Fenix TX
Photo: MCA

This week, a cease-and-desist letter from Prince's attorneys was delivered to the management offices of the reunited, Houston-based punk outfit Fenix TX. The letter may transform the band's forthcoming live album, Purple Reign in Blood, into an unintended collectors' item.

It seems the singer is not pleased with the band's use of the androgynous and unpronounceable glyph that has long served as the artist's symbol — and, for a time, his name. He may be even less pleased that the symbol has been merged with the pentagram-like Slayer logo that graced the cover of the metal band's classic 1986 LP, Reign in Blood. Either way, Fenix TX need to come up with an alternate cover for Purple Reign in Blood.

Frontman Willie Salazar said the letter arrived after 30,000 copies of the album were pressed, printed and loaded onto trucks that then began lumbering toward the nation's music retailers. Thus, when Purple Reign in Blood hits stores on November 8, it will still feature the artwork that peeved Prince's camp.

"We're trying to play nice, and it was just our way of trying to let people in on what kind of music we like, and the range between Prince and Slayer," Salazar said. "We were surprised — but then again, we're no strangers to cease-and-desist orders."

Salazar is referring to the band's original name, Riverfenix. Although actor River Phoenix had died two years before the band formed in 1995, that didn't stop Phoenix's estate from threatening legal action against the group.

Fenix TX had split up back in 2002, but regrouped this summer for a single gig, which they'd planned on recording and releasing in the form of Purple Reign. That one show rekindled the band's desire to play together, and led to the band's current reunion tour, which runs through December 4 in Chicago. Salazar said the band is even open to the idea of recording and releasing a new studio album, which could surface in 2006. But first, they've got a legal matter to address.

"It kind of made perfect sense to us to use the symbol, and it was almost like we were just letting him know we really liked his music," the singer said with seeming innocence. "He's a musician we grew up with."

A representative for Prince had no comment on the matter.

• Prince
• Fenix TX

Slipknot
Photo: Roadrunner

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines — Staind, Slipknot, Tantric, Buckcherry and others are contributing tracks to NASCAR's Crank It Up compilation.

Due to hit stores in June, the collection is "designed and built for racing fans," according to a label statement, and includes a plethora of rock outfits playing covers of high-speed, rubber-burning favorites.

Recently dissolved industrial rockers Fear Factory weigh in with their reworking of gearhead Gary Numan's classic '80s ode to four-wheelers, "Cars." Les Claypool offers up the song most likely to be played on an upright bass: the rockabilly classic "Hot Rod Lincoln." Meanwhile, "Lit Up" Los Angeles rockers Buckcherry will take on Willie Nelson's cross-country staple "On the Road Again."

Slipknot have also been slated for the album, though their cover choice has yet to be announced. Staind will contribute a previously unreleased track for the compilation, adding a taste of something new for all those backseat woofers and tailgate parties.

Among the other songs up for restoration are Tracy Chapman's 1988 hit "Fast Car" (by Darwin's Waiting Room) and Billy Ocean's "Get Outta My Dreams (Get Into My Car)" (by Fenix TX), which you may remember from the '80s Corey Haim/Corey Feldman slapstick first date joint "License to Drive."

Slayer are expected to peel out a cover of Deep Purple's 1972 classic "Highway Star," though their participation has not yet been confirmed.

Additional artists are still being lined up for the project, which will be released by MCA Records in conjunction with NASCAR and Fox TV.

Tracks confirmed thus far for Crank It Up, according to the label:

• Nonpoint - "Circles"
• Darwin's Waiting Room - "Fast Car"
• Fenix TX - "Get Outta My Dreams (Get Into My Car)"
• Tantric - "Cross the Line"
• Buckcherry "On the Road Again"
• (hed) pe - "Crosstown Traffic"
• Gov't Mule - "Drivin' Rain"
• Fear Factory - "Cars"
• Les Claypool - "Hot Rod Lincoln"

• Slipknot
• Staind
• Fenix TX
• Gov't Mule
• Darwin's Waiting Room

Alien Ant Farm
Photo: Eufloria for MTV

Alien Ant Farm, Fenix TX and Glassjaw are among the bands on board for the seventh annual SnoCore festival.

Like last year, SnoCore will once again be split into two factions: SnoCore Rock and SnoCore Icicle Ball, which adopts a more eclectic, avant-garde vibe.

AAF and the like-minded rock lineup will kick things off February 15 in Providence, Rhode Island, according to the tour's publicist. While 26 cities are confirmed thus far — through March 30 in Las Vegas — additions to the trek are expected, as is the announcement of another opening band.

Icicle Ball will begin its cross-country trek February 15 at Los Angeles' Wiltern Theatre, then head east to conclude in Toronto on April 1. The far more diverse jaunt will feature the progressive, saxophone-led Karl Denson's Tiny Universe headlining most dates, with a mixed bag made up of politically minded hip-hoppers Spearhead, dance maven Nikka Costa, funk metal collective Ozomatli, hip-hop duo Blackalicious, improvisational jazzbos Sector 9 and political poet Saul Williams slated for what is expected to be a 40-date run, though just 31 gigs are currently confirmed.

Last year's SnoCore tours featured Fear Factory and Kittie on the Rock bill, while Les Claypool's Frog Brigade led the Icicle Ball charge (see "Dual SnoCore Tours Raging, Jamming Across North America").

Confirmed SnoCore dates, according to the tours' publicist:

SnoCore Rock
• 2/15 - Providence, RI @ Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
• 2/16 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
• 2/17 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
• 2/18 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
• 2/19 - Clifton Park, NY @ Northern Lights
• 2/24 - Hartford, CT @ Webster Theatre
• 2/25 - Rochester, NY @ Water Street Music Hall
• 2/26 - Pittsburgh, PA @ M (formerly Metropol)
• 3/1 - Asbury Park, NJ @ Convention Hall
• 3/2 - New York, NY @ Roseland
• 3/4 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
• 3/5 - Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room
• 3/6 - Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart's
• 3/7 - Detroit, MI @ State Theatre
• 3/8 - Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
• 3/9 - Milwaukee, WI @ Modjeska Theatre
• 3/11 - Minneapolis, MN @ Quest Club
• 3/12 - Iowa City, IA @ IMU Main Lounge
• 3/13 - St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
• 3/19 - Portland, OR @ TBA
• 3/21 - Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theatre
• 3/22 - Chico, CA @ Rose Garden
• 3/25 - Santa Cruz, CA @ Civic Auditorium
• 3/27 - La Jolla, CA @ RIMAC Arena
• 3/28 - Hollywood, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
• 3/30 - Las Vegas, NV @ Desert Breeze Skate Park

  SnoCore Icicle Ball

• 2/15 - Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern Theatre (with Karl Denson, Spearhead, Blackalicious and Saul Williams)
• 2/16 - Mammoth Mountain, CA @ Club Canyon Grand Room at Mammoth Mountain (with Karl Denson, Spearhead, Blackalicious and Saul Williams)
• 2/17 - Santa Cruz, CA @ Civic Auditorium (with Karl Denson, Spearhead, Blackalicious and Saul Williams)
• 2/18 - Arcata, CA @ John Van Duzer Theatre (with Karl Denson, Spearhead, Blackalicious and Saul Williams)
• 2/21 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom (with Karl Denson, Spearhead, Blackalicious and Saul Williams)
• 2/22 - Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre (with Karl Denson, Spearhead, Blackalicious and Saul Williams)
• 2/23 - Whistler, BC @ Conference Centre (with Karl Denson, Spearhead, Blackalicious and Saul Williams)
• 2/24 - Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom (with Karl Denson, Spearhead, Blackalicious and Saul Williams)
• 2/26 - Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theatre (with Karl Denson, Spearhead, Blackalicious and Saul Williams)
• 2/28 - Chico, CA @ Senator Theater (with Karl Denson, Ozomatli, Blackalicious and Saul Williams)
• 3/1 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield (with Karl Denson, Ozomatli, Blackalicious and Saul Williams)
• 3/2 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield (with Karl Denson, Ozomatli, Blackalicious and Saul Williams)
• 3/4 - Park City, UT @ Harry O's (with Karl Denson, Ozomatli, Sector 9 and Blackalicious)
• 3/5 - Boise, ID @ Big Easy (with Karl Denson, Ozomatli, Sector 9 and Blackalicious)
• 3/6 - Missoula, MT @ Wilma Theatre (with Karl Denson, Ozomatli, Sector 9 and Blackalicious)
• 3/8 - Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium (with Karl Denson, Ozomatli, Sector 9 and Blackalicious)
• 3/9 - Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium (with Karl Denson, Ozomatli, Sector 9 and Blackalicious)
• 3/10 - Vail, CO @ Dobson Arena (with Karl Denson, Ozomatli, Sector 9 and Blackalicious)
• 3/11 - Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre (with Karl Denson, Ozomatli and Blackalicious)
• 3/13 - Iowa City, IA @ IMU Main Lounge (with Karl Denson, Nikka Costa, Blackalicious and Saul Williams)
• 3/14 - Minneapolis, MN @ Quest Club (with Karl Denson, Nikka Costa, Blackalicious and Saul Williams)
• 3/15 - Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre (with Karl Denson, Nikka Costa, Blackalicious and Saul Williams)
• 3/16 - Detroit, MI @ State Theatre (with Karl Denson, Nikka Costa, Blackalicious and Saul Williams)
• 3/17 - Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theatre (with Karl Denson, Nikka Costa, Blackalicious and Saul Williams)
• 3/19 - Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart's (with Karl Denson, Nikka Costa, Blackalicious and Saul Williams)
• 3/21 - New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom (with Karl Denson, Nikka Costa, Spearhead and Blackalicious)
• 3/23 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club (with Karl Denson, Nikka Costa, Spearhead and Blackalicious)
• 3/25 - Burlington, VT @ Burlington Memorial Auditorium (with Spearhead, Nikka Costa, Blackalicious and Saul Williams)
• 3/29 - Portland, ME @ State Theatre (with Spearhead, Nikka Costa, Blackalicious and Saul Williams)
• 3/30 - Montreal, QC @ Metropolis (with Spearhead, Nikka Costa, Blackalicious and Saul Williams)
• 4/1 - Toronto, ON @ Kool Haus (with Spearhead, Nikka Costa, Blackalicious and Saul Williams)

• Alien Ant Farm
• Fenix TX
• Nikka Costa
• Glassjaw

P.O.D.'s Marcos and Sonny Sandoval
Photo: Atlantic

On the heels of their hit single "Alive," which has served as an inspirational anthem in recent weeks, San Diego's rap-rockers P.O.D. are hitting the road to support their second major-label album, Satellite.

The headlining trek, titled the Youth of the Nation Tour after a song off the quartet's new album, kicks off October 18 in Phoenix, Arizona, according to P.O.D.'s publicist. Although 22 dates are confirmed at press time, additional shows are expected to be scheduled, extending the jaunt into mid-December.

Satellite debuted at #6 on the Billboard 200 albums chart after its release September 11 and now sits at #8, having sold more than 200,000 copies to date, according to SoundScan. The follow-up single to "Alive" has yet to be chosen, P.O.D'.s publicist said.

Pop-punks Fenix TX and Stockholm's Blindside, whose lead singer Christian Lindskog appears on Satellite's "Anything Right," have been tapped as openers. Fenix TX continue to promote their second album, Lechuza, released in May; while Blindside, also among the spiritual rock set, are touting last year's A Thought Crushed My Mind.

Youth of the Nation Tour dates, according to Atlantic Records:

• 10/18 - Phoenix, AZ @ Web Theatre
• 10/19 - Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
• 10/20 - Magna, UT @ Salt Air Pavilion
• 10/21 - Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
• 10/23 - Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theatre
• 10/24 - Madison, WI @ Dane County Expo Memorial
• 10/26 - Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Theatre
• 10/27 - Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart's
• 10/28 - Detroit, MI @ State Theatre
• 10/29 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Orbit Room
• 10/30 - Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theatre
• 11/1 - Boston, MA @ Avalon
• 11/2 - New York, NY @ Roseland
• 11/3 - Washington, DC @ Nation
• 11/4 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
• 11/6 - Birmingham, AL @ Five Points Music Hall
• 11/11 - Dallas, TX @ Bronco Bowl
• 11/14 - St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Landing
• 11/15 - Boynton Beach, FL @ Orbit
• 11/16 - Jacksonville, FL @ Edge 2000
• 11/19 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Rock Jungle
• 11/26 - St. Paul, MN @ Roy Wilkins Auditorium

For more on P.O.D., check out the MTV News feature "P.O.D.: Warrior Souls".

• P.O.D.
• Fenix TX

American Hi-Fi
Photo: Eufloria

This one time, at band camp, 3 Doors Down shot a video for the song "Be Like That," the first single from the "American Pie 2" soundtrack.

The Mississippi band is scheduled to shoot the clip this week in London, according to its management, and the video is expected to include some members of the "American Pie 2" cast as well as a setting that nods to the recurring "one time, at band camp ..." joke in the original movie.

The "American Pie 2" soundtrack, due July 24, will also include new songs from several other rock acts, according to music supervisor Gary Jones, who put together the soundtrack along with director J.B. Rogers (see "3 Doors Down Get Taste Of 'American Pie'").

American Hi-Fi contributed "Vertigo," Uncle Kracker recorded the uptempo party track "(I'm Gonna) Split This Room in Half" and Alien Ant Farm laid down "Good for a Woman." Green Day contributed the hard-to-find B-side "Scumbag," while Blink-182 lent the album track "Everytime I Look for You." Sum41's pop-punk-meets-hip-hop hit "Fat Lip" is expected to be re-released as the album's second single, Jones said.

The first single, the ballad "Be Like That," was last week's most-added song on numerous radio formats, according to Republic/Universal Records, which is releasing the soundtrack album. "[The soundtrack is] a reflection of where I think music is. It's a mixture of songs that fit the film and giving opportunities to younger bands that I think will be saying something," Jones said. "It's not about getting every great band to turn over their B-sides — this is a thought-out process." The film, which hits theaters August 10, will revisit the lives and relationships of the original movie's characters when they return home for the summer after their first year of college.

"American Pie 2" track listing:

• Blink-182 - "Everytime I Look for You"
• Green Day - "Scumbag"
• Left Front Tire - "Bring You Down"
• American Hi-Fi - "Vertigo"
• Uncle Kracker - "(I'm Gonna) Split This Room in Half"
• 3 Doors Down - "Be Like That"
• Alien Ant Farm - "Good for a Woman"
• Angela Ammons - "Always Getting Over You"
• Jettingham - "Cheating"
• Flying Blind - "She Only Likes Me When I'm High"
• Fenix*TX - "Phoebe Cates"
• Lucia - "I Will"
• Sum41 - "Fat Lip"
• Oleander - "Halo"
• The Exit - "Susan"

• 3 Doors Down
• Sum 41
• Green Day
• Alien Ant Farm
• American Hi-Fi

Guttermouth
Photo: Stephen Swintek

Epitaph Records' fourth annual Punk-O-Rama tour sees headliners Guttermouth pounding the pavement with Fenix TX, U.S. Bombs and the Deviates for six weeks beginning in May.

Dates have only been confirmed for the first leg of the punk junket, which kicks off May 8 in Corpus Christi, Texas, and ends May 29 in Detroit, but additional gigs are expected, according to an Epitaph spokesperson.

Guttermouth's seventh studio album, Covered With Ants, was released April 10 and marks the group's first recording for Epitaph. Nitro, the imprint founded by Offspring frontman Dexter Holland, released previous albums.

Fenix TX will follow last year's eponymous debut with Lechuza, expected May 22, according to their publicist. After the Houston quartet complete the Punk-O-Rama tour, they'll join Rancid and 311 on this year's Vans Warped Tour (see "Warped Tour Adds Rollins Band, Lists Dates, Cities"), which begins June 22 in Phoenix.

U.S. Bombs are touring in support of their fifth full-length album, Back at the Laundromat, and on May 8 the Deviates drop their debut, Time Is the Distance, produced by Pennywise guitarist Fletcher Dragge.

To coincide with the tour, Epitaph will release the Punk-O-Rama 6 compilation on June 5. The 23-track album includes cuts from Epitaph artists including Bad Religion, Rancid and the (International) Noise Conspiracy, as well as previously unreleased tunes from the Descendents, Millencolin, NOFX and Pennywise, whose cover of X's "We're Desperate" features a duet between singer Jim Lindberg and X's Exene Cervenka.

Punk-O-Rama tour dates according to Epitaph:

• 5/8 - Corpus Christi, TX @ Center Theater
• 5/9 - San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
• 5/10 - Dallas, TX @ Galaxy Club
• 5/11 - Austin, TX @ Emo's
• 5/12 - Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald's
• 5/13 - New Orleans, LA @ The Warehouse
• 5/15 - Orlando, FL @ Sapphire Supper Club
• 5/16 - Boynton Beach, FL @ Orbit
• 5/17 - Jacksonville, FL @ Club 5
• 5/18 - St. Petersburg, FL @ State Theater
• 5/19 - Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
• 5/21 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
• 5/22 - Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club
• 5/23 - Norfolk, VA @ Norva
• 5/24 - Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
• 5/25 - New York, NY @ Wetlands
• 5/26 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Laga
• 5/27 - Cleveland, OH @ Agora Ballroom
• 5/29 - Detroit, MI @ St. Andrew's Hall

1. Guttermouth - "Can I Borrow Some Ambition?"
2. Deviates - "Come With Me"
3. NOFX - "Bath of Least Resistance" (previously unreleased)
4. Millencolin - "Blackeye" (previously unreleased)
5. Hot Water Music - "Jack of All Trades"
6. Bouncing Souls - "True Believers"
7. Pennywise - "We're Desperate" (previously unreleased)
8. Osker - "Strangled"
9. Rancid - "It's Quite Alright"
10. Death By Stereo - "Holding 60 Dollars on a Burning Bridge"
11. Dropkick Murphys - "The Gauntlet"
12. Descendents - "Original Me" (previously unreleased)
13. Pulley - "Runaway" (previously unreleased)
14. All - "She Broke My Dick"
15. Raised Fist - "Different But the Same"
16. Downset - "Pure Trauma"
17. Beatsteaks - "Let Me In"
18. Union 13 - "Innocence, Youth, Betrayal & the Awakening"
19. Bad Religion - "I Want to Conquer the World"
20. INC - "Only Lovers Left Alive"
21. Voodoo Glow Skulls - "Say Goodnight"
22. Bombshell Rocks - "Tonight I'm Burning"
23. Business - "Takers & Users"

• Guttermouth
• Fenix TX
• U.S. Bombs
• Deviates

Rancid
Photo: Epitaph

Rancid, Pennywise and Less Than Jake are among the first crop of bands confirmed for this summer's Vans Warped Tour, according to a source close to the annual outing. Other bands scheduled to perform at the 7th annual skate-punk/extreme sports excursion include H20, FenixTX, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, the Vandals Alien Ant Farm, AFI and New Found Glory, according to each group's spokespeople. Though an itinerary for the excursion is far from confirmed, the tour traditionally kicks off in early July.

Last year's outing featured co-headliners Green Day and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones along with Papa Roach, Long Beach Dub Allstars, Snapcase and the Suicide Machines, among others.

• Rancid
• Pennywise
• Fenix TX
• Less Than Jake