Elton John & Leon Russell's The Union debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.  Rod Stewart's Fly Me To The Moon... The Great American Songbook Vol. V debuted at #4.  Santana's Guitar Heaven dropped 12 spots to #31.  Eric Clapton's Clapton fell 8 places to #38.

Zac Brown Band's "As She's Walking Away" featuring Alan Jackson climbed 7 places to #39 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

Cliff Richard's Bold As Brass dropped 8 spots to #11 on the U.K. Albums chart.  Ali Campbell's Great British Songs debuted at #15.  Phil Collins' Going Back fell 10 places to #20.  Chris de Burgh's Moonfleet & Other Stories debuted at #25.  John Lennon's Power To The People: The Hits dropped 8 spots to #30.  Robert Plant's Band Of Joy fell 13 places to #32.  Michael Jackson's Number Ones re-entered the chart at #33.

Call it unusual marketing or just confusing but the Beastie Boys have announced that the songs from their delayed album, Hot Sauce Committee Part 1, will now be on Hot Sauce Committee Part 2 due out in the spring.  The originally planned tracks for Part 2 will be bumped to a later release... as the Part 1 album has been.  If anything, something's coming out so... be happy.

Janet Jackson has a new book on the way entitled True You.  Jackson recently revealed that she developed body image issues back when she was 11 and filming the television show Good Times and producers thought her chest had developed too much -- so they had to bind her breasts for filming.

Nitzer Ebb have announced that their first new studio album in 15 years, Industrial Complex, will be released in North America on Nov. 9th.

Ok, Van Halen fans, I haven't mentioned a lot of interesting things that have surfaced about the band lately.  Well, there was a reason.  Most of the items were about early rare tracks that didn't pertain to the decade.  Well, it's time to send you on your own journey into Van Halen by visiting ChrisGossett.com.  It isn't just a song or two.  It's a ton of rare and unreleased material by the band that you can go crazy over.  Things like outtakes from The Wild Life soundtrack back in 1984 or a 1982 live recording of "Lucille."  I can't say anymore... just go already.

Aaron Neville plans to release his new album, I Know I've Been Changed, on Nov. 9th via Tell It Records and EMI Gospel.  The 12-song collection pays homage to many gospel legends that have influence him during his career.

It seems there are just tons of R.E.M. side-projects and it looks like Peter Buck and Scott McCaughey are continuing their The Baseball Project with Dream Syndicate's Steve Wynn and Linda Pitmon.  Their sophomore effort, Vol. 2: High And Inside, is due out in February via Yep Roc.

A premium edition of the Scorpions latest album, Sting In The Tail, will be released on Nov. 2nd via Sony.  The album is bolstered by a bonus DVD some live performances in San Antonio and Prague.

German industrial act Die Krupps will release their new single, "Beyond," on Nov. 11th.  The song comes from, Als Wären Wir Für Immer, their first album of new material since 1997, due out around the same time.

Congratulations go out to Celine Dion and husband Rene Angelil who welcomed fraternal twin sons on Saturday.  The couple have named them Eddy and Nelson -- after late songwriter Eddy Marnay and Nelson Mandela.

Abdul "Duke" Fakir, the lone surviving original member of the Four Tops, has been sued by Tobi Walker and Ebony Benson, daughters of the late Renaldo "Obie" Benson, for failing to collect all money that is owed to Four Tops LLC.  The plaintiffs are asking for at least $25,000 and a closure of the business (and removal of Fakir as operating manager.)

Roger Hodgson will release his first album in a decade in November via Classics Live.  The new set collects performances of some of his best loved songs from different venues around the world in arrangements from a full orchestra to acoustic.

Madonna has announced that she has partnered with her manager, Guy Oseary, and New Evolution Ventures to start a worldwide chain of gyms called Hard Candy Fitness.  The first location opens in Mexico City on Nov. 29th.

A 3-disc edition of Holly Johnson's 1989 solo album, Blast, will be released in the U.K. on Nov. 22nd.  The original album and a CD of remixes, rarities and B-sides will make up a second CD.  The third disc will be a DVD of promo videos.

Taxxi have been working on their first new studio album since 1985's Expose with hopes to release it in February.

Jeff Beck's exclusive concert at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles on Apr. 22nd, will be released digitally in audio and video formats at iTunes on Oct. 26th under the title, Live And Exclusive From The Grammy Museum.

Former Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler will see his mother Deanna Adler (with Lawrence J. Spagnola) publish a book, Sweet Child Of Mine: A Memoir Of Steven Adler, on June 21st.

According to Forbes.com, Michael Jackson was the top-earning dead celebrity raking in $275 million from October of 2009 until October 2010.   Expect more money to be added as GK Films is reportedly in negotiations to acquire rights to a film based on Michael Jackson's hit song "Thriller."  Meanwhile, Jackson's father Joe saw his court challenge to the administration of his son's estate unanimously rejected by a three-justice panel of the California Second District Court of Appeal.

The Flaming Lips plan to make an appearance on the Nov. 5th episode Nickelodeon children's show Yo Gabba Gabba and sing a song called "I Can Be A Frog" (penned by the show's creative team.)

A U.K. beer ad for Kronenbourg 1664 has debuted with the theme "Slow the pace."  So, Motorhead has.  They've recorded a new blues version of their classic, "Ace Of Spades," for the commercial and have made it available as a free download by signing up here.

Do you remember all that mess with the TVT record label and it going through an asset auction in a New York bankruptcy court in 2008?  Well, one thing that Trent Reznor had been begging for is a chance to remaster the 1989 Nine Inch Nails debut, Pretty Hate Machine.  Well, it seems that the rights to the album finally got into the right hands because he and engineer Tom Baker have finished work on the album.  The remastered Pretty Hate Machine -- bolstered with the Queen cover B-side "Get Down, Make Love" -- heads to stores on Nov. 22nd.

Australian and New Zealand Metallica fans have something more than that Six Feet Down Under EP they released last month.  You see... perceptive fans saw it was labeled EP One on the package.  EP Two is in the works (to be titled Six Feet Down Under II) on Nov. 12th via MetClub.com and Metallica.com.

The Outdoor Channel announced on Monday that they have entered into an exclusive multi-year endorsement agreement with Ted Nugent.  The deal will span all media, including broadcast and web, and is set to start in January.  The guitarist and lifelong outdoorsman will provide fresh content for OutdoorChannel.com and serve as the new host of the network's Tuesday night primetime programming block.

The Pixies plan to start selling live recordings via their PixiesMusic.com site for $3.99 as they continue to add new shows weekly.

Slash's new video for the single, "Beautiful Dangerous," featuring Fergie off his self-titled solo album is now up at YouTube.  Expect to have to search for it as they become aware this version is a bit more... adult.

Triumph's back catalogue (which includes 1980's Progressions Of Power, 1981's Allied Forces, 1983's Never Surrender, 1984's Thunder Seven, 1985's live album Stages, 1986's The Sport Of Kings and 1987's Surveilance) has been remastered and will be reissued via Frontiers Records on Dec. 3rd.  A limited-edition box set called Diamond Collection will collect all 10 of their albums.

Slayer fans will want to stake out their local indie stores on "Black Friday" (Nov. 26th) as, "Atrocity Vendor," a song recorded during their 2009 World Painted Blood sessions will be released exclusively as a limited-edition 7" single through Metal Club in North America.

According to a recent interview with Talking Metal, David "Rock" Feinstein asserted that a second newly recorded song with his late cousin Ronnie James Dio prior to his death will be included on a reunion album by the Rods (which both Dio and Feinstein were members) due out via Niji Entertainment next year.  The other song appeared on Feinstein's new solo album, Bitten By The Beast.  Meanwhile, Dio's wife Wendy Dio has donated $100,000 in her late husband's name to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

A video for Jackyl's new single, "Just Like A Negro," featuring DMC of Run DMC has surfaced on YouTube.  The song is a cover of the 1992 Mother's Finest song off their album, Black Radio Won't Play This Record.   

Duff McKagan's Loaded have signed a new record deal with Eagle Rock Entertainment for the release of their next studio album due out in March.

A new book, An Oral/Visual History By The Red Hot Chili Peppers With Brendan Mullen, has been released.  The book takes a look back at their 30 year journey in their own words and uses over 300 photos and ephemera.

Night Ranger's Brad Gillis and Testament's Eric Peterson make guest appearances on Vicious Rumors' new studio album, Razorback Killer, due out in March.

It seems that Steven Spielberg has been in talks with the surviving Bee Gees about a possible film about the group that would include original recordings by them.

Manowar are re-recording their 1982 debut album, Battle Hymns, for release next year.  According to them, with all the new technology available now, they are going to make it as loud as they can.

Kiss' Gene Simmons was hospitalized Sunday after passing out at the Los Angeles International airport.  He was later told it was due to dehydration and was stitched up and sent home.

Vinnie Appice and former Pantera bassist Rex Brown have formed a new band tentatively called Kill Devil Hill that will surface sometime next year.

The Cult release their next 'capsule' entitled New Blood Deep Cuts on Nov. 16th which will feature the new songs "Embers" and "Until The Light Takes Us" as well as live recordings.  It can be purchased in digital, vinyl, CD, USB and DVD formats at CultCapsuleStore.com.

Motorhead release their new studio album, The World Is Yours, on Dec. 13th via their newly formed Motorhead Music label.

Where Angels Suffer will release their debut album, Purgatory, on Halloween.  The band is composed of former members of W.A.S.P. and Metal Church.

Eagle Rock have announced that Phil Collins' Going Home: Live At Roseland Ballroom, NYC will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on Nov. 2nd.

Devo guitarist Bob Mothersbaugh was injured by a shard of glass which severed a tendon in his right thumb.  He had emergency surgery and is expected to fully recover but it has forced a postponement of their tour dates this year.

The Foo Fighters have been working on their new studio album.  The 14-track release will be a little heavier and mark a mini-Nirvana reunion as former bandmate bassist Krist Novoselic will guest on the album which will be produced by Butch Vig (who worked on the Nevermind album.)

During a recent interview with Rich Rogenmoser from Heard It On The X, drummer Jason Bonham revealed that his band Black Country Communion will head into the studio in January to record a sophomore album.

Ratt frontman Stephen Pearcy recently told Philadelphia radio station 94 WYSP, "I think we're gonna be on a hiatus for awhile and everybody'll do their own thing and we'll take it from there."  He also confirmed that he's been working on a book.

Frontiers Records have announced that they will release Jeff Scott Soto's new double live album, Live At Firefest 2008, on Dec. 3rd.

The official video has been released for OMD's next single, "Sister Marie Says," off their new studio album, History Of Modern.  The single will be released on Nov. 15th.

Singer-songwriter Linda Hargrove, 61, died on Oct. 24th at Big Ben Hospice House in Tallahassee, Florida from complications from a bone marrow transplant she underwent 20 years ago.  Hargrove was releasing albums and singles on the country charts during the early 70s and wrote many hits for other artists.  By the 1980s, she had married (taking on the name Linda Bartholomew) and underwent a religious conversion -- recording gospel albums in 1981 and 1989.  She was diagnosed with leukemia in 1986, would perform select shows during the early 1990s and release her final album, One Woman's Life, in 2005.

Reggae artist and producer Gregory Isaacs, 59, lost his long battle with lung cancer on Oct. 25th at his south London home.  Isaacs has released over 500 albums during his career (many of those are compilations) which began in 1968.  He would release his biggest hit, "Night Nurse," in 1982 on an album of the same name.  Although the song didn't chart, it was very popular in the clubs and on the radio pushing the album to #32 in the U.K.  (Simply Red would cover the song in 1997.)  In 2008, Isaacs released the new studio album, Brand New Me, which earned many positive reviews.

Heading to stores next week:  Huey Lewis And The News - Soulsville, Black Dub - Black Dub, Brian Eno - Small Craft On A Milk Sea, The Fall - The Wonderful And Frightening World Of The Fall, k.d. lang - A Truly Western Experience -- 25th Anniversary Edition, Metallica/Slayer/Megadeth/Anthrax - The Big 4: Live From Sofia Bulgaria and various artists - The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Concerts Night