Lil' Kim arrives at her perjury trial in 2004
Photo: Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images

Earlier this week, in a lasting (if not especially prompt) display of loyalty, a pair of Doors fans sent a letter to Florida Governor Charlie Crist, asking him to pardon the late Jim Morrison, who was arrested nearly 40 years ago on charges of indecent exposure after a concert in Miami.

See, on March 1, 1969, Morrison and the Doors were playing a show at the Dinner Key Auditorium when the iconic — and, on this night, reportedly very intoxicated — lead singer berated the crowd, encouraged them to "take [their] clothes off and love each other" and, in a moment that lives on in rock and roll infamy, shouted, "There are no rules!" and allegedly exposed himself. (This scene is re-enacted, doubtless with a keen eye toward historical accuracy, in Oliver Stone's 1991 film "The Doors.")

A public outcry ensued — including a "Rally for Decency" at the Orange Bowl stadium — and within a few days, the city of Miami issued a warrant for Morrison's arrest on charges of lewd and lascivious behavior, indecent exposure, public profanity and public drunkenness (phew!). More than 18 months later, Morrison was convicted on the profanity and indecent-exposure charges and sentenced to six months in jail. He was released pending an appeal, but died in his Paris apartment in on July 3, 1971, before that appeal could be heard.

Many Doors fans argue that the Miami incident marked the beginning of Morrison's downward spiral and see it as a permanent scuff on his legend. Of course, whether Governor Crist actually will pardon Morrison — something that requires the approval of two-thirds of the Florida Cabinet — remains to be seen. And while the appeal is no doubt a noble one, there is a sense of "Um, why now?" If the matter is so important, shouldn't have the speedy wheels of justice been greased decades ago?

But it did get us thinking: if we had the power (and weren't slaves to that most unforgiving mistress, time), which of music's most felonious would we pardon — and why.

In our court of clemency, things like "evidence" and "alibi" carry just as much weight as a truly awesome mug shot or a completely epic flame-out — and as such, our verdicts are not necessarily legally airtight, nor are we in any way advocating such behavior. But hey, we're the judges here, so whatever we say, goes!

Court is in session, and we're ready to rule ...

Defendant: Ozzy Osbourne

The Charge: Back in the day, Ozzy was like the Michael Jordan of public intoxication and bad behavior. Take, for example, his infamous intoxicated incidents of 1982, when he bit the head off of a dove in a record-company meeting, and the Alamo incident later in the year, when Osbourne urinated on the Texas landmark, was booked on public-intoxication charges and subsequently banned from ever appearing in San Antonio again. Or his 1984 arrest in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was popped by police officers after "staggering drunk" — those words are from the police report — down Beale Street, and perhaps for showing his allegiance to the St. Louis Blues.

Our Verdict: Totally pardoned! Ozzy has sorta mellowed over the past two decades — so much, in fact, that we're willing to forgive all his past indiscretions (except "Close Your Eyes Forever"). Plus, anyone who can appear on consecutive album covers as a blood-spattered Mr. Hyde and a savage, tree-bound wolfman — as the Ozzman did on 1981's Diary of a Madman and '83's Bark at the Moon — can do no wrong in our book.

Defendants: The Beastie Boys

The Charges: The most serious legal ramification from the band's unhinged 1987 License to Ill tour was Ad-Rock (Adam Horovitz) being arrested in England for allegedly hitting a female audience member in the face with a beer can he'd batted into the crowd. But you kinda get the feeling that the Beasties have spent the last 20 years trying to live down the events of that raucous worldwide trek, which saw them work a giant inflatable (and, according to some reports, motorized) phallus into their stage shows, invite female fans onstage to dance in cages, trash more hotel rooms than Led Zeppelin and — allegedly — lob insults at leukemia patients in the U.K. They've since traded in their hell-raising ways for retro obsessing, unsuccessful business diversification (Grand Royal Records and magazine) and, uh, Buddhism.

We Say: No harm, no foul (well, aside from the beer-can incident, which, if true, sounds unintentional). The B-Boys were just borrowing the whole inflatable-donger thing from the Rolling Stones' 1975 tour anyway, and we're pretty sure the hard partying suited the guys well: Ever since he went all "clean livin'," Mike D has started to look like the Crypt Keeper.

Defendant: Jack White of the White Stripes and Raconteurs

The Charge: In December 2003, White got into an altercation with Von Bondies frontman Jason Stollsteimer at a Detroit rock club (see "Jack White Brawls With Fellow Garage Rocker At Detroit Club"), an incident that allegedly stemmed from disagreement over production credits on the Bondies' 2001 album Lack of Communication. White took full credit, while Stollsteimer said he felt engineer Jim Diamond, who later unsuccessfully sued White over White Stripes royalties (see "White Stripes Win Royalties Lawsuit"), did most of the work. Regardless of what caused the scrap, it's clear who the winner was: White emerged unscathed, despite being able to brawl with only one hand (he'd recently broken his left index finger), and Stollsteimer ... well, he didn't fare quite as well. White was subsequently charged with aggravated assault, but ended up pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of assault and battery. He was fined $500 and ordered to attend anger-management classes.

We Say: Pardoned. After all, White totally whooped ass with only one hand — and he might do it to us if we don't pardon him.

Defendants: 2 Live Crew

The Charges: Geez, where to start? The bootymasters' 1989 album As Nasty As They Wanna Be got a lot of people all hot and bothered (not in the good way) thanks to its highly explicit content, drawing the ire of the American Family Association and eventually being classified as obscene — and therefore illegal to sell — in Broward County, Florida. In June 1990, a local record store clerk was arrested for selling a copy of Nasty to an undercover police officer, and a few days later, three members of the Crew — Luther "Luke Skyywalker" Campbell, Chris "Fresh Kid Ice" Wong Won and Mark "Brother Marquis" Ross — were arrested on charges of obscene conduct after performing songs from the album at a nightclub in Hollywood, Florida. But none of the charges stuck, and in 1992, a Court of Appeals overturned the obscenity ruling.

We Say: Even though their convictions were all thrown out, we feel like the whole incident is a blemish on the group's otherwise sterling reputation, so we're granting the Crew clemency. Anyone responsible for a tune as excellent(ly terrible) as 1999's Bill-Clinton baiting "Bill So Horny: The Presidential Remix" is clearly worthy of a presidential-style pardoning.

The Defendant: R.E.M. Guitarist Peter Buck

The Charges: In April 2001, Buck boarded a British Airways flight in Seattle, bound for London. Somewhere in between, he began downing glass after glass of red wine and, according to British court documents, Buck "behaved ... like the transmogrification of Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde," getting stuck between seats, wandering around the first-class cabin bellowing "I am R.E.M.!," trying to sit next to a woman he inaccurately claimed was his wife, threatening the cabin crew with a tub of yogurt and a spoon, attempting to insert a CD into a drinks cart and — in the piece-de-resistance — smashing a trolley of breakfast crockery for no apparent reason (see "Peter Buck Arrested For Busting Up First Class"). He was charged with two counts of common assault on the cabin crew, one count of being drunk on a plane and one count of damaging British Airways cutlery. At trial, his defense claimed the wine he had drank had reacted adversely with some sleeping pills, which caused him to lose control; Buck said he remembered nothing between closing his eyes in his first-class seat and waking up in the Heathrow Airport police station. After some heartfelt testimony from Bono and R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe, Buck was cleared of all charges on the grounds of "non-insane automatism," which essentially means his actions were not considered intentional.

We Say: Sure, the British court may have already cleared him, but if we were in charge, this whole thing would've never even got to trial. After all, who among us hasn't mistaken a cart loaded with alcohol for a stereo? And who doesn't hate crockery?

Defendant: Lil' Kim

The Charges: In 2005, Kim was convicted on charges of perjury and conspiracy for lying to investigators and a federal grand jury about her involvement in a 2001 shooting at New York radio station Hot 97 (see "Lil' Kim Gets A Year And A Day In Prison"). She served 366 days in a Philadelphia prison, then departed "wearing sunglasses, carrying a bouquet of white roses ... blowing kisses and [telling fans] 'I love you,' " according to The Associated Press, which sort of proves that there is no situation she can't glamorize. Since then, she's kept her nose clean (unlike chronic-antagonizer-of-beauty-salon-employees Foxy Brown) and logged time as a "stern-yet-fair" judge on the CW's "Search for the Next Doll."

We Say: The Queen Bee is pardoned. She paid her debt to society via a stretch in the slammer (which is more than we can say for just about anyone else on this list) and has behaved ever since — although her dedication to the whole "Stop Snitchin' " ethic isn't particularly admirable.

The Defendant: Trey Anastasio

The Charges: The former Phish frontman faced a seven-count indictment that included a felony charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance, driving under the influence of drugs, and misdemeanor drug possession, stemming from a late-night traffic stop in rural Whitehall, New York, last December — charges that could have gotten him 14 years in prison. Police reportedly pulled Anastasio over after he was seen "swerving" between lanes, and then found a quantity of heroin, prescription painkillers and anti-anxiety medication in his car. Anastasio allegedly also told police that he had been smoking hashish and taking pills prior to his arrest (whoops!). According to AP, Anastasio accepted a plea deal on Friday (April 13) that spares him time in prison but involves community service, drug testing and weekly appearances in New York's drug court program for 12 to 15 months.

We Say: Despite the fact that he pleaded guilty to a lesser drugs charge, we'll pardon him. Because not only is Anastasio's "aw-shucks" mug shot beyond cute, we don't know how anyone could survive 20 years of Phish without some serious painkillers.

• Ozzy Osbourne
• Beastie Boys
• The White Stripes
• Lil' Kim
• R.E.M.

Eminem
Photo: Anthony Mandler/ Interscope

Eminem and Kim Mathers finalized their second divorce Tuesday (December 20), The Associated Press reports. The two parties will divide their property under terms of a private settlement and will share custody of Hailie Jade Scott, who is 10 years old. Eminem did not comment after the brief hearing, but Circuit Judge Antonio P. Viviano said the couple "conducted themselves with dignity and respect. All in all, they are a very fine couple to deal with." ...

If you've wanted to share the screen with Lindsay Lohan but are a bit lower down on the star ladder, this could be your chance. A Lohan thriller tentatively titled "I Know Who Killed Me" is seeking extras (18 and over, with ID) available to film key scenes in San Luis Obispo, California. The open call will be held Tuesday from 5-10 p.m. at Maggie's Diner in San Luis Obispo. ...

What's good for Drew Lachey is apparently good for Joey Fatone. The 'NSYNC member told Orlando, Florida, radio station WTKS-FM on Friday that he'd like to appear on the hit TV show "Dancing With the Stars," AP reports. Fatone said producers of the show had asked him three times to appear, but that he'd turned it down. Now that the show has become a hit, he's reconsidered. "I like doing it because it's challenging," Fatone said of dancing. "Can you imagine me wearing those stupid tuxes?" ...

A February 13 release date has been set for the Unholy Alliance collection, a CD/DVD set chronicling the Slayer-anchored tour's July 13 stop in Vancouver, British Columbia. The discs will include performances from all of the bands on the trek's bill: Slayer, Lamb of God, Mastodon, Children of Bodom and Thine Eyes Bleed. The DVD also includes backstage footage and band interviews. ... The Warner Music Group is about to get a bit more hardcore. The home of soft-rocker James Blunt has agreed to pay $73.5 million to acquire a majority stake in heavy-metal label Roadrunner Music Group, home to Slipknot, Megadeth and Nickelback. Roadrunner, based out of Amsterdam, will be a freestanding label within the Atlantic Records Group, already home to hard acts Metallica and Staind. ...

As he is wont to do, Bright Eyes — a.k.a. indie wunderkind Conor Oberst and whoever he feels like playing with — will release not one but two recordings (at least) next year. On March 6, they'll drop Four Winds, a six-song EP featuring six new tracks, including "Reinvent the Wheel," "Smoke Without Fire" and "Cartoon Blues." Then, on April 10, they'll release the full-length Cassadaga, featuring guest appearances by M. Ward, Gillian Welch and former Sleater-Kinney drummer Janet Weiss. The album — which was recorded in New York; Los Angeles; and Lincoln, Nebraska — is actually named after a Florida town that is commonly known as "The psychic center of the world." ...

You Hear It First alums and Woodie Award winners Plain White T's have set aside a chunk of 2007 for touring. The gang will head out for a March 4 gig in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and follow through until a May 2 concert in Chicago. ... Another band of up-and-comers, Mewithoutyou, will hit the road for a co-headlining jaunt with Sparta on February 22 in Omaha, Nebraska. That 22-date trek ends March 19 in St. Louis. ... In more tour news, Badly Drawn Boy has sketched out a North American run that will see him hitting Philadelphia March 3 and wind down in Vancouver, British Columbia, on March 27. ... And finally, the reunited Lemonheads will check in again with another leg come early '07. Evan Dando and company will hit Carrboro, North Carolina, on January 25 and conclude the tour in Hoboken, New Jersey, on February 24. ...

It was cool while it lasted. On Monday, members of the Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, the Doors and Santana sued the owner of Wolfgang's Vault, which has been offering streams of hundreds of rare concert recordings from major rock stars on its Web site. According to Reuters, the bands are claiming the site was illegally offering the recordings by artists ranging from A Flock of Seagulls to Bob Marley, the Clash, the Who and Bob Dylan — some of the thousands it acquired from the vault of late concert promoter Bill Graham — in order to stimulate sales of its concert T-shirts, photos and vintage posters. The suit was filed against Vault owner William Sagan, who bought Graham's assets for $5 million three years ago. ... In related news, the Dead and Doors will receive lifetime-achievement Grammys prior to the awards show on February 11, AP reports. Folk icon Joan Baez, jazz great Ornette Coleman, opera singer Maria Callas, soul stalwarts Booker T. and the MG's and departed country hero Bob Willis will also receive the honor. ...

Stacie Orrico has finished the video for her new single, "I'm Not Missing You." The song is featured on Beautiful Awakenings, an album she co-wrote many songs to that is due January 16. Orrico's self-titled album, which earned her a Grammy nomination, came out in 2003. ... Doing a sitcom for VH1 in which she played herself apparently wasn't enough reliving for Tori Spelling.The former "Beverly Hills 90210" starlet is writing a memoir as well, in which she'll discuss her childhood privileges, tabloid misperceptions, success and regrets in a humorous and self-deprecating way. The yet-untitled book is due for publication in spring 2008 by Simon Spotlight. ...

Legendary soul label Stax is relaunching in 2007 to mark the golden anniversary of its 1957 formation. The recording home of such R&B luminaries as Otis Redding, Sam and Dave and Isaac Hayes plans to release 20 CDs and DVDs in the new year, including new music from Hayes and Angie Stone. ... A warrant was issued by immigration officials Monday for Yoko Ono's driver, Koral Karsan — who was arrested last week and charged with attempted grand larceny after he allegedly threatened to kill Ono and her son Sean Lennon and release personal audio recordings unless he was paid $2 million. According to AP, immigration officials issued the warrant to determine if the native of Turkey is in the U.S. legally. ... Joseph Barbera, an animator who co-created dozens of cartoon series — including "The Flintstones," "Tom and Jerry," "Yogi Bear" and "Scooby Doo" — with creative partner William Hanna, died Monday in Los Angeles of natural causes. He was 95.

12.18.2006

Justin Timberlake will perform with an unsigned artist at the Grammy Awards via a new contest put on by Yahoo! Music and the Recording Academy. My Grammy Moment will allow fans to vote for their favorite unsigned act at Yahoo! Music, and the three finalists will also be able to participate in a variety of music-education initiatives put on by the Recording Academy. ...

Even without a new album out, Britney Spears is #1. But the chart the singer is topping is probably not one she was hoping for. ViralVideoChart.com has released a list of the top viral videos of the year, and Spears has locked up the top two spots. A clip of her burping and babbling about time travel was seen more than 3 million times, followed by the infamous footage of soon-to-be ex-husband Kevin Federline apparently getting the news of his impending divorce via text message, which clocked 2 million hits. The Spears and Federline clips were followed by comedian Michael Richards' racist stage rant and footage of Lindsay Lohan dissing Paris Hilton. To make matters worse, Spears also earned the mantle as 2006's worst celebrity dog owner, according to a poll of dog-magazine readers. "She once had three Chihuahuas ... and never left home without at least one of them on her arm," Hilary O'Hagan, editor of The New York Dog and The Hollywood Dog said in a statement The Associated Press. "As soon as she met K-Fed and had kids, [the dogs] disappeared." ...

Ex-Guns N' Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin joined the band for five songs during its Sunday gig in Los Angeles, Reuters reports. Stradlin — who left the fold 15 years ago but has made sporadic appearances at GN'R reunion shows — played and sang harmonies to "Paradise City," "Patience," "Nightrain," "Used to Love Her" and "Think About You." ... Pay no mind to the speculation that Korn's days may be numbered. Nothing could be further from the truth, frontman Jonathan Davis wrote in a blog post. Since the announcement last week that drummer David Silveria was "taking a break" from Korn, fans have been wondering if they should be worried about the band's future. "He really needed to take a break," Davis wrote. "He was very burnt out. He will not be on this record [we're working on at the moment] or tour, but will be back for the next one, if ready. Until then, we will have a fill-in drummer. We are NOT breaking up, this is not the last album. Everything is fine, this is only temporary." ...

By now, Michael Jackson fans should know to always make backup plans. After promising to appear at an expensive Christmas party for fans on Tuesday in Tokyo, Jackson has postponed the event until next year so he can add another date to the meet-and-greet, according to a Reuters report. The party for 1,600 fans that was to include dancers, a band and gospel singers will now take place on March 8 and offer more tickets at the top prices. Platinum ticket holders were promised a chance to meet Jackson and take a photo with him for a mere $3,428 each. Buyer beware — Jackson will not perform at the show but will watch it from a VIP box and make brief remarks. The second-day event will give fans a chance to see a show featuring dancers performing Jackson's hits as he looks on from the VIP area. ...

J Dilla's Ruff Draft album is being re-released as a two-CD set in March. Bonus vocal tracks, interludes and instrumentals will be included. ... The singers behind the Kidz Bop albums are going on tour in the spring in conjunction with volume 11, due February 20. The group recently debuted on QVC. ... Whitney Houston, her mother, Cissy Houston, and cousin Dionne Warwick have recorded a song together for the first time. Aptly titled "Family First," the song will be featured on the soundtrack to "Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls," due January 9. The CD will also feature songs from Beyoncé, R. Kelly and a collaboration between Anthony Hamilton, Jaheim and Musiq. The movie opens February 14. ...

The Arctic Monkeys have announced a huge show to celebrate the release of their second album in the spring. The 50,000-capacity gig — which they've promised will feature their longest set to date — will take place July 28 at the Lancashire County Cricket Ground in Manchester, England. The show will include yet-unannounced support bands chosen from among the group's favorite acts, according to an announcement on its Web site. ... The Kaiser Chiefs are launching a North American tour April 13 in New York. The tour, sponsored by the New Musical Express, currently includes stops in Toronto, Chicago and San Francisco, with more to be announced in January. ...

Pete Townshend will be the keynote speaker at next year's South by Southwest Music and Media Conference. The Who guitarist will give his keynote address on March 14 and perform with artist Rachel Fuller and other special guests the following day. ... The first U.S. performance by Yusuf — a.k.a. Yusuf Islam, a.k.a. Cat Stevens — will be broadcast Thursday. Recorded in New York on November 19 to an invite-only crowd, the intimate gig will air at 11:15 a.m. PT on Santa Monica, California's NPR affiliate, KCRW. ...

The reunited Glassjaw are offering fans a chance to become the band's next ex-member. The winner will be made an official member of the band, get kicked out, then will be listed as an ex-member on the band's Web site and even receive a phone call from an actual former member of Glassjaw. More information on the contest can be found at the band's MySpace page. ... Pastor Troy was arrested Friday morning in Atlanta for an alleged parole violation following an interview on the city's Hot 107.9 radio station, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. The rapper, who was on probation for driving offenses, was arrested after a tipster called the authorities to report that he was at the studio. Officers took Troy into custody after confirming a warrant for unspecified probation violations.

• Lindsay Lohan
• *NSYNC
• Mastodon
• Slayer
• Lamb of God

Ol' Dirty Bastard (file)
Photo: Elektra

The family of Russell Jones, a.k.a. Ol' Dirty Bastard, has settled on the St. James Presbyterian Church in New York's Harlem neighborhood as the site for the public viewing of the deceased MC, which will take place Wednesday from 3 to 8 p.m. Fans who want to pay their last respects can find the church at 409 St. Nicholas Ave. The funeral is Thursday; the family has asked that the location remain private. ...

R. Kelly has another sex-tape scandal on his hands — but this time, he's not the one charged in the court case that's resulted. Instead, a Chicago man named Derrick Mosley, who claims that he used to work for Kelly, was arrested for extortion, when he allegedly tried to get $20,000 from a professional athlete's agent after claiming he possessed videotapes of the athlete's wife having sex with a musician. Prosecutors didn't reveal the name of the athlete or musician. Kelly's team was quick to respond to the allegations, saying that they could neither confirm nor deny that the man on the tape is Kelly, and noting that the tape depicts consenting adults. Mosley's bail hearing has been set for Thursday. ...

Clay Aiken isn't just a pop star anymore — he's now also an ambassador. The "American Idol" runner-up was appointed National Ambassador for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, the group that helps ensure all children are given the opportunity for a decent education. The group felt Aiken was a good fit, as the singer had planned to pursue a career in special education to work with disabled individuals before he became a pop sensation. "I hope that as an ambassador I can encourage people to join UNICEF's mission to make education a reality for children throughout the world," Aiken said in a statement. ... JoJo, Ruben Studdard, LeAnn Rimes and Vanessa Williams are helping President Bush get into the Christmas spirit this year by performing for him and other government VIPs at the TNT 23rd annual Christmas in Washington Concert. The event, hosted by Dr. Phil and his wife, Robin, will benefit the National Children's Medical Center and will be taped at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., to air on TNT December 15 at 8 p.m. ET. ...

In addition to his hosting duties at the second annual Spike TV Video Game Awards, Snoop Dogg will be performing with the remaining members of the Doors for a rendition of the band's classic track "Riders on the Storm." Somewhat more conventional performances will be provided by Sum 41 and Ludacris. The list of nominees for the show was topped by "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas," "Halo 2" and "Half-Life 2," which took five nods each. The show will be broadcast live from Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, on December 14 at 9 p.m. ET. ... David Lee Roth has gone from "Runnin' With the Devil" to ridin' with the paramedics. The former Van Halen frontman has been training to be a paramedic for a few weeks, riding several nights a week with a New York ambulance crew, according to The Associated Press. He has reportedly been on more than 200 rides and has yet to be recognized, and a few weeks ago he saved a heart attack victim in the Bronx by using a defibrillator on her. ...

Two decades after founding Def Jam Recordings, Russell Simmons is getting back into the label game with his new Russell Simmons Music Group imprint. The hip-hop mogul is looking to partner with one of the major labels, according to The New York Times. ... Xzibit and New York Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey will share the cover of "NFL Street 2." Due December 26, the EA Sports Big title marks the first time an EA Sports game has featured a music artist on its cover. ...

A firsthand account of one of Kurt Cobain's LSD trips is headed for the auction block. A note the late Nirvana frontman faxed to wife Courtney Love, titled "Courtney Love Breakfast Fax," during the band's 1991 U.K. tour details Cobain's exploits while on the hallucinogenic drug. The original document, which was given to a hotel clerk in Sheffield, England, as a souvenir, is expected to fetch between $12,000 and $14,000. ... The fifth annual Take Action! Tour is set to begin February 2 in Washington, D.C., with Sugarcult, Head Automatica, the Early November and Hawthorne Heights already on board. The tour, like last month's Take Action Vol. 4 benefit album, which features cuts from Taking Back Sunday, NOFX and Coheed and Cambria, raises money for the National Hopeline Network, a suicide prevention and crisis hotline. ...

Italian goth-rockers Lacuna Coil have begun work on the follow-up to their 2002 album, Comalies. On its Web site, the band writes, "Our producer Waldemar Sorychta came to visit us in Milan and we worked together for a short pre-production. We'll soon be in the studio to record the first of three songs for our new album." ... Sure it's only mid-November, but the party planners at PlayStation DualPlay think it's high time you got your New Year's Eve plans in order. They have enlisted the help of two electronic dance artists to host two simultaneous events that night. Paul van Dyk will hold court over New York's Ikon nightclub while Tiesto will host the festivities at the Hollywood Palladium. Clubgoers will get a chance to play several of PlayStation's new releases, while contest winners chosen prior to the events will receive prizes including all-expenses-paid trips to the event of their choice. ...

11.15.2004

Britney Spears has written a poem about her honeymoon and has posted it on her fan club's Web site. In the nearly blow-by-blow account of her trip to Fiji's Turtle Island, Spears describes her time alone with her new husband, Kevin Federline, as "magical nights" and a "little piece of heaven" but cuts short the details when it gets to the bedroom: "A meal, a shower and some ice cream/ Then I threw my man down, you know what I mean!" ... Lindsay Lohan is giving fans a sneak peek of her upcoming debut album, Speak — the actress/singer has posted four audio clips of songs on her Web site and is taking a poll to see which tracks people prefer. The songs are "Nobody 'Til You," "Symptoms of You," "Over" and the title track. ...

A pretrial hearing was held on Wednesday in Los Angeles for the case in which a photographer is alleging that Christina Aguilera's bodyguard beat him up outside a club last year. "He was punched in the mouth, his mouth was bloodied, he had lacerations inside his mouth," the photographer's lawyer said in court. Aguilera has countersued photographer David Keeler, claiming she had nothing to do with what happened, and her lawyer said a self-defense argument would be explored. The judge encouraged both parties to reach an agreement. ... Aguilera's former tourmate isn't having much luck with paparazzi, either. Two photographers are suing Justin Timberlake and his girlfriend, Cameron Diaz, for assault and battery, claiming the couple attacked them when they tried to photograph the pair on November 6. Saul Lazo and Jose Gonzalez claim in a lawsuit filed Friday that they did nothing to harass the couple and stood more than 10 feet away when Diaz ran at Lazo, hit him, tripped him and took his camera. They say Timberlake screamed at the photographer, who was bleeding and on the ground. In a previous statement, the couple claimed they had been ambushed and acted in self-defense, and that Diaz only took the camera to later identify the photographers. ...

Timberlake's 'NSYNC groupmate Lance Bass makes a cameo appearance on the new show "$25 Million Hoax." For the show's second episode, the singer's job is to help a woman, who is trying to record a Britney Spears song at a recording studio, convince her friends and family that she has won the lottery and has become a spendaholic. The episode airs Monday (November 15) at 10 p.m. on NBC. ... Puddle of Mudd will play a show for some lucky fans at an undisclosed Los Angeles location Tuesday. On its Web site, the band extended an invitation to the first 150 of its "biggest fans" to attend a concert that will be recorded for release on DVD. Winners were supposed to be notified by no later than Monday, so if you haven't heard back yet, you're probably out of luck. ...

Ben Lee has finished his new album, Awake Is the New Sleep. Lee worked with producer Brad Wood (Liz Phair, Smashing Pumpkins) on the album, due out in February. ... Morrissey has announced plans to reissue his latest album, You Are the Quarry, in a special CD/DVD deluxe edition. The CD half of the package now features nine B-sides. The DVD collects all three of the Mozzer's appearances on "The Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn" from earlier this year along with his videos for "Irish Blood, English Heart" and "First of the Gang to Die." The combo is scheduled to hit shelves in December. ... Experimental U.K. group Stereolab are working on a three-disc retrospective of the EPs they've issued in their dozen years together. The as-yet-untitled set is due in April. Meanwhile, the band continues to work on a new series of EPs to follow up Margerine Eclipse, which dropped in January. ...

• R. Kelly
• Clay Aiken
• JoJo
• Snoop Dogg
• The Doors

The Doors' Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger and John Densmore
Photo: Elektra

The family of late Doors frontman Jim Morrison is accusing his former bandmates Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger of tarnishing the reputation of the seminal group by continuing to make new music and tour under the Doors moniker.

A Los Angeles Superior Court complaint filed by George and Clara Morrison as well as the parents of Pamela Courson, Jim Morrison's late common-law wife, and published on the Smoking Gun Web site alleges that Manzarek and Krieger have "maliciously misappropriated" the Doors' name and logo in addition to using Morrison's poetry and photos without permission.

Further, the suit states that Manzarek and Krieger have stolen "valuable property rights" to publicize the new band, which includes new members — such as ex-Cult singer Ian Astbury (also named as a defendant) — who were never associated with the original incarnation of the group. The plaintiffs allege that the new lineup will use these rights to launch "a national and international tour in order to wrongfully enrich themselves."

While no damages are specified in the lawsuit, the Morrisons and Coursons demand that the defendants "disgorge all profits which they have improperly received."

• The Doors

Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore (circa 1970)
Photo: Elektra

John Densmore filed a lawsuit against fellow Doors founders Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek Tuesday (February 4) claiming they are infringing on the band's trademark by using the name for their new supergroup.

The suit, which names Krieger, Manzarek and their bandmates Ian Astbury of the Cult and Stewart Copeland of the Police, also charges breach of contract and unfair competition.

"It's misleading to the fans," Densmore said in a statement. "My partners are free to play under any other name and any other logo, as the members of many bands from the same era are doing. I am seeking only to end the confusion caused by the deceptive ad campaign they are using on this tour in order to preserve the legacy of the Doors, and to set the record straight."

A spokesperson for Krieger and Manzarek said the musicians had no knowledge of Densmore's allegations until Tuesday, and had no comment on the lawsuit.

Densmore's suit, which seeks an injunction and damages, notes that advertisements for Krieger and Manzarek's band have used the original Doors logo, and that Jay Leno introduced the group on "The Tonight Show" as the Doors. It also describes numerous telephone calls the drummer received from family and friends assuming he had reunited with his former guitarist and keyboardist.

According to Densmore, under legal agreement, all business decisions pertaining to the Doors, such as reissues and reunion events, must be made unanimously with the living members of the band and the estate of late frontman Jim Morrison, who died in 1971.

"There has been a drummer playing with that band who is not [Densmore] [that] has minimized and diminished the reputation and stature of [Densmore] by causing people to believe that he was not, and is not, an integral and respected part of the Doors band, or [that he is] one member who easily can be replaced by another," the lawsuit also notes.

Krieger and Manzarek invited Densmore to join a reunited version of the band with Astbury last fall, but he declined due to a brief illness.

Densmore, who is performing at a fundraiser in Santa Monica on Saturday, will, according to his spokesperson, release the debut album from his new group, Tribal Jazz, this summer.

• The Doors

Dee Dee Ramone's guitar and leather jacket
Photo: Hard Rock

The worldwide Hard Rock Cafe chain is opening its vault of music memorabilia to offer the public a glimpse at its treasures, trinkets and trophies. And while ogling such items as Jim Morrison's leather pants and the over-the-top capes worn by Elvis and Elton John, music fans can also brush up on their rock history.

The Hard Rock Vault in Orlando, Florida, will give patrons a peek at its collection, spread out over 17,000 square feet, at a "soft launch" on Monday (December 23), though music fans must wait until January 16 for the official ribbon-cutting, according to a Hard Rock spokesperson. Among the items on display are B.B. King's "Lucille" guitar, Dee Dee Ramone's guitar and black leather jacket, Buddy Holly's signature horn-rimmed glasses, the motorcycle jacket and boots Bruce Springsteen wore on the cover of his Born to Run album, and the two items that started it all for the Hard Rock franchise — the guitars of Eric Clapton and Pete Townshend that hung above the bar in the original Hard Rock Cafe in London (click for photos).

Besides the expected bric-a-brac that is similar to what hangs in Hard Rock Cafes around the world, the Vault offers a virtual time machine called the Total Immersion Tour that allows folks to journey through influential eras like the late '70s punk explosion ("The Back Alley"), the mind-bending '60s ("The Psychedelic Meltdown") and the British Invasion ("The Light and the Dark"), so named for two bands, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, that were almost diametrically opposed in their approach, but together wound up changing the face of music forever.

And what nest of nostalgia would be complete without an homage to Elvis? "The King's Chamber" is the place to go to find items from Presley's early days as a wide-eyed, blues-loving kid from Tupelo, Mississippi, on through his bejeweled reign over the Las Vegas strip.

• The Doors
• Buddy Holly
• B.B. King
• Dee Dee Ramone
• The Ramones

Scott Weiland
Photo: Chapman Baehler

The Doors' recent appearance on "VH1 Storytellers," which paired surviving members Robbie Krieger, Ray Manzarek and John Densmore with singers such as Stone Temple Pilots' Scott Weiland, Creed's Scott Stapp, and Days of the New's Travis Meeks, may yield a collaboration album of new material.

Keyboardist Manzarek said Thursday he is planning to write a new album with guitarist Krieger and "poets" Weiland and the Cult's Ian Astbury.

"I got to know them a little, and they are both good guys," Manzarek said. "They're very intelligent." Manzarek has not written material with either artist yet, but he has acquired lyrics for six possible songs from punk rocker Jim Carroll. "He will be perfect for us," Manzarek said of the New York native, who wrote the autobiographical "The Basketball Diaries." Manzarek added that drummer Densmore would likely work on the album as well.

Weiland and Astbury each contributed to the Doors tribute album Stoned Immaculate, which was released November 14 and also featured Train, Smash Mouth, Creed, Aerosmith, Oleander and Days of the New.

Jane's Addiction/Porno for Pyros frontman Perry Farrell joined Train singer Patrick Monahan and others for the "Storytellers" taping, which marked the first time the remaining Doors had taken the stage together since being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 (see "STP's Weiland Talks Doors Influence, 'Storytellers' ").

Manzarek also plans to release a solo record of piano songs he has written in recent years. "That should take up most of 2001," he said.

• The Cult
• Scott Weiland
• Stone Temple Pilots
• The Doors

With the much-anticipated, long-delayed Doors tribute album, "Stoned Immaculate," finally set for release on November 14, the surviving members of the legendary band recently teamed up with some of its contemporary followers in Hollywood on Tuesday for a taping of an upcoming "VH1 Storytellers."

Stone Temple Pilots' Scott Weiland, Creed's Scott Stapp, and Days Of The New's Travis Meeks were among the artists who joined Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger, keyboardist-vocalist Ray Manzarek, and drummer John Densmore for the show, currently set to air in late November.

Train singer Patrick Monahan, former Jane's Addiction/Porno For Pyros frontman Perry Farrell, and The Cult's Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy also recorded segments for the episode, which marked the first time the remaining Doors had taken the stage together since being inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1993.

For the Doors' "Storytellers," Scott Weiland performed "Break On Through," which the Stone Temple Pilots cut for the "Stoned Immaculate: The Music Of The Doors" album, as well as the fiery anti-Vietnam protest song, "Five To One."

Prior to the taping, Weiland talked with MTV News about the gig and his thoughts about sitting in with the band and singing for the late Lizard King, Jim Morrison.

"I get to sing with the surviving Doors members and perform some songs that they did," Weiland said. "I'm incredibly honored to have that opportunity, because they're one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time, and Jim Morrison was a huge inspiration and influence on me, probably for better and for worse." [RealAudio]

Stone Temple Pilots have just completed filming a video for their next single, "No Way Out" (see "STP, Fans Shoot 'No Way Out' Video") and will head back out on the road for a brief two-week run with Disturbed starting on September 30 in Noblesville, Indiana.

STP and Disturbed are then slated to hook up with Godsmack for the newest edition of MTV's Return Of The Rock Tour, an outing scheduled to launch on October 20 in Pittsburgh (see "STP, Godsmack, Disturbed Line Up Tour").

• The Doors
• Talk Show
• Scott Weiland
• Stone Temple Pilots

Though Fatboy Slim, a.k.a. Norman Cook, just put the finishing touches on his upcoming album, "Halfway Between The Gutter And The Stars," earlier this week, the record's first single, "Sunset (Bird Of Prey)", is already beginning to make the rounds after being leaked on the Web.

For the song, Cook lifted a sample of late Doors frontman Jim Morrison singing a few lines of poetry from his 1978 posthumous album, "An American Prayer," a record that was issued some seven years after Morrison died of heart failure while staying at a Paris hotel.

Cook recently told MTV News that he first heard the vocal bit on a bootleg of outtakes from "American Prayer" a few years ago, then assembled a rough version of "Sunset (Bird Of Prey)" for an album that was circulated among his friends.

"Well, [Morrison is] not the sort of person you can just phone up and ask for a guest appearance," Cook joked.

"[As for] the idea of using that vocal," Cook continued,

Aside from the inherent spookiness of using vocals provided by a dead man, the dark and haunting tone of "Sunset (Bird Of Prey)" is a departure from the lighter, poppier material that characterized Fatboy Slim's previous effort, 1998's "You've Come A Long Way, Baby," a move that Cook noted was both intentional and necessary.

"The goofy side of what I do kind of got a bit carried away on the last album," he said,

Fatboy Slim's "Halfway Between The Gutter And The Stars" is due in record stores on November 7 from Astralwerks.

• The Doors
• Fatboy Slim

Days Of The New has just completed recording a new album in its hometown of Louisville, and the fruits of the band's labors will be in stores in late September if all goes according to plan.

The group's management confirmed to MTV News that the album, like the previous two, will simply be called "Days Of The New," although it will most likely be referred to as "the red album." Days Of The New's 1997 debut boasted an orange cover, while the 1999 follow-up was a "green" release. The band's trademark image of a tree has remained constant.

The record once again has been a near-solo project on the part of DOTN mainstay Travis Meeks, with few of the (many) previous musicians he's worked with remaining on board for the new effort. The band's label, Outpost, has also been phased out, and the group is now signed directly to Interscope.

Sound-wise, DOTN management told MTV News to expect a combination of the hard rocking debut and the more acoustically inclined second LP. One of the thirteen new tracks is close to ten minutes long, the group's manager said, and features a 30-piece symphony orchestra conducted by Meeks.

Meanwhile, Meeks will finally be seeing the release of his cover of The Doors' "The End" on a long-awaited, long-delayed tribute album now scheduled for November 18. The track was recorded with Meeks and the surviving members of the Doors in June of '98 (see "Doors Tribute With Manson, STP, More Due In Summer")

• Days of the New
• The Doors