Karen 'Gilly' Laney

Paul McCartney surprised Howard Stern with a phone call over the holiday break which inspired Stern to go on a drunken dialing spree on New Year’s Eve. The Beatle and his newlywed Nancy Shevell called to wish Stern and his wife Beth, a Merry Christmas.

Guns N’ Roses guitarist Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal has released a studio version of the Henry Mancini classic ‘The Pink Panther Theme.’ The recording features members of Guns N’ Roses: Frank ‘Thunderchucker’ Ferrer on drums, Tommy Stinson on bass, Richard Fortus and DJ Ashba on rhythm guitars. This is the ninth song in a series of digital singles released by Thal in 2011.

David Bowie‘s long lost 1973 ‘Top Of The Pops’ video was broadcast Wednesday (Dec. 22) as part of a 90 minute Christmas special on BBC2. It was the first time in nearly 39 years that this legendary performance appeared on the airwaves, and according to Bowie’s website “Ziggymania gripped the UK” just prior to the broadcast.

A 1979 Kiss record case sold for $4,000 during an eBay auction that ended on Dec. 4. This black wood case is a coveted piece of memorabilia and features the cover art from each of the original band members’ 1978 solo albums. Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss all get their own side of the box, and the copyright of ‘Aucoin Management, Inc...

Alice Cooper has invited Rob Halford of Judas Priest and Bruce Kulick formerly with Kiss to perform at the 11th annual ‘Christmas Pudding’ show. Taking place at the Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz., on Dec. 17, the show will benefit Solid Rock and Cooper’s new teen center ‘The Rock,’ opening in Spring of 2012.

Prince paid tribute to classic rock artists Bob Dylan, the Beatles and the Cars by covering their songs during a three-plus hour performance in Toronto on Friday night (Nov. 26).

An autographed Beatles ‘Please Please Me’ Red Parlophone single sold on Ebay on Nov. 14 for approximately $12,720.00. This rarity was signed on the A-side by George Harrison and John Lennon while signatures from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr were on the B-side of the record, which plays ‘Ask Me Why.’

The Allman Brothers Band will release three live and archival CDs and one DVD on Dec. 6 as part of a new distribution deal that gives the band control of their own music to an unprecedented level. “Finally, after 40 years, (the band) are making records for their own label, without any interference from non-musicians,” says Gregg Allman.