“It literally happened over the weekend,” says the delighted bassist. “And I can hardly believe it myself. There was clearly gonna be a change in the line-up, because James Lomenzo was leaving. Dave (Mustaine) and I talked on the phone, and all the feuds, all the arguments we’ve been having over the years just melted away. It just goes to show what direct contact can achieve!”

According to Ellefson, it was drummer Shawn Drover who instigated the whole thing.

“If you ever need a guy in a band to watch your back, then this is the man. Obviously, I have no clue what happened within the band. But I got a text from Shawn and it just said: ‘If ever there was a time for you and Dave to talk, now is it.’ It’s one of those messages you act on immediately. Typically of Megadeth, things then happened big and fast.

“In all honesty, talking to Dave again was wonderful. It was the right thing at the right time, done in the right spirit.”

Ellefson rejoins the band in time for their March tour of America, where they will play the whole of the 1990 album Rust In Peace.

“I have one big advantage – I think I know those songs already! Seriously though, I was in New York with one of my other bands, Hail!, when I found out that Megadeth were doing this, and I did feel a little upset that I wasn’t at that point gonna be part of it. But, hey, now it’s all changed.

“So far, the reaction I’ve had from everyone has been overwhelmingly positive. I cannot wait to get back out there with Megadeth.”

Mustaine is reported as saying: “David Ellefson belongs in Megadeth. Next we are going to show you the power of getting your asses kicked… HARD!”

For further info, go to www.megadeth.com

Having speedily sold out his ‘New Blood’ show at the O2 on Saturday, March 27, Peter Gabriel has added a second show on Sunday 28th.

Billed as an orchestral show with no drums and no guitars, the first half will feature Gabriel’s forthcoming album, Scratch My Back, in its entirety.

The album features a selection of Gabriel’s personal favourite compositions from other songwriters such as David Bowie, Radiohead, Talking Heads and Neil Young.

The second half of the show will see Gabriel perform orchestral arrangements of his own material.

Track listing for Scratch My Back is as follows:

Heroes (David Bowie)

The Boy In The Bubble (Paul Simon)

Mirrorball (Elbow)

Flume (Bon Iver)

Listening Wind (Talking Heads)

The Power Of The Heart (Lou Reed)

My Body Is A Cage (Arcade Fire)

The Book Of Love (The Magnetic Fields)

I Think It’s Going To Rain Today (Randy Newman)

Après Moi (Regina Spektor)

Philadelphia (Neil Young)

Street Spirit (Fade Out) (Radiohead)

To enter our competition to win tickets to see Peter Gabriel at London’s O2 on March 28, go here.

Let’s start with Geisha. Despite the name, there was neither a Japanese connection, nor any female in the band. Described as Australia’s answer to Duran Duran when they started out in 1983 (no gay-sha jokes, please), the band released two albums and numerous singles, all of which did well in the Melbourne locale, whcuhw as their base.

The band split up in 1988, briefly reforming a decade later, for a few live shows around a compilation album. Singer Chris Doheny – who was the sole band member present in every line-up – got geisha back together in 2007, with guitarist Joe Matera. They’ve even persuaded legendary producer Tom Werman to come out of retirement, to work with them on a new album. This is said to have a ‘tougher, melodic, guitar driven sound’.

Download the song Mystery Writer here.

Find out more at  www.chrisdoheny.com

Onwards to Sydney’s Hell City Glamours, who play loud, trashy rock’n'roll. Hell City Glamours – Oscar McBlack (vocals/guitar), Mo Mayhem (guitar/vocals), Jonny (bass/vocals), Robbie Potts (drums) – look and sound like the sort of band who never take a smoking ban seriously, and know exactly what do with a good whiskey and a bad woman.

The music is exactly what you’d expect: it’s the Stones with a Stooges sneer and a hint of Hanoi Rocks glitz. Oh, and being Aussies, it’s all served up with more than a nod towards Rose Tattoo – you’d expect nothing less, right?

The band’s debut album, self-titled, is out now on Classic Rock’s own Powerage Records in the UK and Europe – and it’s dance music for hooligans, reprobates and the general riff-raff on the street. You’ll love it.

Download the song One Night Only here (email sign-up required).

For further info, go to www.myspace.com/hellcityglamours

This follows Craig Nunenmacher’s decision to quit the band, who are currently working on a new album.

For further info, go to www.zakkwylde.com

 Talking to www.staythirstymedia.com, the tub-thumper said:

“The first one hopefully in the spring, then one in the summer and then trying to get one towards the end of October, right before Halloween. So that’s what I’m doing right now. Well I go back into the studio on Tuesday, making sure the tracks are ready for 2010. I’m always busy.”

Apart from Ward himself, on vocals and drums, these albums will also feature guitarist Keith Lynch, bassist Paul Ill and drummer Ronnie Ciago, plus a number of as yet unspecified guests.

Keep up to date at www.billward.com

Says Kennedy: “As always, he knocked it out of the park! They don’t call him one of the best guitarists of all time for nothing.”

Kennedy himself appears on Slash’s upcoming, self-titled solo album. He’ll also be fronting the band currently being put together by the guitarist for a world tour.

For further info, go to www.myspace.com/myleskennedyofficial

Get all the details on Classic Rock’s exclusive Slashpack here.

These happen at:

March 26: Manchester Academy II

March 28: Birmingham Glee Club

March 30: London Cadogan Hall.

Tickets go on sale from 9am on Friday, February 12. They’re priced at £35 (Manchester and Birmingham) and £40 (London).

Schmit is promoting his album Expando, which was released last year.

For further info, go to www.timothybschmit.com

(All we can say is… Schmit, have you see those ticket prices?!)

This will actually come in two formats. The ‘normal’ deluxe edition will have a bonus DVD, filmed last year (August 17) at the Seminole Hard Rock Arena in Hollywood, Florida, when the band played the whole of this album. The ‘limited edition’ deluxe edition will also have an extra live CD from that show.

The full track listing is:

Disc 1 – remastered album

1. Rapid Fire

2. Metal Gods

3. Breaking The Law

4. Grinder

5. United

6. You Don’t Have To Be Old To Be Wise

7. Living After Midnight

8. The Rage

9. Steeler

10. Red, White & Blue (bonus track)

11. Grinder (live – bonus track)

Disc 2 – DVD

1. Rapid Fire

2. Metal Gods

3. Breaking The Law

4. Grinder

5. United

6. You Don’t Have To Be Old To Be Wise

7. Living After Midnight

8. The Rage

9. Steeler

10. The Ripper

11. Prophecy

12. Hell Patrol

13. Victim Of Changes

14. Freewheel Burning

15. Diamonds And Rust

16. You’ve Got Another Thing Coming

Disc 3 – live album

Track listing as DVD – although for some reason Hell Patrol is omitted

For further details, go to www.judaspriest.com

The price is a cool £490 and includes:

* 2 x Premium tickets in Block A1 or Block 111

* Postage charges

* Chocolate Valentines Box ‘made for sharing’, with two bottles of baby Prosecco and a large collection of ‘irresistible romantic chocolates’

* Bon Jovi Valentine’s Day Teddy Bear

* Free programme (to be collected on concert date)

* Guaranteed delivery by February 13th

* Romantic tour of Wapping in a rickshaw driven by Bon Jovi’s bass player (just kidding).

* Lock of David Bryan’s lovely permed hair (ditto)

To take advantage of this kind offer, go here. Go on. You know you want to, don’t you?!

1. Michael Jackson – He might have been wacko, but Jacko knew the value of a great guitarist. So he worked with Eddie Van Halen, Slash and Steve Lukather. The best collaboration was probably with Van Halen on Beat It.

2. Chris Cornell – His last solo album, Scream, had great songs, fantastic vocals – and a dog of a production from Timbaland. All the latter did was sprinkle some urban chintz, which was wholly inappropriate! Still, at least it got Cornell back with Soundgarden.

3. Judas Priest – It seemed like an interested idea. Get the icons of metal to work with Stock, Aitken & Waterman, the high priests of pop. This happened at the end of the 1980s, but the results were allegedly so disastrous that the band won’t let anyone hear the tracks!

4. Duran Duran – It’s said that, under the influence of guitarist Andy Taylor, the new romantic pin-up lads decided to make Wild Boys a real hard rock slammer, with lots of geetar, The story goes that EMI, their label, almost went into convulsions when they heard the result. So, what was finally released as a single had almost all the guitar removed. Shame.

5. Puff Daddy – When the rap hellraiser did the song Come With Me for the soundtrack of the Godzilla movie in 1998, it was effectively a remake of Zeppelin’s Kashmir. Not only did Jimmy Page approve, he played on it! As did Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine. Nobody should be proud of the result.

6. Metallica – So, Metallica decided that they needed a female voice for the song The Memory Remains, from the ReLoad album. They got in the legendary Marianne Fathfull, and then proceeded to make her sound like a daft old bat. Right at the end of the song, they even appear to leave the studio, turn out the lights, lock the door, and she’s croaking away. Embarrassing.

7. Mariah Carey – In 2002, the diva covered Def Leppard’s Bringin’ On The Heartbreak. Talk about showboating. Joe Elliott might have approved, but few others did. It was released as a single and flopped. Sometimes the public does know best.

8. Sugababes and Girls Aloud – The two all gal groups combined in 2007 for a cover of Aerosmith’s Walk This Way. All done for Comic Relief. It’s best to treat this as a comedy record, actually.

9. Will Young – The Pop Idol idler covered The Doors classic Light My Fire in 2002. It’s so bad you wanna set him alight, and then set him free in a sea of petrol!

10. Diana Ross – The queen of Motown stunned everyone in 1981 by recording a rock single. Mirror Mirror even had an – ulp! – guitar solo. The fact she was dating Gene Simmons at the time could explain it all. But it was actually not too bad.

Know any other examples of pop/rock crossovers? Let us know your faves – or your hates – below!