Kanye West (file)
Photo: Lester Cohen/WireImage.com

Former Meat Puppets bassist Cris Kirkwood was sentenced to 21 months in an Arizona federal prison Monday (August 2) for assaulting a post-office security guard with his own baton in December. Prosecutors also requested $7,000 in retribution to be paid to the victim, and three years' supervision upon his release. Kirkwood pleaded guilty to a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon in May. ...

It's not the Pope. It's not the Medici family. It's Kanye West, the new patron of the arts. West revealed in an interview with Q magazine that he commissioned a painter to re-create Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling for his dining room. "It's gonna have over 50 cherubs and saints," West boasted. ... If Barbara and Jenna Bush want to follow in the Olsen twins' footsteps, a New York modeling agency will help them take the first step. Ambassador Promotions has offered a modeling contract to the first daughters, for what the company says could be a multimillion-dollar deal if the Bush twins accept. "Whether the president wins re-election or not, the girls could be true winners for the fashion world," the company's president, Dave D'Orazio, said in a statement. ...

Britney Spears' soon-to-be stepson is named Michael Jackson — kind of. Shar Jackson revealed to Us Weekly that she named her baby boy (fathered by Spears' fiancé, Kevin Federline) Kaleb Michael Jackson after Paul Walker's character in the movie "The Skulls," while the middle name is after Federline's father. "Yeah, it's funny that 'Michael Jackson' is in there, but his name is Kaleb Michael," she told the magazine. Jackson said that Federline arrived after her nearly eight-hour labor and delivery was over, and since then, they've been talking almost every day. ... Former Dream member Melissa Schuman posted on her message board that next week she's scheduled to record a duet with Backstreet Boy Nick Carter. The song is called "Still There for Me," and it's for an upcoming film, but she wouldn't disclose which one. ...

Want 50 Cent on your phone? The rapper's signed a ring tone, voice and image deal with mobile content provider Zingy, so mobile users can get original recordings from him. "I'm doing things that don't usually go with artists of my lyrical content," 50 said in a statement. "I will continue to break boundaries through all industries as long as people embrace it." The 50 goodies will be available on AOL, Boost Mobile, *MTV, Nextel, Sprint PCS, T-Mobile and Zingy.com. ... Bryan "Baby" Williams (a.k.a. Birdman) has settled a lawsuit that alleged he had failed to pay King's Jewelers in Florida $85,000 for jewelry he ordered. According to The Associated Press, Williams and the jewelry company settled for $57,000. The settlement stipulated that the rap boss may keep the jewelry and that neither party admits liability or wrongdoing. Baby reportedly ordered a $23,500 pendant that said "BM" in white gold and diamonds, as well as nine white gold, diamond-studded pendants reading "Cash Money Records," worth a total of $54,000. Williams' publicist could not be reached by press time. ...

The eighth album from De La Soul is also the first hip-hop LP released by the Sanctuary Urban label, a new imprint run by Mathew Knowles (Beyoncé's dad). The trio's follow-up to 2001's AOI: Bionix is due September 28 and features appearances by Common, Carl Thomas, Ghostface, and, on its title-track first single, Bonz Malone. A second single, "Shopping Bags," is expected to surface simultaneously in August. This fall, look out for a De La-designed model in Nike's Dunk line of shoes. ...

Badly Drawn Boy will launch a North American fall tour on October 5 in Vancouver, British Columbia, to support his new album, One Plus One Is One. The first leg will conclude October 28 in Houston. ... "Ramones Raw," unreleased video footage shot by Marky Ramone, is being released on DVD later this year. "Raw" includes backstage interviews, as well as home video of the pioneers of punk dating from the early '80s. ... The Pixies have added a pair of Los Angeles dates, September 22 and 23, to their fall tour schedule. The gigs mark the band's first shows in the L.A. area in 12 years. Grant Lee Phillips will open both shows, with the Distillers joining him on the first night and the Thrills on the second. The Pixies' North American fall tour starts September 4 in Bend, Oregon. ...

Courtney Love got a last-minute visa to perform at the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan, where she proclaimed, "They let me in, they let me in." ... Fans attending the Projekt Revolution tour at New Jersey's PNC Bank Arts Center on Friday got more than they bargained for when Jay-Z came out to perform an encore with headliners Linkin Park. The rap-rockers and the Roc rapper performed "Dirt Off Your Shoulder," "Jigga What?" and "Big Pimpin'." ...

7.30.2004

Britney Spears is close to buying a home with Kevin Federline, according to her mother, Lynne Spears, who posted a note to fans on the singer's Web site. "Britney and I have been doing mother-and-daughter trips all over California trying to find just the right house" for the singer to live in with her fiancé, her mother wrote. "We think we might have found the right one." In between house-hunting, the singer is also cleaning out her closet in preparation for the move, having already sent a dozen boxes of stuff home to Louisiana for her cousins, and is starting a physical-therapy regimen for her knee. "She's been waking up, doing little things around the apartment in the morning, going to physical therapy in the afternoon, and then has downtime at night," Lynne wrote. She said that her daughter is enjoying her time "doing normal, everyday things" and helping her little sister, Jamie Lynn, with projects for her upcoming Nickelodeon show. ...

Why buy an Usher album with an ordinary debit card when you can purchase it with one endorsed by the singer himself? Usher is launching the Usher Raymond IV Debit MasterCard, a card featuring Mr. Entertainment's face against a black background with the word "success" under his name. Fans can pick up the card at Bankfirst, www.ushermc.com and at booths set up at concert venues on his tour, which kicks off August 5. ... Michael Jackson got a break in his effort to reduce his bail — an appeals court recognized his defense motion and suggested that an evidentiary hearing be heard to determine if his $3 million bail was too high for the crimes with which he is charged. ... Meanwhile, a teenager was hospitalized after his all-terrain vehicle flipped over at Neverland Ranch. He's reportedly in good condition, but he had to be airlifted out of the ranch by helicopter to receive treatment at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. The boy was at or near the main house, and it's not known whether Jackson was there as well. ...

P. Diddy is movin' on up — to New Jersey. The rap mogul recently bought a 21-room, 17,000-square-foot Bergen County mansion for more than $10 million. According to The Associated Press, the brick colonial home sits on 3.5 acres of land and features a six-car garage, outdoor pool with waterfall, a movie theater and a 700-gallon aquarium. ... Less than six months after Nick Oliveri parted ways with Queens of the Stone Age due to his inability to get along with Josh Homme, the bassist was booted out of Mondo Generator's touring van and left curbside in Germany because he was fighting with the sound man. Due to the row and Oliveri's subsequent abandonment, a show in Italy had to be canceled last week. ...

On Thursday, a federal judge ruled that if Rosa Parks is unable to testify in the lawsuit she brought against Outkast for using her name as the title of a 1998 song without permission, a doctor for Parks must explain the hindrance. According to The Associated Press, lawyers for the defense had asked to interview the civil-rights icon to clarify her claims of emotional and mental distress over the song. ... Juliet isn't going to be too pleased. Seems like Lil' Romeo is giving his love to another girl. The 14-year-old money-stacker has a new single coming soon called "My Cinderella," which features Nick Cannon. The song is the first offering from his September 21 LP, Romeo-Land. Fans will get to see Romeo perform the track during the season premiere of his TeenNick series, "Romeo!," on August 28. ...

MTV2 Headbangers Ball Volume 2, due September 28, follows up last year's first volume with 40 tracks spanning two discs. One features established artists such as Slipknot, Korn and A Perfect Circle, while the second disc includes more underground bands, including Dillinger Escape Plan and Cradle of Filth. ... New bassist John Moyer, formerly of Union Underground, played his first live gig with Disturbed on Saturday at the House of Blues in the band's hometown of Chicago. Moyer replaced Fuzz, who left as a result of personal conflicts with the group last year. After Saturday's performance at the Rolling Rock Town Fair in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Disturbed will spend the rest of the year working on their new album, the follow-up to 2002's Believe. ...

The radio broadcaster famous for introducing Superman to fans in the 1940s ("It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman!") during the "Superman" show's decade-long radio run passed away on Wednesday in his New York apartment, according to The New York Times. Jackson Beck was also known for voicing the character of Bluto in more than 300 "Popeye" cartoons. He was 92. ... This month also brought the passing of another unsung Hollywood figure. According to The Associated Press, Irvin Shortess "Shorty" Yeaworth Jr., who directed the 1958 horror film "The Blob," died in a car accident in the Middle East on July 19 at the age of 78. ...

Kylie Minogue staged a special one-off performance at London's Hammersmith Apollo to launch her album Body Language, and now the show is being released on DVD. The "Body Language Live" DVD, due September 7, will include surround sound, interviews, backstage footage and three music videos (for "Slow," "Red Blooded Woman" and "Chocolate"). ... P.O.D. frontman Sonny Sandoval has signed on as an investor in Gamecaster Inc., a gaming-events company, according to a spokesperson for the band. Sandoval was named the music director of the company and will also perform as on-camera talent in the role of pit reporter, providing commentary and interviews with competitors at televised video-game competitions. The first event is scheduled for August 24 in San Diego. ... On Jack Irons' first solo album, Attention Dimension, set for release in August, the former Pearl Jam and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer is joined by some of his old bandmates and friends, including Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard and Eddie Vedder, who lends his vocals to a cover of Pink Floyd's "Shine on You Crazy Diamond"; RHCP bassist Flea and Primus' Les Claypool. ...

• Kanye West
• Meat Puppets
• Britney Spears
• Dream
• Backstreet Boys

Cris Kirkwood (file)
Photo: Island

Meat Puppets bassist Cris Kirkwood is looking at a two-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to an assault charge in a Phoenix courtroom Monday.

Kirkwood, 43, entered his plea in U.S. District Court, where he stood accused of assault with a dangerous weapon. The charge stemmed from an incident in December that left the bassist with a bullet in his belly after he hit a post office security guard (see "Meat Puppets' Cris Kirkwood Shot After Beating Security Guard").

Pursuant to a plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend a minimal sentence when Kirkwood is sentenced on July 26, probably around 27 months, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. attorney's office. He will also have to make restitution to the victim, the amount of which will be determined at sentencing.

If the case had gone to trial, Kirkwood could have faced up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the felony offense.

On December 26, Kirkwood was arguing with a woman over a parking spot at a downtown Phoenix post office when security guard Thomas R. Goodrum asked him to leave. As he was leaving, Kirkwood pushed Goodrum, who then drew his baton in self-defense. Kirkwood punched Goodrum, wrestled the baton away, and hit the guard in the head with it. Fearing for his safety, Goodrum drew his gun and shot Kirkwood in the abdomen. Kirkwood was hospitalized and underwent surgery.

• Meat Puppets

After being arrested for felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to do bodily harm Tuesday morning, Meat Puppets bassist Cris Kirkwood remains in FBI custody. He appeared in court on Tuesday in a wheelchair, wearing a hospital gown. On Friday, Kirkwood allegedly assaulted a security guard who intervened in an argument he was having with a woman outside a post office in Phoenix. At his detention hearing, the prosecution is expected to ask that he remain behind bars until his trial. ...

A new version of the video for Limp Bizkit's "Behind Blue Eyes" is expected to replace the original, Halle Berry-featured clip. The performance-based video was shot by frontman Fred Durst's brother Cory during the Back 2 Basics Tour in November. On the band's Web site, Durst said the video was "dedicated to everyone who's supported us through the good times, the rough times and all the real times." ... For its seventh annual Christmas present, the Nirvana fan club (www.nirvanaclub.com) has posted audio recordings of the band's first show, which took place at a house party in March 1987 in Raymond, Washington. Among the nine songs are "Spank Thru," "Aero Zeppelin" and a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Heartbreaker." ...

Pop singer Natalie Imbruglia and Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns were married Wednesday (December 31) in a private ceremony in a secluded tropical location in Australia. The couple were engaged earlier this year. ... A 22-year-old man was arrested Tuesday in connection with the death of New Orleans rapper Soulja Slim, who was shot multiple times in November. Police charged Garelle Smith with first-degree murder. ...

David Banner is launching a line of jerseys emblazoned with the number 55 to honor Emmett Till, a Mississippi teen who was murdered in 1955 by two white men (who were later acquitted by an all-white jury) for whistling at a white woman. The line is due in the summer. ... Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige and Anthony Hamilton are among the first artists confirmed for the 10th annual Essence Music Festival at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Gladys Knight, the O'Jays, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Kenny Lattimore, Chanté Moore, the Ohio Players, Freddie Jackson and Sinbad will also perform at the event, scheduled for July 2-4. ...

Puddle of Mudd, who will perform on FOX's New Year's Eve special in Las Vegas, have been using their holiday vacation as recovery time. Singer Wes Scantlin came down with bronchitis earlier in December and guitarist Paul Philips broke his right index finger. "For some reason, I thought I could jump off stage and fly," he wrote on the band's Web site. "Well, I couldn't." ... Papa Roach are about to begin mixing their fourth full-length studio album, which will be called either Dancing in the Ashes or Getting Away With Murder, according to a posting on the group's Web site. Meanwhile, frontman Jacoby Shaddix is also gearing up to record Seven Deadly Songs (set for release on Papa Roach's El Tonal imprint) with his side project Fight the Sky, which the singer described as "just straight metal hardcore, all screamy and sh--." ...

Russell Simmons and his older brother Danny Simmons have teamed with the nonprofit job-placement organization Strive to create the Simmons Brothers Art Scholarship for prisoners incarcerated under the Rockefeller Drug Laws to attend City College of New York. Danny served time under the controversial laws, which mandate prison terms for people caught with a relatively small amount of drugs. ... Damien Rice has scheduled his most ambitious North American tour yet in support of his Shortlist Music Prize-winning album, O. The outing begins March 23 in Boulder, Colorado, and ends April 29 in St. Louis. ...

12.30.03

Blink-182 are considering "Easy Target" as a possible third single from their new, untitled album. "[Second single] 'I Miss You' is a real pretty, slow, melodic song, and 'Easy Target' is just kind of an aggressive, fast song," singer/bassist Mark Hoppus said recently. "I think it'll be really cool to come out after 'I Miss You,' but we'll see. I'm not in charge." ...

In addition to her upcoming spring tour, Britney Spears is planning to hit Portugal's Rock in Rio-Lisbon festival — her only scheduled international booking for 2004 thus far. Also on the bill for the five-day Portuguese extravaganza are Guns N' Roses, Metallica, Slipknot and Sting. The event, which kicks off May 29 in Bela Vista Park in Lisbon, will see Spears take the stage on June 5. ... Beginning New Year's Day, net proceeds from Phish's digital-download site, LivePhish.com, will benefit the Mockingbird Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded and run by Phish fans that supports music education for children. Last year, the site made more than $2 million. ...

Two months into lockdown, Scott Weiland has switched rehab facilities. Though the former Stone Temple Pilots frontman/current Velvet Revolver singer was in court-ordered rehab at Grandview in Pasadena, California, he's now housed at Las Encinas, also in Pasadena. Prosecutors said that the switch was made so that the singer could get more personal care in a smaller facility. Weiland's due back in court for a probation status report on January 9. The singer's arraignment date, to enter a plea to the charge of driving under the influence of drugs (from his late October arrest), was pushed back from December 23 to January 23. Meanwhile, Weiland lashed out in a Friday post on his band's Web site at a Rolling Stone reporter who "interviewed me and then printed that I was drunk driving. Get your facts straight, you moron paparazzi f---," he wrote. ...

The third annual Bonnaroo Music Festival is set for June 11-13 at the same 600-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee, that staged last year's show, which featured the Flaming Lips, the Roots and Neil Young and took in $11.5 million to become this year's second-highest grossing event. The new lineup has not yet been announced. ... Bright Eyes are releasing a split six-song EP with Neva Dinova in April. One Jug of Wine, Two Vessels will feature three new songs from each artist, with each group making an appearance on the other's tracks. Next month, Crank! A Record Company (www.crankthis.com) will hold a contest where winners will receive a limited-edition, hand-numbered copy of the record on colored vinyl. ...

Pearl Jam, the Allman Brothers Band and American Hi-Fi contribute tracks to Hot Stove, Cool Music, a benefit album assembled by veteran ESPN baseball analyst Peter Gammons. Among the LP's highlights are the Hot Stove All Stars, a group featuring Peter Wolf, Mighty Mighty Bosstones frontman Dicky Barrett and members of the Boston Red Sox, covering Gary Glitter's sports-arena classic "Rock & Roll Part 2." Proceeds from the album and a concert held January 11 will benefit the Jimmy Fund, which supports cancer research at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. ... Slipknot's Corey Taylor will spend his New Year's Eve performing with a one-off side project called the D*M*F*X at the House of Bricks in Des Moines, Iowa. Dizzy Draztik (Ryan McMurray, ex-leader of Des Moines punk band the Rejects), Slopscycle, the Nillas, On a Pale Horse and other local Iowa acts will also be on the bill. ...

Former Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell has contributed to a track on New Found Power, the debut album by the Damageplan, a group featuring Pantera's Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul. The band will launch a radio promo tour before the album drops February 10. ... Bad Religion have a big summer ahead of them. Besides being confirmed for the Vans Warped Tour, the hardcore vets will release a new album, their 13th, on Epitaph Records. Guitarist Brett Gurewitz and singer Greg Graffin have each written a few songs, though recording has yet to begin. ...

• Limp Bizkit
• Meat Puppets
• Nirvana
• David Banner
• Mary J. Blige

Meat Puppets' Cris Kirkwood (file)
Photo: Island

Cris Kirkwood, former bassist for influential alternative rock band the Meat Puppets, remained hospitalized Monday after being shot in the abdomen on Friday.

Kirkwood was shot outside a post office in downtown Phoenix by a security guard escorting him off the premises after he was involved in an argument with a woman over a parking space, according to a spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He was taken to Good Samaritan Medical Center in nearby Banner, Arizona, in critical condition and underwent surgery on the wound, a hospital spokesperson said.

As the 43-year-old Kirkwood attempted to back into a spot on the street at around 5 p.m., Jenny Hom, 32, also began to pull into the same spot from the rear and honked her horn. Both drivers then pulled into a parking lot.

Kirkwood, shouting obscenities, followed Hom toward the post office and stopped her on the sidewalk.

"He shrugged his shoulder as if he was going to hit me," she told The Arizona Republic. "He didn't hit me."

She informed a post-office security guard about the incensed Kirkwood, who had followed her inside, and the guard escorted him out of the building, according to the FBI spokesperson. There, Kirkwood shoved the guard, who then drew his collapsible baton and again instructed him to leave the premises.

At that point, a scuffle ensued. Kirkwood punched the guard, who responded by hitting Kirkwood's leg. Kirkwood then grabbed the guard's baton and hit him in the left side of the head. Fearing that the beating would continue, the guard drew his sidearm and fired one round. He then called Phoenix police.

The FBI is investigating the incident because it happened in a federal building. On Tuesday morning (December 30), Kirkwood was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to do bodily harm, for which he could face up to 10 years in jail. He’s expected to appear in court Tuesday afternoon.

With his older brother Curt, Kirkwood formed the Meat Puppets in Phoenix in 1980. The band released six albums for the famed SST label before signing with major label London Records. With their combination of punk, country and jam-band roots, the Meat Puppets influenced many bands in the early 1990s, most notably Nirvana, who tapped them to open their 1993 In Utero tour.

Nirvana covered three Meat Puppets tunes, "Plateau," "Oh, Me" and "Lake of Fire," for 1994's MTV Unplugged album, and the Kirkwood brothers also played with Nirvana for the television special.

The Meat Puppets scored their biggest mainstream hit with "Backwater" from 1994's Too High to Die. The band's last album, Golden Lies, was released in 2000 without the participation of Cris, whose long struggle with heroin addiction contributed to the group's eventual demise.

This story was updated on 12.30.03 at 4:10 p.m. ET.

• Meat Puppets

Does the world need another rap/rock act? The latest band to break into the genre is Quarashi, an Icelandic outfit that could pass for the children of the Beastie Boys and Limp Bizkit, if that were biologically possible. They've already made a name for themselves with their single, "Stick 'Em Up." Their U.S. debut, Jinx, hits stores this week.

Hoping not to get jinxed by - Jinx are the Mooney Suzuki, a four-piece garage band (and crowd favorite at this year's South By Southwest) from New York City that derived its name from those of former Can singers Malcolm Mooney and Damo Suzuki. They've just issued their second full-length album, - Electric Sweat.

If you're more MTV than MTV2, no doubt you're familiar with Heather B., the tough-talking, dog-walking cast member of the first season of "The Real World" ... and the "Real World" reunions ... and the "Real World/Road Rules Challenge." She's stepping back into the spotlight with her first love, music. Heather's third album, - Eternal Affairs hits shelves on Tuesday. Just like reruns, the title suggests she'll probably be around for an eternity.

Out Tuesday April 9:

• 40 Below Summer - Invitation to the Dance (London/Sire)
• 764-HERO - Nobody Knows This Is Everywhere (Tiger Style)
• 98 Mute - After the Fall (Epitaph)
• Angelic Upstarts - Bootlegs Live and Rarities (Cleopatra)
• Arcturus - Sham Mirrors (The End)
• Avoid One Thing - Avoid One Thing (Side One/Dummy)
• Azure Ray - Burn and Shiver (Warm)
• Heather B. - Eternal Affairs (SAI)
• The Baldwin Brothers - Cooking with Lasers (TVT)
• Jeff Beck & The Yardbirds - Yardbird Years (Remastered, Fuel 2000)
• Big Country - Live in Cologne (Cleopatra)
• Braxton Brothers - Both Sides (Peak)
• Lane Brody - Pieces of Life (Scream)
• Guillermo E. Brown - Soul at the Hands of the Machine (Thirsty Ear)
• Brute - Co-Balt (Widespread)
• Jimmy Cavallo - The Houserocker! (Blue Wave)
• Bill Charlap - Stardust (Blue Note)
• Choobakka - My Time.(Numillenium)
• Consonant - Consonant (Fenway)
• Crispy Ambulance - Scissorgun (Darla)
• Crown - Crowned in Terror (Metal Blade)
• D-Tension - Contacts & Contracts (Landspeed)
• DJ Hiro - Local Underground Disc One (Vitamin)
• DJ Victor Dinaire - Timeless Trance: Morning Sessions (Logic)
• Dark Day Dawning - Nothing That I Wouldn't Give (Resurrection A.D.)
• Bobby D'Ambrosio - Here I Am (Definity)
• Guy Davis - Give in Kind (Red House)
• The Detachment Kit - They Raging, Quiet Arm (Self Starter Foundation)
• Die Form - Confessions (Reissue, Metropolis)
• Die Form - Ad Infinitum (Reissue, Metropolis)
• Diversiti - Diversiti (Orpheus)
• Dixie Dregs - 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection (Mercury)
• Dokken - Long Way Home (CMC Int'l)
• Dolly Varden - Forgiven Now (Untertow)
• Down By Law - Punkrockdays: Best of DBL (Epitaph)
• Steve Earle - Sidetracks (E-Squared/Artemis)
• Earth - Extra-Capsular Extraction (Reissue, Sub Pop)
• Paul Elliot - Coming Home (AO!/Black Scorpio)
• Drew Emmitt - Freedom Ride (Compass)
• Face to Face - How to Ruin Everything (Vagrant)
• Familiar 48 - Wonderful Nothing (MCA)
• Mark Farina - Connect (Om)
• Rachelle Ferrell - Live at Montreux(Blue Note)
• Frankie Bones - Pro.File: Turntable Specialist Volume 2 (BML)
• Freaky Flow - Keep it Live (Moonshine)
• Eliza Gilkyson - Lost and Found (Red House)
• Gloria Record - Start Here (Arena Rock)
• Goo Goo Dolls - Gutterflower (Warner Bros.)
• Gravediggaz - Nightmare in A Minor (Empire Musickwerks)
• Patty Griffin - 1000 Kisses (ATO)
• Djamel Hammadi - Medina (Milan)
• Matt Harris - Slightly Elliptical Orbit (Leon Russell)
• Haywood - We Are Amateurs, You & I (Self Starter Foundation)
• Helloween - Treasure Chest (Sanctuary)
• David Holmes - Come Get It, I Got It (Thirteen Amp)
• Tommy Hools - Shut Up! Early Works & Remixes Volume 1 (K7)
• Imani - Break of Dawn (Numillennium)
• Imperial Teen - On (Merge)
• Informatik - Nymphomatik (Metropolis)
• Teddy Jack - Teddy Jack (Leon Russell)
• Japancakes - Belmondo-Bliss Out Volume 19 (Darla)
• Jaz-O/Immobilarie - Kingz Kounty (D&D)
• Will Johnson - Murder of Tides (Undertow)
• Bill Jones - Turn to Me (Compass)
• K7/Ty Bless - Love, Sex, Money (Select)
• Chris LeDoux - After the Storm (Capitol)
• Life Without Buildings - Any Other City (DC Baltimore 2012)
• The Long Winters - Worst You Can Do Is Harm (Barsuk)
• Mad Happy - Feel Good Music... for the Broke Middle Class (Bar/None)
• Masters at Work - Our Time Is Coming (Tommy Boy)
• Masters of the Hemisphere - Protest a Dark Anniversary (Kindercore)
• Meat Puppets - Live at Maxwell's 2.08.01 (DCN)
• Medeski, Martin & Wood - Uninvisible (Blue Note)
• Mellow Man Ace - From the Darkness Into the Light (X-Ray)
• Metta Quintet - Going to Meet the Man (Koch Jazz)
• The Mingus Big Band with Elvis Costello - Tonight at Noon ... (Dreyfus Jazz)
• The Mooney Suzuki - Electric Sweat (Gammon/Telegraph)
• Gary Moore - Best of the Blues (Virgin)
• Moth - Provisions, Fiction & Gear (Virgin)
• Motörhead - Hammered (Sanctuary)
• Must - Androgynous Jesus (Wind-up)
• Nina Nastasia - The Blackened Air (Touch & Go)
• The National Trust - Dekkagar (Thrill Jockey)
• Oppressor - Solstice of Oppression (Crash)
• Oxymoron - Best Before 2000 (GMM)
• Oxymoron - Feed the Breed (GMM)
• Portable - Only If You Look Up (TVT)
• Pretty Girls Make Graves - Is It Broken Doctor (Lookout!)
• Quarashi - Jinx (Columbia)
• The Queers - Pleasant Screams (Lookout!)
• Rain - Get It Right (Taqa/True Life)
• Bonnie Raitt - Silver Lining (Capitol)
• Ralph's World - At the Bottom of the Sea (Mini Fresh)
• Rasputina - Cabin Fever (Instinct)
• The Reputation - The Reputation (Initial)
• Mike Rizzo - NYC Dance Party (Surge/Warlock)
• Patti Rothberg - Candelabra Cadabra (Double on Tundra)
• Leon Russell - Moonlight & Love Songs (Leon Russell)
• Rusted Root - Welcome to My Party (Island)
• Saloon - This Is What We Call Progress (Darla)
• Semiautomatic - Resident Genius (5 Rue Christine)
• Sarah Shannon - Sarah Shannon (Barsuk)
• Luke Slater - Alright on Top (Mute)
• Slick Shoes - Slick Shoes (Tooth & Nail)
• Soulmotor - Revolution Wheel (Sanctuary)
• Soul Center - Soul Center III (Mute)
• Soulive - Turn It Out (Velour)
• Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Plastic Fang (Matador)
• Superchunk - Art Class EP (Merge)
• Swayzak - Groove Technology (K7)
• Ty Tabor - Safety (Metal Blade)
• Templars - Reconquista 1994-1998 (GMM)
• Ten Years After - Anthology 1967-1971 (Hip-O)
• Thick Di-- - Tribal Seduction (Subliminal)
• Erik Truffaz - Mantis (Blue Note)
• Undercroft - Evilusion (Crash)
• Junior Vasquez - Earth Music (Tommy Boy)
• Vital Information - Show 'Em Where You Live (Tone Center)
• Eamonn Vitt - Old Wave New Ride (Self Starter Foundation)
• David Wilcox - Live Songs & Stories (W.A.R.)
• Winds - Reflections of the I (The End)
• Won-G - Explosion (Orpheus)
• Neil Young - Are You Passionate? (Reprise)
  Read about it ... Neil Young Returns With Passion
  

• Various artists - "1 Giant Leap" soundtrack (Palm Pictures)
• Various artists - The Jam Band Tribute to the Allman Brothers (CMH)
• Various artists - Night Grooves 2 (Narada Jazz)
• Various artists - Perfecto Collection (Perfecto)
• Various artists - Shellac Presents: All Tomorrow's Parties 2.0 (All Tomorrow's Parties)
• Various artists - Soma 10th Anthology (Soma)
• Various artists - Still Phishin': A Bluegrass Tribute to Phish, Vol. 2 (CMH)
• Various artists - The String Quartet Tribute to the Cure (Vitamin)
• Various artists - Victory Style Five (Victory)

  April 23:

  • Naughty by Nature - Iicons (TVT)
    Read about it ... Naughty By Nature, 3LW Save The Day
    

  • Tina Novak - Been Around the World (Arista)
  • Q-Tip - Kamaal the Abstract (Arista)
  • Sneaker Pimps - Bloodsport (Tommy Boy)
  
  
  

  April 30:

  • Blackalicious - Blazing Arrow (MCA)
  • Donell Jones - Life Goes On (Arista)
  • Various artists - "Spider-Man" soundtrack (Columbia)
    Read about it ... 'Spider-Man' Theme To Come Courtesy Of Aerosmith
  
  
  

  May 7:

  • Grandmaster Flash - Essential Mix (Warner)
    Read about it ... Grandmaster Flash Brings Back '70s, '80s Beats On Essential Mix
    

  • Musiq Soulchild - Juslisten (Island/Def Jam)
    Read about it ... Musiq Soulchild Croons Conversation Pieces On Juslisen
    

  • Various artists - Family Values Tour 2001(Elektra)
    Read about it ... Aaron Lewis Assists STP, Linkin Park On Family Values CD
  
  
  

  May 14:

  • Atticus Fault - Atticus Fault (Island/Def Jam)
  • Various artists - Now Presents Urban Hits (Columbia)
  
  
  

  May 21:

  • Breeders - Title TK (Elektra)
  • Tommy Lee - Never a Dull Moment (MCA)
  • Raphael Saadiq - Instant Vintage (Universal)
  
  
  

  May 28:

  • Eminem - The Eminem Show (Interscope)
    Read about it ... The Doc's Diagnosis: Eminem Still Crazy
  
  
  

  June 4:

  • Lil' Romeo - Game Time (Universal/No Limit)
    Read about it ... Lil' Romeo Battles His Evil Twin On B-Ball Court
  
  
  
  Related Artists
  • Quarashi
  • Goo Goo Dolls
  • The Mooney Suzuki
  • Neil Young
  • 764-Hero
  ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453327/20020408/quarashi.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453327/20020408/quarashi.jhtml 9 Apr 2002 07:56:00 EDT Krist Novoselic, Bud Gaugh, Curt Kirkwood team up to record as Eyes Adrift.
  By Joe D'Angelo and Iann Robinson

  
  Krist Novoselic
  Photo: MTV News

  If the collaboration of Krist Novoselic, Bud Gaugh and Curt Kirkwood proves successful, you can just imagine the first clichéd headline: "The 'Eyes' Have It!"

  Eyes Adrift, an alternative rock all-star trio composed of the former Nirvana bassist, former Sublime/current Long Beach Dub Allstars drummer and Meat Puppets singer/guitarist, wrote and recorded together in Austin, Texas, where Kirkwood resides, throughout December and have taken the dozen or so resulting songs on the road, according to Gaugh's manager. The group, whose sound draws upon folk and country, began gauging public perception of Eyes Adrift last week in Seattle and Portland, and will wrap up the brief jaunt on February 7 in Austin, where they'll resume work on their debut. Upon the as-yet-untitled LP's completion, the band will begin shopping for a label.

  The idea for Eyes Adrift came together last summer, after Novoselic saw one of Kirkwood's solo performances. Gaugh volunteered his services a few days later. This wasn't Novoselic and Kirkwood's first introduction, however; the Meat Puppets opened for Nirvana on their 1993 tour supporting In Utero, and the grunge trio played three Meat Puppets songs ("Plateau," "Oh, Me," "Lake of Fire") with Cris and Curt Kirkwood during their 1993 MTV "Unplugged" performance.

  Novoselic's only post-Nirvana musical project to release an album was Sweet 75, which issued its self-titled debut — its sole album — in 1997. He has also been involved with the Joint Artists and Music Promotions Political Action Committee (JAMPAC), the annual Spitfire spoken-word tour, and, most recently, legal battles with Courtney Love over rights to previously unreleased Nirvana material (see "Kurt Cobain's Mom Rails Against Grohl, Novoselic").

  Gaugh has recorded two albums with the Long Beach Dub Allstars, 1999's Right Back and last year's Wonders of the World. Kirkwood, meanwhile, created the ninth Meat Puppets studio effort, Golden Lies, with three new bandmates in 2000.

  Remaining Eyes Adrift tour dates, according to Gaugh's manager:

  • 1/31 - Santa Ana, CA @ Galaxy Theatre
  • 2/1 - Goleta, CA @ Living Room
  • 2/2 - Tempe, AZ @ Nita's Hideaway
  • 2/3 - Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
  • 2/5 - Dallas, TX @ Trees
  • 2/6 - Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald's
  • 2/7 - Austin, TX @ Emo's
  Related Artists
  • Nirvana
  • Sublime
  • Meat Puppets
  ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1452083/20020131/nirvana.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1452083/20020131/nirvana.jhtml 31 Jan 2002 03:25:00 EST
  Meat Puppets "Backwater"

  Meat Puppets leader Curt Kirkwood is taking his band's new lineup on the road for a handful of shows in support of Golden Lies, the group's first studio album in five years, beginning November 28 in Lawrence, Kansas.

  For a guy who's spent the years since No Joke! (1995) watching his brother succumb to drug addiction, who's had to rebuild his band from scratch, and then sit by while his latest album was stuck in record label limbo for more than a year, Kirkwood seems surprisingly patient now that he finally has a chance to get new music out to people.

  "There's no accounting for taste, you just get people exposed to it," he said from his home in Austin, Texas. "No matter what you play, if you just hang on and keep doing it. It may be Madonna-like, you may rise to huge cult and mass status, both. It may take awhile for you to find what your thing is."

  The Meat Puppets established their thing shortly after forming in 1980, brewing a mix of psychedelia, punk and country music that drew critical raves and prominent fans such as late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. But after finally gaining mainstream notice with the 1994 single "Backwater," the band crumbled around the heroin addiction of Cris Kirkwood, Curt's younger brother and the band's founding bassist.

  Over the past three years, singer/guitarist Curt, now 41, recruited a set of Puppets that includes guitarist Kyle Ellison, drummer Shandon Sahm and bassist Andrew Duplantis. And even with the new lineup, the group's recently released Golden Lies remains true to the Meat Puppets' wigged-out, affecting musical legacy.

  "At the end of the day, the music is the therapy that saved him," said manager Tami Blevins, who has worked with the band since 1991.

  "Even when things were really bad, [Curt and Kyle] would get up and go to their rehearsal space like they went to work. Get there at 1, stay till 7 or 8. Write songs, record their sessions, hang out, talk about stuff, do art together. Just really getting to know each other. That's not to say there weren't hard times, but just that it didn't occur to anybody that you should be doing something else."

  Despite the lengthy span between albums, Golden Lies dives right back into Kirkwood's free-association storytelling and exploration of his emotional psyche.

  The catchy sing-along "Hercules," an imperative to stray from the herd, could easily follow "Backwater" onto modern rock airwaves. The three-part messiah fantasy "Fat Boy/Fat/Requiem," with its lyric "Stop the war on Fat Boy," was inspired off the cuff, Kirkwood said, by two stickers on Sahm's drum case: an anti-Rush Limbaugh tag reading "Bend Over Fat Boy" and "Stop the War on Drugs."

  Meanwhile, the chantey-rhythm "Pieces of Me" opens with the backward-looking refrain: "Once I was something, but I can't remember/ Whatever that something should be." Kirkwood said it was inspired by his mother's death from cancer a few years go.

  "I found myself with innate influences pulled out from underneath me," he said. "I hadn't really realized what a big influence my mom was in my life. It took me awhile to get my sh-- together."

  But perhaps the most telling track is the driving perseverance number "I Quit." Despite the surrendering title, Kirkwood stakes his faith in the creative process when he sings, "I believe in carpentry/ Gonna build a galaxy."

  "Sometimes I think that's all you can really do, is be creative and be an inspiration," he said. "You can't really help anybody. I don't know that being creative is everybody's form of inspiration. Some people actually change diapers or whatever. I don't think there's anything that heavy about it. You gotta do something — sit and watch TV and keep out of everybody's way, which is what I do most of the time."

  Meat Puppets tour dates:

  • 11/28 - Lawrence, KS @ Bottleneck
  • 11/29 - Columbia, MO @ Blue Note
  • 12/1 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
  • 12/2 - Chicago, IL @ Double Door
  • 12/3 - Madison, WI @ O'Cayz Corral
  Related Artists
  • Meat Puppets
  ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1431993/20001110/meat_puppets.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1431993/20001110/meat_puppets.jhtml 10 Nov 2000 10:00:00 EST