Oasis' Noel and Liam Gallagher
Photo: Dave Hogan/ Getty Images

After taking to Oasis' Web site on Friday to discuss his latest split from the band, guitarist Noel Gallagher has further elaborated on why he left, citing "violent and verbal intimidation" and a "lack of support" as some of the reasons for his departure.

"The details are not important and of too great a number to list," he said in the latest statement, posted on Saturday. "I feel you have the right to know that the level of verbal and violent intimidation towards me, my family, friends and comrades has become intolerable. And the lack of support and understanding from my management and bandmates has left me with no other option than to get me cape and seek pastures new."

He thanked his fans for Oasis' "amazing" 18-year run, adding that his time in the band was a "dream come true." He said, "I take with me glorious memories."

Gallagher also apologized to fans for missing gigs at England's V Festival and in Paris, where Noel and brother Liam Gallagher reportedly fought backstage. Noel's original statement on Friday said he "simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer."

"Apologies are probably not enough, I know, but I'm afraid it's all I've got," he wrote on Saturday. "Again, I can only apologize — although I don't know why. It was nothing to do with me. I was match fit and ready to be brilliant. Alas, other people in the group weren't up to it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a family and a football team to indulge."

The departure of Noel, who was responsible for most of the songwriting for Oasis, has left the fate of the rest of the band in flux.

"I expect in the next couple of days, a decision will be made as to how to continue or if they continue," the group's spokesperson said in a statement to the BBC.

Alan McGee, who discovered Oasis and signed them to Creation Records, said that the band will probably get back together, even though he sees this split as "the worst fallout that they've ever had, and they've had some pretty bad ones. ... I think you'll have a reunion tour in about five years' time," he said. "They love each other. When people love each other, they'll always make peace. You can't control Oasis — they do what they want to do. That's the beauty and the skill of the band."

• Oasis

Noel Gallagher
Photo: Jon Furniss/WireImage

It seems Oasis' Gallagher brothers cannot escape drama. There has always been sibling rivalry between Liam and Noel, and a reported fight between the Gallagher brothers on Friday night apparently led them to cancel a gig in France. According to Rolling Stone, a festival organizer for the show announced that Liam and Noel "had a fight backstage."

The organizer went on to say, "The group no longer exists. They will not play tonight and they are canceling the rest of their European tour." It seemed that the crowd at the show didn't take the announcement seriously until the following message appeared on screens at the venue: "As a result of an altercation within the band, the Oasis gig has been canceled."

Noel later released the following statement on the band's Web site. In a post called "A statement from Noel," on August 28, he said, "It's with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight. People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer. Apologies to all the people who bought tickets for the shows in Paris, Konstanz and Milan." In a post dated August 25, Liam addressed rumors that they were splitting up after they had to cancel their gig at the V Fest due to the frontman's reported illness. "The voice may of disappeared but I'm still here. 1st things first V I'm gutted your gutted, I'm sorry what can I say f--- all at the moment," Liam wrote. "Secondly, respect to those bands who covered Oasis last night, even though I might of given some of you sh-- in the past ... Finally reports in smartarses column about Oasis last British gig ever. The kids talking out his arse, I mean rkids, bware of darkness. LG."

Since forming in Manchester in 1991, the band have had their fair share of problems — primarily the rocky relationship between songwriter/guitarist Noel and frontman Liam. Noel has left the band before, also before a show in France nine years go.

Oasis were touring in support of their latest album, Dig Out Your Soul.

• Oasis

<i>OJayZis: Jay-Z vs. Oasis</i>
Photo: MTV News

Jay-Z said he doesn't have any negative feelings toward Oasis, even though guitarist Noel Gallagher said he didn't think it was appropriate for Jigga to headline this year's Glastonbury Festival in England. Jay even said he would be open to working with Oasis in the future if the right idea and right music were to come about.

Well, a few DJs have pushed the collaboration further along, without involving either party. Mash-up time!

On Tuesday, a blend of the artists, put together by DJ Danny Diggz, hit the Net. The spinner laid the vocals of Oasis' "Wonderwall" over the Kanye West-produced thump of "Jockin' Jay-Z." The result is the song "Jackin' Jay-Z."

On Wednesday (August 20), a trio of producers from Spain called Cookin' Soul released the mixtape OJayZis: Jay-Z vs. Oasis. The mixtape takes the vocals from some of Jay's greatest hits and matches them with the beats and choruses from various Oasis records.

Cookin' Soul released a statement on 2DopeBoyz.com saying they made the street CD in one night. "You know we had to do it," the post said. "Yeah, it is today's beef ... or should we say today's biggest promo move? We, too, we on a promo move. It's been our hardest work so far. Don't even try it at home. Oasis ain't the Delfonics, if you know what we mean."

Among the blends you'll find is "99 Supersonic Problems," which features the lyrics from Jay's "99 Problems" and the music from Oasis' "Supersonic." "Justify It Out" mixes "Justify My Thug" from The Black Album with "Go Let It Out" from Oasis' Standing on the Shoulder of Giants. And, of course, you're going to hear what Young Hov sounds like over "Wonderwall." Cookin' Soul bakes "The Ruler's Back" from The Blueprint over the Brits' classic for the track "Wonderback."

OJayZis isn't Cookin' Soul's first Jay-Z mixtape: They've also concocted Billboard Gangsters, which married the music of Jigga and Elvis Presley.

For more mixtape news, check out Mixtape Mondays Headlines.

• Oasis
• Jay-Z

Jay-Z performs at the Glastonbury Festival in England on Saturday
Photo: Jim Dyson/ Getty Images

Jay-Z has had tremendous success during his tour of Europe, bowling over fans with a slew of festival appearances, including his historic appearance at England's Glastonbury Festival on Saturday.

"Well, I'm pretty much now in a great place, I'm in the zone," Sir Hova of Brooklyn told MTV Base this week. "Glastonbury was a historic event for me, I played Milton Keynes the day after that and it's just ... You know, I'm feeling the love. Any time you can come from where I come from — Brooklyn, New York, everybody knows the story — [and] come so far. It's not that it's that far, but to come overseas and have people embrace you the way I've been embraced thus far, it's just an amazing feeling."

One person who obviously didn't share the fans' feelings was Oasis' Noel Gallagher, who was a much-publicized critic of having a rapper headline the traditionally rock-centric Glastonbury fest. Maybe Gallagher's stance has softened in the wake of Jay's acclaimed performance — Jay told us he's heard the guitarist wants to have a conversation.

"I haven't spoken to him," Jay said. "I heard he was reaching out, but I haven't spoken to him."

Jay even said he's open to working with Oasis in the future should something suitable come up. "Anyone," he answered, when asked about who he'd be willing to work with. "Oasis as well — it doesn't matter to me, I don't bear any grudge, it's all good. I just believe in good music and bad music, I've always said that. You look at any interview from the beginning of time, I've always stated that I don't believe in the lines and classifications that people put music in so they can easily define it."

Once his current string of performances is behind him, Jay is hoping to lock in on the production of his next album.

"Well, after the tour, I'm going back home and we'll look at it and see if I can start a project this year," he said. "I would love to do it, to be honest with you. It would be a great thing to do when I come home from tour, but it's vibe. I can't say, 'On this date this is going to happen.' If I get home and the vibe is right, it'll happen. If not, then top of next year."

Although Jay has been rumored to have already started recording (producer Swizz Beatz told MTV News a few weeks ago he gave Hov some incredible tracks), the Brooklyn King stressed that he hasn't officially gone in on an album. He does seem to have everything already mapped out however.

"I can't give you the concepts or themes, but I've got a very clear direction of where I want to go with this one, and we'll see how it works."

• Jay-Z
• Oasis

Oasis' Noel Gallagher
Photo: MTV News

DEVORE, California — "A lot of things are said in dressing rooms at 4 o'clock in the morning when you're drunk," Oasis' Noel Gallagher mumbled in his thick British accent backstage at KROQ-FM's Inland Invasion. And, surprisingly, he wasn't referring to a feud with Liam.

Earlier at the fest (see "Beck Bashes, Barker Mashes, Shirley Clashes, Arcade Fire Smash At KROQ Fest"), members of Kasabian said they had spoken with Gallagher about possibly recording their second album at his studio with the Oasis mastermind producing. But as Gallagher pointed out, it could've been the beer talking. Or maybe not.

"We're talking about doing some stuff with them, but I don't know that anything will come of that," Gallagher said. "They are more than welcome in my studio, and there's a chance I might be doing some songs. I hope it does [happen] — it will be great."

For now, the only sure thing on Gallagher's agenda is Oasis. The band is touring through March and will release the second single from May's Don't Believe the Truth later this month.

"It's 'Let There Be Love,' which is another one that wasn't gonna go on the album," Gallagher said, referring to first single "Lyla," which was hardly his top choice (see "Noel Gallagher Refuses To Watch New Oasis Video"). "I think there is a pattern developing somewhere."

Gallagher is slightly more enthused about "Let There Be Love," which he started writing seven years ago.

"I started to write it and then lost interest, and it's quite long, and it's got quite a few different bits in it, and I kinda came back to it and then went back to it again," the guitarist said. "So it's kinda like a painting, I suppose. And it's about love, and it sounds a bit like the Beatles, I suppose. And yeah, I don't like discussing my own music; it's kind of difficult."

Gallagher also dislikes making videos (he "f---ing hates videos," to be exact), but Oasis made one for "Let There Be Love" anyway, only because the treatment was right up his alley.

"It's just footage that was [shot] on the road," he said. "It was very easy to make because it's kinda just fly-on-the-wall stuff, so we didn't even know it was being made."

As for Noel's relationship with Liam, which tends to sour when the brothers hit the road, it's actually never been better.

"We've got a long way to go, but it's going all right, though," Noel said. "It's the one year in many, many years where everything is going according to plan. So it kind of weirds me out. I'm waiting for something real big to f--- up."

• Oasis
• Kasabian

Beck at the KROQ Inland Invasion 5
Photo: Getty Images

DEVORE, California — Beck's band played the kitchen table, the Arcade Fire played motorcycle helmets and Travis Barker played Dr. Dre at the anything-goes Inland Invasion on Saturday, the unofficial end to the summer festival season in California.

While KROQ-FM's Weenie Roast traditionally marks the start of under-the-sun concert fun (see "Grohl's Nipple Squeezed, Audioslave Play With 'Fire' At Weenie Roast"), for the last five years the Los Angeles station has also capped it off with the Inland Invasion. Typically, the festival has focused more on honoring some of alternative rock's most influential acts; Devo and Tears for Fears headlined last year. But the event went slightly more modern this year, with Weezer, Beck, Oasis, Garbage and 311 among the top names — who made big debuts in the mid-'90s (which explains Cake and Live).

The '80s were represented with Madness and Fishbone, but the afternoon slots were mostly filled with up-and-comers like the Arcade Fire, Bloc Party, Jet, Kasabian and the Bravery. The newest band on the bill, however, was Blink-182 drummer Barker and DJ AM, making their public debut.

The concept is simple — Barker drums along to AM's DJing — but the execution was far more exciting than it sounds. First, AM spun mostly mash-ups, and interesting ones at that. Mixing AC/DC's "Back in Black" with Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot" sounded oddly natural, while Montell Jordan's "This Is How We Do It" with the Game's "How We Do" was clever. Barker played drums to an a cappella rock or rap vocal track (Dre's "The Next Episode" was brilliant), or he added multiple layers and fills to the existing beats — regardless, he was constantly banging away, and dripped with sweat after the 30-minute set. "I literally go jogging and stuff to stay in shape for this," he said backstage.

On a beautiful 80-degree afternoon, the sold-out audience at the Hyundai Pavilion came early, but didn't get fully to its feet until local favorites 311, Beck and Weezer hit the stage.

Culling mostly from their first few albums, 311 maintained a high-energy vibe capped by a group drumline. Beck also got creative with percussion, when his band returned after an acoustic set to sit around a kitchen table and beat on the various glasses and dishes with silverware.

Beck split time between his new Guero, including a funkified rendition of "Black Tambourine," complete with a breakdancer (straight out of Fatboy Slim's "Praise You" video — but with a tambourine, of course), and older hits like "Loser" and "Devil's Haircut," which he reinvented by twisting and turning in different directions (a little country here, a little soul there).

Weezer played a pure greatest-hits set, seamlessly transitioning from "My Name Is Jonas" to "We Are All on Drugs" to "Buddy Holly." At one point, drummer Pat Wilson grabbed a guitar to rip through the end of Queen's "We Will Rock You," prompting the rest of the band to share his drums.

After frontman Rivers Cuomo, hardly recognizable sans glasses, strummed an acoustic "Holiday in the Sun" from the middle of the venue, the rest of Weezer returned for "Undone (The Sweater Song)," during which a fan was brought up onstage to play the guitar part.

Between Live's Ed Kowalczyk, the Bravery's Sam Endicott (who wore the black suit and eye shadow as usual, despite promising shorts and a Hawaiian shirt backstage) and Oasis' Liam Gallagher, the Inland Invasion stage certainly saw its share of dynamic frontmen. Taking the cake, however, was the fest's only frontwoman, Garbage's Shirley Manson.

With her bright-red lipstick (and hair!) clashing with her black denim skirt, black net stockings and black leather boots, Manson shook, spun and slithered around to hit after hit. During the instrumental breaks in "Bad Boyfriend," she stared into the crowd and moaned. And later, she jumped off the stage and ran through the aisles, singing the entire time.

Also spreading their show past the stage was the Arcade Fire, whose guitarist literally dove over the barricade to get closer to fans. And that was hardly noticeable during their frenetic set, which began with a simple French horn playing the opening notes of "Wake Up," but quickly exploded into a small army of multi-instrumentalists tearing into the music and screaming the words to song after song. (Even bandmembers with microphones sang along.)

The band's Régine Chassagne was entertaining enough on her own, jumping from piano to drums to xylophone, and miming her way around an invisible box as she sang "Haiti."

Due to heavy early traffic, the Arcade Fire arrived (with gear) just minutes before showtime and dealt with technical difficulties for much of the set. But it was all for the better for the audience, who got to watch them destroy their instruments after the last song.

Hey, what better way to end the season?

For more sights and stories from concerts around the country, check out MTV News Tour Reports.

• Photos: The KROQ Inland Invasion 5 - 09.18.2005

• Beck
• blink-182
• The Bravery
• Weezer
• Oasis

Oasis' <I>Don't Believe the Truth</I>
Photo: Epic

The competition for the #1 spot on the albums chart is always tough. Luckily for Oasis, the Gallagher brothers know a thing or two about putting up a good fight.

Manchester, England's notoriously volatile rockers will release Don't Believe the Truth this week, the band's first album since 2002's Heathen Chemistry. The LP, which features writing by all four members, is led by the debut single, "Lyla."

Fans of New Orleans-bred trio Better Than Ezra have been waiting four years for the group's first album of new material since 2001's Closer. Before the Robots is the fifth studio release from the band, best known for the hit single "Good" off its 1995 debut, Deluxe.

Joining their British "next big thing" brethren are Maximo Park. Already a hit across the pond, their first album, A Certain Trigger, is another addition to the dance-infused, indie-rock catalog that seems to be growing by the day thanks to the success of such bands as Franz Ferdinand and the Bloc Party.

Icelandic chanteuse Björk releases her album of remixes and covers, Army of Me. In an effort to raise money for UNICEF, the singer decided to compile 20 remixes of her song "Army of Me," off 1995's Post, and release them all on one disc, with the proceeds going directly to the charity.

Also out this week are albums by Meshuggah (Catch Thirty Three), Daz Dillinger (Gangsta Crunk), Amusement Parks on Fire (Amusement Parks on Fire), Four Tet (Everything Ecstatic), GWAR (Live From Mt. Fuji), Layzie Bone (It's Not a Game), Kottonmouth Kings (Kottonmouth Kings No. 7) and Oppera (Oppera).

Out Tuesday, May 31:

• Alio Die & Jack or Jive - MEI-JYU (Projekt)
• Amusement Parks on Fire - Amusement Parks on Fire (Reincarnate Music)
• Autumn's Grey Solace - Riverine (Projekt)
• Better Than Ezra - Before the Robots (Artemis)
• Björk - Army of Me: Remixes and Covers (One Little Indian)
  Buy Now: Army of Me: Remixes and Covers (One Little Indian)
  
• Peppino D'Agostino and Stef Burns - Bayshore Road (Favored Nations)
• Daz Dillinger - Gangsta Crunk (Gangsta Advisory)
• Electronicat - Voodoo Man (Disko)
• Four Tet - Everything Ecstatic (Domino)
• Connie Francis - Sings the Standards - Live! (Artemis)
• GWAR - Live From Mt. Fuji (DRT Entertainment)
• High & Mighty - 12th Man (Eastern Conference)
• The Hurt Process - A Heartbeat Behind (Victory)
• Kottonmouth Kings - Kottonmouth Kings No. 7 (Suburban Noize)
• Layzie Bone - It's Not a Game (Cleopatra)
• The Levellers - Truth and Lies (Eagle Rock)
• Malente - Rip It Up (Unique)
• Maximo Park - A Certain Trigger (Warp)
• Meshuggah - Catch Thirty Three (Nuclear Blast)
• Oasis - Don't Believe the Truth (Epic)
  Buy Now: Don't Believe the Truth (Epic)
  
• Oppera - Oppera (Dunda Chief)
• Sherwood - Sing, but Keep Going (SideCho)
• Smog - A River Ain't Too Much to Love (Drag City)
• The Stares - Spine to Sea (Mimicry)
• Supagroup - Rules (Foodchain)
• Thrones - A Day Late, a Dollar Short (Southern Lord)
• Tosca - J.A.C. (!K7)
• Twisted Tower Dire - Crest of the Martyrs (Cleopatra)
• Various artists - Clubber's Guide to Deep House (Cleopatra)
• Various artists - Soundtrack to "Rock School" (Calvin)
• DVD: "Made in Sheffield" (Plexifilm)
• DVD: "Moog" (Plexifilm)
• DVD: Chic - "Live at Montreux 2004" (Eagle Rock)
• DVD: George Clinton/ Parliament/ Funkadelic - "Live at Montreux 2004" (Eagle Rock)
• DVD: Imperial Crowns - "Preachin' the Blues: Live!" (Music Video Distributors)
• DVD: Ana Popovic - "Ana!" (Music Video Distributors)
• DVD: Puddle of Mudd - "Live at the Key Club - Striking That Familiar Chord" (Eagle Rock)
• DVD: Sadaharu - "New and Alternative Careers in Dance" (Music Video Distributors)

June 7:

• Black Eyed Peas - Monkey Business (A&M)
  Read: "Black Eyed Peas: 'Mad All Over The Place' "
  Buy Now: Monkey Business (A&M)
  
• Coldplay - X&Y (Capitol)
  Read: "Coldplay Album Preview: X&Y A Complex Stadium-Rocker"
  Buy Now: X&Y (Capitol)
  
• White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan (V2)
  Read: "White Stripes Album Preview: Confounding Satan Both Loud And Subtle"
  Buy Now: Get Behind Me Satan (V2)
  

June 14:

• Backstreet Boys - Never Gone (Jive)
  Buy Now: Never Gone (Jive)
  
• Brian Eno - Another Day on Earth (Hannibal)
• Foo Fighters - In Your Honor (RCA)
  Read: "Foo Fighters Album Preview: Grohl Gets Grand On In Your Honor"
  Buy Now: In Your Honor (RCA)
  

June 21:

• Master P - The Ghetto Bill Gates (Koch)
• Ol' Dirty Bastard - The Definitive Ol' Dirty Bastard Story (Rhino)
• Transplants - Haunted Cities (Atlantic)

• Oasis
• Meshuggah
• Björk
• Layzie Bone
• Daz Dillinger

Oasis' Noel Gallagher (file)
Photo: Getty Images/Jo Hale

Bombastic, brawling, brilliant ... there are many adjectives that have been used to describe Oasis — and many of the most flattering ones have come directly from the group itself.

As with anything the marble-mouthed Manchester lads put out, Don't Believe the Truth, their first album since 2002's Heathen Chemistry, is sure to earn them many more colorful descriptions.

"Lyla," the first single, will sate any hunger pangs for Oasis' familiar guitar jangles. But if you ask Noel Gallagher, he'll tell you the truth about the song: It wasn't his first — or even second — choice.

"We'd just forgotten about recording it, so we hastily cobbled together my original demo and did a bit more work on it, mixed it, and it's come out pretty well," he said. "But it's not a fair representation of the album to me. It's not even like the fifth or sixth best track on the album, but it's the most radio friendly. So we're basically saying we don't get to choose our own singles anymore; it's something I will be addressing before I sign a new record deal."

Alrighty then. The short-fused Gallagher let loose when asked about the recently shot "Lyla" video, as well.

"Let me clear that up," said Gallagher, who promises to switch off the telly when the video airs. "I f---ing loathe videos. This is not the reason why I started a band, to stand on a video stage all day and mime a song 500 times, knowing that when you get to the end of the 499th, you're thinking, 'I don't even f---ing like this song anymore, it's stupid.' But it's a necessary evil for me.

"I turn up, they put their little cross [of tape] on the stage, and they say, 'You stand there and do your thing,' and you do it as best you can and hope that the guy who's doing the video does a good job. There's only ever been one criterion, and that's to make us look 10 years younger. You get that right and I'm fine."

Perhaps the fact that the band recorded some of the songs for Don't Believe the Truth in California created a slightly sunnier experience for the group? Nah: crossing the pond to work at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles was a dicey deal, according to Gallagher.

"It's like they can't do without the doughnuts and the coffee and all of that," he said. "So we got into a huddle in the corner [and said], 'Do we really wanna go?' Because it's like that scene in 'Star Wars' when the little ship flies into the Death Star. It's kinda like that with us."

On the other hand, the two months spent in the U.S. were "actually the longest time I've spent in America without anything going t--s up, which was incredible."

All four members wrote for the album. It opens with Andy Bell's "Turn Up the Sun" and Liam Gallagher's "Love Like a Bomb," then delves into "The Meaning of Soul" and "Guess God Thinks I'm Abel," a title that perplexed Noel when he figured out how to spell it.

"For about three months, we all thought that song was called 'Guess God Thinks I'm Able,' as in an able-bodied man," he explained. "So we're coming to write the track listing one day and [Liam] goes, 'It's not f---ing "Able," it's "Abel," ' and he wrote it out and we were all kinda looking at each other, going, 'Hmmm.' I had to go back and listen to it, and then I was just sat down thinking about it and the story of Cain and Abel."

After some contemplation, he added, "I'm thinking, 'Well, that's very religious and biblical and it's a bit deep.' But ... the first line of the song is 'You could be my lover' which ... you'd have to speak to Liam about. He has a religious fixation with [Abel] and Jesus, I think. It's very strange."

Oasis plan to tour the States later this year, but fans awaiting the June and September dates might want to light some candles and pray for the rowdy group to ensure all goes to plan. Gallagher is already predicting some mayhem. "There's gonna be us and Jet and [Kasabian]. That's gonna be f---ing mental. I'm gonna need to have a liver transplant when I get back. It's gonna be good, though, I can't wait."

As for whether the relationship between the brothers Gallagher will hold up for the entire trip, "It's always the same," Noel said. "It starts off great and then somewhere, usually in America, I don't know why ... probably the sight of cactus plants or something like that ... [it] freaks [Liam] out. Then he oversteps the mark a little bit and ... it degenerates from there. It starts out great, then it just ends up being a bit of a shame, really. We'll see what happens this year."

Don't Believe the Truth is due May 31.

• Oasis

Liam Howlett (file)
Photo: Steve Gullick

Anyone who associated '90s electronic rockers the Prodigy with the urgent, primal bark of former vocalists Keith Flint and Maxim might not connect the band's new album with the group who wrote "Firestarter" and "Smack My Bitch Up."

But that doesn't mean the vocals on Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned will sound foreign. Twista, Kool Keith and Oasis' Liam Gallagher will guest on the 12-song disc, due September 15.

One collaboration, called "Hotride," was recorded with someone whose voice isn't as well known as her face: Juliette Lewis. The debut album by her band, Juliette & the Licks, Like a Bolt of Lightning, is also due in September.

"Juliette had so much vocal power, she tore the roof off," group mastermind Liam Howlett said Monday. "It was shocking. I was standing at the desk, nodding at her through the glass, going, 'F---, where did that voice come from?' "

Not only are the Prodigy drawing primarily from guest singers on their first disc in seven years, they're shaking up the musical mix as well. Unlike the songs on 1997's The Fat of the Land, which were limited in scope because they were written to be played live, the new material was penned for maximum studio impact.

"The title says it all about the music and band," Howlett said. "I wanted to make a record that was more old-school, like our second album, [1995's Music for the Jilted Generation.] I wanted to make it sexier and go back to the beats."

The first single from Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned will be "Girls," which Howlett describes as "dirty electro-punk with female vocals." The Prodigy will shoot a gritty, lo-fi video for the track soon, but no director has been named.

The group's song with Liam Gallagher, "Shoot Down," will feature his bandmate and brother, Noel Gallagher, on bass. Kool Keith, who rapped on The Fat of the Land's "Diesel Power," will make a return appearance on "Wake Up Call.

And a wakeup call is exactly what the Prodigy got when they released the single "Baby's Got a Temper" in August 2002. Howlett was so unhappy with the direction the track was taking the group, he decided to start over from square one.

"To be honest, that track kicked me up the ass," he said on the band's Web site in January. "It was the only time I kind of thought, 'Nah, this ain't totally right.' We had to change. It felt like it was a tired formula; it was more like 'Here we go again.' "

The epiphany explains why the Prodigy have been absent for the past two years. What about the other five? "It didn't take seven years [to make this record], it took one year. I played golf for the other six," Howlett joked.

The Prodigy are planning a tour for October.

Track list for Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned, according to the group's publicist:

• "Spitfire"
• "Girls"
• "Memphis Bells"
• "Get Up Get Off"
• "Hotride"
• "Wake Up Call"
• "Action Radar"
• "Medusa's Path"
• "Phoenix"
• "You'll Be Under My Wheels"
• "The Way It Is"
• "Shootdown"

• The Prodigy
• Twista
• Kool Keith
• Oasis
• Juliette & the Licks

A high-kicking Jennifer Lopez reportedly battles a robotic Matt Damon to rescue her beau, Ben Affleck, in the new video game "Jen Saves Ben." According to the New York Post, director Kevin Smith commissioned Powerhouse Animation Studios to create the game to thank the couple for appearing in his film "Jersey Girl." The only way to play the game is to get cozy with J. Lo herself, as the game is not available commercially. ...

Britpop stars Oasis have been forced to postpone two shows in Germany due to Liam Gallagher's involvement in a pub brawl that cost him his two front teeth and also resulted in the singer's arrest. The fracas, during which Gallagher allegedly kicked an arresting officer in the ribs, pitted the volatile frontman and two of the band's security guards against "a group of youths" who initiated an "unprovoked attack" in a Munich club, according to the band's Web site. ... On a related note, London's High Court dismissed an attempted lawsuit by former Oasis drummer Tony McCarroll over his firing from the group. The judge ruled that McCarroll, who parted with Oasis in 1995, had failed to bring his claim to court within the legal limit of six years. ...

3 Down, a hip-hop group featuring sons of Big Punisher, Benzino and songwriter James Capra (New Edition), has called it quits. The trio, which met on the set for Benzino's video "Shine Like My Son," signed to Interscope, but had yet to finish an album. ... Nappy Roots, Neneh Cherry, Sunshine Anderson and Richie Havens contributed to Groove Armada's latest album, Lovebox, due January 21. The first single, "Purple Haze," was released in late November. ...

Peter Griesar, a founding member of the Dave Matthews Band who left the group in 1993, will release an album on February 11 on the Virginia indie label Offset Records. Dave Matthews Band saxophone player LeRoi Moore and longtime Matthews collaborator guitarist Tim Reynolds will appear on the album, titled Superfastgo. ... Avid custom car collector and Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony took "Best of Show" honors at the SEMA car show in Las Vegas last month with his tricked-out 2002 Ford Thunderbird. Anthony says the carmaker liked his silver sports coupe — which was designed by Bonspeed and powered by Steve Saleen — so much that it will produce a limited number of them in 2004. ...

Following a European trek, the Used will embark on a handful of dates with Finch, beginning February 4 in Washington, D.C. My Chemical Romance and the Movielife will serve as openers for the tour, confirmed dates for which conclude February 16 in Chicago. ... Lefty drummer Kenny Livingston is filling in for Sugarcult's Ben Davis, who has temporarily left the group for a 30-day rehab stint in California. Meanwhile, singer Tim Pagnotta succumbed to laryngitis last week, but rather than cancel a show in Virginia Beach, Sugarcult enlisted fans, members of their road crew and opening bands to sing their songs. In case the crowd wasn't satisfied, the group tossed out hundreds of dollars to the audience. ...

11.27.2002

Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell's wife, Leighanne, gave birth to Baylee Thomas Wylee Littrell on November 26 in Atlanta, Georgia. The 6 lbs., 7 oz. baby boy is the couple's first child. ...

Afeni Shakur, mother of late rapper Tupac Shakur, donated $15,000 to W.H. Knuckles Elementary School in Lumberton, North Carolina, which she attended as a child, according to the Associated Press. Shakur also plans to donate proceeds from Better Dayz, the just-released double album she produced featuring unreleased Tupac songs, to the Tupac Shakur Foundation, which provides training to aspiring artists. ...

Slipknot's DJ Sid Wilson is manning the wheels of steel for rapper Marz while he opens for Korn and Trust Company. Dates with the Slipknot scratcher began Sunday and will run through the end of the tour, December 12 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Marz's next album will be released through Korn's Elementree label. ... The Murderdolls were forced to cancel dates in Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin this week due to a serious illness in guitarist Joey Jordison's family. Jordison, who also drums in Slipknot, flew home to Des Moines, Iowa, earlier this week, according the Murderdolls Web site. ...

Giving all new meaning to the term "supergroup," 2,500 musicians culled from 12 Atlanta school bands will attempt to set the record for the largest marching band when they perform the song "Been Away," a track from the "Drumline" soundtrack, at the premiere of the film at the Atlanta Civic Center on December 5. Producer Dallas Austin, on whose life the film is loosely based, will conduct the massive procession. ...

Simon & Garfunkel, Etta James, Johnny Mathis, Glenn Miller and Tito Puente will receive Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 45th annual Grammys on February 23 in New York, the Recording Academy announced on Wednesday (November 27). Folk music archivist Alan Lomax and the New York Philharmonic will be honored with Trustees Awards. ...

• Jennifer Lopez
• Dave Matthews Band
• Dave Matthews
• Nappy Roots
• Benzino

Artists Who've Never Been #1: Ozzy, Kiss, The Cure, More

• David Bowie
• Lemmy Kilmister
• The Smiths
• Morrissey
• The Who

2005 Austin City Limits Festival

• Coldplay
• Franz Ferdinand
• Kaiser Chiefs
• Arcade Fire
• Jason Mraz

Photos: The KROQ Inland Invasion 5 - 09.18.2005

• Beck
• Jet
• Garbage
• Kasabian
• 311

• Oasis