Metallica was nominated for induction into the 2009 Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame last week in its second year of eligibility, with the band qualifying because it has been recording for 25 years. But drummer Lars Ulrich told us that he doesn't think of Metallica as a "classic rock" band just yet: "The good thing is we started pretty early. I mean, I was 17 when we started this band, so 25 years makes me kind of sound old, but actually I'm not as old as I sometimes feel at 6:45 in the morning, because we got such an early start. So at least we got that going for us (laughs)."

Nominees are eligible on the 25th anniversary of their debut release under their official name. Metallica's debut album, Kill 'Em All, came out in 1983.

The shortlist of nominees also includes Jeff Beck, Run-DMC,the Stooges featuring Iggy Pop, Chic, Wanda Jackson, War, Little Anthony and the Imperials and Bobby Womack. Five artists will be chosen for induction, with the final list to be announced in January.

The ceremony is set for April 4th at Cleveland's Public Hall, with tickets made available to the public.

In other Metallica news, the band has issued a cease and desist order against Fernandes Guitars in Hollywood, according to TMZ.com. The guitar manufacturer used to have a promotional deal with Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo before he joined the group. But even though Trujillo now falls under Metallica's own deal with ESP Guitars, Fernandes has continued using Trujillo's image for marketing and advertising.

The continuing controversy over the audio quality of the band's new album, Death Magnetic, was the subject of a Wall Street Journal article last week. Although some fans have complained that the record is too loud and distorted, Metallica co-manager Cliff Burnstein told the paper that they are in the minority, adding, "There's something exciting about the sound of this record that people are responding to."

Despite reports that Robert Plant had finally signed on to team up with Led Zeppelin for a reunion tour, the singer has posted on his official website (robertplant.com) that he has no road plans after his current tour with Alison Krauss, which wraps on Sunday (October 5th) in Saratoga, Florida.

The message reads in part: "Robert has no intention whatsoever of touring with anyone for at least the next two years. Contrary to a spate of recent reports, Robert Plant will not be touring or recording with Led Zeppelin. Anyone buying tickets online to any such event will be buying bogus tickets."

Plant himself was quoted as saying, "It's both frustrating and ridiculous for this story to continue to rear its head when all the musicians that surround the story are keen to get on with their individual projects and move forward. I wish Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham nothing but success with any future projects."

Page, Jones, Bonham, have been rehearsing with a series of other vocalists, which reportedly include Myles R. Kennedy from Alter Bridge. There has been no official announcement as to whether the band is planning to tour or record together without Plant's involvement.

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss perform tonight (September 30th) in Portland, Oregon at the Rose Garden Arena.

The extended Pink Floyd family has weathered another loss with the death of former manager Bryan Morrison, according to NME.com. Morrison, whom also managed mid-'60s British rockers the Pretty Things, died of an infection yesterday (September 29th) after spending two years in a coma following an accident.

Morrison played a pivotal role in Floyd's early career, and according to legend the late Syd Barrett bit his finger after he claimed Morrison hadn't delivered a royalty check to him.

Morrison eventually became a multimillionaire, by publishing songs by Marc Bolan and T. Rex, the Bee Gees, the Jam, and Wham!

Pink Floyd keyboardist Rick Wright died on September 15th of cancer at age 65.

The band's co-founder Syd Barrett died in 2006 at age 60, after spending years as a recluse, and suffering from what was believed to be schizophrenia.

Oasis has announced the details of a new North American tour that will begin on December 3rd in Oakland, California and wrap up on December 20th in Washington D.C. The trek will mark the band's return to these shores since a run of dates was cut short earlier this month after guitarist Noel Gallagher was assaulted onstage by a concertgoer in Toronto. The group was forced to scrap the last few gigs of that jaunt, as well as several European shows, while Gallagher recovered from hip and rib injuries sustained in the incident.

Oasis will release its seventh studio album, titled Dig Out Your Soul, on October 7th.

For a limited time, every Oasis ticket order made through Ticketmaster will include an option to upgrade to a special package containing the concert ticket, a copy of Dig Out Your Soul and an exclusive Oasis T-shirt.

Tickets for the tour go on sale Friday (October 3rd) at 10:00 a.m. local time, with the Chicago date going on sale Saturday (October 4th) at the same time.

Newly announced Oasis tour dates (subject to change):
December 3 - Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena
December 4 - Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
December 6 - Las Vegas, NV - The Pearl
December 8 - Denver, CO - Broomfield Events Center
December 10 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
December 12 - Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena
December 13 - Detroit, MI - Palace of Auburn Hills
December 15 - London, ON - John LaBattCentre
December 17 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
December 19 - Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Center
December 20 - Washington, DC - GMU Patriot Center

The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nickelback and the Offspring are among the artists and celebrities that have donated items to an eBay charity auction being sponsored by the Make A Noise Foundation. Proceeds from the auction will go to offset the medical costs of 39-year-old Lit drummer Allen Shellenberger, who was recently diagnosed with a grade four malignant brain tumor. The Chili Peppers are offering a signed copy of their 2006 album, Stadium Arcadium, while the Offspring is putting autographed drum heads on the block. Also up for auction are a signed guitar from Staind, a painting by actor Pierce Brosnan, a dinner with the members of Lit, a guitar lesson with Steve Vai, an amp signed by members of No Doubt, plus items from Nickelback, Donna Summer, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban and others.

The auction began on Monday (September 29th) with more information available at MySpace.com/litlounge.

Proceeds will also go to the Maxine Dunitz Neurosugical Institute at Cedar-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, where the drummer is being treated.

Shellenberger's cancer is the same kind recently diagnosed in Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy.

Lit guitarist Jeremy Popoff said in a statement, "Allen's young and healthy and if anyone has a chance to beat this, it's him. As sad and scared as we all are, we're standing by him and staying positive. We're going to fight this together."