U2's Bono is to present Burmese freedom fighter and politician Aung San Suu Kyi with Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience honour in Dublin next month.

Guns N' Roses are notorious for being late onstage, but they tested their fans' patience to the limit last night (May 29) by not taking to the stage until after 11pm (GMT).

A new festival has been named in honour of the late DJ and new music champion, John Peel.

Former Dresden Dolls singer Amanda Palmer has smashed all fan-funding records, raising over $1,000,000 to fund her new album in just one month.

Beck's new Jack White-produced track 'I Just Started Hating Some People Today', has been unveiled online. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click to listen to it.

Metallica have revealed that they can't afford not to tour because they don't make enough money from royalties.

Pioneering folk musician Arthel Lane 'Doc' Watson has died at the age of 89.

Bob Dylan was honoured with the Medal Of Freedom by US president Barack Obama at the White House last night (May 29).

Swans are set to release a new album, featuring Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O and Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker of Low, on August 27. The Seer, the new album from Michael Gira's reunited New York noise-rock troupe, runs for around two hours, and also features guests including Mercury Rev's Grasshopper, Akron/Family and "honorary Swan" Bill Rieflin. Karen O sings lead vocal on "Song For A Warrior", while Parker and Sparhawk feature as co-vocalists on opener "Lunacy".

Sixteen entries on the playlist this week, and I should point out that the latest session from the Natch project is, as usual, a free download that’s definitely worth picking up.