The Clash

Zac Efron Has Appendix Removed; Plus Heidi Montag, Joel Madden, Nicole Richie, Rihanna, Hawthorne Heights & More, In For The Record

15 Jan 2008 10:47:00 EST

Montag wants to be Madonna with solo LP; Madden blogs about his and Richie's baby; Rih Rih teams with Marc Jacobs for purse.
By MTV News staff

Zac Efron
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

Zac Efron is doing fine after having his appendix removed Tuesday (January 15), according to People.com. The star — who recently signed on for "High School Musical 3" — was rushed to Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after suffering from appendicitis, TMZ.com reports. "Zac had his appendix removed and is recuperating," the actor's representative, who was not named, reportedly said in a statement. ...

A very revealing photo of Heidi Montag graces the new cover of Maxim, and for the accompanying interview, she also revealed to the mag that she wants to be the next Madonna. "But it's not like with most pop artists, where they have a song sent to them that has nothing to do with their emotions or lives," she insisted about her yet-untitled, in-the-works LP. "It's all about me and my life. I'm taking my time to make sure it's a classic. I don't want to be the next pop person who's in or out. I want to be like Michael Jackson, Madonna, Stevie Wonder — all the greats." Montag also dished on new parents Nicole Richie and Joel Madden recalling that one time they "came up to [Montag's fiance,] Spencer [Pratt,] and me at the Beverly Hills Hotel [in California] and started yelling something Spencer said about Nicole in an interview, like, two years ago. ... Joel was yelling, 'You've been talking sh-- about my girl!' " ...

Madden has blogged on the Web site for his clothing company, DCMA, about arriving home with his and Richie's daughter, who was born on Friday. "Well I am finally home with my beautiful girlfriend and our brand new little daughter," the Good Charlotte frontman wrote. "Harlow Winter Kate Madden was born on January 11th 2008 at 3:13 p.m. She weighed in at 6 pounds and 7 ounces. She is 19 inches long and growing everyday already! She really is a wonderful addition to the GC/DCMA/DEADEXEC family. We are so blessed to have this beautiful little baby in our lives. I want to thank everyone for all the love and kind words they've sent our way. We apologize we weren't accepting gifts/cards/calls at the hospital, but if you'd like to send something, we'd rather you make a donation to the Richie-Madden Foundation, which we started in Harlow Winter's honor. She looks so much like her mom it's crazy! She eats like a little maniac and she's really sweet. She barely ever cries, even when daddy is changing her diaper, and believe me I suck when it comes to diapers, but I'm learning! I can't wait to show off some pictures, until then, THANKS!! and GOD BLESS... Joel." ...

From an "Umbrella" to a handbag: Rihanna has made a match with Marc Jacobs as she and the fashion designer have partnered to produce a new pair of purses named after the leggy singer. The two models are available as a part of Jacobs' spring line. ... Missy Elliott has stepped up with two new tunes for the February 5 soundtrack to "Step Up 2 the Streets." The MC's "Ching-A-Ling" — which is already sizzling in the streets — and "Shake Your Pom Pom" will appear on the soundtrack, and might resurface on her yet-untitled new LP, due in May. The soundtrack also features Cassie, who stars in "Step Up 2 the Streets," as well as T-Pain, Flo Rida, Trey Songz, Plies and Scarface. ...

Twista has inked a deal with Koch to release a project with his longtime group, the Speedknot Mobstaz. The Mobstaz's forthcoming sophomore album, Mobstability II: Nation Bizness, is set to feature Jim Jones and production by Cuzzo and China White Productions. ... The Grammys will not be getting a free pass from the Writers Guild of America. The Los Angeles Times reports that the Grammys have not asked for a special waiver to allow striking Guild employees to work on the show, but even if they did request one, it would not likely be granted. In addition, a number of top musicians who also have Screen Actors Guild cards, including Justin Timberlake and Queen Latifah, are being lobbied by the WGA not to attend the February 10 show, according to AdAge.com. ...

In a $35 million lawsuit filed on Monday, Victory Records claimed that Virgin/EMI "improperly induced" Hawthorne Heights to disregard their contract with the independent Chicago label. In a news release on the suit, Victory also claimed that Virgin/EMI paid $55,000 to the band, which used the money to fund the initial phase of a 2006 lawsuit against Victory, and helped the bandmembers search for a music-industry lawyer to help them with their legal action. "The facts alleged in this case demonstrate classic interference with contractual and business relations," Victory lawyer Robert Meloni said. "They did more than merely offer a carrot to the band, but also saddled the horse, paid for a rider to take the reins, and led it out of the barn." The suit seeks $10 million in compensation and $25 million in punitive damages for Virgin/EMI's "willful, wanton and deliberate conduct." Victory maintains that HH owe the label two more albums, but the band, which lost guitarist Casey Calvert in November after a fatal drug interaction, has vowed not to record for Victory again. ...

Rancid fans, time to grow those Mohawks back — the band started recording new material in a California studio on Monday. The punks' yet-unnamed follow-up to 2003's Indestructible is due later this year, on guitarist Brett Gurewitz's Epitaph/Hellcat label, of course. ... Tiger Army have welcomed an old comrade back into their ranks. Stand-up-bass player Geoff Kresge, who toured with the psychobilly band from 1999-2004 — and who also has a stint with AFI on his résumé — replaces Jeff Roffredo, who "left the band on good terms to pursue other interests," according to a press release from the band's publicist. Tiger Army hit the road earlier this week and have a heap of shows planned for throughout the year. ...

Now that Marilyn Manson and Twiggy Ramirez have reconciled, what better way to celebrate than with some concerts? Manson has tacked on a few more to his upcoming trek, which starts Saturday in Orlando, Florida. The newly added gigs will be staged in Phoenix (February 27); Dallas (February 29); Austin, Texas (March 1); and Houston (March 2). Veteran rock act Ours will be the opening act on the tour, according to Pollstar.com. ... Here's a novel idea: Yellowcard are giving fans who buy the rockers' Live From Las Vegas at the Palms release an early chance at getting tix to one of their upcoming shows. The iTunes exclusive will be available starting January 22, and fans who snatch it up before January 29 will get a Ticketmaster code allowing them to nab up to four tickets for the band's trek, which starts March 7 in Salt Lake City and ends April 12 in Los Angeles. From Las Vegas at the Palms immortalizes Yellowcard's show at the Palms Casino Resort's Pearl venue in October. ...

EMI — home to Coldplay, the Rolling Stones and other acts — will slash a third of its work force, or 1,500-2,000 jobs, over the course of the next months, multiple outlets reported Tuesday. According to the Web site for England's Telegraph, the reunited Verve could be the next major group to withhold its upcoming album in light of the major-label shake-up. The paper reports that the Verve may join Robbie Williams and Coldplay in threatening to hold onto their next albums unless they receive assurances about the company's financial health and how their albums will be marketed. The company's new boss, Guy Hands, was reportedly to be grilled by the managers of some of the label's top acts on Tuesday as he revealed plans for streamlining the company. ...

"American Idol" judge Randy Jackson is known for name-dropping, but his new album, Music Club Vol. 1, might finally back up some of his boasting. Jackson's upcoming solo album, due March 11, will feature pals ranging from Mariah Carey and Joss Stone to Jason Mraz, former "Idol" contestants Elliott Yamin and Katharine McPhee and country star Travis Tritt. Fellow judge Paula Abdul will be featured on "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow," her first new recording in more than a decade. Last week, TVGuide.com reported that Jackson and Abdul had been rehearsing a video for the single, and that she was in talks to perform it at the Super Bowl on February 3. Also included on the album are Van Hunt, Three 6 Mafia, Angie Stone, Richie Sambora and Keb' Mo'. ...

My Morning Jacket are going big time: The longhaired Kentucky rockers will headline a show at New York's Radio City Music Hall on June 20. The band's yet-untitled album will drop 10 days earlier. ... Noise Pop just got a bit noisier. The Walkmen, the Dodos, MSTRKRFT, Stellastarr and the Helio Sequence have climbed onto the roster for the San Francisco fest, which is happening February 26-March 2. Jamie Kennedy's comedic documentary "Heckler" — which features George Lucas, Rob Zombie, David Cross and others — will open the Film Festival portion of the event. ... Carla Bruni has been making headlines lately amid her high-profile romance with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Now the chanteuse can parlay that attention into promotion for the wide release of No Promises, an album that is currently only available Stateside on iTunes and at Barnes & Noble stores. The disc — which is being issued through Downtown Records, home to Gnarls Barkley and Spank Rock, and pays tribute to English-language literary legends — will hit retail stores nationwide February 19.

1.14.08

Nearly six years after the alleged sex tape first surfaced, the court proceedings in the R. Kelly case continue to move at a snail's pace. The prosecutors originally sought to have testimony from one expert witness, Dr. Sharon Cooper, cover several different areas — the age of the girl on the tape based on forensic pediatrics, the identification of the man on the tape based on the vein pattern on his hands, and the behavior profile of the girl based on the psychology of child sex-abuse victims. Judge Vincent Gaughan had previously ruled that Dr. Cooper could testify about the victim's age, but not the behavior profile, so prosecutors had asked him to reconsider. At a hearing on Monday (January 14), Gaughan ruled once again that Dr. Cooper would not be able to testify about why the girl in the case would deny that she was a victim, or how common denial is in sex-abuse cases. Kelly is due back in court March 12 for another pre-trial hearing, while the trial itself is slated to start on May 9. ...

And the Wu-Tang Clan infighting goes on. U-God — who complained about RZA being callous toward him in the studio nearly four years ago — is now suing Wu's label, alleging that he is owed $170,000, according to TMZ.com. U-God (born Lamont Hawkins) reportedly filed papers in a New York district court, alleging that Wu Music owes him money for services rendered dating back to March of last year. Wu Music is licensed to Universal Music. ...

Paula Abdul doesn't just have the seventh season of "American Idol" on her mind these days. "I want kids!" the singer recently told Ladies' Home Journal for its February issue. "If it doesn't happen naturally, I can always adopt." The 45-year-old Abdul opened up even more about her personal life, saying of 32-year-old boyfriend J.T. Torregiani, "I've experienced real loneliness, so I love knowing there's someone I can share the good and the not-so-good with." ... Everyone's wondering how the seventh season of "Idol" is going to fare in light of some retooling and the writers' strike, but if you ask Chris Daughtry, the show is "in a state of decline." The Daughtry frontman recently spoke with RollingStone.com about the show, adding that if it doesn't right itself, "it's probably not gonna last too much longer. I'm sure that'll be used against me, but that's the truth, you know?" He also said the show is "definitely lacking some credibility at this point." ...

White Stripes, Foo Fighters, Kings of Leon, Mark Ronson, Klaxons, Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Cheifs and recent MTV Artist of the Week Kate Nash have all landed Brit Award nominations, although Leona Lewis, Mika and Take That have scored the most, with four apiece. Rihanna, Ronson, Kaiser Chiefs, Kylie Minogue and Paul McCartney are slated to perform at the February 20 ceremony. ... R.E.M. have pulled the curtains back on a new Web site surrounding the April 1 release of their 14th studio album, Accelerate. Their NinetyNights.com Web site has daily high-definition-video snippets shot by Arcade Fire collaborator Vincent Moon ...

Björk attacked a newspaper photographer who was attempting to take her picture at the Auckland International Airport on Sunday, according to reports in the New Zealand press. The singer, who was flying in to perform at the Big Day Out concert on Friday, reportedly ripped New Zealand Herald photographer Glenn Jeffrey's shirt after he snapped a photo of her. Jeffrey told the New Zealand Press Association that he was warned by a man traveling with Björk not to take her picture, and once he did, the singer came up behind him, grabbed the back of his shirt and tore it before tumbling to the ground. In 1996, Björk attacked a reporter in an airport in Bangkok, Thailand, after she objected to being photographed. ... The Walkmen and White Rabbits will hop along the U.S. this month for nine shows. On the itinerary are Pittsburgh (Wednesday); Detroit (Thursday); Milwaukee (Friday); Madison, Wisconsin (Saturday); Chicago (Sunday); St. Louis (January 21); Columbus, Ohio (January 22); Philadelphia (January 23); and Baltimore (January 24). ...

For the first time in 25 years, former Clash members Mick Jones and Topper Headon reportedly shared the same stage at a gig by Jones' new band, Carbon/Silicon. The duo performed "Train in Vain" and "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" during the set. ... Megadeth have recruited Chris Broderick (Nevermore, Jag Panzer) to be their newest guitarist, following the recent departure of Glen Drover. Broderick will make his live debut with the band on February 4, at a gig in Finland. ...

Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali said the band will not be revived following the late November death of frontman Kevin DuBrow. In an online statement, Banali claims he had been "approached to see if I would be interested in contacting Rudy Sarzo and Carlos Cavazo and to audition singers for Quiet Riot." He said that he's even fielded an offer to re-form "the version of Quiet Riot that included Paul Shortino, Carlos Cavazo and Sean McNabb." But Banali rejected any suggestions of the band performing live. "My friendship, love and respect for Kevin DuBrow, as well as my personal love and affection for Kevin's mother and his family, makes it inconceivable for me to ever entertain any ovation to re-form or to continue Quiet Riot," he wrote. "It would also be a disrespect to the fans who have supported [the band] for nearly 25 years." ...

Roger Avary, the Oscar-winning co-writer of "Pulp Fiction," was arrested on Sunday after a fatal single-car crash in Ojai, California. According to a Reuters report, Avary, 42, was charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence, and was released from jail after posting $50,000 bail. Andreas Zedini, a 34-year-old passenger in the car, died of his injuries at a local hospital. Avary's wife, Gretchen, 40, was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries after being thrown from the car.

Related Photos

Heidi Montag Poses For Maxim

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R. Kelly Case Still Moving At A Snail's Pace; Plus Wu-Tang Clan, Paula Abdul, Chris Daughtry, 'American Idol' & More, In For The Record

14 Jan 2008 06:55:00 EST

U-God sues Wu Music; Abdul considers adopting kids; Daughtry says 'Idol' is 'in a state of decline.'
By MTV News staff

R. Kelly leaves court in December
Photo: Tasos Katopodis/ Getty Images

1.11.08

Mary J. Blige has a love-hate relationship with her fans, she reveals in the new issue of Vibe, out Tuesday. They don't seem to like her when she's happy — but she doesn't want to be dark and depressed just to make them happy. "When I took the chance to show people I can be happy, I lost a million of my fans," she told the magazine. "I was like, 'I'm gonna have to lose y'all in order for us to live, because if I keep going down this dark hole, we're all gonna die together. I'm gonna slit my wrists or take some pills, and it's gonna be over." That's why Blige feels obliged, more than ever before, to write love songs that she dedicates to her husband. "That's my buddy, my best friend, my business partner," she said. "He's got my back like nobody's ever had my back. I feel like God used him to come and pull me together." Also getting Mary's back is Bill Cosby's wife, Camille, who helped inspire the themes on Blige's Growing Pains. "Bill Cosby called me like, 'My wife loves you! She says there's a song you need to write about love,' " Blige tells the magazine. "I finally called Bill back and said, 'We got the record.' He says, 'Mrs. Cosby will be so glad to hear that.' I damn near cried." ...

Wyclef Jean is being sued for copyright infringement by Blahz of New York rap squad Blahzay Blahzay, who is alleging that an unauthorized sample appears on the former Fugee's latest solo effort, Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant, according to XXL. The suit, which was filed last month, reportedly claims Wyclef used a sample from Blahzay Blahzay's hit song "Danger" on his tune "Welcome to the East" but didn't clear the sample or credit the group. Blahz did say in a statement, however, that he was contacted by Wyclef's people over use of the sample, XXL reports. ...

Jessica Alba, Katie Holmes and Rosario Dawson celebrated the 10th anniversary of V-Day, a worldwide effort to stop violence against women and girls, at a private luncheon on Thursday, according to The Associated Press. A two-day event commemorating the anniversary will reportedly be held in April at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. ... While we're talking Superdomes, TVGuide.com reports that Paula Abdul is in talks to perform live at the Super Bowl on February 3. She is reportedly rehearsing a music video for a duet with "American Idol" peer Randy Jackson, and the song is due to be the first single from Jackson's forthcoming solo LP, Music Club Vol. 1. According to TVGuide.com, footage from the Super Bowl performance will be folded into the video if Abdul does indeed perform at the football extravaganza. Tom Petty is headlining the Super Bowl halftime show. ...

Daughtry are working on the follow-up to their self-titled LP — which was the biggest-selling disc on the Billboard 200 during the December 2006-November 2007 chart year. "Some songs are coming out a little heavier than the last record, and some songs are just way more beautiful," frontman Chris Daughtry told Gibson.com about the new material. ... Paris Hilton has been named Woman of the Year by college comedy magazine The Harvard Lampoon. Hilton will accept the award February 6 at Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and speak to the student body. ...

Does Marilyn Manson reconciling with Twiggy Ramirez remind you of Robert Plant reuniting with Jimmy Page? Probably not, but the Antichrist Superstar recently told RollingStone.com that the Led Zeppelin comeback gig spurred him to make amends with Ramirez. "The turning point for me was when I went to see Led Zeppelin's reunion show, and I saw Jimmy Page and Robert Plant look at each other for a moment, and they probably said, 'Holy sh--, we wrote "Stairway to Heaven." ' ... I want to look at Twiggy and go, 'Holy sh--, we wrote "The Beautiful People." ' I called him, and I said, 'Let's go do this.' " How modest. ... Zooey Deschanel swung by NPR Southern California affiliate KCRW's "Open Road" recently, during which it was revealed that the actress is cobbling together an album with singer/songwriter M. Ward, with whom she has performed in concert in the past. According to ThePlaylist.com, the album — the name of which has yet to be revealed — will drop in March via Merge Records. ...

Gnarls Barkley frontman Cee-Lo made a guest turn recently on "The Boondocks" as Reverend Rollo Goodlove. Cee-Lo's character lends his support to Huey's hunger strike against BET and narrates the entire episode, which skewers several of the network's top execs. A preview of the show appears on YouTube with a note stating the original airdate was Monday, but the show hasn't aired yet. ... Jill Scott announced dates for her Real Thing tour on Friday (January 11). The recent NAACP nominee (Best Female Artist and Best Actress) will hit the stage on multiple nights in Oakland, California (February 7-8); Atlanta (February 22-23); and Baltimore (February 26-27), as well as play a four-night stand in Washington, D.C., beginning March 11. The run ends March 30 in Birmingham, Alabama. ...

Funnyman Patton Oswalt has been tapped to host this year's Plug Independent Music Awards, which will also feature performances by indie folkie José González and St. Vincent, the solo project by Polyphonic Spree guitarist Annie Clark. The ceremony will be held March 6 in New York. ... The Take Action Tour is getting even more charitable. Do Something, a nonprofit group that helps teens fight discrimination and homelessness, is partnering with the trek to offer three $500 grants to young people looking to make change in their neck of the woods. Go here for more info on the Take Action Grants. ... Fiery Furnaces got some sad news recently when Olga Sarantos, the grandmother of two of the indie-rock group's members, passed away, according to BrooklynVegan.com. Sarantos was heard telling tales of her youth on the band's 2005 disc, Rehearsing My Choir.

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Seven Bands from SXSW That Will Matter

27 Mar 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Each year, industry insiders return from the Austin music festival singing the praises of the Next Big Thing. Here are seven bands you'll be hearing from.
By Arye Dworkin

Menomena

Now that the Austin dust has settled, it's time to gain some perspective on last weekend's South By Southwest madness. Thousands of signed and unsigned bands descended on the Texas city like a swarm of locusts (locusts with demos). Ultimately, there were only a handful of bands truly worth recognizing. While Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse and the Stooges may have garnered the most press -- here are some of the bands that may have regrettably slipped through the cracks.

Who: Yeasayer

Where are they from? Brooklyn, New York

Is there a record out? No, not yet. But its debut will be released via Baltimore, Maryland's Monitor Records this coming summer. In the meantime, you can hear a couple of demos on their MySpace page.

Website? Click Here

What do they sound like? At times, the foursome projected a wholly distinct vibe like a manic Peter Gabriel -era Genesis channeled through Animal Collective but the band also manipulates their collective vocals (yes, they all sing) producing a sweet, harmonious cacophony.

The great moment: Performing the whole time under a green hoodie, front man Chris Keating walked intermittently into the audience frantically slapping his tambourine in the air.

Who: Ra Ra Riot

Where are they from? Syracuse, New York

Is there a record out? The band doesn't have a label yet, so there's only a self-released EP (which, incidentally, doesn't do justice to the live show). But based on the buzz of its SXSW performances this will all change very, very soon. What, you can't hear the labels bidding in the background?

Website? Click Here

What do they sound like? The six college aged kids create an enormous, hefty sound complete with a cello and violin, not unlike the Arcade Fire or the Olivia Tremor. And singer Wesley Miles croons earnestly but still not emotive enough that it's emo. Ra Ra Riot has enormous potential and considering the band is only a year old, the actualization is inevitable.

The great moment: Guitarist Milo Bonnacci and bassist Mathieu Santos rested their respective foreheads on one another's shoulders while riffing on their instruments.

Who: Jamie T

Where are they from? London, England

Is there a record out? Jamie's debut Panic Prevention is available in Europe on Virgin Records and at this current time, he has no American label.

Website? Click Here

What do they sound like? The cockney cockiness of the Arctic Monkeys meets the disjointed, slurred flow of the Streets meets the middle-finger attitude of the Clash meets the pop sensibility of Lily Allen meets the carelessness of the Fall. Basically, a lot of meetings.

The great moment: When an audience member noted, "This guy is completely wasted." And it was probably true.

Who: Menomena

Where are they from? Portland, Oregon

Is there a record out? The debut I Am the Fun Blame Monster (an anagram for The First Menomena Album) was released on indie label filmGUERRO and features an 80-page flipbook. This year's critically acclaimed Friend And Foe was released on Barsuk in January and it's inarguably one of the year's strongest records.

Website? Click Here

What do they sound like? The unpretentious side of art-rock. There hasn't been a threesome as competent at playing their respective instruments since Rush. Justin Harris, Danny Seim, and Brent Knopf craft oddly timed, intricate pop songs that are heartbreakingly fragile.

The great moment: When drummer Seim flailed on his kit like the octopus prodigy of Keith Moon.

Who: The Black Lips

Where are they from? Atlanta, Georgia

Is there a record out? There are three indie releases out already but the forthcoming Los Vallentes del Mundo Nuevo, a live album recorded in Tijuana, is their first for Vice Records.

Website? Click Here

What do they sound like? Dirty, dirty rock and roll. The Nuggets -influenced retro-ruckus of the Lips is no revelation but these four rarely sober characters bring the party wherever they go.

The great moment: Considering the band performed thirteen times over the span of four days, there was no definitive great moment. Let's just say that all those live sets culminate into one massive great moment.

Who: The Twilight Sad

Where are they from? Glasgow, Scotland

Is there a record out? Fat Cat Records is currently offering two EPs but the full-length Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters will be out in just a few weeks.

Website? Click Here

What do they sound like? Orchestral rock with a honed passion. The guitar, bass, and drums project an aural fullness while singer James Graham's heartfelt, moving vocals soar above it all. Like Snow Patrol with bite, or Mogwai with sensitivity training.

The great moment: When Graham looked down pensively at the floor holding on to the microphone stand with extreme intensity while his band set off power-chord fireworks.

Who: Datarock

Where are they from? Norway

Is there a record out? Yes, but Datarock Datarock is only available on import and via iTunes, although, Nettwerk will release it this coming spring in the US.
Website? Click Here

What do they sound like? Based on the unabashed silliness of the Datarock uniform--a red hoodie, red sweatpants, and mirrored visors--this band is refreshingly brazen about having fun. Their songs reference the dance rock of Franz Ferdinand, the angular zaniness of Devo and the geeky white boy funk of Hot Chip. There wasn't a still person in the room.

The great moment: When front man Fredrik Saroea riled the crowd up into a frantic clap-along.

Watch videos from this year's artists.

VH1 Blog: Complete SXSW Coverage.

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Grunge Rebirth, Beyonce Nod — And Flavor Flav! — More SXSW Surprises

17 Mar 2007 10:43:00 EDT

Plus Damon Albarn's Queen gets loud, Hanson work 6th Street, Kirsten Dunst enjoys the show.
By MTV staff

Flavor Flav performs at SXSW on Friday
Photo: John Shearer/ Wire Image

AUSTIN, Texas — Every March, the music industry throws on a pair of shorts, slathers on the SPF 45 and heads on down to Austin for South by Southwest, a weeklong celebration of bands, BBQ and (sometimes free!) beer. It's a brutal bacchanal and music marathon powered by thousands of acts playing in hundreds of venues — at all hours — plus an unreal number of open bar tabs and fancy private parties.

Sleep is not exactly a top priority, so MTV News has dispatched three of its most tireless reporters into the fray. They'll be filing reports a few times each day (scroll down for the evening report), which will chiefly serve as a way of keeping you up to speed about what's going on deep in the heart of Texas, but also double as a convenient way — for us, anyway — of making sure everyone's still alive.

The Day

James Montgomery, MTV News writer: Another afternoon, another 36 Kool-Aid-colored wristbands to weigh down my wrists. At every day party I attend, my wrist gets slapped with a brightly colored piece of plastic (or, as is the case at the Levi's/Fader fort, two pieces), which — in theory — are supposed to keep the unwashed masses from gate-crashing and allow me preferred access to VIP areas and/or free booze. But the only thing they're really good for is snagging on clothing and making me look like this guy.

I know, I know ... cry me a river. But after only three days at SXSW, I'm totally starting to feel the inner Andy Rooney in me come to life (and he loves Robyn Hitchcock). Maybe it's the fact that every dude here is wearing a tank top, or the fact that every girl looks she's Karen O's stunt double. Who knows? ...

OK ... deep breath. Spent the afternoon at the SPIN party, where there was free popcorn, free ice cream, free cigarettes and, of course, more free wristbands! There was also a middling set from New Orleans funk act Galactic featuring cameos by a who's who of rappers that no one cares about (Lyrics Born, the Coup's Boots Reilly), a Kirsten Dunst sighting and a truly awesome early evening performance from the Kings of Leon, who rock nearly as hard as their pants are tight (and that's very).

Off now to get some dinner ... then hopefully catch a sweaty, late-night set from Girl Talk. Oh, also, my buddy in Beirut just invited me on a four-hour "BBQ excursion" set for Saturday afternoon. Wristbands or no, things are lookin' up, indeed!

John Norris, MTV News correspondent: By and large, the consensus in the local media and among people I have talked to seems to be that while the significance of SXSW has changed — I mean, we all know where music is "broken" in 2007, and it ain't at one gig at one festival — the festival still plays a vital role. As a one-stop shop for those who don't have bands rolling through their town every week, and for artists to get their music seen and heard by those in and out of the mainstream biz.

Among the bands, at varying levels of notoriety, that have introduced themselves to me on the streets of Austin and gotten their music into my hands in the past couple of days: Aloke, the GoStation, Locksley, New Year's Day, the Animators, the Stock Market Crash and some pretty cool garage girls from Atlanta who go by the lovely name the Coathangers (who count in their arsenal a fairly demure jam called "Nestle in My Boobies").

Finally, I have been avoiding going on a vegan rant for the last few days and just sucked it up and dealt with foraging around town to find non-animal-product dining. When in Rome ... yeah, yeah. Well, I'm sure as hell not gonna start eating flesh slathered in barbecue sauce, that's for sure. I'm often in situations like this — it means repeated trips to Asian places, which at least know what tofu is — so I've been twice to P.F. Chang's and once to Veggie Heaven. But then you slip and eat cheese sometimes. At last year's SXSW, even Chrissie Hynde — as much an icon of animal rights as a goddess of rock — told me she occasionally will eat cheese and she's been vegan for more than 30 years. Really, I love longhorns. To look at. Or pet. Not to eat, sit on or wear. End of screed.

Gil Kaufman, MTV News writer: I'm going to announce a moratorium on the bad-name thing, though Chicago's Flosstradamus get an honorable mention. Let me just say this now: If Australia's Youth Group don't become the next U2, something is seriously amiss. These guys have the kind of swaying, epic songs — like "Shadowland" — that fill up a dingy daytime bar show and make it feel like a stadium.

The pressure to melt down in public for new hot messes like Amy Winehouse must be intense, but it doesn't seem to be slowing down the hottest mess on everyone's tongue this week, Atlanta's notorious Black Lips. More than six years into their career, the band still knows how to shock, or revolt, as when guitarist Cole Alexander lost his lunch mid-solo just two songs into the band's set. Pro that he is, he never missed a lick, though the crowd did take a step back.

Note to the dude walking down the street with earplugs in: Bro, yeah, it's loud in the venues sometimes, but you can take them out on the way to lunch.

One of the reasons rock stars love South By (that's what the cool kids call it, for real) is they can just blend in, because every hipster doofus worth his salt has rats-nest hair, too-tight jeans and an expensive-looking ripped shirt. So, if you walk down the street and see Sonic Youth guitarist Thurston Moore hanging on the corner, or Joan Jett waiting for a cab outside your hotel, yeah, it's them.

Speaking of which, I was on the phone in the elevator and I see a guy walk in with a huge clock around his neck and a bunch of dookie chains and my first thought is, "What kind of a bozo thinks he can cop that look from Flavor Flav in 2007?" Oh, my bad, it was Flavor Flav! We chatted, I wished him luck on his show Friday night (March 16) and when the doors opened, he gave me a knuckle pound and zoomed out into the lobby on his wheelies.

Here's what I missed today but heard about from people who were better line-jumpers than me: Pete Townshend jamming on "The Seeker" with the Fratellis, and Vietnam — or "those dudes with the giant beards," as one patron described them.

The Evening

James Montgomery: If you like slightly tubby guys with super scraggly beards, rare, out-of-print Boredoms 7-inches and uttering the phrase "They're still playing the same song?!" then the Ecstatic Peace Records and Tapes showcase was the place to be Friday night. Owned and operated by Sonic Youth frontman Thurston Moore, Ecstatic Peace releases records (actual records; like, on vinyl and everything) by a whole lot of erudite, experimental bands that you've never heard of, many of which — including the ethereal Gown, the drone-y Black Helicopter and the unpronounceable Charalambides — were on display tonight.

Of course, doe-eyed dreamboat Michael Pitt's little grunge outfit, Pagoda was there too, but I spotted John digging them pretty hard, so I'll leave it to him to document their set. Needless to say, it didn't take me long to get my fill of avant instrumentalism, and I was quickly out the door. But not before snagging a copy of the free Ecstatic Peace 'zine for my reading leisure. Thanks, Thurston!

Then it was off to Stubb's, where a little of the old "I'm with MTV News ... my camera crew is inside, and I need to get to them now!" routine (note: professional!) got me to the front of the line and into the much-hyped gig by Damon Albarn's new project, the Good, the Bad and the Queen. I'd been hearing a lot about how the whole thing was some sort of semi-conceptual play, a sort of time-skipping portrayal of life in London throughout the 20th Century, and I was anxious to check it out myself.

Sadly, all I got out of the performance a whole lot of former Clash bassist Paul Simonon's booming, bubbly low-end (I mean, seriously, dude was loud) and a few pictures of Albarn in a top hat. Playing on a stage littered with streamers and Union Jacks, in front of an impressionistic portrait of London, the atmosphere was right, but the music — all percolating, dubby basslines and three-quarter-speed guitars — wasn't. Truth be told, the whole thing was a complete snoozer. And if it was come sort of concept, I wasn't getting it. Maybe, on this night, I just wasn't smart enough for any of it. Not sleeping and existing solely on ribs and cigarettes tends to do that to a person.

John Norris: While I didn't stick around at Stubb's long enough to check out the Good, the Bad and the Queen, there was still plenty of the Snide, the grungy and the unexpected to go around.

Began my travels at Buffalo Billiards, where you rack 'em up downstairs and upstairs you hear music — cool music on this night, in the form of Nashville's Clem Snide, the band fronted and really embodied by one of the dryer, wittier guys in indie music, Eef Barzelay. He led his two backing players through a 40-minute set full of Clem Snide's trademark tunes that build and build ... and suddenly end. Eef's sarcasm was in abundance as well, in songs like "Girls Don't Care" and in his between-song patter, like when he told the SXSW crowd "You quench me. Your applause is like calamine lotion on my mosquito-bitten skin." Oh and he even busted out a bit of Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable."

Three encounters making my way down a packed 6th Street: former MTV VJ and walking musical encyclopedia Matt Pinfield, shooting a show for DirectTV; my old pals Taylor and Zack Hanson, being interviewed for another video outlet; and Damaris Drummond, a performance artist who is planning to cover herself with vintage Atari joysticks on Saturday and ask people to choose one to play with. Where in Austin will this happen? "Wherever they will let me," says Damaris. I am not kidding.

Nor am I kidding when I say that Michael Pitt rocks. Pitt may be the easy-on-the-eyes actor who starred in "The Dreamers" and "Last Days," but he has apparently put acting on the backburner indefinitely to concentrate on his neo-grunge band Pagoda, who played outdoors at the Mohawk. With Pitt on guitar and wailing vocals (playing a Cobain-like character has clearly had an impact on him), plus bass, drums and cello (!) the band ripped through one impassioned song after another, and you might have thought it was 1993 all over again. Only one beef though: say something, dude. I get it, you want to downplay the "movie star as frontman" thing; who wouldn't? But apart from "Thanks Thurston" and "This is our last song," Pitt was totally mute ... and he tended to overdo the whole back-to-the-crowd thing. Mike — you can play guitar, you can sing and scream, your band is good. Lighten up.

Plenty light and comfortable is Mancunian troubadour Damon Gough, a.k.a. Badly Drawn Boy. Although large open-air Stubb's may not have been the best setting for his sound, Gough lit up the night with his peppy alt pop, including the winning title track from his most recent release, Born in the U.K. Plus, he's a dead ringer for my MTV News buddy Aaron Pinkston, who was watching the show with me. There could be a sitcom in here. Couple of bearded, longhaired, beanie-wearing dudes from opposite sides of the Atlantic. It could work ...

Gil Kaufman: If there's anyone who loves the Ramones more than me, it's Japanese punk bands. Which is why the Japan Night showcase is always at the top of my list. This year was no disappointment, with a killer set from Osaka's The50Kaitenz, a power trio who rocked a blistering set of Ramones-inspired rockabilly while wearing matching black suits with Colonel Sanders-style black string ties. They were followed by the equally off-the-charts Pistol Valve, a 10-woman collective with eight horn players, an electric violinist and DJ, all combining forces (like Voltron!) to create a truly unique brand of Afro-Cuban-funk-jazz-hip-hop-a--go-go, all while wearing fedoras and varying stages of lingerie.

After flashing my badge, dropping some names, pretending to call my nonexistent cameraman and using every slimy excuse I could think of to jump in front of the two-block long line, I finally got in to see hot not-mess Brazilian funk carioca trio Bonde do Role. The group — really just two MC's and a DJ — mash up party-ready Bailefunk rhythms with hip-hop and samples that range from classic rock to Brazilian dance and snatches of the "Grease" soundtrack, and they had the packed house bouncing off the walls. They got even the most jaded hipsters to throw down.

Can James snag himself a nap? Are there more Beyoncé covers in John's future? Will Gil's line-cutting come back to haunt him? Check back all weekend for our SXSW coverage!

Earlier this week:

· "Tom Morello's SXSW Gig Turns Into Raucous All-Star Jam With Slash, Perry Farrell"

· "Amy Winehouse Raises Eyebrows, Bloc Party Draw A Mob As SXSW Wakes Up"

· "Pete Wentz Clones Descend, Lily Allen Warbles As SXSW Gets Under Way"

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

[This story was originally published on 3.16.2007 at 8:45 p.m.]

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New Releases: Game, Fat Joe, (+44), Panic! At The Disco, Akon & More

14 Nov 2006 06:01:00 EST

Also due Tuesday: Trail of Dead, Michael Jackson, Clash, Tenacious D, Cassettes, Entrance, Army of Anyone.
By Kurt Orzeck

Game's Doctor's Advocate
Photo: Geffen Records

Coast to Coast: When Fat Joe tapped the Game to appear on "Breathe & Stop," the second single from his Me, Myself and I LP, little did Joe know that he was actually sleeping with the enemy. After all, Game's new Doctor's Advocate drops this week too, which means the two will go head-to-head for consumers' dollars. If the albums are judged by their guest stars, NYC Joe is in trouble. He enlisted Lil Wayne for two Me tracks, "The Profit" and "Make It Rain," plus Scott Storch for production purposes. But Game has him beat: Kanye, Jamie Foxx, Nas, Snoop, Xzibit and Swizz Beatz all contribute to his LP, in varying capacities. And to top it off, Weezy was one of the 20-plus artists who just participated in a remix of Game's new single, "It's Okay (One Blood)."

Name That Band: Blink-182 always said they chose the "182" randomly. But there's no doubting where Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker got the name for their follow-up band, (+44): It's the international dialing code for the U.K. Theirs isn't the most unconventional band name this week, though. That honor belongs, as it always does whenever they rear their scrawny heads, to ... And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, who have a new CD to share this week as well. While (+44)'s When Your Heart Stops Beating also features ex-Transplant Craig Fairbaugh and Shane Gallagher of the Nervous Return, Hoppus did all the singing, wrote all the lyrics and even played some guitar. Barker did his part by taking piano lessons and chalking up some keyboard contributions. Trail of Dead reached beyond their five-member cast and out to Dresden Doll Amanda Palmer and King Crimson's Pat Mastelotto for help with So Divided, which has some of the most gorgeous album art in recent memory and also includes a Guided by Voices cover song.

'Kon Session: Akon is a singer, not a rapper, and he grew up in Senegal, not exactly one of hip-hop's capitals. But that hasn't stopped Eminem, Snoop and Styles P. from taking him under their respective wings. All three of them lend a hand on his sophomore disc, Konvicted, a release that has bounced around from November 21 to December 12 to this date. 'Kon, who has run into his fair share of trouble with the law, repents with the anti-gangsta track "Runnin' " and branches out even more with a ballad, "Never Took the Time," and an Africa-awareness track, simply titled "Africa." Konvinced?

Tenacious D.G.: Foo Fighters just put out the concert disc Skin and Bones last week and have a DVD version dropping in two weeks, but apparently Dave Grohl is trying to make an appearance every Tuesday in November. He plays drums throughout the "Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny" soundtrack, which was produced by the Dust Brothers' John King and has a limited deluxe version with tarot cards, a guitar pick and special slipcase. Grohl crops up on another soundtrack too: "Rising Son: The Legend of Skateboarder Christian Hosoi," for which he contributed "Vile." That song is actually the product of his teaming with DJ C-Minus — who, incidentally, has collaborated with Grohl buds Queens of the Stone Age in the past.

You and Whose Army?: You might know Richard Patrick as the guy who kept saying, "Hey, man, nice shot," in Filter's song of the same name. But you probably won't recognize the guys joining him for Army of Anyone: They're the Stone Temple Pilots who got constantly upstaged by media darling Scott Weiland. While they're going to war with their self-titled debut, Yusuf is more apt to find a diplomatic solution. You might not recognize him either: After finding mainstream popularity as Cat Stevens, the Islam convert changed his name to Yusuf Islam, and now he's just Yusuf. Among the spiritual and romantic songs on his album An Other Cup, he finds space to set the record straight with a cover of "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," made famous by Nina Simone.

Let the Reissues Floweth: When sales fail, and they sure have been failing lately, there's always the mighty reissue. Labels have been pumping out deluxe versions of today's biggest releases, and this week proves no different, with a collector's edition of Panic! at the Disco's A Fever You Can't Sweat Out hitting stores. The album looks to go beyond its platinum success with this limited run, enhanced with a bonus DVD (tour, live and backstage footage); phenakistoscope (one of those spindle viewer doohickeys); lyric cards; a tour program; and more.

But unlike other weeks, this one also sees a wide range of re-releases by recent but lesser-known bands. In case you've forgotten (we did), Wind-Up — home to Evanescence, Creed, etc. — was originally Grass Records, which put out more indie-friendly releases in the mid-'90s. Commander Venus, a project featuring Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes, are recalled with a straight reissue of 1997's The Uneventful Vacation, and New Jersey's the Wrens find their first two LPs, Secaucus and Silver, also re-released in frill-free form. And metal fans get their fill with digipak versions of doom deacons Electric Wizard's Come My Fanatics, Dopethrone and Electric Wizard. All three come with bonuses.

A Clash Indeed: If you ever wondered what Michael Jackson might have in common with the Clash, the mystery has been solved: Both artists are being heralded with monster singles boxes. Visionary: The Video Singles has a whopping 20 DualDisc singles, each of the original tracks plus accompanying videos. The Clash's The Singles falls one CD short at 19 but has six songs never on CD plus a giveaway EP that hasn't been commercially available. Oh, and the liner notes include contributions from the Edge, Pete Townshend, Damon Albarn and more. Can you beat it?

Lovers' Row?: When Noah Georgeson produced Joanna Newsom's 2004 album, The Milk-Eyed Monster, he probably didn't think his girlfriend's follow-up would be pitted against his debut. But that's exactly what's happening this week. Georgeson, who plays guitar in Devendra Banhart's live band, wrote, produced, scored, arranged, etc. Find Shelter beginning in 1999, when he lived with Newsom. Her Ys has just five songs but includes contributions from engineer Steve Albini, egghead Jim O'Rourke of Sonic Youth, not to mention legendary arranger Van Dyke Parks.

... And That's a Fact: This one's for the books, really: Originally pressed on vinyl in 1955, Charlotte Rae Sings Songs I Taught My Mother: Silly, Sinful & Satiric Selections is seeing its first-ever release on CD some four decades later. So who is Charlotte Rae, you ask? Well, you probably know her better as Mrs. Garrett: Rae, now 80 years old, is the woman who played the mentor on "Diff'rent Strokes" and "The Facts of Life" — and she sang the latter show's theme song to boot. Relive the olden days as Rae hums along to "Gabor the Merrier," "When I Was a Little Cuckoo" and "The Sea-Gull and the Ea-Gull."

Song Title of the Week:

"The Sea-Gull and the Ea-Gull" from Charlotte Rae Sings Songs I Taught My Mother: Silly, Sinful & Satiric Selections

Other Notables:

The Low Frequency in Stereo's The Last Temptation of ... the Low Frequency Stereo, Vol. 1: The Norwegian groovesters invoke the Jesus and Mary Chain and other post-psych greats on their third album, which was partly crafted using an old living-room organ. Recorded on analog but mixed digitally, Last Temptation boasts "Jimmy Legs," "Bahamas" and "Red Flag."

Entrance's Prayer of Death: The fourth LP by 25-year-old wünderkind Guy Blakeslee was inspired by, in no particular order, the Tibetan Book of the Dead, LSD guru Timothy Leary and Delta blues legend Charley Patton. Co-produced by and featuring contributions from Paz Lenchantin of A Perfect Circle note, Prayer purports to be "a conceptual meditation on the urgency of life-awareness and death-awareness in a war-torn world." Far out.

Various artists' Cursed - The Head Trauma Movie Project: Ever synced up Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon with "The Wizard of Oz"? It's the same deal here, except label Park the Van aligned unreleased songs by Bardo Pond, the Capitol Years and Bitter Bitter Weeks with "Head Trauma," a grisly indie horror film that appeared at the Los Angeles Film Festival earlier this year. Bet Rob Zombie wishes he had thought of this one.

New Releases: · (+44) - When Your Heart Stops Beating (Interscope) Read: "Plus-44 Address Blink Breakup On LP, Want Fans To 'Hear The Truth' " · Akon - Konvicted (Universal Motown) · Ali B - Ali B Presents ... Air Breaks (Air) · ... And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead - So Divided (Interscope) [Buy Now] · April Wine - Roughly Speaking (April Wine) · Army of Anyone - Army of Anyone (Firm) [Buy Now] Read: "Army Of Anyone Want To Be Judged By Their Fifth Album, Not Their Debut" · Bad Astronaut - Twelve Small Steps, One Giant Disappointment (Fat Wreck Chords) · Cassettes - 'Neath the Pale Moon (Buddyhead) · Ronnie Day - The Album (Militia Group) · Disco Biscuits - Rocket 3 (limited-edition EP; Sci Fidelity) · Entombed - When in Sodom (Candlelight) · Entrance - Prayer of Death (Tee Pee) · Fat Freddys Drop - Based on a True Story (Kartel) · Fat Joe - Me, Myself and I (Virgin) [Buy Now] Read: "Fat Joe On September Release: 'Bet The Kitchen Sink On Me' " · Christine Fellows - Paper Anniversary (Six Shooter) · The Game - Doctor's Advocate (Geffen) [Buy Now] Read: "Game Says Song On New LP Makes Him 'The One-Man N.W.A' " · Noah Georgeson - Find Shelter (Plain) · Nanci Griffith - Ruby's Torch (Rounder) · Imperial - We Sail at Dawn (Pluto) · Incredible Bongo Band - Bongo Rock (Mr Bongo) · Jon B - Holiday Wishes From Me to You (Arsenal) · Kenny G - I'm in the Mood for Love ... The Most Romantic Melodies of All Time (Arista) · Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris - Real Live Roadrunning (with DVD; Warner Bros.) · The Low Frequency in Stereo - The Last Temptation of ... the Low Frequency Stereo, Vol. 1 (Gigantic) · Marah - Sooner or Later in Spain (enhanced live LP; Yep Roc) [Buy Now] · Paul Michel - Quiet State of Panic (Stunning Models on Display) · Joanna Newsom - Ys (Drag City) · Nickodemus - Endangered Species (Eighteenth Street) · Joan Osborne - Pretty Little Stranger (Vanguard) [Buy Now] · Laura Pausini - Yo Canto (Warner Music Latina) · Paybacks - Love, Not Reason (Savage Jams) · Polly Panic - Painkiller (Greyday) · The PoPo - The PoPo (Buddyhead) · Damien Rice - 9 (Heffa/ Vector/ Warner Bros.) [Buy Now] · The Red Krayola - Red Gold (EP; Drag City) · Bianca Ryan - Bianca Ryan (Columbia) · Sasquatch - II (Small Stone) · Emilie Simon - The Flower Book (Milan) · Bob Sinclair - Cerrone (Recall) · Tahiti 80 - Fosbury (Militia Group) · Tamia - Between Friends (Image) · Tenacious D - "The Pick of Destiny" soundtrack (limited-edition deluxe version also available; Epic) [Buy Now] · Tralala - Is That the Tralala (Audika) · White Magic - Dat Rosa Mel Apibus (Drag City) · Winks - Birthday Party (Ache) · Yusuf - An Other Cup (limited-edition version also available; Atlantic) · Various artists - Cursed - The Head Trauma Movie Project (Park the Van) · Various artists - ESL 100 (ESL) · Various artists - Fabric 30: Rub-N-Tug (FabricLive) · Various artists - George Jones: 50 Years of Hits (available as a CD or a two-CD/two-DVD set; Rounder) · Various artists - Rhythms del Mundo: Cuba (Hip-O) · Various artists - "Bobby" soundtrack (Rhino) · Various artists - "Casino Royale" soundtrack (Sony Classics) · Various artists - "Rising Son: The Legend of Skateboarder Christian Hosoi" soundtrack (Image)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material: · Johnny Cash - At San Quentin: Legacy Edition (two CDs and one DVD; Columbia/Legacy) · Cee-Lo - Closet Freak: The Best of Cee-Lo Green the Soul Machine (Arista/Legacy) [Buy Now] · The Clash - The Singles (19-disc box set; Epic/Legacy) · Ornette Coleman - To Whom Keeps a Record (Water) · Commander Venus - The Uneventful Vacation (Wind-Up) · Depeche Mode - The Best Of: Volume One (also available with DVD; Sire/Reprise) · Electric Wizard - Come My Fanatics, Dopethrone and Electric Wizard and (digipaks; Candlelight) · Emmylou Harris & Carl Jackson - I've Always Needed You (Music Avenue) · Michael Jackson - Visionary: The Video Singles (20-disc DualDisc box set; Epic/Legacy) [Buy Now] · Nickel Creek - Reasons Why (The Very Best) (with DVD; Sugarhill) · Panic! at the Disco - A Fever You Can't Sweat Out (deluxe collector's edition with DVD; Decaydance/ Fueled by Ramen) · Charlotte Rae - Charlotte Rae Sings Songs I Taught My Mother: Silly, Sinful & Satiric Selections (P.S. Classics) · Slot - The Sweet Black Bear (Small Stone) · Solange - Solo Star (Music World) · Staind - The Singles: 1996-2006 (Flip/Atlantic) [Buy Now] · String Cheese Incident - On the Road: Anchorage, AK - 07-23-06 (two CDs), On the Road: Eugene, OR - 09-06-06 (four CDs), On the Road: Redmond, VA - 08-02-06 (three CDs) and On the Road: Travelogue - Summer 06 (three CDs; Sci Fidelity) · Sublime - Everything Under the Sun (box set with three DVDs and one CD; Geffen/ UMe/ Gasoline Alley/ Skunk) [Buy Now] · Witchcraft - Witchcraft (Candlelight) · Wrens - Secaucus and Silver (Wind-Up) · Neil Young and Crazy Horse - Live at the Fillmore 1970 (with DVD; Reprise) · Various artists - Classic Country: Outlaws (Time Life) · Various artists - If I Sing: The Songwriters Album (P.S. Classics) · Various artists - Retro:Active 5: Rare & Remixed (Hi-Bias) · Various artists - So You Think You Don't Like Swing (Time Life) · Various artists - Ultimate Classical Chill Out: The Essential Masterpieces (five-CD box set; Decca)

Music DVDs: · Asleep at the Wheel - "Live From Austin TX" (New West) · Leonard Cohen - "I'm Your Man" (Lionsgate) · Dillards - "A Night in the Ozarks: An Audiolithograph - The Video Documentary" (Varèse Sarabande) · HIM - "Love Metal Archives Vol. 1" (Republic) · Takagi Masakatsu - "World Is So Beautiful" (Carpark) · Paul McCartney - "The Space Within US: A Concert Film" (A&E Home Video) · Mobb Deep - "Life of the Infamous: The Videos" (Loud/Legacy) · Staind - "The Videos" (Flip/Atlantic) · Junior Wells - "Junior Wells and Guest" (Immortal) · Widespread Panic - "Earth to Atlanta: Live at the Fox Theatre 2006" (two DVDs; Sanctuary) · Various artists - "The Best of the Jammys Volume One" (Relix) · Various artists - "Drive-Thru Records DVD Volume IV" (Drive-Thru) · Various artists - "George Jones: 50 Years of Hits" (available as a two-DVD set or a two-DVD/two-CD set; Rounder)

Coming Attractions:

November 21: · Jay-Z - Kingdom Come (Roc-A-Fella) [Preorder] Read: "Jay-Z's 'Retirement' Is Finally Over: New Album Due In November" · Killswitch Engage - As Daylight Dies (Roadrunner) [Preorder] Read: "Killswitch Engage Turn On The Heavy For Glass-Shattering As Daylight Dies" · U2 - U218 Singles (limited-edition; with DVD; Interscope) [Preorder]

November 28:

Light Grenades

[Preorder]

"Incubus' Mike Einziger Lends Agent Sparks A Hand Making The Best Brunch LP Ever"

Chemically Imbalanced

[Preorder]

Buck Tha World

[Preorder]

December 5: · Ciara - The Evolution (enhanced; LaFace) [Preorder] Read: "Ciara Talks Single Life, Dreams Of Acting Like A Boy On Evolution" · Lil Scrappy - Bred 2 Die, Born 2 Live (Reprise) [Preorder] Read: "Lil Scrappy Enlists Eminem, 50, Lil Jon For 'Half Sorry, Half Party' LP" · Metallica - "The Videos: 1989-2004" (Warner Bros.) · Gwen Stefani - The Sweet Escape (Interscope) [Preorder] Read: "Gwen Stefani's New LP, The Sweet Escape, Set For December" · Various artists - Eminem Presents the Re-Up (Shady) [Preorder] Read: "Eminem, New Shady Artists Join 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks On The Re-Up" · Various artists - "Fast Food Nation" soundtrack (Park the Van)

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New Releases: DMX, Kidz Bop 10, Stone Sour, Pink Spiders, Powerman 5000, Body Count & More

1 Aug 2006 06:00:00 EDT

Also due Tuesday: new Vaux, Five for Fighting LPs; Clash DVD; Poison, Journey reissues.
By Kurt Orzeck

DMX's Year of the Dog, Again
Photo: Sony Music

Should Kidz Beware of Dog?: All five DMX albums have debuted atop the Billboard albums chart, making the gravelly voiced rapper the Grand Champ of rap (as he titled his last LP). But while he edged past A Perfect Circle and Erykah Badu the last time around, he's locking horns with a wave of pint-sized pests for his latest effort, Year of the Dog, Again.

With four cuts spruced up by Swizz Beatz — plus one produced by Scott Storch ("Give 'Em What They Want") and an intro cut with Dame Grease — X also beckoned Busta Rhymes for "Come Thru (Move)," Jadakiss and Styles P. for "It's Personal," and Amerie for "Dog Love." Janyce also appears on the latter track, but she's not the only fresh Bloodline artist on the album, with Bzr Royale and Jinx also representing X's label.

DMX has some worthy teammates in his corner, but could he be toppled by a krew of karaoke-krazed kiddies? That's what indie label Razor & Tie is hoping for the 10th installment of its most successful venture ever, Kidz Bop. Being released barely five months after the latest entry, this one has the buggers brushing up Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You," Pussycat Dolls' "Stickwitu" and Nickelback's "Savin' Me" over the course of its 18 tracks.

But if the kids want to pick on competitors their own size, they've chosen the right week to bop heads. The Doodlebops — who have a TV show on Playhouse Disney and made their live debut at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus — have sketched out two DVDs and a CD for release this week, immortalizing such gems as "Wobbly Whoopsy," "Gibble Gobble," "Cauliflower" and "I Want to Be Bigger."

And there's yet another juvenile in the mix: Rachel Piña Trachtenburg, the 12-year-old brainchild (of sorts) who tours with her parents as the nomadic Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players. The "Off & On Broadway" DVD captures day-in-the-life and performance footage from the group, which crafts songs out of old slides they find at random yard sales.

Spider Men: On a related note, garage pop-punkers the Pink Spiders are a little older than the aforementioned competitors, but they're fighting wrinkles with their major-label debut, Teenage Graffiti. The "You Hear It First" artists — who recently played a show at Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium after a ballgame — worked with ex-Cars frontman/ Weezer production guru Ric Ocasek and pre-eminent mixer Tom Lord-Alge for the effort, which features "Saturday Nite Riot," "Little Razorblade" and "Pretend That This Is Fiction."

And Now for Something Completely Brutal: This week's remaining heavyweights will have kids, dawgs and insects alike ducking for cover. First up is Stone Sour, the Slipknot ancillary affair that puckers up with its first studio release in four years. The band's hoping for more Grammy nominations with Come What(ever) May, which features the first single "Through Glass," plus "30/30-150," "Reborn" and "Zzyzx Road."

Powerman 5000 have also been away for a while — about three years and two months — but with a new lineup and label, a rebirth could re-energize their fanbase. With guitarists Adam 12 and M.33 being replaced by former Alien Ant Farm-er Terry Corso and Johnny Heatley (Half Cocked), Spider One and the gang will surely deafen the Pink Spiders with Destroy What You Enjoy, which features "Return to the City of the Dead," "Murder" and "All My Friends Are Ghosts."

Also on the metal front, Ice-T is strapping on his armor again for Murder 4 Hire, the first album by his revived Body Count in almost a decade. T also revives his feud with the fuzz on "Invincible Gangsta," the leadoff track that features the phrase "F--- the Cops," but he also has a few things to say about "The Passion of Christ," "Dirty Bombs" and "Relationships."

Chicago's Kill Hannah keep up the violence with their Atlantic record Until There's Nothing Left of Us and the tracks "Black Poison Blood" and "Love You to Death," and if you're up for even more gore, don't miss Ollabelle's Riverside Battle Songs — which was crafted by Amy Helm, daughter of drum legend Levon Helm — the American Black Lung's ... And They Rode Their Weapons Into War and Towers of London's Blood Sweat & Towers.

Seeming violent but much more tame are Five for Fighting, which is actually just one dude: John Ondrasik. His Two Lights has already drawn some VH1 attention with "The Riddle," and while FFF are best remembered for the post-9/11 staple "Superman (It's Not Easy)" (which was actually written before those events), Ondrasik has a few things to say about the state of the nation on "Freedom Never Cries" and "Johnny America."

Song Title of the Week:

"George Romero Will Be at Our Wedding" from Showbread's Art of Reptiles

Other Notables:

Various artists' Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited: Serge Gainsbourg is name-dropped left and right these days, but to many Americans, that's all he is: just a name. Michael Stipe, Franz Ferdinand, Cat Power and others are trying to change all that with this collection of reworked songs by the French neoclassical musician. Placebo, Tricky, the Rakes, the Kills and Marianne Faithfull also chime in on the disc, which has already been released overseas.

Poison vs. Journey reissues: The '80s titans go head-to-head this week with three and five revitalized albums, respectively. Poison's first three multiplatinum records — Flesh & Blood, Look What the Cat Dragged In and Open Up and Say ... Ahh! — arrive in 20th anniversary packages, with unreleased and rare bonus tracks. In the other corner, Journey's Departure, Escape and Greatest Hits also come with bonuses, while Infinity and Evolution are straight reissues.

TRS-80's Mystery Crash: The Chicago electro-rockers have been cranking out music for nearly 10 years — and hopping from label to label ever since — but they're hoping their music will get recognized beyond fleeting appearances in Coca-Cola and Nike commercials. The bandmembers — some of whom have been friends since high school — have also created tunes for NPR's "This American Life" and seen their songs used in "CSI."

New Releases:

Peter Bradley Adams - Gather Up (High Wire/ Fontana)
The American Black Lung - ... And They Rode Their Weapons Into War (Burning House)
Body Count - Murder 4 Hire (Escapi)
Caribbean Jazz Project featuring Dave Samuels - Mosaic (Concord)
DMX - Year of the Dog, Again (Columbia)
Read: "DMX Signs With Columbia, Will Release Long-Delayed LP This Spring"
Buy Now: Year of the Dog Again (Sony)
Doodlebops - Rock & Bop With the Doodlebops (Disney)
Thomas Dybdahl - One Day You'll Dance for Me, New York City (Recall)
Kahil El'Zabar - Deeper Soul Remix Project (two CDs; Deeper Soul)
Five for Fighting - Two Lights (Columbia)
Buy Now: Two Lights (Columbia)
FM Static - Critically Ashamed (Tooth & Nail)
G. Love - Lemonade (enhanced; Brushfire)
Buy Now: Lemonade (Brushfire)
Gasoline Heart - You Know Who You Are (Mono Vs. Stereo)
Gisli - How About That? (Titan/ Pyramid)
Grand Mal - Love Is the Best Con in Town (New York Night Train)
Glenn Hughes - Music for the Divide (Frontiers)
Kacey Jones - Kacey Jones Sings Mickey Newbury (Image)
Kill Hannah - Until There's Nothing Left of Us (Atlantic)
Buy Now: Until There's Nothing Left of Us (Atlantic)
Mars Lasar - Yosemite, Valley of the Giants (Gemini Sun)
John McLaughlin - Industrial Zen (Verve)
Monty Are I - Wall of People (Stolen Transmission)
Messer Für Frau Müller - Triangle, Dot & Devil (AeroCCCP)
Ollabelle - Riverside Battle Songs (Verve Forecast)
Jeannie Ortega - No Place Like Bklyn (Hollywood)
Buy Now: No Place Like Bklyn (Hollywood)
Kelly Joe Phelps - Tunesmith Retrofit (Rounder)
Pink Spiders - Teenage Graffiti (Geffen)
Read: "Upstaging Everyone: That's What Pink Spiders Are All About"
Buy Now: Teenage Graffiti (Geffen)
Powerman 5000 - Destroy What You Enjoy (DRT)
Buy Now: Destroy What You Enjoy (DRT)
Michael Schenker - Tales of Rock'n'Roll: 25 Years Celebration (Locomotive)
Derek Sherinian - Blood of the Snake (Inside Out)
Showbread - Art of Reptiles (Tooth & Nail)
Stone Sour - Come What(ever) May (Roadrunner)
Read: "Slipknot's Taylor Gearing Up For Stone Sour LP — And Tenacious D Tribute"
Buy Now: Come What(ever) May (Roadrunner)
Towers of London - Blood Sweat & Towers (enhanced; TVT)
TRS-80 - Mystery Crash (One Cell)
Vaux - Beyond Virtue, Beyond Vice (Outlook)
Various artists - Kidz Bop 10 (Razor & Tie)
Various artists - Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited (Verve Forecast)
Various artists - "The Ant Bully" soundtrack (Varèse Sarabande)
Various artists - "My Super Ex-Girlfriend" soundtrack (Lakeshore)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

Audio Adrenaline - Adios: The Greatest Hits (Forefront)
Count Basie - One O'Clock Jump: The Very Best of Count Basie (Columbia/ Legacy)
Eddie Boyd - The Sonet Blues Story (Verve)
Brecker Brothers - Sneakin' Up Behind You: The Very Best of the Brecker Brothers (Arista/ Legacy)
Rosemary Clooney - Come On-A My House: The Very Best of Rosemary Clooney (Bluebird/ Legacy)
Johnny Copeland - An Introduction to Johnny Copeland (Fuel)
Snooks Eaglin - The Sonet Blues Story (Verve)
Dizzy Gillespie - Night in Tunisia: The Very Best of Dizzy Gillespie (Bluebird/ Legacy)
Daryl Hall & John Oates - The Philadelphia Years (Varèse Sarabande)
Buy Now: The Philadelphia Years (Varèse Sarabande)
Billie Holiday - God Bless the Child: The Very Best of Billie Holiday (Columbia/ Legacy)
Lightnin' Hopkins - An Introduction to Lightnin' Hopkins (Fuel) and The Sonet Blues Story (Verve)
Journey - Departure, Escape, Evolution, Greatest Hits and Infinity (Columbia/ Legacy)
Memphis Slim - The Sonet Blues Story (Verve)
Ronnie Milsap - The Essential Ronnie Milsap (two CDs; RCA/ Legacy)
Buck Owens - 21 #1 Hits: The Ultimate Collection (Rhino)
Charlie Parker - Charlie Parker for Lovers (Verve)
Poison - Flesh & Blood, Look What the Cat Dragged In and Open Up and Say ... Ahh! (Capitol)
Buy Now: Flesh & Blood, Look What the Cat Dragged In and Open Up and Say ... Ahh! (Capitol)
Elvis Presley - Elvis: Live, Elvis: Movies and Elvis: R&B (BMG Strategic Marketing)
Otis Rush - The Sonet Blues Story (Verve)
J.D. Short - The Sonet Blues Story (Verve)
Steely Dan - The Definitive Collection (Geffen)
Sunnyland Slim - The Sonet Blues Story (Verve)
Allen Toussaint - Life, Love and Faith and Southern Nights (Water)
Sarah Vaughan - Send in the Clowns: The Very Best of Sarah Vaughan (Columbia/ Legacy)
Dinah Washington - Dinah Washington for Lovers (Verve)
Robert Pete Williams - The Sonet Blues Story (Verve)
Sonny Boy Williamson - The Best of Sonny Boy Williamson (Fontana)
Various artists - The Best of Classic Country '70s (Time Life)
Various artists - Billboard #1s: The '70s (Rhino)
Various artists - No Limit Records: Greatest Hits (Priority)
Various artists - Rap It Up (three-CD box set; Thump)

Music DVDs:

Chris Botti - "Chris Botti Live With Orchestra & Special Guests" (with CD; Columbia)
Jimmy Buffett - "Live at Wrigley Field" (Bayside)
The Clash - "Rude Boy" (Epic/ Legacy)
Alice Cooper - "The Nightmare Returns" (Geffen)
Dissection - "Rebirth of Dissection" (Escapi)
Doodlebops - "Dance & Hop With the Doodlebops" and "Rock & Bop With the Doodlebops" (Lionsgate)
Pitbull - "Mr. 305: The Pitbull Story" (Clanagan)
Elvis Presley - "Aloha From Hawaii" and " '68 Comeback" (BMG Heritage)
The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players - "Off & On Broadway" (Sarathan)

Coming Attractions:

August 8:

Lupe Fiasco - Food and Liquor (Atlantic)
Preorder: Food and Liquor (Atlantic)
Rick Ross - Port of Miami (Def Jam)
Read: "A Newcomer 10 Years In The Making: Rick Ross Gets Help From Jay-Z, Akon On First LP"
Preorder: Port of Miami (Def Jam)
Slayer - Christ Illusion (Warner Bros.)
Preorder: Christ Illusion (Warner Bros.)

August 15:

Christina Aguilera - Back to Basics (two CDs; RCA)
Read: "Christina Makes Her Comeback Twice As Nice By Expanding Basics Into Double LP"
Preorder: Back to Basics (RCA)
Obie Trice - Second Round's on Me (Aftermath)
Preorder: Second Round's on Me (Aftermath)
Various artists - Snakes on a Plane: The Album (enhanced; New Line)

August 22:

Kelis - Kelis Was Here (Jive)
Read: "Kelis Preparing To Get 'Bossy' With Her Next 'Strong Kind Of Girl Record' "
Preorder: Kelis Was Here (Jive)
Lamb of God - Sacrament (deluxe edition with DVD also available; Epic)
Read: "Lamb Of God Ease Up On Bush But Get Deep Musically On Sacrament"
Preorder: Sacrament (Epic)
Method Man - 4:21 ... The Day After (Def Jam)
Read: "Method Man Drops Diddy, Seeks Clarity On New LP, 4:21 ... The Day After"
Preorder: 4:21 ... The Day After (Def Jam)
Outkast - Idlewild (La Face)
Read: "Missing Outkast? They've Already Lined Up Three 'Idlewild' Singles"
Preorder: Idlewild (La Face)
Paris Hilton - Paris (Warner Bros.)
Read: "Paris Hilton's Debut Merges Hip-Hop, Reggae, Rod Stewart"
Buy Now: Paris (Warner Bros.)

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Audioslave Honor Rebellion With The Clash, Che Guevera, Shaq In 'Original Fire' Video

7 Jul 2006 06:00:00 EDT

Director splashes images of rebels over band for first clip from Revelations.
By Corey Moss

Audioslave's Tom Morello
Photo: MTV News

HOLLYWOOD — What do the Clash, Latin-American revolutionary Che Guevara and Shaquille O'Neal have in common?

Well, for one, the seemingly unrelated trio appear in Audioslave's new video for "Original Fire." The reason? All are considered influential rebels by the band.

"The video, in some ways, is about the thread of music and cultural figures with integrity that were important parts of our history — how all those streams flow together to where we are today," guitarist Tom Morello explained.

Graphic designer/video director P.R. Brown, whose résumé includes videos for Matisyahu and Death Cab for Cutie, directed the clip last week in Los Angeles. Brown used miles of stock tape to create classic band-flier imagery that he then projected onto walls as well as onto Audioslave themselves.

"From the Clash to Malcolm X, from Evel Knievel to Shaq to Che Guevara to James Brown — all are going to be in this video where we're rocking furiously," Morello added.

The guitarist, who described "Original Fire" as hard-rocking, but with a '70s funk and soul influence, has been talking up the song since March (see "New Audioslave LP: 'Led Zeppelin Meets Earth, Wind & Fire' ").

"It's a jam," he said last week. "It's one of those songs where the genesis was a riff that I had for a very, very long time and imagined it happening in a certain way. When we started jamming in the room, the song morphed into something completely different, completely unexpected and a lot better than I ever imagined it being."

"Original Fire" is the first single from the band's third LP, Revelations, which is due in September. Brendan O'Brien, who mixed Audioslave's Out of Exile and Soundgarden's Superunknown, and produced Rage Against the Machine's Evil Empire and The Battle of Los Angeles, helmed the sessions.

"We came off tour and wrote the songs very quickly," Morello said. "It's a band that's only five years old making our third record, which is very exciting to us. It's a band that's very prolific and we felt we were hot off the road, so we got in the studio, wrote songs that we love, cranked them out and are excited to have it coming out."

Since recording Revelations, Morello has returned to the studio as a producer, overseeing two tracks for his old friend Miles Solay's band, Outernational (see "Tom Morello Thinks Outernational Could Be The Next Rage Against The Machine").

"In some ways they're like a world-music Rage Against the Machine," Morello said. "Outernational uncompromisingly tells the truth, and they paint a picture of the world the way they see it and a way that we don't hear on the radio and television as much as people need to. They're very political, but super exciting."

Related Photos

Audioslave Live In Havana, Cuba 05.06.2005

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For The Record: Quick News On Ozzfest, 'American Idol,' Pharrell, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ashanti, The Clash & More

5 Apr 2006 03:43:00 EDT

Ozzfest moves up kickoff date; eliminated 'Idol' heads to 'The O.C.'; Pharrell working with Velvet Revolver.
By MTV News staff report

Ozzy Osbourne
Photo: MTV News

This summer's Ozzfest won't kick off on July 1 in San Francisco, as had been previously announced. Instead, the 11th incarnation of the annual metal festival will get started on June 29 at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn, Washington. Namesake Ozzy Osbourne will be headlining just 10 of this year's dates, including the kickoff in Auburn. System of a Down, Disturbed, Atreyu and Lacuna Coil are among the bands on the festival's bill. ...

Eliminated "American Idol" finalist Lisa Tucker has returned to her Orange County home in real life, and now she'll be at home on TV thanks to a guest role on "The O.C." Tucker, who is a senior at John F. Kennedy High School in La Palma, California, starts production next week on an episode called "The Party Favor," in which she attends Harbor High School's senior prom. Her guest stint on "The O.C." is scheduled to air April 27 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. ... Velvet Revolver have enlisted an unusual collaborator for their second record: the Neptunes' Pharrell Williams. Pharrell has also written a song with singer Scott Weiland for his second solo album. ...

The Red Hot Chili Peppers' forthcoming double album Stadium Arcadium is now available for preorder via iTunes, thanks to a new partnership between Apple and the band's label, Warner Bros. Fans won't be able to download the full LP until May 9, when the record lands in stores, but they'll have access to the first single, "Dani California." The preorder also entitles fans to bonus content, including an iTunes exclusive audio interview, a video chronicling the making of "Dani California," and a digital booklet. Those who preorder the album will also receive a special code by e-mail to purchase tickets for the band's forthcoming fall trek before the general public sale date of May 13. ...

MySpace has teamed up with Wind-Up Records for a contest that begins Thursday in which unsigned artists will get a shot at having their music appear in the upcoming movie "John Tucker Must Die" and on its soundtrack album. The winner will be chosen May 26 by a panel of celebrity judges and will score a $10,000 production budget for a professional recording of their song. The movie stars Ashanti, Jesse Metcalfe, Sophia Bush, Brittany Snow and Jenny McCarthy. The soundtrack, due July 18, will feature songs from the All-American Rejects, Nada Surf, Ben Lee, OK Go, People in Planes and Motion City Soundtrack. ... Disturbed have rolled out 11 additional North American tour dates. There's no word yet on which band will open the shows. The U.S. gigs include stops in Waterloo, Iowa, on May 20; Rapid City, South Dakota, on May 22; Billings, Montana, on May 23; Duluth, Minnesota, on May 28; and Sioux City, Iowa, on May 29. ...

Watch what you sing — that's the latest lesson in the war on terror. Specifically, watch what you sing out loud in a cab. British anti-terror detectives escorted a man from an airplane Thursday after a taxi driver became suspicious when the passenger sang the Clash's "London Calling," according to a Reuters report. The man, 24-year-old Harraj Mann, was taken off the London-bound flight after the taxi driver told detectives that Mann had been singing along to the song, which features the lines "Now war is declared — and battle come down," after plugging his MP3 player into the cab's music system. Mann, who was questioned and released, said he also played songs by Led Zeppelin and the Beatles during the ride. ...

Cameron Diaz has been awarded undisclosed damages in a civil suit she filed against John Rutter, a photographer who tried to sell the actress topless photos that he snapped when she was 19, The Associated Press reports. A judge also dismissed a countersuit against the actress filed by Rutter and approved a permanent injunction prohibiting the sale of the images. Diaz filed her suit against the photographer close to three years ago, after he tried to sell the shots to her for $3.5 million before offering them to other prospective buyers. She claimed Rutter forged her signature on a release form. Rutter is serving four years behind bars following his conviction last year on forgery, perjury and attempted grand larceny charges connected to the case. ...

In other photog/celeb legal news, Enrique Iglesias has been served with a suit after an alleged altercation between photographer Angel Mora, his pregnant wife, and the singer's bodyguards. Mora claims in Friday's assault, battery and malicious prosecution lawsuit that Iglesias ordered his bodyguards to grab their cameras when he and his wife started shooting pictures of the singer and date Anna Kournikova at a restaurant in August 2002. Mora claims that the bodyguards allegedly struck both him and his wife, who gave birth four days later. Mora also says Iglesias and his bodyguards lied to the police to get him and his wife arrested (criminal charges were later dropped). Mora's seeking damages to pay his attorney's fees, bond and lost wages. ...

Gene Pitney, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 and is best known for his early 1960s hits "Town Without Pity" and "Only Love Can Break a Heart," died Wednesday after a performance in Cardiff, Wales. Pitney was 65 and was not ill, the AP reports. Police do not suspect foul play. "We don't have a cause of death at the moment, but it looks like it was a very peaceful passing," Pitney's tour manager, James Kelly, told the wire service. "He was found fully clothed, on his back, as if he had gone for a lie-down. It looks as if there was no pain whatsoever." Pitney is credited with helping the Rolling Stones break the American market thanks to his endorsement of the band. ...

Pearl Jam have announced the second leg of their upcoming U.S. tour, which will kick off June 23 in Pittsburgh and end July 22 in George, Washington. The trek will include some dates with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (June 26 and 27 in St. Paul, Minnesota, and July 2 and 3 in Denver) and Robert Pollard (June 23 and 24), but otherwise Sonic Youth have been tapped as openers. Petty's own trek, which celebrates the Heartbreakers' 30th anniversary, starts June 9. ...

India.Arie's prepping her first new album in four years, called Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship, due June 27. Her first single, "I Am Not My Hair," features remixed collaborations with Akon, Swizz Beatz and Jazze Pha. Arie will perform at the National Black Mayors Conference in Memphis on April 29. ... Rick Springfield — once known as Dr. Noah Drake on "General Hospital" — is getting sudsy once again. The actor/singer is opening the 33rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards with a mix of his hits (including "Jesse's Girl"). The event, which will be hosted by Tom Bergeron and Kelly Monaco, will be broadcast from Hollywood's Kodak Theatre on April 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. ...

Turns out Diddy's Unforgivable fragrance wasn't a stinker — since launching in December, it's become the best-selling men's fragrance in U.S. department stores. "Sean Combs helped us capture his lifestyle in a bottle and now everyone wants a piece of it," said Estée Lauder/ Sean John Fragrances President John Demsey. Added Diddy: "When we set out to create this fragrance ... I wanted to create a scent, package it, and promote it in a way that has never been seen before. ... I launched it like an album, and we have hit number one!" ...

Hank Williams Jr. surrendered to Memphis police Tuesday on a warrant issued over an alleged assault of a 19-year-old hotel waitress last month. The waitress said she was waiting on Williams when the singer asked to kiss her and lifted her off the ground in a choke hold, according to The Associated Press. No charges were filed until an arrest warrant was issued on Monday. Williams' lawyer claimed the charges came after the singer refused to respond to a letter from the waitress' lawyer seeking "an outlandish amount of money."

04.04.06

One of the songs on Pink's new album, I'm Not Dead, is about her experience in an abusive relationship, she reveals in the new issue of Seventeen. The magazine's cover star explains inside that she delved deep into her past on "Long Way to Happy" because she knows the impact of that pain. "It affects your entire life and you never truly get away from it. You can just be completely ripped apart." Pink said the experiences of friends who have endured similar struggles also inspired the song. "I don't know why there's so much abuse in the world, I really don't," she said, "but I have friends who've been molested by family members, I have friends who have been raped, [and] I've had my own sh--. It's just painful." Pink explained that she doesn't regret the experience "because I have this platform to talk about it and share it with people. And I am so strong because of it and so much wiser. I know better now and I wouldn't take any of it back." ...

As Marion "Suge" Knight waits for a Los Angeles judge to decide whether the court will seize his Death Row Records assets, the rap boss filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Tuesday morning (April 4) in an effort to avoid losing control of the label. A spokesperson for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Los Angeles confirmed the action in Knight's name, but additional information on which assets the business filing listed was not available. ... Shakira, whose Barefoot Foundation aids children in Colombia, was honored for her humanitarian efforts at the United Nations on Monday with an award sponsored by Woman Together, a nonprofit organization that provides loans to help low-income women produce textiles. The ceremony featured a fashion show with clothing made in part by women from Colombia, Panama, Mexico, Peru, India, Bangladesh, Morocco and Brazil. "Let's not forget at the end of this day when we all go home, 960 children will have died in Latin America," Shakira said after receiving her award. Model Karolina Kurkova was also honored for her work protecting children. ...

Dave Matthews Band fans can finally (well, legally anyway) download the group's music. iTunes announced Tuesday that the band's entire catalog is now available through the online store. Fans can purchase individual tracks or download full albums. ... System of a Down's Serj Tankian and John Dolmayan are heading to Washington, D.C., for three days in late April to lobby congressional leaders to end their complicity in Turkey's ongoing denial of the Armenian Genocide. Events will include a demonstration outside the gates of the Turkish Embassy on April 24 and an April 25 congressional screening of "Screamers," a documentary by Carla Garapedian about the band's campaign for Armenian Genocide recognition. ...

Northern California's U.S. attorney's office announced two guilty pleas Monday as a result of last year's "Operation Remaster," an undercover sting that targeted large-scale suppliers of pirated music, software and movies, according to a statement from the Recording Industry Association of America. The Remaster raids in October hit 13 spots in California and Texas, resulting in the seizure of 500,000 CDs, 1 million CD inserts and 5,500 "stampers" — metal discs used to press multiple CD copies. ... The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry hit out at file sharers in Europe early Tuesday, bringing 2,000 cases in 10 countries, according to a Reuters report. Among the countries targeted were Portugal, where officials blame file sharing by college students for contributing to a nearly 40 percent dip in CD sales over the past four years. ...

Marky Ramone, the Misfits' Jerry Only and John Cafiero, Black Flag's Dez Cadena and the Voidoids' Ivan Julian have formed a new group called Osaka Popstar. The band's debut album is due May 23 and features the single "Wicked World" written by Daniel Johnston, who also contributes vocals on Osaka Popstar's cow-punk version of "Man of Constant Sorrow." ... Classic rockers the James Gang, featuring Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh, will reunite this summer for their first tour in 35 years. The James Gang Rides Again outing kicks off at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado, on August 9 and is currently slated to wrap up September 9 in San Diego. The group is best known for the hits "Funk #49" and "Walk Away." ...

The lineup has been revealed for this year's HFStival, set for May 27 and 28 in Columbia, Maryland. Kanye West will headline the concert's first night, with Counting Crows topping May 28's bill. Others who've been confirmed to perform include Cypress Hill, Matisyahu, Rise Against, Matchbook Romance, the Misfits, OK Go, Cute Is What We Aim For, Dashboard Confessional, Coheed and Cambria, the Strokes, Yellowcard, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, AFI, H.I.M., Boy Sets Fire, Blue October, Flyleaf and Damone. ... Hot off a sold-out tour with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, New York indie-rockers Elefant will hit clubs for a headlining tour in May. The three-week excursion will include supporting acts Sound Team, Aberdeen City, Voxtrot and Silversun Pickups. Their new album, The Black Magic Show, will be released April 18. ...

Martin Gilks, an original member of the British alternative pop band the Wonder Stuff, died Monday following a traffic accident. The drummer, dubbed the "Groove Controller" in the band's early days, reunited with the group (which disbanded in 1994) for a string of U.K. reunion dates in 2000. He declined to participate in a new Wonder Stuff lineup that launched in 2004, concentrating instead on Furtive Mass Transit, the management company he'd set up with his brother. Gilks was 41. ... British singer Sandi Thom earned more than just a global audience of more than 100,000 people when she webcast her living-room performances for 21 consecutive nights. She received several label offers and ultimately signed with RCA/ Sony BMG.

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For The Record: Quick News On Britney And Kevin, D'Angelo, Distillers, Slim Thug, Joe Strummer, Pete Rock & More

14 Feb 2005 05:43:00 EST

Kevin Federline quitting his job, Slim Thug returning to the lab, Distillers losing their drummer.
By MTV News staff report

Britney Spears and Kevin Federline (file)
Photo: Getty Images

Kevin Federline — a.k.a. Mr. Britney Spears — shows he's a real romantic in a cover story in the March issue of Details (his more famous wife also takes part). (Click for photos from Details.) In it, we discover he likes to use the word "ass" a lot, Spears sometimes uses the odd phrase "motherchucker," and she thinks Rolling Stone and Us Weekly publisher Jann Wenner is a "big old fat man." The couple also insist their love is for real. "That's why I married him, because he's not a shallow mother----er Hollywood actor guy," Spears said. "She's f---ing proud of me," Federline boasted. "I could be sitting at home doing nothing. I could be playing video games." Speaking of doing nothing, Federline said that he's giving up dancing as a job because "I've done it, dude." Instead, he hopes to start a clothing company called Pair a Dice, because the couple have matching dice tattoos. "I want to do some cool casual stuff, like jeans and T-shirts and sweat suits," he told the magazine. "And then I also want to hit the flip side — high-end, classy stuff, too." ... Meanwhile, the BBC has restricted the airing of the steamy ad for Britney's Curious perfume until after 7:30 p.m., according to a spokesperson for the Broadcast Advertising Clearance Centre. Less racy edits of the commercial — which features a scantily clad Spears fantasizing about the man in the hotel room next door — can air before the restricted time. ...

Christian Bale, Katie Holmes, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman and others will reprise their film roles from the upcoming "Batman Begins" in the video game of the same name. Due June 17, the game challenges players to step into the shadows of Gotham City's perilous criminal underworld as DC Comics' legendary Dark Knight, played by Bale, and use fear as their ultimate weapon. ... R&B singer D'Angelo's court date has been pushed back once again. The Grammy-winning artist was scheduled to be arraigned on charges of drunk driving and drug possession last Friday, but the date has been postponed to April 13. The charges stem from a January 9 incident in which D'Angelo was stopped for a traffic violation near his hometown of Richmond, Virginia. At the stop, his car was searched and officers found substances believed to be cocaine and marijuana. ...

Slim Thug's major-label debut, Already Platinum, has been pushed back to March. The Houston MC has decided to return to the studio to record new material after songs from the original version of the album were leaked. No word yet on an exact release date. ... Pete Rock, Rupee and Doug E. Fresh will lead a host of hip-hoppers at the Rap for Relief tsunami benefit concert at New York's B.B. King's Blues Club on February 22. Other acts scheduled to perform include Rahzel, Buckshot, J-Live, the High & Mighty, C-Rayz Walz and Sean Price. All proceeds from the concert will go to the Red Cross. Tickets are $20 in advance and extra donations will be accepted at the club that night. ...

Distillers frontwoman Brody Dalle might have killer pipes and a tattoo that prominently displays the f-word, but one thing she doesn't have anymore is a drummer. In a post on TheDistillers.com, Andy Granelli — who played drums on the Distillers' most recent record, 2003's Coral Fang — wrote that he was leaving the group to devote more time to his other band, Darker My Love. "I am writing in to say that I have officially quit the Distillers," Granelli said. "I started Darker My Love ... as an outlet for us to play exactly what we wanted to, without compromise. So I feel now it is my time to go back to that." A spokesperson for the band had no information on who would be replacing Granelli. ... Vanessa Williams will show some love for her country when she sings the national anthem at NASCAR's Daytona 500 on Sunday. The singer will also take part in a tribute to America, during which she will sing "America the Beautiful." Joining her in the tribute will be Brian Wilson, Five for Fighting's John Ondrasik, and Clint Black. ...

With the biggest awards show in the film industry less than two weeks away, "The Aviator" took home the top honor of Best Film at England's equivalent of the Oscars. The Howard Hughes biopic also garnered the Best Actress in a Supporting Role award for Cate Blanchett, and several technical awards at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards on Saturday. Jamie Foxx won Best Actor for "Ray," while "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" won Orange Film of the Year, the only award chosen by the general public. ... The Clash's Joe Strummer, who died in 2002 of a heart attack, was honored on Saturday with a train named for him in the U.K., according to The Associated Press. The Strummer train, dedicated on Saturday at a railway station in Bristol, joins a long list of trains that have been named after famous people for the last 200 years in England. ...

Falling short of your daily recommended dose of 1950s biker-flick-inspired rock and roll? Well, you're in luck. Because on May 3, retro Danish rockers the Raveonettes will drop Pretty in Black, the follow-up to their 2003 album, Chain Gang of Love. The first single from the new record is "Love in a Trashcan." ...

02.11.2005

For Valentine's Day, Britney Spears expressed her romantic side by posting a letter Friday (February 11) on her fan site about her life with Kevin Federline. "I fall more and more in love with Kevin every day," she wrote. "We've been away from each other for a week now and I think I'm losing my mind! It's the longest we've been apart from one another." But it's Federline's work schedule keeping them apart, she says, not hers. She's been at home in Kentwood, Louisiana, with her mother while her husband has been posing for the March issue of Details. "The pictures are so hot!" she bragged. "Stay away, girls!" In the meantime, Spears has been playing mom by shopping for "the cutest dresses" for Kori, Federline's daughter with Shar Jackson, as well as dressing her dogs in Von Dutch clothing ("I think my dogs are so much cuter than Tinkerbell"). She's still having trouble training her dogs, which is "kind of bad because we have white carpets." And she hopes to build a dream house right behind her mom's home in Kentwood once she starts a family of her own. ...

Paris Hilton will fill out Barbara Eden's harem pants when she guests on "American Dreams" as the "I Dream of Jeannie" star. The episode airs March 16 at 8 p.m. on NBC. ... Martin Bashir's 2003 documentary on Michael Jackson, "Living With Michael Jackson," helped bring down the pop star and spark a criminal investigation. Now, Bashir, who has since become an ABC News correspondent, has a follow-up, called "Michael Jackson's Secret World," which will air as a two-hour special edition of "Primetime Live" on February 17 at 9 p.m. ET. It will include new interviews, details, and further allegations about Jackson's friendships with boys. ...

Before the major unveiling of his new live lineup at the Coachella Festival on May 1, Trent Reznor will get some road work in with Nine Inch Nails on a trio of West Coast dates: March 23 in Fresno, California; March 24 in Reno, Nevada; and March 25 in Davis, California. The band will also play a pair of dates in London on March 30 and 31. NIN's upcoming album, With Teeth (May 3), will be preceded by the single "The Hand That Feeds," due out in April. ... Several of Los Angeles' most renowned lyricists — Ras Kass, Kurupt, Jayo Felony and newcomer Scipo — came to party at Hollywood's Highland club Thursday night. Talib Kweli also joined the fray. Meanwhile, downstairs, the Roots, Common and Musiq competed against each other at a bowling alley. ...

On Wednesday, Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx won his case against Vans Incorporated for using his picture without permission, according to "Celebrity Justice." "Somebody has to stand up, and I was willing to spend my own money and my own time to stand up for myself and other people," he told "Justice." The company reportedly ran an ad featuring Sixx in the sports magazine Thrasher without informing the musician. The jury awarded Sixx $600,000 plus interest. ... "Nirvana - Nevermind: Classic Album," a DVD documenting the making of Nirvana's breakthrough release, is due March 22. Along with a documentary featuring interviews with bassist Krist Novoselic, drummer Dave Grohl and producer Butch Vig, the DVD will include mini-docs on Grohl joining the band, the album's artwork and the song "Drain You." ...

Tricky is getting back into the acting game — the trip-hop godfather is guesting on four consecutive episodes of "Girlfriends," starting March 21. Tricky plays Finn Robinson, the leader of a band holding auditions for a new singer, who is impressed by an impromptu performance by Lynn (played by Persia White). The show airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on UPN. ... Nine days after their Coachella performance, Austin, Texas, indie-rockers Spoon will release their fifth album, Gimmie Fiction, on May 10. The follow-up to 2002's Kill the Moonlight will feature 11 tracks, including "My Mathematical Mind" and "I Turn My Camera On." ... After a brief tour last month, Sub Pop act the Album Leaf — who have quickly become a favorite on "The O.C." — will hit the road again next month. The three-week tour starts in Phoenix on March 13 and ends April 3 in Montreal. ...

Related Artists

For The Record: Quick News On P. Diddy And Hammer, Ja Rule, White Stripes, Coldplay, Joe Strummer, Shakira & More

15 Jul 2003 04:45:00 EDT

P. Diddy at the "Bad Boys II" premiere party
Photo: Walik Goshorn

"I ain't gon' front, this is the best party I been to in some years," P. Diddy said, gassing himself at his Supper Club "Bad Boys II" New York premiere party on Monday. Celebrities like Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, Swizz Beatz and members of the Bad Boy family validated his words by grooving in the VIP section. Although the movie's stars, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, were absent, rapper Hammer made his presence felt by standing onstage and dusting off his typewriter dance for the crowd. Before the party, Ja Rule, Macy Gray and "Boys II" co-star Gabrielle Union were among those who hit the Times Square Loews Theater to watch the action-packed flick. ...



	'Bad Boys II' soundtrack after party

After scrapping a handful of European festival shows in the wake of frontman Jack White's recent car accident, the White Stripes have now canceled their slate of U.S. dates set for July and August. The group hopes to reschedule them soon. ... Coldplay have already completed the video for their next single, "God Put a Smile Upon Your Face." Directed by Jamie Thraves (Radiohead, Travis), who helmed the band's previous clip "The Scientist," the black-and-white video intercuts performance footage with the story of a businessman who is humiliated and horrified to find that he's gradually disappearing after bumping into a mysterious stranger with no shoes. ...

Not that "Sex and the City" needs any help getting spiced up, but Geri Halliwell is adding her name to the list of guest stars populating the last season of the HBO show. The former Ginger Spice shot a spot at New York's Soho House in which she plays Phoebe Kittenworth, a member of a hip New York club that Samantha (Kim Cattrall) tries to join. Halliwell's episode airs on August 24, according to an HBO spokesperson. ... Meadow's had a name change. Since Jamie-Lynn Sigler married her longtime manager AJ DiScala Friday night, she's chosen to now be known personally and professionally as Jamie-Lynn DiScala. The ceremony took place at New York's Brooklyn Botanic Garden, while the reception featured performances from the bride, her fellow "Sopranos" star Dominic Chianese and Carly Simon. ...

The Matrix, the red-hot production team behind Avril Lavigne's biggest hits, are working with Shakira on her second English-language album. ... The Sprite Liquid Mix Tour just got sweeter with the additions of Aussie MC Jessy Moss, Slightly Stoopid, the Skillz, Spymob and Kelis, who will perform with N.E.R.D. The additions complete a lineup of previously announced artists that includes O.A.R., the Roots and Talib Kweli. The 20-city tour starts August 14 in Denver and wraps September 14 in Boston. ...

The Deftones added 46 concerts to the collection of bootlegs available to download for free on their Web site (deftones.com). The bootlegs, which now total 49, date back to 1992. ... Carlos Santana will donate at least $2 million from his recently completed U.S. tour to the fight against AIDS in South Africa. The tour made stops in 23 cities before ending at the Hollywood Bowl. ...

Statistics on the number of users of file-sharing networks seem to suggest that the RIAA's promise to slap big-time file pirates with multimillion-dollar copyright infringement lawsuits is working. According to figures by Nielsen/Net Ratings, in the week that began just days after the Recording Industry Association of America's late June announcement, the number of users of Kazaa and Morpheus were down 15 percent, which roughly translates to a million fewer Kazaa users and 41,000 fewer Morpheus users. The parent companies of the two networks, however, deny that their legions are waning. Streamcast, which owns Morpheus, denounced the stats, and Sharman Networks, Kazaa's parent company, attributed any dip to cyclical change. A clearer picture should come into view when numbers for the entire month of July are released. ...

While the former Megadeth frontman doesn't entirely rule out the possibility of his band reuniting, Dave Mustaine has a solo project in the works. "I don't plan on forming a new band," he said in the August issue of Guitar World. "I just want to find some players that are great, that want to go out with me and do some dates. ... Obviously, I want to be very particular about the people I play with, because I have played with some of the greatest guitarists in the metal community." A legal representative for Mustaine confirmed that the solo album was completed, but a spokesperson for Sanctuary Records said the album isn't on the label's list of upcoming releases. ... Kevin Richardson, who made his Broadway debut earlier this year in "Chicago," is joining the touring company of the musical production. The Backstreet Boy will reprise his role as the smooth-talking, tap-dancing lawyer Billy Flynn next month in San Francisco for a three-week stop that begins at the Golden Gate Theatre August 5 and runs through August 24. ...

Joe Strummer's final studio recordings, previously expected this past spring, now have a title and a firm release date. The album, called Streetcore, is in the final stages of mixing and includes material the late Clash singer/guitarist recorded with his band the Mescaleros, including covers of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" (produced by Rick Rubin) and Johnny Cash's "The Road to Rock 'N' Roll." Streetcore is due out October 7, according to a spokesperson for Epitaph Records. ...

Rob Zombie is getting inked. He's neither signing a new record deal nor getting a new tattoo, but launching his own, self-starring comic-book series. The six-issue horror-based mini-series "Rob Zombie's Spook Show International" is set to hit bookstores October 29. ... Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony is hitting the sauce. Anthony has joined forces with the company Ring of Fire to produce a tongue-sizzling brand of hot sauce. The fiery flavors will be available this fall on Anthony's official Web site, Mad Anthony's Cafe, as well as the Ring of Fire site. ... 311's video for "Creatures (For a While)," which premieres this week, finds the band working its audience into such a frenzied mosh pit that is breaks through the wall of the venue and runs rampant throughout Los Angeles, destroying a yoga studio, crashing a basketball game and getting hit by cars. The Malloys (Blink-182) directed the clip. ...

He's No Stranger to Shame ... or the tour bus. Uncle Kracker will once again hit the highway for a four-month stretch to support his second solo LP. Aside from a few weeks here and there, Kracker, who scored massively with his cover of the Dobie Gray hit "Drift Away," has been on the road for almost an entire year. ... 98 Degrees' Jeff Timmons has placed clips from his upcoming solo album, Whisper That Way, on his Web site (jefftimmons.com). In a message, Timmons said to expect the CD soon. ...

07.14.2003

Alicia Keys has set a November 18 release date for her as-yet-untitled second album. "You will be hearing some new music by the beginning of September," she wrote on her Web site, referring to the first single. "The album is bangin'! And wait till we hit the road again!" ...

Drag-On's second album, tentatively titled Hell and Back and featuring the first single "Put Your Drinks Down," is due September 16 via a new partnership between Ruff Ryders and Virgin Records. The labels' second release together, Jin's Almost Famous, is due October 7. ...

Staind and Godsmack lead the pack with four nominations apiece for the 16th annual Boston Music Awards, while respective lead singers Aaron Lewis and Sully Erna pulled in additional nominations for Best Male Vocalist. Other nominees for the September 4 event include John Mayer, Aerosmith, American Hi-Fi and Powerman 5000. ... Metallica frontman James Hetfield has contributed the track "Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out of Hand" to the Waylon Jennings tribute album I've Always Been Crazy, which comes out August 19. Other tracks were recorded by Kid Rock and Kenny Chesney ("Luckenbach, Texas"), Ben Harper ("Waymore's Blues") and John Mellencamp ("Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way"). ...

Josh Groban has recorded a version of the Linkin Park B-side "My December" for possible inclusion on his next album, according to the Los Angeles Times. The classical singer is also collaborating with ambient techno group Deep Forest and producer Walter Afanasieff (Mariah Carey). ... The All-American Rejects will drop a DVD, Live From Oklahoma ... The Too Bad for Hell, on September 30. Live footage for the disc was captured at a May 30 show in Tulsa, and bonus material includes the bandmembers showing off the sights of their hometown of Stillwater. ...

Sevendust will showcase material from their upcoming album during a five-week tour that begins July 19 in Nashville, Tennessee. Dates run through August 28 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The tentative title for the group's new record is Seasons, and it's scheduled for release in October. ... Coal Chamber have finally thrown in the shovel. In a post on the Web site for his new band Pinata, guitarist Meegs Rascon wrote, "My time with Coal Chamber was one of the most fun and rewarding times in my life. However, it was time for everyone to move on." Coal Chamber vocalist Dez Fafara has a new band called Devildriver, whose debut record is due later this year. ...

Rare studio tracks and concert cuts, including a cover of Cole Porter's "Night and Day," can be found on Norwegian troubadour Sondre Lerche's Don't Be Shallow EP, due September 23. Lerche begins a North American tour with Liz Phair July 30 in Denver. ... If a band called the Finger, with members Warren Peace, Irving Plaza, Rick O'Shea and Jim Beahm, and with a debut album entitled We Are F--- You/Punk's Dead Let's F---, sounds too cool to be real, it is. The Finger is really the goofy, but SST-style punk side project of Ryan Adams and Jesse Malin. The album is set for release September 23. ...