CONTROVERSY IN VENEZUELA OVER CHAVEZ PRAYER

Members of Iron Maiden, Slipknot and a host of other stars turned out to celebrate the 50th birthday of Marshall Amps on Saturday.

Slash and a host of other stars have paid tribute to the late Deep Purple rocker Jon Lord.

Billy Corgan has lashed out at Radiohead.

Evan Williams is praying for rain at Aintree for his three entries in the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday week.

Nick Gifford is leaning towards naming the JLT Specialty Handicap Chase as Tullamore Dew’s target at the Cheltenham Festival.

Lexus Chase winner Synchronised has been allotted top weight of 11st 10lb for this year’s John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Long Run could face up to seven rivals in the rearranged Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury on Friday.

Last year’s Aintree hero Ballabriggs features among the 82 entries for the John Smith’s Grand National on April 14.

CHARLIE Mann is sounding bullish ahead of Bench Warrent’s bid for glory in the Betfred Classic Chase at Warwick today.

THE Manic Street Preachers have been awarded the title of “classic songwriters” at the Classic Rock Roll Of Honour awards.

LAST YEAR’S winner Don’t Push It heads 74 remaining entries for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 9.

Riverside Theatre notched a first Grade One success as he romped home in the Betfair Ascot Chase at the Berkshire track.

TOM GEORGE and Paul Nicholls had a complete turnaround in fortunes than when in opposition at Newbury’s previous fixture as Nicholls’ Twist Magic lost his life in a dramatic Peterborough Chase won by the George-trained Tartak.

Tom George and Paul Nicholls had a complete turnaround in fortunes than when in opposition at Newbury's previous fixture as Nicholls' Twist Magic lost his life in a dramatic Peterborough Chase won by the George-trained Tartak today.

TWIST MAGIC and The Nightingale feature among a strong entry for champion trainer Paul Nicholls in the totesport.com Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on Thursday.

DUBLIN singer Imelda May was last night named best breakthrough performer at the Classic Rock Awards held in London.

DMITRY MEDVEDEV told U2 lead singer Bono that he’s a fan of rock group Led Zeppelin over tea during a meeting at the Russian president’s residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

U2's Bono has been a guest at Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's Black Sea residence.

Sandra Bullock gave a surprise serenade at the Nashville Rising: A Benefit Concert for Flood recovery show on Tuesday.

Russell Brand based his latest film character on Noel Gallagher.

THE success of Cork’s Live at the Marquee music festival over the last five years proves the need for a permanent events centre in the city, a leading promoter said last night.

Ronnie James Dio, whose soaring vocals, poetic lyrics and mythic tales of a never-ending struggle between good and evil broke new ground in heavy metal, has died at 67.

‘Stairway to Heaven’ has been voted Britain’s favourite rock song of all time.

ASTONISHING, awesome, extraordinary are just a trio of words you could use to describe the sheer power Tony McCoy produced to land Albertas Run a winner of the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham yesterday.

WITH Oxegen tickets going on sale yesterday, a look down the concert listings for the coming months shows we are set for a scorching hot summer of rock and roll.

Deep Purple is to undergo tests over the next couple of days after he broke a blood vessel in the William Hill King George VI Chase on St Stephen's Day.

Kauto Star will face 12 rivals as he bids to become the first horse to win the William Hill King George VI Chase for four consecutive years.

Kauto Star will face a maximum of 13 rivals as he bids to record a remarkable fourth consecutive victory in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton.

Deep Purple is primed to step back in trip for the totesport.com Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on Wednesday week.

Jimi Hendrix’s 'Voodoo Child' was today named the greatest guitar riff of all time, more than 40 years after he first recorded the classic cosmic jam.

Singer Rod Stewart said today he has the energy to try for an eighth child to keep his wife, Penny Lancaster, happy.

ONCE proclaimed the world’s loudest rock band, Deep Purple are set to kick up a right din in Cork following the announcement that they are to play Live at the Marquee on June 30 next.

SNOOPY Loopy is reported to be in fine shape for the Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby today as he bids to land his first success since the Betfair Chase.

Iggy Pop is to receive a Living Legend award.

Evan Williams reports Deep Purple to be in good form – despite suffering a slight setback at Kempton over Christmas.

Deep Purple looks to build on his burgeoning reputation over fences in the Stan James Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton tomorrow.

The man expected to become Russia’s next president smiled happily today as he posed for a picture with Deep Purple in the Kremlin.

A bumper entry of 130 has been received for the opening race at the Cheltenham Festival, the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Ebaziyan, winner of last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, has been handed top-weight of 11st 12lb for the totesport Trophy at Newbury on February 9.

Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh continued where they left off in December with a 137-1 treble at Sandown.

Trainer Laura Mongan has been left searching for a replacement rider for Alsadaa in tomorrow’s Anglo Irish Bank Tolworth Hurdle after regular partner Colin Bolger suffered an injury at Lingfield.

Deep Purple is likely to bid for a five-timer in the Mitie Kennel Gate Novices’ Hurdle at Ascot on Friday.

Mick Fitzgerald, who nearly retired last year, made sure no-one thinks he is finished just yet with a double at Kempton.