With the release today of their new album First Impressions Of Earth, The Strokes have also revealed some of their touring plans for the new year. Over the next week, the band will play a handful of "surprise" gigs throughout the U.S., with a proper tour running from late February to mid-April. A tour of the U.K., Scotland and Ireland is slated for January and February, with most dates already sold out. The Strokes plan to visit Canada, Europe, Australia and Japan before the end of the summer.

Rapper Obie Trice was shot in his hometown of Detroit on New Year's Eve while driving on the freeway. Trice was shot at from another vehicle early in the morning, and released from a hospital later in the day. There are no suspects at this time. Trice is a protege of Eminem and signed to his Shady Records label.

Staind has announced a slate of live dates over the next two months, with 15 shows revealed thus far, beginning in Philadelphia on January 29. Staind frontman Aaron Lewis has a handful of solo, acoustic gigs slated in January as well.

Also hitting the road in January and February is Sevendust, with a headlining tour beginning on January 18 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. So far, 18 dates have been announced, with Socialburn opening the majority of the trek.

Ben Harper will release a double-album on March 21, entitled Both Sides Of The Gun. Harper tells Rolling Stone that much like last year's Foo Fighters album, he wanted to split the music between more rocking sounds and mellower tracks. Harper also recently tied the knot with actress Laura Dern just days before Christmas.

Canadian rockers Danko Jones will hit the road this month as the opening act for Nickelback's tour of their home and native land, beginning on January 17. The band will also drop their next album, Sleep Is The Enemy, in May, with the lead single set as "First Date."

Guitarist Bryan Harvey, formerly of the duo House Of Freaks, was found murdered on New Year's Eve, alongside his wife and two daughters. According to reports, the Harveys were discovered when firefighters responded to a 911 call reporting a fire at their Virginia home.