Death's Chuck Schuldiner
Photo: MTV

The heavy metal community is uniting to help save one of its own. Death metal forefather Chuck Schuldiner, of the band Death, has been battling a malignant brain tumor for two years, and is currently undergoing expensive experimental treatments in an effort to save his life. So, various artists — including Korn, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kid Rock and Slipknot — are auctioning off memorabilia on Allbeat.com to help Schuldiner's family pay his medical bills (see "Benefit Auction To Aid Death Frontman Battling Tumor"). Since the auction began on June 1, Allbeat.com has received total bids of over $1,000. Among the items for which bids have been placed are a Fear Factory Obsolete gold record, which is currently bidding at $600, and various items from Chimaira, including a package of signed merchandise and a working laminate pass, which is going for over $300. On their upcoming tour with Spineshank, Chimaira will encourage fans to place contributions to Schuldiner in a metal box by the band's merchandise booth.

Other items being auctioned to benefit Schuldiner include a Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) CD autographed by Marilyn Manson; autographed photos and rare vinyl LPs from Pantera; autographed photos and CDs from Spineshank and Godhead; hockey jerseys from Godsmack, Kid Rock and Disturbed; baseball jerseys from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Korn; and the microphone Rob Halford used to record Resurrection. Allbeat.com has also received commitments for yet-unnamed contributions from Papa Roach, Crazy Town and Slipknot. "I'm gonna try to find something from my personal collection that maybe nobody can find," Slipknot vocalist Corey Taylor said. "When I found out Chuck had cancer I was freaking. Chuck's music was really important to me growing up. It was really intricate and interesting. So I wanna auction something that's really cool that can hopefully bring in top dollar." The money couldn't come at a better time. Schuldiner's tumor continues to grow and it's pressing against his cerebellum, a condition which is frequently fatal. Last week, surgeons in New York decided it was too risky to operate. Instead, they're treating the tumor with an experimental drug called Zin Cristine, which will hopefully attack the cancer without killing healthy brain cells, Schuldiner's publicist said. If the drug shrinks the tumor enough so that it's no longer pressing against his cerebellum, doctors will later attempt laser surgery. The brain scans Schuldiner had to undergo before doctors would even begin the treatment cost $11,000, and the Zin Cristine sessions are $10,000 each month. Having already paid over $200,000 in the past two years, his family has run out of cash, and since his condition is pre-existing, his medical insurance company refuses to cover him. "There is something terribly wrong when a country as great as America will let their citizens die for lack of insurance or money," Schuldiner's family said in a statement. "[We are] aware every time [he needs treatment] that if we do not get the money, he will die." For now, it looks like Allbeat.com is helping to give Schuldiner a fighting chance. "It's amazing to watch people go beyond the call of duty to help out a fellow musician," co-founder Thom Hazaert said. "I've really put everything else in my life on hold to focus on this, and it's great to see that it's starting to really make an impact."

• Death
• Korn
• Kid Rock
• Slipknot
• Marilyn Manson

Mudvayne's Kud
Photo: Joe Quinto

Mudvayne, Cold and Taproot are among the bands joining previously announced headliner Disturbed on the second stage for Ozzfest 2001.

The Union Underground, Systematic, Drowning Pool, Nonpoint, American Head Charge, Beautiful Creatures, Hatebreed, Black Label Society and Pure Rubbish are also confirmed second-stage acts for the full run of the sixth annual metalfest, according to the tour's publicist. Otep, Godhead and Boy Hits Car will play half the tour.

With the entire second-stage lineup playing before the bands on the primary platform — an Ozzfest first, as previous outings staggered the performances on both stages — the opening artists will pave the way for the main-stage mayhem of Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, Papa Roach, Linkin Park, Crazy Town and festival headliners Black Sabbath (see "Black Sabbath Will Headline Ozzfest").

Also new to Ozzfest, the spokesperson said, are general admission "Pit Passes" offered for a space replacing the first few rows of main-stage seating at selected venues, allowing fans to slam and surf to their hearts' content while their metal gods observe from the stage above.

Before the U.S. jaunt kicks off, many of the festival's bands will get to perfect their acts overseas, where a British version of Ozzfest is scheduled to take place on May 26. Set for the 50,000-capacity Milton Keynes Bowl, the U.K. Ozzfest 2001 will feature Black Sabbath, Slipknot, Tool and Papa Roach, among others.

Ozzfest 2001's partial itinerary, according to a tour spokesperson:

• 6/8 - Chicago, IL @ The World Amphitheater
• 6/9 - East Troy, WI @ Alpine Valley Amphitheater
• 6/16 - Somerset, WI @ Float-Rite Park
• 6/27 - Sacramento, CA @ Sacramento Valley Amphitheater
• 6/30 - San Bernardino, CA @ Blockbuster Pavilion
• 7/20 - Bristow, VA @ Nissan Pavilion
• 7/26 - Cleveland, OH @ Blossom Amphitheater
• 8/5 - Hartford, CT @ Meadows Amphitheater
• 8/11 - Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
• 8/12 - Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center

• Mudvayne
• Taproot
• Cold
• Black Sabbath
• Godhead

Washington, D.C.'s Godhead has signed with Marilyn Manson's new label, Posthuman Records.

Manson posted confirmation of the Godhead signing on his official Web site at www.marilynmanson.net on Thursday; the news appeared on the Godhead site at www.godhead.com the previous day. Manson has previously posted a denial of the deal on his site.

Godhead has released three albums since its inception in 1995, including 1998's "Power Tool Stigmata" on Sol 3 Records. The bandmembers include Jason Miller (vocals, guitar), The Method (programming, bass), Mike Miller (guitar, vocals), and James O'Connor (drums).

A spokesperson for Posthuman told MTV News that the band has just arrived in Los Angeles and plans on heading into the studio with producer Danny Saber (Michael Hutchence, Black Grape) in the immediate future.

Prior to the deal, the group had been intending to call its next album "2000 Years Of Human Error;" the label spokesperson told MTV News that the album is currently untitled.

Posthuman was founded by Manson and his manager Tony Ciulla last late last year in conjunction with the Priority label, which falls under the EMI umbrella (see "Marilyn Manson Backs Off Doors Tribute"). Manson himself remains signed to Trent Reznor's Nothing Records under Interscope/Universal.

• Godhead
• Marilyn Manson

Ozzfest 2001 Tour Kickoff Photos

• Papa Roach
• Black Sabbath
• Ozzy Osbourne
• Slipknot
• Mudvayne