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Finally some good news for the ageing generation of rockers, not those ageing rockers, the ones in their 30s and 40s that are  perhaps starting to feel the weight of their parents influence more than their own ‘cred’.

If breeding is on the cards, the need to move to the suburbs, get a rubbish, sensible car and become a fan of Katie Melua is diminishing.  Thankfully.

Newborns can now be ‘got to’ from the very beginning of their lives to ensure Beiber-free years for their parents.

Imagine Led Zepellin, lulling the little ones to sleep.  Guns ‘n’ Roses soothing the tears and AC/DC calming the tantrums?

Kiss could tickle toes, The Smashing Pumpkins could blow raspberries on tummies and Metalica could turn sniffles to giggles.

All this is now possible (and tantamount to good parenting surely?) with baby lullabies. Put simply, it is lullaby versions of your favourite rock music. Several companies produce these CDs now including the brilliantly named Rockabye Baby

Any new parent can literally swap a cradle of filth for Cradle of Filth and get the baby into good music from birth.

If, after the above knowledge, any adult ends up waiting 2-hours for a little Canadian bell-end to faux-feint on stage, then they deserve that misery and can not be helped.

Imagine being so massive that a festival has to add an extra date to deal with demand.

After announcing Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z as their headliners, Wireless has extended it’s weekend run in July to a three day extravaganza, after record ticket sales.

And whilst ‘The Trousersnake’ and Mrs Beyonce may have enormous appeal – it is the promise of a Tribe Called Quest that may have British pulses racing.

The hip-hop pioneers have not played on our shores for 20-years so a ticket for Wireless has suddenly become the hottest ticket to own, and the  new Sunday slot is a music mecca.

J-Lake headlines the Friday and Jay-Z the Saturday but on Sunday July 14th you get it all.

Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z will bring their Legends of the Summer Stadium Tour to East London that night and you also get A Tribe Called Quest and Rizzle Kicks amongst others.

Wireless at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has suddenly become VERY exciting.

Can they kick it?  Oh hell yes they can.

As we deal with this cold, rubbish time of year, only looking forward to a summer of live music can keep us sane.  Guest bloggers were promised to deal with different festivals so enjoy this weeks very special Download entry from the master of metal – Xfm’s Rich Walters.  

Let’s face it, there’s nothing like festival season, is there? Even when your mates realise the tent is rockin’ and still come knockin’ with a performance of Tenacious D’s “Fuck Her Gently”.

Obviously there are many festivals; not just in the UK but also around the World competing for our hard earned cash. Some sadly struggled in 2012, which lead to cancellations such as Sonisphere at Knebworth.

There is one festival though, year in year out I look forward to – Download.

That sensation in mid June, waking at 5am Wednesday morning, driving up the M25 and M1, finally on to the A453 and pulling in at Donington Park Services for Breakfast. Come 8am the entire seating area is full of festival goers having one final crap on a decent toilet.

We pick up last minute campsite supplies and meet up with friends before heading to the spiritual home of rock, the legendary Donington Park! Where else can you be woken up by the sound of a plane landing or taking off, with a bitching hangover, in a field with tens of thousands of people?

The repartee with the Security guard in the main car park, the walk across the iconic temporary bridge, the crowd cheers from front to back as camp site opening gets closer, the triumphant beers once you’ve pitched your tent, the aforementioned planes and the long walk to the Arena, make Download, Download.

Following on from the success of Download 2012, which saw Metallica play The Black Album in its entirety and Black Sabbath close on the Sunday night, Festival Booker, Andy Copping, has secured three of the most scintillating live acts in the World for Download 2013: Slipknot, Iron Maiden and Rammstein.

Hopefully the weather will better than last year. It was diabolical!  The start of the festival was even delayed on Friday due to the weather. In honesty I think there was a distinct chance of the first day of the festival being cancelled altogether, so credit to those who busted their balls to make the arena safe.

The campsite was still deluged by mud but the shit weather didn’t diminish any spirits. I don’t know about you, but as long as I have my mates and buckets of booze – I’m happy, whatever the weather.

I’ve been jammy enough to DJ at Download for the past couple of years. I can’t begin to depict the elation of standing on a stage, with one of my best mates, watching people lose their shit to tunes I’m playing. I’m hoping to DJ again this year too.

I’ve experienced unforgettable ‘Download moments’ over the years at Donington. Lars Ulrich’s hospitalisation in 2004, which lead to Metallica playing with (then) Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo and Slipknot’s Joey Jordison standing in. Seeing Dimebag grace a stage for the final time before his murder in December 2004. Korn’s Jonathan Davis falling ill in 2006 and Korn performing with guest vocalists including Corey Taylor (Slipknot/Stonesour) M Shadows (A7X) and Benji Webbe (Skindred) amongst others.

Metallica performing “Master Of Puppets” in full to mark the 25^th anniversary of the iconic albums release. The following night, Guns N Roses, well Axl and friends, played a chaotic festival closing set – which lead to a minority of the 75,000 fans in attendance starting fires with riot police eventually being called in to calm the situation.

Korn returned a year later with Jonathan Davis stating he wanted to make it up to the fans for pulling out the year before – and he did! Korn headlined the Dimebag Darrell Stage that year with people being turned away due to the tents capacity being reached.

Slipknot’s outstanding headline performance in 2009.

AC/DC bringing their own stage in 2010!

Corey Taylor’s tearful homage to Paul Gray whilst Stonesour headlined the Ronnie James Dio Stage…

I could go on for hours.

I’ve had bad times too; getting robbed and having some tool trying to set my tent on fire whilst I was still inside are two moments that, for some reason, spring to mind.

Headliners aside in 2013, there are plenty of great bands on this year’s bill. I’m particularly thrilled for Sonic Boom Six who’ll lose their Download virginity this Summer. They are a band I’ve supported on Xfm and are first-rate live.

Bury Tomorrow, Young Guns and Architects all have chances to make an impression in great slots, evidence of how far each band has come in a reasonably short space of time.

After cancelling last year, Five Finger Death Punch will be out for blood. Enter Shikari’s live show is renowned, proven with a Second Stage headline slot. It’ll be ace to see HIM, A Day To Remember, Stonesour, Parkway Drive, Korn etc.

Yet again Andy Copping and the team at Live Nation have pulled it out the bag.

Roll on June…

The Brit Awards.

A night known for its pop more than its rock, for its often terrible compares and of course, for its controversy and rucks.

After Liam Gallagher snubbed his brother and threw his award and mic away whilst stomping off stage, how we all laughed when Peter Kay echoed the nations thoughts with a simple ‘what a knobhead’.

We all wondered what the hell was going on in 2000 when Brandon Block barged on stage to have a pop at Ronnie Woods, before Woods brilliantly ‘doused’ the problem.

And we all sniggered behind our hands when Chumbawumba threw ice cold water over John Prescott back in 1998.

But when we return to 1989 the humour is quickly replaced with horror as memories return of Sam Fox and Mick Fleetwood blundering their way through that painful night.

So what of The Brits 2013?

It is expected that Mumford and Sons will run away with Best British Group this year; up against The XX, Alt-J and Muse, their stiffest competition will come from One Direction and it is not often you will see that lot all on the same listing.

Darling of the London Olympics, Emeli Sandé is up for several awards although it is widely believed history will be made in the Best British Female category and go to Amy Winehouse.

Justin Timberlake will be bringing some sexy back to the night with his new track, Mirrors and there will be performances from Muse and Robbie Williams.

James Corden will be hosting for the third year in a row which is doubtful to fill you with nervous anticipation but at least it keeps ITVs sphincters healthy.

And therein maybe the problem lies.  It is not to blather on like a bitter music journo about all that is wrong with anything that includes a jolly chord but in this more recent softer approach the Brits just feels a bit… meh.

It once heralded collaborations between the most unlikely of acts.  The guessing game of who would perform with whom was always part of the build up.

The anticipation of what the host would do or say or f*ck up was part of the fun and pure yearning for who would behave badly made it one of the greatest events in the music/TV calendar.

Jarvis Cocker got his arse out, a Spice Girl flashed her knockers and Robbie challenged Liam to a fight.

Joss Stone ‘became’ American, The Arctic Monkeys let loose on The Brit School and Sharon Osbourne had a pop at Vic Reeves.

These are the moments we have all come to know, love and expect from The Brits and diluting the ceremony can only go to dilute ones enthusiasm for it.

Still, at least 1D will be covering a Blondie track this year…

It may be hard to imagine but some people really are happier with their model trains than their model wife. There will be no judgement here, to each his own.

However, one tinsy winsy little bit of advice: it is probably best not to admit widely accepted geekisms and just enjoy them privately.

Rod Stewart has received tons of accolades during his long career; he has even been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, twice, but he has been nominated for an award now that he may rather avoid.

The Dull Mens Club has decided Rod’s outspoken train-set fetish is more than enough to get him on to this years shortlist and if you think they are being cruel, it really is a big passion.

Rumour has it that when Rod the Mod is on tour he rents out an entire hotel room just to work with his trains.

Apparently his Beverley Hills mansion has a 1,500-square-foot train layout that takes up the entire third floor.

And if all that was not enough, he was even once quoted saying “It means more to me to be on the cover of Model Railroader than to be on the cover of a music magazine.”

In a game of coolness points it seems that owning up to model train fun simply wipes out all your other chips – forget the huge array of music he has made, forget the long and very varied sex life and forget the model wives.

Although when you remember that this accolade comes courtesy of the Dull Mens Club whose motto is Born to be Mild, it seems it is actually a very high form of praise.

Besides, with an estimated fortune of £115 million I doubt Sir Stewart really gives a toss.

Choo choo

After quashing rumours that they are to appear at this years Glastonbury, Fleetwood Mac have announced a massive tour all of their own.

Mick Fleetwood said he hoped there was a demand for them to do this tour whilst speaking to BBC 6 Music.  But with ticket prices ranging from £62.50 to £137.50 they appear pretty confident that there is.

It is not all moan and groan about outrageous prices though: the band have been writing and are planning on airing some new songs at the gigs.

Mick and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham have penned purely for Stevie Nicks, who after a family bereavement, finally recorded the tracks recently.  Nicks has also added in a new song she has written.

This all bodes very well for a prospective new album, Fleetwood Mac’s first since their 2003 offering Say You Will. But it is the classics that people are after.  Their best known album, Rumours, has entered the UK charts at number three after a special anniversary edition was recently released.

Whether the new songs are the stuff of Dreams is yet to be seen but to witness Stevie Nicks sing live for even one song is, perhaps, worth the extortionate fee alone.

The tour begins stateside in April before moving to Europe in the summer with UK dates set for September and October.

We have beaten January, so it is time to drag our sorry, alcohol free, cleansed and depressed bodies into February and what better way to do that than start planning the summer festival season?

The choice of festivals is utterly huge now and there is certainly better weather on offer at many but there is still only one with that special draw, there is still only one Glastonbury.

The line up needs no teasy announcing, with just a farm name and a date… and an almost dead cert for sh*t weather, the tickets sell out in minutes.

However, whilst there may be no firm band list for a while, there are still rumours and let’s be honest, we all love a good gossip.

One of the biggest names to drop so far in this years whispering woods is The Rolling Stones.  In an interview with the NME, Mick asked if it would be raining this year on the Sunday.  He also mentioned that Glastonbury was very important to his kids.

After the huge success and critical acclamation of their ’50-year gigs’ last year it would be a massive coup to have The Stones play the Pyramid stage at last.

Fleetwood Mac were another rumour(s) floating around although it appears they have now quashed the gossip but suggested to play 2014 instead.

Get your gladioli ready as a nod has gone towards The Smiths reforming live before our very, blurry, Glasto eyes to headline the Pyramid stage. Holy Moly added that since Coachella offered to become vegetarian to entice Morrisey over, plans have been growing.

The Arctic Monkeys, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Leftfield and the Kaiser Chiefs are all on the ‘strong rumour’ lists, although with the recent departure of their drummer and songwriter the Kaiser’s may have had better years.

Radiohead and Mumford and Sons are also on the tip of a lot of tongues as are the Stone Roses and the Kings of Leon.

David Bowie is no stranger either and as a man that can came on stage after a festival stupidly aired an England football match (and defeat) and made the angry crowd forget that thrashing, he is a safe pair of hands. Plus with a new album out in March he would surely be tempted?

But what of the ‘odd’ act?  The act that is, perhaps a bit mainstream for old school Glasto-goers?  The acts like Beyonce or Jay-Z that have shocked and awed in equal measure in the past?

The strongest rumour for that position goes to none other than the meat wearing madame herself, Lady GaGa.  Other ladies, and it is all ladies so far, include Rhianna (which would hint at Coldplay surely?) and Adele.

Whatever the rumours and whatever the weather, it will be brilliant because it is Glastonbury and there ain’t no other like it.

We will of course keep you updated on gossip for all the festivals as summer draws near and you can expect a few guest writers on here who will argue against Glastonbury.

There is something for everyone, so watch this space.

Another week in January and another comeback may be in store – this time from Prince.

After the release of Rock and Roll Love Affair a few months ago, the mini master of pop has blessed us with another musical interlude.

The provocatively named Screw Driver (would you expect anything less from Prince?) was ‘leaked’ on Twitter.  Although from a man as notoriously protective of his music as The Artist it it is rumoured to have been more viral campaign than actual leak.

With Prince set to receive the Billboard Icon award this May and with an interview and cover in the next edition of the magazine, the fan sites are already salivating amid rumours of his return.

Add to that a new ‘secret’ website that has popped up with Screw Driver on it plus two other videos and you get a veritable under-the-sheets feast for forecasting fans.

January, as always, has been pretty dull so far.  But it also seems to be a time portal.

Last week the exciting news that David Bowie is releasing music again filled us with joy.  But when Bowie is in the UK charts alongside news stories about the Falkland Islands everything seems a touch déjà vu.

As if to prove this point a new TV show called The Reunion begins soon.  Previous 90s ‘favourites’ who are no longer famous get paraded for our viewing pleasure whilst we decide if we like them again or not.  Have they been suitably knocked off their pedestals enough for us to grant them another shot at a Heat magazine spread?

Atomic Kitten, 5IVE and B*Witched are amongst the competitors who perhaps could not make the day job at HMV workout so instead enter in to this seemingly legal modern day gladiatorial contest in the coliseum of ITV.

Nuclear, the first single from Destiny’s Child in seven years premiered this week but band member Beyoncé (remember, she was in a band before she went solo) may have been pipped to the comeback post by Justin Timberlake’s new track; Suit and Tie which incidentally features Beyoncé’s husband, Jay-Z.

But if none of the above floats your nostalgic musical boat then how about an act who wore their clothes backwards and promised they would make you, the Mac Daddy, the Daddy Mac and everyone else for that matter – Jump, Jump?

Yep – Kris Kross are reuniting for a 20th anniversary gig in honour of So So Def Recordings next month. Kris and Kross are 32 now so we can but hope they still have it what it takes to make us Jump in the comeback year of 2013.