Rumors and factual information about a tour brewing with Switchfoot, Third Day and Robert Randolph and the Family Band have been floating around the 'net for a few weeks now. These three bands are scheduled to play a launch party (aka showcase) for the tour at this years GMA week in Nashville.

Addison RoadThe path to overnight success is rarely a short or easy one, and the members of recent INO Records signees Addison Road can attest to it. Formed hastily in 2001 when promised $500 for a gig, the Dallas-based pop-rock outfitted waited six years before landing a record deal.

Their indie efforts landed them airplay across the pond in the U.K., but their big break was still around the corner, and probably still is. The group has certainly generated a buzz of late, however. When iTunes offered their single "All That Matters" as a free download in mid-February, more than 167,000 customers picked it up over the course of a week.

RadioU reports that The Rocket Summer is among those appearing on the cover of Alternative Press magazine's April issue. TRS is included in AP's annual "100 Bands You Need to Know..." feature, along with fellow cover boys The Matches, Sonny and pop/punk outfit All Time Low.

The magazine's official website offers little insight into its profile of sole TRS member Bryce Avary, save for this teaser: "... Avary has no problem helping your grandma cross the interstate, but he'd rather steer clear of anything that keeps him away from music - whether it's his or anyone else's."

Not exactly Cloverfield-esque, we admit, but Avary is definitely an interesting cat. Chances are at least one iR staffer will be reading the article.

Third Day guitarist Brad Avery is leaving the band after 13 years in order to pursue solo projects, according to CCMmagazine.com and the band's official blog. Avery's former bandmates left a brief statement on the blog this week, calling the decision to part with Avery "difficult."

"We appreciate Brad's many contributions to the band's career to date, including his work on our forthcoming album, but the time has come for us to follow our separate paths," the blog states.

Larry Norman, whom some call the Father of Christian music, died early this morning with family at his side at the age of 60. This does not come as a surprise as health problems related to his heart have plagued Larry for many years.

He began pushing boundaries in the late 1960's when he merged rock music with gospel lyrics. This was the dawn of what folks now call the Christian Contemporary music. Back then, there was not a distinction between Christian and mainstream rock music at the local record store.

Larry lived long enough to see the opposite occur as musicians of faith made waves into the general market in recent years. In the end, I wonder if he would have wanted it that way when he first made heads turn with songs like "Why Should the Devil (Have All the Good Music?)"

Late last month, the tour routing for the 2008 Vans Warped Tour was announced on their website. Internet pre-sale of tickets will begin on March 14th through MusicToday.com. In December, the first round of band announcements included Relient K, Norma Jean, and The Devil Wears Prada, among others. In recent days and weeks, the band line-up continues to increase, with bands such as August Burns Red, Family Force 5, Jacks Mannequin, Paramore, Angels and Airwaves, Say Anything, and Anberlin joining the roster. Not all of the bands will be playing the entire tour. Keep checking here, or on the Warped Tour website for more information as it is revealed.

Renowned 90's rock group Sixpence None the Richer has re-formed and is working on a new EP, according to CrossRythms.co.uk. The online music hub quotes lead singer Leigh Nash as saying she met with former bandmate Matt Slocum over coffee and that both of them had been thinking about the group.

"We were missing each other and the gift that I believe God gave us," she said. "I knew before that the two of us were more powerful than one of us alone, but it was becoming more obvious as time ticked by. We realized we were on the same page and decided to make Sixpence None The Richer records for the next 2,000 to 3,000 years! Seriously - as long as we can."

The EP will soon be available, and a tour of the United States is slated to begin in April.

CCM magazine, perhaps the longest-standing authority on contemporary Christian music, will be moving exclusively to the Web following the release of its April issue. Salem Communications, owner of the magazine and a host of other print, online and broadcast media outlets, made the announcement last week.

In a press release posted on CMSpin.com, Salem President of non-print media Jim Cumbee said CCM readers have told the company they "want more information and want it faster than can be delivered in a monthly printed magazine.

"Accordingly, we will discontinue the printed version of CCM Magazine to put increased energies toward the continued growth and enhancement of our comprehensive Christian music and entertainment online network," he said.

Fittingly, the song is now being offered as a $1.00 download, with all proceeds going to Hands and Feet. The village currently cares for 24 children ranging in age from two months to nine years, and expects to house about 40 children by year's end.