Tuesday Rock Roundup

Quiet Riot singer Kevin DuBrow has died at the age of 52. Friends reportedly found his body at his Las Vegas home Sunday. No cause of death has been released yet. Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali has posted a note on his website confirming DuBrow's death, saying, "I can't even find words to say. Please respect my privacy as I mourn the passing and honor the memory of my dearest friend." Quiet Riot shot to fame in 1983 with their album Metal Health, which is recognized as the first heavy metal album to hit number-one and featured the single "Cum on Feel the Noize." Autopsy results are pending.

Van Halen have added even more dates to the 2008 leg of their reunion tour. The tour -- which includes return stops in New York and East Rutherford, New Jersey -- kicks off January 22nd in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Van Halen have also finally allowed their music to be sold as ringtones. Most cell phone carriers are now offering 15 songs, including "Jump," "Eruption," "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love," "Runnin' With the Devil," "Jamie's Cryin'," "Unchained," "Panama" and "Hot for Teacher."

The Police reunion tour will continue into 2008. The trio have added a European leg of dates that kicks off June 5th in Mannheim, Germany. The Euro tour includes a headlining slot at the Isle of Wight festival in England as well as rescheduled dates in Manchester, England and Dusseldorf, Germany. There's no word yet if any North American dates will be added.

David Gilmour has already released a D-V-D from his 2006 solo tour, and now he's planning on releasing a live C-D next year. Gilmour's blog says the disc will be drawn from his 2006 concert in Gdansk, Poland, which drew more than 100-thousand fans. He adds that it will have "one or two assorted extras thrown in for good measure."

Def Leppard fans could win a private lesson with guitarist Phil Collen in time for Christmas. Fans who buy the Def Leppard-styled Lyon by Washburn guitar at Target stores will be entered in a drawing to win a trip to London. There the winner will meet Collen, have him autograph the guitar and get a lesson. Head to Def Leppard's website for more details.

Eric Clapton's ex-wife Pattie Boyd has read his book, Autobiography, which was published last month. She tells us, "I found that I was quite sad to read his book. You know he seemed to be chasing this dream of rejection." Pattie, the inspiration behind Clapton's most popular song, "Layla," married the guitarist in 1979 following her divorce from George Harrison. It was during their marriage that Clapton's addiction to alcohol took hold, and Pattie was surprised to read that he used to hide bottles of alcohol in their home. Pattie says, "I have no recollection of him doing that. I can't imagine why he would do that." As for her autobiography, Wonderful Tonight, which was published just before Clapton's, she says she sent him a copy but does not know if he's read it. She bought her own copy of his book.

After taking this year off from touring, Carlos Santana and Santana will embark a world tour next year. The Live Your Light Tour will start on February 15th in Dubai -- Santana's first-ever show there. No word yet on when the tour will hit North America.

Former Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle was tossed in jail last week after failing to register as a sex offender. In 1992 he was arrested for allegedly having sex with sisters under the age of nine, and in 1993 he pleaded guilty to charges against a child under 16. He was sentenced to eight years probation and designated as a sex offender. Authorities in Florida became aware of Pyle not registering when he renewed his driver's license last month. He had moved to Asheville, North Carolina more than five years ago without registering there, but told authorities he still lived in Florida. Pyle left Skynyrd in 1992, and was among the members of the band inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

John Fogerty will tape an episode of P-B-S's Soundstage on Thursday in Chicago. He's offering tickets to the show through his website. Fogerty will be on the road through December 7th in Texas as he promotes his new album, Revival. He plays Minneapolis tonight.

Those 10-foot Gibson guitars that were on display in London last summer went on the auction block last week in the U-K capital, and they brought in big bucks for the Prince's Trust, Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy and Teenage Cancer Trust. The guitar signed by Paul McCartney was the biggest seller at 124-thousand dollars. Macca was pleased with the results, saying, "I'm really amazed and very happy that the guitar went for so much and for such a great cause." Number-two was the guitar signed by Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, which sold for 22-thousand dollars, followed by Roger Waters' Wall-themed guitar for 21-thousand. Other guitars were signed by Robert Plant, Brian May, Ozzy Osbourne, Rod Stewart, Mark Knopfler and Slash.

INXS have commemorated the 10th anniversary of the death of singer Michael Hutchence on their website. Drummer John Farris writes, "Michael will always be remembered as a young, vibrant, gifted and passionate person." The band's new singer, J-D Fortune, says, "I feel proud that INXS can continue to play the music he helped create." Hutchence died from suffocation caused by hanging on November 22nd, 1997 in Sydney, Australia. He was 37.

Led Zeppelin's camp isn't exactly trying to douse rumors that the band will tour next year with The Cult as the opening act. During a show last week in Cincinnati, The Cult's Ian Astbury said, "We'll be back next year because we're opening for a band you may have heard of -- the name starts with an 'L' and has a 'Z' in it." A fan then yelled out "Led Zeppelin" and Astbury nodded his approval while pumping his arm in the air. A spokesperson for the Cult was unavailable for comment, but Zeppelin's rep tells us, "No decision to tour has been made, and the band is focusing on the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute at the O-2 Arena in London on December 10th." Led Zeppelin's new compilation, Mothership, sold 136-thousand copies its first week in stores to land at number-seven on the Billboard Top 200.

Best Buy and Target are selling "exclusive editions" of Eric Clapton's new Crossroads D-V-D. The Best Buy version comes with two previously unreleased tracks -- "Got to Get Better in a Little While" and "Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad." And the Target version has "Cowboy Up" by Vince Gill, and "Tear It Up" performed by Albert Lee and Gill.

NEW IN STORES TODAY FOR YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING ENJOYMENT:

Bratz DVD, the live-action flick aimed at preteen girls obsessed with fashion and colored hair.

Rowan Atkinson's Mr. Bean's Holiday DVD

Waitress DVD with Keri Russell as some woman who bakes pies and gets a divorce. No idea.

Boston Red Sox World Series 2007 Champs DVD

Futurama - Bender's Big Score DVD

Happy Days - The Third Season DVD

The O.C. - The Complete Series Collection DVD

...and nothing of importance at all on CD...