The Rock Band website has received a rather massive overhaul. Navigation has been streamlined, a catalog of every RB song has been added (each with a written description) and the long-awaited Merch Booth section has opened up, allowing you to take pictures of virtual band and purchase merchandise -- buttons, stickers, posters and shirts.

Perhaps the coolest addition is the ability to order 6" figures of your Rock Band 2 characters. As of this writing, the servers are being hammered, so we've unfortunately been unable to even preview what The Blueberry Muffintops look like in miniature, plastic form. Let us know if you've had any luck and, please, feel free to show off your band photos in the comments below.

According to a post on Imeem.com, Mötley Crüe's 1989 album Dr. Feelgood will be available as Rock Band DLC starting Oct. 14. We've contacted Harmonix to confirm the information. There is currently no price for the album listed and we really don't have a baseline for album cost to speculate, but standard pricing has been $2 for individual tracks.

Even if Mötley Crüe is the source of the information, that doesn't necessarily mean that date will come to pass. We'll update as soon as we get more details.

[Thanks mdouet]

Harmonix is now accepting redemption codes for the twenty bonus FREE! downloadable tracks that come with the purchase of Rock Band 2. You'll have to give up (or make up?) some somewhat personal information and opt out of marketing spam, but after it's all submitted you should receive a speedy confirmation email locking you into your prize. And then, Harmonix says:

"Sit tight. The Bonus Tracks will be available in a few weeks -- we'll send you an email with a download code and redemption instructions as soon as they're ready." And by the way, we still have no idea what's in this mystery track pack. But it probably ain't some AC/DC. (Update: Here's one possible set list -- thanks phragit!)

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

The Red Hot Chili Pepper's acclaimed Blood Sugar Sex Magik album, featuring at least one thinly veiled junkie ballad you memorized during adolescence, will arrive in the Rock Band Store next week. Let's hope it shows a bit more professionalism than the last full album to crash the living room stage!

Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1600 / $20)* or by individual track (160 / $2):

• "The Power of Equality"
• "If You Have to Ask"
• "Breaking the Girl"
• "Funky Monks"
• "Suck My Kiss"
• "I Could Have Lied"
• "Mellowship Slinky in B Major"
• "The Righteous & The Wicked"
• "Blood Sugar Sex Magik"
• "Under the Bridge"
• "Naked in the Rain"
• "Apache Rose Peacock"
• "The Greeting Song My"
• "Lovely Man Sir"
• "Psycho Sexy"
• "They're Red Hot"

*Album excludes "Give It Away" (available on Rock Band 2 disc).

A karaoke-style video for each song can be found after the break (so go practice!). The tracks will be available for purchase on Tuesday, September 30th on Xbox 360, and Thursday, October 2nd on PlayStation 3.

Let's just say that Rock Band was on its walkabout and that's why it will finally arrive in Australian stores on November 7. Gamespot reports the game will be sold the same way as the European version, with instruments and software offered separately. The good news is that the instruments plus software will only cost $250 AUD ($208), instead of the $300-something the Europeans had to shell out.

What about Rock Band 2? Oh, let's just not talk about that. The Europeans need to get their fix before EA can worry about the land down under, right?

The reviews for Rock Band 2 acknowledge that the game doesn't do anything radically new, but the improvements are enough to justify its existence. For those who don't have friends living close by, being able to play World Tour mode online will certainly be a vast improvement on the original's main method of solo gameplay. The game doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it sure does put some sweet rims on it.

• Giant Bomb (5/5): "... With its large library of licensed master recordings and vastly improved approach to multiplayer play, Rock Band 2 is a terrific value at both ends. It's both a must-own for fans of the genre and a great place for new players to get started."
• GamePro (5/5): "It's more Rock Band and that is not a bad thing at all. With a new setlist of songs and more features, it's a no-brainer for anyone who loved the first Rock Band."
• OXM (90/100): "The game's true enhancements come in areas that are arguably more important than playing dress-up. This time, there's no guitar career or drum career; there is only the Tour. The Tour is whatever you want it to be - a solo path through the venues of the world (on any or all instruments - switch between them at will), or a shot at stardom with up to three friends, whether they're in the room or across the country (thanks to the brilliant and long overdue Xbox Live support for co-op careers)."
• IGN (90/100): "Rock Band 2 improves in several areas over the original. The track list is better, the difficulty has been bumped up, it's more accessible, all previously released DLC works from the get-go, and Battle of the Bands is a brilliant online mode. But there's no getting around the fact that almost nothing was done to the main mode, World Tour. This is still the primary feature of Rock Band and yet it seems to have been neglected. It's hard to notice the newness when there's a big chunk of game that is just the same as it ever was."

There's some reality to the Rock Band show casting call that popped up on Craigslist this week after all. We've received confirmation from a reliable tip of an event featuring some "Legendary Rock Royalty" playing ... Rock Band 2 for an "upcoming TV show taping." If you're in the Los Angeles area, you're welcome to check it out:

• Where: The Viper Room
• When: Monday, September 15 -- free admittance from 7pm to 7:45pm (doors close at 7:45pm sharp)
• What else: Must be 21 or older. Email "rockbandshow [at] yahoo [dawt] com" to get on the list. Space is limited!

(We know, we know, it sounds mad sketchy, but it's legit. The organizers are simply keeping a tight lid on the full details. Just be sure to tell someone where you're headed Monday night, you know, in case you disappear or something ... It's totally worth the risk just to get on TV, right?)

[Image credit: eric dickman]

As it turns out, there is a finite number of songs worth licensing for a rhythm game. So when Guitar Hero World Tour and Rock Band 2 vie for alone time in your living room this fall, don't be surprised when you play some identical tunes. We count sixteen:

• "The Kill" - 30 Seconds to Mars*
• "Ramblin' Man" - The Allman Brothers Band
• "One Way or Another" - Blondie
• "Livin' on a Prayer " - Bon Jovi
• "Feel the Pain" - Dinosaur Jr.
• "Go Your Own Way" - Fleetwood Mac
• "Everlong" - Foo Fighters
• "American Woman" - The Guess Who
• "Mountain Song" - Jane's Addiction
• "The Middle" - Jimmy Eat World
• "Our Truth" - Lacuna Coil
• "Float On" - Modest Mouse
• "Lazy Eye" - Silversun Pickups
• "Today" - Smashing Pumpkins
• "B.Y.O.B." - System of a Down*
• "Monsoon" - Tokio Hotel*

*Denotes song available for Rock Band 2 as DLC.

Harmonix has announced that the Xbox 360 version of Rock Band 2 has officially shipped to retailers in time for its September 14 release date. The standalone wireless drums and guitar are also shipping sometime next week for $90 and $70, respectively. Also shipping next week are Mad Catz's "Fender P-Bass" wireless guitar controller ($70) and the ION Drum Rocker set (wired; $300).

The press release also reminded us that the RB Music Store had recently surpassed 21 million song downloads since its launch in late November. That's 15 million more since we last heard about it in March and an average of 2.3 million per month.

EA has announced a drop of £20/€30 from the recommended retail price for the Rock Band Instrument Edition pack sold in Europe. This means the cost of the instrument bundle and game, which sold separately for a combined price of £180/€240, will go from the shocking price of $360 (when converted to American bucks), to the better-than-before price of $300.

EA also stated that the PS3, PS2 and Wii versions of the game will release this September on the continent. Hopefully, EA/MTV/Harmonix will work out better pricing for the sequel when it's eventually released in Europe ... or at least come up with a better excuse for the high price.

Harmonix just officially announced that the update allowing Rock Band songs to be transferred to Rock Band 2 has gone live. Once Rock Band 2 is released, drummers, vocalists, and plastic guitar players will be able to transfer 55 songs from the original game to the sequel for $5 (400 MS points).

55 songs? That sounds like it's missing a few tracks. The press release details -- in tiny print at the bottom -- that the missing songs are: "Enter Sandman" by Metallica, "Paranoid" by Black Sabbath (cover), "Run to the Hills" by Iron Maiden (cover) and "Monsoon" by Tokio Hotel (a DLC song from the European disc). Sorry folks, but we can probably take a guess as to why Harmonix couldn't re-license some of those tracks.

We're not exactly sure how much of MTV Multiplayer's information about transferring Rock Band songs to Rock Band 2 is new, but it gives a tiny bit more detail to the process, which has yet to be fully explained. We knew that the transfer would cost "under $5"and that RB1 would receive a patch the day RB2 released, but we believe the detail about a "password" bundled with RB2 is new ... maybe. Either way, we haven't written about it.

Harmonix's John Drake tells MTV that when the game releases on Sept. 14, the RB1 patch will add an "export" feature to the game. Selecting to export will prompt the user to add a password included with Rock Band 2, after which a payment screen will be displayed. Told you it was a tiny detail!

ShackNews ran a piece today, pretty much reiterating our details from a couple weeks back, about the status of various Rock Band 2 release dates. Many retailers are still listing the release date for the standalone disc and individual instruments for Rock Band 2 on Xbox 360 as Sept. 14. All other console versions, along with the Xbox 360 "Special Edition" bundle with all the instruments included, are currently listed with an Oct. 19 release.

A Harmonix rep responded today to Joystiq's inquiry on the subject saying, "We have not confirmed this information yet."

Well, looking at the dates here, it's about time someone did.

With its rock 'n' roll aesthetic and Jack Black-connection, currently publisher-less Brütal Legend seemed like a natural fit to be picked up by MTV Games, the way Variety saw it. But, the publisher denied the hunch saying, "We are big fans of [Double Fine chief] Tim Schafer. We hope the game finds a good home."

Well, that's just great. So, who'll pick it up? We can rule out Activision and MTV ... and almost certainly Majesco. While we don't know who the most likely candidate is now, we'd like to humbly offer the services of Joystiq's publishing arm. Here's what we can promise.

1. No interference from us, except when we occasionally but adamantly demand that our likenesses replace those of the lead characters.
2. No knowledge of how to actually publish a game, specifically in regards to marketing, manufacturing and distribution channels.
3. Lots of hugs.

So, how bout it, Tim? Can we work together?

Let's preface this piece with two points: 1) No official Rock Band 2 release date has been set for any console. 2) No official Rock Band 2 release date has been set for any console. Clear? Let's do this.

MCV reports (via Spong) that "a handful" of North American retailers have listed the release date for Rock Band 2 on PS3 as "November 23rd -- just a month after the October 19th release date." Cutting through several bits of minutia, we don't know where this October release date comes from as Harmonix reconfirmed to us today that the Xbox 360 version releases in September.

We did check with the fine folks at Amazon who said their information comes "directly from the vendor." Meaning that current information has the standalone game of RB2 releasing Sept 14, the "Special Edition" with the instruments is available for both Xbox and PS3 on Oct 19, along with the PS3 standalone version of the game. But, let's be clear, once again: No official Rock Band 2 release date has been set for any console.