Come inside for the latest news on Michael Schenker, Scorpions, Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, Heaven’s Basement and more…

• ANDREW GOES TO COLLEGE

Andrew W.K. is to play London Kings College Students Union on September 14. He’ll be performing a solo set – just him and a piano. This is his way of promoting upcoming album 55 Cadillac, which is classically oriented. A long way removed from the Party Hard days.

• BURNING IN NAPALM

West Virginia instrumental stoners Karma To Burn have signed to Napalm Records. The trio, who reformed recently after splitting up in 2002, intend to record an album soon.

• YORKE’S SADDLES UP

Radiohead’s Thom Yorke has finally confirmed details of his new solo single. The tracks FeelingPulledApartByHorses and Hollow Earth will be released in limited edition 12″ vinyl format on September 21. This will includes the facility for free downloads of the two songs, which will be available as paid downloads from early October.
According to Yorke, Feeling… is an old Radiohead song performed here by him and Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood. Hollow Earth was originally recorded for Yorke’s 2006 solo album The Eraser. Both tracks were produced by Nigel Godrich.
Yorke is also considering doing solo dates – the first time he’ll have ever played live away from Radiohead.

• SCHENKER FAMILY ALBUM?

Michael Schenker has revealed that he and his elder brother Rudolf are talking about making an album together.
Answering fan questions for a Dean Guitar video, the German guitar god said: “My brother and I want to do a record together. It’s just a case of finding the time.”

• MARSEILLE WERE AC/DC!

Marseille guitarist Neil Buchanan has revealed that the band actually started out being called… AC/DC.
“We were there first,” he told City Talk Radio in Liverpool. “But the other lot made it before us, so we had to change our name to Marseille.”
On September 11, the reunited NWOBHM band play their first show in Liverpool – their home town – for 25 years. It’s at The Cavern.

• CLAYPOOL IN LONDON

Primus bassist Les Claypool (not to be confused with Mr Claypole from Rentaghost!) is to play a solo show in London on March 8. It’s at the Islington Academy.

• SCORPS ROCK THE JUNGLE

Scorpions are to release a DVD in November, called Amazonia – Live In The Jungle. More details on this will be available shortly. The band are currently in the studio, with Swedish co-producers Mikael Nord and Martin Hansen, working on their new album. Yet to be titled, it’s expected out in 2010.

• BASEMENT BUST-UP?

Heaven’s Basement have announced the departure of bassist Rob Randell.
The band state: “This is a sad day for us as a band as Rob has been our friend and partner in crime since the beginning. But it is his desire to now move on to different pastures and as sad as we are, we respect that and support him in every way. He is and always will be a friend of Heaven’s Basement.”
Randell explains: “I have come to realise that my heart is just not in it any more.”