Billboard Bits: Summer Tours, Nickelback, BNL

Talk is starting to heat up about early summer tour packages for North America. Among the outings believed to be in the works are a Don Henley/Stevie Nicks bill, a Queensryche/Judas Priest pairing and a tour featuring Robert Plant and another high-profile artist. Another American Idols tour is also being plotted, and a North American tour by Queen and Paul Rodgers is also still a go, sources say.

Considering the success of their recent tours with the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac, respectively, Henley and Nicks would seem to be a can’t miss collaboration. Henley has joined Nicks on stage on several occasions during her solo tours for the duet “Leather and Lace,” most recently at the last two shows of her 2001 Trouble in Shangri-La trek.

— Ray Waddell, Nashville

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Nickelback has confirmed the addition of former 3 Doors Down drummer Daniel Adair to its ranks. “We are thrilled to have Daniel in the band and excited about the creativity that is going on between the four of us in the studio,” singer Chad Kroeger says.

As previously reported, Adair’s 3DD seat is being filled by Puddle Of Mudd’s Greg Upchurch, who remains a member of that band, according to its official Web site.

In this puzzle of shifting rock drummers, Adair fills a spot in Nickelback vacated by Ryan “Nik” Vikedal, who is thought to be concentrating on his acoustic country/blues side project, the Corb Lund Band.

Nickelback — which is rounded out by guitarist Ryan Peake and bassist Mike Kroeger — is working on the follow up to its 2003 Roadrunner album “The Long Road.” According to the label, new music from the band should be out sometime this summer.

— Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y.

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While the Barenaked Ladies’ television variety show is still in development, the band’s Ed Robertson has made a guest appearance in an animated online comedy series. The singer/guitarist appears in this week’s double-length 50th episode of “Red vs. Blue,” portraying ill-fated Blue army leader Captain Flowers.

Produced by Rooster Teeth, “Red vs. Blue” is known as a machinima series, which uses video game engines to produce animation. The Austin, Texas-based company previous worked with the Barenaked Ladies producing custom “Red vs. Blue” clips for two of the band’s recent North American tours.

— Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y.