"Punk Rock Angel Girl"
Photo: Nicktoons Network

Jewel's yodel isn't just some vocal-gymnastic thing she does to show off — it's a secret power. Her rebel yell can shake people out of their complacency.

At least, that's according to her upcoming animated short "Punk Rock Angel Girl," in which the singer/songwriter moonlights as a superhero — kind of.

"Punk Rock Angel Girl, or PRAG, she's just a teenager," Jewel explained. "She's a punk rocker, but what I call punk rock is getting angry with a cause. A lot of the show is about anger as a transformational, useful tool. There's a difference between pent-up aggression that's randomly expressed — that's just confrontational with no thought behind it — versus positive anger, thinking for yourself and making tough decisions."

Jewel created the concept, wrote the script and drew the title character — whom she also voices — for the Nickelodeon short, set to air this fall. The former art major thought the cartoon would be a fun way to use parables and satire "in an unassuming way," unlike, say, her "Intuition" video, which depicted her becoming an overly sexualized, overly commercialized pop star. It was meant to be ironic, but not everyone got the joke. With "Punk Rock Angel Girl," she hopes she can do something sophisticated and simple at the same time.

(Check out photos from Jewel's "Punk Rock Angel Girl.")

"I really enjoy the medium," Jewel said. "It's so much fun creating this whole world, but it's so hard to get everything I want in."

It's still a work in progress, so Jewel's got time to cram all her ideas into the series, which currently exists as two-minute stand-alone shorts. In the first, called "Tough Choices," PRAG discovers that a big, faceless corporation called Megacorp is trying to brainwash the youth of America to buy things that nobody would ever need. Megacorp's minions are disguised as celebrities — but underneath, they're actually robots, and if revealed as such, they attack.

"It's a faceless network conspiracy to make people stupid," Jewel said.

In "Tough Choices," one of Megacorp's robots pretends to be the pop idol Francoise, who picked PRAG's band to open up for him on tour. But instead of coming out to sing, he exhorts the crowd to buy a ton of products.

In another short Jewel has in mind, one of Megacorp's robots pretends to be Barbara Walters, who's supposed to be reporting on a protest at Central Park where a group wants to replace the ugly animals with pretty ones.

"Normally, PRAG is pretty cynical, but this level of stupidity is just shocking to her," Jewel said. "This robot impersonating Barbara Walters is saying these dumb and absurd things: 'Worms deserve to die.' 'Cows are ugly.' Stuff like that. And while she'd normally walk away and not get involved, she's starting to get upset and angry."

To top it off, Punk Rock Angel Girl gets a strange sensation when she gets angry, a feeling like she needs to throw up, which becomes a yodel as a lightning bolt comes out of her. These "Yellow Yodel Bolts of Energy" help PRAG tap into her inner reserves of power — but she also discovers that everyone has this power within them; it's just a matter of finding out what triggers it. For PRAG, it's being around stupidity, and for Jewel, that means there's an abundance of inspiration for future shorts.

"There's going to be tons of pop-culture tie-ins," she promised. "When Matthew McConaughey plays the bongos naked, when Janet Jackson's boob pops out, it turns out they were just one of the brainwashed zombies. And it's up to PRAG to save them."

• Photos From Jewel's "Punk Rock Angel Girl"

• Jewel

Tool's <i>10,000 Days</i>
Photo: Volcano

For five long years, Tool fans waited for Maynard James Keenan's rock collective to bless them with some fresh material to sink their teeth into. That's over 250 weeks of waiting and wondering just when Tool's next studio effort would surface to soothe those burning hunger pangs. Last week, Tool finally served up a fourth helping of avant-metal in the form of 10,000 Days, the follow-up to 2001's Lateralus.

From the looks of things, Tool's faithful followers couldn't stand another minute of malnourishment. Nearly 564,000 rushed right out to record stores to devour 10,000 Days. The result? Tool have reclaimed Billboard's albums chart throne. According to the latest SoundScan data, 10,000 Days becomes Tool's second-straight LP to debut at #1 (Lateralus opened on top with week-one sales topping 555,000).

All in all, it was a strong week for rock and roll. Of the 14 newcomers to the upcoming chart, nine are rock bands, including Pearl Jam, whose latest, self-titled release — the band's first in nearly four years — follows at #2 with 279,000 scans. Though it is by no means Pearl Jam's strongest debut showing (1996's No Code bowed at #1 with 366,000 copies sold, and 1993's Vs. and 1994's Vitalogy both opened at #1 with sales reported at 877,000 and 950,000, respectively), Pearl Jam did manage to outsell the grunge icons' two previous outings: 2000's Binaural, which debuted at #2 and pushed 226,000 units, and 2002's Riot Act, which finished at #5 with 166,000 scans.

Sales of Pearl Jam's 2004 best-of collection, Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003, also shot up 44 percent, moving close to 5,000 discs to return to the chart at #177.

Mobb Deep's Blood Money, the chart's sole hip-hop newbie, occupies the #3 spot with close to 106,000 copies sold. The rap veterans' first release for 50 Cent's G-Unit Records outsold the soundtrack to the Disney Channel original movie "High School Musical," which moved 94,000 copies and climbs three spots to #4. Me & My Gang, the latest from country trio Rascal Flatts, follows at #5 with sales of 89,000 plus. The 21st installment in the Now That's What I Call Music! compilation series — featuring tracks from the Pussycat Dolls, Nelly, Chris Brown, Nickelback and the All-American Rejects — finishes at #6 with 85,000 units scanned. The previous week's #1, Godsmack's IV, slides to #7 with nearly 84,000 copies sold.

Jewel's latest, Goodbye Alice in Wonderland, debuts with 82,000 copies sold — enough to break the top 10, but soft compared to 2003's 0304, which bowed at #2 with 143,000 sales. Bruce Springsteen's We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions put up second-week sales of 75,000 and then some to give the Boss a solid ninth-place finish. A fresh face rounds out the top 10 as country artist Phil Vassar's Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 takes the 10 spot after selling 65,000 copies its first week in stores.

A City by the Light Divided, the new LP from New Jersey emo heroes Thursday, debuts at #20 with nearly 46,000 units scanned. The band's 2003 major label debut, War All the Time, opened at #7 with 74,000 in sales. The self-titled debut from Wolfmother bows at #22 with 37,000 copies sold, and the self-titled debut offering from Rebel Meets Rebel, a project featuring ex-Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul and his late brother, "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, claims the #38 slot, with first-week scans of nearly 26,000.

Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell's solo debut, Welcome Home, pops up at #74 with 13,000-plus scans, while Gomez's first studio LP for Dave Matthews' ATO Records, How We Operate, bows at #106 with over 8,000 copies sold. Ministry's Rio Grande Blood debuts at #134 with close to 7,000 sales, and the Black Keys' Chulahoma just makes the chart, coming in at #199 with more than 4,000 copies sold.

Check out "Throwback With Mobb Deep" for a look at the duo's road to G-Unit.

• Tool
• Pearl Jam
• Mobb Deep
• Jewel
• Thursday

Pearl Jam's <i>Pearl Jam</i>
Photo: J-Records

Jamming the Airwaves: Pearl Jam's "World Wide Suicide" has been holding strong at modern-rock radio, and with J Records ruler Clive Davis backing the band, expect big things from the group's first studio disc in four years. The once-enigmatic Eddie Vedder tears into President Bush on the new single with the lyrics "A handsome face that the president took for granted/ Writing checks that others pay," but he doesn't stop there, chewing out the administration on "Army Reserve," "Unemployable" and "Inside Job." The band's nurtured a political bent over the years, but this time people will probably be listening.

Married to the Mobb: While Pearl Jam are hoping for a rebirth after aligning themselves with a new music mogul, so are Mobb Deep with 50 Cent. In a week bristling with major rock releases, Mobb are carving out some space for beats with Blood Money, their first release for 50's G-Unit Records. Prodigy told MTV he had to shave some blasphemous lyrics off "Pearly Gates" at the label's request, but the duo did sneak a couple of unlisted tracks onto the disc: "Have a Party," featuring 50 Cent and Nate Dogg, and a remix of 50's "Outta Control" featuring Mobb Deep. In fact, the record may as well be listed as a joint release between Mobb and G-Unit, what with Tony Yayo, Lloyd Banks and Young Buck all making featured appearances. And toward the end of the record — which Havoc partially devotes to his fallen brother, Todd "T.J." Muchita — they hook up with Mary J. Blige for "It's Alright."

Tool Time: Never ones to miss the opportunity for biting sarcasm, Tool may have titled their first album in almost five years 10,000 Days because of how long it's taken to crank out the thing — but, if we're splitting hairs here, it's only been a mere 1,448. While rock competitors Pearl Jam are caught up in the so-called "post-9/11 world," Tool don't seem to be, even if this is their first release since the monumental event — in classic Tool style, the record presses the compact disc up against its 80-minute mark and features darkly mystical tracks like "Jambi," "Lipan Conjuring" and "Rosetta Stoned."

Spare a Dime: Fans still mourning "Dimebag" Darrell may find some healing with the release of a CD and DVD featuring the departed Pantera guitarist, which are being released on brother/ Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul's own Big Vin Records a few weeks later than first anticipated. The title of Pantera's 1990 album, Cowboys From Hell, finds new meaning with the project Rebel Meets Rebel, which partnered reuniting Darrell, Paul and Pantera bassist Rex Brown with Willie Nelson/ George Jones songwriter David Allan Coe. It's a record, as Paul says in a press release, that Darrell once joked he hoped to put out "before the old man [Coe] kicks the bucket." The DVD "DimeVision, Vol. 1: That's the Fun I Have" is more straight-up Darrell, a visual tribute that cobbles together unseen archival concert footage with "Jackass"-style home-video antics and more.

Thursday Comes Two Days Early: Sure there are some big releases dropping this week, but what about all that scrumptious enhanced content? Well, look no further than Thursday's A City by the Light Divided, which finds the band drifting away from that emo thang and, with the addition of a permanent keyboard player, moving into broader territory. The limited-edition digipak will have some video goodies, while those who downloaded the record on iTunes got a bonus track, and the ones who shelled out for it at Tower Records were gifted with a free 7-inch.

Jewel of the Pile: Like a diamond in the rough, Jewel's sixth record, Goodbye Alice in Wonderland, may very well be drowned out by this week's louder releases. But give her some rock credit where it's due: She did re-record the LP with Green Day producer Rob Cavallo after she wasn't happy with the first go-round, even if, on "Satellite," she says rock and roll can't mend her broken heart.

Aussies Vs. Brits: This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Statute of Westminster, a measure that officially cut off most of the constitutional connections between Australia and the United Kingdom (technically it wasn't adopted until 1942). But that doesn't mean there can't be some good-natured rivalry between the commonwealth and its mother country.

And while we're on the subject of mothers, Wolfmother and their self-titled debut lead this week's pack — hardee har har — of Aussie releases. Fresh off a Coachella performance that got them some front-page notice in Sunday's edition of The Los Angeles Times, the power trio keep it feral on tracks like "Where Eagles Have Been" and "White Unicorn." Also busting out from the Land Down Under are Lostep, a Melbourne two-piece who have been enmeshed in the Global Underground DJ community but are finally stepping out with their debut, Because We Can. Decoder Ring — six musicians and a live projectionist who makes live montages with three concurrent projectors — provide the soundtrack for "Somersault," a coming-of-age movie set in New South Wales, as their first U.S. release. And singer/songwriter Audrey Auld Mezera is chiming in with In the House, a two-disc live set she recorded in Sebastopol, California, late last year with Nina Gerber.

On the other side of the world, Gomez chalk up How to Operate, their first studio effort for Dave Matthews' ATO Records, which they crafted with producer Gil Norton (Foo Fighters, Pixies). Charlatans UK head out with the reggae-heavy Simpatico, their first U.S. release in five years. The band has said the disc was heavily influenced by Joe Strummer and Gram Parsons, and it's already cracked the charts in their homeland. Lewes singer/songwriter David Ford's I Sincerely Apologize for All the Trouble I've Caused was also released first overseas, but it's getting a major-label push in the U.S., even though Ford recorded the whole thing on his G4. English duo the Boy Least Likely To, who have been getting heavy play on Los Angeles tastemaking radio station KCRW-FM, are taking the humble route by releasing their word-of-mouth The Best Party Ever at a low price in Coalition of Independent Music Stores. It comes with a bonus disc containing two extra tunes, "Rock Upon a Porch With You" and "Grubby Little Memory." And World Party's Dumbing Up is also notable: Frontman Karl Wallinger opted to issue the LP on Seaview Records after breaking his previous label contract when he discovered the label, his former band and U.K. megastar Robbie Williams created an alternate version of his song "She's the One," which subsequently won Single of the Year at the Brit Awards.

Song Title of the Week:

"You Suck! But Your Peanut Butter Is OK" from None More Black's This Is Satire

Other Notables:

Ministry's Rio Grande Blood: Al Jourgensen's calling the latest blast from his band "an all-out aural assault against the occupying forces of demagoguery and complacency." He dishes the anti-GW dirt on "The Great Satan," "Fear (Is Big Business)" and "Lieslieslies," enlisting comrade Jello Biafra for "Ass Clown" and, more surprisingly, a retired drill sergeant named Sergeant Major for Jourgensen's salute to soldiers, "Gangreen."

Brian Littrell's Welcome Home: The Backstreet Boy's new label isn't making many overt references to his affiliation with the boy band, instead focusing on his rebirth as a Christian artist. In a recent press release, the CEO of Provident Music Group said: "Brian [is] a forthright, sincere person of God. This is what Brian was built to do." Like-minded songs include "Grace of My Life," "Angels and Heroes" and "Jesus Loves You."

The Black Keys' Chulahoma: The Songs of Junior Kimbrough: Akron, Ohio's only pair of white guys playing swamp blues resurface with a six-song set devoted to their muse, the late Mississippi blues great Junior Kimbrough. Guitar/singer Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney rework their 'brough's "Work Me," "Have Mercy on Me" and "Meet Me in the City."

Roy Hargrove's Nothing Serious and the RH Factor's Distractions: Hargrove's double-dipping this week. Nothing Serious is the hard-bopper's first acoustic-jazz set in six years, and he works with a backup quintet on songs like "A Day in Vienna" and "Devil Eyes"; the RH Factor is his neo-soul group, and they run through four chapters of "Distractions," plus "Kansas City Funk" and "Bullsh--."

New Releases:

• Merrie Amsterburg - Clementine & Other Stories (Q Division)
• Apiary - Lost in Focus (Metal Blade)
• Andrey Dergatchev - "The Return" soundtrack (ECM)
• Jon Auer - Songs From the Year of Our Demise (Pattern 25)
• Baby Dayliner - Critics Pass Away (Brassland)
• Nik Bärtsch's Ronin - Stoa (ECM)
• Beethoven's Wig 3 - Many More Sing-Along Symphonies (Rounder)
• The Black Keys - Chulahoma: The Songs of Junior Kimbrough (digipak EP; Fat Possum)
  Buy Now: Chulahoma: The Songs of Junior Kimbrough (Fat Possum)
• Blue Dogs - Live at Workplay (Black River)
• The Boy Least Likely To - The Best Party Ever (Too Young to Die; with bonus disc; available only at Coalition of Independent Music Stores)
• Brandtson - Hello Control (digipak; The Militia Group)
• The Charlatans UK - Simpatico (Sanctuary)
  Buy Now: Simpatico (Sanctuary)
• Clear Static - Clear Static (Maverick)
• Court & Spark - Hearts (Absolutely Kosher)
• Billy Cox & Buddy Miles - The Band of Gypsys Return (Image Entertainment)
• D-Block - Mix Tape (with DVD; Koch)
• Decoder Ring - "Somersault" soundtrack (Bella Union)
• Devotchka - Curse Your Little Heart (EP; Ace Fu)
• Phil Driscoll - Drops of Praise (Koch)
• Dysrhythmia - Barriers & Passages (Relapse)
• The Elms - The Chess Hotel (Universal South)
• Enslaved - Run (Candlelight)
• Alejandro Escovedo - The Boxing Mirror (Back Porch)
• First Blood - Killafornia (enhanced; Trustkill)
• David Ford - I Sincerely Apologise for All the Trouble I've Caused (Red Ink)
• Gadget - Funeral March (Relapse)
• Gomez - How We Operate (ATO)
  Buy Now: How We Operate (ATO)
• Roy Hargrove - Nothing Serious (Verve)
• Homeless J. - Three Seconds to Gaze (Selectric)
• Izzy - In Awe of You (Koch)
• Jewel - Goodbye Alice in Wonderland (Atlantic)
• Greg Joseph - American Diary (digipak; High Wire)
• Brian Littrell - Welcome Home (Reunion)
• Lostep - Because We Can (Global Underground)
• Rockie Lynne - Rockie Lynne (Universal South)
• Robin McKelle - Introducing Robin McKelle (Cheap Lullaby)
• Audrey Auld Mezera & Nina Gerber - In the House (two CDs; Reckless)
• Ministry - Rio Grande Blood (digipak; 13th Planet/ Megaforce)
  Buy Now: Rio Grande Blood (digipak; 13th Planet/ Megaforce)
• Mobb Deep - Blood Money (Interscope/ G-Unit)
  Read: "Throwback: Mobb Deep"
  Buy Now: Blood Money (Interscope/ G-Unit)
• Mon Frere - Blood Sweat & Swords (Cake)
• Gary Moore - Old New Ballads Blues (Eagle)
• Greg Murray - Tymes Ten (Bus Stop)
• Marykate O'Neil - 1-800-Bankrupt (digipak; Nettwerk/ 71 Recordings)
• None More Black - This Is Satire (Fat Wreck Chords)
• Gregory Page - Love Made Me Drunk (digipak; Seedling)
• Glen Phillips - Welcome Home (digipak; High Wire)
• Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam (J)
  Read: "Pearl Jam, Post-'Therapy': 'The Sex Is Better Than Ever!' "
  Buy Now: Pearl Jam (J)
• Glen Phillips - Mr Lemons (digipak; High Wire)
• Rebel Meets Rebel - Rebel Meets Rebel (Big Vin)
  Read: "Vinnie Paul Ready To Release Dimebag's Rebel Music "
• The RH Factor - Distractions (Verve)
• Sadus - Out for Blood (Mascot)
• Scar Symmetry - Pitch Black Progress (Nuclear Blast America)
• Soil - True Self (DRT)
• Starkweather - Croatoan (Candlelight)
• Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up I Am Dreaming (digipak; Absolutely Kosher)
• Thursday - A City by the Light Divided (digipak due same day; Island)
  Read: "Thursday Frontman Says He Doesn't Want To Exploit My Chemical Romance, But ..."
  Buy Now: A City by the Light Divided (Island)
• Andy Timmons Band - Resolution (Favored Nations)
• Tool - 10,000 Days (Volcano)
  Buy Now: 10,000 Days (Volcano)
• Ralph Towner - Time Line (ECM)
• Up Bustle & Out - City Breakers: 18 Frames Per Second (Collision Cause Chap)
• The Warning - All Systems Dead (Punk Core)
• Carnie Wilson - A Mother's Gift: Lullabies From the Heart (Big 3)
• Wolfmother - Wolfmother (Interscope)
  Read: "Wild Afros, Raging Riffs, Trippy Lyrics: Wolfmother Live Up To Their Name"
  Buy Now: Wolfmother (Interscope)
• World Party - Dumbing Up (with DVD: Seaview)
• Yyrkoon - Unhealthy Opera (Osmose)
• Zombi - Surface to Air (Relapse)
• Various artists - Before the Rise (three CDs; BCD)
• Various artists - The Royal Dan: A Tribute (Tone Center)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

McHouston Baker - Mississippi Delta Dues (Fontana)
• Chi-Lites - The Ultimate Chi-Lites (Brunswick)
• Eric Clapton - Guitar Legend: The Very Best of the Early Years With the Yardbirds/ The Immediate All Stars/ John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (Metro)
• Nat King Cole - The Very Best of Nat King Cole (Capitol)
• Deep Purple - Live at Montreux 1996 (Eagle)
• Manu DiBango - The Very Best of Manu DiBango: African Soul (Fontana)
• Eleven Hundred Springs - Bandwagon (Palo Duro)
• Al Green - The Belle Album: Expanded Edition (Capitol)
• Albert Hammond - Albert Hammond/ 99 Miles From L.A. (BGO)
• Hirax - Not Dead Yet (Black Devil)
• Humble Pie - The Best of the Immediate Years (Metro)
• Furry Lewis - Fourth and Beale (Fontana)
• Wes McDonald - Guest (Skybucket)
• Molly Hatchet - The Deed Is Done (Gott Discs)
• Morrison-Williams - Morrison-Williams (Palo Duro)
• Helen Reddy - The Woman I Am: The Definitive Collection (Capitol)
• Django Reinhardt - Memorial (two CDs; Empire Musicwerks)
• Roswell Rudd/ Toumani Diabate - Malicool (Fontana)
• Darryl Lee Rush - Llano Ave. (Palo Duro)
• John Stewart - An Introduction to John Stewart (Fuel)
• Taste - Taste (Fontana)
• Phil Vassar - Greatest Hits (Arista)
• Jackie Wilson - The Ultimate Jackie Wilson (Brunswick)

Music DVDs:

• Deep Purple - "Live at Montreux" (Eagle Vision)
• Dimebag Darrell - "DimeVision, Vol. 1: That's the Fun I Have" (Big Vin)
• Emerson, Lake & Palmer - "The Birth of a Band - Isle of Wight Festival, Saturday, August 29 1970" (Eagle Vision)
• The Four Tops - "From the Heart - 50th Anniversary Celebration" (Image Entertainment)
• Howard Jones - "20th Anniversary Greatest Hits" (Koch)
• Transatlantic - "Building the Bridge/ Live in America" (Metal Blade)
• Willowz - "See In Squares" (Sympathy for the Record Industry)

Coming Attractions:

May 9:

• Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere (Downtown)
• The Isley Brothers - Baby Makin' Music (Island)
• Korn - Live & Rare (Epic)
• Nick Lachey - What's Left of Me (Jive)
  Buy Now: What's Left of Me (Jive)
• Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium (two CDs; limited edition with DVD also available; Warner Bros.)
  Read: "Chili Peppers Stoked About New Album, Possible Kanye Tour"
  Buy Now: Stadium Arcadium (Warner Bros.)
• Snow Patrol - Eyes Open (A&M)
  Read: "Snow Patrol Turn 'Candy-Assed' Music Into Beastly Arena Rock"
  Buy Now: Eyes Open (A&M)

May 16:

• Ashley Parker Angel - Soundtrack to Your Life (Universal)
  Buy Now: Soundtrack to Your Life (Universal)
• Cam'ron - Killa Season (limited-edition version with DVD and two bonus tracks also available; Rap-a-Lot)
  Read: "Mixtape Monday: LL Cool J Stays Hungry, Cam'ron Delivers A Preview"
  Buy Now: Killa Season (Rap-a-Lot)
• Hoobastank - Every Man for Himself (Island)
  Read: "Hoobastank Find Inspiration For New LP In Scott Weiland's Cold Shoulder"
  Buy Now: Every Man for Himself (Island)
• Christina Milian - So Amazin' (enhanced; Def Jam)
  Buy Now: So Amazin' (Def Jam)
• The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers (V2/ Third Man)
  Read: "Jack White: Don't Call The Raconteurs A Side Project"
• Rock Kills Kid - Are You Nervous? (Reprise)
  Read: "Rock Kills Kid Bring Music From Windowless Room To Radio"

May 23:

• Angels & Airwaves - We Don't Need to Whisper (Geffen)
  Read: "Tom DeLonge Spills More About Angels & Airwaves' Plans For World Domination "
• The Dixie Chicks - Taking the Long Way (Columbia)
• Pink - "Live in Europe" (La Face)
• The Walkmen - Hundred Miles Off (Record Collection)

• Pearl Jam
• Mobb Deep
• Tool
• Dimebag Darrell
• Thursday

Ashanti
Photo: Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images

Ashanti pulled out of a planned concert in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday after her cousin was killed by a drunk driver while running an errand for the singer before the show. According to the Cape Times Web site, 20-year-old Quinshae Snead was thrown into oncoming traffic from a car in which she was a passenger after it was struck by an unlicensed 17-year-old drunk driver who had stolen his mother's car. The teen was arrested for drunk driving. Ashanti was on the bill for the Redd's Divas Concert at the Coca-Cola Dome, which also featured Lauryn Hill, Regina Belle and a host of popular African singers. ...

04.14.06

Madonna, Elton John, INXS, Staind, and Ozomatli are among the artists participating in Music Rising's online ticket auctions, raising funds to replace musical instruments and equipment destroyed during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Sixty-five auctions are already under way, with the rest being added each weekend throughout the month at
www.ticketmaster.com. ...

Jennifer Lopez was hit with a lawsuit on Tuesday. TV writer Jack Bunick filed a federal suit in New York against the singer, as well as CBS, UPN, and MTV's parent company, Viacom, for copyright infringement. He claims that the UPN show that Lopez executive produces, "South Beach," improperly used his script in a January 11 broadcast of the two-hour season premiere "Pilot/ I'm Not Your Baby." (The script for that episode was credited to Matt Cirulnick, Greg Cirulnick, and co-executive producer Philip Levens). ...

Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore and Paula Abdul are teaching kids how to be safe on the Internet via a series of PSAs that will begin airing this week. Other celebs featured in the spots include Celine Dion, Tony Danza, Donny Osmond, Kathy Ireland, and the cast of "7th Heaven." The campaign is sponsored by the KlaasKidds Foundation and the Child Safety Network, who are providing fingerprint cards, child photo I.D. cards, DNA kits, and access to the national database of registered sex offenders. ... Florida's chapter of the Recording Academy will present their Honors award to the Backstreet Boys on Monday. Puerto Rican pop artist Ednita Nazario is also being honored. ...

"Laguna Beach" star Alex Murrel is recording an album due June 20 on Eyecon/ Universal Records. She's also hitting the road this spring on the Rock Your Prom Tour. ... O.A.R. and Jack's Mannequin are teaming for a summer tour kicking off June 8 in Phoenix. The trek will wrap August 13 in Wallingford, Connecticut. ... The Strokes have added several more U.S. stops to their current North American tour. Before the New York rockers head to Canada May 6 for eight gigs, they'll hit Tucson, Arizona, April 29 and then return to the States May 20 with a concert in Glen Allen, Virginia. The band will also play Memphis (May 22); Birmingham, Alabama (May 23); North Charleston, South Carolina (May 25); and June 11, they'll be in Santa Barbara, California, for the tour's final stop. ... MySpace and Cingular have teamed to offer unsigned acts the ability to create and sell ring tones. The process is available MySpace.com/CingularStudio. ...

Death Cab for Cutie, the Flaming Lips, Sonic Youth, Secret Machines, Wolfmother, the Go! Team, the Hold Steady and She Wants Revenge will constitute the bill for this year's Kuyahoga Festival, which is being sponsored by Cleveland rock station WXRK. The concert will be held August 3 at the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, with more bands being added in the coming weeks. ... The Sword, former Guided by Voices frontman Robert Pollard, Blue Cheer, Rhymefest and Erase Errata have been added to the lineup for this year's Intonation Music Festival, which is set for June 24 and June 25 at Chicago's Union Park. The bill also features previously announced performers Lady Sovereign, Lupe Fiasco, the Constantines, High on Fire, Annie and headliners Bloc Party and the Streets. ... Colin Meloy of the Decemberists and Sufjan Stevens are among the acts on The Sound the Hare Heard, the latest compilation from Kill Rock Stars. Death Vessel, Wooden Wand and Devin Davis are also included on the album, due in May. ...

Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit film company inked a first-look deal with Focus Features and Rogue Pictures this week. Under the terms of the agreement, Latifah and her producing partner Shakim Compere will develop feature projects for both Focus and Rogue. So far, Flavor Unit's productions include "Bringing Down the House," "The Cookout" and "Beauty Shop." Latifah is expected to star in some of the new projects, but the deal is structured to nurture new talent as well. ... Ice Cube will continue his break from movies for the next month and a half to hit the road in support of his upcoming seventh solo album, Laugh Now, Cry Later (June 6). The 22-date swing is slated to kick off Thursday with a show at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California, according to Cube's spokesperson, and it includes dates in San Diego, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, New York, Atlanta, Houston, Denver and Las Vegas. The tour is currently slated to wrap up with a June 3 date at the House of Blues in Los Angeles. ...

Rob Thomas and Jewel are teaming up for a summer tour. The two will trek cross-country for seven weeks starting May 23 in Clearwater, Florida, and wrapping July 5 in San Diego. Jewel's next album, Goodbye Alice in Wonderland, is due May 2. ... "Let's Rock Again!," the behind-the-scenes documentary chronicling the life and career of late Clash frontman Joe Strummer, is scheduled for release on DVD on June 27. The movie, directed by the punk icon's longtime friend Dick Rude, has personal interviews and backstage footage shot in the 18 months leading up to Strummer's death in 2002. The film traces Strummer's beginnings from his days fronting the Clash to his tireless tours with late-period band the Mescaleros. That's not to be confused with a second, in-the-works Strummer doc directed by close friend Julian Temple. ...

Despite rumors to the contrary, Solange Knowles is not pregnant with a second child, she assured fans Thursday. "There is absolutely no validity to this rumor," Beyoncé's younger sister said in a statement. "The bloggers are circulating old photos of me from my baby shower over two years ago and misrepresenting them as current photos." Solange also said that she's been busy producing, recording, and negotiating future movie deals. ... Babyface filed suit Thursday in Los Angeles against Anita Baker, claiming the singer failed to pay him for a song he produced for her. Babyface claims he's owed $100,000 for co-writing "Like You Used to Do" during a Detroit session in May 2004. The song was used on Baker's gold album My Everything. Babyface is also asking to be paid $150,000 for two shows that he agreed to do with Baker in July 2005 that she canceled (He was paid, however, for the concerts they did do together).

04.13.2006

Nearly two months after the deadline passed for Michael Jackson to make good on $270 million worth of loans from Fortress Investment Group, the singer has finally completed a refinancing deal, his Bahrain-based advisory team confirmed Thursday (April 13). While they wouldn't disclose terms of the deal, Jackson's team said the singer got some help from Sony — co-owners of Sony/ ATV Music Publishing, which contains the Beatles catalog — and that the transaction was structured by Citigroup, the investment arm of Citibank. Sources close to the singer say Sony has the option to buy half of Jackson's stake in the Beatles catalog, while the singer has a new $300 million loan from Fortress, with reduced interest payments. ...

When Paula Abdul's not judging "American Idol," she spends her free time designing jewelry. Now she's got a 26-piece collection of charms, pendants, earrings and bracelets in a mix of textures and metals, adorned with inspirational phrases "to give a piece of hopeful spirit back to the world," Abdul said. She'll debut the Paula Abdul Jewelry Collection April 21 in two one-hour shows airing at 1 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET on QVC. ...

Lucky Kanye West fans in the U.K. will be able to get their hands on 'Ye's first-ever live album April 24. The CD/DVD release Late Orchestration captures his September performance for 300 lucky fans at the famed Abbey Road Studios. According to a spokesperson for West's label, Def Jam, the CD features 13 tracks, while the DVD is loaded with live performances — including a duet with John Legend — plus music videos and a never-before-seen interview with the College Dropout himself. ...

Wild child Bijou Phillips is now officially a rock chick in her own right, having learned to play bass for the Germs biopic "What We Do Is Secret." Phillips — who plays Lorna Doom in the flick, due out later this year — told Stuff magazine that, when she was too sore to keep playing, she super-glued duct tape over the blisters on her fingers because "you want to chop off your hand at the end." "We recorded all the songs by the Germs live and played to our own recordings in the movie," she told the mag for its May cover. "It was guerrilla filmmaking, but I can't imagine doing a movie about the Germs with a big budget. That would be so wrong." ...

Metallica's James Hetfield and Robert Trujillo will perform with Alice in Chains' Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney May 12 at the second annual MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert, to be held at the Music Box @ Fonda in Hollywood. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club will open the show, which will also feature a performance by Jason Mraz. During the event, Hetfield will be presented with the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award for his dedication and support of the MusiCares MAP Fund and his devotion to helping other addicts with recovery process. ...

In related news, Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagan has joined Alice in Chains for a show airing next month, but will he join the band for its upcoming European summer tour? "It's been rumored," McKagan teased. "The amount of songs they wrote, I got a list of songs to learn, 33 songs. I look at this list, and I'm like, 'OK, how many of these are filler songs? This is a huge song, this is a huge song. ... I've going to have to learn them all.' " "If he comes to Europe," Alice guitarist Jerry Cantrell interrupted. "If the rumors are true," McKagan agreed. "I'm not saying they are, or did I?" "I don't know, you might have," Cantrell laughed. "So that put the rumors to rest, didn't it?" McKagan laughed. "I could be showing up in Europe. That would be cool." Alice in Chains' performance on VH1 Classic's "Decades Rock Live!" tribute to Heart airs May 5 at 8 p.m. ...

Thursday have been forced to pull off the final three stops on the Taste of Chaos Tour. Frontman Geoff Rickly "has become very ill and is having some extreme issues with his throat," according to a post left on the band's Web site by its manager, Dave Ciancio. "We had to get him home and to his doctor ASAP. The band was really looking forward to these shows and [is] sad they can't come play them." Rickly will be examined by his doctor when he returns to New Jersey; there's no word on what symptoms he's been complaining about. The post adds that the band hopes to make the gigs up in the not-so-distant future. The remaining Taste of Chaos dates are Thursday night in Toronto, April 14 in Ottawa and April 15 in Montreal. ...

Following the breakout collabo success of Danger Doom with their 2005 opus The Mouse and the Mask, indie hip-hop label Stones Throw Records will again partner with cable TV's "Adult Swim" for a second venture: an album celebrating the West Coast label's 10-year anniversary. The yet-untitled album is set for a September 19 release and will feature contributions from Stones Throw's rich roster of talent — which includes MF Doom, Madlib and the late Jay Dee. The album will be executive produced by Peanut Butter Wolf. ...

Joan Jett — who'll perform this summer as part of the annual Warped Tour — will release Sinner, her forthcoming album with her infamous Blackhearts, June 6. The album features guest appearances by Bikini Kill/ Le Tigre frontwoman Kathleen Hanna on "Watersign," "Tube Talkin' " and "Five." It's Jett's first effort since 1999's Fetish. ... Swedish singer/songwriter José González will hit the road June 16 in Los Angeles for a 15-date North American tour, with openers Juana Molina and Psapp. Dates run through July 3 in New York, with the trek making stops in Seattle, Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis and Philadelphia. ...

Dark New Day drummer Will Hunt has been filling in for Mötley Crüe's Tommy Lee on the final few dates of the band's North American tour, which ends Thursday in Regina, Saskatchewan. Lee has been receiving anti-inflammatory injections to help him manage tendonitis in his right wrist. Hunt, who had previously backed Lee as part of the rocker's solo band, will not be leaving Dark New Day, according to the band's guitarist Clint Lowery — he's just doing the Crüe a favor. ... The New York Dolls will issue the album One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This on July 25, according to the band's label. The disc will include 13 tracks, including "Take a Good Look at My Good Looks," "Maimed Happiness," and the first single, "Dance Like a Monkey." Look for the album, which was produced by Jack Douglas (Aerosmith, Cheap Trick), to feature guest appearances by Iggy Pop, Bo Diddley, and R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe.

[This story was originally published at 2:47 pm ET on 04.14.2006]

• Ashanti
• Madonna
• Elton John
• INXS
• Staind

Michael Stipe
Photo: MTV News

R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe, Bright Eyes and Public Enemy's Chuck D are among the artists slated to appear at "Bring 'Em Home Now," a March 20 concert to benefit the anti-war organizations Veterans for Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the War. The concert — to be held on the third anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq — will take place at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom and also feature a speech by activist Cindy Sheehan. Other artists scheduled to perform include Rufus Wainwright, Fischerspooner and Peaches. Tickets for the "Bring 'Em Home" benefit range from $28-$150, but if you can't afford it, you'll still be able to at least hear the show: Janeane Garofalo will broadcast her Air America Radio program, "The Majority Report," live from the Hammerstein. ...

Before kicking off their latest tour Friday in their hometown of Bakersfield, California, Korn will have a street in the city named after them. Mayor Harvey Hall will unveil Korn Row at a 3 p.m. ceremony. ... Gorillaz are upping their animated ante by launching a game for cell phones in April. The four bandmembers will be represented in a game whose graphics aim to blend old-school, arcade-style visuals with the band's already-established look and artwork. For more information about the mobile game, go to MrGoodLiving.com/Gorillaz. ... Nominees for the sixth annual Jammy Awards — which honor "artists who thrive in the live music environment" (read: jam bands) — were announced Thursday. Tennessee rockers My Morning Jacket are among the leaders with three nods, although Widespread Panic, the Allman Brothers Band and Ryan Adams will be vying for awards as well. The hardware will be handed out during a concert/awards show to be held April 20 (4/20, dude!) in New York at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden. For more information visit Jammys.com. ...

O.A.R. will tour college campuses across the country beginning March 29 at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, and ending April 26 at the Northern University of Illinois in DeKalb. The video game "MLB '06: The Show," for which O.A.R. contributed an original track called "Of a Revolution," is sponsoring the trek. ... She Wants Revenge, who recently entered the Billboard albums chart at #38, have signed on to open for Depeche Mode on their North American spring tour. Dates have yet to be confirmed, but the outing is slated for April and May. ... "Rock of Ages," the Los Angeles musical that pays homage to hair metal and stars Tenacious D's Kyle Gass, has been extended through March 18. Beginning March 2, the show will move from the Vanguard to the larger RenMar Studios in Hollywood. ... Mudvayne will headline Tampa, Florida, radio station 98Rock's Livestock 15 on April 29. Set for Festival Park in Zephyrhills, the bill will also feature Staind, Rob Zombie and Saliva. ...

Jewel will headline the pre-race show for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Auto Club 500 at California Speedway on Sunday. Fox will televise the event. ... The Vines have settled on Vision Valley as the title for their forthcoming disc, due in stores April 4. The album will feature 13 tracks, including "Anysound," "Nothins Comin" and "Futuretarded." ... A new line of Jerry Garcia-inspired teas will hit premium tea shops and gourmet food stores starting next week. Called J. Garcia Artisan Teas, there are five blends in all named after the late Grateful Dead guitarist. A portion of the proceeds from the teas will benefit DrawBridge, a nonprofit that provides art supplies for children in homeless shelters. The teas in the Garcia line are Morning Brew, Shady Grown, Magic Herb, Spirit of Sage and Jerry Cherry. ... SideOneDummy Records will celebrate their 10-year anniversary March 22, 24 and 25 with a series of show at the Key Club in Los Angeles. Flogging Molly, Gogol Bordello and MxPx are among the acts scheduled to perform. ... The Accident Experiment, former P.O.D. guitarist Marcos Curiel's new band, will finally release their debut, United We Fear, in May. The band will promote the record with a performance at South by Southwest. ...

The Go! Team will trek across the States beginning March 15 at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. Dates in Washington, D.C., New York, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Las Vegas will follow before the band hits Coachella April 30. ... Secret Machines will release their new record exclusively to online retailers for several weeks beginning February 28. Ten Silver Drops, featuring first single "Alone, Jealous and Stoned," is due in stores April 18. Former Afghan Wigs singer Greg Dulli will release the fourth album under his Twilight Singers moniker May 16. Powder Burns will feature appearances from Joseph Arthur and Ani DiFranco. ... Nothing like five 10- to 13-year-old kids singing "Whip It!" Devo have created a kids' group called Devo 2.0 that will debut with a CD and DVD on March 14. ... Police guitarist Andy Summer has signed a deal with U.K. publisher Portrait/ Piatkus to write his memoir, "One Train Later." Summer's autobiography is due later this fall and will include his early days in the London music scene to his superstar heyday with the Police. ... The Charlatans UK will release their new album, Sympatico, May 2. Steering away from their typical Brit-rock dance/techno vibe, the new disc will instead consist of light, upbeat reggae tunes. The Charlatans will perform at South by Southwest on March 18 and kick off a headlining trek after the album's release.

02.22.2006

Beyoncé — who worked on Destiny's Child's last album while shooting "The Pink Panther" — says she won't be pulling double duty with "Dreamgirls." "I've put mostly everything aside," she said. "Usually I'm writing an album and performing and touring and doing all these crazy things at the same time, and for the first time I've committed six whole months [to do nothing but the movie]. It's very scary, because performing, singing and writing, that's my comfort zone, so I had to have confidence in myself with the acting and tell myself, 'I know I can do this.' " Beyoncé plans to start her second solo album after the movie and release it this summer, "which means I have six weeks to record, but I've done that just about every album," so it shouldn't be a problem meeting the deadline, she said ...

Game's sophomore LP, The Dr.'s Advocate, will drop June 6, according to the rapper's camp. Dre, Kanye West, Just Blaze, Scott Storch and Timbaland are said to have beats on the LP. ... The party appears to be over: Kristin Cavallari's new show "Get This Party Started" has gone on hiatus after only two episodes. A UPN spokesperson said the show, which debuted February 7, will return, but no date has been set. Cavallari's acting debut has also been bumped — her guest-star stint on "Veronica Mars," scheduled to air February 15, has been delayed until March 15. ... Lil Jon, currently touring in Australia with 50 Cent, is nearly finished with his fourth album, Crunk Rock, which will feature E-40 on the first single, "Snap Yo Fingers." Jon will release the record later this year on TVT Records after settling a royalties dispute with the label. "TVT cut the check and now it's time for me to get back to work," the rapper said in a statement. Jon is also producing for two new TVT acts, rapper Chyna Whyte and R&B singer Oobie. ... Green Day will be among the recipients of the San Francisco chapter of the Recording Academy Honors Award, celebrating those who have "improved the environment for the creative community." Jazz artists George Duke and Dave Brubeck are also being honored at the gala, to be held March 19 at Westin St. Francis.

Snoop Dogg tackled pee-wee football, and now he's got another league of his own. The hip-hop superstar will serve as the commissioner for the recently announced Hip-Hop Gaming League, which will have top athletes and musicians including NBA forward Carmelo Anthony, NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson, Method Man and Paul Wall battling it out on the Xbox 360. ... The Killers are being sued by their former manager Braden Merrick for $16 million for breach of contract. The lawsuit — which also includes the band's current manager Robert Reynolds, who Merrick claims "intentionally interfered with the contractual relations" between him and the band — was filed late Tuesday in the band's hometown of Las Vegas. According to court papers, Merrick — who discovered the rock quartet in 2002 and "guided them to stardom," he claims — says he was kicked to "the nose-bleed seats" by the Killers as soon as they put out their debut LP, Hot Fuss. Merrick says the Killers' 2003 contract labeled him as the band's sole personal manager, but that agreement was terminated by the band (through Reynolds) in May 2005. ... Shakira and Daddy Yankee will heat up the stage for the 18th annual Premio Lo Nuestro awards, airing Thursday on Univision. The gyrating songstress and reggaetón king will join fellow performers Juanes, Laura Pausini and others at the ceremony honoring Latin-American music. ...

"Blood of a Champion," a gritty urban drama produced by Wu-Tang Clan's RZA and starring Bokeem Woodbine ("Dead Presidents") and R&B singer/actress Deborah Cox, will hit stores March 7. The film, which also includes original music composed by RZA, follows an ex-con just released from prison who enters the world of underground street fighting. ... Death Cab for Cutie, Ben Harper and Gomez will headline A Sounds Eclectic Evening, the annual benefit concert for influential Los Angeles public-radio station KCRW. This year's show, scheduled for March 25 at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California, will also include Lewis Taylor, Feist, Goldspot and more artists to be announced. ... Three months after Sony BMG Music came under fire for rootkit software that left millions of PCs vulnerable to hackers and viruses, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security wants to introduce legislation that would make it illegal for companies to sell products that install susceptible software on a computer without the owner's knowledge. "The recent Sony experience shows us that we need to be thinking about how we ensure that consumers are not surprised by what their software programs can do," said Jonathan Frenkel, director of law enforcement policy for Homeland Security. Sony recalled the discs in November but still faces lawsuits and criticism — which should be a warning to other companies putting out similar software, Frenkel added. ... Voivod have settled on Katorz as the title of their forthcoming 13th album, which will hit stores this spring. The band recently finished mixing the effort with producer Glen Robinson (Annihilator, Gwar) and are now mastering the album in New York. Katorz will be Voivod's first record that the band did not record alongside Denis "Piggy" D'Amour, who died in late August from complications of advanced colon cancer. ... (Hed) p.e. will issue their sixth album, Back to Base X, May 16. The album will include 13 tracks, including "Lock and Load," "White Collars" and "Bewaredowego."

Blondie are getting mashed up with the Doors for the upcoming career retrospective Blondie: Greatest Hits — Sound & Vision. The collection includes 20 tracks and 16 video clips, including classics "Heart of Glass," "Atomic" and "Call Me," and previously unreleased remixes of "In the Flesh" and "Good Boys." The set also features "Rapture Riders," a mash up of "Rapture" with the Doors' "Riders on the Storm" — with a video to match. "This is a tremendous honor for us," frontwoman Debbie Harry said. "Ain't technology great?" Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek asked. "I've always had salacious dreams about Debbie Harry, and now it's a reality: the Doors and Blondie in a deep passionate embrace." Blondie will be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 13. ... "New York Doll," the 2005 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize nominee chronicling the recent reunion of influential glam-rock pioneers the New York Dolls — and bassist Arthur "Killer" Kane's Mormon lifestyle — will be released on DVD April 4. Bonus features include a 20-minute interview with Morrissey and video of David Johansen singing a Mormon hymn. ... Belle and Sebastian's Isobel Campbell will release Ballad of the Broken Seas with Mark Lanegan (Queens of the Stone Age, Screaming Trees) on March 7, with a second album to follow later this year. Campbell is also hitting the road for her first-ever tour as a solo artist; the North American leg kicks off March 4 in Toronto and wraps March 15 in Brooklyn, New York. ...

• R.E.M.
• Korn
• Gorillaz
• O.A.R.
• She Wants Revenge

Hawthorne Heights
Photo: MTV News

Hawthorne Heights are gearing up for their spring tour with Fall Out Boy by hitting the road for a headlining trek of their own. Starting on February 10 in Toledo, Ohio, and running until March 5 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the tour will also feature Emery, Anberlin, June and Bleed the Dream. Ten days after their headlining outing ends, they'll join up with Fall Out's Black Clouds and Underdogs Tour, which also includes the All-American Rejects. ...

Is 50 Cent planning on calling it quits, or is he just another guy looking to renegotiate his contract? While in the U.K. promoting the release of his film "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," Fiddy told a British radio station that he planned on releasing two more albums for his label, Shady/Aftermath, and then had no idea what the future would hold. "Basically I want to fulfill the album requirements to Shady/ Aftermath," he said. "Then, I'm not sure." ... Former Sony Music head Tommy Mottola has acquired the film and television rights to "Queens Reigns Supreme: Fat Cat, 50 Cent and the Rise of the Hip-Hop Hustler," a book that chronicles the rise of rap in Queens, New York, and the emergence of players like Run-DMC in the 1980s all the way to modern-day superstars like Ja Rule and 50. Mottola has plans to develop the story into a TV series along with his producing partner Jeb Brien, according to Variety. ...

A spokesperson for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has confirmed that the organization is reaching out to the producers of "American Idol," seeking a meeting during which the group would like to present its "concerns and the concerns of community members and allies" who have contacted GLAAD about the first two episodes of the series' new season. "Our message boards and feedback e-mails lit up pretty dramatically following the Tuesday night broadcast and into Wednesday," said Chris Bugbee, who wouldn't elaborate on just what about the show provoked the complaints or GLAAD's ire. He said GLAAD hasn't yet heard back from the "Idol" producers. GLAAD spokesperson Damon Romine accused the producers of "adding insult to injury by turning a contestant's gender expression into the butt of a joke." Again, he didn't provide details about what specific aspect of the show the group deemed offensive. ...

Jewel has set a May 2 release date for her first album in three years and sixth overall, Goodbye Alice in Wonderland. To promote the record, produced by Rob Cavallo (Green Day), the singer/songwriter shot a homemade video for the title track, which she will premiere Wednesday on her fan-club site, jewelunedited.com. The official first single, "Again and Again," will be shipped to radio stations in February. ... U2 topped the list of Billboard's Money Makers chart, raking in more dough than any other musical act in 2005 with over $225 million in album and digital sales and box-office receipts. The Rolling Stones trailed at #2 with more than $152 million, country crooner Kenny Chesney came in at #3 with $88 million, and Paul McCartney was a close fourth with $84 million. Other artists who made the list include Elton John, Green Day, Celine Dion and 50 Cent. ...

"DimeVision - Volume 1: That's the Fun I Have," a DVD tribute to slain Pantera/ Damageplan guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, will hit stores on April 4 through Big Vin Records, the label owned by Dime's brother, Vinnie Paul. The DVD will feature live footage as well as material exhibiting the guitarist's unique brand of humor. ... Mötley Crüe will receive the 2,301st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in a ceremony Wednesday morning. The band's star will appear in front of the Musician's Institute. ...

As they do each year, the Dave Matthews Band will hit the road come summer, and they've called on their fans to help with some of the arrangements. At the band's official Web site, DMB devotees can fill out an online questionnaire about what five support acts they'd like to see the boys bring out with them on the trek. ... The Jared Leto-fronted 30 Seconds to Mars will be back out on the road this spring for a 43-date North American tour. The band will kick things off on March 4 in Salt Lake City and end the trek April 30 in San Francisco. Emanuel and Aiden have been confirmed as the tour's openers. ...

Bruce Springsteen, Sting, India.Arie, Paul Simon and the Dixie Chicks are among the acts scheduled to salute James Taylor at the 2006 MusiCares Person of the Year gala on February 6 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Taylor will also perform at the Recording Academy-hosted event, along with Jackson Browne, David Crosby, Carole King, Randy Newman and Bonnie Raitt. ... The Flaming Lips' At War With the Mystics, which hits stores on April 4, will feature 12 tracks, including the first single (and lead track) "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song," "Free Radicals" and "My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion." Two songs get the deluxe multiple-title treatment: "The Sound of Failure/ It's Dark ... Is It Always This Dark??" and "It Overtakes Me/ The Stars Are So Big, I Am So Small ... Do I Stand a Chance?" ... Post-punk legends Mission of Burma will release The Obliterati on May 9. The album, the band's third studio LP, was produced by Bob Weston, who engineered 2004's OnOffOn. ...

01.20.2006

Eminem was sweating right before he was about to walk down the aisle to remarry ex-wife Kim last week, wedding guest 50 Cent told MTV Europe at the U.K. premiere of his movie "Get Rich or Die Tryin' " on Tuesday. "He was fidgeting and had his arms crossed while waiting," the rapper said. "You could tell he was nervous. But he relaxed afterwards, after the ceremony was over. It was great, man, I mean it was intimate, it was small. But it was kinda crazy, there was like four news helicopters overhead." ...

Luther Campbell says he has no problems with 50 Cent and he's certainly not suing him. 50, however, is being sued for copyright infringement over a Luke record, "It's Your Birthday." The 2 Live Crew leader's former manager, Joe Weinberger, who now owns the rights to the Crew's catalog, filed a lawsuit in Miami last week for unspecified damages because he claims "In Da Club" stole from Luke's old hit. Luke told MTV News he has nothing to do with it and that Weinberger is a sham artist who's filed and won similar lawsuits in the past and does not pay 2 Live Crew a dime. 50's label had no comment. ... Friday's (January 20) extradition hearing for "American Idol" contestant Terrell Brittenum has been pushed back to Monday at his attorney's request. Terrell and his twin brother, Derrell, are wanted in Georgia for forgery, theft by deception and financial identity fraud, after they gave false information to purchase a car. Terrell has been in jail since January 10, while his brother is still at large. ...

On Tuesday in Los Angeles, Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme and his fiancee, Distillers lead singer Brody Dalle, welcomed their first child to the world, a daughter named Camille. The little rockette weighed in at 6 pounds, 15 ounces. According to Homme's label, Interscope Records, both mother and daughter are doing fine. ... Bad news (again) for Outkast fans: According to a report in Variety, the ATL duo's much-delayed film, "Idlewild," has been pushed from its March 10 release date by its distributor, Universal, to a later, unknown date. "Idlewild" (and its accompanying soundtrack) have been promised since early 2005, with Outkast's manager telling MTV News just last week that the soundtrack would be in stores on February 14. ... Courtney Love got a breather in court on Friday when a Los Angeles judge granted her a two-week continuance for a scheduled status hearing in her drug case. She's due back in court on February 3. Love wasn't so lucky outside of court, however: Virgin Records has confirmed that the singer no longer has a record deal with the company. ...

Mariah Carey's favorite place to be is between the sheets, the singer reveals in the new issue of V magazine. "When I'm not working, I'm so about the bed," Carey tells the mag. "I'm literally like a 2-year-old, I just eat and watch TV, not that that's something to be proud of." She says that she needs 15 hours of sleep (part of her "vocal rest" regimen), and if she's not rested enough after that, she said, "I'll get a masseuse to come, to make it a relaxed atmosphere." And to keep her throat in good shape, she has a special bedroom ("a room that I didn't show on 'Cribs,' because it wasn't done yet") where she keeps 20 humidifiers around a bed with terrycloth bedding. "Basically it's like sleeping in a steam room," she said. "The ceiling is pitched so the water can't fall on my head, and it all drips down to the side, and the TV is behind glass." ... Nelly's "Grillz" is such a hit, he's going to offer not one, but two versions of the song as ring tones at all telecom carriers. The ring tones will be available starting Tuesday. ...

British rapper Ms. Dynamite was ordered Thursday to perform 60 hours of community service and pay $1,324 in compensation to a police officer she slapped outside a London club earlier this month. According to an Associated Press report, the 24-year-old Mercury Prize-winning MC will also have to pay an additional $970 in fines and court costs. Dynamite pleaded guilty to charges of disorderly conduct and assaulting an officer on January 13; her lawyer claims that the assault took place after the rapper was the target of racial slurs inside the Paragon nightclub on January 6. He claimed that the officer was slapped after she tried to remove the MC's jewelry. ... The Isley Brothers will release a new album, Baby Makin' Music, on March 7. Jermaine Dupri worked on the record, although the first single, "Just Came Here to Chill," was produced by Troy Taylor and Gordon Chambers (Whitney Houston). ...

Missed past seasons of "American Idol" and want to catch up? Now you'll be able to do so on weekends next fall with "American Idol Rewind," a one-hour syndicated version of the show. "Rewind" will premiere with the first season of "American Idol" in September, and will be streamlined and enhanced with never-before-seen footage and behind-the-scenes details. ... Jerome Dillon, who recently left Nine Inch Nails because of health issues, will release the debut album from his new band, Nearly, on April 11. Titled Reminder, the release is a concept album that attempts to musically document a recurring dream Dillon had over a six-year period. The LP features former 12 Rounds vocalist Claudia Sarne, Afghan Whigs/Twilight Singers frontman Greg Dulli and violinist Petra Haden. ... The Bled will be hitting the road with Since by Man and As Cities Burn for a 39-date tour that begins February 24 in Seattle. Dates run through April 9 in Tucson, Arizona. ...

• Hawthorne Heights
• Jewel
• U2
• Dave Matthews Band

Jewel (file)
Photo: Peter Kramer / Getty Images

Jewel's nearly finished recording her most personal and autobiographical record so far — and yet none of what she reveals will be immediately apparent to the listener. Happy to be cryptic, the singer/songwriter is in no hurry to explain her new songs, nor to put them out.

"It's hard to talk about songs," she said. "You try to say things in a specific and general way at the same time, so that [your audience] can sift the words inside and see themselves as experiencing it. You try to write lyrics that will be suggestive enough that they'll conjure up their own experiences."

Still, she road-tested a few of them on her recent summer tour, and based on fan reaction, she's got a pretty good idea of which songs cloak her stories the best. She's currently deciding on the final 12; likely to be among them are "Goodbye Alice in Wonderland," "Good Day" and "Again and Again," as well as older, retooled tunes such as "Stephenville, Texas," "Passing Time," "1,000 Miles Away" and 0304's "Fragile Heart" ("because it deserved a shot"). Working with Rob Cavallo (see "Jewel Says Her Cowboy Makes Her Art Seem Less Important") — with whom she's co-producing the still-untitled album — Jewel said she's been taking breaks from the studio because she's wanted to figure out ways to make some of the songs sound rawer.

"I didn't want a click track, I just wanted me and my guitar," she said. "So the band would kind of play around me, and it would be this ambient swell. No rhythm track. It was almost like if you saw me live."

Jewel was originally looking for a co-producer who would have more of an "old-school recording style, someone who would be elegant and great at arrangements." But when she couldn't find anyone that fit the bill, she decided she would just do it herself — until she talked to Cavallo. Though he's more known for working with rock bands like Green Day and Goo Goo Dolls, Jewel credits him as being "very steeped in music" and having a firm grasp of folk-rock and Americana. "I think he has an intuitive sense of the emotion behind music," she said. "I think he is the guy who fights to keep that emotion from being too covered up. He's actually been able to help me sound honest."

After three sessions together, "I'd say we're about 99 percent done," she said. "We just need to finish the background vocals, get some harmonies on there, get it cooked." She anticipates the album will come out in February.

Of the songs making the cut, Jewel said "Goodbye Alice in Wonderland" is probably the most personal song she's ever written, even though at first glance it seems to be more about fairy tales and American culture. In it, she muses about a child's loss of innocence from discovering the truth about the way the world really works. "When fables go away, does it make the world less magical? How do you keep looking for the truth without being cynical? How do you learn to see something for what it really is? It's not an easy thing to sum up," she said. "Children are told these fairy tales, and yes, they stimulate the imagination, but they also create a desire for escapism that isn't necessarily healthy." That doesn't sound personal on the surface, but "I don't know how to say it better," she said, except through the song itself.

Same with "Good Day," which is told in waltz time, "because you can get a lot more lyrics and syllables in than in 4/4 time," she said. The song takes place as she stands at the fridge in the middle of the night, unable to sleep, and captures her thoughts as she thinks out loud. "It follows a pattern of looking at life, pop culture, reality TV," she said, starting to recite a few lyrics. " 'So why I am I awake again at 2 ... Staring, such a sight/ Fluorescent light/ Nice to see people not as stuck as me/ It's going to be a good day.' "

The hardest thing about deciding on which songs to include, she said, is that she's got too many (about 400 or 500) that she's only played live and hasn't recorded, and she can't remember them all. She's actually paying an archivist — whom she met online when she was trying to track down her own bootlegs — several hundred dollars a month just to organize her tunes and catalog them. "I've lost a lot of songs over the years," she laughed.

• Jewel

Gwen Stefani (file)
Photo: Lorenxo Agius

Gwen Stefani might be raking in the VMA nominations for "Hollaback Girl" and "What You Waiting For?" but she's already moving on to make a sequel to her solo album, Love, Angel, Music, Baby. She was recording last week with Pharrell Williams again and is back in the studio with No Doubt bandmate Tony Kanal. One of the new songs she and Kanal have written together is called "Fluorescent Lights," according to the singer's label rep. ...

Original U.K. dance rockers Gang of Four have recorded their first new album with their original lineup in more than 20 years, though the material isn't exactly new. Due October 11, Return the Gift features 14 re-recorded versions of classic Gang of Four songs. "Some of the recordings, especially on Entertainment!, in no way reflect the way we sounded live," guitarist Andy Gill said." [Return the Gift] is more like us onstage — a lot punchier and more explosive." A companion album of remixes by Tony Kanal, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the Dandy Warhols, Ladytron and others is expected in 2006. ... Korn have found a replacement for former guitarist Brian "Head" Welch, but don't expect to see the new addition performing with the band anytime soon. Korn, who're working on their next album, have recruited former Otep guitarist Rob Patterson to take over for the band's upcoming European tour, but, as frontman Jonathan Davis detailed in an online posting, "he will not be onstage." Davis said the band refuses to use "samples or tape, 'cause that would suck," but admitted Korn are "not ready to have a new guy onstage with us." Patterson's stint with the band will end when the European jaunt does, Davis said, promising "some new, exciting ideas on how we are gonna play live in the future" that "will blow your mind." ...

Christina Aguilera is in the middle of recording her new album, but she took a break to do a tune with Herbie Hancock for his new album, Possibilities, due August 30. The two duet on a cover of Leon Russell's "A Song for You." Also collaborating with Hancock on "Possibilities" are Paul Simon, Sting, Carlos Santana, Trey Anastasio, John Mayer and Annie Lennox. ... Jewel has signed on to be the face of an organics line called the Healing Garden that is trying to convince customers they can "Save Your Skin, Save the Planet" at the same time. It claims to be the first mass line of organic bath and body products, and a portion of the proceeds goes to the Nature Conservancy. The singer designed an awareness bracelet for the line that will be available in September. ... Konami Digital Entertainment, makers of music video games "Karaoke Revolution" and "Dance Dance Revolution," announced Monday that it will be making games based on "American Idol" for current and next-generation consoles. This marks the hit TV series' second chance at video games. The first, non-Konami batch of "Idol" games was released more than a year ago but met with poor reviews. ...

Queen have announced two U.S. concerts in October — their first in more than two decades. The news comes on the heels of Queen's 32-date European run. Billed as "Queen and Paul Rodgers," the concert features former Free/ Bad Company frontman Rodgers "collaborating" with Queen; he has not joined the band, but is merely filling in for the late Freddie Mercury, a press release points out. The concerts have been set for October 16 at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and October 22 at the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood. ... When not consulting indie filmmakers' music choices, Sonic Youth tend to their own music. The experimental noise rockers will reissue their 1990 major-label debut, Goo, as a double CD on September 12. The expanded edition of the disc will contain 31 tracks including demos, outtakes and previously unheard tracks such as a cover of the Beach Boys' "I Know There's an Answer." Meanwhile, the band is writing material for its 20th record. New songs include "Pink Steam," "Helen Lundeberg," "OR" and "Do You Believe in Rapture," a song that attempts to "come to terms with the religious right," guitarist Thurston Moore said. ...

Where has Latin pop sensation Ricky Martin been and what has he been up to for the past few years? Well, trying to end stereotypes apparently. According to The Associated Press, during Martin's first trip to the Middle East, the pop heartthrob said he would do his best to help change the negative perception of Arabic youth in the West. "I promise I will become a spokesperson, if you allow me to, a spokesperson on your behalf. I will defend you and try to get rid of any stereotypes," the 33-year-old singer said at a youth conference on Monday. Martin plans to embark on a concert tour of the Middle East and North Africa next year. ... Tenacious D's Kyle Gass will star in a Broadway musical in the works based on the power ballads of the '80s. Songs from Bon Jovi, Journey, REO Speedwagon and more will be included in the production, titled "Rock of Ages" and currently being shopped to theaters in New York and Las Vegas. ...

Björk has a composed a new album. Well, kinda, sorta — at least not a proper full-length. In the vein of her abstract a cappella record, Medulla, the Icelandic imp has collaborated with contemporary visual artist (and the father of her second child) Matthew Barney for the soundtrack of his new experimental film, "Drawing Restraint 9." Due August 23, The Music of Drawing Restraint 9 features 11 orchestral, vocal-based tracks that center on traditional Japanese music forms. Guests on the record include rustic folk singer Will Oldham of Palace and harpist Zeena Parkins. Both Björk and Barney are featured in the film. ... Head Automatica have canceled the remaining dates of their July tour due to the illness of lead singer Daryl Palumbo, who is suffering a relapse of Crohn's Disease. "I am incredibly sorry for the inconvenience I may have caused, and I promise to see you all soon and make up for the lost time," the singer said in a letter to fans. ...

Eugene Record, the founder of legendary Chicago soul act the Chi-Lites, died Friday after a long battle with cancer, according to the group's booking agency. He was 64. The Chi-Lites formed in Chicago in 1959 and, led by Baker, scored a number of soul hits, including "Have You Seen Her" and "Oh Girl." The group's song "Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So)" was the basis for Beyoncé's hit "Crazy in Love." ... British Blues legend Long John Baldry, who helped launch the careers of the Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart, died Thursday of a chest infection, according to his agent. He was 64. Baldry, who got his name due to his 6-foot-7 frame, recorded more than 40 albums during his career, and his hangdog stylings won him a legion of devoted fans, including Elton John, who took his surname in honor of the bluesman. During the 1960s, Baldry's stage band consisted of a virtual galaxy of stars-to-be, including Mick Jagger, Jimmy Page, Charlie Watts and Stewart. ...

07.22.05

Jessica Simpson, along with her "Dukes of Hazzard" co-star Willie Nelson, will treat U.S. troops stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar, California, to a special screening of their new flick on July 29. The duo will host the event and spend some quality time with service members and their families, tour the facilities, and field some questions from the crowd about the film. Fellow "Dukes" co-stars Johnny Knoxville and Seann William Scott will join Simpson to visit troops Tuesday at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia, and Wednesday at Fort Hood, Texas. ...

Prosecutors in the Michael Jackson trial were ordered Thursday to return the singer's seized possessions — including his extensive porn collection — since a verdict was returned of not guilty on all counts in his child-molestation trial. The items seized also included computers, books, and what Santa Barbara District Attorney Tom Sneddon referred to as "contraband" — syringes, Demerol and prescriptions for various drugs in different people's names — which the prosecutor argued should remain confiscated. ... Though Courtney Love had to visit a hospital early Thursday morning, her fainting spell was not drug-related, a Los Angeles court decided on Friday. The singer's status report on her progress in her drug-rehabilitation efforts was "routine," according to the Los Angeles city attorney's office, which noted that Love had successfully completed her program and passed all drug tests, saying that she "seems to be on track." Love is due back in court for a separate status hearing on August 10, and then again on January 27. ...

Snoop Dogg has recruited the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ice Cube to join him at a benefit concert for his Snoop Youth Football League, which requires kids to maintain certain academic requirements to remain eligible. The concert, which will also include other, as-yet-unannounced artists, is set for August 25 at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. ... Would you like a celebrity with that order? Clay Aiken, Nick Lachey, Moby and Fat Joe were among a slew of stars who participated in a special 10-day promotion to celebrate Amazon.com's 10th anniversary. Over 10 days, 23 of the online retailer's customers received surprise visits from a celebrity associated with their purchase, The Associated Press reports. So Lachey hand-delivered "Newlyweds" on DVD to one lucky buyer, Aiken dropped off his memoir, "Learning to Sing," to another, and so on. ...

New Found Glory's Ian Grushka wants the band's fans to enter an Oscar Mayer essay-writing contest to use the Wienermobile (a giant hot-dog-shaped bus) for one day — and then put it to what he calls "good use," i.e. spreading vegetarian and animal-rights messages with the help of PETA. The bassist posted a letter to fans on his Web site, iangrushka.net, asking them to use their "creative talents" to come up with ideas that would appeal to Oscar Mayer's judges so they can hijack the contest. "With a bus this big, there's no shortage of colorful ways PETA can use the Wienermobile to tell everyone how bad eating meat is for people and animals," he wrote. The contest ends on Thursday. ... Nick Carter's sister's former roommate is suing the famous musical family, claiming that Nick and his father, Bob, failed to supervise 23-year-old Bobby Jean, and that Bobby Jean abused her roommate via various physical altercations. The Backstreet Boy's lawyer called the claims "fictional" and "absolutely without merit," and said that Kate Kelly only named Nick in her suit against his sister Bobby Jean "so that she could get publicity." Bobby Jean's lawyer — who also called the claim "frivolous" — said that they have hired private investigators to look into the matter, while Nick plans to countersue. Meanwhile, Bobby Jean is suing other members of her family — her mother, Jane, and sister Leslie, claiming Leslie conspired with their mother to take away her Escalade, by forging her signature, taking ownership and refusing to return the car. ...

"American Idol" junkies who've been jonesing for more will have to wait until November 22 for their next fix, when some new DVDs are expected to hit stores, featuring the best and worst moments of the hit series. "The Worst of American Idol: Seasons 1-4" and "The Best of American Idol: Seasons 1-4" will set you back $20 apiece; the two will also be packaged together as a collector's-edition set for $35. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the DVDs will include the show's most breathtaking performances and well as all of the best car-crash auditions from all four seasons. ... It looks like Bonnaroo is hitting Sin City. The producers behind the Birkenstock-friendly music festival have confirmed that they will stage an event in Las Vegas around Halloween. The multi-day fest, dubbed Vegoose, will be held from October 28-31, according to its official Web site. An eclectic mix of musicians are expected to attend, but no one has been confirmed as of yet. ... M.I.A. plans to headline a U.S. tour this fall. The Sri Lanka-born artist's 11-city trek will kick off on September 19 in Athens, Georgia, and wrap up on October 5 in San Francisco. ...

• Gwen Stefani
• Gang of Four
• Korn
• Christina Aguilera
• Jewel

Jewel at the Candie's Foundation Event to Prevent
Photo: Getty Images/Peter Kramer

NEW YORK — It's hard to believe from looking at her that it's been 10 years since Jewel released her debut album, Pieces of You. But the still-radiant Jewel Kilcher will tell you it seems even longer to her.

"I've been reflecting on my life so much, it's surreal," she said Tuesday night at the Candie's Foundation Event to Prevent, a benefit to raise awareness about the consequences of teenage pregnancy. "I went from butchering cattle and using an outhouse to doing big events and MTV."

(Click for photos from Jewel and Ashlee Simpson's performances at the Candie's Foundation Event to Prevent.)

When she heads back into the studio sometime in the next few weeks to start work on her sixth studio album, she'll have a wealth of material to pull from. Because for Jewel, writing isn't something that she does only when she has a record to do, it's something that she does all the time. When it's time for her to pull something together she can look back over her writing and see what speaks to her. "It's been a really hard couple of years, and it's been a strange couple of years, and my writing has really reflected it," she said of her stockpile of material. "I think the record will be a raw and emotional record that looks back on my life in a brutally honest way."

Dissecting things and writing about them is something that's in Jewel's nature. "I'm very overly analytical," she said. "I understand the compulsion. Charles Bukowski said if you took the writer away from his typewriter he'd only be left with the disease that made him write in the first place. That's me, for sure."

Helping her pull together the album will likely be producer Rob Cavallo (Green Day, Goo Goo Dolls). Originally due in September, the disc will probably be moved back a bit because Jewel wants to take her time with it. She and Cavallo have a week's worth of dates set up to work together, and she is excited to see how it will go. "He's a rock producer and I'm not going for a rock record," she said. "I'm going for a really raw record, but talking to him, I really think he gets what I'm into and he gets the influences that I like. I think I'll do a great and really different record for him and I hope it'll be a great, new and different record for me."

Jewel's last album, 2003's 0304, which spun off the top-10 dance hits "Intuition" and "Stand," is her favorite record to date, despite some of the confusion her satirical video for "Intuition" caused with some critics (see "Jewel Bites Into A Musical Pickle-And-Peanut Butter Sandwich"). Promoting herself has always been the hardest part of the job, Jewel said, and for her, the solution may be to continue to write for other artists. She recently submitted a song to Hilary Duff and is open to doing more songwriting for others.

"I've been off the road for a while and I have not been in a hurry to go back," she said. "I'd rather write. I'd rather do something creative than bust my ass and travel and try to promote [my music] to radio when I can have other people [I write songs for] do it for me. I can go and write other styles without getting the third degree about 'what a different style.' "

Being out of the spotlight for chunks of time is fine with Jewel, who finds that simple things make her happy. She recently bought a little two-bedroom house in Los Angeles for work-related convenience, but she says that she's happy working with horses with her boyfriend Ty Murray (a champion rodeo cowboy) on his ranch in Texas. She's also having fun writing short stories.

"I used to think that art was the be-all and end-all of life," she said. "I used to think it was more important than love and more important than anything, but I don't feel that anymore. I feel like if I applied myself I could be a lot better than I am, but I love spending time with my boyfriend and I love to spend my time learning other things, so I'm willing to let some things go."

• Jewel and Ashlee Simpson at Candie's Foundation Event

• Jewel

Ashlee Simpson (file)
Photo: Getty Images

Notorious B.I.G.'s mother, Voletta Wallace, is making progress with her lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department for the wrongful death of her son. Though it was initially supposed to go to trial this April, the case was continued because of the unavailability of a key witness, and is now scheduled to go to trial on June 14. Meanwhile, Wallace has signed a book deal with Simon & Schuster. ...

Ashlee Simpson — who worked with Candie's last fall to encourage people to vote — is teaming up with the shoe company once again for a different cause: to raise awareness about teen pregnancy. Simpson will be performing at "The Event to Prevent," a concert the Candie's Foundation is holding May 3 at New York's Gotham Hall. The event will also feature Jewel and will honor Katie Couric and Jane Fonda. ... Linkin Park's Chester Bennington is going solo — at least for one show. On May 21 he'll headline the 10-year-anniversary celebration of Tempe, Arizona's Club Tattoo, a venue founded by his former Grey Daze bandmate Sean Dowdell. Members of Orgy, T.S.O.L. and others will also perform, and a silent auction benefiting the Tsunami Victims Relief Fund will be held that night as well. ...

Alicia Keys has settled the lawsuit filed last year by her former literary agent Noah Lukeman when she signed a deal with one book publisher (Bantam) and then, having second thoughts, teamed up with a second agent for a different deal elsewhere (Putnam). Lukeman's lawyer, who, due to a non-disclosure agreement, couldn't provide details, did confirm that the dispute has been settled. ... Meanwhile, Keys is slated to be honored by the Songwriters Hall of Fame with the Starlight Award, a prize given to gifted young songwriters making a significant impact in the music industry, it was announced Wednesday. Keys will be the second Starlight Award recipient after Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty, who was given the inaugural award last year. Inductees for the 2005 Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony — which takes place June 9 in New York — include Isaac Hayes, Steve Cropper, John Fogerty, David Porter and Bill Withers. ...

Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas recently remixed Bob Marley's "Africa Unite." Not only was Will asked by Marley's widow, Rita, to remix the song, she also sang on the record along with Will and Marley's background singers, the I-Threes. The track will be released Friday on the Internet. Portions of the proceeds from the downloads of the song will be split between the Bob Marley Foundation, the Rita Marley Foundation and the Will.I.Am Foundation. ... Pam Anderson is the latest face for M.A.C.'s Viva Glam campaign, which raises awareness and money for people living with HIV/AIDS via the sales of its lipstick and lipglass line. "I feel privileged and empowered to help raise funds and awareness of the importance of getting tested," Anderson said in a statement Wednesday. "After being diagnosed with Hepatitis C, I knew the importance of knowing your status. Only then can you make informed and wise decisions for your health and life." Past Viva Glam faces include Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott. ...

Former Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan has recruited the master of mope, the Cure's Robert Smith, to sing vocals on his upcoming solo album, TheFutureEmbrace. Smith lends his voice to Corgan's cover of The Bee Gees' "To Love Somebody." TheFutureEmbrace is due in stores on June 21. ... Björk is making an army of her most popular song, "Army of Me" — she's releasing a collection of cover versions and remixes of the track, from country to electro-clash to extreme metal, with all the proceeds going to UNICEF. Army of Me — the album — previously slated for February, is now due out May 31. ...

03.30.2005

The Backstreet Boys — who launched their comeback tour last week — have stressed that they never really broke up in the first place, just merely took a break. That point is also being made in the title for their forthcoming album, which they've just decided to call Never Gone, also the name of one of the songs on the LP, due in June. ...

Mariah Carey will shut down the streets of New York's Times Square on April 12 to celebrate the release of her new album, The Emancipation of Mimi. The singer will perform five songs for ABC's "Good Morning America," according to Reuters. Her set will include the singles "We Belong Together" and "It's Like That." ... No Doubt are giving up their guitars — for a good cause. The band is donating two signed guitars for charity auctions, the first of which takes place Wednesday (March 30) in Venice Beach, California, at a benefit for the Surfers Healing Foundation. Sugar Ray are slated to play the event. The second chance to win a No Doubt guitar comes courtesy of Rock the Cure for breast-cancer research. That auction will take place by invitation only on May 3 at the Los Angeles Hard Rock, but online bidding open to the general public starts April 24 at www.juliensauctions.com. ...

Master P and his brother Silkk the Shocker pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a felony charge of carrying loaded, unregistered weapons, The Associated Press reports. The two were arrested January 27 at UCLA after being stopped by campus police for not having a license plate on their car. Police said they found two guns in the vehicle. Both are currently free on bail. ... Russell Simmons, the Reverend Run, Nicole Wray, and Jim Jones and Juelz Santana of the Diplomats will visit Perth Amboy High School in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, on Tuesday for the official launch of the state's Be Powerful, Be Heard youth-voter initiative. The group will introduce a spoken-word contest about the importance of voting; the winner will be announced at the New Jersey Hip-Hop Summit in September. ... Trina announced on Wednesday that she is launching a perfume called the Diamond Princess this summer, which is also when her long-delayed Glamorous Life LP should drop as well. ...

Pixies leader Frank Black will release his first solo album in nearly a decade, Honeycomb, on July 19. The rootsy album was recorded in four days in April 2004, just days before Black hit the road with the Pixies for their reunion tour. Among the legendary session players on the disc are guitarists Steve Cropper (Booker T. and the M.G.s), Buddy Miller (Emmylou Harris) and Reggie Young (Elvis Presley), as well as drummer Anton Fig (Bob Dylan) and keyboardist Spooner Oldham (Aretha Franklin). Among the songs on the disc are "Atom in my Heart," "Another Velvet Nightmare" and "Find Your Saint," as well as a cover of the soul classic "Dark End of the Street." ... Meanwhile, the Pixies will return to the stage this summer, but only for a few weeks. The band is freeing up time for Kim Deal to make another Breeders album. ...

Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor recently sold the gothic New Orleans mansion he's lived in for the past decade. According to The Associated Press, Reznor unloaded the 4,900-square-foot, four-bedroom home for $1.8 million. Reznor moved to Los Angeles last year, leaving behind the home, which has an outdoor pool with sound system and what's been described as "gothic/Victorian decor" with a "medieval edge." ... Rick Rubin, the producer who revived Johnny Cash's career with the American Recordings series, is working with Neil Diamond on the singer's first album in five years. Rubin worked with Cash on a cover of Diamond's "Solitary Man." ...

Jermaine Dupri will be presented the Golden Note Award at the 22nd annual American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Pop Music Awards on May 16 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. P. Diddy, Elton John and Stevie Wonder are among the past recipients of the award. Neil Young is also being honored at the gala. ... Irish singer and controversy magnet Sinéad O'Connor is in the studio working on her next project — a reggae album. And she's even recording the new effort in the genre's home of Kingston, Jamaica, for added authenticity. According to an Associated Press report, O'Connor's album will be rife with covers of irie protest songs — Bob Marley's "War," Peter Tosh's "Downpressor Man" and Burning Spear's "Marcus Garvey," among others. ...

• Ashlee Simpson
• Notorious B.I.G.
• Linkin Park
• Alicia Keys
• Will.I.Am

Kids' Choice Awards 2009 Gift Suite

• Jewel
• Brian McKnight

Jordin Sparks, Carrie Underwood, More Greet Fans On The People's Choice Awards Red Carpet

• Carrie Underwood
• Jordin Sparks
• Gavin Rossdale
• Jewel

Miley Cyrus Hosts The 2008 CMT Music Awards

• Miley Cyrus
• Billy Ray Cyrus
• Carrie Underwood
• Taylor Swift
• Paula Abdul

Music City Jam With Brad Paisley at CRS 2008

• Brad Paisley
• Chuck Wicks
• Jewel

Photos From Jewel's "Punk Rock Angel Girl"

• Jewel

Who's Who In Hollywood: The 'Vanity Fair' Post-Oscar Party

• Three 6 Mafia
• Lindsay Lohan
• Madonna
• John Legend
• Ludacris

Jewel and Ashlee Simpson at Candie's Foundation Event

• Jewel
• Ashlee Simpson

'The Nick & Jessica Variety Hour'

• Jessica Simpson
• Nick Lachey
• 98 Degrees
• Jewel

Jewel & R.E.M Gay Men's Health Crisis Benefit, 1.31.02

• Jewel
• R.E.M.

Mariah Hosts Jay-Z, O-Town, Iglesias, Missy At NY Jingle Ball

• P!nk
• Craig David
• Missy Elliott
• Alicia Keys
• O-Town