Saliva
Photo: Island Records

For the past four months, Saliva's comeback single "Ladies & Gentlemen" has been perched near the top of Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Clearly, the exposure helped propel the group's new LP, Blood Stained Love Story, to #19, the band's highest debut on the albums chart. And that's all without the support of a video, which will finally surface next month.

"It's gonna be crazy," frontman Josey Scott said of the clip, which was shot by Steve Penta (The Killers) in New York in late February and features sexy former Suicide Girls boxing in a ring. "I think it will blow the song over the top, which is exactly what we wanted. We didn't want to hit people with everything at once. We wanted to put out the song first, then the album and now the video, and we're gonna work it until the wheels fall off."

While the ladies in the video flexed their muscles, Scott flexed his acting abilities, playing multiple roles including announcer, trainer and referee. "I got to stand there and watch these chicks beat the sh-- out of each other," he said. "It was great."

When "Ladies & Gentlemen" finally runs its course, Saliva will go to radio with Blood Stained Love Story's second single, which will likely be "Never Gonna Change." Scott wrote the melodic ballad about guitarist Wayne Swinny's divorce.

"When I started it, I asked Wayne, 'Is it OK if I write about this and your situation?' and he was like, 'Yeah, sure,' " Scott said. "It's the kind of song that anyone who has been through any hardship can relate to. I guess I really like stuff that's real, and over the two years we took off as a band, we had marriages, funerals, babies born and bandmember changes. So, there was a lot to write about for this record."

Saliva have shows scheduled through April 29, and there will surely be more gigs, singles and videos to hit in 2007. And, whenever he can find a window, Scott continues to work on music and acting projects outside of the band. In April, he plans to hook up with "American Idol" superstar Chris Daughtry to write a song for an upcoming soundtrack.

"We're really good friends and we thought it would be fun to do," Scott said. "Ever since he became famous, we've been talking on the phone. We're both Southern boys and he worked with my producer, Bob Marlette, on his new record. Bob gave him my number one day, and he called me out of the blue and we totally hit it off."

Scott is also making plans to act in an upcoming, yet-untitled film written and directed by Craig Brewer ("Hustle & Flow," "Black Snake Moan") and produced by John Singleton ("Boyz N the Hood," "Shaft"). Scott said he will have a supporting role in the movie but wouldn't reveal any more information. The Wichita Eagle has reported that the film will be loosely based on the life of country music star Gretchen Wilson, and that Scott will play her drummer.

"I'm real excited about it, but I didn't audition or anything," Scott told MTV News. "Craig just called me and said, 'We got this movie, and I want you to play this guy,' and I was like, 'All right, bring it on.' "

Scott first worked with Brewer on 2005's "Hustle & Flow," in which he played a storeowner. He also played officer Rodney Gronbeck in 13 episodes of the TV show "Wanted." Still, he has no aspirations of being the next Will Smith.

"I really don't want to do more in Hollywood," he said. "If think if I can do a movie once in a while and get that acting bug out of me, I'll be satisfied with that. I don't want to have a meteoric rise as an actor. I want to build a career slowly and steadily like I have with Saliva."

• Saliva
• Daughtry

Josey Scott
Photo: Turner Network Television

If there's one thing that attracted Saliva frontman Josey Scott to Rodney Gronbeck, the role he played on the TNT drama "Wanted," it's that Scott didn't see much difference between himself and the character — beyond the obvious career path disparity, anyway. Scott lives the rock-star life, while Gronbeck fights crime as part of an elite squad assembled to track down Los Angeles' toughest fugitives.

According to TNT's "Wanted" synopsis, Scott's character is "the team's technical genius, armed with state-of-the-art computer equipment and a knowledge of all things silicon."

"I can barely turn on a calculator," Scott joked. "But Rodney's got balls. This character, when I first read the script, was this guy who pulls up on a Harley. He probably hasn't had a shower that day. He's got piercings and doesn't give a f--- what you think, but he's f---ing bad-ass at what he does. He's one of those guys who can sit down and hack his way into the Pentagon but can get up and kick your f---ing ass in a heartbeat."

The budding thespian's been bitten by the acting bug, and he's trying to line up some more acting gigs. He said he's been considered for a part in the forthcoming Farrelly brothers ("There's Something About Mary," "Stuck on You") project "Heartbreak Kid." If he nails it, it'll be his first big-screen role since his turn as Elroy in this summer's "Hustle & Flow." But with the Aaron Spelling-produced "Wanted" on hiatus (the series finale aired last month), and no word yet on whether it will be renewed, Scott's returned to his first love: Saliva.

The band's in the midst of a five-week trek, after which it'll finish working on a fifth album, The Rise and Fall of a Glorified Kingdom. Scott said Saliva have written 30 tracks, including "Yours to Burn" and "Right Here Beside You," which they'll start recording next month with producer Bob Marlette (Default, Seether); the album could surface in March and will coincide with a U.S. headlining run.

"We've written some really killer stuff," Scott said. "Coming back to my musical career, I have this renewed vigor for every aspect of my career. It's like dating a girl you really know you kind of love, and then you go out and play the field for a while and date some other chicks. But then you start missing your original girl. It's like that. I'm back with my original love and I have a renewed passion for it. That's what the songs on this album are about. They came from me channeling that emotion and that love and that passion that I have for Saliva and our fans. We're putting everything we have into this record, because we want to be around like an Aerosmith or a U2 or an AC/DC. We want to be one of those bands that doesn't have a meteoric rise, but just a steady climb."

Still, it would be nice if TNT picked up "Wanted" for another season, he said. If the network does, Scott's ready to work around the release of Kingdom and its subsequent touring, because while music's his bread and butter, there's always been a special place in his heart for acting.

"I've been studying acting since high school," he said. "I took classes in Memphis with Red West ('I Still Know What You Did Last Summer,' 'Road House'), who was one of Elvis' bodyguards. When I got to L.A., I took more classes. It was just something I needed to try, something I needed to get out of my system. A mountain I had to climb."

But the "Wanted" audition was no walk in the park. In fact, there was some pretty steep competition Scott faced for the role.

"I went up against [Megadeth frontman] Dave Mustaine — he was auditioning for the same role," he explained. "I walked in the room, and he goes, 'Oh sh--. You got the tattoos. Great.' When I got my third call-back, I went in there and I was really nervous and intense. But I let my spirit of competition and ferociousness kick in. I did my audition, and then I stood up in front of all of them and said, 'I am Rod Gronbeck. If you hire anyone else for this job, you're a f---ing fool.' But I was a gentleman about it, and they thought it was charming."

• Saliva

Dave Chappelle (file)
Photo: Frazer Harrison

New shows or not, fans can't get enough of Dave Chappelle. The "Chappelle's Show: Season 2 Uncensored" DVD set has become the fastest-selling DVD of a TV show in history. According to Comedy Central, the three-disc set sold an unprecedented 500,000 copies its first day of release (May 24) and, with first-week sales of more than 1.2 million units, blew past the sales record held by the fourth season "Seinfeld" set. Meanwhile, no word yet on when — or if — production will resume on the delayed third season of the show. ...

Gwen Stefani, Ashlee Simpson and Alicia Keys are among the multiple nominees for the 2005 Teen Choice Awards, which will air August 16 on FOX. Ashlee will compete against sister Jessica for Choice TV Personality award, although Jessica is the only Simpson in the Choice Hottie category. Fans can vote now at www.teenpeople.com. ... Master P is rolling out his fleet of custom cars on Saturday for the video shoot for his new single, "I Need Dubs." For the cameras, P will be outfitting his Rolls-Royce Phantom with custom, diamond-encrusted chrome wheels. ...

My Chemical Romance have written eight songs for their next album, which the group hopes to record by the end of the year. "I imagine we'll write in the high 30s and pick our favorites, whereas last time we only wrote about 16 songs, if that," singer Gerard Way said. "We know what we do well, but there's some more risks being taken, slower tempos, heavier stuff, more of an arena-rock element that was hinted at on the last record." ... First he was out. Then he was back in. And now, for the second time in less than a week, Chris D'abaldo is Saliva's former guitarist. On Wednesday afternoon, D'abaldo reunited with the band after a 72-hour break, and told Saliva's fans in a posting to the group's Web site that he needed to sort a few things out with his mates — a process that seemingly took just a few short hours, as this morning, Saliva devotees awoke to find a new Web site missive. "I last said I would attempt to work things out with the band and would let you know how things went," he wrote. "After talking with members and management, I am now officially reporting that I am in fact gonna go my separate way. I wish all the remaining bandmembers the best of luck and fortune. It was great while it lasted, and I hope they have success in the future." ...

Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme has blocked off December for the recording of the next albums in his Dessert Sessions series. "That's the first open day in our schedule, so I'm gonna eat and go to the bathroom first," he joked. "In My Head," which first debuted on the latest Dessert Sessions, is the next single from Queens' Lullabies to Paralyze. ... The Strokes' forthcoming album could hit stores as early as January, according to an update that the band's manager, Ryan Gentles, issued to Strokes fans this week. "The band is 'wrapping up' production on the third album," he wrote, adding that there should be a single hitting the airwaves in late fall. The album has not been given a proper name, and neither have the songs, of which 13 are "nearly fully completed." There's also plans for a brief tour in late 2005. ...

From Christina Aguilera to Kill Rock Stars? Songwriter/producer to the stars Linda Perry (Gwen Stefani, Pink, Kelly Osbourne) will join the roster of the indie stalwart label with the September 13 re-release of her album In Flight. Written and recorded in 1995, the former 4 Non Blondes singer's first solo album was quietly released by Interscope Records in 1996 to little notice. Perry will tour in the fall in support of the album. ... If you're looking for a party on the Fourth of July, Philly is the place to be. In addition to the July 2 Live 8 show with Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Bon Jovi, the Dave Matthews Band, Stevie Wonder and Maroon 5, the city will host a concert that same day featuring Ruben Studdard with Stephanie Mills and a July 4 HIV-awareness concert by Elton John with guests Patti LaBelle and Bryan Adams. ...

For a dude whose résumé includes playing a bunch of butt-kicking cops, a butt-kicking environmental agent and a butt-kicking chef on a Navy battleship, Steven Seagal is actually a pretty sensitive guy, as evidenced by his upcoming debut album, Songs From the Crystal Cave. On the disc, which has already been released overseas (and will hit stores in the U.S. later this year), Seagal sings songs "with a strong, understated voice, in the realm of Jack Johnson but with more energy," according to a glowing review in the Los Angeles Times last month. Seagal plans on touring behind Songs this spring. Evildoers, corrupt politicians and drug lords beware. ... Reel Big Fish are staging another Coast to Coast Roast Tour, with American Hi-Fi, El Pus, Punchline and Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer on this summer's bill. The outing kicks off June 22 in Worcester, Massachusetts, and wraps up August 12 in Milwaukee. ...

Guitarist Mark Weinberg has left Gratitude, blaming the departure on "touring issues." According to a posting on the band's Web site announcing Weinberg's exit, "the road isn't made for everybody," and Jonah Matranga will "be playing a little more guitar [on Gratitude's forthcoming U.K. tour] and the band will continue to play the songs they wrote while Mark was a member." ...

06.01.2005

Lindsay Lohan walked away uninjured from a car accident allegedly caused by a paparazzo on Tuesday in Los Angeles. Photographer Galo Ramirez was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after slamming into the singer/actress' car, police told The Associated Press. Lohan's mother, Dina, issued a statement in the wake of the crash, saying, "I thank God my daughter was able to walk out of the car." ... A Canton, Massachusetts, family court judge issued an arrest warrant for Bobby Brown on Wednesday (June 1) after he was a no-show for a child-support compliance hearing, according to The Associated Press. Brown's Canton attorney reportedly told the court the singer became ill on his way to the Atlanta airport to fly to Boston, but court officials were unable to get confirmation. Brown is late on child support payments to Kim Ward, and the judge could reimpose a 90-day prison sentence ordered in June that was suspended when he paid out back payments. ...

"American Idol" winner Carrie Underwood will release her debut single on June 14. The single will feature "Inside Your Heaven," which Underwood sang at the finale and was serviced to radio immediately following the taping, as well as a cover of Martina McBride's "Independence Day." ... 50 Cent filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against three video production companies, claiming they used footage from an interview without honoring their part of a deal to make a charitable donation, according to The Associated Press. The rapper said he agreed to do a free interview with Czar Entertainment about Kelvin Martin, a 1980s criminal who went by the name of 50 Cent, if a donation was made to Martin's family or to the rapper's charity, the G-Unity Foundation. Instead, the interview was used for a DVD called "The Original 50 Cent: The True Story of the Legend Who Inspired the Biggest Name in Rap" and no donation was ever made, the suit alleges. The G-Unit general is seeking a court order to bar the companies from selling the DVD, as well as unspecified damages and any profits made from the video's sale. Czar Entertainment issued a statement in response, saying, "Czar Entertainment remains committed to providing support to the family of Kelvin '50 Cent' Martin ... We have made arrangements directly with his family regarding the donation of proceeds from the DVD sales and feel confident that all relevant parties will be satisfied. Czar Entertainment is disappointed to learn of 50 Cent's lawsuit, which is completely without merit." ...

Promoters of Festimad in Madrid, Spain, were forced to postpone System of a Down's headlining show on Saturday after winds upward of 60 miles per hour blew the canvas and metal roof off the outdoor stage. However, after the crowd of 30,000 refused to leave, System took the stage at 3:45 a.m. and played until after 5 a.m., according to the band's spokesperson. ... R. Kelly's child-pornography case continues to move along slowly. The judge decided on Wednesday (June 1) to wait until the next hearing, on June 17, to make his ruling on two defense motions. ...

The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network will host its first summit in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Doug E. Fresh, Damon Dash, Reverend Run and Juelz Santana will be among those on hand at the Washington Convention Center for the summit on financial empowerment. ... Jason Mraz will sing the national anthem for the MBNA RacePoints 400 on Sunday at Dover International Speedway in Delaware. Mraz's new album, Mr. A-Z, is due July 26. ...

In a posting on the band's Web site late last week — one that's since been removed and replaced with a second, much different posting — Saliva guitarist Chris D'abaldo announced his departure from the group. "I feel it is necessary to let the fans know first that I have decided to leave Saliva," he wrote. "I'll be looking to forming or joining a new band that is dedicated to their fans and the band. I'm quitting for obvious reasons, as the band is not a unit anymore. I have been given no other choice in the matter. I love you all and look forward to seeing you again." But then on Wednesday morning, a new statement: "Hey guys, sorry for the alarming nature of my statement on [May 29] about leaving the band. There was a bit of an issue we're working through and we're looking forward to recording a new album later this year. We'll see you on the road this October! I miss you all very much." ... The Doors of the 21st Century — featuring founding members Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger, with the Cult's Ian Astbury on vocals — will be performing at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on August 5, and have invited an all-star lineup to join them onstage. Perry Farrell, who regularly covered the Doors' "L.A. Woman" live during the earliest days of his band Jane's Addiction, will step into the late Jim Morrison's shoes for "Touch Me" and "The Crystal Ship." Macy Gray, Antigone Rising and the Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines will also be performing with the rock legends during a concert that's set to include Pat Travers and the original lineup of Vanilla Fudge. ...

Aerosmith have already written one bestselling autobiography ("Walk This Way"), so for their next career retrospective, they want to do something a little different. The band's literary agent is currently shopping a proposal to New York publishers to do a photographic history called "Aero/Vison," which would capture Aerosmith's emergence as rock icons, spanning their early years in high school and garage bands to headlining Madison Square Garden and beyond. The photos will come from the archives of private collectors, record labels and the portfolios of famous photographers, while the text (about 25,000 words' worth) will come from the bandmembers themselves, as they tell their story in their own voices, according to the proposal. ... O.A.R. will be heading out on a summer amphitheater tour, starting at Summerfest in Milwaukee on July 9. The quintet will also open four dates for the Dave Matthews Band that month. The trek will wrap with a headlining stint at the Feeling Better Than Everfine Festival in Chicago on August 20. ...

Interested in seeing the horrifying effect of direct sunlight on pale indie-rock skin? Want to eat pounds of funnel cake and Nathan's Hot Dogs? Well, then head on down to Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York, on July 16 for the 2005 Village Voice Siren Fest. The first handful of acts for the festival, now in its fifth year, have been announced, and they include Spoon, Brendan Benson and Q and Not U. Siren is free and open to the public, rain or shine. ... Former You Hear It First artists the Hysterics are among 19 bands featured on Music for Robots Volume 1, a just-released compilation from the popular music blog Music for Robots (music.for-robots.com). Other artists appearing alongside the precocious Brooklyn teenagers include Death From Above 1979, the National and Bumblebeez 81. ...

• Gwen Stefani
• Ashlee Simpson
• Saliva
• The Strokes

Ashlee Simpson (file)
Photo: Geffen

Three weeks after debuting at #1, Now That's What I Call Music! 16 has returned to the top of the Billboard albums chart.

The 20-track compilation, which features songs from Outkast, D12 and Britney Spears, sold more than 207,000 copies last week, according to SoundScan, enough to loosen Ashlee Simpson's Autobiography from its two-week hold on the top slot.

Now and Autobiography have been the top two albums since the latter was released five weeks ago. Simpson's LP debuted at #1 in July, slipping to #2 when Now entered the chart on top a week later. The same movement will happen next week, as Autobiography's tally of more than 164,000 copies places it directly behind the hit-singles collection.

On the strength of three shows last week, Prince's Musicology (copies of which are included in the ticket price of his concerts, and thus count toward the charts) will take a six-spot leap up to #3. Musicology sold more than 98,000 copies last week, a 34 percent bump from the previous week's sales. Musicology has been a top-20 staple since its release in April, save for one week last month when it plummeted to #64.

The West side reigns at #4 with 213's debut album, which has been 13 years in the making. The supergroup — composed of Snoop Dogg, Warren G and Nate Dogg — moved more than 95,000 copies of The Hard Way on the back of its single, "Groupie Luv."

And Maroon 5 continue to climb skyward on the wings of their omnipresent singles. As Songs About Jane's third single, "She Will Be Loved," keeps spinning mightily at radio, the album sold another 72,000 copies to advance six spots and re-enter the top 10 at #6.

Ashlee Simpson's ex Ryan Cabrera is taking a cue from his former flame with a top-10 debut of his own. The spikey-haired singer will land at #8 with his debut, Take It All Away, which sold more than 66,000 copies.

The rest of the top 10 will see Usher's Confessions stepping from #4 to #5 (with more than 78,000 copies sold last week); Shyne's Godfather Buried Alive falling four spots to #7 (67,000); Avril Lavigne's Under My Skin moving ahead one notch to #9 (63,000); and Big & Rich's Horse of a Different Color doing the same to #10 (63,000).

The chart's only other top-40 debut comes courtesy of Memphis rockers Saliva, whose fourth album, Survival of the Sickest, will land at #20, as its title track remains a hit single at rock radio.

Other notable chart debuts include Queen's Greatest Hits: We Will Rock You at #42; the compilation Future Soundtrack for America, which features contributions from Jimmy Eat World, Blink-182 and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs at #56; indie-pop outfit Rilo Kiley's third album, More Adventurous, at #161; and Glassjaw side project Head Automatica's Decadence at #169.

• Ashlee Simpson
• Ryan Cabrera
• Saliva

213 (file)
Photo: Anthony Mandler

Hitting stores this week are albums by two rap trios, a pop star's ex-boy-toy, angry hard rockers and one of the preeminent original pop-punk bands.

Hip-hop heavyweights Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg and Warren G have put their solo careers on hold in order to drop a supergroup superproject. 213, the group named after the former Long Beach, California, area code, release The Hard Way this week.

Ryan Cabrera, ex-boyfriend of Ashlee Simpson and up-and-coming singer/songwriter with a pop penchant, releases his major-label debut, Take It All Away. The album, co-produced by Goo Goo Dolls frontman Johnny Rzeznik, was penned almost two years ago, before Cabrera and Simpson were an item, so don't look for any love songs or angry breakup tunes about the starlet.

Saliva represent for hard rock with their most recent effort, Survival of the Sickest, the Memphis band's follow-up to 2002's Back Into Your System.

Northern State, the rap trio some have labeled the female Beastie Boys, will release their major-label debut, All City. The Long Island-bred ladies — Hesta Prynn, Guinea Love and DJ Sprout — released their first full-length album, Dying in Stereo, in 2003.

Original A-list alternative band the Talking Heads have two releases this week. The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads, the group's 1982 double live album, becomes available on CD for the first time, while The Best of the Talking Heads, the band's first single-disc greatest-hits album, includes hits "Psycho Killer," "Once in a Lifetime," "Burning Down the House" and 15 others.

Also out this week are albums by Rilo Kiley (More Adventurous), Presidents of the United States of America (Love Everybody) and Bruce Hornsby (Halcyon Days).

Out Tuesday, August 17:

• 213 - The Hard Way (TVT)
  Buy Now: The Hard Way (TVT)
  Read: "Snoop's 213 Get Wrong Number While Doing Things The Hard Way"
• John Brannen - The Good Thief (Sly Dog)
• Ryan Cabrera - Take It All Away (E.V.L.A./Atlantic)
  Buy Now: Take It All Away (E.V.L.A./Atlantic)
  Read: "Ryan Cabrera, Ashlee's Ex, Sets Sights On Album, Sorority Tour"
• The Court and Spark - Witch Season (Absolutely Kosher)
• Good for Cows - Bebop Fantasy (Asian Man)
• Bruce Hornsby - Halcyon Days (Sony)
• Kissing Tigers - Pleasure of Resistance (Slowdance)
• Little Wings - Magic Wand (K Records)
• Moments in Grace - Moonlight Survived (Salad Days/Atlantic)
• Nagisa Ni Te - The Same As a Flower (Jagjaguwar)
• Northern State - All City (Columbia)
• Presidents of the United States of America - Love Everybody (Pusa Inc.)
• Rilo Kiley - More Adventurous (Brute/Beaute)
• Saliva - Survival of the Sickest (Island)
  Buy Now: Survival of the Sickest (Island)
  Read: "Saliva: Foaming At the Mouth"
• Sasquatch - Sasquatch (Small Stone)
• Tracy Shedd - Louder Than You Can Hear (Devil in the Woods)
• Slang - More Talk About Tonight (Terminus)
• Steve Smith and Vital Information - Come on In (Tone Center)
• Spiderbait - Tonight Alright (Interscope)
• Mavis Staples - Have a Little Faith (Alligator)
• The Sunshine Fix - Green Imagination (spinART)
• Steve Swallow With Ohad Talmor - The Bum’s Tale (Palmetto)
• Talking Heads - The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads (Rhino)
• The Jacob Fred Odyssey - Walking With Giants (Hyena)
• Travis Tritt - My Honky Tonk History (Sony)
• Twelve Girls Band - Eastern Energy (Platia Entertainment)
• The Uncle Devil Show - A Terrible Beauty (Compass)
• Various artists - Bump This (Pyramid)
• Various artists - Future Soundtrack for America (Barsuk)
• DVD: Various artists - "Hip Hop Story 3: Coast to Coast" (Ventura)
• DVD: Various artists - "Mayor of the Sunset Strip" (First Look)
• DVD: Nick Lachey & Jessica Simpson - "The Nick & Jessica Variety Hour" (Image)

August 24:

• R. Kelly - Happy People/ U Saved Me (Jive)
• Tim McGraw - Live Like You Were Dying (Curb)
• Jason Mraz - Tonight, Not Again - At the Eagles Ballroom (Elektra)

August 31:

• Björk - Medulla (Elektra/ Asylum)
  Read: "Bjork Album Preview: Beautiful, Baffling and Bothersome Medúlla"
• Jill Scott - Beautifully Human: Words & Sounds 2 (Sony)
• Insane Clown Posse - Hell's Pit, Version 1 (Psychopathic)
• Insane Clown Posse - Hell's Pit, Version 2 (Psychopathic)
• Various artists - Passion of the Christ: Songs (Wind-Up)
  Read: "Scott Stapp, Lauryn Hill, P.O.D., MxPx Head Up 'Passion Of The Christ' LP"

September 7:

• Christine McVie - In The Meantime (Koch)
• Alan Jackson - What I Do (Arista)
• Anita Baker - My Everything (Blue Note)

• 213
• Ryan Cabrera
• Saliva
• Talking Heads
• Northern State

Photo: MTV

• Saliva

Saliva's Josey Scott (file)
Photo: Jonathan Shapiro

While not admitting that their music is formulaic, there are a few main ingredients to Saliva's music. Frontman Josey Scott relayed the recipe.

"You gotta have good beats," the Memphis native said. "When we get into the studio, the beat has got to make you bob your head. Then we lace it with some bad-ass riffs and put a phat hook on it. [With the lyrics], we talk about stuff that happens in our lives. We're just regular guys, regular people. We're not a--holes. We're not arrogant pr---s like a lot of these people out here. We get our hearts broken. We fail at some things. We're insecure at some things. We're very powerful at some things.

"We like to f---, fight and rock and roll, basically."

The video for "Survival of the Sickest," the title track and first single off Saliva's fourth album, due August 17, essentially holds that classic rock course. Shot July 20-21 by director Wayne Isham ('NSYNC, Metallica), the plotline follows two girls as they head out to the Saliva show — only their final destination isn't the front row. It's backstage.

	Exclusive photos from the "Survival of the Sickest" video shoot

A bit of eyelash-batting directed at roadies and bouncers, and the hotties make their way backstage to the VIP area to await Scott's arrival. After they employ some innovative ways to pass the time, Scott shows up and joins them. But just before things get really interesting, he slams the door in the camera's face, leaving viewers to rely on their own imagination for the seedy details.

" 'Survival of the Sickest' kind of sets the tone for the rest of the record," Scott explains. "It just tells the rest of the world — the haters and the doubters that tried to dismiss us as a rap-rock band or whatever — that we're still here."

While Saliva's 2001's major-label debut, Every Six Seconds, sold more than 815,000 copies and featured a bounty of raps and hip-hop beats,the genre's prominence faded a bit before Saliva's next album dropped. Nevertheless, the band hung in there and moved more than 619,000 copies of 2002's Back Into Your System. Given the popularity of "Survival of the Sickest" (the tune is a top-10 rock single) Saliva's latest should have a decent shelf life.

The band took a different approach in the time leading up to the recording of the album. Rather than enter the studio and devise the album spontaneously — which often leads to a hasty and very expensive recording session — Scott and his bandmates were well rested and well prepared this time out.

"We kind of chilled out on the partying a little bit, chilled out on the girls," he said. "On our last tour, I personally got in the back of the tour bus with a little Wal-Mart tape recorder and just started beating these songs out. So when we went into the studio this time, I was prepared. I had 25 songs ready to go.

"I had honed and sharpened my sword, so I could stab it through every f---in' person that I can't stand out there," the large, angry frontman added.

Scott is excited to see his new clip completed. He's not looking for something as ambitious as a "TRL" staple, however. All he's hoping for is a chance.

"All I'm asking for is for MTV to give me my stage, give me my 10 seconds, or 15 seconds, or whatever you call it," he said. "Put me on MTV, and I'll rock that f---in' party."

• Saliva

Saliva's Josey Scott (file)
Photo: Gregg Delman

With a new album on the horizon and a single that's been quick to climb the rock-radio charts, Saliva singer Josey Scott should be in higher spirits. He's certainly pleased at the early response to "Survival of the Sickest," and he's more than satisfied with his band's identically titled fourth album.

But approach the subject of Saliva's place in the music scene, and this Southern boy gets downright ornery.

"We're tired of kissing people's asses, and we're tired of keeping our mouths shut," Scott said. "We don't give a f--- no more. We ain't trying to make no friends, except for our fans. We made an album for our fans. We ain't trying to play with anybody else in the sandbox. If they don't like us, we'll kick them out of the sandbox."

The agitators that draw Scott's ire include cynics who continue to write Saliva off as rap-rock also-rans; the business personnel who once surrounded them, all of whom have been fired for not acting in the band's best interest; and the so-called "cool" bands supposedly on the cutting edge of the next musical movement.

"I don't think American kids are really into it," he said, citing the Vines and Strokes as examples. "American kids wanna get in the mosh pit. They wanna get dirty. Chicks wanna show their t--s. They wanna rock. They want something that kicks ass, and the Strokes and all that sh-- ain't gettin' it done. I'm not trying to cut them down, I'm just saying you gotta get the job done, man. When you walk onstage, you gotta get the job done. You gotta rock the f---in' party, and they don't do it. They never have and they never will."

Scott's venom toward the Strokes isn't without a personal stake. According to Scott, Strokes singer Julian Casablancas had a chance to befriend him but shrugged it off nonchalantly.

"I was at the VMAs and walked by the singer for the Strokes," Scott explained, "and I give everybody their day in court, so I said, 'What's up?' to him, and he looked at me and sort of goes, 'Hmmph.' He's just lucky my girl's son was with me, I would've broken his jaw. Whatever. F--- him."

But it's a certain Vancouver vocalist who really makes Scott's blood boil. He and former pal Chad Kroeger are responsible for the hit single "Hero," off 2002's "Spider-Man" soundtrack, and both appeared in the video. For services rendered, Scott was paid $5,000, though he claims they had a handshake deal stipulating that he would receive $40,000 for his studio time, and another $40,000 for the video.

"They [screwed] me on that song," Scott said. "I want the whole world to know it. They made millions off that song and threw me $5,000? That was foul, that was wrong, and that's bullsh--. They would have paid a janitor more than that. ... I can't even pay for my flights and my hotels with $5,000. What the f--- am I gonna do with $5,000? That's bullsh--."

Because Saliva and Nickelback shared a manager, Scott said, he didn't think it was necessary to have everything written down in a contract. But even if there had been a written agreement between them, "the Memphis way" dictates that there probably wouldn't be some pencil-necked lawyer on Kroeger's doorstep right now serving papers.

"We don't work like that in Memphis," Scott explained. "You renege on a contract, you don't see subpoenas and lawyers getting in on it. You see my ass getting on the plane with a baseball bat and going to see who's got my money."

A Nickelback spokesperson wouldn't comment on the dispute.

Scott channeled all this volatile energy into Survival of the Sickest, whose first single sets the tone for the rest of the album. Both are testaments to Saliva's success and longevity — they've sold more than 1.4 million copies of 2001's Every Six Seconds and 2002's Back Into Your System — and neither answers to anyone or anything but their fans.

"It's an American rock and roll record," Scott said. "It kicks ass and it's got what our fans like. It's our heart and souls. [Our fans] have always liked us simply being ourselves. We'll never try to be like the Vines or the Strokes or any of that other bullsh-- out there."

Survival of the Sickest is due August 17.

• Saliva
• Nickelback

On New York radio station Hot 97 on Friday (June 4), Shyne spoke out for the first time since going to prison in 2001. Among the revelations he disclosed to radio host Angie Martinez is that he thinks he'll be out of jail in early 2005 and Jay-Z has talked to him about forming an all-Brooklyn supergroup consisting of Jay, Shyne and Foxy Brown. ...

We're not sure whether "Blue Hawaii" or "Viva Las Vegas" is the theme song to Josey Scott's honeymoon, but we do know that the Saliva frontman wed Kendra Lynnett Edney last weekend (May 29) at Elvis Presley's former estate, Graceland. Before you think about exchanging vows where the King once gorged himself on fried peanut-butter-and-banana sandwiches, know that not everyone can marry at Graceland. Scott, a Memphis, Tennessee, native who also owns one of Elvis' old limos, knows someone on the inside. ... Here's your chance to say, "I'm with the band," and really mean it. New Found Glory are offering six fans the opportunity to be a roadie for a day. Fans choose from six different prize packages like trips to New Zealand and the Triple Crown Surfing event in Hawaii, a PT Cruiser, Fender guitars, and of course, the opportunity to see the band in concert and party with the members backstage. The contest runs until August 1. To enter, go to www.pacsun.com. ...

R. Kelly tops the list of nominees for the 2004 Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards with eight nods, followed by Jay-Z, who has seven. The event is set for August 6 in Miami, immediately following the three-day Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Conference. Beyoncé, Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, Alicia Keys, Chingy and Outkast are also among the artists with multiple nominations. ... While on tour with No Doubt, guitarist Tom Dumont and drummer Adrian Young will step out on Saturday to guest with San Francisco musician Bing Ji Ling and play some of his blue-eyed soul at New York's Knitting Factory. ...

Slipknot have booked a couple of "Off-fest" dates of their own in between Ozzfest performances. July 11 finds the band, along with Slayer, Hatebreed and God Forbid, in Augusta, Maine; while on August 29, the band will play in Virginia Beach, Virginia. ... Lindsay Lohan's father has been accused of assaulting a relative at a party at the Lohans' Long Island, New York, home. He was arraigned on Thursday in First District Court in Hempstead on charges of second-degree assault and aggravated harassment for allegedly assaulting his brother-in-law Matt Sullivan on May 23. Lindsay's father reportedly said Sullivan showed up at the family gathering drunk and was responsible for the fight. Lohan is due to appear in court on June 8. ...

The first new Helmet album in more than six years, Size Matters, will come out on September 14. The band currently features frontman Page Hamilton, guitarist Chris Traynor, bassist Frank Bello (ex-Anthrax) and drummer John Tempesta (ex-White Zombie). ... Extreme metal band the Dillinger Escape Plan will headline a monthlong North American tour, which will also feature a host of unknowns including the Bronx, Planes Mistaken for Stars, Decehedron and others. The multi-act tour will be called F---ing With the Lights On and will launch July 18 in Baltimore. Dates are scheduled through August 17 in New York. Dillinger Escape Plan's new album, Miss Machine, is slated for release July 20. ...

NBC is planning a 12-hour series about the history of Motown Records and its creator, Berry Gordy. "Berry Gordy's Motown" is expected to air in the 2005-2006 season. ... Guitar amplifiers autographed by Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page will be included in the Rock Legends auction, which takes place on June 16. Proceeds will go to the ABC Trust charity, which was founded by Page's wife, Jimena Gomez-Paratcha, in 1998. Commission/absentee bids will be accepted on www.cooperowen.com up to 24 hours before the sale. ...

Kittie nearly took a bath while shooting the video for their new single, "Into the Darkness," when an acrylic pool on the set exploded and 600 gallons of water poured over the soundstage. Guitarist and singer Morgan Lander grabbed her guitar and bolted when she heard the explosion. All other bandmembers were off the set. When drummer Mercedes Lander returned to the set, her kit was sitting in two inches of water. After cleaning up, director Greg Kaplan and Rafaela Monfradini completed the performance-based video shoot. ...

06.03.2004

Big Boi will perform in New York on Thursday (June 3) for the launch of Calvin Klein's new fragrance, "Eternity Moment." The scent may not be Klein's only new offering — the Outkast rapper is in talks with Klein to release a fragrance of his own. ... Andre 3000 is bringing his eccentric sartorial sense to the hip-hop masses. Or at least those with enough moxie to dress in plaids, suspenders and bow ties. The musician is floating the idea of launching a clothing line, Designs by Benjamin Andre, inspired by his own colorful look and the preppy style of Ralph Lauren. Andre says the line could be out next spring, although no plans have officially been announced yet. ...

Almost three years after Aaliyah died, a New York judge has determined that her record label can sue the video producer who booked the private jet that crashed in the Bahamas, killing the pop star. Justice Carol Edmean of the New York State Supreme Court ruled that Blackground Entertainment, of which Aaliyah owned 10 percent, was entitled to sue because the singer and actress was the prime "asset" of the company, and not an "employee." The production company, Instinct Productions, had tried to have a negligence lawsuit filed last November dismissed because Aaliyah was a company employee. The State Court of Appeals has previously ruled that an employer cannot recover damages when an employee is injured in an incident in which a third party is negligent. ...

Michael Jackson's former rabbi advisor, Shmuley Boteach, has blasted Madonna for what he deems a hypocritical endorsement of Kabbalah's Jewish mystic teachings. In an editorial for Something Jewish, Boteach writes that Madonna shouldn't be Kabbalah's most public figure, since she's a "slut." "Is the Kabbalah Center really so desperate that it is prepared to promote itself through a vulgarian whose main contribution to the culture is porn rock?" he wrote. Madonna's spokesperson called Boteach's comments "frightening for someone who professes to be a religious person." ... Three days after guitarist Trey Anastasio announced that Phish were breaking up, keyboardist Page McConnell assured fans that there were no hard feelings with an online post of his own. "As we wind down the Phish career, it is done with both great joy and great sadness," McConnell wrote. "The joy comes from remembering the incredibly good times we've experienced, the successes we've enjoyed, and knowing that even in our closing we are honoring the band." ...

U2's Bono, Coldplay's Chris Martin and several British actors have signed an open letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair requesting more aid money for the world's poorest countries. Jude Law, Colin Firth and Minnie Driver are among the others who signed the letter. ... Mandy Moore's line of vintage T-shirts featuring quotes from '60s, '70s and '80s pop songs is now on its way to stores, including specialty boutiques Fred Segal, Kitson and Theodore's. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. ...

The Hives compilation that launched the band in the U.K. in 2001 will finally be released in the U.S. on July 13, a week before the Swedish band's new album, Tyrannosaurus Hives, hits shelves. The compilation, Your New Favorite Band, features four tracks from both Veni Vidi Vicious and the Hives' 1997 debut, Barely Legal, along with three songs from the A.K.A. I-D-I-O-T EP. The U.S. release will also include a bonus DVD with videos for "Hate to Say I Told You So," "Die, All Right!" and "Main Offender." ... Nickelback, 3 Doors Down and Puddle of Mudd will hit the Wild Rose Ridge Amphitheatre in Bottineau, North Dakota, on July 3 for the third night of the seventh Rockin' the Hills festival. Live, Styx, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Peter Frampton, Firehouse, Tesla, Foghat, L.A. Guns, Warrant, Great White, Dokken and Jackyl are among the other bands performing from July 1-4. ...

Suge Knight got off the hook, but his Death Row Records was ordered to pay more than $162,000 to a man who claimed Knight and his bodyguards attacked him at a recording studio in 2001. Knight testified he was not in the studio at the time. ... Lil' Wayne's upcoming album, Tha Carter, has been pushed back until June 29. When the LP does come out, it will be the second version of the album the young Cash Money Millionaires star recorded. An earlier version was scrapped last year. ...

Twista is getting it all twisted. The speed-flow assassin has teamed up with Mobb Deep for a remix of Havoc and Prodigy's "Got It Twisted." ... Freestyle warrior Jin is finally set to drop his debut, The Rest Is History. Ruff Ryders has set August 24 as the release date for the young MC's LP. ...

If you want to live large like Jay-Z or Missy Elliott, you used to have to drop by Jacob the Jeweler's shop on 47th Street in New York's Diamond District. But now, out-of-towners can visit the king of bling's Web site at www.jacobthejeweler.com to get their custom iced creations. ... Perhaps the Jack White/ Loretta Lynn pairing served as inspiration? In the wake of his album with Neva Dinova and the launch of his own record label, Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst is keeping busy working on a collaboration with country singer Emmylou Harris. ...

Put a fork in the production of "What We Do Is Secret," the flick about the life of Darby Crash and the Germs. "A Walk to Remember" star Shane West was cast as Crash, Bijou Phillips plays Lorna Doom, and Lukas Haas portrays Don Bolles. The fate of the film — and its distribution — remains in limbo. ... Thursday and Funeral for a Friend have both covered Far, and now fans of the influential post hardcore/emo band can get the original version, along with new material. Far are re-releasing their 1998 album, Water & Solutions, with a DVD on June 22. ...

• Shyne
• Jay-Z
• Saliva
• R. Kelly
• New Found Glory

St. Lunatic Murphy Lee recently shot a video for the Jermaine Dupri collaboration "What the Hook Goin' Be?," the first single from his solo album, Murphy's Law, due in September. The album will also include Lil' Wayne, Snoop Dogg and the Murphy Lee/P. Diddy/Nelly "Bad Boys II" single "Shake Your Tailfeather." "Benny Boom shot both videos," Lee said. "They're amazing." ...

The Donnas shot a video for a remix of "Too Bad About Your Girl" in Los Angeles over the weekend. The song will be featured on the soundtrack to the skateboarding movie "Grind," which opens August 15 and stars Mike Vogel ("Grounded for Life"), who will also appear in the video. ... Beyoncé Knowles, Shania Twain, Craig David and David Gray partied in London's Hyde Park for an open-air concert benefiting disadvantaged children on Sunday. More than 100,000 tickets were sold and more than $1.6 million was raised for the Prince's Trust, the charity headed by Prince Charles, the Associated Press reports. ...

Nelly will soon kick off a six-city tour, and this time it isn't just to rock the stage. Nelly will be hitting Miami, Atlanta, Houston, New York, Los Angeles and St. Louis to find a model for his new women's clothing line, Apple Bottom. According to Nelly's publicist, proceeds from the tour will go to the Jes Us 4 Jackie Foundation with the hopes of increasing the number of donors on the National Marrow Donor Program Registry. ... "Time," a previously unreleased track from Saliva, has found a home on the soundtrack to the "Tomb Raider" sequel, alongside a remixed Moby track, Paul Oakenfold's reworking of P.O.D.'s "Satellite," and album cuts by Filter, the Dandy Warhols and Conjure One, which features guest singer Sinéad O'Connor. "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" hits the silver screen July 25, and its soundtrack drops three days earlier. ...

Eddie Vedder has written the introduction to rock photog Charles Peterson's latest collection, "Touch Me I'm Sick," due in November. Like Peterson's previous work, this volume continues to document the grunge era, focusing on the birth of the Seattle scene via early live shots of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and Sleater-Kinney, among others. ... My Bloody Valentine founder Kevin Shields is scoring "Lost in Translation," Sofia Coppola's follow-up to "The Virgin Suicides." The soundtrack, due August 9, will include four score pieces, along with the first two Shields songs to be released in 13 years, plus material from Air, Jesus and Mary Chain and Death in Vegas. ...

Eighties icon Cyndi Lauper has collaborated with the Minus 5, the side project of R.E.M.'s Peter Buck and Young Fresh Fellows' Scott McCaughey, on a song for the upcoming Wig in a Box, an audio tribute to the play-turned-cult-film "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." Their "Midnight Radio" will appear next to cuts by the Breeders, Polyphonic Spree, Spoon and Jonathan Richman as well as Hedwig creators Stephen Trask and John Cameron Mitchell. The LP is due October 21 and will benefit the Hetrick-Martin Institute, home to the Harvey Milk High School for gay, lesbian and transgender students. ...

Felix Da Housecat will follow-up his acclaimed Kittenz and Thee Glitz with A Bugged Out Mix on September 9. ... David Bowie's last trek to the Big Apple was documented by a series of photographs to be released in the upcoming book "David Bowie: Live in New York." Portrait photographer Myriam Santos-Kayda followed the singer during his October 2002 marathon tour, capturing him on five nights in five venues in each of the five boroughs. The book, due in October with a foreword by Bowie, contains shots of the Thin White Duke onstage and backstage. ...

07.03.2003

"The only thing left is 'The Osbournes on Ice,' " Ozzy Osbourne joked about the possibility of touring with his daughter Kelly, with whom he recently re-recorded the classic Black Sabbath tune "Changes" as a duet for his next album. "I don't think her music and my music are anything like each other," he conceded, "but if anyone throws one f---ing thing at my daughter, I'm on that stage with a baseball bat." ...

Guess you can call her the First Lady of Ruff Ryders and Aftermath. Eve, who was originally signed to Dr. Dre's label before joining forces with the Ruff Ryders, has now come full circle. According to one of her reps, Eve's next LP will be released through a joint venture with Aftermath and the Double R. In March, Eve told MTV News that the Doc will be producing several tracks on the project. ...

Godsmack's European tour, which was to begin July 13 in Manchester, England, was inexplicably nixed. The trek included headlining shows and festivals. ... Kid Rock threw a surprise birthday party for Pam Anderson Tuesday night in Malibu, California. On short notice, Rock enlisted the Lazy Stars, the house band for the alt country Sweethearts of the Rodeo night, held on the first Wednesday of each month at Hollywood's Molly Malone's. The countrified vibe got partygoer David Spade to get up and sing Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama," while John Stamos sat in on drums. ... Dashboard Confessional's first single off A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar, out August 12, will be the suggestive "Hands Down," previously released on the 2001 EP So Impossible. The new version goes for adds at radio July 15. Meanwhile, Dashboard headline a tour that runs August 30 through September 18. MxPx support for the whole trek, while Vendetta Red will open on select dates to be announced. ...

Nick Carter continues to work on his second solo record and is currently on his way back from Toronto, where he was laying down a couple of tracks with "Informer" reggae rapper Snow, Carter's management said. Meanwhile, Carter's other collaborator, Tommy Lee, has been angrily defending himself against outraged metal fans who have been criticizing the drummer for working with the Backstreet Boy. "Am I never supposed to write a song for anyone else?" Lee wrote in his Web journal at www.joysmayhem.com. "I'm not joining the Backstreet Boys, I was asked by Nick ... to help him get a more aggressive sound for his new CD!! ... He's a huge rock fan ... You all would be very surprised ... Do I judge your work!?!!? ... It wouldn't get me off posting to everyone how you burn the burgers you flip at Jack in the Box!!" ...

The Goodie Mob insist that the departure of Cee-Lo did not spell the demise of the group. The remaining members, Big Gipp, Khujo and T-Mo, have been working on their next LP, called Black History. Gipp is just about done putting together his first solo effort, Mutant Mind Frame. That LP is due sometime in August and features appearances from Outkast, among others. ...

Dido's follow-up to No Angel — which yielded "Thank You," most famously sampled by Eminem in 2000's "Stan" — is finally finished. The LP, titled Life for Rent, hits stores September 30, while the album's first single, "White Flag," arrives July 7 at radio. Other songs on the record include "Stoned," "Mary's in India," "Sand in My Shoes," "This Land Is Mine" and "See the Sun." ... Singer/songwriter Ben Lee makes his film debut in the Australian coming-of-age comedy "The Rage in Placid Lake," in which he co-stars with Miranda Richardson (his girlfriend, Claire Danes, makes a cameo). Lee plays the title character, the son of two hippie parents who are horrified when he takes a job at an insurance company. The film makes its world premiere this month at the Melbourne International Film Festival. ...

The Ying Yang Twins will release their third album, Me and My Brother, on August 25. Until then, the duo can be heard on Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz's "Get Low." "It's possessing women's bodies," Jon said of the song. "If you don't believe me, go to the club and watch what happens when the song come on." ... New York laid-back hip-hop crew the Fun Lovin' Criminals are scheduled to drop their new album, Welcome to Poppy's, September 9. The LP is the studio follow-up to 1999's 100% Colombian. ... Truth Hurts is recording the follow-up to her 2002 debut, Truthfully Speaking, which will again feature production from mentor Dr. Dre. "You will definitely still hear beats and you will definitely still hear the real talk and it will definitely be me," she said. ...

If it's not Scottish it's crap? This could be the rationale for the new Ewan McGregor/Tilda Swinton film "Young Adam," scored by ex-Talking Heads frontman David Byrne. Byrne, born in Scotland, collected Glasgow's musical elite — including members of Belle & Sebastian, Mogwai, the Reindeer Section and Future Pilot A.K.A. — to assist in composing the upcoming film's soundtrack, due September 7 on Thrill Jockey Records. ... Depeche Mode singer Dave Gahan will embark on his first solo tour of North America on July 18 in Atlanta. The 21 dates that follow, through August 25 in Los Angeles, support his solo debut, Paper Monsters, released June 3, and its new single, "I Need You." At the shows, expect to hear new material as well as Depeche Mode favorites. ...

• St. Lunatics
• The Donnas
• Beyoncé
• Nelly
• Saliva

2003 Atlanta Music Midtown Festival

• LL Cool J
• Seether
• Saliva
• Ashanti
• Ben Harper

Saliva Live In New York

• Saliva

• Alicia Keys
• Fuel
• Linkin Park
• Poe
• Saliva

Saliva Photo Flipbook

• Saliva