Tom Gabel Announces His Intention To Become A Woman, Metallica Goodies Become Available To Non-Fanclub Members

Against Me! lead singer Tom Gabel has revealed that he plans to begin living as a woman. Gabel will take the name Laura Jane Grace and will alter his body through hormones and other treatments. Gabel, who's dealt with gender dysphoria for years, tells Rolling Stone that he'll remain married to her wife Heather. Gabel says, "For me, the most terrifying thing about this was how she would accept the news. But she's been super-amazing and understanding."

The origins behind Gabel's new name are hinted at in the lyrics of Against Me!'s 2007 song "The Ocean": "And if I could have chosen/ I would have been born a woman/ My mother once told me she would have named me Laura/ I'd grow up to be strong and beautiful like her."

The Against Me! issue of Rolling Stone is out tomorrow (5.11.12).

The new issue of So What, Metallica's long-running fanclub magazine, will be available to non-fanclub members starting next week. The special issue was done in collaboration with Metal Hammer magazine and focuses on the band's 30th anniversary shows last December at The Fillmore in San Francisco. Besides interviews with all of the past and present members of Metallica, it includes an exclusive 7-inch vinyl single with live takes on "So What" and "Through the Never" from the anniversary shows.

Dirty Heads are touring this summer with Matisyahu, closest date is Bend, Oregon.

Marilyn Manson has scored the seventh Top 10 album of his career with Born Villain. It debuts at number-10 on the Billboard 200 with 38,000 copies sold, according to SoundScan. Five of his studio albums have made the Top 10 as well as his 2004 best-of compilation Lest We Forget.

Beastie Boys are being sued by the Tuf America label, claiming the trio illegally sampled Trouble Funk's songs "Say What" and "Drop the Bomb" for Licensed to Ill and Paul's Boutique. The suit was filed May 3rd, the day before Adam Yauch died from cancer.