NEWS

After a year of touring together as The Devon Allman Project With Special Guest Duane Betts, the sons of Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts have formed the Allman Betts Band. The lineup adds Berry Oakley Jr, the son of ABB bassist Berry Oakley. Former Brothers and current Rolling Stones keyboard player

Chuck Leavell is set to guest on a new Allman Betts Band album that’s due in the spring.

As this issue went to press, Styx announced a one-off UK date. The veteran US pomprockers play London Palladium on June 4. It’s the band’s first headline show here since 2005. Guns N’ Roses were forced to abbreviate a recent set in Abu Dhabi after frontman Axl Rose (pictured) was taken “severely ill”. The band carried on and managed to play for almost two hours, prompting bassist Duff McKagan to exclaim: “Axl pulled a damn miracle. The man was beyond ill. [That’s something] I’ve never seen in my forty years of playing.” McKagan recently completed a solo album with producer Shooter Jennings.

GN’R are also rumoured to have been back in the studio. Although the band are yet to comment, there have been reports that they have recorded a cover of Children Of The Revolution for inclusion on a T.Rex and Marc Bolan tribute album, to be released through BMG Records. The album is said to also feature U2, Elton John, Foo Fighters and Joan Jett, among others.