Hinder will release its second album, titled Take It To The Limit, on November 4th and lead singer Austin Winkler is probably just as excited about it as the band's more than two million fans. Winkler told us that he thinks the new CD is better all around than the Oklahoma-based group's 2005 debut, Extreme Behavior: "I think we really surprised ourselves on this record, you know. Sonically it demolishes the last record, and our songwriting, and it's just an overall better record, and I can't wait for everybody to hear it, to be honest."

Hinder will hits the road this summer with both 3 Doors Down and Staind for their tour that begins on Thursday (July 9th) in St. Louis and is at Riverbend on Septmeber 6th but for that show Finger Eleven will be replacing Staind. Hopefully Staind can schedule a headling show in support of their new album Illusion Of Progress sometime later in the fall

 According to a report by the Wall Street Journal Van Halen could be the subject of a new installment in the best-selling Guitar Hero video game series. According to the article, "people familiar with the matter" say that game manufacturer Activision is in "serious talks" with the group, who reunited last year with original frontman David Lee Roth for a massively successful eight-month tour. Van Halen would be the third hard rock act to star in its own edition of Guitar Hero. An Aerosmith-centered version came out last week, while one based around the music of Metallica is expected to arrive early next year.

Van Halen manager Irving Azoff said that other clients of his, including the Eagles, Steely Dan and Guns N' Roses, all have "deals of varying types in the works" with either the makers of Guitar Hero or its immediate competitor, Rock Band.

Many other major acts are said to be in talks with both companies about licensing their songs for the games, which have become a lucrative new source of income for artists. A source said that Aerosmith could make more money from its edition of Guitar Hero than any of its studio albums!!!

One act whose music you won't be playing along to in a video game any time soon is Led Zeppelin. The band has turned down repeated offers from both Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Peter Mensch, who co-manages Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, said the band was reluctant to allow outside parties access to its master recordings, which is necessary to create the games.

I know this may anger some folks but I don't give a crap about Zepplin and the rest of these old ass bands! Give me a game with today's artists not these old farts from the 70's and 80's! The Metallica game will be awesome but really does Van Halen and Aerosmith have relevence with today's youth? Give me Slipknot, Korn, Rage Against The Machine, Tool, Disturbed, Linkin Park and Mudvayne... Now I'll still play the Aerosmith and Van Halen games cause I love the game but can't we injects some youth into this idea please