Neil Young fans got an unexpected treat at London’s Hyde Park on Saturday (June 27), when Paul McCartney joined Young on-stage during an explosive rendition of the Beatles’ “A Day in the Life.”

Questions regarding Michael Jackson’s death will no doubt persist for weeks and even months to come. But for serious Jackson fans, of particular interest is the issue of unfinished or unreleased material that perhaps will see the light of day.

June 30, 2009 will be a night to remember. That’s the night guitar legend Slash will take the stage in Kristiansand, Norway, at the 2009 Quart Festival with an unprecedented lineup of “friends” to perform some of rock’s greatest songs.

What started out as Paul McCartney’s christening of the New York Mets’ new Citi Field stadium, where the former Beatle will perform on July 17, 18, and 21, is shaping up to be a mini-tour.

Within days after the George Harrison died in 2001, My Morning Jacket’s Jim James felt an odd compulsion to record cover versions of several of the former Beatle’s songs. Described in a press release as having “a serene quality that mourn the loss of a legendary spirit,” the tracks will at last be released as an EP, titled Tribute To, on Aug. 4, under the pseudonym Yim Yames.

A Sears model bass guitar once owned by Kurt Cobain sold at auction on this week for $43,750. The guitar, which was used by Cobain to record early demos for the songs “Fecal Matter” and “Organized Confusion,” was one of several items that drew heavy bidding at Christie’s most recent pop and rock memorabilia sale.

Rob Halford has plenty on his plate these days — a live album due out July 14 and a tour with Whitesnake — but it’s his revelations about Judas Priest’s heyday that are particularly interesting in a new Rolling Stone Q&A. Not only does the singer discuss Priest having written an album at John Lennon and Ringo Starr’s pad but he also talks about opening up for Led Zeppelin during the band’s last U.S. tour.

The 4th annual Virgin Mobile Festival has announced headliners Weezer, Blink-182 and Franz Ferdinand and its ticket price — free! The festival, to be held in Baltimore suburb Columbia on Aug. 30, has dubbed itself Virgin FreeFest, and promoters told Billboard yesterday that in light of economic woes the move was designed to“put a smile on people’s faces.”

With Chris Cornell’s solo career floundering on the heels of his most recent hip hop-oriented album, Scream, many fans have been pushing for the reunion of his former band Soundgarden.

Fresh from backing Taylor Swift on a cover of “Pour Some Sugar On Me” at last week’s 2009 CMT Music Awards, Def Leppard is gearing up for its 40-city North American summer tour with Poison and Cheap Trick by digging through its back catalog, shuffling its playlist for fans that may have caught the band on one of its previous summer treks.