Joystiq.com has reasons to believe that Activision is planning a Guitar Hero: Van Halen. I’m not a big enough Van Halen fan to want to run out and buy it the first day it comes out, but I could bet that it would be a fun game. Guitar Hero: Metallica was released yesterday and I have yet to play it. Might save that for my son’s birthday coming up.

Joystiq has been informed that Activision’s next artist-oriented Guitar Hero release will be based around Van Halen. According to Joystiq’s source, the game is set to arrive sometime after Guitar Hero: Metallica and will include several songs hailin’ from the Californian rock band’s catalogue, including “Jump,” “Panama” and “Hot for Teacher.” You can also expect a smattering of songs from other bands, like Judas Priest’s “Pain Killer,” Tenacious D’s “Master Exploder” and Weezer’s “Dope Nose.”

Read more on this story at Joystiq.com. This was also rumored early last month.

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The battle to save late guitar legend, Jimi Hendrix childhood home in Seattle, Washington has been lost. The house went up for auction in August of 2001 and was sold for over $44,000, but due to the terrorist attacks on September 11th, the buyer backed out. The house was bought and moved from it’s original foundation site where condominiums were going to be built. The purchaser, Pete Sikov, a real estate investor had all intentions on making it a landmark on a trailer park that he purchased in Renton, Washington. The trailer park was in need of a huge renovation and he planned on using the Hendrix house as a centerpiece. The trailer park was incidentally across the street from Greenwood Memorial Park Cemetery, where Jimi Hendrix is buried.

Read More - Childhood Home Of Jimi Hendrix Demolished

EMI and Virgin records have collaborated to release a 20th anniversary special expanded version of Lenny Kravitz debut album Let Love Rule to be released on April 21st. The 20th anniversary edition will include 18 bonus track with 13 of them being previously unreleased demos, live recordings and some rare b-sides. Let Love Rule was originally released in 1989. Track listing after the fold.

Read More - Lenny Kravitz Let Love Rule 20th Anniversary Edition

Paul Stanley says the new KISS album may be released as soon as September. This is actually one of those instances where I’m not going to talk trash and just deliver the news. Bravewords.com reports that Paul Stanley was recently interviewed by a Brazilian called O Dia online, where the KISS singer and guitarist said that the new album will come out in September.

“It’s amazing, it will be the following of Destroyer and Love Gun, a classic KISS album. It will be out in September.”

Or as google translates it:

How is the new album? (Leonardo Castro, Rio de Janeiro)

Paul Stanley: You are incredible, near ‘Love Gun’ (1977) and ‘Destroyer’ (76), sounds like the traditional melodies. Only has the band’s music. To leave in September.

I love Google translator because it’s never quite right. Still, it gives you the general idea.

Comparing it to those albums actually makes me more interested than I previously was.

Image: Newscom

Madina Lake, who’s album Attics To Eden will be released on April 28th premiered their new video “Never Take Us Alive” video on Myspace Tuesday. The video was Shane Drake who has also directed videos for bands like Fall Out Boy, Paramore and others. Attics To Edia is Madina’s second record on Roadrunner records and is the follow up to 2007’s From Them, Through Us, To You.

Crosby Stills & Nash make you appreciate great musicianship and have been around, well, forever. Over 40 years to be exact. I was introduced to the band by accident when I found a cassette tape of their 1977 album CSN. I liked the sound but I really didn’t like the album that much. A few months later I received a gift from my uncle for Christmas. It was 1970’s Deja Vu. Deja Vu is a classic album with the legendary Neil Young and every song is amazing on this album. I still have the cd after almost 20 years, though I’m not sure how playable it is after years of abuse.

Crosby, Still & Nash will be releasing a new compilation album of Demos from early recordings on Rhino Records. This will be a single disc with demos of destined classics from the band. Look for Crosby, Stills & Nash Demos on June 2nd.

Read More - Crosby, Stills & Nash Tour

Honestly I don’t know where they come up with some of the names for tours, but this one is quite obvious. The Offspring have announced their “Shit Is Fucked Up Tour” starting with confirmed dates for May through July. Their album Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace on Columbia Records has been quite the hit with three radio singles making circulation…and people call this punk? It’s no surprise really, as the album was produced by Bob Rock, who is known to take once kick ass bands or members and turn them in to a soft shell of their former selves. If you’re in to The Offspring, check out the widget, which is like a mock presidential address by Dexter Holland. Tour dates after the fold.

Read More - The Offspring Announce "Sh*t Is F**ked Up Tour"

Every Business is suffering through this economic meltdown and Gibson Guitars is no exception. Now, I totally understand that Gibson makes some of the best guitars in the world, but perhaps if they made them a little more affordable for most people they wouldn’t have to cut their work force in order to continue to be profitable. Of course they have Epiphone, which are much more affordable, but still. Either way, the company was bound to have to make some cuts regardless. It doesn’t see like anyone is safe right now.

Henry Juszkiewicz, CEO of Gibson Guitar Inc. stated, ”We regret that the company had to reduce our work force to meet the economic challenges faced by our industry.  We believe our streamlined team of talented people will continue to serve our valuable customers in an increasingly excellent fashion.  We expect to continue to build the finest instruments in the world and lead the industry in quality and innovation.”

To read more visit Gibson.com.

Image: Guitarcenter.com

Jane’s Addiction is giving away two free songs produced by NIN Trent Reznor. The two tracks are studio recordings of the songs “Chip Away” and “Whores” that were originally released as live tracks on their self titled live album from 1987.

Billboard.com reports:

“Just to get some creative juice flowing- we went into the studio for about two weeks,” Perry Farrell tells Billboard.com. “We had the idea to re-record two tunes, just because they’d never been done officially in the studio. And we had some fun writing some new things. A handful that are close to finished, but not quite done. But there’s no rush to put anything out at this point.”

You can download the tracks from Ninja2009.com but don’t expect a new album from the band right away. Read the entire story at Billboard.com.

Image: Newscom

Here is the new Official video from AC/DC entitled Anything Goes from the Black Ice album. The video was filmed by David Mallet and was shot in France on February 27th.

AC/DC are still on a world tour with Irish rockers The Answer in support.