L7 guitarist Suzi Gardner recently had the honor of being the first female cast for infamous pop artist Cynthia Plaster Caster, best known for her male genitalia casts of such rock stars as Jimi Hendrix and former MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer.

• 6/7 - Portland, ME @ The Skinny
• 6/8 - Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Club
• 6/9 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
• 6/10 - Baltimore, MD @ Fletcher's
• 6/11 - Virginia Beach, VA @ The Abyss
• 6/13 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
• 6/15 - Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon
• 6/16 - Houston, TX @ Instant Karma
• 6/17 - Austin, TX @ Emo's
• 6/19 - San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
• 6/20 - El Paso, TX @ E-9
• 6/23 - Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre

• L7

The ladies of L7 have put plans for their new video on hold after a bomb scare shut down production of the clip last weekend in Texas.

Actor and artist Viggo Mortensen (perhaps most widely seen in "G.I. Jane" and Gus Van Sant's "Psycho" remake) was set to direct the clip for "Crackpot Baby" in Austin. However, Mortensen called a halt to the shoot after L7 vocalist/lead guitarist Donita Sparks received the threat on her cell phone on November 13.

"We've pissed off a lot of people during our career, especially this year," L7 guitarist Suzi Gardner observed in a written statement. "It could have been anyone from anti-pro-choicers to Lilith Fairers."

The video shoot was originally slated for a brief break during the band's tour and has now been pushed back to mid-December after the tour is finished.

The video, which we're told involves monkeys, will be the first from the band's recently released album "Slap Happy."

• L7

After parting ways with the folks at Warner Bros. Records, L7 is back with a new label, a new album, and a new tour kicking off next month.

• 8/15 - San Diego, CA @ The Casbah (L7 headlining)
• 8/16 - Anaheim, CA @ Linda's Dollhut (L7 headlining)
• 8/17 - Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium (w/Ministry)
• 8/19 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater (w/Ministry)
• 8/20 - Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theater (w/Ministry)
• 8/21 - Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall (w/Ministry)
• 8/22 - San Francisco, CA @ Warfield (w/Ministry)
• 8/24 - Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues (w/Ministry)
• 8/25 - Phoenix, AZ @ Celebrity Theater (w/Ministry)
• 8/26 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater (L7 headlining)
• 8/27 - Lincoln, NE @ Knickerbockers (L7 headlining)
• 8/29 - Minneapolis, MN @ Foxfire (L7 headlining)
• 9/3 - Chicago, IL @ Lounge Axe (L7 headlining)
• 9/5 - Detroit, MI @ The Shelter (L7 headlining)
• 9/14 - Boston, MA @ The Paradise (L7 headlining)

• L7
• Ministry

After releasing a live album last year on the indie label Man's Ruin Records, punk rock grrl group L7 has formed its own label, Wax Tadpole, which will issue the band's new studio album, "Slap Happy," on August 24.

• L7

A long awaited live album from L7 will be released early next month on pop art guru Frank Kozik's independent label, "Man's Ruin." L7 was dropped by Warner Bros. last year.

Kozik tells MTV News that the album, called "Live - Omaha to Osaka," will feature 16 live tracks recorded at three different concerts. Roughly half the album was recorded at the Ranch Bowl in Omaha, Nebraska, September 3, 1997. The second half stems from a show taped at Club Quattro in Osaka, Japan, April 16, 1998.

The opening track is a "Medley Of Hits" performed by The John Marshall High School Marching Band. Kozik isn't sure how the connection was made -- he's not sure if an L7 member attended that school, or if the band was simply enamoured with L7 -- but an L7 show at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles April 23 featured the school band on stage performing roughly an eight-song medley of the best known L7 tracks in marching band style.

The album was produced by John Roecker. It's due for release December 4.

L7 is also the subject of a soon-to-be-released documentary by former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic. The documentary, to be issued on home video, is called "L7: The Beauty Process" and is unrelated to the live album. It features footage shot by Novoselic and crew while L7 and his own band, Sweet 75, toured together last year. It's also due in December.

• L7

May 20 [10:00 EST] -- When the Prodigy's "Fat of the Land" album hits stores later this year, fans may notice a familiar voice helping out on an equally familiar tune.

"I've just done some backing vocals on the new Prodigy album, on a track with Keith (Flint)," Republica singer Saffron told the MTV Radio Network recently. "They're very good friends, and I'm very honored that they asked me to do that."

So what track brought the two British chart titans together?

"We did a cover version of L7's 'Fuel My Fire,'" [215k Audio File] Saffron told MTV.

The voice behind the songs "Ready To Go" and "Drop Dead Gorgeous" has also been busy with the rest of Republica reworking a vintage Gary Numan nugget for an upcoming tribute album to the synth pioneer.

"We got do 'Are Friends Electric?' with him, so that's a great honor to be asked to do that," [149k Audio File] Saffron told MTV.

The Republica track will appear with contributions from Bis, Magnetic Fields, The Orb, Pop Will Eat Itself, St. Etienne, and Jesus Jones on the collection, due this month.

• L7
• Gary Numan
• The Prodigy
• Republica

May 6 [16:00 EST] -- The Offspring roll into Hollywood Wednesday night with L7 to kick off the annual Foundations Forum with a show at the Palladium.

The four-night hard rock showcase, also known as the F Fest, will also feature performances by the Long Beach Dub All Stars, Anthrax, Testament, Exodus, Silver Jet, the Wild Colonials, Snapcase, and Powerman 5000 among many, many others at clubs throughout the L.A. area.

Plus, the get-together will feature a Black Sabbath jam with Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister, Ozzy Osbourne backer Randy Castillo, Quiet Riot's Rudy Sarzo, Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson, and original Sabbath drummer Bill Ward (who will not be joining the Ozzy-fronted Black Sabbath reunion at this summer's Ozzfest).

In addition to the live shows, registered Forum attendees can sit in on panel discussions offering the input of guests like Mojo Nixon, Rob Zombie, and Butthole Surfer Gibby Haynes.

• L7
• The Offspring

March 6 [12:00 EST] -- Dinosaur Jr., Morphine, and L7 will be among the bands turning up at UnVailed 1997, a three-day concert/snowboarding festival set for March 27-29 in Vail, Colorado.

The event, dubbed The Ultimate Band and Board Event and sponsored by Sam Goody, will also feature sets from the Bloodhound Gang, Leah Andrione, and Rusted Root as well as top snowboarders from across the country squaring off in a peer-judged competition.

The weekend event will also showcase four unsigned bands who beat out some 650 other acts for a shot at much-vaunted exposure.

Among its many other UnVailed related projects will be a compilation CD featuring tracks from five of the festival's headliners, as well as additional material from bands that will not appear on the bill. The CD will run you $5.99 and is available at any of Sam Goody's 777 stores or at any On Cue location.

Sales of the CD will benefit the Snowboard Outreach Society which helps at-risk youth.

• Dinosaur Jr.
• L7
• Morphine

Feb. 24 [12:00 EST] -- Hell hath no fury like the women in L7... a point that the band proved in their stop at New York City's Irving Plaza Sunday night.

The group, fresh from an opening slot for protest-magnet Marilyn Manson, doled out a sizable slab of material from their new album, "The Beauty Process: Triple Platinum," which hits stores on Tuesday.

New tracks like "Drama" (the first single), "Off The Wagon," and "Bad Things" are rich with snarling, infectious riffs that easily merged with L7 staples like "Pretend We're Dead" and "Sh*tlist" and easily won over the capacity crowd (which included Joey Ramone and members of D Generation).

You can see for yourself when "The Beauty Process" hits stores on Tuesday, or when L7 rolls into the following venues:

2/26 - Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theatre 2/27 - Detroit, MI @ Shelter 2/28 - Chicago, IL @ Metro 3/1 - Milwaukee, WI @ Rave

• L7

Jan. 31 [12:00 EST] -- L7 is currently rolling across the country introducing fans to their new bass player Gail Greenwood, formerly of Belly, and new tracks form their upcoming album, "The Beauty Process - Triple Platinum."

The band has been winning converts with the hook-filled thunder of their "Beauty Process" material on their opening slot for Marilyn Manson.

The band's first single, "Off The Wagon," should be released soon, and "The Beauty Process" will hit stores on February 25.

L7's live show suitably impressed retired football player (and all around gruff guy) Art Donovan who (after the band performed on "Late Night With David Letterman" in the summer of 1992) cracked, "I haven't heard such a racket since the Japs were bombing me in World War II."

You can check out the racket yourself at the following venues:

2/1 - Albuquerque, NM @ Albuquerque Convention Center w/Marilyn Manson 2/2 - Las Cruces, NM @ Pan American Center w/Marilyn Manson 2/3 - Austin, TX @ Emo's 2/4 - Lubbock, TX @ Fair Park Coliseum w/Marilyn Manson 2/5 - Oklahoma City, OK @ TNT Building w/Marilyn Manson 2/7 - Kansas City, KS @ Memorial Hall w/Marilyn Manson 2/8 - Omaha, NE @ Mancuso Hall w/Marilyn Manson 2/9 - Des Moines, IA @ Convention Center w/Marilyn Manson 2/11 - Toledo, OH @ Toledo Sports Arena w/Marilyn Manson 2/12 - Kalamazoo, MI @ Club Soda 2/13 - Indianapolis, IN @ Pepsi Coliseum w/Marilyn Manson 2/14 - Dayton, OH @ Hara Arena w/Marilyn Manson 2/15 - Wheeling, WV @ Wheeling Civic Center w/Marilyn Manson 2/16 - Washington, D.C. @ Black Cat 2/18 - Troy, NY @ RPI Fieldhouse w/Marilyn Manson 2/19 - Springfield, MA @ Springfield Civic Center w/Marilyn Manson 2/20 - Burlington, VT @ Club Toast 2/21 - Fitchburg, MA @ Wallace Civic Center w/Marilyn Manson 2/22 - Philadelphia, PA @ Pontiac Grill 2/23 - New York City, NY @ Irving Plaza 2/26 - Cleveland, OH @ Agora Ballroom 2/27 - Detroit, MI @ The Shelter at St. Andrew 2/28 - Chicago, IL @ The Metro 3/1 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave Bar

• L7