SLAYER, MASTODON, HATEBREED and NEUROSIS have been confirmed for Hovefestivalen, a brand new five-day festival set to take place June 25-29 on the island of Tromøy, just outside the city of Arendal, in Norway.

Hovefestivalen reportedly has the potential to become Norway's biggest festival, with up to 20,000 music fans expected to attend this year's event.

Source Hovefestivalen

German thrashers DESTRUCTION will be Renee's guests on KNAC.COM's "Manic Metal" show this Sunday, January 21 between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Source BBM

Sammy Hagar has issued the following update:

"The [WABORITAS] [Hagar's band] are going to take most of this year off except for the cruise, March 16 show in Cabo and The Tahoe Wabo's third-anniversary shows on May 4, 5, and 6 and my birthday bash October 6, 8, 9, 12 and 13. There may be a show here or there. I want to write some new songs, redesign my stage and gear up for the big 60 which will tentatively be the beginning of 2008 and all through the summer."

Even though Hagar won't be on the road much this year, he has been performing recently at his Cabo Wabo Cantina in Mexico with former VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS drummer Chad Smith, and he told Launch the three of them might hit the studio together. "We're thinking about, when the CHILI PEPPERS tour is over, about doing a little record," he said. "Not a permanent thing, but we've been calling ourselves CHICKEN FOOT down here, you know? A power trio. And it's so much fun playing in a power trio, you know? I haven't done it in a long time, playing all the guitar, and, and Mike and I singing together. It's pretty strong, man, it's a pretty exciting band. So we're thinking about going in the studio, and maybe making a record."

Source BBM