Mariah Carey's <i>E=MC²</i>
Photo: Island

Last week, pop songstress Mariah Carey was everywhere, getting the word out about her latest LP, E=MC². She appeared on "American Idol," made the cover of Us Weekly and starred in a series of commercial-esque vignettes that aired all weekend, as part of MTV's 52/52 campaign.

Needless to say, Mariah's fans were well aware that the singer's album landed in stores last week, and clearly, the public appearances and the media hoopla didn't hurt sales of her record. In fact, with close to 463,000 copies scanned during week one, Carey's 11th studio offering coasts to the top of next week's Billboard albums sales chart, with little — if any — competition.

E=MC² marks Carey's sixth album to top the charts and has outsold all of the singer's previous efforts' opening weeks, according to the latest SoundScan data. In 2005, The Emancipation of Mimi opened at #1 with only 403,800 sold. Much more than that, though, E=MC² has earned the distinction of becoming 2008's best-selling debut so far, trouncing the 374,600 turned out by Jack Johnson's Sleep Through the Static in February.

Mariah's was among 19 new releases to impact next week's top 200 and one of only two new albums to enter the chart in the top 10. The other, country artist Lady Antebellum's self-titled set, bows at #4, selling 43,400 units. The rest of the top 10 is made up of several regulars, with Leona Lewis' Spirit at #2 (with 94,800 scans), Miley Cyrus' Best of Both Worlds live record at #3 (with 47,300 sold) and the 27th installment in the Now That's What I Call Music! compilation series finishing at #5 (selling 39,000 copies).

George Strait's Troubadour follows at #6 (with 38,000 sold), and the soundtrack to "Alvin and the Chipmunks" comes in at #7 (with sales reported at 31,700). The "Juno" soundtrack climbed 38 spots to #8 (31,300), no doubt thanks to the movie's DVD release, while R.E.M.'s Accelerate fell four spots to #9 (30,000). Taylor Swift's self-titled debut comes in at #10, with 29,700 sold.

Thrice's The Alchemy Index Vols. III & IV enters next week's chart at #17, selling 21,400 units. Rush's Snakes and Arrows: Live bows at #18, selling 21,000 copies. The Naked Brothers Band's I Don't Want to Go to School scanned 19,000 copies to open at #23, and Tristan Prettyman's Hello claims the #27 spot, with a reported 18,200 snatched up. The Kooks' Konk follows at #41, with 13,300 sold, while Insane Clown Posse offshoot Dark Lotus' Opaque Brotherhood sold 12,100 copies to enter the chart at #45.

Elsewhere on the chart, Jason Mraz's We Dance EP generated first-week sales of 11,300 to open at #52, Apocalyptica's Worlds Collide follows at #59 with 10,600 scans, and M83's Saturdays = Youth comes in at #107, on the strength of 6,300 in sales. Phantom Planet return at #119, selling 5,700 copies of their new one, Raise the Dead, and Worth Dying For's self-titled debut opens at #166, selling 4,100 copies.

• Mariah Carey's E=MC²: Track By Track
• Mariah Carey: A Look Back At Her MTV Interviews
• Are British Bands Hitting A Star-Spangled Ceiling?

• Mariah Carey
• George Strait
• Thrice
• Rush
• The Kooks

Ne-Yo
Photo: Def Jam

One's a charismatic American R&B singer and fledgling thespian with a beaming smile that makes thousands of teen girls' hearts flutter like the wings of a butterfly caught in a hurricane. The other's a Canadian big-band crooner with a funny-sounding last name and a legion of soccer-mom fans at his behest. But there wasn't enough room for both artists at the top of next week's Billboard albums chart, so one of them would have to settle for second place.

For Ne-Yo, a #1 opening would give him a perfect record: two for two. For Michael Bublé, it would end a years-long flirtation with the chart's coveted peak position. And with a mere 39,000 in sales separating them, it was a close contest, to be sure — just not close enough for Bublé. Repeating the success of his 2006 debut, In My Own Words, which sold more than 301,000 copies during its first week of release to bow at the chart's #1 spot, Ne-Yo once again lays claim to Billboard's apex, having scanned more than 251,000 copies of his sophomore set, Because of You.

According to the latest SoundScan totals, Ne-Yo ends pop-punk princess Avril Lavigne's two-week run at #1, leaving Bublé's Call Me Irresponsible in the proverbial dust. Bublé's 2005 LP, It's Time, debuted at #7, with close to 93,500 units snatched up; his latest outing racked up sales of more than 212,000 to finish at #2.

Next week's chart is chock-full of new releases — 18 in all, with six of those offerings cracking the top 10. Coming in at a distant third, with nearly 93,000 in week-one sales, is the latest disc from Rush, Snakes & Arrows, followed at #4 by Lavigne's The Best Damn Thing, which sold 86,300 copies during its third week in stores. Tori Amos' new one, American Doll Posse, opens at #5 with 54,000 scans, just in front of Miranda Lambert's latest, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, which sold just 1,000 fewer copies. Amos' 2005 LP, The Beekeeper, also debuted at #5 but with much stronger sales of 82,600.

Falling two chart positions to #7 this week is the self-titled debut set from "American Idol" season-five finalist Chris Daughtry's rock group, Daughtry, which sold 50,000-plus copies, pushing overall sales of the disc past the 2.4 million mark. Country artist Blake Shelton's Pure BS is the last of the newcomers to breach the chart's top 10, finishing at #8 with 48,500 scans, while the 24th installment in the Now That's What I Call Music! compilation series drops five spots to #9, selling 46,400 copies. Rounding out the top 10 is Carrie Underwood's Some Hearts, which generated sales of 43,900.

The Reminder, the third full-length solo outing from Broken Social Scene associate Feist, opens at #16, having sold a reported 31,000 copies. The live version of the soundtrack to the Disney Channel original movie "High School Musical," last year's unexpected blockbuster hit, opens at #28; High School Musical: The Concert sold more than 21,800 copies its first week out. Meanwhile, the soundtrack to "Spider-Man 3," featuring contributions from Snow Patrol, the Killers, the Flaming Lips and others, pops up at #33 with 20,800 scans, followed at #36 by "High School Musical" star Corbin Bleu's debut, Another Side, which scanned 17,900 units.

Garage rockers Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's newest, Baby 81, finishes within the chart's top 50 at #46, having sold 14,500 copies during its first week of sales. Angélique Kidjo's latest, Djin Djin, surfaces at #61, with 11,000 copies sold, while formerly extinct alt-rockers Dinosaur Jr.'s first new studio album in more than a decade, Beyond, claims the chart's #69 slot with 10,000-plus scans. The Fall of Troy's Manipulator debuts at #76, with 9,500 units sold, while American heartland singer/songwriter Jon McLaughlin's Indiana finishes at #81 with sales of 8,800.

Elvis Costello returns to Billboard's top 200 at #110, with his retrospective, The Best of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years, selling 7,200 units. Christian rockers Building 429's Iris to Iris claims the #140 slot with 5,500 copies sold. "American Idol" season-three finalist Kimberley Locke's sophomore LP, Based on a True Story, opens at #160 with 4,800 in sales. In related news, Bon Jovi's appearance last week on the current season of "Idol" paid off big, as the band's 2005 release, Have a Nice Day, returns to the chart after more than seven months off, thanks to a 333 percent sales boost that landed the LP at #113, with 7,000 units scanned.

• Ne-Yo
• Avril Lavigne
• Michael Bublé
• Rush
• Tori Amos

Menomena

Now that the Austin dust has settled, it's time to gain some perspective on last weekend's South By Southwest madness. Thousands of signed and unsigned bands descended on the Texas city like a swarm of locusts (locusts with demos). Ultimately, there were only a handful of bands truly worth recognizing. While Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse and the Stooges may have garnered the most press -- here are some of the bands that may have regrettably slipped through the cracks.

Who: Yeasayer

Where are they from? Brooklyn, New York

Is there a record out? No, not yet. But its debut will be released via Baltimore, Maryland's Monitor Records this coming summer. In the meantime, you can hear a couple of demos on their MySpace page.

Website? Click Here

What do they sound like? At times, the foursome projected a wholly distinct vibe like a manic Peter Gabriel -era Genesis channeled through Animal Collective but the band also manipulates their collective vocals (yes, they all sing) producing a sweet, harmonious cacophony.

The great moment: Performing the whole time under a green hoodie, front man Chris Keating walked intermittently into the audience frantically slapping his tambourine in the air.

Who: Ra Ra Riot

Where are they from? Syracuse, New York

Is there a record out? The band doesn't have a label yet, so there's only a self-released EP (which, incidentally, doesn't do justice to the live show). But based on the buzz of its SXSW performances this will all change very, very soon. What, you can't hear the labels bidding in the background?

Website? Click Here

What do they sound like? The six college aged kids create an enormous, hefty sound complete with a cello and violin, not unlike the Arcade Fire or the Olivia Tremor. And singer Wesley Miles croons earnestly but still not emotive enough that it's emo. Ra Ra Riot has enormous potential and considering the band is only a year old, the actualization is inevitable.

The great moment: Guitarist Milo Bonnacci and bassist Mathieu Santos rested their respective foreheads on one another's shoulders while riffing on their instruments.

Who: Jamie T

Where are they from? London, England

Is there a record out? Jamie's debut Panic Prevention is available in Europe on Virgin Records and at this current time, he has no American label.

Website? Click Here

What do they sound like? The cockney cockiness of the Arctic Monkeys meets the disjointed, slurred flow of the Streets meets the middle-finger attitude of the Clash meets the pop sensibility of Lily Allen meets the carelessness of the Fall. Basically, a lot of meetings.

The great moment: When an audience member noted, "This guy is completely wasted." And it was probably true.

Who: Menomena

Where are they from? Portland, Oregon

Is there a record out? The debut I Am the Fun Blame Monster (an anagram for The First Menomena Album) was released on indie label filmGUERRO and features an 80-page flipbook. This year's critically acclaimed Friend And Foe was released on Barsuk in January and it's inarguably one of the year's strongest records.

Website? Click Here

What do they sound like? The unpretentious side of art-rock. There hasn't been a threesome as competent at playing their respective instruments since Rush. Justin Harris, Danny Seim, and Brent Knopf craft oddly timed, intricate pop songs that are heartbreakingly fragile.

The great moment: When drummer Seim flailed on his kit like the octopus prodigy of Keith Moon.

Who: The Black Lips

Where are they from? Atlanta, Georgia

Is there a record out? There are three indie releases out already but the forthcoming Los Vallentes del Mundo Nuevo, a live album recorded in Tijuana, is their first for Vice Records.

Website? Click Here

What do they sound like? Dirty, dirty rock and roll. The Nuggets -influenced retro-ruckus of the Lips is no revelation but these four rarely sober characters bring the party wherever they go.

The great moment: Considering the band performed thirteen times over the span of four days, there was no definitive great moment. Let's just say that all those live sets culminate into one massive great moment.

Who: The Twilight Sad

Where are they from? Glasgow, Scotland

Is there a record out? Fat Cat Records is currently offering two EPs but the full-length Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters will be out in just a few weeks.

Website? Click Here

What do they sound like? Orchestral rock with a honed passion. The guitar, bass, and drums project an aural fullness while singer James Graham's heartfelt, moving vocals soar above it all. Like Snow Patrol with bite, or Mogwai with sensitivity training.

The great moment: When Graham looked down pensively at the floor holding on to the microphone stand with extreme intensity while his band set off power-chord fireworks.

Who: Datarock

Where are they from? Norway

Is there a record out? Yes, but Datarock Datarock is only available on import and via iTunes, although, Nettwerk will release it this coming spring in the US.
Website? Click Here

What do they sound like? Based on the unabashed silliness of the Datarock uniform--a red hoodie, red sweatpants, and mirrored visors--this band is refreshingly brazen about having fun. Their songs reference the dance rock of Franz Ferdinand, the angular zaniness of Devo and the geeky white boy funk of Hot Chip. There wasn't a still person in the room.

The great moment: When front man Fredrik Saroea riled the crowd up into a frantic clap-along.

Watch videos from this year's artists.

VH1 Blog: Complete SXSW Coverage.

• Amy Winehouse
• The Stooges
• Peter Gabriel
• Animal Collective
• Arcade Fire

Lindsay Lohan on the September cover of "Elle"
Photo: Gilles Bensimon/ Elle

"Stop writing about me and start writing about how people are dying overseas for our country," Lindsay Lohan advised in Elle's September issue. The actress/singer — who reveals that she's always aspired to be a pinup — said she wants to follow Marilyn Monroe's example and perform for troops. She also explained that she's not afraid to go to Iraq, though the trip she's planned with Hillary Clinton has been held up. Lohan, who insisted that media scrutiny won't derail her career — "I'm never not going to be in the movies. I'm not going anywhere" — detailed some of her nightclub exploits but offered little sister Ali a Hollywood warning: "Stay away from the boys. And watch who you associate with publicly, especially if someone has a certain rep. ... I guess people would say she'd have to stay away from me, but that's not true. Because I'll nurture someone if they're out with me and take care of them." (Check out photos from Lohan's Elle shoot here.) ...

The Killers, the Raconteurs, the Roots, Fiona Apple the Mars Volta, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Jurassic 5 and Widespread Panic are among the artists set to perform at this year's Vegoose music festival, set for October 28-29 at Las Vegas' Sam Boyd Stadium and Star Nursery Field. The lineup for Vegoose at Night, an after-dark series of Sin City club shows set for October 27-31, will be announced in the coming weeks. ... Organizers of a concert in Malaysia featuring the Pussycat Dolls were fined the equivalent of $2,714 for the group's "sexually suggestive routines" onstage at the July event, local newspaper Malay Mail reported. "I believe the way the Pussycat Dolls behaved onstage amounted to gross indecency," Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Rais Yatim said, according to the paper. "The Pussycat Dolls reportedly put on a show which not only featured scantily dressed performers but also included sensuous elements." ...

Paris Hilton will be promoting her debut album Paris — due August 22 — with a string of in-store appearances and record-release parties. Hilton will visit the Miami area August 15, appearing at Specs in South Beach and hosting a party at Suite in Miami Beach. On August 16, she'll be in New York for an in-store at FYE and a release party at Marquee. And Hilton hits Los Angeles on August 18 for a Best Buy appearance and a party at Privilege. ... The soundtrack to the forthcoming video game "NHL 2K7" will feature music from a dozen bands, including Hot Hot Heat, the Postal Service, the Constantines, Band of Horses, Mudhoney, Nebula and Sleater-Kinney. "NHL 2K7" will arrive in stores next month for Xbox 360, Xbox and PlayStation 2. ...

Parade magazine asked 10,000 Americans to share their pop-culture opinions and — surprise! — those polled had plenty to say about Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Jessica Simpson. Britney's darker hair is a hit — 6 percent call her blond-to-brown move their favorite big change — but her apparent parenting goofs scored 22 percent of the "stupidest celebrity stunt" vote. And 7 percent of those polled said they'd be happy if Britney disappeared from the public eye altogether — though Paris was the big "winner" in that category, with nearly one-third of respondents wishing they never hear her name again. Jessica and Nick Lachey's divorce broke 18 percent of hearts (only the Hilary Swank/ Chad Lowe split was deemed a bigger bummer, with 22 percent of the vote), while Ashlee Simpson's "new nose" was the third-favorite transformation, coming in behind Clay Aiken's updated 'do (33 percent) and Janet Jackson's major weight loss (25 percent). ... Former Da Band member Young City is being held in a Gwinnett County, Georgia, jail following a July 31 arrest. The rapper, whose real name is Rodney Hill and who went by Chopper on MTV's "Making the Band 2," was pulled over for speeding and detained when authorities noted that he had an outstanding warrant in Baltimore on an armed robbery charge. According to his spokesperson, Barnes is being held without bond while he awaits extradition to Maryland. ...

Dirty Pretty Things singer/guitarist Carl Barat recently broke his collarbone, but the band's U.S. tour — which kicked off Tuesday in Los Angeles — is carrying on as scheduled, with the Paddingtons' Josh Hubbard filling in for Barat on guitar. Dirty Pretty Things have an in-store appearance at San Francisco's Amoeba Music set for Wednesday (August 9) at 6 p.m. ... Every Time I Die will release the DVD "Sh-- Happens" on October 31. The band will tour with Atreyu, From First to Last and Chiodos beginning October 7 in Phoenix. Dates are scheduled through a November 19 show in Las Vegas. ... Rock Kills Kid frontman Jeff Tucker was victimized by a burglar who entered his Honolulu hotel room on Sunday at approximately 5:30 a.m. "At first I thought I was dreaming," explained the singer, who awoke to find the intruder standing over him. "Second, I thought it was a hotel worker putting towels in the room. I looked at him and said 'Hello,' and he bolted." The man managed to swipe Tucker's wallet, cell phone, credit card and room key. Tucker and the band's manager, Rodney Afshari, chased down the burglar and held him until police arrived. Brandon Riester, who police say is in the U.S. Navy, was arrested and charged with one count of burglary. ...

A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit filed by Rush members Geddy Lee and Neal Peart against three Collier County sheriff's deputies is without merit. The bandmembers filed the suit against the deputies who'd been involved in a 2003 altercation with Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel restaurant in Naples, Florida, claiming the band lost business due to the injuries Lifeson sustained during the skirmish. The judge decided that Lee and Peart have no legal standing as they were not involved in the fracas. Lifeson's suit against the officers, which seeks millions of dollars in damages, should not be affected by the judge's decision. ... The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is keeping the video and audio tapes of Mel Gibson's drunken-driving arrest out of the hands of the media, saying they are part of an "investigatory file," The Associated Press reports. The tapes, which capture Gibson's anti-Semitic tirade, "are records of the investigation and part of the investigatory file in this matter," said Gary P. Gross, principal deputy for the county counsel's office. They will remain sealed for the time being. ... Bassist Mario Cipollina, a founding member of Huey Lewis & the News, pleaded guilty Monday to felony counts of heroin and methamphetamine possession, AP reports. Cipollina, who left the band in 1994, is being held without bail on the charges — which violate the terms of his probation for burglary and theft convictions. He is due back in court August 21 and could be sentenced to more than four years in prison if convicted.

08.08.2006

Justin Timberlake has busted out the cover art for FutureSex/LoveSounds — and it pictures him busting up a disco ball. The snazzy singer grins as he stomps on the glass, although it's highly unlikely that'll discourage clubs from playing his wildly successful, "TRL"-topping new single, "SexyBack." The LP hits stores September 12, while "All Eyes On: Justin Timberlake" airs on MTV Tuesday, August 15, at 11 p.m. ...

Mark your calendars now: "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is scheduled to hit theaters November 21, 2008, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The sixth chapter of the franchise hasn't announced a cast or director yet. The boy wizard's next big-screen adventure, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," will premiere in July 2007. ...

Singers aren't the only ones who will be competing on the upcoming season of "American Idol." Amateur and professional songwriters will face off for the chance to write songs for the show's finalists that might better suit their singing styles, producer Simon Fuller told the Los Angeles Times. ...

"Who's the heiress of them all?" A box bearing Paris Hilton's name will pose that question beginning October 1 when the actress/singer's latest fragrance, Heiress, hits stores. Like many perfumes, Paris' new signature scent draws on fruity (orange, passion fruit and peach), floral (jasmine, ylang-ylang) and earthy (vetiver, tonka bean) inspirations. But Heiress is out to set itself apart from the flood of celeb scents with its packaging — the bottle features a built-in mirror. ... Mya is returning to the airwaves this month with "Ayo," the first single from her forthcoming album, Liberation. The singer's fourth LP is due November 14. ...

Eva Longoria, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Tina Fey, Wentworth Miller, Stephen Colbert, Helen Mirren and Bradley Whitford have been confirmed as presenters for the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. The show, to be hosted by Conan O'Brien ("Late Night with Conan O'Brien"), will broadcast live on NBC from Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium on Sunday, August 27, at 8 p.m. ET. ...

Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx is launching his own clothing line, named Royal Underground, Women's Wear Daily reports. The partnership between Sixx and Kelly Gray — the former co-president and spokesmodel for St. John Knits — will feature contemporary sportswear. "I don't think anyone else could have convinced me to get back into this business," Gray said, "but he has a passion for clothing that is unparalleled. I was happy to take a year off, but [Sixx] had a passion for this business that I have only seen in the mirror." ...

Calling it one of the "biggest conspiracies in entertainment history," Michael Jackson claims that he has recently received documents that reveal a plan by former associates to force him into involuntary bankruptcy. According to a press release from Jackson's spokesperson, the documents purportedly show a plot by former attorneys to force the singer into insolvency by conspiring with other attorneys, vendors and creditors. The statement said Jackson has instructed his legal team to file claims against some of the alleged conspirators for "conspiracy, bad faith and self dealing," with the possibility that the documents could be forwarded to the U.S. attorney general for review and possible involvement. "Mr. Jackson is neither shocked nor surprised by these revelations," Jackson's general manager, Raymone K. Bain, said. "Based on the timing of events that have impacted his personal and professional life in recent years, he has long been suspicious that some of those whom he entrusted to act on his behalf, and to advise him with respect to his personal and business affairs, may not have always acted in his best interests." ...

Paul and Heather Mills McCartney's split is becoming increasingly bitter. For their divorce proceedings, they've hired the same lawyers who represented Prince Charles and Princess Diana when they split, Reuters reports. A spokesperson for Mills confirmed on Tuesday (August 8) that McCartney has frozen their joint bank account and sent a letter to Mills claiming that three bottles of cleaning fluid had been removed from his Sussex home and taken to Mills' nearby office instead. Earlier Tuesday, she was kept out of McCartney's London home after discovering that the locks had been changed, and police were called to the residence after Mills' security guard scaled a wall to let her in. The Associated Press reports that Mills stayed the night with daughter Beatrice, 2, after entering the home. "She said it was hilarious. It was just a complete mix-up," a spokesperson for Mills said, although a spokesperson for McCartney would not comment on the matter. ...

Phil Spector was ordered Monday to disclose whether he discussed the death of actress Lana Clarkson with his former personal assistant, AP reports. The order came as part of proceedings in a lawsuit filed by a former Spector assistant who is alleging sexual harassment and wrongful termination. Spector's former assistant Michelle Blaine claims she was fired because she wouldn't promise not to talk to prosecutors about what the producer may have told her about the shooting death of Clarkson at Spector's mansion. Spector's murder trial — on charges that he shot and killed Clarkson — is scheduled to begin in January, while the harassment suit is set to go to trial when the criminal case is over. Spector has said in the harassment suit that he did not kill Clarkson, but he pleaded the fifth when asked if he discussed the death with Blaine. ...

The Dixie Chicks have canceled shows in 14 cities due to sluggish ticket sales, replacing the gigs with dates in other locations, AP reports. Tour stops in cities including Houston and Memphis — which were listed as part of the schedule released in May — are no longer on the band's itinerary, while stops in cities such as Nashville and Denver have been pushed to later dates. Although several shows have been canceled, the number of North American shows remains the same, the band's spokesperson said, with added Canadian concerts taking the place of some U.S. stops. "We hope that our fans who were looking forward to a stop that is no longer on the tour will be able to join us at a nearby arena this fall," the Dixie Chicks said in a statement. "We are sorry for any confusion or inconvenience these changes have caused."

• Lindsay Lohan's Glamorous "Elle" Magazine Photo Shoot

• Lindsay Lohan
• The Killers
• Raconteurs
• Pussycat Dolls
• Paris Hilton

Rush's Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee
Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

When Rush's Geddy Lee sang, "It seems to me I could live my life a lot better than I think I am" on "Working Man" from the band's 1974 eponymous debut, he couldn't have possibly imagined what lay ahead.

His band was struggling, he had yet to meet his longtime lyricist and drummer extraordinaire, Neil Peart, and the mere thought of someday releasing a double DVD like the new "R30" — which celebrates the band's 30-year career — was less a pipe dream than a crazy acid trip. At the time, Lee's musical dreams consisted of getting his group out of the Toronto bar scene and onto some proper club stages so he could earn enough cash to pay his rent.

"In the early days, we frequently found ourselves unemployed, and when we really needed some dough, [guitarist] Alex [Lifeson] and I would get some extra work," Lee recalled. "Once, we painted a movie theater, but that was the closest I ever really came to having a day job."

In the three decades that followed, Rush more than lived up to the lyrical hope of "Working Man," selling more than 30 million records worldwide and playing countless shows to millions of fans. But while their glories have been many, there have also been agonizing setbacks. The most heartbreaking were the tragic deaths of drummer Peart's wife and daughter, which resulted in the band's six-year hibernation prior to 2002's Vapor Trails.

"It's somewhat of a miracle that we carried on after that, to be honest," Lee said. "We were all pretty well convinced that was the end of the line. But fortunately, to a certain extent, time heals, and we were able to have another stab at it."

The tours for Vapor Trails marked a rebirth that encapsulated all that Rush had achieved. The shows were captured on video, both on the 2003 DVD "Rush in Rio" and on the new double CD and DVD package "R30," which debuted at #2 on the Billboard video chart, right behind Green Day. The first disc of "R30" is a concert filmed in Frankfurt, Germany, on September 24, 2004, and songs span the band's eclectic career — from early numbers like "Working Man" and "2112" right on through to "Earthshine" from Vapor Trails. The concert also includes Blue Cheer's "Summertime Blues" and Robert Johnson's "Crossroads" from Rush's 2004 covers EP, Feedback.

While "Rush in Rio" was shot in Brazil in order to capture the sights and sounds of the band's festival concert there, Frankfurt was chosen as the setting for "R30" simply because the band was running out of shows to film.

"We have a tendency of screwing these decisions up pretty well," explained Lee. "At the beginning of the tour, I said, 'Hey, are we gonna film any of these shows? And if we are, let's plan it now, well in advance.' And everybody said, 'Well, we just put out "Rio." Why do we want to do two DVDs back to back? Let's just go out there and have fun.' Then, of course, we were halfway through the tour and were playing really well and the crowds were great and everyone says, 'Hey, let's record this for posterity in case we get hit by a bus or something.' So, we about-face and throw the plans together to film the show in Frankfurt since we were just about done with the American tour."

Fans might ask the same question the bandmembers were pondering before the beginning of the 30th anniversary tour: Why release two DVDs back to back? After all, there has been no new original material released since "Rush in Rio," and the two sets were pretty similar. "We did 'Rush in Rio' with very low-tech gear, and the goal was really to capture this big outdoor event," explained Lee. "This DVD was much more about taping the R30 tour with good gear to get more clarity and precision in the recording."

As accurately as the "R30" concert DVD chronicles the band's career, it's the second disc that provides the real history lesson. The DVD features five interviews with the bandmembers, filmed in 1979, 1981, 1990, 1994 and 2002, and nine live clips shot over the years. The earliest, "Find My Way" and "In the Mood," were taken from a 1975 airing of the show "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert," and the most recent, "Closer to the Heart," was filmed at the 2005 tsunami benefit concert "From Canada for Asia." Other highlights include full performances of "A Farewell to Kings" and "Xanadu," in which the bandmembers are clad in flowing robes that make it look like they just stepped out of the shower.

"There's some funny stuff on there," admitted Lee. "For me to watch it is really psychedelic. It's so strange to see some of the old performances and the interview clips: how we look and how we talk and how young we were and bad haircuts, big glasses. I thought I was so grown up and complete as a person, but I look back now, and man, we were just kids."

Maybe so, but they were kids with a mission. Between 1974 and 1985 the group released 11 studio records and two multidisc concert albums, and when they weren't in the studio they were on the road. "We were just mental," Lee said. "We always felt we had something to prove. We were never a darling of radio, so the idea for us was to get out in front of people, which meant being on tour. But that was fine. We didn't need much impetus to get us going. That whole lifestyle was completely intoxicating, and we were total workaholics."

Today, life is different. The bandmembers have wives, kids and pursuits outside the band. So as Rush face the prospect of starting work on the follow-up to Vapor Trails, they're understandably ambivalent. "The whole process of writing, recording and getting ready for a tour is usually a two-year process, and that's somewhat daunting," Lee said. "In many ways, we have to psych ourselves up to begin, but once we start working together, it feels like it always did."

Recently, Lee, Lifeson and Peart have been getting their home studios ready to start writing, and in January they plan to begin the collaborative process. While Lee hasn't a clue what the record will sound like, he wants to capture some of the freshness and spontaneity of Feedback. "There's a great spirit on that record, and I'd like to kind of learn from that," he said. "But that's a very abstract thing. When we sit down to make a record, we have these conversations at the beginning, and then the record takes its own life and bears little resemblance to the conversations you had in the beginning."

Lee hopes the band will write quickly and have the new album ready for a summer 2006 release. However, he's not sure it's a realistic goal. "Vapor Trails took 14 months and Feedback took three weeks, so at this stage it's safe to say that we have no idea when the next one will be ready."

• Rush

Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson
Photo: Ralph Notaro/Getty Images

Two of the three Collier County sheriff's deputies sued by Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson — who alleged they'd used excessive force when arresting him during a 2003 New Year's Eve party in Naples, Florida — have filed a countersuit claiming the guitarist assaulted them when they attempted to escort his son Justin Zivojinovich from the event at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

According to The Associated Press, the suit follows the June filing of Lifeson's action, which seeks unspecified monetary damages for injuries, pain and suffering, mental anguish and legal defense fees (see "Rush Guitarist Sues Over Florida Hotel Altercation"). The Ritz-Carlton, which was also named in Lifeson's suit, is listed as a plaintiff in the countersuit filed over the weekend.

The countersuit argues that the sheriff's deputies acted properly when they arrested Lifeson's son, the AP reports; Justin Zivojinovich was charged with resisting arrest with violence.

Lifeson (born Alex Zivojinovich) was celebrating the advent of 2004 with relatives and friends at the hotel when the incident occurred (see "Rush Guitarist Considers Suit Alleging Police Brutality"). Lifeson's son and some of his friends climbed onto a performance platform while the house band was taking a break. Security called deputies in to escort Justin from the premises.

Lifeson was also charged with two felonies that evening. He tried to intervene and stop police from executing the arrest; they allegedly responded by breaking his nose and zapping him four times with a stun gun. In April, Lifeson and his son pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge and received a year of probation.

The countersuit, which doesn't specify monetary damages, claims Lifeson shoved one officer down a stairwell, and spit blood in another officer's face.

Responding to the countersuit, Lifeson's attorney, Paul Weekley, told the AP that the two deputies were the aggressors, and that his client was acting in self-defense.

• Rush

Paris Hilton (file)
Photo: Dave Benett/Getty Images

Some of the world's most gorgeous women are getting naked for a very worthwhile cause. Paris and Nicky Hilton, Christina Aguilera, Rebecca Romijn, Elle MacPherson, Heidi Klum and Kimora Lee Simmons are among the 44 beauties exposed in a new coffee-table book titled "4 Inches," which will feature the ladies donning no more than Cartier jewels and Jimmy Choo shoes. Proceeds from the book, hitting stores Thursday, will benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation and its effort to help women and children in Africa who are suffering from AIDS. ...

Even computer hackers are getting in on the Michael Jackson trial action. British anti-virus firm Sophos reported on Friday (June 10) that hackers have hit computers across the globe with a Trojan virus disguised as an e-mail about an alleged Jackson suicide attempt. The typo-filled spam e-mail with the subject heading "Re: Suicidal aattempt" links to a bogus suicide note as it downloads malicious software onto the user's computer. ... Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme has pleaded no contest to assaulting Dwarves singer Blag Dahlia during an altercation at Los Angeles' Dragonfly club in November 2004. On May 23, Homme was put on probation for 36 months, and was ordered to do community service with the Hollywood Beautification Team, enter a 60-day residential drug/alcohol rehabilitation program, complete a level three anger-management class, foot all of Dahlia's legal and medical bills, and stay 100 yards away from the singer, according to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Superior Court. ...

Staind frontman Aaron Lewis' wife, Vanessa, gave birth on Thursday to the couple's second child, daughter Nyla Rae. They already have a 3-year-old daughter named Zoe Jane. According to a band spokesperson, both mom and baby are doing fine. Staind's forthcoming album, Chapter V, hits stores August 9. ... The Deftones, A Perfect Circle, Cave In, Poison the Well and Melissa Auf Der Maur will contribute songs to the forthcoming tribute album to influential 1990s transcendent rock icons Failure. The album should see release sometime this fall through Renfield Records. ...

Finch and Head Automatica will be touring together this fall. No concrete dates for the trek have been set yet, but according to a spokesperson for Finch, the tour should last a few weeks, and both the RX Bandits and Buck 65 have been confirmed as openers. ... It's been more than five years since we've heard anything from New York blues rockers the Spin Doctors, but that all changes Friday night (June 10). The band, best known for its 1992-'93 hits "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong" and "Two Princes," will kick off a 24-date tour in Richmond, Virginia, that's set to wrap up on September 17 in Oklahoma City. The group's also got a new record on the way: Look for the Matt Wallace-produced Nice Talking to Me to hit stores in September. ...

A week after slapping three Florida sheriff's deputies with a lawsuit for allegedly using excessive force when arresting him during a 2003 New Year's Eve altercation, Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson is speaking out about the incident yet again. "The legal action we are embarking on now will hopefully bring attention to the fact that people cannot and should not be treated this way," he said in a statement released Thursday. "If some good is to come of this, then let it be that the actions of a tiny minority of aggressive Taser-wielding police officers don't tarnish the reputation of the vast majority of officers who proudly serve their communities with honor and sacrifice." ...

06.09.2005

Most men would not have the power to bring both Jay-Z and Nas out to the same party, but Kanye West is not most men. The producer celebrated his 28th birthday Wednesday night at the Bulgari store on Fifth Avenue in New York, and the two rap rivals made an appearance. Chris Tucker, Grafh, Farnsworth Bentley and P. Diddy also came through to wish Yay a happy born day. ...

Britney Spears is providing more than just a window into her relationship with Kevin Federline on her reality show — she's also giving a sneak peek of some new music. Not only is the theme song to "Britney and Kevin: Chaotic" a track she originally recorded for In the Zone called "Chaotic," but the hour-long finale, called "Veil of Secrecy," will feature the premiere of her video for her new single, "Someday (I Will Understand)." The song was written by Spears and produced by Guy Sigsworth, while the clip was directed by Michael Haussman. The episode, which reveals how Britney and Kevin kept their wedding-day plans under wraps, airs Tuesday on UPN at a new time, 8 p.m. (Click for photos from the show.)... Velvet Revolver announced on Tuesday that they'd be cutting their current European tour short by five gigs, fueling speculation that the band has thrown in the proverbial towel following weeks of rumored ego clashes between singer Scott Weiland and guitarist Slash. One Finnish news organization actually reported that the band was toast. But according to the group's publicist, that's "absolute rubbish." Everything's fine with Velvet Revolver, who scrapped the final dates of the tour so they could return to American soil and get started on their second album. Other rumors suggesting Weiland was headed back to rehab are also false, the band's rep said. ...

Legendary '70s funk act Earth, Wind & Fire are plotting a comeback on September 20 with an all-star album, Illumination. It features production on two songs from Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis ("Pure Gold," "Love Dance"), production and vocals from the Black Eyed Peas' Will.I.Am ("Lovely People") and four songs produced by Raphael Saadiq, including "Show Me the Way," a duet with bandleader Maurice White. Organized Noize produced "This Is How I Feel," featuring Outkast's Big Boi, Sleepy Brown and Destiny's Child's Kelly Rowland. Brian McKnight joins the group for "To You," Floetry sit in on "Elevated" and, no kidding, smooth saxophone blower Kenny G guests on a cover of Outkast's "The Way You Move." ...

Madonna is featured on the cover and in an exclusive 15-page fashion spread in housewife mag Ladies' Home Journal, hitting newsstands Tuesday, the same day her latest children's book, "Lotsa de Casha," drops in stores. In the magazine's story, she talks about her reformed wild ways, the poison of television and the struggle of balancing a successful marriage with motherhood. "I can assure you, five years ago, there's no way I would have said, 'I'm going to write kids' books and give all the money to charity,' " the singer said in the interview. "I never thought I'd be doing that [but] I like the idea people can change, and that everybody has to go through a painful process before they can realize they're idiots." On her former wild escapades, Madonna admits, "Sometimes now I sit back and say, 'What was I thinking before I was thinking?' There were times I really had an altruistic goal and wanted to help people. And then other times I just wanted to show off. Let's just call a spade a spade. I knew I could get people to pay attention to me." ...

Death Cab for Cutie, the Flaming Lips and Jimmy Eat World are among the artists, um, crashing the soundtrack for the upcoming comedy "Wedding Crashers." The Lips contribute a new song, "Mr. Ambulance Driver," which frontman Wayne Coyne has said will appear on the band's in-the-works new album, At War With the Mystics. The Jimmy Eat World tune, "(Splash) Turn Twist," was previously only available on a few hard-to-find EPs and international releases. Other acts on the soundtrack include Rilo Kiley and Bloc Party. The wedding crashers themselves, Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, also contribute a sultry version of the Jewish classic "Hava Nagilah." The soundtrack hits stores on July 12, and the movie is due in theatres July 15. ... Kelly Osbourne has reached quite a milestone. Ozzy's little girl managed to snag three #1 spots simultaneously on the Billboard dance charts, a first since the Dance Airplay chart debuted in August 2003. "One Word," the debut single from Kelly's sophomore LP, Sleeping in the Nothing, has hit the top of the Hot Dance Music/ Club Play chart, the Hot Dance Singles chart and the Dance Radio Airplay chart. ...

Perry Farrell's newest band, the Satellite Party — which includes former Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt and world-music percussionist Gabriele Corcos — will be performing at this summer's two-day Lollapalooza (July 23-24) in Chicago. The group will be joined onstage by special guest Tony Kanal, according to a spokesperson for the No Doubt bassist. ... The Couch Tour is returning this summer, and will feature the likes of Coheed and Cambria, Alien Ant Farm and Tsunami Bomb, along with some of the biggest names in skateboarding, like Bam Margera, showing off their skills. The trek kicks off June 4 in Murray, Utah, and wraps July 8 in Spokane, Washington. ...

Canadian noise-pop duo Death From Above 1979 have covered a song from their Vice Records labelmates Bloc Party. Their version of "Luno," from Bloc Party's album Silent Alarm, is currently streaming on DFA1979's MySpace page (myspace.com/deathfromabove1979) and will also be the B-side to their upcoming U.K. single "Black History Month." ... After a two-year hiatus, techno jam band the Disco Biscuits have revived their Camp Bisco festival. Camp Bisco IV: The Trance-Formation is scheduled for August 26-27 at Skye-top Festival Grounds in Van Etten, New York, and will feature sets from Umphrey's McGee, the New Deal, Conspirator, John Brown's Body, the Benevento Russo Duo, Brothers Past and Big in Japan. The Biscuits will play two sets each night. ...

• Christina Aguilera
• Michael Jackson
• Queens of the Stone Age
• Finch
• Rush

Rush's Alex Lifeson (file)
Photo: Getty Images

Less than two months after accepting a plea bargain that spared him a possible 10-year prison term, Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson has gone on the offensive.

On Thursday, attorneys for Lifeson (born Alex Zivojinovich) filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Fort Myers, Florida, against three Collier County sheriff's deputies, claiming they'd used excessive force when arresting him following a New Year's Eve 2003 altercation at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel restaurant in Naples, Florida, according to a report by The Associated Press.

The suit — which seeks unspecified monetary damages for injuries, pain and suffering, mental anguish and the legal defense fees — additionally names Lifeson's son Justin and daughter-in-law Michelle as plaintiffs, while the hotel and its director of security were also listed as defendants.

Lifeson was celebrating the advent of 2004 with relatives and friends at the hotel when the incident occurred (see "Rush Guitarist Considers Suit Alleging Police Brutality"). Lifeson's son and some of his friends riled the hotel's security staff when they climbed onto a performance platform, where the house band was taking a break, the AP reports. Security called deputies in to escort Justin from the premises, and "applied illegal and unjustified force, and such force was excessive, causing plaintiff Justin severe discomfort and pain."

When Alex Lifeson tried to intervene, police broke his nose and zapped him four times with a stun gun. A Taser gun was also used to subdue Lifeson's son. The suit also alleges Michelle Zivojinovich was arrested illegally, after complaining about the excessive force used against her husband.

According to Lifeson's arrest report, the Canadian guitarist shoved a female officer down a stairwell — a charge he's denied — and spat blood in another officer's face. Lifeson, who was described in police documents as being "extremely intoxicated" and "extremely violent" at the time of the melee, spent two days in jail, on charges of aggravated battery on a law-enforcement officer, resisting arrest and disorderly intoxication.

On April 21, Lifeson and his son accepted plea agreements, calling for them to each plead to a single misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest without violence. Both were sentenced to a probationary period of one year, and ordered to pay court costs, according to the AP. A charge against Lifeson's daughter-in-law — resisting arrest without violence — was dropped on April 11.

• Rush

Good Charlotte fans will have to wait a couple of weeks longer for the group's third album, Chronicles of Life and Death.The follow-up to 2002's The Young and the Hopeless is now due October 5, after previously being slated for September. ... Papa Roach will release their Getting Away With Murder in September. The disc was produced by Howard Benson (P.O.D., Blindside) and mixed by Chris Lord-Alge (Bad Religion, Green Day). The band will play a five-week tour to preview songs from the new disc, starting June 25 in Spokane, Washington. Dates are scheduled through July 17 in Orlando, Florida. ...

The battery trial of Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson has been pushed to September 13, following a defense motion. Lifeson and his son were arrested after they got rowdy with police after a New Year's Eve party at a Florida hotel. ... A limited-edition version of Switchfoot's latest album, The Beautiful Letdown, due June 22, will include a bonus DVD that features behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the "Dare You to Move" video, an acoustic version of "On Fire," the previously unreleased "Monday Comes Around" and a live version of "Meant to Live." ...

When tickets for the Curiosa Festival, featuring the Cure, Interpol, the Rapture and Mogwai, go on sale this weekend, fans will be given the option to preorder the Cure's new, self-titled album through ticketmaster.com. The band's 13th album drops June 29. ... Brian Wilson's upcoming Getting in Over My Head, due June 22, will feature a collaboration with Paul McCartney called "A Friend Like You." ... Omaha, Nebraska, electro-rockers the Faint will drop their fourth LP, Wet From Birth, September 14. The album follows 2001'sa breakthrough Danse Macabre, and last year's Danse Macabre Remixes, which featured contributions from Paul Oakenfold and Photek, among others. ...

Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale has recorded 14 songs for his solo debut with Helmet's Page Hamilton as producer. A release date has yet to be set, but the still-untitled LP may be ready before the end of the year. Helmet's Size Matters, meanwhile, is due September 14. A tour is expected to commence the following week. ... Guster singer/guitarist Adam Gardner and his wife, Lauren Sullivan, have launched Reverb, a nonprofit environmental action group that will spread awareness through music tours. The group will erect an eco-village at venues on the Alanis Morissette/Barenaked Ladies' Au Naturale Tour beginning July 16 in Wantagh, New York. ...

Two years after debuting at the 2002 Bonnaroo festival, Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains, featuring Primus bassist Les Claypool, Guns N' Roses drummer Brian "Brain" Mantia, Parliament/Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell, and former GN'R guitarist Buckethead, are preparing to release their debut album, The Big Eyeball in the Sky, September 7. The group is planning a tour for October. ... 2 Live Crew's Luther "Luke" Campbell will be honored at the Free Speech Coalition's Night of the Stars on July 24. Actress Susan Sarandon and two California legislators (Assemblyman Paul Koretz and Senator John Vasconcellos), are the honorary co-chairpersons for the event. Porn star Jenna Jameson will also be honored. ...

Boston Red Sox players Johnny Damon, Bronson Arroyo and Lenny DiNardo provided backing vocals to the Dropkick Murphys' version of "Tessie," a 1903 waltz that Red Sox fans used to sing. The song has been absent from Fenway Park since the "Curse of the Bambino" was born when Babe Ruth was sold to the New York Yankees prior to the start of the 1920 season, but legend has it that when it was sung, the Sox were unbeatable in the postseason. ...

6.10.2004

Britney Spears has more than knee trouble to worry about — she's also facing a $10 million lawsuit. San Diego athletic-clothing company Lite Breeze Inc. is claming trademark infringement because of the singer's use of the phrase "In the Zone" for her album. Lite Breeze claims that it's causing marketplace confusion, since it has used the phrase in association with its promotion of music and live sporting events. The company also alleges that once Spears received a cease-and-desist letter, she switched the name of her tour to the Onyx Hotel. Spears is required to file an answer to the allegations by Monday. ...

Eminem won another victory against Ray Benzino and The Source. On Wednesday in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, a judge awarded Shady Records undisclosed compensation for the hip-hop magazine's violation of an injunction and publication of some of Em's lyrics on its Web site. The raps, which were written by Em as a teenager, came to light only a few months ago when they were uncovered by The Source. The judge also dismissed a counter-copyright-infringement lawsuit by the magazine against Eminem, whom the judge compared to Elvis. ...

Rapper Loon, along with one of two co-defendants, failed to appear in California's Beverly Hills Superior Court on June 3 for a preliminary hearing on charges of assault with a deadly weapon. A bench warrant has been issued for Loon, whose real name is Chauncey Hawkins, and co-defendant William Reyes. The charges stem from an incident at the West Hollywood House of Blues in February in which Loon is accused of stabbing a security guard. ... Scott Weiland got a bit of a breather in the DUI case against him in Los Angeles. His court date was postponed until June 22. ...

Evanescence have added a batch of new shows to their summer tour, which also features Seether, Three Days Grace and Breaking Benjamin. The trek, which was previously scheduled through the end of July, now runs through August 15 in Little Rock, Arkansas. ... After playing a few select shows and summer radio festivals, Hoobastank will launch a tour on June 19 in Toronto. Dates run through July 30 in Weedsport, New York. The following day the band will head to Greensburg, Pennsylvania, to play the Rolling Rock Town Fair, which also features Disturbed, N.E.R.D., Staind, the Crystal Method, Sevendust, Finch, Finger Eleven and Three Days Grace. ...

Despite the assurances of the Rock the Bells concert promoter, a spokesperson for RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan said that any reunion of the iconic rap crew scheduled for July 17 in San Bernardino, California, is still under discussion. The Clan are also scheduled for a handful of shows overseas in June and July, which RZA also says are tentative. ... "Legally Blonde" is joining the ranks of flicks-turned-musicals. Music and lyrics for "Legally Blonde - The Musical" will be composed by Larry O'Keefe and Neil Benjamin. No word yet on when the show will see the bright lights of Broadway or who will play the starring role of Elle Woods. ...

Stephen Malkmus is hammering away on his third post-Pavement album, which he expects to drop in January. Malkmus isn't sure if the album will be a solo venture or will include his band the Jicks, with whom he released last year's Pig Lib. ... For Tanya Donelly's third solo album, she's recruited a former Throwing Muses bandmate to play percussion. Whisky Tango Ghosts is due August 10 and features Dave Narcizo on two songs ("The Promise," "Story High"). Other song titles include "Butterfly Thing," "Every Devil," "Divine Sweet Divide" and "My Life as a Ghost." ...

Producer and beatmaker Jimmy Tamborello of the Postal Service and Dntel will unveil a hip-hop project under the name Headset in the fall. The group's album, Space Setting, is described as being influenced by the work of the Neptunes and Timbaland. ... Peter Garrett, the former lead singer of Midnight Oil, announced on Thursday (June 10) that he will run for Australia's parliament with the opposition Labour Party. According to The Associated Press, the Labour Party approached Garrett about joining the race, and he will run for a seat from a Sydney district that strongly favors the Labour Party. Garrett has long been involved in politics, largely as an environmental activist. In the early '80s, he bid for a seat in parliament's upper house on a nuclear-disarmament ticket and was narrowly defeated. ...

• Good Charlotte
• Papa Roach
• Rush
• Switchfoot
• The Cure

Blink-182 got in touch with their inner philanthropists on Wednesday when two of the three members helped paint a Habitat for Humanity house in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. According to The Associated Press, drummer Travis Barker had to watch from the sidelines since recent foot surgery put him on crutches. The band was in town to play a show at nearby Hershey, Pennsylvania's Star Pavilion that night. ...

Ozzy is wondering if you have what it takes to share his stage. The Prince of F---ing Darkness and his wife are looking for eight unsigned bands to compete for the chance to perform on the main stage of Ozzfest, alongside headliners Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Slayer. Winners also receive a second-stage slot on Ozzfest 2005, music equipment and cash. More info is available on www.ozzfest.com. ... The Pixies have added another crop of dates to their reunion trek, filling in some blanks on a tour that runs through December 6 in Washington, D.C. New markets on the band's itinerary include Camden, New Jersey; Columbus, Ohio; Detroit; Birmingham, Alabama; Las Vegas; Kansas City, Missouri; and Nashville. ... Famed DJ Scratch is working on a documentary on the origins of his career in turntablism. "The DJ: The DJ Scratch Story" features interviews with Jay-Z, Redman, Busta Rhymes and others. The DVD is expected to drop this fall. ... Basement Jaxx have been added to Lollapalooza's main stage for four West Coast shows: July 15 in Seattle, July 18 in San Francisco, July 21 in Ventura, California, and July 23 in San Diego. The electronic duo's latest album, Kish Kash, was released in October. ...

Chaka Zulu, music entrepreneur and co-CEO of Ebony Son Entertainment/ Disturbing Tha Peace Entertainment, will be promoting fatherhood a little before Father's Day. Ludacris' longtime business partner and friend, Zulu will be the keynote speaker at the National Fatherhood Initiative's Seventh Annual National Summit on Fatherhood. The summit takes place on June 8 at the Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta. ... U.K. hip-hop sensation the Streets will embark on a Stateside tour to support his second album, A Grand Don't Come for Free. Five dates of the three-week trek, which begins June 11 in Mountain View, California, are with fellow Brit b-boy Dizzee Rascal. ...

Former Queens of the Stone Age bassist and singer Nick Oliveri will release a solo acoustic record later this summer. Oliveri also continues to work with his band Mondo Generator on a new album, which is being produced by former Queens drummer Gene Trautmann. ... Megadeth's still-untitled new album will come out September 14. In addition, seven records from Megadeth's back catalog will be released July 27. Each disc will feature up to four bonus tracks. ...

Lars Frederiksen won't be seeing much of his humble abode this summer. The Rancid guitarist and his band the Bastards will set out on the Punks Vs. Psychos Tour (June 1-13) with the Horrorpops, Nekromantix and Disasters before beginning a headlining tour (June 14 to July 6) that will bleed into their monthlong stint on the Vans Warped Tour, which begins July 20 in Milwaukee. The Bastards' second album, Viking, is set to drop July 29. ... Thrice and indie label Sub City Records were honored last week at the first Sub City/ Thrice Scholarship awards ceremony at the A Place Called Home youth center in South Central Los Angeles. The band and label raised over $57,000 for the center by donating a portion of each sale of Thrice's 2002 album, The Illusion of Safety. A portion of sales from the group's 2003 Island Records album, The Artist in the Ambulance, has also gone to charities. ...

The Allman Brothers Band will release the first anthology to span their 35-year career on June 8. The two-CD Stand Back: The Anthology will feature 32 digitally remastered recordings, at least one from each of their 13 studio albums and Live at Fillmore East. ... Rush will release an eight-song covers EP on June 29 to celebrate their 30-year anniversary. The disc features versions of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" and "Mr. Soul," the Yardbirds' "Heart Full of Soul" and "Shapes of Things," the Who's "The Seeker," Alice Cooper's cover of Love's "Seven and Seven Is," Blue Cheer's rendition of Eddie Cochran's "Summertime Blues" and Cream's take on Robert Johnson's "Crossroads." Rush launched their 30th anniversary tour on Wednesday in Nashville. Dates run through August 22 in their hometown of Toronto. ...

5.26.2004

Bad Boy will release a remastered, 10-year anniversary edition of Notorious B.I.G.'s debut album, Ready to Die, on July 13. The CD will feature two previously commercially unavailable songs, "Ready" and "Who Shot Ya?," and will come with an accompanying DVD featuring Biggie's videos and a live performance in Atlanta. ...

Three years after founding the nonprofit Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, Russell Simmons is reaching out to the Latino community with the Latino Hip-Hop Summit, taking place July 13 at Lehman College in the Bronx, New York. Fat Joe, Angie Martinez, Crazy Legs of the Rock Steady Crew and Rosie Perez, among others, were on hand when Simmons announced the event at a press conference in New York Monday. ... As Madonna resumes her tour, plans for her TV concert special are moving forward as well. The CBS two-hour special looks like it will be filmed in Lisbon, Portugal, and though there's no air date yet, a fall date "seems probable," according to the singer's spokesperson. ...

New York radio station Hot 97 has announced that its June 12 Summer Jam concert at Giants Stadium will now feature a fashion show, freestyle battle area and a second stage. Lil' Wayne, Erick Sermon, Dead Prez, Pitbull, Philly's Most Wanted, Posta Boy, Lyfe, James Lee and Roc-A-Fella's own Rell, Allen Anthony, Nicole Rae and Denim will kick things off early in the afternoon on the small stage before Lil Jon, Alicia Keys, Outkast's Big Boi, the entire G-Unit and others hit the big stage. ... Kid Rock, Cypress Hill, Nickelback, Ludacris, Our Lady Peace and Lil Jon and Tha Eastside Boyz are on board for the second annual Coors Light Mountain Jam on August 14 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, outside Denver. Last year's event boasted performances by 50 Cent, Korn, P.O.D., the Roots and Evanescence. ...

Former Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland plans to hit the studio to record a bunch of songs with Danny Lohner and Telefon Tel Aviv's Josh Eustis. Mellowdrone singer/guitarist Jonathan Bates is expected to join the trio later in the month. ... The Red Hot Chili Peppers are bringing a little something extra on their tour of the U.K. — the Godfather of Soul. James Brown will bring his time-tested funk on the journey, opening up five dates starting June 18 in Manchester and ending June 25 in Hyde Park. ...

The search begins for America's next make-believe guitar hero next month at the second annual U.S. Air Guitar Championships, to be held in Chicago (June 3), Denver (June 10), Minneapolis (June 10), New York (June 12) and Los Angeles (June 17). The five regional winners will compete June 17 in L.A. for the American crown, and one lucky winner will receive a trip to Oulu, Finland, for the Air Guitar World Championships. ... Jai Rodriguez, the culture guy on "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," is returning to Broadway, but just for a two-week fling. Rodriguez will star as Angel in "Rent" starting July 5 and running through July 17. ... The Bad Boys didn't have too far to travel Tuesday night when they hit New York's Babalu for a LifeBeat charity concert. Loon, Mario Winans, Carl Thomas and 8Ball and MJG, who all performed, just had to walk a few steps from P. Diddy's Daddy's House studio to the club. ...

As Michael Jackson's Friday hearing date draws closer, attorneys on all sides are filing a flurry of motions about which court documents should be kept under seal. Both the defense and the prosecution wish to keep the grand-jury transcripts and the indictment secret, while lawyers for the media argue that those documents should be made public. Jackson's team tried to keep his motions for reduction of bail and to compel more discovery under seal, and while Judge Rodney Melville granted their requests, the motions were made public in an edited form. ... P. Diddy, Godsmack's Sully Erna, Staind's Aaron Lewis, Run-DMC's Darryl McDaniels, Clint Black, Macy Gray and Five for Fighting's John Ondrasik will be among the celebrity judges for this year's International Songwriting Competition. Submissions will be accepted until October 15, and the grand-prize winner will receive $10,000 in cash and $30,000 in merchandise and services. An additional $60,000 will be distributed between 49 other winners in various categories. More information can be found at www.songwritingcompetition.com/entry2004.htm. ...

• blink-182
• Ozzy Osbourne
• The Pixies
• Jay-Z
• Basement Jaxx

Justin Timberlake, Rolling Stones, More, Perform In Toronto

• Justin Timberlake
• The Rolling Stones
• AC/DC
• Rush