Duff McKagan has confirmed that he will be playing second guitar on Alice In Chains re-union tour of the UK/Europe this Summer. The Velvet Revolver bassist will join the Seattle band for the Download Festival at Donington, which happens from June 9-11.

Yellowcard have been forced to postpone eight US shows scheduled to happen in May and June. This is because frontman Ryan Key is to have surgery to remove a cyst from his vocal cords.

Congratulations to Pixies mainman Frank Black and his wife Violet, on the birth of a girl. She’s been called Lucy Berlin Thompson.

Norwegian prog metalheads Green Carnation are going to London.В This will be on August 24 at the Camden Underworld.

Jucifer, a duo from Athens, Georgia, have signed a deal with Relapse. The band – who’s influences take in Minor Threat, The Carpenters, Slayer, Jimi Hendrix and My Bloody Valentine – are to release an album in the Autumn. It’s to be called ‘At The Hands Of Our Intercessors’.

The re-united Lemonheads have signed to Vagrant. The band are to shortly start recording their new album with producer Bill Stevenson.

AFI have now confirmed the full track listing for their new album, ‘Decemberunderground‘, which is due out in June. It is: ‘Prelude 12/21’, ‘Kill Caustic’, ‘Miss Murder’, ‘Summer Shudder’, ‘The Interview’, ‘Love Like Winter’, ‘Affliction’, ‘The Missing Frame’, ‘Kiss And Control’, ‘The Killing Lights’, ‘7mm’, ‘Endlessly, She Said’.

Nevermore bassist Jim Sheppard has been forced to pull out of the band’s upcoming US tour with In Flames. This is because he’s receiving treatment for Crohn’s Disease. His place is to be taken by ex-Megadeth man James Macdonaugh.

Slipknot‘s Sid Wilson is to release a solo album in June. To be called ‘The New Leader’, this will be under the project name of DJ Starscream. Wilson himself describes the style as a ‘mosh up’.

Lamb Of God are to call their new album ‘Sacrament’. Produced by Machine, it should be out during the late Summer.