Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford says Steven Tyler's erratic behavior may be due to drug abuse. "This guy has a tremendous history of drug abuse, and you have to be suspicious that this is something that's probably going on with him. I have a feeling we might be looking at someone who's just really struggling very badly."

Eddie Vedder, X's Exene Cervenka and John Doe, and The Black Crowes' Rich Robinson are among the performers on the soundtrack to the new documentary "The People Speak," which traces the origins of democracy.  Vedder contributes the track "Masters Of War," the X pair deliver "See How We Are," and Robinson closes the soundtrack with "Only A Pawn In Their Game."  The collection also includes songs from Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Pink, and John Legend and others.  "The People Speak" soundtrack arrives December 8th.  The documentary premieres on The History Channel December 13th.

Shinedown is now offering a video companion to their "The Sound Of Madness" album, but this set includes past favorites as well.  "The Sight Of Madness" DVD arrived earlier this week, featuring the videos for the songs "45," "Simple Man," "Save Me," and "Lady So Divine," as well as "Devour," "Second Chance," "The Sound Of Madness," and "If You Only Knew."  There's also a performance section on the disc that includes live versions of "Save Me," "Devour," "Second Chance," "The Sound Of Madness," and "Call Me."  The concert clips were taped at a show in Atlanta.

Days Of The New is planning their long awaited return.  "LEO Weekly" reports that Travis Meeks is planning on a new band album in 2010, marking the first fresh offering from the outfit in nine years.  The set is titled "Tree Colors," but an official release date has not been locked down.  The group's current lineup is unknown as well.  Days Of The New enjoyed their biggest success with their 1997 self-titled debut, but after the album release Meeks dismissed all the band members, who then went on to form Tantric.

Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins might have a new musical opportunity ahead of him.  Queen's Roger Taylor says he's hoping to play some dates with Hawkins in the new year.  The classic rocker tells BBC's 6Music he's considering embarking on a "very quick tour" with Hawkins, whom he calls "one of my best blood brothers."  Taylor adds that a trek with Hawkins, quote, "sounds like fun."

Bullet For My Valentine is entering the final stages of recording their next album.  The group states in a new posting, quote, "It has been another long road, but it's been this long for a reason!  There have been many obstacles along the way, lots of hard work and long hours in the studio.  However we think that we will produce Bullet For My Valentine's finest album to date."  The group, which has been working with producer Don Gilmore, has eight tracks ready to go with a few more left to finish.  In an interview with "Metal Hammer" magazine earlier this year, singer Matt Tuck and drummer Michael "Moose" Thomas stated that the music was different that what they had done before, and was more classic-leaning than speed or thrash metal.

Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz says his celebrity status is in part why the group is taking some time off.  The bassist tells "Kerrang!" he thinks his high profile is overshadowing the rest of the band.  Saying, quote, "I think the world needs a little less Pete Wentz," he notes that frontman Patrick Stump is, quote, "a musical genius and it's unfortunate that he gets reviewed based on whatever's going on in my personal life or how my hair looks."  He adds, quote, "A lot of people think Fall Out Boy is me.  But it's the four of us."

Wentz tells MTV News that while one could say Fall Out Boy is on "hiatus" he says he prefers the term "decompressing" to describe their current situation, explaining that "hiatus" has become a code word for a breakup but Fall Out Boy will return at some point.  The band is heading into their downtime with the newly released best-of collection, "Believers Never Die," which hit stores this week.

Linkin Park's Chester Bennington says he almost killed himself following his divorce. "Leaving my wife was the easy part - the difficult part was losing all my money, starting my life over and having to pay the person I didn't want to be around in the first place. I felt like my life's work had been given away. I drank myself to the point where I couldn't leave the house and I couldn't function. I wanted to kill myself. I could very easily not be the person who's sitting here right now. I could be dead. It was a horrible, horrible existence."

Robert Trujillo says he is devastated that Metallica fan Morgan Harrington has yet to be found. She disappeared from outside the band's concert in Charlottesville, Virginia. "I mean, I was crushed. Stuff like this just really, really bums me out, especially when you are a parent and you have children. I mean, it's the worst thing that you could ever imagine. And of course, you know, we're all hoping for the best and just praying that she's alive. It really hit a sour chord with us and bummed us out."

Dave Grohl says he still remembers what he bought with his first paycheck. "Kurt Cobain and I were living with each other in Olympia. The place was so depressing. "I took the $400 and bought a Nintendo, a BB gun... and got that tattoo."

BIRTHDAYS:

Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum is 49.

Former Better Than Ezra drummer Travis McNabb is 40.

Tool bassist Justin Chancellor is 38.

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