment)
– Chris Cornell (Soundgarden)
– Lzzy Hale (Halestorm)
– Chino Moreno (Deftones)
- Corey Taylor (Stone Sour & Slipknot)

BEST NEW TALENT
- Device

– Ghost
– Kvelertak
– Miss May I
– Of Mice & Men
– Young Guns

MOST METAL ATHLETE presented by Roadrunner Records
– Tom Crabtree (Green Bay Packers, NFL)
– Tanner Faust (Rally and drifting car racing)
– Clay Guida (Mixed Martial Arts fighting, UFC)
- Triple H (WWE wrestling)
– Geoff Rowley (Skateboarding)
– CJ Wilson (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, MLB)

BEST LIVE BAND presented by Samson/Zoom
– Anthrax
– Five Finger Death Punch
– Hatebreed
– Lamb of God
- Slipknot
– Volbeat

COMEBACK OF THE YEAR
– Aerosmith
– The Darkness
– Quicksand
– Refused
– Soundgarden
- Tenacious D

SONG OF THE YEAR
– Asking Alexandria, “Run Free”
– Avenged Sevenfold, “Carry On”
- Black Veil Brides, “In The End”
– Dethklok, “I Ejaculate Fire”
– Halestorm, “Love Bites (So Do I)”
– In This Moment, “Blood”

MOST DEDICATED FANS presented by Xbox LIVE
– Black Label Society
– Black Veil Brides
– A Day To Remember
- HIM
– Rammstein
– Slipknot

ALBUM OF THE YEAR presented by Orange Amplification
- Deftones, Koi No Yokan
– Gojira, L’Enfant Sauvage
– Halestorm, The Strange Case of…
– Marilyn Manson, Born Villain
– Soundgarden, King Animal
– Stone Sour, House of Gold & Bones Part 1

Good things come in twos. Beer, hot chicks, and now Five Finger Death Punch albums. The band has been in the studio the past few months apparently working on A LOT of music.

Guitarist Zoltan Bathory says, "We jumped in head first and found ourselves 12-13 songs deep fairly quick but were still coming up with better and better material, so we looked at each other and said, ‘Ok, why stop there? Let’s keep going.’ Once we passed the 24th song we knew we’re going to have to do a double album.”

The yet to be titled album will be released in two parts. ‘Vol. 1′ will arrive in stores July 23, with ‘Vol. 2′ set to follow at a still-to-be-determined date this fall. Bathory says that putting together a double-disc was a fairly easy decision, adding, “[This music is] very dear to us, possibly the best material this band has ever created. At that point there was no way to decide which songs to leave off the album, so we made the decision to release them all.”

If there was ever any question about rock ‘n’ roll being alive and well, the answer has arrived in the form of Monster Energy’s Rock Allegiance Tour.

 The late summer trek will feature four game-changing rock bands from four different countries, with Volbeat, HIM, All That Remains and Airbourne on the bill.

“The fans have made our North American visits thus far this year great fun and truly memorable,” Volbeat frontman Michael Poulsen said. “We are looking forward to headlining Monster Energy’s Rock Allegiance festival tour this summer, and sharing the stage with HIM, All That Remains  and Airbourne.”

Tour dates and on-sale information will announced in the coming days. Information will be posted here.

This year marks the third installment for Monster Energy’s Rock Allegiance. The event launched as a traveling tour back in 2011. The following year, it became a “destination festival” in Hershey, Pennsylvania that featured Stone Temple Pilots, Three Days Grace, Seether, Buckcherry, Fuel, Daughtry and more, commandeering Hersheypark Stadium over the Labor Day Weekend.

The fest returns to the road in 2013, which is exactly where it belongs.

The tour will bring American audiences the very best that rock music as a whole has to offer, with a decidedly international feel. Rock music is a universal language and all the acts on this tour embody the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll without borders.

Danish superstars Volbeat, who have enjoyed No. 1 status at active rock radio, will share the stage with HIM, a cult favorite from Finland whose fans are disciple-like in their devotion. All That Remains have scratched and clawed their way out of Massachusetts and rocketed up the radio charts over the past half-decade, all the while keeping a firm foothold in the hard rock/metal scene. Airbourne have been making a name for themselves ever since emerging from Australia, armed with plenty of riffs and just as much attitude.

Apparently making Dave Grohl cry is as simple as, well, making coffee.  Grohl was on hand to induct Rush into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last week.  He explains Rush drummer Neil Peart as the main driving force for him becoming a musician:

"This man was as influential as any religion, or any hero. He said: 'So nice to meet you. Can I make you a coffee?' And he made me a coffee.  Later on that night, I went to dinner and had a couple of glasses of wine. And I started f**king crying, because my hero made me a cup of coffee."

After a lengthy legal battle with two former members of Breaking Benjamin, singer Benjamin Burnley  has won the use of the band's name and the group's hiatus is over.

The band originally took a break in 2010 while Burnley was dealing with an illness.  It was during this time the band’s label released a greatest hits album featuring a newly remixed version of ‘Blow Me Away’ with special guest vocalist Valora. The album and single became a point of contention between Burnley and bassist Mark Klepaski and guitarist Aaron Fink, as the singer later revealed that the two members had unilaterally signed off on the album and song remix without his consent.

The news of Burnley's legal victory was posted on the band's website:

The dispute between Benjamin Burnley, who is the sole founder, primary musician, singer and songwriter for the band Breaking Benjamin, and two of the band’s ex-members has been resolved. Benjamin Burnley retains his right to use his band name and Breaking Benjamin will continue.

British rock legends IRON MAIDEN have teamed up with Cheshire family brewers Robinsons to create a new beer, Trooper. MAIDEN’s vocalist, Bruce Dickinson, played a major role in developing the unique flavor of the beer, including visits to Robinson’s brewery in Stockport.

“I’m a lifelong fan of traditional English ale; I thought I’d died and gone to heaven when we were asked to create our own beer. I have to say that I was very nervous: Robinsons are the only people I have had to audition for in 30 years. Their magic has been to create the alchemical wedding of flavor and texture that is Trooper. I love it.” – Bruce Dickinson added.

Oliver Robinson, managing director of Robinsons, said: “Trooper is a premium British ale with true depth of character and flavor. For more than thirty years, the unmistakable icon of Eddie, the band’s instantly recognizable mascot, has adorned every album cover, T-shirt and poster — so it is fitting that Eddie will now adorn the cask pump clip and take centre stage on the bottle label of Trooper.

Trooper will be available to purchase by both U.K. and overseas customers from May 2013.

Randy Blythe, the singer for US metal band Lamb of God, had manslaughter charges against him dropped in a Czech court today following a trial over a fan's death at a concert in Prague three years ago.The prosecution had accused 42-year-old Blythe of pushing Daniel Nosek, 19, off the stage, causing him to hit his head, after which he was taken to hospital, where he died several weeks later.Judge Thomas Kubovec at Prague Municipal Court ruled that Blythe's actions did not constitute a crime and directed the prosecution to a civil court if they wished to apply for compensation.The prosecution immediately appealed against the judge's decision to the Czech High Court.Blythe, who was charged with causing an injury leading to death, admitted to shoving a fan off the stage during the 2010 Prague show but said he believed the person was unharmed.He said he did not learn of Nosek's death or the prosecution over the incident until police arrested him at Prague airport when the band returned for another gig in June last year.Blythe was released on bail and travelled back to the United States, but returned for his trial. He would have faced up to 10 years in prison if convicted.According to Czech news site Novinky, earlier in proceedings Blythe had said: "If I thought that I was guilty, I would admit it."I still believe that I acted reasonably to protect myself, our gear and the audience."If I am guilty I will take it like a man."Thomas Hryvnia, defending, said that the fault lay with the crowd control staff, according to Novinky."If they had done what they were supposed to, people would not be on stage and this would never have happened."Blythe this afternoon thanked fans for supporting him.Posting a message on his Instagram page he said: "I have been found not guilty & acquitted of all charges against me. I am a free man."Please remember the family of Daniel Nosek in your thoughts & prayers in this difficult time. I only wish for them peace. Thank you for your support."Messages of congratulations and relief flooded Lamb of God's Twitter feed, with the band simply writing: "Randy is finally free"