We think this guy's still in the band, tacky shirt notwithstanding

Indianapolis Christian experimental hardcore band Gwen Stacy are praying that 2009 will be a more stable year than 2008, and their pleas have nothing to do with war or the economy. This year they lost two key players; first, vocalist Cole Wallace was fired for personal reasons and was replaced by rhythm guitarist Bobby Oakley. Guitarist Chris Suter was hired to perform on tour. Then in November, Oakley quit for reasons unknown and ex-Oceana vocalist Keith Jones temporarily took his place. And now, the band has announced that ex-Once Nothing frontman Geoff Jenkins will be its new vocalist. Read more...

Sully Erna, the singer for mainstream metal band Godsmack, is being sued by a Chelmsford, Massachusetts women and her parents because of injuries the woman sustained when Erna crashed into the back of her car in April 2007 in Methuen Massachusetts, reported the North Andover Eagle Tribune.

The auto negligence lawsuit claims Erna's careless driving caused him to plow into the back of a car, resulting in "a severe traumatic brain injury" to 26-year-old Lindsay Taylor, who was riding in the back seat of a car driven by Eric Sargent. Read more...

Arsis frontman James Malone must be getting pretty sick of revamping the band's lineup. In September, bassist Noah Martin quit to go back to college, and now guitarist Ryan Knight has joined The Black Dahlia Murder, replacing John Kempainen, who left suddenly last month to spend more time with his family. Read more...

The Mick Garris-produced TV anthology "Fear Itself" has returned from the grave, and along with it the show's introduction music written by ex-System of a Down vocalist Serj Tankian. The series was originally created for NBC and aired last summer, but it received poor ratings and was axed prematurely.

Recently, the cable video-on-demand channel and online channel Fearnet started airing the show, which is sort of a tamed down version of the Garris-produced Showtime series "Masters of Horror." Hopefully, this should provide a bit of Christmas cash for Tankian, whose music for the show can be heard in the opening credits video below. Read more...

By now you've seen all those top ten rock and metal lists featuring Metallica, Guns N' Roses, AC/DC, Gojira, Nachtmystium, Enslaved, Opeth, Amon Amarth, All That Remains, Trivium, Meshuggah et al. So here's a list of ten slightly more indie acts that might not be on your radar yet, but which you owe it to yourself to check out:

10. Arsis - We Are the Nightmare (Nuclear Blast)
Technical death metal is rarely this inspiring. A breathtaking blend of speedy unconventional guitar work, abrupt rhythm shifts, double-bass drum thunder and real honest to goodness hooks.

9. These Arms Are Snakes - Tail Swallower and Dove (Suicide Squeeze)
Post-hardcore insanity merges with strong songwriting on this Seattle band's third full album. Direct and uncompromising, TS&D blasts through challenging math rock progressions, battering ram rhythms and bizarre grooves that'll remind you equally of Fugazi and Blood Brothers. But what else would you expect from former members of Botch and Kill Sadie?

8. Abigail Williams - In The Shadow of a Thousand Suns (Candlelight)
Honestly, we're not sure why this modern black metal album didn't crack more critics' year-end lists. The band even has a super-cute chick on piano/orchestration -- and the girl knows how to compose better than a lot of classical musicians. In The Shadow of a Thousand Suns is epic, brutal and shudders with horrific beauty -- like a haunting blend of Cradle of Filth and Immortal. (Click "more" to see our seven other choices.) Read more...

With Gigantour 2008, Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine tapped into the independent market a little bit and cobbled together a fierce, bill that featured Megadeth, In Flames, Children of Bodom, Job For a Cowboy and High on Fire. It seemed like a good move -- one that verified Megadeth's importance in the lineage of heavy metal and made Mustaine look pretty savvy. Read more...

Ozzy Osbourne may have been the Prince of Darkness since 1979 (as he asserts in that "World of Warcraft" commercial), but we all know Sharon's the true Duchess of Devastation.

Mum Osbourne struck again on Saturday on the set of the reunion special of VH1's "Rock of Love: Charm School." TMZ reported that mom Osbourne allegedly got angry with contestant Megan Hauserman for talking s--t about her husband, Ozzy; she ran across the stage, grabbed Hauserman by the hair and pulled her hair and scratched at her until security separated the two. Read more...

For the second time this year, Machine Head guitarist Phil Demmel has collapsed onstage while performing. This time, Demmel fainted during the second-to-last song of the band's set Friday night in Sheffield, England.

"After considering the seriousness of Phil’s health condition, we all feel that skipping these last two shows [in Antwerp, Belgium and Luxembourg] is the best thing to do," bassist Adam Duce said in a statement. "It’s a bummer to end this tour like this after doing nine amazing weeks and three continents with Slipknot, but getting Phil back to the States to get checked out is the most important thing right now. Our sincerest thanks to Slipknot and Children of Bodom for their support and understanding.We understand that it’s a big disappointment to the fans, and Phil is very sorry about it, but we all feel that his health and safety is most important at this time."

Click "more" for the rest of the story and to watch Machine Head perform Iron Maiden's "Hallowed Be Thy Name" live. Read more...

The cryptic, multifaceted singer of Tool, Maynard James Keenan, recently joined forces with Flaming Lips member Steven Drozd to record a cover of Elton John's hit "Rocket Man" for the soundtrack to the new film "The Heart is a Drum Machine." The rest of the original score was written by Drozd. Read more...

Black metal legends, Emperor, will release "Live Inferno," a CD and DVD set documenting their sold our reunion performances, on April 21 (April 16 in Europe). The set will come in several formats, including a double-CD, and CD or vinyl with DVD. Read more...