As of this morning (Sept. 30) at 12:01 a.m., NPR Music has made available free audio streaming of the latest Bob Dylan album. Titled Tell Tale Signs, the rarities collection is the eighth volume in the long-running Dylan "Bootleg Series." The 2-CD set, which hits record stores on October 7, features work-in-progress tracks and alternate-takes from the period covering the albums Time Out of Mind, Love and Theft, Modern Times, and Oh Mercy. According the NPR.org, the set "offers a rare glimpse into Dylan's creative process, with alternatives takes that show the evolution of his work, as his songs take shape lyrically and musically." The stream, which will be available until October7, can be heard in its entirely by clicking here. --Russell Hall

Paul McCartney's next album, which is scheduled for release on November 17, will mark a radical departure from last year's solo disc, Memory Almost Full. Resurrecting his side project The Fireman, Sir Paul has re-teamed with dance music maestro Youth for a 13-track CD titled Electric Arguments. Unlike the first two Fireman albums, which were all-instrumental affairs, the new CD will feature vocals. An unnamed studio source told the London newspaper The Guardian that the album is "like Arcade Fire Meets Led Zeppelin."

Further details were provided at paulmccartney.com. A press statement on the website describes the disc as "an eclectic and varied album consisting of thirteen tracks recorded in thirteen days over a period of nearly a year." The statement goes on to say that each track was recorded in the span of a single day, and that "the results will surprise anyone expecting to hear the previous sound of the band."

Earlier this year The Fireman donated one track, "Lifelong Passion," to the charitable organization Adopt-A-Minefield. London's Radio 1 premiered a radio-edit of a second track, "Nothing Too Much Just Out of Sight," on last night's show (Sept. 29). The broadcast can be heard here for one week. --Russell Hall

Track listing:

1) Nothing Too Much Just Out Of Sight

2) Two Magpies

3) Sing The Changes

4) Travelling Light

5) Highway

6) Light From Your Lighthouse

7) Sun Is Shining

8) Dance ‘Til We’re High

9) Lifelong Passion

10) Is This Love?

11) Lovers In A Dream

12) Universal Here, Everlasting Now

13) Don’t Stop Running

Even though Noel Gallagher is still recovering from his on-stage run-in with a crazed Canadian fan during the band’s Sept. 7 performance in Toronto, which left the guitarist with significant bruising in the ribs and hips, Oasis are carrying on with the U.S. leg of their world tour in support of their latest studio album, Dig Out Your Soul.

The British rockers will launch their first American tour in over three years on Dec. 3 in Oakland, Calif., with Ryan Adams and the Cardinals as the support act for all 11 dates.

Tickets for the shows go on sale Oct. 3.

Oasis was forced to cancel several concerts in the U.S. and Europe earlier this month as a result of Gallagher’s injuries. The band even briefly considered abandoning the upcoming tour.

Writing on the band’s blog about the stage invasion that left him out of commission, Gallagher said, “Someone, who can only be described as a ‘Canadian,’ was able to get on-stage, somehow managed to evade our crack security team and assaulted me mid-riff. Can’t say much more than that as the perpetrator’s gonna get the book thrown at him. Repeatedly. I feel like I’ve had a sparring session with [Manchester boxer] Ricky Hatton.” ―Aidin Vaziri

Oasis Dig Out Your Soul Tour Dates

Dec. 3 - Oakland, CA Oracle Arena
Dec. 4 - Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
Dec. 6 - Las Vegas, NV The Pearl
Dec. 8 - Denver, CO Broomfield Events Ctr.
Dec. 10 - Minneapolis, MN Target Center
Dec. 12 - Chicago, IL Allstate Arena
Dec. 13 - Detroit, MI Palace of Auburn Hills
Dec. 15 - London, ON John LaBattCentre (rescheduled 9/9 date)
Dec. 17 - New York, NY Madison Sq. Garden
Dec. 19 - Camden, NJ Susquehanna Center
Dec. 20 - Washington, DC GMU Patriot Center

Billboard reports that Best Buy will be the exclusive retailer for Guns N’ Roses’ long-delayed sixth studio album, Chinese Democracy.

Sources say the disc, which has been 14 years in the making with a price tag of approximately $13 million and a revolving line-up of musicians working alongside lone original member Axl Rose, is scheduled to arrive before the end of the year, most likely Nov. 25.

Of course, Guns N’ Roses fans know better than to get their hopes up by now. Chinese Democracy has appeared on Interscope Records’ release schedule, most recently in March 2007, several times in the past decade without actually materializing. But signs are good this time.

Nine purportedly finished tracks from the album were leaked online in June, with the song “Shackler’s Revenge” debuting in the video game Rock Band 2 just last month. Meanwhile, another new track “If the World” will play over the closing credits of Body of Lies, the Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio action thriller set to open Oct. 10. ―Aidin Vaziri

The Led Zeppelin reunion saga continues. This morning, Robert Plant took to his Web site to refute rumors that he would be getting back together with the band anytime soon.

In an official statement, the singer said that after he wraps his current tour with Alison Krauss on Oct. 5 in Saratoga, Calif., he has “no intention whatsoever of touring for at least the next two years.”

The statement added that anyone buying tickets to an alleged Led Zeppelin show would be getting ripped off.

“It’s both frustrating and ridiculous for this story to continue to rear its head when all the musicians that surround the story are keen to get on with their individual projects and move forward,” Plant said.

“I wish Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and Jason Bonham nothing but success with any future projects,” Plant added. ―Aidin Vaziri

Guitar legend, artist and philanthropist Slash will do an exclusive meet and greet at the Sam Ash Music store in Hollywood, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008. The iconic rock star will be celebrating the release of the new Gibson USA and Epiphone Slash Signature Les Paul model guitars.  

The new Epiphone Slash Signature Les Paul Goldtop is limited to just 2,000 guitars worldwide and is built using many of the same traditional guitar-building processes and techniques that have made Gibson’s family of stringed instruments the absolute finest in the world.

The Gibson USA Slash Signature Les Paul Goldtop gives guitar enthusiasts around the world the chance to own a guitar created and designed by Slash, the legend who single-handedly revitalized the electric guitar with some of the most colossal riffs known to the mortal man. The Gibson USA model  is limited to only 1,000 guitars worldwide.

No others of either version will be produced once the limited edition quantity is sold out.

Both versions of the limited edition guitars will be availableTuesday at Sam Ash Music locations across the country.

Slash will sign autographs during

 his appearance. Any customer who purchases either model on the day of the appearance, or who attends the event with any other Slash signature Gibson or Epiphone guitar which may have been purchased previously, will have the opportunity to have the guitar autographed by the legendary musician. No other guitars other than Slash Gibson or Epiphone models will be considered for this opportunity.

This special event takes place at the Sam Ash Music Store located at 7360 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, Calif. Slash is scheduled to appear from 4 p.m.  to 6 p.m. 

AC/DC’s highly anticipated Black Ice album is out in October, but its rollicking first single “Rock N’ Roll Train” has already inspired some hardcore fans to create their own tribute videos, ranging from guitar tutorials and tribute band covers to perhaps the most frightening Brian Johnson-karaoke we’ve ever seen ― don’t say we didn’t warn you!

Here’s Long Island–based AC/DC tribute band Live Wire performing a scorching live cover version in a Virginia club.

Meanwhile, Italian AC/DC fan/YouTube subscriber rockybalboaforever offers a little rebuttal to the song’s critics, then takes out his own trusty SG to offer up his this home-recorded guitar tutorial.

At lastly, for good reason, here’s French YouTube subscriber AceFrehley140986 channeling the spirit ― if not necessarily the vocal chops ― of singer Brian Johnson in his bedroom-recorded tour de something-or-other.

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BONUS!: AC/DC’s just-debuted video for “Rock N’ Roll Train”

The National Football League announced today that American rock icons Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have been chosen to perform at the halftime show of Super Bowl XLIII, to be played Feb. 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.

Rock Hall of Famers Springsteen and his E Streeters are the latest in an impressive string of pop superstars who have entertained audiences at America’s most prestigious single-day sporting event. Chubby Checker, who inspired the ’60s Twist dance craze, began the pop music tradition on a nostalgic note in 1988.

But since then Super Bowl halftime shows have featured some of the biggest names in contemporary music, including Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, U2 and Prince. Janet Jackson’s infamous “wardrobe malfunction” in 2004 caused a huge public controversy, leading to a half-million-dollar FCC fine against broadcast network CBS which has since been rescinded.

This year’s halftime headliners were Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, who played a rollicking mini-set before a national television audience estimated at 148 million. The NFL says the 2009 Super Bowl will be broadcast to more than 130 countries and territories.―Jerry McCulley

The Smashing Pumpkins, featuring founding members singer/songwriter/guitarist Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, have announced the schedule for their five-week 20th anniversary tour that commences Nov. 1. The band will be playing multiple nights in several large metropolitan areas, and promises to mix up their set lists considerably for those shows.

Before the tour officially launches, the Pumpkins will also be making two West Coast appearances: a televised live performance of their new “G.L.O.W.” single on the outdoor Hollywood stage of ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live on Oct. 24, and an appearance at Neil Young’s annual Bridge School benefit in Shoreline, Calif., on the 26th. —Jerry McCulley

Here are the currently scheduled dates for the tour:

Sat, 11/1 —  Cleveland, OH — Palace Theatre
Mon, 11/3 —  Toronto, ONT — Massey Hall
Tue, 11/4 — Toronto, ONT — Massey Hall
Thu, 11/6 — New York, NY — United Palace Theatre
Fri, 11/7 — New York, NY — United Palace Theatre
Sat, 11/8 — Atlantic City, NJ — Borgata
Tue, 11/11 — Washington, DC — DAR Constitution Hall
Wed, 11/12 — Washington, DC  —DAR Constitution Hall
Fri, 11/14 — Boston, MA — Wang Center
Sat, 11/15 — Boston, MA — Wang Center
Sun, 11/16 — Uncasville, CT — Mohegan Sun Arena
Tue, 11/18 — Chicago, IL — Chicago Theatre
Wed, 11/19 — Chicago, IL — Chicago Theatre
Fri, 11/21 — Chicago, IL — Auditorium Theatre
Sat, 11/22 — Chicago, IL —  Auditorium Theatre
Wed, 11/26 — St. Louis, MO — Fox Theatre
Sun, 11/30 — San Diego, CA — RIMAC Arena
Tue, 12/2 — Los Angeles, CA — Gibson Amphitheatre
Wed ,12/3 — Los Angeles, CA — Gibson Amphitheatre

When Paul McCartney’s September 25 concert in Tel Aviv drew death threats from an obscure Syrian-born extremist cleric, Ted Nugent quickly turned it into a publicity gambit to promote his upcoming book.

But the real security detail for McCartney’s visit to honor the country’s 60th anniversary in song was considerably more extensive than a bow-hunting Michigan rocker with NRA credentials: 5,000 security personnel, ranging from local police to members of Britain’s MI6 Secret Intelligence Service and Israel’s own Mossad intelligence agency, took part in guarding McCartney on his brief visit to the country, at an estimated cost of $2.8 million.

A source told Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper that "no one is taking anything for granted. The level of security is more than we've ever seen. Everything is being done to ensure that this passes without incident.” The security precautions for McCartney’s visit reportedly outstripped even those for President George W. Bush.

McCartney’s entourage, which included Paul’s new girlfriend Nancy Shevell, stayed in Tel Aviv’s posh Dan Hotel ― where, as another security precaution, they also booked the 21 suites surrounding their own at a cost of almost $130,000.

“Only security and a handful of Paul’s entourage will be near him,” the Daily Mirror’s source reported. “Everything is tailored to ensure he is 100% safe.”

Near the Yarkon Park concert site, approaching roads were closed entirely and bus lines re-routed, with 1,000 extra local police pressed into service for the event.

McCartney had hoped to visit Ramallah, the unofficial capital of the Palestinian National Authority and a historic hotbed of resistance against Israeli occupation in the West Bank, but cancelled due to security concerns. Instead, he and Shevell visited the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem (the traditional birthplace of Christ) and spent time with students at a local music school, where he also performed a few songs.

“Any high-profile event brings some worries, but I have a very good team of people,”  the 66-year-old McCartney said of security arrangements virtually unprecedented for an entertainer. “I think most people understand that my message is a global and peaceful one. My mission, if I have one, is humanitarian, and concerns all people, not just a few.”

Underscoring his message of reconciliation, McCartney sprinkled his between-song patter with phrases in both Hebrew and Arabic, using a cheat-sheet taped to the stage to help with pronunciation. The two-hour concert included a slew of Beatles favorites, including “Hey Jude,”  “Yesterday,” “Eleanor Rigby” and “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”

But it was his performance of John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance” that reportedly drew the warmest reaction from the crowd of 45,000, with multitudes waving their lit cell phones in the air like the cigarette lighter tradition of old. As the song ended, he exhorted the crowd that “you'll find it if you want it.”

(Video embed of McCartney’s Tel Aviv concert, courtesy of the Telegraph newspaper):