Mariah Carey performs "I'll Be There"

Michael Jackson was the consummate entertainer; a groundbreaking dancer and showman, and that's saying nothing about his songbook, which ranks right up there with the tunes of Elvis and the Beatles (which he also once owned). From his early days with the Jackson 5 to his transcendent solo career, Jackson worked with the best in the business — Quincy Jones, Berry Gordy, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Teddy Riley, Glen Ballard, Rod Temperton, to name just a few — and the end result was a veritable treasure trove of totally classic tunes.

Over the course of his career, Jackson scored 13 #1 singles — more than any other male artist of the past 50 years. His musical output was so great that a whole new generation of artists landed hits of their own simply by covering his songs, which is also a big testament to his work.

Mariah Carey, who has the most #1 singles of any solo artist, scored a smash in 1992 with her MTV Unplugged cover of the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There." Irish boy band Boyzone covered another early Jackson hit, "Ben" on their second album, 1993's three-times platinum A Different Beat. And both Ashanti and Brandy recorded versions of another early hit, "Rock With You."

"Billie Jean" has been covered by everyone from Blackstreet to Belle and Sebastian, and Chris Cornell's take on the tune was covered again in a star-making performance by eventual "American Idol" champ David Cook during the show's seventh season. Fall Out Boy's cover of "Beat It" replaced Eddie Van Halen's incendiary solo with one from John Mayer and became a surprise hit, charting internationally and becoming a permanent fixture on the iTunes Top 10 chart in early 2008. And "Weird Al" Yankovic scored a Top 20 hit — and won a Grammy — for his parody of the tune, a track he dubbed "Eat It." Yankovic also scored a Best Concept Music Video Grammy for "Fat," his take on "Bad."

Those weren't the only left-field Jackson covers that became hits: California rockers Alien Ant Farm famously covered "Smooth Criminal" in 2001, and both the song — and corresponding video, which parodied some of Jackson's biggest clips — became mainstays on MTV, and landed the band a #1 single on the Modern Rock chart.

And there's plenty more — so many that we can't even begin to list them all here. Jackson covers are seemingly required on the indie circuit, with the likes of Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard, KT Tunstall, Petra Haden and Lightspeed Champion weighing in with various versions of MJ/Jackson 5 classics like "Thriller" and "I Want You Back." Amy Winehouse and Charlotte Church dueted on a fantastically trashy version of "Beat It" on the latter's BBC variety show. And just last year, John Legend and Stephen Colbert joined forces for an unlikely take on "The Girl Is Mine."

MTV will be paying tribute to MJ throughout the weekend with music videos, exclusive performances and calls and tweets from celebrity admirers and friends.

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

• Michael Jackson's MTV Moments
• Michael Jackson: A Tribute
• Remembering Michael Jackson
• Michael Jackson's Video Legacy

• Michael Jackson: A Life In Photos
• Michael Jackson's Greatest MTV Moments
• Fans Mourn The Loss Of Music Icon Michael Jackson
• Michael Jackson: A Fashion Icon

• Michael Jackson
• Alien Ant Farm
• Fall Out Boy
• Amy Winehouse
• Brandy

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus' <I>Don't You Fake It</I>
Photo: Virgin Records

Hold on to your allowance this week, kids: This latest batch of new releases has your parents' names written all over it (really — look in the liner notes). Billy Ray Cyrus, Bruce Cockburn, Steve Miller and a cavalry of other aging men you couldn't care less about are lumbering into the racks, and if that's not enough, they're joined by a couple of younger acts pining after the same demographic: Los Lonely Boys and Rodney Atkins.

But if you're feeling adventurous or your tastes skew indie, you're in for some treats too. Here's a host of newcomers you oughta know about:

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus: If you've heard their name, you probably haven't forgotten it. And if you haven't, you probably haven't been watching mtvU, catching Jared Leto's 30 Seconds to Mars on tour or monitoring our You Hear It First reports (shame on you). RJA look to make an indelible imprint with Don't You Fake It, which has their buzz cut, "Face Down," plus "Misery Loves Its Company," "Cat and Mouse" and "Seventeen Ain't So Sweet."

The Bronx: The punks have splattered many a Los Angeles club with their blood, sweat and beers, and now it's time for them to finally unveil their three-years-in-the-making major-label debut. Have no fear, fans — even though this record is also self-titled, it's not the same batch of tracks they put out in 2003. This Michael Beinhorn-produced set has "Transsexual Blackout (The Movement)," "White Guilt" and "History's Stranglers" and is also available as a digipak.

Feist: She birthed her debut, Let It Die, two years ago, but the Broken Social Scene singer is hoping to up the interest with a compendium of remixes and leftovers from the LP. The complementary Open Season features "Simple Story," with legendary singer and Serge Gainsbourg ex-wife Jane Birkin; "One Evening," featuring a piano solo by frequent collaborator Chilly Gonzales; and remixes by the Postal Service, Apostles of Hustle, K-os and more.

MSTRKRFT: Take one of the guys from Death From Above 1979, add DFA's producer and you've got — well, something pretty incomprehensible. The duo have already twiddled knobs for Bloc Party and Wolfmother, and by giving us The Looks, they've provided a handy guide on how to get indie rockers on the club floor. Don't miss "Neon Knights," "Bodywork" and "She's Good for Business."

French Kicks: The Freedom Sneakers have been skulking around Brooklyn, New York, since 1998, but with longtime label StarTime getting a boost from affiliate Vagrant, the refreshed group hopes to boost its album sales by at least Two Thousand. The band recently lost a founding member, the unfortunately named Matt Stinchcomb, but the Kicks have taken on guitarist/keyboardist/percussionist Kush El Amin to fill his seat. Take a stroll with "Basement: D.C." or "England Just Will Not Let You Recover."

More Than You Bargained For: Metalcore fans have been digging Orange County, California's Eighteen Visions for 10 years, but this time around, they have even more to rip into. The band's Machine (Lamb of God, White Zombie)-produced, self-titled LP endowed preorders with five trading cards, a sticker and a poster. In case you missed those goodies, you can still enjoy "Your Nightmare," "The Sweetest Memory" and "Last Night" all the same.

Fans of graphic-novel writer Neil Gaiman are also getting more bang for their buck with Where's Neil When You Need Him?, an unusual collection of songs inspired by Gaiman's stories and characters. Tori Amos, Tapping the Vein, Rasputina, Future Bible Heroes and others chalk up songs about Stardust, Coraline and more, while Gaiman writes the liner notes — alas, he doesn't sing or perform — and "Sandman" artist Dave McKean creates the artwork.

This week there's also more Particle than you could ask for. The L.A. jam band captures its recent reconfiguration with Transformations Live for the People, a two-CD set that immortalizes its February 28 gig at the Music Box at the Fonda in Hollywood. It was at that show that Particle introduced their new five-member roster, a milestone event for which they were joined by Blackalicious, DJ Logic and Joe Satriani. A DVD version of the show, which has three more performances but does not contain either CD, is also due.

Alien Ant Farm are taking a similar approach by putting out their new album, Up in the Attic, in conjunction with a fresh DVD, "Busted." The audio disc features "San Sebastian," "Consti2tion" and "Sleepwalker," while the DVD has 10 videos, a live set from Germany and a "60-minute nude and crude documentary." And if that's not enough, Circuit City's offering a free AAF tee with purchase of the new CD.

Last but not least, Counting Crows and Goo Goo Dolls tour partners the Working Title signed copies of their new release for fans who preordered the disc through Tower. About-Face was produced by Brad Wood (Placebo, Pete Yorn) and the Crows' own David Bryson.

Song Title of the Week:

"Senor Hombre de Tamale" from the Bronx's The Bronx.

Other Notables:

Golden Smog's Another Fine Day: Since 1992, this ensemble's provided an outlet for members of Wilco, the Replacements and Soul Asylum to decompress and mess around. Now they deliver their fourth disc and first for Lost Highway, Another Fine Day, which finds Jeff Tweedy joining forces with the Jayhawks' Gary Louris for a cover of the Kinks' "Strangers" and much more.

Helmet's Monochrome: After bouncing back with 2004's Size Matters on Interscope, the band is already getting another makeover with a new label, Warcon, and two new members, drummer Mike Jost and bassist Jeremy Chatelain. That's not to mention Helmet's unlikely stint on the Warped Tour, where you can expect to hear new config barreling through "Monochrome," "Gone" and other new tracks.

Heather Duby's Heather Duby: The Northwest songstress takes her time with her LPs, issuing one about every three or four years, and for her third she hooked up with one of the region's most vaunted producers, Steve Fisk (Nirvana, Low). Duby has a newcomer in the mix as well: Minus the Bear drummer Erin Tate, who brushes up "Never Even Made a Voyage," "A Sort of Flat Curve" and "Places Shape Lives."

New Releases:

• Alien Ant Farm - Up in the Attic (New Door)
  Buy Now: Up in the Attic (New Door)
  
• Rodney Atkins - If You're Going Through Hell (Curb)
  
• Shane Bartell - Too Soon to Say (Sarathan)
  
• Black Stone Cherry - Black Stone Cherry (Roadrunner)
  
• Bone Crusher - Release the Beast (Body Head Entertainment)
  Buy Now: Release the Beast (Body Head Entertainment)
  
• The Bronx - The Bronx (digipak also available; White Drugs/ Island)
  Read: "The Bronx Strive For Imperfection On Major-Label Debut"
  
• Michael Brook - RockPaperScissors (High Wire)
  
• Cactus - V (Escapi)
  
• Eric Church - Sinners Like Me (Capitol Nashville)
  
• Bruce Cockburn - Life Short Call Now (Rounder)
  
• The Coma Recovery - Drown That Holy End in Wine (Underground)
  
• Albert Cummings - Working Man (Blind Pig)
  
• Billy Ray Cyrus - Wanna Be Your Joe (New Door/ Universal)
  
• Heather Duby - Heather Duby (Sonic Boom)
  
• Eighteen Visions - Eighteen Visions (Epic)
  Buy Now: Eighteen Visions (Epic)
  
• End of a Year - Sincerely (Revelation)
  
• Feist - Open Season (Cherrytree/ Interscope)
  
• Kristy Frank - Freedom (Ruffnation)
  
• French Kicks - Two Thousand (Startime/ Vagrant)
  Buy Now: Two Thousand (Startime/ Vagrant)
  
• Neil Gaiman - Where's Neil When You Need Him? (Dancing Ferret)
  
• Lisa Germano - In the Maybe World (Young God)
  
• Golden Smog - Another Fine Day (Lost Highway)
  Buy Now: Another Fine Day (Lost Highway)
  
• Nicholas Gunn - Beyond Grand Canyon (Gemini Sun)
  
• Helmet - Monochrome (Warcon)
  Buy Now: Monochrome (Warcon)
  
• Hidden Cameras - The Arms of His Ill (EP; Absolutely Kosher)
  
• Joe Jackson - Body and Soul (Fontana)
  
• Janid - Goddess (Dead Ninja)
  
• Jil Station - Still Love (enhanced; Platform Group)
  
• Kokane - Back 2 Tha Clap (SMC)
  Buy Now: Back 2 Tha Clap (SMC)
  
• Los Lonely Boys - Sacred (deluxe edition with DVD also available; Or/ Epic)
  Buy Now: Sacred (Or/ Epic)
  
• Minders - Bright Guilty World (Future Farmer)
  
• MSTRKRFT - The Looks (Last Gang)
  
• Naked Rhythm - Frequency (Caravan)
  
• One Dead Three Wounded - Moving Units (1x1)
  
• Ozric Tentacles - The Floor's Too Far Away (Magna Carta)
  
• Particle - Transformations Live for the People (two CDs; Shout! Factory)
  
• Bill Perry - Don't Know Nothing About Love (Blind Pig)
  
• John Pizzarelli - Dear Mr. Sinatra (Telarc)
  
• The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Don't You Fake It (Virgin)
  Read: "The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus: You Can Call Them Sellouts"
  Buy Now: Don't You Fake It (Virgin)
  
• Sinking Ships - Disconnecting (Revelation)
  
• Sissy - All Under (Global Underground)
  
• Jeremy Spencer - Precious Little (Blind Pig)
  
• Stream of Passion - Live in the Real World (two CDs; Inside Out)
  
• Chip Taylor - Unglorious Hallelujah (two enhanced CDs; Back Porch)
  
• The Working Title - About-Face (Universal)
  Buy Now: About-Face (Universal)
  
• Various artists - "John Tucker Must Die" soundtrack (Wind-Up)
  
• Various artists - "The Lady in the Water" soundtrack (Decca)
  
• Various artists - "Monster House" soundtrack (Varèse Sarabande)
  
• Various artists - "You, Me and Dupree" soundtrack (Varèse Sarabande)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

• A Flock of Seagulls - We Are the '80s (Arista/Legacy)
  Buy Now: We Are the '80s (Arista/Legacy)
  
• Johnny Adams - The Greatest Johnny Adams R&B Album (Rounder)
  
• Mose Allison - Mose Allison Sings: Rudy Van Gelder Remasters (Prestige)
  
• Bangles - We Are the '80s (Columbia/Legacy)
  Buy Now: We Are the '80s (Columbia/Legacy)
  
• Bow Wow Wow - We Are the '80s (RCA/Legacy)
  Buy Now: We Are the '80s (RCA/Legacy)
  
• Crosby/ Nash - Highlights (Sanctuary)
  
• Richard "Groove" Holmes - Soul Message: Rudy Van Gelder Remasters (Prestige)
  
• Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage (Capitol)
  
• Yusef Lateef - Eastern Sounds: Rudy Van Gelder Remasters (Prestige)
  
• Loverboy - We Are the '80s (Columbia/Legacy)
  Buy Now: We Are the '80s (Columbia/Legacy)
  
• Midnight Star - No Parking on the Dance Floor (Capitol)
  
• Steve Miller Band - Fly Like an Eagle (with DVD; Capitol)
  
• Eddie Money - We Are the '80s (Columbia/Legacy)
  
• Thelonious Monk/ Sonny Rollins - Thelonious Monk/ Sonny Rollins: Rudy Van Gelder Remasters (Prestige)
  
• Mott the Hoople - An Introduction to Mott the Hoople (Fuel)
  
• Oliver Nelson - Screamin' the Blues: Rudy Van Gelder Remasters (Prestige)
  
• The Original Five Blind Boys of Mississippi - An Introduction to the Original Five Blind Boys of Mississippi (Fuel)
  
• Emitt Rhodes - The American Dream (Lilith)
  
• Scandal - We Are the '80s (Columbia/Legacy)
  
• Shalamar - Ultimate Collection (Capitol)
  
• Rick Springfield - We Are the '80s (RCA/Legacy)
  
• Third Eye Blind - A Collection (Rhino)
  Buy Now: A Collection (Rhino)
  
• Venom - Cast in Stone (Castle/ Ryko)
  
• XTC - Apple Box (four-CD box set; TVT)
  
• Various artists - Billboard #1s: Classic Country (Rhino)
  
• Various artists - Dave Hamilton's Detroit Funk - Rare and Unreleased Twisted Funk 1967-1973 (BGP)
  
• Various artists - Doo-Wop Forever, Volume 2 (Empire Musicwerks)
  
• Various artists - Funk N' R&B (three-CD box set; Thump)
  
• Various artists - Playboy Cocktail Mix (Playboy Jazz)
  
• Various artists - Soul Sistas (three-CD box set; Thump)

Music DVDs:

• Alien Ant Farm - "Busted - The Definitive DVD" (New Door)
  
• Anathema - "A Moment in Time" (limited edition comes with CD; Music Video Distributors)
  
• Jeannie Bryson - "Live at Warsaw Jazz Festival" (Music Video Distributors)
  
• Chic - "Live in Amsterdam" (Music Video Distributors)
  
• Del the Funky Homosapien - "The 11th Hour" (Hieroglyphics)
  
• Fatboy Slim - "The Greatest Hits - Why Make Videos" (Astralwerks)
  
• H20 - "One Life, One Chance" (Music Video Distributors)
  
• Neal McCoy - "Live!" (903 Music)
  
• Particle - "Transformations Live" (Shout! Factory)
  
• Stream of Passion - "Live in the Real World" (Inside Out)
  
• Various artists - "Best of Bang Your Head!!! Festival" (two DVDs; Locomotive)
  
• Various artists - "Hot in Here, Vol. 3" (DJ Vlad)
  
• Various artists - "Kung Fu Vs. Hip Hop" (Cleopatra)

Coming Attractions:

July 25:

• Flogging Molly - Whiskey on a Sunday (DualDisc; Side One Dummy)
  
• Jurassic 5 - Feedback (Interscope)
  Preorder: Feedback (Interscope)
  
• Pharrell Williams - In My Mind (Star Trak/ Interscope)
  Read: "Pharrell Williams: Fired Up"
  Preorder: In My Mind (Star Trak/ Interscope)

August 1:

• DMX - Year of the Dog, Again (Sony)
  Read: "DMX Signs With Columbia, Will Release Long-Delayed LP This Spring"
  Preorder: Year of the Dog Again (Sony)
  
• Stone Sour - Come What(ever) May (Roadrunner)
  Read: "Slipknot's Taylor Gearing Up For Stone Sour LP — And Tenacious D Tribute"
  Preorder: Come What(ever) May (Roadrunner)
  
• Various artists - Kidz Bop 10 (Razor & Tie)

August 8:

• Lupe Fiasco - Food and Liquor (Atlantic)
  Preorder: Food and Liquor (Atlantic)
  
• Rick Ross - Port of Miami (Def Jam)
  
• Slayer - Christ Illusion (Warner Bros.)
  Read: "New Slayer Album Might Be Their Fastest Yet"
  Preorder: Christ Illusion (Warner Bros.)

• The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
• The Bronx
• Feist
• Alien Ant Farm
• Eighteen Visions

P. Diddy was acting straight "foolie" and putting some of your favorite celebs "on blast" during his radio-a-thon on New York's Hot 97 on Wednesday. The Mohawk-sporting mogul was on the station trying to raise funds for his children's charity efforts. Among those calling in to donate money to PD's cause was Jennifer Lopez, who, along with her fiancé, Ben Affleck, donated a combined $78,000. R. Kelly, who was in New York, also phoned in and pledged 20,000 big ones. Other big spenders were Jay-Z and Dame Dash, Eminem and Paul Rosenberg, and Busta Rhymes. In total, Diddy is said to have raised more than $250,000. ...

Alien Ant Farm and founding guitarist Terry Corso have parted ways, citing the divorce staple "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the split. The band's first show with temporary replacement Victor Camacho took place Wednesday in Birmingham, Alabama. ... Due to the California fires, Michelle Branch and Monica did not participate in this week's Monday Night at the Mic, the "battle of the bands"-style competition on ABC's "Monday Night Football." The game between the Chargers and Dolphins, set to take place in San Diego, was moved to Phoenix, and the segment was postponed until Monday, November 3. During the game between the Patriots and Broncos, Branch and Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George will take on Monica and Atlanta Falcons cornerback Bryan Scott. ...

Queens of the Stone Age singer Mark Lanegan will release the odds- and-ends EP Here Comes That Weird Chill (Methamphetamine Blues, Extras and Oddities) on December 9. A full album, Bubblegum, will follow in early spring. Lanegan will play a short West Coast tour in December, starting in Vancouver on December 11 and running through December 17 in Los Angeles. ... Meanwhile, Queens of the Stone Age guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen is getting in on the side-project action on which his bandmates thrive. At the end of November, Van Leeuwen will release a disc by his band Enemy, Hooray for Dark Matter, which will be available for purchase on www.enemyonline.com. Enemy will support Mark Lanegan on a number of dates throughout Europe and the U.S. ...

The Recording Industry Association of America announced on Wednesday it will ask online music companies to implement parental-control filters on downloads, much in the same way that CDs have "Parental Advisory" stickers. The trade group is currently providing companies with guidelines for how to label downloads. ... Alt-country roots rocker Steve Earle will duke it out with conservative newsman Bill O'Reilly on Monday on "The O'Reilly Factor," which airs at 8 and 11 p.m. ET. Earle will also speak his mind on the road during the Tell Us the Truth Tour, which also features Tom Morello and Billy Bragg. Earle will join the outing on November 11 in Royal Oak, Michigan. And on November 7, an Earle concert documentary will premiere in New York and Nashville. The film will screen nationwide in the weeks that follow. ...

After opening for Dashboard Confessional and other bands, Vendetta Red will finally headline their own tour. The outing, with S.T.U.N. and Armor for Sleep supporting, kicks off November 10 and wraps up December 12 in their hometown of Seattle. Vendetta Red just released "Seconds Away" as the follow-up single to "Shatterday." ... The second major-label Blindside album, About a Burning Fire, will be released on February 24. The album was produced by Howard Benson and features Billy Corgan on the first single, "Hurray." Other track titles include "Follow You Down," "All of Us," "Swallow" and "Eye of the Storm." ...   British indie legends the Mekons have returned to their raging roots for Punk Rock, which comes out January 20. The album features re-recorded versions of some of the first tracks they ever wrote. The band was inspired to rediscover the past after last year's career retrospective 25th anniversary tour. The Mekons will tour North America again in March. ... Irish rockers Ash have begun recording their fifth album in Los Angeles. Nick Raskulinecz, who worked behind the boards on the Foo Fighters' One by One, is producing the record, due in the spring. ...

10.29.2003

Russell Simmons and his Hip-Hop Summit Action Network will be holding a special tribute to Jam Master Jay outside the Queens Central Public Library in New York on October 30, the one-year anniversary of the pioneering hip-hop DJ's slaying. Jay's family is expected to announce updates on a biography, feature film, documentary and potential Queens street renaming in his honor. ...

Pearl Jam's benefit concert Wednesday at the Santa Barbara Bowl featured several special guests, including Chris Cornell, who, after playing solo acoustic versions of "Can't Change Me," from his 1999 Euphoria Morning album, and Audioslave's "Like a Stone," was joined by Eddie Vedder and the band for a Temple of the Dog reunion for "Hunger Strike" and "Reach Down." Former drummer Jack Irons, singer/songwriter Jack Johnson and Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante also joined Pearl Jam during the show, which raised funds for the Louis Warschaw Prostate Cancer Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. ...

Outkast, Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige, Eve, Ludacris and Chingy are scheduled to perform at the inaugural Vibe Awards, to be broadcast on November 21. The show, which will be taped the night before, will be hosted by Queen Latifah. ... Chingy is reissuing his platinum debut, Jackpot, on November 18 with a bonus DVD. The extra disc will feature all of the Ludacris protégé's videos, including alternate versions of "Right Thurr," as well as live performances and behind-the-scenes footage. ...

Hilary Duff will release her first music DVD, "All Access Pass," on November 4. Along with videos for "So Yesterday," "Why Not" and "I Can't Wait," the DVD will include making-of documentaries about the videos and acoustic performances of "So Yesterday" and "Little Voice" from her "Sessions @ AOL." ... Sniffing for hits? Now That's What I Call Music! Vol. 14 features 20 more humdingers including Beyoncé's "Crazy in Love," Justin Timberlake's "Senorita," R. Kelly's "Thoia Thoing" and Good Charlotte's "Girls and Boys." There are also a couple of surprises: Fountains of Wayne's "Stacy's Mom" and Liz Phair's "Why Can't I?" ...

Hazen Street, the first signing to Good Charlotte brothers Benji and Joel Madden's D.C. Flag imprint, will enter the studio with producer Howard Benson (P.O.D., Papa Roach) next week to begin tracking their debut album. Boasting an all-star lineup of contemporary pop-punk rockers and hardcore heroes, Hazen Street are comprised of vocalists Freddy Cricien (Madball) and Toby Morse (H2O), guitarists Chad Gilbert (New Found Glory) and David Kennedy (Box Car Racer), bassist Hoya (Madball) and drummer Mackie Jayson (Cro-Mags, Bad Brains, Shelter). ...

The Transplants' Rob Aston and Tim Armstrong (also of Rancid) have collaborated with Cypress Hill on a song called "What's Your Number" for B-Real and the guys' upcoming seventh album, Till Death Do Us Part. Due in March, the record will otherwise focus more on hip-hop. ... After completing a tour with the Deftones, which runs through November 22, emo-metal band Poison the Well will embark on a headlining tour. The first date is November 23 in East Meadow, New York, and the final scheduled gig is December 12 in Savannah, Georgia. ...

The home of longtime Great White drummer, Audie Desbrow, burned down in the California blaze that has destroyed nearly 2,000 houses. Desbrow was living in the Del Rosa neighborhood of San Bernardino. Desbrow recorded with Great White from 1986 to 2000. ... The Dillinger Escape Plan, High on Fire and Meshuggah are among the bands slated for inclusion on the tribute album We Reach: The Music of the Melvins, due in the summer. The album will be the second release for Fractured Transmitter, the imprint owned by Mushroomhead frontman Jason Mann. The label's first offering will be a Meshuggah EP in the spring. ...

Rob Zombie bassist Blasko, who has also played with Prong, Fireball Ministry and the latest incarnation of Helmet, will unleash material from his project the Death Rays through Antidote Records, according to the label's Web site. New Death Rays music is expected to surface next year. ... Speaking of Helmet, Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale confirmed on his Web site that Page Hamilton will be producing his solo debut. He also reported that guitarist Chris Traynor and drummer Charlie Walker recently split from his backing band, adding that Traynor has rejoined his former bandmate Hamilton in the new Helmet lineup. Rossdale is still working on material with Rival Schools bassist Cache Tolman and as-yet-unnamed replacement members. On the movie front, having shot his scenes for the Brittany Murphy comedy "Little Black Book," Gwen's hubby is now gearing up for a role in the Keanu Reeves comic-book flick "Constantine." ...

• Diddy
• Jennifer Lopez
• Eminem
• Alien Ant Farm
• Vendetta Red

As Kermit the Frog and Neil Young know, it's not easy being Green.

Greendale,Young's latest project, is a concept album about the fictional Green family and the fictional California town of Greendale. The CD/DVD set features songs about politics, the environment and the media, in addition to live concert footage.

The Neptunes Present ... Clones is a compilation that may as well be called Pharrell and Friends because one-half of the Neptunes appears on more than half of the tracks. He collaborates with Busta Rhymes, the Clipse, Jay-Z, N.O.R.E. and Dirt McGirt (a.k.a. Old Dirty Bastard).

truANT, Alien Ant Farm's first album since the band's May 2002 bus crash, serves up more anthemic rock, like the lead single, "These Days," as well as the serious tune "Sarah Wynn," about a drug-addicted friend.

Adema's on Unstable ground, as their latest effort finds them moving away from angsty nü-metal and toward more melodic rock. Plus, Adema also tackle the subject of drug addiction on "Needles."

Bow Wow gets Unleashed this week and gets a chance to show off his new, non-Lil' status. Baby guest stars in his Jazzy Pha-produced first single, "Let's Get Down."

Juelz Santana is in a giving mood this week as he bestows From Me to U on his fans. Cam'ron and his fellow Diplomats appear on the record, as does T.I., whose own Trap Muzik comes out this week.

On Jessica Simpson's In This Skin, the pop singer maintains the good-girl image that made her popular and delivers the Diane Warren ballad "Sweetest Sin" among the other sweet numbers that Simpson co-wrote.

Guided by Voices stick us with some Earthquake Glue, while Coal Chamber spend this week Giving the Devil His Due, and Michael Franti puts his money where his mouth is this week as he releases Everybody Deserves Music.

Out Tuesday, August 19:

• 2 Ton Predator - Boogie (Diehard)
• 707 Ridaz - 707 Ridaz (Familia)
• Blake Aaron - Bringin' It Back (Innervision)
• Adema - Unstable (Arista)
• Alien Ant Farm - truANT (DreamWorks)
  Read: "Stone Temple Brothers To Pilot Alien Ant Farm Album"
• Ian Anderson - Rupi's Dance (Varese)
• Chet Baker - Chet for Lovers (Verve)
• Bix Beiderbecke - Bix Lives (Naxos)
• Ten Benson - Benson Burner (Jet Set)
• Dierks Bentley - Dierks Bentley (Capitol)
• Blowtops - Blackstatic (Big Neck)
• Bobaflex - Primitive Epic (Big Daddy)
• Boosie - For My Thugz (Trill)
• Bow Wow - Unleashed (Sony)
  Read: "Bow Wow Unleashed On Next LP, Talks About Life Post-Jermaine Dupri"
  Buy Now: Unleashed (Sony)
• Bunnydrums - PKD Simulacra (Metropolis)
• Carlsonics - The Carlsonics (Arena Rock)
• Cauterize - So Far From Real (Wind-Up)
• Chicanos - Chicanos (RCA)
• Coal Chamber - Giving the Devil His Due (Roadrunner)
• Consonant - Love & Affliction (Fenway)
• Constantines - Shine a Light (Sub Pop)
• Celia Cruz - Carnaval de la Vida (Lideres)
• Dandy Warhols - Welcome to the Monkey House (Capitol)
  Buy Now: Welcome to the Monkey House (Capitol)
• Rue Davis - Dapp Daddy (Knock on Wood)
• Tod Dockstader - 8 Electronic Pieces (Locust)
• Dogs D'Amour - Happily Ever After (Artful)
• Do or Die - Pimpin' Ain't Dead (Rap-A-Lot)
• Dreamzfate - Pound That Rock (Dreamzfate)
• Chris Duarte - Romp (Rounder)
• Duran Duran - Seven and the Ragged Tiger (Capitol)
• Exuma - Exuma Vols. 1 & 2 (Repertoire)
• Fever Boys - Traiconera (Universal)
• Fireside - Get Shot (V2)
• Flamers - Flamers (RCA)
• Peter Frampton - Now (33rd St)
• Michael Franti - Everyone Deserves Music (BMG)
• Amy Grant - Simple Things (A&M)
• Vince Guaraldi - Charlie Brown Suite and Other Favorites (RCA)
• Guided by Voices - Earthquake Glue (Matador)
• Stephen Hero - Lullaby (EP, Ragoora)
• Houston - Bottom of the Curve (54-40 or Fight)
• Kool Keith - Lost Masters (Dmaft)
• Kraftwerk - Tour de France Soundtracks (Astralwerks)
• Last Laugh - Ashamed of It (Suburban Noize)
• Gabriel Le Mar - Short Stories (Caroline)
• Kenny Loggins - It's About Time (All the Best)
• Low Key - Back Stabbers (Mafioso)
• Max - Blue Lounge (Hubcap)
• Maseneye - Face Drip (Hapi Skratch)
• Monsier Leroc - Oh La La (Cornerstone)
• Jason Moran - Bandwagon (Blue Note)
• Mr. Madogg - Get a Dog Mad You Bound to Get Bit (Familia)
• Over the Rhine - Ohio (Back Porch)
• Papas Fritas - Pop Has Freed Us (Minty Fresh)
• Paper Lace - And Other Bits of Material (Repertoire)
• People Under the Stairs - Or Stay Tuned (OM)
• Lee Perry/King Tubby - 7x7 (Varese)
• Pimmon - Snaps Crackles Pops (Tigerbeat6)
• Point Blank - Bull (Wreckless)
• Prisoners - Last Fourfathers (Big Beat UK)
• Ramones - NYC 1978 (King Biscuit)
• Rancid - Indestructible (Epitaph)
• Riddle of Steel - Python (Ascetic)
• Rock County - Rock Solid (Rebel)
• Juelz Santana - From Me to U (Def Jam)
  Read: "Diplomats' Juelz Santana Questions Jay-Z's Tour Plans, Records Solo LP"
• Jessica Simpson - In This Skin (Sony)
  Buy Now: In This Skin (Sony)
• Sonny Spoon - Arrival (Dollywood)
• Star Spangles - Bazooka (Capitol)
• Patti Sterling - Bettin' on You (Kon-Kord)
• Stretch Armstrong - Engage (Tooth and Nail)
• Matt Suggs - Amigo Row (Merge)
• Superchunk - Cup of Sand (Merge)
• T.I. - Trap Muzik (Atlantic)
• T-Rock - Defcon 1: Lyrical Warfare (Secret Service)
• Takara - Blind in Paradise (Lion)
• Williamson - A Few Things to Hear Before We All Blow Up (The Orchard)
• Gary Wright - Extraction (Repertoire)
• Neil Young - Greendale (Warner Bros)
  Buy Now: Greendale (Warner Bros)
• Zane - Big Zane Theory (Capitol)
  Read: "Rapper Zane Reinvents The World On Next LP; Follows In Bow Wow's Footsteps"
  Buy Now: Big Zane Theory (Capitol)
• Various artists - "American Splendor" soundtrack (New Line)
  Read: " 'American Splendor' Like A Diamond On A Dunghill, By Kurt Loder"
• Various artists - Bay Area Playaz 5 (S&S)
• Various artists - Best of Narada: New Flamenco Guitar (Narada)
• Various artists - Brown Royal Kingpins (Familia)
• Various artists - Cheapskates 4 (EMD)
• Various artists - Conexion (Universal)
• Various artists - Dark Awakening 3 (Cop)
• Various artists - "Devil's Music" soundtrack (Sanctuary)
• Various artists - Fresh Outta Juvi Compilation (Straight Forward)
• Various artists - It Takes Two (EMD)
• Various artists - I've Always Been Crazy: A Tribute to Waylon Jennings (RCA)
• Various artists - The Neptunes Present: Clones (Arista)
  Read: "Summer Music Preview: Neptunes' Star Trak Presents ... Clones"
• Various artists - Poolside: Summer Lounge Collection (Varese)
• Various artists - Radio Waves of the 80s: Rock Hits (MCA)
• Various artists - Ras Kass Presents: Re-Up (Empire Musicwerks)
• Various artists - "Thirteen" soundtrack (Nettwerk)
• Various artists - Xbox: Outlaw Volleyball (Sumthing Else)

August 26:

• Hilary Duff - Metamorphosis (Disney)
  Read: "Hilary Duff: Not Just For Kids"
  Buy Now: Metamorphosis (Disney)
• Peter Frampton - Now (33rd St.)
• Anthony Hamilton - Coming From Where I'm From (Arista) Read: "Eve, D'Angelo Can Testify: Anthony Hamilton Is 'Hellified Powerful' "
  Buy Now: Coming From Where I'm From (Arista)
• Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (La Face)
  Buy Now: Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (La Face)
• Triumph the Insult Comic Dog - Songs in the Key of Poop (Warner Bros.)
  Read: "Eminem Enemy Triumph Previews LP; Beefs With Bow Wow, Benji"

• Mariah Carey - Remixes (Sony)
• Raveonettes- Chain Gang of Love (Sony)

September 9:

• John Mayer - Heavier Things (Sony)
  Read: "John Mayer Tries Hip-Hop With Help From Roots' ?uestlove"
• Seal - Seal (Warner Bros.)

September 16:

• Elvis Costello - North (Universal)
• Bubba Sparxxx - Deliverance (Interscope)
  Read: "Bubba Sparxxx Softens Bumpkin Image, Teams Up With Justin For A 'Hootnanny' "
  
• Carnie Wilson - For the First Time (KMA)

October 7:

• Jin - Almost Famous (Virgin)
  Read: "Ruff Ryders' New Dog: Jin"

• The Neptunes
• Alien Ant Farm
• Bow Wow
• Jessica Simpson
• Juelz Santana

Alien Ant Farm's Dryden Mitchell
Photo: Ethan Miller

LOS ANGELES — As he stood chatting with fans in the loft at the Troubadour, someone asked Alien Ant Farm's Dryden Mitchell how he was feeling.

After all, it was only a year ago when a tour bus accident gave the singer a Christopher Reeve-like injury, and yet here he was hanging out just minutes after finishing an energetic set with his band.

"Well, my neck hurts," he answered. "But my neck would hurt whether I was onstage playing shows or not, so it's cool."

As Alien Ant Farm took the stage Thursday night — part of a string of shows booked to shake the cobwebs off of the newly invigorated band, which was sidelined when its tour bus crashed in Spain last year (see "Bus Accident Forces Alien Ant Farm To Cancel Shows") — the packed house welcomed the band with loud cheers.

Playing a set that leaned heavily on the forthcoming truANT, the new album Ant Farm recently finished with Stone Temple Pilots' Dean and Robert DeLeo producing, all of them looked healthy, happy and positively alive and kicking in every sense of the phrase.

Dressed in a cap, glasses and buttoned-up shirt, Mitchell led the group through back-to-back renditions of a new track called "1000 Days" and the ANThology hit single "Movies" with scarcely a word spoken between the songs.

Playing a wood-finished six-string bass, one-man show Tye Zamora stomped, robot-danced and grimaced throughout the performance, his face a constantly animated canvas of cartoonish expression. On the other side of the small stage, guitarist Terry Corso, sporting his usual dark blue mesh hat, injected the proceedings with a wide-ranging mix of heavy crunch, lilting jangle and eerie effects with echoes of fusion and even dancehall.

The crowd sang to old favorites like "Whisper," "Sticks and Stones," "Attitude" and "Courage" and displayed more than just a polite patience for Ant Farm's enthusiasm about unleashing new songs like "Never Meant," the cautionary drug tale "Sarah Wynn" and Ant Farm's next single, "These Days," which they recently shot a video for in Los Angeles (see "Alien Ant Farm Crash Justin And Christina Tour, Gay Parade, BET Awards").

At one point, Mitchell thanked the crowd for being into songs played in "6/8th time signature," as Mike Cosgrove's athletic and often mind-numbingly complex Stewart Copeland-like drumming reminded everyone why he was a featured performer at Drum Day LA earlier this year (see "Alien Ant Farm Play New Song At First Show Since Crash").

Toward the end of the set, Ant Farm played a couple more new songs, including the heavily hook-laden and chorus-driven "Drifting Apart" before dipping back to their ironically titled 1999 self-release, Greatest Hits, for "S.S. Recognize," a tune that was resurrected in the studio and will soon appear on an Ant Farm major-label album, much like "Movies" before it.

After treating the crowd to one more truANT number, "Goodbye," Mitchell asked them if they'd rather hear "Michael Jackson or the smooth voice of Sade." The response was louder for the latter, so they launched into a spirited and faithful take on "Smooth Operator," with Mitchell — who had spent the evening running in place, waving his arms and generally dancing around as if no injury had ever happened — more than proving he has the pipes to handle the vocally heavy number and sticking the line "Smooth Criminal" into the chorus.

Before exiting the stage looking anything but tired, whether out of obligation or continued love for the track that gave them their breakthrough hit, Alien Ant Farm rocked out Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal," with Mitchell — you guessed it — crooning "Smooth Operator" during the chorus.

The band's current club tour takes it through an early August date in Houston before Ant Farm cross the pond for a handful of shows in the U.K., including appearances at the Reading and Leeds festivals, just as truANT hits shelves on August 19.

For a full-length feature on Alien Ant Farm, check out "Alien Ant Farm: The Crash And The Recovery."

For more sights and stories from concerts around the country, check out MTV News Tour Reports.

• Alien Ant Farm

• Alien Ant Farm

Alien Ant Farm's Dryden Mitchell
Photo: MTV News

LOS ANGELES — A rock band crashes the Justin and Christina tour, a gay pride parade and the BET Awards to play their new single? It might sound like an episode of "Jackass" or "PUNK'D," but it's not. It's the setup for Alien Ant Farm's next video.

"At first we didn't know where we wanted to go with it," guitarist Terry Corso remembered of the band's brainstorming sessions for "These Days," the first single from their forthcoming truANT.

But once the band tapped director Marc Klasfeld, who helmed Ant Farm's famously funny videos for "Smooth Criminal" and "Movies," the ideas started flowing like crazy. Immediately, Klasfeld and the band — Corso, bassist Tye Zamora, drummer Mike Cosgrove and singer Dryden Mitchell — started thinking in terms of guerilla maneuvers. "We were going to make some kind of stupid instruments that we carry on our backs and run into places like 24-Hour Fitness and restaurants and start jamming," Corso said.

"We were just sitting there cracking up and that usually tells us we're on the right track," he continued. "It was very similar to when we were sitting around and we were like, 'Mr. Miyagi runs out!' or 'Dryden jumps on the top of a car and the windows blow out of it!' Eventually, someone just said, 'Wouldn't it be cool if we just went way over the top with this, and just sort of bombarded some events that were happening around town?' "

So late last week, the bandmembers piled their gear onto a flatbed truck and headed for the parking lot of the Los Angeles Staples Center as fans filed in to see Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera. "We sent out scouts to take notice of security patterns," Corso said, laughing. "At a certain time the security guards go inside to take tickets. And there's still a ton of kids outside. And they're like, 5- to 15-year-old girls with their parents."

"It was so scary," Corso said of the moments leading up to their arrival. "I was in the back of the truck looking up and I could see the 'Staples Center' sign and I was like, 'Dude, I don't think anyone's ever done anything like this, have they?' "

As the truck parked, an Ant Farm agent planted in the crowd tore the fake "KAAF" radio station banner from the side and exposed the band, who ripped into "These Days."

"These kids looked like a UFO landed," Corso said. "I was trying to perform and watch people at the same time. I would see security guys on their radios. I'm almost positive that 80 percent of the security population — including the police — thought it was some kind of radio promotion that was supposed to happen. And we weren't supposed to be there at all! We finished the song, we waved, Dryden threw a microphone out, and then we [left]."

On Sunday, the band dressed the truck as a giant ant — complete with mandibles, antennae and legs — and entered it as a float in West Hollywood's Gay Pride Parade.

"We thought it would be funny to just go down the parade on a float, appreciating diversity and jamming on our instruments," Corso said. "And it was a really long parade, too. We did multiple takes of the song going down Santa Monica Boulevard."

And how did the crowd react? "It was wonderful! We didn't 'belong' there, but it was cool. There were a couple of like 'Blue Oyster Bar'-type biker boys on the side of the street, in full garb, like a couple of Rob Halfords. [They] threw me metal horns.

"The most negative response we got all day was [from] the [anti-gay] fanatics," he continued. "All those ignorant bastards were corralled in [one area] with megaphones, placards, everything. When we went by, we stopped playing and started gesturing at these people, if you know what I mean. They were gesturing back at us, and they were yelling. And all the people attending the parade were cheering for us."

Tuesday, Alien Ant Farm showed up on a rooftop overlooking the red carpet at the BET Awards (see "BET Awards Night Belongs To 50 Cent, B2K, Jacko And... Alien Ant Farm?"). "We're all into different types of hip-hop and R&B," Corso explained. "And we'll go play to whomever, just like the old days. When we were young we used to do a lot of guerilla type sh--." (Click for photos from the red carpet.)

Ant Farm had a chance to get in touch with their younger side a week before the video shoots as well while snapping photos for truANT — the group's first album since recovering from a tour bus accident overseas (see "Alien Ant Farm To Embark On First Tour Since Bus Tragedy") at a California high school. "It just so happened — total coincidence — that they were doing a 'Battle of the Bands' in the auditorium. We just kind of showed up and said, 'Hey, can we play?' We used one of the bands' gear, jammed on a couple of songs, said, 'Stay in school,' and left!"

• Alien Ant Farm

Alien Ant Farm's Dryden Mitchell
Photo: Amy V. Cooper

A little over a year since a bus accident nearly prevented him from ever walking again, Dryden Mitchell and Alien Ant Farm are ready to strut their stuff on a monthlong U.S. tour.

The singer and his bandmates — Terry Corso (guitar), Tye Zamora (bass) and Mike Cosgrove (drums) — will hit the road starting July 5 in Las Vegas and ending 21 dates later in Houston, according to their DreamWorks publicist.

Although they performed a show in December (see "Alien Ant Farm Play New Song At First Show Since Crash") and another impromptu gig last month, the tour is the band's first since a May 2002 bus accident in Spain in left Mitchell with a broken back and injured the rest the band (see "Alien Ant Farm Singer Likely To Need Surgery For Back Injury").

The singer is confident his band will pick up where it left off. "I think it should be pretty good. We're a well-rehearsed band," Mitchell said. "We're going to start to rehearse in about a week. I guess the idea behind it is to be tight and not try and get tight a few weeks into a tour that only lasts a month."

Along with favorites from their 2001 major-label debut, ANThology, the Southern California quartet are expected to play selections from their follow-up, truANT, due August 19. The album was produced by Stone Temple Pilots' Dean and Robert DeLeo (see "Stone Temple Brothers To Pilot Alien Ant Farm Album").

The first single will be "These Days," which Mitchell described as a "driving rock ditty ... about guy-girl stuff" that the band wrote years ago and incrementally improved over time since. An early version appeared on their sarcastically titled Greatest Hits debut. Mitchell said the band plans to work again with "Smooth Criminal" video director Marc Klasfeld on the clip for "These Days."

The frontman came up with the 12-track LP's title, or at least he believes he does. "Everyone had some input, and at the end of the day no one really knew what was what anymore," he said. The title ties into the album's scholastic theme, he explained, and the album's cover art will resemble a PeeChee folder.

truANT track list, according to DreamWorks:

• "A 1000 Days"
• "Drifting Apart"
• "Quiet"
• "Glow"
• "These Days"
• "Sarah Wynn"
• "Never Meant"
• "Goodbye"
• "Tia Lupe"
• "Rubber Mallet"
• "S.S. Recognize"
• "Hope"

Alien Ant Farm tour dates, according to DreamWorks:

• 7/5 - Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
• 7/6 - Phoenix, AZ @ Bash on Ash
• 7/8 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Xscape
• 7/10 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
• 7/11 - Palo Alto, CA @ The Edge
• 7/12 - Sacramento, CA @ Boardwalk
• 7/14 - Seattle, WA @ Graceland
• 7/15 - Portland, OR @ B Complex
• 7/16 - Boise, ID @ Big Easy
• 7/18 - Minneapolis, MN @ Quest
• 7/19 - Chicago, IL @ Metro
• 7/21 - Detroit, MI @ Shelter
• 7/22 - Toronto, ON @ Opera House
• 7/23 - New York, NY @ TBA
• 7/25 - Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts
• 7/26 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
• 7/27 - Boston, MA @ Axis
• 7/29 - Atlanta, GA @ Cotton Club
• 7/30 - Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbit's
• 7/31 - Tampa, FL @ State Theatre
• 8/2 - Dallas, TX @ TBA
• 8/3 - Houston, TX @ Engine Room

• Alien Ant Farm

STP's Robert and Dean DeLeo
Photo: Jason Campbell

Alien Ant Farm are about to find out how good Stone Temple Pilots' Dean and Robert DeLeo are at the producer type thing.

The DeLeos, whose production résumé is currently the big empty, will man the boards for the Southern California rock band's still-untitled follow-up to 2001's ANThology.

"Them never having produced a record was appealing to us because we figured that a great engineer and them combined [would make an amazing team]," Alien Ant Farm singer Dryden Mitchell said. "It seemed a little bit more exciting not knowing what to expect. Also, anyone can record a record, and [we thought] they were maybe more capable than some producers out there of getting some good songs out of us and being there for the project and not just overseeing all the work."

Signing on with the DeLeos was a leap of faith, but Alien Ant Farm were convinced the guys could pilot them through the record because not only are AAF longtime STP fans, they're also impressed that the band's decade-long recording career has focused more on albums than singles.

"We wanted musicians in there and people who were very aware of harmony," Mitchell said. "I'm sure there are a lot of producers who are great piano players and vocalists, but we wanted someone who fit that description and had also been on the band side of things. We didn't want someone saying, 'This is radio, this is radio,' and by the time you're done you have a bunch of little radio songs, which might not be the best thing."

As pleased as they are about working with the writers of hits like "Sex Type Thing," "Vasoline" and "Big Bang Baby," Alien Ant Farm's first choice was Jon Brion, who has worked with Fiona Apple and Badly Drawn Boy. The bandmembers also considered ex-Talking Heads guitarist Jerry Harrison, who has produced material for Live and No Doubt. But when they met, they didn't vibe with Harrison. Then somebody suggested the DeLeos.

"When we met them it just didn't feel like a meeting," Mitchell said. "That's the kind of recording environment that we wanted — like, having a good time while we're doing it and then when we're done [realizing], 'Whoa, we just finished a record.' "

Alien Ant Farm and the DeLeos have been in pre-production for two weeks and will work on songs for another two weeks before recording begins in Los Angeles.

"We've already decided what songs are going to be used," Mitchell said. "We're just going to work out the kinks and work on the lyrics a little more and then just rehearse in the last week so that we can be a little quicker in the studio."

If all goes well, Alien Ant Farm will have the album done by May for a fall release.

Last year, the DeLeos wrote a batch of songs with Glen Campbell (see "Stone Temple Pilots Saddle Up With Rhinestone Cowboy"), which may surface on his next album. Stone Temple Pilots are on hiatus while singer Scott Weiland works on a second solo record, but the band plans to reconvene later this year.

• Stone Temple Pilots
• Alien Ant Farm

Alien Ant Farm's Dryden Mitchell
Photo: Amy V. Cooper

WEST HOLLYWOOD, California — Alien Ant Farm steered clear of "Movies" and their well-worn version of "Smooth Criminal" at the House of Blues on Saturday, instead using a mix of obscure songs, covers and drum-centric album tracks to gently reintroduce themselves.

Drum Day L.A. — primarily a showcase for drummers, like Alien Ant Farm's Mike Cosgrove, and their equipment — was the band's first gig since recovering from a horrific European tour bus crash that nearly ended their lives in May (see "Alien Ant Farm To Make Concert Comeback After Bus Accident").

"It's kind of Mike's situation. He invited us to come play the instruments with him too, and we brought some friends from Riverside," singer Dryden Mitchell, who was seriously injured in the crash, said backstage (see "Alien Ant Farm Singer Still Recovering From Bus Accident"). "We're just gonna do some cover songs," he joked, referring to their Michael Jackson-penned hit. "You know, that's us!"

Drum Day L.A. is an annual "benefit for music and schools and stuff like that," Cosgrove explained. "It's not usually the full band ... [so] the guys coming down and playing the thing with me is really, really cool. You don't [normally] get the full band, because usually you're off the road, and there's certain circumstances ..."

"Like surgeries to attend to," bassist Tye Zamora chimed in, smiling.

There are no other shows planned for the guys, who still find the idea of stepping onto — let alone sleeping aboard — another tour bus a bit daunting. Drum Day L.A. was a coming out of sorts, yes, but one purposefully devoid of fanfare.

"We weren't trying to bill it like this is our official coming back and we're ready to hit the road," Cosgrove said. "It's not really like Alien Ant Farm trying to do a big show or anything. We've kept it as low-key as possible."

"It's a cool thing because it's getting down to the most important thing for us, which is playing music," guitarist Terry Corso weighed in. "When all the smoke settles and stuff, we're still just a drummer, a guitarist, a bassist [and a singer]."

And on Saturday, Alien Ant Farm were also a saxophone player, an acoustic guitarist, a keyboard player and a guy on bongos — the aforementioned "friends from Riverside." Looking loose and relaxed, they eased their way into the rarely aired "Rubber Mallet," "Sticks and Stones" from 2001's ANThology and two songs from their self-released 1999 Greatest Hits debut, "These Days" and "Pink Tea." After that came a new song, complete with Mitchell reading lyrics from a notebook after jokingly apologizing for the band's broken TelePrompTer.

The new track, which seemed to be addressing a girl with some serious problems, led nicely into the live favorite "Attitude." The bearded and capped Dryden, still recovering from serious back and neck injuries, understandably looked a bit stiff. But in the live setting, his smooth, wide-reaching and note-perfect voice still put the studio-induced harmonies of most melodic punk singers to shame.

A cover of Sade's "Smooth Operator" was a showcase for his talents, recalling many of the moodier passages on ANThology. After that was Zamora's chance to shine, as the six-string bass player adeptly tackled Sting's "La Belle Dame Sans Regrets," French lyrics and all.

With Drum Day L.A. behind them, Alien Ant Farm will continue to demo songs for a follow-up to ANThology. Though the new album is still officially untitled, the name Ant Jamima has been jokingly tossed around.

• Alien Ant Farm

• Alien Ant Farm

• Alien Ant Farm

• Alien Ant Farm

• Alien Ant Farm

• Alien Ant Farm
• Adema
• The Apex Theory
• Glassjaw

• Alien Ant Farm

• Alien Ant Farm