Snoop Dogg
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Snoop can breathe a little easier — for now. On Monday (December 4), a superior-court judge in Santa Ana, California, postponed the rapper's felony weapon-possession arraignment until January. The charges — not to be confused with the ones surrounding Snoop's arrest for gun and drug possession last week — stem from a September incident at John Wayne Airport, where he was caught carrying a collapsible baton in his luggage. Snoop showed up to court Monday with three guards and his defense attorney, but he signed a waiver that will free him up from having to appear at most of the "non-substantive" hearings. He could face up to three years in prison if convicted. ...

A teary-eyed Jessica Simpson quickly left the stage Sunday night at the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C., after singing Dolly Parton's "9 to 5," The Columbus Dispatch reports. Simpson's performance — which the reportedly silent audience did not applaud — was part of a tribute event honoring the country legend, Steven Spielberg, Smokey Robinson and others. Simpson ended the song abruptly by saying, "So nervous," and appeared to still be crying when she returned to the stage with other singers later in the show, according to the paper. The tribute will be broadcast December 26 on CBS. ...

Madonna's Confessions road trip is heading to a new venue — fans' homes. A to-be-named tour DVD will hit U.S. stores January 23. ... Lance Bass and Reichen Lehmkuhl have broken up, according to People magazine. Bass revealed his relationship with the "Amazing Race" winner when the 'NSYNC singer announced to the magazine in July that he's gay. ...

Police shot and killed an unarmed 18-year-old who had been accused of robbing a student of two PlayStation 3s the day the console was released, AP reports. Peyton Strickland was shot Friday in New Haven County, North Carolina, after police had been sent to arrest him at a house the student shared with three roommates. One of the roommates said Strickland was unarmed but may have been holding a video game controller when police bashed in the door to the house. Authorities said Monday that the shooting will be investigated. ...

Paris Hilton has backed out of an appearance at the Billboard Music Awards on Monday because she's not into cracking on her pals. Hilton's spokesperson, Elliot Mintz, told AP that his client wasn't happy with some of the jokes that had been written for her. "Some satirical references ridiculed some of her peers," he told the wire service. "Paris did not want to say anything that could appear hurtful or embarrassing about people she knows." The awards show, which airs Monday on Fox, will not have a host, according to a network representative. ...

During a pretrial hearing last week, Jennifer Lopez's first husband, Ojani Noa, revealed plans to fight the singer's efforts to thwart his tell-all memoir. AP reports that Noa told the court he regrets agreeing to a preliminary injunction that bars him from "criticizing, denigrating, casting in a negative light or otherwise disparaging or causing disparagement" to his ex. "I want to fight this thing to the end," he declared. Lopez filed the suit against Noa in April and successfully obtained a temporary restraining order prohibiting him from publishing details about the couple's most intimate moments. Noa said the book would concentrate on his experiences, and said Lopez "was only a part of my life, but I was going to talk about my other girlfriends as well." Lopez and Noa married in 1997 and divorced 11 months later. ...

Guns N' Roses bassist Tommy Stinson has responded to claims made last week by Eagles of Death Metal frontman Jesse Hughes regarding the band's departure from GN'R's current tour. Hughes had said that Stinson tossed his bass down in disgust during a November 24 gig in Cleveland, when frontman Axl Rose called the Eagles the "Pigeons of Sh-- Metal." Hughes also said Rose then picked up the instrument and hurled it at Stinson. "Eagles of Death Metal were a suggestion of mine a while ago," the GN'R bassist wrote. "Turns out they were the wrong band for our crowd. They were booed and did not play for as long as they were scheduled to. As for all of the inaccuracies that have been said since, I would like to say that's all they are — inaccuracies. In the past, I have thrown my bass. I have never thrown it at Axl or anyone else in the band, nor has anyone thrown my bass back at me ... yet. Axl has been a dear friend to me for nine years. We have no problem communicating and wish that people would stay the f--- out of sh-- they don't know anything about." ...

In related news, organizers of a guns-for-Guns N' Roses ticket exchange program in Oakland, California, said the event was a success, with more than three dozen guns being turned over in exchange for goods worth an average of $100, including tickets to the band's December 15 gig. The handguns and rifles collected during Saturday's event will be transferred to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, to be melted down and converted into manhole covers. ... All-female metal band Kittie have been forced to change the name of their record label to X of Infamy, following the arrival of a cease-and-desist letter issued by attorneys representing Kiss. The Canadian band's label was originally dubbed Kiss of Infamy, which, according to Kiss' lawyers, is "confusingly similar" to their client's moniker. Kittie will release their new LP, Funeral for Yesterday, February 20. ...

If you had told somebody 40 years ago that a copy of The Velvet Underground & Nico would have ever fetched $110,000 ... well, let's just say you never would have. But that's what a rare vinyl item by the band is going for on eBay — dwarfing ever so slightly the 75 cents it was purchased for at a New York street sale in 2002. The acetate is being considered the only surviving copy of the first "finished" version of the debut album Andy Warhol brought to Columbia Records. The auction ends Friday. ... Devendra Banhart popped up at Los Angeles' El Rey Theatre late last week to join his bandmate Noah Georgeson onstage. Georgeson opened for Joanna Newsom and performed in support of his own Find Shelter. ...

Despite plenty of bloggerati rumors to the contrary, Los Angeles duo Giant Drag haven't broken up — but things are going to be a whole lot different from now on. According to a spokesperson for Interscope Records, drummer/synth player Micah Calabrese has left the band, but guitarist Annie Hardy will soldier on as "the writer and face of Giant Drag." The band's most recent album was 2005's critically lauded Hearts and Unicorns. ... A West Virginia concert promoter has filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Slipknot, claiming the Iowa metal act bailed on a 2001 concert he organized. The suit claims Slipknot was scheduled to perform November 27, 2001, at the Huntington Civic Center, but canceled the appearance when a family member of one of the rockers fell ill. The complaint — which names all nine members of Slipknot as defendants — alleges that the band was aware that promoter Don Maynard "expended a significant amount of time, energy and money promoting the show based on the contract and that he would suffer damages as a result of the defendants breaching the concert contract." Maynard is seeking $72,000 in damages.

12.01.2006

Lindsay Lohan, who has caught a lot of flak for her alleged partying ways, has been going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings of her own volition, her publicist told The Associated Press Friday (December 1). "She started attending some, and I think it's a positive thing," Leslie Sloane told AP. "My biggest fear is who's the big idiot to out which [chapter] she goes to. It's no place to go and feel safe. No one judges her, and it's going to be a slow process. But, to me, the fact that she's seeing that there's something not right makes her smarter than the next person." ...

"American Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee will appear at the 118th Tournament of Roses Parade, airing January 1 at 11 a.m. ET on NBC. George Lucas is the Pasadena, California, event's grand marshal. ... Jay-Z is a very interesting man — just ask Barbara Walters. The rapper joins actor Patrick Dempsey, retired tennis pro Andre Agassi and Vogue Editor in Chief Anna Wintour among those profiled by the reporter in her interview special, "Barbara Walters Presents the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2006." It will air December 12 on ABC. ...

Three 6 Mafia have settled a lawsuit filed by a Pittsburgh teenager who claimed he was severely beaten during an August 2003 concert by the group. In the suit, Ramone Williams said he suffered a fractured jaw after he was thrown to the floor, hit with a chair and kicked in the face while Three 6 performed their song "Let's Start a Riot." The settlement was reached last month, and details were not released. ... Fall Out Boy are calling on their fans to help design the cover for the iTunes pre-order version of their upcoming Infinity on High album. Amateur artists can submit their potential covers through the band's site, FallOutBoyRock.com, and FOB will choose their favorite. Submissions are being taken until December 31, and the winner will be revealed when the album becomes available for pre-order on iTunes on January 16. ...

Nirvana's MTV Video Music Award for Best Alternative Video — for "Heart Shaped Box" in 1994 — will be up for bid beginning Tuesday on ItsOnlyRockNRoll.com. The Moonman is expected to fetch $5,000. A signed Beatles album from the collection of George Harrison's sister; Bob Dylan recordings from 1961; and a hat belonging to Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger will also go up on the block. The auction ends December 16. ... With the Eagles of Death Metal out, Guns N' Roses have called on Helmet to open for them for the remainder of the Axl Rose-fronted band's current tour, which rolls into Ames, Iowa, on Friday. The trek runs through December 20 in Universal City, California; Sebastian Bach and the Suicide Girls are also on the bill. ... Beyoncé will be up and at 'em early on Monday, performing at New York's Rockefeller Plaza as part of NBC's live "Today" broadcast. Her performance is scheduled to air between 8 and 9 a.m. ET. ...

Joining the Killers and others, the Arcade Fire are becoming the latest band to give music for Bono's [RED] charity campaign. The anti-corporate indie-rock group is donating "Rebellion (Lies)" for a (Product) [RED] ad campaign that is tied to companies like Motorola, Converse and the Gap. "To some people this seems crass and capitalistic," frontman Win Butler wrote in a post on the band's site, "and I sympathize with that position, but in the first week of the campaign, they have raised enough money for 10,000 women to have antiretroviral drugs for a year ... money and medication which wouldn't have been there without a program like this." Bono's [RED] campaign aims to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in Africa through the sale of branded merchandise. ... Kevin Lyman's Taste of Chaos Tour — which some like to call "The Winter Warped Tour" — will hit the road for a total of 39 dates this winter, it was recently announced. The trek — which starts February 15 in Seattle and wraps April 8 in Vancouver, British Columbia — will feature 30 Seconds To Mars, the Used and more. For the full list of dates, check out TasteOfChaos.com ...

Want to hang out with Metallica? Now you've got a shot. To celebrate Tuesday's release of their DVD "The Videos 1989-2004," Metallica are giving fans a chance to win a two-night stay (including hotel and travel expenses) in San Francisco, where a lucky fan will meet the band and tour their headquarters. Ten others will win a copy of the DVD. The contest ends December 31. Visit Metallica.com for additional details. ... An auction featuring the paintings and personal effects of late Pink Floyd founder Syd Barrett raised more than $230,000 for children's educational programs. Items under the gavel at the U.K. auction included 10 paintings by the reclusive musician, a pair of his bicycles, a leather armchair and his artificial Christmas tree. Barrett, who all but disappeared from public life after parting ways with Pink Floyd in 1968, died in July at his home in Cambridge, England, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. ...

Starsailor lead singer James Walsh is doing a week of solo acoustic shows beginning Thursday in Seattle. The trek will also hit San Francisco; Los Angeles; Portland, Oregon; and Austin, Texas. ... Brian McKnight's 10th album, aptly titled 10, is due Tuesday and will feature collaborations with Jill Scott and country group Rascal Flatts. "We're friends, so we got together to see what we'd come up with and we came up with a pretty good tune," he said of the latter act. ...

Celebrity photo agency X17 filed a copyright-infringement suit against Mario Lavandeira — better known as Perez Hilton — in federal court Thursday, accusing the blogger of using images owned by X17 without permission. A statement issued by the photo agency claims that the success of PerezHilton.com is "due in large part to the quality and quantity of celebrity images he posts on the site, many of which are owned by X17." Lavandeira, who has not commented on the claims, told gossip site TMZ.com that he has not been served with the suit. "My lawyers and I will address the situation when we have the opportunity to review the materials." A group of seven additional photo agencies — including Splash News and World Entertainment News Network — sent the blogger a cease-and-desist notice earlier this week, urging him to stop posting photos without permission and to pay a licensing fee for prior use to avoid further legal action.

• Snoop Dogg
• Jessica Simpson
• Madonna
• Lance Bass
• Paris Hilton

Kittie
Photo: Kiss of Infamy

When London, Ontario, metal vixens Kittie titled their 2004 album Until the End, they had no idea how close they were to actually breaking up.

Eight months after its release, the band was without a label, and guitarist Lisa Marx and bassist Jennifer Arroyo subsequently quit because they were unable to pay their bills. They were the fourth and fifth musicians to leave the Kittie clan since the group's 1996 formation, and for six months, the future of the band was in limbo.

"It looked a little bleak when it was only [drummer] Mercedes [Lander] and I," frontwoman Morgan Lander admitted. "We're not the White Stripes. We can't get away with just guitar and drums. So we thought about leaving the band and getting an education or getting jobs. There was a lot of sadness and tears, but there was also a lot of creativity. And we ultimately decided that this is where our hearts lie and we couldn't do anything else."

Once they decided to persevere, the Lander sisters hired unsung local guitarist Tara McLeod and bassist Trish Doan, and spent 18 months writing over a dozen viciously melodic songs inspired by the stress and uncertainty they had endured with their former lineup. Funeral for Yesterday, which comes out February 20 on their own Kiss of Infamy Records (distributed through EMI), delivers on the promise Kittie first made 10 years ago, but never exactly kept. Gone are the rough edges and musical redundancies of former efforts, replaced by a new professionalism and a desire to put the past aside and move on.

"In order to have rebirth, you must have death," Morgan explained. "So, all of the songs are about the demise of the former band, the resurrection of something new. It's really about letting go of what's already gone and putting everything negative or unfortunate to rest."

Funeral for Yesterday was written and recorded without a deadline, and the extra time gave Kittie the opportunity to hone their arrangements and musicianship. It didn't hurt that the new members' skill levels dwarfed those of their predecessors. McLeod is equally capable of playing rapid Metallica-style chugs and textural Evanescence-esque washes — and she can also solo. And Doan's bass lines are tight and tasteful, straying just enough from the root rhythm to retain their own personality.

"They're both amazingly talented girls," Lander said. "And they're totally down to earth. Also, they've never experienced anything like this, so they have this naive excitement that Mercedes and I used to have. They're just thrilled to be here. They don't care about money or politics or the music business."

The new level of artistry and enthusiasm motivated Lander, whose vocals on Funeral for Yesterday are spiteful and soaring — simultaneously seductive and harsh. In addition, the minor-key backup harmonies are as sinister as those of Alice in Chains. And when she wants to, Lander can still spew death-metal vocal venom, as on "Never Again" and "Last Goodbye."

"On the last few albums we've had this strange divide where one song would be all full-out scary screaming metal and then we'd have a hard rock-ish ballad song," she said. "This time I wanted to blend the two styles together where you have the music of something really thrashy and heavy, but there's melody overtop."

Despite the obvious improvements, Kittie still face an uncertain future. Much has happened in metal since Until the End was released, and it's unclear if the band's former fanbase will still be there. It's also not yet known how well their label will be able to promote Funeral for Yesterday. Still, Lander looks to the days ahead with more enthusiasm than trepidation.

"Taking your future into your hands is very scary, but it's also really empowering," she said. "Yes, we've been out of the loop for a while, but I think the entire ordeal was a learning experience that allowed us to find ourselves. And now we're ready to come back with a vengeance."

The rest of the week's metal news:

Meshuggah have been writing material for their forthcoming, yet-untitled album. According to a statement from the band, Meshuggah are "putting together a kind of demo to see where we are at material-wise and basically give the studio, the songs and us a test run. We are swimming in dark waters that constitute putting an album together, and whatever we find beneath the surface is definitely gonna be interesting. Suffice to say that we're in a weird but inspirational period right now. It's all gonna be about the writing during November. The demo recording is hopefully happening in December. We've got no working title or concrete [album] cover ideas yet, but it's getting there." The LP could be out as early as the spring. ... The dates for Slayer's upcoming North American tour with openers Unearth have almost been finalized. The 22-date trek will kick off January 24 in Tucson, Arizona, and end February 24 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. One date, January 26, is still TBD. ...

Drummer Adrian Erlandsson has decided to leave Cradle of Filth in order to spend more time working on his two side projects, Needleye and Nemhain. According to a statement from Erlandsson, "I have enjoyed my time with Cradle but it is now time to move on. I feel I am going out on a high note, as Thornography is definitely our best album to date." In his place, Cradle have enlisted Martin Skaroupka, who the band says is "a fine gent whose skills are second to none." ... Mastodon's upcoming U.S. run with Priestess and Converge is starting to take shape. At this stage, the tour's set to launch January 26 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and stops are planned in 20 cities, including Nashville; Minneapolis; Washington, D.C.; and Providence, Rhode Island. The outing's set to wrap up February 18 in Norfolk, Virginia. ... Canadian power-metallers 3 Inches of Blood have begun work on the follow-up to 2004's Advance and Vanquish. The band has entered Armoury Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, with producer Joey Jordison, better known as the drummer for Slipknot. ...

Byzantine are expected to hit the studio early next month to track the follow-up to 2005's ... And They Shall Take Up Serpents. The band will take a two-week breather from the recording of the LP to head out with God Forbid, Mnemic, Goatwhore and Arsis for a tour that gets under way February 2 in Atlanta and runs through February 17 in Rochester, New York. Then it's back to the studio to finish the effort, which is slated for release next year. According to frontman OJ Ojeda, "If this album doesn't kick our first two albums' asses, something is wrong! Some songs are pure thrash, some songs are off-time as hell and some songs are depressing and dark. This album will be our finest effort." ... Thrash-metal specialists Demiricous have been added to the lineup for this year's Chimaira Christmas 7, which will go down December 27 at the House of Blues Cleveland. Chimaira, of course, will headline the gig. Forever in Terror and Bowel are also on the bill. ...

Zombi will hit the road later this month for their first headlining run. The trek will be in support of Surface to Air, which was released back in May. Zombi have recruited Icy Demons, Maserati and an experimental jazz project featuring Dillinger Escape Plan's Ben Weinman and Chris Pennie to open. The trek kicks off November 29 in Washington, D.C., and concludes December 9 in Buffalo, New York. ... Deicide were victimized by a vandal during a gig in Santa Ana, California, on November 8. Someone — purportedly a member of opening act Amon Isis — entered Deicide's prep room and damaged some of the band's personal belongings, in addition to some of the club's property. Deicide are pursuing legal action against Amon Isis, according to a statement from the band. ... Poison the Well are in Sweden, where they've been working on their next album, which will be titled Versions. "Once again, [we] will be working with [producers] Pelle Henricsson and Eskil Lövström (Refused, Cult of Luna)," reads a statement from the band, who have just signed with Ferret Records. "We're pretty excited to finish this record up and expecting to have a release date early next year."

• The Great Metal Debate

• Kittie
• Cradle of Filth
• Meshuggah

Fallon Bowman
Photo: NG-Red

Guitarist Fallon Bowman knows the sting of being ignored and having her accomplishments go unrecognized.

After she quit Kittie last August, the group's label issued a statement alluding to that fact without ever mentioning her name. It merely stated that Kittie were now a three piece.

"It was so hurtful," Bowman recalled. "I was really, really distraught over it."

But now, nearly a year after leaving the group (see "Kittie Guitarist Scratched From Lineup"), Bowman is happily creating music that makes her smile — though her new material, which takes its cues from the most pummeling German electronic industrial and techno metal Bowman could find, isn't exactly cheery.

Amphibious Assault is a one-woman project that takes its name from a military tactic. Contrary to rumor, Bowman didn't join a fanatical cult in the short term following her departure from Kittie. She was, however, confused about her place in music — and whether she still even had a place there.

Bowman said a period of purgatory ensued after leaving the group she helped form five years ago with high school classmate drummer Mercedes Lander. She was cast in indecision until inspiration struck while traveling.

"I was like, 'Hey, wait a second, I could start my own thing. I could do this and this and this,' and it was a succession of different things. I was just bursting with ideas at that point."

Among the skills written on her "can do" list was her ability to program drum machines, which she put to use with her discovery of electronic music and her interest in politics and human and animal rights. Enter Amphibious Assault, a mix of Rage Against the Machine and KMFDM taking Skinny Puppy for a walk on a short leash. Although only one song, "Searchlight," has been posted on the Amphibious Assault Web site, Bowman promised the remaining songs she has written are aggressive and melodic while thematically sticking to AA's de facto motto: "advocating social unrest."

"A lot of people, with September 11 and everything else that's happened, aren't speaking out," she said. "This time is the best time to speak your opinion and just rustle the system a bit. Because things aren't right, obviously, if people are flying planes into buildings and there's a war between the Israelis and Palestinians. There are things that need to be said and done in order for this stuff to stop."

While there's an amalgam of influences apparent in the music, there's one genre Amphibious Assault stays away from — but that's not to say Bowman has abandoned it personally.

"No metal," she proclaimed proudly. "There are guitars in some of the songs, though."

"It's very different from [Kittie]. It's a total 360 polar opposite. It's very electronic, and a lot of people say that it has an '80s synth-pop influence to it. Some people told me Depeche Mode. I heard some really weird comparisons. It's definitely very electro. It's a culmination of every type of electronic music I've ever listened to."

Next month Bowman plans to track a nine- or 10-song demo in her basement studio in hopes of garnering a label deal. Recording demos and shopping for a deal can be daunting, but it's also one of the more gratifying parts of being in a band — an aspect Bowman said is nearly forgotten as it pertains to Kittie.

"Things in Kittie had happened so fast, I did not have time to soak in any of the stuff that was going on," she said. "This stage where I'm at now [with Amphibious Assault], I don't even remember. We started playing shows and then 'Bam!' we had [label] interest already, people calling us every day, it was so overwhelming."

Selling more than 641,000 copies of your debut album before the age of 18 can do that to a kid.

For Spit's follow-up, what eventually become last year's Oracle, Bowman attempted to steer things toward music she was then listening to — techno, German industrial and black metal, for instance — but was met with resistance from singer/guitarist Morgan Lander, who was entrenched in extreme metal, she said.

The turmoil came to a head at a radio show last Memorial Day. The Kittie bandmembers didn't talk to each other for the entire day — which didn't prevent them from kicking ass, Bowman noted. They weren't mad at each other over a particular thing, per se, but the silence was indicative of deep-rooted problems within their relationships.

"Many people in the industry have told me, as soon as it doesn't become fun anymore, you know that there's something wrong and you need to stop," she said. "And I've always kept that advice in the back of my head."

• Kittie

He's got the #1 album in the country (again), but Eminem hasn't forgotten where he came from. Tuesday night at a party to celebrate the release of The Eminem Show, Em was far from acting Shady as he cooled out at New York club Remedy with members of his current rap clique D12 and the crew of MCs he ran with when he first started out, the Outsidaz. ... A few blocks downtown at Joe's Pub, rapper AZ chose not to make his advertised one-night foray into DJing at his album release party — even actor Billy Bob Thornton stuck around for about an hour to peep AZ's skills on the wheels of steel, but the fiesta's main attraction was fashionably late. Actors Marcus Chong (Tank from "The Matrix") and muMs (Poet from "Oz") did stick around, however, to chill with the Brooklyn wordsmith. ...

Moby's collaboration with New Order on "New Dawn Fades" will be included on the "24 Hour Party People" soundtrack, due July 30. The Clash, the Sex Pistols, the Buzzcocks and Happy Mondays also have tracks on the album, which features several songs from New Order and Joy Division. ... Mos Def, the Roots featuring Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch and DJ Quik have contributed new material to the third volume of Rawkus Records' Soundbombing compilation, due June 4. Cipha Sounds and Mr. Choc mixed the album, which also features Q-Tip and the Beatnuts. ...

Ex-Kittie guitarist Fallon Bowman is working on a new, one-woman project called Amphibious Assault, which she had conceived while still with her former bandmates, according to the AA Web site (www.spastica.net/aa/). Although the music has yet to be posted on the site, Bowman promises "no death metal growls and grinding guitars" this time out. ... Coldplay singer Chris Martin will appear on "Gold in Them Hills" from Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith's next album, Cobblestone Runway, due in September. Coldplay's second LP, A Rush of Blood to the Head, is due August 27. ...

Twenty-two previously unreleased tracks will be featured on Jan Hammer's Miami Vice, The Complete Collection along with all 20 of his compositions available on various "Miami Vice" albums. The double-disc collection, due July 23, will include "Miami Vice Theme," the only instrumental TV theme to hit #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart. ... Coal Chamber and American Head Charge will hit the road for nine dates beginning June 15 in Tucson, Arizona, and ending June 26 in Houston. Medication, Whitfield Crane's new band, will also be on the bill. ...

Michael Jackson will appear in a non-singing capacity at a June 14 charity benefit organized by illusionist David Blaine in Exeter, England, according to the BBC. He'll deliver a brief speech at the event, which will benefit the charities Children With Aids and Support for Africa. ... Pitchshifter guitarist Jim Davies will hit the road with the Prodigy during the group's upcoming European festival shows. But Davies insists his participation won't interfere with his role in Pitchshifter, which remains his main priority. ... Biohazard have replaced guitarist Leo Curley with Carmine Vincent. Vincent was a roadie for the band, and his former group, Nucleus, supported Biohazard during a 2000 European tour. ...

05.29.02

Leggo my egos, says Def Jam head honcho Lyor Cohen — rumors that P. Diddy was wooing Foxy Brown to Bad Boy will remain just that, as Foxy has resigned with Def Jam and negotiated an Ill Na Na Entertainment label deal with the Universal Music Group in the process. The newly formed label is to be run by the rapper's brother-turned-CEO, Gavin "Pretty Boy" Marchand. ... Lil' Romeo's second album, Game Time, has been pushed back from its June 4 due date to July 16. That leaves Romeo with a little bit more time for pre-Game rituals, such as his radio Disney promo tour, and preparing for his post-Game campaign with McDonald's to push their Mighty Kids Meals, which begins September 13. ...

Mainstream country music legend Dolly Parton knows all that glitters is gold, and now she's buying the "Stairway to Heaven." Parton covered the Led Zeppelin classic for her upcoming record, Halos & Horns, receiving both Jimmy Page's and Robert Plant's blessings (though she took some liberties with the lyrics). ... The Neptunes have signed Minneapolis funk band Spymob as the first act on their on Star Trak Entertainment venture with Arista Records. Spymob are opening for N.E.R.D. and performing as their backup band on a three-week tour that kicked off Thursday in Los Angeles and crosses the country before wrapping up back there June 15. ...

While everyone keeps wondering if his film "House of 1,000 Corpses" will ever see the light of day, Rob Zombie's creepy video for Black Label Society's "Demise of Sanity" should soon be coming to a video outlet near you. Zombie is scheduled to shoot the clip on June 24 at a Los Angeles slaughterhouse. ... British pop rock foursome Gene will release their first Stateside album since 1997's Drawn to the Deep End on the new Artist Direct imprint iMusic in late summer. Libertine, which received rave reviews when it was released in the U.K. last fall, will feature four new tracks and will be promoted with a U.S. tour. ...

Fatboy Slim will stage another free beachside concert in his hometown of Brighton, England on July 13. Before Big Beach Boutique # 2, which will also feature John Digweed, Fatboy will be the official DJ at the World Cup soccer tournament in Japan in early June and will spin at a variety of events. ... Detroit rappers Slum Village will release their second album, Trinity, on July 30. The record finds acclaimed producer Jay Dee taking more of a back seat role to lyricists Baatin and T3. ... Tony Bono, the bassist for '80s thrash metal band Whiplash, died early Saturday morning from an apparent heart attack. He was 38. ...

Hulking singer Henry Rollins has enlisted what he deems an "amazing crew of people" to sing various songs by his former band, Black Flag, for a West Memphis Three benefit album. The LP, which will feature the Rollins Band playing backup, should see release in November ... Sense Field guitarist Rodney Sellars was forced to withdraw from his band's North American tour, which continues through June 14, after his four-year-old daughter, Leilani, and her mother were involved in a car accident on May 12 that left the girl in a coma. She's in critical but stable condition and is expected to require long-term medical care, for which a fund as been established to help the family with costs. Further information is available on the band's Web site (www.sensefield.com), and donations can be sent to Leilani Gutierrez c/o Globe Packaging, 179 E. 17th St., Box 400, Costa Mesa, California, 92627.

• Eminem
• Moby
• AZ
• Kittie
• Coldplay

Papa Roach fans rejoice — the band will infect record stores sooner than you think. Their more-rock-less-rap LP, Lovehatetragedy, has been moved up to June 18 from June 25. ... Weezer will squeeze in around 15 North American shows between the end of their European tour (March 24) and the beginning of their Japanese trek (May 16). The first date on these shores will be April 23 in Edmonton, Alberta, and the tour will run through May 11 in Tucson, Arizona. ... Billy Corgan has joined the lineup for the Waltz benefit concert at Chicago's Metro Cabaret on Saturday. Corgan, who performed with Marianne Faithfull at last year's event, joins a roster that includes Zwan bandmate Jimmy Chamberlin, Ronnie Spector, Steve Earle, Graham Parker, Ivan Neville and others. ...

Bassist Talena Atfield has parted ways with metal outfit Kittie, marking the second member of the original quartet to depart in less than a year (guitarist Fallon Bowman split in August). Spine's Jennifer J. Arroyo will join remaining members Morgan Lander (vocals, guitar) and sister Mercedes (drums) onstage March 29 in Manchester, New Hampshire. ... Grassroots rock innovators Fugazi will embark on a tour of the South in support of their latest album, The Argument. The band hits the road March 22 at Virginia's University of Richmond, visiting North Carolina, Alabama, New Orleans, Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky and West Virginia before finishing up April 6 at the MacRock festival in Virginia's JMU gym. ....

Coinciding with INXS' first tour on U.S. soil since the 1997 death of singer Michael Hutchence, Rhino Records will release The Best of INXS and expanded versions of Kick, X and Welcome to Wherever You Are on June 4, revealing for the first time tracks such as the X outtake "Salvation Jane" and 1992's "Tight." The tour, with Jon Stevens replacing Hutchence, kicks off May 30 in Anaheim, California, and wraps up July 5 in Ledyard, Connecticut. ... Los Angeles rockers Onesidezero will be joined onstage by the surviving members of Snot at the Roxy in West Hollywood Friday (March 22) for a performance of Snot's "Absent," which Onesidezero have been covering on their current outing. Snot singer Lynn Strait died in a car accident in 1998. ...

Space-rockers Spiritualized have lined up a 25-show tour that starts April Fool's Day in Vancouver, British Columbia, and wraps up May 1 in Minneapolis. ... Braindancing denizens of Aphex Twin's Rephlex label will bring their disco assault systems to the U.S. and Canada for a tour beginning May 23 at New York club Fun. Eleven dates have been lined up so far, with Bogdan Raczynski, Cylob, DMX Krew and Ovuca on the bill. ...

03.20.02

Considering that Cake frontman John McCrea has bashed chest-thumping arena rock in the past, it's strange to see his band sharing a bill with Stone Temple Pilots at the Rock For Roses concert April 12 in Austin, Texas. The show will jumpstart the 2002 Ride for the Roses Weekend, a fundraiser for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. ... Following Sunday's show, the Damned have withdrawn from Rob Zombie's Demon Speeding Tour to the surprise of no one who thought the pairing of the 26-year-old punk band with Zombie's B-movie horror shtick was odd to begin with. "Unfortunately, from the very first show it was apparent that the Damned's subtle blend of gothic punk was lost on the predominately metal crowds," guitarist Captain Sensible wrote on the band's Web site. ...

Cher will play "a heavenly character" in the one-hour season finale of the NBC sitcom "Will & Grace," according to USA Today. The episode airs May 16. ... Sludge kings the Melvins have lined up nine dates (with more to come) in support of their Hostile Ambient Takeover beginning April 8 in Las Vegas. After jaunting 'cross Australia with Tool through the latter half of the month, they'll restart their Stateside outing on May 13 in Spokane, Washington. ...

Rabblerousing rocker Andrew WK, whose I Get Wet hits stores next Tuesday, will "Party Hard" as musical guest on "Saturday Night Live" on April 13. The episode will be hosted by WWF superstar the Rock ... Tricky, Richard Dorfmeister and other DJs have remixed classic jazz tracks from Verve's back catalog for the upcoming album Verve Remixed. Tricky revamped Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit" and Dorfmeister updated Willie Bobo's "Spanish Grease." ...

• Papa Roach
• Weezer
• Billy Corgan
• The Smashing Pumpkins
• Kittie

Jason Newsted
Photo: MTV

From Jason Newsted's jaw-dropping departure from Metallica to At the Drive-In going on an "indefinite hiatus" at the peak of their popularity, 2001 certainly had its share of personnel shakeups and band breakups.

Only time will tell if some bandmembers are as replaceable as dead batteries or whether they were, in fact, the real power source of the group. And sometimes retirement is only as long as a much-needed vacation, as the Breeders proved most recently when they regrouped for a new album and tour (see "Breeders Reunion Spawns Monthlong U.S. Club Tour").

So while there's no telling how permanent any of these changes may be, they were made, and the rest of us, like it or not, will have to live with the results.

Limp Bizkit Loses Wes Borland: In October, the often-costumed guitarist and rap-rock kingpins parted company in what the band's management called an amicable split (see "Limp Bizkit And Wes Borland Part Ways"). Just days later, Limp Bizkit announced their open-audition search for a replacement (see "Wanted Ill Guitar Player; Must Know Limp Bizkit Tunes"). Although a roving hunt was to commence in November, they've yet to hit the trail.

Meanwhile, Borland is working on an album with his new band, Eat the Day, composed of members from his Bizkit side project Big Dumb Face. Eat the Day's debut is expected to surface in mid-2002 (see "Ex-Bizkit Borland Digs In With His New Band, Eat The Day").

Metallica Bassist Newsted Bows Out: The year kicked off with some shocking news when Jason Newsted announced in January that he was leaving Metallica after 14 years with the group (see "Bassist Jason Newsted Leaves Metallica"). An article in the April edition of Playboy suggested that Newsted had always felt like an outsider, despite having a longer tenure with the band than original bassist Cliff Burton (see "Metallica Bares All In Playboy").

After leaving, Newsted worked with musical youths the Moss Brothers (see "Ex-Metallica Bassist Newsted Plays With Young Duo") and his new band EchoBrain and produced various projects (see "Jason Newsted Gets Buys After Metallica"). Meanwhile, Metallica began work on their new record in April (see"Shorthanded Metallica Enter Recording Studio"), and three months later singer James Hetfield entered rehab. He left the facility in December (see "James Hetfield Exits Rehab, Rejoins Metallica"), and a new album is expected soon, though a void in the bass slot remains.

Weezer's Bassist Goes AWOL: Bassist Mikey Welsh, who had replaced founding member Matt Sharp, left the company of Weezer in August rather mysteriously. After skipping out on a scheduled video shoot for "Island in the Sun," he went missing and later turned up in a psychiatric hospital (see "Weezer Bassist Checks Into Psychiatric Hospital"). The band named Scott Shriner of Los Angeles' Broken as a temporary tour replacement, and Weezer are now working on the follow-up to Weezer, a.k.a. the Green Album (see "Weezer Continue To Hammer Away At New LP").

Rage Against the Machine Working With Cornell: Following frontman Zack de la Rocha's departure in October 2000, the remaining members of Rage Against the Machine began working with former Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell in May (see "Chris Cornell To Rage With The Machine"). The group, which will not be called Rage Against the Machine, hopes its labors will come to fruition next year.

Guns N' Roses Reload With New Lineup: Although a new GN'R lineup was cemented in early 2000 (see "GN'R: Buckethead In, Freese Out"), it took some nine months before fans could see the result. Axl Rose was the only original member to hit the stage on New Year's Eve in Las Vegas, joined by guitarists Buckethead, Robin Finck and Paul Tobias, keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Chris Pittman, former Primus drummer Brian "Brain" Mantia, and former Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson (see "Rose's New Guns Unveiled In Vegas").

The group, minus Pittman, was said to be readying its long-awaited new album, Chinese Democracy, for a June release (see "Guns N' Roses To Release New Album In June"), but perhaps not surprisingly, the date has been pushed back indefinitely. A European tour was also in place, but that, too, was scrapped (see "Guns N' Roses Cancel European Tour — Again"). Next year will bring everything full circle, as the band will once again toast the new year in Las Vegas (see "Guns N' Roses Ante Up For Another New Year's Eve In Vegas").

Powerman 5000 Lose Some Juice: While retooling their new album, which once bore the title Anyone for Doomsday?, the rhythm section of Powerman 5000 pulled the plug. Bassist Dorian Heartsong (a.k.a. Dorian 27) and drummer Alan Pahanish (Al 3) announced in November that they were splitting with singer Spider One and guitarists Adam 12 and M.33 (see "Powerman 5000's Bassist, Drummer Split"). And though Spider said the split was amicable, he confessed that "Powerman 5000 will never be the same — it will be better!" The follow-up to 1999's Tonight the Stars Revolt! is still without a release date.

Slayer Drummer Gets Elbowed Out of Job: Slayer's Paul Bostaph, the band's drummer since 1994, was forced into retirement by a chronic elbow injury in late December, leaving the slot behind the kit open for original drummer Dave Lombardo to return. Lombardo's stint is temporary, however — he's on board only for the next leg of Slayer's God Hates Us All tour, which begins in January. A permanent replacement has yet to be named (see "Original Slayer Drummer Dave Lombardo Back For Tour").

Methods of Mayhem Rapper Departs: TiLo, one of the two principals behind Methods of Mayhem with former Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee relinquished his post in February to pursue other interests (see "Methods Of Mayhem Un-Rapped: TiLo Leaves Band"). Lee, meanwhile has been working on the follow-up to MoM's eponymous 1999 debut, which he hopes to have out in May (see "Tommy Lee Pulls In Incubus, Cypress Hill Members For More Mayhem").

Kittie Guitarist Goes Astray: Guitarist Fallon Bowman was unceremoniously removed from Kittie's lineup in August without any explanation from the band's camp. A statement issued by their label announced that Kittie are now a trio while emphasizing that sisters Morgan and Mercedes Lander were always the creative force anyway (see "Kittie Guitarist Scratched From Lineup"). Guitar tech Jeff Phillips rounded out the group for live performances to support Kittie's latest album, Oracle, released in November.

At the Drive-In Take a Back Seat: The members of El Paso, Texas, rock group At the Drive-In, together since 1994, announced their indefinite hiatus in March, so that they can pursue other projects, such as DeFacto, a dub project consisting of guitarist Omar Rodriguez and singer Cedric Bixler (see "At The Drive-In Suspend Activity, Cancel April Dates"). Their last album together was 2000's Relationship of Command.

Static-X Score Some Dope: In January, techo-metal group Static-X replaced guitarist Koichi Fukuda, who announced his departure in November 2000, with former Dope guitarist Tripp Eisen (see "Static-X Finishing Album, Hire Dope Guitarist"). Eisen's handiwork can be heard on the band's latest album, Machine, released in May.

New York rap-rockers Dope then recruited guitarist Virus and drummer Sketchy Shay while moving bassist Acey Slade to guitar and filling the void with original bassist Sloane Jentry. They released their second album, Life, in October.

Bad Religion Reunite With Gurewitz: Original Bad Religion guitarist and Epitaph Records founder Brett Gurewitz re-entered the band's lineup in May to write and record the two-decade-old band's twelfth album, The Process of Belief, scheduled for a January release (see "Bad Religion Reunited With Brett Gurewitz"). Drummer Bobby Schayer was permanently sidelined by a shoulder injury in June (see "Bad Religion Drummer Forced Into Retirement"), and Suicidal Tendencies drummer Brooks Wackerman replaced him behind the kit.

Savage Garden No Longer Growing: The harvest month of October yielded no crop from Savage Garden, as the pop duo of Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones went their separate ways after five years together (see "Savage Garden Grow Permanently Apart"). Jones is pursuing a nonmusical career, while Hayes is preparing to release his solo debut, Spin in the spring.

Wilco's Tweedy Weeds Out Members: The only members left from Wilco's original lineup are frontman Jeff Tweedy and bassist John Stirratt after two torches were passed to successors. Drummer Ken Coomer was replaced in January by Glenn Kotche, and multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett quit the band in July, allowing Leroy Bach to climb aboard. After being dropped from longtime label Reprise, the quartet streamed their new album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, online while searching for a new home (see "Wilco Stream New Album Online While Shopping For Label"), which they found at Nonesuch. The group's fourth album is due in April.

Fu Manchu Drummer Hits the Road: After receiving some mainstream recognition with last year's King of the Road, Fu Manchu said goodbye to drummer Brant Bjork, who quit the stoner-rock quartet in November to pursue other endeavors. Before leaving, he had already recorded his parts for Fu's forthcoming seventh album, California Crossing, due February 5. A replacement drummer has been selected but not yet announced.

Our Lady Peace Guitarist Departs: Canadian rockers Our Lady Peace got a little less tranquil when founding guitarist Mike Turner announced his departure in December, citing musical and creative differences. The band has been working on its fifth album, the follow-up to the conceptual Spiritual Machines, in Maui, Hawaii, with producer Bob Rock, and will continue to labor away in January. A six-string successor has not been named.

You Tell Us:

What shakeup or breakup will have the most lasting effect on music? Voice your opinion in You Tell Us.

• Metallica
• Limp Bizkit
• The Breeders
• Weezer
• Rage Against the Machine

Blink 182's Tom DeLonge
Photo: MCA

While those within sightline of a TV can catch P.O.D., Ja Rule, O-Town, Sum41 and City High performing on "MTV's New Year's Eve 2002" and Blink-182, Pink, Busta Rhymes and others ring in the new year on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" (see "Pink, Blink, Busta Ready For New Year's Eve With Dick"), those in search of activities away from the tube needn't look far.

With special New Year's Eve shows popping off around the country like so many magnums of bubbly at midnight, finding a suitable place to get your celebration on shouldn't be a problem. From Guns N' Roses' Great Pumpkin-like return to the Las Vegas strip (see "Guns N' Roses Ante Up For Another New Year's Eve In Vegas") to New York's indie rock double fantasy of the Strokes and Guided by Voices to Macy Gray's serving up soulful insanity at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, the artists will be there when the clock strikes 12. Will you?

Here's a rundown of some of the shows scheduled for New Year's Eve:

• Guns N' Roses @ Hard Rock Hotel - The Joint in Las Vegas, NV
• Macy Gray @ House of Blues in West Hollywood, CA
• Stone Temple Pilots @ Hard Rock Live in Orlando, FL
• Train, Better Than Ezra, the Verve Pipe @ House of Blues in Chicago, IL
• Guided by Voices, the Strokes @ Apollo Theatre in New York, NY
• Barenaked Ladies @ Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL
• Lennon, Living Color, Drivin' N' Cryin' @ Coca Cola Roxy Theatre in Atlanta, GA
• Smash Mouth @ Planet Hollywood in New York, NY
• Kittie @ Ryan's Ballroom in Combined Locks, WI
• Hootie and the Blowfish @ House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, SC
• Patti Smith @ Bowery Ballroom in New York, NY
• Cheap Trick, Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise @ Navy Pier in Chicago, IL
• Billy Idol, Paul Oakenfold @ House of Blues in Las Vegas, NV
• The Isley Brothers @ Fox Theatre in Detroit, MI
• The Disco Biscuits @ Electric Factory in Philadelphia, PA
• Page McConnell (of Phish), Kid Koala, Bullfrog, Oteil Burbridge, Russell Batiste @ Roseland in New York, NY
• Phil Lesh & Friends, Ratdog, Derek Trucks Band, DJ Logic, Crusader Rabbit @ Henry J. Kaiser Arena in San Francisco, CA
• They Might Be Giants, Mighty Mighty Bosstones @ Bohager's in Baltimore, MD
• Primer 55 @ Orbit Room in Grand Rapids, MI
• The Sheila Divine @ Paradise Rock Club in Boston, MA
• Reverend Horton Heat, Waco Brothers @ Metro/Smart Bar in Chicago, IL
• Los Straitjackets @ Oneida Casino in Green Bay, WI
• Yo La Tengo @ Majestic Theatre in Detroit, MI
• Days of the New @ Rooster Tail in Detroit, MI
• Tomahawk, Melvins, Dan the Automator @ Slim's in San Francisco, CA
• Evan Dando & Rebel Crue 2002 @ Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ
• Paul van Dyk, Sasha, Jimmy Van M, Richard "Humpty" Vission, Sandra Collins, Derrick Carter, Derrick May, Joey Beltram, Roc Raida, Z-Trip, DJ Swamp, more @ Los Angeles Sports Arena in Los Angeles, CA

• Guns N' Roses
• Macy Gray
• Stone Temple Pilots
• Patti Smith
• Kittie

Kittie
Photo: Clay Patrick McBride

Metal fans will experience a relapse of cat-scratch fever when Kittie roar through North America for the second time in support of their latest album, Oracle.

The ferocious Canadian trio have lined up a string of dates, set to begin December 27 in Montreal, according to their publicist. Although only 10 shows are confirmed, additional gigs are expected.

Lined up to prime crowds for Kittie's aggressive assault are Chicago rockers No One, on the heels of their self-titled debut, and Latin metalheads Ill Nino, supporting their maiden effort, Revolution Revolución. Ill Nino also opened for Kittie on their last tour, which launched in October to coincide with Oracle's November 13 release.

Following this road trip, Kittie will head overseas to embark on a four-week European tour that gets underway in Glasgow, Scotland, on February 2.

Kittie tour dates, according to their publicist:

• 12/27 - Montreal, QC @ Club Soda
• 12/28 - Buffalo, NY @ Showplace
• 12/29 - Toledo, OH @ Hard Hat Cafe
• 12/31 - Combined Locks, WI @ Ryan's Ballroom
• 1/1 - Indianapolis, IN @ Emerson Theatre
• 1/2 - Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart's
• 1/4 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
• 1/5 - Clinton, IA @ Pig Pen
• 1/6 - St. Louis, MO @ Pops
• 1/8 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater

• Kittie

Kittie
Photo: Clay Patrick McBride

U.S. fans will glimpse a streamlined Kittie, officially a three-piece after the departure of guitarist Fallon Bowman, when the video for the first single from their new album premieres later this month. Those in the Southwest, however, can catch the trio prior to that, on a promotional tour beginning October 21.

Singer/guitarist Morgan Lander, bassist Talena Atfield and drummer Mercedes Lander shot the clip for "What I Always Wanted" in Toronto Friday with director Thomas Mignone (Slipknot, Mudvayne), according to the group's publicist. The concept behind the first single off Kittie's second album, Oracle, concerns the self-destructive consequences of greed.

The video centers on a man strolling alongside a lake when he notices a few coins in the shallows. As he picks them up, he sees more coins a few feet away in some deeper water. Then more coins in even deeper water. Before he can stop himself, he's nearly over his head, and the weight of all the change filling his pockets is drawing him under — in effect drowning him in his own greed.

Performance footage will also be mixed in with the conceptual elements. Kittie's record label, Artemis, expects the clip for "What I Always Wanted" to surface on video outlets in late October, the publicist said.

In addition to "What I Always Wanted," which features the band's trademark bloodcurdling roars blended with delicately melodic vocals and heavy, fuzz-drenched riffs, Oracle includes a heavy-handed rendition of "Run Like Hell" that adds menacing tones and a plodding tempo to Pink Floyd's paranoia classic. The follow-up to 1999's Spit is scheduled for release November 13.

Kittie's lineup will be augmented by guitarist Jeff Phillips, the band's guitar tech, when they showcase their new material on a promotional tour starting October 21 in Dallas. Phillips was named as the touring replacement for Fallon Bowman after she parted ways with the band in August (see "Kittie Guitarist Scratched From Lineup"), and so far has performed two shows with the group: one in Vancouver in August and another in Toronto last month.

Kittie's promotional tour itinerary, according to their publicist (venues TBA):

• 10/21 - Dallas, TX
• 10/23 - San Antonio, TX
• 10/25 - Albuquerque, NM
• 10/27 - Phoenix, AZ
• 10/29 - Los Angeles, CA
• 10/31 - Las Vegas, NV
• 11/2 - San Francisco, CA
• 11/3 - Portland, OR
• 11/4 - Seattle, WA
• 11/7 - Denver, CO
• 11/11 - Madison, WI
• 11/14 - Chicago, IL
• 11/18 - New York, NY
• 11/20 - Philadelphia, PA
• 11/21 - Washington, DC
• 11/23 - Detroit, MI

• Kittie

Kittie's Fallon Bowman
Photo: MTV

Kittie promise to rock as hard as ever on their second album, Oracle, despite losing one of their claws.

Guitarist Fallon Bowman is no longer a member of the ferocious Canadian rockers, according to a spokesperson for Artemis Records. The label's statement, which doesn't mention Bowman by name, suggests the split was less than amicable while insisting her role in the group was confined to hired hand who played as directed.

"I am happy to say publicly, as I have in the past, that Morgan and [drummer] Mercedes Lander have always been the visionaries, leaders and soul of Kittie," Artemis chairman and CEO Danny Goldberg said in a statement. "Morgan, as lead singer, principal writer and primary spokesperson, has also been the entity behind closed doors whose vision defines the artwork, the videos and all aspects of planning Kittie's career. While we wish good luck to former members, their comings and goings have no effect whatsoever on the creative growth of Kittie. In our experience in working with this band, as their label, they have always been completely driven by Morgan and Mercedes."

No specific reason for Bowman's departure was given.

GGGarth Richardson, who revisits his role as Kittie producer on Oracle, echoed Goldberg's sentiment with a statement of his own: "In every record that I have been involved with, there has been a leader and driving force. From their first album, Spit, to the album we are working on now, Morgan and Mercedes have been the driving force."

Oracle, the follow-up to 1999's Spit, is being tracked in London, Ontario (see "Kittie Sharpen Their Claws For Next Album"), with Morgan Lander recording all the guitar parts. The follow-up to 1999's Spit, scheduled for release October 30, features tracks tentatively titled "Mouthful of Poison," "Pain" and "Wolves," as well as a cover of the Pink Floyd classic "Run Like Hell," the spokesperson said.

Guitarist Jeff Phillips, the band's guitar tech, will augment the group for live performances, while Kittie will continue officially as a three-piece, with bassist Talena Atfield rounding out the lineup.

Bowman and Mercedes Lander attended school together in London, Ontario, and decided to start a band together during gym class in 1997, according to the band biography issued around the release of Spit.

• Kittie

MTV.com Exclusive: Kittie

• Kittie

Kittie Photos

• Kittie