Wayne Kramer (MC5), Duff McKagan (VELVET REVOLVER) and Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS) have been added to the list of performers at the fourth annual MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert honoring legendary artist Alice Cooper and renowned guitarist Slash.

If you think you’ve got the goods to represent in the HELLYEAH “Calendar Girl” contest, submit your best photo at HellYeahBand.com.

Guitarist Christian Hector has left MIDNATTSOL, the German-Norwegian band featuring vocalist Carmen Elise Espenaes (the younger sister of LEAVES’ EYES singer Liv Kristine).

California-based, female-fronted progressive metallers ECHOES OF ETERNITY have issued the following update:

“The last two months we’ve been off the road and writing songs for the next album.

Fan-filmed video footage of Greek metallers FIREWIND performing the song “Falling to Pieces” on April 20, 2008 in Budapest, Hungary can be viewed below (courtesy of “buttmaki”).

Breda, Netherlands-based metalcore outfit DARK INTENTIONS has inked a deal with Deity Down Records for the release of the band’s debut full-length.

Swedish thrashers CARNAL FORGE have issued the following statement regarding their participation in the previously announced “Horns Up Festival Tour 2008” featuring headliners ONSLAUGHT alongside SUICIDAL ANGELS and EUFOBIA:

“CARNAL FORGE was asked by the Romanian promoter Metal Masters Management today [May 1] not to board the flight to Budapest later this evening due to the fact that the prom

Welsh metallers BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE sat down at the bar with host Shark Firestone of NGTV.com for an in-depth chat about pertinent issues such as their music, the state of world affairs and the joys of writing on passed-out-drunk band members’ faces with permanent marker.