Next year, Beach Boys members Mike Love, Al Jardine and Bruce Johnstone are to embark on a worldwide tour to mark the band’s fiftieth anniversary.  However, despite reports, founding member and songwriter Brian Wilson will not be joining them.

Reports from the Wilson camp suggest Brian “considered” the tour, but at present is too busy with his own work.  Earlier this year, Wilson completed an album of Disney cover tunes, as part of a two album deal with the Disney Corporation.

Brian Wilson’s ‘Songs In The Key of Disney’ is released on October 24th, while the Beach Boys’ 1967 unfinished masterpiece is released in various configurations on October 31st.

Read a review of Brian Wilson’s 2010 album ‘Reimagines Gershwin’ here.

British metal band Tank – previously associated with the NWOBHM movement and makers of the 1980 album ‘Filth Hounds of Hades – are back in the studio.

The 2012 release follows the band’s 2010 comeback album ‘War Machine’ and, according to the band, the new material has a similar slant but a heavier edge.

Although no more details are available at present, it is said the album will be released on the Metal Mind label next spring.

Current Tank vocalist Doogie White has already had a busy 2011, having collaborated with Michael Schenker on his release ‘Temple of Rock’, and also provided vocals for all tracks on the Demon’s Eye release ‘The Stranger Within‘.

On November 7th, Whitesnake will release a lavish, super-deluxe box set.

‘Box o’ Snakes: The Sunburst Years: 1978-1982′ chronicles the first chapter of the band’s history in great detail and contains eight CDs, a DVD, a limited-edition seven-inch single, plus a 90-page book with new interview and previously unseen photos.

The CDs will contain a set of studio and live albums recorded for EMI between the two dates, while the DVD contains BBC appearances, promo clips and a previously unavailable live show from 1980, filmed in Washington.

The box set will be Whitesnake’s third release in 2011, following the ‘Live at Donington 1990’ CD/DVD set and the band’s most recent studio work ‘Forevermore’.

Read a review of ‘Forevermore’ here.

Seattle legends Soundgarden have been confirmed as a headline act for the popular Antipodean festival Big Day Out in 2012.

The band first appeared at the festival in 1994 and made a second appearance three years later.

The big day out dates are as follows:
Jan. 20 – Auckland, NZ
Jan. 22 – Gold Coast, AUS
Jan. 26 – Sydney, AUS
Jan. 29 – Melbourne, AUS
Feb. 03 – Adelaide, AUS
Feb. 05 – Perth, AUS

The reformed band have toured the US, but still haven’t announced whether they plan to visit the UK or mainland Europe.
A new album is in the works, but as yet, very few details are known.

Frontman Chris Cornell is also about to embark on an acoustic tour of the US (details here).

Alternative rockers Funeral For a Friend are to release a new EP on November 7th.

While the ‘See You All In Hell’ EP is a new relese, not all of the nine tracks are completely new. Alongside the previously unreleased ‘High Castles’, the EP features a cover tune, couple of acoustic numbers, a remix and an entire live session recorded for XFM.

The tracklisting in full:

‘High Castles’ (New)
‘Will To Die’ (Strife cover)
Medicated (LoveGadgetsHateGizmos Remix)
Sixteen (XFM Session)
Broken Foundation (XFM Session)
Man Alive (XFM Session)
Front Row Seats To The End Of The World (XFM Session)
Old Hymns (Acoustic)
Welcome Home Armageddon (Acoustic)