A7X Rule At The Golden Gods Awards (Again), STP Releasing DVD

The fourth edition of the Revolver Golden Gods Awards last night at L.A.'s Club Nokia was highlighted by a number of performances featuring special guests:

Johnny Depp joined Marilyn Manson on guitar for half of their four song set, and Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless sang with Manson on another number.
Alice Cooper closed Slash's set by singing "School's Out" with the band.
Twisted Sister's Dee Snider sang "I Wanna Rock" with Black Veil Brides.
Slipknot's Corey Taylor and Machine Head's Robb Flynn joined Trivium for Metallica's "Creeping Death."

For the second straight year, Avenged Sevenfold took home the most awards. This year they were they only multiple winner, with two -- for Best Live Band and Most Dedicated Fans. Last year they won four awards. Other winners included Nikki Sixx (Best Bassist), Slash (Riff Lord), Jinxx and Jake Pitts of Black Veil Brides (Best Guitarist, in a field made up of guitar duos). Amy Lee of Evanescence (Best Vocalist), Five Finger Death Punch's Jeremy Spencer (Best Drummer), Slipknot (Comeback of the Year), X Japan (International Band) and Korn (Album of the Year, for The Path of Totality).

Gene Simmons of KISS accepted the Golden God Award and Rush drummer Neil Peart picked up his band's Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achivement Award. Both winners had previously been announced.

Other highlights included:

Yngwie Malmsteen's opening solo rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner," with a Navy Honor Guard on stage.
Two songs from Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx's other project, Sixx A:M -- their first performance in nearly four years.
Now-freed West Memphis Three prisoner Damien Echols' emotional introduction of Manson, who'd made an impassioned plea for their release at the Golden Gods Awards two years ago.
A brief appearance by Aerosmith's Joe Perry to poke some fun at host Chris Jericho.

And one lowlight:

Slash refusing to take any questions about Guns'N'Roses' Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction on the event's "black carpet," while others, including James Durbin and Alice Cooper, shared their thoughts on Axl Rose's announcement that he will refuse his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.

On the same day the Revolver Golden Gods Awards were taking place at Club Nokia down the block, L.A.'s Grammy Museum opened a new exhibit called Golden Gods: A History of Heavy Metal. Using artifacts such as instruments and amps, photos, stage costumes, galleries of album covers and gig posters and a series of videos and timelines, the exhibit charts the evolution of metal from its origins to today. Interactive elements include a "Scream Booth" in which a video of Asking Alexandria singer Danny Worsnop instructs visitors on how to shriek like a pro, and a lab where you can remix Lamb of God's "Everything to Nothing."

Among the artists contributing memorabilia are Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC, Quiet Riot, Pantera, Korn and Slipknot. One item you won't see is the gallows from Alice Cooper's stage show. It was donated by Alice, but when the museum's curators unpacked it, they realized it was too dangerous to allow people to go near.

Apparently doing back-to-back concept albums wasn't enough for Green Day. The trio has announced that they're working on three albums at the same time.

Uno! is due out September 25th
Dos! is due out November 13th.
Tre! is due out January 15th, 2013.

The band issued a statement saying, "We are at the most prolific and creative time in our lives. This is the best music we've ever written, and the songs just keep coming. Instead of making one album, we are making a three- album trilogy. Every song has the power and energy that represents Green Day on all emotional levels. We just can't help ourselves."

They're won't be any Guns n' Roses reunion at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction this weekend because Axl Rose isn't showing up. Rose penned a lengthy open letter to the Rock Hall, sent it to the Los Angeles Times and posted it on Facebook. It's addressed "To the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Guns n' Roses Fans and Whom It May Concern," and in it Rose even says, "I respectfully decline my induction as a member."

For the first time in their two-decade career, Stone Temple Pilots are releasing a live DVD and Blu-ray. Alive in the Windy City, due out June 5th, features the band's entire concert from March 27th, 2010 at the Riviera Theater in Chicago.

Scott Weiland and company are reportedly planning a tour this year to mark the 20th anniversary of their debut album, Core.