Jordin Sparks performs the national anthem during the Super Bowl XLII pregame show.
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images

For years now, the NFL has been bedazzling the Super Bowl with busloads of Hollywood stars and singers in an attempt to distract viewers from the fact that the game is usually a snooze-worthy blowout. But thanks to the New York Giants' historic last-minute victory Sunday night over the previously unbeaten New England Patriots, as well as an arena-rock-worthy halftime show from American icon Tom Petty, the people behind the big game finally got the mix of music and smash mouth right. (Except for the moments when it got things so, so wrong, which were also kind of great.) And so, we give you the first Super Bowl Musical Monday Morning Quarterback Report. (Also check out our take on Super Bowl movie ads — are you pumped for the next potential blockbusters?)

The Big Winners

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Classic rock has become the new standard at the big show, thanks to recent gigs by the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and last year's guitar-stroking extravaganza from Prince. And despite the suggestive beating-heart-pierced-by-Flying-V-guitar opening, laid-back Petty played his four-song halftime gig as if he were just strolling in for another night of work by the world's best bar band. No corny medleys, no hokey gimmicks, just unforgettable anthems that, frankly, by the end of the night couldn't have been more apt for both teams: "I Won't Back Down" (Giants), "Free Fallin' " (Patriots) and the nothing-but-hustle rocker "Runnin' Down a Dream" (Giants again).

Justin Timberlake: Though he mostly just got his ass kicked, the singer/actor proved his comic chops again in the hilarious Pepsi/Amazon "Magnetic Attraction" ad that mixed his slapstick abilities with a cameo from his "D--- in a Box" co-star, Andy Samberg.

Metal: As if the game needed any more aggro help, the Patriots entered to Ozzy Osbourne's iconic "Crazy Train," while the promos for Fox's "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" pulled out Danzig's dark "Mother," a Toyota ad went indie by using Fu Manchu's "Mongoose" and the ad for the big-screen adaptation of "Iron Man" pulled out Audioslave's stomping "Cochise." And as the clock ran out, Europe's "The Final Countdown" brought an end to the Patriots' dream-turned-nightmare.

Kanye West: On the cusp of the Grammys, West's "Stronger" pumped over the loudspeakers as the soon-to-be world champion Giants ran out onto the field.

Jordin Sparks: Her dad, former Giants player Phillippi Sparks, never made it to the big dance, but his daughter did him proud with a stirring rendition of the national anthem in front of her hometown fans.

Alicia Keys: The Grammy winner plugged her upcoming tour with a rousing pregame medley that included "Fallin'," "If I Ain't Got You" and "As I Am."

Madonna/Shakira: Now we get how the Material Girl is the highest-paid female singer on the planet. Her brief appearance in an ad for Sunsilk hair products reportedly brought in millions. Shakira can't complain either. Not only did she get to plug her years-old hit "Whenever, Wherever," but she played alongside Madonna and Marilyn Monroe, which isn't bad company.

Alice Cooper: We have no idea what the original shock-rocker was doing crouching on the ground with his albino snake at the end of that Bridgestone Firestone ad (maybe lying in wait for co-star Richard Simmons to jog by?), but it worked.

Arcade Fire: The Canadian band's "No Cars Go" was used as a bumper by Fox during one of those dancing-robot bits, giving them massive exposure, though not likely the kind they desire. According to Pitchfork, although Fox asked permission to use the tune, it's unclear if the band gave its consent.

Kina Grannis: The unknown singer/songwriter, who won a Doritos "Crash the Super Bowl" competition and a deal with Interscope Records, was introduced on one of the world's biggest stages, singing her acoustic ballad "Message From Your Heart." The ad reportedly cost $5 million, so you better believe that they think she's got the goods.

Latch Key Kid: A close second to Grannis in terms of worldwide coming-out parties was the election-themed Coke ad scored to "Good Times" by Southern California musician Kid (real name: Gavin Heaney). The spot, featuring Democrat James Carville and Republican Bill Frist cavorting together, perfectly fit the mood of the cheery ditty about sharing good times with good friends.

The Flaming Lips: Our personal pick for the ultimate halftime band (think about it: aliens, spaceships, giant inflatable hands, dancing Santas and exploding confetti cannons!) subverted straight society for the umpteenth time when their proggy, Pink Floyd-like ode to running from lava flows, "Pompeii Am Gotterdammerung," accompanied a Ford Sync ad.

Bower: The fat guy who jump-started the car with his nipples in the Mountain Dew AMP ad? None other than Michael Bower, the guy who played Donkeylips on Nickelodeon's "Salute Your Shorts" and a budding rapper in the Eminem mode.

The Losers

Paula Abdul: The "American Idol" judge's pre-taped, lip-synced "performance" of "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow," the first single from fellow judge Randy Jackson's new album, nearly rivaled the former pop star's infamous "baked potato" dance to "Vibeology" at the 1991 Video Music Awards. Save for the impressive male-dancer-assisted high kick/ split she pulled off near the end, the painfully '80s Janet Jackson rip-off tune and skinny-tie-era backup dancers made Adbul look like the Mrs. Robinson of dance pop. Judging those kids on "Idol" just got a lot harder.

Ben Roethlisberger: The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback's off-key warbling of "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" was supposed to be bad, we get it. But it was so bad, some Steelers fans might have preferred it if he entered a Superbike race instead.

Michael Jackson: At this point nobody wants to see the actual King of Pop in a TV ad, but the slimy digital reptiles doing the "Thriller" dance to promote the 25th anniversary of the singer's landmark album (oh, and SoBe Life Water too) were almost as creepy as a trip to Neverland Ranch.

LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Macy Gray and Missy Elliott: That fake-grinning, head-nodding Diet Pepsi Ad to the tune of Haddaway's club classic "What Is Love" was so cheesy that we agreed with "A Night at the Roxbury" star Chris Kattan when he yelled, "Stop it!" at the end.

"American Idol": Between Roethlisberger's lame ad and Abdul's crash-and-burn performance, not to mention bionic host Ryan Seacrest's painful "red carpet" interviews with the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, the show wasn't done any favors by its host network.

• Justin, Busta, Missy, Light Up Super Bowl Ads

• Tom Petty
• Justin Timberlake
• Ozzy Osbourne
• Kanye West
• Jordin Sparks

Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul on Fox's Super Bowl XLII red carpet on Sunday in Arizona
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images

For most people, Super Bowl Sunday was all about watching the Big Game. Would the New England Patriots finish with a perfect season or would the New York Giants pull off the ultimate upset?

In my apartment, however, Sunday was about something else entirely. Not Tom Petty and the Pacemakers' halftime show, not Jordin Sparks' national anthem (although, can I get a witness?), not the commercials (even the ones with Richard Simmons). For the Cantiello Household, Super Bowl XLII meant one thing.

The return of Paula Abdul, superstar.

Sure, her pregame performance of "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow" was pretaped. And yes, it certainly looked like she was lip-syncing Cotillard-style. But I have to admit, I thought she nailed it.

Before you start furiously commenting about me "going soft," hear me out.

Paula Abdul was never famous for her singing ability. She was always first and foremost a performer. Like Janet Jackson before her and Britney Spears after, Abdul's live shows were all about dancing and spectacle. (She's shared the stage with an animated cat, a re-animated deceased dance legend and a friggin' hovercraft! Your move, Beyoncé.) For critics to call her out for not singing live now — 12 years after her last album, and arguably 15 years after her last major hit — is kind of absurd.

"But Jim," you protest, "if Paula's going to lip-sync on television, who is she to judge other singers on 'American Idol'?" My answer is this: Paula Abdul pointing out pitch problems has been ridiculous since episode one (still not as ridiculous as when "Idol" invited Jennifer Lopez to coach singers, though). Plus, anyone who caught Gwen Stefani's pretaped and seemingly auto-tuned performance on last year's season finale knows that "Idol" is no stranger to less-than-live vocals when it comes to the occasional celebrity guest.

Take her canned vocals out of the equation and it's hard to deny that Paula's return to the stage was nothing short of triumphant. Her entrance was an adorable nod to her past. The former Laker Girl was propped up in a cheerleader formation while she sang the opening lines of her debut album's namesake, "Forever Your Girl." She had an infectious, beaming smile that never left her face for the entirety of her performance. And although she may not have moved as much as her background dancers, you could tell that Paula was committing to each hip pop and head roll 100 percent (or, as she would say to an "Idol" contestant, "one million bajillion percent").

Paula looked amazing too. I love her new haircut (we haven't seen the bangs on this season of "Idol" yet, but I'm looking forward to seeing them in weeks to come) and her outfit was MILF-tastic. She learned her lesson from her '91 VMA debacle, avoiding the bedazzled sausage leotard for a flattering, age-appropriate pantsuit that showed off her ripped arms and tiny frame.

If you asked me a week ago, I would have put money on Paula's appearance being a mess of "Gimme More" proportions. All signs pointed toward "train wreck." Paula hasn't performed in over a decade because of serious physical injuries. She's known more for her occasionally loopy appearances as a TV personality than as a hitmaker. And last summer, she was the star of a reality show that solidified the public's perception of her as an emotional wreck.

Considering all that baggage, the biggest underdog victory of Super Bowl XLII didn't belong to the New York Giants. It belonged to Paula.

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

• Paula Abdul
• Tom Petty
• Randy Jackson

Kanye West
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Kanye West crops up in a new video by fellow Chicago rapper Kid Sister that began making the rounds Monday. The clip for Kid Sister's "Pro Nails" was made for only $3,000 and directed by Ruben Fleischer (M.I.A., Dizzee Rascal). ... Does R. Kelly's exhausting "Trapped in the Closet" series still have you thirsting for more? If so, then there's some good news — a new extras-heavy DVD for the series is dropping December 11. It will feature chapters 1-22 in their entirety; "chapter 12.5," a recap of the first 11; live performances of chapters 2 and 3; the MTV VMA performance of Chapter 12; Easter eggs; a DVD trivia game; and running commentary from Kelly. ...

Akon pleaded not guilty on Monday (December 3) to charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and second-degree harassment during a concert held over the summer in Fishkill, New York. The singer entered his plea in a Fishkill courtroom and his attorneys issued a statement, according to The Associated Press. "It was never Akon's intent to violate the law," the statement reportedly read. "This unfortunate incident was a spontaneous reaction during a live concert that Akon deeply regrets. We are confident that this matter will ultimately be resolved in a manner that does not in any way interfere with Akon's successful career." Akon allegedly threw a 15-year-old fan into the crowd during the show, which took place on June 3 and was caught on fans' cell phone cameras. ...

The man who took hostages at Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign office in Rochester, New Hampshire, on Friday was arraigned on Monday. Leeland Eisenberg, 46, was ordered held with bail set at $500,000 on charges of kidnapping, criminal threatening and false reports of an explosive. He is also being held for a mental-health evaluation over the incident, for which he is accused of claiming to have an explosive device taped to his chest and holding five people hostage at the office. Prosecutors said Eisenberg's criminal record dates to 1978 and includes charges of burglary and rape. A public defender representing Eisenberg said his client regretted the disruption and was grateful police didn't shoot him, according to AP. Randy Hawkes said Eisenberg heard voices and last week saw a "movie in his head" that told him he had to "sacrifice himself" to bring attention to the issue of mental health. ...

Chamillionaire will appear on "Larry King Live" on Monday night to discuss Don Imus' recent return to radio. The program airs on CNN at 9 p.m. ET — Cham's new disc, Mixtape Messiah 4, drops December 18. ... Ashley Tisdale got a nose job on Friday — but not for cosmetic reasons, People reports. "Growing up I always knew I had a deviated septum on the right side of my nose which caused trouble breathing," the "High School Musical" star told People. "The older I got, the worse it got. I went to get it checked out, and the doctor told me the septum was 80 percent deviated and that I had two small fractures on my nose." Tisdale reiterated: "I didn't do this because I believe in plastic surgery. I did this to help my health. I literally almost could not breathe out of the right side of my nose. ... I want my fans to know the truth. I'm not someone who is going to act like I had nothing done. ... It's uncomfortable, and I hope this is the only time I ever have to go through something like this." ... Despite Britney Spears' myriad problems, she found time to celebrate her 26th birthday with Paris Hilton in Bel Air, California, on Saturday night, according to TMZ.com. ...

Led Zeppelin and Metallica on the same bill? Call it too good to be true, but that's what an e-mail published in industry commentator Bob Lefsetz's newsletter is reporting, Billboard.com reports. Speculation over potential Zep reunion gigs has been rampant amid the reunited band's planned December 10 show at London's O2 arena, including suggestions that it would be touring next year with the Cult. ... Kid Rock has plotted his biggest concert outing yet, for next year. His Rock and Roll Revival Tour — which will also host Run-DMC's Reverend Run among other friends — starts January 25 in Evansville, Indiana. From there, Rock will hit Milwaukee, his Detroit hometown, St. Louis, Nashville, Atlanta and other cities before winding down the arena trek March 22 in Toledo, Ohio. ... The Postal Service's Jimmy Tamborello, the One AM Radio and others have contributed remixes to an untitled six-song EP the Silversun Pickups will debut December 11 on iTunes. The effort features new versions of the band's "Lazy Eye" and "Little Lovers So Polite." ... Just in case you needed another reason to go to Oslo, Norway, for the Nobel Peace Prize Concert, Kylie Minogue has been added to the bill. She will share the stage with Alicia Keys, KT Tunstall and others at the December 11 event, at which Al Gore and other Nobel Prize-winning laureates on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will be honored. ...

Evel Knievel just passed away Friday, but already some people are trying to horn in on the late stuntman's estate, AP reports. Shelly Saltman — a public-relations agent who was attacked in 1977 by a Knievel after the stuntman became enraged about a book wrote Saltman had written about him — won $12.75 million in damages after filing suit decades ago. But the sum has still gone uncollected, and Saltman estimates it would now amount to more than $100 million. Knievel's son Kelly wouldn't comment on the dispute or discuss the size of his father's estate, AP reports. ... Natalie Maines certainly isn't shying away from taking a stand — the outspoken Dixie Chick is coming to the aid of three men who have been convicted of murder and whose cases were portrayed in HBO's "Paradise Lost" documentaries. In a lengthy, detailed post on the group's Web site, she says, "I believe that three men have spent the past 13 years in prison for crimes they didn't commit," and goes on to explain their case's background. Maines says that, after watching one of the films, her "heart sank" when she discovered online that the men are still in prison. ...

Brad Pitt is trying to Make It Right in New Orleans — the actor said in an interview on the "Today" show on Monday morning that he's planning for at least 150 eco-friendly houses to be built in the Lower Ninth Ward by the end of summer 2008. Pitt has pledged $5 million for the project and is campaigning for more donations. "Basically, $150,000 will get a family back in their home," he said. ... Jimmy Kimmel is no Carson Daly. While Daly recently crossed the writers' strike picket lines and resumed production on his NBC late-night show, Kimmel's program is not only still observing the protest — the host has quietly been paying entry-level production assistants, receptionists and other low-paid members of his staff, according to TMZ.com. ...

Classic rock will rule the day again at the Super Bowl on February 3, when Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers take the stage for the halftime show at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The band is the latest in a line of old-school acts that have performed during the game over the past few years, including Prince, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and U2. ... Once you've paid more than $3,300 for a bat-adorned coat once owned by Ozzy Osbourne, do you wear the thing out to a party? That's just one of the items that drew big bucks during a weekend auction of items from Sharon and Ozzy's closet, which raised more than $800,000 for the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Foundation, according to Reuters. Among the other items sold were a pair of skull-adorned sneakers ($2,625), a pair of Ozzy's wire-rimmed sunglasses ($5,250), the beaded wire model of the Eiffel Tower seen in the family's kitchen on "The Osbournes" show ($10,000), Ozzy's floral Mary Rose Young tea cup ($1,625) and the family's custom pool table ($11,250). Bloomberg reported that the devil's head plaque that hung on the family's front door, expected to fetch $1,200, sold for $8,750, but a 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur that was expected to go for more than $160,000 got no bids, nor did a 1950 Oldsmobile Futuramic 88 Club Coupe once owned by romance author Danielle Steel that was thought to be worth $40,000-$50,000.

11.30.2007

Michael Jackson's Thriller, the best-selling album of all time, is getting big love in time for Valentine's Day. In celebration of the release's 25th anniversary, Epic/Legacy is revisiting it with a deluxe edition containing unreleased bonus tracks mixed by or featuring Kanye West, Akon, Will.I.Am and Jackson himself. Thriller was originally released November 30, 1982, and the new 25th Anniversary Edition, dropping February 12, will have eight extra cuts: a fresh Kanye remix of "Billie Jean"; Akon and Will.I.Am's new take on "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' "; "The Girl Is Mine" and "P.Y.T." remixes by Will.I.Am; the rare unissued song "For All Time," a track from the original recording sessions that has been newly mixed and mastered by MJ; "Someone in the Dark"; "Carousel"; and the original "Billie Jean" demo. The set will also house a DVD with Jackson's Thriller short films, which have been digitally remastered — "Thriller," "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" — as well as his Emmy-nominated performance of the latter song on 1983's "Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever" TV special. Lastly, it will also have an exclusive Jackson-penned greeting to his fans. While the Thriller deluxe edition doesn't drop until February, the Jackson action actually starts in December when he releases a new single and launches a new global-marketing campaign. ...

Kevin Federline's lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan has subpoenaed Britney Spears' friend Sam Lufti in the ex-spouses' child-custody case, according to People.com. The subpoena was reportedly served on November 7, but Lufti didn't appear at a Friday deposition that was rescheduled for January. Kaplan will request a court order to make sure Lufti attends the January session, the site said. People.com reported in late August that a car-ramming incident occurred when Federline's legal team attempted to serve Lufti with papers, and according to UsMagazine.com, Lutfi is scheduled to appear before the Los Angeles city attorney over the matter, which is being considered a "vehicle vandalism incident." The closed-door hearing will be held December 18. ... "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" nonwriting staffers have been laid off due to the ongoing writers' strike, according to TMZ.com. ...

Lindsay Lohan is finally finding time to return to her music career, according to People. The singer, whose last album was 2005's A Little More Personal (Raw), will reportedly start recording a new album for Motown within the next two weeks. She is also reportedly planning to shoot a cameo on "Ugly Betty" once the writers' strike ends. The mag also reports that LiLo has split with Riley Giles, the boyfriend she developed a relationship withwhile in rehab at Utah's Cirque Lodge over the summer. according to People. ... The "High School Musical 2" soundtrack was the best-selling album of 2007 with 2.3 million copies sold — the lowest figure yet by a year's top LP since SoundScan started keeping track of such sales in 1991. The sequel soundtrack beats its predecessor's previous mark — the original "HSM" soundtrack, last year's best-selling disc, sold 3.7 million copies. Daughtry's self-titled album is the second-best-selling album of 2007. ...

Flo Rida — a rapper hailing from, well, you know — owes T-Pain a favor: The latter rapper's spot on Flo's new single, "Low," has helped boost the track into the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the song has been at the top of the iTunes chart for three consecutive weeks. But Pain isn't the only person lending Flo Rida their skills — fellow Floridian Rick Ross and Trey Songz are also featured on his major-label debut, Mail on Sunday, with J.R. Rotem, the Runners and others helping out behind the boards. ... Reese Witherspoon is the highest-paid actress in Hollywood, earning $15 million to $20 million per movie, The Hollywood Reporter announced Friday (November 30). Angelina Jolie — who reportedly made $8 million for "Beowolf" and $20 million for "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" — comes in second, with Cameron Diaz, Nicole Kidman, Renée Zellweger, Sandra Bullock and Julia Roberts following behind. ...

Morrissey is suing NME after the English music mag failed to apologize for an article criticizing the former Smiths frontman's views on immigration. BBC News reports that a deadline to print a retraction on the piece expired on Thursday, and the singer's lawyers are starting legal proceedings against the magazine and its editor for what Morrissey's manager has deemed a "character assassination." A recent issue of the magazine quoted Morrissey as allegedly saying, "Although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears. So the price is enormous. ... If you travel to Germany, it's still absolutely Germany. If you travel to Sweden, it still has a Swedish identity. But travel to England and you have no idea where you are." The cover of the issue quoted Morrissey as saying, "The gates of England are flooded. The country's been thrown away." Morrissey, who has split his time between Rome and Los Angeles over the past decade, was reportedly responding to a question about whether he would ever return to live in the U.K. In a follow-up interview, NME reported that Morrissey clarified his earlier comment by saying, "It could be construed that the reason I wouldn't wish to live in England is the immigration explosion. And that's not true at all. ... There are other reasons why I would find England very difficult, such as the expense and the pressure." He also allegedly added that he didn't think his comments were inflammatory, but "a statement of fact." Morrissey's spokesperson said the singer had been misquoted and that critical parts of the interview were omitted. An NME spokesperson confirmed that legal action is pending but would not comment further. ...

Brand New, As Tall as Lions and the Receiving End of Sirens are converging for Triple Crown Records' 10th anniversary show, to be held December 17 at New York's Blender Theater at Gramercy. Proceeds from the show will go to the FealGood Foundation for 9/11 first responders and Shirts for a Cure. ... Band of Horses, who are cropping up on critics' albums-of-the-year lists left and right, will head out with a 20-date headlining trek starting January 20 in South Carolina, their home state. The jaunt will also end there, on February 12, with the group hitting Philadelphia, Boston, Cleveland, Nashville, Dallas and other cities along the way. ... From First to Last have joined the bill for next year's Take Action! Tour, which kicks off in February. Every Time I Die are still set to co-headline, although the other previously announced co-headliner, Escape the Fate, have dropped off the lineup. Hopeless/Sub City, which stages the fest, also announced that it has picked Do Something, a nonprofit that distributes weekly grants to young people looking to make a difference in their community, as the tour's charity.

• Kanye West
• Akon
• Tom Petty
• Ozzy Osbourne
• R. Kelly

LeToya's self-titled album
Photo: Capitol

Pharrell or LeToya? Which artist could dethrone Now That's What I Call Music! 22, ending the compilation's two-week reign atop Billboard's albums chart?

In My Mind, the long-awaited, much-delayed solo debut from Pharrell Williams — one-half of the hit-making production team the Neptunes — was a popular pick for #1. And with nearly 142,000 copies snatched up its first week in stores, the disc came close to the top. But in the end, Pharrell had to settle for third place.

LeToya, the debut solo LP from LeToya Luckett, an original member of Destiny's Child who co-wrote and performed the group's gold-certified singles "Bills, Bills, Bills" and "Say My Name," outsold Now by 14,000 copies to finish the week with close to 165,000 scans — and a chart-topping opening.

According to the latest SoundScan totals, Pharrell fell shy of second place by a mere 9,000 copies. The #2 position belongs to the 22nd installment in the Now franchise — an album featuring tracks by Rihanna, Chamillionaire, Chris Brown, Nick Lachey and Kelly Clarkson — which moved 151,000 units its third week out.

LeToya and Pharrell's debut outings are joined in the top five by one other new release: Tom Petty's Highway Companion. The third solo album from the Heartbreakers frontman bows at #4 after selling more than 112,000 copies its first week in stores. Petty's disc steps in just in front of Gnarls Barkley's St. Elsewhere, down one to #5 with 54,000 scans.

The soundtrack to the Disney Channel original movie "High School Musical" can't be stopped, and takes the chart's #6 opening this week with just under 47,000 sales. Rihanna's A Girl Like Me follows at #7 with 46,000-plus scans, while Nelly Furtado's Loose slips one spot to #8 with close to 45,000 sales. The Pussycat Dolls' PCD climbs one spot to #9, selling more than 44,000 units. Rascal Flatts' Me & My Gang rounds out the top 10 with nearly 44,000 scans.

In all, 17 fresh releases make the top 200 — including Jurassic 5's Feedback, which takes the #15 slot on the upcoming chart with sales nearing 34,000. Livin' It Up! the latest from former Van Halen mainman Sammy Hagar and his Wabos, surfaces further down the chart at #50 with 16,000 first-week sales. Flogging Molly's Whiskey on a Sunday bows at #67 with 14,000 copies sold, while rapper Trae's Restless debuts at #87 with 10,000 scans. Gym Class Heroes open at #93, selling more than 9,000 copies of As Cruel as School Children.

Michael Franti and Spearhead's Yell Fire! opens at #125, with sales coming in at 7,000 and then some. The New York Dolls' One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This, the seminal punk band's first album in 32 years, follows at #129 with 7,000 sales — just in front of Pastor Troy's By Choice or by Force, which lands at #130 with 22 fewer scans. Stellar Kart's We Can't Stand Sitting Down debuts at #135 with 7,000 scans. The soundtrack to Lian Lunson's film "Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man" — chock full of some of Cohen's most revered cuts performed by artists including U2, Nick Cave and Rufus Wainwright — claims the #176 slot with 5,000 sales.

• LeToya
• Pharrell Williams
• Tom Petty
• Jurassic 5
• Gnarls Barkley

Pharrell's <i>In My Mind</i>
Photo: Interscope Records

Pharrell at Last: Given his Neptunes and N.E.R.D. projects and the number of hits he's already crafted, it hardly seems fair to call Pharrell a "rookie." But so he is, technically, which sets up his solo debut, In My Mind, as the most anticipated one of the year. Gwen Stefani makes a fleeting appearance on the first track, "Can I Have It Like That," while Jay-Z keeps it real on "Young Girl/ I Really Like You," Slim Thug helps "Keep It Playa" and Snoop Dogg swoons with Pharrell over "That Girl." And if you haven't heard the Kanye-featuring "Number One" by now, one's gotta wonder where your mind's at.

Luckett Strikes: This week may be all about Pharrell, but there's another big-name solo artist debuting this week in LeToya Luckett. The ex-Destiny's Child singer is also going by her first name only and has roped in Slim Thug for some support (on "Hey Fella"). He's not the only one lifting up LeToya, though: she's also getting props from Paul Wall ("All Eyes on Me"), Mike Jones ("Gangsta Grillz" and a remix of "Torn"), Jazze Pha and Bun B ("Tear Da Club Up").

Unleash the Beasties: Surprises abound on the DVD version of the Beastie Boys' fan-filmed documentary, "Awesome; I F---in' Shot That!" For starters, they've separated MCA, Ad-Rock and Mike D's vocal channels into an a-cappella-only feature that lets viewers cut out the rest of the music. Fans also have the option of switching between different camera angles — sort of a given, since so many fans submitted footage — or use the "hidden detours" feature to see other angles. And also, the short film starring comedian David Cross that prefaced the one-night theatrical showing of the Beasties' flick and was only supposed to surface just that one time, is included on the DVD.

Life According to Gym: Fans of the Beasties should take note of another collection of comical New York rap-rockers: Gym Class Heroes. The Fall Out Boy friends stick tight to the concept of their sophomore LP, As Cruel as School Children, breaking the tracks into class periods. Don't miss "Lunch: Sloppy Love Jingle, Pt. 1," "6th Period: Viva la White Girl" and "13th Period: On My Own Time (Write On!)," because if you do — need we say it? — you'll be headed to detention.

Trivia Time:

• Puffy AmiYumi have a 10th anniversary to celebrate, and some unlikely friends to celebrate it with. The Offspring's Dexter Holland sings on the Japanese pop duo's Splurge, with Butch Walker and Jon Spencer also contributing.
• The Sleepy Jackson are going the way of the Brian Jonestown Massacre. Leader Luke Steele has already dumped three sets of backing bands, one including his brother, and he's only on his second record, this week's Personality (One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird).
• Serj Tankian has given System of a Down fans more heavy music to chew on by putting out Bad Acid Trip and Buckethead releases, but he's toning it down a bit with his latest signing, Slow Motion Reign, and their piano-based, eponymous debut.
• Silversun Pickups (Carnavas), Adam Green (Jacket Full of Danger), Code Red (All Aboard) and the Rosewood Thieves (From the Decker House) have something in common, but we're not telling.
• Joan of Arc will have you seeing double, if their wildly experimental post-punk concoction doesn't already do the trick. The band's back in time for its 10th anniversary, putting out a new LP (Eventually, All at Once) on its own label and a retrospective (The Intelligent Design of Joan of Arc) via former home Polyvinyl.
• Tom Petty's Highway Companion is just his third solo album (he's giving most of the Heartbreakers a break this time around).
• Terror play hardcore but have a soft spot for hip-hop: Murs and Atmosphere DJ Mr. Dibbs add some verses to the band's Always the Hard Way.
• Sammy Hagar likes tequila? Who knew? Listen to "One Sip" or "I Love This Bar" on his and the Wabos' Livin' It Up!
• Erase Errata and Mika Miko, who respectively issue Nightlife and C.Y.S.L.A.B.F. this week, just toured together.
• Raul Malo doesn't have writer's block — he only has one original song on his You're Only Lonely to make room for salutes to Willie Nelson, Harry Nilsson and the Bee Gees.
• Mew ought to be touring with Dinosaur Jr. instead of Bloc Party. The band's And the Glass Handed Kites has two guest-vocal spots by J Mascis.

• Pastor Troy is making at least two appearances this week, logging his own By Choice or by Force and adding to The Source Presents: Fat Tape, Volume One with his "Crossroads."
• Spoon's Telephono/ Soft Effects makes two early releases by the band readily available again, and is packaged as a double-CD with a bonus video for "Not Turning Off."
• Barbie Hit Mix 2 is more like karaoke for children, what with songs by Ashlee, Gwen and Hilary being covered by an unspecified group of "today's kids."
• Professor Murder isn't a rapper. Professor Murder Rides the Subway heralds what the wacky white boy — who uses cowbells and a whistle — has dubbed "progressive post-punk."
• Gaelic Storm hope to win over a few boozers with Bring Yer Wellies, but they're going to face some serious competition in fellow Irish band Flogging Molly and their Whiskey on a Sunday documentary DualDisc.
• If the Knife aren't the first musicians to go by that moniker, then they're almost definitely the first Swedish brother/sister team to do so. Silent Shout has already topped the charts in their homeland.
• Damon McMahon's Mansions is less a solo album than a collection of refined leftover tunes by his prior band, Inouk.
• Crash Kelly have toured with Alice Cooper and Skid Row, but they've got Guns N' Roses on the brain these days: Their Electric Satisfaction was produced by former GN'R guitarist Gilby Clarke.
• Ali Farka Touré's Savane was the last album the Mali singer/guitarist recorded before his death earlier this year.
• Steve Lawler has divvied up his Viva into three discs, named "Day 1," "Day 2" and "Day 3." But those aren't live recordings from the producer's recent trip to Ibiza; the "days" actually refer to "states of mind."

Song Title of the Week:

"Cream and Bastards Rise" from Harvey Danger's Little by Little ...

Other Notables:

Tapes 'n Tapes's The Loon: Hipsters have been pining for the official release of this LP since the hooky band took South by Southwest by storm earlier this year. The album, 10,000 copies of which the Minneapolis quartet previously issued on its own, features the priceless lyric "And when you rush/ I'll call your name/ Like Harvard Square/ Holds all inane."

Jurassic 5's Feedback: The Los Angeles squad is hoping the Dave Matthews Band guest spot on their new "Work It Out" single and video gives them a much-needed sales boost. But in case that doesn't work, they've got the Scott Storch-produced "Brown Girl" to fall back on — and a tour schedule that puts other hip-hop groups to shame.

Voivoid's Katorz: The 14th release by the Canadian prog-thrash band also captures its last recordings with Piggy D'Amour, who died from cancer last year. The guitarist asked the remaining bandmembers to use his tracks on their LP, and with help from producer Glen Robinson (Gwar, Annihilator), they did.

New Releases:

• Archie Bronson Outfit - Derdang Derdang (Domino)
  
• Bargain Music - American Born (enhanced; Cornerstone)
  
• Boy Kill Boy - Civilian (Island)
  
• Randall Bramblett - Rich Someday (New West)
  
• Edie Brickell & New Bohemians - Stranger Things (Fantasy/ Concord)
  
• Bridge 61 - Journal (Atavistic)
  
• Michael Brook - RockPaperScissors (High Wire)
  
• Brötzmann/ Mangelsdorff/ Sommer - Pica Pica (Atavistic)
  
• Burn in Silence - Angel Maker (Prosthetic)
  
• Code Red - All Aboard (Toucan Cove/ Universal)
  
• Crash Kelly - Electric Satisfaction (Liquor & Poker)
  
• Disaster Strikes - Liberty Toast (Alternative Tentacles)
  
• The Drams - Jubilee Dive (New West)
  
• Erase Errata - Nightlife (Kill Rock Stars)
  
• Excepter - Alternation (5 Rue Christine)
  
• Gran Bel Fisher - Full Moon Cigarette (Hollywood)
  
• Flogging Molly - Whiskey on a Sunday (DualDisc; Side One Dummy)
  
• John Flynn - Two Wolves (Mettafour/ Kindred Rhythm)
  
• Michael Franti and Spearhead - Yell Fire! (Anti)
  
• Gaelic Storm - Bring Yer Wellies (Megaforce)
  
• Gorgoroth - Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam (Candlelight)
  
• Gosling - Here Is ... (V2)
  
• Grave - As Rapture Comes (Century Media)
  
• Adam Green - Jacket Full of Danger (Rough Trade)
  Buy Now: Jacket Full of Danger (Rough Trade)
  
• Gym Class Heroes - As Cruel as School Children (Fueled by Ramen)
  Read: "EMTs Ask Warped Tour's Gym Class Heroes: How Are You Guys Alive?"
  Buy Now: As Cruel as School Children (Fueled by Ramen)
  
• Sammy Hagar and the Wabos - Livin' It Up! (Rhino)
  Buy Now: Livin' It Up! (Rhino)
  
• Paul Hardcastle - Jazzmasters V (V2)
  
• House of Atreus - What You've Become (567)
  
• Impac - Almost Famous (Divine)
  
• Inkwell - These Stars Are Monsters (111)
  
• Joan of Arc - Eventually, All at Once (Record Label)
  
• JR Ewing - Maelstrom (Dim Mak)
  
• Jurassic 5 - Feedback (Interscope)
  Buy Now: Feedback (Interscope)
  
• Will Kimbrough - Americanitis (Emergent)
  
• Klezmatics - Wonder Wheel (JMG)
  
• The Knife - Silent Shout (Mute)
  
• The Late Cord - Lights From the Wheelhouse (4AD)
  
• Steve Lawler - Viva (three CDs; Ministry of Sound)
  
• LeToya - LeToya (Capitol)
  Read: "Ex-Destiny's Child Member Turns To God, Houston For New LP"
  Buy Now: LeToya (Capitol)
  
• Toby Lightman - Bird on a Wire (Lava)
  
• Long Winters - Putting the Days to Bed (Barsuk)
  Buy Now: Putting the Days to Bed (Barsuk)
  
• Tracy Lyons - I Will (West 57th Street)
  
• Damon McMahon - Mansions (Astralwerks)
  
• Raul Malo - You're Only Lonely (Sanctuary)
  
• Mew - And the Glass Handed Kites (Columbia)
  
• Midlake - The Trials of Van Occupanther (Bella Union)
  
• Mika Miko - C.Y.S.L.A.B.F. (Kill Rock Stars)
  
• Motor - Klunk (Mute)
  
• New York Dolls - One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This (with DVD; Roadrunner)
  
• Old Crow Medicine Show - Down Home Girl (EP; Nettwerk)
  Buy Now: Down Home Girl (Nettwerk)
  
• Jake Owen - Startin' With Me (RCA)
  
• Pacifics/ Illmind - The Case (enhanced; All Natural)
  
• Panda & Angel - Panda & Angel (EP; Jade Tree)
  
• Park - Building a Better Park (enhanced; Lobster)
  
• Pastor Troy - By Choice or by Force (Koch)
  Buy Now: By Choice or by Force (Koch)
  
• Tom Petty - Highway Companion (American)
  Buy Now: Highway Companion (American)
  
• Pharrell Williams - In My Mind (Star Trak/ Interscope)
  Read: "Pharrell Williams: Fired Up"
  Preorder: In My Mind (Star Trak/ Interscope)
  
• Landon Pigg - LP (RCA)
  
• Professor Murder - Professor Murder Rides the Subway (Kanine)
  
• Puffy AmiYumi - Splurge (Tofu)
  
• Pure Reason Revolution - The Dark Third (Red Ink)
  
• Quantic - An Announcement to Answer (Ubiquity)
  
• Rippingtons - 20th Anniversary (with DVD; Peak/ Concord)
  
• Linda Ronstadt and Ann Savoy - Adieu False Heart (Vanguard)
  
• Rosewood Thieves - From the Decker House (EP; V2)
  
• Say Hi to Your Mom - Impeccable Blahs (Euphobia)
  
• Scritti Politti - White Bread Black Beer (Nonesuch)
  
• Silversun Pickups - Carnavas (Dangerbird)
  
• Joyce Sims - A New Beginning (Vessel)
  
• Bob Sinclair - Western Dream (Tommy Boy)
  
• The Sleepy Jackson - Personality (One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird) (Astralwerks)
  Buy Now: Personality (One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird) (Astralwerks)
  
• Slow Motion Reign - Slow Motion Reign (Red Ink)
  
• Supersuckers - Paid (Mid Fi)
  Buy Now: Paid (Mid Fi)
  
• Sylver - Nighttime Calls (Byte/ Universal)
  
• Tapes 'n Tapes - The Loon (XL)
  
• Vienna Teng - Dreaming Through the Noise (Zöe/ Rounder)
  
• Terror - Always the Hard Way (Trustkill)
  
• Thor - Devastation of Musculation (Smog Veil)
  
• Ali Farka Touré - Savane (World Circuit/ Nonesuch)
  
• Umbrellas - Illuminare (Militia Group)
  
• Venus Hum - The Colors of the Wheel (Nettwerk)
  
• Voivod - Katorz (The End)
  Buy Now: Katorz (The End)
  
• Paul Weller - Catch-Flame! (live double CD; Yep Roc)
  
• White Whale - WWI (Merge)
  
• Various artists - Barbie Hit Mix 2 (Rhino)
  
• Various artists - Cirque du Soleil Musique - Delirium (Cirque du Soleil)
  
• Various artists - FabricLive 28 (Fabric)
  
• Various artists - Slaying Since 1996 (two CDs; Suicide Squeeze)
  
• Various artists - The Source Presents: Fat Tape, Volume One (Koch)
  
• Various artists - "Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man" soundtrack (Verve Forecast)
  
• Various artists - "Miami Vice" soundtrack (Atlantic)
  
• Various artists - "Scoop" soundtrack (Decca)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

• Kenny Burrell - In a Mellow Tone: The Smooth Swing of Kenny Burrell (Savoy Jazz)
  
• Canned Heat - Instrumentals 1967-1996 (Music Avenue)
  
• Chad & Jeremy - The Ark and I Don't Want to Lose You Baby (Sundazed)
  
• Climax Blues Band - Tightly Knit (Fuel)
  
• Ian Dury & the Blockheads - Laughter (two CDs; Fuel)
  
• The John Doe Thing - For the Best of Us (Yep Roc)
  
• Eldopa - The Complete Recordings (Tee Pee)
  
• Gene & Debbe - Playboy: The Best of Gene & Debbe (Sundazed)
  
• Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five - Fresh & Furious: Hip Hop's Beginning (DBK)
  
• Bruce Hornsby - Intersections 1985-2005 (box set with four CDs and one DVD; RCA/ Legacy)
  
• Bob James - Sign of the Times (Koch)
  
• Joan of Arc - The Intelligent Design of Joan of Arc (Polyvinyl)
  
• John & Robin - Do It Again (Sundazed)
  
• Glenn Jones - Forever: Timeless R&B Classics (Shanachie)
  
• Harvey Danger - Little by Little ... (two CDs; Kill Rock Stars)
  
• Loverboy - Get Lucky (Columbia/ Legacy)
  
• Melissa Manchester - Better Days & Happy Endings, Bright Eyes, Emergency, For the Working Girl, Help Is on the Way, Hey Ricky and Home to Myself (Wounded Bird)
  
• Liza Minnelli - Liza! Liza!: The Complete Capitol Collection (two CDs; DRG)
  
• Nazz - The Nazz and Nazz Nazz/ Nazz III: The Fungo Bat Sessions (Sanctuary)
  
• Spoon - Telephono/ Soft Effects (Merge)
  
• Rick Springfield - Working Class Dog (RCA/ Legacy)
  
• Sonny Stitt - Stitt's Bits: The Bebop Recordings, 1949-1952 (Prestige)
  
• Laura Veirs - The Triumphs & Travails of Orphan Mae and Troubled by the Fire (Kill Rock Stars)
  
• Delroy Wilson - The Best of Original Eighteen - Deluxe Edition (Heartbeat)
  
• Various artists - Buzz Ballads (Razor & Tie)
  
• Various artists - The Best of Studio One Collection (four-CD box set; Heartbeat)
  
• Various artists - Casey Kasem: Driving in the 50s, Casey Kasem: Driving in the 60s and Casey Kasem: Driving in the 70s (Top Sail)
  
• Various artists - Soul Power Instrumentals (Time Life)
  
• Various artists - Teen Idols: A Trip Down Memory Lane (Compendia)

Music DVDs:

• Acoustic Alchemy - "The Best Kept Secret" (GRP)
  
• Beastie Boys - "Awesome; I F---in' Shot That!" (Velocity/ ThinkFilm)
  Read: "Beastie Boys Concert Flick Filmed By 50 Fans With Digital Cameras"
  
• Commodores - "Live" (Music Video Distributors)
  
• Sammy Davis Jr. - "In Concert Series" (Passport)
  
• Michael Franti - "I Know I'm Not Alone" (Epitaph)
  
• Delbert McClinton - "Live From Austin TX" (New West)
  
• Bobby McFerrin and Guests - "Swinging Bach" (Euroarts)
  
• Stuart Sutcliffe - "The Lost Beatle" (Kultur)
  
• Johnny Tillotson - "Johnny Tillotson Sings His All-Time Greatest Hits" (Varèse Sarabande)
  
• Various artists - "Pure '80s: The Ultimate DVD Box" (three DVDs; Hip-O)

Coming Attractions:

August 1:

• DMX - Year of the Dog, Again (Sony)
  Read: "DMX Signs With Columbia, Will Release Long-Delayed LP This Spring"
  Preorder: Year of the Dog Again (Sony)
  
• Stone Sour - Come What(ever) May (Roadrunner)
  Read: "Slipknot's Taylor Gearing Up For Stone Sour LP — And Tenacious D Tribute"
  Preorder: Come What(ever) May (Roadrunner)
  
• Various artists - Kidz Bop 10 (Razor & Tie)

August 8:

• Lupe Fiasco - Food and Liquor (Atlantic)
  Preorder: Food and Liquor (Atlantic)
  
• Rick Ross - Port of Miami (Def Jam)
  Preorder: Port of Miami (Def Jam)
  
• Slayer - Christ Illusion (Warner Bros.)
  Read: "New Slayer Album Might Be Their Fastest Yet"
  Preorder: Christ Illusion (Warner Bros.)

August 15:

• Christina Aguilera - Back to Basics (two CDs; RCA)
  Read: "Christina Makes Her Comeback Twice As Nice By Expanding Basics Into Double LP"
  Preorder: Back to Basics (RCA)
  
• Obie Trice - Second Round's on Me (Aftermath)
  Preorder: Second Round's on Me (Aftermath)
  
• Various artists - Snakes on a Plane: The Album (enhanced; New Line)

• Pharrell Williams
• LeToya
• Beastie Boys
• Gym Class Heroes
• Jurassic 5

The Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne
Photo: Jim Dyson/Getty Images

The annual Austin City Limits Festival unveiled its lineup for this year's edition, and it might just be the only place you'll find Irish soul legend Van Morrison sharing a stage with modern R&B astronauts Gnarls Barkley, or classic rocker Tom Petty on the same bill as rock revivalists the Raconteurs.

With more than 100 acts on the bill for the three day blow-out (September 15-17) at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas, the festival has its usual allotment of something for everyone, including sets from the Flaming Lips, Matisyahu, Massive Attack, John Mayer, Ben Harper, the Shins, Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, the New Pornographers, Nada Surf, String Cheese Incident, Feist, Phoenix, Goldfrapp, Ween, the Stills, Kings of Leon, Matt Costa and Ted Leo and the Pharmacists.

"Talent, breadth, and depth. That's what ACL is about — seeing someone that you'll never hear on the radio, or discovering someone new," said one of the event's co-producers Charlie Jones, in a statement. This year's edition will feature 130 bands playing on eight stages.

Also on the roster, according to event organizers: Iron & Wine, Aimee Mann, the Tragically Hip, Gomez, Wolf Parade, Stars, Guster, Sparklehorse, KT Tunstall, Cat Power and the Memphis River Band, Los Lonely Boys, Thievery Corporation, Kasey Chambers, Matt Nathanson, Galactic, Okkervil River, the New Orleans Social Club, Calexico, Son Volt, Explosions in the Sky, Deadboy & the Elephantmen, the Secret Machines, Brazilian Girls, I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness, Los Amigos Invisibles, Murder by Death, Ben Kweller, G. Love & Special Sauce, Damien Rice and the Long Winters.

• Raconteurs
• The Flaming Lips
• Gnarls Barkley
• Tom Petty
• John Mayer

Karen of "Will & Grace" will have met her match when Madonna makes her small-screen debut as a guest star on an upcoming episode of the comedy, which she just shot in Los Angeles, according to an NBC spokesperson. Madonna's character, Liz, rocks Karen's world as her new roommate, who happily shares many of her eccentricities, including her taste in men. The high-maintenance Liz also shares many of Madonna's attributes — including her love of music — as she works as a manager of a CD distribution center which specializes in "Hits of the '80s"-type compilations. Madonna was joined on the set by her gal pal Sandra Bernhard. The episode, called "Dolls & Dolls," airs April 24 at 9 p.m. ...

In an attraction that has just been added to the WWE's Wrestlemania XIX on Sunday, Brooklyn, New York's Fabolous will square off against 240-pound Boston wrestler John Cena. Fab hasn't gone totally crazy — he won't be fighting in the ring. Instead, the platinum MC will be defending the honor of hip-hop. He accepted Cena's open challenge for a rap-off. ... Cam'ron and the Diplomats celebrated Big Willie style in their hometown of Harlem on Tuesday. Besides standing on parked cars and throwing out money to their fans on 125th Street, the trio signed autographs at the uptown HMV and held their album-release party at club Sessa. Keith Murray, Drag-On, Dame Dash, Noreaga and Cam's "Paid in Full" co-star Wood Harris were among those in attendance. ...  

Kelly Rowland and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are the latest artists to cancel their European tours for fear of traveling while war is being waged in the Middle East. Rowland's spokesperson said the State Department suggested postponing her dates, while a statement on Petty's Web site says the decision was made after consultation with European promoters. ... Add Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong to the list of musicians who have recorded anti-war songs. The acoustic "Life During Wartime," which includes the lyric "A real war to fight against/ Instead of our petty disagreements/ How can I rationalize my life during wartime?," is available on www.greenday.com. ... Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore has launched www.protest-records.com, a site specifically designed to give away music protesting the U.S.-led military action in Iraq. To date, the site boasts tracks from the Beastie Boys and Cat Power, among others. ...

Good Charlotte's Benji Madden appears on "Jump Around," the first single from reggae punk band Morgan Heritage's Three in One, due April 29. Madden met the band, which features the five children of reggae singer Denroy Morgan, on last year's Warped Tour. Morgan Heritage are promoting their sixth album, which was produced by Bobby Digital (Beenie Man, Bounty Killer), with a headlining tour kicking off April 10 in Philadelphia. ... Pop newcomer Stacie Orrico will sing the Angels' 1963 #1 single "My Boyfriend's Back" on an upcoming episode of the NBC drama "American Dreams." Orrico's latest self-titled album, which includes the "TRL" hit "Stuck," was released Tuesday. ...

Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society will support their new album, The Blessed Hellride, due April 22, with a two-week trek beginning Friday in Sacramento. ... Oasis's Liam Gallagher, along with Paul Weller and Hope Sandoval, have contributed guest vocals to the third album from British electronic duo Death in Vegas. Titled Scorpio Rising, the album is due June 17 and features a cover of Gene Clark's "So You Say You Lost Your Baby." ... Third Eye Blind will launch a 20-date tour of small clubs April 7 in Toledo, Ohio. Shows will run through May 12 in State College, Pennsylvania. The band's new album, Out of the Vein, comes out May 13. ...

03.25.03

Billed as Sticks and Stones, New Found Glory performed a small club show in Anaheim, California, with their friends in the upstart outfit Breakdance Vietnam on Monday, playing a set that mostly avoided hit singles in favor of more fan-oriented material. ... On a related note, the side project featuring New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert and members of New York hardcore staples Madball and H20 have changed their name from All Ages to Hazen Street. The band, which recently added former Cro-Mags/ Bad Brains/ Shelter drummer Mackie Jayson, will begin recording their debut album this weekend in Los Angeles. ...

Conan must really like the White Stripes. The red-and-white rockers will grace the stage four nights in a row on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," from April 22-25, performing a different song each night. ... What do Green Day, Blink-182, Third Eye Blind, 3 Doors Down, Alanis Morissette, Eric Clapton and Sheryl Crow have in common? They all play Fender brand guitars, and they all have tracks on The Players: Powered by Fender, which comes out April 22. Other Fender strummers included on the disc are Filter, Remy Zero, the Goo Goo Dolls, Smash Mouth and Sugar Ray. ...

On August 2 and 3 at Loring Air Force Base in Limestone, Maine, Phish will host It, the band's first concert festival since a millennium event three years ago in Florida. Phish will warm up for the shows with a 21-date tour kicking off July 7 in Phoenix. ... While Blue Man Group have been recruiting stars galore for their album, one of those songs is going to get an added push from the big screen. The art collective teamed with Bush's Gavin Rossdale for a song called "The Current" that will be used in "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines," to be played while the credits roll. ... R&B veteran Patti LaBelle will record a remake of the hit "Dancehall Queen" with dancehall DJ Beenie Man. In 1997, Beenie had major chart success when he recorded the song with Chevelle Franklyn. ...

Perhaps only the most hardcore Duran Duran fans think the '80s glamour boys deserve a whopping 13-CD box set. Perhaps those folks also work at Capitol Records. The group's label throughout the 1980s will release Duran Duran: The Singles Box 81-85, a collection of all the band's singles from "Planet Earth" to "A View to a Kill," on June 10. Each disc features the hit, along with the b-sides that were included when the singles were originally issued. ... That same format is also being applied to snarling new wavers the Stranglers. The Stranglers: Singles Boxset Volume 2, also due June 10, is a 12-disc set that spans 1979's "Nuclear Device" to 1982's "Strange Little Girl," which eventually became the title track (using the pluralized "girls") to Tori Amos' 2001 covers album. Rare Swedish and French singles are also included. ...

Before Cracker's proper fifth album, Countrysides, is out in July, the band will release the "reinterpretations" collection Oh Cracker, Where Art Thou? on May 6 via Pitch-A-Tent Records, singer David Lowery's label. Lowery and Johnny Hickman recorded the album, which includes classic Cracker tracks like "Euro-Trash Girl," live in a studio with Colorado's Leftover Salmon serving as the backing band. ... British art-punk band Wire will release their first studio album in 12 years, Send, on June 10. The disc follows the 2002 EPs Read & Burn 01 and Read & Burn 02. ...

• Madonna
• Cam'ron
• Good Charlotte
• Fabolous
• Kelly Rowland

Howie Epstein
Photo: VH1

Howie Epstein, former bassist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, died Sunday at a hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico, at the age of 47.

The cause of death has not been determined, but officials suspect the musician was killed by a heroin overdose. According to Maj. Ron Madrid of the Santa Fe Sheriff's Department, a female friend of Epstein's brought him into St. Vincent's Hospital after he passed out in her bathroom. Epstein was still breathing when he entered the hospital but never regained consciousness.

The friend gave investigators antibiotics that Epstein had been taking for the flu and "physical evidence that he had been doing heroin," Madrid said. He would not specify what that evidence was.

An autopsy was performed Monday, but toxicology reports have not come back. Authorities hope to establish the cause of Epstein's death by the end of the week.

In June 2001, Epstein and then-girlfriend Carlene Carter (stepdaughter of Johnny Cash and daughter of June Carter Cash) were found in a car that had been reported stolen and were arrested for possessing 2.9 grams of black tar heroin and drug paraphernalia. Carter pleaded no contest to a charge of heroin possession and was sentenced to 18 months of probation. In May 2002, Petty and the Heartbreakers replaced Epstein with their original bassist, Ron Blair, reportedly due to his personal problems.

"We are deeply saddened at the news of Howie's passing," Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers said in a statement. "It's difficult to put into words how much we loved him and will miss him. The world has lost a great talent and a kind and gentle soul. We can only take solace in knowing he is now at peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and his many friends."

Epstein's career as a musician and producer spanned more than two decades. In addition to playing bass as a member of the Heartbreakers, he contributed to some of Bob Dylan's albums and produced John Prine's Grammy-winning 1991 folk album, The Missing Years.

Epstein is survived by daughter Jamie Leffler, 15, in Los Angeles and two brothers in Milwaukee.

• Tom Petty

Bon Jovi
Photo: Island

Three weeks running and the King won't relinquish his throne.

Elvis Presley's Elvis 30 #1 Hits will rule the Billboard albums chart for the third straight week, according to SoundScan figures released Wednesday (October 16). Last week's sales total of more than 205,000 copies pushed Presley's best-of collection past the 1 million mark.

Elvis remains king despite an impressive chart debut from Bon Jovi, whose eighth album, Bounce, will take the #2 position. Thanks to first single "Everyday" and a slew of media moments, including a special Times Square concert to kick off the 2002 NFL season, the New Jersey rockers moved more than 159,000 copies of their follow-up to 2000's Crush.

The Rolling Stones' greatest-hits amalgam, Forty Licks, will drop a spot to #3, selling more than 146,000 last week; while Avril Lavigne's Let Go will re-enter the top five by moving up two places to #4 and selling more than 112,000.

Tom Petty's 13th album of his 26-year career (and 10th with his band the Heartbreakers), The Last DJ, will land at #9 after its first week in stores. Met with favorable reviews, the album, much of which lambastes the music industry, sold more than 74,000 copies, ironically on the back of airplay for the album's title song, a swipe at radio's rampant consolidation.

Elsewhere in next week's top 10, Nelly's Nellyville will move three places ahead to #5; the Dixie Chicks' Home will drop a notch to #6; Eminem's The Eminem Show will step up two spots to #7; Xzibit's Man Vs. Machine will lose five places to land at #8; and American Idol - Greatest Moments, will suffer the greatest setback in the upper echelon, falling six spots to #10.

"The Red" looks to put Chicago rock trio Chevelle in the black. Their second album — and first for a major label — Wonder What's Next, sold more than 60,000 copies out of the gate to occupy the #14 spot.

Jurassic 5 may finally lose the qualifier "underground hip-hop," as the sextet's second album, Power in Numbers, will come in at #15. The follow-up to 2000's Quality Control gave close chase to Chevelle but ultimately fell short by a little more than 1,000 copies.

The greatest gainer on next week's chart, Josh Groban, was reintroduced to "The Oprah Winfrey Show" viewers when the episode in which he was featured was rebroadcast Friday (October 11). And just as it did when it premiered in July, Groban's episode brought a retail goose to his self-titled debut. The album more than doubled its weekly sales, from 21,000 to 45,000, while it will advance 29 spots to #19.

The second coming of J.Lo, Jennifer Love Hewitt, will assume the #37 spot with her third album, Bare Naked. Coinciding with the screening of "The Tuxedo," her feature film co-starring Jackie Chan, and a revealing Rolling Stone cover story, the former "Party of Five" actress moved more than 27,000 copies.

Other notable debuts on next week's chart include Australian six-string slinger Keith Urban's Golden Road at #11; R&B singer Heather Headley's This Is Who I Am at #38; Rasta-friendly rap-rockers Kottonmouth Kings' fifth album, Rollin' Stoned, at #51; Ben Folds' collection of concert cuts Ben Folds Live at #60; Gov't Mule's The Deep End Vol. 2, the jam band's second LP with guest bassists filling in for the late Allen Woody, at #117; Sinead O'Connor's Sean-Nos Nua at #139; and Sammy Hagar and the Waboritas' Not 4 Sale at #181.

• Bon Jovi
• Elvis Presley
• The Rolling Stones
• Tom Petty
• Dixie Chicks

Red Hot Chili Peppers John Frusciante and Anthony Kiedis.
Photo: Sonya Koskoff

Eddie Vedder, Anthony Kiedis and John Frusciante may have grown up believing the punk axiom "kill your idols," but on March 18 they'll be among the presenters honoring their forefathers at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

New York's posh Waldorf-Astoria hotel will host the hall's 17th annual induction dinner, which will air March 20 on VH1 at 9 p.m.

Vedder will induct punk progenitors the Ramones — sans singer Joey Ramone, who died of cancer in April — and Kiedis and Frusciante will usher in alternative rock pioneers Talking Heads. Grammy darling Alicia Keys will do the honors for R&B veteran Isaac Hayes, and Wallflowers singer Jakob Dylan will induct classic rock radio staples Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Earthy songwriter Jewel will honor '60s pop-country singer Brenda Lee, '50s singer Darlene Love will induct '60s teen-pop idol Gene Pitney, and rockabilly/swing performer Brian Setzer and bluegrass/country player Marty Stuart will honor Nashville pioneer Chet Atkins, who died in June from cancer and is being inducted as a sideman.

Ramones descendants Green Day will perform during the show, as will many of the inductees and presenters.

• Alicia Keys
• Pearl Jam
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• The Ramones
• Talking Heads

Britney Spears And Madonna Add To The Best Top Hats In History

• Madonna
• Tom Petty
• T-Pain
• Slash
• Britney Spears

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

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

All Access Week 2001

• Godsmack
• Tom Petty
• Staind
• Insane Clown Posse
• Stone Temple Pilots