While it may have been a good time to relax, Memorial Day weekend was a lot noisier and angrier than originally planned. In an effort to combat bootlegging and Internet piracy Eminem's label pushed the release date of The Eminem Show up couple of days, with some stores even selling the album as early as last Friday. That way holiday revelers had the chance to BBQ to heartwarming ditties such as "White America," "My Dad's Gone Crazy" and Marshall's ode to himself, "Without Me."

Also landing in stores this week are Maximum Strokes (an album of interviews with the Strokes), an international tribute to the Ramones and Hootie & the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker's solo album, Back to Then.

When it comes to this week's new releases, maybe Eminem is right: It would be so empty without him.

Out Tuesday, May 28:

• As Friends Rust - Young Trophy Band (EP, Equal Vision)
• The Ataris - Anywhere But Here (Kung Fu)
• Boulder - Reaped in Half: Acts 1 & 2 (Tee Pee)
• Eddie Burns - Snake Eyes (Delmark)
• Cadillac Blindside - These Liquid Lungs (Fueled by Ramen)
• Caural - Stars on My Ceiling (Chocolate Industries)
• Cinematic Orchestra - Every Day (Ninja Tune)
• Chris Connelly - Private Education (Invisible)
• Joanna Connor - The Joanna Connor Band (M.C.)
• James Cotton - 35th Anniversary Jam (Telarc)
• Eminem - The Eminem Show (Aftermath/Interscope) (pre-Tuesday release)
  Read about it ... Eminem Album Preview: Slim As Shady As Ever
• GMS - No Rules (EFA-CAR)
• High on Fire - Surrounded by Thieves (Relapse)
• Hutch - Turn It Around (Smile/Image)
• Shirley Johnson - Killer Diller (Delmark)
• Kaamos - Kaamos (Candelight US)
• Praga Khan - Freakazoidz (Antler Subway)
• Kevin Mahogany - Pride and Joy (Telarc Jazz)
• Mastodon - Remission (Relapse)
• Joe McBride - Keepin' It Real (Heads Up)
• The Arnold McCuller Band - Live (What's Good)
• Metalwood - The Recline (Telarc Jazz)
• The Midnight Thunder Express -The Midnight Thunder Express (Empty)
• Mother Superior - Sin (MuscleTone)
• Mr. Brady - Dusty Baker (Underworld Inc.)
• Mr. Spike - Beer Can Alley (Def Attack)
• Nashville Pussy - Say Something Nasty (Artemis)
• Non-Exist - Deus Deceptor (Century Media)
• Jill Olson - My Best Yesterday (125)
• Omniblank - Birth of a Firefly (Summa)
• Panacea - Underground Stardom (EFA-CAR)
• Phat Boi - Dedicated to the Game (Powerhouse Rap)
• Q-Burns Abstract Message - Re-routed (Eighth Dimension)
• Red Harvest - Sick Transit Gloria Mundi (Relapse)
• Richy Pitch - Live at Home (Seven Heads)
• Darius Rucker - Back to Then (Hidden Beach/Epic)
• The Sabians - Beauty for Ashes (The Music Cartel)
• Scorpions - Bad for Good: The Very Best of Scorpions (Hip-O)
• Skinlab - Revolting Room (Century Media)
• Steroid Maximus - Ectopia (Ipecac)
• The Strokes - Maximum Strokes: Interview Disc (Phantom Imports)
• Susperia - Vindication (Nuclear Blast)
• John Tejada - Daydreams in Cold Weather (EFA-CAR)
• Jimmy Thackery - We Got It (Telarc)
• Tidfall - Circular Supremacy (Candlelight US)
• Ugly Duckling - Journey to Anywhere (Emperor Norton)
• Uphill Battle - Uphill Battle (Relapse)
• Various artists - Crydamour Presents: Waves (Astralwerks)
• Various artists - Dino & Terry Present: Deep Inside (EFA-CAR)
• Various artists - "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" soundtrack (Columbia)
• Various artists - Hot Guitar Licks (Time Life)
• Various artists - Playing 4 Square 2 (Suburban Home)
• Various artists - Ramones Forever: International Tribute (Radical)
• Various artists - Soul Sessions (Giant Step)
• The Virus - Nowhere to Hide (Punk Core)
• Kevin Yost - Abstrack Funk Theory (Obsessive)

June 11

• David Bowie - Heathen (ISO/Columbia)
  Read about it ... Foos' Dave Grohl, Moby Are Bowie Buddies On New LP
• Raphael Saadiq - Instant Vintage (Universal)
• They Might Be Giants - No! (Rounder)

• Papa Roach - Lovehatetragedy (DreamWorks)
  Read about it ... Papa Roach Distance Themselves From Rap-Metal Peers On New LP
• Swizz Beatz - G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories (DreamWorks)
  Read about it ... Swizz Beatz Unveils Metallica/Ja Rule Track, Sets 'Guilty' Single

• Boy George - Night Out (Moonshine)
• Jerry Cantrell - Degradation Trip (Island/Def Jam)
  Read about it ... Jerry Cantrell Conjures Ghost Of Alice In Chains On New LP
• Solange Knowles - Solo Star (Columbia)
  Read about it ... Solange, Beyonce's Lil' Sis, Says She's No Destiny's Child

July 16:

• Lil' Romeo - Game Time (Universal/No Limit)
  Read about it ... Lil' Romeo Battles His Evil Twin On B-Ball Court

• Eminem
• Nashville Pussy
• The Ramones
• The Strokes
• Scorpions

One of the world's most enduring heavy metal bands, the Scorpions, is about to make a brief orchestral visit to the U.S.

The Germany-based group teams up with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra on its upcoming album, "Moment Of Glory," and fittingly, the band will be backed by an orchestra on four of its five American dates.

The U.S. jaunt will start with an acoustic appearance at a radio event in Baltimore on September 15, with the symphonic concerts scheduled for later in the month in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

In a move recalling Metallica's 1999 symphonic dates and resulting "S&M" LP, the Scorpions' "Moment Of Glory" features band and orchestra performing classic Scorps material as well as two new songs.

When the album drops on August 29, fans will find orchestral versions of the group's 1984 monsters-of-rock hit "Rock You Like A Hurricane" (now titled "Hurricane 2000") as well as other familar favorites such as "Send Me An Angel" (featuring Zucchero), "Wind Of Change," "Big City Nights" (with Ray Wilson from Genesis), "Crossfire," "Deadly Sting Suite," "Lady Starlight," and "Still Loving You."

The album's title song, which was composed for the Expo 2000 event in the band's hometown of Hanover, is one of the band's new tracks, as is "Here In My Heart," a Diane Warren song performed as a duet with American singer Lyn Liechty.

The core members of the Scorpions, who have been around since the late 1960s, include founding member Rudolf Schenker on guitar, vocalist Klaus Meine (who joined in 1971), and 20-year veteran guitarist Matthias Jabs.

The mini-tour schedule is as follows:

• 9/15 - Baltimore, MD @ Meriweather Pavillion
• 9/21 - Phoenix, AZ @ America West Arena
• 9/23 - Las Vegas, NV @ Aladdin Theatre
• 9/28 - Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre
• 9/30 - San Francisco, CA @ TBA

• Scorpions

Slash, the Scorpions, Boys II Men, Luther Vandross, Andrea Bocelli, and Luciano Pavarotti are among an extremely mixed bag of artists confirmed for the "Michael Jackson & Friends" benefit concert in Munich, Germany on June 27.

Jackson himself will be performing as well, along with other confirmed acts such as Status Quo and Zucchero.

The original plan had called for two different venues in the same city: one staging a classical concert, the other holding a rock show. But now the promoters have combined the two events into one, making for some strange stagefellows indeed.

The Munich show is one of three major charity appearances for Jackson in June. The singer is mounting a similar concert in Seoul, Korea on June 25, two days prior to the Munich show. The Seoul show will feature several of the same artists found on the Munich roster, including Slash.

Jackson had attempted to stage a similar concert in Korea last October, but the event was canceled (see: "Michael Jackson To Start Global Children's Charity, Schedules Korean Benefit Concert").

The shows are tagged "Michael Jackson & Friends: The Adventure of Humanity." The proceeds benefit the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, the Red Cross, and UNESCO.

Other artists either previously reported or rumored to be appearing at one of the "Friends" concerts (and, in some cases, both) include Gloria Estefan, Diana Ross, Ringo Starr, and Stevie Wonder, and Elizabeth Taylor. A Rod Stewart performance is expected to be beamed in via satellite.

Jackson is also appearing at the "Pavarotti & Friends" benefit concert for Warchild on June 1 in Modena, Italy (see: "Ricky Martin, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Others To Join Pavarotti For Benefit").

• Guns N' Roses
• Michael Jackson
• Scorpions

If you like your rock cranked up to 11, you'll be pleased to note that Motley Crue and fellow '80s metal standouts the Scorpions have lined up a summer trek being billed as the "Maximum Rock" tour.

According to Motley Crue's official website (at www.motley.com), the tour will kick off on June 29 in Columbia, Maryland and will hit 40 cities across the U.S. through late August.

Both bands are promising sets thick with their best-known hits, so fans can expect Motley to roll out "Looks That Kill," "Dr. Feelgood," and "Home Sweet Home," while the Scorps will likely pull out "Big City Nights," "Still Loving You," and invariably "Rock You Like A Hurricane."

Here's where you can catch the Motley/Scorps double bill:

• 6/29 - Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavillon
• 6/30 - Wantagh, NY @ Jones Beach
• 7/2 - Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
• 7/3 - Hartford, CT @ Meadows
• 7/6 - Boston, MA @ Tweeter Center
• 7/7 - Philadelphia, PA @ E Center
• 7/9 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Star Lake
• 7/10 - Indianapolis, IN @ Deer Creek
• 7/11 - Columbus, OH @ Polaris
• 7/13 - Detroit, MI @ Pine Knob
• 7/14 - Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend
• 7/16 - Cadott, WI @ Rock Fest ‘99
• 7/17 - Chicago, IL @ The World
• 7/18 - Milwaukee, WI @ Alpine
• 7/20 - Colorado Springs, CO @ World Arena
• 7/21 - Denver, CO @ Red Rocks
• 7/23 - Rapid City, SD @ Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
• 7/24 - Casper, WY @ Casper Events Center
• 7/25 - Billings, MT @ Metra Park
• 7/27 - Pocatello, ID @ Holt Arena
• 7/28 - Boise, ID @ Idaho Center Amphitheatre
• 7/30 - Portland, OR @ Rose Garden
• 7/31 - Seattle, WA @ The Gorge
• 8/1 - Vancouver, Canada @ TBD
• 8/3 - Reno, NV @ Reno Hilton Amphitheater
• 8/4 - San Francisco, CA @ Concord Pavilion
• 8/6 - San Diego, CA @ Coors Amphitheater
• 8/7 - Bakersfield, CA @ Centennial Gardens
• 8/8 - Fresno, CA @ Selland Arena
• 8/10 - Salt Lake City, UT @ E Center
• 8/11 - Las Vegas, NV @ Mandalay Bay
• 8/13 - Los Angeles, CA @ Universal Amphitheatre
• 8/14 - San Bernadino, CA @ Blockbuster Pavillion
• 8/15 - Phoenix, AZ @ Desert Sky Pavillion
• 8/17 - Albuquerque, NM @ Tingley Coliseum
• 8/18 - El Paso, TX @ Don Haskins Center
• 8/20 - Dallas, TX @ Starplex
• 8/21 - San Antonio, TX @ TBD
• 8/22 - Oklahoma City, OK @ TBD
• 8/24 - Nashville, TN @ First American Music Center
• 8/27 - Biloxi, MS @ Mississippi Coast Coliseum
• 8/28 - Little Rock, AR @ Riverfront Amphitheater
• 8/29 - Houston, TX @ Woodlands

• Scorpions

July 18 [14:00 EDT] -- The Scorpions have been stung by some retail music distributors who feel the cover of the band's double-CD retrospective package (see photo) is too suggestive.

The group had planned to release "Deadly Sting - The Mercury Years" with a cover featuring an army of scorpions crawling toward a naked woman kneeling on the ground. While a well-placed arm and some convenient shading insure that all necessary parts are covered, some have balked at the fact that a few scorpions are actually crawling on the woman's thighs and seemed to be headed toward, well, places where scorpions really shouldn't be.

When the double-CD hit stores on July 15, it arrived with two different covers: the original and one in which the woman has been removed and only the stinging creatures remain. The offending original artwork was originally intended for the cover of the German metal outfit's "Sexual Amusement" album, but was pulled for similar reasons before the album's release in 1988.

• Scorpions