STONE TEMPLE PILOTS/ex-VELVET REVOLVER singer Scott Weiland has posted the following message on his MySpace page:

“I felt the need to check in and let everyone know what the latest and greatest is…as you know, my original band, STP, have reunited and are gearing up for our 4 month tour of the U.S.

When Swedish metallers IN FLAMES came to New York for a two-day Gigantour stint, Headbanger’s Blog hooked up with singer Anders Fridén and drummer Daniel Svensson to talk about the band’s new album, “A Sense of Purpose”, the tour, the video for “The Mirror’s Truth” and their future plans.

GUNS N’ ROSES guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal has set “Abnormal” as the title of his new solo album, due later in the year.

On Saturday, April 19, JUDAS PRIEST frontman Rob Halford participated in the first national Record Store Day — an event organized by store owners across the country to focus on what independent music stores offer customers — by appearing at Fingerprints in Long Beach, California from 4:00 p.m.

Footage of the IN FLAMES autograph session which took place this past Monday, April 28 at HMV Place Laurier in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada can be viewed below (courtesy of “ProgLord4U”).

OPIATE FOR THE MASSES is a new breed of rock decadence, emerging from Los Angeles.

In response to sports writer Mike Wise’s column in the Washington Post about the fans of the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team that read “women and children could be security for MEGADETH,” lead singer Dave Mustaine and the rest of the band sent a couple of videotaped messages of support.

Ken of MetalFanzine.net conducted an interview with drumming legend Albert Bouchard from BLUE ÖYSTER CULT last Saturday night, April 26 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.