Frontman Axl Rose composes a surprisingly cogent — though, nevertheless, staggeringly wrongheaded — letter declining to participate in Guns n’ Roses’ upcoming 2012 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Our Fred Phillips responds

Ben Gibbard and Death Cab for Cutie are trying something different for a 2012 tour that kicked off Tuesday in Colorado, performing with the eight members of the Magik*Magik Orchestra — six violins and two cellos.

Greg Lake is at work on his first solo project since 1983′s Manoeuvres, with plans to set a release date of either later in 2012 or early next year. Beyond that, though, the founding member of King Crimson and Emerson Lake and Palmer is offering precious few details.

Rush fans are gearing up for an exciting 2012, with an official release date finally surfacing for the latest album, Clockwork Angels (that’s No. 20 if you include the Feedback EP) – mark your calendars: June 12.

At Key Arena, Seattle, Washington: Besides their well-known status as perennial critics darlings, Radiohead have enjoyed a well-earned reputation through the years as one of the best live bands on the planet.

Amanda Ruzzo is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and English. She’s also extremely fluent in bass guitar.

Garbed in fancy white threads and flowing locks, Angel did indeed strike a celestial pose. The band’s sound further carried a magical quality as their elaborately engraved songs roared and soared with pulsating power

Everybody remembers “Don’t Fear The Reaper” — Blue Öyster Cult’s No. 12 hit from 1976 — and I admit, I’ve always been a fan of the song’s false ending

The one-man band deal is pretty hard to pull off. I’ve heard quite a few that end up coming off as pretty corny. Biram, though, has the skills