Earlier today, AC/DC announced North American dates for their Rock or Bust World Tour.

The North American dates kick off August 22 in Foxborough, Massachusetts, at Gillette Stadium and run through September 28 in Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium. You can check out all the dates below.

Tickets available via Ticketmaster. Previously announced European dates on the Rock or Bust World Tour begin May 5 in Holland and run through late July.

The North American Tour date announcement comes days after AC/DC delivered an explosive performance of "Rock or Bust" and "Highway to Hell," which kicked off the 57th annual Grammy Awards. This the band's first time performing on U.S. TV in more than 14 years. AC/DC also are confirmed to headline the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival April 10 and 17. Chris Slade will be on drums for the Rock or Bust World Tour.

AC/DC last toured the world from 2008 to 2010 with the Black Ice World Tour, which had the band playing to more than 5 million fans in 108 cities in more than 28 countries. The Black Ice World Tour earned AC/DC a Pollstar Award for Major Tour of the Year in 2010.

AC/DC North American Tour Dates

Date | City | Venue | On-sale date
August 22 Foxborough, MA Gillette Stadium February 16
August 26 E. Rutherford, NJ MetLife Stadium February 16
August 28 Quebec City, ON Plains Of Abraham February 16
August 31 Montreal, QC Olympic Stadium February 16
September 3 Ottawa, ON TD Place February 16
September 5 Moncton, NB Magnetic Hill February 16
September 8 Detroit, MI Ford Field February 16
September 10 Toronto, ON Downsview Park February 16
September 15 Chicago, IL Wrigley Field February 16
September 20 Edmonton, AL Commonwealth Stadium February 16
September 2 Vancouver, BC BC Place February 16
September 25 San Francisco, CA AT&T Park February 15
September 28 Los Angeles, CA Dodger Stadium February 16

When someone says "you have to see this guy" and that someone is Ken Coomer, former Wilco drummer and current hot producer in Nashville, you listen.

Expecting a lot and hearing/seeing twice as much, though, is a whole different story.

Meet Cody Brooks. In a sea of fish, he is a shark (albeit a friendly one).

After a warm handshake and a thoughtful conversation, Cody erupted in a jaw dropping intimate performance. Why jaw-dropping? In addition to the intensity of Brooks' guitar playing and singing, you realize he's not trying to write a hit. Not trying to "get a deal." He's not trying to make you like him.

He's just playing and singing out of an absolute need to release the world inside him. And that might just accidentally result in all the things he's not specifically "trying" for.

To me, it's refreshing.

Scot Sax knows his way around a solid pop song. The Philadelphia musician has been writing them for years, whether it was with his own bands Wanderlust and Feel, or as a purveyor of hits for singers like Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. It was Sax, in fact, who co-wrote the country duo’s Grammy-winning smash “Like We Never Loved At All.” His catchy “I Am the Summertime,” penned while with the band Bachelor Number One, was featured in the blockbuster “American Pie.” And he’s netted countless TV credits, with song placements in shows like “Ghost Whisperer,” “NCIS,” “CSI: NY” and “Keeping up with the Kardashians.” He toured as a guitarist with Sharon Little throughout North America supporting Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' Raising Sand. His filmmaking debut, the documentary "Platinum Rush," is currently being entered into film festivals worldwide and will premiere in 2015. Sax lives in Nashville with his family.

I know! It’s so hard to find just the perfect gift for that someone special.

That’s why we’re here to help.

This year, if your honey is into acoustic guitar, we’ve got some great ideas for a Valentine’s surprise.

You’ll be super thoughtful and no one needs to know you didn’t think of these awesome gifts yourself.

We’ll never tell…

Kyser Handmade Straps

Remember when you were a kid and you created handmade valentines? Well, think of these lovely straps as a handmade alternative for grownup guitar-players.

These beautiful handmade guitar straps straps feature a front elastic/leather slip (the "capo-keeper") for secure storage of your Kyser Quick-Change capo when not in use. The "capo-keeper" can also easily and securely hold a slide or a harmonica.

Kyser guitar straps are made from recycled leather and their unique design features a padded 2” body that leads to an extra-long tail which can be adjusted from 45" in length to 55". There are 12 unique and completely custom designs. Match one with your favorite colored Kyser Quick-Change capo.

Kyser guitar straps and Quick-Change capos are 100% made in the USA.

MSRP for straps: $69.95 each
MSRP for Quick-Change capos: $24.95

www.kysermusical.com

Luna Guitars Flora Rose

What's more traditional than the gift of red roses on Valentine's day? And what cooler gift could there be than a guitar featuring a red rose that would never wilt and keep giving the gift of music and beauty for a lifetime?

Luna Guitars' Acoustic/Electric Rose embraces the sound hole and trails gracefully onto the lower bout. The red tinted abalone blossoms are stunning against the blonde quilt maple top. A remarkable instrument to give voice to one's own love and passion through music.

Street price is $429

www.lunaguitars.com

Korg Pitchclip

Show them you care….that they are in-tune! Nothing says I love you more than showing you care if their music is in-tune.

The new Pitch clip from Korg comes in 8 new colors, one of which is Pink! Other colors include orange, yellow, white, blue, emerald green, purple, and light blue.

Pink shows you are loving, kind, generous and sensitive. Pick one up for your special valentine.

Retails for $19.99

Go to www.korgusa.com to find a retailer

Martin “CEO’s Choice” series

Want to really say, “You are special and unique?” Here’s a gift that they can’t help but notice!

This is the eighth incarnation of C. F. Martin IV’s “CEO’s Choice” series, with favored specifications selected by Chris Martin. Martin’s largest acoustic body size, the Grand Jumbo, delivers great value for all of the included features.

Each CEO-8 Special Edition comes with stage ready D-TAR Wave-length Multi-Source electronics and bears an interior label individually numbered in sequence and personally signed by C. F. Martin IV.

MSRP: $6,999.00

More at http://www.martinguitar.com/

108 Rock Star Guitars

A gorgeous red cover reveals even more gorgeous photos inside.

The rich saturation of color in Lisa S. Johnson's ground-breaking photographic vision documents not only some of culture's most important rock star guitars, it also recounts how the instrument itself has become the essential symbol of rock. Johnson accompanies her images with text cultivated from her experiences and interviews that personify the musician who plays the instrument.

Here, the guitar is made exotic, sensuous, and evocative - it transforms from an instrument into an artwork. Some of the guitars included are those of Eric Clapton, Les Paul, Jimmy Page, Billy Gibbons, Rick Nielsen, Brian Setzer, Chrissie Hynde, Ace Frehley, Carlos Santana, Jack White and many others. Foreword by the late, legendary Les Paul.

For the guitar-lover on our list!

Includes padded-leatherette hardcover book, 16-page booklet describing inspiration behind project, a guitar pick printed with one of three holographic foil designs.

Retails for $108

More at http://108rockstarguitars.com

Recording King USA Custom 6 Banjo

Got a banjo-loving honey? This gift is for you! Recording King's USA Custom 6 Banjo is the perfect combination of guitar-style playability with banjo appointments. RK takes a hand-selected maple resonator, and pairs it with a tube-and-plate 2-piece flange and dual coordinator rods.

It's guitar player-friendly, with a truss-rod-adjustable maple neck and 25.4” dreadnought scale. The 1-11/16" nut with allows for comfortable banjo picking, but is still narrow enough to fret chords comfortably. The bone nut and maple/ebony bridge help deliver the percussive sound banjo players love.

It's finished with a hand-inlaid Recording King peghead design, Tone Pros Kluson tuners, nickel-plated hardware and an electrifying candy apple red lacquer finish, perfect for your Valentine.

The Custom 6 is for guitar players who want something out of the ordinary, or for banjo players who want an instrument guaranteed to start a conversation.

Street Price $2999

recordingking.com

Guitar strings can pull heartstrings! We’re talking strength, reliability, just want you want in a partner. Plus great tone, of course!

Developed over three years of engineering and innovating, NY Steel is a proprietary alloy with unprecedented pitch stability and remarkable strength. First presented to the public in D'Addario NYXL electric guitar strings, this technology has now been added to their coated acoustic sets for the ultimate in tone, strength, and reliability.

EXP Phosphor Bronze MSRP: $29.90

www.daddario.com/alwaystrue

Wow, wow, wow. If this doesn’t say “Be My Valentine,” no guitar could.

You’ll immediately notice the fun, one-of-a-kind look of the Alkaline Trio Malibu™ acoustic guitar. The Chicago punk band has create one of the most distinctive Fender acoustic models ever made, with its immediately recognizable heart-shaped rosette and cool looking all-mahogany construction.

The Fender Malibu guitar style dates to the late ’60s and offers a comfortable folk-sized body with a sweet, articulate tone great for beach parties, unplugged gigs and much more.

And with its maple Stratocaster® neck with a comfortable “C” profile, the Alkaline Trio Malibu also feels great to electric guitarists.

Price $299.99

www.fender.com

Epiphone PRO-1 Ultra

Had your heart broken trying to learn how to play guitar? A great guitar should be easy to fall in love with. And easy to play.

Epiphone’s new PRO-1 Collection was designed by pros to make learning guitar easy. And when you're ready play live, the PRO-1 Ultra plugs into any PA or amp with the Shadow® Performer™ preamp and NanoFlex™ pickup system. The PRO-1 Ultra also features a Solid Spruce top for superior sound with beautiful 5-layer Ivory and Black binding along and all of the PRO Collection's breakthrough innovations.

Features include:
Solid Spruce Top
Shadow® Performer™ preamp and NanoFlex™ pickup system
All the PRO-1 Collection’s Innovative Features
Beautiful Wine Red Finish

This year, make the Epiphone PRO-1 Ultra your Valentine!

PRO 1 ULTRA MSRP: $548.00

www.epiphone.com

A beautiful guitar in a gorgeous wood says, well, “You’re beautiful and gorgeous!” And this one is a limited edition stunner.

Hawaiian koa’s rich and earthy complexion brings an exotic look to one of Taylor’s most popular and portable guitars on this lovely limited edition GS Mini.

The all-koa model features a pickguard-free top of solid Hawaiian koa, layered koa back and sides, plus an onboard ES-T pickup. The hardwood koa top will yield a focused response with a splash of extra top-end chime.

Other standard GS Mini appointments include an all-matte finish, 5mm dot fretboard inlays, a 3-ring rosette, and chrome tuners. The guitar ships in a GS Mini hard bag.

Retails for $699

www.taylorguitars.com

Guild M-120E in Cherry Red

Now this is sumptuous! The M-120 E in Cherry Red is a concert sized, all-solid guitar that produces warm, balanced sound with excellent projection and distinctive presence.

Its 24 3/4” scale length and slim satin-finish mahogany neck impart effortless playability and exceptional feel.

Deliver clear and natural amplified sound through the M-120E's onboard Fishman Sonitone pickup system.

Other features include a rosewood fingerboard and bridge and mother-of pearl rosette and inlays. Also available in Natural finish and comes with a hardshell case.

Product Value: $885 MSRP // $699 Street Price — with hardshell case

www.guildguitars.com

Paul Reed Smith SE A10E

This all-mahogany acoustic is super rich-looking AND sounding. Reminds of a box of artisan chocolate!

Jack Higginbotham, President, PRS Guitars, shares, “The A10E adds a new option to the SE Angelus line at a great price point for players looking to add an affordable, reliable acoustic to their arsenal.

"All-mahogany acoustics have long been a great tool for musicians. Known for their straightforward tone that fits well into a mix. Have a solo gig in a small to medium-sized club? The strong fundamental that these guitars provide is rich, smooth and full of sustain — perfect for that application and many others,”

Sells for $599 – available in Black or Tortoise Shell finishes

For full specifications, audio samples, and videos please visit: http://www.prsguitars.com/a10e

Guitar World's February 2015 issue, which is available at the Guitar World Online Store, is the ultimate tribute to the late, great Dimebag Darrell.

As part of our coverage, which was timed for the 10th anniversary of the guitarist's tragic death, Guitar World was invited into Dime's home and recording studio—and we got to bring our cameras!

Below, enjoy our exclusive video tour, which offers a private look at Dime's impressive guitar collection, not to mention his home, memorabilia, kitchen, bathrooms (Note: Dime's bathrooms are more interesting than they sound!) and a lot more.

Check out the video below! And remember to pick up the February 2015 issue of GW, which features the ultimate Dimebag Darrell guitar gallery, more details about his home and studio, our guide to the 25 Greatest Pantera Songs and much more!

Jeff Beck has signed an exclusive publishing deal with the London-based Genesis Publishing Group.

Plans to release a high-quality "signed, limited-edition" book are in the works for late 2015. Beck also is reportedly hard at work on an official documentary—and he's writing his autobiography.

In other Beck news ...

The guitarist recently participated in the Poppy Appeal song "No Man's Land," a tribute to the people who served in World War I; it resulted in four performances, culminating in NFL pre-game entertainment broadcast from Wembley Stadium. The song featured Joss Stone on vocals.

A DVD of Beck’s April 2014 Tokyo concert was released in November and reached Number 1 on Billboard's DVD chart. He'll also complete work on his new studio album, which is expected later this year.

Beck also has announced several solo tour dates—not to mention dates with ZZ Top. You can find all the current dates below. Joining Beck on his solo and double-bill tours are Jimmy Hall on vocals, Rhonda Smith on bass, Jonathan Joseph on drums and Nicolas Meier on guitar.

Jeff Beck Solo Dates

April 13 The Capitol Theatre Port Chester, NY
April 15 The Paramount Huntington, NY
April 16 The Paramount Huntington, NY
April 17 The Paramount Huntington, NY
April 18 The Capitol Theatre Port Chester, NY
April 19 Orpheum Theatre Boston, MA
April 21 Ulster Performing Arts Center Kingston, NY
April 22 Bergen Performing Arts Center Englewood, NJ
April 24 Count Basie Theatre Red Bank, NJ
April 25 The Strand – Capital Performing Arts Center York, PA
April 26 The Palace Theatre Greensburg, PA

With ZZ Top

April 30 Cedar Park Center Cedar Park, TX
May 1 Winstar Casino Thackerville, OK
May 2 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion The Woodlands, TX
May 3 Concrete Street Corpus Christi, TX
May 7 MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre Tampa, FL
May 8 Cruzan Amphitheater West Palm Beach, FL
May 9 St. Augustine Amphitheatre St. Augustine, FL
May 10 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Alpharetta, GA

Guitar legend Uli Jon Roth and Guitar World have teamed up to premiere "Virgin Killer," a track from Roth's new studio album, Scorpions Revisited.

The album, which features 19 "re-invented" Scorpions tracks, will be released March 10 via UDR.

In 2013, Roth found himself unusually intrigued by his early days with the Scorpions, including his work on Fly to the Rainbow, In Trance, Virgin Killer and Taken By Force. As a result, the guitarist spent a year re-visiting, exploring, performing and re-recording his favorite Scorpions songs.

The first results can be found on Scorpions Revisited, which was recorded in Hanover, Germany. You can check out the complete track list below.

Today's song, "Virgin Killer," is the title track from the Scorpions' fourth studio album, which was released in late 1976. It was written by Roth—and, of course, Roth played guitar on the original recording.

“The material for this CD was recorded last year in the same hall in Hanover that we used for the Scorpions rehearsals 1973 to 1978,” Roth says. “Together with an amazing bunch of talented young musicians, I revisited my favorites from the early Scorpions period, some of which were written in that same hall.

"It was an emotional few days, and I'm very pleased with the results. The idea was to stay truthful to the original spirit of the music, while also putting a new slant on it whenever it felt like the right thing to do. I feel we succeeded in this, and I’m excited about this project. It was a intense journey into the past.”

Roth's band on the album includes Nathan James (vocals), Jamie Little (drums), Ule W. Ritgen (bass), Niklas Turmann (guitar, vocals), Corvin Bahn (keyboards, vocals) and David Klosinski (guitar).

For more information, visit ulijonroth.com. Be sure to tell us what you think of "In Trance" in the comments below or on Facebook!

Track listing - CD1:
01. The Sails Of Charon
02. Longing For Fire
03. Crying Days
04. Virgin Killer
05. In Trance
06. Sun In My Hand
07. Yellow Raven
08. Polar Nights
09. Dark Lady

Track listing - CD2:
01. Catch Your Train
02. Evening Wind
03. All Night Long
04. We’ll Burn In The Sky
05. Pictured Life
06. Hell Cat
07. Life’s Like A River
08. Drifting Sun
09. Rainbow Dream Prelude
10. Fly To The Rainbow

2015 ULI JON ROTH Tour Dates:

FEBRUARY:
19.02.2015 – Japan – Nagoya – Bottom Line
20.02.2015 – Japan – Tokyo – Nakano Sun Plaza Hall
22.02.2015 – Japan Osaka - Quattro
APRIL
11.04.2015 – Full Metal Cruise II – to Mediterranian Sea
16.04.2015 Plama de Mallorca/Barcelona/Ibiza
24.04.2015 – Germany – Lauda-Königshofen – Keep it True Festival
MAY TO AUGUST
22.05.2015 – Germany – Bocholt – Alte Molkerei
23.05.2015 – Germany – Bocholt – Alte Molkerei
22.08.2015 – Germany – Balve - Balver Höhle
27.08.2015 - Full Metal Cruise III – to North Sea
31.08.2015 Kiel/Copenhaven/Gothenburg/Hamburg

Below, check out Led Zeppelin's premiere of "Brandy & Coke," an early version of "Trampled Under Foot," a classic Physical Graffiti track.

It's from the new remastered and expanded version of the album, which will be released February 24.

This rough mix bears a number of distinct differences from the version we're become accustomed to over the past four decades, with Robert Plant moving into the foreground, Jimmy Page receding and John Bonham‘s backbeat taking a more prominent role.

Tell us what you think in the comments or on Facebook!

I’m obsessed with weird and unusual guitars. If it has a strange shape, made from unusual materials or just looks like something from the Star Wars cantina band, I want it.

This week’s Freak of the Week comes from CBGitty.com, a small parts and instrument company in New Hampshire.

They call this handmade tenor guitar the Sawyer’s Legacy. It features a soundboard made from wood from a 150-year-old Maine barn. You can still see the massive sawmill grooves burned in the surface! The back of the guitar has an even more interesting cross-cut saw pattern. Its primitive shape, similar to a cigar box guitar, seems to be the perfect choice as it shows off the wood in its original “plank” form.

I’ve played this instrument, and it’s like holding history in your hands. The barn wood soundboard and back are actually planed down so they’re thin and resonant. The sides are also made with complimenting barn wood. (Why aren’t more guitar makers using barn wood? Seriously…it’s not just for rustic furniture!) The most unusual aspect is the dual humbucker jazz pickups. Not anybody’s first choice for a rustic tenor guitar, but I love the ability to choose so many tones. There’s no pickup switch, just a blend knob. Nice touch.

One other detail I have to note is the top-mounted sound holes that are squarely directed toward the player. (See photo 3 in the gallery below.) Another unusual choice, but a definite plus if you’re playing this thing on the front-porch swing.

As the guitar industry moves toward more sustainable building materials, I hope they consider guitars like this; instruments made from wood containing years (centuries?) of kinetic energy from its former life. Who knows how many families worked the farm that the barn wood came from. Brutal Maine winters. Springtime calves and chickens. Courtin’ couples up in the hayloft…

Hell, there’s songs stuck inside barn wood!

At the time of this writing, the handmade Sawyer’s Legacy Tenor Guitar is still for sale for $550. If I can only get enough money from my tax refund! Sawyer’s Legacy Tenor Guitar by C. B. Gitty.

Stay primal!

Shane Speal is "King of the Cigar Box Guitar" and the creator of the modern cigar box guitar movement. Hear the music, see the instruments and read about his Cigar Box Guitar Museum at ShaneSpeal.com. Speal's latest album, Holler! is on C. B. Gitty Records.

In this brief video, we explore the Orange amp and cabinets used by Silverstein guitarist Paul Marc Rousseau during the band's DTW10 tour.

You'll notice Rousseau really loves his Orange Rockerverb 50 amp.

For more about this particular amp, visit orangeamps.com. For more about Silverstein, head in this general direction.

Remember those old Bugs Bunny cartoons where a pompous Bugs would race a tortoise—and lose? The moral of the story: slow and steady wins the race.

The same principle can hold true with guitar solos.Spitting out sixteenth notes at 200 beats per minutes isn’t always the most winning approach; sometimes, a lead calls for a little less hands and a little more heart.

So let’s step back, take a breather and examine some of rock guitar’s greatest slow burns.

01. “’Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers” — Jeff Beck

Jeff Beck’s electric guitar work contains enough moments of sonic brilliance to fill up most any top ten list. For our purposes we’ll go with his take on this Stevie Wonder–penned instrumental, from 1975 Blow By Blow, on which Beck opens with a gently moaning major 2nd to root C interval that rises and falls like a caterwauling alley cat, setting up the fluid, vocal-like phrases that follow.

02. “Something” — The Beatles

The “Quiet Beatle” steps out of Paul and John’s writing shadow and pens his first song to be released as an A-side on the Beatles’ 1969 Come Together single. George Harrison’s “Something” is lauded for its lush melody and tender lyricism, but guitarists will note Harrison’s deft guitar solo that follows the operatic bridge as a characteristic example of his reserved, yet highly tuneful style.

03. “The Messiah Will Come Again” — Roy Buchanan

An often duplicated, but distinctly underrated guitarist, Buchanan inspired no less than a few of rock’s most recognizable players, including Jeff Beck and Gary Moore.

This haunting A-minor piece opens like Faustian theater, with gloomy organ and prophetic, spoken-word lyrics. When Buchanan finally unleashes on his Telecaster, the droning notes cut through the mix and wail with eerie vocalization. Check out the expert volume swells at 4:30, a Buchanan trademark.

04. “Brothers In Arms” — Dire Straits

The title track from Dire Strait’s chart-topping 1985 album is often overshadowed by the flashier “Money for Nothing” and “Walk of Life,” but this somber, G# minor track has found a place as background music in films such as Spy Game, and television shows Miami Vice and The West Wing. While Knopfler opens and closes the song with a tasteful indulgence of front-pickup soloing, it’s the longer, tone-soaked lead at the end that showcases his soulful, fingerpicked sound.

05. “Parisienne Walkways” — Gary Moore

Moore is no slouch when it comes to burning a fretboard, and the Irish rocker does taper off unto some excessively speedy bits towards the end of this instrumental version of his 1979 U.K. hit (the long, descending trill at 6:15 is particularly note-worthy). The majority of this live version of “Walkways,” however, is laden with Moore’s subtle vibrato and stratospheric string bending. The song was intended to show off the former Thin Lizzy guitarist’s blues prowess, and has left few Moore detractors in its wake.

06. “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” — Pink Floyd

It took David Gilmour little more than a heavily compressed Stratocaster, some reverb and a mound of mourning for his detached former bandmate, Syd Barrett, to create the melancholic opening to the nine-part centerpiece from 1975’s Wish You Were Here.

Supposedly, Barrett visited Abbey Road Studios in London during the album’s recording, but as the story goes Gilmour, along with the rest of his band, didn’t recognize the former Floyd leader due to his drastically altered appearance.

07. “Since I’ve Been Loving You” — Led Zeppelin

“Since I’ve Been Loving You” was outfitted in Zeppelin’s live set before the recording of Led Zeppelin III began and remained a staple of their show until the band’s dissolution in 1980. Though for the song’s main solo Jimmy Page delivers screaming C minor and C minor pentatonic runs, he opens the tune with a 45-second passage of beautifully restrained phrases.

08. “The Thrill Is Gone” — B.B. King

Emotive solo work is the cornerstone of blues guitar, and it’s only appropriate King’s highest charting hit contains some of his most dark and chilling leads.

The song, written by Rick Darnell and Roy Hawkins, showcases the most prominent techniques that made B.B. King a household name, including deep string bends and an impossibly wide vibrato.

09. “Riviera Paradise” — Stevie Ray Vaughan

The final track on Vaughan’s final studio album with Double Trouble features some of his most delicate playing. Legend claims the album’s engineer noticed as the band was recording “Riviera Paradise” that the tape reel was about to run out. To no avail, he tried to warn the distracted band they might lose the recording. The song clocked in at nine minutes, finishing at the exact moment the reel of tape stopped.

10. “Bell Bottom Blues” — Derek and the Dominos

A list of slow guitar solos wouldn’t be complete without the inclusion of Eric “Slowhand” Clapton himself.

And while “Layla” garners most of the accolades on Derek &the Dominos’ only studio album, “Bell Bottom Blues,” which features only Clapton on guitar (Duane Allman didn’t sign on until after the song’s recording), is a tour de force in its own right.

Heavy-handed string bends and a pushed, as opposed to pulled, vibrato lend “Bell Bottom Blues” a gracefulness that counters the furious passion of “Layla,” and reaffirms Clapton as one of rock’s premier soloists.

Ringo Starr will release his 18th studio album, Postcards from Paradise, March 31 via Universal Music Enterprises.

The album, which features 11 original compositions, is the first Starr album to include a song written and recorded by Ringo Starr and his current All Starr Band—Steve Lukather, Todd Rundgren, Gregg Rolie, Richard Page, Warren Ham and Gregg Bissonette.

Postcards from Paradise was produced by Starr and recorded at his home studio in Los Angeles. As always, it features appearances by friends and family members.

"If I am recording and you're in town and drop by, you're going to be on the record!" Starr said in a press release.

This time, guest artists include guitarist (and Starr's brother-in-law) Joe Walsh, Benmont Tench, Dave Stewart, Ann Marie Simpson, Richard Marx, Amy Keys, guitarist Peter Frampton (who first appeared on Starr's 1976 album, Ringo's Rotogravure), bassist Nathan East and Glen Ballard.

Complete details and track-by-track will follow in the coming weeks.

Starr and his All Star Band will hit the road February 13 with dates in the U.S. and Latin America. On April 18, Starr will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, where he'll receive the Award for Musical Excellence.

For more about Starr, visit ringostarr.com.

Postcards from Paradise Track List:

01. Rory And The Hurricanes
02. You Bring The Party Down
03. Bridges
04. Postcards From Paradise
05. Right Side Of The Road
06. Not Looking Back
07. Bamboula
08. Island In The Sun
09. Touch And Go
10. Confirmation
11. Let Love Lead

Paul Weller will release a new studio album, Saturns Pattern, May 12 via Warner Bros./Parlophone.

The album was recorded in Weller's own Black Barn Studio and produced by Jan "Stan" Kybert (Oasis, Bjork, Massive Attack, etc.).

Weller and Kybert worked together on Sonik Kicks (2012), As Is Now (2005), Studio 150 (2004) and Illumination (2002).

Saturns Pattern features a nine-song cycle of futuristic sounds and styles. The album features Ben Gordelier (drums), Andy Crofts (keyboards, backing vocals) and Steve Cradock (guitar). Other guests include guitarists Josh McClorey of the Strypes and Steve Brookes, with whom Weller formed the short-lived original lineup of the Jam in 1972.

"It's a little bit of a leap into the unknown really," Weller says. "I don't know where it will take me ... It's got a lot of movement to it. I think it's going to be a bit of an inspiration to people." You can check out one of the tracks, "White Sky," below.

For more about Weller, visit paulweller.com.

Saturns Pattern Track Listing:

01. White Sky
02. Saturns Pattern
03. Going My Way
04. Long Time
05. Pick It Up
06. I'm Where I Should Be
07. Phoenix
08. In The Car...
09. These City Streets

Weller will tour the U.K. and Europe in March and April. He'll return for a tour of the East Coast and Midwest in June.

June 9 Washington D.C. 9.30 Club
June 10 Philadelphia, Union Transfer
June 12 New York, Terminal 5
June 13 Boston Paradise Rock Club
June 14 Clifton Park (Albany), NY Upstate Music Hall
June 15 Toronto, ONT. Can. Danforth Music Hall
June 17 Chicago, IL Vic Theatre
June 18 Indianapolis, IN The Vogue
June 19 Pittsburgh, PA Mr Smalls Theatre
June 20 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg

As we’re sure you’re aware, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.

What better way of getting in the spirit then hearing your favorite hard rock crooners bare their affection?

That’s why we’ve gathered five excellent clips of metal artists going acoustic in the name of love.

Whether you love or hate V-Day, you’re sure to enjoy these videos!

Paul Gilbert “We All Dream of Love”

Here’s Paul Gilbert with a gorgeous sounding (and looking) Taylor acoustic.

He sings “We All Dream of Love,” the last track on his 2005 release, Space Ship One.

We all know Gilbert possesses those lighting-fast chops, but it’s great to see him flex his songwriter abilities too.

What do you think of this tune?

James Hetfield “Nothing Else Matters”

What’s better for Valentine’s Day than a classic Metallica ballad?

James Hetfield wrote “Nothing Else Matters” over two decades ago for his girlfriend at the time.

The song was not meant to be released, and was only considered for a Metallica album after drummer Lars Ulrich heard it.

The song was released in 1992 as the third single from the band’s self-titled album.

The song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Track, and remains a standard in the Metallica repertoire.

Kiss “Love Her All I Can”

Another band perfect for V-Day – KISS!

Here they tackle a killer acoustic version of “Love Her All I Can,” on what appears to be a cruise ship. Sounds fun, right?!

The song is featured on Dressed to Kill, the band’s third studio album released in 1975.

It was written by Paul Stanley, who also sings the lead vocal on the recording.

Judas Priest “Worth Fighting For”

Up next we have Judas Priest with “Worth Fighting For.”

Rob Halford and co. deliver a fantastic acoustic version of this track, which you can hear on the band’s 2005 LP Angel of Retribution.

For those of you who might be anti-Valentine’s Day this year, then this song is for you.

“The inspiration comes from the desert Southwest, from Arizona,” Halford explains. “A great place to experience the isolation and the loneliness of the desert. That’s the kind of message in this forlorn song about lost love.”

Mötley Crüe “Without You”

Ah, Mötley Crüe. The kings of debauchery, glam, excess, and of course – love!

Here they deliver an acoustic rendition of their classic power ballad, “Without You.”

The track is featured on their 1989 album, Dr. Feelgood.

Released as the album's third single in 1990, "Without You" reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in the United States.

Within the liner notes of Dr. Feelgood, the song is said to be about the relationship between Tommy Lee's and Heather Locklear.

With her graceful grasp of melody and poetic yet piercing lyricism, Corpus Christi, Texas-bred and L.A.-based multi-instrumentalist Julie Mintz creates Gothic Americana—a country-infused take on folk that’s both sweetly ethereal and steeped in moody melancholy—on her debut EP, The Thin Veil, to be released May 5, 2015.

Produced by Moby (with whom Mintz has performed as a vocalist and keyboardist since 2011) and engineered by Darrell Thorp (7-time Grammy winner; Beck’s Morning Phase), The Thin Veil proves possessed of a dreamy sensitivity and soul-stirring honesty reminiscent of songwriters like Joni Mitchell and Emmylou Harris, while still “a bit more haunting and troubled than your standard folk fare.” (-LAMusicBlog)

“What I love about Julie’s music, and her approach to songwriting, are her prowess and vulnerability,” says Moby. “Her songs are complicated but they come across as quite traditional. And her singing and song structure have a vulnerability that distinguishes her music from so many other singer-songwriters.”

Led by her “angelic voice” (-Daily News LA), The Thin Veil delivers a rare gem of otherworldliness and mystical charm. A glimpse into her inner-workings, the EP title is reference to a longtime struggle with insomnia. Mintz explains, “In certain spiritual traditions there’s a theory that the veil between the living and the dead becomes thinner at night.”

While all of The Thin Veil is built on lush, atmospheric arrangements, each song delicately and seamlessly allows Mintz’s gorgeously rendered and quietly powerful lyrics to stand as its stunning centerpiece.

Find out more at www.juliemintz.com

Dave Rubin's Creedence Clearwater Revival: A Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Guitar Styles and Techniques of John and Tom Fogerty teaches the trademark riffs and licks behind 12 of CCR's biggest hits.

Songs include:

• Bad Moon Rising
• Born on the Bayou
• Down on the Corner
• Fortunate Son
• Green River
• Lodi
• Lookin' Out My Back Door
• Proud Mary
• Who'll Stop the Rain

... and more.

Creedence Clearwater Revival: A Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Guitar Styles and Techniques of John and Tom Fogerty is available now at the Guitar World Online Store for $22.95.

When you first started playing guitar, it was to get girls, right?

Perhaps you were influenced by the party scene in Animal House where the collegiate folkster attracts a gaggle of swooning females by strumming his acoustic and singing “I Gave My Love a Cherry."

Of course, there are plenty of other songs that work just as well, and rock a bit harder. We've compiled the 10 listed below to help you up your game.

Seriously, though: If you intend to add these pieces to your act, God love you, but don’t blame us if you meet up with your own personal John Belushi.

Alternative pop band Never Shout Never, aka Christofer Drew and his fellow band mates, have announced the release of a new album titled RECYCLED YOUTH (VOLUME ONE) on March 3rd.

The album is a re-imagining of 9 previously released songs but recorded with entirely new styles and instrumentation to make them unique once again.

This album is the first installment of what lead singer Chris Drew envisions to be a three part collection of re-recorded fan and band favorites.

"The way I see it, a song is never completely finished. Re-imagined and evolved with each performance", Chris says. "This album is a revamp of some of my favorite NSN songs throughout the years."

RECYCLED YOUTH was produced by Eric Palmquist (Bad Suns, Night Riots, Wavves, Trash Talk) in downtown Los Angeles, CA.

The album will be available digitally on March 3rd as well as physically as limited edition CDs sold on tour and available via a preorder bundle. Click here to pre-order.

Later this month, Never Shout Never will be touring the US on their "Mid Winter's Nights Dream Acoustik Tour." Joining NSN on tour is YouTube songstress and former Disney star, HAYLEY KIOKO along with Christofer's Loveway Records artist, ME LIKE BEES.

Never Shout Never North American Tour Dates:
Feb 20 The Constellation Room Santa Ana, CA
Feb 21 The Troubadour West Hollywood, CA
Feb 24 Club Sound Salt Lake City, UT
Feb 25 Marquis Theatre Denver, CO
Feb 28 Bottom Lounge Chicago, IL
Mar 1 The Loft Lansing, MI
Mar 3 Grog Shop Cleveland Heights, OH
Mar 4 The Mod Club Theatre Toronto, ON
Mar 6 Marlin Room at Webster Hall New York, NY
Mar 7 Brighton Music Hall Boston, MA

Find out more at http://nevershoutnever.com/

Last night (February 12), Eddie Van Halen spoke at Washington, D.C.'s Smithsonian National Museum of American History and Zocalo Public Square as part of the institution's "What It Means to Be American" series.

The Dutch-born Van Halen, 60, discussed his American journey, "his role in creating one of the biggest American rock bands of all time and how he has reinvented the way the guitar is played and designed."

He also answered the question, "Is rock and roll about reinvention?" And, oh yeah—he played guitar!

Journalist Denise Quan moderated the sold-out event.

Below, you'll find a professionally shot video, a Soundcloud audio stream and a photo gallery from the event.

Van Halen and Fender donated a master-built replica of Van Halen's white-with-black-stripe Stratocaster. This is the guitar that changed the world in 1978 when Van Halen cross-pollinated Gibson's electronics with Fender's body and neck designs. To represent the path of progressions in his instrument designs, a Stealth finished EVH Brand Wolfgang guitar also was included to represent his modern-day workhorse.

Van Halen and Fender also donated an EVH Brand 5150-III amp and speaker cabinet to showcase Van Halen's electronic growth and musical gear over the decades.

Photos: Chris Gill

Matt Smith, Adrian Belew and Snarky Puppy's Chris McQueen and Bob Lanzetti dropped by the Supro Amps booth at the 2015 Winter NAMM Show to demo the company's new Royal Reverb amp.

You can check out the video, which also features Supro's guitars, below.

This 2x10-inch vintage reissue with reverb and tremolo has headroom to spare and a huge, punchy tone. The Royal Reverb's stout 6L6 output stage can be configured for Class A or Class AB power at 35, 45 or 60 watts with selectable 5U4 tube or solid state rectifier modes. Street price on the Royal Reverb is $1,499 U.S.

For more about Supro, visit suprousa.com.

In the past, we've highlighted the eight-string-guitar work of Josh Martin and Animals As Leaders' Tosin Abasi.

Today, we bring you a guitarist who's relatively new to the scene, 17-year-old Zac Tiessen of Ontario, Canada.

Below, check out one of his most recent eight-string-guitar videos; it's for an original song called "TSU."

"The main melody employs Eric Johnson's 'Koto' technique," Tiessen says. "I'm also using double-hand thumb tapping, a new technique I’m developing, which emulates Japanese harp's scales and tuning.

"This is a re-recorded, re-arranged, re-mastered version of 'TSU' from my Courage EP, originally released in 2013."

Tiessen is endorsed by EMG, Fractal Audio and Jim Dunlop—and he just returned from his first NAMM Show. The video below was filmed in St. Petersburg, Florida.

For more about Tiessen, visit zactiessen.com and follow him on Facebook.