Def Leppard has set 2010 aside for some much needed rest and relaxation after non-stop touring for nearly a decade, but fans will be glad to hear that the wheels for 2011 activity are already turning. In a recent interview with Billboard.com, Joe Elliot revealed that the band is at work on their first true live album – ever.

“There’ll be stuff from this century on it — “Rock On“, “Nine Lives“, “C’mon C’mon“,” Elliott notes. “Vivian [Campbell] has been in the band 17 years, so I think he deserves a shot at being on a live record.”

New material may be in the mix as well. “We’ve got tentative plans to do a four- or five-track EP of new songs as part of it,” Elliott adds.

A tour of stadiums and arenas is likely in the works for next year as well. Who do you think Def Leppard will tour with?

Legendary rock icon Paul Rodgers has announced that during his concert tours this year, both Solo and Bad Company, he will be donating rare personal stage items, autographed memorabilia and collectables for a nightly draw. All of the proceeds will be given to the Fender Centers ‘Kids Rock Free’ national music education initiative in efforts to raise money and awareness. Plus Rodgers and his wife, Cynthia, will match all monies raised.

“Without music in schools curriculum there is a void for young people to express, explore and experience music.  We are on a mission to set up this music program across the U.S.  If not for music in my life as a young person who knows where I would have focused my energy,” said Rodgers.

The Kids Rock Free campaign provides free and low-cost music lessons to students age 7-17 and has serviced over 12,000 kids. Rodgers has dedicated himself to the program since 2003, donating his time, talent and finances. In an effort to expand the program nationwide and to help kids across the United States experience music at a very low cost or for free, the push is on to raise additional funding to make that experience a reality.

Those who wish to participate may simply visit the merchandise booth during any concert date and purchase a $5 fundraising ticket. Two random drawings will be held each night, and the winner(s) will take home one (or two) items. Monthly drawings are also being held online on Rodgers’ website, PaulRodgers.com. Rodgers and his wife, Cynthia, will match all donations made during the fund-raising drive.

Additionally, supporters of Kids Rock Free “text-to-donate” can make a $10 donation directly from their mobile phones by texting “ROCK” to 50555. A one-time $10 donation will be added to mobile bills; messaging and data rates may apply. Terms, help and other details can be found online atwww.mgive.com/a.

Rodgers, celebrating over four decades as a writing and charting recording artist (Free, Bad Company, The Firm, Queen + Paul Rodgers, Solo), was recently presented with the “Classic Songwriter” award by Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck at the annual Classic Rock Magazine Roll of Honour 2009. Rolling Stone recently named Rodgers one of the “Top 100 Singers of All Time,” Classic Rock UK placed him at #2 on their “50 Greatest Singers in Rock” list.  His debut solo DVD “Live in Glasgow” is certified Gold and charted at #1 in Canada, #2 in Japan, #3 in the US and #4 in the UK .  Recently released in the U.K. “The Best of Free and Bad Company, featuring Paul Rodgers” hit the charts in the top 10 and is also certified gold.

Paul Rodgers and Bad Company tour dates below:

DATE               VENUE                                                                  CITY/STATE
July 16              Fantasy Springs Casino                                   Indio, CA
July 17              Orange County Fair                                          Costa Mesa, CA
July 22              The Lakeland Center Jenkins Arena              Lakeland, FL
July 23              St. Augustine Amphitheatre                             St. Augustine, FL
July 25              Chastain Park Amphitheatre                            Atlanta, GA
July 27              Bank of America Pavilion                                 Boston, MA
July 30              Choctaw Resort Casino Event Center            Durant, OK
August 1           Outlaw Jam/Frederick Co. Fairgrounds         Frederick, MD
August 4           Casino Rama Entertainment Center               Rama, Ontario
August 14         Dog’s Nest At Grand Bend                              Grand Bend, Ontario
October 4         Potawatomi Casino                                           Milwaukee, WI
October 5         Potawatomi Casino                                           Milwaukee, WI
October 7         The Joint/Hard Rock Hotel & Casino              Catoosa, OK (Tulsa)
October 9         Little Creek Casino Resort                              Shelton, WA *
* denotes Paul Rodgers solo date

ABOUT KIDS ROCK FREE®:
More than 12,000 children have experienced the joy of creating music through the Kids Rock Free music education program. The lessons are provide to any and all kids at no or low cost. Guitar, keyboard, drums and voice are currently offered. More than 800 kids are wait-listed to participate in the KRF program. The classes are taught by experienced teachers from the area. More donations are needed to increase the number of sessions offered, expand the variety and depth of classes and complete the build-out the much needed rooms within the center to accommodate the constant and ever-growing demand for the Kids Rock Free Program.

For more information, please visit: www.paulrodgers.com

ABOUT THE FENDER CENTER/MUSEUM:
The Fender Center for Music Education is a non-profit center dedicated to the music education of children. The 33,000-square-foot building is located at 365 N. Main Street, in Corona, Calif. Run by the Fender Museum of Music and the Arts Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 corporation, the board is made up of civic leaders, elected officials, and business leaders from the Riverside County and Orange Country regions. The main focus of the Center is to provide music education to children at a no or low cost. Music education has been drastically reduced due to money constraints in the public education system. The Fender Center endeavors to bridge that gap by providing an innovative and caring environment for children to explore the world of music performance. Numerous studies have shown that children, who incorporate music into their education, perform better in math and science by a staggering 30 percent. Additionally, children attain a higher degree of personal confidence and a greater sense of accomplish compared to non-music students.

The Fender Center conducts events throughout the year to bring musical experiences to the general public and raise funds to continue the important work of music education. Contained within the Center, the FM Studio, professionally equipped and staffed, records the kids’ performances. FM Studio is available for commercial use and audio recording. Additional information can be obtained at www.fendermuseum.com.

As they prepare to release their thirteenth studio album, World Gone Crazy, on the eve of the 40th anniversary of their first album release, the Doobie Brothers have signed with HOR Entertainment, a full-service imprint and entertainment services company led by a team of deeply experienced music industry professionals.

The Doobies are a quintessentially American rock-n-roll band who have combined elements of rock, blues, soul, country, jazz and more into one of the most appealing blends of popular music of the last half-century.

Their indelible contributions to the American songbook – from “Listen To The Music” and “China Grove” to “Black Water” and “Long Train Runnin’” – remain as beloved and relevant as ever. But Pat Simmons, Tom Johnston, John McFee and Mike Hossack are far from resting on those considerable laurels.

And if ever a company came close to matching the skill, craft, heart and passion of the Doobie Brothers, it’s HOR Entertainment. Launched in October of last year, HOR brings a record division, publishing, film & television and merchandise under one roof. The executive team is loaded with experienced industry veterans poised to bring a fresh approach to the ever-changing music business.

“I am very happy to see the band sign to HOR,” says the Doobie Brothers’ manager Bruce Cohn. “I think it’s a great opportunity for HOR to work with a heritage band and for the Doobies to have the focus of the entire company for their release…a win/win situation for all concerned!”

CEO/Head of A&R Larry Lee understands the business as few can, having been an artist, writer, producer and executive. His credits include Mr. Big, Meatloaf, Roger Daltry and more. President/Head of A&R Curt Cuomo is a Grammy-nominated writer and producer who has worked with KISS, Eddie Money, Edgar Winter, Slash and Clint Black, among others.

“After a decade the Doobie Brothers have made, what I consider to be a career album, with their longtime legendary producer Ted Templeman. I am thrilled that HOR Records will be releasing the Doobie Brothers’ World Gone Crazy and we look forward to being a part of the band’s next chapter in music history,” said Lee.

Other executives include: Business & Legal Affairs/A&R Scott Bradford (Panic! At The Disco, The Shins, Plain White T’s), VP/New Media Hab Haddad (KISS, Ted Nugent, Night Ranger, Hootie & The Blowfish) and VP/Marketing & Promotions Bob Divney (Green Day, Faith No More, Audioslave, Depeche Mode).

World Gone Crazy will be released Sept. 28 on HOR Records.

Pete Townsend and Roger Daltrey are bringing back The Who next year for a world tour, on which the band will perform songs from 1973′s Quadrophenia album. After bringing their spectacle of hits to this year’s Super Bowl, the two have decided to take the show out on the road once again.

Roger Daltrey told Billboard.com: “We definitely don’t want to stop. We feel it’s the role of the artist to go all the way through life ’til you can’t do it anymore.”

Brief tours have taken place in recent years, but the group’s last major tour was all the way back in 2007. Plans are far from being complete for next year’s run, but Daltrey says things are progressing. “We’re just working out what to do next,” he told Billboard.com. “We’ve got ideas, we’re looking on probably being out there, hopefully if all goes well, in the spring of next year.”

The Doobie Brothers are stepping forward with their first new album in a decade, with famed producer Ted Templeman at the helm. Templeman worked on the very first efforts from the group nearly 40 years ago, and a reunion of sorts has taken place for the release of “World Gone Crazy” on September 28.

Singer-guitarist Tom Johnston told Billboard.com that the group and Templeman, who produced the group’s first 10 albums, including “Toulouse Street” and “Takin’ It to the Streets“, have been working on the disc for the past three years “off and on, between touring and everything.”

Its first single, a re-recorded version of 1971′s “Nobody”, is now available for streaming at the band’s official website. The Brothers will play live this year at the 70th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally on the Legendary Buffalo Chip stage – Melodic Rock Concerts will once again be presenting coverage of this unique event.

Robert Plant is back with his first album since 2007’s six time Grammy Award winning “Raising Sand”. Picking up where the critically acclaimed roots rock of “Raising Sand” – which sold 700,000 in the UK and 3 million worldwide, scooping the Grammy for Album of the Year – left off, “Band of Joy” was recorded in Nashville with a stellar cast of musicians.

A timeless plunge into authentic Americana, the album was co-produced by Plant and Nashville legend and guitarist Buddy Miller. “Buddy’s integral to this album, you can hear his taste all over the instrumentation,” enthuses Plant. “Buddy’s zone is beautiful, with a lot of reflections going back into mid-Fifties rockabilly, the singing fishermen and all the great country stuff, along with the soul and R&B from Memphis.”

As well as Miller, the Band of Joy is made up of multi-instrumentalist Darrell Scott, who provides the mandolin, guitar, accordian, pedal, lap steel and banjo lines, country singer-songwriter Patty Griffin who adds the main vocal foils to Plant’s lead parts, while Byron House plays bass and percussion comes from Marco Giovino.

“Band of Joy” features intriguing new interpretations of songs from a wide range of sources. Opening with a throbbing rendition of Los Lobos’s ‘Angel Dance’, the album encompasses the glittering drone-rock of Low’s ‘Silver Rider’ and ‘Monkey’, the Fifties-style country-gospel harmonies which transform The Kelly Brothers’ Sixties soul classic ‘Falling In Love Again’, the desolate banjo-driven interpretation of ‘Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down’, the transplanted English/Appalachian folk ballad ‘Cindy, I’ll Marry You Some Day’, and jangling blues imagery of ‘Central Two-0-Nine’.

Robert Plant’s most eclectic work so far, in a career that has constantly embraced the unexpected, it’s an album which takes in continents of influence and oceans of emotional depth, taking the explorations of “Raising Sand” into bold new territory.

Band of Joy will be released on September 13th. Plant and Band of Joy will hit the road this summer starting July 13th in Memphis Tennessee. Check out the dates and the album’s track list:

Band of Joy Track Listing:
“Angel Dance”
“House of Cards”
“Central Two-O-Nine”
“Silver Rider”
“You Can’t Buy My Love”
“I’m Falling In Love Again”
“The Only Sound That Matters”
“Monkey”
“Cindy I’ll Marry You Someday”
“Harm’s Swift Way”
“Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down”
“Even This Shall Pass Away”

Robert Plant and the Band of Joy Tour Dates:

July 13 – Memphis, TN – The Orpheum Theater
July 15 – Little Rock, AR – Robinson Center Music Hall
July 16 – Tulsa, OK – Brady Theater
July 18 – Albuquerque, NM – Sandia Casino Amphitheater
July 20 – Phoenix, AZ – Dodge Theater
July 21 – Tucson, AZ – Anselmo Valencia Amphitheater
July 23 – Dallas, TX – Meyerson Symphony Hall
July 24 – Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
July 26 – Austin, TX – Stubbs Waller Creek Amphitheater
July 28 – Mobile, AL – The Saenger Theatre
July 30 – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall
July 31 – Miami, FL – Bayfront Park Amphitheater

New UK Tour Dates:

Sep 2 – London HMV Forum
Oct 26 – Cardiff St. David’s Hall
Oct 27 – Birmingham Symphony Hall
Oct 31 – Manchester Palace Theatre

WALKER, MINNESOTA – For the first time in its 19 year history, the Moondance Jam rock festival will be broadcast on television. America’s premier television provider, DIRECTV, will air this year’s festival exclusively on The 101 Network. The production company Blaze TV will be filming during the festival on July 15 – 17, and will then produce 10 one-hour shows featuring artists Sammy Hagar, REO Speedwagon, Buckcherry, Jonny Lang, Hoobastank, Collective Soul, Black Stone Cherry and Pat Travers.

Additional artists may also be added from the three-day, 15 band main stage roster. The programs will air as part of the DIRECTV Concert Series and begin airing on The 101 Network late this summer.

“Blaze will have a crew of over 50 creative and technical personnel to record the programs at Moondance Jam using a total of 12 cameras and are employing as much local labor as they can including some camera crew from Minneapolis. The programs will be recorded in High Definition and the audio will be recorded in Surround sound. It is a million dollar production. In addition to the cameras and sound, Blaze will be bringing in $100,000 worth of additional lighting to boost the production value of the shows,” said Blaze TV founder, producer and director, Conor McAnally.

Moondance Jam owners, Bill and Kathy Bieloh, are ecstatic to be able to have their festival filmed and produced by a production company whose philosophy is to shoot from the fan’s perspective. “Not only are we excited that our festival will be shown on DIRECTV, but it will be produced by a company that shares our philosophy that it is about the fans. Kathy and I started Moondance Jam in 1992 as party for friends and family and now it has grown into Minnesota’s largest rock festival bringing in over 50,000 friends and family through the gates over three days,” says Bill Bieloh.

“Over the years we have always done everything we could to keep Moondance Jam a fan friendly rock festival. We still
maintain open festival seating for general admission ticket holders so they can get up close to the stage. We also added a restaurant and bar that overlooks the backstage area a few years ago that is open to all fans. Our fans need to have that full concert experience for the amazing artists that put on such great shows every year. So to have Blaze TV come in and recreate that experience for fans that have never been to Moondance is a dream come true for us.”

Call the Moondance Hotline at 877-MOONJAM or go to www.moondancejam.com for more information including schedules, tickets, camping and more.

One of the most influential singer-songwriters of the last four decades, Bob Dylan, will take the stage at the Legendary Buffalo Chip Campground on Tuesday, Aug. 10 during the 70th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Rod Woodruff, campground owner, said Bob Dylan’s performance on the Buffalo Chip stage will be an historic one. He said it has always been the goal of the Buffalo Chip to give its campers fond memories that will last a lifetime and that Dylan’s 2010 will be one for the books and a memory worth pursuing.

More than 2,750 artists have covered 350 of Dylan’s songs in more than 5,800 different recordings. His influence has reached artists from Sonny & Cher to the Dave Matthews Band and have covered topics from war protest to civil rights to ballads.

Dylan adds to what might just be the most explosive year for concerts in Buffalo Chip history. Ozzy Osbourne, ZZ Top, Motley Crue, Kid Rock, Scorpions, The Doobie Brothers, Disturbed, Orianthi, and Buckcherry are among the other acts scheduled to play from August 6 to 14.

Fan VIP packages and other tickets can be purchased at www.BuffaloChip.com.

The Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne, will appear for the first time at the Legendary Buffalo Chip on Thursday, August 12 during the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. It’s a somewhat exclusive tour stop for the metal legend, who is holding off on a full-fledged tour of America.

“To millions of people worldwide, Ozzy is THE legend. Hundreds of bands name him as their primary influence. And now thousands of bikers will have the opportunity to see him as nobody else ever has – at the Legendary Buffalo Chip,” reads the campground’s official press release.

“The word ‘icon’ is among the most overused words in music media,” said campground owner Rod Woodruff. “But Ozzy is truly a pioneer of heavy metal and no person I can think of deserves that moniker more than Ozzy.”

Osbourne’s signing completes a long list of entertainers set to take the stage during the 9-day rally. Motley Crue, Scorpions, Disturbed, Kid Rock, The Doobie Brothers, ZZ Top, Orianthi, Tesla, Buckcherry, Stone Sour, and even Pee-wee Herman will be featured.

After ripping it up for the bikers and rockers at Sturgis, Ozzy starts the 2010 Ozzfest in Devore, CA on August 14.

One of rock’s female royalty has gone public with her story. Pat Benatar released a brand new memoir this week, titled “Between a Heart and a Rock Place“. The book covers the complete narrative of a musician who broke trends and barriers with her success, paving the way for countless women to pursue their dreams in rock n’ roll.

Benatar sat down with TODAY’s Ann Curry to share the book. When asked how she maintained a family life while a rock superstar, the singer revealed that she’s one of the lucky ones. “I just think that it’s personality, that’s way that [husband Neil Giraldo] are, it’s the way that we met, and we were really working class kids so it stays with you the whole time. And I had the luxury of having my support with me all the time – we were together. So it wasn’t like being a female out on the road with all the pitfalls, I had my husband right with me.”

Breaking ground on MTV was also a topic of discussion. “We were the second video ever played on MTV, it was in August of 1981. They called us up about three months before with a new idea, but none of us had any idea where this was going. After that first week it played, we couldn’t go anywhere. It changed our world.”

Benatar is touring with REO Speedwagon as part of a smash summer tour billed as “Love on the Run“. Tour dates and VIP packages are available at www.Benatar.com.