The Darkness

For The Record: Quick News On Diddy, Christina Aguilera, Guns N' Roses, Korn, Madonna, UGK, Lil Jon & More

21 Aug 2006 06:49:00 EDT

Diddy plans single with Aguilera, expecting third child; GN'R announce more dates.
By MTV News staff report

Diddy
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

The next single from Diddy's upcoming Press Play will be "Tell Me," he told MTV Europe. "It's still part of the seduction phase. ... Christina Aguilera is on there, and she has one of the greatest voices in the world. This track is very, very intense. It's the perfect follow-up to 'Come With Me.' " In other Diddy news, People is reporting that the mogul and his longtime girlfriend, Kim Porter, are expecting a second child. They already have a son, Christian, and Combs has another from a previous relationship. ...

Guns N' Roses dates keep trickling out, with eight fall appearances by Axl Rose's band scheduled so far. If the last two weeks are any indication, more dates will be announced as they're booked in the coming weeks. In addition to a two-night stint September 16 and 17 in Las Vegas, followed by back-to-back gigs in San Francisco and a headlining slot at Inland Invasion in Devore, California, the band will hit Reno, Nevada (September 30); Sacramento, California (October 2); and San Diego (October 3). ...

Speaking of Devore, fans at the Saturday night stop on the Family Values Tour were surprised to see former Filter/ current Army of Anyone frontman Richard Patrick show up onstage. Patrick joined headliners Korn for a performance of Filter's "Hey Man, Nice Shot." But that wasn't the evening's only guest-singing surprise: Deftones main man Chino Moreno also grabbed the mic during Korn's delivery of "Wicked." Army of Anyone — featuring former Stone Temple Pilots Dean and Robert DeLeo and Ray Luzier — will issue their yet-untitled debut later this year. The Deftones' Saturday Night Wrist will hit stores on Halloween. ...

Authorities in Germany said Monday (August 21) that they would not be filing charges against Madonna, though the singer did include a controversial mock-crucifixion scene in her Sunday night concert in Düesseldorf, The Associated Press reports. Johannes Mocken, a spokesperson for Düesseldorf prosecutors, said the performance fell under the umbrella of laws protecting artistic freedom, and explained that while the image may be "hurtful to religious people," no crime was committed. Madonna will play the second of her two scheduled Germany shows in Hanover on Tuesday. ...

Disturbed frontman David Draiman went under the knife August 15, and surgeons successfully repaired a deviated septum that had made breathing difficult for the singer. The condition, which began to affect Draiman's vocal abilities, caused the band to miss several live gigs over the last few months. The singer consulted a number of specialists throughout the last year, and it was recently determined that he needed to undergo septoplasty to reverse and correct the damage that three broken noses had rendered over the last several years. "I'm excited and relieved that the surgery is over and can't wait to get back on the road to see our fans in Europe and to make up the dates we missed," Draiman said in a statement. ...

After three years of recording and touring, flamboyant Darkness singer Justin Hawkins apparently needed some rest. According to BBC News, the British singer known for his spandex unitards and glass-shattering vocals checked himself into the Priory rehabilitation clinic suffering from exhaustion. In a statement, a spokesperson said Hawkins was ordered to rest after three years of non-stop work. The band's third album is on schedule for release in early 2007. ... UGK are planning an early September release for their seventh album, Return of the Trill. "We're tryin' to make that Grammy cutoff," Bun B said. "We're basically gonna go back to the basics, back to the roots of the UGK foundation." Lil Jon, Manny Fresh and Jazze Pha produced tracks on the upcoming disc. ...

Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society have nixed three of the dates on their upcoming U.S. tour, as Wylde's services are needed in the studio. The guitarist has been working with Ozzy Osbourne on his forthcoming LP. The canceled shows were originally scheduled to take place October 14 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; October 16 in Atlanta; and October 18 in Baltimore. ... Hatebreed will be playing a free concert on August 30 at New York's CBGB to celebrate the release of their forthcoming LP, Supremacy. In order to get a ticket to the gig, fans must pre-order a copy of the album through the online home of Looney Tunes, a Long Island, New York, record store. ... Dredg will be playing their 2001 debut Leitmotif in its entirety when they take the stage of the Catalyst in Santa Cruz, California, on September 14. The band will also throw in a few cuts from their 2005 release, Catch Without Arms. ...

Boysetsfire guitarist Josh Latshaw has been hospitalized following a recent accident at his day job which left him with a broken neck, some broken vertebrae and a collapsed lung. While Latshaw's expected to recover from the mishap, the incident will affect the band's plans to play two East Coast farewell shows. The group announced the planned split earlier this month. ... "You Hear It First" artists and mtvU faves Plain White T's have signed to Hollywood Records and already have a new record ready for release next month. Their third LP, Every Second Counts, features the single "Hate" and drops September 12. ... Remember androgynous Brit rockers Placebo? They're back and set to launch a U.S. tour on October 17 in Phoenix, in support of their latest album, Meds. She Wants Revenge have been tapped to open on the tour, which will wrap up November 8 in Boston. ...

Devo's Jerry Casale will release his first solo album, Mine Is Not a Holy War, under the name Jihad Jerry and the Evil Doers. Fellow Devo members Mark Mothersbaugh, Bob Mothersbaugh and Robert Casale contributed to the disc. ... Pete Yorn is playing back-to-back-to-back shows in three cities — each at a different venue — over the next month. Yorn will play shows at West Hollywood's Whisky A Go Go (August 28), Roxy Theater (August 29) and the Viper Room (August 30), followed by gigs at Chicago's Double Door (September 7), Schubas (September 8) and Martyrs' (September 9) and New York performances at Joe's Pub (September 12), Mercury Lounge (September 13) and CBGB (September 14). ...

A veritable Canadian invasion is on the way courtesy of the Arts & Crafts record label. Stars singer Amy Millan is two stops into a 14-date jaunt supporting her debut solo LP, Honey From the Tombs; the jaunt ends October 3 in New York. The Hidden Cameras are launching a 30-date North American trek starting August 26 in Toronto that runs through a December 12 stop in Cleveland. Jason Collet has a 13-date trek with Rogue Wave that begins September 11 in Burlington, Vermont, and Broken Social Scene will kick off a 22-date tour of smaller U.S. markets on October 18 in Millville, Pennsylvania. Fall dates for Montreal orchestral rockers the Dears are expected to be announced soon.

08.18.2006

Britney Spears plans to take her babies on the road — once she's in shape to tour again. The singer told People magazine in this week's cover story that her next child will help provide company for Sean Preston when she travels. "I think it will be good to have [a sibling] there with him," she explained. And once she gives birth in about a month, Spears will be counting down when she can start working out full force — probably about six weeks after her planned C-section. She plans to hit the gym daily and stick to a low-carb diet. "I'm so excited to really be able to sweat like I used to," she said. In the meantime, Sean's been logging time with different nannies while Spears is in the studio working on her new album, which she described as "cooler than ever — fun, upbeat, and sexy." "I've been going to the studio lately, and we've been trying out different nannies," she said. "It's hard [to leave Sean Preston]. ... I'm so torn right now." ...

A judge has reinstated rapper C-Murder's house arrest order, bringing an end to the rapper's month of freedom. According to The Associated Press, the decision comes just two days after a Louisiana appeals court ruled that the judge acted improperly when she lifted C-Murder's house arrest in July. Between now and the rapper's retrial on second-degree murder charges, he'll be confined to his home and barred from leaving it at any time, except to appear for court hearings. C-Murder stands accused of the shooting death of 16-year-old Steve Thomas, who was shot in the chest during a fight back in 2002 outside a nightclub in Harvey, Louisiana. ...

Pete Doherty pleaded guilty on Friday (August 18) to possession of heroin and crack, AP reports. The Babyshambles singer had been charged with seven counts and pleaded guilty to five of them. He will be sentenced on September 4. ...

Radiohead continue to get love from musicians of every stripe. High-brow pianist Christopher O'Riley has retooled the band's music for the chin-stroking classical set on two albums. And Dub Tribute to Radiohead: I'm Not the Only Record for You was released earlier this year — as was Exit Music: Songs for Radio Heads, a compilation of electronic covers. So it's little surprise that Radiohead are getting the crunk treatment at the hands of DJ Gyngyvytus. Skeet Spirit: A Crunk Tribute to Radiohead — eight instrumental tracks being offered by the DJ as free downloads — boasts "No Sizzuruprises," "Creepin' (On Dat Ass)" and "Talk Show Hoes" among the cleverly titled tributes to England's favorite dour rockers. And the Easy Stars All-Stars' Radiodread, a reggae comp featuring toasters such as Horace Andy and Citizen Cope, hits stores Tuesday. ...

Mos Def has joined the cast of Michel Gondry's "Be Kind Rewind," Variety reports. Danny Glover, Mia Farrow and Melonie Diaz have also signed on for the film, which stars Jack Black as a man who shoots remakes of blockbuster films — without the blockbuster budget — to help his friend keep a video-store job. The movie is set to begin shooting September 5 in New Jersey. ...

They may have changed Natalie Portman's life in "Garden State," but the Shins won't be transforming any others with their music — at least not this year. Originally scheduled for a fall release, the indie rockers' third album has been pushed back to 2007, according to Sub Pop. "It gives us great pleasure to say that it is just weeks from being done!" the band announced in a recent post on its Web site, even though the record's being bumped. "We can't leak any details, but we have never been more happy with anything that we've ever recorded before. And we can definitely say that it is due to the fact that we've been given so much time to perfect it. The record is the best we've ever done." The album is tentatively titled Sleeping Lessons. ... As Lifetime Television gears up for Saturday's premiere of "The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life Is Not a Fairy Tale," the network is posing a question to essay writers: What is your lifelong dream and what steps must you take to achieve it? The top prize in the contest is a trip to Los Angeles for the "American Idol" season six finale. Entries will be accepted until September 16. Visit LifetimeTV.com for further contest details. ...

With Ozzfest behind them, Walls of Jericho have landed a slot on another huge tour: Korn's Family Values trek, which also features Deftones, Stone Sour, Flyleaf and Dir En Gray. Walls of Jericho have been added to the second-stage bill, and will play their first gig Friday in Phoenix. The band's latest album, With Devils Amongst Us All, hits stores Tuesday. ... Online auction site eBay hath spoken, and no, electroclash goddess Peaches cannot sell her worn skivvies — even if it's in the name of charity. Peaches had placed her thong up for auction on the site in an effort to raise money for Three Gut Records' Tyler Clark Burke, who has been dealing with critical health problems and is been trying to buy a new house. The site prohibits the sale of used underwear, and eBay authorities halted the auction as soon as it was brought to their attention. ...

Ricky Jovan Gray was convicted Thursday of killing former House of Freaks bandmember Bryan Harvey, Harvey's wife Kathryn and their two young daughters. The family was found dead in its Richmond, Virginia, home in January. The jury took just 30 minutes to convict Gray, whose sentencing hearing continues Friday. He could face the death penalty. ... Roger Ebert remains hospitalized due to complications resulting from his treatment for a recurrence of salivary cancer, the film critic confirmed in a statement. Ebert, who had a portion of his jaw removed and reconstructed, said he will need rehabilitation to regain his strength and his voice, and asked for "the time and privacy to heal." "I don't have a crystal ball," he wrote to close the statement, "so I can't tell you when, but I sure look forward to being back on the movie beat." ...

How many times have you watched the Academy Awards and thought, "Wait a minute, these people are huge stars, get to borrow millions in diamonds and they get those fat gift baskets! What the hell?" Well, the Internal Revenue Service agrees with you. On Thursday, the IRS announced an "outreach program" to remind the entertainment industry that the lavish gift bags — worth anywhere from $40,000 to $100,000 — that stars get at awards shows are taxable as income, according to a Reuters report. The tax service also announced a deal with Oscar presenter the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to settle the tax obligations of past Oscar gift-basket recipients through 2005, letting those stars off the hook. Though this year's stars will have to pony up, the Academy announced that the gift baskets will go away as of next year. ... And here's a study only a kid could love: The British journal Archives of Disease in Childhood has found that watching TV while getting an injection has a "painkiller" effect on children. In a study involving 69 children between the ages of 7-12, researchers found that the subjects were 50 percent more pacified by cartoons than their own mothers. Kids who had no TV to distract them logged much higher pain scores.

Related Artists

Chris Brown And Carrie Underwood Get Close, But Now Reclaims #1

7 Dec 2005 10:19:00 EST

Brown edges out Underwood for #2 by fewer than 200 copies.
By Chris Harris

Chris Brown
Photo: Jive

The self-titled debut from Chris Brown, one of R&B's freshest — and, at 16, also one of its youngest — faces, was cruising along on a fast track to Billboard's checkered flag. With the Scott Storch-helmed, turbo-charged single "Run It!" fueling Brown's ride, industry insiders were predicting a chart-topping entry into the proverbial winner's circle. But coming down the final stretch, Brown's run lost some steam, clearing a path to the finish line for the latest installment in the formidable compilation series known as Now That's What I Call Music!

The Now 20 collection, featuring track contributions from Missy Elliott, Pussycat Dolls, Ciara, Destiny's Child, Kelly Clarkson, Fall Out Boy, Franz Ferdinand and others, edged out Brown by less than 4,000 copies, to reclaim Billboard's #1 after debuting on top five weeks ago. More than 154,000 copies of Brown's inaugural LP were scanned, bagged, and hauled away from the nation's record stores, giving the newcomer a strong second-place showing, according to the latest SoundScan numbers.

Brown outsold the third-place finisher, Carrie Underwood, by a mere 172 copies. The "American Idol" champ climbs four spots to #3 with her debut disc, Some Hearts. Country star Kenny Chesney's The Road and the Radio continues to garner strong retail interest in its fourth week of release, taking the chart's #4 slot with 137,000-plus copies sold.

A few big-name debuts stormed their way onto Billboard's retail registry. Oral Fixation, Vol. 2, the English-language companion piece to Latin pop hottie Shakira's Fijacion Oral, Vol. 1 opens at #5 with sales nearing 128,000. Fijacion Oral, Vol. 1 which hit stores back in June, fared considerably better, debuting at #4 debut with sales of 157,000 plus. Meanwhile, Switch, the first new album from Aussie rockers INXS in nearly a decade, cracks the top-20 with a #17 finish. The band's first LP with reality show-procured frontman J.D. Fortune sold close to 75,000 copies during its first week in stores.

The multi-disc CD/DVD set Weekend on the Rocks, a collection of live Dave Matthews Band tunes recorded during four of the group's most recent gigs at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado, debuts at #37 with nearly 42,000 scans. The newest release from British rockers the Darkness, One Way Ticket To Hell ... And Back, checks in at #58, with week-one sales of 26,000 and change.

A number of albums experienced slight sales jumps this week, including the White Stripes' Get Behind Me Satan. A no-show on the previous week's chart, the Stripes return this time out thanks to sales of nearly 12,000. That 76 percent retail surge — perhaps due to increased interest in the band's video for "The Denial Twist," which features talk-show host Conan O'Brien — is enough to secure the chart's #146 spot.

And it took some time, but America is finally warming up to English import James Blunt. Before releasing his Back to Bedlam here nine weeks ago, Blunt had already warmed hearts in his homeland. This week, the album jumps from #158 to #76 after moving nearly 20,000 copies, a 69 percent sales increase.

The holiday spirit has inspired thousands of consumers to rush out and grab some Christmas cheer. Nearly every holiday-themed disc on this week's chart enjoyed a boost in sales. Il Divo's The Christmas Collection had a 33 percent jump in sales, moving over 76,000 copies to finish at #16. Diana Krall's Christmas Songs took the #19 spot with sales of 65,000, a 44 percent spike. Sales of spirited collections from Kenny G, the Brian Setzer Orchestra, Anita Baker, Regis Philbin and Martha Stewart were all up, a trend that's sure to continue through the month.

Related Artists

Darkness More Concerned About Hair Loss Than Coldplay, James Blunt

30 Nov 2005 04:17:00 EST

Flamboyant band addresses male-pattern baldness on new LP, denies tabloid rumors.
By James Montgomery

The Darkness' Justin and Dan Hawkins
Photo: Getty Images/David M. Bennett

For a guy who makes every effort to play the role of bulletproof rock god, Justin Hawkins has remarkably thin skin.

Of course, you probably wouldn't know that based on his public persona: a carefully balanced amalgamation of Axl Rose's debauched dark side and Freddy Mercury's refined pomp. As the spandex-clad, siren-voiced frontman of British hair-metal enthusiasts the Darkness, Hawkins spends a good deal of time making headlines in his homeland. But lately he's become more than a bit annoyed by the amount of press he and his band have been getting regarding some rather unkind things they've allegedly said about Coldplay, U2, James Blunt and Babyshambles/ Libertines frontman Pete Doherty.

"It's all completely false, and all completely taken out of context. For example, some newspaper will call me up and say something like, 'Oh, what do you think of that James Blunt character? Bit of a dullard, isn't he?' " Hawkins sighed. "Then before you know it, there's a headline that says, 'Hawkins Slams "Dullard" Blunt.' And this kind of stuff just follows us around. Like just the other day, there was a quote by [drummer] Ed [Graham] that said he wanted to 'eat' Pete Doherty."

"And that's ridiculous," Graham deadpanned. "I mean, I'm not even a cannibal."

Such is life for the Darkness, who burst onto the U.K. music scene back in 2003 with Permission to Land, an over-the-top rock assault that spawned a slew of hits ("I Believe in a Thing Called Love," "Get Your Hands Off My Woman," "Growing on Me") and sold a shade under 700,000 copies in the States. Their second album, One Way Ticket to Hell ... and Back, hit shelves Tuesday and finds them further pursuing their own wing in rock and roll Valhalla. This time they're doing it not just with guitar pyrotechnics (though they're still in plentiful supply), but also with more theatrical, refined sounds. The band achieved its new approach thanks to producer Roy Thomas Baker, who cut his teeth on some of Queen's biggest hits, including "Bohemian Rhapsody."

"He was a refined man of many tastes and cultures. And he had a killer sense of humor, which is very important if you're going to be spending an inordinate amount of time in a room with someone," Hawkins laughed. "He and I enjoyed many seafood dinners, and we developed an unspoken method of communication. It was sort of like telekinesis, but even better."

The songs on One Way Ticket run the gamut from blasting rockers ("Hazel Eyes," "Is It Just Me?") to string-enhanced ballads smacking of high tea at an English estate ("English Country Garden"). There's a song about being embraced by a woman with "Dinner Lady Arms" — "You call them lunch-lady arms over here," Hawkins explained. "Those arms with flab hanging underneath them"). And there's no less than three songs about hair — mostly of the thinning variety.

"I think hair loss is a lot like death for most men, because it's much-feared and never fully explained," Hawkins said. "And when most men get ready in the morning, it's the first step in their grooming regiment. So frankly, I'm surprised that no one has written songs about [hair loss] already."

And with a brand-new album comes a brand-new tour, which in keeping with the Darkness' general largess can only be of the massive, jumbo-jet, globe-spanning variety. Hawkins wouldn't have it any other way.

"We kick off our world tour in February back home, and we plan on hitting every corner of the globe," he said. "We'll definitely do America, but we're also going to hit areas that most bands wouldn't do. We're going to play Southeast Asia. We're huge there. If you take a look at the population there, I think percentage-wise, most of them are Darkness fans."

Related Artists

The Darkness

New Releases: Shakira, Chris Brown, Ryan Cabrera, Dave Matthews Band, INXS

28 Nov 2005 08:38:00 EST

Also due Tuesday are new releases by Diplomats, Darkness, Hot Chip and Master P.
By Kurt Orzeck

Shakira's Oral Fixation, Vol. 2
Photo: Sony

Shak' Attack: Is speaking English such a sin? You'd think so from the neobiblical artwork adorning Shakira's Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 — she's naked (but tastefully camouflaged by a strand of ivy) and holding an apple in Eve-like fashion. The belly-bending singer's joined by executive producer Rick Rubin, Carlos Santana and Argentinean singer/songwriter Gustavo Cerati on her first English-language album in four years, which resuscitates two tracks from Vol. 1 ("Something" and "The Day and the Time"), questions religion ("How Do You Do") and somehow manages to tackle politics by way of disco ("Timor").

Brownie, You're Doing a Heck of a Job: If you've been holding out for Chris Brown's much-hyped self-titled debut, you can slake your thirst this week, but be aware that there's a DualDisc dropping December 13 with all the fixins: video (for "Run It!"), interview, photos, and live and behind-the-scenes footage. Tracks on both versions include: "Ain't No Way (You Won't Love Me)," "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)" and "Poppin'."

Don't Blink: Did Ryan Cabrera's marketing team run out of steam after the September release of You Stand Watching? 'Parently so, as he's eking out a DVD this week that has gone virtually unmentioned. But rest assured, fans, "Live at the Wiltern LG" is here, and it's loaded with your faves: "Let's Take Our Time," "On the Way Down," "Last Night" and even a cover of Paul Simon's "You Can Call Me Al."

Switcheroo: What could INXS possibly mean by calling their new album Switch? Could it be the switch to new singer J.D. Fortune? The switch from reunited rock stars to reality-TV stars, then back once again, hopefully, to rock stars? The switch from Mercury Records to Epic? The switch from audio content to video content, as facilitated by the DualDisc version? We may never know. ("Rock Star: INXS - the DVD" also drops this week.)

Open Wide: Already have plenty of Dave Matthews Band live material, which now officially constitutes more than half their official catalog? Already have Dave Matthews Band live material from the scenic Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado? Well, too bad: Weekend on the Rocks has two CDs and a DVD's worth of tuneage from four nights in September. But wait — there's more. No, seriously. On December 13, DMB release The Complete Weekend on the Rocks, an eight-CD-plus-DVD monstrosity that lives up to its name. It won't be copy protected, either, so fans of the typically bootleg-averse Matthews can go hog wild.

A Dark Day in Hell: Will the Darkness fall on deaf ears? That's the question glam fans have been asking since 2003's shamelessly clichéd Permission to Land was followed by rumors of equally clichéd in-fighting, drugs and breakup. It might not be a good sign that the Brits made their entire One Way Ticket to Hell ... and Back available on MySpace prior to release, but they do have a Tenacious-D-worthy video for "One Way Ticket."

French Connection: Les gens behind Nous Non Plus — who actually met at the Rhode Island School of Design — manage to be both bilingual and erotic on their self-named record, which includes "Château," "Tant Pis Pour Toi" and the slightly less frou-frou "Lawnmower Boy." Another indie squad, London's Hot Chip, bring their Europe-released Coming on Strong Stateside and tack on three bonuses: "A-B-C," "Hittin Skittles" and "From Drummer to Driver." (Note: Coming on Strong still does contain "Crap Kraft Dinner" and "Down With Prince.")

Book It: Don't read too much into the title to Diplomats & Friends' "The Book of Hip Hop," which is actually a straight-up DVD featuring Cam'ron, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, Memphis Bleek and Beanie Sigel. If you're looking for something of the literary variety, turn instead to Lee Ranaldo & Leah Singer's multimedia "Drift" package. The DVD showcases the duo's poetry/ improv guitar/ film projection project that has been exhibited in various museums, while the accompanying 112-page volume has poetry by the Sonic Youth guitarist and lots more.

Song Title of the Week:

"Pharmacists of the Sun" (Winechuggers' Grand Rapids)

New Releases:

Chris Brown - Chris Brown (Jive)
Read: "Chris Brown Dancing His 'Run It!' Straight Up The Charts"
The Darkness - One Way Ticket to Hell ... and Back (Atlantic)
The Greenhornes - Sewed Soles (V2)
Hot Chip - Coming on Strong (DFA/Astralwerks)
INXS - Switch (DualDisc same day; Epic)
Read: "INXS Insist Finding J.D. Was An 'Organic' Process, Think 'Angels Got Together' "
Master P - Living Legend: Certified D-Boy (Gutter)
Dave Matthews Band - Weekend on the Rocks (two CDs with DVD; RCA)
The Mob - The Mob (Frontiers)
Nous Non Plus - Nous Non Plus (Aeronaut)
Paradise Lost - Paradise Lost (Abacus)
Rancid Vat - Rancid Vat vs. the Rest of the World (Steel Cage)
The Samples - Rehearsing for Life (Apache)
Shakira - Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 (Epic)
Three - Evocations (Arena Rock)
Robin Trower - Another Days Blues (V-12)
Winechuggers - Grand Rapids (Arena Rock)

Reissues and Archival Material:

Black Oak Arkansas - Live at Royal Albert Hall (DualDisc; S'More Entertainment)
Rick Danko - Cryin' Heart Blues (Other People's Music)
Garth Hudson - Our Lady Queen of the Angels (Other People's Music)
Chris Liebling and Speedy J - Collabs 3000: Metalism (enhanced; Mute)
Richard Manuel - Whispering Pines: Live at the Getaway 1985 (Other People's Music)
Kylie Minogue - Showgirl (EMI)
Ennio Morricone - Crime and Dissonance (two CDs; Ipecac)
Motörhead - Deaf Forever: The Best of Motörhead (DualDisc; Silverline)
Pro-Pain - The Best of Pro-Pain (Candlelight)
Dee Dee Ramone - Zonked! (Other People's Music)

DVDs:

Black Oak Arkansas - "Live at Royal Albert Hall" (S'More Entertainment)
Ryan Cabrera - "Live at the Wiltern LG" (Atlantic)
Caribou - "Marino: The Videos" (Caroline)
Diplomats & Friends - "The Book of Hip Hop" (Image Entertainment)
INXS - "Rock Star: INXS - the DVD" (Epic)
Rainbow - "Legends of Rock: The Ultimate Review" (Classic Rock Legends)
Lee Ranaldo & Leah Singer - "Drift" (with a book; Plexifilm)
Todd Rundgren - "Liars Live" (Sanctuary)

Coming Attractions:

December 6:

Eminem - Curtain Call: The Hits (Aftermath)
Read: "Slim Shady's Phattest, Brightest Compiled For Eminem Hits LP"
Korn - See You on the Other Side (Virgin)
Read: "Korn On New LP: 'Sadness,' 'Anger,' 'Darkness' ... 'Kind Of Perverted' "
Lindsay Lohan - A Little More Personal (Raw) (Casablanca)
Read: "Lindsay Lohan Album Preview: It Really Is More Personal"

December 13:

Beck - Guerolito (remix album; Interscope)
Bo Bice - Real Thing (DualDisc; RCA)
Madonna - Confessions on a Dance Floor - Special Edition (Warner Bros.)

December 20:

Notorious B.I.G. - Duets (Bad Boy)
Read: "Biggie Duets LP Features Eminem, Snoop, Tupac, Nas, Ludacris"
Mary J. Blige - The Breakthrough (Geffen)
Read: "Mary J. Blige's Breakthrough Is Coming Out This Year After All"
Jamie Foxx - Unpredictable (DualDisc same day; J)
Read: "Jamie Foxx Has 'Too Many Drinks,' Samples Charles On New LP"

Related Artists

For The Record: Quick News On Destiny's Child, Dave Chappelle, Ricky Martin, Audioslave, Madonna, Darkness & More

16 Sep 2005 05:51:00 EDT

Destiny's Child shoot another video; Chappelle gets distributor; Darkness plot return.
By MTV News staff report

Destiny's Child
Photo: MTV News

It looks like we haven't seen the last of Destiny's Child. Just one day after they performed their last concert in Vancouver, British Columbia, the ladies shot what could be their final music video together, for "Stand Up for Love." It was directed by Matthew Rolston, and their label rep says it will deal with an as-yet-unspecified "recent world crisis." ...

Dave Chappelle is getting a distributor for his "Block Party." Rogue Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to the feature, which was directed by Michel Gondry and includes performances by Kanye West, Mos Def, Erykah Badu, Dead Prez and the Fugees, among others, from a party in Brooklyn, New York, last year. ... Ricky Martin's doing a collection drive — via his own charitable foundation, Banco Popular and the Salvation Army — to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. On Thursday and Friday of this week, Banco Popular branches became collection centers for diapers, clothes and educational toys, to be distributed by the Salvation Army to relief centers in Texas and other areas affected by the hurricane. Martin went to Houston last week to visit the Astrodome, the Reliant Center, the Daycare Center, and the Texas Children's Hospital, which made him want to do more. "Being in Houston allowed us to join in solidarity with the youngest survivors," he said in a statement. "I talked to them, listened to their stories and understood their fears." Martin's also launching the Life for the Katrina Children Relief Fund, with some seed money from Banco Popular, to help organizations give aid to children who survive emergency situations. ...

Audio versions of 23 performances from last Saturday's "ReAct Now: Music & Relief" benefit on MTV, VH1 and CMT (among other channels), plus three of the bonus performances featured on MTV Overdrive (Beck's "Side of the Road," Rob Thomas' "Ever the Same" and Trent Reznor's "Non-Entity"), are available to download, with all proceeds going to the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity. Other songs include Thomas' cover of "Time After Time," Goo Goo Dolls' cover of "Give a Little Bit," David Banner's acoustic version of "Cadillacs on 22s," Mötley Crüe and Chester Bennington's collaboration on "Home Sweet Home," and Melissa Etheridge's "Four Days," which she wrote about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Sites offering the music: Cdigix.com, Connect.com, FYE.com, Music.MSN.com, Real.com/katrina, Rhapsody.com and VirginDigital.com. ... Next month Saddle Creek will release Lagniappe, a compilation album featuring the label's roster regulars. The 13-track LP will include Cursive's "Booketa," Bright Eyes' "Napoleon's Hat" and the Faint's "Hypnotised." Proceeds from the album, which will also be available through iTunes, will be donated to the Red Cross in support of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. ...

Audioslave are releasing a live album and DVD of their historic performance at Havana's Anti-Imperialist Plaza in May. "Live in Cuba" will feature 18 tracks, including Audioslave's biggest hits as well as Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun," "Outshined" and "Spoonman" and Rage Against the Machine's "Bulls on Parade." A 30-minute documentary, an additional TV special on the event and a bonus CD from the band's recent AOL Sessions performance will also be included in the set, due October 11. ... This could be the year for Black Sabbath, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Sex Pistols and others who have been on the ballot to enter the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame several times over. Artists become eligible 25 years after the release of their first album, so this year's nominating committee looked to 1980 for new nominees and found ... no one. That means the chances are greater for Ozzy and several others, including Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, who last year were the first rap act to get nominated; Miles Davis; John Mellencamp; and Blondie. ...

Madonna has picked a director to helm her first video for her forthcoming all-dance album, Confessions on a Dance Floor. David LaChapelle (Gwen Stefani's "Rich Girl," Britney Spears' "Everytime") will shoot the clip for "Hung Up," due out on radio in mid-October. ... David Bowie joined the Arcade Fire onstage during the Montreal orchestral-rockers' sold-out gig at New York's Central Park Summerstage on Thursday night. Decked out in a white suit and wide-brimmed hat, Bowie first led the band in a rendition of his 1971 tune "Queen Bitch," then switched to an acoustic guitar and sang backup on the Arcade Fire's "Wake Up" before departing to a massive round of applause. ...

First, "Image of the Invisible," the lead-off single from Thrice's forthcoming disc Vheissu, was uploaded to the band's Web site, giving fans a glimpse into what the LP's going to sound like when it hits stores on October 18. Now another of the album's tracks, "The Earth Will Shake," has made its way onto Thrice's Internet home. There's also a three-minute sampler track, containing snippets from a number of tunes, including "Atlantic" and "Hold Fast Hope." ... The Darkness will return on November 19 with One Way Ticket to Hell ... And Back. The album's first single, "One Way Ticket," is set to debut on rock radio sometime next month. ...

9.15.2005

Before she heads to jail for perjury and conspiracy on Monday, Lil' Kim will be chronicling her last days as a free woman for her own reality show, the rapper's publicist said. The project, tentatively titled "Lil' Kim Goes to the Big House," will be headed up by entertainment big shot Tracey Edmonds, wife of beatmaker/crooner Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and CEO of Edmonds Entertainment. Several networks are currently vying for rights to the show, but the Queen Bee has yet to make a decision. ...

Opportunities to sit in on recording sessions with Usher, Alicia Keys or Kanye West are among the experiences and items being auctioned on eBay October 11-20 to benefit the Step Up Women's Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening community resources for women and girls. Various autographed items by Dave Matthews Band, Metallica and Carrie Underwood will also be available in the auction. ... Coldplay have posted their four-song Fix You EP exclusively at Apple's iTunes Music Store. The proceeds from sales of the EP will go to the American Red Cross and the Recording Academy's MusiCares Hurricane Relief Fund. The collection includes studio and live versions of the new single "Fix You," plus the previously unreleased "Pour Me" and "The World Turned Upside Down." In other Coldplay news, the band was forced to cancel Wednesday's show in Tampa, Florida, due to an unspecified illness, but the group is planning to reschedule. ...

What do New Found Glory bassist Ian Grushka and pop sensation Britney Spears have in common? Their sons have the same birthday. On Wednesday, just as Spears was giving birth to her baby, Grushka and his wife Stormy welcomed their first son, Oliver Layne, to the world. Grushka is the first member of NFG to become a dad. ... 'NSYNC are putting out a greatest-hits album. Called simply 'NSYNC's Greatest Hits, the 11-song compilation is due October 25, and includes such chart-topping singles as their first hit, "I Want You Back" (from March 1998), collaborations with Nelly ("Girlfriend") and Gloria Estefan ("Music of My Heart"), as well as "Bye Bye Bye," "It's Gonna Be Me," "Pop," "Tearin' Up My Heart" and "Gone." ...

So it looks like CBGB will remain open at least for the month of September. A hearing scheduled for Thursday morning (September 15) in New York's Civil Court, what was to be the first public holdover proceeding in the Bowery Residents' Committee's efforts to evict the iconic club from its current locale at 313 Bowery, was postponed until October 3. ... The "Saw II" soundtrack, due October 25, will feature a remix of Marilyn Manson's "Irresponsible Hate Anthem" by former Nine Inch Nails multi-instrumentalist Danny Lohner, Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland and Charlie Clouser; a remix of Queens of the Stone Age's "Burn the Witch" by UNKLE; and a remix of Puscifer's (Maynard James Keenan and Lohner's new side project) "REV 22:20" by Lohner. Also contributing tracks are the Used, Papa Roach and Mudvayne, whose "Forget to Remember" is the first single. ...

Grammy-winner Tom Waits has filed suit in Germany against General Motors' Opel division and an ad agency, claiming that after he turned down their request to sing in a commercial, they hired a soundalike to mimic his signature gravelly tone. The ads aired in Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway in late 2004 and early 2005. GM has denied that it sought out Waits — who has a long-standing policy against appearing in commercials — for the spots. In a statement Waits said, "Apparently, the highest compliment our culture grants artists nowadays is to be in an ad — ideally naked and purring on the hood of a new car. ... While the court can't make me active in radio, I am asking it to make me radioactive to advertisers." ... Henry Rollins' Independent Film Channel series "Henry's Film Corner" is getting something of a revamping. "The Henry Rollins Show," which will launch in March, will incorporate a wider range of guests, a more expansive array of topics, and musical performances. Rollins will also have a segment called "Teeing Off," an irreverent take on the traditional monologue as Henry rants on everything from pop culture to politics to the guy who annoyed him at the grocery store. ...

Ex-Meat Puppets singer Curt Kirkwood, best known for collaborating with Nirvana on their "Unplugged" performance, will release his first solo album, Snow, on September 27. Pete Anderson, who produced the Puppets' Forbidden Places, produced the album. ... Musicians continue to take the lead in fund-raising for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The Cincinnati band Kelp recently launched the Rock Together initiative, in which they hope to recruit 1,000 bands across the country to donate the proceeds from 1,000 gigs to benefit those affected by the hurricane. So far, according to Kelp guitarist Kent Meloy, 90 bands have played shows in Cincinnati, Kentucky, Miami, New York and Los Angeles, raising approximately $25,000. He encourages any band that's interested to visit rocktogether.org for more information. ...

Related Artists

Stars Pitch In To Aid Tsunami Victims; Live Aid-Style Concert A Possibility

4 Jan 2005 04:03:00 EST

NBC telethon scheduled for January 15; huge concert in Wales tentatively planned for January 22 and 23.
By James Montgomery

Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne appeal for support on behalf of Britain's Disasters Emergency Committee.
Photo: Dave Hogan/Getty Images

More than a week after tsunamis devastated the coastlines of Southeast Asia, leaving more than 150,000 dead and billions of dollars worth of property damage in their wake, many musicians and celebrities are doing their part to aid the victims.

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne donated £100,000 (almost $190,000) to Britain's Disasters Emergency Committee during a nationwide charity drive on New Year's Eve that raised more than £60 million. But the Osbournes realized that more money was still needed, and have recorded a public service announcement asking for donations from around the world.

Tsunami Relief: What You Can Do To Help

"Like you, we've been watching images of the tsunami floods and we're shocked by the death and devastation," Sharon said. "But we need to act right now. In order to help the most vulnerable, lots of money is needed quickly."

Hollywood has also done its part. On Monday, Sandra Bullock donated $1 million to the Red Cross International Response Fund to help purchase much-needed medical supplies. Bullock donated a similar amount to the Red Cross following the terrorist attacks on the U.S. on September 11.

Leonardo DiCaprio also made an unspecified "large" donation to UNICEF. He starred in the 2000 movie "The Beach," filmed on the Thai resort island of Phi Phi, which was ravaged by a tsunami.

NBC has announced plans for a January 15 telethon to raise money for tsunami victims. The telethon will air on the network and its sister cable channels, including USA, Bravo, Sci-Fi, MSNBC and CBNC. A similar telecast 10 days after the September 11 attacks featured Hollywood heavyweights like Brad Pitt, Jack Nicholson and Al Pacino, and musical performances by Alicia Keys, Eddie Vedder and Neil Young, and raised more than $150 million (see "Springsteen, U2 Help Raise $150 Million For Victims' Families").

And taking a cue from Bob Geldof, the man who organized Live Aid (the massive concert staged to benefit African famine victims in 1985), British promoters are working to finalize plans for a large benefit concert to take place in Wales, and possibly the U.S. and Australia, too. Scheduling the concert — which would take place at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, on January 22 and 23 — is proving difficult, due to the short planning period, the busy schedules of artists rumored to be involved (including U2, Coldplay, Franz Ferdinand and the Darkness), and an international rugby tournament that will take over the stadium the following week.

"We've [spoken with] a lot of the [British] bands, and the BBC has helped us internationally to get the A-list stars. We've had a lot of support from a lot of bands, [the names of] which we don't want to throw out into the public domain yet, in case the whole thing doesn't get off the ground," said Rupert Moon, Millennium Stadium's business manager, on Tuesday. "The whole project is moving at full speed, and the infrastructure is there, but the next 48 hours are going to be crucial. If it's going to happen, it's got to be massive.

"There's talk of something happening in Sydney [Australia] and in the USA, too, and if they did marry up, then we would look to do something based on the Live Aid model [which featured near-simultaneous concerts at London's Wembley Stadium and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia]," Moon continued. "The financial donations people have generated are remarkable, but people need something to get together and show their support physically, just like they did during Live Aid."

In terms of fund raising, Linkin Park were among the first acts to get involved by donating $100,000 to start Music for Relief last week (see "Linkin Park Establish Charity To Help Tsunami Victims"). At press time, several other artists were rumored to be joining the organization, though none could be confirmed. But Linkin Park guitarist Brad Delson said that Music for Relief's mission was an ongoing one.

"We're putting this whole thing together as quickly as we can. And as important as it is to get it going immediately, it's going to be a long-term thing, because there are going to be long-term problems," he said. "The best we can do in the coming weeks, the better. You feel so helpless about this, but bringing attention to the whole situation is so important right now."

According to CBS News, more than 25 nations have now pledged almost $2 billion in disaster-relief funds, but more is still needed. The United Nations has said that the relief effort will be the most costly in world history. And although food and medical supplies are desperately needed, the most effective way you can help is by donating money to any of the charities below.

Action Against Hunger
www.ActionAgainstHunger.com

ADRA Asia Quake Fund
www.ADRA.org

AirServ International
www.AirServ.org

American Red Cross (International Response Fund)
www.redcross.org

AmeriCares
www.AmeriCares.org

The Brother's Brother Foundation
www.BrothersBrother.org

CARE
www.CARE.org

Direct Relief International
www.DirectRelief.org

Doctors Without Borders
www.DoctorsWithoutBorders-USA.org

Food for the Hungry
www.FH.org

International Medical Corps
www.IMCWorldwide.org

Oxfam America
www.OxfamAmerica.org

Project HOPE
www.ProjectHOPE.org

The Salvation Army
www.SalvationArmyUSA.org

UNICEF
www.UnicefUSA.org

World Food Programme
www.WFP.org

Related Artists

Darkness Frontman's Horrifyingly Bad Wound Actually Quite Tiny

1 Nov 2004 05:00:00 EST

Erroneous press reports claimed injury was severe enough to jeopardize tour.
By James Montgomery

The Darkness' Justin Hawkins (file)
Photo: Amy Cooper

The Darkness' Justin Hawkins is already known for his soaring heavy metal falsetto, but much like the element Osmium — the heaviest metal of them all — he's also nearly indestructible.

Over the weekend, reports began to surface that the spindly singer/guitarist had smashed his right hand through a stained-glass window after being punched in the face by a drunken attacker, and that the Darkness' U.K. tour — which was scheduled to start on November 24 — was in serious jeopardy as a result.

According to British publications the Daily Mirror and the New Musical Express, Hawkins was rushed to London's Princess Grace Hospital late Saturday night, where doctors worked to repair severed tendons in his hand. He reportedly received "dozens" of stitches and needed at least six weeks to heal. And with Hawkins' hand on the mend, the publications said that the Darkness would be forced to employ the services of a stand-in guitarist for their tour.

But it was Hawkins himself who put those rumors to rest, assuring fans that they need not worry about missing any of his white-hot guitar licks at the Darkness' shows. On the band's official Web site, he was quoted as saying that he "accidentally cut his hand," but "everything is fine, and the tour is in absolutely no danger of being canceled."

The statement went on to urge fans not to be alarmed by "the rumors that Justin may not be able to play guitar on the Darkness' upcoming U.K. tour. We can confirm reports this weekend that ... Justin Hawkins has sustained a slight injury to his right hand, but will be fine to wield his axe before kicking off their winter tour starting this month. There was no altercation as was alleged in certain sections of the press. Justin is able to play his guitar with his usual flair."

Related Artists

The Darkness

With Coldplay And Darkness On Board, Band Aid Is Revived For Charity Single

21 Oct 2004 03:35:00 EDT

Proceeds will go toward famine relief in Ethiopia and the Sudan.
By James Montgomery

Coldplay's Chris Martin (file)
Photo: Rebecca Shapiro

Twenty years after Band Aid — a one-off British supergroup that featured U2, Duran Duran, Paul McCartney and other chart-toppers of the era — recorded the charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?," some of the U.K.'s biggest stars are being assembled to rework the tune.

According to producer Midge Ure, who co-founded the original Band Aid with singer/human-rights activist Bob Geldof, members of Coldplay, the Darkness, Keane and Travis have already committed to sing on the new version of the track. The original topped the U.S. and U.K. charts, sold more than 50 million copies and raised over $10 million for famine victims in Ethiopia.

Proceeds from the new Band Aid single will go toward the relief of famine victims in Ethiopia and the Sudan.

"So far, we've had the backing of Chris Martin, Fran [Healy, of Travis], the Darkness and Keane," Ure wrote Thursday (October 21) on his official Web site. "Nigel Godrich will produce and I'll executive produce."

Speaking to the BBC radio station 6Music, Ure went on to say that he has also lined up Oasis' Noel Gallagher and Blur's Damon Albarn for the project, which would mark the first time in nearly a decade the two former Britpop rivals collaborated on a song. Publicists in the U.K. for both Gallagher and Albarn confirmed that the musicians have been approached by Ure, but nothing has been finalized yet.

Ure also said that he has put calls in to Robbie Williams and Dido, and that he intends to have U2's Bono re-record his verse from the original version of the songs. He hopes to have the new incarnation of Band Aid report to an undisclosed studio in London sometime in "the next few weeks" to begin recording.

Related Artists

For The Record: Quick News On Coldplay, Green Day, Kanye West, Gwen Stefani, Salt-N-Pepa, Mobb Deep & More

20 Oct 2004 05:54:00 EDT

Coldplay's Chris Martin (file)
Photo: John Shearer

Coldplay, the Darkness and Travis are among the acts invited to take part in the re-recording of the 1984 song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" according to organizers of Band Aid. The organization recruited a host of British musicians — including George Michael, Duran Duran and U2 — for the original single, proceeds of which went to famine relief in Ethiopia. Proceeds from the sale of this new version will benefit famine victims in the Sudan. ...

The stolen master tapes of the album Green Day originally recorded before American Idiot have yet to surface, but the band is waiting for the inevitable. "My only request is whoever's got those songs, if you put it out, put a decent cover on it," Mike Dirnt joked. In all seriousness, the bassist said some of the material may be rescued officially. "Some of that may turn into other songs when we record again," he said. ... Kanye West has inked a deal with the Sony Music Label Group to form a new imprint, Getting Out Our Dreams (GOOD). The label's first release will be R&B singer John Legend's Get Lifted on December 28. As part of the agreement, West has also entered into a production deal with Sony. ...

Jennifer Lopez is not just working on one album to follow up her This Is Me ... Then from 2002 — she's working on two, an English-language LP and a Spanish-language one as well. The English-language album will be more funk-oriented, while the Spanish-language set is supposed to be more passionate-sounding. ... Gwen Stefani's releasing a special edition of her forthcoming solo album, Love, Angel, Music, Baby, on November 23 in addition to the regular CD. The special edition will feature a custom-designed case, wrapped in fabric and embossed in gold, with a book-style layout complete with a ribbon bookmark. ...

Mobb Deep, B-Real of Cypress Hill, Everlast, KRS-One, Alchemist, WC, Mack 10, Defari and Dilated Peoples have joined forces for " S.T.O.P. Movement 2 - Dear Mr. President," a seven-minute track attacking George W. Bush. Fred Wreck produced the tune, available at www.fredwreck.com, which is the second single he's created to promote his S.T.O.P. (Stop the Oppressive Politics) movement. The first was the anti-war "Down With Us," which included many of the same rappers. ... Pioneering female rap group Salt-N-Pepa, who shot a sitcom pilot in 1994 that was never picked up, are back developing another TV show. The sitcom will be based on the rappers' lives. ...

Something Corporate are between albums, but the DVD "Live at the Ventura Theater," recorded in May and due November 9, should satisfy fans until the Southern California band can follow up last year's North. Beginning November 9 in West Hollywood, California, the band will hit the road for two weeks of college dates to support the release. ... Madonna's tour documentary, which chronicles her Reinvention Tour and the "new" Madonna, among other things, is now tentatively projected to hit theaters by this spring, her spokesperson said. Jonas Akerlund is directing. ...

Jewel is making good use of her name by helping to open a new Harry Winston salon in Las Vegas on Friday. The singer will cut a diamond-studded ribbon worth $150,000 at the new store in the Forum Shops area. ... As Slayer prepare to hit the road on the Jägermeister Music Tour on October 29, they're also getting ready to see red. A new stage prop called the Wall of Blood will rain stage blood on the band during their classic "Raining Blood." On November 2, days after the first gig in Springfield, Missouri, the metal stalwarts' DVD "Still Reigning" will drop. ...

10.19.2004

Eminem is hoping to make illegal file-sharers feel so empty. In an effort to stop Internet piracy of the rapper's new album, Interscope Records is launching the Very Shady Xmas Contest, in which fans who buy Eminem's new release, Encore, will have the chance to make this year's Shady Xmas List and be eligible to receive one of 400 presents in Shady wrapping paper, including platinum plaques, Sirius satellite radio equipment and subscriptions, exclusive Encore shoes, video memorabilia, Shady Ltd. merchandise and gift certificates, and the chance to work on Eminem's next music video. Fans will have to purchase a legit copy of the album, due November 16, and slide it into their computers to access the registration site, where they will be able to enter the contest up until December 24. ...

Mase tells girls they do not have to show their goodies to attract men, and Ciara agrees. The Atlanta singer has agreed to appear on a remix of Mase's "Keep It On," which is also set to include an appearance by P. Diddy. Ciara has also just completed work on her next video, "1,2 Step," with director Benny Boom and music industry do-it-all Missy Elliott. The clip chiefly takes place in a roller-skating rink and features a performance of the teen's new dance step. ... Guess it really isn't "Bad Boy for Life." After a long feud with P. Diddy, the Hoodfellaz have finally broken ties with Puff's label. Although the group says it is not breaking up in the wake of its release, member Morock has been working on a solo album and is seeking distribution for it. ...

The Nirvana box set, due November 23, finally has a title: With the Lights Out. Among the 81 tracks in the three-CD collection are 68 previously unreleased live tracks, studio outtakes and home demos. A DVD featuring Nirvana performing at a house party in 1987, among other footage, will also be included. ... Trent Reznor has changed his mind. The title of Nine Inch Nails' first studio album since 1999's The Fragile will no longer be called Bleedthrough. The songs are done, Reznor writes on NIN.com, but the title didn't fit them. The album is still expected out in March, with a tour to follow. ...

The band most likely to make lemonade from lemons, New Found Glory will drop the DVD "This Disaster: Live in London" on November 23. The two-hour home video is so named because during the concert, the power went out. Instead of calling off the show, the band simply offered up an acoustic set. ... The last place you'd expect to find lewd, crude rockers the Darkness is in a chick flick, but their hit "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" appears on the soundtrack to "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason," along with tunes from Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige and Kylie Minogue. Tracks exclusive to the soundtrack, due November 16, three days before the sequel hits theaters, include duets by Rufus Wainwright and Dido, and Sting and Annie Lennox. ...

Madonna's fourth kabbalah-inspired children's book is about to hit stores. "The Adventures of Abdi" follows a little boy who has been given a big task, to deliver a precious necklace to the queen. Along the way, he is robbed, thrown in a dungeon, and encounters a savage snake, but he never despairs, always remembering the words of his mentor: "Everything we have been given in life is always for the best." "The Adventures of Abdi" will hit shelves November 4. ... Because of his humanitarian work, U2's Bono — along with a medical-technologies pioneer and a photo artist — has been named the winner of the inaugural TED prize, which grants the recipient three wishes (actually $100,000 to be spent however he chooses in support of the wishes). Among those on the panel who selected Bono were Goldie Hawn, Eve Ensler, Herbie Hancock and Amazon's Jeff Bezos. The wishes are to be revealed at the next TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conference in Monterey, California, in February. ...

"The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story," a documentary that first aired two years ago on the BBC and has only been available as an import, will be released domestically on DVD November 16. The disc features early performance footage and interviews with the band's Roger Waters and David Gilmour, among others. Barrett, the group's original singer, became something of an enigmatic legend after leaving Pink Floyd following the release of their first album, 1967's The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Barrett released two albums in 1970 and has remained a recluse ever since. ... In addition to working on their new album, the Flaming Lips have a whole mess of projects in the works. First up is a photo book titled "Waking Up with a Placebo Head Wound: Images of the Flaming Lips From the Archives of Jay Blakesberg and J. Michelle Martin-Coyne 1987-2004." Due November 15, the book will be released in a limited-edition publishing run of 1,500 copies. Pre-orders before November 12 will include a special 7-inch that features two unreleased tracks from the Lips' long-awaited "Christmas on Mars" film. Music critic Jim DeRogatis — who immortalized critic Lester Bangs in "Let It Blurt" — will do the same to the Oklahoma oddballs in his book "Staring at Sound: The True Story of Oklahoma's Fabulous Flaming Lips," due in fall 2005. Meanwhile, Yoko Ono has enlisted the Lips to remix her track "Cambridge 1969" and add their own original music to the song. ...

Robbie Williams has become the first artist to launch an album, with additional video content, on a memory card. In stores Tuesday, the pre-loaded memory card, called simply Greatest Hits, includes 18 of the British singer's hits, such as "Angels" (recently remade by Jessica Simpson) and "Rock DJ." Williams' record label EMI is hoping to deliver more pre-loaded memory cards by other artists in time for the holidays. ... Chan Marshall, a.k.a. Cat Power, will release "Speaking for Trees: A Film by Mark Borthwick" on October 26. The CD/DVD features a nearly two-hour film of Marshall playing solo outdoors in the countryside as well as an unreleased 18-minute song, "Willie Deadwilder." The packaging, created by experimental filmmaker and visual artist Borthwick, comes with a 64-page booklet. ...

Related Artists

Jay-Z, Beyonce, No Doubt, Outkast lead VMA Nominees

27 Jul 2004 12:07:00 EDT

Usher, Kanye West, Hoobstank to perform at August 29 ceremony.
By Robert Mancini

Jay-Z and Beyoncé (file)
Photo: Newscom

The first Moonman won't be handed out for another month, but Jay-Z and Beyoncé are already looking like the king and queen of the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards: The two led the pack when nominations were announced Tuesday morning.

Usher, Kanye West, Jessica Simpson, Hoobastank, Yellowcard and Jet were also unveiled as the show's first performers at Tuesday's announcement in Miami, where the show will be held August 29, marking the VMAs' first staging outside of New York or Los Angeles.

Jay's gritty "99 Problems" clip grabbed the most nominations with six, including nods for Best Video of the Year, Best Male Video and Best Rap Video.

Beyoncé, No Doubt, Usher and Outkast are close behind with five nominations each. Beyoncé's "Naughty Girl" garnered four noms (including Best Female Video), while her "Me, Myself and I" landed in the Best R&B Video category. Usher also spread his five nominations over two different videos, earning four for "Yeah!" and one for "Burn." No Doubt's five nominations came courtesy of the "It's My Life" clip, while Outkast landed their five nods for "Hey Ya!"

Britney Spears, Kanye West, Steriogram, the White Stripes and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs all notched four nominations, while Black Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys, D12, Jet and Modest Mouse scored three noms. Christina Aguilera, Franz Ferdinand, Hoobastank, Jessica Simpson, Maroon 5, Missy Elliott, the Darkness and Yellowcard also head into the show with multiple nominations.

Jay's "99 Problems" will battle Outkast's "Hey Ya!," Usher's "Yeah!," Britney's "Toxic," and D12's "My Band" for Video of the Year, while Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out," Modest Mouse's "Float On," Kanye West's "All Falls Down," New Found Glory's "All Downhill From Here," the White Stripes' "The Hardest Button to Button" and Steriogram's "Walkie Talkie Man" will vie for Breakthrough Video.

Related Photos