James Taylor had previously announced a European tour this spring, and now the “Sweet Baby James” singer has revealed summer dates in the United States.

The European tour will conclude on May 18, and Taylor will take a short break before kicking off the North American tour on June 20 in Pittsburgh. The 19-date tour will run through July 23 when Taylor plays in Denver at Red Rocks Ampitheatre. Other cities will include Syracuse, N.Y.;  Portland, Maine; Atlantic City, N.J.; Nashville, Tenn. and Tulsa Okla.

Taylor’s most recent studio album was Covers, which was released in 2008 and contains covers of songs by artists like Smokey Robinson, Leonard Cohen, Jimmy Webb and John Anderson. He also released a live album with Carole King in 2010 called Live at the Troubadour. The two artists alternated between performing their own songs and covering songs by other artists.

Carole King also appeared on Taylor’s second album, Sweet Baby James, which became his breakthrough album because of hits like the title track and “Fire and Rain.” The album, which was released in 1970, peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

Before this album was released, Taylor’s career almost ended before it began. He became the first non-British artist to sign to the Beatles’ Apple Records, and released his first album on that label in 1968. The self-titled album contained the now well-known song “Carolina on my Mind,” which was later rerecorded for a 1976 greatest hits package. However, after Apple Records was restructured by Beatles manager Allen Klein, Taylor not only lost his contract but was threatened with a $5 million lawsuit. Fortunately, Paul McCartney stepped in and convinced Klein to drop the lawsuit.

After this, Taylor moved to California and signed with Warner Bros. Records, who released Sweet Baby James and the singer-songwriter’s next five albums.

Adam Lambert has been named the new lead singer of Queen… but mostly only by the press at this point.

The Daily Star reported that the former “American Idol” contestant would be the lead singer for the band’s summer tour, including a gig at this year’s upcoming Sonisphere Festival in the U.K., but now both Queen and Lambert have said that nothing is yet confirmed, though it seems the collaboration may be likely.

A Hollywood Records representative told Rolling Stone that, “The Daily Star item only mentions that Adam may perform with Queen at Sonisphere. This is not confirmed. Nothing has been signed. However, if this were to happen, Queen would be returning to the setting of their final concert with Freddie Mercury, which took place in 1986.”

Lambert used Twitter to clarify his comments on the matter.

“Them clever reporters takin my quotes outta context … I haven’t confirmed any guest appearances. I was talking about the EMAs,” he said. “That being said, I’m truly flattered by your jump to such glorious conclusions mr. journalist!! :)

The EMAs Lambert mentions refers to his much talked about appearance with the band in Belfast at the 2011 MTV Music Awards, where he sang a medley of classic Queen songs including “The Show Must Go On,” “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions.”

Lambert’s original statement to the Daily Star was that, “The intention is to pay tribute to Freddie and the band by singing some … great songs.” He went on to say, “Being asked to front Queen is the best thing that can possibly happen.”

In other Lambert news, he will be releasing his second album, “Trespassing,” on March 20. The first single, “Better Than I Know Myself,” preceded the album and was released on December 20. Thus far, the single has peaked at number 76 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

Just days after the release of his first solo single from his first solo album, it is announced that Jack White will headline this year’s Sasquatch Music Festival as a solo artist, along with Bon Iver and Beck. The 11^th anniversary of the festival will take place, as it always has, at the Gorge Ampitheatre in George, Wash. For the second time, the festival will be held over four days this year over Memorial Day Weekend (May 25-28). Additional featured performers will be St. Vincent, Feist, Spiritualized, the Walkmen, the Roots, M. Ward and the Shins, among many others.

As it has at most previous incarnations, Sasquatch also will feature comedy performances throughout the festival. This year, the comedy stage will feature Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, stars of the IFC network’s hipster mocking show, “Portlandia.” Brownstein also will appear at the festival with her band, Wild Flag. Additional comedy performers will include Todd Barry, Nick Kroll and Rob Delaney.

Beck hasn’t performed onstage since 2009, and hasn’t released an official studio album since the year before that. Since that time, he has worked as a producer with artists like Charlotte Gainsbourg, Thurston Moore and Stephen Malkmus. He also has produced albums for a project called Record Club, in which he and other artists record cover versions of entire records in one day. Thus far, the ever-changing group of musicians has recorded albums by the Velvet Underground, Leonard Cohen and Skip Spence, among others. There is no word yet as to whether he will release a new album in time for the spring festival.

Jack White will release his first solo album, Blunderbuss, on April 24 through his own Third Man Records. He released the first single from that record, “Love Interruption,” on January 30. He recently divulged why he would be releasing his first album under his own name.

“I’ve put off making records under my own name for a long time,” he said in a statement, “but these songs feel like they could only be presented under my name. These songs were written from scratch, had nothing to do with anyone or anything else but my own expression, my own colors on my own canvas.

After the announcement that plans for a new tour and album by the reunited original lineup of Black Sabbath was still a go even after it was learned that guitarist Tony Iommi has cancer, there appears to be a new hindrance for future plans.

Drummer Bill Ward has posted on his website that he will not proceed with recording or touring plans with the current contract. The following is a portion of the statement he posted on his site yesterday:

At this time, I would love nothing more than to be able to proceed with the Black Sabbath album and tour. However, I am unable to continue unless a “signable” contract is drawn up; a contract that reflects some dignity and respect toward me as an original member of the band. Last year, I worked diligently in good faith with Tony, Ozzy and Geezer. And on 11/11/11, again in good faith, I participated in the L.A. press conference. Several days ago, after nearly a year of trying to negotiate, another “unsignable” contract was handed to me.

He goes on to say that he is currently in a “holding pattern,” but is ready to travel to the band to record when the contract negotiations are settled. He also says, “The place I’m in feels lousy and lonely because as much as I want to participate, I also have to stand for something and not sign on. If I sign as-is, I stand to lose my rights, dignity and respectability as a rock musician.”

Plans for the reunion album and tour were announced last November, and the band reportedly had been working on the new album with producer Rick Rubin in Los Angeles before shifting production to England after the learning of Iommi’s illness. Though no specific date has been set, the album is expected to be released this fall. Thus far, 20 European dates have been announced for the planned world tour.

It really wouldn’t be summer without a Rascal Flatts tour filling the amphitheaters from coast to coast. This year will be no exception as the hard working boys of country head out for a 23-date concert tour. Little Big Town, Edens Edge and Eli Young Band have signed on as support.

The upcoming Rascal Flatts tour dubbed “The American Band Tour” finds its first stop in Hartford, Connecticut on June 15 and takes them all the way through the end of October as they close out the music in sunny West Palm Beach, Florida on the 27th. Their tour schedule looks like a work in progress as the later summer months just have a couple dates committed for each month. Don’t fret if Rascal Flatts has neglected your city on their tour calendar. You can count on a healthy helping of dates to be unveiled as we get closer to swimsuit weather.

The band is currently wrapping up their ‘Thaw Out Tour’ which started January 12 in Charleston, WV and will conclude February 23 in Niagra Falls. The band also has two special appearances on their touring calendar including All for the Hall in Nashville (April 10) and Bayou Country Superfest in Baton Rouge (May 27). Both events are chocked full of country stars so check them out if you’re geared up for a road trip.

Rascal Flatts have wrapped up their most recent album entitled ‘Change’ that is slated for release April 3. The trio were recently nominated for the Top Vocal Group category by the ACM Awards which will air on April 1. They also have plans to release a documentary, a clothing and fragrance line as well as opening a steakhouse. The Rascal Flatts brand is definitely kicked into high gear.

Daniel Tosh, Comedy Central’s Internet chronicler of all things embarrassing and painful, returned Tuesday night (January 31) for his fourth season of the hit series ‘Tosh.O.’ Those viral videos that you can’t seem to stop sending around to friends and Twitter followers will be front and center as always with Tosh doing his best ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000’ impression. ‘Tosh.O’ is set for a 30 episode run for season four.

So with Tosh’s busy schedule you’d think he’d want to kick back during his momentary hiatus from taping the show this spring. Not so it seems as he has scheduled a 17-date comedy tour called simply “Daniel Tosh Twenty Twelve” for the break. Kyle Kinane will be joining as opening support.

The tour kicks off on April 5 at the Bass Concert Hall in Austin, Texas and focuses it’s funny on the Midwest and east coast before wrapping up April 22 in Kansas City. Tickets are already selling via a presale on Tosh’s site and the general public can get their hands on tickets Friday, February 3. Tosh is coming off a busy 2010 where his comedy tour rolled out 75 performances grossing $10 million. And to think his parents told him dick and fart jokes would never get him anywhere in life.

If you want to see Daniel Tosh don’t wait around to lock down your tickets. Demand was so high during the Pensacola presale that they had to open up a second show. His calendar of dates is packed a bit too tight for him to have that luxury of expansion for too many other lucky cities.

‘Tosh.O’ ratings jumped 63% last year in the 18-49 age demographic, logging a stout 4.3 million viewers according to Comedy Central. This distinction made it the number one cable comedy series of 2011 in the age 18-34 viewership.

New ‘Tosh.O’ episodes can be caught on Comedy Central Tuesdays at 10pm.

After announcing a U.S. acoustic tour dubbed the Bare Bones Tour late last year, Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams has announced his first arena tour of Canada in more than two decades.

The 19-date trek of the 52-year-old’s home country will begin April 11 in St. John’s and run through June 22 in Winnipeg. In between those dates, he will hit Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton and Calgary, among others. Adams hasn’t toured Canada at all since 2009, when the Canadian leg of the Bare Bones Tour took place.

The Grammy Award winning artist, known for hits like “Summer of ’69,” “Cuts Like a Knife,” “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” and “Straight From the Heart,” released his most recent studio album, 11, in March 2008. That album went to number one on the Canadian albums chart. He also released a live CD called Bare Bones in 2010, which featured performances from the tour of the same name. He also has won 20 Juno Awards, which are known as “Canada’s Music Awards.”

Adams’ longtime four-piece band will back him up on each date. The band includes guitarist Keith Scott, drummer Mickey Curry, keyboardist Gary Breit and bassist Norm Fisher.

In addition to writing songs and making albums, Adams also is an accomplished photographer. Adams shot the photo used as the cover to Amy Winehouse’s posthumous album, Lioness: Hidden Treasures, in 2007. Additionally, he founded the German-based Zoo Magazine and often contributes photography to it. To date, he has released two photography books, “American Women” in 2005 and “Made in Canada” in 2009.

He also has photographed many other musicians, including Mick Jagger, Robert Plant, Arcade Fire, Rod Stewart, Shania Twain and Celine Dion.

Adams released his first album in 1980, and has since released nine additional albums, including the aforementioned 11. He also has released three greatest hits records.

Metal bands Mastodon and Opeth will unite this spring for a co-headlining tour that will take the groups throughout North America.

The 30-date tour will begin on April 4 at the State Theater in Portland, Maine and end at the Masquerade Music Park in Atlanta on May 12. The bands will rotate through the closing spots throughout the tour, and metal band Ghost will open all dates.

Dubbed the Heritage Hunter tour, the name comes from the most recent releases of both bands.

From Atlanta, Mastodon released The Hunter in September of last year, and the album debuted at number ten on the Billboard 200 albums charts. The album was produced by Mike Elizondo, who is best known for his work as a hip-hop producer with artists like Dr. Dre, Eminem and 50 Cent, through he also has worked with artists like Fiona Apple, Maroon 5 and Carrie Underwood. The album is the band’s fifth studio record.

Mastodon released a collective statement expressing their excitement about the upcoming tour.

“We’re excited to co-headline this tour with Opeth for whom we have great respect and admiration,” the statement read. “Having Ghost along as well will make this tour a special event.”

Opeth is a Swedish metal band who also released their most recent album, The Heritage, last September. The album debuted at number 19 in America on the Billboard 200 music chart. Critics considered the album a departure from many of the group’s previous works, as it featured no “death growls” and highlighted more expansive instrumentation. “Slither,” a song from the album, was written as a tribute to Ronnie James Dio, the legendary metal singer that died during the recording of The Heritage.

Opeth frontman Mikael Akerfeldt also issued a statement on the tour.

“We’re touring North America together with Mastodon soon. Nice!” he said. “One of the very few metal bands of today that I genuinely like. Good people too! Ghost are coming with us as well, and they are one of the hottest new bands to come out of Sweden in recent years, and I dig them too. I sound like an old fart, don’t I? Well, I am.”

English rock band Spiritualized recently announced it will head out on the road in North America for the first time since 2008. The trek will support the band’s upcoming seventh studio album, Sweet Heart Sweet Light.

The tour will keep the band on the road through most of May, beginning May 2 at the First Avenue club in Minneapolis, and continuing through May 26, when the group plays The Rickshaw Theatre in Vancouver, British Columbia. In between those dates, the band will play 17 dates in cities across the North America including Chicago, Toronto, New York, Boston, Atlanta, Dallas and San Francisco.

Sweet Heart Sweet Light originally had a release date set for March 20, but Spiritualized leader (and only constant member) J Spaceman told Spin magazine recently that the album would be delayed because he is still completing it, though advance copies were already sent out.

“I had the rather foolish idea last November that I could deliver the record that’s been sent out and keep working on the real version,” Spaceman, whose real name is Jason Pierce, told the music magazine. “I’d meet the deliver date they need for reviews and things like that and nobody would be any the wiser that I’d be carrying on with the mixing.”

Spaceman also elaborated on how the new album would be different than the one reviewers have received.

“I think it’s quite different,” he said. “People say that all the little mixing moves I’m doing now are just for myself, but to me they’re no different than the mixing moves I did at the start of the process. Balancing things is what mixing is. Some bits are more realized and closer to what I wanted them to sound like, but I’m in the unenviable position now where the [album] that’s out there isn’t finished.

Spaceman formed Spiritualized in 1990, after his previous band, Spacemen 3, broke up.

After recently wrapping up an arena tour, Guns N’ Roses has announced a handful of theater dates throughout February, starting next week when the band will play three dates in New York during fashion week.

With each show held at a different venue, the first show will be held February 10 at the Roseland Ballroom. After that, the band will play Terminal 5 on February 12 and Webster Hall on February 15. For the show on the 15^th, the marquee for Webster Hall will be changed to the Ritz, which is what the venue was called when Guns N’ Roses last played there 24 years ago.

That performance was recorded as an MTV concert called “Live at the Ritz,” which is now a heavily sought after bootleg. The band has never played the Roseland Ballroom or Terminal 5 before.

Following the New York shows, the group will head to the Midwest for one show at the House of Blues in Chicago on February 19. Then they will head back to the east coast for a show in Silver Spring, Md. at the Fillmore and then another House of Blues show, this time in Atlantic City, N.J on February 24.

In other Guns N’ Roses news, it was announced in December that the band will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, along with the Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Faces/Small Faces. The induction ceremony will be held April 14 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Singer Axl Rose is the only remaining original member of Guns N’ Roses, which released the multi-platinum debut Appetite for Destruction in 1987. No word has been released as to which lineup will appear at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

The band’s most recent record, Chinese Democracy, was released in 2008, 17 years after the most recent album to that point, Use Your Illusion II.