Moore & Bode Cigars Inc. filed a suit against Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and his company, Bad Boy Entertainment Inc., earlier this month for alleged "invasion of privacy" and "theft of trade and business secrets." The cigar company claims that in June videographers from Bad Boy filmed the company's employees without permission and that the footage ended up in Diddy and Nelly's video "Shake Ya Tailfeather," thereby giving away the "secret process" in which Moore & Bode rolls its cigars. The suit seeks at least $15,000 in damages. ...

Madonna reportedly wants to have another baby. The 45-year-old pop icon told Britain's The Times newspaper that she'll make a doctor's appointment to get the green light to follow-up Lourdes, 7, and Rocco, 3, with her third child. ... DMX and Fox Searchlight Pictures have agreed on a release date of March 19 for "Never Die Alone." X is also in talks to star in an untitled supernatural-themed flick that begins shooting at the beginning of 2004. ...

Jury selection is still in progress for the C-Murder murder trial in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. Six jurors were chosen Monday, leaving six more and two alternates to be picked. The rapper, whose real name is Corey Miller, is facing second-degree-murder charges for allegedly shooting and killing a 16-year-old during an MC battle. Though the trial has yet to begin, the judge has already shot down one defense motion to keep prosecutors from telling jurors that they could find C-Murder guilty of manslaughter if they find him innocent of murder. Opening arguments are expected to begin Wednesday. ...

Often naked No Doubt drummer Adrian Young will sit behind the kit for British new wave group Bow Wow Wow's set at KROQ's Inland Invasion concert Saturday in Devore, California. Other artists on the bill include '80s faves the Cure, Duran Duran and Echo and the Bunnymen, alongside contemporary acts Hot Hot Heat, Dashboard Confessional and Interpol. ... Dirt McGirt (formerly Ol' Dirty Bastard) and Wu-Tang Clan mastermind RZA are shooting a video this week for "We Pop," the first single from the latter's Birth of a Prince, due October 7. RZA, who was recently cast in "Coffee and Cigarettes," the latest film from Jim Jarmusch ("Ghost Dog"), is planning a fall tour with Ghostface Killah. ...

Rah Digga has a release date of December 9 for her LP Everything Has a Story. The first official single will be the remix to her "Party and Bullsh-- 2003," featuring Eve and Missy Elliott. Snoop Dogg is also scheduled to make an appearance on the album. ... Elephant Man's Good 2 Go, featuring the single "Pon De River," has been pushed back to December 2. Mariah Carey, Da Brat and Lil Jon appear on the album. ...

Matchbox Twenty will launch a 31-date tour of North America on September 24 in Tallahassee, Florida. The final show is December 4 in Estero, Florida. ... The Very Best of Sheryl Crow, due November 4, will feature the new song "The Light in Your Eyes," along with a cover of Cat Stevens' "The First Cut Is the Deepest." Wayne Isham ('NSYNC) is directing a video for the latter. ...

After three years of rotating bass players, Gov't Mule have named Andy Hess (the Black Crowes, Joan Osborne) as the replacement for Allen Woody, who died in 2000. The band will launch the Rebirth of the Mule Tour with opener Chris Robinson October 10 in Philadelphia to promote The Deepest End, due October 7. The outing wraps November 16 in Denver. ... Myk Taylor, a former guitarist for influential British '80s metal band Angel Witch, died from leukemia on August 21. He was 41. Taylor, whose brother-in-law was frontman Kevin Heybourne, last played on the band's 2000 studio album, Resurrection. ...

Gerry Marsden , the lead singer for Merseybeat band Gerry and the Pacemakers, had triple-bypass surgery on Monday in Liverpool, England. Marsden discovered he needed the operation after a routine checkup proved his arteries were blocked. He is currently in recovery and has been removed from intensive care. ... Fuel will play five mini-shows at Best Buys around the country to promote Natural Selection, due September 23. Cities include Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (September 23), Mount Laurel, New Jersey (24), Pittsburgh (25), Cleveland (26) and Downers Grove, Illinois (27). When purchased at the stores, the album will include a bonus CD featuring the unreleased song "On the Road Again." ...

The Chemical Brothers will play four U.S. shows in support of Singles 93-03, due September 30 on CD and DVD. Cities includes Los Angeles (October 18), San Francisco (21), Chicago (22) and New York (24), at the reopening of the club CentroFly. The duo just shot a video for "The Golden Path," a new track featuring Flaming Lips singer Wayne Coyne. ... An expanded edition of the They Might Be Giants documentary "Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns)" is due November 18 on DVD. A collection of videos will be among the more than five hours of special footage. ...

FreshTracksMusic, a download hub for up-and-coming bands, will send a copy of Dave Matthews' new Some Devil LP to music fans who sign up for the $2 a month subscription. ... Mötley Crüe's 20th Century Masters/The Millennium Collection double-disc set will come out October 7. The hits compilation features 12 songs spanning the group's career, including "Shout at the Devil," "Girls, Girls, Girls" and "Home Sweet Home." ...

X-ecutioners turntablist Roc Raida will release the new disc Champion Sounds in November. Co-X-ecutioner Rob Swift guests on several tracks. Raida will tour this winter to support the release. ... U.K. garage hip-hop artist the Streets (a.k.a. Mike Skinner) will issue All Got Our Runnins, a mini-album of previously unreleased material and remixes, on October 14. The disc will be available exclusively online and will feature "Streets Score (instrumental)," "Give Me Back My Lighter," "All Got Our Runnins" and "Let's Push Things Forward (The Streets Remix feat. Roll Deep)," among other tracks. ...

9.15.2003

Jennifer Lopez's Nuyorican Productions and HBO will join forces on a documentary about Los Quinces, a traditional ball held to celebrate a Cuban girl's 15th birthday. "We are committed to producing unique and provocative films, so a documentary on this tradition is a natural fit for us," Lopez said in a statement about the project, which will hit theaters in limited release before airing on HBO. ...

Redman was arrested in Oslo, Norway, on September 8 for — surprise! — having a small amount of marijuana on his person. The rapper was arriving on a flight from Amsterdam to perform a show in town that night and, according to his manager, was carrying an amount that was just over the local legal limit. Authorities soon realized the rapper, who has been known to extol the virtues of marijuana, was not a smuggler and eventually let him go in time for him to perform. ...

With the Sprite Liquid Mix Tour now behind them, the Neptunes' rock alter ego, N.E.R.D., will hit the studio to complete their next album, Fly or Die. The album has been moved to a March 9 release date. ... The video for Something Corporate's "Space" will premiere Tuesday during Fox's "The O.C." through AOL's music showcase program. The band's North is due October 21. ...

NYC gloomy gusses Interpol will work on the follow-up to Turn on the Bright Lights when they hit the studio early next year. Of the seven new songs already written for the album, "Length of Love" and "NARC" have been featured in the band's recent live sets. ... Southern California punksters Zebrahead will follow-up 2000's Playmate of the Year with MFZB, which takes its name from the band's fan club. A tour surrounding the release, due October 21, is in the works. ...

The onetime owner of a copy of Double Fantasy that John Lennon signed for Mark David Chapman, the man who killed him, is suing the auction house Moments in Time. Phillip Michael claims that he never received his 95-percent share of the album's sale price, which was between $150,000 and $464,000 (and is being contested). Chapman had Lennon sign the album hours before he shot the ex-Beatle and then he ditched it in a planter, where Michael found it. Chapman's fingerprints on the album helped in his conviction. ...

Before discussing downloading with Bill Maher for "Real Time" on Friday, Liz Phair performed a set of her tracks including "Why Can't I?," "Polyester Bride" and "Supernova" at a Santa Monica, California, party. DJ Kazell also performed. ...

• Diddy
• Madonna
• DMX
• Gov't Mule
• C-Murder

Avril Lavigne, John Mayer, and Nelly announce 2003 Grammy nominations
Photo: MTV News

When nominations for the 45th annual Grammy Awards were announced Tuesday morning, reactions ranged from sincere congratulations to "What were they thinking?" (Click here for the list of nominees.)

Few readers writing to MTVNews.com's You Tell Us forum had sour sentiments about demure Norah Jones, the jazz-influenced singer/pianist who's got a chance to sweep the four biggest categories — Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Best New Artist (see "Eminem, Avril Lavigne, Nelly, Norah Jones Nab Most Grammy Noms"). Jones is also among the eight artists who garnered five nominations. (Click for photos of this year's Grammy nominees.)

"I'm sooo happy for [Norah Jones]," wrote 18-year-old Lexi, from Seattle. "I know many people haven't heard her music, but those who have know how great it is. Big ups to the critics for giving this girl the credit she deserves."

Jones' Come Away With Me faces stiff competition from The Rising, Bruce Springsteen's return to form, and, to a lesser extent, The Eminem Show. Although the mainstream seems to have embraced the volatile rapper, with hardly a protest over his third major-label album or his fictionalized biopic "8 Mile," the Grammys might not be ready to bestow such a prestigious honor to a man who had a hit with a song that talks about killing the mother of his child and stuffing her in a trunk.

Then again, Eminem already has five golden gramophones in his trophy case (though none in the big four categories), and the Recording Academy did grant an Album of the Year Grammy to Steely Dan in 2001, for Two Against Nature, which featured the song "Cousin Dupree," about incest. But old guards like Donald Fagen and Walter Becker have always had Grammy odds in their favor, which is why Springsteen stands such a good shot. And even if The Eminem Show doesn't win for Album of the Year and "Without Me" doesn't lay claim to Record of the Year, Eminem is likely to make good on at least one of his other three nominations.

While Jones stands as the artist with the smallest presence at radio compared with fellow new-artist nominees R&B songbird Ashanti, singer/songwriter Michelle Branch, sensitive guy John Mayer and pop-rocker Avril Lavigne, most of you think the latter stands as her fiercest competition.

"I think Avril Lavigne definitely deserves Best New Artist," wrote 14-year-old Ashley of Thief River Falls, Minnesota. "She's worked so hard and accomplished so much this year."

"There is no doubt that Avril Lavigne should win Best New Artist," echoed 14-year-old Danielle, from Somerset, New Jersey. "She writes her own music, had three top 40 songs in 2002, sold over 4 million copies of her debut, Let Go, and hates Britney Spears. What more could you want in a Best New Artist?"

While statistics may garner gold records, they don't necessarily translate to a Grammy. Awards are (theoretically) doled out to those who demonstrate genuine artistry in their work. And that's Avril Lavigne, isn't it?

"Avril has no business being nominated for as much as she was," disagreed 19-year-old Andrea. "As far as music and creativity go, Britney is more creative — and you know that's a stretch, especially since Britney is nothing but manufactured bubble gum. Avril may have had something going with her and her ties but let's face it, MTV, that's all she has had."

After yesterday's announcement of the nominations, Lavigne has a lot more attached to her, namely a monumental mistake when she mispronounced David Bowie's last name. When reading the list of artists up for the Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, she mispronounced Bowie as "bow-wie" (rhymes with oh, wowee!). An unnerving hush immediately enveloped Madison Square Garden.

"Am I the only person who realizes what a poser Avril Lavigne is?" queried 22-year-old Kim, from Denver. "First of all, she botched the pronunciation of David Bowie, one of the most influential musicians of our time. ... Does Avril know anything about music? ... My point is, although everyone seems to be touting Avril Lavigne as some new prodigy, the fact is that she is not a true musician or artist and is just as fake and untalented as Britney Spears."

And here we thought Avril was the anti-Britney.

While Mayer's the only guy among the gals in the Best New Artist pack, his fans warn not to count him out just because he's outnumbered.

"John Mayer deserves to win the Grammy for Best New Artist," declared 18-year-old Tiffany Johnson, from Austin, Texas. "He is just on a different level from the rest of the nominees. The guy is brilliant."

Nelly, who's up for Album of the Year, Best Male Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Album honors, among others, is feeling the brunt of haters. For the nearly 5 million copies of Nellyville sold, the St. Louis rapper seems to have just as many, if not more, detractors.

"I want to know what the Grammy folks see in Nelly," demanded 19-year-old Jason Curtis of Seattle. "Everyone is hypnotized by his so-called 'skills,' which are by no means good. As far as I'm concerned, Nelly doesn't deserve a Grammy."

It wasn't all trash talk directed at the St. Louis rapper, however. Many have their fingers crossed that the Band-Aid bearing MC will leave with even more gold than he came in with.

"I'm really anticipating seeing Nelly take home the Grammy for best album," wrote 14-year-old Linzi, from Sandusky, Michigan. "I mean, his music is totally hot, and I'm pretty sure that I don't know anyone who isn't into Nelly."

Linzi, meet 21-year-old James, from New Haven, Connecticut.

"It is clear once again that the awards honor what is popular, not what is good," James began. "Nelly has sunk so far down in the talent pool that he's left rapping about sneakers and some sort of heat wave that has apparently swept Nellyville. Talk about meaningless music. Seriously, if it's that hot in 'herre,' then drink a glass of water. Don't make a freakin' song about it."

Fellow hip-hopper Petey Pablo, up for Best Rap Album with Diary of a Sinner: 1st Entry, faced some harsh reactions, with fellow nominee Mystikal also catching some heat.

"I am very upset to see that Pete Pablo has been nominated for Best Rap Album," expressed 25-year-old Curtis, from Tallahassee, Florida. "Also, Mystikal's Tarantula album was very disappointing. How come someone like Trick Daddy or Cee-Lo never gets nominated? He is pure trash, and I understand why people like Jay-Z protest the Grammys. If we want to make it mainstream for all these old white people, let's nominate Will Smith. Even though his album sold probably 200 copies, he does not curse."

Such outrage over those who were nominated couldn't rival the furor over those who were left out: uber-producers the Neptunes and anyone from the neo-garage school, such as the Hives, the Vines, the Strokes or the White Stripes.

"How did Dr. Dre get nominated in the Producer of the Year category, while the Neptunes were ignored?" wondered Venni, 18, from Blacksburg, Virginia. "Dre didn't do anything in 2002. Every single song on the radio was produced by the Neptunes."

OK, Venni may be exaggerating a bit, though Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo are responsible for Justin Timberlake's "Like I Love You," Nelly's "Hot in Herre" and Mystikal's "Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against the Wall)," all of which are Grammy-nominated.

"I'm surprised the new 'the' bands didn't get major nods," typed an aghast CJ, 18, from Newmarket, New Hampshire. "I'm sad that the White Stripes were shafted, when overrated Avril Lavigne gets all the credit. Well, the Grammys are pretty lame either way."

If the nominations aroused such fervent feelings in these folks, they'd better be prepared for the shock of February 23. While some surprises can be expected with the nods, utter jaw-droppers like the over-the-hill Jethro Tull winning for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance in 1988 are unmatched.

Stay tuned and stay calm.

For a look back at previous big Grammy winners, red carpet photos and much more, visit our Grammy News Archive.

• Eminem
• Norah Jones
• Nelly
• Dixie Chicks
• Bruce Springsteen

Nelly
Photo: Universal

With eight artists grabbing five nominations each, this year's Grammy Awards looks to be one of the most competitive in the ceremony's 45 years. (Click here for the list of nominees and for photos of this year's Grammy nominees and performers.)

Three relative newcomers, Ashanti, Norah Jones and Avril Lavigne, join Sheryl Crow, Eminem, Nelly, Raphael Saadiq and Bruce Springsteen as the artists with the greatest chances of leaving New York's Madison Square Garden on February 23 with the most golden gramophones in their arms.

All eyes will be on Norah Jones, who stands to reign supreme on Grammy night with four of her five nominations arriving in the big four categories: Best New Artist; Album of the Year, for Come Away With Me; and Song of the Year (given to the songwriter Jesse Harris) and Record of the Year for "Don't Know Why." Jones and her full-length debut album also received nods in the categories Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, while the LP's producer, Arif Mardin, scored one in the Producer of the Year, Non-Classical category to give the Norah Jones camp a whopping eight nominations combined.

Eminem, Nelly, Springsteen and Lavigne received two nods apiece for the big awards. Em's "Without Me" is up for Record of the Year, along with Nelly's "Dilemma" (which features Kelly Rowland), Nickelback's "How You Remind Me" and Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles." The Eminem Show will vie for Album of the Year honors against Come Away With Me, the Dixie Chicks' Home, Nelly's Nellyville and Bruce Springsteen's The Rising.

Springsteen was also nominated in the Song of the Year category for "The Rising." The Boss' tune, which resonated with many after the events of September 11, 2001, will face off against another song inspired by the tragedy, Alan Jackson's "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)."

The Best New Artist category finds John Mayer the sole male amidst a quartet of ladies, Ashanti, Michelle Branch, Jones and Lavigne, whose single "Complicated" is also up for Song of the Year. (Last year, Alicia Keys walked off with the prestigious honor. Who do you think should win Grammy's equivalent to Rookie of the Year? Take our poll.)

"Chauvinists unite!" Mayer joked at Madison Square Garden, in a half-hearted attempt to strum up support for his cause. "I'm just going to go to sports bars and lobby.

"It's cool," he continued sincerely. "I look at the list and say, 'It makes sense to me.' "

While Ashanti is likely to have her fingers crossed for the big Best New Artist win, she'll be doubly excited when the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration category is awarded. Besides receiving a nod for assisting Fat Joe with "What's Luv?" the songbird with the second-best-selling debut album of 2002 has increased her chances of winning with "Always on Time," her collaboration with Ja Rule. Ashanti likes both songs, but she looks to the phrase "blood is thicker than water" when deciding whom to root for.

"I don't necessarily have a preference, but it I had to choose, it would have to be my brother Ja," she said. "That's my family, Murder, Inc. Records."

Nominations for the 45th annual Grammy Awards were announced Tuesday (January 7) at a press conference held in Madison Square Garden. Among the artists on hand to read the roster of those hopeful for Grammy gold were Ashanti, country singer Kenny Chesney, '80s faceplate Cyndi Lauper, Avril Lavigne, John Mayer, Justin Timberlake, Nelly and producer Jimmy Jam, who filled in for a previously scheduled but absent Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.

The artists each took the podium in turn to announce the contestants for two of the categories, which made for some interesting pronunciations. Ashanti (pronounced a-shan-tee) became the faux-fabulous sounding "A-shan-tay" whenever most on hand mentioned her name; and Lavigne, in announcing the nominees for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance botched David Bowie's name, pronouncing it 'Bow-wee" (as in the dog sound "bow-wow"). The flub is not likely to go unnoticed among Lavigne's critics, and it just might go down in pop-star infamy, the way Britney Spears' remark that suggested Pat Benatar sang "I Love Rock 'N Roll," a song Joan Jett made famous, did in a fall 2001 interview.

Four nominations fell on the Dixie Chicks, Alan Jackson, R&B singer Remy Shand and Chad Kroeger, who scored one with his band Nickelback, and three others for his song "Hero," penned for the soundtrack to "Spider-Man."

Besides two in the big four, Vanessa Carlton's other nomination came in the Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s). While most categories in the Composing/Arranging field are often overlooked in favor of more artist-specific ones, the 21-year-old pianist doesn't consider her third nod to be any less important. In fact, considering that she's the only nominee who's also an artist in that category, she said she's perhaps most proud of that honor because it shows her as the well-rounded artist she is.

"I am most excited for that nomination because it is recognizing the process, something other than the vocal and the song itself," she explained. "It kind of acknowledges how the puzzle fits together. I think [Be Not Nobody] is a beautiful record and I'm really proud to know that people recognized that. I was totally surprised, though. I really was."

India.Arie, Erykah Badu, Johnny Cash, Elvis Costello, Dr. Dre, Randy Newman, Arif Mardin and No Doubt also nabbed three nominations each.

Touting over 100 categories, the Grammys is the most comprehensive music awards show, but even with classifications such as Best Polka Album (for which Jimmy Sturr's Top of the World looks to be the odds-on favorite) and Best Remixed Record, Non-Classical, there just aren't enough designations for some folks.

"Actually, one they didn't mention was best haircut-changing-style every year,' a near-bald Timberlake kidded. "I'm hoping I get the Victrola for that."

Maybe next year, Justin. In the meantime, the 'NSYNC star must be content with just one nomination, for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, for the Clipse-featured "Like I Love You," the first single from his solo debut, Justified.

Super production duo the Neptunes were puzzlingly absent from the Producer of the Year category, which instead found Dr. Dre, Nellee Hooper, Arif Mardin, Rick Rubin, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis attempting to stake their claim to the title. After producing a number of Grammy-nominated tracks, including Timberlake's "Like I Love You," Nelly's "Hot in Herre" and Mystikal's "Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against the Wall)," it's a mystery why Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams didn't receive any love from the Recording Academy.

"For the second year in a row, can you imagine that?" Williams said of his Grammy dis. "All the work we've done? For whatever reason, nobody thought to put us on the ballot."

The 45th annual ceremony marks the Grammys' return to New York, after Los Angeles hosted the previous four events. The show will be broadcast live on CBS at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). Before the show, catch MTV's pre-show telecast "Backstage at the Grammys," airing at 7 p.m. ET.

MTV's parent company, Viacom, also owns CBS.

For more Grammy news, check out the MTV News Grammy Archive.

• Nelly
• Avril Lavigne
• Norah Jones
• Eminem
• Vanessa Carlton

Trey Anastasio performs at the 2002 Jammy Awards
Photo: Theo Wargo / Wire Image

Most music awards celebrations focus on honoring winners and manage to sandwich a few performances between the presentations. The Jammys take the opposite approach.

Wednesday night at New York's Roseland Ballroom, organizers for the third annual event recognized Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio (Studio Album of the Year for Trey Anastasio, Tour of the Year), Phish (Archival Album of the Year for Phish — Live Phish 11: 11/17/97), Gov't Mule (Song of the Year for "Soulshine"), and Widespread Panic (Live Album of the Year for Live in the Classic City), among others. But it was the many eclectic jams that kept the ceremony raging until 2:30 a.m.

The Jammys were hosted by Blues Traveler frontman John Popper and included performances by John Mayer, Bob Weir and Ratdog, Mike Gordon (Phish), Leo Kottke, Stefan Lessard (Dave Matthews Band), Gov't Mule, John Scofield, Stanton Moore (Galactic), Andy Hess (Black Crowes), Scratch (the Roots), DJ Logic, Fred Schneider and Kate Pierson (B-52's), Tom Tom Club, moe., Rusted Root, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Particle, and Robert Randolph & the Family Band.

As jaw-dropping as many of the solo-filled jams were, it was the colorful collaborations that were most captivating. During Gov't Mule's set, the Allman Brothers Band took the stage for "Desdemona," Anastasio and Scofield raised eyebrows with the Mule on "Sco-Mule," and Allman Brothers Band guitarist Derek Trucks returned to the stage to jam with Anastasio and Gov't Mule on "Soulshine." Also during the evening, Blue Oyster Cult took the stage with moe. to perform "(Don't Fear) The Reaper," and the B-52's rocked with Particle on "Love Shack."

For the conclusion of the Jammys, a long parade of musicians jammed on two stages for an endless version of "Lovelight." Ratdog took the main stage with Anastasio, guitarist Warren Haynes and drummer Matt Abts (Gov't Mule), Al Schnier (moe.), Popper and DJ Logic. At the same time, the second stage was packed by Gordon, Fuzz (Deep Banana Blackout), Randolph and others, as artists from both stages dueled one another for jam-rock supremacy.

But even after all that, the players weren't jammed out, and many joined moe. at BB King's club down the street to continue rocking until past 5 a.m. Around 3 a.m., Anastasio took the stage for "Happy Hour Hero" and "Recreational Chemistry," which also featured Particle keyboardist Steve Molitz. Then Haynes and Percy Hill keyboardist Nate Wilson took the stage for "Opium," which featured a snippet of the Beatles' "Norwegian Wood," and Steely Dan's "Bodhisattva."

In the club's side room Particle were joined by Neville Brothers keyboardist Ivan Neville for "Metropolis," and bassist Lessard and saxophonists Jessica Lurie (Living Daylights) and Sam Kininger (Soulive) kept the beer flowing with a performance of "Windjammer."

• Phish
• Gov't Mule
• Widespread Panic

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

Snoop Dogg
Photo: No Limit

Tool, Snoop Dogg and G. Love & Special Sauce on the same bill? That's scary.

An eclectic lineup of musicians has been announced for the Voodoo Music Experience, New Orleans' third annual Halloween celebration, that also includes Missy Elliott, the Black Crowes and Better Than Ezra.

Set for October 27 at City Park, the concert will feature Gov't Mule, Spooks, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe and Will Hoge as well, according to organizers.

Voodoo Music Experience will be broadcast on the festival's official Web site (www.voodoomusicfest.com). Tickets for the event are $25 and are available on the Web site.

Eminem and Stone Temple Pilots headlined last year's concert, which attracted more than 60,000 people.

• Snoop Dogg
• Tool
• Gov't Mule
• Missy Elliott
• The Black Crowes

Gov't Mule
Photo: Danny Clinch

When Gov't Mule bassist Allen Woody died of unknown causes in August, the music community provided abundant sympathy and assistance to his family and bandmates. First the Allman Brothers Band (which Woody was once a member of), the Black Crowes and Phil Lesh & Friends played a benefit concert with Gov't Mule. Then David Schools of Widespread Panic sat in with the Mule for a full tour.

Well, Woody must have been one heck of a great guy because the flood of support hasn't abated, it's only intensified. Gov't Mule still haven't replaced the bassist, but they've received musical help in the studio from a veritable who's who of players.

Parliament/Funkadelic's Bootsy Collins, Sly & the Family Stone's Larry Graham, Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones, Primus' Les Claypool, the Who's John Entwistle, Yes' Chris Squire, the Grateful Dead's Lesh, Phish's Michael Gordon, King Crimson's Tony Levin and Cream's Jack Bruce are just some of the artists who have played bass on new Gov't Mule tracks.

So far, 19 of 25 songs have been recorded for the still-untitled disc, which is scheduled for release September 18. The track listing so far, according to the band's publicist:

• "Greasy Granny Gopher Gravy" (Claypool on bass, vocals)
• "Lay of the Sunflower" (Lesh on bass, David Grisman on mandolin)
• "What Is Hip" (Rocco Prestia on bass)
• "Babylon Turnpike" (Weather Report's Alphonso Johnson on bass)
• "Slow Happy Boys" (Jefferson Airplane's Jack Casady on bass, Chuck Leavell on organ)
• "Sundance" (Squire on bass)
• "Sco Mule" (John Scofield on guitar, Bernie Worrell on organ)
• "Which Way Do We Run" (Schools on bass)
• "On the Banks of the Deep End" (Gordon on bass)
• "Worried Down With the Blues" (Col. Bruce Hampton & the Aquarium Rescue Unit's Oteil Burbridge on bass; Allman Brothers Band's Derek Trucks on guitar; Gregg Allman on organ, vocals)
• "World of Confusion" (Levin on bass, Captain Beefheart's Gary Lucas on guitar)
• "Fool's Gold" (Bruce on bass, vocals; Worrell on organ)
• "Catfish Blues" (Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys' Billy Cox on bass)
• "Same Price" (Entwistle on bass)
• "Maybe I'm a Leo" (Deep Purple's Roger Glover on bass)
• "Tear Me Down" (Collins on bass, Worrell on keyboards)
• "Effigy" (the Minutemen's Mike Watt on bass, Alice in Chains' Jerry Cantrell on vocals)
• "Soulshine" (Willy Weeks on bass, Leavell on keyboards)
• "Time to Confess" (the Meters' George Porter Jr. on bass, the Neville Brothers' Art Neville on organ)

• Gov't Mule
• Jerry Cantrell
• Bootsy Collins

Allen Woody, left, Warren Haynes and Matt Abts  
Photo: Danny Clinch

Blues-rockers Gov't Mule will hit the road later this month for their first tour since the death of bassist Allen Woody last year.

Widespread Panic's Dave Schools will hold down the bass end, though no permanent replacement for Woody has been chosen, according to a statement from the Gov't Mule's publicist. Keyboardist Chuck Leavell, who's played with the Rolling Stones and the Allman Brothers, will join guitarist Warren Haynes and drummer Matt Abts on the 12-date tour of the southern United States.

The band laid down basic tracks for its next album in California in January. Tracks include "Greasy Granny's Gopher Gravy," co-written by Primus' Les Claypool, and "Lay of the Sunflower," which Haynes wrote with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter.

The sessions also included "Sco-Mule," featuring a performance by jazz guitarist John Scofield. The band will continue recording in New York in May, with help from Bootsy Collins and Meshell Ndegéocello on bass.

Gov't Mule tour dates, according to 360 Media:

• 3/29 - Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
• 3/30 - Winston-Salem, NC @ Ziggy's
• 3/31 - Nashville, TN @328 Performance Hall
• 4/1 - Greenville, NC @ Peace Center
• 4/3 - Birmingham, AL @ 5 Points Music Hall
• 4/4 - Athens, GA @ Georgia Theater
• 4/5 - Charleston, SC @ Music Farm
• 4/6 - Columbia, SC @ 3 Rivers Music Fest
• 4/7 - Auburn, AL @ Auburn University
• 4/8 - Gainesville, FL @University of Florida
• 5/5 - New Orleans, LA @ The Orpheum Theatre
• 5/6 - Atlanta, GA @ Music Midtown

• Gov't Mule
• Widespread Panic
• Bootsy Collins
• Meshell Ndegeocello
• Primus

Friends of the late Gov't Mule bassist Allen Woody, including the Allman Brothers Band, the Black Crowes, and Phil Lesh & Friends will be gathering at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City September 21 for a concert dubbed "One For Woody."

Tickets for the sold-out show were priced at $75 and $100 apiece, with proceeds going to the late bassist's family.

The musician died suddenly of still unknown causes on August 26 (see "Gov't Mule's Allen Woody Dies"). An autopsy was inconclusive, and other test results are still pending.

Woody was once a member of the Allman Brothers Band and a close associate of the other artists on the bill. Also performing will be the surviving Gov't Mule members, Warren Haynes and Matt Abts.

Meanwhile, the band's agent, Kevin Daly, has confirmed to MTV News that Haynes and Abts will still perform in the opening slot on the pending Ben Harper tour as a duo, but they will be billed under their own names and not as Gov't Mule.

"If anybody saw Warren and Matt's performance at Woody's memorial service," Daly told MTV News, "they wouldn't doubt they could do it alone. It was absolutely electrifying."

The tour dates with Harper are scheduled for November 9 to 19 (see "Ben Harper Preps Live Double-Album Set").

According to Gov't Mule manager Stefani Scamardo, a final decision on the future of the band will be made very soon, and she does not rule out that the group might continue under the Gov't Mule moniker.

Scamardo also added that contrary to Internet rumors, a concert in New York state canceled shortly before Woody's death was not related to the bassist's health, but rather to unspecified music industry politics.

• Gov't Mule

The Southern jam stylings of Gov't Mule may likely be silenced with the sudden death of bassist Allen Woody.

Woody, who had previously played with the Allman Brothers, was found dead Saturday morning of unknown causes by a chambermaid in a room at the Marriott Courtyard Motor Hotel in Queens, New York. He was 44.

According to the "Tennessean" newspaper, Woody was found with no apparent signs of trauma, and no drugs were found in the room, although other press reports say an overdose has not been ruled out. An autopsy is said to have been inconclusive.

Woody, who also played mandolin, joined the Allman Brothers in 1989 and left with bandmate Warren Haynes to form Gov't Mule in 1997. He remained friendly with his former bandmates, most recently joining them on stage for three songs at a Lake Harmony, Pennsylvania, festival on August 6.

The Allman Brothers announced the bassist's death at their performance in Chicago Saturday night. A post on the official ABB Web site pays tribute to the musician, as does the official Gov't Mule Web site at www.mule.net.

Gov't Mule last appeared in concert at the Bayou Music Festival in Croton-On-Hudson, New York, on August 19. The band was scheduled to head out on the road again starting in Columbus, Ohio, September 2. Also on the schedule was a November tour with Ben Harper. Harper had appeared on the song "Lay Your Burden Down" from the Mule's third studio album, "Life Before Insanity," released earlier this year (see "Ben Harper Talks About Kicking It With Gov't Mule").

Woody, a Nashville native who made his home in Lebanon, Tennessee, had spent the week in New York and had been expected to return home Saturday morning. Born Douglas Allen Woody, he is survived by his wife, baby daughter, and father.

Donations are being accepted for the Savannah Woody Educational Fund (named after the musician's daughter), care of Hard Head Management, P.O. Box 651, Village Station, New York, New York, 10014.

• Gov't Mule