Tony Iommi, the founder member and guitarist with Black Sabbath, has been diagnosed with cancer.

Iommi, Sabbath’s only constant member throughout the band’s forty-plus year career, is in the early stages of lymphoma.

An official statement posted on the band’s facebook page reads as follows:
“With the news that Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma, his bandmates would like everyone to send positive vibes to the guitarist at this time. Iommi is currently working with his doctors to establish the best treatment plan. The Iron Man of Rock & Roll remains upbeat and determined to make a full and successful recovery.”

At the end of 2011, Sabbath hit the rock headlines once again regarding a reunion of the four original members – Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, drummer Bill Ward and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. Reports hinted at a reunion and then were quickly dismissed, only to be confirmed a few short weeks later.

An official statement released on November 11th 2011, announced that the original Sabbath would begin work on a new studio album and take on a fairly extensive tour, including a headline slot at the UK Download Festival. It is not yet known whether Tony’s health will affect any of the live shows.

El Paso’s At The Drive-In have announced their reformation. According to vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala the band will play live shows this year.

At The Drive-In disbanded in 2001 after touring their breakthrough album, ‘Relationship of Command’ released in 2000. Following the split, Bixler-Zavala and bassist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez formed the acclaimed band The Mars Volta. The rest of the band provided the core of the often overlooked Sparta.

While it is not yet confirmed as to whether At The Drive-In will return to the studio, new material from The Mars Volta is said to be lurking on the horizon.

Irish rockers Therapy? have released an official video for ‘Living In The Shadow of the Terrible Thing’, a track taken from their upcoming album.

The band’s new full length, ‘A Brief Crack of Light’ is scheduled for release on February 6th 2012 and details can be found here.

Fans can catch Therapy? live on a double headline tour with ragga-metal heroes Skindred in April (Details here)

The first single from Van Halen’s long awaited album ‘A Different Kind of Truth’ has been revealed.

‘Tattoo’ represents the first material from the band’s much-hyped reunion with original frontman David Lee Roth. The video can be seen below.

‘A Different Kind of Truth’, the first all new Van Halen album since their 1998 flop ‘Van Halen III’ featuring Gary Cherone*, is the first full album to be recorded with Roth on board since their career-defining ‘1984’.

Official track listing:

01. Tattoo
02. She’s The Woman
03. You and Your Blues
04. China Town
05. Blood and Fire
06. Bullethead
07. As Is
08. Honeybabysweetiedoll
09. The Trouble With Never
10. Outta Space
11. Stay Frosty
12. Big River
13. Beats Workin’

‘A Different Kind of Truth’ is released via Interscope Records on February 7th in the US and a day earlier in the UK.

*For those who still believe that Cherone’s short tenure in Van Halen was an unmitigated disaster, think again. If not for that, the world would have been denied this classic, classic clip. (For those not patient enough to watch the whole thing, the fun starts at approximately 1:45)

Alternative rock band City Reign have a handful of gigs upcoming in January and February.

The Mancunian band will be appearing at the following venues:

JANUARY
20th – The Old Blue Last, Shoreditch, London – Fan The Fire Magazine Night
23rd – Thirsty Scholar, Manchester
FEBRUARY
23rd – Trof Fallowfield – Popular Company Night
28th – The Ruby Lounge, Manchester – Supporting The Birthday Suit (featuring Rod Jones of Idlewild)

The band’s debut EP ‘Numbers For Street Names’ was released in November and you can see their video for ‘Making Plans’ below.