2sday Rock Roundup

Billboard is reporting that Van Halen will announce their tour next week at a press conference in Hollywood. It will be a 50-date American arena tour starting in October with David Lee Roth on vocals and Wolfgang Van Halen on bass. The band was scheduled to do a tour of amphitheaters this summer, but it was derailed after Eddie Van Halen entered rehab in March. Van Halen's last tour was in 2004 with Sammy Hagar. They have not toured with Roth in more than 20 years.

Keith Richards now says that story earlier this year about him snorting his dad's ashes was absolutely true -- except he didn't mix old Bert with cocaine. Richards tells England's New Musical Express, "I said I chopped him up like cocaine, not with. I pulled the lid off [my father's urn] and out comes a bit of dad on the dining room table. I'm going, 'I can't use the brush and dustpan for this.' What I found out is that ingesting your ancestors is a very respectable way of -- y'know, he went down a treat."

The Eagles and Dixie Chicks will be the first musical acts to perform at the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles. They will take the stage of the brand new, state-of-the-art facility on October 18th and 20th -- their only public shows of the year. Tickets go on sale Monday through Ticketmaster. While the Eagles put the finishing touches on their first studio album since 1979, some of the members are on tour. Joe Walsh is in Sayreville, New Jersey tonight; Don Henley is in El Paso, Texas tonight; and Glenn Frey hits the road for a few dates later this month.

Paul McCartney will reportedly make a "surprise" appearance at one of Brian Wilson's six London shows in September (10th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, and 16th) at the Royal Festival Hall according to several British newspapers. With Wilson having already said he plans to include some material from Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in his set, a source tells London's Daily Express, "Paul has long been supportive and loyal towards Brian and it'll be fantastic for fans to see them singing together. Brian has long taken great pride that Paul has described the Beach Boys' track 'God Only Knows' as his favorite song."

STUFF TO LOOK FORWARD TO:

John Mellencamp is the subject of a forthcoming biography. Born in a Small Town: The John Mellencamp Story, written by Heather Johnson, will be published November 1st by Omnibus Press. Johnson traces the musician's career from his days as Johnny Cougar to his most recent album, Freedom's Road.

Pattie Boyd -- the former wife of George Harrison and Eric Clapton, and the subject of the songs "Something," "Layla" and "Wonderful Tonight" -- has finally spilled her guts about those heady days. In Wonderful Today she writes about how Clapton pursued her, and, for the first time, reveals that there was a confrontation between Harrison and Clapton. She was at a party with Clapton when Harrison showed up and said, "What are you two doing here?" Clapton said, "I'm in love with your wife" Harrison then said, "What are you going to do? Go with him or me?" Pattie left with Harrison. She says, "What I had felt for George was a great, deep love. What Eric and I had was an intoxicating, overpowering passion." She also writes about Harrison's affairs with the wives of Ronnie Wood and Ringo Starr. Wonderful Today hits bookstores on August 28th.

John Fogerty has set an October 2nd release date for Revival, his first studio album in three years. It's also his first album of new material for Fantasy Records, home of his former band, Creedence Clearwater Revival, after a 30-year battle with the label over his catalog. Revival contains 12 new songs, including one titled "Creedence." Fogerty says this album came together faster than any of his other solo albums -- he laid down the basic tracks in just 12 days.

The Black Crowes have wrapped up recording their new album, their first studio disc in seven years. They produced the disc themselves, giving a co-producer credit to guitarist Paul Stacey, who joined the band last year. The as-yet untitled disc is due out next spring.

The Traveling Wilburys Collection will be released on vinyl on November 20th, and will include a previously unreleased remix of "Not Alone Anymore" from The Traveling Wilburys Volume One. Also being released that same day by Rhino is the Second Edition Deluxe Set, which will be a linen-bound C-D and D-V-D set that includes a 40-page collectible book with photos, original liner notes, new liner notes and a "uniquely numbered certificate of authenticity."

Heart's performance of Dreamboat Annie that aired on Direct-T-V earlier this year will be released as a D-V-D/C-D package October 23rd. Dreamboat Annie Live features the band playing the classic 1976 album in its entirety, as well as tackling covers of Led Zeppelin and Who songs. There's also an interview with Ann and Nancy Wilson about the making of the album and its impact on their career.

IN STORES TODAY:

One CD: Camp Meeting by Bruce Hornsby

Are We Done Yet? DVD with Ice Cube, Disturbia DVD, TMNT DVD (the new 2007 Movie), Unaccompanied Minors DVD with those kids stranded in an airport at Christmas, David Bowie - The Plastic Soul Review DVD, a box set of Elvis Movies, The Muppet Show - Season Two DVD, and The Simpsons - The Complete Tenth Season DVD