Alan Rickman will always be Professor Severus Snape to us, but he's about to take on the guise of another, more modern legend. You might not have heard of Hilly Kristal, but surely you have heard of the club he started and owned until it closed in 2006, CBGB.

The legendary East Village institution kick started punk rock and became a second home to local artists like Patti Smith, Television, Suicide, the Ramones, and Blondie; later years gave rise to hardcore acts like Bad Brains and, yes, the Beastie Boys. Kristal had plans to take his club to Vegas but died in 2007.

Rickman's casting new...

Late rocker Johnny Ramone's autobiography is finally going on sale later this year - eight years after he died of prostate cancer.

The Ramones star, who is considered one of the most influential guitarists in rock, passed away in 2004 aged 55 after a five-year health battle. Ramone's widow Linda reveals the punk star began writing the memoir when he started to fall ill, and now the book, titled Commando: The Autobiography of Johnny Ramone, is complete.

She tells the Associated Press, "Johnny's legacy to him was so important, even while he was sick... It was like he knew he was dying, and...

Green Day have been crowned the kings of punk in a new Rolling Stone online poll.

The California trio beat out The Clash, The Ramones and the Sex Pistols to land atop the fans' countdown of the best punk acts ever.

The Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains, The Misfits and Black Flag also made the top 10.

The Clash

The Ramones

Sex Pistols

The Dead Kennedys

Bad Brains

The Misfits

Black Flag

Veteran entertainers Julie Andrews and Dolly Parton are set to be honored with lifetime achievement Grammy awards by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

The icons will be hailed for their contributions to music, alongside punk rockers The Ramones, The Julliard String Quartet, folk group The Kingston Trio, jazz drummer Roy Haynes and gospel star George Beverly Shea.

Neil Portnow, president of The Recording Academy, says, "It is a great honor to recognize and celebrate such a distinguished and dynamic group of honorees. Their legendary work has left a lasting impression a...

It is probably no secret that landing a spot on a North American tour opening for Metallica could help your career. Honestly, opening for one of the most revered metal bands in the world has to do something for you, right? Just ask Volbeat. This one time little known band from Copenhagen, Denmark procured that very slot, and, to say the very least, it is doing wonders for their career. Their latest offering, 'Guitar Gangsters and Cadillac Blood' is steadily picking up steam worldwide, and is garnering the band their fair share of airtime here in the states.

Volbeat has already gone plat...

Music producer Phil Spector has been found guilty of second-degree murder after a six month retrial in Los Angeles.

Jurors, who were handed the case on March 26, reached a verdict at Los Angeles Superior Court early on Monday, and ruled the mogul shot and killed actress Lana Clarkson in the foyer of his Alhambra, California mansion in February, 2003.

Spector and his defence team maintained depressed Clarkson shot herself.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors depicted the producer as a sadistic misogynist.

The 69 year old behind classic hits by Tina Turner, the Beatles and t...

Pinpointing the creative zenith of the Grateful Dead's career would be a challenge fit for even Sisyphus. That said, one could do a lot worse than looking to the fabled spring tour of 1977, long considered by Dead Heads as the very best. During a remarkable 26 shows in 37 days, the Dead played with unparalleled energy, wit, passion and power -- a band at the very top of its game. The tour ended on a euphoric note May 28 at the Hartford Civic Center in Connecticut, where the band previewed several tracks from its soon-to-be-released ninth studio album Terrapin Station.

Listening Par...

The music festival season is upon us! Line-ups, dates and venues are continuously being announced for this summer's crop of festivals. Here's the lowdown on some of the biggest American musical smorgasbords:

Warped Tour

Location: U.S. and Canada

Dates: June 26-August 23

Band Highlights: Less Than Jake, NOFX, Forever the Sickest Kids

Celebrating it's 15th anniversary, the Vans Warped Tour is set to begin and end it's journey in California, conquering other locations in the U.S. and Canada in between. In the past few years, the Warped Tour seems to have shied away from big-na...

The music video for My Chemical Romance's "Desolation Row" has finally made its North American debut. The song, a reinterpretation of the Bob Dylan classic, was recorded specifically for the upcoming feature film Watchmen. Watchmen: Music From the Motion Picture, which contains the song, is due from Warner Sunset/Reprise Records on March 3rd, three days before the film hits theaters nationwide.

The video, which was helmed by Watchmen director Zack Snyder, transports the viewer into the world of Watchmen in an alternate 1985. My Chemical Romance is performing at a dive bar, reigning as...

Rhino Entertainment and Sprint introduce Rock The Phone, a Website offering rockin' ringtones for every phone of legendary songs from some of rock 'n' roll's greatest bands, including The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, ZZ Top, Ramones, and more.

Not a subscription service, wireless consumers nationwide can visit www.rockthephone.com for access to over 100 classic rock ringtones for $2.99 each. For a limited time, the website will offer a free ringtone of The Doors' "Love Me Two Times," and Sprint customers will have exclusive access to eight ringtones until December 11.

In addit...

Every time I see the opening shots of 90210 show, I have to remind myself that I'm not watching The Hills. The show starts off with a new girl entering teacher Ryan's class, and luckily she's a bitch. With Naomi getting more and more human by the episode, it's nice to see a girl who's not trying to make friends with everyone. The new girl even hits on teacher Ryan. Since the two of them combined look older than the rest of the class, it makes perfect sense to me.

Elsewhere, Annie and Ethan get the school health project that provides you with one of those obnoxious fake babies that cry...

Rocker Rob Zombie is selling a "pinhead" mask from White Zombie's "Electric Head Pt. 2" video online. The singer-turned-movie-maker has placed the item on auction website eBay.com, with a starting bid of $500. The auction will close on Wednesday.

Disney Channel bosses are already developing a sequel to Camp Rock after the Jonas Brothers film became the U.S. network's second biggest debut on Friday night. Almost nine million viewers tuned in to see the TV film.

Pete Wentz has presented Lil Wayne with a Fender bass guitar to mark the rapper's recent album chart feat - Lil Wayne bec...

Former Ramones star Marky Ramone has launched a new safe sex kit campaign aimed at preventing sexually transmitted diseases.

The punk icon and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee has teamed up with Minnesota-based sex education company Ready Two Go to promote "healthy loving among sexually active youth and young adults."

He says, "The world has lost too many people to STDs of all types and that is why I joined up with Ready Two Go for my signature series of safer sex tins."

The Ready Two Go tins come with two Lifestyles condoms, lubricant and an STD resource card.

The tins...

Angry music fans protested outside New York's new John Varvatos store last week - because the clothing store had taken the place of punk mecca CBGB. The East Village live music venue closed its doors in 2006 after CBGB boss Hilly Kristal lost a lease battle with his landlords.

The space is now shared by rock art gallery Morrison Hotel and designer Varvatos' new clothing store.

But die-hard devotees of the club - famous for launching the careers of bands like the Ramones and Blondie - aren't happy with the choice of new tenants and stormed the velvet ropes at Varvatos' VH1 Save the...

Rocker Marky Ramone has launched his own safe sex kit as part of "National Condom Week." The former Ramones drummer has teamed up with Minneapolis, Minnesota-based sex education company Ready Two Go to promote healthy loving among sexually active youth and young adults.

Each sex kit contains two condoms, lubricant and a sexually transmitted diseases (STD) resource card, and comes in a metal tin with a Marky Ramone emblem printed on the front.

Ramone says, "The world has lost too many people to STDs of all types and that is why I joined up with Ready Two Go for my signature serie...

Brian May of Queen

"I have spent all my years in believing you, But I just can't get no relief, Lord!"

A Composer, a songwriter, an amazing guitarist and he's got the best hair on earth! What do the songs "Tie Your Mother Down," and "I Want It All" have in common? Brian May wrote them both. He made many artistic contributions to Queen and explored different styles of guitar playing. If you had to ask me 'what's my favorite band?" I would have to say Queen. The main reason being is that they span over a number of styles. There are songs you can totally rock out to, fun, care free song...

The personal assistant to Linda Stein killed the former Ramones manager by clubbing her to death with a yoga stick.

Stein, 62, was found bludgeoned to death in the kitchen of her New York apartment on October 31 and her employee, Natavia Lowery, was arrested last week on suspicion of the killing.

Lawery, 26, has now been charged with second degree murder after making "statements implicating herself," according to police spokesman Paul Browne.

Cops launched a homicide investigation after an autopsy revealed Stein had died from blunt force trauma to the head and neck. There wer...

Former Ramones manager Linda Stein's personal assistant is to be questioned by police investigating her murder. Stein, 62, was found dead in the kitchen of her New York apartment on Tuesday night.

Raul Diaz Bernal - who worked as Stein's assistant at brokerage firm Prudential Douglas Elliman - tells The New York Daily News he is scheduled to meet with police for questioning.

Police launched a homicide investigation, after an autopsy revealed she had died from blunt force trauma to the head and neck. There were no signs of forced entry to her Manhattan home.

Bernal was fire...

Linda Stein, the former manager of The Ramones and real estate agent to the stars, has been murdered in her New York home.

Stein was found dead in the kitchen of her Manhattan apartment on Tuesday night. She was 62.

Police have launched a homicide investigation, after an autopsy revealed she had died from blunt force trauma to the head and neck. There were no signs of forced entry to her Fifth Avenue home.

Stein managed legendary rockers The Ramones during their 1970s heyday, through her marriage to the Warner Brothers Vice President and Sire Records head, Seymour Stein.

...

Cambridge, Massachusetts – October 29, 2007 – Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a division of Viacom’s MTV Networks, along with distribution partner Electronic Arts, announced today the final song list for its highly anticipated music videogame Rock Band. Featuring the most master recordings of any music game ever by the world’s biggest rock artists, Rock Band includes 58 tracks and spans every genre of rock ranging from alternative and classic rock to heavy metal and punk. With multiple instruments and an impressive selection of online and offline game mo...

Rare interviews with late punk icons Johnny and Joey Ramone have been unearthed for a new Ramones DVD. Frontman Joey discusses the band's violent songs on new film collection "It's Alive 1974-1996," while guitarist Johnny poignantly admits he'll miss the group when it's all over.

Asked if Ramones music fires up the group's fans and turns them into violent thugs, Joey says, "The music's violent but, like, it gets all of the violence out of the kids. After they see a show of ours they're ready to collapse. They take it all out during the show, it doesn't make them go outside and kill pe...

Italian movie star Marcello Mastroianni, David Bowie, Steve McQueen, Bob Dylan and George Clooney have been named among the 50 Most Stylish Men in the Past 50 Years by men's magazine GQ.

Elvis Presley, Bryan Ferry, Paul Newman, Johnny Depp, Miles Davis, Cary Grant, Marlon Brando, Robert Redford, Al Pacino, Warren Beatty and Sean Connery also make the list.

A few surprises among the stylish 50 include filmmaker Woody Allen, Beck, punk icons The Ramones and British rocker Pete Doherty.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)

-'It's Alive 1974-1996' Features More Than Four Hours of Rare and Previously Unreleased Concert Performances From Around the World

Johnny, Joey, Dee Dee, Tommy, Marky, Richie, and C-Jay -- The Ramones will always be the first "family" of punk.

Together more than 20 years, the Ramones inspired legions of followers as they refined their signature garage-flavored, ear-shattering, pop-skewed sound with a string of now-classic, loud-and-fast punk rock records and 2,263 concerts. Rhino sends you back to rock rock, rock 'n' roll high school with a double-DVD that captures the essence of...

Happy Birthday to "Flicka" actress Alison Lohman (1979), rapper Xzibit (1974), Puffy Amiyumi singer Ami Onuki (1973), "X-Men" actor James Marsden (1973), "The Matrix Revolutions" actress Jada Pinkett Smith (1971), Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong (1971), New Edition singer Ricky Bell (1967), "21 Jump Street" actress Holly Robinson (1964), "The Sopranos" star James Gandolfini (1961), Ramones bassist Dee Dee Ramone (1952; d. 2002), Kansas singer Kerry Livgren (1949), "A Mighty Wind" actor Fred Willard (1939), singer Frankie Avalon (1939), "Baretta" star Robert Blake (1933), actor Jack ...

The former-manager of rock legends the Ramones and Iggy Pop has filed a $100 million lawsuit against an American gay magazine for publishing fake quotes portraying him as a "sexual predator". Danny Fields filed the defamation suit against Out Magazine in New York's Manhattan Supreme Court earlier this month.

The 65-year-old claims his career has been damaged beyond repair by the false allegations, which imply he bribed underage fans to have sex with him in exchange for meeting their idols.

The lifestyle magazine quotes Fields, who is openly homosexual, as saying: "I don't rememb...

Terrence Howard dubbed Richard Gere 'Yoda' on the set of their new movie The Hunting Party after the Buddhist actor gave him life and guitar lessons. The Crash star, who is an accomplished musician, struggled to play basic Ramones songs on the guitar - something that was required of his war cameraman character.

So he asked fellow guitarist Gere to help him, and became impressed with the Pretty Woman star's teaching skills.

Howard recalls, "He's the most incredible guitar player and he's got a real knack for running scales. I'm a big chord man and he taught me a lot of great scales...

Happy Birthday to Death Cab For Cutie singer Ben Gibbard (1976), actor Will Friedle (1974), Oasis bassist Andy Bell (1970), guitarist Charlie Sexton (1968), "Fear Factor" host Joe Rogan (1967), Ramones drummer Richie Ramone (1957), British singer Joe Jackson (1954), WWE superstar Hulk Hogan (1953), singer/songwriter Eric Carmen (1949), country singer John Conlee (1946), "Star Wars" Episodes I, II, III, and VI actor Ian McDiarmid (1944), actress Arlene Dahl (1928), and "Roots" author Alex Haley (1921; d. 1992).

Skate is the closest thing to skateboarding without actually putting your feet on a board. With innovative controls that take advantage of the dual analog sticks, the power of the next gen hardware, and the ability to sculpt tricks that define your own style, skate delivers an authentic boarding mecca like no other video game.

Individual style combined with physics-driven animations promise that no two tricks will ever be the same. And there's plenty of room to pull off those tricks – San Vanelona challenges you to explore, find, and own the best spots. You can even capture footage to...

Happy Birthday to "90210" actor Brian Austin Green (1973), System of a Down drummer John Dolmayan (1973), Deftones bassist Chi Cheng (1970), actors Stan Kirsch and Eddie Griffin (1968), "Good Morning Vietnam" actor Forest Whitaker (1961), guitar whiz Joe Satriani (1956), Marky Ramone of The Ramones (1956), late Joy Division singer Ian Curtis (1956; d. 1980), "Lost" actor Terry O'Quinn (1952), wrestler/governor Jesse Ventura (1951), Yes bassist Trevor Horn (1949), singer Linda Ronstadt (1946), actress Diahann Carroll (1935), actor Philip Carey (1923), and Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn (160...

Pop star Avril Lavigne has hit out at claims her song "Girlfriend" copies a 1970s track by the band the Rubinoos. Tommy Dunbar claims the Canadian singer's "Girlfriend" hit borrows heavily from the 1978 song, "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend," which he wrote with then-Rubinoos' road manager James Gangwer.

They have filed a copyright lawsuit against the Canadian singer. But Lavigne insists she wrote "Girlfriend" with musician Luke Gottwald - and it bears no similarity to the Rubinoos song.

Lavigne writes on her blog, "You may have heard some news that two guys who wrote for some band f...