DEF LEPPARD To Debut In U.S. Top 10, Next Single Info

DEF LEPPARD's new album, Songs From The Sparkle Lounge, is doing much better than expected. Early estimates have the album selling over 50,000 copies for a debut in the lower Top 10 on next week's Billboard 200. A huge part in this was the band's Dancing With Stars performance (although lip-synched albeit) last night.

If indeed Sparkle Lounge can keep its course, it will become the Leps' first studio album since Andrenalize (which spent several weeks at No. 1) to reach the Top 10. DEF LEPPARD last saw Top 10 glory in the summer of 2005 when Rock Of Ages: The Definitive Collection debuted at No. 10, and before that Retro Active spent a week at No. 9 in 1993.

It has also been confirmed that the track "C'Mon C'Mon" will be sent to U.S. radio in June to promote the band's summer tour dates.

CINDERELLA/WARRANT: Major Update!

Dates are finally beginning to surface for the seemingly shrouded in secrecy Cinderella/Warrant tour. The Minnesota date was literally confirmed this morning. Not much is known about the tour since one of many early itineraries was leaked online two weeks ago. With these dates surfacing, an official announcement isn't far off. I'd look for something within the next 1 1/2 weeks.

One thing that seems to be common with this tour is the asking price. Promoters in two major cities noted that they ready to confirm the date, but have yet to reach a financial agreement with tour organizers. Both expressed to me they will work until eleventh hour to make sure the show goes on since both have blocked off dates on their respective schedules for the event.

The following are dates either confirmed officially or ones that I have personally confirmed:

CINDERELLA/WARRANT with THE LYNCH MOB, LYNHAM:

6/26 - Walker, MN - Northern Lights Casino (CINDERELLA only)
6/27 - Walker, MN - Northern Lights Casino (CINDERELLA only)
7/11 - Amarillo, TX - Aztec Music Hall
7/12 - Pryor, OK - Rocklahoma
7/13 - Wichita Falls, TX - Kay Yeagar Coliseum (onsale 5/3)
7/17 - Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless Theater (Hold Date)
7/19 - Bonner Springs, KS - Capitol Federal Park at Sandstone
7/20 - Tinley Park (Chicago), IL - FMB Amphitheatre (onsale 5/3)
7/21 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
7/25 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Froum
7/26 - Pompano Beach, FL - Pompano Beach Amphitheatre (onsale 5/3)
7/27 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live (onsale 5/3)
8/01 - Clearfield, PA - Clearfield County Fair
8/10 - Des Moines, IA - Iowa State Fair (w/NIGHT RANGER)

Meanwhile WARRANT have lined up the following warmup dates:

5/17 - Nashville, TN - Wildhorse Saloon (tickets onsale now)
5/18 - Walker, MN - Northern Lights Casino (tickets onsale now)

Ticket information for the Minnesota shows can be found here. Tickets range from $30-37.50 for both bands' performances.

DEF LEPPARD, WHITESNAKE On Next Week's BILLBOARD 200

Been getting a lot of questions about where DEF LEPPARD and WHITESNAKE's new albums will drop on next week's BILLBOARD 200.

DEF LEPPARD'S Songs From The Sparkle Lounge (uMe) has shipped 65,652 units in its first week. Early numbers are promising, but quite frankly Universal have screwed the Leps over again, releasing Sparkle Lounge in the most competitve debut week the charts have seen this year. Def Leppard are competing against Ashlee Simpson's Bittersweet World and Madonna's Hard Candy, along with new releases from Lil' Mama, Steve Winwood, Robyn, Jimmy Eat World, Lyfe Jennings and The Roots. Look for Def Leppard to once again be relegated to the lower end of the Top 20, unless their appearences on Dancing With The Stars and Jimmy Kimmel Live! attract listeners.

WHITENSNAKE's Good To Be Bad is expected to appear on the Top Independent Albums Chart as well as the (hopefully) the bottom portion of the Top 100. The band is getting some decent press and their best reviews in over fifteen years for Good To Be Bad. At the very least, they'll see their best U.S. chart week since Slip Of The Tounge.

SAMMY HAGAR / SCORPIONS Lineup West Coast Dates

SAMMY HAGAR and THE SCORPIONS have lined up two shows together on the West Coast for August. The first of which will take place at the 1,000-seat Joe Mazzola Classic Concert Showroom at the Konocti Harbor Resort which should make for an extremely cool evening. All info is listed below:

August 1 - Kelseyville, CA - Joe Mazzola Showroom @ Konocti
August 3 - Costa Mesa, CA - Pacific Amphitheatre @ Orange Co. Fair
August 4 - Tucson, AZ - AVA Amphitheatre *

* Unconfirmed

HEAVEN & HELL, TESTAMENT Announce Headline Shows

HEAVEN AND HELL have announced an August 12 date at the Erie County Fair in Hamburg, New York. Support will come from MOTORHEAD and TESTAMENT. Tickets are priced at $55 and $45. More information can be found at www.americas-fair.com

Meanwhile, TESTAMENT have lined up the following "off-dates" from the METAL MASTERS TOUR:

7/31 - Minneapolis, MN - Epic
8/12 - Hamburg, NY - Erie County Fair
8/20 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant
8/21 - Oklahoma City, OK - The Diamond Ballroom
8/26 - Farmington, NM - Gator's
8/29 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto

There is a possibility the St. Louis, OKC and Tucson dates are co-headlines with MOTORHEAD, but that has yet to be confirmed by either band's camp.

DEF LEPPARD Announce Summer Tour

DEF LEPPARD have confirmed their Summer tour. The lineup will be DEF LEPPARD/STYX/REO SPEEDWAGON. The previously rumored DEF LEPPARD/WHITESNAKE package fell through when WHITESNAKE opted to continue adding dates in Europe for August.

07/30- Hidalgo, TX - Dodge Arena
8/01 - Nashville, TN - Sommet Center
8/02 - Pelham, AL - Verizon
8/03 - Biloxi, MS - Mississippi Coast Coliseum
8/06 - Hamilton, ON, CAN - Copps Coliseum (w/STYX & FOREIGNER)
8/07 - London, ON, CAN - John Labatt Centre (w/STYX & FOREIGNER)
8/09 - Quebec City, QC, CAN - Colisee' Pepsi (w/STYX & FOREIGNER)
8/10 - Ottawa, ON, CAN - Scotiabank Place (w/STYX & FOREINGER)
8/13 - Winnipeg, MB, CAN - MTS Centre
8/15 - Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena
8/16 - Des Moines, IA - Iowa State Fair Grandstand
8/17 - Omaha, NE - Qwest Center Omaha
8/20 - Fort Wayne, IN - Allen County Coliseum
8/21 - Youngstown, OH - Chevrolet Convocation Centre
8/23 - Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena
8/24 - Syracuse, NY - New York State Fair

METAL MASTERS To Add Dates

I've just been informed that two more dates will be added to the METAL MASTERS TOUR featuring JUDAS PRIEST/HEAVEN & HELL/MOTORHEAD/TESTAMENT. One of which is to be the tour's finale on September 1 at The Pearl in Las Vegas, NV. The other show is said to be at Coors Amphitheatre near Denver on August 26. There is also the strong possibility that MOTORHEAD/TESTAMENT will book a show in the Denver area if these plans fall through.

More info as it becomes available...