The official website for Gibson guitars has released what they perceive to be the top 50 metal songs of all time. Gibson.com’s writers and editors worked on compiling the list over several weeks, releasing 10 entries at a time, and recently released the top 10, which declared the number one metal song to be “Master of Puppets” by Metallica.

In some ways, the number one spot for Metallica is fitting, considering 2011 is the 25th anniversary of the release of their Master of Puppets album. Having said that though, metalheads are notorious for having fierce and strong opinions about what they consider to be their “top songs,” on top of their fierce and strong opinions about what bands are or are not even metal.

Two goliaths of rock and heavy metal music celebrate their birthdays today. Paul Stanley of KISS is 59 and his contemporary in rock, Ian Hill of Judas Priest, reaches a milestone of 60 years of age.

Paul Stanley has been rocking for almost forty years as lead singer and guitarist with KISS. His KISS “˜persona’, Starchild, is one of the most iconic images in rock; the painted white face with a black star over his right eye.

I don’t think I exaggerate when I say Stanley is one of the most naturally talented, charismatic, and captivating performers in the music business. A KISS live show is truly a thing to behold; I saw them in concert just a few months ago and the Starchild belies his 59 years. Scroll down to see video of a typically exciting KISS performance.

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the death of musician Phil Lynott, frontman of the rock band Thin Lizzy.

Philip Parris Lynott was born in the UK on August 20, 1949 and grew up in Dublin, Ireland. Lynott began his musical career in the 1960s, playing with guitarist Gary Moore amongst others and in 1969 he co-founded Thin Lizzy as the band’s frontman and main songwriter, as well as lead singer and bassist. In the 1970s, the band hit it big with a rock version of the traditional Irish tune “Whiskey in the Jar” and again in 1976 with “The Boys Are Back in Town” and “Jailbreak.”

Metal Gods Judas Priest have announced that they are calling it day, stating that their upcoming world tour will be their last. The final Judas Priest tour has been named The Farewell EPITAPH World Tour, and the band is planning to be on the road through 2011 to play their final shows for fans.

Judas Priest is regarded as a key cornerstone in the history of heavy metal, and along with Black Sabbath, are considered to be one of the major influences to countless metal bands. Though formed in 1968, Judas Priest released their first album, Rocka Rolla, in 1974. Since that time, the band’s career has spanned over 40 years, seeing the release and performance of songs such as “Diamonds And Rust,” “Breaking The Law,” Painkiller, and “Living After Midnight.”

At present, Judas Priest is set to perform at a number of festivals in Europe from June through to August 2011. More dates are expected to be added to the Epitaph World Tour, and is expected to possibly continue into 2012.

In the history of rock music, band members have come and gone, but nothing is more controversial or dangerous then installing a new lead singer in an established rock outfit. Does it help or hinder to replace your frontman or is it just plain blasphemy to even consider this practice?

This November, prog-rock band Yes will be embarking on a 40th anniversary tour without their lead singer Jon Anderson, who was forced to bow out because of illness. In Anderson’s stead on Yes’s “In the Present” tour will be Benoit David, who sings in a few Yes tribute bands out of Montreal, Canada.

Depending on fan reaction, this former tribute singer is either headed for superstardom or is very doomed.

Here’s a look at 10 rock bands that have replaced their lead singer and the subsequent outcome of their decisions.