Photo: Winter/Getty

Memo for the few Smashing Pumpkins fans who still have a glimmer of hope for the return of original members James Iha and D'Arcy Wretzky: Stop holding your breath. Billy Corgan has posted a lengthy entry on his blog explaining the current status of the Pumpkins. Corgan elaborates on how the current tour is all about "where we are, not where we've been." That comment trickled into a discussion on Iha and Wretzky who, Corgan says,  "aren't ever coming back."

"I can now say definitively that they aren't ever coming back. Period. There is no maybe. If the door was once open to at least have the conversation and consider the possibility, it is now closed. For good. We have moved on. We love them, and we wish them well. The Smashing Pumpkins are now whoever is standing on that stage, on any given day, with a willingness to play those songs."

Yep, it's a bummer.

To read Corgan's sprawling post, click here.

Photo: Hoffman/Getty

Warren Haynes has announced the initial line-up for his annual Christmas Jam. In celebration of its twentieth year, the Jam will be spread over two days, taking place on December 12th and 13th at the Asheville Civic Center in Asheville, NC. So far, 16 acts have been announced.  

The current line-up:

Allman Brothers Band
Del McCoury Band
Derek Trucks Band
Steve Earle
Ruthie Foster
Michael Franti Acoustic Featuring Jay Bowman
Gov't Mule
JJ Grey
Col. Bruce Hampton
Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk
Robert Kearns
Kevin Kinney
Eric Krasno
Joan Osborne
Travis Tritt & Marty Stuart
Johnny Winter

Tickets will first be available on November 5th through Christmas Jam Ticketing, followed by sales through Ticketmaster on November 15th. For more info, click here.

Photo: Barket/Getty

Say it ain't so, Joe.

Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry has announced his endorsement of McCain, saying, "We pretty much stay out of it, but seeing so many people come out for Obama, I just felt like 'What the hell, I might as well raise my hand for this side.'"

What conviction!

"I've been a hardcore Republican my whole life," he said. "My mother and father drilled into me from the very start that if you work hard and be positive, you'll get what you're working for. I guess I'm living proof of that."

So sad. We'll never be able to listen to the solo in "Dream On" the same way again. 

Photo: Retna (Willams Sr) Getty (Williams III)

We're stoked that Hank Williams III's new album Damn Right, Rebel Proud just debuted at Number 18 on the Billboard charts (and #2 on the country chart), his highest chart position ever!

The S.S. had the chance to chat with the hillbilly hellraiser, grandson (and spitting image) of country legend Hank Williams, and son of Bocephus. 

Hank elaborated on his grandfather's unfair dismissal as a standing member of the Grand Ole Opry -- Nashville's home of country music -- and about the grassroots movement to get his grandfather reinstated. Hank Williams' Opry membership was stripped in 1952 (many speculate it was due to his alcoholism), yet despite being booted, his grandson claims that the Opry, "continues to put out records saying, 'This is Hank Williams live from the Grand Ole Opry' and using his image and likeness."

Hank III said there are plenty of ways for people to help stop this exploitation. "We have a petition that anybody can sign, and just spreading the word, letting people know, that's the biggest thing."

On Damn Right, Rebel Proud, Hank III included the tune, "The Grand Ole Opry (Ain't So Grand)," which boasts the following verse:

"To most people listening to this sit might seem like we're talking shit 

But if you look behind the scenes to see who is pulling strings, goddammit it will make you sick

Hank Williams still ain't reinstated and I'll tell you that's fucking bullshit."

Listen to the full track below and click here to sign the petition to reinstate Hank Sr.

Hank Williams III - "The Grand Ole Opry (Ain't So Grand)"

Click the jump to read more of Hank III talkin' about his grandpa. 

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Photo: Getty

My Morning Jacket and Bruce Springsteen have contributed tracks to Serve3, a compilation that benefits Hard Rock International's campaign against world hunger. Serve3 contains exclusive and unreleased tracks from various artists -- including an alternate version of the Jacket's "Look At You," and a live version of Springsteen singing "Remember When The Music." The comp will be out on November 4th and all proceeds from sales will be given to World Hunger Year. 

Click the jump for the full Serve3 track listing. 

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Photo: Aaron/Retna

Jermaine "Don't Call Me Tito, Bitch" Jackson has confirmed rumors of a Jackson 5 reunion.

"This has been a long time coming for the Jackson family to come back together," Jermaine claimed. "It is just the timing, so what we've been doing is working on the music and all the logistics." Riiiight.

"It is going to be more like a family affair," he lied. "Janet is going to open, and of course, the original Jackson 5 -- Michael, Randy and the whole family... We're in the studio. We're planning on being out there next year."

The S.S. is offering 5:1 odds that this is total bullshizz.

Then again, Jermaine named his son Jermajesty. We weren't expecting that.

Photo: COFFRINI/AFP/Getty

Breaking Wilco news: 

• The band will make an appearance on the Colbert Report tonight at 11:30 (ET).
• On Saturday, Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt and jack-of-all-trades Pat Sansone will perform "A Concert for Change" at the Wisconsin Union Theater.
• Two headlining shows have been added during the off days of their tour with Neil Young. Rochester, NY on December 6th and Baltimore, MD on December 14th.
• Many of the guys have solo shows coming up: November 7th Mikael Jorgensen's Pronto hits New York City, Glen Kotche makes a stop to Chicago on November 18th, Nels Cline will be performing in San Francisco on November 19th and Jeff Tweedy will be at the Ann Arbor Folk Fest on January 30th.

Photo: Getty

Metallica's Death Magnetic has gone platinum -- with 1.2 million copies sold -- just six weeks after it's release. 

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Photos courtesy of Christie’s

Christies.com has a slew of rock memorabilia up for bidding and if you have the dough, some of this shit is mighty cool.

Items expected to sell under the $1000 mark include concert posters and flyers from bands like Velvet Underground, the Ramones, Blondie, Lou Reed, Television and more. If you're unaffected by the tanking economy you may want to spring for John Lennon's Vox Continental Organ (estimated to go for $150,000 to $200,000), which was used at the Beatles' 1965 Shea Stadium concert and during an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. Other top items include guitars owned and played by Bob Marley and Kurt Cobain, and handwritten lyrics scratched out by Jimi Hendrix. Click here to get in on the auction (starts Nov. 24th).

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Photo: Getty

Our favorite young metal gods, Mastodon, have revealed new details for their upcoming album, Crack The Skye (out early 2009). Super-produced by super-producer Brendan O'Brien, the follow-up for 2006's kick-ass Blood Mountain boasts seven songs that clock in at 50 minutes.  

1. Oblivion
2. Divinations
3. Quintessence
4. The Czar
    (I.) Usurper
    (II.) Escape
    (III.) Martyr
    (IV.) Spiral
5. Ghost of Kareila
6. Crack The Skye
7. The Last Baron

Mastodon just kicked off their European tour and will team up with Metallica during the European leg of their Death Magnetic tour in the summer of 2009.

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