Britney Spears
Photo: Chris Jri Mat/ bauer-griffin.com

Britney Spears took over a paparazzi video camera and made her own statement over the weekend, sarcastically noting that the world is nice, the press always prints the truth and "my management totally knew what they were doing when they sent me to rehab — they're so right!" The singer did two takes of the video, posted on X17Online.com, and noted, "You have to believe everything you read, because you're smart, and I'm stupid." ...

The family of the late Notorious B.I.G. has filed another wrongful-death lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles, according to documents obtained by TMZ.com. The new suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, involves state-related claims and names two ex-police officers as co-defendants. The rapper's mother, two children and widow, singer Faith Evans, are suing for unspecified general, compensatory and punitive damages. ...

Carrie Underwood reigned at the CMT Music Awards Monday night, with her "Before He Cheats" clip nabbing trophies for female video, overall video and also video director of the year. "Thank you, fans," the former "American Idol" winner said in her acceptance speech. "I've had such an amazing, blessed two years. I started out on a fan-based show, and you guys have continued to support me throughout everything." Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts and Sugarland also won big. ... Speaking of Idols, former finalist Elliott Yamin is celebrating the #3 Billboard albums chart debut of his self-titled debut with a 25-city tour across the States. The jaunt will start May 15 in Atlanta and hit New York, Philadelphia and Detroit before winding down June 19 in Tuscon, Arizona. ...

Paris Hilton is scheduled to appear in court May 4 for allegedly driving with a suspended license, The Associated Press reports. Los Angeles city prosecutors contend that the heiress violated her probation and that it should be revoked, which could lead to a sentence of up to 90 days in jail. Hilton was arrested in September for alcohol-related reckless driving and later sentenced to 36 months' probation. ... On Monday, actor Rip Torn pleaded guilty to charges of driving while impaired, AP reports. He agreed to pay $380 and give up his license for 90 days. ... Some prospective jurors in the trial of Phil Spector are already saying that they've made up their minds about the embattled music producer, AP reports. "Honestly, I think he did it," one woman said during jury selection Tuesday in Los Angeles. Roughly 100 people are being questioned for jury service for the trial, and none of the prospective jurors have been removed from the panel yet. ...

Avril Lavigne's The Best Damn Thing dropped Tuesday (April 17), but she's making room for hubby Deryck Whibley and his Sum 41, who just put a new single, "March of the Dogs," on iTunes. The band is gearing up for the release of its fourth studio LP, Underclass Hero, which drops July 24. ... Bobby Valentino previewed songs from his forthcoming album, Special Occasion, Monday night at New York's Canal Room as part of Vibe magazine's VSessions. The Southern singer belted his current hit, "Anonymous." ... BET's "106 & Park" co-host Terrance J was joined by his co-host Rosci, DJ Clue, Joe Budden and members of the New York Giants Monday night to celebrate his birthday at night club Sol in Manhattan, New York. ...

Chuck D, DMC and Large Professor are lighting up Guitar Center's "GC Sessions" educational-forum series for musicians. The three will convene at Manhattan, New York's Guitar Center on April 26 and are slated to perform as well. ... Speaking of artists showing up at unlikely venues, Tapes 'N Tapes, Dinosaur Jr., the Rapture, Klaxons, Rogue Wave and the Ponys are among the acts who are staging free in-store shows at Urban Outfitters outlets as part of the Free Yr Radio Tour to benefit indie radio stations. The tour kicked off last week and will run through July 21. ...

Queens of the Stone Age major-domo Josh Homme gives fellow QOTSA contributor Chris Goss a boost with his Goon Moon project on its Licker's Last Leg, due May 8. The band also features Jeordie White — a.k.a. Nine Inch Nails bassist Twiggy Ramirez — and the disc also guests drummers Josh Freese of NIN and Zach Hill of Hella. ... Fishbone are coming back April 24, after six years of silence, with a new record: Still Stuck in Your Throat. The album was recorded in spurts over 2005 and 2006 with producer David Kahne, who helmed some of their earliest works. Look for the set to include "Jackass Brigade," "We Just Lose Our Minds," "The Devil Made Me Do It" and a cover of Sublime's "Date Rape." ...

Dopesnake, the first album by Hollywood Roses, will feature some of the more impressive guest stars you'll see playing with a Guns N' Roses tribute band. Even more surprising: The band also covers non-GN'R songs on the LP. Ex-GN'R member and current Rockstar Supernova axeman Gilby Clarke joins two members of Cinderella for a cover of Van Halen's "Ice Cream Man"; Rolling Stones's Mick Taylor chimes in on a cover of Thin Lizzy's "Jailbreak"; Pat Travers lends a hand on "Lights Out"; and two more former GN'R members, Tracii Guns and Teddy Zig Zag (a.k.a. Teddy Andreadis), also provide support. The LP, produced by Bradley Cook (Queens of the Stone Age, Yellowcard) drops May 15. ...

Elvis Presley's Graceland is getting a fresh marketing push, Washington Post reports. The "Discover Your Inner Elvis" campaign is the first time the company is advertising nationally on TV, radio, print and beyond. ... On a similar note, a Led Zeppelin-themed roller coaster is planned for the Hard Rock Theme Park, which is under construction in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The looping, 150-foot-tall steel roller coaster, called "Led Zeppelin - The Ride," will feature a high-fidelity onboard audio system that soars to Zep's "Whole Lotta Love." The 140-acre theme park is scheduled to open in spring 2008 and will boast more than 40 attractions for rockers of all ages.

4.16.2007

Madonna arrived in Malawi on Monday (April 16) with David Banda, the Malawian boy she is adopting, to continue her charity work in the country, Reuters reports. The visit is fueling rumors the singer wants to adopt a second child. ...

Jennifer Lopez hopes to tour in support of Como Ama Una Mujer, she told MTV Europe — and reveals that she'll have more music out before the year is up. "I have an [English-language] album that's coming out this year that I'm finishing up right now," she said. "First single in June, so it's a big musical year for me." ... Two Anna Nicole Smith diaries up for auction over the weekend failed to sell, ABC News reports. They're now available for a minimum big of $25,000 apiece at Dallas' Heritage Auction Galleries. ...

Senator Hillary Clinton isn't about to get embroiled in the Sanjaya Malakar hubbub, The Associated Press reports. When asked about the "American Idol" hopeful on a New Hampshire radio station, the Democratic presidential candidate diplomatically replied, "Well, you know, people can vote for whomever they want. That's true in my election, and it's true on 'American Idol.' " ... Kirsten Dunst, Tobey Maguire and other "Spider-Man 3" castmembers strolled down the red carpet at film's world premiere in Tokyo on Monday, Reuters reports. ...

Lil Jon even represents Atlanta on ice. He's currently blogging about his love for hockey's Atlanta Thrashers at NHL.com, and revealed that while it's his 8-year-old son that actually plays the game, Jon's got his own place on the NHL team. "[Atlanta goalie] Kari Lehtonen actually has my picture on the back of his helmet," Jon wrote in a recent post. "We always go in the locker room to say 'what's up' to him before a game." Jon admits that he hasn't been following the Thrashers' every move this season, but he's tuning back in for the playoffs — and hopes to see the team bring the Stanley Cup to ATL. The Thrashers are currently in the first round of playoffs, down 2-0 in a best-of-seven series. ...

M-1 of Dead Prez appeared on Fox News' "Your World With Neil Cavuto" on Friday afternoon to debate hip-hop's role in the Don Imus scandal. The political-minded MC said drawing a parallel between rap lyrics and the racially insensitive remarks that cost Imus his job is like "comparing apples and oranges." Cavuto countered, "If Imus uses the expression and then you use the expression, you've both said 'ho,' " but M-1 noted that he didn't use the word "ho" in his lyrics. The rapper added that there's "something wrong" with offensive language being used whether it's by Imus or in hip-hop, but asserted that there is a difference between Imus' words and rap lyrics due to the "historical relationship of oppression" between black and white Americans. ...

Barry Gibb, the former Bee Gee who in 2006 bought the Johnny Cash Tennessee house that burned down last week, says he and his wife will rebuild a new home nearby. "Linda and I have decided to build our own home on the higher ground surrounding the Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash home and the original foundations shall be kept intact and preserved for the people of Hendersonville and the people of Nashville," he said in a statement obtained by AP. ... A woman injured in a car crash involving Godsmack frontman Sully Erna has had her condition upgraded to serious, according to North Andover, Massachusetts' Eagle-Tribune. Lindsay Taylor, 25, was in a coma and on life support following Wednesday's collision. Taylor was a backseat passenger in a Toyota Camry that was struck from behind by a Hummer H3 driven by Erna, who was not injured in the accident. The crash remains under investigation by state police, but so far, no citations or charges have been filed against any of the drivers involved. ...

Nickelback have raised almost $400,000 for Amnesty International and International Children's Awareness Canada via their aptly titled new single "If Everyone Cared." ... Ben & Jerry's will be releasing a new ice cream inspired by Queen. Called Bohemian Raspberry, it's the latest in a series of music-themed flavors, including Phish Food and Cherry Garcia. Sales of the ice cream will benefit the Mercury Phoenix Trust, which was established to combat AIDS worldwide. ... DJ Clue, Ray J and Lance Armstrong were among the partygoers who helped Q-Tip celebrate his birthday in New York on Saturday. The surprise party was held at a downtown Manhattan loft. ... Richard Gere is getting some serious flak in India after kissing and hugging Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty at a recent AIDS-awareness event, AP reports. Angry throngs burned effigies of the American actor in New Delhi and Mumbai, while protests broke out elsewhere in the country. ...

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge warned prospective jurors in the trial of Phil Spector on Monday that the proceedings will not be a chance for them to have their "15 minutes of fame," AP reports. The prospective jurors were to be directly questioned by lawyers on Monday afternoon, with a focus on the questionnaire answers they provided when screened a month ago. ... The Village People's policeman is off the hook, AP reports. Victor Willis was arrested last month after his girlfriend accused him of choking and threatening her. Maria Velasquez, a spokeswoman for the San Diego City Attorney's Office, said the case would not be pursued for "evidentiary reasons." ... Don Ho, the man who came to personify Hawaiian music, died on Saturday in Honolulu at age 76. Ho, best known for his kitsch classic "Tiny Bubbles," with which he opened and closed each show, died as a result of heart failure, according to The New York Times. Ho was a tourist staple on Waikiki at the Ohana Waikiki Beachcomber hotel for more than 40 years, performing his signature song and telling jokes and hosting his own ABC variety series, "The Don Ho Show," from 1976-77. His daughter, Hoku, who released her own hit album in 2000, was often featured in his live show.

• Britney Spears
• Carrie Underwood
• Elliott Yamin
• Sum 41
• Tapes 'N Tapes

"Don't Let Me Get Me," the second video from Pink's Missundaztood, will premiere on February 16. Plans for a spring tour are in the works, according to Pink's spokesperson. ... Adema were forced to drop off the Projekt: Revolution bill for at least three shows following an unspecified family emergency. Monday night's show in Lowell, Massachusetts, featured only Cypress Hill, Linkin Park and DJ Z-Trip, and the lineup will be the same for Tuesday (February 12)'s gig in Fairfax, Virginia, and Wednesday's performance in Philadelphia. ...

U2 won Major Tour of the Year and Most Creative Stage Production in the Pollstar Concert Industry Awards, which were presented February 9 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. Other winners included Alicia Keys (Best New Artist Tour), George, Washington's the Gorge (Best Major Outdoor Concert Venue), Los Angeles' Greek Theatre (Red Rocks Award for Best Small Outdoor Venue), Dallas' American Airlines Center (Best New Major Concert Venue), Los Angeles' Staples Center (Arena of the Year) and Las Vegas' the Joint (Nightclub Venue of the Year). ... Our Lady Peace lead the list of nominees for this year's Juno Awards, the Canadian equivalent to the Grammys, with five nominations, followed by Nickelback and Leonard Cohen with four and Sum41 with three. Nickelback, Sum41, Barenaked Ladies, Alanis Morissette and Nelly Furtado will be among the performers at the Juno Awards ceremony April 14 in St. John's, Newfoundland. ...

N.E.R.D., the hip-hop group comprising superproducers the Neptunes and rapper Shay, put a modern-day funk spin on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in the Hype Williams-directed video for their next single, "Rock Star." The trio's debut album, In Search Of ... is due March 12. ... Speaking of Hype Williams, the director will release "The Hype Williams Video Collection" on VHS and DVD on April 30. The collection features 10 of Williams' vintage clips for the likes of Wu-Tang Clan, Craig Mack, LL Cool J, Ja Rule, Jay-Z and Nas, with the DVD boasting bonus features such as running commentary by Williams, a behind-the-scenes glimpse at a shoot and interviews. ... Donnie Wahlberg, the ruffneck member of late-'80s boy band extraordinaire New Kids on the Block, may get another chance to work his acting chops on the small screen. Having surprised critics with subtle turns in films such as "The Sixth Sense" and "Ransom" and HBO's "Band of Brothers," rapper-turned-actor "Marky" Mark's big bro has been cast as a detective in the pilot for the NBC cop drama "Boomtown," according to The Hollywood Reporter. ...

Sting's 2002 Rainforest Benefit Concert will take place at New York's Carnegie Hall on April 13, with a lineup to be announced in the coming weeks. Ticket prices range from $150 for a single rear balcony seat to $50,000, which covers a private first tier box that seats 16, two backstage passes, two reserved tables at the party, acknowledgement in the evening's program, Rainforest Foundation membership, and 16 concert mementos. ... Mick Jagger recently shot the video for "Visions of Paradise," the second single from his album, Goddess in the Doorway, with director Dave Meyers (Janet Jackson, Dave Matthews Band). Actress Jennifer Jimenez ("Blow") stars. ... Bonnie Raitt will launch a three-month tour on March 30 in Madison, Wisconsin, to promote her upcoming 16th album, Silver Lining, due April 9. She will perform her latest single, "I Can't Help You Now," on "The Late Show With David Letterman" on April 24. ...

02.11.02

Judging by the title of Korn's long-awaited fifth album, the follow-up to 1999's Issues will be positively peerless: Untouchables, produced by Michael Beinhorn (Aerosmith, Marilyn Manson), is scheduled for release May 14, their publicist said. Korn are rehearsing for a South American tour that begins March 14 in Venezuela, and North American dates are expected soon. ... While their Latin Grammy Awards performance was canceled (along with the ceremony itself) in the wake of September 11, Destiny's Child will get to perform with singer/guitarist Alejandro Sanz after all — at the 44th annual Grammy Awards on February 27. Train and Alan Jackson were also added to the event as performers, while Kid Rock, the Dixie Chicks and comedic actors Kevin James ("The King of Queens") and Ray Romano ("Everybody Loves Raymond") will present awards. ... Neither Destiny's Child nor Dave Matthews Band will be going home empty-handed come Grammy time, as Rock the Vote will honor the bootylicious trio and the huggable jam band with this year's Patrick Lippert Award for their activism and efforts to educate young people about political issues. The Goo Goo Dolls, Glenn Lewis and Nelly Furtado will perform at the ceremony, which will be co-hosted by Beyoncé Knowles' lil' sis Solange and will take place the day before the Grammys (February 26) in Los Angeles. ...

Jamie Foxx will host LIFEbeat's UrbanAID 2 charity concert, featuring previously announced acts P. Diddy and the show's headliners, Jay-Z and R. Kelly. The April 9 event is focused on raising awareness of HIV prevention. ... Title TK, the Breeders' first album since 1993's Last Splash, will hit stores May 21. Sisters Kim and Kelley Deal and their new band, currently in the midst of a club tour, will launch another outing in the summer, according to Elektra Records. ... the Who have lined up 18 dates in the U.S., kicking off June 28 in Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Cafe and winding up August 31 in Wantagh, New York, at the Jones Beach Amphitheatre. The seasoned survivors will hit Boston, Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago and more along the way. ... Before they tour Mexico, Argentinean fusion-rock collective Los Fabulosos Cadillacs will play a one-off U.S. show at Los Angeles' Universal Amphitheatre on April 4. ...

Henry Rollins, X frontwoman Exene Cervenka and MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer will share the bill next month in Los Angeles to benefit three young Arkansas men convicted of murder. The show, set for the Troubadour on March 8, will benefit the legal defense fund of the West Memphis Three, whose case was chronicled in the 1996 documentary "Paradise Lost." ... Funky franchise Fishbone and their Familyhood Nexperience collective will release The Friendliest Psychosis of All, the follow-up to 2000's Psychotic Friends Nuttwerx, on February 19, the same day they play the Winter Olympics Ice Village in Salt Lake City. The EP features contributions from the Fishbone fellas Norwood Fisher, Walt Kibby II and Angelo Moore as well as Primus bassist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry LaLonde and drummer Brian "Brain" Mantia; peculiar GN'R guitarist Buckethead; and funk godfather George Clinton. ... Rhett Miller, frontman for the alt-country outfit Old 97's, has announced plans to begin recording his first solo album. ...

That '80s show: Depeche Mode have announced a "One Night in Paris, the Exciter Tour" pay-per-view concert debuting Friday, March 8 on iN, TVN, Echostar and DirecTV. Directed by Grammy-nominated photographer/filmmaker Anton Corbijn, the show was recorded at the Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy during the band's 2001 Exciter world tour. ... On Wednesday, an L.A. Superior Court judge ruled that ex-Ratt vocalist Stephen Pearcy must stop using the band's name and logo and also ruled that Pearcy must hand over all the money he earned while billing himself as "Stephen Pearcy and Ratt" to his former bandmates, who have also been touring as Ratt. Ironically, the decision stemmed from a suit Pearcy filed last year to gain sole ownership of the name; the judge determined that Pearcy's claims against his former comrades were without merit because he vacated the band of his own accord, leaving guitarist Warren DeMartini and drummer Bobby Blotzer as the sole holders of the Ratt trademark.

• P!nk
• Adema
• Cypress Hill
• Linkin Park
• U2

Fishbone frontman Angelo Moore and bassist Norwood Fisher will be putting themselves back in the public eye in a big way with a high-profile summer tour in support of the band's new album, and now a TV commercial with Priceline frontman (and former starship captain) William Shatner.

The veteran funk-rockers appear with several other musicians in the spot, including Louise Post of Veruca Salt, Ben Folds and Lisa Loeb.

During the taping of the spot, Fisher and Loeb performed covers for the cast and crew between takes.

"Hopefully, me and Lisa Loeb will continue to pursue our duets record concept, to be produced by Dweezil Zappa," Fisher joked.

Look for the spot to start airing in the coming weeks.

The news of the commercial comes as Fishbone is preparing to hit the road with The Red Hot Chili Peppers/Stone Temple Pilots tour (see "Fishbone To Return With 'Psychotic Friends Nuttwerx'") and is set for the opening slot on the The Red Hot Chili Peppers/Stone Temple Pilots tour (see "Chili Peppers Add Tour Dates With STP, Fishbone"). The outing is slated to kick off on June 30 in Saratoga, New York.

• Fishbone

The Red Hot Chili Peppers, who are currently gearing up for another round of tour dates with the Foo Fighters, have just announced an additional late-summer, early-fall run with Stone Temple Pilots beginning July 30 in Saratoga, New York.

The Chili Peppers and STP have tapped their good friends in the funk and soul outfit Fishbone to open the initial leg of the tour, which runs from July 30 until an August 19 show at the Molson Center in Montreal.

The second leg of the RHCP-STP outing kicks off on September 1 in Irvine, California with an as-yet-undetermined opening act taking over for Fishbone, and is currently scheduled through a September 22 concert in Seattle.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers, whose "Otherside" single continues to dominate rock and alternative radio, already have a full summer tour slate in place with the Foo Fighters and such openers as Bicycle Thief, Kool Keith, and Blonde Redhead that doesn't wind down until July 17.

Dates for the Red Hot Chili Peppers-Stone Temple Pilots tour:

• 7/30 - Saratoga, NY @ SPAC
• 7/31 - Holmdel, PA @ PNC Arts Center
• 8/2 - Tinley Park, IL @ The World
• 8/3 - Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Amphitheater
• 8/5 - Latrobe, PA @ Rolling Rock Festival (w/ Filter, Moby, and Marcy Playground)
• 8/7 - Detroit, MI @ Pine Knob
• 8/10 - Charleston, WV @ Charleston Civic Center
• 8/12 - Wantagh, NY @ Jones Beach
• 8/15 - Buffalo, NY @ Darien Lake
• 8/16 - Toronto, ON @ Molson Amphitheater
• 8/18 - Quebec City, QC @ Colisee De Quebec
• 8/19 - Montreal, QC @ Molson Center
• 9/1 - Irvine, CA @ Irvine Meadows
• 9/4 - TBD
• 9/9 - Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheater
• 9/10 - Sacramento, CA @ Sacramento Valley Amphitheater
• 9/12 - Fresno, CA @ Selland Arena
• 9/13 - TBD
• 9/15 - Casper, WY @ Casper Events Center
• 9/16 - Denver, CO @ Fiddlers Green Amphitheater
• 9/18 - Boise, ID @ Boise Center
• 9/19 - Pullman, WA @ Beasley Coliseum
• 9/21 - Portland, OR @ Memorial Coliseum
• 9/22 - Seattle, WA @ Key Arena

For interviews with these acts, check out the MTV Online features "Stone Temple Pilots: One Day At A Time" and "Red Hot Chili Peppers/Foo Fighters: On Tour."

• Fishbone
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Talk Show
• Scott Weiland
• Stone Temple Pilots

It's been three years since L.A.-based funk collective Fishbone released its last album, 1996's "Chim Chim's Badass Revenge." Next year, though, the band is set to return to record stores in a big way, with a lot of help from its friends.

• Fishbone

After some last minute shuffling, the 1999 Watcha Tour has announced a final lineup for its inaugural outing, which is slated to kick off on August 1 in Miami.

• 8/1 - Miami, FL @ Pompano Amphitheater
• 8/2 - Orlando, FL @ Central Florida Fairgrounds
• 8/3 - Atlanta, GA @ International Ballroom
• 8/5 - San Antonio, TX @ Sunken Garden Amphitheater
• 8/6 - Dallas, TX @ Bronco Bowl
• 8/7 - South Padre Island, TX @ Charlie's
• 8/8 - Houston, TX @ Woodlands Pavilion
• 8/10 - El Paso, TX @ UTEP
• 8/12 - Phoenix, AZ @ Celebrity
• 8/13 - San Diego, CA Coors Amphitheater
• 8/14 - San Francisco, CA @ Santa Jose Fairgrounds
• 8/15 - Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theater

• Fishbone
• Puya

L.A.-based funk-punk collective Fishbone is gathering some famous names to guest on its new album, "Fishbone and Friends," and if all goes according to plan, those friends will include No Doubt's Gwen Stefani, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Busta Rhymes, Primus, Perry Farrell, and (of all people) Donny and Marie Osmond.

• Busta Rhymes
• Fishbone
• No Doubt
• Donny Osmond
• Primus