Nick Bollea's car after the Sunday crash
Photo: Tim Boyles/ Getty Images

Nick Bollea, Hulk Hogan's 17-year-old son, was discharged from a hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Monday morning (August 27) after being involved in a car accident the previous evening. Police said Bollea, who was featured in VH1's "Hogan Knows Best" reality series, was driving his Toyota Supra at a high speed along state route 60 when he lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a raised median at 7:30 p.m. in Clearwater. The car reportedly flipped over, and the rear of the vehicle collided with a palm tree. Bollea and one of his car's passengers, 22-year-old John Graziano, were airlifted to the Bayfront Medical Center following the crash. The nature of both Bollea's and Graziano's injuries was not immediately known, but a police spokesperson characterized them as serious. Graziano remains under the hospital's care in critical condition. Alcohol is not believed to have played a role in the accident, but police continue to investigate the crash. No criminal charges have been filed. ...

Jordin Sparks doesn't have a name for her debut album yet, but she's got a release date set in stone: November 20. In anticipation of the 19 Recordings/ Jive disc, the "American Idol" champ drew back the curtains on her first single on Friday, debuting "Tattoo" on AOL's Pop Eater blog. The track hits radio Monday. Sparks told The Associated Press that the effort was partly modeled after one of her own idols, Kelly Clarkson — but that she's a bit nervous to be following in the wake of Clarkson and Carrie Underwood's success. "They've risen the bar so high and I'm like, 'I hope I can reach it,' " she said. "Hopefully [my LP will] sell well and people will like it." ...

The runner-up to Sparks, Blake Lewis, is following suit — he just signed to 19 Recordings/ Arista and is planning to drop his first album late this year as well. Hit-maker du jour J.R. Rotem is already on board for the effort. ...

It's no McDonald's parking-lot tour, but Missy Elliott will be featured in a new Doritos ad campaign debuting September 17, Billboard.com reports. In the clip, she is seen working on a new song and snacking on Doritos Collision, different-flavored chips that spur her to fuse a little country into her hip-hop track. A contest to be held on SnackStrongProductions.com will allow visitors to create their own mash-ups using Elliott's track, although the prizes have yet to be determined. The site also features a help section in which Elliott will give tips. ...

Listen up, punk-rockers: Unreleased and rare tracks by Panic! at the Disco, Gym Class Heroes, the Used, Cute Is What We Aim For, Sparta, Head Automatica and more fill up Press Play: Volume 1, a new comp that was put together by Photo Finish and Alternative Press. A portion of the proceeds from the September 25 release will go to the Keep a Breast Foundation, a nonprofit organization that fights breast cancer. ...

The Disney Channel will air a special dance-along version of "High School Musical 2" on September 8 at 8 p.m. ET, People reports. Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and other castmembers will instruct viewers on how to mimic their dance moves during the opening and closing numbers. ... Russell Simmons has stepped down from his post as CEO of Phat Fashions, the company he founded in 1992 that spawned Phat Farm clothing. "I leave the division and the brand in great hands. There are so many things I want to achieve, and this is the appropriate moment for me to move on to my next business venture," the hip-hop mogul said in a statement. ...

Mos Def is sounding off about José Padilla, the Guantánamo detainee who was convicted earlier this week of supporting terrorism. "We all know the history of insufficient evidence or testimony under duress — at the very least, legal circumstances that demand some sort of reinvestigation ... basically saying these people are not the criminals they're being made out to be," he told The Associated Press on Thursday. Mos Def will participate this weekend in the 10th annual Black August benefit concert at New York's Nokia Theatre. The event serves to create awareness about people who its organizers, the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, believe have been unfairly convicted — Talib Kweli, Saigon and Dead Prez are also on the bill. ...

Music, martial arts and chess ... how could members of the Wu-Tang Clan not be involved? RZA and GZA are participating in the Hip-Hop Chess Foundation's first-ever Chess Kings Invitational, set for October 13 at the San Francisco Design Center. The rappers will talk on the tournament's Life Strategies panel about how music, martial arts and chess — activities the organization uses to promote nonviolence — have affected their lives. ...

Muse have plotted a handful of September dates with Juliette and the Licks: Seattle (September 9); Portland, Oregon (September 10); Orem, Utah (September 12); Dallas (September 16); Morrison, Colorado (September 18); Mesa, Arizona (September 20); and Irvine, California (September 21). Muse will also hit the San Diego Street Scene on September 22. ... Ben Kweller just squeezed out a new seven-track live EP, Ben Kweller: Live and Solo at the Artists Den, that was recorded December 13 at New York's Solo House. The disc of rarely performed songs is available now at digital outlets. ...

System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian will shoot a video for "Praise the Lord, Pass the Ammunition," from the rocker's solo debut, Elect the Dead, at an undisclosed venue in Hollywood next week with director Greg Watermann (Mudvayne, Lamb of God). Extras are needed for the video — those interested in auditioning can e-mail Watermann at serjvideo@gregwatermann.com. ... The track list for Thrice's upcoming LP The Alchemy Index: Vols. I & II - Fire & Water has been revealed. Fire will boast six cuts, including "The Messenger," "Backdraft" and "Burn the Fleet"; Water will also contain six tunes, among them "Open Water," "Night Diving" and "Kings Upon the Main." Look for the discs to hit stores October 16. ...

A writer/producer who worked on "In Living Color" and created Nickelodeon's "Roundhouse" is suing the Walt Disney Company, claiming it stole his idea for "Hannah Montana," Reuters reports. In the suit, Morris Taylor "Buddy" Sheffield says he pitched Disney Channel executives the idea for a kids' show about a high school student who leads a secret life as a pop star. Sheffield also claims Disney could owe him and his production company millions in lost profits and damages, and he wants compensation for legal fees. A Disney Channel spokesperson told the news service the network had no comment. ...

Kirsten Dunst's penthouse suite at a hotel in Manhattan, New York, was robbed earlier this month, according to court records obtained by AP. Thieves got away with a $13,000 handbag, cell phone, $2,500 in cash, an iPod, two digital cameras and ID cards belonging to the actress, who had been in the city to shoot scenes for her upcoming flick "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People." One suspect was arraigned Wednesday on burglary and grand-larceny charges, and is being held on $50,000 bond. ...

Hellyeah — the band featuring members of Mudvayne, Pantera and Nothingface — are on the hunt for a dozen women they'd like to act as their "Hellyeah girls." The winners will be featured in the band's 2008 calendar — to enter, contestants need to post an audition video to Break.com and send a link to the clip to hellyeahtv@gmail.com. ... The Dillinger Escape Plan will headline a U.S. tour this fall set to kick off October 4 in Cleveland, Ohio. Just five dates have been confirmed, but more will be announced in the coming weeks. The trek will also feature A Life Once Lost, Behold ... the Arctopus and Genghis Tron. Dillinger's forthcoming LP, Ire Works, lands in stores November 13. ...

The resurrected Jesus & Mary Chain are heading back to the studio to record their first studio album in nine years. The band will also treat four West Coast cities to more concerts: Las Vegas (October 20); Anaheim, California (October 22); Los Angeles (October 23) and San Francisco (October 26-27). ... Queen guitarist Brian May has finished his doctorate in a crazy little thing called astrophysics — he was awarded his Imperial College qualification on Thursday in London. May had been an astrophysics student before joining the band 37 years ago but dropped out as Queen became successful. His thesis? "Radical Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud." ...

Ted Nugent is at it again. The controversial right-wing rocker went on a profanity-spewed tirade at a concert last week, according to video footage posted on LiveLeak.com. With machine guns in his hands, a camouflaged Nugent yelled, "Obama, he's a piece of sh--, and I told him to suck on my machine gun. ... And then I was in New York. I said, 'Hey Hillary, you might want to ride one of these into the sunset.' " He also went off on Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer before saying, "Any questions?" and shouting, "Freedom!"

08.23.07

In one minute, out the next: Nicole Richie checked herself into the Century Regional Facility in Lynwood, California, on Thursday (August 23) to start serving her DUI sentence — only to find herself checking out less than an hour and a half later due to overcrowding. Richie had been sentenced to serve four days in jail. "At this time, the criteria for a female arrestee sentenced to 30 days or less for a nonviolent offense is as follows: the arrestee is booked, screened and usually released within 12 hours," the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a press release issued to MTV News. "This procedure is based on jail overcrowding to manage population levels mandated by federal court guidelines. Based on the mandated guidelines and Ms. Richie's 96 hours sentence, she will be treated in the same manner as other inmates with a similar sentence." The jail is the same one where Paris Hilton served a portion of her DUI sentence. ...

The Kelly Clarkson train is slowly getting back on the tracks. After the early-summer one-two punch of dumping her manager and canceling the tour in support of My December, the singer has booked the first two shows of what is expected to be a fall/winter outing. The dates — an October 10 show at Verona, New York's Turning Stone casino and another on October 15 at New York's Beacon Theater — are in venues decidedly smaller than some of the arenas Clarkson had been originally booked to hit as part of her scotched 35-date summer tour. The full itinerary for her rescheduled trek is expected in two weeks, according to a management spokesperson. ...

Justin Timberlake is joining the cast of "The Love Guru," a sports comedy starring Mike Myers, Verne Troyer and Jessica Alba. The Myers-produced film is set to begin production next month in Toronto and tentatively be released in theaters June 20. Timberlake will play a hockey player tangled in a love triangle with the top player on a team owned by Alba. ...

Though she's not likely to attend the ceremony given her doctor's orders to take a break from touring and making appearances for the rest of the year, Amy Winehouse is one of the leading nominees for England's Music of Black Origin awards with four nominations for Best U.K. Female, Best R&B Act, Best Video and Best Song for "Rehab." Also nominated for four awards is rapper Dizzee Rascal. The show will take place September 19 at the O2 arena in London, with the winner chosen by a tally of public votes on the event's Web site. A number of American acts are also nominated, among them Kanye West, Common and 50 Cent in the Best Hip-Hop category; and Amerie, Robin Thicke and Ne-Yo, who will battle Winehouse in the Best Song category. Rihanna has a pair of nominations, including one for Best International Act, in which she'll face off against Diddy, Akon and T.I.. ...

In related news, Paolo Nutini has reshuffled his tour plans following news that tour partner Winehouse tabled her U.S. trek until next year. The Scottish singer/songwriter's jaunt will now run from September 7 in Buffalo, New York, through October 28 in New Orleans. "I'll be thinking a good thought for her, she is a remarkable talent. In the meantime, I'm truly excited about this upcoming tour of North America — I guarantee it will be my best yet," Nutini said in a statement. ...

Rapper Saigon was arrested at 1:45 a.m. on Wednesday in New York on Manhattan's West Side after police stopped him for a traffic violation and allegedly found a switchblade-like knife in the car console. According to his lawyer Scott Leemon, the rapper (born Brian Daniel Carenard) was pulled over while driving someone else's car in what Leemon called "another example of NY's finest targeting a member of the rap and entertainment industry ... the small pocket knife was found in a console in the car, not in his possession. As such, I am hoping after further investigation this will be another example of a rapper being wrongfully arrested." Because of a prior felony assault charge, the weapon-possession charge was bumped up to a felony, according to Leemon. Saigon was released on $1,500 bail and is due in court again December 5. ...

On the hunt for killer B-sides? How about Killers B-sides? The band — which put out its last studio album, Sam's Town, less than a year ago — is planning to pump out a rarities disc before the end of the year, Brandon Flowers recently told Billboard.com. The band's cover of Joy Division's "Shadowplay," rendition of Mel Tillis' "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" and "Spider-Man 3" soundtrack contribution "Move Away" are all on the tentative track list, which may include new material. The Killers have also teed up a different new song for release December 1: "Don't Shoot Me Santa," the band's next Christmas charity single for the Red Campaign. "Last year we were able to raise over $100,000 from the one song ['A Great Big Sled'], and hopefully we'll be able to do it again," Flowers said. ...

The Decemberists aren't planning just any old tour — on their upcoming trek, dubbed "The Long and Short of It," the indie-rockers will mix it up by playing at least two nights in 13 cities. They're also parsing the trek into "long" and "short" shows — the former ones will showcase their poppier material and the latter gigs will revolve around the band's epic songs. The jaunt runs from October 28 in Chicago through December 9 in Seattle. The Decemberists have also slapped together a new EP — The Perfect Crime #2 drops September 25 and features four tracks, including a remix by Junior Boys. ... Morrissey's tour plans are perhaps even more ambitious: For what is expected to be his last sweep through the States for a while, he'll hole up in Los Angeles for a marathon 10-night stand at the Palladium (October 1-13), play a four-night stand at San Francisco's Fillmore and a five-night one at New York's' Hammerstein Ballroom (October 28). Dates for the full trek are from September 21 (Las Vegas) through November 4 (Atlanta). ... Last but not least, Bright Eyes have beefed up their tour regiment, stretching their run from September 13 in Denver through November 19 in New York. ...

Sonic Youth frontman Thurston Moore doesn't have too many kind words to say about Avril Lavigne and John Mayer these days — although he's got plenty of respect for a certain avant-garde legend and another classic-rock hero. "I am playing with Yoko Ono, and she's well past 70 and she rocks," he told Spin for the magazine's September issue. "Neil Young rocks. It's certainly not John Mayer or Avril Lavigne. Those people don't rock. If that's the young generation in the culture, then [forget] it. In the underground, the old guys are cool. I like the fact that the older we get the more we can rock." ... Ramones fans, get ready to be bombarded: More than four hours of unreleased and rare concert material is being piled onto "It's Alive 1974-1996," a double-DVD set poised for an October 2 release. With performances of a whopping 118 songs, the set is highlighted by unissued video footage of the band's New Year's Eve 1977 gig at London's Rainbow Theatre — the show was previously captured in audio form, as the band's noted It's Alive live album. ...

Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder will perform at the world premiere of the Iraq war documentary "Body of War" at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11. The movie, which tells the story of paralyzed Iraq war vet Tomas Young — who appeared on stage with PJ at Lollapalooza — features two new songs written by Vedder, "No More" and "Long Nights." ... Talk about product placement. Southern-rap-news Web site MemphisRap.com claims Master P and his son Romeo have teamed up with T-Mobile to promote the new Sidekick LX by writing a song called "Sidekick" for their upcoming Miller Boyz album, due September 4 on P's new profanity-free label, Take a Stand Records. ... Fred Durst is in negotiations to direct "Comeback," an inspirational Pop Warner football drama starring Ice Cube, according to The Hollywood Reporter. ...

Samuel L. Jackson will emcee Save the Children's 75th anniversary event at New York's Lincoln Center on September 6. The event, to feature a performance by Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, will also serve as a tribute to former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush, as well as Melinda Gates, for their humanitarian efforts. ... If you have tickets to see enigmatic metal-masked rapper MF Doom anytime soon and the guy onstage doesn't look, or even sound like, the Super Villain you know and love, you might be onto something. Bloggers have been abuzz over the past week about several recent West Coast Doom shows that have reportedly featured an impostor taking the stage in place of the rapper and performing (some say lip-synching) in Doom's place. The first sign that something was up, according to a fan who wrote into the Byron Crawford blog, was that cameras at a recent San Francisco show were strictly prohibited. The disgruntled fan wrote that Doom appeared 100 pounds lighter than usual during the 20-minute headlining performance. A spokesperson for Doom had no comment. ...

A forensics expert backed up defense claims made in the Phil Spector murder trial — and refuted by a prosecution witness on Wednesday — that Lana Clarkson might have continued breathing after she was shot at the music producer's mansion. Prosecutors sparred with the expert, Dr. Werner Spitz, afterward. ... The biggest ticketing agency in the country and the world's biggest concert promoter appear headed for a breakup. According to reports in Hits magazine online and Variety, internal documents about the negotiations from Ticketmaster said it is "doubtful" that Live Nation will renew its agreement with Ticketmaster when their current agreement expires at the end of this year. The loss of the Live Nation business, which Variety said accounted for about 15-20 percent of Ticketmaster's U.S. business in 2006, could mean Live Nation is gearing up to launch its own ticketing venture.

[This story was originally published at 8:00 pm E.T. on 8.23.2007]

• System of a Down
• Thrice
• Hellyeah
• Dillinger Escape Plan
• The Joseph & Mary Chain

Ted Nugent (file)
Photo: VH1

Armed only with a bow and arrows, self-proclaimed wild man of rock and roll Ted Nugent has emerged unscratched from countless hunting expeditions. On Sunday, however, while filming a segment for his upcoming reality series, "Surviving Nugent: The Ted Commandments," the Nuge suffered a chainsaw wound to his leg that required 40 stitches.

Nugent was felling a tree to create a stump for a show contestant to sit on when the tree started to fall in an unexpected direction, his manager said. He shoved the collapsing branches away from a female contestant to prevent her from being struck and in the process let go of his chainsaw, which grazed his leg.

The 55-year-old rocker was taken by ambulance to a hospital near Waco, Texas, where he was stitched up and his leg placed in a brace. The resilient outdoorsman was back on the set early Monday morning to continue filming.

Nugent suffered a similar injury about a decade ago.

"Surviving Nugent: The Ted Commandments" completes filming next week. The show's two-hour pilot premiered in October and its six weekly episodes will begin airing this spring.

The Nuge will tour this summer. There may also be a full-scale reunion of Damn Yankees, the band he formed in the 1980s with Styx guitarist/singer Tommy Shaw and Night Ranger bassist/vocalist Jack Blades, Nugent's manager said. Styx and Night Ranger would likely open the shows.

• Ted Nugent

Ever wonder how the U.S. military is getting Saddam Hussein supporters to cough up valuable information? No, they're not offering them cigarettes and lap dances, they're playing them heavy metal music and children's songs. According to a U.S. sergeant interviewed by Newsweek magazine, Iraqi prisoners have never before heard the crashing rhythms, churning guitars and growling vocals common in metal, and it affects them like Chinese water torture. Songs of choice include Metallica's "Enter Sandman" and Drowning Pool's "Bodies." Also effective is the chirpy, sing-song quality of kiddy tunes, specifically the theme to "Sesame Street" and the music of Barney. ...

Sheryl Crow was among the luminaries who paid homage to the late June Carter Cash at her funeral service this weekend. Crow sang gospel covers along with Emmylou Harris during the ceremony, which was attended by Hank Williams Jr., Trisha Yearwood, Kris Kristofferson and the prime minister of Jamaica. ... Lisa Marie Presley's first tour, a co-headlining trek with Chris Isaak, will begin July 11 at the Fleet Boston Pavilion. The 17-city treks ends August 12 at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. ...

"Platinum," the UPN drama about the hip-hop industry, has not been renewed for the fall season. Onyx rapper Sticky Fingaz starred in the show and MC Lyte was set to be a reoccurring character. ... Ricky Martin has launched People for the Children, a project that aims to fight child pornography and prostitution. The program is an offshoot of the Ricky Martin Foundation, a nonprofit organization that focuses on child-related issues. People for the Children will be based in Miami, and for its first function, Martin will meet with Mexican president Vincente Fox and his wife. ...

Festival promoters in Michigan have canceled a scheduled performance by self-described "Motor City Madman" Ted Nugent in response to the guitarist, singer, shock jock and outspoken outdoorsman's use of racial slurs during a recent radio interview. Nugent reportedly used derogatory terms for Asians and blacks during an interview with two Denver DJs last week, prompting organizers of the Muskegon Summer Celebration to scramble to find a replacement. ... The upcoming "Led Zeppelin DVD" set will be screened at eight movie theaters across the country on May 27, the night it goes to retail. The double-disc set features five hours of footage assembled by guitarist Jimmy Page, who also put together the triple-disc album How the West Was Won, which will come out the same day. Page, vocalist Robert Plant and bassist John Paul Jones will attend the New York screening of the DVD. ...

To commemorate a decade of block rockin' beats, the Chemical Brothers will issue a double-album retrospective and DVD in September. The LP will feature two new songs, rare cuts and remixes, along with a greatest-hits selection that fans can help compile at www.thechemicalbrothers.com. ... Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry unveiled a new guitar on Saturday at the House of Blues in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Gibson Joe Perry Signature model was conceived by Perry's wife Billie, who got together with designers at Gibson to create a surprise axe for her hubby. Last Christmas, she presented him with the instrument, and he liked it so much he decided to make it available to the public. ...

Ed Harcourt will launch a North American club tour June 2 in Los Angeles to promote From Every Sphere (May 20), the follow-up to his Mercury Music Prize-nominated 2002 debut, Here Be Monsters. Harcourt will also be joining R.E.M. on six dates in the fall. ... A hefty dose or rock action has been injected into the third annual Village Voice Siren Music Festival at New York's Coney Island on July 19. Performers added to the already indie-heavy lineup include Idlewild, the Datsuns, the Dirtbombs, Oneida and the Witnesses. Previously announced acts include Modest Mouse, Hot Hot Heat, Sahara Hotnights, dance rockers !!! and Radio 4, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, the Kills, rappers Northern State and the Pattern. While the majority of the lineup is in place, a few stray acts are expected to be announced shortly. ...

INXS aren't as afraid of SARS as Moby, Mariah Carey or the Rolling Stones, and they don't think travelers should be, either. Though numerous acts have canceled gigs in Asia since the health scare began, three members of the long-running Australian outfit played an acoustic gig in Singapore on Sunday in hopes of showing the public that traveling there is still safe. The band has also scheduled an appearance in Bali next month — despite heightened terrorism fears since a recent bombing killed more than 200 people — and told the BBC that "[terrorism and SARS] are a tragedy for any country, but it has been a lot of media hype that has caused the panic." ...

5.16.03

Soul crooner Barry White suffered a stroke on May 1 that affected his speech and the right side of his body, Reuters reports. The 58-year-old White, whose deep, mood-setting voice is as dependable as roses and candy on Valentine's Day, suffered kidney failure last fall and is awaiting a transplant when his condition improves. ...

Jennifer Lopez is being sued for $5 million for breach of contract by film director Adam Shankman, with whom she worked on the film "The Wedding Planner." Shankman claims that he and Lopez talked about having her play the lead role in a new film version of the classic opera "Carmen," but that she then turned around and sold the idea to Universal Pictures without his knowledge. ...

Metallica have chosen some openers for their May shows at San Francisco's Fillmore. CKY, who opened the ill-fated Guns N' Roses tour, will play Sunday; Systematic, who were signed to Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich's record label, will play Monday; and Death Angel, a reunited San Francisco-area '80s thrash band, will play Thursday. No act has been announced for Wednesday's show. ...

The White Stripes have announced dates for the first leg of their upcoming summer tour. Jack and Meg White will kick off the trek June 16 in Raleigh, North Carolina, and wind things down July 23 at Central Park's Summer Stage in New York. ... Several, if not all, of the finished tracks from the new Radiohead album, Hail to the Thief, surfaced online Thursday. Earlier versions of the tunes, purported to be stolen, were downloadable weeks ago. The follow-up to 2001's Amnesiac is slated for a June 10 release. ...

Great White have created a trust fund to which fans can donate money in order to help the group with its legal fees. While the bandmembers were recently dropped from the suits filed by at least one attorney because their pockets aren't deep enough to warrant suing, two other lawyers are still naming the rockers as defendants. There is also the possibility Great White will face criminal charges from the February 20 fire in a West Warwick, Rhode Island, club that ignited after the band shot off pyrotechnics during its show. ... T.A.T.U.'s manager, Ivan Shapovalov, was arrested in Moscow's Red Square on Thursday for disturbing the peace while filming a video for one of the group's new, untitled songs. The crafty manager already had two requests to film the allegedly lesbian duo in front of the Kremlin rejected when he set up cameras and invited 200 girls to parade around and make out in front of Lenin's Tomb and the church of St. Basil, a mere 200 yards from the Kremlin. Filming was scrapped after police intervened. Shapovalov was reprimanded by a judge, but was not punished. ...

On the heels of their split with Island Def Jam earlier this month, Hanson are being courted by two record labels. The brothers are aiming to release their upcoming album, Unleashed, in September. ... Coldplay will broadcast a two-hour live concert from the Hollywood Bowl to over 150 radio stations nationwide on May 31 at 9 p.m. The band launches a North American tour on Tuesday in Edmonton, Alberta. Dates run through June 13 in New York. ... For the first time in more than four years, Blur will cross the pond for a North American trek beginning June 8 at the Field Day festival in Calverton, New York. The 10 confirmed dates, through June 21 in Vancouver, support the band's seventh album, Think Tank, which dropped last week. More dates are expected to be added to the itinerary. ...

Apparently feeling left out from sum of the summer fun, Sum 41 have decided to hop onboard the Vans Warped Tour for eight dates. The group will play on June 29 in Chicago, then July 8 in Pomona, California, through July 15 in Peoria, Arizona. ... Ivories abound when pianists Tori Amos and Ben Folds hit the road together beginning July 26 in Redmond, Washington. The 25-date run, supporting headliner Amos' latest LP, Scarlet's Walk, concludes September 3 in Orlando, Florida. ...

Raekwon is set to star in "The Coalition," a film that tells the story of a lucrative New York construction business and how it is exploited by minority nonunion labor. The movie begins filming in June. ... Wilco, R.E.M., Common, Black Eyed Peas, Macy Gray and Rhett Miller are among the artists headlining the 33rd annual Bumbershoot festival in Seattle. Tickets to the event, taking place over Labor Day weekend at the Seattle Center, can be purchased at www.bumbershoot.com. ...

Ween will release their first studio album in three years, Quebec, on July 22. Fictitious brothers Dean and Gene Ween's follow-up to White Pepper is their first album for Sanctuary Records after residing for over a decade at Elektra. ... Ozzy Osbourne's son Louis Osbourne, a deep house/techno DJ, will embark on a U.S. club tour beginning June 12 at New York's Discotheque and wrapping up July 19 at Hollywood's Spundae. Kelly and Jack's half brother also recently signed on for a DJ mix compilation to be released by Blue Chip Records next year. ...

05.15.03

While Mark Romanek is handling Linkin Park's next video, the band's own Joseph Hahn will return to the director's chair for the group's third single from Meteora. That video and a clip for the next European single will be shot in Prague, Czech Republic next week, Hahn said Tuesday, although he wouldn't reveal what songs they will be for. "You need to focus on 'Faint,' " he joked. "I shouldn't be talking so far ahead." ...

Russian police barred T.A.T.U. from filming their new video in Moscow's Red Square on Thursday (May 15). Several hundred fans, many decked out in schoolgirl uniforms, showed up to be extras in what was supposed to be the duo's video for the Eurovision song contest. Russia chose the kissing crooners to represent the country at the contest, happening later this month in Riga, Latvia. ... Mandy Moore is giving fans a sneak preview of her upcoming covers album, Coverage. Four of the album's 12 tracks are available for listening on her official Web site, www.mandymoore.com. The songs are covers of John Hiatt's "Have a Little Faith in Me," XTC's "Senses Working Overtime," Todd Rundgren's "Can We Still Be Friends" and Joan Armatrading's "Drop the Pilot." Moore is also about to film Warner Bros.' "First Daughter," with co-stars Mark Harmon, Jeremy Piven and Annabella Sciorra. ...

Chevelle have scheduled 14 shows during down days on this year's Ozzfest. Four of the shows will be with Korn, six will be with Disturbed and the rest will be headline gigs. The first date is June 30 in Lubbock, Texas, and the last announced show is August 31 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. ... "Revealing Jewel: An Intimate Portrait by Family and Friends," a book about the personal details of the star's life, is being released in June with her approval. The tome, by author Kenneth Calhoun, features interviews with Moby, Billy Bob Thornton, producer Arif Mardin, Jewel's father, Atz Kilcher, and her mother and manager, Lenedra J. Carroll, among others. ...

All proceeds from Santana's summer tour will be donated to Artists for a New South Africa, an organization dedicated to fighting the spread of AIDS in Africa. The trek starts June 11 in Atlanta and continues through July 14 in Los Angeles. Angelique Kidjo will open every show. ... Henry Rollins is planning to perform material included on the compilation LP he put together last year, Rise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis Three, on a world tour kicking off June 1. Joining the Rollins Band on the U.S. dates of the outing will be Keith Morris, leader of the Circle Jerks and original singer for Black Flag. All proceeds from the shows will go to the West Memphis Three Defense Fund, created to help overturn the convictions of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, whom many feel were not given a fair trial in the 1993 murders of three young boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. ...

• Metallica
• Barney
• Lisa Marie Presley
• Sheryl Crow
• Ricky Martin

Eminem performed "Lose Yourself," complete with a cameo from Mekhi Phifer, at the "8 Mile" DVD premiere party on Thursday in Detroit. D12 and Xzibit also performed at the event at St. Andrews Hall. Before the show, 22-year-old Detroit native Marvwon won a nationwide rap battle competition hosted by Proof at the club. ...

System of a Down's Serj Tankian and Audioslave's Tom Morello are taking their Axis of Justice organization to the airwaves with a new radio show on the progressive-politics-minded Los Angeles station KPFK. They recently pre-taped the first three one-hour segments, the first of which will air later this month and feature an interview with filmmaker Michael Moore, who directed System's latest video and clips for Morello's former outfit, Rage Against the Machine. Tankian said they also play socially conscious songs throughout the show and generally "talk sh--." ... System's Michael Moore-directed "Boom!" video and a taped performance of Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell covering Elvis Costello's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding" will be unveiled at the One Big No anti-war concert in London on March 15. Faithless, Beth Orton and others will perform. ...

Skechers USA has made good on its threat to sue Britney Spears. The footwear company has filed a multi-million dollar fraud and breach-of-contract suit against the singer for allegedly failing to promote the Britney 4 Wheelers line of roller skates and apparel. Britney actually struck first, suing Skechers in December for $1.5 million for using her image to promote and boost sales of other lines of roller skates. "This countersuit is a ludicrous attempt to distract the court and the general public from the real issue," Michael Friedman, an attorney for Britney Brands, responded in a statement. "Skechers failed to meet their contractual financial obligations to Ms. Spears." ...

Usher, Backstreet Boys' Brian Littrell, Jermaine Dupri and other celebrities from Atlanta are belting out their versions of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in a year-long ad campaign for the Atlanta Braves that launches this weekend on TBS. Other possible participants include Ludacris, Tamyra Gray of "American Idol," D.L. Hughley and Dale Earnhardt Jr. ... John Mayer will perform at Elton John's annual Oscar night gala for his AIDS foundation on March 23 at the Marquee Club in West Hollywood. John will join Mayer, who will release "Why Georgia" as his next single, for "Your Body Is a Wonderland" and a classic of his own. ... D'Angelo has settled the civil lawsuit brought against him by a woman who accused the singer of spitting on her during a November 18 traffic confrontation. Terms were not disclosed, but the case was settled on Tuesday, a day before he was due in court for the criminal charges pertaining to the case. D'Angelo was fined $500 on an obstruction of justice charge for the incident. ...

Flame-throwing German industrial outfit Rammstein are remixing the track "mOBSCENE" from Marilyn Manson's forthcoming album The Golden Age of Grotesque, according to a post on Manson's Web site. "[It] should be great," Manson wrote of the collaboration. ... Voivod and Sepultura will hit the road together on April 18 in San Francisco. Shows have been scheduled through April 30 in Houston, with more to be announced. Voivod released their self-titled album on March 4 and Sepultura are currently finishing their new disc, Roorback. The Brazilian band is presently without a U.S. label. ...

De La Soul, Cake, Concrete Blonde and Bonnie Raitt will perform at the April 20 Earth Day concert We the Planet at Speedway Meadow in San Francisco. Additional performers will be announced soon. ... Third Eye Blind have pushed their third album, Out of the Vein (formerly titled Crystal Baller), back to a May 13 release. The band's collaborations with Andrew W.K. and the Moldy Peaches' Kimya Dawson will be included, along with the first single "Blinded (When I See You)," but not the previously reported pairing with Fred Durst. ...

A pair of metal vets will join Heart's backing band on their upcoming Alive in America 2003 Tour. Onetime Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke and ex-Alice in Chains and Ozzy Osbourne bassist Mike Inez will take the stage with Ann and Nancy Wilson starting June 19 in Houston. Shows are scheduled through August 8 in Kelseyville, California. ... There probably won't be too many war protesters at the Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers Tour, which features NRA board member/ beef jerky maker Ted Nugent, along with ZZ Top, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Double Trouble. The trek kicks off April 25 in Bossier City, Louisiana, and ends June 14 in Dallas. ...

Toni Braxton's next album is due in September on her new label, Blackground Records. A single will precede it in July. ... Pre-fab-pop Svengali Lou Pearlman was found in contempt of court this week for ignoring a judge's order to produce documents relating to royalty payments in a case against him by pubescent singer Aaron Carter. Pearlman was fined $2,500. ...

Rapper Fredro Starr, who will star in the upcoming biker flick "Torque" along with Ice Cube, plans to hit the road at the end of this month for a 25-city tour in support of his solo LP Don't Get Mad, Get Money, due May 20. The album's first single, "California Girls," will hit radio soon and a video is in the works. Triggernometry, the next record from Starr's group Onyx, will drop in the fall. ... 311 posted four free MP3s on their Web site on March 11, otherwise known as 311 Day: instrumentals "Space Funk" "Old Funk" and "Cali Soca," along with the Soundsystem outtake "Seal the Deal." ...

03.13.03

Justin Timberlake will host CBS' March 25 Celine Dion special, "Celine in Las Vegas ... Opening Night Live," interviewing celebrities at the premiere of the Dion spectacular and giving a tour of the Caesars Palace facility built for the show. Dion will perform several songs, including her new single, "I Drove All Night." ...

Jennifer Lopez is in negotiations to team up with "Chicago" star Richard Gere in a remake of the 1996 Japanese film "Shall We Dance?" This project joins a host of others in the diva's already overflowing date book, including "An Unfinished Life" (set to begin next month), female cop movie "Double or Nothing," Latin female-centered "Dirty Girls," superhero psychiatrist flick "Shrink" and a proposed "Carmen" remake. Lopez has two films with Ben Affleck in the can already, "Gigli" and "Jersey Girl," which will both surface later in the year. ...

Pink and Hole's Eric Erlandson turned up at Cinespace in Hollywood on Tuesday for the premiere of the upcoming music movie "Down and Out With the Dolls." Sahara Hotnights, Coyote Shivers and the Paper Dolls performed. ...

Perhaps Mandy Moore should put in a call to Chelsea Clinton to prepare for "First Daughter," a romantic comedy in which the pop princess will star as a president's daughter who gives the Secret Service the slip and takes off for a European road trip. Meanwhile, Moore's "How to Deal" should hit theaters in July, and she's already completed "Try Seventeen" (with Elijah Wood) and "Saved." ... Heavy D will reportedly star alongside "Saturday Night Live" veteran Tracy Morgan in a new pilot for NBC. The easygoing rapper, whose real name is Dwight Myers, has appeared in several episodes of "Boston Public." ...

John Mellencamp has made his new anti-war song, "To Washington," available to download for free on his Web site. The song questions the president's motives at waging war against Iraq. ... Speaking of presidents, the Presidents of the United States of America are playing their first shows outside of Seattle in five years this weekend in Texas. The band, which is re-releasing its self-titled debut this summer with additional new songs, will hit Corpus Christi on Thursday and the South by Southwest festival in Austin on Saturday. ...

• Eminem
• Britney Spears
• Audioslave
• System of a Down
• Jermaine Dupri

Ted Nugent
Photo: VH1

Being laid off by the Ford Motor Company has its unexpected benefits.

Detroit native Ted Nugent heard that thousands of workers were axed from Ford last week, so he gave them a chance to forget their problems with some good, old-fashioned guitar rock. The Motor City Madman offered free tickets to Tuesday's hometown performance at the DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan, to any laid-off employee who presented his or her otherwise-useless Ford ID at the venue's box office.

"The workin'-hard, playin'-hard Michiganiacs have assisted me immensely in this gravity-defying career of mine — forever — and I really appreciate it," Nugent said in a statement. "During hard times, we blood brothers gotta stick together."

Approximately 2,000 former employees took Nugent up on the offer and spent the night rocking to favorites such as "Cat Scratch Fever," "Yank Me, Crank Me," and "Wang Dang Sweet Poontang," according to his publicist.

The Nuge's latest recorded offering was the live, greatest-hits album Full Bluntal Nugity, released in June (see "Nugent Takes Aim At Live Album, TV Appearance"). A new studio LP is expected early next year.

• Ted Nugent

It looks like Skid Row is back... sans Sebastian Bach.

-- Sorelle Saidman

• Sebastian Bach
• Ted Nugent
• Skid Row

Metallica and Ted Nugent aren't the only ones who'll be rocking the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit on New Year's Eve, as Kid Rock and the Methods Of Mayhem have just been added to the bill.

-- David Basham

• Kid Rock
• Metallica
• Ted Nugent

Having regrouped after the death of guitarist Tim Kelly, Slaughter is back with a new album and a fresh string of tour dates that will see the band share the stage with Ted Nugent, Night Ranger and Quiet Riot.

Next week, the band will deliver "Back To Reality" to record stores, an album that marks the recording debut of new guitarist Jeff Blando. The guitarist began touring with the band after Kelly died in a car accident in February of last year. Blando now joins frontman Mark Slaughter, bassist Dana Strum, and drummer Blas Elias, who are currently enjoying their tenth year together.

The band has already hit the road in support of the album, and will play a string of headlining dates through the weekend. Next Wednesday, the band will team up with Nugent, Night Ranger, and Quiet Riot for this year's edition of the Rock Never Stops tour. Last year's version of the tour featured Slaughter and Quiet Riot as well as fellow 80s headbangers Warrant. Here's where this year's edition will stop:

• 6/30 - Albany, NY @ Pepsi Arena
• 7/1 - State College, PA @ Tussey Mountain Amphitheater
• 7/2 - Indianapolis, IN @ Deer Creek
• 7/3 - Cleveland, OH @ Nautica Stage
• 7/4 - Columbus, OH @ Metrostage Amphitheater
• 7/5 - Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob
• 7/8 - Des Moines, IA @ The Main Event
• 7/9 - E. Troy, WI @ Alpine Valley
• 7/10 - Tinley Park, IL @ World Theater
• 7/11 - Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
• 7/12 - La Crosse, WI @ La Crosse Center
• 7/16 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Franklin Covey Field
• 7/17 - Denver, CO @ Adams County Fairgrounds
• 7/18 - Lewiston, MT @ Spring Creek Amphitheater
• 7/22 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Zoo Amphitheater
• 7/23 - Bonner Springs, MO @ Sandstone Amphitheater
• 7/24 - Tyler, TX @ Oil Palace
• 7/25 - Lampe, MO @ Black Oak Mountain
• 7/28 - Binghampton, NY @ Broom County Arena
• 7/30 - Myrtle Beach, SC @ Coastal Federal Field
• 7/31 - Prosperity, WV @ Prosperity Speedway
• 8/1 - Jacksonville, FL @ Camp Le Jeune
• 8/4 - Richmond, VA @ Razzles
• 8/6 - Tampa, FL @ Ice Palace
• 8/7 - Sunrise, FL @ Sunrise Theater
• 8/8 - Fort Meyers, FL @ Lee County Sports Complex
• 8/11 - Bristow, VA @ Nissan Pavilion
• 8/12 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Three Rivers Stadium Gate A
• 8/13 - Charlotte, NC @ Blockbuster
• 8/14 - Raleigh, NC @ Walnut Creek
• 8/15 - Norfolk, VA @ GTE Amphitheater
• 8/17 - Antioch, TN @ First American Music Center
• 8/18 - Savannah, GA @ Civic Center
• 8/20 - Knoxville, TN @ World's Fair Park
• 8/21 - Little Rock, AR @ Riverfest Amphitheater
• 8/22 - St. Louis, MO @ Riverport Amphitheater
• 8/25 - San Antonio, TX @ Sunkin Gardens
• 8/27 - Pueblo, CO @ Coors Pavillion
• 8/28 - Albuquerque, NM @ Hollywood Casino
• 9/2 - Adalanto, CA @ Maverick Stadium
• 9/3 - Kelseyville, CA @ Konocti Amphitheater
• 9/4 - Visallia, CA @ Visallia Convention Center
• 9/5 - Las Vegas, NV @ Texas Station

• Night Ranger
• Ted Nugent
• Slaughter

Metallica and Ted Nugent have announced that they will team-up for a special Y2K concert, scheduled for the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, on December 31, 1999.

• Metallica
• Ted Nugent

Don't say you weren't warned.

Talk radio host and notorious outdoorsman Ted Nugent is getting back to his first love, rock and roll.

Setting aside his bow and beef jerky for a six string axe, Michigan's most outspoken guitar hero is hitting the road for a solo tour that kicks off next month with a three-night run at Los Angeles' House of Blues.

No doubt the Motor City Madman will use his set to showcase nuggets like "Cat Scratch Fever," "Free For All," and "Wango Tango," but the guitarist may also roll out new material from a solo album he hopes to release next year. Nugent also plans to re-team with his Damn Yankees counterparts for that group's third album, which should also arrive next year.

If you can't wait that long, here's where you can catch the Nuge:

• 8/6 - Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues
• 8/7 - Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues
• 8/8 - Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues
• 8/9 - Kelseyville, CA @ Konocti Harbor & Spa
• 8/11 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint
• 8/12 - Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre
• 8/14 - Springfield, IL @ Illinois State Fair
• 8/15 - Omaha, NE @ KEZE Radio Show
• 8/16 - St. Louis, MO @ American Theater
• 8/18 - Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
• 8/19 - Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
• 8/21 - Beaverdam, WI @ Dodge County Fair
• 8/22 - Lima, OH @ Allen County Fair
• 8/24 - Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
• 8/25 - Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
• 8/26 - Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
• 8/27 - New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
• 8/28 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
• 8/29 - Detroit, MI @ Pine Knob

• Ted Nugent