Guardian Music — The reissue of Sleep's Dopesmoker shows musicians with the nerve to really stretch a song and take listeners on a journeyThe three-minute pop song is an undeniable design classic: short enough to fit on one side of a 7in, long enough to turn a repeat... more info

ContactMusic — Rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd have recruited former Black Crowes star Johnny Colt to replace the late Donald Evans who died after losing his cancer battle in 2009 The Sweet Home Alabama legends are hitting the road in North America and Europe this month May... more info

411 Mania — Coming in August… more info

Guardian Music — It embraced black soul music – but couldn't divorce itself from the prejudices of the southIt was only a matter of time before BBC4 green-lit a Friday night documentary about southern rock. It is irresistible to connoisseurs of once-unfashionable s... more info

Guardian Music — Assemble a crack team of soul musicians at Muscle Shoals studios and what do you get? That's right – a soft rock classic Here's a soft rock classic with a country flavour from the 1972 album by American brothers Steve and Tim Smith, joined by Wayne... more info

411 Mania — From The Rolling Stones's "Gimme Shelter" in The War and Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" in Almost Famous to Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Freebird" in The Devil's Rejects and more, 411's C.A. Bell takes a look at the top 10 songs used in movies! more info

Stereogum — Back in the day, when two artists didn’t like each other, they’d deal with it in relatively low-profile ways: A snippy backstage comment, or a pointed interview comment. Maybe they’d toss in a lyrical jab, the way Lynyrd Skynyrd did toward Neil... more info

Guardian Music — This Leeds band, who want to be known by their initials, throw some Loop, Spacemen 3 and early Verve into their untamed mixHometown: Leeds.The lineup: MB, EG, MJ, SS and JW.The background: Hookworms are a Leeds band but the new Pigeon Detectives/Kais... more info

Guardian Music — Dave Mustaine and Ron McGovney perform with metal monoliths for first time in three decadesMetallica have wrapped up an extraordinary week of anniversary shows by reuniting with former members. Saturday night saw the return of Dave Mustaine and Ron M... more info

ContactMusic — The Beach Boys are following in the footsteps of Lynyrd Skynyrd by opening a themed-restaurant in Las Vegas The rock group has teamed up with Sin City restaurateurs to create the Lynyrd Skynyrd Bbq Beer at Excalibur Hotel Casino which opened on Thurs... more info