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Good Charlotte will help Justin Timberlake spread the "Summer Love" when they open for him on the second U.S. leg of his FutureSex/LoveShow, which launches August 6 in JT's Memphis hometown. In other JT news, his "LoveStoned/ I Think She Knows" video, directed by Robert Hales (Gnarls Barkley, Panic Channel), premieres on Yahoo! Music at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. Also, according to The Associated Press, Timberlake and former girlfriend/ "Shrek the Third" co-star Cameron Diaz embraced before walking the green carpet at the London premiere of the flick on Monday. "We're friends," Diaz said. "It's good to see him." ...

Everyone knows where Paris Hilton is right now, but questions are still lingering over Sheriff Lee Baca's controversial "reassignment" of the heiress to house arrest before a judge forced her to return to jail. According to a Tuesday (June 12) report in the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is expected to request that Baca prepare a report to determine whether she was given special treatment. The board's review will focus on Hilton's medical condition and whether she could have been treated at the Lynwood jail she was originally sent to. Baca, who has one week to prepare his report, did not detail Hilton's condition last week, but according to a report on TMZ.com, the heiress takes Adderall for her "extreme" attention-deficit disorder and she is also claustrophobic. Hilton, who is now serving her sentence in the Twin Towers Correctional Facility's medical ward, may not have been receiving all of her medication while in jail, which led to severe panic attacks, according to TMZ. Paparazzi swarmed the Twin Towers facility Tuesday to cover visitation day, when the heiress was permitted to spend free time with her parents, Rick and Kathy. ...

Mary J. Blige tells Hamptons Magazine that recording the follow-up to her Grammy-winning The Breakthrough has taught her the benefits of taking her time in the studio. "It's like the difference between a rotisserie meal and a microwave dinner," she explained. "It takes hours to get right, but it's going to be really good and you won't forget it. I'm a nice rotisserie — caramel-colored and well-seasoned." Blige also confessed a secret desire to design her own fashion line. "I want to show people that I care about consumers and how they'll look in my [line of clothes], not just my name being on the brand," she said. "I love to see people in nice clothing, especially women. You look beautiful and feel confident when you have on the right stuff." ...

Ch-check it out: Beastie Boys have lined up seven August shows to support their June 26 release, The Mix-Up: Philadelphia (August 1); Boston (August 6); NYC (August 8); Brooklyn, New York (August 9); Denver (August 16); Santa Barbara, California (August 23); and Berkeley, California (August 25). While the group's new LP is all-instrumental, fans can expect them to pull out some classics at the aforementioned gigs. ... Korn are set to shoot the video for "Evolution," the first single off of their forthcoming untitled album, on Friday in Los Angeles. The band will be touring Europe at the time of the shoot, which has led to speculation that the Korn crew won't be making an appearance in the clip. The video will be directed by Dave Meyers, who previously worked with the band on their "Twisted Transistor" video. According to the video's casting call, the clip will be "filled with political satire and humor." The producers are seeking mostly male actors to play characters such as "hero scientists, religious politicians, doctors, Greenpeace guys, anthropologists, military men and 'government types.' " ...

Lindsay Lohan is being sued for crashing into a parked van in Beverly Hills, California, in October 2005, according to TMZ.com. Grandeur, Inc. — owner of the van — filed suit in mid-May in Beverly Hills Small Claims Court for $3,624.84. The case is pending. ... DNA evidence is now the focus in testimony in the Phil Spector trial, according to AP. On Monday, Sheriff's criminalist Steve Renteria testified in the trial — which is now in its seventh week — that while the music producer's DNA was not detected on the weapon that killed Lana Clarkson, the DNA may have been hidden under the large amount of the actress' blood on the gun. Renteria also said the many items analyzed by the crime lab only showed Clarkson's DNA. Spector's defense is expected to argue that the missing Spector DNA means he didn't pull the trigger. ...

Winners of the Fulbright-mtvU Fellowships were announced Tuesday. The fellowships, which offer students the opportunity to conduct research around international music culture for one academic year, were awarded to Larnies Bowen of New York University, Phally Chroy of Temple University, James Collins of Harvard University and Aaron Shneyer of Georgetown University. Common, Perry Farrell, Fiona Apple and the Shins' James Mercer reviewed and nominated candidates, with final selections made by Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. The search for the next Fulbright-mtvU Fellows is already on. Applications will be accepted through October 19. For more information, visit the Fulbright site. ...

Ignoring a smoking ban could come back to bite Velvet Revolver's Slash and Scott Weiland in the butt. The two rockers may face fines for allegedly smoking onstage during the band's Thursday set at the Cardiff International Arena in Cardiff, Wales, according to a report on local news site icWales.co.uk. Slash and Weiland reportedly violated a law, enacted in April, against lighting up in any enclosed space. The Cardiff city council said they hadn't received any formal complaints but are investigating the matter. ...

A ballet inspired by the music of Radiohead will be performed in Scotland August 18-20 as part of the Edinburgh International Festival. The Scottish Ballet production "Ride the Beast," choreographed by Stephen Petronio, features reworkings of five Radiohead tracks — "Fitter Happier," "Creep," "Hunting Bears," "Idioteque" and "National Anthem." "Radiohead's music is a brilliant investigation of achingly modern taste," Petronio said in a Scottish Ballet press release. "They sail through genre and form effortlessly and passionately, and their music demands a physical response from me that bypasses reason." ...

Wendy and Lisa, the psych-funk duo who used to be part of Prince's Revolution, are collaborating with the artist for his July 24 release, Planet Earth. His Purpleness is back on Columbia Records' roster, the label announced Monday, and will issue his new LP — featuring the lead single, "Guitar" — through the label. Tickets for the final six dates of his 21 Nights in London shows at O2 arena go on sale Friday. ... This year's Shortlist Music Prize went to Cat Power for The Greatest album, making singer Chan Marshall the first woman to win the prize. The sixth-annual award was chosen by a panel of nine guest judges, including Franz Ferdinand, Panic! at the Disco and Sufjan Stevens, along with members of Snow Patrol, the Killers and Flaming Lips. ...

Anjelique Kidjo and Joss Stone will shoot a video for their "Gimme Shelter" duet Thursday in New York. The song appears on Kidjo's recent Djin Djin CD. ... Former "You Hear It First" picks Plain White T's and Secondhand Serenade will co-headline mtvU's Summer Concert Series at Six Flags. The bands will hit up Six Flags parks in Agawam, Massachusetts (July 27); Jackson, New Jersey (July 29); St. Louis (August 3); Austell, Georgia (August 10); and Gurnee, Illinois (August 17). ... The Academy Is ... have cobbled together dates for their Sleeping With Giants Tour, which will also feature Armor for Sleep, Sherwood and the Rocket Summer. The pop-punk trek gets poppin' September 5 in Milwaukee and comes to a close in Chicago on November 28. ...

Do you happen to be a fan of OK Go and Electric Light Orchestra? Check out the animated rockers covering the veteran prog band's "Don't Bring Me Down" on the former's Live From SoHo EP, available exclusively on iTunes. The five-song set — which also features "Here It Goes Again" and "Do What You Want" — captures OK Go's recent session at the SoHo Apple store in NYC. ... José González has rolled out a raft of shows to promote his upcoming second album, In Our Nature, due September 25. The brooding singer/songwriter will play a preview show August 21 in New York and kick off the tour in proper form with three more NYC gigs September 27-29. The trek wraps October 13 in Minneapolis. ...

The debut album by Blaqk Audio, the electronic side project featuring AFI members Davey Havok and Jade Puget, will land in stores August 7. Called CexCells, the set features a dozen cuts — including "Between Breaths (An XX Perspective)," "Where Would You Like Them Left?" and "Wake Up, Open the Door, and Escape to the Sea" — and was produced by Dave Bascombe (Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears). ... Former "You Hear It First" rockers Far-Less will issue their next LP, A Toast to Bad Taste, October 23. ...

Happy Mondays have been forced to cancel a pair of New York gigs set for Wednesday and Thursday, due to "temporary visa issues," according to a press release. The band, which recently completed their first album in 15 years, is "gutted" at having to miss the performances. It's the second time this year that the Mondays have had to deal with visa issues. The band's iconic dancer/percussionist Bez had to sit out the band's set at the Coachella fest in Indio, California, two months ago. ... Farm Aid is going to the city this year. The event, launched in 1985 to help raise money to support family farms, will play New York's Randall's Island on September 9 under the banner Farm Aid 2007: A Homegrown Festival, according to its official Web site. So far, only board members Willie Nelson, Dave Matthews, Neil Young and John Mellencamp have been announced as performers for the first-ever Big Apple Farm Aid date, though more acts will be added soon.

06.11.2007

Ryan Seacrest is blaming Simon Cowell for this year's slight "American Idol" ratings decrease, according to a Seacrest interview in Canada's Globe and Mail. "Well, the knee-jerk reaction would be Simon," he said when asked why the ratings slipped. "Clearly there's an oversaturation of his character." He added: "It's still 30 million-plus [U.S.] viewers ... which we're very happy with." Seacrest dismissed as rumor the notion that some "Idol" judges would be replaced. ...

Hundreds of fans — and Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm to boot — turned up to greet "American Idol" finalist LaKisha Jones and watch her perform two songs at the state Capitol on Monday (June 11), The Associated Press reports. Jones is on a homecoming trip through the state before starting to prep for the American Idols Live Tour. The singer, who performed "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" and "God Bless the Child," told reporters, "My life is at a complete 360. God has really blessed me tremendously." ...

Ready to Rock? Dates for the Rock the Bells tour — featuring Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, David Banner and more — have been finalized. In addition to four previously announced shows featuring Rage Against the Machine, there will be additional gigs without them in Mansfield, Massachusetts (July 26); Atlanta (August 2); Charlotte, North Carolina (August 3); Miami (August 4); Dallas (August 7); Houston (August 8); San Diego (August 12); Salt Lake City (August 21); Denver (August 22); Minneapolis (August 25); Chicago (August 26); Detroit (August 29); and Toronto (August 30). Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, Immortal Technique and Jedi Mind Tricks are also on the bill, while Cypress Hill and UGK will appear on select dates. ...

Timbaland was temporarily held in custody and spent an hour in a jail in Cologne, Germany, early Monday morning after putting an unidentified Croatian man in the hospital, according to The San Francisco Chronicle's "Daily Dish." The brawl, which took place Sunday night at the Intercontinental Hotel bar, reportedly began when Timbaland allegedly flirted with the girlfriend of the man, who then spouted a racial slur. The producer's entourage also joined in the fight, which left the man with rib injuries and multiple bruises. Timbaland was released after being held in custody and questioned. ...

Daddy Yankee was released from a Miami hospital Monday afternoon after suffering from a viral infection and dehydration, according to Dr. Javier Perez-Fernandez, who had been treating him. The reggaetón superstar — who has been promoting his recently released album, El Cartel: The Big Boss — checked into the hospital Friday with complaints of fatigue and missed his weekend appearances at New York's Puerto Rican Day Parade and El Spring Bling Blineo festival due to his hospitalization. Daddy Yankee has also canceled all his scheduled activities for the coming week, according to his publicist. "This is a sign from the boss [in reference to God]," Yankee said in a statement upon his release from the hospital. "The boss is telling me to take my time and set my priorities straight. Now I'm going home to rest for a bit." ...

A week after Marilyn Manson revealed that "Mutilation Is the Most Sincere Form of Flattery," one of the tracks on his latest LP, Eat Me, Drink Me, was directed at My Chemical Romance — Manson believes the band has ripped him off — MCR frontman Gerard Way responded to Manson's comments in the British magazine Rock Sound. "We still haven't found someone that has knocked us down that we need to take seriously. If Elvis Costello said we sucked, we would think about it a bit, but usually it is comments from someone with a new record to promote, so the remarks ring hollow." Manson had said in an interview with The London Paper that he was "embarrassed to be me because these people are doing a really sad, pitiful, shallow version of what I've done." ...

Common filmed a clip for "The People" in New York over the weekend with video director Neon. The Kanye West-produced track — which features crooner Dwele — is set to be the official lead single from Common's Finding Forever, due July 31. The street track "The Game" is currently receiving buzz play on both radio and TV. ... Big Tiggerheld his sixth Annual Celebrity Classic over the weekend in Atlanta. Ludacris, Lyfe Jennings, Lil' Mo, DJ Clue and more joined the syndicated radio host to take part in a variety of charity events, which included a basketball game, auction and all-white party. ...

Paris Hilton spoke to Barbara Walters from jail on Sunday and said in the telephone interview that she will no longer "act dumb," explaining that the "act is no longer cute," according to Walters' ABC News report. Hilton, who told the veteran reporter that she decided not to appeal her sentence because she "didn't want to cause any more problems," said spending time in jail has really changed her. "Now, I would like to make a difference," Hilton said. "God has given me this new chance." ...

Linkin Park, Smashing Pumpkins, Disturbed and H.I.M. will be among the artists featured on the July 3 soundtrack to the upcoming "Transformers" film. The disc will also include the "Transformers" theme recorded by Mute Math, as well as tracks from the Used, Taking Back Sunday and Idiot Pilot. ... Snoop Dogg collaborator and Gap Band frontman Charlie Wilson filed suit against EMI Music and Heineken Inc. alleging that the song "Beautiful" — a track from Snoop's 2002 album, Paid Tha Cost to Be Tha Boss, featuring Wilson and Pharrell — is used in a beer commercial without his permission, Reuters reports. In the suit, filed Friday in New York, Wilson also claims that EMI owes him hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits gained from "Beautiful" and another Paid Tha Cost track, "You Got What I Want," featuring Wilson and Ludacris. ...

Former Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro has responded to recent claims by ex-bandmate Perry Farrell that the group's most recent breakup was sparked by Navarro's decision to be a judge on the CBS reality series "Rock Star." According to a post on Navarro's 6767.com blog, "the timeline just doesn't make sense. I didn't even get a call about the idea of 'Rock Star' until [Navarro's new band] the Panic Channel was recording demos. It was four years ago, so I think it's about time to let it go." ... Al Gore says he met backstage with the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the Grammy Awards in February and convinced them to play Live Earth, according to AP. "I was pushing and pushing them that no matter how difficult it was, that it was important," said Gore, who was seen onstage whispering with the Chili Peppers when they accepted their prize for Best Rock Album. ...

The Bled, who are part of this summer's Projekt Revolution Tour with Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday and more, have finished recording their next LP, The Silent Treatment, produced by Brian McTernan (Hot Water Music, Snapcase). The album is due this fall. ... In related news, another Projekt Revolution act, H.I.M., have set September 18 as the release date for their next album, Venus Doom. Look for the LP to feature "Dead Lovers Lane," "The Kiss of Dawn," "Love in Cold Blood" and "Passion's Killing Floor." ...

Michael Moore's attorney claims discrimination was behind the launch of a federal investigation into the director's trip to Cuba for his "Sicko" documentary, which hits theaters June 29, AP reports. David Boies stated in a letter to the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control that Moore's criticism of the Bush administration may have spurred the probe. The reply was made in response to a letter OFAC Chief of General Investigations and Field Operations Dale Thompson sent to Moore last month, notifying him that he was under investigation for possibly violating the U.S. trade embargo restricting travel to Cuba. In his reply, Boies also requests information regarding "the person or persons who participated in making the decision to send Mr. Thompson's letter," as well as additional information.

• Is Paris Hilton Really A Changed Woman?

• Justin Timberlake
• Good Charlotte
• Mary J. Blige
• Paris Hilton
• Korn

Happy Mondays will be continuing its recent reunion with an album of new songs, according to a report in Britain's "New Musical Express," but new member Nuts may be supplying most of the material.

Bandleader Shaun Ryder has previously said he reluctantly reformed Happy Mondays for a recent tour to pay off his taxes after a nasty divorce (from Oriel Leitch, daughter of '60s troubadour Donovan) wiped him out financially. Now Ryder has revealed to the magazine that he doesn't plan on having a lot to do with the new record and has turned most of the songwriting duties over to band newbie Nuts.

Previous reports have said Ryder has been writing new songs since reforming Mondays earlier this year.

Ryder asked 25-year-old Nuts to join the Happy Mondays reunion tour after the pair bonded one night in a bar on the Spanish island of Ibiza, according to the "NME." Nuts has also worked on the new single the band recently released in England, a remake of Thin Lizzy's "The Boys Are Back In Town."

Happy Mondays were prominent in the late '80s "Madchester" scene but broke up acrimoniously in 1993. Ryder formed the now-defunct Black Grape soon after. Earlier this year, Ryder reunited with most of his Mondays mates including his bassist brother Paul, original drummer Gaz Whelan, and (eventually) Mondays mainstay Bez for a successful tour. Also on board have been Black Grape guitarist Paul "Wags" Wagstaff and, of course, the aforementioned Nuts.

It's not known how much input the other bandmembers will have on the album. Meanwhile, Bez is currently recording his own solo project in England.

• Black Grape
• Happy Mondays

Black Grape frontman Shaun Ryder has solidified the return of his old band, Happy Mondays, with the addition of the band's old dancer/percussionist, Mark "Bez" Berry, backing vocalist Rowetta, and a new remixer known as Nuts to the expected line-up. (see "Happy Mondays On The Road To Reform"). They'll be joining Ryder's brother Paul, who's the original bassist; original drummer Gaz Whelan; and Black Grape guitarist Paul 'Wags' Wagstaff for at least a mini-tour and a new single.

While some reports said that original members Mark Day and Paul Davies have refused to get involved, Ryder recently confirmed to Britain's New Musical Express that he didn't invite them.

Ryder told the BBC's Radio One that the reunion of the legendary Manchester band was inspired by a gigantic tax bill that was threatening his job as a journalist and columnist for a local newspaper. He added that the band project soon became fun and exciting, and particularly gratifying that he didn't have any "muppet managers" to pay 20 per cent to. He said the group was "old, free and single" and prepared to put on a "damn good show."

The plan apparently is to perform 'remixed' versions of the old Happy Mondays repertoire live during a mini-tour of the U.K. scheduled for late April. The band will also be recording a new single with DJ/producer Paul Oakenfold to be released prior to the tour.

• Black Grape
• Happy Mondays

Shaun Ryder may be reforming his old band Happy Mondays. It seems Ryder has been hinting at the reunion in a weekly column he writes for a paper in the U.K. according to "New Musical Express."

He wrote that he was missing "the buzz" and speculated that the regrouping would be singer Ryder and his brother Paul, who was the original bass player, along with the original drummer, Gary "Gaz" Whelan. He added that he didn't know where percussionist Mark "Bez" Berry would stand on a reunion, but added that "he'll probably want about 27 million pounds." He said the keyboard player and the guitarist (presumably Paul Davis and Mark Day respectively) would not be involved.

NME also quoted a source close to Ryder as saying that the singer had received a number of very lucrative offers from agents and promoters to reform the band.

Happy Mondays was formed in the 1980's in Manchester, England and had their first hit in 1990 with Pills 'N' Thrills And Bellyaches, which hit No. 1 in Britain. The band disintegrated amid stories of drug abuse and internal strife. Two years later, Ryder and Bez formed Black Grape. That band recorded two albums before apparently imploding at a festival last December (see "Black Grape... What's Going On?") leaving just Ryder and unofficial bandmate and production whiz Danny Saber to wind down the band.

Most recently Ryder's been dabbling in movies. He had a small role in the "The Avengers" remake released earlier this year, and is now working on a feature called "Molly's Idle Ways," (see "Black Grape May Or May Not Be Crushed, New Film For Ryder"). That story is based on Ryder's personal experiences in the underbelly of Manchester. The flick is being directed by "Too Nice" Tom Bruggen (TNT), the man who shot the Black Grape documentary "Grape Tapes."

• Black Grape
• Happy Mondays

Black Grape may or may not still be a band, depending on who you believe. Leader Shaun Ryder recently told the English magazine "Melody Maker" that he would not be recording or performing under the name Black Grape again, but now the rival publication "New Musical Express" is reporting that the band's press reps are denying the group has broken up. "NME" reports that spokespeople for the band say that while Black Grape's future is up in the air, they're not ready to concede to their demise.

Ryder formed Black Grape after the break-up of his previous band Happy Mondays. There's been a revolving door of members with the most recent Black Grape incarnation consisting of just Ryder and producer/musician Danny Saber.

Meanwhile "NME" is also reporting that Ryder has another movie role lined up, and this time he's the star. The film, called "Molly's Idle Ways," is based on Ryder's personal experiences and is being directed by Too Nice Tom (aka TNT), the man who shot Black Grape documentary "Grape Tapes."

Ryder makes his film debut in a minor role as a thug in "The Avengers," starring Uma Thurman and Ralph Fiennes, which is due for release next month.

• Black Grape
• Happy Mondays

The reports of disharmony within the ranks of Black Grape have proved to be true with the confirmed departure of co-founder Kermit and fellow rapper Carl "Psycho" McCarthy.

The split solidifies the position of Danny Saber, best known as a producer and engineer for The Rolling Stones, Garbage, David Bowie and U2, as a Black Grape bandmember along side front man Shaun Ryder.

According to Britain's New Musical Express, the pair are in Los Angeles this week meeting and rehearsing with friends of Saber's. Black Grape's second album, "Stupid, Stupid, Stupid," is now out in Europe and is due for an American release January 27, and the band plans on touring in the near future to support its release.

The NME report indicates that the split with Kermit and Psycho was more due to business politics than the well-worn 'creative differences.' Ryder told the magazine he blamed the break on "a power play" between longtime Black Grape tour manager Tony Murray and Black Grape's American management company, 3AM. Murray also manages Psycho and Kermit's band Manmade, who were apparently also under pressure tour but were unable to due to their Black Grape commitments. The friction reportedly culminated in a violent row mostly between Ryder and Murray backstage at a scheduled Doncaster Dome concert in December. The band failed to perform, plus their other dates including an ensuing tour of Australia were cancelled.

They're now finalizing European and American tours, plus festival dates in the U.K. for May. NME reports that Black Grape are also considering an invitation to play the giant South By South West showcase in Austin, Texas in March.

• Black Grape
• Happy Mondays

December 24 [10:00 EDT] -- There's definitely trouble in the Black Grape camp -- if there is a Black Grape camp.

The band's handlers have been denying they've broken up, but Britain's Dot Music confirms that the group have called off all their live dates including tours tentatively set for Australian and Japan in January and February, and the large scale Alexandra Palace New Years Eve party. The band's label had previously reassured fans the New Years Eve date would go ahead even though the band had canceled the last show on their UK tour, a show in Doncaster December 7, citing nervous exhaustion on the part of singer Shaun Ryder.

At that time, their spokespeople issued a statement saying that Ryder had collapsed at soundcheck and blamed it on a grueling touring itinerary combined with a heavy shooting schedule for Ryder's part in the upcoming "The Avengers" big screen movie--even though other sources say that movie wrapped up filming months ago. The statement assured their fans that the band would be back on track in time for the New Years Eve extravaganza where they were co-billed with the Chemical Bros., Roni Size and others. Then Black Grape has canceled that date as well. The plug was also pulled on plans to shoot a video for the band's new single that same week.

Stories of a backstage row at Doncaster soon began surfacing. Britain's New Musical Express' online site reported that Ryder "sacked" the members of Black Grape following a massive backstage row. The NME report added that Ryder could not resolve his differences with rapper and co-founder Kermit and that Kermit had left the group to concentrate on his other band, Manbreak. Black Grape consists of core members Ryder (who started the band after he acrimoniously broke up his previous group, Happy Mondays) and rappers Kermit and Carl aka Psycho, as well as Ged Lynch (drums), Wags (guitar), Martin Slattery (keyboards/ sax).

Ryder told the BBC, "I was very upset having to pull the gig in Doncaster but I am absolutely exhausted and have been told to take time off to rest." A spokeswoman for the band told Dot Music that Ryder collapsed with exhaustion and tempers got frayed, but she continued to deny that the band is done. She told the service their next single, Marbles, will be released February 2 in England and that a video will be shot for the song.

Black Grape's second album, "Stupid, Stupid, Stupid," is now out in Europe and is due for an American release January 27. Unofficial group member and studio whiz Danny Saber, whose recent studio projects include Garbage, David Bowie, U2, and the Rolling Stones produced the record.

• Black Grape
• Happy Mondays

September 8 [7:55 EDT] -- Black Grape is set to return early next year with the group's second effort, "Stupid, Stupid, Stupid."

The MTV Radio Network reports Shaun Ryder and company holed themselves up in Peter Gabriel's Real World Studio in England to record the album, which arrives January 27.

The group teamed with producer Danny Saber (best known for his dance remixes of tracks by Garbage, David Bowie, U2, and the Rolling Stones), and wound up with ten tracks, including a cover of Frederick Knight's 1973 Stax/Volt R&B nugget "Lonely."

As previously reported, Ryder expands his career horizons a bit next year as he makes his feature film debut in the big screen adaptation of the classic spy series "The Avengers" with Sean Connery and Uma Thurman.

• Black Grape
• Happy Mondays

July 7 [12:00 EDT] -- Shaun Ryder has been doing double duty. The former Happy Mondays singer is recording a new album with his band Black Grape, plus as we reported previously, he's starring in a big screen remake of "The Avengers."

Ryder, considered the bad boy of British rock for antics like staying the four letter word that begins with "f" and rhymes with "duck" on national TV 16 times, is currently being called 'Scarface.' He showed up at an interview with Britain's New Musical Express sporting bruises and a long, crescent-shaped scratch across his cheek, as it turns out, from accidental contact with co-star transvestite comedian Eddie Izzard during one of many fight scenes. Ryder has a fairly substantial role in the flick playing (naturally) a bad guy named Bully Boy along side Ralph Fiennes, Uma Thurman and the star of the original sixties TV series, Patrick McNee.

Ryder tells NME that in spite of his hectic schedule, the album is progressing nicely and that the first single, called "Marble," should be out by the end of September. Other song titles include "Squeaky," "Tell Me Something," "Jam Stax," "Rubber Band," "Get Higher," "Spotlight," "Lonely," "Words" and "Daddy Was A Baddy."

• Black Grape
• Happy Mondays

June 23 [12:00 EDT] -- Black Grape's founder, vocalist Shaun Ryder, will be making his big screen debut in $40 million movie version of sixties TV series "The Avengers."

Black Grape's Shaun Ryder will be making his big screen debut in a supporting role to Sean Connery, Uma Thurman and Ralph Fiennes in the movie version of the popular Sixties TV series "The Avengers."

British newswire PA News reports the notoriously rowdy Ryder will play a villain called Bully Boy.

An actor in the film told PA News that Ryder plays "third bad guy" and spends a lot of time fighting and driving round in minis. The movie is currently being filmed at the legendary Pinewood Studios in England.

Ryder was the frontman for Happy Mondays before the band self-destructed in 1993. The rehabilitated singer debuted Black Grape in 1995. He lives in Ireland with Oriole Leitch, daughter of sixties star Donovan.

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• Happy Mondays