As reported a couple of weeks ago it has now been confirmed that The Who will perform during the half-time break at the Superbowl XLIV..jpg)
It has just been announced that Swedish band DIRTY PASSION is the official support act to Faster Pussycat and Enuff Z'Nuff on their upcoming European tour in January/February 2010. .jpg)
Their line-up is Christopher Olsson (guitar), Markus Winberg (drums), Emil Ekbladh (vocals) & Björn Wilander (bass).
January 18 - The Underworld, London, UK 
The following was received from the Robin 2 yesterday...Due to overwhelming demand for tickets for Fleetwood Mac legend Peter Green and Friends, a second show has been added for Thursday 17th Dec 2009 at The Robin 2 in Bilston.www.myspace.com/petergreenandfriends
This will be Peter Green and Friends only UK shows in 2009 out of London.
The 2nd show has the added bonus of featuring Robin 2 favourite blues/roots artist Ian Parker and his band opening up the show for Peter Green.
Doctors have diagnosed Ronnie James Dio has having stomach cancer."Ronnie has been diagnosed with the early stages of stomach cancer.CLASSIC ROCK & MORE wishes Ronnie a speedy and full recovery.
We are starting treatment immediately at the Mayo Clinic.
After he kills this dragon, Ronnie will be back on stage, where he belongs, doing what he loves best, performing for his fans.
Thanks to all the friends and fans around the world that have sent well wishes.
This has really helped to keep his spirit up.
Long Live Rock and Roll, Long Live Ronnie James Dio"
Former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green will play a couple of UK live dates in December. 
U2 are set to headline 2010's Glastonbury Festival.
KISS will bring their new "Sonic Boom Over Europe: From the Beginning To the Boom" tour to Europe in May/June 2010. 
Australian hard rockers AIRBOURNE have been forced to put back their UK tour after a scheduling conflict.
The Assembly in association with The Classic Rock Society have announced the first two bands for the Progeny 3 festival these being RPWL & Parzival’s Eye.Firstly, we are very pleased to welcome to the stage RPWLhttp://theclassicrocksociety.blogspot.com/
Hailing from Germany, RPWL formed in 1997 as a Pink Floyd covers band. However, they were always interested in producing their own music and released their debut album ‘God Has Failed’ in 2000.
Since then, they have released a further 6 albums and performed concerts and festivals across Europe and in North America, all the while developing their own sound and gaining great reviews.
Next year will see the release of their latest studio effort and I know that they will bring great pleasure to you all.
http://www.rpwl.net
http://www.myspace.com/rpwl
Secondly, we are very excited to present the UK debut of Parzival’s Eye
Parzival’s Eye is the side project of RPWL bass player Chris Postl. They released their debut album ‘Fragments’ in September 2009 to much critical acclaim.
This record is a fantastic mix of progressive rock and mature rock songs, and features the guitar talents of Ian Bairnson (Alan Parson’s Project), along with the vocal talents of two of the best singers in the world of prog rock, Alan Reed (Pallas) and Christina Booth (Magenta).
For this live performance, Chris will be assisted on stage by his RPWL band mates as well as, for the first time, both Alan* and Christina.
I’m sure you will all join us in welcoming them to the Assembly stage with open arms.
*Alan’s appearance may, unfortunately, have to be cancelled at the last moment due to other commitments if the British government decides to hold its general election on Thursday 6th May.
http://www.parzivals-eye.com
http://www.myspace.com/parzivalseye
KISS European tour rumours are still rife, and France’s Hellfest has either come up with a great publicity stunt or the rock legends will be headlining the festival.
Bad Company are to tour the UK in April 2010!
DIO have cancelled the whole of their UK tour due to Ronnie James Dio being in hospital. 
As reported on 15th November DREAM THEATER would shortly release a video for the song "Wither"
Austrian symphonic metal band EDENBRIDGE has issued the following update on their new album..."We are in the midst of the vocal recordings for our seventh studio album and Sabine [Edelsbacher] is doing some fantastic vocal takes. All the instruments are finally recorded and the orchestra parts are also finished. Dennis Ward [producer] is currently recording backing vocals and choirs in his studio. At the end of November Robby Valentine will do his backing vocals and choirs. Anthony Clarkson is currently working on the cover artwork. In January, [guitarist/keyboardist] Lanvall will fly to England to mix the new CD together with Karl Groom at Thin Ice Studio."The new CD is due out in May/June 2010 and songs set to appear on the CD include "Brothers On Diamir", "Skyline's End", "Bon Voyage Vagabond", "Further Afield" and "Come Undone".
Magenta : Wonderous Stories from robert reed on Vimeo.
www.magenta-web.co.uk/
American progressive metal band Symphony X have signed a contract with Nuclear Blast."As lifelong fans of the band, it is with great pride that Nuclear Blast announces the signing of US Metal / Prog Gods Symphony X!!!The five-piece band are, as stated, presently working on studio album number eight, which will be released next year.
Symphony X exemplifies the technical sophistication of progressive metal while transcending the genre by writing amazing songs with masterful musicality and great hooks!
This New Jersey-based super group effortlessly creates a balancing act between solid, accessible arrangements and song structures with highly technical, challenging instrumental work and unbelievable melodic vocal harmonies. This embrace of polyphonic lead vocals, combined with their classical-sometimes even Queen-like- choruses create a powerful, in-your-face mixture. With elements of thundering metal, rock, solos with unstoppable guitar shredding and intense keyboards - this potent group has grown with every release and is poised to compete with the commercial success of top groups in all genres!
Symphony X is currently creating their next masterpiece, anticipated in the spring of 2010!
Together, we will bring this talent to a new level! We hope you are ready for the ride!”
Reports have been rife that The Who will be the latest band to line up for the prestigious half-time show at the Superbowl in the USA.
DREAM THEATER's promotional video for the song "Wither" will be online by the end of the week. 
The band recently toured in the USA and as part of their shows they performed the whole of their classic 1980 album in full.“It would just be ridiculous for us not to do that in our home country. We’ve been touring America, doing the album in its entirety as a major part of our. There’s a band meeting just before Christmas to discuss our plans for next year, and I can assure you that we will be talking about British dates next year showcasing the record. It will happen.”Keep visiting this blog as I will post dates as soon as they are announced!
1. Rapid fire
New York thrashers OVERKILL are coming to England to play two dates.
01 The Green And Black 
Dutch female-fronted metal band AUTUMN will support THE GATHERING on their European tour from January 22, 2010 in Krefeld, Germany to February 14, 2010 in Paris, France.
Tracey Lukasik of BackstageAxxess.com recently (29/10) interviewed TRIUMPH's Rik Emmett who hinted at the possibility of a full-fledged Triumph reunion. 
Canadian rock band Triumph were formed in 1975, and built up a large and loyal fanbase by the end of the '70s, including myself.
Meat Loaf’s new live DVD "Bat Out of Hell: The Original Tour" is released today, November 10th. Bat Out of Hell
Filmed at the Stadthalle Offenbach, Bat Out of Hell: The Original Tour captures the raw excitement of Meat Loaf’s epic stage show. Larger-than-life songs like “You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)” and “Paradise By The Dashboard Light” sounded absolutely extravagant performed live. Not only does Meat Loaf dominate the stage, but he also captivates audiences with the riveting nature of his songs, with the help of the album’s songwriter Jim Steinman and female vocalist Karla DeVito. Its visual proof of the power of Bat Out Of Hell, which certified 10x Platinum and sold over 40 million copies. Also included is a bonus interview from 1978 with Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman.
Video footage of British gothic metallers PARADISE LOST performing the song "Eternal" on November 3rd, 2009 at the O2 Islington Academy in London, England can be viewed below.
LEAVES' EYES, LEGION OF THE DAMNED, POWERWOLF and HEIDEVOLK have been confirmed for the Metalfest Open Air Festival which is set to take place from May 13th-15th, 2010 in Dessau, Germany.
The latest issue of the excellent melodic rock magazine "FIREWORKS" is out now.
Peter Gabriel is reportedly set to release an orchestral covers album. 
JON OLIVA'S PAIN, the band led by SAVATAGE leader Jon Oliva, have named the forthcoming new album "Festival".
The Doors are set to release a new live box set which includes their last ever shows in New York.
Former IRON MAIDEN/WOLFSBANE frontman Blaze Bayley will release a new album "Promise and Terror" on February 1st, 2010. 
Video footage of former Nightwish singer Tarja Turunen performing, "Witch-Hunt", on October 30th in Tampere, Finland can be seen below. 
The Black Crowes will release a brand new DVD called "Cabin Fever" on November 23rd.
