Lil Wayne and Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz
Photo: Chris Polk/FilmMagic

It's perhaps testament to Fall Out Boy's clout that even when they're publically denouncing rumors about big-name musicians making cameos on their albums, there's a pretty good chance that those big-name musicians actually will end up making an appearance of some sort ... and they'll probably bring along some of their friends too.

Case in point: Last month, an underage — yet apparently very knowledgeable — blogger named Justin Goldberg posted on his site that Kanye West and Lil Wayne were lined up to make appearances on FOB's Folie à Deux album, citing "a reliable source."

"Knowing the right people has finally paid off," Goldberg wrote in the post.

A few days later, Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz addressed that post on his blog, writing that "none of the guests but the ones we have named are currently on the record, to clear [things] up."

And yet, at the same time, he was apparently working overtime to make (some) of said cameos happen, because on Thursday, Wentz confirmed to MTV News that Wayne will appear on Folie, along with a few other guests that might raise an eyebrow or two.

"We got Wayne and Debbie Harry cameos done," he wrote in an e-mail. " Pharrell produced a track too."

The Wayne cameo we can understand — after all, FOB's last album, Infinity on High, kicked off with a spoken intro from none other than Jay-Z — and Williams did spend plenty of time hanging out on the set of the band's "I Don't Care" video last month, so we get that one too. But where does Debbie Harry — frontwoman of groundbreaking NYC punk/ new-wave act Blondie — fit in on Folie?

Well, Wentz isn't exactly sure either, but he knows that her cameo works with the entire vibe of the album. "I just think the record is going to be diverse," he wrote. "It goes all the way between [Blondie and Wayne]."

He remained tight-lipped about just what FOB fans can expect to hear from Wayne and/or Harry, but he did hint that there were more surprise guests still to be revealed — and some of them may be even more head-scratching than Harry. He also was mum about just what song Williams produced on the album — though perhaps you can venture a guess using the just-released track list.

• MTV News RAW: Fall Out Boy

• Fall Out Boy
• Lil Wayne
• Pharrell Williams
• Blondie

Hilly Kristal
Photo: Scott Gries/ Getty Images

Hilly Kristal, the founder of legendary New York punk-rock venue CBGB, died Tuesday from complications from lung cancer at age 75.

Kristal, who opened the now-defunct venue in 1973 in the then-gritty Bowery neighborhood in Manhattan, is credited with helping to launch the mid-'70s punk revolution with his championing of bands such as the Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, Television and Patti Smith. Following a final show in October 2006, Kristal had discussed plans to take the venue to Las Vegas (see "CBGB Owner Relocating Club — Urinals Included — To Vegas This Spring").

"I am very sorry that Hilly is gone," Blondie singer Deborah Harry said in a statement released to MTV News. "He was a big help to Blondie and to the New York music scene for many years. His club CBGB has become a part of New York lore and rock and roll history."

"Hilly was an integral part of the punk scene from 1974 until his death," said former Ramones drummer Mark Bell, a.k.a Marky Ramone. "He was always supportive of the genre and of bands like the Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, and Richard Hell and the Voidoids, and will hold a prominent place in music history. We are all grateful to him and will miss him."

CBGB, which opened in December 1973, was officially called CBGB & OMFUG, which stood for "Country, Bluegrass, Blues and Other Music for Uplifting Gormandizers." But it was the decision by the gruff, bespectacled and bearded Kristal to offer a residency to a then-obscure rock band called Television in March 1974 that helped kick open the door for a raft of bands that would spark the punk-rock movement across the globe.

Intent on showcasing bands playing original music, Kristal offered his stage to thousands upon thousands of young acts over its three-decade-long run. A fixture at the ramshackle club's front door, Kristal ran the club for all 33 years, overseeing its growth from punk's incubator to a tourist attraction — albeit one with legendarily putrid bathrooms and poster-caked walls — whose iconic logo can be seen on T-shirts all over the world.

According to his son, Mark Dana Kristal, Hilly "was suffering" a great deal during the final weeks of his life. "I think he thought he was going to get better, but he didn't. I just wanted him to be in less pain," he said.

As for his father's legacy, "He already has recognition for helping people with music," Mark said.

At a time when many experimental New York musicians didn't have a club to call their own, Kristal provided a kind of incubator that helped the bands find their sound, according to Patti Smith guitarist Lenny Kaye, a longtime friend of Kristal's who used to live across the street from the club.

"He provided this place to play for a lot of disaffected musicians, and he did that by having an open-door policy," Kaye told MTV News. "The only real thing that was important for CBGB was that you played original music. If you did, he was willing to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and the time to figure out what the music was."

Kaye experienced that policy firsthand as a member of Smith's group, which played a seven-week, two-show-a-night residency at the club in spring 1975. Kaye said the residency was key in helping the band to "settle into" its musical style. "It's the kind of environment that musicians need, like [New York's] Greenwich Village folk scene in the 1960s, or 52nd Street in the 1940s when bebop was taking shape. Those times had venues where people could see who they are."

Even after the golden era of punk had faded, Kaye praised Kristal for keeping that open-door policy over the next 30-plus years, inviting a variety of acts to play and asking them back if they could draw a crowd. "I saw such varieties of music in that club," Kaye recalled of the long, dimly lit room where curious masses shuffled past Kristal's desk beside the front door toward the low, cramped stage in the back. There fans would find acts that hoped the club would become part of their legend — or at least add them to its storied history.

"Hilly always gave Sonic Youth a break, from the moment I walked in there looking for a gig," Sonic Youth guitarist Thurston Moore told MTV News. "He knew I had been going there every night since 1977. I think we made $8 on a Tuesday night in front of hardly anyone [on that first gig], but Hilly was there, listening, and he told me that we could next play a Thursday night. He was fatherly in the truest sense, always having the time to talk with you without any condescension. Amid the chaos of Bleecker & Bowery, he was a figure of decency."

After the heyday of New York punk passed, the club continued its streak of booking bands that would go on to bigger and better things, as well as those who just wanted to get a taste of its storied past. That includes Living Colour, Guns N' Roses, Pavement, Elvis Costello, PJ Harvey, AC/DC, the Beastie Boys, the Cars, the Pixies, Soundgarden, the Police, Yo La Tengo, Sleater-Kinney and Sonic Youth — who launched their summer 2006 tour at the club and filmed the video for "Do You Believe in Rapture?" there as an homage to the venue.

The club began to lose out on bookings by the mid-1990s to the raft of other venues in the city, and turned its attention to lesser-known punk and hardcore acts. But it still had an allure for newer groups that were aware of its history (or that wanted to celebrate its status), attracting acts such as Green Day, Good Charlotte, 30 Seconds to Mars, Blink-182, Hawthorne Heights, Devendra Banhart, Smashing Pumpkins, Korn, NOFX, Pearl Jam, Rancid, Linkin Park, Coheed and Cambria, the Dave Matthews Band and the Strokes. During the 1980s, it also expanded into a space next door, opening a gallery/shop that featured acoustic music and an underground "CB's Lounge" that also hosted shows.

"Sometimes you forget, in terms of the mythology, how great a place it was to see music," Kaye continued. "It had a great stage, a great sound system ... and [Kristal] was always there, at the front desk, seven days a week, rain or shine, watching the [crowds] come in. He was a great New York character. He was family."

Though the venue was shuttered last year after a bitter, protracted battle with the owner of the building that housed the club (see "CBGB Owner, Landlord Reach Accord: Club To Close On Halloween '06"), it closed with a flurry of farewell gigs (see "Flea Jams With Patti Smith, Punks Weep At CBGB's Last-Ever Show"). Kristal's daughter, Lisa Kristal Burgman, told MTV News she will continue her dad's work, as he directed, by working to revive the CBGB name. "There will be clubs, more than one," she said, adding that they may or may not be in New York.

Kristal Burgman, who was 18 when CBGB opened, said people might not realize that her dad was also a musician and songwriter. "He sang at Radio City Music Hall when he was very young in the men's chorus," she said. "He could hit a bass C and he had perfect pitch. He loved music and his whole life was about music. My favorite memories of him was when he'd play guitar and sing at my birthday parties. But what made CBGB unique was that it was not about a man starting a business to make money, it was about a man starting a business to give artists a chance to be heard and play their music."

CBGB attendees would often see Kristal sitting at his desk, strumming an acoustic guitar and humming or singing in his deep voice, no matter how loud the noise emanting from the stage.

Kristal exhaustively documented the club's layout before its closing, with an eye toward reopening it — the club's bar, stage and other fixtures were put into storage (see "CBGB's Last Hours"). "I have to fight [to keep the club open]," he told MTV News in 2006. "We should be right here. New York is a wonderful city in a lot of ways, and we're part of it. Not because of me. It's only because of what these musicians who played here say.

"I didn't make this reputation, they did," he continued. "I cannot let this thing down. I can't give up if I think we're right in being here."

A private memorial service is planned, with a public memorial to be held at a later date.

On Wednesday, outside the now-vacant 315 Bowery, where CBGB once stood, fans had erected a makeshift memorial. The wicks of a dozen or so candles flickered in the breeze caused by delivery trucks speeding past the intersection of Bleecker Street. Few signs of CBGB remain, except for some band stickers plastered across nearby lampposts, messages fans from around the world have etched into the building's metal shutters — and, of course, the street sign that says "Joey Ramone Place" (the official second name of that block of East 2nd Street). One of the notes scrawled on the shutters reads, "R.I.P. Hilly, we'll miss you." A handful of bouquets were strewn along the sidewalk, one atop an orange-and-purple baseball bat — perhaps a nod to the Ramones' "Beat on the Brat"?

One passerby, who stopped to snap photos of the shrine with his cellphone camera, said, "This is now a punk rock chapel."

[This story was originally published at 10:50 a.m. ET on 08.29.2007]

• Remembering CBGB

• The Ramones
• Blondie
• Talking Heads
• Patti Smith

• U2
• Foo Fighters
• The Flaming Lips
• Blondie
• Billy Idol

Ozzy Osbourne accepts Black Sabbath's Rock Hall induction on Monday
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com

"It's all over now. ... Rock n' roll is sh--. It's dismal," Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon railed in the June 1980 issue of the late, great rock mag Trouser Press. And although he said those words more than 25 years ago, Lydon's tune has scarcely changed.

So when it was announced back in November that Lydon and his fellow Pistols would finally be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (see "Black Sabbath Finally Make Rock Hall Of Fame — Whether Ozzy Likes It Or Not"), it was just a matter of time before he came out swinging against it all. And when Lydon finally did — via a hand-scrawled note posted on the Pistols' Web site (see "Sex Pistols Respond To Rock Hall Invite With Filth And Fury") stating that the group would not attend the ceremony — the music industry responded with little more than a chuckle and a collective roll of the eyes.

And of course, when the Rock Hall held its 21st annual induction ceremony at New York's glitzy Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on Monday — an event that also saw the induction of Blondie and Miles Davis, as well as Black Sabbath and Lynyrd Skynyrd (both of whom, like the Pistols, had been passed over several times; see "So How Do You Get Into The Rock Hall Of Fame?") — Lydon and the Pistols were nowhere to be seen.

It was supposed to be a silent middle finger to the rock and roll establishment, though it actually seemed to disappoint rather than enrage the assembled musicians, suits and journos. (Rumors, which sadly turned out to be false, had been swirling all day that Green Day were going to induct the Pistols). Still, one cannot help but wonder what Lydon would've thought of the whole ceremony if he'd bothered to attend it.

He probably would have enjoyed the nasty onstage spat that occurred between members of Blondie, which was certainly the most "punk" moment of the night. After frontwoman Deborah Harry, guitarist Chris Stein, keyboardist Jimmy Destri and drummer Clem Burke accepted their awards, former members Frank Infante and Nigel Harrison — who unsuccessfully sued to rejoin the band on its 1998 reunion tour (see "Blondie Reunion Blocked By Former Members") — raided the podium and begged to perform with Blondie.

"Debbie, aren't we allowed?" Infante whined. "I thought the group was being inducted tonight."

"Can't you see my real band is up there?" Harry shot back, before launching into spirited set of Blondie's hits, "Heart of Glass," "Rapture" and "Call Me."

The ugly onstage incident spilled over into the press area, as Stein told the assembled media that he was keeping an eye on his Rock Hall trophy "In case I see one of those f---ers back here."

That sorry scene was, for better or worse, probably the evening's highlight. Sting inducted A&M Records cofounders Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss. The late Miles Davis was inducted by a polite Herbie Hancock. And Black Sabbath, who had made their displeasure with the Rock Hall known on many occasions, were strangely subdued when giving their acceptance speech. Even the rambunctious Ozzy Osbourne seemed touched by the honor, thanking the Hall of Fame "for getting it right" and dedicated the honor to the memory of former Metallica bassist Cliff Burton and former Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott.

"I was getting a bit tired of getting my hopes up year after year, but I'm happy we're finally in," Ozzy said before the ceremony. "It's a great honor and hopefully it will lead the way to more heavy-metal acts being inducted. I'd like to see Judas Priest in soon."

And though Sabbath did not play after accepting their award (because, as Ozzy delicately put it, "my b---s hurt"), the spirit of their brutal proto-metal was brought to thudding life by Metallica, who chugged through "Hole in the Sky" and "Iron Man" with wanton disregard for the eardrums of the largely graying assembled dignitaries. (It should be noted that even though frontman James Hetfield adopted a sorta-Ozzy falsetto for the tunes, as a Sabbath cover band, Metallica are a pretty decent Metallica.)

And as the night ended with inductees Lynyrd Skynyrd jamming away on — what else? — "Free Bird," Lydon's criticisms felt only partially valid. Sure, there are still many artists who deserve to be inducted (Grandmaster Flash, the Stooges) and the ceremony still has the feel of a corporate gospel brunch at the House of Blues. But the Hall seems to be working to fix its problems. Inducting the Pistols, Sabbath and Skynyrd was one step; festooning the Waldorf's stately stage with all manner of punky graffiti was another.

Maybe next year, they'll get it all right. And it'd be a shame if Lydon weren't there to see it.

See it all for yourself, including performances by Metallica and Kid Rock with Lynyrd Skynyrd, during VH1's broadcast of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony March 21 at 9 p.m.

• Black Sabbath, Metallica And Blondie At The 2006 Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony

• Metallica
• Blondie
• The Sex Pistols
• Black Sabbath
• Lynyrd Skynyrd

Black Sabbath at the U.K. Music Hall of Fame induction on November 16
Photo: Jo Hale/Getty Images

Our long national nightmare is over. After eight tries, legendary heavy metal act Black Sabbath will finally be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year, whether Ozzy Osbourne likes it or not.

They will be joined by punk pioneers the Sex Pistols, new wave icons Blondie, jazz godhead Miles Davis and southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd (see "Blondie, Miles Davis, Cat Stevens Top Rock Hall Nominees"). The 21st annual ceremony will take place on March 13 in New York at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

In a 1999 letter to the Hall of Fame, Ozzy famously told the institution to "Just take our name off the list. Save the ink. Forget about us. The nomination is meaningless, because it's not voted on by the fans. It's voted on by the supposed elite for the industry and the media, who've never bought an album or concert ticket in their lives, so their vote is irrelevant to me." He added, "Let's face it, Black Sabbath has never been media darlings. We're a people's band and that suits us just fine."

The group — bassist Geezer Butler, guitarist Tony Iommi, Osbourne and drummer Bill Ward — recently inducted into the U.K. Music Hall of Fame, has long been considered one of the cornerstones of heavy metal. Black Sabbath's absence from the Hall of Fame has been the source of much of the criticism surrounding the way the Hall selects its honorees (see"So How Do You Get Into The Rock Hall Of Fame?").

Though they only managed to release one album, England's Sex Pistols helped set the standard for punk through a series of outrageous stunts, chaotic live shows and the blistering nihilism of their single studio LP, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols. New York's Blondie put a pop face on the late 1970s downtown punk scene via a mix of new wave quirkiness and irresistible hooks, spinning off such classic hits as "Heart of Glass" and "Rapture," with the latter helping to bridge the gap between punk and the emerging hip-hop scene.

Like Sabbath, Southern rock stalwarts Lynyrd Skynyrd are finally making it into the Hall, in their case on the seventh try. The group that made a three-guitar attack legendary are best known for such classic rock radio staples as "Sweet Home Alabama" and "What's Your Name," as well as the epic standard "Freebird," which has become shorthand among rock fans for a show-stopping jam.

Late trumpeter Davis was one of the most celebrated, enigmatic and experimental musicians of the modern jazz era, flirting with everything from standards to fusion and rock (1970's Bitches Brew) during his 50-year career.

A&M Records founders Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss will be inducted in the Lifetime Achievement in the Non-Performer category for their work building the label they co-founded in 1962 into one of the most successful independent labels in the world thanks to hit albums by artists including Peter Frampton, the Police, Joe Jackson, the Neville Brothers, Cat Stevens and Alpert's group, Tijuana Brass.

Artists become eligible for the Rock Hall 25 years after the release of their first record.

• Black Sabbath
• Miles Davis
• Blondie
• The Sex Pistols
• Lynyrd Skynyrd

Debbie Harry
Photo: Paul Hawthorne/ Getty Images

Though there are a handful of comparatively fresh faces, many of this year's nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame may be hoping that the second — or fifth or eighth — time is the charm.

New names on the ballot this year include late jazz giant Miles Davis, new wavers Blondie ("Heart of Glass"), Texas rockers the Sir Douglas Quintet ("She's About a Mover"), singer/songwriter-turned-Muslim-activist Cat Stevens ("Wild World"), '60s white-blues act the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and British Invasion-era combo the Dave Clark Five ("Glad All Over").

The ballot also includes previous nominees John Mellencamp, the J. Geils Band, disco-era group Chic (whose "Good Times" was the musical foundation of Sugarhill Gang's pioneering "Rapper's Delight"), Texas soul singer Joe Tex ("I Gotcha") and punk godmother Patti Smith. Pioneering hip-hop act Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five will make a second attempt at being the first rap group inducted into the Hall.

The rest of the nominees have had multiple shots at induction. Legendary metal act Black Sabbath — who famously say they have no interest in being inducted — will go for a record eighth bid, Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd will clock in with their seventh, and punk group the Sex Pistols — whose frontman, John Lydon, called the Hall "The place where old rockers go to die" — and punk prototypes the Stooges will give it a fifth go.

The failure of these oft-nominated artists to be inducted has inspired much debate (see "So How Do You Get Into The Rock Hall Of Fame?").

Miles Davis was one of the most celebrated and enigmatic musicians of the modern jazz era, and crossed into rock territory with his innovative and influential work in the late '60s and early '70s, most famously on 1969's Bitches Brew LP.

Blondie, fronted by new-wave vixen Debbie Harry, started out on the New York punk scene in the mid-1970s and hit the charts with a patented style that fused punk-rock and girl-group sounds with elements of disco ("Heart of Glass") and hip-hop ("Rapture").

Singer/songwriter Cat Stevens released a series of introspective, folky hit albums in the 1970s with hits such as "Peace Train" and "Wild World" before retiring from music in 1977 and converting to Islam.

In 1964, London's Dave Clark Five were serious contenders for chart domination, but the group lost momentum after scoring hits like "Glad All Over," "Bits and Pieces" and "Because" and faded from view.

Paul Butterfield was one of the first white blues harmonica players to earn widespread praise for his playing as the leader of his eponymous band. He is credited with turning white audiences onto the classic sound of electric Chicago blues in the 1960s and earning a place in rock history when his band backed Bob Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965 — the gig where Dylan was famously booed for playing an electric guitar.

Earlier this year, Buddy Guy, the O'Jays, the Pretenders, Percy Sledge and U2 were inducted into the Hall (see "Justin Timberlake, Bruce Springsteen To Induct This Year's Rock Hall Of Famers").

Artists become eligible for the Hall 25 years after the release of their first record. A group of 75 musicians, journalists and members of the music industry pick the nominees, who are then voted on by a larger group of approximately 700. The top nominees will be announced in December and inducted during the Hall's annual ceremony in New York next year.

• Top Rock Hall Nominees 2005

• Blondie
• Cat Stevens (Yusuf)
• Miles Davis
• Black Sabbath
• Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five

CBGB owner Hilly Kristal and Steven Van Zandt speak during the "Save CBGB's" rally
Photo: Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images

NEW YORK — An estimated 800 supporters gathered in Washington Square Park on Wednesday afternoon in a last-ditch effort to save New York's CBGB, the rundown club that helped birth American punk rock. But it was all for naught.

During the event — which featured performances by Public Enemy, Blondie and Gavin Rossdale's new band, Institute — the club's landlord issued a statement to the press, effectively driving a proverbial stake through the venue's 31-year-old heart.

"Today, CBGB's lease expires and is not being renewed," wrote Bowery Residents' Committee Executive Director Muzzy Rosenblatt (see "Good Charlotte, Audioslave, Blink-182 Weigh In On CBGB's Plight As Deadline Looms"). "[The] BRC has already been forced to divert precious funds and resources toward a lengthy rent dispute with the club and believes it is in the best interest of our clients — the homeless and neediest New Yorkers — to sever this relationship. We hope that CBGB will vacate the premises both voluntarily and expeditiously and avoid costly eviction proceedings that will further hinder our 35-year mission to help the homeless."

In the meantime, "CBGB Forever," a rally orchestrated by E Street Band member and "The Sopranos" thespian Steven Van Zandt (see "Benefit Events Planned For CBGB"), carried on.

Gavin Rossdale's band Institute, drenched from head to toe in sweat, rocked the tattooed, "Save CBGB" T-shirt-donning masses (which was surprisingly short on mohawks, actually). Bad Brains' H.R. and his band Dub Trio infused the activist spirit of reggae into the proceedings. New Jersey punks the Bouncing Souls rallied the troops with one of the afternoon's tightest and longest sets, warming things up for Debbie Harry and Blondie, who captivated the diverse crowd with playful renditions of "Hanging on the Telephone" and "One Way or Another."

House of Pain's Everlast introduced Chuck D et al. by saying, "New York City can't let this place go away" because "it would be a crime." He also took the low road, screaming words everyone who preceded him onstage perhaps wanted to say but couldn't: "F--- the guy standing in the way." Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Professor Griff and the rest of Public Enemy capped things off by challenging everyone in attendance to "Fight the Power."

Before the concert started, Van Zandt, unaware that the death knell had tolled for CBGB, took several shots at Rosenblatt, claiming "no one in New York City wants CBGB to leave, except Muzzy.

"He refuses to talk about a new lease," he continued, calling the club a "historic" and "sacred" site worthy of long-term preservation. He was flanked by two "Sopranos" co-stars: Tony Sirico, who plays Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri, and Joe Pantoliano, known to fans of the mob drama as Ralph Cifaretto. "This isn't about money. It's about one guy's ego trip. We'll keep fighting this. Bands will play CBGB tonight. Bands will play CBGB tomorrow night, and they'll keep playing until Muzzy comes to his senses."

Van Zandt even spoke of the petition he'd presented earlier this week to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg with the names and signatures of more than 30,000 of his constituents, including 43 city council members. On Tuesday, during a press conference, Bloomberg threw his support behind the club, calling it "a great New York City institution" (see "CBGB's Fate Uncertain As Final Hours Of Lease Tick Away"). He explained that his office had tried to intervene in what became a lease-renewal stalemate, and even offered to help CBGB owner Hilly Kristal find a new locale within Manhattan's borders should the BRC move to evict.

Rosenblatt's statement added that "BRC appreciates the efforts of Bloomberg's office during the last few weeks to mediate this matter," but that "we have concluded that the best course of action is to move on. To that end, we fully support the mayor's efforts to find the club a new home, and we will continue to support and work with Bloomberg and all concerned New Yorkers to end the tragedy of homelessness in New York City."

For Kristal, the fight's over. His iconic landmark club will be boarded up — just when is the question. Although the "Save CBGB" camp could not be reached for comment, if BRC moves to evict, it's likely the matter will find its way to a courtroom. So theoretically, it could be months before the iconic Bowery landmark is boarded up, and Kristal's club's relegated to the annals of rock-and-roll history.

During the rally, Van Zandt vowed that "if eviction proceedings happen tomorrow, we will go to the courts and we'll fight it. It's not over till it's over. We'll be there until someone drags us out. We don't care what Muzzy says."

Before launching into "When Animals Attack," from their forthcoming disc Distort Yourself, Institute frontman Rossdale said his former band Bush's first U.S. gig was at CBGB. "It's such a legacy, it's insane," he commented. "Let's hope they figure it out. It's a cultural landmark. Even outside of America, CBGB is synonymous with New York, with music." The crowd exploded when Institute unleashed a cover — if you could call it that — of Bush's "Machinehead."

After his band played "Hopeless Romantic" and "The Ballad of Johnny X," Bouncing Souls frontman Greg Attonitoi recalled how one of the group's first gigs came on audition night at CBGB: "We played for two people." At one point during their set, the Souls invited a bored-to-tears H.R. out to the stage for a rendition of Bad Brains' "Pay to C--," and then incited the crowd with "East Coast F--- You."

It was clear, though, that at least one person on hand was aware of Rosenblatt's decision: Alan Gerson, a Democrat on the city council whose lower Manhattan district includes CBGB. Before Public Enemy took the stage, Gerson likened CBGB to Radio City Music Hall, saying they're both city landmarks that contribute to the culture and "vibe" of the metropolis. He added that the BRC was not doing "good by destroying good" and urged Rosenblatt to be a "responsible recipient of public funds," as the city of New York contributes more than $30 million a year to the organization's annual budget.

He also said if the BRC moved to evict that it might be time to "rethink the support we've given [the organization] in the past." He ended his remarks by putting a twist on an infamous chant from one of the many legends CBGB helped foster, the Ramones: "Hey, ho, we're not gonna go."

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

• Public Enemy
• Blondie
• Gavin Rossdale
• Little Steven

Drowning Pool's C.J. Pierce and Ryan McCombs (file)
Photo: Wind-Up

On August 25, during the Dallas stop on this summer's Ozzfest, Drowning Pool will take the stage for the first time with their third — and Soil's erstwhile — frontman Ryan McCombs, according to a spokesperson for Drowning Pool. The band is writing new material with McCombs for its third album, which should surface late this year or early next. The lineup change — which follows the June departure of Jason "Gong" Jones, who was brought in after the 2002 death of original Drowning Pool vocalist Dave Williams — has sparked some beef between the two bands. On Soil's Web site, bassist Tim King vilified McCombs, saying he will "be singing the very songs he hailed as 'average,' " and capped off his tirade with "Drowning Pool can have him. Now we have the better singer [in A.J. Cavalier] and the better band." ...

The recording industry unleashed its latest round of lawsuits against illegal file-sharers on Thursday, targeting 765 individuals. The "John Doe" suits against users of such P2P services as Grokster, eDonkey, Kazaa and LimeWire were filed in federal district courts from California to New York one week after music companies filed 176 suits against individuals whose names were subpoenaed from their ISPs. In light of the Supreme Court's recent ruling against Grokster, Recording Industry Association of America president Cary Sherman said the organization will "significantly" expand its anti-piracy efforts in the coming months. ... Hey, did you really enjoy Interpol's Antics album when it first came out back in September 2004? If so, then you'll really love it when you buy it again as a deluxe two-disc special edition on August 23. Dubbed Antics: The Special Edition, the set is a completist's dream, featuring an unreleased song, "Song Seven," plus an Antics track remixed by each member of the band, and the three videos off the album: "Slow Hands," "Evil" and "C'mere." ...

Blondie, the MC5's Wayne Kramer and former D Generation frontman Jesse Malin will perform at New York's legendary CBGB club on Monday at 8 p.m., in the first of a series of concerts being organized by the Save CBGB campaign, according to a spokesperson for Malin. The concert will be preceded by a press conference, during which it's expected "Sopranos" star and E Street Band member Steven Van Zandt will discuss the details of a monthlong campaign to help preserve the punk-rock landmark and spare it from closure. The cradle of punk faces eviction at the end of August, unless the club's owner, Hilly Kristal, can negotiate a new lease for the Bowery space that houses the venue. ... Los Angeles punks the Bronx will portray Black Flag in the upcoming film "What We Do Is Secret," a biopic about Darby Crash and the Germs starring Lukas Haas and Bijou Phillips. The Mae Shi will appear in the film as the Screamers. ...

He's a guy whose debut album sold more than 3 million copies, and who, 10 years ago, had one of the hottest songs in the country. But it's been a while since we've heard from Warren G, the Long Beach, California, rapper who pretty much invented G-Funk with his '94 tune "Regulate." And while he's been cranking out records ever since, he's becoming better known in the LBC for his charity work, including his annual "G Christmas," where he buys toys for children at the California Recreation Center; and his midnight basketball league, designed to help keep kids off the street. So it's somewhat fitting that on Thursday, Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill announced that the week of August 1-6 will be Warren G Week, a celebration of all his work. Warren will perform a couple of concerts during the week, including one on August 6 in the hangar of the historic ocean liner the Queen Mary. ... Some people tour nightclubs, some people tour colleges, and there have even been instances where artists have toured Boys & Girls clubs. Soul singer Sharissa is taking it to the next level and doing a tour of prisons in advance of her September 27 release, Every Beat of My Heart. On Thursday she started at Rikers Island in New York, singing for male inmates. She's scheduled to perform for all the women inmates on Friday (July 29). There is no word yet on exactly how many correctional facilities Sharissa will be hitting. ...

Struggling to figure out how to break into hip-hop? A DVD series promises to teach you, with advice from producers Rockwilder and Just Blaze, managers Mona Scott and Blue Williams, and video directors Benny Boom and Jessy Terrero. DreamSpring's how-to series (available on DreamSpringEntertainment.com) has eight titles so far, including "Secrets to Getting a Record Deal" (featuring A&R reps from Jive, Shady and G-Unit), "Secrets to Being a Successful Music Producer," "Secrets to Being a Successful Manager" (with tips from managers of Outkast, Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes and 50 Cent), "Secrets to Being a Working DJ" (featuring DJ Kay Slay and DJ Kid Capri), and "Secrets to Careers in the Urban Fashion Industry" (featuring execs from Sean John, Ecko and Reebok). A portion of the proceeds will go to Akidemics, a nonprofit providing educational programs for inner-city children. ...

Don't worry that Liz Phair has chucked it all for teen pop, despite working with Ashlee Simpson's producer John Shanks on her upcoming album, Somebody's Miracle, due October 4. "People get very uptight about staying in a certain genre or not breaking out of your expected style," Phair said. "If I like indie rock, I can't like pop. Or if I'm a pop person, I have no credibility in rock. But for me, I just decided to go farther and take my aesthetic stand stronger." Song titles on the more grown-up Miracle include "Leap of Innocence," "Table for One," "Stars and Planets," "Lazy Dreamer" and first single "Everything to Me," which asks a lover to "take the time to catch me if I fall" while also asking, "Do you really know me at all?" ...

7.28.2005

Want to be the next American Idol? If you're between 16 and 28, you can audition for the fifth season — which will begin airing in January 2006 — starting on August 18 in San Francisco at the Cow Palace. Auditions will continue in Austin, Texas; Boston; Memphis, Tennessee; Denver and Chicago. Details on the auditions can be found at idolonfox.com. ...

Another day, another Kelly Clarkson contest — this time, the "American Idol" winner is offering a chance to visit her in New York and hang backstage via a T-Mobile sweepstakes, which starts on Monday at T-MobileAllAccess.com. "I can't wait to hook up with some of my fans and hang out backstage," Clarkson said in a statement. ... After rejecting a plea bargain in May in connection with an alleged August 2004 assault on two nail-salon employees, Foxy Brown was slated to appear in Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday (July 28) for the beginning of her trial in the case. The first court date has been moved to August 5 at the request of Brown's attorney. ...

My Chemical Romance have announced plans to embark on their first headlining tour this fall. The Alkaline Trio and jokey pop-punkers Reggie and the Full Effect will serve as opening acts on the trek, which will hit 28 cities. According to a spokesperson for MCR's label, Reprise Records, the start date for the tour has not yet been determined, nor have on-sale dates, but the tour is slated to make stops in Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, San Diego, Atlanta, Orlando, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore. ... "Chickenhead" rapper Project Pat was released from prison Thursday after serving an abbreviated sentence of more than three years for felony possession of a firearm. The rapper, whose real name is Patrick Houston, will remain on supervised release for three more years, according to the original sentence he was served in June 2002. Project Pat was convicted by a federal jury in Jackson, Tennessee, earlier that year on charges stemming from a January 2001 incident when Memphis police pulled him over for speeding and found two revolvers under a seat in his SUV. He was on parole for aggravated robbery at the time. ... "Halo 2" is the 2005 Game of the Year, according to G-Phoria, which crowned winners of the video game world Wednesday night in Los Angeles, in a ceremony hosted by Wilmer Valderrama. "Halo 2" also took home Best Shooter, Best Multiplayer Game, Best Sound Design, Best Original Soundtrack, Best Boss and Best Male Voice Performance (the most overall awards of the evening). "God of War" was also a big winner, receiving kudos for Best Action Game, Best Cinematic, Best Original Game and Favorite Character, as was "Half-Life 2," which won for Best Graphics and Best Female Voice Performance. "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" took home Best Licensed Soundtrack. The Black Eyed Peas and the Bravery performed, while William Shatner was on hand to honor Ralph Baer, who created the very first video game console. The show will be broadcast August 9 on G4 — the video game channel — at 8 p.m. ET. ...

Thanks to "The Dukes of Hazzard," the 1969 Dodge Charger is increasing in value, according to the Kelley Blue Book. The 1969 Dodge Charger SE 500 in mint condition could fetch up to $61,600 today, versus $43,900 only six months ago, a 29 percent increase in the vehicle's value. For a mint condition Dodge Charger R/T, the price has increased 64 percent this year, up from $28,200 in January 2005 to $43,900 this month. ... The Internet has saturated the youth market, with nearly 90 percent of teens reportedly having online access, according to a new survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, with half of them logging on to the Internet daily. That number is up from about 75 percent of teens in 2000. By comparison, only 66 percent of American adults are wired to the Internet. Older teen girls (ages 15-17) proved to be the most intense users. ... Meanwhile, tweens and young teens aren't glued to the TV as much as they used to be — 8- to 14-year-olds are becoming increasingly disinterested in watching television, and more distracted when they do watch it, according to "The U.S. Market for Tweens and Young Teens," a new report from Packaged Facts. Almost 80 percent of the younger tweens say they "love" watching TV, but this drops to 60 percent when kids reach their early teen years. And often, they're doing something else when the TV is on, like reading, listening to music or using a computer. ...

Alanis Morissette's favorite song? Seal's "Crazy." Her favorite Gap jeans? Curvy flare. Starting in August, Morissette will sing her favorite tune to shill for Gap jeans for the retailer's fall "favorites" campaign in Francis Lawrence-directed TV spots, along with Incubus' Brandon Boyd, Joss Stone, John Legend, Destiny's Child's Michelle Williams, Jason Mraz and Liz Phair. (Boyd's fave is Elvis Costello's "Alison," Stone's is the Beach Boys' "God Only Knows," Mraz's is Bob Marley's "One Love," Phair's is Irving Berlin's "Cheek to Cheek"). A limited-edition eight-song CD featuring those remakes will be available as a gift with purchase at Gap stores starting September 1 (except for Phair's track, which will be replaced on the compilation by Michelle Branch's cover of David Bowie's "Life on Mars?"). ... Nicole Richie, who appeared in Bongo's spring 2005 ads, is wearing the jeans once again for the company's juniors fall campaign, and is joined by her fiance, DJ AM, for the launch of Bongo Men. The campaign — which features the couple cuddling and kissing — will debut in September. "I had done the campaign last season and I had so much fun and I loved the way the ads came out," Richie said. "We are so excited to do the campaign together." ...

The lead singer of the British band Bad Beat Revue died last week from an injury sustained during a dramatic leap from the stage, according to BBC News. Patrick Sherry, 29, known as an athletic performer, sustained fatal head and neck injuries during a July 20 gig and died the next day. The group, which formed in 2002, released one album, Still Cheating, in 2003. ... Arnold Schwarzenegger hasn't forgotten his "Twin" — he's teamed up once again with Danny DeVito to reprise their twin brother roles for a new TV ad campaign for the 2005 California State Fair, which begins airing on Thursday. The fair kicks off in Sacramento at the Cal Expo Fairgrounds on August 12 and runs through Labor Day. ...

• Drowning Pool
• Soil
• Interpol
• Blondie
• Liz Phair

The Strokes' Julian Casablancas (file)
Photo: Getty

The Strokes, Sonic Youth, Blondie, Andrew W.K. and Sean Lennon are among the artists on board for a benefit concert in memory of the late Johnny and Joey Ramone.

"Be Well: Ramones Beat on Cancer" will be held on October 8 — which would have been Johnny's 56th birthday — at the New York club Spirit. All proceeds from the event will go to the Cedars-Sinai Cancer Research Center and the Lymphoma Research Foundation. Johnny lost his five-year battle with prostate cancer last week, (see "Ramones Guitarist Johnny Ramone Dies At Age 55") while frontman Joey died after a lengthy battle with lymphoma in 2001 (see "Punk Pioneer Joey Ramone Dead At 49").

The concert — organized by Johnny Ramone (before his death) with longtime Ramones creative director Arturo Vega — will also feature an exhibition of band memorabilia, personal items and photographs. Original Ramones drummer Tommy Erdelyi, the lone surviving member of the band's first lineup, will make an appearance, and New York Dolls frontman David Johansen, Ramones producer Daniel Rey and former Ramones bassist C.J. Ramone are also scheduled to perform.

"It was Johnny's idea, and we were aware that Johnny was in risk of dying. I just wanted to make sure he wanted us to continue in the event of his death," Vega said. "I asked him over and over if he wanted to continue planning, and said he didn't want to let down the fans and the people involved."

"It's sad, because they had been planning on doing this since May. It wasn't something that we just put together," added Strokes manager Ryan Gentles. "It came from Johnny and Arturo. They had it planned for so long, and he just passed away the other day, so it's really sad. There was a chance he was going to be there."

Tickets for the event are $50 and can be purchased via Ticketmaster, Wanttickets.com or at the club's box office.

• The Ramones
• The Strokes
• Blondie
• Sonic Youth
• Andrew W.K.

William Hung's <I>Inspiration</I> CD.
Photo: Koch

Believe it or not, "American Idol" reject William Hung tops the new releases this week. If you've seen the show, you know that Hung's musical Inspiration comes from Ricky Martin's "She Bangs." And that is seemingly all one needs these days to get a record deal. While the "Idol" finalists are busy slaving away in front of Simon, Paula and Randy, Hung is living it up as an ersatz pop star on his debut record, which includes cover songs of material by Ricky Martin (of course) as well as Elton John, R. Kelly and the Village People.

The "Johnson Family Vacation" soundtrack features songs by Ashanti, Ghostface, Musiq, Joe Budden and one of the film's stars, Bow Wow. Last week's "SNL" musical guests Toots and the Maytals offer True Love, an album of collaborations on favorite Maytals tracks that includes contributions by No Doubt, Ryan Adams, the Roots, Eric Clapton, Bootsy Collins, Keith Richards, Ben Harper and Jeff Beck.

Blondie come back again with The Curse of Blondie, while Calexico's Convict Pool, a collection of cover songs and some original material, shares shelf space with They Might Be Giants' five-track EP Indestructible Object, Paul Oakenfold's Perfect Remixes Vol. 1, and Ben Kweller's On My Way.

R&B songstress Tamia releases More alongside Dilated Peoples' Neighborhood Watch, Todd Rundgren's Liarsand Henry Rollins' Nights Behind the Tree Line.

Finally, what would a new releases roundup be without a mention of Barry Manilow? Don't answer that. But Manilow releases 2 Nights Live! this week, a two-disc set that includes all his hits, including "Mandy," "Copacabana (At the Copa)" and "I Write the Songs."

Out Tuesday, April 6:

• The Advantage - The Advantage (5 Rue Christine)
• Trey Anastasio - Seis de Mayo (Elektra)
• And One - Aggressor (Metropolis)
• Architecture in Helsinki - Fingers Crossed (Bar/None)
• Atom and His Package - Hair: Debatable (Hopeless)
• Audio Learning Center - Cope Park (Vagrant)
• The Beautiful Mistake - This Is Who You Are (Militia Group)
• Jack Blades - Jack Blades (Sanctuary)
• Blondie - The Curse of Blondie (Sanctuary)
• Blue County - Blue County (Curb)
• The Butchies - Make Yr Life (Yep Roc)
• Calexico - Convict Pool (Quarterstick)
• James Carter - Live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge (Warner Bros.)
• The Damnwells - The Bastards of the Beat (Red Ink/Epic)
• Dark Lotus - Black Rain (Psychopathic)
• Decree - Moment of Silence (Metropolis)
• Dilated Peoples - Neighborhood Watch (Capitol)
  Buy Now: Neighborhood Watch (Capitol)
  
• Disillusion - Back to Times of Splendor (Metal Blade)
• The DT's – Hard Fixed (Estrus)
• Dujeous? - City Limits (Third Earth Music)
• Edguy - Hellfire Club (Nuclear Blast)
• Elf Power - Walking With the Beggar Boys (Orange Twin)
• End - The Sounds of Disaster (Ipecac)
• Fear - Before the March of Flames Odd How People Shake (Rise)
• Haymarket Riot - Mog (Thick)
• William Hung - Inspiration (Koch)
  Read:
• In Flames - Soundtrack to Your Escape (Nuclear Blast)
• Kate Jacobs - You Call That Dark (Bar/None)
• John Wilkes Booze - 5 Pillars of Soul (Kill Rock Stars)
• Ben Kweller - On My Way (ATO/RCA)
• Lansing-Dreiden - The Incomplete Triangle (Kemado)
• Local H - Whatever Happened to P.J. Soles? (Studio E)
• Russell Malone - Playground (MAXJAZZ)
• Barry Manilow - 2 Nights Live! (Arista/BMG Heritage)
• Matt Marque - Nothing Personal (Atavistic)
• Mocean Worker - Enter the MoWo! (MoWo! Inc.)
• Modest Mouse - Good News for People Who Love Bad News (Epic)
  Buy Now: Good News For People Who Love Bad News (Epic)
  
• Mozaik - Live From the Powerhouse (Compass)
• Charlie Musselwhite - Sanctuary (Real World)
• Paul Oakenfold - Perfect Remixes Vol. 1 (Topaz)
• Of Montreal - Satanic Panic in the Attic (Polyvinyl)
• Old Time Relijun - Lost Light (K)
• On Air Library - On Air Library (Arena Rock)
• Pit Er Pat - Emergency (Overcoat)
• Pre Thing - 22nd Century Lifestyle (V2)
• Pulley - Matters (Epitaph)
• Henry Rollins - Nights Behind the Tree Line (2.13.61)
  Buy Now: Nights Behind The Tree Line (2 13 61 Records)
  
• Todd Rundgren - Liars (Sanctuary)
• Ron Sexsmith - Retriever (Nettwerk)
• Slow Train Soul - Illegal Cargo (Tommy Boy)
• Spinning Images - DNA (Starpolish)
• Split Shift - Tension (Elektra)
• Spymob - Sitting Around Keeping Score (Ruthless/Epic)
• Joan Stiles - Love Call (Zoho)
• Tahiti 80 - A Piece of Sunshine (Minty Fresh)
• Tamia - More (Elektra)
• Teada - Give Us a Penny and We'll Be Gone (Green Linnet)
• They Might Be Giants - Indestructible Object (Barsuk)
  Buy Now: Indestructible Object (Barsuk)
  
• Throbbing Gristle - Mutant TG (Novamute)
• Tight Phantomz - Nightfool (Southern)
• Toots and the Maytals - True Love (V2)
• Truman - Payne Avenue (Geffen)
• Vehemence - Helping the World to See (Metal Blade)
• The Warren Brothers - Well Deserved Obscurity (Savoy Jazz/429)
• Winnerys - And ... the Winnerys (Rainbow Quartz)
• Shannon Wright - Over the Sun (Quarterstick)
• Mary Youngblood - Feed the Fire (Silver Wave)
• Zeke - 'Til the Livin' End (Relapse)
• Various artists - The '90s (TVT)
• Various artists – "The Alamo" soundtrack (Hollywood)
• Various artists - Buzzin' Fly Vol. 1 (Astralwerks)
• Various artists - Electric Gypsyland (Six Degrees)
• Various artists – "Ella Enchanted" soundtrack (Hollywood)
• Various artists – "Johnson Family Vacation" soundtrack (Def Jam)
• Various artists – "The Passion of the Christ": Songs Inspired By (Universal South)
• Various artists - Pink Panther's Penthouse Party (Virgin)
• Various artists - Tracks and Fields (Kill Rock Stars)
• Various artists - Urban Themes (TVT)
• DVD: Kenny Chesney - "Road Case: The Movie" (BNA)
• DVD: "Reggae Nation: The Real Spring Break" (Image Entertainment)

• Ben Jelen - Give It All Away (Maverick)
• Sugarcult - Palm Trees and Power Lines (Artemis)
• Various artists - "Kill Bill 2" soundtrack (Maverick)

• Drowning Pool - Desensitized (Wind-Up)
  Read: "New Drowning Pool Singer Says He Had A Vision Before Tryout"
  Buy Now: Desensitized (Wind-Up)
  
• Hanson - Underneath (3CG)
• Prince - Musicology (Sony)

• Diana Krall - The Girl in the Other Room (Verve)
• Joey McIntyre - 8:09 (Artemis)
• Patti Smith - Trampin' (Sony)
• Various artists - "American Idol" Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics (RCA)

• Buckethead - Population Override (Ion)
• Kimberley Locke - One Love (Curb)
  Read:
• Petey Pablo - Still Writing in My Diary: 2nd Entry (Jive)
• Various artists – "The L Word" soundtrack (Tommy Boy)

• Alanis Morissette - So Called Chaos (Maverick)
• Morrissey - You Are the Quarry (Sanctuary)

• Avril Lavigne - Under My Skin (Arista)
  Read:
  Buy Now: Under My Skin (Arista)
  

• Tamia (R&B)
• Dilated Peoples
• Henry Rollins
• Blondie
• Modest Mouse

Artists Who've Never Been #1: Ozzy, Kiss, The Cure, More

• David Bowie
• Lemmy Kilmister
• The Smiths
• Morrissey
• The Who

Top Rock Hall Nominees 2005

• Blondie
• Black Sabbath
• The Sex Pistols